Hollins, Artavious Deon

PD-1331&1332-15
PD-1331&1332-15 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Transmitted 10/16/2015 10:42:26 AM
Accepted 10/16/2015 2:44:04 PM
ABEL ACOSTA
CLERK
In the
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Cause Nos. 01-14-00744-CR & 01-14-00745-CR
In the
Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas
at Houston
Cause Nos. 1326112 and 1383738
In the 248th District Court
Of Harris County, Texas
ARTAVIOUS DEON HOLLINS
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
Appellee
PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
Casey Garrett
4010 Bluebonnet, Ste. 204
Houston, Texas 77025
(713)228-3800
Texas Bar No. 00787197
Casey.garrett@sbcglobal.net
October 16, 2015
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
Appellant: Artavious Deon Hollins
Counsel for Appellant at Trial:
Mr. T. B. Todd Dupont, II
Texas State Bar No. 24004289
3700 North Main Street
Houston, Texas 77009
713-682-1800
Mr. Mike Driver
Texas Bar No. 24069634
402 Main, 4th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
713-417-4809
Counsel for Appellant on Appeal:
Casey Garrett
4010 Bluebonnet, Suite 204
Houston, Texas 77025
Texas Bar No. 00787197
713-228-3800
Casey.garrett@sbcglobal.net
Counsel for the State at Trial:
John Wakefield
Assistant District Attorney
Texas Bar No. 24054125
1201 Franklin Street, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77002
713-755-6881
Counsel for the State on Appeal:
Harris County District Attorney's Office
Appellate Division
1201 Franklin, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77002
(713)755-5800
Trial Judge: The Honorable Katherine Cabaniss
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES 4
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT 5
STATEMENT OF THE CASE 5
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY 5
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW 6
REASONS FOR REVIEW 6
PRAYER 11
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 12
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Cantu v. State, 395 S.W.3d 202 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist] 2012) 9
Forest v. State, 989 S.W.2d 365,368 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) 9
Wiley v. State, 74 S.W.3d 399,405 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) 7
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
Oral argument would not be helpful to the resolution of this case.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Mr. Artavious Hollins was charged by indictment with the felony offense of
murder (R.R.3 - 14). He was also indicted with the felony offense of tampering
with evidence (R.R.3 - 14). Mr. Hollins pled not guilty to both of the charges and
the cases were tried together before a jury (R.R.3 - 14). The jury found Mr.
Hollins guilty of murder and guilty of tampering with evidence (C.R. 308). The
jury assessed punishment at confinement for life in the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice, Institutional Division, in the murder case. The jury assessed
punishment at confinement for twenty-five years in the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice, Institutional Division, in the tampering case. Mr. Hollins filed
timely notice of appeal.
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The Court of Appeals filed a memorandum opinion affirming both
convictions on August 27, 2015. No motion for rehearing was filed. Pursuant to
Rule 68.2 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, this Petition for
Discretionary Review should be filed thirty days after the day the court of appeals
filed its opinion. A motion for extension of time was filed within fifteen days of
the due date.
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW
Is evidence sufficient to support a murder conviction when the
witnesses for the State and the defense agree that the accused was not
the aggressor, the accused repeatedly declined to fight with the
complainant and retreated into his home, the complainant went into his
home after instigating a yelling match with him, and the accused neither
intended nor even knew the complainant had been shot?
Is evidence sufficient to support a conviction for tampering when the
testimony showed the accused discarded clothing and a weapon in close
proximity to the location where the incident took place, and no
evidence indicated by words or deeds that accused intended to conceal
or alter evidence?
REASONS FOR REVIEW
The decision of the court of appeals conflicts with applicable
decisions of the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court
of the United States.
APPELLANT'S FIRST QUESTION FOR REVIEW
Is evidence sufficient to support a murder conviction when the
witnesses for the State and the defense agree that the accused was not
the aggressor, the accused repeatedly declined to fight with the
complainant and retreated into his home, the complainant went into his
home after instigating a yelling match with him, and the accused neither
intended nor even knew the complainant had been shot?
To sustain a conviction for murder the evidence must demonstrate that the
person (1) intentionally or knowingly (2) caused the death of an individual. Tex.
Penal Code Ann. sec. 19.02 (b) (1). A person acts "intentionally" or with intent
with respect to the nature of his conduct or to a result of his conduct when it is "his
conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result." Tex.
Penal Code Ann. sec. 6.03(a); Wise, 364 S.W.3d at 903. A person acts knowingly
or with knowledge of the nature of his conduct or circumstances "when he is
aware of the nature of his conduct or that the circumstances exist." Tex. Penal
Code Ann. sec. 6.03(b).S.W.3d at 659-62; Wiley v. State, 74 S.W.3d 399, 405
(Tex. Crim. App. 2002).
