Penn, Christopher Lamont

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No.PD-1574-14
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
RECEIVED IN
AUSTIN, TEXAS -RBWWAI APPCnLS
TO 17 2015
CHRISTOPHER PENN
Appellant AbelAcosta.Cteit
V.
F'LED IN
THE STATE OF TEXAS
Appellee COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
FEB 2Q 2015
Review sought from the Court of Appeals Abel Acosta CI
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
Case No. 14-1300263-CR
APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
On Appeal from Cause Number 1345118
From the 185th District Court of Harris County, Texas
Christophen Penn #1847503
Mark W. Michael Unit
2664 FM 2054
Tennessee Colony, TX 75886
Pro-Se
TABLE OF CONTESTS
Table Of Contests i
Index Of Authorities ii
Statement Regarding Oral Argument .1
Statement Of The Case 2
Statement Of Procedural History 3
Grounds For7 Review 4
Ground One:The evidence is insufficient to support the in
dictment and jury charge that Mr.Penn was robbing Reginald
Williams and then shot Reginald Williams. In fact, the ev
idence supports Mr.Penn robbing a different individual.
Ground Two:Mr.Penn was denied due process because there
was no evidence in the record that he was robbing Regin
ald Williams.
Ground Three:The automatic life sentence without parole ::
for a conviction of capital murder violated Due Process
and the individualized sentencing mandated by the United
States Supreme Court.
Ground Four:The court costs should be deleted because :' : :
there is insufficient evidence to support the $504 cost.
Argument 5
Prayer For Relief 21
Certificate Of Service 21
Appendix 22-
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Cases:
Adames v. State,
353 S.W.3d 854 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011) 8
Blue v. State,
41 S.W.3d 129 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000) 10
Byrd v. State?
336 S.W.3d 242 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011) 8
Duran v. State,
363 S.W.3d 719 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2011,pet.:
ref *d) 13
Eddings v. Oklahoma,
455 U.S. 104 (1982)... 11
Glasser v. United States,
315 U.S. 60, 80 (1942) 6
Graham v. Florida,
506 U.S._, 130 S. Ct. 2011 (2010) 12,14,17
Harmelin v. Michigan,
501 U.S. 957 (1991)... .12,14
Heitman v. State, '
815 S.W.2d 681 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991) .17
Jackson v. State, ."'
652 S.W.2d 415 (Tex.Crim.App. 1983) 7
Jackson v. Virginia,
443 U.S. 307 (1979) 6
Jelks v. State,
397'S.W.3d 759 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2013,
i pet. filed) 20
Johnson v. S.tate,
389 S.W.3d 513 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2012,
pet. , granted 18,19
Jones v. State,
944 S.W.2d 642(Tex.Crim.App. 1996) 6
Lockett v. Ohio,
438 U.S. 586 (1978) 11,14
Louis v. State,
393 S.W.3d 246 (Tex.Crim.App. 2012) 7,8
McCormick v. Unites States,
500 U.S. 257 (1991) 8,9
ii
Miller v. Alabama,
132 S. Ct. 2455 (2012). 11,13,14,16,17
Oregon v. Hass,
420 U.S. 714 (1975) 17
Penry v. Lynaugh,
492 U.S. 302 (1989) 11
Perry v. Del Rio,
67 S.W.3d 85 (Tex. 2001). 19
Roper v. Simmons,
543 U.S. 551 (2005) 14
Smith v. Spisak,
558 U.S. 139 (2010)..... 11
Trop v. Dulles,
356 U.S, 86 (1958) 11
United States v. Casilla,
20 Fi3d 600 (5th Cir. 1994) 6
Walker v. State,
701 S.W.2d 2 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1985, pet.::-:
ref 'd 6,7
Wilkerson v. State', A
347 S.W.3d 720 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2011,
pet. ref'd) 12
Woodson v. North Carolina,
428 U.S. 280 (1976) 10,11
Wooley v. State,
273 S.W.3d 260 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) -...9
Constitutions and Statutes
U.S. CONST, amend. XIV 19
TEX. CONST. Art. "I, v§-; 13 16,17,18
TEX. CONST. Art. =-I, § 19 19
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 12.31(,a)(2) 12,13,15,16,18
Tex. Penal Code § 12.42(c)(1) 13
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.03 3
m
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
As relying on the record of evidence oral argument is not request
ed by Appellant, if the Court of Criminal Appeals of Austin, Texas
deems necessary to have oral argument then do so.
1
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Mr.Penn was not arrested at the scene, until 1 year and 1 month
later by detective. Mr.Penn was identified as the shooter of Regin
ald Williams. He was never shown to have robbed or attempted to rob
Mr.Williams. There is a fatal variance between what was pleaded and
what was proven. There is no weapon entered into evidence or finger
prints of Mr.Penn at the scene. The caliber of the bullet in the
victim had never been identified and if so what was established. No
answer was returned to the jury. (C.R. at 147). There was no autospy
report of Mr.Williams entered into evidence to prove the cause of
death. The evidence is legally insufficient to support the convict
ion for capital murder. Futher, this variance denied Mr.Penn due
process to have the State prove what was charged in the indictment.
Because of the statutory punishment scheme for capital murder, Mr.
Penn was never allowed to present a picture of who he is. There was
no mitigation offered. No explanation. There was not a consideration
of the whole man.
There is not an official cost bill in the record. There are some
page purporting to be a cost bill, but there is no evidence the trial
court ever saw those pages. The evidence is insuufficient to support
c
the court costs.
Under TvR.A.P. 66.3 (a)throu(f) reason for granting review should be
applied for this Petition For Discertionary Review on Appellant pet
ition. This Court, the Court Of Criminal Appeals now has jurisdict
ion pursuant to T.R.A.P. 68.2.
