Brenda Cheatham v. Texarkana College and Frank Coleman

In The Court of Appeals Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana ______________________________ No. 06-11-00001-CV ______________________________ BRENDA CHEATHAM, Appellant V. TEXARKANA COLLEGE AND FRANK COLEMAN, Appellees On Appeal from the 102nd Judicial District Court Bowie County, Texas Trial Court No. 09C0038-102 Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ. Memorandum Opinion by Justice Moseley MEMORANDUM  OPINION Brenda Cheatham, the sole appellant in this case, has filed a motion seeking to dismiss her appeal. Pursuant to Rule 42.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, her motion is granted. Tex. R. App. P. 42.1. We dismiss the appeal. Bailey C. Moseley Justice Date Submitted: May 3, 2011 Date Decided: May 4, 2011 id, she wasn't even going to go into the date of the search warrant, that way it doesn't make the jury -- [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: That is no problem. I'm just kind of curious how it's going to be phrased, as to how they entered his home, or they executed a search warrant . . . . It is noted, further, at the conclusion of voir dire, the issue of the relevance of the prior acquittals was the subject of an exchange between the trial court and Orange's attorney, during which time the trial court indicated that Orange was not to raise the matter of those acquittals before the jury during the guilt/innocence phase of the trial. On the record, Orange's attorney then explained that instruction to Orange. During these discussions, neither Orange nor his attorney voiced any dissent from or objection to this instruction. Thus, although the trial court made no formal ruling at that juncture, it is quite clear that Orange was well aware of the trial court's position regarding the admissibility of evidence of the prior trial, and Orange never objected to that position. He neither thereafter made an attempt to proffer evidence of the acquittal in the prior trial, nor obtained a ruling that he could not do so. In this context, it is appropriate to note that a ruling on a motion in limine is not a ruling that excludes evidence; rather, it merely requires the parties to approach the trial court for a definitive ruling before attempting to put on evidence within the scope of the order on the motion in limine. Bobo v. State, 757 S.W.2d 58, 61 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, pet. ref'd). "It is axiomatic that motions in limine do not preserve error." Harnett v. State, 38 S.W.3d 650, 655 (Tex. App.--Austin 2000, pet. ref'd). A ruling on a motion in limine is not a ruling on the merits, but only one which regulates the administration of a trial. Accordingly, Orange has failed to preserve any error concerning this matter for review. (14) See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1. Even had Orange preserved this claim for appellate review, we would find no reversible error. We review evidentiary rulings under an abuse of discretion standard. Salazar v. State, 38 S.W.3d 141, 153-54 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). The trial court abuses its discretion when it acts "without reference to any guiding rules and principles, or acts in a manner that is arbitrary or capricious." Lam v. State, 25 S.W.3d 233, 236-37 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 2000, no pet.) (citing Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 392 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990)). A trial court does not abuse its discretion if its ruling was at least within "the zone of reasonable disagreement." Salazar, 38 S.W.3d at 153-54. At least two cases have found error where a trial court allowed the State to offer evidence concerning prior extraneous offenses, even though the defendant had been acquitted of those extraneous allegations. Stuart v. State, 561 S.W.2d 181, 182 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); McDowell v. State, 142 Tex. Crim. 530, 155 S.W.2d 377 (1941). Here, it could not be said the trial court ruling was outside the zone of reasonable disagreement, and therefore, it cannot be said it abused its discretion. Orange's eighth point of error is overruled. XI. NO DOUBLE JEOPARDY Orange claims that he was subjected to double jeopardy in violation of the United States and Texas Constitutions. (15) He argues that because J.P., the victim in the instant case, testified as a rebuttal witness in the previous trial (see our discussion of Orange's eighth point of error above), Orange cannot now be subjected to a trial where the prior trial's witness is now the complainant. Although Orange offers no authority or reasoning for this contention, it is assumed that he reasons that if a prior jury acquitted him in the previous case, that jury must have disbelieved J.P.'s testimony. The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment, applicable to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment, protects an accused against a second prosecution for the same offense for which he has been previously acquitted or previously convicted. It also protects an accused from being punished more than once for the same offense. Littrell v. State, 271 S.W.3d 273, 276 