Jhovanny Espinoza v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: December 21, 2018
• Docket: 05-17-00547-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

AFFIRMED; Opinion Filed December 21, 2018.

In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-17-00547-CR

JHOVANNY ESPINOZA, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 296th Judicial District Court Collin County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 296-80265-2017

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Myers, Evans, and Brown Opinion by Justice Myers A jury convicted appellant Jhovanny Jesse Espinoza of assault family violence (with a prior

conviction for assault family violence) and assessed punishment at five years’ imprisonment. In

three issues, appellant argues the trial court erred in allowing the State to introduce evidence under

article 38.371 and article 38.49, and that the evidence is insufficient to support a finding of guilt

by a rational trier of fact. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

During the early morning hours of November 24, 2016, at around 3:00 a.m., Michael

Garcia, Dominique Schiller, and Neida Queme heard shouting and screaming coming from outside

of their second-floor hotel room at a Motel 6 in Plano, Texas. They looked out the window of

their room and saw a young man (later identified as appellant) “dragging” a woman (later identified

as Maribel Sandoval) through the parking lot. Sandoval was crying and it did not appear as though she wanted to go with appellant.

The three individuals left their hotel room and ran downstairs to ask Sandoval if she was

okay. She said “no.” They saw that she was crying, had bruises on her face, and looked “beat

up.” As appellant dragged Sandoval up the stairs, Garcia, Schiller, and Queme followed.

Appellant told the three to leave them alone and said Sandoval was drunk. When appellant and

Sandoval went into their room, Garcia testified that he saw appellant hit Sandoval’s face with his

fist. He added that the hit was not gentle and that it “looked pretty hard.” Schiller and Queme

said they did not see appellant hit Sandoval. Appellant and Sandoval went into their room and

appellant cursed at Garcia, Schiller, and Queme, and slammed the door. Garcia testified that they

could hear Sandoval crying. They returned to their room to retrieve a cell phone. Schiller called

the police.

Officers with the Plano Police Department soon arrived and knocked on appellant’s hotel

room door. There was no answer. One of the officers retrieved a key from the hotel office and,

after getting it, the officers announced themselves and entered the hotel room. They did not see

anyone in the room when they first entered, but they heard what sounded like running water

coming from the bathroom, and the bathroom door was shut. Inside the bathroom, the officers

found appellant standing near the toilet. Sandoval was sitting in the shower with the water running.

She was fully clothed. Appellant appeared to be highly intoxicated and was angry with the officers,

who removed him from the bathroom and detained him. Appellant was ultimately arrested and

charged with assault.

Heather Anderson, a criminalist with the Plano Police Department, was called to the hotel

and photographed the crime scene on November 24, 2016. Anderson’s photos were admitted into

evidence at trial. She photographed the parking lot, Sandoval’s car, and the exterior and interior

of the hotel room. In Sandoval’s car, Anderson photographed several areas that showed dried and

–2– wet bloodstains. She found clothing items in the car with bloodstains on them, and Anderson saw

blood on the wall right outside the door to appellant’s hotel room. Inside the hotel room, she

observed bloodstains on the bed sheets and what appeared to be blood in and around the bathroom

sink. Anderson also photographed Sandoval, who had injuries on her face. She appeared to have

bruising above both eyes, one of her eyes was red, and she had several scratches on her cheeks,

nose, and forehead. There were bloodstains on her clothes. Anderson saw pink and/or red marks

on the side of Sandoval’s back and on her left arm.

Detective Justin Lawrence with the Plano Police Department’s Family Violence Unit was

assigned to the case. He interviewed appellant on November 25, 2016, the day after appellant’s

arrest. This interview was recorded and a redacted version (in which the audio was muted during

certain parts of the interview) was admitted into evidence. In the interview, appellant told

Lawrence that he slapped Sandoval only once on the day in question and this occurred when they

were at a park in south Dallas. He slapped her with the back of his hand. She already had bruises

on her face because he had hit her on another occasion, prior to that day. He also told Detective

Lawrence that he drove Sandoval to the hotel in Plano that night. In the car, Sandoval was telling

appellant she loved him, but when they got out of the car at the hotel, she took off. He chased her

and tried to calm her down. He helped her get up off the ground and they walked to the hotel room

“side by side.” She was still crying and “running her mouth.” When Garcia, Schiller, and Queme

approached, appellant said that he told them she was just drunk. They wanted to talk to Sandoval;

she ignored them. The three tried to follow appellant and Sandoval into their hotel room, but he

closed and locked the door. Once inside the room, Sandoval undressed and got in the shower. He

went into the bathroom to check on her, and she apologized to him. The police kicked down the

door and entered the room without permission.

Detective Lawrence met with Sandoval on November 28, 2016, four days after the offense.

–3– Lawrence testified that Sandoval looked “pretty beat up.” She had bruises all over her face and

one eye was bloodshot. Sandoval told him appellant hit her in Dallas and in Plano on the night in

question, and she indicated that appellant hit her several times with his fist over a two-day period.

Prior to trial, the court had granted the State’s motion (discussed more fully in appellant’s

second issue) to allow the State to introduce Sandoval’s two handwritten statements, which were

admitted at trial as State’s exhibits 3 and 4. Exhibit 3, Sandoval’s statement from November 28,

2016, as read to the jury by Detective Lawrence, was as follows:

Tuesday, November 22nd, and Wednesday, November 23rd, I was assaulted by Jhovanny Espinoza, who struck me in the face several times as I was driving. I was just trying to leave, after he hit me several times, to go get help, because he wouldn’t stop, and he kept threatening to kill me and continuing hurting me.

Lawrence was also asked to read aloud exhibit 4, Sandoval’s statement from November 24, 2016,

the day of the offense, and his testimony was as follows:

Jhovanny Espinoza has struck me several times with his fist over the past two days. On my face, first the right, then the left, bruising my nose, cheeks, eyes. He repeatedly threatened to kill me and bite my face off. He told me if I tried running, that would be the end of me. Felt scared so––I can’t read that word––so run then since people came to ask if I was okay. I nodded no and they stayed outside the door––some of this is hard to read––me and told me I had messed up. He began telling me and I cleaned myself up but in the process struck me once again in the face, threw me to the floor, kicked my left side of my body, pulled me into the restroom to clean myself up before everyone showed up. That’s when we heard the knocks on the door.

