Gonzales, Pablo Jr. ( 2015 )

/39S-/5 f 399-/5 WOO-tSWHS
No- 02-15-00065-CR
No. 02-15-00066-CR
No.
No.
02-15-00067-CR
02-15-00068-CR
ORIGINAL
Trial Court Nos. 08792, 08793, 08796, 08794 RECEIVED \H
court ofmumi appeals
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OCT 29 2015
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS
ei Acosta, Gte±
PABLO GONZALES JR., APPELLANT
filed m
V.
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OCT 2 9 2G?5
THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
Abel Acosta, Clerk
PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
Mr. Pablo Gonzales, Jr.
Appellant, Pro Se
TDCJ-ID # 01981108
C.T. Terrell Unit, A3-46
1300 FM 655
Rosharon, Texas 77583
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES II
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT III
STATEMENT OF CASE IV
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY V
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW VI
OUESTIONS ONE- TWO AND THREE ARGUMENTS 1-5
OUESTION FOUR ARGUMENTS 6-11
PRAYER FOR RELIEF 11
SERVICE ON STATE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY 12
APPENDIX 13
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES PAGE
Alexander v. State. 126 Tex. Crim. 625. 72 S-W- 2d 1080 1, 4
Arcila v State, 834 S-W- 2d 357 (Tex- Crim- App. 1992) 9, 10
Cropper v- Caterpillar Tractor Co., 754 S.W.2d 646 (Tex. 1988) 11
Marchbanks v- State, 68 S.W. 2d 1038 1, 5
Masten v. State, 109 Tex. Crim. 596, 6 S-W- 2d 367 1, 5
Mercer v- State, 17 Tex App- 452 1, 5
Montgomery v. State. 810 S-W- 2d 372 (Tex. Crim- Apd- 1991) 6. 8. 11
Morgan v. State, 692 S.W.2d 887 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) 6, 7
Moss v- State, 141 Tex. Crim. 193, 147 S.W. 2d 1085 1, 5
Pavlacka v. State, 892 S.W.2d 897 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994) 6, 7
Pool v. Ford Motor Co., 715 S.W.2d 629 (Tex. 1986) 11
Prior v. State, 647 S.W.2d 956 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983) 6, 7
Trejo v. State, 135 Tex. Crim. 39, 117 S.W.2d 115 1, 5
Wilson v. State, 184 S.W. 2d 141 1, 4
11
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
Oral argument will be helpful so that the Honorable Court will be allowed
to ask any questions pertaining to the argument and petition, and to make proper
objections to any inaccurate statements made by the Appellee.
111
STATEMENT OF CASE
On January 28, 2015, in a trial which consolidated four offenses against
four different victims, a jury convicted PABLO GONZALES, JR., of aggravated
sexual assault of a child and three counts of indecence with a child by contact.
See Texas Penal Code §§ 22.021(a)(2)(B) and 21.11(a)(1)(West Supp. 2014), resp
ectively. Following the conviction, the jury assessed punishment at life imprison
ment in the Texas Department Of Criminal Justice's Institutional Division on the
aggravated sexual assault of a child charge and at twenty years each for the
indecence charges. In each case, the jury assessed a $10,000.00 fine. (R.R. 7, pp.
88-90).
IV
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On or about June 29, 2015, Appellate Counsel, Tim Copeland file BRIEF OF
APPELLANT to the Second Court Of Appeals At Fort Worth, Texas.
On or about September 9, 2015, the State Of Texas filed its TEXAS'S RESPONSE
BRIEF.
On September 24, 2015 the Second Court Of Appeals At Fort Worth, Texas
delivered its OPINION, Affirming the trial court's judgment.
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW :
1. Whether the decision of the Court of Appeals is in conflict with the prior
decisions of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
2. Whether or not the Court of Appeals decided an important question of state and
federal law in a way that conflicts with the applicable decisions of the Court
of Criminal Appeals.
3 Whether or not the prosecutrix is an accomplice as a matter of law due to the
delayed outcry and the fact the complaint was made after many years.
4. Whether the Court of Appeals erred in its determination.
5. Whether the extraneous offense testimony is relevant to a "fact of consequence
in this case.
VI
QUESTIONS ONE, TWO AND THREE.
ARGUMENT
Appellant's questions One, Two and Three are related. Therefore, for purposes
of clarity and brevity they are argued under one argument.
The Court Of Appeals decision conflicts with the decisions of the Texas Court
Of Criminal Appeals decisions in Alexander v. State, 126 Tex. Crim. 625, 72 S-W. 2d
1080; Wilson v. State, 184 S.W. 2d 141; Moss v. State, 141 Tex. Crim. 193, 147 S.W.
2d 1085; Mercer v. State, 17 Tex. App. 452; Marchbanks v. State, 68 S.W. 2d 1038;
Masten v. State, 109 Tex. Crim. 596, 6 S.W.2d 367, and on retrial in 20 S.W.2d 780;
Trejo v. State, 135 Tex. Crim. 39, 117 S.W.2d 115; and the Court Of Appeals decided
an important question of state and federal law in a way that conflicts with the appli
cable decisions of the Court Of Criminal Appeals and full consideration of the Petition
For Discretionary Review is necessary to secure and maintain uniformity of the court's
decisions, pursuant to Rules Of Appellate Procedure, Rule 66.3 Texas Code Criminal
Procedure And Rules.
At the outset it's vital to know that appellant has not yet received copies of
the Clerk Records and Reporter Records. Therefore, this Petition is prepared from
the Brief Of Appellant as prepared by Appellate Counsel, Tim Copeland; The State Of
Texas's Response Brief; and the Court Of Appeals Opinion.
Each of the alleged victims were identified by pseudonyms in the respective
indictments and will be referred to by those pseudonyms in this petition for discre^
tionary review: No. 08792-Jane Doe 'A'; No. 08793-Jane Doe 'C: No. 08792-Jane Doe
•B'; and No. 08796-Jane Doe 'E'.
