Ethaniel Farrar v. State

Opinion issued April 30, 2020
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-18-01043-CR
———————————
ETHANIEL FARRAR, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 339th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Case No. 1480992
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A jury convicted Ethaniel Farrar of aggravated sexual assault after receiving
evidence that Farrar forced a woman, at gunpoint, to engage in sexual acts in the
back seat of Farrar’s vehicle and more evidence of two extraneous offenses with
similar facts. Farrar was sentenced to 45 years’ confinement.
Farrar seeks a reversal of his conviction and remand for a new trial on two
bases. First, he contends there was error in the court’s charge because it permitted
the jury to convict him without finding all elements of the offense beyond a
reasonable doubt. He argues the record meets the egregious-harm standard that
applies to this unobjected-to error. Second, he contends the trial court erred by
refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of aggravated assault.
We affirm.
Trial
The complainant, Grace,1 was the first witness to testify. She opened her
testimony by discussing her past heroin addiction, her three drug-related convictions
between 2006 and 2017, and her conviction for prostitution in June 2017. Grace
testified that she worked as a prostitute for several years, including the year of this
offense, which occurred on May 17, 2015.
Grace then testified about the assault. She stated that she had gotten lost and
was walking along Highway 59 to get her bearings. After she had walked about 45
minutes, a car pulled up and a man asked her if she was working. She said yes and
got into his car. He drove behind some vacant buildings. They discussed an agreed
fee for her to have sex with him, and both moved to the back seat of the SUV. Grace
1
We refer to the complainant and the two women who testified to extraneous offenses
by a pseudonym for their privacy and ease of reading.
2
thought he was reaching into the pocket of a nearby jacket for a wallet but, instead,
he pulled out a handgun. He asked if they were going to have a problem, and she
replied that they were not.
Grace testified that the man made her perform oral sex. She stated she did not
want to do it, she was crying throughout the episode, and she did it only because he
had a gun. He then told her to lie on her back, and she complied. She testified he
inserted his penis into her vagina for several minutes. Then, he told her he was going
to take his condom off and asked her if she had a problem with that. Because she
was concerned about the gun, she told him she did not, but she testified she was
thinking, “My God, I hope this man doesn’t have AIDS.” Afterward, he drove back
to the location where he had picked her up. He pulled his vehicle over, told her to
get out, and left. Grace noted his license plate number as he left.
Grace ran to a nearby store, repeating his license plate number to herself.
When she got there, she wrote the number on a brown paper bag. She kept walking,
looking for her apartment. When she got to her apartment, she told her roommate
what had happened. Her roommate took her to the apartment security officer, who
took her to the hospital.
At the hospital, the medical staff performed a rape examination and took her
clothes as evidence. She spoke with a nurse and a police officer. Afterward, her
parents took her from the hospital to their home. About a month later a police
3
investigator met with her. The investigator showed her a photo array, and she
selected the photo of the person who assaulted her. She testified she recognized him
from his eyes and nose. She initialed the array to reflect her selection. Grace then
identified Farrar in the courtroom as the person who sexually assaulted her.
Grace admitted that, in the beginning of the investigation, she did not tell the
police that she was a prostitute or that she entered Farrar’s car, initially, intending to
have sex for money. She explained, “I felt like he wouldn’t get in trouble for what
he did to me if I said that.”
On cross-examination, Farrar’s counsel questioned whether Farrar made
threatening statements about using the gun against Grace during sex. She replied,
“No, but it wouldn’t take no time for him to grab the gun after somebody has already
threatened you with a gun. I mean you pretty much do whatever they ask you to do
unless you want to die or take a chance of dying.”
On re-direct, the prosecutor focused on lack of consent, asking Grace why she
had oral sex and vaginal sex with Farrar. She responded, “Because I felt like my life
was in danger if I didn’t . . . [b]ecause he had a gun.”