Sandoval did not testify for the State but she testified in appellant’s defense. She told the

jury that appellant––the father of her child and a person with whom she had had an on-and-off

dating relationship––never assaulted her in the hotel room and that she only told the police

appellant threw her down, kicked her, and pushed her into the bathroom because she “was angry.”

She said she was never dragged across the hotel parking lot. Sandoval testified that appellant had

struck her with his fists several times over the two days prior to the incident, when they were in

Dallas, and when they got to the hotel she “just decided to like run off and walk off.” She had

–4– been drinking that night, so appellant followed her and told her to calm down. She threw herself

to the ground, and he grabbed her arm to get her back up. Appellant was just trying to “get me up

off the ground.” She was cursing at appellant and screaming at him, and he told her to calm down

because she “was just going all crazy on him.” He was calmly telling her to get up and that they

should go back to the motel room. She decided to get up, and appellant walked with his arm

around her. They were walking together and appellant was beside her the entire time. Sandoval

said that from the time they sat down outside of the nearby restaurant until they were walking to

their hotel room, appellant never struck her, nor did he injure her. Sandoval speculated that Garcia,

Schiller, and Queme may have been concerned because she kept throwing herself to the ground,

but she never said anything to them or shook her head “no” when they asked her if she was okay.

Sandoval testified that the blood in the car was from her nose. She explained that she and

appellant had been in Dallas earlier in the evening on the night of the offense, and that appellant

had hit her multiple times. She said her nose “bleeds a lot.” She testified that she had found

pictures of another girl on appellant’s phone and confronted him about the photographs. She hit

him; he slapped her. They hit each other “like on and off,” but it all happened in Dallas County.

She denied that appellant ever told her not to accept a subpoena. Sandoval also denied she was

clothed in the shower when the police arrived. Sandoval testified that some of the things she wrote

in State’s exhibit 4 were true, and some were false.

Jessica Baca, a victim advocate for the Plano Police Department, testified that she first

started working with Sandoval in 2012, and that she had provided services to Sandoval in the past.

Sandoval and appellant had a young child together, and Sandoval did not have a lot of family or

financial support other than appellant. Baca believed Sandoval was dependent upon appellant.

Prior to trial, Baca made several attempts to contact Sandoval by phone, email, and through family

members, but Sandoval did not respond.

–5– Robin Laughon, an investigator with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office, testified

that she made several attempts to locate Sandoval and secure her presence for trial. Laughon also

listened to jail telephone calls between appellant and Sandoval. During those calls, appellant and

Sandoval would switch back and forth from Spanish to English, but Laughon, who understood “a

little bit of Spanish” but did not speak it, could only testify to the English portions of their

conversations. Laughon testified that appellant’s tone during the calls and instructions he gave

Sandoval led her to believe appellant was instructing Sandoval to avoid getting served with a

subpoena.

The State also called Dr. Christy Sim, executive director of “Stronger than Espresso,” an

organization dedicated to providing services to victims of family violence and sexual assault and

expert training to professionals. Dr. Sim testified regarding how power and control are central in

an abusive relationship and how it could affect a victim of domestic violence. And she testified in

rebuttal, after observing Sandoval’s testimony, that Sandoval was “minimizing,” blaming herself,

and taking “responsibility for everything.” She added that the testimony she witnessed was

consistent with the behaviors she testified about.

Appellant testified in his own defense, denying that he had attempted to hide Sandoval

from the District Attorney’s Office. He testified that he and Sandoval had visited a friend in Dallas

on the night of the offense. He hit her three times while they were in Dallas: The first time was

when he slapped her two days before the offense; the second time was when he hit her in front of

his friend in Dallas; the third was when he “backhanded” Sandoval in the car while they were

driving––still in Dallas. He said he did not hit Sandoval, strike her, or push her when they arrived

in Collin County. Appellant said Sandoval provoked him and also hit him, and he and Sandoval

hit each other during the drive to Plano, stopping right before they reached Mockingbird Lane. He

hit her first in South Dallas, but in North Dallas––before they got to Mockingbird––she was hitting

–6– him while he was driving, which caused him to “kind of swerve,” and that was why he

“backhanded” her. He testified that Sandoval had calmed down by the time they reached

Mockingbird, in Dallas. They did not hit each other after that.

The blood in the car belonged to both of them, according to appellant. He said his nose

was bleeding because Sandoval had hit him. Appellant further testified that when they reached

the hotel in Plano, Sandoval, who was drunk, got out of the car and “took off,” and he went after

her. He testified that Sandoval walked back by herself––he just had his arm around her. Appellant

said the blood on the bed must have been from when he was apprehended because his gums had

been bleeding and he spit the blood into the sink.

The State also introduced evidence that appellant had been previously convicted of assault

family violence, as alleged in the indictment. The jury ultimately convicted him of the charged

offense and assessed punishment at five years’ imprisonment. This appeal followed.

DISCUSSION

1. Article 38.371

In his first issue, appellant contends the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the

State to introduce evidence to the jury during the guilt/innocence phase of the trial under article

38.371 that allegedly did not meet the requirements of the statute. The State argues that appellant

waived his objections to the trial court’s ruling and, even if they were not waived, the trial court

did not abuse its discretion.

