Ruben Hernandez v. The State of TexasAppeal from 40th District Court of Ellis County (memorandum opinion by chief justice gray)
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IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-11-00240-CR
RUBEN HERNANDEZ,
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
From the 40th District Court
Ellis County, Texas
Trial Court No. 34941CR
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Ruben Hernandez was charged and tried for capital murder but convicted of the
lesser-included offense of murder and sentenced to fifty years in prison. TEX. PEN. CODE
ANN. § 19.02 (West 2011). Hernandez complains that the evidence was insufficient for
the jury to have found him guilty of murder; that the trial court abused its discretion by
not including an instruction in the jury charge on the issue of duress; that the trial court
erred by excluding testimony (two issues); that the trial court abused its discretion by
not admitting the written statement of the accomplice witness pursuant to the rule of
optional completion; and that the trial court abused its discretion by consolidating the
trials of the three co-defendants or granting his motion for severance. 1 Because we find
no reversible error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
In his first issue, Hernandez complains that the evidence was insufficient for the
jury to have found him guilty of murder. The Court of Criminal Appeals has expressed
our standard of review of a sufficiency issue as follows:
In determining whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support a
conviction, a reviewing court must consider all of the evidence in the light
most favorable to the verdict and determine whether, based on that
evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational fact finder could
have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979); Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9,
13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). This “familiar standard gives full play to the
responsibility of the trier of fact fairly to resolve conflicts in the testimony,
to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts
to ultimate facts.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. “Each fact need not point
directly and independently to the guilt of the appellant, as long as the
cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to
support the conviction.” Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13.
Lucio v. State, 351 S.W.3d 878, 894 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).
The Court of Criminal Appeals has also explained that our review of “all of the
evidence” includes evidence that was properly and improperly admitted. Conner v.
State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 197 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). And if the record supports conflicting
inferences, we must presume that the factfinder resolved the conflicts in favor of the
Hernandez was tried with two co-defendants whose appeals are also pending before this Court:
Fernando Juarez, No. 10-11-00213-CR, and Eric Maldonado, No. 10-11-00299-CR.
1
Hernandez v. State
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prosecution and therefore defer to that determination. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. at
326. Further, direct and circumstantial evidence are treated equally: “Circumstantial
evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor, and
circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt.” Hooper v. State, 214
S.W.3d at 13. Finally, it is well established that the factfinder is entitled to judge the
credibility of witnesses and can choose to believe all, some, or none of the testimony
presented by the parties. Chambers v. State, 805 S.W.2d 459, 461 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
Factual Background
Ruben Hernandez was an employee at an Exxon in Ennis, Texas, which was
operated by Mohammed Hashemi, the victim. Hernandez was working with Hashemi
on the evening of the murder. The evening of the offense Hernandez sent text messages
to Juarez which told Juarez when Hashemi was leaving to take a deposit to the bank
and how much money was in the deposit. Eric Maldonado, Fernando Juarez, and
Isaiah Gonzalez2 were in a vehicle awaiting Hashemi's departure. Maldonado, Juarez,
and Gonzalez had decided not to rob Hashemi at the Exxon because it was too
crowded. Instead they decided to ambush Hashemi on his way to the bank. Juarez was
driving the vehicle. It appeared to Gonzalez that Juarez and Maldonado were familiar
with Hashemi's route and knew the bank where he was going to make the deposit
because they had been planning the robbery for a while. Maldonado was armed with a
Isaiah Gonzalez was not tried with the other co-defendants because he made an agreement with the
State for a reduced sentence in exchange for his testimony against Maldonado, Juarez, and Hernandez.
2
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.380 caliber pistol and Gonzalez was armed with a Cobray Model M-11 9 millimeter
firearm ("Mac-11"). Maldonado had purchased the .380 caliber pistol sixteen days prior
to the offense.
