Robert Parmer v. State ( 2000 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
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NO. 03-00-00136-CR
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Robert Parmer, Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
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FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 299TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. 992135, HONORABLE CHARLES CAMPBELL, JUDGE PRESIDING
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Appellant Robert Parmer was convicted by a jury of the offenses of burglary of a
habitation1 and aggravated sexual assault. 2 The jury assessed his punishment at thirty-five years’
imprisonment for the burglary offense and forty-two years’ imprisonment for aggravated sexual
assault. Appellant appeals these convictions.
Points of Error
Appellant advances six points of error claiming ineffective assistance of counsel and
the improper admission of evidence. In his first, fifth, and sixth points of error, appellant
contends that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel when counsel failed to call “a
1
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 30.02(a)(1) (West Supp. 2000). The current code is cited for
convenience.
2
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.021(a)(1)(A)(i) (West Supp. 2000). The current code is
cited for convenience.
critical witness,” and failed to request limiting instructions at the time extraneous acts were
admitted into evidence along with a reasonable doubt instruction. In appellant’s second, third,
and fourth points of error, complaint is made of admission of “irrelevant evidence” of appellant’s
returning to the victim’s home and the subsequent leaving of a note in the victim’s car, both being
extraneous acts admitted over a Rule 403 objection. See Tex. R. Evid. 403.
Facts
The sufficiency of the evidence is not challenged. A brief statement of the facts
will place the points of error in proper perspective. K.C. , the forty-four-year-old complainant,
testified that about 11:30 p.m. on August 9, 1998, she was alone in her home; that a stranger
appeared in her bedroom; and that he sexually assaulted her without her consent. K.C. identified
appellant as the man who broke and entered her house and assaulted her. K.C. did not report the
rape until the next afternoon. She was taken to a hospital and examined.
About two weeks after the offense, on a Saturday near midnight, K.C. heard a
knocking or noise in her home. She thought a neighbor was trying to attract her attention and
opened her front door. Appellant was standing there and put his foot inside the door. K.C.
struggled and pushed, and finally got the door closed. She called the police.
On September 27, 1998, K.C. left her residence to lock her automobile parked in
the driveway. She noticed that a printed brochure in the driver’s seat had some handwriting on
it, including the word “ bitch.” K.C. grabbed the brochure and ran into her residence. The note
read:
2
Okay, bitch. I want that ass, so if you don’t want me to get your daughter, leave
the door open for me. Don’t go to the police because I am watching, I will kill
her.
The police were called and took possession of the note. Fingerprints taken from
the brochure matched the known prints of appellant. A handwriting expert testified that he was
of the opinion that the handwriting on the brochure matched appellant’s handwriting.
The twenty-four-year-old appellant told a different story. Appellant related that in
the evening prior to the alleged burglary and rape he had gone to Central Market in Austin and
purchased groceries. As appellant walked to the apartment where he lived with his brother, K.C. ,
a woman whom he did not know, stopped her car and offered him a ride. On the way to the
apartment, appellant reported that K.C. invited him to her house to drink wine. K.C. parked
behind the apartment complex and could not see him entering his brother’s apartment. Later, they
drove to K.C. ’s home where, according to appellant, they began drinking wine and then
proceeded to the bedroom. Appellant stated that K.C. seduced him and they had consensual sex.
Afterwards, appellant told K.C. that their actions had been “wrong” because she was older than
he was. K.C. became angry and told appellant to “get out.” Appellant left.
Appellant testified that about a week and a half later, K.C. came to his apartment
and acted apologetically. Appellant told her that he did not think that they could be friends
because of the way she had acted. Appellant reported that K.C. got “mad” and left.
Appellant’s brother, John, testified that appellant moved into his apartment in May
or June 1998; that one day in August appellant brought groceries home from Central Market and
3
left without saying where he was going; that sometime later a Hispanic woman, whom he did not
know, appeared at the apartment and asked for appellant; and that appellant came to the door and
talked to the woman a few minutes and came back into the apartment.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel—
Standard of Review
Three of appellant’s points of error involve claims of ineffective assistance of
counsel. We shall briefly review the applicable law.
