Opinion
07-23-00003-CR
10-24-2023
LEWIS YOUNG, APPELLANT v. THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
Do not publish.
On Appeal from the 137th District Court Lubbock County, Texas Trial Court No. DC-2022-CR-1505, Honorable John J. McClendon, III, Presiding
Before QUINN, C.J., and PARKER and YARBROUGH, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Alex Yarbrough Justice.
Following a plea of not guilty, Appellant, Lewis Young, was convicted by a jury of manslaughter. The jury assessed punishment: life imprisonment. By four issues, Appellant contends the trial court abused its discretion in: (1) denying his motion for mistrial based upon his alleged incompetency; (2) failing to grant his motion for continuance; (3) failing to conduct a competency hearing outside the presence of the jury; and (4) denying his motion for new trial based upon the lack of fitness of the foreperson of the jury. We affirm.
The State has argued Appellant did not adequately brief his issues. However, because Appellant's brief is sufficient to acquaint the Court with the issues in this case and presents arguments that will enable the Court to decide the case, we find the briefing substantially complies with the appellate rules. Tex.R.App.P. 38.9.
Background
Because Appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction, we set forth only those facts necessary for disposition of his appellate issues. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.
On the first day of trial, before the lunch break, Appellant informed his attorneys he had a bathroom emergency. After the trial court dismissed the jury for lunch, his attorneys discovered he had urinated on himself. The attorneys took Appellant to the bathroom and were able to get new clothing for him. While Appellant was changing, his attorneys made three motions with the trial court: a motion for mistrial, a motion for continuance based on incompetency, and a motion suggesting incompetency. The attorneys told the trial court Appellant has "good days and bad days" regarding his cognitive abilities, and that day was an "especially bad day." The trial court denied all three motions and declined to make an inquiry into Appellant's mental condition, instead assuring them it would "strongly suggest" to the sheriff's department to evaluate Appellant's competency to stand trial. The State's attorneys also said they would recommend evaluation to the sheriff's department. The following day, the medical personnel from the jail reported to the trial court, "everything looks okay." Based on the report, the trial court determined Appellant was competent to stand trial and the trial continued.
At the end of the trial, after Appellant was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, the jury was questioned. During questioning of the foreperson, it was discovered she suffered from severe anxiety and mental health issues which required her to seek care from a therapist during the trial. Appellant moved for a new trial based upon the juror's communications with her therapist during the trial. The court conducted a hearing on the motion. Appellant was permitted to call the foreperson as a witness but was not permitted to call another juror or the foreperson's therapist. Appellant's attorneys then made a bill of exception to show the other juror would have testified he did not believe Appellant was guilty of manslaughter, and the foreperson appeared to "have an agenda." Appellant also made a bill of exception to indicate he anticipated the therapist would have contradicted the foreperson regarding the number of times she contacted the therapist. This appeal followed.
Standard of Review
A trial court's denial of a mistrial is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Ocon v. State, 284 S.W.3d 880, 884 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (citations omitted). A trial judge's decision to not pursue a formal finding of incompetency is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. Mason v. State, No. 07-14-00345-CR, 2015 Tex.App. LEXIS 12515, at *10 (Tex. App.-Amarillo Dec. 9, 2015, pet. ref'd) (citing Moore v. State, 999 S.W.2d 385, 393 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999)); see also Luna v. State, 268 S.W.3d 594, 600 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). An appellate court views the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling, considering only those arguments before the court at the time of the ruling. Id. The ruling must be upheld if it was within the zone of reasonable disagreement. Id. A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision falls outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. Aceituno-Urbina v. State, No. 07-22-00205-CR, 2023 Tex.App. LEXIS 4262, at *2 (Tex. App.-Amarillo June 16, 2023, pet. filed) (citing Henley v. State, 493 S.W.3d 77, 82-83 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016)).
The granting or denying of a motion for continuance is within the sound discretion of the trial court. Renteria v. State, 206 S.W.3d 689, 699 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (citations omitted). A defendant must show "specific prejudice to his defense" to establish that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to grant a continuance. Id.
