Albert Munoz v. State

COURT OF APPEALS
EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO, TEXAS
ALBERT MUNOZ, §
No. 08-07-00325-CR
Appellant, §
Appeal from the
v. §
112th District Court
THE STATE OF TEXAS, §
of Upton County, Texas
Appellee. §
(TC# 06-05-U810-CAM)
§
OPINION
Albert Munoz appeals his capital murder conviction. A jury found Appellant guilty and the
court assessed punishment at life in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice, without the possibility of parole. We affirm.
I. PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. Procedural Background
Appellant Albert Munoz was indicted for capital murder, for intentionally causing the death
of Xavier Jonathan Flores, a child under six years. The jury found Munoz guilty of capital murder
as charged in the indictment, and the court assessed punishment at life in the Institutional Division
of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, without the possibility of parole. Appellant files this
appeal raising four points of error challenging the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence and
the exclusion of testimony of two witnesses.
B. Factual Background
Xavier Jonathan Flores was born March 15, 2005, and died on March 12, 2006, three days
prior to his first birthday. He was the youngest of Bobbie Thiesfeld’s four children whose age
ranged from two to five years old. Xavier’s mother, Bobbie, began living with Appellant, Albert
Munoz, in December 2004 prior to Xavier’s birth. While in Odessa, Texas, Bobbie, her four
children, and Appellant lived with different relatives. In late December 2005 Appellant took Bobbie
and her four children to live with his mother and brother in Rankin, Upton County, Texas. In March
2006 Bobbie worked at a local restaurant, and Appellant worked doing contract painting.
On March 12, 2006, Bobbie went to work at 9 or 9:30 a.m. and left her children in the care
of Appellant. Appellant’s mother Oralia Vasquez left to attend church with Appellant’s daughter
and returned home around noon. Appellant’s brother, who had nothing to do with the children, also
left home in the morning. Appellant testified that on that morning he slept until 9:45 at which time
he arose and fed the children, including Xavier. This is disputed. Xavier’s brother testified that he
did not see Appellant feed Xavier, and no food was found in Xavier’s stomach at his autopsy.
Appellant then went to the living room and played video games while the children slept in the
bedroom. Around 12 p.m. Appellant says he went to check on the children and found Xavier either
having trouble breathing or not breathing at which point Bobbie was called at work. Appellant’s
mother returned from church a few minutes later. Bobbie returned home and emergency personnel
were called about Xavier’s condition. Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and promptly took
Xavier to the medical facility in Rankin. At 12:55 p.m., shortly after arriving at the hospital, Xavier
was declared dead. The medical examiner determined that Xavier had died from blunt force trauma
to the head with a hemorrhage to the brain and secondary swelling. In addition to the blunt force
trauma sustained on the right side of the head, he also had a hemorrhage on the left side, which
indicated that the head was in motion when it struck something hard. The medical evidence showed
a crescent-shaped injury to the right side of the head and that the skull sutures were greatly separated.
The medical examiner concluded that the injury was the result of a “tremendous blow,” “a vicious
and violent blow” most likely caused by Xavier’s head striking a hard, rounded object, while
traveling at great velocity. The medical examiner testified that, “[t]he body has to be literally
grabbed by the thorax and then struck extremely hard” and that an adult person would be required
to cause that injury. He testified that the injury could have occurred from one to two hours prior to
death, and that death likely occurred between thirty minutes and an hour prior to when lividity in the
limbs was observed, around 12:25 p.m., the time that Xavier was admitted at Rankin Emergency
Room.
After leaving the hospital, Appellant told Bobbie that he had bumped Xavier’s head on the
bedpost. During an interview with Texas Ranger Jess Malone Appellant admitted to having hit
Xavier’s head against a bedpost. He stated that he removed the bedpost so it could not happen again
because he feared it might be worse next time. The bedpost was located under Appellant’s bed
where he said he placed it. Appellant denied this at trial. Instead he claimed that he had hit Xavier’s
head against the bedpost two days before Xavier’s death, and that he only represented to Ranger
Malone that it had happened the day of Xavier’s death because he was unfamiliar with law
enforcement and wanted to satisfy Ranger Malone. Appellant denied killing Xavier.
The record indicates that the children were poorly parented. Witnesses with firsthand
knowledge testified that Bobbie was a bad parent. At times Bobbie became angry with the children
and had been observed striking the oldest child. There was an incident in which Xavier’s brother
struck him with a plastic bat or a flip-flop (pull toy). Sometime prior to Xavier’s death he had been
examined by medical personnel at the Rankin Hospital. He had experienced difficulty in keeping
his food down and was described as having respiratory problems, i.e., excessive wheezing. Xavier
was released. He was described as small for his age and appeared to be malnourished and underfed.
