Simonsen v. State

J. CURTISS BROWN, Chief Justice.

Appeal is taken from a conviction for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

The jury found Walter John Simonsen (Simonsen or appellant) guilty as charged in the indictment. Punishment was assessed by the court at eight years imprisonment. Simonsen contends he was denied a speedy trial. He further challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. We affirm.

In the early morning hours of May 31, 1981, a Wharton County sheriff found appellant slumped over the steering wheel of a parked 1979 Buick. The sheriff ran a license plate check and…