The standard for appellate review of the effectiveness of counsel, either retained
or appointed, is the two-pronged test of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), adopted
in Texas by Hernandez v. State, 726 S.W.2d 53, 57 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). Under the
Strickland standard, a convicted defendant must: (1) show that his trial counsel’s performance was
deficient, in that counsel made such serious errors he was not functioning effectively as counsel,
and (2) show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense to such a degree that the
defendant was deprived of a fair trial. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686-89; Oestrick v. State, 939
Austin 1997, pet. ref’d); Banks v. State, 819 S.W.2d 676, 681
S.W.2d 232, 237 (Tex. App.—
(Tex. App.—
San Antonio 1991, pet. ref’d). Unless a defendant makes both showings, it cannot
be said that the conviction resulted from a breakdown in the adversary process that renders the
result unreliable. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687; Oestrick, 939 S.W.2d at 237. Under this test, a
defendant has the burden to prove a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel by a preponderance
of evidence. McFarland v. State, 928 S.W.2d 482, 500 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).
4
The review of a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is highly deferential.
Strickland, 486 U.S. at 689. A reviewing court must indulge a strong presumption that trial
counsel’s conduct falls within a wide range of reasonable representation. McFarland, 928 S.W.2d
at 500. An ineffective counsel claim cannot be demonstrated by isolating one portion of counsel’s
representation but instead must be judged on the totality of the representation. Oestrick, 939
S.W.2d at 237.
A strong presumption also exists that counsel’s actions might be considered sound
trial strategy. Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). Any error in trial
strategy will be deemed inadequate representation only if counsel’s actions are without any
plausible basis. Ex parte Ewing, 570 S.W.2d 941, 945 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); Thomas v. State,
886 S.W.2d 388, 392 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, pet. ref’d).
Failure To Call Witness
Initially, appellant claims his trial counsel failed to investigate and call a “critical”
witness to testify at the guilt/innocence stage of the trial. Appellant urges that his counsel was
ineffective in not calling William Walker to testify that a woman fitting the complainant’s
description came to Walker’s apartment asking for appellant subsequent to the alleged offenses.
Walker directed the woman to appellant’s apartment.
A defendant may rebut the presumption of effectiveness of counsel by providing
a record from which the reviewing court may determine that trial counsel’s performance was not
based on sound trial strategy. Gravis v. State, 982 S.W.2d 933, 937 (Tex. App.—
Austin 1998,
5
pet. ref’d). A defendant may provide that record by filing a motion for new trial and obtaining
a hearing thereon based on ineffective assistance of counsel. Reyes v. State, 849 S.W.2d 812, 815
(Tex. Crim. App. 1993). In the instant case, appellant filed a motion for new trial based solely
on the claim of ineffectiveness of counsel because Walker was not called as a witness. The State
takes the position that any testimony developed at the hearing on the motion for new trial cannot
be considered because the motion was not heard as required within seventy-five days from the date
the trial court imposed sentence in open court. See Tex. R. App. P. 21.8. We agree. Appellant
has not provided a record sufficient to determine his ineffective assistance claim based on the
failure to call Walker as a witness.
An Out-of-Time Hearing
The procedural provisions governing motions for new trial in a criminal case must
be strictly complied with for the trial court to have jurisdiction to consider the motion. Oldham
v. State, 977 S.W.2d 354, 361 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998); Drew v. State, 743 S.W.2d 207, 223
(Tex. Crim. App. 1987); Stone v. State, 931 S.W.2d 394, 396 (Tex. App.—
Waco 1996, pet.
ref’d).
Rule 21. 8 in pertinent part provides:
(a) Time To Rule. The court must rule on a motion for a new trial within 75 days
after imposing or suspending sentence in open court.
*****
(c) Failure to Rule. A motion not timely ruled on by written order will be
deemed denied when the period prescribed in (a) expires.
6
Tex. R. App. P. 21.8 (a), (c).
Under Rule 21. 8 and its forerunners, if a motion for new trial has not been ruled
on by written order within seventy-five days after sentence is imposed in open court, the motion
is overruled by operation of law and the trial court loses jurisdiction to rule on the motion. State
v. Garza, 931 S.W.2d 560, 562 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); State ex rel Cobb v. Godfrey, 739
S.W.2d 47, 49 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987); Laidley v. State, 966 S.W.2d 105, 107-08 (Tex.
Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, pet. ref’d); Hamilton v. State, 804 S.W.2d 171, 174 (Tex.
App.—
App.—
Fort Worth 1994, pet. ref’d). Thus, a hearing conducted after the motion for new trial has
been overruled by operation of law is not authorized and will not be considered on appeal.
