Prudholm v. State

This is an appeal from a sentence that was enhanced under Penal Code Section 12.42(c)(2), which mandates a life sentence for a defendant convicted of a sex-related offense listed in Subsection (A) if the defendant has been previously convicted of a Texas offense listed in Subsection (B), or an offense “under the laws of another state containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements” of a Texas offense listed in Subsection (B). 1 This case requires us to decide whether the California offense of sexual battery contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of…