NUMBER 13-08-00360-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
JULIAN MALDONADO, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 36th District Court of San Patricio County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Yañez and Garza Memorandum Opinion by Justice Yañez
A jury convicted appellant, Julian Maldonado, of eight counts of aggravated sexual
assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child.1 Appellant was sentenced to
twenty-five years' confinement for each offense to run concurrently. By eight issues,
1 See T EX . P EN AL C OD E A N N . §§ 21.11, 22.021 (Vernon Supp. 2009). appellant contends: (1) that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance; (2) there is
a "material fatal variance" between the allegations in the indictment and the proof at trial;
and (3) the evidence is legally and factually insufficient (issues 3-8). We affirm.
I. THE EVIDENCE
At trial, Lisa Marie Molina, appellant's daughter, testified on behalf of the State that
she has four biological children, including two daughters, A.M., who was eight, and S.M.,
who was five, and two nieces of whom she has custody, M.M., who was seven ("M.M.7")
and M.M., who was five ("M.M.5").2 Lisa testified that in 2006, appellant began living with
her family at their home in Taft, Texas. Lisa stated that on June 4, 2007, she had a
conversation with M.M.5 and M.M.7 about appellant, their grandfather. According to Lisa,
she was in her bedroom with M.M.5 when M.M.7 gestured for M.M.5 to leave the bedroom.
Lisa stated that she asked the children where they were going, and M.M.5 "said [']she
[M.M.7] just probably wants to touch me again.[']" Lisa stated she became concerned, and
so she asked M.M.5 to explain what she meant, and M.M.5 said, while touching her "back
part," "[']yeah, she [M.M.7] want to touch me here.[']" Lisa then asked M.M.7 what was
going on, and eventually M.M.7 told Lisa that appellant "would set her on top of him while
she was naked and put her—his private part in her private part in the front and in the back."
Lisa also stated that M.M.7 told her that appellant put his private part in M.M.7's mouth and
that on one occasion, appellant "peed in [M.M.7's] mouth but that it wasn't yellow, that it
was white." M.M.7 told Lisa that "after [appellant] finishes with her then he also got [Lisa's]
oldest daughter [A.M.] . . . . So she said after he finishes with me, [M]om, he gets [A.M.]
2 In the indictm ent each child is referred to as M.M. However, for clarity we will include the children's ages when we refer to each child—M.M.7 and M.M.5.
2 He does the same to her."3
After M.M.7 told Lisa about those incidences, Lisa called her husband who was on
a fishing trip with the other children and asked him to bring them home. Lisa testified that
when they arrived, she asked A.M. if there was "anything" she wanted to tell Lisa, and A.M.
said, "No." M.M.7 then told A.M., "[']you don't have to lie no more. You don't have to be
scared. I already told her everything that [appellant] has been doing to us.[']" According
to Lisa, A.M. started crying and told her that appellant put his private part in her private part
and in her mouth. A.M. stated that appellant told her not to tell anyone and when she
would tell him to stop, appellant would cover her mouth.
Lisa testified that she talked to M.M.5 about what appellant did to her and that
M.M.5 told her that appellant put his private part in her back part and in her mouth. Lisa
stated that M.M.5 told her that appellant "would lay her down on the bed and spread her
legs open and lick her." According to Lisa, S.M. told her that appellant would "touch her
with his hand and lick her." Lisa called the police.
Ernie Soliz, a deputy sheriff, testified on behalf of the State that on June 4, 2007,
he went to Lisa's residence. When Deputy Soliz arrived at the residence, he was
"directed" to a bedroom where he encountered Lisa, who was crying. A.M. and M.M.7
were also in the room crying. When Deputy Soliz asked A.M. and M.M.7 what had
happened, "each said that [appellant] . . . had stuck his penis in their rear end portion,
which is their anus, and they both motioned like this (indicating)." Deputy Soliz stated that
he asked the girls if they were referring to appellant's penis, which he said they called "the
3 Lisa testified that M.M.5 and M.M.7 call her "m om ."
3 thing," and that both girls said "yes." Deputy Soliz gave Lisa a case number and told her
to take the children to Driscoll Children's Hospital and request a sexual assault examination
kit.
