NUMBERS
13-09-00088-CR
13-09-00089-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
ANTHONY INSCORE, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 130th District Court
of Matagorda County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Yañez and Garza
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Yañez
In appellate cause number 13-09-088-CR, a jury convicted appellant, Anthony
Inscore, of aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree felony, and assessed punishment at
life imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.1 In appellate cause number 13-09-089-CR, appellant
pleaded guilty to four counts of solicitation of capital murder, each a first-degree felony.2
The jury assessed punishment at life imprisonment and a $10,000 fine on each count, with
all sentences to run concurrently. In each cause, appellant: (1) challenges the legal and
factual sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions; and (2) contends that the trial
court erred in admitting certain punishment-phase evidence because he did not receive the
required notice. We affirm the trial court’s judgment in each cause.
I. Background
C.A., appellant’s step-daughter, was ten years old at the time of the alleged sexual
assault.3 C.A. testified that appellant had her kneel down and put his penis in her mouth.
C.A. reported to Sarah Herring, her youth caseworker, that appellant had been touching
her genital area. Herring reported the allegations to law enforcement. Charlotte Brown,
an investigator with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Department, interviewed C.A. and took
her statement. Appellant was arrested for aggravated sexual assault.
While in the Matagorda County Jail awaiting release on bond, appellant met Derek
Hiers, another inmate. Hiers testified that after both men were released, appellant
contacted him and said that he wanted to hire a hit man to kill his wife and her three
children, including C.A. According to Hiers, appellant was afraid that C.A. would be able
to identify his penis.4 Hiers contacted the police. Through several conversations which
1
See T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . § 22.021(a)(1)(B)(ii), (a)(2)(B), (e) (Vernon Supp. 2009).
2
See id. § 15.03(a), (d)(1) (Vernon 2003).
3
Pursuant to article 57.02(h) of the code of crim inal procedure, we will refer to the child victim by her
initials. See T EX . C OD E C R IM . P R O C . A N N . art. 57.02(h) (Vernon Supp. 2009).
4
Appellant’s wife testified that he is uncircum cised.
2
were recorded, Hiers arranged for appellant to meet an undercover officer posing as a “hit
man” in a motel room; the law enforcement officers video-recorded this meeting.
Appellant was tried for both offenses in one proceeding. At the beginning of trial,
before the jury, appellant pleaded “not guilty” to aggravated sexual assault and “guilty” to
four counts of solicitation of capital murder.
II. The Evidence
A. Charlotte Brown
Brown testified that in early August, 2007, she initiated an investigation of C.A.’s
outcry of sexual abuse. Brown interviewed C.A. and her mother, Melissa Inscore. Brown
testified that she learned C.A. had made a prior outcry of sexual abuse against appellant,
but that no criminal investigation occurred in connection with C.A.’s prior outcry. Instead,
C.A. was referred to Texana Center for youth counseling services. As a result of Brown’s
investigation, Melissa and her three children moved into the Women’s Crisis Center.5
Brown testified that C.A. told her that the night before her outcry to Herring, appellant had
placed her on the floor in a kneeling position and put his penis in her mouth. Based on this
information, Brown obtained a warrant for appellant’s arrest.
Brown stated that she was contacted in October 2007, with information that
appellant had contacted Hiers for help in obtaining a passport and a gun. Brown met with
Hiers on several occasions; Hiers agreed to wear “a wire” to record his conversations with
appellant. Hiers met with appellant at a Wal-Mart parking lot. Brown and other officers
5
Melissa’s children included K.B., an older fem ale, C.A., and R.A., a younger boy. In the record, K.B.
is referred to both as “K.B.” and “C.B.” In the interest of consistency, we refer to her as K.B. Although C.A.
and R.A. have the sam e father, none of the children are appellant’s biological children.
3
were able to observe the meeting and to listen to the conversation.6 At the recorded
meeting, Hiers told appellant he would find him a “hit man” to get rid of his family. Brown
stated that in early November, Hiers reported that appellant was “backing off” the plan to
have the family killed. Three weeks later, in late November, Hiers contacted Brown again
and stated that appellant wanted to proceed with the plan.7 Brown met with Hiers and
arranged a meeting at an Econo Lodge motel between appellant, Hiers, and Sergeant
Tommy Johnson, who posed as a “hit man.” The motel room was equipped with visual and
audio equipment. Brown testified that after appellant agreed to Johnson killing Melissa and
the three children in exchange for a car, the officers arrested him for solicitation of capital
murder.
