Christopher Ryan Robinson v. State ( 2012 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-10-00255-CR
Christopher Ryan Robinson, Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 299TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. D-1-DC-09-500054, HONORABLE CHARLES F. BAIRD, JUDGE PRESIDING
OPINION
A jury found Appellant Christopher Ryan Robinson guilty of capital murder. See Tex.
Penal Code Ann. § 19.03(a)(7)(A) (West 2011). The trial court sentenced Robinson to life
imprisonment. On appeal, Robinson claims that (1) the evidence was legally insufficient to support the
finding that he was the primary actor in these murders; (2) the trial court erred in denying his motion
to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to search warrants for his home, SUV, and blood; (3) the court
erred in denying his motion to exclude various expert testimony; and (4) the court erred in denying his
motion to exclude testimony based on the witness’s competency. We affirm the conviction.
BACKGROUND
On January 8, 2009, Jesus Nieto and Mikayas “Mickey” Mekonen were packaging
marijuana in the living room of Nieto’s home in Austin.1 Nieto’s wife, who was in the bedroom, heard
1
Unless otherwise indicated, the facts recited herein are taken from the testimony and
exhibits admitted at trial.
gunshots and hid in the closet with her son. When she eventually entered the living room, she found
Nieto and Mekonen on the floor. Both Nieto and Mekonen had been shot several times. Nieto’s wife
called 911, and Travis County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene within minutes. Nieto died at the
scene and Mekonen was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Investigation
Investigators with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office arrived shortly after the scene was
secured by the responding deputies. They collected the victims’ cell phones, along with bullets, samples
of the victims’ blood, and what remained of the packaged marijuana. During this initial investigation,
Nieto’s neighbor told investigators that she saw a small, black SUV parked in front of Nieto’s home
near the time of the shooting. The lead investigator’s initial impression was that the shooting was a
drug deal “that had gone bad.”
Subsequent investigation of the victims’ cell phones revealed that, on the morning of
the shooting, Mekonen had received four calls from a Waco-area phone number. After subpoenaing
records for the Waco-area phone number, investigators identified the number as Robinson’s cell
phone. Investigators were also able to use the phone records to track Robinson’s location on the day
of the shooting. This tracking revealed that he drove from Waco to Austin on the morning of the
shooting, was in the vicinity of the crime scene within hours of the shooting, and drove back to Waco
after the shooting.
Investigators contacted Waco-area police officers, at which point they learned that
Robinson was living with his girlfriend in Waco and that his girlfriend owned a black Mercedes SUV.
They also learned that during a previous interaction between Robinson and Waco police officers,
2
Robinson admitted to keeping a .38 caliber revolver in his home, the same caliber as the bullets
recovered from the crime scene. Based on this information, investigators obtained search warrants for
Robinson’s home and SUV.
On February 3, 2009, sheriff’s officers executed the search warrants for the SUV and
home. Officers stopped Robinson’s girlfriend while she was driving the SUV and seized the vehicle
pursuant to the warrant. While officers detained Robinson’s girlfriend at the police station, a SWAT
team surrounded Robinson’s home. After confirming with Robinson’s girlfriend that Robinson was
home, an investigator called Robinson from the girlfriend’s cell phone. When Robinson answered, the
investigator told him that police had surrounded his home and that he needed to come outside.
Robinson initially did not leave the house; first he claimed that he was not home, then he attempted
to leave out of the back screen door, and ultimately he started his car and tried to open the garage
door. The SWAT team prevented these attempts, and Robinson eventually surrendered and exited the
front door.
Investigators entered the house pursuant to the search warrant. They found a burning
bag on the back porch, which they quickly extinguished. Investigators recovered several items of
clothing and a .38 caliber revolver from the bag. They also seized plastic wrappers, packaging, and
duct tape that was similar to the packaging of the marijuana at the crime scene. Robinson was taken
into custody, and a warrant was issued for his arrest the following day. Investigators also obtained
and executed a warrant for samples of Robinson’s DNA. Robinson was indicted for capital murder on
May 7, 2009.
3
Trial
Robinson’s trial began on April 12, 2010, and lasted six days. At trial, the lead
investigator testified about the course of his investigation as outlined above. Prior to his testimony
concerning the search of Robinson’s home and SUV, the court held a hearing outside the presence
of the jury on Robinson’s motion to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to the search warrants. At
this hearing, Robinson argued that the search warrants were not supported by probable cause, and
thus the evidence obtained pursuant to the search warrants must be excluded at trial. The trial court
overruled Robinson’s motion, and the investigator concluded his testimony.
