David Garcia v. The State of Texas--Appeal from Criminal District Court 2 of Dallas County of Dallas County

In The

Court of Appeals

Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

 

______________________________

 

No. 06-02-00040-CR

______________________________

 

DAVID GARCIA, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

 

 

On Appeal from the Criminal District Court 2

Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court No. F-0055073-MI

 

 

Before Morriss, C.J., Ross and Carter, JJ.

Opinion by Justice Carter

 

O P I N I O N

 

A jury found David Garcia guilty of aggravated robbery and assessed his punishment at fifteen years' confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He appeals from this conviction, bringing thirteen points of error. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Factual and Procedural History

Jason Moncier and his cousin Josh visited a gentlemen's club and drank there until the club closed. The two left the club in Josh's car. Police stopped the vehicle and arrested Josh for driving while intoxicated. Moncier went to a nearby convenience store to call someone for a ride. He called a cab company, scheduled a ride, and waited thirty to forty minutes. The cab did not arrive.

Present at the convenience store were Garcia and Antonio Valla. The two approached Moncier to inquire as to what he was doing. Moncier informed them of his situation and offered them $20.00 to give him a ride to Irving. Moncier bought the group soft drinks and got into the back seat of Garcia's car. Garcia stated he needed to make a stop at his girlfriend's house. On stopping at a house in a residential neighborhood, Garcia exited the car and Moncier and Valla continued to talk in the car. Suddenly, Valla pointed a gun in Moncier's face, and Garcia walked to the other side of the car and opened Moncier's door. Garcia then "stuck something" in Moncier's side and told him that he and Valla were going to rob him. Garcia took the cash from Moncier's wallet and his cell phone. Garcia ordered Moncier out of the car, and Garcia and Valla drove off.

Moncier made note of the car's license plate number and wrote it down in nearby mud with his finger. He then approached the residence in front of which he stood and asked the residents to call the police. Officer Paul Campopiano of the Dallas Police Department arrived at the scene fifteen minutes later. Moncier gave him a physical description of Garcia and Valla, described the car in which they left as "a fairly new blue Toyota Corolla," and gave Campopiano the license plate number.

The license plate number belonged to a 1997 Toyota Corolla registered to a member of Garcia's family. The police took Moncier home and continued to the address at which the suspect's car was registered. At the residence, a 1997 Toyota Corolla was in the driveway. Garcia's father answered the police officers' knock and allowed them to enter the house, where they found Garcia lying in his bed. In Garcia's room, the officers also found approximately ten cell phones. Officer Campopiano dialed Moncier's cell phone number, and it rang in the room. The officers arrested Garcia. Later that night, Valla was also arrested.

Two days later, Dallas police detective Gary Cornett prepared a photographic lineup in which Moncier identified Garcia. The State charged Garcia with aggravated robbery, to which he pled not guilty. At trial, the State presented testimony of Moncier, Officer Campopiano, and Detective Cornett. Garcia did not testify or present any witnesses. Defense counsel requested the jury charge include a lesser-included offense instruction for both theft and assault. The trial court included the instruction on the offense of theft, but excluded an instruction on assault.

Analysis

Aggravated Robbery

A person commits aggravated robbery if he or she commits robbery and (1) causes serious bodily injury to another; (2) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon; or (3) causes bodily injury to another person or threatens or places another person in fear of imminent bodily injury or death, if the other person is sixty-five years of age or older or disabled. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 29.03(a) (Vernon 2003).

Legal and Factual Sufficiency of the Evidence

In points of error one and two, Garcia challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence on which the jury based its verdict of guilty.

When reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, we must view the evidence in a light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether a 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); Cantrell v. State, 75 S.W.3d 503, 508 (Tex. App. Texarkana 2002, pet. ref'd).

When reviewing the factual sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, we must view the evidence in a neutral light and may set aside the verdict only if it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). We determine whether a neutral review of all the evidence, both for and against the finding, demonstrates that 1) the proof of guilt is so obviously weak as to undermine confidence in the jury's determination, or 2) the proof of guilt, although adequate if taken alone, is greatly outweighed by contrary proof. Cantrell, 75 S.W.3d at 510 11.