Finally, we review the denial of a motion for new trial for abuse of discretion. Najar v. State, 618 S.W.3d 366, 371 (Tex. Crim. App. 2021); McQuarrie v. State, 380 S.W.3d 145, 150 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). An appellant bears the burden of proving the allegation of juror misconduct. Hughes v. State, 24 S.W.3d 833, 842 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
Analysis
Issues One and Three-FAILURE to Conduct Informal Competency Inquiry
Appellant's first and third issues complain the trial court failed to make an informal inquiry upon a suggestion of incompetence as prescribed under article 46B. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.004. He complains the trial court should have made an informal inquiry, and failing to make the inquiry, should have granted his motion for mistrial.
Appellant's third issue complains about the failure to perform the informal inquiry while his first issue complains of the denial of mistrial.
A defendant is incompetent to stand trial if he does not have "(1) sufficient present ability to consult with [his] lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding[] or (2) a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against [him]." Art. 46B.003(a). A person is presumed to be competent to stand trial unless proved incompetent by a preponderance of the evidence. Art. 46B.003(b). Once the issue of a defendant's competency to stand trial has been sufficiently raised, the trial judge should determine by "informal inquiry" whether there is "some evidence from any source that would support a finding that the defendant may be incompetent to stand trial." Art. 46B.004(c). If after an informal inquiry the court determines that evidence exists to support a finding of incompetence, the court shall order an examination to determine whether the defendant is incompetent to stand trial. Art. 46B.005(a); see also Mason v. State, No. 07-14-00345-CR, 2015 Tex.App. LEXIS 12515, at *9 (Tex. App.-Amarillo Dec. 9, 2015, pet. ref'd) (mem. op., not designated for publication).
At trial, Appellant's counsel orally made a suggestion of incompetency as follows:
[A]fter talking with [co-counsel], at this point, due to what seems to be medical issues that we were previously unaware, we're going to . . . make [a] motion suggesting the competency in conjunction - in addition to the bladder control problems. [Co-counsel] has expressed to me he's experienced - especially today, [Appellant] has good days and bad days, that today is especially a bad day, as far as his cognitive - cognitive abilities and understanding.
When the trial court denied the motion, Appellant's counsel asked: "[I]s the court able to order him to be mentally evaluated this evening to see if there's any underlying issues that need to be addressed?" The trial court responded, "I'll certainly urge the sheriff's office to look at that . . . I'm not certain it's something that I can order . . . but I can certainly strongly urge it."
The State's attorneys then volunteered to recommend to the sheriff's department to conduct the medical evaluation as well. The following morning, the trial court stated:
Yesterday during trial, counsel for the defense and the State joined in this. I asked that we make certain that medical staff visit with [Appellant], . . . and make certain that everything is okay. I received a report back from medical services, and they've indicated that everything is okay.
Appellant complains this medical report did not satisfy the required "informal inquiry" into his competency under article 46B.004. Appellant argues the medical report did not evaluate his mental condition or competency to otherwise stand trial. However, there is no copy of the medical report in the record, and there is no specific objection to any of the findings in the report, including any deficiency, in the record. Under an abuse of discretion standard, we may not surmise what the contents of the medical report were, and we are required to give deference to the trial court's factfinding. Crain v. State, 315 S.W.3d 43, 48 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). Absent evidence in the record to the contrary, the evaluation requested by the trial court is more than the de minimis informal inquiry required by statute.
Furthermore, Appellant's counsel did not raise any specific concerns regarding his competency to trigger the "informal inquiry" requirement of article 46B. Although counsel stated Appellant was having an "especially bad day," he did not articulate any of the factors prescribed by statute indicating incompetency. See Art. 46B.024; cf. Boyett v. State, 545 S.W.3d 556, 560-61 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018) (defendant's counsel stated he was having trouble communicating with his client, observed bizarre behaviors, and presented testimony from four witnesses who observed bizarre and irrational behaviors from the defendant). This is "a case in which there is some evidence of mental illness but no evidence from which it may reasonably be inferred that the defendant's mental illness renders him incapable of consulting rationally with counsel." Turner v. State, 422 S.W.3d 676, 696 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). There was no evidence before the trial court "that would support a finding that the defendant may be incompetent to stand trial." Art. 46B.004(c). Accordingly, the trial court was not under any duty to conduct an informal inquiry into Appellant's competency. Supra. Appellant's first and third issues are overruled.
