Emilio Barron v. State ( 2011 )

MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-10-00043-CR
Emilio BARRON,
Appellant
v.
The STATE of Texas,
Appellee
From the 49th Judicial District Court, Webb County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2009-CRN-000762-D1
Honorable Jose A. Lopez, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Rebecca Simmons, Justice
Sitting: Rebecca Simmons, Justice
Steven C. Hilbig, Justice
Marialyn P. Barnard, Justice
Delivered and Filed: May 4, 2011
AFFIRMED
The appellant’s motion for rehearing is denied. We withdraw our opinion and judgment
of February 23, 2011, and substitute this opinion and judgment to clarify a portion of the
opinion.
This appeal arises from Appellant Emilio Barron’s conviction for one count of murder
and two counts of robbery. Barron raises the following issues: (1) the trial court erred in
admitting unfairly prejudicial photographic evidence; (2) the evidence was legally and factually
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insufficient to support his conviction; and (3) an alleged error in the jury charge was fundamental
error. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
BACKGROUND
Early in the morning of January 20, 2009, Abiel Rodriguez and his father, Jose
Rodriguez-Vidal, were walking down the street when they were attacked by two men. Abiel was
able to provide a description of the assailants to the police, who picked up Barron, and his friend,
Joel Magana. Blood found on Barron’s shoes was later matched to Jose, who died from his
injuries. Barron was convicted of one count of felony murder, one count of robbery, and one
count of aggravated robbery.
PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE
The State offered exhibit 47, which was a photograph of Barron with cuts and blood on
his hands and knuckles. Barron argues that the photograph’s probative value was substantially
outweighed by its danger of unfair prejudice, and that the photograph was improper character
evidence because it showed Barron making a gang sign.
A. Standard of Review
“The admissibility of photographs over an objection is within the sound discretion of the
trial court.” Davis v. State, 313 S.W.3d 317, 331 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). A trial court abuses
its discretion if its action is arbitrary or unreasonable, or outside the “zone of reasonable
disagreement.” Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 391 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990).
B. Unfair Prejudice
Evidence is inadmissible “if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger
of unfair prejudice.” TEX. R. EVID. 403. To determine whether the potential for unfair prejudice
substantially outweighs the probative aspects of a photograph, we evaluate four factors: “(1) the
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probative value of the [photograph]; (2) [its] potential to impress the jury in some irrational, yet
indelible way; (3) the time needed to develop the evidence; [and] (4) the proponent’s need for the
evidence.” Erazo v. State, 144 S.W.3d 487, 489 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). We also consider “the
number of exhibits offered, their gruesomeness, their detail, their size, whether they are in color
or black-and-white, whether they are close up, whether the body depicted is clothed or naked, the
availability of other means of proof, and other circumstances unique to the individual case.”
Davis, 313 S.W.3d at 331.
The trial court could have reasonably determined that the evidence was probative that
Barron was Jose’s assailant. Barron challenged the State’s evidence linking him to the attack on
Jose by impeaching Abiel Rodriguez, the State’s only eyewitness to the incident. Although
Barron argues that his trial counsel offered to stipulate that Barron had cuts on his hands, this
offer of stipulation to a fact does not render the photograph less probative. Cf. Jones v. State,
843 S.W.2d 487, 500–01 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (rejecting the argument that stipulation to
cause of death and identity rendered photographs unnecessary). Thus, this factor supports the
trial court’s admission of the photograph.
The second factor considers the “evidence’s tendency to tempt the jury into finding guilt
on grounds apart from proof of the offense charged.” State v. Mechler, 153 S.W.3d 435, 440
(Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Barron complains of State’s exhibit 47, a four-inch by six-inch color
photograph that depicts Barron after the incident with cuts and blood on his hands. The defense
argued that seeing the gang sign would unfairly prejudice Barron by implying that the defendant
was a member of a gang. Barron argues that the State drew the jury’s attention to the photograph
during closing argument. However, the State did not explain that the hand gestures were gang
signs or make reference to gang activity in its closing argument. Moreover, nothing in the record
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indicates that it would be obvious to a viewer of the photograph that the hand gesture was a gang
sign, as opposed to a different gesture. The trial court could have reasonably concluded that
there was only a slight potential for the photograph to irrationally impress the jury. See id.
