PD-1642-14

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF THE STATE OF TEXAS 

CORDERO JARREAL STEVENSON

Petitioner/Appellant

v. 

THE STATE OF TEXAS

Respondent/Appellee

On Petition for Discretionary Review from the Fourteenth Court of Appeals

In Cause No. 14-13-00690-CR, affirming the conviction in 

Cause No. 1299880 from the 179th District Court of Harris County, Texas 

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED ALEXANDER BUNIN

 Chief Public Defender

Harris County, Texas

 FRANCES BOURLIOT

 Assistant Public Defender 

 Harris County, Texas 

Texas Bar No. 24062419

1201 Franklin, 13th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Phone: (713) 368-0016

Fax: (713) 437-4317

frances.bourliot@pdo.hctx.net

 

Counsel for Petitioner

PD-1642-14

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Transmitted 1/14/2015 4:11:36 PM

Accepted 1/21/2015 11:55:56 AM

ABEL ACOSTA

CLERK
ii

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

APPELLANT: Cordero Jarreal Stevenson 

TDCJ # 01873901

Garza East Unit

4304 Highway 202

Beeville, Texas 78102

TRIAL PROSECUTORS: Rachel Palmer

Assistant District Attorney

 Harris County, Texas

 1201 Franklin Avenue

Houston, Texas 77002

DEFENSE COUNSEL AT TRIAL: Theodore Haynes, Jr.

P.O. Box 300833

Houston, Texas 77230-0833

PRESIDING JUDGE: Hon. Kristin Guiney

 179th District Court 

Harris County, Texas

1201 Franklin Avenue, 18th floor

Houston, Texas 77002

COUNSEL ON APPEAL FOR APPELLANT: Frances Bourliot

 Assistant Public Defender

 Harris County, Texas

 1201 Franklin, 13th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL................................................................... ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................................... iii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES........................................................................................iv

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT..........................................................1

STATEMENT OF THE CASE......................................................................................1

STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY ................................................................1

QUESTION FOR REVIEW .........................................................................................2

NO RATIONAL JURY COULD HAVE FOUND BEYOND A REASONABLE 

DOUBT THAT MR. STEVENSON COMMITTED AN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY

WITH A DEADLY WEAPON BASED ON THE ALIBI TESTIMONY COUPLED 

WITH THE WEAK AND TAINTED EVIDENCE PRESENTED. DID THE COURT 

OF APPEALS ERR WHEN IT CONCLUDED THAT THE EVIDENCE WAS 

LEGALLY SUFFICIENT?

REASON FOR GRANTING REVIEW...........................................................................2

ARGUMENT.............................................................................................................2

PRAYER ..................................................................................................................6

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ......................................................................................7

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ..............................................................................7
iv

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) ................................................ 4, 5

Ervin v. State, 331 S.W.3d 49 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist] 2010, pet. refd). .......2, 4, 5

Hooper v. State, 214 SW.3d 9 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007)......................................................... 2

Isassi v. State, 330 S.W.3d 633 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)....................................................... 2

Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979) ............................................................................ 2, 4

Stevenson v. State, 14-13-00690-CR, 2014 WL 6085583 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th 

Dist.] Nov. 13, 2014)...................................................................................................... 1, 2

Temple v. State, 342 S.W.3d 572 (Tex. App.--Houston. [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.)..... 4, 6

Wade v. State, 951 S.W.2d 886 (Tex. App. – Waco, 1997, pet. ref’d)................................ 5

Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W. 3d 763 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).................................................. 3
1

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT

Petitioner requests oral argument as it may aid the Court since the analysis of 

this case depends upon a detailed review of the record. 

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

This petition seeks review of a direct appeal brought after a conviction for 

aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. (C.R. at 125). On July 23, 2013, Stevenson’s 

case was called for a jury trial; he was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty (3 R.R. 

at 22). On July 23, 2013, the jury found Stevenson guilty as charged in the indictment 

(3 R.R. at 120). The trial court assessed his punishment at thirty-three (33) years 

confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division (4 

R.R. at 80). 

STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On November 13, 2014, in an unpublished memorandum opinion, the 

Fourteenth Court of Appeals affirmed Mr. Stevenson’s conviction, overruling four 

points of error. Stevenson v. State, 14-13-00690-CR, 2014 WL 6085583 (Tex. App.—

Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 13, 2014). See Appendix. No motion for rehearing was 

filed. 
2

QUESTION FOR REVIEW

NO RATIONAL JURY COULD HAVE FOUND BEYOND A REASONABLE 

DOUBT THAT MR. STEVENSON COMMITTED AN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY 

WITH A DEADLY WEAPON BASED ON THE ALIBI TESTIMONY COUPLED 

WITH THE WEAK AND TAINTED EVIDENCE PRESENTED. DID THE COURT 

OF APPEALS ERR WHEN IT CONCLUDED THAT THE EVIDENCE WAS 

LEGALLY SUFFICIENT?

