Jones, Lonnie James Jr. ( 2015 )

153-fS
NO. PD-0953-15
ORIGINAL
IN THE
TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
RECEIVED IN
PA! IDT AC ffnniiiMii
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LONNIE JAMES JONES Jr. SEP 23 2015
(APPELLANT)
VS.
5@! Acosta, C?srk
FILED IN
THE STATE OF TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
(APPELLEE)
SEP 2 3 2315
Abel Acosta, Clerk
APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
ON REVIEW FROM THE NINTH (9th) DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
AT BEAUMONT, TEXAS. NO. 09-13-00459-CR. DIRECT APPEAL
FROM THE JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION - SENTENCE FROM THE
221st DISTRICT COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
TRIAL DOCKET NO. 13-03-03256-CR.
HONORABLE JUDGE LISA MICHALK PRESIDING
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
LONNIE J. JONES Jr.
T.D.C.J. # 1889803
(PRO SE)
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
FOR THE STATE:
AT PRETRIAL & TRIAL: MR. BLAKE ENAX
TBN: 24058872
MR. JEFF HOHL
TBN: 00792509
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
207 W. PHILLIPS, 3rd FLOOR
CONROE, TEXAS 77301
936-539-7800
ON APPEAL: MR. WILLIAM J. DELMORE III
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
207 W. PHILLIPS, 2nd FLOOR
CONROE, TEXAS 77301
936-539-7800
FOR THE APPELLANT:
AT PRETRIAL & TRIAL: MR. WILLIS SMITH
TBN: 18710500
LAW OFFICES of WILLIS SMITH
25408 US HIGHWAY 59, SUITE 104
PORTER, TEXAS 77365
261-359-6059
ON APPEAL: MRS. HEATHER HALL
TBN: 24026287
HEATHER HALL & ASSOCIATES
308 N. MAIN
CONROE, TEXAS 77301
936-441-5002
conroelaw@gmail.com
li
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUBJECT: PAGE:
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL i
TABLE OF CONTENTS iii
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES v-vi
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT 1
STATEMENT OF THE CASE -. .1
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY 1
ISSUES PRESENTED 2
POINT OF ERROR ONE FOR REVIEW (RESTATED) 1.2
. THE. COURT OF APPEALS REVERSIBLY ERRED.AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION
IN OVERRULING ISSUE ONE WHEN THE RECORD SHOWS AND THE COURT
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE. IN SUPPORT OF A SELF-
DEFENSE INSTRUCTION, IT REVERSIBLE ERROR FOR THE COURT TO DENY
A SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THAT THE EVI
DENCE IS VERY SMALL AND CONTROVERTED. 3-9
POINT OF ERROR TWO FOR REVIEW (RESTATED) 9
THE COURT. OF APPEALS REVERSIBLY ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION
IN OVERRULING ISSUE TWO WHEN POLICE OFFICERS HAVE NO PERSONAL
KNOWLEDGE OF THE. ALLEGED OFFENSE, IT IS REVERSIBLE ERROR TO
ALLOW THEM TO TESTIFY THAT DEFENDANT WAS GUILTY OF ASSAULT AND
THAT SELF-DEFENSE DID NOT APPLY 9-12
POINT OF ERROR THREE FOR REVIEW (RESTATED) 12
THE. COURT OF APPEALS REVERSIBLY.ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION
IN OVERRULING ISSUE TWO WHEN THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THE
ABOVE ERRORS WAS SO GREAT THAT REVERSAL IS REQUIRED 12-13
PRAYER 13
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 14
(APPENDIX) COURT OF APPEALS OPINION A
ill
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
CASES: PAGE:
•ALAMANZA v. STATE, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (TEX.CRIM.APP. 1985) 7
•DAVIS v. STATE, 313 S.W.3d 317, 350 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2010) 11
•DIXON v. STATE, 244 S.W.3d 472, 479 (TX.APP.2007) 11
•ELLISON v. STATE, 86 S.W.3d 226, 228 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2002). 8
•EX PARTE: NAILOR, 149 S.W.3d 125, 132 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2004) 4
•FELDMAN v. STATE, 71 S.W.3d738, 757 (.TEX.CRIM.APP.2002) 12
•FERREL v. STATE, 55 S.W.3d 586, 591 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2001) 4
•GIBSON v. STATE, 726 S.W.2d 129, 133 (TEX.CRIM.APP. 1987) 7
•HAYS v. STATE, 728 S.W.2d 804, 807 .(TEX.CRIM.APP.1987) 7
•HUGHES v. STATE, 24 S.W.3d 833, 844 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2000) 12
•JAMES v. STATE, 335 S.W.3d 719, 725 (TX.APP.2011) 11
•JOHNSON v. STATE, 271 S.W.3d 359,. 362 (TEX..CRIM.APP.2008) 4
•MILLER v. STATE, 815 S.W.2d 582 (TEX.CRIM.APP.1991) 7
•OVALLE v. STATE, 13 S.W.3d 774, 786 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2000) 7
•SALDANA, 2011 TEX.APP.LEXIS 1709 11
•SHAW v. STATE, 243 S.W.3d 647, 657-58 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2007) 3
•SMITH v. STATE, 676 S.W.3d 584, 585 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2007) 3
•SOLOMON, 49 S.W.3d 356, 365 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2001) 12
•TREVINO v. STATE,. 100 S.W.3d 232, 242 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2003) 7
•WARNER v. STATE, 245 S.W.3d 458, 464 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2008) 8
•WILLIAMS v. STATE, 826 S.W.2d 783, 785 (TX.APP. 1992) 11
PENAL CODE:
•TEXAS PENAL CODE 2.03(c) 8
•TEXAS PENAL CODE 9.31(a) 4
TX. R. APP. PROC-
•33.1(a) 9
•33.1(a)(1)(A) 10
•44.2(b) 13
TEXAS RULES OF EVIDENCE
•701 9
•702 9
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
(CONTINUED)
TXiiCODE CRIM. PROC. PAGE:
•36.19 7
STATE-FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS:
•U.S. CONST. AMEND. XIV 12
•TX. CONST. ART. I §19 12
VI
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
PURSUANT TO TEXAS RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 39.7; THIS APPELLANT HEREBY
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST ORAL ARGUMENT; THUS WOULD SERVE TO EMPHASIZE AND CLARIFY
THE IMPORTANT LEGAL POINTS REGARDING THIS REVIEW.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
THIS PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW ARISES FROM A DECISION OUT OF
THE COURT OF APPEALS DENYING APPELLANT HEREIN: 1) THE LEGAL RIGHT TO A SELF-
DEFENSE CHARGE; 2) UPHOLDING VOICED - OPINION TESTIMONY BY BOTH A POLICE
OFFICER - POLLICE OFFICER IN TRAINING; AND 3) OVER-RULING THE CUMULATIVE
EFFECT STEMMING FROM POINTS OF ERROR ONE AND TWO COMBINED.
STATEMENT OF THE PROCEDURAL HISTORY
THIS PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW IS FROM A CONVICTION FOR ASSUALT
CAUSING BODILY INJURY TO A FAMILY MEMBER ENHANCED, i.e., A THIRD DEGREE FELONY
TO HABITUAL STATUS, IN WHICH APPELLANT RECEIVED A SENTENCE OF FORTY (40) YEARS.
CR 68.
