Appellate courts must indulge every presumption in favor of the regularity of the proceedings and documents in a lower court.
An appellant convicted of burglary challenged the trial court's failure to instruct the jury regarding the testimony of an accomplice witness. The accomplice, a co-indictee, provided the only direct evidence linking the appellant to the crime. The appellant had submitted handwritten objections to the charge on the same day the charge was filed. Although the exact timing of the objections relative to the reading of the charge was not explicitly detailed, the trial judge had signed the document to deny the objections. Because appellate courts must indulge every presumption in favor of the regularity of the proceedings and documents in a lower court, the court held the error was properly preserved.
At page 887 Presumption of regularity in lower court proceedings116 citing cases“the regularity of the proceedings and documents in a lower court.”
- The State of Texas v. Gallardo Tiburcio-Gregorio, No. 04-23-00165-CR (Tex. App.—San Antonio Oct. 29, 2025).unpublished(It is a cardinal rule of appellate procedure in this State that we must indulge every presumption in favor of the regularity of the proceedings and documents in the lower court.)
- Bryan Stallworth v. the State of Texas, No. 10-23-00257-CR (July 2, 2026).unpublished “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- Lashai Jean-Baptiste v. the State of Texas, No. 03-24-00554-CR (Apr. 3, 2026).unpublished“must indulge every presumption in favor of the regularity of the proceedings and documents in the lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Aldemaro Raiael Perez, No. 08-24-00195-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Eyler Roll Morejon, No. 08-24-00187-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Enderson Jose Silva, No. 08-24-00165-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Emilioranon Torres, No. 08-24-00201-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Kevin Jose Iriarte, No. 08-24-00183-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Ezer Antonio Montiel, No. 08-24-00185-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Josbeiker Jose Viloria, No. 08-24-00156-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
Show 101 more citing cases
- The State of Texas v. Rodrigo Andres Martinez, No. 08-24-00174-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Daniel Alexander Pereira, No. 08-24-00206-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Carlos Alberto Gimenez, No. 08-24-00198-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Luis Angel Gonzalez, No. 08-24-00173-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Miguel Angel Garcia, No. 08-24-00175-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Gustavo Andres Robles, No. 08-24-00207-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Sebastian Andres Quintero, No. 08-24-00168-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Luis Ignacio Vasquez, No. 08-24-00197-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Deiker David Ramirez, No. 08-24-00209-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Jelkel Michel Hernandez, No. 08-24-00189-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Pin Yhonson Martinez, No. 08-24-00210-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Darwin Ramon Jimenez, No. 08-24-00204-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Asael Daniel Polanco, No. 08-24-00196-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Heider Jefred Palacios, No. 08-24-00180-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Wilson Salvado Palencia, No. 08-24-00171-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Roberto Alonzo Garcia, No. 08-24-00162-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Ramon Heberto Ruiz, No. 08-24-00166-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Emilio Jose Henriquez, No. 08-24-00181-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Lenin Anton Suarez, No. 08-24-00188-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Crisner Enrique Gonzalez, No. 08-24-00200-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Jonathan Johao Quinonez, No. 08-24-00203-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Luis Jose Mora, No. 08-24-00176-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Fausto Romario Jimenez, No. 08-24-00182-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Aldair Miller Valenxia, No. 08-24-00160-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Josue Rafael Romero, No. 08-24-00167-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Eleazar Isaac Pacheco, No. 08-24-00194-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Julio Enrique Vega, No. 08-24-00161-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Carlos Andres Rubio, No. 08-24-00192-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Diego Jesus Rivas, No. 08-24-00205-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Melvin Ismael Zurita, No. 08-24-00155-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Luis Fernando Ortiz, No. 08-24-00177-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Rafael Angel Gonzalez Fernandez, No. 08-24-00159-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Yordan Jesus Quintero, No. 08-24-00191-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Jose Dario Paz, No. 08-24-00179-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Omar Rafael Gonzalez, No. 08-24-00184-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Jose Esteban Valeriano, No. 08-24-00193-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Cristian Eduardo Rodriguez, No. 08-24-00202-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Luis Eduardo Gonzalez, No. 08-24-00208-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Angelo Moises Polanco, No. 08-24-00170-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- The State of Texas v. Oscar Albino Marin, No. 08-24-00186-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published “the regularity of the proceedings and documents in [a] lower court”
