Frederick, Destyn David ( 2015 )

CAUSE NO. 04-14-0024-CR
/33*ffS
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN/ TEXAS
ORIGINAL APETITI0N F0R DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
OF CAUSE NO. 04-14-0.024-CR COURT OF CR!?J3NAL APPEALS
FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS NOV 03 2Q15
FOURTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
ON APPEAL FROM THE 81ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
La SALLE COUNTY, TEXAS
TRIAL CAUSE NO. 11-09-00041-CRL
MR. DESTYN DAVID FREDERICK
[PRO-SE APPELLANT] COURT-OFePIIMiNXtfA^feALS
(OCA)
VS. my 03 2s;5
THE STATE OF TEXAS
Abel Acosta, Cierk
[APPELLEE]
Mr. Destyn David Frederick #01920865
The John B. Connally Facilities
899 FM 632
Kenedy, Texas 78119-4516
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
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CAUSE NO. 04-14-0024-CR
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
A PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
j
OF CAUSE NO. 04-14-0024-CR
FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOURTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
ON APPEAL FROM THE 81ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
La SALLE COUNTY, TEXAS
TRIAL CAUSE NO. 11-09-00041-CRL
MR. DESTYN DAVID FREDERICK
[PRO-SE APPELLANT]
VS.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
[APPELLEE]
COMES NOW, Mr. Destyn David Frederick, styled hereinafter as pro
se Appellant and respectfully presents this Petition for Discre
tionary Review (PDR) relating to the above-styled and numbered cause(s),
and for good cause, the Appellant shows this Honorable Court the
following enumerated premises:
11-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ************************************* — 'Ivj*'-
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT ************************ —.I/.-*-
i
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ************************************ •^y.J^-
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY ************************** — \/~
GROUND FOR REVIEW **************************************** —1-
ARGUMENTS ************************************************ 1—5
PRAYER FOR RELIEF **************************************** 5
APPENDIX ************************************************ (COURT'S OPINION)
-Hi
INDEX AUTHORITIES
PAGES
BURKS V. UNITED STATES,437 U.S. 1, 93 S.Ct- 2141 *************
CAIN V. STATE,958 S.W.2d 404 ************************** *******
GREEN V. MASSEY.437 U.S. 19, 98, S-Ct. 2151 ******************
In re WINSHIP,397 U.S. 358, 90 s.Ct- 1066 *************** :*****
JACKSON V. VIRGINIA,SUPRA ************************************ 5
JONES V. STATE,944 S.W.2d 642 ********************************
2
RICHARDSON V. STATE, 379 S-W.2d 674 ***************************
5
ROUSSEAU V. STATE,355 S.W.2d 673 *****************************
STONE V. STATE,823 S.W.2d 375 ********************************
1, 2
TEXAS PENAL CODE 19.02(b)(3) *********************************
- IV..-
STATEMENT OF ORAL ARGUMENT
Appellant seeks ORAL argument because He concludes that He has
suffered a great injustice at the trial and appellate level.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellant was charged by a Grand Jury on September 1, 2011 in
a Fourt (4) Count indictment. All offenses were alleged to have
occured on or about June 13, 2011. (CR:1). The State waved the death
penalty. Id. at 103. Before jury selection, the State elected to
proceed to trial on the offense of Capital murder as alleged in Count
1. (RR.11:3-4). The Appellant plead not guilty before a jury. (CR:412)
The jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty to felony-murder
on February 14, 2014. Id. at 424. Punishment was assessed by the
jury at 30-yrs confinement within the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice - Institutional Division, and a fine of $5,000.00. Id.
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Appellant filed a Motion for New Trial on March 12, 2014. In
accordance to the juror's verdict and the court's ruling, the court
entered judgment of conviction and sentence on March 27, 2014. (CR:
691; and.498-99).
Appellant filed a timely notice of Appeal on February 14, 2014.
Id. at 675, and a Certificate of Appeal was filed February 12, 2014.
Id. at 674.
