Smith v. State

OPINION

ESQUIVEL, Justice.

This is an appeal from a conviction for unauthorized use of a vehicle.

The jury found appellant guilty of the offense charged in the indictment and his punishment was assessed by the court at 5 years’ confinement. By his grounds of error, appellant raises the following issues: (1) whether there was an improper communication by the trial court with the jury during the jury’s deliberation on guilt-innocence; (2) whether appellant was denied a fair trial by the trial court's refusal to compel a witness, who had invoked his fifth amendment rights, to answer certain…