Robert Robledo v. State ( 2009 )

i i i i i i
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-08-00586-CR
Robert ROBLEDO,
Appellant
v.
The STATE of Texas,
Appellee
From the 186th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2006-CR-2534
Honorable Fred Shannon, Judge Presiding1
Opinion by: Rebecca Simmons, Justice
Sitting: Rebecca Simmons, Justice
Steven C. Hilbig, Justice
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Delivered and Filed: August 19, 2009
AFFIRMED
Robledo appeals his conviction for aggravated sexual assault. On appeal, Robledo contends:
(1) the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to prove he used or displayed a deadly weapon
during the offense; (2) the trial court abused its discretion by allowing the State to introduce a
demonstrative knife into evidence; (3) the trial court abused its discretion by not affording him an
opportunity to take the State’s expert on voir dire to question her regarding her qualifications prior
1
… Sitting for the Honorable Maria Teresa Herr.
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to her testimony; and (4) the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the State’s expert witness
to testify without qualifying her as an expert. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
BACKGROUND
On February 1, 2006, Robledo drove up to the complainant, Blanca Mosqueda, and
represented to her that he was an undercover police officer. Robledo, who was not actually a police
officer, told Mosqueda that he intended to arrest her for soliciting and engaging in prostitution. After
Mosqueda got into Robledo’s vehicle, she became suspicious of Robledo and demanded to see his
badge. Robledo became upset when Mosqueda began questioning him and drove her to an
abandoned building.
Robledo parked his vehicle near a loading dock so that Mosqueda could not exit the vehicle
and moved to Mosqueda’s side of the vehicle. After getting in front of Mosqueda, Robledo told
Mosqueda to undress. He then began to hit Mosqueda and pulled out an old lock-blade knife with
gold tips when Mosqueda refused to comply with his demands. Robledo instructed Mosqueda to
“shut the fuck up”; otherwise, “he was going to kill [her].” According to Mosqueda, the look in
Robledo’s eyes convinced her that Robledo was going to kill her if she refused to cooperate.
Because Mosqueda feared for her life, Mosqueda agreed to cooperate with Robledo.
Robledo held his knife behind Mosqueda’s back and ripped off Mosqueda’s clothing.
Robledo proceeded to engage in several sexual acts with Mosqueda, including intercourse. Once
he completed all of his sexual acts, Robledo returned to the driver’s side of the vehicle and ordered
Mosqueda to “get the fuck out of the car.” Mosqueda complied, and Robledo drove off. Mosqueda
located a security guard, who immediately contacted the police.
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Mosqueda gave the police Robledo’s license plate number and identified Robledo as her
attacker during a photographic lineup following the assault. The police subsequently arrested
Robledo and found an older lock-blade knife and traces of bodily fluid on the passenger side of his
vehicle.2 A buccal swab obtained from Robledo following his arrest revealed that he contributed the
DNA deposited on Mosqueda’s person during the assault. Robledo was charged with committing
aggravated sexual assault, and a jury found him guilty as charged in the indictment. Robledo was
sentenced to 35 years imprisonment and fined $10,000. This appeal followed.
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Robledo complains the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to prove he used or
displayed a deadly weapon during his sexual assault of Mosqueda. When reviewing the legal
sufficiency of the evidence, we consider whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the
offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); Clayton v. State,
235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). In considering a factual sufficiency challenge, we
look at the evidence in a neutral light giving almost complete deference to the jury’s determinations
of credibility. Lancon v. State, 253 S.W.3d 699, 705 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). We reverse only if
the evidence supporting the verdict is so weak that the verdict seems clearly wrong and manifestly
unjust or if the evidence supporting the verdict is outweighed by the great weight and preponderance
of the available evidence. Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 414-15 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
2
… It is undisputed that the knife confiscated from Robledo’s vehicle was not the knife Mosqueda observed
Robledo using or displaying during the attack.
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The Texas Penal Code provides a person commits the offense of aggravated sexual assault
if he intentionally or knowingly causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another
person, without that person’s consent, and uses or exhibits a deadly weapon in the course of the same
criminal episode. See TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 22.021(a)(1)(A)(i); (2)(A)(iv) (Vernon 2003). A
deadly weapon is defined as “anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of
causing death or serious bodily injury.” Id. § 1.07(a)(17)(B). Although a knife is not a deadly
weapon per se, a knife may be a deadly weapon based on the nature of its use or intended use.
Magana v. State, 230 S.W.3d 411, 414 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2007, pet. ref’d). “When no actual
injury is sustained by the victim, the prosecution must introduce evidence of other factors to establish
that the knife is a deadly weapon.” Id. These factors may include: the size, shape, and sharpness
of the knife; the manner of its use or intended use; the nature or existence of inflicted wounds;
evidence of the knife’s life-threatening capabilities; the physical proximity between the victim and
the knife; and any words spoken by the one using the knife. Id. No one factor is determinative, and
the fact finder must examine each case on all of its facts to determine whether the knife is a deadly
weapon. Bailey v. State, 46 S.W.3d 487, 491-92 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2001, pet. ref’d). The
prosecution does not have to introduce the knife into evidence to prove the knife was a deadly
weapon. Magana, 230 S.W.3d at 414.
Although a weapon matching the victims’s description was never recovered by the police,
the State presented the jury with an old lock-blade knife confiscated from Robledo’s vehicle upon
his arrest. The State presented this knife as a demonstrative aid to assist the jury in understanding
the witnesses’ testimony relating to the knife used and displayed by Robledo. An examination of
the demonstrative knife reveals a weapon with an overall length of 6 1/4 to 6 1/2 inches and blade
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length of 3 inches. According to one of the State’s witnesses, the demonstrative knife “fit the
description pretty much” of the knife used by Robledo during the assault.
