IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS 

FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS

PD-0925-15

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS 

Transmitted 7/22/2015 2:34:41 PM 

Accepted 7/24/2015 9:34:16 AM 

ABEL ACOSTA

CLERK

DALTON JAMES BENNETT,JR

A/KIA DALTON JAMES BENNETT 

APPELLANT

v. COA NO. 08-13-00138-CR 

TRIAL COURT NO. 1244131D

THE STATE OF TEXAS, 

APPELLEE

APPEALED FROM CAUSE NUMBER 1244131D, IN THE DISTRICT 

COURT NUMBER 372, TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS; THE

HONORABLE SCOTT WISCH, JUDGE PRESIDING.

APPELLANT'S AMENDED PETITION FOR 

DISCRETIONARY REVIEW1

WILLIAM H. "BILL" RAY 

TEXAS BAR CARD NO. 16608700

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

LAW OFFICE OF WILLIAM H. "BILL" RAY, P.C.

512 MAIN STREET, STE. 308

FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102 

(817) 698-9090

(817) 698-9092, FAX

bill@billraylawyer.com

***ORAL ARGUMENT IS NOT REQUESTED**

1Petition for Discretionary Review was amended to show that COA opinion was ordered 

to be published. Original PDR incorrectly stated on page 8 that the opinion was not designated 

for publication.

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 1
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

DALTON JAMES BENNETT, JR. 

c\o Texas Dept. of Criminal 

Justice, Institutional 

Division, Huntsville, Texas

HONORABLE WILLIAM H. RAY

512 Main Street, Ste. 308

Ft. Worth, Texas 76102

HONORABLE SHAREN WILSON

401 W. Belknap St.

Ft. Worth, Tx. 76196-0201

HONORABLE CHUCK MALLIN

401 W. Belknap St.

Ft. Worth, Tx. 76196-0201

HONORABLE SEAN COLSTON

401 W. Belknap St.

Ft. Worth, Tx. 76196-0201

HONORABLES LPARHAM

401 W. Belknap St.

Ft. Worth, Tx. 76196-0201

HONORABLE SCOTT WISCH

401 W. Belknap St.

Ft. Worth, Texas 76196

HONORABLE LISA McMINN 

P.O. Box 13046

Austin, Texas 78711

APPELLANT

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT 

AT TRIAL AND ON APPEAL

CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY 

TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS

CHIEF, APPELLATE DIVISION, 

TARRANT COUNTY DISTRICT 

ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

ASSISTANT CRIMINAL DISTRICT 

ATTORNEY, TARRANT COUNTY, 

TEXAS

ASSISTANT CRIMINAL DISTRICT 

ATTORNEY,TARRANTCOUNTY 

TEXAS

JUDGE, DISTRICT COURT 

NUMBER372

TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS

STATE PROSECUTING 

ATTORNEY

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL 2

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES 5

STATEJ\1ENT CONCERNING ORAL ARGUJ\1ENT 7

STATEJ\1ENT OF THE CASE 7

STATEMENT OF THE PROCEDURAL HISTORY 8

GROUNDS FOR REVIEW

GROUND FOR REVIEW NUMBER ONE 9

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY REFUSING TO GRANT 

APPELLANT'S MOTION TO QUASH THE INDICTMENT, 

WHICH VIOLATED APPELLANT'S CONSTITUTIONAL 

RIGHT AGAINST DOUBLE JEOPARDY

GROUND FOR REVIEW NUMBER TWO 12

THE TRIAL COURT'S DENIAL OF APPELLANT'S 

MOTION TO QUASH ERRONEOUSLY ALLOWED THE 

JURY TO FIND APPELLANT GUILTY OF CAPITAL 

MURDER ON LESS THAN A UNANIMOUS VERDICT

GROUND FOR REVIEW NUMBER THREE 17

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ALLOWING TESTIMONY 

OF THE J\1EDICAL EXAMINER CONCERNING THE CAUSE

OF DEATH AND CLASSIFICATION AS A HOMICIDE, WHEN THE

J\1EDICAL EXAMINER DID NOT PERFORM THE AUTOPSY 

AND HAD NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF SAME.

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 3
PRAYER 23

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 24

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE 25

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 4
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases Page

Boutang v. State, 402 S.W.3d 782 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2013, 19 

pet.ref' d.)

Bullcoming v.New Mexico,_ u.s._, 131 S.Ct. 2705, 180 L.Ed.2d 610 20 

(June 23, 2011)

Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 17

158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004)

Davis vs. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 26 S.Ct. 2266, 18

615 L.Ed2d 224 (2006)

Dowdell v.United States, 221 U.S. 325, 31 S.Ct. 590, 55 L.Ed. 753 (1911) 19

Ex Parte Denton, 399 S.W.3d 540, 545 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013) 10

Hammon v.Indiana, 547 U.S. 813,26 S.Ct. 2266, 615 L.Ed2d 224 (2006) 18

Landrian v. State, 268 S.W.3d 532, 535-36 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008) 13

Martinez v. State, 225 S.W.3d 550, 554 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) 13

Melendez-Diaz v.Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305, 129 S.Ct. 2527, 18

174 L.Ed.2d 314 (2009)

Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, at 745 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) 13

Pointer v. Texas, 380 U.S. 400,406, 85 S.Ct. 1065, 13 L.Ed.2d 923 (1965) 17

Saenz v.State, 131 S.W.3d 43 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2003) 9

Saenz v. State, 166 S.W.3d 270, at 274 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) 10

Schad v.Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 631-32 (1991) 13

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 5
U.S. vs.Ignasiak, 667 F.3d 1217, at 1230 (JP" Cir.2012) 20

Wood v.State, 299 S.W.3d 200,209-210 (Tex.App.-Austin, 2009, 19 

pet ref d)

Woodall v.State, 336 S.W.3d 634 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011) 17

Statutes

Texas Const. Art. V, Sec. 13; Tex. Code Crim. Proc.Art. 36.29(a) 12

United States Constitution, Fifth Amendment 10

United States Constitution, Sixth Amendment 17

United States Constitution, Fourteenth Amendment 17

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 6
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT

Oral argument is not necessary in this case.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

This is an appeal from a felony conviction and sentence for the offense of 

Capital Murder. Appellant was charged by indictment with the offense of Capital 

Murder. CR, Pages 9-10.

The jury found Appellant guilty as charged in the indictment. CR, Pages

277-279; RR-7, Pages 62-66. Specifically, the jury found that Appellant was 

guilty of capital murder, as alleged in paragraph two of the indictment. (Sealed 

clerk's items, court's charge Page 11). The trial court assessed a punishment of 

Life in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. 

CR, Pages 277-279; RR-7, Pages 62-66.

On direct appeal, the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Appellate District 

affirmed Appellant's conviction. The opinion was designated for publication.

