Matthew Joiner v. State

Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-16-00701-CR
Matthew JOINER,
Appellant
v.
The STATE of Texas,
Appellee
From the 186th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2014CR10594
Honorable Jefferson Moore, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
Sitting: Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
Irene Rios, Justice
Delivered and Filed: August 15, 2018
AFFIRMED
On September 21, 2016, a Bexar County jury returned guilty verdicts for aggravated assault
with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury against Appellant
Matthew Joiner. The trial court subsequently assessed punishment at eighteen years’ confinement
in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and a $1,500.00 fine on
each charge. Joiner raises several issues on appeal: (1) the evidence is insufficient to support the
jury’s verdicts; (2) the trial court erred in admitting the photographs of M.V.’s 1 face because the
1
For purposes of this opinion, we use the pseudonym M.V. to represent the victim in this matter.
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photographs included makeup on M.V.’s face which made the danger of confusion and misleading
the jury substantially outweigh any probative value; (3) the trial court erred in admitting a video
recording of San Antonio Police Detective Sergio Flores walking into the interview room and
Joiner not responding; and (4) the trial court erred in overruling defense counsel’s objection to the
State’s closing argument. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
San Antonio Police Department Officer Oliver Flaig testified he was dispatched for a
welfare check on August 8, 2014, based on a call placed by M.V.’s son. Joiner met Officer Flaig
outside the residence and escorted him through the garage. As he walked through the house,
Officer Flaig noticed “[s]everal knives and scissors were placed around the house on counter tops
and cabinets, and there was a baseball bat by the door.”
Officer Flaig located M.V. in her daughter’s room. The officer noted severe bruising on
M.V.’s right cheek and black circles around her eyes—“[the bruises] were like golf-ball shape.
They were perfect circles.” He spoke to M.V. while his partner stayed with Joiner. M.V. told
Officer Flaig that she fell down the stairs. The officer testified, “I pretty much told her that I didn’t
believe her.” Because he did not have a complainant, Officer Flaig left the residence and notified
his supervisor regarding his concern for M.V.
Officer Misty Hodge, with San Antonio Police Department’s Crisis Response Team,
testified that on August 11, 2014, Officer Flaig approached her about his continued concern
regarding M.V. Officer Hodge testified that she called M.V., but M.V. was very short, and very
distant on the phone. When Officer Flaig asked her about it again the next day, Officer Hodge
decided to try and talk to M.V. at her place of work. Officer Hodge testified that as soon as she
saw M.V., the redness in her eyes, specifically the petechia or discoloration that results when blood
vessels burst and seep through the skin, the officer immediately knew that M.V. had been
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strangled. The officer relayed that it took a couple of hours before M.V. told her everything that
had transpired.
M.V. testified she started dating Joiner in 2014; and within a few weeks, he moved into her
home in San Antonio. M.V.’s teenage daughter and her younger daughter, who requires 24/7
nursing care, also lived at the house. M.V. testified the first time Joiner showed anger towards her
was the beginning of June. On another occasion, they were at a family event when Joiner drank
too much and M.V.’s family asked her to take Joiner away from the children. M.V. and Joiner
went to Joiner’s apartment and Joiner became violent and started hitting her on the cheek with his
palm. The next morning, Joiner was very apologetic and M.V. genuinely believed he was sorry.
M.V. convinced herself that it was simply a case of too much alcohol.
M.V. testified that on August 4, 2014, she, Joiner, and her youngest daughter were the only
ones at her residence. Her teenage daughter was at summer camp with their church. M.V. had
just finished feeding her daughter, taken a shower, and climbed into bed when Joiner “turn[ed]
around and just smacked me.” M.V. testified that Joiner continued to hit her, knock her down, and
when she tried to get up, he would start again. When the alarm on the equipment in M.V.’s
daughter’s room went off, M.V. pleaded with Joiner to let her check on her daughter. Joiner
followed M.V. into her daughter’s room; as she was walking back into the living room, she saw
her cell phone and they reached for it at the same time. “And he reached to grab for my cell phone
and he pushed me back and I hit my hand on the bar.” Joiner hit M.V.’s hand on the bar with so
much force it dislocated two of her fingers, immediately turning them to face the wrong direction.