Issue Two-ERROR Not Preserved Regarding Continuance of Trial
Appellant complains the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a continuance. Particularly, Appellant's counsel wished to have time to ensure Appellant's competency and ability to participate in his own defense.
To preserve error regarding the denial of a motion for a continuance, the motion must be in writing and sworn. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 29.06-.08; Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 735, 755-56 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Matamoros v. State, 901 S.W.2d 470, 478 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). Appellant's counsel only made an oral motion for continuance at trial and did not file a subsequent written motion. As such, this issue has not been preserved for appeal. Appellant's second issue is overruled.
Issue Four-DENIAL of Motion for New Trial Based on Juror Misconduct
In his final issue, Appellant complains the trial court abused its discretion in not granting his motion for new trial. The motion was based on the foreperson of the jury being found to have severe anxiety issues which caused her to contact her therapist during the trial. After the jury was empaneled, but before opening statements and introduction of evidence, the foreperson met with her therapist to ask for coping mechanisms during the trial. She also received text messages from her therapist during the trial checking on her mental health status. The foreperson testified she did not exchange any information regarding any aspect of the trial with her therapist. While the record indicates there may have been additional evidence from another juror regarding her motives for voting guilty, we are not permitted to invade the deliberations of the jury, including their mental processes. TEX. R. EVID. 606(b)(1).
A juror is generally qualified to serve when she is older than eighteen years of age and of sound mind. Even if the juror is found to have a mental defect, the record must demonstrate the mental defect prevented her from understanding her limited role as a juror before she can be disqualified. Sparks v. State, No. AP-76,099, 2010 Tex.Crim.App. Unpub. LEXIS 629, at *43-47 (Tex. Crim. App. Oct. 20, 2010). Although there is some indication the foreperson's anxiety was severe, there is no evidence it prevented her from comprehending her role or fulfilling her duties as a juror. We do not find the foreperson's anxiety issues to be disqualifying. Id.
Tex. Gov'T Code Ann. § 62.102; see also TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. ART. 35.16(A) (JUROR MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FOR INSANITY, BUT MENTAL DEFECTS MAY BE WAIVED IF NOT PROPERLY CHALLENGED).
The foreperson's conversations with her therapist during the trial similarly did not disqualify her as a juror. No person shall be permitted to converse with a juror about the case on trial except in the presence and by the permission of the court. Art 36.22. A violation of article 36.22, once proven by the defendant, triggers a rebuttable presumption of injury to the accused, and a mistrial may be warranted. Ocon, 284 S.W.3d at 884 (internal quotations and citations omitted). When determining whether the State sufficiently rebutted the presumption of harm, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling and defer to the trial court's resolution of historical facts and its determinations concerning credibility and demeanor. Id.
Here, the foreperson's testimony did not reveal she spoke about the trial to her therapist, or if the therapist influenced her decisions regarding guilt in any way. There must be evidence the juror was influenced by an outside source before a mistrial or new trial may be warranted. Id. at 885-86. Even when a juror expresses some bias towards the defendant in outside conversations, those expressions are not in and of themselves enough to warrant a new trial. Accordingly, because the foreperson was qualified to serve and there is no evidence she was influenced by an outside source, Appellant did not meet his burden to prove juror misconduct. TEX. R. EVID. 606(b)(2)(A).
See id. at 882-83 (juror overheard in bathroom complaining about his schedule and expressed his opinion defendant was "dirty, disgusting" on cellphone); Quinn v. State, 958 S.W.2d 395, 397 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) (juror calling defendant "bastard" and complained to co-worker over phone); see also Looney v. State, No. 07-22-00299-CR, 2023 Tex.App. LEXIS 7265, at *2 (Tex. App.-Amarillo Sep. 19, 2023, no pet. h.) (alternate juror present during initial jury deliberations).
We do not find the trial court abused its discretion in denying Appellant's motion for new trial. Appellant's fourth issue is overruled.
Conclusion
The trial court's judgment is affirmed.