Victor Cantu v. State

Opinion issued November 13, 2008

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

____________

NO. 01-08-00263-CR

____________

VICTOR CANTU, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 52nd District Court

Coryell County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. F0-04-17403

MEMORANDUM OPINION

A jury convicted appellant, Victor Cantu, on two counts of harassment by a

person in correctional facilities, and the trial court assessed punishment at nine years

in prison for each count, to be served concurrently after completion of his current

sentence. See Tex. Penal Code Ann . § 22.11(a)(1) (Vernon 2003). We determine

whether appellant’s right to a speedy trial was violated and whether the trial court

erred when it admitted extraneous evidence of incidents in which appellant had

committed offenses similar to the one being tried. We affirm.

Background

At about 6:30 p.m. on February 20, 2003, Texas Correctional Officer Calvin

Woods was on duty in the administrative segregation area of the Hughes Unit, a

maximum security correctional facility. While passing out necessities, Woods came

into contact with appellant. At this time, appellant was serving a 60-year prison term

for which he was being housed in cell 39 of the administrative segregation area.

Woods asked appellant if he needed necessities; appellant declined. Woods

continued on to the next cell when appellant threw out a liquid onto the officer’s

uniform. The liquid “smelled like feces and urine.” Some of it also struck inmate

Jeffery Williams, who was helping Officer Woods hand out necessities. The brown

liquid struck Williams on the side of the head and shirt.

Texas Correctional Officer Walter Glover was stationed in the “picket” or

control center that overlooked cell 39, from where he observed Woods and Williams

passing out necessities. After passing by appellant’s cell, Woods and Williams “both

recoiled from something happening.” Both Woods and Williams had a substance on

them that appeared and smelled like urine or fecal matter. Texas Department of

Public Health Chemist Lori McElhaney testified that tests that she performed on the

uniforms confirmed that the substance was feces.

In contrast, appellant denied throwing the fecal matter on Officer Woods or

inmate Williams. Appellant testified that he believed that the inmate in neighboring

cell 38 had thrown the liquid. During direct and cross-examination, appellant

repeatedly discussed his ability and the techniques that he and other inmates used to

“shoot” liquid substances through the cell doors at those who passed by.

At trial, the State sought to admit 18 separate extraneous offenses in which

appellant had “chunked” on other inmates who had passed in front of his cell. The

trial court admitted the evidence, but limited the number of offenses to “four or five.”

After appellant had testified and the defense had rested, the State called four

witnesses in rebuttal. The first witness was a former correctional officer, Brian Heck,

who testified that appellant had threatened to “chunk s---” on him. The other three

witnesses were inmates. Rafael Esteves testified that appellant had “chunked” on him

as he was sweeping in front of appellant’s cell. The second witness, Steven

Southhall, testified that appellant had “chunked” on him as he was passing out food

in front of appellant’s cell. The third witness, David Clark, testified that appellant

had “chunked” on him as he walked by appellant’s cell.

Appellant was indicted on August 26, 2004 and was not brought to trial until

December 3, 2007. Appellant’s counsel submitted a motion on the day of trial to

dismiss the indictment for denial of a speedy trial. This motion was denied by the

trial court.

Denial of a Speedy Trial

In point of error one, appellant contends that his speedy trial right was violated

due to a 39-month delay between his indictment and trial and that such delay caused

him prejudice. Appellant argues that this prejudice was caused by the loss of four

potential witnesses. Two of these witnesses died, and two were missing.

A. The Standard of Review

In our review of a speedy trial denial, we apply an abuse of discretion standard

to any factual issues, while using a de novo standard for the legal conclusions.

Zamorano v. State , 84 S.W.3d 643, 648 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).

B. The Law

The United States Constitution provides, “In all criminal prosecutions, the

accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial . . . .” U.S. Const. amend.

VI. The Texas Constitution also grants this right. Tex. Const . art. I, § 10. Texas

Courts have traditionally analyzed speedy-trial-violation challenges under a balancing

test announced by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Barker v. Wingo ,

407 U.S. 514 , 92 S. Ct. 2182 (1972). See Zamorano , 84 S.W.3d at 648 . We employ

this balancing test by analyzing four factors: (1) the length of the delay; (2) the reason

for the delay; (3) the defendant’s assertion of his right; and (4) the prejudice to the

defendant. See Barker , 407 U.S. at 530 , 92 S. Ct. at 2192 . None of these factors

should be considered necessary or sufficient in the finding of a deprivation of the

right to a speedy trial; rather, they are related factors that must be considered together

with such other circumstances as may be relevant. See State v. Munoz , 991 S.W.2d

818, 821 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).

