Cecil Clayton Weems v. State of Texas ( 2010 )

Opinion filed September 30, 2010
In The
Eleventh Court of Appeals
__________
No. 11-09-00076-CR
__________
CECIL CLAYTON WEEMS, Appellant
V.
STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the County Court at Law
Brown County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 0800499
OPINION
The jury convicted Cecil Clayton Weems of driving while intoxicated. The trial court
assessed appellant’s punishment at confinement for 180 days in the Brown County Jail. We
affirm.
Issues on Appeal
Appellant presents two issues for review. In his first issue, he contends that the
prosecutor improperly commented during closing argument on his failure to testify. In his brief,
appellant has failed to identify any alleged error committed by the trial court in connection with
his first issue. In the trial court, appellant moved for a mistrial and, later, moved for a new trial
on the ground that the prosecutor had commented on his failure to testify. The trial court denied
both motions. Therefore, we construe appellant’s first issue to be that the trial court erred in
denying his motion for mistrial and his motion for new trial. In appellant’s second issue, he
challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction.
Sufficiency of the Evidence Standards of Review
To determine if the evidence is legally sufficient, the appellate court reviews all of the
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determines whether any rational trier of fact
could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia,
443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512, 517-18 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009);
Jackson v. State, 17 S.W.3d 664, 667 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). To determine if the evidence is
factually sufficient, the appellate court reviews all of the evidence in a neutral light. Laster, 275
S.W.3d at 519; Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 414 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Johnson v. State, 23
S.W.3d 1, 10-11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Cain v. State, 958 S.W.2d 404, 407-08 (Tex. Crim. App.
1997); Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 129 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Then, the reviewing court
determines whether the evidence supporting the verdict is so weak that the verdict is clearly wrong
and manifestly unjust or whether the verdict is against the great weight and preponderance of the
conflicting evidence. Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 414-15; Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 10-11. The jury, as the
finder of fact, is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the witnesses’ testimony. TEX. CODE
CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 36.13 (Vernon 2007), art. 38.04 (Vernon 1979).
The Evidence at Trial
The record shows that a one-vehicle accident involving a Ford pickup occurred in rural
Brown County in the area where County Road 270, County Road 257, and Farm-to-Market Road
2525 intersect. On April 5, 2008, at about 4:14 a.m., EMS personnel were dispatched to attend to a
possible snake bite victim at a residence on a county road in Brown County. Christopher Michael
Bennington and his partner responded to the call. While they were on their way to the residence,
they came upon the scene. Bennington said that the pickup was ―off the road into the trees.‖
Bennington testified that the area in question consisted of a tree-lined dirt road that had ditches
on both sides. The EMS personnel stopped to see whether anyone was inside the pickup. They
determined that no one was in the pickup or in the area, and they reported the accident to the
Brown County Sheriff’s Department. The EMS personnel had not seen anyone along the road as
they had driven to the accident scene. They continued their trip to attend to the possible snake
bite victim. As they approached the residence, they did not see anyone along the road.
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Bennington and his partner arrived at the residence at 4:41 a.m. The accident involving
the pickup had occurred about four-tenths of a mile from the front entrance gate of the residence.
Appellant was lying down on the front porch of the residence. He told the EMS personnel that a
snake had bitten his leg and that the snake was still in his pants. Appellant was holding onto his
left pants leg with both hands and believed that he was holding the snake. Eventually,
Bennington cut off appellant’s pants. Bennington testified that there was no snake in appellant’s
pants. An examination of appellant revealed that he had not been bitten by a snake. Instead,
appellant had cactus thorns in his leg. Bennington testified that appellant was ―a little confused
and disoriented‖ and that appellant gave ―somewhat confused and vague answers.‖ Appellant
said that his name was ―Cecil Clayton.‖
Brown County Deputy Sheriff Kelly Ray Marsh received a call to assist the EMS
personnel at the residence on County Road 257. Deputy Marsh drove by the accident scene on
his way to the residence, and he did not see anybody in the area. Deputy Marsh described the
area as ―very rural‖ and fenced-in ―pasture land and ranch land.‖ Deputy Marsh then proceeded
to the residence. He said that appellant’s speech was very slurred. Deputy Marsh asked
appellant his name a number of times. Appellant responded but Deputy Marsh could not
understand him. When Deputy Marsh asked appellant for his driver’s license, he had difficulty
finding it in his wallet. Deputy Marsh said that appellant dug through his wallet and ―pass[ed]
over his driver’s license about three times‖ before finding the license with Deputy Marsh’s help.
