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CAUSE NO. PD-1272-15

IN THE COURT

OF

CRIMINAL APPEALS

PAUL ANTWANN HARLAN, #1969190 ocqi

Petitioner, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

vs- DEC 112015

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

Respondent. Abel Acosta, Clerk

On review from the Sixth District Court of Appeals

at Texarkana, Texas

In Case No. 06-14-00263-CR

MR. HARLAN'S ORIGINAL PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

Paul Antwann Harlan #1969190

French M. Robertson Unit

12071 F.M. 3522

Abilene, Texas 79601

(325) 548-9035

Petitioner, Pro Se

FILED If

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

DEC 112G15

Abel Acosta, Clerk
LIST OF PARTIES:

PETITIONER:

Paul Antwann Harlan #1969190

French M. Robertson Unit

12071 F.M. 3522

Abilene, Texas 79601

(325) 548-9035

DEFENSE COUNSEL AT TRIAL:

Brenda Vonjoe

Attorney At Law

4144 N. Central Expressway, #650

Dallas, Texas 75204

Nicole Hines-Glover

3838 Oak Lawn Ave., #1000

Dallas, Texas 75219

APPELLANT'S ATTORNEY ON APPEAL:

Julie Woods

Dallas County Public Defender's Office

Frank Crowley Courts Building

133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-2

Dallas, Texas 75207-4399

RESPONDENT:

The State of Texas

STATE ATTORNEY AT TRIAL:

Hilary Wright and Chris Johnson

Dallas County District Attorney's Office

Frank Crowley Courts Building

133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19

Dallas, Texas 75207-4399

STATE ATTORNEY ON APPEAL:

Susan Hawk (or her designated rep.)

Dallas County District Attorney's Office

Frank Crowley Courts Building

133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19

Dallas, Texas 75207-4399

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

LIST OF PARTIES i

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES iii

STATEMENT OF THE CASE iv

ISSUE PRESENTED 1

STATEMENT OF FACTS 1

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT 3

ARGUMENT 3

Point Of Error 1, Restated:

The evidence is legally insufficient to support Petitioner's

conviction for aggravated robbery because the State failed to

prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Petitioner was the

person who committed the charged offense.

PRAYER 12

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 13

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE 13

-li-
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES:

U.S. Supreme Court Cases:

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

State Cases:

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

Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) 5

Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) 5, 9

Merritt v. State, 368 S.W.3d 516 (Tex.Crim.App. 2012) 5

Miller v. State, 667 S.W.2d 773 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984) 5

Moreno v. State, 755 S.W.2d 866 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988) 5

Westbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000) 4

Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d 763 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013) 4

Wise v. State, 364 S.W.3d 900 (Tex.Crim.App. 2012) 4

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STATEMENT OF THE CASE:

A grand jury indicted Petitioner for aggravated robbery with a deadly weap

on. (CR:10). Petitioner pled not guilty to the charge and proceeded to jury trial.

(RR3:8; RR4:13). The jury found Petitioner guilty of the charged offense. (CR:96;

RR5:88). Petitioner pled true to one enhancement paragraph alleging a prior felony

conviction. (CR:10; RR6:4). The jury assessed a sentence of 50 years imprisonment

and a $10,000 fine. (RR6:14-15). The trial court overruled Petitioner's motion for

new trial. (CR:86). Petitioner timely filed his notice of appeal. (CR:88). Petiti

oner timely filed his direct appeal on May 19, 2015. The conviction was affirmed

by the Sixth District Court of Appeals in Texas and modified by the court to refl

ect a non finding of "true" to an enhancement paragraph. See attached (Appendix:

Exhibit -A). Petitioner now argues his issue(s) on the merits.

L THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ]

-IV-
ISSUE PRESENTED:

POINT OF ERROR 1

The evidence is legally insufficient to support Petitioner's conviction for

aggravated robbery because the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt

that Petitioner was the person who committed the charged offense.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Around 7:45 p.m. on May 7, 2013, Anwarul Hoque and Maria Ochoa were working

at Hilda's Gcocery, a convenience store located at 1016 Murdock Road in Dallas,

Texas. Two men walked into the store and quickly walked toward Ochoa, ordering her

to get on the floor. (RR4:45). Hoque, who was replenishing the store's Dr. Pepper

supply at the time, saw the two men walk into the store. (RR4:24). Hoque observed,

one of the men carrying a gun. (RR4:24). The man with the gun walked toward Hoque

and grabbed him. (RR4:24). Hoque saw Ochoa on the ground. (RR4:24).

The two men, whose faces were mostly covered, told Hoque to open the regist

er and give them the money. (RR4:25). The man wearing the gray hoodie, who was app

rehended at the scene and later identified as Latiki Bosman, punched Hoque's face.

(RR4:26, 28; State's Ex. 23). Hoque testified that he was hurt from the punch and

scared. (RR4:36-37).

The evening of May 7, 2013, Juan Pina drove to his mother's house at 7821

Cup Circle in Dallas, Texas, where he lived. (RR4:65-66). As he exited his car and

walked towards the front door, he heard the metal gate at the side of the house

shake. (RR4:67-68). A man wearing a hoodie, sweatpants, and an army hat and carryi

ng a dark backpack approached Pina and offered money for Pina to drive the man out

of the area. (RR4:69, 71, 74). When Pina refused, the man offered more money, pull

ed a chrome handgun from the pocket of his hoodie, an pointed it at Pina's face.

(RR4:69). The man said, "Give me your fucking keys." (RR4:70). Pina complied then

walked in the house. (RR4:70). When the man was not able to successfully start the

car, he grabbed his backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and then ran away from

the location. (RR4:70-71).

That same day, a K-9 Unit went to the scene where the Lexus used in the

aggravated robbery of Hilda's Grocery crashed through a fence and into a tree.(RR4:

86-87, 89, 111;.State's Ex. 32). The K-9 ("Pico") eventually led officers to a pis

tol, hat, and shirt. (RR4:86-87, 113-114; State's Ex. 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 64).

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Jeff Loeb, a Dallas police detective in the robbery unit, was on call the

evening of May 7, 2013. (RR4:133, 135). After receiving notification of the robbery

at Hilda's Grocery, he responded to the location and started working the case that

night. (RR4:136). He interrogated Latiki that night, but Latiki did not give Loeb

any information about the second suspect's identity. (RR4:136). Loeb conducted his

follow-up investigation to determine the name of the second suspect. (RR4:136).

Two days later, Officer Scott Jay, a Dallas police officer, responded to a

service call for the same area in which the Lexus had been wrecked on May 7, 2013.

(RR4:122). A woman called 911 to report an individual in her yard looking for some

items. (4:121). The 911 caller reported having seen the individual on more than one

occasion. (RR4:121). She provided a physical description of the person in her yard

as a black male, six feet tall and 160 pounds. (RR4:129). That physical description

matched the description of the suspect who fled Hilda's Grocery in the May 7, 2013,

police report. (RR4:124). Using prior police reports with Latiki's name and inform

ation he learned from speaking to witnesses, Jay determined that the individual in

the 911 caller's yard was Keonte Bosman. (RR4:124-25, 126). Jay put Keonte's name

in his May 9, 2013 report and sent it to the lead detective in this case. (RR4:125).

