Affirmed and Memorandum Majority and Concurring Opinions filed May 20, 2004.
In The
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
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NO. 14-02-01179-CR
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BYRON WILSON HILDRETH, JR., Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
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On Appeal from the 184th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 888,614
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M E M O R A N D U M M A J O R I T Y O P I N I O N
Byron Wilson Hildreth, Jr. appeals a conviction for indecency with a child[1] on the grounds that: (1) the evidence was legally and factually insufficient; and (2) he was denied effective assistance of counsel. We affirm.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
Appellant=s first and second points of error contend that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to prove that he touched the complainant intentionally or with the intent to gratify himself sexually.
Evidence is legally insufficient if, viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, no rational trier of fact could find the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); Rayford v. State, 125 S.W.3d 521, 526 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003), petition for cert. filed, ___ U.S.L.W. ___ (U.S. April 26, 2004) (No. 03-10038). Evidence is factually insufficient if, viewed in a neutral light, the proof of guilt is so obviously weak as to undermine confidence in the verdict or greatly outweighed by contrary proof. Rayford, 125 S.W.3d. at 526-27.
As relevant to this case, a person commits indecency with a child if, with the intent to arouse or gratify his sexual desire, the person touches, including through clothing, the genitals of a child younger than 17 years and not the person=s spouse. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. ' 21.11(a)(1), (c)(1) (Vernon 2003). The intent to arouse or gratify a person=s sexual desire can be inferred from his conduct, remarks, and all surrounding circumstances. Ranson v. State, 707 S.W.2d 96, 97 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). In a sufficiency review, a jury=s inference of intent is afforded more deference than evidence supporting proof of conduct. Margraves v. State, 34 S.W.3d 912, 919 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). A conviction for indecency with a child may be supported by the uncorroborated testimony of the minor victim. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.07(a) (Vernon Supp. 2004).
In this case, the evidence showing that appellant touched the complainant intentionally and with the intent to gratify himself sexually includes the complainant=s testimony that the touching occurred, even after the complainant had tried to push appellant=s hand away, and the testimony of the complainant, his brother, and his mother that: (1) after the complainant called his mother to come pick him up from appellant=s apartment, appellant sat in his recliner and cried; (2) appellant told the complainant that he (appellant) would lose his job and everything he had; (3) appellant said he couldn=t live with himself; and (4) appellant was crying uncontrollably and stated, APlease forgive me. I thought he wanted me to.@ This evidence is legally sufficient to prove the requisite intent.
As to factual sufficiency, although appellant denied touching the complainant, claimed that it was an accident, asserted that the complainant waited a long time to make an outcry, and argued that the complainant falsely accused him to cover up his own inappropriate behavior, these were matters of credibility for the jury to weigh and are not of sufficient magnitude to render the evidence factually insufficient. Accordingly, appellant=s first two points of error are overruled.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Appellant=s third and fourth points of error argue that he was denied effective assistance of counsel by his trial counsel=s failures: (1) during the guilt/innocence phase of trial to investigate the character and reputation witnesses whose names she was provided; and (2) during the punishment phase to present a meaningful case in mitigation.
The Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel is denied when a defense counsel=s performance falls below an objective standard of reasonableness, and prejudices the defense. Yarborough v. Gentry, 124 S. Ct. 1, 4 (2003). The prejudice must amount to a reasonable probability that, but for counsel=s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Wiggins v. Smith, 123 S. Ct. 2527, 2542 (2003). In assessing prejudice, we reweigh the evidence in aggravation against the totality of available mitigation evidence. Id.
At the hearing on the motion for new trial, the testimony of appellant and his parents, that they provided his counsel information with which to contact three favorable character witnesses, was controverted by the contrary testimony of appellant=s defense counsel. Appellant has provided us no basis to conclude that the trial court erred in weighing the respective credibility of these witnesses and resolving their conflicting testimony. Moreover, appellant contends that the entire case revolved around his credibility, and, accordingly, that favorable testimony from character witnesses would have encouraged the jury to think he was not lying in his testimony. However, in that the jury heard the testimony of the witnesses directly involved in the matters in issue, including appellant, it would be difficult to conclude that any such general testimony regarding appellant=s character creates a reasonable probability that a different determination regarding his guilt would have resulted from it.
With regard to appellant=s assertion of ineffective assistance for his counsel=s failure to call his parents to testify during the punishment phase of trial, his counsel testified at the motion for new trial hearing that this was a tactical decision based on the jury=s apparent rejection of their testimony during the guilt stage and her belief that testimony from a defendant=s parents is generally not persuasive to juries. Although appellant obviously disagrees with this assessment, he has provided no basis to overcome the presumption that it be considered sound trial strategy. See, e.g., Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 698, 700 (2002) (finding no ineffective assistance in failing to call the defendant=s mother during the punishment stage).
Appellant further contends that his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to subpoena a probation officer to testify regarding the supervision system that exists for those on community supervision for indecency with a child. However, he cites no decisions holding any such failure to be ineffective assistance. In addition, the jury charge listed the community supervision conditions that could be imposed by the court, as well as the consequences of a violation of those conditions, if community supervision had been imposed. Appellant=s brief does not specify how the probation officer=s testimony might have changed a juror=s mind as to recommending probation in light of the information provided in the charge. Therefore, it fails to demonstrate a reasonable probability of a different outcome on the jury=s decision not to recommend probation had the officer testified during the punishment phase. Accordingly, appellant=s third and fourth points of error are overruled, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
/s/ Richard H. Edelman
Justice
Judgment rendered and Memorandum Majority and Concurring Opinions filed May 20, 2004.
Panel consists of Justices Edelman, Frost, and Guzman. (Frost, J., concurring).
Do Not Publish C Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).
[1] A jury convicted Hildreth and sentenced him to five years confinement.