NO. 0 7 - 0 6
- 0 1 8 5 - CR I N T HE COUR T OF AP PE AL S FO R T H E SEVENTH D I ST R I C T OF T EX AS

AT A MARI LLO PA NEL C OCTOB ER 1 6, 20 07

______________________________ J E RE MY L e CL E A R, A P P E L L A NT

V. T H E ST AT E OF T EX AS, APPELLEE

_________________________________ F R O M TH E 2 4 2 D IS T R IC T C O U R T O F S W IS H E R C O U N T Y; ND NO. B 9 6 5 - 0 5 0 8 ; HONO RA B L E E D S E L F , J UDGE

_______________________________ Be f ore Q U I N N , C

. J. , and H AN C O C K an d PI R TLE, JJ

. M E M ORA NDUM OP I NI ON Ap pel l ant , J er em yLeCl ear , w as c onv i c t ed bya j ur yof hi nde r i ng t he app r ehe ns i on of
a co n vi ct e d fe l o n , Ti n a C l a y t o n , also kn o w n as Ti n a Le C l e a r, an d se n t e n ce d t o f i ve y e a rs im p ris o n m e n t a n d fin e d $ 2 ,5 0 0

. A p p e lla n t c o n te n d s (1 ) th e e v id e n c e w a s fa c tu a lly in s u ff ic ie n t to su p p o rt th e c o n v ic tio n , a n d t h e t ria l co u rt e rr e d in (2 ) a d m itt in g ce rta in

### 2

e v id e n c e , (3 ) n o t s u b m itt in g t o t h e ju ry a le s s e r in c lu d e d o ff e n s e ch a rg e , a n d (4 ) d e n yi n g h is
mo t i o n fo rmi s t r i a l

. W e a ff i r m. Backg r oun d
T i na LeCl earwas ar r es t ed, c har ged , an d c onv i c t ed i n Cur r yCoun t y , New Mex i c o, of t he of f ens e o f po s s es s i on of

a c ont r ol l ed s ubs t anc e, a f el ony , an d p os s es s i on of a c ont r ol l ed
s ubs t anc e, a m i s demeano r . On A ugu s t12 , 20 04, s he f ai l ed t o a ppe arfors ent enc i ng on t hos e c har ges and a ben c h war r antw as i s s ued byt he Ni nt h J udi c i al Di s t r i c tCourtl oc at ed i n Cl ov i s , Cur r yCoun t y , New Mex i c o, f or her ar r es t

. T he ben c h war r anti ndi c at ed t hatt he S ta te o f N e w M e x ic o w o u ld e x tra d ite

. O n Ju l y6, 2 0 0 5 , th e Sw i sh e r C o u n t ySh e ri ff ’ s O ff i ce se n ta t e l e t y p e t o t h e C u rry C o u n tyS h e riff ’s O ff ic e t o co n firm t h a t th e w a rr a n t fo r th e a rr e s t o f T in a L e C le a r w a s va lid and ac t i v e. T he Cur r yCoun t yS her i ff ’ s Off i c e r et ur ned a t el et y pe c onf i r m i ng t hatt he war r ant
w a s va l i d an d t h a tt h e St a t e of N e w M e xi co w o u l d st i l l ex t rad i t e . S u b s e q u e n tly , th e C u rry C o u n t ySh e ri ff ’ s O ff i ce fa xe d a co p yof t h e be n ch w a rr a n tt o t h e Sw i sh e r C o u n t yS h e riff ’s O ff ic e . A ft e r r e c e i v i n g t h e t e l e t y p e s a n d b e n c h wa r r a n t , Ch i e f De p u t y B e n a v i d e z of t he Swi s herCoun t yS her i ff ’ s Off i c e went t o A ppe l l ant ’ s r es i den c e fort he pur pos e o f ex ec ut i ng t he ben c h war r ant

. W hen he ar r i v ed att he resi de nce , he ob s erv ed t hatt he gr oun d was
m udd ydu e t o a n e ar l ym or ni ng r ai n. He al s o o bs erv ed r ec entt i r e t r ac k s m ad e b yan a u to m o b ile t ra v e lin g fro m t h e fro n t o f th e re s id e n c e t o t h e re a r o f th e re s id e n c e .

### 3

Be nav i d e z a p p r o a c h e d t h e r e s i d e n c e a n d k n o c k e d o n t h e f r o n td o o r . He wai t ed
s ev er al m i nut es an d r ec ei v ed no r espons e. He t hen wentar oun d t o t he r earof t he
r es i den c e a nd k noc k ed on t he ba c k door

