Kirven v. State

293 S.W.3d 233, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3338, 2009 WL 1329878
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 13, 2009
Docket10-08-00064-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 293 S.W.3d 233 (Kirven v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kirven v. State, 293 S.W.3d 233, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3338, 2009 WL 1329878 (Tex. Ct. App. 2009).

Opinions

MEMORANDUM OPINION

FELIPE REYNA, Justice.

A jury convicted Stacey Kirven of aggravated robbery and kidnapping. The trial court sentenced Stacey to fifty years in prison for aggravated robbery and twenty years in prison for kidnapping. Stacey’s appellate counsel filed an Anders brief presenting three potential issues: (1) the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence; (2) trial error; and (3) jury charge error. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Although informed of his right to do so, Stacey did not file a pro se brief. We affirm.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

In an Anders case, we must, “after a full examination of all the proceedings, [ ] decide whether the case is wholly frivolous.” Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S.Ct. at 1400; accord Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 509-11 (Tex.Crim.App.1991); Coronado v. State, 996 S.W.2d 283, 285 (Tex.App.-Waco 1999, order) (per curiam), disp. on merits, 25 S.W.3d 806 (TexApp.-Waco 2000, pet. refd). An appeal is “wholly frivolous” or “without merit” when [236]*236it “lacks any basis in law or fact.” McCoy v. Court of Appeals, 486 U.S. 429, 439 n. 10, 108 S.Ct. 1895, 1902, 100 L.Ed.2d 440 (1988). Arguments are frivolous when they “cannot conceivably persuade the court.” Id. at 436, 108 S.Ct. at 1901. An appeal based on “arguable grounds” is not wholly frivolous. Stafford, 813 S.W.2d at 511.

LEGAL AND FACTUAL SUFFICIENCY

The first potential issue raised by counsel addresses the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence.

Aggravated Robbery

The offense of aggravated robbery is committed where (1) a person; (2) in the course of committing theft (3) with intent to obtain and maintain control of property (4) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly (5) causes bodily injury to another and (6) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 29.02(a)(1) (Vernon 2003); see also Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 29.03(a)(1), (2) (Vernon 2003).

Course of Committing Theft Intent to Obtain and Maintain Control of Property

Kevin Kirven, Stacey’s brother, testified that Stacey wanted to rob Thomas Robinson. Stacey beat Robinson and took money from Robinson. Stacey split the money with Kevin. The jury could reasonably conclude that Stacey acted while in the course of committing a theft with intent to maintain or obtain control over Robinson’s property. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 31.03(a) (Vernon Supp. 2008) (theft); see also Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 29.01(1), (2) (Vernon 2003) (definition of “In the course of committing theft”); White v. State, 671 S.W.2d 40, 42 (Tex. Crim.App.1984) (explaining intent to obtain or maintain control of property).

Bodily Injury

Emergency physician Dr. Michael Spohn testified that Robinson suffered from (1) nine broken ribs; (2) abrasions and lacerations to his head and body; (3) pneumothorax, a “potentially life-threatening” condition where air is trapped in the lungs as a result of lacerations to the lung pleura; (4) a dangerous blood pressure level; and (5) blood in the urine. Robinson testified that the beating was very painful. He still has trouble breathing and has a partially collapsed lung. The jury could reasonably conclude that Robinson suffered bodily injury. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 1.07(a)(8) (Vernon Supp. 2008) (defining “bodily injury”).

Deadly Weapon

The indictment alleged that the deadly weapon was a fence post or walking cane. Robinson and Kevin each testified that Stacey used both items to beat Robinson. Corporal William Rogers found a broken cane at the scene, but never located a fence post. Spohn, Rogers, and Detective Richard Hundley each testified that a walking cane or fence post could be a deadly weapon. The jury could reasonably conclude that the cane and fence post were capable, in their manner of use, of causing death or serious bodily injury. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 1.07(a)(17)(B) (Vernon Supp. 2008) (defining “deadly weapon”); see also Tucker v. State, 274 S.W.3d 688, 691-92 (Tex.Crim.App.2008); Ashcraft v. State, No. 03-07-00237-CR, 2008 WL 480704, at *2,-4, 2008 Tex.App. LEXIS 1338, at *8-9 (Tex.App.-Austin Feb. 21, 2008, pet. ref d) (not designated for publication).

Kidnapping

A person commits kidnapping if he intentionally or knowingly abducts another [237]*237person. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 20.03(a) (Vernon Supp. 2008). “Abduct” means to restrain a person with intent to prevent his liberation by secreting or holding him in a place where he is not likely to be found; or using or threatening to use deadly force.1 Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 20.01(2)(A)-(B) (Vernon 2003). “Restrain” means to restrict a person’s movements without consent, so as to interfere substantially with the person’s liberty, by moving the person from one place to another or by confining the person. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 20.01(1).

The record contains evidence that Robinson attempted to escape during the beating, but Stacey caught him. Stacey and Kevin bound Robinson with rope, placed him in his truck, and held him down. Stacey took possession of the truck. After the truck stopped running, Stacey threw the bound and beaten Robinson in a drainage ditch full of three to four feet of water. Although the ditch is near a highway, Rogers described the area as “kind of barren” and “fairly desolate.” Although Robinson was only taken a tenth of a mile from where the beating occurred, Hundley believed that Stacey planned to either Mil Robinson or at least place him in a location where he could not be found.

The jury could reasonably conclude that Stacey (1) forcibly restricted Robinson’s liberty without his consent by beating him, binding him with rope, and confining him to his truck; and (2) intended to prevent Robinson’s liberation by secreting him in a place where he was not likely to be found. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 20.01(2)(A)-(B); see also Hines v. State, 75 S.W.3d 444, 447 (Tex.Crim.App.2002); Megas v. State, 68 S.W.3d 234, 240-41 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet. ref d); Price v. State, 35 S.W.3d 136, 140-41 (Tex.App.-Waco 2000, pet. ref d).

Summary

Viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, the jury could reasonably conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Stacey committed the offenses of aggravated robbery and kidnapping. See Curry v. State, 30 S.W.3d 394, 406 (Tex.Crim.App.2000) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)). The proof of guilt is not so weak nor the conflicting evidence so strong as to render the juiy’s verdict clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. Watson v. State,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
293 S.W.3d 233, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3338, 2009 WL 1329878, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kirven-v-state-texapp-2009.