in the Matter of H.L.A., a Child

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: March 20, 2014
• Docket: 01-12-00912-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion issued March 20, 2014

In The

Court of Appeals For The

First District of Texas ———————————— NO. 01-12-00912-CV ——————————— IN THE MATTER OF H.L.A., a Child

On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2 Galveston County, Texas Trial Court Case No. 11JV0116

MEMORANDUM OPINION

The State alleged by petition that Appellant H.L.A. engaged in delinquent

conduct, namely sexual assault and unlawful restraint of the complainant, H.V.

The State dismissed the sexual assault charges during the charge conference and a

jury adjudged H.L.A. delinquent on the unlawful restraint charge. The Disposition

Order placed H.L.A. in the custody of his parents and required him to participate in three to twelve months of an intensive services program and, following completion

of the services program, twelve months of probation. In four issues, H.L.A.

challenges his adjudication. We affirm.

Background

H.V., a fifteen year-old male described by his mother as having “high

functioning” autism, went to his next door neighbor’s house to play with H.L.A., a

thirteen year-old male. H.V. testified at trial that he and H.L.A. were playing

video games in H.L.A.’s room when H.L.A. locked the door. When H.V. had to

use the restroom, he pulled his penis out of his pants in front of H.L.A., H.L.A.

punched H.V., and H.V. put his penis back in his pants.

H.V. testified that he pulled down his pants a second time and laid down on

the bed because H.L.A. told him that H.L.A. was going to massage school and was

going to give him a massage. H.V. testified that H.L.A. then put a condom on

himself and one on H.V., and put his penis in H.V.’s anus. H.L.A. tried to force

H.V. to put his penis in H.L.A’s anus, but H.V. did not, so H.L.A. put his penis in

H.V.’s anus a second time.

H.V. testified that he tried to get out of H.L.A.’s room but H.L.A. prevented

him from leaving. Twice, H.V. tried to get up, but H.L.A. held him down and

punched him. Specifically, H.V. testified that H.L.A. held H.V.’s arm down both

when he was on his stomach and when he was on his back. H.V. testified that

2 when H.L.A. was penetrating him, H.V. told H.L.A., “no,” and “stop,” and

screamed, but H.L.A. told him to be quiet. H.V. also testified that H.L.A. told him

not to tell his family or mom.

After the incident, H.V. did not immediately leave H.L.A.’s house. He

testified that he asked H.L.A.’s mother if he could stay longer and that he did not

tell H.L.A.’s mother about the incident. H.V. left after H.L.A.’s mother told him to

go home. On cross-examination, H.V. testified that he was mad because he had to

leave H.L.A.’s house, that he was curious about sex, and that he did not know what

the term “forced” meant.

When H.V. left the house, he sat alone on the curb in front of H.L.A.’s house

to think about what had happened. H.V. testified that when he went inside his

house, he told his father about the incident because he was mad and did not

understand what had happened. H.V.’s parents confronted H.L.A and his mother

and then called their pastor and the police. H.V.’s father testified that H.L.A. came

to his house and “begged” him not to call the police.

The next day, H.V. had a sexual assault examination. Leanne LeDoux, the

sexual assault nurse examiner (“SANE”), testified at trial based on her notes from

the sexual assault examination forensic report, and the report was admitted. The

report stated that H.V. told LeDoux that H.L.A. “went in his room and locked the

door,” “stuck his pee-pee in my butt,” and “punched me in the chest.” The trial

3 court also admitted medical records that stated H.V. “was invited by 13 year old

neighbor yesterday afternoon to neighbor’s home to play PlayStation when

neighbor locked door and forced himself on patient in which he pushed patient

down and struck patient in the chest with fist . . . [and] there was rectal penetration

. . .”

The State also offered the testimony of H.V.’s counselor, Jan Bailey, who

counseled H.V. for post-traumatic stress disorder. She testified that H.V. reported

that H.L.A. stuck his penis in H.V.’s anus two times, punched H.V. in the stomach

to get him to lay down, and that H.L.A. was going to massage school. Bailey also

testified that H.V. was afraid of H.L.A. and that H.L.A. told H.V. not to tell or he

would be hurt.

Discussion

In four issues, H.L.A. challenges the sufficiency of the evidence and

contends that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting Bailey’s hearsay

testimony and denying his motion for new trial.