The autopsy and postmortem testing established that no physical defect contributed to or caused
Xavier’s death. The fact that Xavier was malnourished did not contribute to his death.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Sufficiency of the Evidence
In Points of Error One and Two, Appellant challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the
evidence supporting his conviction. Specifically, he alleges that the evidence is legally insufficient
to prove intentional murder and factually insufficient to convict on capital murder.
1. Standards of Review
a. Legal sufficiency
In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction, we must
review all the evidence, both State and defense, in the light most favorable to the verdict to
determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense
beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789, 61
L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); Lane v. State, 151 S.W.3d 188, 191-92 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). We look at
“‘events occurring before, during and after the commission of the offense and may rely on actions
of the defendant which show an understanding and common design to do the prohibited act.’”
Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) (quoting Cordova v. State, 698 S.W.2d
107, 111 (Tex.CrimApp. 1985)). We do not resolve any conflict of fact or assign credibility to the
witnesses, as it was the function of the trier of fact to do so. See Adelman v. State, 828 S.W.2d 418,
421 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) and Matson v. State, 819 S.W.2d 839, 843 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991).
Instead, our duty is only to determine if both the explicit and implicit findings of the trier of fact are
rational by viewing all of the evidence admitted at trial in a light most favorable to the verdict.
Adelman, 828 S.W.2d at 422. In so doing, any inconsistencies in the evidence are resolved in favor
of the verdict. Matson, 819 S.W.2d at 843.
b. Factual sufficiency
Appellate courts are constitutionally empowered to review the judgment of the trial court to
determine the factual sufficiency of the evidence used to establish the elements of an offense.
Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 6 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000) (citing Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126,
129-30 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996)). In examining the factual sufficiency of the elements of the offense,
all evidence is viewed in a neutral light, favoring neither party. Clewis, 922 S.W.2d at 129. In
performing our review, due deference is given to the fact finder’s determinations. See Johnson, 23
S.W.3d at 8-9. Evidence may be factually insufficient if it is so weak that it would clearly be wrong
and manifestly unjust for the verdict to stand, or “the adverse finding is against the great weight and
preponderance of the available evidence.” Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 11. The question that must be
answered when reviewing factual sufficiency is whether a neutral review of all the evidence, both
for and against the finding, demonstrates that the proof of guilt is so obviously weak as to undermine
confidence in the jury’s determination, or proof of guilt, although ample if taken alone, is greatly
outweighed by contrary proof. Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 11.
Under the first prong of Johnson, we cannot conclude that a conviction is “clearly wrong”
or “manifestly unjust” simply because, on the amount of evidence admitted, we would have voted
to acquit had we been on the jury. Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 417 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006).
Under the second prong of Johnson, we cannot declare that a conflict in the evidence justifies a new
trial simply because we disagree with the jury’s resolution of the conflict. Watson, 204 S.W.3d at
417. In order to find that evidence is factually insufficient to support a verdict, we must be able to
say, with some objective basis in the record, that the great weight and preponderance of the evidence
contradicts the jury’s verdict. Id. We give appropriate deference to the jury with respect to
credibility and weighing of evidence. Torres v. State, 141 S.W.3d 645, 662 (Tex.App.–El Paso
2004, pet. ref’d). The jury is the sole judge of witness credibility and is free to believe or disbelieve
any witness. Id.
2. The Law on Intent
A person commits the offense of murder if he “intentionally or knowingly causes the death
of an individual.” TEX .PEN .CODE ANN . § 19.02(b)(1) (Vernon 2003). A person commits the offense
of capital murder if he commits the offense of murder as defined in section 19.02(b)(1) and “the
person murders an individual under six years of age.” TEX .PEN .CODE ANN . § 19.03(a)(8) (Vernon
Supp. 2008). Appellant was indicted for the offense of capital murder. The indictment alleged that,
on or about March 12, 2006, Appellant “intentionally cause[d] the death of . . . Xavier Jonathan
Flores, by causing the head of said Xavier Jonathan Flores to suffer blunt force trauma in a manner
and means unknown,” and that “Flores was then and there an individual younger than six years of
age.” The application paragraph of the court’s charge tracked the indictment. The court’s charge
and the relevant portion of Texas Penal Code Section 6.03(a) define the culpable mental state of
intentionally as “[a] person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect to a result of his conduct
when it is his conscious objective or desire to cause the result.” “Circumstantial evidence is as
probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor.” Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45,
49 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). Circumstantial evidence alone may be sufficient to establish guilt. Id.