In the instant case, all the witnesses agreed, both the witnesses for the State
and the ones for the defense, that Shae instigated a conflict between Mr. Hollins
and Derrick Williams and Mr. Hollins repeatedly retreated into his apartment from
this conflict. Tranea Jones and Andre Lewis both testified that Mr. Hollins initially
got into a verbal argument with Shae, but he consistently retreated into his
apartment any time the argument escalated or any time it looked like someone was
trying to take it to the next level. All the witnesses agree that Shae called D over to
the complex to harass and Mr. Hollins and damage his apartment, and everyone
agreed Shae and D threw rocks, sticks and other items at the doors and windows of
the apartment, taunting him to come out. Lewis, Jones and Mr. Hollins all testified
that Mr. Hollins stayed securely inside his apartment on that occasion.
On the day of the shooting, likewise all the witnesses' agree that Mr.
Hollins did not start or cause any arguments and that Shae, Williams and Lewis
were being aggressive toward Mr. Hollins. Mr. Lewis testified that every time Mr.
Hollins would begin to come out toward the courtyard and the other residents
began escalating the fight or walking toward him, he would immediately retreat
back into his home. Tranea Jones testified that Derrick Williams threatened to
"whoop his behind," and Mr. Hollins continued to retreat until eventually he began
saying things like, "well, come on, come on then," and eventually said, "come into
my house." Tranea Jones referred to this statement as an "invitation," but her
testimony made clear that she understood it to be in the nature of a dare, more of a
way to call the bluff of Derrick Williams and Andre Lewis by daring them to
follow Mr. Hollins into his own home. In fact, Tranea got Andre Lewis involved
because she could tell that Derrick Williams was pursuing the conflict and heading
toward Mr. Hollins' apartment.
All the witnesses testified that there was a struggle for a gun inside Mr.
Hollins' apartment. Tranea Jones testified, "I was already around there because
when Artavious realized that he had shot Derrick - because I don't think
Artavious knew he shot Derrick until he seen Derrick when Derrick said, "it didn't
have to go like this." (R.R.3 - 167). Mr. Hollins also testified he didn't know if
anyone was hurt when he ran away from the scene. He knew the gun had gone off,
and he knew Derrick Williams had fallen somewhere outside of his apartment, but
he was not aware that Derrick Williams had been shot.
Despite the inconsistencies in testimony, the witnesses at trial made several
things clear: 1) Mr. Hollins was not the aggressor in any of the incidents at Casa
Nube Apartments; 2) Mr. Hollins repeatedly declined to fight with the neighbors
who were trying to instigate a conflict and instead retreated into his home; 3)
Derrick Williams and Andre Lewis went into his home in the midst of a yelling
match when at least one other resident believed a fight was about to start; and 4)
8
Mr. Hollins did not intend to shoot or even know he'd shot Derrick Williams after
the tussle in his apartment.
Firing a gun in the direction of an individual is an act clearly dangerous to
human life within the meaning of the murder statute. Forest v. State, 989 S.W.2d
365, 368 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Struggling for control of a gun, however, when
two aggressors have followed you into your own apartment after days of verbal
harassment and property damage, is not an act clearly dangerous to human life. In
Cantu v. State, 395 S.W.3d 202 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012), this Court
rejected the defendant's claims that the gun was accidentally discharged while he
tried to take it from the defendant. In that case, however, expert testimony showed
that the defendant had staged the evidence. In the instant case, by contrast, even
the State's own witnesses believed the gun accidentally discharged, and all the
witnesses agreed that the complainant and Mr. Hollins struggled for control of the
gun.
APPELLANT'S SECOND QUESTION FOR REVIEW
Is evidence sufficient to support a conviction for tampering when the
testimony showed the accused discarded clothing and a weapon in close
proximity to the location where the incident took place, and no
evidence indicated by words or deeds that accused intended to conceal
or alter evidence?
The evidence must demonstrate that the person (1) knowing that an
investigation or official proceeding is pending or in progress (2) alters, destroys or
conceals any thing with intent to impair its availability as evidence. Tex. Penal
Code Ann. sec. 37.09(a). (West 2014). A person acts "intentionally" or with intent
with respect to the nature of his conduct or to a result of his conduct when it is "his
conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result." Tex.
Penal Code Ann. sec. 6.03(a); Wise, 364 S.W.3d at 903. A person acts knowingly
or with knowledge of the nature of his conduct or circumstances "when he is
aware of the nature of his conduct or that the circumstances exist." Tex. Penal
Code Ann. sec. 6.03(b).
