Jerryl Robinson v. State ( 2015 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-14-00407-CR
Jerryl Robinson, Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF COMAL COUNTY, 207TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. CR2013-349, HONORABLE GARY L STEEL, JUDGE PRESIDING
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Jerryl Robinson was convicted of theft. See Tex. Penal Code § 31.03(a)-(b) (setting
out elements of offense). Specifically, Robinson was accused of being a party to stealing a box from
a CVS Pharmacy that contained 36 cartons of cigarettes. The indictment alleged that the value of
the stolen property was between $1,500 and $20,000, see id. § 31.03(e)(4)(A) (explaining that
offense is state-jail felony if value of property is between $1,500 and $20,000), and contained six
enhancement paragraphs alleging that Robinson had previously been convicted of six felonies. After
the jury found him guilty, Robinson pleaded true to the enhancement allegations, see id. § 12.425(b)
(elevating permissible punishment range for state-jail felony to that of second-degree felony if it is
shown that defendant was previously convicted of two felonies and that second previous felony
conviction occurred after first one became final), and the jury imposed a sentence of fifteen years’
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imprisonment, see id. § 12.33 (setting out punishment ranges for second-degree felony). On appeal,
Robinson contends that the evidence is legally insufficient to support his conviction, that the district
court erred by denying his request for a speedy trial, and that he was denied effective assistance of
counsel. We will address Robinson’s sufficiency argument first and then address the remainder of
his arguments in the order briefed. After overruling all of Robinson’s issues on appeal, we will
affirm the district court’s judgment of conviction.
DISCUSSION
Legal Sufficiency
In his third issue on appeal, Robinson contends that the evidence is legally insufficient
to support his conviction. In challenging the sufficiency of his conviction, Robinson contends that
“no direct evidence was provided to substantiate the State’s allegations as to the quantity of cartons
within the stolen box or” to link the theft of the cartons to him. Regarding the contents of the box,
Robinson contends that “none of the video or picture evidence submitted in trial indicated the
number of cartons actually taken,” that no testimony was elicited regarding the exact number of cartons
in the box that was stolen, that the box was never recovered, and that the only evidence regarding
the value of the property or the contents of the box was a ledger created by a CVS employee.
Moreover, Robinson asserts that during the trial, testimony was introduced establishing that the
box had been partially opened and placed behind the counter. Accordingly, Robinson insists that
there was no way that the jury could have determined what was inside the box before it was taken.
Under the Penal Code, an individual commits the offense of theft if he “unlawfully
appropriates property with intent to deprive the owner of property.” Tex. Penal Code § 31.03(a).
2
Moreover, the Code explains that appropriation is unlawful if “it is without the owner’s effective
consent.” Id. § 31.03(b)(1). The indictment alleged that the property at issue was 36 cartons of
cigarettes and that the value of the property was between $1,500 and $20,000. Id. § 31.03(e)(4)(A).
Furthermore, the jury charge contained an instruction regarding the law of parties.
Under the law of parties, “[a] person is criminally responsible as a party to an offense if the offense
is committed by his own conduct, by the conduct of another for which he is criminally responsible,
or by both,” and “[e]ach party to an offense may be charged with the commission of the offense.”
Id. § 7.01(a), (b). “A person is criminally responsible for an offense committed by the conduct of
another if . . . acting with the 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.” Id. § 7.02(a)(2).
Intent to assist or promote may be inferred from the acts, words, and conduct of the defendant and
from the circumstances in which the offense occurred. Roberts v. State, 319 S.W.3d 37, 49 (Tex.
App.—San Antonio 2010, pet. ref’d).
