Reagan Todd Horton v. the State of Texas ( 2021 )


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  •                                     NO. 12-20-00032-CR
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
    TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
    TYLER, TEXAS
    REAGAN TODD HORTON,                               §      APPEAL FROM THE 159TH
    APPELLANT
    V.                                                §      JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,
    APPELLEE                                          §      ANGELINA COUNTY, TEXAS
    MEMORANDUM OPINION
    Reagan Todd Horton appeals his six convictions for retaliation, burglary, deadly conduct,
    and three counts of assault. In three issues, Appellant argues that (1) the trial court abused its
    discretion by refusing to submit his insanity defense in its charge, (2) the evidence is insufficient
    to support the trial court’s judgment with regard to his retaliation conviction, and (3) the trial
    court abused its discretion by overruling his objection to the State’s improper jury argument. We
    affirm.
    BACKGROUND
    On May 24, 2019, Appellant was driving in his pickup truck in the parking lot of a Big
    Lots store in Lufkin, Texas.       Appellant’s former girlfriend Elizabeth Castillo, a Big Lots
    employee, and her co-worker, Samuel Weatherred, were driving through the parking lot in
    Castillo’s vehicle when they encountered Appellant. Appellant chased Castillo and Weatherred
    in his truck, left his vehicle, and had a verbal altercation with Castillo while Weatherred called
    the police. When Castillo informed Appellant that the police would be there soon, he drove
    away. An officer stopped Appellant’s vehicle a short time later, and Appellant, who denied
    having been at Big Lots that morning, was issued a warning for criminal trespass. Another
    officer responded to the Big Lots location, and was told by Castillo and Weatherred that
    Appellant chased them with his vehicle in the parking lot. Thereafter, Appellant sent explicit
    photographs and videos of Castillo to her family members. Appellant also sent a text message to
    Castillo accusing her of trying to have him arrested. Sometime later, Appellant drove back to
    Big Lots, fired a shotgun at the glass of the front entrance, and entered the store looking for
    Castillo. Castillo and two coworkers hid in a break room at the back of the store but could hear
    Appellant outside calling for Castillo. Appellant left the store before police arrived. Police later
    arrested Appellant at his residence.
    Appellant was charged by indictment with retaliation, burglary, deadly conduct, three
    counts of assault, and harassment.      The indictment further alleged that Appellant used or
    exhibited a deadly weapon in conjunction with the alleged offenses. Appellant pleaded “not
    guilty,” and the matter proceeded to a jury trial.      Following the presentation of evidence,
    Appellant objected to the court’s charge, which failed to submit his requested insanity defense.
    The trial court overruled Appellant’s objection. Ultimately, the jury found Appellant “guilty” as
    charged on all counts other than the harassment charge, which was dismissed. Following a trial
    on punishment, the jury assessed Appellant’s punishment as follows: imprisonment for twenty-
    eight years for his retaliation conviction, imprisonment for ten years for each assault conviction,
    imprisonment for five years for his burglary conviction, and imprisonment for five years for his
    deadly conduct conviction. This appeal followed.
    INSANITY DEFENSE CHARGE INSTRUCTION
    In his first issue, Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to
    submit his requested insanity defense to the jury.
    Standard of Review and Governing Law
    We review alleged jury charge error under a two-step process. Barrios v. State, 
    389 S.W.3d 382
    , 392 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2012, pet. ref’d); see Abdnor v. State, 
    871 S.W.2d 726
    ,
    731 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); see also Sakil v. State, 
    287 S.W.3d 23
    , 25–26 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2009); Ngo v. State, 
    175 S.W.3d 738
    , 743 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Initially, we determine
    whether an error occurred, and then “determine whether sufficient harm resulted from the error
    to require reversal.” 
    Abdnor, 871 S.W.2d at 731
    –32; Almanza v. State, 
    686 S.W.2d 157
    , 171
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) (op. on reh’g), reaffirmed by Middleton v. State, 
    125 S.W.3d 450
    , 453
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).
    2
    The trial court shall “deliver to the jury . . . a written charge distinctly setting forth the
    law applicable to the case [and] not expressing any opinion as to the weight of the evidence[.]”
    TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 36.14 (West 2007). The trial court is required to instruct the
    jury on statutory defenses, affirmative defenses, and justifications when they are raised by the
    evidence. Walters v. State, 
    247 S.W.3d 204
    , 208–09 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “A trial court’s
    decision to deny a defensive issue in a jury charge is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.”
    Gaspar v. State, 
    327 S.W.3d 349
    , 355 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2010, no pet.) (citing Wesbrook v.
    State, 
    29 S.W.3d 103
    , 122 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000)). When reviewing a trial court’s decision to
    deny a requested defensive instruction, “we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
    defendant’s requested submission.” Bufkin v. State, 
    207 S.W.3d 779
    , 782 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2006).
    A defendant is entitled to an instruction on any defensive issue raised by the evidence,
    whether that evidence is weak or strong, unimpeached or contradicted, and regardless of the trial
    court’s opinion about the credibility of the defense. Granger v. State, 
    3 S.W.3d 36
    , 38 (Tex.
    Crim. App. 1999); Hamel v. State, 
    916 S.W.2d 491
    , 493 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); VanBrackle v.
    State, 
    179 S.W.3d 708
    , 712 (Tex. App.–Austin 2005, no pet.); see also TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.
    § 2.03(c) (West 2021). This rule is designed to ensure that the jury, not the trial court, will
    decide the relative credibility of the evidence. 
    Granger, 3 S.W.3d at 38
    ; 
    VanBrackle, 179 S.W.3d at 712
    . A defendant need not testify in order to raise a defense. Boget v. State, 
    40 S.W.3d 624
    , 626 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 2001), aff’d, 
    74 S.W.3d 23
    , 31 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2002). Defensive issues may be raised by the testimony of any witnesses, even those called by
    the state. Jackson v. State, 
    110 S.W.3d 626
    , 631 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet.
    ref’d).
    The affirmative defense of insanity applies if “at the time of the conduct charged, the
    actor, as a result of severe mental disease or defect, did not know that his conduct was wrong.”
    TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 8.01(a) (West 2021). If evidence from any source raises the issue
    of insanity, the trial court must include an instruction on this defense in the jury charge. Nutter
    v. State, 
    93 S.W.3d 130
    , 131 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, no pet.) (citing Gibson v.
    State, 
    726 S.W.2d 129
    , 132 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987)).                When considered with facts and
    circumstances concerning an accused and the offense, lay opinion testimony may be sufficient to
    raise the defense of insanity. Pacheco v. State, 
    757 S.W.2d 729
    , 736 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988).
    3
    Discussion
    In the instant case, Castillo testified that during a conversation she had with Appellant
    when he was in jail, he told her he did not remember the events on the day in question and he had
    periods during which he would not remember events when things “got really bad.” Castillo
    further testified that Appellant began going to the Burke Center 1 to get help after an incident
    where he cut her. According to Castillo, at the Burke Center, Appellant was diagnosed with
    depression and began taking medication for it. Castillo explained that when Appellant’s mood
    changed, he had trouble remembering events. She stated that Appellant “was not himself” the
    week before the shooting and that he was in a “down period.” She further stated that she told an
    officer that she did not expect Appellant to act out to such an extreme degree. She also testified
    that she took Appellant’s medical records to the jail because she wanted Appellant to get his
    medication.
    Angelina County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Christy Tobar testified that she received
    a call from Appellant’s family stating that he required mental health assistance due to his actions
    and his not having had his medication. Tobar stated that she spoke to Appellant, who “seemed
    somewhat spaced out” and “emotionally flat like he really didn’t know what was going on.” As
    a result of her interaction with Appellant and his family’s statements, Tobar contacted the Burke
    Center to have Appellant undergo a mental health assessment.
    Paul Taylor, a crisis assessor with the Burke Center Mobile Crisis Outreach Team,
    conducted a mental health assessment on Appellant at the Angelina County Jail. Taylor testified
    that he spoke to Appellant about his current medications. According to Taylor, Appellant told
    him he did not know why he was in jail and seemed a little confused. Taylor noted Appellant’s
    disassociation based on his stating he did not know why he was in the jail and his having
    reported that there were periods of time when he did not remember things. Based on his
    assessment, Appellant’s reported episodes, and information he received from jailers about the
    reason for Appellant’s incarceration, Taylor recommended Appellant for a higher level of mental
    health care. Taylor also concluded that it would be beneficial for Appellant to see a psychiatrist.
