In The Court of Appeals Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo ________________________
No. 07-20-00148-CR ________________________
PEYTON WILSON, APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
On Appeal from the 364th District Court Lubbock County, Texas Trial Court No. 2019-418,334; Honorable William R. Eichman II, Presiding
February 25, 2021
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before PIRTLE, PARKER, and DOSS, JJ.
Appellant, Peyton Wilson, appeals from his conviction by jury of the lesser-included
offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon 1 and the resulting court-imposed
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.02(a)(2) (West 2020). An offense under this section is a felony of the 1
second degree. sentence of fifteen years of imprisonment. 2 Appellant challenges his conviction through
four issues. First, Appellant contends the trial court erroneously failed to instruct the jury
on the law of self-defense. Next, he contends the evidence is insufficient to support the
verdict because the jury acquitted him of the only permissible theory of criminal conduct.
By his third issue, Appellant contends he stands convicted of conduct protected by the
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 23 of the
Texas Constitution; and, finally, Appellant posits he was egregiously harmed by the
inclusion of an inappropriate lesser-included offense. Having considered each issue, we
will affirm.
BACKGROUND
This case arises from events that occurred when twelve members of the Lubbock
Police Department SWAT Team forcibly entered Appellant’s home to execute a high-risk,
no-knock narcotics search warrant. Prior to entry, the officers were briefed that Appellant
was dealing in chemically dangerous narcotics and that he “had access to at least a pistol
in his bedroom.” The SWAT team members entered the home around the noon hour. At
the time, they were wearing clothing with “POLICE” printed on them as well as gas masks 3
and voice amplifiers. Each member of the SWAT team announced “police search
warrant” loudly and repeatedly on entry. The SWAT team smashed two windows as a
2 A second degree offense is punishable by imprisonment for any term of not more than twenty
years or less than two years and a fine not to exceed $10,000. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.33 (West 2020). 3 One of the SWAT team officers testified the officers wore gas masks because they had received information that Appellant was under suspicion of possessing and dealing a dangerous narcotic.
2 distraction 4 and broke the two front doors using an entry tool. 5 A surveillance camera
was seen mounted above the front entryway of the front door. 6
After entry into the home, officers kicked in Appellant’s closed bedroom door, the
door hit Appellant and bounced back. At that point, Appellant stuck his arm out from
behind the door and pointed a firearm in their direction. 7 The SWAT team member that
acted as “point” that day testified he saw “an arm protrude from the doorway, and then
the arm is holding a pistol with some kind of light or a laser device on it. And then aiming
it toward our general area . . . .” Another SWAT team member testified he saw “what
looked like a gigantic hole of a pistol pointed at my face.” He fired his assault rifle and
struck Appellant twice through the door, causing injury. These events occurred in less
than two minutes.
Appellant was subsequently charged with aggravated assault of a public servant
based on his conduct of pointing a firearm at the officers serving the search warrant. The
matter was tried to a jury, after which the jury convicted Appellant of the lesser-included
offense of aggravated assault. The court entered an affirmative deadly-weapon finding
and sentenced Appellant as noted.
4 One officer agreed the tool used to break the windows was a “pry bar.” The window was broken
to “get eyes in” or “create a distraction.”
5The officer who entered the home first testified the home had a metal security screen door locked with a deadbolt and an entry door beyond that. He described these as “fortification” measures.
6One SWAT team member testified that during the pre-entry briefing, he was informed that the residence had “live-feed surveillance.”
7 A SWAT team member testified “immediately a pistol came through the opening of the doorway,
and it was about head level with me and [another officer].” He later said the gun was pointed “[d]irectly at myself and [the other officer].” The officer testified he was “scared” when Appellant pointed the pistol “directly at [his] face.”
3 ANALYSIS
ISSUE ONE—SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION
By his first issue, Appellant argues he was entitled to a jury instruction regarding
self-defense because the evidence showed that to protect himself, he pointed his firearm
at individuals who forcibly broke into his home. He maintained throughout trial, and
continues to do so on appeal, that he did not know that the people entering his home
were police officers.
