David Hernandez v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 226th Judicial District Court of Bexar County

MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-05-00837-CR
David HERNANDEZ,
Appellant
v.
The STATE of Texas,
Appellee
From the 226th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2004-CR-2490A
Honorable Olin B. Strauss, Judge Presiding

Opinion by: Phylis J. Speedlin, Justice

 

Sitting: Alma L. L pez, Chief Justice

Phylis J. Speedlin, Justice

Rebecca Simmons, Justice

 

Delivered and Filed: March 7, 2007

 

AFFIRMED

In three issues, David Hernandez appeals his conviction for murder. We affirm the trial court's judgment.

Background

On the evening of November 10, 2003, Hernandez was walking in downtown San Antonio near the Frost Bank Building with his brother Richard and several other young people. A 47 year-old homeless man was walking down the sidewalk ahead of the group; it was later determined that he was intoxicated. When Hernandez and his brother reached the man, they began assaulting him, hitting and kicking him in the face and stomping on his head. The rest of the group ran away. The victim was left in the Frost Bank parking lot, where he was found at approximately 10:00 p.m. by the cleaning crew. The victim was transported to the hospital, but subsequently died from "blunt cranial cerebral injuries." Hernandez and his brother were initially indicted for capital murder, but the charges were reduced to murder. After a two-day jury trial, Hernandez was convicted of murder based on the testimony of several witnesses, and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division (TDCJ). (1) Hernandez timely appealed.

Analysis

Trial Court Bias. In his first issue, Hernandez asserts the trial court revealed a bias against him through its limitation of his right to cross-examine a State's witness about his criminal history and its comment to Hernandez's attorney in front of the jury. (2) A trial court generally has broad discretion in maintaining control and expediting trial, and may impose reasonable limitations on cross-examination. Jasper v. State, 61 S.W.3d 413, 421 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Carroll v. State, 916 S.W.2d 494, 498 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). A trial court must refrain from making any remark calculated to convey to the jury its opinion of the case. Brown v. State, 122 S.W.3d 794, 798 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). Absent a clear showing of bias on the record, however, a trial court's actions are presumed to have been correct. Brumit v. State, 206 S.W.3d 639, 645 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). A trial judge's comments which taint the defendant's presumption of innocence in the presence of the jury constitute fundamental constitutional error requiring no objection. See Blue v. State, 41 S.W.3d 129, 132 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (plurality op.).

During the State's direct examination of Jose Gutierrez, (3) he testified that he had three prior felony convictions, and that he was currently in jail awaiting transfer to TDCJ on the third felony. On cross-examination, counsel for Hernandez asked Gutierrez whether he was a "repeater" because he had two prior assault convictions; the trial court sustained the State's objection that the question constituted improper impeachment. Hernandez's counsel then asked Gutierrez whether he had been arrested twice; again, the court sustained the State's improper impeachment objection. Upon further questioning, Gutierrez explained that his three prior felony convictions were for theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and robbery, and listed the dates of conviction. Hernandez's counsel then asked, "[b]ack around April 12th, 2005, do you remember that you gave prior testimony in a case? ... You were also wearing orange at that time ... What were you in jail for at that time?" The State objected to improper impeachment, and the court sustained the objection, stating, "[y]ou know better than that, counsel." At the bench, defense counsel asked the court "to refrain from making comments that I know better or otherwise." The court replied, "[c]ounsel, when I sustain three objections in a row and you continue the same line of questioning, you are going to get that every time." At the bench, the State disclosed that at the time of his prior testimony Gutierrez was being held on a misdemeanor charge for supplying alcohol to a minor.

On appeal, Hernandez complains that the trial court's ruling sustaining the State's objection and its "admonishment" of his attorney showed that the court had a bias against him, and constituted an improper comment on the weight of the evidence and conveyed the court's opinion of the case in violation of article 38.05 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.05 (Vernon 1979) (providing that in ruling on admissibility of evidence trial judge shall not discuss or comment on the weight of the evidence, or "make any remark calculated to convey to the jury his opinion of the case"). A trial court improperly comments on the weight of the evidence if it makes a statement that implies approval of the State's argument, indicates disbelief in the defendant's position, or diminishes the credibility of the defense's approach to the case. Simon v. State, 203 S.W.3d 581, 590 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.).

