Moses Vertiz appeals his conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm. In five issues,Appellant argues that the State impermissibly commented on his prior convictions during the voir direexamination of potential jurors, that the trial court erred in allowing testimony about extraneous acts,and that the jury verdict form should have listed the option of not guilty before the option ofguilty. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
Appellant was involved in an altercation with Marcus Cruise along a roadway in January 2010in Cherokee County. Cruise called the police and told them that Appellant pointed a shotgun at him.Several law enforcement officers responded to the call. Cherokee County Sheriff James Campbellalso responded. As he approached the location of the altercation, Sheriff Campbell encountered ashotgun lying in the roadway. Other officers stopped Appellant approximately a mile from wherethe sheriff found the gun. In Appellant’s vehicle, the officers found a shotgun shell of the samegauge as the rifle. They found another matching shell in the trunk of Appellant’s vehicle, and theyfound three shells near the place where Cruise stated that the altercation took place.Appellant had been convicted of a felony offense within five years of the January 2010incident, and a Cherokee County grand jury indicted him for the felony offense of unlawful
Appellant was involved in an altercation with Marcus Cruise along a roadway in January 2010in Cherokee County. Cruise called the police and told them that Appellant pointed a shotgun at him.Several law enforcement officers responded to the call. Cherokee County Sheriff James Campbellalso responded. As he approached the location of the altercation, Sheriff Campbell encountered ashotgun lying in the roadway. Other officers stopped Appellant approximately a mile from wherethe sheriff found the gun. In Appellant’s vehicle, the officers found a shotgun shell of the samegauge as the rifle. They found another matching shell in the trunk of Appellant’s vehicle, and theyfound three shells near the place where Cruise stated that the altercation took place.Appellant had been convicted of a felony offense within five years of the January 2010incident, and a Cherokee County grand jury indicted him for the felony offense of unlawful
possession of a firearm. 1 Appellant pleaded not guilty, and a jury trial was held. The jury foundAppellant guilty as charged. The trial court assessed a sentence of imprisonment for ten years. Thisappeal followed.
VOIR DIREIn his first and second issues, Appellant argues that the prosecutor’s comments during the voirdire examination of the jury compromised his right to a fair trial. Specifically, he asserts that theprosecutor should not have mentioned that he had a prior felony conviction because he had agreed tostipulate to that fact. Furthermore, he argues that the prosecutor impermissibly hinted in a moregeneral way that he had other prior convictions. With respect to the prior felony conviction, the prosecutor stated that it was an offense for a person to possess a firearm if he was within five years of his release from confinement or supervision. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 46.04(a)(1) (West 2011). The prosecutor did not state for whichoffense Appellant had a prior conviction. Appellant did not object to the prosecutor’s statement ofthe law. Accordingly, this complaint is not preserved for our review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1; Beltran v. State, 99 S.W.3d 807, 811-12 (Tex. App.Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. ref’d) (appellantwaived error by failing to object to voir dire comments).Appellant’s argument fails even if the complaint had been preserved. While one court hasheld that proof of the precise offense is not relevant if a defendant has stipulated to a prior felonyconviction, 2 the state still must prove all of the elements of the offense, including the prior offense. See, e.g., Martin v. State, 200 S.W.3d 635, 639 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (jury must be charged onjurisdictional prior convictions even if defendant stipulates). Indeed, without mention of a priorfelony, the jury might well wonder why Appellant was on trial for possessing a shotgun, something that is permitted generally to those not convicted of felony offenses. Because the State was requiredto prove that Appellant had a prior felony conviction, the State was not precluded from mentioningthe prior conviction during voir dire. We overrule Appellant’s first issue.With respect to the State’s general comments about a prior criminal history, Appellant didraise an objection. However, the objection made at trial does not comport with the complaint raisedon appeal. The district attorney stated, when describing the bifurcated nature of trials in Texas, that evidence about the offense is all that is admitted in the first phase of the trial. He went on to say that 1 See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 46.04(a)(1) (West 2011).2 See McIlroy v. State, 188 S.W.3d 789, 794 (Tex. App.Fort Worth 2006, no pet.).
