11th Court of Appeals
Eastland, Texas
Opinion
Michael Edward Marsh
Appellant
Vs. No. 11-00-00250-CR -- Appeal from Dallas County
State of Texas
Appellee
The jury convicted Michael Edward Marsh of indecency with a child, assessed his punishment at confinement for four years, and recommended that he be placed on community supervision. The trial court placed appellant on community supervision for a period of 10 years, subject to conditions which included 180 days of confinement in the county jail, registration as a sex offender, and no contact with anyone 17 years of age or younger. We affirm.
Background Facts
Appellant was a track coach and teacher at Mesquite High School, and complainant was a 16-year-old female student at the school. The principal issues at trial were whether appellant touched complainant=s Abreast@ and, if so, whether the touching was done Awith intent to arouse or gratify@ his sexual desire. The State called several former students to prove other acts of bad conduct by appellant.
One of the principal issues on appeal is whether the testimony of those former students should have been excluded under TEX.R.EVID. 404(a)[1] or if it was properly admitted under TEX.R.EVID. 404(b)[2] to show appellant=s motive, opportunity, intent, and plan. The trial court also ruled under TEX.R.EVID. 403 that the probative value of the evidence was not Asubstantially outweighed@ by the danger of unfair prejudice.
Points of Error
Appellant presents 11 points of error. First, he argues in Point of Error No. 1 that the evidence is Alegally@ insufficient to prove that he acted with the intent to arouse and gratify his sexual desire and in Point of Error No. 2 that the evidence is Afactually@ insufficient to prove that he acted with that intent. Appellant then argues in Point of Error No. 3 that the evidence is Afactually@ insufficient to prove that there was Acontact between [his] hand and [her] breast.@
In Points of Error Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, appellant argues that the trial court erred by permitting the Aextraneous offense@ testimony; in Point of Error No. 10 that the trial court erred in providing the jury with an excerpt of testimony from the police officer; and in Point of Error No. 11 that the trial court abused its discretion by Alimiting@ the testimony which was provided to the jury.
Sufficiency of Evidence
Complainant, C.P.A., testified that she was 17 years old at the time of trial; that she was a senior at Mesquite High School; that she first met appellant when he was a teacher-coach at the middle school which she attended; that, during her junior year in high school, she had one class in a portable building near the portable building where appellant taught; that she would see him on her way to and from her sixth period class; that there would be a lot of visiting between classes; that she and appellant would give each other a hug; and that those hugs were Amutual@ and Aokay@ with her. Complainant also testified that, just before the Thanksgiving break, appellant gave her a moth in a ziplock bag because she was thinking about becoming a doctor or a veterinarian, that she wrote him a Athank-you@ note for giving her the moth, and that at that time she Areally liked@ appellant.
Complainant then testified that, before the second semester began, appellant=s hugs started getting longer and that, when she was ready to let go, Ahe wasn=t.@ Complainant said the hugs started Afeeling a little strange.@ Complainant testified that, after the second semester began, appellant asked her to go home with him; that she Ajust kind of laughed it off@; that he called her Aa chicken@; that appellant mentioned something about her Alooking cute pregnant@; and that she felt like appellant was Aflirting@ with her. Complainant also testified that one day, when she told him that she was Ahaving a really bad day,@ appellant began to give her a massage while there were Apeople all around@; that he Astarted moving lower and lower@ until he was right on the top of her breast; that she walked off; that it Awas really weird@; that she tried to ignore the massage thing; and that appellant asked her to write him a note. Her testimony on direct examination by the prosecutor continued in relevant part as shown:
Q: What kind of note did he want you to write?
A: I said, AWhat for?@ [And he said]: AWell, write about the massage that you owe me since you walked away.@
* * *
Q: [D]id you ever give [him a note saying that you would give him a massage]?
A: I gave it to him the next day before sixth period.
* * *
Q: What happened after sixth period?