The State also called Cierra Williams, Nieto’s neighbor, as a fact witness. Williams
testified that she saw a black SUV outside the crime scene on the day of the shooting. She also
identified a picture of a Mercedes SUV that she claimed was the same model as the SUV outside
Nieto’s home.2 After cross-examination, Robinson objected to Williams’s competency to testify
and moved to strike her testimony. The trial court overruled the objection.
The State called several experts to testify about the forensic evidence recovered in
the course of the investigation. One expert for the State testified that his examination of Robinson’s
SUV revealed gunshot residue and the presumptive presence of blood in the passenger seat and along
the inside of the passenger door, though this blood was never tested against any of the DNA samples
in this case. A ballistics expert testified that the revolver recovered from Robinson’s home was the
firearm used to shoot Nieto and Mekonen. Two other experts for the State testified that the clothing
2
Investigators confirmed that the picture that Williams identified was the same model as
Robinson’s SUV.
4
recovered from the burning bag had traces of gunshot residue as well as Nieto’s and Robinson’s
DNA.3 Robinson’s girlfriend identified some of the recovered clothing as Robinson’s and testified
that the rest was the same brand that he usually wore.
Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Wright testified for the State about the method that he used to
track Robinson’s cell phone activity on the day of the shooting. During direct examination, Robinson
objected to Deputy Wright’s qualifications as an expert; the trial court overruled this objection.
Deputy Wright explained that Robinson’s phone activity showed that, on the morning of the shooting,
Robinson called Mekonen four times while driving from Waco to Austin. Deputy Wright further
stated that Robinson arrived near the vicinity of Nieto’s home prior to the murders and remained in
the area of the crime scene until after the shooting. Finally, Deputy Wright stated that Robinson’s
phone calls showed him leaving Austin after the shooting and never calling Mekonen again.
The State also called Melissa Valdez, a trace evidence analyst with the Department
of Public Safety. Prior to her testimony, Robinson objected to the reliability of Valdez’s testing as
well as the relevancy of her testimony. The trial court overruled these objections and allowed Valdez’s
expert testimony. Valdez then testified about the tan, brown, and teal duct tape recovered from both
the crime scene and Robinson’s home. She stated that, based on a side-by-side visual comparison,
the tapes were similar in color, width, thread count, and adhesive backing such that they “could share
a common source.” However, Valdez admitted that she could not say that it was “more likely than
3
Only some of the DNA samples could positively be identified as Nieto’s, while others
matched Nieto to the extent that the odds of matching another Latin-American were one in 889.7
trillion. Similarly, other samples matched Robinson only to the extent that the odds of matching
another African-American were one in 11.05 billion.
5
not” that the tapes were from the same source unless the torn ends of the tapes could be pieced
back together.
Throughout the State’s case, Robinson alluded to the possibility that Ernest Blanco
was the actual shooter in these murders.4 Investigators testified that they contacted Blanco, who
voluntarily cooperated with the investigation and provided a DNA sample. Investigators further
stated that Blanco’s DNA did not match any of the DNA recovered in this case, and thus they
excluded Blanco as a suspect. The State called Blanco as a witness, who testified that he was in
Waco visiting his newborn son on the day of the murder. Blanco further stated that he had not been
to Austin in several months. Blanco’s alibi and credibility were thoroughly scrutinized by Robinson
during cross-examination. At the conclusion of the State’s case-in-chief, Robinson recalled the lead
investigator and questioned him about his investigation of Blanco as a suspect. Robinson did not
call any other witnesses and did not testify. After the close of evidence, the jury found Robinson
guilty of capital murder. The State did not seek the death penalty, and the trial court sentenced
Robinson to life imprisonment. This appeal followed.
DISCUSSION
Robinson effectively raises four issues on appeal.5 First, he contends that the evidence
was insufficient to support the jury’s finding that he was the primary actor in these murders. Second,
4
During interrogation, Robinson told investigators that Blanco shot Nieto and Mekonen and
then forced Robinson to keep the gun and other evidence under threat of violence. While Robinson’s
statements during his interrogation were not admitted at trial, Robinson’s accusation that Blanco was
the shooter was admitted to explain the subsequent investigation of Blanco as a potential suspect.
5
Robinson raises these issues in nine separate points of error. However, for convenience,
we have grouped the points of error into four legal issues.
