Laura Knight v. State ( 2015 )

COURT OF APPEALS
EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO, TEXAS
LAURA KNIGHT, §
No. 08-12-00355-CR
Appellant, §
Appeal from the
v. §
346th District Court
THE STATE OF TEXAS, §
of El Paso County, Texas
Appellee. §
(TC#20090D02461)
§
OPINION
Appellant Laura Knight was recorded on video at a pharmacy picking up a hydrocodone
prescription for a woman who had died five days earlier. Appellant was found guilty of
possession of a controlled substance, and sentenced to two years’ confinement. Appellant raises
two issues on appeal. Appellant contends the evidence is legally insufficient to support her
conviction because the State failed to prove (i) that she knowing or intentionally possessed the
hydrocodone, (ii) that the pills she received from the pharmacy were actually hydrocodone, or (iii)
that the hydrocodone she received weighed between 28 and 200 grams as charged. Appellant also
argues the trial court erroneously admitted extraneous-offense evidence during the guilt-innocence
phase of her trial. We hold the evidence was sufficient to support Appellant’s conviction for
unlawful possession of hydrocodone, and that the trial court did not err in admitting the evidence
of Appellant’s extraneous offenses. Accordingly, we affirm Appellant’s conviction.
BACKGROUND
Appellant’s mother, Josephina De La Rosa, was a resident at a foster care home. Each
resident’s medication at the home was stored in an unlocked kitchen cabinet in a box labeled with
the patient’s name. Although medication was typically administered by the foster home
caregivers, Appellant had access to the kitchen cabinet where the medicines were kept and could
administer the medications prescribed for her mother.
Another resident of the foster care home, Judy Cox, suffered from a painful degenerative
spinal disease for which she was prescribed hydrocodone in a quantity of 240 pills with additional
refills permitted. Carol Wright, the operator of the foster care home, would request Judy’s
hydrocodone refills by phone, pick up the prescription at the pharmacy, and store the hydrocodone
prescription in the kitchen cabinet. Judy’s sister, Sheryl Maxsom, had arranged for an express
pay service at Walgreens under which the co-pay cost of the refills for Judy’s hydrocodone
prescription would be charged automatically to Sheryl’s checking account when Carol Wright
picked up the hydrocodone for Judy. The co-pay cost for each of Judy’s hydrocodone refills was
$17.07.
Judy Cox died on July 14, 2008, and her memorial service was held on July 18, 2008. On
July 19, 2008, Sheryl received an email alert on her phone indicating that Walgreens had charged
$17.07 to her bank account. Sheryl had not picked up a prescription on July 19, 2008, and Carol
Wright informed her that she had not phoned in a refill for Judy’s hydrocodone.
On August 1, 2008, Sheryl and the Walgreens’ store manager, John Williamson, reviewed
2
a Walgreens’ security video recording corresponding with the date and time Judy’s prescription
was picked up. From the video recording, Sheryl recognized Appellant standing at the pharmacy
counter. Sheryl notified the police that she had identified the person who had picked up the
prescription. She also discussed the matter with Carol Wright. Several days later, Appellant left
a voice message on Sheryl’s phone identifying herself and explaining she had gone to Walgreens
to pick up her son’s medication, and Walgreens had accidentally given her Judy’s hydrocodone
prescription instead. At a subsequent party attended by Appellant, Carol Wright, and others,
Carol Wright mentioned that someone had obtained Judy’s medication after her death. Later,
Appellant telephoned Carol Wright and also informed her that she had discovered that the
pharmacy had erroneously given her Judy’s medication when she went to pick up her son’s
medication.
At Appellant’s request, Carol Wright accompanied Appellant to return the pills to
Walgreens. Carol, who is familiar with hydrocodone, noted there were 24 pills in “a good sized
bottle” whose label contained Judy’s name and indicated the bottle had contained 240
hydrocodone tablets. Carol described Appellant as agitated and extremely adamant that
Walgreens issue a letter stating that it was at fault for giving her the medication. Walgreens’ El
Paso District Pharmacy Supervisor, Rick Fernandez, issued the requested letter to Appellant which
stated:
Laura Knight returned #24 tablets of Hydrocodone/APAP [(]10mg/325mg) from a
prescription vial labeled [xxxxxxx]-06435 for Judy Cox. Ms. Knight received the
vial in error. Furthermore, Carol Wright did not order this medication for Ms.
Judy Cox. I apologized to Ms. Knight for the inconvenience for this matter.
