Ricardo Franco v. State ( 2017 )

COURT OF APPEALS
EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO, TEXAS
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RICARDO FRANCO, No. 08-15-00254-CR
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Appellant, Appeal from
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v. 41st District Court
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THE STATE OF TEXAS, of El Paso County, Texas
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Appellee. (TC # 20110D03180)
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OPINION
This appeal arises from a jury trial that resulted in Ricardo Franco’s conviction for sexual
assault. He raises two complaints for our consideration: (1) the admissibility of his own
inculpatory statement, claiming it to be hearsay: and (2) the effectiveness of his trial counsel.
Finding no error, we affirm.
FACTUAL SUMMARY
Appellant was indicted for sexual assault by penetration. The indictment further alleges
the victim was unaware of what was occurring. The assault occurred at a party held at a private
residence. The victim, whom we refer to as R.P., was celebrating her twentieth birthday and
after becoming very tired, was taken to a bedroom and passed out. Appellant was at the party
only because he lived at the residence; he had no prior relationship with R.P. and was almost
twenty years her senior. The victim’s boyfriend and another party guest later went back to the
bedroom and found Appellant on top of R.P., thrusting his hips. Both Appellant and R.P. were
unclothed below the waist. R.P.’s boyfriend saw that she was motionless while this was going
on. Not unsurprisingly, the boyfriend began beating on Appellant and injured him to such an
extent that he needed to be transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
There were several disputed issues at trial. Appellant challenged whether there was
actual penetration. The State presented evidence that Appellant appeared to be thrusting his hips
while he was on top of R.P. Conversely, a later medical exam revealed no evidence of semen
and only inconclusive physical evidence for recent intercourse. While there was some DNA
from an unknown person detected from R.P.’s genital swab, there was not enough material to
match the DNA found against the CODIS database. Appellant also contended there was
reasonable doubt as to whether R.P. was unaware of what was going on as alleged in indictment.
Circumstantial evidence suggested that Appellant may have slipped something in her drink and
that she was unconscious until her boyfriend entered the room and started hitting Appellant.
Conversely, toxicology tests showed no drugs in R.P.’s urine, and alcohol at only half of the
legal limit.1
The State’s case primarily consisted of the testimony of R.P., her boyfriend, and another
party guest. The State also elicited the testimony of Officer Manuel Balderrama who recounted a
statement that Appellant made in his presence at the hospital. While in a treatment room in the
ER, and when engaged in a discussion with a medical technician, Appellant was reported to say:
“I ate her out for ten seconds. Then I f---ed her.” Officer Balderrama was in the room at the
time and turned in disbelief. He looked at Appellant, who then stared at the Officer and began
flicking his tongue and blew kisses at him.
1
The urine test used screened for eight classes of drugs. The test did not screen for gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB),
a central-nervous-system depressant sometimes used in sexual assaults, because the lab does not have the necessary
testing instruments.
2
In closing, the State emphasized this testimony to rebut Appellant’s claim that there was
no proof of penetration. The jury found Appellant guilty of sexual assault and assessed a four
year sentence.
ADMISSIBILTY OF THE STATEMENTS AT THE HOSPITAL
In his first issue, Appellant complains that the trial court erred in admitting his statement
made at the hospital because it was hearsay. Appellant principally briefs the question of whether
the medical treatment and diagnosis exception to hearsay as found in TEX.R.EVID. 803(4) was
met on this record. That exception allows hearsay statements if they are made for, and are
reasonably pertinent to, medical diagnosis and treatment. Id.; Taylor v. State, 268 S.W.3d 571,
587 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008)(setting forth two-part test for admission of hearsay under the
exception). And to be sure, the medical treatment and diagnosis exception was a focus of the
admissibility discussion before the trial court.
The State raises two counter-arguments. First, the State contends that Appellant forfeited
the issue because the complained of statement, while objected to at one point during the police
officer’s testimony, came in without objection through the medical technician. Second, the State
contends the statement is not hearsay because it is a declaration by a party-opponent. Appellant
responds to neither of these arguments through a reply brief. We conclude both arguments by
the State are meritorious.
Hearsay is defined as a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying
at trial or a hearing, offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. TEX.R.EVID. 801(d).
