JOSE RENATO BERMUDEZ v. THE STATE OF TEXAS--Appeal from 230th District Court of Harris County

NUMBER 13-05-246-CR

 
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG

JOSE RENATO BERMUDEZ, Appellant,

 

v.

 

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.

On appeal from the 230th District Court of Harris County, Texas

MEMORANDUM OPINION

 
Before Chief Justice Valdez, and Justices Rodriguez and Garza
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Garza
Appellant, Jose Renato Bermudez, was convicted by a jury of arson of a habitation and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 28.02 (Vernon Supp. 2006). By two issues, appellant argues that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to sustain his conviction. We affirm.

Background

Appellant and Wilfredo Moreno met in October 2003 while attending the same church. In November 2003, appellant and Moreno entered into a verbal agreement by which appellant rented one of Moreno's residential properties for $300 a month. (1) Moreno testified that on May 16, 2004, he asked appellant to leave the property because, although appellant had lived on the property since November 2003, appellant had paid only one month's rent. According to Moreno, appellant promised he would move out the next day.

Appellant testified that he and Moreno had a single dispute during his tenancy involving a window that was broken. The window broke when appellant's boss, Isaac, knocked on it. (2) Appellant stated that he did not fix the window but instead used plywood to cover it. Appellant testified that he told Moreno he was going to leave and Moreno replied "leave." However, appellant testified that he did not intend to leave until the end of the month because he planned to go to Miami on May 31.

While at work on May 17, 2004, Moreno received a phone call informing him that his home was on fire. When he arrived at his home, he found firefighters putting out the fire and learned that his son was home at the time of the fire and had to jump from the second floor to escape the fire. Arson investigators, Byron Miller, Gregory Chapa, Juan Garcia, and Robert McClain along with his canine partner "Yoochie," investigated the scene and discovered that the fire most likely began at the top of the exterior staircase on the south side of the building and moved downward. (3) The investigators ruled out any potential accidental source of ignition and concluded that the fire was intentionally set and that an unknown accelerant was used to ignite the fire. Jim Frank Swindall with the State Fire Marshall's office testified that analysis of the debris collected at the scene showed that the fire had been started with a medium petroleum distillate. (4)

At trial, two witnesses testified that, shortly before the fire, they saw appellant near Moreno's property. Andrew Contreras was cutting grass at a home nearby when he saw appellant on a bicycle carrying a milk jug containing what appeared to be gasoline. Contreras testified that the house caught on fire about ten seconds after he saw appellant near the property. Dandre Dennis, whose cousin was also a resident at the Moreno property, testified that he was driving in the area when he saw appellant sitting on a bicycle and carrying a milk jug full of a light-gold colored liquid which he believed to be gas. Dennis stated that appellant was riding the bicycle towards Moreno's house.

Moreno testified that about three hours after the fire, appellant called him and asked if the house had completely burned down. About an hour and a half later, appellant called Moreno a second time and threatened that if Moreno pressed charges against him for setting the fire, it would be worse for Moreno and his family after he got out of jail. Appellant's cousin, Carmen Villegas, testified that on the morning of the fire, appellant came by her house and told her an accident had occurred. Appellant told Villegas that he had been smoking at Moreno's property and that a gas leak caused a fire to ignite. Villegas testified that appellant was very frightened and nervous.

Appellant testified that on the morning of the fire, he worked with Isaac from about 6:35 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. at a house on Hardy Street. Appellant left after one hour of working because of a toothache. He walked back to his residence at the Moreno property and arrived there at about 8:30 a.m. Appellant changed clothes, and about ten to twelve minutes later, appellant proceeded to his aunt's house to look for medication. On his way to his aunt's, an individual named Mario Cruz approached appellant and asked appellant to help install a wooden floor at his house. Appellant allegedly spent the rest of the day at Cruz's home until he was arrested that evening. In his testimony, appellant admitted to owning a bicycle but denied using it on the day in question. He also denied going over to his aunt's house and telling her that he had accidentally ignited a fire. Appellant further denied calling Moreno on the day of the fire.

The jury returned a guilty verdict and assessed punishment at seven years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. This appeal ensued.

Standard of Review

In a legal sufficiency review, we consider all of the properly or improperly admitted evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether, based on that evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational jury could have found the accused guilty of the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); Swearingen v. State, 101 S.W.3d 89, 97 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (en banc). We measure the legal sufficiency of the evidence by the elements of the offense as defined by a hypothetically correct jury charge. Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). A hypothetically correct jury charge is one that accurately sets out the law, is authorized by the indictment, does not unnecessarily increase the State's burden of proof or restrict its theories of liability, and adequately describes the particular offense for which the defendant was tried. Id.

