Hackbarth v. State

617 S.W.2d 944, 1981 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1099
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 1, 1981
Docket61085
StatusPublished
Cited by112 cases

This text of 617 S.W.2d 944 (Hackbarth v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hackbarth v. State, 617 S.W.2d 944, 1981 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1099 (Tex. 1981).

Opinion

OPINION

TOM G. DAVIS, Judge.

Appeal was taken from a conviction for attempted rape. After finding appellant guilty, the jury assessed punishment, enhanced by a prior conviction, at 15 years.

In his sixth ground of error, appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. He maintains the State produced evidence showing nothing more than mere preparation to commit the offense of rape.

The complainant testified that on January 25, 1977, she was in the laundromat of the apartment complex in which she lived in Houston. She related that appellant entered the laundromat, grabbed her and started “ripping at” the shirt she was wearing. Appellant told the complainant “I want you to take your clothes off. I want to see what you look like.” The complainant then began to struggle with appellant and noticed that his “partially erect” penis was sticking out of his unzipped pants. At one point, appellant attempted to “undo” the complainant’s pants. The struggle continued as the complainant moved out the door of the laundromat and into the parking lot of the complex. The complainant related that appellant had his hand over her mouth. After she bit his finger, appellant released the complainant and he drove away in a car.

*946 Appellant denied commission of the offense. He testified that at the time in question, he was either at home or at work.

Appellant urges that absent evidence of “attempted penetration or some attempted act of deviate sexual intercourse,” the evidence is insufficient to prove the offense of attempted rape. In Cody v. State, 605 S.W.2d 271, 273 (Tex.Cr.App.), this Court stated that the attempt statute does not require that every act short of actual commission be accomplished in order for one to be convicted of an attempted offense.

In the instant case, appellant grabbed the complainant, attempted to remove her clothing and exposed his penis. These acts tended, but failed, to effect the commission of the offense intended. The fact that appellant could have taken further actions, without actually committing the offense of rape, does not act so as to render his actions nothing more than mere preparation. We find the evidence sufficient to support appellant’s conviction.

In his fifth ground of error, appellant contends the court erred in overruling his four objections to the charge given the jury at the conclusion of the guilt or innocence phase. The first such objection was directed at the court’s refusal to charge the jury on the affirmative offense of renunciation.

As stated above, appellant testified and denied commission of the offense. The complainant testified that appellant left the scene after the struggle moved to the parking lot and she bit his finger.

Renunciation is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for an attempted offense. V.T.C.A. Penal Code, Sec. 15.04. The issue of the existence of an affirmative defense need not be submitted to the jury unless there is evidence admitted which supports the defense. V.T.C.A. Penal Code, Sec. 2.04(c). An essential part of such renunciation is that it must be voluntary and it must either avoid commission or prevent commission of the offense. With regard to the voluntary nature of the renunciation, Sec. 15.04(c)(1) provides:

“(c) Renunciation is not voluntary if it is motivated in whole or in part:
“(1) by circumstances not present or apparent at the inception of the actor’s course of conduct that increase the probability of detection or apprehension or that make more difficult the accomplishment of the objective;”

In the instant cause, there was no evidence which would have supported the affirmative defense of renunciation. Appellant’s actions in leaving the apartment complex did not tend to avoid or prevent commission of the offense. Further, there is no evidence of a voluntary renunciation. No error is shown in the court refusing to charge on the affirmative defense of renunciation.

Appellant next urges the court erred in overruling his objections which requested submission of charges on the lesser offenses of indecent exposure and assault. He maintains such charges would have been appropriate because the lesser offenses were “presented by State’s facts” in proving the attempted rape.

In Hart v. State, 139 Tex.Cr.R. 101, 138 S.W.2d 818, the defendant was convicted of assault with intent to rape. On appeal, he contended the court erred in refusing to submit his requested jury charges on aggravated assault and indecent exposure. The contention was rejected and the court stated:

“... His complaint that no charge on aggravated assault was given is without merit. The facts did not raise such an issue. He did not testify. The uncontra-dicted testimony of the prosecutrix clearly showed that his intention was to then and there have sexual intercourse with her regardless of any and all resistance on her part. Under these circumstances we do not think the issue of aggravated assault was raised. A similar question as the one here presented was discussed in the case of Rettig v. State, 90 Tex.Cr.R. 142, 233 S.W. 839. This also disposes of appellant’s contention that the charge should have instructed the jury on the theory of indecent exposure of his person.... ” Id. 138 S.W.2d at 819.

*947 See Scott v. State, 434 S.W.2d 678 (Tex.Cr.App.); Bethune v. State, 363 S.W.2d 462 (Tex.Cr.App.); Keeton v. State, 149 Tex.Cr.App. 27, 190 S.W.2d 820.

In the instant case, the State’s evidence shows the offense of attempted rape. Appellant denied commission of the offense and consequently presented no evidence of an assault or indecent exposure. No error is shown in the court refusing to charge the jury on the lesser offenses as requested by appellant.

The record reflects that appellant’s fourth objection to the charge was as follows:

“Fourth. That the defendant objects and excepts to the Court’s charge as a whole as the same is not sufficient to protect the rights of the defendant.”

We find that the objection voiced by appellant is not specific enough to apprise the court of the nature of his complaint with regard to the charge and thus presents nothing for review. Bilbrey v. State, 594 S.W.2d 754 (Tex.Cr.App.). Appellant’s fifth ground of error is overruled.

In his seventh ground of error, appellant contends the court erred in admitting the complainant’s shirt into evidence. He maintains the shirt was inadmissible because the State did not establish the proper chain of custody.

The shirt in question was worn by the complainant at the time of the offense.

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Bluebook (online)
617 S.W.2d 944, 1981 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1099, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hackbarth-v-state-texcrimapp-1981.