Hernandez v. State
Hernandez v. State
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Opinion by
On November 30, 2005, a panel of this Court issued an opinion in this case.
On January 1, 2002, appellant, Hugo Hernandez, was indicted on six counts of burglary of a building.
In three issues, appellant contends (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress, (2) the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support his convictions for burglary,
Factual Background
After burglaries of several small businesses in Cameron County in mid-to-late 2001, the Brownsville Police Department initiated an investigation. After investigation of several crime scenes, police suspected that the burglaries may have been committed by the same individual. During their investigation, police received a tip from a crime-stopper’s hotline that appel
Motion to Suppress
In appellant’s first issue, he contends the trial court improperly denied his motion to suppress the photographs because they were obtained as a result of an illegal search and seizure in violation of the United States and Texas Constitutions.
Standard of Review
The appropriate standard for reviewing a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress is a bifurcated standard of review, giving almost total deference to the trial court’s determination of historical facts and reviewing de novo the trial court’s application of the law.
Applicable Law
The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, section 9 of the Texas Constitution forbid unreasonable searches and seizures.
Relevant Facts
Immediately prior to trial, appellant’s trial counsel agreed that a previously-filed motion to suppress concerning the photographs would be carried through to trial. At trial, during direct examination of Officer Jesus Vallejo, who participated in the investigation of the burglaries, the State requested that the trial court admit into evidence the photographs of appellant taken on both occasions to support its theory that appellant had committed the burglaries.
The photographs show appellant in various poses. Some show appellant wearing a shirt, and others show appellant’s arms, hands, and shirtless upper-body. The photos are substantially similar in that they show several abrasions, cuts, and scratches on appellant’s limbs and upper-body. The State sought to show that appellant’s upper body had numerous abrasions, cuts, and scratches, consistent with injuries a burglar would have sustained climbing over walls and crawling through broken windows and holes in walls.
When the State requested admission of the photographs, appellant’s trial counsel moved to suppress them and objected to their admission. After a voir dire examination of Officer Vallejo, who admitted to participation in the photography sessions, trial counsel argued that the photographs should be suppressed because police knew appellant was the main suspect in the burglary investigation and chose to “violate his rights” by photographing him. The court, without stating its reasons, overruled trial counsel’s suppression motion and objection, and admitted all the photographs into evidence.
Analysis
Officer Vallejo’s uncontroverted testimony was that on both occasions, police asked for appellant’s consent to be photographed. He further testified that appellant voluntarily consented to the police requests on both occasions. After hearing Officer Vallejo’s testimony, the trial court could have determined appellant voluntarily consented to the police requests and that his constitutional rights were not violated.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
In his second issue, appellant challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the elements of identity, entry, and intent, regarding his burglary convictions.
Section 30.02 of the Texas Penal Code lists three “distinct ways” a burglary may be committed.
Hypothetically Correct Jury Charge
On appeal, we measure the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence by the elements of the offense as defined by a hypothetically correct jury charge.
In this case, appellant was charged with six counts of burglary. A hypothetically correct jury charge against which we measure the sufficiency of the evidence would ask the jury if (1) appellant, (2) on or about the day of each alleged offense, (2) intentionally or knowingly, (3) entered a building, (4) not then open to the public, (5) without the owner’s effective consent, (7) and committed a felony or theft.
Standard of Review
In a legal sufficiency review, an appellate court must examine the evidence presented in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense present beyond a reasonable doubt.
In a factual sufficiency review, the appellate court views all the evidence in a neutral light and determines whether evidence supporting the verdict is too weak to support the finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or if evidence contrary to the verdict is strong enough that the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard could not have been met.
Identity
Regarding identity, appellant argues that the State presented insufficient evidence to establish the identity element of each burglary.
Generally, fingerprint evidence alone will be sufficient to sustain a conviction if the evidence shows that the print was necessarily made at the time of the burglary.
