IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-11-00038-CR
DEREK SHANE PERRY, Appellant v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
From the County Court at Law No 2 Johnson County, Texas Trial Court No. M201000150
MEMORANDUM OPINION
The State filed an information charging Derek Shane Perry with seven counts of
violation of a protective order. The jury convicted Perry on Counts Six and Seven. The
trial court assessed punishment at confinement for one year and a $700.00 fine but
suspended imposition of the sentence and placed Perry on community supervision for
two years. Perry raises two issues: (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to
quash; and (2) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction. We will affirm.
Perry filed a motion to quash the information alleging that the State failed to inform him of the charges against him with such particularity as to enable him to
prepare a defense to the charges. Count Six of the information stated:
Derek Shane Perry … on or about the 27th day of January, 2010 … did then and there intentionally and knowingly violate the terms of a protective order … by intentionally communicating directly with Amanda Perry, a member of the family or household described in said protective order, in a threatening or harassing manner, to wit: causing Amanda Perry’s telephone to ring multiple times.
Count Seven was the same except for the date (January 28, 2010).
The Texas and United States Constitutions grant a criminal defendant the right to
fair notice of the specific charged offense. State v. Barbernell, 257 S.W.3d 248, 250 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2008). The charging instrument must convey sufficient notice to allow the
accused to prepare a defense. Id. An information is sufficient if it
charges the commission of the offense in ordinary and concise language in such a manner as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is meant, and with that degree of certainty that will give the defendant notice of the particular offense with which he is charged, and enable the court, on conviction, to pronounce the proper judgment.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 21.11 (West 2009); see id. art. 21.23 (“The rules with
respect to allegations in an indictment and the certainty required apply also to an
information.”); see also id. art. 21.21(7) (“An information is sufficient if it has the
following requisites: (7) That the offense be set forth in plain and intelligible words”).
An indictment or information normally provides sufficient notice if it tracks the
language of the statute. Olurebi v. State, 870 S.W.2d 58, 62 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). A
charging instrument should be read as a whole in determining whether it sufficiently
charges an offense. DeVaughn v. State, 749 S.W.2d 62, 67 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). We
Perry v. State Page 2 review de novo a trial court’s ruling on a motion to quash. State v. Moff, 154 S.W.3d 599,
601 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
In analyzing whether a charging instrument provides adequate notice, we
engage in a two-step analysis. Barbernell, 257 S.W.3d at 255. First, a court must identify
the elements of an offense. Next, when the Legislature has defined an element of the
offense that describes an act or omission, a court must ask whether the definitions
provide alternative manners or means in which the act or omission can be committed.
Id. If this second inquiry is answered in the affirmative, a charging instrument will
supply adequate notice only if, in addition to setting out the elements of an offense, it
also alleges the specific manner and means of commission that the State intends to rely
on at trial. Id.
A person commits the offense of violation of an order issued under Article 6.08
of the Code of Criminal Procedure if the person intentionally or knowingly
communicates directly with a protected individual in a threatening or harassing
manner. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 25.071(a)(2)(A) (West 2009). The information tracked
the language of section 25.071 and sets out the elements of the offense. Harassment is
not defined in the statute. The information provided Perry notice that he committed the
offense by repeatedly causing Amanda Perry’s phone to ring on or about the dates
specified. We find that the information provided Perry adequate notice to prepare a
defense. The language in the information concerning Perry’s conduct is not so vague or
indefinite as to deny him effective notice of the acts he allegedly committed. See
DeVaughn, 749 S.W.2d at 67. We overrule the first issue.
Perry v. State Page 3 In his second issue, Perry argues that the evidence is insufficient to support his
conviction. The Court of Criminal Appeals has expressed our standard of review of a
sufficiency issue as follows:
In determining whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support a conviction, a reviewing court must consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether, based on that evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational fact finder could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979); Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). This “familiar standard gives full play to the responsibility of the trier of fact fairly to resolve conflicts in the testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. “Each fact need not point directly and independently to the guilt of the appellant, as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support the conviction.” Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13.
Lucio v. State, 351 S.W.3d 878, 894 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 132
S.Ct. 2712, 183 L.Ed.2d 71 (2012).