There was no testimony corroborating the alleged fact that appellant had act
ually been seen and caught sexually abusing either of the alleged victims.
Jane Doe 'C testified that in February, 2005, she was 10 years old and that her
mother is J.P. (R.R. 4, pp. 181-186). On one occasion in particular, around February
1, 2005, she testified, she was visiting in appellant's home with her counsin (Jane
Doe 'A') and a friend, B.H. She said that she was laying in appellant's bed when he
rubbed on her vaginal area and then penetrated her vagina with two of his fingers.
(R.R. 4, p. 200). 'C said that she finally told her mother J.P. about the abuse
when J.P. asked if appellant had ever touched her. 'C said that at first she told her
"no", but about ten minutes later, she admitted to her mother that he had. (R.R. 4.
pp. 202-203).
Jane Doe 'E', another of J.P.'s children, testified that she could only remem
ber one time that appellant touched her inappropriately. That occurred, she testi
fied, when she was in the first or second grade. She said that she was spending the
night at appellant's house in June of 2004 when she woke up because she had wet the
bed. She said appellant told her it was "okay", but after sitting her in a chair, he
began rubbing her vagina through her underwear. (R.R. 4, p. 232). When someone knoc
ked on his bedroom door and he went to answer the knock, she got up and left. (R.R.
4, pp. 231-232). Nearly a year later, in May of 2005, she finally told someone about
the incident the year before.
Jane Doe 'A's testimony was similar to the previous victim's testimony. Appell
ant, she said, touched her a number of times in her vaginal area, both under and
over her clothes, and she recounted a particular incident that occurred around the
end of December, 2004. (R.R. 4, pp. 317-321). However, she could not specifically
recall if the incident occurred around Christmas or not. (R.R. 4, p. 324).
Graham Police Officer Terry Vanlandingham testified that on May 13, 2005, he was
contacted by T.P. and J.P., the mothers of Jane Does A and B, and C and E, respectiv
ely, and he took statements from both the victims and their respective mothers.
After conducting a 38.072 hearing- the trial court designated T.P. (the mother
of Jane Does 'A' and 'B') as the outcry witness for Jane Doe 'A' only.
D.M. testified that she was appellant's ex-wife. (R.R. 5, p. 18). In turn. D.M.
testified that she went to see appellant secretly armed with a tape recorder. She
said that she confronted appellant about the children's accusations, and his response
was, "I'm sick and I need help." (R.R. 5, p. 20) D.M. said that she later destroyed
the tape with the incriminating statement. (R.R. 5, pp. 26-27).
T.H. testified that she visited appellant in his home with her father in 2004-
2005 when she was six or seven. (R.R. 5- p- 97). She said that her father often
'traded' her to appellant in exchange for drugs. Once a bargain had been struck, she
said, appellant would lead her into his bedroom where he rubbed her vagina and made
her touch his penis. (R.R. 5, pp. 98-99, 101). She said that she never told anyone
because appellant threatened her father and sisters. (R.R. 5. p. 108). However.
T.H.'s father, R.H., specifically denied that he had ever 'traded' his daughter T.H.
to appellant for illegal narcotics. (R.R. 5, p. 208).
T.B., T.H.'s grandmother, testified that when asked T.H. if appellant had ever
touched her, the girl told her that he had not. (R.R. 5, p. 224).
Andra Roy, a licensed professional counselor, who counseled Jane Doe 'A' and
Jane Doe 'C from August, 2006 to November of 2006. testified that neither girl ever
mentioned appellant in their counseling sessions.
There was no evidence corroborating Jane Doe 'A's outcry. Neither did the out
cry specifically describe any of the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse to
suggest the outcry was reliable such as the location where the abuse occurred or
the time frame surrounding the abuse. Moreover, the outcry witness herself admitted
to an incomplete and faulty memory at the time of the outcry, probably exacerbated
at the time by daily illegal drug use.
The alleged victim never told anyone about the abuse or that her father had
traded her for illeqal narcotics even though she had reported a similar offense of
sexual abuse by an uncle when she was younger and which resulted in the uncle's
imprisonment.
T.P. also admitted that during the pertinent time period, including when she
reported her daughter's outcry to the police, she was a heavy drug user and that she
could not now remember a lot of things about what was said or done. (R.R. 4, p. 259).
She admitted that her drug habit was so bad in 2004-2005 that she could have been
using illegal narcotics on a daily basis. (R.R. 4, p. 263).
According to T.P., 'A' told her that appellant had touched her privates and that
he had stuck his fingers inside her vaqina. The outcry, however, offered no other
details about the abuse. 'A' did not tell T-P.. for example, where or when the abuse
had occurred or the circumstances leading up or surrounding the abuse or what happened
aftwards. In fact, T.P. offered no corroborating evidence of any kind to indicate the
reliability of the outcry statement.
Here- T-H. could not identify appellant's house where she and her father supposed
ly visited innumberable times and inwhich she claimed to have suffered "multiple"
instances of sexual abuse. (R.R. 5, pp. 36-37. 43). In fact, T.H. never told anyone
about the abuse until the summer "when she was fourteen" even though she had told on
an uncle who she had accused of doing the same thing as appellant when she was younger
than seven and before she ever alleqed that appellant had done anything. (R-R- 5- p.
46).
MOST IMPORTANT IS, the alleged abuse by appellant was unreported by the prosecutrix
for seven years, and not corroborated by other witnesses and the father vehemently
denied the accusations.
The Court Of Appeals decided concerning the prosecutrix outcry statement: But
even if we were to conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting
the testimony, such error would not rise to the level of constitutional error- See
Patterson v. State, Nos- 02-10-00350-CR, 02-10-00351-CR, 2012 WL 171115, at *7 (Tex.
App. - Fort Worth Jan. 19, 2012, no pet.)(mem.op.. not designated for publication).
