Montoya v. State
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Opinions
OPINION
WHITE, Judge.
Appellant was convicted in Dallas County of capital murder. See V.T.C.A., Penal Code Sec. 19.03(a)(1). After the jury made an affirmative finding of the special issues in Art. 37.071, V.A.C.C.P., the trial court imposed the penalty of death by lethal injection. This case is before us on direct appeal.
The appellant advances seventeen points of error. A review of the facts is necessary.
The testimony revealed that Officer John Pasco of the Dallas Police Department was shot and killed while trying to apprehend appellant. On January 16, 1983, at approximately 4:00 p.m., appellant and others were drinking beer in the vicinity of 1800 Park in the City of Dallas. When Pasco arrived, appellant began to move away from the group of people. Then Pasco began to pursue appellant individually, and appellant started to run. Pasco chased him. Appellant testified that while Pasco was chasing him, he attempted to remove a pistol from his waistband and throw it away so Pasco would not catch him with it. The weapon discharged and Pasco, who according to appellant had grabbed appellant’s arm, was shot in the head. He died a few hours later.
Officer Jerry Loudermilk testified that, while on patrol duty, he received a call from Officer Pasco to “cover” him.1 When Loudermilk arrived at the scene, he saw that Pasco had been shot. Several other Dallas police officers were already at the scene: trying to help Pasco and interviewing witnesses. Loudermilk was informed that there was no description yet of the suspect.
Loudermilk returned to his patrol car and began to search the immediate area. While searching, he received information by radio describing the suspect as a short Latin male with a tatoo of a panther on his chest. He continued to search until 6:05 p.m. when he saw the appellant and stopped to talk to him “just for information.” At the time, Officer Loudermilk “didn’t have any idea” that the appellant was a suspect in the shooting. When Officer Loudermilk stepped out of his car and spoke in Spanish twice to the appellant, the appellant said nothing in response, but turned and started to run away. Officer Loudermilk pursued and detained the appellant. Loudermilk then lifted up the appellant’s shirt, and saw the tatoo of a panther on the appellant’s chest. He asked the appellant his name. After the appellant responded, Loudermilk placed him under arrest.
A subsequent search of appellant’s home uncovered a .25 caliber automatic pistol. Ballistics determined it to be the weapon that fired the fatal shot.
In his first point of error, appellant alleges that the trial court ignored the provisions of the Code Construction Act during his general remarks to the prospective jurors about the special issues in a capital murder trial. In those remarks, the trial court advised the jury panel that they should give the word “deliberately” its common meaning and usage. Appellant’s [19]*19second point of error applies the same allegation to a second panel of prospective jurors. We will consider the two points together.
It is appellant’s claim that the word “deliberately”, as used in the capital murder sentencing statute, Art. 37.071, (b)(1), V.A. C.C.P., has acquired a technical or particular meaning. Therefore, the Code Construction Act, sec. 311.011(b), requires that “deliberately” be defined to the jury with a particular meaning. Appellant cites Heckert v. State, 612 S.W.2d 549 (Tex.Cr.App.1981), Fearance v. State, 620 S.W.2d 577 (Tex.Cr.App.1981), and the dissenting opinion of Judge Clinton in Russell v. State, 665 S.W.2d 771 (Tex.Cr.App.1983) in support of his contention. Appellant claims the failure of the trial court to define “deliberately” during his general remarks to the jury panels requires a reversal of his conviction.
We point out that appellant failed to object to the trial court’s instruction on the word “deliberately” to either of the jury panels. Appellant did not request that a different instruction be given to the panels. Appellant did not argue to the trial court that the Code Construction Act required him to define the word “deliberately.”
Appellant raises these two points of error for the first time on appeal. Nothing has been preserved for our review. Tex. Cr.App.R. 52(a). The errors, if any, are waived. Points of error one and two are overruled.
Appellant’s third point of error is that the errors committed by the trial court in points one and two rendered imposition of the death penalty violative of State and federal proscriptions against cruel and unusual punishment. Based on our disposition of points one and two, we find appellant’s third point of error unmeritorious. It is overruled.
Points of error four and five allege error in excusing prospective jurors, on the State’s motion for cause, because it was not shown that either prospective juror could not vote affirmative answers if the State sustained its burden of proof. Appellant contends that the standard for excusing potential jurors is “only when a juror ‘regardless of his own [sic] standards of reasonableness, would insist that the State offer proof ... beyond all doubt, whether reasonable or not’ can the court properly excuse him”, citing Woolls v. State, 665 S.W.2d 455, at 465 (Tex.Cr.App.1983). Appellant misinterprets our holding. Woolls, supra, did not state that is the only time a juror can be excused. Woolls simply held that was why that particular juror was excused and in that instance the excusal was proper. See Woolls, supra, at 465.
The proper standard for excusing a prospective juror on the State’s motion for cause is where the record viewed as a whole supports the finding that the juror’s views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instruction and oath. Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 422, 105 S.Ct. 844, 851, 83 L.Ed.2d 841, 851 (1985). In adopting this standard, the Court dispensed with Witherspoon’s reference to automatic decision making and the requirement that a juror’s bias be proved with unmistakable clarity.2 Wainwright, supra.
Instead, the Court stated there would be situations where the trial court would be left with the definite impression that a prospective juror would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law. That is why deference must be paid to the trial court who heard and saw the juror and observed that juror’s demeanor. Wainwright, supra. This Court had adopted this standard for reviewing the voir dire of a prospective juror who was successfully challenged for cause. Bird v. State, 692 S.W.2d 65 (Tex.Cr.App.1985, reh. denied).
On point of error four we will review the voir dire of prospective juror Ferguson to determine if she was properly excused for cause. During that voir dire, the following exchanges occurred:
[20]*20“Q. (State) Could you share with us your personal feelings about the death penalty? How do you feel?
“A. When I wrote that down on Monday I thought there are probably situations in which I would think the death penalty was acceptable.
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OPINION
WHITE, Judge.
Appellant was convicted in Dallas County of capital murder. See V.T.C.A., Penal Code Sec. 19.03(a)(1). After the jury made an affirmative finding of the special issues in Art. 37.071, V.A.C.C.P., the trial court imposed the penalty of death by lethal injection. This case is before us on direct appeal.
The appellant advances seventeen points of error. A review of the facts is necessary.
The testimony revealed that Officer John Pasco of the Dallas Police Department was shot and killed while trying to apprehend appellant. On January 16, 1983, at approximately 4:00 p.m., appellant and others were drinking beer in the vicinity of 1800 Park in the City of Dallas. When Pasco arrived, appellant began to move away from the group of people. Then Pasco began to pursue appellant individually, and appellant started to run. Pasco chased him. Appellant testified that while Pasco was chasing him, he attempted to remove a pistol from his waistband and throw it away so Pasco would not catch him with it. The weapon discharged and Pasco, who according to appellant had grabbed appellant’s arm, was shot in the head. He died a few hours later.
