11th Court of Appeals
Eastland, Texas
Opinion
Nancy C. Kilough
Appellant
Vs. No. 11-02-00253-CR B Appeal from Callahan County
State of Texas
Appellee
The jury found appellant guilty of forgery by passing a forged check. The court assessed appellant=s punishment at confinement for one year in a state jail facility. Appellant appeals. We affirm.
In a sole point of error, appellant contends that the evidence is legally insufficient to show that appellant possessed the necessary intent to defraud or harm any person.
In order to determine if the evidence is legally sufficient, we must review all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979); Jackson v. State, 17 S.W.3d 664 (Tex.Cr.App.2000). The same standard applies in both direct and circumstantial evidence cases. Geesa v. State, 820 S.W.2d 154, 160 (Tex.Cr.App.1991). Jurors are free to use their common sense and to apply common knowledge, observation, and experience gained in the ordinary affairs of life when giving effect to the inferences that may reasonably be drawn from the evidence. Obigbo v. State, 6 S.W.3d 299, 306 (Tex.App. - Dallas 1999, no pet=n).
To prove that appellant committed forgery by passing, the State was required to show that appellant (1) with the intent to defraud or harm another (2) passed a writing (3) that purported to be the act of another (4) who did not authorize the act. See Williams v. State, 688 S.W.2d 486, 488 (Tex.Cr.App.1985).
Vivian Cauthen, an employee of Baird Drive Inn, testified that on May 4, 2000, appellant Apassed@ to her a check (No. 1219) on the account of AEdward Jones@ in the amount of $109.29. Cauthen stated that she did not see anybody sign the check and that the check was Aalready signed@ when it was handed to her by appellant. Cauthen testified that, at appellant=s request, Cauthen filled in the payee (ABDI@) and the amount (A109.29"). Cauthen also wrote appellant=s home and work telephone numbers on the check, along with the license plate number of the car that appellant was in. Cauthen stated that appellant got some merchandise and $40 in cash. Cauthen stated that appellant said that Athat was her only check and she needed to go to the dentist.@ The check had the word ALone@ written in the AMEMO@ space. The Baird Drive Inn incurred a financial loss of $109.29. When Cauthen attempted to telephone appellant, she only got an answering machine. Cauthen left a message, but appellant never answered her call.
Edward H. Jones identified Check No. 1219 as a check from his account. The check had Jones=s name, address, and check number printed on the face of the instrument. Jones testified that he did not sign the check and that he did not authorize anyone else to sign the check. He stated that he knew Awho@ appellant was and that appellant was a friend of his girlfriend=s sister. Jones stated that he last saw the check when it was in his pickup in a checkbook. Jones did not know when the checkbook was Ataken.@ Appellant did not testify and closed when the State rested.
Appellant cites Pfleging v. State, 572 S.W.2d 517, 519 (Tex.Cr.App.1978), and argues that the State failed to prove the requisite culpable mental state, Aintent to defraud or harm,@ because the State failed to prove that appellant knew that the check was forged when she passed it to Cauthen.
The circumstances in this case are Asuspicious@ enough that the jury could properly conclude that appellant knew the check was forged. Huntley v. State, 4 S.W.3d 813 (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet=n ref=d). Appellant had in her possession a check which showed to be signed by Edward Jones. The signature of Jones was forged. The check did not name a payee and was not made for a certain amount. Appellant asked Cauthen to fill in the name of the payee and the amount of the check. The check had the word ALone@ written following the AMEMO@ designation. Appellant knew that Jones had not made her a loan. This was a false statement on the check. Appellant=s statement to Cauthen that the check Awas her only check and she needed to go to the dentist@ was a false statement. The blank check (except for the forged signature of the maker) showed that it was Jones=s check, not appellant=s check. The suspicious circumstances in this case, when viewed in their totality, would permit a rational jury to conclude by the State=s circumstantial evidence that appellant knew the check was forged. The cases cited by appellant are factually distinguishable. We hold that the evidence is legally sufficient to support the conviction. Appellant=s sole point of error is overruled.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
AUSTIN McCLOUD
SENIOR JUSTICE
January 23, 2003
Do not publish. See TEX.R.APP.P. 47.2(b).
Panel consists of: Arnot, C.J., and
McCall, J., and McCloud, S.J.[1]
[1]Austin McCloud, Retired Chief Justice, Court of Appeals, 11th District of Texas at Eastland sitting by assignment.