However, a statement is not hearsay if it is offered against a party and is the party’s own
statement. Id. at 801(e)(2)(A). The Court of Criminal Appeals has concluded that Rule
801(e)(2)(A) “plainly and unequivocally states that a criminal defendant’s own statements, when
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being offered against him, are not hearsay.” Trevino v. State, 991 S.W.2d 849, 853
(Tex.Crim.App. 1999). Such statements “are admissible on the logic that a party is estopped
from challenging the fundamental reliability or trustworthiness of his own statements.” Id. at
853. Trevino has been often cited to exclude as hearsay a criminal defendant’s own statements.
E.g. Alcala v. State, 476 S.W.3d 1, 23 (Tex.App.--Corpus Christi 2013, pet ref’d); Keith v. State,
384 S.W.3d 452, 459 (Tex.App.--Eastland 2012, pet. ref’d); Taylor v. State, 08-02-00250-CR,
2004 WL 258139, at *3 (Tex.App.--El Paso Feb. 12, 2004, pet. ref’d)(not designated for
publication).
When a party complains about the admission of hearsay evidence, our role is to decide
whether the trial court clearly abused its discretion in allowing the testimony. Taylor v. State,
268 S.W.3d 571, 578-79 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008). We consider whether the trial court’s decision
was so clearly wrong as to lie outside the zone within which reasonable people might disagree.
Id. Moreover, “[i]f the ruling was correct on any theory of law applicable to the case, in light of
what was before the trial court at the time the ruling was made, then we must uphold the
judgment.” Page v. State, 213 S.W.3d 332, 337 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006), quoting Sauceda v.
State, 129 S.W.3d 116, 120 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). Such is the case here. The parties tussled
below with the applicability of the medical treatment and diagnosis exception to the hearsay rule.
The more pertinent issue, however, is whether the statement is hearsay to begin with. Because
the statement at issue came from Appellant himself, and was offered against him, it is not
hearsay. It was admissible as a declaration of a party-opponent. Accordingly, we need not reach
the questions of which, if any, exceptions to the hearsay rule might apply.
We also agree with the State that even if the statement qualifies as hearsay, any error was
not properly preserved. A party must preserve error by making a timely and specific objection.
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TEX.R.APP.P. 33.1(a); Wilson v. State, 71 S.W.3d 346, 349 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002); Peralta v.
State, 338 S.W.3d 598, 609 (Tex.App.--El Paso 2010, no pet.). With two exceptions, a party
must continue to object every time inadmissible evidence is offered. Peralta, 338 S.W.3d at 609,
citing Ethington v. State, 819 S.W.2d 854, 858 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991). The two exceptions
require counsel to either (1) obtain a running objection, or (2) request a hearing outside the
presence of the jury and object to all of the objectionable evidence on a given subject. Martinez
v. State, 98 S.W.3d 189, 193 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003); Ethington, 819 S.W.2d at 858–59.
Evidentiary error is not preserved when the same evidence is admitted elsewhere without
objection. Peralta, 338 S.W.3d at 609; Lane v. State, 151 S.W.3d 188, 192-93 (Tex.Crim.App.
2004).
Here, when Officer Baldarrama was called to the stand, Appellant’s counsel asked that
the officer be taken on voir dire outside the presence of the jury. After the officer had recited
what Appellant had said in the emergency room, Appellant’s counsel objected that the statement
was an excludable oral statement and its admission would deny Appellant a fair trial under
several federal and state constitutional provisions. The trial court overruled the objection. And
when the officer first testified to the statement before the jury, Appellant’s counsel interposed an
additional objection.2 But when the emergency room technician was called to testify,
Appellant’s statement came in without objection. Accordingly, we conclude that even if there
was error in the admission of the statement, it was cured when the substantially same testimony
2
Appellant further objected that the statement was inadmissible under TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC.ANN. art. 38.22 § 3(a)
(West Supp. 2016) which precludes the admission of a defendant’s oral statement or confession which is made as a
result of a custodial interrogation unless certain safeguards are met. Appellant established that he was not read his
Miranda warnings at any time before the statement was made and that he was in custody at the time. The record
also showed, however, that any questions were posed by the emergency room technician, with no prompting by the
officer. The officer was in the room only to ensure that Appellant did not leave the hospital. Because there was no
custodial interrogation, Appellant has not raised (nor briefed) any claim that the statement was not voluntarily made.
See Paez v. State, 681 S.W.2d 34, 35-36 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984)(defendants answers to questions asked by a DHS
agent made while in hospital room guarded by police officers were admissible as they were not part of a custodial
interrogation).
