Dontriel Keyon Piper v. State ( 2017 )

In The
Court of Appeals
Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont
____________________
NO. 09-16-00055-CR
____________________
DONTRIEL KEYON PIPER, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 9th District Court
Montgomery County, Texas
Trial Cause No. 14-07-07881-CR
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A grand jury indicted Dontriel Keyon Piper (Appellant or Piper) for the
offense of aggravated robbery. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 29.03(a)(2) (West 2011).
A jury found Piper guilty, and the court assessed punishment at forty-five years’
confinement. In three issues, Appellant appeals his conviction. We overrule all
Appellant’s issues and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
1
EVIDENCE AT TRIAL
The indictment1 alleged that Piper,
. . . while in the course of committing theft of property and with
intent to obtain or maintain control of said property, intentionally or
knowingly threaten[ed] or place[d] [A.R.] in fear of imminent bodily
injury or death, and the defendant did then and there use or exhibit a
deadly weapon, to-wit: a firearm[.]
Testimony of A.R.
A.R. testified that she is a sales consultant at Thomas Markle Jewelers in The
Woodlands. According to A.R., she was working at the store on July 17, 2014. A.R.
explained that a customer she was helping “disappeared[,]” a different man appeared
in front of her, and she saw a double-barreled shotgun in her face. According to A.R.,
the man with the shotgun yelled for her to get down, so she dropped to her knees and
put her hands on her head. A.R. testified that the man also pointed the gun at another
employee. A.R. further explained that she was thrown to the ground and hit on her
head, she heard a sound like bullets, and the intruder broke the glass cases and took
more than forty watches. A.R. testified that during the incident, she felt threatened
and thought she was dying, and that it was “the worst experience [she had] ever, ever
had.”
1
We use initials to refer to the alleged victim. See Tex. Const. art. I, § 30(a)(1)
(granting crime victims “the right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the
victim’s dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice process[]”).
2
According to A.R., after the incident, the police were called and she gave them
a statement. A.R. agreed that in her statement to the police she described one of the
intruders as “5’8”, heavy, wearing [a] white sweater, clean face, blue pants,” and
pointing a shotgun at her. A.R. explained that she saw other men running, the person
who was in front of her with the gun in her face was wearing a hoodie, and it was
hard for her to judge his weight. A.R. agreed that, at some time following the
robbery, she identified two individuals from photographs the police showed her. She
also testified that she had looked at photographs taken from the store’s security
system that she agreed fairly and accurately depicted what took place in the store
that evening. At trial, A.R. agreed that State’s Exhibit 11B depicted “the gunman[.]”
She also agreed that Exhibits 11C through 11G showed two individuals who
smashed the glass case in the store. State’s Exhibits 11A through 11G were admitted.
Testimony of Sergeant Jermaine Jenkins
Sergeant Jermaine Jenkins, with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office,
testified that he was called to respond to a robbery at Thomas Markle Jewelers in
The Woodlands on July 17, 2014. Jenkins explained that, upon arriving at the store,
he spoke with a male employee and received information about a suspect’s vehicle—
a white, four-door Nissan—and was informed that one of the suspects had a shotgun.
Jenkins testified that he observed a glass case inside the store that had been shattered
3
as well as a rubber mallet and an adjustable wrench. Jenkins identified State’s
Exhibits 8A through 8J as photographs of the store taken that day, which included a
view of shattered glass on the floor, a rubber mallet inside a jewelry case, an
adjustable wrench, and a watch that was dropped on the floor. State’s Exhibits 8A
through 8J were admitted.
Jenkins also testified that he was in charge of securing the scene at a Sonic
restaurant where officers took four suspects into custody and where the suspects’
vehicle had wrecked. Jenkins estimated that the Sonic was over twenty-five miles
from the jewelry store. According to Jenkins, Piper was not taken into custody at the
Sonic but Piper was found in a backyard in a neighborhood west of the shopping
center where the Sonic is located.