Laidley, 966 S.W.2d at 107-08. A trial counsel’s affidavit, filed one day after the motion for new
trial was overruled by operation of law, cannot be considered on appeal. Howard v. State, 894
S.W.2d 104, 107 (Tex. App.—
Beaumont 1995, pet. ref’d). An order denying a new trial cannot
be disturbed on appeal based on information obtained at a hearing, if any, conducted after the
motion has been overruled by operation of law. Adams v. State, 765 S.W.2d 479, 481 (Tex.
App.—
Texarkana 1988, pet. ref’d).
Even though a hearing on a motion for new trial commenced within the seventy-
five-day period before being recessed because of a bomb threat, the subsequent hearing after the
motion was overruled by operation of law was a nullity under the particular circumstances there
involved. Johnson v. State, 925 S.W.2d 745, 748 (Tex. App.—
Fort Worth 1996, pet. ref’d). In
Huizar v. State, 841 S.W.2d 875, 877 (Tex. App.—
Corpus Christi 1992, no pet.), a hearing on
7
the new trial motion was set within the seventy-five-day period but the defendant and his counsel
failed to appear. The hearing was reset one day outside the seventy-five-day period. On that
date, the trial court determined it was without authority to hold a hearing. On appeal, such action
was upheld as the motion had been overruled by operation of law.
In the instant case, sentence was imposed in open court on October 26, 1998. New
defense counsel filed a motion for new trial on November 22, 1998, alleging ineffective assistance
of appellant’s trial counsel solely for failing to call William Walker as a defense witness. On
January 7, 1999, the trial court afforded appellant an opportunity to have his motion heard. The
date was within the seventy-five-day time limit. No affidavit was offered, no testimony was
heard, and no hearing was conducted. In a colloquy at the bench, appellant and his new counsel
informed the trial court that Walker’s whereabouts were unknown and that appellant’s trial counsel
was not present. Walker’s parents had been contacted and they had hired a private investigator
to locate him. It was believed that Walker was in Florida and would return to classes at the
University of Texas about January 17, 1999. Without objection, 3 the trial court reset the hearing
on the motion for January 21, 1999, warning appellant that in doing so, the court might lose
jurisdiction to entertain the motion.
The seventy-fifth day after the imposition of sentence was January 9, 1999, a
Sunday. Therefore, the motion for new trial was overruled by operation of law on Monday,
January 10, 1999. See Tex. R. App. P. 4.1. On January 21, 1999, the trial court conducted a
hearing on the motion. After hearing testimony, the trial court overruled the motion. The trial
3
See Baker v. State, 956 S.W.2d 19, 24-25 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
8
court, however, was without jurisdiction to hear the motion and the facts developed are not before
this Court for review. Laidley, 966 S.W.2d at 107-08; Adams, 765 S.W.2d at 481. There is an
insufficient record to apprize appellant’s contention.
Even if the facts developed at the hearing on January 21, 1999, were properly
before this Court for review, we conclude that appellant failed to sustain his burden under the
Strickland standard. William Walker testified that he lived in the same apartment complex as
appellant, and that sometime after the date of the offense, August 9, 1998, a woman came to his
apartment asking for appellant. He directed the woman to the apartment where appellant lived.
Walker could not remember the date this incident occurred. He eventually placed the date after
Christmas 1998 and before spring break in 1999. This did not tend to corroborate appellant’s
testimony that the complainant came to his apartment to see him a week or a week and a half after
the offense in August 1998.
Walker could not remember the face of the woman who asked him for directions
to appellant’s apartment. He gave a general description of her height, weight, age, and
complexion. Walker had selected three photographs from a photographic array, and it was
stipulated that one of the three was the complainant. No testimony was elicited from Walker
about his availability at the time of the trial in October 1998.
Appellant’s trial counsel testified that shortly before trial, appellant had mentioned
to him that there were witnesses who could corroborate him and his brother that the complainant
came to his apartment after the alleged offenses. He recalled one witness was a woman named
Elizabeth whom he decided not to use as a witness because she had been in and out of a state
9
hospital. Counsel did not testify that Walker’s name was given to him. Appellant, in his
testimony at the hearing, stated that he told his trial counsel about Walker, but acknowledged that
he may only have referred to Walker by his first name—
“Will.”
Trial counsel is not necessarily ineffective for failure to call every witness requested
by a defendant. Tutt v. State, 940 S.W.2d 114, 121 (Tex. App.—
Tyler 1996, pet. ref’d).