M.V. testified that Joiner kept kicking her telling her to get up. Joiner took her to the kitchen and
tried to make a splint out of straws because it was so obvious that her fingers were out of place
from hitting her hand on the bar.
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M.V. testified that as soon as Joiner finished taping her fingers, he saw something that
irritated him. Joiner threw M.V. on the ground, grabbed a serrated knife and stuck it down her
throat. Joiner told her that “he ought to hit the end of the—the serrated knife and kill me right
there.” M.V.’s lip was bleeding and her tooth was chipped during the attack. About 3:30 a.m.,
M.V. remembers laying down in bed and Joiner choking her and telling her that he was going to
kill her. M.V. further testified that Joiner strategically placed knives and scissors throughout her
house. At “every entrance to my house there was, you know, some type of weapon in case you
needed it.”
M.V. testified that she did not return to work for a week because Joiner told her that no one
could see her like that. She had “[a] big swollen, bloody face. [Her] eyes were pretty much swollen
shut. They were all black and purple. [One] whole side of my face was bruised all the way down.”
M.V. authenticated pictures taken by police officers, but testified the pictures were taken a week
after the assault. M.V. further testified that she did not tell Officer Flaig the truth because she was
scared of Joiner.
Dr. Nancy Otto, a hand surgeon, testified that M.V. suffered a break of the knuckle on her
ring finger that required a plate and screws to raise the joint surface back to the correct level. The
little finger was broken in multiple places and shortened. Dr. Otto testified that she pulled the
finger out to lengthen it and was able to put some pins through the skin to hold it back out in place.
After two surgeries, M.V. gained a significant amount of motion back, but it is not normal. Dr.
Otto opined that M.V. suffered “serious injuries to the two bones on both fingers, the fourth and
first fingers, and serious enough to require surgery because they were crooked. And they are now
straight but they’re still stiff.” Dr. Otto further testified M.V.’s injuries will affect her strength and
ability to hold things with her fingers for the rest of her life.
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We turn first to Joiner’s contention the evidence is legally insufficient to support the jury’s
verdict.
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
A. Standard of Review
In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, “we view all of the evidence in the light most
favorable to the verdict to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Adames v. State, 353 S.W.3d 854,
860 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); accord Gear v. State, 340 S.W.3d 743, 746 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).
“This standard recognizes the trier of fact’s role as the sole judge of the weight and credibility of
the evidence. . . .” Adames, 353 S.W.3d at 860; accord Gear, 340 S.W.3d at 746. The reviewing
court must also give deference to the jury’s ability “to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts
to ultimate facts.” Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (quoting Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). “Each fact need not point directly and independently to the
guilt of the appellant, as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is
sufficient to support the conviction.” Id. (citing Johnson v. State, 871 S.W.2d 183, 186 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1993)).
We may not substitute our judgment for that of the jury by reevaluating the weight and
credibility of the evidence. King v. State, 29 S.W.3d 556, 562 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). We defer
to the jury’s responsibility to fairly resolve any conflicts in the evidence, weigh the evidence, and
draw reasonable inferences. See Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13. The jury alone decides whether to
believe eyewitness testimony, and it resolves any conflicts in the evidence. See Hooper, 214
S.W.3d at 13; Young v. State, 358 S.W.3d 790, 801 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, pet.
ref’d). In conducting a sufficiency review, “[w]e do not engage in a second evaluation of the
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weight and credibility of the evidence, but only ensure that the jury reached a rational decision.”
Young, 358 S.W.3d at 801.