In the defendant’s motion for redactions of statements made by the defendant, appellant

listed twenty-two separate objections to specified portions of his one-hour-and-six-minute

recorded statement to Detective Lawrence and time stamps for each objected-to portion of the

interview, along with specified reasons for each requested redaction. During a pretrial hearing on

appellant’s motion, appellant withdrew his fourth request and the State agreed to all but four of

–7– the others––request 7 and requests 14, 15, and 16. In his request 7, appellant objected to his

statement (13.35 to 14.00 on the video) about a prior assault in which he struck Sandoval on a

prior occasion––more specifically, his statement to Detective Lawrence that her face was already

bruised when they got to the hotel because he had hit her previously. In request 15, appellant

objected to his statements (42.45 to 43.00) to Detective Lawrence that he thought Sandoval may

have wanted him to put his hands on her. Appellant added that he did not always think about

putting his hands on Sandoval. It would just happen and “after so long” he would “just get fed

up.” In request 16, appellant objected to his statement (47.15 to 47.30) to Detective Lawrence that

he may have caused a “little bruise” with his knuckle when he slapped Sandoval with the back of

his hand that night, but her other injuries were from before.1

During the hearing, the State argued the information was admissible under article 38.371

to show the nature of the relationship between Sandoval and appellant because it pertained to

Sandoval’s injuries at the time of the investigation, and because it showed a continuing course of

conduct. The trial court reviewed the portions of the video specified in appellant’s requests and

overruled each of the requested redactions. The redacted version of the recording was admitted

into evidence and played in court.

The State argues that appellant waived any complaint he may have had regarding the trial

court’s ruling on requests 7, 15, and 16 because defense counsel affirmatively elicited the same

information from Detective Lawrence during cross-examination and from Sandoval and appellant

during appellant’s case-in-chief. See Bartee v. State, Nos. 05–07–01437–CR, 05–07–01438–CR,

2008 WL 4743490, at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 30, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for

publication) (citing Rogers v. State, 853 S.W.2d 29, 35 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (op. on reh’g))

1 Appellant’s objection in request 14 (37.35 to 40.34), which is not part of his first issue, was that the objected-to portion of the interview contained hearsay statements by Sandoval “about a prior occurrence when there was a prior dispute and prior injuries from another incident and prior assaults that occurred by and between the parties.”

–8– (“When, as here, evidence similar to the complained-of evidence is admitted elsewhere at trial

without objection, any error in admitting the complained-of evidence is waived.”). We need not

resolve this question. Even if we assume appellant’s complaint was preserved, there was no abuse

of discretion.

A trial court’s decision to admit evidence of prior crimes, wrongs, or bad acts is reviewed

for an abuse of discretion. Powell v. State, 63 S.W.3d 435, 438 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Gonzalez

v. State, 541 S.W.3d 306, 310 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2017, no pet.). “This standard

requires that we affirm admissibility rulings when they are within the zone of reasonable

disagreement.” Gonzalez, 541 S.W.3d at 310.

The State may not introduce evidence of a defendant’s prior crimes, wrongs, or other acts

for the sole purpose of showing his character and that he acted in conformity with that character

on a particular occasion. TEX. R. EVID. 404(b); Smith v. State, 5 S.W.3d 673, 678 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1999). If offered for a purpose other than character conformity, the evidence may be

admissible. Smith, 5 S.W.3d at 678. Permissible purposes listed in rule 404(b) include motive,

opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident.

TEX. R. EVID. 404(b); Smith, 5 S.W.3d at 678. But “this list is not exhaustive.” Garcia v. State,

201 S.W.3d 695, 703 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Evidence of another crime, wrong, or act also may

be admissible as “same-transaction contextual evidence” if several crimes “‘are intermixed, or

blended with one another, or connected so they form an indivisible criminal transaction,’” and full

proof by testimony “‘of any one of them cannot be given without showing the others.’” Devoe v.

State, 354 S.W.3d 457, 469 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (quoting Wyatt v. State, 23 S.W.3d 18, 25

(Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (quoting Rogers v. State, 853 S.W.3d 29, 33 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993))).

However, this “same-transaction contextual evidence is admissible only when the offense would

make little or no sense without also bringing in that evidence,” and only to the extent it is necessary

–9– to the jury’s understanding of the offense. Id.

Article 38.371 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides, for certain family violence

offenses, including the one for which appellant was convicted:

(b) In the prosecution of an offense described by Subsection (a), subject to the Texas Rules of Evidence or other applicable law, each party may offer testimony or other evidence of all relevant facts and circumstances that would assist the trier of fact in determining whether the actor committed the offense described by Subsection (a), including testimony or evidence regarding the nature of the relationship between the actor and the alleged victim.

(c) This article does not permit the presentation of character evidence that would otherwise be inadmissible under the Texas Rules of Evidence or other applicable law.

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.371.

We have stated that article 38.371 “allows testimony concerning the nature of the

relationship between the actor and the victim.” Mapolisa v. State, No. 05–16–00711–CR, 2017

WL 2952994, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 11, 2017, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for

publication). In Gonzalez, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals discussed the statute in detail,

concluding that, in family violence cases, “[t]he nature of the relationship between the actor and

the alleged victim may be relevant to, among other things, confirm the alleged victim’s initial––

and later recanted––statements to police, or to explain the alleged victim’s unwillingness to

cooperate with law enforcement or prosecution.” Gonzalez, 541 S.W.3d at 312. “Neither use

contravenes Rule 404(b)’s prohibition against use of character-conformity or propensity

evidence.” Id.

We conclude it was well within the zone of reasonable disagreement for the trial court to

have found in this case that the disputed evidence was admissible for a non-character-conformity

purpose. Appellant’s argument is that article 38.371 can only be used to prove “the required

relationship element in a family violence case,” and that evidence of prior bad acts is not

admissible under article 38.371 unless it is for a specified purpose under rule 404(b) or invited.

–10– But the notion that article 38.371 could only be used to prove the relationship element in a family

violence case runs afoul of plain language of the statute––not to mention the holdings in Gonzalez

and other cases. See Gonzalez, 541 S.W.3d at 312–13 (complaint from appellant’s prior assault

conviction against same victim admissible under article 38.371 to explain victim’s recantation and

to rebut appellant’s defensive theory that victim had initially fabricated the allegations); Nash v.