Officer Christopher Castellani testified he was in pursuit of a man wearing
a white shirt and a black hat (R.R.3 - 48). He said another officer found a white
shirt and a black hat in a different location (R.R.3 - 48). He said later that day a
dog found a firearm in the bushes not far from where the shirt and hat were found
(R.R.3 - 54). The dog found a pink Palmer frame pistol with a black slide (R.R.3 -
71). The distance between the pistol and the clothing was a matter of seconds on
foot (R.R.3 - 71). A tank top style tshirt was found at the scene (R.R.3 - 94). All
the items were in the vicinity and very close to the apartment complex where the
shooting took place (R.R.3 - 101).
The investigating officers found all of the evidence in locations very close
to where Mr. Hollins had been confronted by a group of angry neighbors. The
evidence merely showed that he discarded the evidence as he fled the scene, not
that he concealed or altered or otherwise attempted to prevent the investigation
from proceeding. To the contrary, investigators found a tank top next to the body
of Derrick Williams. The pistol in this case was found steps from where Mr.
Hollins' other clothing was found. The State was unable to demonstrate that Mr.
10
Hollins concealed any evidence and unable to demonstrate that he intended to
conceal any evidence. The evidence at trial was legally insufficient to support a
conviction for tampering and the case should be reversed and Mr. Hollins should
be acquitted.
PRAYER
Appellant respectfully prays this Honorable Court to grant his petition for
discretionary review.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Casey Garrett
Casey Garrett
4010 Bluebonnet, Ste. 204
Houston, Texas 77025
(713)228-3800
Texas Bar No. 00787197
11
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
This is to certify that a copy of the foregoing instrument has been supplied
to the Harris County District Attorney's Office in accordance with the rules of
appellate procedure.
_/s/ Casey Garrett
Casey Garrett
4010 Bluebonnet, Ste. 204
Houston, Texas 77025
(713)228-3800
Texas Bar No. 00787197
12
In the
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Cause Nos. 01-14-00744-CR & 01-14-00745-CR
In the
Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas
at Houston
ARTAVIOUS DEON HOLLINS
Appellant
THE STATE OF TEXAS
Appellee
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
Casey Garrett
4010 Bluebonnet, Ste. 204
Houston, Texas 77025
(713)228-3800
Texas Bar No. 00787197
This is the certify that the Petition for Discretionary Review filed in
the above-numbered cause has 2.042 words in compliance with Rule 9 of
the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
_/s/ Casey Garrett
Casey Garrett
4010 Bluebonnet, Ste. 204
Houston, Texas 77025
(713)228-3800
Texas Bar No. 00787197
JUDGMENT
Court of Appeals;
Jfirjst 3Btetrtct of Cexa*
NO. 01-14-00744-CR
ARTAVIOUS DEON HOLLINS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
Appeal from the 248th District Court of Harris County. (Tr. Ct. No. 1326112).
This case is an appeal from the final judgment signed by the trial court on August
29, 2014. After submitting the case on the appellate record and the arguments properly
raised by the parties, the Court holds that the trial court's judgment contains no reversible
error. Accordingly, the Court affirms the trial court's judgment.
The Court orders that this decision be certified below for observance.
Judgment rendered August 27, 2015.
Panel consists of Justices Jennings, Bland, and Brown. Opinion delivered by Justice
Jennings.
JUDGMENT
Court of gppeate
Jfir*t JBtetrtct of Cexaa
NO. 01-14-00745-CR
ARTAVIOUS DEON HOLLINS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
Appeal from the 248th District Court of Harris County. (Tr. Ct. No. 1383738).
This case is an appeal from the final judgment signed by the trial court on August
29, 2014. After submitting the case on the appellate record and the arguments properly
raised by the parties, the Court holds that the trial court's judgment contains no reversible
error. Accordingly, the Court affirms the trial court's judgment.
The Court orders that this decision be certified below for observance.
Judgment rendered August 27, 2015.
Panel consists of Justices Jennings, Bland, and Brown. Opinion delivered by Justice
Jennings.
Opinion issued August 27, 2015
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
$ tot JBtetrict of Cexa*
NO. 01-14-00744-CR
NO. 01-14-00745-CR
ARTAVIOUS DEON HOLLINS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 248th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Case Nos. 1326112 and 1383738
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A jury found appellant, Artavious Deon Hollins, guilty of the offenses of
murder1 and tampering with physical evidence.2 After finding true the allegations
in two enhancement paragraphs in each indictment that appellant had been twice
previously convicted of felony offenses, the jury assessed his punishment at
confinement for life for the offense of murder and twenty-five years for the offense
of tampering with physical evidence. The trial court ordered that the sentences run
concurrently, and it entered an affirmative finding that appellant used a deadly
weapon in the commission of the offense of murder. In three issues, appellant
contends that the evidence is legally insufficient to support his convictions and the
trial court erred in admitting certain testimony.
