Lowrey, Gerald Mac

PD-1053-15
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Transmitted 10/7/2015 4:50:59 PM
Accepted 10/8/2015 3:58:39 PM
ABEL ACOSTA
No. PD-1053-15 CLERK

__________________

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS

__________________

Gerald Mac Lowrey

v.

The State of Texas

__________________

ON DISCRETIONARY REVIEW FROM THE
COURT OF APPEALS FOR
SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CAUSE NUMBER 06-14-00172-CR

APPEALED FROM THE
SIXTH DISTRICT COURT
OF LAMAR COUNTY, TEXAS

CAUSE NUMBER 25492

Gary L. Waite
State Bar No. 20667500
Gary L. Waite
104 Lamar Ave.
Paris, Texas 75460
(903) 785-0096
(903) 785-0097
October 8, 2015
garywaite@sbcglobal.net

ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER
List of Parties and Counsel

The following is a list of all parties and all counsel who have appeared in

this matter:

Trial Court Judge: Will Biard

Appellant: Gerald Mac Lowrey

Attorney for Appellant in the appellate court: Gary L. Waite, 104 Lamar Ave.,

Paris, TX 75460, State Bar No. 20667500

Attorney for Appellant at Trial: Diane Sprague, 9 W. Houston Street, Paris, Texas

75460

Appellee: The State of Texas

Attorney for Appellee in the appellate court: Gary D. Young, State Bar No.

00785298

Attorney for Appellee at trial: Lorrie Pollard, State Bar No. 00784774

Elected District and County Attorney: Gary D. Young

ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Parties ii

Table of Contents iii

Index of Authorities iv

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT 1

STATEMENT OF THE CASE 1-2

STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY 2

GROUND FOR REVIEW: 2

THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN HOLDING THAT THE
TRIAL COURT DID NOT ABUSE IT’S DISCRETION IN
REFUSING TOISSUE A WRIT OF ATTACHMENT FOR
A DEFENSE WITNESS.

ARGUMENT 3-9

(a) Background 3-5

(b) Argument and Authority 5-9

PRAYER 10

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 11

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE 12

APPENDIX: The opinion of the court of appeals.

iii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Bland v. State, 211 S.W.2d 751 (Crim. App. 1948) 7

Burk v. State, 876 S.W. 2d 877, 904 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994) 6

Erwin v. State, 729 S.W. 2d 709, 714 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987) 6

Sturgeon v. State, 106 S.W. 3d 81, 90 (Tex Crim. App. 2003) 5-6,7

Trinidad v. State, 949 S.W. 2d 22, 24 (Tex. App.–Houston [1 st Dist.]
1992, pet. Ref’d) 7

United States v. Simpson, 992 F.2d 1224, 1230 (D.C. Cir. 1993) 9

Washington v. Texas, 388 U.S. 14 (1967) 9

Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. Art 24.12 3, 5-6

Tex. R. App. P. 44.2 (a) 7

Tex. R. App. P. 66.3 ( c) 7

Tex. R. App. P. 66.3 ( d) 7

iv
 TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

GERALD MAC LOWREY, PETITIONER

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, RESPONDENT

APPELLANTS PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

Comes now the Petitioner, Gerald Mac Lowrey, and respectfully urges this

Court to grant his Petition for Discretionary Review of the above styled cause,

pursuant to the rules of the Court

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT

Petitioner believes that oral argument would assist the Court in explication

and disposition of the issues presented in this petition, and presents unique and

interesting issues. Therefore, Petitioner respectfully requests oral argument.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

This is an appeal from the trial court’s final judgment and conviction for

theft (CR, pp. 95-96)

In October, 2013, a grand jury in Lamar County, Texas indicted Petitioner

on two counts of theft. A jury found Petitioner guilty of the offense of theft of
Material-aluminum/copper/bronze/brass with a value of less than $20,000.00 as

charged in count two of the indictment (RR, vol. 4, p. 97; Supp CR, p. 8).

The trial court assessed punishment and sentenced Lowrey to two years

confinement in a state jail facility, and probated that sentence for five years of

community supervision (RR, vol 4, pp. 125-126). The trial court also assessed a

fine of $1,000.00 (probated), court costs of $343.00 and restitution to be

determined (CR, p. 95).

Petitioner timely filed his notice of appeal (CR, p. 94). The Court of

Appeals affirmed his conviction on July 14, 2015. Petitioner filed a Motion for

Extension of Time to File the Petition for Discretionary Review. Petitioner’s

Petition for Discretionary Review is due on or before October 12, 2015.

STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY

(1)Date of opinion from Court of Appeals: July 14, 2015

(2)Date of Motion for Rehearing: N/A

GROUND FOR REVIEW

THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN HOLDING THAT THE TRIAL COURT

DID NOT ABUSE IT’S DISCRETION IN REFUSING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF

ATTACHMENT FOR A DEFENSE WITNESS.

2
ARGUMENT

Review is warranted under Tex. R. App. P. 66.3 ( c) because the opinion

below conflicts with an opinion of the United State’s Supreme Court and this

Court’s opinion that attachment of a witness who has been served with a subpoena

is a matter of right. See Washington v. Texas, 388 U.S. 14 (1967); Sturgeon v.

State, 106 S.W.3d 81, 90 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).

Review is warranted under Tex. R. App. P. 66.3 (d) the opinion below because it

has misconstrued a statute. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. Art. 24.12.

(a) Background.

Petitioner was a truck driver for Joe Tex Xpress, Inc. (Joe Tex). On or about May

1, 2014, Petitioner transported a load of crates containing copper bars from Hussey

Copper in Kentucky to Schneider Electric and Eaton Electric in El Paso, Texas.