6
he claims that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to
search warrants because the warrants were not supported by probable cause. Third, Robinson argues
that the trial court erred in admitting the expert testimony of Deputy Wright and Valdez. Finally,
Robinson challenges the trial court’s finding that Williams was competent to testify.
Sufficiency of the evidence
In his first point of error, Robinson claims that the evidence produced at trial is legally
insufficient to sustain his conviction. The trial court denied the State’s request to instruct the jury
on the law of parties. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 7.02(b) (West 2011) (statutory authority to hold
conspirators guilty of felonies committed by co-conspirators). Therefore, Robinson could only be
convicted of capital murder if the jury found that he shot Nieto and Mekonen in the same criminal
transaction. See id. § 19.03(a)(7)(A); see also Goff v. State, 931 S.W.2d 537, 544 (Tex. Crim. App.
1996) (“Where there is no charge on the law of parties a defendant may only be convicted on the
basis of his own conduct.”).
Standard of Review
In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, we determine
whether a rational trier of fact could have found that the essential elements of the crime were proven
beyond a reasonable doubt. Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 895 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). In
making this determination, we consider all evidence that the trier of fact was permitted to consider,
regardless of whether it was rightly or wrongly admitted. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778
(Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Allen v. State, 249 S.W.3d 680, 688-89 (Tex. App.—Austin 2008, no pet.).
7
We view this evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict. Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778. The
jury, as the trier of fact, is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given
to their testimony. Id. Therefore, we presume that the factfinder resolved any conflicting inferences
and issues of credibility in favor of the judgment. Id.
Analysis
A person commits the offense of capital murder if he murders more than one person
during the same criminal transaction. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.03(a)(7)(A). Murders are committed
in the same criminal transaction if they occur over a “‘continuous and uninterrupted chain of conduct
occurring over a very short period of time . . . in a rapid sequence of events.’” Jackson v. State,
17 S.W.3d 664, 669 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (quoting Rios v. State, 846 S.W.2d 310, 311-12
(Tex. Crim. App. 1992)). Circumstantial evidence can be as probative as direct evidence, and
circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt. Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 15
(Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “Each fact need not point directly and independently to the guilt of appellant,
as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support the
conviction.” Id. at 13 (citing Johnson v. State, 871 S.W.2d 183, 186 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)).
At trial, the State presented evidence that (1) Robinson was in possession of
the murder weapon, (2) his clothes contained gunshot residue as well as his and Nieto’s DNA,
(3) Robinson attempted to destroy this physical evidence and flee when investigators came to
search his home, (4) Robinson called Mekonen four times while driving from Waco to Austin on the
morning of the shooting, (5) Robinson was in the vicinity of Nieto’s home for the few hours leading
up to the murders, (6) Robinson’s SUV matches the description of a vehicle at the crime scene, and
8
(7) Robinson’s SUV tested positive for gunshot residue and the presumptive presence of blood.
From this evidence, the jury could reasonably have inferred that Robinson drove in his SUV from
Waco to meet Nieto and Mekonen, shot them both, and then attempted to destroy the evidence of
his crime when he learned that investigators were closing in. See Jackson, 17 S.W.3d at 668-69
(holding defendant’s bloody fingerprint and DNA at crime scene was sufficient to establish guilt).
Furthermore, the jury could reasonably have believed that Blanco was not involved in these murders
given his cooperation with investigators and his testimony that he did not know the victims and had
not been in Austin for several months. See Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778 (noting that when record
supports conflicting inferences, reviewing court presumes factfinder resolved conflicts in favor of
verdict).
Robinson argues that the jury’s finding of guilt was based on the impermissible
stacking of inferences. Specifically, Robinson claims that the jury could only have concluded that he
was the primary actor based on inference stacking because no single piece of evidence proves that
he was the shooter. In support of this argument, Robinson relies on Pesina v. State, 949 S.W.2d 374,
382-83 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997, no pet.). In Pesina, the victim’s body, blood, and the murder
weapon were found at the defendant’s home. Id. at 378-80. However, evidence showed that the
defendant’s acquaintances brought the body to the defendant’s home and then forced the defendant
to dispose of the evidence. Id. Given that there was no evidence that the defendant participated in
the crime prior to the murder, the court of appeals held that it was improper to infer his prior
participation based solely on his subsequent destruction of evidence. Id. at 382-83.