Police recovered fingerprints at the crime scenes of two businesses, Elia’s Café and Milan’s Shop. Officer Vallejo testified that prints from Elia’s Café were recovered from the inside and outside of a window and from fragments of an adjoining broken window. He further testified that at Milan’s Shop, prints were recovered from the upper-frame of a broken window located above a door to the shop. A fingerprint expert testified that the prints lifted from both businesses positively matched appellant’s fingerprints. Several footprints were also discovered at the crime scenes of three other businesses, Worth Finance, Mare’s Jewelry Shop, and Yerberia Reynosa. Officer Vallejo testified that the footprints were discovered inside a broken safe at Worth Finance. He also stated that footprints were left in mud in an alleyway behind Mare’s Jewelry Shop and Yerberia Reynosa. According to Officer Vallejo, the recovered footprints appeared to match the sole pattern of a pair of shoes owned by appellant. The
Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, because appellant’s fingerprints were recovered from specific points of entry at two crime scenes, and because evidence shows that the sole of appellant’s shoe positively matched footprints left at three additional crime scenes, we conclude the evidence is legally sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the fingerprints and footprints were necessarily made by appellant at the time of the burglaries.
Entry
Appellant contends the State presented insufficient evidence to establish the element of entry regarding each burglary.
Direct evidence of entry is not required.
The point and method of entry at each business was substantially similar. Initial access to the businesses was gained through a weak point in the buildings, such as a window or weak wall, alarm systems were defeated, and telephone lines were cut. As previously mentioned, appellant’s fingerprints were recovered from points of entry at two crime scenes and evidence was presented to show that appellant’s footprints matched those left at three of the crime scenes.
Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, because the burglaries were committed in a substantially similar manner, appellant’s fingerprints were found at two crime scenes, and because evidence was presented showing that appellant’s footprints matched those left at three of the crime scenes, we conclude a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt the essential element of entry.
Appellant contends the evidence is insufficient to establish the intent element of each burglary.
Intent, as an essential element of the offense of burglary, must be proved by the State beyond a reasonable doubt, and cannot be left simply to speculation and surmise.
Representatives from each business testified that during non-business hours and without consent, a person forcefully entered their businesses and committed a burglary. Testimony from the representatives showed that several items were taken from each store, including a pistol, jewelry, food, clothing, $10,000 in merchandise, and approximately $6,000. Amado Martinez, an acquaintance of appellant, testified that appellant sold several pieces of jewelry to him. He further testified that he turned the jewelry over to police, when they visited him subsequent to the burglaries. The owner of Mare’s Jewelry Shop testified that the value of the jewelry stolen from her shop was about $10,000. Officer Vallejo testified that during his investigation of the burglaries, he observed several cuts and abrasions on appellant, consistent with injuries a burglar would have sustained while illegally entering a building. The State introduced photos of appellant’s shoes, footprints recovered from the inside of the safe at Worth Finance, and footprints recovered from the alleyway behind Mare’s Jewelry Shop and Yerberia Reyno-sa. Officer Vallejo testified that the sole of appellant’s shoe appeared to match the footprints recovered from the crime scenes.
Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, based on the circumstantial evidence presented concerning the circumstances of each burglary, the jury could have rationally inferred beyond a reasonable doubt appellant’s intent to commit each burglary.
After reviewing all of the evidence under the appropriate standards of review, we conclude that the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support appellant’s convictions for burglary of a building.
Motion to Reopen Evidence
In appellant’s third issue, he contends that at the punishment phase of the proceeding, the State failed to comply with article 36.01 of the code of criminal procedure.
Relevant Facts
At the punishment phase of trial, after all evidence had been presented and both sides had rested, the State requested that the court reopen the evidence “so that the defendant may be arraigned on the enhancement counts.” Appellant’s counsel objected and argued that “the Court should then instruct the jury not to consider the enhancement counts and go forward with what we have.” Appellant’s counsel argued that the State failed to arraign appellant on the enhancement counts at the beginning of the punishment phase and was therefore “stuck with it.” The court overruled counsel’s objection and granted the State’s motion “for the sole purpose of the enhancement counts and the pleaing [sic] to the enhancement counts.” Immediately thereafter] the enhancement counts were read, appellant entered his plea of “not true,” and the State closed. Appellant’s trial counsel then re-urged the court to “dismiss the enhancement counts because it was not done properly.” The trial court denied counsel’s request. The court’s charge, which contained the enhancement allegations, was then read to the jury and both sides proceeded with closing arguments. The State did not reintroduce the evidence in support of the enhancement allegations or stipulate to it by agreement with appellant after the enhancement allegations were read and appellant entered his plea.
