Chad Fenley Davis v. State ( 2008 )

IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-06-00009-CR
CHAD FENLEY DAVIS,
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
From the 85th District Court
Brazos County, Texas
Trial Court No. 04-01287-CRF-85
OPINION
Appellant Chad Fenley Davis appeals his conviction for capital murder in which
the State did not seek the death penalty. See TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. §§ 12.31(b), 19.03(a)
(Vernon Supp. 2008). We will affirm.
Procedural Background
Davis was charged with capital murder to which he pled not guilty. A jury
found Davis guilty of capital murder and the court imposed an automatic life sentence.
Davis filed a pro se motion for new trial. The motion was never ruled on, and Davis
filed a direct appeal arguing, among other things, that he was improperly denied
counsel during the motion-for-new-trial period. We sustained his first issue and did
not address his ten remaining issues. We abated the appeal so that a motion for new
trial could be filed, presented, and heard. Davis’s attorney then filed a motion for new
trial, a hearing was held, and the trial court denied the motion. We now address
Davis’s ten remaining issues from his original brief and three additional issues raised in
his post-abatement briefs.
Background
Davis was charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Tommy
Andrade. During the fact-intensive nine-day trial, the evidence established that Davis,
along with his father, Willie Davis (Willie), and his brother Trey Davis (Trey), recruited
three men, Boris Mogilevich, Bradley Padrick, and Jesse Mancuso, to steal $100,000 that
Andrade had allegedly stolen from Davis.1
Witnesses testified that, on the night in question, Davis drove Padrick,
Mogilevich, and Mancuso to the home of Andrade and provided them with handguns,
a stun gun, and a can of mace. Padrick, Mogilevich, and Mancuso then kicked in
Andrade’s door and began asking him for the stolen money. Andrade allegedly began
shooting, hitting both Mogilevich and Padrick and killing Mancuso. After Mogilevich
was shot, he returned gunfire and killed Andrade. Mogilevich and Padrick then fled
the scene, leaving Mancuso behind.
1 Significant evidence was presented at trial alleging that all of these men were involved with drug
trafficking and were known drug dealers.
Davis v. State Page 2
Several witnesses, including Padrick, testified that they were recruited by Davis
for the robbery but were not hired to kill Andrade. The jury charge stated that Davis
could be convicted for the death of Andrade as a co-conspirator. The jury found Davis
guilty of capital murder and he was assessed punishment at life in prison.
Legal and Factual Sufficiency
Davis’s first four issues challenge the legal and factual sufficiency of the
evidence. In issues two and three, he argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove
that the shooting of Andrade was in furtherance of the unlawful purpose of the
conspiracy to commit the offenses of aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, or
burglary of a habitation. In issues four and five, Davis argues that the evidence is
insufficient to prove that the shooting of Andrade should have been anticipated as a
result of carrying out the conspiracy.
A person commits capital murder if he intentionally causes the death of an
individual in the course of committing or attempting to commit robbery. TEX. PEN.
CODE ANN. §§ 19.02(b)(1), 19.03(a)(2) (Vernon 2003 & Supp. 2008). If, in an attempt to
carry out a conspiracy to commit one felony, another felony is committed by one of the
conspirators, all conspirators are guilty of the felony actually committed, though having
no intent to commit it, if the offense was committed in furtherance of the unlawful
purpose and was one that should have been anticipated as a result of carrying out the
conspiracy. Id. § 7.02(b) (Vernon 2003); see Hooper v. State, 255 S.W.3d 262, 265-66 (Tex.
App.—Waco 2008, no pet.). Each conspirator is guilty of the resulting offense, even if
he did not intend to commit it or intend that it be committed. Ruiz v. State, 579 S.W.2d
Davis v. State Page 3
206, 209 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979); see also Fuller v. State, 827 S.W.2d 919, 932 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1992) cert. denied, 509 U.S. 922; Love v. State, 199 S.W.3d 447, 453 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. ref'd) (“a defendant in a capital murder case may be
convicted solely on a conspiracy theory of culpability contained in the jury charge”);
Hanson v. State, 55 S.W.3d 681, 691 (Tex. App.—Austin 2001, pet ref’d). Thus, the State
does not have to prove that the accused intended to shoot or kill the victim, or intended
that the victim be shot, as long as the evidence established he conspired to commit the
robbery and that he "should have" anticipated the murder as a result of carrying out the
conspiracy to commit the robbery. Moore v. State, 24 S.W.3d 444, 447 (Tex. App.—
Texarkana 2000, pet. ref’d).