Loeb, the lead detective, learned that Latiki and Keonte had previously been arres

ted, and he obatined a warrant for Keonte's arrest. (RR4:137).

Loeb also obtained a search warrant rfor the Lexus that the police had now

impounded. (RR4:138). Inside the trunk of the car, Loeb found a wallet with Petiti

oner's social security card and birth certificate. (RR4:138, 144-47; State's Ex. 74,

77). He believed that this wallet identified Petitioner as the potential suspect in

the robbery of Hilda's Grocery. (RR4:138). Loeb also found a wallet that he believe

belonged to Latiki. (RR4:138, 145; State's Ex. 73, 75).

Loeb testified that, "based mostly on height," he was comfortable that he

knew Petitioner was the suspect in this case. (RR4:140). Loeb testified that Keonte

is six feet one inch tall. Petitioner is five feet six inches tall, and Latiki is

five feet nine inches tall. (RR4:140, 169). Loeb explained, "So based on me knowing

the height of Latiki Bosman, it was clear to me that the second suspect, the one

that had the gun in the video, did appear to be shorter than the other suspect."

(RR4:140-41).

Due to page limit regulations, Petitioner has included all other relevant facts to

his point of error with the argument of the respective error.

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SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT:

Issue 1: The State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the essenti

al element of identity in this case. The weak evidence in this case does not lead

to a reasonable circumstanital inference that Petitioner was the person who commi

tted aggravated robbery with Latiki. Because the State failed to prove beyond a

reasonable doubt that Petitioner was the person who committed the offense, this

Court should reverse the conviction and enter a judgement of acquittal.

ARGUMENT:

POINT OF ERROR 1; RESTATED:

The evidence is legally insufficient to support Petitioner's conviction for

aggravated robbery because the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt

that Petitioner was the person who committed the charged offense.

Reason(s) To Grant Review:

The Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals has decided an important question

of state and federal law in a way that conflicts with the applicable decisions of

the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. This

ambiguity affects all who come before the Sixth District Court of Appeals in Texas

by causing cases that are similarly situated to be affirmed in opposition to high

er Court rulings.

Facts:

Neither Hoque nor Ochoa (the victims) could identify the two suspects in

the robbery of Hilda's Grocery on May 7, 2013. Hoque explained that he did not pay

attention to the suspects' clothes. (RR4:25). He did not see their faces because

they wore "masks." (RR4:25). He could not recall whether they wore shorts or pants,

long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirts. (RR4:25). He was too scared to pay attention

to these details. (RR4:25). He did not make an in-court identification of the per

son with Latiki (Petitioner's co-defendant). (RR4:17-42).

Ochoa recalled that the suspects "had sweaters on with caps, and their fac

es were covered." (RR4:45). She did not make an in-court identification of the

person with Latiki. (RR4:43-50).

Pina (a would-be victim) did not make an in-court identification of the

person who attempted to carjack hinthe night of May 7, 2013. (RR4:11, 65-79). Dur

ing a photo lineup administered by Officer Loeb, a few days after the offense date,

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Pena chose Keonte as the person who attempted to take his car. (RR4:11, 79). Pri

or to trial, and at Petitioner's request, the court held a hearing outside the

jury's presence. (RR4:5-12). During this hearing, Pina affirmatively stated that

he could not tell whether the person who approached him the night of May 7, 2013,

at his mother's house, was in the courtroom. (RR4:11)..

When Loeb spoke with Latiki about the robbery, Latiki remained tight-lipp

ed about his accomplice. (RR4:136). Loeb suspected that Latiki would not give

information about his accomplice because the accomplice was one of Latiki's rela

tives. (RR4:164).

Although Loeb initially believed that Keonte Bosman was the second suspect

with Latiki, he ruled out Keonte as a suspect. (RR4:138). Loeb concluded that

Petitioner was the person who committed the robbery with Latiki. (RR4:136). He

testified that he came to this conclusion based on his personal assessment of the

height of the person with Latiki, the fact that Petitioner's wallet and cell pho

ne were inside Latiki's Lexus, and the DNA testing results. (RR4:136, 138, 140,

141; RR5:50).

Despite the fact that the DNA testing showed the presence of an unknown

male's DNA profile on the shirt, Loeb testified that he did not hesitate in his

decision to focus on Petitioner as the suspect. (RR5:50). He explained that beca

use he "was already looking at a male as Lbis] suspect...it just confirmed that

it was a male suspect's DNA on a shirt." (RR5:50).

Standard of Review:

"In analyzing a claim of insufficient evidence, we view all the evidence

and reasonable inferences from the evidence in the light most favorable to the

verdict and determine whether a rational fact-finder could have found the essent

ial elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt." Wise v. State, 364 S.W.3d

900, 902 (Tex. Crim.App. 2012)(citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19

(1979)). "The fact finder resolves all conflicts in the evidence and is the excl

usive judge of the credibility of the witness and the weight to give their testi

mony." H. (citing Westbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 111 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000));

see Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d 763, 768 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013). The Jackson stan

dard is the only standard a reviewing court should apply to determine if the Sta

te proved each and every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Brooks

v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 895 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010)(plurality op.). The reviewing

court must defer to the fact finder's credibility and weight determinations since

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the trier of fact is the sole judge of the credibility of a witness' testimony.

Id. at 899. Juries are permitted to make reasonable inferences from the evidence

at trial, and circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in esta

blishing the defendant's guilt. Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 14-15 (Tex.Crim.

App. 2007). The reviewing court "determines whether the necessary inferences are

reasonable based upon the combined and cumulative force of all the evidence when

viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict." Id. at 16-17. A court's revi

ew of the evidence includes all admitted evidence regardless of whether the admi

ssion of evidence was erroneous. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex.Crim.

App. 2007).

Applicable Law:

It is incumbent upon the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the

defendant is the person who committed the charged offense. Miller v. State, 667

S.W.2d 773, 775 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984). The State must prove that the defendant was

criminally connected to the offense. See Merritt v. State, 368 S.W.3d 516, 525

(Tex.Crim.App. 2012). Identity may be shown by direct evidence, circumstantial

evidence, or reasonable inferences from this evidence. Gardner v. State, 306

S.W.3d 274, 285 (Tex.Crim.App. 2009). "We do not disturb the fact finder's decis

ion unless it is irrational or supported by only a "mere modicum* of evidence."

Moreno v. State, 755 S.W.2d 866, 867 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988).

Analysis:

The State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Petitioner was tie

person who sommitted the charged offense with Latiki. Loeb's personal visual ass

essment of the height of the second suspect, as depicted on the video surveillan

ce, and the DNA results are not sufficient proof to establish that Petitioner

committed the charged offense. Furthermore, the presence of Petitioner's wallet

inside Latiki's car did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Petitioner was

the person with Latiki inside Hilda's Grocery on May 7, 2013.