Elizabeth Andelman, a forensic nurse examiner with Driscoll Children's Hospital,
testified that she examined M.M.7, M.M.5, and A.M. on June 4, 2007. Andelman testified
that as part of her examination of A.M., M.M.5, and M.M.7, she acquired a history for
purposes of diagnosis and treatment, wherein she documented the children's "exact
words."4 Andelman stated that she did not note any trauma to M.M.5, M.M.7, or A.M.
Andelman stated she documented the following from A.M.'s history:
[appellant] ["]takes us into his room and closes the door. He takes off my pants and picks me up. He puts his middle part in my back.["] Patient indicates butt by pointing. ["]He does mine first then [M.M.5]. He puts his middle in my mouth and [M.M.5's] mouth. He puts his middle in my middle.["] Patient indicates female sexual organ by pointing. ["]He said for me to don't talk to my mom about it.["]
Andelman stated that she acquired the following history from M.M.5: appellant
"[']sticks his hand inside.['] Patient indicates female sexual organ by pointing. [']He does
stuff to us. He holds my legs—legs open and kisses me here.['] Patient indicates female
sexual organ by pointing. [']He always tries to do stuff to all of us.[']" Andelman testified
she acquired the following history from M.M.7: appellant "[']put his thing in here.['] Patient
indicates female sexual organ by pointing. [']He picks us up and puts it in our butt. He tells
us to suck his thing, too. He said don't tell anyone. He does it to me and [A.M.] and
[M.M.5.][']"
4 The trial court adm itted those docum ents from Driscoll Children's Hospital pertaining to m edical exam inations of M.M.7, M.M.5, and A.M. perform ed on June 4, 2007 by Andelm an as State's Exhibits 1, 2, and 3 respectively.
4 M.M.5 testified that appellant had hurt her. According to M.M.5, appellant put his
"middle" in her "middle" and "in" her back. M.M. used a doll to indicate what part of her
body she called her "middle" and her "back." M.M.5 stated that when appellant put his
"middle" in her "back," it hurt, and it "[felt] bad."
M.M.7 testified that appellant hurt her with his "thing." M.M.7 stated that appellant
put his "thing" in her mouth and in her "middle." M.M.7 stated that appellant told her that
his "thing" tasted like a pickle and that when she tasted appellant's "pickle" she "threw up"
because "pee" went into her mouth. According to M.M.7, appellant told her not to tell
anyone what he was doing. The State asked M.M.7, "[D]id your grandpa [appellant] ever
have his middle part touch your back part here?", and M.M.7 replied, "Yes." When asked
what that felt like, M.M.7 said, "Like it was hurting bad."
On cross-examination, M.M.7 stated that S.M. told her that she was "just going to
tell them, that he only touched [her]." M.M.7 reiterated that appellant hurt her "bad." S.M.
testified that appellant touched her "middle" when she was four.
A.M. testified that appellant "hurt" her. When asked to show on a doll what part of
the body he hurt, A.M. stated, "[t]he front" and "[o]n the back." The State asked A.M. to
point out on a doll the part of appellant's body that touched A.M.'s "front part."5 A.M.
