Joemar Jackson v. State ( 2010 )

COURT OF APPEALS
SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH
NO. 2-09-023-CR
JOEMAR JACKSON APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS STATE
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FROM CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO. 3 OF TARRANT COUNTY
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MEMORANDUM OPINION 1
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I. INTRODUCTION
Appellant Joemar Jackson appeals his conviction for capital murder. In six
issues, Jackson argues that the trial court erred by denying his Batson challenge,
by overruling his objections to the State’s closing argument, by refusing to grant a
mistrial based on inadmissible hearsay, by overruling his objection to later hearsay,
1
 See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
and by not including an accomplice-witness instruction in the jury charge. W e will
affirm.
II. F ACTUAL AND P ROCEDURAL B ACKGROUND
Eric W itt was a drug dealer in the Como area of Fort W orth. He was at his
home one evening with his friend Kretearria Porter when Jackson came over,
purchased some drugs from W itt, and left. Another man showed up to buy drugs
after Jackson left. As the man was leaving W itt’s house, two men carrying guns
forced their way inside. The first man carried a black gun, and the second man
carried a silver gun; both men had bandanas covering their faces below their eyes.
The first man shot W itt in the hand as he was trying to shut the door on the men, and
W itt fell to the ground.
One of the men ordered Porter to lay on the floor. The man with the silver gun
asked W itt, “E, where’s the dope at?” W itt told him it was in a cracker box in the
kitchen. One of the men searched W itt’s pockets as he lay on the floor. The man
with the black gun stood over W itt and shot W itt in the back of the head as they were
leaving. The two men left, and the man who had just purchased drugs fled out the
front door after them. W itt died from the gunshot wound to his head.
Police eventually arrested James Phillips, Kenneth Francis, Nathaniel
Baldwin, and Jackson in connection with W itt’s murder. Francis admitted to
participating in the robbery, and he told detectives that Jackson was the robber who
2
shot W itt. Phillips also admitted to participating in the robbery and told detectives
that Jackson was the shooter.
At Jackson’s trial, Francis testified that Phillips, Baldwin, and Jackson had
planned to rob W itt and that Francis’s role was to go to W itt’s house to buy drugs so
that he could determine how many people were inside W itt’s house. By the time
Francis got to W itt’s house, Phillips and Jackson were already inside; Francis saw
W itt and Porter laying on the floor, Phillips standing over W itt with a chrome gun,
and Jackson in the kitchen with a black gun. W itt was pleading for them not to kill
him and was saying, “It’s in the box. It’s in the box.” Francis ran back to his car and
heard a gunshot. Sometime after the robbery, Francis saw Jackson and asked him
why he had shot W itt. Jackson told him, “W hen I shot E, [Phillips] threw up.”
Francis testified that he had agreed to testify for the State in exchange for an eight-
year sentence for conspiracy to commit robbery.
Phillips testified that on the day of W itt’s murder, Baldwin had showed up at
his house and had told him, “Let’s go get this money.” Phillips did not know exactly
what he was talking about, but he knew that Baldwin was asking if he wanted to go
rob someone. Phillips got in the car with Baldwin, Jackson, and Francis and learned
that they planned to rob W itt. Phillips testified that Baldwin’s role in the robbery was
“[j]ust getting the door open.” According to Phillips, Baldwin approached W itt’s
house first under the guise of purchasing drugs, and while Baldwin was inside,
Jackson “bust[ed] up in there.” Phillips said that he and Francis were still outside
3
when they heard a gunshot. Phillips went inside and saw that W itt had been shot
in the hand. Phillips started grabbing money and drugs. He was carrying a chrome-
plated revolver. He testified that he ran to his mother’s house after the robbery and
threw up at her house from running so hard. Phillips explained that he had agreed
to testify for the State in exchange for a twenty-five-year sentence for capital murder.
LaTonia Clark testified that Francis was her boyfriend when W itt was
murdered. On the night of W itt’s murder, Clark heard Phillips tell Francis that he
wanted to rob W itt because he and Jackson had seen “a lot of money or drugs” at
W itt’s house. Later that night, Francis was taking a bath when he told Clark about
the robbery. He was crying, and he told Clark that Jackson had shot W itt in the back
of the head and that Phillips had thrown up in W itt’s house.
Lee Hall testified that he lives in Como and knows Jackson, Phillips, Francis,
and Baldwin. After Witt’s murder, Hall overheard a conversation between Jackson
and a man who lives next door to Hall’s grandmother. Jackson was talking about
Phillips and said, “I hope the boy can hold water. I ain’t never did no crime. I ain’t
never did no dirt with him. I just hope he don’t snitch on me.” Hall explained that
when Jackson said he “ain’t never did no dirt with [Phillips],” Jackson meant that he
had never committed a crime with Phillips. Hall also overheard Jackson tell the man,
“Man, I should have murked [Phillips],” which is a street term for murder.
Donald Coleman testified that he had a sexual relationship with Phillips at the
time of W itt’s murder and that Phillips had told him that Phillips, Jackson, and
4
Francis robbed “the dope man.” Coleman testified that Phillips had told him that
Jackson shot W itt during the robbery.
Marquies Amos testified that he knows Phillips, Francis, Baldwin, and Jackson
and that he had known W itt. Amos said that Phillips had told him that Jackson shot
W itt during the robbery. Amos also testified that Jackson confessed to him that he
had shot W itt because, during the robbery, Phillips was calling Jackson by his name
in front of W itt and because W itt was telling Jackson, “I know where y’all live.” Amos
agreed to testify for the State in exchange for a plea agreement with his brother
regarding unrelated charges.
The jury convicted Jackson of capital murder. Acknowledging that the State
had waived the death penalty, the trial court sentenced Jackson to life in prison.