Sergeant Jenkins identified State’s Exhibits 10A through 10K as photographs
that fairly and accurately depict items he saw on July 17, 2014, including a close-up
of the Nissan with a bent license plate, the wrecked car and airbags that had
deployed, a shotgun found in the vehicle, mechanic’s gloves, a backpack, watches,
and watch “pillows” that had been used to display watches. According to Jenkins,
watches were found inside a bag as well as loose in the vehicle. Jenkins described
the shotgun as having a “stock that had been modified, and there was electrical tape
wrapped around it for grip. . . .” State’s Exhibits 10A through 10K were admitted.
4
Testimony of Deputy Mowen Abdelbaky
Deputy Mowen Abdelbaky, with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office,
testified that he heard about the robbery at Thomas Markle Jewelers on his police
radio and that he was involved with the pursuit of the suspects on I-45 and the Hardy
Toll Road. Abdelbaky explained that information he obtained regarding the incident
indicated that three men had entered the store to rob it at gunpoint and that the
suspects’ vehicle was a “white Nissan Altima with a folded up rear license plate.”
Abdelbaky testified that about thirty police cars chased the suspects, including
officers from Montgomery County, Shenandoah, Houston, and Harris County, and
he estimated that at times during the pursuit, the vehicles reached speeds over 100
miles per hour. According to Abdelbaky, eventually the officers found the suspects’
vehicle wrecked on West Road.
Deputy Abdelbaky identified State’s Exhibit 15 as a fair and accurate
representation of the lead officer’s video of the pursuit, and the video was published
to the jury. Abdelbaky also identified State’s Exhibits 16A through 16M as
screenshots made from the lead officer’s vehicle camera during the pursuit of the
suspects’ car. Abdelbaky explained that the photographs show the suspects’ vehicle
running numerous red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road, against
5
traffic. State’s Exhibits 16A through 16M were admitted. Video from Abdelbaky’s
vehicle was also admitted and portions were published to the jury.
Deputy Abdelbaky testified that when he arrived at the location where the
suspects’ vehicle had wrecked, he saw a suspect “running away from the
wreckage[]” and the suspect jumped over a fence into the adjacent neighborhood.
Abdelbaky explained that when he saw the suspect go over the fence, he drew his
gun and ordered the suspect to the ground. According to Abdelbaky, with the
assistance of Deputy Logan, he handcuffed the suspect, patted him down for
weapons, and placed him in the back of the patrol vehicle. Abdelbaky identified
Piper as the suspect he detained that day. Abdelbaky identified State’s Exhibits 18A
and 18B as a fair and accurate depiction of Abdelbaky searching Piper that day.
Abdelbaky testified that, after he had detained Piper, he drove back to the
location where the suspects’ vehicle had crashed, and during the drive, the Deputy
asked Piper his name and date of birth. Abdelbaky also testified that Piper asked him
“Did y’all get the stuff?” and when Abdelbaky asked what stuff, Piper replied
“Jewelry, the jewelry.” According to the Deputy, Piper also made a statement that
Abdelbaky understood as implying “this is not how I usually am as a person.”
Abdelbaky admitted that Piper did not resist arrest and that he did not see Piper in
possession of a firearm.
6
Testimony of Deputy Jonathan Logan
Detective Jonathan Logan, who was assigned to a patrol unit for the
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office also testified. Logan agreed he was one of the
officers involved in the apprehension and investigation of the aggravated robbery at
Thomas Markle Jewelers on July 17, 2014. Logan explained that, when he first heard
the report of the robbery, he was near I-45, and he positioned himself on a
southbound lane near the Hardy Toll Road to see if he could spot the suspects’
vehicle. According to Logan, the suspects’ vehicle was reported to be a white Nissan
Altima with “paper plates or bent plates[.]” Deputy Logan testified that he eventually
became involved in the pursuit of the Nissan, which led to the area of I-45 and
Highway 249, where the Nissan wrecked at a Sonic. Logan explained the situation
at the Sonic as follows:
Initially when I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed the vehicle
had already crashed. All the suspects in the vehicle had fled in various
directions. I forget for whatever reason, but I followed Deputy
Abdelbaky on 249 to a street. It was, like, a subdivision, I would guess
you would say, west of where the Sonic is, is where we apprehended
[Piper].
