Case Information
*0 FILED IN 3rd COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 8/10/2015 9:59:49 AM JEFFREY D. KYLE Clerk No. 03-14-722-CR; 03-14-723-CR; 03-14-724-CR THIRD COURT OF APPEALS 8/7/2015 2:31:49 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE AUSTIN, TEXAS 03-14-00724-CR *1 ACCEPTED CLERK IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AT AUSTIN
MARK FRUGE
Appellant
v.
The State of Texas
Appellee On Appeal In Case Number D1DC-13-200256; 13-200259; 13-200257 From the 331 ST District Court of Travis County The Hon. David Crain, Judge Presiding Brief on Appeal Submitted by:
The Law Offices of Ariel Payan
1012 Rio Grande
Austin, Texas 78701
Tel. 512/478-3900
Fax: 512/472-4102
arielpayan@hotmail.com
Ariel Payan
State Bar No. 00794430 Court-Appointed Attorney for Appellant Oral Argument Not Requested
Table of Contents
Certificate of Parties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
Index of Authorities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Preliminary Statement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Point of Error. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Facts Relevant to Appeal.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Point of Error Restated.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Statement Regarding Oral Argument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Certificate of Delivery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
i
Certificate of Parties
Pursuant to Rule 38.1(a), Rules of Appellate Procedure (“Tex.R.App.Pro.”), the following is a complete list of the names and addresses of all parties to the trial court’s final
judgment and their counsel in the trial court, as well as appellate counsel, so the Clerk of the
Court may properly notify the parties to the trial court’s final judgment or their counsel, if
any, of the judgment and all orders of the Court of Appeals.
Appellant
Mark Fruge
TDCJ-ID No.1302065
Ellis Unit
1697 FM 980
Huntsville, TX 77343
Appellate Counsel: Trial Counsel:
Ariel Payan Albert Duke Hildreth
1012 Rio Grande Margaret Chen-Kercher
Austin, Texas 78701 1301 Nueces St., Austin
State of Texas
Rosemary Lehmberg
P.O. Box 1748
Austin, TX 78767
Appellate Counsel: Trial Counsel:
Scott Taliaferro Matthew Foye
David Levingston ii
Index of Authorities
Federal Cases :
Gray v. Mississippi, 481 U.S. 648 (1987).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Uttecht v. Washington, 551 U.S. 1 (2007). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Victor v. Nebraska, 511 U.S. 1, 5 (1994). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 521 (1968).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Texas Cases :
Delk v. State, 855 S.W.2d 700, 704 (Tex.Cr.App. 1993). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Feldman v. State, 71 S.W.3d 738, 744 (Tex.Cr.App. 2002).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 10
Garrett v. State, 851 S.W.2d 853, 859 (Tex.Cr.App. 1993). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Geesa v. State, 820 S.W.2d 154, 162 (Tex.Cr.App. 1991). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Jackson v. State, 992 S.W.2d 469 (Tex.Cr.App. 1999). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
King v. State, 29 S.W.3d 556, 568 (Tex.Cr.App. 2000).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 562 (Tex.Cr.App. 1999), cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1070 (2000)
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 387 (Tex.Cr.App. 1990) (on rehearing). . . . . . 14
Murphy v. State, 112 S.W.3d 592, 597 (Tex.Cr.App. 2003). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Paulson v. State, 28 S.W.3d 570, 573 (Tex.Cr.App. 2000). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Pondexter v. State, 942 S.W.2d 577, 584 (Tex.Cr.App. 1996). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
iii
Rankin v. State, 953 S.W.2d 707, 741 (Tex.Cr.App. 1996). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Rogers v. State, 853 S.W.2d 29, 33 (Tex.Cr.App. 1993). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 506 (Tex.Cr.App. 1991). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Theus v. State, 845 S.W.2d 874, 881 (Tex.Cr.App. 1992). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Wyatt v. State, 23 S.W.3d 18, 25 (Tex.Cr.App. 2000). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Cases from Other Jurisdictions :
Federal Constitution :
United States Constitution, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Texas Statutes / Codes :
Tex.R.Crim.Evid. 404(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Tex.Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 35.16(b)(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Tex.R.Crim.Evid. 401. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Tex.R.Evid. 404.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
iv
Preliminary Statement Pursuant to Tex.R.App.Pro. 38.1(d), the following is a brief general statement of the nature of the cause or offense:
Appellant, Mark Fruge, was charged by indictment with the offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony, in Cause No. 13-200256; Aggravated Robbery in 13-200259; Attempted Capital Murder, and aggravated assault of a public servant in 13-200257 in the 331 th District Court of Travis County, Texas. He was convicted in said cause and was sentenced to life incarceration. Notice of Appeal was timely given.
