J. W. Tate v. State

NUMBER 13-09-00247-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI-EDINBURG
J.W. TATE, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 94th District Court
of Nueces County, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Garza, Vela, and Perkes
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Perkes
A jury found appellant guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child and the trial
court assessed punishment at seventy-five years’ confinement. By four issues,
appellant asserts on appeal: (1) ineffective assistance of counsel; (2) prosecutorial
misconduct; (3) his waiver of a mistrial was not voluntary, free and knowing; and (4) the
jury charge was fundamentally defective. We affirm.1
I. BACKGROUND
Appellant was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault. The
indictment included an enhancement paragraph alleging appellant was previously
convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance.
E.D.’s mother, Franchela Davis, was dating appellant at the time of the
underlying assault. Appellant went to Davis’ residence around 2:00 a.m. to ask her to
call for an ambulance because his jaw was out of position. Appellant appeared to be in
pain and intoxicated. Davis left the apartment to use an outside telephone to call for an
ambulance.
Davis’ eight year old daughter (―E.D.‖) was sleeping with her sister on the couch.
E.D. woke up when appellant placed his hand on her ―private part.‖ Appellant, who was
in his underwear, removed E.D.’s shorts and stuck his ―thing‖ in her ―private part.‖
E.D.’s sister did not wake up. Appellant then told E.D. to go to the kitchen and lie down
on the floor, which she did. Appellant got on top of E.D. and again put his ―thing‖ in her
―private part,‖ which hurt E.D. When he finished, appellant told E.D. not to tell anyone.
On the way back from the kitchen, E.D. saw Davis, who told her to go to bed.
When Davis next saw appellant, he was stripped to his underwear. Appellant
told Davis that he woke up E.D. ―to help with his jaw.‖ Appellant got dressed and left
1
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heard the matter upon an Application for Writ of Habias
Corpus and granted an out-of-time appeal, thereby allowing appellant to pursue this appeal. Ex Parte J.
W. Tate, No. AP-76,108 (Tex. Crim. App., March 11, 2009) (available at
http://www.cca.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/Case.asp?FilingID=265998) (not designated for publication).
2
with the ambulance. Medical records indicate appellant was treated for a dislocated jaw
at Spohn Memorial Hospital.
Carol McLaughlin, a sexual assault nurse examiner, examined E.D. at Driscoll
Children’s Hospital. She observed an injury to E.D.’s vaginal area consistent with the
history she was given. The medical records quoted E.D.’s history: ―My mom’s
boyfriend woke me up. He put his thing (patient points to genital area) in there
(indicates female sexual organ by pointing). He put it in, in the kitchen and he put it in
on the couch. It hurt.‖ Ms. McLaughlin testified E.D.’s injury was probably caused by a
―bad landing,‖ which is what happens ―when the person assaulting hits too low, instead
of hitting the hole, so that the skin will take all the trauma of the hit and will cause it to
tear.‖
Lora Lassiter, a detective with the Family Violence Unit of the Corpus Christi
Police Department, arranged for E.D.’s interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Detective Lassiter also interviewed appellant, who denied the allegations. Appellant
was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child as a repeat
offender.
A jury found appellant guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and the trial
court sentenced him to seventy-five years’ confinement in the Institutional Division of
the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. This appeal followed.
II. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
A. Was Appellant’s Trial Counsel Ineffective?
Appellant complains his trial counsel was ineffective in four areas: (1) failing to
object or request instructions to disregard the prosecutor’s improper reading of the
3
enhancement paragraph; (2) failing to object or request instructions to disregard
improper testimony that appellant was offered a polygraph examination; (3) failing to
object to an extraneous charge under Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b); and (4) failing to
present exculpatory evidence.
To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, appellant must show: (1) his
attorney’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2)
there is a reasonable probability that, but for his attorney’s errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,
687 (1984); Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 737, 757 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Whether
this test has been met is to be judged on appeal by the totality of representation, not by
isolated acts or omissions. Rodriguez v. State, 899 S.W.2d 658, 665 (Tex. Crim. App.