Evidence that a defendant knew his co-conspirators might use guns in the course
of the robbery can be sufficient to demonstrate that the defendant should have
anticipated the possibility of murder occurring during the course of the robbery. See
Hooper, 255 S.W.3d at 266; see also Love, 199 S.W.3d at 453. (holding evidence was
sufficient to show murder was committed in attempt to carry out robbery and should
have been anticipated by appellant when appellant helped plan robbery and knew that
firearms would be used).
When reviewing a challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence to establish
the elements of a penal offense, we must determine whether, after viewing all the
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979). Our duty is to
Davis v. State Page 4
determine if the finding of the trier of fact is rational by viewing all of the evidence
admitted at trial in the light most favorable to the verdict. Adelman v. State, 828 S.W.2d
418, 422 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). In doing so, any inconsistencies in the evidence are
resolved in favor of the verdict. Curry v. State, 30 S.W.3d 394, 406 (Tex. Crim. App.
2000).
In a factual sufficiency review, we ask whether a neutral review of all the
evidence, though legally sufficient, demonstrates either that the proof of guilt is so
weak or that conflicting evidence is so strong as to render the factfinder’s verdict clearly
wrong and manifestly unjust. Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d. 404, 414-15 (Tex. Crim. App.
2006); Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). “The court reviews the
evidence weighed by the jury that tends to prove the existence of the elemental fact in
dispute and compares it with the evidence that tends to disprove that fact.” Johnson, 23
S.W.3d at 7 (quoting Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 647 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996)). The
appellate court “does not indulge in inferences or confine its view to evidence favoring
one side of the case. Rather, it looks at all the evidence on both sides and then makes a
predominantly intuitive judgment. . . .” Id. (quoting William Powers and Jack Ratliff,
Another Look at “No Evidence” and “Insufficient Evidence,” 69 TEXAS L. REV. 515, 519
(1991)). The nature of a factual sufficiency review authorizes an appellate court,
although to a very limited degree, to act as the so-called “thirteenth juror” to review the
factfinder’s weighing of the evidence and disagree with the factfinder’s determination.
Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 416-17.
Davis v. State Page 5
Furtherance of the Conspiracy
After a careful review of the evidence, we find that the evidence supports the
conclusion that the murder of Andrade was committed in furtherance of the
conspiracy’s unlawful purpose. The jury heard the following evidence on the alleged
conspiracy:
Padrick testified that he became involved in the plan to rob Andrade when T.J.
Parent2 told him that Davis had gotten into a problem with a person who stole
approximately $100,000 from him. T.J. promised Padrick that if he would go down
to Houston and help Davis with this situation, T.J. would make sure that Padrick’s
mortgage was taken care of. Padrick flew to Texas with Mogilevich from Georgia,
where they both stayed in Bryan on a tour bus owned by Willie. Padrick stated that
he was working for Davis to make money and that he took his directions from
Davis. Davis told Padrick that the reason he was here was because there was some
money that was taken from him and he wanted Padrick to retrieve as much money
or drugs that he possibly could, as well as bring Andrade back to him.
One night, Padrick, Davis, Trey and Mogilevich drove through the parking lot of a
College Station nightclub, and Davis pointed out Andrade to them. A few days
before the shooting, Trey and Davis drove Padrick and Mogilevich by Andrade’s
house. Padrick testified that he noticed that there was a lot of traffic in and out of
Andrade’s house and that he was concerned that he and Mogilevich were the only
two going into Andrade’s house so he told Davis that they needed an additional
person. Mancuso was thus recruited to join Padrick and Mogilevich. They later
drove by Andrade’s house three additional times before the robbery.
