Douglas Henry HEGAR, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
No. 01-97-01109-CR.
Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (1st Dist.).
Nov. 10, 1999.
William D. Ballard, Bryan, for State.
Panel consists of Chief Justice SCHNEIDER, and Justices O‘CONNOR and TAFT.
OPINION
TIM TAFT, Justice.
A jury convicted appellant, Douglas Henry Hegar, of misdemeanor theft by check. The trial court sentenced appellant to 45 days in jail. We address: (1) error in replacement of a disabled juror; (2) admissibility of business records; (3) admissibility of extraneous offenses; (4) factual sufficiency of the evidence to prove identity of the stolen property and lack of consent; and (5) validity of the punishment verdict form. We affirm.
Facts
Appellant bought 33 1 x 4‘s and somе sheeted metal from McCoy‘s in Bryan, Texas. He paid with a check in the amount of $143.55, drawn on his checking account at the First National Bank of Anderson. Appellant did not have sufficient funds in his account to cover the check.
Disabled Juror
In issue one, appellant argues that the trial court erred by replacing a disabled juror with the next available prospective juror from the list, after the jury was sworn, instead of proceeding with eleven jurors, as required by articles 36.29 and 36.30 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
A. Facts
After voir dire, the parties exercised their рeremptory strikes and a jury of 12 was seated, including a juror named Medina. The trial court released the remainder of the venire from the instructions previously given. The jury was sworn. The trial court gave the jurors additional instructions, excused them for a lunch recess, and told them to return at 1:30 p.m.
During the recess, Medina told the trial court she was not feeling well because she had been in a very bad car accident the day before. She said she did not think she could concentrate and sit through the trial.1 Counsel for the State and the appellant were present when Medina spoke to the trial court. Neither party challenged the trial court‘s decision to discharge Medina because of her disability.
Once the trial court decided to discharge Medina, the trial court asked the parties if they objected to seating the next available juror.2 Although the prosecutor informed the trial court that she thought there was a provision allowing them to proceed to trial with eleven jurors, the State did not object to seating the next juror.
Defense counsel‘s initial response was that he did not think replacing a juror after the jury had been sworn was an option. He consulted with appellant, and told him his options were (1) to proceed with 11 jurors, (2) move for a mistrial, or (3) replace a juror, if that was even allowed because he did not think that it was. Appellant moved for a mistrial. The trial court denied the request for a mistrial and issued an instruction that the next available juror, Martinez, return at 1:15 p.m. At that point, appellant objected to the trial court‘s decision to replace the disabled juror.
B. Error
Although the Code of Criminal Procedure does not address the situation in which a juror becomes disabled after being sworn in a misdemeanor trial, it does address the situation where a juror becomes disabled after being sworn during a felony trial.
Unlike
The State does not provide us with any reason why the procedure applied under
The trial court did not give appellant the option of proceeding with 11 jurors, and it denied appellant‘s request for a mistrial. Although defense counsel objected to replacing the disabled juror, and both the prosecutor and defense counsel indicated that proceeding with 11 jurors was appropriate, the trial court did not consider the option and proceeded to replace the disabled juror. The trial court did not give adequate consideration to appellant‘s right to have his guilt or innocence decided by the first jury sworn in as the trier of fact. The trial court should have proceeded with 11 jurors.
We hold the trial court erred by replacing the disabled juror.
C. Harm
Appellant argues that replacing the disabled juror with a venire member who was released from the trial court‘s instructions requires a presumption of harm, because the new juror was allowed to talk freely about the case to anyone he wanted once he was released, and because appellant did not have the opportunity to question the new juror regarding what happened after
1. Is This Error Constitutional Error?
We first examine whether the error is constitutional or other error pursuant to
2. Other Error Analysis
Accordingly, we overrule appellant‘s first issue.
Admission of Business Records
In issue two, appellant claims the trial court erred by admitting bank records into evidence on hearsay grounds and for lack of notiсe under
An objection must be timely and specific to preserve error.