Logan agreed that State’s Exhibit 21 was a video made from his vehicle and that it
was a fair and accurate depiction of the chase of the suspects’ vehicle to the Sonic.
State’s Exhibit 21 was admitted and published to the jury. According to Logan, the
speed of the pursuit was “up to 120 miles an hour.” Logan agreed that State’s
7
Exhibits 18A and 18B are “basically” screenshots from the video made from his
vehicle that show him and Deputy Abdelbaky apprehending Piper. Logan also
agreed that the items in the photo in State’s Exhibit 22 were recovered from another
suspect—the person who drove the white Nissan Altima. Logan also testified that
after the suspects were in custody, he assisted in a search of the area of the arrest,
and he did not find any firearms or deadly weapons during that search.
Testimony of Detective Brad Curtis
Detective Brad Curtis, with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, testified
that he responded to a call on July 17, 2014, concerning an aggravated robbery at
the Thomas Markle jewelry store in The Woodlands. Curtis also explained that he
participated in the pursuit of the suspects’ vehicle that ended at the Sonic, where
officers found the wrecked Nissan “completely unoccupied[,]” indicating to him that
the suspects were on foot. Curtis testified that he was involved in detaining one
suspect in the parking lot of the Sonic and another suspect inside the Sonic.
Curtis testified that he took photographs of the inside and outside of the
Nissan, that State’s Exhibits 10A through 10G are the photographs he took, and that
the photographs fairly and accurately depict the Nissan and its contents. Curtis also
explained that he escorted the white Nissan back to the crime lab and that State’s
Exhibits 19A through 19I were photographs taken at the crime lab that fairly and
8
accurately depict the Nissan and its contents. Curtis testified that State’s Exhibits
19F and 19I show some of the watch “pillows” that were found inside the Nissan.
Curtis further testified that State’s Exhibits 20A through 20F were additional
photographs of items that were in the white Nissan that were taken at the crime lab.
Curtis explained that these photographs show a backpack found in the Nissan that
contained watches and broken glass, a shotgun with a taped handle, three shotgun
rounds, a work glove, and a watch “pillow.” State’s 19A through 19I and 20A
through 20F were admitted.
Testimony of Detective Michael Traylor
Detective Michael Traylor, a detective with the major crimes division of the
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, testified that he was called to gather evidence
at the Thomas Markle Jewelers and the Sonic and that he was involved in submitting
evidence to the crime lab. Traylor also explained that he was involved in collecting
Rolex watches and returning them to Thomas Markle Jewelers. Detective Traylor
identified State’s Exhibit 24 as a list of the evidence and watches that were stolen
from the store. According to Traylor, “[p]robably 25 to 30[]” Rolex watches had
been stolen.
9
Testimony of Detective Steve Mullis
Detective Steve Mullis, with the major crimes division of the Montgomery
County Sheriff’s Department, testified that he was called to investigate the robbery.
Mullis explained that he and his partner were asked to interview the four suspects,
and Mullis identified Piper as one of the suspects he interviewed. According to
Mullis, he and his partner gave Piper written Miranda warnings, and Piper signed a
waiver wherein he agreed to waive his rights in making a statement. Mullis testified
that after the interview began, Piper decided he would rather have his attorney, but
then subsequently decided he wanted to talk to the detectives.
The jury charge included the following instruction on the law of parties:
A person is criminally responsible for an offense committed by
the conduct of another if, acting with intent to promote or assist the
commission of the offense, he solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or
attempts to aid the other person to commit the offense. Mere presence
alone will not constitute one a party to an offense.
Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt
that on or about the July 17, 2014, in Montgomery County, Texas, the
defendant, Dontriel Keyon Piper, did then and there unlawfully, while
in the course of committing theft of property and with intent to obtain
or maintain control of the property, intentionally or knowingly threaten
or place [A.R.] in fear of imminent bodily injury or death, and the
defendant did then and there use or exhibit a deadly weapon, to-wit: a
firearm; OR if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt
that on or about the July 17, 2014, in Montgomery County, Texas,
Lawrence Robertson, Ondra Moore, or Christopher Thurman did then
and there unlawfully, while in the course of committing theft of
property and with intent to obtain or maintain control of the property,
10
intentionally or knowingly threaten or place [A.R.] in fear of imminent
bodily injury or death, and Lawrence Robertson, Ondra Moore, or
Christopher Thurman did then and there use or exhibit a deadly
weapon, to-wit: a firearm, and that the defendant, Dontriel Keyon Piper,
with the intent to promote or assist the commission of the offense, if
any, solicited, encouraged, directed, aided or attempted to aid Lawrence
Robertson, Ondra Moore, or Christopher Thurman to commit the
offense, if he did, then you will find the defendant guilty of aggravated
robbery, as charged in the indictment.
The jury found Piper guilty as charged in the indictment. Piper elected to have his
punishment decided by the court. After a presentence investigation, the trial court
held a trial on punishment, and the court sentenced Piper to forty-five years’
confinement.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY CHALLENGE
In his first issue, Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion in
denying his application for writ of habeas corpus based on prosecutor misconduct
because the prosecutor’s conduct “was intended to force a mistrial to deny the
Appellant a favorable jury panel.” Citing to Oregon v. Kennedy, 456 U.S. 667, 679
(1982), Appellant argues that an acquittal based on double jeopardy should be
granted when the prosecutor’s conduct is intended to provoke a defendant into
moving for a mistrial.
In this case, voir dire commenced on July 20, 2015. While addressing the
venire panel, the prosecutor stated the following:
11
. . . this is an aggravated robbery, threat with a deadly weapon. If
you’re chosen, you’re going to hear that a firearm is alleged in the
indictment. I’ve got to prove that. No problem. I wouldn’t have gotten
up and put my suit on this morning if I didn’t think we could prove this
case.
The defense moved for a mistrial, arguing that the State was “bolstering evidence
that has not even been proven[]” and that a curative instruction would not be
sufficient. The court declared a mistrial and dismissed the venire panel.
Piper then filed for habeas relief, arguing that subsequent prosecution should
be barred by double jeopardy because “the prosecutor’s conduct was intended to
provoke or goad defense counsel into moving for a mistrial” and that a new trial
could be “tantamount to rewarding the State for reprehensible conduct.” The record
includes no order granting or denying habeas relief. The court subsequently granted
Piper’s motion to change venue and ordered that the cause be moved to Galveston
County for trial. A second voir dire commenced on September 14, 2015, and after
trial, the jury found Piper guilty of the offense charged. Appellant concedes in his
brief that the “[t]rial in Galveston was prosecuted by a different prosecutor and the
jury was selected and seated without any misconduct[.]”
If a defendant has been indicted but not tried, he may assert his constitutional
protection against double jeopardy by filing a pretrial application for writ of habeas
corpus. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.07, § 2 (West 2015); see, e.g., Ex
12
parte Watkins, 73 S.W.3d 264, 267 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Ex parte Rathmell, 717
S.W.2d 33, 34 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). A habeas corpus proceeding is not merely
another motion within the criminal prosecution; rather, it is a separate proceeding.
Greenwell v. Court of Appeals for the Thirteenth Judicial Dist., 159 S.W.3d 645,
649 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). An order denying relief on the merits in the habeas
corpus proceeding is a final judgment that is immediately appealable. Id. at 650;
Kelson v. State, 167 S.W.3d 587, 594 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2005, no pet.). A
pretrial writ is the preferred method of bringing a double jeopardy claim based on
multiple prosecutions because the defendant may immediately appeal if the trial
court denies the petition. See Gonzales v. State, 8 S.W.3d 640, 643 n.9 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2000); Kelson, 167 S.W.3d at 591; see also Ex parte Robinson, 641 S.W.2d
552, 555 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982) (“[T]here is a Fifth Amendment right not to be
exposed to double jeopardy, and that it must be reviewable before that exposure
occurs.”).
Here, the record does not reflect that Piper instituted a habeas proceeding
separate from the criminal prosecution, nor does the record include an order denying
Piper’s application for writ of habeas corpus.2 We therefore dismiss that part of
2
Both the Appellant’s and State’s briefs allege that the trial court denied
Piper’s application for writ of habeas corpus, but neither brief provides a citation to
the record supporting the assertion.
