NUMBER 13-08-00402-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
EVELYN LOUISE GRIFFIN, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 94th District Court
of Nueces County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Yañez and Vela
Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Valdez
A jury convicted appellant, Evelyn Louise Griffin, of the offense of assault on a
public servant. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.01(a)(1), (b)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2009). The
trial court sentenced Griffin to two years' imprisonment. (1) In four issues, Griffin contends
that: (1) the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support her conviction; (2)
the State withheld Brady evidence, see Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963); and (3)
the assault charge infringed upon her constitutional right to discipline her child. We affirm
as modified.
I. Background
Around 2:00 p.m. on May 10, 2006, Griffin arrived at Carroll High School in Corpus
Christi in search of her daughter, De'Ja Griffin. Although the events that transpired were
hotly disputed, it is undisputed that at some point, Griffin found De'Ja and began to
"discipline" her. Campus police separated them; however, an altercation later broke out
between Griffin and a campus police officer.
A. The State's Evidence
1. Officer Jimmy Rivera's Testimony
Officer Rivera, a Corpus Christi Independent School District Police Department
officer assigned to Carroll High School, testified that on May 10, 2006, between 2:15 and
2:30 p.m., he received a call on his radio that a parent was "chasing a child" and that the
parent and child were in a dressing room located near the gym. Officer Rivera,
accompanied by Roy Barrera, Carroll High School assistant principal, proceeded to the
gym. When Officer Rivera arrived at the dressing room, he saw Griffin with "a board in her
hand" and "yelling" at De'Ja. Officer Rivera testified that he took the board from Griffin and
that Griffin "began to slap, punch, and hit her daughter and grabbed her by the hair
and . . . yank[ed] her hair and punch[ed] her on the face and the head." Officer Rivera
testified that he and Barrera were "finally" able to get Griffin and De'Ja to "break free" of
one another. Officer Rivera took Griffin to a nearby meeting room, and Barrera took De'Ja
to another office.
Officer Rivera stated that he and Griffin were joined in the meeting room by his
partner, Officer Daniel Lopez, principal Kane, (2) and Barrera. Officer Rivera testified that
Griffin "was still pretty visibly upset about the whole ordeal" and that he "explained to
[Griffin] that because she committed [an] act of family violence in [his] presence . . . [he]
would have to arrest her for that offense." Officer Rivera stated that Griffin told him that
"she was not going to be arrested, she was not going to go anywhere with [him] and she
wasn't going to do anything." Griffin stood up and attempted to walk out of the meeting
room. Officer Rivera testified that he stood in front of the door and "put his hand up" to
block Griffin's exit, and Griffin "started swinging" at him. As Officer Rivera stepped
backward to avoid Griffin's swings, Officer Lopez intervened by stepping between Griffin
and Officer Rivera. Officer Rivera testified that Griffin "raked" her fingernails across Officer
Lopez's face and Officer Lopez "grabbed a hold of her and they went to the ground." Upon
hitting the ground, Griffin continued to resist by kicking and screaming, prompting Officer
Rivera, Kane, and Barrera to "grab a hold [of Griffin] until [Officer Lopez] finally got her
calmed down and handcuffed." After Griffin was handcuffed, the officers sat her up and,
though Griffin ceased to physically resist, she refused to identify herself.
2. Barrera's Testimony
Barrera testified that he was called over his radio about a parent, later identified as
Griffin, walking around campus with a board in her hand and looking for her daughter.
Barrera stated that he and Officer Rivera located Griffin and De'Ja in the gym. Officer
Rivera approached and removed the board from Griffin's hand. Barrera testified that Griffin
then began "assaulting" De'Ja by "hitting [De'Ja] with closed fists in the face, head area,
really hitting [De'Ja] with a closed fist." Barrera and Officer Rivera had a "difficult time
removing [Griffin] from [De'Ja]."
Barrera escorted De'Ja to the campus police security room and then went to the
meeting room where Officer Rivera had escorted Griffin. Officer Lopez came out of the
room and told him that he was concerned that things were going to escalate because
Griffin was not going to let them arrest her. Barrera stated that when Officer Lopez and
he entered the room, Griffin and Officer Rivera were arguing, Officer Rivera stepped away
and "[Griffin] immediately came towards Officer Lopez and immediately attacked him . . . ."
Officer Lopez then "wrestle[d]" Griffin to the ground and, with Officer Rivera's assistance,
attempted to handcuff her. Barrera "threw [him]self on [Griffin's] leg and [held] her legs
down because she was kicking." Barrera testified that it took Kane, Officer Lopez, Officer
Rivera, and himself to restrain Griffin so that she could be handcuffed.