The Fourth Court of Appeals AFFIRMED Appellant's conviction on
September 9, 2015. A Motion to Extend Time to file Petition for
Discretionary Review (PDR) was filed by the Appellant's [then] app
ellate attorney (Richard E. Langlois) on October 9, 2015.
Appellant now presents this His "timely" submitted Petition for
Discretionary Review on this the 0\tf day of @fcfoP&S":„ 2015pm.
-V-
GROUND FOR REVIEW
"THE COURT OF APPEALS ERR'D IN LIMITING ITS REVIEW ON THE APP
ELLANT' S INSUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE CLAIM AND HAS APPLIED
A MISAPPLICATION SURROUNDING THE FACTS OF.THE APPELLANT'S CASE;
HENCE DENYING,THE APPELLANT'S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS TO A FAIR AND
ADEQUATE REVIEW."
ARGUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES Pi SUPPORT
OF SOLE GROUND FOR REVIEW
[tEUE]: Even though this is not a Ineffective Assistance of Oxnsel Issue, the Appellant asserts
that His appellate attorney (Richard E. Langlois) was biasly inefective for failing
to present "other" issues/grcuids for reversal considerations, and as this Honorable
Court can see for itself on page 4 (at bottcm) and top of page 5 of the COA's 'tPINIDN",
Appellant's counsel was also ineffective for attempting to raise the "Accomplice Witness"
issue as a independent ground for review. Please know that the Appellant made extrerrely
diligent attempts to p.irusade HLs appellate counsel to raise "other" per-se reversal
issues for appellate review other than the lone issue presented in the Etief he submitted
in the Appellant's behalf, of course to no avail.,etc.-. The Appellant now respectfully
presents this His.pro-se rebuttal to the COA's "OPINION."
"LIMITED REVIEW AND MISAPPLICATION OF THE FACTS"
Within this argument, the Appellant asserts that the Court
of Appeals (COA) err'd in limiting its review of the Appellant's
Insufficiency of the Evidence claim strickly to only "reviewing
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict."
In the past, this Honorable Court stated that jit emphasize
that in performing a sufficiency review, the COA are required
to give deference to the jury's verdict, examine all of the
evidence impartially, and set aside the jury's verdict if it
is contrary to the overwhelming weight of evidence as to be
clearly wrong and unjust. Cain v. State,958 s.w.2d 404 (Tex.Crim.
App. 1997)(citing Clewis v. State,922 s.w.2d at 129). A suffi
ciency, review is permitted by the Texas Constitution, Article
V, § 6. See also Stone v. State, 823 s-w.2d 375 (Tex.App.-
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Austin 1994, no pet.) the Court stated:
When conducting a sufficiency review, we do not review the
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict. Instead,
we consider all the evidence equally.*** We will set aside
a1 verdict for sufficiency if it is contrary to the overwhelming
weight of the evidence as to be wrong and unjust." (In perti
nent part only)
In the instant case and in accords with the above requisites, the
Appellant would urge th&t—the—jury's verdct must be set aside because
it is clearly wrong and unjust, because such a verdict clearly shocks
the conscience and cannot stand. Jones v. State,944 s.w.2d 642 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1996).
More specifically, the trial testimony established at most that
the Appellant had absolutely no knowledge or direct involvement with
the murder of the Complainant. This contention is supported by the
following facts, unlike the COA's misapplication of the actual facts
as illustrated throughout its Opinion: :,
SUPPORTING FACT NUMBER ONE (1)
"SHOTGUN NOT SUPPLIED FOR MURDER"
While at the residence of the Appellant, Rigo Guerra and Marcus
Serna (the "alleged" co-defendents) were in the Appellant's bedroom,
in which Guerra saw a shotgun on the Appellant's bed. Appellant related
to Guerra that His mother (Gloria Rodriguez) was selling the gun.
After making sure the gun wasn't loaded, Appellant allowed Guerra
to hold the gun, in which Guerra wanted to consult with his grandmother
to see if she would fPlbCChase the gun for him. [See page 9 of Appe
llant's Appeals Brief].
