Christopher Freeman v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 299th District Court of Travis County

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-96-00101-CR
Christopher Freeman, Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 299TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. 0954605, HONORABLE JON N. WISSER, JUDGE PRESIDING
Appellant Christopher Freeman appeals his conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a public servant. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. 22.01 (West 1994) & 22.02 (West 1994 & Supp. 1997). Punishment was assessed at eighteen years of imprisonment. In five points of error, appellant contends the trial court erred: (1) because the conviction is not supported by legally and factually sufficient evidence; (2) by incorrectly instructing the jury regarding the definition of "intentionally"; (3) by admitting evidence that the complaining officer had performed CPR on another officer killed when he was struck by a car in another incident; (4) by allowing the State to attack appellant's counsel by implying that appellant's attorney had instructed him to lie in court; and (5) by permitting a rebuttal witness to testify who was present during portions of the trial after Texas Rule of Criminal Evidence 613 was invoked. We will affirm the trial court's judgment.
BACKGROUND

At about 9:30 on the morning of September 15, 1995, Austin Police Officers Ronald Russell, Nicholas Wright, and Michael Barger were conducting radar speed checks in the 1400 block of Briarcliff Street. Each of the officers was wearing an Austin Police Department uniform; two patrol cars were parked in residential driveways near the curb. Officer Barger was operating the radar gun, Officer Russell was flagging down the vehicles to stop, and Officer Wright was issuing citations. Officer Barger told Officer Russell that a white car was driving at a rate of forty-three miles per hour in a thirty miles per hour zone. Officer Russell then walked into the road, standing in the middle of the lane in which the vehicle was traveling, to wave over the driver. After Officer Russell made eye contact with appellant who was driving the vehicle, appellant began to slow down and pull toward the curb. When appellant was about fifty feet from Officer Russell, he looked at the two other officers, looked back at Officer Russell with a determined look, drove back toward the center lane, aiming the car directly at Officer Russell, and accelerated to about twenty-five to forty miles per hour. Officer Russell started walking backwards to avoid being hit by the car while he continued pointing to the curb, indicating for appellant to pull over. Officer Russell was forced to jump backwards across the center stripe to avoid being struck. Appellant did not stop his vehicle and passed over the place where Officer Russell had been standing, missing him by only three to four feet. Officer Russell yelled at appellant to stop; however, appellant continued driving away, leading the officers in a high speed chase through the residential area. Appellant was apprehended at a friend's home.

Appellant was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a public servant and, following a jury trial, was convicted. After the trial court found appellant had been convicted of two prior felonies, he was sentenced to eighteen years of imprisonment. Appellant appeals.

 
DISCUSSION

In his first point of error, appellant challenges both the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. In deciding a legal sufficiency point, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and ask whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979); Griffin v. State, 614 S.W.2d 155, 159 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981). A person commits the offense of aggravated assault against a public servant with a deadly weapon if he intentionally or knowingly threatens a person whom the actor knows is a public servant lawfully discharging an official duty with imminent bodily injury and uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault. Penal Code 22.01(a)(2), .02(a)(2), .02(b)(2). The indictment alleged that Freeman intentionally and knowingly threatened Ronald Russell with imminent bodily injury and used or exhibited a deadly weapon, a motor vehicle. The jury charge included almost identical language, stating that a person commits assault if he intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury.

Freeman argues the record contains more than reasonable doubt as to whether he intended to place Officer Russell in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or knew Officer Russell was in danger. However, the State was only required to prove Freeman intentionally or knowingly performed an act which threatened Officer Russell with imminent bodily injury. See Penal Code 22.01(a)(2); De Leon v. State. 865 S.W.2d 139, 142 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 1993, no pet.).

Our review of the record shows there is evidence to support a conviction for aggravated assault on a public servant with a deadly weapon. Officers Russell, Barger, and Wright testified that on the morning of the occurrence, they were dressed in police uniforms and conducting speed checks. They testified that Officer Russell was directing Freeman to stop and that he began stopping his vehicle. However, after making eye contact with Officer Russell and looking at the two other officers, Freeman's expression changed to one of determination as he accelerated and steered the vehicle directly toward Officer Russell, requiring Officer Russell to move quickly to avoid being struck. Freeman steered the vehicle over the location where Officer Russell had been standing seconds earlier--the reasonable inference being he would have been hit had he not jumped out of the way. Officer Russell further testified that he was very afraid.