Point of Error Pursuant to Tex.R.App.Pro. 38.1(f), the following are the points upon this appeal is predicated:
THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED IN GRANTING THE STATE’S CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE, DENYING APPELLANT A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL JURY.
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING THE STATE TO IMPEACH A WITNESS WITH APPELLANT’S PRIOR CONVICTION AND/OR BAD ACT
v *7 No. 03-14-722-CR; 03-14-723-CR; 03-14-724-CR IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AT AUSTIN
MARK FRUGE
Appellant
v.
The State of Texas
Appellee On Appeal In Case Number D1DC-13-200256; 13-200259; 13-200257 From the 331 ST District Court of Travis County The Hon. David Crain, Judge Presiding Brief on Appeal
TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS:
COMES NOW, MARK FRUGE, Appellant in the above styled and numbered cause, by and through Ariel Payan, his undersigned attorney of record, and respectfully files this
“Brief on Appeal,” filed pursuant to Tex.R.App.Pro. 38.1, and would pursuant to 38.1(g)
show the Court as follows:
Facts Relevant to Appeal On January 14, 2013 Abraham Martinez was working for the armored car service Guarda. (R.R. Vol. 6, pg. 269). He had arrived at the Capital Plaza Fallas Discount Store
in Austin, on his route to pick up cash deposits. (R.R. Vol. 6, pg. 271). As he was leaving
the store with the deposits he ran into a man standing near the exit holding a gun. The
suspect demanded the bag and Martinez’ weapon. The suspect took the weapon and bag and
then said “so you know this is serious”, fired two to three rounds into the area around the
cash register. Id. Two women at the register yelled at the suspect. (R.R. Vol. 6, pg. 273).
The suspect ran out of the store and Martinez called 911. At trial Martinez could not
identify anyone. (R.R. Vol. 6, pg. 279).
Ann Marie Lozano was working at the Fallas Discount store on that date and was standing near the cash registers during the robbery. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 17). The suspect was
three to four feet away when he fired into the cash registers, Lozano had thought she was
hit at the time. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 19). Lozano testified that the suspect was in the store for
less than ten seconds, and the three rounds fired hit the register drawer, the computer, and
the post by the register. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 22). Lozano identified Appellant as the suspect.
(R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 21). Theresa Shanklin was also working the cash registers that day.
Shanklin testified that after the suspect ran out of the store, she followed him trying to get
the armored car driver’s attention. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 44). She also identified Appellant as
the suspect. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 45). Shanklin testifed that the suspect did not point the
weapon at the cashiers, he pointed it at the cash register and wall. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 48).
Officer Roosevelt Granderson, with APD, was on patrol nearby when he heard the call go out that a robbery was in progress at Capital Plaza. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 79).
Granderson received a description of the suspect and his vehicle and began pursuit. He
spotted the vehicle on the 183 service road, in traffic. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 85). Granderson had
his lights and siren on, and the vehicles in front of him were moving out of his path, except
for one, which was weaving in and out of traffic. Id. The suspect stopped, got out of his
vehicle and started firing at Granderson and Officer Pippen who had been following the
pursuit. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 89). The suspect ran out into a nearby wooded area and
Granderson and Pippen gave chase, which was when Granderson realized that he had been
shot in the knee. (R.R. Vol. 7, pg. 90). A search of the vehicle produced a pistol and a spare
magazine which had a label on it with Appellant’s name and an address off 290. (R.R. Vol.
7, pg. 124).
Richard Harris was the assistant manager with Dollar General on Manor road on that date. (R.R. Vol. 8, pg. 145). He was walking to his car when he saw a man approach him
with a pistol, who told him to get in the car and drive. (R.R. Vol. 8, pg. 146). The suspect
told Harris that he was not going to hurt him, he had done something he should not have,
and just needed to get out of the area. (R.R. Vol. 8, pg. 146-7). Harris drove down Manor
and pulled into a side street where the suspect got out and Harris called the police. (R.R.