REASON FOR GRANTING REVIEW

The opinion of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals conflicts with decisions by 

this Court and the Supreme Court of the United States in that its determination that 

the evidence is legally sufficient conflicts with Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979)

and Hooper v. State, 214 SW.3d 9 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). 

ARGUMENT

NO RATIONAL JURY COULD HAVE FOUND BEYOND A REASONABLE 

DOUBT THAT MR. STEVENSON COMMITTED AN AGGRAVATED 

ROBBERY WITH A DEADLY WEAPON BASED ON THE ALIBI TESTIMONY 

COUPLED WITH THE WEAK AND TAINTED EVIDENCE PRESENTED.

DID THE COURT OF APPEALS ERR WHEN IT CONCLUDED THAT THE 

EVIDENCE WAS LEGALLY SUFFICIENT?

Mr. Stevenson challenged the legal sufficiency of the State’s evidence regarding 

the aggravated robbery because the evidence presented at trial both established 

reasonable doubt and was, at best, merely a “modicum” of evidence of an element of 

the offense. Ervin v. State, 331 S.W.3d 49, 55 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist] 2010, pet. 

ref’d). On appeal, the Court of Appeals found the evidence legally sufficient to 

support the judgment because: “we defer to the jury's resolution of conflicting witness 

testimony. See Isassi v. State, 330 S.W.3d 633, 638 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). Stevenson v. 
3

State, 14-13-00690-CR, 2014 WL 6085583, at *5 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 

Nov. 13, 2014).

Under the indictment, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable 

doubt that Mr. Stevenson “did then and there unlawfully, while in the course of 

committing theft of property owned by Rosendo Morales, and with intent to obtain 

and maintain control of the property, intentionally and knowingly threaten and place 

Rosendo Morales in fear of imminent bodily injury and death, and the Defendant did 

then and there use and exhibit a deadly weapon, namely, a firearm.” (C.R. at 12). 

Cilia Green, Stevenson’s wife, was at home with Stevenson during the time this 

incident occurred. (3 R.R. at 93). The two of them woke up around 1:30 in the 

afternoon, ate lunch, and watched movies for the entire day. (3 R.R. at 93-94). At no 

point during the afternoon was Stevenson out of her presence. (3 R.R. at 94). 

Furthermore, no prints or other biological evidence linked Stevenson to the crime. (3 

R.R. at 44, 50, 72). There was no testimony that Stevenson was found with any of the 

items stolen from the shop. In fact, the only evidence tying Stevenson to the incident 

was Morales’s problematic identification almost one year after the incident occurred

and the surveillance video accompanied by still photographs. (3 R.R. at 29, 32).

The State must prove each element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. If 

the State does not satisfy this burden on any element, then the evidence is legally 

insufficient and the defendant is entitled to a judgment of acquittal. See Winfrey v. State, 

393 S.W. 3d 763, 772-3 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (reversing capital murder conviction 
4

for insufficient evidence of D’s identity; reversing conspiracy conviction for 

insufficient evidence of agreement).

An appellate court is to apply a “rigorous” Jackson v. Virginia analysis of the 

sufficiency of evidence. See Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 912 (Tex. Crim. App. 

2010). See, also, Temple v. State, 342 S.W.3d 572, 628 (Tex. App.--Houston. [14th Dist.] 

2010, no pet.) (McCally, J., dissenting to denial of rehearing en banc). Under the 

Brooks/Jackson standard:

Legal sufficiency of the evidence in a criminal proceeding may be 

divided into two zones: evidence of such sufficient strength, character, 

and credibility to engender certainty beyond a reasonable doubt in the 

reasonable fact finder’s mind and evidence that lacks that strength. 

Appellate review of a jury’s verdict of criminal conviction focuses solely 

on that “either-or” character of evidentiary sufficiency because a 

defendant is entitled to an acquittal if the evidence lacks that strength.

Brooks at 918 (Cochran, J., concurring).

This standard embraces two scenarios constituting insufficient evidence. 

“Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, the evidence is insufficient under 

this standard in two circumstances: (1) the record contains no evidence, or merely a 

‘modicum’ of evidence, probative of an element of the offense; or (2) the evidence 

conclusively establishes a reasonable doubt.” Ervin, 331 S.W.3d at 55. 