This testimonial, evidence clearly demonstrates that not only did
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the Appellant present the gun to Guerra for purchasing purposes, but!
upon giving it to Guerra, He made sure that its wasn't loaded. These
facts clearly removes the Appellant from criminal intent of murder,
for it was the Appellant's sole conscious desire to sell the gun,
nothing else. [DARK BOLD MINE FOR EMHPASIS];
SUPPORTING FACT NUMBER TWO (2)
"NO KILLING WAS PLANNED OR KNOWN TO APPELLANT"
One of the Appellant's "alleged" co-defendants (Guerra) wanted
to kill a innocent by-stander, in which Serna responded to Guerra:
...We're (Serna & Guerra) not going to do anything stupid." All
of th is took place outside of the presence of the Appellant. (RR
8, pg 102-113).
This evidence shows that killing someone was not part of the Appe
llant's plans. The evidence clearly demonstrates that the Appellant
was not told and/or warned of Seran and Guerra's plans, for it is
totally obvious that Serna and Guerra were plotting,and planning things
with one another behind the Appellant's back. [DARK BOLD MINE FOR
EMPHASI S]; and
SUPPORTING FACT NUMBER THREE (3)
"THE APPELLANT WALKED AWAY"
After agreeing only to steal a few tangible items from the Com
plainant's garage, the Appellant saw that Serna and Guerra were about
to force their way into the Complainant's home, He (the Appellant)
knew that He didn't want to have anything to do with actually breaking
into the Complainant's home or hurting anyone, therefore He walked
3-
away from Serna and Guerra and walked out of the Complainant's garage
"before" the forced entry transpired, in which He later learned that
the Complainants had been shot. Id. at pg 114-123.
This evidence clearly shows that the Appellant did not act as a
party by planning and anticipating the burlary and murder of the Com
plainant. [DARK BOLD MINE FOR EMPHASIS].
These facts within themselves openly illustrates that the COA failed
to apply the correct review and legal analysis in deciding that the
evidence was sufficient to establish Appellant's guilt as a party
to felony-murder.
Finally, the COA failed to address within its entire "OPINION"
any of the the requisites outlining the elements for felony-murder.
This Honorable Court has stated that the difference between Capital
and felony murder is the culpable mental state of the defender. This
Court has said that capital murder required the existence of an "inten
tional cause of death" while felony-murder states that "the culpable
mental state for the actrrof murder is supplied by the mental state
accompanying the underlying felony. Rousseau v. State,855 s.w.2d
at 673 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). However, the inquiry does not end with
a finding that the Appellant possessed the requisite culpable to
commit the underlying felony. In order to find that the Appellant
is guilty of felony-murder, the jury must find that the Appellant
committed "an act clearly dangerous to human life." (See Texas Penal
Code, § 19.02(b)(3).
In the instant case, a review of the testimony in this case reveals
that the State failed to prove that the Appellant "intended" the death
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of the Complainant or committed an act clearly dangerous to human
life.
The Court in In re Winship,397 U.S. 358, 90 S. Ct. 1068, 25 L. Ed. 2d
368, the Court held that the Due Process of the Fourteenth Amendment
protect s a defendant in a criminal case against conviction "except
upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to con
stitute the crime with which he is charged. 90 S. Ct. at 1073. See
also Richardson v. State,879 s.w.2d 874 (Tex.Crim.App.).
As mentioned earlier, the COA faild to address any of these requi
sites while reviewing the Appellant's case, nor did they apply them,
hence denying Appellant a proper and adequate review.
Finally, the Appellant contends that the evidence and testimony
in this case falls short and is insufficient to meet the minimum Due
Process requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution. Jackson v. Virginia,supra. The evidence is insufficient
to support the conviction and a judgment of acquittal should be en
tered. Burks v. United States,437 U.S.I, 98 S.Ct 2141, 57 L. Ed. 2d
1; and Green v. Massey,437 U.S. 19, 98 S.Ct- 2151, 57 L. Ed. 2d 15.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE PREMISES ARE CONSIDERED, the Appellant PRAYS that this
Honorable Court GRANT this PDR by finding that the COA's assessment
of His sufficiency of evidence issues were not properly addressed,
and REMAND this case back to the District Court for further disposition
-and/or Reverse this conviction and acquit the Appellant-
[EXECUTED ON THIS THE J21 ffcfDAY OF OCTOBER, 2015]
5-
Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Destyn. D. Frederick #1920865
The Connally Facilities
899 FM 632
Kenedy, Texas 78119-4516
w
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[APPENDIX "COURT OF APPEALS OPINION" ATTACHED HERETO]
jfourti) Court of Appeals:
^>an Antonio, tEexag
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-14-00246-CR
Destyn David FREDERICK,
Appellant
v.
