PD-1425-15
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Transmitted 12/17/2015 9:46:31 AM
Accepted 12/18/2015 3:31:03 PM
DECEMBER 18, 2015 ABEL ACOSTA
CLERK
PD-1425-15
IN THE
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
TONY CARRASCO,
PETITIONER
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
**********
Petition in Cause No. 13-01-7724, from the
286th District Court of Hockley County, Texas,
Hon. Pat Phelan presiding
and Cause No. 07-14-00001-CR in the Court of Appeals
for the Seventh Supreme Judicial District of Texas
**********
PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
David Crook, Crook & Jordan
Attorneys-at-Law
PO Box 94590
(806) 744-2082
(806) 744-2083 Fax
dcrook@nts-online.net
Attorney for the Petitioner,
TONY CARRASCO
IDENTITY OF JUDGE, PARTIES, AND COUNSEL
(RULE 68.4(a), TEX. R. APP. PROC.)
A complete list of all parties to the trial court’s judgment or order appealed from, and the names
and addresses of all trial and appellate counsel includes:
TONY CARRASCO, Petitioner
TDCJ#01902935
Clements Unit
9601 Spur 591
Amarillo, TX 79107
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Respondent
FOR THE PETITIONER: FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS:
DAVID CROOK, Crook & Jordan MR. CHRISTOPHER E. DENNIS
PO Box 94590 ATTORNEY FOR THE
Lubbock, Texas 79493 STATE OF TEXAS
(806)744-2082 Office of the District Attorney
(806) 744-2083 (fax) Hockley County
State Bar No. 05109530 802 Houston St., Suite 212
Attorney for the Petitioner Levelland, TX 79336
(806) 894-3130
TRIAL COURT JUDGE: (806) 894-3543 (fax)
Hon. Pat Phelan Hon. LISA McMINN
Hockley County Courthouse State Prosecuting Attorney
802 Houston St., Suite 315 PO Box 12405
286th District Court, Hockley County Austin, TX 78711
Levelland, TX 79336 (512) 463-1660
(806) 894-8240 (512) 463-5724 (fax)
(806) 894-3891 (fax)
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(RULE 68.4(a), TEX. R. APP. PROC.)
PAGE
PARTIES ………………………………………………………...………………………………2
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………………………......3
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES …………………………………………………………………….4
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT …………………………………………...6
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ……………………………………………………………….....6
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY ………………………………………..….........7
PETITIONER’S GROUNDS FOR REVIEW………………………………………………...8
NUMBER ONE: THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED BY AFFIRMING DESPITE
THE TRIAL COURT HAVING OVERRULED PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR A
MISTRIAL IN THE TRIAL COURT, SINCE IN GUILT-INNOCENCE PHASE A
STATE’S WITNESS REFERRED TO PETITIONER’S ALLEGED COMMISSION OF
EXTRANEOUS OFFENSES THAT BY THEIR NATURE TENDED TO ESTABLISH
WHAT THE STATE WAS TRYING TO PROVE AT TRIAL, TESTIMONY THAT
WAS CLEARLY PREJUDICIAL AND COULD NOT BE CURED BY INSTRUCTION.
REASONS FOR REVIEW:
AS TO GROUNDS NUMBER ONE: THE DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS
CONFLICTS WITH THE APPLICABLE DECISIONS OF THE COURT OF
CRIMINAL APPEALS…………………………………………………………………………8
ARGUMENT……………………………………………………………………………………..9
CONCLUSION AND PRAYER …………………………………………………...…………...11
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE…………………………………………………………….12
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ………………………………………………………………….12
APPENDIX ………………………………………………………………………………….......13
3
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
(RULE 68.4(b), TEX. R. APP. PROC.)
PAGE
Case Law, State
Alexander v. State, 229 S.W.3d 731 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2007, pet. stricken)……………10
Hernandez v. State, 805 S.W.2d 409, 413-414 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990), cert. denied, 500
U.S. 960 (1991)…………………………………………………………………………………..10
Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 567 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999)……………………………………….9
Music v. State, 121 S.W.2d 606 (Tex. Crim. App. 1938)…………………………………….10,11
Norton v. State, 771 S.W.2d 160, 167 (Tex. App.—Tex. 1989, pet. ref’d)………………………9
Rojas v. State, 986 S.W.2d 241, 251 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998)……………………………………9
State v. Boyd, 202 S.W.3d 393 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. ref’d)…………………………...10
State v. Gonzalez, 855 S.W.2d 692, 696 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)……………………………….10
Stine v. State, 300 S.W.3d 52 (Tex. App.—Tex. 2010, pet. dis’d)………………………………10
Young v. State, 283 S.W.3d 854, 878 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009), cert. denied, 558 U.S.