Juarez pulled the vehicle in front of Hashemi to stop him and Maldonado and
Gonzalez got out and approached Hashemi's minivan. Gonzalez stated that before they
got out of the vehicle Maldonado had told him to empty his clip if anyone saw them.
Gonzalez pointed the Mac-11 at Hashemi. Hashemi was attempting to unbuckle his
seat belt when Maldonado suddenly shot him with the .380 caliber pistol. Ballistics
testing confirmed that Hashemi was killed by the .380 caliber pistol purchased by
Maldonado. Gonzalez stated that he was in shock and did not unlock the passenger
door of the van for Maldonado so Maldonado ran back to the vehicle driven by Juarez.
Juarez drove off. Gonzalez got in the minivan with Hashemi still in the driver's seat
and followed Juarez. Shortly thereafter, Maldonado got out of Juarez's vehicle and sat
in the passenger seat of the minivan. At some point the minivan passed Juarez and
turned off onto a dirt road, where it got stuck. Maldonado, Juarez, and Gonzalez were
approached by the landowner who told them to leave.
After getting the minivan unstuck, Maldonado drove the minivan to Ennis Paint
where he had just recently stopped working. Juarez followed in the second vehicle.
Maldonado and Gonzalez dragged Hashemi's body into the woods near Ennis Paint
and left it.
The minivan was abandoned at a different location and burned by
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Maldonado after he removed two envelopes with money.
envelope of money from the minivan.
Gonzalez took a third
The masks, rubber gloves, and the t-shirt
Maldonado was wearing were thrown out of the window of the car on the same road
where the minivan was abandoned. Various DNA testing on the masks, gloves, clothes,
and shoes allegedly worn by Maldonado and Gonzalez showed blood that was linked
to Hashemi. Additionally, Maldonado and Gonzalez could not be excluded from other
DNA recovered off of those items. Juarez's DNA was not found on any articles.
Maldonado gave Juarez and Gonzalez some of the money. Sometime after the
offense, Gonzalez learned Hernandez's identity.
Hernandez wanted half of the
proceeds from the robbery, although Maldonado stated that he did not intend to give
Hernandez any money. Maldonado, Juarez, and Gonzalez then used cocaine purchased
by Maldonado after the offense. Maldonado and Juarez went to a casino in Oklahoma
shortly thereafter.
The day after Hashemi's death Maldonado, Juarez, Gonzalez, and Maldonado's
uncle, Michael Salazar, went to purchase a new cell phone for Juarez because he had
intentionally broken his after the robbery and murder. They then went to Irving to use
cocaine and marijuana at Salazar's apartment, although Juarez did not use drugs at that
time, and to get tattoos. Salazar's neighbor, Ariel Armas testified that Maldonado and
Juarez told Salazar and him that Maldonado had shot Hashemi. Juarez said that it was
a robbery gone bad and that he did not intend for anyone to be shot, although Armas
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believed that Juarez and Maldonado both were bragging about it.
Gonzalez was
bragging about the incident as well. Maldonado and Juarez indicated that the robbery
was planned by an unnamed fourth person who worked at the Exxon. Maldonado had
approximately $4,000 and Gonzales had approximately $1,000. Before they left they
taped money in an envelope. Maldonado, Juarez, and Gonzalez borrowed a vehicle
from Salazar to return to Ennis in which they were apprehended. Money and cocaine
were found in the trunk of that car.
In the early morning hours of the day after Hashemi's death, all of the employees
of the Exxon operated by Hashemi were called in for questioning because Hashemi was
missing. An employee had to leave and go get Hernandez because he did not have a
ride. After reviewing the security camera footage it was shown that Hernandez had
been surreptitiously texting on his cell phone the night before. After being questioned,
Hernandez admitted his involvement in the robbery and that "they had been trying to
get me to set up a robbery for three weeks." His second written statement claimed that
he had done it because he and his loved ones had been threatened. Hernandez led law
enforcement to Juarez and Maldonado's homes.
