Kielle Dromone McNeal v. State ( 2016 )

AFFIRMED; Opinion Filed November 8, 2016.
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-15-01014-CR
KIELLE DROMONE MCNEAL, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 5
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. F-1500409-L
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Lang, Myers, and Evans
Opinion by Justice Lang
Following a plea of not guilty, appellant Kielle Dromone McNeal was convicted by a
jury of manslaughter. Additionally, appellant pleaded true to one enhancement paragraph and
the jury found that enhancement paragraph true. Punishment was assessed by the jury at twenty-
six years’ imprisonment.
In two issues on appeal, appellant contends (1) he was “denied his statutory (state and
federal) and constitutional right to a speedy trial” and (2) “[t]he charge of the [trial] court at
punishment was fundamentally defective by incorrectly instructing the jury on appellant’s
eligibility to seek parole to his detriment in the sentence assessed.” We decide against appellant
on his two issues. The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL CONTEXT
The record shows that several years prior to the trial in this case, appellant was convicted
of the April 27, 2008 murder of Weldon “Glen” Liscum, III in trial court cause number F08–
47896-L and sentenced to fifty years’ imprisonment. In an opinion dated October 15, 2014, the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted an application for writ of habeas corpus filed by
appellant based on ineffective assistance of counsel respecting that conviction. See Ex parte
McNeal, No. WR-81,623-01, 2014 WL 5422146 (Tex. Crim. App. Oct. 15, 2014) (not
designated for publication). That opinion stated that the judgment in cause number F08–47896–
L is “set aside” and “[a]pplicant is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Dallas County.” Id.
at *1. The mandate pertaining to that opinion was issued on November 10, 2014.
On June 15, 2015, the trial court held a hearing on a motion it described as a “speedy trial
motion” filed pro se by appellant in cause number F08-47896.1 At that hearing, counsel for
appellant stated (1) it is appellant’s position that although “32.802” of the Texas Code of
Criminal Procedure has been repealed, “the prior mandates of 32.802 are still applicable to his
cause,” and (2) appellant “demands a dismissal of this case for the lack of prosecution
commencing within 180 days from the date that his mandate was issued, which overturned his
conviction and ordered a new trial.” Additionally, appellant testified at that hearing (1) his father
recently sent the district attorney a “fax” showing “[i]t’s still 180-day [sic] statute” and “if the
State is not ready for court within 180 days after the repeal law that the State—that it must be
dismissed,” and (2) under “a federal law from 2014,” the State had seventy days “in which to get
me back to trial” and because that deadline was not met, his case “must be dismissed by federal
law as well.” The State responded in part that the Texas statute described by appellant was
repealed in 2005 and is no longer applicable. Then, counsel for appellant stated (1) “[appellant]
1
The record does not contain a copy of any motion filed by appellant on or before the date of that hearing.
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just keeps insisting that the time limitations are still applicable,” but “it’s my understanding, it’s
been repealed,” and (2) “there is still the constitutional aspect of speedy trial,” which “applies
with actual proof or finding that the defendant was harmed by delaying.” At conclusion of that
hearing, the trial court overruled the motion before it.
On July 13, 2015, a document titled “Reindictment” was filed in trial court cause number
F-1500409-L. That reindictment alleged that on approximately April 27, 2008, appellant (1)
intentionally and knowingly caused the death of the complainant, Liscum, by shooting him with
a deadly weapon and (2) intended to cause serious bodily injury to the complainant and
committed an act clearly dangerous to human life by shooting the complainant with a deadly
weapon, which caused his death. Also, the reindictment included one enhancement paragraph,
which alleged that appellant was previously convicted of the felony offense of “assault family
violence.”
On approximately August 3, 2015, appellant, acting pro se, filed several motions to quash
the reindictment in cause number F-1500409-L. In those motions, which were substantially
similar, appellant stated in part that the reindictment is “defective” for the following reason:
I returned to Dallas County November 13, 2014, that was Mandated on November
10, 2014 by State and Federal law, if I am to be reindicted on the same
information, and order by New Trial the State or Government has 30 days, from
the date of summons or rearrest date to present Indictment From Mandate of
November 10, 2014 to Reindictment dated July 13, 2015 make the case
#F1500409 void. The only Remedy is for the indictment to be set-aside or
dropped.
Trial commenced August 10, 2015. Prior to voir dire, appellant asked the trial court to
rule on his above-described pro se motions to quash the reindictment. Counsel for appellant
argued in part (1) those motions are “based upon the fact the State failed to get [appellant]
indicted within the speedy trial guidelines” and (2) it is appellant’s position that “[the State’s]
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reindictment of him is a violation of speedy trial; that he was not indicted in a timely fashion,
from the date of that mandate.” The trial court denied those motions.