A physician’s assistant and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE nurse)
testified about Grace’s hospital visit and exam. Next, a DNA analyst with the
Houston Forensic Science Center testified. She compared the DNA collected during
Grace’s SANE exam to a buccal swab collected from Farrar once he became a
4
suspect. She stated that Farrar could not be excluded as a source of DNA and the
chance of another person equally matching the DNA was extremely low.
Next, two extraneous-offense witnesses, Sarah and Jennifer, testified. The
trial court instructed the jury on the limited admissibility of their testimony. See
Blackwell v. State, 193 S.W.3d 1, 15–16 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet.
ref’d) (discussing admissibility of extraneous-offense evidence probative of
appellant’s intent when extraneous acts are sufficiently similar to the alleged sexual
misconduct in the charged offense). Both women testified that they were prostitutes
in 2015 and, while each was walking near Bissonnet, in the general area where Grace
was picked up, a black man, who they identified in the courtroom as Farrar,
approached them for sex. Both women testified that Farrar pulled a gun on them and
forced them to have sex. The SANE nurse who testified earlier was recalled to
testified again. She testified that she had performed a SANE examination on Sarah
as well. The State recalled the DNA analyst to testify again. She stated that she
compared Farrar’s DNA to the DNA collected during Sarah’s SANE exam, that
Farrar could not be excluded as a source of the DNA, and that the chance of another
person equally matching the DNA was extremely low.
A second SANE nurse testified about performing a SANE exam on Jennifer.
And a second DNA analyst testified about comparing Farrar’s DNA sample to the
DNA collected in Jennifer’s SANE exam. She testified that Farrar could not be
5
excluded as a source of the DNA and that the chance of another personal equally
matching the DNA was extremely low.
Farrar testified next. He stated that the Bissonnet area was known for
prostitution and he would drive through the area because he hired prostitutes.
According to Farrar, he was in the area on May 17 but not actively looking for a
prostitute. He pulled into a parking area, and Grace approached his car, opened the
door without saying anything to him, and began touching him. He said Grace began
performing oral sex on him as a test to make sure he was not a police officer. She
then quoted him a price for basic sex. He did not have that much money in his wallet,
but he understood from her comments she would lower her price. He testified that,
without fully reaching an agreement on price, the two moved to his back seat, Grace
continued with oral sex, and then they had vaginal sex. Afterward, Grace asked for
more money than her earlier quote and wanted him to drive to an ATM machine. He
offered her lower than her quote, but she did not agree to that amount.
As they drove from the parking lot, Grace began speaking with a man on the
phone. Farrar became concerned he was being set up and was fearful a pimp might
harm him. He stopped his car and told Grace to get out.
Farrar testified the sex was consensual. He was supposed to pay Grace, but he
did not have the amount of money she originally quoted or the higher amount she
6
wanted afterwards. He did have $40, but he did not pay her even that amount. He
described the sex as consensual and testified he did not have a gun.
Farrar was asked about Jennifer and Sarah next. Farrar conceded he had sex
with Jennifer and Sarah a couple of weeks apart in April 2015, which would have
been a couple of weeks before he had sex with Grace. He said he negotiated a price
with each and had consensual sex with each. He testified he left money on his
console both times, but each disputed either the amount of money he owed or the
amount of time that money paid for. According to Farrar, instead of taking the money
he left on the console, each left his vehicle without the money and later accused him
of sexual assault.
Both sides rested and closed. Farrar requested the court to instruct the jury on
the lesser-included offense of aggravated assault, and his request was denied. The
reporter’s record notes the court’s charge was read to the jury, but the reading was
not transcribed.
Farrar’s counsel gave his closing argument first. He conceded that Farrar had
sex with the three women and that it was Farrar’s DNA that was recovered in the
SANE exams. He called into question the women’s credibility based on their past
life choices and records of conviction. He argued it was not believable that Farrar, a
large man, held a gun to a woman’s head during a sex act and still managed to
support his weight. He then suggested that the prostitutes were “protecting their own
7
kind” and getting back at a person known in their community for not paying for
services. He argued they had “come up with some charge about a gun,” and “the
State’s brought the charges about a gun,” but there was no gun. In sum, Farrar and
Grace had consensual sex without a gun present, and, while Farrar “doesn’t pay for
sex with prostitutes,” that “does not make him a rapist.”
