Steve Robert Patterson v. State

OPINION 1

SUE WALKER, JUSTICE

I. Introduction

Appellant Steve Robert Patterson entered an open plea of guilty to the offense of intoxication manslaughter. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 49.08 (West 2011). The criminal charge arose from a car accident that occurred when a Corvette driven by Patterson left the road and hit a tree; Patterson’s brother, who was a passenger in the Corvette, died at the scene. Patterson elected to have a jury assess his punishment. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 26.14 (West 2009). Following a three-day punishment hearing, the jury returned a verdict assessing…