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if a Defendant has a prior record, bad reputation, or bad character, that type of evidence is notadmissible at that time. He continued that if a defendant is found guilty, evidence of a prior record,reputation, or character is admissible at a sentencing hearing if the defendant is found guilty.Courts have permitted this kind of general statement about the nature of a trial. See, e.g., Phea v. State, 767 S.W.2d 263, 269 (Tex. App.Amarillo 1989, pet. ref’d). There is the potential forabuse of this kind of statement, especially if it leaves little doubt as to whether the defendant on trialhas a prior criminal record. The objection raised at trial, however, was that the prosecutor’sstatements were not necessary because [Appellant had] opted to go to the Court if we get topunishment. On appeal, Appellant argues that the prosecutor improperly informed the jury that hehad a prior conviction and violated Article 36.01(a)(1), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, which provides that enhancement portions of the indictment are not to be read until a hearing on punishment. Appellant did not object at trial on the basis that the prosecutor impermissibly informed thejury of his prior convictions. And the prosecutor did not inform the jury that Appellant had priorconvictions other than the permissible statement about the prior conviction that was an element of theoffense. Because the objection at trial does not comport with the issue raised on appeal, this issue isnot preserved for our review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1. We overrule Appellant’s second issue.
EXTRANEOUS OFFENSE
In his third and fourth issues, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in allowing MarcusCruise to testify that Appellant had stolen from his house and that he stayed at Cruise’s house andstole nail guns. Background
Marcus Cruise was an important witness for the State. He testified that Appellant pointed a shotgun at him. He was the only witness who testified that Appellant possessed the shotgun.Appellant’s counsel cross examined Cruise about his relationship with Appellant. He asked him ifAppellant had a relationship with Cruise’s wife or if the two had been neighbors. Cruise answeredno to each question. Counsel asked Cruise if Appellant just decided, unknown to you for somestrange reason, to pull a gun on you and point it at you? Cruise responded that [h]e’s the one thesteal [sic] from my house.
Counsel objected, and the trial court held a bench conference. The prosecutor stated that he had not gone into the prior dealings between the two men because of a motion in limine but thatcounsel had opened the door to their prior relationship by asking Cruise why Appellant might have
In his third and fourth issues, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in allowing MarcusCruise to testify that Appellant had stolen from his house and that he stayed at Cruise’s house andstole nail guns. Background
Marcus Cruise was an important witness for the State. He testified that Appellant pointed a shotgun at him. He was the only witness who testified that Appellant possessed the shotgun.Appellant’s counsel cross examined Cruise about his relationship with Appellant. He asked him ifAppellant had a relationship with Cruise’s wife or if the two had been neighbors. Cruise answeredno to each question. Counsel asked Cruise if Appellant just decided, unknown to you for somestrange reason, to pull a gun on you and point it at you? Cruise responded that [h]e’s the one thesteal [sic] from my house.
Counsel objected, and the trial court held a bench conference. The prosecutor stated that he had not gone into the prior dealings between the two men because of a motion in limine but thatcounsel had opened the door to their prior relationship by asking Cruise why Appellant might have
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pointed a gun at him. Appellant’s counsel objected to the court’s permitting questions about priorbad acts because I don’t believe the door has been opened by me. The trial court agreed with theState’s position and overruled Appellant’s objection.Later, counsel asked Cruise if he was pretty upset with [Appellant] . . . due to past problems.Cruise testified that he was. During redirect examination, the prosecutor asked Cruise about thequestion posed by defense counsel concerning past problems between the men. Specifically heasked him what those problems had been. Cruise testified that Appellant had stayed over [sic] myhouse and he steal [sic] nail guns. Appellant objected on the basis that Cruise lacked personalknowledge of any theft of nail guns. The trial court overruled the objection. Applicable LawAn appellate court reviews a trial court’s ruling on the admissibility of evidence for an abuse of discretion. See Weatherred v. State, 15 S.W.3d 540, 542 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). A trial courtdoes not abuse its discretion if its ruling is within a zone of reasonable disagreement. See id.Irrelevant evidence is inadmissible. See TEX. R. EVID. 402. Although relevant, evidence may beexcluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. TEX. R.EVID. 403. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of aperson in order to show action in conformity therewith. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). Evidence ofextraneous acts of misconduct may be admissible if the uncharged act is relevant to a material issue inthe case, and the probative value of that evidence is not significantly outweighed by its prejudicialeffect. See Segundo v. State, 270 S.W.3d 79, 87 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Analysis
The answers given by Cruise about suspected criminal conduct by Appellant came in responseto a line of questions by Appellant’s attorney. Appellant’s attorney had challenged Cruise’s version of events. Specifically, he established through Cruise’s testimony that a specific eyewitness wouldnot be testifying to back up [his] version of what occurred. He then sought to establish thatAppellant had a relationship with Cruise’s wifeCruise denied that there was a relationship. Heestablished that Cruise’s family knew Appellant’s family. And then he asked Cruise if it was true,that Appellant just decided, unknown to [him] for some strange reason, to pull a gun on you andpoint it at [him]. Cruise responded with a reference to a previous relationship between the two men that included Appellant’s stealing from him. Later, counsel asked Cruise if he was pretty upset withCruise due to past problems. Cruise testified that he was. On redirect, the State asked Cruise