After Mancuso arrived, they all had a meeting on the tour bus. Present were
Padrick, Mogilevich, Mancuso, Davis, and Trey, and they had two guns, a stun gun,
and a can of mace. They also discussed the plan. Padrick testified that “we were to
go into the house. We were suppose to kick—you know, kick the door in to the
residence and retrieve as much money and drugs and—as much valuables as we
could as well as bring Tommy Andrade to the tour bus—to Chad Davis.” The guns
were loaded and were for “persuasion purposes.”
Padrick testified that a 1980s Lincoln was purchased specifically for going to
Andrade’s house.
2
At trial, several witnesses stated that they knew that T.J. was a drug dealer and that Mogilevich
worked for T.J.
Davis v. State Page 6
During the search of the residence of Trey and Willie, Officer Frank Malinak
recovered a total of $15,273.25. In Trey Davis’s room, he recovered a Kel Tec 9
millimeter assault rifle and a Glock .40 caliber automatic pistol. In an Impala located
on the Davis property and registered to Trey Davis, he recovered a 12-gauge pump
shotgun.
Viewing all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we
conclude that the jury could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a
reasonable doubt. See Hooper, 255 S.W.3d at 265-66; Love, 199 S.W.3d at 452-54. Viewing
the evidence in a neutral light, we also conclude that the jury was rationally justified in
finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 414-15; Hooper, 255
S.W.3d at 267. Because the evidence is both legally and factually sufficient to support a
finding that the shooting that resulted in Andrade’s death occurred in furtherance of
the unlawful purpose of the conspiracy, we overrule his issues two and three. TEX. PEN.
CODE ANN. § 7.02(b).
Anticipation
The evidence is also sufficient to support a finding that Davis should have
anticipated the possibility of a murder resulting from the course of committing this
robbery. According to Padrick, Davis provided the loaded handguns and the stun gun
and did anticipate that they might be used. Crockett testified that he overheard a
conversation between Davis and Trey where Davis stated “if guns go off, some guns go
off.” The evidence further shows that the assailants anticipated the potential use of gun
violence. Padrick testified that he asked Davis to recruit an additional person to rob
Andrade because of the danger involved with the frequent drug traffic in and out of
Davis v. State Page 7
Andrade’s home. Goodman testified that although he was never hired to murder
Andrade, he did not participate in the robbery because of the great potential for the
robbery to escalate due to the large amount of money involved. A jury could infer from
these statements that Davis anticipated, or should have anticipated, the possibility that
the assailants might resort to using the loaded guns that he provided them if necessary.
See Hooper, 255 S.W.3d at 266; Love, 199 S.W.3d at 453.
Davis discussed with Padrick and the other parties the possibility of gun
violence. He knew that Andrade was a drug dealer. He provided the assailants with
loaded weapons. Viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we
find the evidence is legally sufficient to support a finding that Davis should have
anticipated the events that occurred. See id.; TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 7.02(b). Our neutral
review of all the evidence does not demonstrate either that the proof of guilt is so weak
or that conflicting evidence is so strong as to render the jury's finding clearly wrong and
manifestly unjust. See Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 415.
Because we conclude that the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to
support a finding that the shooting that resulted in Andrade’s death should have been
anticipated by Davis, we overrule Davis’s fourth and fifth issues. See Hooper, 255
S.W.3d at 266-67; see also Williams v. State, 974 S.W.2d 324, 330 (Tex. App.—San Antonio
1998, pet. ref'd) (holding evidence sufficient that murder committed in course of pawn
shop robbery was foreseeable to appellant where evidence showed at least one of five
conspirators arrived at scene armed with gun, there was testimony by accomplice
Davis v. State Page 8
witness that four of five conspirators left apartment with weapons, and there was
evidence that bullets or casings from two different guns were recovered from scene).
Accomplice-Witness Testimony
In his sixth issue, Davis complains that the evidence is insufficient to corroborate
the testimony of accomplice Padrick. Davis argues that when Padrick’s testimony is
eliminated, the remaining non-accomplice evidence does not tend to connect him to the
offense.
