COURT OF APPEALS
EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO, TEXAS
| DAVID CRUZ,
Appellant, v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee. |
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No. 08-03-00313-CR Appeal from the 409th Judicial District Court of El Paso County, Texas (TC# 20020D05624) |
O P I N I O N
David Cruz was convicted of capital murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. We reversed, holding that the trial court erred in denying Appellant's motion for mistrial. (1) The State's petition for discretionary review was granted by the Court of Criminal Appeals, Cruz v. State, 225 S.W.3d 546 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007), and that court vacated our judgment and remanded for consideration of the Appellant's remaining nine issues. On remand, we find no reversible error and we affirm the trial court's judgment.
The facts of this case are detailed in our original decision. See footnote 1. Therefore, they are omitted here.
In his first issue, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in not allowing his trial counsel to use a particular hypothetical as factual background to proposed questions during voir dire. Prior to voir dire, Appellant's defense counsel informed the trial court that they had a hypothetical they wished to pose to the jury. The hypothetical facts were: "Larry sits behind the wheel of a car, Bob stands in front of the car, Larry's foot presses the accelerator and the car moves forward hitting Bob and killing him." Defense counsel told the trial court that the proposed questions were: "Is this a crime, what's the crime, do you need more facts, what do you need to know, and then I'm going to talk about culpable mental states." Appellant's counsel also submitted the hypothetical and the four specific questions to the trial court in writing.
The State objected on grounds that the proposed questions were improper contracting with the jury. In the course of arguing for use of the hypothetical and the questions, defense counsel explained to the trial judge that they intended to tell the jury the hypothetical and pose the questions before informing the jury about various culpable mental states and the State's burden to prove state of mind. Defense counsel also argued that the questions would lead to a valid challenge for cause. The court asked if the State would object if the defense first explained the law requiring a culpable mental state. The State still objected, arguing that the fact-specific hypothetical included facts not necessary to lead to a valid challenge for cause. The trial court denied defense counsel's "request to use that fact situation."
Standard of Review
The trial court has broad discretion over the process of selecting a jury. Barajas v. State, 93 S.W.3d 36, 38 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002); Allridge v. State, 762 S.W.2d 146, 167 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988), cert. denied, 489 U.S. 1040, 109 S. Ct. 1176, 103 L. Ed. 2d 238 (1989). We leave to the trial court's discretion the propriety of a particular question and the trial court's discretion will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. Barajas, 93 S.W.3d at 38. The trial court abuses its discretion only when a proper question about a proper area of inquiry is prohibited. Id.
Commitment Questions
A question is proper if it seeks to discover a juror's views on an issue applicable to the case. Barajas, 93 S.W.3d at 38. A question can be relevant if it seeks to uncover grounds for a challenge for cause. See id. at 39. However, an otherwise proper question is impermissible, if it attempts to commit the juror to a particular verdict based on particular facts. Barajas, 93 S.W.3d at 38; Standefer v. State, 59 S.W.3d 177, 181 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001).
In Standefer, the Court of Criminal Appeals articulated a two-step test for determining whether a commitment question is proper: (1) Is the question a commitment question; and (2) Does the question include only those facts that lead to a valid challenge for cause? Standefer, 59 S.W.3d at 182. If the answer to the first question is "yes" and the answer to the second question is "no," then the question asked is an improper commitment question and the trial court should not allow the question. Id. at 182-83; Lydia v. State, 109 S.W.3d 495, 497-98 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003).
A question is a "commitment question" if one or more of the possible answers commits a prospective juror to resolve, or to refrain from resolving, an issue a certain way after learning a particular fact. Standefer, 59 S.W.3d at 179. Commitment questions include those questions that ask the prospective juror to set the hypothetical parameters for his or her decision-making. Id. at 180. Questions that commit prospective jurors to a position, using a hypothetical or otherwise, are improper and serve no purpose other than to commit the jury to a specific set of facts before the presentation of any evidence at trial. Atkins v. State, 951 S.W.2d 787, 789 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997).
Not all commitment questions are improper. Standefer, 59 S.W.2d at 181. Whether a commitment question is proper or improper depends on whether the question leads to a valid challenge for cause. See id. at 182. Where the law does not require a commitment, a commitment question is improper. Id. at 181. In order for a commitment question to be proper, one of the possible answers to that question must give right to a valid challenge for cause. Id. at 182. Even if a question leads to a challenge for cause, the question may nevertheless be improper if it includes facts in addition to those necessary to establish a challenge for cause. Id. at 182. To be proper, a commitment question must contain only those facts necessary to test whether a prospective juror is challengeable for cause. Id.
