Romo, Edgar Alberto ( 2015 )


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  •                           PD-No. 0582-15
    IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS
    AUSTIN, TEXAS
    EDGAR ALBERTO ROMO,            §
    Appellant,         §
    §       COURT OF APPEALS
    §       NO. 05-13-00546
    V.                        §
    §       TRIAL COURT
    §       NO. 199-82866-2012
    §       NO. 19981976-2011
    §
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,            §
    Appellee,        §
    PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
    FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS
    FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
    DALLAS, TEXAS
    PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW OF APPELLANT
    GEORGE J. PARNHAM
    TBN: 15532000
    PARNHAM & ASSOCIATES
    440 Louisiana Street, Suite 200
    June 19, 2015                                Houston, TX 77002
    713-224-3967
    713-224-2815(fax)
    1
    IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
    Pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(a)(2011), the parties to this suit are as
    follows:
    FOR THE STATE:
    At Trial:                  Chris Fredericks
    TBN: 24044565
    Paul Anfosso
    TBN: 00796129
    On Appeal:                 Greg Willis
    TBN: 21653500
    Collin County
    Assistant District Attorneys
    District Attorney
    2100 Bloomdale, Suite 100
    McKinney, Texas 75071
    FOR APPELLANT:
    At Trial:                  Sergio Aleman
    TBN: 24027275
    420 S Cesar Chavez, Suite 300
    Dallas, Texas 75201
    Robert Buchholz
    TBN: 03290600
    420 S Cesar Chavez, Suite 300
    Dallas, Texas 75201
    On Appeal:                 George J. Parnham
    TBN: 15532000
    440 Louisiana St., Suite 200
    Houston, Texas 77002
    2
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ………………………..……………2
    TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………..…….3
    TABLE OF AUTHORITIES …………………………………………………….4
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT ……………………………6
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE ………………………………………………….7
    STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY …………………………………8
    GROUNDS FOR REVIEW …………………………………………………….8
    ARGUMENTS ………………………………………………………………….8
    PRAYER FOR RELIEF……………………………………………….…..……22
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE …………………………………………………22
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE …………………………………………23
    3
    TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
    Cases
    Ex parte Bagley, 
    509 S.W.2d 332
     (Tex. Crim. App. 1974)………….……8, 14, 16
    Ex Parte Stanley, 
    703 S.W.2d 686
     (Tex. Crim. App. 1986)…………….……….17
    Fuller v. State, 
    253 S.W.3d 220
    , 232 (Tex. Crim. Ap. 2008)……………………15
    Fulminante v. Arizona, 
    499 U.S. 279
     (1991)…………………………………….18
    Garcia v. Dial, 
    596 S.W.2d 524
     (Tex Crim. App. 1980)…………………………17
    Herrera v. State, 
    241 S.W.3d 520
    , 526 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007)………………10, 11
    Hobbs v. State, 
    298 S.W.3d 193
     (Tex. Crim. App. 2009)…………………………17
    Holloway v. State, 
    780 S.W.2d 787
     (Tex. Crim. App. 1989)……………………17
    Joseph v. State, 
    309 S.W.3d 20
    , 24 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)…………….………10
    Marin v. State, 
    851 S.W.2d 275
    , 278-80 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)………..….15, 17
    McCarthy, 
    65 S.W.3d 47
     (Tex. Crim. App. 2001)……………………………….18
    McCulley v. State, 
    352 S.W.3d 107
    , 115 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2011, pet ref’d).12
    Mendez v. State, 
    138 S.W.3d 334
    , 341 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004)…………….……15
    Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S 436, 478-79 (1966)……………….…6, 8, 10, 11, 16
    Pennsylvania v. Muniz, 
    496 U.S. 582
     (1990)………………………………….…12
    Rhode Island v. Innis, 
    446 U.S. 291
     (1980)………………………………………12
    Romo v. State, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 3911 (Tex. App.—Dallas, April 17, 2015)..7
    Sims v. State, 
    326 S.W.3d 707
     (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)………………………..…17
    Sosa v. State, 
    769 S.W.2d 909
     (Tex. Crim. App. 1989)………………………..…12
    4
    Stansbury v. California, 
    511 U.S. 318
     (1994)……………………………………11
    Thompson v. Koehane, 
    516 U.S. 99
     (1995)………………………………………12
    U.S. v. Patane, 
    542 U.S. 630
     (2004)……………………………………………..11
    Rules
    TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22, sec. 2(a)(1)-(5)………………….10
    TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22 sec sec 2(a), 3(a)(2)…………..…10
    TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22, sec.3(a)……………..….6, 9, 10, 11
    TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.23(a)………………………………..11
    TEX. R. EVID. 103(d)……………………………………………………….…15
    Constitutional Provisions
    TEX CONST. art.1, sec. 10………………………………………………….…..8
    U.S. CONST. amend. V.…………………………………………………………8
    5
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
    Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 39.7, Appellant hereby
    requests oral argument. Counsel is of the opinion that oral argument would serve to
    emphasize and clarify the important legal points regarding this Petition.