The Wallet.

The only evidence potentially probative of Petitioner's involvement in the

offense was that a wallet containing Petitioner's birth certificate and social

security card was inside the trunk of the car driven prior to and after the robb

ery of Hilda's Grocery. Indeed, Loeb only consideced Petitioner a suspect after

he found Petitioner's wallet inside the Lexus. Yet this piece of evidence hardly
proves that Petitioner was the person who actually committed the offense with

Latiki. Tnere is no evidence that the wallet contained any picture identification

matching Petitioner's physical description. There is no evidence that Petitioner

placed the wallet in the car. Nor is there evidence of how long the wallet had

been inside the car. Furthermore, as plainly visible on the video surveillance,

there is no evidence that Latiki and his accomplice placed any items in the trunk

of the car before entering Hilda's. Without any proof of when Petitioner placed

his wallet inside Latiki's car, if Petitioner did in fact place it there himself,

the mere presence of the wallet in the car does not reasonably lead to an infere

nce that Petitioner committed aggravated robbery with Latiki.

No rational juror could reasonably infer that Petitioner committed the

charged offense simply by virtue of his wallet being inside Latiki*s car. Without

any other evidence establishing when and how the wcallet ended up in Latiki's car,

it is pure speculation that Petitioner placed his wallet inside the car prior to

committing robbery with Latiki.

Additionally, there is no evidence as to who drove the Lexus from Hilda's

and crashed the car after the robbery. Indeed, according to Loeb's recollection,

the 911 caller who reported the suspicious person in her yard two days after the

robbery reported that the suspicious person said his brother had crashed the car.

(RR4:156). There is no evidence in the record that Petitioner is Keonte's brother.

Keonte knew Petitioner, but never indicated that they were related. This suspici

ous person matched Keonte's physical description. If teh suspicious person in the

yard near the crash site was Keonte, as the evidence suggests, then someone other

than Petitioner'crashed the Lexus. Yet even if the jury believed that Petitioner

drove the Lexus and crashed the car, despite the lack of evidence establishing

such a conclusion, it would not be logical to infer that Petitioner left his wal

let with his identification inside the abandoned car.

At most, the fact that a wallet containing documents with Petitioner's

name was inside Latiki's car simply establishes that someone placed the wallet

inside the trunk at some point prior to the execution of the search warrant. The

re was no evidence that Petitioner placed his wallet inside Latiki's car and no

evidence that the fact that Petitioner's wallet was inside this car meant that

Petitioner committed robbery with Latiki. Furthermore, the record is completely

devoid of any evidence that Petitioner was at or near Hilda's Grocery on May 7.

2013.

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DNA Results:

Loeb testified that he believed Petitioner was the suspect based on the

DNA results. However, this testimony is not supported by the facts in the record.

The results of the DNA testing were not complete until October 7, 2013, and Augu

st 4, 2014. (RR5:24, 34; State's Ex. 80, 81). Loeb obtained an arrest warrant for

Petitioner on June 14, 2013. (CR:11-14). Dallas police officer Phillip Lawler

collected the warrant for Petitioner's arrest on June 18, 2013, and gathered int

elligence about Petitioner's location. (RR4:172-73). Based on the arraignment

information in the record, Petitioner was arrested on June 18, 2013, nearly four

months before the first round of DNA testing results were available. (CR:15).

In any event, Loeb's conclusion that the DNA analysis confirmed his deter

mination that Petitioner was the second suspect with Latiki is not supported by

Fitzwater's (DNA Analyist) testimony about the DNA profiles on the hat, shirt and

gun. Fitzwater testified that the probability that Petitioner's DNA profile was

on the hat was 1 in 1}160 and 1 in 648. This probability means that out of all

the people in the City of Dallas,, 1,084 and 1,941 people in the city, respective

to each probability, would have the same DNA profile. (RR5:38-39). If this signi

ficantly high number of people in the City of Dallas has the same DNA profile

that was on the hat, then this is quite a large pool of people who potentially

wore that hat. This evidence hardly established proof beyond a reasonable doubt

that Petitioner was the person who wore the hat.

Futhermore, the likelihood that it was the unknown male's DNA on the shirt

was so high that a rational jury could reasonably infer that the unknown male had

worn the shirt. Futzwater explained that out of a pool of people equal to 29,000

times the Earth's population of 7,000,000,000 people, only one person would have

that sa-ne DNA profile. This strong evidence logically indicates that someone oth

er than Petitioner wore this shirt.

Fitzwater and Slaughter testified that they were not able to determine

when DNA is deposited on an item. (RR5:19, 43). Slaughter further explained that

skin cells can last a long time on an item. (RR5:19). Consequently, the fact that

the hat and shirt contained a DNA profile matching Petitioner's DNA profile does

not establish when the DNA was deposited. This evidence does not prove that Peti

tioner wore these items on May 7, 2013, during the aggravated robbery of Hilda's

Grocery.

Slaughter also explained that DNA can transfer from item to item. (RR5:18).

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Because the police collected the hat and shirt and placed them in the same bag

together, it is not illogical to consider the fact that DNA transferred between

the items. It was only after the second round of testing on the hat that Petitio

ner was included as a possible contributor.

The DNA results do not comport with the State's theory that Petitioner

wore the camouflage hat and used the shirt to cover his face during the robbery.

Hoque and Ochoa testified that the second suspect's face was covered. The video

surveillance shows that the second suspect's neck and face were covered by a shi

rt and that he wore a camouflage hat. Pico (K-9 Unit) tracked the scent from the

Lexus to the shirt in the ditcjh. Because the DNA testing established pretty con

clusively that the unknown male wore the shirt, it is reasonable to infer that

the unknown male was the person who covered his face with the shirt during the

robbery then drove and crashed the Lexus after the robbery. Even if the jury did

not believe that the unknown male was the accomplice, the DNA evidence in this

case does not establish sufficient proof that Petitioner was the person who cove

red his face with the shirt and wore the hat during the robbery.

The DNA analysis of the gun indicated a low level of DNA. Fitzwater testi

fied that low levels of DNA mean there are not enough genetic markers to make it

uniquely identified to match it to an individual. (RR5:28-29). When the level of

DNA is low, the statistical probability that a particular person is a contributor

is a lot less. (RR5:28-29). Although Fitzwater included Petitioner as a possible

contributor to the gun's DNA profile, the low level of DNA on the gun renders the

likelihood that Petitioner's DNA was actually on the gun significantly less.

Height.

The only other piece of evidence upon which Loeb relied to form his opini

on that Petitioner was the perpetrator of the robbery was Loeb's assessment of

the height, of the person with Latiki. Loeb's own testimony, however, established

the difficulty in visually determining a person's height without measuring. He

explained that "height and weight is probably the most incorrectly stated" descr

iption of suspects. (RR5:55). Loeb's emphasis on height is hardly convincing evi

dence to convict Petitioner as the second suspect in the robbery.