Appellant argues that his counsel was not permitted to ask proper questions based on a fact situation necessary to explain the applicable law. In his brief, Appellant argues that the requested questions were: (1) Is this a crime?; (2) Do you need to know more facts?; (3) From these facts do you believe that the person is guilty of an offense without regard to the state of mind?; (4) Do you still believe that even if the State fails to prove intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly when his foot comes off the accelerator, if it was just an accident, then do you still think that a crime is committed?; and (5) Do you agree with the law that says the State must prove that the person acted with that mental state or do you not require that? With respect to questions (3), (4), and (5), we find that Appellant's counsel did not proffer these specific questions to the trial court. (2) Rather, his counsel argued that based on the hypothetical facts proposed these areas of inquiry would then follow. The trial court denied defense counsel's request to use the hypothetical facts, but did not rule on questions (3), (4), and (5), which Appellant nevertheless asserts were purportedly requested. Therefore, Appellant failed to preserve this portion of his complaint for review with regard to these questions. See Sells v. State, 121 S.W.3d 748, 756 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 986, 124 S. Ct. 511, 157 L. Ed. 2d 378 (2003)(to preserve error, appellant must show that he was prevented from asking particular questions that were proper).
With respect to Appellant's complaint concerning questions (1) "Is this a crime?," and (2) "Do you need to know more facts?," (3) these questions are commitment questions in that the first question asks prospective jurors how they would resolve an issue (what actions constitute a crime) based on a particular set of hypothetical facts and the second question asks prospective jurors to set the parameters of their decision-making by asking what evidence they would require to convict the accused. See Standefer, 59 S.W.3d at 179-80.
Since the proposed questions were commitment questions, the next step in our inquiry is whether the questions included only those facts that were necessary to establish a valid challenge for cause. Here, defense counsel sought to present certain hypothetical facts in conjunction with the proffered questions. These facts included that "Larry" was sitting behind the wheel of a car; "Bob" was standing in front of the car; "Larry's foot presses the accelerator;" which caused the car to hit and kill "Bob." A proper commitment question contains only those facts necessary to test whether a prospective juror is challengeable for cause. Standefer, 59 S.W.3d at 182. In Standefer, the Court in discussing the inclusion of facts beyond those necessary to establish a valid challenge for cause, stated:
For example, in Atkins, the prosecutor asked prospective jurors if they could convict a person who was arrested while possessing, in his pocket, a crack pipe containing a residual amount of cocaine. The State could have permissibly questioned the prospective jurors about their ability to follow a law that holds a person guilty of possession even though the possession involves only a residue amount of the drug in question. But the State's question supplied facts beyond what was necessary to sustain a challenge for cause (arrest, possession of a crack pipe, item found in the defendant's pocket). These additional facts rendered improper what otherwise would have been a proper question designed to assess whether a prospective juror was challengeable for cause.
Standefer, 59 S.W.3d at 182 (Internal citations omitted).
Appellant's proposed questions were requested along with particular facts (Larry, Bob, Larry's foot presses the accelerator). Because the hypothetical facts proffered by Appellant's counsel in conjunction with the proposed questions were not necessary to establish whether a prospective juror was challengeable for cause, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in not allowing them. Issue One is overruled.
In Issue Two, Appellant asserts the trial court erred in not submitting the lesser-included offense of felony murder by unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Appellant was indicted for capital murder and in addition to the charged offense, the trial court submitted the following lesser-included offenses in the charge: murder; felony-murder by theft; and manslaughter. Appellant objected to the lesser-included offense of felony-murder by theft and the trial court refused to submit Appellant's request for felony-murder by unauthorized use of a motor vehicle as a lesser-included offense.
Felony-Murder by Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (UUMV)
To be entitled to a charge on a lesser-included offense: (1) the lesser-included offense must be included within the proof necessary to establish the offense charged; and (2) some evidence must exist in the record that would permit a jury rationally to find that if the defendant is guilty, he is guilty only of the lesser offense. See Rousseau v. State, 855 S.W.2d 666, 673 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). The credibility of the evidence and whether it conflicts with other evidence must not be considered and regardless of the strength or weakness of the evidence a charge on the lesser-included offense must be given. See Saunders v. State, 840 S.W.2d 390, 391 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992).