III. B ATSON C HALLENGE
In his first issue, Jackson argues that the trial court erred by overruling his
Batson challenge regarding the State’s use of a peremptory strike on veniremember
3, who was African-American. Jackson asserts that the State’s proffered race-
neutral reason for striking veniremember 3 was a pretext for racial discrimination.
Jackson is African-American.
A. Law on Batson Challenges
The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United
States Constitution prohibits race-based jury selection. U.S. Const. amend. XIV;
Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 89, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 1719 (1986); Jasper v. State,
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61 S.W .3d 413, 421 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art.
35.261(a) (Vernon 2006). In the face of perceived purposeful discrimination, the
defendant may request a Batson hearing to address the challenge. See Tex. Code
Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 35.261(a).
Trial courts follow a three-step process when resolving Batson challenges.
Snyder v. Louisiana, 552 U.S. 472, 476, 128 S. Ct. 1203, 1207 (2008); Young v.
State, 283 S.W .3d 854, 866 (Tex. Crim. App.), cert. denied, 130 S. Ct. 1015 (2009).
First, the defense must make a prima facie case of racial discrimination. Snyder,
552 U.S. at 476, 128 S. Ct. at 1207; Watkins v. State, 245 S.W .3d 444, 447 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2008), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 92 (2008). Second, if the prima facie
showing has been made, the burden of production shifts to the State to articulate a
race-neutral reason for its strike. Snyder, 552 U.S. at 476, 128 S. Ct. at 1207;
Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 447. Third, if the State tenders a race-neutral explanation,
the trial court must then decide whether the defendant has proved purposeful racial
discrimination. Snyder, 552 U.S. at 476, 128 S. Ct. at 1207; W atkins, 245 S.W .3d
at 447.
The step-two explanation need only be race neutral on its face. Purkett v.
Elem, 514 U.S. 765, 767–68, 115 S. Ct. 1769, 1771 (1995); Watkins, 245 S.W .3d
at 447. The ultimate plausibility of that race-neutral explanation is to be considered
as part of the third step of the analysis, in which the trial court determines whether
the defendant has satisfied his burden of persuasion to prove that the strike was
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indeed the product of the State’s purposeful discrimination. Purkett, 514 U.S. at 768,
115 S. Ct. at 1771; Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 447. Throughout the challenge, the
burden of persuasion remains with the defendant. Purkett, 514 U.S. at 768, 115 S.
Ct. at 1771; Ford v. State, 1 S.W .3d 691, 693 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). The
defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the allegations of
purposeful discrimination were true in fact and that the prosecutor’s reasons were
merely a sham or pretext. Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 451–52.
B. Standard of Review
On appeal, a trial court’s ruling on the issue of discriminatory intent must be
sustained unless it is clearly erroneous. Snyder, 552 U.S. at 477, 128 S. Ct. at
1207; Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 448. Appellate courts must give great deference to
credibility and demeanor determinations made by the trial court in connection with
a Batson inquiry. Snyder, 552 U.S. at 477, 128 S. Ct. at 1208. The court of criminal
appeals has explained our review of a Batson ruling as follows,
In assaying the record for clear error, vel non, the reviewing court
should consider the entire record of voir dire; it need not limit itself to
arguments or considerations that the parties specifically called to the
trial court’s attention so long as those arguments or considerations are
manifestly grounded in the appellate record. But a reviewing court
should examine a trial court’s conclusion that a facially race-neutral
explanation for a peremptory challenge is genuine, rather than a
pretext, with great deference, reversing only when that conclusion is,
in view of the record as a whole, clearly erroneous.
Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 448 (citations omitted).
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W hen determining whether a race-neutral explanation was a pretext for
purposeful discrimination, we examine whether comparative evidence demonstrates
disparate treatment of minority veniremembers. See Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S.
231, 241, 125 S. Ct. 2317, 2325 (2005). If a prosecutor’s race-neutral reason for
striking a minority veniremember applies equally to an otherwise similar non-minority
veniremember whom the prosecutor does not challenge, this may be evidence that
the race-neutral reason is a pretext for purposeful discrimination. See id.
W e cannot, however, automatically impute disparate treatment in every case
in which a reason for striking a minority veniremember also technically applies to a
non-minority veniremember whom the prosecutor found acceptable. See Cantu v.
State, 842 S.W .2d 667, 689 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992), cert. denied, 509 U.S. 926
(1993). The decision to strike a particular potential juror is not susceptible to rigid
qualification. Id. W e must also look to the entire record to determine if, despite a
similarity, there are any significant differences between the characteristics and
responses of the veniremembers that would, under the facts of the case, justify the
prosecutor treating them differently as potential members of the jury. See Miller-El,
545 U.S. at 247, 125 S. Ct. at 2329.
In Miller-El, the Supreme Court “considered the combined impact of a number
of factors in concluding that, by clear and convincing evidence, the prosecutors
exercised two peremptory challenges on a racially discriminatory basis,
notwithstanding the race-neutral explanations they offered at the Batson hearing.”
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Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 448 (citing Miller-El, 545 U.S. at 266, 125 S. Ct. at 2317).
Those factors included (1) that the State had struck a higher percentage of
African-Americans than non-African-Americans, (2) that the State’s reasons for
striking African-American jurors appeared to apply equally to non-African-American
jurors whom the State did not strike, (3) that the State had used jury shuffles in a
manner that supported an inference of racial discrimination, (4) that the State had
questioned African-American and non-African-American jurors differently and in a
way designed to obtain answers justifying strikes of African-American jurors, and (5)
that the county in which Miller-El was prosecuted had a formal policy of excluding
minority jurors from service. Miller-El, 545 U.S. at 240–64, 125 S. Ct. at 2325–39;
see Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 448–49.