Appellant’s driver’s license indicated that he lived on Hickory Street. Deputy Marsh testified
that appellant was unable to get up by himself or to stand on his own. Deputy Marsh said that
appellant kept saying that he had been ―out for a walk.‖
Appellant wanted to get checked out at the hospital, and the EMS personnel transported
him to the emergency room at the Brownwood Regional Medical Center. Appellant arrived at
the hospital at 5:25 a.m. Stephen Ross Nichols, M.D., an emergency room physician, examined
him. Dr. Nichols testified that appellant was agitated and had an irrational thought that a snake
had crawled up into his pants and bitten him. The medical records indicate that appellant had
―decreased mental status,‖ was ―off balance,‖ and had ―involuntary movements.‖ Dr. Nichols
said that appellant was slow to respond to commands and gave inappropriate responses. While at
the hospital, appellant tested positive for methamphetamine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Dr. Nichols testified that THC is a metabolic derivative of marihuana and that ―THC‖ is a
common abbreviation for marihuana. He said that methamphetamine is a stimulant that is
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classified as a controlled substance. He also said that stimulant abuse commonly causes
irrational thoughts, delusional thoughts, and hallucinations. Dr. Nichols diagnosed appellant
with substance abuse. Dr. Nichols concluded that appellant’s use of methamphetamine and
marihuana caused his irrational thoughts and that appellant had lost the normal use of his mental
faculties.
Deputy Marsh went to the accident scene. He said that a pickup had been crashed into a
group of trees. He said that a name badge in the pickup had the name ―Cecil‖ on it. Deputy
Marsh believed that only one person was in the pickup when the accident occurred. He said that
there were blankets in the front passenger seat and several items of clothing in the backseat.
Deputy Marsh said that there were two properties between the accident scene and the residence
where appellant was found. He said that the front entrance gates to both of these properties were
locked.
Department of Public Safety Trooper Kyle Wayne Cook was dispatched to the accident
scene. He arrived at the scene at 6:29 a.m. He spoke with Deputy Marsh when he arrived.
Trooper Cook said that an insurance card that was found in the pickup showed the owner of the
pickup to be ―Karen Kay Keel.‖ Trooper Cook determined that Keel was the registered owner of
the pickup. Keel is appellant’s mother. On the date of the accident, she lived at 714 Hickory
Street in Brownwood. Trooper Cook concluded that, based on his investigation, the driver was
the only person in the pickup when the accident occurred. He arrived at this conclusion because
the driver’s side door was unlocked, the passenger’s side door was locked, the driver’s airbag
deployed, and the passenger’s airbag did not deploy.
Trooper Cook testified that he went to the hospital to interview appellant about the
accident. Trooper Cook said that appellant was slow to answer questions. He said that appellant
stuttered, slurred his speech, and gave evasive answers. When appellant realized that
Trooper Cook was a police officer, appellant did not want to have anything to do with him.
Appellant refused to provide a blood sample upon Trooper Cook’s request. Trooper Cook said
that Keel came to the hospital. Appellant did not want Keel to talk with Trooper Cook.
Trooper Cook said that, at one point, when the blood-pressure cuff on appellant’s arm activated,
appellant ―jumped forward, lunged and screamed like a paranoid person would do.‖
Trooper Cook also testified that, in general, individuals who are under the influence of
methamphetamine are ―[v]ery paranoid, jumpy, [and] quick to react‖ and ―don’t think logically.‖
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He said that individuals who use methamphetamine ―lose control of their mental and physical
faculties.‖
Keel testified that she owned the pickup that was involved in the accident. Keel said that
appellant typically drove the pickup and that he had it on the night of the accident. She said that
appellant called her at 1:00 or 1:30 a.m. on the night of the accident. At that time, appellant was
―a little upset,‖ and he thought that someone was following him. Keel said that appellant called
her again later and said that he needed her ―to send those people.‖ Keel responded, ―Okay, what
people?‖ Appellant then said, ―No, you weren’t there.‖ Keel then asked appellant, ―Are you still
driving?‖ Appellant responded, ―No,‖ and also said that he was ―out of the vehicle.‖ Keel
believed that appellant told her that he was in the woods. Keel testified that she had not had any
conversations with appellant about whether he was driving the pickup when the accident
occurred.
