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O P I N I O N

T h e a p p e l l a n t i n t h i s c a s e a r g u e s t h a t h e w a s c o n v i c t e d o f t h e f t s o l e l y b e c a u s e h i s

a p p a r e n t “ i n e p t i t u d e ” p r e v e n t e d h i m f r o m a d e q u a t e l y f

u l f i l l i n g h i s c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n s

.

I n a p u b l i s h e d s p l i t d e c i s i o n

, t h e S i x t h C o u r t o f A p p e a l s a f f i r m e d t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s c o n v i c t i o n

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1

Taylor v. S tate

, ___ S.W .3d

___, No. 06-13-00078- CR, 2013 WL 6516399 (Tex.

App.—Texarkana

Dec . 13, 2013).Tay lor — 2

t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e w o u l d s u p p o r t a r a t i o n a l i n f e r e n c e t h a t

, b y t h e t i m e t h e a p p e l l a n t t o o k a

s e c o n d i n s t a l l m e n t p a y m e n t o n t h e c o n t r a c t i n t h e a m o u n t o f $ 1 0

, 0 0 0

, o n a f a l s e p r e m i s e

, h e

h a d f o r m u l a t e d t h e r e q u i s i t e i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e h i s c u s t o m e r o f t h a t a m o u n t

. T h e d i s s e n t 2

a r g u e d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e

, w h i l e c e r t a i n l y s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t t h e i n f e r e n c e t h a t t h e m o n e y

w a s t a k e n u n d e r f

a l s e p r e t e n s e s

, w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s h o w t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t e v e r i n t e n d e d t o

r e n e g e o n t h e c o n t r a c t

. I n l i g h t o f t h i s d i s a g r e e m e n t a m o n g t h e j u s t i c e s b e l o w

, w e g r a n t e d 3 4

t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s p e t i t i o n f o r d i s c r e t i o n a r y r e v i e w a n d n o w a f f i r m t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s ’ s

j u d g m e n t

.

F A C T S A N D P R O C E D U R A L P O S T U R E

I n t h e T r i a l C o u r t

T h e i n d i c t m e n t a l l e g e d t h a t

, “ o n o r a b o u t t h e 3 0 t h d a y o f N o v e m b e r

, 2 0 1 0

, ” t h e

a p p e l l a n t u n l a w f

u l l y a p p r o p r i a t e d $ 1

, 5 0 0 t o $ 2 0

, 0 0 0 f r o m “ J

. R e i c h ” w i t h o u t h i s e f f e c t i v e

c o n s e n t a n d w i t h i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e h i m o f i t

. T h e a p p e l l a n t w a i v e d a j u r y

, a n d t h e t r i a l j u d g e 5

h e a r d t h e f

o l l o w i n g e v i d e n c e

.

2

Id . at *4-5.

3

Id . at *5-6.

4

T E X

. R. A P P

. P. 66.3(e).

5

The S tate thus bound itself to prove that the appellant unlawfully appropr iated the money

from Reich at any time befor e the prese ntment of the indictment to the g rand jury but not so remotely

that prosec ution would be barr ed by the statute of limit ations. Thomas v. State

, ___ S.W .3d

___, No.

PD-1326-13, 2014 WL 5154586, at *4 (Te x . Crim. App. Sept. 24, 2014).Tay lor — 3

J e f f R e i c h o w n e d a c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a n y i n L o n g v i e w

, a n d h e a l s o o w n e d c e r t a i n

c o m m e r c i a l p r o p e r t i e s i n L o n g v i e w a n d K i l g o r e

. F o r s e v e r a l y e a r s

, R e i c h h a d d o n e b u s i n e s s

w i t h t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s f a t h e r

, w h o r a n s e v e r a l c o m m e r c i a l s i g n b u s i n e s s e s

, 6

a n d R e i c h h a d b e e n s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e i r w o r k

. B u t s o m e t i m e i n 2 0 0 9

, H e n r y T a y l o r

, S r

. ,

“ s t e p p e d o u t

, ” a n d t h e a p p e l l a n t t o o k o v e r t h e b u s i n e s s e s

. T h r o u g h R e i c h ’ s o f f i c e m a n a g e r

,

V i c k i Y o c u m

, t h e a p p e l l a n t n e g o t i a t e d a d e a l o n N o v e m b e r 4

, 2 0 1 0

, b y w h i c h h e a g r e e d t o

o r d e r f o u r L E D s i g n s a n d i n s t a l l t h e m a t t w o o f R e i c h ’ s c o m m e r c i a l p r o p e r t i e s

, t w o a t t h e

“ L o c k B o x ” l o c a t i o n i n L o n g v i e w

, a n d t h e o t h e r t w o a t a l o c a t i o n i n K i l g o r e

. A t t h i s t i m e

, 7

R e i c h m a d e a d o w n p a y m e n t o f $ 1 4

, 6 5 7

. 2 5

, w h i c h w a s h a l f o f t h e a g r e e d

- u p o n t o t a l f o r t h e

c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e s i g n s

. R e i c h a g r e e d t o p a y a s e c o n d i n s t a l l m e n t o f

$ 1 0

, 0 0 0 o n c e t h e s i g n s w e r e m a n u f a c t u r e d a n d r e a d y f

o r s h i p m e n t t o t h e a p p e l l a n t

, a n d h e

a g r e e d t o p a y t h e b a l a n c e o f t h e c o n t r a c t p r i c e

, $ 4

, 6 5 7

. 2 5

, w h e n t h e a p p e l l a n t c o m p l e t e d t h e

i n s t a l l a t i o n s

. Y o c u m t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t l e d h e r t o b e l i e v e t h a t h e w o u l d b e a b l e t o

f i n i s h t h e j o b s o m e t i m e i n D e c e m b e r

— t h a t h e “ c o u l d h a v e i t u p a n d r u n n i n g b y C h r i s t m a s

. ”

6

The appellant testifi ed t h at he ran two such companies, Tay lor Made Signs and Tay lor

Custom S igns. H is ag ree ment with Reich is memorialized on a Taylor Custom S igns invoice

.

7

Yocum neg otiated t he ag ree ment with the appellant; Reich sig ned the c hecks. D uring his

testimony , Reich summed up the bre akdown of exactly what he ha d contra cted f or:

A. We had two sets of L ED signs that we wanted. One of them o n t h e L ock Box

s torag e fac ility that I own, and one of them on a commerc ial proper ty that I own

down in Kilgor e. So there ’s two sets. You have to have

-- there ’s two differ ent signs

per - - per L ED, one on e ach side . So there’s f our sig ns total, so two per loca tion.Tay lor — 4

T h e i n v o i c e m e m o r i a l i z i n g t h i s a g r e e m e n t w a s d a t e d N o v e m b e r 4

, 2 0 1 0

. A p p r o x i m a t e l y 8

t w o w e e k s l a t e r

, t h e a p p e l l a n t c o n t a c t e d Y o c u m t o i n f o r m h e r t h a t t h e s i g n s w e r e r e a d y a n d

t o a s k f o r t h e s e c o n d i n s t a l l m e n t p a y m e n t o f $ 1 0

, 0 0 0 s o t h a t t h e y c o u l d b e s h i p p e d

. Y o c u m

m a d e t h i s p a y m e n t i m m e d i a t e l y v i a a c h e c k t h a t c l e a r e d t h e b a n k

.