    6
    TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS:
    Under Rule 68 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Petitioner,
    EDGAR ALBERTO ROMO (“Romo”), in the above cause, through counsel of
    record George J. Parnham, respectfully submits this Petition for Discretionary
    Review and in support would show the Court the following:
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE
    A jury convicted petitioner, Romo, for the offenses of Murder and
    Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. In a memorandum opinion, the Fifth
    Court of Appeals affirmed these convictions, finding, inter alia, that trial counsel
    failed to properly preserve error related to the admission of Petitioner’s post-arrest
    statements. Specifically, the Court of Appeals declined to analyze and decide
    whether the admission of certain post arrest statements, which were the product of
    custodial interrogation yet not properly warned according to Miranda v. Arizona
    and article 38.22 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, amounted to fundamental
    error and held that these complaints were not properly preserved for review. This
    petition challenges that holding and urges this Court to analyze and decide that the
    admission of these unwarned, post-arrest statements which were the product of
    custodial interrogation did constitute fundamental error and therefore requires that
    these causes be reversed and remanded.
    7
    STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    On April 17, 2015, in a memorandum opinion, the Court of Appeals affirmed
    the convictions. Romo v. State, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 3911 (Tex. App.—Dallas,
    April 17, 2015).
    GROUNDS FOR REVIEW
    POINT OF ERROR
    The Court of Appeals erred in overruling Petitioner’s first and second issues and
    holding that Petitioner did not preserve error because the admission of Petitioner’s
    unwarned post-arrest statements which were the product of custodial interrogation
    constitute fundamental error.
    ARGUMENTS
    POINT OF ERROR
    The Court of Appeals erred in overruling Petitioner’s first and second issues and
    holding that Petitioner did not preserve error because the admission of Petitioner’s
    unwarned post-arrest statements which were the product of custodial interrogation
    constitute fundamental error.
    The Fifth Court of Appeals declined to analyze whether the admission of
    Petitioner’s unwarned post-arrest statements, the product of custodial interrogation,
    constituted fundamental error and held that trial counsel failed to properly preserve
    these matters for appellate review. Specifically, the Court of Appeals noted that, as
    an intermediate court, the Court was not “free to disregard the decisions of the
    8
    Court of Criminal Appeals” which require a timely, specific objection in order to
    “complain on appeal about the admissibility of statements within the framework of
    Miranda.” Slip Op. at 7. In declining to analyze and decide whether the admission
    of these unwarned statements, produced through custodial interrogation, amounted
    to fundamental error and therefore could be raised for the first time on appeal, the
    Court of Appeals concluded that Petitioner did not preserve error at trial and
    therefore overruled his first and second issues on appeal pursuant to Texas Rule of
    Evidence 103(a)(1) and Ex parte Bagley1.