Officer Jerry Loudermilk testified that, while on patrol duty, he received a call from Officer Pasco to “cover” him.1 When Loudermilk arrived at the scene, he saw that Pasco had been shot. Several other Dallas police officers were already at the scene: trying to help Pasco and interviewing witnesses. Loudermilk was informed that there was no description yet of the suspect.
Loudermilk returned to his patrol car and began to search the immediate area. While searching, he received information by radio describing the suspect as a short Latin male with a tatoo of a panther on his chest. He continued to search until 6:05 p.m. when he saw the appellant and stopped to talk to him “just for information.” At the time, Officer Loudermilk “didn’t have any idea” that the appellant was a suspect in the shooting. When Officer Loudermilk stepped out of his car and spoke in Spanish twice to the appellant, the appellant said nothing in response, but turned and started to run away. Officer Loudermilk pursued and detained the appellant. Loudermilk then lifted up the appellant’s shirt, and saw the tatoo of a panther on the appellant’s chest. He asked the appellant his name. After the appellant responded, Loudermilk placed him under arrest.
A subsequent search of appellant’s home uncovered a .25 caliber automatic pistol. Ballistics determined it to be the weapon that fired the fatal shot.
In his first point of error, appellant alleges that the trial court ignored the provisions of the Code Construction Act during his general remarks to the prospective jurors about the special issues in a capital murder trial. In those remarks, the trial court advised the jury panel that they should give the word “deliberately” its common meaning and usage. Appellant’s [19]*19second point of error applies the same allegation to a second panel of prospective jurors. We will consider the two points together.
It is appellant’s claim that the word “deliberately”, as used in the capital murder sentencing statute, Art. 37.071, (b)(1), V.A. C.C.P., has acquired a technical or particular meaning. Therefore, the Code Construction Act, sec. 311.011(b), requires that “deliberately” be defined to the jury with a particular meaning. Appellant cites Heckert v. State, 612 S.W.2d 549 (Tex.Cr.App.1981), Fearance v. State, 620 S.W.2d 577 (Tex.Cr.App.1981), and the dissenting opinion of Judge Clinton in Russell v. State, 665 S.W.2d 771 (Tex.Cr.App.1983) in support of his contention. Appellant claims the failure of the trial court to define “deliberately” during his general remarks to the jury panels requires a reversal of his conviction.
We point out that appellant failed to object to the trial court’s instruction on the word “deliberately” to either of the jury panels. Appellant did not request that a different instruction be given to the panels. Appellant did not argue to the trial court that the Code Construction Act required him to define the word “deliberately.”
Appellant raises these two points of error for the first time on appeal. Nothing has been preserved for our review. Tex. Cr.App.R. 52(a). The errors, if any, are waived. Points of error one and two are overruled.
Appellant’s third point of error is that the errors committed by the trial court in points one and two rendered imposition of the death penalty violative of State and federal proscriptions against cruel and unusual punishment. Based on our disposition of points one and two, we find appellant’s third point of error unmeritorious. It is overruled.
Points of error four and five allege error in excusing prospective jurors, on the State’s motion for cause, because it was not shown that either prospective juror could not vote affirmative answers if the State sustained its burden of proof. Appellant contends that the standard for excusing potential jurors is “only when a juror ‘regardless of his own [sic] standards of reasonableness, would insist that the State offer proof ... beyond all doubt, whether reasonable or not’ can the court properly excuse him”, citing Woolls v. State, 665 S.W.2d 455, at 465 (Tex.Cr.App.1983). Appellant misinterprets our holding. Woolls, supra, did not state that is the only time a juror can be excused. Woolls simply held that was why that particular juror was excused and in that instance the excusal was proper. See Woolls, supra, at 465.
The proper standard for excusing a prospective juror on the State’s motion for cause is where the record viewed as a whole supports the finding that the juror’s views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instruction and oath. Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 422, 105 S.Ct. 844, 851, 83 L.Ed.2d 841, 851 (1985). In adopting this standard, the Court dispensed with Witherspoon’s reference to automatic decision making and the requirement that a juror’s bias be proved with unmistakable clarity.2 Wainwright, supra.
Instead, the Court stated there would be situations where the trial court would be left with the definite impression that a prospective juror would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law. That is why deference must be paid to the trial court who heard and saw the juror and observed that juror’s demeanor. Wainwright, supra. This Court had adopted this standard for reviewing the voir dire of a prospective juror who was successfully challenged for cause. Bird v. State, 692 S.W.2d 65 (Tex.Cr.App.1985, reh. denied).
On point of error four we will review the voir dire of prospective juror Ferguson to determine if she was properly excused for cause. During that voir dire, the following exchanges occurred:
[20]*20“Q. (State) Could you share with us your personal feelings about the death penalty? How do you feel?
“A. When I wrote that down on Monday I thought there are probably situations in which I would think the death penalty was acceptable. I’ve had about two days to think about it and I have not come up with any situations in which I would vote for it. I guess, I’m going purely on a gut reaction because I don’t know any of the facts of the case. Just I’m sure — I don’t know how old the Defendant is. He looks so young. I think to myself I cannot picture a situation in which I would probably vote for the death penalty.
[[Image here]]
“Q. I gather you’re not in favor overall as a proposition of the death penalty?
“A. Right.
[[Image here]]
“Q. Let me ask you: Has there ever been a time in your life, when you can recollect, you have ever been in favor of the death penalty?
“A. No.
“Q. ... Are you of such a mind or are your feelings so strong against the death penalty you feel you could not realistically in any case, regardless of the facts, ever return a verdict, realistically, that’s going to result in the death of another human being or can you?
“A. It’s impossible for me to say I would never do it my reaction is to say it would be unlikely for me to do it, to answer questions that would result in a death penalty.
[[Image here]]
“Q. Right, because of the strong feelings you have in opposition to the death penalty?
“A. I’m saying that it would be difficult for me to say yes, he is going — it would be impossible for me to say yes he’s going to be a threat to society unless the proof was so overwhelming like a confession. I’m saying that what you said was probably right.
“Q. ... In essence what you’re saying you would automatically be answering the second question no, vote against the imposition of the death penalty regardless of whatever evidence would be adduced at the trial by the State, find some way to rationalize?
“A. I can’t say regardless of. I can’t even picture what the situation is. I’ll have to say that you’re probably right.
[[Image here]]
“THE COURT: ... would you be able to take that oath to render a true verdict according to the law and the evidence in this case?