Rather, it would be evaluated under Rule Of Appellate Procedure 44.2(b), and reversal
3.
would be required only if the error affected appellant's substantial rights. In exam
ining the record, we note that Jane Doe A testified at trial, and her testimony both
corroborated T.P.'s testimony regarding the outcry and provided greater detail. Even
if we had held that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting the outcry
statement, we would hold such error harmless. We overrule appellant's first issue.
Appellant avers the prosecutrix, J.P., Jane Does 'A' and 'C mother, the outcry
witness was an accomplice as a matter of law due to the seven year delay in complain
ing about appellant's alleged actions. In fact, not only did appellant not commit the
alleged acts, the prosecutrix testimony was insufficient to prove that the alleged
acts complained of actually took place. Therefore, as an accomplice her testimony
required corroboration.
Complainant Jane Doe 'A' testified the alleged offense occurred when she was
10 years old. She was almost 22 years old at the time of her testimony at trial.
Complainant Jane Doe 'B' testified the alleged offense occurred when she was in
Pre-Kindergarten in 2004. She was 15 years old at the time of her testimony at trial.
Complainant Jane Doe 'C testified the alleged offense occurred when she was 10
years old. She was 20 years old at the time of her testimony at trial.
Complainant Jane Doe 'E' testified the alleged offense occurred when she was in
the first or second grade. She was 18 years old at the time of her testimony at trial.
As the record reveals, the alleged victims were 22 years old; 15 years old; 20
years old; and 18 years old at the time of trial, and was 10 years old; in Pre-Kinder
garten; 10 years old; and in the first or second grade on the date of the alleged
offense which was submitted to the jury. Said alleged acts continued without any pro
test or report from the prosecutrix, J.P., the alleged victims mother and outcry
witness.
The record verifies that appellant had the opportunities to be with the alleged
victims alone. This was the only evidence adduced in an effort to corroborate the
prosecutrix. If the Court of Criminal Appeals finds prosecutrix to be an accomplice,
then this will not constitute sufficient evidence to corroborate her.
Judge Hawkin's reasoning in his concurring opinion in Alexander v. State, 126
Tex. Crim. 625, 72 S.W.2d 1080, is to the writer most compelling. He said that where
repeated acts are shown, coupled with a delayed outcry, a prosecutrix of the same age
as the one at bar would in hisjudgment be an accomplice as a matter of law.
In Wilson v. State, 184 S-W. 2d 141, where the evidence showed that the prosecutrix
had engaged in acts of intercourse with the accused over a period of five years without
ever reporting the same to anyone and where the State contended that she had submitted
through fear- this Court held that the threats were not sufficient to excuse the pro-
secutrix from making an outcry at the time of the commission of the offense relied
upon by the State for conviction and were not sufficient to explain her failure to
report the prior acts- Wilson is further authority for the rule that evidence which
only shows that an accused had an opportunity to have an act of intercourse with the
prosecutrix does not tend to establish the fact that intercourse actually took place
and is insufficient to corroborate prosecutrix testimony that it actually occurred.
In Moss v. State. 141 Tex. Crim. 193, 147 S-W. 2d 1085, where only one act of
intercourse was shown, this Court had occasion to discuss prosecutrix testimony about
appellant having whipped her and having lectured her about keeping company with a cer
tain young man with whom she was infatuated and held that since prosecutrix waited
almost a year to report the matter, she was an accomplice as a matter of law.
In Mercer v. State, 17 Tex. App. 452, this Court held that even though prosecutrix
testified that she submitted to the acts of intercourse because of her fear of appell
ant, her failure to report the continued acts of intercourse, which began when she was
13 until she became pregnant some seven years later, made her an accomplice as a
matter of law.
In Marchbanks v. State, 68 S.W. 2d 1038. a case in which the first act of inter
course took place when prosecutrix was 14 years old and she testified that she had
always done what her father told her to do and did not actively resist his advances
and made no outcry which might have been heard by her mother in the house nearby and
failed to report the many acts which followed over a long period of time until many
years later, this Court held that she was an accomplice as a matter of law.
Masten v. State. 109 Tex. Crim. 596. 6 S.W. 2d 367, and on retrial in 20 S.W- 2d
780, and Treio v. State, 135 Tex. Crim. 39. 117 S.W.2d 115. also supports appellant's
contention.
Based upon the authorities cited, it becomes the Court's duty to reverse the
conviction.
QUESTION FOUR.
ARGUMENT
The Court Of Appeals decision conflicts with the decisions of the Texas Court
Of Criminal Appeals decisions in Morgan v. State, 692 S.W.2d 877, 880 (Tex. Crim.
App- 1985); Pavlacka v. State, 892 S.W.2d 897 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); Prior v.
State, 647 S.W.2d 956, 959 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983) and; Montgomery v. State, 810
S-W. 2d 372, 388 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Also, the Court of Appeals decided an
important question of state and federal law in a way that conflicts with the appli
cable decisions of the Court of Criminal Appeals and full consideration of the
Petition For Discretionary Review is necessary to secure and maintain uniformity of
the court's decisions, pursuant to Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 66.3 Texas
Code Criminal Procedure And Rules.
Appellant argued that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting evi
dence of the extraneous offenses described by T.H. because the probative value of
that evidence was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice under
Rule 403 of the Texas Rules of Evidence.
The Court of Appeals stated: T.H.'s testimony, although wobbly in areas, corro
borated the circumstances, location, and actions of appellant that the other witnesses
testified to. Her testimony was probative but did not have the potential to impress
the jury in some irrational, yet indelible, way. We hold that the conscientious visit
ing trial judge did not abuse his discretion by admitting T.H.'s testimony under the
law as it now stands.
Appellant challenges the Court of Appeals review of the admissibility of the
extraneous offense evidence. Specifically, he contends that the Court of Appeals
erred in holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by deciding that
the evidence was adequate to support a jury finding that beyond a reasonable doubt,
appellant had committed those offenses against T.H.
