Jesse Flores Garcia v. State ( 2008 )

NUMBER 13-07-00248-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
JESSE FLORES GARCIA, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 377th District Court
of Victoria County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Rodriguez, Garza, and Vela
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Garza
Appellant, Jesse Flores Garcia, was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to
sixty years’ imprisonment. See TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 22.011(a)(1)(A) (Vernon Supp.
2007). He now appeals, claiming that: (1) the evidence adduced at trial was legally
insufficient to support his conviction; (2) the evidence adduced at trial was factually
insufficient to support his conviction; (3) the trial court erred in denying his motion for
continuance; and (4) he was provided ineffective assistance of counsel. We affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
On June 15, 2006, Garcia was charged by indictment with aggravated sexual
assault. See id. § 22.021(a)(2)(A)(iv) (Vernon Supp. 2007) (providing that a person
commits aggravated sexual assault if the person intentionally or knowingly causes the
penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means, without that
person’s consent, if the person uses or exhibits a deadly weapon in the course of the same
criminal episode).1
At trial, C.W.2 testified that on June 12, 2003, she and several of her friends were
patronizing a bar in Victoria, Texas. At approximately 1:30 a.m. the following morning,
after having about five or six drinks, C.W. decided to leave the bar, but she was not able
to get a ride home. Instead, she decided to walk to a friend’s nearby residence.
Upon leaving the bar, C.W. was approached by a man who started asking her
questions. C.W. continued to walk ahead, but the man followed her; she started to walk
faster, and eventually took a wrong turn. When she came up to a pay phone at a gas
station, C.W. attempted to make a phone call, but she did not have any change. The man
who had been following her approached her and offered her change. She took the change
and, while the man who followed her was still beside her, she called her friend using the
pay phone. C.W. told her friend that she needed a ride; however, ten minutes passed
without the friend showing up. C.W. testified that, at this point, she saw that the man
following her was no longer there, and so she decided to resume her walk home.
C.W. then testified regarding what happened next:
When I was starting to cut along the side of the Patti Dodson Health Center,
I was walking through the grass and the defendant came up behind me and
put his arm around my throat and he started choking me. At first, I tried to
fight back. I bit him, on his forearm, and I scratched him, but he had me from
behind. He was choking me so hard I was blacking out.
And I was begging him not to kill me and he kept telling me, “Don’t fight with
me. Don’t make me have to hurt you.” And I just decided to save my life and
1
On January 16, 2007, the State filed a m otion to am end its indictm ent to rem ove any reference to
the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon. The record does not reflect any ruling by the trial court on this
m otion, nor does the record reflect the filing of an am ended indictm ent.
2
Although the com plainant’s identity was not concealed at trial, we will use only her initials here, given
the nature of the case.
2
to let him rape me, so that he wouldn’t kill me for trying to fight.
And, with his arm behind me, he overpowered me and he swept my feet out
from underneath me and I fell down on the ground, with him on top of my
back. He pulled my shorts down around my knees and he pulled his penis
out and put it inside of me.
When asked if the assailant used a weapon other than his hands and body, C.W.
responded: “Yes, sir. I’m not sure exactly what he had. It was small. I thought maybe it
was a box cutter or a small knife. He cut my chin when he was holding it to my throat and
he began raping me.”
C.W. testified that when the assailant ejaculated, he relaxed and loosened his grip,
and C.W. was then able to run toward a nearby Walgreens store. An employee at the
Walgreens called 911 and emergency personnel arrived soon thereafter. C.W. was then
taken to a hospital and examined. Juanita Dale James, a sexual assault nurse examiner,
testified that she examined C.W. and noted a laceration on her chin. James also testified
that she noted no bruising on C.W.’s arms, legs, or back.
C.W. was subsequently taken to the police department to view mug shots in an
attempt to identify the assailant. C.W. identified one as the assailant; however, the person
she identified was incarcerated at the time of the assault.
Tom Copeland of the Victoria County Sheriff’s Department testified that DNA taken
from C.W. during her post-assault examination had matched a sample contained in the
Combined DNA Index System (“CODIS”).3 After learning that the matched sample
belonged to Garcia, Copeland obtained an evidentiary search warrant for Garcia’s blood.
Chara Leita, a phlebotomist, testified that, pursuant to the warrant, she drew blood from
Garcia at the Ellis Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division
(“TDCJ-ID”) in Huntsville, Texas.
Pamela Smith and Lisa Harmon Baylor, forensic scientists with the Texas
Department of Public Safety (“DPS”), also testified. Smith stated that she examined C.W.’s
3
CODIS is a national DNA database jointly m aintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and
various state and local agencies. See T EX . G O V ’T C OD E A N N . § 411.141(1) (Vernon Supp. 2007).