Freeman argues that, because Officer Russell back-stepped out of the way and was three feet from the passing vehicle, there is reasonable doubt regarding whether Freeman knew Officer Russell was in imminent harm. However, Freeman's ability to commit a battery need not be proven; therefore, the fact that, by his quick movement, Officer Russell was able to avoid being struck by the vehicle is irrelevant. See De Leon, 865 S.W.2d at 142.

Because a rational trier of fact could have found, based upon this evidence, that Freeman intentionally or knowingly threatened bodily injury to a person he knew was a public servant lawfully discharging an official duty and used or exhibited a deadly weapon (1) during the commission of the assault, we hold the evidence is legally sufficient to support a finding that Freeman committed the offense of aggravated assault on a public servant with a deadly weapon.

Freeman also contends the evidence is factually insufficient to support the conviction. The standard of review for factual sufficiency claims has been established. We view all the evidence without the prism "in the light most favorable to the prosecution" and set aside the verdict only if it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust. Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 129 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Stone v. State, 823 S.W.2d 375, 381 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, pet. ref'd untimely filed). We must consider all the relevant record evidence, not just the evidence that supports the verdict. Clewis, 922 S.W.2d at 129; Stone, 823 S.W.2d at 381.

In addition to the evidence discussed above, Freeman testified that he had worked all night before the occurrence and was taking breakfast to his mother when he encountered the officers. He stated that he was tired and looked down to put a compact disk in his car stereo and in doing so may have slowed down and turned the wheel slightly. He stated that when he looked back at the road, a police officer was standing in the lane in which he was traveling and that he applied the brakes and turned the wheels toward the curb to avoid hitting the officer.

While Freeman's testimony presents another explanation for Freeman's behavior, we cannot say the jury's verdict was so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust. Clewis, 922 S.W.2d at 129. The jury was free to determine the credibility of each witness and the weight of the evidence. We, therefore, hold the evidence is factually sufficient to support a finding that Freeman committed the offense of aggravated assault on a public servant with a deadly weapon. Having determined the evidence is both legally and factually sufficient, we overrule Freeman's first point of error.

In his second point of error, Freeman challenges the court's charge, claiming the court's definition of "intentionally" allowed the jury to return a guilty verdict based only upon proof of his conduct rather than proof that he intended to cause the results of his conduct. Freeman, however, failed to object to the charge at trial and, therefore, must demonstrate that any error in the charge caused him to suffer egregious harm. See Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171-72 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986).

The applicable portion of the jury charge in Freeman's case provides:

 

A person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect to a result of his conduct when it is his conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result. [emphasis added].

 

A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to a result of his conduct when he is aware that his conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result.

Now bearing in mind the foregoing instructions, if you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant Christopher Freeman, on or about the 15th day of September A.D. 1995, in the County of Travis, and State of Texas, as alleged in the indictment, did then and there intentionally or knowingly threaten Ronald Russell with imminent bodily injury and did then and there use or exhibit a deadly weapon, to-wit: a motor vehicle, that in the manner of its use or intended use was capable of causing death or serious bodily injury, during the commission of this offense; and the said Christopher Freeman then and there knew that Ronald Russell was a public servant, to-wit: an Austin Police Department Officer, and the said offense was committed while Ronald Russell was lawfully discharging an official duty, to-wit: directing a traffic stop, you will find the defendant guilty of Aggravated Assault Against A Public Servant, and so say by your verdict; but if you do not so believe or if you have a reasonable doubt thereof, you will find the defendant not guilty of Aggravated Assault Against A Public Servant and proceed to consider the lesser offense of Aggravated Assault as set forth in the next paragraph.

 

Freeman complains that the charge allowed the jury merely to find that he engaged in certain conduct without considering what result he intended.