“[T]he standard of review on appeal is the same for both direct and circumstantial evidence cases.”
Id.
3. Analysis of the Evidence
a. Legal sufficiency
After a careful review of all the evidence, we find that the evidence is legally sufficient to
find beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant intentionally caused Xavier’s death by blunt force
trauma to the head. The jury was free to believe the medical testimony that the injury must have
occurred during the time that Appellant was the only adult in the house with Xavier. Dr. Nizam
Peerwani, the medical examiner, testified that the injury could have occurred from an hour to two
hours prior to death, and that death likely occurred between thirty minutes and an hour prior to when
lividity in the limbs was observed at the Rankin Emergency Room, which was sometime around
12:25 p.m. This places the time of the fatal injury sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Bobbie
left for work sometime between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Appellant’s mother left the house for church
at 9 a.m. Appellant testified that he fed Xavier at 9:45 a.m. It would have been impossible for
Appellant to feed Xavier had the injury been inflicted by another adult before leaving the house. Dr.
Peerwani’s testimony was that Xavier would have lost consciousness very rapidly after being struck
if not at the moment of impact. Based on this evidence, a rational jury could find that Appellant was
the only adult in the house when the fatal blow occurred.
Dr. Peerwani indicated that the fatal injury was probably caused by an adult person able to
carry an infant and strike the head on a hard object and that the injury was most likely caused by the
baby’s head itself being put into great velocity and struck into a hard object, as if swung by the
thorax. He testified that the damage to the baby’s skull and brain was too severe to have been caused
by another child, a fall, or being dropped. The evidence establishes that the Appellant was the only
person in the house capable of inflicting the fatal injury. Furthermore, Appellant admitted to the
Rangers and to Xavier’s mother that he hit Xavier’s head against a bedpost and that he removed the
bedpost and placed it under his bed, where it was later recovered. Dr. Peerwani testified that the
bedpost’s shape and hardness could have caused the crescent-shaped fracture in Xavier’s skull.
We do not agree that the evidence is legally insufficient to prove intentional murder. Intent
can be inferred from the extent of the injuries to the victim, the method used to produce the injuries,
and the relative size and strength of the parties. Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 487
(Tex.Crim.App. 1995). Dr. Peerwani testified that the fatal blow to Xavier’s head must have been
“tremendous” and “vicious and violent.” He described in detail the severe damage to Xavier’s skull
and brain including a two-inch fracture in the skull, the “greatly separated” sutures of the skull, the
hemorrhaging of the brain on both the side of the head where he was struck, and the opposite side
where the brain impacted the skull after the initial blow, called the coup and contra-coup. He
explained that based on the coup and contra-coup it was very likely that the baby’s head itself was
in great velocity when it struck a hard, unyielding surface. Dr. Peerwani made it clear that it would
take the strength of an adult to inflict this much damage. In this case, not only is the severity of the
wound on its own legally sufficient to support a finding of intent to cause death when considered
along with the method used to produce the injury and the relative size and strength of the parties,
there clearly exists legally sufficient evidence to support a finding of intent. “Intent can be inferred
from the acts, words, and conduct of the accused.” Patrick 906 S.W.2d at 487. Appellant did not
summon medical aid after injuring Xavier. Instead, Appellant removed the bedpost and placed it
under his bed. Appellant lied about having fed Xavier breakfast. Appellant failed to inform the
EMTs and the doctors at the hospital that Xavier had suffered head trauma. The requisite intent
could be inferred by a rational jury from several items of evidence. Patrick, 906 S.W.2d at 487. We
conclude the evidence is legally sufficient. Taking the evidence in the light most favorable to the
verdict we determine that a rational jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant
intentionally caused Xavier’s death.
b. Factual sufficiency
We find that the evidence is factually sufficient to convict Appellant of the offense of capital
murder of a child under six. We review the evidence in detail. In an effort to cast suspicion on
others, Appellant points to some evidence that Bobbie was abusive and neglectful toward the
children and that Xavier’s brother had struck Xavier with some of his toys. However both of these
persons and their actions are exculpated by the testimony that establishes the injury occurred while
Appellant was the only adult present with the children and that establishes an adult’s strength was
necessary to produce the injury. Appellant denies that he hit Xavier’s head on the day of the child’s
death, but the medical testimony establishes otherwise.
Dr. Peerwani testified that Xavier’s head was likely swung at great velocity and struck
against an object with an adult’s strength, in a “tremendous” and “vicious and violent” blow and that
death would have occurred within one to two hours. The jury was free to disbelieve Appellant’s
testimony that he did not hit Xavier’s head the day of the baby’s death, and that if he did hit Xavier’s
head it was accidental. Appellant’s testimony does not outweigh the medical and physical evidence.