In its closing, the State referred to Farrar’s earlier characterization of the
disputes with Sarah and Jennifer—that they were focused on time and money—and
argued that Farrar’s story made no sense: why would two prostitutes, who
supposedly only cared about their time and money, have uncoerced sex and leave
the money laying on the console when they got out of Farrar’s vehicle. The State
argued Farrar was lying and that what really happened was he forced these three
women to have sex with him at gunpoint—there was never any money.
The jury found Farrar guilty of aggravated sexual assault of Grace.
The punishment phase began with a stipulation on Farrar’s earlier convictions
for (1) unlawfully carrying a weapon in June 2007, (2) assault in September 2007,
and (3) unlawfully carrying a weapon in June 2017. Grace and Jennifer testified
again. Farrar called a high school teacher and his mother to testify on his behalf.
Both sides gave closing arguments. The jury was told that the punishment range was
between 15 and 99 years or life because of Farrar’s prior convictions. The jury
assessed punishment at 45 years’ confinement. Farrar appealed.
8
Charge Error
In his first issue, Farrar argues the trial court erroneously charged the jury on
the offense of aggravated sexual assault because the application paragraph of the
court’s charge included the word “or” instead of “and” when it added the aggravating
factor to the list of elements the State had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Farrar
concedes he did not object to the error at trial. He further concedes that, without a
proper objection, the error is not reversible unless it reaches the level of egregious
harm. See Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) (en banc).
He argues that standard is met.
The State concedes the listing of elements was error but argues the egregious-
harm standard is not met. We agree. To explain why the error does not reach the
level of egregious harm, we first consider the elements of the offense of aggravated
sexual assault, as charged in the indictment. We next review the court’s charge to
the jury and the conceded error. And we finally consider the standard for egregious
harm and conduct an analysis of whether that standard is met.
A. Elements of aggravated-sexual-assault offense, as charged in the
indictment
A person commits the offense of aggravated sexual assault if, among other
possibilities, the person (1) intentionally or knowingly (2) causes the penetration of
the sexual organ of another person by any means, (3) without that person’s consent,
and one of several aggravating factors is met. TEX. PENAL CODE
9
§ 22.021(a)(1)(A)(i), § 22.021(a)(2). Lack of consent is shown with evidence the
actor compelled the other person to submit or participate by (a) the use of physical
force, violence, or coercion or (b) threatening to use force or violence against the
other person or to cause harm to the other person, and the other person believed that
the actor has the present ability to execute the threat. Id. § 22.011(b)(1)–(2). Farrar
was charged under the first form of lack of consent—force and violence. The list of
possible aggravating factor includes if the person uses or exhibits a deadly weapon,
like a gun, in the course of the sexual assault. Id. § 22.021(a)(2)(A)(iv).
Bringing those elements together, Farrar’s indictment alleged he did
“[1] intentionally and knowingly [2] cause the penetration of the sexual organ of
[Grace] by placing his penis in the sexual organ of [Grace], [3a] without the consent
of [Grace], namely, the Defendant compelled [Grace] to submit and participate by
the use of physical force and violence and [4] in the course of the same criminal
episode, the Defendant used and exhibited a deadly weapon, namely a firearm.”
B. The court’s charge to the jury and conceded error
The court’s charge opened with a correct recitation of the necessary elements
to convict for aggravated sexual assault. The charge also referred to the correctly
worded indictment, which had been read to the jury at the beginning of the trial. In
the middle application paragraph, though, the charge misstated the elements. The
application paragraph read as follows:
10
Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on
or about the 17th day of May, 2015, in Harris County, Texas, the
defendant, Ethaniel Farrar, did then and there unlawfully,
[1] intentionally or knowingly [2] cause the penetration of the sexual
organ of [Grace], by placing his penis in the sexual organ of [Grace],
[3a] without the consent of [Grace], namely, the defendant compelled
[Grace] to submit or participate by the use of physical force or violence,
or [4] in the course of the same criminal episode, the defendant used or
exhibited a deadly weapon, namely a firearm, then you will find the
defendant guilty of aggravated sexual assault, as charged in the
indictment.
