NO. 12-08-00267-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS
KENNETH DOUGLAS CAPEHART, § APPEAL FROM THE 402ND
APPELLANT
V. § JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
APPELLEE § WOOD COUNTY, TEXAS
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Kenneth Douglas Capehart appeals his conviction for theft. In two issues, Appellant argues
that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support his conviction. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
Appellant was charged by indictment with theft, a third degree felony.1 More specifically,
the indictment alleged that Appellant unlawfully appropriated, by acquiring and otherwise
exercising control over property, three Lufkin pump jacks and one 210 gallon storage tank, valued
at $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, from the owner without his effective consent and with
the intent to deprive the owner of the property. The indictment also included an enhancement
paragraph alleging that Appellant had been convicted of a felony prior to the commission of this
offense.2 Appellant pleaded “not guilty.”
1
See T EX . P EN AL C O D E A N N . § 31.03(a), (e)(5) (Vernon Supp 2008).
2
See T EX . P EN AL C O D E A N N . § 12.42(a)(3) (Vernon Supp. 2008). If it is shown on the trial of a third
degree felony that the defendant has been once before convicted of a felony, on conviction he shall be punished for a
second degree felony. Id.
At trial, Jerry Caviness testified that he is the field supervisor or pumper for PO & G oil
company and oversees production at a Wood County, Texas property. He stated that this property
is a central facility tank battery or, in other words, a yard storage facility (the “yard”). Caviness
stated that there are oil tanks, water tanks, vessels, pumping units, repair pipe, and structural pipe
at the yard. He admitted there is scrap metal and equipment at the yard that has been there for
years, and that, on occasion, it is overgrown with grass and weeds. In September of 2007,
Caviness asked Pete Ed Moss to clean up the yard, haul off the scrap metal and junk, and keep the
proceeds. He testified that he walked through the yard with Moss and pointed out what was
“good” and what was scrap. Further, he told Moss that all of the scrap, except for some pipe, was
located on the north side of the yard.3 He stated that there were two storage tanks at the yard, one
210 barrel “good” tank and one 400 barrel scrap tank. Caviness stated that he specifically told
Moss to take a separator along with the scrap storage tank, identified as standing up, containing
large holes, and approximately twenty feet tall. However, he never gave Moss permission to take
the “good” storage tank, identified as laying on its side. Although Caviness was aware that Moss
was working with someone, he did not know who it was.
At one point, Caviness noticed the “good” storage tank was missing and attempted to
contact Moss. Approximately two weeks later and after being away from the yard for eight days,
he noticed four Lufkin 160 pump jacks were missing, three units of which were complete,
working, and usable. Caviness said he did not give Appellant, Moss, or anyone else permission
to take the pump jacks or the “good” storage tank from the yard. On November 10, 2007, he
reported the theft of the pump jacks.
Stephen Pfeifer testified that he is the owner of an oil company and that the company’s
central office is in Houston, Texas. He stated that the company acquired the property in Wood
County, Texas operated by PO & G. Pfeifer was aware that Caviness authorized Moss to take a
separator, but was not told that Caviness was cleaning up the yard. He testified that, in November
2007, there were three pump jacks with spare parts on the Wood County property, but admitted
that weeds were growing over those pump jacks. He stated that, on November 10, 2007, Caviness
informed him that these three pump jacks had been taken from the yard. Although Caviness
3
Appellant makes no claim that the property described in the indictment was located on the north side of
the yard.
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located the pump jacks, Pfeifer testified that key components had already been lost, taken off, or
cut up for scrap.
Pete Ed Moss testified that he runs a bulldozer and works in construction. He stated that
in September 2007 Caviness gave him “a bunch of junk” along a fence row. According to Moss,
Caviness showed him “exactly what to get,” including a large rusted tank and a separator. He took
Appellant to the yard, telling Appellant that he would split the proceeds with him if he helped haul
the scrap. However, Moss could not recall what he told Appellant about what they were taking
from the yard. He and Appellant worked for about two thirds of a day, took the scrap they
gathered to a scrap yard in Tomball, and sold it. After that day, he never went back to the yard.
