Denmark v. State

Full title: DAVID DENMARK, Appellant v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

Court: Court of Appeals of Texas, Sixth District, Texarkana

Date published: Feb 20, 2004

No. 06-02-00222-CR (Tex. App. Feb. 20, 2004)

Opinion

No. 06-02-00222-CR.

Submitted: February 18, 2004.

Decided: February 20, 2004. DO NOT PUBLISH.

On Appeal from the 202nd Judicial District Court Bowie County, Texas, Trial Court No. 02-F-0034-202.

Before MORRISS, C.J., ROSS and CARTER, JJ.

OPINION

Opinion by Justice CARTER.

David Denmark appeals his conviction for aggravated robbery. The case was tried to a jury, and punishment was assessed at forty-five years' imprisonment. Denmark contends that he was denied his right of self-representation and that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. On or about the evening of December 3, 2001, Cellie Daniels, a seventy-four-year-old woman, arrived in the parking lot of Super Bingo. As Daniels was getting out of her car, she was hit from behind and she fell to the ground. Daniels tried to get up, but was hit a second time. Daniels testified the assailant eventually took her purse from inside the car and left in a green Ford Escort. Before the jury was impaneled, Denmark made several requests for new counsel. He also inquired as to whether he could have a retained attorney take over his case after voir dire. Through his counsel, Denmark requested to personally conduct a portion of the voir dire. Self-Representation In his first point of error, Denmark contends he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to self-representation. The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right of a defendant to present his or her legal defense, through trial and appeal, without the aid of counsel. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 (1975); Garrett v. State, 998 S.W.2d 307, 316 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 1999, pet. ref'd, untimely filed). Denial of the right to self-representation results in "structural error" and is not subject to a harm analysis. Ex parte Fierro, 934 S.W.2d 370, 372 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996); Garrett, 998 S.W.2d at 316-17; see McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 177 n. 8 (1984). The record indicates, however, that Denmark failed to assert his right to self-representation. The record does not contain a clear and unequivocal assertion of the right to self-representation. The right to self-representation does not attach until the defendant clearly and unequivocally asserts it. Scarbrough v. State, 777 S.W.2d 83, 92 (Tex.Crim.App. 1989); Garrett, 998 S.W.2d at 317. "Unlike the right to counsel, the right of self-representation can be waived by a defendant's mere failure to assert it." Brown v. Wainwright, 665 F.2d 607, 610-11 (5th Cir. 1982). Denmark contends he made several requests for new counsel before the jury was impaneled. The State had offered a negotiated plea agreement of fifteen years, which was the minimum sentence for aggravated robbery with a felony enhancement. Before jury selection, the following exchanges occurred between Denmark and his defense counsel:

Q. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And, David, you know that I've been appointed by the Court to represent you in this matter, is that correct?

A. Yes, sir, but I refuse. I want a lawyer that's going to help me.

. . . .

Q. For a first-degree felony, the law is five to ninety-nine years. If you have at least one prior felony conviction, the minimum moves from five to fifteen years. I can show you the statutes on that. Do you want some time for me to discuss that with you and to show you the statutes?

A. No, sir. I want me another lawyer that's trying to help me.

Later, just before jury selection, the following dialogue occurred:

[APPELLANT]: Mr. Peek, I know I have — I know you convicted me of doing a burglary charge back then, which I was wrong. I was wrong for doing that. I admitted to doing it, that I was wrong. But I asked you please would you help me get a lawyer or somebody that's going to help me because I did not rob this lady.

. . . .

[APPELLANT]: Mr. Peek, I have been asking him — I mean, I've been saying that I needed another lawyer way before the jury trial. I guess he ain't just been saying nothing. I've been saying I needed another lawyer. I've been saying this.

. . . .

[APPELLANT]: If they go ahead and pick the jury and Momma and them buy me a lawyer, is it possible that the bought one can appoint me?

THE COURT: Can do what?

[APPELLANT]: Well, my momma, they're trying to buy me a lawyer now. They're trying to buy me a lawyer. I'm just asking if they — if I go on and like pick the jury and my momma and them find me a lawyer, they buy me a lawyer, is it possible my paid lawyer can appoint me?

THE COURT: Can appoint you?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Can represent him.

[APPELLANT]: Represent me.

THE COURT: Sure, he could come in here and he could represent you, . . .