Contrary to Loeb's testimony that he could tell that the second suspect

was shorter than Latiki, the video surveillance does not clearly depict that the

person with Latiki was shorter than Latiki. The camera angle from behind the cash

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register and counter shows the two men crouching and hnched over to take items

from underneath the counter. (State's Ex. 11 Part 002 - Camera #5; State's Ex. 11

Part 003 - Camera #7). The camera views of the suspects inside Hilda's Grocery

started from a point higher than the suspects" heads and angled down in the dire

ction of the floor. (State's Ex. 11 Part 002 - Camera #5; State's Ex. 11 Part 003

- Camera #7; State's Ex. 11 Part 005 - Camera #10; State's Ex. 11 Part 008 -

Camera #14). Nothing in these videos relect any concrete evidence that the second

suspect was shorter than Latiki. Consequently, Loeb's testimony that the second

suspect is shorter than Latiki is not supported by the facts of the case. See

Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 15 ("[Jjuries are not permitted to come to conclusions bas

ed on mere speculation or factually unsupported inferences or presumptions.'1).

The camera view of the suspects entering Hilda's through the front door is

equally conclusive as to the second suspect's height. Loeb testified that he was

able to determine that the second suspect was shorter than Latiki based on his

comparison of each suspect relative to a particular point on the lottery stand,

as depicted in the video recording. Yet, the video surveillance does not support

Loeb's conclusion. As the suspects pass by the lottery stand, each head appears

to pass by the same point on the lottery stand, indicating that they are at least

similar in height, if not the same height.

Jay testified that he recalled that the description of the second suspect

in the May 7, 2013, report of the aggravated robbery was a black male, six feet

two inches tall, and 160 pounds. (RR4:130). Based on Loeb's testimony, Petitioner

is five feet six inches tall. (RR4:140-41). Therefore, it is not a reasonable in

ference that Petitioner was the suspect based on the height in comparison to the

height as noted in the police report; Petitioner is a significant eight inches

shorter than the height of the suspect described in the May 7, 2013,, police repo

rt.

Furthermore, to infer that Petitioner was the second suspect based primarly on height is not reasonable. If the evidence had shown, for example, that Pet

itioner is seven feet tall, a relatively uncommon height, and the video surveill

ance depicted a man obviously more than a foot taller than Latiki, then perhaps

Loeb's height analysis would be more persuasive. However, this is not the case

here. According to Loeb, Petitioner is five feet six inches tall and Latiki is

approximately five feet nine inches tall. When considering the fact that both

suspects wore head coverings that obviously added inches to their overall height,

this variance in height is not probative of the identity of the person who commi-

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tted the offense with Latiki.

The Remaining Evidence.

None of the witnesses who came into contact with the second robbery suspe

ct on May 7, 2013, made an in-court identification of Petitioner as the suspect.

During a photographic line-up administered a few days after the offense, Pina

chose Keonte as the person who tried to carjack him and, according to the State,

the person who committed the robbery of Hilda's Grocery with Latiki. Consequently,

no witness identified Petitioner as the person who committed the robbery or as

the person who attempted to take Pina's car.

A majority of the remaining evidence points away from Petitioner. Latiki's

refusal to confirm the name of his accomplice reasonably leads to the conclusion

that Latiki committed the offense with one of his relatives, especially in light

of the fact that Latiki had committed offenses with relatives in the past. (RR4:

155-56).

The only evidence indicating Petitioner even knew Latiki was Keonte's sta

tement to the police that he knew Petitioner. There is no additional evidence in

the record indicating whether Petitioner knew Latiki or they spent time with each

other.

Although the gun had a serial number, the State did not present any evide

nce to show who owned the gun. (RR4:96-98). The lack of ownership information

coupled with the low levels of DNA on the gun did not establish sufficient evide

nce linking Petitioner to the gun used during the robbery.

Conclusion.

The Sixth District Court of Appeals in Texas makes the assertion that the

Petitioner's circumstantial evidence case was built brick by brick. See attached

(Appendix - Exhibit, pg. 11). If those bricks are speculation, conjecture, assum

ption, and guess work, then, thy*re right. Let's recap the events to see the

"irrational" jury verdict and "mere modicum" of evidence.

When it came to identifying the Petitioner, neither Hoque nor Ochoa, the

store owners, identified the Petitioner as the gunman prior to or at trial. Pina,

the person which the gunman tried to steal his car at gun point with no mask,

identified Keonte Bosman in a photographic line up as the person who attempted to

carjack him. The surveillance tape in the store, which was heavily relied on by

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Officer Loeb and later the jury, originally put the gun man at around 6 feet 2

inches tall and 160 pounds. This is according to Officer Jay, who testified as to

the description of the second suspect in the May 7, 2013 report based on the rob

bery. (RR4:130). Officer Loeb's own testimony established difficulty in visually

determining a person's height, in a video surveillance tape, without measuring,

and explained that "height and weight is probably the most incorrectly stated

descriptions of the suspects." (RR5:55). Tne Petitioner is only five feet six

inches tall.

Secondly, DNA testing excluded Petitioner as a contributor to the DNA on

the shirt.. The DNA testing on the hat and gun, worn and used in the commission of

the crime, gave a ratio that the probability of the Petitioner's DNA match for

the hat and gun was 1 in 648, for the hat, and 1 in 7, for the gun. If we use

these ratios to determine probability or likelihood that the DNA belonged to Pet

itioner, that would mean that the DNA on the hat shows a .02 percent chance that

the DNA on the hat belonged to the Petitioner and a 14 percent chance that the

DNA on the gun belonged to the Petitioner. If we apply these percentages to the

world's population, the number of potential possibilities become astronomical.

But, let's just compare those percentages to a more feasible location, the Dallas

County metroplex, which consists of about 3 million people. That would mean that

the DNA contributors to the hat could belong to approximately seven thousand oth

er potential candidates. The DNA contributors to the gun could belong to approxi

mately over 300,000 potential contributors.

The incongruent statement by the Sixth District Court of Appeals that,

"the State built their circumstantial evidence case brick by brick" is a blackeye to law. The truth is that the State had no physical nor enough circumstantial

evidence to convict the Petitioner, all while putting forth mere speculation as

evidence and motive before the jury, knowing full well that the identification

and scientific evidence relied on at trial was insufficient to sustain a convict

ion.

The State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Petitioner commi

tted the charged offense with Latiki. The only evidence on which Loeb relied to

conclude that Petitioner committed the offense was Petitioner's height, wallet,

and the DNA results. Loeb's determination that Petitioner committed the offense

because he was shorter than Latiki is not supported by the facts in the record.

The fact that Petitioner's wallet was inside Latiki's car did not establish that

•11-
Petitioner was with Latiki during the robbery; it merely placed Petitioner's wal

let inside the car. Finally, the DNA evidence was not strong and did not conclus

ively prove that Petitioner wore the hat or shirt during the robbery.

