Court of Appeals Tenth Appellate District of Texas
10-23-00163-CR
William Donald Nuckolls, Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
On appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2 of Ellis County, Texas Judge Gene Calvert, Jr., presiding Trial Court Cause No. 2210332CR
CHIEF JUSTICE JOHNSON delivered the opinion of the Court.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
William Donald Nuckolls was found guilty by a jury of the class B
misdemeanor offense of driving while intoxicated. The jury assessed his
punishment at twenty days confinement in the county jail and further
recommended that the imposition of the sentence be suspended. The trial court
assessed Nuckoll’s punishment accordingly, suspended imposition of the sentence for thirteen months, and placed Nuckolls on community supervision.
We will affirm.
A. Issue One
In his first issue Nuckolls contends he was deprived of his right to an
impartial jury when the trial court allowed the State to display an image to the
jury panel which was more prejudicial than it was probative.
1. Authority
We review a trial court’s ruling limiting jury selection using an abuse-of-
discretion standard, and the trial court’s decision will not be disturbed unless
it abuses its discretion. Hernandez v. State, 390 S.W.3d 310, 315 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2012); Barajas v. State, 93 S.W.3d 36, 38 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). A trial
court has broad discretion over the jury selection process, including the
propriety of particular questions. Barajas v. State, 93 S.W.3d at 38. If a
question seeks discovery of a potential juror’s views on any issue relevant to
the case, it is proper. Sells v. State, 121 S.W.3d 748, 756 (Tex. Crim. App.
2003).
2. Discussion
In a pre-trial hearing prior to jury selection, Nuckolls objected to the
State’s use of an image depicting a young male holding what purported to be a
driver’s license. Nuckolls specifically argued that the image was “more
Nuckolls v. State Page 2 prejudicial than probative.” The State replied indicating it was not being
offered into evidence and that it was being used to illustrate “the nature of
drivers on the road.” The trial court overruled Nuckolls’s objection and noted
that the image on its face was not inherently objectionable.
During jury selection, the State displayed the image to the jury panel
and stated, “I propose this is the most terrifying picture I could show you.” The
State indicated it was a picture of a young man holding a driver’s license.
Nuckolls re-urged his objection and when asked what his objection was, he
stated, “Prejudicial. He just said it’s the most frightening picture we could
observe. Highly prejudicial. It’s not relevant to any of the elements, not
relevant to the law. It’s just a feeling that he has and . . .” The trial court
again overruled the objection. Nuckolls did not object to any questions
propounded to the jury panel by the State regarding the image. The image was
marked and admitted for record purposes.
Here, Nuckolls contends he was deprived of an impartial jury because
the image was displayed to the jury panel. Nuckolls argues that the State used
the image “to tell the jurors how terrifying it was that their ‘sons and
daughters’ were at risk of being killed by drunk drivers” and the State
attempted to commit the jury panel members “on their ability to find the
Nuckolls v. State Page 3 defendant guilty if they prove every element of their case by the loss of mental
or physical faculties alone.”
Nuckolls’s objection appears to be a Rule 403 objection that sought to
have the trial court conduct a balancing test for admission of relevant evidence.
See TEX. R. EVID. 403. The State however was not offering the image as
evidence. Because the image was used solely as a visual aid during jury
selection, the trial court appropriately overruled Nuckolls’s Rule 403 objection.
Here, Nuckolls additionally argues that the State’s questions “were more
prejudicial than probative in that they were intended to imply [Nuckolls] was
a dangerous person for risking the lives of their ‘sons and daughters’ because
he was involved in an automobile accident.” And the State in doing so was
attempting to commit the panel members to conclude a person is guilty simply
because they were involved in an automobile accident.
To preserve error for appellate review, the record must show that the
objection “stated the grounds for the ruling that the complaining party sought
from the trial court with sufficient specificity to make the trial court aware of
the complaint, unless the specific grounds were apparent from the context.”
TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A); Clark v. State, 365 S.W.3d 333, 339 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2012). The issue on appeal must comport with the objection made in the
trial court. Clark, 365 S.W.3d at 339. To determine whether a complaint on
Nuckolls v. State Page 4 appeal comports with a complaint made in the trial court, we look to the
context of the objection and the shared understanding of the parties at the
time. Id.