O n N o v e m b e r 2 2 n d

, t h e a p p e l l a n t a p p l i e d t o t h e C i t y o f L o n g v i e w f o r a p e r m i t t o

i n s t a l l a s i m p l e “ c o m m e r c i a l ” s i g n a t t h e L o c k B o x l o c a t i o n

. T h e n e x t d a y h e a l s o a p p l i e d

t o t h e C i t y o f K i l g o r e f

o r a p e r m i t t o i n s t a l l a n “ i l l u m i n a t e d ” s i g n a t t h e K i l g o r e l o c a t i o n

. B u t

Y o c u m h e a r d n o t h i n g f

r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t a s t h e h o l i d a y s a p p r o a c h e d

, s o s h e t r i e d t o c o n t a c t

h i m

. W h e n t h e a p p e l l a n t f i n a l l y r e s p o n d e d

, h e o f f e r e d v a r i o u s e x c u s e s

, a t o n e p o i n t

e x p l a i n i n g t o Y o c u m t h a t t h e L E D s i g n s w e r e s t i l l i n t r a n s i t f r o m C h i n a a n d w o u l d n o t a r r i v e

u n t i l a f t e r C h r i s t m a s

. W h e n J a n u a r y c a m e a n d Y o c u m c o n t i n u e d t o h e a r n o t h i n g f r o m t h e

a p p e l l a n t

, s h e b e g a n t o “ h o u n d ” h i m

, m o s t l y v i a t e x t m e s s a g e s

, b u t t h e a p p e l l a n t r e m a i n e d

e v a s i v e

. I n m i d

- J a n u a r y

, Y o c u m r e q u e s t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t p r o v i d e v e r i f i c a t i o n o f

p u r c h a s e o f t h e L E D s

. T h e a p p e l l a n t f a x e d h e r a n i n v o i c e o n J a n u a r y 2 8

, 2 0 1 1

, r e f l e c t i n g

t h a t f o u r s i g n s h a d b e e n o r d e r e d f r o m A f f o r d a b l e L E D

, I n c

. , a C a l i f o r n i a c o m p a n y

, o n

N o v e m b e r 1 8

, 2 0 1 0

, a n d t h a t t h e $ 2 2

, 6 0 0 b a l a n c e o n t h e i n v o i c e h a d b e e n p a i d i n f u l l

,

8

The appellant testified t hat he told Yocum only that he wo u l d “t ry ” to install the s igns by

Dec ember

. Nothing on the November 4th Tay l o r C ustom Signs invoice memorializes a specific

ag ree ment as to w hen the work would be completed, but both Yocum and Reich testified that they

wer e led to expect that the wor k would be finished in De cembe r.Tay lor — 5

p r e s u m a b l y a t t h a t t i m e

, w i t h a c r e d i t c a r d

. F o r s e v e r a l m o n t h s t h e r e a f t e r

, Y o c u m m a d e 9

a l m o s t d a i l y a t t e m p t s t o c o n t a c t t h e a p p e l l a n t t o f i n d o u t w h e t h e r t h e s i g n s h a d a r r i v e d a n d

w h e n t h e a p p e l l a n t w o u l d b e a b l e t o i n s t a l l t h e m

. F i n a l l y

, t h e a p p e l l a n t t o l d h e r t h a t t h e s i g n s

h a d s h i p p e d f

r o m C a l i f

o r n i a

, a n d s o m e t i m e i n t h e e a r l y p a r t o f M a r c h

, 2 0 1 1

, h e w e n t t o t h e

L o c k B o x l o c a t i o n

. B u t h e r e p o r t e d t o Y o c u m t h a t h e w a s u n a b l e t o c o m p l e t e t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n

a t t h a t t i m e

. S h e t o l d h i m t o l e a v e t h e L E D s i g n s

, w h i c h w e r e a p p a r e n t l y p a c k e d i n

c a r d b o a r d b o x e s

, i n a s t o r a g e a r e a o n R e i c h ’ s c o m m e r c i a l p r e m i s e s t h e r e

. Y o c u m s a w t h e

c a r d b o a r d b o x e s

, b u t s h e n e v e r a c t u a l l y s a w t h e s i g n s t h e m s e l v e s

. 1 0

A f e w w e e k s l a t e r

, a s Y o c u m c o n t i n u e d t o b a d g e r h i m

, t h e a p p e l l a n t a r r a n g e d t o

9

The appellant introduced two other invoices for L ED signs. The first was dated November

11, 2010, and it ref

lects that “He nry Tay

lor Sign” order ed two L ED signs from a Houston company

, Elite L ED Supply

, for the amount of $11,600. This invoice is stamped “PAI D,” but it does not make

ref ere nce to a particula

r job. The second invoice is dated much later, Fe bruar y 2, 2011. I t purports

to bill “Ta

y lor Custom Signs” the amount of $3,360 eac h for two L ED signs from Affor dable L ED,

the California company

. This invoice is stamped “PAI D 03/07/2011,” and also shows that two more

L ED si g ns wer e ordered but on ba ckorde r. Nothing on the fa ce of this invoice refer s to the R eich

jobs either. The appellant explained that he order ed two of the L EDs for the L ock Box job from

Affor dable and the other two for the Kilgor e job from Elite. He ex p l ai n ed t hat he had dealt with

Elite befor e and knew that they could deliver within eight or nine wee ks. Although Affor dable

promised it c ould de liver within two wee ks, the appellant had never dealt with A ffor dable befor e.

So he decide d to order half of the L EDs from Elite and half from Affor dable. He admitted that the

L EDs from Elite wer e differ ent from those that he had ag ree d with Yocum to order for the Kilgor e

job, but he thought that Reich would appre ciate the differ ence beca use what he actua lly order ed was

more colorful. He did not attempt to explain why he had faxed Yocum the November 18, 2010,

invoice from Affor dable. Nor did he explain why he did not fax her the November 11th Elite invoice

at that time. And he failed to satisfac torily explain why two additional L ED signs wer e appar ently

on backor der, a ccor ding to the A ffor dable invoice of F ebrua ry 2, 2011.

1 0

Yocum testi fied, s o m ewha t cry ptically

, that “I actua lly still have one of the box es[,] ” and

that it “actua lly

has a pie ce of

the equipment in it.”Tay lor — 6

r e t u r n t o t h e L o c k B o x l o c a t i o n a n d t o h a v e P e t e G e r b i n e

, a n i n d e p e n d e n t c o m m e r c i a l s i g n

c o n t r a c t o r

, m e e t h i m t h e r e t o h e l p w i t h t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e L E D s i g n s

. W h e n G e r b i n e

s c r u t i n i z e d t h e p e r m i t t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e C i t y o f L o n g v i e w

, h o w e v e r

,

h e r e a l i z e d t h a t i t d i d n o t c o v e r t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f L E D s i g n s

. G e r b i n e o f f e r e d t o t a k e t h e 1 1

L E D s i g n s b a c k t o h i s s h o p a n d

, f r o m t h e r e

, h e l p t h e a p p e l l a n t t o o b t a i n a p r o p e r p e r m i t

, b u t

t h e a p p e l l a n t l o a d e d t h e s i g n s i n t o h i s t r u c k a n d l e f t t h e p r e m i s e s

. B y M a r c h 2 4

, 2 0 1 1

, 1 2

f r u s t r a t e d t h a t t h e L E D s i g n s h a d s t i l l n o t b e e n i n s t a l l e d a t t h e L o c k B o x a n d K i l g o r e

l o c a t i o n s

, R e i c h c o n t a c t e d t h e p o l i c e

. O n A p r i l 8

, 2 0 1 1

, t h e a p p e l l a n t d i s c o v e r e d t h a t a

1 3

w a r r a n t h a d b e e n i s s u e d f o r h i s a r r e s t

, a n d h e t u r n e d h i m s e l f i n

. B u t i n t h e m e a n t i m e

, o n

A p r i l 1 s t

, h e h a d a p p l i e d f o r a n e w p e r m i t t h a t w o u l d a l l o w h i m t o i n s t a l l t h e L E D s i g n s a t

t h e L o c k B o x l o c a t i o n

. T h a t a p p l i c a t i o n w a s a p p r o v e d o n A p r i l 2 7 t h

, b u t t h e a p p e l l a n t

1 1

When asked on cross-e x amination whether he had rea liz ed he lacke d the proper permit, the

appellant replied, “When I went and pulled it I thought there was a permit. I thought that’s all y ou

had to have.” But later he explained, “I don’t like g etting my permits until when I g et ever y thing

-- the sig n in my

hand.”