On cross-examination, appellant’s counsel established that Melissa had told Brown
that she did not believe C.A.’s allegations. Brown also knew that C.A. had been diagnosed
with bipolar disorder and was taking lithium for her condition. Brown also admitted that on
the recorded conversations, appellant denied any sexual misconduct with C.A. and told
Hiers that C.A. could identify his penis because she had previously walked in on him while
he was in the bathroom.
B. Derek Hiers
Hiers testified that he met appellant in jail; appellant asked if Hiers could obtain a
gun with a silencer and a passport for him to travel to Argentina. Appellant told Hiers that
he was not guilty of the sexual abuse allegations, but that they were going to “stick it to
him.” Hiers stated that appellant contacted him after they were both released from jail and
6
CD recordings of three phone calls and a DVD and CD recording of the m eeting at the m otel were
adm itted into evidence. Also adm itted and included in the record before us are transcripts of the calls and
the m otel m eeting.
7
In late Novem ber, appellant was served with a protective order. The transcript of the m otel m eeting
reflects that appellant wanted the victim s m urdered before his im pending court appearance.
4
expressed interest in obtaining a passport and an untraceable gun. Hiers said he spoke
to a friend about the situation because he was concerned for the safety of the children.
Hiers’s friend encouraged him to talk to the police, which he did. Hiers was referred to
Brown, and agreed to cooperate by recording his conversations with appellant. Hiers’s
testimony regarding the conversations with appellant and the meeting at the Econo Lodge
was consistent with Brown’s testimony. Hiers testified that appellant called him in late
November and asked him to call the “hit man.” Hiers stated that appellant was concerned
because “a restraining order or some kind of—some kind of order was being put up and
his kids were going to—his stepkids were going to go on trial. I believe that’s what he said.
And she was going to be able to identify his penis and stuff.” Appellant claimed C.A. knew
what his penis looked like because she would peek in on him through the bathroom door.
Hiers testified that he had a couple of pending charges against him, but that he had not
been promised anything with regard to those charges in exchange for his assistance in the
investigation of appellant.
On cross-examination, appellant’s counsel attempted to impeach Hiers’s credibility
by asking whether his tattoos reflected membership in a gang. Hiers also admitted that
appellant told him that, after appellant was released from jail, he had been assaulted by
some men that he believed were hired by the father of Melissa’s children.
C. Sergeant Tommy Johnson
Johnson testified that he is an undercover narcotics officer. In late November 2007,
he was asked to work as an undercover officer in a murder-for-hire. During Sergeant
Johnson’s testimony, the jury was shown the DVD recording of the meeting in the motel.
Sergeant Johnson identified the keys to the vehicle that appellant gave him in exchange
for the agreed-upon killings. He also identified the photograph appellant gave him of the
5
intended victims, Melissa and the three children.
D. Erin Tyler
Erin Tyler testified that she is an English teacher in Victoria. She met appellant on-
line in late October 2007, and had a relationship with him for about a month. Tyler stated
that appellant wanted to spend the weekend with her on the weekend following November
29, 2007. According to Tyler, appellant first brought up spending the weekend with her in
Victoria around November 25 or 26, 2007; appellant brought it up several times and was
“insistent” about spending the full weekend with her. Tyler stated she was not receptive to
the idea because she had to get up early and go to work on Monday. Tyler testified that
appellant told her he was legally separated from his wife and trying to get a divorce.
Appellant also told her that he planned to visit his brother in South America. Tyler did not
know about the sexual assault allegations pending against appellant or the protective
order.
E. Sarah Herring
Herring testified that in 2007, she was a youth counselor. She was C.A.’s
caseworker from April 2007 until she left her position in September 2007. Herring stated
that even before C.A.’s outcry, she could tell that C.A. “was always secretive about
something” and that “there was something underlining [sic] that wasn’t right.” Herring
testified that in August 2007, C.A. came into her office, started crying, and said she needed
“to tell somebody” and “let it out.” Herring stated that C.A. told her that appellant was
touching her genitals and had been doing it for a long time. Herring said that C.A. had
previously reported sexual abuse by appellant, but had later recanted the allegations.
Herring contacted law enforcement officers and reported C.A.’s allegations. Herring
6
reported C.A.’s allegations to Melissa that same day, but Melissa did not believe the
allegations.