Hernandez was arrested for his
involvement in the robbery.
A search of Juarez's bedroom in his parents' home led to the discovery of two
boxes of nine millimeter ammunition and two magazines that appeared to fit a Mac-11.
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A search of Maldonado's mother's home resulted in the discovery of the .380 caliber
pistol later determined to be the weapon used to kill Hashemi, a Mac-11, and a shotgun.
Maldonado gave a statement after his arrest where he admitted only to burning
the minivan but claimed that an individual named Francisco Soto had committed the
robbery and murder. Maldonado led police to Hashemi's body. The phone number
Maldonado gave for Soto was the same as Hernandez's but the last four digits were in a
different order. No one fitting the name and description provided by Maldonado was
ever located.
Cell phone records from Maldonado, Juarez, and Hernandez showed that there
were text messages and phone calls during the time leading up to the robbery/murder
primarily between Hernandez and Juarez. Text messages which were retrieved showed
that Juarez asked Hernandez if Hashemi was there and how much money there was.
Hernandez replied that there was "9." Hernandez also sent Juarez a text message to
inform him that Hashemi had left.
Gonzalez, a juvenile at the time of the offense, was given a plea bargain of 45
years in prison for the murder and robbery and 20 years in prison for arson in exchange
for his truthful testimony at trial. Juarez had given a statement to the investigator for
the district attorney as well, but no agreement was reached on a plea bargain. In his
statement, Juarez admitted to being involved in the planning, sending the text
messages, being present at the robbery, and described the events of the shooting which
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were similar to Gonzalez's with the exception that Hernandez and Maldonado were not
listed by name.
Analysis
A person commits capital murder if he intentionally causes the death of an
individual while in the course of committing or attempting to commit robbery. TEX.
PEN. CODE ANN. § 19.03(a)(2) (West 2011); Johnson v. State, 853 S.W.2d 527, 535 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1992), cert denied, 510 U.S. 852, 114 S. Ct. 154, 126 L. Ed. 2d 115 (1993); Frank
v. State, 183 S.W.3d 63, 72 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005, pet. ref'd). The law of parties
applies to the offense of capital murder. Johnson, 853 S.W.2d at 534; Frank, 183 S.W.3d at
72.
A person commits murder if he intentionally or knowingly causes the death of
an individual. TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 19.02(b)(1) (West 2011).
Under the law of parties, "[a] person is criminally responsible as a party to an
offense if the offense is committed by his own conduct, by the conduct of another for
which he is criminally responsible, or by both." TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 7.01(a); Frank,
183 S.W.3d at 72. A person is "criminally responsible" for an offense committed by the
conduct of another, if acting with intent to promote or assist the commission of the
offense, he solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid the other person to
commit the offense. TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 7.02(a)(2); Frank, 183 S.W.3d at 72. Evidence
is sufficient to convict under the law of parties when the defendant is physically present
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at the commission of the offense and encourages its commission by words or other
agreement. Ransom v. State, 920 S.W.2d 288, 302 (Tex. Crim. App.) (op. on reh'g), cert.
denied, 519 U.S. 1030, 117 S. Ct. 587, 136 L. Ed. 2d 516 (1996); Frank, 183 S.W.3d at 72-73.
In determining whether a defendant participated in an offense as a party, the fact finder
may examine the events occurring before, during, and after the commission of the
offense and may rely on actions of the defendant that show an understanding and
common design to commit the offense. Ransom, 920 S.W.2d at 302; Cordova v. State, 698
S.W.2d 107, 111 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1101, 106 S. Ct. 1942, 90 L.
Ed. 2d 352 (1986); Frank, 183 S.W.3d at 73.
Further, section 7.02(b) of the penal code provides that
[i]f, in the attempt to carry out a conspiracy to commit one felony, another
felony is committed by one of the conspirators, all conspirators are guilty
of the felony actually committed, though having no intent to commit it, if
the offense was committed in furtherance of the unlawful purpose and
was one that should have been anticipated as a result of the carrying out
of the conspiracy.
TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 7.02(b).
The jury was instructed that it could find Hernandez guilty of capital murder in
any of three different ways: (1) as a principal; (2) as a party under section 7.02(a)(2) of
the Texas Penal Code; and (3) as a co-conspirator under section 7.02(b) of the Texas
Penal Code. The jury was then instructed that if it had a reasonable doubt as to
Hernandez's guilt of capital murder, the jury was to then consider whether Hernandez
was guilty of murder. The jury returned a general verdict finding Hernandez guilty of
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murder; therefore, if the evidence is sufficient to support a guilty finding under any of
the allegations submitted, we must uphold the jury's guilty verdict. Sorto v. State, 173
S.W.3d 469, 472 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
Hernandez argues that the evidence is insufficient for the jury to have found that
he was guilty of murder because there was insufficient evidence to show that he was
guilty as the shooter or as a party. Hernandez does not argue that Maldonado did not
intentionally murder Hashemi, but does contend that it was not in furtherance of the
robbery and that it should not have been anticipated.
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the verdict, we find that the
evidence showed that Hernandez was involved in the planning of the robbery and its
execution. Armas testified that Maldonado and Juarez said that an employee of the
Exxon planned the robbery, and the text messages between Hernandez and Juarez
establish that Hernandez was involved prior to the commission of the robbery.
Hernandez's statement admitted that he had known about the plan and desire to
commit the robbery for at least several weeks before its commission.
Hernandez
thought he was to receive half of the proceeds from the robbery. There was also
evidence that Hernandez had initiated a discussion with Juarez about robbing Hashemi
months prior to the actual commission of the crime. It was not unreasonable for the
jury to infer that the planning of the robbery involved how to ambush Hashemi on the
way to the bank and weapons would be necessary to effect that ambush. It was also not
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unreasonable for the jury to infer that by taking loaded firearms to a robbery that
murder might occur if the robbery did not go according to plan. Viewing the evidence
in a light most favorable to the verdict, we find that the evidence was sufficient for the
jury to have determined that Hernandez was guilty of murder pursuant to section
7.02(b) of the Penal Code. We overrule issue one.
Jury Charge Error
Hernandez complains that the trial court erred by refusing to include an
instruction on the affirmative defense of duress in the jury charge. Section 8.05(a) of the
Penal Code states that it is an affirmative defense to prosecution if a defendant
committed the offense because he was "compelled to do so by threat of imminent death
or serious bodily injury to himself or another." TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 8.05(a) (West
2011).
The State argues that there was no evidence of an immediate threat to
Hernandez or his family; therefore Hernandez was not entitled to the instruction.
There are two components of immediacy in determining whether a threat was
imminent. Anguish v. State, 991 S.W.2d 883, 886 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1999,
pet. ref'd). First, the person making the threat must intend and be prepared to carry out
the threat immediately. Id. Second, carrying out the threat must be predicated upon
the threatened person's failure to commit the charged offense immediately. Id. The
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has determined that a threat of death at some
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indefinite time in the future is insufficient to satisfy the requirement of imminence.
Blount v. State, 542 S.W.2d 164, 166 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976).
We agree with the State that there was no evidence of an immediate threat to
Hernandez or his family. Therefore, the trial court's refusal to include the instruction
was not erroneous. We overrule issue two.