The answers given by Cruise about suspected criminal conduct by Appellant came in responseto a line of questions by Appellant’s attorney. Appellant’s attorney had challenged Cruise’s version of events. Specifically, he established through Cruise’s testimony that a specific eyewitness wouldnot be testifying to back up [his] version of what occurred. He then sought to establish thatAppellant had a relationship with Cruise’s wifeCruise denied that there was a relationship. Heestablished that Cruise’s family knew Appellant’s family. And then he asked Cruise if it was true,that Appellant just decided, unknown to [him] for some strange reason, to pull a gun on you andpoint it at [him]. Cruise responded with a reference to a previous relationship between the two men that included Appellant’s stealing from him. Later, counsel asked Cruise if he was pretty upset withCruise due to past problems. Cruise testified that he was. On redirect, the State asked Cruise
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what those problems were, and he responded that Appellant had stayed at his house and he steal nailguns. Appellant’s counsel later got Cruise to concede that he did not see Appellant take anythingfrom his house.Given the vague nature of Cruise’s allegations, it can hardly be said that he established thatAppellant had committed some kind of a crime at his house. Indeed, the past history of the two menwas not necessarily relevant, and was not broached until Appellant’s counsel asked why Appellantwould have pointed a gun at Cruise. Cruise’s statement did not directly answer the question, but hisdescription of the history of difficulty between the men came only in response to counsel’s questionsabout their relationship.Opening the door to otherwise inadmissible testimony commonly occurs when otherwise inadmissible evidence is necessary to rebut a false impression left with the jury. See, i.e., Hayden v.State, 296 S.W.3d 549, 554 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). This is a little different. Counsel asked,essentially, what the problem between the men was. Cruise gave him an answer. In this context, wecannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by allowing the answer to stand. Weoverrule Appellant’s third and fourth issues.
VERDICT FORMSIn his fifth issue, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in overruling his request that theverdict form list the option of not guilty before the option of guilty. He argues that no harmwould have accrued by granting his request and that it had the effect of shifting the burden of proof tohim.As the court of criminal appeals has recognized, no statute requires the trial judge to submit awritten verdict form with the jury charge. Jennings v. State, 302 S.W.3d 306, 309 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (citing Bolden v. State, 489 S.W.2d 300, 301 (Tex. Crim. App. 1972); Berghahn v. State,683 S.W.2d 697, 699-701 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) (Clinton, J., dissenting)). The court in Jennings did hold, however, that if a verdict form is submitted, it is evaluated as part of the court’s charge to thejury. Jennings, 203 S.W.3d at 311. Furthermore, though the presiding judge disagreed, the courtheld that a verdict form must set out every ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ option that is available to the juryif the trial court does include a verdict form with the jury charge. Id. at 310.
The verdict form submitted to the jury in this case included both a guilty and a not guilty option for the jury. In addition, the court’s charge explained that Appellant was presumed to be notguilty, that the jury could not find him guilty unless it found beyond a reasonable doubt that he
The verdict form submitted to the jury in this case included both a guilty and a not guilty option for the jury. In addition, the court’s charge explained that Appellant was presumed to be notguilty, that the jury could not find him guilty unless it found beyond a reasonable doubt that he
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committed the offense, and that the presumption of innocence alone was sufficient to acquit him.Furthermore, the jury was instructed to deliberate and vote on a verdict and then to certify it using theattached form. Even without the instructions, we are not persuaded that the order of the possibleverdicts influenced the jury to find Appellant guilty when it would not have otherwise done so.Furthermore, though many courts do list the not guilty verdict first, there is no requirement that it bedone that way, and we presume the jury followed their instructions to deliberate, to hold the State toits burden of proof, and to only record a verdict once the jury agreed upon it. See Williams v. State,937 S.W.2d 479, 490 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Accordingly, we hold that the trial court’s verdictform did not deprive Appellant of a fair trial by shifting the burden of proof to him. We overruleAppellant’s fifth issue.
DISPOSITIONHaving overruled Appellant’s five issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
SAM GRIFFITH Justice
Opinion delivered February 29, 2012. Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.
(DO NOT PUBLISH)
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COURT OF APPEALSTWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXASJUDGMENT
MOSES VERTIZ,
AppellantV.THE STATE OF TEXAS,AppelleeAppeal from the 2nd Judicial District Courtof Cherokee County, Texas. (Tr.Ct.No. 17,704)THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
AppellantV.THE STATE OF TEXAS,AppelleeAppeal from the 2nd Judicial District Courtof Cherokee County, Texas. (Tr.Ct.No. 17,704)THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
FEBRUARY 29, 2012
NO. 12-11-00136-CR
herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
judgment.
It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the judgment
of the court below be in all things affirmed, and that this decision be certified to the court below
for observance.