The Court of Criminal Appeals has also explained that our review of “all of the
evidence” includes evidence that was properly and improperly admitted. Conner v.
State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 197 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). And if the record supports conflicting
inferences, we must presume that the factfinder resolved the conflicts in favor of the
prosecution and therefore defer to that determination. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 326. Further,
direct and circumstantial evidence are treated equally: “Circumstantial evidence is as
probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor, and circumstantial
evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt.” Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13. Finally, it
is well established that the factfinder is entitled to judge the credibility of witnesses and
can choose to believe all, some, or none of the testimony presented by the parties.
Perry v. State Page 4 Chambers v. State, 805 S.W.2d 459, 461 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
Derek Perry and Amanda Perry were divorced in 2004 and were named joint
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-11-00038-CR
DEREK SHANE PERRY, Appellant v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
From the County Court at Law No 2 Johnson County, Texas Trial Court No. M201000150
MEMORANDUM OPINION
The State filed an information charging Derek Shane Perry with seven counts of
violation of a protective order. The jury convicted Perry on Counts Six and Seven. The
trial court assessed punishment at confinement for one year and a $700.00 fine but
suspended imposition of the sentence and placed Perry on community supervision for
two years. Perry raises two issues: (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to
quash; and (2) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction. We will affirm.
Perry filed a motion to quash the information alleging that the State failed to inform him of the charges against him with such particularity as to enable him to
prepare a defense to the charges. Count Six of the information stated:
Derek Shane Perry … on or about the 27th day of January, 2010 … did then and there intentionally and knowingly violate the terms of a protective order … by intentionally communicating directly with Amanda Perry, a member of the family or household described in said protective order, in a threatening or harassing manner, to wit: causing Amanda Perry’s telephone to ring multiple times.
Count Seven was the same except for the date (January 28, 2010).
The Texas and United States Constitutions grant a criminal defendant the right to
fair notice of the specific charged offense. State v. Barbernell, 257 S.W.3d 248, 250 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2008). The charging instrument must convey sufficient notice to allow the
accused to prepare a defense. Id. An information is sufficient if it
charges the commission of the offense in ordinary and concise language in such a manner as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is meant, and with that degree of certainty that will give the defendant notice of the particular offense with which he is charged, and enable the court, on conviction, to pronounce the proper judgment.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 21.11 (West 2009); see id. art. 21.23 (“The rules with
respect to allegations in an indictment and the certainty required apply also to an
information.”); see also id. art. 21.21(7) (“An information is sufficient if it has the
following requisites: (7) That the offense be set forth in plain and intelligible words”).
An indictment or information normally provides sufficient notice if it tracks the
language of the statute. Olurebi v. State, 870 S.W.2d 58, 62 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). A
charging instrument should be read as a whole in determining whether it sufficiently
charges an offense. DeVaughn v. State, 749 S.W.2d 62, 67 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). We
Perry v. State Page 2 review de novo a trial court’s ruling on a motion to quash. State v. Moff, 154 S.W.3d 599,
601 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
In analyzing whether a charging instrument provides adequate notice, we
engage in a two-step analysis. Barbernell, 257 S.W.3d at 255. First, a court must identify
the elements of an offense. Next, when the Legislature has defined an element of the
offense that describes an act or omission, a court must ask whether the definitions
provide alternative manners or means in which the act or omission can be committed.
Id. If this second inquiry is answered in the affirmative, a charging instrument will
supply adequate notice only if, in addition to setting out the elements of an offense, it
also alleges the specific manner and means of commission that the State intends to rely
on at trial. Id.
A person commits the offense of violation of an order issued under Article 6.08
of the Code of Criminal Procedure if the person intentionally or knowingly
communicates directly with a protected individual in a threatening or harassing
manner. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 25.071(a)(2)(A) (West 2009). The information tracked
the language of section 25.071 and sets out the elements of the offense. Harassment is
not defined in the statute. The information provided Perry notice that he committed the
offense by repeatedly causing Amanda Perry’s phone to ring on or about the dates
specified. We find that the information provided Perry adequate notice to prepare a
defense. The language in the information concerning Perry’s conduct is not so vague or
indefinite as to deny him effective notice of the acts he allegedly committed. See
DeVaughn, 749 S.W.2d at 67. We overrule the first issue.