On the way to El Paso, Texas, Petitioner stopped in Paris, Texas to visit with his

daughter-in-law (RR, vol 3, pp. 213-214).

Upon his arrival at Schnieder Electric, Petitioner and a Schnieder Electric

employee, Raul Bueno, discovered that a crate had been tampered with and was

missing copper. Petitioner and Bueno inspected the load and determined that no

other copper was missing from the load. ( See RR, vol 3, pp 227-229). After

making the discovery, Petitioner contacted his dispatcher to report his load was

3
“shorted.” (RR, vol. 3, pp. 224-225). After receiving this information from the

dispatcher, Angela Dunavant, chief financial officer for Joe Tex contacted

Petitioner to discuss the situation (RR. Vol 3, 9.123). About May 2, 2013, Hussey

Copper notified Dunavant that when Petitioner arrived at Schnieder Electric, one of

the crates it received had been opened and was missing copper bars.

On May 4, 2013, Petitioner reported to Keith Draper, a Lamar County

Sheriff’s deputy, that someone had stolen forty one sticks of flat copper tubing

from his load. All of the copper bars stolen were 4 inches wide and 12 feet long

(RR, Vol. 3 , p. 47). While discussing the theft, Petitioner indicated that he had

borrowed his daughter-in-law’s truck and had gone to Paris Iron and Metal to sell

some scrap (RR, vol 3, p. 26).

After taking the report, Draper turned this information over to Joel

Chipman, an investigator for the Lamar County Sheriff’s office. Chipman went to

Paris Iron and Metal and was informed that approximately twelve bars, at least five

of which were four-inch wide bars had been sold by Petitioner (RR, vol 3, p. 53,

RR, vol 5, State’s Exhibits 2-7). The other bars sold by Petitioner were not four-

inch wide bars, and did not conform to the bars reported stolen (RR, vol. 3, pp. 77-

78; 79).

Petitioner testified at trial that he bought the copper that he sold to Paris

4
Iron and Metal from a truck driver at a truck stop in Kentucky (RR, vol. 3, pp.

209- 210).

At trial, Angela Dunavant testified that in addition to the crates of four-inch-

wide copper bars, Petitioner’s load contained crates (that were very easy to open

and close) of copper bars of other widths. (RR, vol 3, pp. 128-130; 132; State’s

Exhibit 12; see Slip op. p. 8).

Petitioner subpoenaed Raul Bueno, the Schnieder Electric employee who

inspected the load, and would have testified that all of the missing copper was

from one crate, and that all the missing copper was four inch wide copper, and that

there were no other crates that were open, and no other copper was missing from

other crates. Bueno failed to show up for trial, and Petitioner requested a writ of

attachment for the witness, which was denied by the trial court.(RR, vol. 3, pp.

136-137; pp. 138-139; CR, p. 80).

(b) Argument and Authority

When a witness who has been duly subpoenaed fails to appear, the State or

the defendant shall be entitled to have an attachment issued forthwith for such

witness. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. Art 24.12; Sturgeon v. State, 106 S.W.

3d 81, 90 (Tex Crim. App. 2003) stating that Article 24.12's plain language “makes

it clear that attachment of a witness who has been duly served with a

5
subpoena is a matter of right. This Court has established a three step procedure

for determining whether preserved error after a subpoenaed witness fails to appear.

First, the partymust request a writ of attachment from the trial court. Second, the

party must show what the witness’ testimony would have been had the witness

testified. Finally, it must be shown in the request that “the testimony the witness

would have given is relevant and material.” Sturgeon, 106 S.W.3d at 85 (citing

Erwin v. State, 729 S.W. 2d 709, 714 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987), overruled on other

grounds by Burk v. State, 876 S.W. 2d 877, 904 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). (Slip op.

pp. 6-7).

Petitioner did all that he was required to do. He subpoenaed the witness.

When the witness (through his lawyer), refused to honor the subpoena, Petitioner

requested a writ of attachment. He showed the trial court that the testimony of the

witness was relevant and material. Dunavant, the Joe Tex representative, testified

that other crates in the truck contained copper other than four inch wide bars. She

testified the crates on the truck were easily opened and closed. This gave the

impression that the other widths of copper sold by Petitioner came from other

boxes on the truck, and therefore, the stolen four-inch-wide copper had to have

come from this load. This inference would have been rebutted by the witness, Raul

Bueno, who would have testified that he inspected the load, and that none of the

6
other boxes were “short.” This testimony is certainly relevant and material.

Dunavant’s testimony that she had not received notification from Schneider

Electric that other boxes had been opened was certainly not the same as direct

testimony from Bueno, a Schneider Electric employee, that no other boxes were

open and nothing else was missing from the load.

Should the party requesting the attachment meet all three requirements,

“reversible error will result unless the error made no contribution to the conviction

or to the punishment.” Sturgeon at 85; see also Tex. R. App. P. 44.2 (a).

The Court below does not address Petitioner’s argument that Bueno was the

only disinterested witness who could testify to the fact that nothing else was

missing from the load. Bland v. State, 211 S.W.2d 751 (Crim. App. 1948; see also

Trinidad v. State, 949 S.W. 2d 22, 24 (Tex. App.–Houston [1 st Dist.] 1992, pet.

Ref’d), holding that harm was shown because the two witnesses subpoenaed were

disinterested and therefore their testimony had more credibility than that actually

presented.

The Court’s below omits that the State argued in it’s closing argument that

there was copper other than the four inch copper on the truck, effectively arguing

that the other copper could have come from other crates from this load. After the

State rested it’s case, Petitioner made a request for a directed verdict. Petitioner

7
argued that there were other (RR, pp. 201-203). Petitioner correctly asserted that

the State intended to argue as its theory that Petitioner had stolen copper from

other loads or possibly had taken copper from other shipments or from other boxes

in this shipment and sold it at Paris Iron and Metal (RR, p. 202, p. 206). There was

no evidence that copper was taken from other loads.

