Massoud, John Donald v. Texas, the State Of

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: March 4, 1985
• Docket: 05-83-01318-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS FIFTH SUPREME JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT DALLAS

NO. 05-83-01318-CR

JOHN DONALD MASSOUD, FROM A DISTRICT COURT

APPELLANT,

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

APPELLEE. OF DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS

BEFORE JUSTICES STEPHENS, WHITHAM AND GUILLOT OPINION BY JUSTICE STEPHENS MARCH 4, 1985

John Donald Massoud, convicted by a jury of criminal

solicitation to commit aggravated robbery and sentenced to seven

years imprisonment, appeals. In ten grounds of error, appellant

contends that: (1) his conviction, after a prior mistrial,

constituted double jeopardy; (2) he was denied due process

because the prosecutor failed to disclose evidence, material to

guilt or punishment, after a discovery motion was filed; (3) the

trial court abused its discretion by surpressing evidence

material to the defense; (4) the trial court erroneously admitted

testimony of an extraneous offense or transaction; (5) the trial

-1- court erroneously permitted hearsay testimony to be elicited

during trial; (6) he was denied effective assistance of counsel;

(7) the indictment was fundamentally defective; (8) the evidence

was insufficient to sustain a conviction; (9) the court

erroneously stated the elements of aggravated robbery in its

charge; and (10) the court's charge improperly enlarged the

indictment. We disagree with each contention and, accordingly,

affirm.

In his first ground of error, appellant contends his

conviction is barred by double jeopardy. Although the record

reflects appellant orally moved for dismissal of the proceedings

on double jeopardy grounds, he failed to file a verified written

motion as required by TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. articles 27.05

(Vernon Supp. 1985) and 27.06 (Vernon 1966). The question of

double jeopardy is therefore not properly before this court.

Murphy v. State, 669 S.W.2d 320 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983) en banc;

Galloway v. State, 420 S.W.2d 721 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967).

Appellant's first ground of error is overruled.

-2- In his second and third grounds of error, appellant contends

he was denied due process because evidence material to the issues

of his guilt or punishment was not disclosed in accordance with

Brady V. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1967). We disagree.

The evidence of which appellant complains consists of two

items. The first item is a recording of a telephone conversation

between Jerry Banks, the prosecuting attorney, and Bob Denson, a

private investigator who was employed by Bill Siefert, appel

lant's former partner, to obtain evidence for use in a civil

action brought by appellant against Siefert. The second item is

the Dallas Police Department's Internal Affairs file regarding

official misconduct of two Dallas police officers, Falgout and

Robertson. In response to appellant's request to review the

evidence, the prosecutor submitted these two items to the court

for an in camera inspection to determine whether they were

discoverable. The court found that the items did not contain

anything "exculpatory in nature or anything that would mitigate

punishment" and declined to permit discovery. We conclude that

-3- by submitting the evidence to the court for a judicial determina

tion of its discoverability, the prosecutor complied with the

requirements of Brady. See United States y_, Agurs, 427

U.S. 97 (1978) .

Having concluded the prosecutor's action did not violate

appellant's right to due process, we now consider whether the

trial court abused its discretion in denying appellant access to

the evidence. The standard of review we must follow is whether

the evidence sought is material to appellant's defense.

Whitechurch v. State. 650 S.W.2d 424, 425 (Tex. Crim. App.

1983), en banc; Ouinones v. State. 592 S.W.2d 933 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1980), en banc, c^rt. denied. 449 U.S. 893 (1980). In

determining materiality, the omission must be evaluated in the

context of the entire record and constitutional error is com

mitted only if the omitted evidence creates a reasonable doubt

that did not otherwise exist, whitechurch. 650 S.W.2d at 425.

After fully reviewing the evidence of which appellant com

plains, we conclude that, in light of the entire record,

-4- appellant was not denied access to any evidence material to his

defense. The file revealed that the two police officers had been

employed, contrary to police department policy, by Denson to

assist him in obtaining evidence for the civil trial between

appellant and Siefert. When the officers realized that a

criminal matter was developing, they immediately discontinued

their employment with Denson, and in fact refused to accept any

pay from Denson for the work already done. Banks did not learn

of the two officers' participation in the investigation of the

civil matter until he was preparing for trial. Immediately upon

learning of their involvement, Banks initiated a telephone call

to Denson, the taped telephone conversation in issue, verifying

the officers' involvement. He then consulted with District

Attorney Henry Wade and reported the matter to the Dallas Police

Department.