Dr. Peerwani characterized the explanation of an accidental bumping as a “totally unacceptable
explanation for a skull fracture.” There is no contrary evidence which greatly outweighs the jury’s
determination that Appellant intentionally caused Xavier’s death, nor is there any evidence that
indicates the conviction is clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. The aggravating circumstance
required by Texas Penal Code Section 19.03(a)(8) was clearly met. Xavier was eleven months and
some days old; a child under six years of age. We find the evidence is factually sufficient to support
the guilty verdict for capital murder. Points of Error One and Two are overruled.
B. Exclusion of Witnesses’ Testimony
In Points of Error Three and Four, Appellant argues that the trial judge erred in refusing to
allow a CPS worker to testify as to CPS’s recommendation for the children’s placement, and Dr.
Jarvis Wright to testify as an expert in the field of false confessions.
1. Standard of Review
We review a trial court’s ruling on the admission or exclusion of evidence for an abuse of
discretion. See Levario v. State, 964 S.W.2d 290, 296 (Tex.App.–El Paso 1997, no pet.). The trial
court’s rulings should be sustained on appeal if correct on any theory of law applicable to the case.
Weatherred v. State, 975 S.W.2d 323, 323 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998). As long as the trial court’s ruling
was within the zone of reasonable disagreement, the decision will be upheld. Montgomery v. State,
810 S.W.2d 372, 391 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990) (opin. on reh’g); Levario, 964 S.W.2d at 297.
2. The Law on Relevant Evidence
“‘Relevant evidence’ means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact
that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would
be without the evidence.” TEX .R.EVID . 401. “Evidence which is not relevant is inadmissible.”
TEX .R.EVID . 402. “It is important, when determining whether evidence is relevant, that courts
examine the purpose for which the evidence is being introduced.” Layton v. State, 280 S.W.3d 235,
240 (Tex.Crim.App. 2009) (citing Moreno v. State, 858 S.W.2d 453 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993)). “It is
critical that there is a direct or logical connection between the actual evidence and the proposition
sought to be proved.” Layton, 280 S.W.3d at 240.
3. Examination of Tashani Fernandes’s Testimony
In Point of Error Three, Appellant argues that the trial judge erred in refusing to allow
Tashani Fernandes’s testimony. Tashani Fernandes was a CPS caseworker assigned to Bobbie’s
case. She was called to testify about the department’s recommendation for the children. On voir
dire, Ms. Fernandes testified that CPS recommended the children be adopted by other family
members rather than reunited with Bobbie. There was no testimony as to the reasoning behind
CPS’s decision. Ms. Fernandes was assigned to Bobbie’s case after Xavier’s death, and had no
firsthand knowledge of his death. The State objected to the relevance of Ms. Fernandes’ testimony
and the trial court sustained the objection.
At the outset, it is incumbent on Appellant to demonstrate in what respect the proffered
evidence had a tendency to make more or less probable a fact of consequence in the case.
TEX .R.EVID 401. At trial, defense counsel argued that Ms. Fernandes’ testimony was “relevant to
the whereabouts of the children.” If the purpose of introducing CPS’s recommendation was to
establish the whereabouts of the children, it is difficult to understand how their whereabouts during
a point in time when the Appellant had been left in charge of the children makes a fact of
consequence as to Appellant’s defense more or less probable. There is no logical connection
between CPS’s recommendation and the proposition sought to be proved. On appeal Appellant
claims that Ms. Fernandes’ testimony was relevant because it indicated that Bobbie was unsuitable
to care for her children, which could give “the jury some other possible explanation and/or source
of injury to XJF [Xavier] from an adult other than Appellant.” There was ample testimony presented
by others with firsthand knowledge that Bobbie was a bad parent. Once again, CPS’s
recommendation does not have any direct or logical connection to the proposition that some other
adult caused the injury to Xavier. The trial court’s ruling that Ms. Fernandes’ testimony was
irrelevant is not outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. The trial court did not abuse its
discretion in excluding it. Point of Error Three is overruled.
4. The Law on Expert Testimony
The Texas Rules of Evidence set out three separate requirements regarding admissibility of
expert testimony. First, TEX .R.EVID . 104(a) requires that “[p]reliminary questions concerning the
qualification of a person to be a witness . . . be determined by the court. . . .” Second, TEX .R.EVID .