DISCUSSION
Sufficiency of the Evidence
3
In Issue One, Appellant contends the evidence is legally insufficient to sustain her
conviction for intentionally and knowingly possessing hydrocodone having an aggregate weight of
28 to 200 grams. In particular, Appellant argues the evidence was insufficient to prove: (1) that
she acted intentionally or knowingly, because the Walgreens pharmacy letter indicated she had
received the hydrocodone “in error”; (2) that she actually possessed hydrocodone, since the pills
she received were never tested in a laboratory; and (3) that the hydrocodone was of the requisite
weight, since the pills she received were never weighed.
Standard of Review
In a legal sufficiency review, we consider all the evidence in the light most favorable to the
verdict, and the reasonable inferences that flow from it, to determine whether any rational jury
could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); Brooks v. State, 323
S.W.3d 893, 895 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010). “If, given all of the evidence, a rational jury would
necessarily entertain a reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s guilt, the due process guarantee
requires that we reverse and order a judgment of acquittal.” Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 49
(Tex.Crim.App. 2004).
In performing our sufficiency review, we do not re-evaluate the weight and credibility of
the evidence or substitute our judgment for that of the fact finder. Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d
735, 740 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999), cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1131 (2000). We presume the fact finder
resolved any conflicting inferences in favor of the verdict and defer to that resolution. Jackson,
443 U.S. at 326; Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007). We determine
only whether the necessary inferences are reasonable based upon the combined and cumulative
4
force of all the evidence when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict. Hooper v. State,
214 S.W.3d 9, 16-17 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007). Each fact is not required to point directly and
independently to the guilt of the appellant, as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating
circumstances is sufficient to support the conviction. Id. at 13 (citing Johnson v. State, 871
S.W.2d 183, 186 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993)). Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct
evidence, and circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt. Guevara, 152
S.W.3d at 49.
Analysis
We measure the sufficiency of the evidence by the elements of the offense as defined by
the “hypothetically correct jury charge” for the case. Miles v. State, 357 S.W.3d 629, 631
(Tex.Crim.App. 2011) (citing Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997)). A
hypothetically correct jury charge “accurately sets out the law, is authorized by the indictment,
does not unnecessarily increase the State’s burden of proof or unnecessarily restrict the State’s
theories of liability, and adequately describes the particular offense for which the defendant was
tried.” Id.
Hydrocodone is classified as a controlled substance in Penalty Group 3. TEX. HEALTH &
SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.104(a)(4)(West Supp. 2014). It is a third-degree felony to knowingly
or intentionally possess hydrocodone having an aggregate weight of 28 grams or more but less
than 200 grams (including adulterants or dilutants), unless, among other things, the person
obtained it under a valid prescription.1 Id. at § 481.117(a), (c)(West 2010). The indictment
1
The State was not required to negate the exceptions provided under section 481.117(a). TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY
CODE ANN. § 481.184(a)(West 2010). Rather, the person claiming the benefit of an exception has the burden of
going forward with the evidence with respect to the exception. Id.
5
charged that on or about July 19, 2008, Appellant knowingly or intentionally possessed a
controlled substance, hydrocodone, having an aggregate weight, including adulterants and
dilutants, of 28 grams or more but less than 200 grams. Thus, under a hypothetically correct jury
charge, the State was required to prove that Appellant knowingly or intentionally possessed
hydrocodone weighing more than 28 grams but less than 200 grams, including adulterants and
dilutants.
Appellant first contends the evidence is insufficient to show she acted intentionally or
knowingly because the Walgreens pharmacy letter indicated that she had received the
hydrocodone “in error.”2 While the letter constitutes some evidence that Appellant may have
lacked the necessary intent or knowledge, it was not the only evidence of mens rea before the jury.
Evidence at trial indicated Appellant had access to Judy Cox’s prescription vial, which contained
the information necessary to order a refill of the hydrocodone prescription by telephone. The
Walgreens’ clerk who provided the hydrocodone to Appellant recalled that Appellant asked for the
prescription “by name.” The Walgreens’ security system video recording of the transaction
shows Appellant holding and looking at the prescription bottle. The Walgreens’ El Paso District
Pharmacy Supervisor testified that the label on the prescription vial showed that the hydrocodone
was for Judy Cox. Judy’s prescription was on an express pay account at Walgreens, but
Appellant had no such account, and yet Appellant paid nothing for the prescription she obtained at
Walgreens. Appellant’s claim that she was given Judy’s prescription by mistake instead of her
son’s prescription was negated by evidence that no prescription for Appellant’s son was available
2
A person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect to the nature of his conduct or to a result of his conduct, when
it is his conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §
6.03(a)(West 2011). A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to the nature of his conduct or to
circumstances surrounding his conduct when he is aware of the nature of his conduct or that the circumstances exist.