Julie Humes testified that at the time of the shooting in question, she and Liscum were
engaged and lived in a trailer with several other people. Humes, Liscum, and the other trailer
residents were acquainted with appellant and his girlfriend, Rachael. According to Humes, on
the day before the shooting, Rachael was “having issues with her relationship” and came to the
trailer to spend the night. The next day, Humes was asleep in her bedroom at approximately
1:00 p.m. when she heard a “commotion” outside. Humes grabbed a “taser” and stepped outside
the trailer. Appellant and several residents of the trailer, including Liscum, were in the front
yard. Humes testified appellant was “acting pretty irate” and “[t]alking about a purse that
belonged to Rachael being taken.” Rachael was inside appellant’s vehicle, which was parked
near the trailer. Humes stated she told the group to “break it up” and appellant started to “cuss”
at her. Then, several of the trailer residents made insulting comments to appellant. Humes told
appellant to leave and “popped” the taser “in the air.” Appellant got into his vehicle and left.
Humes testified that as appellant was leaving, he “repeatedly said that he would be back.”
According to Humes, approximately thirty minutes later she and Liscum were outside in
front of the trailer and saw appellant drive up in a truck. There were three passengers in the
truck, whom Humes did not recognize. Liscum grabbed a baseball bat out of the back seat of his
car. Humes testified appellant got out of the truck with a gun in his hand and “was swinging it
around in the air.” Humes stated she yelled at appellant and “got his attention.” Appellant
pointed the gun at her. Then, she “used a racial slur.” At that point, appellant “pulled the trigger
on the gun, and it jammed.” According to Humes, appellant started “cussing towards the gun”
and “trying to get it to unjam.” Humes “took off towards the house” to call the police. When
she was near the front door, she heard a gunshot. She turned toward Liscum and saw appellant
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pointing the gun at him. She stated Liscum was no longer holding the bat and had nothing in his
hands. Appellant fired a second shot, which hit Liscum. Liscum stumbled to his knees, then fell
face down on the ground. Appellant returned to the truck and drove away. Paramedics arrived
minutes later, but Liscum died en route to the hospital.
Following similar testimony by several other eyewitnesses and the admission of
numerous photographs and other exhibits into evidence, the jury found appellant guilty of “the
lesser-included offense of manslaughter, as included in the indictment.” Then, both sides
presented evidence respecting punishment.
Rachael Pickard testified she began dating appellant in approximately 2007 and was
living with him at the time of the shooting in question. She stated she and appellant rented a
room in the home of Robert Fonderen. According to Pickard, (1) appellant supported himself by
selling crack cocaine; (2) she and appellant used cocaine together several times a week; (3)
appellant was physically abusive to her on multiple occasions, including choking her and hitting
her; (4) she required stitches on one occasion when appellant hit her in the mouth; (5) she did not
contact police respecting the abuse by appellant; (6) she had sex with Fonderen several times “to
pay for rent”; (7) her participation in that payment arrangement was not against her will; and (8)
she had sex with other “customers” approximately once a week, which appellant knew about,
and it was “part of [appellant’s] responsibilities” to make sure she was “safe” when she did so.
Joy Price testified appellant is the father of her seventeen-year-old son. Price stated that
over the course of her four-year relationship with appellant, he physically abused her on multiple
occasions by hitting her. She called police several times respecting that physical abuse, but
chose not to “press charges” against appellant.
Fonderen testified he rented a room to appellant and Pickard at appellant’s request.
According to Fonderen, he and appellant made an agreement that in exchange for the room,
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Fonderen would be paid $100 per week and could have sex with Pickard whenever he wanted to.
Fonderen testified Pickard “wasn’t a part of that agreement” and “didn’t want no part of it.”
However, Fonderen stated, Pickard and appellant moved into Fonderen’s home and Fonderen
had sex with Pickard “frequently.” Further, Fonderen testified he saw appellant hit Pickard on
one occasion.
Murinna Olugbode testified he is a detention officer in the Dallas County jail. He stated
that in approximately 2008, appellant was being held there and was housed in the area where he
worked. According to Olugbode, appellant “behaved badly,” had “a bad temper,” and was
disrespectful, rude, and vulgar to the jail officers and other inmates. Olugbode stated he had to
“write some reports” on appellant because of fighting and other behavior.
Humes and a sister of Liscum testified that losing Liscum was painful and difficult for
them. Additionally, an exhibit consisting of a summary of prior convictions of appellant was
admitted into evidence without objection and appellant stipulated he is the person named in that
exhibit. The summary stated appellant was convicted of (1) burglary of a building, forgery, and
misdemeanor theft in approximately 1997; (2) assault family violence, misdemeanor assault, and
felony assault family violence in approximately 2000; (3) two misdemeanor thefts in
approximately 2004; and (4) burglary of a vehicle and felony theft in approximately 2007.
Lakeshia Ealy testified she met appellant in high school and he is the father of her son
Kielle Junior, who was born in 1997. Ealy stated appellant “has a good heart” and is “really,
really good with kids.” She stated that when appellant went to jail in 2008, she “felt like he was
angry,” but since that time she has seen “a tremendous change” and he has “grown.” Also, she
stated he has a “good-size” family in the area who will “be there as a support mechanism for
him” when he is released.