ON JUNE 6, 2013, APPELLANT WAS INDICTED FOR ASSUALT CAUSING BODILY INJURY
TO A FAMILY MEMBER ENHANCED. CR 20. ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2013, APPELLANT PLED
NOT GUILTY AND TRIAL BEGAN IN THE 221st DISTRICT COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY,
TEXAS, THE HONORABLE LISA MICHALK, PRESIDING. CR 68; 4 RR 4-5. THE JURY FOUND
APPELLANT GUILTY OF ASSUALT CAUSING BODILY INJURY TO A FAMILY MEMBER, A THIRD
DEGREE FELONY ENHANCED TO A HABITUAL, ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2013. CR 68. THE COURT
ASSESSED PUNISHMENT TO CONFINEMENT AT 40 YEARS IN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
CRIMINAL JUSTICE. CR 71.
THE TRIAL COURT CERTIFIED APPELLANT'S RIGHT TO APPEAL ON SEPTEMBER 17,
2013. CR 70. APPELLANT FILED HIS NOTICE OF APPEAL ON OCTOBER 1, 2013. CR 79.
THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH (9th) DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT BEAUMONT,
AFFIRMED APPELLANT'S CONVICTION IN A NON-PUBLISHED OPINION AUTHORED - BEFORE
McKEITHEN, C.J.; KREGER AND HORTON, JJ.; DELIVERED JUNE 24, 2015. NO MOTIONS
FOR REHEARING WERE FILED. A COPY OF THE COURT OF APPEALS' OPINION IS ATTACHED
AND APPENDED HERETO. THIS PETITION WAS TIMELY FILED.
POINT OF ERROR ONE FOR REVIEW (RESTATED)
THE COURT OF APPEALS REVERSIBLY ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN OVER
RULING ISSUE ONE WHEN THE RECORD SHOWS AND THE COURT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE
IS SOME EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF A SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION, IT REVERSIBLE ERROR
FOR THE COURT TO DENY A SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THAT
THE EVIDENCE IS VERY SMALL AND CONTROVERTED.
POINT OF ERROR TWO FOR REVIEW (RESTATED)
THE COURT OF APPEALS REVERSIBLY ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN OVER
RULING ISSUE TWO WHEN POLICE OFFICERS HAVE NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ALLEGED
OFFENSE, IT IS REVERSIBLE ERROR TO ALLOW THEM TO TESTIFY THAT DEFENDANT WAS
GUILTY OF ASSAULT AND THAT SELF-DEFENSE DID NOT APPLY.
POINT OF ERROR THREE FOR REVIEW (RESTATED)
THE COURT OF APPEALS REVERSIBLY ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN OVER
RULING ISSUE THREE WHEN THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THE ABOVE ERRORS WAS SO GREAT
THAT REVERSAL IS REQUIRED.
ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES
(REASONS FOR REVIEW)
:INTRODUCTION:
THE SOLE FACT COMMON HEREIN COUPLING POINT OF ERROR ONE AND POINT OF
ERROR TWO FOR REVIEW IS THE ISSUE OF >>SELF DEFENSE<<. THUS, REFUSED BY THE
TRIAL COURT FOR A DEFENSE JURY INSTRUCTION IN FOLLOWING, OPINE - ELICITED
TESTIMONY REGARDING SUCH BY A POLICE - DEPUTY STATE AGENT; IN WHOM, TRULY
DID [NOTJ EYEWITNESS THE ALLEGED OFFENSE.
THIS, FURTHER CO-JOINING WITH ADDITIONAL, CO-LATERALL OPINE TESTIMONY
BY POLICE - DEPUTY STATE AGENTS UNQUALIFIED TO DO SO - IN RELATION TO SAME,
THEREBY, ACCUMULATING EGREGIOUS HARM.
POINT OF ERROR ONE FOR REVIEW
THE COURT OF APPEALS REVERSIBLY ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN OVER
RULING ISSUE ONE WHEN THE RECORD SHOWS AND THE COURT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE
IS SOME EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF A SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION, IT REVERSIBLE ERROR
FOR THE COURT TO DENY A SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THAT
THE EVIDENCE IS VERY SMALL AND CONTROVERTED.
TO PARAPHRASE THE QUESTION ON THE BENCH OF THIS COURT UPON REVIEW, OPI
NIONS MADE - WRITTEN ORDER TIME: HOW WOULD THIS CASE BE ANY DIFFERENT FROM
ALL OTHER - IN WHETHER [SOME] EVIDENCE IS [ENOUGH] "EVIDENCE RAISED" BY THE
STANDARD TO WARRANT A SELF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION TO THE JURY?
THE COURT OF APPEALS RETAIL RELIANCE ON SMITH V. STATE (676 S.W.3d 584,
585; TEX.CRIM.APP.1984) - LEAVES ONE TO GUESS, HOPE, AND SURMISE APPLICABLE
TO THE "EVIDENCE RAISED STANDARD" [UJNDER TX. PEN. CODE §2.03(c) OPINE IN
SHAW v. STATE, 243 S.W.3d 647, 657-58 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2007) IN THAT EYEWITNESS
TESTIMONY IN "SMITH" (ABOVE) SHOWS THAT THE COMPLAINANT AT ONE TIME HAD A
GUN DURING THE ALTERCATION AND APPELLANT "SMITH" HAD A STEAK KNIFE.
HERE, IN THIS CASE, [NOT] SO - [WHAT] SO EVER ... !
THIS CASE IS MERELY ABOUT AN ARGUING MATCH OVER "CHEATING" AND "MONEY"
TURNED TO PUSH AND SHOVE. THEN, TO SOME PUNCH'S THROWN BOTH WAYS, INITIALLY
BY THE COMPLAINANT - CULMINATING TO APPELLANT PICKING UP A HAMMER FOR PRO
TECTION. ALTHOUGH QUICKLY TAKEN AWAY BY AN EYEWITNESS AT THE SCENE MIDST THE
*. SLIP OP. - APPX. "A". THE COURT GF APPEALS 9th DISTRICT AT BFAUYCNr, LCNSHE JAMES JONES, Jr.
v. THE STATE GF TEXAS, NO. 09-13-00459-GR, MEiyCRANDUVi GPHMICN; pps: 1-12.
PHYSICAL SQUABBLE.
SECTION 9.31 OF THE TEXAS PENAL CODE PROVIDES THAT A PERSON IS "JUSTIFIED
IN USING FORCE AGAINST ANOTHER WHEN AND TO THE DEGREE HE REASONABLY BELIEVES
THE FORCE IS IMMEDIATELY NECESSARY TO PROTECT HIMSELF AGAINST THE OTHER'S
USE OR ATTEMPTED USE OF UNLAWFUL FORCE". TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. §9.31 (WEST2011).
[THERE]FORE, "A DEFENDENT IS ENTILTED TO AN INSTRUCTION ON THE LAW OF SELF-
DEFENSE IF THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT HE INTENDED TO USE FORCE AGAINST ANOTHER
AND HE DID USE FORCE, BUT HE DID SO ONLY BECAUSE HE REASONABLY BELIEVED IT
WAS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE OTHER'S USE OF UNLAWFUL FORCE". EX PART, NAILOR
149 S.W.3d 125, 132 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2004)
"A DEFENDENT IS ENTITLED TO AN INSTRUCTION ON SELF DEFENSE IF THE ISSUE
IS RAISED BY [THE] EVIDENCE, WHETHER THE EVIDENCE IS STRONG OR WEAK, UNIM-
PEACHED OR CONTRADICTED, AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE TRIAL COURT MAY THINK ABOUT
THE CREDIBILITY OF THE DEFENSE." FERREL v. STATE 55 S.W.3d 586, 591 (TEX.CRIM.
APP. 2001)
A "DEFENDENT NEED NOT TESTIFY IN ORDER FOR A DEFENSIVE ISSUE TO BE SUFF
ICIENTLY RAISED" JOHNSON v. STATE 271 S.W.3d 359, 362 (TEX.APP.-BEAUMONT2008,
PET REF'D). "DEFENSIVE ISSUES MAY BE RAISED BY THE TESTIMONY OF [ANY] WITNESS,
EVEN ONE CALLED BY THE STATE." Id.