1093, 130 S.Ct. 1015, 175 L.Ed.2d 622 (2009)………………………………………………..9,11
4
PD-1425-15
IN THE
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
TONY CARRASCO,
PETITIONER
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
**********
Petition in Cause No. 13-01-7724, from the
286th District Court of Hockley County, Texas,
Hon. Pat Phelan presiding
and Cause No. 07-14-00001-CR in the Court of Appeals
for the Seventh Supreme Judicial District of Texas
**********
PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
David Crook, Crook & Jordan
Attorneys-at-Law
PO Box 94590
(806) 744-2082
(806) 744-2083 Fax
Attorney for the Petitioner,
TONY CARRASCO
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:
COMES NOW TONY CARRASCO, Petitioner, by and through his attorney of record,
DAVID CROOK, and petitions the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas to exercise its
discretionary jurisdiction to review the judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Seventh District
of Texas, Amarillo, Texas. In support of this Petition, he would show this Honorable Court as
5
follows.
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
(RULE 68.4(c), TEX. R. APP. PROC.)
The grounds for review set forth in this petition concern the failure of the court of appeals
to follow binding precedent; oral argument would be helpful to the Court in distinguishing the
factual background of the case as shown in the record inasmuch as the facts of the case play an
important role in defining the implications of Petitioner’s argument.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
(RULE 68.4(d), TEX. R. APP. PROC.)
On January 15, 2013, Petitioner was charged in a single count indictment. He was
charged with Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to Commit Theft pursuant to Penal Code
§30.02(a)(1).
The Hon. Anna J. Ricker of Levelland initially appeared as Appellant’s Attorney of
Record via a waiver of arraignment filed in the Cause on January 22, 2013 (CR p. 5). No later
motion to withdraw appears in the Clerk’s Record. However, the Hon. David Martinez appears
as Appellant’s trial counsel in later proceedings in the Cause.
On November 18, 2013, hearing was had on a motion for continuance that does not
appear in the Clerk’s Record (Reporter’s Record [“RR”] vol. 2). By then Appellant was
represented by Mr. Martinez. At the hearing, defense counsel requested a continuance to have
more time to investigate issues relating to the filing of a State’s Notice of Intent to Seek Enhance
Punishment Pursuant to Chapter 12, Texas Penal Code (CR pp. 6-7). The State’s Notice of
Intent referred to two previous convictions for Robbery (CR p. 6). The State responded that the
conviction mentioned, out of the 364th District Court of Lubbock County, was valid on its face
and apparently had not been the subject of any appeal or other post-conviction proceedings.
Appellant then gave evidence, testifying that he was in fact not guilty of the offense (RR v. 2, p.
6
8). On cross-examination, he stated that he pleaded guilty to Robbery because he thought it was
in his best interest at the time (RR v. 2, pp. 10-11). After hearing the evidence, the Trial Court
denied the motion for continuance (RR v. 21, p. 11). The Court then asked defense counsel if he
was going to the judge or jury for punishment in the upcoming trial, and defense counsel
indicated that it was his practice to have a look at the panel before making that decision (RR v. 2,
p. 12).
The Clerk’s Record does not reflect the filing of the usual pretrial motions by the
defense. No motion for discovery, request for 404 and other notice, motion in limine, election of
the jury for punishment purposes, Brady motion, or other pretrial motion shows in the record.
Jury selection began on November 19th, 2013. Appellant’s jury trial on guilt-innocence
commenced on the same day, and Appellant was convicted on the same day (RR v. 4, p. 95).
Punishment proceedings began on November 20th. At the conclusion of evidence that day, the
Court ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence investigation report (RR v. 5, pp. 27-28).
Further sentencing proceedings took place on December 19, 2013. Neither side objected to the
pre-sentence investigation report, which was introduced as D-1 (RR v. 6, pp. 5-6). The Court
sentenced Appellant to life imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice,
Institutional Division, and imposed a fine of $10,000, finding the enhancement allegations of the
State’s notice of intent to be true (RR v. 6, pp. 6-8, CR pp. 14-15).