Vol. 8, pg. 147-8).
Appellant was arrested in the Rosemont Apartments soon thereafter. APD, spotted him by a description given by Harris and other witnesses. When he was arrested, a Glock
hand gun was found as well as U.S. currency wrapped up in plastic. (R.R. Vol. 8, pg. 175).
Appellant was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault
against a public servant, and aggravated robbery, the jury found him not guilty of attempted
capital murder. Appellant was sentenced to life in prison in all three cases. This appeal
follows.
Summary of the Argument Pursuant to Tex.R.App.Pro. 38.1(h), the following is a brief summary of the argument presented in this appeal:
The trial court erred in granting the State’s challenge to a veniremember who could follow the law, but required a higher threshold to be presented for the State to reach its
burden of proof.
The trial court erred in allowing the admission of an extraneous offense over objection. The State introduced evidence of a car jacking that was committed after all the
evidence on the charged offenses was presented but before Appellant was captured.
Evidence presented of the car jacking was not relevant to any issue in controversy at trial.
Point of Error Restated THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED IN GRANTING THE STATE’S CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE, DENYING APPELLANT A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL JURY.
Article 35.16 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides that a challenge for cause may be made by the State if a potential juror has a bias or prejudice against any phase
of the law upon which the State is entitled to rely for conviction or punishment. Tex.Code
Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 35.16(b)(3). To show error in the trial court's grant of the State's
challenge for cause, an appellant must show either that the trial court applied the wrong
legal standard in sustaining the challenge or that the trial court abused its discretion in
applying the correct legal standard. Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 562 (Tex.Cr.App. 1999),
cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1070 (2000). A criminal defendant has the right to an impartial jury
drawn from a venire that has not been tilted in favor of the state by selective prosecutorial
challenges for cause, and such a process violates a defendant’s rights under the United
States Constitution, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412,
521 (1968).
When reviewing a trial court's decision to grant or deny a challenge for cause, a reviewing court must look at the entire record to determine if there is sufficient evidence to
support the court's ruling. Feldman v. State, 71 S.W.3d 738, 744 (Tex.Cr.App.
2002)(overruled on other grounds). The appellate courts give great deference to the trial
court's decision because the trial judge is present to observe the demeanor of the
veniremember and to listen to his tone of voice. Id. Particular deference is given when the
potential juror's answers are vacillating, unclear, or contradictory. Id.; King v. State, 29
S.W.3d 556, 568 (Tex.Cr.App. 2000).
In the instant case, the State asked for veniremember 12, Mr. Jason Samaniego-Krant to be called up. When asked why by the trial judge the prosecutor made this statement:
“He’s said he couldn’t follow the law when it comes to the burden of proof. He said he had
to be 100 percent certain.” (R.R. Vol. 6, pg. 190). Up until this point Samaniego-Krant had
made several statements to the attorney’s during voir dire, but he had never used these
words as relayed by the prosecutor. On this particular issue Samaniego-Krant had
previously stated:
I believe that we’ve been talking about incarceration, taking years of someone’s life that I would have to be absolutely certain. The level of false convictions are incorrect, and with convictions these days I would feel horrible about sending someone to prison for something that was doubtful.
(R.R. Vol. 6, pg. 88-89). In response to questioning by the defense, the veniremember
stated the following:
It just kind of sounds to me like in talking about reasonable doubt, it almost sounds to me like you’re trying to prove innocence instead of proving guilty. It just sounds backwards to me like you’re trying to prove innocence – you’re guilty until proven innocent. It just sounds like that to me.
(R.R. Vol. 6, pg. 136). These were the only comments on the burden of proof made by the
veniremember prior to being brought to the bench for individual questioning.
At the bench the state inquired of the veniremember and the following exchange took place:
State: Mr. Samaniego, I know when [the prosecutor] was questioning you about the
burden of proof and reasonable doubt and beyond a reasonable doubt, you had made the comment that you would need to be 100 percent certain Krant: Yeah.
State: And you understand that the law is beyond a reasonable doubt. There is
actually – while there is no definition for beyond a reasonable doubt, there is case law that says it’s not 100 percent certainty. Would you be able to follow the law and listen to a case and determine guilt or innocence based on beyond a reasonable doubt, or would you need 100 percent certainty?