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Kielle McNeal, Jr. (“K. McNeal, Jr.”) testified appellant is his father. He stated he (1)
currently attends college and is planning to join the U.S. Air Force; (2) needs appellant in his
life; and (3) has younger siblings who “are walking down a darker path” and he would like for
his father “to be there to basically guide them.” Further, K. McNeal, Jr. testified that since
appellant has been incarcerated, appellant (1) has apologized for “the whole incident” and
“grown wiser” and (2) “always seem[s] to have wise information to tell me and try to lead me in
a great, positive direction.” On cross-examination, K. McNeal, Jr. testified appellant (1) has a
mother who has “been supportive of him, his whole life”; (2) had his father “in his life” while he
was growing up; and (3) attended college on a football scholarship. Also, K. McNeal, Jr. stated
that in the evening on the date of the shooting in question, at a time he believes was after the
shooting, appellant dropped off him and his younger brothers at a skating rink and “was really in
a positive mood.”
The charge of the court respecting punishment instructed the jury that if they found the
enhancement paragraph true, they were to “assess the punishment of the defendant at
confinement . . . for a term of years not more than ninety-nine (99) years of life nor less than five
(5) years.” Additionally, the charge contained instructions respecting good conduct time and
parole.2
2
Specifically, the charge of the court stated in part,
Under the law applicable in this case, the defendant, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, may earn time off
the period of incarceration imposed through the award of good conduct time. Prison authorities may award good conduct
time to a prisoner who exhibits good behavior, diligence in carrying out prison work assignments, and attempts at
rehabilitation. If a prisoner engages in misconduct, prison authorities may also take away all or part of any good conduct
time earned by the prisoner.
It is also possible that the length of time for which the defendant will be imprisoned might be reduced by the
award of parole.
Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, he will not
become eligible for parole until the actual time served plus any good conduct time earned equals one-half of the sentenced
imposed or thirty (30) years, whichever is less. Eligibility for parole does not guarantee that parole will be granted.
It cannot accurately be predicted how the parole law and good conduct time might be applied to this defendant
if he is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, because the application of these laws will depend on decisions made by the
prison and parole authorities.
You may consider the existence of the parole law and good conduct time. However, you are not to consider the
extent to which good conduct time may be awarded to or forfeited by this particular defendant. You are not to consider the
manner in which the parole law may be applied to this particular defendant.
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In his closing argument as to punishment, counsel for appellant argued that the
appropriate sentence in this case is “ten years in the penitentiary.” The State asserted it was “not
going to ask for the max” and was “not going to put a number out there,” but argued “this is not a
case where you need to be thinking about the low end of the punishment range” because “[t]his
is a person that does not respect human life.” Additionally, the State argued that assessing
punishment is “not just about this case” but rather is about “[e]very bad thing that you know
about [appellant]: The drug dealing, the pimping, the violence.”
During the jury’s deliberations respecting punishment, the trial court received two notes
from the jury. The first note stated, “1. What is the defendant’s current age? 2. How much time
has he already served for this offense?” The second note stated, “Will the time served be
subtracted from the sentence the jury imposed? Can the jury discuss defendant’s current
imprisonment?” The trial court responded to both notes by stating, “The Court instructs you that
you have all the law and the evidence. Please continue your deliberations.”
Following the jury’s assessment of punishment as described above, the trial court signed
a judgment in accordance with the jury’s findings. That judgment includes an affirmative
finding that appellant used a deadly weapon in the commission of the offense in question. This
appeal timely followed.
II. DENIAL OF RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL
A. Standard of Review
In reviewing a trial court’s speedy trial decision, “we apply a bifurcated standard of
review: an abuse of discretion standard for the factual components, and a de novo standard for
the legal components.” Zamorano v. State, 84 S.W.3d 643, 648 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); accord
You are instructed that in determining the punishment in this case, you are not to discuss among yourselves how
long the defendant will be required to serve any sentence you decide to impose. Such matters come within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Board of Pardons and Paroles and are no concern of yours.
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Moon v. State, 451 S.W.3d 28, 55 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); Coy v. State, Nos. 05-15-00011-CR,
05-15-00012-CR, & 05-15-00013-CR, 2016 WL 1705153, at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 26,
2016, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). Further, we review the trial court’s
ruling in light of the arguments, information, and evidence available to the trial court at the time
it ruled. Dragoo v. State, 96 S.W.3d 308, 313 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Ledbetter v. State, No.
05-07-00481-CR, 2008 WL 2190982, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 28, 2008, pet. denied) (not
designated for publication).
B. Applicable Law
Both the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article 1, section 10 of
the Texas Constitution guarantee a speedy trial. See U.S. CONST. amend. VI & XIV; TEX.
CONST. art. 1, § 10; Coy, 2016 WL 1705153, at *3 (citing Zamorano, 84 S.W.3d at 647). “The
right attaches once a person becomes an ‘accused’—that is, once he is arrested or charged.”
Cantu v. State, 253 S.W.3d 273, 280 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); see also United States v.
MacDonald, 456 U.S. 1, 7 (1982) (“Although delay prior to arrest or indictment may give rise to
a due process claim under the Fifth Amendment, . . . no Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial
arises until charges are pending.”). If an accused’s speedy trial right is violated, the proper
remedy is to dismiss the prosecution with prejudice. See Shaw v. State, 117 S.W.3d 883, 888
(Tex. Crim. App. 2003).