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This is an appeal from the felony offense of capital murder. (C.R.
at 149). See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.03. Mr.Penn pleaded not guil
ty and a jury convicted him; he was automatically sentenced to life
without parole in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice. (C.R. at 149). Timely notice of appeal was fil
ed and granted. (C.R. at 154). The Brief For Appellant was filed in
the Court Of Appeals For The Fourteenth District Of Texas Houston,
Texas and Memorandum Opinion filed September 16,2014 was affirmed.
Appellant's Petition For Discertionary Review is due on December 16,
2014. Appellant filed First Motion For Time Extension To File Pro-
Se Petition For Discertionary Review was granted to February 17,2015
GROUNDS FOR REVIEW
Ground One:The evidence is insufficient to support the indictment
and jury charge that Mr.Penn was robbing Reginald Williams and then
shot Reginald Williams. In fact, the evidence supports Mr.Penn was
robbing a different individual.
Ground Two:Mr.Penn was denied due process because there was no evi
dence in the record that he was robbing Reginald Williams.
Ground Three:The automatic life sentence without parole for a con-
yiction of capital murder violated Due Process and the individual
ized sentencing mandate by the United States Supreme Court.
Ground FourrThe court costs should be deleted because there is in
sufficient evidence to support the $504 cost.
ARGUMENT
Ground OnerThe evidence is insufficient to support the indictment
and jury charge that MR.Penn was robbing Reginald Williams and then
shot Reginald Williams. In fact, the evidence supports Mr.Penn was
robbing a different individual.
The indictment avers, in pertinent part:
CHRISTOPHER LAMONT PENN, hereafter styled the Defendant, heretofore
on or about March 11,2011, did then and there unlawfully, while in
the course of commmitting and attempting to commit the ROBBERY of a
REGINALD WILLIAMS by SHOOTING REGINALD WILLIAMS WITH A DEADLY WEAP
ON, NAMELY A FIREARM.
The jury charge tracked the language of the indictment and authoriz
ed the jury to convict:
Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on
or about the 11th day of March, 2011, in HarrisiCounty, Texas, the
defendant, Christopher Lamont Penn, did then anr there unlawfully,
while in the course of committing or attempting to commit the robbery
of Reginald Williams, intentionally cause the death of Reginald Will
iams by shooting Reginald Williams with a deadly weapon, namely a
firearm.
(C.R. at 138).
It was Markquis who stated that Mr.Penn entered the apartment and
grabbed him and was asking "Where is it at?" (3 R.R. at 67). Markquis's
brother had the drugs. (3 R.R. at 68). There was never testimony
from Markquis that Mr.Penn was trying to rob Reginald Williams. Iesha
Fletcher testified that Mr.Penn came in an demanded drugs and then
pulled a gun on Markquis. (3 R.R. at 230-32). Anthony Smith testif
ied the plan all along was for he and Mr.Penn to rob "Black,:"
(Markquis). (4 R.R. at 82-83.
The evidence was overwhelming that the persons robbed were Markquis
Richard, and possibly his brother Malquan. The theory presented by
the State was that Mr.Penn and his brother deliberately chose that
apartment to steal the drugs and money of the Richard brother. Mr.Penn
and his brother had been to the apartment earlier in the day and th-
en specifically returned to rob the Richard brothers. While Regin
ald Williams was present in the house - there was not one iota of
evidence ever presented that Mr.Penn robbed or attempted to rob Re
ginald Williams.
In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court
must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict
to determine if any rational trier of fact could have found the es
sential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, and also
would have found against appellant on any defensive issue beyond a
reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). The
jury is the exclusive judge of the credibility of witnesses and of
the weight to be given their testimony. See Jones v. State, 944 S.
W.2d 642, 647 (Tex.Crim.App.1996). Likewise, reconciliation of con
flicts in the evidence is within the exclusive province of the jury.
See id. All reasonable inferences from the evidence are construed in
favor of the verdict. Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80 (19-
42); United States v. Casilla, 20 F.3d 600, 602 (5th Cir. 1994).
In Walker v. State, a conviction for involuntary manslaughter was
reversed on insufficient evidence because the defendant had been con-
0
victed based upon am allegation of "excessive rate of speed and re-
lessness." Walker v. State, 701 S.W.2d 2, 3 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi
1985, pet. ref'd). The Court reversed, explained "we know that terr
ible collision occurred. We have a "strong suspicion" that appellant
was attempting to negotiate a curve at a higher rate of speed than
was safe, but this has not been established by evidence." Id., 701
S.W.2d at 3. Interestingly, on rehearing, the Court noted that the
'State reminded the G'our't t;here Was 'evidence of alcohol which had
been alleged in one count in the case. Id., 701 S.W.2d at 4. How
ever, the conviction and appeal involved the State's prosecution
upon the count alleging excessive speed and recklessness, neces
sitating a reversal for insufficient evidence. Id.
In Jackson v. State, the defendant was convicted of causing the
i
death of her daughter by striking her on the head with her elbows.
Jackson v. State, 652 S.W.2d 415, 416 (Tex.Crim.App. 1983). The
State's case rested upon the admission of the defendant that she
had hit her child upon the head twice before she died and the medi
cal examiner's testimony regarding different injuries to the child.
Id., 652 S.W.2d at 416-17, 419. The Court of Criminal Appeals rever
sed the conviction as legally insufficient because the doctor could
not determine which injury had caused the death and further, "the
State failed to prove that the elbow blows confessed to by appellant
caused the hemorrhage which ultimately caused the child's death."
Id., 652 S.W.2d at 419.
The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the reversal of a non-death
capital murder conviction because the jury could not have inferred
from the totality of the circumstantial evidence viewed in a light
most favorable to its verdict that the defendant intended to cause
the death of a child. Louis v. State, 393 S.W.3d 246, 251-52 (Tex.