C. The Speedy Trial Analysis

1. The Length of the Delay

The length of the delay between the date of indictment and the date of trial

functions as a “triggering mechanism” for the analysis of the other three factors.

Barker , 407 U.S. at 530 , 92 S. Ct. at 2192 ; Munoz , 991 S.W.2d at 821 . The defendant

must allege that the delay in his or her case has crossed the line from ordinary delay

to “presumptively prejudicial” delay. Doggett v. United States , 505 U.S. 647 ,

651–52, 112 S. Ct. 2686, 2690 (1992). For the alleged delay to qualify as

“presumptively prejudicial,” it must be reviewed in the context of the particular case

in which it is alleged. See Barker , 407 U.S. at 530–31, 92 S. Ct. at 2192 . The 39-month delay in this case is, without question, substantial enough to trigger a speedy

trial analysis. See Shaw v. State , 117 S.W.3d 883, 889 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003)

(concluding that 38-month delay between indictment and trial was long enough to

trigger speedy trial analysis).

2. The Reason for the Delay

An examination of this factor requires an assignment of “different weights to

different reasons.” Barker , 407 U.S. at 531 , 92 S. Ct. at 2192 ; see Munoz , 991

S.W.2d at 822 . A finding that the government deliberately attempted to delay the trial

would require us to weigh this factor heavily against the State. Id. However, a more

neutral reason, such as negligence or an overcrowded docket, should be weighed less

heavily. Id.

In this case, the State offered little in the way of reasons for the delay. The

prosecutor stated at trial that the case in question had been set on the docket four

times before the eventual trial date and that each time, the State had announced ready.

The prosecutor also stated that it was the court coordinator’s responsibility to set

cases for trial and that neither he nor anyone else in the prosecutors’ office had any

control over that function. Additionally, the record is devoid of any resetting

documents, motions for continuance, or explanations on the docket sheet for the

various postponements.

Although the prosecutor’s statements appear to transfer responsibility to the

court coordinator and thus away from the State, they do not present a reason for the

39-month delay. When no reason for the delay is given, this factor must weigh

against the State. See Dragoo v. State , 96 S.W.3d 308, 314 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) .

However, when weighing this factor, “a court may presume neither a deliberate

attempt on the part of the State to prejudice the defense nor a valid reason for the

delay.” Id. Therefore, we hold that this factor weighs against the State, but “it is not

weighed heavily.” Id.

3. Appellant’s Assertion of His Right

The Barker Court rejected the rigid “demand-waiver” rule, which held that a

defendant “forever” waived any speedy trial challenge if he never, in fact, actually

asserted his right to a speedy trial. Barker , 407 U.S. at 527–29, 92 S. Ct. at 2190–91.

However, the defendant “still is responsible for asserting or demanding his right to

a speedy trial.” Munoz , 991 S.W.2d at 825 . The Barker Court also emphasized that

the “failure to assert the right will make it difficult for a defendant to prove that he

was denied a speedy trial.” Barker , 407 U.S. at 532 , 92 S. Ct. at 2193 .

In this case, appellant argues that he asserted his right in two letters written

within a year after his indictment. Both of these letters were written by appellant

himself, even though he was, at all times after the indictment, represented by counsel.

There is no indication that the trial court ever saw or was made aware of these letters

before the day of trial.

The first letter, written November 11, 2004, contains no language that could

be construed as an assertion of a speedy trial right. In it, appellant simply asked when

his court date would be. The second letter, written July 7, 2005, is a closer call. In

it, appellant did request that his case be “put in the front of the line.” However, when

read in context of the entire letter, appellant was asking to go first on the date when

he and 46 other inmates were scheduled to appear in court, not to appear before the

court as soon as possible.

It is alternatively argued by the State that, even if the letters are interpreted as

assertions for a speedy trial, these letters should be ignored for violating the rule

against dual representation on the part of a defendant. Texas courts have repeatedly

held that there is no right to dual representation. See Rudd v. State , 616 S.W.2d 623,

625 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981). Accordingly, “a trial court is free to disregard any pro

se motions presented by a defendant who is represented by counsel.” Robinson v.

State , 240 S.W.3d 919, 922 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); see Llano v. State , 16 S.W.3d

197, 198 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. ref’d) (holding that when

defendant is represented by counsel, court is not required to consider pro se

pleadings) .

In this case, appellant’s attorney did not raise any speedy trial violations during

the 39-month delay. The first pleading on the matter was the motion to dismiss for

lack of a speedy trial, which was submitted by appellant’s attorney on the day of trial.

