in the Matter of C. I. G., a Juvenile

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: August 31, 2009
• Docket: 13-08-00552-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

NUMBER 13-08-00552-CV

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG

IN THE MATTER OF C. I. G., A JUVENILE

On appeal from the 138th District Court of Cameron County, Texas, sitting as a juvenile court.

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Yañez and Benavides Memorandum Opinion by Justice Yañez

The State charged appellant, C.I.G., a juvenile, with burglary of a habitation.1

Appellant pleaded “not true.” Following a bench trial, the trial court found that appellant

engaged in delinquent conduct as alleged by the State, placed him on probation for one

year, and required the payment of restitution.2 In a single issue, appellant challenges the

legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support his adjudication of delinquent

1 See T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . § 30.02(a)(3), (c)(2) (Vernon 2003).

2 See T EX . F AM . C OD E A N N . §§ 51.03, 54.04 (Vernon 2008). conduct.3 We affirm.

Background

On May 10, 2008, Irma Mercado and her grandson, J.A.R., returned home and

discovered that J.A.R.’s Dell laptop computer was missing. Mercado testified that she

spoke with Benito Tovar, who rented a space “in the back” of Mercado’s duplex. Tovar

told Mercado that he had seen two boys coming from the rear of the house, and that one

had “something hidden” underneath his shirt. Mercado called the police, and based on

Tovar’s description of the boys, directed the police to a house down the street. The police

drove Tovar to the nearby house, where appellant and numerous siblings lived. The police

brought one of appellant’s siblings out to the police car, but Tovar did not recognize him.

The police then brought appellant out, and Tovar identified him as one of the boys he saw

running from Mercado’s house. Tovar also identified appellant at trial.

Standard of Review and Applicable Law

Adjudications of delinquency in juvenile cases are based on the criminal standard

of proof.4 We therefore review adjudications of delinquency in juvenile cases by applying

the same standards applicable to sufficiency of the evidence challenges in criminal cases.5

In conducting a legal sufficiency review, we view the relevant evidence in the light

most favorable to the verdict to determine whether a rational trier of fact could have found

3 Appellant challenges only the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting his adjudication. However, he discusses the standard of review for factual sufficiency, and at one point, argues that “factually and legally, the evidence fails.” Out of an abundance of caution, we construe appellant’s argum ent as challenging the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting his adjudication.

4 T EX . F AM . C OD E A N N . § 54.03(f) (Vernon 2008); In re M.C.L., 110 S.W .3d 591, 594 (Tex. App.–Austin 2003, no pet.).

5 In re M.C.L., 110 S.W .3d at 594; see also In re J.O.T., No. 13-06-226-CV, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 5637, at *2-3 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi July 19, 2007, no pet.) (m em . op.).

2 the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.6 The trier of fact is the

sole judge of the facts, the credibility of the witnesses, and the weight given to testimony.7

We do not reevaluate the weight and credibility of the evidence, and we do not substitute

our own judgment for that of the trier of fact.8 Instead, we consider whether the jury

reached a rational decision.9

When conducting a factual sufficiency review, we view all of the evidence in a

neutral light to determine whether a jury was rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a

reasonable doubt.10 We will set the verdict aside only if (1) the evidence is so weak that

the verdict is clearly wrong and manifestly unjust, or (2) the verdict is against the great

weight and preponderance of the evidence.11 “Although authorized to disagree with the

jury’s determination even if probative evidence exists which supports the verdict, a

reviewing court must give due deference to the fact finder’s determinations concerning the

weight and credibility of the evidence and will reverse the fact finder’s determination only

to arrest the occurrence of a manifest injustice.”12 Unless we can say with some objective

basis in the record that the great weight and preponderance of the evidence contradicts

6 Hooper v. State, 214 S.W .3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim . App. 2007) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979)); Escamilla v. State, 143 S.W .3d 814, 817 (Tex. Crim . App. 2004).

7 See T EX . C OD E C R IM . P R O C . A N N . art. 38.04 (Vernon 1979); Beckham v. State, 29 S.W .3d 148, 151 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. ref’d).