The alibi testimony coupled with the lack of physical evidence and the 

problematic photo array that was not presented to the complainant until almost one 

year after the incident occurred conclusively establishes reasonable doubt. Although 

the jury is the sole judge of the weight of the evidence and may choose to believe all, 
5

some, or none of it and reconciliation of conflicts in the evidence is within the 

exclusive province of the jury, this Court’s decision in Ervin, which envisions a 

situation in which the evidence can conclusively establish reasonable doubt, surely 

limits even the jury’s powers when the evidence so clearly militates against a verdict of 

guilt. Wade v. State, 951 S.W.2d 886, 889 (Tex. App. – Waco, 1997, pet. ref’d). Some 

“conflicts” cannot be resolved by rational jurors. This point is supported by Justice 

Jenning’s policy argument for a “rigorous” legal sufficiency review in his concurrence 

in Ervin:

Although the right to trial by jury is indeed the bulwark of our liberties, 

no one has ever seriously argued that juries always ‘get it right,’ even 

when there is, at a bare minimum, legally-sufficient evidence to support 

their verdict. Even today, the reality is that there are individuals who 

have been convicted by juries of criminal offenses with legally sufficient 

evidence only to be later exonerated after spending a considerable 

amount of time in prison. Thus, an additional judicial check, as 

contemplated in the factual-conclusivity clause, on a jury’s authority to 

decide questions of fact is not inappropriate and serves to further 

protect against wrongful conviction.

Ervin, 331 S.W.3d at 59 (Jennings, J., concurring.).

Legal sufficiency is judged by the quality, not the quantity, of evidence 

supporting the adequacy of the verdict. Brooks at 917. “In criminal cases, only that 

evidence which is sufficient in character, weight, and amount to justify a factfinder in 

concluding that every element of the offense has been proven beyond a reasonable 

doubt is adequate to support a conviction.” Id. An appellate court defers to the fact 

finder’s resolution of conflicting evidence, unless the resolution is not rational. See 
6

Temple, 342 S.W.3d at 584. In this case, resolution of the conflicting statements is not 

rational. The Court of Appeals erred in holding that the evidence was legally sufficient 

to prove that Mr. Stevenson committed an aggravated robbery.

PRAYER

Mr. Stevenson asks the Court to grant his petition and conduct a full review of 

his appeal in the Fourteenth Court of Appeals.

Respectfully submitted,

ALEXANDER BUNIN

Chief Public Defender

Harris County Texas 

 s/Frances Bourliot 

FRANCES BOURLIOT

Assistant Public Defender

Harris County, Texas

Texas Bar No. 24062419

1201 Franklin, 13th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Phone: (713) 368-0016

Fax: (713) 437-4317

frances.bourliot@pdo.hctx.net
7

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

This is to certify that a copy of the foregoing petition for discretionary review 

has been served on the District Attorney of Harris County, Texas, by e-file on the 14th

day of January, 2015. A copy has also been sent by e-file to the State Prosecuting 

Attorney, also on the 14th day of January, 2015.

 s/Frances Bourliot 

Frances Bourliot

Certificate of Compliance

 Pursuant to proposed Rule 9.4(i)(3), undersigned counsel certifies that this brief 

complies with the type-volume limitations of Tex. R. App. Proc. 9.4(e)(i).

1. This brief contains 1,963 words printed in a proportionally spaced typeface.

2. This brief is printed in a proportionally spaced, serif typeface using Garamond 

14 point font in text and Garamond 13 point font in footnotes produced by 

Microsoft Word software.

3. Upon request, undersigned counsel will provide an electronic version of this 

brief and/or a copy of the word printout to the Court.

4. Undersigned counsel understands that a material misrepresentation in 

completing this certificate, or circumvention of the type-volume limits in Tex. R. App. 

Proc. 9.4(j), may result in the Court's striking this brief and imposing sanctions against 

the person who signed it.

 

 s/Frances Bourliot 

 Frances Bourliot
Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed November 13, 2014

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

NO. 14-13-00690-CR

CORDERO JARREAL STEVENSON, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 179th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 1299880

M E M O R A N D U M O P I N I O N

A jury convicted appellant Cordero Jarreal Stevenson of aggravated robbery 

with a deadly weapon1and sentenced him to confinement in the Institutional 

Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for thirty-three years. 

Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal. We affirm.

 

1

See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 29.02(a)(1), 29.03(a)(2) (West 2011).
2

Appellant raises four issues. In his first issue, appellant claims the trial court 

erred in denying his motion to suppress an out-of-court identification because the 

procedure was unconstitutionally suggestive. Appellant’s second issue argues the 

trial court erred in admitting the complainant’s in-court identification because it 

was unreliable considering the totality of the circumstances. Issue three contends 

the trial court violated appellant’s right to due process by admitting evidence of the 

complainant’s out-of-court identification without instructing the jury on the 

unreliability of eyewitness identification. Finally, appellant asserts the evidence is 

insufficient to support his conviction. 

