Vicky Renee Miller v. State ( 2014 )

AFFIRMED; Opinion Filed December 30, 2014.
S In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-13-01229-CR
VICKY RENEE MILLER, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 366th Judicial District Court
Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 366-81422-2012
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Bridges, Lang, and Evans
Opinion by Justice Evans
Appellant Vicky Miller appeals from the judgment adjudicating her guilty of attempted
murder. Appellant asserts three points of error: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support the
conviction for attempted murder; (2) the trial court erred by including a definition of murder in
the charge which included a “knowing” mental state; and (3) the trial court erred in overruling
appellant’s objection during the State’s closing argument after the State commented on
appellant’s failure to testify. Finding no merit in appellant’s arguments, we affirm the trial
court’s judgment.
I. BACKGROUND
Paul Key met appellant at a strip club and proposed within hours of first meeting her. He
agreed to support her financially if she would quit her job and marry him. Appellant accepted
and the two began a relationship. Appellant lived in an apartment with her two sons, Francisco
Hurtado and Ronnie, as well as a friend of Francisco’s, Dunkan Boyce. Appellant and Key lived
in separate residences but Key kept some personal items at appellant’s home. After several
years, Key found himself unsatisfied with appellant’s lack of commitment and the financial
straits he found himself in from supporting appellant. In November 2011, Key decided he
needed to end the relationship with appellant. When appellant showed up at Key’s condominium
on November 21, 2011, Key agreed to ride back to appellant’s apartment to retrieve his
belongings. Boyce was in appellant’s car and rode back to the apartment with them.
Key testified that when he came back downstairs after gathering his belongings, he saw
appellant and Hurtado. Key testified that appellant asked him to have a seat on the couch and
that he suddenly felt an electrical cord being tightened around his neck. Key testified that he was
able to pull the cord onto his chin so he could breathe. Boyce testified at trial that he strangled
Key with an electrical cord and that appellant took over when he lost his grip. Key then testified
that although he did not see who strangled him, he did see Hurtado attempt to put a pillow over
his face as he struggled. Key further testified that as he tried to stand up with the cord being
twisted around his throat, Hurtado hit him in his right eye and twice in the back of the head with
a frying pan. Key then started screaming and managed to flee the apartment with a bleeding
head wound. Once outside, he stopped a woman driving by and asked her to call 911. Key
testified that appellant told the driver that Key was “off his meds” and appellant tried to get Key
back inside. Key continued to yell “they’re trying to kill me” and went to a nearby Dollar
General to ask someone to call 911. Key was then transported by ambulance to the hospital for
treatment.
After Key left the apartment, Boyce also called 911. Boyce alleged in the call that Key
had assaulted appellant and Key had been injured as a result of Hurtado defending his mother.
Boyce testified at trial that appellant asked Hurtado to beat her up so that it would look like Key
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attacked her. Although Key was initially arrested for assaulting appellant, the charges were later
dropped. Appellant, Boyce, and Hurtado were arrested for the attempted murder of Key.
Appellant entered a plea of not guilty and a jury trial commenced on August 5, 2013. The jury
found appellant guilty of attempted murder and assessed a punishment of twenty years’
confinement. Appellant then filed a notice of appeal.
II. ANALYSIS
A. The Evidence Was Sufficient to Support Appellant’s Conviction
Appellant contends the evidence is insufficient to support a finding of guilt for the
offense of attempted murder. When an appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to
support a conviction, we review all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to
determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the
offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Wise v. State, 364 S.W.3d 900, 903 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012).
Evidence is sufficient if “the inferences necessary to establish guilt are reasonable based upon
the cumulative force of all the evidence when considered in the light most favorable to the
verdict.” Id. If the evidence is conflicting, we “‘presume that the factfinder resolved the
conflicts in favor of the prosecution’ and defer to that determination.” Id. (quoting Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 326 (1979)).
