Anthony Devon Wright, a/k/a Tootie v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 264th District Court of Bell County

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS,
AT AUSTIN
NO. 3-94-095-CR
AND
NO. 3-94-096-CR
ANTHONY DEVON WRIGHT, a/k/a TOOTIE,

APPELLANT

 
vs.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,

APPELLEE

 
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BELL COUNTY, 264TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NOS. 43,359 & 43,360, HONORABLE RICK MORRIS, JUDGE PRESIDING

PER CURIAM

In each cause, a jury found appellant guilty of burglary of a habitation. Penal Code, 63d Leg., R.S., ch. 399, sec. 1, 30.02, 1973 Tex. Gen. Laws 883, 926 (Tex. Penal Code Ann. 30.02, since amended). The district court assessed punishment at imprisonment for life.

On November 2, 1990, James Earl Lewis was in his apartment cooking food to sell at a garage sale the following day. Lewis's brother-in-law, Drayton Allen Russell, was helping him. Russell left the apartment for a few minutes to go to a store. When he returned, he found appellant in the living room. Russell asked appellant what he wanted and appellant cursed him. Russell left the apartment once again to briefly visit a neighbor. When Russell returned the second time, appellant had been joined in the living room by another man. Russell, who did not know either individual, again asked what appellant wanted. Appellant pulled a pistol and demanded that Russell give him "the money and the dope." Russell told appellant that there was no money or drugs in the apartment.

Lewis, who was in the kitchen, heard the commotion and walked into the living room. Lewis told appellant, whom he had never before seen, to leave the apartment. Appellant struck Lewis on the head with the pistol and his accomplice struck Russell with his fist. Appellant then shot Russell in the abdomen and Lewis in the arm. The two assailants fled after the shooting.

Appellant contends the evidence is legally insufficient to support the convictions for burglary. The indictments alleged and the jury found that appellant entered the apartment with the intent to commit aggravated assault and without the effective consent of the owners, Lewis and Russell. Appellant urges that the State failed to prove that he entered the apartment with the alleged intent. Instead, he contends the evidence shows only an initial trespass, followed by an aggravated assault during the subsequent struggle.

In determining the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction, the question is whether, after viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979); Geesa v. State, 820 S.W.2d 154 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Griffin v. State, 614 S.W.2d 155 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981). Neither Lewis nor Russell gave appellant permission to enter the apartment. When his presence was challenged, appellant pulled a firearm and demanded money and drugs. He then shot both victims. A rational trier of fact could conclude from this evidence that appellant entered the apartment with the intent to rob the occupants by threatening them with a firearm. See Act of May 29, 1983, 68th Leg., R.S., ch. 977, 1, 1983 Tex. Gen. Laws 5311 (Tex. Penal Code Ann. 22.01(a)(2), since amended); Act of May 28, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 939, 2, 1989 Tex. Gen. Laws 4003 (Tex. Penal Code Ann. 22.02(a)(4), since amended). Point of error two is overruled.

Appellant also contends the district court erred by refusing to charge the jury on the lesser offense of aggravated assault. To be entitled to an instruction on a lesser offense, the accused must show that the lesser offense is included within the proof necessary to establish the offense charged and that there is some evidence that would permit a rational jury to find that the accused is guilty only of the lesser offense. Rousseau v. State, 855 S.W.2d 666, 672-73 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).

Appellant relies on Lewis's testimony that two neighbors had entered the apartment on the night of the offense to purchase sandwiches. This, appellant contends, is evidence that the apartment was open to the public and, if believed by the jury, would preclude his conviction for burglary. Lewis testified, however, that both neighbors knocked on his door and were invited by him to enter the apartment. There is no evidence that the apartment was open to the general public or that appellant and his accomplice had consent, effective or otherwise, to enter. If aggravated assault was a lesser included offense of burglary in these causes, there is no evidence that appellant was guilty only of that offense. Point of error one is overruled.

The judgments of conviction are affirmed.

 

Before Chief Justice Carroll, Justices Jones and Kidd; Chief Justice Carroll Not Participating

Affirmed on Both Causes

Filed: October 19, 1994

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