While the Texas Constitution provides an independent speedy trial guarantee, the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals has traditionally analyzed speedy trial claims under the same
framework established by the United States Supreme Court in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514,
530–33 (1972). See Zamorano, 84 S.W.3d at 647–48; Hicks v. State, No. 05-14-00417-CR, 2015
WL 4462277, at *6 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 21, 2015, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for
publication). That framework requires us to consider four factors: (1) the length of the delay, (2)
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the reasons for the delay, (3) the assertion of the right, and (4) the prejudice to the defendant.
Barker, 407 U.S. at 530. No single factor is sufficient or necessary to establish a violation of the
right to a speedy trial. Id. at 533. However, the length of the delay is, to some extent, a
“triggering mechanism” for analysis of the other factors. Id. at 530. “Until there is some delay
which is presumptively prejudicial, there is no necessity for inquiry into the other factors that go
into the balance.” Id. Although no “set time element” triggers a Barker analysis, a delay of
about one year is generally presumptively prejudicial for purposes of the length-of-delay factor.
See Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 281; Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 889; see also Harris v. State, 827 S.W.2d
949, 956 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (recognizing that courts have held delay of eight months is
presumptively unreasonable and triggers speedy trial analysis). If the delay is “presumptively
prejudicial,” the State bears the burden of justifying the delay and the defendant has the burden
to prove that he asserted the right and that he suffered prejudice because of the delay. Cantu,
253 S.W.3d at 280. “The defendant’s burden of proof varies inversely with the State’s degree of
culpability for the delay.” Id. In evaluating a speedy trial claim, we balance the defendant’s
conduct against the State’s conduct and consider the four factors together, along with any other
relevant circumstances. Barker, 407 U.S. at 530, 533. The balancing test applied to a speedy
trial analysis as a whole is a legal question. See Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 282; Hicks, 2015 WL
4462277, at *6.
Additionally, “the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment has a limited role to play
in protecting against oppressive delay.” Hicks, 2015 WL 4462277, at *9 (citing State v. Krizan-
Wilson, 354 S.W.3d 808, 813–14 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011)). “In order to be entitled to relief,
however, the defendant must demonstrate that the delay: (1) caused substantial prejudice to his
right to a fair trial and (2) was an intentional device used to gain a tactical advantage over the
accused.” Id. There must be proof of both elements. Id.
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C. Application of Law to Facts
As described above, appellant contends in his first issue that he was “denied his statutory
(state and federal) and constitutional right to a speedy trial.” According to appellant, (1) the
“new indictment” against him “was returned more than 180 days after the mandate was issued by
the Court of Appeals” and (2) “[u]nder state and federal statutes and the United States
Constitution, in particular the Sixth Amendment, the indictment violated appellant’s right to
speedy trial.”
The State responds that the delay in appellant’s reindictment did not deny his right to a
speedy trial. Further, the State asserts (1) because appellant did not raise any due process claim,
any such claim has been waived, and (2) even if appellant’s due process right to a speedy trial is
considered, he has not demonstrated he is entitled to relief respecting a due process violation.
Appellant asserts in his appellate brief (1) “[o]n June 15, 2015, . . . the [trial] court
convened a hearing in Cause No. F08-47896-L to consider appellant’s pro se Motions to Quash
Indictment” and (2) “[i]t is clear from the context at the [June 15, 2015] hearing that appellant
was actually complaining of a violation of his right to a speedy trial because of the re-indictment
in Cause No. F15-00409-L again charging appellant with the offense of murder.” Also,
appellant asserts that at the June 15, 2015 hearing, he “presented four arguments as to the speedy
trial violations.” Specifically, he contends that at that hearing (1) he argued that although article
32A.02 of the Texas Code of Civil Procedure has been repealed, “the statute’s requirement that
his case be brought to trial within 180 days was still applicable to his case”; (2) he argued that a
“second statute,” article 32.01(a) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, “also prevented the
State from reindicting him because the State was not ready for trial within 180 days”; (3) he
argued that “a Federal Statute was violated” because the State was not “ready for trial” within the
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required time period; and (4) his trial counsel “noted” that he “had the constitutional right to a
speedy trial.”
However, the record shows neither the reindictment nor appellant’s motions to quash it
had been filed at the time of the June 15, 2015 hearing. Rather, that hearing pertained to a
motion described by the trial court as a pro se “speedy trial motion.” Further, the record shows
the only arguments asserted by appellant at that hearing (1) were based on article “32.802” and
unspecified “federal law” and (2) pertained specifically to the time period within which the State
must be “ready for trial.” The record shows no mention of an indictment or the time period
respecting such, nor did appellant cite or mention article 32.01(a). Also, while appellant’s
counsel stated during the hearing that “there is still the constitutional aspect of speedy trial,”
there was (1) no assertion that appellant’s constitutional right to a speedy trial had been violated
and (2) no evidence presented as to harm.
Subsequently, immediately prior to trial on August 10, 2015, the trial court heard
appellant’s three pro se motions to quash the reindictment, which motions were filed on
approximately August 3, 2015. In those motions, appellant complained as to the length of time
between his “summons or rearrest date,” which he contended was November 13, 2014, and his
July 13, 2015 reindictment. Specifically, he argued that “[the State’s] reindictment of him is a
violation of speedy trial; that he was not indicted in a timely fashion, from the date of that
mandate.” Because the record shows the June 15, 2015 hearing and the August 10, 2015 hearing
involved different motions and arguments, we address those motions and arguments in turn.
