Edward Frank Williams v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: May 12, 2016
• Docket: 05-15-00470-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

AFFIRMED as Modified; Opinion Filed May 12, 2016.

In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-15-00470-CR

EDWARD FRANK WILLIAMS, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 2 Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. F-1324143-I

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Lang, Brown, and Whitehill Opinion by Justice Lang Edward Frank Williams appeals the trial court’s judgment convicting him of aggravated

robbery, enhanced by two prior convictions. Williams pleaded guilty to the offense and true to

the enhancement paragraphs. After finding Williams guilty, the jury found the enhancements

true and assessed his punishment at seventy-five years of imprisonment.

In one issue on appeal, Williams argues that, during the hearing on punishment, the trial

court erred when it admitted photographs of the complainants’ injuries because: (a) the

photographs were cumulative of the complainants’ testimony; and (2) the probative value of the

photographs was outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice so the photographs should have

been excluded pursuant to Texas Rule of Evidence 403. In a cross-issue, the State argues the

judgment does not correctly reflect that Williams pleaded guilty to the offense. We conclude that Williams has waived his sole issue on appeal. Also, we conclude the

judgment incorrectly states that Williams pleaded not guilty and modify the judgment

accordingly. The trial court’s judgment is affirmed as modified.

I. ADMISSIBILITY OF PHOTOGRAPHS

In his sole issue on appeal, Williams argues that, during the hearing on punishment, the

trial court erred when it admitted photographs of the complainants’ injuries because: (a) the

photographs were cumulative of the complainants’ testimony; and (2) the probative value of the

photographs was outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, so the photographs should have

been excluded pursuant to Texas Rule of Evidence 403. The State responds that Williams has

failed to preserve this issue for appellate review because he did not object to the admission of the

photographs during the hearing on punishment.

A. Applicable Law

An appellate court may not address the merits of an issue that has not been preserved for

appeal. See Ford v. State, 305 S.W.3d 530, 532 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009); Benson v. State, 240

S.W.3d 478, 483 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2007, pet. ref'd) (holding relevance and unfair prejudice

complaints not preserved for appellate review when no objection made at trial). To preserve

error for appellate review, the complaining party must make a timely, specific objection and

obtain a ruling on the objection. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1. When a defendant affirmatively

asserts that he has “No objection” to the admission of evidence, he waives his right to complain

on appeal. See Estrada v. State, 313 S.W.3d 274, 302 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).

B. Application of the Law to the Facts

During the hearing on punishment, the State offered into evidence exhibits 48–61, which

consisted of approximately 211 photographs, twelve of which depicted the complainants’

injuries. In response, defense counsel stated, “No objection.” The trial court admitted the

–2– exhibits into evidence. Accordingly, we conclude that Williams has waived this issue. See TEX.

R. APP. P. 33.1; Estrada, 313 S.W.3d at 302 (when defendant affirmatively asserts “No

objection” to evidence, he waives right to complain on appeal).

Issue one is decided against Williams.

II. MODIFICATION OF THE JUDGMENT

In a cross-issue, the State requests this Court to modify the judgment to correctly reflect

that Williams pleaded guilty to the offense. An appellate court has the authority to modify an

incorrect judgment to make the record speak the truth when it has the necessary information to

do so. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2(b); Bigley v. State, 865 S.W.2d 26, 27–28 (Tex. Crim. App.

1993) (en banc); Asberry v. State, 813 S.W.2d 526, 529–30 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1991, pet. ref’d).

Accordingly, we modify the trial court’s judgment so that the portion of the judgment that reads

“Plea to the Offense: NOT GUILTY” is modified to read “Plea to the Offense: GUILTY.”

The State’s cross-issue is decided in favor of the State.

III. CONCLUSION

Williams has waived his sole issue on appeal. Also, the judgment incorrectly states that

Williams pleaded “Not Guilty” and the judgment is modified accordingly.

The trial court’s judgment is affirmed as modified.

/Douglas S. Lang/ DOUGLAS S. LANG JUSTICE

Do Not Publish TEX. R. APP. P. 47 150470F.U05

–3– Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT

EDWARD FRANK WILLIAMS, Appellant On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 2, Dallas County, Texas No. 05-15-00470-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. F-1324143-I. Opinion delivered by Justice Lang. Justices THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Brown and Whitehill participating.

Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is MODIFIED as follows:

The portion of the judgment that reads “Plea to the Offense: NOT GUILTY” is modified to read “Plea to the Offense: GUILTY.”

As REFORMED, the judgment is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 12th day of May, 2016.

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