Before a person may be found guilty of aggravated assault under section 22.02 of the Texas Penal Code, the accused must first have committed simple assault by at least one of three methods: (1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing another bodily injury; (2) intentionally or knowingly causing physical contact with another when the actor knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative; or (3) intentionally or knowingly threatening another with imminent bodily injury. Penal Code 22.01(a), .02. Each of the three theories is sufficient, independent of the other two, to constitute an offense. The first two stated are result-of-conduct offenses. Sneed v. State, 803 S.W.2d 833, 835 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1991, pet. ref'd). The culpable mental state required for these two theories applies to causing the specified result rather than to engaging in the conduct. Id. In other words, the State must prove that a defendant committed an act and intended to cause the result. The third theory, threatening another with imminent bodily injury, is a nature-of-conduct offense and requires no particular result. Peterson v. State, 836 S.W.2d 760, 765 (Tex. App.--El Paso 1992, pet. ref'd); see also Sneed, 803 S.W.2d at 835 n.2. The offense is proven if the accused intentionally or knowingly engaged in the prohibited conduct--threatening another with imminent bodily injury--without regard to the consequences of the act. Penal Code 22.01(a); Peterson, 836 S.W.2d at 765; Sneed, 803 S.W.2d at 835. In the instant cause, the State charged Freeman with threatening Officer Russell with imminent bodily injury, a conduct offense.

Freeman relies upon Sneed for his argument that the trial court erred by instructing the jury in such a way as to allow him to be convicted based upon his conduct alone. Freeman's case is distinguishable from Sneed. Sneed was charged with aggravated assault under the first theory of assault, intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another. The crime for which Sneed was charged was, therefore, a result-of-conduct offense; and it was improper for the trial judge to include language in the jury charge that allowed jurors to convict Sneed based upon his conduct alone. The Sneed court noted that threatening another with imminent bodily injury is a nature-of-conduct offense and has no required result. Sneed, 803 S.W.2d at 835 n.2. Freeman's reliance on Sneed, therefore, is misplaced. Freeman's case is also distinguishable from Fuller v. State, 819 S.W.2d 254 (Tex. App.--Austin 1991, pet. ref'd). While this Court held in Fuller that the crime of assault is a result-of-conduct offense, the assault in Fuller involved actual physical injury, thus distinguishing it from the assault by threat in Freeman's case.

The State charged Freeman under a nature-of-conduct theory of assault and was, therefore, not required to prove any particular result from Freeman's actions. The State was required to prove only that Freeman intentionally or knowingly threatened Officer Russell with imminent bodily injury. Freeman has not demonstrated error in the charge. Additionally, even if Freeman were correct that assault by threat is a result-of-conduct offense, the record does not reveal and he failed to demonstrate that he suffered egregious harm by the inclusion of both result and conduct language in the charge. See Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171-72. We, therefore, overrule Freeman's second point of error.

In his third point of error, Freeman argues the trial court erred by admitting Officer Russell's testimony about an unrelated incident involving the death of an Austin police officer who was struck and killed by a vehicle and further erred by allowing the State to refer to the testimony during its closing argument. We review the trial court's ruling regarding the admission or exclusion of evidence for an abuse of discretion. See Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 103; Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 390-91 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990).

During the direct examination of Officer Russell, the prosecutor asked him if he had ever known of an officer being seriously injured or killed due to being struck by a vehicle. After Officer Russell answered yes, the prosecutor asked if Officer Russell had ever given CPR to an officer who had been struck by a vehicle. Officer Russell stated that he had. In response to the prosecutor's inquiry, Officer Russell stated that the officer he had assisted was Officer Drew Bolin. (2)

Freeman's objection to the testimony was overruled, and on appeal he argues that the testimony was inadmissible under rule 403 of the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence because its probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. See Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 403. Specifically, Freeman contends the trial court erred in overruling his objection because "[u]nder the Rule 403 standard, the Bolin testimony clearly should have been excluded." He did not make this specific objection before the trial court; rather, the objection at trial was that "[the prosecutor's] going to start talking about some collision that's completely unrelated to this case." We have found no specific objection requiring the balancing test under rule 403. Because Freeman's objection appears to relate to the relevance of the evidence only, we hold he has not preserved a rule 403 objection for appeal. See Thomas v. State, 723 S.W.2d 696, 700 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) (holding the complaint on appeal must comport with the trial objection); Skillern v. State, 890 S.W.2d 849, 865 (Tex. App.--Austin 1994, pet. ref'd).

