Opinion issued August 28, 2018
In The
Court of Appeals For The
First District of Texas ———————————— NO. 01-17-00170-CR ——————————— DANTRELL STILLS, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 262nd District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Case No. 1475150
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A jury convicted appellant Dantrell Stills of capital murder for his
involvement in a robbery that resulted in the fatal shooting of Damian Smith. See
TEX. PENAL CODE § 19.03(a)(2). The trial court assessed punishment at life in
prison without the possibility of parole. See id. § 12.31(a)(2). On appeal, Stills challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. He asserts that
the State failed to offer any evidence establishing his participation as either a
principal or as a party to either the robbery or murder.
Concluding that the evidence allowed a rational trier of fact to find Stills
guilty of capital murder beyond a reasonable doubt, we affirm.
Background
Damian Smith lived with his parents and was known to sell marijuana out of
his bedroom at the back of the house. He was in his bedroom, and his sister and his
mother were also in the house, when two men entered from the back. The intruders
shot Smith to death in his bedroom.
Smith’s sister saw a lot of drugs and money in the bedroom before the two
intruders killed her brother. She heard a “pop” and saw a man standing outside of
Smith’s bedroom and pointing a gun toward it. She entered the bedroom to get her
2-year-old son, and she saw Smith on his bed. She left the room with her son, and
then she heard several more “pop” sounds.
Smith’s mother heard gunshots in the house. She went to the bedroom and
saw Smith on the bed, with a man on top of him, hitting him on the head with a
gun. She saw another man standing at the back door. Both men left through the
back door, with the man who had beat her son carrying his gun in his hand.
2 Subsequent investigation revealed that a “shootout” occurred in the bedroom
including at least one .45 caliber weapon and one 9-millimeter caliber weapon.
Smith had gunshot residue on his hand. No drugs were found in the room, and the
money seen by Smith’s sister was gone.
Just before Smith was killed, one of his friends, Richard Carter, was parked
near the house in his sport utility vehicle. Carter observed a Mercury Grand
Marquis arriving at the house, and he saw appellant Dantrell Stills getting out of
the car, along with Gregory Pinnekins. From a phone call earlier that day, Carter
knew that Pinnekins had planned to visit Smith’s house that evening. Stills and
Pinnekins walked to the back of the house.
The outside of the house was equipped with surveillance cameras. The
cameras captured video of Stills and Pinnekins entering the back door of the house,
just before Smith was killed in his bedroom. The video showed Stills wearing
black sandals. Stills and Pinnekins exited the house three minutes after they
entered. Stills appeared to be carrying a gun. Pinnekins was carrying a black trash
bag. On departure, Stills had no shoes. The sandals were recovered from Smith’s
bedroom—one on the bed and the other next to it.
Pinnekins had been shot in the house. The two men returned to the Grand
Marquis parked in front of the house, but the car keys had been left behind in
Smith’s bedroom. They got out of the car and approached Carter in his sport utility
3 vehicle. Stills was running, Pinnekins was limping. They got in Carter’s car with
the black trash bag. Stills pointed his gun at Carter and said: “They shot Greg,
drive off.”
Carter drove to a nearby hospital, and he dropped Pinnekins there. He took
Stills to a friend’s car. Stills took the trash bag with him. Pinnekins died from his
gunshot wound.
The crime investigation led police to Stills, who admitted he was the person
seen on the surveillance video. The .45 caliber firearm used to shoot Smith was
recovered from the Grand Marquis, with Smith’s blood on it. Stills was charged
with capital murder and tried before a jury. The jury charge included instructions
concerning the law of parties and thus allowed the jury to convict Stills of capital
murder if it determined that he was a party or party-conspirator to the offense. See
TEX. PENAL CODE § 7.02(a)(2), (b).
The jury found Stills guilty of capital murder. He appeals.
Analysis
Stills challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction.
He argues that the evidence was insufficient to establish his guilt either as a
principal or as a co-conspirator or party to the offense, and therefore it was
insufficient to support his conviction for capital murder.
4 When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we view all of the evidence
in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether, based on that
evidence and the reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318–19, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979); Adames v. State, 353
S.W.3d 854, 859, 860 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893,
902 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). The jury is the sole judge of witness credibility and
the weight given to any evidence presented. Merritt v. State, 368 S.W.3d 516, 525
(Tex. Crim. App. 2012).
We give great deference to the jury’s credibility determinations, and we may
not re-evaluate the weight and credibility of the evidence or substitute our
judgment for that of the fact finder. Williams v. State, 235 S.W.3d 742, 750 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2007). The jury may accept one version of the facts and reject another,
and it may believe or disbelieve any part of a witness’s testimony. See Sharp v.
State, 707 S.W.2d 611, 614 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986); Rivera v. State, 507 S.W.3d
844, 853–54 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2016, pet. ref’d).