“THE JUROR FERGUSON: I tell you how difficult this is. I guess — I guess now that I’ve been through this I can say no, I don’t want to be put in that position to have to do that.
“THE COURT: ... are you telling us you would have to violate the oath because of your feelings about the death penalty?
“THE JUROR FERGUSON: Yes.
“Q. (Defense): Are you saying that you would automatically answer that question no, despite the evidence?
“A. I’m not saying I automatically would say no, but I’m saying there is a possibility even though they have proved all three things, I have taken my oath, there is a possibility ... I’m going to say no.”
Giving the proper degree of deference to the trial court’s observations of prospective juror Ferguson, we conclude that she was properly excused upon challenge for cause. The record makes clear that her views were such as would substantially impair the performance of her duties as a juror in accordance with the instructions and oath. Point of error four is overruled.
On point of error five, it is necessary to review the voir dire of prospective juror Ballentine to determine if she was also properly excused for cause. Pertinent sections of that voir dire follow:
“Q. (State) One you were asked the question, do you know of any reason you would not be a fair and impartial juror in this case and you checked the box yes. [21]*21Could you share with us your feelings with regard to that question or would you expand on that?
“A. Well, I don’t feel like that I want to be responsible for sending anybody to his death.
[[Image here]]
“Q. ... your feelings about the death penalty?
“A. Well, I don’t know of any particular reasons except like I said before, that I just don’t want to be responsible for anybody’s death.
“Q. Have you felt that way most of your life or as long as you can recollect, Ms. Ballentine?
“A. I think I have felt that I would not impose the death penalty on anybody all my life probably.
[[Image here]]
“Q. ... I gather you meant to check
the box and you agree with that, I would not, that is if you were saying it, I would not vote to impose the death penalty regardless of the facts.
“A. That’s true.
[[Image here]]
“Q. I gather what you said I think you made yourself crystal clear you could never do that?
“A. No, I could never do that. I couldn’t, I couldn’t give him the death penalty.
“Q. Regardless of the facts you’re being straightforward and honest with us.
“A. Right.
[[Image here]]
“Q. ... under no circumstances would you ever vote in such a way as would result in the death penalty for anybody, any time, any place?
“A. That’s correct.
“Q. Now, it’s important that the record be clear these are your feelings, and your words, and your words and not mine?
“A. That’s true.
[[Image here]]
“THE COURT: Ms. Ballentine, I let them ask all the questions they want to without interrupting. You told us awhile ago under no circumstances to vote to impose the death penalty. Is that still your position?
“THE JUROR BALLENTINE: Yes, if I’m the one that would have to give the penalty.”
Giving the proper degree of deference to the trial court’s determination, we conclude that prospective juror Ballentine was properly excused upon challenge for cause. The record indicates that her views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of her duties as a juror. Point of error five is overruled.
In point of error six, appellant alleges that the trial court erred by improperly excusing prospective juror Washington. Appellant complained that the record did not show that prospective juror Washington would automatically answer a sentencing issue in the negative, regardless of the evidence.
As we have already stated, the Court has abandoned the reference to automatic decision making and the requirement to prove a juror’s bias with unmistakable clarity. Wainwright, supra; Bird, supra. We will review the voir dire of prospective juror Washington to determine if his views were such as would substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with the instructions he received and the oath he would have to take. During voir dire, the following exchanges occurred:
“Q. (State): Furthermore, you cheeked the box that said I am in favor of the death penalty in certain cases?
“A. I did.
[[Image here]]
“Q. Are you saying basically because of these feelings of conscience you have a strong way you feel about the death penalty that you would vote against the imposition or vote against the death penalty without regard to the evidence?
“A. I probably would.
[[Image here]]
[22]*22“Q. I think what you’re saying there may be evidence that would make you feel somebody should receive the death penalty?
“A. Right.
“Q. But no evidence that could ever allow you to give the death penalty, is that right?
“A. That’s true.
“Q. Regardless of the evidence?
“A. That’s right.
[[Image here]]
“THE COURT: ... are you telling me that you could not take an oath to render a true verdict according to the law and the evidence on a death penalty case?
“THE JUROR WASHINGTON: I don’t think I can.
“THE COURT: You could not take that oath.
“THE JUROR WASHINGTON: I don't think so.
“THE COURT: ... did you say first of all in any criminal case you might not be able to return a verdict of guilty but in a death penalty case you could not return a verdict of guilty? Is that right?
“THE JUROR WASHINGTON: Yes, sir.
“THE COURT: ... Are you saying at the first stage you could not find him guilty knowing that it might lead to the death penalty later on?
“THE JUROR WASHINGTON: Yeah, it would be awful if I did.
[[Image here]]
“Q. (the Defense): With respect to question 2, if you heard evidence that convinces you beyond any reasonable doubt that the answer to that question is yes would you answer it yes or would you automatically answer it no to preserve the imposition of the death penalty?
“A. I’m not sure.
“Q. Thank you, Mr. Washington. I have no further questions.
“THE COURT: Mr. Washington, let me ask you this: ... Could you take an oath to render a true verdict according to the law and the evidence in a death penalty case? Could you take that oath?
“THE JUROR WASHINGTON: According to the way I feel?
“THE COURT: Yes, sir.
“THE JUROR WASHINGTON: No.”
We conclude that prospective juror Washington was properly excused upon challenge for cause. The record makes clear that his views would substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with the instructions and oath. Point of error six is overruled.
In point of error seven, appellant alleges that the retroactive use of a peremptory challenge by the State constituted error. The appellant complains that this detrimentally affected the manner whereby he used his own peremptory challenges. We will review the facts pertinent to this point of error.
Prospective juror number thirty-one (Rogers) was challenged for cause by the State. The attorney for the State cited, as ground for their challenge, Art. 35.16, Section 9,3 V.A.C.C.P., after the following exchange occurred:
“Q. (State): Your opinion is he (the appellant) is guilty of this offense.
“A. (Rogers): That’s my opinion, yes.”
The appellant’s attorney then notified the trial court that the appellant waived that “ground of challenge made by the state.” The trial court granted the State’s challenge of prospective juror Rogers.
Immediately prior to the voir dire of prospective juror number fifty nine4 the attorney for the State requested that, “before the end of voir dire and the jury is actually selected”, he be permitted to retroactively use a peremptory challenge on juror Rogers. The following argument then occurred:
[23]*23“THE COURT: They (the State) are going to exercise a peremptory challenge on Samuel Rogers. So I’ll permit that.
“MR. PARKS: (Defense) Your Honor, at this time the defense having used their last peremptory challenge yesterday, our 15th, at this time respectfully requests the Court to grant the defense additional peremptory challenges at this time for the reason we ask additional peremptory challenges be granted.