C. Batson Hearing
After the State exercised its strikes to the venire panel, Jackson’s trial counsel
raised a Batson challenge, arguing that the State had stricken the remaining three
African-Americans from the venire panel. Although the record does not demonstrate
the race of the veniremembers, we glean from the parties’ arguments in the record
and on appeal that five veniremembers were African-American; one was stricken for
cause by agreement, one was stricken by Jackson because he was a Fort W orth
police officer, and the remaining three—veniremembers 3, 4, and 14—were stricken
9
by the State. 2 The trial court asked for the State’s reasons for striking
veniremembers 3, 4, and 14.
The State explained that it struck veniremember 3 because “she did not like
the law of parties with regard to the non-shooter in a capital murder case, and that’s
very possibly an issue in this case.” The State explained that it struck veniremember
4 because she had written on her juror questionnaire that her brother is a drug
dealer and because, during voir dire, she had agreed that the justice system is
“sometimes” flawed and unfair and that she has felt isolated in the past. 3 Finally, the
State said it struck veniremember 14 because he had failed to disclose his prior
arrest for credit card abuse and because he had stated in his jury questionnaire that
he had several children but also that he was single.
The trial court found that the State had provided race-neutral reasons for
striking veniremembers 3, 4, and 14, and it denied Jackson’s Batson challenge.
On appeal, Jackson challenges only the trial court’s denial of his Batson
challenge regarding veniremember 3, claiming that the State did not strike another
veniremember who was not African-American and who also expressed a similar
opinion about the law of parties. Jackson does not complain of the State’s
peremptory strikes of veniremembers 4 and 14 other than to assert that those strikes
2
 There is some dispute in the record about whether a fourth veniremember,
who ultimately sat on the jury, was Hispanic or African-American.
3
 The State noted its belief that one of Jackson’s defense theories at trial
would be his isolation from the Como community.
10
show that the State exercised peremptory strikes disproportionally against African-
American veniremembers. 4
D. Disproportionate Strikes Analysis
W e initially note that the State used a disproportionate number of its
peremptory strikes to exclude three of the four remaining African-American
veniremembers the jury. Of the thirty-two veniremembers within the strike zone,
four, or 12.5%, were African-Americans. The State used three, or 30%, of its ten
peremptory challenges to strike 75% of the African-Americans on the venire panel.
See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 35.15(b) (providing for ten peremptory
challenges in non-death penalty capital cases). Thus, the State used a statistically-
disproportionate number of strikes on African-American veniremembers. See
Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 451 (noting that use of 55% of peremptory strikes to exclude
88% of black veniremembers was clearly disproportionate); Leadon v. State, Nos.
01-08-00839-CR, 01-08-00840-CR, 2010 W L 143467, at *11 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] Jan. 14, 2010, no pet. h.) (holding State’s use of 36.36% of strikes on 80%
of black veniremembers was statistically disproportionate).
The disproportionality in the use of strikes may “support the appellant’s
ultimate burden of persuasion that the State’s proffered race-neutral explanations
4
 Jackson’s attorney explained during oral argument that he was not
challenging the State’s reasons for striking veniremembers 4 and 14, but he included
in his brief an analysis of the State’s stated reasoning for striking them to show
discriminatory intent in striking veniremember 3.
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are a sham.” Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 452. But, as the United States Supreme
Court in Miller-El noted, a comparative analysis is “more powerful” than “bare
statistics,” and thus, we consider the State’s proffered reason for striking
veniremember 3. See Miller-El, 545 U.S. at 241, 125 S. Ct. at 2325.
E. Comparative Juror Analysis of Veniremember 3
During voir dire, as the State was questioning the venire panel about the law
of parties, the following exchange took place between the State and veniremember
3:
[State]: Okay. You think it would be unfair to charge Bill with capital
murder if I’m the shooter at the bank, right?
[Veniremember 3]: Yes.
[State]: And just like I asked Mr. Hess the same question, would you
have trouble following that part of the law if you’re on the jury?
[Veniremember 3]: No, I don’t have no trouble following.
[State]: But you disagree with it?
[Veniremember 3]: Yeah, I disagree with it, but I ain’t heard the case.
[State]: Okay. W ell, sure you haven’t heard the facts, and I’m just
talking about the hypothetical I told you about, okay?
[Veniremember 3]: Uh-huh.
[State]: And that is the law. Someone who’s not the shooter in a capital
murder, they can certainly be charged and found guilty, under the law,
of capital murder, okay?
So you’re—but you’re saying . . . you disagree with that law,
right?
[Veniremember 3]: Yeah, I do.
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[State]: So you would have trouble following it if you were on the jury,
right?
[Veniremember 3]: Yeah, I guess I would.
[State]: W ell, let me ask you—I’ve got to pin you down—would you or
would you not?
[Veniremember 3]: I would.
Jackson argues that the State treated veniremember 3 differently than a non-
African-American on the panel, veniremember 21, because she also indicated that
she could not agree with the law of parties but was ultimately seated on the jury.
Jackson argues that the State “talked [veniremember 3] into saying she would have
trouble” following the law but “had no trouble” accepting veniremember 21's
assurance that she could follow the law. But unlike veniremember 3, veniremember
21 never indicated that she did not agree with the law of parties. 5 Thus, the State’s
reason for striking veniremember 3 did not apply to veniremember 21, and we
cannot say that the State’s persistent questioning of veniremember 3—after she had
stated that she disagreed with the law of parties—was designed to evoke a certain
response not elicited from veniremember 21. See Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 449,
453–54 (citing Miller-El, 545 U.S. at 255–63, 125 S. Ct. at 2317).