In addition to the demonstrative evidence relating to the approximate size and shape of the
knife used by Robledo, the record shows the State also presented the jury with evidence concerning
the manner of the knife’s use or intended use; evidence of the knife’s life-threatening capabilities;
the physical proximity between Mosqueda and the knife; and the words spoken by Robledo as he
held the knife. The record shows the jury heard testimony that Robledo trapped Mosqueda inside
his vehicle before making his advances on her. According to Mosqueda, Robledo positioned his
vehicle near a loading dock of an abandoned building and then moved to her side of the vehicle.
Once directly in front of her, the jury heard that Robledo hit Mosqueda and overtly displayed his
knife to her. Robledo then put Mosqueda in fear for her life by threatening to kill her if she did not
comply with his demands. Finally, the jury heard Robledo held his knife behind Mosqueda’s back
as he performed his sexual acts upon her. Such testimony furnished the jury with sufficient
additional facts from which it could conclude Robledo’s knife constituted a deadly weapon under
the circumstances.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude the evidence
is legally sufficient to support a finding that Robledo used and displayed a deadly weapon against
Mosqueda. See Miller v. State, 177 S.W.3d 1, 4-5 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.)
(concluding evidence was legally sufficient to show knife was a deadly weapon where appellant
restrained his victim at knife point after threatening to kill him and the record demonstrated victim
complied with his assailant’s demands because he feared for his life). Moreover, when all of the
evidence is viewed in a neutral light, we cannot say the jury’s finding is manifestly unjust or against
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the great weight of the evidence. Therefore, we further conclude the evidence is factually sufficient
to support a finding that Robledo used and displayed a deadly weapon against Mosqueda.3
ADMISSION OF DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE
Robledo contends the trial court erred in admitting State’s Exhibit No. 7, the old lock-blade
knife introduced by the State for demonstrative purposes, because it was not relevant. We review
a trial court’s admission of demonstrative evidence for an abuse of discretion. See Simmons v. State,
622 S.W.2d 111, 113 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981). It is within the trial court’s discretion to admit into
evidence a similar type weapon or instrument used in the commission of an offense if it is relevant
and material to an issue in the case, is not overly inflammatory, and the original, if available, would
be admissible. Id. “A weapon or instrumentality that is described as ‘like,’ ‘similar to,’ ‘much the
same,’ ‘pretty much the same,’ ‘more or less the same,’ ‘something like,’ ‘not unlike,’ ‘comparable,’
‘resembles,’ ‘closely resembles,’ ‘close,’ ‘same but not the exact one,’ or described by the use of
comparable words or phrases as these, is admissible as an aid to the jury in interpreting and
understanding the oral testimony adduced at the trial.” Id. at 113-14.
State’s Exhibit No. 7 is a knife resembling the one used by Robledo against Mosqueda.
Although the victim described the weapon used by Robledo as having gold tips, whereas State’s
Exhibit No. 7 did not, one of the State’s witnesses testified, without objection, that the State’s
demonstrative knife “fit the description pretty much” of the knife used by Robledo. When a key
issue in a case is whether a knife was used in a deadly manner, a knife similar to the one used during
3
… Robledo argues the only evidence showing he allegedly used or displayed a deadly weapon was
Mosqueda’s testimony suggesting she feared for her life after observing his knife. Robledo contends evidence
concerning Mosqueda’s subjective fear is not enough to prove he used or displayed a deadly weapon. However, as
detailed above, the record shows the State presented evidence of multiple other factors from which the jury could assess
whether the knife used against Mosqueda was a deadly weapon. Consequently, we are unpersuaded by Robledo’s
contention.
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the offense is admissible as demonstrative evidence. Johnson v. State, 919 S.W.2d 473, 477 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth 1996, pet. ref’d) (holding similar knife admissible in aggravated robbery case);
Posey v. State, 763 S.W.2d 872, 875 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, pet. ref’d) (same). A
key issue in the present case is whether the knife possessed by Robledo during the sexual assault was
used or displayed in a deadly manner. The original knife would certainly have been admissible if
it was available in this case; therefore, we believe the demonstrative knife resembling the one
wielded by Robledo during the attack was admissible to assist the jury in understanding the trial
witnesses’ testimony concerning Robledo’s knife. Accordingly, we hold the trial court properly
admitted the demonstrative knife as evidence.
EXPERT WITNESS’S QUALIFICATIONS
Robledo also claims the trial court erred in allowing the State’s expert witness, Joan Wells,
a licensed counselor, to testify about the common characteristics and traits of assault victims.
Robledo contends the trial court should have excluded Wells’s testimony because Wells was not
qualified as an expert witness. In the alternative, Robledo argues the trial court should have at least
given him the opportunity to take Wells on voir dire to question her regarding her qualifications prior
to her testimony.
To preserve error for appellate review, an appellant must make a timely, specific objection
and obtain an adverse ruling. TEX . R. APP . P. 33.1(a); Harrison v. State, 187 S.W.3d 429, 433 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2005). Additionally, an appellant’s complaint on appeal must comport with the
objection made at trial; otherwise, the appellant has preserved nothing for review. Resendiz v. State,
112 S.W.3d 541, 547 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). Turning to the issues before us, the record is devoid
of any trial objections on the bases challenged by Robledo on appeal. Robledo did not object in the
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trial court to Wells’s testimony on the ground that the State had not properly qualified her as an
expert witness. Nor did Robledo make a request to take Wells on voir dire outside the presence of
the jury to contest her qualifications. Because Robledo failed to raise any objections in the trial court
on the bases challenged on appeal, he has not preserved his complaints for our consideration.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Rebecca Simmons, Justice
DO NOT PUBLISH
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