BACKGROUND

An aggravated robbery occurred on April 8, 2010, at the Java Gold store. 

The business was owned by Hehmood Ghaznavi. Ghaznavi was deceased at the 

time of trial. Rosendo Morales was present in the store to fix Ghaznavi’s computer. 

Two men came into the business. Approximately five minutes later a third man 

entered. All three men pulled guns out and pointed them at Ghaznavi and Morales. 

The men started asking for money and searching for it. Morales identified 

appellant as the third person that came into the store and as the man in the video 

surveillance wearing a red shirt. Morales testified appellant searched Ghaznavi’s 

pockets and took what Morales had in his pockets, a wallet containing “probably 

couple hundred dollars” in cash and a silver cross. The men took Morales’s two 

cell phones and two guns from inside the store. One of the other men took 

Morales’s keys and they stole his car. The car was found about four or five blocks 

from the store, but everything in it was taken – a computer, computer screens, and 

laptops. Fingerprints were taken at the scene but none were identified as 

appellant’s.
3

Sergeant Antonio Guzman, an investigator with the robbery division of the 

Houston Police Department, testified that he first spoke with Morales and 

Ghaznavi six days after the robbery. He obtained a surveillance video and it was 

shown on local television around April 16, 2010. On March 22, 2011, Guzman 

received a Crime Stoppers tip regarding appellant. He obtained a photograph of 

appellant and prepared a photo array. When Guzman showed the array to Morales, 

he immediately identified appellant. 

DENIAL OF MOTION TO SUPPRESS OUT-OF-COURT IDENTIFICATION

Appellant’s first issue contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to 

suppress his out-of-court identification by Morales. Appellant claims the out-ofcourt identification procedure gave rise to a substantial likelihood of an irreparable 

misidentification.

We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress for an abuse of 

discretion. Shepherd v. State, 273 S.W.3d 681, 684 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). “[A] 

pretrial identification procedure may be so suggestive and conducive to mistaken 

identification that subsequent use of that identification at trial would deny the 

accused due process of law.” Conner v. State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 200 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2001). We apply a two-step analysis to determine the admissibility of an incourt identification: (1) whether the pretrial identification procedure was 

impermissibly suggestive, and, if so, (2) whether that suggestive procedure gave 

rise to a substantial likelihood of an irreparable in-court misidentification. Id. An 

appellant must establish both of these elements by clear and convincing evidence. 

Santos v. State, 116 S.W.3d 447, 451 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. 

ref’d) (citing Delk v. State, 855 S.W.2d 700, 706 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)). 

Suggestiveness may arise from the manner in which a pretrial identification 

procedure is conducted. Barley v. State, 906 S.W.2d 27, 33–34 (Tex. Crim. App.
4

1995). For example, a police officer may point out the suspect or suggest that a 

suspect is included in a lineup or photographic array. Id. Also, the content of a 

lineup or photographic array itself may be suggestive if the suspect is the only 

individual who closely resembles the description given by the witness. Id. An 

individual procedure may be suggestive or the cumulative effect of procedures may 

be suggestive. Id.

In his motion to suppress, appellant claimed the photo spread did not contain 

photos of other individuals who are similar in appearance to the defendant. 

Sergeant Guzman testified that he prepared the photo array from a database of mug 

shot photographs in the Houston Police Department (“HPD”) criminal files. 

Appellant was placed in the No. 6 position. He then contacted the victims of the 

robbery, Morales and Ghaznavi. Guzman testified that he usually gives witnesses a

standard HPD admonishment. He instructs them the suspect or the person who 

committed the crime may or may not be in the array, to look at each photo 

carefully, to take their time and, if they see the individual, point him out. Guzman 

testified that he did not, in any way, point out the individual that he wanted 

identified. Further, he testified that all the individuals in the photo array are of the 

same race, around the same age, and have similar facial hair. Guzman testified that 

he handed Morales the array and after a few seconds, Morales pointed at the No. 6 

position and said, “That’s him.” Guzman identified appellant as the individual 

Morales selected from the array.

Appellant argued at the hearing that only the person in position No. 5 had a 

complexion as dark as his, but that person’s features were much broader and

bulkier than appellant’s slender build. On appeal, appellant asserts that he and the 

person in position No. 5 were the two darkest-complexioned individuals in the 

array and that the face of the person in position No. 5 was noticeably “thicker”.
5

The photo array is comprised of six pictures of black men of similar age, 

facial features, skin color, and hair styles. All are dressed in white t-shirts. The 

person in position No. 2 is also wearing a collared shirt or jacket and the person in 

position No. 5 has on a black jacket. The person in position No. 5 does have the 

darkest complexion but appellant’s complexion is also similar to that of the person 

in position No. 3. All six men have the same haircut and very similar facial hair. 