State, Nos. 02–17–00236–CR, 02–17–00237–CR, 2018 WL 4495440, at *6 (Tex. App.––Fort

Worth Sept. 20, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (citing Gonzalez and

concluding appellant’s prior violence and nature of his relationship with victim was relevant to

explain why her trial testimony differed from her statements to police and to the nurse examiner

and was more than mere character-conformity evidence). Similarly, appellant’s statements to

Detective Lawrence in this case were relevant to explain why the State believed Sandoval would

not testify at trial. Moreover, the nature of the victim’s relationship with appellant and,

additionally, appellant’s statements that he repeatedly assaulted her in the days prior to the offense,

were relevant to explain her apparent unwillingness to cooperate with law enforcement and the

prosecution. See Gonzalez, 541 S.W.3d at 312–13.

Appellant’s argument that prior bad acts are inadmissible under article 38.371 unless they

are admitted for a specified purpose under rule 404(b) or invited is likewise unfounded and is

contrary to the Court of Criminal Appeals’ holding that, based on the clear language of the rule,

the list in rule 404(b) is “not exhaustive.” See Garcia, 201 S.W.3d at 703. Furthermore, the court

has held in the context of a similar statute, article 38.36, which pertains to evidence in prosecutions

for murder, that “in cases in which the prior relationship between the victim and the accused is a

material issue, illustrating the nature of the relationship may be the purpose in which evidence of

prior bad acts will be admissible.” Id.; see also Gonzalez, 541 S.W.3d at 311 n.4 (discussing article

38.36 and other similar statutes, e.g., articles 38.37 (evidence of extraneous offenses or acts), 38.46

–11– (evidence in prosecutions for stalking), and 38.48 (evidence in prosecution for tampering with

witnesses or prospective witness involving family violence)). Accordingly, the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in overruling appellant’s requested redactions because the State offered the

evidence for a purpose other than character conformity. We overrule appellant’s first issue.

2. Article 38.49

In his second issue, appellant argues the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the

State to introduce evidence to the jury during guilt/innocence under article 38.49 that did not meet

the requirements of the statute, thereby violating the Confrontation Clause.

A defendant in a criminal prosecution has a Sixth Amendment right to be confronted with

the witnesses against him. Giles v. California, 554 U.S. 353, 357–58 (2008); Gonzalez v. State,

195 S.W.3d 114, 116 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Shepherd v. State, 489 S.W.3d 559, 573 (Tex.

App.—Texarkana 2016, pet. ref’d). Even though a hearsay statement offered against the defendant

may be otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence, the Confrontation Clause may be

implicated if the defendant has not had the opportunity to confront the out-of-court declarant.

Gonzalez, 195 S.W.3d at 116; Shepherd, 489 S.W.3d at 573. But declarations made by a declarant

whose unavailability the defendant procured may be admitted as an exception even though the

defendant did not have an opportunity to confront the declarant. Shepherd, 489 S.W.3d at 573.

Under forfeiture by wrongdoing, the defendant is barred from asserting his right of

confrontation when he has wrongfully procured the unavailability of the witness. Id. Under Giles,

this exception applies “only when the defendant engaged in conduct designed to prevent the

witness from testifying.” Giles, 554 U.S. at 359; Shepherd, 489 S.W.3d at 573. The Supreme

Court requires there must be some showing by the proponent of the statement that the defendant

intended to prevent the witness from testifying. Giles, 554 U.S. at 361–62; Shepherd, 489 S.W.3d

at 573. “[F]orfeiture by wrongdoing applies even when the defendant has multiple reasons for

–12– harming the witness, so long as one of the reasons is to prevent her from testifying.” Shepherd,

489 S.W.3d at 573. Forfeiture by wrongdoing may apply “even though the act with which the

accused is charged is the same as the one by which he allegedly rendered the witness unavailable.”

Gonzalez, 195 S.W.3d at 125; Shepherd, 489 S.W.3d at 573.

The Supreme Court has also stated that the doctrine of forfeiture by wrongdoing has

particular relevance in domestic violence cases:

Acts of domestic violence often are intended to dissuade a victim from resorting to outside help, and include conduct designed to prevent testimony to police officers or cooperation in criminal prosecutions. Where such an abusive relationship culminates in murder, the evidence may support a finding that the crime expressed the intent to isolate the victim and to stop her from reporting abuse to the authorities or cooperating with a criminal prosecution—rendering her prior statements admissible under the forfeiture doctrine. Earlier abuse, or threats of abuse, intended to dissuade the victim from resorting to outside help would be highly relevant to this inquiry, as would evidence of ongoing criminal proceedings at which the victim would have been expected to testify.

Giles, 554 U.S. at 377.

Article 38.49 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure “is a codification of the forfeiture

by wrongdoing doctrine, and its requirements substantially correspond to those set out in Giles.”

Schindler, 2018 WL 4924946, at *3; see also Shepherd, 489 S.W.3d at 574 (“[T]he requirements

of Article 38.49 substantially correspond with the requirements for forfeiture by wrongdoing set

out in Giles.”). Article 38.49 provides in part as follows:

(a) A party to a criminal case who wrongfully procures the unavailability of a witness or prospective witness:

(1) may not benefit from the wrongdoing by depriving the trier of fact of relevant evidence and testimony; and

(2) forfeits the party’s right to object to the admissibility of evidence or statements based on the unavailability of the witness as provided by this article through forfeiture by wrongdoing.

(b) Evidence and statements related to a party that has engaged or acquiesced in wrongdoing that was intended to, and did, procure the unavailability of a witness or prospective witness are admissible and may be used by the offering party to make a showing of forfeiture by wrongdoing under this article, subject to Subsection (c). –13– (c) In determining the admissibility of the evidence or statements described by Subsection (b), the court shall determine, out of the presence of the jury, whether forfeiture by wrongdoing occurred by a preponderance of the evidence. If practicable, the court shall make the determination under this subsection before trial using the procedures under Article 28.01 of this code and Rule 104, Texas Rules of Evidence.

(d) The party offering the evidence or statements described by Subsection (b) is not required to show that:

(1) the actor’s sole intent was to wrongfully cause the witness’s or prospective witness’s unavailability;

(2) the actions of the actor constituted a criminal offense; or

(3) any statements offered are reliable.

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.49.