The STATE of Texas,
Appellee
From the 81st Judicial District Court, La Salle County, Texas
Trial Court No. 11-09-00041-CRL
Honorable Donna S. Rayes, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
Sitting: Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
Karen Angel ini, Justice
Jason Pulliam, Justice
Delivered and Filed: September 9, 2015
AFFIRMED
Destyn David Frederick was found guilty by a jury offelony murder and sentenced to thirty
years' imprisonment. On appeal, Frederick challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support
his conviction, asserting: (1) the evidence is insufficient to corroborate the testimony of an
accomplice witness; and (2) the evidence is legally insufficient to support the jury's finding that
t
Frederick was guilty of felony murder. We affirm the trial court's judgment.
04-14-00246-CR
Background
Although a grand jury returned a four count indictment against Frederick, the State elected
to proceed to trial on only one count charging Frederick with the capital murder of Israel Casas.
The State waived the death penalty.
On the night Mr. Casas was murdered, Frederick admitted he accompanied his friends Rigo /
Guerra and Marcus Serna to Mr. Casas's home. Guerra and Serna forced their way inside the ^
home, and Guerra shot and killed Mr. Casas. At the conclusion of the evidence, the trial court
submitted a jury charge on capital murder and the lesser included offenses of felony murder and
burglary of a habitation. The jury charge included instructions on the law of parties and the
necessity for accomplice witness testimony to be corroborated. The jury found Frederick guilty
of felony murder, and Frederick appeals.
Accomplice Witness
In his first issue, Frederick contends the evidence is insufficient to corroborate Serna's
testimony as an accomplice witness. The record is undisputed that Serna was an accomplice
witness as a matter of law, and the jury was so charged.
Article 38.14 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure states:
A conviction cannot be had upon the testimony of an accomplice unless
corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the offense
committed; and the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the
commission of the offense.
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.14 (West 2005). We evaluate the sufficiency of
corroboration evidence under the accomplice-witoess rule by first eliminating the accomplice
testimony from consideration and then examining the remaining evidence to see if it tends to
connect the accused with the offense committed. Malone v. State, 253 S.W.3d 253, 257 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2008); Perez v. State, 437 S.W.3d 610, 616 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2014, no pet.).
04-14-00246-CR
To satisfy the rule, the corroborating evidence is not required to prove the defendant's guilt beyond
a reasonable doubt by itself. Malone, 253 S.W.3d at 257; Perez, 437 S.W.3d at 616. Instead, the
corroborating evidence "must simply link the accused in some way to the commission ofthe crime
and show that rational jurors could conclude that this evidence sufficiently tended to connect the
accused to the offense." Malone, 253 S.W.3d at 257 (internal citations omitted); see also Perez,
A2>1 S.W.3d at 616. No set amount of evidence is required to satisfy the accomplice-witness rule,
and each case is judged on its own facts. Malone, 253 S.W.3d at 257; Perez, 437 S.W.3d at 616.
"[Circumstances that are apparently insignificant may constitute sufficient evidence of
corroboration." Malone, 253 S.W.3d at 257. A defendant's mere presence at the scene of the
crime, however, is insufficient to corroborate accomplice testimony. Id. "[W]hen there are two
permissible views of the evidence (one tending to connect the defendant to the offense and the
other not tending to connect the defendant to the offense), [we] defer to that view of the evidence
chosen by the fact-finder." Simmons v. State, 282 S.W.3d 504, 508 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). .