A: After sixth period I saw him as normal and had a conversation, walked him to his car. And he said that the note wasn=t juicy enough for him.
Q: Were those his words, Ajuicy enough@?
A: Yes.
* * *
A: Yes. I wrote him a note telling him that he was making me feel uncomfortable and that since it was so rare that I am uncomfortable around people, that it was making me concerned.
Q: Okay. Once you did that did things stop?
A: No. I gave him that note right before sixth period. After seventh period he came up to me and was like, ASo what you are saying, you rather do it in person?@
* * *
Q: How did you [handle the situation]?
A: I wrote a note to Mr. Richardson, our vice principal.
* * *
Q: [R]ead that to the jury, please.
A: AMr. Richardson, I am giving you a copy of a letter given to Coach Marsh from me. In doing so I am trusting you that you will keep it confidential unless otherwise instructed by me. He has been a great friend to me just as you are but he has [been] taking it a bit too far.@
AI wrote him a previous note saying almost exactly what the enclosed note says. This time if the problem still persists I will come to you in person with my copy of the note. If it does not persist I will simply tell you that everything is better and then you can toss the note.@
AIf you want any further info, let me know. Thank you for allowing me to trust you. Sincerely, [complainant].@
* * *
Q: The second one, could you read the note to Coach Marsh, please?
A: ACoach Marsh, I have done quite a bit of thinking lately and when I started to think about you lots of questions went through my mind. First of all, I don=t mean for you to get the wrong impression. By that I mean our friendship isn=t exactly a conventional student-teacher relationship.@
AI hope I=m not the only one seeing that situation that way. Now, in some ways I wouldn=t mind the situation accelerating but in other ways I=m not so sure. You are a wonderful man and you are incredibly sweet. And I can remember your sense of humor all the way back to the seventh grade at Agnew [Middle School].@
AI do plan on being on the track team my senior year next year. When I do I want to be comfortable around you. I=m not at the point where I am uncomfortable around you. I don=t want it to get that way. Love always, [complainant].@
Q: There=s an asterisk at the bottom. What is that?
A: It says, AThink about this note.@
Q: At the top you have in parentheses, AI got my DL. Yea.@ What did you mean by that?
A: Well, at the time before I wrote this I was in driving school and I was really excited about it. He told me to let him know when I got my driver=s license so I would be able to drive over to his house.
Q: What was your purpose in giving this note to Mr. Richardson?
A: Because I knew that if it did get any further I would want somebody above me as a student to be able to say something about it, say I didn=t just make it up.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
Q: [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: You said that at some point you began to be afraid; is that correct?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: When was that?
A: After he started making comments to me and...said I was going to give him a massage...and said [the note] wasn=t juicy enough for him.
* * *
Q: On that date on January 21st when you claim he gave you the massage was he by himself or were there other students?
A: When he gave the massage there were other students around.
* * *
Q: And you said that at some point you felt the massage went over long and he began to move his hands down to the top part of your chest; is that correct?
A: Yes.
Q: Would you show me with the flat of your hand how far down your chest he came?
A: Right here, right there.
Q: Okay. Did he actually cup your breasts in any way?
A: No.
Q: Okay. Did he rub his hands on your breasts in any way?
A: Yes.
Q: So he actually rubbed his hands back and forth on your breasts?
A: Yes, right here and then I walked away.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION
Q: What about what were you thinking when [appellant] was massaging your shoulders and your breasts?
A: I was like, AOh, my gosh. This teacher is touching my boobs.@ (Emphasis added)
Complainant=s testimony, when considered with the Aextraneous offense@ testimony discussed under Points of Error Nos. 4 through 9, is sufficient to prove that appellant=s indecent contact was intentional (not done by accident or mistake) and that the touching was done with the intent to gratify his sexual desire, as part of his plan to seduce her. Complainant=s testimony is also sufficient to show that appellant=s hand touched her breasts because Aflesh-to-flesh contact@ is not required to prove an indecent touching. See, e.g., Resnick v. State, 574 S.W.2d 558, 560 (Tex.Cr.App.1978).
