Ricky Ray Rios v. State

NO. 12-02-00133-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

TYLER, TEXAS

RICKY RAY RIOS,

§ APPEAL FROM THE 173RD

APPELLANT

V.

§ JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

APPELLEE

§ HENDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS MEMORANDUM OPINION

Ricky Ray Rios ("Appellant") was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment. Appellant challenges his conviction in three issues. We affirm.

Background  

At about 8:00 a.m. on September 24, 2001, Henderson County Sheriff's Department deputies Anthony Allison ("Allison") and Richard Ansley ("Ansley") responded to a call made by Judy Whitley ("Whitley") that someone was being assaulted at her home in Henderson County. When the deputies exited their vehicles after arriving at Whitley's home, they heard someone screaming "Help me! Help me! He's going to kill me!" Whitley also yelled to the deputies, "He's going to kill her! He's around back! Stop him before he kills her!"

At that time, Allison and Ansley split up. Allison went around one side of the house, and Ansley went around the other. As soon as the officers rounded their respective corners of the house, they saw Olivia Bennett ("Bennett") on the ground, screaming and yelling for help. Bennett was yelling "Get him off me! He's going to kill me!" The deputies also saw Appellant standing over Bennett in a striking pose with a black pipe in his hand. Allison and Ansley drew their weapons, and Allison ordered Appellant to drop the pipe and back away from Bennett. Appellant complied with Allison's orders and got down on the ground. The deputies restrained Appellant and placed him in a patrol car.

Appellant was indicted by a grand jury for aggravated assault and, after a plea of not guilty, was tried on the charge on April 23, 2002. ⁽¹⁾ Later that day, the jury returned a guilty verdict. On April 24, the jury sentenced Appellant to nine years of imprisonment.

On appeal, Appellant admits that he committed the offense of "simple assault." However, he challenges the jury's guilty verdict in three issues, all contending that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he committed the offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. ⁽²⁾

Sufficiency of the Evidence  

Standard of Review  

Legal sufficiency is the constitutional minimum required by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to sustain a criminal conviction. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 315-16, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2786-787, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); see also Escobedo v. State, 6 S.W.3d 1, 6 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1999, no pet.). The standard for reviewing a legal sufficiency challenge is whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 320, 99 S. Ct. at 2789; see also Johnson v. State, 871 S.W.2d 183, 186 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). The evidence is examined in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 320, 99 S. Ct. at 2789; Johnson, 871 S.W.2d at 186. A successful legal sufficiency challenge will result in rendition of an acquittal by the reviewing court. See Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 41-42, 102 S. Ct. 2211, 2217-218, 72 L. Ed. 2d 652 (1982).

In considering factual sufficiency, we must first assume that the evidence is legally sufficient under the Jackson standard. See Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 134 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). We then consider all of the evidence in the record related to Appellant's sufficiency challenge, not just the evidence which supports the verdict. We review the evidence weighed by the jury which tends

to prove the existence of the elemental fact in dispute and compare it to the evidence which tends to disprove that fact. Santellan v. State, 939 S.W.2d 155, 164 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). We are authorized to disagree with the jury's determination, even if probative evidence exists which supports the verdict. Clewis, 922 S.W.2d at 133. However, factual sufficiency review must be appropriately deferential so as to avoid the appellate court's substituting its own judgment for that of the fact finder. Our evaluation should not substantially intrude upon the jury's role as the sole judge of the weight and credibility of witness testimony. Santellan, 939 S.W.2d at 164. Where there is conflicting evidence, the jury's verdict on such matters is generally regarded as conclusive. See VanZandt v. State, 932 S.W.2d 88, 96 (Tex. App.-El Paso 1996, pet. ref'd). Ultimately, we must ask 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 our confidence in the jury's determination, or the proof of guilt, although adequate if taken alone, is greatly outweighed by contrary proof. Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). We will set aside a verdict "only if the evidence supporting guilt is so obviously weak, or the contrary evidence so overwhelmingly outweighs the supporting evidence, as to render the conviction clearly wrong and manifestly unjust." Ortiz v. State, 93 S.W.3d 79, 87 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).

Applicable Law  

A person commits the offense of assault if he (1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another, (2) intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury, or (3) intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 22.01(a) (Vernon Supp. 2003). The offense of aggravated assault is committed when the person commits assault as defined in section 22.01 and the person (1) causes serious bodily injury to another; or (2) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 22.02(a) (Vernon 1994). A "deadly weapon" is (1) a firearm or anything manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily injury; or (2) anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 1.07(a)(17) (Vernon 1994). To "exhibit" a deadly weapon, the defendant need only consciously display it during the commission of the offense. See Garrett v. State, 998 S.W.2d 307, 311 (Tex. App.-Texarkana 1999, pet. ref'd). A deadly weapon can be "used" by its simple possession if that possession facilitates the associated offense. See Patterson v. State, 769 S.W.2d 938, 941 (Tex. Crim. App.1989); see also McCain v. State, 22 S.W.3d 497, 503 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (determining factor is that deadly weapon was used to facilitate underlying crime). Objects used to threaten deadly force are in fact deadly weapons. Bailey v. State, 38 S.W.3d 157, 158-59 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (citing McCain, 22 S.W.3d at 503). The definition of a deadly weapon does not require that the actor actually intend death or serious bodily injury; an object is a deadly weapon if the actor intends a use of the object in which it would be capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. McCain, 22 S.W.3d at 503. The placement of the word "capable" in the provision enables the statute to cover conduct that threatens deadly force, even if the actor has no intention of actually using deadly force. Id.