Counsel’s failure to call witnesses at the guilt/innocence stage of a trial is irrelevant to a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel absent a showing that the witnesses were available and the
defendant would have benefitted from the presentation of their testimony. Wilkerson v. State, 726
S.W.2d 542, 550-51 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986); King v. State, 649 S.W.2d 42, 44 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1983); Nieto v. State, 990 S.W.2d 874, 876 (Tex. App.—
Waco 1999, pet. ref’d); O’Hara
v. State, 837 S.W.2d 139, 144 (Tex. App.—
Austin 1992, pet. ref’d).
The testimony at the hearing did not establish that Walker was available at the time
of the trial or if trial counsel had investigated and found Walker that his testimony would have
benefitted appellant. The first point of error is overruled.
Second and Third Points of Error
In his second and third points of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred
in admitting irrelevant evidence showing appellant returned to the complainant’s home about two
weeks after the date of the alleged offenses, and about seven weeks later left a threatening note
in the complainant’s automobile. The short answer to appellant’s contentions is that the errors
were not preserved for review because appellant made no objection to the evidence on the basis
10
now urged on appeal. To preserve error for appellate review, a timely, specific objection must
be made. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A); Armstrong v. State, 718 S.W.2d 686, 689 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1985). Moreover, the complaint on appeal must comport with the trial objection or nothing
is presented for review. Turner v. State, 805 S.W.2d 423, 431 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Skillern
v. State, 890 S.W.2d 849, 859 (Tex. App.—
Austin 1994, pet. ref’d). A trial objection stating one
legal theory may not be used to support a different legal theory on appeal. Rezac v. State, 782
S.W.2d 869, 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990).
Appellant briefs his contentions as if the extraneous acts were admitted over
objection under the intent and identity exceptions to Rule 404(b). See Tex. R. Evid. 404(b).
There was no Rule 404(b) objection made. Regardless, whether appellant claims the evidence was
irrelevant or inadmissible under Rule 404(b), there was no preservation of error for review on
appeal. 4 The second and third points of error are overruled.
An Unusual Procedure
In his fourth point of error, appellant contends that the “trial court erred in
admitting evidence of extraneous acts over appellant’s [Rule] 403 objection.” Appellant urges that
evidence of the extraneous acts of appellant by returning to the complainant’s home and trying to
force entry, and by leaving a threatening note, were highly prejudicial and substantially
outweighed any probative value the evidence had, if any. See Tex. R. Evid. 403. Appellant also
argues that before the trial court overruled his Rule 403 objection, the trial court failed to conduct
4
The discussion in the fourth point of error further demonstrates why no error was
preserved.
11
a hearing or a balancing test. See Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 389-90 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1990).
The Rule 403 objection was made during the course of a highly unusual procedure. 5
Prior to the voir dire examination of the jury panel and independent of any hearing on pretrial
motions in limine or to suppress evidence, the prosecutor, in the presence of the defense counsel,
told the trial court she wanted to refer to the extraneous acts or offenses in her opening statement
to the jury. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 36.01(a)(3) (West Supp. 2000). The prosecutor
expressed her uncertainty as to the procedure but orally made a proffer of proof concerning the
extraneous offenses. The trial court upon inquiry determined that the State intended to use the
extraneous offense evidence in its case-in-chief and not in rebuttal, and the State believed the
evidence was admissible on the issues of identity and intent. Appellant’s counsel pointed out that
the acts, if they occurred, were subsequent to the alleged offenses and “the prejudicial value
outweighs the probative value. ” The trial court then determined that appellant’s counsel was
making a Rule 403 objection and not claiming inadmissibility under Rule 404(b). See Tex. R.
Evid. 404(b).
The record then reflects:
The Court: All right. I’m going to overrule the objection and allow it [evidence
of extraneous acts] in under identity and intent exceptions to Rule
404(b). I’m taking your word as an officer of the Court that these are
going to be issues of facts in this case. Because if you get up and tell
this jury in opening that this is stuff that’s coming in and those don’t
5
The State’s appellate counsel even expressed puzzlement.
12
pan out to be issues, then you are going to have a real problem. I’m
sure you know that. 6
The prosecutor in her opening statement to the jury referred, without further
objection, to the two extraneous acts. She even read to the jury the threatening note in its entirety.