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 7
STATEMENT OF THE PROCEDURAL HISTORY OF THE CASE

Appellant was sentenced on April 5, 2013. Notice of Appeal was timely 

filed. Appellant timely filed his brief in the Court of Appeals on December 23,

2013. The State timely filed its brief on March 10, 2014.

The case was submitted to the Eighth Court of Appeals, in El Paso, without 

oral argument, on January 29, 2015. The Court of Appeals affirmed Appellant's 

conviction on June 30, 2015. That opinion is designated for publication.

This Petition for Discretionary Review is timely filed.

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 8
GROUND FOR REVIEW NUMBER ONE

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY REFUSING TO GRANT 

APPELLANT'S MOTION TO QUASH THE INDICTMENT, 

WHICH VIOLATED APPELLANT'S CONSTITUTIONAL 

RIGHT AGAINST DOUBLE JEOPARDY

Appellant's Motion to Quash complained of the process of proceeding with a

three paragraph indictment, charging three separate ways, by alternating victims' 

names, to commit capital murder with the same three victims. CR, Pages 212-215. 

Appellant urged this matter numerous times, and the trial court overruled 

Appellanfs request each time it was made. RR-2, Pages 5-11; RR-4, Pages 6-14; 

RR-4, Pages 67-70; and RR-7, Page 20. The jury found that Appellant had 

committed capital murder as alleged in paragraph two of the indictment. (Sealed 

clerk's items, court's charge Page 11)

In Saenz v. State, 131 S.W.3d 43 (Tex.App.- San Antonio 2003), the 

Appellant was charged with three violations of the same statute, capital murder. 

The San Antonio Court of Appeals held that a multiple victim capital murder case 

was only one allowable unit of prosecution, hence only one conviction was 

allowable for double jeopardy purposes. Id, 131 S.W.3d, at 53. While the remedy 

was to vacate two of the convictions in Saenz, supra, Appellant submits that the 

trial should not have started the trial at all with the indictment Appellant was tried

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 9
on. In Saenz, supra, the Appellant made no objection prior to trial. In the present 

case, Appellant objected extensively to the process of trying him for several 

allegations, even when the end result was to allow only one verdict.

On the State's Petition for Discretionary Review in Saenz, supra, this Court 

affirmed the San Antonio Court of Appeals and held "the Double Jeopardy

Clause of the Fifth Amendment was violated when the State charged [emphasis 

added] appellant with three separate counts of capital murder under Sections 19.03 

(a)(7)(A) because the charges rely on the same three murders for each charge." 

Saenz v.State, 166 S.W.3d 270, at 274 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005)

The Court of Appeals held that since there was only one count, and 

Appellant was only charged, but not yet convicted, Appellant's double jeopardy 

clause had no application. Opinion, at pages 8-9. The double jeopardy clause 

protects against (1) a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal, (2) a 

second prosecution for the same offense after conviction, and (3), multiple 

punishments for the same offense. Ex Parte Denton, 399 S.W.3d 540, 545 

(Tex.Crim.App. 2013). Appellant submits that the operative word in this holding 

is charged, and therefore, the third prong above is implicated when a multiple 

punishment proceeding is initiated. Appellant submits that multiple punishment 

possibilities in a trial should be remedied before the trial, and a motion to quash is

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 10
the proper remedy to preserve error in an indictment which alleges multiple 

prosecutions, as in this case. Appellant should not be required to wait and see 

what he is convicted of and how before having a remedy.

For these reasons, Appellant submits that his Motion to Quash should have 

been granted, and to proceed on the indictment as filed, violated Appellant's 

constitutional protections of double jeopardy, and this Court should reverse 

Appellant's conviction and remand the case for a new trial.

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 11
GROUND FOR REVIEW NUMBER TWO

THE TRIAL COURT'S DENIAL OF APPELLANT'S MOTION 

TO QUASH ERRONEOUSLY ALLOWED THE JURY TO FIND 

APPELLANT GUlLTY OF CAPITAL MURDER ON LESS 

THAN A UNANIMOUS VERDICT

Appellant's Motion to Quash pointed out with particularity that if the trial 

proceeded on the indictment as written, which alleged capital murder in three 

different paragraphs with the same three persons interchanged, and if the jury was 

instructed on and followed the law relating to paragraphs, the jury would be able to

convict Appellant on less than a unanimous verdict because unanimity would not

be required in each respective paragraph. CR, Pages 212-215.

Specifically, by charging in multiple paragraphs, the jury would not be 

required to reach a unanimous verdict for each paragraph, rather, each individual 

juror must only believe the State has met its burden of proof as to one of the 

different paragraphs, while other jurors could be satisfied with the proof in a 

separate paragraph. Hence, a non unanimous verdict.

Appellant made a motion for instructed verdict at the conclusion of the 

State's evidence, which included the points relied on in his Motion to Quash, 

which was denied. RR-7, Pages 5-6. A jury in a criminal case must reach a 

unanimous verdict. Tex. Const. Art. V, Sec. 13; Tex. Code Crim. Proc.Art.

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 12
36.29(a); Landrian v. State, 268 S.W.3d 532, 535-36 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008). The 

jury must agree that the defendant committed "the same, single, specific criminal 

act, " but need not unanimously find that the defendant committed that crime by 

one specific manner or means. Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, at 745 

(Tex.Crim.App.2005); Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 631-32 (1991). The 

phrase "manner or means'' describes how the defendant committed the specific

criminal act, which is the actus reus. Ngo, 175 S.W.3d at 745-46; Schad, 501 U.S. 

at 630 (noting that the act of "murder" was the actus reus of the offense, and 

whether it was premeditated or committed during the course of robbery described 

"how" the murder was committed). The State is permitted to plead alternate 

"manner and means" of committing the same offense. Landrian, 268 S.W.3d at

535; Martinez v. State, 225 S.W.3d 550, 554 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) (State is 

required to set out each separate offense in a separate count, but may allege 

different methods of committing the same offense in separate paragraphs within a 

single count).

Essentially, the State may allege different theories in multiple paragraphs in 

a count, which what was done in the present case. However, the paragraphs in the 

indictment in this case did not differ by manner and means, rather, they differed

only by victims' names, which are the forbidden conduct, and must be proven

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 13
beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the indictment alleged and the trial court's 

charge allowed proof on less than beyond a reasonable doubt of any specific 

paragraph. Given the jury's verdict, paragraph two, and the corresponding 

instruction in the trial court's charge that specifically directed the jury to not go to 

paragraph two unless the jury had found Appellant not guilty of paragraph one of 

the indictment (CR, Page 266), Appellant submits that the court's charge allowed

a conviction on less than a unanimous verdict of paragraph.

