Pedro Torres Rico v. State ( 2009 )

NUMBERS 13-08-257-CR and 13-08-258-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
PEDRO TORRES RICO, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 265th District Court
of Dallas County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Garza and Vela
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Vela
In separate cases tried together, a jury convicted appellant, Pedro Torres Rico, of
attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer, a state jail felony, see TEX . PENAL CODE
ANN . § 38.14(b), (e) (Vernon Supp. 2008) (appellate court cause number 13-08-257-CR)
and of assault on a public servant, a third-degree felony. See id. § 22.01(a)(1), (b)(1)
(appellate court cause number 13-08-258-CR). The trial court assessed punishment at
180 days’ confinement in a state jail facility and two years’ imprisonment, respectively. In
each case, the trial court suspended the sentences and placed appellant on two years’
community supervision.
In thirteen issues, appellant argues: (1) the trial court improperly restricted his right
to cross-examine the victim; (2) the trial court failed to instruct the jury on the law of self-
defense provided in penal code section 38.14(d); (3) the evidence is legally and factually
insufficient to support his convictions; and (4) the evidence established self-defense. We
affirm.1
I. Factual Background
A. State’s Evidence
On the night of June 6, 2004, Officer Michael May was driving a marked police car
in Garland, Texas, equipped with a video camera, which recorded audio and video. He
carried a wireless microphone on his belt, which transmitted sound to his car’s video
camera. At this time, appellant was driving home after drinking beer at his brother’s house.
When Officer May pulled up to a red light, he saw appellant turn onto Walnut Street and
drive the wrong way against oncoming traffic. Officer May turned on his overhead lights,
and appellant pulled into his driveway. After Officer May knocked on appellant’s driver’s
side window, appellant got out of his car and put his hands behind his back. Officer May
saw appellant “had red watery eyes.” Concerned appellant was reaching for a weapon,
Officer May told him to come towards him. He refused, and when Officer May grabbed
onto appellant’s shirt to pull him closer, appellant pushed Officer May backwards. Both
1
This appeal was transferred to this Court from the Fifth Court of Appeals by order of the Texas
Suprem e Court. See T EX . G O V ’T C OD E A N N . § 22.220 (Vernon 2004) (delineating the jurisdiction of appellate
courts); T EX . G O V ’T C OD E A N N . § 73.001 (Vernon 2005) (granting the suprem e court the authority to transfer
cases from one court of appeals to another at any tim e that there is “good cause” for the transfer)
2
men fell to the ground. When appellant got up, he charged at Officer May.
Officer May testified appellant “grabbed on to my holster for my gun and the holster
for my pepper spray.” He stated appellant also grabbed “on top of my pepper spray” and
“on top of my gun” and started shaking his gun belt. He said appellant was “trying to shake
my weapons loose or shake my gun belt off.” Officer May tried to push him away and tried
“to knock his hand off” to take out his pepper spray, but appellant “stripped” the pepper
spray out of Officer May’s hand. Appellant continued to shake Officer May’s gun belt,
causing the holster to come unsnapped and the gun to fall to the ground. Officer May
testified that at this point, he had no choice but “to punch him in the head to get him off of
me.” Appellant responded by punching Officer May two or three times in the face, causing
pain to Officer May. Appellant tried to punch him again, but Officer May hit appellant’s arm
with his flashlight and told him to “‘Get back.’” Each time Officer May blocked a punch by
hitting appellant’s arm with the flashlight, appellant would take a step towards him, causing
Officer May to keep stepping backwards until he was in the street. At that point, Officer
May struck him in the head with the flashlight.
Appellant then ran toward his house and tried to get inside. Officer May picked up
his pepper spray and firearm and tried to grab him. Appellant tried to punch him in the
face, but Officer May managed to spray appellant’s face with “a little bit” of pepper spray
in his facial area. Undaunted, appellant picked up a ladder. Officer May took cover, and
appellant threw it in his general direction. When appellant heard other police cars pull up,
he laid down. The other officers helped Officer May handcuff appellant. After the incident,
appellant was taken to the police station where he gave two breath specimens, both of
3
which indicated that he was intoxicated.2 The trial court admitted into evidence State’s
exhibit 2, which is the videotape3 from Officer May’s in-car video camera.
Officer May testified his pepper spray is referred to as a “chemical dispensing
device.” He stated that but for appellant shaking his belt, the gun would not have fallen to
the ground. He also testified appellant “never had [the gun] in his hand, but the pepper
spray he actually grabbed on to it when he stripped it out of my hand. But he didn’t
maintain possession of it, he knocked it out of my hand by actually grabbing it.”
B. Appellant’s Evidence
Appellant’s brother, Francisco Rico, testified appellant came to his house on June
6, 2004 to watch a televised boxing match. Francisco and appellant each drank “probably
. . . four or five beers at the most.” He said appellant did not generally resist authority and
was not an aggressive person. When appellant left Francisco’s house, appellant “was just
fine,” “walking as a regular person,” and “happy as he can be.” After the incident,
Francisco talked to appellant about what had happened. When defense counsel asked
Francisco, “You said your brother pulled into the driveway. What did he tell you happened
next?”, Francisco replied, “[H]e was still inside the car and that cop came and start [sic] to
beat the glass” and “[t]hen he start [sic] open the door and he got handcuffed and then he
started getting beat. . . . Started getting beat by the officer.”
Appellant testified that after drinking four or five beers at his brother’s house, he left
“close to midnight.” He did not see the police car behind him until he was close to his
2
The trial court adm itted into evidence State’s exhibit 14, which is a stipulation of evidence stating that
appellant “on June 6th, 2004, had a breath alcohol concentration of .116 and .112” “gram s of alcohol per 210
Liters of breath. . . .”
3
Because of the angle at which Officer May parked his car, the cam era only captured the audio portion
of the encounter between appellant and Officer May. The prosecutor played the videotape to the jury, and
Officer May explained to the jury what they were hearing on the videotape.