THEREFORE, AS HERE, WHAT KIND OF TESTIMONY IS NEEDED TO RAISE THE ISSUE
OF SELF-DEFENSE, SINCE V.T.C.A., PENAL CODE §9.31(a) FOCUSES ON THE DEFENDENT'S
SUBJECTIVE STATE OF MIND? THUS, IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY THE SUBMISSION OF A CHARGE
TO THE JURY ON THE ISSUE OF SELF-DEFENSE, THERE MUST BE [SOME] EVIDENCE IN
THE RECORD TO SHOW THAT THE DEFENDENT WAS IN SOME APPREHENSION OR [FEAR] OF
BEING THE RECEIPIENT OF THE UNLAWFUL USE OF FORCE FROM THE COMPLAINANT. (ID.
SMITH ABOVE @ 585).
HERE IN THE INSTANT AGNES JONES ("AGNES") AND KERTHINE TIMES ("TIMS")
WERE WATCHING TV AND DRINKING BEER WHEN APPELLANT, LONNIE JONES ("JONES"),
TIMS' BOYFRIEND AND AGNES' SON, ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE. 4 RR 9. AGNES TESTIFIED
THAT TIMS STARTED "FUSSING AND CUSSING" AND THE ARGUMENT STARTED BECAUSE TIMS
THOUGHT JONES WAS CHEATING ON HER. 4 RR 10, 12. TIMS WAS ANGRY AND "PUSHED
[JONES] IN THE FACE," WHICH IS WHEN THE FIGHTING BEGAN. 4 RR 10. AS TIMS PUSHED
JONES AND GOT INTO HIS FACE, JONES ALLEGEDLY PUSHED HER AND SHE SLIPPED,
FALLING TO THE FLOOR WHERE SHE MAY HAVE BUMPED HER HEAD AND CUT HER LIP. IN
HER STATEMENT AT THE SCENE, HOWEVER, AGNES SAID THAT HER SON STARTED THE FIGHT
WHEN SHE AND TIMS REFUSED TO GIVE JONES MONEY. 4 RR 13. STILL, AGNES TESTIFIED
THAT SHE KNEW TIMS THREW THE FIRST PUNCH BECAUSE SHE, AGNES, WAS THERE. 4
RR 25.
AS TIMS AND JONES WERE HITTING EACH OTHER, THE FIGHT MOVED FROM THE HALL
WAY TO THE DEN, NEAR THE COUCH. 4 RR 11, 15-17. AS JONES PICKED UP A HAMMER,
AGNES TOOK IT FROM HIM. 4 RR 16, 29. JONES NEVER HIT TIMS WITH THE HAMMER.
4 RR 16, 29. BECAUSE AGNES COULD NOT STOP THE FIGHT, SHE CALLED 911 AND DE
SCRIBED THE ARGUMENT AS A FISTFIGHT WITHOUT ANY WEAPON INVOLVED. 4 RR 11, 31.
DEPUTY WILKERSON AND HIS TRAINEE, DEPUTY BEATTY, WERE DISPATCHED TO THE
SCENE WHERE BEATTY, THREE MONTHS OUT OF THE POLICE ACADEMY, BEGAN HIS INVESTI
GATION WITH WILKERSON, HIS FIELD-TRAINING OFFICER. 3 RR 10-12.
THE TRIAL COURT ALLOWED BEATTY, WHO WAS WITHOUT ANY TRAINING IN FAMILY
VIOLENCE INVESTIGATION BEYOND HIS "CLASSROOM ORIENTATION", TO TESTIFY THAT
JONES WAS GUILTY OF ASSAULTING HIS GIRLFRIEND. 3 RR 11, 12, 25. SIMILARLY,
THE TRIAL COURT ALLOWED WILKERSON TO TESTIFY OVER APPELLANT'S OBJECTION THAT,
HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT JONES WAS ACTING IN SELF DEFENSE. 4 RR 50. (DESPITE
HIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING JONES' MENTAL STATE).
DURING THE CHARGE CONFERENCE, DEFENSE COUNSEL ARGUED THAT THE EVIDENCE
SUPPORTED AN INSTRUCTION ON SELF-DEFENSE. THE STATE ARGUED OTHERWISE. 4 RR
57-58. THE TRIAL COURT RECALLED THE WITNESSES' TESTIMONY AND NOTED THAT THERE
WAS [SOME] EVIDENCE ON THE ISSUE OF SELF-DEFENSE, BUT BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE
WAS SMALL AND CONTRADICTED, THE TRIAL COURT DENIED THE DEFENSE'S REQUEST FOR
A SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION. 4 RR 59, 64. THE JURY FOUND JONES GUILTY AND THE
TRIAL COURT SENTENCED HIM TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON. CR 68, 71.
THE RECORD SHOWED, AND THE JUDGE ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT THERE WAS SOME EVID
ENCE IN SUPPORT OF SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION.
ACCORDING TO AGNES, TIMS ACCUSED JONES OF CHEATING ON HER. 4 RR 10. AND,
AS THE ARGUMENT ASCALATED, MRS. JONES TESTIFIED SHE WAS THERE WHEN COMPLAINANT
THREW THE FIRST PUNCH AND PUNCHED APPELLANT IN THE FACE. 4 RR 25. MOREOVER,
THE STATE ITSELF MUST HAVE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS OME EVIDENCE OF SELF-DEFENSE
FOR IT ARGUED THAT AGNES' TESTIMONY OPENED THE DOOR TO JONES ALLEGED "HISTORY
OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND INDIVIDUAL,"
[PROSECUTOR]:. SECONDLY, I DON'T BELIEVE — DUE TO THE FACT
THAT THE DEFENSE HAS SUBMITTED AN ISSUE OF THE DEFENDANT
WAS JUST ACTING OUT BASED ON HER PUSHING HIM, THEY HAVE
OPENED THE DOOR TO HIS HISTORY OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
AND INDIVIDUALS
4 RR 34.
THE TRIAL COURT, ITSELF HAD REMARKED THAT THE ISSUE OF SELF-DEFENSE HAD
BEEN RAISED. WHEN WILKERSON TESTIFIED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT DEFENDANT
ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE, THE TRIAL COURT OVERRULED APPELLANT'S OBJECTION AND
EXPLAINED, "NOW. THE ISSUE HAS SOMEWHAT BEEN TRIED TO BE RAISED, I AM GOING
TO ALLOW YOU TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. SO GO AHEAD. YOU MAY ANSWER." 4 RR 501.
AND, DURING THE CHARGE CONFERENCE. THE TRIAL COURT NOTED THAT THERE WAS
SOME EVIDENCE THAT COMPLAINANT HAD PUSHED APPELLANT AND MAY HAVE BEEN THE
FIRST AGGRESSOR: "SHE [MS. JONES] DID SAY THE COMPLAINANT PUSHED[;]" "I MAY
HAVE BEEN THE AGGRESSOR," "I COULD, HAVE BEEN FUSSING AT HIM." 4 RR 59
(EMPHASIS ADDED). ACCORDING TO THE .TRIAL COURT, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT "A
LOT OF EVIDENCE IN THE CASE, AND THE EVIDENCE CONCERNING SELF-DEFENSE WAS
VERY SMALL." 4 RR 59. THUS, INSTEAD OF CONSIDERING WHETHER THERE WAS SOME
EVIDENCE, THE TRIAL COURT, ERRONEOUSLY CONSIDERED WHETHER THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH
EVIDENCE,
SO AS THE. GATEKEEPER. OF THIS, I AM GOING TO DENY THE
CHARGE. AND I MAY BE INCORRECT, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK
THERE IS ENOUGH THAT RAISES IT. I THINK THAT YOU HAVE
TO HAVE MORE THAN THE SOMEWHAT VACILLATING STATEMENTS
OF BOTH THE MOTHER OF THE DEFENDANT AND THE COMPLAINANT
TO GET A CHARGE OF SELF-DEFENSE. I JUST DON'T THINK
IT IS THERE.