Under the legal-sufficiency standard, appellate courts view the evidence in the light
most favorable to the verdict and determine whether “any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319
(1979). When performing this review, an appellate court must bear in mind that it is the factfinder’s
duty to weigh the evidence, to resolve conflicts in the testimony, and to make reasonable inferences
“from basic facts to ultimate facts.” Id.; see also Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 36.13 (explaining that
“jury is the exclusive judge of the facts”). Moreover, appellate courts must “determine whether the
necessary inferences are reasonable based upon the combined and cumulative force of all the evidence
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when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict.” Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 16-17
(Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Furthermore, appellate courts presume that conflicting inferences were
resolved in favor of the conviction and defer to that resolution. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772,
778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). In addition, courts must bear in mind that “direct and circumstantial
evidence are treated equally” and that “[c]ircumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence
in establishing the guilt of an actor” and “can be sufficient” on its own “to establish guilt.” Kiffe v.
State, 361 S.W.3d 104, 108 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, pet. ref’d).
To be deemed criminally responsible as a party, there must be evidence of “an
understanding and common design to commit the offense.” Gross v. State, 380 S.W.3d 181, 186 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2012). When reviewing the sufficiency of that evidence, appellate courts may consider
“‘events occurring before, during and after the commission of the offense and may rely on actions
of the defendant which show an understanding and common design to do the prohibited act.’”
Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 49 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004) (quoting Cordova v. State, 698 S.W.2d
107, 111 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985)). “Each fact need not point directly and independently to the guilt
of the appellant, as long as the cumulative effect of all the incriminating facts are sufficient to
support the conviction.” Id. In addition, “[m]otive is a significant circumstance indicating guilt,”
and intent may “be inferred from circumstantial evidence such as acts, words, and the conduct of
the” defendant. Id. at 50.
Evidence linking Robinson to the stolen property was presented through the testimony
of Delores Rodriguez, who was working at the CVS on the night of the offense, through recordings
from the surveillance cameras in the store, and through the statements that Robinson made during
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his interview with the police. First, Rodriguez was called to the stand to testify regarding what she
observed on the night in question. In her testimony, Rodriguez explained that a new shipment of
inventory had been delivered and that the boxes containing cigarette cartons had been moved up
behind the registers. Moreover, she explained that when she was going over the inventory and the
invoices, Robinson and Frank Parramore entered the store together.1 In addition, she agreed that photos
from the store’s security system showed Robinson and Parramore enter the store together. Those
photos were admitted as exhibits and clearly show the faces of two men entering the store together.
When describing Robinson’s interactions with Parramore, Rodriguez explained that
when they walked in together, they were talking to one another. In her testimony, Rodriguez described
how Robinson asked her to help him in the photolab of the store and that Parramore stayed at the
front of the store. Next, Rodriguez testified that while she was helping Robinson, Parramore went
behind the counter and grabbed a box of cigarettes. Later in her testimony, Rodriguez related that
she believed that Robinson was working together with Parramore and that Robinson was attempting
to distract her while Parramore stole the box. Rodriguez recalled that after she saw what happened,
she chased after Parramore and caught up to him, that Parramore turned and acted like he wanted to
fight, and that she returned to the store when she felt threatened. In addition, she explained that after
Parramore grabbed the box, Robinson stated that he did not know that his friend was going to steal
the box and that Robinson left after she said that she was going to call the police. During her
testimony, Rodriguez stated that after she returned to the store, she called the police and noticed that
1
The second individual was later identified as Parramore through the testimony of Detective
Edward Wahrmund.
5
Robinson had left his phone and wallet at the photolab. The cellphone and wallet were admitted as
exhibits, and the wallet contains Robinson’s driver’s license and other identifying information.
Second, during Rodriguez’s testimony, surveillance footage from the night in question
was played for the jury. The footage chronicles Robinson walking into the store with another man,
shows Rodriguez leave the register area and head to another portion of the store, depicts the man that
Robinson entered the store with go behind the registers and take a box after Rodriguez left, and
shows the man leave the store with the box followed by Rodriguez and Robinson.
Finally, after Rodriguez finished her testimony, the State called Detective Edward
Wahrmund to testify regarding his investigation of the crime and regarding an interview that he
conducted of Robinson after Robinson turned himself in. A copy of that interview was played for
the jury. In the interview, Robinson admits that he and Parramore intended to steal products from
CVS on that night, but he insisted that he only planned on stealing razor blades.2 During the
interview, Robinson also admitted to having previously stolen razors from stores on multiple
occasions and then resold them to other stores.