The face of the person in positon No. 5 is broader than appellant’s but his face is 

also closer to the camera. The faces of the other men reflect a similar build to 

appellant.

A photo array is not improperly suggestive merely because the photographs 

of six individuals can be distinguished in some manner. See Mungia v. State, 911 

S.W.2d 164, 168 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1995, no pet.). “[L]ineup participants 

need not be identical to satisfy due process requirements.” Luna v. State, 268 

S.W.3d 594, 607–08 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). We conclude appellant did not 

prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that the out-of-court identification 

procedure used here was impermissibly suggestive. Accordingly, the trial court did 

not abuse its discretion in denying appellant’s motion to suppress. Because 

appellant did not establish the photo array was unduly suggestive, we need not 

address whether the procedure gave rise to a very substantial likelihood of 

irreparable misidentification. Issue one is overruled.

ADMISSION OF IN-COURT IDENTIFICATION

In his second issue, appellant claims the trial court erred in allowing Morales

to identify him in-court because, considering the totality of the circumstances, it 

was unreliable. The record reflects Morales identified appellant in court as one of 

the men who came into the store to commit the robbery. There was no objection to 

his testimony. Subsequently, Morales was asked if “the man in the red shirt in 
6

State’s Exhibit 7” was appellant. An objection was made to “a leading question” 

after Morales answered, “Yes.”

The record does not reflect any objection was made to Morales’s in-court 

identification of appellant. Generally, to preserve error, a party must make a 

timely, specific objection to apprise the trial court of the basis for the request, 

objection, or motion and receive an adverse ruling. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1). 

Accordingly, appellant’s argument presents nothing for our review and we overrule 

issue two. 

INSTRUCTION ON UNRELIABILITY OF EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION

Appellant’s third issue claims the trial court erred in failing to instruct the 

jury on the unreliability of eyewitness identification. Appellant neither requested 

such an instruction nor objected to its omission at trial. 

We first determine whether there was error in the charge when reviewing a

claim of charge error. Barrios v. State, 283 S.W.3d 348, 350 (Tex. Crim. App.

2009). If the appellant objected at trial, we must reverse if there was error and the

error caused some harm. Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim.

App.1985); Barrios, 283 S.W.3d at 350. If the appellant did not object, however, 

we reverse only if there was error and it caused egregious harm. Almanza, 686 

S.W.2d at 171. The analytical framework for assessing harm does not apply unless 

we first find error in the jury charge. Posey v. State, 966 S.W.2d 57, 61 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1998).

“[A] defendant must object to the charge before he may be heard to 

complain on appeal about ‘errors claimed to have been committed in the charge, as 

well as errors claimed to have been committed by omissions therefrom or in failing 

to charge upon issues arising from the facts.’” Id. (quoting Tex. Code Crim. Proc. 
7

art. 36.14). Therefore, “when Almanza speaks of ‘erroneous’ omissions of issues in 

the court’s charge, it speaks of omissions of issues upon which a trial court has a 

duty to instruct without a request from either party or issues that have been timely 

brought to the trial court’s attention.” Id. at 63–64. And although the trial judge has 

“an absolute sua sponte duty to prepare a jury charge that accurately sets out the 

law applicable to the specific offense charged,” he does not have a “similar sua 

sponte duty to instruct the jury on all potential defensive issues, lesser-included 

offenses, or evidentiary issues. These are issues that frequently depend upon trial 

strategy and tactics.” Delgado v. State, 235 S.W.3d 244, 249 (Tex. Crim. App.

2007); see Taylor v. State, 332 S.W.3d 483, 487 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (“We 

have previously held that [a]rticle 36.14 imposes no duty on trial courts to sua 

sponte instruct the jury on unrequested defensive issues.... An unrequested 

defensive issue is not the law applicable to the case.”) (citing Posey, 966 S.W.2d at 

62).

In this case, appellant neither requested an instruction on the unreliability of 

eyewitness identification nor objected to the omission of such an instruction at 

trial. Because the trial court had no duty to sua sponte instruct the jury regarding 

all potential defensive issues and evidentiary theories, appellant cannot complain 

of this omission for the first time on appeal. See Delgado, 235 S.W.3d at 249–50; 

Posey, 966 S.W.2d at 61–64. See also Webber v. State, 29 S.W.3d 226, 233 (Tex. 

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. ref’d) (“a defensive issue is not part of the 

law applicable to the case unless the accused requests it to be or objects to its 

omission.”). Accordingly, appellant’s third issue is overruled.

SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

Appellant’s fourth issue claims the evidence is insufficient to support his 

conviction. Appellant points to evidence that he had an alibi, there was no physical 
8

evidence linking him to the crime, and he was not found with any of the stolen 

items. 

