# If02(5

NO.04-15-00018-CR

IN THE TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS CHARLES ANTHONY LHERAULT APPELLANT

THE STATE OF TEXAS APPELLEE 

# ORIGINAL

J*
-I* .A. J* -.'- -.'-kf. .A. .A. .A. .A. .A. -A. »», »», .A. «(' -V "V '*•* "-'' *'" "'•* -''* "V *•'•**•'-J'- J>-'J* -1-* "'' "'' *'- "'* PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW ~V-'—A- -*- »•- *•- *•-«A. »*- »*- .A. «A. »»- -A. .A. -A. -A. -A, -A. -A, -A. **- »•- .A. «A. -A. «A».A. .A. .A. *A. -t„.A,J. fc»„
ON APPEAL FROM THE 175TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS 

## CAUSE NUMBER 2013-CR-10281 FILED |j\j 

# COURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALS
p.D.R. FROM APPELLANT AbelAcosta, Cierk -I-.A. .A. *«-J- »»--A.-A.»!*.A. .A. .A, .A, »!„.A, «A..A. .A. .A. .A, »f,
CHARLES ANTHONY LHERAULT

T.D.C.J.-C.I.D.#1972430

2400 WALLACE PACK ROAD NAVASOTA, TEXAS 77868

RECEIVED IN COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS 

### OCT 27 2015 

### ^betAcosta,Clerk 

# *Eci=ivi=D OCT2 72015 JWRDC0U& 

### &P£4tS SW(A)IDENTITY OF JUDGE, PARTIES, AND COUNSEL. CHIEF JUSTICE SANDEE BRYAN MARION, KAREN ANGELINI, JASON PULLIAM

NICHOLAS LaHOOD CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY
ANDREW N. WARTHEN. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY MICHAEL D. ROBBINS ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER (B)TABLE OF CONTENTS: N/A (C)INDEX OF AUTHORITIES: N/A (D)STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENTS: N/A (E)STATEMENT OF THE CASE:N/A (F.) STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY:N/A (G)GROUNDS FOR REVIEW:N/A (H)ARGUMENT: N/A

PRAYER Appellant PRAYS this P.D.R. is processed as soon as possible, in that he is able to file his 11.07/§2254 within the time limits set by the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

(J)APPENDIX: N/AUNSWORN DECLARATION COMES NOW, Charles Anthony Lherault, Petitioner in the above styled and numbered cause, declares under the penalty of perjury that the above is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Charles Anthony Lherault

2400 Wallace Pack Road Navasota, Texas 77868

PRO SE

## jfourtl) Court of Appeals ^>an Antonio, tEexas MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-15-00018-CR Charles Anthony LHERAULT, Appellant

v.

• The STATE ofTexas, Appellee From the 175th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2013CR10281 Honorable Mary D. Roman, Judge Presiding Opinion by: Jason Pulliam, Justice Sitting: Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice Karen Angelini, Justice Jason Pulliam, Justice Delivered and Filed: September 30, 2015
AFFIRMED Background 

### Charles Lherault was charged with the offenses ofassault-family violence by choking or 

### strangulation and continuous family violence. Prior to trial on the merits, ajury was empaneled to determine whether Lheraultwas competent to stand trial. Thatjury found Lheraultcompetent 

### to stand trial. Subsequently, another jury convicted Lherault and assessed punishment at confinement fortwenty-six years and ten years, respectively.04-15-00018-CR In one issue on appeal, Lherault contends the firstjury's finding that he was competent to stand trial was against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. Lherault's argument is construed as a challenge to the factual sufficiency of the firstjury's competencydetermination. We affirm thejudgment ofthe trial court. Standard ofReview 

### In reviewing a defendant's factual-sufficiency challenge to ajury's competency verdict, 

### the appellate court must consider all the evidence relevant to the issue at hand, and determine whetherthejudgment is soagainstthegreat weight and preponderance of theevidence so as to be manifestly unjust. Meraz v. State, 785 S.W.2d 146, 155 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990); Lasiter v. State, 283 S.W.3d 909, 916 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2009, pet. refd). The appellate court "views the 

