Castillo v. State

899 S.W.2d 391, 1995 Tex. App. LEXIS 1012, 1995 WL 289357
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 11, 1995
Docket14-93-00359-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 899 S.W.2d 391 (Castillo 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
Castillo v. State, 899 S.W.2d 391, 1995 Tex. App. LEXIS 1012, 1995 WL 289357 (Tex. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinion

OPINION

AMIDEI, Justice.

Appellant, Israel Castillo, was charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. A jury convicted appellant of aggravated assault. 1 The trial court assessed punishment at ten years confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Appellant appeals from the judgment in four points of error, complaining the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction, the jury charge was fundamentally defective, and the trial court erred by cutting off his questioning and prohibiting him from impeaching a witness. We affirm.

On March 30, 1991, Edward Flores drove his wife, Anita, to the Lucio’s home to discuss an altercation involving her son, Brian. Anita went to the door of the house while Ed *393 ward remained in his van. Anita engaged in an argument with Nancy Lucio. 2 As Anita returned to the van, three women confronted her, and a fight ensued. Four men approached Edward as he sat in the van. One of the men pointed a shotgun at Edward and told him to get out of the van. The man pulled the trigger on the shotgun twice, but the weapon did not discharge. Appellant then fired a handgun into the van, which resulted in injuries to Edward Flores.

In his first point of error, appellant asserts that the evidence is legally insufficient to sustain the conviction. When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, the appellate court will look at all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict or judgment. Houston v. State, 663 S.W.2d 455, 456 (Tex.Crim.App.1984). In doing so, the appellate court is to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2788-89, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); Ransom v. State, 789 S.W.2d 572, 577 (Tex.Crim.App.1989), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1010, 110 S.Ct. 3255, 111 L.Ed.2d 765 (1990). In conducting this review, the appellate court is not to re-evaluate the weight and credibility of the evidence, but act only to ensure the jury reached a rational decision. Muniz v. State, 851 S.W.2d 238, 246 (Tex.Crim.App.1993).

First, we will discuss the essential elements of aggravated assault. Appellant was indicted, in part, for unlawfully, intentionally, and knowingly causing bodily injury to Edward Flores by using a deadly weapon. Aggravated assault is committed if a person commits assault and uses a deadly weapon. Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 22.02 (Vernon Supp. 1994). A person commits the offense of assault if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another, including the person’s spouse. Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 22.01 (Vernon 1989). A person acts “intentionally” when it is his conscious objective or desire to cause the result. Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 6.03(a) (Vernon 1994). A person acts “knowingly” when he is aware that his conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result. Id. at § 6.03(b).

Sufficiency of the evidence must be measured against the jury charge that was given. Garrett v. State, 749 S.W.2d 784, 802-03 (Tex.Crim.App.1986). The charge alleges only one theory of aggravated assault, intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury by using a deadly weapon. Appellant argues that the State did not present sufficient evidence to support the conviction because the angle of the bullet holes indicates the gun was not aimed at Edward Flores. The State argues that the mere act of firing a gun into an occupied van is sufficient to establish appellant knowingly and intentionally caused bodily injury to complainant.

The evidence indicating the direction the bullet traveled consists of: (1) State photo exhibits of the bullet holes in the van and (2) the police officer who took these photographs and Mr. Flores pointing out the location of these bullet holes in the photographs of the van. This police officer was asked what his opinion was about the direction the bullet traveled; however, he was not qualified to do so. The evidence reflects a bullet hole in the rear passenger side of the van, in the passenger’s seat, in Mr. Flores’ forearm, and in the steering column. No expert testimony was offered to interpret these photographs and explain the direction the bullet traveled, or whether it veered and changed direction.

This evidence was presented to the jury. They could have believed all or none of the evidence. The jury is the exclusive judge of the facts, credibility of witnesses, and the weight to be given to evidence. Chambers v. State, 805 S.W.2d 459, 461 (Tex.Crim.App.1991). In making this determination, the jury can infer knowledge and intent from the acts, words, and conduct of the accused. Dues v. State, 634 S.W.2d 304, 305 (Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1982); Martinez v. State, 844 S.W.2d 279, 283 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1992, pet. ref d). The jury had the benefit of viewing the testimony and evidence *394 presented. On the facts of this case, the jury could have rationally found that appellant was aware that shooting into the van was reasonably certain to cause serious bodily injury to Flores. Cf. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2788-89, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); Ransom, v. State, 789 S.W.2d 572, 577 (Tex.Crim.App.1989), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1010, 110 S.Ct. 3255, 111 L.Ed.2d 765 (1990). We are not to act as a thirteenth juror an reassess the evidence. Moreno v. State, 755 S.W.2d 866, 867 (Tex. Crim.App.1988).

After reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant knowingly or intentionally caused bodily injury to Edward Flores. A trier of fact could have found appellant was aware that firing a gun into an occupied van was reasonably certain to cause injury to the person in the van. There is sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict that appellant committed aggravated assault. Appellant’s first point of error is overruled.

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899 S.W.2d 391, 1995 Tex. App. LEXIS 1012, 1995 WL 289357, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/castillo-v-state-texapp-1995.