The evidence offered to establish guilt may be circumstantial or direct.
Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Circumstantial
evidence is as probative as direct evidence it can be sufficient to establish guilt. Id.
“Each fact need not point directly and independently to the guilt of the appellant,
5 as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient
to support the conviction.” Id. Jurors are permitted to draw multiple reasonable
inferences from the evidence presented at trial. Id. at 15. We presume that the jury
resolved any conflicting inferences in favor of the verdict, and we defer to that
determination. Merritt, 368 S.W.3d at 525–26. When the jury charge authorizes
conviction on multiple theories, as it did in this case, we must uphold the jury’s
verdict if the evidence is sufficient under any of the multiple theories. Hooper, 214
S.W.3d at 14; Green v. State,
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Opinion issued August 28, 2018
In The
Court of Appeals For The
First District of Texas ———————————— NO. 01-17-00170-CR ——————————— DANTRELL STILLS, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 262nd District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Case No. 1475150
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A jury convicted appellant Dantrell Stills of capital murder for his
involvement in a robbery that resulted in the fatal shooting of Damian Smith. See
TEX. PENAL CODE § 19.03(a)(2). The trial court assessed punishment at life in
prison without the possibility of parole. See id. § 12.31(a)(2). On appeal, Stills challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. He asserts that
the State failed to offer any evidence establishing his participation as either a
principal or as a party to either the robbery or murder.
Concluding that the evidence allowed a rational trier of fact to find Stills
guilty of capital murder beyond a reasonable doubt, we affirm.
Background
Damian Smith lived with his parents and was known to sell marijuana out of
his bedroom at the back of the house. He was in his bedroom, and his sister and his
mother were also in the house, when two men entered from the back. The intruders
shot Smith to death in his bedroom.
Smith’s sister saw a lot of drugs and money in the bedroom before the two
intruders killed her brother. She heard a “pop” and saw a man standing outside of
Smith’s bedroom and pointing a gun toward it. She entered the bedroom to get her
2-year-old son, and she saw Smith on his bed. She left the room with her son, and
then she heard several more “pop” sounds.
Smith’s mother heard gunshots in the house. She went to the bedroom and
saw Smith on the bed, with a man on top of him, hitting him on the head with a
gun. She saw another man standing at the back door. Both men left through the
back door, with the man who had beat her son carrying his gun in his hand.
2 Subsequent investigation revealed that a “shootout” occurred in the bedroom
including at least one .45 caliber weapon and one 9-millimeter caliber weapon.
Smith had gunshot residue on his hand. No drugs were found in the room, and the
money seen by Smith’s sister was gone.
Just before Smith was killed, one of his friends, Richard Carter, was parked
near the house in his sport utility vehicle. Carter observed a Mercury Grand
Marquis arriving at the house, and he saw appellant Dantrell Stills getting out of
the car, along with Gregory Pinnekins. From a phone call earlier that day, Carter
knew that Pinnekins had planned to visit Smith’s house that evening. Stills and
Pinnekins walked to the back of the house.
The outside of the house was equipped with surveillance cameras. The
cameras captured video of Stills and Pinnekins entering the back door of the house,
just before Smith was killed in his bedroom. The video showed Stills wearing
black sandals. Stills and Pinnekins exited the house three minutes after they
entered. Stills appeared to be carrying a gun. Pinnekins was carrying a black trash
bag. On departure, Stills had no shoes. The sandals were recovered from Smith’s
bedroom—one on the bed and the other next to it.
Pinnekins had been shot in the house. The two men returned to the Grand
Marquis parked in front of the house, but the car keys had been left behind in
Smith’s bedroom. They got out of the car and approached Carter in his sport utility
3 vehicle. Stills was running, Pinnekins was limping. They got in Carter’s car with
the black trash bag. Stills pointed his gun at Carter and said: “They shot Greg,
drive off.”
Carter drove to a nearby hospital, and he dropped Pinnekins there. He took
Stills to a friend’s car. Stills took the trash bag with him. Pinnekins died from his
gunshot wound.
The crime investigation led police to Stills, who admitted he was the person
seen on the surveillance video. The .45 caliber firearm used to shoot Smith was
recovered from the Grand Marquis, with Smith’s blood on it. Stills was charged
with capital murder and tried before a jury. The jury charge included instructions
concerning the law of parties and thus allowed the jury to convict Stills of capital
murder if it determined that he was a party or party-conspirator to the offense. See
TEX. PENAL CODE § 7.02(a)(2), (b).
The jury found Stills guilty of capital murder. He appeals.
Analysis
Stills challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction.
He argues that the evidence was insufficient to establish his guilt either as a
principal or as a co-conspirator or party to the offense, and therefore it was
insufficient to support his conviction for capital murder.