Appellant perfected appeal on January 2, 2014 (CR p. 19).
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
(RULE 68.4(e), TEX. R. APP. PROC.)
The Seventh Court of Appeals rendered its decision affirming petitioner’s conviction on
October 20, 2015, in an unpublished Memorandum Opinion. No motion for rehearing was filed
7
by Petitioner. After the Amarillo Court affirmed, Petitioner requested and got one extension as
to the filing of this P.D.R. This petition was filed with the clerk of the Court of Criminal
Appeals within the time allowed by this Court’s extension.
PETITIONER’S GROUNDS FOR REVIEW:
NUMBER ONE: THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED BY AFFIRMING DESPITE THE
TRIAL COURT HAVING OVERRULED PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR A MISTRIAL
IN THE TRIAL COURT, SINCE IN GUILT-INNOCENCE PHASE A STATE’S
WITNESS REFERRED TO PETITIONER’S ALLEGED COMMISSION OF
EXTRANEOUS OFFENSES THAT BY THEIR NATURE TENDED TO ESTABLISH
WHAT THE STATE WAS TRYING TO PROVE AT TRIAL, TESTIMONY THAT WAS
CLEARLY PREJUDICIAL AND COULD NOT BE CURED BY INSTRUCTION.
REASONS FOR REVIEW:
AS TO GROUNDS NUMBER ONE: THE DECISION OF THE COURT OF
APPEALS CONFLICTS WITH THE APPLICABLE DECISIONS OF THE COURT
OF CRIMINAL APPEALS.
8
ARGUMENT
GROUNDS NUMBER ONE: THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED BY AFFIRMING
DESPITE THE TRIAL COURT HAVING OVERRULED PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR A
MISTRIAL IN THE TRIAL COURT, SINCE IN GUILT-INNOCENCE PHASE A STATE’S
WITNESS REFERRED TO PETITIONER’S ALLEGED COMMISSION OF EXTRANEOUS
OFFENSES THAT BY THEIR NATURE TENDED TO ESTABLISH WHAT THE STATE
WAS TRYING TO PROVE AT TRIAL, TESTIMONY THAT WAS CLEARLY
PREJUDICIAL AND COULD NOT BE CURED BY INSTRUCTION.
Applicable Portions of the Record
In the guilt-innocence phase of Petitioner’s trial, the State called Detective Chris
Covarrubias of Levelland PD. Early in the direct exam, Covarrubias testified that in November
of 2012, through his work he had come to know Petitioner (RR v. 4, p. 31). When asked how he
knew Petitioner, Covarrubias referred to “a rash of burglaries” being committed at the time he
met him. Petitioner objected as to the introduction of extraneous offenses, and asked for a
mistrial. The Court sustained as to the objection, but overruled the mistrial motion. Petitioner
then asked for an instruction to disregard, and the Court gave one (RR v. 4, p. 32).
Standard of Review
A mistrial is a device used to halt trial proceedings when error is so prejudicial that
expenditure of further time and expense would be wasteful and futile. Young v. State, 283
S.W.3d 854, 878 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009), cert. denied, 558 U.S. 1093, 130 S.Ct. 1015, 175
L.Ed.2d 622 (2009), Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 567 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). A prompt
instruction to disregard will ordinarily cure error associated with an improper question and
answer, even if it involves an extraneous offense or bad act. Norton v. State, 771 S.W.2d 160,
167 (Tex. App.—Tex. 1989, pet. ref’d), Rojas v. State, 986 S.W.2d 241, 251 (Tex. Crim. App.
1998). A mistrial is required only when the improper question [and, presumably, answer] is
clearly prejudicial to the defendant and is of such a character as to suggest the impossibility of
9
withdrawing the impression produced on the minds of the jurors. Alexander v. State, 229 S.W.3d
731 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2007, pet. stricken).
The particular facts of a case must be examined in making the determination of whether a
given error necessitates a mistrial. Hernandez v. State, 805 S.W.2d 409, 413-414 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1990), cert. denied, 500 U.S. 960 (1991). A trial court’s denial of a mistrial is reviewed
under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Gonzalez, 855 S.W.2d 692, 696 (Tex. Crim. App.
1993), Ladd, supra, at 567.
