Dale Fulmer v. State , 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 2866 ( 2013 )

Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
OPINION
No. 04-12-00179-CR
Dale FULMER,
Appellant
v.
The STATE of Texas,
Appellee
From the 25th Judicial District Court, Guadalupe County, Texas
Trial Court No. 11-1320-CR
Honorable W.C. Kirkendall, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
Sitting: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice
Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
Delivered and Filed: March 20, 2013
AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED
BACKGROUND
Dale Wayne Fulmer was indicted for the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a child
under the age of fourteen. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.02 (West 2011). The indictment
charged Fulmer with committing two or more acts of sexual abuse against a child younger than
fourteen, namely by aggravated sexual assault and indecency with the child. The indictment did
not specify the county in which the acts occurred. At trial, the jury heard testimony that Fulmer
committed three acts of sexual abuse in Guadalupe County, in January or February of 2011,
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“Marchish” of 2011, and April 13–14, 2011, as well as other acts of sexual abuse in Comal
County in August 2010, Harris County in March 2011, and Hays County on April 13, 2011. The
jury charge only referenced the continuous acts in Guadalupe County. The jury convicted
Fulmer of the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of fourteen and
assessed punishment at life imprisonment.
On appeal, Fulmer raises five issues: (1) the statute under which he was convicted
violates constitutional and statutory requirements of a unanimous jury verdict in felony cases,
and denies him due process and due course of law; (2) the statute prohibiting parole violates state
and federal constitutional equal protection guarantees; (3) the trial court erred in beginning voir
dire outside of Fulmer’s presence; (4) the trial court erred in permitting the jury to consider other
sexual abuse incidents that occurred in counties other than Guadalupe County; and (5) the trial
court erred in its assessment of attorney’s fees.
TEXAS PENAL CODE SECTION 21.02
In his first point of error, Fulmer argues that section 21.02 of the Texas Penal Code
violates the constitutional and statutory requirements of a unanimous jury verdict in felony cases,
and denies him due process and due course of law.
A. Standard of Review
We review the constitutionality of a criminal statute de novo. Byrne v. State, 358 S.W.3d
745, 748 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2011, no pet.). The burden of establishing
unconstitutionality is on the individual challenging the statute. Rodriguez v. State, 93 S.W.3d 60,
69 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). We presume the statute is constitutional and that “the Legislature
has not acted unreasonably or arbitrarily.” Id.; Byrne, 358 S.W.3d at 748.
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B. Requirements for Conviction under Texas Penal Code Section 21.02
To convict a defendant for continuous sexual abuse of a young child, the jury must find
that (1) the defendant committed “two or more acts of sexual abuse” during a period of thirty or
more days; and (2) at the time of each act of sexual abuse, the defendant was “17 years of age or
older and the victim is a child younger than 14 years of age.” See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.
§ 21.02(b)(1)–(2). Acts of sexual abuse include indecency with a child under section 21.11(a)(1)
and aggravated sexual assault under section 22.021. Id. § 21.02(c)(2), (c)(4). Jurors need not
unanimously agree on which specific acts of sexual abuse the defendant committed or the exact
dates those acts were committed. Id. § 21.02(d). “The jury must agree unanimously that the
defendant, during a period that is 30 or more days in duration, committed two or more acts of
sexual abuse.” Id. Accordingly, the jury was instructed that it was to convict if it found beyond
a reasonable doubt that, inter alia, Fulmer committed two or more acts of sexual abuse during
this period.
C. Components of Jury Unanimity Analysis
Jury unanimity analysis consists of two components: (1) statutory construction, and (2)
due process. Jacobsen v. State, 325 S.W.3d 733, 736–37 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010, no pet.).
1. Statutory Construction
Taken together, article five, section thirteen of the Texas Constitution and article 36.29(a)
of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure require a unanimous verdict in felony cases. TEX.
CONST. art. V, § 13; TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 36.29(a) (West 2011). Each juror must
agree the defendant committed each element of the crime, but need not agree on the “‘underlying
brute facts’” that make up the “manner and means” by which the defendant committed the crime.
Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 747, 751 n.49 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (quoting Richardson v.
United States, 526 U.S. 813, 817 (1999)). Thus, under the statutory construction component of
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jury unanimity analysis, the court must determine, “[u]nder the statute as written, what acts are
elements of the offense and what acts are merely underlying facts or means? What, in short, did
the legislature intend for the jury to be unanimous about?” Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 736.
