Fennell v. State

OPINION

SHIRLEY W. BUTTS, Justice (Retired).

Ronald Andrew Fennell appeals his two convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Following his pleas of guilty in both cases, the trial court assessed punishment at 20 years’ imprisonment in each case, to be served concurrently.

Appellant entered his pleas of guilty before a Tarrant County magistrate. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. §§ 54.651-.663 (Vernon 1988 & Supp.1998). In his first point, appellant maintains that the magistrate lacked jurisdiction because she was not the elected judge of the court and because each referral order was not…