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). It seems self-evident that in two criminal allegations, even if the same crime is alleged, but different victims are alleged, the crime is not the same offense as contemplated by double jeopardy law. See Akhil Reed Amar, Double Jeopardy Law Made Simple, 106 Yale L.J. 1807, 1817-18 (1997). (16) For example, where a burglar takes numerous items from one house in one burglary, but the same items belong to a father and other items belong to the daughter, there is no double jeopardy violation in charging the burglar with two crimes: theft of the father's property and theft of the daughter's. Iglehart v. State, 837 S.W.2d 122, 128 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). Here, Orange was not charged with the same offense for which he was previously acquitted. No jeopardy attached. We overrule Orange's ninth point of error. XII. NO ERRORS IN TRIAL COURT EVIDENTIARY RULINGS Orange's tenth point of error complains of two trial court evidentiary rulings. We find no error and overrule the appellate contention. A. Adequate Proof of Venue Orange complains that one of the witnesses for the State was allowed to provide hearsay testimony that proved venue. Officer Kevin Freeman testified that in the course of his investigation, he learned the alleged sexual abuse had occurred at 1320 Shirley Street. After the hearsay objection was overruled, Freeman said, "I was advised it occurred at 1320 Shirley Street." Next, he said that the Shirley Street address was outside the Kilgore city limits, but situated within Gregg County. Similar evidence came in via another witness. J.P.'s mother testified that during the period Orange lived with the Williams family, the family lived on Shirley Street. She then testified that their residence at that time was in the portion of the City of Kilgore lying in Gregg County. This testimony was not hearsay and elicited no objection. Even if Freeman's statement was hearsay and the admission of the statement was error, other evidence of the location of the family home was properly admitted. See Brooks v. State, 990 S.W.2d 278, 287 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) (holding any error in admission of hearsay testimony was harmless in light of other properly admitted evidence proving same fact). Thus, there was sufficient evidence to prove venue by a preponderance of the evidence, (17) and Orange can prove no harm. B. Extraneous Act Proved in State's Rebuttal Case In Orange's case-in-chief, he presented several witnesses who testified to his good reputation and to the effect that he was safe around children. Persons testified for whom Orange had babysat, as did the parents of children whom Orange had babysat. In rebuttal, the State called Officer Darren Mixon, who testified that sometime in 1999 or 2000, he responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle outside an elementary school in Kilgore. He found Orange sitting in an automobile, about 75 to 100 yards from a playground, using binoculars to watch children on the playground. Orange's explanation for this conduct was that he was watching a child for whom he was caring. No criminal offense having occurred, Mixon told Orange to move along, and Orange complied. (18) The trial court did a balancing test pursuant to Rule 403 and found the prejudicial import of the testimony did not substantially outweigh its probative value. Tex. R. Evid. 403. In making its ruling, the trial court said: The defense put the defendant's character, his character trait for safe dealing with children, at issue. Therefore, based on that, this Court finds that under Rule 405, 404(b), that it is admissible. Also, under a Rule 403 balancing test, I find that, while it may be prejudicial, it is relevant and that its probative value is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or undue delay. Therefore, I will admit and allow that testimony. As a general rule, to prevent an accused from being prosecuted for some collateral crime or misconduct, the State may not introduce evidence of bad acts similar to the offense charged. Roberts v. State, 29 S.W.3d 596, 600-01 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. ref'd). Rule 404 provides that "[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith." Tex. R. Evid. 404(b). However, evidence of extraneous acts and misconduct is admissible when it is relevant to a noncharacter conformity "fact of consequence" in a case, such as establishing motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake or accident, or rebutting a defensive theory. Id.; Robbins v. State, 88 S.W.3d 256, 259 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Evidence admitted as relevant under Rule 404(b) may nonetheless be excluded under Rule 403 if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. Tex. R. Evid. 403; Mozon v. State, 991 S.W.2d 841, 846-47 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Evidence is unfairly prejudicial when it has an undue tendency to suggest that a decision be made on an improper basis, commonly, but not necessarily, an emotional one. Mozon, 991 S.W.2d at 847 n.7. In conducting a Rule 403 balancing test, a trial court should consider the following factors: (1) the probative value of the evidence; (2) the