in Re Commitment of James Edward Simmons

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: May 23, 2013
• Docket: 09-11-00507-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

In The

Court of Appeals Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont ____________________ NO. 09-11-00507-CV ____________________

IN RE COMMITMENT OF JAMES EDWARD SIMMONS

_______________________________________________________ _____________ _

On Appeal from the 435th District Court Montgomery County, Texas Trial Cause No. 10-11-12725 CV ________________________________________________________ ____________ _

MEMORANDUM OPINION

The State of Texas filed a petition seeking the involuntary civil commitment

of James Edward Simmons as a sexually violent predator. See Tex. Health &

Safety Code Ann. §§ 841.001-.151 (West 2010 & Supp. 2012) (SVP statute). A

jury found that Simmons is a sexually violent predator, and the trial court rendered

a final judgment and an order of civil commitment. Simmons appeals from the

final judgment, challenging the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence, the

admission of evidence that relates to his prior offenses, and the constitutionality of

1 the SVP statue. Because Simmons has failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to

relief on any of the issues that he has raised, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

The Statute

Under the SVP statute, the State bears the burden of proving beyond a

reasonable doubt that the person it seeks to commit for treatment is a sexually

violent predator. Id. § 841.062 (West 2010). As defined by the Legislature, a

sexually violent predator is a person who “(1) is a repeat sexually violent offender;

and (2) suffers from a behavioral abnormality that makes the person likely to

engage in a predatory act of sexual violence.” Id. § 841.003(a) (West 2010). Under

the statute, a “‘[b]ehavioral abnormality’” is “a congenital or acquired condition

that, by affecting a person’s emotional or volitional capacity, predisposes the

person to commit a sexually violent offense, to the extent that the person becomes

a menace to the health and safety of another person.” Id. § 841.002(2) (West Supp.

2012). Previously, we have explained that “[a] condition which affects either

emotional capacity or volitional capacity to the extent a person is predisposed to

threaten the health and safety of others with acts of sexual violence is an

abnormality which causes serious difficulty in behavior control.” In re

Commitment of Almaguer, 117 S.W.3d 500, 506 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2003, pet.

denied).

2 Sufficiency of the Evidence

In four issues, Simmons challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the

evidence supporting his civil commitment. According to Simmons, after being

committed as a sexually violent predator, he violated the terms of his civil

commitment order. Such a violation is another crime. See Tex. Health & Safety

Code Ann. § 841.085 (West 2010) (violating a commitment order is a third-degree

felony).

Simmons received a five-year sentence for violating the terms of his

commitment order. Simmons argues that the fact he is now incarcerated for

violating his commitment order is a factor that should be weighed in our evaluation

of the legal and factual sufficiency issues that he raises in his civil commitment

case.

However, neither the reporter’s record nor the clerk’s record from the

proceedings that concern the case involving Simmons’ violation of the civil

commitment order are before us. “The appellate record consists of the clerk’s

record and, if necessary to the appeal, the reporter’s record.” Tex. R. App. P. 34.1.

In the case that is now before us, the appellate record consists of the proceedings

that resulted in Simmons’ civil commitment; the appellate record does not include

records from the post-commitment criminal proceedings that Simmons mentions in

3 his brief. Generally, appellate courts may not consider matters that are outside the

appellate record. See Sabine Offshore Serv., Inc. v City of Port Arthur, 595 S.W.2d

840, 841 (Tex. 1979); In re D.J.R., 319 S.W.3d 759, 772 (Tex. App.—El Paso

2010, pet. denied) (op. on reh’g.) (citing Siefkas v. Siefkas, 902 S.W.2d 72, 74

(Tex. App.—El Paso 1995, no writ)); Quorum Int’l v. Tarrant Appraisal Dist., 114

S.W.3d 568, 572 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003, pet. denied).

Simmons’ legal and factual sufficiency issues relate entirely to his argument

that we should consider his subsequent criminal conviction in evaluating his legal

and factual sufficiency issues that challenge the jury’s findings in his civil

commitment case. Simmons’ legal and factual sufficiency arguments are not

supported by the record that is before us in his civil commitment case. Because

Simmons’ legal and factual sufficiency challenges rely completely on a matter that

is outside the record before us, he has failed to demonstrate that they have merit.

We overrule Simmons’ legal and factual sufficiency issues.

Evidentiary Issues

Simmons’ appeal also challenges the trial court’s decision to admit various

requests for admissions and testimony relating to his prior sexually-related

offenses. According to Simmons, the unfair prejudice created by the admission of

certain details about his prior sexual offenses outweighed the probative value of

4 that evidence. Simmons also asserts that the repeated admission of graphic details

related to his prior sexual offenses is fundamental error that deprived him of his

right to receive a fair trial.