The parties agree it was error to add the aggravating factor after the disjunctive
term “or” instead of after the conjunctive term “and.” Had the term “and” been used,
it would have correctly informed the jury that all elements were required. See TEX.
PENAL CODE § 22.021(a)(1)(A)(i) (specifying sexual contact), § 22.021(a)(2)(A)(iv)
(listing use or exhibition of firearm as aggravating factor).
Because the parties agree the use of the term “or” instead of “and” was error,
we next consider harm.
C. Egregious harm
When, as occurred here, a defendant fails to object to charge error or states he
has no objection to a charge, the reviewing court will not reverse unless the error
was so egregious and created such harm that the defendant cannot be said to have
had a fair trial. Martinez v. State, 190 S.W.3d 254, 259 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2010, pet. ref’d) (citing Almanza). Under the Almanza egregious-harm
standard, the record must show that the defendant has suffered actual, rather than
11
merely theoretical, harm from the charge error. Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 174. Charge
error is egregiously harmful if it effectively denies a fair and impartial trial. Id. at
172. It is egregiously harmful when it affects the very basis of the case, deprives the
defendant of a valuable right, or vitally affects a defensive theory. Sanchez v. State,
209 S.W.3d 117, 121 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Uddin v. State, 503 S.W.3d 710, 715
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016, no pet.).
Egregious harm is a difficult standard to meet and must be determined on a
case-by-case basis. Ellison v. State, 86 S.W.3d 226, 227 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).
Neither party has the burden to show harm. Reeves v. State, 420 S.W.3d 812, 816
(Tex. Crim. App. 2013). The appellate court determines harm from its review of (1)
the entire charge; (2) the state of the evidence, including contested issues;
(3) arguments of counsel; and (4) any other relevant information. Martinez, 190
S.W.3d at 259–60 (citing Hutch v. State, 922 S.W.2d 166, 171 (Tex. Crim. App.
1996)).
1. The entire charge
The court’s charge began by identifying the offense Farrar was charged with
committing, stating his plea of not guilty, and correctly listing all required elements
the State must prove:
A person commits the offense of aggravated sexual assault if the person
intentionally or knowingly causes the penetration of the sexual organ
of another person by any means, without that person’s consent; and if
12
the person uses or exhibits a deadly weapon in the course of the same
criminal episode.
An aggravated sexual assault is without the consent of the other person
if: (1) the defendant compels the other person to submit or participate
by the use of physical force or violence; or (2) the defendant compels
the other person to submit or participate by threatening to use force or
violence against the other person, and the other person believes that the
defendant has the present ability to execute the threat.
“Deadly weapon” means a firearm or anything manifestly designed,
made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily
injury; or anything that in the manner of its designed, made, use or
intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.
After defining a few more terms, the charge’s application paragraph applied the law
to the facts of the particular prosecution but replaced the final “and” with the word
“or”:
Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on
or about the 17th day of May, 2015, in Harris County, Texas, the
defendant, Ethaniel Farrar, did then and there unlawfully, intentionally
or knowingly cause the penetration of the sexual organ of [Grace], by
placing his penis in the sexual organ of [Grace], without the consent of
[Grace], namely, the defendant compelled [Grace] to submit or
participate by the use of physical force or violence, or in the course of
the same criminal episode, the defendant used or exhibited a deadly
weapon, namely a firearm, then you will find the defendant guilty of
aggravated sexual assault, as charged in the indictment.
Unless you so find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, or if
you have a reasonable doubt thereof, you will acquit the defendant.
(Emphasis added.) After a few more instructions, the charge closed with the
following language:
13
Your sole duty at this time is to determine whether the defendant is
guilty or not guilty under the indictment in this cause and restrict your
deliberations solely to that issue.