Appellant avers that the appellate analysis was deficient because instead of foc
using on how the evidence was relevant to show a fact of consequence in this case,
the Court of Appeals attempted to show that the evidence likely to be admitted at
trial will be adequate to support a finding by the jury that the defendant committed
the separate offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
As it stands, the Court of Appeals did not conduct a complete relevacy analysis
and the case should be remanded.
True indeed, the Court of Appeals may have properly examined the facts to deter
mine whether the extraneous acts were admissible evidence, but this does not consti
tute an analysis of what "fact of consequence" the evidence was to go to prove.
6.
"The mere fact that a party introduces evidence for a purpose other than charac
ter conformity, or any of the other enumberated purposes in Rule 404(b), does not,
in itself, make chat evidence admissible.'' Therefore, because the evidentiary rules
admit only 'relevant' evidence, the purpose for which the proponent wants to admit
the extraneous offense must satisfy the definition of relevant evidence set out in
Rule 401.
True indeed, extraneous offense evidence will generally always be relevant, but
the permissible purpose for which the proponent is offering it may not be. For in —
stance, where intent is a material issue and it is not inferable from the act itself,
evidence of other acts probative of such intent is relevant and the trial court's
decision to admit such evidence is proper. Morgan v. State, 692 S.W.2d 877, 880
(Tex. Crim. App. 1985). Yet, where the state's direct evidence, however, clearly
shows the intent element of the crime and that evidence is uncontradicted by the
defendant or not undermined by cross-examination of the state's witnesses, the offer
of other crimes is unjustified due to the lack of relevancy. Pavlacka v. State, 892
S.W.2d 897 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). Similarly, evidence tending to show that an alle
ged touching was not accidental or by mistake would not be relevant if the defendant
has yet to make a claim of accident. Prior v. State, 647 S.W.2d 956, 959 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1983).
It is for this reason that the proponent of 404(b) evidence must persuade the
trial court that the extraneous offense is being offered for a purpose other than
character conformity, and that this other purpose tends to make the existence of any
fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less
probable than it would be without the evidence. Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 402.
Pursuant to the above Rule, when no statute or rule exist barring the admissibil-.
ity of relevant evidence, a court may deny its admission because of a constitutional
impediment. However, when the admission of relevant evidence stands unobstructed by
a constitution, statute or rule, then the judge must allow it in.
Rule 404(b) exemplifies an exception as contemplated by Rule 402. Rule 404(b)
exists, in large part, to counter the possibility that evidence may be admitted to
show a defendant.' s corrupt nature from which the jury may then render a verdict not
on the facts of the case before them, but, rather, on their perception of the defen
dant's character.
Rule 404(b) reads, in pertinent part: Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts
is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted
in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as
proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or
absence of mistake or accident.
Under this Rule, extraneous evidence introduced solely to show character
conformity is inadmissible- But readinq Rule 404(b) in light of Rule 401 and 402,
if evidence 1) is introduced for a purpose other than character conformity. 2) has
relavance to a "fact of consequence" in the case and 3) remains free of any other
constitutional or statutory prohibitions, it is admissible-
If the Court views the above sentence as a three part admissibility test, then,
as to the first part- this Court has consistently recoqnized what is apparent from
the face of 404(b): the Rule's list of other purposes is neither exclusive nor
collectively exhaustive. See Montgomery v State. 810 S.W.2d 372, 388 (Tex- Crim.
App- 1991).
Admissibility of evidence under Rule 404(b), in fact, also hinqes on the re
levancy of the evidence to a "fact consequence" in the case- Therefore, when a party
makes a 404(b) Objection as trial counsel did, they are claiming that evidence is
beinq introduced solely for character conformity or, in other words, that the evi
dence is irrelevant to anything other than character conformity. They need not ex
plicitly state a Rule 402 objection since one is inherently in their Rule 404(b)
objection.
Therefore, consistent with the Court's analysis in Montgomery, 810 S.W.2d at
387, a Rule 404(b) objection demands a relevanct analysis, because to find other
wise miqht result in courts admitting evidence that is both hiqhly prejudicial and
irrelevant even after a proper 404(b) objection and despite the existence of Rule
401 and Rule 402.
Appellant avers- when the Court say that evidence is relevant, they are necess
arily savinq, pursuant to Rule 402, that the evidence makes a fact of consequence
in the case more or less likely-
As the Court stated in Montgomery. 810 S.W.2d at 387: a party may introduce
evidence where it loqically serves to make more probable or less probable an elemental
fact: where it serves to make more probable or less probable an evidentiary fact that
inferentially leads to an elemental fact; or where it serves to make more probable or
less probable defensive evidence that undermines an elemental fact.
Under Montgomery, then it appears that "fact of consequence" includes either an
elemental fact or an evidentiary fact from which an elemental fact can be inferred.
An evidentiary fact that stands wholly unconnected to an elemental fact, however,
is not a "fact of consequence".
Appellant contends, a Court that articulates the relevancy of evidence to an
evidentiary fact but does not, in any way, draw the inference to an elemental fact
has not completed the necessary relevancy inquiry because it has not shown how the
evidence makes a "fact of consequence" in the case more or less likely.
In the case at bar, it is apparent the Court of Appeals latched onto the phrase
common scheme or plan, and held the evidence admissible because it was beinq intro
duced for the purpose of showing that plan when the Court Stated: the offendinq testi
mony relating to T.H. was adequate to support a finding by the jury that, beyond a
reasonable doubt, Gonzales committed an offense against T.H.
Appellant avers, introducing evidence for a purpose other than character conformi
ty does not. somehow, make that evidence magically admissible. Therefore, the question
of whether evidence should be admitted after a 404(b) objection necessitates a rele
vancy inquiry.
Following the Court of Appeals analysis, the relevancy inquiry here would have
been: 1) Does this evidence make the existence of a "common scheme or plan" more or
less likely? and 2) Can the Court infer an elemental fact from the existence of a plan?