13
Appellant’s first issue complaining of the trial court’s denial of habeas relief for lack
of appellate jurisdiction. See Kelson, 167 S.W.3d at 594; see also Greenwell, 159
S.W.3d at 650 (“[W]e have expressly disapproved implying the existence of a habeas
action from proceedings in a criminal prosecution when a separate habeas action has
not been filed.”); Jordan v. State, 54 S.W.3d 783, 786 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (“We
hold that, if a probationer wishes to invoke the trial court’s writ of habeas corpus
jurisdiction, he must follow the proper procedures outlined in Article 11[]” of the
Rules of Criminal Procedure.).
Nevertheless, a double jeopardy claim may be raised for the first time on
appeal following a conviction “if two conditions are met: (1) ‘the undisputed facts
show the double jeopardy violation is clearly apparent on the face of the record’; and
(2) ‘when enforcement of the usual rules of procedural default serves no legitimate
state interest.’” See Langs v. State, 183 S.W.3d 680, 686-87 & n.22 (Tex. Crim. App.
2006) (quoting Gonzalez, 8 S.W.3d at 643). Appellant must satisfy both prongs of
this test in order to raise his complaint for the first time on appeal. Id.; see also Bigon
v. State, 252 S.W.3d 360, 369 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Accordingly, our initial
inquiry is whether the record before us clearly reflects a double jeopardy violation.
See Roy v. State, 76 S.W.3d 87, 93 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, no pet.).
14
For double jeopardy to bar a subsequent prosecution, jeopardy must have
attached. See York v. State, 342 S.W.3d 528, 551 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); see also
United States v. Martin Linen Supply Co., 430 U.S. 564, 569 (1977) (before double-
jeopardy protections are implicated, jeopardy must have attached); State v. Moreno,
294 S.W.3d 594, 597 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (same). “[J]eopardy attaches at the
time the jury is empaneled and sworn.” State v. Blackshere, 344 S.W.3d 400, 404
(Tex. Crim. App. 2011). In this case, Piper requested a mistrial before a jury was
empaneled and sworn. Therefore, even assuming that the prosecutor “goaded” the
defendant into requesting a mistrial, because jeopardy had not attached, double
jeopardy would not bar Piper’s subsequent prosecution. See Ex parte George, 913
S.W.2d 523, 527 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995) (“If appellant was neither put in jeopardy
for nor ever actually acquitted of the charged offense, then the prosecution pending
against him for that offense is not barred by the Double Jeopardy Clause[.]”).
Accordingly, we find no error, and we conclude that Piper’s prosecution and
conviction were not barred by double jeopardy. We overrule Appellant’s first issue.
MOTION FOR MISTRIAL
In his second issue, Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion
by denying his motion for mistrial based on an alleged Brady violation. According
to Appellant, “[t]he outcome of this case was greatly affected because the trial Judge
15
at first admitted recordings of Appellant confessing to the crime and talking about
his participation and remorse concerning the crime, but then, upon learning of the
Brady violation, suppressed all of these statements and [related] recordings[.]”
Appellant argues that although the court instructed the jury to disregard the evidence,
a curative instruction was insufficient and “it was impossible for this jury or any jury
to take that evidence out of their minds.”
Two Recorded Verbal Statements, Waivers, and Letter
Prior to trial, the court considered the defense’s motion to suppress
statements—two recorded verbal statements and one written letter—made by Piper.
After hearing testimony and argument, the trial court admitted the statements except
for Piper’s responses to questions by the arresting officer regarding what Piper was
doing in The Woodlands other than being at Thomas Markle Jewelers. The defense
then reurged its motion to suppress, requesting that the court strike all the recordings.
At the end of the first day of trial, State’s Exhibits 25, 26, and 27 were
admitted into evidence and published to the jury. State’s Exhibits 25 and 26 were
Miranda warning and waiver forms on which Piper had initialed his
acknowledgement that he had received Miranda warnings and had signed his
agreement to waive his rights and make a statement.