1 2

Ger bine testified that “the signs never showed up in my shop.” I t is not entirely clea r from

Ger bine’s testimony whether he ever actua lly saw the L ED signs themselves, althoug h he did testify

that, other than the wrong permit, another problem with installing the signs on that day was that

“ther e was some additional brac ing that neede d to be done to the signs.” He did not explain how he

was awa re of this. For his part, the appellant testified that he did not take the signs to Ger bine’s shop

beca use he believed Ger

bine was attempting to “take the job” from him. The appellant insisted that

he still had all four L EDs in his possession a nd he introduce d photogr aphs of L ED sig ns which he

claimed we re those tha t he had or dere d for Reic h.

1 3

By this time, the appellant had actua lly done some preliminary work at the Kilgor e location,

but the elec trical wor

k had y et to be complete d and no L ED sig ns had bee n installed there.Tay lor — 7

t e s t i f i e d t h a t

, o n t h e a d v i c e o f c o u n s e l f o l l o w i n g h i s a r r e s t

, h e n e v e r s u p p l i e d o r i n s t a l l e d a n y

o f t h e L E D s i g n s

.

Y o c u m t e s t i f

i e d t h a t

, a t l e a s t a s o f N o v e m b e r 4

, 2 0 1 0

, w h e n s h e f i r s t c o n t r a c t e d w i t h

t h e a p p e l l a n t

, s h e h a d n o t h a r b o r e d a n y c o n c e r n t h a t h e w a s t r y i n g t o s t e a l a n y t h i n g : “ T h e d a y

w e s i g n e d t h a t I g a v e h i m c h e c k s

. N o

, I h a d n o q u a l m w h a t s o e v e r

. B y t h e t i m e h e p u l l e d

t h e p e r m i t s I t h i n k t h e o n l y r e a s o n h e d i d i t i s b e c a u s e I h o u n d e d h i m d a i l y

. ”

O v e r t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s o b

j e c t i o n

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t p e r m i t t e d t h e S t a t e t o i n t r o d u c e e v i d e n c e

o f o t h e r r e c e n t c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d u n d e r t a k e n b u t f a i l e d t o

c o m p l e t e

. F o u r d i s s a t i s f i e d c u s t o m e r s t e s t i f

i e d :

• J a m e s A r e n d e l l o w n e d a n A n y t i m e F i t n e s s f r a n c h i s e

. I n M a y o f 2 0 0 9

, h e c o n t r a c t e d w i t h t h e a p p e l l a n t t o i n s t a l l a s i g n o n t h o s e p r e m i s e s b y

A u g u s t

. A r e n d e l l p a i d t h e a p p e l l a n t a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 9

, 0 0 0 u p f r o n t

.

A l t h o u g h t h e a p p e l l a n t t i m e l y e r e c t e d a s i g n

, h e f a i l e d t o i n s t a l l t h e

n e c e s s a r y e l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n

. A f t e r m o r e t h a n a y e a r o f a t t e m p t i n g

t o g e t t h e a p p e l l a n t t o c o m p l e t e t h e w o r k a n d g e t t i n g n o t h i n g b u t

p r o m i s e s a n d e x c u s e s

, A r e n d e l l e v e n t u a l l y h i r e d a n o t h e r c o n t r a c t o r t o

c o m p l e t e t h e e l e c t r i c a l w o r k f o r $ 3 0 0 0

. A t t h a t p o i n t

, A r e n d e l l r e a l i z e d

t h a t t h e s i g n t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d e r e c t e d w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t l y

i l l u m i n a t e d

. H e s u e d t h e a p p e l l a n t i n s m a l l c l a i m s c o u r t a n d o b t a i n e d

a j u d g m e n t o f $ 7 5 0

, w h i c h t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s n e v e r p a i d

.

• D o r i s W a l l a c e o w n e d t h e V i l l a g e S h o p p i n g C e n t e r a n d a S u b w a y

r e s t a u r a n t i n H a l l s v i l l e

. W a l l a c e h i r e d t h e a p p e l l a n t i n F e b r u a r y o f

2 0 1 0 t o i n s t a l l a n e w s i g n f o r t h e s h o p p i n g c e n t e r a n d p a i d h i m a f i r s t

i n s t a l l m e n t o f $ 3

, 1 9 4

. 1 0

, l e a v i n g a b a l a n c e o f $ 3

, 1 8 8

. 0 4

. S h e h a d

c o n t r a c t e d w i t h t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d h i s f a t h e r i n t h e p a s t

, a n d t h e y h a d

c o n s i s t e n t l y c o m p l e t e d t h o s e j o b s

. B u t o n t h i s o c c a s i o n t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s

w o r k w a s s h o d d y a n d i n c o m p l e t e

. W h e n h e i n s t a l l e d t h e c o n c r e t e b a s e

f o r t h e n e w s i g n

, i t c o l l a p s e d i n t o a c o n c r e t e b l o b

. W a l l a c e h a d t o h i r e

G e r b i n e t o f

i x t h e d a m a g e

. G e r b i n e n o t i c e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d

p o u r e d t h e c o n c r e t e i n a s t a t e o w n e d r i g h t

- o f

- w a y

, a n d s o h e h a d t oTay lor — 8

m o v e t h e b a s e t o a d i f

f e r e n t l o c a t i o n

. A f

t e r m a k i n g n u m e r o u s p r o m i s e s

t h a t h e w o u l d p r o d u c e a s i g n a n d o f f e r i n g v a r i o u s e x c u s e s w h y h e h a d

n o t y e t d o n e s o

, t h e a p p e l l a n t e v e n t u a l l y q u i t a n s w e r i n g W a l l a c e ’ s c a l l s

.

B y J u n e o r J u l y

, h e h a d y e t t o p r o d u c e a s i g n

. N o r d i d h e r e i m b u r s e

W a l l a c e t h e m o n e y s h e h a d i n i t i a l l y p a i d h i m

. W a l l a c e h i r e d G e r b i n e

t o s u p p l y a n d i n s t a l l a s i g n

.

• D r

. T u c k e r L e e W o o d s w a s a c h i r o p r a c t o r w h o o p e n e d a n o f f i c e o n

W a l l a c e ’ s c o m m e r c i a l p r o p e r t y a t t h e V i l l a g e S h o p p i n g C e n t e r i n

H a l l s v i l l e

. I n F e b r u a r y o r M a r c h o f 2 0 1 0

, W o o d s h i r e d t h e a p p e l l a n t

t o c o n s t r u c t a s i g n o n t h e p r e m i s e s t o a d v e r t i s e h i s b u s i n e s s

. W o o d s

i m m e d i a t e l y p a i d t h e a p p e l l a n t h a l f o f t h e c o n t r a c t p r i c e o f

a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 2

, 2 0 0

, a n d h e p a i d t h e b a l a n c e i n M a y o r J u n e

. B u t

a f t e r f o u r m o n t h s ’ t i m e t h e a p p e l l a n t s t i l l h a d n o t e v e n b e g u n t h e w o r k

.

N o r c o u l d W o o d s e v e r g e t a “ s t r a i g h t a n s w e r ” f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t t o

e x p l a i n t h e d e l a y

, d e s p i t e n u m e r o u s a t t e m p t s

. W o o d s s u c c e s s f u l l y s u e d

t h e a p p e l l a n t i n s m a l l c l a i m s c o u r t a n d o b t a i n e d a j u d g m e n t i n e x c e s s

o f $ 3

, 0 0 0

, w h i c h t h e a p p e l l a n t p a i d o n l y a f t e r a c o n s t a b l e w a s s e n t t o

c o l l e c t i t

. W o o d s h i r e d a n o t h e r c o m p a n y t h a t w a s a b l e t o i n s t a l l a s i g n

w i t h i n f o u r t o s i x w e e k s

.