“THE COURT: All right. What’s the State’s position on that?
“MR. CARDEN (the State): I don’t see why they should. This wouldn’t have affected whether or not they kept someone.
“THE COURT: It had nothing to do with Mr. Rogers. I wanted to get your views before I ruled.
“MR. CARDEN: It seems inappropriate. This doesn’t affect them having to take someone they wouldn’t have otherwise had to take.
“THE COURT: Doesn’t have anything to do with Samuel Rogers. They are now asking for more. Does the state object to it?
“MR. CARDEN: I don’t think we’ve forced them to take anybody that wasn’t disqualified.
“THE COURT: I mainly wanted your view before I rule. I’m going to deny the request.”
The appellant failed to object to the State’s retroactive use of the peremptory challenge on prospective juror Rogers. As for his request for additional peremptory challenges, the appellant made no attempt to show that he was harmed by having to accept a specific juror that he otherwise would not have had to accept.
In his brief, appellant argues that it was error for the trial court to permit the State to retroactively exercise its peremptory challenge on venireperson Rogers. Appellant cites Grijalva v. State, 614 S.W.2d 420 (Tex.Cr.App.1980, reh. denied 1981), and Franklin v. State, 693 S.W.2d 420 (Tex.Cr.App.1985, reh. denied) in support of this argument.
On the facts, Grijalva, supra, is distinguishable from the instant case. In Grijal-va, the defendant argued on appeal that a prospective juror had been erroneously excused by the trial court on a challenge for cause. In its response in its brief, the State argued this was a harmless error because it had not used all of its peremptory challenges during jury selection. The State asserted that it could have, during the trial, used one of the unused challenges on the juror erroneously excused for cause. In the instant case, the State retroactively exercised one of its unused peremptory challenges before voir dire concluded.
The appellant failed to object to the State’s substitution of an unused peremptory challenge for a previous challenge for cause. This preserved nothing for review. Esquivel v. State, 595 S.W.2d 516 (Tex.Cr.App.1980), at 527. The appellant requested additional peremptory challenges but failed to show the trial court, and this Court, that he was forced to accept a juror which he had found to be objectionable. This also preserved nothing for review. Pierce v. State, 696 S.W.2d 899 (Tex.Cr.App.1985, reh. denied). Point of error seven is overruled.
In point of error eight, the appellant alleges that the seizure of the murder weapon was illegal, and it was inadmissible at trial, because the search of his apartment exceeded the scope of the search authorized in his written consent.
The appellant voluntarily, and without promises or compulsion, signed a written consent to search his premises. His father, who appellant shared the apartment with, signed a separate, and identical, consent to search. The appellant’s consent read in pertinent part:
“... search completely my domicile, buildings outside of my domicile or vehicles found at 1514 McKee #6. I authorize the search to take any property from my residence that is stolen or other property that which is in violation of the laws of the State of Texas or the United States.”
The appellant claims this consent did not authorize the seizure of the pistol which [24]*24was used by him in the commission of the crime. He cites May v. State, 582 S.W.2d 848 (Tex.Cr.App.1979) in support of this point of error.
May, supra, is distinguishable. In May, the juvenile who consented to the search of the van explicitly limited the scope of that consent. He only consented to a search of the vehicle for tools. This Court ruled that a subsequent search of the contents of a lunch box found in the vehicle exceeded the scope of the consent. May, supra. The instant case is not controlled by the authority cited by the appellant, because he consented to a broader search than the defendant in May.
The appellant, as will be seen in ground of error nine, did not speak English. A bilingual Dallas police officer named Donald Ortega interrogated the appellant prior to the appellant signing the written consent to search. During this interrogation, the appellant confessed to the shooting of Officer Pasco. In that confession, appellant told Officer Ortega that after he shot the police officer, “I got up and ran. I threw away the pistol. I ran to my apartment and I changed my trousers.” After the appellant confessed, Officer Ortega testified that he asked the appellant, “if he would sign a consent to search and allow officers to search an apartment for any evidence used in the offense.” Ortega testified that the appellant said he would.
It is this oral
“Q. (Defense attorney): You say in here that you were looking — asking his permission to search for I guess the literal translation ‘things that have been robbed,’ is that correct? .
“A. (Ortega): Robbed or stolen_
“Q. Or other things that are in violation of the laws of the State of Texas or of the United States.
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. Property, is that right?
“A. That’s correct.
“Q. That wasn’t what y’all were looking for at all?
“A. What’s that, sir?
“Q. Things that had,been stolen or things — property he might possess in violation of the laws of the United States or laws in the State of Texas. That wasn’t what y’all were looking for when you went there to search?
“A. Not in violation of the laws of the State of Texas or of the United States, no.
“Q. Were you looking for stolen articles?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. So it would be a fair statement you’ve got a waiver of or Consent to Search, for things you weren’t even looking for.
[A long objection by the State follows.]
“THE COURT: I guess I’ll let the officer testify whether or not he thought the murder weapon is something that was in violation of the law.
Officer, what were you looking for when you went to the house?
“THE WITNESS: We were going to look for any evidence that would link anything found there — link to the murder of Officer Pasco, the weapon, clothing or anything. This is why we recovered his identification, took his keys, put them in the property as evidence, the weapon, clothing, anything that’s what we are looking for.
“Q. (Defense attorney): That’s not what you told Ramon Montoya you were looking for when you asked him to sign this document, is it?
“A. I instructed him when I read to him and he understood that we were going to look or going to a residence to search for anything, any evidence that was from — that was used in the murder.
[25]*25“Q. Why didn’t you put that in your consent to search so that his signature would be over a document saying that, instead of relying on what you said he understood?
“A. Like I said before, sir, I did not translate the English form that we used into Spanish.”6
After the appellant orally consented to the search, and then signed the written consent to search, Officer Ortega conducted a search of the appellant’s residence. During that search, Ortega found the murder weapon which appellant, in his confession, said he had thrown away. The murder weapon was hidden in a bookcase next to the appellant’s bed. This is the weapon that appellant sought to suppress at the pre-trial hearing.
At the conclusion of that hearing, the trial court made the following finding on the appellant’s motion to suppress:
“the Court also finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant voluntarily and freely orally gave consent to search that goes beyond the boundary set out in the written document here.... I think there was an oral consent to search that goes beyond these written documents and that is expressly included in the search for evidence of the murder of Officer John Pasco and the Court is going to admit that evidence.”
A consent to search may be oral and still be valid. Garrett v. State, 400 S.W.2d 906 (Tex.Cr.App.1966); Marshburn v. State, 491 S.W.2d 663 (Tex.Cr.App.1973); and see Jordan v. State, 506 S.W.2d 217 (Tex.Cr.App.1974) (Where this Court found that the defendant’s oral consent to search was valid, even though there were questions about the validity of a written search warrant which the police had in their possession.) The extent of consent to search is limited by the consent obtained in a particular instance. May v. State, 618 S.W.2d 333 (Tex.Cr.App.1981).