16
On the second day of trial, outside the presence of the jury, the State’s attorney
told the court that he had learned of an additional audiotape after the deadline for
discovery had passed. The State’s attorney described the audiotape as “an audio
version” of the video in State’s Exhibit 27. The court conducted a hearing on the
audiotape. Detective Chad May testified that it was “pretty standard[]” for detectives
to use a pocket digital data recorder in addition to using the cameras in the interview
rooms that were connected to the COBAN system. Deputy Mullis testified that at
the time of the Piper interview, the recording system in the interview rooms was
known to have problems, and therefore, he used a separate audio recorder during the
interview. Mullis also explained that he used the separate audio recording when
writing up his reports. According to Mullis, the IT department had explained to him
that the Piper interviews were not archived and had been purged from the system.
Comparing the audio and video recordings of the Piper interview, the court
explained as follows:
When you play that part to the jury withholding the audio tape,
it seems to be that [Piper] is not cooperating. However, when you listen
to the audio tape, it’s clear he is over cooperating. He is doing
everything he can. That’s why I’m finding it is Brady, and I am finding
it is material. It’s extremely material because I think it’s highly
prejudicial to present a video tape without the audio tape.
17
The court granted the defense’s motion to suppress, suppressing State’s Exhibits 3,
4, 5, 6, 25, 26, and 27.3 The court also stated that it would “instruct the jury when
they come back that they are to disregard those items and any testimony or evidence
that flows therefrom.”
The defense moved for a mistrial, arguing as follows:
. . . I don’t know how to unring the bell here. I’m very worried
that a limiting instruction may not provide an adequate insulation. And
I am certainly not indicting the [prosecutors] of any kind of misconduct.
But this is a very, very troubling situation to be in from the defense
perspective. . . .
The court denied the motion for mistrial and concluded there had been no
prosecutorial misconduct. When the jury returned to the courtroom, the court gave
the following instruction:
. . . State’s 25, 26, 27, have all been suppressed. What that means
is that those exhibits include the video tape that you saw a portion of,
for purposes of your deliberations, you shall not consider that for any
purpose whatsoever. It’s as if you never even saw it. I know that’s hard
for some people to do. But I want to make it clear that it is not in
evidence in this case. Additionally, the Miranda warnings that were
given have been excluded, and I’m ordering you to the same instruction.
You’re not to regard or consider them for any purpose whatsoever. If
another juror starts to talk about them or say, you know, I think since I
saw that, you -- it’s your duty, each of you, to remind them, no, we can’t
consider that, that’s not evidence in this case.
3
The reporter’s record reflects that State’s Exhibits 3, 4, 5, and 6 were
admitted during the pretrial hearing but not during trial to the jury.
18
Standard of Review
We review a denial of a motion for mistrial under an abuse of discretion
standard of review. See Archie v. State, 340 S.W.3d 734, 738-39 (Tex. Crim. App.
2011) (citing Hawkins v. State, 135 S.W.3d 72, 76-77 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004)). We
must uphold a trial court’s ruling on a motion for mistrial if it was within the zone
of reasonable disagreement. See Coble v. State, 330 S.W.3d 253, 292 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2010). “A mistrial is an appropriate remedy in ‘extreme circumstances’ for a
narrow class of highly prejudicial and incurable errors.” Ocon v. State, 284 S.W.3d
880, 884 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). A mistrial should be granted only when less drastic
alternatives fail to cure the prejudice. Id. at 884-85.
Because the trial court sustained Appellant’s objections, “[t]he only adverse
ruling—and thus the only occasion for making a mistake—was the trial court’s
denial of the motion for mistrial.” Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 76-77; see also Archie,
340 S.W.3d at 738.
Applicable Law
A trial court may declare a mistrial when an error occurs that is “‘so
prejudicial that expenditure of further time and expense would be wasteful and
futile.’” Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 77 (quoting Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 567 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1999)); Wood v. State, 18 S.W.3d 642, 648 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
19
Whether a trial court abused its discretion in denying a motion for mistrial depends
on whether the court’s instruction cured any prejudicial effect. See Dinkins v. State,
894 S.W.2d 330, 357 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Faulkner v. State, 940 S.W.2d 308,
312 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1997, pet. ref’d). Generally, an instruction to disregard
cures the prejudicial effect except in extreme cases. Dinkins, 894 S.W.2d at 357;
Waldo v. State, 746 S.W.2d 750, 752 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988) (noting the “well
settled” rule that error in admitting improper evidence generally may be corrected
by an instruction to disregard except in extreme cases) (quoting Miller v. State, 185
S.W. 29 (1915)); Woodall v. State, 77 S.W.3d 388, 399 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
2002, pet. ref’d); cf. Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 115-16 (Tex. Crim. App.