Applicable Law; Argument
The applicable case law shows that reviewing courts tend to regard injection of
extraneous offense evidence purporting to show that a defendant committed an offense identical
or similar to the one he is on trial for as incurable by instruction and as amounting to reversible
error. In Music v. State, 121 S.W.2d 606 (Tex. Crim. App. 1938), this Court reversed a burglary
conviction where a witness [a deputy sheriff, it seems] testified that he had seen the defendant
“and a number of other thieves” hanging around the house in question. Id. at 527. More
recently, in State v. Boyd, 202 S.W.3d 393 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. ref’d), the Dallas Court
[citing Music, supra] held that an instruction to disregard will not cure the error of evidence of an
extraneous offense when that evidence establishes exactly what the State is trying to prove. Id.
at pp. 402-403. Likewise, in Stine v. State, 300 S.W.3d 52 (Tex. App.—Tex. 2010, pet. dis’d),
the Texarkana Court, citing Music and Boyd, supra, held that an instruction to disregard will not
cure the problem of erroneously admitting evidence of an extraneous offense that by its nature
establishes what the state is trying to prove. Id. at 59.
In its opinion in the instant case the Seventh Court of Appeals asserted that the harm
complained of was “not so inflammatory as to be incurable” by instruction. It noted the
10
language in Young [supra, at 878] to the effect that a witness’s inadvertent [if such it was]
reference to an extraneous offence is generally cured by a prompt instruction to disregard. While
that may be the general rule, the Court of Appeals did not address the line of holdings in Music
and the other cases cited, supra. Those cases distinguished between the general situation and the
situation where the extraneous offense referred to is one that by its nature establishes what the
State is trying to prove in the given trial. In Young, the defendant was on trial for capital murder.
The reviewing court found a mistrial unwarranted where a State’s witness made reference to the
gun allegedly used by the defendant as being stolen. Thus, the particular situation of Music (and
the instant case) did not apply.
In affirming despite this Court’s holding in Music, the Court of Appeals thus failed to
follow binding precedent.
CONCLUSION AND PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Petitioner TONY CARRASCO, prays that
the Court of Criminal Appeals grant his Petition for Discretionary Review, and that after
submission, this Court reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals and remand the Cause.
Respectfully submitted,
David Crook
Crook & Jordan
Attorney-at-law
PO Box 94590
Lubbock, Texas 79493
(806) 744-2082
(806) 744-2083 Fax
dcrook@nts-online.net
Attorney for the Petitioner,
TONY CARRASCO
/s/ David Crook
DAVID CROOK
Texas State Bar No. 05109530
11
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE WITH T.R.A.P. 9.4(i)(2)(D)
This is to certify that the length of the foregoing Petition for Discretionary Review
conforms with the Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4, in that the brief, computer-generated,
is 809 words, which is no longer than 4,500 words, exclusive of the pages containing the identity
of the parties and counsel, any statement regarding oral argument, the table of contents, the index
of authorities, the statement of the case, the issues presented, the signature, and the proof of
service.
/s/ David Crook _________________
David Crook
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
This is to certify that a true and accurate copy of the above and foregoing PETITION
FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW was served on the Hon. Christopher E. Dennis, attorney for
the State of Texas, by e-mailing to Mr. Dennis’s E-Mail address of cdennis@hockleycounty.org
to the office of the County Attorney of Hockley County, Appellate Division. It was also e-mailed
to Hon. Lisa McMinn, State Prosecuting Attorney, at information@spa.texas.gov on December
17, 2015.
.
/s/David Crook
David Crook
12
APPENDIX
13
In The
Court of Appeals
Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo
________________________
No. 07-14-00001-CR
________________________
TONY CARRASCO, APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
On Appeal from the 286th District Court
Hockley County, Texas
Trial Court No. 13-01-7724; Honorable Pat Phelan, Presiding
October 20, 2015
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.
Appellant, Tony Carrasco, was convicted following a jury trial of burglary of a
habitation, a second degree felony.1 The trial court found two enhancements to be true
and assessed sentence at confinement for life.2 In three issues, Appellant asserts the
1
See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 30.02(c)(2) (West 2011).
