Opinion issued June 18, 2019
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-18-00279-CR
———————————
MANYIEL PHILMON, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 213th District Court
Tarrant County, Texas1
Trial Court Case No. 1477929D
1
The Texas Supreme Court transferred this appeal to this Court from the Court of
Appeals for the Second District of Texas. See TEX. GOV’T CODE § 73.001
(authorizing transfer of cases between courts of appeals).
OPINION
A jury convicted appellant, Manyiel Philmon, of aggravated assault with a
deadly weapon (“Count 1”) and assault of a family member, household member, or
person with whom he had a dating relationship (“Count 2”) and assessed punishment
at two years’ confinement and five years’ confinement suspended with five years’
community supervision, respectively. In four issues on appeal, appellant contends
that (1) the conviction for dating-violence assault violates the double-jeopardy
clause of the United States Constitution’s Fifth Amendment; (2) the trial court
abused its discretion in assessing a Crime Victim’s Compensation Fee as a court
cost; (3) he was unlawfully assessed duplicate court costs; and (4) the trial court
erred when it allowed the State to cross-examine appellant with a question that
assumed a fact not in evidence. We affirm the judgment in Count 1. We modify the
judgment in Count 2, and, as modified, affirm.
BACKGROUND
In September 2016, appellant began dating Evonne White. Eventually, he
began spending most nights of the week at White’s apartment. One morning, while
appellant was still asleep, White looked through appellant’s cell phone and
discovered text messages showing that he had been unfaithful to her with other
women.
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White woke appellant and confronted him with her discovery. An argument
ensued, and White told appellant to gather his belongings and leave her apartment.
Appellant gathered his belongings, placed them near the center of White’s
apartment, and tried to light them on fire. When White told appellant that he was
going to burn down the whole apartment, he pushed her onto an air mattress, took
the battery out of her phone, and threw it across the room. He then threatened White
with a metal bar from an exercise weight. Appellant also retrieved a gun and told
White that he was going to pistol-whip her with it. Appellant then went into the
kitchen and retrieved a kitchen knife and plastic storage bags. Appellant threatened
White with a knife, then he wrapped the plastic bag around her head and attempted
to suffocate her; in doing so he used his hands to constrict her throat and prevent her
from breathing.
Appellant and White were both screaming during the altercations, and a
neighbor eventually knocked on the door and called 9-1-1. When appellant
answered the door, White pushed him out and locked the door. The police arrived,
and appellant was arrested.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
In his first issue on appeal, appellant contends that “the conviction in Count
Two for [dating-violence assault] violates the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth
amendment.”
3
Applicable Law
The Double Jeopardy Clause bars, among other things, multiple criminal
punishments for the same offense. See U.S. CONST. amend. V; Hudson v. United
States, 522 U.S. 93, 99 (1997). But, the Double Jeopardy Clause does not prohibit
multiple punishments for the same conduct under two statutory provisions if this is
what the legislature intended. See Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359, 368–69 (1983)
(“Where, as here, a legislature specifically authorizes cumulative punishment under
two statutes, regardless of whether those two statutes proscribe the ‘same’ conduct
under Blockburger, a court’s task of statutory construction is at an end and the
prosecutor may seek and the trial court or jury may impose cumulative punishment
under such statutes in a single trial.”).
We apply the usual test to determine whether the legislature intended multiple
punishments for the same offense. See Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299
(1932). Under Blockburger, two offenses are not the same if “each provision requires
proof of a fact which the other does not.” Id., 284 U.S. at 304. In Texas, we look to
the pleadings to inform the Blockburger test. Bien v. State, 550 S.W.3d 180, 184
(Tex. Crim. App. 2018). If the two offenses have the same elements under the
cognate-pleadings approach, then a judicial presumption arises that the offenses are
the same for purposes of double jeopardy and the defendant may not be convicted
of both offenses. Id. That presumption can be rebutted by a clearly expressed
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legislative intent to create two separate offenses. Id. Conversely, if the two offenses,
as pleaded, have different elements under the Blockburger test, the judicial
presumption is that the offenses are different for double-jeopardy purposes and
multiple punishments may be imposed. Id. at 184–85. This presumption can be
rebutted by showing, through various factors, that the legislature clearly intended
only one punishment. Id.
Analysis
In the first count of the indictment, the State charged appellant with
aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. See TEX. PENAL CODE § 22.02(a)(2). The
indictment for this offense alleged the following elements: (1) appellant, (2)
intentionally or knowingly, (3) threatened imminent bodily injury to Evonne White,
and (4) used or exhibited a deadly weapon, namely, a knife, or a metal bar, or a bag,
or a metal object.
In the second count of the indictment, the State charged appellant with dating-
violence assault by impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the
person. See TEX. PENAL CODE § 22.01(a)(1), (b)(2)(B). The indictment for this
offense alleged the following elements: (1) appellant, (2) intentionally, knowingly,
or recklessly, (3) caused bodily injury to Evonne White, (4) by impeding the normal
breathing or circulation of the blood of Evonne White by applying pressure to her
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throat with his hand or arm, and (5) Evonne White was a member of appellant’s
family or household or a person with whom he had a dating relationship.