Cilia Green, appellant’s wife, testified that on the day in question he was 

home with her for the entire day. On cross-examination Green admitted that she 

had never talked to the police or the prosecutors and told them of appellant’s alibi. 

Appellant argues “the only evidence tying [him] to the incident was 

Morales’s problematic identification almost one year after the incident occurred.” 

“The testimony of a single eyewitness can be enough to support a conviction.”

Bradley v. State, 359 S.W.3d 912, 917 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, 

pet. ref’d). The jury resolves any conflicts or inconsistencies in the evidence and 

decides whether to believe eyewitness testimony. Id. The jury weighs the evidence 

and may find guilt without physical evidence linking the accused to the crime. Id.

In addition to Morales’s identification of appellant, the record reflects the 

surveillance video from the store was admitted into evidence, as well as seventeen 

still photographs from the video. The jurors were able to view the video and the 

photographs before determining whether appellant was one of the robbers. 

Although Green provided appellant with an alibi, we defer to the jury’s

resolution of conflicting witness testimony. See Isassi v. State, 330 S.W.3d 633, 

638 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). The jury was free to credit the testimony of the 

eyewitness and disbelieve Green’s testimony. See Losada v. State, 721 S.W.2d 

305, 309 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) (holding jury is sole judge of witness credibility 

and may believe some witnesses and refuse to believe others).

Viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we 

conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found the elements of the offense 

beyond a reasonable doubt. See Isassi, 330 S.W.3d at 638; and Jackson v. Virginia, 

443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). We hold the evidence is 
9

legally sufficient to support appellant’s conviction. Appellant’s fourth issue is 

overruled. 

CONCLUSION

Having overruled all of appellant’s issues, the judgment of the trial court is 

affirmed.

/s/ Marc W. Brown

Justice

Panel consists of Justices McCally, Brown, and Wise.

Do Not Publish — Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).
Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed November 13, 2014

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

NO. 14-13-00690-CR

CORDERO JARREAL STEVENSON, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 179th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 1299880

M E M O R A N D U M O P I N I O N

A jury convicted appellant Cordero Jarreal Stevenson of aggravated robbery 

with a deadly weapon1and sentenced him to confinement in the Institutional 

Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for thirty-three years. 

Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal. We affirm.

 

1

See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 29.02(a)(1), 29.03(a)(2) (West 2011).
2

Appellant raises four issues. In his first issue, appellant claims the trial court 

erred in denying his motion to suppress an out-of-court identification because the 

procedure was unconstitutionally suggestive. Appellant’s second issue argues the 

trial court erred in admitting the complainant’s in-court identification because it 

was unreliable considering the totality of the circumstances. Issue three contends 

the trial court violated appellant’s right to due process by admitting evidence of the 

complainant’s out-of-court identification without instructing the jury on the 

unreliability of eyewitness identification. Finally, appellant asserts the evidence is 

insufficient to support his conviction. 

BACKGROUND

An aggravated robbery occurred on April 8, 2010, at the Java Gold store. 

The business was owned by Hehmood Ghaznavi. Ghaznavi was deceased at the 

time of trial. Rosendo Morales was present in the store to fix Ghaznavi’s computer. 

Two men came into the business. Approximately five minutes later a third man 

entered. All three men pulled guns out and pointed them at Ghaznavi and Morales. 

The men started asking for money and searching for it. Morales identified 

appellant as the third person that came into the store and as the man in the video 

surveillance wearing a red shirt. Morales testified appellant searched Ghaznavi’s 

pockets and took what Morales had in his pockets, a wallet containing “probably 

couple hundred dollars” in cash and a silver cross. The men took Morales’s two 

cell phones and two guns from inside the store. One of the other men took 

Morales’s keys and they stole his car. The car was found about four or five blocks 

from the store, but everything in it was taken – a computer, computer screens, and 

laptops. Fingerprints were taken at the scene but none were identified as 

appellant’s.
3

Sergeant Antonio Guzman, an investigator with the robbery division of the 

Houston Police Department, testified that he first spoke with Morales and 

Ghaznavi six days after the robbery. He obtained a surveillance video and it was 

shown on local television around April 16, 2010. On March 22, 2011, Guzman 

received a Crime Stoppers tip regarding appellant. He obtained a photograph of 

appellant and prepared a photo array. When Guzman showed the array to Morales, 

he immediately identified appellant. 

DENIAL OF MOTION TO SUPPRESS OUT-OF-COURT IDENTIFICATION

Appellant’s first issue contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to 

suppress his out-of-court identification by Morales. Appellant claims the out-ofcourt identification procedure gave rise to a substantial likelihood of an irreparable 

misidentification.