The trial Court, after argument of counsel on Petitioner’s Motion for a

Directed Verdict, entered a limine order that the state could not argue during it’s

closing that Petitioner removed other widths of copper from other crates (RR,

p.206). However, over objection, (RR, vol. 4, p.91), the State argued in it’s

closing:

“. . .This is the defense’s photo of the–taken of the box that was opened in El
Paso. Look at the top. It’s cardboard. Remember when the Defendant testified, he
made a statement. I missed it the first time. Almost in the first few minutes that he
talked about cardboard on these crates. These things aren’t nailed shut. I would
submit to you that those crates are pretty easy to get into.” (RR, vol. 4, pp. 91-92)
...

Now was anything else reported missing? No. There’s no evidence of that.
Remember what the shipping guy said, Mr. Skidmore, the Joe Tex employee, what
are the chances that 12 bars out of 45,000 pounds on that truck, 43, whatever it is
on State’s 14, what are the chances those 12 bars are going to catch all of them
(sic). Do you really think that they caught some of those other boxes were light.”
(sic) (RR, vol 4, p. 92).

The whole point of having Raul Bueno come to court was his testimony that

nothing else was missing from the load except the four inch bars from one crate.

8
It cannot be said that the witness testimony was not relevant and material-- and

without Bueno’s testimony, Petitioner was denied his defense. The opinion from

the Court below negatively impacts the very nature of a defendant’s right to

compulsory process. United States v. Simpson, 992 F.2d 1224, 1230 (D.C. Cir.

1993). In Simpson, the D.C. Circuit Court held that the defendant was denied his

right to compulsory process when the judge refused to issue a bench warrant for a

subpoenaed witness who would have testified that nothing fell from defendant’s

pocket while he was being frisked. The Simpson Court held that in assessing a

request for compulsory process, a trial judge may not invade the province of the jury

and independently weigh the probativeness of relevant evidence. Once the

defendant has alleged facts that, if true, demonstrate the necessity of the witness’

testimony, the court is obligated to lend its authority in compelling the sought-after

witness’ appearance. See generally, Washington v. Texas, 388 U.S. 14 (1967). To

reiterate, the jury, given that there was copper bars of different sizes than reported

stolen, possessed by Petitioner, could have concluded that the copper sold was not

the same copper as that reported stolen from his truck. The Court of Appeals

applied the wrong legal standard and thus reached the wrong result in this case, and

will likely do it again without the guidance of this Court.

9
Prayer

Petitioner prays this Honorable Court grant his Petition for Discretionary

Review, and after briefing on the merits, that the case be set for submission to this

Court , and after submission, the Court reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary L. Waite
104 Lamar Ave.
Paris, Texas 75460
(903) 785-0096
(903) 785-0097

garywaite@sbcglobal.net

By:/s/Gary L. Waite
Gary L. Waite
State Bar No. 20667500
Attorney for Petitioner

10
 Certificate of Service

I certify that a true copy of this Petition for Discretionary Review was served

in accordance with rule 9.5 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure on each party

or that party's lead counsel as follows:

Party: Lamar County Attorney

Lead attorney: Gary Young

Address of service: 119 N. Main St., Paris, Texas 75460

Method of service: in person

Date of service: October 7, 2015

Party: State Prosecuting Attorney

Address of service: P.O. Box 13046, Austin, Texas 78711-3046

Method of service: by mail

Date of service: October 7, 2015

/s/Gary L. Waite
Gary L. Waite
Attorney for Petitioner

11
 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

I certify that this Petition conforms to the requirements of TRAP 9, and

consists of 1,780 words per TRAP 4(I) (2) (D).

/s/ Gary L. Waite________________
Gary L. Waite

12
Appendix :

The opinion of the court of appeals.
 In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

No. 06-14-00172-CR

GERALD MAC LOWREY, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 6th District Court
Lamar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 25492

Before Morriss, C.J., Moseley and Burgess, JJ.
Opinion by Justice Moseley
 OPINION

A jury found Gerald Mac Lowrey guilty of theft of material (aluminum, copper, bronze, or

brass) in an amount valued at less than $20,000.00.1 Following the jury’s verdict of guilty, the

trial court assessed Lowrey’s punishment and sentenced him to two years’ confinement in the State

Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but probated the sentence and placed

Lowrey on community supervision for five years.

On appeal, Lowrey contends (1) that the trial court erred when it refused to issue a writ of

attachment for a defense witness, (2) that the trial court erred when it denied Lowrey’s motion for

continuance, and (3) that there was insufficient evidence to prove the identity of the victim as

alleged in the indictment, or in the alternative, that there was a material and fatal variance between

the victim’s name as alleged in the indictment and the name proved at trial.

For the reasons below, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied

Lowrey’s request for a writ of attachment or his motion for a continuance and that the evidence

was sufficient for the jury to find Lowrey guilty of the offense of theft of material valued at less

than $20,000.00. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

I. Background

Joe Tex Express2 is a Texas company located in Mount Vernon, Texas, which is engaged

in the business of shipping metals, machinery, lumber, building materials, railroad materials, and

1
The State originally indicted Lowrey for two counts of theft. Prior to trial, the State abandoned count one of the
indictment, and it was dismissed by the trial court on August 1, 2014.
2
The actual name is Joe Tex Xpress, Inc. The parties refer to the company as “Joe Tex Express,” “Joe Tex,” and “Joe
Tex Xpress.” For purposes of this opinion, we will refer to the company as “Joe Tex Express.”