Here, the aggravated-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon charge required proof
that appellant threatened Evonne White with bodily injury, while the dating-violence
assault charge required an actual assault. Thus, the dating-violence assault charge is
not a lesser-included offense of the aggravated assault charge because it is not
established by proof of the same or less than all of the facts require to establish the
aggravated assault. See Childress v. State, 285 S.W.3d 544, 549 (Tex. App.—Waco
2009, pet. ref’d) (holding dating-violence assault not lesser-included offense of
aggravated assault because “the basis for the underlying assault—the threat of
imminent bodily injury—is distinct from the basis for the dating violence assault,
which was actual bodily injury”).
Likewise, the aggravated-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon charge required
proof that appellant used a deadly weapon, while the dating-violence assault did not.
Compare TEX. PENAL CODE § 22.02(a)(2) with TEX. PENAL CODE § 22.01(b)(2)(B).
And, the dating-violence assault required proof that Evonne White was in a dating
relationship with appellant; the aggravated assault charge did not. Id.
Thus, after applying the Blockburger test, because the two offenses, as
pleaded, have different elements, we presume that the charged offenses are not the
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same offense for double-jeopardy purposes. See Bien, 550 S.W.3d at 185. We then
must determine whether the legislature clearly intended only one punishment. Id.
Other (nonexclusive) considerations relevant to determining whether the
legislature intended multiple punishments are: whether the offenses’ provisions are
contained within the same statutory section, whether the offenses are phrased in the
alternative, whether the offenses are named similarly, whether the offenses have
common punishment ranges, whether the offenses have a common focus (i.e.,
whether the “gravamen” of the offense is the same) and whether that common focus
tends to indicate a single instance of conduct, whether the elements that differ
between the offenses can be considered the “same” under an imputed theory of
liability which would result in the offenses being considered the same under
Blockburger (i.e. a liberalized Blockburger standard utilizing imputed elements),
and whether there is legislative history containing an articulation of an intent to treat
the offenses as the same or different for double jeopardy purposes. Ervin v. State,
991 S.W.2d 804, 814 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
The Childress case has discussed these factors, as applied to the same statutes,
as follows:
It is apparent to us that the legislature intended these two offenses to be
treated separately. While they are in the same chapter of the Penal
Code, they are separate and distinct statutes, and they are not phrased
in the alternative. They do not have common punishment ranges. While
they have a related focus—assaults—in this case there is no common
focus between the two offenses. The dating violence assault focus is on
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the bodily injury of a victim in a dating relationship with the defendant,
while the focus of aggravated assault in this case is the assaultive
conduct in the form of threatening imminent bodily injury with a deadly
weapon. The threat of harm was being set on fire, while the harm
actually suffered was bodily injury to [the complainant’s] eyes and face
from the gasoline.
The differing elements between dating violence assault and aggravated
assault, as charged, cannot be considered the same under an imputed
theory of liability. Dating violence assault, with its bodily injury
element (which conceptually would be no different had [the defendant]
hit [the complainant] in the face), is not similar to an imminent threat
of bodily injury with a deadly weapon. Finally, neither [defendant] nor
the State has provided us with any legislative history that might indicate
whether or not the legislature intended to treat the offenses as the same
or different for double-jeopardy purposes.
Childress, 285 S.W.3d at 550.
We agree with the Waco court’s analysis. Additionally, we note that the
gravamen of appellant’s aggravated assault charge was threatening someone with
bodily injury with a deadly weapon, here, a knife, a metal bar, a bag, or a metal
object, while the gravamen of his dating-violence assault charge was actually
causing bodily injury to a person with whom he was in a dating relationship by
choking her with his hand or arm. Though the offenses may have occurred during
the same criminal episode, we hold that they are not “the same offense” for purposes
of the Double Jeopardy Clause. Thus, appellant could be tried and convicted on both
counts. See TEX. PENAL CODE § 3.02(a) (“A defendant may be prosecuted in a single
criminal action for all offenses arising out of the same criminal episode.”).
Accordingly, we overrule issue one.
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COURT COSTS
The judgment in Count 1 includes an assessment of court costs in the amount
of $319. The bill of costs attached to that judgment includes an assessment of $133
for “CCC-Felony” as a line item in the $319 total. It does not include a line item
assessment of $45 pursuant to the Crime Victim’s Compensation Act [“C.V.C.A.”].
The judgment in Count 2 indicates that $0 costs are assessed, but the bill of
costs attached to the judgment includes a line item assessment of $45 for “C.V.C.A.”
In issues two and three, appellant challenges the total court costs assessed.
Specifically, appellant contends that a $45 C.V.C.A. assessment is included within
the $133 CCC-Felony assessment.