2000) (presuming the jury complied with the court’s instruction to disregard
prosecutor’s comment that was improper but not “flagrant”); see also Robertson v.
State, No. AP-71,224, 2011 Tex. Crim. App. Unpub. LEXIS 154, at *39 (Tex. Crim.
App. Mar. 9, 2011) (not designated for publication) (“Where the prejudice is curable,
an instruction to disregard eliminates the need for a mistrial.”) cert. denied, 132 S.
Ct. 844 (2011); Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 77 (“Only in extreme circumstances, where
the prejudice is incurable, will a mistrial be required.”)
To determine whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying a motion
for mistrial, we balance the following factors: (1) the severity of the misconduct or
20
prejudice, (2) the measures adopted to cure the misconduct or prejudice, and (3) the
certainty of conviction absent the misconduct or prejudice. See Archie, 340 S.W.3d
at 739; Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 77. Prejudice is the touchstone of the first factor.
Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 77. A mistrial is the appropriate remedy only when the
objected-to events are so emotionally inflammatory that curative instructions are not
likely to prevent the jury from being unfairly prejudiced against the defendant. See
Young v. State, 137 S.W.3d 65, 71 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
Analysis
In this case, the trial court expressly found there had been no prosecutorial
misconduct regarding the audiotape. Although Appellant’s amended motion for new
trial alleged prosecutorial misconduct, Appellant’s brief on appeal does not make
such allegations. We presume that jurors follow instructions to disregard and other
cautionary instructions in the absence of evidence that they did not. See Ladd, 3
S.W.3d at 567 (quoting Gardner v. State, 730 S.W.2d 675, 696 (Tex. Crim. App.
1987). The prejudicial effect of an error, even of constitutional proportions, is
lessened by the absence of flagrancy and persistency and an instruction to disregard.
See Perez v. State, 187 S.W.3d 110, 112-13 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006, no pet.) (citing
Johnson v. State, 83 S.W.3d 229, 231-33 (Tex. App.—Waco 2002, pet. ref’d)).
Appellant’s argument that “it was impossible for this jury or any jury to take that
21
[suppressed] evidence out of their minds[]” is conclusory, and Appellant cites no
evidence that the jurors did not follow the court’s instruction to disregard and
actually concedes there is no evidence of the effect of the suppressed evidence on
the jury’s deliberations or verdict.
Furthermore, considering all the other evidence, we conclude that the
certainty of conviction was strong even without the objectionable evidence. The jury
heard testimony by A.R., who was working at Thomas Markle Jewelers on July 17,
2014, and that she was threatened by a man with a shotgun who broke a glass case
in the store and took more than forty watches. Sergeant Jenkins testified that he
responded to the robbery at Thomas Markle Jewelers and also at the Sonic where
four suspects were taken into custody. Jenkins also testified that Piper was taken into
custody in a neighborhood adjacent to the Sonic restaurant where the suspects’
vehicle had wrecked. Deputy Abdelbaky testified concerning the high-speed pursuit
of the white Nissan that culminated in his detention of Piper after Piper had run from
the wrecked Nissan and jumped a fence. Abdelbaky also testified that Piper asked
him “Did y’all get the stuff?” and when Abdelbaky asked what stuff, Piper then said
“the jewelry.” Detective Logan also described his pursuit of the suspects’ vehicle
that crashed at the Sonic and explained that he and Deputy Abdelbaky apprehended
Piper in a neighborhood west of the Sonic. Detective Curtis testified that he
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participated in the pursuit of the suspects’ vehicle from The Woodlands to the Sonic
and that he was involved in detaining two of the suspects in or near the Sonic.