Thus, the court’s charge correctly listed all elements of the offense on its first
page, misstated the elements by changing the word “and” to “or” in the application
paragraph, and then referred to the indictment and instructed the jury to determine
whether Farrar was guilty or not guilty under the correctly phrased indictment.
The correct statement of elements elsewhere in the charge distinguishes this
case from others where egregious harm has been found. See Uddin, 503 S.W.3d at
719 (“There is simply no way that each of the twelve lay jurors, when faced with an
error in the abstract portion of the charge, a different error in the application
paragraph, and an indictment that did not match either one, somehow identified both
errors . . . and arrived at a correct understanding of what he or she had to find in
order to convict appellant.”); cf. McClay v. State, No. 11-10-00065-CR, 2012 WL
642849, at *5 (Tex. App.—Eastland Feb. 29, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op., not
designated for publication) (“The law was misstated in the introduction and in the
application and was not correctly stated anywhere within the charge.”).
When a court’s charge correctly states the elements of an offense and a
reasonable jury could refer to that portion of the court’s charge to mitigate any
confusion by an incorrect statement of elements elsewhere in the court’s charge, the
fact that the charge contains a correct statement of elements reduces the likelihood
14
that harm reaches the level of egregiousness. See Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 752
(Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (affirming holding of egregious harm, in part, because “the
original jury charge error was not corrected or ameliorated in another portion of the
charge”); Uddin, 503 S.W.3d at 717.
2. The state of the evidence
The complainant, Grace, testified she had sex with Farrar only because he had
a gun and she was afraid he would use the gun to harm her. The extraneous-offense
witnesses also testified Farrar had a gun and they had sex with him only because of
the threat of the gun. Grace did not testify to any other form of force or violence or
about any other weapons being present. The only theory presented to the jury by the
prosecution and the only evidence in the record in support of that theory is that the
force and violence were achieved by Farrar’s use and exhibition of a gun.
Farrar did not deny having sex with Grace or the other two women. He
admitted it was his DNA that was collected in all three SANE exams. He asserted
that all three women consented to sex with him and then had a fee dispute after the
fact that resulted in none of the women taking his money in exchange for the
completed sex acts. He denied forcing sex on them or owning or using a gun.
Thus, the jury was presented two opposite theories: under one, Farrar forced
Grace—and earlier, the two other women—to have sex at gun point; under the other,
Grace—and the other two women—consented to sex under the expectation they
15
would get paid, became angry when they were not paid as expected, and wrongly
accused him of sexual assault because of his nonpayment.
These were the only two versions presented to the jury. The jury evaluated the
evidence and chose one while rejecting the other. This case does not reasonably
involve the possibility that the jury believed Farrar used some form of coercion,
force, or violence but did not use or exhibit a gun in the process. The evidence simply
did not provide for that possibility. Cf. Uddin, 503 S.W.3d at 718 (explaining various
ways the facts of that case permitted jury to reach verdict of guilt without finding all
required elements). In other words, as the case was presented to the jury, the jury
was going to either believe one version of events or the other. There was no middle
ground.
3. Arguments of counsel
Farrar’s theory of the case was that he approached Grace for sex, she was
willing to engage in sex for a fee, and, therefore, the sex was consensual. He denied
having a gun. During closing argument, Farrar’s counsel questioned the women’s
credibility and argued they were wrongly accusing Farrar because they did not like
his nonpayment after consensual sex acts.
The prosecutor’s closing focused on the lack of motive for these three women
to endure a rape exam, face a police investigation, and testify to a room full of people
about their past drug use and prostitution. The only reasonable explanation, she
16
argued, was that they were being truthful. The prosecutor highlighted that none of
these three women knew each other but all alleged they were sexually assaulted in
the same area of town within weeks of each other under very similar facts, that Farrar
pointed a gun at them while he forced them to have sex, and that they went to the
hospital afterward for medical care and a SANE exam. The prosecutor focused on
Farrar’s admission he had sex with all three women and his admission it was his
DNA that was recovered in all three SANE exams.