The opening statement of appellant’s trial counsel followed. In it, counsel conceded the evidence
would show that appellant committed the extraneous acts but stated that the evidence would show
appellant’s reasons for doing so, which reasons counsel then explained to the jury.
In the State’s case-in-chief, the details of the two extraneous acts were elicited from
the complainant on direct examination, without further objection. When the threatening note was
offered into evidence, appellant’s counsel stated, “No objection, your Honor. ” Other testimony
relating to the investigation of the two extraneous acts were also admitted into evidence without
objection.
Testifying in his own behalf, the twenty-four-year-old appellant stated that the
complainant picked him up as he walked away from a grocery store, took him to her home, gave
him wine, and seduced him. He claimed that the sexual act was consensual; that later when he
told the complainant she was too old for him, she became angry and told him to leave; and that
when the complainant came to his apartment a week or so later he told her there was no basis for
a relationship.
6
The evidentiary ruling of the court was made at the request of the State before the jury
was selected or any trial testimony was offered. There was no formal motion, oral or written.
There was no objection to the procedure. Our discussion is not to be considered as an acceptance
or approval of the procedure used.
13
Appellant explained that he became concerned about his conduct and his statements
to the complainant and went to her home one night to apologize. After he knocked on the front
door, the complainant opened the door, screamed, and told him she had filed charges against him,
and slammed the door. Appellant became angry that the complainant had filed charges because
he was on probation in Arkansas. 7 Appellant admitted that he later left a note in the complainant’s
car in order to scare her.
To support his claim of error, appellant relies on his Rule 403 objection made at
the bench during the unusual pretrial procedure described. If a defendant objects to the admission
of evidence but the same evidence is subsequently introduced without objection, the defendant
waives his earlier objection. Massey v. State, 933 S.W.2d 141, 149 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996);
Hughes v. State, 878 S.W.2d 142, 155 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992); Anderson v. State, 717 S.W.2d
622, 626-27 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). Specific objections must be made each time an offer of
inadmissible evidence is offered in order to preserve any error for review. Purtell v. State, 761
S.W.2d 360, 368 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998); Miranda v. State, 813 S.W.2d 724, 739 (Tex.
App.—
San Antonio 1991, pet. ref’d).
In light of the foregoing, we need not discuss appellant’s argument that the trial
court failed to conduct a Rule 403 balancing test at the time of his objection. We do observe that
while the trial court has an obligation under the rule to weigh the probative value of the evidence
against the unfair prejudice of the evidence’s admission, the balancing test need not be performed
on the record. Yates v. State, 941 S.W.2d 357, 367 (Tex. App.—
Waco 1997, pet. ref’d); see also
7
Appellant admitted that he had committed over forty felonies in Arkansas.
14
Poole v. State, 974 S.W.2d 892, 897 (Tex. App.—
Austin 1998, pet. ref’d). By overruling the
Rule 403 objection, the trial court necessarily conducted the balancing test by considering and
overruling the objection. Howland v. State, 966 S.W.2d 98, 103 (Tex. App. —
Houston [1st Dist.]
1998) (citing Yates, 941 S.W.2d at 367)); Poole, 974 S.W.2d at 897. The fourth point of error
is overruled.
Failure to Request Instructions
In his fifth and sixth points of error, appellant continues to argue that he was
deprived of his constitutional right to the effective assistance of counsel. Appellant claims that
his trial counsel was ineffective when he failed to request a limiting instruction concerning the
admission of extraneous acts or offenses when such evidence was offered at the guilt/innocence
stage of the trial, including an instruction on reasonable doubt pertaining to these extraneous
matters. Although not cited in his brief, appellant apparently relies upon Rule 105(a). See Tex.
R. Evid. 105(a).
In George v. State, 890 S.W.2d 73, 76 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994), the Court of
Criminal Appeals held that, if requested at the guilt/innocence phase of the trial, the trial court
must instruct the jury not to consider extraneous offense evidence admitted for a limited purpose
under Rule 404(b) of the Texas Rules of Evidence unless it is believed beyond a reasonable doubt
that the defendant committed the extraneous offense. Appellant cites Rankin v. State, 974 S.W.2d
707 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). There, it was held error for the trial court, upon proper request,
to defer the giving of the limiting instruction until the written charge was given to the jury. The
15
limiting instruction must be given upon request at the time the evidence in question is admitted.
Id. at 713. The Rankin cause was remanded for a harm analysis in view of the trial court’s error.