4 A. Sufficiency of the Evidence

In his second and third issues, H.L.A. challenges the sufficiency of the

evidence to support the jury’s finding that the incident occurred without the

consent of H.V. 1

1. Standard of Review

When evaluating a challenge to the legal or factual sufficiency of the

evidence, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and

determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements

of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,

319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 895 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2010) (holding that the Jackson v. Virginia legal-sufficiency standard

is only standard reviewing court should apply in determining sufficiency of

evidence in criminal case). The standard is the same for both direct and

circumstantial evidence cases. King v. State, 895 S.W.2d 701, 703 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1995).

We do not resolve any conflict of fact, weigh any evidence, or evaluate the

credibility of any witnesses, as this is the function of the trier of fact. See

Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 735, 740 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). We therefore

1 H.L.A. framed his third issue as a challenge to the jury’s rejection of his affirmative defense of consent. But no affirmative defense was submitted to the jury. Accordingly, we construe both issues as challenges to the jury’s finding that the incident occurred without H.V.’s consent. 5 resolve any inconsistencies in the evidence in favor of the verdict, Matson v. State,

819 S.W.2d 839, 843 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (en banc), and “defer to the jury’s

credibility and weight determinations.” Marshall v. State, 210 S.W.3d 618, 625

(Tex. Crim. App. 2006).

2. Applicable Law

A person commits the offense of unlawful restraint when he “intentionally or

knowingly restrains another person.” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 20.02(a) (West

2011). In this context, “restrain” means “to restrict a person’s movements without

consent, so as to interfere substantially with the person’s liberty, by moving the

person from one place to another or by confining the person.” Id. § 20.01(1) (West

2011). Restraint is without consent if it is accomplished by “force, intimidation, or

deception.” Id. § 20.01(1)(A).

3. Analysis

In his second and third issues, H.L.A. contends that there was insufficient

evidence that he restrained H.V. “without consent.” In support, H.L.A. points out

that there was evidence that (1) H.V. was curious about sex and initially exposed

himself to H.L.A., (2) H.V. did not want to leave H.L.A.’s house after the incident,

(3) H.V. did not know what the term “forced” meant, and (4) H.V.’s father coached

H.V. to say that he had been forced to stay in H.L.A.’s room.

6 We conclude that the State adduced evidence sufficient to support the

adjudication. First, H.V. testified that H.L.A. locked his bedroom door and later

forced H.V. to remain on the bed and prevented H.V. from leaving. H.V. testified

that H.L.A. held him down with his arm—once while H.V. was on his stomach and

once while he was on his back, and that he tried to get up twice, but H.L.A.

punched him. H.V. also testified that he told H.L.A. to stop and screamed, but

H.L.A. told him to be quiet. Second, the SANE testified that H.V. told her that

H.L.A. “went in his room and locked the door,” and “punched me in the chest.”

Third, H.L.A.’s conduct after the incident evidences a consciousness of guilt. H.V.

testified that H.L.A. told him not to tell his family about the incident, and H.V.’s

father testified that H.L.A. begged him not to call the police after he confronted

H.L.A. and his mother.

H.L.A. contends the evidence is insufficient because there was evidence that

H.V. exposed his penis first, was curious about sex, did not immediately leave, did

not know the meaning of “forced,” and was coached by his father. According to

H.L.A., this evidence demonstrates that the incident was consensual. But these

were factors for the jury to consider in weighing the evidence, and we defer to the

jury’s resolution of these issues. See Henson v. State, 388 S.W.3d 762, 773 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012) (stating that “verdict of guilty is an implicit

7 finding rejecting the defendant’s [defensive] theory”), aff’d, 407 S.W.3d 764 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2013).

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

that a rational juror could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that H.L.A.

committed the offense of unlawful restraint. See West v. State, 406 S.W.3d 748,

757–58 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet. ref’d) (evidence of restraint

held sufficient where defendant repeatedly grabbed victim by the hand and arm,

pinned her down by her wrists during intercourse, and placed her in his car);

Megas v. State, 68 S.W.3d 234, 239 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet.

ref’d) (evidence of restraint held sufficient where defendant kicked victim to

prevent her from leaving vehicle, prevented her from running away, and dragged

her back into vehicle); Torres v. State, 794 S.W.2d 596, 598–99 (Tex. App.—

Austin 1990, no pet.) (calling wife to ask her to drop charges and threatening her if

she did not was evidence of consciousness of guilt in sexual assault of child case).