First, as to appellant’s “speedy trial motion” heard on June 15, 2015, the record shows
that motion was based primarily on repealed article 32A.02 of the code of criminal procedure.3
3
Although the reporter’s record describes the statute in question as “32.802” of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, this Court’s
research does not show any such statute has ever existed. Further, appellant’s brief on appeal describes the statute in question as repealed article
32A.02. That article, known as the Speedy Trial Act, required the State to be ready for trial within 180 days after the commencement of a felony
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Although the parties do not dispute that article was repealed in 2005, appellant contends “the
statute’s requirement that his case be brought to trial within 180 days [is] still applicable to his
case.” Appellant cites no authority for that position and we have found none. Cf. Bryan v. State,
No. 04-06-00147-CR, 2007 WL 1133216, at *3 n.2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Apr. 18, 2007, no
pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (article 32A.02 has been held unconstitutional
and repealed and “[a]s such, in Texas, . . . a defendant’s right to a speedy trial is analyzed under
the Barker factors”).
Additionally, in his appellate argument pertaining to that contention, appellant cites
articles 17.151 and 51.14 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and describes them as
“additional authority that his right to a speedy trial has been violated.” See TEX. CODE CRIM.
PROC. ANN. art. 17.151 (West 2015); id. art. 51.14 (West 2006). Appellant does not otherwise
describe or address those statutes. Article 17.151 provides in part that, subject to certain
exceptions, “[a] defendant who is detained in jail pending trial of an accusation against him must
be released either on personal bond or by reducing the amount of bail required, if the state is not
ready for trial of the criminal action for which he is being detained within . . . 90 days from
commencement of his detention if he is accused of a felony.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art.
17.151, § 1(1). Article 51.14 is titled “Interstate Agreement on Detainers” and provides
cooperative procedures for states to use in disposing of charges against persons incarcerated in
other jurisdictions. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 15.14. The portions of that article cited by
appellant pertain to the procedures for making an incarcerated person available for trial of
charges in another state and provide in part (1) “in respect of any proceeding made possible by
this article, trial shall be commenced within 120 days of the arrival of the prisoner in the
criminal action or risk dismissal of the indictment with prejudice. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 32A.02, § 1(1) (Vernon 1989), repealed
by Act of May 29, 2005, 79th Leg., R.S., ch. 1019, § 2, 2005 Tex. Gen. Laws 3464, 3464 (effective June 18, 2005); see also Ledbetter, 2008 WL
2190982, at *3.
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receiving state” and (2) if trial is not had on the indictment or complaint for which the prisoner
was sent to the receiving state prior to his return to the sending state, such indictment or
complaint “shall not be of any further force or effect, and the court shall enter an order
dismissing the same with prejudice.” Id. art. IV (a)–(c). The record does not show either of
those statutes were cited or mentioned by appellant in the trial court, nor did appellant request
any relief other than “dismissal of this case,” which relief is not available under article 17.151.
See Dragoo, 96 S.W.3d at 313 (trial court’s speedy trial ruling is reviewed in light of arguments,
information, and evidence available to trial court at time it ruled); Ledbetter, 2008 WL 2190982,
at *2 (same). Further, appellant does not explain, and the record does not show, how those
provisions are applicable to the circumstances of this case. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i).
Also, as described above, appellant’s arguments at his June 15, 2015 hearing included his
contention that under “a federal law from 2014,” the State had seventy days “in which to get me
back to trial” and because that deadline was not met, his case “must be dismissed by federal law
as well.” On appeal, appellant repeats that argument and contends “a Federal Statute was
violated.” However, appellant provides no citation or further argument respecting the
unspecified federal statute he contends was violated. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i).
Further, appellant asserts on appeal that he argued at the June 15, 2015 hearing that a
“second statute,” article 32.01(a) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, “also prevented the
State from reindicting him because the State was not ready for trial within 180 days.” Article
32.01(a) of the code of criminal procedure provides,
When a defendant has been detained in custody or held to bail for the defendant’s
appearance to answer any criminal accusation, the prosecution, unless otherwise
ordered by the court, for good cause shown, supported by affidavit, shall be
dismissed and the bail discharged, if indictment or information be not presented
against the defendant on or before the last day of the next term of the court which
is held after the defendant’s commitment or admission to bail or on or before the
180th day after the date of commitment or admission to bail, whichever date is
later.
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TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 32.01(a) (West Supp. 2016). However, “even if a defendant
is entitled to discharge from custody under Article 32.01, that defendant is not free from
subsequent prosecution.” Ex parte Seidel, 39 S.W.3d 221, 224 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); see TEX.
CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 15.14 (West 2015) (providing that after prosecution of defendant is
dismissed under article 32.01, defendant may be “rearrested” for same criminal conduct upon
presentation of indictment for that offense).