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 6.03(b)(West 2011).
6
for pickup on July 19, 2008, and that his prescription was not presented to the pharmacy until a
later date. Likewise, Appellant’s claim that she received only 24 pills was negated by Walgreens’
records indicating that 240 pills were dispensed for Judy Cox’s prescription but, as noted in
Walgreens’ letter, Appellant returned only 24 tablets to Walgreens pharmacy.
Proof of a culpable mental state generally relies upon circumstantial evidence. Dillon v.
State, 574 S.W.2d 92, 94 (Tex.Crim.App. 1978); Agripino v. State, 217 S.W.3d 707, 715
(Tex.App. – El Paso 2007, no pet.). Ordinarily, proof of a culpable mental state must be inferred
from the acts, words, and conduct of the accused and the surrounding circumstances. Ledesma v.
State, 677 S.W.2d 529, 531 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984); Agripino, 217 S.W.3d at 715. The evidence
here was legally sufficient to negate Appellant’s defensive theory of mistake and to show that
Appellant both knowingly and intentionally possessed the hydrocodone.
Appellant also asserts the evidence was legally insufficient to establish the pills she
possessed were actually hydrocodone, because the pills were never tested by a laboratory.
Without citation to authority, Appellant asserts that a controlled substance is required to be tested
by a certified lab analyst or chemist. The 24 pills that Appellant returned to Walgreens were not
confiscated by law enforcement officers but were apparently processed by Walgreens for
destruction by a third-party. Therefore, the pills could not be tested. Instead, the State presented
testimonial evidence that the controlled substance Appellant possessed was hydrocodone.
This evidence included the testimony of Walgreens’ District Supervisor Fernandez, who
had been a licensed pharmacist since 1994. Fernandez examined the large prescription vial that
Appellant presented to him when she returned the pills; he counted 24 pills as its contents,
observed the label showing the medication had been prescribed for Judy Cox, identified the pills as
7
hydrocodone with acetaminophen, and informed Appellant that she needed to return the pills
directly to the pharmacy for destruction. He testified that pharmacists do not perform scientific
tests on drugs and stated that he did not perform any scientific analysis on the pills. However,
Fernandez explained that hydrocodone combined with acetaminophen is listed as a “schedule 3”
medication and that no schedule 2 hydrocodone “by itself” is kept in the pharmacy. Fernandez
stated that he has dispensed hydrocodone “thousands of times,” and testified, without objection,
that the markings on the pills Appellant had presented to him “matched” the markings for
hydrocodone, and that he was sure the pills were hydrocodone and could not be anything else.3
Walgreens’ store manager John Williamson testified that his physical inventory of all
hydrocodone pills in the pharmacy established there was no surplus of hydrocodone pills.
Instead, the correct number of hydrocodone pills on hand was consistent with the dispensing of
240 hydrocodone tablets in a large bottle like the one Appellant returned.
In addition to this testimony, Carol Wright described the pills as “roundish, yellowish” and
testified that the bottle containing the tablets was labeled with Cox’s name and listed hydrocodone
as its contents. Further, there was evidence that Appellant left a voice message on Sheryl
Maxsom’s phone in which Appellant said Walgreens had accidentally given her Judy’s
hydrocodone prescription. Without objection, Appellant’s sister Rosario also testified that
Appellant was present when Carol Wright learned about a problem with Judy Cox’s prescription,
and Appellant later told Rosario that Walgreens had mistakenly given her Judy’s hydrocodone.
Walgreens’ store manager John Williamson testified that the electronic journal, or register
3
The Court of Criminal Appeals has recognized that an experienced law enforcement officer may be qualified to
testify that a green leafy plant substance is marijuana because it has distinctive characteristics different from other
green leafy plant substances, but cannot testify that a white or brown powder substance with no unique identifying
features is heroin. See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977).
8
recording, indicated Judy Cox’s hydrocodone was picked up on July 19, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. and that
the transaction had been verified by observing the security camera’s video recording, which
showed Appellant involved in the transaction at 4:34 p.m. He also testified that 24 pills would be
dispensed in a small vial, unlike the large 30-gram vial that Appellant returned, which would be
used to dispense 240 pills. Appellant did not object when the State offered into evidence
Williamson’s photograph of 240 hydrocodone tablets from the same manufacturer and having the
same strength as those prescribed and identified in Judy Cox’s patient profile. The evidence here
was legally sufficient to show that the pills possessed by Appellant were in fact hydrocodone.
