Terrish Jermaine Garmon v. State ( 2015 )


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  • AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed May 12, 2015.
    Court of Appeals
    S     In The
    Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
    No. 05-13-00702-CR
    TERRISH JERMAINE GARMON, Appellant
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
    On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 3
    Dallas County, Texas
    Trial Court Cause No. F-1234332-J
    MEMORANDUM OPINION
    Before Justices Lang-Miers, Brown, and Schenck 1
    Opinion by Justice Brown
    Terrish Jermaine Garmon appeals his conviction for burglary of a habitation in Irving,
    Texas, owned by Jude Garcia. A jury found appellant guilty and assessed his punishment at
    fifteen years’ confinement and a $10,000 fine. In two issues on appeal, appellant contends the
    trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of four extraneous offenses and contends
    the evidence is insufficient to prove he committed the charged offense. For reasons that follow,
    we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
    BACKGROUND
    Appellant was indicted for burglary of Garcia’s habitation under two alternative theories.
    The indictment alleged he intentionally and knowingly entered the habitation without Garcia’s
    1
    Justice David Schenck succeeded Justice Michael O’Neill, a member of the original panel, following Justice O’Neill’s retirement. Justice
    Schenck has reviewed the briefs and the record before the Court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 41.1(a).
    effective consent, with the intent to commit theft. It also alleged appellant intentionally and
    knowingly entered the habitation without Garcia’s effective consent and committed and
    attempted to commit theft. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 30.02(a) (West 2011). Appellant
    entered a plea of not guilty.
    Before voir dire, the State asked the trial court to allow it to present evidence of
    unadjudicated extraneous offenses under the theories of doctrine of chances and modus operandi.
    The prosecutor described three unadjudicated offenses committed in a manner similar to the
    charged burglary and asserted those offenses were admissible to prove appellant committed the
    instant offense. The trial court made a preliminary ruling that the evidence was relevant and that
    its probative value outweighed its prejudicial effect, subject to the State proving up the
    allegations. After jury selection, the trial court held a hearing outside the presence of the jury at
    which the State put on evidence of the unadjudicated extraneous offenses — two burglaries in
    Grand Prairie and Fort Worth and one attempted burglary in Coppell. 2 The State also presented
    evidence of appellant’s 2005 conviction for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle that it wished to
    introduce at guilt/innocence. Appellant objected to the evidence under rules of evidence 404(b)
    and 403. The court reaffirmed its earlier ruling allowing the evidence of the unadjudicated
    offenses and also ruled it would allow evidence of the prior conviction.
    The Irving Burglary/Charged Offense
    At trial, Jude Garcia testified that in 2012, he owned a motorcycle, described as a
    “supersport” bike, that he wanted to sell. Garcia posted an ad on Craigslist with a description
    and pictures of the bike. The ad included Garcia’s cell phone number, but not his address. Only
    one person called Garcia in response to the ad, and that man wanted to come look at the bike.
    Garcia gave the man his address in Irving, but he did not show up or call to cancel. The next
    2
    At this pretrial hearing, there was also evidence of a similar incident in Garland, but the State never presented this offense to the jury.
    –2–
    morning, May 26, 2012, Garcia called the man back to ask if he was still interested. The man
    said he was no longer interested and “kind of laugh[ed]” at Garcia and hung up. When Garcia
    left his house later, he noticed two holes in his garage doors. When he opened the garage, his
    bike was gone. The holes were cut near an emergency latch. Someone could reach in through
    the hole, pull the emergency latch, and roll the door up. Garcia called the police.
    Garcia’s wife, Patricia Garcia, testified that after the police left and without their
    knowledge, she decided it would be a good idea to contact the man who had called about the
    motorcycle. The mobile number for the person she contacted was (972) 800-4920. Using her
    cell phone, Patricia Garcia texted his phone number, pretending she had met him before and was
    interested in him. She also spoke with the person over the phone. Patricia asked if he had a
    motorcycle, and he said he did. He identified himself to her as “Terry.” He also texted Patricia a
    picture of himself. Patricia identified appellant in court as the person in the photograph, and the
    photo was admitted into evidence. Appellant and Patricia texted back and forth for about a
    week.