The Evidence

At trial, Allison testified that when he and Ansley rounded the corner of Whitley's home, Appellant was standing within about two feet of Bennett "in a leaning forward striking pose" with a two- to two-and-a-half-foot long black pipe in his hand. He also testified that after the altercation was broken up, he examined Bennett and that "she was pretty beat up" and had "red marks on her neck, her cheek, and her forehead" that looked like "fresh abrasions." After Bennett told Allison that one of her family members was taking her to the hospital, Allison left the house and turned over the investigation to another deputy. In Allison's opinion, Bennett's neck injury appeared to be inflicted by the metal pipe wielded by Appellant. Allison also believed that Bennett's facial injuries were inflicted either by the pipe or by Appellant's hand or fist. Allison further told the jury that a metal pipe was "capable of causing serious bodily injury" and would therefore be classified as a deadly weapon.

When Ansley testified, he told the jury that when he rounded the corner, he saw Appellant standing "right in front" of Bennett with a metal pipe in his hand and ordered Appellant to drop the pipe. Ansley identified a picture of the metal pipe that he saw Appellant holding during the altercation and also believed that a metal pipe was capable of causing serious bodily injury. Whitley, Appellant's mother, testified that after Appellant and Bennett went outside after the altercation in the bathroom, she heard Bennett say to Appellant, "Please don't hit me with the pipe." Amber Dodd, Bennett's sister, also stated that Bennett told her on the day of the incident that Appellant had hit her in the head with a "tire tool."

When Bennett testified, she related that she and Appellant had been together for "about three or four years." She stated that on the morning of September 24, 2001, she and Appellant had been arguing because Appellant had accused her of cheating on him, a claim Bennett denied. Bennett further testified that Appellant followed her into the bathroom and hit her head against the wall. At that time, Whitley told Bennett and Appellant to get out of the house. As the two were exiting the house, Bennett testified that she "kept on and kept on" arguing with Appellant when Appellant turned and slapped Bennett "a couple of times." She stated that Appellant had never hit her with anything and that when the deputies arrived, she was sitting down on the porch talking to Appellant. Upon hearing this testimony, Brenda Bourgeois ("Bourgeois"), one of the assistant district attorneys prosecuting the case, attempted to impeach Bennett with a statement she wrote for the authorities after the incident took place: ⁽³⁾

• Olivia, you said in your statement that he choked you in the bathroom, is that true?

A: That's not true. All he did was slam my head up against the wall and I walked out.

Q: You also say in your statement that he grabbed you by your hair and forced you outside. Is that true?

A: That's not true either. I went out behind him aggravating him. And I kept nagging the argument on.

Q: Okay. And when you say that when you got outside, he bashed your head into a truck. Is that true?

A: No.

Q: What about when you say that he drug you around to the back yard and bashed your head into a burn barrel four to five times? Is that true?

A: No.

Q: What about when you say in your statement that the defendant said, "He was going to keep whipping your ass until you admit to it?" Is that true?

A: Well, he slapped me several times and told me, you know, either leave him alone or confess to it. You know, otherwise, he was going to keep on, you know, slap me again. So, I mean, I kept on and I got slapped again.

Q: All right. When you say that the defendant picked you up and grabbed a brick and said, "You can tell me the truth or I will take you out," was that a lie?

A: No, he never got a brick. I just seen a brick on the ground. And like I said, I pretty much put whatever I wanted to in it.

Q: When you say you took off running and that the defendant kicked your feet out from under you and you fell down, was that-

A: No.

Q: Not true?

A: I never took off running. I kept following him, aggravating him.

Q: Okay. And when you say in your statement that the defendant drug you back around to the back yard to the side of the house that he picked up a tire tool and hit you three or four times in the head, that's untrue?

A: He never hit me. He never threatened me with a pipe. He hit the side of the house and threw the pipe down because I mean, I was making him mad.

Q: So everything that you gave - you said in this statement that you wrote on the day of the offense, except for that he hit you, slapped you a bunch of times, everything you said in here is false?

A: Right. I was under the influence of methamphetamines.

Q: Okay. And one last question. When you said in your statement that the defendant said that, "You will be dead before they," referring to the cops, "get there," was that also not true?

