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Defendant pleads guilty; court defers finding of guilt in theft-of-service case
Summary
Anaya Gifford pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony theft-of-service charge; the court deferred finding of guilt while the defendant requests a presentence investigation and set a December 15 hearing. The plea includes a restitution figure the transcript lists as $12,000 and a punishment cap of eight years.
Anaya Gifford pleaded guilty on the record in 187th District Court in Bexar County on a charge of theft of service, and Judge Stephanie Boyd deferred a finding of guilt while the defendant pursues deferred adjudication.
The court called cause number 20235888 and announced appearances for the record. Megan Galloway appeared for the state; Trey Mower appeared for the defense; the defendant appeared by phone. On the record, Gifford entered a plea of "Guilty, Your Honor." Judge Boyd told the defendant the charge was theft of service between $2,500 and $30,000, a third-degree felony, and reviewed the range of punishment, including a $10,000 maximum fine tied to an incarceration range of two to 10 years.
Under the plea as described in court, punishment would be capped at eight years, include a $1,000 fine, and the state was opposed to granting deferred adjudication or community supervision. The transcript records restitution to the complainant of $12,000 as part of the plea agreement. The court accepted the state's exhibits and said there was sufficient evidence, but "the court will defer finding of guilt as you've applied for deferred adjudication." Judge Boyd asked whether a presentence investigation (PSI) would be requested; defense counsel said it would, and the judge set a further court date and directed that Gifford appear Dec. 15.
The court also confirmed the defendant had electronically signed the documents titled defendant's consent to plea by video conference or cell phone and the application for deferred adjudication. Defense counsel waived reading of the indictment. The court advised Gifford of the rights she was giving up by pleading guilty, the possibility that the court need not follow a plea agreement and the effect on immigration if she is not a U.S. citizen.
The court accepted stipulated evidence rather than live testimony and received the state's exhibits into evidence before taking the plea and deferring the finding of guilt. The transcript records no final sentence at today’s hearing; the next steps are a PSI and the Dec. 15 court appearance.
Courtroom administration matters — including temporary audio problems and handling of remote appearances — were noted on the record but did not alter the plea colloquy.