The record does not support Hernandez's contention. The court's ruling and accompanying statement did not constitute a comment on the weight of the evidence, and did not convey the judge's opinion of Hernandez's guilt or innocence or reflect a bias against Hernandez. See Jasper, 61 S.W.3d at 420-22. Further, the jury heard evidence establishing the nature of Gutierrez's three prior convictions and his current incarceration, and Hernandez was permitted to cross-examine Gutierrez about whether he had any deals with the State concerning his testimony and whether he had a motive to lie. See Carpenter v. State, 979 S.W.2d 633, 634 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) (exposing a witness's motivation to testify for or against the State is a proper and important purpose of cross-examination). In addition, Gutierrez later testified to the very information Hernandez had sought to elicit, stating that he was "locked up for giving alcohol to a minor" when he testified previously regarding this incident. Therefore, any error in sustaining the State's objection to Hernandez's question was rendered harmless when the same facts were otherwise admitted. See Gonzales v. State, 831 S.W.2d 347, 354 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1992, pet. ref'd). Finally, the court's statement to counsel that he "knew better" after he sustained the third objection was a permissible expression of the court's frustration with counsel's continued line of questioning, and was not an indication of the court's opinion of the case or of a bias against Hernandez. See Jasper, 61 S.W.3d at 421 ("a trial judge's irritation at the defense attorney does not translate to an indication as to the judge's views about the defendant's guilt or innocence"); Resendez v. State, 160 S.W.3d 181, 189 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 2005, no pet.) (court's admonishments to defense counsel to "quit testifying" and that counsel had engaged in inappropriate questioning tactics were not improper comments in violation of article 38.05). Hernandez's first issue is overruled.

Witness's Assertion of Fifth Amendment Privilege. In his second issue, Hernandez asserts he was prevented from presenting his defense when the trial court permitted a potential defense witness, Alex Medina, (4) to assert a "nonexistent" Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, in violation of Hernandez's federal and state due process rights. Specifically, Hernandez argues Medina had no risk of self-incrimination in the murder case because the State had already chosen not to charge him, and Medina had not given a prior sworn statement that could support a perjury charge if his trial testimony differed.

At the beginning of the defense case, Hernandez indicated his intention to call Alex Medina, who was in jail on a pending motion to revoke felony probation (MTR) in another case. After some discussion about whether Medina already had an attorney on the MTR and whether that attorney could be present during Medina's testimony, or whether an attorney needed to be appointed for Medina, the case was recessed for lunch. After the recess, defense counsel indicated that an attorney had been appointed for Medina who "would not allow him to testify," and that the defense would rest. Outside the jury's presence, Alex Medina took the stand and invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to testify as to "all the questions asked" both personally and through his attorney. Hernandez raised no objection to Medina's assertion of the privilege against self-incrimination at that time, or to the procedure used to invoke the privilege. (5) During the punishment phase, the defense again called Medina and he again asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege outside the jury's presence. At that time, Hernandez objected that Medina had no risk of self-incrimination and was not entitled to assert the privilege. Defense counsel was permitted to make a bill of exception with respect to Medina's expected testimony through Detective Roberts who stated that Medina told him that David Hernandez did not assault the victim; Medina stated that the assault was committed by Richard Hernandez and a man named Sergio.

The Fifth Amendment provides that, "[n]o person ... shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself." U.S. Const., amend. V. The Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination protects only witnesses who have "reasonable cause to apprehend danger from a direct answer." Hoffman v. United States, 341 U.S. 479, 486 (1951). However, the privilege extends not only to answers that would directly support a conviction, but also to answers which would "furnish a link in the chain of evidence needed to prosecute the claimant." Ohio v. Reiner, 532 U.S. 17, 20 (2001) (per curiam) (quoting Hoffman, 341 U.S. at 486); Barcenes v. State, 940 S.W.2d 739, 747 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1997, pet. ref'd). The inquiry into whether a witness has a valid Fifth Amendment privilege is for the trial court; mere assertion of the privilege does not by itself establish a risk of incrimination. Reiner, 532 U.S. at 21. When a witness invokes his Fifth Amendment privilege on the advice of counsel, the trial court is not obligated to make any further determination to ascertain whether assertion of the privilege is valid. Boler v. State, 177 S.W.3d 366, 371 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet. ref'd); Suarez v. State, 31 S.W.3d 323, 329 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 2000, no pet.).