Applicable Law
Under article 36.01 of the code of criminal procedure, the reading of the enhancement paragraphs at the penalty stage in a bifurcated trial and the entering of a plea thereto are mandatory.
In Turner v. State, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that because of the double jeopardy implications of failure to comply with article 36.01, the potential for harm to a defendant’s right to a fair punishment hearing, and the interest in preventing a waste of judicial resources in future cases, it was not unreasonable, nor inconsistent with the purposes of the code, to require the State to “strictly comply” with the applicable portion of article 36.01.
Since Turner, however, the court of criminal appeals has held that all errors, with the exception of certain federal constitutional errors labeled as “structural,” are subject to a harm analysis.
Because the error is statutory, we apply the harm analysis for non-constitutional error.
We note that several appellate courts have addressed whether a harm analysis is applicable to an article 36.01 violation.
Similarly, in Stegall, the Dallas Court of Appeals concluded that the failure to read enhancement paragraphs and a defendant’s plea at the beginning of a punishment hearing, as required by article 36.01, is statutory error subject to the harm analysis for non-constitutional error.
In Marshall v. State, the Texarkana Court of Appeals held that because the
The court of criminal appeals recently reversed the Texarkana Court’s decision on grounds that it erred in failing to conduct a harm analysis on the alleged jury charge error.
In discussing the State’s second ground for review,
Analysis
Here, after all evidence had been presented and both sides had rested, the State requested that the court reopen the evidence “so that the defendant may be arraigned on the enhancement counts.” Appellant’s counsel objected, arguing that “the Court should then instruct the jury not to consider the enhancement counts and go forward with what we have.” We conclude that this objection was sufficient to point out to the trial court the proper method to reintroduce the evidence to support the enhancement allegations.
Thereafter, appellant’s counsel re-urged the court to “dismiss the enhancement counts because it was not done properly.” We hold that counsel’s re-urging of his request to dismiss the enhancement counts or instruct the jury not to consider the ehhancement allegations was also sufficient to point out the proper method to reintroduce the testimony.
We also hold that the trial court’s error in denying appellant’s request was harmful.
We sustain appellant’s third issue, and reverse and remand this case to the trial court for a new punishment trial.
Response to Dissent
The dissent agrees that the State erred by failing to either reintroduce the evidence supporting the enhancement allegations or stipulate to it after the allegations were read and appellant entered his plea. The dissent contends, however, that appellant’s objection was insufficient to direct the trial court to the correct procedure to be followed: that the evidence introduced before the plea must be reintroduced or stipulated to by appellant. Accordingly, the dissent concludes that appellant did not preserve error.
In support of its argument, the dissent cites Dill and notes that unlike the defendant in Dill, appellant did not ask the court to instruct the jury to disregard evidence introduced before the reading of the enhancement allegations and the taking of appellant’s plea.
We find Limón both factually distinguishable and consistent with our holding in the present case. In Limón, the trial court allowed the State to re-open its casein-chief so that the indictment could be read before the jury.
We fail to see how appellant’s request in the present case (that the trial court instruct the jury not to consider the enhancement allegations) differs significantly from the defendant’s request in Dill (and endorsed as sufficient in Limón) to instruct the jury not to consider evidence heard before the defendant’s plea. We read the holdings in Dill and Limón as suggesting that appellant’s request that the jury not consider the enhancement allegations was sufficient to apprise the trial court of the proper method to reintroduce evidence.
We read Limón and Dill as requiring only that a defendant must “direct” the trial court to the proper procedure for reintroducing evidence. Asking the trial court to disregard evidence heard before a defendant’s plea is sufficient.