Contrary to appellant’s assertion on appeal, the record does not show appellant cited or
addressed article 32.01 during the June 15, 2015 hearing or made any complaint respecting
presentation of an indictment. Rather, his arguments at that hearing pertained solely to the
State’s alleged failure to timely “get me back to trial.” See Dragoo, 96 S.W.3d at 313; Ledbetter,
2008 WL 2190982, at *2. Moreover, appellant does not explain, and the record does not show,
how article 32.01 would, as he contends, have “prevented the State from reindicting him.” See
Ex parte Seidel, 39 S.W.3d at 224.
As to appellant’s fourth argument, the record shows any assertion of his constitutional
right to a speedy trial at the June 15, 2015 hearing was limited to his counsel’s statements quoted
above. Even assuming without deciding those statements asserted a violation of that right, the
record shows the date of that hearing was seven months from the date appellant contends he was
“rearrested.” On this record, we conclude appellant did not show a “presumptively prejudicial”
delay that entitled him to a speedy trial analysis. See State v. Thomas, 453 S.W.3d 1, 5 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2014, no pet.) (seven months between defendant’s arrest and trial was not
“presumptively prejudicial” delay for purposes of speedy trial analysis); State v. Jones, Nos. 05-
05-00154-CR & 05-05-00155-CR, 2005 WL 2841210, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 31, 2005,
pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication) (same); Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 50, 53 (Tex.
App.—Texarkana 1997, pet. ref’d) (same). Additionally, after considering all of the arguments,
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information, and evidence available to the trial court at the June 15, 2015 hearing as described
above, we conclude the trial court did not err by denying appellant’s “speedy trial motion” that
was heard on that date. See Dragoo, 96 S.W.3d at 313; Ledbetter, 2008 WL 2190982, at *2.
Next, we turn to appellant’s three pro se motions to quash the reindictment, which
motions were heard by the trial court immediately prior to trial on August 10, 2015. Because
those three motions were substantially similar, we address them together. Each of the motions
was titled “Motion to Quash Indictment.” Therein, appellant contended (1) the State had thirty
days “from the date of summons or rearrest” to present an indictment and (2) because the State
did not meet that requirement, the reindictment is “void” and must be “set-aside or dropped.”
None of the motions cited any authority, nor was any authority cited or described at the August
10, 2015 hearing. Further, appellant cites no authority on appeal that describes a thirty-day
deadline respecting indictment.
To the extent appellant contends the motions in question assert a violation of his right to a
speedy trial, those motions do not mention or address trial or the timing thereof, but rather
complain specifically as to the reindictment. Further, at the August 10, 2015, hearing,
appellant’s counsel argued specifically that appellant “was not indicted in a timely fashion.” See
Dragoo, 96 S.W.3d at 313; Ledbetter, 2008 WL 2190982, at *2. Additionally, to the extent
those motions can be construed to complain of a violation of article 32.01, the court of criminal
appeals has stated article 32.01 “has no application once an indictment is returned.” Brooks v.
State, 990 S.W.2d 278, 285 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); accord Griffis v. State, 441 S.W.3d 599,
606 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2014, pet. ref’d). Because the reindictment in this case was
returned before the date of the motions in question, any complaint pursuant to article 32.01 was
moot. See Griffis, 441 S.W.3d at 606. On this record, we conclude the trial court did not err by
denying appellant’s motions to quash the reindictment.
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Finally, we address the State’s arguments respecting due process. As described above, in
order to be entitled to relief for violation of his due process right to a speedy trial, appellant was
required to show that the delay complained of (1) caused substantial prejudice to his right to a
fair trial and (2) was an intentional device used to gain a tactical advantage over the accused.
Hicks, 2015 WL 4462277, at *9. Appellant cites no portion of the record, and we have found
none, supporting either requirement. Even assuming without deciding that appellant’s arguments
on appeal can be construed to assert a violation of his due process right to a speedy trial, we
conclude appellant has not demonstrated he is entitled to such relief. See id.
We decide against appellant on his first issue.
III. JURY CHARGE ERROR
A. Standard of Review
Our first duty in analyzing alleged jury charge error is to decide whether error exists.
See, e.g., Cortez v. State, 469 S.W.3d 593, 598 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015); Duenas v. State, No. 05-
14-00192-CR, 2015 WL 1243345, at *6 (Tex. App.—Dallas Mar. 16, 2015, no pet.) (mem. op.,
not designated for publication) (citing Kirsch v. State, 357 S.W.3d 645, 649 (Tex. Crim. App.
2012)). If error exists, we must determine whether the error caused sufficient harm to warrant
reversal. See, e.g., Marshall v. State, 479 S.W.3d 840, 843 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016); Duenas,
2015 WL 1243345, at *6 (citing Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 743–44 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005)).
“Where, as here, the defendant did not raise a timely objection to the jury instructions, reversal is
required only if the error was fundamental in the sense that it was so egregious and created such
harm that the defendant was deprived of a fair and impartial trial.” Villarreal v. State, 453
S.W.3d 429, 433 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015); Duenas, 2015 WL 1243345, at *6. Error is
egregiously harmful if it affects the very basis of the case, deprives the defendant of a valuable
right, or vitally affects a defensive theory. See, e.g., Nava v. State, 415 S.W.3d 289, 298 (Tex.
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Crim. App. 2013); Hubert v. State, No. 05-12-01084-CR, 2014 WL 1022324, at *13 (Tex.
