Jose Angel Jasso Jr. v. State ( 2014 )

AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed July 14, 2014.
S In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-13-00594-CR
JOSE ANGEL JASSO JR., Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 203rd Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. F-0972432-P
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Moseley, O’Neill, and FitzGerald
Opinion by Justice O’Neill
A jury convicted appellant Jose Angel Jasso Jr. of aggravated sexual assault of a child
and sentenced him to life in prison. He raises seven issues on appeal regarding sufficiency of the
evidence to support his conviction and admission of certain evidence during trial. We affirm the
trial court’s judgment.
Background
Appellant was complainant’s grandmother’s brother. Complainant was seven years old
the first time appellant abused her. He did it many times in various locations, but mostly in the
hallway of her house. The first time he abused her, the family was in the backyard and
complainant was inside watching television. Appellant came inside and motioned for
complainant to walk to the hallway. He then lifted her shirt and started licking her breasts. He
pulled down her pants and licked her “bottom part,” which she explained was where she went to
the restroom “number one.” Complainant also described a time when appellant abused her in a
car and at her grandmother’s house.
Complainant eventually told her grandmother about the abuse. She also told her
grandmother another relative, her Uncle Mariano, was sexually abusing her. Her grandmother
later told complainant’s mother about the abuse. Her mother talked to complainant at school,
and she described some of the sexual abuse.
Complainant then went to the Dallas Child’s Advocacy Center for an interview. During
the interview, complainant described how appellant performed oral sex on her. She also talked
about Uncle Mariano, but complainant was clear in differentiating between the two men’s abuse.
Appellant was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. The jury convicted
appellant and sentenced him to life in prison. This appeal followed.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
In his first issue, appellant argues the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction
because of inconsistencies in complainant’s story and because there was no physical evidence or
eyewitness testimony. The State responds the evidence is sufficient to support conviction, as the
jury was free to believe complainant and reconcile conflicts in evidence.
The standard for determining whether evidence is legally sufficient to support a
conviction is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution,
any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a
reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S 307, 319 (1979); Johnson v. State, 364 S.W.3d
292, 293–94 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). The jury is the exclusive judge of witness credibility and
the weight to be given testimony. Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 111 (Tex. Crim. App.
2000) (en banc). It is also within the exclusive province of the jury to reconcile conflicts in the
evidence. Id.
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To prove the elements of aggravated sexual assault of a child, the State must prove
appellant intentionally and knowingly caused the female sexual organ of a child to contact and
penetrate the mouth of appellant. TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 22.021(a)(1)(B)(i) (West Supp. 2013).
Although the record indicates the jury heard testimony from complainant regarding
sexual abuse at the hands of appellant and her uncle, complainant clearly differentiated between
the two men and the instances of abuse. She described her uncle as young and appellant as “an
old man.” She described how her uncle got down on both knees while performing oral sex, but
appellant got down on one knee. Thus, the record does not indicate, as appellant suggests, that
complainant was abused only by her uncle and she was merely “confused” when she testified
about appellant. The jury was the exclusive judge of her credibility and believed her, regardless
of any inconsistencies in her story or how unlikely appellant claims it was for him to abuse her
because of his elderly age and poor health.
The jury was free to believe complainant when she repeatedly testified that appellant
performed oral sex on her. The testimony of the child victim alone is sufficient to support a
conviction for sexual assault. See Lee v. State, 186 S.W.3d 649, 655 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006,
pet. ref’d). Accordingly, we conclude the evidence is sufficient to support appellant’s
conviction. Appellant’s first issue is overruled.
Outcry Witness Testimony
In his second issue, appellant claims the court erred by allowing Nakisha Biglow, the
forensic interviewer, to testify as the outcry witness because complainant’s mother was the
proper outcry witness. The State responds the sub rosa hearing established Biglow was the
proper outcry witness.
Article 38.072 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows admission of certain
hearsay testimony in the prosecution of offenses committed against children. TEX. CODE CRIM.