4 RR 64.
[FRCSECUICR]: CKAY. BASED CN . EVERYTHING YCU OBSERVED AT THE SCENE, WOULD AKKTHUE LEAD
Y03 TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEFENDANT WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEfctNdE?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: CBJECITCN. THAT CALLS FOR LEGAL CCNCLUSICN, .YCURHCNGR. HE WASN'T.THERE.
HE WASN'T PRESENT. HE SAID HE HAD ALREADY LEFT THE SCENE.
THE CCURT: . I WILL ALLOW THE ANSWER BASED ON HIS — NOW THAT THE ISSUE HAS SCMEWMT BEEN
TRIED TO BE RAISED, I AM GOING TO ALLOW YCU TO ASK THAT QUESTION. SO GO AHEAD. YCU MAY ANSWER
THE CUESTTCN
4 RR 50 (EMPHASIS ADDED).
IT IS NOT THE COURT'S FUNCTION TO DETERMINE THE CREDIBILITY OR WEIGHT
TO BE GIVEN THE EVIDENCE RAISING THE ISSUE. GIBSON v. STATE, 726 S.W.2d 129,
133 (TEX.CRIM.APP.1987). THE FACT THAT THE EVIDENCE RAISING THE ISSUE MAY
CONFLICT WITH OR CONTRADICT OTHER. EVIDENCE IN THE CASE IS NOT RELEVANT TO
THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER A CHARGE ON THE ISSUE MUST BE GIVEN. Id.
HERE,. THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE FOR A SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION. THE TRIAL
COURT ITSELF NOTED THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH EVIDENCE, SEE SUPRA, BUT, BECAUSE
THE TRIAL COURT CONCLUDED THAT THE QUANTUM.OF EVIDENCE WAS SMALL AND CONTRA
DICTED, IT ERRONEOUSLY, DENIED THE INSTRUCTION..SEE 4 RR 59 ("THE EVIDENCE
CONCERNING SELF-DEFENSE WAS VERY SMALL."); 4 RR 64 ("YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE
THAN THE SOMEWHAT VACILLATING STATEMENTS")-. THE TRIAL COURT, THEREFORE,. ERRED
WHEN IT DENIED. THE REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTION BECAUSE. "THE EVIDENCE CONCERNING.
SELF-DEFENSE WAS VERY SMALL" AND THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH. 4 RR 64.
AS NOTED SUPRA, THE TRIAL COURT MUST INSTRUCT THE JURY ON EVERY. DEFENSIVE..
THEORY RAISED BY. THE EVIDENCE, WHETHER SUCH.. EVIDENCE. OR TESTIMONY WAS PRODUCED
BY .THE PROSECUTION . OR THE DEFENSE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH EVIDENCE IS
STRONG OR WEAK, UNIMPEACHED OR CONTRADICTED,.. AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE TRIAL
COURT MAY OR MAY. NOT THINK ABOUT THE CREDIBILITY OF THIS EVIDENCE. HAYES
v. STATE, 728 S.W.2d 804, 807 (TEX.CRIM.APP.1987).,THIS RULE IS DESIGNED
TO INSURE THAT, THE JURY,. NOT THE JUDGE, WILL DECIDE THE RELATIVE CREDIBILITY
OF THE EVIDENCE. MILLER v. STATE, 815 S.W.2d 582 (TEX.CRIM.APP.1991). "WHEN
A JUDGE REFUSES TO GIVE AN INSTRUCTION ON A DEFENSIVE ISSUE BECAUSE THE EVI
DENCE SUPPORTING IT IS WEAK OR UNBELIEVABLE,. HE EFFECTIVELY SUBSTITUTES. HIS
JUDGMENT ON THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT OF THE JURY." Id.
BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE VIEWED IN THE LIGHT MOST FAVORABLE TO JONES RAISES.
THE ISSUE OF SELF-DEFENSE,. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING JONES'S REQUEST
FOR AN INSTRUCTION ON THIS DEFENSIVE ISSUE.
REVERSAL IS REQUIRED IF APPELLANT SUFFERED "SOME HARM" BECAUSE OF THE
DENIAL. OVALLE v. STATE, 13 S.W.3d 774, 786 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2000) (QUOTING
ALMANZA v. STATE, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (TEX.CRIM.APP.1985)). IF THE CHARGE
CONTAINS ERROR, AND THAT ERROR HAS BEEN PROPERLY PRESERVED BY AN OBJECTION
OR REQUESTED INSTRUCTION,, REVERSAL. IS REQUIRED IF THE ERROR IS "CALCULATED.
TO INJURE THE RIGHTS OF DEFENDANT," MEANING THERE MUST BE SOME HARM. TEX.
CRIM. PROC. CODE ANN. ART. 36.19; TREVINO v. STATE, 100 S.W.3d 232, 242 (TEX.
CRIM.APP.2003) (per curium); ALMANZA, 686 S.W.2d @ 171. "UNLEBS ALL HARM
WAS ABATED,. APPELLANT SUFFERED 'SOME1 HARM." MILLER, 815 S.W.2d @ 586 n.5.
IN AN ALMANZA HARM ANALYSIS, "BURDENS OF PROOF OR PERSUASION HAVE NO
PLACE.[.]" WARNER v. STATE, 245 S.W.3d 458, 464 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2008). HARM MUST
BE EVALUATED IN LIGHT OF THE COMPLETE JURY CHARGE, THE ARGUMENTS OF COUNSEL,
THE ENTIRETY OF THE EVIDENCE, INCLUDING THE CONTESTED ISSUES AND' WEIGHT OF THE
PROBATIVE EVIDENCE, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS REVEALED BY THE RECORD AS A
WHOLE. ALMANZA, 686 S.W.2d @ 171. SEE ALSO ELLISON v. STATE, 86 S.W.3d 226,
228 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2002) (APPLYING ALMANZA HARM.ANALYSIS TO JURY-CHARGE ERROR
AT THE PUNISHMENT PHASE OF TRIAL).
THE JURY CHARGE GAVE THE. JURY THE SOLE OPTION OF FINDING APPELLANT GUILTY
OF "ASSAULT CAUSES BODILY INJURY FAMILY ENHANCED." CR 71, 73-74. THE CHARGE
INSTRUCTED THE JURY TO FIND APPELLANT GUILTY OF ASSAULT IF THE JURORS BELIEVED
BEYOND. A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT.APPELLANT INTENTIONALLY, KNOWINGLY, OR RECK
LESSLY CAUSE BODILY . INJURY TO COMPLAINANT, A PERSON WITH WHOM THE DEFENDANT
HAS OR HAS HAD A DATING RELATIONSHIP. CR 73-74. THE CHARGE DID NOT ALLOW
THE JURY TO CONSIDER ANY LESSER OFFENSE OR DEFENSIVE ISSUE.
THE RECORD INDICATES THAT APPELLANT'S TRIAL COUNSEL, WITHOUT OBJECTION BY
THE STATE, QUESTIONED THE VENIRE DURING VOIR DIRE ON THE ISSUE OF SELF-
DEFENSE. 2 RR 71-75.