• C a t h y L e e o w n e d J a v a H o u s e C o f f e e i n L i b e r t y C i t y

. S h e o r d e r e d a n

u n l i t s i g n f

r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t

, i n S e p t e m b e r o f 2 0 0 8

, a n d p a i d h i m $ 8 1 1

,

w h i c h r e p r e s e n t e d h a l f o f t h e c o n t r a c t a m o u n t

. L e e b e l i e v e d t h e s i g n

w o u l d b e i n p l a c e w i t h i n t w o w e e k s

, b u t w h e n t h a t d i d n o t h a p p e n

, s h e

b e g a n t o c o n t a c t t h e a p p e l l a n t t o f i n d o u t w h y

. W i t h e a c h c a l l

, t h e

a p p e l l a n t w o u l d p r o m i s e t o c o m e i n s t a l l t h e s i g n “ n e x t w e e k

. ” A f t e r

s i x m o n t h s

, w h e n t h e a p p e l l a n t f i n a l l y p r o d u c e d a s i g n

, i t w a s s t i l l

u n f i n i s h e d a n d t h e w r o n g s i z e

, t h e t e x t w a s i n t h e w r o n g f o n t

, a n d t h e

a p p e l l a n t f

a i l e d t o a t t a c h i t t o t h e p o l e s e c u r e l y

. T h e a p p e l l a n t

p r o m i s e d t o f

i x i t

, b u t h e n e v e r d i d

. U p o n r e c e i v i n g a d e m a n d l e t t e r

f r o m L e e

, t h e a p p e l l a n t a p p a r e n t l y p r o m i s e d t o r e i m b u r s e h e r

, a s s u r i n g

h e r t h a t t h e “ c h e c k [ w a s ] i n t h e m a i l

, ” b u t L e e n e v e r r e c e i v e d i t

. L e e

f i l e d a c i v i l s u i t a g a i n s t t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d w o n a d e f a u l t j u d g m e n t

.

A t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e b e n c h t r i a l

, t h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e f a i l e d t o

e s t a b l i s h t h a t

, a t t h e t i m e h e u n d e r t o o k t h e c o n t r a c t w i t h R e i c h

, h e h a r b o r e d a n y i n t e n t t o

d e p r i v e R e i c h o f p r o p e r t y

. H e a r g u e d t h a t h i s a t t e m p t s t o c o m p l e t e t h e c o n t r a c t n e g a t e d t h eTay lor — 9

r e q u i s i t e i n t e n t f

o r t h e f t

, r e f e r r i n g t h e t r i a l j u d g e t o E h r h a r d t v

. S t a t e

, a n o p i n i o n o f t h e

T e x a r k a n a C o u r t o f A p p e a l s

. T h e p r o s e c u t o r r e s p o n d e d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e e s t a b l i s h e d a 1 4

“ p a t t e r n [ b y w h i c h ] w h a t w e s e e i s [ t h e a p p e l l a n t ] d o i n g a l i t t l e b i t o f w o r k

,

t a k i n g a l o t o f m o n e y

, a n d t h e n n o t c o m p l e t i n g t h e t a s k

. T h a t ’ s w h a t w e s e e

t i m e a n d t i m e a g a i n f

r o m [ t h e a p p e l l a n t ]

. H e g i v e s a l o t o f e x c u s e s u n t i l h e

h a s g o t t e n a l l t h e m o n e y h e c a n o u t o f y o u

, a n d t h e n h e s t o p s d o i n g a n y t h i n g

f o r y o u

, r i g h t ? ”

T h e t r i a l j u d g e t o o k t h e c a s e u n d e r a d v i s e m e n t

. T h e n e x t d a y

, t h e t r i a l j u d g e f i l e d a l e t t e r

,

w h i c h w a s f

a x e d t o t h e p a r t i e s

, i n w h i c h h e a n n o u n c e d

, “ W h e n w e r e

- c o n v e n e

, I w i l l f i n d t h e

[ a p p e l l a n t ] g u i l t y

. ” “ W h a t d i s t i n g u i s h e s t h i s c a s e ” f r o m E h r h a r d t

, t h e t r i a l j u d g e e x p l a i n e d

,

w a s “ t h e e v i d e n c e t h a t [ t h e a p p e l l a n t ] h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d i n s i m i l a r t r a n s a c t i o n s

. T h a t e v i d e n c e

,

a l o n g w i t h t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n a l l e g e d i n t h e i n d i c t m e n t

, e s t a b l i s h e s t h e r e q u i s i t e

m e n t a l s t a t e

. ” L a t e r t h e t r i a l c o u r t p r o n o u n c e d t h e a p p e l l a n t g u i l t y o n t h e r e c o r d

, a s s e s s i n g

h i s p u n i s h m e n t a t o n e y e a r ’ s c o n f i n e m e n t i n a s t a t e j a i l a n d o r d e r i n g h i m t o p a y r e s t i t u t i o n

i n t h e a m o u n t o f $ 2 2

, 6 0 0

. 1 5

I n t h e C o u r t o f A p p e a l s

O n a p p e a l

, t h e a p p e l l a n t o n c e a g a i n a r g u e d t h a t t h e a m o u n t o f w o r k h e p e r f o r m e d o n

t h e c o n t r a c t

, h o w e v e r d e f i c i e n t l y

, n e v e r t h e l e s s s e r v e d t o n e g a t e a n y r a t i o n a l i n f e r e n c e t h a t

h e i n t e n d e d t o d e p r i v e R e i c h o f p r o p e r t y a s o f t h e t i m e o f t h e i r c o n t r a c t

. I n a 2

- 1 d e c i s i o n

,

1 4

See 334 S.W .3d 849, 855 (Tex. A pp.—Texarkana 2011, pet. ref ’d) (“The amount of work

perf ormed c an neg ate a

ny intent to deprive a t the time of the for mation of the contra ct.”)

.

1 5

The restitution amount assessed ref lects the price for the manufa cture of the four L ED signs,

as stated in the Nove mber 18th invoice f rom Aff ordable L ED, I nc. to Tay

lor Custom S igns.Tay lor — 10

t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s h e l d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e w a s s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t a p p e l l a n t ’ s c o n v i c t i o n

. 1 6

A l t h o u g h t h e c o u r t n o t e d t h a t t h e “ m e r e f a i l u r e t o p e r f

o r m a c o n t r a c t i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t t o

e s t a b l i s h g u i l t o f t h e f

t

, ” t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s i d e n t i f i e d “ a t l e a s t o n e i n s t a n c e d u r i n g t h e

c o n t i n u i n g t r a n s a c t i o n t h a t s t a n d s o u t

, . . . w h e r e i n T a y l o r r e p r e s e n t e d t h a t i t w a s n e c e s s a r y

f o r R e i c h t o p a y $ 1 0

, 0 0 0

. 0 0 i n o r d e r t o h a v e t h e s i g n s s h i p p e d

. ” I t w a s t h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n

, 1 7

t h e c o u r t o f

a p p e a l s h e l d

, t h a t a l l o w e d a r a t i o n a l f a c t

- f i n d e r t o c o n c l u d e t h a t a p p e l l a n t t o o k

t h e m o n e y b y d e c e p t i o n

, a n d t h u s

, w i t h o u t t h e e f f e c t i v e c o n s e n t o f t h e o w n e r

. T h e t r i a l j u d g e

c o u l d r a t i o n a l l y f

i n d “ t h a t s u c h r e p r e s e n t a t i o n [ t h a t t h e s i g n s w e r e r e a d y t o b e s h i p p e d ] w a s

f a l s e a n d t h a t i t w a s u p o n t h i s f a l s e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a t R e i c h p a i d T a y l o r $ 1 0

, 0 0 0

. 0 0

. ” 1 8

I n d i s s e n t

, J u s t i c e C a r t e r c i t e d B a k e r v

. S t a t e

, i n w h i c h t h i s s a m e T e x a r k a n a C o u r t 1 9

o f A p p e a l s a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t p a r t i a l p e r f o r m a n c e o f a c o n t r a c t n e g a t e d t h e i n t e n t t o c o m m i t

t h e f t t h r o u g h f

r a u d o r d e c e p t i o n

. A l t h o u g h B a k e r a l l o w e d f o r a n e x c e p t i o n w h e n t h e r e i s 2 0

p r o o f t h a t f

u n d s w e r e n o t u s e d f

o r t h e c o n t r a c t e d p r o

j e c t

, t h e r e w a s n o s u c h e v i d e n c e o f

m i s a p p l i c a t i o n i n t h i s c a s e

, a n d t h u s

, J u s t i c e C a r t e r r e a s o n e d

, “ [ w ] h i l e t h i s m o n e y w a s

1 6

Taylor , 2013 WL 6516399 at *4.