On cross-examination, Herring stated that C.A. specifically stated that appellant
touched her “genitals.” According to Herring, C.A. had a very extensive vocabulary for her
age. C.A. told Herring that appellant touched her inside her clothes in her vaginal area, but
she did not mention oral sex.
On re-direct examination, Herring said that C.A. had been diagnosed with mood
disorder, but that she had not been diagnosed with mental illness or bipolar disorder.
Herring described C.A.’s demeanor as withdrawn, not wanting to talk, and having
occasional unexplained bouts of crying.
F. Melissa Inscore
Melissa testified that when she married appellant in 2002, C.A. was five years old
and K.B., her older daughter, was ten years old.8 In 2006, when C.A. was ten, the family
moved to Utah and stayed almost a year; in March 2007, they moved to Blessing, Texas
in Matagorda County. Melissa testified about an incident that occurred in the spring of
2007 in Utah, shortly before the family moved back to Texas. The incident occurred during
the day; Melissa was in the living room when C.A. came running from her room, screaming,
crying, and “shaking.” C.A. told Melissa that appellant had tried to put his penis in her
mouth. Appellant denied the allegation and said he would never hurt C.A. Melissa did not
believe C.A. and told her that she “shouldn’t be lying like that.” Melissa did not report
C.A.’s allegations to the police or to Child Protective Services (“CPS”).
A few months after the family moved to Texas, Melissa learned that C.A. had made
8
K.B. has a different biological father than C.A. and R.A.
7
another outcry of sexual abuse by appellant; CPS became involved in the investigation.
Appellant was required to leave the home for a brief time during the investigation, but was
later allowed to return. As a result of the investigation, C.A. was required to attend mental
health counseling. Melissa stated that when C.A. made the second allegation of sexual
abuse, she talked to appellant about it; again, appellant said he would never hurt C.A.
Melissa testified that from April to August 2007, she and appellant and the children
lived together in the house. During this time, C.A. was on medication and was required to
attend mental health counseling. In August 2007, Melissa learned that C.A. had made a
third outcry alleging sexual abuse by appellant. Melissa stated that she “didn’t know what
to believe anymore.” Appellant encouraged Melissa to seek inpatient treatment for C.A.
in a mental hospital. Melissa testified that after appellant suggested that she
institutionalize C.A., his demeanor toward her changed; he became more “controlling” and
“kind of scary.” On the day that appellant suggested inpatient treatment for C.A, Melissa
was riding with appellant; she felt “stuck in the car” and appellant did not want her to go
home. Appellant drove down a boat ramp very close to the water. Melissa has a fear of
water, and screamed at appellant to stop. Melissa perceived appellant’s behavior as
“threatening.” Appellant also took her to the gravesite of a recently-deceased friend;
Melissa said appellant’s behavior “just felt threatening.” Because of appellant’s behavior,
Melissa changed her opinion about whether C.A. was telling the truth. That day, Melissa
talked to C.A. about her allegations. During that conversation, C.A. described appellant’s
penis. Based on C.A.’s description and the events of the day, Melissa decided that C.A.
was telling the truth. Melissa called the youth counseling center, the crisis center, and the
police. Melissa and her children moved into the crisis center.
8
On cross-examination, defense counsel asked about C.A.’s allegation that in Utah,
appellant tried to put his penis in her mouth. Melissa admitted that her younger son knew
nothing about the incident because he had been asleep. Also, defense counsel elicited
testimony that C.A. had been diagnosed with “almost” bipolar disorder.
On re-direct examination, Melissa stated that appellant had never mentioned to her
that C.A. would “peep on him” while he was in the shower. She also clarified that C.A. was
diagnosed with mood disorder, but had not been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
G. C.A.
C.A. testified that she talked to Herring about the sexual abuse because she
“couldn’t handle it anymore” and because her “family was getting hurt by [appellant].” C.A.
stated that while the family was in Utah, she had told Melissa that appellant had tried to put
his penis in her mouth, but “[n]othing had happened” because her mother did not believe
her. C.A. stated that appellant also touched her on her chest and on her “private part.”
She also testified that appellant told her that if she told anyone, he would “hurt [her] family.”
C.A. stated that she told Herring that appellant touched her and told Brown that appellant
put his penis in her mouth. When asked where the incident in which appellant put his
penis in her mouth occurred, C.A. responded as follows:
Q [by Prosecutor]: What did you tell Miss Brown?