We review the trial court’s decision admitting or excluding evidence under article 38.49

for abuse of discretion. See Shepherd, 489 S.W.3d at 572; Thompson v. State, No. 10–16–00238–

CR, 2017 WL 3182988, at *1 (Tex. App.—Waco July 26, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated

for publication); see also Schindler v. State, No. 02–17–00241–CR, 2018 WL 4924946, at *5 (Tex.

App.––Fort Worth Oct. 11, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). A trial court

abuses its discretion when its decision was so clearly wrong as to lie outside that zone within which

reasonable persons might disagree. Shepherd, 489 S.W.3d at 572.

The record shows that, prior to jury selection on the first day of trial, the trial court held a

hearing on the State’s oral motion requesting a forfeiture by wrongdoing pursuant to article 38.49

of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The State moved to introduce during trial statements

made by Sandoval, arguing that appellant engaged or acquiesced in wrongdoing to prevent her

from testifying. The State also argued that under article 38.49 it did not have to prove appellant’s

sole intent was to commit a criminal offense or cause her unavailability, or that he actually

threatened her.

Robin Laughon was the State’s only witness at the hearing, and she testified about her

–14– efforts to “locate” Sandoval and “secure” her attendance as a witness at trial. Laughon testified

that she attempted to do this on several occasions and at various places beginning in March of

2017, two months before trial. In addition to sending text messages to different phone numbers

Sandoval used and attempting to contact Sandoval’s mother, Olga, Laughon said she went to the

jail during a time when Sandoval usually visited appellant. Laughon also went, on at least three

occasions, to a residence she believed Sandoval was using. When Laughon went to the residence

she left her card, making it clear she was from the district attorney’s office and that she wanted to

speak with Sandoval. Additionally, Laughon attempted to locate Sandoval at her children’s school

during a time when she should have been picking them up.

Laughon testified that she listened to “numerous” recorded jail telephone calls between

appellant and Sandoval. During those calls, Laughon heard what she believed were attempts by

appellant to convince Sandoval to “lay low” and avoid service. Laughon recounted examples of

appellant’s conduct that led her to conclude that was what he was actively trying to do––e.g.,

encouraging Sandoval not to take any type of employment until after the trial concluded; telling

her to use “apps” and/or change her telephone number so she could not be contacted; and

encouraging her to move around and not stay in one place.

Laughon detailed the contents of some of the telephone calls that she listened to, including

one that was recorded on December 4, 2016, not long after appellant’s arrest:

I heard him say you are already messing up, you need to keep that phone with you at all times. If you are down for me, you have got to do what I say. You are going to do what you are supposed to do, the right thing.

And then, you know, throughout the phone call, he is trying to convince her to move in with his parents, saying play your cards right, say you made a mistake, say you don’t know what got into you. As long as you are honest, you will be fine. What do you think about that? I am laying it down for you, I am showing you the game. You know what I am saying? All you have got to do is do it. These are big cases.

Appellant also told Sandoval to change her telephone number, and she did this at least three to five

–15– times.

During another call recorded on April 15, 2017, a month before trial, appellant again told

Sandoval to change her telephone number, and Sandoval responded that she could only change it

every fifteen days. Appellant pressed Sandoval to change her phone number with T-Mobile on

the following Monday. When she refused, appellant responded as follows, according to Laughon’s

testimony:

And, he says, I feel like you are doing this shit on purpose. And she is, like, no, I’m not. Why would you think I am doing this on purpose? I feel like you are on their side or some shit. And then, he says, the number, the number, what else, man? The 214 number. And, she says, that makes no F’g sense.

And, he said, how does it not make sense? Monday, go and change the 214 number. If I have to call this bitch, you need to change it up. And, she says, I am not changing it. I am not changing it. And, he says, why the fuck not? And, she said, because why would I do that? Because I am telling you to do it. I am not––and, she says, I am done talking to you. And then, he says––he gets angry and, he says, are you for real, N-word? Are you for real?

Appellant also told Sandoval:

He says, well, then, damn, why do you think I am telling you to fucking change it? Because I called you from here, it’s no––no, it is a fucking iPhone; it is no bullshit little safe phone or no app shit. You get it? Talk to me like you are. What’s up?

She said, why would I do that? It is just not working. He says, that number don’t have nothing to do with the other number; and if you change the number, then I don’t got to worry about you no more. I mean, I don’t know how much specific you want me to get. I don’t know why you want to keep this number so fucking bad. You know what I am saying.

And, she said, because if I have to change it at the doctor’s office––or at the doctor’s, at Medicaid, and with the kids’ school. And, he says, it ain’t nothing but giving them a phone call. Fine, if you want to keep it, then keep it. But when something pops up, this is my ass, not yours. You don’t seem to fucking care. You don’t take this serious. This is serious. This is life.

Sandoval gave appellant her new telephone number that they used for the “next few calls.” In

addition, appellant gave Sandoval specific instructions about what she needed to do with her

Facebook page, and he told her that she had better not be talking to or having conversations with

anyone. –16– On April 29, 2017, about two weeks before trial, appellant instructed Sandoval to “keep an

eye out.” During a portion of the conversation where they were speaking in Spanish, Sandoval

mentioned “that Robin,” and appellant told her she needed to move around. Appellant reiterated

his instruction not to speak to anyone during a telephone call from May 10, 2017, the week before

trial. Laughon testified that she continued listening to the calls to find other addresses or telephone

numbers Sandoval might be using.

Appellant also tried to dictate Sandoval’s work schedule. In one telephone conversation,

Sandoval commented that appellant did not want her to get a job, and he replied that “you know

why.” In a conversation recorded on May 9, 2017, six days before the hearing, Sandoval informed

appellant that she had received several emails about a job, and he told her not to start until after

May 20th. Laughon noted that by this time appellant’s trial would have concluded.