Here, it is clear from the record that the basis for Alex Medina's assertion of the privilege was a legitimate risk of self-incrimination in the murder case. Medina's attorney testified at the motion for new trial hearing that after her appointment she reviewed Hernandez's written statement about the murder, which included the statement that, "Alex ran up and hit the victim in the face." She was concerned that Medina would incriminate himself if he testified at Hernandez's trial, and advised him of his Fifth Amendment rights. The attorney testified that she did not "instruct" Medina not to testify; rather, he independently decided not to testify based on her explanation of his rights, and never changed his mind. Hernandez asserts there was no risk of self-incrimination because the State had already decided not to charge Medina with the murder. However, there was nothing preventing the State from subsequently deciding to charge Medina with murder if incriminating evidence was discovered during Hernandez's trial, or at any time thereafter. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 12.01(1)(A) (Vernon Supp. 2006) (providing that there is no statute of limitations for the offense of murder). A witness's constitutional right not to incriminate himself is superior to a defendant's constitutional right to compel a witness to testify. Suarez, 31 S.W.3d at 329; Ellis v. State, 683 S.W.2d 379, 383 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). A trial court "cannot compel a witness to answer unless it is perfectly clear, from a careful consideration of all the circumstances in the case, that the witness is mistaken in asserting the privilege, and that the answer cannot possibly tend to incriminate the witness." Grayson v. State, 684 S.W.2d 691, 696 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984).

In Reiner, the Supreme Court reiterated that even a witness who denies all culpability may have a valid Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, for example, when the witness was present with the victim during the relevant period and the defendant's theory of defense places blame on the witness. Reiner, 532 U.S. at 21-22 (holding baby-sitter who denied any culpability had legitimate Fifth Amendment privilege in involuntary manslaughter trial of child's father where baby-sitter was with the child during the relevant time-frame and father's defense was that baby-sitter was at fault); see also Suarez, 31 S.W.3d at 329 (even when a co-defendant has pled guilty and been sentenced in connection with the offense, he may still properly invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege because if his testimony contradicts any previous judicial admissions he could be subject to a perjury charge). Here, Jose Gutierrez's testimony for the State placed Alex Medina at the scene during the assault, and Hernandez's written statement, although not admitted into evidence, implicated Medina in the assault, revealing a potential for self-incrimination if Medina testified. See Reiner, 532 U.S. at 21-22. We hold that the trial court did not err when it accepted Medina's invocation of his privilege on the advice of his attorney as legitimate. Hernandez's second issue is overruled.

Prosecutorial Misconduct. In his third issue, Hernandez asserts the trial court erred in denying his motion for new trial which alleged prosecutorial misconduct based on the prosecutor improperly requesting that a "new" attorney be appointed to represent Alex Medina, and intimidating Medina into asserting his Fifth Amendment right not to testify. On appeal, Hernandez also claims the prosecutor withheld exculpatory Brady (6) material discovered during trial. The trial judge is the trier of fact at a hearing on a motion for new trial, and we will not disturb the judge's findings unless an abuse of discretion is demonstrated. Charles v. State, 146 S.W.3d 204, 208 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004); State v. Garza, 143 S.W.3d 144, 148 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 2004, pet. ref'd). The appellate court does not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court, but rather decides whether the court's decision was arbitrary or unreasonable. Garza, 143 S.W.3d at 148. We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling, deferring to its credibility determinations, and presume all reasonable factual findings that could have been made in support of the court's ruling. Charles, 146 S.W.3d at 208. A trial court abuses its discretion in denying a motion for new trial only when no reasonable view of the record could support its ruling. Id.