App.—Dallas Mar. 4, 2014, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication) (citing Stuhler v. State,
218 S.W.3d 706, 719 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007)). In making this determination, we examine (1)
the entire charge; (2) the state of the evidence, including contested issues and weight of the
evidence; (3) arguments of counsel; and (4) any other relevant information. See, e.g., Arrington
v. State, 451 S.W.3d 834, 840 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). Egregious harm is a “high and difficult
standard” to meet, and such a determination must be “borne out by the trial record.” Villarreal,
453 S.W.3d at 433 (citing Reeves v. State, 420 S.W.3d 812, 816 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013)).
Further, we will not reverse a conviction unless the defendant has suffered “actual rather than
theoretical harm.” Id. (citing Cosio v. State, 353 S.W.3d 766, 777 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011)).
B. Applicable Law
Manslaughter is a second-degree felony. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.04(b) (West
2011). Further, “if it is shown on the trial of a felony of the second degree that the defendant has
previously been finally convicted of a felony other than a state jail felony . . . , on conviction the
defendant shall be punished for a felony of the first degree.” Id. § 12.42(b) (West Supp. 2016).
The punishment range for a first-degree felony is imprisonment “for life or for any term of not
more than 99 years or less than 5 years,” plus an optional fine of up to $10,000. Id. § 12.32.
In the penalty phase of the trial of a felony case in which the punishment is to be assessed
by the jury, if, as in this case, the judgment contains an affirmative finding respecting a deadly
weapon, the trial court is required to charge the jury, inter alia, as follows:
Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is sentenced to a term of
imprisonment, he will not become eligible for parole until the actual time served
equals one-half of the sentenced imposed or 30 years, whichever is less, without
consideration of any good conduct time the defendant may earn.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 37.07, § 4(a) (West Supp. 2016) (emphasis added).
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C. Application of Law to Facts
With respect to his second issue described above, appellant contends,
The punishment instruction on appellant’s parole eligibility was fundamentally
erroneous and egregiously harmful. The jury was instructed that appellant could
be released when he had served one-half of the sentence assessed including good
time awarded. However, because there was a deadly weapon finding, good time
would not be added to time-served to shorten the time for parole eligibility.
According to appellant, (1) “the jury determined appellant’s sentence under the misapprehension
that appellant would become eligible for release on parole substantially sooner than actually
provided by law” and (2) “[i]f the jury had been properly instructed that appellant would have to
serve one-half of the sentence assessed without the award of good time credits they may well
have assessed a shorter sentence.” The State responds that although the charge “erroneously
included a mention of good conduct time affecting [appellant’s] parole eligibility,” no egregious
harm has been shown.
The record shows the charge of court in this case stated in part, “Under the law applicable
in this case, if the defendant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, he will not become eligible
for parole until the actual time served plus any good conduct time earned equals one-half of the
sentenced imposed or thirty (30) years, whichever is less.” (emphasis added). We agree with the
parties that this parole eligibility instruction was erroneous because it did not comply with article
37.07, section 4(a). See id.
In considering whether appellant was egregiously harmed by this error, we look first at
the jury charge as a whole. See Arrington, 451 S.W.3d at 840; Duenas, 2015 WL 1243345, at
*7. In addition to the erroneous instruction described above, the jury was provided with the
following statutorily required instructions explaining good conduct time and parole:
Under the law applicable in this case, the defendant, if sentenced to a term
of imprisonment, may earn time off the period of incarceration imposed through
the award of good conduct time. Prison authorities may award good conduct time
to a prisoner who exhibits good behavior, diligence in carrying out prison work
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assignments, and attempts at rehabilitation. If a prisoner engages in misconduct,
prison authorities may also take away all or part of any good conduct time earned
by the prisoner.
It is also possible that the length of time for which the defendant will be
imprisoned might be reduced by the award of parole.
See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 37.07, § 4(a). Also, the jury was “given mitigating or
curative instructions” in the paragraphs following the erroneous instruction:
It cannot accurately be predicted how the parole law and good conduct
time might be applied to this defendant if he is sentenced to a term of
imprisonment, because the application of these laws will depend on decisions
made by the prison and parole authorities.
You may consider the existence of the parole law and good conduct time.
However, you are not to consider the extent to which good conduct time may be
awarded to or forfeited by this particular defendant. You are not to consider the
manner in which the parole law may be applied to this particular defendant.
See id.; Duenas, 2015 WL 1243345, at *7; Hubert, 2014 WL 1022324, at *13–14. Finally, the
trial court instructed the jury,
You are instructed that in determining the punishment in this case, you are not to
discuss among yourselves how long the defendant will be required to serve any
sentence you decide to impose. Such matters come within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Board of Pardons and Paroles and are no concern of yours.
The trial court’s instructions informed the jury that appellant may be released from a
prison sentence early because of good conduct time or parole, but that it could not be predicted
how parole law and the award of good conduct time might be applied to him. See Duenas, 2015
WL 1243345, at *8; Hubert, 2014 WL 1022324, at *14. Additionally, the jury was explicitly
instructed that, although it could consider the existence of parole law and good conduct time, it
could not consider the manner in which parole law or the award of good conduct might
specifically be applied to appellant. See Ross v. State, 133 S.W.3d 618, 624 (Tex. Crim. App.
