Beck v. State

OPINION ON STATE’S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

ONION, Presiding Judge.

This is an appeal from a conviction for the second-degree felony offense of escape under V.T.C.A., Penal Code, § 38.07(d). The punishment was assessed by the jury at 20 years’ imprisonment. The conviction was reversed by the Court of Appeals in an unpublished opinion holding, inter alia, that evidence of a prior conviction was offered at the penalty stage upon the unsworn testimony of the fingerprint expert, Sergio Lopez; that a witness’ oath is a fundamental and essential requirement for testimony of such witness to…