    Appellant’s sister, Leslea Williams, testified that in April 2019, Appellant cut off contact
    with her and, as a result of this very unusual behavior on Appellant’s part, she reached out to her
    family to check on him. Williams stated that she was aware Appellant was depressed, but she
    1
    The Burke Center provides, among other things, mental health services.
    4
    was surprised to learn of his actions in this matter. Julie Horton, Appellant’s stepmother,
    testified that she also noticed a change in Appellant. She described Appellant as having been
    absent for weeks with no contact with his family.
    Eddie Horton, Appellant’s father, testified that he regularly checked on Appellant, who
    he described as seeming “spaced out” and unenergetic. Eddie was aware that Appellant suffered
    from depression. Appellant’s mother, Lane Yates, also checked on Appellant during periods
    when Appellant cut off contact with his family. She stated that, during these times, Appellant
    did not seem like himself; he would have good days and bad days. She also stated that her side
    of the family has a history of mental illness.
    Appellant testified that in July 2018, he was suffering from a then-undiagnosed mental
    illness and went to the Burke Center because he believed something was wrong with him.
    According to Appellant, at some later date, he began taking medication for depression.
    Appellant stated that on the day of the incident in question and following his initial encounter
    with Castillo, when he arrived at his home, he had a severe headache, his ears were ringing, and
    his vision was disturbed. Appellant described his condition at that time as feeling like he had
    been hit with a baseball bat.
    Appellant stated that following the incident, he had no idea why he was being detained.
    Once at the jail, Appellant could not remember phone numbers for anyone, which was unusual
    for him. Appellant testified that when the detectives spoke to him about what happened at Big
    Lots, he had no recollection of having been in the store. According to Appellant, he believed
    that he had been at home asleep during that time. He also had no recollection of sending texts to
    Castillo or her family that morning. Appellant stated that in the past, there were periods during
    which he could not remember small events but not anything to such an extreme degree.
    Appellant testified that he began having memory issues after he started taking the drug,
    Sertraline. Appellant stated that he saw himself on the videos going into the store but did not
    remember doing it. Appellant further stated he was not in his right mind at that time and he
    believed that he was suffering from a mental illness, disease, or defect because of his lack of
    memory of the event.
    Here, the testimony Appellant cites in support of his contention supports the premise that
    he has no recollection of committing the May 24, 2019 offenses at Big Lots. See, e.g., 
    Nutter, 93 S.W.3d at 131
    . None of the testimony to which Appellant cites or other evidence of record
    5
    supports that he did not know his conduct was wrong at the time of the robbery.
    Id. at 131-32.
    Appellant’s lack of memory is not enough to establish that he was insane at the time of the
    offenses.
    Id. at 132
    (citing Cato v. State, 
    534 S.W.2d 135
    , 136–38 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976)
    (evidence that appellant suffered traumatic amnesia about facts surrounding offense did not raise
    issue of insanity)); see also Reyna v. State, 
    11 S.W.3d 401
    , 403 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.]
    2000, pet. ref’d, untimely filed); Jeffley v. State, 
    938 S.W.2d 514
    , 515 (Tex. App.–Texarkana
    1997, no pet.). Furthermore, neither Appellant nor any other witness offered an opinion as to
    his insanity, i.e., whether as a result of this severe mental disease or defect, he did not know that
    his conduct was wrong, at the time of the offenses. See 
    Nutter, 93 S.W.3d at 132
    ; see also TEX.
    PENAL CODE ANN. § 8.01(a).                Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to
    Appellant’s requested submission, we conclude that the evidence is not sufficient to raise
    the defense of insanity. See 
    Nutter, 93 S.W.3d at 132
    . Therefore, we hold that the trial court did
    not abuse its discretion in declining to submit the defensive theory in its charge. Appellant’s first
    issue is overruled.
    EVIDENTIARY SUFFICIENCY
    In his second issue, Appellant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support the
    trial court’s judgment that he is “guilty” of retaliation and the trial court erred in overruling his
    motion for directed verdict on that basis. Specifically, Appellant argues that the State failed to
    prove that Castillo was a “prospective witness.”
    Standard of Review
    The Jackson v. Virginia2 legal sufficiency standard is the only standard that a reviewing
    court should apply in determining whether the evidence is sufficient to support each element of a
    criminal offense that the state is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. See Brooks v.