8 King v. State, 29 S.W .3d 556, 562 (Tex. Crim . App. 2000); Beckham, 29 S.W .3d at 151.

9 Beckham, 29 S.W .3d at 151.

10 W atson v. State, 204 S.W .3d 404, 414-15 (Tex. Crim . App. 2006).

11 Johnson v. State, 23 S.W .3d 1, 11 (Tex. Crim . App. 2000).

12 Swearingen v. State, 101 S.W .3d 89, 97 (Tex. Crim . App. 2003).

3 the jury’s verdict, we will not reverse the judgment as factually insufficient.13 In conducting

a factual sufficiency review, we must also discuss the evidence that, according to the

appellant, most undermines the jury’s verdict.14

Both legal and factual sufficiency are measured by the elements of the offense as

defined by a hypothetically correct jury charge.15 Such a charge is one that accurately sets

out the law, is authorized by the indictment, does not unnecessarily restrict the State’s

theories of liability, and adequately describes the particular offense for which the defendant

was tried.16 In the present case, under a hypothetically correct jury charge, the factfinder

was required to find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that: (1) C.I.G.; (2) on or about May 10,

2008; (3) intentionally or knowingly; (4) entered a habitation; (5) without the owner’s

effective consent; and (6) attempted to commit, or committed, theft of a laptop computer.17

When a defendant is charged under subsection (a)(3) of section 30.02 of the penal code,

the State is not required to prove that the defendant intended to commit the felony or theft

at the time of entry.18 The State must simply prove that the defendant intentionally or

knowingly entered the building or habitation without the owner’s consent and while inside,

committed or attempted to commit a felony or theft.19 The “entry” requirement in the

13 W atson, 204 S.W .3d at 417.

14 See Sims v. State, 99 S.W .3d 600, 603 (Tex. Crim . App. 2003).

15 Malik v. State, 953 S.W .2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Hernandez v. State, 190 S.W .3d 856, 863 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2006, no pet.); Adi v. State, 94 S.W .3d 124, 131 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2002, pet. ref’d).

16 Golllihar v. State, 46 S.W .3d 243, 253 (Tex. Crim . App. 2001); Malik, 953 S.W .2d at 240.

17 See T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . § 30.02(a)(3); Hernandez, 190 S.W .3d at 863.

18 Hernandez, 190 S.W .3d at 863.

19 Espinoza v. State, 955 S.W .2d 108, 111 (Tex. App.–W aco 1997, pet. ref'd).

4 burglary statute is intended to protect “the interior or enclosed part of the described object,

be it a house, a building or a vehicle.”20 Guilt of the offense of burglary can be established

circumstantially by the combined and cumulative force of all the incriminating

circumstances.21

Identity can be established by either direct or circumstantial evidence.22 Identity may

even be proven by inferences.23

Discussion

In support of his argument that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient,

appellant argues that “[t]his is a case of picking up the usual suspects.” Appellant

emphasizes that (1) Tovar saw two boys coming out of the hallway where “the washer

room” was located at Mercado’s duplex, not the main part of the house; (2) Tovar saw one

of the boys carrying something under his shirt, but did not know whether it was a computer;

and (3) the missing laptop was not found. Appellant relies on his own version of events,

which, along with the testimony of other witnesses, we detail below.

Officer Martin Sandoval of the Brownsville Police Department testified that he

responded to the burglary call. Officer Sandoval was told that Tovar had seen two boys

leaving Mercado’s house, and that he believed one of the boys lived down the street.

Based on information from Tovar, Officer Sandoval went to the house, told the residents

he was investigating a theft of a laptop, and that he was looking for a juvenile. Officer

20 W ooten v. State, 205 S.W .3d 89, 91 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2006, no pet.) (quoting Griffin v. State, 815 S.W .2d 576, 579 (Tex. Crim . App. 1991)).

21 Hernandez, 190 S.W .3d at 863.

22 Earls v. State, 707 S.W .2d 82, 85 (Tex. Crim . App. 1986).

23 Roberson v. State, 16 S.W .3d 156, 167 (Tex. App.–Austin 2000, pet. ref’d).

5 Sandoval arranged for another officer to drive Tovar to the house. A juvenile resident of

the home (one of C.I.G.’s siblings) was brought outside, but Tovar said that the suspect

was “shorter.” Officer Sandoval then brought C.I.G. outside, and Tovar positively identified

him.

Officer Saul Dominguez of the Brownsville Police Department testified that he was

the “back-up” officer that drove Tovar to the suspect’s house, which was about half a block

from Mercado’s house. Officer Dominguez testified that Tovar identified appellant.