WHO WAS THE FIRST AGGRESSOR WAS A CONTESTED ISSUE AT TRIAL. EVEN IF
CONTROVERTED, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT "TIMS" THREW THE FIRST PUNCH AFTER
SHE HAD CONFRONTED APPELLANT. AND ACCUSED. HIM OF CHEATING ON HER. ALTHOUGH
THE PROSECUTOR ARGUED THAT THE EVIDENCE [CONTRA]DICTED APPELLANT'S SELF-
DEFENSE CLAIM, THIS EVIDENCE LINKING.TO, APPELLANT PICKING UP A HAMMER FOR
PROTECTION IN DEFENDING HIS-SELF, AT BEST, MAKES THE ISSUE A QUESTION FOR
THE JURY TO DECIDE. (FERREL, 55 S.W.3d @ 591).
ALBEIT, AS NOTED - OPINE IN SHAW v. STATE, 243 S.W.3d 647,.657-58 (TEX.
CRIM.APP.2007), "[U]NDER §2.03(c) A DEFENSE IS SUPPORTED (OR 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 - INFER
ENCE THAT ELEMENT IS TRUE.
THEREFORE, IN LIGHT OF THE TRIAL COURT DENYING APPELLANT'S REQUEST FOR AN
INSTRUCTION ON SELF-DEFENSE; COUNSEL, AFTER MAKING A "PRIMA FACIE CASE" per
QUANTUM OF EVIDENCE NECESSARY ... ; WAS NOT ABLE TO PRESENT THE EVIDENCE
-or- [ANY] DEFENSIVE THEORY TO THE JURY FOR JURY CONSIDERATION AND, THUS
APPELLANT IN THE LEAST SUFFERED "SOME HARM" IF NOT "EGREGORIOUS HARM!' FROM
THE COURTS DENIAL OF AN INSTRUCTION ON THE ISSUE OF SELF-DEFENSE STEMMING
TO, THE COURT OF APPEALS [IN]CORRECTLY APPLYING THE "RAISED BY THE EVIDENCE"
STANDARD ESTABLISHED AND DEFINED.BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
APPELLANT CONTENDS POINT OF ERROR ONE FOR REVIEW SHOULD BE SUSTAINED.
POINT OF ERROR TWO FOR REVIEW
THE COURT OF APPEALS . REVERSIBLY ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN
POLICE OFFICERS HAVE NO PERSONAL. KNOWLEDGE OF THE ALLEGED OFFINSE, IT IS
REVERSIBLE ERROR. TO ALLOW THEM TOT TESTIFY THAT DEFENDANT WAS GUILTY OF ASSAULT
AND THAT SELF-DEFENSE DID NOT APPLY.
HERE, UNDOUBTEDLY REVIEW SHOULD BE GRANTED BECAUSE. OVER DEFENSE OBJEC
TION^], THE TRIAL COURT ERRONEOUSLY ALLOWED THE STATE TO ELICIT INADMISSIBLE
TESTIMONY FROM BOTH STATE AGENT DEPUTY "BEATTY", IN WHOM VOICED HIS OPINION AS
TO APPELLANT'S GUILT, AND HIS PARTNER, STATE AGENT DEPUTY "WILKERSON'S" OPINE
TESTIMONY AS TO IF ... ? APPELLANT WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE DURING THE
ALLEGED COMMISSION OF ASSAULT.
WHY, [EXPLICITLY] THIS POINT OF ERROR DESERVES REVIEW?
THE COURT OF APPEALS MISSED IT CLAIMING OPINE THAT APPELLANT'S [OBJEC-.
TIONS] TO DEPUTY TESTIMONY WAS INCONSISTENT - NOT VALID UNDER TEX. R. APP.
P. 33.1(a) -or- APPLICABLE (ADMISSIONWISE) UNDER TEX. R. EVID. 701, 702.
[PROSECUTOR]: BASED ON .THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU VIEWED, BASED
ON WHAT YOU SAW — PHYSICALLY SAW, WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM
THE WITNESSES. AND WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM THE HOUSE AND HOW
IT LOOKED, IS IT CONSISTENT WITH SOMEONE - DID YOU REACH A
CONCLUSION.AS TO WHAT HAD OCCURRED?
[BEATTY]: YES. THE CONCLUSION THAT WE CAME TO, per THE —
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: OBJECTION, JUDGE. THAT IS FOR THE JURY
TO DECIDE, NOT THIS OFFICER.
THE COURT: I WILL ALLOW HIM TO ANSWER BASED ON HIS EXPER-
ENCE AND TRAINING. YOU MAY ANSWER THE QUESTION.
[BEATTY]: YES, MA'AM.
A. THE CONCLUSION THAT WE CAME TOCTHAT NIGHT FROM THE
STATEMENTS WE RECEIVED AND FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHS WAS
THAT AN ASSAULT HAD OCCURRED AND THAT KERTHINE TIMS
WAS THE VICTIM.
[PROSECUTOR]: AND WHO DID YOU BELIEVE WAS THE DEFENDANT?
[BEATTY]: LONNIE JONES WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE ACTOR.
3 RR 25.
LATER, 4 RR 50, THE TRIAL COURT, IN ADDITION, ALLOWED DEPUTY "WILKERSON
TO TESTIFY OVER APPELLANT'S OBJECTION CONCERNING THAT JONES DID NOT ACT IN
SELF-DEFENSE,
[PROSECUTOR]: OKAY. BASED ON EVERYTHING YOU OBSERVED AT
THE SCENE, WOULD ANYTHING LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE THAT THE
DEFENDANT WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE?
[DEFENSE. COUNSEL]: OBJECTION. THAT CALLS FOR A LEGAL CON
CLUSION, YOUR HONOR. HE WASN'T THERE. HE WASN'T PRESENT.
HE SAID HE HAD ALRFJADY LEFT THE SCENE.
THE COURT: I WILL ALLOW THE ANSWER BASED ON HIS — NOW
THAT THE ISSUE HAS SOMEWHAT BEEN TRIED TO BE RAISED, I AM
GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO ASK THAT QUESTION. SO GO AHEAD. YOU
MAY ANSWER THE QUESTION.
TO PROPERLY PRESERVE ERROR ON APPEAL, TEX. R. OF APP.. PROC. 33.1(a)
"IN GENERAL" - AS A PREREQUISITE TO PRESENTING A COMPLAINT FOR APPELLATE
REVIEW, THE RECORD MUST SHOW THAT: (1) THE COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO THE TRIAL
COURT BY A TIMELY REQUEST, OBJECTION, OR MOTION THAT: (A) STATED THE GROUNDS
FOR THE RULING THAT THE COMPLAINING PARTY SOUGHT FROM THE TRIAL COURT WITH
SUFFICIENT SPECIFICITY TO MAKE THE TRIAL COURT AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT, UNLESS
THE SPECIFIC GROUNDS WERE APPARANT FROM THE CONTEXT; .. .
[OBVIOUS]LY HEREIN, VALID DEFENSE OBJECTIONS WERE -MADE (SUPRA) WITH
SUFFICIENT SPECIFICITY. AND THUS, APPARANT SUCH WAS "PERCEPTABLE" FROM THE
CONTEXT .. .
ALTHOUGH, THE TRIAL COURT SPEEDILY INTERVENED - OVERRULING APPELLANT'S
OBJECTIONS [ABSENT COUNSEL A CHANCE TO. AMPLIFY] - AS NOTED OBJECTIONS WERE NOT
A MODEL OF CLARITY; APPELLANT, HOWEVER, ARGUES SAID OBJECTIONS WERE [SUFFIC
IENTLY SPECIFIC] - ENOUGH TO INFORM THE TRIAL COURT THAT.HE OBJECTED TO DEPUTY
"BEATTYS" OPINION IN REGARDS TO "CONCLUSION AS TO.WHAT OCCURRED ...?" AND
SAME THUS, DEPUTY "WILKERSON1S" OPINE REGARDING A "LEGAL CONCLUSION" AS TO
10
APPELLANT NOT ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE. SEE JAMES v. SATE, 335 S.W.3d 719,
725 (TEX.APP.2011).