We begin by noting that court costs, as reflected in a certified bill of costs,
need not be orally pronounced or incorporated by reference in the judgment to be
effective. See Weir v. State, 278 S.W.3d 364, 367 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Thus,
the fact that the $45 C.V.C.A. assessment was not incorporated into a judgment is
irrelevant. Similarly, the fact that the $45 C.V.C.A. assessment is attached to Count
2 instead of Count 1 is irrelevant because “[i]n a single criminal action in which a
defendant is convicted of two or more offenses . . . the court may assess each court
cost or fee only once against the defendant.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 102.073(a).
Thus, the issue is not whether the $45 C.V.C.A. cost was improperly assessed in
9
Count 2 rather than Count 1, but whether it was assessed twice when considering
both judgments together.
The State agrees that it was. See Smith v. State, No. 02-16-00412-CR, 2017
WL 2276751, at *2 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 25, 2017, pet. ref’d) (mem. op.,
not designated for publication) (holding that Crime Victim’s Compensation Fee
could not be assessed separately from $133 cost charged for felony conviction); see
also Aviles-Barroso v. State, 477 S.W.3d 363, 388 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
2015, pet. ref’d) (holding same).
Accordingly, we sustain issues two and three. We modify the judgment in
Count 2 to delete the $45 “C.V.C.A” assessment attached thereto because that cost
is already included in the $133 CCC-Felony assessment in Count 1.
ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE
During appellant’s testimony, the following exchange took place:
Q: Okay. Do you think your memory could be at all affected by the fact
that you were using cocaine or under the influence at the time this
happened?
Defense Counsel: Judge, I’m going to object. There hasn’t been any
testimony—
Appellant: I—I
Trial Court: Excuse me. Hold on. Let him make his objection. Go
ahead.
Defense Counsel: I’m going to object to any allusion to him using
cocaine. There hasn’t been any testimony about that.
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The trial court overruled the objection.
In issue four, appellant contends that “[t]he trial court erred when it allowed
the State to cross examine [a]ppellant regarding his cocaine use during the assault
where such a question had no basis in fact.”2
Standard of Review and Applicable Law
We review a trial court’s ruling on the admission or exclusion of evidence for
an abuse of discretion. Tillman v. State, 354 S.W.3d 425, 435 (Tex. Crim. App.
2011); Walker v. State, 321 S.W.3d 18, 22 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2009,
pet. ref’d, untimely filed). We will uphold the trial court’s ruling unless it falls
outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. Dabney v. State, 492 S.W.3d 309, 318
(Tex. Crim. App. 2016); accord Walker, 321 S.W.3d at 22. If the trial court’s
evidentiary ruling is reasonably supported by the record and correct on any theory
of applicable law, we will uphold the decision. See State v. Story, 445 S.W.3d 729,
732 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); Tarley v. State, 420 S.W.3d 204, 206 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet. ref’d).
It is improper to cross-examine a witness with a question that assumes a fact
not in evidence. Ramirez v. State, 815 S.W.2d 636, 652 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); see
2
We note that appellant did not object, either at trial or on appeal, that the evidence
regarding cocaine usage was an inadmissible, extraneous offense.
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Duncan v. State, 95 S.W.3d 669, 673 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet.
ref’d).
Analysis
Thus, the issue is whether there was evidence of appellant’s use of cocaine in
evidence. The State argues that there was, and we agree.
During the complainant’s testimony, which was before appellant testified, the
following exchange took place when she was being questioned about whether
appellant asked her to drop the charges:
Q: Did [appellant] offer you any kind of explanation of why that
happened on November 20th?
A: He told me—because when we would have our arguments in the
past, he—I would—I would say things like “Are you on drugs?” And
he would get really upset. But then once he went to jail, that’s when he
told me, he was like, you know, when you used to always ask me if I
was on drugs, well, yeah, I—I do—I experiment with cocaine or I snort
cocaine and I was high that night.
Thus, there was evidence before the jury that appellant admitted to cocaine
use the night before as a way to explain or justify his conduct on the morning of the
offense in an effort to get White to drop the charges. As such, the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in admitting the testimony.3
3
To the extent that appellant is now complaining about the timing of his use of
cocaine, i.e., that he used it the night before rather than during the offense, that issue
is waived. Appellant objected that “there hasn’t been any testimony about—cocaine
and he’s—stating it like it’s a fact.” He did not object regarding the timing of his
use of cocaine, only that there was no evidence that he used it at all. He cannot
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CONCLUSION
We affirm the judgment in Count 1. We modify the judgment in Count 2,
delete the assessment of $45 costs for C.V.C.A., and, as modified, we affirm.
Sherry Radack
Chief Justice
Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Goodman and Countiss.
Justice Goodman, concurring.
Publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
object to the timing of his use of cocaine for the first time on appeal. See TEX. R.
APP. P. 33.1(a).
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