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PROC. ANN. art. 38.072 (West Supp. 2013). The outcry statute applies only to statements made
(1) by the child against whom the offense was allegedly committed, and (2) to the first person,
eighteen years of age or older, to whom the child made a statement about the offense. Id. To be
a proper outcry statement, the child’s statement to a witness must describe the alleged offense in
some discernable manner and must be more than a general allusion to sexual abuse. Sims v.
State, 12 S.W.3d 499, 500 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999, pet. ref’d); see also Hernandez v. State, No.
05-13-00202-CR, 2014 WL 50544, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 7, 2014, no pet.) (mem. op.,
not designated for publication). The trial court has broad discretion in determining the proper
outcry witness, and its determination will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. Sims,
12 S.W.3d at 500.
Appellant argues complainant’s mother should have been designated as the outcry
witness. He relies on the complainant’s testimony in which she said she told her mother
appellant licked her “bottom part.” However, complainant testified Biglow was the first adult
she told about appellant putting his mouth on her “bottom part.”
During the sub rosa hearing, mother testified complainant did not tell her about the oral
sex when they first discussed the abuse because “she wouldn’t go into detail with me.” Mother
explained she first found out about that detail the day before trial. Before that, complainant had
only told her appellant lifted her shirt, sucked her breasts, and put his hand underneath her pants.
The record is clear that Biglow is the first adult complainant described, in a discernable
manner, the offense as alleged in the indictment; specifically, that appellant contacted her female
sexual organ with his mouth. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
designating Biglow as the outcry witness. Appellant’s second issue is overruled.
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The Forensic Interview
In his third and sixth issues, appellant alleges the trial court abused its discretion by
admitting the videotape of the forensic interview into evidence. He argues Biglow used leading
questions and encouraged complainant to embellish her answers, which made the interview
unreliable. He further argues the videotape was inadmissible because it was improper bolstering
and duplicitous. The trial court admitted the videotape under the best evidence theory because of
possible confusion to the jury based on questions by both the State and the defense. Appellant
contends “there did not exist any state of confusion in the jury that would allow the State to
introduce the whole tape.”
As to appellant’s third issue, we conclude the issue is not preserved for review. The rules
of appellate procedure require a brief to contain “a clear and concise argument for the
contentions made, with appropriate citations to authorities and to the record.” TEX. R. APP. P.
38.1(1). When, as here, the appellate issue is supported by only a conclusory statement and not
citation references, nothing is presented for review.
Appellant has failed to direct this Court to anywhere in the videotape where Biglow used
leading questions. It is not our job to make arguments for inadequate briefing or to scour the
record in search of error. See Wyatt v. State, 23 S.W.3d 18, 23 n.5 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
Accordingly, appellant’s third issue is overruled.
In his sixth issue, appellant complains the trial court abused its discretion by playing the
videotape of the forensic interview because it was improper bolstering of complainant, and it was
duplicitous. The trial court ruled the videotape was admissible “as the best evidence and/or prior
inconsistent statements . . . .”
Assuming without deciding that the trial court erred by admitting the videotape, we
conclude any alleged error is harmless. The admission of evidence is harmless when the same
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evidence came in elsewhere without objection. Lane v. State, 151 S.W.3d 188, 192–93 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2004); Loya v. State, No. 05-11-00845-CR, 2012 WL 4875499, at *6 (Tex. App.—
Dallas Oct. 16, 2012, no pet.) (not designated for publication). Here, the jury heard essentially
the same evidence, without objection, through complainant’s testimony and through Biglow’s
testimony. With the evidence of sexual abuse reflected through other witness testimony, we
have fair assurance the assumed error did not influence the jury, or had but a slight effect. TEX.
R. APP. P. 44.2(b); Loya, 2012 WL 4875499, at *6. Accordingly, we conclude the purported
error was harmless. Thus, appellant’s sixth issue is overruled.
Evidence of Gifts
In his fourth issue, appellant contends his constitutional right to confrontation was
violated when the trial court overruled his attempts to introduce evidence of gifts allegedly
received by complainant that influenced her testimony. He also contends the trial court abused
its discretion by not allowing him to explore her motive under rule of evidence 613(b) to falsely
testify.