### entirety of the evidence in a neutral light, but it may not usurp the function of the jury by substituting its judgment inplace ofthe jury's assessment ofthe weight and credibility ofthe witnesses' testimony." Matlock v. State, 392 S.W.3d 662, 671 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); see 

### Musgrove v. State, 422 S.W.3d 13, 17 (Tex. App.—Waco 2013, pet. refd). In this neutral light, 

### the appellate court determines whetherthe evidence supporting thejury'sfinding is "so obviously weak as to undermine confidence in the jury's determination," or the proofsupporting the jury's 

### finding, "although adequate iftaken alone, is greatly outweighed by contrary proof." SeeJohnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1,11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). Aclearly wrong and unjustverdictoccurs where 

### thejury's finding "shocks the conscience," or"clearly demonstrates bias." Santellan v. State, 939 S.W.2d 155, 164-65 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). The appellate court may disagree with thejury's 

### finding even ifprobative evidence exists that supports the finding. Id. at 164; see also Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 7. However, "it is the exclusive province of the jury to resolve conflicts" in the 

### evidence presented. Williams v. State, 191 S.W.3d 242, 248 (Tex. App.—Austin 2006, no pet.). As the arbiter ofconflicting evidence, the jury may accept or reject any part of a witness's04-15-00018-CR testimony. Lasiter, 283 S.W.3d at 917; see also Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 111 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). Analysis Lherault contends the evidence presented to the jury proved he was incompetent to stand trial. Lherault argues the evidence showed he became so fixated and obsessed over minute and 

### unimportant details that he lost the ability to engage in a reasoned choice of legal strategies and 

### options. This, Lherault argues, left him unable to consult with his attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding. Lherault bases this argument on the testimony of the expert witnesses and on his own testimony. A defendant is presumed competent to stand trial and holds the burden to prove 

### incompetency byapreponderance oftheevidence. TEX. CODECRIM. Proc. Ann. art. 46B.003(b) (West 2006). A defendant is notcompetent to stand trial if the defendant lacks: "(1) sufficient 

### present ability to consult with the defendant's attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding; or (2) a rational as well as factual understanding ofthe proceedings against the defendant." Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 46B.003(a). 

### Inthe eventadefendantutilizes anexperttodemonstrate orevaluate competency, theCode of Criminal Procedure sets out the factors experts should use to conduct this evaluation. TEX. 

### Code Crim. PROC. Ann. art. 46B.024 (West Supp. 2014); see Morris v. State, 301 S.W.3d 281, 

### 286 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). These factors include whether a defendant can (1) rationally 

### understand the charges against him and the potential consequences of the pending criminal 

### proceedings; (2) disclose to counsel pertinent facts, events and states ofmind; (3) engage in a reasoned choice oflegal strategies and options; (4) understand the adversarial nature ofcriminal 

### proceedings; (5) exhibit appropriate courtroom behavior; and (6) testify. Tex. CodeCrim. PROC. Ann. art. 46B.024(1)(A)-(F).04-15-00018-CR At the competency trial, the jury heard the expert testimony offorensic psychologist Dr. Jack Ferrell and Brian Skop, M.D., a psychiatrist, who both evaluated Lherault for competency using the factors set out in article 46B.024. Both Dr. Ferrell and Dr. Skop testified Lherault had an above average understanding of the charges against him, the adversarial nature of the proceedings and ofthe potential consequences he faced. Dr. Ferrell and Dr. Skop testified Lherault had no difficulty discussing the facts and events surrounding his case. Both experts believed Lherault could exhibit appropriate courtroom behavior and testify if the need arose. Further, Dr. Ferrell and Dr. Skop declined to diagnose Lherault with any mental disease or disorder, although both concluded Lherault exhibited narcissistic personality traits. According to both experts, Lherault held a superior belief in his opinions and did not take criticism or disagreement well, which manifested itself in stubborn and insistent behavior. However, Dr. Ferrell and Dr. Skop differed in their conclusion as to whether this behavior rendered Lherault incompetent to stand
trial. 