When a challenge to both legal and factual sufficiency is presented, we first determine whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support the verdict. Id. at 508. Reviewing the record in a light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude it reveals sufficient evidence on which a rational jury could find all the elements of aggravated robbery.

Moncier testified that, while Valla pointed a gun at him and Garcia stuck an object in his side, the two men took his money and cell phone. Moncier also gave the responding officers descriptions of the men and the vehicle, including the license plate number. The police used this information to lead them to Garcia's house, where the car described was in the driveway. At Garcia's house, the police discovered Moncier's cell phone, among several others. Such a discovery corroborates Moncier's testimony. Based on this evidence, the jury reasonably could have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Garcia, as principal or as a party, while in the course of committing theft, intentionally or knowingly threatened and placed Moncier in fear of imminent bodily injury or death and used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense. The evidence was, therefore, legally sufficient to support Garcia's conviction.

Reviewing the above evidence and the evidence against the finding of guilt, we conclude the evidence is also factually sufficient to sustain the conviction. Garcia did not testify or present any witnesses. At trial, counsel pointed out facts established by the State's case that weigh against the veracity of Moncier's version of events. Counsel pointed to the fact that no money was ever recovered and also emphasized that Garcia went into the convenience store with Moncier, that the men parked the car under a streetlight before robbing him, and that they made a U-turn when leaving Moncier, allowing him to get a longer look at the vehicle. When we weigh the evidence contrary to a finding of guilt, we cannot say the result undermines our confidence in the jury's verdict. The evidence was factually sufficient to support the verdict.

Admission of Detective Cornett's Testimony

In his third point of error, Garcia contends the trial court erred in overruling the objection to certain statements in Detective Cornett's testimony as inadmissible hearsay. Hearsay is a statement, other than one made by declarant at trial, offered into evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Tex. R. Evid. 801(d). Generally, hearsay is inadmissible. Tex. R. Evid. 802. Prior consistent statements, however, are not characterized as hearsay. Tex. R. Evid. 801(e)(1)(B).

To be admissible under Rule 801(e)(1)(B), first, a prior consistent statement must be consistent with the declarant's testimony and, second, it must be offered to rebut an express or implied charge against the declarant of recent fabrication or improper influence or motive. Tex. R. Evid. 801(e)(1)(B). Further, although the rule does not explicitly require it, a prior consistent statement must have been made before the alleged improper influence or motive arose. McDuff v. State, 939 S.W.2d 607, 617 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Campbell v. State, 718 S.W.2d 712, 717 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). A reviewing court will not disturb a trial court's ruling on the admissibility of evidence absent an abuse of discretion. Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

At trial, Moncier testified as follows:

Q.[State] So initially you're thinking [Garcia]'s going into the home?

A.[Moncier] Yeah. I just kind of lost track of him for a second and was talking to the other guy.

Q.And when the door opens, you feel Mr. Garcia stick something in your side?

A.Yes.

Q.But you don't see a gun?

A.I don't see a gun. I don't know what he did. He just stuck something in my side.

On cross-examination, defense counsel calls into question Moncier's truthfulness and suggests several times Moncier called the police and fabricated the robbery story to get his cell phone back and get a ride home after Garcia and Valla had abandoned him on an unsuccessful drug run. During cross-examination of Officer Campopiano, defense counsel further implies Moncier is lying. More precisely, counsel suggests Moncier told Campopiano he did see a gun held by Garcia:

Q.[Defense counsel] . . . . Now, did the complaining witness tell you that David Garcia pointed a gun at him?

A.[Campopiano] Yes, he did.

Q.Are you aware that he said he didn't about half an hour ago?

. . . .

A.If someone says a guy pointed a gun at me and then he later says he didn't point a gun at me, would that hurt his credibility a little bit with you?

 

At a hearing outside the presence of the jury, the trial court held a hearing on the admissibility of Detective Cornett's testimony. The trial court specifically ruled Cornett's testimony fell under Rule 801(e)(1)(B), making the testimony admissible as a prior consistent statement. The pertinent portions of Cornett's testimony are as follows:

Q.[State] Let's just talk about Mr. Garcia and what [Moncier] said about placing the object in his side.