Conclusion
We overrule appellant’s first and second issues and affirm his burglary convictions. We sustain appellant’s third issue, reverse his sentence, and remand this case to the trial court for a new punishment trial.
Dissenting opinion by Justice NELDA RODRIGUEZ.
. Hernandez v. State, No. 13-02-620-CR, 2005 WL 3212372, 2005 Tex.App. LEXIS 9878 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi Nov. 30, 2005).
. See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 30.02(a)(1), (3) (Vernon 2003).
. In appellant’s second and third issues, he challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence. For simplicity, we have consolidated his second and third issues into one issue and address them in issue two.
. See U.S. Const. Amend. IV; Tex. Const, art. I, § 9.
. See Maxwell v. State, 73 S.W.3d 278, 281 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002).
. See State v. Ballard, 987 S.W.2d 889, 891 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999).
. See Maestas v. State, 987 S.W.2d 59, 62-63 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999).
. See State v. Ross, 32 S.W.3d 853, 855-56 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000) (en banc).
. See Romero v. State, 800 S.W.2d 539, 543 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990).
. See U.S. Const. Amend. IV; Tex Const, art. I, § 9.
. See TexCode Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.23 (Vernon 2005).
. See Foster v. State, 101 S.W.3d 490, 495 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.).
. See Spight v. State, 76 S.W.3d 761, 768 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.).
. See Ross, 32 S.W.3d at 855-56; Maestas, 987 S.W.2d at 62; Spight, 76 S.W.3d at 768; Foster, 101 S.W.3d at 495.
. See Ross, 32 S.W.3d at 855-56; Maestas, 987 S.W.2d at 62; Spight, 76 S.W.3d at 768; Foster, 101 S.W.3d at 495.
. See Tex.Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.23 (Vernon 2005); Ross, 32 S.W.3d at 855-56; Maestas, 987 S.W.2d at 62; Spight, 76 S.W.3d at 768; Foster, 101 S.W.3d at 495.
. See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 30.02(a)(1), (3) (Vernon 2003).
. See Tex Pen.Code Ann. § 30.02(a) (Vernon 2003); Espinoza v. State, 955 S.W.2d 108, 111 (Tex.App.-Waco 1997, pet. ref'd) (citing DeVaughn v. State, 749 S.W.2d 62, 64-65 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988)).
. See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 30.02(a)(1), (2) (Vernon 2003); Espinoza, 955 S.W.2d at 111.
. See Tex Pen.Code Ann. § 30.02(a)(3) (Vernon 2003); Espinoza, 955 S.W.2d at 111.
. See Kitchens v. State, 823 S.W.2d 256, 258 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991).
. See Kitchens, 823 S.W.2d at 258.
. See Medrano v. State, 658 S.W.2d 787, 790 (Tex.App.-Houston 1983, pet. ref'd) (citing Phipps v. State, 630 S.W.2d 942, 945 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982)).
. See Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997).
. See id.
. See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 30.02(a)(1), (3) (Vernon 2003).
. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); Young v. State, 14 S.W.3d 748, 753 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000).
. See Conner v. State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 197 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001).
. See Chambers v. State, 805 S.W.2d 459, 461 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991).
. See Penagraph v. State, 623 S.W.2d 341, 343 (Tex.Crim.App. 1981).
. See Threadgill v. State, 146 S.W.3d 654, 664 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004) (en banc).
. See Prible v. State, 175 S.W.3d 724, 730-31 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005).
. See Cain v. State, 958 S.W.2d 404, 408 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997).
. See Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000) (en banc).
. See Vanderbilt v. State, 629 S.W.2d 709, 716 (Tex.Crim.App. 1981).
. See id.
. See Villarreal v. State, 79 S.W.3d 806, 811 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2002, pet. ref'd) (citing Bowen v. State, 460 S.W.2d 421, 423 (Tex.Crim.App. 1970)).
. See id.
. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781; Young, 14 S.W.3d at 753; Villarreal, 79 S.W.3d at 811.
. See Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 7; Cain, 958 S.W.2d at 408; Vanderbilt, 629 S.W.2d at 716; Villarreal, 79 S.W.3d at 811.