We review a trial court’s decision concerning the admissibility of evidence

for an abuse of discretion. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. v. Malone, 972 S.W.2d

35, 43 (Tex. 1998). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts without

reference to any guiding rules and principles, or if it acts arbitrarily and

unreasonably. E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Robinson, 923 S.W.2d 549,558

(Tex. 1995); Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42

(Tex. 1985). We will reverse a judgment if an error by the trial court probably

caused the rendition of an improper judgment or probably prevented the appellant

from properly presenting the case on appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 44.1(a).

Simmons complains that the trial court improperly allowed the State’s

forensic psychologist, Dr. Jason Dunham, to tell the jury about the graphic details

of his prior offenses by relaying information from various records Dr. Dunham

reviewed in forming his opinions. Simmons argues that these details were

inadmissible hearsay, and that they were unfairly prejudicial under Rules 403 and

705(d) of the Texas Rules of Evidence. See Tex. R. Evid. 403, 705(d). When

Simmons objected to Dr. Dunham’s use of the details surrounding Simmons’ prior

5 sexual offenses, the trial court overruled Simmons’ objection and gave the jury a

limiting instruction, explaining that “[s]uch evidence is admitted only for the

purpose of showing the basis of the expert’s opinion.” See Tex. R. Evid. 705(d).

Trial courts are given discretion to admit the underlying facts or data on which the

expert has based an opinion. See Tex. R. Evid. 705(a); Boswell v. Brazos Elec.

Power Coop., Inc., 910 S.W.2d 593, 602 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1995, writ

denied). Rule 705(d) provides:

When the underlying facts or data would be inadmissible in evidence, the court shall exclude the underlying facts or data if the danger that they will be used for a purpose other than as explanation or support for the expert’s opinion outweighs their value as explanation or support or are unfairly prejudicial. If otherwise inadmissible facts or data are disclosed before the jury, a limiting instruction by the court shall be given upon request.

Tex. R. Evid. 705(d).

On appeal, Simmons argues that despite the trial court’s instruction that the

evidence at issue be used “only for the purpose of showing the basis of the expert’s

opinion[,]” the jury accepted the evidence described by the expert as being the

truth. However, there is nothing in the record showing that the jury disregarded the

trial court’s instruction. Citing Williams v. Illinois, 132 S.Ct. 2221, 183 L.Ed.2d 89

(2012), Simmons argues that this type of hearsay evidence “is not admissible for

its truth.” But, the trial court’s instruction to the jury reflects that the trial court did

6 not admit the evidence at issue as being true. Instead, the trial court admitted the

evidence at issue to explain the basis of Dr. Dunham’s opinion.

Simmons did not ask the trial court to provide the jury with any additional

instructions regarding the evidence at issue, and we presume the jury followed the

trial court’s instructions. See In re Commitment of Day, 342 S.W.3d 193, 199 (Tex.

App.—Beaumont 2011, pet. denied). We conclude the trial court properly applied

Rule 705(d) of the Texas Rules of Evidence by providing the jury with a limiting

instruction. See Tex. R. Evid. 705(d).

Additionally, the trial court could have reasonably concluded that the

evidence at issue would help the jury to understand how Dr. Dunham had formed

the opinion that Simmons had a behavioral abnormality. Dr. Dunham explained the

facts that he considered in forming his opinion, and he explained how those facts

influenced his determination. Given the purpose for which the evidence at issue

was admitted, the trial judge could also have reasonably concluded that the

information Dr. Dunham disclosed concerning Simmons’ prior sexual offenses was

not unfairly prejudicial. See In re Commitment of Ford, No. 09-11-00425-CV,

2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 2221, at **4-5 (Tex. App.—Beaumont Mar. 22, 2012, no

pet.) (mem. op.); Day, 342 S.W.3d at 199. Based on the record before us, and in

light of the instruction the trial court provided the jury regarding expert testimony,

7 we hold the trial court acted within its discretion by admitting the testimony now at

issue.

Simmons also complains that the trial court should have excluded Simmons’

admissions, which contain graphic details of his prior offenses. On appeal,

Simmons contends that the trial court admitted the State’s requests for admissions

without any limitation even though their probative value went only to explaining

the basis of the expert’s opinions.

During trial, the State requested to read Simmons’ answers to the State’s

requests for admissions into the record. Simmons objected to the State reading the

requests and Simmons’ responses aloud, claiming, among other things, that the

answers to the requests were cumulative and that reading the requests and

responses would be unduly prejudicial. The State argued that Simmons’ objection

to reading the requests aloud was untimely and that the answers Simmons gave

were not cumulative of Dr. Dunham’s testimony. The trial court overruled

Simmons’ objections, and the State read the various requests and responses that

Simmons had admitted as true to the jury.