4
home. When he pulled into his driveway, he did not roll down his window because the
police officer “was hitting the window with that stick that they carry.” This scared him, so
he started honking his horn to alert his wife, who was in the house. He “saw the barrel of
the gun on the glass” and heard the officer tell him to get out of the car. When the officer
pointed the gun at appellant’s face, he thought the officer was going to kill him. When
appellant got out of his car with his hands behind him, Officer May hit him on the neck and
“tackled” him. Officer May fell on top of him, and while appellant was face down, Officer
May continued to hit him. At one point, appellant got away from Officer May, but Officer
May grabbed him and beat him some more.
Appellant denied throwing the ladder at Officer May, and he denied that he took the
“Mace” from him. He testified he knew Officer May was a police officer and that he “never
handled [Officer May’s] gun” and never tried to pull the gun from its holster. When defense
counsel asked him, “Did you unlawfully then and there intentionally, knowing or recklessly
cause bodily injury to [Officer May]?”, he said, “No.” He also denied that he either took or
attempted to take with force Officer May’s firearm or personal protection chemical
dispensing device.
After appellant was released from police custody, he went to Baylor Medical Center
for treatment and learned that his “brain was swollen.” That weekend, he returned to
Baylor Medical Center for brain surgery and spent about two weeks in the hospital. He
testified that this injury was the result of his being hit on the head.
During appellant’s direct examination, defense counsel played State’s exhibit 2 (the
videotape from Officer May’s in-car video camera) to the jury, and appellant explained to
the jury what they were hearing on the videotape.
5
After appellant testified, the defense called Officer May as a witness. When
defense counsel asked Officer May, “Do you remember any time pulling your gun out
telling him [appellant] to get out?”, he replied, “No, sir.” When defense counsel asked
Officer May, “When he got out [of the car] was his speech slurred, bloodshot eyes?”, he
replied, “Yes, sir.” When defense counsel asked him, “Did [appellant] . . . ever grab your
firearm at any time?”, he replied, “[N]o, sir.” Officer May denied he used more force than
necessary to arrest appellant.
On re-direct examination, when the prosecutor asked Officer May, “Did the
defendant grab your pepper spray when it was on your belt?,” he said, “As it was coming
out of the holster he grabbed on to it and knocked it from my hand.”
Appellant’s wife, Teresa Rico, testified appellant respected authority and that he was
not a violent person. She had never seen him threaten anybody and said he is not the kind
of person who would attack a police officer.
II. Discussion
A. Cross-Examination of Officer May
In issue one, appellant argues the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to
allow defense counsel to cross-examine Officer May about prior incidents in which the
officer allegedly used excessive force. During cross-examination, defense counsel asked
Officer May the meaning of the term “excessive force,” to which he said, “You use more
force than necessary to effect an arrest.” When asked, “Isn’t that what occurred in this
case?”, he stated, “No, sir, no, sir.” Then, counsel asked him, “You wouldn’t do anything
like that?” To this, he replied, “No, I would not.” At this point, defense counsel, outside the
6
jury’s presence, asked4 him about prior incidents in which he allegedly used excessive
4
Outside the jury’s presence, defense counsel questioned Officer May as follows:
Counsel: Officer Mays [sic], have there been com plaints filed against you for the use
of excessive force and conduct unbecom ing of a police officer?
Officer May: Excessive force, yes; I don’t believe conduct unbecom ing.
Counsel: On June 4th— April 4th of 1999, do you recall a claim ant m ade— a claim
m ade against you, filed with the Garland Police Departm ent, for excessive
force conduct unbecom ing of an officer and profane language, an event
which occurred April 4th, 1999?
Officer May: I cannot recall an event, no, sir.
Counsel: But it occurred, correct?
Officer May: If it’s in m y file then I would say yes, but I don’t know for sure.
Counsel: Okay. It was in your file when you were asked about it in your deposition, correct?
Officer May: Can you repeat?
Counsel: It was in your file and it was asked, those questions were asked of you on
your deposition?
Officer May: They asked questions about certain events, but I don’t rem em ber the dates
or tim es, content of each com plaint. I don’t rem em ber.
Counsel: Yes, sir. You don’t recall any of the details about that event though?
Officer May: Correct.
Counsel: Okay. But there was a com plaint m ade against you in regard to an action
that occurred on Novem ber 15th of 2001, with an individual whose nam e
was Mr. Rivera, with the use of excessive force. Do you recall that?
Officer May: No, sir.
Counsel: So you were questioned about that on your deposition?
Officer May: Yes, sir.
Counsel: From your file that was furnished to Mr. Ellis correct, sir?
Officer May: Correct.
Counsel: And next question was, there was a com plaint m ade against you in an event
occurred on March 2nd— March 23rd of 2002, in regard to a Mr. Castillo,
alleging excessive force. Do you rem em ber or recall that com plaint at all?
Officer May: No, sir.
Counsel: But in fact it was filed and you were questioned about it on your deposition
7
force. Counsel told the trial court the proffered testimony was “relevant to show the course
of conduct in this case, and I would like to bring that up in front of the jury.” The trial court
denied counsel’s request to let the jury hear the proffered testimony.5
1. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
When considering a trial court’s ruling on the admission of evidence, we “must
determine whether the trial court abused its discretion.” Willover v. State, 70 S.W.3d 841,
845 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). “We consider the ruling in light of what was before the trial
court at the time the ruling was made and uphold the trial court’s judgment if it lies within
the zone of reasonable disagreement.” Billodeau v. State, 277 S.W.3d 34, 39 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2009).
“Relevant facts that occurred before the witness testified at trial are admissible if
permitted by the Rules of Evidence or the Confrontation Clause.” Id. at 40. “Generally, the
right to present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses under the Sixth Amendment
does not conflict with corresponding rights under state evidentiary rules.” Hammer v. State,
No. PD-0786-08, 2009 WL 928561, *10-11 (Tex. Crim. App. April 8, 2009). “Thus, most
questions concerning cross-examination may be resolved by looking to the Texas Rules
of Evidence.” Id. at *11.
from your personal file from the police departm ent?