A.[Cornett] Okay. While he was sitting in the rear passenger's side of the vehicle, the defendant approached him, opened the door and placed an object behind him as he was facing the other direction where the accomplice was holding a handgun.

Q.Okay. Was the -- the object placed in his back or in his side?

A.I believe it was in his side, but --

Q.Did he ever tell you that he saw David Garcia point a gun at him?

A.No, ma'am.

Q.Did he ever say he saw what the object was?

A.No, ma'am.

 

On appeal, Garcia now contends that there was no express or implied charge of recent fabrication or improper influence and also that the State did not show Moncier's statement was made before an improper influence arose. // Garcia's argument, that defense counsel did not express or imply that Moncier had fabricated the story, is without merit. Clearly, from the above excerpts, defense counsel implied Moncier was lying in general about the robbery and lying specifically about whether he saw a gun. Defense counsel conceded this point at trial during the discussion of the admissibility of Detective Cornett's testimony:

THE COURT: . . . . I mean, you definitely made, Mr. Webber, an expressed, I would say, and certainly and [sic] implied charge that Mr. -- the complainant --

[Defense counsel]: Moncier.

THE COURT: -- Moncier is not being truthful --

[Defense counsel]: Correct.

. . . .

THE COURT: . . . . I think that's the bottom, that's the crux of your defense is that he's lying.

[Defense counsel]: Sure. Sure.

. . . .

[Defense counsel]: Right. And I agree with that, it's the crux of our defense.

 

Second, Garcia argues that the statement the subject of Cornett's testimony was made after the fabrication or improper influence arose. That is, Garcia contends the State failed to show the statement was made before the improper influence or motive to fabricate arose. We agree. Garcia maintains Moncier fabricated the entire story so he could obtain a ride home and get his cell phone back from Garcia's car. Utilizing this theory, Moncier would have been motivated to fabricate the story very soon after the two men left him on the street, before Moncier called the police. Therefore, the statement Moncier made to Cornett later certainly postdated the motive to lie, rendering the statement outside Rule 801(e)(1)(B). We find the trial court erred in admitting Cornett's consistent statement.

Error committed by the trial court in the admission of evidence is nonconstitutional error and thus subject to harm analysis. See Tex. R. Evid. 103(a); Tex. R. App. P. 44.2; King v. State, 953 S.W.2d 266, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). We must disregard any error unless it affects the substantial rights of the individual. Tex. R. App. P. 44.2. Here, Cornett's testimony regarding whether Moncier told him he saw a gun represents only a fraction of the evidence weighing in favor of a finding of guilt. The content of Cornett's statement (that Moncier did not say Garcia had a gun) could be considered as favorable toward Garcia. In light of the amount of evidence properly admitted which supports the jury's conclusion, we cannot say that admission of Detective Cornett's testimony was harmful. After examining the entire record, we are assured this error did not influence the jury or had but a slight effect, and so we will disregard this error.

Admissibility of State's Evidence at Punishment Phase

In his fourth and fifth points of error, Garcia complains the trial court erred in overruling Garcia's objections to evidence presented by the State at the punishment phase of trial. We review the trial court's decision to admit evidence at the punishment phase for an abuse of discretion. See Mitchell v. State, 931 S.W.2d 950, 953 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).

Authentication of Juvenile Judgment

First, in point of error number four, Garcia contends the trial court erred in overruling his objection into evidence of a 1999 juvenile judgment for unlawful carrying of a weapon, labeled State's Exhibit No. 2, because the document was not properly authenticated and failed to meet the requirements of Rule 902(4).

A party offering documentary evidence must authenticate the document. Tex. R. Evid. 901. Certain documents, however, are self-authenticating. Tex. R. Evid. 902. That is, extrinsic evidence of the document's authenticity is not required. Parties at trial addressed the certification attached to the juvenile record at issue in terms of Rule 902(4) only. This rule provides:

Certified Copies of Public Records. A copy of an official record or report or entry therein, or of a document authorized by law to be recorded or filed and actually recorded or filed in a public office, including data compilations in any form certified as correct by the custodian or other person authorized to make the certification, by certificate complying with paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of this rule or complying with any statute or other rule prescribed pursuant to statutory authority.

 

Tex. R. Evid. 902(4).