Moss recalled telling Appellant that Caviness gave him a large rusted tank and, because he began
running a bulldozer on another job, told Appellant to talk to Caviness about the tank. He also
might have told Appellant to talk to Caviness about the separator. Moss testified that he never
gave Appellant permission to take three pump jacks from the yard nor did Caviness give Moss
permission to take those pump jacks. Further, he could not recall if the scrap he hauled that day
contained parts of pump jacks. He stated that he took the scrap Caviness gave him that was “up
that fence row,” which may or may not have included small parts of a pump jack.
Robert Reagan testified that Appellant asked him to help clean up the yard in Wood
County. He took his truck, trailer, and tractor to the yard and stated that he and Appellant were
the only ones cleaning up the yard. While there, Appellant told him what was to be hauled off and
specifically told him to leave some rods and good pipes. As they were working, Reagan noticed
pumping units and stated that he hauled three pump jacks from the Wood County yard to a scrap
yard between Sulphur Springs and Como. Michael Edward Rogers testified that he works for PO
& G as a pumper. He stated that he goes through the yard in Wood County twice a day for
approximately ten minutes. Rogers stated that Moss met Caviness at the yard one morning in
September 2007 and that, although he saw Moss at the yard again shortly thereafter, he did not see
Moss hauling any scrap out of the yard. He said he saw Appellant at the yard twice, but did not
believe that he talked to Appellant about what he was removing from the yard. Rogers saw
Appellant working on a big tank, getting it ready to move. He believed that there were about three
pump jacks at the yard, only one of which looked to be in good working condition, and all of
which had weeds and grass growing around them. Rogers denied giving anyone permission to take
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three pump jacks nor did he see Moss take those pump jacks. He also denied giving Appellant
permission to take the pump jacks or the “good” storage tank.
Richard Reed testified that he is the owner of Reed Scrap Yard in Hopkins County, Texas.
On November 10, 2007, he bought some oilfield scrap from Appellant including pump jacks. He
identified the scrap as being the pump jacks depicted in photographs admitted by the State. Reed
also stated that Moss was not with Appellant when Appellant sold the pump jacks to him. After
the trial concluded, the jury found Appellant guilty of theft, $20,000 or more, but less than
$100,000, as charged in the indictment and assessed his punishment at twenty years of
imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.4 This appeal followed.
EVIDENTIARY SUFFICIENCY
In his first and second issues, Appellant argues that the evidence is legally and factually
insufficient to support his conviction. More specifically, he contends that the State’s evidence fails
to establish that he formed the alleged intent to deprive the owner of the property. Instead, he
argues, the evidence supports his mistake of fact regarding the items to be removed from the
property.
Standard of Review
“Legal sufficiency is the constitutional minimum required by the Due Process Clause of
the Fourteenth Amendment to sustain a criminal conviction.” Escobedo v. State, 6 S.W.3d 1, 6
(Tex. App.–San Antonio 1999, pet. ref’d) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 315-16, 99
S. Ct. 2781, 2786-88, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979)). The standard of review is whether any rational
trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S. Ct. at 2789; LaCour v. State, 8 S.W.3d 670, 671 (Tex. Crim. App.
2000). The evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict. Jackson, 443 U.S. at
319, 99 S. Ct. at 2789; LaCour, 8 S.W.3d at 671. The conviction will be sustained “unless it is
found to be irrational or unsupported by more than a ‘mere modicum’ of the evidence.” Moreno
v. State, 755 S.W.2d 866, 867 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). The jury is the sole judge of the credibility
of witnesses and of the weight to be given their testimony. Barnes v. State, 876 S.W.2d 316, 321
4
An individual adjudged guilty of a second degree felony shall be punished by imprisonment for any term
of not more than twenty years or less than two years and, in addition, a fine not to exceed $10,000. T EX . P ENAL
C O D E A N N . § 12.33 (Vernon 2003).