complied and stated that he also put it in her mouth. When the State asked if appellant
also put it in her front part, A.M. replied, "Yes." When asked if appellant put his body part
in her back part, A.M. moved her head up and down. The State then asked, "Did that go
on the inside or stay on the outside?", A.M. responded, "A little bit on the inside" and that
5 There is nothing in the record describing what body part A.M. pointed to on the doll.
5 it "hurted." The State asked, "Now, you said that your grandpa put his front part in your
mouth. You remember that?" A.M. moved her head up and down and then stated that "[i]t
just felt nasty" and that she felt like throwing up. A.M. testified that appellant told her not
to tell anyone what he was doing.6
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
By his first issue, appellant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective
assistance. Specifically, appellant alleges, without citation to authority, that Deputy Soliz's
and Andelman's testimony consisted of "inadmissible hearsay evidence" to which trial
counsel failed to object. The State responds that because the complained-of testimony
falls within exceptions to the hearsay rule, trial counsel's failure to object was arguably
6 Appellant was charged with eleven counts of various offenses; however, the State abandoned count six of the indictm ent, and the jury acquitted appellant of count eleven— indecency with a child. The jury convicted appellant of the following: (1) count one— aggravated sexual assault of a child by "intentionally or knowingly caus[ing] the penetration of the sexual organ of [M.M.5] , a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, and not the spouse of [appellant] by the [appellant's] fingers . . . ."; (2) count two— aggravated assault of a child by "intentionally or knowingly caus[ing] the m outh of [appellant] to contact the sexual organ of [M.M.5], a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, and not the spouse of [appellant] . . . ."; (3) count three— aggravated sexual assault of a child by "intentionally or knowingly caus[ing] the penetration of the anus of [M.M.5], a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, and not the spouse of [appellant] by the [appellant's] sexual organ . . . ."; (4) count four— indecency with a child "with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of [appellant] by touching the sexual organ of [M.M.7], a child younger than seventeen (17) years and not the spouse of the defendant"; (5) count five— aggravated sexual assault of a child by "intentionally or knowingly caus[ing] the sexual organ of [appellant] to contact the anus of [M.M.7] who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, and not the spouse of [appellant] . . . ."; (6) count seven— aggravated sexual assault of a child by "intentionally and knowingly caus[ing] the sexual organ of [appellant] to contact the sexual organ of [M.M.7], who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, and not the spouse of [appellant] . . . ."; (7) count eight— aggravated sexual assault of a child by " intentionally and knowingly caus[ing] the sexual organ of [appellant] to contact the anus of A.M., a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, and not the spouse of [appellant] . . . ."; (8) count nine— aggravated sexual assault of a child by "intentionally or knowingly caus[ing] the penetration of the m outh of A.M., a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, and not the spouse of [appellant] . . . ."; (9) count ten— aggravated sexual assault of a child by "intentionally or knowingly caus[ing] the sexual organ of [appellant] to contact the sexual organ of A.M., a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, and not the spouse of [appellant] . . . ."
6 based on a reasonable trial strategy.7
A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
Ineffective assistance of counsel claims are evaluated under the two-part test
articulated by the United States Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington.8 The
Strickland test requires the appellant to show that counsel's performance was deficient, or
in other words, that counsel's assistance fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness.9 Assuming appellant has demonstrated deficient assistance, he must
then show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, the result
would have been different.10 In determining the validity of appellant's claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel, "any judicial review must be highly deferential to trial counsel and
avoid the deleterious effects of hindsight."11
The burden is on appellant to prove ineffective assistance of counsel by a
preponderance of the evidence.12 Appellant must overcome the strong presumption that
counsel's conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance and that
7 See T EX . R. E VID . 803 ("The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule, even though the declarant is available as a witness: . . . (2) Excited Utterance.— A statem ent relating to a startling event or condition m ade while the declarant was under the stress of excitem ent caused by the event or condition. . . . (4) Statem ents for Purposes of Medical Diagnosis or Treatm ent.— Statem ents m ade for purposes of m edical diagnosis or treatm ent and describing m edical history, or past or present sym ptom s, pain, or sensations, or the inception or general character of the cause or external source thereof insofar as reasonably pertinent to diagnosis or treatm ent").
8 See Goodspeed v. State, 187 S.W .3d 390, 392 (Tex. Crim . App. 2005) (citing Strickland v. W ashington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)); Thompson v. State, 9 S.W .3d 808, 812 (Tex. Crim . App. 1999).