In the instant case, the appellant’s oral consent to search permitted a search by Officer Ortega for the evidence of the murder of Officer John Pasco. This was the finding of the trial court after hearing testimony at the pre-trial hearing. The trial court’s ruling was not an abuse of discretion. We will not disturb that ruling on appeal. Point of error eight is overruled.
In point of error nine, the appellant argues that his written statement was inadmissible because he was denied counsel during his custodial interrogation. Appellant contends the statement was the product of interrogation conducted after he requested counsel, which was not timely provided. As a result, his post-request responses to further interrogation may not be used to cast retrospective doubt on the clarity of his initial request for counsel. Appellant cites Smith v. Illinois, 469 U.S. 91, 105 S.Ct. 490, 83 L.Ed.2d 488 (1984) in support of this ground of error. The Court, in Smith, held that, “an accused’s post-request responses to further interrogation may not be used to cast doubt on the clarity of his initial request for counsel.”
In his brief, the appellant alleged that he made a clear and distinct request for counsel when he was magistrated, and before he was interrogated. Appellant claimed that the testimony of Magistrate R.L. Middleton showed that appellant made that request. Before reviewing that testimony, we take note of the fact that appellant does not speak English. The magistrate only spoke to the appellant through an interpreter because the magistrate, in his own words, “would not want to try to converse socially or business-wise in (Spanish).” Under questioning at trial by the State, the magistrate testified as follows:
“Q. Were you able to determine whether or not the Defendant had funds to employ an attorney?
“A. I remember — I know he was going to have an attorney appointed. I did ask if he wanted an attorney. Best of my recollection he said he did. I cannot [26]*26recall exactly because I knew I was going to appoint one for him.
“Q. You were going to appoint one because he was charged with capital murder?
“A. That is correct.”
However, the police officer, Lawrence Cadena, who interpreted for Magistrate Middleton, gave a different account of the appellant’s responses to being apprised of his right to counsel:
“Q. (State): Did you have any problem communicating with him in Spanish?
“A. None whatsoever.
“Q. Was there any conversation about whether or not he could afford a lawyer or wanted a lawyer appointed?
“A. I asked him if he had an attorney and he said he did not. At that point—
“Q. Go ahead.
“A. Judge Middleton stated that he would appoint an attorney for him.
“Q. Judge Middleton said that in English.
“A. That’s correct.
“Q. Did you translate that in Spanish for the Defendant?
“A. Yes, I did.
“Q. Did you tell him the Judge says he will appoint an attorney for him or what did you tell him?
“A. That’s exactly what I said. The Judge says he’ll appoint an attorney for you.
“Q. Did Ramon Montoya respond to that?
“A. He did not say anything.
“Q. Was there any more conversation after that?
“A. No, sir.”
After Magistrate Middleton informed the appellant of the charges against him and his rights as set out in Art. 15.17(a), V.A.C. C.P., the appellant was taken to an interview room of the Dallas Police Department. It was there that Officer Donald Ortega, who is also bilingual, met with the appellant. Ortega told the appellant, in Spanish, that he was a police officer assigned to the Homicide section of the Crimes Against Persons division. Ortega then advised the appellant, in Spanish, of his rights as set out in Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). The appellant told Ortega “that he did understand the rights I had read to him.” Ortega then gave the appellant an additional description of his rights: that appellant did not have to talk to him, that appellant could have a lawyer present, and that appellant could terminate the interview at any time. Ortega testified that appellant did not say that he wanted a lawyer or that he wanted to stop the interview. Officer Ortega then began to interrogate the appellant. After-wards, appellant swore to, and signed, a voluntary statement form on which he waived his right to counsel, among others.
Lastly, when the appellant testified at trial, he was cross-examined by the State about his interrogation by Officer Ortega:
“Q. And you never told Officer Ortega that you did not want to talk to him anymore, did you?
“A. No.
“Q. You never asked for a lawyer.
“A. No.”
Because the record indicates the appellant did not request counsel, Smith v. Illinois is not controlling. The magistrate, Middleton, did not understand Spanish and required the assistance of an interpreter to speak with the appellant. The interpreter, Cadena, testified that appellant only responded in the negative to the magistrate’s question of whether he had an attorney. The magistrate stated that he decided to appoint counsel to represent appellant because the appellant was charged with capital murder, not because the appellant requested the assistance of counsel.
We do not interpret the appellant’s negative response to the magistrate’s inquiry as a request for the assistance of counsel. The appellant himself testified at trial that he did not ask for a lawyer. We hold that appellant did not assert his right to counsel at the Art. 15.17 hearing.7 Ap[27]*27pellant’s written statement was admissible. Point of error nine is overruled.
In his tenth point of error, the appellant argues that the State’s cross-examination of him regarding his post-arrest silence constituted a denial of due process. When the appellant took the stand at trial to testify in his own defense, he denied that the written statement, which he gave Officer Ortega, was entirely true. Specifically, he testified that he did not intentionally shoot Officer Pasco. While the appellant was being cross-examined, the following exchange took place:
“Q. (the State): This is the first time that you have told the Judge or anyone that that statement is not entirely true?
“MR. PARKS (Defense): Your Honor, going to object to that because that violates this Defendant’s right to remain silent after interrogation.
“THE COURT: Sustained.
“MR. PARKS: Ask that the jury be instructed to disregard it.
“THE COURT: I will ask you to disregard the last question.
“MR. PARKS: Respectfully move for mistrial.
“THE COURT: Denied.”
The appellant never answered the question which he objected to.
It is apparent from the record that appellant did not remain silent after he was arrested and magistrated. Instead, he chose to discuss with Officer Ortega the facts of the murder of Officer Pasco. At the conclusion of this interrogation, he signed a written statement admitting that he shot Officer Pasco. This confession differed greatly from the appellant’s testimony at trial.
In its attempt to impeach the testimony of appellant, the State sought to point out through cross-examination that appellant had not made a previous attempt to inform authorities that his written statement was not entirely correct. Considering the fact that appellant freely and voluntarily spoke with police officers after being arrested and given his Miranda warnings, he could reasonably have been expected to inform the officers before he signed the confession that the statements he made to them were not true in some respects. In Cisneros v. State, 692 S.W.2d 78 (Tex.Cr.App.1985), this Court held that:
“the prior silence of a witness as to a fact to which he has testified, where such silence occurred under circumstances in which he would be expected to speak out, may be used to impeach the witness on cross-examination.” Cisneros, supra, at 83.
