Tinney v. State

773 S.W.2d 364, 1989 WL 85045
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 21, 1989
Docket2-88-066-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 773 S.W.2d 364 (Tinney 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
Tinney v. State, 773 S.W.2d 364, 1989 WL 85045 (Tex. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinions

OPINION

WEAVER, Chief Justice.

Appellant, William David Tinney, was convicted by a jury of aggravated robbery. See TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. sec. 29.03 (Vernon 1989). The jury assessed punishment at life in the Texas Department of Corrections.

We affirm.

On September 12, 1986, Gloria Collins was robbed at gunpoint in her house. She later identified the appellant as her assailant. A witness for the State told of how [366]*366he, appellant, and others injected themselves with amphetamines, stole a truck, and then drove to the victim’s house. After the robbery of Mrs. Collins, the group went back to one of their homes to divide the stolen items. On appeal appellant raises four points of error.

In point of error number one appellant contends that his conviction should be overturned on grounds that it was barred by the double jeopardy clause. A jury was originally selected and sworn on October 27, 1987, and the trial began. On November 4, 1987, the trial judge became aware that one of the jurors was under felony indictment and ordered a mistrial over appellant’s objection. A new jury was chosen later, resulting in the conviction presently before us. We find no mention in any motion or objection at the trial level of the double jeopardy claim. However, we note that apparently, under Texas law, a claim of double joepardy is not waived by the failure to raise it at trial. See Ex parte Pleasant, 577 S.W.2d 256 (Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1979).

Both sides agree that jeopardy attached to appellant when the first jury was impaneled and sworn. Once jeopardy attaches, appellant possesses the right to have his guilt or innocence determined by the first trier of fact. Torres v. State, 614 S.W.2d 436, 441 (Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1981). An exception to this rule is made if the defendant consents to a retrial, or if a retrial is mandated by some form of manifest necessity. Id. The record does not reveal any consent by appellant to the retrial. However, we do find that a manifest necessity required the judge to declare a mistrial.

TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC.ANN. art. 35.16 (Vernon 1989) provides that a challenge for cause may be made if a potential juror is under indictment for a felony. Such an indictment is an absolute disqualification from jury service even if both sides consent. See TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC. ANN. art. 35.19 (Vernon 1989). Texas law has held that an absolute disqualification provides the manifest necessity required to declare a mistrial and retry the defendant with a new jury. See Ex parte Bronson, 158 Tex.Crim. 133,137, 254 S.W.2d 117,121 (1952); Pfeffer v. State, 683 S.W.2d 64, 65 (Tex.App.—Amarillo 1984, pet. ref’d). See also Frame v. State, 615 S.W.2d 766, 769 (Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1981) (proper for sua sponte excusal disqualified veni-reperson). Federal law also holds that a disqualified or biased juror provides the manifest necessity necessary for a second trial. See Thompson v. United States, 155 U.S. 271, 274, 15 S.Ct. 73, 74, 39 L.Ed. 146, 149 (1894); Simmons v. United States, 142 U.S. 148, 153-55, 12 S.Ct. 171, 172-73, 35 L.Ed. 968, 971 (1891); Whitfield v. Warden of Maryland House of Correction, 486 F.2d 1118,1122 (4th Cir.1973), cert, denied, 419 U.S. 876, 95 S.Ct. 139, 42 L.Ed.2d 116 (1974); Smith v. State of Mississippi, 478 F.2d 88, 96 (5th Cir.), cert, denied, 414 U.S. 1113, 94 S.Ct. 844, 38 L.Ed.2d 740 (1973).

Appellant argues that under the holdings in Schaffer v. State, 649 S.W.2d 637 (Tex.Crim.App.1983) and Strickland v. State, 741 S.W.2d 551 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1987, no pet.) there was no manifest necessity for a mistrial in this case. We disagree and find both cases easily distinguishable. In Schaffer, a factually similar situation to the present case was found to be double jeopardy because there was no statement or record by the judge of what the juror disqualification was. Schaffer, 649 S.W.2d at 639. In the present case the trial judge stated in the record the reason for the disqualification. In Strickland, the Dallas court held that a mistrial was improper if the trial judge failed to use less drastic alternatives first. Strickland, 741 S.W.2d at 552-53. In the present cause the trial judge offered to proceed with eleven jurors but appellant would not sign a waiver to proceed with eleven jurors. Thus, the trial judge attempted to use a less drastic alternative. When appellant declined to proceed with eleven jurors, the judge had no choice but to grant a mistrial. Accordingly, we find that there was a manifest necessity to grant a mistrial over appellant’s objection. Appellant’s first point of error is overruled.

In point of error number two appellant complains the trial court erred in [367]*367admitting testimony regarding drug use by appellant. A witness for the State testified that before robbing the victim he and the appellant “engaged in some narcotics.” Appellant objected and the trial judge overruled the objection. Later, the same witness testified that after returning from the robbery he and appellant “shot some more dope.” No objection was lodged against this testimony. On redirect examination the witness again testified that appellant used drugs with him on that day. Again, appellant made no objection to the introduction of this evidence. It is well-settled in Texas that any error in the admission of evidence is cured where the same evidence comes in elsewhere without objection. See, e.g., Hudson v. State, 675 S.W.2d 507, 511 (Tex.Crim.App.1984). Defense counsel must object every time allegedly inadmissible evidence is offered. Id.; Moore v. State, 675 S.W.2d 348, 350 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1984, pet. ref’d). Since appellant failed to object to all instances of evidence of alleged drug use, any error is waived. Appellant’s second point of error is overruled.

In his third point of error appellant argues that the trial court erred in failing to permit the defense to elicit testimony from a witness that the witness had exercised his fifth amendment right at a prior hearing. Appellant correctly states the rule of Rodriquez v. State, 513 S.W.2d 594 (Tex.Crim.App.1974), which states that it is not error for the trial judge to refuse to call a witness for the purpose of invoking the fifth amendment in front of the jury. Id. at 595.

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Tinney v. State
773 S.W.2d 364 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1989)

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773 S.W.2d 364, 1989 WL 85045, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tinney-v-state-texapp-1989.