Given our standard of review and in light of the evidence summarized above,
including Robinson’s admission that he intended to steal property on the night in question and had
stolen property from other stores in order to later sell it, as well as the reasonable inferences that the
jury was free to make based on that evidence, we must conclude that the cumulative effect of the
incriminating facts are sufficient to link Robinson to the stolen property and to support Robinson’s
2
While being questioned by Officer Wahrmund, Robinson stated that he got so “freaked out”
after Parramore stole the box that he left his phone and wallet.
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conviction for the theft of that property under the law of parties. See Guevara, 152 S.W.3d at 49;
see also Felters v. State, 147 S.W.3d 488, 490-91 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, pet. ref’d)
(concluding that evidence demonstrated more than “mere presence” and was sufficient to establish
guilt as party to theft where evidence showed that defendant entered store with another person, that
two individuals knew one another, and that they acted together).
As mentioned above, Robinson also contends that the evidence is insufficient to
establish the contents of the stolen box or establish that the value of the property was more than
$1,500 and less than $20,000 as alleged in the indictment. See Tex. Penal Code § 31.03(e)(4)(A).
Evidence regarding the contents of the box as well as their value was presented through the
testimony of Rodriguez as well as through the admission of an exhibit prepared by Rodriguez.
In her testimony, Rodriguez explained that when Robinson entered the store, she had
not put any cigarettes on the store shelves and that she was just about to take the cigarettes out of the
box and “ring them in and count them off.” Next, Rodriguez explained that although the top of the
box was open, she had not taken out any of its contents prior to the incident. In addition, she related
that before inventory arrives at her store, the cartons are counted at the CVS warehouse and listed
on an inventory sheet. Moreover, she stated that she had been doing this type of inventory for
approximately a year and a half and that during that time, the inventory list from the warehouse had
only been wrong “once or twice.” Furthermore, she specifically testified that the box that Parramore
took was full of cigarette cartons.
Moreover, when describing the contents of the box, Rodriguez explained that shortly
after the offense, she checked the inventory to see what was missing and that 36 cartons of cigarettes
7
were missing and were never recovered. In addition, after performing this check, she made a ledger
or receipt for the stolen items that showed that the value of the missing items was $1,913.44 before
taxes. That ledger was admitted as an exhibit during the trial.3
Given the standard of review by which we review challenges to the sufficiency of the
evidence and in light of the evidence presented as well as the reasonable inferences that the jury
could make from that evidence, we must conclude that the evidence was legally sufficient to support
the jury’s determination that the stolen box contained 36 cartons of cigarettes and that the value of
those cartons was more than $1,500 and less than $20,000 as alleged in the indictment.
For all of these reasons, we overrule Robinson’s third issue on appeal.
Right to a Speedy Trial
In his first issue on appeal, Robinson contends that the district court erred by failing
to release him from confinement after he filed a pro se writ for a speedy trial. Moreover, he argues
that the district court’s failure to rule “led to a substantial, presumptively prejudicial and unnecessary
delay, which subjected [him] to oppressive pretrial incarceration, high levels of anxiety and concern,
and impaired [his] ability to adequately prepare his defense.”
As an initial matter, we note that the facts of this case undermine somewhat
Robinson’s claim that he was subjected to “oppressive pretrial incarceration.” The offense at issue
occurred in November 2011, and Robinson was arrested a little over a week later. Approximately
3
When initially talking with the police, Rodriguez stated that she thought that approximately
25 cartons had been stolen, but she explained in her testimony that she was just providing an
estimate when she first talked to the police and that she did not learn the actual number until she
finished performing her inventory of the items that had been delivered that night.
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three months later, in early March 2012, Robinson was released on a personal bond on the condition
that Robinson not commit additional offenses after being released. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art.