Even when considering this evidence in the light most favorable to the

jury's verdict, the evidence remains insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable

doubt that Petitoiner was the person who committed aggravated robbery. Because

the State failed to prove identity in this case, the Court should reverse Petiti

oner's conviction afad enter a judgment of acquital.

PRAYER:

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Petitioner prays that this Court reverse

the conviction and enter a judgment of acquittal. In the alternative, Petitioner

prays that this Court reverse and remand for a new trial.

Petitioner prays for general relief and all other relief he may be entitled.

I, Paul Antwann Harlan, TDCJ # 1969190, being presently incarcerated at the French

M. Robertson Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, in Jones County,

Texas; do hereby verify and declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing

statements are both true and correct, as well s offered in good faith.

LTex.Civ.Prac.& Rem.Code §132.001-003 et deq./Title 28 U.S.C. § 1746]

(A signad/dated copy of this PETITION shall have the saie validity as its original)

SIGNED AND EXECUTED on this the 2nd day of December, 2015.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

Petitioner, Pro Se

Paul Antwann Harlan #1969190

French M. Robertson Unit

12071 F.M. 3522

Abilene, Texas 79601

(325) 548-9035

-12-
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE:

The above signer hereby certifies that a true and correct copy of the fore

going MR. HARLAN'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW has been served on ALL parties

in this matter, via 1st Class U.S. Mail, Postage Pre-paid, deposited in the outgoi

ng prison mailbox on this the 3rd day of December, 2015; addressed to:

• Dallas County Criminal District Attorney's Office

Appellate Division

133 N. Riverfront Blvd., 10th Floor

Dallas, Texas 75207

• Attorney for the State

P.O. Box 12548

Capitol Station

Austin, Texas 78711 2cjn^.,Wr,„L*m>®

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE:

The above signed also hereby certifies that the word count in this document

is 10,000 words or less.

XlnmU^U^L-^qfoq19o

-13-
Court of Appeals

Sixth Appellate District of Texas

JUDGMENT

Paul Antwann Harlan, Appellant

No. 06-14-00236-CR v.

The State ofTexas, Appellee

Appeal from the Criminal District Court

No. 4 of Dallas County, Texas (Tr. Ct. No.

F13-56882-K). Opinion delivered by Chief

Justice Morriss, Justice Moseley and Justice

Burgess participating.

As stated in the Court's opinion of this date, we find there was partial error in the

judgment of the court below. Therefore, we modify the trial court's judgment by deleting the

reference that this conviction was Harlan's second of its type. The modified judgment shall

reflect aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon as the offense of conviction. As modified, the

judgment ofthe trial court is affirmed.

We note that the appellant, Paul Antwann Harlan, has adequately indicated his inability

to pay costs of appeal. Therefore, we waive payment of costs.

ATTEST:

Debra K. Autrey, Clerk

RENDERED SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

BY ORDER OF THE COURT

JOSH R. MORRISS, III

CHIEF JUSTICE
In The

Court of Appeals

Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

No. 06-14-00236-CR

PAUL ANTWANN HARLAN, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 4 of Dallas County

Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court No. F13-56882-K

Before Morriss, C.J., Moseley and Burgess, JJ.

Memorandum Opinion by ChiefJustice Morriss
MEMORANDUM OPINION

This appeal can best be understood as a series of scenes.

Act I, Scene 1: TheConvenience Store. Multiple surveillance video recordings showed a

masked gunman entering aDallas1 convenience store, brandishing achrome handgun, and holding

two employees at gunpoint, as histaller accomplice entered the store with a red duffel bag, beat

one employee, took that employee's wallet, and forced the employee to open the cash registers.

Thegunman is seencarrying a blackbackpack and wearing a darkblue hoodie, a camouflage hat,

darkpants, blackshoes, and latexgloves. As the robbers stuffed cashfromthe registers intotheir

bags, two uniformed security guards noticed the ongoing robbery and apprehended the taller

accomplice—identified as Latiki Bosman. The shorter gunman ran away and left the scene in a

white Lexus vehicle.

Act I, Scene 2: The Nearby Residence. Shortly thereafter, a short distance from the store,

near the end of a dead-end road, Juan Pina arrived at his mother's residence, parked his car in the

driveway, and exited the vehicle. Pina then noticed a dark-complected male wearing a hoodie,

sweatpants, and an army hat and carrying a dark backpack, who approached Pina and offered to

pay him for a ride from the area. The stranger was jumpy and short of breath. When Pina refused,

the man pointed a chrome handgun at Pina and demanded the keys to the car. Yielding the keys,

Pina ran inside, while the stranger tried to start the car, but was prevented by a built-in safety

feature. Pina's cousins then came out ofthe house and chased the gunman away. In the process

'Originally appealed to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas, this case was transferred to this Court by the Texas

Supreme Court pursuant to its docket equalization efforts. See Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 73.001 (West 2013). We

follow the precedent of the Fifth Court of Appeals in deciding this case. See Tex.R. App.P. 41.3.
offleeing, the gunman dropped various itemsjust taken from the store. Behind the residence sat

the white Lexus, which had been crashed into a fence.

Act I, Scene 3: The Bridge. As some police officers collected items dropped at the

residence, other officers used a K-9 named Pico to track the gunman's scent to a bridge, where

they found and collected a nine millimeter Smith & Wesson handgun, a camouflage hat, and a

dark shirt. Officers were unable to find the gunman that evening.

Act II, Scene 1: The Follow-Up. Two key bits of information led authorities, ultimately,

to conclude that Paul Antwann Harlan, five feet, six inches tall, was the gunman. Pina, who was

six feet, two inches tall, said that, though he did not get a good look at the gunman, the gunman

was as tall as Pina's chin. Officers also learned that the crashed Lexus at the residence belonged

to Latiki, obtained a search warrant, searchedthe vehicle, and foundin the vehicle's trunk Harlan's

and Latiki's wallets and cell phones.

Act II, Scene 2: The Brother. Two days after the robbery, a report came from someone at

Pina's mother's residence that a man was searching the yard of the residence for something

dropped by the searcher's brother the night his brother's Lexus was crashed behind the residence.

The searcher was later identified as Keonte Bosman, suggested by the record to be the brother of

Latiki Bosman, the owner ofthe Lexus.

Act III: The Trial. Harlan was tried before a Dallas jury on the charge of aggravated

robbery with a deadly weapon. At trial, over objection, the court allowed into evidence a

detective's testimony that, when he found Harlan's and Latiki'swallets in the trunk of the Lexus,

he "surmised that most likely [they] had placed theirwallets in the trunk [before] committing the
robbery." Thejury found Harlan guilty, and, pursuantto thejury's finding of "true" on the State's

enhancementallegation,Harlanwas sentenced to fifty years' incarceration and was orderedto pay

a $10,000.00 fine and court costs. The judgment recited that Harlan's conviction was for

"aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon 2nd."