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(Tex. Crim. App. 1994). Any reconciliation of conflicts and contradictions in the evidence is
entirely within the jury’s domain. Losada v. State, 721 S.W.2d 305, 309 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986).
If a reviewing court finds the evidence legally insufficient to support a conviction, the result is an
acquittal. Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 41-42, 102 S. Ct. 2211, 2217-18, 72 L. Ed. 2d 652
(1982).
In conducting a factual sufficiency review of the evidence supporting the jury’s verdict, we
consider all of the evidence weighed by the jury that tends to prove the existence of the elemental
fact in dispute and compare it to the evidence that tends to disprove that fact. See Santellan v.
State, 939 S.W.2d 155, 164 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). Ultimately, we must ask whether a neutral
review of all the evidence, both for and against the finding, demonstrates that the proof of guilt is
so obviously weak as to undermine our confidence in the jury’s determination, or the proof of
guilt, although adequate if taken alone, is greatly outweighed by contrary proof. Johnson v. State,
23 S.W.3d 1, 11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); see also Ortiz v. State, 93 S.W.3d 79, 87 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2002) (verdict will be set aside “only if the evidence supporting guilt is so obviously weak,
or the contrary evidence so overwhelmingly outweighs the supporting evidence, as to render the
conviction clearly wrong and manifestly unjust”); see Sims v. State, 99 S.W.3d 600, 601 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2003). A clearly wrong and manifestly unjust verdict occurs where the jury’s finding
“shocks the conscience” or “clearly demonstrates bias.” Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 648
(Tex. Crim. App. 1996).
Although we are authorized to disagree with the jury’s determination, even if probative
evidence exists that supports the verdict, see Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 133 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1996), our evaluation should not substantially intrude upon the jury’s role as the sole judge
of the weight and credibility of witness testimony. Santellan, 939 S.W.2d at 164. It is not enough
that we might harbor a subjective level of reasonable doubt to overturn a conviction that is founded
on legally sufficient evidence. See Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 417 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
Where there is conflicting evidence, the jury’s verdict on such matters is generally regarded as
conclusive. See Van Zandt v. State, 932 S.W.2d 88, 96 (Tex. App.–El Paso 1996, pet. ref’d). We
cannot declare that a conflict in the evidence justifies a new trial simply because we disagree with
the jury’s resolution of the conflict. See Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 417.
Further, in order to evaluate factual sufficiency, we should measure elements of the offense
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as defined in a hypothetically correct jury charge for the case. Grotti v. State, 273 S.W.3d 273,
280 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). This charge accurately promulgates the law, is authorized by the
indictment, does not unnecessarily increase the state’s burden of proof or restrict the state’s
theories of liability, and adequately describes the particular offense for which the defendant was
tried. Id. at 280-81.
Applicable Law
A person commits an offense if he unlawfully appropriates property with intent to deprive
the owner of the property. TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 31.03(a) (Vernon Supp. 2008).
Appropriation of property is unlawful if it is without the owner’s effective consent. Id.
§ 31.03(b)(1). “Appropriate” means to acquire or otherwise exercise control over property other
than real property. Id. § 31.01(4)(B) (Vernon Supp. 2008). It is a defense to prosecution that the
actor through mistake formed a reasonable belief about a matter of fact if his mistaken belief
negated the kind of culpability required for commission of the offense. TEX . PENAL CODE ANN .
§ 8.02(a) (Vernon 2003). “Kind of culpability” means “culpable mental state.” Beggs v. State,
597 S.W.2d 375, 378 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980).
A defendant’s exclusive and unexplained possession of property recently stolen permits
an inference that the defendant is the one who committed the offense. Rollerson v. State, 227
S.W.3d 718, 725 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Poncio v. State, 185 S.W.3d 904, 905 (Tex. Crim. App.
2006). An accused’s intent at the time of an incident must usually be inferred from circumstantial
evidence rather than direct proof. Scott v. State, 202 S.W.3d 405, 408 (Tex. App.–Texarkana
2006, pet. ref’d) (citing Hernandez v. State, 819 S.W.2d 806, 810 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991)).