We review alleged jury charge error in two steps. Taplin v. State, No. 03-19-00257-
CR, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 8243, at *5 (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 15, 2020, no pet.) (mem.
op., not designated for publication). First, we determine whether error exists; and then, if
so, we then evaluate whether sufficient harm resulted from the error to require reversal.
Id. (citing Arteaga v. State, 521 S.W.3d 329, 333 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017); Ngo v. State,
175 S.W.3d 738, 743 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005)). The degree of harm required for reversal
depends on whether the jury charge error was preserved in the trial court. Taplin, 2020
Tex. App. LEXIS 8243, at *5 (citing Marshall v. State, 479 S.W.3d 840, 843 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2016); see Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (op. on
reh’g) (setting forth procedure for appellate review of claim of jury charge error)). If the
complaint about jury charge error was preserved in the trial court, “then reversal is
required if there was some harm to the defendant.” Taplin, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 8243,
at *5 (citing Marshall, 479 S.W.3d at 843).
A defendant is entitled to an instruction on any defensive issue raised by the
evidence, whether that evidence is weak or strong, unimpeached or uncontradicted, and
regardless of how the trial court views the credibility of the defense. Taplin, 2020 Tex.
4 App. LEXIS 8243, at *5-6 (citing Celis v. State, 416 S.W.3d 419, 430 (Tex. Crim. App.
2013)). The defendant bears the burden of production with respect to a defense and the
issue of the existence of a defense is not submitted to the jury unless evidence is admitted
supporting the defense. Taplin, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 8243, at *6 (citations omitted).
“[A] defense is supported (or raised) by the evidence if there is some evidence, from any
source, on each element of the defense that, if believed by the jury, would support a
rational inference that that element is true.” Id. See Juarez v. State, 308 S.W.3d 398,
404 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (“The defendant bears the burden of showing that each
element of the defense has been satisfied.”). In determining whether a defense is thus
supported by the evidence, the court views the evidence in the light most favorable to the
defendant’s requested jury instruction and relies “on its own judgment, formed in the light
of its own common sense and experience, as to the limits of rational inference from the
facts proven.” Taplin, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 8243, at *6 (citations omitted).
A person is justified in using force against another when and to the degree he
reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect against the other’s use
or attempted use of unlawful force. Jordan v. State, 593 S.W.3d 340, 343 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2020) (citing TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.31(a)). A person is justified in using deadly
force against another if he would be justified in using force, and he reasonably believes
deadly force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the other’s use or
attempted use of unlawful deadly force. Id. (citing TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.32(a)). The
evidence does not have to show that the victim was actually using or attempting to use
unlawful deadly force because a person has the right to defend himself from apparent
danger as he reasonably apprehends it. Id. (citing Hamel v. State, 916 S.W.2d 491, 493
5 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996)). “Reasonable belief” means a belief that would be held by an
ordinary and prudent man in the same circumstances as the actor. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.
§ 1.07(a)(42).
Self-defense is a confession-and-avoidance defense requiring the defendant to
admit to his otherwise illegal conduct. Jordan, 593 S.W.3d at 343 (citing Juarez v. State,
308 S.W.3d 398, 404 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)). He cannot both invoke self-defense and
flatly deny the charged conduct. Id. (citation omitted). In other words, the defendant
would have to admit to the use of deadly force against someone he reasonably believed
was using or attempting to use unlawful deadly force against him. In that regard,
Appellant conceded throughout trial that he pointed a gun at the men who entered his
home, while he also maintained he did not know the men were police officers, and he
now argues those facts entitled him to a jury instruction regarding self-defense.
In support of his position, Appellant argues the uncontested evidence shows a
dozen men knocked down two doors, broke out windows and kicked in and struck
Appellant with his bedroom door. Appellant contends he was unaware that these men
were the police or that they were executing a search warrant. Appellant “blindly stuck his
arm through a one-foot opening and pointed a handgun toward one of these men.” That
man then shot Appellant twice with an assault rifle. Appellant also points to other
evidence he says supports his position including the fact that members of the SWAT team
testified they forcibly entered Appellant’s home, intending to surprise him with “shock and
awe.” They all shouted “police search warrant” but did so while wearing gas masks that
muffled their voices. The officers had trouble communicating with one another due to the
commotion caused by the entry into Appellant’s home. The officers also testified that
6 someone in Appellant’s position could feel threatened, invaded, stressed, and justified in
defending himself with a firearm if he did not know the men entering the residence were
police officers.
