McDonald v. State

513 S.W.2d 44, 1974 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1806
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 10, 1974
Docket48408
StatusPublished
Cited by108 cases

This text of 513 S.W.2d 44 (McDonald v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McDonald v. State, 513 S.W.2d 44, 1974 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1806 (Tex. 1974).

Opinion

OPINION

ONION, Presiding Judge.

This appeal arises out of a conviction for sodomy wherein the punishment was assessed by the jury at fifteen (15) years.

Appellant has filed pro se briefs asserting some nineteen grounds of error. 1

Initially, appellant contends his warrantless arrest was without probable cause. It appears from the record that the arrest, some eight days after the alleged offense, was made without a warrant after the arresting officer had talked to some young boys. There were no confession or fruits of any search incident to arrest introduced. We find no reversible error.

Next, appellant complains that he was not accorded an examining trial as required by Article 15.17, Vernon’s Ann. C.C.P.

The State points out in its brief that the record reflects the original complaint filed alleging sodomy involved another corn- *46 plaining witness, Tony J_, for which offense appellant was subsequently indicted. After such complaining witness moved out of town, the State sought the instant indictment directly from the grand jury without filing a complaint in a Justice of the Peace Court. In Brown v. State, 475 S.W.2d 938 (Tex.Cr.App.1971), this court held that the return of an indictment terminates any right to an examining trial. See Article 16.01, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., and Harris v. State, 457 S.W.2d 903, 907 (Tex.Cr.App.1970), and cases there cited. Once an indictment, a true bill, has been presented or returned by a grand jury, the principal purpose and justification for such preliminary hearing has been satisfied.

The indictment, omitting the formal part, alleged that on or about September 12, 1971, appellant did “use his mouth on the sexual parts of another human being, to wit, Clemente_, for the purpose of having carnal copulation . . . . ”

The record reflects that on Saturday, September 11, 1971, Clemente_, his brother, Luis, and a friend, Tony_, went to the movie theater across the street from the courthouse in Dimmitt. While at the theater, they met appellant, who gave each of them a dime with which to buy candy. After purchasing the candy, the boys went in to watch the movie and appellant sat with Clemente.

The next day, Sunday, September 12th, the three boys went to a hotel across the street from the courthouse. When they arrived, appellant was watching television. At approximately 3 to 3:30 p.m. Clemente went to Room 12 with appellant. While there, appellant gave Clemente a dollar, had him get on the bed, removed his pants, and placed his mouth on Clemente’s penis.

Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the conviction on several grounds. Among them is the complaint, as we understand it, that the complaining witness’ testimony failed to identify him as the perpetrator of the offense, was vague, indefinite and uncertain. The record reflects that Clemente testified:

“Q Now, are you acquainted — do you know Buddy McDonald?
“A Yes.
“Q Is that the man sitting right over here?
“A Yes.”

Thereafter, he referred to the man who had committed the offense simply as “Buddy.” While the interrogation above, standing alone, leaves open to argument whether the man identified was in fact the appellant — other witnesses offered by the State clearly identified the appellant and testified he was known as Buddy McDonald. The jurors were judges of the facts, the credibility of witnesses, etc., and we cannot say the evidence is insufficient on the ground urged.

Appellant also urges that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the conviction since it was not shown that the complaining witness’ sexual organ penetrated his (appellant’s) mouth.

In Sinclair v. State, 166 Tex.Cr.R. 167, 311 S.W.2d 824 (1958), this court held that penetration of the mouth is not an essential element of the offense of use of the mouth on the sexual parts of another human being for the purpose of having carnal copulation as proscribed by Article 524, Vernon’s Ann.P.C. It was noted that use of the mouth on the sexual parts of another for the purpose of carnal copulation is sufficient to sustain a conviction for sodomy.

The complaining witness testified that appellant placed his mouth “on” his (the witness’) penis. Such evidence was suffi *47 cient under the statute to sustain the conviction. 2

Appellant also complains that the court fundamentally erred in defining carnal copulation in the charge as requiring that "... the male sexual organ must be shown to have penetrated the mouth of the defendant . . . .”

There was no objection to the charge, nor was there a special requested charge. As noted above, penetration was not required, and the charge was more favorable than that to which the appellant was entitled. The jury having, under all the evidence, resolved the issue against him, appellant is not in a position to complain now.

Appellant also challenges the constitutionality of Article 524, Vernon’s Ann.P.C. We have previously held the statute constitutional. Pruett v. State, 463 S.W.2d 191 (Tex.Cr.App.1970), appeal dismissed for want of a substantial question, Pruett v. Texas, 402 U.S. 902, 91 S.Ct. 1379, 28 L.Ed.2d 643 (1971) ; Buchanan v. State, 471 S.W.2d 401 (Tex.Cr.App.1971), cert. denied, Buchanan v. Texas, 405 U.S. 930, 92 S.Ct. 984, 30 L.Ed.2d 804 (1972); Everette v. State, 465 S.W.2d 162 (Tex. Cr.App.1971). We adhere to such decisions.

Appellant also urges the court’s charge was incorrect because it failed to allege a specific date therein for the commission of the offense, using instead the “on or about the 12th day of September, 1971” allegation in the indictment.

■It is well settled under Article 21.02, Sec. 6, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., that the State is not bound by the date on or about which the offense is alleged to have been committed, but a conviction may be had upon proof that the offense was committed any time prior to the return of the indictment that is within the period of limitation. Glenn v. State, 436 S.W.2d 344 (Tex.Cr.App.1969).

The evidence here showed the offense occurred on September 12, 1971, and was sufficient to show it was committed prior to the presentment of the indictment and was within the period of limitation.

The court’s charge was not incorrect.

Although the court submitted the fact issue to the jury as to whether the complaining witness was an accomplice witness, appellant complains of the trial court’s failure to charge the jury that Clemente _ was an accomplice witness as a matter of law.

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Bluebook (online)
513 S.W.2d 44, 1974 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1806, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcdonald-v-state-texcrimapp-1974.