. See Lopez v. State, 884 S.W.2d 918, 921 (Tex.App.-Austin 1994, pet. ref’d).
. See id.
. See Gilbertson v. State, 563 S.W.2d 606, 608 (Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1978); Draper v. State, 681 S.W.2d 175, 177 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1984, pet. ref’d).
. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781; Young, 14 S.W.3d at 753; Gilbertson, 563 S.W.2d at 608; Draper, 681 S.W.2d at 177.
. See Zuliani v. State, 97 S.W.3d 589, 593-95 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003); Gilbertson, 563 S.W.2d at 608; Draper, 681 S.W.2d at 177.
. See Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 593-95; Gilbertson, 563 S.W.2d at 608; Draper, 681 S.W.2d at 177.
. See LaPoint v. State, 750 S.W.2d 180, 182 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986); Coleman v. State, 832 S.W.2d 409, 413 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, pet. ref'd).
. LaPoint, 750 S.W.2d at 182.
. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781; Young, 14 S.W.3d at 753; LaPoint, 750 S.W.2d at 182; Coleman, 832 S.W.2d at 413.
. See Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 593-95; LaPoint, 750 S.W.2d at 182.
. See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 30.02(a)(1), (3) (Vernon 2003); Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 593-95; Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781; Young, 14 S.W.3d at 753; Kitchens, 823 S.W.2d at 258.
. See Tex.Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 36.01(a) (Vernon Supp.2004-05).
. See id.
. See id.
. See id.; Turner v. State, 897 S.W.2d 786, 788 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995) (citing Warren v. State, 693 S.W.2d 414, 415 (Tex.Crim.App. 1985)).
. See Turner, 897 S.W.2d at 788; Ex parte Sewell, 742 S.W.2d 393, 395 (Tex.Crim.App. 1987).
. See Tex.Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 36.01(a)(1) (Vernon Supp.2004 — 05).
. See Turner, 897 S.W.2d at 789.
. See id.
. See id. n. 5.
. See id. at 789.
. See High v. State, 964 S.W.2d 637, 638 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998); Cain v. State, 947 S.W.2d 262, 264 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997).
. See Linton v. State, 15 S.W.3d 615, 620 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. ref'd) (citing Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 309-10, 111 S.Ct. 1246, 113 L.Ed.2d 302 (1991)) (“Structural errors” include the total deprivation of the right to counsel at trial, a judge who was not impartial, unlawful exclusion of members of the defendant's race from a grand jury, the right to self-representation at trial, and the right to public trial).
. See Tex.R.App. P. 44.2; High, 964 S.W.2d at 638; Cain, 947 S.W.2d at 264. The court of criminal appeals recently declined to directly address whether Turner is "still good law.” See Marshall v. State, 185 S.W.3d 899 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006). In Marshall, the State argued that its error in failing to read the enhancement allegations and take appellant’s plea at the beginning of the punishment phase was not preserved for appellate review because the appellant had not objected. Marshall, 185 S.W.3d at 902, n. 3. The court of criminal appeals held that the appellant was required to object "when the jury charge was read and it became abundantly clear that the state was asking for enhancement far beyond that specified in its notice to appellant.” Id. at 903. The court further held that because appellant failed to object to the alleged error in the jury charge, he must show egregious harm before relief may be granted. Id. at 903 (citing Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984)). The court therefore remanded the case to the court of appeals to perform a harm analysis pursuant to Almanza. See id.
. See Tex.R.App. P. 44.2(b); Aguirre-Mata v. State, 992 S.W.2d 495, 499 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999).
. See Tex.R.App. P. 44.2(b); Llamas v. State, 12 S.W.3d 469, 471 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000); Aguirre-Mata, 992 S.W.2d at 498.
. See Johnson v. State, 72 S.W.3d 346, 348 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002).
. See Johnson v. State, 967 S.W.2d 410, 417 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998).
. See Linton, 15 S.W.3d at 620.
. See id.
. See id.
. See id.
. See id.