. He co ul d hea rm us i c c om i ng f r om a r adi o i ns i de t he hou s e. He obs erv ed a par k ed v ehi c l e wi t h t wo s et s of f oot pr i nt s i m pr i nt ed i n t he m ud. O n e s e t o f fo o tp rin ts e x ite d th e ve h ic le fro m t h e d riv e r’s sid e , a n d t h e o th e r s e t o f fo o tp rin ts
e x ite d fro m t h e p a s s e n g e r s id e . O n e s e t o f fo o tp rin ts w a s b ig g e r th a n t h e o th e r, a n d b o th set s of foo t pri nt s l ed t o t he back po r ch. The r e we r e no foo t pri nt s l ea di ng aw ay f r om t he back por c h. Rec ei v i ng no r es pon s e, Bena v i dez r et ur ned t o hi s pat r ol ca r , w ai t ed f ur t heran d t hen drove o ne - ha l f

m i l e up t he r oa d w he r e he pul l ed over i n a po si t i on w he r e he cou l d ob serv e t he r es i den c e. He t hen c al l ed f orba c k up.
D e p u t yTuc ke r a rr i ve d an d t h e tw o de p u t i e s p u l l e d i n t o t h e dri ve w a yw h e re t h e yw e re m etbyA ppe l l ant

. Ap pel l anthad e xi t ed t he hou s e t hr oug h t he f r ontdo oran d a ppe ar ed
n e r v o u s . B e n a v id e z in f o r m e d A p p e lla n t th a t a fe lo n y b e n c h w a r r a n t o u t o fC u r r y C o u n ty, New Mex i c o h ad bee n i s s ued forT i na LeCl ear ’ s a r r est

. As k ed i f he k new o f

he r
w h e re a b o u ts, A p p e lla n t re p lie d t h a t h e h a d n o t s e e n Tin a fo r tw o y e a rs . Be na vi de z t he n asked Ap pe l l an ti f he w ou l d al l ow t he dep ut i es t o sea r ch hi s hou se to v e rify th a t T in a w a s n o t th e re . A p p e lla n t re s p o n d e d t h a t th e h o u s e w a s lo c k e d a n d h e d id notha v e k ey s t o e nt er . Ap pel l antw as ho l di ng a s etof k ey s . Be nav i dez as k ed wher e t he k e ys to t h e h o u s e w e re , a n d A p p e lla n t re s p o n d e d t h a t th e re s id e n c e w a s h is m o th e r’s hou s e. Ap pel l antt hen as k ed i f he c oul d r e- ent ert he hou s e t o c al l hi s m ot her

. T he dep ut i es agr eed and Ap pel l antr e- ent er ed t he r es i den c e u s i ng t he k ey s he was ho l di ng i n h i s ha nd.

### 4

Aft erf i ft een t o t went ym i nut es , A ppe l l antex i t ed t he f r ontdo oran d g av e t he dep ut i es per m i s s i on t o s earc h t he h ous e. T he dep ut i es fai l ed t o f i nd T i na i n t he hou s e, ex i t ed t he
r es i den c e, and t hen co ndu c t ed a s ear c h o f a s hed an d b ar n. Sh e was no tl oc at ed i n e i t her bui l di ng. Be nav i dez t hen pl ac ed a c al l s eek i ng as s i s t ance f r om Gar r yW al s m i t h, an
u n d e rc o v e r o ff ic e r fo r th e D e p a rtm e n t o f P u b lic S a fe ty

. W al s m i t h ar r i v ed ac c om pan i ed by DPS Se r gea nt Bo bby T y l er . W al sm i t h as k ed Ap pel l anti f

T i na was i n t he r es i den c e, an d A ppe l l antr es pon ded t hathe h ad n ot s een he r f ors i x week s an d t hats he was i n Chi c ago . W al s m i t h as k ed Ap pel l ant i f he woul d c ons ent to t h e m se a rc h in g t h e h o u s e , a n d A p p e lla n t c o n s e n te d

. W a l s mi t h a n d T y l e r e n t e r e d t h e r e s i d e n c e . W h e n t h e ye n t e r e d t h e ma s t e rb e d r o o m, t heyob s erv ed a c l os et

. W hen t heyen t er ed t he c l os et , t he DPS of f i c er s ob s erv ed a p i l e o f
s hoe s pl ac ed i n o ne c or ner , an d a pi l e o f c l ot hes i n t he ot herc or ner . T heyr em ov ed t he
c lo th e s a n d sh o e s , lifte d t h e ca rp e t, a n d fo u n d a n e n try le a d in g to a cr a w ls p a c e u n d e rn e a th t he ho us e. T y l erl ook ed i nt o t he c r awl s pac e a nd obs erv ed T i na LeCl earap pr ox i m at el yt en f eetf r om t he ent r yway . W al s m i t h f ur t hert es t i f i ed t hati twas notpo s s i bl e foran ype r s on who had en t er ed t he c r awl s pac e t o h av e c l os ed t he woode n c ov eran d t hen pi l ed t he c l ot hes an d
s hoe s at op t he c ar petc onc eal i ng t he ent r y way . He al s o t es t i f i ed t hathe ha d l ook ed und er nea t h t he hou s e wi t h a f l as hl i ght and di d not obs erv e any ot her ent r y or ex i t poi ntfor th e cr a w ls p a c e .

