Williams, Daryl Kenneth v. State ( 2012 )

A FF1 RM; Opinion issued October 31, 2012.
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No. 05-11-00557-CR
DARYL KENNETH WILLIAMS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 5
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. F-1056972-L
MEMORANDUM OPINION
l3efore Justices Moseley, I ilirnore, and Myers
Opinion By Justice Fillmore
A jury found appellant Daryl Kenneth Williams guilty of the third degree felony offense of
hinderinL apprehension ofa felon. The trial court sentenced Williams to two years’ imprisonment,
suspending the sentence and placing Williams on two years’ community supervision. In his sole
issue on appeal. Williams contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction. We
affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Backgro tin (I
On the morning of June 1 7, 2010, FBI agents assigned to the bureau’s gang task force and
Dallas Police Department officers assigned to the departments gang unit task force (collectively
referred to as “task force members”) were working jointly to serve felony aggravated assault arrest
warrants on two gang members. An arrest warrant was served on one of the gang members at his
residence, and he was taken into custody. The task force members then turned their attention to the
other gang member, Jeffrey Alexander, Alexander is Williams’s brother. Task force members went
to the residence of one of Alexander’s girlfriends, Amber Clark, to attempt service of the warrant
on Alexander. Alexander was not found at Clark’s residence. Task force members then proceeded
to the residence of Alexander’s mother, Wilma Faye Williams. Williams and Alexander’s sister,
Shadariann Williams, also lived at Wilma’s apartment.
At Wilma’s apartment, task force members spoke with Shadariann. According to
Shadariann, Alexander arrived at Wilma’s apartment around 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. the night before.
She believed Williams arrived home from work about midnight. As far as Shadariann knew,
Alexander was at the apartment when Williams came home from work. While at the apartment, task
force members also spoke with Williams. Williams was informed the task force had an arrest
warrant for a felony offense to be served on Alexander. Williams told Detective Joseph Markulec
that he had been at the apartment all morning, he had not seen Alexander, and he did not know where
Alexander was. Williams was cooperative, and the task force members believed what Williams told
Markulec.
In their search of Wilma’s apartment, task force members did not find Alexander. Wilma’s
bedroom door was locked, and the task force was unable to gain access to Wilma’s bedroom.
According to Shadariann, Wilma had the only key to unlock the bedroom door, and had spent the
night away from home. Wilma was not at home that morning.
Task force members left Wilma’s apartment and proceeded to the residence of another
girlfriend of Alexander, Shenqua Leadon, at an adjacent apartment complex. Alexander was not
found at Leadon’s apartment. While Markulec and FBi special agent Lori Gibbs interviewed
—2—
Lea(IOTI, she answered her telephone. Leadon alerted Markulec that the caller was Alexander. and
Leadon allowed Markulec to hold his ear near the telephone to hear Alexander’s conversation with
Leadon, Gibbs wrote (lo\\n the telephone number of the incoming call to Leadon’s phone.
The task torce members then left Leadon’s apartment and returned to Wilma’s apartment,
where they once again came in contact with Williams. Markulec explained to Williams that they had
returned looking fhr Alexander and they believed Alexander was in Wilma’s bedroom. Williams
again stated ,\lexander was not at Wilma’s apartment and he did not know where Alexander was
located. Williams was cooperative at this point and allowed the task force to enter the apartment and
look lhr Alexander. The task force members di(1 not locate Alexander in the apartment. Again,
Wilma’s bedroom door was locked.
On her telephone, Gibbs dialed the telephone number of the call received by Leadon, and a
telephone immediately rang in Williams’s bedroom. Williams stated. “That is my phone.” The
ringing cellular phone on Williams’s bed was seized by the task three. There was a picture of
Williams on the front of the cellular phone. Williams’s cellular phone was locked with password
protection. Markulec questioned Williams about his telephone being used to call Leadon, and
Williams became belligerent and combative and began shouting profanities, Because he would not
stay in one place and was pacing back and forth, Williams was handcuffed to ensure officer safety.