5
 Jackson appears to argue that veniremember 21 raised her hand when the
State asked the entire panel if anyone disagreed with the law of parties, but the
record shows only that veniremembers 3, 13, 46, and 60 raised their hands.
Veniremembers 46 and 60 were not within the strike zone and did not sit on the jury.
The only other veniremember who expressed disagreement with the law of parties
and who was within the strike zone was questioned extensively on his opinion,
ultimately agreed that he could follow the law, but did not sit on the jury for reasons
not revealed by the record.
13
Moreover, the State’s explanation for striking veniremember 3 went
unchallenged during the Batson hearing. Once the State proffered its race-neutral
reason for striking veniremember 3, Jackson bore the burden to convince the trial
court that the State’s reason was not race-neutral. See Ford, 1 S.W .3d at 693; see
also Johnson v. State, 68 S.W .3d 644, 649 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (“[A] party’s
failure to offer any real rebuttal to a proffered race neutral explanation can be fatal
to his claim.”). Jackson did not cross-examine the State about the strike or offer any
rebuttal or impeachment evidence tending to show that the State’s reason was
pretextual.6
For these reasons, we cannot say that the State’s reason for striking
veniremember 3 applied equally to veniremember 21 or was pretextual. See
Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 453–54; Leadon, 2010 W L 143467, at *14–15.
F. Remaining Strikes on African-Americans
W e will also examine the State’s reasons for striking veniremembers 4 and 14
to determine whether those reasons provide evidence of the State’s discriminatory
intent. See Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 448–49 (citing Miller-El, 545 U.S. at 241–52,
125 S. Ct. at 2317). The State said that it had struck veniremember 4 because her
brother is a drug dealer, and her jury questionnaire shows that she in fact indicated
that her brother had been arrested for selling drugs. Having a family member who
6
 W hen the trial court asked if defense counsel had any comment to the
State’s proffered reasons, defense counsel responded only that he was concerned
with the State’s reasoning for veniremember 4.
14
has been arrested or convicted is a race-neutral reason for striking a veniremember,
and consequently, the State provided a race-neutral reason for striking
veniremember 4. See Simpson v. State, 119 S.W .3d 262, 267–68 (Tex. Crim. App.
2003), cert. denied, 542 U.S. 905 (2004).
Jackson argues that the State did not strike other veniremembers who had
family or close friends with prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, but drugs
and dealing drugs were at issue in this case, not driving while intoxicated, and the
State noted in its reasoning that Jackson’s case involved many drug dealers. See
Beasley v. State, 838 S.W .2d 695, 700 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1992, pet. ref’d) (holding
prosecutor’s reasons for striking potential jurors who had family members involved
with drugs was race-neutral where appellant’s case was drug-related), cert. denied,
114 S. Ct. 451 (1993). The State also reasoned that it struck veniremember 4
because she believed that the justice system is flawed; specifically, veniremember
4 commented, “[P]eople have done some things and gotten off.” Jackson argues on
appeal that veniremember 4's statement was actually a bias in favor of the State, but
“the State may legitimately strike prospective jurors who appear to be unfavorable
to the defense in ways that call into question their impartiality.” Johnson, 68 S.W .3d
at 650. Thus, the trial court could have reasonably found that the State did not have
a discriminatory intent when it struck veniremember 4. See Snyder, 552 U.S. at 477,
128 S. Ct. at 1207; Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 448.
15
Regarding veniremember 14, Jackson admits that veniremember 14’s failure
to disclose his prior criminal history “may well be a race neutral reason for striking
him” but argues that the State’s second reason—that veniremember 14 has children
but is single—is not an appropriate reason to strike him. Regardless of the State’s
second reason, failure to disclose information during voir dire and personal
involvement with the criminal justice system are race-neutral reasons to challenge
a potential juror. See Perry v. State, 770 S.W .2d 950, 952–53 (Tex. App.—Fort
W orth 1989, no pet.); see also Holman v. State, 772 S.W .2d 530, 533 (Tex.
App.—Beaumont 1989, no pet.) (dismissing appellant’s argument regarding one of
State’s reasons to strike potential jurors because failure to reveal criminal histories
was State’s “main or central reason” for exercising strikes). Thus, the trial court
could have reasonably found that the State did not have a discriminatory intent when
it struck veniremember 14. See Snyder, 552 U.S. at 477, 128 S. Ct. at 1207;
Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 448.
G. Trial Court Not Clearly Erroneous
Reviewing the record as a whole and applying, as we must, great deference
to the trial court’s ruling, we cannot say that the trial court was clearly erroneous in
overruling Jackson’s Batson challenge. See Watkins, 245 S.W .3d at 448. Although
the statistical analysis demonstrates that the State used a disproportionate number
of peremptory strikes on African-Americans, our comparative analysis of
veniremember 3 demonstrates that the State’s reason for striking her was not
16
pretexual, and our analysis of the State’s remaining strikes on African-American
veniremembers does not demonstrate discriminatory intent. See id. at 448, 453–54.
Accordingly, we overrule Jackson’s first issue.
IV. J URY ARGUMENT
In his second and third issues, Jackson argues that the State twice
commented on his failure to testify during its closing argument at the guilt-innocence
stage of trial and that the trial court erred by overruling both of his objections to the
comments. Jackson claims that this error violated his state and federal constitutional
rights against self-incrimination and article 38.08 of the code of criminal procedure.
See U.S. Const. amend V; Tex. Const. art. I, § 10; Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art.
38.08 (Vernon 2005).
A. The Complained-Of Comments
During its closing arguments, the State argued that Jackson’s alibi witnesses
had lied on the witness stand. The State then stated,
And [Jackson’s alibi witnesses] testified that [Jackson] was with
them after [six] o’clock all night long. That’s what the testimony was.