potential of the evidence to impress the jury in some irrational, but nevertheless indelible way; (3) the time the proponent needs to develop the evidence; and (4) the proponent's need for the evidence. Wyatt v. State, 23 S.W.3d 18, 26 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held that the balancing test under Rule 403 weighs in favor of the admission of relevant evidence and carries a presumption that relevant evidence will be more probative than prejudicial. See Rayford v. State, 125 S.W.3d 521, 529 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Williams v. State, 958 S.W.2d 186, 196 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). With these principles in mind, we now examine the admissibility of the evidence at issue here under Rule 403. We find the probative nature of Mixon's testimony weighs in favor of admission of this evidence. Much of the State's case was built around the theory of "grooming" and that Orange spent significant time with young J.P. Orange's own expert said that she would be very concerned if an adult were found watching children on a playground with binoculars. Because the bulk of Orange's defensive case consisted of witnesses who said he had provided safe child care, this evidence was relevant to rebutting Orange's defensive theory. We acknowledge this evidence had the potential to impress the jury in an irrational, indelible way. For example, the jurors' affidavits discussed above both make mention of the significance the jury attributed to Mixon's testimony. (19) No criminal act was shown to have been committed by Orange in the events related by Mixon. This weighs against admission of the testimony. Mixon's direct examination testimony took barely two pages of the court reporter's record. The time spent proving the extraneous act was negligible, which weighs in favor of its admission. As for the State's need to present this evidence, we acknowledge that the complainant's credibility had been challenged throughout the trial; and J.P. had denied any inappropriate contact with Orange on more than one occasion before making his allegation. Based on the stream of witnesses Orange submitted who testified as to his sound character and appropriateness in being around children, we find this factor weighs slightly in favor of admission. We also point out, as cited above, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' holding that a balancing test under Rule 403 weighs in favor of the admission of relevant evidence. Rayford, 125 S.W.3d at 529. We find admission of Mixon's testimony was within the zone of reasonable disagreement, and, therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting that testimony. Orange's tenth point of error is overruled. As a final note, we point out that the trial court judgment lists the Texas Penal Code statute of the offense for which Orange was convicted, indecency with a child, to be Section 22.021(a)(2)(B) of the Texas Penal Code. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.021(a)(2)(B) (Vernon Supp. 2009). However, the judgment is erroneous; that statute is aggravated sexual assault, a charge of which Orange was acquitted. The judgment is also erroneous in stating that Orange was convicted of a third-degree felony. Orange was indicted and convicted by a jury of indecency with a child by contact, pursuant to Section 21.11(a)(1) of the Texas Penal Code, a second-degree felony. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.11(a)(1), (d) (Vernon Supp. 2009). This Court has the authority to modify the judgment to make the record speak the truth when the matter has been called to our attention by any source. French v. State, 830 S.W.2d 607 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). In Asberry v. State, 813 S.W.2d 526 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1991, pet. ref'd), the court noted that the authority of the appellate court to modify incorrect judgments is not dependent on request of any party; the appellate court may act sua sponte. The Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure provide direct authority for this Court to modify the judgment of the trial court. Tex. R. App. P. 43.2. We modify the trial court judgment to accurately reflect the type and degree of offense for which Orange was convicted, the second-degree felony offense of indecency with a child by contact. As modified, we affirm. Bailey C. Moseley Justice Date Submitted: October 21, 2009 Date Decided: November 19, 2009 Do Not Publish 1. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.11(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2009). 2. We find the trial court's charge to the jury used in this case to have been in substantial--if not complete--compliance with the applicable law, and thus, the equivalent of a hypothetically-correct charge. 3. Kilgore, Texas, is situated astride the line between Gregg and Rusk Counties. We address venue in our analysis of Orange's tenth point of error. 