Kevin Leshawn Moore a/k/a Brandon Moore v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 396th District Court of Tarrant County

IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-06-00319-CR

Kevin Leshawn Moore

a/k/a Brandon Moore,

Appellant

v.

The State of Texas,

Appellee

From the 396th District Court

Tarrant County, Texas

Trial Court No. 0966038D

MEMORANDUM Opinion

We withdraw the opinion and judgment dated November 14, 2007 and substitute the opinion and judgment of this date in its place so that we may correct the information in the heading of the opinion and judgment regarding the trial court and County from which this proceeding originated.

Kevin Lashawn Moore was found guilty of murdering his sister s boyfriend, Jeff Hill, and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. We affirm.

Background

Moore s sister, Lisa, had spent the night before the offense with Hill. The next day, Lisa and Hill had an argument. Lisa broke Hill s apartment window and left the apartment, walking a few blocks to her apartment. Lisa s other brothers, Brandon and Eric, happened upon Lisa, who told them of the argument and that Hill would not let her leave with her purse. Lisa told them she had $800 in her purse and needed it. Brandon and Eric went over to Moore s apartment to discuss retrieving the purse. Moore, Brandon, and Eric then went to Hill s apartment; Moore and Brandon armed with guns. Eric remained in the car while Moore and Brandon went to confront Hill. After a few minutes, Eric heard gunshots. Moore and Brandon hurriedly returned to the car.

Neighbors also heard the gunshots and went to Hill s aide. One neighbor saw Moore leaving the area. Hill died of multiple gunshot wounds. He had 8 bullet entry wounds. Two of those entry wounds were in his back.

Rejection of Self Defense

In his first issue, Moore argues the evidence is factually insufficient to support the jury s rejection of his claim of self-defense. Specifically, Moore contends Hill began shooting at him first.

Self-defense is justified when a person "reasonably believes" that "force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful force." Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 9.31(a) (Vernon 2003). A person s use of deadly force is warranted where self-defense is justified under Section 9.31, a reasonable person would not have retreated, and when deadly force is reasonably necessary to protect himself against another's use or attempted use of deadly force. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 9.32(a)(1)-(3) (Vernon 2003); Bumguardner v. State, 963 S.W.2d 171, 173 (Tex. App. Waco 1998, pet ref'd).

When a defendant challenges the factual sufficiency of the rejection of a defense, we review all of the evidence in a neutral light and ask whether the State's evidence, taken alone, is too weak to support the finding and whether the proof of guilt, although adequate if taken alone, is against the great weight and preponderance. Zuliani v. State, 97 S.W.3d 589, 595 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).

Moore asserts that the testimony of Eric establishes Moore s self defense theory. Eric, who drove Moore and Brandon over to Hill s apartment, testified that Moore and Brandon said Hill shot first. However, Eric s testimony was less than clear on this point. First Eric stated that Moore and Brandon said, Did you see him? He started shooting or something. Then Eric stated that Brandon said, I think he seen (sic) my gun or something and then started shooting, that s when [Moore] started shooting. Eric further stated that Brandon pulled his gun out and Hill pulled his gun out and started shooting. But Eric also stated that Moore said, the dude pulled his gun up and shot, and Moore then started shooting at Hill.

Eric also said Moore shot Hill until all the bullets were gone and that Brandon did not do any of the shooting. Eric thought Moore s gun held 7 bullets. The medical examiner testified that Hill had 8 bullet entry wounds. Two of the entry wounds were in Hill s back. Eric also stated that Moore started shooting, went through a window, and started shooting again until all the bullets were gone. Eric then stated that Hill did not start shooting back until after the bullets were gone. Eric said Moore was mad at Brandon because Brandon did not shoot. Further, Moore told Eric that he had caught Hill slipping.

On cross-examination, Eric emphasized that he told the grand jury 3 to 4 times that Hill was the first aggressor and that Hill was wearing a .45 caliber gun. But he also told the grand jury that he didn t know who fired first, that Hill started shooting back after Moore s bullets were gone, that Hill raised his gun and then Moore started shooting, and that Moore said to Hill, don t put your hands on my sister, and started shooting.

Moore also asserts, without specific references to the record, that his expert s testimony confirmed that the forensic evidence was consistent with Moore s contention that Hill fired first. However, the expert did not testify as to who shot first.

It was within the jury s province to resolve conflicts in the testimony. Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 112 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). And in resolving those conflicts, the jury could reasonably conclude that Moore did not act in self defense. Accordingly, reviewing the record under the appropriate standard, the evidence is factually sufficient to support the jury s rejection of Moore s claim of self defense. Moore s first issue is overruled.

Excluded Testimony

In his second and third issues, Moore complains that the trial court abused its discretion in excluding a crime scene investigator s testimony that he found drugs in Hill s apartment and the medical examiner s testimony that Hill had ingested marijuana and cocaine prior to his death. Moore argues the excluded testimony supports his claim that Hill was the first aggressor. The trial court excluded the testimony because it was irrelevant.

The standard of review for a trial court's ruling under the Rules of Evidence is abuse of discretion. Sauceda v. State, 129 S.W.3d 116, 120 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). If the ruling was correct on any theory of law applicable to the case, in light of what was before the trial court at the time the ruling was made, then we must uphold the judgment. Id. 'Relevant evidence' means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. Tex. R. Evid. 401. Evidence which is not relevant is inadmissible. Id. 402.

In a hearing outside the presence of the jury, Moore proffered testimony from the crime scene officer that he located large amounts of marijuana in Hill s master bedroom closet, a substance that appeared to be crack cocaine in the hallway and on the T.V., scales, and money in between the bed mattresses. Moore also proffered testimony from the medical examiner that he found marijuana and cocaine in Hill s urine which indicated prior use of the substances. However, the medical examiner could not say how long prior to the offense Hill had used the substances. He also testified that Hill did not have any substances in his blood and that if a parent drug is not found in the blood, the drug has been metabolized. The medical examiner could not say with certainty that Hill was not under the influence of drugs at the time of the offense.

Moore argues that the proffered testimony is relevant to show that Hill was the first aggressor. Moore cites to a line of cases which hold that in the context of proving the deceased was the first aggressor, specific, violent acts are relevant apart from showing character conformity by demonstrating the deceased's intent, motive, or state of mind. See Hayes v. State, 161 S.W.3d 507 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); Tate v. State, 981 S.W.2d 189 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Torres v. State, 71 S.W.3d 758 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). But these cases are inapposite. Moore did not seek to introduce evidence of specific, violent acts. He wanted to introduce evidence of prior drug use and drug possession. There is nothing in the record that connects the possession and use of marijuana and cocaine to Hill s alleged violent acts or that he was the first aggressor. The proffered testimony is irrelevant, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding it. Having determined the proffered evidence was not relevant, we need not review Moore s complaints under Rules of Evidence 403 or 404. Moore s second and third issues are overruled.

Conclusion

Having overruled each issue, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

TOM GRAY

Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray,

Justice Vance, and

Justice Reyna

(Justice Vance concurs in the judgment)

Affirmed

Opinion delivered and filed December 5, 2007

Do not publish

[CRPM]