After obtaining a supplemental clerk's record regarding this judgment, we find it to be properly certified by the clerk of the District Court of Dallas County, Texas, as a true and correct copy of the original as it appears of record in that office. The certificate is given under the hand and seal of the district clerk which contains a signature, by a deputy clerk, as an attestation or execution and the seal of the court. We find the document meets the requirements of Rule 902(4) as self-authenticating.

The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the judgment. We overrule Garcia's fourth point of error.

Admissibility of Community Supervision Revocation

In his fifth point of error, Garcia contends that, during the punishment phase, the trial court erred by admitting evidence of revocation of community supervision in two other cases. Again, we review the trial court's decision for an abuse of discretion. Mitchell, 931 S.W.2d at 953.

In July 2000, Garcia pled guilty to deadly conduct and burglary of a habitation. He was sentenced to ten years' community supervision for those convictions. In June 2001, his community supervision was revoked on each and, at the time of trial for the instant offense, he was appealing the revocations. Garcia objected to the admissions, contending that, since the revocations were being appealed at the time, the judgments could not be admitted. Noting that the judgments were not used for enhancement purposes, the trial court admitted the judgments.

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides:

[E]vidence may be offered by the state and the defendant as to any matter the court deems relevant to sentencing, including but not limited to the prior criminal record of the defendant, his general reputation, his character, an opinion regarding his character, the circumstances of the offense for which he is being tried, and, notwithstanding Rules 404 and 405, Texas Rules of Evidence, any other evidence of an extraneous crime or bad act that is shown beyond a reasonable doubt by evidence to have been committed by the defendant or for which he could be held criminally responsible, regardless of whether he has previously been charged with or finally convicted of the crime or act.

 

Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.07, 3(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2004) (emphasis added). Clearly, the judgments were admissible under Article 37.07. Essentially, Garcia contends the judgments were inadmissible because they were not final convictions. The plain language of Article 37.07, however, specifically provides for admission of such evidence. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the community supervision revocations at the hearing on Garcia's punishment. We overrule Garcia's fifth point of error.

Instruction on Lesser-Included Offense of Assault

In his sixth point of error, Garcia contends the trial court erred in denying his requested charge instruction on the lesser-included offense of assault. The jury charge included instructions on aggravated robbery, robbery, and theft, but the trial court did not allow an instruction on assault.

Either the State or the defendant may request an instruction on a lesser-included offense when: (1) the lesser-included offense is included within the proof necessary to establish the offense charged, and (2) some evidence exists in the record that would permit a rational jury to find that, "if the defendant is guilty, he is guilty only of the lesser offense." Hampton v. State, 109 S.W.3d 437, 440 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.09.

The State does not dispute that assault is a lesser-included offense of aggravated robbery. Thus, we address only whether the record contains evidence that, if Garcia was guilty, he was guilty only of assault. In making this determination, the trial court should make a determination as to whether the evidence of the lesser offense would be sufficient for a jury rationally to find that the defendant is guilty only of that offense, not the greater offense. Rousseau v. State, 855 S.W.2d 666, 672 73 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). Anything more than a scintilla of evidence is sufficient to entitle a defendant to a lesser charge. Ferrel v. State, 55 S.W.3d 586, 589 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).

A conviction for robbery requires proof of actual or threatened violence to the victim, or intimidation of such a nature that the victim was put in fear. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 29.02(a)(2) (Vernon 2003). The fear must be of such nature as in reason and common experience is likely to induce a person to part with his or her property against his or her will. Bignall v. State, 887 S.W.2d 21, 26 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). A person commits aggravated robbery

[I]f he commits robbery as defined in Section 29.02, and . . .

 

(1) causes serious bodily injury to another;

(2) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon; or

(3) causes bodily injury to another person or threatens or places another person in fear of imminent bodily injury or death, if the other person is:

(A) 65 years of age or older; or

(B) a disabled person.

 

Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 29.03(a) (Vernon 2003). A person commits an assault by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 22.01(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2004).