2
various other things. Lowrey was an owner-operator working under contract with Joe Tex Express

from 2010 until 2013, at which time the company terminated his employment.3 On or about May 1,

2013, Lowrey transported a load of crates containing copper bars from Hussey Copper in Kentucky

to Schneider Electric and Eaton Electric in El Paso, Texas. During the delivery, Joe Tex Express

assumed the responsibility of “taking care of the copper.” Although Lowrey had the permission

of Joe Tex Express to assume control over the shipment in order to haul it, he did not have the

company’s permission to dispose of any part of the shipment or to sell it for his own use.

Upon his arrival at Schneider Electric, Lowrey and a Schneider Electric employee

discovered that a crate had been tampered with and was missing some copper. After making the

discovery, Lowrey contacted a Joe Tex Express dispatcher to say his load had been “shorted.”4

Presumably after receiving the information from the dispatcher, the chief financial officer for Joe

Tex Express, Angela Dunavant, contacted Lowrey to discuss the situation. About May 2, 2013,

Hussey Copper notified Dunavant that when Lowrey arrived at Schneider Electric, one of the

crates it received had been opened and was missing copper bars.

On May 4, 2013, Lowrey reported to Deputy Keith Draper, who worked for the Lamar

County Sheriff’s Office, that someone had stolen “[f]orty-one sticks” of flat copper tubing from

his load. While he was discussing the theft with Draper, Lowrey indicated that he had previously

borrowed his daughter-in-law’s truck and had gone to Paris Iron and Metal to sell some “scrap.”

3
Joe Tex Express terminated Lowrey’s employment due to the events leading up to his arrest.
4
It is unclear from the record exactly when Lowrey contacted the dispatcher.
3
 After taking the report from Lowrey, Draper contacted Joel Chipman, an investigator for

the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office. When Chipman

began his investigation of the theft, he reviewed Draper’s report and found that Lowrey had

described the stolen property as “copper bars being about a quarter inch thick, four-inches wide

and twelve feet long” with a silver-colored coating believed to be aluminum. On May 15, 2013,

Chipman went to Paris Iron and Metal and asked if they had received any copper bars. In response

to his inquiry, he was told, “I know exactly what you’re talking about.” Chipman reported that the

officials at Paris Iron and Metal revealed that it had received approximately twelve such bars, at

least five of which were four-inch wide bars and looked like “they were kept very well” and had

“no significant marring.” Chipman took photographs of the copper and obtained the receipt that

had been issued to Lowrey on May 1, 2013, showing that Lowrey had received $1,896.00 for “790

pounds of number two copper,” at $2.40 per pound. Chipman also obtained a photograph of

Lowrey that was taken at Paris Iron and Metal on the day he sold the copper to the business. In

the photograph, Lowrey was standing next to “some metal.”

Soon afterwards, Chipman interviewed Lowrey and “asked him about the scrap” he had

sold to Paris Iron and Metal. Lowrey explained to Chipman that he had a relative who worked for

the telephone company and who had given Lowrey approximately 400 pounds of copper in the

form of “old wire and scraps to sell.” Chipman showed Lowrey the photograph he had gotten

from Paris Iron and Metal. When Chipman inquired as to why there was no “old wire” shown in

the photograph, Lowrey responded, “[W]ell, they didn’t take a picture of it.” Chipman replied,

4
“Nobody is going to believe that’s scrap. Why are you -- why are you -- you’re trying to pass this

off as scrap when it’s the exact same stuff that you reported stolen.”

Chipman also showed Lowrey the copy of the sales receipt he had gotten from Paris Iron

and Metal, reflecting the sale of 790 pounds of copper. Chipman then questioned Lowrey about

the difference in the amount of copper shown on the sales receipt and the fact that Lowrey had

given him an explanation for where he had gotten only 400 pounds of copper and scraps.5 Lowrey

explained to Chipman that he had also purchased copper “scraps” and extra bars from another

truck driver in Kentucky who “wasn’t supposed to have any copper on his truck.” Lowrey

informed Chipman that he did not know the identity of that truck driver or the truck driver’s

employer. Lowrey stated that he paid the other truck driver $200.00 for “seven or eight sticks” of

copper. Lowrey also told Chipman that some of the scraps came from underground cable from a

mobile home.

During his interview with Lowrey, Chipman also learned that Chad Lester and Chris

Woodall accompanied Lowrey to Paris Iron and Metal. After they left the business, the three men

picked up Lacrisha Lowrey (also called Lacrisha Woodall) and went to the casino in Grant,

Oklahoma. At this point, Chipman made the determination that Lowrey was not a victim, but a

suspect.

5
Eventually, Lowrey said that he had defrauded Paris Iron and Metal when he represented that he was selling them a
larger amount of metal, by approximately 110 pounds, than he actually sold them.
5
II. Lowrey’s Grounds of Error

A. Whether the Trial Court Erred When it Refused to Issue a Writ of Attachment

Lowrey contends that the trial court erred when it denied his request for a writ of attachment

for Raul Bueno, who was an employee of Schneider Electric. An accused is guaranteed, under

both the United States and Texas Constitutions, the right to compulsory process to compel the

attendance of a witness at trial. U.S. CONST. amend. VI; TEX. CONST. art. I, § 10. The Texas Code

of Criminal Procedure, however, requires a defendant to file an application for a subpoena with

the trial court’s clerk if the defendant wants to ensure the witness’ presence. TEX. CODE CRIM.

PROC. ANN. art. 24.03 (West 2009). The defendant must then cause the subpoena to be properly

served on the witness. Ford v. State, 14 S.W.3d 382, 391–92 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

2000, no pet.).

When a witness who has been duly subpoenaed fails to appear, the State or the defendant

shall be entitled to have an attachment issued forthwith for such witness. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC.