9 Thompson, 9 S.W .3d at 812; see Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687.
10 Thompson, 9 S.W .3d at 812; see Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694.
11 Thompson, 9 S.W .3d at 813.
12 Id.
7 his actions could be considered sound trial strategy.13 A reviewing court will not
second-guess legitimate tactical decisions made by trial counsel.14 Counsel's effectiveness
is judged by the totality of the representation, not by isolated acts or omissions.15
B. Analysis
An allegation of ineffectiveness must be firmly founded in the record, and the record
must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness.16 Here, the record is silent
regarding trial counsel's reason for not objecting to the complained-of testimony.
Therefore, appellant has not overcome the strong presumption that counsel's conduct fell
within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance and that his actions could be
considered sound trial strategy.17 Furthermore, appellant does not contend with proper
citation to authority and a clear and concise argument that there is a reasonable probability
that but for trial counsel's alleged errors, the result would have been different.18 Therefore,
appellant has not met his burden to prove ineffective assistance of counsel by a
13 See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689; Jaynes v. State, 216 S.W .3d 839, 851 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2006, no pet.).
14 State v. Morales, 253 S.W .3d 686, 696 (Tex. Crim . App. 2008) ("[U]nless there is a record sufficient to dem onstrate that counsel's conduct was not the product of a strategic or tactical decision, a reviewing court should presum e that trial counsel's perform ance was constitutionally adequate . . . .").
15 Thompson, 9 S.W .3d at 813; Jaynes, 216 S.W .3d at 851.
16 Bone v. State, 77 S.W .3d 828, 835 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Thompson, 9 S.W .3d at 814 (setting out that "in the vast m ajority of cases, the undeveloped record on direct appeal will be insufficient for an appellant to satisfy the dual prongs of Strickland"); see Jackson v. State, 877 S.W .2d 768, 771-72 (Tex. Crim . App. 1994) (en banc) (stating that "we m ust presum e that counsel is better positioned than the appellate court to judge the pragm atism of the particular case, and that he m ade all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable professional judgm ent" and that "[d]ue to the lack of evidence in the record concerning trial counsel's reasons" for the alleged ineffectiveness, the court was "unable to conclude that appellant's trial counsel's perform ance was deficient") (internal quotations om itted).
17 See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689; Jaynes, 216 S.W .3d at 851.
18 Thompson, 9 S.W .3d at 812; see Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694; see also Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i).
8 preponderance of the evidence.19 We overrule appellant's first issue.20
III. VARIANCE IN THE INDICTMENT
By his second issue, appellant contends that he was "denied due process of law"
because there was "a material fatal variance between the allegations in the indictment and
the proof at trial." Specifically, appellant argues that because the State used a pseudonym
for each child in the indictment—their initials—there "is not a shred of evidence in the
record that [the children who testified at trial] are the same person(s) named in the
indictment."21
"A 'variance' occurs when there is a discrepancy between the allegations in the
charging instrument and the proof at trial."22 Under the fatal variance doctrine, a variance
is fatal only if it is material and the defendant's substantial rights have been prejudiced.23
"When reviewing such a variance, we must determine whether the indictment, as written,
informed the defendant of the charge against him sufficiently to allow him to prepare an
adequate defense at trial, and whether prosecution under the deficiently drafted indictment
19 Thompson, 9 S.W .3d at 813.
20 W e note that appellant generally asserts that "[t]rial counsel's deficient perform ance, falling well below and [sic] acceptable standard totally underm ines the confidence that the jury reached a proper and just verdict"; however, he does not provide a clear and concise argum ent with citation to authority for this assertion. Therefore, he has waived it. See T EX . R. A PP . P. 38.1(i).