To have even considered paragraph two, the jury would have found 

Appellant not guilty of paragraph one, which alleged that Appellant had killed 

Sheryl Bennett and Jose Reyes. Paragraph two alleged that Appellant had killed 

Sheryl Bennett and Tana Todd, and if the jury correctly followed the trial court's 

instructions, Appellant would have been found not guilty of the murder of Sheryl 

Bennett, and could not have been found guilty of her murder in the subsequent 

paragraph.

Appellant renewed his Motion to Quash at the charge conference, and 

specifically objected to the trial court's charge that allowed a not guilty on 

paragraph one, and then a reconsideration of the same allegations in subsequent 

paragraphs, not only allowing for double jeopardy problems, but also the 

possibility of a conviction on less than a unanimous verdict. The trial court

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 14
overruled this contention. RR-7, Pages 15-23. Additionally, the trial court 

overruled Appellant's request for the State to elect which paragraph it sought for a 

conviction. RR-7, Page 23.

For all these reasons, Appellant submits that the trial court's charge was 

erroneous, and Appellant's Motion to Quash properly brought this perceived error 

to the trial court's attention, which it erroneously denied.

The Court of Appeals noted that the trial court's instructions directed the 

jury to not consider paragraph two unless it did not find the allegations of 

paragraph one to be true beyond a reasonable doubt. Opinion, at pages 10-16. 

That is exactly what happened. The problem is that the jury verdict did not 

distinguish which part of paragraph one was not proven beyond a reasonable 

doubt. It could have just as easily been the murder of Jose Reyes as it could have 

been Sheryl Bennett, and there is no indication. Ifit was Sheryl Bennett, then the 

jury could not have found paragraph two true beyond a reasonable doubt.

Contrary to the Court of Appeals finding that a jury's determination of 

insufficient evidence of paragraph one was just an alternate theory or prosecution 

and the jury could then consider the second paragraph was a proper process, 

Appellant submits that this process is exactly his complaint, i.e., allowing the jury

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 15
to find sufficient evidence of capital murder without a unanimous verdict on who 

was intentionally murdered.

Appellant requests that this Court reverse his conviction and enter an 

acquittal; or alternatively, remand the case for a new trial.

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 16
GROUND FOR REVIEW NUMBER THREE

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ALLOWING TESTIMONY

OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CONCERNING THE CAUSE OF 

DEATH AND CLASSIFICATION AS A HOMICIDE, WHEN THE 

MEDICAL EXAMINER DID NOT PERFORM THE AUTOPSY AND 

HAD NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF SAME.

The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment provides that " [i]n all 

criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to be confronted with the

witnesses against him...." U.S. Constitution, Sixth Amendment. This constitutional

guarantee applies to both federal and state criminal prosecutions. U.S.

Constitution, Fourteenth Amendment, Pointer v. Texas, 380 U.S. 400, 406,

85 S.Ct. 1065, 13 L.Ed.2d 923 (1965). The essential purpose ofthe Confrontation 

Clause is to prevent depositions or ex parte affidavits, such as were sometimes 

admitted in civil cases, being used against the prisoner in lieu of a personal 

examination and cross-examination of the witness in which the accused has an 

opportunity, not only of testing the recollection and sifting the conscience of the 

witness, but of compelling him to stand face to face with the jury in order that they 

may look at him, and judge by his demeanor upon the stand and the manner in 

which he gives his testimony whether he is worthy of belief. Woodall v. State, 336

S.W.3d 634 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011).

In Crawfordv. Washington, 541 U.S. 36,124 S.Ct 1354,158 L.Ed.2d 177

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 17
(2004), the United States Supreme Court restored the Confrontation Clause's 

procedural guarantee against the government's presentation of unsubstantiated and 

ex parte testimony. Crawford, supra, held the Confrontation Clause bars the 

admission of testimony statements of a witness who did not appear at trial, unless 

that witness was unavailable to testify and the defendant had a prior opportunity

for cross examination. In Davis vs. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 26 S.Ct. 2266, 615

L.Ed2d 224 (2006), the Supreme Court offered some guidance in the definition of 

testimonial, holding that a 911 call made at the time of an assault was non 

testimonial. The reasoning was that a 911 call was not initiated to establish or 

prove past facts, but to describe current circumstances and allow police to render 

assistance. In Hammon v. Indiana, 547 U.S. 813, 26 S.Ct. 2266, 615 L.Ed2d 224 

(2006) decided in the same opinion with Davis, supra, the Supreme Court, held 

that when there was no pending emergency in progress, the statements were more

testimonial in nature, and the constitution required that the witness actually testify. 

In Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305, 129 S.Ct. 2527, 174 L.Ed.2d

314 (2009), the Supreme Court held a certificate of drug analysis created for use in 

a criminal prosecution was testimonial in nature and could not be admitted into 

evidence absent the declarant who certified the result. Id. at 310-11, 129 S.Ct.

2527. Despite this holding, the majority also suggested that routine maintenance

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 18
records might not be testimonial. See id. at 311 n. 1, 129 S.Ct 2527

Additionally, documents prepared in the regular course of equipment 

maintenance may well qualify as nontestimonial records." ). Consistent with its 

observation in footnote one, the majority reasoned the certificate of analysis was 

testimonial because it" prov[ed] one fact necessary for [Melendez-Diaz's] 

conviction-that the substance he possessed was cocaine." Id. at 313, 129 S.Ct.

2527. Similarly, the majority distinguished the certificates of analysis from other

cases where records were admitted for a purpose other than showing the 

defendant's guilt or innocence. !d. at 323 n. 8, 129 S.Ct. 2527 (citing Dowdell v. 

United States, 221 U.S. 325, 31 S.Ct. 590, 55 L.Ed. 753 (1911)); see also 

Dowdell, 221 U.S. at 330, 31 S.Ct. 590 ("Documentary evidence to establish 

collateral facts, admissible under the common law, may be admitted in 

evidence." ).

Appellant submits that testimony of the process and conclusions in an 

autopsy are not maintenance records. See Boutang v. State, 402 S.W.3d 782 

(Tex.App.-San Antonio 2013, pet.ref' d.). Although not always the case, an 

autopsy is testimonial when the circumstances surrounding death warranted the 

police in the suspicion that the death was a homicide. Wood v. State, 299 S.W.3d

200,209-210 (Tex.App.-Austin, 2009, pet ref' d).

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 19
Appellant submits that to simply allow an expert who did not examine the 

evidence or have personal knowledge of the evidence be allowed to make the 

conclusions to simply read the report and then state his opinions eviscerates 

Crawford and its progeny.