Crim.App. 2012). In Louis, the defendant had beaten the child, but
then left for work and unbeknownst to him, his wife continued with
the abuse. Id. One of the rationales for the court's decision was
"the absence of any evidence showing that the child could or would
have died from the injuries caused by appellant alone-the jury cou
ld not have reasonable inferred that appellant intended to cause the
death of the child." Id.
Similarly, there is evidence of the murder. There is evidence of a
robbery of Markquis and his brother. But there was no evidence of
the robbery or attempted robbery of Reginald Williams. He was a tra
gic bystander to the robbery.
Fatal Variance
"A 'variance' occurs whenever there is a discrepancy between the
allegations in the indictment and the proof offered at trial. Byrd
v. State, 336 S.W.3d 242, 246 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011). "A conviction
that contains a material variance that fails to give the defendant
sufficient notice or would not bar a second prosecution for the same
murder requires reversal, even when the evidence is otherwise legal
ly sufficient to support the conviction." Byrd. 336 S.W.3d at 248.
The conviction for capital murder fails because the evidence is in
sufficient to prove Reginald Williams was the victim of a robbery or
attempted robbery.
Ground TwotMr.Penn was denied due process because there was
no evidence in the record that he was robbing Reginald Will
iams.
While there may have been evidence Mr.Penn robbed Markquis or his
brother there was no evidence Reginald Williams was robbed. Mr.Penn
was deprived of due process because of the failure of proof. In A-
dames v. State, 353 S.W.3d 854, 859-60 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011) cert,
denied, 132 S. Ct. 1763, 182 L. Ed. 2d 533 (2012), the Court of Crim
inal Appeals explained it was error to sustain a conviction based
upon a charge for which the defendant was not indicted for:
The McCormick/Dunn/Cole rule applies only when a defendant is con
victed on a charge that was neither alleged in an indictment nor
presented to the jury, as the defendant is then not given suffici
ent notice as to the" specific charge. "It is as much a violation
v nipii**rTjiii*vmrnzt'!!t*rr*t'rtf,??*s**'r^]' T>i'itfYQyF*tyv,\*vrWnr*TrR]t@*'* "Hfc:
of due process to send an accused to prison following conviction
of a charge on which he was never tried as it would be to convict
:ihim upon a charge that was never made." Here, appellant was .given
notice in the indictment that he was charge with the offense of
capital murder. The State presented evidence of that offense, and
the jury received instructions on that offense, albeit imperfect
as applied to the facts of this case. This is a case of jury-char
ge error distinct from an evidentiary insufficiency; appellant was
convicted on a theory, guilt as a party, that was not presented
to the jury, as opposed to a charge for which he was never tried.
Mr.Penn was not indicted for the robbery or attempted robbery of
he was charge with the attempted robbery of Reginald Williams. While
the evidence may be sufficient as to Markquis-- it is wholly insuff
icient to Reginald Williams.
"Appellate courts are not permitted to affirm convictions on any th
eory they please simply because the facts necessary to support the
theory were presented to the jury." Wooley v. State, 273 S.W.3d 260,
271-72 (Tex. Crim.App. 2008), citing McCormick v. United States, 500
U.S. 257, 270, n. 8 (1991).
These is sufficient evidence to support the conviction. Mr.Penn was
denied due process and the case should be reversed and an acquittal
rendered.
Ground Three:The automatic life sentence without parole for a
conviction of capital murder violated Due Process and the in
dividualized sentencing mandated by the United States Supreme
Court.
During Mr.Penn's testimony at the guilty/innocence phase, he expl
ained a tiny bit of who he was:
We just never had the family that, you know, some people may have
you know. It just - it wasn't ever like that, you know. I didn't
- I never got what I wanted for Christmas, you know, I never was
that child but, you know, it is what it is. I just suck it up.
I'm my own man.
(4 R.R. at 159-60).
There was no objection to the mandatory sentencing scheme. For this
Court to consider the issue, there would have to be fundamental err
or necessitating no objection for preservation. Blue v. State, 41 S.
W.3d 129, 131 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000).
No punishment evidence was presented in Mr.Penn's case because of
the automatic nature of the punishment statute. Neither the judge
nor jury heard about who John Wesley Smith - Also known as Christo
pher Penn - was before he was sentenced toL/life Imprisonment with
out parole.
Factors that mitigate an individual defendant's moral culpability
"ste[m] from the diverse frailies of humankind." Woodson v. North
Carolina, 428 U.S. 280, 304 (1976)(plurality opinion of Stewart,
Powell, and Stevens,JJ.). As the Supreme Court reasoned:
"For the determination of sentences, justice generally requires
consideration of more than the particular, acts by which the;,
crime was committed and that there be taken into account the
circumstances of the offense together with the character and
propensities of the offender." Consideration of both the off
ender and the offense in order to arrive at a just and appro
priate sentence has been viewed as a progressive and humaniz
ing development. (Internal citations omitted).
Woodson, 428 U.S. at 304. Consideration of both the offender and
10
the offense in order to arrive at a just and appropriate sentence
has been viewed as a progressive and humanizing development. Wood
son, 428 U.S. at 304. There was no consideration of the "offender"
in order to arrive at a just and appropriate sentence. None.
The Constitutional Importance of Mitigating Evidence
The denial of an opportunity to present evidence and argument in
favor of mitigation must be considered harmful, there is a reason
able possibility that the jury would have assessed a punishment
less than life without parole. Further, it is not possible to know
what mitigating evidence would have been offered, so the Court
cannotconclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the inability to
present mitigation was harmless.
Eighth Amendment jurisprudence is guided by "the evolving stand
ards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." Mill-
v. Alabama, 132 S. Ct. 2455, 2463 (2012), quoting Trop v. Dulles, 356
U.S. 86, 101 (1958). In a constitutional system of evolving stand
ards, it is legitimate to argue that a well-founded mitigation doc
trine could 'evolve' by expanding from death-penalty law and juven
ile law into adult non-death cases.