Officer May: Correct.
At this point, counsel told the trial court, “I believe those are pertinent and relevant to show the course
of conduct in this case, and I would like to bring that up in front of the jury.” T o this, the trial court asked,
“That’s what you’re going to ask him ? After counsel responded affirm atively, the trial court denied counsel’s
request.
5
W e note defense counsel did not offer the proffered testim ony for im peachm ent purposes.
8
2. Analysis
Texas Rule of Evidence 401 defines relevant evidence as “evidence having any
tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of
the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” TEX . R.
EVID . 401. Evidence must be material and probative to be considered relevant. Miller v.
State, 36 S.W.3d 503, 507 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). In order for evidence to be material,
it “‘must be shown to be addressed to the proof of a material proposition, i.e., ‘any fact that
is of consequence to the determination of the action.’ ‘If the evidence is offered to help
prove a proposition which is not a matter in issue, the evidence is immaterial.’” Id. If the
evidence is material, the proponent must also show “the evidence is probative, i.e., the
proffered evidence must tend to make the existence of the fact ‘more or less probable than
it would be without the evidence.’” Id. If the proponent establishes that the evidence is
both material and probative, then the evidence is admissible unless it is otherwise barred
by the Constitution, statutes, or other rules of evidence. See TEX . R. EVID . 402.6 “It is
important, when determining whether evidence is relevant, that courts examine the
purpose for which the evidence is being introduced.” Layton v. State, No. PD-408-07, 2009
WL 250080 at *12 (Tex. Crim. App. Feb. 4, 2009). Here, counsel told the trial court the
proffered testimony was “relevant to show the course of conduct in this case. . . .”
Evidence of a victim’s “pertinent character trait” offered by the accused may be
admissible under Rule 404(a)(1). Evans v. State, 876 S.W.2d 459, 463 (Tex.
App.–Texarkana 1994, no pet.); see TEX . R. EVID . 404(a)(1). Rule 405(a) provides, in
relevant part: “In all cases in which evidence of a person’s character or character trait is
6
See also Zavala v. State, No. 13-98-395-CR, 2004 W L 491132 at *3 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi, Mar.
11, 2004, no pet.) (m em op., not designated for publication).
9
admissible, proof may be made by testimony as to reputation or by testimony in the form
of an opinion. . . .” TEX . R. EVID . 405(a). However, “[r]ules 404(a) and 405(a) specifically
disallow particular acts of the victim to demonstrate character.” Tate v. State, 981 S.W.2d
189, 192 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998).
Rule 405(b) provides that “in cases in which a person’s character or character trait
is an essential element of a charge, claim or defense, proof may be made of specific
instances of the person’s conduct.” TEX . R. EVID . 405(b). Appellant’s version of the events
was that Officer May used excessive force to arrest him and that any action he may have
taken against Officer May was in self-defense. However, the “theory of self-defense does
not inquire into, as an essential element, the character of the victim.” Evans, 876 S.W.2d
at 464; Tate, 981 S.W.2d at 192-93. Thus, because Officer May’s character or character
trait was not an essential element of a charge, claim, or defense, appellant could not
introduce evidence of specific instances of Officer May’s conduct. See TEX . R. EVID .
405(b); Evans, 876 S.W.2d at 464.7
Accordingly, the trial court did not err in concluding that the proffered testimony was
not material because it did not address any fact of importance to the outcome of the action.
Miller, 36 S.W.3d at 507. Thus, the proffered testimony is not relevant, and, therefore,
7
In Evans, the defendant was convicted of aggravated assault on a police officer, the victim being
Officer Sonsel. Evans v. State, 876 S.W .2d 459, 461-62 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 1994, no pet.). During trial,
the defendant sought to introduce four reports based on com plaints by citizens that Officer Sonsel had used
excessive or unnecessary force, or had caused physical injury. Id. at 464. The defendant argued the reports
were adm issible because they would help prove Officer Sonsel had aggressive tendencies and was the
aggressor in the present case and that the defendant acted in self-defense. Id. In holding the reports were
not adm issible, the appellate court stated, “[T]hese reports consist of recitations of specific instances of
Sonsel’s conduct and not opinion or reputation testim ony.” Id. The court further stated, “[T]he justification
theory of self-defense does not inquire into as an essential elem ent, the character of the victim . Thus, specific
instances of Sonsel’s conduct were not adm issible to prove character.” Id.
10
inadmissible. See TEX . R. EVID . 401, 4028; Miller, 36 S.W.3d at 507.
3. Confrontation Clause
To the extent appellant claims the Confrontation Clause permits the jury to hear the
proffered testimony, we note appellant did not argue to the trial court the Confrontation
Clause required admission of the evidence. See Reyna v. State, 168 S.W.3d 173, 179-80
(Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (holding that the appellate court erred in reversing a conviction on
Confrontation Clause grounds because defendant did not “clearly articulate” to trial court
that the Confrontation Clause demanded admission of the evidence in question).
We hold that whether the proffered testimony was admissible is at least subject to
reasonable disagreement. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying
appellant the opportunity to cross-examine Officer May about the prior alleged instances
of excessive force. Issue one is overruled.
B. Issues Pertaining to Conviction for Attempting to Take a Weapon from a Peace Officer
1. Charge Error
In issue two, appellant argues that he was egregiously harmed because the charge
did not include an instruction on the statutory defense under section 38.14(d) of the penal
code, which was raised by the evidence. See TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 38.14(d). When
evaluating charge error, we first determine whether there was error in the charge. Almanza
v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 174 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (op. on reh’g). If so, “the next step
is to make an evidentiary review . . . as well as a review of any other part of the record as
a whole which may illuminate the actual, not just theoretical, harm to the accused.” Id.
8
Rule of Evidence 402 provides that “[a]ll relevant evidence is adm issible, except as otherwise
provided by Constitution, by statute, by these rules, or by other rules prescribed pursuant to statutory authority.