Finally, the prosecutor suggested that Farrar’s story made no sense. She asked
the jury to consider whether it made sense that, as Farrar alleged, Sarah and Jennifer
would have gotten into a dispute with Farrar, after sex, about whether he was paying
enough for the sex act agreed to, yet, when faced with inadequate payment, they
would have willingly left his vehicle without any payment, as Farrar stated.
Neither counsel’s argument suggested the evidence supported a theory of
coercion, force, and violence without use or exhibition of a gun. Cf. Taylor v. State,
332 S.W.3d 483, 493 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (in evaluating charge error, noting that
defensive theory was that no sexual abuse occurred at any time; therefore, it was
unlikely the jury thought some occurred but not as the complainant alleged, and
concluding charge error did not result in egregious harm).
17
4. Other relevant information
The indictment was read to the jury. It correctly listed all elements and alleged
that the sexual assault was without Grace’s consent and that a deadly weapon was
used.
5. Egregious harm not established on this record
A review for egregious harm is fact intensive and determined on a case-by-
case basis. Marshall v. State, 479 S.W.3d 840, 843 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). The
indictment was read to the jury, and it correctly listed all necessary elements for a
conviction of aggravated sexual assault. Likewise, the opening of the court’s charge
correctly listed all necessary elements for a conviction of aggravated sexual assault.
In the application paragraph, though, the charge added the aggravating factor with
the term “or” instead of “and.” But the jury was presented with an all-of-nothing
defensive theory of the case that excluded the possibility of any middle ground.
There were only two possible outcomes: either the jury was going to believe Grace
(and Sarah and Jennifer) or it was going to believe Farrar. There was no possibility
the jury would have resolved these facts to conclude Farrar forced Grace to engage
in sex without her consent but did not have a gun or that he had a gun but did not
use force or violence to coerce sex without consent. In other words, there is no
possibility the jury found the first, second, and fourth elements without the third
18
element or that it found the first, second, and third elements without the fourth
element.
The jury unquestionably found Grace’s testimony credible because it rejected
Farrar’s explanation and found him guilty. Grace’s testimony supported a finding of
each necessary element. The jury, on two occasions, was correctly informed of all
necessary elements. Under these facts, we conclude the error in joining the
aggravating factor to the list of elements with the disjunctive “or” did not result in
egregious harm to Farrar. On these facts, we conclude the error did not affect the
very basis of the case, deprive Farrar of a valuable right, or vitally affect a defensive
theory. See Sanchez, 209 S.W.3d at 121; Uddin, 503 S.W.3d at 715.
Because the record does not support a conclusion of egregious harm, we
overrule Farrar’s first issue.
Lesser-Included Offense
In his second issue, Farrar argues the trial court erred by denying his request
for a jury instruction on aggravated assault “because the allegation of a non-
consensual penetration was functionally equivalent to an allegation of offensive-
contact-assault.”
A. Standard of review
We apply a two-step process to determine whether a defendant was entitled to
an instruction on a lesser offense. Cavazos v. State, 382 S.W.3d 377, 382 (Tex. Crim.
19
Ohio App. 2012). First, we determine whether the offense qualifies as a “lesser included
offense” under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 37.09. TEX. CODE CRIM.
PROC. art. 37.09; Sweed v. State, 351 S.W.3d 63, 68 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). An
offense is a lesser-included offense if: (1) it is established by the proof of the same
or less than all the facts required to establish the commission of the offense charged;
(2) it differs from the offense charged only in that a less serious injury or risk of
injury to the same person, property, or public interest suffices to establish its
commission; (3) it differs from the offense charged only in that a less culpable
mental state suffices to establish its commission; or (4) it consists of an attempt to
commit the offense charged or an otherwise included offense. TEX. CODE CRIM.
PROC. art. 37.09(1)–(4). This is a question of law that does not depend on the
evidence presented at trial. Hall v. State, 225 S.W.3d 524, 535 (Tex. Crim. App.
2007). We look at the facts and elements as alleged in the charging instrument to
determine whether there exists a lesser-included offense of the greater charged
offense. Id.