A [C.A.]: He did make me put his penis in my mouth.
Q: And where was that, was that in Utah?
A: Yes. Either it was in Utah or, I mean, Blessing.
Q: Okay. And, so, did he do it in Blessing, too?
A: If I—if he did[,] I don’t remember, because I’ve blocked
everything away ever since then until today. I just let
9
everything go.
....
Q: Did [appellant] ever have you kneel down on the floor?
A: Yes.
Q: Where was that?
A: Utah and Blessing.
Q: And Blessing?
A: From what I know, yes.
Q: And when he would have you kneel down on the floor,
what did he have you do?
A: In Utah, he tried to put his penis in my mouth and I
would run. I would scream and he would zip up his
pants, walk down the hall to the living room and make
sure my mom was still asleep, walk back in there and tell
me to come here. I did. He tried to put me in the
bathroom in his bedroom and then I run back into the
living room and scream—I mean, the kitchen by the
table and screamed.
Q: Did he do the same thing to you in Blessing when he
would have you kneel down on the floor?
A: Yes.
Q: Put his penis in your mouth?
A: Yes.
On cross-examination, defense counsel asked C.A. if there were times when she
went in the bathroom while appellant was showering. C.A. stated that if she did, she did
not remember. On re-direct examination, C.A. stated that she had never seen appellant
in the shower without his clothes, but that she had seen his penis before “[i]n Utah and
Blessing.”
10
III. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
A. Legal and Factual Sufficiency
In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court must review all
the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, and ask whether “‘any rational trier
of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable
doubt—not whether it believes that the evidence at the trial established guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.’”9 The trier of fact is the sole judge of the facts, the credibility of the
witnesses, and the weight given to testimony.10 We do not reevaluate the weight and
credibility of the evidence, and we do not substitute our own judgment for that of the trier
of fact.11 We resolve any inconsistencies in the evidence in favor of the judgment.12
In conducting a factual sufficiency review, a court of appeals reviews the evidence
in a neutral light to determine whether the evidence is so weak that the jury’s verdict seems
clearly wrong and manifestly unjust or is against the great weight and preponderance of
the evidence.13 Unless the record clearly reveals that a different result is appropriate, we
must defer to the fact-finder’s determination concerning the weight to be given to
contradictory testimony.14
9
Laster v. State, 275 S.W .3d 512, 517 (Tex. Crim . App. 2009) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S.
307, 318-19 (1979)).
10
See T EX . C OD E C R IM . P R O C . A N N . art. 38.04 (Vernon 1979); Jackson, 443 U.S. at 318-19; Beckham
v. State, 29 S.W .3d 148, 151 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. ref’d).
11
King v. State, 29 S.W .3d 556, 562 (Tex. Crim . App. 2000) (en banc); Beckham, 29 S.W .3d at 151.
12
Curry v. State, 30 S.W .3d 394, 406 (Tex. Crim . App. 2000).
13
Neal v. State, 256 S.W .3d 264, 275 (Tex. Crim . App. 2008); W atson v. State, 204 S.W .3d 404, 414-
15 (Tex. Crim . App. 2006).
14
Lancon v. State, 253 S.W .3d 699, 705 (Tex. Crim . App. 2008).
11
Both legal and factual sufficiency are measured by the elements of the offense as
defined by a hypothetically correct jury charge.15 “‘Such a charge [is] one that accurately
sets out the law, is authorized by the indictment, does not unnecessarily increase the
State’s burden of proof, or unnecessarily restrict the State’s theories of liability, and
adequately describes the particular offense for which the defendant was tried.’”16
The testimony of a child sexual abuse victim alone is sufficient to support a
conviction for aggravated sexual assault.17 The victim’s description of what happened to
her need not be precise, and she is not expected to express herself at the same level of
sophistication as an adult.18 A child victim need not testify to penetration, which the State
may prove through circumstantial evidence.19 However, the testimony of a child victim
alone is sufficient evidence of penetration to support a conviction.20 There is no
requirement that the victim’s testimony be corroborated by medical or physical evidence.21
Further, outcry testimony alone can be sufficient to sustain a conviction for aggravated
sexual assault.22
15
Grotti v. State, 273 S.W .3d 273, 280-81 (Tex. Crim . App. 2008); Malik v. State, 953 S.W .2d 234,
240 (Tex. Crim . App. 1997).