1 7

Id

.

1 8

Id

.

1 9

986 S.W .2d 271 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1998, pet. re f’d)

.

2 0

Id . at 275.Tay lor — 11

p r o b a b l y p a i d p r e m a t u r e l y

, t h e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e i t w a s d i v e r t e d f r o m t h e p r o

j e c t

, ” a n d

t h e r e f o r e t h e e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t a p p e l l a n t ’ s c o n v i c t i o n

. W e g r a n t e d t h e 2 1

a p p e l l a n t ’ s p e t i t i o n f

o r d i s c r e t i o n a r y r e v i e w t o a d d r e s s t h i s d i s p u t e

.

T H E L A W

T h e Ma l i k s t a n d a r d o f a h y p o t h e t i c a l l y c o r r e c t j u r y c h a r g e f o r m e a s u r i n g s u f

f i c i e n c y

o f t h e e v i d e n c e a p p l i e s i n b e n c h t r i a l s

. W h e n a n i n d i c t m e n t a l l e g e s t h e f t i n t h e m o s t 2 2

g e n e r a l o f s t a t u t o r y t e r m s

, a s d i d t h e i n d i c t m e n t i n t h i s c a s e

, t h e h y p o t h e t i c a l l y c o r r e c t j u r y

c h a r g e e m b r a c e s a n y a n d e v e r y s t a t u t o r i l y d e f i n e d a l t e r n a t i v e m e t h o d o f c o m m i t t i n g t h e

o f f e n s e t h a t w a s f

a i r l y r a i s e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e

. A s r a i s e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h i s c a s e

, t h e 2 3

h y p o t h e t i c a l l y c o r r e c t j u r y c h a r g e w o u l d a u t h o r i z e c o n v i c t i o n u n d e r t h e f o l l o w i n g

d e f i n i t i o n s

.

A p e r s o n c o m m i t s t h e f

t “ i f h e u n l a w f

u l l y a p p r o p r i a t e s p r o p e r t y w i t h i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e

t h e o w n e r ” o f i t

. A p p r o p r i a t e m e a n s “ t o a c q u i r e o r o t h e r w i s e e x e r c i s e c o n t r o l o v e r p r o p e r t y 2 4

o t h e r t h a n r e a l p r o p e r t y

. ” A n i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e a n o w n e r o f h i s p r o p e r t y m e a n s a n i n t e n t “ t o 2 5

2 1

Taylor , 2013 WL 6516399 at *6 (Car ter, J., dis senting ).

2 2

Malik v. State , 953 S.W .2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

2 3

Geick v. State , 349 S.W .3d 542, 546 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).

2 4

T E X

. P E N A L C O D E §31.03(a)

.

2 5

Id . § 31.01(4)( b).Tay lor — 12

w i t h h o l d t h e p r o p e r t y f

r o m t h e o w n e r p e r m a n e n t l y o r f o r s o e x t e n d e d a p e r i o d o f t i m e t h a t

a m a j o r p o r t i o n o f t h e v a l u e o r e n j o y m e n t o f t h e p r o p e r t y i s l o s t t o t h e o w n e r

. ” 2 6

A p p r o p r i a t i o n i s u n l a w f u l i f i t i s w i t h o u t t h e o w n e r ’ s e f f e c t i v e c o n s e n t

. C o n s e n t i s n o t 2 7

e f f e c t i v e “ i f i n d u c e d b y d e c e p t i o n

. ” T h e r e a r e t w o s t a t u t o r y d e f i n i t i o n s o f “ d e c e p t i o n ” t h a t 2 8

a r e r e l e v a n t o n t h e f

a c t s p r e s e n t e d h e r e :

• c r e a t i n g o r c o n f

i r m i n g b y w o r d s o r c o n d u c t a f a l s e i m p r e s s i o n o f l a w

o r f a c t t h a t i s l i k e l y t o a f

f e c t t h e j u d g m e n t o f a n o t h e r i n t h e t r a n s a c t i o n

,

a n d t h a t t h e a c t o r d o e s n o t b e l i e v e t o b e t r u e ; a n d 2 9

• p r o m i s i n g p e r f

o r m a n c e t h a t i s l i k e l y t o a f f e c t t h e j u d g m e n t o f a n o t h e r

i n t h e t r a n s a c t i o n a n d t h a t t h e a c t o r d o e s n o t i n t e n d t o p e r f o r m o r k n o w s

w i l l n o t b e p e r f

o r m e d

, e x c e p t t h a t f

a i l u r e t o p e r f

o r m t h e p r o m i s e i n

i s s u e w i t h o u t o t h e r e v i d e n c e o f i n t e n t o r k n o w l e d g e i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t

p r o o f t h a t t h e a c t o r d i d n o t i n t e n d t o p e r f o r m o r k n e w t h e p r o m i s e

w o u l d n o t b e p e r f

o r m e d

. 3 0

T h e q u e s t i o n b e f

o r e u s i s w h e t h e r

, v i e w i n g t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o t h e

v e r d i c t

, a n y r a t i o n a l t r i e r o f f a c t c o u l d h a v e f

o u n d t h e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e o f f e n s e o f

t h e f t a s s o d e f

i n e d t o a l e v e l o f c o n f

i d e n c e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

. 3 1

2 6

Id . § 31.01(2)( A).

2 7

Id . § 31.03(b)( 1).

2 8

Id . § 31.01(3)( A).

2 9

Id . § 31.01(1)( A).

3 0

Id . § 31.01(1)( E).

3 1

Geick , 349 S.W .3d at 545.Tay lor — 13

T h e f t c a s e s i n v o l v i n g u n f

u l f i l l e d c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n s p r e s e n t s p e c i a l p r o b l e m s w i t h

s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e

. A s w e h a v e o b s e r v e d b e f o r e :

A c l a i m o f t h e f

t m a d e i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a c o n t r a c t

. . . r e q u i r e s p r o o f o f m o r e

t h a n a n i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e t h e o w n e r o f p r o p e r t y a n d s u b s e q u e n t a p p r o p r i a t i o n

o f t h e p r o p e r t y

. I n t h a t c i r c u m s t a n c e

, t h e S t a t e m u s t p r o v e t h a t t h e

a p p r o p r i a t i o n w a s a r e s u l t o f a f a l s e p r e t e x t

, o r f

r a u d

. M o r e o v e r

, t h e e v i d e n c e

m u s t s h o w t h a t t h e a c c u s e d i n t e n d e d t o d e p r i v e t h e o w n e r o f t h e p r o p e r t y a t

t h e t i m e t h e p r o p e r t y w a s t a k e n

. I n r e v i e w i n g t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e

,

t h o u g h

, w e s h o u l d l o o k a t e v e n t s o c c u r r i n g b e f o r e

, d u r i n g a n d a f

t e r t h e

c o m m i s s i o n o f t h e o f

f e n s e a n d m a y r e l y o n a c t i o n s o f t h e d e f e n d a n t w h i c h

s h o w a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d c o m m o n d e s i g n t o d o t h e p r o h i b i t e d a c t

. 3 2

A c o n t r a c t o r a c c u s e d o f t h e f t m a y n o t b e c o n v i c t e d o f t h a t o f f e n s e o n t h e t h e o r y t h a t h e

a c q u i r e d a d o w n p a y m e n t f r o m h i s c u s t o m e r b y d e c e p t i o n i f t h e r e i s n o r e a s o n t o d o u b t f r o m

t h e e v i d e n c e t h a t h e h a d e v e r y e x p e c t a t i o n a t t h e t i m e t h a t t h e m o n e y c h a n g e d h a n d s o f

f u l f i l l i n g h i s c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n ; a t t h e t i m e o f t h e d o w n p a y m e n t

, t h e c u s t o m e r p a i d

v o l u n t a r i l y

, a n d t h e a c c u s e d n e i t h e r i n t e n d e d n o r k n e w h e w o u l d n o t p e r f o r m

. 3 3

T h e c o u r t s o f a p p e a l s h a v e p i c k e d u p o n t h i s t h e m e a n d e l a b o r a t e d u p o n i t

. O n e c o u r t

o f a p p e a l s h a s e x p l a i n e d t h a t

, “ [ i ] f n o m o r e t h a n i n t e n t [ t o d e p r i v e ] a n d a p p r o p r i a t i o n i s

s h o w n i n a c o n t r a c t c l a i m

, n o t h i n g i l l e g a l i s a p p a r e n t

, b e c a u s e u n d e r t h e t e r m s o f t h e

3 2

W irth v. State

, 361 S.W .3d 694, 697 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (citations, foot notes, and

quotation marks omitted).

