Anderson v. State

742 S.W.2d 541, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 9150, 1987 WL 29162
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedDecember 31, 1987
DocketNo. 10-87-010-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 742 S.W.2d 541 (Anderson v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Anderson v. State, 742 S.W.2d 541, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 9150, 1987 WL 29162 (Tex. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

HALL, Justice.

Appellant Billy Earl Anderson was indicted for the offense of delivery of the controlled substance cocaine. The indictment also alleged two prior felony convictions against appellant for enhancement of punishment. Pleading not guilty, appellant was found guilty by a jury. Punishment was assessed by the jury at confinement in the Texas Department of Corrections for forty-five years, after the jury found the allegations of the prior convictions to be “True.”

Appellant seeks reversal on three points of error asserting that (1) the prosecuting attorney commented on his failure to testify during the punishment phase of his trial; (2) he was harmed by instructions to the jury on parole law; and (3) he was harmed by hearsay statements of an alleged co-conspirator allowed into evidence. We overrule these contentions and we affirm the conviction.

Appellant asserts in his first point of error that the following jury argument by the prosecutor at the punishment phase of the trial was a comment on appellant’s constitutional and statutory rights to remain silent:

State’s Exhibit Number 3, which you heard Mr. Kennedy tell you about that the fingerprints contained herein are the same fingerprints contained in State’s Exhibit Number 4, which were the fingerprints of the Defendant, Billy Earl Anderson; that the judgments of convictions, that the sentences contained in State’s Exhibit Number 3 are in fact those of the Defendant, Billy Earl Anderson. And you heard the plea when [543]*543you were read in the beginning of this punishment phase, he plead that they’re not true. But you know beyond a reasonable doubt from testimony from this chair that it is true.
We have to bring in our fingerprint expert and show you yes, this man has been convicted. He doesn’t want to fess up. Not at all. (Emphasis added).

Appellant’s objection to the argument was overruled. Appellant complains about the emphasized portion of the argument and asserts that the comment was directed at the fact that he did not take the stand and admit his prior convictions. We disagree.

To be a prohibited comment on a defendant’s failure to testify, the language used must be manifestly intended, or of such a character that the jury would naturally and necessarily take it to be a comment on the defendant’s failure to testify. Cook v. State, 702 S.W.2d 597, 599 (Tex.Cr.App.1984).

We doubt the argument in question constituted a comment on appellant’s failure to testify. The prosecutor was merely commenting on appellant’s plea of “Not True” to his prior convictions in the enhancement paragraph, and the State’s proof that the prior convictions were “True.” In any event, even if the argument was improper, we have determined beyond a reasonable doubt that it did not contribute to the punishment assessed. See Cook, 702 S.W.2d at 600-01. The evidence of appellant’s guilt was overwhelming. During the punishment phase, the State provided testimony from four witnesses establishing that appellant’s reputation in the community for being a peaceable and law-abiding citizen was bad. Appellant had twice before been convicted of a forgery with intent to pass. From'the first conviction he received a three-year prison term which was probated. The probation was revoked in June 1981. He was convicted again in May 1983, and received punishment of two years in the Texas Department of Corrections. The present offense was committed in January 1986. Finally, the jury was again instructed in the court's written charge to not consider the fact that appellant elected to assert his privilege not to testify. Point one is overruled.

In point two, appellant asserts the trial court committed reversible error by submitting instructions to the jury over his objection on the law of parole under the provisions of article 37.07, section 4(a), Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P.

By a six/three majority ruling, our Court of Criminal Appeals recently held that an instruction on the law of parole in the charge of the trial court to the jury given pursuant to the mandate in article 37.07 § 4(a), is unconstitutional. Rose v. State, (Tex.Cr.App., 11-12-87). However, the court did not hold that the giving of such instruction constituted reversible error, and the conviction of defendant Rose was affirmed by the Court even though the jury that assessed his punishment was instructed on the law of parole. Although all members of the majority opinion did not make a harm analysis under Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157 (Tex.Cr.App.1985), three did. Therefore, in our case we shall consider the jury instruction given in light of the harm analysis under Almanza, supra.

Where an error in the jury charge was the subject of a timely objection, then reversal is required if the error in light of the entire record is “calculated to injure the rights of defendant,” which means no more than that there must be “some harm” to the accused from the error. If there was no objection, reversal is required only where the erroneous charge caused “egregious harm” to the defendant. Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171. In our case, appellant timely objected to the charge on the law of parole.

During the guilt/innocence phase, evidence was adduced that on the day of the offense in question Robert Wilkerson, a Narcotics Investigator with the Texas Department of Public Safety, met with informant Jeff Smith in a hotel room in the City of Hearne where they were soon joined by a subject of their investigation, Derrick Smith. Officer Wilkerson questioned Der[544]*544rick Smith about the possible purchase of a quantity of cocaine. Derrick Smith told Wilkerson that he knew a person who could obtain the cocaine for him at a price of $100. Derrick Smith then left and returned a few minutes later with appellant. Appellant told Wilkerson he could furnish the cocaine but that he needed a ride to another location in Hearne. Wilkerson, Jeff Smith, Derrick Smith and appellant drove to a local club where Anderson and Derrick Smith left the vehicle. About five minutes later appellant returned, handed Wilkerson a packet of cocaine, and told him the cost would be $75. Wilkerson handed appellant Anderson a $100 bill. Anderson left, saying he would return with the change, but he never did return. Derrick Smith later told Wilkerson that appellant’s name is Billy Earl Anderson.

During the punishment phase of the trial, the State introduced testimony through four witnesses that appellant’s reputation in the community for being a peaceable and law-abiding citizen was bad. The State also established that appellant had been convicted of two prior felonies. Appellant produced the testimony of his mother and Reverend Cory Robertson as character witnesses. Reverend Robertson testified that appellant had attended church with him six of the last seven Sundays prior to the arrest for this offense, and that he felt that appellant should be given another chance. Appellant’s mother testified that appellant suffered from mental problems due to a stroke which left him with partial brain damage; that she did not expect the jury to let him go; and that “if you try to scold him, he gets confused.”

The court’s charge to the jury at the punishment phase of the trial on the law of parole followed the charge mandated in section 4(a) of article 37.07, Vernon’s Ann. C.C.P., including these cautionary instructions:

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Bluebook (online)
742 S.W.2d 541, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 9150, 1987 WL 29162, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/anderson-v-state-texapp-1987.