    State, 
    323 S.W.3d 893
    , 895 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). Legal sufficiency is the constitutional
    minimum required by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to sustain a
    criminal conviction. See 
    Jackson, 443 U.S. at 315
    –16, 99 S. Ct. at 2786–87; see also Escobedo
    v. State, 
    6 S.W.3d 1
    , 6 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 1999, pet. ref’d). The standard for reviewing a
    legal sufficiency challenge is whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
    elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See 
    Jackson, 443 U.S. at 320
    , 99 S. Ct. at
    2
    
    443 U.S. 307
    , 315–16, 
    99 S. Ct. 2781
    , 2786–87, 
    61 L. Ed. 2d 560
    (1979).
    6
    2789; see also Johnson v. State, 
    871 S.W.2d 183
    , 186 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). The evidence is
    examined in the light most favorable to the verdict. See 
    Jackson, 443 U.S. at 320
    , 99 S. Ct. at
    2789; 
    Johnson, 871 S.W.2d at 186
    . A jury is free to believe all or any part of a witness’s
    testimony or disbelieve all or any part of that testimony. See Lee v. State, 
    176 S.W.3d 452
    , 458
    (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2004), aff’d, 
    206 S.W.3d 620
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). A
    successful legal sufficiency challenge will result in rendition of an acquittal by the reviewing
    court. See Tibbs v. Florida, 
    457 U.S. 31
    , 41–42, 
    102 S. Ct. 2211
    , 2217–18, 
    72 L. Ed. 2d 652
    (1982).
    Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing guilt, and
    circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt. Rodriguez v. State, 
    521 S.W.3d 822
    , 827 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2017, no pet.) (citing Sorrells v. State, 
    343 S.W.3d 152
    , 155 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011)). Each fact need not point directly and independently
    to the guilt of the appellant, provided that the cumulative force of all the incriminating
    circumstances is sufficient to support the conviction. See Hooper v. State, 
    214 S.W.3d 9
    , 13
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Juries are permitted to draw multiple reasonable inferences so long as
    each inference is supported by the evidence presented at trial.
    Id. at 15.
    Juries are not permitted
    to reach conclusions based on mere speculation or factually unsupported inferences or
    presumptions.
    Id. An inference is
    a conclusion reached by considering other facts and deducing
    a logical consequence from them, while speculation is mere theorizing or guessing about the
    possible meaning of facts and evidence presented.
    Id. at 16.
              The sufficiency of the evidence is measured against the offense as defined by a
    hypothetically correct jury charge. See Malik v. State, 
    953 S.W.2d 234
    , 240 (Tex. Crim. App.
    1997). Such a charge would include one that “accurately sets out the law, is authorized by the
    indictment, does not unnecessarily increase the State’s burden of proof or unnecessarily restrict
    the State’s theories of liability, and adequately describes the particular offense for which the
    defendant is tried.”
    Id. Discussion To meet
    its burden of proof that Appellant committed the charged offense at issue, the
    State was required to prove that he intentionally or knowingly harmed or threatened to harm
    Castillo by an unlawful act in retaliation for or on account of her status as a prospective witness.
    See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 36.06(a) (West. 2016). A “prospective witness” is “any person
    7
    who may testify in an official proceeding.” Ortiz v. State, 
    93 S.W.3d 79
    , 86 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2002). This definition includes any person who is involved in an offense with a defendant or
    who sees the defendant commit an offense. See
    id. The determination of
    whether someone is a
    “prospective witness” is determined from the standpoint of the retaliating party. See In re
    B.P.H., 
    83 S.W.3d 400
    , 408 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 2002, no pet.).              Direct evidence of
    retaliatory intent is not required; intent can be inferred from the acts, words, and conduct of the
    accused. See Umstead v. State, 
    440 S.W.3d 909
    , 916 (Tex. App.–Eastland 2014, pet. ref’d).
    Furthermore, an official proceeding need not have been initiated for a person to be considered a
    “prospective witness.” Morrow v. State, 
    862 S.W.2d 612
    , 613–14 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).
    In the instant case, there is evidence that Appellant, with whom Castillo had a recent
    history of animosity, chased Castillo and Weatherred with his vehicle in the Big Lots parking lot
    on the morning in question. The evidence further reflects that Appellant left his vehicle and had
    a verbal altercation with Castillo while Weatherred called 9-1-1. Appellant was stopped by law
    enforcement shortly after this encounter and received a warning for criminal trespass.