Analysis
To obtain a conviction for driving while intoxicated, the State must prove that the
defendant operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.
§ 49.04(a) (Vernon 2003). The State need not establish the precise time of an accident or of the
defendant’s driving to prove the offense of driving while intoxicated. Kuciemba v. State, 310
S.W.3d 460, 462 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010); Kennemur v. State, 280 S.W.3d 305, 314 n.8 (Tex.
App.—Amarillo 2008, pet. ref’d); Zavala v. State, 89 S.W.3d 134, 139 (Tex. App.—Corpus
Christi 2002, no pet.). However, the State must establish ―a temporal link between the
defendant’s intoxication and his driving.‖ Kuciemba, 310 S.W.3d at 462. Thus, there must be
proof from which the jury can conclude that, at the time of the driving in question, whenever that
may have been, the defendant was intoxicated. Zavala, 89 S.W.3d at 139. A conviction for
driving while intoxicated can be supported solely by circumstantial evidence. Kuciemba, 310
S.W.3d at 462. Being intoxicated at the scene of a traffic accident in which the defendant was
the driver is some circumstantial evidence that the defendant’s intoxication caused the accident,
and the inference of causation is even stronger when the accident is a one-car collision with an
inanimate object. Id.
Appellant contends that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to establish
that he operated a motor vehicle. He also contends that, if the evidence was sufficient to
establish that he operated a motor vehicle, the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to
establish that he operated a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
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Appellant’s mother, Keel, owned the pickup. Keel testified that appellant typically drove
the pickup and that he had it on the night of the accident. Appellant called Keel at 1:00 or
1:30 a.m. At that time, appellant believed that someone was following him. In the later phone
call, Keel asked appellant whether he was still driving. Appellant responded that he was not
driving and was ―out of the vehicle.‖ The evidence showed that the accident occurred in a ―very
rural‖ area. Appellant was found about four-tenths of a mile from the accident scene. The police
officers and EMS personnel did not see anyone else at the accident scene or in the surrounding
area. The evidence was legally and factually sufficient to establish that appellant was driving the
pickup and, therefore, operating a motor vehicle when the accident occurred.
In the jury charge in this cause, the trial court defined ―intoxicated‖ as ―not having the
normal use of one’s physical or mental faculties by reason of the introduction of a controlled
substance, a drug, or a dangerous drug into the body.‖ See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 49.01(2)(A)
(Vernon 2003). At the hospital, appellant tested positive for methamphetamine and marihuana,
which are both controlled substances. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.032
(Vernon 2010). Dr. Nichols diagnosed appellant with substance abuse. Dr. Nichols attributed
appellant’s irrational thoughts to his use of methamphetamine and marihuana, and Dr. Nichols
said that appellant had lost the normal use of his mental faculties. Trooper Cook’s testimony
supports the conclusion that appellant had lost the normal use of his mental faculties as a result
of his use of methamphetamine and marihuana. Trooper Cook said that appellant stuttered,
slurred his speech, and gave evasive answers at the hospital. Trooper Cook also testified about
appellant’s reaction to the blood-pressure cuff activating.
The State presented evidence that appellant lost the normal use of his mental and physical
faculties for a lengthy period of time. Appellant had the irrational thought about a snake
crawling into his pants and biting him when the EMS personnel attended to him at the residence.
Appellant also thought that the snake was still in his pants and that he was holding it. Appellant
was confused and disoriented, and his speech was slurred at the residence. Deputy Marsh said
that appellant could not get up by himself or stand on his own. Keel’s testimony supports a
reasonable inference that appellant lost the normal use of his mental faculties before the accident
occurred. According to Keel, appellant thought that he was being followed at 1:00 or 1:30 a.m.