Krant: In my personal beliefs, spirituality and opinion I just feel that I’m taking into
consideration someone else’s livelihood, I would need to be pretty darn certain.
Court: Okay. And when you say that, would you need to be 100 percent certain?
Krant: Yes.
....
Defense: When you say “100 percent certain,” are you attributing that to beyond a
reasonable doubt level or – I’m not sure what – because you say you have to be pretty confident.
Krant: If I’m going to commit (sic) somebody to a crime, then I would want to be 100
percent certain that that crime was committed beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defense: Okay. And is that what you require – are you – there is not percentage to
beyond a reasonable doubt. Now, for some people it might be 100 percent.
Krant: Right.
Defense: The point is, are you going to hold the State to its burden, or are you going to
require the State to a higher burden than what they’re required?
Krant: I would hold someone innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around,
which to me is how it sounds with our discussion. It sounds like people are trying to prove innocence instead of guilt.
Defense: Okay.
Krant: So I’m – yes I mean –
Defense: Are you going to require the State – to hold the State to a higher burden of
proof than beyond a reasonable doubt?
Krant: No.
....
Court: What does the Defense have to say on Samaniego?
Defense: We’re going to object to that. He said he would hold the State to its burden
and not more.
Court: Okay. But he said 100 percent three times, so I’ll grant the State’s motion to
strike for cause. I think he won’t follow the law that they’re entitled to follow.
(R.R. Vol. 6, pg. 192-195). The trial judge applied the wrong standard in this case, in that
he based his decision to grant the state’s challenge for cause on the number of times the
veniremember stated 100% versus a determination of whether the veniremember understood
the law and could not follow it. Further, the trial judge’s recollection of the testimony
presented was that the veniremember stated ‘100% certainty’ three times, when in fact those
were the prosecutor’s words, and Samaniego-Krant adopted the words used by the State but
did not initially phrase his response in that way. Nor as the questioning at the bench went
on, did he use the 100% language to describe the State’s burden of proof, but his belief in
the evidence presented. This is the quintessential ‘higher threshold’ juror, not ‘higher
burden’. In Texas, jurors must decide what “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” means to
them. Murphy v. State, 112 S.W.3d 592, 597 (Tex.Cr.App. 2003). While it is no longer
required that trial courts define “reasonable doubt” for the jury, it is also not prohibited.
Paulson v. State, 28 S.W.3d 570, 573 (Tex.Cr.App. 2000) (overruling that portion of Geesa
v. State, 820 S.W.2d 154, 162 (Tex.Cr.App. 1991), which required trial courts to include a
particular instruction in the jury charge defining “beyond a reasonable doubt”). While
expressing its opinion that the better practice is to give no definition of “reasonable doubt”
to the jury, the Paulson Court acknowledged that, “the Constitution neither prohibits trial
courts from defining reasonable doubt nor requires them to do so as a matter of course.” Id.
(quoting Victor v. Nebraska, 511 U.S. 1, 5 (1994)).
Thus, it is plain that prospective jurors may form their own definitions of proof beyond a reasonable doubt and they are not challengeable for cause based upon the type and
amount of evidence they require to reach that level of confidence. Murphy, 112 S.W.3d at
598. There is nothing unlawful about differing thresholds of reasonable doubt among jurors.
See Garrett v. State, 851 S.W.2d 853, 859 (Tex.Cr.App. 1993).
The test is whether the bias or prejudice would substantially impair the prospective juror's ability to carry out his oath and instructions in accordance with law.” Feldman, 71
S.W.3d at 744. Before a prospective juror can be excused for cause on this basis, however,
the law must be explained to him and he must be asked whether he can follow that law
regardless of his personal views.” Id. The proponent of the challenge has the burden of
establishing that the challenge is proper. Id. at 747. “The proponent does not meet his
burden until he has shown that the venireman understood the requirement of the law and
could not overcome his prejudice well enough to follow it.” Id. This veniremember stated
that he would be able to take the oath and follow the law as given by the trial judge, and
hold the State to their burden of proof and not more. Therefore, the trial judge should not
have granted the State’s challenge for cause.