Perry v. State Page 3 In his second issue, Perry argues that the evidence is insufficient to support his
conviction. The Court of Criminal Appeals has expressed our standard of review of a
sufficiency issue as follows:
In determining whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support a conviction, a reviewing court must consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether, based on that evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational fact finder could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979); Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). This “familiar standard gives full play to the responsibility of the trier of fact fairly to resolve conflicts in the testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. “Each fact need not point directly and independently to the guilt of the appellant, as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support the conviction.” Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13.
Lucio v. State, 351 S.W.3d 878, 894 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 132
S.Ct. 2712, 183 L.Ed.2d 71 (2012).
The Court of Criminal Appeals has also explained that our review of “all of the
evidence” includes evidence that was properly and improperly admitted. Conner v.
State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 197 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). And if the record supports conflicting
inferences, we must presume that the factfinder resolved the conflicts in favor of the
prosecution and therefore defer to that determination. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 326. Further,
direct and circumstantial evidence are treated equally: “Circumstantial evidence is as
probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor, and circumstantial
evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt.” Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13. Finally, it
is well established that the factfinder is entitled to judge the credibility of witnesses and
can choose to believe all, some, or none of the testimony presented by the parties.
Perry v. State Page 4 Chambers v. State, 805 S.W.2d 459, 461 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
Derek Perry and Amanda Perry were divorced in 2004 and were named joint
managing conservators of their daughter. In 2008, Amanda obtained a protective order
prohibiting Derek from communicating directly with her in a threatening or harassing
manner, or indirectly communicating a threat through any person to Amanda or to a
member of the family or household.
Derek’s telephone records for January 27 and 28, 2010 were in evidence.
Amanda testified at trial that Derek called her phone over 40 times between 4:09 p.m.
and midnight on January 27, 2010, and 155 times on January 28, 2010. Amanda further
testified that Derek called her 19 times within 16 minutes. Amanda did not answer all
of the phone calls. Amanda testified that Derek would leave voice-mail messages and
that “the voice mails consisted of him blowing into the phone so that he would occupy
the voice mail space so that no one else could leave a voice mail.” Amanda spoke to
Derek on one of the calls and asked him to stop calling her. The record shows that
Derek called Amanda’s phone 167 times in a period of 17 hours on the days of January
27 and 28.
Derek argues that the evidence is insufficient to show that he communicated
directly with Amanda or that he communicated with Amanda in a threatening or
harassing manner. Derek contends that causing Amanda’s phone to ring is not
evidence of direct communication. Telephone communication has been found to be
sufficient direct communication for purposes of section 25.071. Moreno v. State, No. 04-
02-00727, 2003 WL 21658594, at *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, no pet.) (mem. op.,
Perry v. State Page 5 not designated for publication) (citing Patton v. State, 835 S.W.2d 684, 687 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 1992, no pet.)). In Patton, the defendant continuously called his wife at work,
and his wife hung up the phone. The court found that a rational factfinder could find
that the defendant, in these telephone calls, persistently disturbed, continually
bothered, or pestered his wife. Patton, 835 S.W.2d at 687.
Derek next argues that the evidence is insufficient to show that he caused
Amanda’s phone to “ring” multiple times because Amanda testified that her phone was
at times on silent or “vibrate.” Amanda testified that her phone rang or vibrated
numerous times on January 27 and 28. She further stated that she had to turn the ringer
off at times because Derek called continuously.
Derek further argues that there is insufficient evidence to show he had the
requisite criminal intent to commit the offense. Derek contends that his attempted
communication with Amanda concerned their child and was not intended to harass or
threaten her. Amanda testified that she spoke with Derek on January 27 and told him
their child was safe. The record shows that Derek called 167 times in 17 hours. Derek
left voice mail messages, but these messages did not seek information about the welfare
of the child. We find that a rational fact finder could have found that Derek committed
the offense of violation of a protective order. We overrule the second issue.
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
REX D. DAVIS Justice
Perry v. State Page 6 Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Scoggins Affirmed Opinion delivered and filed August 30, 2012 Do not publish [CR25]
Perry v. State Page 7