Rolman JuarezAguilar v. the State of Texas

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided August 10, 2023·No. 05-22-00533-CR·Published

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.

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.

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

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:

THE COURT: Nope. No more from that. That’s your testifying regarding an exhibit that’s not before the Jury and unless you want to offer it you’re testifying. So sustained on - -

[DEFENSE COUNSEL 1]: Your Honor, I’m entitled to cross-

examine a witness on a prior statement that you can - -

THE COURT: Not if it’s not in the record. Go ahead and ask your next question.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL 1]: Your Honor, I would say that you prevented me from asking this line of questions, Your Honor. It’s a violation of my client’s Sixth Amendment Rights. It’s compelling - -

THE COURT: You’re testifying about an exhibit that’s not in evidence.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL 1]: I am questioning to the fact whether she can see that she made that statement before.

THE COURT: And that’s what higher courts are for. I am - -

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