ALTHOUGH AND AWHILE BOTH LAY AND EXPERT WITNESS'S CAN OFFER OPINION
TESTIMONY. TEX. R. OF EVID. 701 DEALS WITH THE [TRA]DITIONAL WITNESS, ONE
WHO "WITNESSED" OR PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENTS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF TESTI
MONY WHILE RULE 702 ALLOWS FOR A WITNESS WHO IS NOT TESTIFYING BASED ON
PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE.. [TRE 701, 702].
NEITHER. "BEATTY NOR WILKERSON" WERE DESIGNATED BY THE STATE AS EXPERT
WITNESSES. CR 29. THE FIELDS OF EXPERTISE DESIGNATED'BY THE STATE DID NOT
ENCOMPASS "BEATTY" AND "WILKERSON'S" OPINION TESTIMONY OR THEIR ALLEGED FIELD
OF EXPERTISE, [IF] ANY. CR '29.
THERE WAS NO TESTIMONY THAT "BEATTY" HAD ..EVER [INDEPENDENTLY. .INVESTI
GATED AN ASSUALT FAMILY CASE BEFORE, ONLY THAT HE HAD (ONCE) "OBSERVED A
FIELD OFFICER DO AN ASSUALT FAMILY VIOLENCE CASE [.]" 3 RR 11. THE NIGHT
OF THE ALLEGED OFFENSE, "BEATTY" WAS STILL BEING TRAINED AND SUPERVISED BY
"WILKERSON", "BEATTY'S" FIELD TRAINING OFFICER. 3 RR 12. "BEATTY" HAD ONLY
SOME "CLASSROOM ORIENTATION" AT THE POLICE ACADEMY. 3 RR .10. BOTH DEPUTY'S
COMBINED PATROL EXPERIENCE. MERELY ADDED UP TO. ONE (1) YEAR. 3 RR 9.
IN DIXON v. STATE, 244 S.W.3d 472, 479 (TEX.APP.-H0UST0N[14tHDIST..]-
2007, PET. REF'D); WILLIAMS v. STATE, 826 S.W.2d 783, 785 (TEX.APP.1992)
AND DAVIS v. STATE, 313 S.W.3d 317, 350 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2010) - THE LAW ENFORCE
MENT OFFICERS HAD YEARS OF EXPERIENCES, HAD PERSONALLY INVESTIGATED NUMEROUS
CRIMES DIRECTLY RELATED, TO, THE SUBJECT OF THEIR EXPERT TESTIMONY,.. AND. HAD
RECEIVED SPECIALIZED TRAINING [BE]YOND THEIR BASIC POLICE ACADEMY INSTRUCTION.
HERE IN THE INSTANT NOT SO!
BOTH "BEATTY" AND "WILKERSON" DID NOT,HAVE [PERSONAL] KNOWLEDGE OF. THE
FACTS OR OF APPELLANT'S MENTAL STATE..SEE "SALDANA", 2011 TEX.APP.IEKIS1709.
LIKE "SALDANA" .- HERE "BEATTYS" OPINION, WHILE ALLEGEDLY BASED ON PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE >>COULD<< ONLY HAVE BEEN REACHED BASED ON HEARSAY STATEMENTS FROM
THE STATES WITNESSES. ("AGNES" AND "TIMS").
HERE ONLY FOUR (4) WITNESS'S TESTIFIED, HOWEVER, IT WAS DEPUTY "WILKER
SON" AND DEPUTY "BEATTY", TESTIMONY, IN THEIR OPINION ... APPELLANT WAS GUILTY
- AND DID NOT ACT IN SELF-DEFENSE.
11
NOTE: NEITHER DEPUTY WAS PRESENT AT THE SCENE AT THE TIME OF THE
OFFENSE. BOTH "TIMS" AND "AGNES" WERE PRESENT - AND NEITHER TESTIFIED THAT
APPELLANT WAS .GUILTY OF ASSAULT. IN PARTICULAR, "AGNES" TESTIFIED THAT THE
COMPLAINANT ("TIMS") WAS THE [FIRST] AGGRESSOR.. THUS BUT NOT FOR DEPUTY
"BEATTY" - DEPUTY "WILKERSON" THE JURY WOULD NOT HAVE [HEARD] [EV]lDENCE
THAT APPELLANT "JONES" WAS GUILTY OF ASSAULT -or- DID NOT ACT IN SELF-DEFENSE.
MOREOVER, THE STATE REFERENCED BOTH DEPUTY OFFICER'S OPINIONS - CONCERNING
THE [TRUTH]FULNESS OF .THE COMPLAINANT AND "AGNES". ALLEGATIONS - APPELLANT'S
GUILT DURING CLOSING. ARGUMENT. ASIDE THE OPINE TESTIMONY, THERE RFJALLY WAS.
NO COMPELLING EVIDENCE OF, APPELLANT'S GUILT. A REVIEW OF THE ENTIRE RECORD
SHOWS POINT OF ERROR.TWO DID INFLUENCE THE JURY -or- HAD MORE THAN A SLIGHT
EFFECT. SEE SOLOMON, 49 S.W.3d 356, 365 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2001).
POINT OF ERROR TWO FOR REVIEW SHOULD BE SUSTAINED. ,T"';'"
POINT OF ERROR THREE FOR REVIEW
THE COURT OF APPEALS REVERSIBLY ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN OVER
RULING ISSUE THREE WHEN THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THE ABOVE ERRORS WAS SO
GREAT THAT REVERSAL IS REQUIRED.
APPELLANT RESPECTFULLY URGES REVIEW ON EAHC - EVERY POINT OF ERROR. ABOVE,
BUT ALSO URGES THIS COURT TO CONSIDER THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THE.ERRORS
PRESENT THROUGH OUT "APPELLANT'S" TRIAL ON THE OUTCOME OF THIS CASE. AN ERROR
IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL DOES . NOT ALWAYS. EXIST INDEPENDENTLY OF OTHER ERRORS.
WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE ERRORS, THIS COURT SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR CUMULATIVE
EFFECT, i.e., A NUMBER OF ERRORS MAY BE HARMFUL IN THEIR CUMULATIVE EFFECT.
SEE FELDMAN v. STATE, 71 S.W.3d 738., 757 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2002); HUGHES v. STATE,
24 S.W.3d 833, 844 (TEX.CRIM.APP.2000). .EACH "DISCRETE." ERROR CAN CREATE,
WHEN COMBINED WITH OTHER ERRORS,. A "SYNERGISTIC PREJUDICE" AND THEREBY TAINT
THE OUTCOME - AS APPELLANT CONTENDS HERE IN THE INSTANT.
THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES. CONSTITUTION AND ART.
I, SECT. 19 OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.GUARANTEE, CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS THE RIGHT
TO A FAIR TRIAL. U.S. CONST. AMEND.. XIV; TEX. CONST. ART. I §19. THE DENIAL.
OF A SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION,. THE ERRONEOUS ADMISSION OF OPINION TESTIMONY
REGARDING APPELLANT'S GUILT, THE INTRODUCTION OF INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE AGAINST
12
SELF-DEFENSE, . COMBINED TO DENY APPELLANT HIS RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL UNDER
THE FEDERAL AND TEXAS CONSTITUTIONS. THUS ERRORS.- MUST CUMULATIVELY, AS
WELL AS INDIVIDUALLY, IMPACTED APPELLANT'S RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL, THEREFORE!.
THE CONVICTION IN THIS CASE MUST BE REVERSED. [TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(b)].