Accordingly, we hold the evidence was legally sufficient to support the judgment

and overrule H.L.A.’s second and third issues.

B. Admissibility of Jan Bailey’s Testimony

1. Standard of Review and Applicable Law

We review the trial court’s ruling on admissibility of evidence for an abuse

of discretion. Weatherred v. State, 15 S.W.3d 540, 542 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000);

8 Hernandez v. State, 327 S.W.3d 200, 205 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010, pet.

ref’d). We “must uphold the trial court’s ruling if it was within the zone of

reasonable disagreement.” Weatherred, 15 S.W.3d at 542 (citing Montgomery v.

State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 391 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990)).

Hearsay—a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying

at trial or a hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted—

is generally inadmissible at trial. TEX. R. EVID. 801(d), 802. However,

“[s]tatements made for the purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment and

describing medical history, or past or present symptoms, pain, or sensations, or the

inception or general character of the cause or external source thereof insofar as

reasonably pertinent to diagnosis or treatment” are admissible as an exception to

the hearsay rule. TEX. R. EVID. 803(4).

Rule 803(4) is premised on the declarant’s desire to receive an appropriate

medical diagnosis or treatment, and the assumption that the declarant appreciates

that the effectiveness of the diagnosis or treatment may depend on the accuracy of

the information provided. See Burns v. State, 122 S.W.3d 434, 438 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet. ref’d). “Thus, the declarant’s motive in making the

statement must be consistent with the purpose of promoting treatment.” Austin v.

State, 222 S.W.3d 801, 811 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. ref’d).

The witness, however, need not expressly state that the hearsay declarant

9 recognized the need to be truthful in her statements for the medical treatment

exception to apply. Munoz v. State, 288 S.W.3d 55, 58 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] 2009, no pet.) (citing Wright v. State, 154 S.W.3d 235, 241 (Tex. App.—

Texarkana 2005, pet. ref’d)). Instead, the reviewing court must determine whether

the record supports a conclusion that the declarant understood the importance of

honesty in the context of medical diagnosis and treatment. See Beheler v. State, 3

S.W.3d 182, 188–89 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1999, pet. ref’d).

“The essential ‘qualification’ expressed in the rule is that the declarant

believe that the information he conveys will ultimately be utilized in diagnosis or

treatment of a condition from which the declarant is suffering, so that his selfish

motive for truthfulness can be trusted.” Taylor v. State, 268 S.W.3d 571, 587

(Tex. Crim. App. 2008). We conduct a two-part test for determining whether this

requirement has been met. First, the statement must be made for the purpose of

diagnosis or treatment, and the declarant must know that it is made for the purpose

of diagnosis and treatment. Id. at 588–89. Second, the statements must actually be

pertinent to diagnosis or treatment. Id. at 591.

The first prong requires that the proponent of the evidence show that the out-

of-court declarant was aware both that the statements were made for the purpose of

medical diagnosis or treatment and that a proper diagnosis or treatment depended

on the truth of such statements. Id. at 589. In the context of statements made by a

10 child to a therapist, “it is incumbent upon the proponent of the hearsay exception to

make the record reflect both (1) that truth-telling was a vital component of the

particular course of therapy or treatment involved, and (2) that it is readily

apparent that the child-declarant was aware that this was the case.” Id. at 590.

2. Analysis

In his fourth issue, H.L.A. contends that the trial court abused its discretion

by admitting Bailey’s testimony because it was hearsay and did not fall under the

medical diagnosis exception. 2 Specifically, H.L.A. contends the State failed to

show that H.V. understood the importance of honesty in his counseling.

The prosecutor asked Bailey four relevant questions:

State: Now, during your initial interview with [H.V.], did you explain to him—what the importance of being truthful in talking to you?

Bailey: Yes.

State: And why is being truthful so important prior to diagnosis?

Bailey: It’s the basis of the therapeutic relationship.

State: Now, when you told him that it was important that he was truthful, did he understand?

Bailey: Yes, I believe he did.

