Quest Al'Javaughn Jones v. the State of Texas ( 2024 )

IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-23-00146-CR
QUEST AL'JAVAUGHN JONES,
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
From the 19th District Court
McLennan County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2019-516-C1
OPINION
Appellant, Quest Al’Javaughn Jones, was convicted of murdering Sherrell Carter
and received a sixty-year prison sentence. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.02. In three
issues on appeal, Jones contends that: (1) the trial court abused its discretion by admitting
testimony about a telephone call made by Jones while he was in jail; (2) the trial court
abused its discretion by permitting testimony during the guilt-innocence phase of trial
that Jones was in a gang; and (3) the trial court erred by assessing $3,000 for court-
appointed investigator fees in the bill of costs and judgment. We affirm.
The Jail Telephone Call
In his first issue, Jones asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting
testimony about a telephone call Jones made while incarcerated in the McLennan County
Jail, which contained a threat that the same thing that happened to Carter, the victim in
this case, would happen to Lacreshia Jackson, the mother of Jones’s two oldest children.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review the trial court’s 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). If the trial
court’s ruling is within the zone of reasonable disagreement, there is no abuse of
discretion. Prible v. State, 175 S.W.3d 724, 731 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). A trial court’s
ruling on the admissibility of an extraneous offense is generally within this zone if the
evidence shows that: (1) an extraneous transaction is relevant to a material, non-
propensity issue; and (2) the probative value of the evidence is not substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the
jury. De La Paz, 279 S.W.3d at 344. “Furthermore, if the trial court’s evidentiary ruling is
correct on any theory of law applicable to that ruling, it will not be disturbed even if the
trial judge gave the wrong reason for his right ruling.” Id.Jones v. State Page 2
TEXAS RULE OF EVIDENCE 404(B)
Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b) expressly provides that evidence of other crimes,
wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of the defendant in order to show
he acted in conformity therewith. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). This rule codifies the common-
law principles that a defendant should be tried only for the offense for which he is
charged and not for being a criminal generally. See Rogers v. State, 853 S.W.2d 32, n.3 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1993); see also Segundo v. State, 270 S.W.3d 79, 87 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008)
(explaining that a defendant is generally to be tried only for the offense charged, not for
any other crimes).
Extraneous-offense evidence, however, may be admissible for other purposes,
such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or
absence of mistake or accident. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). The list of examples in Rule 404(b)
is not exhaustive. See Prible, 175 S.W.3d at 731. “Whether extraneous[-]offense evidence
has relevance apart from character conformity, as required by Rule 404(b), is a question
for the trial court.” Moses v. State, 105 S.W.3d 622, 627 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). The trial
court’s Rule 404(b) ruling admitting evidence is generally within the zone of reasonable
disagreement “if there is evidence supporting that an extraneous transaction is relevant
to a material, non-propensity issue.” Devoe v. State, 354 S.W.3d 457, 469 (Tex. Crim. App.
2011).
Jones v. State Page 3
Here, Jones’s defensive theory was that he did not kill Carter, but rather an
intruder broke into the house and shot Carter and attempted to shoot him. In other
words, Jones put identity at issue. To rebut Jones’s defensive theory, the State called
Jackson to testify about her prior relationship with Jones, as well as a telephone call she
received from Jones after Jones had been arrested for this offense. Jackson described the
telephone call, and the State presented a recording of the telephone call for admission
into evidence. Jones objected to Jackson’s testimony and the admission of the recording
of the telephone call under Texas Rules of Evidence 403 and 404(b). The trial court
overruled Jones’s objections and admitted the testimony and the recording of the
telephone call into evidence. The recording of the telephone call, which contained a
threat made by Jones to Jackson that the same thing that happened to Carter would
happen to Jackson was played for the jury.