Exclusion of Evidence
In his third issue, Hernandez complains that the trial court abused its discretion
by not allowing him to confront and cross-examine Gonzalez regarding gang
membership as well as other offenses committed by Gonzalez, Juarez, and Maldonado
in the days prior to the robbery and murder of Hashemi. In his fourth issue, Hernandez
complains that the trial court erred by excluding the evidence of gang activity and the
other offenses because it was relevant to his affirmative defense of duress and his lack
of intent to commit the offense. In his fifth issue, Hernandez complains that the trial
court erred by not allowing the entire statement of Gonzalez to be admitted into
evidence under rule 107 of the rules of evidence. Prior to trial, Hernandez, Juarez, and
Maldonado were given copies of a written statement made by Isaiah Gonzalez which
included statements regarding Gonzalez being "jumped" into a gang of which Juarez
and Maldonado were members, and committing at least two other offenses prior to the
murder with Juarez, Maldonado, and other gang members.
Hernandez v. State
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Prior to Hernandez cross-examining Gonzalez, in a hearing outside of the
presence of the jury, Hernandez objected to not being allowed to cross-examine
Gonzalez about his claims regarding gang affiliation and other offenses committed by
Gonzalez, Juarez, and Maldonado prior to the robbery and murder of Hashemi that
were contained in his written statement. At that time, Hernandez offered the written
statement into evidence. The trial court overruled Hernandez's objection relating to the
evidence of the other offenses. However, the trial court told Hernandez to re-urge his
objection to the gang evidence during his case-in-chief because the allegations of gang
activity related solely to his affirmative defense of duress, and at that time there was no
evidence of duress. At that time the trial court also deferred Hernandez's request to
make an offer of proof of Gonzalez's testimony regarding his potential interest or bias
until his case-in-chief, at which time the trial court would determine the ultimate
admissibility of the gang-related evidence. The trial court did rule that Hernandez
could cross-examine Gonzalez as to any other matter contained in the statement or
Gonzalez's agreement with the State. The trial court did not specifically rule on
Hernandez's objection to Rule of Evidence 107, but referred to all of his objections
globally in his ruling at that time.
A hearing outside of the presence of the jury was conducted prior to the start of
Hernandez's case-in-chief at which time Hernandez made his offer of proof and called
multiple witnesses regarding the alleged gang activity of Gonzalez, Juarez, and
Hernandez v. State
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Maldonado. Gonzalez was called to testify at that time and was asked whether or not
he, in fact, committed a burglary and a robbery with Maldonado and Juarez days before
the robbery and murder of Hashemi and whether Gonzalez was a member of a gang.
Gonzalez refused to answer those questions by invoking his right against selfincrimination. Gonzalez was not asked about whether he believed there would be any
potential effect of his testimony on the resolution of those offenses. Gonzalez had not
been formally charged with either of the other offenses and there was no evidence or
other indication that he would be formally charged.
Denial of Right to Confront and Cross-Examine
Gonzalez complains that he was denied his right to confrontation and to crossexamine Gonzalez pursuant to rule 613 of the rules of evidence. See TEX. R. EVID. 613.
The State argues that the prior offenses are not admissible pursuant to rule 608 of the
rules of evidence. Rule 608 forbids inquiry into specific instances of a witness's conduct
for the purpose of attacking or impeaching that witness's credibility. TEX. R. EVID.
608(b). However, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has recognized Rule 613, which
permits the use of "extrinsic evidence to show bias or interest[,]" as an exception to Rule
608. Billodeau v. State, 277 S.W.3d 34, 40 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009).
In order for evidence of unadjudicated offenses to be admissible, the party
attempting to use evidence of criminal matters involving a witness to insinuate that the
witness may have a bias favoring the State must establish some causal connection or
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logical nexus between the charges and the witness's potential bias. Irby v. State, 327
S.W.3d 138,147-49 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S. Ct. 904, 178 L.
Ed. 2d 760 (2011), quoting Carpenter v. State, 979 S.W.2d 633, 634 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998).
In his offer of proof, Hernandez questioned Gonzalez solely on whether he
committed the offenses and did so as a member of a gang with Juarez and Maldonado.