### 5 I ssu e On e Ap pel l antc ont end s t he St at e’ s ev i de nce w as fac t ual l yi ns uf f i c i entt o e s t abl i s h t he el em ent s of

t he f el onyof

f ens e o f hi nde r i ng app r ehe ns i on or p r os ec ut i on und er§ 38. 05 of t he T ex as P ena l Code

. Sp ec i f i c al l y , A ppe l l antas s er t s t he St at e made no s howi ng t hatT i na LeCl ear ’ s ar r es twas foran “ of f ens e” aga i ns t t he l aws of t he St at e of T ex as ort he St at e o f N e w M e x ic o a s co n te m p la te d b y § 3 8 .0 5

. A p p e lla n t fu rth e r a rg u e s th a t th e S ta te fa ile d t o es t abl i s h t hatt he per s on har bor ed orc onc eal ed was un derar r es tf or, ch arged wi t h, or c onv i c t ed of

an of f ens e c l as s i f i ed as a f el ony . W e d i s agr ee.
W h e n co n d u ct i n g a fa ct u a l su ff i ci e n cy r e vi e w , w e ex a m in e all t h e ev i d e n ce i n a neu t r al l i ghtand det er m i ne whet hert he j ur ywas r at i ona l l yj us t i f i ed i n f i ndi ng gui l tbe y ond a re a s o n a b le d o u b t. Z u n ig a v. S ta te , 1 4 4 S .W .3 d 4 7 7 , 4 8 4 (T e x .C rim .A p p . 2 0 0 4 ), over ruled in p ar t by Wa tso n v. S ta te , 20 4 S

. W

. 3d 404 , 41 5- 17 ( T ex . Cr i m . Ap p. 20 06)

. I n p erf or m i ng a fa c tu a l su ff ic ie n c y re v ie w , w e a re t o g iv e d e fe re n c e t o t h e fa c tfin d e r’s d e te rm in a tio n s if
s u p p o rte d b y th e re c o rd

. Wa tso n , 204 S

. W

. 3d a t4 1 7

. W e c a n n o tr e v e r s e a c onv i c t i on unl es s we f i nd s om e o bj ect i ve ba si s i n t he r ec or d t hatde m ons t r at es t hatt he gr eatwei ght
a n d p re p o n d e ra n c e o f th e e v id e n c e co n tra d ic ts th e ju ry’s v e rd ic t. Id

. The cr i m i na l ver di ct wi l l be se t a si de “ onl yi f t he ev i den c e i s s o wea k t hatt he v er di c ti s c l ear l ywr ong an d
m ani f e s t l y u n j u s t , o r t h e c o n t r a r y e v i d e n c e s o s t r o n g t h a t t h e s t a n d a r d o f p r o o f b ey ond a rea so n a b l e do u b tco u l d no tha ve be e n m e t

. ” G a rza v. S ta te , 21 3 S

. W

. 3d 338, 34 3 (T e x .C rim .A p p . 2 0 0 7 ). I n o th e r w o rd s , w e ca n n o t c o n c lu d e t h a t A p p e lla n t’s c o n v ic tio n isB e c a u s e th e T e x a s P e n a l C o d e d o e s n o t d e f in e th e te rm “o ff e n s e ”; see Tex. Penal C ode 1 Ann. § 1. 07 ( Ver non 200 3) , t he t er m m ustbe def i ned bycom m on us age unl ess t he w or d has a c q u ire d a te c h n ic a l o r p a rtic u la r m e a n in g . T e x . G o v ’t C o d e A n n . § 3 1 1 .0 1 1 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 5 ). See also Tex. Penal C ode Ann. § 1. 05( b) ( Ver non 20 0 3 ). T h e co m m on def i ni t i on of “ off ense ” i s an “ i nfr act i on o f t he l aw” ; M err i am - W ebst er’ s C ol l egi at e D i ct i ona r y p. 861 ( 11 E d. 200 3), and an o ff ense th m a y b e d e s ig n a te d e ith e r a s a f e lo n y o r m is d e m e a n o r. 1 8 T e x . J u r. 3 d § 1 2 5 4 (2 0 0 1 ). In f a c t, a v i o l a t i o n o f a n “ o ff e n s e ” u n d e r § 3 8

. 0 5 , m a y c o n s t i t u t e a m i s d e m e a n o r o r f e l o n y depend i ng on w h e th e rth e p e r s o n h a r b o r e d o rc o n c e a le d is u n d e ra r r e s t f o r , c h a r g e d w ith , o rc o n v ic te d o f a f e lo n y. 

### 6 “ cl ea r l yw r on g” or“ m an i f est l yunj ust ” si m pl ybeca use w e di sag re e w i t h t he j ury ’ s v erdi ct

. C a in v. S ta te , 958 S

. W

. 2d 404 , 40 7 ( T ex . Cr i m . Ap p. 19 97)

. Ad di t i ona l l y , an ap pel l at e o pi ni on add r es s i ng f ac t ual su ff i c i enc ym us ti nc l ude a di s c us s i on of t he m os ti m port antev i den c e t hat th e a p p e lla n t c la im s u n d e rm in e s t h e ju ry’s v e rd ic t. S ims v . S tate, 99 S

. W

. 3d 600 , 60 3 (T e x .C rim .A p p . 2 0 0 3 ); R o b e rts v. S ta te , 2 2 1 S. W