This case is distinguishable from Pesina because there is substantial evidence that
Robinson was the primary actor in these murders. See id. at 381-82 (noting no evidence defendant
9
acted alone or as primary actor). Unlike in Pesina, the evidence against Robinson is not limited
to weapons or clothing from the crime scene being found in Robinson’s home. The evidence also
shows that Robinson used his cell phone, of which he was in possession at the time of his arrest,
to call the victim four times as he drove from Waco to Austin the morning before these murders.
Robinson’s cell phone calls also place him in the vicinity of the crime scene for several hours
leading up to the shootings and then returning to Waco after the murders. Further, an eye witness
places a vehicle matching Robinson’s SUV in front of the crime scene prior to the shooting.
Investigators found the murder weapon, bloody clothes, and other physical evidence relating to
the shooting in Robinson’s Waco home, and Robinson’s SUV tested positive for gunshot residue
as well as the presumptive presence of blood. From this evidence, the jury could reasonably infer
Robinson’s participation in the actual shooting from more than his mere subsequent possession
of incriminating evidence.
Furthermore, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has recognized that inference
stacking, i.e., the drawing of a series of multiple reasonable inferences based on direct or circumstantial
evidence, can be a proper reasoning process. Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 15-17. As the court of criminal
appeals explained, “[r]ather than using the language of inference stacking, courts of appeals should
. . . determine whether the necessary inferences are reasonably based upon the combined and
cumulative force of all evidence when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict.” Id. (citing
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979)). Giving proper deference to the jury, we find that
the cumulative force of all the evidence presented in this case is sufficient to support the inference
that Robinson was the primary actor in this shooting. Robinson’s first point of error is overruled.
10
Evidence obtained pursuant to search warrants
In his second, third, and fourth points of error, Robinson claims that the trial court
erred in denying his motions to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to search warrants for his
home, SUV, and DNA, respectively. Robinson claims that the affidavits supporting the search
warrants for his home and SUV did not establish probable cause to believe that evidence of
the shooting would be found at either location. Furthermore, Robinson argues that the affidavit
supporting the search warrant for his DNA relied on evidence obtained pursuant to the invalid
searches of his home and SUV, and thus the seizure of his DNA was not supported by probable
cause. See Pitonyak v. State, 253 S.W.3d 834, 847-48 (Tex. App.—Austin 2008, pet. ref’d)
(explaining exclusion of evidence is proper when affidavit for search warrant contains unlawfully
obtained information and untainted information alone does not support probable cause).
Standard of review
Ordinarily, a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress is reviewed under a
bifurcated standard, giving almost total deference to the trial court’s findings of fact but
reviewing conclusions of law de novo. State v. McLain, 337 S.W.3d 268, 271 (Tex. Crim. App.
2011). However, when ruling on a motion to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to a search
warrant, a trial court is limited to the four corners of the affidavit supporting the warrant and thus
makes no factual or credibility determinations. Id. Therefore, we review a trial court’s ruling on
motions to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to search warrants under a unique standard. See
State v. Webre, 347 S.W.3d 381, 384 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011, no pet.). This standard requires
both trial and appellate courts to be highly deferential to a magistrate’s decision to issue a search
11
warrant, reflecting the constitutional preference that searches be conducted pursuant to a warrant.
McLain, 337 S.W.3d at 271; Rodriguez v. State, 232 S.W.3d 55, 61 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
Reviewing courts must determine whether the magistrate had a substantial basis for
concluding that probable cause existed. State v. Jordan, 342 S.W.3d 565, 569 (Tex. Crim. App.
2011) (quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238-39 (1983)). Probable cause exists when,
considering the totality of the circumstances, there is a “fair probability that . . . evidence will be
found at the specified location.” Rodriguez, 232 S.W.3d at 60 (internal quotations omitted).
While our review is limited to the four corners of the affidavit, we interpret the affidavit in a
“commonsensical and realistic manner, recognizing that the magistrate may draw reasonable
inferences. When in doubt we defer to all reasonable inferences that the magistrate could have
made.” Id. at 61.
Analysis
Robinson claims that the affidavits supporting the search warrants for his home
and SUV failed to establish probable cause that evidence related to the shooting would be found
at either location. Given the totality of the circumstances set forth in the affidavit, we cannot agree
that the magistrate lacked a substantial basis for concluding that evidence related to the murders
would be found in Robinson’s home and SUV. See Jordan, 342 S.W.3d at 569.