    The Law
    The Fifth Amendment provides that an accused “shall not be compelled in
    any criminal case to be a witness against himself…” U.S. CONST. amend. V. In a
    subtle yet meaningful modification, the Texas Constitution provides that an
    accused “shall not be compelled to give evidence against himself…” TEX CONST.
    art.1, sec. 10 [emphasis added].
    U.S. Law
    In Miranda v. Arizona, the Supreme Court held that the Fifth Amendment to
    the United States Constitution prohibits use of an accused’s oral statement made
    during custodial interrogation unless the accused is given certain warnings and he
    knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waives the rights set out in the warnings.
    1   
    509 S.W.2d 332
     (Tex. Crim. App. 1974).
    9
    See Miranda, 384 U.S 436, 478-79 (1966). Specifically, an accused must be given
    the following warnings when subject to custodial interrogation:
    that he has the right to remain silent, that anything he says can be used against him
    in a court of law, that he has the right to the presence of an attorney before and
    during questioning, and that if he cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed
    for him prior to any questioning if he so desires.
    Id.
    Texas Law
    Similarly, article 38.22, section 3(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure
    provides that no oral statement made by an accused during custodial interrogation
    is admissible unless:
    (1) an electronic recording, which may include motion picture, video tape, or
    other visual recording, is made of the statement;
    (2) prior to the statement but during the recording the accused is given the
    warning in subsection (a) of section 2 above and the accused knowingly,
    intelligently, and voluntarily waives any rights set out in the warning;
    (3) the recording device was capable of making an accurate recording, the
    operator was competent, and the recording is accurate and has not been
    altered;
    (4) all voices on the recording are identified; and
    (5) not later than the 20th day before the date of the proceeding, the attorney
    representing the defendant is provided with a true, complete, and accurate
    copy of all recordings of the defendant made under this article.
    TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22, sec.3(a).
    10
    Section 2(a)(1) of the Code specifies the warnings that are required, and requires
    that an accused subjected to custodial interrogation must be given the following
    warnings:
    (1) he has the right to remain silent and not make any statement at all and
    that any statement he makes may be used as evidence against him
    at his trial;
    (2) any statement he makes may be used as evidence against him in court;
    (3) he has the right to have a lawyer present to advise him prior to and
    during questioning;
    (4) if he is unable to employ a lawyer, he has the right to have a lawyer
    appointed to advise him prior to and during any questioning; and
    (5) he has the right to terminate the interview at any time.
    TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22, sec. 2(a)(1)-(5).
    The warnings that must be given before an accused’s statement, if the product of
    custodial interrogation, may be admissible include those announced in Miranda
    and the warning that the accused has the “right to terminate the interview at
    anytime.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22 sec sec 2(a), 3(a)(2);
    Herrera v. State, 
    241 S.W.3d 520
    , 526 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
    Application of U.S. and Texas Law
    Before admitting a statement that is the product of custodial interrogation,
    the State has the burden of showing that the defendant knowingly, voluntarily, and
    intelligently waived his Miranda rights. Joseph v. State, 
    309 S.W.3d 20
    , 24 (Tex.
    Crim. App. 2010). Article 38.22 also states that the accused must indicate that he is
    11
    waiving those rights knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily before giving a
    statement. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22 sec sec 2(a), 3(a)(2);
    Herrera, 241 S.W.3d at 526.
    Further, if these warnings are not given to an accused before he is subjected
    to custodial interrogation, the statement itself must be suppressed. See Miranda,
    supra. Additionally, violation of Miranda may also lead to the exclusion of
    physical evidence derived from the confession. U.S. v. Patane, 
    542 U.S. 630
    (2004).
    Article 38.23 provides the legal remedy in cases where law enforcement
    does not comply with the requirements in Article 38.22, or the Constitution or laws
    of Texas or the United States. Specifically, Article 38.23 unequivocally states that
    no evidence obtained in violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the U.S.
    Constitution or other laws, or the Texas Constitution or other laws, shall be
    admitted against the accused in the trial of a criminal case. TEX. CODE CRIM.