Appellant also contends the evidence is insufficient to establish the amount of
hydrocodone she allegedly possessed because the actual tablets she possessed were not weighed.
The State was required to prove that Appellant possessed 28 grams or more but less than 200
grams of hydrocodone, including adulterants and dilutants. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE
ANN. §§ 481.104(a)(4)(West Supp. 2014), 481.117(a)(c)(West 2010). Detective Deanda testified
she was not able to obtain the pills Appellant possessed for the purpose of weighing and testing
because Appellant had returned the pills to Walgreens. Walgreens’ store manager John
Williamson testified that the large 30-gram vial that Appellant returned would be used to dispense
240 pills. Williamson testified that his physical inventory of all hydrocodone pills in the
pharmacy established there was no surplus of hydrocodone pills. Instead, the correct number of
hydrocodone pills on hand was consistent with the dispensing of 240 hydrocodone tablets in a
large bottle like the one Appellant returned. At the State’s request, Fernandez weighed a quantity
of 240 hydrocodone pills from the same manufacturer and type as those dispensed to Appellant on
July 19, 2008, under Judy Cox’s prescription, and which Appellant had returned to the pharmacy.
9
Without objection, Fernandez testified that 240 pills, without the vial, weighed over 100 grams
with adulterants and dilutants. This evidence was legally sufficient to show that the amount of
hydrocodone possessed by Appellant had an aggregate weight of 28 to 200 grams.
Based upon the combined and cumulative force of all the evidence viewed in the light most
favorable to the verdict, we conclude a rational fact finder could have reasonably inferred that
Appellant did not receive the hydrocodone in error but was aware that the hydrocodone
prescription was for Judy Cox, and that Appellant intentionally and knowingly possessed
hydrocodone having an aggregate weight of more than 28 grams but less than 200 grams,
including adulterants and dilutants. Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 16-17. Because the evidence is
legally sufficient to support Appellant’s conviction, Issue One is overruled.
Evidentiary Rulings
In Issue Two, Appellant complains the trial court abused its discretion during the
guilt-innocence phase of trial when it allowed the State to present testimonial evidence of
Appellant’s extraneous offenses. Appellant argues that the testimony constituted character
conformity evidence and was unduly prejudicial, and contends the State was required but failed to
provide notice of its intent to use that evidence.
The testimony at issue was presented by two witnesses, Carol Wright and Appellant’s
sister, Rosario Ortega. Carol Wright testified that after another patient at her foster care home had
died, Appellant had asked Carol if she would sell her the deceased patient’s hydrocodone.
Appellant’s sister, Rosario, testified that Appellant had been prescribed hydrocodone after injuring
her back twelve to fifteen years earlier and had been prescribed hydrocodone again in 2007
following surgery.
10
Standard of Review
We review the admission of extraneous-offense evidence for an abuse of discretion. De
La Paz v. State, 279 S.W.3d 336, 343 (Tex.Crim.App. 2009); Prible v. State, 175 S.W.3d 724, 731
(Tex.Crim.App. 2005). A trial court does not abuse its discretion if the decision to admit or
exclude the evidence is within the “zone of reasonable disagreement.” Montgomery v. State, 810
S.W.2d 372, 391 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991) (opin. on reh’g). A trial court’s determination on the
admissibility of extraneous-offense evidence typically falls within the zone of reasonable
disagreement if the evidence shows: (1) that an extraneous transaction is relevant to a material,
non-propensity issue, and (2) the probative value of that evidence is not substantially outweighed
by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading of the jury. De La Paz,
279 S.W.3d at 344. If the trial court’s evidentiary ruling is correct on any theory of law applicable
to that ruling, we will not disturb it even if the trial court gave the wrong reason for the correct
ruling. Id.
Analysis
Evidence of extraneous offenses or prior wrongful acts is generally not admissible during
the guilt-innocence phase as evidence that a defendant acted in conformity with his character by
committing the charged offense. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b); Johnston v. State, 145 S.W.3d 215, 219
(Tex.Crim.App. 2004); Montgomery, 810 S.W.2d at 386. Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b)
embodies the “established principle that a defendant is not to be tried for collateral crimes or for
generally being a criminal.” Nobles v. State, 843 S.W.2d 503, 514 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992).