    While Patricia Garcia was on the stand, the State introduced into evidence State’s Exhibit
    No. 5. The documents contained in that exhibit were provided by T-Mobile in response to a
    subpoena duces tecum asking for phone records for (972) 800-4920, the number of the person
    who called to inquire about Garcia’s motorcycle.         T-Mobile’s records show that number
    belonged to a “Terrytish J. Garmon.” The exhibit also included a list of calls and texts made to
    and from (972) 800-4920 in May and June 2012. Exhibit No. 5 shows two calls from appellant’s
    cell phone to Jude Garcia’s phone on May 25, 2012. The records also showed Patricia and
    appellant had exchanged phone calls and text messages.
    Irving Police Officer Philip Pearson responded to Jude Garcia’s call to police about the
    missing motorcycle. He testified that the holes in Garcia’s garage doors were in the upper
    –3–
    panels, about six inches from the ceiling. Pearson stated you could reach in through the holes to
    pull an emergency release rope to allow you to open the garage door. It was like someone used a
    power saw to cut a circle out of the door. Pearson did not find any fingerprints on the doors.
    Pearson had never seen holes cut in a garage in that part of town and had not seen that method
    used for stealing a motorcycle. Garcia gave Pearson the phone number of the person who had
    contacted him about the Craigslist posting.
    Detective Rocky Bailey was assigned to follow up on the case. He testified that he ran
    the cell phone number Garcia provided through a computer program. The number came back to
    a Terrish Garmon. Bailey also had the photograph that had been texted to Patricia Garcia.
    Bailey searched the name Terrish Garmon on Facebook and found a Facebook page in that name
    that included the same photograph. Next Bailey found an address for Terrish Garmon. Bailey
    had been investigating vehicle thefts since 1998 and had not seen holes cut in a garage before.
    He testified it was “very unique.” Because of the unique cutting of the holes in Garcia’s garage,
    Bailey shared information about the burglary with other law enforcement agencies in the area.
    Detective Bailey obtained a search warrant for appellant’s residence. He did not find the
    motorcycle or any stolen motorcycle parts. Bailey did find a piece of cardboard on which about
    thirty motorcycle descriptions were written, along with phone numbers and cities. Bailey said it
    was likely this information was from Craigslist ads. Bailey began to call the phone numbers
    listed.    When Bailey called a Mark Menkiena in Grand Prairie, Menkiena told Bailey his
    motorcycle had been stolen.
    Unadjudicated Extraneous Offenses
    Coppell Police Detective Steve Hayes testified that in March 2012, he investigated an
    attempted burglary of a habitation in Coppell owned by Jonathan Mohr. Mohr’s garage door had
    a hole cut in it. This attempted entry method was very unusual, and Hayes hadn’t seen it before.
    –4–
    Mohr had placed a motorcycle for sale on Craigslist. Detective Hayes had the phone number of
    a person who had called Mohr about the motorcycle. The number was (469) 360-1379. During
    Hayes’s testimony, State’s Exhibit No. 13 was admitted into evidence. The exhibit contained
    phone records for the number (469) 360-1379. Hayes testified the name associated with that
    mobile number was Terrish Garmon. Mohr’s motorcycle was not taken. Mohr’s dog started
    barking, and Mohr came outside.
    Detective Hayes shared information about this crime with other agencies and also
    gathered information from other agencies. He received information about a similar case out of
    Fort Worth. In that case, the complainant placed a motorcycle for sale on Craigslist. There was
    a hole in the garage door, and the motorcycle was taken. The same mobile number used in the
    Coppell case was used in the Fort Worth case. Hayes also had information about a similar case
    in Grand Prairie. Again, there was a hole in the garage door and a missing motorcycle. The
    phone number used was again the 469 phone number that records indicated belonged to Terrish
    Garmon. Hayes looked into Terrish Garmon and learned about a 2004 Richardson offense
    involving a motorcycle that had been taken from a garage after holes were cut into the garage
    door. Appellant was found on the stolen motorcycle.
    Jonathan Mohr of Coppell testified that someone attempted to steal his motorcycle on
    March 18, 2012. Mohr put an ad for his motorcycle on Craigslist. A man called him on March
    17th and asked if he could come by and look at it. Mohr had received a few calls about the
    motorcycle, but only gave his address to this one person.     Mohr set up a meeting with that
    person for late afternoon on March 17, but the man called back and said he was not going to be
    able to make it. Although they discussed getting together another day, the man never called back
    to reschedule or follow up. At about 3:30 a.m. that night, Mohr heard his dog barking and got up
    to check the inside of the house. The next morning, Mohr found a hole in his garage door. His
    –5–
    motorcycle was still in the garage. Phone records indicated that the man called him from the
    number (469) 360-1379. Looking at State’s Exhibit No. 13, the phone records associated with
    that number, Mohr testified they showed he exchanged phone calls and text messages with that
    number.