B. Arguments of the Parties
Joiner contends M.V.’s testimony that he forced a bread knife down her throat and held it
there for several minutes and caused only a cut lip and a chipped tooth “is so preposterous as to be
unbelievable,” and no reasonable jury could have found the evidence that Joiner assaulted M.V.
with a deadly weapon, credible beyond a reasonable doubt.
The State counters that Joiner forced M.V. to hold her mouth open while he inserted the
knife and then threatened to kill her with the knife, a deadly weapon. The State also points to the
evidence that Joiner broke M.V.’s fingers during the assault. M.V. and Dr. Nancy Otto testified
M.V. lost full use of her fingers and hand. The evidence is therefore sufficient to support the jury’s
verdict that Joiner committed aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.
C. Aggravated Assault
Texas Penal Code section 22.02(a) provides that a person commits aggravated assault if
the person commits assault and:
(1) causes serious bodily injury to another, including the person’s spouse; or
(2) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault.
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.02(a) (West 2011). A “deadly weapon” is defined in relevant part as
“anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily
injury.” Id. § 1.07(a)(17)(B) (West Supp. 2018); see Cates v. State, 102 S.W.3d 735, 738 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2003) (requiring evidence that (1) the deadly weapon meets the statutory definition;
(2) the defendant used or exhibited the deadly weapon while committing the crime for which he
was convicted; and (3) other people were actually endangered); McCain v. State, 22 S.W.3d 497,
503 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (observing that the placement of the word “capable” in [section
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1.07(a)(17)(B) ] enables the statute to cover conduct that threatens deadly force, even if the actor
has no intention of actually using deadly force”). A knife can be a deadly weapon if the evidence
shows that its use or intended use renders it capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. See
McCain, 22 S.W.3d at 503.
“Serious bodily injury” is defined as “bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death
or that causes death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the
function of any bodily member or organ.” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(46). The distinction
between “bodily injury” and “serious bodily injury” must be made on a case-by-case basis.
Hernandez v. State, 946 S.W.2d 108, 111 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1997, no pet.). Medical testimony
is sufficient proof upon which a jury can rely to find a victim’s injuries constitute serious bodily
injury. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(46).
D. Analysis
1. Deadly Weapon
Joiner contends M.V.’s testimony regarding the serrated knife is not credible and the jury
could not have reasonably believed Joiner committed aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
We remain mindful that our determination whether a weapon is deadly in its manner of use or
intended use does not require the defendant to have actually inflicted harm on the victim. Johnson
v. State, 509 S.W.3d 320, 323 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017) (citing Brown v. State, 716 S.W.2d 939,
946 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986)). In Johnson, the defendant removed a knife from his pants, stood no
more than a foot or two from the victim, and threatened the victim. Id. Although the victim could
not provide a detailed description, the jury could reasonably infer “from [defendant’s] threats, his
proximity to [the victim], and the brandishing of the knife, that the manner in which he used the
knife, or intended to use the knife, rendered it capable of causing serious bodily injury or death.”
Id.
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M.V. testified Joiner held a knife to her throat, chipped her tooth, and threatened to kill her
with it on several occasions. Officer Flaig also noted the unusual number of knives and scissors
located on counters throughout the residence. A conviction may be based on the testimony of a
single eyewitness, and the jury was free to believe that M.V. was in the best position to observe
Joiner’s threats. See Price v. State, 502 S.W.3d 278, 281 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016,
no pet.) (citing Aguilar v. State, 468 S.W.2d 75, 77 (Tex. Crim. App. 1971)); accord Castilla v.