2004); Duenas, 2015 WL 1243345, at *8; Hubert, 2014 WL 1022324, at *14. “Absent evidence
to the contrary, we presume jurors understood and followed the trial court’s instructions in the
jury charge.” Duenas, 2015 WL 1243345, at *8 (citing Taylor v. State, 332 S.W.3d 483, 492
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(Tex. Crim. App. 2011)). Further, although the trial court received two notes from the jury as
described above, those notes pertained to the amount of time already served by appellant for the
offense in question and whether that time served would “be subtracted from the sentence the jury
imposed.” “The jury did not send any notes to the trial court regarding parole law and good
conduct time or its effect on appellant’s length of incarceration, which might indicate
confusion.” Hargest v. State, No. 14-15-00687-CR, 2016 WL 6238291, at *3 (Tex. App.—
Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 25, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication); see
Simmons v. State, 100 S.W.3d 484, 496 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003, pet. ref’d) (“Even if the
[jury’s] note constitutes evidence the jury discussed these matters at a preliminary point, we
presume the jury followed the court’s instructions and, thereafter, did not consider these matters
in reaching their verdict.”); Arceo v. State, No. 05-07-00315-CR, 2008 WL 384438, at *2 (Tex.
App.—Dallas Feb. 14, 2008, no pet.) (not designated for publication) (jury note respecting
defendant’s eligibility for deferred adjudication parole did not rebut presumption jurors properly
followed instructions not to consider parole and good conduct time in assessing punishment);
Lewis v. State, No. 07-07-0425-CR, 2008 WL 553614, at *2 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Feb. 28,
2008, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (“while the jury asked about good time
and parole in its note, that alone is not enough to rebut the presumption that it followed the trial
court's directive and the instruction in the charge”). “Nothing in the record suggests that the jury
discussed, considered or tried to apply (despite the judicial admonition not to apply) what they
were told about good conduct time and parole.” Hubert, 2014 WL 1022324, at *14 (emphasis
original) (quoting Ross, 133 S.W.3d at 624).
Second, we consider the state of the evidence, including contested issues and the weight
of the probative evidence. The record shows (1) appellant did not dispute that Liscum was killed
by a shot fired from a gun appellant was holding and (2) several eyewitnesses testified as to
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appellant’s behavior during the incident in question. Further, in addition to the mitigating
testimony by one of appellant’s sons and Ealy during the punishment phase of trial, other
evidence respecting punishment described numerous crimes and other negative behavior of
appellant, as well as the impact of the shooting in question on the victim’s friends and family.
Thus, “[t]he record provides a basis for the jury’s assessment of punishment without suggesting
harm from the erroneous charge.” Duenas, 2015 WL 1243345, at *8; see Hubert, 2014 WL
1022324, at *14.
Third, we consider the arguments of counsel. Neither party mentioned good conduct
time or parole during argument or urged the jury to assess punishment based on potential good
conduct time credit. See Duenas, 2015 WL 1243345, at *8.
Finally, we consider “any other relevant information.” As described above, the penal
code required imprisonment of appellant “for life or for any term of not more than 99 years or
less than 5 years.” During closing argument respecting punishment, (1) counsel for appellant
argued that the appropriate sentence in this case is “ten years in the penitentiary” and (2) the
State argued that based on the shooting in question and other acts of appellant, “this is not a case
where you need to be thinking about the low end of the punishment range.” Appellant asserts the
jury’s assessed punishment of twenty-six years was “over five times the minimum sentence
available.” However, that punishment was also barely over one-fourth of the maximum sentence
allowed. See Duenas, 2015 WL 1243345, at *9 (considering severity of punishment as “other
relevant information”).
The record shows the factors discussed above mitigate against a finding of egregious
harm. See id. The jury charge contained curative or mitigating instructions. Id. The parole
instruction explained the possibility, not certainty, that appellant’s prison sentence may be
reduced by good conduct time or parole eligibility and, further, admonished the jury not to
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consider the extent to which the parole law or good conduct time might be applied to him. Id.
No reference to good conduct time or parole eligibility was mentioned by either party during
punishment phase arguments, and there is no evidence in the record that the jury attempted to
apply parole law or good conduct time when assessing appellant’s sentence. Id. Finally,
appellant did not receive the maximum sentence available. Id.
Under the standard applicable to showing egregious harm, we conclude the erroneous
jury instruction in question did not deprive appellant of a fair and impartial trial or affect the very
basis of the case, deprive him of a valuable right, or vitally affect a defensive theory. See id.
On this record, we conclude egregious harm has not been shown. See id.
We decide appellant’s second issue against him.
IV. CONCLUSION
We decide against appellant on his two issues. The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
/Douglas S. Lang/
DOUGLAS S. LANG
JUSTICE
Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2
151014F.U05
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Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
KIELLE DROMONE MCNEAL, Appellant On Appeal from the Criminal District Court
No. 5, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-15-01014-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. F-1500409-L.
Opinion delivered by Justice Lang, Justices
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Myers and Evans participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered this 8th day of November, 2016.
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