Here, the Court need only to ask if the extraneous offense testimony was relevant
to any fact of consequence in the case other than character conformity- The trial
court, for example, could have admitted T.H.'s testimony as evidence relevant to show
appellant's intent. For example, testimony that appellant alleqedly sexual molested
two girls before he allegedly molested the complainant makes it more likely that
appellant did not act accidentally, but with intent.
Appellant avers that common scheme or plan was only a theory for the prosecution
to bridge the qap between the act and the intent so that the State could attempt to
show that appellant acted with a culpable mental state. However, the Court of Appeals
failed to bridge the gap.
Instead of focusing on how the evidence was relevant to show a fact of consequ
ence in this case, the Court of Appeals attempted to show how the evidence tended to
show a common scheme or plan and stated the offending testimony relating to T.H. was
adequate to support a findinq by the jury that, beyond a reasonable doubt, Gonzales
committed an offense aqainst T-H.
The Court of Appeals analysis on this point falls short because the evidence
showing extraneous offense is no more indicative of a common scheme or plan than of
the possibility that the appellant may have had the opportunity.
•Furthermore, the Court did not attempt to show how the existence of a common
scheme or plan related to intent or any other fact of consequence in this case.
Of Course, it is not up to this Court to make findinqs as to the relevancy of the
evidence in the first part. Appellant contends, because the Court of Appeals has not
conducted a complete relevancy analysis, the case should be remanded back to them so
that they may make a determination on this issue.
9.
Rule 403 is yet another exception to the general rule of admissibility under
402. Rule 403 states: Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative
value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the
issues, or misleading the jury, or by consideration of undue delay, or needless pre
sentation of cumulative evidence. Tex. R. Crim. Evid- 403-
Appellant contends Rule 403 acts as a further check on the admissibility of the
evidence. In other words, even thouqh extraneous evidence meets all the requirements
for admissibility under 404(b). the trial court may disallow it as excessively pre
judicial. Even thouqh the court is not required to prohibit such evidence, the Court
must, however, engaqe in the balancinq test of Rule 403 is a proper Rule 403 objection
is made See Montqomery. 810 S.W.2d at 388.
The Court of Appeals found T-H. testified to all elements of the extraneous
offenses of aqqravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child bv con
tact, and held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion bv decidinq that the
evidence was adequate to support a jury finding that beyond a reasonable doubt, appel-
lant had committed those offenses against T.H. The Court of Appeals also found T.H.'s
testimony was probative, but did not have the potential to impress the jury in some
irrational, yet indelible, way and that the conscientious visitinq trial judge did
not abuse his discretion bv admitting T-H.'s testimony under the law as it now; stands.
It seems the Court of Appeals here found the 403 objection preserved and thev
addressed the merits of that issue, findinq that the probative value of the extraneous
offense testimony outweighed its prejudicial effect.
The appellant then, on appeal to this Court, objects to the Court of Appeals use
of the extraneous offense testimony.
Although the Court should not reverse a determination that results from a pro
perly conducted Rule 403 balancing test merely because the Court disagree with the
result, it is proper to reverse a lower court's decision when the test they have em
ployed is incorrect or incomplete- Arcila v. State, 834 S.W.2d 357, 361 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1992). In Arcila, this Court determined that it ought not reverse the lower
court's Rule 403 determination, noting that the Dallas Court of Appeals opinion eval
uates the issues according to settled rules of law, accounts for the evidence relevant
to the questions presented, and reaches a conclusion adequately supported by the law
and the evidence. Id.
In this case, however, the Court of Appeals conclusively stated, "we have re
viewed the evidence, and find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
admitting the extraneous acts".
However, appellant avers the Court failed to detail the evidence it used in
10.
arriving at its conclusion. In fact, it is difficult to find much Rule 403 analysis
at all in the sentences the Court of Appeals dedicated to that question.
Although the Court of Appeals properly recognized that, when conducting a Rule
403 balancing test, the "probativeness" of the evidence is the weightier considera
tion, the court failed to discuss the factors necessary for a comprehsive Rule 403
analysis-
As this Court has previously stated, and appellant now reiterate, a complete
Rule 403 balancing test demands an inquiry as to all the factors set out in Montgomery,
810 S.W. 2d at 389-90, 392-93.
Appellant also avers, the Court must also, consistent with Arcila, fully account
for all the eveidence relevant to their Rule 403 analysis.
Appellant concludes, the above holdings comports with that court's holdings in
Pool v. Ford Motor Co., 715 S.W.2d 629. 635 (Tex. 1986), where it required that the
Court of Appeals fully articulate both the evidence and reasoninq behind their deci
sion to reverse the verdict on insufficiency qrounds. That Court found that such ex
planation creates a basis on which to determine whether the lower.court employed the
correct standard in cominq to their decision. See also Cropper v. Caterpillar Tractor
Co., 754 S.W.2d 646, 652-53 (Tex. 1988).
Likewise, the Court should be compelled to fully explain their Rule 403 determina
tions, detailinq both the evidence and reasoninq used to arrive at those decisions,
else the Court may be unable to discren whether the correct test was used in reaching
any given result.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED. Pablo Gonzales, Jr., Appellant prays that this
Cause be Reversed and Remanded for a new trial in keepinq with the Court's findinqs
herein and for such other relief to which he may be justly entitled-
Respectfully submitted.
11.
SERVICE ON STATE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
This is to certify that a true and correct copy of the Petition For
Discretionary Review has been served and made on the State Prosecutinq Attorney
at P.O. Box 12405, Austin, Texas 78711.
Executed on this 21st day of October. 2015-
Mr- Pablo Gerfzales/jr-
Appellant, Pro Se
12.
APPENDIX
1. One copy of the Court of Appeals 'OPINION'.
13.