In the trial court, Nuckolls did not lodge an objection or argue that the
State was attempting to commit the panel members to conclude a person is
guilty simply because they were involved in an automobile accident. The
complaint Nuckolls now raises does not comport with the objection made at
trial; therefore, he has waived his complaint that the State’s question was an
attempt to commit the panel members.
We overrule Nuckolls’s first issue.
B. Issue Two
In Nuckolls’s second issue, he complains that the trial court failed to
provide an instruction in the punishment charge that the jury could not draw
any adverse inference from his failure to testify.
In reviewing a jury-charge error issue, an appellate court’s first duty is
to determine whether the charge contains error. Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738,
743 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); Hutch v. State, 922 S.W.2d 166, 170 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1996). If the jury charge contains error, the appellate court must analyze
Nuckolls v. State Page 5 that error for harm. Ngo, 175 S.W.3d at 743; Middleton v. State, 125 S.W.3d
450, 453-54 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).
“Upon request from a defendant, a trial judge must instruct jurors that
they may not draw any adverse inference from a defendant’s failure to testify.”
Beathard v. State, 767 S.W.2d 423, 432 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). In the absence
of a proper request or timely objection, the trial court is under no obligation to
give the instruction and does not err in excluding the no-adverse-inference
instruction in the charge. See Michaelwicz v. State, 186 S.W.3d 601, 624 (Tex.
App.—Austin 2006, pet. ref'd); see also Ramirez v.
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Court of Appeals Tenth Appellate District of Texas
10-23-00163-CR
William Donald Nuckolls, Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
On appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2 of Ellis County, Texas Judge Gene Calvert, Jr., presiding Trial Court Cause No. 2210332CR
CHIEF JUSTICE JOHNSON delivered the opinion of the Court.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
William Donald Nuckolls was found guilty by a jury of the class B
misdemeanor offense of driving while intoxicated. The jury assessed his
punishment at twenty days confinement in the county jail and further
recommended that the imposition of the sentence be suspended. The trial court
assessed Nuckoll’s punishment accordingly, suspended imposition of the sentence for thirteen months, and placed Nuckolls on community supervision.
We will affirm.
A. Issue One
In his first issue Nuckolls contends he was deprived of his right to an
impartial jury when the trial court allowed the State to display an image to the
jury panel which was more prejudicial than it was probative.
1. Authority
We review a trial court’s ruling limiting jury selection using an abuse-of-
discretion standard, and the trial court’s decision will not be disturbed unless
it abuses its discretion. Hernandez v. State, 390 S.W.3d 310, 315 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2012); Barajas v. State, 93 S.W.3d 36, 38 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). A trial
court has broad discretion over the jury selection process, including the
propriety of particular questions. Barajas v. State, 93 S.W.3d at 38. If a
question seeks discovery of a potential juror’s views on any issue relevant to
the case, it is proper. Sells v. State, 121 S.W.3d 748, 756 (Tex. Crim. App.
2003).
2. Discussion
In a pre-trial hearing prior to jury selection, Nuckolls objected to the
State’s use of an image depicting a young male holding what purported to be a
driver’s license. Nuckolls specifically argued that the image was “more
Nuckolls v. State Page 2 prejudicial than probative.” The State replied indicating it was not being
offered into evidence and that it was being used to illustrate “the nature of
drivers on the road.” The trial court overruled Nuckolls’s objection and noted
that the image on its face was not inherently objectionable.
During jury selection, the State displayed the image to the jury panel
and stated, “I propose this is the most terrifying picture I could show you.” The
State indicated it was a picture of a young man holding a driver’s license.
Nuckolls re-urged his objection and when asked what his objection was, he
stated, “Prejudicial. He just said it’s the most frightening picture we could
observe. Highly prejudicial. It’s not relevant to any of the elements, not
relevant to the law. It’s just a feeling that he has and . . .” The trial court
again overruled the objection. Nuckolls did not object to any questions
propounded to the jury panel by the State regarding the image. The image was
marked and admitted for record purposes.
Here, Nuckolls contends he was deprived of an impartial jury because
the image was displayed to the jury panel. Nuckolls argues that the State used
the image “to tell the jurors how terrifying it was that their ‘sons and
daughters’ were at risk of being killed by drunk drivers” and the State
attempted to commit the jury panel members “on their ability to find the
Nuckolls v. State Page 3 defendant guilty if they prove every element of their case by the loss of mental
or physical faculties alone.”
