v.
State
Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas OPINION No. 04-13-00081-CR
Juan RODRIGUEZ, Appellant v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee
From the 379th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2009CR10368 Honorable Angus K. McGinty, Judge Presiding Opinion by: Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice Sitting: Marialyn Barnard, Justice Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice Delivered and Filed: July 2, 2014 AFFIRMED
On May 17, 2012, Appellant Juan Rodriguez was found guilty of multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault and indecency with V.R., a child. The trial court subsequently found the State’s enhancement allegation to be true and Rodriguez was sentenced to thirty-years confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and assessed a fine in the amount of $10,000.00. Rodriguez raises several issues on appeal. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
04-13-00081-CR
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Rodriguez was charged in an eight-count indictment, alleging aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child.
The State called several witnesses at trial. We will discuss the testimony in the order the witnesses were presented at trial. The complaints raised by Rodriguez on appeal require this court to include the specific and detailed allegations of abuse as set forth in the trial testimony.
A. Witnesses at Trial 04-13-00081-CR
[*2]2. C.R., V.R.’s Younger Sister
C.R., who was twelve-years old at the time of V.R.’s outcry, testified that she heard V.R. crying in the bathroom. After asking V.R. several times what happened, V.R. finally stated that Rodriguez was touching her. C.R. explained she was scared and told her older sister, A.R., that same night. When Leilani asked why V.R. was crying, C.R. testified that A.R. lied and told Leilani that she had hit V.R. in the nose. C.R. claimed they did not immediately tell Leilani what V.R. said because Rodriguez was there, but that eventually V.R. told Leilani everything. On cross- examination, C.R. acknowledged that she did not like Rodriguez because he was too strict and that on one occasion, she even spit in his food.
3. A.R., V.R.’s Older Sister
The State next called A.R., who was fifteen-years old at the time. A.R. testified that C.R. came into her room and told her V.R. was crying and that Rodriguez had touched her. A.R. called V.R. into her bedroom and confirmed what V.R. had told C.R., but decided not to tell her mother until the following day. On cross-examination, A.R. testified that she also learned years later that V.R.’s story had changed about running away in 2006. Defense counsel also brought out several inconsistencies between what A.R. told the caseworker and how she testified at trial, including whether Rodriguez had ever made her feel uncomfortable.
4. V.R., the Alleged Victim
During her testimony, V.R. provided a detailed description of the alleged abuse. She was very emotional as she described the times when Rodriguez assaulted her in the back room of the family’s phone store. V.R. explained the first incident occurred when she was in sixth grade; she was with Rodriguez, at the store, at closing time. V.R. testified that she was in the back room when Rodriguez came in and started kissing her and instructed her to remove her clothes. He told 04-13-00081-CR
[*3]her to lay on the couch; Rodriguez attempted to put “his penis in my vagina, but he couldn’t.” V.R. testified to contact by his penis and her vagina, but no penetration during the first incident.
The second time, according to V.R., Rodriguez began by giving her alcohol to relax her. Rodriguez inserted his fingers into her vagina before progressing to penetration by his penis. In describing the second incident, V.R. testified to both digital and penile penetration. V.R. also explained that Rodriguez kept the condoms and contraceptive bullets “up in the attic”—later identified as the crawl space above the ceiling in the back room of the store. V.R. was adamant the abuse started before she turned fourteen.
V.R. also testified about previous incidents from 2006. She explained that Rodriguez would come into her room while she was sleeping and lay beside her. During those episodes, V.R. testified that she pretended to stay asleep while Rodriguez touched her everywhere, “my boobs, and my vagina, and my butt.” When asked by the prosecutor, V.R. testified she originally told a friend, but was too scared to tell her mother. V.R. further explained that she did not tell anyone, in part, due to Rodriguez’s threats of physical harm against her and her family.
During cross-examination, defense counsel questioned V.R. extensively about the inconsistencies in her recorded statement and her testimony. He questioned V.R. about her calm, very matter-of-fact demeanor to the officer as compared to her very emotional state before the jury. Defense counsel also questioned V.R. regarding when the alleged abuse began. On the video recording, V.R. told the officer that no penetration occurred prior to her fourteenth birthday, however; at trial, V.R. testified the penetration preceded her turning fourteen. She also conceded that she never mentioned to the officers that Rodriguez threatened her.
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explained the detailed process she undertakes when examining a child and the importance of the complainant’s history. Dr. Kellogg further testified that according to her notes, V.R. reported that Rodriguez “was forcing me to have sex” and “[t]he first time it happened was in January right before my [fourteenth] birthday.”