".In the context of death-penalty cases, it has long b n the rule
that a judge or jury must have a way to consider mitigating circum
stances when assessing punishment. That rule has been established in
a line of c-ses that includes Lockett v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586 (1978),
Eddings v. Oklahoma, 455 U.S. 104 (1982), Penry v. Lynaugh, 492 U.S.
302 (1989), and Smith v. Spisak, 558 U.S. 139 (2010). As the Court
in Eddings put it, a sentencing jury or judge should not be "pre
cluded from considering, as a mitigating factor, any aspect of a
11
defendant's character and any circumstances of the offense that the
defendant proffers as a basis for a sentence less than death. "Odv-
iously, if a. statute made the death penalty automatic,, with no op
portunity for the fact-finder to consider mitigating evidence, such
a statue would be unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court declined more than 20 years ago to extend its dea
th-penalty jurisprudence regarding mitigation evidence to other typ
es of cases. See Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957 (1991). In Harme-
lin, as in this case, a statute made life without parole mandatory.
The Supreme Court has not considered the merits of that issue then,
but in the wake of Hamelin, Texas courts consistently have declined
to hold that the Texas "automatic life" provision, as the sole alter
native to the death penalty following capital murder convictions, is
unconstitutional. Recent c° es reaching that conclusion include Wilk
erson v. State, 347 S.W.3d 720 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2011,
pet., ref'd) and several memorandum opinions.
In the context of juvenile justice, however, the law has,-in fact,
evolved. In Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S._, 130 S. Ct. 2011 (2010), the
Supreme Court applied an Eighth Amendment analysis to a juvenile's
punishment for a non-homicide offense, and found that a life sentence
was categorically excessive. That was inconsistent with another por
tion of Harmelin, and it laid the foundation for a re-examination of
Part IV of Harmelin, and protion of the opinion concerned with the
preclusive effect of "life without parole" on the consideration of
mitigating circumstances. Cases like Wilkerson and its progeny relied
on the distinction between the two analytical thread in Harmelin to
find that the mandatory sentence dictated by Tex. Penal Code Ann. §
12
12.31(a)(2) did not violate Eighth Amendment.
A year after the Graham decision, a panel of this Court held in June
of 2011 that a mandatory life sentence for an adult convicted of ag
gravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child, under
Tex. Penal Code § 12.42(c)(1) did not violate the U.S. of Texas Con
stitutions. See Duran v. State, 363 S.W.3d 719, 724 (Tex.App.-Houst
on [1st Dist] 2011, pet. ref'd). However, the case did not involve
mandatory life without parole, as this case does. It also did not
involve a finding of guilt that possibly was based on the law of -;
parties, rather than the defendant's own conduct, as this case does.
Further, Duran was decided before the Supreme Court issued its opin-
ion in Miller v. Alabama, which demonstrated an even further deve
lopment of the law on this issue than had already ocurred before th
is Court opinion in Duran. Like the Supreme Court, this Court should
recognize that the standards for what constitutes cruel and unusual
punishment have continued to evolve.
The Decision in Miller v. Alabama
In Miller v. Alabama, The Supreme Court held that life without pa
role, as applied to a juvenile charge with capital murder, "implic-
i. ^
ate[s] two strands of precedent reflecting our concern with proport
ionate punishment." The first strand consisted of cases that "adopt
ed categorical bans on sentencing practices based on mismatches bet
ween the culpability of a class of offenders and the severity of the
penalty." The second strand consisted of "cases [in which] we have
prohibited mandatory imposition of capital punishment, requiring th
at sentencing authorities consider the chatacteristics of a defend
ant and the details of his offense before sentencing him to death."
13
r^»^'Jim^.'^lWAvni'^*fWr^>^M*Ara.TO^'>^ ••».- "trw tmJVin'rxli^ll'.i'As!hm~^3^r^Trr--rrr
It was "the confluence of these two lines of precedent," Miller de
clared, that "lead to the conclusion that mandatory life-without-pa-
role sentences for juveniles violated the Eighth Amendment." Miller,
132 S. Ct. at 2464.
The majority opinion did not explicitly overrule Part IV of Harme
lin. Instead, it said that Harmelin was distinguishable because Harme
lin did not deal with a child, and conclude that "our ruling...nei
ther overrules nor undermines nor conflicts with Harmelin." Id. at
2470.
The holding of Miller does not conflict with Harmelin, but the rea
soning of Miller does. The dissent by Justice Thomas accurately summ
ed up the effect: "The Court now uses [Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551
(2005)] and Graham to jettison Harmelin's clear distinction between
capital and noncapital cases and to apply the former to noncapital
juvenile offenders." Id. at 2486. In short, standards have now "ev
olved" so that the death penalty is not a sine qua for having an Eigh
th Amendment right to consideration of mitigating circumstances at
sentencing.
On the surface, it might seem that life without parole does serve
the penological purpose of retribution, but there are two problems
with that conclusion. First cases from Lockett to Graham support the
principle that the degree of retribution that is appropriate may de
pend on whether there are mitigating factors. An automatic assess
ment of life without parole deprives both the sentencing court and
the parole authorities of the information necessary to make a proper
decision as to how much imprisonment is needed to serve the purpose
of retribution. It is one thing for a judge or jury to hear all of
mitigating evidence and then conclude that, despite any mitigating
14
factors, life without parole is appropriate. It is different when, as
in this cause, the sentence is pronounced as soon as the guilty verd
ict is received.
Second, the incremental retribution which results from life without
parole is imposed at the end of the sentence, i.e. in the period after
forty years elapses (when parole eligibility, though not guaranteed
parole, would have occurred under the old law). At that point, retri
bution is being inflicted on an old man or woman, perhaps an old man
or woman who never intended to kill anyone. The likelihood that a per
son released in his upper fifties, sixties or seventies will be a thr
eat to society is so very small that to insist than an elderly person
die in prison for an offense many decades earlier is unsupportable as
a public-safety measure.