PRAYER
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED,. APPELLANT PRAYS THAT THIS COURT GRANT
REVIEW -and/or- ANY OTHER RELIEF TO WHICH MAY BE APPROPRIATE.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
LONNIE JAMES"JONES Jr.
T.D.C.J. #''1889803
(PRO SE)
13
- APPENDIX -
APPX. A (ONLY)
TOTALING 12 pages
APPENDIX A
TOTALING 12 pages
- OPINION -
COURT OF APPEALS
NINTH (9th) DISTRICT OF BEAUMONT
NO. 09-13-00459-CR
In The
Court ofAppeals
Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont
NO. 09-13-00459-CR
LONNIE JAMES JONES JR., Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 221st District Court
Montgomery County, Texas
Trial Cause No. 13-03-03256 CR
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Lonnie James Jones Jr. appeals from a judgment following a jury trial in
which the jury found him guilty of assaulting a family member, a third-degree
felony. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.01(b)(2) (West Supp. 2014)1 (elevating an
assault to a third-degree felony if committed against a victim with whom the
defendant has or has had a dating relationship); see also Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §
. !We cite to the current version of the statute, as the subsequent amendment
-"' does not affect the outcome of this appeal.
1
71.0021(b) (West 2014) (defining dating relationship as a relationship with a
person with whom the defendant has or has had a continuing relationship of a
romantic nature). In his first two issues, Jones complains that the trial court refused
his request to instruct the jury on his claim of self-defense, and that the trial court
erred by admitting the testimony of the two investigating officers who expressed
their opinions about the investigation into the reported assault. In a third issue,
Jones suggests the cumulative impact of the trial court's errors requires another
trial.
Based on our review, we conclude that no evidence was before the jury in
Jones' trial to demonstrate that he was acting in self-defense when the altercation
occurred. Given the lack of evidence before the jury on Jones' claim of self-
defense, we hold that the trial court did not err in refusing his request to instruct the
jury on self-defense. With respect to Jones' complaints about the testimony of the
officers investigating the assault, we conclude he failed to properly preserve error
regarding the testimony of one of the officers, and we conclude that the error in
admitting the testimony of the other officer was harmless. Regarding Jones' third
issue, we hold that Jones has not shown that multiple errors occurred.
Self-defense
The jury convicted Jones of assaulting his girlfriend, Karen. In issue one,
Jones complains the trial court refused to submit an instruction to the jury on his
claim of self-defense/Under Texas law, "a person is justified in using force against
another when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is
immediately necessary to protect the actor against the other's use or attempted use
of unlawful force." Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 9.31(a) (West 2011).
According to the State, Jones failed to produce any evidence during the trial
to prove that he thought the force used on Karen was immediately necessary for his
protection. We note that Jones did not testify during the guilt-innocence phase of
the trial. There were only two other eyewitnesses to the altercation, Karen and
Jones' mother, both of whom testified during the trial.
Reviewing a trial court's refusal to submit a claim of self-defense requires
an appellate court to review the evidence admitted during trial under a standard
that requires evidence on the defensive issue to be reviewed in the light most
favorable to the defendant. Ferrel v. State, 55 S.W.3d 586, 591 (Tex. Crim. App.
2Karen is a pseudonym for the name of the person who Jones
assaulted. See Tex. Const, art. I, § 30 (granting crime victims "the right to be
treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy
throughout the criminaljustice process"). During the trial, Karen explainedthat she
was no longer in a relationship with Jones.
2001). When the defendant has not testified, the record must contain some
evidence to show that at the time of the assault, "the defendant was in some
apprehension or fear of being the recipient of the unlawful use of force[.]" Smith v.
State, 676 S.W.2d 584, 585 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984).
Two witnesses, Karen and Jones' mother, gave the jury conflicting accounts
about the events that led to the altercation between Jones and Karen. According to
Karen, she and Jones went to Jones' mother's house. Jones told Karen to wait in
the car while he went into the house; however, Karen entered the house a short
time after Jones and found Jones arguing with his mother. According to Karen,
when she attempted to calm Jones down, Jones pushed her to the floor and struck
her in the head. When this testimony is viewed in the light most favorable to Jones,
Karen's testimony does not indicate that Jones acted in self-defense.
Jones' mother gave the jury an entirely different account of the events.
According to Jones' mother, she and Karen were at the house when Jones arrived.
At that point, Karen and Jones began arguing when Karen accused him of dating
others. According to Jones' Mother, Jones did nothing wrong before Karen
"pushed him in the face." When this testimony is reviewed in the light most
favorable to Jones, it too fails to provide the jury with any information that would
allow the jury to reasonably infer that Jones acted out of fear after Karen pushed
him, nor does her testimony provide any information that would allow the jury to
reasonably infer that Jones thought the force he used in response to Karen's push
was reasonably necessary to protect himself against the force that Jones' mother
claimed Karen had used on him.
/ While a defendant is not necessarily required to testify to raise an issue of
self-defense, there must be some evidence before the jury to allow the jury to
reasonably infer that the defendant was acting out of the fear that if he did not act,
he would be the recipient of the other's unlawful use of force. Smith, 676 S.W.2d
at 585. None of the testimony before the jury raises an inference indicating that
Jones, during the altercation, had acted based on his fear that Karen was about to
strike him.
We conclude that the trial court did not err in rejecting Jones' request for an
instruction on his claim of self-defense. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 2.03(c) (West
2011) ("The issue of the existence of a defense is not submitted to the jury unless
evidence is admitted supporting the defense."); Reed v. State, 703 S.W.2d 380,
382, 384 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1986, pet. ref d) (rejecting the defendant's argument
that the trial court was required to instruct the jury on the defendant's claim of self-
defense where he did not testify and none of the other testimony allowed the jury
to infer what the defendant believed when he decided to shoot the victim). We
overrule issue one. ^
r Opinion Testimony of the Investigating Officers \
/
In issue two, Jones complains that the trial court committed reversible error
by allowing the police officers to state the opinions they reached from their
investigation into the alleged assault. Deputy Beatty and Deputy Wilkerson,
employees of the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, investigated the incident
the night it occurred.(Deputy Beatty testified that based on the investigation, he
concluded that Jones assaulted Karen/ Deputy Wilkerson, the other investigating
officer, testified that based on what he saw at the scene, nothing led him to believe
that Jones was responding to an attack.
Generally, nonconstitutional errors in admitting or excluding evidence in a
criminal case must be disregarded unless the error affects a defendant's substantial
rights. Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(b). "A substantial right is affected when the error had a
substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury's verdict."
King v. State, 953 S.W.2d 266, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) (citing Kotteakos v.
U.S., 328 U.S. 750, 776 (1946)). Nonetheless, an error does not affect a substantial
right if the appellate court reviewing the case has '"fair assurance that the error did
not influence the jury, or had but a slight effect.'" Solomon v. State, 49 S.W.3d
356, 364-65 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (quoting Reese v. State, 33 S.W.3d 238, 243
(Tex. Crim. App. 2000)) (applying nonconstitutional harm analysis to the
admission of testimony that it characterized as lay opinion). In determining the
effect of the erroneous admission of evidence on a jury's verdict, we review the
record as a whole, the nature of the evidence supporting the verdict, the character
of the alleged error, and how the jury might have considered the inadmissible
evidence in connection with the other evidence admitted in the case. Motilla v.
State, 78 S.W.3d 352, 355 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). We may also consider the jury
instructions, the State's theory, any defensive theories, whether the State
emphasized the error, closing arguments, and voir dire, if voir dire is relevant to
the evidence that is the subject of the defendant's complaint. Id. at 355-56.