In U.S. vs.Ignasiak, 667 F.3d 1217, at 1230 (11th Cir.2012), the Eleventh 

Circuit vacated the decision of the district court that allowed a surrogate to testify 

about the forensic evidence, as opposed to the actual scientist who performed the 

testing. The Ignasiak court held that the scientific nature of forensic reports does 

not justifY subjecting them to lesser scrutiny than other testimonial evidence. In 

Bullcoming v.New Mexico,_ U.S._,131 S.Ct. 2705, 180 L.Ed.2d 610 (June

23, 2011), the Court made clear that the Sixth Amendment requires that, when

introducing testimonial forensic evidence, the prosecution must present testimony 

by a scientist who was actually involved in preparing that forensic evidence. Jd. at

2710,2713. In so doing, the Supreme Court specifically rejected the use of socalled " surrogate testimony," which in Bullcoming was that of a colleague from 

the same lab that prepared the disputed forensic report, but who had not 

specifically worked on the reports in question. ld. at 2710, 2712-13. Even though 

the colleague was able to testify as to the efficacy and reliability of the laboratory 

equipment, and also whether normal protocol was followed, the Court explained

PETlTlON FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 20
that the " comparative reliability of an analyst's testimonial report drawn from 

machine-produced data does not overcome the Sixth Amendment bar ... [because] 

the obvious reliability of a testimonial statement does not dispense with the 

Confrontation Clause." /d. at 2714. Instead, only testimony by the actual scientist 

who prepared the forensic report could provide insight into " the particular test and 

testing process ... employed," and also " expose any lapses or lies on the certifying 

analyst's part." Id.

In the present case, the trial court erred by allowing the testimony of Dr. 

White concerning the autopsy of Jose Reyes. Appellant submits that Dr. White 

knew nothing about the autopsy of Jose Reyes, which was shown by White's lame 

attempt to re characterize his observations to circumvent the rule after he testified 

he had no personal knowledge ofReyes' autopsy. RR-6, Pages 181-190.

Although the jury ultimately found that Appellant guilty of a paragraph that did 

not allege Appellant caused the death of Jose Reyes, the damage of the testimony 

was done. The trial court should not have allowed the tainted testimony.

The Court of Appeals held that since the jury did not find that Appellant had 

killed Jose Reyes, there was no error of a lack of confrontation in the jury's

verdict. Opinion, at page 16.

Appellant submits that the finding of insufficiency in paragraph one, which

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 21
gives rise to the verdict in paragraph two supports Appellant's contention that a 

finding of acquittal in paragraph one, per the trial court's instructions, would bar 

consideration of the second and third paragraphs. The trial court's instructions 

allowance of testimony about the autopsy of Jose Reyes based on the lack of 

confrontation gave rise to the verdict of guilty in paragraph two. Thus, 

Appellant's confrontation objection, which was ovenuled, created the non 

unanimous verdict of paragraph two.

Ifthis Court does not sustain Appellant's contention and enter an order of 

acquittal in paragraph two, Appellant submits that this point of enor should be 

sustained and an order for a new trial be ordered pursuant to point of enor number 

three.

For these reasons, Appellant submits that this Court reverse his conviction 

and remand the case for a new trial.

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 22
PRAYER FOR RELIEF

Appellant Prays that this Honorable Court reverse his conviction and enter a 

judgment of acquittal, or alternatively, remand the case for a new trial.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

/S/ WILLIAM H. "BILL" RAY

WILLIAM H. "BILL" RAY

TEXAS BAR CARD NO. 16608700

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

LAW OFFICE OF WILLIAM H. "BILL" RAY, P.C.

512 MAIN STREET, STE. 308

FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102 

(817) 698-9090

(817) 698-9092, FAX

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 23
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that a true copy of Appellant's Amended Petition for Discretionary 

Review was delivered via the electronic filing system to the office of Sharen 

Wilson, Criminal District Attorney, Criminal District Attorney of Tarrant County, 

Texas, 401 W. Belknap St. Ft. Worth, Tx. 76196-0201 on the date ofthis 

document's filing.

I certify that a true copy of Appellant's Amended Petition for Discretionary 

Review was placed in the United States Mail addressed to Appellant, in the Texas 

Department of Corrections, on the date ofthis document's filing.

I certify that a true copy of Appellant's Amended Petition for Discretionary 

Review was delivered via the electronic filing system to the State's Prosecuting 

Attorney, at P.O. Box 13046, on the date of this document's filing.

IS/ WILLIAM H. "BILL" RAY

WILLIAM H. "BILL" RAY

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 24
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

Pursuant to Rule 9.4 i3, of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, I certify 

that this Amended Petition for Discretionary Review filed in this case, has 3902 

words contained therein. This count was obtained via the WordPerfect computer 

program.

IS/ WILLIAM H. "BILL" RAY

WILLIAM H. "BILL" RAY

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PAGE 25
COURT OF APPEALS

EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS 

EL PASO, TEXAS

DALTON JAMES BENNETT, JR. AIKIA §

DALTON JAMES BENNETT, No. 08-13-00138-CR

§

Appellant, Appeal from the

§

V. 372nd District Court

§

THE STATE OF TEXAS, ofTarrant County, Texas

§

Appellee. (TC# 1244131D)

JUDGMENT

The Court has considered this cause on the record and concludes the judgment of 

conviction should be modified to reflect that the trial court assessed the punishment in 

Appellant's case. We therefore affirm the judgment of the trial court as modified. This decision 

shall be certified below for observance.

IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 30TH DAY OF JUNE, 2015.

STEVEN L. HUGHES, Justice

Before McClure, C.J., Rodriguez, and Hughes, JJ.
COURT OF APPEALS

EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS 

EL PASO, TEXAS

DALTON JAMES BENNETT, JR. A/KIA §

DALTON JAMES BENNETT, No. 08-13-00138-CR

§

Appellant, Appeal from the

§

v. 372nd District Court

§

THE STATE OF TEXAS, of Tarrant County, Texas

§

Appellee. (TC# 1244131D)

OPINION

Appellant Dalton James Bennett was found guilty by a jury of one count of capital murder 

of his wife and his sister-in-law, and received an automatic life sentence. On appeal, Appellant 

contends the trial court violated his right to be free from double jeopardy, his right to a unanimous 

verdict, and his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses. We conclude Appellant's rights

were not violated and affirm the trial court's judgment. 1

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Appellant separated from his wife, Sheryl Bennett, approximately six months before the 

killings that formed the basis of his capital murder conviction. Appellant and Sheryl had a

1 This case was transferred from our sister court in Fort Worth. and we decide it in accordance with the precedent of 

that Court to the extent required by TEX. R. APP. P. 41.3.
somewhat rocky relationship. While separated, Sheryl became involved with Jose Reyes, and the

two began living together in Sheryl's apartment on a part-time basis. According to friends, 

Appellant appeared to be upset about his wife's new relationship and believed she was "cheating" 

on him. Approximately two weeks before the killings, Appellant met with a mutual friend, 

advised her that he was upset with Sheryl because of her new relationship, and stated: "You don't 

know how bad I want to give her an extra hole to breathe out of."