- Thomas v. State, 681 S.W.2d 672 (Tex. App. 1985).published
- Rogers v. State, 792 S.W.2d 841 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990).published
- Stacy v. State, 819 S.W.2d 860 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).published
- Breazeale v. State, 683 S.W.2d 446 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985).published
- Ex Parte Wilson, 716 S.W.2d 953 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986).published
- Bright v. State, 556 S.W.2d 317 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977).published
- Light v. State, 15 S.W.3d 104 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).published
- Murphy v. State, 95 S.W.3d 317 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003).published
- Ex Parte Davila, 530 S.W.2d 543 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975).published
- Armstrong v. State, 781 S.W.2d 937 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1989).published
- DeVaughn v. State, 678 S.W.2d 143 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1984).published
- Frame v. State, 615 S.W.2d 766 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981).published
- Jones v. State, 644 S.W.2d 546 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1982).published
- Ex Parte Serna, 957 S.W.2d 598 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1997).published
- Ex Parte Stacey, 682 S.W.2d 348 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1984).published
- Ex Parte Stacey, 709 S.W.2d 185 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986).published
- Victor Coronado v. State, No. 01-14-00161-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 21, 2015).unpublished
- Murphy, Danny Royce v. State, No. 01-99-00468-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 18, 2002).published
- Juan R. Ramirez v. State, No. 01-05-00384-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] June 8, 2006).unpublished
- Roland Roman Cruz v. State, No. 01-06-01006-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Nov. 1, 2007).unpublished
- Ramiro Rivas Mojeda A/K/A Ramiro R. Mojeda v. State, No. 02-02-00235-CR (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 12, 2003).unpublished
- Raul Porfirio Rios v. State, No. 03-92-00275-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Jan. 27, 1993).unpublished
- in Re Russell Mortland, No. 03-03-00003-CV (Tex. App.—Austin July 24, 2003).published
- Russell Dale Mortland v. Dripping Springs I. S. D. & Hays Cnty., No. 03-02-00331-CV (Tex. App.—Austin July 24, 2003).published
- Crae Robert Pease v. State, No. 03-06-00369-CR, 2007 WL 2274879 (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 9, 2007).unpublished
- Mary Helen Granados v. State, No. 07-98-00205-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo May 21, 2002).unpublished
- Mary Helen Granados v. State, No. 07-98-00206-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo May 21, 2002).unpublished
- Mary Helen Granados v. State, No. 07-98-00207-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo May 21, 2002).unpublished
- Ivy L. Johnson v. State, No. 07-02-00296-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Apr. 10, 2003).unpublished
- Hobert Jean Williams v. State, No. 07-04-00403-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Aug. 8, 2005).unpublished
- David Carter McCoy v. State, No. 12-01-00364-CR (Tex. App.—Tyler Dec. 20, 2002).published
- Victor Rogers Bell v. State, No. 13-01-00570-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Apr. 17, 2003).unpublished
- Sean Christopher Brewer v. State, No. 03-10-00076-CR, 2014 WL 709549 (Tex. App.—Austin Feb. 21, 2014).unpublished
- David Darell Glandon v. State, No. 14-10-00020-CR, 2011 WL 345634 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 1, 2011).unpublished
- Joshua London v. State, No. 01-13-00441-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 17, 2013).published
- Stacey Vernell Gray v. State, No. 01-11-00211-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 12, 2012).unpublished
- Shaun Deville Briggs v. State, No. 01-15-00269-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Nov. 10, 2015).unpublished
- Timothy Michael Strube v. State, No. 06-15-00185-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana Aug. 12, 2016).unpublished
- Gayleen S. Todd v. State, No. 03-14-00386-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 10, 2015).published
- Donald Nealey v. State, No. 01-15-00999-CR, 2017 WL 3389636 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 8, 2017).unpublished
- Johnny Melchor MacIas v. State, 539 S.W.3d 410 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017).published
- Ex Parte Kriss Ray Camp, No. 03-16-00655-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Nov. 30, 2017).unpublished