During another phone conversation recorded on May 9, 2017, appellant told Sandoval to

not accept letters or envelopes, and he again encouraged her to move around. Laughon

summarized this conversation as follows:

So, she says, I keep reading Bible verses to stay focused. And, he says, to not worry. And she is, like, it is just not happening. As much as I keep talking myself out of it, it is just not happening. And then, she said, I messaged your mom, and then she starts speaking in Spanish. And then, he says, don’t be accepting a letter. You know what I am saying?

And then she speaks Spanish again. And then, she says, you don’t even understand. And, he says, just be careful, you know? The clock is ticking. You know what I am saying? There is more Spanish. And then, he says, the opportunity. You know what I’m saying? And then she responds in Spanish.

And then, he says, be careful, you know. Another Spanish response. And then back to English, don’t be accepting an envelope. Do you know what I’m saying? And, she says, I’ve got it, I am not stupid. And, he says, well, you are not untouchable. You shouldn’t be trying to argue with me. Do you know what I’m saying? And, she said, trust and believe.

And, he says, it doesn’t always work like that. You have got to prepare yourself, you have got to stay ready, you have got to get ready. And then there is Spanish. And, he said, I would feel more comfortable if you had already taken care of it.

–17– You know what I’m saying? And then Spanish conversation. And how do you–– or how are you doing or where you at? You know what I’m saying? And then Spanish.

And then, he says, what the fuck do I have to do to make this shit happen? Do I got to get on people’s asses to make this shit happen? Spanish conversation. And then, he says, make it happen. You know what I’m saying?

And, she says, I know, but you have to understand I am not going to take it back. I said what I meant and I am not taking it back. And, he says, there is no––there is no way in hell you can take it back, but something out of anger. I get the point, I just don’t like the principle, the way you are being. I don’t like that shit.

And, she said, I am sticking up for you and defending you. Your life is on the line and they are bullshitting. And then he speaks in Spanish and says, cut me a break. I am the only one going through this shit. That’s all there is to it.

During many of the calls appellant often got angry with Sandoval, particularly when she

resisted his demands. And when appellant became angry, Sandoval appeared to be compliant with

whatever he wanted her to do. Laughon testified that she believed Sandoval was not in court

because of the prior history of family violence, and this belief was based on the calls Laughon

heard. She admitted that she did not hear appellant specifically tell Sandoval to not “testify” or

accept “service of process,” nor did she hear any specific threats towards Sandoval not to testify.

The jail telephone calls to which Laughon testified were admitted into evidence for the

hearing; they were not published. Laughon agreed she did not know for certain what appellant

meant on several occasions during the calls, or if she had the correct email address or physical

address for Sandoval. She never spoke to Sandoval or her mother.

The State also offered into evidence police reports from previous violent incidents

involving appellant, Sandoval’s written statement from the night of the offense, and photographs

of Sandoval showing injuries such as a cut on her lip and bruises on her face and arm. Sandoval

wrote in her statement from the night of the offense that appellant had assaulted her over the past

two days and “repeatedly threatened to kill me and bite my face off.” “He told me if I tried running

that would be the end of me.” She said she ran away because she was scared. In February of 2016,

–18– according to a Plano Police Department incident/arrest report, appellant slapped Sandoval in the

face, punched her on the left leg, and grabbed her arm. He then drove away in her car, leaving her

behind. In August of 2016, appellant kicked in Sandoval’s front door when she refused to let him

in. According to the Plano Police Department’s incident/arrest report, appellant was angry with

Sandoval for not answering his calls. When Sandoval’s mother told him to leave, he threw a frying

pan through a window and threatened to hit her. In November of 2016, Plano Police were called

when appellant threatened to damage Sandoval’s car if she did not let him into the house. The

incident/arrest report stated that Sandoval told police appellant had a history of assaulting her and

verbally abusing her.

At the conclusion of the hearing, appellant objected to the State’s motion under Crawford

v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004), arguing the State did not meet their burden, it did not prove

due diligence to procure Sandoval, nor was appellant provided with sufficient notice. The trial

court granted the State’s motion for forfeiture by wrongdoing under article 38.49, finding from the

totality of the evidence presented that the State had met its burden by a preponderance of the

evidence.

During the trial, appellant made various Crawford-based objections, objecting under the

Confrontation Clause and Crawford to State’s exhibit 3 and exhibit 4. Appellant made the same

objection to the following State’s question to Detective Lawrence: “And, in fact, did she describe

a one-time pop in the nose that caused her to bleed, or did she indicate to you that he hit her several

times over the course of this period?”2 Appellant made a similar objection during the testimony

of Heather Anderson, objecting under Crawford to the following question posed by the State:

“And did she indicate that there were [injuries covered by her clothing]?” The trial court overruled

all of these objections. In addition, appellant made the following Crawford objections during the

2 Appellant also made a hearsay objection to this question.

–19– testimony of Jessica Baca:

Q. [STATE:] And do any of those children, has she had––has she had any children with Jhovanny Espinoza?

A. [BACA:] Yes. The last time I spoke with her, she stated she had––

[DEFENSE COUNSEL:] Your Honor, I would object under Crawford v. Washington.

THE COURT: Overruled.

Q. Please answer the question.

A. Yes, she has a two-month-old, or she had a 21 two-month-old when I spoke to her.

Q. And have you had conversations with Maribel about her relationship with Jhovanny Espinoza?

A. I have, yes.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL:] Your Honor, once again, I am going to object under Crawford v. Washington.

Arguing the trial court’s ruling violated his constitutional right of confrontation, appellant

first claims the State did not comply with article 28.01, which allows the trial court to set a pretrial

hearing and states that any matter not raised or filed seven days prior to the hearing will not be

allowed to be raised or filed, except with the permission of the court upon good cause shown. See

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 28.01. Article 38.49, however, directs the trial court to follow

article 28.01 “[i]f practicable.” See id. art. 38.49(c). Moreover, the Court of Criminal Appeals

has held that article 28.01 is not a mandatory statute; it is one directed to the court’s discretion.

See Calloway v. State, 743 S.W.2d 645, 649 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988); Cantu v. State, 546 S.W.2d

621, 621 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977). And when, as in this case, the pretrial matter is heard on the

day designated for trial on the merits, the hearing is outside the scope of article 28.01. See State

v. Velasquez, 539 S.W.3d 289, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018) (holding a motion to suppress held the

morning that trial on the merits commenced fell outside the orbit of article 28.01).