Finally, Section 12.31(a)(2), the mandatory life without parole st
atute creates a logistical problem, even if parole law were to be ch
anged in the future so that the possibility of parole for inmates like
Mr.Penn was restored. Much of the mitigation evidence that would be
germane to parole review might not be available many years in the fu-
ture. For example, information about a defendant's childhood problems
usually must come from parents or other persons who were adults when
the defendant was a child. Those potential witnesses are likely to be
available many years in the future. Similarly, availability of many _,
records diminishes over time. Due to the judicial treatment of a mand
atory life sentence as an automatic sentence, trial courts are not por-
viding an adequate record of possibly mitigating circumstances, either
for later judicial review or later parole review.
The Texas Legislature's move to a mandatory sentence of Life without
parole under which mitigating circumstances can never be considered,
15
does not represent an "evolving standard of decency," but rather a
step backwards to the harsh and simplistic penal theories of the past.
This Court should hold that Section 12.31(a)(2) is unconstitutional be
cause there is no mechanism for consideration•of mitigating circumst
ances in a verdict, no mechanism for recording mitigating evidence for
later consideration, and no opportunity for parole authorities to con
sider mitigating evidence (or other information) in deciding whether a
person is a suitable candidate for parole.
The right to be free from excessive sanctions "flow from the basic
precept of justice that punishment for crime should be graduated and
proportioned to both the offender and the offense." Miller, 132 S. Ct.
at 2453 (internal quotations omitted). Section 12.31(a) should be de
clared unconstitutional because it prohibits the proportioning of pun
ishment to an offender. Even if this Court does not find the statute
to be defective, at least the "without parole" provision should be
struck down. This would provide the Board of Pardons and Parole the
opportunity to consider mitigating evidence, which is considerably
better than the situation created by the present statute.
The automatic punishment of life without parole violates the Texas
Constitution because there is no vehicle for consideration of mitigat
ing evidence to justify a less severe sentence, either by jury or by
parole authorities.
Texas Constitutional Law
The Texas Constitutional counterpart to the Eight Amendment, TEX.T--.
CONST.Art. I, § 13, also is violated by a mandatory life sentence
without parole. The rationale for this argument, i.e., the inability
of the defendant to present mitigating evidence, is the same as the
preceding Eighth Amendment argument. This Court should hold that Sec-
16
tion 12.31(a)(2) violates TEX.COST.Art. I, § 13.
Federal constitutional law merely provides the "floor" for a defend
ant's rights. State law may provide greater protection. Heitman v.
State, 815 S.W.2d 681 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991), pointed out that "a state
is free as a matter of its own law to impose greater restrictions on
police activity than those the Supreme Court holds to be necessary up
on federal constitutional standards." Id. at 683, citing Oregon v.
Hass, 420 U.S. 714 (1975). What was said in Heitman about "police" (ex
ecutive department) action also applies to legislative action, i.e.,
the passage of laws that undermine constitutional safeguards.
Heitman recognized that federal constitutional case law may be persu
asive as to Texas constitutional law, but is not controlling. Just as
Texas courts can consider Harmelin, but are not limited by it, in con
struing Texas constitutional law, they also can consider Graham and
Miller. That does not merely mean following the holding of Supreme
Court cases, but also considering their reasoning. Nothing prohibits
a Texas court from taking the reasoning in Miller and holding that it
applies to the Texas Constitution.
The text of Article I, Section 13. itself provides a reason for a
more expansive interpretation. The section reads in pertinent part:
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel or unusual punishment inflicted..." The Texas Constitution
refers to "cruel or unusual"p,unishment, rather than "cruel and unus
ual" punishment, as the Eight Amendment does. The use of "or" in the
Texas Constitution means an automatic life imprisonment in unconstitu
tional if it is either cruel or unusual. Likewise, it is unusual for
a statute to impose a harsh punishment automatically. In the entire
Penal Code, only two categories of offenders capital murder defendant
17
in cases where the death penalty is waived, and certain repeat sex of
fender-face automatic life sentences.
Furhtermore, the particularly strong respect in Texas for trial by
jury gives a reason for interpreting Article I. § 13 more broadly than
Harmelin interpreted the Eighth Amendment. Texas is one of the few
states with jury sentencing. What an irony that the defendant who
needs it most - a capital murder defendant - is denied one of the main
benefits of jury sentencing, i.e., the consideration of possibly miti
gating circumstances.
The harm analysis is the same as the analysis for the federal consti
tutional challenge, which is incorporated here by reference. As with
federal constitutional error, Mr.Penn asks that Section 12.31(a) be
struck down entirely, with a remand for retrial for murder in this
cause. At the very least, the "without parole" provision of the statue
should be nullified.
Ground Four:The court costs should be deleted because there is
insufficient evid nc to support the $504 cost.
In Johnson v. State, 389 S.W.3d 513 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.]
2012, pet.granted), this Court considered this exact issue. In that
case, Johnson pled guilty to aggravated robbery and was sentence to
a prison sentence. The judgement in his case included $234.00 in
court costs. 389 S.W.3d at 515. However, there was no bill of costs
in the record. 389 S.W.3d at 515. In ordering that the judgement be
modified to delete the assessment of court costs, the Court wrote:
In the face of a sufficiency challenge, an order to supplement
the record, and a complete lack of evidence supporting the tr
ial court's assessment of costs, we will not presume the as-
sesment of costs was accurate. See Armstrong, 340 S.W.3d at
767 (remanding for consideration of sufficiency of the evid
ence to support costs assessment).
18
Id., 5.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution guards
against deprivation of life, liberty, or property by the State with
out due process of law. U.S.CONST.amend.XIV.Article I, Section 19 of
the Texas Constitution requires due course of law. TEX.CONST.art. I,
§ 19; pPerry v. Del Rio, 67 S.W3d 85, 92 (Tex.2001). At a minimum,
due coure requires notice and an opportunity to be heard, at a mean
ingful time and in a meaningful manner. Perry, 67 S.W.3d at 92.