On appeal, Appellant argues that the jurors obviously believed Appellant did not
know these men were law enforcement officers because they acquitted him of the greater
offense of aggravated assault of a public servant and instead found him guilty of the
lesser-included offense of simple aggravated assault. While we might speculate that this
is the reason the jury acquitted Appellant of the greater offense of aggravated assault of
a public servant, the jury’s reasoning and conclusion are of no consequence to the
resolution of this issue because we must review the trial court’s decision on the basis of
whether, at the time the trial court presented the charge to the jury, the evidence
presented would have supported a rational inference that each element of self-defense
were true.
The State disagrees with Appellant’s contention that self-defense was raised,
arguing there was no evidence to support Appellant’s entitlement to a jury instruction. 8 In
fact, the State points to evidence that shows Appellant did not act in self-defense. While
Appellant’s roommate testified the home had been recently burglarized, the State notes
Appellant had a television in his bedroom that was connected to a live-feed surveillance
video system on the outside of his home. The State further contends this, along with
evidence of the clothing worn by the officers and the announcements they made on
8 The record shows a mistake-of-fact instruction was provided in the jury charge.
7 entering Appellant’s home, shows Appellant knew the people entering his home were
police officers and not burglars.
Moreover, as to the charge of aggravated assault of a public servant, Appellant is
not entitled to a self-defense instruction because he never admitted guilt as to the charged
offense. See Mercer v. State, No. 02-16-00439-CR, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 10088, at
*11-12 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 26, 2017, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for
publication). As in Mercer, Appellant only admitted to committing aggravated assault, but
denied committing aggravated assault of a public servant because he maintained he did
not know the people entering his home were police officers. Because Appellant failed to
admit to an essential element of the offense, i.e., committing aggravated assault when he
knew “the person assaulted is a public servant while the public servant is lawfully
discharging an official duty,” Appellant “did not pass the threshold of admission that
requires a court to provide a self-defense instruction to the offense of aggravated assault
of a public servant.” Mercer, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 10088, at *11 (citations omitted).
In addition, the State further argues self-defense is only justified against a peace
officer when it has been shown that the peace officer used excessive, unlawful force
against the actor. Because Appellant made no argument that the officers used greater
force than necessary at trial or on appeal, he has not shown himself justly entitled to a
self-defense instruction to the charged offense.
In pertinent part, section 9.31(c) limits the right to use of force against a peace
officer as follows:
8 (c) [t]he use of force to resist arrest or search is justified:
(1) if, before the actor offers any resistance, the peace officer (or person acting at his direction) uses or attempts to use greater force than necessary to make the arrest or search; and
(2) when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the peace officer’s (or other person’s) use or attempted use of greater force than necessary.
Shadden v. State, No. 07-10-0331-CR, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 4001, at *5 (Tex. App.—
Amarillo May 18, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (citing TEX.
PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.31(c)).
Appellant never made an argument or presented any evidence indicating that the
officers used or attempted to use greater force than necessary in executing the search
warrant. While the evidence presented showed the circumstances were chaotic, there is
no indication of any excessive force by the officers. Accordingly, Appellant was not
entitled to an instruction concerning self-defense. Shadden, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 4001,
at *7-8. See also Mercer v. State, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 10088, at *11-12. We overrule
Appellant’s first issue.
ISSUE TWO—SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE AFTER ACQUITTAL ON GREATER OFFENSE
Via his second issue, Appellant argues that the jury acquitted him of the only
permissible theory of criminal conduct (aggravated assault against a public servant) and,
had the jury been properly instructed regarding self-defense, it would have acquitted him
of aggravated assault as well. He further contends the evidence is insufficient to support
his conviction for aggravated assault.