1995). Isolated failures to object generally do not constitute error in light of the
sufficiency of the overall representation. Johnson v. State, 691 S.W.2d 619, 627 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1984).
Appellant has the burden of proving ineffective assistance of counsel by a
preponderance of the evidence. Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1999). A reviewing court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s
conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that is, the
defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the
challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689.
The right to reasonably effective assistance of counsel does not guarantee errorless
counsel or counsel whose competency is judged by perfect hindsight. Saylor v. State,
660 S.W.2d 822, 824 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983).
4
Strategic choices made after thorough investigation of law and facts relevant to
plausible options are virtually unchallengeable. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690. A
reviewing court will not second-guess legitimate strategic or tactical decisions made by
counsel in the midst of trial, Williams v. State, 301 S.W.3d 675, 687 (Tex. Crim. App.
2009), nor will this Court reverse over choices of trial strategy. St. Peter v. State, 811
S.W.2d 729, 730 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1991, no pet.). However, a reviewing court
can determine whether a specific act or omission was outside the range of
professionally competent assistance. Ex parte Ellis, 233 S.W.3d 324, 330 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2007). Even unsuccessful trial strategies that have been described as ―perhaps
highly undesirable‖ and ―undoubtedly risky‖ have nonetheless been upheld as not
unreasonable according to prevailing professional norms. Id. at 331.
1. Reading of Enhancement Paragraph
Appellant argues trial counsel was ineffective because he failed to object or
request instructions to disregard the prosecutor’s purportedly improper reading of the
enhancement paragraph. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 36.01(a)(1)
provides:
(a) a jury being impaneled in any criminal action . . . the cause shall proceed in
the following order:
(1) The indictment or information shall be read to the jury by the
attorney prosecuting. When prior convictions are alleged for
purposes of enhancement only and are not jurisdictional, that
portion of the indictment or information reciting such convictions
shall not be read until the hearing on punishment is held as
provided in Article 37.07. . . .
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held that violation of this provision will
result in reversal. Frausto v. State, 642 S.W.2d 506, 508 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982).
5
However, errors resulting from a violation of this provision can be waived. Cox v. State,
422 S.W.2d 929, 930 (Tex. Crim. App. 1968) (absent an objection, a violation of article
36.01 is waived). Moreover, the failure to object to a prosecutor’s reading of an
enhancement paragraph does not necessarily constitute ineffective assistance of
counsel. Hardin v. State, 951 S.W.2d 208, 211 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1997,
no pet.)(appellant's attorney may have declined to object to reading of the enhancement
paragraphs in an attempt to avoid calling further attention to appellant's prior
convictions); Oliva v. State, 942 S.W.2d 727, 733 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.]
1997), pet. dism’d, 991 S.W.2d 803 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998)(counsel's failure to object to
prosecutor's alleged misstatement regarding appellant's prior conviction may have been
trial strategy to avoid overemphasizing prior conviction). Rather, a reviewing court must
look, with a highly deferential eye, at the totality of counsel's representation to determine
whether the Strickland standard has been met, making reasonable allowances for
counsel's trial strategy. Hardin, 951 S.W.2d at 211.
Appellant’s trial counsel testified at the hearing on appellant’s motion for new trial
that there were three reasons for not objecting at trial: (1) outcry witnesses who would
be detrimental to appellant’s case were not available to testify at his current trial, but
could become available to testify at a later trial; (2) trial counsel observed the jury was
not paying attention to the reading of the enhancement paragraph, and even if they
heard it, the conviction pertained to a drug case, and not to sexual assault of a child2;
and (3) the jury looked to be fair, particularly because a black person was on the jury.
Trial counsel testified that even in hindsight, he would have chosen the same strategy.
2
Appellant also had a prior conviction for aggravated assault which was not included in the
enhancement paragraph. Trial counsel testified that had the prosecutor read that conviction to the jury,
he would have asked for a mistrial.