Act TV: The Appeal. On appeal, Harlan argues that the evidence was insufficient to

support the jury's finding that he committed the crime, that the trial court erred in admitting the

detective's allegedly speculativetestimony, and that the trial court's judgment incorrectlyreflects

both the name ofthe offense and the finding of "true" on the State's enhancement allegation.

We modify the judgment and affirm it as modified, because (1) sufficient evidence

establishes Harlan as the perpetrator of the offense, (2) admitting Loeb's testimony was not

reversible error, (3) we must modify the trial court's judgment to properly reflect the offense, and

(4) the judgment's recitation of a finding of "true" to the enhancement allegation remains.

(1) Sufficient EvidenceEstablishes Harlan as a Perpetrator ofthe Offense

Harlan argues that the evidence is legally insufficient to support the jury's finding of guilt.

We disagree. .._....-.

"In analyzing a claim of insufficient evidence, we view all the evidence and reasonable

inferences from the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether a

rational fact-finder could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable

doubt." -IslasMartinezv. State-,-452 S.W.3d 874, 877 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, pet. refd) (citing

Jackson v. Virginia, 44Z U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979);. Wise v. State, 364 S.W.3d 900, 902 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2012)). "The factfinder resolves all conflicts in the evidence and is the exclusive judge of
the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to give their testimony." Id. (citing Wesbrook v.

State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 111 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000)); se:e Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d 763, 768

(Tex. Crim. App. 2013).

"Aparty commits robbery if, inthe course of committing theftandwith the intent to obtain

or maintain control of property,' he knowingly or intentionally threatens or places another in fear

of imminent bodily injury or death."2 Lockett v. State, 874 S.W.2d 810, 814 (Tex. App.—Dallas

1994, pet. refd); Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 29.02(a)(2) (West 2011). "The use or exhibition of a

deadly weapon during the commission ofa robbery aggravates the offense." Lockett, 874 S.W.2d

at 814 (citing Tex. Penal Code Ann..§ 29.03(a)(2) (West2011)). In this case, Harlanchallenges

only the element ofidentity.

"Identity may be shown by circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences

therefrom." Adams-v^-Siat^ 418 S.W.3d 803, 810 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2013, pet. ref d);

Gardner v. State, 306 S.W.3d 274, 285 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009); seeJt&bersvn^-Staterl6 S.W.3d

156, 167 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000, pet. ref d). Juries arepermitted tomake reasonable inferences

from the evidence at trial, and circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in

establishing the defendant's guilt. Hooper v. State, 21.4 S.W.3d 9, 14-15 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).

We examine the evidence offered at Harlan's trial to determine whether the State proved the

element ofidentity.

2The State alleged that Harlan "intentionally and knowingly, while inthe course ofcommitting theft ofproperty and

with intent to obtain or maintain control ofsaid property, threatened] and place[d] ANWARUL HOQUE in fear of

imminent bodily injury and death, [by .. ..us[ing] and exhibiting] a deadly weapon, to-wit: AFIREARM."

. 5
Two masked perpetrators robbed a convenience store on the evening of May 7, 2013.

Video surveillance footage showed that the first perpetrator to walk through the door, characterized

as the shorter ofthe two, held convenience store employees, Anwarul Hoque and Maria Ochoa, at

gunpoint. He brandished a chrome handgun, concealed his face by using a black shirt as a bandana,

carried a black backpack, and wore a dark blue hoodie displaying the word "Brooklyn" acrossthe

chest, a camouflage hat, dark pants, black shoes, and latex gloves. The gunman's accomplice

carried a red duffel bag and wore a grey hoodie and black pants. The gunman threatened to kill

Ochoa and ordered her to lie on the ground while his accomplice beat Hoque, took his wallet, and

forced him to open the cash registers. The robbers moved quickly to collect money from the

registers.

As the robbers were in the process of stuffing their bags with cash and otheritems, they

were spotted by two off-duty security guards who were still in uniform. One of the guards armed

himselfand apprehended the unarmed accomplice, but the gunman ran away. Richard Dellatorre,

an officer with theDallas Police Department (DPD), soon arrived to find the captured perpetrator

in handcuffs, identified him as Latiki, and transported him to the police department.

Meanwhile, using the same white Lexus he had driven to the convenience store, the

gunman travelled a shortdistance downa dead-end roadbefore crashing thecarthrough abackyard

fence. Unaware of the crash in his mother's backyard, Pina arrived at his mother's home and

parked his car in the front driveway. As he exited his vehicle, Pina heard someone shaking the

gate at the side of thehouse. The gunman then approached Pina and asked for a ride away from

the area. Pina described the assailant as jumpy and said, "[T]he way he was talking, he could
barely catch his breath." When Pina refused, the gunman brandished the handgun and demanded

the keys to the car. The keys did the gunman no good. When the gunman was chased out ofPina's

car by Pina's cousins, he left behind several boxes of cigars, a cardboard box labelled "$500

Quarters," rolled quarters and other cash, and miscellaneous papers. The gunman had also dropped

cigar boxes and cash around Pina's mother's yard. On arrival, DPD Detective Joshua Cordes

noticed that thegunman hadleft a trail ofmoney as he fledthe scene. Cordes collected the items3

as DPD Corporal Armando Dominguez, Jr., used a dog, Pico, to begin the hunt for the gunman.

Pico picked up the gunman's scent and led Dominquez to a bridge where they located, and Cordes

collected, an abandoned nine millimeter Smith & Wesson handgun, a camouflage hat, and a dark

shirt. Pico and Dominguez continued the manhunt, but were unable to find the gunman.

Officers spoke to Hoque and Ochoa to get a better description of the gunman, but both

claimed they were too scared and nervous to notice any details about him. Likewise, Pina said he

could not get a good look at the gunman because it was dark outside. However, Pina, who is

around six feet two inches tall, testified that the gunman came up to his chin and estimated that he

was five feet, eight or nine inches tall.1 " .'

Detective Jeoff Loeb learned that the crashed Lexus belonged to Latiki and obtained a

warrant to search it. In the trunk of the car, Loeb found Harlan's and Latiki's wallets and cell

phones. Harlan's wallet contained his social security card and birth certificate. Based on his find,

Loeb concluded that Harlan was the gunman. He interrogated Latiki, who remained tight-lipped

about the identity of his accomplice. Nevertheless, Loeb secured a warrant for Harlan's arrest.

3Cordes testified that he returned the items to the convenience store.

7
Two days after the robbery, DPD Officer Scott Jay testified that someone calling from

Pina's mother's house claimed that a six-foot, 160-pound male driving a 2013 gold Saturn had

been searching her yard for something because the Lexus crash had involved his brother. With

this information in mind, Jay began searching Latiki's prior police reports to determine if any

people associated with him matched the description provided by the caller. Jay learned that Latiki

had previously been arrested with a man named Keonte Bosman, concluded that Keonte might be -

Latiki's brother due to the shared last name, and noticed that Keonte matched the physical

description given by the caller. Jay passed the information on to Loeb. >

In a photographic lineup, from which Harlan was excluded, Pina identified Keonte as the

man who pointed a gun at him a few days earlier. Yet, Leob testified that Keonte, who knew

Harlan, provided him with information proving that he was not Latiki's accomplice in the

convenience store robbery. Loeb also noticed that Latiki was approximately five feet, nine inches

tall, that the gunman from the surveillance video was shorter than Latiki, and that Keonte was six

feet, one inch tall. Based on this information, Loeb believed that Keonte could not have been the

gunman.- Leob ruled Keonte out as a suspect and focused his efforts on Harlan, who was five feet,

six inches tall.