9 When determining whether there is sufficient evidence to support a criminal
conviction, we consider the combined and cumulative force of all admitted evidence in
the light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether, based on that evidence and
the reasonable inferences therefrom, a jury was rationally justified in finding guilt beyond
a reasonable doubt. Tate v. State, 500 S.W.3d 410, 413 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016) (citing
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979)).
Although the State must prove that a defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, the
State’s burden does not require it to disprove every conceivable alternative to a
defendant’s guilt. Tate, 500 S.W.3d at 413. In a sufficiency inquiry, direct evidence and
circumstantial evidence are equally probative. Id. (citing Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d
763, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013)).
The jury is the sole judge of credibility of the witnesses and weight to be attached
to their testimony, and juries may draw multiple reasonable inferences from the facts, so
long as each inference is supported by the evidence presented at trial. Jackson, 443 U.S.
at 319. See Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 16-17 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). The jury is
not, however, allowed to draw conclusions based on mere speculation. Hooper, 214
S.W.3d at 16. Unlike a reasonable inference, speculation is insufficiently based on the
evidence to support a finding beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. When the record supports
conflicting inferences, we presume that the jury resolved the conflicts in favor of the
verdict. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 326.
As charged in the indictment herein, a person commits aggravated assault on
a public servant by intentionally or knowingly threatening a public servant with imminent
bodily injury while using or exhibiting a deadly weapon during the commission of that
10 offense. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.01(a)(2); § 22.02(a)(2), (b)(2)(B). A person
commits “simple” aggravated assault by intentionally or knowingly threatening another
with imminent bodily injury while using or exhibiting a deadly weapon during the
commission of the offense. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.01(a)(2); § 22.02(a)(2). Here,
Appellant admitted he pointed a firearm at one of the men who entered his home—
conduct which standing alone could constitute aggravated assault. What Appellant did
not admit was his knowledge that the person at whom he pointed the weapon was a police
officer.
Appellant contends that the facts of this case lead to only two rational conclusions:
(1) Appellant knew the SWAT team entered his home and he pointed a gun at one of the
officers despite this knowledge or (2) Appellant did not know the people who entered his
home were law enforcement personnel and he pointed a gun at a person he thought was
breaking into his home. Appellant argues that because the jury acquitted him of
aggravated assault on a public servant that negates the first rational conclusion. He
asserts that the remaining facts are insufficient to prove guilt based on the second rational
conclusion because he would be protected by the law of self-defense.
We disagree. A similar argument was made by the defendant in Harrell v. State,
No. 03-18-00391-CR, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 4131, at *12-13 (Tex. App.—Austin May 28,
2020, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). There, like here, the defendant
did not argue that the evidence failed to prove any element of aggravated assault. Id.
Rather, he argued the evidence established that he was justified in committing the assault
and maintained that the jury’s acquittals of him of the greater offenses of attempted capital
murder, attempted murder, and aggravated assault on a public servant showed that the
11 jury concluded the defendant did not realize that the people entering his home were police
officers. Id. As such, he argued the evidence was insufficient to reject his justification
defenses because the evidence demonstrated he was shooting at “armed intruders
invading [his] home” and he was justified in protecting himself, his mother, and his
property. Id. at *13.
The court noted that the defendant’s argument was “contingent on eliminating from
consideration all the evidence demonstrating that police officers lawfully executing a
search warrant—rather than armed intruders—were entering his home because, in [the
defendant’s] view, it is inconsistent with the jury’s verdicts rejecting aggravated assault of
a public servant and convicting him only of aggravated assault.” Id. But, the court stated,
the “law does not bar inconsistent verdicts.” Id. (citing Hernandez v. State, 556 S.W.3d
308, 321 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017) (quoting Guthrie-Nail v. State, 506 S.W.3d 1, 6 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2015)); see United States v. Powell, 469 U.S. 57, 68-69, 105 S. Ct. 471, 83 L.
Ed. 2d 461 (1984)). Thus, inconsistent verdicts, even when based on the same evidence,
do not require reversal on the ground of legal insufficiency. Harrell, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS
41431, at *13-14 (citations omitted). A jury’s verdict should not be disturbed by appellate
speculation or inquiry even when an inconsistent verdict might have been the result of
compromise or mistake. Id. (citations omitted). We will therefore uphold a jury’s verdict
so long as the evidence supports the finding of guilt concerning aggravated assault and
it supports the rejection of any justification defenses. Id. (citing Hernandez, 556 S.W.3d
at 321).
