Rudy Olivares v. State

NO. 07-07-0457-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL C

NOVEMBER 10, 2008

______________________________

RUDY OLIVARES, APPELLANT

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

_________________________________

FROM THE 140^TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;

NO. 2007-415492; HON. JIM BOB DARNELL, PRESIDING

_______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

          Appellant, Rudy Olivares, appeals his conviction for aggravated assault and his punishment of confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a period of 20 years. This appeal follows. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Factual and Procedural Background

          On February 27, 2007, appellant and Janet Armstrong were residing together at Janet’s duplex. On that day, appellant was attempting to rotate the tires on Janet’s vehicle and encountered difficulty in completing the task. As a result, appellant and Jessica, Janet’s daughter, made several trips to a friend’s home and later to auto parts businesses in an attempt to obtain various tools and parts to complete the job. Appellant became more frustrated and angry and consumed at least six beers during the afternoon and evening. Ultimately, appellant began shouting and cursing at Jessica which lead Janet to instruct Jessica to call 911. Appellant went to the bedroom where Jessica was making the 911 call and began assaulting her by grabbing Jessica by the throat and forcing her against the wall of the bedroom. Janet went into the bedroom, saw what appellant was doing and attempted to pull him away from Jessica. At this time, appellant began hitting Jessica with his fist and then picked up an air pump in the bedroom and began striking both Jessica and Janet. As the assault played out, both Janet and Jessica ended up on the floor of the bedroom with Janet laying across Jessica in an attempt to shield her from the assault. After several blows, appellant suddenly stopped the assault and walked away from the duplex. Another 911 call was placed and the police arrived to find both victims at the duplex. The State alleged the air pump to be the deadly weapon used in commission of the assault.

          Appellant was indicted in a two count indictment alleging that he committed the offense of aggravated assault on Janet Armstrong and her daughter, Jessica. At the conclusion of the trial, the trial court submitted the Court’s Charge that contained charges on the lesser included offense of assault as to both counts of the indictment. The jury found appellant guilty of aggravated assault as to Janet Armstrong. As to Jessica Armstrong, the jury found appellant guilty of the lesser included offense of assault.

          The record at the trial included numerous pictures of both victims that demonstrated the severity of the assaults. Each victim testified about what had transpired and the medical attention that they received after the assault. Appellant was arrested at a nearby convenience store shortly after the police arrived at the scene. After his arrest appellant was read his Miranda rights and proceeded to answer questions and make a statement about the assault. All of appellant’s answers and statements were recorded on the police officer’s in-car video camera. This recording was played into evidence for the jury. After hearing all of the evidence, the jury convicted appellant of aggravated assault on Janet and assault on Jessica. It is from the verdict of aggravated assault that appellant appeals.

          Through a single issue, appellant contends that the evidence was factually insufficient to sustain the conviction of aggravated assault. We disagree and will affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Standard of Review

          When an appellant challenges the factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction, the reviewing court must determine whether, considering all the evidence in a neutral light, the jury was rationally justified in finding the appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. See Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 415 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006). In performing a factual sufficiency review, we must give deference to the fact finder’s determinations if supported by evidence and may not order a new trial simply because we may disagree with the verdict. See id. at 414. As an appellate court, we are not justified in ordering a new trial unless there is some objective basis in the record demonstrating that the great weight and preponderance of the evidence contradicts the jury’s verdict. See id. at 417. Additionally, an appellate opinion addressing factual sufficiency must include a discussion of the most important evidence that appellant claims undermines the jury’s verdict. Sims v. State, 99 S.W.3d 600, 603 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003).

Aggravated Assault

          The indictment against appellant accused him of intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly causing bodily injury to Janet Armstrong, by striking her with a “hard object” and that appellant did use a “deadly weapon, to-wit: an air pump, that in the manner of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury.” Thus, appellant was charged with aggravated assault. At trial, appellant conceded to the jury that an assault had occurred. The central issue at trial, and before this Court, is whether the evidence supports the jury’s implied finding of the use of a deadly weapon. A deadly weapon can be anything that “in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.” See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 1.07(a)(17) (Vernon Supp. 2008). Serious bodily injury is defined as “bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or causes death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.” See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 1.07(a)(46) (Vernon Supp. 2008).