17.151, § 1. In December 2012, Robinson was arrested in Bexar County on a theft charge unrelated
to the one at issue in this appeal. After learning of the additional offense, the district court in this
case determined that Robinson had violated the terms of his bond and issued a capias for Robinson’s
arrest. In February 2013, Robinson sent a letter to the district court communicating that he had
been convicted of an offense in Bexar County and was serving a six-month sentence. In May 2013,
Robinson was taken into custody in Comal County after he finished his sentence in Bexar County.
Approximately three months later, the State presented an indictment in the case. Accordingly, although
many months passed between when Robinson was initially arrested and when an indictment
was presented, during most of that time Robinson had either been released from confinement or
had been incarcerated in another county for a separate offense. See Brooks v. State, Nos. 03-98-
00295–00296-CR, 1999 Tex. App. LEXIS 1525, at *3-4 (Tex. App.—Austin Feb. 25, 1999, pet. ref’d)
(not designated for publication) (noting when overruling issue related to pro se request for speedy
trial that defendant was free on bond for much of that time).
Turning to his requests for a speedy trial, Robinson filed two documents seeking to
invoke his right to a speedy trial. See U.S. Const. amend. VI (providing that accused shall enjoy
right to speedy trial). First, Robinson filed a pro se motion for speedy trial right before he was
released on bond in March 2012. Next, two months before the indictment was presented, Robinson
filed a pro se application for writ of habeas corpus urging that his right to a speedy trial was being
denied. Both filings relied on article 32.01 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which provides that
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if an indictment is “not presented against [the] defendant on or before the last day of the next term
of the court . . . or on or before the 180th day after the date of commitment or admission to bail,
whichever is later,” “the prosecution . . . shall be dismissed.” Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 32.01. In
his writ application, Robinson urged that at the time that he filed his application 550 days had
elapsed since he was initially arrested for the offense. Moreover, he requested that the charges
be dismissed with prejudice. See Cantu v. State, 253 S.W.3d 273, 283 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008)
(explaining that seeking dismissal rather than speedy trial “will generally weaken a speedy-trial
claim because it shows a desire to have no trial instead of a speedy one”).
On appeal, Robinson generally asserts that the district court’s failure to grant his
motion and his writ application was improper, “inevitably impaired” his defense because the
memories of the witnesses had faded and because evidence became unavailable, and caused him
anxiety; however, Robinson does not clearly set out how his ability to present a defense was
impaired or specifically identify how or what relevant evidence became unavailable. See Brooks,
1999 Tex. App. LEXIS 1525, at *3-4 (overruling speedy trial issue and noting that there was no
evidence that defendant’s ability to present defense was impaired). As discussed previously, the
surveillance footage chronicling the events as well as the recording of Robinson’s interview with
the police were available for examination and were presented during the trial. Moreover, although
Robinson repeats some of his challenges to the ledger that were discussed in his sufficiency
challenge, as summarized above, Rodriguez testified how she determined the value of the stolen
property, and Robinson was able to cross-examine her regarding her recollections of the events in
question. Finally, although Robinson contends on appeal that the stolen box was not adequately
tested, he does not assert that the box somehow became unavailable due to the passage of time.
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In any event, because Robinson was represented by counsel when he filed his motion
for speedy trial and when he filed his writ application, the district court was not required to and did
not rule on the motion or the application. See Robinson v. State, 240 S.W.3d 919, 922 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2007); see also Cavitt v. State, No. 01-13-00900-CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 4137, at *14 n.2
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 23, 2015, pet. ref’d) (explaining that trial court was not
obligated to rule on pro se writ of habeas corpus filed one and half years after defendant’s arrest
contending that right to speedy trial has been violated when defendant was represented by counsel);
cf. Stockton v. State, No. 03-13-00505-CR, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 9627, at *2 (Tex. App.—Austin
Aug. 28, 2014, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (concluding that speedy-trial
complaint was not preserved because trial court never ruled on his request and noting that trial court
might not have ruled because defendant was represented by counsel when he filed his pro se motion
for speedy trial). Defendants have no right to hybrid representation, and a “trial court is free to
disregard any pro se motions presented by a defendant who is represented by counsel.” Robinson,
240 S.W.3d at 922. Moreover, “a trial court’s decision not to rule on a pro se motion” is not “subject
to review” on appeal. Id.