B. Directed Verdict and Charge Conference
After Dr. Kellogg’s testimony, the defense moved for a directed verdict on counts I through IV in the State’s indictment, based on the lack of evidence that penetration occurred prior to V.R.’s fourteenth birthday. The trial court ruled that because of conflicting testimony regarding the date of the alleged penetration, there was a question of fact for the jury’s determination and the court denied the directed verdict as to counts I through IV.
Defense counsel also moved for a directed verdict as to counts V through VIII, the indecency with a child allegations, on the basis that such allegations were lesser included offenses of the aggravated sexual assault charges in counts I through IV. The State agreed to waive count IV, and the trial court sustained defense counsel’s objections as to counts VII and VIII. Based on its rulings, the trial court denied defense counsel’s motion for directed verdict on Counts V and VI, and proceeded to the jury for verdict as to counts I, II, III, V, and VI.
C. Verdict and Sentencing
The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts and the case was reset for punishment on December 19, 2012. The State proved up its enhancement allegation that Rodriguez was previously found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. At sentencing, Rodriguez’s new defense counsel called Rodriguez’s mother and father as character witnesses. Rodriguez also testified and explained his involvement in a previous involuntary manslaughter conviction.
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The trial court found the State’s enhancement true and sentenced Rodriguez to thirty-years confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and assessed a fine in the amount of $10,000.00.
Rodriguez raises several issues on appeal. For purposes of this opinion, we address Rodriguez’s complaints in the following order: (1) alleged error in the charge—lack of unanimity instruction and double jeopardy; (2) the State’s comments during closing argument amounted to a comment on Rodriguez’s failure to testify; and (3) ineffective assistance of counsel.
ALLEGED ERROR IN THE TRIAL COURT’S CHARGE
Rodriguez claims the court’s charge was erroneous for two reasons: (1) the charge did not provide an adequate instruction to ensure the convictions returned by the jury were unanimous, and (2) several of the counts contained within the court’s charge were actually lesser included offenses of other counts and the charge, therefore, violated his constitutional rights against double jeopardy.
We first address Rodriguez’s claims based on lack of juror unanimity.
A. Inadequate Unanimity Instruction within the Court’s Charge
A jury must reach a unanimous verdict about the specific crime the defendant committed. See U.S. CONST. amends. V, XIV; TEX. CONST. art. V, § 13; TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 36.29(a) (West Supp. 2013); Cosio v. State, 353 S.W.3d 766, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Landrian v. State, 268 S.W.3d 532, 535 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). “[T]he jury must ‘agree upon a single and discrete incident that would constitute the commission of the offense alleged.’” Cosio, 353 S.W.3d at 771 (quoting Stuhler v. State, 218 S.W.3d 706, 717 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007)). “[N]on-unanimity may occur when the State charges one offense and presents evidence that the defendant committed the charged offense on multiple but separate occasions.” Id. at 772.
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When evidence is presented regarding multiple incidents, which would individually establish different offenses, the “[court’s] charge, to ensure unanimity, would need to instruct the jury that its verdict must be unanimous as to a single offense or unit of prosecution among those presented.” Id.; accord Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 748–49 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (describing how breast-touching and genital-touching were different offenses of indecency with a child and improperly charged in one count of indecency in the disjunctive); Francis v. State, 36 S.W.3d 121, 124–25 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (same); De Los Santos v. State, 219 S.W.3d 71, 76–77 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2006, no pet.) (same). Because the burden rests on the court to instruct the jury as to the law applicable to the case, the trial court must submit a charge to the jury that “does not allow for the possibility of a non-unanimous verdict.” Cosio, 353 S.W.3d at 776.
1. Arguments of the Parties
Rodriguez argues his due process rights were violated because the trial court’s charge allowed the jury to return a less than unanimous verdict based on its failure to provide adequate language to ensure the convictions were unanimous. Rodriguez points to the inconsistencies in the testimony as to (1) whether the abuse started in 2006 or 2008, (2) whether any of the allegations occurred before V.R’s fourteenth birthday, and (3) jury confusion based on V.R.’s testimony as to which incidents were included in the court’s charge.
The State contends the jury was properly charged in the disjunctive for an indictment alleging alternative methods of committing the same offense.
2. Standard of Review
We first determine if error occurred and, “if we find error, we analyze that error for harm.” Ngo, 175 S.W.3d at 743 (citing Middleton v. State, 125 S.W.3d 450, 453 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003)). If there was error, and the appellant objected to the error at trial, reversal is required when the error is “‘calculated to injure the rights of the defendant’”; defined to mean that there is “some harm.”