2. Due Process
Although “[t]he Legislature has considerable discretion in defining crimes and the
manner in which those crimes can be committed,” the Due Process Clause of the United States
Constitution and the Texas Constitution’s Due Course of Law provision limit this broad
discretion. Landrian v. State, 268 S.W.3d 532, 536 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); see U.S. CONST.
amend. XIV; TEX. CONST. art. I, § 19.
The Texas Constitution provides that no citizen “shall be deprived of life, liberty,
property, privileges or immunities, or in any manner disfranchised except by the due course of
the law of the land.” TEX. CONST. art. I, § 19. The Due Process Clause of the United States
Constitution provides that no state shall “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of law.” U.S. CONST. amend. XIV. This clause “limits a state’s power to define
crimes in ways that would permit juries to convict while disagreeing about means, at least where
that definition risks serious unfairness and lacks support in history or tradition.” Jacobsen, 325
S.W.3d at 736–37. In addition, it prohibits states from convicting “anyone under a charge of
‘Crime’ so generic that any combination of jury findings . . . would suffice for conviction.”
Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 633 (1991). Because we regard the term “due course” in the
Texas Constitution and “due process” in the United States Constitution “without meaningful
distinction,” we address Fulmer’s arguments as to both together. See Univ. of Tex. Med. Sch. at
Hous. v. Than, 901 S.W.2d 926, 929 (Tex. 1995).
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D. Statutory Construction Analysis
Fulmer asserts the statute permits a non-unanimous verdict by allowing the jury to
convict by merely finding the defendant committed any two acts. Thus, under the statutory
construction prong of jury unanimity analysis, we must determine whether the specific acts of
sexual abuse are elements of the offense or are merely the manner and means by which the
offense of continuous sexual abuse of a child was committed. See Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 736.
Several Texas appellate courts have addressed this issue, and in each instance section
21.02 was held to be constitutional. See Martin v. State, 335 S.W.3d 867, 872–73 (Tex. App.—
Austin 2011, pet. ref’d), cert. denied, 133 S. Ct. 645; see also Casey v. State, 349 S.W.3d 825,
829–30 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2011, pet. ref’d); Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 739; Render v. State,
316 S.W.3d 846, 857–58 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, pet. ref’d). Specifically, these courts
explained that
it is the commission of two or more acts of sexual abuse over the specified time
period—that is, the pattern of behavior or the series of acts—that is the actus reus
element of the offense as to which the jurors must be unanimous in order to
convict. The individual acts of sexual abuse that make up this pattern of behavior
or series of acts are not themselves elements of the offense, but are merely
evidentiary facts, the manner and means by which the actus reus element is
committed. When there is evidence of more than two acts of abuse over the
specified time period, section 21.02(d) makes it clear that the jurors need not
agree as to which individual acts were committed so long as they agree that the
defendant committed at least two.
Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 737; accord Casey, 349 S.W.3d at 829; Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 872–73;
Render, 316 S.W.3d at 857–58. 1 Thus, Texas intermediate courts have routinely held that the
1
Fulmer acknowledges these decisions. However, he argues that those courts erred in “characterizing the ‘two or
more acts’ to be proven as manner and means of committing the offense, instead of as elements of the offense, or
separate and distinct offenses.” Fulmer urges this court to instead consider the Hawaii Supreme Court’s decision in
State v. Rabago, in which the court struck down as unconstitutional an analogous continuous sexual abuse statute.
See State v. Rabago, 81 P.3d 1151 (Haw. 2003). In Martin v. State, the Third Court of Appeals addressed this
precise argument. See Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 872–73; see also Kennedy v. State, 385 S.W.3d 729, 732 n.6 (Tex.
App.—Amarillo 2012, no pet.); Henry v. State, No. 08-11-00221-CR, 2013 WL 173329, at *4 (Tex. App.—El Paso
2013, no pet. h.) (not designated for publication). There, the court respectfully disagreed with the Rabago opinion
insofar as it was inconsistent with Jacobsen, and found, consistent with its opinion in Jacobsen, that section 21.02
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individual acts of sexual abuse are manner and means, not an element of the offense, and section
21.02 does not violate the jury unanimity requirement. See Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 737; see
also Casey, 349 S.W.3d at 829; Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 872–73; Render, 316 S.W.3d at 857–58.