Harlan was arrested five days after Loeb had obtained a warrant for his arrest. Loeb

collected buccal samples from Keonte and Harlan and submitted them to the Southwest Institute

ofForensic Sciences (SWIFS) for comparison with any DNA found on the gun, hat, and shirt that

Pico had located on the night of the robbery. Kaylie Slaughter, a forensic biologist for SWIFS,

collected a swab sample from the gun, the inside sweatband of the hat, the brim of the hat, the

8
inside cuff ofthe shirt sleeve, and the interior neckline ofthe shirt. Slaughter also took a cutting

from both the shirt and the hat.

Angela Fitzwater, a forensic biologist for SWIFS, conducted the DNA analysis of all the

submitted samples. Fitzwater originally tested only the swab from the gun, and the cuttings from

the shirt and hat. According to Fitzwater, a DNA profile of a single male was obtained from the

shirt cutting, and she referred to this profile as "unknown male" because neither Keonte nor

Harlan's DNA matched the DNA profile of this contributor. The cutting from the hat contained a

mixture of at least two people, but Fitzwater's testing excludedKeonte, Harlan, and the unknown

male as contributors to the DNA found on that sample. 'As for the gun, Fitzwater testified that

because the sample contained low levels of DNA, she was unable to determine how many people

had contributed to the sample, but was able to exclude both Keonte and the unknown male as

contributors. However, Fitzwater testified, "[T]here were genetic markers within that DNA profile

that corresponded to genetic markers in the DNA profile of Paul Harlan, and therefore I included

him as a possible contributor" to the DNA found on the weapon. Yet, the "conservative random

match probability" for the gun was only "l-in-7," meaning that "one person out of a group-of [7]

people would have those same sets of genetic markers that [Fitzwater] detected."

Based on the initial DNA test results, Fitzwater was asked to test the swabs from the shirt

and the hat. Testing of the shirt swabs, which contained a DNAmixture oftwo people, revealed

the unknown male to be the major contributor. Keonte and Harlan were both excluded as

contributors to the DNA found on the shirt. Both swabs ofthe hat also contained a mixture oftwo

people, butHarlanwasincluded as a contributor, andKeonte andtheunknown malewereexcluded
as contributors to the DNA found on the hat. With respect to the first swab of the hat, Harlan's

conservative random match probability was 1 in 1,160; for the second hat swab, it was 1 in 648.

After hearing this evidence, the jury found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Harlan was the

gunman who robbed the convenience store. Harlan argues that the evidence is legally insufficient

to prove his identity as the gunman because (1) Hoque, Ochoa, and Pina did not identify him as

the assailant at trial, (2) Pina identified Keonte in a photographic lineup as the person who

attempted to carjack him, (3) DNA testing excluded Harlan as a contributor to the DNA on the

shirt, (4) DNA testing on the gun and hat demonstrated that a large pool of people with the same

genetic markers as Harlan could have worn the hat and used the gun, and (5) the wallet's presence

in Latiki's car did not prove that Harlan placed the wallet in the car or that he was the gunman.

Harlan also argues that Loeb's testimony that he was looking for a suspect shorter than Latiki is

suspect because Harlan is eight inches shorter than Latiki. Jay testified that a report generated on

the night of the robbery listed the gunman as being six feet, two inches tall, and the video

surveillance suggests that the gunman was close' to the same height as Latiki.

Certainly, this case presented the jury with conflicting inferences. ! When the record

supports conflicting inferences, a reviewing court must "presume that the factfinder resolved the

conflicts in favor ofthe prosecution" and defer to that determination. Wise v. State, 364 S.W.3d

900, 903 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). "We do not disturb the fact finder's decision unless it is

irrational or supported by only a 'mere modicum' of evidence." Lockett, 874 S.W.2d at 813 (citing

Moreno v. State, 755 S.W.2d 866, 867 (Tex. Crim. App! 1988)).

10
This circumstantial-evidence case was built brick by brick. The jury was able to view the

gunman from several angles from the convenience store's video surveillance recordings. In

addition to determining whether Loeb's testimony about the gunman's height was correct, the jury

was able to visualize the gunman's build and mannerisms, albeit through baggy clothing, and could

compare the gunman's build to Harlan's. Even though Pina picked Keonte as his assailant, the

jury heard the six foot, two inch tall Pina testify that the assailant came up to his chin. Since the

jury heard that Keonte was related to and had previously been arrested with Latiki and that Keonte

knew Harlan, it was reasonable for the jury to infer that Latiki also knew Harlan, given that

Harlan's personal items were found in Latiki's car. Thus, the jury could have determined that it

was not by chance that Harlan's wallet and cell phone were found with Latiki's wallet and cell

phone in the trunk ofLatiki's car. The jury also heard testimony from Fitzwater stating that Harlan

could not be excluded as a contributor to the DNA left behind on the gun and hat. Therefore,

viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude a rational trier of

fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Harlan was a perpetrator in the robbery.

We overrule this point of error. ' '

(2) AdmittingLoeb 's Testimony Was Not ReversibleError

Harlan next argues that the trial court erred in overruling his objection to the following

portion ofLoeb's testimony:

I did find a wallet that belonged to apparently, Paul Harlan. His wallet was in

the trunk ofthe vehicle. There was a Social Security card and a birth certificate,

I believe, that was in there that identified him as a potential suspect. There was

another wallet in the same trunk that belonged to Latiki Bosman, so I had

surmisedthat most likely the suspects had placed their wallets in the trunk ofthe

vehicle before committing the robbery.

11
Harlan objected to the testimony on the ground that it was speculative. After the State responded

that the testimony "goes with regard to his investigation of the case," the trial court overruled

Harlan's objection. Harlan argues that the trial court erred in doing so because "Loeb's testimony

that [Harlan] had placed his wallet in the trunk of Latiki's car before robbing [the convenience

store] was purely speculative."

It must be noted that, without objection, Loeb later testified, "I focused on Paul Harlan

being the suspect, based on the fact of where his ID was found in the suspect vehicle."