We affirm.
Background
Tranea Jones testified that when she awoke in her apartment on the morning
of November 5, 2011, she heard the complainant, who lived in a nearby apartment
building, outside "laughing, drinking, and talking with 'Shae,'" her neighbor.
Appellant, who lived in the apartment below her, then came out of his apartment,
and he and the complainant "started yelling comments at each other." This
1 See TEX. Penal Code Ann. § 19.02 (Vernon 2011); appellate cause no. 01-14-
00744-CR; trial court cause no. 1326112.
2 See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 37.09(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2014); appellate cause
no. 01-14-00745-CR; trial court cause no. 1383738.
behavior continued off and on throughout the day. Eventually, Jones's boyfriend,
Andre Lewis, who lived with her, went downstairs to appellant's apartment to
diffuse the situation. Jones, who had followed Lewis, heard appellant, who was
standing inside his apartment with the front door open, tell the complainant and
Lewis to "come on" and "come in," "like he was going to use it for self-defense."
Jones then saw the complainant walk into appellant's apartment, where he began
"tussling" with appellant. Jones explained that although neither appellant nor
Lewis had a weapon, appellant "pulled a gun," which was "chrome" and "pink,"
from "behind his back," "cockfed] it," and said, "Man, you up in my house."
Jones then saw the complainant attempt to take the gun from appellant, heard a
"pop and click," and then saw the complainant come back outside and fall to the
ground. Jones "didn't think" that appellant realized that he had shot the
complainant until he came out and saw him. The complainant then said, "It didn't
have to go like this." Appellant, who was in a white shirt and black hat, then
locked his apartment door and "ran off."
Jones further explained that about a week before the shooting, appellant had
begun quarreling with his neighbors. On one occasion, two of her neighbors,
"Shae" and another neighbor, had thrown "wood boards and rocks" through
appellant's apartment windows. And they had kicked his door, trying to "lure"
appellant outside. Jones recalled having seen a footprint on appellant's door
thereafter.
Lewis testified that about a week before the shooting, he had intervened in a
disagreement between appellant and Jones and Shae. Appellant told Lewis that he
was "going to call his people." And, thirty minutes later, when "cars started
pulling up" into the apartment complex, Lewis, believing that his life was in
danger, went to his apartment and put his "pistol" in his pocket. After "the cars"
left the apartment complex without incident, Lewis went to appellant, who was
standing outside, and told him to go back in his apartment and leave Jones and
Shae alone. Lewis explained that he had exhibited his handgun as he talked with
appellant. At about 8:30 or 9:00 p.m., Shae's boyfriend, "D," arrived and
"bang[edj" on appellant's door, trying to get him to come outside. Lewis then
heard appellant open his door, exchange words with D, and then close the door.
Lewis then heard D, who was wearing Nike "Air Force 1" athletic shoes, kick
appellant's door. D also picked up a "log" and threw it through appellant's "patio
window." After appellant did not open the door, D left.
On November 5, 2011, when Lewis heard appellant and the complainant
arguing, he went downstairs to intervene. Lewis did not have his handgun with
him at the time, and the complainant did not have a weapon. When appellant
"invited" Lewis and the complainant into his apartment, Lewis thought that
appellant wanted to talk. As soon as they were inside, however, appellant said,
"You in my house," and he pulled a "pink and chrome" handgun from his back,
"cock[ed] it," and began running at them. After appellant hit the complainant's
face with the handgun, the complainant "grabbed" either the handgun or
appellant's "wrist" or "hand." The "gun went off," and the complainant ran out of
the apartment and fell to the ground. Appellant then picked up the handgun,
locked his door, and "took off."
Rafael Narvaez testified that on November 5, 2011, appellant came into his
second-hand clothing store and purchased a pair of shorts, a shirt, and tennis shoes.
Appellant changed into his new clothes and paid Narvaez for a ride to a nearby
shopping center.
Houston Police Department ("HPD") Officer C. Castellani testified that on
November 5, 2011, he was dispatched to investigate the shooting of the
complainant. He received a description of the suspect as a "black male wearing a
white shirt [and] black hat." When he arrived at the scene of the shooting,
Castellani learned that HPD officers had found, about a "tenth of a mile" away
from the scene, a "white button down shirt" and black baseball cap in a ditch next
to a building.
HPD Officer M. Barnette, assigned to HPD's canine unit, testified that he
was dispatched to the scene of the shooting to locate appellant, who had fled. His
dog found, under a bush "30 feet" from the hat and shirt, a "pink Palmer frame
pistol with a black slide."