    Bruce Carr testified that his son listed a motorcycle for sale on Craigslist. In early April
    2012, the motorcycle was stolen from Carr’s home in Fort Worth. The day before the bike was
    stolen, Carr got a call from someone who identified himself as Terry and wanted to come take a
    look at the bike. Carr gave the man his address, and the man said he would be over that day.
    Neither Carr nor his son had given the address out to anyone else regarding the bike. The man
    called back to cancel. The next morning, when Carr was backing his car out of the garage, he
    noticed three holes in the garage doors and realized the motorcycle was missing. When Carr did
    a reverse search on the phone number of the man he spoke to about the bike, it was connected to
    a Terrish J. Garmon.
    Mark Menkiena testified that in 2012 he owned a motorcycle or sportbike and, because
    he lived in an apartment, kept it in the garage of a friend’s home in Grand Prairie. In April 2012,
    he decided to sell the motorcycle and put it up for sale on Craigslist. Two men called him about
    it. Menkiena provided his friend’s address to one of them and went there to wait, but the man
    did not show up and called to say he wasn’t going to make it. The next morning, Menkiena’s
    friend called to ask if Menkiena had picked the motorcycle up from his house because it was
    gone. There were no holes in the garage door or other signs of forced entry. Menkiena’s friend
    told him he left a door into the garage unlocked. Menkiena provided police with the phone
    number of the man who had called him. Menkiena testified that his phone number and a
    description of his bike were among those listed on the paper found by Detective Bailey at
    appellant’s house.
    –6–
    Appellant’s Prior UUMV Conviction
    Dustin Mantell testified that in April 2004, a sportbike he owned was stolen from his
    mother’s garage overnight. A triangular hole was cut in the garage and used to access a manual
    release. Mantell had not put the motorcycle up for sale. The police later called Mantell to tell
    him his motorcycle had been recovered. It had been in a wreck and was in poor condition.
    Mantell’s mother’s name, Carol Conway, was on the title to the motorcycle because she had
    cosigned for it.
    Dallas Sheriff’s Deputy Willie Washington testified that he took appellant’s fingerprints
    that morning. He compared the prints with those in State’s Exhibit No. 23, a certified copy of a
    judgment, and testified that they were the same. Washington testified the judgment showed that
    appellant, Terrish Jermaine Garmon, was convicted of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in
    October 2005. The date of the offense was April 27, 2004, and the complainant was Carol
    Conway.
    Appellant rested without presenting any evidence.
    The court’s charge on guilt/innocence instructed the jury that it could not consider any
    testimony regarding appellant having committed offenses other than the charged offense unless it
    found beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant committed such other offenses. The charge
    further instructed that, even then, the jury was only to consider such evidence in determining
    motive, intent, scheme, design, or identity. The jury found appellant guilty and assessed his
    punishment at fifteen years’ confinement and a $10,000 fine. This appeal followed.
    ADMISSION OF EXTRANEOUS OFFENSE EVIDENCE
    In his first issue, appellant contends the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the
    State to present evidence of the extraneous burglaries or attempted burglaries and evidence of the
    2005 conviction.    Appellant contends the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the
    –7–
    evidence because: 1) the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he committed the
    unadjudicated extraneous offenses; 2) the extraneous offenses did not meet the criteria for
    admissibility under rule of evidence 404(b); and 3) the probative value of these extraneous
    offenses was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
    Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a
    person in order to show he acted in conformity therewith. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). It may be
    admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan,
    knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.         
    Id. Whether extraneous
    offense
    evidence has relevance apart from character conformity is a question for the trial court. De La
    Paz v. State, 
    279 S.W.3d 336
    , 343 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Thus, a trial court’s ruling on the
    admissibility of extraneous offenses is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. 
    Id. As long
    as the trial court’s ruling is within the “zone of reasonable disagreement,” there is no abuse
    of discretion. 
    Id. at 343–44.