Evidence which is not relevant is inadm issible.” T EX . R. E VID . 402.
11
Section 38.14(b) of the penal code provides that a person commits an offense “if
the person intentionally or knowingly and with force takes or attempts to take from a peace
officer, . . . the officer’s firearm, nightstick, stun gun, or personal protection chemical
dispensing device with the intention of harming the officer or a third person.” TEX . PENAL
CODE ANN . § 38.14(b). Section (d) provides that “It is a defense to prosecution under this
section that the defendant took or attempted to take the weapon from a peace officer, . .
. who was using force against the defendant or another in excess of the amount of force
permitted by law.” Id. § 38.14(d).
a. Was Appellant Entitled to a Self-Defense Instruction Under Section 38.14(d)?
The defendant bears the burden of producing some evidence that raises self-
defense. Zuliani v. State, 97 S.W.3d 589, 594 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Saxton v. State,
804 S.W.2d 910, 913 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). A defense is raised if there is evidence in
the record making a prima facie case for the defense. “A prima facie case is that ‘minimum
quantum of evidence necessary to support a rational inference that [an] allegation of fact
is true.’” Shaw v. State, 243 S.W.3d 647, 657 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (quoting Tompkins
v. State, 774 S.W.2d 195, 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987)). Therefore, a defense is raised by
the evidence if there is “some evidence, from any source, on each element of the defense
that, if believed by the jury, would support a rational inference that the element is true.” Id.
at 657-58. “If a defense is supported by the evidence, then the defendant is entitled to an
instruction on that defense, even if the evidence supporting the defense is weak or
contradicted, and even if the trial court is of the opinion that the evidence is not credible.”
Id. at 658. “But, the evidence must be such that it will support a rational jury finding” with
respect to each element of the defense. Id. We view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the defendant to determine whether it is sufficient to raise the issue of self-
12
defense. Preston v. State, 756 S.W.2d 22, 24 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, pet.
ref’d).
As a general matter, to be entitled to a defensive justification instruction, a
defendant must admit the conduct charged in the indictment and then offer evidence
justifying the conduct. Shaw, 243 S.W.3d at 659 (holding that “a defensive instruction is
appropriate only when the defendant’s defensive evidence essentially admits to every
element of the offense including the culpable mental state, but interposes the justification
to excuse the otherwise criminal conduct”); Young v. State, 991 S.W.2d 835, 838 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1999); Withers v. State, 994 S.W.2d 742, 745 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1999,
pet. ref’d).
Here, appellant denied the allegations in the indictment. Therefore, only the State’s
evidence could possibly have raised the defensive issue. Johnson v. State, 715 S.W.2d
402, 405-06 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1986, pet. ref’d). In his affidavit, which is part
of the State’s rebuttal evidence, appellant stated when he got out of his car, Officer May
beat him in the head with his baton and threw him to the ground. Officer May testified
appellant “grabbed on to my holster for my gun and the holster for my pepper spray.” He
stated appellant also grabbed “on top of my pepper spray” and “on top of my gun” and
started shaking his gun belt. He said appellant was “trying to shake my weapons loose or
shake my gun belt off.” Officer May tried to push him away and tried “to knock his hand
off” to take out his pepper spray, but appellant “stripped” the pepper spray out of his hand.
Appellant continued to shake Officer May’s gun belt, causing the holster to come
unsnapped and the gun to fall to the ground. This is some evidence of Officer May’s use
of excessive force and of appellant’s attempt to take Officer May’s weapons, requiring the
submission of the instruction under section 38.14(d). See TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . §
13
38.14(d).
Even though the evidence supported an instruction under section 38.14(d), we do
not find appellant suffered egregious harm. When, as in this case, an accused complains
of an unobjected-to error in the charge, “he 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.’” Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171. The error must “go to the very basis of
the case, deprive the accused of a valuable right,” or “vitally affect his defensive theory.”
Id. at 172. (Internal citation omitted). The degree of harm, sufficiently serious to be called
“egregious,” is present whenever a reviewing court finds the case for conviction or
punishment was actually made clearly and significantly more persuasive by the error.
Saunders v. State, 817 S.W.2d 688, 692 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). “Egregious harm is a
difficult standard to prove and must be determined on a case-by-case basis.” Ellison v.
State, 86 S.W.3d 226, 227 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). The actual degree of harm is
determined “in light of the entire 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.” Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171.
b. Harm Analysis
(I). Entire Charge
The charge included a self-defense instruction9 under penal code section 9.31(b),
9
Specifically, the charge instructed the jury:
The use of force against another is not justified to resist an arrest or search that the
defendant knows is being m ade by a peace officer, or by a person acting in a peace officer’s
presence and at his direction, even though the arrest or search is unlawful, unless the
resistance is justified under the following circum stances:
The use of force to resist an arrest or search is justified:
(1) if, before the defendant offers any resistance, the peace officer uses or attem pts
14
(c)(1), and (c)(2). See TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 9.31(b), (c)(1), (c)(2). Furthermore, the
charge: (1) instructed and applied the law of the particular offense to the facts of the case;
(2) correctly placed the burden on the State to prove each element of the offense beyond
a reasonable doubt;10 and (3) instructed the jury appellant was not required to prove his
innocence or to produce any evidence. The application paragraph included the following
instruction: “Unless you so find beyond a reasonable doubt, or if you have a reasonable
doubt thereof, you will acquit the defendant of attempting to take a weapon from a peace
officer and say by your verdict not guilty.” The charge further instructed the jury that: “In
the event you have a reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s guilt after considering all the
evidence before you, and these instructions, you will acquit him and say by your verdict not
to use greater force than necessary to m ake the arrest or search; and
(2) when and to the degree the defendant reasonably believes the force is
im m ediately necessary to protect him self against the peace officer’s use or attem pted use
of greater force than necessary.
“Reasonable belief” m eans a belief that would be held by an ordinary and prudent
person in the sam e circum stances as the defendant.