    PROC. ANN. art. 38.23(a).
    As previously stated, these protections are afforded to accused citizens who
    are subject to custodial interrogation. The Supreme Court has held that a person is
    in “custody” if a reasonable person would believe that she has been deprived of
    freedom to the degree associated with formal arrest. Stansbury v. California, 
    511 U.S. 318
     (1994). When deciding whether a person was in custody for purposes of
    Miranda, a trial court should “(1) conduct a factual review in examining the
    12
    circumstances surrounding the interrogation, and (2) make an ultimate legal
    determination whether a reasonable person would not have felt at liberty to leave.”
    Thompson v. Koehane, 
    516 U.S. 99
     (1995).
    The next step in the analysis is deciding whether a suspect was
    “interrogated” according to our laws. In this analysis, questions or comments are
    considered interrogation if the intent was to elicit an incriminating response. Rhode
    Island v. Innis, 
    446 U.S. 291
     (1980). Regarding whether a defendant was subject to
    interrogation within the meaning of the Fifth Amendment and Miranda, not all
    types of questioning by law enforcement, even post-arrest, amount to
    “interrogation.” Indeed, courts have exempted routine booking questions as well as
    “res gestae” statements made by a defendant.2
    Similarly, for purposes of Texas law, whether a statement was obtained in
    violation of these provisions depends on whether an accused was subjected to
    interrogation while in custody. Custodial interrogation is defined as questioning
    initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody.
    See McCulley v. State, 
    352 S.W.3d 107
    , 115 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2011, pet
    ref’d).
    2See Pennsylvania v. Muniz, 
    496 U.S. 582
     (1990); See Sosa v. State, 
    769 S.W.2d 909
     (Tex.
    Crim. App. 1989).
    13
    Analysis
    The examination of the arresting officer, Sergeant Holway, shows that after
    arresting Petitioner pursuant to an arrest warrant for murder, one of the two
    offenses for which he was lated convicted and files this Petition, he questioned
    Petitioner about the circumstances of his location, the identity of the person in
    whose name Petitioner’s hotel room was rented, and the reasoning behind
    Petitioner’s use of a pay phone when he was also in possession of a cellular phone.
    At trial, the following occurred:
    MR. FREDERICKS: As far as the cell phone, did you learn that to be (214)
    254-7921?
    SERGEANT HOLWAY: Yes. Because I was very curious why - why he had a cell
    phone on him and he was on a pay phone.
    MR. FREDERICKS: Did you ask him?
    SERGEANT HOLWAY: Yes.
    MR. FREDERICKS: What did he say?
    SERGEANT HOLWAY: He said he was talking to his dad in Mexico, trying to get
    home.
    …..
    MR. FREDERICKS: Did you ask him about this Nathaniel or Nate Martinez
    name?
    SERGEANT HOLWAY: And he said it was just a friend who rented the room.
    5 RR 44-45.
    14
    And then on cross examination, Sergeant Holway clarified exactly when he
    arrested Petitioner:
    MR. ALEMAN: And when you - did you arrest him right away after he told you he
    was Edgar?
    SERGEANT HOLWAY: No. I - I asked him if he was Edgar Romo, and he said
    yes. Then I arrested him.
    5 RR 49.
    In light of this exchange, it is clear that Petitioner was placed under arrest,
    and therefore in custody for our purposes, the moment he confirmed to Sergeant
    Holway that he in fact was Edgar Romo. Thus, at that point, any questioning by
    law enforcement intended to elicit an incriminating response qualifies as
    interrogation. Before the product of any custodial interrogation may be admitted, it
    must be shown that the accused was informed of his rights pursuant to U.S. and
    Texas law, that he expressly waived those rights, that he did so knowingly,
    intelligently, and voluntarily, and said waiver must be included in the recorded or
    written statement. More than that, all of these things must be shown in a criminal
    proceeding before the attendant statement becomes admissible. Because none of
    these legal requirements were met, the above-referenced statements was
    unlawfully admitted.