Id. 8 Rankin did not, however, address the question here presented, whether the failure of trial
counsel to request a limiting instruction when the evidence was admitted constitutes ineffective
assistance of counsel.
Appellant, of course, has the burden of proving ineffective assistance of counsel.
Bohnet v. State, 938 S.W.2d 532, 536 (Tex. App.—
Austin 1997, pet. ref’d). The matters
advanced under these points of error were not grounds in a motion for new trial. Thus, appellant
must rely upon the trial record to support these claims. The record is silent as to why appellant’s
counsel failed to request a limiting instruction when the evidence was introduced and is therefore
insufficient to overcome the presumption that counsel’s actions were part of a strategic plan. Tong
v. State, 25 S.W.3d 707, 714 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 814
(Tex. Crim. App. 1999). In the absence of evidence concerning counsel’s reasons—
or lack
thereof—
for his actions, we are unable to conclude that his performance was deficient under the
first prong of the Strickland standard. See Jackson, 877 S.W.2d at 771.
Moreover, trial counsel is not necessarily deficient for failing to request a limiting
instruction on extraneous matters when the evidence is introduced. Garcia v. State, 887 S.W.2d
862, 881 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994) (holding that trial counsel’s failure to request a limiting
8
The Rankin opinion was withdrawn in part on other grounds on rehearing. Rankin v.
State, 974 S.W.2d 707, 717. On remand, the error was held to be harmless. Rankin v. State,
995 S.W.2d 210 (Tex. App.— Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, pet. ref’d).
16
instruction did not constitute ineffective assistance where counsel testified he did not want to draw
more attention to the incriminating evidence).
In Ryan v. State, 937 S.W.2d 93, 104-05 (Tex. App.—
Beaumont 1996, pet. ref’d),
the court wrote:
With nothing in the record to explain why trial counsel did not request the
instruction, we can only conclude his trial strategy may have been to not draw
further attention to the extraneous offenses. Furthermore, even if trial counsel’s
performance was deficient, appellant’s counsel on appeal provides us with no
analysis of how, with reasonable probability, the outcome of the proceeding would
have been different, had trial counsel requested the instruction on extraneous
offenses.
In the instant case, where appellant and the complainant testified to the extraneous
acts, and other numerous references were made thereto without objection, there may have been
a number of reasons why appellant’s counsel did not request a limiting instruction each time the
extraneous acts were mentioned. We will not speculate. The desired instruction was given in the
written charge of the court to the jury. Even this instruction would not be necessary where the
extraneous acts are offered to prove a main fact in the case such as intent or knowledge. Porter
v. State, 709 S.W.2d 213, 215 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986); Navarro v. State, 863 S.W.2d 191, 199
(Tex. App.—
Austin 1993, pet. ref’d).
Under any circumstances, appellant has not sustained the burden placed on him by
the two-pronged (deficiency and prejudice) test of Strickland with regard to these claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel. The fifth and sixth points of error are overruled. 9
9
We have construed appellant’s points of error as referring to a limiting instruction to the
jury under Rule 105(a) as discussed in George v. State, 890 S.W.2d 73, 76 (Tex. Crim. App.
17
The judgment is affirmed.
John F. Onion, Jr. , Justice
Before Justices Kidd, Yeakel and Onion*
Affirmed
Filed: November 30, 2000
Publish
*
Before John F. Onion, Jr. , Presiding Judge (retired), Court of Criminal Appeals, sitting by
assignment. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 74.003(b) (West 1998).
1994). This instruction, includes, inter alia, directions to the jury not to consider the admitted
extraneous act evidence, even for the stated limited purpose, unless it finds beyond a reasonable
doubt that the defendant had committed the extraneous acts. We note that in his sixth point of
error appellant cites cases dealing with giving a “definition” of reasonable doubt at the punishment
phase of the trial. We do not consider these cases pertinent to our understanding of appellant’s
points of error. If it be appellant’s contention that a limiting instruction under Rule 105(a) as to
extraneous offense evidence must contain a “definition” of reasonable doubt, he has not properly
briefed that issue. Moreover, we observe that in Paulson v. State, No. 829-99 (Tex. Crim. App.
Oct. 4, 2000), the Court has overruled Reyes v. States, 938 S.W.2d 718 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996)
in its entirety and overruled Geesa v. State, 820 S.W.2d 154 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) to the extent
that it required an instruction of the “definition” of reasonable doubt in the court’s charge to the
jury.
18