Appellant cited Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610, 96 S.Ct. 2240, 49 L.Ed.2d 91 (1976), in support of this point of error. Because the prosecutor in the instant case was impeaching the appellant with a prior inconsistent statement, Doyle is inapplicable. In Anderson v. Charles, 447 U.S. 404, 100 S.Ct. 2180, 65 L.Ed.2d 222 (1980), the Supreme Court held that
“... Doyle does not apply to cross-examination that merely inquires into prior inconsistent statements. Such questioning makes no unfair use of silence because a defendant who voluntarily speaks after receiving Miranda warnings has not been induced to remain silent. As to the subject matter of his statements, the defendant has not remained silent at all. We conclude that Doyle does not apply to the facts of this case. Each of two inconsistent descriptions of events may be said to include ‘silence’ insofar as it omits facts included in the other version. But Doyle does not require any such formalistic understanding of ‘silence’, and we find no reason to adopt such a view in this case.”
[28]*28In the instant case, the appellant’s prior inconsistent statement was properly used to impeach him. The State properly used what had been omitted from the appellant’s prior statement to impeach him at trial. Also, the trial court did instruct the jury to disregard the prosecutor’s question, which rendered the potential error harmless. Frison v. State, 473 S.W.2d 479 (Tex.Cr.App.1971) and Hawkins v. State, 505 S.W.2d 578 (Tex.Cr.App.1974). Point of error ten is overruled.
In point of error eleven, the appellant argues that the trial court erred when it did not include, in its charge to the jury, an instruction on the lesser included offense of involuntary manslaughter. Appellant contends that the evidence raised the issue of recklessness, and that the trial court should have instructed the jury accordingly. The State responds that the evidence only raised the issue of criminal negligence, and that the trial court properly instructed the jury on criminally negligent homicide.
In his written statement to the police, the appellant stated:
“I went running from the policeman. He chased me through the alley. He was catching up to me and I had a pistol in my right hand. I had the pistol all during the time he was chasing me. When the policeman was about to catch me he pushed me and I fell on my back. I pointed the pistol and shot at the policeman. I was pointing at his chest when I fired. The policeman fell to one side of me. I got up and ran.”
At trial, the appellant gave a different version of the shooting. He testified on direct examination that he did not tell Officer Ortega that he pointed his pistol at the policeman and shot him. Instead, the appellant testified that, while running away from the officer, he took his pistol out of his pants to throw it away. He also stated on direct examination that the officer grabbed him on the arm before his gun fired. The appellant emphasized that he did not point his pistol at the policeman.
On cross-examination, the appellant testified as follows:
“A. No, I did not want to kill him.
“Q. Okay, let me see if we can get these right. You’re going to throw the pistol away?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Trying to throw it away?
“A. I was getting it out.
“Q. To throw away?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Keep running?
“A. Yes.
“Q. And the officer is going to catch you anyway?
“A. Yes.
“Q. And you think he was going to arrest you then?
“A. Yes.
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“A. I was running and I was taking it out. I had my shirt and my undershirt out. It didn’t — my pants didn’t have a belt. I was running, and I was getting it out. That’s when he grabbed my arm here. When I got up, I had it in my hand.”
In order to determine if the trial court erred by refusing to instruct the jury on involuntary manslaughter, we will apply the two-pronged test which was set out in Royster v. State, 622 S.W.2d 442 (Tex.Cr.App.1981). First, the lesser included offense must be included in the proof necessary to establish the offense charged. Involuntary manslaughter is a lesser included offense of murder, Lugo v. State, 667 S.W.2d 144 (Tex.Cr.App.1984), and capital murder. The facts of the instant case satisfy the first prong of the test in Royster.
Second, there must be some evidence in the record that if the defendant is guilty, he is guilty only of the lesser offense. The trial court concluded that the evidence at trial raised the issue of criminally negligent homicide, but did not raise the issue of involuntary manslaughter. We must determine if there was evidence at trial to indicate that if the appellant was guilty, he was guilty only of involuntary manslaughter.
[29]*29The difference between criminally negligent homicide and involuntary manslaughter is the culpable mental state required to prove each offense — criminal negligence for the former and recklessness for the latter. Lewis v. State, 529 S.W.2d 550 (Tex.Cr.App.1975); Thomas v. State, 699 S.W.2d 845 (Tex.Cr.App.1985). Criminal negligence involves inattentive risk creation, that is, the actor ought to be aware of the risk surrounding his conduct or the results thereof. On the other hand, reckless conduct involves conscious risk creation, that is, the actor is aware of the risk surrounding his conduct or the results thereof, but consciously disregards that risk. At the heart of reckless conduct is conscious disregard of the risk created by the actor’s conduct. In contrast, the key to criminal negligence is found in whether the actor failed to perceive the risk. Lewis, supra; Thomas, supra.
In the instant case, this Court must examine collectively the circumstances from which the appellant’s mental state can be inferred, in the light of the definition of reckless conduct. Appellant’s testimony at trial raised the issue of criminal negligence. He was aware that the gun was loaded, and that he was being pursued by a police officer. During that chase, he attempted to throw that gun away. He did not, according to him, intend to threaten or harm the police officer.
However, the evidence at trial did not explicitly or implicitly establish that the appellant knew there was a risk to the police officer, and then consciously disregarded that risk. His testimony at trial did not show that the gun was cocked or that he pointed the gun at the officer or in the officer’s general direction. The evidence did not show that he threw the gun at the officer. This is not a case like Simpkins v. State, 590 S.W.2d 129 (Tex.Cr.App.1979), where the defendant pointed a loaded gun at his victim and consciously disregarded the risk to the victim. This is a case where there was no evidence that the gun was used, or exhibited, in a threatening manner against the police officer. The evidence at trial did not raise the issue of reckless conduct, and did not indicate that if the appellant was guilty, he was guilty only of involuntary manslaughter. Point of error eleven is overruled.
In point of error twelve, the appellant states the trial court erred when it failed to charge the jury on the lesser included offense of murder. Appellant argues that his testimony at trial raised the issue of the lawfulness of his arrest by Officer Pasco. The appellant points out there was no testimony that Pasco had a warrant for his arrest. At trial, appellant denied that he was shooting his pistol in the apartment complex prior to his arrest. At one point, the appellant denied that he had the pistol in his possession when the officers arrived. Appellant concluded that his evidence proved that his arrest was unlawful and, therefore, Officer Pasco was not acting in the lawful discharge of his official duty. Because of this, appellant claims that he was entitled to a jury instruction on the lesser included offense of murder.
