The Texas Court of Appeals recently upheld a ruling against Barihenuye Twehangane for aggravated assault, affirming a 15-year prison sentence. This decision affects Twehangane, who had previously entered a plea agreement with the state, and it highlights the legal standards surrounding community supervision violations.

On August 31, 2026, the Eleventh Court of Appeals filed its opinion in the case of Barihenuye Twehangane v. The State of Texas, docket number 11-25-00219-CR. The court's ruling is significant as it clarifies the conditions under which community supervision can be revoked and the standards of evidence required in such cases.

Background

Barihenuye Twehangane was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, classified as a second-degree felony under Texas law. He entered a plea of “no contest” as part of a negotiated plea agreement with the State of Texas. The trial court accepted his plea and placed him on deferred adjudication community supervision for five years.

During his supervision, Twehangane faced multiple modifications to the terms and conditions of his community supervision. Despite these adjustments, the State filed a third amended motion to adjudicate his guilt and revoke his community supervision, claiming he had violated the terms on sixteen occasions. This case eventually made its way to the Texas Court of Appeals after a contested hearing.

The Ruling

The Texas Court of Appeals ruled that the trial court acted within its discretion when it adjudicated Twehangane's guilt and revoked his community supervision. The court found that the evidence presented during the hearing supported the trial court's findings. The opinion stated, “the evidence presented at the contested hearing is sufficient to support each finding of ‘true’ made by the trial court.”

Judge W. Stacy Trotter noted that the standard for proving a violation of community supervision is lower than that of a criminal trial. The State only needed to prove a violation by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning that it was more likely than not that a violation occurred. The court emphasized that “proof of only a single violation of the terms and conditions of a probationer’s community supervision is sufficient to support the trial court’s adjudication/revocation order.”

Impact

This ruling reinforces the authority of trial courts to revoke community supervision based on violations, even if multiple violations are alleged. It clarifies that a single proven violation can be enough to uphold a revocation order. This decision may influence future cases involving community supervision in Texas, as it sets a clear standard for the evidence required to support such revocations.

The ruling also underscores the importance of compliance with the terms of community supervision. Individuals on probation or community supervision must adhere strictly to the conditions set forth by the court to avoid similar outcomes. The court's decision serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of failing to meet these obligations.

What's Next

While Twehangane's appeal has been denied, he has the option to file a petition for discretionary review with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. This step could potentially allow for further examination of his case, but details on any related cases or pending appeals were not available in the court filing.