Rolman JuarezAguilar v. the State of Texas

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 10, 2023
Docket05-22-00533-CR
StatusPublished

This text of Rolman JuarezAguilar v. the State of Texas (Rolman JuarezAguilar v. the State of Texas) 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
Rolman JuarezAguilar v. the State of Texas, (Tex. Ct. App. 2023).

Opinion

AFFIRMED as MODIFIED; and Opinion Filed August 10, 2023

S In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-22-00533-CR No. 05-22-00534-CR

ROLMAN JUAREZAGUILAR, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 195th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause Nos. F20-25280-N and F20-25305-N

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Molberg, Carlyle, and Smith Opinion by Justice Smith

Appellant Rolman JuarezAguilar was charged, in separate indictments, with

continuous sexual abuse of two children under the age of fourteen. See TEX. PENAL

CODE ANN. § 21.02. The jury convicted him of the lesser included offense of

aggravated sexual assault of a child, see id. § 22.021(a)(1)(B), (a)(2)(B), and

assessed his punishment at seventy-five years’ confinement and a $10,000 fine in

each case. The trial court ordered his sentences to run concurrently. Appellant argues on appeal that he was denied his constitutional right to a fair

and impartial trial when the trial judge interjected herself in the trial by improperly

commenting on the weight of the evidence and actively assisting the prosecution

during defense counsel’s cross-examination of the two child victims. Appellant also

asserts that the judgments should be modified to accurately reflect the amount of

costs authorized to be assessed against appellant, appellant’s name, the offense for

which appellant was convicted, and the corresponding penal code section for the

offense. In two cross-issues, the State argues that the judgments should be further

modified to reflect an affirmative finding that the child victim was younger than

fourteen at the time of the offense and that appellant is required to register as a sex

offender. Because we conclude that appellant was not denied his right to a fair and

impartial trial and that the judgments should be modified, we affirm the trial court’s

judgments of conviction as modified.

Due Process Right to a Fair and Impartial Trial

Appellant argues in his first issue that he was denied his constitutional right

to a fair and impartial trial. He contends the trial judge interjected herself in the trial

proceedings by commenting on the weight of the evidence and actively assisting the

prosecution. In short, appellant contends that the trial court became an advocate for

the State during defense counsel’s cross-examination of the two child victims, V.G.

and C.G.

–2– The State responds that the trial court’s statements were not reasonably

calculated to prejudice appellant, did not improperly comment on the weight of the

evidence, did not assist the State, did not indicate disbelief in the defense’s position,

and did not diminish the credibility of the defense’s approach to the case.

The trial court has broad discretion in maintaining control of its courtroom

and in expediting the trial. Jasper v. State, 61 S.W.3d 413, 421 (Tex. Crim. App.

2001). Thus, a judge can lawfully provide guidance to attorneys and manage the

presentation of evidence from the bench without abandoning the role as an

independent arbiter. Strong v. State, 138 S.W.3d 546, 552 (Tex. App.—Corpus

Christi–Edinburg 2004, no pet.) (citing TEX. R. EVID. 611(a)); see also TEX. R. EVID.

611(a) (providing the trial court “should exercise reasonable control over the mode

and order of examining witnesses and presenting evidence”). However, “[i]n ruling

upon the admissibility of evidence, the judge shall not discuss or comment upon the

weight of the same or its bearing in the case, but shall simply decide whether or not

it is admissible.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.05. A trial court improperly

comments on the weight of the evidence if it makes a statement that (1) implies

approval of the State’s argument, (2) indicates any disbelief in the defense’s position,

or (3) diminishes the credibility of the defense’s approach to its case. Clark v. State,

878 S.W.2d 224, 226 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1994, no pet.). An improper comment

constitutes reversible error if it is material and it is reasonably calculated to benefit

the State or to prejudice the defendant’s right to a fair and impartial trial. Id.

–3– The rules of evidence permit questioning a witness about alleged prior

inconsistent statements if certain requirements are met. TEX. R. EVID. 613(a). First,

the party must tell the witness the contents of the statement, the place and time of

the statement, and the person to whom the witness made the statement. TEX. R.

EVID. 613(a)(1). Then the witness must be given an opportunity to explain or deny

the statement. TEX. R. EVID. 613(a)(3).

Here, on cross examination, defense counsel asked V.G. multiple questions

regarding what she said during her forensic interview, what she previously told

prosecutors, and what she testified to during her direct examination. After asking

many pages of questions without interruption, the State objected that defense counsel

was mischaracterizing the witness’s forensic interview. The parties approached the

bench, and a discussion was held off the record. Defense counsel resumed his

questioning. Subsequently, the State again objected that defense counsel was

mischaracterizing V.G.’s prior interview and was testifying to V.G.’s prior

statements instead of asking V.G. whether she made the prior statements. Because

V.G. had already answered defense counsel’s question, the trial court did not rule on

the objection and allowed defense counsel to continue. After more questioning by

defense counsel regarding what V.G. told the forensic interviewer, the following

exchange between the trial court and defense counsel occurred:

THE COURT: I’m going to sustain the State’s earlier objection to your testifying. If she doesn’t say something inconsistent that you

–4– have there to impeach her testimony you’re going through a prior interview, question by question, is you’re testifying.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL 1]: Your Honor, I have the right to cross- examine her based on any prior statement that she has made.

THE COURT: You have the right to cross-examine her on what she said.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL 1]: Correct, Your Honor. And that’s what I’m doing.

THE COURT: That’s not what I hear. I hear you pulling out things, stated that as fact, things that have not been offered into evidence and have not been presented and then we’re getting “uh-huh”, “I guess”, “I don’t remember”, “Okay”, which okay sounds like she’s saying if you say so it’s okay.

Let’s get to the end of this, please, sir.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL 1]: Yes, Your Honor.

Defense counsel again continued to question V.G. At one point, defense

counsel began asking, “Would it surprise you that you didn’t tell [the forensic

interviewer],” when the trial court stopped defense counsel and advised, “Ask her if

she said . . . if she told [the forensic interviewer] not that that’s what the document

shows that’s not in evidence, unless you want to offer it.” Defense counsel continued

but was again stopped when he started to ask, “When [the forensic interviewer] had

asked you whether you know whether lying was a good thing or a bad thing do you

recall telling her - -”? The court and defense counsel then had the following

exchange:

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Related

Strong v. State
138 S.W.3d 546 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2004)
Thrift v. State
176 S.W.3d 221 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2005)
Asberry v. State
813 S.W.2d 526 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1991)
Jasper v. State
61 S.W.3d 413 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2001)
Clark v. State
878 S.W.2d 224 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1994)
Bigley v. State
865 S.W.2d 26 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1993)
Eian Tilor Hurlburt v. State
506 S.W.3d 199 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2016)

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