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from another witness came in without objection. Lane, 151 S.W.3d at 192-93 (failure to object
to statement each time it was elicited from two police officers, a paramedic, and a nurse forfeited
the point); Patterson v. State, 08-13-00152-CR, 2015 WL 1850899, at *2 (Tex.App.--El Paso
Apr. 22, 2015, no pet.)(same testimony that came into evidence through several witnesses, some
of which was unobjected to, waived issue). We overrule Issue One.
INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Appellant next argues that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance in the
following ways: (1) making misstatements of law; (2) engaging in personal attacks; and (3)
committing a procedural error in how he pursued a recusal motion. He also claims the
cumulative effect of these omissions justify reversal. Under the standards governing ineffective
assistance claims, we disagree.
Framework for Review
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Appellant must establish by a
preponderance of evidence that: (1) his attorney’s performance was deficient; and that (2) his
attorney’s deficient performance deprived him of a fair trial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); Ex parte Chandler, 182 S.W.3d 350,
353 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005). Appellant must satisfy both Strickland components, and the failure
to show either deficient performance or prejudice will defeat his ineffectiveness claim. Perez v.
State, 310 S.W.3d 890, 893 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010); Rylander v. State, 101 S.W.3d 107, 110-11
(Tex.Crim.App. 2003).
Under the first prong of the Strickland test, the attorney’s performance must be shown to
have fallen below an objective standard of reasonableness. Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808,
812 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999). Stated otherwise, he must show his counsel’s actions do not meet
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the objective norms for professional conduct of trial counsel. Mitchell v. State, 68 S.W.3d 640,
642 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002). Under the second prong, Appellant must establish that there is a
reasonable probability that but for his attorney’s deficient performance, the outcome of the case
would have been different. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2069; Thompson, 9
S.W.3d at 812. “Reasonable probability” is that which is “sufficient to undermine confidence in
the outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068; Jackson v. State, 973 S.W.2d 954,
956 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998).
A direct appeal is usually an inadequate vehicle for raising an ineffective assistance of
counsel claim because the record is generally undeveloped. Goodspeed v. State, 187 S.W.3d
390, 392 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005); Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 814, n.6. We presume that the
attorney’s representation fell within the wide range of reasonable and professional assistance.
Mallett v. State, 65 S.W.3d 59, 63 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001), citing Tong v. State, 25 S.W.3d 707,
712 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000). Ineffective assistance claims must be firmly founded in the record to
overcome this presumption. Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813. When the record is silent and does not
provide an explanation for the attorney’s conduct, the strong presumption of reasonable
assistance is not overcome. Rylander, 101 S.W.3d at 110-11 (noting that “trial counsel should
ordinarily be afforded an opportunity to explain his actions before being denounced as
ineffective”); Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994). That leaves for
direct appeals only those few situations where counsel’s conduct is so outrageous that no
competent attorney would have engaged in it. Goodspeed, 187 S.W.3d at 392. With these
standards in mind, we take up each of Appellant’s complaints about his trial counsel.
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Misstatements of Law
Appellant contends that his trial counsel made at least three misstatements of law during
the trial. The first occurred after a DNA analyst testified that there was an unknown DNA
contributor from R.P.’s vaginal swab. The State’s attorney then asked the analyst, in various
ways, whether the State had been able to obtain a DNA sample from Appellant for comparison
purposes. Appellant’s counsel objected, and then moved for a mistrial, claiming the State was
attempting to “shift the burden of proof.” The trial court sustained one of Appellant’s objections,
overruled another, and denied the motion for mistrial. Appellant now contends the legal basis
for the objection and the motion for mistrial, were “contrary to law.” Even if true, however, we
fail to see how simply arguing an unsuccessful position falls below the wide range of reasonable
and professional assistance.
Trial counsel will often assert arguable objections which do not ultimately carry the day.
They might do so for some strategic reason unrelated to the merits of the objection. They might
be preserving an issue for later appeal, even if that point must ultimately seek to modify or
overturn existing law. Accordingly, simply lodging an objection which is overruled does not
demonstrate that counsel failed to provide effective assistance of counsel. In Ex parte White,
160 S.W.3d 46, 53 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004), the court held that counsel was not ineffective for
failing to object to evidence which was otherwise admissible. Here the converse is also true--
objecting to testimony which Appellant now contends is admissible does not prove an
ineffectiveness claim. Nor does Appellant offer any explanation for how pursuing this objection,
even if unfounded, was in any way prejudicial to him. To be clear, Appellant’s argument is not
that some other objection could have been lodged which would have excluded the testimony.