Later, appellant told Keel that he was no longer driving and that he needed her ―to send those
people.‖
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Based on the evidence, the jury could have reasonably concluded that appellant operated
the pickup in a public place while not having the normal use of his physical or mental faculties
by the reason of the introduction of methamphetamine or marihuana into his body. The evidence
established a temporal link between appellant’s driving and his intoxication. We conclude that
the evidence was legally and factually sufficient to support his conviction. Appellant’s second
issue is overruled.
Prosecutor’s Statements During Closing Argument
In his first issue, appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for
mistrial and motion for new trial because the prosecutor commented on his failure to testify. A
comment on a defendant’s failure to testify offends the Texas and United States Constitutions, as
well as Texas statutory law. U.S. CONST. amend. V; TEX. CONST. art. I, § 10; TEX. CODE CRIM.
PROC. ANN. art. 38.08 (Vernon 2005). A prosecutor’s comment amounts to an impermissible
comment on a defendant’s failure to testify only if, when viewed from the jury’s standpoint, the
comment is manifestly intended to be, or is of such character that a typical jury would naturally
and necessarily take it to be, a comment on the defendant’s failure to testify. Cruz v. State, 225
S.W.3d 546, 548 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Bustamante v. State, 48 S.W.3d 761, 765 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2001).
Appellant contends that the following statements made by the prosecutor constituted
comments on his failure to testify:
(1) Sometimes the only person who is an eye-witness is the person who
committed the crime, and we’re not allowed to call them as the State, and they
have a right not to testify and the State – and you can’t hold that against them, but
we can still as a State prosecute them and prove that they committed a crime, and
we can do that by looking at circumstantial evidence.
(2) The only one who can testify to it directly, the law doesn’t allow us to
even consider whether or not he testifies.
(3) The only person who can tell us the truth is the person who wouldn’t
cooperate. He wouldn’t cooperate with the police for a reason, because he knew
that if he told the police the truth, they would arrest him on the spot and he would
definitely be convicted.
Now, you may say, well, you know, he was intoxicated at the time. He was
paranoid. Of course, he doesn’t want to talk to the police. But, it’s been nine
months since then. He could have given them any information about who that
driver was, and he hasn’t cooperated with them since then. This is all about
taking responsibility, and he doesn’t want to do that.
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Appellant’s counsel did not object to these statements, request an instruction to disregard
the statements, or move for a mistrial during the prosecutor’s closing argument.1 Instead, after
the jury retired to deliberate, appellant’s counsel moved the trial court for a mistrial on the
ground that ―[t]he prosecutor made several references to [appellant] not testifying.‖ The trial
court denied appellant’s motion. Later, appellant complained of the prosecutor’s closing
argument in a motion for new trial. The trial court also denied that motion.
If the harm caused by an improper jury argument is incurable, a motion for mistrial is
sufficient to preserve error for appellate review. Cruz, 225 S.W.3d at 548; Young v. State, 137
S.W.3d 65, 70 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). However, to preserve error, a motion for mistrial must
be timely. Griggs v. State, 213 S.W.3d 923, 927 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). A motion for mistrial
is timely only if it is made as soon as the grounds for it become apparent. Id.
In this cause, the ground for appellant’s motion for mistrial became apparent during the
prosecutor’s closing argument. However, appellant failed to move for a mistrial until after the
prosecutor had concluded her closing argument. As such, appellant’s motion for mistrial was
untimely and failed to preserve his first appellate issue for review. Id. Appellant’s first issue is
overruled.
Assuming that appellant preserved his first issue for review, we conclude that the trial
court did not err in denying his motion for mistrial and his motion for new trial. We review a
trial court’s denial of a motion for mistrial under an abuse of discretion standard. Archie v. State,
221 S.W.3d 695, 699 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Hawkins v. State, 135 S.W.3d 72, 77 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2004). We review a trial court’s denial of a motion for new trial under the same standard.