- State v. Jesus Tabares, No. 08-17-00175-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso May 29, 2018).published
- Austin Edward Davis v. State, No. 09-18-00263-CR (Tex. App.—Beaumont Oct. 16, 2019).unpublished
- Nancy L. Nielsen v. State, No. 02-19-00157-CR (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Apr. 9, 2020).unpublished
- Michael A. McCann v. Spencer Plantation Investments LTD, No. 14-19-00242-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 9, 2021).published
- Kirby v. State, 681 S.W.2d 131 (Tex. App. 1984).published
- Simon v. State, 525 S.W.3d 798 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2017).published
- The State of Texas v. Eligio Jose Hernandez, No. 08-24-00213-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Angel Gabriel MacHado, No. 08-24-00199-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Angel Eduardo Quintero, No. 08-24-00169-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Victor Manuel Escalante, No. 08-24-00158-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Ulises Jose Oliveros, No. 08-24-00172-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Luis Antonio Velasquez, No. 08-24-00157-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Juan Carlos Presbi, No. 08-24-00190-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Jose Sneyder Ordonez, No. 08-24-00178-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Jose Antonio Torrelles, No. 08-24-00164-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Elvis Stefano Torres, No. 08-24-00163-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Elisaul Ismith Mendez, No. 08-24-00212-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- The State of Texas v. Carlos Osmin Mejia, No. 08-24-00211-CR (Feb. 18, 2026).published
- McCarty v. State, 557 S.W.2d 295 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977).published
At page 886 Establishing facts regarding warehouse theft and subsequent stop4 citing casesin accord with the provisions of Section 12.42(d), V.T.C.A., Penal Code. The State first called three employees of Clockwise Fashions, a Dallas manufacturer of…
- Solis v. State, 792 S.W.2d 95 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990).published
- Hernandez v. State, 907 S.W.2d 654 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1995).published
- Ismael Cruz v. State, No. 03-98-00348-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Nov. 12, 1999).unpublished
- Richard Ancira v. State, No. 03-98-00170-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Mar. 11, 1999).unpublished
v.
the STATE of Texas, Appellee
OPINION
ROBERTS, Judge.This is an appeal from a conviction for burglary of a building, a second degree felony under Section 30.02 of our new Penal Code. After the jury found appellant guilty, the trial court sentenced him to life[*886] in accord with the provisions of Section 12.42(d), V.T.C.A., Penal Code.
The State first called three employees of Clockwise Fashions, a Dallas manufacturer of women’s clothing. James Whiteman, production manager for Clockwise, testified that he had care, custody, and control of the Clockwise warehouse at 3003 Commerce Street and that he did not give the appellant consent to enter the warehouse or take any property from the premises. He stated that a particular line of tennis dresses and shorts were delivered to this building by a subcontractor on March 11, 1972. He also stated that since these dresses and shorts were not yet available on the retail market, all of them were located either at the Commerce Street warehouse or at the subcontractor’s in Sherman.
Darlene Porter, a garment inspector for Clockwise at the Commerce Street warehouse, testified that on March 12, 1974, she was eating lunch at a table near the back door of the warehouse. With her was Emma Reager, a stock clerk with Clockwise. The back door, described as an overhead delivery door, was closed when the two women sat down to eat at 11:30. Presently, the women heard the door open and the sound of someone walking. They then turned around and saw a black man with an armful of the tennis dresses running toward the back door. They followed the man and watched him get into a dirty, light colored station wagon with two other men. One of the women memorized the license number of the car as it drove away. Neither woman was able to see the face of the man who took the dresses from the store, and neither identified the appellant at trial.
The woman reported the theft to White-man, who testified that after examining the merchandise he discovered that approximately twenty-five to thirty of the dresses were missing.
The appellant was stopped for a traffic violation the following day. He was driving a dirty, light colored station wagon and was accompanied by his brother Jessie Lee McCloud. The officer who stopped appellant observed a pair of white tennis shorts lying in the back floorboard in plain view. Aware of the details of the burglary at Clockwise, the officer examined the shorts and discovered that they matched the description (as to style number and brand name) of those taken in the burglary. He then arrested the two men.
Police officers then searched the apartment in which appellant had been staying with his brother and two other men! There they found several of the dresses taken in the burglary.
Appellant’s first contention is that the court erred in failing to charge that Jessie Lee McCloud was an accomplice witness as a matter of law.
