Syed Sartaj Nawaz v. the State of Texas ( 2023 )

AFFIRMED and Opinion Filed August 29, 2023
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-19-00092-CR
SYED SARTAJ NAWAZ, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 199th Judicial District Court
Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 199-81120-2017
MEMORANDUM OPINION ON REMAND
Before Justices Pedersen, III, Garcia,1 and Breedlove2
Opinion by Justice Pedersen, III
This case is on remand from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for our
determination of whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support appellant’s
conviction for violation of section 22.04(a)(2) of the Texas Penal Code. See Nawaz
1
The Honorable Dennise Garcia succeeded the Honorable Bill Whitehill, a member of the original panel.
Justice Garcia has reviewed the briefs and the record before the Court.
2
The Honorable Justice Maricela Moore Breedlove succeeded the Honorable Lana Myers, a member of
the original panel. Justice Breedlove has reviewed the briefs and the record before the Court.
v. State, 663 S.W.3d 739, 742 n.3, 748 (Tex. Crim. App. 2022). We affirm the trial
court’s judgment.3
Standard of Review
In assessing the sufficiency of the evidence, the Court adopts a perspective
that favors the verdict and determine whether, based on the evidence and reasonable
inferences therefrom, a rational juror could have found the essential elements of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979);
Whatley v. State, 445 S.W.3d 159, 166 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); Brooks v. State, 323
S.W.3d 893, 899 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). The duty of weighing the evidence,
drawing reasonable inferences, and resolving conflicts in testimony lies with the fact
finder. See Nisbett v. State, 552 S.W.3d 244, 262 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). The
reviewing court accords deference to the fact finders’ credibility determinations and
the weight assigned to the witnesses' testimony since they hold the exclusive
authority in making such determinations. See Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 899. The
reviewing court considers all evidence presented in the record, regardless of its
admissibility. See Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
Additionally, the cumulative impact of the entire body of evidence is taken into
3
As this case is on remand and the parties are familiar with the facts of the underlying cause, we will not
fully recite them in this opinion. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1. Instead we will incorporate the background
information detailed in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals’ opinion, see Nawaz, 663 S.W.3d 739,
and in our original opinion. See Nawaz v. State, No. 05-19-00092-CR, 2021 WL 1884551 (Tex. App.—
Dallas May 11, 2021) (mem. op., not designated for publication), rev’d in part, 663 S.W.3d 739, 748 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2022). We will, however, provide supplemental facts pertinent to the issue in this appeal.
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account during the review process. See Zuniga v. State, 551 S.W.3d 729, 733 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2018).
When considering a claim of evidentiary insufficiency, a reviewing court does
not sit as the thirteenth juror and may not substitute its judgment for that of the fact
finder by reevaluating the weight and credibility of the evidence. See Isassi v. State,
330 S.W.3d 633, 638 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). Additionally, the jury may use
common sense, common knowledge, personal experience, and observations from
life when drawing inferences. See Acosta v. State, 429 S.W.3d 621, 625 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2014).
Discussion
Appellant contends the evidence that he caused “serious mental deficiency,
impairment, or injury” is insufficient as a matter of law. See PENAL § 22.04(a)(2).
Appellant also contends the State’s evidence of developmental delay is simply
additional proof of injury to a child under section 22.04(a)(1) of the penal code.
In its entirety, section 22.04(a) of the penal code provides:
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly,
recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by act or intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly by omission, causes a child, elderly
individual, or disabled individual:
(1) serious bodily injury
(2) serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury; or
(3) bodily injury.
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PENAL § 22.04(a).
Specifically, appellant complains Dr. Kristine Reeder’s testimony that A.R.’s
cognitive and developmental deficiencies are from A.R.'s traumatic brain injury and
only supports a finding of serious bodily injury under section 22.04(a)(1). We reject
appellant’s contention and find the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction
for knowingly causing serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury under
section 22.04(a)(2).
The burden fell upon the State to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that
appellant knowingly caused “serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury” to
A.R., a child below the age of fourteen, as required by Section 22.04(a)(2). See PENAL
§ 22.04(a)(2). Appellant correctly contends that the definition of “serious bodily
injury” includes protracted impairment of any bodily organ but that the statute does
not explicitly state a legal definition of “serious mental deficiency, impairment, or
injury.” PENAL § 22.04(a)(2); see Edwards v. State, 666 S.W.3d 571, 575 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2023). When there is no definition or technical meaning provided for a word
or phrase, the terms are typically given their plain and ordinary meaning. See TEX.