These requests, though, were for new counsel rather than self-representation. There is no requirement that a trial court search for an appointed counsel agreeable to the defendant. Solis v. State, 792 S.W.2d 95, 100 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990); Cain v. State, 976 S.W.2d 228, 235 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1998, no pet.). A defendant who is displeased with appointed counsel must either accept the assigned attorney, effectively waive the right to counsel in order to represent himself or herself, or show adequate cause for a change of appointed counsel. Thomas v. State, 550 S.W.2d 64, 68 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977); Cain, 976 S.W.2d at 235. A defendant's request to waive counsel must be "clear and unequivocal." Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835. A request for a new attorney is not a clear and unequivocal request to represent oneself. These statements indicate Denmark repeatedly requested counsel, rather than waiving his right to counsel. Therefore, Denmark did not personally assert his right to self-representation. Denmark also argues he asserted the right to self-representation through his attorney. In Johnson, the Tyler Court of Appeals held that the right to self-representation can be asserted through an attorney. Johnson v. State, No. 12-02-00165-CR, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 4638 (Tex.App.-Tyler May 30, 2003) (not designated for publication). However, our situation is distinguishable from Johnson in that Denmark's attorney never made a clear and unequivocal assertion of the right to self-representation. In Johnson, the defendant's attorney stated "my client has informed me that he wishes to represent himself and not continue with my representation." Id. at *6. In a bench conference outside the hearing of the jury during voir dire, Denmark's attorney stated:

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Mr. Denmark wants to address the panel and I told him the only way he could do that —

THE COURT: He cannot.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: — would be if he was representing himself.

THE COURT: That request is denied.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Thank you.