After securing the cellular phone that was used to call Leadon, task force members were
convinced Alexander was in his mother’s locked bedroom. Markulec telephoned Wilma and
requested she return to her apartment and unlock her bedroom door. For approximately two hours,
task force members waited for Wilma to return and unlock her bedroom door. Williams was
released from handcuffs, and he left the scene in his car. Shadariann also left the apartment.
When Wilma did not return to her apartment, Markulec and Detective Antonio Aleman left
\Vilma’s apartment to go to the police station and prepare a search warrant lor Wilma’s bedroom to
he presented to a judge for signature. other task lbrce members remained stationed in front of
Wilma’s locked bedroom door.
Williams returned to the apartment complex parking lot in his car. I-Ic got out of his car and
was playing loud music. lie was shouting prolamlies at task fircc members who remained on the
premises. Williams was also shouting at his aunts who were standing in the parking lot, because he
did not appreciate his aunts cooperating with the task force. FBI special agent Michael Hillman
advised Williams he was free to stay or to leave, but he could not stay and continue to shout.
Williams again left the parking lot in his car.
Hilirnan began speaking to Alexander through the locked bedroom door. [-human advised
Alexander that officers had gone to obtain a search warrant. 1—human told Alexander that it was
going to become necessary to obtain special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team assistance at the
scene, and the SWAT team would likely lire tear gas into the apartment and treat Alexander as a
barricaded person. The bedroom door would likely be torn down and Wilma’s apartment damaged.
After about fifteen minutes, Alexander spoke through the door to Hillman. Hillman told Alexander
that his grandmother had arrived at the scene and was worried about him. Alexander opened the
bedroom door, surrendered, and was placed under arrest.
Williams again returned to the parking lot. Hillman went to the parking lot to advise
Alexander’s grandmother that Alexander had come out of the bedroom. Williams was still upset and
yelling at his relatives for their cooperation with the task force.
Hiliman telephoned Markulec and Aleman to tell them Alexander had been taken into
custody and to request they return to the scene. Markulec and Aleman returned to the apartment
complex. They made a decision to arrest Williams at the scene for hindering apprehension of a
lelon. During his arrest, Williams was uncooperative and combative and pushed pushing Markulec
into a parked vehicle,
Based on everything they observed that day, Hiliman and Aleinan believed Williams allowed
Alex ander to remain in the apartment to avoid being served with the warrant and arrested. They also
believed Wilhams allowed Alexander to use Williams’s cellular phone to avoid being apprehended.
The jury found Williams guilty ol the offense of hindering apprehension ofa felon. The trial
court sentenced Williams to two years’ imprisonment, suspending the sentence and placing Williams
on two years’ community supervision. Williams filed this appeal of his conviction.
Sufliciency of (he ividence
In his sole issue on appeal. Williams challenges the sufliciencv of the evidence to support
his conviction because there was insufficient evidence Williams knew or had reason to believe
Alexander was in Wilma’s locked bedroom or elsewhere in the apartment. Therefore, Williams
asserts, no reasonable jury could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Williams harbored,
concealed, or provided aid to another in avoiding arrest or effecting escape.
We review the sufficiency of the evidence under the standard set out in Jackson v. Viiginia,
443 U.S. 307 (1979). Adames v. State, 353 S.W.3d 854, 859 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011), cert. denied,
132 S. Ct. 1763 (2012). We examine all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and
determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense
beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 3i9; Adaines, 353 S.W.3d at 860. This standard
recognizes “the responsibility of the trier of fact fairly to resolve conflicts in the testimony, to weigh
the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts.” Jackson, 443
U.S. at 319; see a/so Adurnes, 353 S.W.3d at $60. The jury, as the fact finder, is entitled to judge
the credibility of the witnesses, and can choose to believe all, some, or none of the testimony
presented by the parties. Chambers v. Stale, 805 S.W.2d 459,461 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). We
defer to the jury’s detenninations of witness credibility and weight of the evidence, and may not
substitute our judgment for that of the fret finder. See Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893,899 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2010) (plurality op.); King v. State, 29 S.W.3d 556, 562 (fez.. Crim. App. 2000) (in
conducting legal sufficiency analysis, appellate court “may not re-weigh the evidence and substitute
our judgment for that ofthe jury”).