In order for Garcia to be entitled to an instruction on the lesser-included offense of assault, there had to be some evidence that, if he was guilty, he was guilty only of assault, not of robbery. Therefore, to merit an instruction on assault, there had to be some evidence Garcia did not commit theft, the principal element distinguishing robbery from assault. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 22.01, 29.02. At trial, Garcia argued on the issue of whether he had a gun, not whether he took property. Moncier testified Garcia and Valla took his money and his cell phone. The defense called no witnesses, so there was no testimony to the contrary. Defense counsel suggested that no offense occurred at all and that the story was a scheme to get his cell phone back after Garcia and Valla abandoned a drug run. But the attorney's comments are not evidence. Nor would his theory have suggested Garcia did not take the property. There is no evidence in the record from which a rational jury could find that Garcia was guilty only of assault and that he did not take Moncier's property. We overrule Garcia's contention to the contrary.

Jury Argument

Garcia also argues the trial court erred in overruling his several objections to the State's jury argument during both stages of the trial.

Proper jury argument falls into one of four categories: (1) summation of the evidence; (2) reasonable deduction from the evidence; (3) answer to argument of opposing counsel; or (4) a plea for law enforcement. Jackson v. State, 17 S.W.3d 664, 673 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). To constitute reversible error, the jury argument must be extreme or manifestly improper or inject new and harmful facts into evidence. Id.

Garcia's seventh point of error centers around the following exchange:

[State]: . . . . Specifically, a person is criminally responsible for an offense committed by the conduct of another if acting with intent to promote or assist in the commission of the offense he solicits, encourages, directs, aids or attempts to aid the person -- the other person in the commission of the offense. Assisting, soliciting, encouraging, think back to the evidence you heard. Think about the punch in the side that [Moncier] told you about.

[Defense counsel]: I'm going to object. That misstates the evidence in question.

THE COURT: Overruled in the sense, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you're to decide what the evidence is in this case. You remember what the witnesses say.

[State]: Think about the object he felt in his side. It was placed there by David Garcia.

 

The statement made by the State about the "punch" in the side was not a verbatim quote from the testimony. However, the victim's actual statement was Garcia "stuck" something in his side. We believe that the meaning and general connotation of the two words are very similar and do not find this argument to be error. We overrule Garcia's seventh point of error.

Garcia's eighth point of error centers on the following statement by the State, "I am really in awe that Mr. Webber can stand before you and essentially tell you to disregard your oaths to follow the law." Garcia argues this is a mischaracterization of the defense's argument, stating that it falls outside the record, is an improper personal opinion, and attempts to attack Garcia through his counsel.

An appellant may not complain of an allegedly improper argument if he or she invited the argument of which he or she complains. Ripkowski v. State, 61 S.W.3d 378, 393 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). Defense counsel in Ripkowski invited the prosecutor's remark regarding the possibility of change in parole laws when defense counsel requested and received an instruction regarding the eligibility for parole of one convicted of capital murder and when he presented testimony on the same subject. Id. at 394. Similarly, here, defense counsel invited the State's statements with his earlier argument:

[Defense counsel]: . . . . Now he didn't have a deadly weapon. Now he's a party. This party theory is garbage.

[State]: Your Honor, it's not a theory. It's the law.

THE COURT: Well, this is argument, ladies and gentlemen. Just remember that anything that the attorneys say that is not in harmony with what I've given you in the court's charge is to be disregarded.

[Defense counsel]: Yes, sir.

This party liability is garbage. It's a double-sided coin and it's garbage.

Further, the State's statement falls into one of the four proper areas of jury argument. See Jackson, 17 S.W.3d at 673. Counsel is permitted to respond to the arguments of opposing counsel. See id. We conclude the trial court did not err when it overruled Garcia's objection to the State's argument and overrule his eighth point of error.

In his ninth point of error, Garcia makes a similar argument regarding the following exchange, asserting the State's remarks were outside the record:

[State]: . . . . So for Mr. Webber to stand up here as an officer of the court himself and say, Hey, the law is garbage, please don't follow the law --

[Defense counsel]: Judge, I'm going to object that I said the law is garbage in this case. She's misstating what I said. This is the second time she's done that.

THE COURT: Overruled.

 

Similar to the argument presented in his previous point of error, defense counsel invited the State's response by questioning "party theory" and "party liability" and by labeling them "garbage." Therefore, Garcia cannot complain of the invited argument. The State's remark to the jury is directed as a response to defense counsel's argument and, as such, falls in the category of permissible argument. Accordingly, we overrule Garcia's point of error.