With respect to the prosecutor's role in the appointment of an attorney to represent Medina, the evidence developed at the motion for new trial hearing was that: (1) in early 2005, Javier Padilla was appointed to represent Medina on an arson charge to which he pled guilty and received probation; (2) Padilla completed his representation of Medina and submitted his payment voucher to the court, but did not file a motion to withdraw; (3) at the time of Hernandez's trial in November 2005, Medina was in custody on a pending MTR; (4) when counsel for Hernandez expressed an intention to call Medina as a defense witness, it was discussed and agreed that Medina needed to be represented by an attorney for purposes of his potential testimony in Hernandez's murder trial; (5) defense counsel had previously obtained permission from Padilla to visit with Medina, but Padilla had not discussed with Medina his potential testimony in the murder case, "did not know what Medina's interests were" in the murder case, and was "not really representing" Medina on the MTR; (6) a prosecutor in Hernandez's case called the court coordinator of the court in which Medina's MTR was pending, inquired "whether" an attorney had been appointed yet to represent Medina on the MTR, and indicated that Medina "needed" an attorney for purposes of his potential testimony in the murder case; (7) the court coordinator appointed an attorney whose name was next on the appointment list to represent Medina on the MTR and for purposes of his potential testimony; and (8) defense counsel objected to the appointment of the new attorney instead of Padilla to represent Medina. In denying the motion for new trial, the trial court noted that the common practice in Bexar County criminal district courts is to appoint a different attorney to represent a defendant if he receives a subsequent MTR. Based on the record, we cannot say the trial court's finding that the prosecutor did not engage in misconduct is unreasonable or arbitrary.

In addition, there was no evidence presented at the motion for new trial hearing which would support a finding that the prosecutor intimidated Medina into asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege. Hernandez's claim of intimidation was based on the fact that the prosecutor admittedly had a short (less than one minute) conversation with Medina during a break after he had been appointed counsel and without counsel's permission. At the hearing, the prosecutor admitted she spoke to Medina even though she knew he had an appointed attorney at that point; she stated that she asked him whether he was going to testify, whether he had spoken to the defense attorneys, and what he had told them. The prosecutor conceded at the hearing that her actions were improper, but asserted that she had no intent to intimidate Medina. Notwithstanding the prosecutor's improper conduct, all of the testimony at the hearing was that Medina "did not appear intimidated," never said he felt intimidated, and never changed his mind about not testifying. Moreover, Medina's appointed counsel testified that she had conferred with Medina and he had made the decision not to testify before the prosecutor spoke with him. Based on this evidence, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Hernandez's motion for new trial.

Finally, Hernandez claims the prosecutor withheld exculpatory Brady material consisting of Medina's statement to her during a recess that the man in the court room, i.e., Hernandez, was not present at the scene of the assault. Ex parte Richardson, 70 S.W.3d 865, 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (to establish a due process violation under Brady, a defendant must show the State failed to disclose evidence which was favorable to the defendant and material to the outcome of the trial). While clearly exculpatory, the fact that Medina claimed that Hernandez was not present at the assault was well known to defense counsel; indeed, it was the reason that Medina was called as a defense witness. The record reflects that Hernandez's attorneys visited with Medina in jail the night before trial, and showed him a photograph of Hernandez; Medina told defense counsel at that time that Hernandez was not there during the assault. The prosecutor had a duty to disclose Medina's statement to Hernandez's attorneys under Brady, but no harm flowed from the non-disclosure because defense counsel already had the exculpatory information. In addition, even if the prosecutor had immediately revealed Medina's statement to Hernandez's attorneys, there is no indication in the record that it would have changed the fact that Medina planned to, and did repeatedly, assert his Fifth Amendment privilege not to testify. Accordingly, Hernandez failed to show the withheld evidence was "material." See Richardson, 70 S.W.3d at 870 ("materiality" prong of Brady analysis requires "a reasonable probability that had the evidence been disclosed, the outcome of the trial would have been different"). Hernandez's third issue is overruled.

 

Based on the foregoing reasons, the trial court's judgment is affirmed.

 

Phylis J. Speedlin, Justice

 

Do Not Publish

 

1. Appellant's brother, Richard Hernandez, was also convicted of murder and received a determinate sentence of 10 years in a separate trial.

2. Hernandez also incorporates an argument that the court's ruling violated his confrontation rights under the state and federal constitutions. However, Hernandez did not object on Confrontation Clause grounds in the trial court, and has thus failed to preserve that issue for appeal. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a); Reyna v. State, 168 S.W.3d 173, 179 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); Paredes v. State, 129 S.W.3d 530, 536 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).

3. Gutierrez was part of the group of young people who were present and witnessed the assault.

4. Medina was also part of the group that was present at the time of the assault.

5. Citing cases in which the Fifth Amendment privilege was invoked in civil proceedings, Hernandez complains that "blanket assertions of the privilege are not permitted," and the privilege is waived unless raised in response to each specific inquiry. Hernandez waived any complaint to the procedure used to assert the privilege by failing to object in the trial court. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a).

6. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) (prosecution has affirmative duty to disclose material, exculpatory evidence to an accused).