A conviction cannot be had upon the testimony of an accomplice
unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant
with the offense committed; and the corroboration is not sufficient if it
merely shows the commission of the offense.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN art. 38.14 (Vernon 2005).
In conducting a sufficiency review, we “eliminate the accomplice testimony from
consideration and then examine the remaining portions of the record to see if there is
any evidence that tends to connect the accused with the commission of the crime.”
Solomon v. State, 49 S.W.3d 356, 361 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Hardie v. State, 79 S.W.3d
625, 630 (Tex. App.—Waco 2002, pet. ref’d). “While the accused’s mere presence in the
company of the accomplice before, during, and after the commission of the offense is
insufficient by itself to corroborate accomplice testimony, evidence of such presence,
coupled with other suspicious circumstances, may tend to connect the accused to the
offense.” Dowthitt v. State, 931 S.W.2d 244, 249 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). “Even
apparently insignificant incriminating circumstances may sometimes afford satisfactory
evidence of corroboration.” Id.
Davis v. State Page 9
The record contains sufficient non-accomplice evidence tending to connect Davis
to the conspiracy. Goodman, who was originally recruited to help “steal” Davis’s
$100,000 from Andrade, testified that he came to Texas with Mogilevich to get back
Davis’s stolen money. Davis picked them up in Houston at the airport and dropped
them off at a hotel, where they spent the night. Trey then picked them up the next
morning and took him to his house. Initially, Goodman believed that Davis wanted
him and Mogilevich to tell Andrade to pay the money back. Specifically, Davis told
Goodman “we might find him at a strip club or, like at a rim shop; and they wanted us
to approach him and let him know that he needed to pay back the money.” The
Davises then suggested that, if they located Andrade’s home, they could burglarize it
and take jewelry, money, and drugs. Goodman told the Davises that because he had
previously been in jail for burglary, he was no longer interested in helping them. He
testified that he thought the burglary would probably escalate into something beyond a
robbery because he felt that someone who was willing to steal $100,000 was probably
not a pushover. Goodman refused to participate and asked Davis to take him to the
airport so that he could leave. Goodman returned to Georgia later that evening.
Crockett testified that he heard Davis mention plans to go and steal back the
money that had been stolen from him. Crocket also heard Davis and Trey discuss what
would happen if the plan escalated. Crockett testified that when asked about the use of
force in the robbery, Davis replied, “if some guns go off, some guns go off.” He also
heard Davis say, “if shit hits the fan, they were going to take care of business.” He then
later saw Mogilevich driving the Lincoln with Davis and Padrick.
Davis v. State Page 10
In sum, Padrick testified that the plan of action he entered into with Davis called
for the assailants to break into Andrade’s residence, take property, and bring Andrade
to Davis in the tour bus located at Willie Davis’s home. Removing that testimony as
accomplice witness testimony, the testimony by both Goodman and Crockett
sufficiently corroborate Padrick’s testimony. Because this non-accomplice testimony
tends to connect Davis to the offense and thereby corroborates Padrick’s testimony, we
overrule Davis’s sixth issue. See McDuff v. State, 939 S.W.2d 607, 613 (Tex. Crim. App.
1997).
Self-Defense
In his seventh issue, Davis argues that the trial court erred in denying his
requested self-defense instruction. See TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 15.04(b) (Vernon 2003).
During the charge conference, Davis asked the court to submit a charge to the jury on
the law of self-defense. The trial court denied the request and ultimately told the jury
that self-defense was not available in this case because the burglars entered Andrade’s
home while unlawfully possessing firearms. Davis contends that a defendant is entitled
to an instruction on self-defense if the evidence raises the issue, whether the evidence is
strong or weak, unimpeached or contradicted, regardless of what the trial court may
think about the credibility of the defense. See Ferrel v. State, 55 S.W.3d 586, 591 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2001). However, "no error is shown in the denial of a defensive instruction
if the evidence establishes as a matter of law that the defendant is not entitled to rely on
this defense.” Johnson v. State, 157 S.W.3d 48, 50 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, no pet.); see
Dyson v. State, 672 S.W.2d 460, 463 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984).