This Court has previous rejected records that were not before
the trial court:
Regardless, there is no indication that this printout was ever
brought to the attention of the judge. Cf. Chambers v. State,
149 Tex. Crim. 400, 194 S.W.2d 774, 775 (1946) (holding that
appellate court would not consider ex parte documents that
were not filed in the trial court); Lamb v. State, 931 S.W.2d
611, 613 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 1996, pet, ref'd) (holding items
that had been tendered after judgement was tendered, and were
neither filed nor offered as proof in court below, would not
be considered on appeal).
Johnson, 389 S.W.3d at 515, n. 1. This new "cost bill" oddly has no
date for the creation of it. A review of the Talbe of Contents of the
Clerk's record shows a filed date for every filed document except
this J.I.M.S. Cost bill. (C.R. at table of contents). The certified
date on the document is dated 6 days after the judgement and has a
signature line with what looks to be the name of "Kathy Tidele." (C.
R. at 153). Writing for this Court, Justice Busby explained why that
sort of signature is unacceptable:
While the computer screen printout bears a dated signature,
the individual who signed the document is not identified.
Nothing in the record shows whether the person who signed
the printout is an officer who charged the cost or. an offr: --:
icer who is entitled to receive payment for the cost. Fur
ther, there is no evidence in the record that this comput
er screen printout was presented to the trial judge before
he included the specific dollar amount in the judgement.
Therefore, we cannot consider the computer screen printout
19
as an appropriate bill of costs in this case.
Jelks v. State, 397 S.W.3d 759, 760 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.]
2013, pet. filed). This simply is not a cost bill as contemplated
and required by law. The evidence is insufficient and the court
costs should be struck.
20
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
Mr.Penn prays this Court reverse the conviction and acquit or al
ternatively remand for a new trial. He also prays the Court delete
the court costs because there is insufficient evidence.
Respectfully
cespec submitted,
Christopher Penn
Appellant Pro-Se
TDCJ-ID No.1847503
Michael Unit
2664 FM 2054
Tennessee Colony, TX 75886
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that I provided a copy of the foregoing Appellant's Pe
tition For Discretionary Review to the Harris County District At
torney by hand delivery to the Sixth Floor at 1201 Franklin Street,
Harris County District Attorneys Office on this \y day of Febr
uary, 201.5.
ft
Clwristopher Penn
Appellant Pro-Se
TDCJ-ID No.1847503
Michael Unit
2664 FM 2054
Tennessee Colony, TX 75886
21
APPENDIX
22
Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed September 16, 2014.
In The
Jfrmrtmttl} OInurt of Appeals
NO. 14-13-00263-CR
CHRISTOPHER LAMONT PENN, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 185th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 1345118
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Ajury convicted appellant Christopher Lamont Penn of capital murder1 and
the trial court assessed a mandatory punishment at life imprisonment without
parole.2 Appellant challenges his conviction in four issues, arguing that (1) the
evidence is legally insufficient to support his capital murder conviction because the
1See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.03(a)(2) (Vernon Supp. 2014).
2See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 12.31(a)(2) (Vernon Supp. 2014).
State did not establish that appellant robbed or attempted to rob the complainant
Reginald Williams; (2). appellant was denied due process because there is no
evidence to support a finding that appellant robbed the complainant; (3) his
mandatory punishment of life imprisonment without parole violates the United
States and Texas Constitutions because it does not allow consideration of
mitigating evidence; and (4) the court costs should be deleted because the record
does not contain a proper bill of costs. We affirm.
Background
On March 11, 2011, appellant told his brother Anthony Smith that he needed
money and asked about a drug dealer Smith knew. The drug dealer, Markquis
Richard, previously had sold marijuana to Smith. Appellant conveyed to Smith
that he intended to go to Richard's apartment to rob him of drugs and money.
Appellant threatened to make Smith stop living in appellant's home if Smith did
not help with the robbery. Appellant and Smith then drove to Richard's apartment;
they planned to rob Richard only if he was alone.
Appellant was armed with a knife when he and Smith arrived at Richard's
apartment. Richard's brother Malquan King was present in the apartment; Ieasha
Fletcher, two other women, and complainant Reginald Williams also were in
Richard's apartment helping Richard pack to move the next day. Appellant and
Smith remained in Richard's apartment briefly, then left so appellant could retrieve
his gun.
Appellant, armed with his gun, and Smith later returned to Richard's
apartment while Richard's brother and friends still were at the apartment. Smith
asked to buy marijuana. As Richard turned to tell his brother to retrieve the
marijuana, appellant grabbed Richard and pointed the gun at Richard's face.
Appellant told Richard, "You know what time it is. Lay it down," which Richard
2
understood to mean appellant was "fixing to rob" him. Appellant laid Richard on
the ground, pointed and waived the gun at everyone present in the apartment, and
asked repeatedly, "[W]here is it at?" King pulled a bag out of his pocket
containing a small amount of marijuana and stated that they did not have any more.
At this point, the complainant jumped up from a nearby bed and ran toward
a bedroom. Appellant fired his gun at the complainant, chased the complainant
into the bedroom, and fired again; the complainant then jumped out of a window.
Richard got up and ran out of the apartment to find a gun or get help. Smith
took the bag of marijuana from King, and then left the apartment with appellant.
Fletcher ran upstairs to her apartment; she found the complainant close by on the
ground screaming for help. The complainant soon died from a gunshot wound to
the torso.
Appellant was charged with capital murder; the indictment alleged that
appellant intentionally caused the death of the complainant "while in the course of
committing and attempting to commit" the robbery of the complainant. A jury
found appellant guilty of capital murder, and the trial court imposed a mandatory
sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Appellant filed a timely appeal.