ANN. art. 24.12 (West 2009); Sturgeon v. State, 106 S.W.3d 81, 90 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (stating

that Article 24.12’s plain language “makes it clear that attachment of a witness who has been duly

served with a subpoena is a matter of right”). The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has established

a three-step procedure for determining whether an appellant has preserved error after a subpoenaed

witness fails to appear. First, the party must request a writ of attachment from the trial court.

Second, in making the request, the party must show what the witness’ testimony would have been

had the witness testified. Finally, it must be shown in the request that “the testimony that the

witness would have given [is] relevant and material.” Sturgeon, 106 S.W.3d at 85 (citing Erwin

6
v. State, 729 S.W.2d 709, 714 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987), overruled on other grounds by Burk v.

State, 876 S.W.2d 877, 904 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994).

Should the party requesting the attachment meet all three requirements, “reversible error

will result unless the error made no contribution to the conviction or to the punishment.” Id.; see

also TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(a). When “the testimony of the missing witnesses [is] neither cumulative

nor irrelevant,” the denial of the right to attach that witness is, in effect, the denial of the right to

present a defense. Sturgeon, 106 S.W.3d at 89. We review the trial court’s decision to deny the

writ of attachment using the abuse of discretion standard. Emenhiser v. State, 196 S.W.3d 915,

921 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, pet. ref’d).

In this case, when Lowrey made the delivery of copper to Schneider Electric and it was

discovered that one crate had been tampered with, Lowrey and Bueno inspected the remaining

crates to make sure there was no other missing copper. On July 29, 2014, Lowrey subpoenaed

Bueno to testify about the inspection in order to show that only one crate was missing copper and

that all of the missing copper was four inches wide.

The trial began August 4, 2014. Following voir dire, and after receiving no response from

Bueno, Lowrey asked for a writ of attachment to ensure his appearance at trial. Although Lowrey

explained that he believed Bueno’s testimony was material to his defense, the trial court denied

his request “at this time.” The trial court instructed Lowrey to speak to Bueno to determine the

content of his testimony and informed Lowrey that he would consider his request for a writ of

attachment once more the following day. Later that day, Lowrey received information that Bueno

had agreed to appear in court.

7
 The next day, the State called Dunavant as a witness. Among other things, Dunavant

testified that in addition to the crates of four-inch-wide copper bars, Lowrey’s load contained crates

(that were very easy to open and close) of copper bars of other widths. Following her direct

examination, the trial court called a recess and allowed the jury to leave for lunch. During the

break, Lowrey informed the trial court that he had just received an email from Bueno’s attorney

stating that Bueno would not honor the subpoena. Lowrey again emphasized the necessity of

Bueno’s appearance, “particularly in light of testimony that [the State] elicited from [Dunavant]

that create[d] the inference that there were other boxes opened on this shipment that were not

reported and that -- what accounts for the nonconforming copper that show[ed] up in the pictures

at Paris Iron and Metal would be from the boxes that were opened.”6 Lowrey argued,

What happened here is a Class A illustration of what amounts to an evidentiary
harpoon. This evidence about the possibility, the inference, the suggestion that
there were other open crates and other missing copper to account for the
nonconforming copper that we see in the pictures, the not four-inches wide and
144-inches long . . . .

....

Nonetheless, [the State] consciously elicited that inference and that suspicion on
direct examination. There’s no way to defend that other than to bring Mr. Bueno
in here to say that that didn’t happen. We looked. There was nothing else missing.

The trial court denied Lowrey’s request for a writ of attachment for Bueno.7

6
The photographs contained various sizes of copper bars, including, but not limited to, copper bars that were four
inches in width.

Prior to the trial court’s denial of Lowrey’s request, the State considered entering into a stipulation with him regarding
7

Bueno’s testimony. In doing so, the State informed the trial court,

I was about to say I understood Ms. Dunavant to say that the only box opened was the one that was
reported with the four-inch strips. But if [Lowrey’s trial counsel] will write out what [Lowrey]
8
 Upon completion of the State’s case, Lowrey asked for—and was denied—a directed

verdict. Lowrey further requested the trial court to reconsider its denial of the request for an

attachment of Bueno. Although the trial court listened to Lowrey’s reasoning once again, it refused

the request on the basis that it was not warranted.

In this case, Lowrey repeatedly requested an attachment for Bueno and was denied each

time. Accordingly, he complied with the initial requirement for preservation of his complaint. See

Erwin, 729 S.W.2d at 714. Next, Lowrey was required to provide the trial court with the substance

of Bueno’s testimony. See id. The State argues that Lowrey failed to provide the trial court with

“sworn evidence or agreed facts” as to what Bueno’s testimony would be, but instead offered only

his “belief” of what it might be. Although Lowrey did not produce any written request, he did

articulate what he believed Bueno’s testimony would be, and the reason he felt it would be material

to his defense.

In addition to Lowrey’s summary of Bueno’s testimony above, when Lowrey asked the

trial court to reconsider its denial of his request for a writ of attachment, Lowrey explained again

the reasons he believed Bueno’s presence was necessary:

We continue to request the Court to reconsider having Mr. Bueno brought here. In
light of this last testimony from yet another witness, Mr. Skidmore, about how
possible it is that these crates could have shaken loose and Mr. Lowrey could have
gotten into other crates to take other copper that didn’t match the copper that
Schneider reported was the only one open, the State continues to urge this theory
that other copper -- other crates undetected by Schneider Electric were broken into,
a stick here, a stick there was taken out, too minimal amounts to be discerned by
Schneider Electric and that was how -- the State would argue that the [j]ury should
explain that there was non[-]conforming copper found here.

would have [Bueno] testify to, I can -- if he’ll write it out, I can see if I can stipulate to it to avoid
the need of a writ for somebody in El Paso.
9
 The only people that can testify that that’s not true, the only people that can
testify, look, we were on alert, we looked in the other boxes, we looked. There was
no other copper missing. That’s this guy that I have subpoenaed timely and filed a
return for.