3. Officer Daniel Lopez's Testimony
Officer Lopez testified that he was in the campus police security office when he
received a call that "there was an assault in progress." Officer Lopez testified that the radio
communications indicated that a woman had come onto campus through the back with no
visitor's pass and was looking for her daughter. While scanning the surveillance cameras
located throughout the school, Officer Lopez saw Officer Rivera and Barrera approach
Griffin. Officer Lopez testified that he "saw [Officer] Jimmy Rivera grab a board from
[Griffin]," and that he "observed [Griffin] start . . . throwing blows" at De'Ja. Officer Lopez
left the office and accompanied Officer Rivera as he escorted Griffin to a nearby meeting
room.
Officer Lopez stated that once in the meeting room, Officer Rivera told Griffin that
he had to place her under arrest for family violence. Officer Lopez stated that Griffin
retorted, "[n]o, you're not going to arrest me," began "yelling profanities," and started
walking to the door. He testified that Officer Rivera stepped in front of Griffin and Griffin
"started throwing blows." Officer Lopez testified that he tried to stop Griffin by grabbing her
around the shoulder area and Griffin struck him in the face. Officer Lopez testified that as
a result of Griffin's strike, he sustained "[s]everal scratches that developed into large welts."
He also testified that the welts caused pain and took several days to heal.
After being struck in the face, Officer Lopez "immediately took [Griffin] to the
ground." Officer Lopez testified that his actions were necessary to gain control of Griffin
and not to physically hurt her. After Griffin was on the ground, Officer Lopez continued to
yell at her to comply but Griffin resisted until he threatened to mace her.
On cross-examination, Officer Lopez admitted that in his first statement, he did not
mention that Officer Rivera removed a board from Griffin's hand. He also testified that
Griffin appeared to be "breathing fine" when she was on the ground and that her breasts
were not exposed during the altercation.
B. The Defense's Evidence
1. Wanda Griffin's Testimony
Griffin's mother, Wanda Griffin, testified that around 2:00 p.m. on May 10, 2006, she
had a cell phone conversation with one of the officers involved in Griffin's arrest. Although
Wanda was unable to identify the officer to whom she spoke, she testified that he did not
tell her that Griffin was going to be arrested. She testified that the officer explained to her
what had happened and that while she was on the phone, she heard "people talking and
fumbling" in the background. At some point she heard one of the officers "screaming and
hollering" and then heard Griffin let out a "death scream." Upon hearing Griffin, Wanda
"started screaming and hollering and then nobody answered." Wanda testified that at that
point, she "knew [her] daughter was dead." When Wanda bailed Griffin out of jail around
4:00 a.m. on May 11, 2006, she noticed bruises on Griffin's back, neck, and inner thighs,
and that Griffin's clothes were torn. Upon seeing Griffin's injuries, Wanda insisted that
Griffin go to the hospital.
2. De'Ja's Testimony
De'Ja testified that on May 10, 2006, Griffin came to Carroll High School to pick her
up for a doctor's appointment and discovered that she was skipping class. Griffin began
searching for her and found her in the gym. Upon seeing Griffin, De'Ja "sass[ed]" her and
Griffin "slapped" her. De'Ja testified that there were no officers around and that after being
slapped, she "ran through the neighborhood." At some point, De'Ja returned to the school
gym and went to her gym locker. Griffin found her in the dressing room and De'Ja ran into
an adjoining hallway. De'Ja stated that at that point, Barrera and Officer Rivera arrived and
Officer Rivera took a board out of Griffin's hand. De'Ja testified that Griffin grabbed her
shirt but did not punch her. De'Ja also testified that it would have been impossible for
Griffin to pull her hair because she was wearing a baseball cap.
De'Ja stated that she and Griffin were separated by Officer Rivera and Barrera, and
that she was led to the police security office. While she was in the office, Kane came in
and forced her to look at a surveillance camera that showed Griffin. She testified that
Griffin's clothes were "hanging off and . . . her pants [were] unbuttoned and her ponytail
was off [sic]."
3. Griffin's Testimony
Griffin testified that when she arrived at Carroll High School on the afternoon of May
10, 2006, she went through the front door of the school and asked to see De'Ja. Griffin
stated that the office called De'Ja's teacher to inquire about De'Ja, but the teacher replied,
"She's skipping again." Griffin testified that she went to the police security office to ask for
assistance in locating De'Ja and then "bumped" into De'Ja in the gym. Griffin asked De'Ja
why she was skipping and De'Ja began "sassing" her. Griffin stated that she "slapped
[De'Ja] in the face," and De'Ja "took off running."