However, evidence of extraneous misconduct or other crimes may be admissible “for other
purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or
11
absence of mistake or accident[.]” TEX. R. EVID. 404(b); Moses v. State, 105 S.W.3d 622, 626
(Tex.Crim.App. 2003); Powell v. State, 63 S.W.3d 435, 438 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001). By raising a
defensive theory, the defendant “opens the door” for the State to offer rebuttal testimony regarding
an extraneous offense if the extraneous offense has characteristics common with the offense for
which the defendant was on trial. See Richardson v. State, 328 S.W.3d 61, 71 (Tex.App. – Fort
Worth 2010, pet. ref’d) (citing Bell v. State, 620 S.W.2d 116, 126 (Tex.Crim.App. 1980)).
Appellant challenges the trial court’s ruling permitting the State to offer the
extraneous-offense evidence in its case-in-chief, arguing that at that point in the trial, there was no
defensive theory to rebut. However, Appellant chose to follow the State’s opening statement with
her own. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has recognized that, while not evidence, a
defensive opening statement informs the jury of the nature of the defenses on which defendant will
rely and the facts the defendant expects to prove in support of such defenses. See Bass v. State,
270 S.W.3d 557, 563 n.7 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008). When a defensive opening statement follows
the State’s opening, “the State may reasonably rely on this defensive opening statement as to what
evidence the defense intends to present and rebut this anticipated defensive evidence during its
case-in-chief as opposed to waiting until rebuttal.” Id. A defense opening statement can “open
the door” to the admission of extraneous-offense evidence in the State’s case-in-chief to rebut the
defensive theories presented in the opening statement. Id. at 563.
During her opening statement, Appellant observed that the State had promised to prove she
intended to possess the hydrocodone and had knowledge that she possessed hydrocodone.
Appellant argued that the State could not prove intent or knowledge because it was not true,
declaring “that’s what we are going to present to you during this trial,” and asserted she would
12
show with competent evidence that the State could not prove that she knew she was getting another
person’s prescription. Thus, in her opening statement Appellant both identified defenses to the
State’s assertions that she intentionally and knowingly possessed hydrocodone and raised mistake
as a defense to her receipt of the hydrocodone. Because Appellant’s opening statement “opened
the door” to evidence of Appellant’s intent, Carol and Rosario’s testimony was admissible to rebut
Appellant’s defensive theories. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b); Bass, 270 S.W.3d at 563; Powell, 63
S.W.3d at 439–40. The State was therefore allowed to rebut this anticipated defensive evidence
during its case-in-chief as opposed to waiting until rebuttal.
Further, the testimony of Carol and Rosario had relevance apart from any tendency to
prove character conformity because that testimony logically made the elemental facts of intent and
knowledge more probable and Appellant’s defense of mistake less probable. See Montgomery,
810 S.W.2d at 387–88. The complained-of extraneous evidence was thus admissible under Rule
404(b) to prove intent, knowledge, and absence of mistake. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b); see Moses, 105
S.W.3d at 626 (rebuttal of a defensive theory of mistake or accident is a permissible purpose to
admit extraneous-offense evidence under Rule 404(b)). The trial court’s decision to admit the
extraneous-offense evidence falls within the zone of reasonable disagreement. The trial court
therefore did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence.
Appellant also argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it admitted the
extraneous-offense evidence in the absence of notice from the State of its intent to utilize this
evidence. By a written Pre-Trial and Discovery Order, the trial court directed the State to give
written notice to Appellant seven days prior to trial regarding any extraneous offenses that it
intended “to use in its case-in-chief other than that arising out of the transaction on trial.” The
13
State contends Appellant failed to preserve any error regarding lack of notice because she did not
seek a continuance when the State notified her that it intended to use the complained-of testimony.4
We agree.
The purpose of requiring notice of the State’s intent to use extraneous-offense evidence “is
to adequately make known to the defendant the extraneous [acts] the State intends to introduce at
trial and to prevent surprise to the defendant.” Martin v. State, 176 S.W.3d 887, 900 (Tex.App. –
Fort Worth 2005, no pet.). To preserve error regarding the State’s failure to provide reasonable
notice of its intent to use extraneous-offense evidence, a defendant must request a continuance to
mitigate the effects of surprise. Martines v. State, 371 S.W.3d 232, 249 (Tex.App. – Houston [1st
Dist.] 2011, no pet.); Martin, 176 S.W.3d at 900; see also Oprean v. State, 201 S.W.3d 724, 730
n.10 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006) (Cochran, J. concurring) (any error in causing “surprise” to the
defense is forfeited on appeal unless the defendant has also requested a postponement or recess).