HPD Officer A. Holmes testified that when he arrived at the scene at around
5:15 p.m., about two hours after the shooting, he found a "muddy" print of a right
shoe on the front door of appellant's apartment. He noted that there was "no mud
in the area" and the "footprint was dry." Although the print matched that of the
sole of the complainant's right shoe, which was a Nike "Air Jordan" athletic shoe,
it was also consistent with that of a Nike "Air Force 1" athletic shoe. Holmes
further identified the recovered firearm as a "semi-automatic 9 millimeter pistol."
And he noted that a "spent casing was found in the chamber."
S. Doyle, M.D., a medical examiner at the Harris County Institute of
Forensic Sciences, testified that her autopsy of the complainant's body revealed
that a bullet entered the left side of his chest under his armpit and exited on the
right side of his chest. The cause of his death was a "gunshot wound to the torso."
And, based on the wounds inflicted, she opined that the complainant was shot at
close range, meaning from "less than three feet away."
Appellant testified that the week before the shooting, he had a disagreement
with his neighbor, Shae, because she, without his permission, had given his
telephone number to Jones. Appellant explained that Jones's boyfriend, Lewis,
was "extremely crazy jealous." While appellant was arguing with Shae, Jones
walked up. Appellant then ended the discussion and went into his apartment.
Later that day, Lewis questioned appellant about the argument, "act[ed] like he
want[ed] to fight," and "displayed his little handgun."
Later that evening, appellant heard a loud banging on his front door. When
he opened it, he saw Jones, Shae, Lewis, and a person that he had not seen before
standing outside his door. They told him to come outside, and, after he refused and
slammed his door, someone started throwing "bricks and sticks" through his
windows. Appellant then called for emergency assistance. Once law enforcement
officers arrived, however, he was unable to fully identify those involved by their
last names. Appellant and his wife then went to stay in a hotel for a few days.
On the afternoon of November 5, 2011, appellant, having returned to his
apartment, saw Shae and "a bunch of people" standing around outside their
apartments after several of them had received eviction notices. Later, appellant
asked a neighbor to drive his wife to her appointment at a nail salon. As they were
leaving, the complainant approached appellant at his front porch and tried to say
something. When appellant told him to leave, the complainant responded, "Oh,
you think you tough, huh?" The complainant was "mad" and continued "making
statements" toward appellant. Appellant then saw his wife off and went back
inside his apartment.
About an hour later, appellant heard a noise, but when he looked outside, he
did not see anything. He noted that although he had locked the gate to the fence
surrounding his front porch, he had not locked his front door. He then called a
friend, threw his cellular telephone on his couch, and went into a washroom.
When he came out, the complainant and Lewis were in his apartment. Appellant
emphasized that he had not "provoke[d]" or "invite[d]" the complainant and Lewis
to come into his apartment. As appellant reached for his telephone, the
complainant "pulled out his gun," which appellant described as pink in color, and
"tried to hit" him with it. Appellant, who noted that both the complainant and
Lewis "had guns," "ended up snatching [the complainant's gun] away from him."
"After that, a loud bang went off." The complainant and Lewis "backed out
together," and the "pink gun" landed on the ground. Lewis then "slung" the
complainant to the ground and "took off."
Appellant, afraid that Lewis was "going to go get somebody" to "come back
and kill [him]," "grabbed the firearm that was laying on the ground" and his
telephone, locked his front door, and ran. He admitted that while he was running,
he threw away his shirt, hat, and the firearm. Because he was afraid that he was
not going to "make it . . . down the street," he went into a second-hand clothing
store and purchased a new shirt, shorts, and shoes. He then paid the store owner to
drive him to a parking lot near his wife's nail salon. He and his wife then stayed
with a relative in Dallas until he was later arrested. Appellant explained that at the
time he fled, he did not know that the complainant had been shot. And he noted, "I
wasn't trying to shoot him, but I guess I did sho[o]t him." Appellant asserted that
he was "trying to protect" himself from the complainant.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
In his second issue in cause number 01-14-00744-CR, appellant argues that
the evidence is "legally insufficient to support his conviction for murder" because
it does not establish that he intended to shoot the complainant. He asserts that
"even the State's own witnesses believed [that] the gun [had] accidentally
discharged." In his sole issue in cause number 01-14-00745-CR, appellant argues
that the evidence is legally insufficient to support his conviction for the offense of
tampering with physical evidence because it does not establish that he actually
concealed the handgun. He asserts that the "evidence merely showed that he
discarded [it] as he fled the scene."