    Weatherred later spoke to a police officer at the scene and told him he did not feel safe. Soon
    thereafter, Appellant sent a text message to Castillo in which he stated “tried 2 get me arrested
    because of your f*ck ups u will never be able to show ur face in public again[.]” The record
    further reflects that Appellant returned to Big Lots with a gun, which he fired at the glass, front
    entrance before he walked through the store and yelled to Castillo through the breakroom door,
    “Come out, you coward.”
    Here, the evidence supports that Appellant was aware that the police were called before
    he drove away from the Big Lots parking lot. The record further reflects that Castillo and
    Weatherred gave their accounts of the events to police, stating that Appellant chased them in the
    Big Lots parking lot and engaged in a verbal altercation with Castillo while Weatherred called
    police. Weatherred told the officer that responded to the scene that he did not feel safe following
    the altercation. Castillo’s involvement in the events that morning made her a prospective witness
    against Appellant for criminal trespass. See 
    Ortiz, 93 S.W.3d at 86
    ; see also TEX. PENAL CODE
    ANN. 30.05(a) (West Supp. 2020). The evidence that Appellant returned to Big Lots later that
    day, armed with a deadly weapon, which he used to shoot the front glass entrance of the store,
    before walking to the back of the store while still armed and demanding that Castillo, who he
    called a coward, come out of the break room, amounted to a threat of harm by an unlawful act.
    8
    Lastly, Appellant’s text message sent prior to his return to Big Lots indicates that he blamed
    Castillo for his being stopped and issued a warning for criminal trespass.
    Based on our review of the record, including the evidence recounted above, we conclude
    that there was ample evidence to permit the jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that
    Appellant intentionally or knowingly threatened to harm Castillo by an unlawful act in retaliation
    for or on account of her status as a prospective witness. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 36.06(a);
    
    Ortiz, 93 S.W.3d at 86
    . Therefore, we hold that the evidence is legally sufficient to support the
    trial court’s judgment and the trial court did not erroneously overrule Appellant’s motion for
    directed verdict on this basis. Appellant’s second issue is overruled.
    IMPROPER JURY ARGUMENT
    In his third issue, Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by overruling
    his objection to the state’s improper jury argument, in which the prosecuting attorney stated that
    the community and law enforcement expected the jury to do something with Appellant by
    finding him “guilty.”
    The purpose of closing argument is to facilitate the jury in properly analyzing the
    evidence presented at trial so that it may arrive at a just and reasonable conclusion based on the
    evidence alone, and not on any fact not admitted in evidence. Milton v. State, 
    572 S.W.3d 234
    ,
    239 (Tex. Crim. App. 2019). It should not arouse the passion or prejudice of the jury by matters
    not properly before it.
    Id. Instead, proper jury
    argument generally falls within one of four
    categories: (1) summation of the evidence; (2) reasonable deduction from the evidence;
    (3) answer to an argument of opposing counsel; and (4) plea for law enforcement. See
    id. Generally, the bounds
    of proper closing argument are left to the sound discretion of the trial
    court.
    Id. (citing Davis v.
    State, 
    329 S.W.3d 798
    , 825 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)).
    In the instant case, the State argued to the jury as follows:
    Folks, I get so tired, so tired of everybody wanting to escape responsibility. So many
    people wanting to escape responsibility for what they did. It’s not my fault. I didn’t do anything.
    You know, I need to be understood. It’s society’s fault or it’s somebody else’s fault, not accepting
    responsibility for your own actions. Oh, I don’t remember whether I did those things. Baloney.
    Or it’s not my fault. She triggered me, or she made me do it. It’s always somebody else’s fault.
    It is time that Todd Horton be held responsible for his actions.
    Don’t let him do what -- or don’t do what his attorney wants you to do, just find him
    guilty of deadly conduct. Find him guilty of the actions that he committed under the law. I
    9
    presented that to you. Law enforcement’s done everything they can on this case. I’ve done
    everything that I can on this case. People all the time say, “When are you folks up at the
    courthouse going to do something about X?” You know what, today you 12 people are they.