An assertion made on the day of trial should be considered untimely. See Harris v.

State , 827 S.W.2d 949, 957 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (holding that speedy trial

assertion on day of trial was not timely made), abrogated on other grounds by

Cockrell v. State , 933 S.W.2d 73, 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). “Lack of a timely

demand for a speedy trial indicates strongly that he (defendant) did not really want

a speedy trial.” Id. (emphasis added). Here, we are not required to consider the

letters written by appellant, which appellant’s attorney showed to the trial court for

the first time on the day of trial. The only pleading submitted by counsel on the

matter was submitted the day of trial and did not ask for a speedy trial, but instead

asked for a dismissal for lack of a speedy trial. Thus, we hold that this factor weighs

heavily against appellant.

4. Prejudice to Appellant

This factor is viewed in light of the interests that the speedy trial right was

meant to protect. Barker , 407 U.S. at 532 , 92 S. Ct. at 2193 . These interests are (1)

to prevent oppressive pretrial incarceration; (2) to minimize anxiety and concern of

the accused; and (3) to limit the possibility that the defense will be impaired. Id. ;

Munoz , 991 S.W.2d at 826 . The third factor is to be regarded with the most

importance because it is paramount to our judicial system that an accused have the

ability to defend himself adequately. See id. It is not essential that a defendant show

affirmative proof of prejudice “because excessive delay presumptively compromises

the reliability of a trial.” Doggett , 505 U.S. at 657 , 112 S. Ct. at 2693 ; see Shaw, 117

S.W.3d at 890 . However, this presumption is negated by the defendant’s failure to

assert his speedy trial right. See id.

First, appellant has been incarcerated on an unrelated offense since before the

incident in question. Although appellant would have been incarcerated regardless of

the crime involved in this case, some consideration needs to be given to any possible

“oppressive pre-trial incarceration.” Smith v. Hooey , 393 U.S. 374, 378 , 89 S. Ct.

575, 577 (1969). However, in this case there is no evidence that appellant suffered

any oppressive pre-trial incarceration. Appellant was already serving in the

administrative segregation unit before the incident and thus could not have had his

prison activities restricted any further. Second, there is no evidence that appellant

suffered from any mental anxiety due to the 39-month delay. Thus, appellant has not

shown prejudice based on the first two interests.

Appellant further alleges that his defense was impaired due to the loss of four

potential witnesses. Appellant listed these witnesses in a sworn affidavit filed by his

trial attorney. This list includes (1) Danny Garcia, who died in February 2005 and

who told investigators that he had heard one of the alleged victims tell appellant that

he (the victim) would “get him a case for chunking on him”; (2) Isodro Salinas, who

died in December 2006 and who told investigators that appellant had never had any

problems with either victim; (3) Roberto Gonzales, who told investigators that he had

seen appellant’s neighbor in cell 38 throw the feces on the two victims; and (4)

Roberto Aguirre, an inmate with a cell close to appellant’s at the time of the incident.

Both Roberto Gonzales and Roberto Aguirre were still alive at the time of trial, but

neither could be located.

The loss of potential witnesses causes unquestionable prejudice to a defense.

See Barker , 407 U.S. at 532 , 92 S. Ct. at 2193 . We must determine what level of

prejudice has occurred due to the loss of these four witnesses. For “some showing

of prejudice,” the appellant must demonstrate “that the witnesses are unavailable, that

their testimony might be material and relevant to his case, and that he has exercised

due diligence in his attempt to find them and produce them for trial.” Harris v. State ,

489 S.W.2d 303, 308 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973).

After a review of the record, the potential testimony of the two deceased

witnesses would likely not have been material or relevant. Danny Garcia told

investigators that one of the victims told appellant that he would get a chunking case

brought against him. However, the affidavit fails to specify which victim stated this

or when this occurred. It is possible that this statement was made after the incident,

in which case the statement would appear to be no more than a reasonable response

to appellant’s actions. Isodro Salinas told investigators that neither of the victims had

had any problems with appellant. This fact was testified to by both Williams and

appellant himself, thus making Salinas’s testimony repetitious and not material. The loss of the two living witnesses causes us to look at the appellant’s

investigatory methods and whether he exercised due diligence. Roberto Aguirre was

housed in a cell close to that of appellant at the time of the incident. However, there

is no evidence provided by appellant as to what Aguirre would have testified.

Furthermore, Aguirre was imprisoned for a full 10 months after appellant was

indicted. There is no evidence in the record that appellant attempted to investigate

Aguirre’s possible testimony during that time.