Appellant did not object during trial that his constitutional right to confrontation was
violated. Errors based on the constitutional rights to confrontation and due process may be
waived by failure to object. Briggs v. State, 789 S.W.2d 918, 924 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (en
banc); Lofton v. State, No. 05-10-01265-CR, 2011 WL 6225415, at *6 (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec.
9, 2011, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication). Thus, appellant has not preserved his
confrontation argument for review.
However, appellant urged at trial that he should have been allowed to question
complainant about a puppy and a turtle she received as gifts because the family was “showering
this child with gifts in order to have her testify.” Appellant relies on rule of evidence 613(b) for
support.
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We apply an abuse of discretion standard when reviewing a trial court’s decision to admit
or exclude evidence. Ramos v. State, 245 S.W.3d 410, 417–18 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). We
uphold a trial court’s evidentiary ruling as long as it is within the zone of reasonable
disagreement and correct under any legal theory applicable to the case. Winegarner v. State, 235
S.W.3d 787, 790 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
Under rule of evidence 613(b), a defendant is entitled, subject to reasonable restrictions,
to show any relevant fact that might tend to establish ill feeling, bias, motive, interest, or animus
on the part of any witness testifying against him. TEX. R. EVID. 613(b); Billodeau v. State, 277
S.W.3d 34, 42–43 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Under this rule, the opponent must first cross-
examine the witness with the circumstances surrounding the bias, interest, or motive; if the
witness denies the circumstances or motive, the opponent may introduce extrinsic evidence to
prove the motive or bias. Sturgeon v. State, No. 05-10-00672-CR, 2011 WL 5042087, at *3
(Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 25, 2011, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication).
The trial court held a sub rosa hearing outside the presence of the jury in which appellant
questioned complainant about a puppy and a turtle given to her by her mother. In response to
questions, complainant admitted (1) she received the puppy and turtle after she told her
grandmother about the abuse; (2) her mother told her she needed to be strong; and (3) her mother
told her she needed to fight the case against her uncle and appellant.
Despite the opportunity, appellant did not ask complainant if her testimony against
appellant was motivated by the gifts she received. Nor did he call her mother as a witness and
ask if she gave complainant the gifts because she wanted to influence complainant’s testimony.
Thus, nothing in the record establishes a nexus between complainant receiving gifts and her
allegations of sexual abuse. To the extent appellant argues the evidence was relevant to show
motive, he did not establish any relevance through complainant’s testimony during the sub rosa
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hearing. See, e.g., Smith v. State, 352 S.W.3d 55, 64 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011, no pet.) (the
proponent of evidence attempting to show bias or motive must show the evidence is relevant).
Under these circumstances, we cannot conclude the trial court abused its discretion by excluding
the evidence. We overrule appellant’s fourth issue.
Expert Testimony
In his fifth issue, appellant argues the trial court abused its discretion by allowing Wynne
Shaw, a clinical supervisor at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, to testify as an expert
regarding a child’s ability to give accurate dates of an event. The State responds the issue is
waived. We agree with the State.
The trial court conducted a hearing in which it determined Shaw could testify regarding
“access, delayed outcry, disclosure, I.D. and sexual abuse effect.” The State asked Shaw about a
child’s memory and the ability to provide dates and order of events. Appellant did not object.
Shaw answered, “ . . . children do have good memory for things that happened, but their sense of
time and order and dates and that sort of thing is just not as good or as developed as adults.”
A timely and specific objection must be made in the trial court to preserve a complaint
for appeal. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1. Because appellant failed to object, any alleged error caused by
admitting the testimony is waived. Id.
In reaching this conclusion, we are mindful that appellant refers to Shaw’s testimony as
objectionable but provides a record citation to testimony from Detective Glen Slade, who also
opined “it’s very difficult for children to be able to give dates.” Appellant objected to Detective
Slade’s testimony as speculative; however, the trial court overruled the objection.