Because Appellant did not seek a continuance, her complaint concerning lack of notice is not
preserved for our consideration.
Appellant also made a Rule 403 objection to admission of this evidence. Evidence which
is admissible may be excluded if the danger of unfair prejudice substantially outweighs its
probative value. TEX. R. EVID. 403; Montgomery, 810 S.W.2d at 389. Without providing any
Rule 403 balancing-test analysis, Appellant merely asserts the admission of the evidence was
4
The State also argues that Appellant waived error by failing to timely request notice of any extraneous offenses as
required by Rule 404(b). See TEX. R. EVID. 404(b)(providing that “upon timely request by the accused in a criminal
case,” the State shall give reasonable notice in advance of trial or its intent to introduce in its case-in-chief evidence of
other crimes or wrongs); see also Webb v. State, 995 S.W.2d 295, 298 (Tex.App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.)
(the failure to request notice of extraneous offenses precludes an accused from complaining about the sufficiency of
the notice he received). The trial court’s Pre-Trial and Discovery Order, however, directed the State to give written
notice to Appellant without predicating the State’s obligation on the Rule 404(b) requirement that Appellant first
timely request notice. Under the pre-trial order, the State’s obligation to provide notice was absolute, and Appellant
was not required to timely request notice in order to complain about the lack of notice on appeal.
14
“highly prejudicial.” Where a proper Rule 403 objection is made, the trial court must conduct a
balancing test. Rojas v. State, 986 S.W.2d 241, 250 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998); Williams v. State, 958
S.W.2d 186, 195 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997) (holding trial court has no discretion whether to conduct
balancing test under Rule 403). In conducting a Rule 403 balancing test, the trial court must
balance (1) the inherent probative value of the evidence and (2) the State’s need for that evidence
against (3) any tendency of the evidence to suggest a decision on an improper basis, (4) any
tendency to confuse or distract the jury from the main issues, (5) any tendency to be given undue
weight by a jury that has not been equipped to evaluate the probative force of the evidence, and (6)
the likelihood that presentation of the evidence will consume an inordinate amount of time or be
needlessly cumulative. See Gigliobianco v. State, 210 S.W.3d 637, 641–42 (Tex.Crim.App.
2006). In practice, these factors may well blend together. Id.
Under Rule 403, it is presumed that the probative value of relevant evidence exceeds any
danger of unfair prejudice. Hammer v. State, 296 S.W.3d 555, 568 (Tex.Crim.App. 2009).
Based on this presumption, our review of the record, and the relevant Rule 403 criteria, we
conclude the probative value of the extraneous-offense evidence was not substantially outweighed
by any prejudicial impact. The testimony concerning Appellant’s prior use of hydrocodone
coupled with her prior request that Carol Wright sell her the hydrocodone of a deceased patient
was probative and necessary for the State to rebut Appellant’s contention that she had been
provided Judy’s hydrocodone prescription in error, as stated in the pharmacy’s letter. This
evidence was not cumulative of other evidence, and its presentation was concise. We conclude
this evidence had little, if any, tendency to mislead or confuse the jury, and that any such tendency
was substantially outweighed by its probative value to rebut Appellant’s contention that she had
15
received the hydrocodone “in error.”
Finding no abuse of discretion, we overrule Issue Two.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that the evidence is legally sufficient to support Appellant’s conviction and
that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the extraneous-offense evidence. We
therefore affirm the trial court’s judgment. The trial court certified Appellant’s right to appeal in
this case, but the certification does not bear Appellant's signature indicating that she was informed
of her rights to appeal and to file a pro se petition for discretionary review with the Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.2(d). The certification is defective, and has not been
corrected by either Appellant’s attorney or the trial court. To remedy this defect, this Court orders
Appellant’s attorney, pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4, to send Appellant a copy of this opinion and
this Court’s judgment, to notify Appellant of her right to file a pro se petition for discretionary
review, and to inform Appellant of the applicable deadlines. See TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4, 68.
Appellant’s attorney is further ordered to comply with all of the requirements of TEX. R. APP. P.
48.4.
STEVEN L. HUGHES, Justice
January 28, 2015
Before McClure, C.J., Rodriguez, and Hughes, JJ.
(Publish)
16