16
Villarreal v. State, 286 S.W .3d 321, 327 (Tex. Crim . App. 2009) (quoting Malik, 953 S.W .2d at 240).
17
Soto v. State, 267 S.W .3d 327, 332 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2008, no pet.); see also Gomez v.
State, No. 13-08-157-CR, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 6985, at *14 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi Aug. 31, 2009, no
pet.) (m em . op., not designated for publication).
18
Soto, 267 S.W .3d at 332.
19
Villalon v. State, 791 S.W .2d 130, 133 (Tex. Crim . App. 1990).
20
Ozuna v. State, 199 S.W .3d 601, 606 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2006, no pet.) .
21
Soto, 267 S.W .3d at 332; Ozuna, 199 S.W .3d at 606.
22
Ozuna, 199 S.W .3d at 606 (citing Rodriguez v. State, 819 S.W .2d 871, 873-74 (Tex. Crim . App.
1991); Kimberlin v. State, 877 S.W .2d 828, 831-32 (Tex. App.–Fort W orth 1994, pet. ref'd)).
12
The State is not required to present direct evidence, such as eyewitness testimony,
to establish guilt.23 “Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in
establishing the guilt of an actor, and circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to
establish guilt.”24 The law does not require that each fact “point directly and independently
to the guilt of the appellant, as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating
circumstances is sufficient to support the conviction.”25
As to the aggravated sexual assault offense, the hypothetically correct jury charge
against which we measure the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence would ask if the
appellant: (1) on or about August 9, 2007, in Matagorda County; (2) intentionally or
knowingly; (3) caused his sexual organ to contact or penetrate the mouth of C.A.; and (4)
C.A. was younger than fourteen years old.
A person commits the offense of solicitation if, “with intent that a capital felony or
felony of the first degree be committed, he requests, commands, or attempts to induce
another to engage in specific conduct that, under the circumstances surrounding his
conduct as the actor believes them to be, would constitute the felony or make the other a
party to its commission.”26 The offense of criminal solicitation is completed when the
culpable request or inducement to commit a capital felony or a first-degree felony is
unilaterally presented.27 Proof that the felony is actually committed is not required to
23
See Guevara v. State, 152 S.W .3d 45, 49 (Tex. Crim . App. 2004).
24
Hooper v. State, 214 S.W .3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim . App. 2007); see Guevara, 152 S.W .3d at 49.
25
Hooper, 214 S.W .3d at 13; see Guevara, 152 S.W .3d at 49.
26
T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . § 15.03(a); see Simpson v. State, No. 13-07-489-CR, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS
6382, at *19 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi Aug. 21, 2008, no pet.) (m em . op., not designated for publication).
27
See T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . § 15.03(a); State v. Brinkley, 764 S.W .2d 913, 915 (Tex. App.–Tyler
1989, no pet.).
13
establish the offense of solicitation.28 Guilt of solicitation may be established solely by
proving the communication and the culpable intent.29
B. Extraneous Offense Evidence
We review a trial court's ruling concerning the admissibility of evidence of other
crimes, wrongs, or acts under an abuse-of-discretion standard.30 Likewise, the trial court's
determination of whether notice of intent to introduce evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or
acts is reasonable is reviewed under an abuse-of-discretion standard.31 We will not
reverse a trial court's decision admitting evidence unless the decision is outside the “zone
of reasonable disagreement.”32
IV. Discussion
In his first two issues of each cause, appellant challenges the legal and factual
sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions. We first address appellant’s
challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction for aggravated sexual
assault.
A. Aggravated Sexual Assault
With regard to appellant’s challenge to the legal and factual sufficiency of the
evidence to support his conviction for aggravated sexual assault, appellant points to C.A.’s
“inconsistent statements and testimony.” Specifically, appellant points to C.A.’s testimony
28
Brinkley, 764 S.W .2d at 915.
29
Id.
30
Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W .2d 372, 391 (Tex. Crim . App. 1991).
31
See Hayden v. State, 66 S.W .3d 269, 271 (Tex. Crim . App. 2001).
32
See Moses v. State, 105 S.W .3d 622, 627 (Tex. Crim . App. 2003).
14
that appellant put his penis in her mouth in “either” Blessing or Utah.