Salazar v. State, 38 S.W.3d 141, 148 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).
Appellant complains about the prosecutor’s statement that ―we’re not allowed to call
them as the State, and they have a right not to testify and the State -- and you can’t hold that
against them.‖ The prosecutor made this statement in the context of explaining that the State
may use circumstantial evidence and is not required to present eyewitness testimony to prove
that an individual committed a crime. Appellant also complains about the prosecutor’s statement
1
In an affidavit in support of appellant’s motion for new trial, appellant’s counsel explained that he had not objected
during closing argument to the prosecutor’s statements because he had not heard them. If appellant’s counsel could not hear the
prosecutor’s closing argument, he should have requested relief from the trial court. The trial court, among other things, could
have instructed the prosecutor to talk louder or permitted appellant’s counsel to move to a place in the courtroom where he could
hear the prosecutor’s argument.
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that ―[t]he only one who can testify to it directly, the law doesn’t allow us to even consider
whether or not he testifies.‖ The trial court’s jury charge contained the following instruction
regarding appellant’s election not to testify:
Our law provides that a defendant may testify in his own behalf if he elects to
do so. This, however, is a privilege afforded to a defendant, and, in the event he
elects not to testify, that fact cannot be taken as a circumstance against him. In
this case, the Defendant has elected not to testify, and you are instructed that you
cannot and must not refer or allude to that fact throughout your deliberations or
take it into consideration for any purpose whatsoever as a circumstance against
the defendant.2
In the complained-of comments, the prosecutor essentially restated the trial court’s instructions
to the jury. She reminded the jury that it could not consider appellant’s election not to testify.
The prosecutor recognized appellant’s right not to testify; she did not comment negatively on
appellant’s failure to testify. Therefore, the prosecutor’s statements did not amount to improper
comments on appellant’s failure to testify. Fuentes v. State, 991 S.W.2d 267, 275 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1999); Bullard v. State, 706 S.W.2d 329, 331 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1986, pet.
ref’d).
Appellant also complains about the prosecutor’s statement that ―[t]he only person who
can tell us the truth is the person who wouldn’t cooperate.‖ As set forth above, immediately
after this statement, the prosecutor stated that ―[appellant] wouldn’t cooperate with the police for
a reason.‖ The prosecutor then made additional statements about appellant’s failure to cooperate
with the police. Trooper Cook’s testimony supports the conclusion that appellant would not
cooperate with the police. Trooper Cook said that, once appellant realized he was a police
officer, appellant did not want to have anything to do with him. Appellant also did not want
Keel to talk to Trooper Cook. Viewed in context, the complained-of statement by the prosecutor
relates to appellant’s lack of cooperation with the police rather than his failure to testify. As
such, the statement did not constitute an impermissible comment on appellant’s failure to testify.
The prosecutor did not impermissibly comment on appellant’s failure to testify.
Therefore, assuming that appellant preserved error, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse
its discretion in denying appellant’s motion for mistrial and his motion for new trial.
We also conclude that the trial court did not err in denying appellant’s motions for
another reason. Except in the most blatant instances, an instruction to disregard a comment on
2
The trial court’s written jury charge contained a typographical error. It stated ―what purpose whatsoever‖ instead of
―any purpose whatsoever.‖ The trial court corrected the instruction when it read the instructions to the jury.
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the defendant’s failure to testify will cure any harm caused by the comment. Moore v. State, 999
S.W.2d 385, 405-06 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). If a defendant fails to request an instruction to
disregard and the instruction would have cured any harm, the trial court does not abuse its
discretion in denying a motion for mistrial. Young, 137 S.W.3d at 72. Even if the prosecutor’s
statements in this cause amounted to comments on appellant’s failure to testify, they were not so
blatant that they would have rendered an instruction to disregard ineffective. Moore, 999 S.W.2d
at 405-06. Because appellant failed to request an instruction to disregard, the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in denying his motions. Young, 137 S.W.3d at 72.
This Court’s Ruling
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
TERRY McCALL
JUSTICE
September 30, 2010
Publish. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Panel consists of: Wright, C.J.,
McCall, J., and Strange, J.
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