. . . . . The person that is best situated to testify that that didn’t happen, that they
looked in all the boxes because they were on alert, that one box had been broken
into, is this witness.

....

I talked to him. I know that’s what he would say. But I can’t tell the jury that.
They need to hear it. Because they’ve got the documents that the [c]ourt is saying
are going to substitute for this testimony, and that is . . . the only thing that was
missing was in that crate.

The trial court denied Lowrey’s second request for an attachment.8

It is unnecessary for this Court to determine whether Lowrey adequately provided the trial

court with Bueno’s intended testimony. Even assuming that he did, we find that Bueno’s testimony

would have been cumulative and, as such, was not materially relevant to Lowrey’s defense.

Lowrey’s contention is (1) that Dunavant’s testimony created an “implication” that there were

other open crates on Lowrey’s load and that he took copper from the other open crates, not just

from the crate containing the four-inch-wide copper bars, and (2) that Bueno’s testimony would

contradict this. While Dunavant did testify that there were other crates containing different sizes

of copper bars on Lowrey’s load and that the crates could be easily opened and closed, she also

testified that she received notification from Schneider Electric that only one box had been opened

in transit, this being the box containing the four-inch-wide bars. When asked if she got a

8
The trial court did, however, enter an order in limine prohibiting the State from arguing “during its closing that
[Lowrey] removed some of the other widths [of copper] from the crates” on the load he was carrying on the day in
question.
10
notification from either Schneider Electric or Eaton Electric as to whether or not they found any

other crates opened, Dunavant responded, “No.” Therefore, Bueno’s testimony would not have

been helpful to rebut Dunavant’s testimony.

In addition, the State introduced a document which reflected that Schneider Electric

received the shipment and that it included (1) order number “1443685-2,” (2) copper bars,

(3) packaged as one “skid,” (4) with a gross weight of “2,225” pounds, (5) the net weight of

“2,140,” and (6) the notation “[one] open pallet.”9 The same document reflected three very similar

entries regarding the gross weight and net weight of three more “skid[s]” of copper on Lowrey’s

load, along with the order numbers “1443685-1,” “1443685-3,” and “1443685-4.” However, there

was no notation “[one] open pallet” next to those three order numbers.

Another exhibit at trial was Hussey Copper’s “customer packing list,” with bill of lading

number 1693432, which was supposed to be delivered to Schneider Electric. The packing list

contained the hand-written comment “open pallet missing material” next to the order number

“1443685-2,” for an order of copper as “round edge,” approximately 4” x 144”, one case, forty-

eight pieces, net weight of “2140.” The list was dated “29-Apr-2013.” There were also three

similar descriptions of copper which bore different order numbers. However, the notation “open

pallet missing material” was not included beside any of those order numbers.

Moreover, Lowrey’s own exhibit (which was a document from Schneider Electric)

reflected that order number 1443685-2 was “non[-]conforming” because it was “incomplete.” The

document also showed that the delivery quantity was intended to be forty-eight pieces and the

9
The copper is usually stored on a wooden pallet.
11
“concerned quantity” was forty-one pieces, indicating that when the shipment arrived at Schneider

Electric, that particular crate only contained seven bars of copper. Reflecting the description above

of order number 1443685-2, the Schneider Electric document showed this specific order should

have weighed “2140” pounds, but only weighed “1833.89” pounds, the shortage being apparently

due to the forty-one pieces of missing copper.

The State was proceeding against Lowrey for the theft of copper of an amount less than

$20,000.00. The evidence at trial showed the load Lowrey was transporting contained crates of

copper bars that were four inches in width along with additional crates containing various other

sizes of copper bars. The evidence also showed that only one of the crates had been opened before

its arrival at Schneider Electric, and that particular crate contained copper bars four inches in width.

Lowrey’s contention that Dunavant’s testimony “implied” that there were other opened crates of

copper and that Lowrey was responsible for having also pilfered some of the contents of those

crates is contrary to what she stated at trial. Dunavant’s testimony, as well as the documentary

evidence, made repeated reference to (1) one order number (1443685-2), (2) only one opened crate

of copper, (3) the only opened crate containing four-inch-wide copper bars, and (4) the fact that

the majority of the forty-eight bars originally in the crate were missing. Bueno’s testimony that

he inspected the crates upon their arrival at Schneider Electric and that only one box was found

opened and missing copper bars four inches in width would have added very little (if anything) to

Lowrey’s defense.

Further, nothing controverts the evidence that Lowrey sold copper bars to Paris Iron and

Metal that varied in width, including four-inch-wide copper bars. At least five of the bars were

12
four inches in width and fit the description of the copper bars contained in the crate that Schneider

Electric found opened. The fact that the State introduced photographs of various sizes of copper

bars (including four-inch-wide copper bars) is of little consequence to whether a jury could find

Lowrey guilty of theft of copper from Joe Tex Express in the amount of $20,000.00 or less. The

State was not required to prove that Lowrey sold all of the copper that was missing from the one

opened box to any one particular business, only that he stole the copper from Joe Tex Express.

Likewise, the State was not required to prove that all of the copper Lowrey sold to Paris Iron and

Metal came from the same load he was transporting for Joe Tex Express on May 1, 2013. It was

clear from the witnesses and the evidence that the only crate missing copper for which Schneider

Electric could directly account was the one crate containing four-inch-wide copper bars. Thus,

Bueno’s testimony as to what was missing from the shipment would have added little, if anything,

to Lowrey’s defense.