Here, Appellant conceded, and the undisputed evidence showed, that he
intentionally and knowingly threatened the officers with death or bodily injury by pointing
12 his gun at them from behind his bedroom door, thereby exhibiting that deadly weapon in
their direction. Those facts alone provide sufficient evidence to support each element of
the offense of aggravated assault. The fact that the jury acquitted Appellant of the greater
offense of aggravated assault of a public servant does not negate that evidence. As the
court concluded in Harrell, even if the jury believed Appellant was subjectively unaware
that the individuals entering his home were the police, thereby negating the mens rea for
aggravated assault on a public servant, the jury could have concluded that such a belief
was not reasonable under the circumstances, Harrell, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 4131, at
*17-18 (citing Ruffin v. State, 270 S.W.3d 586, 594-95 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008)), and found
him guilty of aggravated assault as a result. The evidence here showed the execution of
the warrant took place at noon, not during the night hours. The SWAT team members
were dressed in clothing and vests with “POLICE” clearly printed on them. They
announced their presence so loudly that a neighbor down the street heard the
announcement. SWAT officers used a tool to break down the front doors and broke a
window for a distraction, making noise that the jury could have concluded no burglar
would have made. The evidence also showed Appellant’s home had been recently
burglarized and the jury had before it evidence indicating the SWAT team’s entry was
quite unlike a routine burglary, making it more likely that it was law enforcement entering
the home rather than armed intruders. Lastly, SWAT officers testified to finding a
television in Appellant’s bedroom that appeared to show a live feed of events from
cameras outside the home. The jury could have taken this as evidence showing Appellant
knew it was the police who were entering his home. Because the jury acquitted Appellant
of the greater offense and convicted him of the lesser offense, one might presume it did
13 so as a compromise. As an appellate court, we are not to speculate on the reasons for a
jury’s verdict and will not disturb the decision when the evidence is sufficient to support
its verdict. Harrell, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 4131, at *13-14. Accordingly, we find the
evidence sufficient to support Appellant’s conviction of aggravated assault and overrule
his second issue.
ISSUE THREE—SECOND AMENDMENT AND ARTICLE 1, SECTION 23 OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION
In his third issue, Appellant argues he was convicted of conduct protected by the
Second Amendment and article 1, section 23 of the Texas Constitution. 9 The State
responds that Appellant failed to preserve this issue for appellate review. We agree.
Before presenting a complaint for appellate review, it must be shown that the
complaint was raised with the trial court by a timely request, objection, or motion that
stated the grounds for the ruling with sufficient specificity to make the trial court aware of
the complaint, and that the trial court rule on the request, objection, or motion. TEX. R.
APP. P. 33.1(a).
The preservation requirements that apply to a constitutional challenge depend on
the nature of the right allegedly infringed. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has
divided these rights into three categories:
9 The Second Amendment to the United State Constitution provides “A well regulated Militia, being
necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” U.S. CONST. amend. II. Article 1, section 23 provides that every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State but that the legislature may regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime. TEX. CONST. art I, § 23.
14 (1) absolute, systemic requirements and prohibitions that cannot be waived;
(2) rights of litigants that must be implemented by the system unless expressly waived; and
(3) rights of litigants to be implemented upon request.
Roman v. State, 571 S.W.3d 317, 320 (Tex. App. 2018) (citing Ex parte Heilman, 456
S.W.3d 159, 162 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015) (quoting Marin v. State, 851 S.W.2d 275, 279
(Tex. Crim. App. 1993), overruled on other grounds, Cain v. State, 947 S.W.2d 262 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1997)). “Except for complaints involving systemic (or absolute) requirements,
or rights that are waivable only . . . all other complaints, whether constitutional, statutory,
or otherwise, are forfeited by failure to comply with [Texas] Rule [of Appellate Procedure]
33.1(a).” Roman, 571 S.W.3d at 320 (citing Mendez v. State, 138 S.W.3d 334, 342 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2004)).