In this case, Frederick voluntarily gave two statements to investigators about the burglary
and shooting. Both statements were read to the jury. In his first statement, Frederick admitted he
gave Guerra the shotgun used in the murder. Although Frederick stated he allowed Guerra to take
the shotgun because Guerra intended to purchase it, we defer to the jury's evaluation of the
credibility of Frederick's stated reason for supplying the shotgun. We simply note Frederick's
provision of the shotgun is evidence ljnking him to the commission of the crime.
In his second statement, Frederick admitted he went with Guerra and Serna to the Casas'
home. The evidence also included the testimony of investigating officers establishing a forced
entry into the Casas' garage, anda can ofsodawas recovered from the hoodof a car in the garage.
Because DNA testing showed Frederick's DNA could not be excluded as the sourceof the DNA
found on the can of soda, this evidence also linked Frederick to the commission of the offense.
04-14-00246-CR
Finally, a pair of latex gloves were found in a backyard in proximity to the shotgun used
to murder Mr. Casas. A box of latex gloves was also found in Frederick's truck, and Frederick's
DNA could not be excluded as the source of DNA on a latex glove found under the driver's seat
of Frederick's truck.
Because the foregoing evidence tends to connect Frederick with the commission of the
crime and proves more than just his mere presence at the scene, the evidence is sufficient to
corroborate Serna's testimony.
Legal Sufficiency
In his second issue, Frederick contends the evidence is legally insufficient to support the
jury's finding that he was guilty of felony murder.
A. Standard of Review
In assessing the legal sufficiency ofthe evidence to support a conviction, a reviewing court
must consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether,
based on that evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational juror could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,
318-19 (1979); Louis v. State, 393 S.W.3d 246, 249 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (internal citations
omitted). In applying this standard, we defer to the jury's credibility and weight determinations.
Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 894 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). In addition, juries are permitted
"to draw multiple reasonable inferences as long as each inference is supported by the evidence
presented at trial." Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 15 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). "[A]n inference
is a conclusion reached by considering other factsand deducing a logical consequence from them."
Id. at 16. Although Frederick raises a separate challenge under the accomplice-witness rule, "[w]e
do not use the accomplice witness rule in evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence." Winfrey v.
,fv
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04-14-00246-CR
State, 393 S.W.3d 763, 770 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). "We simply review all of the evidence in the
light most favorable to the verdict." Id.
B. Summary of Evidence
Viewing the evidence in this case in the light most favorable to the verdict, Frederick
admitted he was with Guerra and Serna when Israel Casas was murdered. Serna was offered a
deal by the State and testified at Frederick's trial. After spending several hours together, Frederick,
Guerra, and Serna were sitting in Frederick's truck and discussed going to break into a house and
see what they could find. Guerra suggested they should have a gun for protection. In response to
this suggestion, Frederick stated his mother had a shotgun she was trying to sell. Frederick then
went inside his house and handed the shotgun through an air conditioning vent to Guerra, who was
waiting outside. After Guerra returned to Frederick's truck with the shotgun, Frederick exited his
house through the front door and returned to the truck.
The three men drove to Serna's house because he had a box of shotgun shells. Upon
arriving at his house, Serna retrieved the box and handed it to Guerra, who removed three or four
shells. After returning the box to its original location, Serna went inside his house and retrieved
three pairs ofdisposable latex gloves. Upon returning to Frederick's truck, Serna handed Frederick
and Guerra a pair of the gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints anywhere. Frederick then drove to a
location near a water tower where he left his truck hidden under a carport to avoid it being traced
to their intended burglary. The three men put the gloves on before exiting the truck.
The three men then began walking toward a light on a ranch when they encountered a
Gator, which was later described as a heavy-duty four-seater golf cart or ATV, with its key in the
ignition. After driving the Gator to a building, Guerra and Serna exited the Gator and crept to the
front of the building where they saw a woman smoking a cigarette. Although Guerra told Serna
he wanted to kill the woman, Serna told him no. Guerra and Serna then returned to the Gator, and
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04-14-00246-CR
the three men drove to another house where all three men exited and approached the house. Either
Guerra or Frederick forced their entry into a garage from a carport. Because they did not find
anything of value in the garage, they began discussing whether to leave or go inside the house.