But the defendant didn’t know that we knew he went back to the
scene, so he had to shift gears a little bit. And now all of a sudden, he
went back to the scene. Yes, he admits he was there. “I was there, but
if I was there”—
Jackson objected that this was an improper comment on his failure to testify, to
which the State replied, “Defense counsel, Your Honor, is who I’m referring to.” The
trial court overruled the objection. The State continued, “This is what it comes down
17
to. You heard the testimony on Friday. You know they were lying, okay? And if he’s
going to get them to come here and lie to you, it’s because he is guilty of the
offense.”
Later in its closing argument, the State argued,
And their defense theory about Como turning [Jackson] in was
shot out of the water on day two. And now Friday afternoon to Monday
morning, the alibi witnesses that we called up here were shot out of the
water. That is not true.
If he was going to lie to you about that, then he’s guilty of capital
murder.
Jackson again objected that this was a comment on his failure to testify, and the trial
court overruled his objection.
B. Law on Comment on Failure to Testify
A comment on an accused’s failure to testify violates the accused’s state and
federal constitutional privileges against self-incrimination. Moore v. State, 849
S.W .2d 350, 351 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993); Smith v. State, 65 S.W .3d 332, 339 (Tex.
App.—W aco 2001, no pet.). In addition, the code of criminal procedure provides that
a defendant’s failure to testify on his own behalf may not be held against him and
that counsel may not allude to the defendant’s failure to testify. Tex. Code Crim.
Proc. Ann. art. 38.08.
To determine whether a comment violates a defendant’s right against
self-incrimination or article 38.08, we must decide whether the language used was
manifestly intended or was of such a character that the jury naturally and necessarily
18
would have considered it to be a comment on the defendant’s failure to testify. See
Bustamante v. State, 48 S.W .3d 761, 765 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Fuentes v. State,
991 S.W .2d 267, 275 (Tex. Crim. App.), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1026 (1999). The
offending language must be viewed from the jury’s standpoint, and the implication
that the comment referred to the accused’s failure to testify must be clear.
Bustamante, 48 S.W .3d at 765; Swallow v. State, 829 S.W .2d 223, 225 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1992). A mere indirect or implied allusion to the defendant’s failure to testify
does not violate the accused’s right to remain silent. Wead v. State, 129 S.W .3d
126, 130 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004); Patrick v. State, 906 S.W .2d 481, 490–91 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1995), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1106 (1996). A statement referencing
evidence that can come only from the defendant is, however, a direct comment on
the defendant’s failure to testify. Goff v. State, 931 S.W .2d 537, 548 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1996), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1171 (1997); Madden v. State, 799 S.W .2d 683,
700 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 954 (1991).
C. State Did Not Comment on Jackson’s Failure to Testify
In the instant case, a review of Jackson’s defensive theory and closing
argument provides some insight into the complained-of comments made by the
State in its closing argument. At trial, Jackson called Brandi Hawkins and Andre
Hawkins to testify on his behalf. Brandi is the mother of Jackson’s girlfriend, and
Andre is the brother of Jackson’s girlfriend. Both testified that Jackson was at their
house the entire evening of W itt’s murder and that Jackson had slept there that
19
night. On cross-examination, Brandi admitted that Jackson had sent her a
handwritten affidavit to sign, stating that Jackson was at her house on the night of
W itt’s murder. In rebuttal, the State called two witnesses to testify that they had
seen Jackson in the crowd of bystanders at W itt’s house after W itt’s murder,
contradicting Brandi’s and Andre’s testimony. During defense counsel’s closing
argument, he addressed the State’s rebuttal and said that Brandi Hawkins’s
testimony was discredited. He argued,
But I’m not going to stand in front of you and argue that Joemar
Jackson didn’t go to [W itt’s] house. I believe he did.
But if he went to the house, his interest in this is no different than
the interest of everybody else at the house about what happened.
W hen the State commented later in its closing argument that Jackson “admits
he was there [at W itt’s house after the murder]. ‘I was there, but if I was there,’” the
State was clearly addressing defense counsel’s closing argument, not any failure to
testify on Jackson’s part. 7 The State’s comment was also addressing Jackson’s
defensive theory and the impeachment of his alibi witnesses. This same reasoning
applies to the second complained-of argument—that Jackson had lied about his alibi
7
 Jackson emphasizes the State’s use of the word “I,” but “[w]hat determines
the impermissibility of a reference to the defendant’s failure to testify is not the use
of ‘I’ or ‘he’ or ‘she’ or any other word, but rather the entirety of the prosecutor’s
statements, taken in the context in which the words were used and heard by the
jury.” Cruz v. State, 225 S.W .3d 546, 549 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); but see Cherry
v. State, 507 S.W .2d 549, 550 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974) (“[W ]hen the word ‘I’ is used
in reference to something the defendant might have testified to, but did not, it is
illogical to think that the jury is not reminded of the defendant’s failure to testify.”).
20
defense. The State was summarizing the evidence and addressing testimony from
Jackson’s alibi witnesses and the fact that Jackson had written affidavits for them to
sign, stating that he was with them on the night of W itt’s murder. See Felder v.
State, 848 S.W .2d 85, 94–95 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (noting that proper jury
argument includes summations of evidence, reasonable deductions from evidence,
and answers to argument of opposing counsel), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 829 (1993).