    Petitioner recognizes that according to current precedent3, his complaint
    about the admission of his unwarned post-arrest statement, the product of custodial
    3   Ex parte Bagley, supra.
    15
    interrogation, is forfeited because he did not object at trial, and therefore is not
    available for review on appeal. Still, an exception to this general rule exists for
    fundamental error” which may be complained-about for the first time on appeal.
    TEX. R. EVID. 103(d); Mendez v. State, 
    138 S.W.3d 334
    , 341 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2004). Petitioner urges this Court to reexamine the caselaw and apply this
    exception to the unlawful admission of post-arrest statements, the products of
    custodial interrogation, where the State did not obtain an express waiver of rights
    nor properly prove an express waiver of rights in a criminal proceeding in
    accordance with U.S. or Texas law. Put another way, Petitioner urges this Court to
    include the constitutional protection against admission of unwarned post-arrest
    statements, when produced by custodial interrogation absent an express waiver of
    rights, in the list of rights which must be affirmatively and expressly waived.
    This Court has held that there are three groups of appealable errors: (1)
    violation of forfeitable rights, which must be preserved for appeal by timely and
    specific objection; (2) violation of rights that must be expressly waived, which may
    be vindicated on appeal in the absence of such a waiver; and (3) violation of a
    systemic prohibition or requirement not optional with the parties at trial, which
    may always be remedied on appeal, regardless of waiver or forfeiture. See Marin v.
    State, 
    851 S.W.2d 275
    , 278-80 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). Indeed, most errors fall
    into the first category of forfeitable rights. See Fuller v. State, 
    253 S.W.3d 220
    , 232
    (Tex. Crim. Ap. 2008). And this Court held long ago that in order to complain
    16
    about the admissibility of a confession within the framework of Miranda, a
    defendant must object to its admission at trial. Bagley, 509 S.W.2d at 333.
    First, it should be noted that the facts in the instant case are markedly
    different than those in Ex Parte Bagley. For example, in Bagley, the defendant was
    actually given a list of warnings two times before he gave a statement - the
    problem in that case was that the list of warnings did not include on particular
    warning - that the suspect had the right to have counsel present during the
    interview. Further, Mr. Bagley did not raise the issue on appeal or in his first
    habeas petition. Here, Sergeant Holway did not bother to warn Petitioner of his
    rights, record the statement, and of course he didn’t seek an express waiver of
    those rights because he chose not to inform the suspect of any rights at all. Second,
    this complaint was raised by Petitioner in his direct appeal just as he raises it in this
    Petition.
    Petitioner urges this court to reconsider the classification of an improperly
    admitted confession as a forfeitable right and instead moves this Court to find that
    an unlawfully admitted post-arrest statement, when produced by custodial
    interrogation, is instead a right that must be expressly waived and which may be
    vindicated on appeal regardless of whether it was properly preserved by objection
    at trial.
    This Court has recognized various different types of fundamental error over
    the years. First, rights that have been found to be non-waivable and non-forfeitable
    17
    include the right to be tried for a felony offense in a district court and the right that
    commands a juvenile court have jurisdiction over a juvenile unless and until that
    court relinquishes jurisdiction over him. See Garcia v. Dial, 
    596 S.W.2d 524
     (Tex
    Crim. App. 1980); See Ex Parte Stanley, 
    703 S.W.2d 686
     (Tex. Crim. App. 1986).
    Second, some of the rights that must be expressly waived and cannot be forfeited
    by inaction alone include the right to counsel, the right to a trial by jury, the right to
    the statutorily-established 10 days to prepare for trial after indictment, and the right
    to be admonished upon a plea of guilty. See Holloway v. State, 
    780 S.W.2d 787
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1989); See Hobbs v. State, 
    298 S.W.3d 193
     (Tex. Crim. App.
    2009); See Marin v. State, 
    851 S.W.2d 275
     (Tex. Crim. App. 1993); See Sims v.