The evidence is Alegally@ sufficient under the test stated in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). See also Margraves v. State, 34 S.W.3d 912, 917 (Tex.Cr.App.2000). The evidence is Afactually@ sufficient under the test stated in Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 129 (Tex.Cr.App.1996). See also Wilson v. State, 7 S.W.3d 136, 141 (Tex.Cr.App.1999). The jury is the exclusive judge of the credibility of the witnesses and of the weight to be given to their testimony. Margraves v. State, supra; Barnes v. State, 876 S.W.2d 316, 321 (Tex.Cr.App.), cert. den=d, 513 U.S. 861 (1994). Points of Error Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are overruled.
Testimony About AExtraneous@ Bad Acts
Appellant argues in Points of Error Nos. 4 and 6 that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence proof of his sexual relationships with L.H. and with L.F. Appellant also argues in Points of Error Nos. 5 and 7 that the probative value of the testimony about appellant=s sexual relationships with L.H. and with L.F. was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Appellant argues in Point of Error No. 8 that the cumulative effect of the admission of testimony from L.H., L.F., and other former students about Asexual misconduct and inappropriate sexual behavior@ constituted reversible error. Appellant argues in Point of Error No. 9 that the cumulative effect of the testimony by L.H., L.F., and other former students was Ahighly prejudicial@ and amounted to reversible error.
L.H. was 25 years old at the time of trial. She testified that appellant was her track coach during her last two years in high school and that she was 17 years old the first time he massaged her shoulders. They later entered into a sexual relationship. She would skip school and go to his apartment where they would have sex. L.H. testified that appellant was Avery forward and suggestive@ and that he Ainitiated the relationship in every way@ while she was in high school. She also testified that, Aat the time,@ she was happy to be in the sexual relationship with him. The relationship started with him fondling her breasts and fondling her vagina, and Athen it became more oral sex.@ They later had sexual intercourse Abefore a work-out.@ This relationship continued until she finished high school and into her college years. It ended when he got engaged and then started again after the separation before his divorce.
L.F. was 22 years old at the time of trial. She was 17 years old when she met appellant at Mesquite High School. She said that appellant would give her Areal tight@ hugs at school. After she broke up with her boyfriend, appellant gave her his telephone number and told her: AIf you need someone to talk to, you know I=m here for you.@ He offered to help her get into better shape, and she was flattered that a coach would be interested in her. When she was 18 years old, he took her out to eat, and then they went to his apartment. Appellant started by rubbing her shoulders, and then Aone thing led to another.@ Appellant Agave [her] oral sex.@ Appellant asked her if she wanted to come to bed with him, and she stopped because she Adidn=t feel right.@
M. G. was 17 years old at the time of trial. She was a friend of complainant while they were students at Mesquite High School, and she identified the notes which were written back and forth between the two of them while appellant was making complainant uncomfortable. Those notes were introduced into evidence at trial. M.G. said that she told complainant to tell appellant to Aknock off what he was doing@ or that she was going to tell the principal on him. M.G. said that complainant was Astruggling with this.@
K.A.D. was 16 years old at the time of trial. She and complainant were friends in the tenth grade. K.A.D. said that she told complainant Ato take action@and to notify someone who could Aactually do something about it.@ K.A.D. said that complainant was talking about appellant.
Marsha Lee Glenn was a high school teacher. Before her present teaching assignment, she taught at Mesquite High School. Glenn testified that complainant had a conversation with her about why she did not want to leave the portable classroom until appellant had passed. Glenn testified that complainant said that: A[H]e put his hands on her, that he couldn=t keep his hands off other girls and it grossed her out.@
J.N.K. was 20 years old at the time of trial. Appellant was her cross-country track coach while she was a student at Mesquite High School. During her senior year, he wanted to take her out to eat. She had a tongue ring at that time, and he was talking about it. He said: AI heard that=s good for oral sex.@ When she said that she did not know, he said: AWhy don=t you try it out on me.@ This conversation was in front of his portable classroom. J.N.K. testified on cross-examination that appellant never grabbed her breasts, that he did not give her any massages, and that he never asked her to come to his house.