. 3 d 65 9 , 66 5 ( Te x. C ri m . A p p . 20 0 7 ).
As i tpe r t ai ns t o t he i ndi c t m ent i n t hi s c as e, t he of f ens e of hi nde r i ng app r ehe ns i on or prosecu t i on i s defi ne d as fol l ow s: ( a) A per s on c om m i t s an of f ens e i f , wi t h t he i nt entt o h i nde rt he ar r es t , pr os ec ut i on, c onv i c t i on, orpu ni s hm entof anot herforan o ff e n s e . . . h e : (1 ) h a rb o rs o r c o n c e a ls t h e o th e r; . . . . * * * ( c ) An of

f ens e und er t hi s s ec t i on i s a Cl as s A m i s demeano r , ex c ept t hat t he of

f ens e i s a f el onyof

t he t hi r d d egr ee i f

t he per s on who i s ha r bor ed, c onc eal ed,

. . . i s unde rar r es tf or , c har ged wi t h, or c o n v ic te d o f a fe lo n y . . . a n d th e p e rs o n ch a rg e d u n d e r th is s e c tio n kn e w t h a t th e p e rs o n t h e y h a rb o re d , c o n c e a le d , . . . is u n d e r a rr e s t fo r, c h a rg e d w ith , o r c o n v ic te d o f a fe lo n y. . . . T e x . P e n a l C o d e A n n . § 3 8 .0 5 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 3 ). T h e in d ic tm e n t in t h is c a s e a lle g e d , in 1
r el ev antpa r t , t hatA ppe l l antdi d “ har bororc onc eal T i na LeCl eara/ k / a T i na Cl ay t on, and t heAp pel l ant ’ s br i ef c ont end s t he St at e fai l ed t o e s t abl i s h a n o ff ens e b ec aus e T i na 2 LeCl earha d a l r ead ybe en f oun d g ui l t yof t he c har ge of pos s es s i on of a c ont r ol l ed s ubs t anc e; w h e rea s, Ap p e l l a n t ’ s o ral a rgu m e n t s focu se d on t h e ne w offe n se of fail u re t o ap p e a r. 

### 7 [A p p e lla n t] k n e w th a t th e s a id T in a L e C le a r a /k /a T in a C la yto n w a s c h a r g e d w it h a f e lo n y, n a m e ly , P o s s e s s io n o f C o n tro lle d S u b s ta n c e , . . . .” Th u s , to sa tisfy its b u rd e n , th e S ta te
was r equ i r ed t o es t abl i s h t hat( 1) Appe l l ant , ( 2) w i t h i nt entt o hi nde rt he ar r es t , pr os ec ut i on, co n vi ct io n o r p u n is h m e n tof Ti n a Le C l e a r for a n offe n se , ( 3 ) h a rbo red or co n ce a l e d he r. F u rth e r m o r e , to s a tisfy its b u rd e n o f p ro v in g a fe lo n y o ff e n s e , th e S ta te w a s re q u ire d t o add i t i ona l l yes t abl i s h t hatA ppe l l antkn ew Ti na Le Cl earw as unde rar r es tf or , c har ged wi t h,
o rc o n v ic te d o f

a n o ff e n s e c la s s if ie d a s a fe lo n y. Ap pel l ant ’ s at t ac k i s t hr ee- f ol d. Fi r s t , Appe l l antco nt end s t he St at e f ai l ed t o s how t hat th e a rr e s t o f T in a L e C le a r w a s fo r “a n o ff e n s e ” b e c a u s e T in a h a d a lre a d y b e e n fo u n d g u ilt y o f th e o ff e n s e o f p o s s e s s io n o f a c o n tro lle d s u b s ta n c e . N e x t, A p p e lla n t c o n te n d s th e S ta te 2 f ai l ed t o p r ov e t hat“ f ai l ur e t o a ppe ar ” fors ent enc i ng w as an of f ens e. Fi nal l y , A ppe l l ant
c ont end s t he St at e f ai l ed t o pr ov e t hat “ f ai l ur e t o a ppe ar ” i s a f el onyof f ens e u nde rt he l aw a p p lica b le t o h e r a rr e s t, t o -w it: N e w M e x ic o la w . R e l y i n g up o n t h e au t h o ri t yof Ke y v . S tate, 80 0 S

. W

. 2d 229 ( T ex . Ap p. –T y l er19 90, no pet

. ) , A ppe l l antc ont end s t hatbe c aus e T i na LeCl ea rha d a l r ead ybe en c onv i c t ed of pos s es s i on of

a c ont r ol l ed s ubs t anc e, f ai l ur e t o app ear f or s ent enc i ng di d n otc ons t i t ut e “ an of f ens e” ; t her efor e, t he St at e fai l ed t o pr ov e a n e s s ent i al el em entof hi nde r i ng app r ehe ns i on. W e d i s agr ee. T he St at e i nt r odu c ed ev i den c e t hatT i na was want ed on a b enc h war r antfor

### 8

f ai l ur e t o a ppe arfors ent enc i ng. W hen a per s on i s ar r es t ed f orfai l ur e t o a ppe arfor s ent enc i ng, forpu r pos es of § 38. 05, ap pr ehe ns i on i s fort he sa m e o f f ens e forwhi c h t hat p e rs o n w a s p r e v io u s lyco n v ic te d