For all of these reasons, we overrule Robinson’s first issue on appeal.
Effective Assistance of Counsel
In his second issue on appeal, Robinson argues that he was denied effective assistance
of counsel before the start of the trial and during the trial.
To succeed on an ineffectiveness claim, a defendant must overcome the strong
presumption that his trial “counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional
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assistance” and must show that the attorney’s “representation fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness . . . under prevailing professional norms” and that “there is a reasonable probability
that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688, 689, 694 (1984). Evaluations of effectiveness are
based on the totality of the representation. Frangias v. State, 450 S.W.3d 125, 136 (Tex. Crim. App.
2013); see also Davis v. State, 413 S.W.3d 816, 837 (Tex. App.—Austin 2013, pet. ref’d) (providing
that assessment should consider cumulative effect of counsel’s deficiencies). Furthermore, even
though a defendant is not entitled to representation that is error free, a single error can render the
representation ineffective if it “was egregious and had a seriously deleterious impact on the balance
of the representation.” Frangias, 450 S.W.3d at 136.
In general, direct appeals do not provide a useful vehicle for presenting ineffectiveness
claims because the record for that type of claim is usually undeveloped. Goodspeed v. State, 187
S.W.3d 390, 392 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). “This is true with regard to the question of deficient
performance . . . where counsel’s reasons for failing to do something do not appear in the record.”
Id. (stating that “counsel’s conduct is reviewed with great deference, without the distorting effects of
hindsight”). In addition, before their representation is deemed ineffective, trial attorneys should be
afforded the opportunity to explain their actions. Id. If that opportunity has not been provided, as
in this case, an appellate court should not determine that an attorney’s performance was ineffective
unless the conduct at issue “was so outrageous that no competent attorney would have engaged in
it.” See Garcia v. State, 57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).
On appeal, Robinson contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel by
his pretrial counsel when his attorney failed to file a motion seeking his release after he had been
12
“sitting in jail for greater than the allotted 90 days, without prosecution.” See Tex. Code Crim. Proc.
art. 17.151, § 1 (providing that defendant who is accused of felony and “who is detained in jail
pending trial . . . must be released on personal bond or by reducing the amount of bail required” if
State is not ready for trial within “90 days from the commencement of his detention”). Moreover,
Robinson asserts that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his pretrial attorney
failed to file a writ of habeas corpus seeking his release and seeking to have his charges dismissed
after no indictment had been presented within 180 days of his arrest and his placement into custody.
See id. art. 32.01. Robinson also asserts that this ineffective assistance was further compounded by
the fact that he had to file his own pro se motions to the district court requesting release.
The ineffectiveness claims summarized above are based on his pretrial attorney’s
alleged failures to act, and the record before this Court is not sufficiently developed to evaluate those
purported failures because neither his pretrial attorney “nor the State have been given an opportunity
to respond to” the claims. See Menefield v. State, 363 S.W.3d 591, 593 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012).
Regarding the alleged failure to request Robinson’s release on bond after 90 days, the record in this
case does show that Robinson’s pretrial attorney was appointed in December 2011 and that Robinson
filed a pro se motion in February 2012 seeking his release because 90 days had passed since he was
taken into custody. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.151. However, the record also reveals that
Robinson’s pretrial attorney filed a motion to reduce Robinson’s bond in March 2012, that the
district court granted the motion, and that Robinson was released on a personal bond subject to the
condition that he not commit any offenses during his release.
Turning to Robinson’s claim that his pretrial attorney was ineffective for failing
to seek a dismissal of the charges after no indictment had been presented within 180 days, the
13
record does not establish why his pretrial counsel did not make the request urged by Robinson.