2
If it is shown on the trial of a felony offense (other than certain state jail felonies) that the
defendant has previously been finally convicted of two felony offenses, and the second previous felony
conviction was for an offense that occurred subsequent to the first previous felony offense having become
final, the offense shall be punishable by confinement for life, or for any term of not more than 99 years or
less than 25 years. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.42(d) (West Supp. 2014). Although the trial court orally
pronounced a $10,000 fine, the judgment does not reflect that fine as being imposed. This would be
consistent with the applicable range of punishment.
trial court abused its discretion by overruling (1) his motion for a mistrial, (2) his
objection to evidence of extraneous offenses admitted during the guilt-innocence phase
of his trial, and (3) his objection to the admission of an oral confession during the
sentencing phase. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
In January 2013, an indictment issued alleging that, on or about October 14,
2012, Appellant, with intent to commit theft, entered a habitation without the effective
consent of Heather White, the owner thereof. The State subsequently filed its Notice of
Intent to Seek Enhanced Punishment alleging that, prior to the offense alleged in the
indictment, Appellant had previously been finally convicted of two felony offenses, and
the second previous felony conviction was for an offense that occurred subsequent to
the first previous offense having become final.
At trial, Heather White testified that she returned home from work around 5:00
p.m. on the date in question and noticed her front door was open. Upon further
inspection, she discovered wood chips on the floor near the front door and concluded
someone had kicked in the front door. She called the police and after examining her
belongings, determined that a television, camera, pair of diamond earrings, her
husband’s ring, and a tennis bracelet were missing.
The second witness, Chris Covarrubias, an investigator with the Levelland Police
Department, testified he became acquainted with Appellant when they began to have a
“rash of burglaries.” Appellant objected to the admission of extraneous offense
evidence and moved for a mistrial. The trial judge sustained the objection but overruled
the motion for mistrial. Appellant’s counsel then asked for an instruction that the jury
2
disregard Covarrubias’s answer and the trial judge so instructed the jury. 3 Covarrubias
then testified that, on November 13, 2012, he picked Appellant up from jail and drove
him to his office for an interview per their agreement. Prior to the interview, he
Mirandized4 Appellant and Appellant executed a written waiver of his rights. Appellant
was told he could terminate the interview at any time. Thereafter, Appellant was
videotaped confessing to the burglary of the White residence.5 According to
Covarrubias’s testimony, Appellant’s account of the burglary was corroborated by
evidence at the scene of the crime. After presenting these two witnesses, the State
rested.
Appellant then testified that, prior to the interview, he was taken directly from jail
to the police station where he was interviewed. He testified he knew about White’s
house being burglarized and was aware of what was taken because he sold her
property. On cross-examination, he testified he did not break into the house but only
sold the items taken. He testified he confessed to the crime because he was under the
influence of drugs. He also testified he did not know he was being videotaped during
the interview. Covarrubias was called as a rebuttal witness and testified that during the
ride to the station and during the interview, Appellant did not exhibit any signs of a
3
Appellant subsequently requested and also received an extraneous offense instruction in the
Court’s Charge to the jury.
4
See Miranda v. State, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).
5
Appellant objected to admission of his videotaped confession because there was no evidence
he was aware he was being videotaped. The trial court overruled his objection and an excerpt of his
confession to the White burglary was admitted. The videotape camera was directly behind Covarrubias
when he was interviewing Appellant and he got up to adjust the video camera near the beginning of the
interview in Appellant’s plain sight.
3
person under the influence of drugs.6 A jury subsequently found Appellant guilty of
burglary of a habitation.
At the beginning of the sentencing proceedings before the trial judge, Appellant
pleaded true to the first enhancement and not true to the second enhancement. The
State reoffered all evidence and testimony admitted during the guilt/innocence phase
without objection. Ray Scifres, a criminal investigator for the Hockley County Sheriff’s
Office, testified that, on November 20, 2012, he interviewed Appellant regarding a
number of burglaries. The interview room was not in the jail itself, and at the time,
Appellant was not under arrest for any of the cases Scifres was investigating. When
Appellant’s restraints were removed, Appellant said “I want to talk to you about these
offenses. Are you willing to talk with me?” Scifres agreed, whereupon Appellant was
read his Miranda rights and he executed a written waiver.7
Scifres testified Appellant then confessed to the commission of five additional
burglaries involving a habitation. Appellant described the location of each burglary, the
method of entry, and the items stolen. His information was corroborated by facts
Scifres had established regarding each burglary. After the interview, Appellant was
released back into the custody of the jail staff, and Scifres prepared a case file for each
of the burglaries. Appellant was not arrested on these new burglaries until sometime
after the interview.
6
Appellant objected to the admission of the complete interview videotape based on Rules of
Evidence 401, 402, 403, and 404(b). The State asserted (1) Appellant’s testimony at trial opened the
door to admission of the complete interview, (2) the tape showed Appellant’s demeanor, and (3) the detail
with which Appellant described the various burglaries showed Appellant committed the crimes. The trial
court overruled the objection.