Roberto Gonzales would have testified that he witnessed the inmate in cell 38

throw the liquid onto the two victims. This testimony would no doubt have been

helpful to appellant. However, this witness did not show up on the day of trial,

despite being subpoenaed to do so. Appellant did not seek a continuance in order to

obtain the missing witness, which was a possible remedy available to him under

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 29.06, but instead moved to dismiss for the

lack of a speedy trial. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 29.06 (Vernon 2006).

The loss of this witness was within appellant’s power to prevent. He could have

asked for a continuance and then sought to have Gonzales appear before the court on

his behalf. Appellant failed to take this action. It is difficult to see how the loss of

this witness prejudiced the defense when appellant failed to show due diligence by

taking the reasonable steps to ensure Gonzales’s presence at trial. Thus, we hold that

this factor weighs only slightly against the State.

5. The Balancing Test

After assigning weight to each, the factors must be balanced together. Shaw ,

117 S.W.3d at 891 . Tending slightly to favor a finding of a violation are each of the

factors of the 39-month delay, the absence of a valid reason for the delay, and the loss

of potential witnesses. Tending heavily against a finding of a violation is the

appellant’s failure to assert his speedy trial right. After balancing these factors, we

hold that appellant’s speedy trial right was not violated. Appellant’s failure to assert

his right to a speedy trial shows that he really did not want a speedy trial and that this

failure offsets any possible prejudice caused by the delay. See Barker , 407 U.S. at

534 , 92 S. Ct. at 2194 ; see also Shaw , 117 S.W.3d at 890–91 (concluding that 29-month delay between indictment and defendant’s assertion of his right to speedy trial

showed that defendant did not really want speedy trial).

Therefore, we hold the trial court’s denial of appellant’s motion to dismiss for

lack of a speedy trial was not an abuse of discretion, and we overrule appellant’s first

point of error.

Extraneous Offense Evidence

In points of error two and three, appellant contends that evidence offered at

trial of extraneous incidents of appellant’s “chunking” was admitted in error.

Appellant argues that this evidence violated Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b) or,

alternatively, Texas Rule of Evidence 403. See Tex. R. Evid. 403, 404(b).

A. Standard of Review

In our review of the admissibility of evidence, we must apply an abuse-of-discretion standard. Weatherred v. State , 15 S.W.3d 540, 542 (Tex. Crim. App.

2000). An appellate court is required to uphold the trial court’s ruling as long as it

was within a “zone of reasonable disagreement.” Montgomery v. State , 810 S.W.2d

372, 391 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (op. on reh’g). An appellate court is also required

to review the trial court’s ruling in reference to what was before the trial court at the

time that the ruling was made. Hoyos v. State , 982 S.W.2d 419, 422 (Tex. Crim. App.

1998).

B. The Law

Rule 404(b) of the Texas Rules of Evidence provides: Evidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts is not admissible to prove the

character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith .

It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of

motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or

absence of mistake or accident, provided that upon timely request by the

accused in a criminal case, reasonable notice is given in advance of trial

of intent to introduce in the State’s case-in-chief such evidence other

than that arising in the same transaction.

Tex. R. Evid. 404(b). Extraneous evidence that serves any of the purposes

enunciated above is relevant and admissible “beyond its tendency to prove the

character of a person to show that he acted in conformity therewith.” Montgomery ,

810 S.W.2d at 391 .

Rule 403 of the Texas Rules of Evidence provides:

Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is

substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of

the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay,

or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.

Tex. R. Evid. 403. The court is required to conduct a balancing test when faced with

a rule 403 objection. See Montgomery , 810 S.W.2d at 388 . When evidence is

deemed to be relevant, it is presumed that its value outweighs any prejudicial effect.

See id. at 389 . It is then the burden of the opponent to show that the alleged unfair

prejudice substantially outweighs the probative value. See id. The court should also

consider four factors when conducting this balance. Wheeler v. State , 67 S.W.3d 879,

888 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). These factors include (1) how compellingly evidence

of the extraneous offense serves to make a fact of consequence more or less probable;

(2) the extraneous offense’s potential to impress the jury in some irrational but

indelible way; (3) the trial time that the proponent will require to develop evidence

of the extraneous misconduct; and (4) the proponent’s need for the extraneous

transaction evidence. Id.

C. Application of Rule 404(b)

At trial, evidence was admitted that appellant had “chunked” four times on

three other inmates and had threatened to “chunk” on a correctional officer. These

incidents were presented during the cross-examination of appellant and in the State’s

rebuttal. Each incident occurred under similar circumstances. All occurred in front

of appellant’s cell, and each of the victims had liquid fecal matter thrown on him.