Appellant’s complaint is one that is waivable in nature. The record before us does
not show Appellant raised his complaint concerning the Second Amendment or article 1,
section 23 of the Texas Constitution with the trial court. Accordingly, he has waived this
issue for our review. As such, we resolve Appellant’s third issue against him.
ISSUE FOUR—EGREGIOUS HARM DUE TO INCLUSION OF LESSER-INCLUDED OFFENSE
Through his last issue, Appellant argues that under the facts of this case,
aggravated assault was not a valid rational alternative to aggravated assault of a public
servant. Thus, he contends, the trial court should not have included an instruction
permitting the jury to consider the lesser-included offense of aggravated assault. We
disagree.
15 The Court of Criminal Appeals has established a two-pronged test to determine
the propriety of the inclusion of a lesser-included offense instruction in the charge to the
jury. Hall v. State, 225 S.W.3d 524, 535 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Skinner v. State, 956
S.W.2d 532, 543 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). First, the lesser-included offense must be
included within the proof necessary to establish the offense charged, and second, some
evidence must exist in the record that would permit a jury to rationally find that if the
defendant is guilty, he is guilty only of the lesser offense. Hall, 225 S.W.3d at 535-36;
Skinner, 956 S.W.2d at 543 (citing Rousseau v. State, 855 S.W.2d 666, 673 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1993)). See Moore v. State, 969 S.W.2d 4 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). However, when
the State requests the lesser-included offense instruction (as occurred here) it is only
required to satisfy the first prong of the test and is not bound by the second. Grey v.
State, 298 S.W.3d 644, 645 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). See West v. State, No. 11-13-00298-
CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 11224, at *5 (Tex. App.—Eastland Oct. 30, 2015, pet. ref’d)
(mem. op., not designated with publication) (citing Grey, 298 S.W.3d at 645).
The first step of our analysis is one of law. Hall, 225 S.W.3d at 535. The Code of
Criminal Procedure defines an offense as a lesser-included offense if: (1) it is established
by proof of the same or less than all the facts required to establish the commission of the
offense charged; (2) it differs from the offense charged only in the respect that a less
serious injury or risk of injury to the same person, property, or public interest suffices to
establish its commission; (3) it differs from the offense charged only in the respect that a
less culpable mental state suffices to establish its commission; or (4) it consists of an
attempt to commit the offense charged or an otherwise included offense. TEX. CODE CRIM.
PROC. ANN. art. 37.09. See Hall, 225 S.W.3d at 536; Irving v. State, 176 S.W.3d 842, 845
16 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Whether an offense falls within this definition does not depend
on the evidence to be produced at trial but rather is performed before trial by comparing
the elements of the offense as they are alleged in the indictment or information with the
elements of the potential lesser-included offense. Hall, 225 S.W.3d at 535-36.
As set forth in our previous discussion, a person commits aggravated assault on
a public servant by intentionally or knowingly threatening a public servant with imminent
bodily injury while using or exhibiting a deadly weapon during the commission of the
offense. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.01(a)(2); § 22.02(a)(2), (b)(2)(B). A person
commits aggravated assault by intentionally or knowingly threatening another with
imminent bodily injury while using or exhibiting a deadly weapon during the commission
of the offense of assault. Id. at § 22.01(a)(2); § 22.02(a)(2). Aggravated assault requires
proof of all of the same elements as aggravated assault on a public servant except the
element that Appellant knew the victim was a public servant. Therefore, under the
requisite analysis, aggravated assault is a lesser-included offense of aggravated assault
of a public servant. Because the State is not bound by the second prong of the analysis,
we do not reach it. As such, we find the trial court did not err in including an instruction
permitting the jury to consider the lesser-included offense of aggravated assault in its
charge to the jury. Finding no error, we do not reach the issue of harm. Kirsch v. State,
357 S.W.3d 645, 649 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). We resolve Appellant’s last issue against
him.
17 CONCLUSION
Having overruled each of Appellant’s issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial
court.
Patrick A. Pirtle Justice
Do not publish.