We review the legal sufficiency of the evidence by considering all of the
evidence in the light most favorable to the jury's 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,
2788-89 (1979); Williams v. State, 235 S.W.3d 742, 750 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
Our role is that of a due process safeguard, ensuring only the rationality of the trier
of fact's finding of the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable
doubt. See Moreno v. State, 755 S.W.2d 866, 867 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). We
give deference to the responsibility of the fact finder to fairly resolve conflicts in
testimony, weigh evidence, and draw reasonable inferences from the facts.
Williams, 235 S.W.3d at 750. However, our duty requires us to "ensure that the
evidence presented actually supports a conclusion that the defendant committed"
the criminal offense of which he is accused. Id.
Murder
A person commits the offense of murder if he (1) intentionally or knowingly
causes the death of an individual or (2) intends to cause serious bodily injury and
commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an
individual. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.02(b) (Vernon 2011). Here, appellant
stood accused under both theories, and the trial court instructed the jury
accordingly. In response to the court's charge, the jury returned a general verdict
of guilty. When a trial court submits alternative theories of conviction to a jury,
and the jury returns a general verdict, we will uphold the verdict if the evidence is
sufficient to support any one of the alternative theories. See Sorto v. State, 173
S.W.3d 469, 472 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
A person acts intentionally with respect to the nature of his conduct or to a
result of his conduct when it is his conscious objective or desire to engage in the
10
conduct or cause the result. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 6.03(a) (Vernon 2011). A
person acts knowingly with respect to a result of his conduct when he is aware that
his conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result. Id. § 6.03(b); Schroeder v.
State, 123 S.W.3d 398, 400 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) ("Murder is a 'result of
conduct' offense, which means that the culpable mental state relates to the result of
the conduct, i.e., the causing of the death.").
Proof of a mental state almost always depends upon circumstantial evidence.
Smith v. State, 56 S.W.3d 739, 745 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet.
ref d). A jury may infer intent or knowledge from any facts that tend to prove its
existence, including the acts, words, conduct of the accused, and the method of
committing the offense. Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 50 (Tex. Crim. App.
2004); Hart v. State, 89 S.W.3d 61, 64 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). A jury may infer
the intent to kill from the use of a deadly weapon unless it would not be reasonable
to infer that death or serious bodily injury could result from the use of the weapon.
Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 647 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). A firearm is a deadly
weapon per se. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 1.07(a)(17)(A) (Vernon Supp. 2014).
Here, Jones testified that appellant told the complainant and Lewis to come
into his apartment "like he was going to use it for self-defense." After they
entered, appellant "pulled a gun" from "behind his back" and "cocked it." And
although appellant denied that the gun was his, he admitted that he held the gun
11
from which the shot was fired that caused the complainant's death. Dr. Doyle
testified that the complainant's death was caused by a bullet, shot from "less than
three feet away," entering the left side of his chest under his armpit and exiting
through the right side of his chest. The use of a deadly weapon, itself, constitutes
more than a "mere modicum" of evidence of intent to kill. Moreno, 755 S.W.2d at
868 n.3. And when, as here, "a deadly weapon is fired at close range, and death
results, the law presumes an intent to kill." See Childs v. State, 21 S.W.3d 631,
635 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. refd).
Appellant asserts that although he fired the shot that killed the complainant,
the evidence shows that the shooting was not intentional. First, "[a]ll of the
witnesses testified that there was a struggle for a gun inside [the complainant's]
apartment." However, evidence of a struggle does not necessarily negate
deliberate conduct. See Turner v. State, 805 S.W.2d 423, 428 (Tex. Crim. App.
1991). Notably, appellant's testimony reveals that it was "after" he had
"snatch[ed]" the handgun "away from" the complainant that "a loud bang went
off." This evidence supports an implied finding by the jury that appellant, at some
point, aimed the handgun at the complainant and fired. See Adanandus v. State,
866 S.W.2d 210, 231 n.19 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) ("The fact that the struggle^
Appellant does not contend that the evidence is legally insufficient to support the
jury's implicit rejection of his self-defense claim. See Washington v. State, No.
01-08-00140-CR, 2009 WL 40168, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist] Jan. 8,
2009) (mem. op., not designated for publication).
12
occurred quickly does not amount to evidence that appellant did not have the intent
to cause the death of the deceased at the moment he aimed his gun and fired.").
Further, appellant testified that after the shooting, he picked up the handgun
and ran from the scene, discarding it and his shirt and hat as he ran. And he
immediately purchased new clothing and shoes and then went to Dallas and stayed
with a relative until he was arrested a month later. Evidence of flight and attempts
to cover up guilt are relevant to show a defendant's consciousness of guilt.
Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 780 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (holding factfinder
may draw inference of guilt from circumstance of flight); Robinson v. State, 236
S.W.3d 260, 267 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. refd) (holding
evidence of flight and intent to remain on run probative of consciousness of guilt);
Miller v. State, 177 S.W.3d 177, 184 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet.
refd) (defendant's flight immediately after shooting and attempts to hide evidence
constituted circumstantial evidence of guilt).
Appellant asserts that he "didn't know if anyone was hurt when he ran away
from the scene." He "knew the gun had gone off, and he knew [the complainant]
had fallen somewhere outside of his apartment, but he was not aware that [the
complainant] had been shot." Jones testified, however, that she "didn't think
[appellant] knew he shot" the complainant until he saw him outside the apartment
and the complainant said, "It didn't have to go like this." We must presume that
13
the jury resolved any conflicting inferences in favor of the verdict and defer to that
resolution. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 326, 99 S. Ct. at 2793; Clayton, 235 S.W.3d
at 778.
Although appellant testified that he did not intend to kill the complainant,
the jurors, as the exclusive judges of the facts, the credibility of the witnesses, and
the weight to be given their testimony, were free to believe or disbelieve all or any
part of appellant's testimony. See Sorto, 173 S.W.3d at 475; McKinny v. State, 76
S.W.3d 463, 468-69 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.).
Viewing all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict,
we conclude that a rational trier of fact could have reasonably found that appellant
intentionally or knowingly caused the death of the complainant. See Tex. Penal
Code Ann. § 19.02(b). Accordingly, we hold that the evidence is legally sufficient
to support appellant's conviction for the offense of murder.
We overrule appellant's second issue in cause number 01-14-00744-CR.
Tampering with Physical Evidence
A person commits the offense of tampering with physical evidence if he,
(1) knowing that an investigation or official proceeding is pending or in progress,
(2) alters, destroys, or conceals any "thing," (3) with intent to impair its verity,
legibility, or availability as evidence in the investigation or official proceeding.
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 37.09(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2014). This Court has
14
explained that the term "pending," as used in the statute, means "impending, or
about to take place." Lumpkin v. State, 129 S.W.3d 659, 663 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2004, pet. refd). Although "conceal" is not defined in the Penal Code,
courts have held that it means to "hide" or to "removfe] from sight or notice." See
Rotenberry v. State, 245 S.W.3d 583, 588-89 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007, pet.
refd); Hollingsworth v. State, 15 S.W.3d 586, 595 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000, no
pet.).
Here, the State alleged that appellant, "knowing that an investigation was
pending," concealed a firearm "with intent to impair its availability as evidence in
the investigation." The record reveals that immediately after the shooting, the
complainant collapsed in front of appellant's apartment. Lewis testified that while
he was applying pressure to the complainant's gunshot wound, he called for
emergency assistance. Jones testified that when appellant saw the complainant "hit
the ground," he had a look of panic on his face. And he "ran in his house," "did
everything he had to do in seconds," then "locked his door, and . . . took off
running out the gate by the office." She noted that appellant was wearing a white
shirt and a hat.
Officer Castellani testified that while he was "en route" to the scene of the
shooting, he received a description of the suspect as a "black male wearing a white
shirt [and] black hat." When he arrived at the scene, Officer Lozano told him that
15
he had found a white "button down" shirt and black baseball cap in a ditch next to
a building, about a tenth of a mile away from the scene of the shooting. Officer
Barnette testified that his dog located, under a Ligustrum bush about thirty feet
away from the shirt and hat, a "pink Palmer frame pistol with a black slide." He
noted that none of the officers involved in the search had seen the handgun until
the dog alerted on it. And Officer Rodriguez noted that it was dusk and "at least
two officers" were in the ditch area before Barnette arrived with his dog.
Rodriguez opined that "somebody [had] intentionally put [the firearm] underneath
the bushes."
Appellant himself testified that after the shooting, he ran away with the
handgun because a man had just been shot in his apartment and he knew that police
officers would be coming to the scene. However, he explained that he did not
"hide" the handgun under a bush. Rather, because "somebody was chasing" him,
he "just threw everything."
Appellant argues that the evidence merely shows that he "discarded" the
handgun as he fled the scene, not that he "concealed" it, because it was found just a
few steps away from his hat and shirt. The jury was free, however, to take all of
the evidence into account and believe or disbelieve any portion of appellant's
testimony. See Sorto, 173 S.W.3d at 475. Again, we act only to ensure that the
jury reached a rational decision. See Moreno, 755 S.W.2d at 867. And
16
"[circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the
guilt of an actor, and circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish
guilt." Merritt v. State, 368 S.W.3d 516, 525 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012).