Now, therefore, if you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant, Pedro Torres Rico, resisted an arrest or search that the defendant knew was
being m ade by a peace officer, nam ely M. May, regardless of whether or not the arrest or
search was unlawful, by grabbing or by shaking M . M ay’s firearm or personal protection
chem ical dispensing device, and you further find or have a reasonable doubt thereof, that
before the defendant offered any resistance, if any, the peace officer used or attem pted to
use greater force than necessary to m ake the arrest or search, and you further find, or have
a reasonable doubt thereof, that the defendant reasonably believed that the force when and
to the degree used, if it was, was im m ediately necessary to protect him self against the peace
officer’s use or attem pted use of greater force than necessary, then you will find in favor of
the defendant’s plea of self-defense and find the defendant not guilty.
If you find and believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that at the tim e
and place in question the peace officer, M. May, did not use or attem pt to use greater force
than was necessary to effect the arrest or search of the defendant, or that the defendant did
not reasonably believe the force used by the defendant, if any, was im m ediately necessary
to protect him self against the peace officer’s use or attem pted use of greater force than
necessary, then you will find against the defendant on his plea of self-defense.
10
Specifically, the charge stated: “The prosecution has the burden of proving the defendant guilty and
it m ust do so by proving each and every elem ent of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt and if
it fails to do so, you m ust acquit the defendant”
15
guilty.” (emphasis added).
We presume the jury followed the trial court’s instructions. Resendiz v. State, 112
S.W.3d 541, 546 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (citing Colburn v. State, 966 S.W.2d 511, 520
(Tex. Crim. App. 1998)). We conclude that even though the trial court erred by failing to
charge the jury under section 38.14(d), the charge as a whole adequately conveyed to the
jury that it was required to acquit appellant if it had a reasonable doubt the State failed to
prove all elements of the offense. See Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 594 (holding that to meet its
burden of persuasion to show defendant did not act in self-defense, the State was required
to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt).
(ii). State of the Evidence and Contested Issues
Appellant testified that Officer May was the aggressor, that he resisted Officer May
because Officer May continued to beat him, that he feared for his life, and that after the
incident, he had to have brain surgery. The State controverted appellant's self-defense
claim by showing that appellant charged at Officer May and attempted to take his weapons.
The State also showed that Officer May did not strike appellant until after appellant had
dislodged Officer May’s pepper spray and his firearm. When Officer May punched him in
the head, appellant responded by punching Officer May two or three times in the face. In
order to avoid being punched again, Officer May hit him in the head with his flashlight.
Officer May denied that he used excessive force against appellant. After the incident,
appellant gave two breath specimens, which showed he was intoxicated. The jury's
decision turned on credibility and in our view was not influenced by any error in the charge.
(iii). Arguments of Counsel
During closing argument, one of the prosecutors explained the law of self-defense
to the jury and argued appellant was not telling the truth about what had happened and
16
that Officer May was telling the truth about what had happened. The other prosecutor
argued that Officer May did not use excessive force.
In their closing arguments, defense counsel argued Officer May was the aggressor
and that appellant had testified truthfully. One of appellant’s counsel argued appellant had
the right to defend himself against the use of excessive force.11
(iv). Other Relevant Information
The record does not reflect the jury was confused about the applicable burden of
proof or about the State's burden to prove all elements of its case beyond a reasonable
doubt.
11
Counsel argued that appellant knocked the pepper spray from Officer May’s hand “[o]ut of self-
defense for God’s sake. That stuff is nasty. Okay?” He further argued:
So when you look at the assault of a public servant here, the use of force to resist
an arrest or a search is justified if the peace officer uses or attem pts to use greater force than
necessary to m ake the arrest or to the degree the defendant reasonably believes. So it’s a
reasonable belief standard what he reasonably believes occurring to him at the tim e in
question, and there’s nothing here that would show this m an ever, ever at any tim e had care,
custody and control, or attem pted the care, custody and control of the weapons or his Mace,
ever, other than to keep from getting shot and to keep from getting sprayed on som ething
that was very m uch uncalled for. People have an absolute right to defend them selves even
against a police officer if they’re using excessive force.
****
So when and to the degree the defendant, citizen accused, reasonably believed the
force is im m ediately necessary to protect him self against the peace officer’s use or attem pted
use of greater force than necessary. Reasonable belief m eans a belief that would be held
by an ordinary and prudent person, that’s you, that’s Mr. Rico [appellant], in the sam e or
sim ilar circum stance as the defendant.
In this case you would have an absolute right to com e here and com plain about what
was happening and defend yourself when som eone takes advantage of you as a citizen. . .
.
****
Because when you’re trying to defend yourself, you have an absolute right to do so, as in the
charge, if you believe from the evidence that there is excessive force here, which I believe
there is a reasonable deduction from the evidence there is. Then so what? W as there an
aggravated assault or was there assault on a public servant? There is not. Okay?
17
c. Application
Based on our review, appellant has not shown the court’s failure to charge the jury
under section 38.14(d) affected the very basis of the case, deprived him of a valuable right,
or vitally affected his defensive theory. Even though the charge did not include the law of
self-defense as it pertained to section 38.14(d), it did instruct the jury on the elements of
self-defense with respect to penal code section 9.31(b). Appellant relied on self-defense
as a defensive theory, and urged the jury to consider the issue of self-defense.
Considering the jury was given a general instruction on the law of self-defense, and
appellant discussed self-defense during the trial, we conclude appellant did not suffer
egregious harm. Issue two is overruled.
2. Sufficiency of the Evidence
a. Legal Sufficiency
In issue four, appellant argues the evidence is legally insufficient to prove he
intentionally or knowingly took or attempted to take Officer May’s firearm. In issue six, he
argues the evidence is legally insufficient to prove he intentionally or knowingly took or
attempted to take the officer’s personal protection chemical dispensing device.
(I). Standard of Review
In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, we view
all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict in order to 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); Sanchez v. State, 275
S.W.3d 901, 902 n.2 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). This standard gives full play to the
responsibility of the trier of fact to resolve conflicts in the testimony, to weigh the evidence,
and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts. Jackson, 443 U.S.