A person commits the offense of murder if such person “intentionally or knowingly
causes the death of an individual” or “intends to cause serious bodily injury and commits an act
clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.
§ 19.02(b)(1)-(2) (West 2011). An attempt to commit an offense occurs if, “with specific intent
to commit an offense, he does an act amounting to more than mere preparation that tends but
fails to effect the commission of the offense intended.” Id. at § 15.01(a) (West 2011).
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Appellant argues that the State failed to present sufficient evidence at trial that appellant
ever intended to cause Key’s death. Boyce testified that in November 2011 appellant said she
wanted to kill Key and asked if Boyce would help her. Boyce also testified that appellant was
trying to get a gun but was unable to do so. In addition, he testified that on November 21, 2011,
appellant called Hurtado on the way to pick up Key and told Hurtado to get his brother out of the
house and to get an extension cord. Boyce testified that after they returned to appellant’s
apartment, Boyce didn’t want to help kill Key and that appellant was trying to convince him to
“just go do it.” Boyce testified that he strangled Key with an electrical cord and that appellant
took over when Boyce lost his grip. Boyce also testified that appellant had the frying pan in her
hand. Key testified that appellant was in the room before and after the attack. Further, in his 911
call Key said it was appellant who tried to kill him.
In addition, Walter Stradler, a friend of Hurtado, testified that Hurtado told him that
“they” had tried to kill Key and that it didn’t work and Hurtado had beat up appellant to make it
look like Key had attacked appellant. Stradler identified the “they” as appellant, Hurtado and
Boyce. Tim Huddleston, an acquaintance of appellant and friend of Hurtado, testified that
appellant asked him to get her a bigger gun than the palm-sized .25 caliber gun she already
owned. He also testified that appellant had told him Key was worth a lot of money and that she
had mentioned wanting to “knock off Paul” in 2010. Justin Coltharp, another friend of Hurtado,
testified that he lived at appellant’s home for a while and that appellant told him she wanted to
marry Key and kill him so she could take all his money. Coltharp also testified that Hurtado told
him about the events of November 21, 2011, including that Hurtado, Boyce, and appellant had
tried to kill Key. Wesley Shivers, a former boyfriend of appellant, testified that appellant asked
him several times for a gun. When considered in the light most favorable to the verdict, the facts
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in this case were sufficient to support a conviction of attempted murder. We overrule appellant’s
first point of error.
B. Trial Court Did Not Err By Including a “Knowing” Mental State in Murder
Definition
Appellant contends that the trial court erred by including a definition of murder in the
charge which included a “knowing” mental state since it allowed the jury to convict appellant
without a finding of the specific intent to commit murder. At trial, appellant did not object to the
jury charge, but on appeal she argues that she was egregiously harmed by error in the charge.
We disagree.
When we review claims of jury charge errors, we first decide whether there was error in
the charge. Ferguson v. State, 335 S.W.3d 676, 684 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, no
pet.). If there was error and appellant objected to the error at trial, then only “some harm” is
necessary to reverse the trial court’s judgment. See Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1985) (op. on reh’g). If, however, the appellant failed to object at trial—as in this
case—then the appellant will obtain a reversal “only if the error is so egregious and created such
harm that he ‘has not had a fair and impartial trial’—in short ‘egregious harm.’” Id. Egregious
harm is the type and degree of harm that affects the very basis of the case, deprives the defendant
of a valuable right, or vitally affects a defense theory. Allen v. State, 253 S.W.3d 260, 264 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2008). In making an egregious harm determination, “the actual degree of harm must
be assayed in light of the entire jury charge, the state of the evidence, including the contested
issues and weight of probative evidence, the argument of counsel and any other relevant
information [revealed] by the record of the trial as a whole.” Trejo v. State, 280 S.W.3d 258, 261
(Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (quoting Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171). Egregious harm is a difficult
standard to meet and must be determined on a case-by-case basis. See Ellison v. State, 86
S.W.3d 226, 227 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).