The State concedes that Appellant has satisfied the first prong of the test because felony-murder by unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, may in proper circumstances, be a lesser-included offense of capital murder by going up the ladder of offenses from theft, robbery, aggravated robbery, and capital murder by aggravated robbery. See Neely v. State, 571 S.W.2d 926, 928 (Tex.Crim.App. 1978); Teague v. State, 789 S.W.2d 380, 382 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, pet. ref'd); see also Fuentes v. State, 991 S.W.2d 267, 272 (Tex.Crim.App.), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1026, 120 S. Ct. 541, 145 L. Ed. 2d 420 (1999)(felony-murder can be a lesser-included offense of capital murder); Medina v. State, 962 S.W.2d 83, 86 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref'd)(UUMV can be an underlying felony for felony-murder). The State also concedes that Appellant has satisfied the second prong of the test because there was some evidence, specifically Appellant's statement, which supports a possible interpretation of the evidence that, although Appellant did not intend to deprive Mendivil of his truck, he did operate it without Mendivil's consent and while operating the truck, unintentionally killed Mendivil. However, the State argues that Appellant has failed to demonstrate any harm from the trial court's refusal to charge the jury on the lesser-included offense of felony-murder by unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
When the trial court erroneously refuses to give an instruction on a lesser-included offense, reversal is required if the error resulted in some harm to the accused. Saunders, 840 S.W.2d at 392; O'Brien v. State, 89 S.W.3d 753, 756 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet. ref'd). Here, Appellant was convicted of capital murder, although the jury was authorized to convict Appellant for the lesser-included offenses of murder, felony-murder by theft, and manslaughter. In Saunders v. State, 913 S.W.2d 565 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995), the Court considered whether a jury's failure to convict for a lesser-included offense that was included in the charge can render error in not submitting another lesser-included offense harmless. Saunders, 913 S.W.2d at 569. In Saunders, the Court noted that whenever a trial court has failed to submit a lesser-included offense that was requested and raised by the evidence--at least where that failure left the jury with the sole option of either to convict the defendant of the greater offense or to acquit him, a finding of some harm is routine. Saunders, 913 S.W.2d at 571. The Court recognized that there is a possibility that the jury, believing the defendant committed some crime, but given only the option to convict him of a greater offense, may have chosen to find him guilty of that greater offense, rather than to acquit him altogether, even though it had a reasonable doubt that he really committed the greater offense. Id., citing Beck v. Alabama, 447 U.S. 625, 634, 100 S. Ct. 2382, 2388, 65 L. Ed. 2d 392 (1980); see also Venhaus v. State, 950 S.W.2d 158, 163 (Tex.App.--El Paso 1997, pet. ref'd). The harm in failing to submit the lesser-included offense is not, however, self-evident when another lesser-included offense was an option, but the jury chose not to convict the defendant of that lesser-included offense. See Saunders, 913 S.W.2d at 572. The issue then is whether, on the facts of the case, there is a "realistic probability" that the jury may have found itself facing the same basic dilemma as the jury did in Beck, that is, the danger that it would convict of the greater inclusive offense because its only viable alternative was to acquit. See id. at 573-74. If the option of finding that Appellant committed a lesser-included offense given is palpably unlikely under the evidence, then we must find harm, despite the jury's failure to find Appellant guilty of a lesser-included offense included in the charge. See Venhaus, 950 S.W.2d at 163.
In this case, the jury was charged on several lesser-included offenses: murder; felony-murder by theft; and manslaughter. Within Issue Two, Appellant argues that felony-murder by theft was not a proper lesser offense in this case and that the instruction on murder should not have been given either. Appellant also argues that under the lesser offenses submitted to the jury, it "would have the unpalatable choice of ignoring the taking of the truck, (which he clearly did) or find him guilty of capital murder." Appellant asserts that the only option for the jury to find that Appellant took the truck, but did not steal it, and did recklessly cause the death of Mendivil--felony-murder by unauthorized use of a motor vehicle--was not submitted to the jury, therefore the error was harmful.
The record here fails to show a realistic probability that the jury was faced with the dilemma described in Saunders. The jury found Appellant guilty of capital murder, which by its verdict, it determined that Appellant intentionally killed Mendivil by running over him with a motor vehicle while in the course of committing or attempting to commit an aggravated robbery of Mendivil. Even assuming that the lesser offenses of murder and felony-murder by theft were improperly submitted to the jury, the lesser-included offense of manslaughter was a viable and reasonable alternative based on the evidence presented at trial. A person commits manslaughter if the person recklessly causes the death of an individual. See Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 19.04 (Vernon 2003). In his written statement, Appellant stated that he stabbed Mendivil while in the truck and then struggled with him outside the truck. Appellant stated, "I tried to push [Mendivil] off so that he can [sic] fall to the ground and I could get into the truck so that I can [sic] go somewhere and call the cops." After he stabbed Mendivil again, Mendivil fell down and Appellant got into the truck. Appellant then stated, "The truck was on so I decided to back out of there. As I'm backing out, I noticed that I hit him. I put the truck on drive and moved forward so I wouldn't hit him again." Following the incident, Appellant drove Mendivil's truck to various locations during the course of the next six hours before leaving the truck by a park.