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Appellant apparently concedes the testimony itself was admissible. We find no Strickland
prejudice.
Appellant next contends his trial counsel misstated the law on reputational testimony.
Appellant called his niece who was at the party and who was friends with R.P. Appellant’s trial
counsel attempted to solicit from the niece an opinion as to R.P.’s supposed poor reputation for
truthfulness in the community. The State objected to the lack of a proper foundation. The best
predicate that Appellant’s counsel could lay was that the niece had personal dealings with R.P.
that led her to question R.P.’s truthfulness (as distinct from the community’s perception of her
truthfulness). The trial court excluded the opinion. Appellant here does not fault his counsel for
failing to lay a proper predicate, but rather for claiming to the trial court that the predicate he laid
was sufficient. Again, we fail to see how this claim prejudiced Appellant. There is no indication
that a proper predicate could have been laid with this witness. We must presume that counsel
made the best showing he could to support the admission of the opinion. Simply urging an
unprevailing argument neither proves counsel’s ineffectiveness nor that Appellant was
prejudiced.
The last misstatement of law urged relates to the charge. Trial counsel asked that the
charge include assault as a lesser included offense to sexual assault. The trial court refused the
request, based on court of appeals cases holding that assault is not a lesser-included offense for
sexual assault. See Mathis v. State, 443 S.W.3d 391, 398 (Tex.App.--Austin 2014, no pet.);
Crippen v. State, 368 S.W.3d 630, 632 (Tex.App.--Eastland 2012, pet. ref’d). But merely asking
for a charge submission--here unsuccessfully--does not prove that counsel failed to provide
effective assistance. We often see instances of attorneys asking for charge language not
currently sanctioned as a predicate for a later appeal to reshape the law. Thus the request might
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well have been a matter of strategy. When the record lacks evidence of the reasoning behind
trial counsel’s actions, as it does here, trial counsel’s performance cannot be found to be
deficient. Rylander, 101 S.W.3d at 110-11; Jackson, 877 S.W.2d at 771.
We are also puzzled as to how the mere asking for a jury charge submission which is
never given prejudiced Appellant. His brief says little more than “[h]ad Appellant’s counsel not
committed these errors, it is likely that the jury would have returned a verdict of not guilty.” A
naked assertion of prejudice, however, is insufficient to meet the Strickland test. See Ex parte
Parra, 420 S.W.3d 821, 828 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013)(applicant’s conclusory assertion that he had
demonstrated prejudice was insufficient to establish prejudice).
Personal Attacks
Appellant next contends that several personal attacks made by his counsel which were
directed at the State’s attorney and the trial judge also proved ineffective assistance of counsel.
“Unwarranted personal attacks on a lawyer’s integrity constitute inappropriate conduct in any
court in the state of Texas. Such attacks on opposing counsel in court not only provide a
disservice to our citizens, but they are demeaning to our profession and should be condemned.”
Garcia v. State, 943 S.W.2d 215, 217 (Tex.App.--Fort Worth 1997, no pet.). In this case, the
State’s attorney lodged several objections claiming that Appellant’s counsel asked “misleading”
questions. When that claim was made, defense counsel responded that “I’m going to object to
her saying that I’m trying to mislead people. That’s offensive. It’s talking about my client over
my back.” At another instance he stated: “Wait a minute. I don’t mislead and I don’t confuse.”
Appellant now contends these responsive statements were themselves attacks on the State’s
attorneys and were improper (and thus purportedly show counsel’s ineffectiveness).
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In our view, these statements are more a response to a perceived personal attack, than an
attack themselves. Appellant’s counsel might have viewed it as necessary to respond to an
objection which claimed he was misleading the jury. Nothing in these particular statements
demonstrates ineffective assistance or prejudice to Appellant. We are somewhat more troubled
by defense counsel’s comment to the trial judge. When counsel was putting on a bill of
exceptions, he began by explaining to the witness the purpose of a bill and the disputed issue
being addressed. At that point, the trial court, appropriately in our view, attempted to have
counsel simply ask the questions he intended to ask. Appellant’s counsel then interrupted the
court and stated: “Have you ever seen a bill done before? This is my bill.” The trial court
responded, “I have absolutely seen a bill done, sir.” While we do not condone impertinent
comments towards the bench, even during the heat of trial, we see no indication in the record that
this single inappropriate comment affected the trial judge’s later rulings or handling of the
proceedings. The exchange occurred after all but one witness had testified. From our review of
the record, the trial court’s demeanor and interactions with defense counsel never changed
following the comment. Appellant has failed to make the requisite showing of prejudice.