All of these matters were fully developed at trial, except

the fact that the telephone conversation shows that Banks and

Denson were acquaintances, and that Banks had in fact visited in

-5- Denson's home, socially, on one or more previous occasions.

Appellant contends that the undeveloped evidence is material

to show a conspiracy between Siefert and the district attorney's

office to "set-up" appellant. This contention is without merit.

First, Banks was not involved in the police investigation of

appellant's criminal activities and was unaware of the officer's

prior involvement in the civil case until he was preparing for

trial. Next, Banks' actions, after learning of the officer's

involvement, were inconsistent with appellant's allegation of a

conspiracy. Further, we note that this theory is different from

appellant's theory during trial. At trial appellant admitted his

conversations with Sergeant Amos, the police investigator in

charge of the criminal investigation, but denied any criminal

intent to harm Bill Siefert. He testified that he believed Amos

was working for Denson and that he was going along with Amos,

hoping to gather evidence against Siefert. As we have stated

previously, the excluded evidence showing the relationship

between Falgout, Robertson, Denson, and Siefert, as well as the

-6- evidence describing Amos' role in the investigation, was fully

developed at trial. There was never any question that Officers

Falgout, Robertson, and Amos were "setting-up" appellant in the

sense that they were working undercover to gather evidence to be

used against him. The issue, resolved by the jury against

appellant, was not whether Amos was actually a "hit-man," but

whether appellant possessed the requisite criminal intent, that

is, whether he actually believed Amos would harm Siefert.

Appellant's allegation of a conspiracy extending to the district

attorney's office is not only unsupported by the evidence, but is

immaterial to the question of that intent. Appellant's grounds

of error two and three are overruled.

In his fourth ground of error, appellant contends the court

erroneously permitted testimony of an extraneous offense or

transaction. Danny Wood testified that appellant attempted to

purchase dynamite from him and inquired whether two or three

sticks of dynamite wrapped in foam rubber was sufficient to blow

up a four to five thousand square foot building. He further

-7- testified that appellant told him he wanted the building

destroyed because the person who owned the building owed him

approximately five hundred thousand dollars. Wood was called as

a witness after appellant had testified and had affirmatively

denied his criminal intent, and had further denied making any

statements to Wood regarding purchasing dynamite or destroying a

building. Although evidence of extraneous offenses is generally

not admissible, the evidence in this case was admissible to show

intent or scheme, or to refute appellant's defensive theory.

Sewell v. State. 629 S.W.2d 42 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982);

Chambers v. State. 601 S.W.2d 360 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980).

Appellant's fourth ground of error is overruled.

In his fifth ground of error, appellant complains the court

erroneously permitted the introduction of hearsay evidence.

First, appellant contends the testimony of Joe McMurtrie is "full

of hearsay." No objection was made during trial, and, on appeal,

appellant fails to identify the specific testimony of which he is

complaining. Therefore, nothing is presented for review. Cook

-8- v. State, 611 S.W.2d 83 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981). Next, appellant

complains the tapes of conversations between appellant and Amos

were hearsay because the State failed to properly authenticate

the tapes. The record reflects that appellant's counsel

affirmatively waived objection to the introduction of the tapes

and that appellant later testified that he had no reason to doubt

the authenticity of any of the tapes. Error, if any, was there

fore invited, and now appellant may not be heard to complain.

_Ex parte Guerrero, 521 S.W.2d 613 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975).