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In this case, the jury charge clearly charges appellant with the offense of attempted
murder. The abstract portion of the charge then references the Texas Penal Code definition of
murder: “[o]ur law provides that a person commits the offense of Murder if the person
intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual or intends to cause serious bodily
injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an
individual.” 1 (emphasis added). The language objected to by appellant is the word “knowingly”
in the murder definition. However, the jury charge then immediately states that an “attempt” to
commit an offense occurs if, “with specific intent to commit an offense, a person does an act
amounting to more than mere preparation that tends, but fails, to effect the commission of the
offense intended.” (emphasis added). In addition, the application section of the jury charge
clearly applies an intentional mental state to the alleged offense:
NOW, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about
the 21st day of November, 2011, in Collin County, Texas, the defendant, VICKY
RENEE MILLER, intentionally, with the specific intent to commit the offense of
murder of Paul Key, do an act, to-wit: by placing an electrical cord around Paul
Key’s neck or by placing a pillow over Paul Key's face or by striking Paul Key on
the head with a pan, which amounted to more than mere preparation that tended
[sic] but failed to effect the commission of the offense intended, or if you find
from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 21st day of
November, 2011, in Collin County, Texas, the defendant, VICKY RENEE
MILLER, acting with intent to promote or assist the commission of the offense, if
any, she solicited, encouraged, directed, aided or attempted to aid Dunkan Boyce
or Francisco Hurtado to intentionally, with specific intent to commit the offense of
murder of Paul Key, do an act, to-wit: by placing an electrical cord around Paul
Key’s neck or by placing a pillow over Paul Key's face or by striking Paul Key on
the head with a pan, which amounted to more than mere preparation that tended
but failed to effect the commission of the offense intended, then you will find the
defendant guilty of the offense of Attempted Murder as charged in the indictment.
(emphasis added). It is the application paragraph which applies the pertinent penal law, abstract
definitions, and general legal principles to the particular facts and the indictment allegations. See
1
See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.02(b)(1)-(2) (West 2011) (A person commits the offense of murder if such
person “intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual” or “intends to cause serious bodily injury and
commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.”).
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Vasquez v. State, 389 S.W.3d 361, 367 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). “‘It is the application paragraph
of the charge, not the abstract portion, that authorizes a conviction.’” Yzaguirre v. State, 394
S.W.3d 526, 530 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (quoting Crenshaw v. State, 378 S.W.3d 460, 466
(Tex. Crim. App. 2012)). The application paragraph “explains to the jury, in concrete terms,
how to apply the law to the facts of the case.” Id. Accordingly, we should look to the
application paragraph to determine whether the jury was correctly instructed in order to resolve a
harm analysis. Id. “Where the application paragraph correctly instructs the jury, an error in the
abstract instruction is not egregious.” Medina v. State, 7 S.W.3d 633, 640 (Tex. Crim. App.
1999). With these principles in mind, we will proceed to conduct a harm analysis using the
Almanza factors. 2 See Doughtery v. State, PD-1411-05, 2006 WL 475802, at *1 (Tex. Crim.
App. March 1, 2006) (per curiam) (not designated for publication) (reversing appellate court that
did not conduct analysis using all Almanza factors).
The first Almanza factor requires consideration of the entire jury charge. See Almanza,
686 S.W.2d at 171. Here, the jury charge clearly provides that any conviction of appellant
required a finding of a specific intent to commit the offense of attempted murder. Accordingly,
the charge as a whole does not weigh in favor of egregious harm. See Medina, 7 S.W.3d at 640.
The second Almanza factor involves the state of the evidence, including the contested
issues and weight of the probative evidence. See Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171. As analyzed
above in appellant’s first issue, we have already determined that the facts were sufficient for the
jury to have convicted appellant of attempted murder. As such, the state of the evidence does not
favor a finding of egregious harm.