COURT OF APPEALS
SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH
NO. 02-15-00065-CR
NO. 02-15-00066-CR
NO. 02-15-00067-CR
NO. 02-15-00068-CR
PABLO GONZALES, JR. APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS STATE
FROM THE 90TH DISTRICT COURT OF YOUNG COUNTY
TRIAL COURT NOS. 08792, 08793, 08796, 08794
OPINION
A jury convicted Appellant Pablo Gonzales, Jr. of one count of aggravated
sexual assault of a child and three counts of indecency with a child, charged in
four separate indictments. The jury assessed his punishment at life-
imprisonment in the sexual assault case, twenty years' imprisonment in each of
the indecency cases, and a $10,000 fine in each case. The trial court sentenced
^r
him accordingly. Appellant brings four issues on appeal. He does not contest /?<^
the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his guilt. Instead, he challenges the
admission of outcry testimony, evidence that he did not waive extradition, and
evidence of extraneous sexual offenses. Because the trial court committed no
reversible error, we affirm the trial court's judgments.
Summary of the Facts
Because of the confusing nature of this record, we adopt the State's
summary of the relationships of the witnesses and the pseudonyms assigned to
the complainants in these four cases:
Amanda . . . , Appellant's niece who lived with him at the time of
the abuse[;]
Jane Doe A, Complainant [in] Cause No. 08792, Jane Doe B's
sister, and cousin to Jane Does C and E[;]
Jane Doe B, Complainant [in] Cause No. 08794, Jane Doe A's
sister, and cousin to Jane Does C and E[;]
T.P., Jane Doe A's and B's mother;
Jane Doe C, Complainant [in] Cause No. 08793, Jane Doe E's
sister, and cousinQ to Jane Does A and B[;]
Jane Doe E, Complainant [in] Cause No. 08796, Jane Doe C's
sister; and cousinQ to Jane Does A and B[;]
J.P., Jane Doe C and E's mother and T.P.'s ex-sister-in-law[; and]
T.H., complainant in extraneous offense admitted at trialf.]
Appellant lived in a two-bedroom house in which drug use was rampant.
People would come and go on a regular basis, often leaving their children for
him to watch. Jane Doe children A, B, C, and E made outcries that Appellant
had sexually abused them. The grand jury returned four separate indictments
against Appellant in 2005, alleging that he had committed aggravated sexual
assault against one child (Jane Doe C) and indecency with a child by sexual
contact with three other children (Jane Does A, B, and E) when the children
stayed in or visited his home in 2004 and 2005. Appellant left Texas after the
Jane Doe children made outcries. He was final|y_arr_e_sted in California in 2012.
He did not waive extradition to Texas.
Appellant's adult niece Amanda, who lived with Appellant at the time of
the alleged abuse, testified that Jane Doe D, who was then ten years old, also
lived in the house with Appellant. When Amanda moved in, Jane Doe D was
staying with Appellant in his bedroom, which had one bed. Amanda testified that
Jane Does A, B, C, and E, T.P., and T.H.'s father would also come to
Appellant's house. Amanda testified that she took Jane Doe D with her when
she moved out of Appellant's house. Amanda also testified that later, when
Jane Doe D learned that Amanda planned to take her to Appellant's house so
that he could babysit her for Amanda, Jane Doe D reacted hysterically and_
refused to go. Jane Doe D was murdered prior to Appellant's trial.
Jane Doe C testified that she had witnessed Appellant abusing Jane Doe
A and that Appellant had abused her at the same time as Jane Does A and D on
multiple occasions. She described how Appellant had sexually assaulted her by
rubbing her vaginal area and penetrating her vagina with two of his fingers. Jane
3
Doe E described how Appellant had abused her by rubbing her genital area
through her underwear and testified that she was eight years old when the abuse
occurred. Jane Doe A testified that Appellant had touched her in her vaginal
area a number of times, both under and over her clothes. Jane Doe B testified
that Appellant touched her vaginal area under her clothes.
Midtrial, the trial court conducted an article 38.072 outcry hearing during
which the State offered T.P. as an outcry witness for Jane Does A and B. T.P.
testified that she was the mother of Jane Does A and B and that she had spent a
lot of time at Appellant's house doing drugs with him during the period of the
abuse. She remembered Jane Doe A's outcry but was generally fuzzy.Qn_o.th.er
events in the past. T.P. testified that Jane Doe A had told her that Appellant had
both touched and penetrated her genitals with his fingers. T.P. immediately took
her two daughters to the police department and lodged a criminal report. She
also took them to the advocacy center to be intervjevved. It was^ncpntesjejtthat_ ^d-ftC
Appellant received proper notice of the State's intent to call TP. as an Outcry
witness. The triaj^courtjound thejoutcry'testimony reliable a^Jo^Ja"Doe^A^but, ?'
not
*»•"•'
as to Jane
"'—• in*•'mm
Doein--i-i-.rm
-lirHMUflMiiimim"—'"
B. Again, all four Jane Does named in the indictments
testified at trial.
Admissibility of Outcry
In his first issue, Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion
in admitting T.P.'s testimony regarding Jane Doe A's outcry because T.P.
admitted that her memory of the event was fuzzy as a result of her drug use.
Consequently, he argues, the statement did not possess sufficient indicia of
reliability at the time of the trial court's ruling. Additionally, he argues, T.P.'s
testimony satisfied few, if any, of the nonexclusive factors the trial court
considers in determining the reliability of an outcry.
A trial court's decision to admit evidence, will not be disturbed on appeal
absent a clear abuse of discretion.1 A trial court has only abused its discretion if
its decision falls outside the zone of reasonable disagreement.2 Article 38.072 of
the code of criminal procedure provides a mechanism that requires the trial court
to determine on a case-by-case basis if outcry testimony reaches the level of
reliability required to be admissible as an exception to the hearsay rule.3
Indicia of reliability that the trial court may consider [under article
38.072] include (1) whether the child victim testifies at trial and
admits making the out-of-court statement, (2) whether the child
understands the need to tell the truth and has the ability to observe,
recollect, and narrate, (3) whether other evidence corroborates the
statement, (4) whether the child made the statement spontaneously
in his own terminology or whether evidence_.existsjo.f„Piior promptina
oTmanipulation bY^dlI}Hr(5) whether the child's statement is clear
and unambiguous and rises to the needed level of certainty,
(6) whether the statement is consistent with other evidence, (7)
whether the statement describes an event that a child of the victim's
age could not be expected to fabricate, (8) wjjejhex.jhg^child,
behay_3S_aj)noxmally after_tj_e_contacJ, (9) whether the child has a_
1Garcia v. State, 792 S.W.2d 88, 92 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990).
2Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 391 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (op.
on reh'g).
3Tex. Code Crim. ProcT Ann. art. 38.072 (West Supp. 2014); Norris v:
State, 788 S.W.2d 65, 71 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990, pet. ref d).
motive to fabricate the statement, (10) -whether the child expects
punishment because of reporting the conduct, and (11) whether the
accused had the opportunity to commit the offense.4
Appellant argues that the outcry lacks reliability specifically because of
T.P.'s drug use and generally because it was short, undetailed, and
uncorroborated. Appellant is correct that the statement was very short. _But it
was also very clear, specific, and unequivocal—Jane_Do.e A-.Jo.ld-T.P. that
i
Appellant had both touched and penetrated her genitals iiiwith_.his-flpaers._ We
cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion ini aNowing T.P_JtqJtgslify_..
But even if we were to conclude that the trial court abused its discretjcrnn
?
admitting the testimony, such error would not rise to theleyel ^c^n^itutipjial,
error.5 Rather, it would be evaluated under rule of appellate procedure 44.2(b^)^
and reversal would be required only if the error affected Appellant's substantial
;J^fi.j.?".^.-.--jt.rai.^ifflirtr--:
rights.7 In examining the record, we note that Jane Doe A testified at trial, and
her testimony both corroborated T.P.'s testimony regarding the outcry and
provided greater detail. Even if we had held that the trial court abused its "K >^/v
ANorris, 788 S.W.2d at 71; see also Pair v. State, Nos. 02-13-00406-CR,
02-13-00407-CR, 2014 WL 5878116, at *2 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Nov; 13,
2014, pet. ref'd) (mem. op., not designated for publication).
5See Patterson v. State, Nos. 02.-10-00350-CR, 02-10-00351-CR, 2012
WL 171115, at *7 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan: 19, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op., not
designated for publication).
eSeeid.
7See id; see also Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(b).
discretion by admitting the outcry testimony, we would hold such error harmless.
We overrule Appellant's first issue.
Extradition Testimony
In his second issue, Appellant argues that the trial court reversibly erred by
admitting the State's evidence that he did not agree to extradition because the,
testimony violated his rk]htsJto_due process and due course of law. At trial,
Appellant objected only that the evidence was not relevant. Generally, error
must be preserved at trial by a timely and specific objection, and any objection at
trial that differs from the complaint on appeal preserves nothing for review.8
Because Appellant's complaint on appeal doesjiQt_ comport with his, trial.
jU/>C
jW objection, he has not preserved the issue for ap.ReJ,late_,r.eyj.eyv. We overrule
Appellant's second issue.
Extraneous Offense Evidence
In his third issue, Appellant argues that evidence of his alleged extraneous
sexual offenses against T.H. was inadequate to support a jury finding, beyond a
reasonable doubt that he committed the extraneous offenses. Although the
general rule is that a person may not be convicted based on a claim of character
zSterling v. State, 800 S.W.2d 513, 521 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990), cert,
denied, 501 U.S. 1213 (1991); see also Judd v. State] 923 S.W.2d 135, 138 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth 1996, pet. refd).
conformity,9 the legislature has changed the rules when there is an allegation of a
sexual offense against a child. Article 38.37 allows the admission of,
[notwithstanding Rules 404 and 405, Texas Rules of
Evidence, and subject to Section 2-a, evidence that the defendant
has committed a separate offense described by Subsection (a)(1) or
(2)[, such as the sexual abuse testified to by T.H.] ... in the trial of
an alleged offense described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) for any
bearing the evidence has on relevant matters, including the
character of the defendant and acts performed in conformity with the
character of the defendant.10
Section 2-a of the statute requires that before any trial court admits the
evidence of an extraneous offense, the trial court must "determine that the
evidence likely to be admitted at trial will be adequate to support a finding by the
jury that the defendant committed the separate offense beyond a reasonable
doubt."11 The law is well-established that the "testimony of a child victim alone is
sufficient to support a conviction for aggravated sexual assault ofa child."12
At the article 38.37 hearing, T.H. testified that in 2005, when she was seven
years old, her father traded her to Appellant in exchange for drugs on more than
one occasion. She stated that her father would take her to Appellant's house, —*-/?<-
9Tex. R. Evid. 404(b); Alba v. State, 905 S.W.2d 581, 585 (Tex. Crim. App.
1995), cert, denied, 516 U.S. 1077 (1996).
10Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.37, § 2(b) (West Supp. 2014).
11/d.§2-a.
nlslasMartinez v. State, 452 S.W.3d 874, 880 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, pet.
refd).
8
that she sometimes spent the night there, that she had been alone with Appellant
in his bedroom, and that he touched her vaginal area, penetrated her vaginally,,
and forced her to touch his genitals. Even though she could not identify.
Appellant's house with certaintyfromi a photogra" •***"
knew Jane Doe A and that she had seen Jane Doe A at Appellant's house.
Thus, T.H. testified to all the elements of the extraneous offenses of aggravated
sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact. We therefore hold
that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by deciding that the evidence was
adequate to support a jury finding that beyond a reasonable doubt, Appellant had
committed those offenses against T.H. 13 We overrule Appellant's third issue..
