Neaves v. State

725 S.W.2d 785, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 6633
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 30, 1987
DocketNo. 04-85-00458-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 725 S.W.2d 785 (Neaves v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Neaves v. State, 725 S.W.2d 785, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 6633 (Tex. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinions

OPINION

DIAL, Justice.

This is an appeal from a conviction for driving while intoxicated. Defendant was found guilty in a jury trial. The jury assessed punishment at 45 days incarceration and a fine of $500.00. We affirm.

The defendant’s first point of error complains of the trial court overruling an objection to the State’s argument which defendant now contends was a comment on his failure to testify.

The defendant did not himself testify nor did he call witnesses during the guilt/innocence phase of the trial or the punishment phase of the trial. The jury was charged during the first phase that the defendant’s failure to testify must not be taken against him in deciding whether he was guilty or not guilty. No similar instruction was requested or included in the charge on punishment. During the State’s closing argument on punishment the following occurred:

[Prosecutor]: ... Now, throughout this trial Mr. Joe Neaves has the right, and certainly every one of us would have the right to remain silent. No one can make him get on the stand, and, cer-[787]*787tamly, no one would try to violate his right against getting on the stand if he chose to exercise it. But in relation to that, the defendant has the same subpoena power that the State has. They can call any witnesses they want to testify about Joe’s reputation. They could have brought in anyone they wanted to testify about Joe’s—
[Defense Counsel]: Just a minute now, Your Honor. We have to object to this because our objection initially to the first witness which we carried through all of the witnesses on a running objection was that that was not admissible in the first place. It was an improper question as to the reputation of the defendant in the community in which he resides as being a peaceful and law abiding citizen. And we urge it is improper, and now for him to argue it is compounding the error, and we object to him arguing thus.
THE COURT: There was no running objection by this court heard.
Also, Article 3707 allows that evidence to be submitted before the jury. You are overruled.
[Defense Counsel]: Note our exception.
[Prosecutor]: My point is that they could have brought in anyone out there who would be willing to swear under oath that he had a good reputation for being a peaceful and law abiding citizen.
[Defense Counsel]: We further, Your Honor, urge the court that this is a violation of the defendant’s right not to testify in this cause in both sectors, both prongs. And it is — it is attempting to use the defendant’s election and his privilege of not testifying to enhance punishment, and we object to it for that reason.
THE COURT: Overruled.
[Defense Counsel]: Note our exception, and, also, for his not calling any witnesses, we object for that further reason.
THE COURT: Overruled.

Arguably the defendant’s objection “and it is — attempting to use the defendant’s election and his privilege of not testifying to enhance punishment, and we object to it for that reason,” was not timely. The court had made one ruling, and the prosecutor had resumed his argument before the defendant objected to the language of which he now complains. An objection must come as soon as the ground of the objection becomes apparent. Carrillo v. State, 566 S.W.2d 902, 912 (Tex.Crim.App.1978). But assuming the error was preserved, we find that it is harmless. Similar arguments have been held to be no more than a paraphrasing of the charge of the court. Such argument is not in derogation of the rights of a defendant not to testify but in support thereof. Short v. State, 511 S.W.2d 288, 291 (Tex.Crim.App.1974); Hardy v. State, 496 S.W.2d 635, 638 (Tex.Crim.App.1973). The first point of error is overruled.

In points of error three and four the defendant complains of the trial court’s threats, in the presence of the jury, to hold the defendant’s counsel in contempt. In the presence of the jury the following transpired:

THE COURT: All right. I will call for announcements in the State of Texas v. Joe David Neaves, III; 311,990. What says the State, please?
[PROSECUTOR]: The State is ready, Your Honor.
THE COURT: And the defense?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I believe, Your Honor, the State — the defendant has already made its announcement in this case.
THE COURT: For the purposes of this record, what is the defense announcement, please?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: The same as it was earlier, Your Honor. We announce not ready and we protest this ab initio.
THE COURT: All right.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: For the reasons that were dictated earlier, Your Honor, into the record on the defendant’s Motion to Recuse Your Honor.
THE COURT: You may be seated, sir, or be found in contempt of court.
[788]*788[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Thank you. Note our exception to the ruling of the Court, please.
THE COURT: One more outburst and you shall be found in contempt of court. Do you understand [Defense Counsel]? I shall not tolerate this kind of action in this Court. You may be seated, sir. Would you please come forward, [Prosecutor] to read the information? Mr. Neaves, would you stand to receive the information?

Ordinarily counsel should not be reprimanded in the presence of the jury, Banks v. State, 510 S.W.2d 592, 595 (Tex.Crim.App.1974). However, it appears from the record that counsel intentionally avoided complying with the request of the court. Instead of simply announcing whether he was ready for trial or not, he used the opportunity to inform the jury that a motion to recuse the judge had been previously filed.

It was appropriate for the court to take whatever reasonable action it deemed necessary to curtail further remarks before the jury concerning matters that had no bearing on issues they would decide. Telling counsel to be seated or be found in contempt was not an unreasonable order from the court under the circumstances.

We note further that no objection was made by defense counsel, and no further relief was requested. The statement of counsel excepting to the ruling of the court did not preserve any error. Depending on the tone of counsel’s voice at the time, the statement could be a very sarcastic and contemptuous remark. This is not shown by the cold record except for the court categorizing it as an “outburst” and again threatening contempt. No objection of any sort followed the judge’s latter statement, and we feel no prejudicial error is shown. Id.

Under point of error eight the defendant contends that the trial court erred in overruling his special plea of collateral estoppel.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
725 S.W.2d 785, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 6633, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/neaves-v-state-texapp-1987.