Turning to the relevance of Officer Russell's testimony, evidence is "relevant" if it has 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. Crim. Evid. 401. Generally, all relevant evidence is admissible. See Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 402. The State argues that Officer Russell's testimony was relevant to prove that Freeman's car was used as a deadly weapon and that Officer Russell was threatened with imminent bodily injury. We agree. See Penal Code 22.02(a)(2), .01(a)(2); Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 401. We cannot say, therefore, that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting Officer Russell's testimony regarding his past experience with Officer Bolin.

Even if admitting the testimony were error, it was harmless. When we conduct a harm analysis, we must: (1) isolate the error and all of its effects, and (2) determine whether a juror might have reached a different result if the error and its effects had not resulted. Harris v. State, 790 S.W.2d 568, 588 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). Factors for us to consider include: (a) the source of the error, (b) the nature of the error, (c) whether or to what extent it was emphasized by the State, and (d) its probable collateral implications. Id. at 587. Moreover, the court should also consider how much weight a juror would probably place upon the error and whether declaring the error harmless would encourage the State to repeat it with impunity. Id. The existence of overwhelming evidence may also be a factor to consider in determining whether the error had any effect on the jury. Id. at 588. The source and nature of the alleged error in this case was the reference to Officer Bolin. After Officer Bolin's name was mentioned, the State did not emphasize his identity and did not ask any additional questions regarding Officer Bolin or the events leading up to his death. Additionally, while the State did mention during its closing argument Officer Russell's experience with assisting a fellow officer who had been struck by a vehicle, the prosecutor did not mention Officer Bolin specifically. With respect to the impact of mentioning the experience with Officer Bolin, the other evidence during the trial which has been previously discussed overwhelmingly establishes the elements of the crime of aggravated assault on a public servant with a deadly weapon. We, therefore, conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the admission of Officer Bolin's name made no contribution to Freeman's conviction and, therefore, was harmless. See Tex. R. App. P. 81(b)(2).

Because the trial court did not err in admitting Officer Russell's testimony about Officer Bolin's accident, it was proper for the State to refer to the testimony and facts in closing argument. See Richardson v. State, 879 S.W.2d 874, 881 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993); Brown v. State, 692 S.W.2d 497, 502 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985). We, therefore, overrule Freeman's third point of error.

In his fourth point of error, Freeman argues the State impermissibly attacked him by attacking his trial counsel. During his cross-examination of Freeman, the prosecutor asked Freeman several questions regarding a prior conviction for burglary. Freeman testified that he did not commit the crime but that he had told the judge he committed the crime, despite that fact that it was untrue, because his attorney told him to do so. While Freeman contends the questions were an impermissible attack on his defense counsel, the State counters that it was an attack on Freeman's credibility, pointing to his propensity to lie when it was in his best interests. The record shows, however, that Freeman did not object to the State's questions. He has, therefore, failed to preserve anything for review on appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 52(a); cf. Cockrell v. State, 933 S.W.2d 73, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (appellant forfeited any right to complain of jury argument in which State attacked him "over the shoulders of counsel" because he failed to object).

In his fifth point of error, Freeman contends the trial court erred by permitting Keith Storm to testify as a rebuttal witness for the State because Storm was present in court during a portion of testimony after Freeman had invoked Texas Rule of Criminal Evidence 613 (the "Rule"). The record indicates that Storm was present in the courtroom during the rebuttal testimony of Officer Barger who testified immediately before Storm.

The purpose of the Rule is to prevent corroboration, contradiction, and the influencing of witnesses. Bell v. State, 938 S.W.2d 35, 50 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Webb v. State, 766 S.W.2d 236, 239 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). Once it is invoked, witnesses should not be allowed to hear any testimony in the case or talk to any other person about the case without the court's permission. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. arts. 36.05 & 36.06 (West 1981); Beasley v. State, 810 S.W.2d 838, 842 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 1991, pet. ref'd). While the trial court is obligated to order witnesses excluded during other witnesses' testimony, the court's decision to allow testimony from a witness who has violated the Rule is discretionary. Bell, 938 S.W.2d at 50. Unless an abuse of discretion is shown, it is presumed on appeal that the trial court properly exercised its discretion. Id.; Valdez v. State, 776 S.W.2d 162, 170 (Tex. Crim. App.1989), cert. denied, 495 U.S. 963 (1990). In reviewing the trial court's decision to allow the testimony, we look at whether or not the defendant was harmed or prejudiced by the witness's violation; that is, whether or not the witness's presence during other testimony resulted in injury to the defendant. Bell, 938 S.W.2d at 50. Two suggested criteria for determining injury or prejudice in this situation are (a) whether the witness actually conferred with or heard testimony of other witnesses, and (b) whether the witness's testimony contradicted testimony of a witness from the opposing side or corroborated testimony of a witness he had conferred with or heard. Id.; Webb, 766 S.W.2d at 240.