Appellant did make a trial objection claiming lack of notice of the bank records. The State responded that the records had been on file. The State also argued that it was unnecessary to provide the notice required by
Accordingly, we overrule appellant‘s issue two.
Extraneous offenses
In issue three, appellant claims the trial court erred by admitting the bank records because they contained references to other returned checks, which were irrelevant to prove the requisite intent. Appellant also argues the records contained extraneous offenses inviting the jury to find appellant guilty based on character conformity. Finally, appellant contends the State did not give the requested notice required by
A. Relevance of Other Returned Checks
We first address appellant‘s contention that the extraneous transactions were irrelevant to prove intent. Because guilty intent cannot be inferred from the mere act of giving a check in payment for goods, or from other direct evidence, evidence of extraneous similar transactions when the defendant gave insufficient checks in payment for goods is relevant. See Ali v. State, 742 S.W.2d 749, 753 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1987, pet. ref‘d). Therefore, we reject appellant‘s first argument.
B. Not Crimes or Wrongs
We next address the State‘s claim that evidence of other returned checks was admissible because it was not evidence of crimes or wrongs, but mere embarrassments.
C. Section 31.03(c)(1) Admissibility
The State next argues the evidence of other returned checks was admissible pursuant to
evidеnce that the actor has previously participated in recent transactions other than, but similar to that which the prosecution is based is admissible for the purpose of showing knowledge or intent and the issues of knowledge or intent are raised by the actor‘s plea of not guilty;
D. Rule 404(b) Admissibility
E. Lack of Notice
Appellant raises an additional objection based on the State‘s failure to provide notice in response to appellant‘s request pursuant to
We find no trial objection by appellant based on the failure of the State to give notice pursuant to
F. Summary
Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not err in admitting appellant‘s bank records showing extraneous transactions. We overrule appellant‘s third issue.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
In issue four, appellant claims the State did not present any evidence of a lack of consent or prove that the property taken was “building lumber” as alleged in the indictment. The State argues that there was evidence of lack of consent, and that any variance in the State‘s indictment and the proof at trial was immaterial. Because appellant complаins of the trial court‘s failure to grant appellant‘s motion for instructed verdict and because appellant asks only for reversal as relief, we construe appellant‘s challenge to the evidence as a factual sufficiency attack. We apply the usual standard of review. See Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 134 (Tex. Crim.App.1996).
To prove lack of consent, the State relied on the testimony of Karie
In regard to the property taken, appellant claims the State‘s proof of “lumber or building material” varied from the indictment‘s allegation of “building lumber.” The State points out that counsel for appellant conceded in jury argument that the defense was not quarreling with the fact the property was building lumber. The record also reflects there was substantial testimony regarding the use that appellant was going to make of the matеrials. Robert Beaubouef, the manager of McCoy‘s, testified that the 1 x 4‘s and metal that appellant was buying were to build a barn for one of appellant‘s customers. When counsel for appellant challenged the use of 1 x 4‘s as fairly thin to be used on outside construction of a barn, Mr. Beaubouef explained how the 1 x 4‘s are lapped over the top of rafters or wall construction in order to fasten metal roofing or siding to the barn. Under these circumstances, a rational jury could have concluded that the 1 x 4‘s were building lumber. Appellant did not bring any evidence that the 1 x 4‘s were not building lumber. Therefore, the jury‘s verdict of guilty was not so against the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust.
We overrule appellant‘s fourth issue.
Verdict Forms
In issue five, appellant argues the trial court erred by submitting improper verdict forms. He argues that this error resulted in a verdict that was incomplete, uncertain, and speculative. The State responds by arguing that appellant waived any objection to the punishment charge and to the forms of the verdict.4 We agree with the State that appellant waived error, if any, аs to the form of the verdict because he did not object at trial when given the opportunity to do so by the trial court. See
We overrule appellant‘s issue five.
Conclusion
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Justice O‘CONNOR dissenting.
MICHOL O‘CONNOR, Justice, dissenting.
I disagree with the majority opinion as to its disposition of issue one. I agree that the trial court erred in replacing a disabled juror after the jury was already sworn. However, I would hold this was constitutional structural error warranting reversal. Even if it was not a constitutional error, as the majority holds, I would hold the error affects the appellant‘s substantial rights.