Here, the defendant was charged with the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a young
child. This offense consists of the following elements: (1) “two or more acts of sexual abuse” (2)
during a period of thirty or more days; (3) by a defendant who was at least seventeen years old at
the time of each act of sexual abuse; and (4) a victim who is a child younger than fourteen years
old. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.02(b). Indecency with a child and aggravated sexual assault,
as charged by the indictment, are alternative methods, or the “manner and means,” of committing
the element of “two or more acts of sexual abuse.” See Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 737; Render,
316 S.W.3d at 857. Therefore, unanimity was required only as to a finding that Fulmer
committed two or more acts of sexual abuse—not as to which specific acts he committed. See
Casey, 349 S.W.3d at 829–30; Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 872–73; Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 736,
739; Render, 316 S.W.3d at 857.
E. Due Process and Due Course of Law Analysis
Fulmer argues that “because the two underlying predicate offenses of specific acts of
abuse are not merely manner and means, or alternative methods of committing a single offense,”
section 21.02 permits conviction under a charge “so generic that any combination of jury
findings . . . would suffice for conviction.”
As discussed herein, Texas law is clear that “[t]he individual acts of sexual abuse . . . are
not themselves elements of the offense, but are merely evidentiary facts, the manner and means
by which the actus reus element is committed.” See Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 737; see also
did not violate the jury unanimity requirement. Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 872–73. We agree with the Third Court of
Appeals.
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Casey, 349 S.W.3d at 829; Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 872–73. In addition, it is well settled that
“section 21.02 does not violate due process by permitting a conviction based on a jury’s
unanimous finding that the defendant engaged in a course of conduct consisting of repeated acts
of sexual abuse, but without requiring jury unanimity as to the individual acts that made up that
course of conduct.” See Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 872 (discussing Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 739).
Because section 21.02(d) requires that jurors unanimously agree as to the means, but does not
require unanimity as to which specific acts were committed, we conclude section 21.02 does not
violate due process or due course of law. See id. at 872–73; see also Casey, 349 S.W.3d at 829–
30; Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 739; Render, 316 S.W.3d at 857.
F. Conclusion
We agree with the great weight of authority in Texas that the individual acts of sexual
abuse are the manner and means by which the element of “two or more acts of sexual abuse” is
committed, and not elements in and of themselves. See Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 737; see also
Casey, 349 S.W.3d at 829; Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 872–73; Render, 316 S.W.3d at 857. Because
the charge in this case required the jury to, consistent with section 21.02(d), unanimously agree
that Fulmer committed two or more acts of sexual abuse, Fulmer’s constitutional and statutory
rights to a unanimous jury verdict were not violated, nor was he denied due process or due
course of law. See Jacobsen, 325 S.W.3d at 739. Accordingly, we overrule Fulmer’s point of
error on this issue. See Rodriguez, 93 S.W.3d at 69.
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 508.145
In his second point of error, Fulmer asks us to determine whether Texas Government
Code section 508.145 violates the equal protection guarantees of the state and federal
constitutions. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 508.145 (West 2012); cf. U.S. CONST. amend. XIV;
TEX. CONST. art. I, § 3.
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We review the constitutionality of a criminal statute de novo. Byrne, 358 S.W.3d at 748.
The individual challenging the constitutionality of the statute bears the burden of establishing
unconstitutionality. Rodriguez, 93 S.W.3d at 69. We presume the statute is constitutional and
that “the Legislature has not acted unreasonably or arbitrarily.” Id.; Byrne, 358 S.W.3d at 748.
Because Fulmer does not allege that persons convicted under penal code section 21.02 are a
suspect class, or that parole eligibility is a fundamental right, “we review section 508.145(a) to
determine whether it is rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose.” See Martin, 335
S.W.3d at 878; Black v. State, 26 S.W.3d 895, 896 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
Under Texas Government Code section 508.145, an inmate serving a sentence for an
offense under section 21.02 of the Texas Penal code is ineligible for parole. TEX. GOV’T CODE
ANN. § 508.145(a); Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 878. Fulmer argues this statute is unconstitutional
because it denies parole eligibility to persons convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child
under age fourteen, but does not deny parole to persons convicted of multiple, specific acts of
abuse against a child under fourteen. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 508.145(a). He complains
there is no rational basis for this arbitrary distinction.