Analysis
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Appellant argues in his first issue that the evidence is legally insufficient to
support his capital murder conviction because the State did not establish that
appellant robbed or attempted to rob the complainant. According to appellant's
brief, "[T]he evidence supports [that appellant] was robbing a different individual"
when he shot the complainant.
When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we view all of the evidence
in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether, based on that
evidence and any reasonable inferences from it, any rational factfinder could have
found the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Gear v. State, 340
S.W.3d 743, 746 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). In making this review, an appellate
court considers all evidence in the record, whether it was admissible or
inadmissible. Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d 763, 767 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
This standard of review applies to cases involving both direct and circumstantial
evidence. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt
of an actor, and the standard of review on appeal is the same for both direct and
circumstantial evidence cases. Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 49 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2004).
The jury is the exclusive judge of the credibility of witnesses and the weight
of the evidence. See Isassi v. State, 330 S.W.3d 633, 638 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).
We defer to the jury's responsibility to fairly resolve conflicts in the evidence, and
we draw all reasonable inferences from the evidence in favor of the verdict. Id.
Therefore, the testimony of a single eyewitness can be enough to support a
conviction. Lee v. State, 176 S.W.3d 452, 458 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
2004), aff'd, 206 S.W.3d 620 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). In conducting a sufficiency
review, we do not engage in a second evaluation of the weight and credibility of
the evidence, but only ensure the jury reached a rational decision. Young v. State,
358 S.W.3d 790, 801 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, pet. ref d).
A person commits the offense of capital murder if the person intentionally or
knowingly causes the death of an individual in the course of committing or
attempting to commit robbery. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.02(a)(2) (Vernon
2011), § 19.03(a)(2) (Vernon Supp. 2014).
A person commits robbery if, in the course of committing theft and with
intent to obtain or maintain control of the property, the person intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly (1) causes bodily injury to another; or (2) threatens or
places another in fear of imminent bodily injury or death. See Tex. Penal Code
Ann. § 29.02(a) (Vernon 2011).
A person commits theft if he appropriates property without the owner's
consent and with intent to deprive the owner of the property. See Tex. Penal Code
Ann. § 31.03(a), (b)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2014). "Tn the course of committing theft'
means conduct that occurs in an attempt to commit, during the commission, or in
the immediate flight after the attempt or commission of theft." Tex. Penal Code
Ann. § 29.01(1) (Vernon 2011).
Appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence establishing
that he killed the complainant and robbed Markquis Richard and Malquan King.
Appellant concedes in his brief that the "evidence was overwhelming that the
persons robbed were Markquis Richard, and possibly his brother Malquan. . . .
There is evidence of a robbery of Markquis and his brother."
Appellant instead challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his
capital murder conviction by contending there is no evidence that he killed the
complainant while robbing or attempting to rob the complainant. Appellant
argues that the complainant was only a "bystander" to the robbery of Richard and
King. Appellant contends he was not stealing or attempting to steal from the
complainant when he shot the complainant; therefore, appellant contends he did
not rob or attempt to rob the complainant.
In essence, appellant argues that the victim of the theft and the victim of the
robbery must be identical, and the individual assaulted in the course of committing
theft must be the intended victim of the theft in order to commit a robbery. We
disagree.
Theft is the underlying offense for a robbery. Ex parte Hawkins, 6 S.W.3d
554, 560 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Robbery is a form of assault. Id.; Boston v.
State, 373 S.W.3d 832, 839 (Tex. App.—Austin 2012), aff'd, 410 S.W.3d 321
(Tex. Crim. App. 2013). "[T]he offense of robbery includes any violence in the
course of effectuating [a] theft as well as any violence while in immediate flight
from the scene of the theft." Lightner v. State, 535 S.W.2d 176, 177 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1976) (affirming aggravated robbery conviction of defendant who assaulted a
police officer after stealing money from a cash register).
To prove robbery, the State is not required to prove that the complainant's
property was taken. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 29.01(1), 29.02(a). "No
completed theft is required for the proscribed conduct to constitute the offense of
robbery." White v. State, 671 S.W.2d 40, 41 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984); Sweed v.
State, 321 S.W.3d 42, 47 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010), rev'd on other
grounds, 351 S.W.3d 63 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Camacho v. State, 825 S.W.2d
168, 170 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1992, pet. ref d). "Nor is it necessary that the
victim of the theft or attempted theft and the victim of the robbery be the same."
White, 671 S.W.2d at 41-42 (affirming aggravated robbery conviction of getaway
driver who shot pursuing bystander in order to free companion who had attempted
to steal a purse); Sweed, 321 S.W.3d at 47 (affirming aggravated robbery
conviction and holding appellant was not entitled to a lesser-included instruction
on theft); Camacho, 825 S.W.2d at 170 (affirming conviction of two counts of
aggravated robbery where defendant threatened one employee while stealing
money from him and then threatened another employee before driving away in a
car).
There is ample evidence in this case that appellant and Smith went to
Richard's apartment intending to steal drugs and money from Richard. Appellant
grabbed Richard and pointed a gun at Richard's face. Appellant laid Richard on
the ground, pointed and waived a gun at everyone present in the apartment, and
asked repeatedly, "[W]here is it at?" Richard's brother King then pulled a bag
with a small amount of marijuana out of his pocket. The complainant, who was
among those present in the apartment, jumped up from a nearby bed at that point
and ran toward a bedroom. Appellant immediately fired his gun at the
complainant; chased the complainant into the bedroom; and fired at the
complainant again, striking the complainant in the torso and killing him. Smith
took the bag of marijuana from King and then left the apartment together with
appellant.
This evidence is sufficient for a reasonable jury to conclude that appellant
intentionally, caused the complainant's death while in the course of committing the
robbery of the complainant. This evidence is sufficient because the victim of the
theft and the victim of the robbery need not be the same. See White, 671 S.W.2d at
41-42; Sweed, 321 S.W.3d at 47; Camacho, 825 S.W.2d at 170. Appellant
committed robbery by intentionally causing bodily injury to the complainant in the
course of committing the theft of Richard's marijuana and with intent to obtain
control of the marijuana.