The affidavits supporting the warrants give a detailed account of the investigation
leading up to the issuance of the warrants, including the cell phone tracking information placing
Robinson in the vicinity of the crime. In particular, with regard to Robinson’s home and SUV, the
affidavits state the following: (1) “a neighbor saw a black SUV drive away very fast” after the
12
shooting; (2) Robinson’s girlfriend “owns a small, black, SUV”; (3) an officer previously noted that
Robinson kept a .38 caliber revolver in his home; (4) the bullets that were recovered from the crime
scene were consistent with that of a .38 or .357 caliber revolver; and (5) the affiant’s experience in
criminal investigations leads him to “believe that items capable of collecting saturated blood [and
other evidence], including but not limited to clothing, vehicle upholstery, carpet, [and] floor mats
are located” in Robinson’s home and SUV.
Considering the totality of the affidavit, the magistrate could reasonably infer that
Robinson was involved in the shooting of Nieto and Mekonen. Additionally, the magistrate could
reasonably have believed that evidence relating to the shooting would be found in Robinson’s SUV
given that it could have been used to flee the crime scene. Finally, the magistrate could have
reasonably inferred that evidence relating to the shooting would be found in Robinson’s home given
that he had previously kept a .38 caliber revolver at his home, and common sense suggests that
clothing and other items capable of carrying forensic evidence would be kept in the home. See
Rodriguez, 232 S.W.3d at 60. Therefore, we find that the magistrate had a substantial basis for
concluding that evidence of the shooting would be found in Robinson’s home and SUV. See id.
Thus, the trial court did not err in denying Robinson’s motion to suppress evidence seized from his
home and SUV. Robinson’s second and third points of error are overruled.
Furthermore, we find that the magistrate had a substantial basis for issuing the search
warrant for Robinson’s DNA samples. The affidavit supporting this search warrant listed all of the
evidence recovered from the previous searches, including the revolver and clothes from the burning
bag as well as Robinson’s statements while in custody. Given that the searches of Robinson’s home
13
and SUV were valid, the affidavit for Robinson’s DNA could properly include information obtained
during those searches. Furthermore, the affidavit was sufficient to establish probable cause for the
seizure of Robinson’s DNA given the affidavit’s explanation of the physical evidence and
Robinson’s statement that the clothes he attempted to destroy belonged to another suspect. Because
the affidavit provided a substantial basis for the magistrate to conclude that probable cause existed
for the seizure of Robinson’s DNA samples, we conclude that the trial court did not err in denying
Robinson’s motion to suppress. Robinson’s fourth point of error is overruled.
Admissibility of expert testimony
In points of error five through eight, Robinson argues that the trial court erred in
admitting the testimony of two of the State’s expert witnesses. See Tex. R. Evid. 702. Specifically,
Robinson claims that Deputy Wright did not qualify as an expert with regard to the method
of tracking cell phone activity. Furthermore, Robinson claims that Valdez’s testimony about the
similarity of physical evidence recovered from the crime scene and Robinson’s home should have
been excluded because her method of analysis was unreliable. Robinson also argues that Valdez’s
testimony was irrelevant and overly confusing. See id. 401, 403.
Standard of review
There are three separate conditions for the admissibility of expert testimony: “(1) the
witness qualifies as an expert by reason of his knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education;
(2) the subject matter of the testimony is an appropriate one for expert testimony; and (3) admitting
the expert testimony will actually assist the fact-finder in deciding the case.” Rodgers v. State,
14
205 S.W.3d 525, 527 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); see also Tex. R. Evid. 401, 402, 702. These
conditions are commonly referred to as qualification, reliability, and relevance. Vela v. State,
209 S.W.3d 128, 130-31 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Before admitting expert testimony, the trial court
must determine that all three conditions are met. Id.
We review a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude expert testimony for an abuse
of discretion. Sexton v. State, 93 S.W.3d 96, 99 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Therefore, we will uphold
a trial court’s ruling on the admissibility of an expert witness as long as it falls “within the zone of
reasonable disagreement.” Id.; see also Wyatt v. State, 23 S.W.3d 18, 27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000)
(“The question of whether a witness offered as an expert possesses the required qualifications rests
largely in the trial court’s discretion.”). Similarly, we review the trial court’s ruling on the relevancy
and probative value of evidence for an abuse of discretion. See Carrasco v. State, 154 S.W.3d 127,
129 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
Qualification of Deputy Wright as an expert
Robinson argues that, based on the qualifications presented, the trial court abused its
discretion in allowing Deputy Wright to testify as an expert in tracking cell phone activity. Rodgers,
205 S.W.3d at 527. There is no rigid formula for determining when an expert is qualified to testify.
Roise v. State, 7 S.W.3d 225, 234 (Tex. App.—Austin 1999, pet. ref’d). In order to provide guidance,
the court of criminal appeals has listed three criteria that appellate courts should consider when
reviewing a trial court’s determination of an expert’s qualification: “(1) ‘is the field of expertise
complex?’; (2) ‘how conclusive is the expert’s opinion?’; and (3) ‘how central is the area of expertise
to the resolution of the lawsuit?’” Vela, 209 S.W.3d at 131 (quoting Rodgers, 205 S.W.3d at 528).