. Stegall v. State, No. 05-04-01283-CR, 2005 WL 1283541, *3, 2005 Tex.App. LEXIS 4206, *9 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2005, no pet. h.).
. Id. at *3.
. See id. at **3-4.
. Marshall v. State, 2004 WL 2715398, *5, 2004 Tex.App. LEXIS 10718, *13-*14 (Tex.App.-Texarkana Dec. 1, 2004), rev’d, 185 S.W.3d 899 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006) (designated for publication).
. See id. at *5.
. Id. at *3.
. Id.
. Id. at *6.
. Marshall, 185 S.W.3d at 903. The court of criminal appeals sustained the State’s third ground for review, in which the State argued that "the Court of Appeals erred in failing to address the issue of whether any error was harmless.” Id. at 902, n. 1.
. Id. at 903.
. Id. at 903.
. See Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171.
. In its second ground for review, the State asserted that the Texarkana Court "erred in failing to consider all the evidence actually admitted at trial in its review of the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the enhancement of the defendant’s sentence.” The court of criminal appeals overruled the State's second ground.
. Marshall, 185 S.W.3d at 902 (emphasis in original).
. Id. at 902.
. Id.
. See Limon v. State, 838 S.W.2d 767, 769 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1992, pet. ref'd) (noting that an objection that the evidence heard before the plea be removed from the jury's consideration was sufficient to point out to the trial court the proper method to reintroduce testimony); see also Dill v. State, 697 S.W.2d 702, 709 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1985, pet. ref’d) (holding that a request to instruct the jury to disregard testimony introduced before the enhancement allegations were read was sufficient to point out to the trial court the proper method to reintroduce the testimony).
. See Turner, 897 S.W.2d at 789 n. 5; Welch, 645 S.W.2d at 285 (quoting Castillo v. State, 530 S.W.2d 952 (Tex.Crim.App. 1976)); Dill, 697 S.W.2d at 709 (noting trial court did not err in permitting the State’s tardy reading of the indictment).
. See Limon, 838 S.W.2d at 769; Dill, 697 S.W.2d at 709.
. We note that immediately prior to the State closing at the punishment phase (prior to the State’s motion to re-open), the State requested that "all the evidence in the guilt or innocence phase be admitted during the sentencing phase.” The trial court granted the request. We conclude, however, that the State’s request did not constitute a stipulation. See Dill, 697 S.W.2d at 709. In Dill, after the trial court allowed the State to read the enhancement allegations (after the State had presented all its evidence in support of the allegations), the assistant district attorney stated that "the State has presented its evidence, and I would just like to inform the Court and the jury that the information that has been presented in the proceedings and testimony from Mr. Fernandez be applied to this charge that has just been read to the jury.” The court held that this statement was neither a reintroduction of the evidence nor a stipulation. See id. Moreover, in the present case, the trial court granted the
. See Welch, 645 S.W.2d at 285.
. See id. (holding jury's consideration of evidence presented before the appellant’s plea, and not having been stipulated or reintroduced, was clearly harmful to appellant); Dill, 697 S.W.2d at 709 (noting court’s error in not instructing the jury to disregard testimony presented before enhancement allegations were read was "obviously harmful to appellant as this included all the testimony before the jury at the punishment stage.")
. See Welch, 645 S.W.2d at 285; Dill, 697 S.W.2d at 709.
. See Welch, 645 S.W.2d at 286.
. See Dill, 697 S.W.2d at 709.
. See Limon, 838 S.W.2d at 769.
. Id. at 768.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. at 769.
. Id.
. See Dill, 697 S.W.2d at 709; Limon, 838 S.W.2d at 769.
. See Dill, 697 S.W.2d at 709; Limon, 838 S.W.2d at 769.