C.A. testified that appellant had her kneel on the floor and that he put his penis in
her mouth in Blessing. C.A.’s testimony alone is sufficient to support a conviction for
aggravated sexual assault.33 We defer to the jury to resolve conflicts in testimony, weigh
the evidence, and draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts.34
Reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we hold that a reasonable
fact-finder could have found that appellant intentionally or knowingly caused his sexual
organ to penetrate the mouth of C.A., a child under the age of fourteen, on August 9, 2007,
beyond a reasonable doubt.35 Accordingly, the evidence was legally sufficient to support
appellant’s conviction for aggravated sexual assault.36 Reviewing the evidence in a neutral
light, we cannot say that the evidence is so weak that the verdict was clearly wrong,
manifestly unjust, or against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence.37
Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence was factually sufficient to support appellant’s
conviction for aggravated sexual assault.38
We overrule appellant’s first and second issues in the aggravated sexual assault
case.
33
See Soto, 267 S.W .3d at 332.
34
See Hooper, 214 S.W .3d at 13 (“The reviewing court m ust give deference to ‘the responsibility of
the trier of fact to fairly resolve conflicts in testim ony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable
inferences from basic facts to ultim ate facts.’”) (quoting Jackson , 443 U.S. at 318-19).
35
See T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . § 22.021(a)(1)(B)(ii).
36
See Laster, 275 S.W .3d at 517.
37
See W atson, 204 S.W .3d at 415.
38
See id.
15
B. Solicitation of Capital Murder
Appellant contends that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support
his conviction for solicitation of capital murder because regardless of his guilty plea, “the
State did not prove that he engaged in criminal solicitation as defined in the penal code
and alleged in the indictment.” Appellant argues that “[u]nlike most jurisdictions, Texas has
a procedural requirement that the State must offer sufficient proof to support a judgment
based on a guilty plea in a felony case tried to the court.”39 Appellant also argues that
Johnson’s testimony “was not adequately corroborated.”40
The State responds that where an appellant pleads guilty before a jury to a felony
offense, he admits all elements of the offense.41 We agree. Article 1.15 of the code of
criminal procedure, which requires the State to introduce “sufficient evidence” to support
the trial court’s judgment, applies when a defendant pleads guilty before the court in a
noncapital felony case.42 It is not applicable where, as here, a defendant pleads guilty
39
See T EX . C OD E C R IM . P R O C . A N N . art. 1.15 (Vernon 2005) (providing that when a defendant in Texas
pleads guilty before the court in a noncapital felony case, the state m ust introduce “sufficient evidence” to
support the trial court's judgm ent).
40
See T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . § 15.03(b) (“A person m ay not be convicted under this section on the
uncorroborated testim ony of the person allegedly solicited and unless the solicitation is m ade under
circum stances strongly corroborative of both the solicitation itself and the actor’s intent that the other person
act on the solicitation.”).
41
See Carroll v. State, 975 S.W .2d 630, 631-32 (Tex. Crim . App. 1998).
42
See T EX . C OD E C R IM . P R O C . A N N . art. 1.15.
16
before a jury.43 Moreover, appellant’s complaint that Johnson’s testimony is
“uncorroborated” is without merit. Brown testified that at the meeting at the Econo Lodge,
appellant agreed to Johnson killing Melissa and the children in exchange for a car. The
jury also saw the video recording of the meeting in which appellant agreed to the killing.
We overrule appellant’s first and second issues challenging the sufficiency of the evidence
to support his conviction for solicitation of murder.
C. Extraneous Bad Acts
By his third issue in both causes, appellant complains that the trial court erred during
the punishment phase of the trial in admitting evidence about certain extraneous bad acts
because the State failed to provide proper notice under article 37.07, section 3(g) of the
code of criminal procedure.44 Specifically, appellant complains that the trial court allowed
the testimony of K.B., C.A.’s older sister, and others regarding alleged sexual abuse by
appellant.45
The State responds that it provided appellant reasonable notice of its intent to use
the extraneous bad acts evidence by providing defense counsel with copies of all
43
See Fuller v. State, 253 S.W .3d 220, 227 (Tex. Crim . App. 2008) (“[A] plea of guilty m ade to a jury
is the functional equivalent of a jury verdict of guilty. This is just as true in a capital-m urder trial as in a non-
capital crim inal trial. W hen a defendant pleads guilty to a jury, the jury need not return any verdict of guilty.