Davis v. State Page 11
In general, "a person is justified in using force against another when and to the
degree he reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect himself
against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful force." TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. §
9.31(a) (Vernon 2003). Further, a "defendant is entitled to an affirmative defensive
instruction on every issue raised by the evidence . . . ." Hamel v. State, 916 S.W.2d 491,
493 (Tex. Crim. App 1996); VanBrackle v. State, 179 S.W.3d 708, 712 (Tex. App.—Austin
2005). However, if the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the defendant,
does not establish self-defense, the defendant is not entitled to an instruction on the
issue. Ferrel, 55 S.W.3d at 591; Williams v. State, 35 S.W.3d 783, 787 (Tex. App.—
Beaumont 2001, pet. ref’d).
The court in Williams found no error in the denial of a self-defense instruction
when the defendant intentionally sought out the victim to discuss their differences
while unlawfully armed with a handgun. See Williams, 35 S.W.3d at 786-87; see also TEX.
PEN. CODE ANN. § 9.31(b)(5) (Vernon 2003) (self-defense not justified if defendant seeks
out victim to discuss differences while unlawfully carrying a weapon).
Davis concedes that the evidence established that the assailants carried weapons
into the trailer. In addition to that evidence, Officer Kindell testified that the weapons
used at the scene were unlicensed and therefore illegal. Although Davis argues that
entry into the trailer was for purposes other than a discussion of differences, the
evidence establishes as a matter of law that the assailants sought interaction with
Andrade over the stolen money while the assailants were illegally carrying handguns.
See Williams, 35 S.W.3d at 786-87. As a matter of law, the assailants were not justified in
Davis v. State Page 12
using force. Because the trial court did not err in refusing to instruct the jury on the
issue of self-defense, Davis’s seventh issue is overruled.
False Testimony
Davis's eighth issue alleges that the trial court erred in allowing Padrick to
"falsely testify" during trial in violation of Davis’s due process rights under the Sixth
and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and article 1, sections 10
and 19 of the Texas Constitution. At trial, Padrick testified on direct and cross-
examination that he did not watch the videotape of his statement before he testified.
After both sides had finished questioning Padrick and the jury had been excused for
lunch, the State told Davis’s counsel that Padrick had seen the videotape. He told the
defense that, although Padrick testified he did not see the tape, he was aware that
Padrick had indeed reviewed the tape with his lawyer. The State then said that it
would stipulate that Padrick had seen the tape or bring Padrick back on the stand.
Davis’s counsel thanked the State for the information but stated that neither action was
necessary.
Although Davis now complains that Padrick lied under oath and that the State
failed to correct it, Davis failed to lodge a timely or specific objection to the allegedly
false testimony. A defendant must object to the State’s use of allegedly false evidence to
preserve the complaint for appeal. See Haliburton v. State, 80 S.W.3d 309, 315 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth 2002, no pet.) (holding defendant must object to false testimony of
witnesses to preserve issue for appellate review); see also TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1. Davis
Davis v. State Page 13
therefore failed to preserve this issue for appellate review. Haliburton, 80 S.W.3d at 315.
His eighth issue is overruled.
Charge Error
Davis’s arguments intertwined within his ninth,3 tenth,4 and eleventh5 and third6
supplemental issues contends that the trial court fundamentally erred in allowing the
State to submit a jury instruction on the theory of “party liability” when the indictment
did not include such an allegation.
Davis acknowledges that the Court of Criminal Appeals has repeatedly held that
a trial court may charge the jury on the law of parties even though there is no such
allegation in the indictment. See, e.g., Pitts v. State, 569 S.W.2d 898 (Tex. Crim. App.
1978) (when evidence supports a charge on the law of parties, the court may charge on
the law of parties even though there is no such allegation in the indictment); Marable v.
State, 85 S.W.3d 287, 287 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (citing cases) (reiterating that "it is well-
settled that the law of parties need not be pled in the indictment.”). Nonetheless, he
urges us to overrule this line of cases. We lack authority to do so. Davis’s ninth, tenth,
eleventh, and third supplemental issues are overruled.