Appellant cites Broussard v. State, 642 S.W.2d 171 (Tex.Cr.App.1982) in support of this point of error. In Broussard, the defendant was charged with the commission of a capital murder which occurred during the course of an aggravated robbery, and he was eventually convicted of robbery. The defendant argued that the trial court erred by instructing the jury on the lesser included offense of robbery. This Court upheld the actions of the trial court because, “the (defendant’s) statements indicate he was not guilty of capital murder, but that if he was guilty at all, he was guilty of robbery.” Broussard is distinguishable from the instant case on these facts. The appellant’s testimony at trial did not establish that if he was guilty, it was only of murder.
Whether Officer Pasco was making a lawful arrest is not relevant to determining if Pasco was acting in the lawful discharge of his official duties. A police officer is still acting within the lawful discharge of his official duties when he makes an unlawful arrest, so long as he is acting within his capacity as a peace officer.
[30]*30This Court dealt with this question as it applies to the offense of resisting arrest or search, V.T.C.A., Penal Code Sec. 38.03. In Gonzales v. State, 574 S.W.2d 135 (Tex.Cr.App.1978), we held that
"... Regardless of whether the (defendant’s) arrest was lawful or unlawful, the deputy constable was in that lawful discharge of his duty when he attempted to arrest the appellant. It follows that the appellant was not entitled to an instructed verdict of acquittal and was not entitled to an instruction on the requirements of a lawful arrest without a warrant.” Gonzales, at 137.
This reasoning was approved in Barnett v. State, 615 S.W.2d 220 (Tex.Cr.App.1981). In Barnett, this Court relied on Gonzales when we decided that “even if the arrest was unlawful, the defendant’s actions nevertheless constituted resisting arrest.”
The same rule has been applied to the offense of aggravated assault where the victim is a peace officer who is “lawfully discharging an official duty.” V.T.C.A., Penal Code Sec. 22.02(a)(2)(A). In Salazar v. State, 643 S.W.2d 953 (Tex.Cr.App.1983), this Court stated, “a conviction under 22.-02(a)(2)(A) does not depend on whether the arrest was legal, or the defendant’s belief about its legality.” We ruled that, “while the State must still prove the defendant knew or had been informed that he was assaulting a peace officer, proof that he also knew the officer was “lawfully discharging an official duty” is unnecessary, Salazar, at 956.
In a prosecution for capital murder, under V.T.C.A., Penal Code Sec. 19.-03(a)(1), wherein the victim was a peace officer who was acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty, evidence that the peace officer was making an arrest which was in excess of his authority does not dispute or challenge the allegation that the officer was acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty. Franklin v. State, 632 S.W.2d 839 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th], 1982). In the instant case, the appellant’s testimony about the possibly unlawful nature of his arrest by Officer Pasco does not raise the issue that Pasco was not acting in the lawful discharge of his official duties. For that reason, the trial court properly denied the appellant’s request for a charge on the lesser included offense of murder. Point of error twelve is overruled.
In point of error thirteen, appellant states that the trial court’s failure to charge on the lesser included offenses is constitutionally prohibited. Specifically, the appellant argues that the failure to instruct the jury on two lesser included offenses which were raised by the evidence at trial rendered the application of the death penalty statute unconstitutional.
However, we have ruled that the evidence at trial failed to raise either of the two lesser included offenses: murder and involuntary manslaughter. As such, this point of error is without merit. Point of error thirteen is overruled.
In point of error fourteen, the appellant alleges that the prosecutor’s argument was a comment on the appellant’s failure to testify during the punishment hearing of the trial. Appellant claims that this was a reversible error. During the state’s closing argument at the punishment hearing, the following occurred:
“MR. BANKS (State): What do we hear from this man over here that it couldn’t be deliberately, all my prior conduct, all these past actions, that the man that I am is not such that I’m going to commit acts of violence in the future and I did it?
“MR. PARKS (Defense): I object to a comment on the defendant’s failure to testify in the second phase of the trial.
“THE COURT: Sustained.
“PARKS: Ask the jury be instructed to disregard.
“BANKS: I haven’t finished the statement at that time.
“THE COURT: All right. Let Mr. Banks finish the statement then I’ll permit you to finish your objection.
"BANKS: We know this man’s father and cousins were in Dallas, Texas in 1983, in January of this year and if he wanted to call them or anyone else as witnesses to testify that he had a good reputation they could have done that and [31]*31we did not hear from those witnesses. That’s my entire statement.
“PARKS: I have the record to reflect when Mr. Banks was stating the words to the effect that he has not, whatever those exact words were, he was pointing directly at Mr. Montoya as he said those words and that he had finished his statement when I made my objection.
“THE COURT: Well, the record may reflect that he jested (sic) toward the defendant. The record will speak for itself whether or not he finished the statement. In an abundance of caution I want to sustain your objection. I already have.
“PARKS: I respectfully move for mistrial.
“THE COURT: That’s denied.”
Appellant argues in his brief that a comment on a defendant’s failure to testify at the punishment hearing constitutes fundamental error. In support, he cites Owen v. State, 656 S.W.2d 458 (Tex.Cr.App.1983), in which the defendant testified during the guilt-innocence hearing of the trial, but not at punishment. Appellant complains that the prosecutor’s statement was manifestly intended to comment on his failure to testify at the punishment hearing. In his supplemental brief appellant states that this violated the statutory prohibition on commenting on a defendant’s silence at trial. Article 38.08, V.A.C.C.P. Appellant also states this type of error is rarely cured by instruction.
In the instant case, appellant requested that the jury be instructed to disregard the prosecutor’s argument. The trial court did not rule on this request. Instead, the trial court permitted the prosecutor to complete the argument which the appellant objected to at trial. After this, appellant renewed his objection. The trial court sustained the objection. Appellant did not make a new request for an instruction to disregard, or re-urge his earlier request. Appellant failed to secure an adverse ruling on his request for the instruction. He skipped that step, and went on to move for a mistrial. The trial court denied that motion.
A similar series of events occurred in the case of Johnson v. State, 611 S.W.2d 649 (Tex.Cr.App.1981). In Johnson, the defendant made a motion for a mistrial and did not request an instruction from the court to disregard the comment of the prosecutor. This Court stated that unless the prosecutor’s argument is “so inflammatory that its prejudicial effect could not have been alleviated by an instruction to disregard, the failure to request such an instruction waives the error.” Johnson, at 650.
In the instant case, the prosecutor’s argument was not of an inflammatory nature. The prosecutor’s argument was not a direct allusion to the appellant’s failure to testify. In Hawkins v. State, 660 S.W.2d 65 (Tex.Cr.App.1983), this Court heldothat,
Art. 38.08, V.A.C.C.P., provides that it is improper for a prosecutor to comment upon a defendant’s failure to testify. In order for such a comment to be error, it must be direct and not an indirect allusion which might refer to the accused’s failure to testify. Hawkins, at 80.