Viewing the State’s comments from the jury’s standpoint, we hold that the
complained-of comments did not naturally and necessarily refer to Jackson’s failure
to testify; rather, they were proper comments on Jackson’s defensive theory and
testimony from his alibi witnesses and were answers to defense counsel’s
arguments. See Bustamante, 48 S.W .3d at 765; Smith, 65 S.W .3d at 339 (holding
that State’s comments were critiques of the amount of evidence defendant put forth
on his defensive theory, not comments on failure to testify); see also McKay v. State,
707 S.W .2d 23, 37 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (concluding prosecutor’s statement that
“there is no evidence to that effect” and “there is no evidence of any phantom [killer]”
was not improper reference to defendant’s failure to testify but was invited by
counsel’s argument that someone else had committed the murder), cert. denied, 479
U.S. 871 (1986); Edmond v. State, 566 S.W .2d 609, 611 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel
Op.] 1978) (construing prosecutor’s closing argument as proper comment on
appellant’s defensive theory). The complained-of comments were not manifestly
intended or of such a character that the jury naturally and necessarily would have
21
considered them to be comments on Jackson’s failure to testify. See Bustamante,
48 S.W .3d at 765; Fuentes, 991 S.W .2d at 275.
D. Alternatively, Any Error Was Harmless
Alternatively, even assuming the State’s arguments were comments on
Jackson’s failure to testify, we conclude any error in the trial court’s overruling
Jackson’s objections was harmless. See Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(a); see Wimbrey v.
State, 106 S.W .3d 190, 192 (Tex. App.—Fort W orth 2003, pet. ref’d). Under Texas
Rule of Appellate Procedure 44.2(a), upon determining constitutional error exists, we
should reverse unless we determine beyond a reasonable doubt that the error did
not contribute to the defendant’s conviction or punishment. Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(a).
Our primary inquiry is what effect the error had, or reasonably may have had, on the
jury’s decision. Wimbrey, 106 S.W .3d at 193. “W e consider the source and nature
of the error, the extent that it was emphasized by the State, its probable collateral
implications, the weight a juror would probably place on the error, and whether
declaring it harmless would likely encourage the State to repeat it with impunity.”
Harris v. State, 790 S.W .2d 568, 587 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989).
As we explained above, a review of the State’s entire argument, Jackson’s
closing argument, and Jackson’s defensive theories reveals that the State was
referring to testimony elicited from Jackson’s alibi witnesses and defense counsel’s
closing argument. Our neutral, impartial review of the record further demonstrates
that the comment was a small part of the State’s argument and was not emphasized
22
or mentioned again and that the jury likely did not attribute much, if any, weight to
the error. See id. Although the trial court overruled Jackson’s objections, the court
read its charge to the jury prior to closing arguments. The charge included an
instruction not to consider Jackson’s failure to testify, and the jury is presumed to
follow this instruction. See Colburn v. State, 966 S.W .2d 511, 520 (Tex. Crim. App.
1998).
After carefully reviewing the record and performing the harm analysis required
under rule 44.2(a), we alternatively hold that if the trial court erred by overruling
Jackson’s objection to the State’s comments at issue, then beyond a reasonable
doubt, such error did not contribute to Jackson’s conviction or punishment. See Tex.
R. App. P. 44.2(a). W e overrule Jackson’s second and third issues.
V. H EARSAY S TATEMENTS
In his fourth and fifth issues, Jackson complains of hearsay statements made
by Clark at trial. W e will address each of his complaints separately below.
A. Clark’s Testimony
Clark testified that, on the night of W itt’s murder, she and Francis were in a
car together, that she could tell something was wrong with him, and that she had
asked Francis what had happened. The State then asked Clark, “W hat did he tell
you?” Defense counsel raised a hearsay objection, and after a discussion off the
record, defense counsel withdrew his objection. Clark then testified, “He said, ‘I
didn’t do it. [Jackson] did it.’” Outside the jury’s presence, defense counsel
23
explained that he had withdrawn the objection because the State had told him that
Clark’s answer would be that Francis did not tell her anything. The State agreed to
withdraw the question. W hen the jury returned, the trial court instructed it to
disregard the State’s last question and Clark’s answer. The trial court denied
Jackson’s request for a mistrial.
The State then asked Clark about a conversation she had with Francis while
he was taking a bath the night of W itt’s murder. She testified, over Jackson’s
running hearsay objection, that Francis had told her that after he, Phillips, Baldwin,
and Jackson robbed W itt, Jackson shot W itt in the back of the head. Clark
explained that Francis was crying “[a] lot” while telling her about the robbery.
B. Motion for Mistrial
In his fourth issue, Jackson argues that the trial court erred by refusing to
grant a mistrial after Clark testified that Francis “said, ‘I didn’t do it. [Jackson] did it.’”
W e review whether the trial court erred in denying a motion for mistrial under
an abuse of discretion standard. Ladd v. State, 3 S.W .3d 547, 567 (Tex. Crim. App.
1999), cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1070 (2000). A trial court does not abuse its discretion
when its decision is within the zone of reasonable disagreement. Montgomery v.
State, 810 S.W .2d 372, 391 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (op. on reh’g). Absent an abuse
of discretion, we do not reverse a trial court’s denial of a mistrial. Ladd, 3 S.W .3d
at 567.
24
Granting a mistrial is an extreme remedy for curing prejudice that occurs
during a trial. Ocon v. State, 284 S.W .3d 880, 884 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). A
mistrial is required only when the improper evidence or testimony is “clearly
calculated to inflame the minds of the jury and is of such a character as to suggest
the impossibility of withdrawing the impression produced on the minds of the jury.”
Hinojosa v. State, 4 S.W .3d 240, 253 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). A trial court should
grant a mistrial only when it is apparent that an objectionable event at trial is so
emotionally inflammatory that curative instructions are not likely to prevent the jury
from being unfairly prejudiced against the defendant. Bauder v. State, 921 S.W .2d
696, 698 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996), overruled on other grounds by Ex parte Lewis, 219
S.W .3d 335 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Ordinarily, a prompt instruction to disregard will
cure any prejudicial effect associated with improper testimony. Ovalle v. State, 13
S.W .3d 774, 783 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). A reviewing court should presume the jury
followed the trial court’s instructions to disregard improper testimony. Colburn, 966
S.W .2d at 520.