          An air pump is not a deadly weapon per se. See Hill v. State, 913 S.W.2d 581, 582-83 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996). However, the fact that the item in question is not a per se deadly weapon does not mean it could not be found to be a deadly weapon based upon the manner of its use or intended use. Id. (explaining that the use or intended use must be capable of causing death or serious bodily injury). It is not, however, required that the State prove that the item in question did in fact cause serious bodily injury. See Bui v. State, 964 S.W.2d 335, 342 (Tex.App.–Texarkana 1998, pet. ref’d). In ascertaining whether the particular item is a deadly weapon, it need only be used in a manner capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. See Bailey v. State, 38 S.W.3d 157, 158-59 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001). In determining the intent of the appellant to use an item as a deadly weapon, the jury is entitled to consider appellant’s statements made during and after the incident. Bui, 964 S.W.2d at 343.

Application

          The evidence at trial showed that Jessica was the first person assaulted by appellant. Further, the evidence demonstrated that Jessica was punched in the face by appellant at least twice. Jessica was unable to testify about how many times she was struck by the air pump, but knew she was hit at least once on top of the head with the air pump. However, Janet testified that she was struck at least three times in the head with the air pump. When the police arrived on the scene there was blood splatter in the bedroom which Janet identified as coming from the wounds she received to her head. When the air pump was taken into custody, there were strands of hair found attached to the pump. Janet testified that she was in pain after the attack. Pictures, taken on the night of the assault, clearly show that Janet was more seriously injured than Jessica. Also, it is significant that appellant told the victims that “ I’m really going to f _ _ _ you up.” Appellant also made the same type of statement to the police officer when, after being arrested, he told the officer, “So I beat the f_ _ _ out of them.”

          By his issue, appellant seems to take the position that, since the jury found appellant guilty of the lesser included offense of assault on Jessica, any finding of guilty on the aggravated assault on Janet is automatically irrational and, therefore, factually insufficient. It is this fact that appellant posits should undermine our confidence in the jury verdict and, therefore, requires reversal. Sims, 99 S.W.3d at 603. However, this theory belies the jury’s right to weigh the evidence and to draw appropriate inferences from the evidence. See Barnum v. State, 7 S.W.3d 782, 789 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 1999, pet. ref’d). The record contains the testimony of at least three different police officers each opining that the air pump was a deadly weapon that, by virtue of the manner of its use and intended use, was capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. The jury was entitled to rely upon this expert testimony in its determination of the deadly weapon portion of the State’s indictment. See Lucero v. State, 915 S.W.2d 612, 615 (Tex.App.–El Paso 1996, pet. ref’d). A review of the pictures entered into evidence would support a conclusion that Janet suffered a more severe beating than Jessica. The severity of the injury is also a factor to be considered when making the deadly weapon determination. See Bethel v. State, 842 S.W.2d 804, 807 (Tex.App.–Houston [1^st Dist.] 1992, no pet.). Finally, we must remember that, in analyzing the evidence, the jury was required to determine whether or not the proposed deadly weapon was capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. See Bailey, 38 S.W.3d at 158-59 (emphasis added).

          When all of the evidence is reviewed in a neutral light and we consider the differences in the testimony of Janet and Jessica regarding the number of times they were struck with the air pump, the jury could rationally find in the manner of the use and intended use that the air pump was capable of causing the death or serious bodily injury to Janet. When the testimony of the police officers is added to this consideration, we cannot say that the jury acted irrationally in finding appellant guilty of aggravated assault of Janet. Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 415. Accordingly, appellant’s issue is overruled.

Conclusion

          Having overruled appellant’s issue, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Mackey K. Hancock

Do not publish.                                        Justice

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NO. 07-10-0493-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL D

JANUARY 26, 2011

______________________________

IN RE: LUIS AGUILAR,

Relator

_________________________________

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

_______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J.. and CAMPBELL and PIRTLE, JJ.

DISSENTING OPINION

            The majority finds that Relator, Luis Aguilar, has an adequate remedy at law through appeal and, accordingly, denies his request for either a writ of mandamus or a writ of prohibition.  I respectfully disagree.