In Gray v. Mississippi, 481 U.S. 648 (1987), the Supreme Court addressed the issue of a State challenge for cause which was erroneously granted. The State had lodged
for-cause or peremptory challenges against every juror who “expressed any degree of
uncertainty in the ability to cast ... a vote” for the death penalty, id., at 652, and quickly
exhausted all of its peremptory challenges. Id., at 653. The prosecution then challenged a
juror who had expressed no opposition to the death penalty and had said many times that she
could return a death sentence. The trial court denied the challenge. Id., at 654-655.
Arguing that the trial court had erroneously denied certain earlier challenges for cause, and
thus had forced the State to waste peremptory challenges, the prosecution sought to reopen
those previous challenges. The trial court refused to do so, but removed the current juror,
over objection from the defense. Id., at 655. On appeal all of the state judges agreed the
juror could not be excused for cause, but the appellate court held it was appropriate, under
the circumstances, to treat the challenge in question as a peremptory strike. 481 U.S., at
656-657. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the juror had been removed for cause
and that she was not substantially impaired under the controlling standards. 481 U.S., at
659. The error was not subject to harmlessness review, and thus the sentence could not
stand. Ibid, see also Uttecht v. Washington, 551 U.S. 1 (2007).
Appellant prays that this Court find that the granting of the State’s challenge for cause did not meet the applicable standards, and find that the error is not subject to a harmless
error analysis, as was held in Gray v. Mississippi, and reverse this case.
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING THE STATE TO IMPEACH A WITNESS WITH APPELLANT’S PRIOR CONVICTION AND/OR BAD ACT
During the direct examination of a state’s witness, the state introduced Appellant alleged participation in an extraneous offense. The defense objected and the trial court
overruled the objections allowing the jury to hear the unfettered testimony. (R.R. Vol. 7,
pg. 40). The State introduced photos early in the guilt innocence phase of trial labeled ‘car
jacking.’ Appellant was never charged with this crime, one alleged to have occurred after
the robbery and the assaults were completed, but during his attempt to escape. The State
later presented testimony from Richard Harris, owner of the vehicle. (R.R. Vol. 8, pg 139).
Harris testified that a man ran up to him with a gun and told him to drive him out of the area.
Harris drove for 15 minutes and the man got out, he did not take anything or otherwise
threaten Harris. (R.R. Vol. 8, pg 158). Appellant was apprehended when APD officers ran
the license plate of the first vehicle he was in and traced it to the Rosemont Apartments.
(R.R. Vol. 8, pg 163). Officers went to the apartments and eventually saw a man matching
the descriptions given to them by various people and apprehended him. (R.R. Vol. 8, pg
170).
An extraneous offense is "any act of misconduct, whether resulting in a prosecution or not, that is not shown in the charging papers." Rankin v. State, 953 S.W.2d 707, 741
(Tex.Cr.App. 1996). Generally, a defendant must be tried for the offense with which he is
charged. He may not be tried for a collateral crime or for being a criminal generally.
Tex.R.Crim.Evid. 404(b); Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 506 (Tex.Cr.App. 1991).
When the prosecution attempts to adduce evidence of "other crimes, wrongs, or acts," the
defendant must object in a timely fashion to preserve his complaint for appeal. Montgomery
v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 387 (Tex.Cr.App. 1990) (on rehearing). After objection, the
prosecution must satisfy the trial court that the other crime, wrong, or act has relevance apart
from its tendency to prove the defendant's character to show that he acted in conformity
therewith. Tex.R.Crim.Evid. 404(b). If the trial court decides that the evidence has "no
relevance apart from character conformity," then it is inadmissible. Montgomery, 810
S.W.2d at 387.
The state may, however, persuade the trial court that an "other purpose" such as those set forth in Rule 404(b) will be served by admission of the extraneous-offense evidence. Id.
at 387-88; Tex.R.Crim.Evid. 401, 404(b). The relevance may be that the evidence "tends
to establish some elemental fact, such as identity or intent; that it tends to establish some
evidentiary fact, such as motive, opportunity[,] or preparation, leading inferentially to an
elemental fact; or that it rebuts a defensive theory...." Montgomery, 810 S.W.2d at 387-88.
If the trial court determines that the evidence is relevant, it must engage in the balancing test
of Rule 403. Id.