    Appellant objected that the State’s argument implied that the jury specifically is instructed to
    have a specific verdict “based on the . . . gist of the case, and it’s improper argument.” 3
    An argument designed to induce the jury to convict an accused or assess a particular
    punishment based upon community sentiment long has been held to be improper. See Goff v.
    State, 
    794 S.W.2d 126
    , 127 (Tex. App.–Austin 1990, writ ref’d); see also Wilson v. State, 
    179 S.W.3d 240
    , 247 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2005, no pet.) (prosecutorial argument is improper if it
    induces jury to reach particular verdict based on the demands, desires, or expectations of
    community). However, not every reference to the community made in closing argument by a
    prosecutor constitutes an improper appeal to community desires. 
    Goff, 794 S.W.2d at 127
    . For
    instance, when a prosecutor argues that the community desires a more generic result, such as law
    enforcement or a rational verdict, the argument is not improper. See id; see also York v. State,
    
    258 S.W.3d 712
    , 718 (Tex. App.–Waco 2008, pet. ref’d).
    In Smith v. State, 
    846 S.W.2d 515
    , 517 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, writ
    ref’d), the court of appeals considered a remarkably similar contention that a prosecutor engaged
    in improper jury argument. There, the prosecutor argued as follows: “You often hear people say,
    ‘What are they doing down there at the courthouse? The whole system has gone crazy. What
    are they doing down there that it’s gotten this way?’ Well, today, folks, you are the ‘they,’ so
    don’t be fooled by argument by the defense.”
    Id. The court of
    appeals concluded that the
    comments made by the State were a proper plea for law enforcement, which includes
    encouraging the jury to do something about crime. See
    id. at 518.
            In the instant case, the prosecutor led up to the statement to which Appellant objected by
    discussing personal responsibility and urging the jury to find Appellant guilty of all the acts he
    committed under the law as the prosecution had presented its case to them. He then made a
    generalized statement about “people” routinely saying, “When are . . . folks up at the courthouse
    going to do something about X?” He later equated the jury with these “folks.” Based on our
    review of the record, we conclude that the trial court reasonably could have determined that the
    3
    We assume arguendo that Appellant’s objection was specific enough to preserve error and that the
    objection made sufficiently comports with his argument on appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a); Chambers v. State,
    
    903 S.W.2d 21
    , 32 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).
    10
    prosecutor’s stated variable, “X,” referred to crime, and the argument was a permissible plea for
    law enforcement by encouraging the jury to do something about crime. See
    id. Therefore, we hold
    that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling Appellant’s objection to the
    State’s closing argument. Appellant’s third issue is overruled.
    DISPOSITION
    Having overruled Appellant’s first, second, and third issues, we affirm the trial court’s
    judgment.
    JAMES T. WORTHEN
    Chief Justice
    Opinion delivered May 12, 2021.
    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
    (DO NOT PUBLISH)
    11
    COURT OF APPEALS
    TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
    JUDGMENT
    MAY 12, 2021
    NO. 12-20-00032-CR
    REAGAN TODD HORTON,
    Appellant
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,
    Appellee
    Appeal from the 159th District Court
    of Angelina County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 2019-0448)
    THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
    herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
    judgment.
    It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the judgment of
    the court below be in all things affirmed, and that this decision be certified to the court below
    for observance.
    James T. Worthen, Chief Justice.
    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS
    MANDATE
    *********************************************
    TO THE 159TH DISTRICT COURT OF ANGELINA COUNTY, GREETING:
    Before our Court of Appeals for the 12th Court of Appeals District of Texas, on the 4th
    day of May, 2021, the cause upon appeal to revise or reverse your judgment between
    REAGAN TODD HORTON, Appellant
    NO. 12-20-00032-CR; Trial Court No. 2019-0448
    Opinion by James T. Worthen, Chief Justice.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
    was determined; and therein our said Court made its order in these words:
    “Text goes here.”
    WHEREAS, WE COMMAND YOU to observe the order of our said Court of Appeals
    for the Twelfth Court of Appeals District of Texas in this behalf, and in all things have it duly
    recognized, obeyed, and executed.
    WITNESS, THE HONORABLE JAMES T. WORTHEN, Chief Justice of our Court
    of Appeals for the Twelfth Court of Appeals District, with the Seal thereof affixed, at the City of
    Tyler, this the xx day of May, 2021.
    By: _______________________________
    KATRINA MCCLENNY, CLERK