–20– Appellant next argues the court erred because the State failed to show Sandoval was legally

unavailable as a witness. To establish a witness is unavailable under rule 804(a)(5), which creates

an exception to the rule against hearsay when the declarant “is absent from the trial or hearing and

the statement’s proponent has not been able, by process or other reasonable means, to procure the

declarant’s attendance or testimony,” see TEX. R. EVID. 804(a)(5), the proponent of the testimony

must show that a good-faith effort was made before trial to locate and present the witness. Reed

v. State, 312 S.W.3d 682, 685 (Tex. App.––Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, pet. ref’d) (investigator

interviewed family and friends of witness, none of whom knew where she was); Wise v. State, No.

11–11–00196–CR, 2013 WL 3583954, at *7 (Tex. App.––Eastland July 11, 2013, no pet.) (mem.

op., not designated for publication) (investigators attempted unsuccessfully to serve witness

several times at his last known address, contacted his attorney, bail bondsman, and family

members). “Similarly, ‘unavailability’ for purposes of the Confrontation Clause is established if

the prosecution has made a good-faith effort to obtain the witness’s presence at trial.” Reed, 312

S.W.3d at 685. “The State is not required to engage in clearly futile activities before a trial court

can, in its discretion, determine that the State made good-faith efforts to produce a witness at trial.”

Ledbetter v. State, 49 S.W.3d 588, 594 (Tex. App.––Amarillo 2001, pet. ref’d).

There is ample evidence in the record to show that the State made the requisite good-faith

effort to secure Sandoval’s presence at trial. Appellant argues that the State did not even apply

for, much less secure, a subpoena for Sandoval’s presence at trial. Appellant also alleges that the

State “committed a fraud on the court” by repeatedly stating during the hearing that Sandoval was

avoiding service, and by “allowing Laughon to repeatedly testify that she was attempting to ‘serve’

Sandoval with a subpoena,” when this was not the case.

Although there is no application for a subpoena for Sandoval in the clerk’s record, the

record shows that, in addition to sending text messages to different phone numbers Sandoval used

–21– and attempting to contact Sandoval’s mother, Laughon attempted to locate Sandoval at the jail

during a time when Sandoval typically visited appellant. Laughon also went, on at least three

occasions, to a residence that she believed Sandoval was using, and when Laughon went to the

residence she left her card. Moreover, Laughon attempted to locate Sandoval at her children’s

school, and listened to jail telephone calls between appellant and Sandoval to find other addresses

or telephone numbers Sandoval might be using.

As the Supreme Court has observed, “We have never held that the prosecution must have

issued a subpoena if it wishes to prove that a witness who goes into hiding is unavailable for

Confrontation Clause purposes.” Hardy v. Cross, 565 U.S. 65, 71 (2011) (per curiam).

Furthermore, “when a witness disappears before trial, it is always possible to think of additional

steps that the prosecution might have taken to secure the witness’ presence, but the Sixth

Amendment does not require the prosecution to exhaust every avenue of inquiry, no matter how

unpromising.” Id. at 71–72 (2011) (citation omitted); see also California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149,

188–89 n.22 (1970) (Harlan, J., concurring).

Regarding the assertion that Laughon testified untruthfully about attempting to serve

Sandoval, Laughon stated that she repeatedly attempted to secure Sandoval’s attendance at trial,

and that she was ultimately unable to serve Sandoval with a subpoena. The existence of a subpoena

does not seem to have been an issue at the hearing, however. Neither counsel nor the court inquired

about why––if, in fact, she did not have a subpoena to serve––Laughon stated that she was

attempting to serve Sandoval. The record shows appellant had set for trial with the current case

two other related cases––sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping––that were dismissed after the

pretrial hearing, only a few days before trial. The court could have reasonably inferred that a

subpoena for Sandoval was issued in one of those other two cases. In any event, based on the

standard of review we must follow, we defer to the trial court’s discretion on such matters because

–22– it was judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to their testimony.

Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Schindler, 2018 WL 4924946, at *7.

We conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ruling Sandoval was unavailable for the

purposes of article 38.49 and the Confrontation Clause.

Appellant also argues that even if the State could show unavailability, it did not prove he

acted with an intent designed to keep Sandoval from testifying at trial. He argues the State failed

to meet its burden because he never specifically threatened Sandoval to keep her from testifying

or specifically told her to avoid service, and the State merely asked the court to infer through

several different actions that appellant encouraged Sandoval to avoid service. Appellant calls our

attention to Laughon’s testimony that she did not have any “concrete evidence” appellant

wrongfully procured Sandoval’s unavailability.

Viewing the evidence and all of the reasonable inferences therefrom, the record easily

supports the finding that appellant wrongfully procured Sandoval’s unavailability as a witness.

Though there is no evidence of a direct threat or command from appellant to Sandoval to avoid

service or to not appear in court, the record is replete with evidence that this is precisely the

outcome appellant intended. Indeed, appellant repeatedly encouraged and/or cajoled Sandoval to

avoid trial. The references to “big cases” and Sandoval’s reference to “that Robin,” for example,

as well as the overall context of the conversations between Sandoval and appellant, show that

Sandoval and appellant were discussing the trial in this case. Also, there is a history of domestic

violence involving appellant. See Tarley v. State, 420 S.W.3d 204, 206 (Tex. App.––Houston [1st

Dist.] 2013, pet. refused) (recognizing Giles’ understanding that domestic violence is often

intended to dissuade a victim from seeking outside help, including preventing cooperation in a

criminal investigation or prosecution); Garcia v. State, No. 03–11–00403–CR, 2012 WL 3795447,

at *11 (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 29, 2012, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication)

–23– (prior domestic abuse and other acts showing victim’s isolation supports forfeiture by wrongdoing

finding). We cannot conclude, based on this record, that the trial court abused its discretion in

finding a forfeiture by wrongdoing and admitting Sandoval’s out-of-court statements. We overrule

appellant’s second issue.