Griffin testified that sometime later, she found De'Ja in the gym dressing room.
Griffin stated that she "grabbed [De'Ja] by her shirt so she wouldn't run again," but denied
punching De'Ja or grabbing her hair. Barrera and Officer Rivera arrived on the scene and
led Griffin into a "dark room." Once in the room, she sat down, began to cry, and spoke
to Kane. Griffin testified that during her conversation, Officer Lopez "was pacing behind
[her] at the door walking back and forth . . . mumbling" and "kicking" chairs.
Griffin testified that no one told her that she was under arrest and she decided to
go to her car. As she reached for the door, Officer Lopez "snatched [her] shirt and
exposed [her] breasts." Then Officer Lopez "punched [her] in the forehead full of force and
[she saw] stars." Griffin "staggered" and "shook it off." In an attempt to keep herself from
being further exposed by her torn clothing, Griffin "pushed" Officer Lopez. Officer Lopez
responded by "slamm[ing]" her onto the ground. Griffin testified that Officer Rivera, who
was on the phone with Martha, dropped the phone and, accompanied by Kane and
Barrera, began to "attack[ ]" her. As the men held her down, Officer Lopez "straddled" her
and dealt "straight body punches to [her] head and face." Although Griffin "scream[ed] and
holler[ed]," Officer Lopez "continued to choke [her] . . . [with] one hand . . . over [her] mouth
and nose so [she] could not breathe . . . ." Griffin testified that Officer Lopez punched her
and she "died for a few minutes." When she "woke back up," her pants were "off to [her]
knees," her shirt was open and her breast exposed; Griffin then "gave up." Kane covered
Griffin's chest, pulled her pants up, wiped blood from her mouth, and helped her up. Griffin
was handcuffed and lead to a police car. Griffin testified that on the walk out to the car,
she witnessed Barrera, Officer Lopez, Officer Rivera, and members of the Corpus Christi
Police Department "laughing" and "[g]iving high fives."
Griffin testified that upon reaching the jail, she was not given any medical treatment,
and that, after being in jail for almost two days, she was released and went to the
emergency room. Griffin testified that she was denied treatment at the emergency room
and left because she was upset. However, on cross-examination, Griffin admitted that
while she was at the emergency room, a CAT scan was conducted and the results came
back normal.
On April 29, 2008, after being instructed on the justification of self-defense and the
affirmative defense of duress, a jury convicted Griffin of the offense of assault on a peace
officer. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.01(a)(1), (b)(1). The trial court later sentenced
Griffin to two years' imprisonment. See id. § 12.42(a)(3) (Vernon Supp. 2009). This
appeal ensued.
II. Sufficiency of the Evidence
In her first and second issues, Griffin contends that the evidence is legally and
factually insufficient to support her conviction in light of the evidence that she acted in self-defense or under duress. Additionally, Griffin asserts that the evidence is legally
insufficient to support her conviction because Officer Lopez failed to lawfully discharge his
official duties at the time of his altercation with Griffin.
A. Standards of Review and Applicable Law
1. In General
In reviewing the legal sufficiency of evidence, an appellate court must review all the
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, and ask whether "'any rational trier of
fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt'--not
whether 'it believes that the evidence at the trial established guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt.'" Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512, 517 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (quoting Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979) (emphasis in original)). The trier of fact is the sole
judge of the facts, the credibility of the witnesses, and the weight given to testimony. See
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.04 (Vernon 1979); Jackson, 443 U.S. at 318-19;
Beckham v. State, 29 S.W.3d 148, 151 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. ref'd).
We do not reevaluate the weight and credibility of the evidence, and we do not substitute
our own judgment for the trier of fact. King v. State, 29 S.W.3d 556, 562 (Tex. Crim. App.
2000) (en banc); Beckham v. State, 29 S.W.3d 148, 151 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.]
2000, pet. ref'd). We resolve any inconsistences in the evidence in favor of the judgment.