2 Bailey testified that she counseled H.L.A. for post-traumatic stress disorder and that H.V. told her H.L.A. stuck his penis in H.V.’s anus two times and punched H.V. in the stomach to get him to lay down, that H.L.A. was going to massage school, and that H.L.A. told him not to tell or that he would be hurt. 11 State: Is that something you covered only in the initial interview or something you covered throughout the sessions?

Bailey: Throughout the sessions.

Based on this record, we conclude that the State met its burden to make the

record reflect that truth-telling was a vital component of H.V.’s counseling and that

H.V. was aware that this was the case. See Munoz, 288 S.W.3d at 59 (holding that

child victim of sexual assault understood she had to be truthful during therapy

sessions because therapist affirmatively answered, “That is correct,” when the

prosecutor asked “during your initial interview with [the victim], did you explain .

. . the importance of being truthful in talking to you?”). Because H.L.A. does not

contend that Bailey’s testimony otherwise failed to meet the elements of Rule

803(4), we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting

Bailey’s testimony under the exception for statements made for the purpose of

medical diagnosis or treatment. Accordingly, we overrule H.L.A.’s fourth issue.

C. Motion for New Trial

A trial court must grant a new trial if the verdict is contrary to the law and

the evidence. TEX. R. APP. P. 21.3(h). We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion

for new trial using an abuse-of-discretion standard. Webb v. State, 232 S.W.3d

109, 112 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). We view the evidence in the light most

favorable to the trial court’s ruling and uphold the ruling if it was within the zone

12 of reasonable disagreement. Id. “We do not substitute our judgment for that of the

trial court, but rather we decide whether the trial court’s decision was arbitrary or

unreasonable.” Id. “Thus, a trial court abuses its discretion in denying a motion

for new trial only when no reasonable view of the record could support the trial

court’s ruling.” Id.

In his first issue, H.L.A. contends that the trial court abused its discretion in

denying his motion for new trial because the verdict was contrary to the law. See

TEX. R. APP. P. 21.3(h). H.L.A. was adjudged delinquent for “intentionally or

knowingly restrain[ing] another person,” which required him to register as a sex

offender. 3 See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 20.02(a); TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN.

art. 62.001(5)(E)(ii) (West Supp. 2013) (“‘reportable conviction or adjudication’

[for purposes of sex offender registration program] means . . . adjudication of

delinquent conduct or a deferred adjudication . . . based on . . . a violation of

Section 20.02 (Unlawful restraint) . . . if . . . the victim was younger than 17 years

of age”). Citing In re B.W., 313 S.W.3d 818, 820 (Tex. 2010), H.L.A. argues that

because he is a minor, he lacked the experience and mental capacity to appreciate

that his conduct would require him to register as a sex offender and, therefore, “he

cannot be said to have intentionally or knowingly restrained another person.”

3 The trial court ordered H.L.A.’s sex offender registration deferred. 13 In re B.W. held that a minor under fourteen could not be adjudicated

delinquent for prostitution because she could not legally consent to sex. Id. at 824.

The “underlying rationale [for the rule that an underage child cannot legally

consent to sex] is that younger children lack the capacity to appreciate the

significance or the consequences of agreeing to sex, and thus cannot give

meaningful consent.” Id. at 820. But, in that case, the act to which the minor

could not consent was an element of the offense. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.

§ 43.02(a)(1) (West Supp. 2013) (person commits prostitution if the person

“knowingly offers to engage, agrees to engage, or engages in sexual conduct for a

fee”).

The same is not true in this case. Here, the State was required to prove only

the elements of unlawful restraint, which, as discussed above, do not require proof

that H.L.A. engaged or offered or agreed to engage in sexual conduct. While

H.L.A. may have been unaware that registration as a sex offender would be a

collateral consequence of his adjudication, see Anderson v. State, 182 S.W.3d 914,

917 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (en banc) (stating that sex offender registration is a

collateral consequence of a conviction), unlike in In re B.W., H.L.A.’s age and

inability to comprehend that collateral consequence did not prevent the State from

proving the elements of the charged offense. Accordingly, we hold that the verdict

14 was not contrary to law and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

denying H.L.A.’s motion for new trial.

We overrule H.L.A.’s first issue.

Conclusion

We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Rebeca Huddle Justice

Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Massengale and Huddle.