After consideration of the entire statement, it is clear Denmark's attorney was relaying Denmark's request to address the jury panel rather than asserting the right to self-representation on Denmark's behalf. At best, the statement requests hybrid representation. In other words, Denmark was requesting to represent himself during part of the proceeding, but not the entire proceeding. While a trial court may allow hybrid representation at its discretion, a defendant has no constitutional right to hybrid representation under either the United States Constitution or the Texas Constitution. Scarbrough, 777 S.W.2d at 92; see Landers v. State, 550 S.W.2d 272, 280 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977) (op. on reh'g); see also Reeves v. State, 46 S.W.3d 397, 400 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2001, pet. dism'd). It is our conclusion that Denmark's attorney did not make a "clear and unequivocal" assertion of Denmark's right to self-representation. Denmark further contends the trial court's failure to conduct a Faretta hearing resulted in reversible error. A Faretta hearing is intended to ascertain that the defendant's decision to waive counsel was made "knowingly and voluntarily" and that the defendant was "made aware of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation, so that the record will establish that `he knows what he is doing and his choice is made with eyes open.'" Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835. Since we have no assertion of the right to self-representation, there was no need for a Faretta hearing. Therefore, the trial court did not err in failing to hold such a hearing. The record indicates Denmark never expressed a desire to exercise his right to self-representation. On the contrary, Denmark repeatedly requested the assistance of counsel by requesting replacement counsel. At no point did Denmark or his attorney "clearly and unequivocally" assert Denmark's right to self-representation. We overrule Denmark's first point of error. Sufficiency of Evidence In his second point of error, Denmark challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction for aggravated robbery. Denmark argues that the only direct evidence linking him to the robbery is the "internally conflicting and uncorroborated testimony of the co-defendant Sylvester Sanders." We believe that the accomplice witness testimony of Sanders was sufficiently corroborated and that there is sufficient evidence to support the jury's verdict. Denmark argues the accomplice witness testimony is uncorroborated. Article 38.14 provides that "[a] conviction cannot be had upon the testimony of an accomplice unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the offense committed; and the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense." TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.14 (Vernon 1979). "The test for weighing the sufficiency of corroborative evidence is to eliminate from consideration the testimony of the accomplice witness and then examine the testimony of other witnesses to ascertain if there is evidence which tends to connect the accused with the commission of the offense." Hernandez v. State, 939 S.W.2d 173, 176 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997) (citing Reed v. State, 744 S.W.2d 112, 125 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988)). The nonaccomplice evidence establishes Denmark's presence at the scene. This evidence places Denmark in the car before and after the robbery. Jackie Thomas, a security officer with the Texarkana division of the Texas Housing Authority, testified he had to ask Denmark to leave one of the Housing Authority properties earlier that day. Thomas testified Denmark left driving a green Ford Escort. Nonaccomplice testimony also places Denmark in the car after the robbery. While Officer Matthew Smith of the Texarkana Police Department was interviewing Daniels immediately after the robbery, he received another dispatch call concerning a green Ford Escort that had run into a tree six or seven blocks away from the scene of the robbery. Yavonda Moore, who was personally acquainted with Denmark, testified she observed Denmark walking on the sidewalk from the accident. The green Ford Escort involved in the accident was shown to be the same car Denmark had been driving earlier, as well as the same car used in the robbery. Thomas identified the car involved in the accident as the same car Denmark had been driving earlier that day. Daniels also recognized the car as the same car involved in the robbery. Officer Smith recovered Daniels' wallet with her driver's license and identification and belongings from the passenger floorboard of that vehicle. Further, Denmark's brother stated Denmark kept repeating, "`I didn't do it, I didn't do it, I didn't hit that old woman" before being located by the police. Denmark's knowledge that an elderly woman had been robbed indicates he was present at the scene. Thus, the nonaccomplice evidence indicates Denmark was present at the scene of the crime. The mere presence of a defendant at the scene of the crime, though, is insufficient to corroborate accomplice witness testimony. Cox v. State, 830 S.W.2d 609, 611 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992); Beathard v. State, 767 S.W.2d 423, 428 (Tex.Crim.App. 1989); Howard v. State, 972 S.W.2d 121, 128 (Tex.App.-Austin 1998, no pet.). However, cumulative circumstantial evidence of "suspicious circumstances" can be sufficient evidence which "tends to connect" a defendant to the alleged offense, even if none of the circumstances would be sufficient individually.¹ Other suspicious circumstances when considered with presence at the scene can be sufficient to corroborate accomplice witness testimony. Lopez v. State, 960 S.W.2d 948, 951-52 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, pet. ref'd); see Bradley v. State, 48 S.W.3d 437, 440 (Tex.App.-Waco 2001, pet. ref'd). Besides Denmark's presence at the scene, several other "suspicious circumstances" tend to connect him with the robbery. There is some evidence Denmark fled from the scene of the accident. When she observed Denmark walking on the sidewalk away from the wrecked car, Moore testified Denmark asked her to call an ambulance, but fled when he heard the sirens.² Flight has long been held to be a suspicious circumstance. See Cawley v. State, 166 Tex.Crim. 37, 310 S.W.2d 340, 342 (1957); Gonzalez v. State, 115 S.W.3d 278, 283 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2003, no pet. h.). Although Daniels could not identify her attacker, Denmark matched the description Daniels had given to the police. At trial, Daniels' testimony only described the attacker as "[i]t wasn't no girl, it was a boy." However, Officer Smith testified Daniels told him the attacker was a African-American male who was wearing "dark pants and shirt, like blue jeans, and not very big." Denmark, who is five feet two inches tall and weighs approximately 150-160 pounds, was wearing a dark blue multi-colored shirt and blue jeans when arrested approximately an hour and a half after the robbery. Further, the owner of the green Ford Escort testified he had loaned his car to Denmark earlier that evening. Thus, Denmark had the authority to control the use of the car used to transport the parties involved in the robbery to and from the scene. Last, Robert Earl Singleton, Denmark's stepfather, testified that, when Denmark stumbled home drunk that evening, he said, "I think I hit a tree." When considered with Denmark's presence at the scene of the crime, sufficient suspicious circumstances exist which tend to connect Denmark to the crime. Denmark contends the nonaccomplice evidence does not directly link him to the robbery. However, the nonaccomplice evidence does not have to directly link the accused to the commission of the offense. Munoz v. State, 853 S.W.2d 558, 559 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993); Reed, 744 S.W.2d at 126. Further, the nonaccomplice evidence does not need to prove all the elements of the alleged offense. Underwood v. State, 967 S.W.2d 925, 928 (Tex.App.-Beaumont 1998, no pet.); Hernandez, 939 S.W.2d at 176. The accomplice witness rule only requires that there is some nonaccomplice evidence which "tends to connect" the accused to the commission of the offense alleged in the indictment. Hernandez, 939 S.W.2d at 176. We believe there are sufficient suspicious circumstances to corroborate the accomplice witness testimony. In our review of the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we employ the standards set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). This calls on the Court to view the relevant evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000); Turner v. State, 805 S.W.2d 423, 427 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991). Denmark was charged with the offense of aggravated robbery. Section 29.03 of the Texas Penal Code provides that a person commits aggravated robbery if "he commits robbery as defined in Section 29.02" and "causes bodily injury to another person or threatens or places another person in fear of imminent bodily injury or death, if the other person is: (A) 65 years of age or older. . . ." TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 29.03(a) (Vernon 2003). Robbery, under Section 29.02(a) of the Texas Penal Code, is defined as follows:

A person commits an offense if, in the course of committing theft as defined in Chapter 31 and with intent to obtain or maintain control of the property, he:

(1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another; or

(2) intentionally or knowingly threatens or places another in fear of imminent bodily injury or death.

TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 29.02 (Vernon 2003). The jury was charged concerning the law of parties. Under the law of parties, a person is a party to an offense if "acting with intent to promote or assist the commission of the offense, he solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid the other person to commit the offense. . . ." TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 7.02(a)(2) (Vernon 2003). Therefore, the State was required to prove Denmark either intentionally or knowingly caused or intentionally aided an accomplice who caused bodily injury to Daniels, a person over sixty-five, during the course of committing theft. Denmark argues there is insufficient evidence because the testimony of Sylvester Sanders, an accomplice as a matter of law, is inherently inconsistent and no other evidence directly links him to the robbery. Although Daniels could not identify her attacker beyond the vague description, we have already held that the accomplice witness testimony was sufficiently corroborated. Because it turns on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor, the weight of contradictory testimony is within the sole province of the jury. Cain v. State, 958 S.W.2d 404, 408-09 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). Based on Sanders' testimony, a rational juror could have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Denmark committed aggravated robbery. Sanders testified he had spent the evening with Denmark riding around in "some little green car." Sanders confirmed Denmark was asked to leave the Texas Housing Authority property. Sanders stated that eventually Denmark started talking about "pulling a lick, you know what I'm saying, robbery, a jack, . . ." Sanders testified he and Denmark then went to Oaklawn where the Super Bingo is located. Sanders claims Denmark struck Daniels and took her purse. Based on this testimony, a rational juror could have concluded Denmark caused "bodily injury" to Daniels by hitting her. A rational juror could have also found that this injury occurred in the course of a theft. Sanders testified that Denmark had discussed robbing someone and that he took Daniels' purse. Based on this evidence, a rational juror could have concluded Denmark was in the course of committing theft. Last, Daniels testified she was seventy-five years old. Based on this testimony, a rational juror could have concluded she was over sixty-five at the time of the robbery. A rational juror could have found all the essential elements of aggravated robbery beyond a reasonable doubt. In the alternative, we conclude a rational juror could have also found Denmark was liable based on the law of parties. Denmark cites Herndon v. State, 787 S.W.2d 408 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990), for the proposition that his conviction must be reversed because every other "reasonable hypothesis" has not been excluded beyond a reasonable doubt. Denmark argues that, although he was linked to the car, he was not linked to the scene. Further, Denmark contends Morris Mitchell could have been involved as well. Because there could have been three people in the car, one reasonable hypothesis is that one of the persons did not rob Daniels or aid by driving the car. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has explicitly held that legally sufficient evidence does not have to exclude every other "reasonable hypothesis." See Geesa v. State, 820 S.W.2d 154, 156-61 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991), overruled on other grounds, Paulson v. State, 28 S.W.3d 570 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000); see Jennings v. State, 107 S.W.3d 85, 89 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2003, no pet.). Because the every other "reasonable hypothesis" test no longer applies, this argument is without merit. For the reasons stated, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

1 See Dowthitt v. State, 931 S.W.2d 244, 250 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996); Burks v. State, 876 S.W.2d 877, 888 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994); Gill v. State, 873 S.W.2d 45, 49 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994); Richardson v. State, 879 S.W.2d 874, 880 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993); Brown v. State, 672 S.W.2d 487, 489 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984).

2 We note that Denmark's attorney argued to the jury that Denmark fled to avoid being charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI). Denmark would only have been liable for a DWI if he had been driving. If he was the driver, he would have aided his accomplice or accomplices in the commission of the robbery and would have been liable for their conduct. Therefore, the suggestion that the flight resulted from fear of a DWI prosecution does not relieve the defendant of liability for the offense.