3 3

Phillips v. State

, 640 S.W .2d 293, 2 9 4 (T ex

. Crim. App. 1982) (re ly ing on T E X

. P E N A L

C O D E § 31.01(2)( E) to hol d that, “since the down pay ment was voluntarily g iven to the appellant

pursuant to a contra ctual ag ree ment and there is insufficient evidenc e in the re co rd t o s h o w the

money was obtained by dece ption, the convict i o n cannot stand”); Peterson v. State

, 645 S.W .2d

807, 811-12 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983) (same) ; W ilson v. State

, 663 S.W .2d 834, 836-37 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1984) (sa

me).Tay lor — 14

c o n t r a c t s i n d i v i d u a l s t y p i c a l l y h a v e t h e r i g h t t o ‘ d e p r i v e t h e o w n e r o f p r o p e r t y

, ’ a l b e i t i n

r e t u r n f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. ” O n l y w h e n

, a t t h e t i m e t h a t m o n e y i s e x c h a n g e d p u r s u a n t t o t h e 3 4

c o n t r a c t

, t h e a c c u s e d e i t h e r i n t e n d s n o t t o

, o r a t l e a s t k n o w s h e w i l l n o t

, p e r f o r m h i s p a r t o f

t h e b a r g a i n m a y h e b e h e l d c r i m i n a l l y l i a b l e f o r t h e f t

. A n d t h e c o u r t s o f a p p e a l s h a v e f u r t h e r

e x t r a p o l a t e d f

r o m t h i s p r i n c i p l e t o h o l d

, m o r e o v e r

, t h a t “ i f a c o n t r a c t i s p a r t i a l l y o r

s u b s t a n t i a l l y p e r f

o r m e d

, t h e n i n t e n t t o c o m m i t t h e f t t h r o u g h c r i m i n a l f

r a u d o r d e c e p t i o n i s

n o t s h o w n b y t h e e v i d e n c e

. ” T h e a p p e l l a n t r e l i e s u p o n t h e s e h o l d i n g s

. 3 5

B u t t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s

, t h e c o u r t s o f a p p e a l s h a v e r e c o g n i z e d

, a r e n o t a b s o l u t e

. F o r o n e

t h i n g

, a c o n t r a c t o r m a y y e t b e f o u n d g u i l t y o f t h e f

t i f

, a t s o m e p o i n t a f

t e r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e

c o n t r a c t

, h e f

o r m u l a t e s t h e r e q u i s i t e i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e a n d a p p r o p r i a t e s a d d i t i o n a l p r o p e r t y

b y d e c e p t i o n ; t h a t i s

, h e i n d u c e s h i s c u s t o m e r t o m a k e f u r t h e r p a y m e n t o n t h e c o n t r a c t w h i l e

n o l o n g e r i n t e n d i n g t o p e r f o r m

, o r a t l e a s t k n o w i n g t h a t h e w i l l n o t

. M o r e o v e r

, t h e f a c t t h a t 3 6

3 4

B a ker

, 986 S.W .2d at 274. See also Jacobs v. State

, 230 S.W .3d 225, 230 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14t h Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (“[T]he State must show a rational fac tfinder could have

found appellant had no intention of fulfill ing his obligat i o n under the ag ree ment, and his promise

to perf orm was mere ly a ruse to ac co m p lish theft by dece ption.”) (citation and internal quotation

marks omitted).

3 5

Bake r

, 986 S.W .2d at 275; see also Ehrhardt

, 334 S.W

. 3 d at 8 5 5 (“ T h e amount of work

perf ormed can nega te any intent to deprive at t he ti me o f fo rm at i o n o f the contract.”) ; Phares v.

State

, 301 S.W .3d 348, 352 (Tex. App.—B eaumont 2009, pet. ref ’d) (whe n the acc used contra ctor

in a theft case perf

orms many of the service s contra cte d fo r, the evidenc e fails to establish that

appropr iation of pay

ment from his customer at the outset of the contra ct was unlawful in that it was

without eff

ective consent beca

use of the acc used’s dece ption); Cox v. State

, 658 S.W .2d 668, 670-71

(Tex. App.—Dallas 1983, pe t. ref’ d) (sa me).

3 6

Ehrhardt

, 334 S.W .3d at 856 (“The requisite criminal intent can be formed afte r theTay lor — 15

p a r t i a l o r e v e n s u b s t a n t i a l w o r k h a s b e e n d o n e o n a c o n t r a c t w i l l n o t i n v a r i a b l y n e g a t e e i t h e r

t h e i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e o r t h e d e c e p t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o e s t a b l i s h t h e u n l a w f u l n e s s o f t h e i n i t i a l

a p p r o p r i a t i o n

. A c o n t r a c t o r s t i l l m a y b e c o n v i c t e d o f t h e f t u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s

— t o b e s u r e

,

c i r c u m s t a n c e s b e y o n d t h e m e r e “ f a i l u r e t o p e r f

o r m t h e p r o m i s e i n i s s u e ”

— i n w h i c h a 3 7

r a t i o n a l f

a c t

- f i n d e r c o u l d r e a d i l y c o n c l u d e t h a t h e n e v e r i n t e n d e d

, e v e n a t t h e o u t s e t

, t o

p e r f o r m f u l l y o r s a t i s f

a c t o r i l y o n t h e c o n t r a c t

, a n d a l w a y s h a r b o r e d t h e r e q u i s i t e i n t e n t o r

k n o w l e d g e t o d e c e i v e h i s c u s t o m e r a n d t h e r e b y d e p r i v e h i m o f t h e v a l u e o f a t l e a s t a

s u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n o f t h e p r o p e r t y t h u s u n l a w f u l l y a p p r o p r i a t e d

. T h e S t a t e i n s i s t s t h a t t h i s 3 8

i s s u c h a c a s e

.

A N A L Y S I S

C o u l d a r a t i o n a l t r i e r o f f a c t c o n c l u d e t h a t

, a t a n y t i m e a t w h i c h t h e a p p e l l a n t i n d u c e d

R e i c h t o m a k e p a y m e n t o n t h e i r a g r e e m e n t

, h e h a d n o i n t e n t i o n t o p e r f o r m

— o r a t l e a s t k n e w

t h a t h e w o u l d n o t p e r f

o r m

— h i s c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n ? T h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s a n s w e r e d t h i s

formation of a contra ct. We emphasize, howeve r, the depriva tion of proper ty cannot occur prior to

the formation of the requisite intent.”); Higginb o t h a m v. S t a te

, 356 S.W .3d 584, 588 (Tex.

App.—Texarkana

2011, pet. re f’d) (same)

.

3 7

S e e T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 31.01(1)( E) (re quiring evidenc e of more than the “fa ilure to perf orm

the promise in issue” to esta blish that the actor doe s not intend to perform or knows he will not).