    State, 
    326 S.W.3d 707
     (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).
    The right that an accused not be required to give evidence against himself
    unless he is properly warned of the consequences of giving up that right in
    connection with custodial interrogation rises to the level of fundamental error and
    should be included in the list of rights that are not extinguished by inaction alone.
    Petitioner urges this Court to find that these rights must be expressly waived and
    failing that constitute fundamental error because a statement by a defendant is a
    particularly damaging piece of evidence which must be afforded utmost protection,
    the procedural requirements for admission are nearly identical to those for other
    rights that must be expressly waived, and the admission of such a statement causes
    18
    egregious harm, especially when it is repeatedly emphasized by the prosecuting
    attorney during closing argument.
    In McCarthy v. State, this Court reversed and remanded because
    investigators violated that defendant’s Fifth Amendment rights when they
    reproached her in order to obtain a statement. See McCarthy, 
    65 S.W.3d 47
     (Tex.
    Crim. App. 2001). Citing to Fulminante v. Arizona4, this Court wrote about the
    critical nature and evidentiary value of a defendant’s statement. Specifically, this
    Court noted that “a Defendant’s statement, especially a statement implicating her
    in the commission of the charged offense, is unlike any other evidence that can be
    admitted against the defendant… (it) is probably the most probative and damaging
    evidence that can be admitted against him.” Id. at 55-56. This Court went on to
    write that, “Certainly, confessions have a profound impact on the jury, so much so
    that we may justifiably doubt its ability to put them out of mind even if told to do
    so.” Id. at 56. In McCarthy, just like in this case, the statement did not “place the
    murder weapon in her own hands” but in both cases the statements were repeatedly
    emphasized by the State during closing argument. In the instant case, Petitioner’s
    statement was used by the State during closing argument to paint the Defendant as
    the only one who did not visit the complainant at the hospital, and argue that he
    must be guilty because instead of visiting the complainant at the hospital, he was
    on the phone with his father, who was living in Mexico, and he was “trying to get
    4   
    499 U.S. 279
     (1991).
    19
    home.” Furthermore, this allowed the State to repeatedly argue that Petitioner’s
    statements revealed a consciousness of guilt in that, in addition to attempting to
    flee the country, he was trying to conceal this conversation with his father by using
    a pay phone despite being in possession of a working cellular phone. Besides this
    statement, the main piece of evidence was the identification by the complainant but
    her testimony was somewhat discredited because she suffered great trauma and
    fading eyesight due to the shooting.
    Further demonstrating how valuable such evidence can be, the legal remedy
    when the State fails in any way to obtain an express waiver of rights prior to a
    custodial interrogation, include that waiver of rights in the written or recorded
    statement, and prove that the express waiver was given knowingly, voluntarily, and
    intelligently is that the statement is inadmissible. Here, the statements should have
    been inadmissible, but because they were snuck in relatively quickly and defense
    counsel at trial did not object, the unwarned statements were put before the jury
    despite there being no express waiver or recording during this custodial
    interrogation.
    Furthermore, when examining the procedural requirements associated with
    the Fifth Amendment Right to Counsel and the proper admission of a defendant’s
    statement made during custodial interrogation, it becomes clear that these
    requirements - that the defendant be advised of his rights, that he enter an express
    waiver of those rights, that he expressly waive these rights knowingly, voluntarily,
    20
    and intelligently, that any oral statement be recorded, that he enter any such waiver
    on that same recording, and that all of this be proven during a criminal proceeding
    or the statement is not admissible - are strikingly similar to the requirements
    associated with other rights that must be expressly waived. For example, the
    requirement that such an express waiver be executed knowingly, voluntarily, and
    intelligently is nearly identical to what is required before a defendant may lawfully
    waive the right to a jury trial and enter a plea of guilty. That the express waiver
    must be proven as a part of the criminal proceeding is also very similar to waiving
    a jury trial in that executing documents to that effect is not sufficient - the waiver
    must take place on the record during a criminal proceeding.