An extraneous offense may be admissible to show identity when identity is at issue
in the case, or when the defense cross examines witnesses or alleges that someone else
committed the crime. See Page v. State, 213 S.W.3d 332, 336 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Lane
v. State, 933 S.W.2d 504, 519 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). The threat made in the telephone
call demonstrated Jones’s knowledge about what had happened to Carter and served as
some evidence rebutting Jones’s defensive theory that someone else murdered Carter.
See TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). Because the complained-of extraneous-offense evidence was
Jones v. State Page 4
admissible for multiple proper purposes, we conclude that the evidence was relevant for
more than just character conformity. See id.TEXAS RULE OF EVIDENCE 403
Next, we address Jones’s Rule 403 argument. Evidence, though relevant, can
nonetheless be excluded when its probative value is substantially outweighed by the
danger of unfair prejudice. See id. at R. 403. Once a trial court determines that extraneous-
offense evidence is admissible under Rule 404(b), the trial court must, on proper objection
by the opponent of the evidence, weigh the probative value of the evidence against its
potential for unfair prejudice. Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 389 (Tex. Crim. App.
1991); see TEX. R. EVID. 403. Rule 403 favors admitting relevant evidence, and the
presumption is that relevant evidence will be more probative than unfairly prejudicial.
Montgomery, 810 S.W.2d at 389. Unfair prejudice does not mean the evidence injures the
opponent’s case—“the central point of offering evidence.” Rogers v. State, 991 S.W.2d 263,
266 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). “Rather[,] it refers to ‘an undue tendency to suggest a
decision on an improper basis, commonly, though not necessarily, an emotional one.’”
Id. (quoting Cohn v. State, 849 S.W.2d 817, 820 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)).
Although not limited to the following enumerated factors, courts should balance
the following under a Rule 403 analysis: (1) the probative value of the evidence; (2) the
potential for the evidence to impress the jury in some irrational, yet indelible way; (3) the
time needed to develop the evidence; and (4) the proponent’s need for the evidence.
Jones v. State Page 5
Prible, 175 S.W.3d at 733. The trial court is presumed to have conducted a proper
balancing test if it overrules a Rule 403 objection, regardless of whether it conducted the
test on the record. See Williams v. State, 958 S.W.2d 186, 195 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).
As stated earlier, Jones challenged the identity element of the charged offense. The
State needed the complained-of extraneous-offense evidence because it was probative on
the issue of identity, and because it rebutted Jones’s defensive theory. See Moses, 105
S.W.3d at 626 (noting that rebuttal of a defensive theory is one of the permissible purposes
for which extraneous-offense evidence may be admitted); see also Daggett v. State, 187
S.W.3d 444, 453-54 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (stating that extraneous offenses are admissible
to rebut theories raised by testimony of a defense witness during direct examination or a
State’s witness during cross-examination). This is especially true considering there was
no eyewitness to the shooting other than Jones. The record shows that very little time
was spent on developing the complained-of extraneous-offense evidence, and there is
nothing in the record demonstrating that this evidence impressed the jury in some
irrational, yet indelible, way. Thus, we cannot say that the extraneous-offense evidence
confused, distracted, or caused the jury to give the evidence undue weight.
Rule 403 “envisions exclusion of [relevant] evidence only when there is a ‘clear
disparity between the degree of prejudice of the offered evidence and its probative
value.’” Hammer v. State, 296 S.W.3d 555, 568 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (quoting Conner v.
State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001)). We cannot say that there is a “clear
Jones v. State Page 6
disparity” between the danger of unfair prejudice posed by the complained-of
extraneous-offense evidence and its probative value. See id.; see also Conner, 67 S.W.3d at
202. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by
admitting this evidence over Jones’s Rule 403 and 404(b) objections. See TEX. R. EVID. 403,
404(b); see also De La Paz, 279 S.W.3d at 343; Prible, 175 S.W.3d at 731. We overrule Jones’s
first issue.
Gang Testimony
In his second issue, Jones argues that the trial court abused its discretion by
allowing Tydrick Busby, Carter’s cousin, to testify that Jones was in a gang.