15
Because a witness will not always qualify as an expert by virtue of general background, the
proponent of the expert must show that the expert has sufficient “knowledge, skill, experience,
training, or education regarding the specific issue before the court” that would qualify the expert to
give an opinion on that particular subject. Vela, 209 S.W.3d at 132 (internal quotations omitted).
The focus is on the “fit” between the subject matter of the testimony and the expert’s familiarity with
that subject matter. Id. at 133.
At trial, Deputy Wright testified that he had completed three years of college course
work in criminal justice. Though he did not complete his degree, he testified that he had worked for
the Travis County Sheriff’s Office for fourteen years, the last four of which he worked as a special
deputy in the criminal intelligence unit assigned to the United States Marshals’ Violent Fugitive Task
Force. Deputy Wright explained that his intelligence unit used “cell phones, MySpace pages, and
any kind of computers” or technology to track the location of fugitives or persons under investigation
and that “[w]ith cell phones we are able to locate where people are based off cell tower readings and
other techniques.” Deputy Wright also testified that he had completed a three-day training course
in reading cell phone records, identifying cell phone tower locations, and plotting and tracking cell
phone activity. As a result of this training, Deputy Wright was certified to read cell phone records.6
In addition, Deputy Wright testified that while cell phone technology had advanced
since his training, the type of data used to track phone activity had remained the same. He stated that
when cell phones place or receive calls, they “reach out” to connect to the nearest cell tower, which
6
Deputy Wright stated that the United States Marshals Service operated the training course,
but he could not recall “who back[ed]” his certification.
16
must be within a two-mile radius of the phone’s location in order for the phone to receive a signal.
He further stated that the phone records that the Sheriff’s office subpoenaed indicate the longitude
and latitude of the cell tower that the cell phone connected with for each incoming or outgoing call.
Based on this data, Deputy Wright testified that he could plot the location of each cell tower that
Robinson’s calls were relayed to in order to track Robinson’s location to within a two mile radius.
Robinson argues that because the State failed to show how often Deputy Wright had
actually tracked suspects using their past cell phone activity, Deputy Wright should not have been
qualified as an expert. Given Deputy Wright’s training and experience with the criminal intelligence
unit, we disagree.
In reviewing the trial court’s ruling on Deputy Wright’s qualification, we first consider
whether the field of expertise on which his testimony is based is complex. See Rodgers, 205 S.W.3d
at 527-28. “The degree of education, training, or experience that a witness should have before he
can qualify as an expert is directly related to the complexity of the field about which he proposes
to testify.” Id. At trial, Deputy Wright described for the jury how he used the locations of the cell
phone towers that relayed Robinson’s calls to track the location of Robinson’s phone to a particular
geographic area. This process, as described by Deputy Wright, involved reading and analyzing
cell phone records based on a general understanding that cell phones connect to the nearest
tower location when a call is placed. The analysis is straightforward and not particularly complex.
Deputy Wright’s qualifications—his education and his law enforcement experience, including his
four years of experience working in the criminal intelligence unit and the training course he took in
the use of cell phone tracking—were sufficient such that his testimony would “assist the trier of
fact to understand the evidence.” Tex. R. Evid. 702; see Wilson v. State, 195 S.W.3d 193, 200-02
17
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 2006, no pet.) (holding that cell phone company employee was qualified
to testify about cell phone tracking based on training and experience in interpreting cell phone records).
With respect to the second and third prongs, we find that Deputy Wright’s testimony
was not conclusive nor dispositive. See Vela, 209 S.W.3d at 131. Deputy Wright’s testimony shows
that on the day of the murders Robinson traveled from Waco to Austin, that he was in the vicinity
of the crime scene shortly before the shooting, and that he had made several phone calls to one of the
victims that day. While this evidence tends to connect Robinson to the crime scene, it does not, by
itself, conclusively connect Robinson to the crime. As previously explained, the jury heard other
ample evidence connecting Robinson to the shooting. After reviewing all three criteria, we conclude
that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that Deputy Wright was qualified to
testify as an expert. See Sexton, 93 S.W.3d at 99. Robinson’s fifth point of error is overruled.