3 Davis’s ninth issue states that the trial court committed fundamental, egregious error when it
submitted the case on a theory of liability that was not alleged in the indictment.
4 Davis’s tenth issue states that the trial court violated his State constitutional right to due course of
law when it submitted the case on a theory of liability that was not alleged in the indictment.
5 Davis’s eleventh issue states that the trial court violated his federal constitutional right to due
process of law when it submitted the case on a theory of liability that was not alleged in the indictment.
6 Davis’s third supplemental issue argues that he suffered egregious harm when the trial court
erroneously instructed the jury that it could convict him of capital murder if it found beyond a reasonable
doubt that the shooting should have been anticipated as a result of the carrying out of the conspiracy
when it was not alleged in the indictment.
Davis v. State Page 14
Motion for New Trial
In his supplemental brief, Davis asserts that the court abused its discretion by
failing to grant his motion for new trial based upon newly discovered evidence. The
motion for new trial was brought on the grounds of newly discovered evidence and
ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court held a hearing on the motion for new
trial and witnesses testified about the newly available evidence, as well as the
ineffective assistance of counsel claim. The motion was denied.
Newly Available Evidence
In his first supplemental issue, Davis argues that new evidence, consisting of
testimony by co-defendant Mogilevich, was unavailable7 at the time of Davis’s trial and
demonstrates the lack of intent to kill at the time of the shooting. Willie’s trial took
place after Davis’s trial. By the time of Willie’s trial, Mogilevich had been apprehended
and provided a statement that said that he shot Andrade. Davis argues that if
Mogilevich had been available to testify, counsel would have called him to testify on the
issue of lack of intent to kill.
To obtain a new trial upon "newly available" evidence, the following elements
are required:
(1) the newly discovered evidence was unknown to the movant at
the time of trial;
(2) the movant's failure to discover the evidence was not due to his
want of diligence;
(3) the evidence is admissible and not merely cumulative,
corroborative, collateral or impeaching; and
7 Mogilevich was unavailable to testify because he was a fugitive in Europe at the time of Davis’s
trial.
Davis v. State Page 15
(4) the evidence is probably true and would probably bring about
a different result in another trial.
Keeter v. State, 74 S.W.3d 31, 36-37 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Ashcraft v. State, 918 S.W.2d
648, 653 (Tex. App.—Waco 1996, pet. ref'd) (citing Moore v. State, 882 S.W.2d 844, 849
(Tex. Crim. App. 1994)).
The granting of a motion for new trial lies within the discretion of the trial court.
We do not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court but rather decide whether
the trial court's decision was arbitrary or unreasonable. Lewis v. State, 911 S.W.2d 1, 7
(Tex. Crim. App. 1995). Motions for new trial on grounds of newly discovered evidence
are not favored and are viewed with great caution. Drew v. State, 743 S.W.2d 207, 225
(Tex. Crim. App. 1987); Frank v. State, 183 S.W.3d 63, 71 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005,
pet. ref'd); Ashcraft, 918 S.W.2d at 653.
At the hearing, Mogilevich testified that after he broke into Andrade’s home,
Andrade shot him three times. He claimed that as a result of being shot in the head,
blood splattered on his face blurring his vision, and he then raised his gun and shot
Andrade in the chest. Davis argues that this testimony by Mogilevich reflects that he
did not intend to kill. However, Davis has failed to show that this evidence was
unknown and not cumulative. Delamora v. State, 128 S.W.3d 344 (Tex. App.—Austin
2004, pet. ref’d).