7
Appellant objected that his oral statements were inadmissible because there was no written
record of his confessions and the interview did not comply with article 38.22 or 38.23 of the Texas Code
of Criminal Procedure. The State asserted the interview was not part of a custodial interrogation and the
statutes did not apply. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22 (West Supp. 2014).
4
Following a brief jury trial, the trial court accepted the jury’s verdict and found
Appellant guilty as charged. After electing to have the court assess punishment,
Appellant pleaded true to the first enhancement and not true to the second
enhancement. The trial court found both enhancements to be true and assessed
Appellant’s sentence at confinement for life. This appeal followed.
ISSUE ONE — MOTION FOR MISTRIAL
Appellant asserts the trial court abused its discretion by overruling his motion for
mistrial during the guilt/innocence phase after Covarrubias testified he had gotten to
know Appellant while investigating a “rash of burglaries.” We do not believe the trial
court abused its discretion in this situation.
A witness’s inadvertent reference to an extraneous offense is generally cured by
a prompt instruction to disregard. Young v. State, 283 S.W.3d 854, 878 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2009), cert. denied, 558 U.S. 1093, 130 S. Ct. 1015, 175 L. Ed. 2d 622 (2009). A
mistrial is a device used to halt a trial proceeding when error is so prejudicial that
expenditure of further time and expense would be wasteful and futile. Id. (citing Ladd v.
State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 567 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999)). Therefore, a mistrial should be
granted only in cases where “the reference was clearly calculated to inflame the minds
of the jury or was of such damning character as to suggest it would be impossible to
remove the harmful impression from the jurors’ minds.” Rojas v. State, 986 S.W.2d
241, 250 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998).
We discern no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s denial of a mistrial under the
facts of this case. The testimony at issue did not actually assert Appellant committed or
was responsible for the “rash of burglaries” and the trial court could have reasonably
5
concluded that the answer was not so inflammatory as to be incurable by the instruction
to disregard that was immediately given and then repeated in the jury charge. Young,
283 S.W.3d at 878. Issue one is overruled.
ISSUE TWO — EXTRANEOUS OFFENSES
Generally, evidence of extraneous offenses is not admissible during the
guilt/innocence phase of a trial to prove that a defendant committed the charged offense
in conformity with a bad character trait. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). See Devoe v. State, 354
S.W.3d 457, 469 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). But extraneous offense evidence is
admissible under both rules of evidence 403 and 404(b) if that evidence is relevant to a
fact of consequence in the case apart from its tendency to prove conduct in conformity
with character and the probative value of the evidence is not substantially outweighed
by unfair prejudice. See TEX. R. EVID. 403, 404(b); Martin v. State, 173 S.W.3d 463,
467 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Extraneous offense evidence may also be admissible for
other purposes such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan,
knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. See TEX. R. EVID. 404(b);
Devoe, 354 S.W.3d at 469.
Whether extraneous offense evidence has relevance apart from character
conformity, as required by Rule 404(b) is a question for the trial court. Moses v. State,
105 S.W.3d 622, 627 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). Thus, we review a trial court’s ruling on
the admissibility of extraneous offenses under an abuse of discretion standard. De La
Paz v. State, 279 S.W.3d 336, 343 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). If the trial court’s ruling is
within the zone of reasonable disagreement, there is no abuse of discretion, and we
uphold the trial court’s ruling if the evidence shows that (1) an extraneous act is relevant
6
to a material, non-conformity issue and (2) the probative value of the evidence is not
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or
misleading of the jury. Id. at 344. Furthermore, the trial court’s evidentiary ruling will
not be disturbed if it is correct on any theory of law applicable to that ruling. Id.
Here, Appellant’s opening and closing statements make it abundantly clear that
negating his confession was the primary focus of his defense theory. By alleging his
confession was coerced while he was under the influence of drugs, Appellant was
contending that his confession was false, thereby opening the door to the admission of
evidence for the purpose of rebutting his defensive theory. See De La Paz, 279 S.W.3d
at 344-45 (defense opening statement may open the door to the admission of
extraneous offenses to rebut defensive theories). During Appellant’s case-in-chief, he
testified on direct examination that he only confessed to the crime because he was
under the influence of drugs and that his confession was a lie. In rebuttal, the State
called Covarrubias who testified that the entire time Appellant was in his presence,
Appellant’s demeanor was not that of a person under the influence of drugs.