### In Dr. FerrelPsopinion, Lherault's narcissism prevented himfrom engaging in areasoned 

### choice oflegal strategies andoptions. According to Dr.Ferrell, Lherault had spenta greatdeal of time studying the facts of his case andresearching the law and had very specific opinions about how he wanted his defense to be handled. Dr. Farrell testified that Lherault would become fixated 

### on his defensive theories or thoughts on a detail of the case, and when fixated, Dr. Ferrell had difficultly redirecting Lherault to a different topic. 

### Dr. Ferrell expressed concern this fixation created a bad working relationship between Lherault and hisattorney. Dr.Ferrell testified Lherault had grown to distrust hisattorney because Lherault did not think his attorney was following through with the defensive strategies Lherault 

### wanted accomplished. Dr. Ferrell testified that while observing Lherault and his attorney 

### conferring, he saw this distrust and opined thatLherault's tendency tofixate impaired their ability04-15-00018-CR
to communicate. Dr. Ferrell opined this impairment was directly related to Lherault's narcissistic tendency to place his own opinions—particularly those regarding legal strategy—overthose ofhis attorney, and for this reason, Lherault did not have sufficient present ability to consult with his attorney with a reasonable degree ofrational understanding. Conversely, Dr. Skop testified that although Lherault's narcissistic tendencies created difficulties, he possessed sufficient ability to consult with his attorney. Dr. Skop testified that Lherault would engage in "diatribes" about details ofhis case, but Lherault was "interruptible," an indication of his ability to control himself. Dr. Skop testified Lherault could communicate effectively ifprovided the ability to "give his two cents." Dr. Skop also watched Lherault and his attorney confer and observed the same insistence and stubbornness described by Dr. Ferrell. Dr. Skop agreed this behavior could negatively impact Lherault's ability to collaborate with his attorney; however, in his experience it is common for a defendant to be frustrated with or distrust his attorney. Dr. Skop opined distrust of an attorney, by itself, is not a factor in determination whether a defendant is incompetent to stand trial. Dr. Skop concluded that although Lherault's behaviorwould make communication with his attorney difficult, he did not lack the capacity to do

so. Additionally, Lherault testified at the competency trial. Lherault testified he believed he and his attorney could communicate mostofthe time, including the ability to discuss legal strategy; however, Lherault said he could not get certain questions answered and this left him distrustful of her. Lherault testified he had researched the law and determined the charges against him should be dismissed, but felt his attorney was not working adequately to have the charges dismissed. 

### Lheraultcomplained his attorneywouldnot file the motionshe hadwrittenfor her to file. Lherault 

### expressed his beliefthatbecause his attorney was appointed, she would not do what he wanted.04-15-00018-CR Lherault denied ever receiving any mental health treatment and described his personality as "quirky" and "very strong headed." We have reviewed in a neutral light all the evidence presented to the firstjury to determine competency. With regard to the first factor to indicate competency, the jury heard conflicting evidence on the issue whetherLheraulthad the present sufficient ability to consultwith his attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding. As discussed, Dr. Ferrell and Dr. Skop provided differing testimony about whether Lherault's narcissistic personality traits rendered him unable to consult with his attorney. Because the jury is the arbiter ofconflicting evidence, this court will not substitute its judgment in place of the jury's. See Matlock, 392 S.W.3d at 671; Lasiter, 283 S.W.3d at 917. Given the testimony presented, the jury could have weighed the conflicting evidence and reasonably found Lherault was sufficiently capable of consulting with his attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding. See Lasiter, 283 S.W.3d at 917. With respect to the second factor to indicate competency, Lherault concedes he held a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against him. Further, Dr. Ferrell and Dr. Skop's testimony supports the conclusion that Lherault had such an understanding. 

### Uponreviewof theevidence in aneutral light, givingdeference to thejury's determination of the conflicting evidence, we conclude thejury's determination that Lherault was competent to stand trial was not so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust. See id.
Conclusion For the above reasons, we overrule Lherault's sole issue on appeal and affirm the trial court'sjudgment. Jason Pulliam, Justice DO NOT PUBLISH
-6-