Next, appellant complains that the testimony of Captain Oney

is "rank hearsay." Appellant cites no reference to the record

indicating where the error complained of occurred; therefore,

nothing is presented for review. Brown v. State, 605_ S.W.2d

572 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980). Further, Captain Oney testified only

during the punishment phase of the trial. Since the court

determined punishment, we must presume it disregarded any

inadmissible testimony. Keen v. State, 626 S.W.2d 309 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1981). Finally, appellant complains the entire

-9- testimony of Cheryl Jerome should be stricken from the record

because she is currently employed by the Dallas County Attorney's

office and her testimony was therefore in violation of the Texas

Code of Professional Responsibility. The record reflects that

Jerome was not employed by the District Attorney's office when

she testified in this case. Appellant cites no authority that a

person's testimony must never be considered if he or she later

becomes associated with one of the attorneys involved in the

litigation. We find none. Therefore, nothing is presented for

review. Brooks v. State, 642 S.W.2d 791 (Tex. Crim. App.

1982). Appellant's fifth ground of error is overruled.

In his sixth ground of error appellant contends that he was

denied effective assistance of counsel because his attorney

repeatedly failed to object to the introduction of "inadmissible

hearsay evidence and extraneous offenses." Appellant fails to

direct this Court's attention to the record indicating where

these omissions by counsel occurred; therefore, nothing is

presented on review. Cook, 611 S.W.2d at 87. Appellant's

-10- sixth ground of error is overruled.

In his seventh ground of error, appellant contends the

indictment is fundamentally defective because it fails to allege

all of the essential elements of robbery. We disagree. Upon

review of the indictment, we conclude that the indictment

adequately set out the elements of both criminal solicitation,

TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. Sec. 15.03 (Vernon 1974) , and aggravated

robbery, TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. Sec. 29.02, 29.03 (Vernon 1974).

See Rohlfing v. State, 612 S.W.2d 598 (Tex. Crim. App.

1981). Appellant's seventh ground of error is overruled.

In his eighth ground of error, appellant contends the

evidence is not sufficient to support a conviction. We disagree.

When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged, the standard

of review is, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to

the verdict, whether any rational trier of fact could have found

the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Wilson v.

State, 654 S.W.2d 465 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983). During one of the

taped conversations between appellant and Amos, appellant told

-11- Amos he wanted Siefert's "right hand broke, his arm broke . . .

and . . . one leg broke." During a different conversation he

stated, "why don't you act like you're gonna rob this boy — make

it look good." He told Amos he wanted the business cards out of

Siefert's billfold, but that Amos could keep Siefert's watch,

rings, and any money. We conclude the evidence is sufficient to

support the conviction. Appellant's eighth ground of error is

overruled.

In his ninth ground of error, appellant contends the trial

court committed fundamental error by failing to instruct the jury

on the correct elements of aggravated robbery. We have reviewed

the definitions in the court's charge which appellant urges were

erroneous, and find no error. The court's omission of the word

"recklessly" and its further omission of the alternative element

of "intentionally or knowingly threatens or places another in

fear of imminent bodily injury or death," from the definition of

robbery, TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §29.02 (Vernon 1974), benefitted

appellant by restricting the elements of the charge for which

-12- * m

appellant could have been found guilty. Error, if any, was

therefore harmless. Since no objection was made at trial and

fundamental error was not committed, nothing is presented for

review. Henderson v. State, 117 S.W.2d 697 (Tex. Crim. App.

1981).

In his final ground of error, appellant contends the court's

charge has enlarged the indictment. We disagree. The indictment

alleges that appellant "did unlawfully, then and there with

intent that a felony of the first degree be committed, namely:

aggravated robbery, knowingly and intentionally request,

command, and attempt to induce another . . ." (emphasis

added). The court's charge tracks this language, however, it

omits the word "command", and substitutes the word "or" for the

word "and." The omission of the word "command" in the charge

restricted rather than enlarged the indictment. Error, if any,

caused by the court's omission, was therefore harmless. Further,

since appellant failed to object to the charge, nothing is

presented for review. White v. State, 610 S.W.2d 504 (Tex.

-13- Crim. App. 1981). Finally, it is not error for the indictment to

allege the different ways of committing the offense in the

conjunctive and for the jury to be charged disjunctively.

Vasquez v. State, 665 S.W.2d 484 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) en

banc; Vaughn v. State, 634 S.W.2d 310 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982).

Appellant's final ground of error is overruled.

Affirmed.

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