He did not question him on whether or not he thought his testimony would have any
effect with the State regarding any potential outcomes of those offenses. Gonzalez had
not been formally charged with the offenses and there was no evidence or argument
that he would be. We find that there was no evidence presented to create a nexus
between the other offenses and Gonzalez's testimony in the capital murder trial. The
trial court's decision to exclude the evidence was not outside of the zone of reasonable
disagreement, and therefore, was not erroneous. We overrule issue three.
Relevance to Duress and Mens Rea
Hernandez complains in his fourth issue that the evidence regarding gang
membership and other offenses was erroneously excluded because it was relevant to
the affirmative defense of duress and whether he had the mens rea to engage in the
conspiracy to commit the underlying felony of the robbery.
In order for evidence to be relevant to a defense of duress, the evidence of a
threat of imminent death or serious bodily harm must be a present threat. Smith v.
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Page 15
State, 949 S.W.2d 333, 336 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1996, pet. ref'd); Kessler v. State, 850 S.W.2d
217, 222 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1993, no pet.).
Hernandez's offer of proof included testimony regarding gang membership of
Gonzalez, Juarez, and Maldonado, as well as Gonzalez's statement that described other
crimes Gonzalez, Juarez, and Maldonado had committed in the days prior to the
robbery and murder of Hashemi. Hernandez complains that the trial court's exclusion
of this evidence prevented him from presenting his defense of duress.
However,
nothing in his offer of proof or the other evidence at trial provided evidence of an
imminent threat of harm to Hernandez or his family. See McDowell v. State, 235 S.W.3d
294, 297 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2007, no pet.) ("A threat made six months before the
threatened event is not an imminent threat."); Anguish v. State, 991 S.W.2d 883, 886-87
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet. ref'd) (holding threat made four days prior to
robbery was not imminent); Smith, 949 S.W.2d at 336 (concluding that threat made four
months earlier was not imminent). Because the excluded factual testimony did not
relate to an imminent threat, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion by deciding the
proffered evidence was irrelevant to Hernandez's duress defense. See Anguish, 991
S.W.2d at 887; Smith, 949 S.W.2d at 336-37.
Hernandez also contends that the evidence was relevant to show that Hernandez
did not have the required intent to enter into a conspiracy to commit the robbery at all.
However, in his written statement admitted into evidence before the jury, Hernandez
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admitted to being involved in setting up and assisting in the commission of the robbery,
but contended that he did so because of threats against him and his family. He did not
contend that he was not involved in the robbery; rather his argument at all times was
that he participated because he was under duress. Hernandez did not object to the trial
court on the basis that he did not participate in the robbery at all; therefore this portion
of his issue was not preserved. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a). We overrule issue four.
Rule of Optional Completeness
In his fifth issue, Hernandez complains that the trial court erred by not admitting
the written statement of Gonzalez in its entirety and the written agreement Gonzalez
made with the State in exchange for his testimony pursuant to the rule of optional
completeness. See TEX. R. EVID. 107. Hernandez argues that the portions of Gonzalez's
written statement regarding gang membership and the other offenses were necessary to
show the relationship between Gonzalez, Maldonado, and Juarez and that the robbery
and murder of Hashemi were part of a continuing criminal episode of their gang.
Hernandez made this objection at the start of his cross-examination of Gonzalez.
Rule 107 permits the introduction of previously inadmissible evidence when that
evidence is necessary to fully explain a matter that has been raised by the adverse party.
TEX. R. EVID. 107; Walters v. State, 247 S.W.3d 204, 217-18 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). It is
designed to reduce the possibility of the jury receiving a false impression from hearing
only a part of some act, conversation, or writing. Walters, 247 S.W.3d at 218. The
Hernandez v. State
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evidence introduced must be on the same subject; the rule does not permit the
introduction of other similar but inadmissible evidence unless it is necessary to explain
properly admitted evidence. Walters, 247 S.W.3d at 218; Sauceda v. State, 129 S.W.3d 116,
123 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). And rule 107's scope is limited by rule 403, which permits a
trial judge to exclude otherwise relevant evidence if the unfair prejudicial effect of it or
its likelihood of confusing the issues substantially outweighs its probative value. Id.; see
TEX. R. EVID. 403.