21 W e note that article 57.02 of the Texas Code of Crim inal Procedure allows a victim of a sexual assault to "choose a pseudonym to be used instead of the victim 's nam e to designate the victim in all public files and records concerning the offense, including police sum m ary reports, press releases, and records of judicial proceedings." T EX . C OD E C R IM . P R O C . A N N . art. 57.02(b) (Vernon Supp. 2009 ). Article 57.02 defines "pseudonym " as "a set of initials or a fictitious nam e chosen by the a victim to designate the victim in all public files and records concerning the offense, including police sum m ary reports, press releases, and records of judicial proceedings." Id. art. 57.01 (Vernon 2006).
22 Gollihar v. State, 46 S.W .3d 243, 246 (Tex. Crim . App. 2001).
23 Id. at 257.
9 would subject the defendant to the risk of being prosecuted later for the same crime."24 A
variance is immaterial if it does not prejudice a defendant's substantial rights.25 "The object
of the doctrine of variance between allegations of an indictment is to avoid surprise, and
for such variance to be material it must be such as to mislead the party to his prejudice."26
Appellant asserts that there is nothing in the record establishing that the children
named in the indictment were the children who testified at trial. However, before voir dire
began and in open court, the following colloquy between appellant and his defense counsel
occurred:
[Defense Counsel]: Because you [appellant] did not accept the plea bargain they were going to reindict you and put in your prior conviction. Do you understand that?
[Appellant]: He did tell me that.
[Defense Counsel]: And the four children that we are talking about, it was [stated children's legal names]. And you had advised me that those children were saying lies.
[Appellant]: Well, they checked them. They found nothing.
[Defense Counsel]: Is that correct?
[Appellant]: I haven't done anything. They checked them. They didn't find anything.
[Defense Counsel]: No. What I'm asking is do you understand you're saying what the children said were lies?
[Appellant]: Yes, they were lying. They don't have anything.
24 Id.
25 Id. at 247-48.
26 Stevens v. State, 891 S.W .2d 649, 650 (Tex. Crim . App. 1995) (en banc) (quoting Plessinger v. State, 536 S.W .2d 380 (Tex. Crim . App. 1976)) (internal quotations om itted).
10 On appeal, appellant does not claim, nor could he, that he did not have notice of the
identity of the children named in the indictment or that he did not have notice of the
charges against him.27 Instead, appellant argues that there is no evidence that the children
who testified at his trial were those named in the indictment under the pseudonyms.
However, appellant acknowledged that the children named by his trial counsel were the
same children who were accusing him of the alleged crimes stated in the indictment.
Furthermore, the children were appellant's grandchildren, and appellant lived in the same
home with those children.28 Moreover, at trial, appellant never objected that he was
unaware of the victims' legal names or that he was unable to prepare an adequate defense
due to the use of the pseudonyms in the indictment.29 Therefore, any variance between
the indictment and the proof offered at trial did not operate to appellant's surprise or
prejudice his rights.30 In other words, any variance in this case was immaterial.
Furthermore, "the fatal variance doctrine is inapplicable to pseudonym cases so long
as the defendant's due process right to notice is satisfied."31 Appellant did not object at
trial that his due process rights to proper notice were violated.32 Moreover, appellant does
27 See Gollihar , 46 S.W .3d at 257.
28 See Greeno v. State, 46 S.W .3d 409, 413 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, no pet.) (concluding that the use of pseudonym s in the indictm ent was not a m aterial variance between the indictm ent and the proof offered at trial and did not operate to the appellant's surprise or prejudice his rights because the victim s were appellant's own children and in his pretrial m otions, appellant specifically referred to the victim s by their legal nam es).
29 See W ashington v. State, 59 S.W .3d 260, 263-64 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2001, pet. ref'd).
30 See Stevens, 891 S.W .2d at 650.
31 Id. at 651.
32 See Rogers v. State, 640 S.W .2d 248, 265 (Tex. Crim . App. 1982) (op. on second reh'g) (holding due process claim waived on appeal because no objection m ade at revocation hearing).