Curry v. State, 30 S.W.3d 394, 406 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
In conducting a factual sufficiency review, a court of appeals reviews the evidence
in a neutral light to determine whether the evidence is so weak that the jury's verdict seems
clearly wrong and manifestly unjust or the jury's verdict is against the great weight and
preponderance of the evidence. Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 414-15 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2006). Unless the record clearly reveals that a different result is appropriate, we must
defer to the fact-finder's determination concerning what weight to be given to contradictory
testimony. Lancon v. State, 253 S.W.3d 699, 705 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
Both legal and factual sufficiency are measured by the elements of the offense as
defined by a hypothetically correct jury charge. See Curry, 30 S.W.3d at 404; Adi v. State,
94 S.W.3d 124, 131 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 2002, pet. ref'd). In the present case,
under a hypothetically correct jury charge, the jury was required to find, beyond a
reasonable doubt, that: (1) Griffin intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily
injury to Lopez; (2) Lopez was a public servant; (3) Griffin knew Lopez was a public
servant; and (4) Lopez was lawfully discharging his official duties at the time of the assault.
See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.01(a)(1), (b)(1). Griffin does not dispute that she
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily injury to Officer Lopez; instead, she
maintains that by using "unlawful, unjustified force," Officer Lopez failed to lawfully
discharge his official duties at the time of the altercation and that she acted in self-defense
and under duress.
2. Self-Defense
When the challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence pertains to the rejection of a
self-defense claim, we apply the same standards used in reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence to support a guilty verdict. See Zuliani v. State, 97 S.W.3d 589, 595 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2003) (factual sufficiency); Saxton v. State, 804 S.W.2d 910, 914 (Tex. Crim. App.
1991) (legal sufficiency).
Self-defense does not generally justify resisting an arrest that the actor knows is
being made by a peace officer. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 9.31(b)(2) (Vernon Supp. 2009). (3)
However, the use of force to resist an arrest is justified:
(1) if, before the actor offers any resistance, the peace officer . . . uses or
attempts to use greater force than necessary to make the arrest . . . ; and
(2) when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is
immediately necessary to protect himself against the peace officer's . . . use
or attempted use of greater force than necessary.
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 9.31(c).
3. Duress
Duress is an affirmative defense requiring the defendant to prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that he "engaged in the proscribed conduct because he
was compelled to do so by threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury to himself or
another." Id. § 8.05(a) (Vernon 2003). A person is compelled to act within the meaning
of the duress defense only if confronted by force or threat of force that would render a
person of reasonable firmness incapable of resisting the pressure. Id. § 8.05(c).
We review the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury's rejection of
Griffin's affirmative defense under a two-part test. See Cleveland v. State, 177 S.W.3d
374, 387 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet. ref'd) (en banc). First, we examine the
record for evidence that supports the jury's rejection of Griffin's affirmative defense while
ignoring all evidence to the contrary. See id. Second, if there is no evidence to support
the jury's rejection of Griffin's affirmative defense, we examine whether the record supports
Griffin's affirmative defense as a matter of law. See id. We review the factual sufficiency
regarding Griffin's affirmative defense of duress by reviewing all of the evidence in a
neutral light to determine whether the judgment rendered is so against the great weight and
preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust. See id. at 390.
B. Analysis
The jury heard testimony that Griffin, with board in hand, confronted De'Ja near the
school gym. Officer Lopez, Officer Rivera, and Barrera testified that after Officer Rivera
removed the board from Griffin, Griffin's behavior toward De'Ja escalated with slaps and
punches that ended only when Barrera and Officer Rivera pulled them apart. Testimony
revealed that Officer Rivera and Officer Lopez, both uniformed campus police officers, took
Griffin to a nearby meeting room and informed her that she was under arrest. Griffin
attempted to exit the room but was blocked by Officer Rivera. The State presented
testimony that Griffin responded by "swinging at [Officer Rivera]." Testimony revealed that
Officer Lopez intervened by stepping between Griffin and Officer Rivera, and that he was
subsequently "attacked" by Griffin. The jury heard testimony that Griffin "thr[ew] blows" and
"raked" her fingernails across Officer Lopez's face. Officer Lopez testified that, in an effort
to gain control of Griffin, he forced her to the ground. Officer Lopez, Officer Rivera, and
Barrera testified that it took four men to restrain Griffin so that she could be handcuffed.
Additionally, Officer Lopez and Officer Rivera testified that the amount of force used was
necessary to effect Griffin's arrest.
Griffin testified that she did not punch De'Ja or grab her hair in the presence of
Officer Rivera. Griffin stated that once in the meeting room with the officers and school
administrators, she attempted to speak to principal Kane, but Officer Lopez began
behaving aggressively by kicking chairs and pacing behind her. Griffin denied that she was
told that she would be placed under arrest. Griffin testified that, as she attempted to leave
the meeting room, Officer Lopez used force greater than necessary to effect her arrest by
(1) "snatch[ing her] shirt and expos[ing her] breasts," (2) "slamming" her onto the ground,
(3) punching her so hard that she saw stars and "died for a few minutes," and (4) dealing
"straight body punches to [her] head and face."