Serna believed Guerra grabbed a soda from a refrigerator in the garage, took a drink, and returned
it to the refrigerator. Serna did not recall Frederick drinking a soda.
When Guerra decided to enter the house, Serna followed him while Frederick walked out
of the garage. After forcing their entry into the house, Guerra shot Mr. and Mrs. Casas. The
evidence is undisputed that Mr. Casas died as a result of a gunshot wound to his face.
After the shots were fired, Guerra and Frederick ran out of the house and returned to the
Gator. All three men drove back to Frederick's truck and left the Gator where the truck was
previously parked. After driving around in the truck for twenty minutes, Guerra suggested they
rob a gas station. Guerra exited the truck and told them to pick him up behind some apartments.
Instead, Frederick drove to an alley behind Serna's house where they left the truck, walked to the
street, and saw multiple police cars at the gas station. As they began to return to the truck,
Frederick and Serna saw officers with a spotlight on the truck, so they ran to a different location.
Frederick called his mother and was apprehended when she arrived to pick him up. Serna was
apprehended shortly thereafter in the same general location.
C. Analysis
As previously noted, Frederick was found guilty of felony murder. With regard to this
offense, the jury was charged:
Now, bearing in mind the foregoing instructions, if you find from the
evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about June 13, 2011, in La Salle
County, Texas, the defendant, Destyn David Frederick, either acting alone or as a
party thereto as hereinbefore defined, did then and there commit or attempt to
commit felony, to wit: burglary of a habitation and in the course of and in
furtherance of the commission, or in immediate flight from the commission ofsaid
felony, he either acting alone, or as a party thereto as hereinbefore defined,
04-14-00246-CR
committed or attempted to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life, to wit:
shooting Israel Casas with a firearm, you will find the defendant guilty of the lesser
included offense of felony murder.
See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.02(b)(3) (West 2011). The jury charge included an instruction
on the conspiracy theory of parties which permitted the jury to find Frederick criminally
responsible for felony murder if: (1) he conspired with Guerra and Serna to commit the offense of
burglary of a habitation; (2) Guerra or Serna committed the felony of murder in furtherance of the
burglary; and (3) the murder was a felony Frederick should have anticipated as a result of carrying
out the conspiracy. Id. at § 7.02(b).
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict, Frederick, Guerra,
and Serna discussed committing a burglary. Frederick supplied Guerra with the shotgun to be used
during the burglary." Frederick and the other men put on gloves in an effort to conceal any
fingerprints. Frederick, Guerra, and Serna forced their entry into the Casas' garage. Frederick's
DNA could not be excluded as the source of the DNA found on the soda can left on top of the car
in the garage. By supplying Guerrawith the gun for which Serna provided shells, Frederick could
have anticipated Guerra using the gun to shoot someone. See Flores v. State, 681 S.W.2d 94, 96
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1984), affd, 690 S.W.2d 281 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (noting
defendant could have anticipated victim being shot in furtherance of conspiracy to commit
burglary because defendant knew co-conspirator had a gun). Therefore, the evidence is legally
sufficient to support the jury's finding that Frederick was guilty of felony murder.
1In discussing the law of parties in his brief,Frederick cites Gross v. Stale, 380S.W.3d 181 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012),
and argues, "Gross's conviction and appellant's conviction both involve a legal andfactual determination of whether
they were culpable for the death of the victims as a party." Frederick notes the court in Gross held the evidence
insufficient to convict the appellant as a party. 380 S.W.3d at 188-89. In Gross, however, the shotgun used in the
murder was located in the truck the appellant was driving, but the appellant neverhanded the gun to the person who
shot the victim. 380 S.W.3d at 183. In the instant case, however, Frederick admitted he gave Guerra the shotgun used
in the offense. In addition,Serna testified about the discussionshe had with Guerra and Frederickregardingthe plan
toengage inburglaries, while no evidence ofany discussions between the appellant and the shooter was presented in
Gross.
04-14-00246-CR
Conclusion
The trial court's judgment is affinned.
Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
DO NOT PUBLISH