    Further, a trial court cannot admit extraneous offense evidence
    unless a jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the extraneous
    offense. Fischer v. State, 
    268 S.W.3d 552
    , 558 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
    One of the main rationales for admitting extraneous offense evidence is to prove the
    identity of the offender. Segundo v. State, 
    270 S.W.3d 79
    , 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Here, the
    theory of relevancy is usually that of modus operandi in which the pattern and characteristics of
    the charged crime and uncharged misconduct are so distinctively similar that they constitute a
    “signature.”   
    Id. No rigid
    rules dictate what constitutes sufficient similarities.     Common
    characteristics may be proximity in time and place, mode of commission of the crimes, the
    person’s dress or any other elements which mark both crimes as having been committed by the
    same person. 
    Id. The “doctrine
    of chances” may also come into play when using extraneous
    offenses to prove identity. That doctrine tells us that highly unusual events are unlikely to repeat
    –8–
    themselves inadvertently or by happenstance. Carrizales v. State, 
    414 S.W.3d 737
    , 745 (Tex.
    Crim. App. 2013). For the doctrine to apply, there must be a similarity between the charged and
    extraneous offenses, since it is the improbability of a like result being repeated by mere chance
    that gives the extraneous offense its probative weight. Brown v. State, 
    96 S.W.3d 508
    , 512 (Tex.
    App.—Austin 2002, no pet.).
    Relevant evidence may nevertheless be excluded if its probative value is substantially
    outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or
    by considerations of undue delay, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. TEX. R.
    EVID. 403. Rule 403 favors the admission of relevant evidence and carries a presumption that
    relevant evidence will be more probative than prejudicial. Martinez v. State, 
    327 S.W.3d 727
    ,
    737 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). Unfair prejudice refers not to an adverse or detrimental effect of
    evidence but to an undue tendency to suggest a decision on an improper basis. Casey v. State,
    
    215 S.W.3d 870
    , 883 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). When undertaking a rule 403 analysis, the trial
    court must balance 1) the inherent probative force of the proffered evidence along with 2) the
    proponent’s need for that evidence against 3) any tendency of the evidence to suggest decision
    on an improper basis, 4) any tendency of the evidence to confuse or distract the jury from the
    main issues, 5) any tendency of the evidence to be given undue weight by a jury that has not
    been equipped to evaluate the probative force of the evidence, and 6) the likelihood that
    presentation of the evidence will consume an inordinate amount of time or be repetitive. Id.;
    Gigliobianco v. State, 
    210 S.W.3d 637
    , 641–42 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). As with rule 404(b), we
    review a trial court’s decision to admit evidence in the face of a 403 objection under an abuse of
    discretion standard, and the court does not abuse its discretion as long as its decision is within the
    zone of reasonable disagreement. De La 
    Paz, 729 S.W.3d at 343
    –44.
    –9–
    We address appellant’s first two complaints about the unadjudicated extraneous offense
    evidence together. First, appellant asserts the trial court abused its discretion in admitting this
    evidence because the State did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed these
    offenses.   Similarly, appellant also maintains the unadjudicated extraneous offenses were
    inadmissible under 404(b) to show his identity because he was not sufficiently tied to those
    offenses. Appellant maintains that without any evidence he was at the location of the burglaries
    or attempted burglaries, or evidence that he was in possession of burglary tools or the stolen
    motorcycles, it was not established that he committed the offenses. We disagree.
    The charged burglary was committed in May 2012. The extraneous burglaries and
    attempted burglary were committed near that time, in March and April of 2012. Like the
    charged offense, the stolen item in the two other burglary cases was a motorcycle. In the
    attempted burglary case, someone made efforts to get into a garage where a motorcycle was
    stored. In all three extraneous offenses, like the instant offense, the motorcycle owner had
    placed the bike for sale on Craigslist. In all three cases, the bike owner had given the address
    where the motorcycle was located out to only one person. Each time, that person said he was
    coming over to see the motorcycle, but did not show up. And each time, the motorcycle was
    stolen, or an attempt was made to steal it, that night. In the Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, and
    Coppell cases, the person who called to set up a time to come to see the motorcycle used phone
    number (469) 360-1379. That phone number belonged to a Terrish Garmon. Although a
    different phone number was used in the Irving burglary, that number was also linked to Terrish
    Garmon. In the Coppell attempted burglary and the Fort Worth burglary, someone cut holes in
    the garage as a means of opening the garage door. That same method was used to gain entry to
    Garcia’s garage in the charged offense.     Both Detective Hayes and Detective Bailey testified
    that this was a very unique method of committing burglary. Although no holes were cut into the
    –10–
    garage in the Grand Prairie case and there were no other signs of forced entry, there was
    evidence the homeowner had left a door into the garage unlocked.