Unless otherwise provided by the SVP statute, an SVP commitment

proceeding is subject to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. See Tex. Health &

Safety Code Ann. § 841.146(b). The applicable rule provides that a matter

8 admitted in response to Rule 198 requests for admissions “is conclusively

established as to the party making the admission unless the court permits the party

to withdraw or amend the admission.” Tex. R. Civ. P. 198.3. There is no conflict

between the SVP statute and Rule 198. See In re Commitment of Malone, 336

S.W.3d 860, 862 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2011, pet. denied). We have previously

held that requests for admissions may be used appropriately in SVP cases. See id.;

see also Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 841.146(b). A trial court may allow the

requests to be read in the factual record of the case. See Ins. Co. of N. Am. v. Fire

Ins. Exch., 508 S.W.2d 703, 704 (Tex. Civ. App.—Waco 1974, no writ); 6 William

V. Dorsaneo III, Texas Litigation Guide § 96.01[2][b][ii] (2013). The requests that

the State chose to read related to the various issues the jury was being asked to

consider in deciding whether Simmons had a behavioral abnormality and whether

he was likely to reoffend. Additionally, the trial court could have reasonably

decided that reading the admissions would not be unduly prejudicial. See Ford,

2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 2221, at **3-5. We hold the trial court did not abuse its

discretion by allowing the State to read the requests and responses at issue to the

jury.

Simmons also argues that the repeated admission of the facts surrounding his

prior offenses constitutes fundamental error and deprived him of a fair trial. See

9 Pirtle v. Gregory, 629 S.W.2d 919, 920 (Tex. 1982) (stating that fundamental error

exists when the record shows the trial court lacked jurisdiction or that the public

interest is directly and adversely affected as that interest is declared in the statutes

or the Constitution of Texas). SVP cases are civil proceedings. See In re

Commitment of Martinez, 98 S.W.3d 373, 375 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2003, pet.

denied) (“Chapter 841 is a civil, not a criminal or quasi-criminal, statute.”).

Preserving a complaint that a trial court improperly admitted evidence for review

on appeal requires the party contesting the admission of the evidence to timely

object and to state the specific ground of objection, if the specific ground is not

apparent from the context. Tex. R. Evid. 103(a)(1); see also Tex. R. App. P.

33.1(a)(1)(A).

During the trial, Simmons testified without objection about the details of his

prior offenses. When asked about the details of his prior offenses, Simmons did not

object that his testimony was cumulative of other evidence, was unduly repetitive,

or that it was unfairly prejudicial. See Volkswagen of Am., Inc. v. Ramirez, 159

S.W.3d 897, 907 (Tex. 2004) (“[E]rror in the admission of testimony is deemed

harmless and is waived if the objecting party subsequently permits the same or

similar evidence to be introduced without objection.”); Breof BNK Tex., L.P., D.H.

Hill Advisors, Inc., 370 S.W.3d 58, 67 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no

10 pet.) (“When an objection to evidence is properly made, the subsequent

presentation of essentially the same evidence without objection waives any

complaint regarding the admission of the evidence.”). We conclude that Simmons

failed to preserve his complaint regarding the repetitive nature of the evidence

about his prior offenses. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a).

We are not persuaded that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting

evidence addressing Simmons’ prior sexual offenses. We overrule Simmons’

issues that contend the trial court abused its discretion by admitting such evidence.

Constitutional Challenge

Simmons contends that the SVP statute is facially unconstitutional and that

it violates his rights under the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause.

Simmons contends that in In re Commitment of Bohannan, 388 S.W.3d 296 (Tex.

2012), the Texas Supreme Court’s interpretation of the statute permits a person’s

involuntary civil commitment solely on “‘mere predisposition to violence.’”

We disagree with Simmons’ reading of the Texas Supreme Court’s decision

in Bohannan. As we recently stated in In re Commitment of Anderson, “We do not

read the Bohannan opinion as eliminating a statutory requirement, or as altering

the proof required under the statute to find that a person is a sexually violent

predator.” In re Commitment of Anderson, 392 S.W.3d 878, 886 (Tex. App.—

11 Beaumont 2013, pet. denied). We overrule Simmons’ issue that argues the SVP

statute is unconstitutional. The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

AFFIRMED.

_____________________________ HOLLIS HORTON Justice

Submitted on March 1, 2013 Opinion Delivered May 23, 2013 Before McKeithen, C.J., Kreger and Horton, JJ.