. Ki ng v . S tate, 76 S

. W

. 3d 659 , 66 2 ( T ex . Ap p. –Hous t on [1 4 D is t. ] 2 0 0 2 , p e t. re f’d ). th
T in a L e C le a r’s a rr e s t w a s p u rs u a n t to a b e n c h w a rr a n t w h ic h w a s n o t is s u e d w ith
r es pec tt o t he c om m i s s i on of t he new o ff ens e o f fai l ur e t o a ppe ar ; bu twas , i ns t ead , i s s ued in c id e n t to t h e sa m e ca u s e n u m b e rs a n d p u rs u a n t to t h e o r ig in a l p ro c e e d in g s p e n d in g in C a u se N o s. D -90 5 -C R -02 0 0 2 0 0 5 8 0 an d D -90 5 -C R -02 0 0 4 0 0 0 7 5 for p o sse ss io n o f a co n t roll e d su b st a n ce , a fe l o n y , a n d p o sse ssion o f a co n t roll e d su b st a n ce , a m i sd e m e a n o r. T he ev i den c e i s s uf

f i c i entt o s how t hatT i na LeCl earwas ar r es t ed f or“ an of f ens e” an d f r om t hatev i den c e t he j ur yco ul d hav e r eas ona bl yfoun d t hatt he es s ent i al el em ent s of hi nde r i ng ap preh en si on w ere est ab l i she d be y on d a r ea son ab l e do ub t

. Thu s, fr om a revi ew of t he m ost i m p o rt a n tan d re le v a n t e v id e n c e d is c u s s e d h e re in a b o v e , w e ca n n o t c o n c lu d e un d e r W at s on , t hatA ppe l l ant ’ s c onv i c t i on was “ c l ear l ywr ong ” or“ m ani f es t l yunj us t

. ” I s s ue on e i s ov er r ul ed.
I s s u e T wo Ap pel l ant ’ s s ec ond i s s ue ar gue s t he t r i al c ourter r ed b y ov er r ul i ng hi s he ar s ay o b je c ti o n t o S ta te ’s E x h ib its 1 , 2 , 3 , a se rie s o f te le ty p e s b e tw e e n t h e S w is h e r C o u n ty Sh er i ff ’ s Off i c e a nd t he Cur r yCoun t yS her i ff ’ s Off i c e. W e d i s agr ee.

### 9

W e r ev i ew a t r i al c ourt ’ s de c i s i on t o a dm i tor ex c l ude ev i den c e f or abu s e o f di s c r et i on; P a g e v. S ta te , 2 1 3 S .W .3 d 3 3 2 , 3 3 7 (T e x .C rim .A p p . 2 0 0 6 ), a n d “[a ]p p e lla te co u rts w ill uph ol d a t r i al c ourt ’ s r ul i ng on admi s s i bi l i t yof ev i den c e as l ong as t he t r i al c ourt ’ s r ul i ng was a tl e a st w i th in th e z o n e of rea so n a b l e disag ree m e n t

. ” Id

. S e e H e rn a n d e z v . S ta te , 20 5 S .W .3 d 5 5 5 , 5 5 8 (T e x .A p p .--A m a rillo 2 0 0 6 , p e t. re f’d ).
A tt ri a l , Be n a vi d e z t e st i fi e d t h a the re co g n i zed t h e t e l e t y p e s a s co n fi rm a t i o n t h a tt h e re wa s a v a l i d wa r r a n tp e n d i n g fo rT i n a L e Cl e a r ’ s a r r e s to u to f Cur r yCo u n t y , Ne w Me x i c o . He al so t est i f i ed t he t el et y pe s we r e t r ue and co r r ect co pi es an d w ere kep ti n t he r eg ul ar c ou r se of bu s i nes s as a l aw en f or c em entof f i c er . On i t s fac e, B ena v i dez ’ s t es t i m onys upp l i ed t he pr edi c at e forad m i s s i on of t he t el et y pes pu r s uan t t o R ul e 80 3( 6) of t he T ex as Rul es of E v id e n c e . A p p e lla n t’s o b je c tio n is th a t B e n a v id e z’s t e s tim o n y is d e fic ie n t b e c a u s e h e is n o t a re c o rd cu s to d ia n , i.e

. d o e s n o t k e e p t h e re c o rd s , is n o t a re c o rd s cle rk , o r h a s a n yt h in g t o do wi t h t he r ec or ds

. I n M e le n d e z v . S ta te , 194 S

. W

. 3d 641 , 64 4 ( T ex . Ap p. - - Hous t on [ 14 th Di s t

. ] 20 06, pe t

. r ef ’ d) , t he Cour ts t at ed: [ T ] he pr edi c at e fort he bus i nes s r ec or ds ex c ept i on t o t he hea r s ayr ul e maybe e st a b l i sh e d eit h e r b yt h e cu st o d i a n of t h e r e co rds or an othe r qua lif iedw i tne ss . T ex . R. E v i d. 803 ( 6). Rul e 8 03( 6) do es no tr equ i r e t hatt he wi t nes s be t he per s on who made t he r ec or d o rev en be em pl oy ed byt he or gan i z at i on t hat m ade orm ai nt ai ned t he r ec or d, an d a ppe l l antci t es no au t hor i t yi m pos i ng any s u c h re q u ire m e n t.