    The characteristics of the charged offense and the uncharged offenses are so distinctively
    similar that they constitute appellant’s signature or modus operandi. Appellant asserts that no
    evidence ties him to the crimes. Yet his cell phone number was used to contact the owners of the
    motorcycles, and in each case, he was the only person to whom the bike owner gave the location
    of the bike. That appellant would be the only person to get the address of a motorcycle and for
    that motorcycle to disappear that same night in a similar way each time is such a highly unusual
    event it is unlikely to happen by coincidence. We conclude a jury could have found beyond a
    reasonable doubt that appellant committed the three unadjudicated offenses. Likewise, the trial
    court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the uncharged offenses were admissible
    under rule 404(b) to show identity.
    Appellant also asserts the 2005 conviction was not admissible at guilt/innocence under
    rule 404(b) because it was not a burglary conviction and it was too remote. In his brief, appellant
    refers to the 2005 conviction as one for the offense of evading arrest. Appellant was convicted
    of two offenses stemming from his use of David Mantell’s motorcycle, unauthorized use of a
    motor vehicle and evading arrest. At the hearing outside the jury’s presence on the admissibility
    of extraneous offenses, the court ruled that it would allow evidence of the UUMV conviction,
    but would not allow the State to discuss the evading arrest. The State did not introduce evidence
    of the evading arrest conviction until the punishment phase. Because appellant’s evading arrest
    conviction was not in evidence during the guilt/innocence phase of trial, his argument about it
    lacks merit. Further, assuming appellant meant to complain about the unauthorized use of a
    motor vehicle conviction, his brief does not mention UUMV at all, and thus he has not properly
    briefed this argument. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1.
    –11–
    Even if we construe appellant’s brief liberally to include a complaint regarding the
    admission of the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle conviction, there was no error. We are not
    persuaded the prior conviction should have been excluded under rule 404(b) merely because the
    offense was unauthorized use of a motor vehicle instead of burglary. The circumstances under
    which appellant came to be in possession of the motor vehicle, a motorcycle, are similar to the
    charged offense. Mantell’s sportbike was stolen from his mother’s garage overnight. A hole
    was cut in the garage to access a manual release.         Appellant was found riding the stolen
    motorcycle.
    Regarding remoteness of the conviction, rule 404(b) contains no restrictions on how
    recent an extraneous offense must be to be admissible. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b); cf. TEX. R. EVID.
    609 (for purpose of attacking credibility of witness, evidence of prior conviction is generally
    inadmissible if more than ten years have elapsed from date of conviction). Remoteness is an
    element of an offense’s probative value under rule 403. Gaytan v. State, 
    331 S.W.3d 218
    , 226–
    27 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011, pet ref’d). Remoteness alone is not a reason for the exclusion of
    extraneous offense evidence. 
    Id. But it
    can significantly lessen the probative value of such
    evidence because the passage of time allows people to change. 
    Id. at 226.
    Thus, we will
    consider appellant’s argument about remoteness in our discussion below of his complaint that all
    extraneous offenses should have been excluded under rule 403.
    Appellant’s final complaint about the extraneous offense evidence is that the trial court
    abused its discretion in allowing that evidence, both the uncharged offenses and the prior
    conviction, because its probative value was substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect.
    Appellant asserts the evidence had great potential to impress the jury in an “irrational yet
    indelible way,” and also complains the State spent a considerable amount of time developing this
    evidence when it was not necessary to the State’s case.
    –12–
    The uncharged offenses were highly important to the State’s case to show appellant’s
    identity as the person who committed the burglary of Garcia’s habitation. They showed that the
    way in which the instant offense was committed was appellant’s signature. Viewed in isolation,
    the fact that Garcia’s motorcycle was stolen the night appellant called about it could be seen as
    mere coincidence. But evidence that three other homes with motorcycles for sale had recently
    been broken into the same night appellant called about the motorcycles, suggested it was not
    mere chance.