Tovar testified that earlier in the afternoon, he saw two boys coming out of the

“washer room” at Mercado’s residence.24 According to Tovar, he did not know the boys by

name, and did not know where they lived, but said that he was able to identify them. Tovar

testified that when the police brought the first boy out, he “told them no, that was not the

one.” When the second boy (appellant) was brought out, Tovar identified him. Tovar

testified that he did not see the boys with a laptop computer; he only saw them running with

“something under their arm.” Tovar saw the boys in daylight, at a distance of about thirty

feet. Tovar made an in-court identification of appellant.

Mercado testified that she returned home to find her door forced open. Her

grandson’s laptop computer, which had been purchased at a pawn shop, was missing.

She testified that appellant was not a friend of her grandson’s, but that she sometimes

allowed him to come in and watch television with her grandson. She also stated that there

is a park near her home, and that a lot of children live in the neighborhood. When asked

what she told the police, Mercado testified as follows:

24 According to Tovar, Mercado’s apartm ent has a “hallway” where the washer and dryer are located. Tovar saw the boys running out of the hallway.

6 A: I told them what had happened and that [Tovar] identified the small child. Since I know him, he was the only one that knew that my grandson had a laptop. I went and I told them where the house was of this boy’s family. I just showed them and he brought me back. He took [Tovar] and [Tovar] talked and then identified him, and that’s it.

Q [the Court]: Okay. So what you’re saying, if I am correct, is after you heard what [Tovar] said and after you saw what was missing, you suspected that it might be the boy that came over to your house and you knew where he lived?

A [Mercado]: Yes.

Q [the Court]: The policeman didn’t just pick out some house and go to the door. He went to the one you sent him to?

A: No, I took him.

Q: Okay. [Tovar] didn’t tell you, “It’s the little boy that lives in that house”?

A: No. I took them to that house and then they took [Tovar] to that house.

Q: And that’s because you suspected the little boy from that house?

A: Yes, because by his description.

J.A.R., Mercado’s grandson, testified that appellant and two of appellant’s siblings

have all been at his house since he acquired the laptop. He testified that he suspected

one of the siblings took the laptop, and conveyed his suspicion to Mercado before the

police arrived.

Elizabeth Garza, one of appellant’s teachers, testified she had given appellant an

older model HP laptop computer, but that it was not in good working order. The HP laptop

worked intermittently, but had some “glitches” that caused it to shut down after a few

minutes.

Appellant, who was ten years old at the time of the offense, testified that on the

afternoon in question, he took his own laptop and walked to Mercado’s house to see if

7 J.A.R. could repair it. He stated that he carried the laptop under his shirt because his

hands were sticky and he did not want to drop it. After determining that no one was home,

appellant said he returned home. He stated he went to the Mercado house alone and did

not see Tovar or anyone else there. Appellant testified that he told the officers he had

seen two other kids running from the direction of Mercado’s house.

Appellant’s mother testified that on the day in question, appellant left the house with

his laptop under his shirt to have it repaired at his friend’s house. She also testified that

her son had a laptop computer and she had invited the police officers in to view it, but they

had declined to do so.

At the end of the presentation of testimony, the trial court found that “all of the

elements have been met beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Appellant emphasizes that (1) “at most,” appellant “may have been in the wrong

place at the wrong time;” (2) Tovar did not see the boys coming out of Mercado’s home,

but instead, saw them coming out of a hallway where the “washer room” was located; (3)

a park was located nearby, and “a lot of kids usually ran about the property;” (4) no laptop

was recovered; and (5) therefore, “the burden by the state has not been met.”

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude there

was legally sufficient evidence to prove that appellant engaged in delinquent conduct as

alleged by the State.25 Furthermore, viewing the evidence in a neutral light, we cannot say

that the evidence was so weak that appellant’s adjudication was against the great weight

and preponderance of the evidence or was manifestly unjust.26 Accordingly, we find that

25 See T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . § 30.02(a)(3); Hernandez, 190 S.W .3d at 863.

26 See W atson, 204 S.W .3d at 414-15.

8 the evidence was legally and factually sufficient to support appellant’s adjudication.

Conclusion

We overrule appellant’s sole issue and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

______________________ LINDA REYNA YAÑEZ, Justice

Memorandum Opinion delivered and filed this the 31st day of August, 2009.