Contrary to Appellant's contentions, the lesser-included offense of manslaughter was not palpably unlikely under the evidence. If the jury believed that Appellant recklessly caused the death of Mendivil, but did not intend to steal his truck, the manslaughter instruction presented a viable alternative. Appellant asserts that the jury could not ignore the fact that Appellant took the truck. We understand Appellant to be arguing that the jury was denied the chance to find that Appellant's taking of the truck was a crime committed in addition to recklessly causing Mendivil's death. From the particular facts of this case, the jury would not necessarily have found that merely taking, rather than stealing, the truck was a crime in itself. If the jury harbored any doubts about whether Appellant intended to commit a robbery or theft, the manslaughter instruction presented a viable alternative over finding Appellant guilty of capital murder or acquitting him.
We concluded there is not a realistic probability that the jury was forced to choose between capital murder and acquittal because manslaughter was so unlikely under the evidence presented. See Venhaus, 950 S.W.2d at 164. Although the trial court erred in failing to submit the requested lesser-included offense of felony-murder by unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, the error resulted in no harm. Issue Two is overruled.
In Issue Three, Appellant contends the trial court erred in permitting the State to introduce evidence of the victim's character even though the defense had not claimed that the victim was the first aggressor. In Issue Four, Appellant asserts the trial court also erred in permitting the witness testimony on the victim's character because the testimony was improper reputation evidence. Since these points of error are related, we address them together.
Standard of Review
The trial court has broad discretion in determining the admissibility of evidence. See Levario v. State, 964 S.W.2d 290, 296 (Tex.App.--El Paso 1997, no pet.). Absent a clear abuse of discretion, the trial court's ruling should not be reversed. See id.
Character Evidence under Rule 404(a)(2)
After initially resting, the State was permitted to re-open its case-in-chief to present evidence of Mendivil's character for being peaceful and nonviolent. Over Appellant's objection, the trial court permitted evidence on the victim's peaceable character from two witnesses. In pertinent part, Rules of Evidence 404(a)(2) provides:
(a) Character Evidence Generally. Evidence of a person's character or character trait is not admissible for the purpose of proving action in conformity therewith on a particular occasion, except:
. . .
(2) Character of Victim. In a criminal case . . . evidence of peaceable character of the victim offered by the prosecution in a homicide case to rebut evidence that the victim was the first aggressor . . . .
Tex.R.Evid. 404(a)(2).
Appellant argues that witness testimony about the victim's peaceful nature was inadmissible because the defense had not attacked Mendivil's character such that Appellant had opened the door to rebuttal evidence on the victim's character. Rather, Appellant asserts that the State was the party that introduced the evidence that the victim was the first aggressor and then sought to rebut that same evidence of the victim's character, which is impermissible under Rule 404(a)(2).
As a general rule, it is improper for the State in the first instance to prove that the victim was peaceable. See Armstrong v. State, 718 S.W.2d 686, 695 (Tex.Crim.App. 1985), overruled on other grounds by, Mosley v. State, 983 S.W.2d 249 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998); Arthur v. State, 339 S.W.2d 538, 539 (Tex.Crim.App. 1960). Such evidence becomes admissible in rebuttal when the opposite has been testified to in behalf of the defense, or when the defendant seeks to justify the homicide on grounds of self-defense. See Armstrong, 718 S.W.2d at 695. We agree with the State that a plain reading of Rule 404(a)(2) appears to indicate that the rule provides only that such character evidence is admissible to rebut evidence that the victim was the first aggressor--without specifically limiting the character evidence to instances where the first aggressor evidence was introduced by the defense. However, some limitation on the State's ability to introduce character evidence is nevertheless implied by the rule's characterization of such evidence as rebuttal evidence. While the prosecution may not introduce evidence of the victim's peaceable character in the first instance, Rule 404(a)(2) does not expressly prohibit the State from offering rebuttal evidence once the defendant has raised the issue by claiming his actions were justified on the grounds of self-defense. Such an interpretation maintains the reasoning for the exception provided in prior opinions by the Court of Criminal Appeals. See Armstrong, 718 S.W.2d at 695; Arthur, 339 S.W.2d at 539.