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Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985). If, as in this case, the error was not objected to, reversal is only required if the harm was so egregious and created such harm that the defendant “‘has not had a fair and impartial trial.’” Id. at 172 (quoting Ross v. State, 487 S.W.2d 744, 745 (Tex. Crim. App. 1972)); see also Warner v. State, 245 S.W.3d 458, 461 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (“The failure to preserve jury-charge error is not a bar to appellate review, but rather it establishes the degree of harm necessary for reversal.”).
3. The Charge
The court’s charge alleged two acts of aggravated sexual assault by penetration, one count of aggravated sexual assault by contact, and two counts of indecency with a child.
V. Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 15th Day of December, 2008, in Bexar County, Texas, the defendant, Juan Rodriguez, did intentionally or knowingly cause the penetration of the sexual organ of [V.R.], a child who was younger than 14 years, by Juan Rodriguez’s sexual organ, then you will find the defendant guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child as charged in Count I of the indictment.
If you do not so believe, or if you have a reasonable doubt thereof, you will find the defendant not guilty in Count I.
VI. Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 15th Day of December, 2008, in Bexar County, Texas, the defendant, Juan Rodriguez, did intentionally or knowingly cause the penetration of the sexual organ of [V.R.], a child who was younger than 14 years, by Juan Rodriguez’s finger, then you will find the defendant guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child as charged in Count II of the indictment.
If you do not so believe, or if you have a reasonable doubt thereof, you will find the defendant not guilty in Count II.
VII. Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 15th Day of December, 2008, in Bexar County, Texas, the defendant, Juan Rodriguez, did intentionally or knowingly cause the sexual organ of Juan Rodriguez to contact the sexual organ of [V.R.], a child who was younger than 14 years, then you will find the defendant guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child as charged in Count III of the indictment.
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If you do not so believe, or if you have a reasonable doubt thereof, you will find the defendant not guilty in Count III.
VIII. Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 15th Day of December, 2008, in Bexar County, Texas, the defendant, Juan Rodriguez, did intentionally or knowingly engage in sexual contact with [V.R.], a female child younger than seventeen (17) years and not the spouse of the [sic] Juan Rodriguez by touching the part of the genitals of [V.R.] with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, then you will find the defendant guilty of indecency with a child as charged in Count V of the indictment.
If you do not so believe, or if you have a reasonable doubt thereof, you will find the defendant not guilty in Count V. IX. Now, if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 15th Day of December, 2008, in Bexar County, Texas, the defendant, Juan Rodriguez, did intentionally or knowingly engage in sexual contact with [V.R.], a female child younger than seventeen (17) years and not the spouse of the [sic] Juan Rodriguez by touching the breast of [V.R.] with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, then you will find the defendant guilty of indecency with a child as charged in Count VI of the indictment.
If you do not so believe, or if you have a reasonable doubt thereof, you will find the defendant not guilty in Count VI.
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the disjunctive.’ The error is in failing to instruct the jury that it must be unanimous in deciding which one (or more) of the three disjunctively submitted offenses it found appellant committed.”). a. Charged Offenses
Rodriguez was charged and convicted under Texas Penal Code section 22.021, aggravated sexual assault, a conduct-oriented offense. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.021 (West 2011); Vick v. State, 991 S.W.2d 830, 832 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) (“Article 22.021 is a conduct-oriented offense in which the legislature criminalized very specific conduct of several different types.”). The statute provides that “each separately described conduct constitutes a separate statutory offense.” Vick, 991 S.W.2d at 833; Hendrix v. State, 150 S.W.3d 839, 846 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. ref’d). Rodriguez was also charged under Texas Penal Code 21.11, indecency with a child, likewise a conduct-oriented offense. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.11; Pizzo v. State, 235 S.W.3d 711, 719 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Ex parte Chafin, 180 S.W.3d 257, 259 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005, no pet.). Thus, each alleged act, i.e., touching V.R.’s genitals, touching V.R.’s breast, and penetration of her sexual organ, constitutes a different criminal offense and juror unanimity is required. Pizzo, 235 S.W.3d at 719; accord Loving v. State, 401 S.W.3d 642, 648 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
Rodriguez contends the court’s charge did not provide adequate instruction to ensure the jury’s verdict was unanimous as to each separate count. Cosio, 353 S.W.3d at 771–72. As the Cosio Court explained:
Non-unanimity may occur when the State charges one offense and presents evidence that the defendant committed the charged offense on multiple but separate occasions. Each of the multiple incidents individually establishes a different offense or unit of prosecution. The judge’s charge, to ensure unanimity, would need to instruct the jury that its verdict must be unanimous as to a single offense or unit of prosecution among those presented.