3
sexual assault kit and the clothes C.W. was wearing at the time of the attack. Smith
verified the presence of spermatozoa on the swabs taken from C.W. during the post-
assault examination as well as on her clothes. Baylor testified that she compared a blood
sample known to be from Garcia with the sperm cell sample taken from C.W.’s sexual
assault kit; the comparison revealed a match.
On February 1, 2007, a jury convicted Garcia of sexual assault, a second-degree
felony. See id. § 22.011 (Vernon Supp. 2007).4 In considering Garcia’s punishment, the
jury found as true an allegation that Garcia had previously been convicted in 1990 of
burglary of a building, enhancing his conviction to that of a first-degree felony. See id. §
12.42(b) (Vernon Supp. 2007) (providing enhanced punishments for repeat felony
offenders). The jury sentenced Garcia to sixty years’ confinement in TDCJ-ID. In the jury
charge as to punishment, the trial court included a “Special Issue No. 1” which asked: “Do
you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that [Garcia] used or exhibited a
deadly weapon, to wit: a sharp object, if he did, during the commission of the offense
alleged in the indictment?” The jury answered affirmatively.
The trial court certified Garcia’s right to appeal on February 2, 2007. Garcia filed
a motion for new trial on February 28, 2007, which was denied by the trial court on March
19, 2007. Garcia filed his notice of appeal on April 13, 2007.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Evidentiary Sufficiency
By his first two issues, Garcia contends that the evidence adduced at trial was
legally and factually insufficient to establish a finding that a deadly weapon was used in
4
Although the indictm ent charged Garcia with aggravated sexual assault, see T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N .
§ 22.021(a)(2)(A)(iv) (Vernon Supp. 2007), the trial court charged the jury only on the offense of sexual
assault. See id. § 22.011(a)(1)(A) (Vernon Supp. 2007); see also T E X . C OD E C R IM P R O C . A N N . art. 37.08
(Vernon 2006) (“In a prosecution for an offense with lesser included offenses, the jury m ay find the defendant
not guilty of the greater offense, but guilty of any lesser included offense.”).
4
commission of the offense.5 Specifically, Garcia claims that the evidence was insufficient
to show that a “sharp object” was used or exhibited during the commission of a felony, or
that C.W. was “put in danger by the ‘sharp object.’”
1. Standard of Review
In conducting a legal sufficiency review, we consider 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. Sanders v. State, 119 S.W.3d
818, 820 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). “This standard is meant to give ‘full play to the [trier’s]
responsibility fairly’ to ‘draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts.’” Id.
(quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318 (1979)). We are not required to determine
whether we believe that the evidence at trial established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt;
rather, when faced with conflicting evidence, we must presume that the trier of fact
resolved any such conflict in favor of the prosecution, and we must defer to that resolution.
State v. Turro, 867 S.W.2d 43, 47 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).
In conducting a factual sufficiency review, we consider the evidence in a neutral
light. Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 414-15 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). The verdict is to
be set aside only if: (1) it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to
be clearly wrong and manifestly unjust; or (2) it is against the great weight and
preponderance of the evidence. Id. at 415 (citing Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 10 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2000)). To reverse a verdict for factually insufficient evidence, we must “explain
5
W e note that the purpose of the deadly weapon question was not to support a conviction of
aggravated sexual assault as charged in the indictm ent. See T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . § 22.021(a)(2)(A)(iv).
Rather,“Special Issue No. 1” appears to have been propounded to the jury with reference to section 3g(a)(2)
of article 42.12 of the Texas Code of Crim inal Procedure, which provides in relevant part that a judge m ay not
im pose com m unity supervision in lieu of im prisonm ent:
when it is shown that a deadly weapon as defined in Section 1.07, Penal Code, was used or
exhibited during the com m ission of a felony offense or during im m ediate flight therefrom , and
that the defendant used or exhibited the deadly weapon or was a party to the offense and
knew that a deadly weapon would be used or exhibited.
T EX . C OD E C R IM . P R O C . A N N . art. 41.12, § 3g(a)(2) (Vernon 2006); see id. art. 42.12, § 3(a) (Vernon 2006)
(perm itting a judge to suspend im position of a sentence and place the defendant on com m unity supervision).
5
in exactly what way the State’s evidence, while legally sufficient, is nevertheless too weak
to withstand scrutiny, or in exactly what way we perceive the conflicting evidence greatly
to preponderate against conviction.” Id. at 414.
2. Applicable Law
A deadly weapon is defined in the Texas Penal Code as “anything that in the
manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.”
TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 1.07(a)(17)(B) (Vernon Supp. 2007). The nature of the injury is
to be considered, but injury is not required for an object to be a deadly weapon. Dominique
v. State, 598 S.W.2d 285, 286 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980). Instead, the most important factor
is the manner of use. Id. (finding scissors to be a deadly weapon); Quintana v. State, 777
S.W.2d 474, 478 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1989, pet. ref’d) (finding a dustpan to be a
deadly weapon).
A sharp object is not, per se, a deadly weapon. See Tisdale v. State, 686 S.W.2d
110, 114 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985). The evidence at trial must have supported the
conclusion that the sharp object in this case was capable of causing death or serious bodily
injury due to the manner of its use. See TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 1.07(a)(17)(B) (defining
“deadly weapon”). Factors to consider in making this determination include: the size,
shape, and sharpness of the object; the manner of its use or intended use; the nature or
existence of inflicted wounds; evidence of the object’s life-threatening capabilities; the
physical proximity between the victim and the object; and any words spoken by the one
using the object. See, e.g., Thomas v. State, 821 S.W.2d 616, 619-620 (Tex. Crim. App.
1991).
3. Analysis
C.W. testified that her assailant used a “box cutter or a small knife” in carrying out
the attack, and that he “cut my chin when he was holding it to my throat and he began
raping me.” James, the nurse who examined C.W., testified that she noted a laceration
on C.W.’s neck. Garcia asserts that, “given [C.W.’s] telling of the attack, it is more likely
6
that she received a scratch on her chin when she was thrown to the ground, on her
stomach, with her attacker on her back.” However, C.W. specifically rebutted this theory,
testifying that “[if] you look at the picture that is in evidence, it does not appear to be a
scrape. It’s a very fine, thin line. And the scar that I have is a very fine-lined scar.”
Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, see Sanders, 119 S.W.3d
at 820, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found that C.W.’s laceration was
caused by the object held by Garcia.
C.W. also testified that her assailant threatened her during the attack by saying:
“Don’t fight with me. Don’t make me have to hurt you.” A threat communicated by a
defendant while displaying a weapon can support a finding that the weapon was capable
of causing death or serious bodily injury. See McCain v. State, 22 S.W.3d 497, 503 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2000).
Garcia notes correctly that no “sharp object” was introduced into evidence by the
State. However, it is not necessary for the weapon to be actually introduced into evidence
in order to support a deadly weapon finding. See Morales v. State, 633 S.W.2d 866, 868
(Tex. Crim. App. 1982); Magana v. State, 230 S.W.3d 411, 414 (Tex. App.–San Antonio
2007, pet. ref’d).
Given C.W.’s testimony that her assailant held a sharp object to her throat, and that
he threatened her while doing so, we conclude that there was legally sufficient evidence
to support the deadly weapon finding. See Sanders, 119 S.W.3d at 820. Moreover,
viewing the evidence in a neutral light, we cannot say that the finding was clearly wrong,
manifestly unjust, or against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. See
Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 414. Garcia’s first two issues are overruled.
B. Denial of Motion for Continuance
By his third issue, Garcia argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for
continuance. We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion for continuance for abuse of
discretion. Janecka v. State, 937 S.W.2d 456, 468 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (citing
7
Heiselbetz v. State, 906 S.W.2d 500, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Cooks v. State, 844
S.W.2d 697, 725 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992)); see TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC . ANN . art. 29.03
(Vernon 2006) (providing that a criminal action may be continued upon sufficient cause
shown in the motion), art. 29.06(6) (Vernon 2006) (stating that the truth, merit and
sufficiency of a motion for continuance shall be addressed to “the sound discretion of the
court” and “shall not be granted as a matter of right”). To establish an abuse of discretion,
there must be a showing that the defendant was actually prejudiced by the denial of his
motion. Janecka, 937 S.W.2d at 468; Heiselbetz, 906 S.W.2d at 511.
Trial in the instant case was originally set for October 30, 2006. On September 26,
2006, with the agreement of both parties, the trial court reset the matter for the jury trial
docket of November 8, 2006. On that date, Garcia appeared with his attorney and rejected
a plea agreement. At the November 8, 2006 hearing, Garcia’s counsel noted, with respect
to the progress of discovery, that “[t]hey [the State] have everything. We’ve been provided
everything.” The case was again reset for trial on January 24, 2007. Garcia’s trial counsel
filed a motion for continuance on January 18, 2007.
A hearing was held on the motion on January 24, 2007. Garcia’s trial counsel stated
that he required additional time because “the State has filed additional motions, including
their intent to proceed in this case, under the habitual offender status . . . .” Garcia’s trial
counsel also stated that he needed more time to develop “psychological mitigating
evidence that might be brought in on [Garcia’s] behalf, as well as the issues involved
around the DNA reliability . . . .” Garcia, however, interrupted his counsel at this point and
stated:
On my behalf, I want to go to trial. I’m not trying to wait. I’ve been here too
long. I [sic] been here six months and I was supposed to go to trial two other
times. All this – I don’t know what they’re trying to do. I don’t know what
they’re trying to do, all this continuance and all of that. I [sic] been sitting in
the county too long. They should have had their stuff together a long time
ago.