18
at 319. The trier of fact is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence. TEX .
CODE CRIM . PROC . ANN . art. 38.04 (Vernon 1979); Margraves v. State, 34 S.W.3d 912, 919
(Tex. Crim. App. 2000). Thus, when performing a legal-sufficiency review, we may not re-
evaluate the weight and credibility of the evidence and substitute our judgment for that of
the fact-finder. Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 735, 740 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). We must
resolve any inconsistencies in the evidence in favor of the judgment. Curry v. State, 30
S.W.3d 394, 406 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
(ii). Applicable Law
Section 38.14 of the penal code provides that a person commits an offense “if the
person intentionally or knowingly and with force takes or attempts to take from a peace
officer, . . . the officer’s firearm, . . . or personal protection chemical dispensing device with
the intention of harming the officer or a third person.” TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 38.14(b);
Chadwick v. State, 277 S.W.3d 99, 106 (Tex. App.–Austin 2009, no pet.). In this case, the
charge’s application paragraph instructed the jury to convict appellant of the offense if it
found that he “intentionally or knowingly, with force, attempt to take from a peace officer,
to-wit; M. May, the officer’s firearm or personal protection chemical dispensing device, by
grabbing or shaking said firearm or personal protection or chemical dispensing device with
the intention of harming said officer, . . . .” The jury returned a general verdict of guilty.
Because the term “take” is not defined in the penal code, we use the common, usual
meaning of the word. See Garcia v. State, 887 S.W.2d 846, 859 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999)
(“Words which are not defined statutorily are to be given their usual meanings, and no
specific instructions are necessary.”). The most commonly recognized definitions of the
word “take” are to “get into one’s hands or into one’s possession, power, or control by force
or stratagem”; “to lay or get a hold of with arms, hands, or fingers”; or “to seize or capture
19
physically.” See W EBSTER ’S 3RD INT ’L DICTIONARY 2329-30 (1981).12 An accused is
presumed to know the officer was a peace officer if he was wearing his uniform or badge
or if he had identified himself as a peace officer to the accused. See TEX . PENAL CODE
ANN . § 38.14(c). Proof of knowledge or intent is an inference that may be drawn by the
factfinder both from direct evidence and from evidence of the circumstances surrounding
the act. Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 50 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004) (holding that intent
may be inferred from circumstantial evidence such as the words, acts, or conduct of the
accused); Brown v. State, 122 S.W.3d 794, 800 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (holding that jury
may infer intent from any facts in evidence); Wolfe v. State, 917 S.W.2d 270, 275 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1996) (knowledge is inference drawn by trier of fact from all circumstances).
Therefore, a jury can infer knowledge or intent from the acts, conduct, and remarks of the
accused and from the surrounding circumstances. Hernandez v. State, 819 S.W.2d 806,
810 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); LaPoint v. State, 750 S.W.2d 180, 182 (Tex. Crim. App.
1986).
(iii). Analysis
In this case, a rational jury could have determined the following from the evidence:
(1) appellant was aware Officer May was a peace officer; (2) appellant grabbed on to
Officer May’s holster for his gun and the holster for his pepper spray; (3) appellant grabbed
on top of his pepper spray and on top of his gun and started shaking Officer May’s gun
belt; (4) appellant was trying to shake his weapons loose; (5) when Officer May tried to take
out his pepper spray, appellant grabbed on to it and “stripped” it out of his hand; (6) by
shaking Officer May’s gun belt, appellant caused the gun holster to come unsnapped and
12
See also Pryor v. State, nos. 05-03-00794-CR, 05-03-00795-CR, 2004 W L 728867 at *3 (Tex.
App.–Dallas, Apr. 6, 2004, pet. ref’d) (not designated for pub.) (defining “take” in context of penal code section
38.14 and rejecting defendant’s argum ent that “take” m eant to “rem ove from the other’s possession”).
20
the gun to fall to the ground; (7) the pepper spray attached to Officer May’s gun belt is
referred to as a “chemical dispensing device.”
To the contrary, appellant’s evidence showed: (1) he did not attempt to take Officer
May’s firearm or pepper spray; (2) he did not resist authority and was not aggressive; (3)
when appellant left his brother’s house, appellant “was just fine,” “walking as a regular
person,” and “happy as he can be”; and (4) he was not the kind of person who would attack
a police officer.
After viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude that
a rational jury could conclude appellant, with force, attempted to take Officer May’s firearm
or personal protection chemical dispensing device by grabbing or shaking the firearm or
personal protection chemical dispensing device with the intention of harming him.
Therefore, we hold the evidence is legally sufficient to support the conviction. Issues four
and six are overruled.
b. Factual Sufficiency
In issue five, appellant argues the evidence is factually insufficient to prove he
intentionally or knowingly took or attempted to take Officer May’s firearm. In issue seven,
he argues the evidence is factually insufficient to prove he intentionally or knowingly took
or attempted to take the officer’s personal protection chemical dispensing device.
(I). Standard of Review
In a factual-sufficiency review, the only question to be answered is: “Considering
all of the evidence in a neutral light, was a jury rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt?” Grotti v. State, 273 S.W.3d 273, 283 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
Evidence can be deemed factually insufficient in two ways: (1) “the evidence supporting
the conviction is ‘too weak’ to support the factfinder’s verdict;” or (2) “considering conflicting
21
evidence, the factfinder’s verdict is ‘against the great weight and preponderance of the
evidence.’” Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512, 518 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (quoting Watson
v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 414-15 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006)). When a court of appeals
conducts a factual-sufficiency review, the court must defer to the jury’s findings. Id. (citing
Cain v. State, 958 S.W.2d 404, 407 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)). The court of criminal appeals
has “set out three ‘basic ground rules’ implementing this standard.” Id. (quoting Watson,
204 S.W.2d at 414). “First, the appellate court must consider all of the evidence in a
neutral light, as opposed to in a light most favorable to the verdict.” Id. (citing Watson, 204
S.W.3d at 414). Second, the appellate court “may only find the evidence factually
insufficient when necessary to ‘prevent manifest injustice.’” Id. (quoting Cain, 958 S.W.2d
at 407). Although the verdict is afforded less deference during a factual sufficiency review,
an appellate court is not free to “override the verdict simply because it disagrees with it.”