3 8

See Merry man v. State

, 391 S.W .3d 261, 272 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012, pet. ref ’d) (the

evidenc e is leg ally sufficie nt to prove theft by dece ption when “[t] he evidence shows a series of

transac tions be tween Merr y man and customer s with the same patter n—promising to complete the

construction projec ts in a short time-fra

me (one to two months), demanding advanc e pay ments on

a ti g ht wee kly schedule reg ardle ss of job prog ress, be g inning a minimal amount of work and then

stopping a

nd walking off the job, lea ving it unfinished afte r a ‘ pay ment dispute’ ar ose, and g iving

no ref und of pay

ments made” ).Tay lor — 16

q u e s t i o n a f

f i r m a t i v e l y

, e f

f e c t i v e l y h o l d i n g t h e e v i d e n c e s u f f i c i e n t t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t

, a t l e a s t

a s o f t h e p o i n t i n l a t e N o v e m b e r o f 2 0 1 0 w h e n t h e a p p e l l a n t i n d u c e d R e i c h t o m a k e t h e

s e c o n d i n s t a l l m e n t p a y m e n t o f $ 1 0

, 0 0 0

, b a s e d u p o n t h e a p p a r e n t l y f a l s e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a t

t h e L E D s i g n s h a d b e e n m a n u f a c t u r e d a n d w e r e r e a d y f o r s h i p m e n t

, h e a t l e a s t k n e w t h a t

3 9

h e w o u l d r e n e g e o n h i s c o n t r a c t

. W e a g r e e

.

A l t h o u g h f

a r f r o m c o n c l u s i v e

, t h e e v i d e n c e s u p p o r t s a r a t i o n a l i n f e r e n c e t h a t

, a t l e a s t

b y t h e t i m e t h e a p p e l l a n t i n d u c e d t h e s e c o n d p a y m e n t o n t h e c o n t r a c t

, h e h a d f o r m u l a t e d t h e

r e q u i s i t e i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e R e i c h o f h i s m o n e y w i t h o u t c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. B e a r i n g i n m i n d t h a t

,

b y s t a t u t e

, t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s f a i l u r e t o p e r f

o r m o n t h e c o n t r a c t w i l l n o t s u f f i c e t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t

h e d i d n o t i n t e n d t o

, o r a t l e a s t k n e w h e w o u l d n o t

, f u l f i l l h i s c o n t r a c t o b l i g a t i o n s

, w e s t i l l 4 0

b e l i e v e t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e i s l e g a l l y s u f f i c i e n t t o e s t a b l i s h a n i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e R e i c h o f

3 9

The c ourt of appe als observe d:

Whil e we ag ree with [ the appe llant] that the entire chain of events doe s not

evidenc e the intent, at the time the contra ct was formed, to unlawfully deprive Reich

of [hi s] funds, a false repr esenta tion made by [t he appellant] to induce Reich to make

the $10,000.00 pay

ment [on or about November 18, 2010] i s leg ally sufficie nt

ev i d en ce supporting a findi ng of unl awf ul appropr iation, the basis for the claim of

theft.

Ba sed on this evidenc e, the fac t-finder could have rea sonably believed th at

[t he appellant] induced Reich to make a $10,000.00 pay ment within two wee ks of the

November 5 down pay

ment by falsely repr esenting that the signs wer e rea dy for

shipment when they

wer e not.

Taylor , 2013 WL 6516399 at *5.

4 0

T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 31.01(1)( E).Tay lor — 17

p r o p e r t y o f a v a l u e o f a t l e a s t $ 1

, 5 0 0 b y d e c e p t i o n

. S p e c i f i c a l l y

, t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e

a p p e l l a n t ’ s i n a b i l i t y t o s a t i s f y h i s o t h e r c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n s b e f o r e h i s d e a l i n g s w i t h R e i c h

a n d Y o c u m s u p p o r t s a r a t i o n a l i n f e r e n c e t h a t

, b y t h e t i m e h e i n d u c e d t h e m t o m a k e t h e

$ 1 0

, 0 0 0 p a y m e n t a t t h e e n d o f N o v e m b e r

, h e w a s a w a r e o f a r e a s o n a b l e c e r t a i n t y t h a t h e

w o u l d b e u n a b l e

— w h e t h e r b y u n a v o i d a b l e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o r s i m p l y b y h i s o w n “ m o n u m e n t a l

i n e p t i t u d e i n b u s i n e s s ”

— t o m a k e g o o d o n h i s a g r e e m e n t t o p r o d u c e a n d i n s t a l l t h e L E D 4 1

s i g n s

. 4 2

W e a g r e e w i t h t h e S t a t e t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s o t h e r c o n t r a c t d i s p u t e s

s i n c e t a k i n g o v e r t h e b u s i n e s s f r o m h i s f

a t h e r r e v e a l a p a t t e r n f

r o m w h i c h a r a t i o n a l f

a c t

f i n d e r c o u l d c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s a w a r e t h a t h e w o u l d b e u n a b l e t o f u l f i l l h i s

c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n t o R e i c h b y t h e t i m e t h a t h e i n d u c e d t h e l a t e

- N o v e m b e r p a y m e n t

.

T o g e t h e r

, t h e t e s t i m o n y o f A r e n d e l l

, W a l l a c e

, W o o d s

, a n d L e e e s t a b l i s h e d a r e c e n t t r e n d

w h e r e b y t h e a p p e l l a n t w o u l d c o n t r a c t t o i n s t a l l a s i g n

, t a k e a s u b s t a n t i a l i n i t i a l p a y m e n t o n

t h e c o n t r a c t

, i n e x p l i c a b l y a n d u n r e a s o n a b l y d e l a y t h e w o r k w h i l e ( a t l e a s t s o m e t i m e s )

i n d u c i n g t h e c u s t o m e r ( s u c h a s W o o d s a n d R e i c h ) t o m a k e f u r t h e r i n s t a l l m e n t p a y m e n t s

, c u t

o f f c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c u s t o m e r w h e n n o f u r t h e r p a y m e n t s w e r e f o r t h c o m i n g

, a n d t h e n

4 1

Id . at *4.

4 2

Cf

. T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 6.03(b) (“A person acts knowing ly

, or with knowledg e, with respe ct

to the nature of his conduct or to circ umstances surrounding his conduct when h e i s aw ar e o f t he

nature of his conduct or that the circ umstances exis t. A person acts knowing ly

, or with knowledg e,

wi t h re spect to a result of his conduct when he is awa re that his conduct is rea sonably ce rt ai n t o

cause the re sult.”).Tay lor — 18

u l t i m a t e l y f

u l f i l l h i s c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n s

, i f a t a l l

, o n l y u n d e r d u r e s s

. T h e i n f e r e n c e t h a t

t h e a p p e l l a n t a t l e a s t k n e w h e w o u l d n o t p e r f o r m i n t h i s c a s e i s c e r t a i n l y l e s s c o m p e l l i n g t h a n

i n M e r r y m a n

, w h e r e t h e d e f

e n d a n t ’ s c o n d u c t m o r e c l e a r l y e v i n c e d a p u r p o s e t o t a k e r e g u l a r

p a y m e n t s w i t h o u t a n y i n t e n t i o n e v e r t o f u l l y p e r f o r m

. B u t a r a t i o n a l i n f e r e n c e w a s 4 3

a v a i l a b l e

, n o n e t h e l e s s

, t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i n d u c e d R e i c h t o p a y h i m a n a d d i t i o n a l $ 1 0

, 0 0 0 o n

t h e c o n t r a c t b y f

a l s e l y r e p r e s e n t i n g t h a t t h e s i g n s h a d b e e n m a n u f a c t u r e d a n d w e r e r e a d y f o r

s h i p m e n t

, a n d t h a t

, a t l e a s t b y t h a t t i m e

, t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s a w a r e o f a r e a s o n a b l e c e r t a i n t y

t h a t h e w o u l d b e u n a b l e t o s a t i s f a c t o r i l y c o m p l e t e h i s c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n t o p r o d u c e a n d

i n s t a l l t h e L E D s i g n s

.