Reliability of Valdez’s analysis
Robinson claims that Valdez’s expert testimony should have been excluded
because the methodology Valdez employed is unreliable. See Vela, 209 S.W.3d at 133-35. The
party proffering the expert testimony has the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence
that: “(1) the underlying scientific theory is valid, (2) the technique applying the theory is valid,
and (3) the technique was properly applied on the occasion in question.” Sexton, 93 S.W.3d at 100
(citing Kelly v. State, 824 S.W.2d 568, 572 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992)). The court of criminal appeals
has provided the following seven non-exclusive factors that trial courts may use to determine
whether scientific testimony is reliable:
18
(1) the extent to which the underlying scientific theory and technique are accepted as
valid by the relevant scientific community, if such community can be ascertained, (2)
the existence of literature supporting or rejecting the underlying scientific theory and
technique, (3) the clarity with which the underlying scientific theory and technique
can be explained to the court, (4) the potential rate of error of the technique, (5) the
availability of other experts to test and evaluate the technique, (6) the qualifications
of the expert(s) testifying, and (7) the experience and skill of the person(s) who
applied the technique on the occasion in question.
Id. at 100 (citing Kelly, 824 S.W.2d at 572).
Valdez stated that she performed a side-by-side visual comparison of the physical
characteristics of the tapes recovered from the crime scene and Robinson’s home. Valdez testified
that the method she used to compare the duct tapes was “based on research that had been presented
both in the forensic field . . . [and] specific forensic research that has been formed, as well as the
training that [she] received.” She stated that the “analysis that [she] performed in the laboratory is
not necessarily new or novel” and that it had been the accepted forensic practice for many years.
The technique and underlying scientific theory for comparing the tapes was clear and is consistent
with the commonsense understanding that tapes with similar physical characteristics are more likely
to be from a common source than those that have different characteristics. See Vela, 209 S.W.3d at
135-36; Sexton, 93. S.W.3d at 99-100. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in determining that Valdez’s methodology was reliable. See Sexton, 93 S.W.3d at 99-100.
Robinson’s sixth point of error is overruled.
Relevancy of Valdez’s testimony
Robinson also argues that Valdez’s testimony should have been excluded as irrelevant
and overly confusing. See Tex. R. Evid. 401, 403; see also Jackson, 17 S.W.3d at 670 (“[A] trial
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court’s responsibility is to determine whether proffered scientific evidence is sufficiently reliable
and relevant.”). Evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to make the existence of any fact of
consequence more likely than it would be without the evidence. Tex. R. Evid. 401. “It is important,
when determining whether evidence is relevant, that courts examine the purpose for which the
evidence is being introduced.” Layton v. State, 280 S.W.3d 235, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009).
In this case, the tapes from the crime scene and Robinson’s home were offered to
show that because the tapes were similar, it is more likely that they came from a common source,
and if they came from a common source, it is more likely that the tape in Robinson’s home came
from the packaging for the marijuana in Nieto’s home. If true, this evidence would tend to prove
that Robinson took the marijuana from Nieto’s home, which would place Robinson at the crime
scene and explain his motive for shooting Nieto and Mekonen, i.e., the theft of the narcotics. These
are facts of consequence in this case, and thus the similarity of the tapes is relevant. See Layton,
280 S.W.3d at 240. Valdez explained the number of ways in which the tapes were similar, some of
which may not have been ascertainable by the jury. Thus, Valdez’s testimony added “precision and
depth” to the jury’s understanding of the similarities of the tapes and was therefore relevant to show
that Robinson was at the crime scene and had a motive for shooting the victims. See Rodgers, 205
S.W.3d at 527-28 (“An expert may add precision and depth to the ability of the trier of fact to reach
conclusions about subjects which lie within the common experience.”) (internal quotations omitted).