The jury is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and may believe or
disbelieve any part of a witness's testimony. Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2000); Lee v. State, 259 S.W.3d 785, 792-93 (Tex. App.-Houston 2007, pet. ref'd).
The jury was presented with one version of events in which Officer Lopez's actions toward
Griffin escalated as her resistance escalated and another version in which Griffin endured
an unprovoked attack by Officer Lopez. To the extent the versions conflicted, it was the
jury's duty to resolve those conflicts. See Lee, 259 S.W.3d at 792-93. Moreover, Griffin's
testimony is the only evidence raising the issue of self-defense, and the jury's decision to
reject the claim ultimately hinged on Griffin's credibility. Because it was within the jury's
province to resolve the disputed versions of the events in question, the jury was free to
disbelieve the testimony supporting Griffin's self-defense claim. See id.
Additionally, the evidence supports the jury's rejection of Griffin's affirmative defense
of duress. Although the jury was charged with duress, the State asserts that "[t]he law of
duress is inapplicable to the present case because the law of duress implies third party
compulsion, . . . not threat from the victim of the offense." Assuming, without deciding, that
the law of duress is applicable in the present case, the jury could have reasonably rejected
it. Griffin's testimony revealed that she felt that she was in imminent danger when she was
on the ground "fighting for her life." However, the jury heard testimony that Griffin
scratched Officer Lopez, thus causing him bodily injury, before he grabbed her and took
her to the floor; only Griffin testified otherwise. Accordingly, the jury could have rejected
Griffin's affirmative defense of duress by concluding that Griffin's actions were not
compelled by threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury. See Tex. Penal Code Ann.
§ 8.05(a).
Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, there was evidence
that Griffin intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily injury to Officer Lopez, and
that Officer Lopez was a public servant lawfully discharging his official duties. See Tex.
Penal Code Ann. § 22.01(a)(1), (b)(1); Laster, 275 S.W.3d at 517-18. Viewing the
evidence in a neutral light, we cannot conclude that the evidence is so weak that the jury's
verdict seems clearly wrong and manifestly unjust or that the jury's verdict is against the
great weight and preponderance of the evidence. Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 414-15. We
conclude that the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support Griffin's conviction.
Griffin's first and second issues are overruled.
III. Exculpatory Evidence
In her third issue, Griffin contends that the State withheld material exculpatory
evidence. Specifically, Griffin argues that "[d]uring the punishment hearing, it was revealed
that [Officer Lopez] had prior bad acts, which should have been given as Brady evidence
to defense counsel prior to trial," because "[d]uring the trial, the truthfulness of [O]fficer
Lopez's statement was attacked."
A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
In Brady v. Maryland, the United States Supreme Court held that the State must
disclose evidence that is favorable and material to the defendant and is material to either
guilt or punishment. 373 U.S. at 87; Harm v. State, 183 S.W.3d 403, 406 (Tex. Crim. App.
2006). To establish a Brady violation, a defendant must demonstrate that: (1) the State
suppressed evidence; (2) the suppressed evidence is favorable to the defendant; and (3)
the suppressed evidence is material. Harm, 183 S.W.3d at 406. The defendant must
demonstrate a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed, the outcome
of the trial would have been different. Hampton v. State, 86 S.W.3d 603, 612 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2002). Brady evidence includes information that is known to the State, but unknown
to the defense. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 103 (1976). However, "Brady and
its progeny do not require prosecuting authorities to disclose exculpatory information to
defendants that the State does not have in its possession and that is not known to exist."
Harm, 183 S.W.3d at 407 (quoting Hafdahl v. State, 805 S.W.2d 396, 399 (Tex. Crim. App.
1990)).
B. Analysis
Griffin bases her contention that a Brady violation occurred on evidence supposedly
revealed during the punishment hearing. Griffin supports her contention that "[d]uring the
punishment hearing, it was revealed that [Officer Lopez] had prior bad acts" by pointing to
the following testimony:
[Defense Counsel]: And during the trial you said something, when I asked
you, "Were you still employed with the police
department," you said, "No." And I asked you, "Why?"
And you said, "Because of incidences [sic] like these."
Would you please explain when [sic] you meant by
that[?]