Here, defense counsel during opening argument informed the jury that Appellant intended to argue that his actions were in self-defense. During the State's case-in-chief, the State introduced Appellant's voluntary statement. In his statement, Appellant indicated that he had stabbed Mendivil in self-defense and left in the truck to escape from Mendivil's attack. Arturo Casillas, Jr., one of the State's witnesses, testified that Appellant told him he had acted in self-defense. Defense counsel rested without introducing any evidence. Clearly, Appellant intended to seek to justify the homicide on grounds of self-defense. The claim of self-defense was raised by the defense in so far as Appellant's counsel had indicated that Appellant's actions were so justified during opening argument. Since the State introduced Appellant's statement in its entirety, which included evidence in support of his self-defense claim, Appellant was thereby able to present his self-defense claim in closing argument without introducing any evidence at trial on the issue. Under these circumstances, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred in permitting the State to introduce evidence of the victim's peaceable character since Appellant unambiguously sought to justify his actions on grounds of self-defense.
In his fourth issue, Appellant asserts that the character evidence introduced by the State was nevertheless inadmissible because the two character witnesses' testimony was not admitted as reputation testimony. The record shows that the trial court ruled that one of the complained-of witnesses, Maria Isela Franco, could not testify as a reputation witness. Therefore, Appellant's complaint as to Ms. Franco's testimony is without merit. The trial court, however, did permit reputation testimony from another character witness, Tracy Merworth, over Appellant's objection. Ms. Merworth testified that she had worked with Mendivil from 1981 to 1989 at Thomason Hospital and then again at Providence Memorial Hospital in 1992. Ms. Merworth had known Mendivil for almost twenty years. The State prosecutor asked Ms. Merworth if she knew Mendivil's reputation for being peaceful and nonviolent and she responded that she did. The trial court overruled Appellant's objection that the proper predicate for the reputation opinion had not been established. Ms. Merworth then testified that Mendivil's reputation for being peaceful and nonviolent was good. She also testified that in her personal opinion, Mendivil was peaceful and nonviolent. The State concedes that Ms. Merworth's reputation testimony was improper, but argues that any error in allowing the testimony was harmless. See Tex.R.App.P. 44.2(b). We agree.
Under Rule 405(a), when character evidence is admissible, proof may be made by either reputation or opinion testimony. See Tex.R.Evid. 405(a). In this case, Ms. Merworth provided reputation testimony and her personal opinion as to Mendivil's peaceable character. Since evidence of Mendivil's character as a peaceful person was properly presented to the jury, Appellant was not substantially harmed by any error in admitting reputation testimony on the same matter. Issues Three and Four are overruled.
In Issue Five, Appellant contends the trial court erred in permitting the State prosecutor to tell the jury panel during voir dire that the job of the prosecutor was to seek justice, whereas the defense's job was to only protect the Appellant's rights. Appellant argues that the prosecutorial comment implied that "the defense [was] trying to protect scum" and the defense was there "not to insure justice be done." We disagree.
During voir dire, the State prosecutor in explaining the role of the State to the jury stated, "The role of the State is not to always seek a conviction. The role of the State is to seek justice." The prosecutor then stated that the role of the defense was "[t]o make sure I'm not doing anything wrong and to protect their client's rights." Appellant objected on grounds that the prosecutor's remarks on the role of the State was irrelevant and an attempt to curry favor with the jury. Appellant also objected that it was an attack on counsel because it would lead to the conclusion that defense counsel did not have a duty to see that justice is done.
First, we find that the prosecutor's statements concerning the role of the State, were correct statements of law. Article 2.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides that it is the primary duty of all prosecuting attorneys, "not to convict, but to see that justice is done." See Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 2.01 (Vernon 2005); see also Beck v. State, 681 S.W.2d 825, 828 (Tex.App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1984), rev'd on other grounds, 712 S.W.2d 745 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986)(informing the jury panel that a prosecutor is, under law, obligated to see that justice is done cannot be prejudicial).
Appellant compares the prosecutor's remarks in this case to remarks made by the prosecutor in Wilson v. State, 938 S.W.2d 57 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996), overruled on other grounds by, Motilla v. State, 78 S.W.3d 352 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002). In Wilson, the prosecutor during jury argument stated that his duty was to see that justice is done, but seeking truth and justice was not important to defense counsel, who wished that the jury would turn a guilty man free. Wilson, 938 S.W.2d at 58-60. Unlike the prosecutorial remarks in Wilson, the remarks concerning the role of the defense in this case in no way insulted or disparaged defense counsel nor did the prosecutor accuse defense counsel of any unethical conduct. See Wilson, 938 S.W.2d at 59-60. We conclude that the prosecutor's remark on the roles of the defense and of the State were not improper statements and these remarks did not necessarily imply that conversely, the defense's role was not to see that justice is done. The trial court thus, did not abuse its discretion by allowing the complained-of prosecutorial remarks. Issue Five is overruled.
MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL
In Issues Seven and Eight, Appellant contends the trial court erred in not holding a hearing on his motion for new trial and argues that the motion for new trial should have been granted based on the State's alleged tampering with physical evidence.
Background
At trial, photographs and a videotape taken by the police were admitted into evidence, which showed the condition of the victim's body and clothing as discovered by police in their investigation of the death. During closing argument, both the State and Appellant's counsel discussed the evidence regarding whether the victim's pants were zipped or unzipped. The first, the prosecutor in discussing the requirements for self-defense, stated:
The State: Again, what does his statement say? He said the victim had his pants unzipped, that he was coming on. Ask for the exhibit. Ask for the victim's trousers. They're zipped. The belt buckle is still fastened. That's the way they were found.
Look at the videotape of Mr. Mendivil lying in that road. His pants have been shredded by the force of that truck going over him, but the belt is still fastened, the pants are still zipped up. So there's another lie.
Defense counsel responded in closing argument to the State's argument on this evidence, stating:
Defense: What [Appellant] knew was he had a really big guy who had unzipped his pants and had grabbed him, grabbed the Defendant in the groin. I just went and checked. Those pants are zipped. I want you to look at every photo that has been introduced and I want you to look closely at the video that the State gave you.
You can look and see his pants were unzipped as he lay out there. I want you to do that as part of your careful evaluation of the evidence, and I want you to look at the photos and the video closely. I submit to you that as he lay [sic] out there dead that morning when the police found him, his pants were unzipped.
Anyone, I mean anyone, and I'm not inferring or implying anything about the State's conduct in this case, I'm not, I promise you, but what I'm going to tell you is, anyone could have zipped those pants up afterwards, after they were removed from the decedent's body.
In the second, during prosecutor's closing argument, the State again urged the jury to consider the evidence on the condition of the victim's pants, stating:
The State: Other lies. Let's look at this. 'The guy unzipped his pants and came towards me. He tried to grab me in the front area and also tried to take my pants off.' Lots of different evidence that tells you this is a lie, a bold-faced lie, first of which is the photos, and you can look at them. You can see--you can see that not only is his zipper zipped, the button is fastened and the belt is buckled. You look at these photos, you look at that video and you will see that he never unzipped anything. And to suggest that somehow Mike Mendivil, while he's being punched and stabbed, is going to zip up his pants is ludicrous.
Look at the evidence. It's not going to lie to you. Did he ever unzip his pants? No.
Appellant filed a motion for new trial with the trial court, which was denied by operation of law. See Tex.R.App.P. 21.8(c).
Standard of Review
A hearing on a motion for new trial is not required when the matters raised in the motion for new trial are determinable from the record. See King v. State, 29 S.W.3d 556, 569 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000); Reyes v. State, 849 S.W.2d 812, 816 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). We review the trial court's denial of a hearing on a motion for new trial under an abuse of discretion standard. See Wallace v. State, 106 S.W.3d 103, 108 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003). We also review a trial court's denial of a motion for new trial under the abuse of discretion standard. See Lewis v. State, 911 S.W.2d 1, 7 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995).
Appellant's Motion for New Trial
In Appellant's motion for new trial, Appellant alleged that he was entitled to a new trial because: (1) exculpatory evidence was intentionally destroyed or withheld; (2) the verdict was contrary to the law and evidence because relevant evidence was tampered with by the State; (3) the State tampered with evidence, specifically, "the pants of the decedent, which were unzipped at the time of the decedent's body was discovered and photographed by the police, were zipped while in the custody of the state;" and (4) in the interest of justice. Attached to Appellant's motion were affidavits from his trial counsel, attorneys Scott Segall and Bruce Ponder. Both attorneys attested that they examined the physical evidence in this case before trial and observed that the victim's belt was still buckled, although the leather belt was torn apart. They also observed that the victim's pants were buttoned at the top of the zipper, but the pants were zipped. They attested that by trial, the pants were zipped, which allowed the State to argue in final argument that Appellant's statement that the victim unzipped his pants before attacking him was a lie.