J.D. was 20 years old at the time of trial. She quit Mesquite High School when she was 16 years old. Appellant was her track coach. At first she thought appellant was a great guy, but then she got uncomfortable with him. He would say Agood job,@ and he would Apat [her] on the rear@ when she ran across the finish line. J.D. also testified that appellant would Aslide his hand over [her] breast@ and that it would make her uncomfortable. J.D. testified that she quit school because she was Auncomfortable@ seeing appellant in the hallways.
E.R.S. was 17 years old at the time of trial. Appellant was her track coach at Mesquite High School. When she was 15, appellant asked her to write him notes and to make them Ajuicy.@ E.R.S. testified that one morning she and another 15-year-old friend were at the stadium to practice. They saw appellant, and he put a grape in Aone of [their] mouths.@ They noticed that Ahe had a hard on.@ On cross-examination, E.R.S. testified that appellant never touched her breasts and never gave her a massage.
N.M.G. was 18 years old at the time of trial. When she was a sophomore at Mesquite High School, appellant was one of her teachers. One day, she wore a long dress to school, and appellant looked at her from her Ahead to toes@ and said: AYou look sexy today.@ She said that he looked at her like a teenage boy would look at her. On cross-examination, she testified that he did not massage her or ask her to write him notes. She also said that appellant had her removed from his class after she talked to the school office about the comment he made about her dress.
Catherine Bauer was a teacher at Mesquite High School. She testified that appellant was Aoverly friendly with the female students,@ that he would put his arms around them, and that he would rub their backs.
Norma Joyce Cruson was a teacher at Mesquite High School. She testified that, when she had the duty to watch the halls, she saw appellant interact with female students in an inappropriate way. For example, Apulling a student close to him, looking at her in the face and getting really serious,@ when the girl was not wanting to have eye contact with him and trying to avoid him. She saw him do that with more than one girl. She also heard him say to a female student: ALooking hot today. Looking fine. Want some of that.@ On cross-examination, she said that she had seen him hug students but that she had not seen him massage students.
The trial court gave the following instruction to the jury before testimony by L.H. and again before testimony by L.F.:
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you are instructed that if there is testimony regarding the defendant=s having committed bad acts other than the offense alleged against him in the indictment in this case, you cannot consider said testimony for any purpose unless you find and believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed such other bad acts, if any were committed, and even then you may only consider the same in determining the intent, opportunity, plan or scheme of the defendant, if any, in connection with the offense alleged against him in the indictment in this case and for no other purpose. (Emphasis added)
That instruction was also included in the court=s written ACharge of the Court@which was given to the jury.
The trial court did not err by admitting into evidence proof of appellant=s sexual relationship with L.H. and proof of his sexual relationship with L.F. The cumulative effect of the admission of that testimony, together with testimony by the other former students, did not constitute reversible error. Even though this testimony was prejudicial to appellant=s defense, its probative value was not Asubstantially outweighed@ by the danger of Aunfair prejudice.@ Points of Error Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are overruled.
Testimony Read to the Jury
During its deliberations on the first phase of trial, the jury sent a note to the court saying: AThe panel is in conflict regarding the definition of >breast area.= Request reading from testimony.@ The jury=s note also said that there was a conflict on complainant=s testimony as to Ahow far down@ appellant=s hands went and as to what she said (whether she used the word Aboobs@). The trial court had the court reporter type this portion of the testimony and sent it to the jury:
[DURING CROSS-EXAMINATION OF DETECTIVE SHANE CANNON BY DEFENSE COUNSEL]:
A: What I am saying and what I told the grand jury, top of her breasts which is under the neck bone here and lower down onto her breasts which is all considered the breast area, according to the encyclopedia.