In his tenth point of error, Garcia contends the following exchange constitutes an attempt by the State "to attack defense counsel in an effort to inflame the minds of the jury to the accused's prejudice."

[State]: . . . . It is not they back door their case through our witnesses. You know, any -- you must recall Mr. Webber's opening statement, everything he said about the evidence will show X, the evidence will show Y, the evidence will show Z. Well, please remember there was no evidence to support anything he said in opening statement.

[Defense counsel]: Judge, that is way outside the record. It's improper.

THE COURT: I disagree. I will overrule the objection.

[State]: Evidence comes from here. This is the front door. Evidence does not come from here. That's the back door. You know, I will just throw out a couple of things. When [Moncier] was on the stand, you told him to take you there so you could buy drugs, right? He made that up on the spot.

[Defense counsel]: I'm going to object that that's improper jury argument.

 

THE COURT: Overruled.

 

Garcia did not specifically argue this was an attack on defense counsel to inflame the jury at trial. His objection at trial was that the statement was "improper jury argument." Also, defense counsel objected that the statement was "way outside the record." The complaint on appeal must comport with the objection lodged at the trial court level. Guevara v. State, 97 S.W.3d 579, 582 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). To preserve an issue for appeal, an appellant must make a timely and specific objection at trial. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1. Even if the general objections had preserved this issue for review, we find Garcia's contentions meritless.

The State's argument that the evidence did not support the defense's contention is a summation of the evidence and also represents a response to defense counsel's opening argument regarding what the evidence would show. There is no evidence Moncier wanted to "score some dope" as stated by defense counsel. Therefore, the State's argument falls within the areas of permissible jury argument, and we overrule Garcia's tenth point of error.

In his twelfth point of error, Garcia complains of the trial court's overruling of his objection to the State's jury argument during the punishment stage of trial. Garcia contends the State's argument referred to facts outside the record and constituted unsworn testimony from the prosecutor. The portion of jury argument at issue is as follows:

[State]: . . . . But let's think about something else. This was a very premeditated act. It's a reasonable deduction from the evidence you heard yesterday that those individuals saw [Moncier]. They saw that stop. They're sitting in that parking lot, and they're watching the squad car. You know how people do late at night and they're running around --

[Defense counsel]: Objection. There is no evidence they were watching the squad car.

THE COURT: Overruled.

The State prefaced its argument with the statement that it was a reasonable deduction from the evidence that Garcia saw the police car and the detention of the vehicle Moncier was occupying.

Counsel is allowed wide latitude without limitation in drawing inferences from the evidence so long as the inferences drawn are reasonable, fair, legitimate, and offered in good faith. Gaddis v. State, 753 S.W.2d 396, 398 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988).

We believe this argument does not present error and is allowed as a reasonable deduction from the evidence presented.

Judgment and Cumulated Sentence

In his eleventh point of error, Garcia maintains that the trial court's judgment and sentence cumulating the sentence pronounced against him is void because the State failed to present evidence concerning the alleged prior judgment and sentence or that Garcia was the person there convicted and sentenced.

When a defendant is convicted of two or more offenses, the trial court, in its discretion, may assess concurrent or consecutive sentences. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 42.08(a) (Vernon Supp. 2004). Although there does not appear to be an express evidentiary requirement for linking the defendant to a prior conviction, the statute does state the defendant must have been convicted in two or more cases. Miller v. State, 33 S.W.3d 257, 260 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reads into the statute an implied requirement that the trial court must have evidence of the prior convictions before it may exercise discretion to cumulate sentences. Id. Defense counsel's admissions on the record to the existence of the prior sentences can be sufficient evidence to support the trial court's cumulation of sentences. See Resanovich v. State, 906 S.W.2d 40, 42 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

First, we note the trial court properly admitted into evidence the two prior felony judgments with which the trial court cumulated the sentence for the instant offense. This evidence alone is sufficient to identify the convictions, that is, the court, the sentence, the date, the cause number, and the nature of the prior convictions. The State also dictated into the record the specifics of each conviction, naming the offense and the cause number.