Id. (citing Cain, 958 S.W.2d at 407). “Third, the appellate court must explain why the
evidence is too weak to support the verdict or why the conflicting evidence greatly weighs
against the verdict.” Id. (citing Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 414).
(ii). Analysis
After reviewing all of the evidence in a neutral light, we conclude the evidence
supporting the conviction is not so weak that the jury’s determination is clearly wrong and
manifestly unjust, or that the verdict is against the great weight and preponderance of the
evidence. See Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 414-17. Therefore, we hold the evidence is
factually sufficient to support the conviction. See id. Issues five and seven are overruled.
4. Sufficiency of the Evidence to Establish the Defense Under Section 38.14(d)
In issue three, appellant argues the evidence is sufficient to establish the defense
provided for in section 38.14(d) of the penal code. Specifically, he argues the evidence
22
affirmatively established that any actions he may have taken involving Officer May’s gun,
pepper spray, or both were taken in defense of and in reaction to Officer May’s use of
excessive force.
a. Law of Self-Defense
Section 38.14(d) provides that “[i]t is a defense to prosecution under this section that
the defendant took or attempted to take the weapon from a peace officer, . . . who was
using force against the defendant or another in excess of the amount of force permitted
by law.” TEX . PENAL CODE. ANN . § 38.14(d). A defendant has the burden of producing
some evidence to support a self-defense claim. Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 594. Once the
defendant produces this evidence, the State has the burden of persuasion to show the
defendant did not act in self-defense. Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 594; Saxton, 804 S.W.3d at
913-14. To meet this burden, the State is not required to produce evidence to disprove
self-defense but only to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at
594; Saxton, 804 S.W.2d at 913. “When a jury finds the defendant guilty, there is an
implicit finding against the defensive theory.” Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 594; Saxton, 804
S.W.2d at 914.
b. Standards of Review
In a review of the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury’s rejection of
a self-defense claim, in addition to our usual review for legal sufficiency of the evidence,
we ask whether any rational jury would have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, against
the defendant on the self-defense issue. Saxton, 804 S.W.2d at 914; Williams v. State,
226 S.W.3d 611, 616-17 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.).
When reviewing factual sufficiency to support the rejection of a self-defense claim,
we review all the evidence in a neutral light and ask whether the State’s evidence taken
23
alone is too weak to support the finding and whether the proof of guilt, although adequate
if taken alone, is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. Zuliani, 97
S.W.3d at 595; see Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 416-17. In conducting this review, we bear in
mind that the fact-finder may draw reasonable inferences, is the sole judge of the weight
of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses, and may accept or reject any or all of
the evidence produced by the parties. Swearingen v. State, 101 S.W.3d 89, 92 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2003).
c. Analysis
Appellant testified Officer May was the aggressor, that he resisted Officer May
because Officer May continued to beat him, and that he feared for his life. After the
incident, appellant had to have brain surgery. The State controverted appellant’s self-
defense claim by showing that appellant charged at Officer May and attempted to take his
weapons; i.e., he grabbed onto his holster for his gun and the holster for his pepper spray
and started shaking his whole belt. Officer May stated appellant was trying to shake his
weapons loose or shake his gun belt off. The State also showed that Officer May did not
strike appellant until after appellant had dislodged Officer May’s pepper spray and his
firearm. When Officer May punched him in the head, appellant responded by punching
Officer May two or three times in the face. In order to avoid being punched again, Officer
May hit him in the head with his flashlight. Officer May denied he had used excessive force
against appellant. This testimony and appellant’s version of the incident raised fact issues
for the jury about whether Officer May used excessive force. Resolution of the fact issues
was within the jury’s province. See Saxton, 804 S.W.2d at 914.
After considering the evidence under the legal and factually sufficiency standards,
we conclude that even if the trial court had charged the jury under section 38.14(d), the
24
evidence would have been legally and factually sufficient to have supported the jury’s
implied finding on the issue of self-defense and that the evidence did not affirmatively
establish the defense. Issue three is overruled.
5. Sufficiency of the Evidence to Establish the Self-Defense Instruction Under Penal Code
Section 9.31(b)
In issue eight, appellant argues the State failed in its burden of persuasion to refute
his proof of self-defense; hence, the evidence is legally insufficient to show he did not act
in self-defense. In issue nine, he argues the evidence is factually insufficient to show he
did not act in self-defense.
Section 9.31(b) provides that the use of force against another is not justified to resist
an arrest or search that the actor knows is being made by a peace officer unless (1) “if,
before the actor offers any resistance, the peace officer . . . uses or attempts to use greater
force than necessary to make the arrest or search,” and (2) ”when and to the degree the
actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the
peace officer’s . . . use or attempted use of greater force than necessary.” TEX . PENAL
CODE ANN . § 9.31(b), (c)(1), (2). We have previously determined the evidence was legally
and factually sufficient to support the jury’s finding of guilty. Appellant’s self-defense
evidence was controverted by Officer May’s testimony that appellant was the aggressor
and that Officer May did not use excessive force. The evidence raises fact issues for the
jury about whether appellant’s use of force against Officer May was justified to resist the
arrest. Resolution of fact issues is within the jury’s province. See Saxton, 804 S.W.2d at
914.
After considering the evidence under the legal sufficiency standard, we conclude the
evidence is legally sufficient to support the jury’s implied finding on the issue of self-
25
defense. After viewing all the evidence in a neutral light, including appellant’s testimony
in support of his self-defense claim, we conclude the State’s evidence is not too weak to
support the jury’s implied finding against appellant’s self-defense issue. We also conclude
the jury’s finding is not against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. We
hold the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the jury’s implied finding on
the issue of self-defense. Issues eight and nine are overruled.