[DURING DIRECT EXAMINATION OF COMPLAINANT BY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY]:
Q: Tell them what happened.
A: And somehow I got turned around. I don=t know if I did it or he did it, whatever. But he started giving me a massage and then he started moving lower and lower until he was right on the top of my breast and I walked off.
Q: When he was giving you a massage where was he touching at first?
A: He started on the top of my shoulders.
Q: Then you said he went lower and lower. Was he going down the front of - - the front of your chest to your breast?
A: Yes.
Q: Did he in fact touch your breast?
A: He touched the top of my breast, yes.
Q: Was he massaging when he did that?
A: Yes.
Q: Did you stand there? What did you do?
A: I walked off. (Emphasis added)
[DURING RECROSS EXAMINATION OF COMPLAINANT BY DEFENSE COUNSEL]:
Q: Now, ma=am, would you stand over here in front of the jury? Would you move your hands on a flat plane down to the lowest point where [appellant] had any contact with your dress or clothing?
[PROSECUTOR]: I ask her [to] take her coat off for the demonstration.
THE COURT: If you would do so.
A: (Removes coat) Right here.
Q: Thank you, ma=am. You may re-take your seat.
[PROSECUTOR]: May the record reflect that was on the child=s breast right above the nipples.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I object to that. I think they=re asking the Court to comment on the evidence.
THE COURT: The record will reflect only what the record reflects.
[REDIRECT EXAMINATION OF COMPLAINANT BY PROSECUTOR]:
Q: What were you thinking when he was massaging your shoulders and your breasts?
A: I was like, AOh, my gosh. This teacher is touching my boobs.@
Appellant=s trial counsel objected when the court showed counsel the testimony which was transcribed and sent to the jury. The trial court overruled that objection, on its interpretation of the jury=s note as showing that the jury was Ain conflict@ as to testimony regarding the definition of Abreast area.@ The court said: A[T]hat is exactly what the testimony is, is a definition of >breast area.=@ Appellant=s trial counsel also made an Aadditional objection@ to the last portion of Detective Cannon=s testimony which said: A[A]ccording to the encyclopedia.@ The court ruled that: AAs that was part of the answer, your...objection is overruled.@ The trial court did not abuse its discretion in deciding the area of the jury=s disagreement and in furnishing the jury with the transcribed testimony which is quoted. See and compare: Robison v. State, 888 S.W.2d 473, 480-81 (Tex.Cr.App.1994), cert. den=d, 515 U.S. 1162 (1995); Brown v. State, 870 S.W.2d 53, 55 (Tex.Cr.App.1994). Point of Error No. 10 is overruled.
Requested Testimony Not Read to the Jury
Appellant argues in his final point of error that the trial court erred in not giving the jury testimony by K.A.D. about what complainant told her about where appellant had touched her. The jury had requested complainant=s testimony Aon the massage - how far down hands went before she left.@ The jury did not request other witnesses= testimony about what complainant had told them. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to submit the testimony from K.A.D. Point of Error No. 11 is overruled.
This Court=s Ruling
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
BOB DICKENSON
SENIOR JUSTICE
September 20, 2001
Do not publish. See TEX.R.APP.P. 47.3(b).
Panel consists of: Arnot, C.J., and
McCall, J., and Dickenson, S.J.[3]
[1]Rule 404(a) provides that evidence of a person=s character is not admissible for the purpose of Aproving action in conformity therewith@ with certain exceptions, including those listed in Rule 404(b).
[2]Rule 404(b) provides that evidence of other Acrimes, wrongs, or acts@ may be admissible to prove Amotive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.@
[3]Bob Dickenson, Retired Justice, Court of Appeals, 11th District of Texas at Eastland sitting by assignment.