In this case, by the time that Clark testified about what Francis had said in the
car, the jury had already heard Francis testify that Jackson was the shooter and that
Francis had told Clark what had happened, as well as Hall’s testimony that Jackson
had admitted to shooting W itt. Thus, the harm from Clark’s testimony was
attenuated by the fact that the jury had already twice heard essentially the same
evidence. See Anderson v. State, 717 S.W .2d 622, 628 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986)
25
(“Inadmissible evidence can be rendered harmless if other evidence at trial . . .
proves the same fact that the inadmissible evidence sought to prove.”); Couchman
v. State, 3 S.W .3d 155, 160–61 (Tex. App.—Fort W orth 1999, pet. ref’d). Moreover,
in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we presume that the jury followed the trial
court’s instructions to disregard Clark’s testimony. See Colburn, 966 S.W .2d at 520.
The testimony at issue was not so emotionally inflammatory that the trial court’s
curative instruction did not prevent the jury from being unfairly prejudiced against
Jackson. See Bauder, 921 S.W .2d at 698. Thus, we hold that the trial court did not
abuse its discretion when it denied Jackson’s motion for mistrial, and we overrule
Jackson’s fourth issue. See Ladd, 3 S.W .3d at 567; Montgomery, 810 S.W .2d at
391.
C. Objection to Further Hearsay
In his fifth issue, Jackson argues that the trial court erred by overruling his
hearsay objection after Clark testified that, while Francis was taking a bath, he had
told her that Jackson had shot W itt. The State argues that the statement was
admissible as an excited utterance and that, alternatively, any error was harmless.
W e need not decide whether this testimony was admissible as an excited
utterance because, even assuming error, any error was harmless. Erroneously
admitted evidence is a violation of evidentiary rules and thus non-constitutional error.
See King v. State, 953 S.W .2d 266, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). W e apply rule
44.2(b) and disregard the alleged error if it did not affect Jackson’s substantial rights.
26
Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(b); see Mosley v. State, 983 S.W .2d 249, 259 (Tex. Crim. App.
1998) (op. on reh’g), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1070 (1999); Coggeshall v. State, 961
S.W .2d 639, 642–43 (Tex. App.—Fort W orth 1998, pet. ref’d). In applying the
“harmless error” test, our primary question is whether there is a “reasonable
possibility” that the error might have contributed to the conviction. Mosley, 983
S.W .2d at 259.
As we noted above, an error in the admission of a hearsay statement is
harmless if other unobjected-to evidence is admitted at trial that proves the same
fact. Mayes v. State, 816 S.W .2d 79, 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Anderson, 717
S.W .2d at 628; Franks v. State, 90 S.W .3d 771, 805 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002,
no pet.); Matz v. State, 21 S.W .3d 911, 912–13 (Tex. App.—Fort W orth 2000, pet.
ref’d); Couchman, 3 S.W .3d at 160–61. Thus, Francis’s unobjected-to testimony that
Jackson was the shooter and that Francis had told Clark what had happened,
Phillips’s unobjected-to testimony that Jackson was the shooter, and Hall’s and
Amos’s unobjected-to testimony that Jackson had admitted to being the shooter
rendered harmless any error in admitting Clark’s testimony. See Tex. R. App. P.
44.2(b); see Mosley, 983 S.W .2d at 259. W e overrule Jackson’s fifth issue.
VI. J URY C HARGE
In his sixth issue, Jackson argues that the trial court erred by failing to include
an accomplice-witness instruction in the jury charge. Jackson acknowledges that
his defense counsel did not object to the exclusion of the accomplice-witness
27
instruction, but he argues that he suffered egregious harm as a result of the trial
court’s error.
A. Standard of Review
Appellate review of error in a jury charge involves a two-step process. Abdnor
v. State, 871 S.W .2d 726, 731 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); see Sakil v. State, 287
S.W .3d 23, 25–26 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Initially, we must determine whether error
occurred. If it did, we must then evaluate whether sufficient harm resulted from the
error to require reversal. Abdnor, 871 S.W .2d at 731–32.
If there is error in the court’s charge but the appellant did not preserve it at
trial, we must decide whether the error was so egregious and created such harm that
the appellant did not have a fair and impartial trial—in short, that “egregious harm”
has occurred. Almanza v. State, 686 S.W .2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (op.
on reh’g); see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 36.19 (Vernon 2006); Allen v. State,
253 S.W .3d 260, 264 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); Hutch v. State, 922 S.W .2d 166, 171
(Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Egregious harm is the type and level of harm that affects
the very basis of the case, deprives the defendant of a valuable right, or vitally
affects a defensive theory. Allen, 253 S.W .3d at 264 & n.15; Olivas v. State, 202
S.W .3d 137, 144, 149 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Almanza, 686 S.W .2d at 172.
In making an egregious harm determination, “the actual degree of harm must
be assayed in light of the entire jury charge, the state of the evidence, including the
contested issues and weight of probative evidence, the argument of counsel and any
28
other relevant information revealed by the record of the trial as a whole.” Almanza,
686 S.W .2d at 171; see generally Hutch, 922 S.W .2d at 172–74. The purpose of
this review is to illuminate the actual, not just theoretical, harm to the accused.
Almanza, 686 S.W .2d at 174. Egregious harm is a difficult standard to prove and
must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Ellison v. State, 86 S.W .3d 226, 227
(Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Hutch, 922 S.W .2d at 171.