11 not claim that he did not have actual notice of the complainants' identities or that he was
not given proper notice of the charges against him.33 We overrule appellant's second
issue.
IV. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
By his third through eighth issues, appellant challenges the legal and factual
sufficiency of the evidence supporting the judgment. Specifically, appellant argues that the
evidence is insufficient because the State did not prove: (1) that the children listed under
pseudonyms in the indictment were the same children that testified at trial; (2) that
appellant touched M.M.5's sexual organ with his fingers (issues three and four); (3) that
appellant caused his mouth to touch M.M.5's sexual organ (issues three and four); (4) that
appellant used his sexual organ to penetrate M.M.5's anus (issues three and four); (5) what
part of appellant's body came into contact with M.M.7's body and A.M.'s body (issues five
and six) ; and (6) what part of A.M.'s body appellant allegedly contacted (issues seven and
eight).
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
33 See W ashington, 59 S.W .3d at 263 (stating that lack of surprise can be inferred from a silent record because, if a victim 's nam e is not properly disclosed, the defendant would have protested); see also Gollihar, 46 S.W .3d at 258 (noting that there was no evidence in the record that the defendant did not know which go- cart the State alleged he stole or that the defendant was m isled by the allegations or the proof at trial when the State proved that the defendant stole a go-cart with a different m odel num ber than alleged in the indictm ent); Tutor v. State, No. 14-99-00652-CR, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 2103, at *19 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] Mar. 30, 2000, pet. ref'd) (concluding that the appellant provided nothing to show that his right to notice was not satisfied or otherwise violated because the appellant knew the identity of the com plainant).
12 the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.34 We do not reevaluate
the weight and credibility of the evidence, and we do not substitute our own judgment for
the trier of fact.35 Instead, we consider whether the jury reached a rational decision.36
In a factual sufficiency review, we review the evidence in a neutral light to determine
whether the evidence is so weak that the jury's verdict seems clearly wrong and manifestly
unjust or against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence.37 This Court will not
reverse the jury's verdict unless we can say, with some objective basis in the record, that
the great weight and preponderance of the evidence contradicts the verdict.38
As sub-issues to his third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth issues, appellant argues
that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction on all counts because the State
did not present evidence at trial that each child that testified used a particular pseudonym
in the indictment. It appears that appellant is claiming that the evidence is insufficient due
to the variance in the indictment and the proof presented at trial. However, "[a]n immaterial
variance is disregarded in a sufficiency of the evidence review."39 Therefore, appellant's
claim has no merit because we have already concluded that the variance in this case is
34 Hooper v. State, 214 S.W .3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim . App. 2007) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979); Powell v. State, 194 S.W .3d 503, 506 (Tex. Crim . App. 2006); Guevara v. State, 152 S.W .3d 45, 49 (Tex. Crim . App. 2004)); Escamilla v. State, 143 S.W .3d 814, 817 (Tex. Crim . App. 2004).
35 King v. State, 29 S.W .3d 556, 562 (Tex. Crim . App. 2000) (en banc); Beckham v. State, 29 S.W .3d 148, 151 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. ref'd).
36 Beckham, 29 S.W .3d at 151.
37 W atson v. State, 204 S.W .3d 404, 414-15 (Tex. Crim . App. 2006).
38 Id. at 417.
39 Gollihar, 46 S.W .3d at 258.
13 immaterial.40 Accordingly, we overrule appellant's sub-issues.
Next, by his third and fourth issues, appellant contends that the evidence is legally
and factually insufficient to support the jury's findings that he used his fingers to penetrate
M.M.5's sexual organ, that he caused his mouth to contact M.M.5's sexual organ, and that
he used his sexual organ to penetrate M.M.5's anus. Appellant points out that M.M.5
"testified that [he] hurt her 'middle'; that he touched her with his 'middle' in her [']middle';
that he touched her with 'these' (nothing in the record to identify what 'these' are); and
touched her in her back." Appellant argues, "The[re] is nothing in the record that
establishes what the 'middle' is . . . [or] what the 'back' is." Appellant also points to the
record wherein the State used dolls to question M.M.5 concerning what happened stating,
"The record is completely silent as to when the child pointed to the doll or a part of the doll,
specifically what part of the doll's anatomy the witness was referring to."
