Haltom v. State

SULLIVAN, Justice.

Jedediah Haltom crashed his truck into a woman's car while driving under the influence. He settled with her for his car insurance's limits, and she executed a release from any future damages or compensation "of whatever nature." In the collateral criminal prosecution, Haltom argued that the trial court's award of cash restitution to the victim violated the release. The trial court had authority to award restitution: a private contract to which neither the State nor the court are parties cannot impinge upon the authority of the State to seek and the court to impose a criminal…