Next, we determine whether there was some evidence that would have
permitted the jury to rationally find that, if the defendant was guilty, he was guilty
only of the lesser offense. Id. at 536. Although the threshold showing for an
instruction on a lesser-included offense is low—more than a scintilla of evidence—
the evidence must establish that the lesser-included offense was a valid and rational
20
alternative to the charged offense. Id. “[I]t is not enough that the jury may disbelieve
crucial evidence pertaining to the greater offense; there must be some evidence
directly germane to a lesser included offense for the factfinder to consider before an
instruction on a lesser included offense is warranted.” Bignall v. State, 887 S.W.2d
21, 24 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994).
B. Aggravated assault is not a lesser-included offense as charged
The elements of the charged offense of aggravated sexual assault, as modified
by the particular allegations in the indictment, are that Farrar (1) intentionally and
knowingly (2) penetrated Grace’s sexual organ with his sexual organ (3) without her
consent in that he compelled her to submit and participate by the use of physical
force and violence, and (4) in the course of the same criminal episode, Farrar used
and exhibited a deadly weapon, namely a firearm. TEX. PENAL CODE §
22.021(a)(1)(A)(i); § 22.021(a)(2)(A)(iv).
The statutory elements of the offense of aggravated assault, as requested by
Farrar, are that Farrar (1) intentionally or knowingly (2) caused physical contact with
Grace (3) when Farrar knew or should reasonably have believed that Grace would
regard the contact as offensive or provocative, and as the aggravating factor, (4)
Farrar used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault. TEX.
CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 22.01(a)(3) (assault); 22.02(a)(2) (listing aggravating factors,
including using or exhibiting a deadly weapon during the assault).
21
The second offense—aggravated assault—requires proof that Farrar knew or
reasonably believed Grace would regard the contact as offensive or provocative at
the time of the contact. The charged offense did not require such proof. Compare §
22.021(a)(3), with id. §§ 22.021(a)(1)(A)(i), 22.021(a)(2)(A)(iv). Because this
additional fact must be proven for aggravated assault but not for aggravated sexual
assault, aggravated assault is not a lesser-included offense in this case under article
37.09(1). See Ramos v. State, 981 S.W.2d 700, 701 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
1998, pet. ref’d). Even if there was some evidence Farrar knew or reasonably
believed Grace would regard his contact as offensive, that evidence is immaterial.
See id.; cf. Chabrier v. State, 592 S.W.3d 188, 195 (Tex. App.—Austin 2019, no
pet.) (because appellant could be guilty of penetrating the complainant’s sexual
organ without her consent even if there was no evidence of his knowledge or belief
that complainant would regard contact as offensive or provocative, offensive-contact
assault is not lesser-included offense of sexual assault); Trejo v. State, 242 S.W.3d
48, 50–52 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007) (aggravated assault is not lesser-
included offense of charged aggravated-sexual-assault offense because serious
bodily injury was not “fact required” to establish “physical force and violence” and
“threatening to use force and violence” allegations in indictment), overruled on other
grounds, Trejo v. State, 280 S.W.3d 258 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). These two offenses
contain distinct elements requiring different proof; thus, we conclude aggravated
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assault is not a lesser-included offense under article 37.09(1). See McKithan v. State,
324 S.W.3d 582, 595 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (Cochran, J., concurring) (stating that
use of “physical force is entirely different from intending to touch someone in a rude,
displeasing, or obnoxious manner. Offensive-contact assault is therefore not a lesser-
included offense of an aggravated sexual assault offense that explicitly requires the
use of physical force and violence”).
Nor can aggravated assault be a lesser-included offense under any of the other
three provisions of article 37.09: aggravated assault differs more than simply in
degree of injury, it differs more than solely by having a less culpable mental state,
and it does not consist of an attempt to commit aggravated sexual assault. See TEX.
CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 37.09(2)–(4).
Because aggravated assault is not a lesser-included offense of aggravated
sexual assault, as charged in this case, we overrule Farrar’s second issue.
Conclusion
We affirm.
Sarah Beth Landau
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Kelly, Landau, and Countiss.
Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
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