We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress for an abuse of 

discretion. Shepherd v. State, 273 S.W.3d 681, 684 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). “[A] 

pretrial identification procedure may be so suggestive and conducive to mistaken 

identification that subsequent use of that identification at trial would deny the 

accused due process of law.” Conner v. State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 200 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2001). We apply a two-step analysis to determine the admissibility of an incourt identification: (1) whether the pretrial identification procedure was 

impermissibly suggestive, and, if so, (2) whether that suggestive procedure gave 

rise to a substantial likelihood of an irreparable in-court misidentification. Id. An 

appellant must establish both of these elements by clear and convincing evidence. 

Santos v. State, 116 S.W.3d 447, 451 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. 

ref’d) (citing Delk v. State, 855 S.W.2d 700, 706 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)). 

Suggestiveness may arise from the manner in which a pretrial identification 

procedure is conducted. Barley v. State, 906 S.W.2d 27, 33–34 (Tex. Crim. App.
4

1995). For example, a police officer may point out the suspect or suggest that a 

suspect is included in a lineup or photographic array. Id. Also, the content of a 

lineup or photographic array itself may be suggestive if the suspect is the only 

individual who closely resembles the description given by the witness. Id. An 

individual procedure may be suggestive or the cumulative effect of procedures may 

be suggestive. Id.

In his motion to suppress, appellant claimed the photo spread did not contain 

photos of other individuals who are similar in appearance to the defendant. 

Sergeant Guzman testified that he prepared the photo array from a database of mug 

shot photographs in the Houston Police Department (“HPD”) criminal files. 

Appellant was placed in the No. 6 position. He then contacted the victims of the 

robbery, Morales and Ghaznavi. Guzman testified that he usually gives witnesses a

standard HPD admonishment. He instructs them the suspect or the person who 

committed the crime may or may not be in the array, to look at each photo 

carefully, to take their time and, if they see the individual, point him out. Guzman 

testified that he did not, in any way, point out the individual that he wanted 

identified. Further, he testified that all the individuals in the photo array are of the 

same race, around the same age, and have similar facial hair. Guzman testified that 

he handed Morales the array and after a few seconds, Morales pointed at the No. 6 

position and said, “That’s him.” Guzman identified appellant as the individual 

Morales selected from the array.

Appellant argued at the hearing that only the person in position No. 5 had a 

complexion as dark as his, but that person’s features were much broader and

bulkier than appellant’s slender build. On appeal, appellant asserts that he and the 

person in position No. 5 were the two darkest-complexioned individuals in the 

array and that the face of the person in position No. 5 was noticeably “thicker”.
5

The photo array is comprised of six pictures of black men of similar age, 

facial features, skin color, and hair styles. All are dressed in white t-shirts. The 

person in position No. 2 is also wearing a collared shirt or jacket and the person in 

position No. 5 has on a black jacket. The person in position No. 5 does have the 

darkest complexion but appellant’s complexion is also similar to that of the person 

in position No. 3. All six men have the same haircut and very similar facial hair. 

The face of the person in positon No. 5 is broader than appellant’s but his face is 

also closer to the camera. The faces of the other men reflect a similar build to 

appellant.

A photo array is not improperly suggestive merely because the photographs 

of six individuals can be distinguished in some manner. See Mungia v. State, 911 

S.W.2d 164, 168 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1995, no pet.). “[L]ineup participants 

need not be identical to satisfy due process requirements.” Luna v. State, 268 

S.W.3d 594, 607–08 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). We conclude appellant did not 

prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that the out-of-court identification 

procedure used here was impermissibly suggestive. Accordingly, the trial court did 

not abuse its discretion in denying appellant’s motion to suppress. Because 

appellant did not establish the photo array was unduly suggestive, we need not 

address whether the procedure gave rise to a very substantial likelihood of 

irreparable misidentification. Issue one is overruled.

ADMISSION OF IN-COURT IDENTIFICATION

In his second issue, appellant claims the trial court erred in allowing Morales

to identify him in-court because, considering the totality of the circumstances, it 

was unreliable. The record reflects Morales identified appellant in court as one of 

the men who came into the store to commit the robbery. There was no objection to 

his testimony. Subsequently, Morales was asked if “the man in the red shirt in 
6

State’s Exhibit 7” was appellant. An objection was made to “a leading question” 

after Morales answered, “Yes.”

The record does not reflect any objection was made to Morales’s in-court 

identification of appellant. Generally, to preserve error, a party must make a 

timely, specific objection to apprise the trial court of the basis for the request, 

objection, or motion and receive an adverse ruling. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1). 

Accordingly, appellant’s argument presents nothing for our review and we overrule 

issue two. 

INSTRUCTION ON UNRELIABILITY OF EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION

Appellant’s third issue claims the trial court erred in failing to instruct the 

jury on the unreliability of eyewitness identification. Appellant neither requested 

such an instruction nor objected to its omission at trial. 