In evaluating a sufficiency claim, we consider all evidence presented to the jury, regardless
of whether it was properly or improperly admitted. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2007). “Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the
guilt of an actor, and circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt” Flooper v.
State, 214 S.W.3d 9,13 (fez.. Crim. App. 2007).
A person commits the offense of hindering the apprehension of a felon if, with intent to
hinder the arrest, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for an offense, he harbors or
conceals the other. Tot. PENAL CODE ANN. § 38.05(aXl) (West 2011).’ Whether the defendant
possessed such an intent must ordinarily be established by circumstantial evidence. King v. State,
76 S.W.3d 659,661 (fez. App.—Houston [14th 1)1st.] 2002, no pet.); see also Patrick v. State, 906
S.W.2d 481,487 (Tat. Crim. App. 1995) (intent may be inferred from the acts, words, and conduct
of the accused).
Williams argues the evidence is insufficient to show he knew or had reason to believe
Alexander was in his mother’s locked bedroom or elsewhere in the apartment The evidence
indicates that when task force members first came to Wilm&s apartment, Williams told the officers
An offense under section 38.05 isathird degree felony “ifthe person who is ha,bored, concesIed provided with a means of avoiding sweat
or efiheting acape, or wamod ofdiscove.yorappreltension is under arrest for, charged with, or convicted ofa felony.” lfl PENAL Cove ANN. *
38.05(4
-6-
that he had heeti m the apartment all morning, he had not seen Alexander, and he did not know
where Alexander was, However, Alexander placed a telephone call to Leadon on Williams’s cellular
phone later that morning and. when task lbrce members returned to Wilma’s apartment, that
telephone was in Williams’s bedroom. Despite Williams’s cellular phone being utilized by
Alexander to call Leadon, Williams continued to deny to task force members that he had seen
Alexander that morning and that Alexander was present at the apartment. The jury could have
reasonably interred that in order br Williams’s cellular phone to have been used by Alexander to
call Leadon, Williams would have had to unlock the password protection or provide Alexander the
password, Further, the jury could have reasonably inftrred that the locked bedroom door had to have
been opened and Williams’s phone provided to Alexander for his use in making the call to Leadon.
Alexander was either outside Wilma’s bedroom when he placed the call to Leadon and returned to
Wilma’s bedroom after making the call, or Alexander was inside Wilma’s bedroom when he made
the call to Leadon and returned Williams’s cellular phone before relocking himself in Wilma’s
bedroom.
The jury heard all the testimony. It was the role of the jury to resolve conflicts in the
testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate
facts. See Jackson. 443 U.S. at 319; Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 899. Reviewing all the evidence in the
light most favorable to thejury’s verdict, we conclude a rational jury could reasonably find fi’om the
evidence presented here that the essential elements of hindering apprehension of a felon were
established beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 3 19; Adames, 353 S.W.3d at 860.
We resolve Williams’s sole issue against him.
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
ROBERT M. FILLMORE
JUSTICE
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TEX. R. An. P.47
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JUDGMENT
DARYL KENNETH WILLIAMS, Appellant Appeal from the Criminal District Court No.
5 of Dallas County, Texas, (Tr.CLNo. F
No. 05-I 1-00557-CR V. 1056972-L).
Opinion delivered by Justice Fillmore,
THE STATE OF TEXAS. Appellee Justices Moseley and Myers participating.
Based on the Courts opinion of this (late, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered October 31. 2012.
ROBERT M. FILLMORE
JUSTICE