I t i s t r u e t h a t s o m e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s c o n d u c t w o u l d s e e m c i r c u m s t a n t i a l l y t o d i s p e l

t h e i n f e r e n c e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t k n e w t h a t h e w o u l d n o t p e r f o r m

. H e s o u g h t p e r m i t s f o r t h e

i n s t a l l a t i o n s a s e a r l y a s N o v e m b e r 2 2 n d

, a n d s h o w e d u p a t t h e L o c k B o x l o c a t i o n o n t w o

o c c a s i o n s w i t h a n a p p a r e n t p u r p o s e t o i n s t a l l L E D s i g n s t h e r e

. B u t t h e t r i a l c o u r t c o u l d

r a t i o n a l l y h a v e c o n c l u d e d f r o m t h e f a c t s t h a t t h e L o c k B o x p e r m i t w a s o b v i o u s l y d e f i c i e n t

,

t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s c o n d u c t o n t h o s e o c c a s i o n s w a s e v a s i v e

, a n d t h a t t h e s i g n s w e r e n e v e r

u l t i m a t e l y i n s t a l l e d

, t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d a m o d u s o p e r a n d i

, a s e v i d e n c e d b y h i s o t h e r r e c e n t

b u s i n e s s d e a l i n g s

, t o p u t o n a n a p p e a r a n c e o f i n t e n d i n g t o s a t i s f y h i s c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n s

w h i l e k n o w i n g h e w o u l d n o t

. T h e e v i d e n c e i n t h i s c a s e i s a d m i t t e d l y f a r f r o m o v e r w h e l m i n g

,

a n d m a n y f

a c t

- f i n d e r s m i g h t j u s t a s r e a s o n a b l y h a v e a c q u i t t e d t h e a p p e l l a n t

. E v e n s o

, w e

4 3

See note 38, ante

.Tay lor — 19

c a n n o t s a y t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s r e l i a n c e o n t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s o t h e r r e c e n t f a i l u r e s t o p e r f

o r m

o n h i s c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n s t o i n f e r b o t h d e c e p t i o n a n d a n i n t e n t t o d e p r i v e o n t h e

a p p e l l a n t ’ s p a r t i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c a s e w a s “ a d e t e r m i n a t i o n s o o u t r a g e o u s t h a t n o r a t i o n a l

t r i e r o f f a c t c o u l d a g r e e

. ” 4 4

J u s t i c e C a r t e r b e l i e v e d t h e e v i d e n c e t o b e i n s u f f i c i e n t b e c a u s e t h e r e w a s a f a i l u r e o f

p r o o f t h a t t h e $ 1 0

, 0 0 0 t h e a p p e l l a n t i n d u c e d R e i c h t o p a y i n l a t e N o v e m b e r

, w h i l e “ p r o b a b l y

p a i d p r e m a t u r e l y

, . . . w a s d i v e r t e d f r o m t h e p r o

j e c t

. ” A f

t e r d i s c o u n t i n g t h e c o s t o f 4 5

m a n u f a c t u r i n g t h e L E D s i g n s a s d e t e r m i n e d f r o m t h e i n v o i c e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t p r o d u c e d

a t t r i a l f r o m A f f o r d a b l e a n d E l i t e

, J u s t i c e C a r t e r c a l c u l a t e d t h a t t h e a m o u n t l e f t o v e r r o u g h l y

c o r r e s p o n d e d t o t h e a m o u n t t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d i n v o i c e d R e i c h f o r t h e w o r k h e w o u l d

c o m p l e t e ( h o w e v e r u n s a t i s f a c t o r i l y ) a t t h e K i l g o r e l o c a t i o n

. B u t t h i s c a l c u l a t i o n a s s u m e s 4 6

t h a t t h e i n v o i c e s f

r o m t h e m a n u f

a c t u r e r s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i n t r o d u c e d a t t r i a l ( a s o p p o s e d t o

t h e A f f o r d a b l e i n v o i c e o f N o v e m b e r 1 8 t h

, w h i c h t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d f a x e d t o Y o c u m i n

s a t i s f a c t i o n o f h e r r e q u e s t f

o r v e r i f i c a t i o n o f p u r c h a s e

, a n d w h i c h J u s t i c e C a r t e r h i m s e l f

r e j e c t e d a s “ b o g u s ” ) n e c e s s a r i l y c o r r e s p o n d e d t o L E D s i g n s h e h a d o r d e r e d f o r t h e R e i c h 4 7

4 4

W irth , 361 S.W .3d at 698.

4 5

Taylor , 2013 WL 6516399 at *6 (Car ter, J., dis senting ).

4 6

Id

. See note 9, ante

.

4 7

Id

.Tay lor — 20

j o b

. T h e o n l y e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e y a c t u a l l y d i d c o r r e s p o n d w a s t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s o w n t e s t i m o n y

,

b o t h t h e r e l i a b i l i t y a n d c r e d i b i l i t y o f w h i c h t h e t r i a l j u d g e c o u l d r a t i o n a l l y h a v e c h o s e n t o

s u s p e c t u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. I n d e e d

, t h e r e i s a t l e a s t s o m e r e a s o n t o d o u b t t h a t t h e 4 8

a p p e l l a n t e v e r o r d e r e d L E D s i g n s f o r t h e R e i c h j o b a t a l l

, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g h i s p r o d u c t i o n o f

p h o t o g r a p h s a t t r i a l

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t w a s n o t b o u n d t o f i n d t h a t t h e $ 1 0

, 0 0 0 t h a t t h e 4 9

a p p e l l a n t i n d u c e d R e i c h t o p a y b y d e c e p t i o n i n l a t e N o v e m b e r w a s n e c e s s a r i l y u s e d f o r t h e

R e i c h j o b

. F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s

, w e d o n o t s h a r e J u s t i c e C a r t e r ’ s c o n c e r n s

.

C O N C L U S I O N

W e r e m a i n e v e r m i n d f

u l t h a t

, i n b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t c a s e s

, a n a c c u s e d m a y n o t b e

c o n v i c t e d f

o r t h e f t b a s e d u p o n n o t h i n g m o r e s u b s t a n t i a l t h a n e v i d e n c e t h a t

, f o r w h a t e v e r

r e a s o n ( i n c l u d i n g h i s “ m o n u m e n t a l i n e p t i t u d e i n b u s i n e s s ” )

, h e “ f a i l [ e d ] t o p e r f

o r m t h e 5 0

p r o m i s e i n i s s u e [

. ] ” O n t h e f a c t s o f t h i s c a s e

, h o w e v e r

, w e a g r e e w i t h t h e S t a t e t h a t t h e 5 1

e v i d e n c e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s o t h e r c o n t r a c t u a l f a i l u r e s

, c o m b i n e d w i t h h i s c o n d u c t i n t h i s c a s e

,

p r o v i d e d s u f

f i c i e n t p r o o f t o s u s t a i n t h e t r i a l j u d g e ’ s f i n d i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t o b t a i n e d

4 8

See note 9, ante

.

4 9

I t is not clea

r from the rec ord that either Yocum or Ger bine ever actua lly saw the signs, and

the appellant himself, besides never satisfac torily explaining the various anomalies with the invoices

from the sign manufa cture rs, never fully justified having order ed a sign for the Kilgor e job that was

differ ent from the one that he and Y ocum had a g ree d upon. See note 9, ante

.

5 0

Taylor , 2013 WL 6516399 at *4.

5 1

T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 31.01(1)( E).Tay lor — 21

R e i c h ’ s c o n s e n t t o p a y t h e l a t e

- N o v e m b e r $ 1 0

, 0 0 0 i n s t a l l m e n t b y d e c e p t i o n

, a n d w i t h i n t e n t

t o d e p r i v e R e i c h o f t h a t p r o p e r t y

, i n t h a t h e k n e w b y t h a t t i m e t h a t h e w o u l d n o t p e r f o r m h i s

c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n a s p r o m i s e d

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, w e a f f i r m t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e c o u r t o f

a p p e a l s

.

D E L I V E R E D : D e c e m b e r 1 0

, 2 0 1 4

P U B L I S H