IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-04-00173-CR
David Lee Bradford,
Appellant
v.
The State of Texas,
Appellee
From the 248th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court No. 973,083
MEMORANDUM Opinion
Bradford was charged by indictment with aggravated assault. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 22.02 (Vernon Supp. 2004-05). He pled not guilty. A jury found him guilty and assessed punishment at ten years’ imprisonment. He filed a motion for new trial, asserting ineffectiveness of counsel. The trial court denied the motion after a hearing. Bradford appeals from this denial. We will overrule his issue and affirm the judgment.
BACKGROUND
Billy Peters, the complainant, testified that Bradford had been Billy’s and Billy’s wife’s drug dealer for several years. He testified that on the night of the alleged offense he and his wife went to visit a friend at the friend’s apartment complex. As the two approached the friend’s apartment, Bradford recognized Billy and called out to him. Billy ran, but Bradford and his friends caught up with him, tripped him, and began to attack him. Bradford held a gun to Billy’s head, cocked the trigger, and then pistol-whipped Billy. Bradford and his friends beat Billy severely with their hands and feet. Billy suffered fractured ribs, a punctured lung, multiple skull fractures, a ruptured spleen, and other injuries. Both Billy and his wife positively identified Bradford as the man who assaulted Billy.
Bradford testified at trial that he did not assault Billy and that he did not know Billy or his wife. Bradford’s fiancée and his fiancée’s mother testified that Bradford was at a party that day and never left the party. The friend that Billy and his wife went to visit on the night of the alleged offense testified that she witnessed part of the assault and that Bradford was not one of the men who assaulted Billy.
Bradford argues that trial counsel was ineffective because (1) he failed to call additional alibi witnesses and (2) he failed to introduce taped conversations between Bradford and Billy. To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the appellant must show that counsel’s assistance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that counsel’s deficient performance, if any, prejudiced the defendant. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2063, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). The review of defense counsel’s representation is highly deferential and presumes that counsel’s actions fell within a wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828, 833 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). The appellant must overcome the presumption that counsel’s actions might be considered sound trial strategy. Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 506 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
At the hearing on the motion for new trial, Bradford presented evidence that eight people who did not testify during his trial were available to testify and would have testified that they saw him at the party on the day that Billy was assaulted. Trial counsel was aware of at least some of these witnesses. Bradford argues that it was unreasonable for his counsel not to contact the witnesses and ascertain whether their testimony would aid the defense. Bradford also argues that it was unreasonable for his counsel to call only Bradford’s fiancée and her mother to the stand, rather than witnesses who did not have a personal relationship with him. However, Bradford’s trial counsel testified during the hearing that he did not call all of the witnesses to the stand because their testimony would be repetitive and would reveal inconsistencies. Bradford’s fiancée, her mother, and Bradford’s brother all testified that the persons at the party were all family members, with the exception of one of Bradford’s brother’s friends.[1] Under these circumstances, we cannot say that trial counsel’s decision not to call additional alibi witnesses cannot be considered sound trial strategy. Stafford, 813 S.W.2d at 506.
Bradford also argues that it was unreasonable for his counsel to not introduce taped conversations between Bradford and Billy. After Bradford told his counsel that Billy had been calling him, his counsel advised him to tape record his conversations with Billy. On the tape, Billy asks Bradford for money and offers to become an uncooperative or unavailable witness in an effort to get the case dismissed. Bradford argues that it was unreasonable for his counsel not to introduce the tapes to impeach the credibility and motives of the complaining witness. However, trial counsel testified at the hearing that he chose not to introduce the tape because it contradicted their own defense theory and because the tape contained unfavorable statements by his client. Part of Bradford’s defensive theory was that he did not know Billy. On the tape, however, the two sound as if they are on familiar terms, with Billy calling Bradford by his nickname and Bradford recognizing Billy by the sound of his voice. Trial counsel was also concerned about Bradford appearing to offer Billy money in exchange for non-prosecution. Thus trial counsel was faced with a decision whether to introduce evidence that would impugn the trustworthiness of both the complaining witness and his own client. Under these circumstances, we cannot say that trial counsel’s decision not to introduce the taped conversation cannot be considered sound trial strategy.
CONCLUSION
Having overruled the issue, we affirm the judgment.
BILL VANCE
Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Vance, and
Justice Reyna
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed June 22, 2005
Do not publish
[CR25]
[1] This friend did not testify at the hearing, but did sign an affidavit stating she was at the party and was willing to testify.