Belmonte, Rogelio v. State

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 22, 2013
Docket05-12-00847-CR
StatusPublished

This text of Belmonte, Rogelio v. State (Belmonte, Rogelio 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
Belmonte, Rogelio v. State, (Tex. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

Modified as Affirmed and Opinion Filed August 22, 2013

S In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

No. 05-12-00847-CR

ROGELIO BELMONTE, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 5 Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. F11-53040-L

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Moseley, Bridges, and Lang-Miers Opinion by Justice Bridges Appellant Rogelio Belmonte pled guilty to felony murder and appeals his sentence of 60

years’ imprisonment and a $10,000 fine, arising from his conviction. In seven issues, appellant

argues the trial court erred in: (1) overruling his challenge for cause to juror, Rudolph Reece; (2)

overruling his challenge for cause to juror, Susan Friedman; (3) allowing television cameras into

the courtroom; (4) overruling his motion for mistrial when the jury was being brought into the

courtroom at the same time he was brought into the courtroom under restraint; (5) denying his

objection to a video recording of himself in custody for a period of hours after his request for

counsel; (6) overruling his objection to the charge that contained a statutory parole instruction

that misled the jury; and (7) overruling his motion for new trial concerning juror misconduct. As

modified, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. Background

Kaitlan Edmonson testified appellant drove them to Walmart in his truck on March 9,

2011, so they could look into cars for items worth stealing. Edmonson indicated they saw an

elderly woman with a purse, and they decided to grab the purse. She said appellant called the

woman to the car and apologized for pulling up so close to her car and basket. She said the

woman walked over to the truck, and appellant leaned out of the window and grabbed her purse.

When he grabbed the purse, appellant gunned the engine. Edmonson testified there was a

commotion and, when they turned left out of the parking aisle, she thought they ran over

something.

Kimberly Butler testified that she arrived at the same Walmart parking lot around 5:30

p.m. when she heard a woman screaming, “Somebody, help, help. Let go.” Butler looked across

the parking lot and saw a truck speeding through the aisle with a lady holding onto her purse and

the truck. She explained when the driver turned the corner, the woman let go and the back tire

ran over her. The incident was caught on video. The elderly woman died from the incident.

Appellant pled guilty to the charged offense of felony murder and elected to have a jury

set punishment. During the punishment phase, the State presented State’s Exhibits 2A through

25, which showed appellant’s numerous adjudications and convictions for crimes which began

when he was a young teenager in 1997 through 2009.1 After hearing all of the evidence, the jury

found appellant guilty of felony murder as charged in the indictment, and his punishment was

assessed at 60 years’ imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

1 The record reflects appellant’s adjudications and convictions include the following offenses: delinquent conduct (4 in 1997); theft (2 in 2003); burglary of a building (2003); possession of a controlled substance (2003); failure to identify (2005); driving with a fictitious inspection document (2005); driving without a license (2005); possession of marijuana (2006); theft (2006); burglary of a motor vehicle (2006); theft (2006); fleeing a police officer (2006); driving while license invalid (2006); failure to identify (2006); burglary of a motor vehicle (2007); evading arrest (2007); assault (2009); reckless driving (2009); and failure with regards to duty on striking unattended vehicle (2 in 2009).

–2– Analysis

1. Challenges for Cause

In his first and second issues, appellant contends the trial court erred in overruling his

challenge for cause to prospective jurors Rudolph Reece and Susan Friedman. We afford 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 the tone of his voice. See Gonzales v. State, 353 S.W.3d

826, 831 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). Consequently, we will reverse a trial court’s ruling on a

challenge for cause only if a clear abuse of discretion is evident. See Davis v. State, 313 S.W.3d

317, 344 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).

a. Reece

Appellant contends he moved to strike Reece for cause because, on the written

questionnaire, he reported that his grandmother had been murdered. Reece’s grandmother was

80 at the time of her murder, and the victim in this case was 76. Appellant argues the “close

resemblance in age of this victim to his grandmother would produce a normal and natural bias

against any defendant despite answers that it would not make a difference to him at all.”

After juror questioning was completed, the trial court questioned Reece individually.

Reece indicated his grandmother had been murdered 22 years ago in her bed when someone

broke into her home. Reece stated the murder happened a long time ago, and he answered in

response to a question on the questionnaire. Reece told defense counsel that the age of the

victim would not make a difference. When asked if the offense involving his grandmother

would come into play in his deliberations, Reece responded, “No, it won’t.” The trial court

denied appellant’s motion to strike for cause, and appellant subsequently used a peremptory

challenge on Reece.

–3– b. Friedman

During the State’s voir dire examination, the prosecutor discussed appellant’s right to

remain silent and explained the law. Friedman indicated she would have a “hard time if he

didn’t speak up for himself.” When asked if she would hold it against appellant if he did not

testify even though she had been instructed by court not to consider it, Friedman replied, “I

mean, I guess not by law.” The prosecutor then explained she did not know if appellant was

going to testify or not, and the following exchange took place:

[FRIEDMAN]: If I have to do it I have to do it.

[PROSECUTOR]: Okay. You would be able to abide by the law?

[FRIEDMAN]: Yes.

During the individual questioning of prospective jurors, the prosecutor reminded

Friedman of the law and her previous answers and then asked if her position was that she would

follow the law and not consider appellant’s failure to testify. She said it was. Defense counsel

followed up: “I just want that guarantee from you that you will not consider that in any way; is

that correct?” Friedman responded, “Yes.”

Following this exchange, Friedman voluntarily added she knew someone who had been

sitting in the courtroom. She explained that she knew him through church, “[n]ot closely, but

enough that I would trust everything he said” and that she saw him “socially, periodically.” The

trial court noted the man was not a witness or participant in the case. Friedman affirmed the fact

the person was a spectator would not influence her in this case.

Defense counsel then moved to strike Friedman for cause, arguing as follows:

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Judge, we’re going to move to strike [Friedman]. During her questioning as she was leaving, she did state that she recognized one of the observers. She knows him personally. She knows him well. He’s a plaintiff’s lawyer. He actually represents the complainant, the decedent’s family in a suit against Wal-Mart. He is here specifically to listen to this along with [his] legal assistant.

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