Considering the third factor, the testimony regarding the admission of the photograph
consisted of two brief questions and two brief answers for a total of nine lines in the record.
“Because [so] little time was [spent on] the photograph, this factor weighs in favor of
admissibility.” See Erazo, 144 S.W.3d at 495.
To address the fourth factor, we consider whether the proponent has other evidence to
establish the fact the photograph is offered to prove; how strong that other evidence is; and
whether the fact that the photograph shows is an issue that is in dispute. See id. at 495–96.
Though the defense offered to stipulate to the injuries, the stipulation would not be as strong as
the jury’s observations of Barron’s injuries on his knuckles, and no other evidence established
these injuries.
Weighing each of the four factors, the trial court’s conclusion—that the probative value
of the photograph was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice to
Barron—was not outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. See Montgomery, 810 S.W.2d at
391.
C. Improper Character Evidence
Barron also argues that the photograph, State’s exhibit 47, is improper character
evidence. See TEX. R. EVID. 404(a), 404(b). Rule 404(b) provides, “Evidence of other crimes,
wrongs or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in
conformity therewith.” TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). When offering the photograph into evidence and
during closing arguments, the State relied on the photograph showing the blood and cuts on
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Barron’s hands exclusively to prove that Barron attacked Rodriguez-Vidal with his hands. The
State did not argue that the photograph proved that Barron was in a gang and that the jury should
infer, based on his gang membership, that Barron attacked Rodriguez-Vidal. Moreover, as we
have previously noted, nothing in the record indicates that it would be obvious to a viewer of the
photograph that the hand gesture was a gang sign. Thus, the photograph was not evidence of
“other crimes, wrongs or acts,” but rather evidence that Barron committed this crime, wrong, and
act. See TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). Having reviewed the record, we cannot say that the trial court’s
overruling of Barron’s objection to admitting State’s exhibit 47 was arbitrary, unreasonable, or
outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. See Montgomery, 810 S.W.2d at 391. Therefore,
we overrule this issue.
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Barron raises legal and factual sufficiency challenges with regard to his murder
conviction under Texas Penal Code sections 7.02(a)(2) and 7.02(b). The Court of Criminal
Appeals recently determined that there is no meaningful distinction between the factual
sufficiency standard of Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996), and its
subsequent line of cases, and the legal sufficiency standard of Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307
(1979). See Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 894 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). Guided by Brooks,
we now apply the Jackson legal sufficiency standard of review to a factual sufficiency challenge.
See id. We therefore construe Barron’s factual sufficiency challenge as a legal sufficiency
challenge.
Under Jackson, an appellate court examines “all of the evidence in the light most
favorable to the verdict,” asking if a jury was “rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Id. at 899. We must decide whether “any rational trier of fact could have
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found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319.
“The jury is the exclusive judge of the credibility of witnesses and of the weight to be given
testimony, and it is also the exclusive province of the jury to reconcile conflicts in the evidence.”
Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 111 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); see also TEX. CODE CRIM.
PROC. ANN. art. 38.04 (West 1979).
The evidence is legally sufficient to support a guilty verdict for murder under section
19.02(b)(2) of the Texas Penal Code if there is evidence that the defendant “intends to cause
serious bodily injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of
an individual.” See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.02(b)(2) (West 2003). A defendant may be
criminally responsible for the acts of another if he, “with intent to promote or assist the
commission of the offense, . . . solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid the other
person to commit the offense.” Id. § 7.02(a)(2). Finally, circumstantial evidence may be
sufficient to prove the identity of a perpetrator. See Earls v. State, 707 S.W.2d 82, 85 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1986).