We have previously determined that the gang evidence and evidence of other
offenses were not relevant to the issues in the trial. That evidence, likewise, was not
necessary to explain the evidence of the offense itself.
Hernandez admitted to
participating in the execution of the offense, and had known about it for at least several
weeks prior to its commission. Additionally, there was testimony from one of the
officers during Hernandez's offer of proof that Hernandez was believed to be a member
of the same gang. The trial court's decision not to admit the written statement of
Gonzalez at the time of Hernandez's objection was not outside of the zone of reasonable
disagreement and was therefore not an abuse of discretion. We overrule issue five.
Motion to Sever
In his sixth issue, Hernandez complains that the trial court abused its discretion
by denying a motion to sever made by counsel for Juarez during the trial and adopted
by him. The motion was made because Juarez contended that Hernandez's pursuit of a
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duress defense at trial coupled with potential allegations of gang activity created a
substantial risk that he would not be tried solely on the offense alleged.
The State filed a motion to join the defendants' cases for trial which the trial court
granted on April 15, 2011. At the hearing, counsel for Hernandez objected to the joinder
because he argued that it was not timely and that Hernandez was less culpable than
Juarez and Maldonado. Counsel for Juarez and Maldonado did not oppose the motion.
On May 2, 2011, at a pretrial hearing there was discussion regarding Hernandez's
defense that he had been forced to be involved by "the gang." No request for severance
was made by any party at that time. On either May 2 or May 7, 2011, 3 the State gave
notice to the defendants of the agreement between the State and Gonzalez which
included allegations of other offenses committed and gang activities. The jury was
selected on May 12, 2011 and testimony began on May 16, 2011. After three witnesses
testified, Hernandez argued that the door had been opened regarding gang activity,
and a severance was mentioned at trial for the first time.
The next day there was discussion outside of the presence of the jury regarding
the agreement with Gonzalez which included allegations of gang activity and other
offenses involving Gonzalez, Juarez, and Maldonado. At that time, Juarez made an oral
motion to sever, which the trial court allowed to be adopted by Hernandez and
Maldonado. Later that day, on May 17, 2011, Juarez filed a written motion to sever.
3
The record is conflicting as to which date is correct.
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The State argued that the motion was not filed timely. The trial court denied the motion
to sever.
Hernandez concedes that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
consolidating the cases for trial initially; however, he contends that at the time Juarez
made his motion to sever that the trial court's denial of that motion denied him the right
to present a full defense, which was that the offense was committed as part of an
ongoing criminal conspiracy by a gang; that he was not part of a conspiracy to rob
Hashemi; and to support his affirmative defense of duress. The State argues that the
motion to sever was not made timely and not properly preserved because the substance
of Hernandez's defense was known well before Juarez's motion was made.
We agree with the State that Hernandez's joinder of the motion to sever was
untimely; Hernandez made it known to the parties and the trial court that his defense
would be one of duress by gang members. Hernandez was in possession of Gonzalez's
statement days before the start of the trial that included references to other crimes and
gang activity. However, Hernandez did not move for a severance at that time. To be
timely, a motion for severance must be made before trial if the factual basis for seeking
a severance was known prior to trial. Qualley v. State, 206 S.W.3d 624, 631 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2006). Otherwise, the motion must be made "at the first opportunity or as soon as
the grounds for [severance] become apparent or should have become apparent." Id. We
Hernandez v. State
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find that Hernandez's motion to sever was not made timely and therefore the trial court
did not err by denying the motion. We overrule issue six.
Conclusion
Having found no reversible error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
TOM GRAY
Chief Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Davis, and
Justice Scoggins
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed July 25, 2013
Do Not Publish
[CRPM]
Hernandez v. State
Page 21
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