### 10

Be nav i dez s upp l i ed t he nec es s ar ypr edi c at e forad m i ssi on of t he t el et y pes an d Ap pe l l an thas off ered no e vi de nce t o sho w e i t he rt ha tB en avi de z w as no ta qu al i f i ed w i t ne ss orhi s t es t i m onyw as no tt r us t wor t hy

. T her e s i m pl yi s no r equ i r em entun derRul e 8 03( 6) t hat Be nav i dez be a r ec or d c us t odi an orper s on i n c har ge of ke epi ng t he r ec or d. T hus we f i nd
n o e rr o r in a d m itt in g t h e e x h ib its.
Al t er nat i v el y , i ft he ev i den c e was i m pr ope r l yad m i t t ed, t he er r orwas c ur ed t hr oug h Be nav i dez ’ s un obj ec t ed t o t es t i m onyr el at i ng t o t he ev ent s t hatt r ans pi r ed on t he m or ni ng o f J u ly6 , 2 0 0 5 , a n d t h e su b s e q u e n t u n o p p o s e d a d m is s io n o f th e b e n c h w a r r a n t. E rr o r in t he admi s s i on of

ev i den c e i s c ur ed wher e t he s am e e v i den c e c om es i n e l s ewher e wi t hou t
o b je c tio n , e ith e r b e fo re o f a fte r th e co m p la in e d -o f ru lin g . L a n e v. S ta te , 15 1 S

. W

. 3d 188 , 1 9 2 -9 3 (T e x .C rim .A p p . 2 0 0 4 ). S e e M u r p h y v . S ta te , 22 9 S. W

. 3 d 33 4 , 34 3 ( Te x. A p p . -- Amar i l l o 2 006 , pe t

. r ef ’ d)

. I s s ue t wo i s ov er r ul ed.
I ssu e T hr ee
A p p e l l a n tco n t e n d s t h e t ri a l co u rterre d by fa ili n g to c h a rg e t h e j u ryon t h e l e sse ri n cl u d e d offe n se o f h in d e ri n g ap p reh e n si o n , a m i sd e m e a n o r p u rsu a n tt o § 3 8

. 0 5 (c). Sp eci f i cal l y , App el l an tcont en ds he w as en t i t l ed t o a cha r ge on t he l esser- i ncl ud ed offen se b e c a u s e t h e S ta te fa ile d t o p re s e n t a n y s p e c ific e v id e n c e t o e s ta b lish w h e th e r T in a Le C l e a r’s fa ilu re t o a p p e a r w a s a fe lo n y o r m is d e m e a n o r u n d e r N e w M e x ic o la w . W e d is a g re e .

### 11

U nd er t he T exa s Co de of C r i m i na l Proced ure, an off en se i s a l esser- i ncl ud ed offen se i f i ti s es t abl i s hed bypr oof of t he sa m e or l es s t han al l t he f ac t s r equ i r ed t o e s t abl i s h t he
co m m i ssion of t h e offe n se ch a rge d

. Te x. C o d e C ri m . Pro c. An n . a rt

. 3 7

. 0 9 (V e rno n 20 0 6 ). A defend ant i s ent i t l ed t o a l es s er - i nc l ude d o ff ens e j ur yc har ge i f : ( 1) t he r equ es t ed c har ge i s a l esser- i ncl ud ed offen se of t he offen se c h arge d, and ( 2) t he r e i s s om e e v id e n c e t h a t if th e d e f e n d a n t is g u ilty, h e is g u ilty o n ly o f th e le s s e r o ff e n s e . G u zm a n v. S ta te , 188 S

. W

. 3d 1 8 5 , 18 8 (Te x. C ri m . A p p . 20 0 6 ) (em p h a si s a d d e d ). Th e ev i d e n ce m u st es t a b l i sh t h e l e sse rin c lu d e d o ff e n s e a s a v a lid ra tio n a l a lte rn a tive to t h e ch a rg e d o ff e n s e . M c K in n e y v. S ta te , 2 0 7 S .W .3 d 3 6 6 , 3 7 0 (T e x .C rim .A p p . 2 0 0 6 ).
T he f i r s tpr ong of

t hi s t es tr equ i r es t hatw e c om par e t he el em ent s of t he two of

f ens es t o d et er m i ne i f

t he r equ es t ed c har ge i s a l es s er - i nc l ude d o ff en s e o f t he of f ens e c har ged

. T he el em ent s of

hi nde r i ng app r ehe ns i on orpr os ec ut i on c ont ai ned i n § 3 8. 05(a) m us tbe p rov e n w h e t h e r co n vi ct i o n i s so u g h tfo r a C la s s A m i sd e m e a n o r o r a fe l o n yof t h e t h i rd d e g re e . Se e § 3 8

. 0 5 ( a ) & ( c )