The Third Court of Appeals addressed this precise argument in Martin. See Martin, 335
S.W.3d at 878–79. There, the court concluded that
the legislature could rationally conclude that persons who have manifested such a
pattern of sexually abusive behavior are particularly dangerous and should be
ineligible for parole, while continuing to allow parole for those persons found
guilty of individual sex offenses against young children. It is true, of course, that
this statutory distinction is not perfect. A person who engages in a pattern of
sexually abusive behavior that would constitute an offense under section 21.02
may nevertheless be tried and convicted only for one or more of the underlying
offenses and thereby remain eligible for parole. But in determining whether a
statute is rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose, courts must be
deferential to legislative determinations and may invalidate the statute only if it
draws a distinction that simply makes no sense.
Id. at 879.
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We agree with the Third Court of Appeals that the legislature could rationally conclude
that persons convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child are “particularly dangerous” and
should be singled out for parole ineligibility. See id. Therefore, we conclude that section
508.145(a)’s denial of parole eligibility to inmates serving sentences for an offense under section
21.02 of the Texas Penal Code is rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose. See
TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 508.145(a); Martin, 335 S.W.3d at 879; Black, 26 S.W.3d at 896.
Accordingly, we overrule this point of error.
DEFENDANT’S ABSENCE DURING VOIR DIRE
In his third point of error, Fulmer contends the trial court committed harmful
constitutional error by permitting the commencement of voir dire in his absence.
A. Defendant’s Statutory and Constitutional Right to be Physically Present at Trial
In all felony prosecutions, Texas law requires the defendant’s personal presence at trial,
except “when the defendant voluntarily absents himself after pleading to the indictment or
information, or after the jury has been selected when trial is before a jury.” TEX. CODE CRIM.
PROC. ANN. art. 33.03 (West 2006). “[W]ithin the scope of the right of confrontation is the
absolute requirement that a criminal defendant who is threatened with loss of liberty be
physically present at all phases of proceedings against him, absent a waiver of that right through
defendant’s own conduct.” Baltierra v. State, 586 S.W.2d 553, 556 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979)
(citation omitted); see U.S. CONST. amend. VI; TEX. CONST. art. I, § 10.
The time at which a trial begins is critically important to the defendant’s right to be
physically present.
Generally, when prospective jurors are initially summoned, they are assembled in
a general jury pool or general assembly. Members of the general assembly are
qualified on their ability to serve and exemptions and excuses are heard and ruled
on by the judge presiding over the general assembly. Prospective jurors who are
not disqualified, exempt, or excused are divided into trial panels and sent to the
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individual courts trying the cases. At that point, attorney voir dire will result in
the jury that will ultimately hear the case. The general assembly portion of jury
selection is not considered part of “the trial” and therefore the accused is not
entitled to be present.
Jasper v. State, 61 S.W.3d 413, 422–23 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (citations omitted). However,
when “the trial judge assigned to preside over appellant’s trial appears to have functioned as a
general assembly judge over prospective jurors already assigned to appellant’s specific case,”
we assume the trial has commenced “at the time of the exemptions, excuses and qualifications.”
Id. at 423. In this situation, it is “statutory and constitutional error for the trial court to proceed
with the excuses and qualifications in [the defendant’s] absence.” Id.
B. Fulmer Was Entitled to be Present
The proceeding at issue in this case was the qualification, exemptions, and personal
excuses of the potential jurors. During the jury docket call on the day Fulmer’s trial began, the
court called for announcements from four defendants in criminal cases. Fulmer was the fourth
and final to be called; the first three announced not ready. After Fulmer announced ready, the
trial court stated that “[i]t looks like Mr. Fulmer is the one we’re going to try.” When the juror
qualification proceeding began, Fulmer’s trial attorney informed the court that her client was not
in the courtroom. The court responded that Fulmer did not need to be present for juror
qualifications and continued the proceeding outside Fulmer’s presence. 2
Fulmer’s case was the only case that proceeded to trial that day. The trial judge
functioned as a general assembly judge over prospective jurors assigned, albeit by default, to
Fulmer’s case. See id. at 422–23. Therefore, Fulmer’s trial commenced when the prospective
2
The State asserts that this dialogue was insufficient to preserve error for appeal. An objecting party is not required
to say any “magic words”; rather, to preserve a complaint, all that is required is that the party conveys the substance
of the complaint to the trial judge. Bennett v. State, 235 S.W.3d 241, 243 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Here, it is clear
that Fulmer’s counsel conveyed the substance of the complaint—that Fulmer was absent from the courtroom—to the
trial judge and the trial judge decided to go forward with the proceedings in his absence. Therefore, Fulmer’s
complaint was properly preserved. See id.