State, 374 S.W.3d 537, 539 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012, pet. ref’d). Considering all of the
evidence presented in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict, we conclude a jury could
reasonably find sufficient evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Joiner intentionally or
knowingly, threatened M.V. that he would cut or kill her while brandishing a knife. Adames, 353
S.W.3d at 860; accord Gear, 340 S.W.3d at 746. We further conclude a jury could reasonably
conclude that Joiner brandished the knife, and that the manner in which Joiner used the knife, or
intended to use the knife, rendered it capable of causing serious bodily injury or death. Johnson,
509 S.W.3d at 323.
2. Serious Bodily Injury
The evidence adduced at trial showed Joiner punched M.V. in the face and about the body
multiple times leaving severe bruising. M.V.’s eyes were swollen shut and her face was black and
purple. The bruising was seen by several witnesses and photographs, taken approximately a week
after the incident, were admitted before the jury. M.V. also testified that Joiner choked her; the
evidence of which could still be seen a week later by the broken blood vessels in M.V.’s eyes.
When M.V. reached for her cell phone, Joiner pushed her into the bar with such force that she
broke several bones in two fingers.
Dr. Otto opined the injuries sustained by M.V. were “serious injuries to the two bones on
both fingers, the fourth and first fingers, and serious enough to require surgery because they were
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crooked. And they are now straight but they’re still stiff.” There was also testimony from both
Dr. Otto and M.V. that several years after the incident, M.V. still could not make a fist and still
suffered from weakness in her hand—injuries she will maintain for the rest of her life. See
Sizemore v. State, 387 S.W.3d 824, 828 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2012, no pet.) (reiterating person
sustaining injury is qualified to express opinion about the seriousness of that injury); Nunez v.
State, 117 S.W.3d 309, 327–30 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2003) (concluding damage to finger
preventing victim from closing her hand and causing pain through entire arm was serious bodily
harm as this injury interfered with her housework and continued to affect her for six months after
assault); Taylor v. State, 71 S.W.3d 792 (Tex. App.—–Texarkana 2002, pet. ref’d) (concluding
broken foot requiring surgery and causing limited mobility for several months sufficient evidence
of a protracted impairment, i.e. serious bodily injury).
Here, the jury was free to apply common sense, knowledge, and experience gained in the
ordinary affairs of life in drawing reasonable inferences from the evidence presented to it. See
Eustis v. State, 191 S.W.3d 879, 884 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. ref’d). Based
on the entire record, and viewing all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict,
we conclude a jury could reasonably conclude the injuries, as inflicted, would cause serious
permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of M.V.’s hand. Adames,
353 S.W.3d at 860; accord Gear, 340 S.W.3d at 746. The evidence was therefore sufficient for a
jury to rationally conclude that M.V. suffered serious bodily injury and we overrule Joiner’s
appellate issues regarding sufficiency of the evidence.
We turn to Joiner’s contention the trial court erroneously admitted the photographs of M.V.
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ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE
A. Standard of Review
An appellate court reviews a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence under an
abuse of discretion standard. Williams v. State, 301 S.W.3d 675, 687 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009);
Prible v. State, 175 S.W.3d 724, 731 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). “As long as the trial court’s ruling
was within the ‘zone of reasonable disagreement,’ there is no abuse of discretion, and the trial
court’s ruling will be upheld.” Prible, 175 S.W.3d at 731 (quoting Santellan v. State, 939 S.W.2d
155, 169 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)); accord Devoe v. State, 354 S.W.3d 457, 469 (Tex. Crim. App.
2011) (concluding that discretion is not abused if the decision falls within the zone of reasonable
disagreement). “[I]f the trial court’s evidentiary ruling is correct on any theory of law applicable
to that ruling, it will not be disturbed” regardless of the reason for the trial court’s ruling. Devoe,
354 S.W.3d at 469; accord Brito Carrasco v. State, 154 S.W.3d 127, 129 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
B. Texas Rule of Evidence 403
Under Rule 403, even relevant “evidence may be excluded if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading
the jury, . . . or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” TEX. R. EVID. 403. Rule 403
requires that a photograph possess some probative value and that its inflammatory nature does not
substantially outweigh that probative value. Williams, 301 S.W.3d at 690. Once a Rule 403
objection is made, the trial court must weigh the probative value of the evidence to determine if it
is substantially outweighed by its potential for unfair prejudice. Santellan, 939 S.W.2d at 169.