The record also reveals ample evidence that connects those convictions to Garcia. When the records were admitted, defense counsel acknowledged the judgments:

[Defense counsel]: Well, obviously, I didn't know him back in July of 2000, I didn't plead him guilty on those. I think from my understanding I think once the notice of appeal period ends, I think that realistically I think he's lost the right to contest that appeal, . . . .

THE COURT: Right.

[Defense counsel]: But the revocation itself is certainly under appeal. I guess he could file with that appeal part of it a motion to vacate that plea as an involuntary plea or I guess some type of jurisdictional error, . . . .

 

During defense counsel's direct examination of Garcia's mother at the punishment hearing, defense counsel refers directly to these sentences, further acknowledging the sentences and identity of the person convicted:

Q.[Defense counsel] And then last year he had two cases where he was put on one probation for a burglary, a stealing crime, and for deadly conduct, a non-contact felony crime. Do you understand that?

A.[Witness] Yes.

Q.Okay. These probations were revoked already because of the aggravated robbery; is that correct?

A.Yes.

Garcia's mother discusses the convictions, saying she could not recall the exact date but she knew "he got probation." She also discussed the facts underlying the two felony convictions for which he was placed on community supervision, explaining the complainant was a brother of Garcia's girlfriend.

Additionally, during closing argument, defense counsel specifically referred to the convictions: "The other two felonies, shooting the gun, deadly conduct, that's a non-contact felony, shooting a gun; and the other one is stealing, a burglary." He goes on to explain that the convictions were already taken into account since Garcia was not eligible for community supervision.

The copies of the judgments along with defense counsel's acknowledgments on the record and testimony of the defense witness that Garcia was previously convicted for burglary and deadly conduct are sufficient evidence of the prior judgments and sentences to support the trial court's cumulation order, establishing that Garcia was the person convicted and sentenced in the judgments with which the trial court cumulated sentences. The trial court's decision, therefore, was not an abuse of discretion. We overrule Garcia's point of error.

Motion for Mistrial

Finally, point of error thirteen involves the trial court's overruling of Garcia's motion for mistrial. Garcia contends the trial court erred in overruling his motion for mistrial after the trial court sustained his objection to the State's jury argument during the punishment phase of trial.

A mistrial is a device used to halt trial proceedings when error is so prejudicial that expenditure of further time and expense would be wasteful and futile. Wood v. State, 18 S.W.3d 642, 648 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). An instruction to disregard improper argument generally cures any prejudicial effect of the improper argument. Dinkins v. State, 894 S.W.2d 330, 357 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). We review a trial court's granting or denial of a motion for mistrial for an abuse of discretion. Wood, 18 S.W.3d at 648.

The pertinent portion of the State's jury argument about which Garcia complains is as follows:

[State]: . . . . Now, there was no -- there was not testimony that [Garcia] didn't have a gun; it was that [Moncier] did not see him with a gun. But what do we have -- these should make you feel very good about your verdict. A weapon's [sic] charge when he's 16 years old, a deadly conduct where he's actually firing a gun at another person --

[Defense counsel]: Objection. There's no evidence that he fired a gun at another person.

THE COURT: Sustained.

[Defense counsel]: Judge, I'm going to ask that they be instructed to disregard that.

THE COURT: Disregard the last statement. You're free to examine the document. It's in evidence.

[Defense counsel]: Judge, I'm going to ask for a mistrial.

THE COURT: Overruled.

 

The State introduced a judgment convicting Garcia of deadly conduct. Included in the exhibit was the indictment in that case alleging Garcia did "discharge a firearm at and in the direction of Jose Avila, an individual." The only objection to this exhibit was that the conviction was not final, an issue previously addressed. Further, defense counsel questioned Garcia's mother: "Q. On this deadly conduct case for shooting a gun, who is Jose Avila? Do you know? A. Jose Avila, yes the brother of his girlfriend." Based on the evidence presented in this case, we do not find the State's argument to be error. Further, the trial court promptly sustained the objection and instructed the jury to disregard the statement, which we presume the jury followed. We overrule Garcia's thirteenth point of error.

We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

 

Jack Carter

Justice

 

Date Submitted: September 25, 2003

Date Decided: February 24, 2004

 

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