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jurors were seated in the courtroom. See Yanez v. State, 677 S.W.2d 62, 67 (Tex. Crim. App.
1984).
Once the juror qualification process commenced in Fulmer’s absence, his constitutional
and statutory right to be physically present was violated. Accordingly, by conducting the
qualifications, exemptions, and excuses portion of the trial in his absence, the trial court
committed constitutional error. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 33.03; see also U.S.
CONST. amend. VI; TEX. CONST. art. I, § 10; Jasper, 61 S.W.3d at 422–23. Our analysis does not
stop here. We must further conduct a constitutional harm analysis. TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(a).
C. Constitutional Harm Analysis
Fulmer asserts that he was harmed because he received a life sentence—the maximum
punishment—and that when a defendant’s liberty may be taken for the rest of his life, which
occurred in this case, he is constitutionally entitled to be present. The State responds that error,
if any, was harmless at best because “a short absence from voir dire would have made no
difference in the outcome of Appellant’s trial.”
In conducting a constitutional harm analysis, we must reverse the trial court’s judgment
of conviction unless we determine “beyond a reasonable doubt that the error did not contribute to
the conviction or punishment.” Id. In making this determination, we “‘should not focus on the
propriety of the outcome of the trial.’” McCarthy v. State, 65 S.W.3d 47, 55 (Tex. Crim. App.
2001) (quoting Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 119 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000)). Rather, we
must “calculate, as nearly as possible, the probable impact of the error . . . in light of the other
evidence.” Id.
Trial courts have broad discretion to excuse potential jurors for good cause. Jasper, 61
S.W.3d at 424; see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 35.03; TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. 62.110
(West Supp. 2012). The trial court may not, however, excuse a prospective juror for an
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economic reason unless the parties of record are present and approve of the individual’s release
for that reason. TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. 62.110(c); Jasper, 61 S.W.3d at 424. During the
proceeding at issue in this case, six prospective jurors were dismissed. Fulmer does not point to
any particular prospective juror whose excusal caused him harm. Cf. Jasper, 61 S.W.3d at 424.
Moreover, the record does not indicate the length of Fulmer’s absence, only that he was not in
the courtroom at the beginning of qualifications and exemptions, and that he was present and
introduced to the panel members before the attorneys began voir dire questioning. In addition,
Fulmer’s counsel was present during the proceedings and lodged no objections to the trial court’s
eligibility determinations. Therefore, even assuming Fulmer was absent for the entire
qualification, exemption, and excusal proceeding, we conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that
Fulmer’s absence in this case did not contribute to his conviction or punishment. See TEX. R.
APP. P. 44.2(a); Jasper, 61 S.W.3d at 423–24. Accordingly, we overrule this point of error.
INCIDENTS OUTSIDE OF GUADALUPE COUNTY
In his fourth point of error, Fulmer contends the trial court erred in allowing the jury to
consider incidents outside of Guadalupe County because the two underlying acts had to occur in
Guadalupe County to satisfy venue. 3 He argues that although the charge limited the jury’s
consideration to acts occurring in Guadalupe County, the State’s closing argument “vetoed” this
instruction by persuading the jury to consider acts outside of Guadalupe County. Because of the
State’s statements, Fulmer asserts the jury could have convicted him only on non-Guadalupe
County acts.
3
The State contends that venue is proper in any county in which an element of the offense was committed. See TEX.
CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 13.075 (specific venue statute). “Article 13.075 . . . applies only to an offense
committed on or after the effective date [Sept. 1, 2011] of this act.” Act of May 25, 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., ch. 1100,
§ 4, 2012 Tex. Sess. Law Serv. 2845, 2846 (West) (codified at TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 13.075). The last
offense testified to in this case occurred in April of 2011, which is before article 13.075’s effective date; therefore,
the statute is inapplicable in this case. See id. Therefore, the general venue statute in article 13.18 applies and venue
is proper in the county in which the offense was committed. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 13.18.