A Rule 403 balancing test includes the following factors:
(1) the inherent probative force of the proffered item of evidence along with (2) the
proponent’s need for that evidence against (3) any tendency of the evidence to
suggest decision on an improper basis, (4) any tendency of the evidence to confuse
or distract the jury from the main issues, (5) any tendency of the evidence to be
given undue weight by a jury that has not been equipped to evaluate the probative
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force of the evidence, and (6) the likelihood that presentation of the evidence will
consume an inordinate amount of time or merely repeat evidence already admitted.
Gigliobianco v. State, 210 S.W.3d 637, 641–42 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Importantly, the rules of
evidence favor the admission of relevant evidence and carry a presumption that relevant evidence
is more probative than prejudicial. See Williams, 301 S.W.3d at 690 (reiterating photograph’s
probative value must not be outweighed by its inflammatory nature); see also Rayford v. State,
125 S.W.3d 521, 529 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Hayes v. State, 85 S.W.3d 809, 815 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2002).
C. Photographs of M.V.
1. Arguments of the Parties
Joiner contends the trial court erred in admitting the photographs of M.V. because she was
wearing eye shadow in the photograph and any probative value was substantially outweighed by
the danger of confusion and misleading the jury.
The State counters that the probative value of the photographs was not outweighed by the
prejudicial effect. The jury could easily decipher the bruises on M.V.’s eyes from the purple
shimmer eye shadow.
2. Analysis
Joiner complains about four photographs showing the injuries to M.V.’s face and the
discoloration around her eyes. The photographs provided evidence of broken blood vessels and
bruising below M.V.’s eyes. During the State’s direct examination, M.V. specifically told the jury
what part of the photographs were eyeshadow and what part were bruising. The trial court ruled
defense counsel could cross-examine M.V. regarding any confusion resulting from “what is a
bruise which also appears to be purple and the eye shadow.” The testimony highlighted the
different colors contained within the photograph, ranging from very light shades of purple to very
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dark reds. The photographs also showed evidence the bruises were beginning to heal and
beginning to turn lighter in certain areas. The photographs are probative of not only M.V.’s
testimony regarding the attack, but also Officer Flaig’s testimony regarding how the bruising
looked on August 8, 2014, four days before the photographs were taken, and his cause for concern.
Joiner contends the photographs were confusing and could mislead the jury. The four
photographs are a part of seventeen photographs offered by the State. The remaining photographs
show further bruising and injuries covering M.V.’s body. The photographs in question merely
depict the injuries on her eyes and the broken blood vessels within M.V.’s eyes. Joiner has not
brought forward any evidence to suggest how the jury was misled by the photographs. The
photographs depict the bruises on a victim; and although she was wearing some make-up, the jury
was told she was wearing make-up and what part of the eyelid contained the make-up. Because
we cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in determining the photographs were genuinely
helpful in determining M.V.’s injuries, and that their probative value outweighed their prejudicial
effect, we overrule Joiner’s appellate issue. See Williams, 301 S.W.3d at 687; Prible, 175 S.W.3d
at 731.
Joiner next contends the trial court erred in admitting the video recording of Joiner at the
police station.
D. Admission of the Video Recording under Texas Rule of Evidence 403
1. Arguments of the Parties
Joiner argues the trial court erred in admitting the video recording made at the police station
of Joiner because the video recording was irrelevant to any issue in the case. See TEX. R. EVID.
403.
The State counters the video recording was offered to establish that the police conducted a
thorough investigation.
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2. Evidence before the Trial Court
San Antonio Police Department Detective Sergio Flores testified that he was asked to
interview Joiner. The State offered a recording of the exchange and defense counsel objected as
follows:
Judge, I’m going to object to the admission of this video based on the fact
that when Mr. Joiner walked—is on the video—on the video, it’s at a time earlier
than the date written on the time that the warrant was approved. And, therefore, he
basically was—he was—we know that we have testimony from [Officer] Hodge
that he did not get arrested until she got the warrant. She asked somebody when
she got the warrant to send them out to get arrested [sic]. We know that’s not true
because the time is different on the—it’s earlier than the time of the warrant.