6
Immediately after the prosecutor read the enhancement paragraph, appellant
was given an opportunity to meet with his trial counsel and co-counsel to discuss this
matter. Appellant’s counsel thereafter announced, out of the jury’s presence:
I’ve discussed this matter with the Defendant . . . other matters that
indicates that going at this time might be more in the Defendant’s best
interest such as the possible absence of a prosecution witness due to
health reasons and the fact that we feel we’ve gotten a very fair-looking
jury, that it may be a bit of unusual decision but for tactical reasons we’ve
decided we are not going to ask for a mistrial and we’re prepared to
proceed at this time.
The trial court then asked appellant: ―Are you telling the Court through your lawyer that
you understand and you want to waive or give up the fact that you’re entitled to a
mistrial and go forward?‖ Appellant answered, ―yes.‖ Based upon this trial record, we
do not believe appellant received ineffective assistance of counsel in this respect.
2. Witness’ Unsolicited Reference to a Polygraph Exam
Appellant argues his trial counsel was ineffective by failing to object to and ask
for a limiting instruction regarding a polygraph exam. He argues the prosecutor’s
question implied either that appellant took the test and failed it, or that he refused it to
hide his guilt, and that the line of questioning was a comment on appellant’s right to
remain silent and improperly bolstered the witness’ testimony.
In order to successfully argue a trial counsel's failure to object to the State's
questioning amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel, appellant must show the trial
court would have committed error in overruling such an objection. Vaughn v. State, 931
S.W.2d 564, 566 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); see also Gee v. State, No. 01-07-00068-CR,
2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 9811 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] Dec. 13, 2007, pet.
ref’d)(mem. op., not designated for publication). Even if the evidence could be excluded
7
on some basis, trial counsel may have a sound strategy for not objecting to the
evidence if the evidence does not harm appellant’s case. Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d
503, 508 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Even if the evidence is inadmissible and prejudicial,
trial counsel’s failure to object will not result in reversal of appellant’s conviction unless
appellant demonstrates the outcome of the trial would have been different had the
evidence not been admitted. Solomon v. State, 49 S.W.3d 356, 365 (Tex. Crim. App.
2001).
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held that evidence of the results of a lie
detector or polygraph test is not admissible on behalf of either the State or the
defendant. Lewis v. State, 500 S.W.2d 167, 168 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973). Any error in
admitting improper testimony may be cured by the trial court's withdrawal of the
evidence and its instruction to the jury to disregard. Barnes v. State, 502 S.W.2d 738,
739 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973). But where a witness gives an nonresponsive answer that
mentions a polygraph test, but does not mention the results of such a test, there is no
error in failing to grant a mistrial. Richardson v. State, 624 S.W.2d 912, 914-15 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1981).
During the prosecutor’s examination of Detective Lassiter at trial, the following
exchange occurred:
Q. Did you have a chance to interview — subsequently interview the
Defendant?
A. Yes.
Q. And were you able to -- how did that meeting go?
A. I — I met with him, explained to him why he was there, what the
allegations were, and he denied it ever happening. I offered him
the opportunity to — take the polygraph exam after that.
8
Q. Okay. Was Mr. — was the defendant ultimately arrested for this?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. How did you end up closing out this report?
A. I filed a case with the District Attorney’s Office.
Detective Lassiter’s testimony about offering a polygraph exam to appellant was
nonresponsive to the prosecutor’s question. The record does not indicate whether
appellant took the polygraph exam, nor the results, if any. The record does not
otherwise include any other testimony or evidence of a polygraph examination, and it
was not mentioned at any other time during the trial. Such testimony could have been
cured by a withdrawal of that testimony and an instruction to the jury to disregard it.
See Barnes v. State, 502 S.W.2d at 739. In this regard, appellant’s trial counsel
testified during the hearing on appellant’s motion for new trial:
I don’t think [objecting and asking for a limiting instruction] would be protecting
his interest because when you ask for limiting instructions and you tell the jury,
you know, ―Hey, disregard the red elephant that’s standing in front of you,‖ well,
they’re not going to do it, they’re all of a sudden go[ing] to wake up and go ―what,
polygraph,‖ so I didn’t want to call attention to it. . . .