Relevant evidence is generally admissible unless its probative value is substantially
outweighed by some other concern, such as misleading the jury. See Tex. R. Evid. 402, 403; see also
Gigliobianco v. State, 210 S.W.3d 637, 640-41 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Rule 403 creates the
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presumption of admissibility, excluding relevant evidence only when there is a clear disparity
between its probative value and harmful effects. Tex. R. Evid. 403; Mozon v. State, 991 S.W.2d 841,
847 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Admittedly, the probative value of Valdez’s testimony is relatively low
given that she could not say how likely it was that the tapes shared a common source. However,
Valdez’s testimony was clear, concise, and not overly technical, making it less likely that it would
distract the jury from the main issues of the case. See Gigliobianco, 210 S.W.3d at 641 (“Evidence
that consumes an inordinate amount of time to present or answer . . . might tend to confuse or
distract the jury from the main issues.”). Therefore, while the probative value of Valdez’s testimony
may have been slight, the danger of confusion was equally minimal. See id. Thus, the limited
harmful effect of Valdez’s testimony did not substantially outweigh its probative value, and the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to exclude Valdez’s testimony.
Even if the trial court had abused its discretion in admitting Valdez’s testimony, we
conclude that the error would be harmless. Incorrect evidentiary rulings do not generally rise to the
level of violating the constitution. See Potier v. State, 68 S.W.3d 657, 662-63 (Tex. Crim. App.
2002). Therefore, this non-constitutional error is not ground for reversal because “after examining
the record as a whole” we have “fair assurance that 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) (internal quotations
omitted). Valdez’s testimony tends to show that Robinson was at the crime scene. Given that
other evidence, including Robinson’s possession of the murder weapon and clothing which
contained a victim’s DNA, placed Robinson at the crime scene, Valdez’s testimony likely had little
or no effect on the jury. See Davis v. State, 203 S.W.3d 845, 852-53 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (noting
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error admitting cumulative evidence usually harmless). Robinson’s seventh and eighth points of
error are overruled.
Williams’s competency to testify
In his final issue on appeal, Robinson claims that the trial court erred in admitting the
testimony of Williams, Nieto’s neighbor. Specifically, Robinson argues that Williams was incompetent
to testify about her observations on the day of the shooting given her admission that she “wasn’t
really paying attention” and her inability to recollect conversations with investigators. See Tex. R.
Evid. 601. Robinson objected to Williams’s competency and moved to strike her testimony after
cross-examination.7 The trial court overruled this objection. We review a trial court’s determination
of a witness’s competency for an abuse of discretion. See Broussard v. State, 910 S.W.2d 952, 960
(Tex. Crim. App. 1995).
There is a presumption that every witness is competent to testify. See Tex. R. Evid.
601(a); Davis v. State, 268 S.W.3d 683, 699 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008, pet. ref’d). A witness is
competent to testify if (1) she can intelligently observe events at the time of their occurrence, (2) she
has the capacity to recollect those events, and (3) she has the capacity to narrate those events to the jury.
Torres v. State, 33 S.W.3d 252, 255 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (citing Watson v. State, 596 S.W.2d 867,
910 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980)).
7
The State argues that Robinson’s objection to Williams’s competency was not timely and
thus not preserved for appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a); Lagrone v. State, 942 S.W.2d 602, 618
(Tex. Crim. App. 1997). Given the limited scope of direct examination, it is unclear whether
Robinson had a basis to object to Williams’s competency before the end of cross-examination.
Lagrone, 942 S.W.2d at 618 (“An objection should be made as soon as the ground for the objection
becomes apparent.”). Therefore, we assume without deciding that Robinson’s objection to Williams’s
competency was timely.
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Robinson claims that Williams fails to satisfy the second element of competency, i.e.,
a capacity to recollect. Williams testified that she could not remember speaking with investigators on
the day of the shooting and admitted that she “wasn’t really paying attention” to the cars parked in
Nieto’s driveway. However, she testified that she saw a small black SUV parked on the street in front
of Nieto’s home on the day of the shooting. Furthermore, she identified a picture of a Mercedes SUV
as being the same model as the vehicle she observed. Overall, Williams’s testimony reflects an ability
to recollect relevant events. Any inconsistencies or inabilities to recall certain facts do not render
Williams incompetent to testify, but go to the credibility of her testimony—an issue for the jury. See
Rodriguez v. State, 772 S.W.2d 167, 173 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989); see also De los Santos v. State,
219 S.W.3d 71, 81 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2006, no pet.). Given the totality of Williams’s testimony,
we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion by finding her competent to testify. Broussard,
910 S.W.2d at 960. Robinson’s final point of error is overruled.
CONCLUSION
Having overruled all of Robinson’s issues on appeal, we affirm the judgment of conviction.
__________________________________________
Diane M. Henson, Justice
Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Pemberton and Henson
Affirmed
Filed: February 24, 2012
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