Abiel testified that he and his father, Jose, were walking down the street together at about
5:30 a.m. when two males approached and demanded money from them. Abiel described them
as two males, one who was light skinned and tall, and the other who was shorter with a darker
complexion. His descriptions, respectively, matched Magana and Barron, who were later
arrested by Officer Fernando De Hoyos. Abiel testified that the taller attacker, Magana, chased
him down the street, while the shorter assailant, Barron, stayed back and hit Jose. After being
struck by Magana, Abiel ran back and witnessed both assailants attacking his father.
Officer De Hoyos testified that he was called to the scene and, after being given a
description of the attackers by Abiel, he patrolled the area, encountered Barron and Magana, and
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detained them. Another officer testified that he confiscated and took pictures of Barron’s shoes.
A forensic scientist testified that the blood samples taken from Barron’s shoes matched Jose’s
blood. A woman who lived across the street from the crime scene testified that Barron and
Magana were in her house earlier that night; that she awoke to the sounds of Jose’s moaning; that
moments later the defendants tried to get back into her house; and that she noticed blood on both
of them. Finally, Dr. Rajesh Kannan testified that Jose died as a result of closed-head trauma,
which was caused by a blunt force from a person’s hands, feet, or any other broad and hard and
flat surface.
Based on the DNA evidence linking Barron to the crime, and the testimony that tied
Barron and Magana to the scene, a “rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements
of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319.
JURY CHARGE
Barron finally complains that he suffered egregious harm because the jury charge
contained three theories of criminal responsibility as to the murder charge; one theory of criminal
responsibility as to the charge of aggravated robbery of Jose; and two theories of criminal
responsibility as to the charge of robbery of Abiel. Barron argues that the differing number of
theories could have confused the jurors and compromised his right to a unanimous verdict.
In reviewing a claim of charge error, we first determine whether error exists. Druery v.
State, 255 S.W.3d 491, 504 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Hutch v. State, 922 S.W.2d 166, 170 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1996). “If we find error, we must then determine whether the error caused sufficient
harm to require reversal.” Druery, 225 S.W.3d at 504; Hutch, 922 S.W.2d at 171. “[T]he
degree of harm necessary for reversal depends upon whether the error was preserved.” Druery,
225 S.W.3d at 504. Because Barron did not object to the charge, he must demonstrate that he
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suffered actual egregious harm; that is, the error must be so harmful that it affects the “very basis
of the case, deprive[d him] of a valuable right, or vitally affect[ed] a defensive theory.” See
Warner v. State, 245 S.W.3d 458, 461–62 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (internal question marks
omitted). The purpose of this review is to illuminate the actual, not just theoretical, harm to the
accused. Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 750 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); Fulcher v. State, 274
S.W.3d 713, 716 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2008, pet. ref’d). Absent a showing to the contrary,
“we may presume that the jury acted rationally.” Richardson v. State, 879 S.W.2d 874, 882
(Tex. Crim. App. 1993).
Barron does not argue that the jury charge misstated the law, only that the jury could
have mistakenly applied a theory of criminal responsibility applied in Count I for murder in
reading Counts II and III for battery of Jose and Abiel, respectively. However, the jury charge
accurately stated the elements of the crime and the law, including the theories of criminal
responsibility applicable to each count. Moreover, Abiel’s testimony that Barron and Magana
had attacked him and Jose supported submitting the multiple theories of criminal responsibility
to the jury. Though Barron contends that the jury may have been confused, we presume that the
jury acted rationally and followed the jury instruction. See id.; Colburn v. State, 966 S.W.2d
511, 520 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). Finally, the jury instructions were clear in applying the
different theories of criminal responsibility to each charged offense, and the jury returned a
separate guilty verdict for each charged offense. Accordingly, we overrule this issue.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Rebecca Simmons, Justice
DO NOT PUBLISH
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