. T o r a i s e t h e o ff e n s e f r o m a mi s d e me a n o r t o a f e l ony , t he S t a t e m u st ad d i t i o n a l l ypro ve t h a t( 1 ) t h e p e rso n h a rbo red o r co n ce a l e d is u n d e r a rr e st fo r, c har ged wi t h, orc onv i c t ed of a f el ony , an d ( 2) t he ac c us ed knewt he per s on har bor ed or con cea l ed w as un de rarr est for, charge d w i t h, or con vi ct ed of a fel on y . § 38

. 05 ( c)

. Thu s, bec aus e t he d i ff er enc e b etween t he of f ens e a s c har ged an d t he l es s erof f ens e c har ge r equ es t ed by Ap pel l ant i s es t abl i s hed by pr oof of t he s am e o rl es s t han al l t he f ac t s r equ i r ed t o est ab l i sh t he c om m i s s i on of t he of f ens e c har ged , t he Cl as s A m i s demeano rof f ens e o f

### 12

hi nde r i ng app r ehe ns i on orpr os ec ut i on i s a l es s er - i nc l ude d of f ens e of t he f el ony of

f ens e o f h in d e rin g a p p re h e n s io n o r p ro s e c u tio n . T h e s e c o n d p r o n g o f t h e t e s t t h e n r e q u i r e s t h a tw e d e t e r mi n e w h e t h e rt h e r e i s s o me e v id e n c e th a t w o u ld p e r m it a ju r y to ra tio n a lly fi n d , if A p p e lla n t is g u ilty, h e is g u ilty o n ly of t he l esserof

f ens e. As di s c us s ed her ei nab ov e, t he r ec or d i s r epl et e wi t h e v i den c e t hat B e n a vi d e z a n d Tuc ke r a rr e st e d Ti n a Le C l e a r p u rsu a n tt o a w a rr a n tt h a t i ssu e d o u t o f C u rry C o u n t y , N e w M e xi co , i n ci d e n tt o t h e ori g in a l offe n se of f el on y pos s es s i on of

a c ont r ol l ed
s ubs t anc e. Furt her m or e, t he und i s put ed ev i den c e es t abl i s hes t hatA ppe l l antwas t ol d t hat T in a L e C le a r w a s a fu g iti v e in c id e n t to a ch a rg e , a rr e s t, o r c o n v ic tio n o f a fe lo n y o ff e n s e . A p p e l l a n t h a s n o t i d e n t i f i e d , a n d we c a n n o t f i nd any ev i den c e a ddu c ed att r i al t hat woul d i ndi c at e t hat Ap pel l ant di d not k now t hatT i na LeCl earwas be i ng s oug hti n c onn ec t i on wi t h a fel onywar r anti s s ued i nc i den tt o a cha r ge, ar r es t , orc onv i c t i on of a f el onyof

f ens e. T hus , A ppe l l antha s fai l ed t o e s t ab l i sh t hatt he l es s er - i nc l ude d o ff ens e i s a v al i d r at i ona l al t er nat i v e t o t he of

f ens e c har ged , and t he t r i al c ourt di d not er r by r ef us i ng t he i ns t r uc t i on o n th e le s s e r- in c lu d e d o ff e n s e . S e e P o w e ll v . S ta te , 20 6 S. W

. 3d 14 2-43 ( Tex. Ap p. –W aco 200 6, pe t

. r ef ’ d)

. Ap pel l ant ’ s t hi r d i s s ue i s ov er r ul ed.
I ssu e F our Byhi s fourt h an d f i nal i s s ue, A ppe l l antc ont end s t he t r i al c ourter r ed i n d eny i ng Ap pel l ant ’ s m ot i on f orm i s t r i al

. I n s upp or t , Appe l l antco nt end s t hat , dur i ng t he pun i s hm ent

### 13

hea r i ng, t he St at e i m pr ope r l yat t em pt ed t o i nj ec tt hathe ha d a pr i orf el onyc onv i c t i on bec aus e h e was no tm ak i ng an app l i c at i on f orpr oba t i on. W e d i s agr ee.
Dur i ng t he c l os i ng s t at em enton pu ni s hm entbyt he St at e, t he f ol l owi ng oc c ur r ed:
M R

. H O C K E R : F i n a l l y , y o u w i l l n o t i ce t h a t p rob a t i o n i s n o t a n o p tio n in t h is c as e. An d t he l aw i n t he S t at e o f T ex as i s t hati n o r dert o b e e l i gi bl e for pr oba t i on, y ou hav e t o b e a bl e t o e s t abl i s h t haty ou’ v e nev er bee n c onv i c t ed of a f el onyi n t hi s s t at e, an yot hers t at e – M R . M C K IN N E Y: I o b je c t th a t th is a r g u m e n t is n o t re le v a n t b e f o r e th is ju r y. T HE COUR T : S us t ai ned

. M R

. M C K I N N E Y : I ’ d as k for an i n st ruc t i o n i n t h a tr e g a rd, Y o u r H o n o r. T HE COU RT : A l l r i g h t

. L a d i e s a n d g e n t l e me n , y o u w i l l d i s r e g a r d t h at a rg u m e n t. M R