"Erroneously admitting evidence 'will not result in reversal when other such evidence was

received without objection, either before or after the complained-of ruling.'" Coble v. State, 330

S.W.3d 253, 282 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (quoting Leday v. State, 983 S.W.2d 713, 718 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1998)). Error in the admission of evidence is rendered harmless when "substantially

the same evidence" is admitted elsewhere without objection. Mayes v. State, 816 S.W.2d 79, 88

(Tex. Crim. App. 1991), superseded by statute on other grounds, TEX. CODECRIM. PROC.Ann.

art. 38.37 (West Supp. 2014); see also Estrada v. State, 313 S.W.3d 274, 302 n.29 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2010). From his briefing, it appears that Harlan challenges only the idea that he placed his

wallet in the trunk before robbing the convenience store. -J7

We review the trial court's admission ofevidence for an abuse ofdiscretion. See DeLa Paz

v. State, 279 S.W.3d 336,343 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Ifthe mling is within the zone ofreasonable

disagreement, no abuse of discretion is shown. Id. at 343-44. "An abuse of discretion will be

found 'only when the trial judge's decision was so clearly wrong as to lie outside that zone within

which reasonable persons might disagree.'" Shaw v. State, 122 S.W.3d 358, 363 (Tex. App.—

12
Texarkana 2003, no pet.) (quoting Cantu v. State, 842 S.W.2d 667, 682 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992)).

"The ruling will be upheld ifit is permissible under any theory applicable to the case." Id. (citing

Romero v. State, 800 S.W.2d 539, 543 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990)).

A witness may testify to a matter only if evidence is introduced sufficient to support

a finding that the witness has personal knowledge ofthe matter. Evidence to prove

personal knowledge may consist of the witness's own testimony. This rule does

not apply to a witness's expert testimony under Rule 703.

Tex. R. Evid. 602.

By his testimony, Loeb stated that he merely "surmised" that the suspects placed their

wallets in the trunk of Latiki's car before committing the robbery. However, expert opinions are

excluded from Rule 602's requirement that a witness have personal knowledge ofthe matter he is

testifying about. Facts or data relied on by an expert in forming an opinion need not be admissible

for the opinion itselfto be admitted if (1) the expert based his opinion "on facts or data in the case

that the expert has been made aware of, reviewed, or personally observed," and (2) "experts in the

particular field would reasonably rely on those kinds offacts or data in forming an opinion on the

subject." Tex. R. Evid. 703. When the State responded that the testimony referenced the

investigation, Harlan did not assert any additional challenge. Latiki placed his wallet and cell

phone in the trunk of his car before robbing the convenience store. Because the trial court could

have determined that Loeb's testimony was based on the facts of his investigation and his years of

experience as a police officer, it could have ruled that Loeb's opinion that Harlan placed his wallet

in the trunk before robbing the store was admissible under Rule 703. Thus, we find that Harlan

has failed to show that the trial court abused its discretion in overruling his objection to Leob's

testimony. See Reece v. State, 878 S.W.2d 230, 325 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, no

13
pet.) (officer allowed to express his opinion that defendant was selling crack cocaine based on

facts of case and years of experience in law enforcement over objection that "[u]nless [the officer]

got into [the defendant's] mind, hecannot testify astowhat his opinion is"); Lowery v. State,4 No.

05-08-00899-CR, 2010 WL 610915, at *6 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 23, 2010, pet. refd) (not

designated for publication) (admitting officer's testimony regarding why person "might dump a

body next to a U-Haul truck" over speculation objection).5

We overrule this point of error.

(3) We MustModify the TrialCourt'sJudgment to ProperlyReflect the Offense

The judgment recites that Harlan was convicted of "aggravated robbery with a deadly

weapon 2nd." Harlan argues that no evidence supports the statement that he was previously

convicted of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, and the State agrees. Consequently,.both

Harlan and the State seek modification of the trial court's judgment. "We may modify the

judgment when we have the necessary information to do so." IslasMartinez, 452 S.W.3d at 877

(citmgFrench v. State, 830 S.W.2d 607, 609 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992); Asberry v. State, 813 S.W.2d

526, 531 (Tex. App.—Dallas \9$\,v&~ refd)). We sustain this point.of error andmodify.the trial

court's judgment by deleting the reference that this conviction was Harlan's second of its type.

"Although this unpublished case has no precedential value, we may take guidance from it "as an aid in developing

reasoning that may be employed." Carrillo v. State, 98 S.W.3d 789, 794 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2003, pet. refd).

5Moreover, "[pjolice officers may testify about how a defendant became a suspect in the investigation." Loweiy, 2010

WL 610915, at *5 (citing cases holding such testimony not inadmissible hearsay because not offered for truth of

matter asserted).

14
(4) The Judgment's Recitation ofa Findingof "True "to the EnhancementAllegationRemains

The State alleged that, on June 27, 2000, in the Criminal District Court No. 2 of Dallas

County, Texas, in Cause Number F0048701, Harlan was finally convicted of possession of a

controlled substance in an amount ofone gram or more, but less than four grams. Harlan pled true

to the State's enhancement allegation in the presence of the jury. At punishment, the State

introduced Harlan's written judicial confession to commission of the offense alleged in the

enhancement allegation and the judgment of conviction for that offense. This judgment

demonstrated that the offense was a third degree felony and that Harlan was sentenced to five

years' confinement. As the verdict was read, however, the trial court did not indicate whether the

jury rendered a verdict of true to the State's enhancement allegation. Further, no finding on the

enhancement allegation was referencedduringthe pronouncement of Harlan's sentence. Although

the reporter's record reflects that the punishmentchargewas readto the jury, the court reporter did

not record what was read, and no copy of the punishment chargehas been included in the appellate

record.

Harlan argues that we must modify the judgment to reflect a finding of "not true" to the

enhancement allegation because the record contains no finding of"true" bythejury.6 "The validity

of an enhancement allegation need not be submitted to thejury when there is no dispute concerning

its validity." Vance v. State, 970 S.W.2d 130, 133 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1998, no pet.); see Han>ey

v. State, 611 S.W.2d 108, 112 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981) (op. on reh'g). Where a defendant pleads

6Harlan alsoargues that,because a finding of "not true" on the enhancement would reducethe applicable punishment

range, weshouldremand thecase for a newtrialon punishment. The State argues thatHarlan's sentence was "within

the applicable range of punishment for the unenhanced felony."

15
true to the State's enhancement allegation, the trial court accepts his plea, the State introduces the

prior judgment without objection, and no evidence is presented raising the validity of the

enhancement^'nothingmore is required. Mitchell v. State, No. 2-05-426-CR, 2006 WL 3438012,

at *2 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Nov. 30, 2006, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication);

Vance, 970 S.W.2d at 133.

The judgment reflects a finding of "true." "Recitals contained in a judgment create a

presumption ofregularity and truthfulness, absent an affirmative showing to the contrary." Simms

v. State, 848 S.W.2d 754, 756 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, pet. refd) (citing Breazeale

v. State, 683 S.W.2d 446, 450 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984)). Thus, even though the appellate record

fails to indicate whether the jury found the enhancement paragraph to be true, we may presume

that the trial court made the required finding. Accordingly, we overrule this point of error.

We affirm the trial court's judgment, as modified.

Date Submitted:

Date Decided:

Do Not Publish

July 8, 2015

September 3, 2015

Josh R. Morriss, III

ChiefJustice

16
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