Evidence of a person's character is not admissible at the guilt/innocence phase of the trial to prove that he acted in conformity with his character. Tex.R.Evid. 404. This is due
to its inherent prejudice and tendency to confuse the issues. If, however, the defendant
creates what is purported to be a false impression about his nature as a law abiding citizen
or his propensity for committing criminal acts, then he has opened the door for his opponent
to present rebuttal evidence. See, Delk v. State, 855 S.W.2d 700, 704 (Tex.Cr.App. 1993).
This rebuttal evidence can consist of a defendant’s criminal history. Id.
When an extraneous offense is admitted in the guilt phase of a trial, failing to give a limiting instruction at the time of admission may result in the jury drawing inferences about
the defendant's guilt based upon character conformity, a use of the evidence that was not
contemplated by the trial court. The danger then becomes that the improper inference drawn
cannot later be erased by an instruction in the charge. See, Jackson v. State, 992 S.W.2d 469
(Tex.Cr.App. 1999). A ruling permitting use of a prior conviction to impeach will be
reversed on appeal only upon a showing of a clear abuse of discretion. See Theus v. State,
845 S.W.2d 874, 881 (Tex.Cr.App. 1992).
In the instant case, the State argued that this was unadjudicated extraneous evidence of a completely separate crime, that was nonetheless relevant under 404(b) due to the fact
that it was contextual evidence of flight, and therefore relevant and probative. (R.R. Vol.
8, pg 142). Appellant’s 403 objection was overruled as well.
Evidence of another crime, wrong, or act also may be admissible as same-transaction contextual evidence where “several crimes are intermixed, or blended with one another, or
connected so that they form an indivisible criminal transaction, and full proof by testimony,
..., of any one of them cannot be given without showing the others.” Wyatt v. State, 23
S.W.3d 18, 25 (Tex.Cr.App. 2000) (quoting Rogers v. State, 853 S.W.2d 29, 33
(Tex.Cr.App. 1993)). The jury is entitled to know all relevant surrounding facts and
circumstances of the charged offense. Id. But, under Rule 404(b), same-transaction
contextual evidence is admissible only when the offense would make little or no sense
without also bringing in that evidence, and it is admissible “only to the extent that it is
necessary to the jury's understanding of the offense.” Id. (quoting Pondexter v. State, 942
S.W.2d 577, 584 (Tex.Cr.App. 1996)).
Here the evidence of the charged offense was presented in its entirety prior to the extraneous offense. The capture of Appellant at the Rosemont apartments was also entirely
explained without the need of the extraneous. Therefore, the evidence of the car jacking had
no independent relevance to any fact in evidence, and therefore was unnecessary to assist
the jury to decide any question in controversy regarding the charged offenses. Pondexter,
942 S.W.2d at 584.
Because there was error the reviewing court should conduct a harmless error analysis.
The extraneous offense was offered for an impermissible character reason and was more
prejudicial than probative. As such this Court should find that the error was not harmless
and remand for a new trial.
Prayer WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, MARK FRUGE, Appellant in the above styled and numbered cause respectfully prays that this Court grant him any and all relief to
which he is entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
ARIEL PAYAN
Attorney at Law
1012 Rio Grande
Austin, Texas 78701
Tel. 512/478-3900
Fax: 512/472-4102
arielpayan@hotmail.com by: /s/ Ariel Payan Ariel Payan
State Bar No. 00794430
Attorney for Appellant Statement Regarding Oral Argument Oral Argument is Not Requested
Certificate of Compliance I hereby certify pursuant to T.R.A.P. 9.4(i)(3), the word count for this document, as determined by the word processing program is 3598 .
/s/ Ariel Payan Ariel Payan
Certificate of Delivery This is to certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing “Appellant’s Brief on Appeal” was delivered via email or hand-delivered, mailed postage pre-paid or
transmitted via telecopier ( fax ) to the office of the District Attorney of Travis County,
Texas; and to Appellant at the address listed in the Certificate of Parties, on August 7, 2015
Party Served Travis County District Attorney
Scott Taliaferro
Scott.taliaferro@co.travis.tx.us
Appellant Mark Fruge
TDCJ-ID No.1302065
Ellis Unit
1697 FM 980
Huntsville, TX 77343
/s/ Ariel Payan Ariel Payan