M.M.5 testified that appellant had hurt her when appellant put his "middle" in her
back and that it felt bad. She also stated that appellant put his "middle" in her "middle."
Although appellant is correct that the record does not reveal what part of the dolls M.M.5
pointed to while testifying, the jury was able to observe her actions. In addition to M.M.5's
testimony, the jury also heard Andelman's testimony that M.M.5 pointed to her female
sexual organ and stated that appellant "sticks his hand inside" and that appellant held her
"legs open and kisse[d]" her there. Lisa testified that M.M.5 told her that appellant put his
private part in her back part and in her mouth and that appellant "would lay her down on
the bed and spread her legs open and lick her." Although the child did not specifically state
40 See id.
14 that the "middle" was appellant's sexual organ, a child is not expected to testify with the
same clarity or precision as an adult and here, the jury heard testimony from the child while
she used a doll to demonstrate the parts of the body she was describing.41
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude that a
rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant used his
fingers to penetrate M.M.5's sexual organ (count one), that he caused his mouth to contact
M.M.5's sexual organ (count two), and that he used his sexual organ to penetrate M.M.5's
anus (count three).42 Furthermore, viewing the evidence in a neutral light, we cannot
conclude that the evidence is so weak that the jury's verdict seems clearly wrong and
manifestly unjust or against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence.43
Therefore, the evidence is legally and factually sufficient. We overrule appellant's third and
fourth issues.
By his fifth and sixth issues, appellant contends that the evidence is legally and
factually insufficient to support his "conviction for Counts 5, and 7 of the indictment."
Appellant argues that "the State failed to put any evidence into the record that would
establish and demonstrate what part of the doll the witness was referring to, i[.]e[.,] the
chest area, or the back, or the limbs, or whatever" and that "the record is completely silent
41 See Villalon v. State, 791 S.W .2d 130, 134 (Tex. Crim . App. 1990) (en banc); O'Hara v. State, 837 S.W .2d 139, 142 (Tex. App.–Austin 1992, pet. ref'd) (recognizing that when "exam ining the testim ony of a child, the courts have kept in m ind the child's lack of technical knowledge in accurately describing the parts of the body") (citing Clark v. State, 558 S.W .2d 887, 889 (Tex. Crim . App. 1977); Chase v. State, 750 S.W .2d 41, 44 (Tex. App.–Fort W orth 1988, pet. ref'd); Bryant v. State, 685 S.W .2d 472, 474 (Tex. App.–Fort W orth 1985, pet. ref'd)).
42 See Hooper, 214 S.W .3d at 13; Escamilla, 143 S.W .3d at 817.
43 See W atson, 204 S.W .3d at 414-15.
15 as to what part of [his] body came into contact with what part of the witnesses's body."44
M.M.7 testified that appellant put his "thing" in her "middle" and in her mouth
causing her to vomit because "pee" went into her mouth. Deputy Soliz testified that M.M.7
told him she called appellant's penis "the thing." M.M.7 stated that appellant hurt her "bad"
when his "middle" touched her "back part." Andelman testified that M.M.7 told her that
appellant put his "thing" in her "butt" and in her female sexual organ. Lisa stated that
M.M.7 told her that appellant put his private part in M.M.7's mouth, and that he "peed" a
white substance into M.M.7's mouth. Lisa testified that M.M.7 stated that when she was
naked, appellant also put his private part in her private part and in the "back." The
evidence presented showed that appellant put his "middle," "thing" or "private part" in: (1)
M.M.7's mouth and "peed" a white liquid; (2) in her "back" or "butt"; and (3) in her female
sexual organ or "private part."45
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude that a
rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant contacted
M.M.7's anus with his sexual organ (count 5) and that appellant contacted M.M.7's sexual
organ with his sexual organ (count 7).46 Furthermore, viewing the evidence in a neutral
light, we cannot conclude that the evidence is so weak that the jury's verdict seems clearly
wrong and manifestly unjust or against the great weight and preponderance of the
44 In his sixth issue, appellant states, "No rationale [sic] jury could have found the essential elem ents of Counts 4, 5 and 7 of the indictm ent beyond a reasonable doubt." Appellant neither provides citation to authority nor a concise argum ent supporting his assertion regarding count four of the indictm ent. Therefore, to the extent that appellant challenges the jury's verdict as to count four, he has waived that issue. See T EX . R. A PP . P. 38.1(i).