The trial court could have reasonably concluded that Lowrey failed to show that Bueno’s

testimony was material to his defense. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when

it denied Lowrey’s request for a writ of attachment for Bueno. Lowrey’s first point of error is

overruled.10

10
The State also maintains that Lowrey failed to exercise diligence in subpoenaing Bueno. Because we overrule
Lowrey’s first point of error for other reasons, we find it is unnecessary to address the State’s contention.
13
 B. Did the Trial Court Err When it Denied Lowrey’s Motion for a Continuance?

When the trial court denied Lowrey’s writ of attachment for Bueno, Lowrey asked for a

continuance to have time to secure Bueno’s presence at trial. Article 29.13 of the Texas Code of

Criminal Procedure states,

A continuance or postponement may be granted on the motion of the State or the
defendant after the trial has begun, when it is made to appear to the satisfaction of
the court that by some unexpected occurrence since the trial began, which no
reasonable diligence could have anticipated, the applicant is so taken by surprise
that a fair trial cannot be had.

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 29.13 (West 2006).

In the first motion by a defendant for a continuance based on the absence of a witness, it

shall be necessary to state, among other things, “[t]he facts which are expected to be proved by the

witness, and it must appear to the court that they are material.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art.

29.06(3) (West 2006). The motion must be sworn by someone possessing personal knowledge of

the facts upon which the movant relies to justify the continuance. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN.

art. 29.08 (West 2006). We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion for a continuance for an abuse

of discretion. Harrison v. State, 187 S.W.3d 429, 433–34 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). To establish

an abuse of discretion, an appellant must show that actual prejudice was produced by the trial

court’s ruling. Janecka v. State, 937 S.W.2d 456, 468 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (per curiam).

Here, Lowrey’s motion contained a recitation of the events leading up to his request for a

continuance and the reasons he believed Bueno’s testimony would be material; however, the

motion was not sworn to by someone possessing personal knowledge of the facts relied upon for

the continuance. Although we find that Lowrey’s motion sufficiently apprised the trial court of

14
the nature of Bueno’s testimony, the statement was not sworn to, thus, Lowrey failed to preserve

his complaint for our review. See Matamoros v. State, 901 S.W.2d 470, 478 (Tex. Crim. App.

1995). Further, Bueno’s alleged testimony was not sufficiently relevant to impact Lowrey’s

defense; therefore, even if the trial court had erred in overruling Lowrey’s motion for a

continuance, any such error was harmless. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying

Lowrey’s motion for a continuance. We overrule Lowrey’s second point of error.

C. Insufficient Evidence

Lowrey contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction because (1) the

State did not prove the identity of the victim as alleged in the indictment, or alternatively, (2) there

was a material and fatal variance between the victim’s name contained in the indictment and the

victim’s name proven at trial. Because these two points of error are intertwined, we will address

them together.

Specifically, Lowrey maintains that the indictment alleged “Joe Tex Express” as the victim,

but not as a corporation. As such, “[n]either ‘Joe Tex[,]’ nor ‘Joe Tex Express[,]’ nor anyone else

testified as to ownership or lack of consent for [Lowrey] to take the copper.” Lowrey also contends

that if the State adequately proved that Joe Tex Express was a corporation, then a “special owner”

would need to be designated in the pleadings, and there was no such designation. In sum, Lowrey

contends there was a variance in the name of the owner in the indictment (Joe Tex Express) and

the proof at trial regarding the owner of the stolen property.

At one time, Texas courts insisted that “an indictment should be so certain and definite in

charging the offense that it leaves nothing to be supplied by intendment or inference.” Northern

15
v. State, 203 S.W.2d 206, 207 (Tex. Crim. App. 1947). This requirement was so carried to the

extreme that an indictment which stated that the defendant had stomped his victim to death was

insufficient when it did not state that the stomping was done with the feet of the defendant. The

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, stinging from the criticism of that ruling, withdrew that kind of

requirement. Vaughn v. State, 607 S.W.2d 914, 916 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1980).

Now, Texas courts hold that a “variance” occurs when there is a discrepancy between the

allegations in the charging instrument and the proof at trial. Gollihar v. State, 46 S.W.3d 243, 246

(Tex. Crim. App. 2001). In Texas, variance claims have routinely been treated as insufficiency of

the evidence issues,11 rather than as notice-related claims. Id. at 247. Regardless of how variances

are treated, a variance is material only if it operates to the defendant’s surprise or otherwise

prejudices him. Id. at 249 n.8; Human v. State, 749 S.W.2d 832, 837 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988).

When reviewing a variance claim, we must determine whether the charging instrument, as written,

informed the defendant of the charge against him sufficiently to allow the defendant to prepare an

adequate defense at trial and whether prosecution under the deficiently drafted instrument would

subject the defendant to the risk of being prosecuted later for the same crime. See, e.g., Traylor v.

State, 561 S.W.2d 492, 494 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978). “The Texas ‘immaterial variance’

law as set out in Gollihar does not apply to the specific statutory elements alleged in the

11
In reviewing the sufficiency of evidence supporting a conviction, we consider the evidence in the light most favorable
to the verdict to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt. Hacker v. State, 389 S.W.3d 860, 865 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); see Brooks v. State, 323
S.W.3d 893, 912 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (plurality op.) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). We
give deference to “‘the responsibility of the trier of fact to fairly resolve conflicts in testimony, to weigh the evidence,
and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts.’” Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2007) (quoting Jackson, 443 U.S. at 318–19).
16
indictment.” Cada v. State, 334 S.W.3d 766, 774 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). In other words, when

the State fails to prove “a statutorily-enumerated element pled in the indictment,” the variance

between the indictment and the proof “is always material.” Fuller v. State, 73 S.W.3d 250, 255–

56 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (Keller, P.J., concurring).