Analysis
In his brief, Appellant argues that the evidence supports his mistake of fact regarding what
was to be removed from the Wood County property. Appellant contends that the State failed to
establish that he knew the three pump jacks and the “good” storage tank were not to be removed.
However, the evidence shows that Caviness told Moss to clean up the yard and specifically told
him that, except for some pipe, all of the scrap metal was located on the north side of the yard. He
also gave Moss permission to take the separator and the scrap storage tank, but never gave him
permission to take three pump jacks or the “good” storage tank. On November 10, 2007, Caviness
reported that three pump jacks, along with the “good” storage tank, were missing from the yard.
6
Pfeifer testified that he was aware that Caviness gave Moss permission to take a separator from
the yard. He also stated that before this incident, three pump jacks with spare parts were at the
yard. Moss testified that the scrap given to him by Caviness was along a fence row. He told
Appellant that Caviness gave him a large rusted tank and to talk to Caviness about the tank and,
possibly, the separator. Moss testified that he never gave Appellant permission to take three pump
jacks from the yard. Further, after that day, he never returned to the yard.
Reagan stated that Appellant told him what was to be removed from the yard and recalled
hauling three pump jacks from the yard. Rogers testified that he never gave Appellant permission
to take three pump jacks or the “good” storage tank from the yard. Reed testified that, on
November 10, 2007, he bought some oilfield scrap from Appellant that included pump jacks. He
also stated that Moss was not with Appellant when the sale was conducted. Thus, the evidence
shows that none of the witnesses–Caviness, Pfeifer, Moss, or Rogers–gave Appellant permission
to take three pump jacks and the “good” storage tank. Further, shortly after the theft was reported,
the pump jacks were located in a scrap yard after being sold by Appellant. See Rollerson, 227
S.W.3d at 725; Poncio, 185 S.W.3d at 905. Because Appellant removed the pump jacks and the
“good” storage tank from the yard and sold them, we conclude that he formed the requisite intent
to exercise control over the property. See Scott, 202 S.W.3d at 408. Viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the jury’s verdict, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found
the elements of theft beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the evidence is legally sufficient to
support Appellant’s conviction.
Having determined that the evidence is legally sufficient to support the verdict, we address
factual sufficiency and consider the record in its entirety. See Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 11.
Caviness testified that he only showed Moss what scrap was to be removed from the yard, and did
not know who was working with Moss. Moss could not recall what he told Appellant regarding
what was to be removed from the yard. Reagan testified that Appellant specifically told him to
leave some rods and good pipes in the yard. Rogers did not believe he talked to Appellant
regarding what he was taking from the yard. Contrary to the verdict, Moss’s inability to recall
what he told Appellant about what was to be taken from the yard may cast doubt on Appellant’s
belief regarding what was to be removed. However, the jury may choose to believe some
testimony and disbelieve other testimony. See Losada 721 S.W.2d at 309. Here, the jury
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determined the credibility of the witnesses and resolved the evidentiary inconsistencies in the
State’s favor, which is its prerogative as fact finder.
Having reviewed the record in its entirety, we conclude that the jury was entitled to find
Appellant guilty of theft. Our review of the record as a whole, with consideration given to all of
the evidence, both for and against the jury’s finding, has not revealed to us any evidence that
causes us to conclude that the proof of guilt is so obviously weak or is otherwise so greatly
outweighed by contrary proof as to render Appellant’s conviction clearly wrong or manifestly
unjust. See Ortiz, 93 S.W.3d at 87; Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 11; Jones, 944 S.W.2d at 648.
Consequently, the evidence is factually sufficient for the jury to find Appellant guilty of theft as
alleged in the indictment. Accordingly, Appellant’s first and second issues are overruled.
DISPOSITION
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
JAMES T. WORTHEN
Chief Justice
Opinion delivered June 30, 2009.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.
(DO NOT PUBLISH)
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