3. Sufficiency of the Evidence

In his third issue, appellant alleges the evidence is insufficient to support a finding of guilt

by a rational trier of fact.

In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we view all 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. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,

313 (1979); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 899 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). We assume the fact-

finder resolved conflicts in the testimony, weighed the evidence, and drew reasonable inferences

in a manner that supports the verdict. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App.

2007). We defer to the trier of fact’s determinations of witness credibility and the weight to be

given to their testimony. Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 899.

A person commits an assault if he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily

injury to another. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.01(a)(1). The offense is elevated to a third-degree

felony if it is committed against a person who was a member of the defendant’s household or

family or one with whom the defendant had a dating relationship, as described in Chapter 71 of

the family code, and the defendant has been convicted previously of an assault involving family

violence. Id. § 22.01(b)(2)(A); see TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 71.0021(b).

“Bodily injury” is any physical pain, illness, or impairment of the physical condition. TEX.

PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(8). “The existence of a cut, bruise, or scrape on the body is sufficient

evidence of physical pain necessary to establish ‘bodily injury’ within the meaning of the statute.”

–24– Arzaga v. State, 86 S.W.3d 767, 778 (Tex. App.––El Paso 2002, no pet.); Isaac v. State, No. 05–

10–00492–CV, 2011 WL 5386371, at *3 (Tex. App.––Dallas Nov. 9, 2011, no pet.) (mem. op.,

not designated for publication). Direct evidence of physical pain, however minor, is sufficient to

establish bodily injury. Garcia v. State, 367 S.W.3d 683, 688 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012); Morris v.

State, No. 05–17–00063–CR, 2018 WL 1516834, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas Mar. 28, 2018, no pet.)

(mem op., not designated for publication). Moreover, “a fact finder may infer that a victim actually

felt or suffered physical pain because people of common intelligence understand pain and some of

the natural causes of it.” Morris, 2018 WL 1516834, at *2 (citing Garcia, 367 S.W.3d at 688).

Appellant’s argument regarding the sufficiency of the evidence is that the evidence is

insufficient to show (1) an assault occurred in Collin County and (2) that Sandoval suffered bodily

injury. Beginning with venue, we note that the State must prove venue in a criminal case by a

preponderance of the evidence. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 13.17; Murphy v. State, 112

S.W.3d 592, 604 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Rojas-Gallo v. State, Nos. 05–17–00145–CR, 05–17–

00146–CR, 2018 WL 2147924, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 10, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op., not

designated for publication). The general rule provides that “[i]f venue is not specifically stated,

the proper county for the prosecution of offenses is that in which the offense was committed.”

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 13.18. Venue must be proven at trial to establish a defendant’s

legal status but it is not an element of the offense and, therefore, need not be proven beyond a

reasonable doubt. Schmutz v. State, 440 S.W.3d 29, 34–35 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

Appellate courts “presume that venue was proved in the trial court unless it was disputed

in the trial court or the record affirmatively shows the contrary.” Meraz v. State, 415 S.W.3d 502,

506 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013, pet. ref’d) Proof of venue may be established by either direct

or circumstantial evidence and the jury may “make reasonable inferences from the evidence to

decide the issue of venue.” Edwards v. State, 97 S.W.3d 279, 291 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th

–25– Dist] 2003, pet. ref’d). Evidence is sufficient to establish venue if “from the evidence the jury may

reasonably conclude that the offense was committed in the county alleged.” Rippee v. State, 384

S.W.2d 717, 718 (Tex. Crim. App. 1964). In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, we view

“all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether any rational trier

of fact could have found” by a preponderance of the evidence that the offense occurred in the

county alleged. Vanschoyck v. State, 189 S.W.3d 333, 336 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, pet.

ref’d).

Appellant’s argument in this case is that the evidence is insufficient to show the assault

occurred in Collin County. According to the record, however, Sandoval’s written statement from

the night of the offense indicated that after she and appellant went into their hotel room, appellant

struck her “once again in face,” threw her to the floor, kicked the left side of her body, and pushed

her into the bathroom to clean herself up––before anyone else showed up. In addition, she told

Detective Lawrence four days later that appellant hit her in both Dallas and in Plano. Garcia

testified that he saw appellant strike Sandoval in the face. Appellant argues that the State “pushed”

Garcia’s noncommittal statement, but Garcia testified that he saw appellant strike Sandoval even

when questioned further on cross-examination. Additionally, there was evidence in the hotel

room––bloody saliva in the sink and bloodstains on the bed––of recent injury from which the jury

could have reasonably inferred that an offense occurred in Collin County. Appellant offered

alternative explanations for why blood was found on the bed and in the sink, but the jury was free,

in its role as the trier of fact and the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence, to

reject this self-serving testimony.

As for bodily injury, there is ample evidence that Sandoval suffered bodily injury. She had

red marks on the left side of her back, and in her statement from the night of the offense she

similarly indicated that appellant kicked her on the left side of her body. She also said that this

–26– occurred inside of the hotel room. This evidence alone is sufficient for the jury to have concluded

Sandoval suffered bodily injury. See Arzaga, 86 S.W.3d at 778. Additionally, the jury could have

reasonably concluded that Sandoval suffered further bruising or abrasions on her face when

appellant struck her in the face inside of the hotel room. Also, the jury was free to conclude

Sandoval suffered pain when she was struck in the face. See Morris, 2018 WL 1516834, at *2.

We conclude there is sufficient evidence for the jury to have convicted appellant of assault as

charged in the indictment. We overrule appellant’s third issue.

We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

/Lana Myers/ LANA MYERS JUSTICE

Do Not Publish TEX. R. APP. 47.2(b) 170547F.U05

–27– Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT

JHOVANNY ESPINOZA, Appellant On Appeal from the 296th Judicial District Court, Collin County, Texas No. 05-17-00547-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. 296-80265-2017. Opinion delivered by Justice Myers. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Justices Evans and Brown participating.

Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 21st day of December, 2018.

–28–