    Regarding the prior conviction, it was for the offense of unauthorized use of a motorcycle
    committed eight years before the charged offense. The remoteness of the conviction weighs
    against its probative value. But other factors favor its admissibility, including the similarities
    between that offense and the charged crime, and the fact that it was the only evidence that
    directly connected appellant to a motorcycle that had been stolen using a method similar to that
    used in the instant case.
    In addition, the potential for any unfair prejudice or confusion of the issues based on the
    admission of this evidence, as well as the uncharged offenses, was slight. Further, the court
    instructed the jury that it was only to consider the extraneous offenses if it found beyond a
    reasonable doubt appellant committed them and, even then, to only consider it to determine
    motive, intent, scheme, design, or identity. Including voir dire and the punishment phase, this
    trial lasted only three days. We cannot say that the State devoted an inordinate amount of time to
    presentation of the extraneous offenses. We cannot conclude it was an abuse of discretion for
    the trial court to determine that the probative value of the extraneous offenses was not
    substantially outweighed by their prejudicial effect and overrule appellant’s 403 objections. We
    overrule appellant’s first issue.
    –13–
    SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
    In his second issue, appellant contends the evidence is insufficient to prove he committed
    burglary of a habitation. Again he argues that there is nothing to place him at or near Garcia’s
    house or no evidence that he was in possession of items stolen from the house or of burglary
    tools.
    When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we consider all of the evidence in the
    light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether, based on that evidence and the
    reasonable inferences therefrom, a jury was rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a
    reasonable doubt. Temple v. State, 
    390 S.W.3d 341
    , 360 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); see Jackson v.
    Virginia, 
    443 U.S. 307
    , 318–19 (1979). Each fact need not point directly and independently to
    the guilt of the defendant, as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances
    is sufficient to support the conviction. Hooper v. State, 
    214 S.W.3d 9
    , 13 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2007). Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing guilt, and
    circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt. 
    Id. Further, the
    jury is the sole
    judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. 
    Temple, 390 S.W.3d at 360
    .
    After reviewing the record in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude the
    circumstantial evidence presented at trial was sufficient to show appellant’s identity as the
    person who entered Garcia’s habitation and committed the theft of his motorcycle.                 As
    previously discussed, the evidence showed appellant called Garcia to inquire about buying his
    motorcycle, which had been listed for sale on Craigslist. Appellant was the only person who
    called Garcia about the bike and the only person to whom Garcia gave his address. Appellant
    said he was going to come see the bike, but did not show up. The motorcycle was stolen that
    night. Holes were cut in Garcia’s garage to gain access to an emergency latch. Police detectives
    –14–
    testified this was a very unusual way to commit burglary. After the motorcycle had been stolen,
    but before Garcia knew about the theft, Garcia called appellant, and appellant said he was no
    longer interested in the bike and kind of laughed at Garcia. The State presented evidence that in
    three other recent instances, after a motorcycle owner had advertised the bike on Craigslist,
    appellant had called to get the location of the bike and set up a time to view it, but then
    cancelled. Each time, that same night, the owner’s garage was broken into. In two of these three
    cases, the garage doors were cut in the same way Garcia’s had been. In the third case, a garage
    door had been left unlocked. Also, eight years earlier, appellant was found using a sportbike that
    was stolen from a garage that had holes cut into it. Under the doctrine of chances, it is highly
    unlikely that it was just a matter of coincidence that Garcia’s habitation and the others would
    have been burglarized using the same method of entry the very night appellant called to inquire
    about the motorcycle for sale and get the address. The combined and cumulative force of all the
    incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support this burglary conviction.      We overrule
    appellant’s second issue.
    We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
    /Ada Brown/
    ADA BROWN
    JUSTICE
    Do Not Publish
    TEX. R. APP. P. 47.
    130702F.U05
    –15–
    S
    Court of Appeals
    Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
    JUDGMENT
    TERRISH JERMAINE GARMON,                              On Appeal from the Criminal District Court
    Appellant                                             No. 3, Dallas County, Texas
    Trial Court Cause No. F-1234332-J.
    No. 05-13-00702-CR        V.                          Opinion delivered by Justice Brown. Justices
    Lang-Miers and Schenck participating.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
    Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
    Judgment entered this 12th day of May, 2015.
    –16–