Around 10:30 p.m. the night before the killings, Sheryl and Jose walked from her 

apartment to a nearby bar, along with Sheryl's brother, Johnny Todd, and Johnny's wife, Tana 

Todd, who lived in the apartment adjacent to Sheryl. Sheryl's brother, James Todd, remained at 

the apartment to babysit Sheryl's five children, as well as Johnny and Tana's three children.

Appellant arrived at the same bar to meet mutual friends. When Appellant learned that 

Sheryl was at the bar with Jose, he advised his friends he intended to leave because of their 

presence. After Appellant left the bar, he exchanged several negative text messages with both 

Sheryl and his sister-in-law Tana in the hours leading up to the killings.

Sheryl, Tana, Jose, and Johnny left the bar together, arriving back at Sheryl's apartment at 

approximately 12:30 a.m. The four of them went into Sheryl's bedroom located in the back of the 

apartment, and began drinking "Jager shots," while at least three of their children were in the living 

room playing video games.

Shortly thereafter, Appellant walked into the apartment through an unlocked door and 

entered Sheryl's bedroom. According to Johnny Todd, who survived the shootings, when 

Appellant walked in, he told Sheryl, "Here's your divorce," and proceeded to shoot Sheryl in the 

arm. Immediately thereafter, Appellant shot Johnny Todd in the neck, causing him to collapse to

2
the ground. Johnny Todd recalled that Appellant also shot his wife, Tana, at the same time,

causing her to fall to the ground as well. Johnny Todd testified that he recalled hearing three or 

four additional shots after he and Tana were shot.

Although unable to move for several minutes, Johnny was eventually able to check on the 

other victims. He determined they were all dead and then went next door to his apartment to call

911. During that call,Johnny identified Appellant as the shooter to the 911 operator.

Sheryl's son, Jason Todd, who was ten years old at the time ofthe shootings, testified that 

he was in the living room of Sheryl's apartment playing a video game when he heard someone 

enter the apartment and walk into his mother's bedroom. Jason thereafter heard at least two 

gunshots and then sav.r Appellant leave his mother's bedroom with a gun in his hand. After 

entering the bedroom and seeing the three bodies on the floor,Jason ran to the apartment next door 

and told his uncle, James Todd, to call 911. At that same time, Jason observed his other uncle, 

Johnny Todd, bleeding from a hole in his neck and trying to call 911 as well.

When Arlington police officers arrived at the scene, they determined that Sheryl, Tana, and 

Jose had been shot, and showed no signs of life. Upon learning from witnesses that Appellant 

was a suspect in the killings, police officers were dispatched to Appellant's home, where they 

found Appellant in the garage bleeding from apparently self-inflicted wounds, unresponsive to 

their verbal commands. It appeared to the officers that Appellant had cut himself on the arms and 

neck with a box cutter that was found nearby on the garage floor. The officers also found a 

possible suicide note on a desk in Appellant's bedroom, in which Appellant apologized to his 

mother and son, saying he could not "handle the pain anymore" and that he could not "let her get 

away with this.''

3
The officers found a Llama .45 caliber, semi-automatic handgun and holster under 

Appellant's bed, as well as a gun box with "two empty magazines" in a nearby closet. The police 

later tested bullets and .45 auto-caliber shell casings found at the crime scene, and concluded they 

were all fired from the .45 Llama gun found at Appellant's residence.

Immediately after the shootings, Appellant was transported to the hospital for treatment for 

his wounds, but was released shortly thereafter and taken to the jail where detectives interviewed 

him. After waiving his rights and voluntarily agreeing to speak to the detectives, Appellant made 

a full recorded confession, admitting that he had shot all four victims in Sheryl's apartment. 

During this interview. Appellant advised detectives that he would have shot himself after the 

killings, but he had no bullets left.

At trial. Dr. Lloyd White, a physician contracted with the Tarrant County Medical 

Examiner's Office, testified that he personally conducted an autopsy on Tana Todd's body, and 

concluded that she had died from a gunshot wound that went through her head and brain, exiting 

through the other side. Dr. White further concluded that the shot was fired just a few inches from 

Tana's head, causing her instantaneous death, and that Tana's death was a homicide.

Dr. White testified that he also personally performed an autopsy on Sheryl's body and 

concluded that Sheryl suffered three gunshot wounds to her shoulder, eye, and collarbone area, all 

of which went through her body. According to Dr. White, shots were fired a few inches away 

from Sheryl's body, but the only fatal wound was the one in her collarbone area. Dr. White 

concluded that Sheryl's death was a homicide.

Dr. White, however, did not perform the autopsy on Jose Reyes' body, and the doctor who 

performed the autopsy, Dr. Gary Sisler, had retired prior to trial and was not called as a witness.

4
Over Appellant's continuing objection, Dr. White was allowed to testify that he had reviewed Dr. 

Sisler's autopsy report and medical file, and on that basis had formed an opinion that the cause of 

Jose's death was a homicide, resulting from a "perforating gunshot wound of the head and brain." 

The jury found Appellant guilty of capital murder, expressly finding that Appellant had 

intentionally killed Sheryl Bennett and Tana Todd in a single criminal transaction. The trial 

court imposed an automatic life sentence as required by statute.

DISCUSSION

The Trial Court's Denial of the Motion to Quash the Indictment

In his first two issues, Appellant contends that the trial court erred when it denied his 

motion to quash the indictment, contending that the indictment violated both his right to be free 

from double jeopardy and his right to a unanimous verdict.

Background

The indictment charged Appellant with a single count of capital murder, based on the 

theory that he had intentionally killed multiple victims in a single transaction in violation of 

TEX.PENAL CoDE ANN.§ 19.03(a)(7)(A)(West Supp. 2014)_1 However, the indictment contained 

three separate paragraphs, each setting forth an alternative theory of prosecution. The first 

paragraph alleged Appellant had intentionally caused the death of Sheryl Bennett and Jose Reyes 

in the same transaction; the second paragraph alleged Appellant had intentionally caused the death 

of Sheryl Bennett and Tana Todd in the same transaction; and the third paragraph alleged 

Appellant had intentionally caused the death ofTana Todd and Jose Reyes in the same transaction.

Appellant filed a pretrial motion to quash the indictment, contending the indictment in

2 TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.03(a) provides that an individual commits the offense of capital murder if "(7) the 

person murders more than one person: (A) during the same criminal transaction ...."

5
effect accused him of committing three separate capital murder offenses involving the same three 

victims, and that he therefore faced the possibility of being convicted of three separate capital 

murder charges in violation of his double jeopardy rights. Appellant also argued that the 

indictment improperly raised the possibility that a jury could reach a non-unanimous verdict, as 

some jurors could base a guilty verdict on a finding that Appellant had killed Sheryl Bennett and 

Jose Reyes in a single transaction; while others could base their verdict on a finding that he had 

killed Sheryl Bennett and Tana Todd in a single transaction; while yet others could base their 

verdict on a finding that he had killed Tana Todd and Jose Reyes in a single transaction.