Based on the above evidence, the jury could have reasonably inferred that
appellant, knowing that Lewis had seen him shoot the complainant and had already
called for emergency assistance, and knowing that police officers were coming to
the scene, knew that an investigation was "impending, or about to take place." See
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 37.09(a)(1); Lumpkin, 129 S.W.3d at 663. Further,
because the handgun was found underneath a bush and only after a dog had
performed a search of the area, the jury could have reasonably inferred that
appellant concealed the handgun with intent to impair its availability as evidence.
See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 37.09(a)(1); see also Bennett v. State, No. 14-02-
00647-CR, 2003 WL 21782524, at *2 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] July 31,
2003, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (noting officers'
discovery of contraband hidden in tree moss only after dog alerted to tree
constituted evidence of defendant's intent to conceal contraband).
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict, we
conclude that it could have reasonably found that appellant concealed the handgun.
Accordingly, we hold that the evidence is legally sufficient to support his
17
conviction of the offense of tampering with physical evidence. See Tex. Penal
Code Ann. § 37.09(a)(1).
We overrule appellant's sole issue in cause number 01-14-00745-CR.
Officer Testimony
In his first issue in cause number 01-14-00744-CR, appellant argues that the
trial court erred in admitting Officer Holmes's testimony that the mud on
appellant's apartment door was dry because Holmes had "no way to determine,
either through science or experience or any other method available to mankind,
whether ... the shoe print. . . was old or new." See Tex. R. Evid. 602.
We review a trial court's evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion.
Powell v. State, 63 S.W.3d 435, 438 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). We will not disturb a
ruling if it lies within the zone of reasonable disagreement and is correct under any
theory of law applicable to the case. Winegarner v. State, 235 S.W.3d 787, 790
(Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Pena v. State, 441 S.W.3d 635, 644 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2014, pet. refd). A witness may testify to a matter only if evidence is
introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge
of the matter. Tex. R. Evid. 602. Evidence to prove personal knowledge may
consist of the witness's own testimony. Id.
Specifically, appellant complains of the following exchange:
[State]: Now let's—actually looking very closely at State's
17, what are we looking at there on the doorway?
18
[Holmes]: The dark spot is actually a muddy shoe print on the
door.
[State]: Other than that muddy footprint on the doorway, was
there any damage to that door?
[Holmes]: No.
[State]: Let's take a closer look at the footprint. Now that
particular footprint, that is a close-up of the footprint
on the door?
[Holmes]: Correct.
[State]: It's very important, that day you were there what was
the temperature like?
[Holmes]: It was cool and dry.
[State]: Had it been raining?
[Holmes]: No.
[State]: Was there any wetness in the ground?
[Holmes]: No.
[State]: Any mud nearby?
[Holmes]: No.
[State]: Had that mudfootprint been therefor a while?
[Appellant]: Objection, callsfor speculation.
[Trial Court]: Sustained.
19
[State]: Based on your expertise as a CSU officer who
has made scenes of these kinds and investigated
scenes ofall kinds ofcrimes, in your knowledge
ifyou have it based on training and experience
did you determine that this was old or not?
[Appellant]: Objection as to thatprint that day.
[Trial Court]: Overruled.
[Holmes]: It had been there long enough to dry which
typically means number ofhours ifnot days.
[State]: When you were at the scene, it was less than 30
minutes after the call for the shooting death had
been dropped, right?
[Holmes]: I got there at 5:15.
[State]: Okay. About an hour?
[Holmes]: Not quite two hours.
[State]: But at that point this was dry?
[Holmes]: Yes, sir.
(Emphasis added.)
The record reveals that appellant objected to the State's question regarding
whether the "mud footprint had been there for a while" on the ground that it
"call[ed] for speculation," and the trial court sustained the objection. After the
State re-phrased its question, appellant stated, "Objection as to that print that day."
And the trial court overruled his objection.
20
To preserve error, a complaint must be "made to the trial court by a timely
request, objection, or motion that . . . state[s] the grounds for the ruling that the
complaining party sought 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). If an objection is not specific,
nothing is presented for review. Pena v. State, 353 S.W.3d 797, 807 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2011). We hold that appellant's objection, "as to that print that day," was not
specific and therefore did not preserve error for review. See id.
Further, to the extent that appellant asserts that the trial court erred in
admitting Holmes's testimony that the footprint "had been there long enough to
dry which typically means number of hours if not days," the record reveals that
appellant did not object to this statement. Thus, nothing is preserved for our
review. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1.
We overrule appellant's first issue in cause number 01-14-00744-CR.
21
Conclusion
We affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Terry Jennings
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Jennings, Bland, and Brown.
Do not publish. Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).
22