Even if we assumed appellant intended to challenge the testimony of Detective Slade, his
issue is still not preserved for review. When the same evidence is presented to the jury
elsewhere during trial without objection, no reversible error exists. Espinosa v. State, 194
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S.W.3d 703, 708 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.). Appellant must object at the
earliest possible opportunity to prevent waiver of an issue on appeal. Turner v. State, 805
S.W.2d 423, 431 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (en banc). This he did not do. Moreover, appellant
objected the testimony was speculative; however, on appeal he argues the testimony was
inadmissible because “the expert testified about (1) a matter outside the scope of the
qualifications of the expert and (2) to offer testimony as to matters that did not aid the jury and
was an attempt to corroborate the child was telling the truth.” If a party asserts a different
complaint on appeal than the objection made at trial, the issue is waived. Brown v. State, 333
S.W.3d 606, 614 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.). Because appellant’s complaint on appeal
does not comport with his objection below and the same testimony was admitted elsewhere
without objection, he has waived his issue. Appellant’s fifth issue is overruled.
Extraneous Offense Evidence
In his final issue, appellant contends the trial court abused its discretion by allowing
extraneous offense evidence that was too remote, factually inconsistent to the present offense,
and more prejudicial than probative. The State responds the evidence was admissible to rebut
the defensive theory that complainant fabricated her story.
We review rulings on the admissibility of evidence under an abuse of discretion standard.
Walters v. State, 247 S.W.3d 204, 217 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). We will conclude a trial court
abused its discretion if its ruling lies “outside the zone of reasonable disagreement.” Id.
The trial court held a hearing outside the presence of the jury in which Myriam Gonzalez
testified. Appellant was Myriam’s grandfather’s brother. She testified she had known appellant
her whole life.
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She then testified that when she was between five and seven years old, 1 appellant exposed
himself to her and asked her to touch his penis while she was playing alone in a garage. At the
time, she said other family members were inside the house. She testified the incident “couldn’t
have been no longer than two minutes.”
The State argued the extraneous offense evidence was admissible to rebut two defensive
theories: (1) that appellant did not have time to commit the offense and (2) that he could not have
committed the offense because other family members could have seen him. The State argued
Myriam’s testimony showed appellant had previously committed a sexual offense against
another child in a matter of minutes while family members were in close proximity. Thus, the
evidence rebutted the defensive theory that he did not have time to sexually assault complainant,
and he could not have had the opportunity because family members were outside at the time.
Appellant objected the evidence was more prejudicial than probative because it occurred
more than twenty years ago and it was not similar to the offense charged. He also argued he did
not ask complainant any questions that would “develop a [defensive] theory.”
The trial court determined the evidence was more probative than prejudicial and further
determined it was admissible “under our case law to rebut some of the defensive arguments that
will be made in this case.”
On appeal, appellant argues the trial court erred because the extraneous offense evidence
was more prejudicial than probative, and the evidence was not proof of a “common scheme or
plan” under Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b). See TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). We first note appellant
did not object in the trial court under rule 404(b)’s exception allowing for the admission of other
crimes, wrongs, or acts to show proof of a plan. The State did not argue the extraneous offense
was admissible to show proof of a plan, nor did the trial court base its ruling on this exception.
1
Myriam was twenty-eight years old at the time of trial.
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To raise an issue on appeal, appellant must make a timely objection to the trial court. TEX. R.
APP. P. 33.1. Moreover, if a party asserts a different complaint on appeal than was made by
objection at trial, the issue is waived. Brown, 333 S.W.3d at 614. Because appellant’s rule
404(b) complaint does not comport with his objection below, he has waived this argument.
However, appellant has preserved his rule 403 objection regarding whether admission of
the extraneous offense evidence was more prejudicial than probative. See TEX. R. EVID. 403
(“Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed
by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury . . . .”). A trial
court should consider several factors in determining whether the prejudicial effect of evidence
substantially outweighs its probative nature under rule 403. These factors include: (1) how
compelling the evidence of the extraneous offense serves to make a fact of consequence more or
less probable; (2) the extraneous offense’s potential to impress the jury in some irrational but
indelible way; (3) the time the proponent will require to develop evidence of the extraneous
misconduct; and (4) the proponent’s need for the extraneous evidence. See Wheeler v. State, 67
S.W.3d 879, 888 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (en banc).