We first determine whether there was error in the charge when reviewing a

claim of charge error. Barrios v. State, 283 S.W.3d 348, 350 (Tex. Crim. App.

2009). If the appellant objected at trial, we must reverse if there was error and the

error caused some harm. Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim.

App.1985); Barrios, 283 S.W.3d at 350. If the appellant did not object, however, 

we reverse only if there was error and it caused egregious harm. Almanza, 686 

S.W.2d at 171. The analytical framework for assessing harm does not apply unless 

we first find error in the jury charge. Posey v. State, 966 S.W.2d 57, 61 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1998).

“[A] defendant must object to the charge before he may be heard to 

complain on appeal about ‘errors claimed to have been committed in the charge, as 

well as errors claimed to have been committed by omissions therefrom or in failing 

to charge upon issues arising from the facts.’” Id. (quoting Tex. Code Crim. Proc. 
7

art. 36.14). Therefore, “when Almanza speaks of ‘erroneous’ omissions of issues in 

the court’s charge, it speaks of omissions of issues upon which a trial court has a 

duty to instruct without a request from either party or issues that have been timely 

brought to the trial court’s attention.” Id. at 63–64. And although the trial judge has 

“an absolute sua sponte duty to prepare a jury charge that accurately sets out the 

law applicable to the specific offense charged,” he does not have a “similar sua 

sponte duty to instruct the jury on all potential defensive issues, lesser-included 

offenses, or evidentiary issues. These are issues that frequently depend upon trial 

strategy and tactics.” Delgado v. State, 235 S.W.3d 244, 249 (Tex. Crim. App.

2007); see Taylor v. State, 332 S.W.3d 483, 487 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (“We 

have previously held that [a]rticle 36.14 imposes no duty on trial courts to sua 

sponte instruct the jury on unrequested defensive issues.... An unrequested 

defensive issue is not the law applicable to the case.”) (citing Posey, 966 S.W.2d at 

62).

In this case, appellant neither requested an instruction on the unreliability of 

eyewitness identification nor objected to the omission of such an instruction at 

trial. Because the trial court had no duty to sua sponte instruct the jury regarding 

all potential defensive issues and evidentiary theories, appellant cannot complain 

of this omission for the first time on appeal. See Delgado, 235 S.W.3d at 249–50; 

Posey, 966 S.W.2d at 61–64. See also Webber v. State, 29 S.W.3d 226, 233 (Tex. 

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. ref’d) (“a defensive issue is not part of the 

law applicable to the case unless the accused requests it to be or objects to its 

omission.”). Accordingly, appellant’s third issue is overruled.

SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

Appellant’s fourth issue claims the evidence is insufficient to support his 

conviction. Appellant points to evidence that he had an alibi, there was no physical 
8

evidence linking him to the crime, and he was not found with any of the stolen 

items. 

Cilia Green, appellant’s wife, testified that on the day in question he was 

home with her for the entire day. On cross-examination Green admitted that she 

had never talked to the police or the prosecutors and told them of appellant’s alibi. 

Appellant argues “the only evidence tying [him] to the incident was 

Morales’s problematic identification almost one year after the incident occurred.” 

“The testimony of a single eyewitness can be enough to support a conviction.”

Bradley v. State, 359 S.W.3d 912, 917 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, 

pet. ref’d). The jury resolves any conflicts or inconsistencies in the evidence and 

decides whether to believe eyewitness testimony. Id. The jury weighs the evidence 

and may find guilt without physical evidence linking the accused to the crime. Id.

In addition to Morales’s identification of appellant, the record reflects the 

surveillance video from the store was admitted into evidence, as well as seventeen 

still photographs from the video. The jurors were able to view the video and the 

photographs before determining whether appellant was one of the robbers. 

Although Green provided appellant with an alibi, we defer to the jury’s

resolution of conflicting witness testimony. See Isassi v. State, 330 S.W.3d 633, 

638 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). The jury was free to credit the testimony of the 

eyewitness and disbelieve Green’s testimony. See Losada v. State, 721 S.W.2d 

305, 309 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) (holding jury is sole judge of witness credibility 

and may believe some witnesses and refuse to believe others).

Viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we 

conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found the elements of the offense 

beyond a reasonable doubt. See Isassi, 330 S.W.3d at 638; and Jackson v. Virginia, 

443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). We hold the evidence is 
9

legally sufficient to support appellant’s conviction. Appellant’s fourth issue is 

overruled. 

CONCLUSION

Having overruled all of appellant’s issues, the judgment of the trial court is 

affirmed.

/s/ Marc W. Brown

Justice

Panel consists of Justices McCally, Brown, and Wise.

Do Not Publish — Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).