Dissenting Opinion
DISSENTING OPINION
I respectfully dissent from the majority’s disposition of the third issue. In that issue, appellant contends the trial court committed reversible error by allowing the State to reopen testimony during the punishment phase of the trial after the State and appellant had closed. The majority concludes that “[bjecause the State failed to either reintroduce the evidence supporting the enhancement allegations or stipulate to the evidence pursuant to an agreement with appellant, the trial court erred when it denied appellant’s request” to “dismiss the enhancement counts because it was not done properly.” It further concludes that appellant was harmed because “[t]he jury found both enhancement allegations ‘true’ and assessed punishment at ten years’ imprisonment on each count,” a range of punishment greater than would have been assessed if the enhancement allegations had not been considered. I agree there was a deviation that the State did not cure. However, I would conclude that, under the circumstances of this case and the precedent of this Court, appellant failed to preserve the State’s error. Accordingly, I dissent and would affirm the judgment of the trial court.
I. Background
At the beginning of the punishment phase, without first arraigning appellant on the enhancement counts and without appellant entering a plea to the enhancements, the State introduced testimony from four witnesses. After the presentation of the witnesses and after both sides closed and rested, the State informed the court that it forgot to request that the Court arraign appellant on the enhancement counts. The State asked leave of court to reopen the evidence in the punishment phase so that appellant could be arraigned on the enhancement counts. Appellant objected as follows:
Both sides rested. Both sides closed. And to put the cart before the horse or the horse before the cart is their error. ... At this time we stand forward to go on the punishment, and the [cjourt should then instruct the jury not to consider the enhancement counts and go forward with what we have.
The defense strenuously objects to the ... [Sjtate’s request ... to reopen for purposes of arraigning the defendant. That should have been done first. They failed to do so. Now they’re stuck with it.
The trial court overruled the objection and granted the State’s request to reopen “for the sole purpose of enhancement counts and the plea[d]ing to the enhancement counts.” After the State read the indictment and appellant entered his plea of not true, appellant moved to dismiss the enhancement counts because “it was not done properly.” The trial court denied appellant’s motion, and the charge was read to the jury.
II. Analysis
The correct procedure to be followed after a tardy reading of the indictment and the entering of a plea has been long established: upon learning of the error, the indictment is read to the jury, the accused enters a plea, and the State reintroduces the evidence; or the parties may stipulate to the evidence. When this is done, the issue is joined and a trial on the issue may be held.
Limon v. State, 838 S.W.2d 767, 768-69 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1992, pet. ref'd) (citing Warren v. State, 693 S.W.2d 414, 416 (Tex.Crim.App. 1985) (en banc); Welch v. State, 645 S.W.2d 284, 285 (Tex.Crim.
In this case, when the State was allowed to reopen, it cured only part of its error. The State read the enhancement paragraphs of the indictment into the record, and appellant entered his plea of not true. The State did not reintroduce the evidence from the punishment phase that was admitted prior to the reading of the indictment and entry of the plea and prior to the State and appellant closing, and no stipulation was entered that the testimony would be the same and could be considered by the jury. See Welch, 645 S.W.2d at 285-86 (citing Trammell, 445 S.W.2d at 193-94); see also Limon, 838 S.W.2d at 768-69. However, appellant objected only that the process had not been done properly and asked the court to instruct the jury not to consider the enhancement counts. Appellant did not direct the trial court to the correct procedure to be followed regarding the evidence; that the evidence introduced before the plea be reintroduced or stipulated to by appellant. See Limon, 838 S.W.2d at 769; cf. Castillo, 530 S.W.2d at 954. Appellant did not ask the court to instruct the jury to disregard that evidence. See Dill v. State, 697 S.W.2d 702, 709 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1985, pet. ref'd) (holding error preserved when defendant asked that evidence heard before the plea be removed from the jury’s consideration). Unlike the majority, I would conclude that appellant’s request differed significantly from Dill and Limón and that it was not sufficient to apprise the trial court of the proper method to reintroduce evidence. Therefore, although the State failed to cure its error in its entirety, and I certainly do not condone such, under the circumstances of this case and following the precedent of the court of criminal appeals and of this Court, I would conclude that appellant did not preserve error. Accordingly, I would overrule this issue.
III. Conclusion
Agreeing with the disposition of all other issues, I would affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Hugo HERNANDEZ, Appellant, v. the STATE of Texas, Appellee
- Cited By
- 124 cases
- Status
- Published