Lindsley Hugh Cravens II v. the State of Texas

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided November 28, 2022·No. 05-21-00947-CR·Published

Opinion

AFFIRMED and Opinion Filed November 28, 2022

S In The

Court of Appeals

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-21-00947-CR

LINDSLEY HUGH CRAVENS II, Appellant V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 15th Judicial District Court Grayson County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 072669

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before Justices Myers, Pedersen, III, and Garcia Opinion by Justice Garcia A jury found appellant guilty of murder and assessed punishment at forty

years in prison and a $10,000 fine. In three issues, appellant argues: (i) the evidence is insufficient to support the jury’s rejection of his self-defense claim; (ii) the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for new trial based on an alleged Brady violation; and (iii) the trial court erroneously denied the motion to suppress statements he made to the police. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

I. Background

On the night in question, appellant’s wife, Townie Cravens, called 911 to report that appellant had just shot his mother’s boyfriend, later identified as Stephen Obar. Obar was shot in the face at close range and was dead when the paramedics arrived.

The shooting occurred in Nancy Coker’s apartment. Coker is appellant’s mother. Obar and his mother lived in the apartment with Coker. Appellant and his wife visited frequently and were there on the night of the shooting.

Appellant and Obar were seated in the apartment when they had an acrimonious verbal exchange. Appellant got up and said he was leaving. As appellant moved toward the kitchen counter to retrieve his belongings, Obar got up from his recliner and moved toward appellant. Coker stepped between them. Coker then heard appellant’s gun fire as he shot Obar.

Appellant was charged with murder and claimed self-defense. A jury found appellant guilty and assessed punishment at forty years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Judgment was entered in accordance with the jury’s verdict.

When additional discovery materials from a lab analysis were provided to appellant after the judgment was entered, appellant moved for a new trial based on alleged Brady violations. The trial court conducted a hearing and denied the motion. This timely appeal followed.

II. Analysis

Sufficiency of the Evidence Appellant’s first issue argues the evidence is insufficient to support the jury’s rejection of his self-defense claim. According to appellant, there is no evidence that his actions “constituted anything but self-defense,” because he only drew his weapon after Obar got up and moved quickly and aggressively toward him. He further asserts that Obar tried to steal his gun and he therefore believed that deadly force was immediately necessary.

In evaluating a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a criminal conviction, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict. Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 111 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). The issue on appeal is not whether we, as a court, believe the State’s evidence or believe that appellant’s evidence outweighs the State’s evidence. Wicker v. State, 667 S.W.2d 137, 143 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). The verdict may not be overturned unless it is irrational or unsupported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Matson v. State, 819 S.W.2d 839, 846 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). The jury “is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and of the strength of the evidence,” and may choose to believe or disbelieve any portion of the witnesses’ testimony. See Fuentes v. State, 991 S.W.2d 267, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Sharp v. State, 707 S.W.2d 611, 614 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). When faced with conflicting evidence, we presume the jury resolved conflicts in favor of the prevailing party. Turro v. State, 867 S.W.2d 43, 47 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1993). Therefore, if any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, we must affirm. McDuff v. State, 939 S.W.2d 607, 614 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

We measure sufficiency to support a conviction by comparing the evidence presented at trial to “the elements of the offense as defined by the hypothetically correct jury charge for the case.” Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). A hypothetically correct jury charge reflects the governing law, the indictment, the State’s burden of proof and theories of liability, and an adequate description of the offense for the particular case. Id.

A person commits the offense of murder if he intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.02(b)(1). Alternatively, he also commits the offense when he intends to cause serious bodily injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual. Id. at § 19.02(b)(2).

A person acts with intent with respect to the nature of his conduct or to a result of his conduct when it is his conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 6.03(a). He acts knowingly with respect to the nature of his conduct (or to circumstances surrounding his conduct) when he is aware of the nature of his conduct (or that the circumstances exist) or he is aware that the conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result. See id. at § 6.03(b). A person acts recklessly when he is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial

and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. See id. at §6.03(c).

Intent, being a question of fact, is in the sole purview of the jury. Brown v.

State, 122 S.W.3d 794, 800 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). A jury may rely on collective common sense and common knowledge when determining intent. Ramirez v. State, 229 S.W.3d 725, 729 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2007, no pet.). Intent also may be inferred from the circumstantial evidence surrounding the incident, which includes acts, words, and conduct of the accused. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.36(a); Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 487 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). “Attempts to conceal incriminating evidence, inconsistent statements, and implausible explanations to the police are probative of wrongful conduct and are also circumstances of guilt.” See Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 50 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).

A person is justified in using force against another when and to the degree that person reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect him from another’s use or attempted use of unlawful force. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.31(a). “An actor is justified in using deadly force if, among other things, the actor reasonably believes deadly force is immediately necessary to protect the actor against another's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force.” Green v. State, 589 S.W.3d 250, 255 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2019, pet. ref’d); see TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.32(a)(1)–(2)(A).

In a claim of self-defense, defendant bears the burden to produce evidence supporting the defense. Braughton v. State, 569 S.W.3d 592, 608 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018); Moralez v. State, 450 S.W.3d 553, 565 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, pet. ref’d). The defendant’s burden of production requires him to adduce some evidence that would support a rational finding in his favor on the defensive issue. Krajcovic v. State, 393 S.W.3d 282, 286 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).

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