In a factual sufficiency review, we view the evidence in a neutral light and ask whether a jury was rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 414-17 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). We then determine whether the evidence supporting the verdict is so weak that the verdict is clearly wrong and manifestly unjust or whether the verdict is against the great weight and preponderance of the conflicting evidence. Id. at 415. We will not reverse a case on a factual sufficiency challenge unless we can say, with some objective basis in the record, that the great weight and preponderance of the evidence contradicts the jury's verdict. Id. at 417.

Under both legal and factual sufficiency standards, the fact-finder is the exclusive judge of the witnesses' credibility and the weight to be given to their testimony. See Swearingen, 101 S.W.3d at 97; Cain v. State, 958 S.W.2d 404, 408-09 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). The jury is in the best position to evaluate the credibility of the witnesses, and our factual-sufficiency jurisprudence still requires an appellate court to afford "due deference" to the jury's determinations. Marshall v. State, 210 S.W.3d 618, 625 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Although the reviewing court is permitted "to substitute its judgment for the jury's" when considering credibility and weight determinations, it may do so only "to a very limited degree." Marshall, 210 S.W.3d at 625 (citing Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 417).

Applicable Law

To obtain a conviction for arson, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant started a fire intending to damage or destroy a habitation knowing that the habitation was located within the incorporated city limits of a town. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 28.02(a).

Analysis

On appeal, appellant contends the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to prove that the fire that consumed Moreno's home was intentionally set and that he was the one who set the fire. Appellant's first issue on appeal challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence.

In the present case, the arson investigators concluded the fire started on an outdoor staircase and that there was nothing in the area that could have accidentally led to a fire. The investigators all agreed the fire was intentionally set. In addition, canine investigator "Yoochie" alerted to the scent of accelerant at the scene. Laboratory analysis of debris collected from the staircase and the surrounding area revealed that an accelerant had been used to ignite the fire. Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude a jury could rationally conclude that the fire was intentionally set.

Appellant also contends that the evidence was legally insufficient to prove that he set the fire. He argues that the circumstances in this case merely establish his presence at the scene. See Thomas v. State, 645 S.W.2d 798, 800 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983). It is true that evidence of appellant's presence at the scene of the house fire shortly before the fire was discovered does not by itself prove that appellant set the fire. See id. (recognizing that presence of accused at scene of offense is not alone sufficient to support conviction); see also O'Keefe v. State, 687 S.W.2d 345, 349 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985). However, presence is "a circumstance tending to prove guilt" which, combined with other facts, may suffice to show that the accused committed the offense. See Thomas, 645 S.W.2d at 800. Here, the record reveals more than appellant's mere presence at Moreno's property. Two witnesses testified that they saw appellant near Moreno's property shortly before the fire carrying a milk jug containing what appeared to be gasoline. Moreno testified that appellant called him to ask if his house had completely burned down and that appellant had threatened Moreno in an effort to deter him from pressing charges. Appellant's cousin testified that appellant told her he had accidentally set Moreno's property on fire. In addition, appellant was found in possession of a lighter when he was arrested later that day.

Although the State's evidence that appellant ignited the fire was circumstantial, that evidence is as probative as direct evidence. See Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 49 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). After analyzing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, giving due regard to the fact finder's resolution of any issue of inconsistencies in evidence and credibility of the witnesses, we cannot say that a rational trier of fact could not have found appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319; Swearingen, 101 S.W.3d at 97.

As a sub-issue in his legal sufficiency challenge, appellant contends the evidence is legally insufficient because the State failed to "prove either a prima facie showing that the manner and means were unknown to the grand jury or that it used due diligence in concluding the manner and means was unknown." Citing Hicks v. State, 860 S.W.2d 419, 424-25 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) and Matson v. State, 819 S.W.2d 839, 847 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991), appellant argues that, because the indictment alleged that the manner and means of starting the fire was unknown, the State had to prove that the manner and means were unknown or that the grand jury used due diligence in concluding the manner and means was unknown.

The court of criminal appeals, however, has expressly disavowed the "due diligence" rule cited by appellant. See Gollihar v. State, 46 S.W.3d 243, 253 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); In re A.J.G., 131 S.W.3d 687, 694-95 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 2004, pet. denied); Fagan v. State, 89 S.W.3d 245, 249 (Tex. App.-Texarkana 2002, pet. ref'd) ("The rule requiring the state to show that the grand jury exercised due diligence in determining the instrumentality of the offense is no longer relevant to our analysis."). A non-essential element of the charge, such as an allegation that the object used to cause damage or injury was unknown to the grand jury, may properly be excluded from a hypothetically correct jury charge. In re A.J.G., 131 S.W.3d at 694; see Malik, 953 S.W.2d at 239-40. So long as the essential elements of the crime charged have to be found by the jury in order for a guilty verdict to be returned, the State does not have to additionally and separately prove the good faith and due diligence of the grand jury in determining non-essential elements of the charge, such as what kind of accelerant was used. See Malik, 953 S.W.2d at 240; In re A.J.G., 131 S.W.3d at 694. Accordingly, we overrule appellant's sub-issue.