Inh^ fourth jssue, Appellant argues thajtjiejnal court abjusedjtsjJLscMlQJD
by admitting evidence of the extraneous offenses described byTJH.becausethe
probative yalueof that ey[dence was subsjajr^yjDutwejigJ"
unfair pxeiudjcjejjnd^er rule 403 of.theXexas Rules ofJEvidence..14 Atrial court's
rule 403 decision to admit extraneous offense evidence is reviewed for an abuse of;
discretion.15 A reviewing court will "reverse the trial court's judgment [based on the
13See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.37, § 2-a; Boydston v. State, No.
10-14-00310-CR, 2015 WL 4710260, at *2 (Tex. App.—Waco Aug. 6, 2015, no
pet. h.) (mem. op.; not designated for publication).
14Tex. R. Eyid. 403.
^Moses v. State, 105 S.W.3d 622, 627 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Freeman
v. State, 230 S.W.3d 392, 404-05 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2007, pet. refd).
trial court's rule 403 analysis] rarely . . . because the trial court is in a superior
position to gauge the impact of the relevant evidence."16
When extraneous offense evidence is offered, the trial court must conduct
a rule 403 analysis that includes the following nonexclusive factors: (1) the
probative value of the evidence, (2) the potential to impress the jury in some
irrational, yet indelible, way, (3) the time needed to develop the evidence, and
(4) the proponent's need for the evidence.17 The State argues that T.H.'s
testimony was critical to support the testimony of Jane Does A, B, C, and E
because of the lack of corroboration and that Appellant's case depended on
challenging their credibility. The State directs us to Thompson v. State,™ an
unpublished opinion from our sister court in Corpus Christi in which the court
recognized that, in a child sexual abuse case, the proponent's need for the
extraneous offense evidence to combat the defendant's challenge to the
complainant's credibility is considered in determining admissibility.19 This
^Freeman, 230 S.W.3d at 404-05 (citation and internal quotation marks
omitted).
^Prible v. State, 175 S.W.3d 724, 733 (Tex. Crim. App.), cert, denied, 546
U.S. 962 (2005).
18No. 13-13-00558-CR, 2014 WL 4049892 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi
Aug. 14, 2014, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication).
19/d. at-*6.
10
language echoes the Montgomery test for admissibility of extraneous acts of
misconduct offered in the guilt phase of a trial.20
Reviewing the record in its entirety, we note the care with which the trial
court considered its evidentiary rulings throughout the entire trial. The testimony
of Jane Does A, B, C, and E, as well as the outcry testimony, showed the
combination of drug activity and Appellant's abuse of the children in his home.
The State's theory of the case was that Appellant supplied drugs to the
Tr^fwr"giitftwgafle&aM&K
/c
complainants' parents to gain access to the complainants. Appellant left Texas
si
soon after the complainants made outcries. He was not extradited until several
years had passed. Thus, several years also passed between the events and the
witnesses' testimony about those events. The complainajit^jy^
memories from childhood At least one othe^
that occurred during a period of drug abuse. The defense, naturally, attacked the
witnesses' credibility and ability to recollect. T.H.'s tejtjrr|p£^
areas, corroborated^e^rcumstances, location, and actiQns^of^ppeJianjJ"tJje^
20See 810 S.W.2d at 390 ("[H]ow great is the proponent's 'need' for the
extraneous transaction? This . . . inquiry breaks down into three subparts: Does
the proponent have other available evidence to establish the fact of consequence
that the extraneous misconduct is relevant to show? If so, how strong is that
other evidence? And is the fact of consequence related to an issue that is in
dispute?").
11
the conscientious visiting trial judge did not abuse his discretion by admitting
T.H.'s testimony under the law as it now stands. We overrule Appellanfs fourth,
issue.
Conclusion
Having overruled Appellanfs four issues on appeal, we affirm the trial
court's judgments.
Isl Lee Ann Dauphinot
LEEANNDAUPHINOT
JUSTICE
PANEL: DAUPHINOT, GARDNER, and WALKER, JJ.
PUBLISH
DELIVERED: Sepjembej^J^
12
COURT OF APPEALS
SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH
NO. 02-15-00065-CR
Pablo Gonzales, Jr. § From the 90th District Court
§ of Young County (08792)
v. § September 24, 2015
§ Opinion by Justice Dauphinot
The State of Texas § (p)
JUDGMENT
This court has considered the record on appeal in this case and holds that
there was no error in the trial court's judgment. It is ordered that the judgment of
the trial court is affirmed. '
SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
By _/s/ Lee Ann Dauphinot
Justice Lee Ann Dauphinot
COURT OF APPEALS
SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH
NO. 02-15-00066-CR
Pablo Gonzales, Jr. § From the 90th District Court
§ of Young County (08793)
v. § September 24, 2015
§ Opinion by Justice Dauphinot
The State of Texas § (P)
JUDGMENT
This court has considered the record on appeal in this case and holds that
there was no error in the trial court's judgment. It is ordered that the judgment of
the trial court is affirmed.
SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
By /s/ Lee Ann Dauphinot
Justice Lee Ann Dauphinot
COURT OF APPEALS
SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH
NO. 02-15-00067-CR
Pablo Gonzales, Jr. § From the 90th District Court
§ of Young County (08796)
v. § September 24, 2015
§ Opinion by Justice Dauphinot
The State of Texas § (p)
JUDGMENT
This court has considered the record on appeal in this case and holds that
there was no error in the trial court's judgment. It is ordered that the judgment of
the trial court is affirmed.
SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
. By Is/ Lee Ann Dauphinot_ •
Justice Lee Ann Dauphinot
COURT OF APPEALS
SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH
NO. 02-15-00068-CR
Pablo Gonzales, Jr. § From the 90th District Court
§ of Young County (08794)
v. § September 24, 2015
§ - Opinion by Justice Dauphinot
The State of Texas § (p)
JUDGMENT
This court has considered the record on appeal in this case and holds that
there was no error in the trial court's judgment. It is ordered that the judgment of
the trial court is affirmed.
SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
Bv /s/ Lee Ann Dauphinot
Justice Lee Ann Dauphinot
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