Cevallos v. State

751 S.W.2d 250, 1988 Tex. App. LEXIS 1508, 1988 WL 63115
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 11, 1988
DocketNo. 4-87-00384-CR
StatusPublished

This text of 751 S.W.2d 250 (Cevallos 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
Cevallos v. State, 751 S.W.2d 250, 1988 Tex. App. LEXIS 1508, 1988 WL 63115 (Tex. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

OPINION

CHAPA, Justice.

Appellant Trinidad Cevallos was convicted by a jury of murder. The jury assessed punishment at 99 years’ confinement. We affirm the conviction.

The issues before us are:

1) whether the appellant was denied a fair trial due to the lack of effective assistance of trial counsel;

2) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction;

3) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the sentence; and

4) whether the trial court erred in denying appellant’s motion for new trial based on newly discovered evidence.

The record reflects that while driving his car to work appellant saw the deceased, Ignacio Sandoval, and stopped. A discussion began between the two concerning an earlier altercation involving appellant and the deceased’s younger brother. Appellant pulled a gun, fired several fatal shots at the deceased, and then drove away. Appellant admitted shooting the deceased, but claimed self-defense, alleging that the deceased pulled a gun on him. No gun was found at the scene.

In his first point of error, appellant contends he was denied effective assistance of trial counsel.

A claim that trial counsel’s assistance was so defective as to require reversal of a conviction has two components. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Appellant first must show that trial counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Second, the accused must show that this deficient performance prejudiced the defense. To demonstrate prejudice, appellant “must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068. Further, “[i]f it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, which ... will often be so, that course should be followed.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 697, 104 S.Ct. at 2069.

Initially, appellant complains that his trial counsel failed to conduct a reasonable investigation. Appellant refers this Court to testimony at the hearing on his motion for new trial which established that trial counsel failed to independently investigate the possibility that the deceased may have owned a gun. Appellant, however, fails to show how the result of the trial would have been different but for this alleged deficiency. In addition, there is no reasonable probability that the jury’s verdict would have been different since the evidence was overwhelming that at the time of the shooting the deceased did not have a gun.

The testimony at the hearing also established that trial counsel did not personally go to the scene of the shooting at any time after the shooting took place. However, appellant has again failed to [253]*253show how, but for the lack of this investigation, the result would have been different. Trial counsel testified he had driven by the area on other occasions, was familiar with the area, and the area was described at trial the way he remembered.

Appellant next complains of trial counsel’s alleged failure to generally prepare for trial. The record, however, does not support this assertion. The record reflects that trial counsel met with appellant on five or six occasions and carefully discussed with him the events leading up to the shooting; that trial counsel requested autopsy and offense reports from the State; that trial counsel solicited from appellant names of possible witnesses; and that trial counsel obtained the criminal record of the deceased.

Appellant next complains of his trial counsel’s alleged failure to communicate all plea bargains to him. The record reflects that very early in the case the State made a plea bargain offer of ten years without probation. The State, however, withdrew this offer before the date of trial. On the date of trial, the State made a second plea bargain offer reducing the charge to voluntary manslaughter with no recommendation of punishment. Trial counsel testified as follows:

Q: Prior to the jury trial, did you discuss with the District Attorney or confer with him regarding a possible plea bargain of any type?
A: Yes, I did.
Q: Based upon your investigation of all the evidence in this case, was such a plea bargain offered that was made to you? [sic]
A: I didn’t understand.
Q: One you considered to be reasonable?
A: In retrospect, it was quite reasonable.
Q: And did you convey this plea bargain to your client?
A: Yes, I did.
Q: When did you convey that plea bargain offer?
A: The date on which we discussed a plea bargain, which actually was the date of trial, (emphasis supplied)

Appellant argues that this testimony establishes he was not informed of the earlier plea bargain. However, the prosecutor testified as follows:

... At one time very early in the case we discussed the possibility of a ten year sentence plea bargain. [Trial counsel] advised me that after consulting mth his client, he was maintaining his innocence due to self defense and that nothing involving a prison term would be accepted. ... (emphasis supplied)

The record therefore is unclear as to whether appellant’s trial counsel informed him of the earlier offer. However, even if we were to find that counsel did not inform him of the earlier offer, appellant’s testimony was that he would have accepted a five year prison term which was never offered. Appellant never testified that he would have agreed to the ten year offer. Therefore, appellant has not shown prejudice due to trial counsel’s alleged failure to inform him of the State’s offer. See Ex parte Wilson, 724 S.W.2d 72 (Tex.Crim.App.1987) (en banc).

Appellant next complains of trial counsel’s failure to object to evidence admitted during the punishment hearing. The evidence appellant contends should have been objected to is a copy of a 1982 indictment of appellant for aggravated assault. Appellant argues that, but for the failure to object to the introduction of the allegedly inadmissible indictment, there is a reasonable probability that the sentence would have been different. Specifically, appellant argues that the sentence would have been different because the remaining evidence is insufficient to support the 99 year sentence.

We initially hold that the indictment was admissible and therefore trial counsel’s failure to object would not constitute deficient performance. While the State generally cannot impeach a witness concerning his criminal record unless the charges have resulted in final convictions for felonies or other final convictions involving moral tur[254]*254pitude, there is an exception. Ochoa v. State, 481 S.W.2d 847 (Tex.Crim.App.1972).

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Related

Jackson v. Virginia
443 U.S. 307 (Supreme Court, 1979)
Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Bolden v. State
634 S.W.2d 710 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1982)
Dickey v. State
693 S.W.2d 386 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1984)
Ochoa v. State
481 S.W.2d 847 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1972)
Young v. State
530 S.W.2d 120 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1975)
Balderas Cortez v. State
735 S.W.2d 294 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1987)
Ex Parte Wilson
724 S.W.2d 72 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1987)
Ransonnette v. State
522 S.W.2d 509 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1975)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
751 S.W.2d 250, 1988 Tex. App. LEXIS 1508, 1988 WL 63115, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cevallos-v-state-texapp-1988.