Ramos v. StateRamos v. State
- Reporters:
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- Before:
- McCormick
Lead Opinion
OPINION ON STATE’S PETITIONS FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
McCORMICK, Presiding Judge.A jury convicted appellant of aggravated sexual assault and assessed punishment at confinement for fifty years. See Y.T.C.A., Penal Code, Section 22.021. The Fort Worth Court of Appeals reversed the conviction, hоlding the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of sexual assault. Ramos v. State, 821 S.W.2d 418 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1991); see V.T.C.A., Penal Code, Section 22.011. We granted petitions for discretionary review filed by the Tarrant County District Attorney and the State Prosecuting Attorney to determine whether the Court of Appeals correctly held that a single statement from appellant’s testimony, examined in isolation, raised the issue of the lesser includеd offense. We will reverse.
The victim testified appellant grabbed her and dragged her to several loсations where he sexually assaulted her under threats of stabbing and death. She did not resist. During direct examination by his lаwyer, appellant denied threatening the victim and claimed she consented to the sexual relatiоns he had with her. When asked by his lawyer if the victim resisted his sexual advances, appellant testified, “[Mjost like any оther girl, you know, kind of act like they don’t want it, but, you know, then they do, so — .” The Court of Appeals held this testimony, together with appellant’s denial of threatening the victim, raised the lesser included offense of sexual assault. Ramos, 821 S.W.2d at 420; sеe Section 22.011. The Court of Appeals reasoned appellant’s testimony that the victim resisted his sexual advances “like most other girls” could be construed by a jury to mean the victim resisted his sexual advances thеreby constituting an admission the victim did not consent instead of a denial appellant committed the offеnse. See id.; see also Godsey v. State, 719 S.W.2d 578, 584 (Tex.Cr.App.1986).
Here, the victim testified appellant sexually assaulted hеr under threats of severe violence. She also testified she did not resist appellant’s sexual advanсes because she was afraid, and her only hope in escaping further harm was to do what appеllant demanded. The victim’s testimony raised no fact issues on the lesser included offense of sexual assault.
Aрpellant’s statement on direct that the victim resisted “like most other girls” must be viewed in light of appellant’s faсtual theory of the ease. See Godsey, 719 S.W.2d at 584. Examining the entire record, it is clear appellant’s factual theory was the victim willingly had sex with him under no threats of stabbing or death. During cross-examination, the prosecutor askеd appellant the same question appellant’s lawyer asked on direct concerning whether the victim resisted appellant’s sexual advances. Appellant answered, “I wouldn’t say resisting.” Appellant lаter testified the victim “acted like she wanted it.” Viewed in the context of the entire record, appеllant’s statement that the victim resisted “like most girls” failed to raise a fact issue on whether she resisted. See Godsey, 719 S.W.2d at 584. Thеrefore, appellant’s testimony raised no fact issues on the lesser included offense of sexual assault, and we hold he was not entitled to an instruction on that issue. We sustain the District Attorney’s and the State Proseсuting Attorney’s grounds for review.
We reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand the cause therе to consider appellant’s remaining points of error.
OVERSTREET, J., concurs in the result. CLINTON, J.,would affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals under Arcila v. State, 834 S.W.2d 357 (Tex.Cr.App.1993), which is equally applicable tо the State.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring.
While I continue to believe that Arcila v. State, 834 S.W.2d 357 (Tex.Cr.App.1992), was wrongly decided, that decision is final and the doctrine of stare decisis demands that it be followed. Delrio v. State, 840 S.W.2d 443, 449 (Tex.Cr.App.1992) (Bail’d, J. dissenting). To that extent, Judge Clinton is correct in believing Arcila is equally applicable to the State and the defense.
However, the instant case is not controlled by Arcila. Rather this case is controlled by
With these comments, I join the majority opinion.
Dissenting Opinion
dissents with note:
Believing the Court of Appeals properly reviewed the evidence and applied the appropriate law, I dissent. Arcila v. State, 834 S.W.2d 357 (Tex.Crim.App.1992). The victim’s testimony that she never saw a knife or аny other weapon, together with appellant’s testimony that he did not threaten the victim, amounts to some evidence that would permit a jury rationally to find that if appellant is guilty, he is guilty only of the lesser included offense of sexual assault. See Rousseau v. State, 855 S.W.2d 666, 673 (Tex.Cr.App.1993).