Recusal Motion
Finally, Appellant contends that his trial counsel was ineffective in asserting a
procedurally defective motion to recuse the trial judge. During trial, Appellant’s counsel was
attempting to admit opinions on R.P.’s reputation for truthfulness and other evidence as to her
credibility. Appellant’s counsel and the trial judge had a fundamental disagreement about the
admissibility of that evidence. After the trial court denied admission of the evidence,
Appellant’s counsel twice moved for a mistrial. After all the evidence was taken, counsel also
orally moved to recuse the trial judge because her evidentiary rulings allegedly showed she could
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not be fair and impartial. The trial court denied that motion.
On appeal, Appellant contends his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a
procedurally proper motion to recuse. The rules require a written motion with specific
requirements, and no such motion was filed here. TEX.R.CIV.P. 18a, for instance, requires the
motion to recuse to be: (1) verified; (2) raise at least one ground set out in Rule 18b; (3) “must
not be based solely on the judge’s rulings in the case”; and (4) state in particular the facts
sufficient to support the motion. These requirements also govern criminal cases. Arnold v.
State, 853 S.W.2d 543, 544 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). In turn, TEX.R.CIV.P. 18(b) lists eight
specific grounds for recusal. The trial court specifically denied the oral motion here because it
did not comply with Rule 18a, nor did it state a proper basis under Rule 18b.
While the oral motion to recuse was procedurally improper, the flaw in Appellant’s
argument is his failure to show prejudice. He must demonstrate that had a proper motion to
recuse been filed, the likely outcome of this case would have been different. See Jackson v.
State, 973 S.W.2d 954, 957 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998)(failure to file suppression motion could only
indicate ineffectiveness of counsel if the motion is shown to have merit); Carmen v. State, 358
S.W.3d 285, 295 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, pet. ref’d)(same); Hollis v. State, 219
S.W.3d 446, 456 (Tex.App.--Austin 2007, no pet.)(same); Montoya v. State, No. 08-01-00452-
CR, 2004 WL 1490184, at *9 (Tex.App.--El Paso July 1, 2004, no pet.)(failure to file a meritless
motion to recuse district attorney did not prove ineffective assistance because counsel cannot be
faulted for “failing to pursue a futile course”).
But in making his argument, Appellant never explains why the motion to recuse was
meritorious in the first place. The motion was premised on supposed errors in evidentiary
rulings, but Appellant does not claim on appeal that those evidentiary rulings were erroneous. In
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one regard, Appellant actually contends that his trial counsel was incorrect in one of his
evidentiary objections. On its face, the grounds of the oral motion would also have run afoul of
Rule 18a’s prohibition that the motion cannot be based on “solely on the judge’s rulings in the
case.” TEX.R.CIV.P. 18a(a)(3). Yet that was in fact the very basis for the motion which counsel
asserted.3 Nor does Appellant suggest any other ground upon which the motion might have been
based. Accordingly, we fail to see how the lack of a procedurally proper motion prejudiced
Appellant when the underlying merits of the motion were flawed.
Appellant also contends the cumulative effect of these errors requires reversal. And
indeed, the cumulative effect of trial court errors when aggregated in their effect can conceivably
result in harm. See Stahl v. State, 749 S.W.2d 826, 832 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988)(finding harm in
the cumulative effect of outbursts and improper arguments). But the sum of many nothings is
still nothing and we find the issues raised here were either not errors, or if they were, their
cumulative effect fails to require reversal. We overrule Issue Two and affirm the judgment of
conviction below.
March 14, 2017
ANN CRAWFORD McCLURE, Chief Justice
Before McClure, C.J., Rodriguez, and Hughes, JJ.
Hughes, J., not participating
(Do Not Publish)
3
As trial counsel put it:
And I want to add one other ground to our motion for mistrial, that it is obvious to us that the
Court’s rulings on evidentiary matters are not based in law. They are based on bias in favor of the
State and against the Defendant. I think it’s quite evident from your rulings. We don’t believe that
you can be fair and impartial in this case and should recuse yourself.
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