So, we would object to the video basically on the basis that everything that
was done to Mr. Joiner was in violation of his Constitutional Rights, Fifth
Amendment, 14th Amendment; Article 1, Section 10 the Texas Constitution as
well.
The trial court overruled the objection and the video was played for the jury.
To preserve error for appellate review, a complaining party must make a timely and specific
objection. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a). At trial, Joiner did not lodge a Rule 401, 402, or 403
objection on the grounds that the evidence was irrelevant or more prejudicial than probative. See
TEX. R. EVID. 401 (“Evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to make a fact more or less probable
than it would be without the evidence; and the fact is of consequence in determining the action.”);
402 (providing only relevant evidence, not prohibited by statute or rule, is admissible); 403 (“The
court may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by a danger
of one or more of the following: unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue
delay, or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence.”). Joiner thus failed to preserve this alleged
error. See Clark v. State, 365 S.W.3d 333, 339–40 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (an issue on appeal
must comport with the objection made at trial, and an objection stating one legal basis may not be
used to support a different legal theory on appeal); Goff v. State, 931 S.W.2d 537, 551 (Tex. Crim.
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App. 1996) (appellant failed to preserve error on those issues where his trial objections did not
comport with his arguments on appeal). Furthermore, even if Joiner had preserved error, his
appellate brief does not include an analysis of the rule 403 balancing factors. See TEX. R. APP. P.
38.1(i); see also Hernandez v. State, 390 S.W.3d 310, 324 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (discussing rule
403 balancing factors). We therefore overrule Joiner’s issue relating to whether the video
recording was relevant and admissible. See TEX. R. EVID. 401, 402, 403.
ADMISSION OF THE VIDEO RECORDING AND JOINER’S RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
A. Arguments of the Parties
Joiner also contends the trial court erred in admitting the video recording because it was a
comment on his right to remain silent. The State counters the video recording did not invoke
Joiner’s rights under the Fifth Amendment.
B. Comment on Right to Remain Silent
Evidence obtained in violation of the federal or state constitutions should not be admitted
against the accused in the trial of a criminal case. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.23; see
also U.S. CONST. amend. V; TEX. CONST. art. I, § 10. The State may not use a defendant’s oral
statement made during his custodial interrogation unless he knowingly, intelligently, and
voluntarily waived his right against self-incrimination. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22;
see Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444 (1966). As with evidence obtained after a defendant’s
unequivocal invocation of his right to counsel, evidence obtained after a defendant’s unequivocal
invocation of his right to remain silent is inadmissible. Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S. 370, 381–
82 (2010). A violation of Joiner’s Fifth Amendment right to remain silent would be constitutional
error. See Ramos v. State, 245 S.W.3d 410, 419 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); Rodriguez–Flores v.
State, 351 S.W.3d 612, 631 n. 26 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011, pet. ref’d). We review the improper
admission of such evidence under the constitutional error standard. See TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(a).
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C. Evidence before the Trial Court
The oral portion of the video recording about which Joiner complains consists of Detective
Flores asking Joiner his name and Joiner telling Detective Flores that he is not going to write or
say anything. He notified the officer that he was ill and requested EMS. The rest of the video is
simply Joiner in the interview room. There were no additional questions and no additional
exchanges. Although the State contends Joiner was not yet Mirandized, he was already in
handcuffs and in custody when Detective Flores entered the interview room.
For the sake of argument, we will presume that, pursuant to standard procedure, Joiner was
read the Miranda warnings at the time of his arrest, and his statement, “I refuse, Sir . . . I don’t
have anything to say,” was an invocation of his right to remain silent. Our analysis, however, does
not end there; we must determine whether the trial court’s decision to admit the video recording
constituted harmful error under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 44.2(a). See TEX. R. APP. P.