This holding was affirmed in Jones v. State, 693 S.W.2d 406 (Tex.Cr.App.1985). In Jones, this Court held that “the implication that counsel’s argument referred to the accused’s failure to testify must be clear. It is not sufficient that the language might be construed as an implied or indirect allusion thereto,” Jones, at 407.
In the instant case, the prosecutor’s comments, in the context of his final argument, referred to the appellant’s failure to produce testimony from sources other than himself. In this case, those other sources were the appellant’s father and cousins. This was not a direct comment on the appellant’s failure to testify at punishment. In May v. State, 618 S.W.2d 333 (Tex.Cr.App.1981), this Court held that “if a prosecutor’s remarks during jury argument may be reasonably construed as referring to the defendant’s failure to present evidence through a witness other than himself, reversal is not required.” This holding was affirmed in Banks v. State, 643 S.W.2d 129 (Tex.Cr.App.1982) and Davis v. State, 670 S.W.2d 255 (Tex.Cr.App.1984) (where it was [32]*32“obvious that the prosecutor was not manifestly intending to comment or necessarily commenting on the accused’s failure to testify.”).
Because the prosecutor’s argument was not a direct allusion to, or manifestly intended to comment on, the appellant’s failure to testify, it was not so inflammatory that its prejudicial effect could not have been alleviated by an instruction to disregard. The appellant’s failure to request that instruction waives the error. ■ Johnson, supra. Point of error fourteen is overruled.
In point of error fifteen, the appellant asserts that the State made a second comment on the appellant’s failure to testify at the punishment hearing. Appellant states this Vas reversible error and relies on' Owen, supra, for support.
Appellant testified in his own behalf at the guilt-innocence stage of the trial, giving his version of the facts of the instant case. On cross-examination, he stated that after the shooting occurred and he left the scene of the crime, he went to play some video games. During the closing argument, the prosecutor asked the jury to recall when the appellant was on the stand, and then asked them if they ever heard the appellant say that he was sorry for what happened or that he regretted that it happened. The appellant objected to this comment, and the trial court sústained the objection. Then the appellant requested that the jury be instructed to disregard the statement of the prosecutor, and the trial court so instructed the jury. The appellant’s motion for a mistrial was overruled.
When the prosecutor resumed his argument, he stated, “all we know from the evidence after Ramon Montoya kills a police officer it might affect him when he goes to play some video games. Now what kind of man is that ...” The appellant did not object to this last statement.
The complained of argument by the State was not a direct allusion referring to the appellant’s failure to testify at the punishment hearing. Hawkins, supra. Within the context of the State’s closing argument, these remarks referred, instead, to the substance of the appellant’s testimony at the guilt-innocence phase of the trial.
At best, the State’s argument might be construed as an implied or indirect allusion to the appellant’s failure to testify. The argument did not directly or clearly refer to that silence and, therefore, did not constitute reversible error. Hawkins, supra; and Jones, supra.
Whatever harm accrued to the appellant was cured by the trial court’s instruction to the jury to disregard the prosecutor’s statement. Johnson, supra. Point of error fifteen is overruled.
In point of error sixteen, the appellant complains that the prosecutor’s argument regarding the appellant’s failure to present certain witnesses during the punishment hearing was reversible error. At the punishment hearing, the appellant rested and closed without putting on evidence. During closing arguments, the prosecutor stated:
“MR. BANKS (State): Well, you haven’t heard from his family, a friend, an employer, a neighbor. Well, we’ve heard from the neighbors. How about a preacher, or a priest or a minister. A chaplain, how about anybody to come down and say anything good about the Defendant?
“MR. PARKS (Appellant): We object to that arguing outside the record. There is no evidence that any of these people exist in relationship to this man.
“BANKS: Judge, they have brought evidence as to his family and the Defendant himself has testified about his work record.
“THE COURT: I overrule the objection.”
The recent decision of Mosley v. State, 686 S.W.2d 180 (Tex.Cr.App.1985), contains a similar set of facts. In Mosley, the prosecutor told the jury that they “haven’t heard one good thing about this man. Think about it. No one, not a mother, not father, not brother, not sister....” The defendant in Mosley objected that the prosecutor was creating witnesses and then complaining about them not being present. [33]*33The trial court overruled the objection of the defendant.
A prosecutor may comment on the failure of the defendant to call to attest to his reputation any witnesses at all, or some particular known witness who is competent to give material testimony on this matter. However, a prosecutor is not permitted to create witnesses and comment or speculate about what they might say. Mosley, supra.
In the instant case, the prosecutor’s argument was not improper or erroneous. The appellant did not call any witnesses, including reputation witnesses, during the punishment hearing. At the guilt-innocence hearing, evidence was introduced which showed that appellant had family members in the Dallas area. The appellant himself testified about recently working in the Dallas area.
The prosecutor was not creating these witnesses, and then detailing what they might say. Rather, he was emphasizing that the appellant called no one, not even anyone close to him who might be expected to testify in his behalf. This was a proper jury argument. Mosley, supra. Point of error sixteen is overruled.
In point of error seventeen, appellant states that the prosecutor made another improper argument at the punishment hearing. In that hearing, the State called many witnesses to testify that the appellant had a bad reputation for being peaceful and law abiding. The defense chose not to cross-examine those witnesses. During his final argument, the prosecutor summarized each of those witness’ testimony and then stated that the appellant asked them no questions. When summarizing, the prosecutor argued:
“MR. BANKS (State): They can be challenged and you’ve seen these lawyers with other witnesses brought in the trial of this case cross-examine and challenge what those people had to say. They chose not to do that which is within their right. Who did you talk to and what did they say if that’s not correct?
On appeal the appellant claims that this argument was improper because it asked the jurors to speculate about the basis for the witness’ reputation testimony. Appellant cites Green v. State, 679 S.W.2d 516 (Tex.Cr.App.1984) in support of this point of error.
However, the appellant’s objections to this argument at trial differ from the point of error advanced on appeal. At trial, the appellant objected that the argument was prejudicial, inadmissible evidence and, also, that the argument was inadmissible hearsay. Because the ground of error presented on appeal did not comport with the objection raised at trial, nothing is presented for review. Crocker v. State, 573 S.W.2d 190 (Tex.Cr.App.1978); Smith v. State, 683 S.W.2d 393 (Tex.Cr.App.1984); and Fierro v. State, 706 S.W.2d 310 (Tex.Cr.App.1986). Point of error seventeen is overruled.
The conviction of the appellant is affirmed.
Related
Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
744 S.W.2d 15, 1987 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 681, 1987 WL 297, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/montoya-v-state-texcrimapp-1987.