[Officer Lopez]: I believe I stated, you know, with all due respect, I
arrested an individual and a couple of weeks later, a
month later, I had to arrest them [sic] again for the
same offense. I just got tired of it.
Neither Officer Lopez's testimony in its entirety, nor the above excerpt cited by
Griffin as the sole support of her Brady argument, "reveal[ ] that [Officer Lopez] had prior
bad acts." This testimony, though repeatedly cited by Griffin, fails to support her assertions
that "Officer Lopez admitted to having a bad disposition with school security," or that Officer
Lopez had a "highly volatile disposition as a disgruntled employee." Accordingly, we
conclude that Griffin failed to demonstrate that the State suppressed evidence in violation
of Brady. See id. Griffin's third issue is overruled.
IV. Parental Right to Discipline Child
In her fourth issue, Griffin contends that "[t]he assault charge was [an] improper
infringement on the constitutional right of a parent to discipline her child." Citing Texas
Penal Code section 9.61, Griffin argues that it was "error for the jury to conclude that she
was not justified to question school police actions to the point where she had to fight for
her life." Specifically, Griffin argues that she engaged in "reasonable discipline" of De'Ja
and that the actions of campus police "were clearly unreasonable because they interfered
with reasonable discipline under the circumstances." (4) We disagree.
Although Texas law recognizes the right of a parent to discipline her child, we fail
to see how that right directly relates to the facts at hand. Section 9.61 sets forth a parental
justification defense that is available when a parent uses non-deadly force against a child
younger than 18 years "when and to the degree the [person] reasonably believes the force
is necessary to discipline the child or to safeguard or promote his welfare." Tex. Penal
Code Ann. § 9.61(a)(2) (Vernon 2003); Quattrocchi v. State, 173 S.W.3d 120, 122 (Tex.
App.-Fort Worth 2005, pet. ref'd). In the present case, the non-deadly force at issue is not
the force Griffin allegedly used against De'Ja, but rather the force used against Officer
Lopez. Assuming, without deciding, that section 9.61 justifies the force used by Griffin
toward De'Ja, such justification does not extend to justify her actions toward Officer Lopez.
See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 9.61. Because Griffin has failed to establish a violation of her
constitutional rights, her fourth issue is overruled.
V. Modification of Judgment
The trial court's judgment mistakenly recites Evelyn Louise Griffin's name as "Evelyn
Louis Griffin." Because we have the necessary data and evidence for reformation, we
modify the trial court's judgment to reflect the correct spelling of Griffin's name. See Tex.
R. App. P. 43.2; Bigley v. State, 865 S.W.2d 26, 27 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).
VI. Conclusion
Having overruled all of Griffin's issues on appeal, we affirm as modified the trial
court's judgment.
________________________
ROGELIO VALDEZ
Chief Justice
Do not publish.
Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)
Delivered and filed the
4th day of February, 2010.
1. Although assault on a public servant is a third-degree felony, see Tex. Penal Code Ann. §
22.01(a)(1), (b)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2009), Griffin's punishment range was enhanced to a second-degree felony
after the court received evidence of a prior federal felony conviction for possession and conspiracy to
distribute crack cocaine. See id. § 12.42(a)(3) (Vernon Supp. 2009).
2. The Carroll High School principal at the time of the incident is identified in the record only as "Kane."
3. The offense in this case occurred on May 10, 2006, and the legislature subsequently amended
section 9.31. See Act of March 20, 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., ch. 1, § 2, 2007 Tex. Gen. Laws 1, 1 (codified as
an amendment to Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 9. 31 (Vernon Supp. 2009)). Our analysis is governed by the prior
version of section 9.31. See Act of March 20, 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., ch. 1, § 5(a), 2007 Tex. Gen. Laws 1,
2 (stating that an offense committed before the act's effective date is governed by the section in effect when
the offense was committed); Act of May 29, 1993, 73rd Leg. R.S., ch. 900, § 1.01, sec. 9. 31, 1993 Tex. Gen.
Laws 3589, 3601 (current version at Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 9. 31).
4. In her fourth issue, Griffin also asserts that she was "disrespected as a black parent in violation of
her civil rights." Although Griffin makes this statement, she fails to make any argument or cite authority in
support of this contention. As a result, we conclude that, to the extent that Griffin has raised a sub-issue
regarding race in the Constitution, she has inadequately briefed this sub-issue. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i)
("The [appellant's] brief must contain a clear and concise argument for the contentions made, with appropriate
citations to authorities and to the record.").