702 states: “If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to
understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by
knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or
otherwise.” And third, TEX .R.EVID . 401 and 402 render testimony admissible only if it “tend[s] to
make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more
probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” Vela v. State, 209 S.W.3d 128,
130-31 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006). We will review the second requirement, TEX .R.EVID . 702.
A trial court’s task under TEX .R.EVID . 702 is to determine whether the proffered expert
testimony “is sufficiently reliable and relevant to help the jury in reaching accurate results.” Kelly
v. State, 824 S.W.2d 568, 572 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) (emphasis added). In Daubert v. Merrell Dow
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 589-93, 113 S. Ct. 2786, 125 L. Ed. 2d 469 (1993), the United
States Supreme Court called on trial judges to serve as gatekeepers to separate good science that can
assist the trier of fact in understanding and determining issues of fact from novel or untested
scientific theory that may mislead the fact finder. “Unreliable . . . scientific evidence simply will not
assist the [jury] to understand the evidence or accurately determine a fact in issue; such evidence
obfuscates rather than leads to an intelligent evaluation of the facts.” Kelly, 824 S.W.2d at 572.
“[E]vidence derived from a scientific theory, to be considered reliable, must satisfy three criteria in
any particular case: (a) the underlying scientific theory must be valid; (b) the technique applying the
theory must be valid; and (c) the technique must have been properly applied on the occasion in
question.” Kelly, 824 S.W.2d at 573. All three criteria must be proven to the trial court, outside the
presence of the jury, before the evidence may be admitted. Kelly, 824 S.W.2d at 573.
Factors that could affect a trial court’s determination of reliability of a scientific theory
include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the extent to which the underlying scientific theory
and technique are accepted as valid by the relevant scientific community, if such a community can
be ascertained; (2) the qualifications of the expert(s) testifying; (3) the existence of literature
supporting or rejecting the underlying scientific theory and technique; (4) the potential rate of error
of the technique; (5) the availability of other experts to test and evaluate the technique; (6) the clarity
with which the underlying scientific theory and technique can be explained to the court; and (7) the
experience and skill of the person(s) who applied the technique on the occasion in question. Kelly,
824 S.W.2d at 573. Before novel scientific evidence may be admitted under TEX .R.EVID . 702, the
proponent must persuade the trial court, by clear and convincing evidence, that the evidence is
reliable and therefore relevant. Kelly, 824 S.W.2d at 573.
5. Examination of Dr. Jarvis Wright’s Testimony
In Point of Error Four, Appellant argues that the trial judge erred in refusing to allow Dr.
Jarvis Wright’s testimony relating to the field of false confessions. The testimony was intended to
rebut the confession and Appellant’s admission that he hit Xavier’s head on a bedpost.
At the hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury, Dr. Wright testified that the field
of false confessions was a relatively new area and an emerging field with which Dr. Wright was
familiar by having read recent literature. Dr. Wright explained that psychologists in the field have
identified several factors which indicate an increased likelihood that a given confession is false.
These factors included the interrogation techniques used, low intelligence, lack of familiarity with
law enforcement, and susceptibility to suggestion. Appellant did not intend to ask Dr. Wright to
give an opinion as to the truth or falsity of Appellant’s confession, but only to testify to a theory that
false confessions occur and that the existence of certain factors make it more likely that a specific
confession is false. Dr. Wright never interviewed, observed, or tested Appellant, nor had he ever
written on, or conducted any testing in the field of false confessions. Dr. Wright’s qualification to
testify as an expert was that he had read literature on the topic and the basis of his testimony was that
he had reviewed Appellant’s confession and school records.
Based on our evaluation of the testimony and application of the Kelly factors for reliability
of scientific theory, we find that the Appellant did not meet his burden of providing by clear and
convincing evidence that Dr. Wright’s testimony was reliable and therefore relevant. Dr. Wright’s
testimony could not have assisted the jury in understanding the evidence or in making a
determination of a fact issue. Dr. Wright did not intend to offer an opinion as to the truth or falsity
of the Appellant’s confession. During cross-examination Appellant admitted the truth of the portions
of his confession that he earlier claimed were inaccurate. The trial court’s decision to exclude Dr.
Wright’s testimony regarding false confessions is within the zone of reasonable disagreement. The
trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding it. Point of Error Four is overruled.
III. CONCLUSION
The evidence in this case was legally and factually sufficient to support Appellant’s
conviction for capital murder. The trial court committed no error in excluding the testimony of
Tashani Fernandes and Dr. Jarvis Wright. Appellant’s four points of error are overruled and the trial
court’s judgment is affirmed.
GUADALUPE RIVERA, Justice
August 19, 2009
Before Chew, C.J., McClure, and Rivera, JJ.
(Do Not Publish)