The State called McCloud as part of its case in chief. Like the appellant, Jessie McCloud was indicted for the Clockwise burglary. Prior to appellant’s trial, Jessie pleaded guilty to this charge and was sentenced to three years, probated.
At the appellant’s trial, Jessie’s testimony was initially evasive, but when confronted by the evidence from his own trial, Jessie testified that appellant and one Dorsey took the dresses while Jessie waited in the car.
The State then introduced a copy of the transcription of the court reporter’s notes taken at Jessie McCloud’s trial. That record reveals that Jessie took the stand and unequivocally stated that appellant and Dorsey stole the dresses while Jessie waited in the car.
Clearly, Jessie McCloud, as a co-in-dictee, was an accomplice as a matter of law. Hendricks v. State, 508 S.W.2d 633 (Tex.Cr.App.1974). It is not significant that Jessie had previously pleaded guilty and received probation — this does not provide an exception to the general rule. Otto v. State, 117 Tex.Cr.R. 257, 36 S.W.2d 177 (1931); and see Thomas v. State, 120 Tex. Cr.R. 274, 48 S.W.2d 278 (1932).
In this case, the trial court utterly failed to give any charge on accomplice testimony,[*887] either as a matter of law or as a question of fact for the jury. See, e. g., Bentley v. State, 520 S.W.2d 390 (Tex.Cr.App.1975). Clearly, this was error.
Nor can we conclude that the error in the charge was harmless. Hendricks v. State, supra. Jessie McCloud’s testimony was the only direct evidence connecting appellant with the offense. And, as in Hendricks, much of the co-indictee’s testimony was not covered by the testimony of other witnesses. Finally, we cannot find support in the record for the State’s contention that Jessie McCloud’s testimony tended to exculpate the appellant.
The only remaining question is whether the error was properly preserved, since the omission of a charge on accomplice testimony is clearly not fundamental error. Hammonds v. State, 166 Tex.Cr.R. 499, 500, 316 S.W.2d 423, 424 (1958).
Appellant presented his two handwritten objections to the court’s charge on a single piece of paper. The first of these complained of a failure to charge on accomplice testimony; the second, of the absence of a charge on circumstantial evidence.
There is no question that the objections were presented to the trial judge, since his denial of the objections is noted over his signature at the bottom of the page on which the objections are found. Cf. Terry v. State, 517 S.W.2d 554, 557 (Tex.Cr.App.1975). The only issue is whether the record sufficiently shows that the objections were presented in a timely fashion before the court’s charge was read to the jury in accord with Art. 36.14, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P.
The record reflects that the charge was presented to the jury on July 24,1974. The charge bears a filemark for that date. Appellant’s objections also bear a filemark showing that they were filed on July 24, 1974. In addition, appellant specifically prefaced his objections with the statement that they were presented “pursuant to Article 36.14 of the Texas Code of Criminal [Procedure].”
The strongest indication that the objections were timely filed is the trial court’s notation itself. It is a cardinal rule of appellate procedure in this State that we must indulge every presumption in favor of the regularity of the proceedings and documents in the lower court. E. g., Martinez v. State, 504 S.W.2d 897, 899 (Tex.Cr.App.1974). Here, the trial judge specifically denied the appellant’s objections. From this, we must presume that the objections were timely filed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary. Since there is no such evidence, and since the filemarks tend to corroborate this presumption, we hold that the error was properly preserved. [1]
Accordingly, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
DOUGLAS, J., concurs in the results.. Compare Casarez v. State, 504 S.W.2d 847, 849 (Tex.Cr.App.1974). The first trial of that case ended in a mistrial. At that trial written objections and requests for instructions were filed and filemarked the same day that the court’s charge was given. The court’s docket sheet and the transcription of the reporter’s notes provided clear evidence that the objections and requests were presented to the court in a timely manner.
At the second trial in Casarez, no new objections or requests were filed, and no new filemark was placed on the previously-filed objections and requests. Hpwever, the transcription of the reporter’s notes showed that the trial court treated those previously-filed objections as refiled, and he made a notation to this effect on his docket sheet. Despite the absence of an affirmative statement on the face of the objections as to the time of their filing, we held that the objections and requested instructions were timely filed.