C. Issues Pertaining to Conviction for Assault on a Public Servant
1. Sufficiency of the Evidence
a. Legal Sufficiency
In issue ten, appellant argues the evidence is legally insufficient to prove he
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly assaulted a public servant.
(I). Applicable Law
To prove the offense of assault on a public servant, the State must prove that: (1)
appellant intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily injury to Officer May; (2)
Officer May was a public servant; (3) appellant knew Officer May was a public servant; and
(4) Officer May was lawfully discharging his official duties at the time of the assault. See
TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 22.01(a)(1), (b)(1); Chadwick, 277 S.W.3d at 105; see also Hall
v. State, 158 S.W.3d 470, 473 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Bodily injury is defined as “physical
pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition.” TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 1.07(a)(8)
(Vernon Supp. 2009).
In this case, the charge’s application paragraph allowed the jury to convict appellant
if they found, in relevant part, he:
intentionally, knowingly or recklessly cause[d] bodily injury to another, namely
M. May, hereinafter called complainant, by grabbing or by striking
complainant with defendant’s hand and said complainant was at the time of
26
said offense a public servant, namely, a City of Garland peace officer,
engaged in the lawful discharge of an official duty and said defendant knew
that the complainant was a public servant, . . . .
(ii). Analysis
In this case, a rational jury could have determined the following from the evidence:
(1) appellant struck Officer May with his hand two or three times in the face; (2) this caused
physical pain to Officer May; (3) at the time of the assault, Officer May was on duty as a
City of Garland police officer, who was engaged in the lawful discharge of an official duty;
(4) that at the time of the assault, Officer May was in uniform and wearing his badge; and
(5) appellant was aware Officer May was a police officer.
To the contrary, appellant’s evidence was that: (1) he did not strike, grab, or
otherwise assault Officer May; (2) he did not resist authority and was not aggressive; (3)
when appellant left his brother’s house, appellant “was just fine,” “walking as a regular
person,” and “happy as he can be;” and (4) he was not the kind of person who would attack
a police officer
To the extent the evidence conflicted, it was within the jury’s province to resolve the
conflicts. See Vasquez v. State, 67 S.W.3d 229, 237 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). After
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we hold the evidence is
legally sufficient to support the conviction for assault on a public servant. Issue ten is
overruled.
b. Factual Sufficiency
In issue eleven, appellant argues the evidence is factually insufficient to prove he
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly assaulted a public servant. After reviewing all of the
evidence in a neutral light, we conclude the evidence supporting the conviction is not so
weak that the jury’s determination is clearly wrong and manifestly unjust, or that the verdict
27
is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. See Watson, 204 S.W.3d
at 414-17. Therefore, we hold the evidence is factually sufficient to support the conviction
for assault on a public servant. Issue eleven is overruled.
2. Sufficiency of the Evidence to Establish Self-Defense
In issue twelve, appellant argues the State failed in its burden of persuasion to
refute his proof of self-defense; hence, the evidence is legally insufficient to show he did
not act in self-defense. In issue thirteen, he argues the evidence is factually insufficient to
show he did not act in self-defense. For this offense, the trial court instructed13 the jury
under the law of self-defense provided in penal code section 9.31(b), (c)(1)-(2). See TEX .
PENAL CODE ANN . § 9.31(b), (c)(1)-(2).
13
The trial court instructed the jury as follows:
The use of force against another is not justified to resist an arrest or search that the
defendant knows is being m ade by a peace officer, or by a person, acting in a peace officer’s
presence and at his direction, even though the arrest or search is unlawful, unless the
resistance is justified under the following circum stances:
The use of force to resist an arrest or search is justified:
(1) if, before the defendant offers any resistance, the peace officer uses or attem pts
to use greater force than necessary to m ake the arrest or search; and
(2) when and to the degree the defendant reasonably believes the force is
im m ediately necessary to protect him self against the peace officer’s use or attem pted use
of greater force than necessary.;
“Reasonable belief” m eans a belief that would be held by an ordinary and prudent
person in the sam e circum stances as the defendant.
Now, therefore, if you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant, Pedro Torres Rico, resisted an arrest or search that the defendant knew was
being m ade by a peace officer, nam ely M. May, regardless of whether or not the arrest or
search was unlawful, by grabbing or by striking M. May with the defendant’s hand, and you
further find or have a reasonable doubt thereof, that before the defendant offered any
resistance, if any, the peace officer used or attem pted to use greater force than necessary
to m ake the arrest or search, and you further find, or have a reasonable doubt and you
further find, or have a reasonable doubt thereof, that the defendant reasonably believed that
the force when and to the degree used, if it was, was im m ediately necessary to protect
him self against the peace officer’s use or attem pted use of greater force than necessary,
then you will find in favor of the defendant’s plea of self-defense and find the defendant not
guilty.
28
We have previously determined the evidence was legally and factually sufficient to
support the jury’s guilty verdict for assault on a public servant. The evidence to support
appellant’s defense of self-defense and the State’s contrary evidence has been previously
discussed. The evidence raises fact issues for the jury about whether appellant’s conduct
of striking Officer May in the face was justified to resist the arrest. Resolution of fact issues
is within the jury’s province. See Saxton, 804 S.W.2d at 914. After considering the
evidence under the legal sufficiency standard, we conclude the evidence is legally
sufficient to support the jury’s implied finding on the issue of self-defense.
After viewing all the evidence in a neutral light, including appellant’s testimony in
support of his self-defense claim, we conclude the State’s evidence is not too weak to
support the jury’s implied finding against appellant’s self-defense issue. We also conclude
the jury’s finding is not against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence.
Therefore, we hold the evidence is factually sufficient to support the jury’s implied finding
on the issue of self-defense. Issues twelve and thirteen are overruled.
III. Conclusion
We affirm the trial court’s judgments.
ROSE VELA
Justice
Do not publish.
TEX . R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Memorandum Opinion delivered and
filed this 11th day of June, 2009.
29