A: No. And that's why, I mean, I was trying to get a hold of the D.A. whenever I went up there to sign the papers to drop charges. I tried to get a hold of the D.A. for two weeks to talk to Donna Bennett herself to explain why I wanted to drop the charges because I didn't - first of all, I didn't know charges were filed. Second of all, I wanted to explain I made up my statement and I didn't want it to go this far to court. I wanted to explain, you know, that I made up what I made up, but they wouldn't return my calls. They wouldn't - I mean, they never spoke to me.

Analysis  

The record is replete with evidence to support the essential elements of assault, i.e., that Appellant caused and/or threatened bodily injury to Bennett. Furthermore, Appellant concedes that he committed "simple assault." Both officers testified that they saw Appellant, pipe in hand, either standing very near Bennett or standing over her "in a striking pose." A metal pipe can be a deadly weapon. See McElhaney v. State, 899 S.W.2d 15, 17 (Tex. App.-Tyler 1995, pet. ref'd). Appellant did not have to actually strike Bennett with the pipe in order for this court to affirm the jury's guilty verdict. Where, as here, a deadly weapon was "used" or "exhibited" during the assault, all that has to be shown is that the accused threatened the victim with a weapon that was "capable" of causing death or serious bodily injury. See McCain, 22 S.W.3d at 503. Based on the officers' testimony alone, the jury could have found that Appellant committed the assault on Bennett while exhibiting a deadly weapon. Therefore, after examining the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of aggravated assault beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the evidence was legally sufficient to support the jury's finding of guilt.

Having found that the evidence was legally sufficient to support the jury's verdict, we must now analyze whether the evidence was factually sufficient to support the jury's verdict. In the instant case, when we compare the evidence in favor of a guilty verdict to the evidence in favor of acquittal, we conclude that the proof of guilt is not so obviously weak as to undermine our confidence in the jury's verdict. We further conclude that the proof of guilt is not greatly outweighed by contrary proof. The main evidence that tends to disprove that Appellant used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the assault was the testimony of Bennett, where she testified that Appellant never "threatened [her] with a pipe." We note that, as the exclusive judges of the facts, the credibility of the witnesses, and the weight to be given their testimony, the jury may believe or disbelieve all or any part of a witness's testimony. Penagraph v. State, 623 S.W.2d 341, 343 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981) ("A jury is entitled to accept one version of the facts and reject another or reject any of a witness's testimony."). Where there is conflicting evidence, the jury's verdict on such matters is generally regarded as conclusive. See VanZandt, 932 S.W.2d at 96. Therefore, the jury was free to believe either the officers' or Bennett's version of the facts. The jury chose to believe the officers' account of what they saw, and the officers' testimony supports the jury's finding that Appellant committed the assault and used or exhibited a deadly weapon; i.e., the metal pipe. The jury's decision to accept the officers' description of the facts is reasonable, given the fact that Bennett's statement after the incident is consistent with what the officers and other witnesses observed. Bennett's testimony that after Appellant had hit her, he "picked up the tire tool and hit the side of the house" also demonstrates that Appellant used or exhibited a deadly weapon. At that time, even though he was hitting the side of the house, this action showed that Appellant was threatening deadly force with an instrument that was "capable" of causing serious bodily injury. The evidence was therefore factually sufficient to support the jury's verdict.

Conclusion  

Based upon our review of the record, we hold that the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the jury's verdict of guilt. Therefore, Appellant's three issues are overruled. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

   SAM GRIFFITH

Justice

Opinion delivered February 28, 2003.

Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., and Griffith, J.  

(DO NOT PUBLISH)

1.

The indictment charged Appellant with "intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly caus[ing] bodily injury to Olivia Bennett by striking Olivia Bennett in the head and the defendant did then and there use or exhibit a deadly weapon, to-wit: a metal pipe, during the commission of said assault."

2.

The specific issues set forth in Appellant's brief are (1) the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to prove that Appellant committed the offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon beyond a reasonable doubt, (2) the testimony of the victim suggested that Appellant committed simple assault, and (3) the photographs of the victim were inconsistent with the allegation that she had been struck in the head with a metal pipe.

3.

Bennett's prior inconsistent statement is hearsay and contains hearsay within hearsay; however, Appellant's counsel never objected to it on either basis. Nor was it objected to on the grounds that the proper predicate was not laid in accordance with rule 613(a) of the Texas Rules of Evidence. Therefore, any objection Appellant had to this statement was waived. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1). Unobjected-to hearsay has probative value as substantive evidence and is considered in reviewing sufficiency challenges. See Tex. R. Evid. 802; Fernandez v. State, 805 S.W.2d 451, 455-56 (Tex. Crim. App.1991). Rule 802 of the Texas Rules of Evidence provides that inadmissible hearsay which is admitted without objection will not be denied its probative value simply because it is hearsay. Tex. R. Evid. 802.