We agree with the State that the issue of whether the victim's pants were zipped or unzipped when this body was discovered was readily determinable from the record before the trial court. Appellant had alleged in his motion that the allegedly tampered with evidence, the purported zipped up pants at trial, were unzipped at the time the victim's body was discovered and photographed by the police. Numerous photographs and a videotape of the crime scene, showing the condition of the victim's body and clothing when he was discovered, were admitted at trial and therefore appeared in the record. We conclude that no hearing on the motion for new trial was required under these circumstances because the issue of whether the jury had been presented tampered-with evidence, that is, zipped pants, was determinable from evidence that already existed in the record.
Denial of Motion for New Trial
We first respond to the State's contention that Appellant improperly briefed his eighth issue by failing to present an argument as to why the trial court abused its discretion by denying his motion for new trial. See Tex.R.App.P. 38.1(h). Appellant's argument for Issue Eight consists of the following paragraph:
Reference is made to the motion to abate appeal filed in this case which by reference is made a part hereof. Such motion shows that the state tampered with the physical evidence so as to contradict the statement of the defendant. Reversal is required by the authorities cited in the motion. See Ex parte Brandley, 781 S.W.2d 886, 892 (Tex.Crim.App. 1989).
In Appellant's motion to abate this appeal, Appellant sought an order from this Court to abate the appeal and to remand the cause to the trial court to conduct a hearing on his motion for new trial. We denied Appellant's motion to abate on November 25, 2003. After reviewing Appellant's motion to abate, we find no argument at all in support of Appellant's contention that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion for new trial. Rather, in the motion to abate Appellant only provided argument in regard to the trial court's failure to grant a hearing on the motion for new trial. However, it is clear that the trial court, in weighing the evidence in the record on the condition of the victim's pants, resolved the factual dispute contrary to Appellant's contentions. Since there was evidence in the record from which the trial court could have reasonably determined that the victim's pants were zipped when discovered by the police, and thus, not tampered with prior to trial, we cannot conclude the trial court abused its discretion by denying the motion for new trial. Issues Seven and Eight are overruled.
In Issues Nine and Ten, Appellant contends the evidence is both legally and factually insufficient to sustain his conviction for capital murder. Specifically, Appellant asserts the State failed to prove that Appellant murdered the decedent while the course of committing theft because there was no evidence that he intended to deprive the decedent of property as defined in Chapter 31 of the Texas Penal Code.
Standards of Review
In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2788-89, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); Burden v. State, 55 S.W.3d 608, 612 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001). We do not resolve any conflict of fact, weigh any evidence, or evaluate the credibility of any witnesses, as this was the function of the trier of fact. See Adelman v. State, 828 S.W.2d 418, 421 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992); Matson v. State, 819 S.W.2d 839, 843 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991). Instead, duty is to determine whether both the explicit and implicit findings of the trier of fact are rational by viewing all the evidence admitted at trial in the light most favorable to the verdict. See Adelman, 828 S.W.2d at 421-22. In so doing, any inconsistencies in the evidence are resolved in favor of the verdict. Matson, 819 S.W.2d at 843.
In reviewing the factual sufficiency of the evidence, we must determine whether considering all the evidence in a neutral light, the jury was rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Zuniga v. State, 144 S.W.3d 477, 484 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004), overruled on other grounds by, Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006); see also Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 129 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996). There are two ways in which we may find the evidence to be factually insufficient. Zuniga, 144 S.W.3d at 484. Evidence is factually insufficient when the evidence supporting the verdict, considered alone, is too weak to support the finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. Evidence is also insufficient when contrary evidence is so strong that guilt cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. See id. at 485. However, in our factual sufficiency review, we must give appropriate deference to the jury and should not intrude upon its role as the sole judge of the weight and credibility given to evidence presented at trial. See Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000); Clewis, 922 S.W.2d at 133. Accordingly, we are authorized to set aside the jury's finding of facts only in instances where it is manifestly unjust, shocks the conscience, or clearly demonstrates bias. Clewis, 922 S.W.2d at 135.
Intent to Deprive
Appellant was indicted for capital murder. To obtain a conviction for capital murder under Section 19.03(a)(2), the State in this case was required to prove that Appellant intentionally or knowingly killed the decedent in the course of committing or attempting to commit robbery. See Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 19.03(a)(2)(Vernon Supp. 2007), § 19.02(b)(1) (Vernon 2003). A person commits robbery if, in the course of committing theft, as defined in Chapter 31 of the Penal Code, and with the intent to obtain or maintain control of the property, he intentionally causes bodily injury to another. See Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 29.02(a)(1)(Vernon 2003). A person commits aggravated robbery if he commits robbery and causes serious bodily injury to another. See Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 29.03(a)(1). One of the elements of theft, which must be proven to establish a robbery offense is that the accused intended to deprive the owner of property. See Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 31.03(a)(Vernon Supp. 2007). Under the Penal Code, the definition of "deprive" includes: "(A) to withhold property from the owner permanently or for so extended a period of time that a major portion of the value or enjoyment of the property is lost to the owner;" and "(C) to dispose of property in a manner that makes recovery of the property by the owner unlikely." See Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 31.01(2)(A), (C).