The third Almanza factor involves the argument of counsel. See Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at
171. In the State’s closing argument, we are unable to find any reference to the mental state of
2
Although appellant mentions the Almanza factors, there is no application of the factors to a harm analysis.
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“knowingly.” Instead, the State consistently discussed the “intent” of appellant. In fact, the
State specifically notes that the jury charge defines attempt as “having the specific intent to
commit an offense.” The argument of counsel does not favor a finding of egregious harm.
The final Almanza factor addresses any other relevant information revealed by the record
of the trial as a whole. See Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171. We are not aware of “any other
relevant information” that we should consider.
Thus, in light of the Almanza factors, we are unable to conclude that appellant suffered
egregious harm from the murder definition in the abstract section of the jury charge which
included a “knowingly” mental state. Accordingly, we overrule appellant’s second issue.
C. Trial Court Did Not Err in Overruling Appellant’s Objection During the
State’s Closing Argument
Appellant contends that constitutional rights were violated when the trial court allowed
the prosecutor to comment on appellant’s failure to testify during the State’s closing argument.
Specifically, appellant objects to the following italicized language in the State’s closing
argument:
I have a job to bring you evidence and bring you the truth about what happened
and to make sure I’m prosecuting not only the right person, but the person who is
guilty of this offense. That’s the truth. That’s about the only truthful thing we
heard today from this side of the table. I say that because they want to call what
we are bringing here today -- the evidence, the facts, the testimony, the numerous
witnesses that can corroborate what happened -- they want to call that my story.
My story. Well, heck, Vicky, what story is it? We’ve told four. She’s told four
from the opening -- her Defense has, at least -- from the opening and through the
closing.
Appellant’s counsel objected “to the comments directed towards the Defendant and remarks on
her decision not to testify.” After the trial court overruled the objection, the prosecutor stated:
“What happened on November 21st, 2011? We know the truth. We know the truth because the
Defense is not refuting what happened to Paul Key.” Appellant argues that this statement points
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to a lack of evidence that only appellant could supply. As such, appellant argues that the error
should result in a reversal and remand. We disagree.
To determine if a prosecutor’s comment violated the state and federal constitutional
protections from, and the code of criminal procedure 3 prohibition of, an impermissible reference
to an accused’s failure to testify, we must consider whether the language used was manifestly
intended or was of such character that the jury would naturally consider it to be a comment on
the failure of the accused to testify. Randolph v. State, 353 S.W.3d 887, 891 (Tex. Crim. App.
2011). We “must view the State’s argument from the jury’s standpoint and resolve any
ambiguities in the language in favor of it being a permissible argument.” Id. In addition, it is
only error when the language points to a lack of evidence that only the defendant herself can
supply. Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 491 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).
In this instance, the State argues that the prosecutor’s statement did not necessarily refer
to the appellant’s failure to testify but, rather, served to raise the issue of which defense theory
the jury was supposed to believe. The State argues that the statement—“Well, heck, Vicky, what
story is it?”—was a critique of the multitude of defensive theories presented by appellant.
Whether the several different theories were the referent or it was a vague comment without a
specific target, we cannot conclude that this language was manifestly intended or was of such
character that the jury would naturally consider it to be a comment on the failure of the accused
to testify. As such, we overrule appellant’s third issue.
3
See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.08 (West 2005) (“Any defendant in a criminal action shall be
permitted to testify in his own behalf, but the failure of any defendant to so testify shall not be taken as a
circumstance against him, nor shall the same be alluded to or commented on by counsel in the cause.”)
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III. CONCLUSION
We resolve appellant’s issues against her and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
/ David Evans/
DAVID EVANS
JUSTICE
Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47
131229F.U05
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S
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
VICKY RENEE MILLER, Appellant On Appeal from the 366th Judicial District
Court, Collin County, Texas
No. 05-13-01229-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. 366-81422-2012.
Opinion delivered by Justice Evans. Justices
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Bridges and Lang participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered this 30th day of December, 2014.
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