Motion To Dismiss Felony Indictment In Wharton County, Filed 06.07.2009

329th Judicial District Court Criminal Division Judge Randy Clapp

CAUSE NO. 16263 THE STATE OF TEXAS

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Vs. SHIRLEY PERSONS PIGOTT

IN THE DISTRICT COURT WHARTON COUNTY, TEXAS 329th JUDICIAL DISTRICT

MOTION TO DISMISS SUPERCEDING INDICTMENT filed: June 8, 2009 COMES NOW, Shirley Persons Pigott and asks motions this court to dismiss the SUPERCEDING INDICTMENT issued in this case and would show the court the following: 1.

The indictment is defective on its face because it does not rise to the mandatory felony

requirements of Texas Penal Code 38.04, to wit. Sec. 38.04. EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally flees from a person he knows is a peace officer attempting lawfully to arrest or detain him. (b) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is: (1) a state jail felony if the actor uses a vehicle while the actor is in flight and the actor has not been previously convicted under this section; (2) a felony of the third degree if: (A) the actor uses a vehicle while the actor is in flight and the actor has been previously convicted under this section; or

(B) another suffers serious bodily injury as a direct result of an attempt by the officer from whom the actor is fleeing to apprehend the actor while the actor is in flight; or (3) a felony of the second degree if another suffers death as a direct result of an attempt by the officer from whom the actor is fleeing to apprehend the actor while the actor is in flight. (c) In this section, "vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 541.201, Transportation Code. (d) A person who is subject to prosecution under both this section and another law may be prosecuted under either or both this section and the other law. 2.

Shirley Pigott, on the night of September 29, 2007, was not and did not operate a “motor

vehicle” or “vehicle” as that term is described by Section 541.201(23) of the Texas Transportation Code. TRANSPORTATION CODE TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC SUBTITLE C. RULES OF THE ROAD CHAPTER 541. DEFINITIONS SUBCHAPTER A. PERSONS AND GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES 541.201(23) "Vehicle" means a device that can be used to transport or draw persons or property on a highway. The term does not include: (A) a device exclusively used on stationary rails or tracks; or (B) manufactured housing as that term is defined by Chapter 1201, Occupations Code. 3.

At no time was the private car in which Shirley Pigott was traveling ever used for the

transport of fare paying passengers, nor the delivery, for hire, of property or freight. 4.

Shirley Pigott, did not know and could not have known that Daniel Terronez was a peace

officer. Terronez was not in uniform and drove an unmarked car. Shirley Pigott, a woman alone

at night, was terrorized and threatened with assault by Terronez, a man unknown to her, and fled for her life. 5.

Count Three of

the SUPERCEDING INDICTMENT charges no crime which is

cognizable under Texas law.

AUTOMOBILE and CAR are not weapons as that term is

described in the Texas TITLE 10. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND MORALS CHAPTER 46. WEAPONS Sec. 46.01. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Club" means an instrument that is specially designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by striking a person with the instrument, and includes but is not limited to the following: (A) blackjack; (B) nightstick; (C) mace; (D) tomahawk. (2) "Explosive weapon" means any explosive or incendiary bomb, grenade, rocket, or mine, that is designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury, death, or substantial property damage, or for the principal purpose of causing such a loud report as to cause undue public alarm or terror, and includes a device designed, made, or adapted for delivery or shooting an explosive weapon. (3) "Firearm" means any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance or any device readily convertible to that use. Firearm does not include a firearm that may have, as an integral part, a folding knife blade or other characteristics of weapons made illegal by this chapter and that is: (A) an antique or curio firearm manufactured before 1899; or (B) a replica of an antique or curio firearm manufactured before 1899, but only if the replica does not use rim fire or center fire ammunition. (4) "Firearm silencer" means any device designed, made, or adapted to muffle the report of a firearm.

(5) "Handgun" means any firearm that is designed, made, or adapted to be fired with one hand. (6) "Illegal knife" means a: (A) knife with a blade over five and one-half inches; (B) hand instrument designed to cut or stab another by being thrown; (C) dagger, including but not limited to a dirk, stiletto, and poniard; (D) bowie knife; (E) sword; or (F) spear. (7) "Knife" means any bladed hand instrument that is capable of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by cutting or stabbing a person with the instrument. (8) "Knuckles" means any instrument that consists of finger rings or guards made of a hard substance and that is designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by striking a person with a fist enclosed in the knuckles. (9) "Machine gun" means any firearm that is capable of shooting more than two shots automatically, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. (10) "Short-barrel firearm" means a rifle with a barrel length of less than 16 inches or a shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches, or any weapon made from a shotgun or rifle if, as altered, it has an overall length of less than 26 inches. (11) "Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath, and that: (A) opens automatically by pressure applied to a button or other device located on the handle; or (B) opens or releases a blade from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal force. (12) "Armor-piercing ammunition" means handgun ammunition that is designed primarily for the purpose of penetrating metal or body armor and to be used principally in pistols and revolvers. (13) "Hoax bomb" means a device that:

(A) reasonably appears to be an explosive or incendiary device; or (B) by its design causes alarm or reaction of any type by an official of a public safety agency or a volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies. (14) "Chemical dispensing device" means a device, other than a small chemical dispenser sold commercially for personal protection, that is designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of dispensing a substance capable of causing an adverse psychological or physiological effect on a human being. (15) "Racetrack" has the meaning assigned that term by the Texas Racing Act (Article 179e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). (16) "Zip gun" means a device or combination of devices that was not originally a firearm and is adapted to expel a projectile through a smooth-bore or rifled-bore barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance. There being no evidence before this court of any conditions, crimes or charges against Shirley Pigott which would rise to the level of felonies, the court must dismiss the SUPERCEDING INDICTMENT with prejudice. There being no evidence before this court of any evidence that 1) Alfred Ochoa witnessed an offense which gave him probable cause to arrest or detain, and 2) that Pigott could have possibly known Daniel Terronez was a peace officer acting in an official capacity, the court must dismiss the SUPERCEDING INDICTMENT with prejudice. Due to the irregularities and deficiencies in the charges, this court must dismiss the SUPERCEDING INDICTMENT with prejudice. Shirly Pigott asks the Honorable Judge of this court to dismiss the SUPERCEDING INDICTMENT with prejudice.

Section 10. In the Bill of Rights of the Texas Constitution, the accused in criminal prosecutions are guaranteed the rights of being heard by himself or counsel, or both:

Therefore Defendant submits this motion herself.

Respectfully,

____________________________ Shirley Pigott

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, the undersigned, hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the attached Motion to Dismiss Superceding Indictment was hand delivered on June 8, 2009, to: Josh McCown Wharton County District Attorney 100 W. Milam, Room 305 Wharton, TX 77488-5093

and filed with:

Denice Malota, District Clerk Wharton County, TX

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