Furthermore, Robinson has not demonstrated that if a dismissal had been granted under article
32.01, the dismissal would have resulted in all of the charges being dismissed with prejudice as he
requested; on the contrary, generally speaking, the relief available under article 32.01 is temporary
in nature because the defendant can be rearrested after an indictment is later presented. See Ex parte
Countryman, 226 S.W.3d 435, 438-39 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); see also Tex. Code Crim Proc.
art. 12.01(4)(A) (providing that felony theft has five-year statute of limitations). Moreover, as
summarized above, Robinson was released from the custody of Comal County a few months after
his arrest, was later arrested and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in Bexar County, and was
transferred to the custody of Comal County after finishing his sentence in Bexar County, and an
indictment was presented approximately three months after he was returned to the custody of Comal
County. Cf. Ex parte Countryman, 226 S.W.3d at 438-39 (upholding determination that claim under
article 32.01 became moot after indictment was returned); see also Griffis v. State, 441 S.W.3d 599,
606 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2014, pet. ref’d) (noting that if grand jury returns indictment by
time complaint is brought to trial court, court is not required to release defendant from custody).
Finally, we note that Robinson was given credit for his period of incarceration in Bexar County
when the district court entered its judgment of conviction in this case, see Ferrin v. State, Nos.
05-98-02010—02011-CR, 1999 Tex. App. LEXIS 9611, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec. 30, 1999,
no pet.) (not designated for publication) (providing that if person is confined in another jurisdiction,
he is entitled to credit “if a detainer or hold is lodged against him by the first jurisdiction” (citing Ex
parte Bynum, 772 S.W.2d 113, 114 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989))), and that the possibility of obtaining
14
credit for his time served in Bexar County might have framed his attorney’s decision to not seek a
dismissal of the charges.
Based on the record before this Court and given the unique circumstances presented,
we cannot conclude that Robinson has demonstrated a failing on the part of his pretrial counsel so
egregious that no effective attorney would have engaged in it.
In addition to challenging the representation provided by his pretrial counsel,
Robinson also contends that the lawyer appointed to his case after his pretrial counsel withdrew was
ineffective. First, Robinson contends that his trial counsel improperly moved for a directed verdict
regarding an alternative charge for theft. As summarized above, Robinson was convicted of the
state-jail felony of stealing property with a value between $1,500 and $20,000, but the indictment
originally alleged an alternative theft charge stating that Robinson stole property that was worth less
than $1,500. See Tex. Penal Code § 31.03(e)(4)(D). Although the alternative charge did allege that
the property stolen had a value that was worth less than the amount alleged for the offense in which
he was convicted, the alternative charge also contained an additional allegation that Robinson had
previously been convicted of theft six times. Accordingly, the alternative charge was a state-jail
felony just like the offense for which he was convicted. Compare id. § 31.03(e)(3) (specifying
that theft is class A misdemeanor if value of property is between $500 and $1,500), with id.
§ 31.03(e)(4)(D) (providing that offense is state-jail felony if value of property is $1,500 or less and
if defendant has previously been convicted of theft on two or more occasions).
When moving to strike the alternative charge, Robinson’s trial counsel explained
that the evidence regarding the value of the property at issue demonstrated that the property was
15
worth more than $1,500. After considering the arguments of both parties, the district court struck
the alternative charge from the indictment. In response, the State asked the district court to order
Robinson’s trial counsel to not make arguments that the value of the property at issue was worth less
than $1,500, and the district court granted that request. In light of the preceding, Robinson contends
that by moving to strike the alternative charge and by seemingly agreeing that the evidence was
sufficient to support the primary offense charged, his trial counsel “barred himself from disputing
the evidence” and from requesting a lesser-included offense instruction under the alternative
charge. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 37.09 (defining lesser included offense as, among other things,
offense established by same or less than all facts required to establish commission of charged
offense). Accordingly, Robinson contends that his trial attorney’s actions were per se ineffective
and abdicated his duty to provide counsel.