Nuckolls’s objection appears to be a Rule 403 objection that sought to
have the trial court conduct a balancing test for admission of relevant evidence.
See TEX. R. EVID. 403. The State however was not offering the image as
evidence. Because the image was used solely as a visual aid during jury
selection, the trial court appropriately overruled Nuckolls’s Rule 403 objection.
Here, Nuckolls additionally argues that the State’s questions “were more
prejudicial than probative in that they were intended to imply [Nuckolls] was
a dangerous person for risking the lives of their ‘sons and daughters’ because
he was involved in an automobile accident.” And the State in doing so was
attempting to commit the panel members to conclude a person is guilty simply
because they were involved in an automobile accident.
To preserve error for appellate review, the record must show that the
objection “stated the grounds for the ruling that the complaining party sought
from the trial court with sufficient specificity to make the trial court aware of
the complaint, unless the specific grounds were apparent from the context.”
TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A); Clark v. State, 365 S.W.3d 333, 339 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2012). The issue on appeal must comport with the objection made in the
trial court. Clark, 365 S.W.3d at 339. To determine whether a complaint on
Nuckolls v. State Page 4 appeal comports with a complaint made in the trial court, we look to the
context of the objection and the shared understanding of the parties at the
time. Id.
In the trial court, Nuckolls did not lodge an objection or argue that the
State was attempting to commit the panel members to conclude a person is
guilty simply because they were involved in an automobile accident. The
complaint Nuckolls now raises does not comport with the objection made at
trial; therefore, he has waived his complaint that the State’s question was an
attempt to commit the panel members.
We overrule Nuckolls’s first issue.
B. Issue Two
In Nuckolls’s second issue, he complains that the trial court failed to
provide an instruction in the punishment charge that the jury could not draw
any adverse inference from his failure to testify.
In reviewing a jury-charge error issue, an appellate court’s first duty is
to determine whether the charge contains error. Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738,
743 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); Hutch v. State, 922 S.W.2d 166, 170 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1996). If the jury charge contains error, the appellate court must analyze
Nuckolls v. State Page 5 that error for harm. Ngo, 175 S.W.3d at 743; Middleton v. State, 125 S.W.3d
450, 453-54 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).
“Upon request from a defendant, a trial judge must instruct jurors that
they may not draw any adverse inference from a defendant’s failure to testify.”
Beathard v. State, 767 S.W.2d 423, 432 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). In the absence
of a proper request or timely objection, the trial court is under no obligation to
give the instruction and does not err in excluding the no-adverse-inference
instruction in the charge. See Michaelwicz v. State, 186 S.W.3d 601, 624 (Tex.
App.—Austin 2006, pet. ref'd); see also Ramirez v. State, 2009 WL 1567340, at
*15, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 368, at *45 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Jan. 22,
2009, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). The decision to
request a no-adverse-inference instruction is discretionary and a matter of trial
strategy. Calderon v. State, 950 S.W.2d 121, 132 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1997, no
pet.).
Nuckolls’s trial counsel did not request that a no-adverse-inferences
instruction be included in the punishment charge. Accordingly, we conclude
that the trial court did not err by failing to include a no-adverse-inferences
instruction in the punishment charge.
We overrule Nuckolls’s second issue.
Nuckolls v. State Page 6 C. Issue Three
In Nuckolls’s third issue, he complains that the trial Court made a
comment on the evidence that was reasonably calculated to prejudice
Nuckolls’s case.
Article 38.05 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides:
In 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; nor shall he, at any stage of the proceeding previous to the return of the verdict, make any remark calculated to convey to the jury his opinion of the case.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.05.
In evaluating a claimed violation of article 38.05, we first determine
whether the trial court’s comments were, in fact, improper under the article.
Simon v. State, 203 S.W.3d 581, 590 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no
pet.). If so, we must then decide whether the comments were material. Id. at
592. If the comments were both improper and material, we address harm,
using the standard for non-constitutional harm set forth in Texas Rule of
Appellate Procedure 44.2(b). TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(b); Proenza v. State, 541
S.W.3d 786, 801 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017). To constitute reversible error, the
alleged comment on the weight of the evidence must be such that it is
Nuckolls v. State Page 7 reasonably calculated to benefit the State or to prejudice the defendant’s
rights. Proenza v. State, 541 S.W.3d at 791.