Appellant’s trial counsel further testified: (1) the jury did not appear to pay attention to
Detective Lassiter’s reference to a polygraph exam and no mention was made of the
results; (2) E.D.’s testimony was a bit confusing and the mother was just as much a
defense witness as she was a witness for the State; (3) no outcry witness was available
to testify at this trial; an outcry witness would have backed up E.D. and would have
caused a quick conviction.
Appellant has failed to show that his trial counsel’s representation fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 684. Trial
9
counsel’s strategy to not object to the polygraph testimony because it would only draw
the jury’s attention to the polygraph exam has been recognized as legitimate trial
strategy. Graves v. State, 994 S.W.2d 238, 248 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1999, pet.
ref’d., untimely filed). We will not second-guess trial counsel’s strategic and tactical
decisions made in the midst of trial.
3. Failure to Object to Extraneous Charge.
Appellant argues his trial counsel was ineffective because ―instead of requesting
an instruction in the jury charge to disregard appellant’s prior conviction, his trial counsel
assented to a charge informing the jury it could consider the prior conviction under
Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b).‖
Appellant’s complaint is vague, does not refer to the record, does not specify the
language that should have been included in such an instruction, and does not cite to
any legal authority which supports the proposition that he is entitled to an instruction to
disregard his prior conviction. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i). Furthermore, the jury charge
included the following instruction:
You are instructed that if there is any testimony before you in this case
regarding the defendant having committed offenses other than the offense
alleged against him in the indictment in this case, you cannot consider
said testimony for any purpose unless you find and believe beyond a
reasonable doubt that the defendant committed such other offenses, if any
were committed, and even then you may only consider the same in
determining the identity, motive, opportunity, intent, plan, or knowledge of
the defendant, or the absence of mistake or accident in connection with
the offense, if any, alleged against him in the indictment in this case, and
for no other purpose.
The record shows that no evidence regarding appellant’s prior criminal history
was admitted during the guilt-innocence phase of the trial. The jury charge instruction
expressly instructs the jury not to consider any testimony regarding appellant having
10
committed other offenses for any purpose unless the jury found and believed, beyond a
reasonable doubt, that appellant committed the other offenses. Appellant has failed to
meet his burden of showing trial counsel’s representation fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 684.
4. Failing to Present Exculpatory Evidence
Appellant complains that trial counsel failed to present exculpatory evidence. His
entire argument in his brief is that appellant received ineffective assistance of counsel
because ―the trial court expressed deep concern about the fairness of appellant’s trial in
light of trial counsel’s failure to present evidence that the alleged E.D.’s mother failed to
report the alleged assault.‖
Appellant’s complaint is vague, does not identify the name of any witness who
could have testified or what their testimony would have been, and does not cite to any
legal authority whatsoever. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i). Appellant has waived this argument.
Id.; McDuff v. State, 939 S.W.2d 607, 613 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) (insufficiently briefed
point of error presents nothing for review).
5. Conclusion – Reasonably Effective Assistance
The record shows trial counsel was sufficiently familiar with appellant’s case and
that he was reasonably effective during the trial. Even after judging his representation
by perfect hindsight, we cannot say that no reasonable trial attorney would have
pursued such a strategy. Ex parte Ellis, 233 S.W.3d at 330. Appellant has failed to
show a reasonable probability that, but for his attorney’s errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 684. We
overrule appellant’s first issue.