As with Robinson’s claims regarding his pretrial counsel’s performance, the record
in this case does not provide any guidance regarding Robinson’s trial attorney’s decision to request
that the alternative charge be struck. Moreover, although the alternative charge may not have
technically been a lesser-included offense, given that the alternative charge only required proof that
the property stolen was worth less than $1,500 rather than between $1,500 and $20,000, the decision
to forgo the alternative charge might have been based on an all-or-nothing strategy that courts have
upheld in the context of lesser-included offenses. Cf. Okonkwo v. State, 398 S.W.3d 689, 697 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2013) (explaining that trial strategy might involve decision to not request lesser-included
charge); Tolbert v. State, 306 S.W.3d 776, 781 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (discussing all-or-nothing
strategy); Turner v. State, No. 03-12-00285-CR, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 8706, at *20 (Tex.
16
App.—Austin Aug. 8, 2014, pet. ref’d) (on reh’g) (mem. op., not designated for publication)
(stating that in absence of record evidence regarding counsel’s strategy, court cannot speculate as
to whether strategy existed and that “[t]he failure to request a lesser-included-offense instruction,
without explanation for trial counsel’s decisions, does not compel a conclusion that trial counsel’s
performance was deficient”); see also Menefied, 363 S.W.3d at 592-93 (explaining that direct appeal
is generally inadequate vehicle for presenting ineffectiveness claim regarding alleged failure to
request lesser-included instruction); Wood v. State, 4 S.W.3d 85, 87 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1999,
pet. ref’d) (noting that failure to request lesser-included instruction can constitute ineffective
assistance but that failure to request might also constitute sound trial strategy). In addition, under
the alternative charge, the State would have had to prove that Robinson had previously been
convicted of theft on two or more occasions. By having the alternative charge struck, Robinson’s
attorney effectively prevented the State from emphasizing to the jury during its closing argument
that Robinson had been previously convicted of multiple thefts.
Second, Robinson contends that his trial counsel was ineffective by failing to
cross-examine Rodriguez regarding her knowledge about the number of cartons in the box, the
method one could use “to determine the number of cartons present in the box besides the ledger, the
reliability of the ledger, or other possibilities for how those cartons were unaccounted for.”
Moreover, Robinson asserts that although Rodriguez testified that she made the ledger on the night
of the alleged theft, his attorney failed to cross-examine the witness regarding why the ledger had
a different date and time stamp on it.
As a preliminary matter, we note that Robinson’s trial counsel cross-examined
Rodriguez regarding her recollections of the night in question and regarding the contents of the box
17
and emphasized repeatedly that she did not actually see Robinson steal the box. Moreover, in her
testimony, Rodriguez explained how she determined the number of cartons in the box that was
stolen. In addition, although Robinson’s trial attorney did not question Rodriguez regarding the
alleged inconsistency between her testimony stating that she prepared the ledger on the night of the
offense and the date reflected on the ledger, the date reflected on the ledger simply revealed that the
ledger was prepared or printed on the morning after the offense was alleged to have occurred instead
of on the night of the offense. Furthermore, as with Robinson’s other claims of ineffectiveness, the
record does not reveal the motivations of his trial attorney.
In light of the preceding, we cannot conclude that the failure to cross-examine
Rodriguez in the manner suggested by Robinson demonstrated a failure on the part of his trial counsel
so egregious that no effective attorney would have engaged in it. Cf. Miniel v. State, 831 S.W.2d 310,
324 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (explaining that decision to not cross-examine witness can be wise
decision and concluding that failure to cross-examine co-defendant in light of totality of representation
did not constitute ineffective assistance).
Finally, Robinson urges that his trial attorney was ineffective because the attorney
failed to adequately investigate the evidence in this case. Specifically, Robinson contends that had
his attorney more thoroughly investigated this case, he would have discovered that 36 cartons
would not have fit inside the box that was stolen. As support for this argument, Robinson notes that
Parramore was charged with the same two counts, urges that the trial court in Parramore’s case
issued a directed verdict for the count alleging theft of an amount that was less than $1,500, and
mentions that Parramore’s trial counsel argued that “if the jury couldn’t cou[n]t 36 boxes, they
could not convict.”