44.2(a).
D. Harm Analysis
1. Standard of Review
“If the appellate record in a criminal case reveals constitutional error that is subject to
harmless error review, the court of appeals must reverse a judgment of conviction . . . unless the
court determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the error did not contribute to the conviction.”
Id. “[A] federal constitutional error [does] not contribute to the verdict obtained if the verdict
would have been the same absent the error.” Clay v. State, 240 S.W.3d 895, 904 (Tex. Crim. App.
2007) (internal quotation marks omitted).
2. Harmful Error Analysis
A harm analysis concerning the improper admission of evidence focuses on the effect of
the erroneously admitted evidence on the jury’s verdict. See Long v. State, 203 S.W.3d 352, 353
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(Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (discussing how the appellate court should conduct a proper harm
analysis). In determining the likelihood that, absent the improper admission of the evidence, the
jury’s verdict would have been the same, we must consider the entire record. Clay, 240 S.W.3d at
904. Factors to consider in the harm analysis include “the nature of the error (e.g., erroneous
admission or exclusion of evidence, objectionable jury argument, etc.), whether it was emphasized
by the State, the probable implications of the error, and the weight the jury would likely have
assigned to it in the course of its deliberations.” Snowden v. State, 353 S.W.3d 815, 822 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2011); accord Acevedo v. State, 255 S.W.3d 162, 173 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2008,
pet. ref’d). We further review the record in a neutral manner focusing on the effect of the error
and the possible prejudice on the jurors’ decision-making ability. Harris v. State, 790 S.W.2d 568,
588–89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989).
In this case, the source of the alleged error was the trial court’s decision to admit the video
recording of Joiner after he invoked his right to remain silent. See Cooper v. State, 961 S.W.2d
222, 227 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref’d) (deciding that admitting that portion of
the appellant’s testimony made after he invoked his right to terminate led to the appellant’s
conviction and was harmful error). The video testimony emphasized Joiner’s appearance and
demeanor in the interview room. See id. He was nonresponsive to the officers and did not provide
any answers to any questions. The video did not provide any negative evidence connecting Joiner
to the alleged offense.
Our analysis must also include an “evaluat[ion of] the entire record in a neutral, impartial,
and even-handed manner.” Hargrove v. State, 162 S.W.3d 313, 323 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
2005, pet. ref’d). The video appears to have been offered primarily to describe the sequence of
events that the officers undertook during the course of the investigation and to respond to defense
cross-examination that officers stopped their investigation when M.V. denied she was in harm’s
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way. We conclude a reasonable jury would have likely considered the testimony as evidence of
the officer’s action during their deliberations; additionally, the testimony was not emphasized by
the State during its closing argument. This is especially true because the State’s focus throughout
trial was on M.V.’s testimony, what she looked like, the bruises other witnesses saw, and the
injuries M.V. sustained. M.V.’s description of Joiner threatening to kill her, beating her about the
face and body, and breaking multiple bones in her hand, combined with the photographs, provided
graphic testimony upon which the jury likely would have given more weight during its
deliberations than a video recording of an almost completely silent Joiner simply indicating he
does not want to speak to the officer.
In light of the other evidence of Joiner’s guilt, we are convinced that a juror would place
little, if any, weight on the video recording and Joiner’s statement allegedly invoking his Fifth
Amendment right to remain silent. See Dowthitt v. State, 931 S.W.2d 244, 257, 263 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1996) (deciding that the defendant’s statement allegedly invoking his right to remain silent
was ambiguous and that admitting his subsequent statements, considering the entire record, did
not harm the defendant). After viewing the record in a neutral light, we conclude, beyond a
reasonable doubt, that the error, if any, did not prejudice the jurors’ evaluation process and did not
contribute to Joiner’s conviction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.2(a). We therefore conclude that even if
the video recording was erroneously admitted, it was harmless error and Joiner’s issue is overruled.