At a pretrial hearing, another judge sitting in place of the trial court denied the motion to 

quash. Appellant thereafter renewed his motion at various times during the trial, but the trial 

court denied his motion on each occasion.

Standard of Review

The standard of review for assessing a trial court"s ruling on a motion to quash turns on 

which judicial actor is in the best position to determine the issue in controversy. See Guzman v. 

State. 955 S.W.2d 85, 87 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). Questions of law-such as the sufficiency of an 

indictment- are reviewed de novo because neither the trial court nor the reviewing court occupies 

an appreciably better position than the other to decide the issue. See State v. Mo.fJ, 154 S.W.3d

599,601 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004); Guzman. 955 S.W.2dat89;Ahmadv. State, 295 S.W.3d 731,739 

(Tex.App. - Fort Worth 2009, pet. refd) (op. on reh'g). Appellant is challenging the legal 

sufficiency ofthe indictment, and we therefore review Appellant's challenges to the indictment de 

novo.

Appellant 's Double Jeopardy Rights were not Violated

6
In Issue One, Appellant contends the trial court's failure to quash the indictment violated 

his double jeopardy rights, as it potentially subjected Appellant to three separate convictions for 

capital murder when only one such conviction was permissible. In support of his argument, 

Appellant relies almost exclusively on Saenz v. State. 166 S.W.3d 270 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005). In 

Saenz, the defendant was charged with capital murder in a three-count indictment involving three 

murders alleged to have occurred in a single criminal transaction. Each count alleged the murder 

of a different victim, and each count alleged the murder of two other victims in the same criminal 

transaction as aggravating circumstances. The jury convicted the defendant of all three counts of 

capital murder, but the San Antonio Court of Appeals concluded that double jeopardy prohibited 

the defendant from being convicted of multiple counts of capital murder involving the same three 

victims. !d. at 271. The court of appeals therefore vacated two of the defendant's convictions 

and allowed only one to stand.

On the State's petition for discretionary review, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals 

agreed with the appellate court, holding that the capital murder statute, TEX.PENAL CoDE ANN. §

19.03(a)(7)(A), allowed only a single conviction under these circumstances. The Court explained 

that the Penal Code provides that a defendant may commit capital murder in several different 

ways, including situations in which the defendant commits a predicate murder, with the 

commission of one or more additional murders in a single transaction as an aggravating 

circumstance. The Court pointed out that when the State is prosecuting a defendant for capital 

murder on this basis, its prosecution necessarily rests on the theory that the defendant killed "more 

than one person" in a single transaction, making this the "allowable unit of prosecution[.]" Saenz,

166 S.W.3d at 273-74.

7
The Court explained that in a non-capital murder case, the murder itself is the "allowable 

unit of prosecution," and a defendant may therefore be convicted of more than one count of murder 

when charged individually with the deaths of multiple victims. However, in capital murder cases 

in which the multiple murder itself is considered to be the "allowable unit of prosecution," the 

defendant may not be charged or convicted of three separate counts of capital murder utilizing the 

same three victimsfor each count, and may instead only be charged and convicted of a single count 

of capital murder. The Court therefore upheld the court of appeals' decision to vacate two of the 

defendant's convictions and to allow only one conviction to stand. !d. at 274.

Appellant acknowledges that unlike the defendant in Saenz, he was not convicted of 

multiple counts of capital murder; however, he believes that simply being charged in an indictment 

that allowed for the possibility of multiple convictions violated his right to be free from double 

jeopardy. Appellant points out that in its holding in Saenz, the Court of Criminal Appeals 

expressly stated that the defendant's double jeopardy rights had been violated when he was 

"charged" with three separate counts of capital murder. !d. Appellant believes this is the 

"operative" language in the opinion, and that the Court intended to hold that the double jeopardy 

violation occurred at the time the defendant was charged with multiple counts of capital murder, 

rather than at the time he was convicted. Appellant reasons that his double jeopardy rights were 

also violated at the time that he was charged with what he describes as a "facially 

unconstitutional[]" indictment, improperly accusing him of committing three separate acts of 

capital murder. Appellant asserts that this allegedly fundamental error in the indictment 

somehow "tainted" the entire proceedings, and requires us to reverse the trial court's judgment and 

order a new trial. Appellant's argument fails for several reasons.

8
First, unlike the defendant in Saenz, Appellant was not charged in a three-count indictment, 

and was instead charged with only a single count of capital murder. As explained in more detail 

below, the three paragraphs contained in the indictment alleged the alternative means by which the 

one count of capital murder was committed. Further, the trial court expressly instructed the jury 

that it could only convict Appellant of one count of capital murder as set forth in the indictment, 

and the jury form given to the jury allowed for only one conviction of capital murder. In contrast 

to Saenz in which the defendant was charged and convicted of three separate offenses, there was no 

possibility that Appellant could have been convicted of more than one count of capital murder, and 

in fact, he was not.

Second, we note that even though the Court in Saenz stated that the defendant's double 

jeopardy rights had been violated when he was ''charged'' with three separate counts of capital 

murder, the Court nevertheless made it clear that the double jeopardy violation did not actually 

occur until the defendant was convicted of three separate charges. As the Court in Saenz noted, 

the Fifth Amendment's "Double Jeopardy Clause protects against multiple punishments for the 

same offense." Saenz. 166 S.W.3d at 272 (emphasis added). It is only violated when a 

defendant "is convicted of more offenses than the legislature intended." Id. (emphasis added) 

(quoting Ex parte Ervin, 991 S.W.2d 804, 807 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999)); see also Ex parte Milner,

394 S.W.3d 502, 506 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013) ("The Double Jeopardy Clause protects criminal 

defendants from ... multiple punishments for the same offense.").

Further, we find it significant that the Court in Saenz did not find it necessary to remand the 

defendant's case for a new trial, despite its conclusion that the defendant had been improperly 

charged and convicted of three separate counts of capital murder. Instead, the Court believed that

9
any such error could be remedied by vacating two of the capital murder convictions, and allowing 

only one conviction to stand. Saenz, 166 S.W.3d at 274. Therefore, even if the Court in Saenz 

believed that a constitutional violation had existed at the charging stage of the proceedings, it 

clearly believed that any such violation did not completely taint the proceedings, and that the 

violation could be remedied by ensuring that only one conviction stood in the defendant's case.

In the present case, Appellant suffered only one conviction for capital murder, and we 

therefore reject Appellant's argument that his double jeopardy rights were violated.