The trial court denied Garcia’s motion, but set a new trial date of January 29, 2007.
8
Garcia’s counsel again moved for continuance on January 29, 2007, claiming that he
needed additional time to: (1) conduct an investigation into mitigation issues and DNA
reliability; (2) have his DNA expert review material obtained on January 24, 2007 from the
DPS laboratory in Corpus Christi; and (3) have his mitigation expert examine a videotaped
interview of C.W. which was provided to the defense on January 27, 2007. The trial court
denied the motion and commenced the trial.
Garcia contends that “it was obvious from the arguments made by . . . trial counsel
and his motions for continuance that he was unprepared to defend [Garcia’s] case” and
that “the harm to [Garcia] clearly outweighs any inconvenience or waste of resources that
were saved by putting the case to trial.” However, these arguments do not address
whether Garcia was “actually prejudiced by the denial of his motion.” See Janecka, 937
S.W.2d at 468. Indeed, from our review of the record, it appears that he was not. The trial
court permitted Garcia’s DNA expert to be present in the courtroom in order to aid Garcia’s
counsel in conducting cross-examination. Further, Garcia’s mitigation expert testified
during the punishment phase of the trial.
Because Garcia has not established that he was actually prejudiced by the denial
of his motion, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion. See Janecka,
937 S.W.2d at 468; Heiselbetz, 906 S.W.2d at 511. Accordingly, Garcia’s third issue is
overruled.
C. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
By his fourth issue, Garcia contends that he was denied a fair and impartial trial
because of the ineffectiveness of his trial counsel.
To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, Garcia must show: (1) his attorney’s
representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2) there is a
reasonable probability that, but for his attorney’s errors, the result of the proceeding would
have been different. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 684 (1984); Hernandez
v. State, 726 S.W.2d 53, 57 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986); Jaynes v. State, 216 S.W.3d 839, 851
9
(Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2006, no pet.). Whether this test has been met is to be judged
on appeal by the totality of representation, not by any isolated acts or omissions. Jaynes,
S.W.3d 839 at 851. The burden rests on the appellant to prove ineffective assistance of
counsel by a preponderance of the evidence. Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813
(Tex. Crim. App. 1999) (citing Cannon v. State, 668 S.W.2d 401, 403 (Tex. Crim. App.
1984)). Our review of counsel’s representation is highly deferential, and we will find
ineffective assistance only if the appellant overcomes the strong presumption that his
counsel’s conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. See
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689; Jaynes, 216 S.W.3d at 851. Moreover, the acts or omissions
that form the basis of appellant’s claim of ineffective assistance must be supported by the
record. Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 814; Jaynes, 216 S.W.3d at 851.
Garcia first contends that his trial counsel was ineffective because “it is apparent
from the record that [counsel] had a trial strategy that was thwarted by his own failure to
diligently prepare the case.” Specifically, Garcia claims that his trial counsel’s DNA expert
had “identified a problem with the DNA data that was received” and that his trial counsel
should have called the expert to rebut the testimony of the State’s DNA experts. However,
the record is silent as to why his trial counsel declined to call the DNA expert. A silent
record which provides no explanation for counsel’s actions usually will not overcome the
strong presumption of reasonable assistance. Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813-14.
Garcia also claims that his counsel erred by failing to object to, or seek a motion in
limine regarding, the State’s evidence that Garcia’s blood was drawn at the Ellis Unit of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice. According to Garcia, this evidence “[c]learly . . .
indicated to everyone on the jury that [Garcia] was in prison for a felony offense prior to the
trial of this matter” and it “was obviously violative of Rule 404(b) and 38.37 of the Texas
Code of Criminal Procedure . . . .” Moreover, Garcia notes that, during the punishment
phase of the trial, his counsel failed to object to the State’s posing a question regarding an
accusation that Garcia had committed a previous sexual assault. We note again, however,
10
that the record is silent as to the reasons why Garcia’s counsel declined to object to the
evidence and argument in question. See id. Without any affirmative explanation as to
counsel’s actions, we cannot say that his representation fell below an objective standard
of reasonableness.
We conclude that Garcia has not overcome the strong presumption that his
counsel’s conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. See
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689; Jaynes, 216 S.W.3d at 851. Accordingly, his fourth issue is
overruled.
III.CONCLUSION
Having overruled Garcia’s four issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
DORI CONTRERAS GARZA,
Justice
Do not publish.
TEX . R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Memorandum Opinion delivered and
filed this the 28th day of August, 2008.
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