Lastly, we turn to Joiner’s argument that the trial court erred in overruling defense
counsel’s objection to the State’s closing argument.
IMPROPER JURY ARGUMENT
A. Standard of review
We review a trial court’s ruling on an objection to improper jury argument for an abuse of
discretion. Garcia v. State, 126 S.W.3d 921, 924 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). Such argument does
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“not constitute reversible error unless, in light of the record as a whole, the argument is extreme
or manifestly improper, violative of a mandatory statute, or injects new facts harmful to the
accused into the trial proceeding.” Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
“The remarks must have been a willful and calculated effort on the part of the State to deprive
appellant of a fair and impartial trial.” Id.
B. Proper Jury Argument
“It is the duty of trial counsel to confine their arguments to the record; reference to facts
that are neither in evidence nor inferable from the evidence is therefore improper.” Brown v. State,
270 S.W.3d 564, 570 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (quoting Alejandro v. State, 493 S.W.2d 230, 231
(Tex. Crim. App. 1973)). Thus, “proper jury argument generally falls within one of four areas: (1)
summation of the evidence, (2) reasonable deduction from the evidence, (3) answer to argument
of opposing counsel, and (4) plea for law enforcement.” Freeman v. State, 340 S.W.3d 717, 727
(Tex. Crim. App. 2011); accord Brown, 270 S.W.3d at 570; Borjan v. State, 787 S.W.2d 53, 55
(Tex. Crim. App. 1990).
C. Analysis
During voir dire, the State asked potential jurors to share personal experiences related to
domestic violence. One of the individuals on the venire panel briefly discussed several generations
and her religious beliefs to “stick it out.”
During closing argument, the State was responding to the theme of defense counsel’s
closing argument—M.V. lied. Defense counsel counted the lies and the number of people to whom
M.V. lied. The prosecutor continued,
I tell you what doesn’t lie. Those eyes don’t lie. Officer Flaig saw it, her son saw
it, her co-workers. Melissa—Misty Hodge. She tried to handle this herself. You
saw in jury selection, victims of domestic abuse. One of the women on our panel,
she stayed with her husband after being repeatedly abused. She said they—
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Defense counsel objected and the trial court instructed the jury that “[i]t’s not part of the evidence.”
The trial court admonished the jury, “You are the ones who determine what the evidence is that
came in, and you make your decisions based on the evidence in this case, not the arguments of
counsel.”
“When reviewing alleged error in a jury argument, the appellate court must analyze the
statement in light of the entire argument and not on isolated instances.” DeLarue v. State, 102
S.W.3d 388, 405 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. ref’d).
A prosecutor’s closing argument may not include presentation of evidence that is outside
the record. Freeman, 340 S.W.3d at 728. “Improper references to facts that are neither in evidence
nor inferable from the evidence are generally designed to arouse the passion and prejudice of the
jury and, as such, are inappropriate.” Id. (citing Borjan, 787 S.W.2d at 57). Yet, when the defense
invites the argument, the State may respond. See Albiar v. State, 739 S.W.3d 360, 362 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1987). Here, defense counsel called M.V. a liar for the manner in which she acted and her
failure to report the abuse or leave Joiner. In response, the prosecutor simply reminded the jurors
that domestic abuse victims do not all act the same way. We, thus, conclude the State’s argument
was in response to the argument of defense counsel and any potential confusion was cured by the
trial court’s instructions that statements made during voir dire and arguments of counsel are not
evidence and that the jurors are the exclusive fact finders. See Freeman, 340 S.W.3d at 727; see
also Gamboa v. State, 296 S.W.3d 574, 580 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (jury is presumed to follow
the trial court’s instructions). We overrule Joiner’s final issue.
CONCLUSION
Having overruled each of Joiner’s issues on appeal, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
DO NOT PUBLISH
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