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However, the information regarding Parramore offered by Robinson as support for
his argument is outside the record of this case. Even so, the fact that Parramore’s trial attorney might
have chosen to engage in a trial strategy that was not employed in this case does not compel a
conclusion that Robinson’s trial attorney was ineffective, particularly where, as here, the record
does not contain any information regarding his attorney’s motivations for allegedly failing to more
thoroughly investigate the capacity of the box. Cf. Castruita v. State, No. 03-10-00419-CR, 2012
Tex. App. LEXIS 5709, at *8 (Tex. App.—Austin July 12, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated
for publication) (explaining that fact that attorney “could have chosen a different trial strategy is not
enough to show that his assistance was ineffective”). Moreover, other than speculating about the
capacity of the stolen box, Robinson has not presented any information establishing that a more
thorough investigation of the box would have in fact revealed that 36 cartons could not fit inside the
box. In addition, it is not clear from this record that the box that was stolen was ever recovered.
Accordingly, we cannot conclude that the alleged failure was so egregious that no
effective attorney would have engaged in it.
Although we need not consider the matter further, we note that an attorney’s
effectiveness is based on the totality of the representation. See Frangias, 450 S.W.3d at 136. During
jury selection for Robinson’s trial, Robinson’s trial attorney emphasized the State’s burden to prove
the elements of the offense alleged, questioned the panel members regarding their ability to serve
on the jury and to make a decision based only on the evidence presented, explained a defendant’s
right to not testify, asked the panel members about whether they would hold a defendant’s decision
to not testify against him, and moved to strike various panel members for cause. Prior to trial, his
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trial attorney moved to suppress portions of Robinson’s interview with the police on the grounds that
those portions were not relevant and were more prejudicial than probative. Moreover, his attorney
successfully moved to exclude the admission of an offender identification card belonging to
Robinson that was found in Robinson’s wallet at the scene of the crime.
In his opening statement during the guilt or innocence portion of the trial, Robinson’s
attorney explained that the evidence will show that another individual, Parramore, stole the cartons,
emphasized that Robinson is presumed innocent, discussed the State’s burden to prove its case
beyond a reasonable doubt, explained that Robinson might not testify, and urged the jury to return
a verdict of not guilty after considering the evidence. During the trial, Robinson’s attorney objected
to the fact that the State had not submitted a copy of the ledger made by Rodriguez prior to seeking
to admit it as an exhibit. In addition, he cross-examined Rodriguez and the State’s other witnesses,
including Officer Wahrmund. Regarding the jury charge, his attorney objected on the ground that
there was no evidence that Robinson intended to steal cigarettes. During his closing argument in the
guilt or innocence phase, Robinson’s attorney argued that the State had failed to meet its burden and
that there was no evidence that Robinson intended to or actually did steal any property; on the
contrary, his attorney asserted that the evidence showed only that Parramore stole the box.
In the punishment phase of the trial, Robinson’s attorney successfully objected to a
portion of Officer Wahrmund’s testimony as speculation and cross-examined Officer Warhmund.
Moreover, Robinson informed his counsel of his desire to testify, and when his attorney called him
to the stand, his attorney pointed out that he had freely entered pleas of true to the enhancement
allegations and previously admitted responsibility for those prior offenses by pleading guilty to those
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charges. In addition, his attorney asked him if he had a history with drug use and if that history
resulted in the prior offenses, and Robinson testified that his history of drug abuse played a
major part in his prior offenses. During his closing argument, his attorney asserted that the value of
the property stolen was on the low end of the crime charged, reminded the jury that Robinson
pleaded true to the prior offenses, differentiated the offense at issue from other felonies with similar
punishment ranges, and asked the jury to remember the offense at issue when deciding the
appropriate punishment.
For all of these reasons, we overrule Robinson’s second issue on appeal.
CONCLUSION
Having overruled all of Robinson’s issues on appeal, we affirm the district court’s
judgment of conviction.
David Puryear, Justice
Before Justices Puryear, Goodwin, and Bourland
Affirmed
Filed: July 22, 2015
Do Not Publish
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