B. Accomplice-Witness Instruction
Article 38.14 of the code of criminal of procedure provides, “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). A prosecution witness “who is
indicted for a lesser included offense based upon alleged participation in commission
of the greater offense is also an accomplice as a matter of law.” Ex parte Zepeda,
819 S.W .2d 874, 876 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). If a prosecution witness is an
accomplice as a matter of law, the trial court is under a duty to instruct the jury
accordingly, and failure to do so is error. Herron v. State, 86 S.W .3d 621, 631 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2002).
The instruction does not require the jury to be skeptical of accomplice-witness
testimony or to give less weight to such testimony than to other evidence. Id. The
instruction merely informs the jury that it cannot use the accomplice-witness
29
testimony unless some non-accomplice evidence connects the defendant to the
offense. Id.
The test for sufficient corroboration is whether, after excluding the
accomplice’s testimony, other evidence of an incriminating character tends to
connect the defendant with the commission of the offense. Burks v. State, 876
S.W .2d 877, 887 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1114 (1995); Munoz
v. State, 853 S.W .2d 558, 559 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). Corroborating evidence need
not directly connect the defendant to the crime or be sufficient by itself to establish
guilt; instead, the combined weight of the corroborating evidence need only tend to
connect the defendant to the offense. Cathey v. State, 992 S.W .2d 460, 462 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1999), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1082 (2000); McDuff v. State, 939 S.W .2d
607, 613 (Tex. Crim. App.), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 844 (1997). Additionally, the
corroborative evidence may be circumstantial or direct, and the accomplice
testimony need not be corroborated on every element of the offense. Brosky v.
State, 915 S.W .2d 120, 138 (Tex. App.—Fort W orth, pet. ref’d), cert. denied, 519
U.S. 1020 (1996).
Non-accomplice evidence can render harmless a failure to submit an
accomplice-witness instruction by fulfilling the purpose an accomplice-witness
instruction is designed to serve. Herron, 86 S.W .3d at 632. The omission of an
accomplice-witness instruction is generally harmless under the egregious harm
standard unless the corroborating non-accomplice evidence is “‘so unconvincing in
30
fact as to render the State’s overall case for conviction clearly and significantly less
persuasive.’” Id. (quoting Saunders v. State, 817 S.W .2d 688, 692 (Tex. Crim. App.
1991)).
C. No Egregious Harm
Here, Jackson was indicted for and convicted of capital murder for killing W itt
in the course of committing or attempting to commit robbery. See Tex. Penal Code
Ann. § 19.03(a)(2) (Vernon Supp. 2009). Francis testified that he had been charged
with consipiracy to commit robbery for his participation in this crime, and Phillips
testified that he had been charged with capital murder for his participation in the
crime; consequently, they were accomplices as a matter of law, and the trial court
erred by not including the accomplice-witness instruction in the jury charge. See
Zepeda, 819 S.W .2d at 876. W e must consider whether Jackson suffered egregious
harm as a result of this error. See Herron, 86 S.W .3d at 631.
The non-accomplice evidence in this case consisted of (1) Hall’s testimony
that he had overheard Jackson telling a neighbor that he hoped Phillips could “hold
water” and would not “snitch” on him and saying that he should have “murked”
Phillips; (2) Coleman’s testimony that Phillips had told him about the robbery and
that Jackson was the shooter; (3) Amos’s testimony that both Phillips and Jackson
had told him that Jackson was the shooter; (4) Clark’s testimony that she had heard
Phillips tell Francis that he and Jackson saw a lot of drugs and money at W itt’s
house and wanted to rob W itt and that Francis had told her about the robbery and
31
that Jackson shot W itt during the robbery; and (5) Porter’s and W itt’s cousin’s
testimony that they had seen Jackson at the crime scene after W itt’s murder,
contradicting the testimony of Jackson’s alibi witnesses.
Jackson argues that Clark’s and Coleman’s only knowledge of Jackson’s
involvement in the crime came from his accomplices, Phillips and Francis. Jackson
admits that Hall and Amos offered corroborating testimony, but he argues that they
are “individuals of questionable veracity” and that Jackson’s alleged admissions to
Hall and Amos were ambiguous.
Nevertheless, we cannot say that the corroborating (non-accomplice) evidence
was not “so unconvincing in fact as to render the State’s overall case for conviction
clearly and significantly less persuasive.” Herron, 86 S.W .3d at 632 (quoting
Saunders, 817 S.W .2d at 692). The non-accomplice evidence need not prove all the
elements of the alleged offense or directly link Jackson to the commission of the
offense; rather, it is sufficient if it tends to connect him to the offense. See Cathey,
992 S.W .2d at 462; Brosky, 915 S.W .2d at 138. After excluding the accomplice
testimony, we find that the combined weight of the corroborating evidence—even
absent Clark’s and Coleman’s testimony—sufficiently tends to connect Jackson to
the robbery and W itt’s murder. See Cathey, 992 S.W .2d at 462; Brosky, 915 S.W .2d
at 138.
Accordingly, we hold that the trial court’s error in failing to include an
accomplice-witness instruction in the jury charge did not result in egregious harm to
32
Jackson such that he did not have a fair and impartial trial. See Tex. Code Crim.
Proc. Ann. art. 36.19; Allen, 253 S.W .3d at 264; Hutch, 922 S.W .2d at 171; Almanza,
686 S.W .2d at 171. W e overrule Jackson’s sixth issue.
VII. C ONCLUSION
Having overruled Jackson’s six issues, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
PER CURIAM
PANEL: W ALKER, LIVINGSTON, and GARDNER, JJ.
DO NOT PUBLISH
Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)
DELIVERED: April 15, 2010
33