On appeal, Jones argues that the testimony of Deputy Beatty was
inadmissible because he lacked personal knowledge of the altercation and he was
not properly qualified to express an opinion about the assault. According to Jones,
Deputy Beatty's opinion was inadmissible under Rules 701 or 702 of the Texas
Rules of Evidence. See Tex. R. Evid. 701 (admissibility of the opinions of lay
witnesses); Tex. R. Evid. 702 (admissibility of the opinions of experts).
However, Jones did not object that the opinion of Deputy Beatty was
inadmissible under Rules 701 or 702, nor did he claim at trial that Deputy Beatty's
7
opinion was not admissible as expert testimony, llnstead, Jones objected to Deputy
Beatty's testimony on the basis that the prosecutor's question asked the deputy to
express an opinion about a matter that the jury was to be asked to decide. On
appeal, Jones argues that Deputy Beatty's opinion was not properly admissible
under the Rules of Evidence that govern opinion testimony, Rules 701 and 702. In
our opinion, Jones' trial objection is inconsistent with the reasons he contends the
testimony was inadmissible on appeal.
To preserve error on appeal, Rule 33.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure requires that to preserve a complaint for review on appeal, a party must
make the trial court aware of the basis on which he is entitled to the relief he is
requesting during the trial. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a). Based on the objection that
Jones made to Officer Beatty's testimony, the trial court would not have been
aware of Jones' claim that the testimony was not admissible as opinion testimony.
See Pena v. State, 285 S.W.3d 459, 464 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) ("To avoid
forfeiting a complaint on appeal, the party must 'let the trial judge know what he
wants, why he thinks he is entitled to it, and to do so clearly enough for the judge
to understand him at a time when the judge is in the proper position to do
something about it.'" (quoting Lankston v. State, 827 S.W.2d 907, 909 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1992))).
Jones also complains that the trial court erred by allowing Deputy
Wilkerson to testify that he saw nothing at the scene that led him to believe that
Jones was responding to Karen's attack. Jones objected to this testimony on the
basis that Deputy Wilkerson was not there, was not present, and that Jones left the
scene before the officers arrived. Although Jones did not specifically state that the
question called for Deputy Wilkerson to express an opinion that he was not
qualified to express, his objection was sufficient, in the context of the question that
was asked, to alert the trial court to Jones' complaint that Deputy Wilkerson was
not qualified to express an opinion because he was not present when the altercation
occurred. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A).
With respect to Deputy Wilkerson's opinion, the record does not show that
the State attempted to qualify Deputy Wilkerson as an expert on self-defense.
Therefore, with respect to the testimony at issue, we conclude that the State was
attempting to get testimony into evidence as lay witness testimony, not as expert
testimony. See Tex. R. Evid. 701, 702.
The testimony the trial court admitted, however, is not admissible as lay
opinion. A lay witness may testify to his perception of an event if he personally
observed or experienced the event. The testimony of a witness who personally
observed an event may include the witness's opinions about the event, as long as
the opinion was drawn from the witness's experiences or observations. See
Williams v. State, 402 S.W.3d 425, 436 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013,
pet. refd).
In this case, Deputy Wilkerson was not present at the scene when the
altercation between Karen and Jones occurred. Even though Deputy Wilkerson's
lay opinion should have been excluded, the opinion addresses Jones' claim of self-
defense, a defense that was not relevant to the trial.
Even if Deputy Wilkerson's opinion also suggests that Jones assaulted
Karen, Deputy Beatty's opinion that Jones assaulted Karen was already before the
jury. Generally, when testimony that should not have been admitted is cumulative
of testimony that was admitted without objection, the error is harmless. See
Anderson v. State, 111 S.W.2d 622, 628 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) (noting that
"[ijnadmissible evidence can be rendered harmless if other evidence at trial is
admitted without objection and it proves the same fact that the inadmissible
evidence sought to prove"); Barrera v. State, 10 S.W.3d 743, 746-47 (Tex. App.—
Corpus Christi 2000, no pet.) (applying the rule stated in Anderson to a case where
the defendant complained of one officer's testimony about the defendant's claim of
self-defense when another officer testified, without objection, that the police report
did not contain any allegation claiming the defendant had acted in self-defense). In
10
this case, Jones did not lodge a valid objection to Deputy Beatty's opinion
indicating that the investigation showed that Jones had committed an assault. We
have previously concluded that the trial court did not err in overruling the objection
Jones made to Deputy Beatty's testimony.
Considering the nature of the evidence supporting the verdict, we have fair
assurance that Deputy Wilkerson's opinion did not influence the jury's verdict. See
Solomon, 49 S.W.3d at 365. The exculpatory evidence before the jury, the
testimony of Jones' mother, may have been given little weight because the
evidence before the jury includes the 911 call that Jones' mother made to the
police seeking assistance after the altercation occurred. In the 911 call, Jones'
mother stated that Jones had assaulted his girlfriend and used his fists to hurt her.
The jury also saw photographs depicting Karen's injuries. During final argument,
the prosecutor did not refer to Deputy Wilkerson's opinion to support his argument
that Jones should be found guilty.
Having carefully reviewed the evidence as a whole, and considering the
arguments presented to the jury in closing, we conclude that the admission of
Deputy Wilkerson's opinion, although error, was harmless. See Tex. R. App. P.
44.2(b). We overrule issue two.
11
Cumulative Error
In issue three, Jones argues that the cumulative impact of the trial court's
errors was so great that his conviction should be reversed. However, we have
found in Jones' favor solely on his claim that the trial court erred by admitting the
opinion expressed by Deputy Wilkerson, and we have explained that the admission
of Deputy Wilkerson's opinion, in the context of all of the evidence admitted
during Jones' trial, was harmless. Because Jones has shown the trial court
committed only one error during the trial, the error is not cumulative of others. We
overrule issue three, and we affirm the trial court's judgment.
AFFIRMED.
HOLLIS HORTON
Justice
Submitted on October 15, 2014
Opinion Delivered June 24,2015
Do Not Publish
Before McKeithen, C.J., Kreger and Horton, JJ.
12
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, LONNIE JAMES JONES Jr. T.D.C.J. # 1889803, PRESENTLY CONFINED JN
THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE - C.I.D. AT THE H.H.COFFIELD UNIT
IN ANDERSON COUNTY, DECLARE! UNDER THE PENALTY OF PERJURY AND CERTIFY THAT.
A TRUE AND .CORRECT COPY (TOTALING 13 pages) OF THE ENCLOSED INSTRUMENT,
APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REIVIEW, WAS PLACED IN THE PRISON LEGAL
MAILING SYSTEM ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2015, TO FORWARD via U.S.P.S. FIRST CDASS
POSTAGE TO: 1.) TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS,. ATTN: "ABEL ACOSTA" (CLERK),.
P.O. BOX 12308, CAPITOL.STATION, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2308; AND 2.) COUNSEL
FOR THE STATE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS, 207 W. PHILLIPS, 2nd FLOOR, CONROE,
TEXAS 77301.
CK>?/?7^
LONNIE JAMES^C^ES Jr.
T.D.C.J. # 1889803
H.H. COFFIELD UNIT
2661 FM 2054
TENNESSEE COLONY, TEXAS
75884-5000
UNSWORN DECLARATION
I, LONNIE JAMES.JONES Jr., AM THE PETITIONER AND BEING PRESENTLY INCAR
CERATED IN BE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE - C.I.D., DECLARE UNDER
PENALTY OF PERJURY. THAT, ACCORDING TO MY BELIEF, THE FACTS STATED IN THE
ABOVE AND FOREGOING ARE! TRUE AND CORRECT.
SINGED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2015.
LONNIE JAMES JONES Jr.
T.D.C.J. # 1889803
(PRO SE)
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