It has been recognized that in prosecutions for sexual offenses, a successful conviction
often depends primarily on whether the jury believes the complainant. Id. The evidence here, at
a minimum, provided the “small nudge” towards contradicting appellant’s defensive theories that
he neither had time nor the opportunity to commit the sexual assault and towards proving that the
sexual assault did indeed occur. Myriam’s entire testimony only took up eight pages of a multi-
volume record; therefore, it did not take much time to develop the evidence. While evidence of
an extraneous offense will always carry emotional weight and the danger of impressing the jury
in an irrational and indelible way, our rules of evidence require the exclusion only if the danger
of unfair prejudice, delay, or needless repetition substantially outweighs the probative value. See
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id. We conclude that the trial court’s decision to admit the extraneous offense in this case fell
within the zone of reasonable disagreement.
Moreover, even if the trial court erred in its admission, any error was harmless. Rule
44.2(b) of the rules of appellate procedure provides that any non-constitutional error that does
not affect substantial rights must be disregarded. TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(b). Substantial rights are
not affected by the erroneous admission of evidence if the appellate court, after examining the
record as a whole, has fair assurance the error did not influence the jury, or had but a slight
effect. Motilla v. State, 78 S.W.3d 352, 355 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). The erroneous admission
of an extraneous offense is non-constitutional error. Patterson v. State, No. 05-06-00808-CR,
2007 WL 4200998, at *14 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 29, 2007, no pet.) (not designated for
publication).
In conducting a harm analysis, an appellate court should consider everything in the
record, including any testimony or physical evidence admitted for the jury’s consideration, the
trial court’s instructions to the jury, the State’s theory, any defensive theories, closing arguments,
and even voir dire if material to appellant’s claim. Id.; see also Motilla, 78 S.W.3d at 355–56.
Whether the State emphasized the error can also be a factor. Id.; see also Motilla, 78 S.W.3d at
355–56. Moreover, the weight of the evidence of appellant’s guilt is also relevant to the
analysis. Patterson, 2007 WL 4200998, at *14.
As noted above, Myriam’s testimony did not take much time to develop. Moreover, the
State did not mention it in closing until its rebuttal, which was in response to appellant arguing
she was not credible and questioning how appellant could defend himself against something that
allegedly happened years earlier. Even then, the State, in three sentences, only argued it was
possible for appellant to commit the act “in an instant” and still get away with it “with other
people present.” See id. (noting evidence was not harmful when presented in a few short
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sentences of testimony and only mentioned once by the State in closing argument). The majority
of the State’s closing argument focused on complainant’s and Biglow’s testimony. In fact, the
State emphasized complainant was credible because (1) she accused her Uncle Mariano of abuse
and he pleaded guilty to the offense, and (2) her outcry was unintentional. The State did not
emphasize complainant was credible because of Myriam’s testimony. The State also did not
emphasize appellant was guilty because of Myriam’s testimony. Further, the jury was properly
instructed on the limited use of the extraneous offense evidence. See TEX. R. EVID. 105 (when
evidence is admissible for a limited purpose, the trial court “shall restrict the evidence to its
proper scope and instruct the jury accordingly”).
Also as discussed above, the jury heard testimony from both complainant and Biglow
describing the abuse. The testimony of either was sufficient to support conviction. See, e.g.,
Lee, 186 S.W.3d at 655 (testimony of child victim alone is sufficient to support conviction); see
also Patterson, 2007 WL 4200998, at *14 (weight of evidence of guilt is relevant to harm
analysis).
Accordingly, upon review of the entire record, we conclude the admission of the
extraneous offense evidence did not have a substantial and injurious effect or influence the jury’s
verdict. Appellant’s seventh issue is overruled.
Conclusion
Having overruled appellant’s issues, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
/Michael J. O'Neill/
MICHAEL J. O’NEILL
Do Not Publish JUSTICE
TEX. R. APP. P. 47
130594F.U04
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S
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
JOSE ANGEL JASSO JR., Appellant On Appeal from the 203rd Judicial District
Court, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-13-00594-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. F-0972432-P.
Opinion delivered by Justice O’Neill.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Justices Moseley and FitzGerald
participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered this 14th day of July, 2014.
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