4 When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we view all of the evidence
in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether, based on that
evidence and the reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318–19, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979); Adames v. State, 353
S.W.3d 854, 859, 860 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893,
902 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). The jury is the sole judge of witness credibility and
the weight given to any evidence presented. Merritt v. State, 368 S.W.3d 516, 525
(Tex. Crim. App. 2012).
We give great deference to the jury’s credibility determinations, and we may
not re-evaluate the weight and credibility of the evidence or substitute our
judgment for that of the fact finder. Williams v. State, 235 S.W.3d 742, 750 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2007). The jury may accept one version of the facts and reject another,
and it may believe or disbelieve any part of a witness’s testimony. See Sharp v.
State, 707 S.W.2d 611, 614 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986); Rivera v. State, 507 S.W.3d
844, 853–54 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2016, pet. ref’d).
The evidence offered to establish guilt may be circumstantial or direct.
Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Circumstantial
evidence is as probative as direct evidence it can be sufficient to establish guilt. Id.
“Each fact need not point directly and independently to the guilt of the appellant,
5 as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient
to support the conviction.” Id. Jurors are permitted to draw multiple reasonable
inferences from the evidence presented at trial. Id. at 15. We presume that the jury
resolved any conflicting inferences in favor of the verdict, and we defer to that
determination. Merritt, 368 S.W.3d at 525–26. When the jury charge authorizes
conviction on multiple theories, as it did in this case, we must uphold the jury’s
verdict if the evidence is sufficient under any of the multiple theories. Hooper, 214
S.W.3d at 14; Green v. State, 495 S.W.3d 563, 572 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2016, pet. ref’d).
To prove that Stills was guilty of capital murder in this case as a principal,
the State was required to show that he intentionally or knowingly caused the death
of Smith in the course of committing or attempting to commit a robbery. See TEX.
PENAL CODE §§ 19.02(b)(1), 19.03(a)(2). A person commits robbery when, “in the
course of committing theft,” and with intent to obtain or maintain control of the
property, he intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to another. Id.
§ 29.02(a)(1). For these purposes, “theft” is defined as the unlawful appropriation
of property with intent to deprive the owner of the property. Id. §§ 29.02(a),
31.03(a). For purposes of the robbery statute, “[i]n the course of committing theft”
includes “conduct that occurs in an attempt to commit . . . theft.” Id. § 29.01(1).
6 Under the law of parties, a person is criminally responsible as a party to the
offense, and thus may be charged with the commission of the offense, “if the
offense is committed by his own conduct, by the conduct of another for which he is
criminally responsible, or by both.” TEX. PENAL CODE § 7.01(a), (b). A person is
criminally responsible for an offense committed by another if, “acting with intent
to promote or assist the commission of the offense, he solicits, encourages, directs,
aids, or attempts to aid the other person to commit the offense.” Id. § 7.02(a)(2). In
determining whether a person is a criminally responsible party to an offense, the
factfinder may examine the events occurring before, during, and after the
commission of the offense which show an understanding and common design to do
the prohibited act. See Padilla v. State, 326 S.W.3d 195, 200–01 (Tex. Crim. App.
2010) (citing Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13); see also Diaz v. State, 902 S.W.2d 149,
151–52 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, no pet.).
Stills argues that the State presented no evidence, either circumstantially or
directly, that he intentionally killed Smith or that he could be held responsible
under the law of parties. We need not address whether the evidence was sufficient
to support a verdict that Stills was the shooter, because to the extent there was any
dispute about whether it was him or Pinnekins, the evidence supported finding him
guilty as a party to the crime.
7 It was undisputed that Stills and Pinnekins arrived at Smith’s house together,
and that Stills was present when Smith was killed. Stills’s counsel conceded that
when they exited, Pinnekins was holding a black plastic bag in his hand, and Stills
was holding a firearm. Although mere presence at the scene, without more, is
insufficient to prove guilt as a party, it may be considered in determining whether a
defendant was a party to an offense. Ervin v. State, 333 S.W.3d 187, 201 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, pet. ref’d).
The State offered evidence that Smith was robbed. He was known as a drug
dealer who kept money and drugs in his bedroom where he operated his business.
Smith had drugs and money in his room before Stills and Pinnekins arrived
together; the drugs and money were gone afterwards.
A rational factfinder could have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that
Smith was robbed and shot by either Stills or Pinnekins. Based on Smith’s family’s
testimony, either Stills or Pinnekins beat Smith with a gun while the other stood by
the door. They escaped together with a black trash bag. A jury reasonably could
have determined from this evidence that Stills either robbed and killed Smith
himself, or he aided Pinnekins in doing so.
Considering all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, and
permitting reasonable inferences and deductions from the evidence presented, we
conclude that a juror could have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Stills was
8 the principal or a party to the capital murder of Smith. We overrule Stills’s sole
issue.
Conclusion
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Michael Massengale Justice
Panel consists of Justices Keyes, Bland, and Massengale.
Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).