In charging Lowrey with theft12 under $20,000.00, the State’s indictment read that Lowrey,

in Lamar County, Texas, on or about May 1, 2013, did then and there unlawfully
appropriate, by acquiring or otherwise exercising control over property, to-wit:
aluminum or bronze or copper or brass of the value of less than $20,000 from Joe
Tex Express, the owner thereof, without the effective consent of the owner and with
intent to deprive the owner of the property.

The State was required to allege the name of the owner of the stolen property in its

indictment against Lowrey. See Byrd v. State, 336 S.W.3d 242, 251 n.48 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011)

(citing TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 21.08 (West 2009)). “When an entity, such as a

corporation, owns property, the traditionally preferable practice has been to allege ownership in a

natural person acting for the corporation.” Id. at 252. “Although the name of the owner is not a

substantial element of theft, the State is required to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the

person (or entity) alleged in the indictment as the owner is the same person (or entity)—regardless

of the name—as shown by the evidence.” Id. It is the identity of the person (or entity), not the

formal name, that guides and controls the sufficiency of the evidence on review. Id. at 253.

12
A person commits the offense of theft if he unlawfully appropriates property with intent to deprive the owner of the
property. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.03(a) (West Supp. 2014). “Theft has three elements: (1) an appropriation of
property (2) that is unlawful and (3) is committed with the intent to deprive the owner of the property.” Hawkins v.
State, 214 S.W.3d 668, 670 (Tex. App.—Waco 2007, no pet.). “Appropriate” means “to acquire or otherwise exercise
control over property other than real property.” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.01(4)(B) (West Supp. 2014).
Appropriation is unlawful if it is without the owner’s effective consent. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.03(b)(1) (West
Supp. 2014).
17
 In support of his position, Lowrey points to Roberts v. State, 513 S.W.2d 870 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1974). In that case, law enforcement discovered appellants loading chain from the rack of a

truck cab into the back seat of one of the cars belonging to appellant’s father. Officers arrested

appellant for felony theft and, shortly after that, spoke with the driver of the truck. The driver

identified the chains in the back seat of the car as the chains that had been on his truck. At trial,

the driver testified that he worked for the Dahlstron Corporation, that Jack Dahlstron was his boss,

and that Dahlstron Corporation was written on the side of the truck. The State also introduced

photographs showing that “Dahlstron Corporation” was written on the side of the truck. The

alleged owner of the chains, Jack Dahlstron, did not testify. The indictment read that appellant did

“fraudulently take and steal certain property. . . , the same being the corporeal personal property

of Jack Dahlstron.” Id. at 871. Appellant argued that the evidence was insufficient to show

ownership of the chains in Dahlstron as alleged in the indictment against [him]. The Court of

Criminal Appeals agreed. In a very brief opinion, the court found that the State failed to prove its

allegations because it never proved that Dahlstron was either the actual owner or the “special

owner” of the chains. Id. at 872.

Another similar case is Easley v. State, 319 S.W.2d 325 (1959). In that case, the indictment

charged theft of $6,000.00 from “the corporeal personal property of H. E. Butt.” Id. However,

the proof at trial showed that the owner of the stolen property was H.E. Butt Grocery Co. and not

H.E. Butt, individually. Easley’s conviction was reversed because of this variance. Easley is

easily distinguished from this case because its indictment alleged ownership in a person (H.E.

Butt), while the evidence proved ownership in a corporation (H.E. Butt Grocery Co.). In the instant

18
case, although the name of the corporation which was the victim of the theft may not be precisely

correct, the same corporation was alleged and proved to have been the victim of Lowrey’s theft.

Although in the Easley case there was the possibility of confusion between the corporation (H.E.

Butt Grocery Co.) and the individual (H.E. Butt), there is no such possibility here.

Moreover, we do not believe the holding in Roberts is compelling and find Byrd to be much

more instructive in the case before us. As stated in Byrd, under the current Penal Code, a

corporation may both own and have actual possession of property. According to Byrd, it is

permissible, and sometimes preferable, to allege an entity (such as a corporation or limited liability

company) as the owner of the property from whom the property has been stolen and then call any

agent or employee who holds a relevant position in the company to testify that it did not give

effective consent for a person to steal or shoplift its property. Byrd, 336 S.W.3d at 252.

In this case, the trial court instructed the jury that “owner” means “a person who . . . has

. . . possession of the property, whether lawful or not, or a greater right to possession of the property

than the actor.” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(35)(A) (West Supp. 2014). Although the

indictment did not name Dunavant as a person acting on behalf of the corporation as the owner of

the property, the State proved through her testimony that Joe Tex Express (the entity named in the

indictment) was the “owner” of the property during its transport from Kentucky to El Paso,

Texas.13 Her testimony also showed that Lowrey did not have the company’s consent to dispose

of the copper.

13
When Joe Tex Express ships items from one company to another, Joe Tex Express contractually agrees with the
other companies to take responsibility for the contents of the shipment while they are in transit.
19
 Moreover, Lowrey can hardly claim that the alleged variance in the indictment deprived

him of fair notice of the charge against him since he was employed by the same company whose

name was alleged in the indictment. The indictment, as written, informed Lowrey of the charge

against him and adequately afforded him the opportunity to prepare a defense. Likewise, it

prohibited the State from proceeding with a second trial in the event the jury acquitted Lowrey.

For these reasons, we overrule Lowrey’s remaining points of error.

We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Bailey C. Moseley
Justice

Date Submitted: June 2, 2015
Date Decided: July 14, 2015

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