4. A video recording of Terrell's November 2004 interview with J.P. was introduced as State's Exhibit 1. Terrell testified that interview was about an hour long; however, the copy supplied to this Court ends abruptly after about thirty-seven minutes, clearly in the middle of the interview. Although providing exhibits to the appellate court is the court reporter's responsibility (see Tex. R. App. P. 34.6(a)(1)), in cases like this where audio/visual exhibits are entered into evidence, the proponent of that evidence would do well to see that the Court is supplied with either the actual exhibit or a useable copy. 5. There was evidence the home had a veritable menagerie of animals comprised of three dogs, two ferrets, two hamsters, and a cockatiel. The dogs seemed to have free range of the interior of the house and routinely urinated and defecated in it. 6. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.021(a)(1)(B)(iii) (Vernon Supp. 2009). 7. Orange's fourth point of error basically asserts that because the State acknowledged in opening argument that J.P. had a history of telling lies, his testimony must be completely discounted or excluded from consideration. We construe this argument as an attack upon J.P.'s credibility, which was considered and decided by the jury. 8. Orange also attempts to rely on a third document to which he refers as an affidavit. However, that document is not signed; there is a copy of an email in the record purporting to be from the juror stating that although he did not want to sign it, he would appear to testify about its content. 9. The only case cited by Orange in this brief assertion of error is Fairfield v. State, 610 S.W.2d 771, 779 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1981), where a footnote mentions that with a guilty plea, the trial becomes unitary, that is, only a punishment trial. 10. See Tex. R. Evid. 606(b). 11. See Tex. R. App. P. 21.4, 21.5, 21.7. 12. We do acknowledge a seeming incongruity in 606(b) strict application: i.e., how is a purported instance of juror misconduct to be investigated where the only parties to the deliberation are precluded from discussing events in that deliberation? See Justice Grant's concurrence from several years ago: I must express concern about Rule 606(b) of the Texas Rules of Evidence. I urge the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to examine the broad language of this rule in light of the possible consequences. This rule could undermine court procedures and render the jury verdicts and deliberations a mockery. It prohibits jurors from testifying about anything except outside influences that affected their decision. . . . . I understand the need to make verdicts final and the need not to open up the testimony to what might have been each juror's mental processes, but matters affecting the fundamental process of jury deliberation should not be forever closed to judicial review. In the present case, if the jury foreman refused to allow a juror to change his vote prior to the jury returning its verdict to the court, this should be a matter that could be considered by the court. Hart v. State, 15 S.W.3d 117, 124 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2000, pet. ref'd) (Grant, J., concurring). However, Rule 606(b) has been consistently upheld and applied by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and we find it controls this situation. 13. In the previous three trials, as well as the instant case alleging J.P. as the victim, Gregg County used "John Doe" and a specific number, probably corresponding with the child victim's date of birth, to identify each complainant. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 57.02(h) (Vernon Supp. 2009). 14. Even if Orange had opposed the State's motion in limine regarding evidence of the prior acquittal, it would have been necessary for him to obtain an adverse ruling during the trial which prevented him from offering the evidence in order to preserve any error in the matter. See Harnett, 38 S.W.3d at 655. 15. See U.S. Const. amends. V, XIV; Tex. Const. art. I, § 14. 16. "[T]wo offenses cannot be the same if they have different legal elements. But under the Double Jeopardy Clause, an offense must not only be the same in law -- it must also be the same in fact. Even if Robert is convicted of robbery in an earlier trial, he may later be charged with and tried for robbery so long as the second indictment concerns a factually different robbery -- committed, say, on a different day against a different victim. . . . Even if the identity of the robbery victim and the day of the robbery are not formal elements of the offense of robbery -- in other words, even if the legal elements in Robert's two trials are identical -- Robert would have no good double jeopardy defense. He simply broke the same law twice, and thus he may be tried twice and punished twice. He may be 'twice put in jeopardy of life or limb' because he committed two offenses, not one." 17. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 13.17 (Vernon 2005); Murphy v. State, 112 S.W.3d 592, 604 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). 18. Also, when the State cross-examined Orange's expert on child sexual abuse, Carol Walker, she was asked about the significance of a man watching children on a playground with binoculars: Walker said she would be "very concerned." 19. Obviously, for the reasons discussed in our preceding analysis, we only consider these affidavits anecdotally for purposes of reviewing the trial court's Rule 403 balancing test.