At trial, Busby was asked to describe the relationship between Jones and Carter.
Busby responded that he “didn’t like it.” When asked why he did not like the
relationship, Busby noted, “Because he was doing too much. He was in gangs, very
hostile.” This response elicited an objection from Jones that the testimony was not
relevant and that there was “no basis for that type of testimony at this point.” The State
countered that the statement about Jones’s purported gang membership described why
Busby did not like the relationship and “the way that this relationship was going before
the death.” The State further argued that the testimony “goes directly to state of mind,”
although the State did not articulate whose state of mind. The trial court overruled
Jones’s objection and, without a request from Jones, issued the following instruction to
the jury:
Jones v. State Page 7
Ladies and gentlemen, any information that’s being elicited in this line of
questioning is for—can be used for proof of motive, opportunity, intent,
preparation, plan, knowledge, identity or absence of mistake or lack of
accident.
On appeal, Jones asserts that this testimony should have been excluded because it
is violative of Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b). To preserve error for appellate review, a
complaining party must make a timely and specific objection. See TEX. R. APP. P.
33.1(a)(1); Wilson v. State, 71 S.W.3d 346, 349 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Texas courts have
held that points of error must correspond or comport with objections and arguments
made at trial. Dixon v. State, 2 S.W.3d 263, 273 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998); see Wright v. State,
154 S.W.3d 235, 241 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2005, pet. ref’d). “Where a trial objection
does not comport with the issue raised on appeal, the appellant has preserved nothing
for review.” Wright, 154 S.W.3d at 241; see Resendiz v. State, 112 S.W.3d 541, 547 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2003) (holding that an issue was not preserved for appellate review because
appellant’s trial objection did not comport with the issue he raised on appeal). Because
Jones’s relevance objection made in the trial court does not comport with his Rule 404(b)
objection on appeal, we cannot say that he has preserved this complaint for appellate
review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1); Resendiz, 112 S.W.3d at 547; Dixon, 2 S.W.3d at 273;
Wright, 154 S.W.3d at 241; see also Ukwuachu v. State, No. 10-15-00376-CR, 2022 Tex. App.
LEXIS 7284, at *3 (Tex. App.—Waco Sept. 28, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for
publication) (“Ukwuachu’s trial objection was based solely on relevance and did not
Jones v. State Page 8
preserve a Rule 403 or 404(b) objection for our review.”). Accordingly, we overrule
Jones’s second issue.
Court-Appointed Investigator Fees
In his third issue, Jones complains that the trial court improperly assessed $3,000
for court-appointed investigator fees in the bill of costs and judgment.
Here, Jones was determined to be indigent, and as such, the trial court granted
several requests for funds to secure the services of investigators. In particular, on May 3,
2023, the trial court signed a second order granting payment of interim requisition and
allotment of additional funds for an investigator in the amount of $3,000. In the bill of
costs, there is a line item in the section “Mandatory Reimbursement” indicating a charge
for $3,000 in court-appointed investigator fees. However, the same line item also shows
that the $3,000 in court-appointed investigator fees has been paid, leaving a $0 balance.
Because the complaint in this issue is purely monetary, the voluntary payment of the
investigator’s fees rendered the issue moot. See Rios v. State, No. 10-21-00266-CR, ___
S.W.3d ___, 2023 Tex. App. LEXIS 9344, at *4 (Tex. App.—Waco Dec. 14, 2023, no pet. h.)
(mem. op., not designated for publication) (concluding that the voluntary payment of a
fine and court costs rendered the issue moot) (citing Dulin v. State, 620 S.W.3d 129, 131
(Tex. Crim. App. 2021)). We therefore overrule Jones’s third issue.
Jones v. State Page 9
Conclusion
Having overruled all of Jones’s issues on appeal, we affirm the judgment of the
trial court.
STEVE SMITH
Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Johnson, and
Justice Smith
(Chief Justice Gray concurring)
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed February 1, 2024
Publish
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