11
B. Was There Prosecutorial Misconduct?
By his second issue, appellant claims the prosecutor committed prosecutorial
misconduct by reading the enhancement paragraph regarding appellant’s prior felony
drug conviction, and by allegedly asking Detective Lassiter to detail the meeting she
had with appellant during which she offered a polygraph exam.3
Every person accused of a crime is entitled to a fair trial. See Bethany v. State,
814 S.W.2d 455, 456 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, writ ref'd); see e.g., Henley
v. State, 576 S.W.2d 66, 69 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978). It is the duty of both the trial court
and the prosecutors to conduct themselves so as to ensure an accused receives a fair
trial. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. article 2.03(b) (West 2005). To preserve a
prosecutorial misconduct complaint, a defendant must: (1) timely and specifically
object, (2) request an instruction to disregard the matter improperly placed before the
jury, and (3) move for mistrial. Penry v. State, 903 S.W.2d 715, 764 (Tex. Crim. App.
1995).
Appellant did not preserve error for review. Appellant made no objection on the
basis of prosecutorial misconduct in the trial court to the previously addressed alleged
errors. By failing to object on this theory at trial, appellant has preserved nothing for
review. See Hajjar v. State, 176 S.W.3d 554, 566 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2004,
pet. ref’d); Perkins v. State, 902 S.W.2d 88, 96 (Tex. App.–El Paso), supplemented, 905
S.W.2d 452 (Tex.. App.–El Paso 1995, pet. ref'd.). Further, appellant expressly waived
error regarding the prosecutor’s reading of the enhancement paragraph, and no
3
The prosecutor was permitted to generally inquire about the witness’s interview with appellant.
The record shows the prosecutor never asked any question about a polygraph. Rather, the witness
included it in a non-responsive answer.
12
objection was made regarding the non-responsive answer regarding the polygraph.
We overrule appellant’s second issue.
C. Was Appellant’s Waiver Voluntary, Free and Knowing?
By his third issue, appellant argues his waiver of a mistrial with respect to the
prosecutor’s reading of the enhancement paragraph was not voluntary, free and
knowing. Appellant asserts he did not understand he could have received a mistrial.
Appellant did not object on this ground during the trial. He has further failed to
identify any law which would entitle him to a mistrial, and he has not otherwise offered
any supporting legal authority.4 Insufficiently briefed points of error present nothing for
review. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i); McDuff v. State, 939 S.W.2d 607, 613 (Tex. Crim. App.
1997); Perez v. State, 28 S.W.3d 627, 634 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 2000, no pet.).
Moreover, the record shows that, after meeting with his counsel, appellant personally
told the trial court he was waiving his right to a mistrial. We overrule appellant’s third
issue.
D. Was the Jury Charge Fundamentally Defective?
By his fourth point of error, appellant claims the jury charge was ―fundamentally
defective‖ because it did not include a jury instruction that the jury disregard the reading
of the enhancement paragraph or that the jury disregard evidence he had been offered
a polygraph exam.
Appellant did not object to the jury charge, and did not otherwise submit any
instruction whatsoever to be included in the jury charge. Appellant has not cited any
legal authority which would show he was entitled to an instruction, and the non-inclusion
4
Appellant’s reliance on Bumper v. California, 391 U.S. 543 (1968) is misplaced. Bumper
contemplated whether a voluntary consent was sufficient to validate a search of a home. Bumper did not
contemplate a waiver made in open court during a trial.
13
of such a jury instruction may have been based on trial strategy seeking to diminish the
impact of the earlier events. Appellant has not included a harm analysis in his brief, but
generally asserts the failure to include an unrequested jury instruction somehow
constitutes fundamental error.
If no objection to an alleged jury charge error is made at trial, appellant must
show that the error created such harm that he did not have a fair and impartial trial.
Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985). Error creating
egregious harm is also described as error that goes to the very basis of the case or that
vitally affects the defensive theory. Ex parte Smith, 309 S.W.3d 53, 63 (Tex. Crim. App.
2010). The actual degree of harm must be assayed in light of the entire jury charge, the
state of the evidence, the argument of counsel, and any other relevant information
revealed by the record of the trial as a whole. Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d at 171.
Considering such factors, the record does not show appellant did not have a fair
and impartial trial. We overrule appellant’s fourth issue.
III. CONCLUSION
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
____________________________
Hon. Gregory T. Perkes
Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Delivered and filed the
12th day of May, 2011.
14