Barrera, Sergio Vela

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

No. PD-1642-07

SERGIO VELA BARRERA, Appellant

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS

ON APPELLANT'S MOTION TO ABATE APPEAL

IN CAUSE NO. 13-03-707-CR FROM THE 13TH COURT OF APPEALS

HIDALGO COUNTY

O P I N I O N

A jury convicted appellant of murder and assessed his punishment at imprisonment for 99 years and a fine of $10,000. When pronouncing the sentence, the trial court further ordered appellant to pay restitution in the amount of $12,000 to the family of the victim for funeral expenses. The court of appeals held that the trial court's restitution order lacked a sufficient…