    Finally, an error of this magnitude constitutes egregious harm. The
    admission of this statement, given hours after the shooting, is incredibly valuable
    evidence in the State’s case in chief. The details of the statement - an attempt to
    flee the country, actively making arrangements to do so with a close family
    member, his father, and efforts to conceal the phone call and conversation by use of
    a pay phone despite having a working cellular phone in his pocket - all speak
    volumes and provided the State with very powerful circumstantial evidence. This is
    no doubt an undisputed contention given how many times this statement and its
    contents were emphasized during the State’s closing argument.
    21
    For all of these reasons, this case should be reversed and remanded to the
    Court of Appeals for further consideration on the substantive merits of Petitioner’s
    point of error.
    PRAYER FOR RELIEF
    Petitioner respectfully prays that this Court grant discretionary review,
    reverse this case, and remand it to the Court of Appeals for consideration on its
    merits, and for any other relief to which he may be entitled.
    Respectfully submitted:
    /s/ George J. Parnham
    ____________________________
    GEORGE J. PARNHAM
    TBN: 15532000
    PARNHAM & ASSOCIATES
    440 Louisiana Street, Suite 200
    Houston, Texas 77002
    713-224-3967
    713-224-2815
    Attorneys for Appellant
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
    I hereby certify that on this 17th day of June, 2015 a true and correct copy of
    the foregoing Petition for Discretionary Review was mailed to the Collin County
    22
    District Attorney at 2100 Bloomdale, Suite 100, McKinney, Texas 75071 via First
    Class U.S. Mail.
    /s/ George J. Parnham
    _____________________________
    GEORGE J. PARNHAM
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
    I hereby certify that the petition filed in this case number complies with the
    requirement of TEX. R. APP. 9.4(i)(3). According to the computer program used to
    prepare this document, this Petition has the following number words: 3,774,
    including footnotes.
    /s/ George J. Parnham
    ________________________
    GEORGE J. PARNHAM
    23
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    Location                               Court Of Criminal Appeals
    Date Filed                             06/17/2015 05:27:47 PM
    Case Number
    Case Description
    Assigned to Judge
    Attorney                               George Parnham
    Firm Name                              Parnham & McWilliams
    Filed By                               Mary Moore
    Filer Type                             Not Applicable
    Fees
    Convenience Fee                        $0.00
    Total Court Case Fees                  $0.00
    Total Court Filing Fees                $0.00
    Total Court Service Fees               $0.00
    Total Filing & Service Fees            $0.00
    Total Service Tax Fees                 $0.00
    Total Provider Service Fees            $0.00
    Total Provider Tax Fees                $0.00
    Grand Total                            $0.00
    Payment
    Account Name                           Mary C Moore
    Transaction Amount                     $0.00
    Transaction Response
    Transaction ID
    Order #
    Petition for Discretionary Review
    Filing Type                                            EFile
    Filing Code                                            Petition for Discretionary Review
    Filing Description
    Reference Number
    Comments
    Status                                                 Rejected
    Fees
    Court Fee                                              $0.00
    Service Fee                                            $0.00
    Rejection Information
    Rejection Time       Rejection Comment
    Reason
    06/19/2015 The petition for discretionary review does not contain a copy of the court of appeals
    opinion. [Rule 68.4(j)] You have ten days to tender a corrected petition for
    Other     12:31:25
    https://reviewer.efiletexas.gov/EnvelopeDetails.aspx?envelopeguid=47e463d0-f5c5-4c9b-a7bf-42ba809b20c2[6/19/2015 12:32:51 PM]
    Envelope Details
    discretionary review. Does this petition include the argument for case number PD-
    PM
    0581-15?
    Documents
    Lead Document                          Romo Edgar - PDR.pdf                                                        [Original]
    https://reviewer.efiletexas.gov/EnvelopeDetails.aspx?envelopeguid=47e463d0-f5c5-4c9b-a7bf-42ba809b20c2[6/19/2015 12:32:51 PM]