During the trial, Padrick testified about Mogilevich’s condition. He stated that
“[Mogilevich] was shot in the head, shoulder and back and he had blood coming all
down his face.” Padrick also testified that he did not anticipate that a gun would be
Davis v. State Page 16
used in the burglary and that he was specifically told that his job would be to rough
somebody up. Consequently, the substance of Mogilevich’s testimony was known and
merely cumulative of evidence already presented. Furthermore, the testimony by
Mogilevich would not have brought about a different result. At the motion-for-new-
trial hearing, Dan Cogdell, Davis’s trial counsel, testified that he might not have called
Mogilevich to the stand even if his testimony was available. Mogilevich testified that as
Davis was giving him the guns for the robbery, Davis said, “do whatever it takes to get
your money back.” Mogilevich also testified that the use of deadly force was
anticipated. Cogdell noted that this testimony would have destroyed the defensive
theory—that there was no intent to kill and Mogilevich and others were not sent there
with directions to kill.
Finally, intent to commit the felony actually committed is not required under
section 7.02(b). TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 7.02(b); Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 14 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2007). Davis did not meet the requirements for obtaining a new trial based
on newly discovered evidence. Keeter, 74 S.W.3d at 36-37. Therefore, we find that the
trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying his motion for new trial. We overrule
Davis’s first supplemental issue.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Davis contends in his final issue that he received ineffective assistance of counsel.
He asserts that Cogdell was ineffective in at least 35 different respects, including areas
such as failing to object to improper opening and closing statements, extraneous
Davis v. State Page 17
offenses, and irrelevant and hearsay evidence, and in failing to impeach witnesses on
perjured statements and plea deals.
The standard in Strickland v. Washington applies to a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d
674 (1984). To prevail, a defendant must first show that his counsel’s performance was
deficient. Id. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064; see Mitchell v. State, 68 S.W.3d 640, 642 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2002). Then it must be shown that this deficient performance prejudiced the
defense. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at 2064.
Appellate review of defense counsel’s representation is highly deferential and
presumes that counsel’s actions fell within the wide range of reasonable and
professional assistance. Mallett v. State, 65 S.W.3d 59, 63 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Tong v.
State, 25 S.W.3d 707, 712 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
Here, Davis does not argue or supply authority as to why each item of evidence
was inadmissible. Davis merely concludes that the opening and closing arguments
were improper, the extraneous offense testimony was inadmissible and that some
testimony was irrelevant or hearsay evidence by simply listing the items. “When an
ineffective assistance claim alleges that counsel was deficient in failing to object to the
admission of evidence, the defendant must show, as part of his claim, that the evidence
was inadmissible.” Ortiz v. State, 93 S.W.3d 79, 93 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); see Flowers v.
State, 133 S.W.3d 852, 857 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2004 no pet.). Davis does not
demonstrate the evidence was inadmissible. Therefore, we cannot say counsel's failure
to object constituted ineffective assistance. This contention is overruled.
Davis v. State Page 18
Lastly, Davis argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to correct
Padrick’s perjured statements regarding reviewing his videotaped statement and for
not impeaching several witnesses on plea deals made with the State. At the hearing,
Cogdell stated that he found the testimony by Padrick to be far more favorable to Davis
than he originally expected. He stated that he did not want to risk recalling Padrick and
attacking his credibility because it would cause the jury to disbelieve the favorable
statements Padrick made toward Davis’s defensive theory of the case. Cogdell’s
performance here cannot be held to be deficient because it was based on a sound trial
strategy. See Moore v. State, 983 S.W.2d 15, 21 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1998, no
pet.). At the hearing, Cogdell also testified as to why he did not impeach witnesses on
deals made with the State. He stated that several witnesses gave favorable testimony
and therefore he did not want to attack their credibility and that the other witnesses
were immaterial and did not implicate Davis in this case. We agree. Once again,
Cogdell’s performance cannot be held to be deficient because it was based on a sound
trial strategy. Id. We cannot say that the evidence set out by Davis establishes that
counsel rendered ineffective assistance. We overrule Davis’s second supplemental
issue.
Conclusion
Having overruled all of Davis’s issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
BILL VANCE
Justice
Davis v. State Page 19
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Vance, and
Justice Reyna
(“Chief Justice Gray does not join any part of the Court’s Opinion. He joins only
the judgment of the Court to the extent that it results in affirming the trial court’s
judgment of Chad Davis’s conviction and life sentence. A separate opinion will not
follow.”)
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed September 24, 2008
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Davis v. State Page 20