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A. Statements in State’s Closing Arguments
“Before a defendant will be permitted to complain on appeal about erroneous jury
argument . . . , he will have to show he objected and pursued his objection to an adverse ruling.”
Cockrell v. State, 933 S.W.2d 73, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). During closing arguments, one of
the State’s prosecutors stated
The next thing I want to discuss with you is some allegation in the Court’s Charge
concerning the County in which the offense occurred. You’re going to see—you
heard throughout the trial, there was some testimony that some of these incidents
occurred in counties other than Guadalupe County; specifically, with regard to the
continuous sexual abuse of a young child charge. You have to understand this
charge is a continuing offense. If it were such a case that someone could simply
take an individual out of the county and commit a secondary offense in another
county and they were absolved of liability, that would seem to make very little
sense. So think about that in terms of your deliberations on the continuous sexual
assault.
Fulmer asserts that this was erroneous and, further, that this error was repeated once more during
a later portion of the State’s closing argument. Fulmer acknowledges, however, that he raised no
objection to these alleged erroneous arguments at trial. Therefore, inasmuch as Fulmer contends
the trial court erred in permitting the prosecutor’s statements during oral argument, he waived
this argument by failing to object at trial. See id.
B. Waiver of Venue Complaint
“An objection to improper venue is waived if not made by written motion filed prior to or
concurrently with any other plea, pleading or motion except a special appearance motion . . . .”
TEX. R. CIV. P. 86(1). The record in this case reveals Fulmer had numerous opportunities to
object to venue, but took advantage of none. The indictment charging Fulmer with continuous
sexual abuse of a young child did not specify the county in which the acts were alleged to have
occurred. Fulmer did not object to this omission. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.14(b)
(West 2005) (providing that if a defendant does not object to the indictment before the
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commencement of trial on the merits, he waives the right to object to any such defect); Teal v.
State, 230 S.W.3d 172, 176 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). At trial, witnesses testified that Fulmer
committed three acts of sexual abuse in Guadalupe County, as well as an act of sexual abuse in
each of Comal, Harris, and Hays Counties. Fulmer made no objection as to testimony regarding
the Comal, Harris, and Hays County incidents. Because Fulmer did not object to venue by
written motion or otherwise, he waived any such objection and cannot pursue it on appeal. See
TEX. R. CIV. P. 86(1), (3)(a); Teal, 230 S.W.3d at 176–77.
C. Presumption that Jury Followed the Trial Court’s Instructions
Finally, “[o]n appeal, we generally presume the jury follows the trial court’s instructions
in the manner presented. The presumption is refutable, but the appellant must rebut the
presumption by pointing to evidence that the jury failed to follow the trial court’s instructions.”
Thrift v. State, 176 S.W.3d 221, 224 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). In this case, the court’s charge
limited the jury’s consideration to acts of sexual abuse during a period of thirty or more days that
were committed in Guadalupe County. Thus, absent evidence to the contrary, we presume the
jury found that at least two acts of sexual abuse occurred in Guadalupe County. See id.; cf. TEX.
PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.02(b)(1). In addition to this presumption, the evidence supports such a
finding because the jury heard testimony that Fulmer committed three acts of sexual abuse in
Guadalupe County. Because Fulmer has not pointed to any evidence showing the jury failed to
comply with the court’s instructions, he failed to rebut the presumption that the jury complied
with the charge. See Thrift, 176 S.W.3d at 224.
D. Conclusion
The State bears the burden of proving venue by a preponderance of the evidence. See
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 13.17 (West 2011); Sudds v. State, 140 S.W.3d 813, 816 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, no pet.). Unless venue was “disputed in the trial court, or
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unless the record affirmatively shows to the contrary, [we] must presume . . . venue was proved
in the trial court.” TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(c); see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 13.17;
Hernandez v. State, 198 S.W.3d 257, 268 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2006, pet. ref’d). In this
case, Fulmer did not dispute venue in the trial court and the record does not affirmatively show
the contrary. See TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(c). Therefore, we presume the State proved venue in
Guadalupe County by a preponderance of the evidence. See id.; TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN.
art. 13.17. Accordingly, Fulmer’s fourth point of error is overruled.
ATTORNEY’S FEES
In his fifth and final point, Fulmer contends the trial court erred in ordering him to pay
attorney’s fees.