We hold that the evidence is legally sufficient to support appellant's conviction for arson of a habitation. Appellant's first issue is overruled. Having concluded the evidence was legally sufficient, we next address appellant's second issue challenging the factual sufficiency of the evidence.

We begin our review by discussing the evidence that appellant claims demonstrates a factually insufficient basis for the jury verdict. See Sims v. State, 99 S.W.3d 600, 603 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). In his factual sufficiency challenge, appellant argues that the evidence in this case is "lacking and inconclusive" and is only sufficient to allow for suspicion of guilt. Appellant does not discuss any specific evidence that undermines the jury's verdict. Nonetheless, after reviewing appellant's brief, the only arguable contrary evidence is appellant's denial that he set the fire. In addition, appellant contends that the evidence is insufficient because (1) the State offered no witnesses who saw him leaving the scene of the fire or in the area after the fire was ignited, (2) the State failed to offer a motive, and (3) he was not found in possession of a jug or anything else to connect him to the fire. Although appellant testified that he did not start the fire, it was within the jury's province to weigh his credibility and disregard his testimony. See Swearingen, 101 S.W.3d at 97; Cain, 958 S.W.2d at 408-09. Further, appellant's argument that the State failed to present eye witnesses who saw him at the scene of the fire is wholly without merit. As previously discussed, the State presented the testimony of two witnesses who saw appellant near Moreno's property shortly before the fire. To the extent appellant argues that the witnesses were lying, we reiterate that the fact-finder is the exclusive judge of the witnesses' credibility and the weight to be given to their testimony. Swearingen, 101 S.W.3d at 97; Cain, 958 S.W.2d at 408-09. Clearly, the jury chose to disbelieve appellant and to instead believe the testimony of the witnesses. Further, appellant's argument that the evidence is insufficient because the State failed to offer a motive is also without merit. Motive is not an element of arson. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. 28.02. In any event, the testimony presented to the jury that Moreno asked appellant to leave the property for failure to pay rent and testimony that appellant and Moreno had a dispute about a broken window tends to show that appellant had a motive to commit arson.

In addition, although appellant contends the evidence was factually insufficient because he was not found in possession of a jug or any other incriminating evidence, the evidence presented at trial demonstrated that appellant was seen near Moreno's property carrying a milk jug filled with what appeared to be gasoline. Further, the testimony of Investigator Chapa revealed that a lighter was found in appellant's possession. In response, appellant explained that he carried a lighter because he was a smoker. We further note that appellant also contends the evidence is insufficient because gasoline was eliminated as a possible source of accelerant used in igniting Moreno's property. Swindall did testify that analysis of the debris collected at the scene showed that the fire had been started with a medium petroleum distillate. He also testified that the test results revealed no use of gasoline, kerosine, or diesel fuel. Appellant contends this testimony contradicts that of Dennis and Contreras. However, this testimony does not necessarily contradict their testimony, nor does it undermine the jury's verdict. Dennis and Contreras only testified that the milk jug contained a liquid that appeared to be gasoline, they did not positively identify its contents. Moreover, although Swindall testified that the test results excluded gasoline as an accelerant, he also testified that medium petroleum distillate can consist of liquids that, when poured into a milk jug, could look similar to gasoline.

After reviewing all the evidence in this case and giving due deference to the jury's assessment of the witnesses' credibility and resolution of evidentiary conflicts, we cannot conclude the great weight and preponderance of evidence contradicts the jury's verdict. See Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 417. Because the jury was rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, we conclude the evidence is factually sufficient to support appellant's conviction. See id. Appellant's second issue is overruled.

The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

 

_________________________

DORI CONTRERAS GARZA,

Justice

Do not publish.

Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).

Memorandum Opinion delivered and

filed this the 12th day of April, 2007.

1. There were two buildings on Moreno's property with a three-foot separation between them. The buildings were divided into separate residential units with an upstairs and downstairs unit in each building. Moreno lived in one of the units with his wife and son.

2. Appellant testified that the incident with the window occurred just three days before Moreno's home was set on fire.

3. Miller testified that the fire department received the alarm at 9:22 a.m.

4. Swindall testified that a medium petroleum distillate is a class 3 ignitable liquid and is commonly used in charcoal lighters, torch fuel, paint thinner, and in dry cleaning solvents.