The Jury Returned a Unanimous Verdict

In a somewhat related argument, Appellant contends in his second issue that the trial 

court's failure to quash the indictment violated his right to a unanimous verdict. Appellant 

correctly points out that a jury in a criminal case must reach a unanimous verdict. See TEX.CODE 

CRIM.PROC.ANN. art. 36.29(a) (West Supp. 2014) (not less than twelve jurors can render and 

return a verdict in a felony case). Most recently, the Court of Criminal Appeals addressed this 

issue in Saenz v. State. 451 S.W.3d 388 (Tex.Crim.App. 2014), when it stated: ·'Texas law requires 

a unanimous jury verdict in all criminal cases. More specifically, 'the jury must be unanimous in 

finding every constituent element of the charged offense in all criminal cases.'" Id. at 390 (quoting 

Jourdan v. State, 428 S.W.3d 86, 94 (Tex.Crim.App. 2014)).

Appellant argues that the indictment improperly raised the possibility that a jury could 

have reached a non-unanimous verdict, as some jurors could have based a guilty verdict on a 

finding that he had killed Sheryl Bennett and Jose Reyes in a single transaction; while others could 

have based their verdict on a finding that he had killed Sheryl Bennett and Tana Todd in a single 

transaction; while yet others could have based their verdict on a finding that he had killed Tana

10
Todd and Jose Reyes in a single transaction. Appellant contends that because of the possibility of 

a non-unanimous verdict, the State should not have been permitted to proceed on the alternative 

theories set forth in the indictment, and should have instead been required to elect only one theory 

of prosecution to submit to the jury.

We initially note that the State is permitted to charge a defendant with a single offense, and 

to use multiple paragraphs to assert alternative means of committing the crime alleged. In 

Martinez v. State, 225 S.W.3d 550, 554 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007), the Court of Criminal Appeals 

explained that when the State elects to charge multiple offenses in a single indictment, it is 

required by statute to set out each separate offense in a separate '"count." However, the State may 

include separate "paragraphs" within a single count, alleging different methods of committing the 

same offense, in accordance with TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC.ANN. art. 21.24(b). 3 Id.: see also 

Landrian v. State. 268 S.W.3d 532, 535 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008) (State is permitted to plead 

alternative '·manner and means" of committing the same offense).

In capital murder cases in particular, the State is permitted to charge a defendant with 

committing capital murder by alternative means in a single-count indictment. See Gamboa v. 

State. 296 S.W.3d 574, 582-84 (Tex.Crim.App. 2009) (State properly charged defendant with one 

count of capital murder in a two-paragraph indictment, alleging that the defendant caused the death 

of the same victim while robbing him, or alternatively, while murdering another victim during the 

same criminal transaction); Kitchens v. State, 823 S.W.2d 256, 258 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991) 

(alternative pleading of differing methods of committing capital murder may be charged in one 

indictment). In fact, in light of the Court of Criminal Appeals' opinion in the 2005 Saenz case, it

3 TEX.CODE CRJM.PROC.ANN. art. 21.24(b) (West 2009) provides that: "A count may contain as many separate 

paragraphs charging the same offense as necessary, but no paragraph may charge more than one offense."

11
appears that the State had little choice but to allege capital murder in a one-count indictment based 

on its theory that Appellant had intentionally killed three victims in a single criminal transaction. 

Saenz. 166 S.W.3d at 273-74 (State must avoid charging a defendant with multiple counts of 

capital murder involving the same victims to ensure that the defendant's double jeopardy rights are 

not violated by the possibility of multiple convictions). If the State had charged Appellant with 

separate capital murder counts, naming the same victims in each count, it would have subjected 

Appellant to a possible double jeopardy violation-the very thing that concerned Appellant in his 

first point of error. We therefore conclude that the State properly charged Appellant in a 

single-count indictment, utilizing multiple paragraphs for each alternative theory in support of its 

prosecution.

Further. we note that when a defendant is charged with capital murder involving multiple 

victims killed in a single criminal transaction, a defendant's right to a unanimous verdict is only 

violated if the record reflects a possibility that the jury did not agree on which victims were killed 

in the transaction. The 2014 Saenz case is illustrative of this point. In that case, the defendant 

had been indicted, among other things, on one count of capital murder, based on the allegation that 

she had intentionally killed five different victims pursuant to the same scheme or course of conduct 

in violation of TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.03(a)(7)(B). 4 Saenz. 451 S.W.3d 388. In the 

indictment, the State had simply listed the names of each individual victim, and the jury charge 

instructed the jurors to determine if the defendant had caused the death of "more than one" of the 

five named individuals during the same scheme or course of conduct.

The Court held that the jury charge was defective. as it did not specify the "killing of any

4 TEX.PENAL CooE ANN. § 19.03(a) provides that a person commits capital murder if "(7) the person murders more 

than one person: . . . (B) during different criminal transactions but the murders are committed pursuant to the same 

scheme or course of conduct[.]"

12
one victim as the predicate murder, and the jury was not required to specifY which two or more of 

the five alleged victims that they agreed the appellant had murdered." !d. at 391. In particular, 

the Court noted that the language used in the jury charge "made it possible for the jurors to convict 

without agreeing that any one particular person was murdered by the appellant," and there was no 

requirement that the jurors had to agree on which of the various victims were killed; thus, as the 

Court pointed out, some jurors could have agreed that the defendant "killed victims A, B, and C, 

while the other six agreed she killed victims D and E." The Court therefore concluded that 

defendant's right to a unanimous verdict had been violated. !d. at 391-92; see also Ngo v. State,

175 S.W.3d 738, 749 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) (trial court erred in failing to instruct jury that it must 

be unanimous in deciding which one of the three disjunctively submitted offenses it found 

appellant committed).

In contrast, in the present case the indictment alleged three separate. alternative paragraphs 

naming two of the victims in each paragraph. The jury charge made it abundantly clear that the 

jury was required to consider each ofthe three paragraphs set forth in the indictment separately, 

and to unanimously select only one of those paragraphs as a basis for its verdict.

5 Read in

5 In particular, the jury was instructed to initially consider the first paragraph of the indictment, and to determine 

whether it found beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant had intentionally caused the deaths of both Sheryl Bennett 

and Jose Reyes during the same criminal transaction. The charge then instructed the jury that if it found the 

allegations set forth in the first paragraph to be true beyond a reasonable doubt, it was required to find Appellant guilty 

of the offense of capital murder. At that point, the jury's task would be complete. However, the charge went on to 

instruct the jury that if it did not find the allegations in paragraph one to be true beyond a reasonable doubt, then it 

would be required to consider the allegations set forth in the second paragraph, and determine whether it found beyond a

reasonable doubt that Appellant had intentionally caused the deaths of both Sheryl Bennett and Tan a Todd in the 

same criminal transaction. If the jury answered in the affirmative, it was instructed to find Appellant guilty of capital 

murder, and once again, the jury's task would be complete. If, however, the jury did not fmd the allegations in 

paragraph two to be true beyond a reasonable doubt, it was then instructed to consider the third paragraph in the 

indictment, and determine whether Appellant had intentionally caused the deaths of both Tana Todd and Jose Reyes in 

the same criminal transaction. Once again, if the jury answered in the affirmative, it was instructed to convict 

Appellant of capital murder, and if not, it was to instructed to consider the lesser included offenses of murder with 

regard to each of the three victims.