The trial court allowed this evidence to show intent, motive, scheme, and design and

to refute a defensive theory.

The State argued in its closing statement that appellant had a motive to stay in

administrative segregation or to be moved to another prison population and that these

extraneous incidents showed that he had a similar plan or scheme to carry out that

motive. Each of these extraneous offenses had involved appellant’s throwing bodily

fluids on other inmates, and the State offered these facts as a basis for appellant’s

motive to stay in administrative segregation. The trial court was made aware that any

“bad acts” committed by an inmate would result in a set amount of time spent in

administrative segregation. During the admissibility hearing, appellant himself told

the trial court that he had repeatedly (six or seven times) asked to be transferred to a

different unit or population. We observe that, in the absence of a transfer to a

different unit, the only way that appellant cold avoid the population in this unit was

to spend time in administrative segregation.

The trial court was also aware that appellant denied committing the incident in

question and instead implicated his neighbor as the one who had thrown the liquid.

This defensive theory was offered by appellant himself during direct examination.

The State requested that the extraneous evidence be used to refute this defensive

theory. The trial court referenced refuting a defensive theory when making its

limiting instruction to the jury.

Applying the abuse-of-discretion standard, we hold that the admissibility of the

evidence does not fall outside “the zone of reasonable disagreement.” See

Montgomery , 810 S.W.2d at 391 . Motive evidence must “fairly tend to raise an

inference in favor of the existence of a motive on the part of the accused to commit

the alleged offense for which he is on trial.” Rodriguez v. State , 486 S.W.2d 355, 358

(Tex. Crim. App. 1972). Rebuttal of a defensive theory is also a permissible use of

evidence offered under rule 404(b). Moses v. State , 105 S.W.3d 622, 626 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2003) (allowing evidence to refute defendant’s assertion that charges against

him were false and in retaliation for past occurrence with police officers).

At the time that the trial court made its ruling, it was aware of the information

above and was aware, generally, of the extraneous testimony that would be presented.

It was not unreasonable for the trial court to rule that these extraneous offenses, all

occurring under almost the same type of facts as those of the charged offense, did

tend to show a motive on the part of appellant to stay in administrative segregation

and that he had a repetitive scheme to carry out that motive. It was also not

unreasonable for the trial court to admit the evidence on the ground that it refuted the

defensive theory that another inmate had thrown the liquid. See id.

Therefore, we overrule appellant’s second point of error.

D. Application of Rule 403

Appellant alternatively argues that the extraneous evidence should be held to

be inadmissible under rule 403. As stated above, the trial court considers the

evidence in light of four factors: (1) how compellingly evidence of the extraneous

offense serves to make a fact of consequence more or less probable; (2) the

extraneous offense’s potential to impress the jury in some irrational but indelible way;

(3) the trial time that the proponent will require to develop evidence of the extraneous

misconduct; and (4) the proponent’s need for the extraneous transaction evidence.

Wheeler , 67 S.W.3d at 888 .

Under the first factor, the trial court reasonably have recognized that the

extraneous evidence did tend to show a scheme or plan and a motive on the part of

appellant to throw bodily fluids on people in order to stay in administrative

segregation. This fact tended to show that the evidence was compelling and that the

State had demonstrated a need to use it. Second, the trial court limited the number

of incidents that the State could use to “four or five,” as opposed to the 18 that the

State had sought to use. Testimony was admitted only as to four incidents against

three inmates and a fifth threatened incident. This step limited the time needed to

present this evidence to four rebuttal witnesses . Finally, the trial court gave the jury

a limiting instruction, mandating that they use the extraneous evidence only for the

purposes of showing motive, scheme, or plan or for refuting a defensive theory.

Thus, the trial court took steps to ensure that the evidence would not impress the jury

in some irrational or impermissible way.

The trial court had previously concluded that the extraneous incidents were

relevant and probative to show appellant’s motive, scheme, or plan and to refute a

defensive theory. Thus, it was appellant’s burden to show that the unfair prejudicial

effect of these incidents substantially outweighed the probative value. See

Montgomery , 810 S.W.3d at 888.

Balancing the probative value against any unfair prejudicial effect, we hold that

it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial court to admit the extraneous evidence.

The court ruled that the incidents were probative and took limiting actions to prevent

impermissible uses by the jury.

Therefore, we overrule appellant’s third point of error. Conclusion

We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Tim Taft

Justice

Panel consists of Justices Taft, Keyes, and Alcala.

Do not publish. Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).