Accordingly, we reject appellant's contention that the evidence in this case
is legally insufficient to support his capital murder conviction on the ground that
there is no evidence that he killed the complainant in the course of robbing or
attempting to rob the complainant. Thus, we conclude that the evidence is legally
sufficient to support appellant's capital murder conviction.
We overrule appellant's first issue.
II. Due Process
Appellant contends in his second issue that he was "denied due process
because there was no evidence in the record that he was robbing" the complainant.
Appellant citesAdames v. State, 353 S.W.3d 854, 859-60 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011),
for this proposition: "[T]he Court of Criminal Appeals explained it was error to
sustain a conviction based upon a charge for which the defendant was not
indicted." Appellant also states that he "was not indicted for the robbery or
attempted robbery of [Richard] - he was charged with the attempted robbery of
[the complainant]. While the evidence may be sufficient as to [Richard] - it is
wholly insufficient [a]s to [the complainant]." Appellant concludes his argument
by stating that "[t]here is insufficient evidence to support the conviction.
[Appellant] was denied due process and the case should be reversed and an
acquittal rendered."
We reject appellant's contention. First, appellant was not convicted "based
upon a charge for which [he] was not indicted." Appellant was indicted for
intentionally causing the death of the complainant while in the course of
committing and attempting to commit robbery; and the charge essentially tracked
the indictment language. Second, we already have concluded that the evidence is
legally sufficient to support the jury's finding that appellant robbed the
complainant and thus is sufficient to support appellant's capital murder conviction.
Accordingly, there is no due process violation as asserted by appellant.
We overrule appellant's second issue.
III. Punishment
Appellant argues in his third issue that the automatic punishment of life
without parole violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution
and article 1, section 13 of the Texas Constitution because the sentencing scheme
provided no opportunity for the consideration of mitigating evidence.
The Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure require a party to preserve error for
appellate review by demonstrating the error on the record. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a);
Clark v. State, 305 S.W.3d 351, 354 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010),
aff'd, 365 S.W.3d 333 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). The party must make the
complaint in a timely manner and state the grounds for the ruling that the
complaining party seeks from the trial court with sufficient specificity to make the
trial court aware of the complaint, unless the specific grounds were apparent from
the context. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A). In raising the complaint on appeal, the
party must ensure the issue is the same as the complaint or objection made during
trial. Clark, 305 S.W.3d at 354. Even constitutional errors can be waived if a
party fails to properly object to the errors at trial. Id. at 355. A challenge to the
constitutionality of a statute may not be raised for the first time on appeal.
Karenev v. State, 281 S.W.3d 428, 434 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (facial challenges);
Curry v. State, 910 S.W.2d 490, 496 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995) (as-applied
challenges). Therefore, if a party's objection at trial does not correspond with its
issue on appeal, the party has waived that issue. Clark, 305 S.W.3d at 354.
Appellant failed to preserve error by voicing his complaint in the trial court,
and appellant concedes that "[t]here was no objection to the mandatory sentencing
scheme" in the trial court. This court already has rejected a substantially similar
complaint as asserted by appellant based on failure to preserve error in the trial
court and held that this complaint did not constitute a complaint of fundamental
error. Cerna v. State, No. 14-12-01126-CR, 2014 WL 3908117, at *6 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Aug 12, 2014, no pet. h.); see also Wilkerson v. State,
141 S.W.3d 720, 722-23 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, pet. refd)
(rejecting similar complaint based on failure to preserve error in the trial court).
We overrule appellant's third issue.
IV. Court Costs
Appellant argues in his fourth issue that the assessed court costs should be
deleted from the judgment because there is no bill of costs in the record. Appellant
contends that a Harris County Justice Information Management System (JIMS)
"Cost Bill Assessment" is not a proper bill of costs "as contemplated and required
by law" because it was signed by a deputy clerk and dated six days after the trial
court judgment was signed.
We review the assessment of court costs on appeal to determine if there is a
basis for the costs, not to determine whether there was sufficient evidence offered
at trial to prove each cost. Johnson v. State, 423 S.W.3d 385, 390 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2014). Traditional sufficiency-of-the-evidence standards of review do not
apply. Id.
Generally, a bill of costs must (1) contain the items of cost, (2) be signed by
the officer who charged the cost or the officer who is entitled to receive payment
for the cost, and (3) be certified. Id. at 392-93; see Tex. Crim. Proc. Code Ann.
arts. 103.001, 103.006 (Vernon 2006). The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
has held that a JIMS report constitutes an appropriate bill of costs if the report
itemizes the accrued court costs in the appellant's case, contains a certification by
the trial court clerk that the document is a true and correct copy of the original, and
is signed by a deputy clerk. Johnson, 423 S.W.3d at 393.
10
The record in this case contains a computer-screen printout of the Harris
County Justice Information Management System (JIMS) "Cost Bill Assessment."
The JIMS report in this record is a compliant bill of costs because it contains an
itemized list of costs in appellant's case, a certification by the district clerk that the
document is a true and correct copy of the original, and a signature of a deputy
district clerk. See id. at 392-93. That the bill of costs was not prepared until after
the trial court signed the judgment does not defeat the lawfulness of the bill of
costs. Id. at 394. Accordingly, appellant's argument provides no basis for relief.
There being no challenge to any specific cost or the basis for the assessment of
such cost, the bill of costs supports the costs assessed in the judgment. See id. at
395.
We overrule appellant's fourth issue.
Conclusion
Having overruled appellant's four issues, we affirm the trial court's
judgment.
/s/ William J. Boyce
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Boyce, Busby and Wise.
Do not Publish — Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).
11