13
conjunction with the trial court's instruction to the jury that its verdict had to be unanimous, the 

jury was clearly instructed that it was required to unanimously agree on one theory of prosecution, 

and to expressly decide which victims it believed were intentionally killed by Appellant, before it 

could find Appellant guilty of capital murder.

Further, the Verdict Form also made it clear to the jury that it was required to select and 

agree upon only one of the State's three theories of prosecution in reaching its verdict. In 

particular, the Verdict Form gave the jury three alternatives for finding Appellant guilty of capital 

murder:

We, the Jury, find the Defendant, Dalton James Bennett, Jr., guilty ofthe offense of 

capital murder, as charged in the first paragraph of the indictment.

OR

We, the Jury, find the Defendant, Dalton James Bennett, Jr., guilty ofthe offense of 

capital murder, as charged in the second paragraph of the indictment.

OR

We, the Jury, find the Defendant, Dalton James Bennett, Jr., guilty of the offense of 

capital murder, as charged in the third paragraph of the indictment.

The presiding juror signed his name under the second option for finding Appellant guilty of capital 

murder as charged in the second paragraph of the indictment (i.e., the killings of Sheryl Bennett 

and Tana Todd). Further, after the jury's verdict was read in court, specifically stating that the 

jury had found Appellant guilty of capital murder as alleged in the second paragraph of the 

indictment, the jury was polled, and all of the jurors affirmed that this was their unanimous 

decision. As such, it is clear that the jury did in fact reach a unanimous verdict finding that 

Appellant was guilty of capital murder in Sheryl Bennett's death, based on the aggravating

circumstance that Appellant also intentionally killed Tana Todd in this same criminal transaction.

14
The Jury Charge did not Allow the Jury to Acquit Appellant and then Reconsider its Decision

Also in his second issue, Appellant makes one last argument criticizing the jury charge, 

asserting that the jury charge allowed the jury to ''acquit" Appellant of murdering Sheryl Bennett 

when it found there was reasonable doubt as to the allegations in the first paragraph in the 

indictment (i.e., that Appellant had intentionally killed Sheryl Bennett and Jose Reyes in the same 

transaction), and then improperly allowed the jury to "reconsider" its ''acquittal" in Sheryl 

Bennett's death, when the jury was asked to consider the allegations set forth in the second 

paragraph ofthe indictment (i.e., that Appellant had intentionally killed Sheryl Bennett and Tana 

Todd in the same transaction). Appellant asserts that the jury charge allowed not only for "double 

jeopardy problems. but also the possibility of a conviction on less than a unanimous verdict." We 

disagree.

As explained above, each of the three paragraphs in the indictment properly alleged an 

alternative theory of prosecution for capital murder, and each paragraph in effect charged a 

separate ''allowable unit of prosecution" for capital murder, i.e., the killing of more than one 

individual in a single criminal transaction. See Saenz. 451 S.W.3d 388: Ex parte Milner, 394

S.W.3d at 507. Thus, with respect to the first paragraph in the indictment, the jury was not asked 

to determine if Appellant had intentionally killed Sheryl Bennett, without any aggravating 

circumstances, as it would have done in a simple murder case; instead, the jury was asked if 

Appellant had intentionally killed both Sheryl Bennett and Jose Reyes in a single criminal 

transaction, in support of the State's first theory of prosecution in its capital murder case.

When the jury declined to enter a verdict based on that particular theory of prosecution, it 

did not acquit Appellant of Sheryl Bennett's murder; instead, it simply determined that there was

15
insufficient evidence to find that Appellant had intentionally killed both Sheryl and Jose in a single 

criminal transaction, and therefore insufficient evidence to support a capital murder conviction on 

the State's first theory of prosecution. The jury was then instructed to proceed to the State's next 

theory of prosecution, as set forth in paragraph two of the indictment, and determine whether it 

believed beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant had intentionally caused the deaths of both 

Sheryl Bennett and Tana Todd in a single criminal transaction.

As the State's alternative theories of prosecution related solely to the capital murder charge 

that Appellant had murdered multiple victims in a single transaction, the jury's rejection of one of 

those theories did not amount to an implied or express acquittal of Appellant on the lesser included 

charge of simple murder as to each individual victim. We therefore find no defect in the jury's 

charge, and we reject Appellant's argument on this point.

Appellant's Right to Confront Witnesses

In his third issue. Appellant contends the trial court violated his Sixth Amendment right to 

confront witnesses by allowing the county's medical examiner, Dr. Lloyd White, to provide his 

opinion on the cause of Jose Reyes' death based on his review of an autopsy report that was 

prepared by a now-retired medical examiner, Dr. Gary Sisler, who was not present in court to 

testify. The jury, however, did not find that Appellant had intentionally killed Jose Reyes, and 

instead based its verdict solely on the deaths of Sheryl Bennett and Tana Todd. Further, we have 

concluded there was no error in the jury's verdict in this regard. Consequently, Appellant's third 

issue is irrelevant and moot. We overrule all of Appellant's issues.

Reformation of Error in the Judgment

In its brief, the State points out that the trial court's written judgment mistakenly recorded

16
that the jury assessed the punishment in Appellant's case. The reporter's record. however. reveals 

that the trial court actually imposed the life sentence on Appellant, recognizing that capital murder 

carries an automatic life sentence in cases in which the death penalty habeen waived. See 

TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.3l(a)(2) (West 2011).

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held that when there is a variation between the 

oral pronouncement of sentence and the written memorialization of the sentence, the oral 

pronouncement controls. Coffey v. State. 979 S.W.2d 326, 328 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998). In such 

cases, an appellate court is authorized to reform or modify the judgment to conform to the record 

of the proceedings and to render an appropriate judgment, in accordance with its authority under 

TEX.R.APP.P. 43.2. See French v. State. 830 S.W.2d 607. 609 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) (appellate 

court has authority to reform a judgment to include an affirmative finding to make the record speak 

the truth when the matter has been called to its attention by any source); Bigley v. State. 865

S.W.2d 26, 27-28 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993) (appellate court has the power to modify incorrect 

judgments when the necessary data and information are available to do so).

We therefore believe it is appropriate to modify the trial court's judgment to reflect that the 

trial court, and not the jury, assessed the sentence in this case, in accordance with the trial court's 

oral pronouncement at trial.

CONCLUSION

The trial court's judgment is affirmed as modified to reflect that the trial court assessed the 

punishment in Appellant's case.

STEVEN L. HUGHES, Justice

June 30, 2015

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