Furthermore, in support of that testimony, the State attempted to corroborate
Covarrubias’s testimony by playing the interview tape in its entirety. Aside from
containing Appellant’s confession of the White burglary as well as others, the taped
interview depicted Appellant’s demeanor throughout the interview as being alert and
coherent. Under the circumstances, it is at least subject to reasonable disagreement
whether the extraneous offense evidence was admissible for the purpose of rebutting
Appellant’s defensive theory that his confession was coerced because he was under the
influence of drugs during the interview and that he lied regarding the White burglary.
See Wheeler v. State, 67 S.W.3d 879, 885 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).
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Finally, having reviewed the entire record, we find that the probative value of this
evidence was not substantially outweighed by any danger of unfair prejudice to
Appellant. See Sanders v. State, 255 S.W.3d 754, 760 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008,
pet. ref’d). The probative value of this evidence is that it supports the very cornerstone
of the State’s case—Appellant’s confession. Because there were no eyewitnesses, no
accomplice testimony, and Appellant was not in possession of any of the Whites’ stolen
property at the time of his arrest, his confession was highly probative of his guilt or
innocence. Given the record in this case as a whole, we cannot say the probative value
of that evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion
of the issues, or misleading to the jury. See Wyatt v. State, 23 S.W.3d 18, 26 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2000) (“[a]ny evidence presented by the State is generally prejudicial to the
defendant”). Accordingly, Appellant’s second issue is overruled.
THIRD ISSUE — PUNISHMENT PHASE
Finally, Appellant asserts the trial court erred by admitting an interview wherein
Appellant confessed to multiple burglaries during the punishment phase of his trial. He
contends the trial court abused its discretion by admitting his oral confession because it
was not recorded in conformity with article 38.22. We disagree.
Before the strictures of article 38.22 apply, the oral statement given by the
accused must be “made as a result of [a] custodial interrogation.” Art. 38.22, § 3(a).
Generally, a person is considered to be in custody for purposes of article 38.22 when
(1) the person is formally arrested or (2) the person’s freedom of movement is
restrained to the degree associated with a formal arrest. Sloan v. State, 418 S.W.3d
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884, 889 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet. ref’d) (citing Thai Ngoc Nguyen v.
State, 292 S.W.3d 671, 677 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009)).
However, for a person who is already an inmate of a prison or jail, the question
turns on whether, under the facts and circumstances of the case, a reasonable person
would have felt that he or she was not at liberty to terminate the interrogation and leave.
Id. A prison inmate, like Appellant, is not in custody per se. Id. Factors used to
determine whether a prison inmate is in custody include (1) the language used to
summon the inmate, (2) the physical surroundings of the interrogation, (3) the extent to
which the inmate is confronted with evidence of his or her guilt, (4) the additional
pressure exerted to detain the inmate or the change in the inmate’s surroundings which
results in an added imposition on the inmate’s freedom of movement and freedom to
leave the scene, and (5) the purpose, place, and length of the questioning. Herrera v.
State, 241 S.W.3d 520, 532 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
Here, Appellant was taken from jail to the sheriff’s office to be interviewed. He
was not under arrest for any of the burglaries that were being investigated by Scifres.
Before the interview commenced, Appellant’s restraints were removed and he was
asked whether he was willing to speak with the investigator and Appellant replied in the
affirmative. In fact, Appellant stated to Scifres, “I want to talk to you about these
offenses. Are you willing to talk with me?” Moreover, after he asked to speak about the
burglaries, he was given his Miranda rights orally and in writing, which he signed.
Appellant freely described and confessed to the burglaries, after which he was released
to the custody of the jail staff. Based upon these facts and the absence of any other
evidence clearly establishing that a reasonable person would have felt that he or she
was not at liberty to terminate the interrogation and leave, we hold that Appellant’s
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statement was not the product of a custodial interrogation. See Sloan, 418 S.W.3d at
889-90. See also Howes v. Fields, 565 U.S. ___, 132 S. Ct. 1181, 1192-94, 182 L. Ed.
2d 17 (2012). Accordingly, article 38.22, section 3(a) was not applicable. Appellant’s
third issue is overruled.
CONCLUSION
The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
Patrick A. Pirtle
Justice
Do not publish.
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