            In the Justice of the Peace Court in and for Potter County, Texas, Relator sued the Real Party in Interest, Dutcher's Auto Collision Repair, L.L.C., for breach of contract concerning repairs to his vehicle. On May 12, 2010, following a bench trial on the merits, the Justice of the Peace Court rendered judgment disposing of both the Relator's claims and the Real Party in Interest's counterclaims. On May 24, 2010, the court signed an order granting Plaintiff's motion for new trial.  Subsequently, on June 10, 2010, the court signed a written judgment memorializing its original judgment of May 12.  The Real Party in Interest then appealed the case to the Potter County Court at Law No. 2 by the filing of an appeal bond on June 21, 2010.  On November 8, 2010, the Potter County Court at Law No. 2 entered an order remanding the case to the Justice of the Peace Court for a trial on the merits.  Relator now seeks to have this Court direct the Potter County Court at Law No. 2 to vacate its order of November 8 or prohibit that court from remanding this case to the Justice of the Peace Court for a retrial.

Analysis

            In order to be entitled to relief by writ of mandamus or writ of prohibition, a relator must meet two requirements: one is to show that the trial court clearly abused its discretion, and the other is to show that it has no adequate remedy by appeal.  In re Ford Motor Co., 988 S.W.2d 714, 718 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding); Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840-44 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). "An appellate remedy is 'adequate' when any benefits to mandamus review are outweighed by the detriments." In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 136 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). 

            An aggrieved party may appeal a justice court judgment to the county court.  See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.001 (West 2008).  The result is a trial de novo. Tex. R. Civ. P. 574b. An appeal of a justice court judgment is perfected "[w]hen the bond, . . . , provided for in the rules applicable to justice courts, has been filed and the previous requirements have been complied with . . . ."  Tex. R. Civ. P. 573.  The appeal bond must be filed within ten days after the date the judgment in question is signed.  Tex. R. Civ. P. 571.  In computing the ten day period prescribed by Rule 571 for the filing of an appeal bond, when the last day of the period is a Sunday, the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.  Tex. R. Civ. P. 4.

            Thus, for the Real Party in Interest in this case to appeal the June 10 judgment of the Justice of the Peace Court, it was required to file an appeal bond by June 20.  Because June 20, 2010, was a Sunday, the appeal bond filed on June 21 was timely. The timely filing of the appeal bond had the effect of vesting the Potter County Court at Law No. 2 with jurisdiction to conduct a trial de novo.  Because the Potter County Court at Law did not have jurisdiction to remand the case to the justice court, much less appear to authorize a retrial, it abused its discretion by attempting to do so. 

            In this situation, appellate review is inadequate because the benefits of mandamus and/or prohibition greatly outweigh the detriments.  This is so because (1) a county court's jurisdiction, as invoked by an "appeal" from a justice court, does not include the authority to review the propriety of the justice court's ruling and to "remand" this case for a trial on the merits, Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.001 (West 2008), Tex. R. Civ. P. 574b; (2) even if the case were remanded and retried, either party would still be entitled to trial de novo before the same county court simply by perfecting another "appeal" following the same procedures, resulting in a duplication of proceedings and the waste of valuable judicial time and resources; (3) remanding a cause to justice court for retrial effectively establishes a circulative procedure whereby a case could never reach a judgment which is ultimately final and appealable to this Court; and  (4) the granting of mandamus or prohibition relief will not result in any, or at most, negligible detriment to the parties.

Conclusion

            Because I find that the Potter County Court at Law abused its discretion in remanding this case to the justice court for retrial, and because I find that Relator has no adequate remedy at law, I would conditionally grant Relator's petition for writ of mandamus and/or writ of prohibition based on the refusal of the Potter County Court at Law to vacate its order of November 8, 2010, and proceed appropriately to a determination of the merits of the pending action after the remand is vacated.

                                                                                      Patrick A. Pirtle

                                                                                            Justice