. M C K IN N E Y: I’d a s k t h e C o u rt t o g ra n t a m o tio n – m o v e fo r m is tria l – b e ca u se t h a t– I do n ’ tbe l i e ve t h a ti n st ruc t i o n w o u l d cu re t h a terro r. T HE COUR T : Deni ed. MR. HOCKER: W hatI ’ m s ay i ng t o y ou, l adi es an d g ent l em en, i s t hatpr oba t i on i s n o ta n o p t i o n i n t h i s c a s e . I ti s s i mpl y go i n g t o b e a p e n i t e n t i a r yt i me s ent enc e. MR. MCK I NNE Y : He ’ s a r g u i n g b e h i n d t h e Co u r t ’ s r u l i n g n o w. T HE COUR T : S us t ai ned

. MCKI NN EY : MayI ha v e a n i ns t r uc t i on? T H E C O U R T : Yo u h a v e t h e i n s tru c tio n . Yo u w ill d is re g a rd t h a t a rg u m e n t. C o u n s e l, p ro c e e d t o t h e n e x t a rg u m e n t. MCKI NN EY : I ’ d l i k e t o h av e a m i s t r i al att hi s t i m e. T HE COUR T : Deni ed.

### 14

T he i s s ue befor e t hi s Courti s whet hert he t r i al c ourt ’ s r ef us al t o g r antt he m i s t r i al
c o n s tit u te d a n a b u s e o f d is c re tio n . S e e H a w kin s v. S ta te , 135 S. W

. 3d 72, 76 ( T ex . Cr i m . Ap p. 200 4)

. T o s upp or ts uc h a f i ndi ng byt hi s Court , t he j ur yar gumentm ust b e ex t r em e o r
m a n ifestl yi m p rop e r, or i n j e ct ne w an d ha rm ful fac t s i n t o ev i d e n ce t o co n st i t u t e r e ve rsi b le
e rr o r. S h a n n o n v. S ta te , 9 4 2 S .W .2 d 5 9 1 , 5 9 7 -9 8 ( T e x .C rim .A p p . 1 9 9 6 ). I n m o s t c a s e s , if
er r oroc c ur s , ei t hera w i t hdr awal of t he qu es t i on oran i ns t r uc t i on t o di s r ega r d wi l l c ur e a ny e rr o r c o m m itt e d ; id

. , an d o nl yi n e x t r em e c i r c um s t anc es , wher e t he pr ej udi c e i s i nc ur abl e,
w ill a m is tria l b e re q u ire d

. Haw kins , 135 S. W

. 3d at77

. W i t h t hes e s t and ar ds i n mi nd, t he Cour twi l l ap pl yt he t es tt ai l or ed f orpu ni s hm entpr oc eed i ngs an d b al anc e t hr ee f ac t or s : ( 1) th e se v e rityo f th e m is c o n d u c t (p re ju d ic ia l e ff e c t), (2 ) c u ra tive m e a s u re s , a n d ( 3 ) th e ce rta in ty of t he pun i s hm entas s es s ed abs entt he m i s c ond uc t( l i k el i hoo d o f t he s am e p uni s hm ent b e in g a s s e s s e d ). Id

. The prosecut or’ s ar gu m en t w as i na pp r op r i at e bu tnot egreg i ou s. I n bo t h i nst an ces, th e p ro s e c u to r c o rr e c tlysta te d t h e la w , i.e ., pr oba t i on was not a se nt enc i ng opt i on f ort he ju ry. In a d d iti o n , a n y in fe re n c e th a t m a y h a v e b e e n d ra w n b y th e ju ry fro m t h e p ro s e c u to r’s
s t at em entt hata pr i orfel onyc onv i c t i on negat es t he pos s i bi l i t yforpr oba t i on was no t
r ev ers i bl e e r r orbe c aus e t he pr os ec ut orha d a l r ead ygi v en t he j ur ya c om pl et e d es c r i pt i on of A ppe l l ant ’ s ex t r ane ous of f en ses w i t ho ut obj ect i on . Fu r t he r m ore, cur at i ve act i on was t ak en by t he c ourtwi t h two i m m edi at e i ns t r uc t i ons t o d i s r ega r d. Fi nal l y , A ppe l l ant ’ s s ent enc e o f f i v e y ear s i m pr i s onmentand a $25 00 f i ne was w el l wi t hi n t he s t at ut or yl i m i t s . T hatA ppe l l ant
r epe at edl yl i ed t o t he ar r es t i ng of f i c er s r ega r di ng when he had l as ts een T i na LeCl earan d

### 15

he rw he r ea bo ut s wh i l e surr ep t i t i ou sl yconce al i ng her i n t he r esi de nce ’ s c r aw l spa ce a d e q u a t e l y e x p l a i n s t h e s e n t e n c e h a n d e d d o w n b y t h e j u r y i n t h i s c a s e . A c c o r d i n g l y , we c onc l ude t he t r i al c ourtdi d n otab us e i t s di s c r et i on i n d eny i ng t he r equ es t f or a mi s t r i al an d
ov er r ul e A ppe l l ant ’ s fourt h i s s ue.
Concl usi on
C o n s e q u e n tly , h a v in g o v e rr u le d A p p e lla n t’s fo u r is s u e s , w e a ff irm t h e t ria l co u rt’s ju d g m e n t.
P a tric k A

. P irtle Just i ce
D o n o t p u b lish

.