A trial court improperly comments on the weight of the evidence if it
implies approval of the State’s argument, indicates disbelief in the defense’s
position, or diminishes the credibility of the defense’s approach to the case.
Nguyen v. State, 506 S.W.3d 69, 83 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2016, pet. ref’d).
At the conclusion of direct examination of a State’s witness, the State
passed the witness, and Nuckolls elected to reserve the right to recall the
witness for cross-examination during Nuckolls’s case-in-chief. The following
then transpired:
THE COURT: All right. I’m going to release the witness. And you’ll be subject to recall, and we may be calling you back. You sure you don’t want to ask him any questions?
[NUCKOLLS]: Not at this time, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Okay. You’re free to leave. You may have to come back, okay. Don’t discuss your testimony with any person, okay?
THE WITNESS: Do I wait outside or...
THE COURT: I don’t know.
[NUCKOLLS]: Just be available. If he can be available within 30 minutes. A call from the State or an hour. Whatever he needs.
THE COURT: What are your duties and responsibilities today?
Nuckolls v. State Page 8 THE WITNESS: I got to go to work.
THE COURT: What time?
THE WITNESS: I was supposed to be there at 6:00. I told them I got subpoenaed so they said come whenever I got finished.
THE COURT: All right. Okay. I guess you’re not going to be able to be released. Try to call your work, and tell them I don’t know when you’ll be released by the defense. And so, as soon as we can, I’ll let you know whether you’ll be coming back to testify or not, okay.
THE WITNESS: You want me to wait outside?
THE COURT: Yes, sir.
Nuckolls contends that the trial “court’s comment was an impermissible
comment on the evidence because it implied disapproval of the [d]efense’s
position, i.e., that the Defense was deliberately delaying their cross-
examination of Harris thereby further delaying his commitment to his job.”
Nuckolls argues that the “comment was directed at a material issue because
the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction is an issue for the jury.”
Nuckolls further argues that when the trial court asked Nuckolls if he was
“certain [he] had no questions at that time, the comment was reasonably
calculated to prejudice Nuckolls by suggesting Nuckolls lacked sufficient
evidence to question [the witness].” We disagree.
Trial courts have discretion in the exercise of their power to control the
business of the court and to preserve proper order and decorum. Hathorne v.
Nuckolls v. State Page 9 State, 459 S.W.2d 826, 834 (Tex. Crim. App. 1970). Comments by the trial
court made to maintain control and expedite the trial do not violate Article
38.05. Jasper v. State, 61 S.W.3d 413, 421 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); see also
TEX. R. EVID. 611(a) (trial court shall exercise reasonable control over mode of
examining witnesses to avoid wasting time and protect witnesses from
harassment). A judge may lawfully provide guidance and manage the
presentation of evidence without abandoning his role as a neutral and
independent arbiter. Barron v. State, 630 S.W.3d 392, 408 (Tex. App.—
Eastland 2021, pet. ref’d).
The trial court asking Nuckolls if he was “sure you don’t want to ask him
any questions” or commenting to the witness that the trial court did not know
when the witness would be “released by the defense” did not imply approval of
any State’s argument, indicate disbelief in any defense’s position, or diminish
the credibility of the defense’s approach to the case. See Nguyen v. State, 506
S.W.3d 69, 83 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2016, pet. ref’d). The entire colloquy was
clearly an effort by the trial court to manage the trial and schedule witness
availability. In addition, even if we assume that the comments by the trial
court constituted an improper comment on the weight of the evidence, we
conclude that any such error was not reasonably calculated to benefit the State
Nuckolls v. State Page 10 or to prejudice Nuckolls’s rights, and therefore was not reversible error. See
Proenza, 541 S.W.3d at 791.
We overrule Nuckolls’s third issue.
D. Conclusion
Having overruled all of Nuckolls’s issues we affirm the judgment of the
trial court.
MATT JOHNSON Chief Justice
OPINION DELIVERED and FILED: July 10, 2025 Before Chief Justice Johnson, Justice Smith, and Justice Harris Affirmed Do Not Publish CR25
Nuckolls v. State Page 11