A. Preservation of Error
As a preliminary matter, the State contends Fulmer failed to preserve this issue for appeal
because his trial counsel made no objection to the assessment of attorney’s fees. The State’s
argument is analogous to that addressed by the Court of Criminal Appeals in Mayer v. State, 309
S.W.3d 552, 554–55 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). There, as in the current case, the trial court
ordered appellant to pay attorney’s fees and appellant made no objection in the trial court. See
id. The court stated that a defendant need not object at trial to preserve for appeal a challenge to
the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a trial court’s order that the defendant pay court-
appointed attorney’s fees. Id. Therefore, Fulmer did not waive this point of error by failing to
object at trial.
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B. Trial Court Erred in Ordering that Fulmer Pay Attorney’s Fees
The trial court’s judgment of conviction orders that Fulmer pay court costs in the amount
of $6,669. 4 The court’s subsequent withdrawal notification stated that if Fulmer was unable to
pay the amount, the funds would be withdrawn from his Inmate Trust Account. Fulmer
complains there is insufficient evidence to support the attorney’s fees portion of this order
because he remains indigent and there is no evidence in the record that his financial status
changed.
The procedures governing appointment of counsel for indigent defendants in criminal
cases are set forth in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 26.04. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC.
ANN. art. 26.04 (West Supp. 2011). “A defendant who is determined by the court to be indigent
is presumed to remain indigent for the remainder of the proceedings in the case unless a material
change in the defendant’s financial circumstances occurs.” Id.; see Mayer, 309 S.W.3d at 557.
“[T]he defendant’s financial resources and ability to pay are explicit critical elements in the trial
court’s determination of the propriety of ordering reimbursement of costs and fees.” Mayer, 309
S.W.3d at 556.
If the court determines that a defendant has financial resources that enable him to
offset in part or in whole the costs of the legal services provided, including any
expenses and costs, the court shall order the defendant to pay during the pendency
of the charges or, if convicted, as court costs the amount that it finds the
defendant is able to pay.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 26.05(g). If the evidence is insufficient to support the
attorney’s fees, the court should modify the judgment to delete the attorney’s fees. See Mayer,
309 S.W.3d at 555–56.
4
Fulmer’s Case Transaction Summary itemizes the court costs the trial court ordered him to pay: $6,000 of the total
$6,669 was characterized as “court appointed attorney fees.”
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The record in this case reflects that Fulmer was indigent and represented by court-
appointed counsel at trial. Thus, absent evidence of a material change in Fulmer’s financial
circumstances, we presume he remained indigent for the rest of the proceedings in the case. See
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 26.04. The State does not point to any evidence that would
rebut this presumption or show that a material change in Fulmer’s financial circumstances
occurred. See id.; Mayer, 309 S.W.3d at 557.
Because we must presume Fulmer remained indigent and the State produced no evidence
or argument indicating that the trial court determined Fulmer had the financial resources to
enable him to pay attorney’s fees, the trial court’s judgment requiring him to do so was
erroneous. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. arts. 26.04, 26.05(g). Accordingly, we modify the
portion of the trial court’s judgment imposing $6,669 in court costs to reduce the total court costs
to the sum of $669.00 by deleting the attorney’s fees in the amount of $6,000 included therein.
See Mayer, 309 S.W.3d at 555–56.
CONCLUSION
After reviewing de novo the constitutionality of section 21.02 of the Texas Penal Code,
we conclude, consistent with the other intermediate appellate courts of this state, that this statute
does not violate the constitutional and statutory requirements of a unanimous jury verdict in
felony cases, or deny due process or due course of law. As to the constitutionality of section
508.145(a) of the Texas Government Code, we conclude, consistent with the Third Court of
Appeals, that the statute does not violate the equal protection guarantees of the state or federal
constitutions.
In addition, we conclude the trial court committed harmless constitutional error when it
commenced the qualifications, exemptions, and excuses portion of Fulmer’s trial outside of his
presence. Moreover, Fulmer waived his complaint as to venue, and venue was proven in
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Guadalupe County. By failing to object, Fulmer waived any error as to the State’s statements
during closing arguments.
Finally, the trial court erred in its assessment of attorney’s fees. Accordingly, we modify
the portion of the trial court’s judgment imposing $6,669 in court costs to reduce the total court
costs to the sum of $669.00 by deleting the attorney’s fees in the amount of $6,000 included
therein.
Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
PUBLISH
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