Detective Traylor testified that he submitted evidence to the crime lab in this matter
and that he returned dozens of watches to Thomas Markle Jewelers. Numerous
photos were admitted into evidence that showed the jewelry cases at Thomas Markle
Jewelers with broken glass; the high-speed pursuit of the Nissan; the wrecked
Nissan; and broken glass, watches, and a shotgun inside the Nissan. Based on other
evidence and testimony at trial, a reasonable jury could have found Piper guilty of
aggravated robbery based on his own conduct or under the law of parties, even
without the objectionable evidence. We assume that the jury followed the trial
court’s instruction to disregard the objectionable evidence. See Ladd, 3 S.W.3d at
567. We conclude that the trial court’s ruling denying the motion for mistrial was
not outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. See Coble, 330 S.W.3d at 292. We
overrule Piper’s second issue.
PRESENCE OF AN ALTERNATE JUROR
In his third issue, Appellant argues that the jury’s privacy was violated during
deliberations by the presence of an alternate juror and that such requires a new trial.
According to Appellant, the alternate juror was permitted to remain with the jury
during deliberations, which constitutes a violation of article 36.22 of the Texas Code
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of Criminal Procedure and from which harm to the defendant is presumed. Appellant
argues that “[n]o one can say what impact the alternate juror had on deliberations”
and harm is presumed because the error is “a direct violation” of the Texas
Constitution.
Article V, section 13 of the Texas Constitution provides that “petit juries in
the District Court shall be composed of twelve persons[.]” Tex. Const. art. V, § 13.
Article 36.22 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that “[n]o person shall be
permitted to be with a jury while it is deliberating. No person shall be permitted to
converse with a juror about the case on trial except in the presence and by the
permission of the court.” Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 36.22 (West 2006).
The Court of Criminal Appeals has explained that the presence of an alternate
juror in the jury room does not mean that the jury was composed of more than twelve
persons, even if the alternate juror participated in deliberations but did not participate
in voting. See Trinidad v. State, 312 S.W.3d 23, 28 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). The
Court has also held that there is
. . . no reason that a defendant should not be deemed to have
forfeited the protections of Article 36.22 in the event that he becomes
aware of its breach during the course of the trial but fails to call the
transgression to the trial court’s attention so that the error may be
rectified or . . . so that the defendant can make a timely record for
appeal.
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Id. at 29; see also Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1) (preservation of error for appeal requires
a timely objection at trial and a ruling thereon). Furthermore, an appellant has the
burden of proving an allegation of juror misconduct. See Hughes v. State, 24 S.W.3d
833, 842 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (addressing an allegation that a jury had conversed
with an unauthorized person about the case) (citing Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481,
498 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995)).
The record in this case does not reflect that Piper objected at trial to the
presence of the alternate juror in the jury room, nor did he claim constitutional or
statutory error on this point in his motion for new trial. Appellant does not contend
that he did not become aware of an article 36.22 issue during the course of trial.
Moreover, we lack any basis in the record to conclude that the alternate juror
participated or was present during jury deliberations. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i).
Appellant cites to the eighth volume of the reporter’s record to support his assertion
that the alternate juror was present during jury deliberations, but he provides no page
number or other pinpoint citation.4 The eighth volume of the reporter’s record
contains exhibits used during the punishment phase of trial, and we find therein no
reference to the alternate juror. In addition, the record reflects that when the jury was
4
The State’s brief notes that Appellant’s record citation is incomplete.
Appellant did not file a reply brief.
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polled after the jury’s guilty verdict was read, the trial court stated that the alternate
juror should not respond because she had not participated. On the record before us,
and applying Trinidad, we conclude that Appellant failed to preserve error, and we
overrule his third issue.
Having overruled all of Appellant’s issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial
court.
AFFIRMED.
_________________________
LEANNE JOHNSON
Justice
Submitted on March 23, 2017
Opinion Delivered July 19, 2017
Do Not Publish
Before McKeithen, C.J., Kreger and Johnson, JJ.
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