The case sim ply proceeds with a unitary punishm ent hearing.”); see also Griffin v. State, 255 S.W .3d 774, 775
(Tex. App.–Am arillo 2008, no pet.) (noting that where a defendant pleads guilty before a jury, “there rem ains
no issue of guilt to be determ ined, it is proper for the trial judge in his charge to instruct the jury to return a
verdict of guilty” and then charge only on punishm ent) (quoting Holland v. State, 761 S.W .2d 307, 313 (Tex.
Crim . App. 1988)); Menefee v. State, No. 12-07-001-CR, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 6665, at **8-15 (Tex.
App.–Tyler Aug. 18, 2010, no pet. h.) (detailing history of article 1.15 of code of crim inal procedure) (m em .
op., not designated for publication).
44
See T EX . C OD E C R IM . P R O C . A N N . art. 37.07, § 3(g) (Vernon Supp. 2009).
45
At the punishm ent phase of trial, the State presented the testim ony of Brown, appellant’s form er
wife Beth Richardson, K.B., and A.I., appellant’s biological daughter.
17
information that the State had, including witness statements detailing the alleged abuse.46
The State argues that appellant: (1) was not unfairly surprised because he had actual
notice of the information the State subsequently offered as evidence; and (2) cannot show
harm because he was not so surprised that he was unable to defend against the evidence.
We need not decide whether the trial court erred in admitting the extraneous bad
acts evidence, however, because even if we assume error, any such error was harmless.
Error in admitting evidence with insufficient notice under article 37.07, section 3(g)
is nonconstitutional error.47 A nonconstitutional harm analysis for statutory violations is
performed under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 44.2(b).48 To assess
nonconstitutional errors, we examine whether the purpose of the statute or rule violated
was thwarted by the error.49 The purpose of article 37.07, section 3(g) is to avoid unfair
surprise and to enable a defendant to prepare to answer the extraneous offense
evidence.50 This analysis requires examining the record to determine whether the deficient
notice resulted from prosecutorial bad faith or prevented the defendant from preparing for
trial.51 In determining the latter, appellate courts look at whether the defendant was
surprised by the substance of the testimony and whether that affected his ability to prepare
46
W e note that the clerk’s record contains a “Notice of Intent to Introduce Evidence of Extraneous
Offenses, Bad Acts & Character,” which details witnesses, identifies dates and counties, and briefly describes
the alleged conduct. The clerk’s record also contains statem ents titled “Sum m ary of Outcry” for C.A., K.B.,
and A.I. These sum m aries describe the alleged acts of sexual abuse.
47
Luna v.State, 301 S.W .3d 322, 326 (Tex. App.–W aco 2009, no pet.) (citing Apolinar v. State, 106
S.W .3d 407, 414 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2003), aff'd on other grounds, 155 S.W .3d 184 (Tex. Crim .
App. 2005); Roethel v. State, 80 S.W .3d 276, 281 (Tex. App.–Austin 2002, no pet.)).
48
See T EX . R. A PP . P. 44.2(b); Gray v. State, 159 S.W .3d 95, 97-98 (Tex. Crim . App. 2005).
49
Luna, 301 S.W .3d at 326.
50
Id.
51
Id.
18
cross-examination or mitigating evidence.52
Here, appellant does not argue that the allegedly defective notice resulted from
prosecutorial bad faith, and the record does not reflect prosecutorial bad faith. As noted,
the State provided the defense with witness statements detailing the specific allegations
of abuse. Appellant has not established that he was surprised by the substance of the
testimony, nor has he shown that his ability to prepare his case was detrimentally affected
by the admission of that evidence.53 The only argument appellant makes regarding harm
is that “because he received the maximum punishment for a first[-]degree felony[—]life
imprisonment, harm has been shown.” He also asserts that “evidence showing a
continuing pattern of child abuse on the part of Appellant that stretched over a period of
years likely had a substantial and injurious effect on the jury’s verdict on the punishment.”
We conclude appellant has not shown he was harmed by the trial court’s admission
of the extraneous bad acts evidence. We overrule appellant’s third issue in each cause.
V. Conclusion
We affirm the trial court’s judgments in both causes.
LINDA REYNA YAÑEZ,
JUSTICE
Do not publish.
TEX . R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Delivered and filed the
31st day of August, 2010.
52
Id.
53
See id.
19