Constitutional Error
One of the most valuable rights guaranteed a defendant by the United States Cоnstitution1 and the Texas Constitution2 is the right to trial by an impartial jury.
Once the jury is sworn, it is a closed class that may not be re-opened or altered. Although the number of jurors serving on the jury may decrease after the jury is sworn, it may not be changed by the addition or replacement of other jurors, unless thеy are alternate jurors. This is contemplated by the Code of Criminal Procedure with rules designed to avoid the untimely and erroneous addition of someone to the jury: (1) under
Under Cain v. State, 947 S.W.2d 262, 264 (Tex.Crim.App.1997), an appellate court must conduct a harmless error analysis of constitutional errors, unless the error is a structural constitutional error. See also Forbes v. State, 976 S.W.2d 749, 752 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, no pet.);
I would hold the error in replacing a disabled juror after the jury was sworn with a juror who had been released was structural error because its effect cannot be measured against the remaining evidence at trial. This error tainted the jury. See Ross v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 81, 83-85, 108 S.Ct. 2273, 2276-77, 101 L.Ed.2d 80 (1988) (stating trial court‘s failure to remove biased juror was constitutional error).
The trial court‘s error is analogous to seating a disqualified juror; once the jury
The majority finds the error was not constitutional error because the Legislature prescribes the manner in which juries are selected. Thus, the majority concludes any error in the selection of juries cannot be a constitutional error. I disagree. See Chappell v. State, 850 S.W.2d 508, 512 (Tex.Crim.App.1993) (finding automatic reversible error where statute allowing only one jury shuffle was violated). Whatever method the Legislature enacts for the selection of jurors, it must meet constitutional standards. Therefore, the failure to observe the Legislature‘s enactments regarding jury selection can result in constitutional error.
Substantial Rights
Even if this case is governed by
Under the majority‘s holding that it was not a constitutional error, the burden shifted to the appellant to show harm. Under the majority‘s approach, the appellant can never prove he was harmed when a statute involving the selection of the jury is violated. The majority concludes the record does not reflect any taint upon the juror. Of course it does not; the replacement juror was never questioned by thе trial court to determine what happened after he was released and called back to serve, nor was appellant allowed the opportunity to do the same.
Notes
Court: Is there any problem with going to the next juror, having the next juror come a little bit early so we can swear him in? It‘s Riсhard Martinez.
Defense counsel: Can we even do that now that they‘ve been sworn?
Prosecutor: I believe there is now a provision where we can proceed with 11 jurors.
Defense counsel: Can I consult with my client just a second?
Court: Sure.
(A brief pause in the proceedings)
Defense counsel: Judge, I‘m sorry. I would much prefer to do this outside the presence of the jury.
Court: Well, I‘m going to have to give her some instructions.
Medina: Do I need to wait outside?
Court: Why don‘t you step in that room, please?
Defense counsel: Judge, first of all, I want to apologize; and take responsibility for not following through with the questions with Ms. Medina, who obviously indicated that she‘s not mentally or physically сompetent to sit as [sic] juror. But despite that, it wasn‘t brought to our attention sufficiently for me to make that judgment call prior to making our strikes. I‘ve discussed the available options with Mr. Hegar, which include proceeding with only 11 jurors, calling the next available person on the strike list back into court, if that could even be done, or requesting a mistrial because of this procedural problem. And he‘s indicated to me that he would like to request a mistrial. So I would do so.
Court: State?
Prosecutor: State is not opposed to the Court‘s suggestion of calling the next availаble juror, Mr. Martinez, on the list. He was not struck by either myself or [defense counsel]. And I do not find him an objectionable juror, or if the Court chooses to proceed with 11 jurors in the case. State would oppose the granting of a mistrial at this time.
Court: Court denies the request for the mistrial. Call Mr. Martinez and have him report at 1:15, please.
Defense counsel: Judge, if the record is not clear, that‘s still our objection.
Court: The record is clear on that point. Your objection was overruled.
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 10.