Appellant argues that there was no evidence produced at trial that showed he intended to permanently withhold property from Mendivil or that he intended to keep Mendivil's property for so long a period that it lost its value. Rather, the evidence showed that he abandoned the pickup truck within hours of the incident. Appellant further points out that there was no evidence that Appellant was aware of the items in the truck when he drove away nor evidence that the decedent had any money.
To prove the element of intent to deprive for theft, the State does not need to prove that an actual deprivation occurred. See Rowland v. State, 744 S.W.2d 610, 612 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988). What is relevant is the defendant's intent at the time of the taking, rather than the actual length of deprivation. See id.; see also Griffin v. State, 614 S.W.2d 155, 159 (Tex.Crim.App. 1981)(The element which must be proved is not a deprivation, but the defendant's intent to deprive at the time of the taking). Such intent may be inferred from the words, actions, or conduct of the accused. McGee v. State, 774 S.W.2d 229, 234 (Tex.Crim.App. 1989); Banks v. State, 471 S.W.2d 811, 812 (Tex.Crim.App. 1971). A theft conviction cannot be obtained on proof that the defendant intended only a temporary withholding of the property. Griffin, 614 S.W.2d at 158. However, the fact that the deprivation later became temporary does not automatically mean that there was no intent to deprive permanently or for so long as to satisfy the statutory definition. Id. at 159, citing Draper v. State, 539 S.W.2d 61, 68 (Tex.Crim.App. 1976).
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the verdict, the evidence shows that Appellant got into Mendivil's pickup truck and while driving away from the area, ran over Mendivil. When the truck became stuck on a cement barrier, several witnesses came over to assist Appellant. Appellant told one of the witnesses that he had recently bought the truck. In his statement, Appellant stated that he drove the truck home around 1 a.m. After his sister told him to leave the house, he drove out to Fabens and Tornillo for the next two hours. Appellant then returned to El Paso, drove to the house of his friend's sister, drove to his friend's house, drove the sister back home, and then "cruised around for awhile" with his friend. Appellant returned home around 7:30 a.m. Appellant then left his home again and took his friend home. Appellant returned home again and then left to give one of his sisters a ride to her friend's house. When he returned home for a final time, he parked the truck at a nearby park and left it there. Appellant was later arrested in his home. Appellant admitted that he had taken certain items from the truck, which he had thrown in the trash. Appellant had also taken Mendivil's cell phone, but did not know where he had left it. From this evidence any rational trier of fact could have inferred that Appellant intended to keep Mendivil's property, specifically his truck, for an extended period of time, if not permanently. Appellant represented to another that the truck belonged to him. Appellant drove the truck to numerous destinations, both outside and inside of El Paso. While Appellant left the truck at a nearby park and went home, his statement indicates that he then remained at home until his house was raided and he was arrested. We conclude that any rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant committed capital murder by running over Mendivil in the course of aggravated robbery and had the intent to deprive Mendivil of his property at the time of the taking.
After considering all the evidence in a neutral light, we conclude that the evidence supporting the verdict, including the inferential evidence of Appellant's intent at the time he took Mendivil's property, is not too weak to support the finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, we conclude that the contrary evidence is not so strong that guilt could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Having found that the evidence was both legally and factually sufficient to sustain Appellant's conviction, we overrule Issues Nine and Ten.
Having overruled all of Appellant's remaining issues for review, we affirm the trial court's judgment.
November 15, 2007
DAVID WELLINGTON CHEW, Chief Justice
Before Chew, C.J., McClure, and Carr, JJ.
(Do Not Publish)
1. Cruz v. State, 224 S.W.3d 226 (Tex.App.--El Paso 2005, pet. granted).
2. From the record, it is clear that Appellant's counsel was not prohibited from discussing the applicable law and requisite culpable mental states of intentional, reckless, and criminally negligent.
3. As already noted, defense counsel proffered four specific questions: (1) Is this a crime?; (2) What crime?; (3) Do you need more facts?; and (4) What do you need to know? On appeal, Appellant's purported second question appears to be a composite of questions (3) and (4).