In this case, it is clear that Storm violated the Rule. The trial court had imposed the Rule prior to the testimony of the State's first witness, yet Storm was present in the courtroom during Officer Barger's rebuttal testimony. The record does not precisely show when Storm arrived in the courtroom; however, at the end of Freeman's testimony and after defense rested, the State informed the court that its rebuttal witness had not yet arrived. We can infer from the record that neither Storm nor Officer Barger was in the courtroom at the conclusion of Freeman's testimony and that at most, Mr. Storm was in the courtroom during Officer Barger's rebuttal testimony.

Storm's testimony was unrelated to Officer Barger's testimony and Storm, therefore, could not have been influenced by Officer Barger's testimony. Officer Barger was recalled to testify about the number of police officers and police vehicles involved in the chase and subsequent arrest of Freeman. Storm, the store manager at the Wal-Mart which employed Freeman, testified about whether Freeman had worked the overnight shift ending on the morning of September 15, 1995. Therefore, Storm's testimony in no way harmed or prejudiced Freeman. See Bell, 938 S.W.2d at 50. Because Freeman was neither harmed nor prejudiced by the witness's violation, we hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing Storm to testify and overrule Freeman's fifth point of error.

 
CONCLUSION

Having overruled each of Freeman's points of error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

 

Marilyn Aboussie, Justice

Before Chief Justice Carroll, Justices Aboussie and B. A. Smith

Affirmed

Filed: July 3, 1997

Do Not Publish

1. Freeman does not challenge on appeal the jury's finding that his vehicle was a deadly weapon.

2. The death of Officer Bolin was widely publicized in Austin and the surrounding communities.

ility, pointing to his propensity to lie when it was in his best interests. The record shows, however, that Freeman did not object to the State's questions. He has, therefore, failed to preserve anything for review on appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 52(a); cf. Cockrell v. State, 933 S.W.2d 73, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (appellant forfeited any right to complain of jury argument in which State attacked him "over the shoulders of counsel" because he failed to object).

In his fifth point of error, Freeman contends the trial court erred by permitting Keith Storm to testify as a rebuttal witness for the State because Storm was present in court during a portion of testimony after Freeman had invoked Texas Rule of Criminal Evidence 613 (the "Rule"). The record indicates that Storm was present in the courtroom during the rebuttal testimony of Officer Barger who testified immediately before Storm.

The purpose of the Rule is to prevent corroboration, contradiction, and the influencing of witnesses. Bell v. State, 938 S.W.2d 35, 50 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Webb v. State, 766 S.W.2d 236, 239 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). Once it is invoked, witnesses should not be allowed to hear any testimony in the case or talk to any other person about the case without the court's permission. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. arts. 36.05 & 36.06 (West 1981); Beasley v. State, 810 S.W.2d 838, 842 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 1991, pet. ref'd). While the trial court is obligated to order witnesses excluded during other witnesses' testimony, the court's decision to allow testimony from a witness who has violated the Rule is discretionary. Bell, 938 S.W.2d at 50. Unless an abuse of discretion is shown, it is presumed on appeal that the trial court properly exercised its discretion. Id.; Valdez v. State, 776 S.W.2d 162, 170 (Tex. Crim. App.1989), cert. denied, 495 U.S. 963 (1990). In reviewing the trial court's decision to allow the testimony, we look at whether or not the defendant was harmed or prejudiced by the witness's violation; that is, whether or not the witness's presence during other testimony resulted in injury to the defendant. Bell, 938 S.W.2d at 50. Two suggested criteria for determ