GOV’T CODE ANN. § 311.011(a) (“Words and phrases shall be read in context and
construed according to the rules of grammar and common usage.”); see also State v.
Bolles, 541 S.W.3d 128, 138 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017) (in context of sufficiency
review, stating “jurors may ‘freely read [undefined] statutory language to have any
meaning which is acceptable in common parlance’” and quoting Kirsch v. State, 357
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S.W.3d 645, 650 (Tex. Crim. App. 20120)). “‘In determining [the] plain meaning’
of an undefined statutory term, ‘we can consult dictionary definitions ... read words
in context, [and] apply[ ] rules of grammar[.]’” State v. Bolles, 541 S.W.3d at 138(quoting Ex parte Ingram, 533 S.W.3d 887, 893-94 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017)).
The statutory phrase at issue here, “serious mental deficiency, impairment, or
injury,” uses terms with common meanings that are readily understandable by jurors.
The term “deficiency” by itself means “the quality or state of being deficient,” which
in turn means “lacking in some necessary quality or element,” or “not up to a normal
standard or complement.” Deficiency, MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S COLLEGIATE
DICTIONARY (11th ed. 2020). “Impairment” means “diminishment or loss of function
or ability.” Impairment, id. “Mental deficiency” is defined as “a deficiency in
cognitive functioning, specifically, intellectual disability.” Mental deficiency, id.With the foregoing statutory terms and their ordinary meanings in mind, we
now turn to consider the evidence at hand to evaluate whether any rational juror
could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the statutory element of “serious
mental deficiency, impairment, or injury” was satisfied here.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals recently provided an example of what
constitutes insufficient evidence of “serious mental deficiency, impairment, or
injury.” Edwards, 666 S.W.3d. 571. In that case, the State presented evidence a child
had ingested “a large amount of cocaine.” Id. at 576. The only additional testimony,
however, described “possible” or “potential” side effects from the child’s cocaine
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ingestion that “could” occur in the future, but without any definite testimony that the
child had in fact suffered from a “serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury.”
Id. at 576-77. The testimony in the trial below was materially different.
Testimony provided by A.R.'s pediatrician revealed that prior to the inflicted
injury, the child exhibited typical growth patterns and developmental milestones,
indicating good health. However, following the incident, A.R. required frequent
therapy sessions to aid her in reaching an appropriate developmental level for her
age.
To establish serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury, the State
offered testimony from Dr. Reeder that the abusive head trauma caused the holes in
A.R.'s brain that delayed her development, and may have caused cognitive
impairment. Dr. Reeder opined that it was too soon to say what the extent of A.R.'s
mental injury or deficiency would be. She explained that A.R. would never be
completely normal and would always be at risk for seizure. A.R. was unable to track
objects and never focused on anything. Dr. Reeder also determined that A.R. was
developmentally delayed. A.R. had been receiving therapy multiple times a week to
help her achieve age-appropriate development. According to Dr. Reeder's expert
testimony, A.R. exhibited delays in meeting milestones and lagged behind
developmentally, falling short of expectations for a six-month-old infant. At the time
of assessment, the full extent of the consequences stemming from A.R.’s injuries
could not be definitively determined, as stated by Dr. Reeder. The potential
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outcomes regarding A.R.'s physical capabilities, such as walking, running, climbing,
as well as her cognitive abilities within an educational setting, including the
possibility of normal speech, remained uncertain. These uncertainties were explicitly
acknowledged during Dr. Reeder's testimony, where she expressed concerns
regarding behavioral issues, learning difficulties, and hearing impairments.
The record contains legally sufficient evidence that appellant caused A.R. to
experience serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury. See PEN. § 22.04(a)(2).
Conclusion
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
190092f.u05 /Bill Pedersen, III//
Do not publish BILL PEDERSEN, III
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b) JUSTICE
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Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
SYED SARTAJ NAWAZ, Appellant On Appeal from the 199th Judicial
District Court, Collin County, Texas
No. 05-19-00092-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. 199-81120-
2017.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Opinion delivered by Justice
Pedersen, III. Justices Garcia and
Breedlove participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is
AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered this 29th day of August, 2023.
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