45 See Villalon, 791 S.W .2d at 134; O'Hara, 837 S.W .2d at 142.
46 See Hooper, 214 S.W .3d at 13; Escamilla, 143 S.W .3d at 817.
16 evidence.47 Therefore, the evidence is legally and factually sufficient. We overrule
appellant's fifth and sixth issues.
By his seventh and eighth issues, appellant contends that the evidence is legally
and factually insufficient to support the jury's findings that he contacted A.M.'s anus with
his sexual organ, that his sexual organ penetrated A.M.'s mouth, and that his sexual organ
penetrated A.M.'s sexual organ. Appellant argues that "there is nothing in the record to
establish what the 'middle' or 'back' is," that there is no evidence "as to what Appellant put
in the witness's mouth," and that the "State did not establish what part of the doll the
witness was pointing to or referring to." Appellant urges that this Court may not "indulge
in speculation when the record was not developed by the State."
Again appellant is correct that the record does not show what part of the dolls A.M.
pointed to when she testified that he "hurt" her "front" and "back." However, the jury saw
the dolls and witnessed A.M.'s actions. Moreover, Andelman stated that when A.M. used
the term "middle," she pointed to her female sexual organ, and when A.M. used the term
"back," she pointed to her "butt." A.M. stated that appellant put his body part in her mouth
and that it "felt nasty" and that she felt like vomiting. When the State asked A.M. if she
remembered stating that appellant put his "front part" in her mouth, she replied by moving
her head up and down. A.M. agreed that appellant put his body part in her "front part" and
her "back part." And when the State asked, "Did that go on the inside or stay on the
outside?", A.M. responded, "A little bit on the inside" and that it "hurted." Lisa testified that
A.M. told her that appellant put his private part in her private part and in her mouth.
47 See W atson, 204 S.W .3d at 414-15.
17 Andelman stated that when she took A.M.'s medical history, A.M. indicated that appellant
had put his "middle" in her "butt," in her mouth, and in her sexual organ. The evidence
presented showed that appellant put his "front part," "middle" or "private part" in A.M.'s
mouth, "private part" or "middle" or female sexual organ, and "butt."48
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude that a
rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant contacted
A.M.'s anus with his sexual organ, that his sexual organ penetrated A.M.'s mouth, and that
his sexual organ penetrated A.M.'s sexual organ.49 Furthermore, viewing the evidence in
a neutral light, we cannot conclude that the evidence is so weak that the jury's verdict
seems clearly wrong and manifestly unjust or against the great weight and preponderance
of the evidence.50 Therefore, the evidence is legally and factually sufficient. We overrule
appellant's seventh and eighth issues.
V. CONCLUSION
Having overruled appellant's eight issues, we affirm the trial court's judgment.
Do not publish SEE TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Delivered and filed the 17th day of June, 2010
48 See Villalon, 791 S.W .2d at 134; O'Hara, 837 S.W .2d at 142.
49 See Hooper, 214 S.W .3d at 13; Escamilla, 143 S.W .3d at 817.
50 See W atson, 204 S.W .3d at 414-15.