Opinion ID: 2433128
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Conspiracy to Extort

Text: In Point of Error No. Twenty-eight, Respondent contends that the Commission erred in concluding that he conspired with Danny Mendez to extort money from Hollis Mathews. Specifically, Respondent maintains that the Special Master's Findings of Fact on Specific Allegations contain no finding on conspiracy and further, that there is no evidence of any such conspiracy. We disagree. The Commission, in its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, concluded that Respondent's actions between July 10, 1991 and March 16, 1992 in conspiring with Danny Mendez to extort money from Hollis Mathews constituted willful conduct clearly inconsistent with the proper performance of his duties in violation of TEX. CONST. art. V, § 1-a(6), as charged in Item 1Charge 12. [10] The above conclusions by the Commission are premised on the Special Master's Findings of Fact on Culpability, entered on August 19, 1993, in which the Special Master specifically found as follows: d. Between July 10, 1991 and March 16, 1992, Respondent conspired with Danny Mendez to extort money from Hollis Mathews. Consequently, we hold that contrary to Respondent's assertions, the record in the instant case does indeed reflect that the Special Master made a specific finding on the conspiracy charge. Respondent next asserts that there is no evidence of any such conspiracy. As noted, the Commission's First Amended Notice of Formal Proceedings alleged that Respondent entered into a conspiracy with Danny Mendez to extort money from Hollis Mathews. An actionable civil conspiracy is a combination by two or more persons to accomplish an unlawful purpose or to accomplish a lawful purpose by unlawful means. Massey v. Armco Steel Co., 652 S.W.2d 932, 934 (Tex.1983), citing Great Nat'l Life Ins. Co. v. Chapa, 377 S.W.2d 632, 635 (Tex.1964) and State v. Standard Oil Co., 130 Tex. 313, 107 S.W.2d 550, 559 (1937). The essential elements are: (1) two or more persons; (2) an object to be accomplished; (3) a meeting of minds on the object or course of action; (4) one or more unlawful, overt acts; and (5) damages as the proximate result. Massey, 652 S.W.2d at 934; see also Central Sav. & Loan Ass'n v. Stemmons Northwest Bank, N.A., 848 S.W.2d 232 (Tex.App.Dallas 1992, no writ). The gist of a civil conspiracy is the damage resulting from the commission of a wrong that injures another and not the conspiracy itself. Schlumberger Well Surveying Corp. v. Nortex Oil and Gas Corp., 435 S.W.2d 854, 856 (Tex.1968). Thus, proof of intent to participate in a conspiracy is a necessary factor of the meeting of the minds element. Id. at 857; Times Herald Printing Co. v. A.H. Belo Corp., 820 S.W.2d 206 (Tex.App.Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, no writ). The record in the instant case establishes that on January 9, 1992, a conversation took place in the stairwell of the Galveston County Courthouse between Hollis Mathews and Respondent in which the following was discussed: Judge: What you got? Mathews: I got this Judge: Is it from the probation department? Mathews: Yeah. Judge: Yeah, uh, Danny talked to me about this yesterday as a matter of fact, a few days ago. Mathews: Well, he called me Sunday and I just got that Saturday Judge: Um-hm. We'll take care of this. I don'twhat theit should have been in the first place. Apparently what happened is thatyou got Mathews: ? Judge: Yeah, you got credit for all this and what happened is I'll bet Mathews: None of this has been paid. Judge: Oh, yeah, that's what I'm saying is that this apparently what happened is that it was on the docket sheet but it didn't get transferred over to the, you know, judgment papers and that's what the probation department gets. This happens all the time where they get they fill in the judgment and its different from what the [sic] actually occurs in the courtroom on the docket sheet. So what your, what's your phone number? Mathews: 948-2841. Judge: 2481. Mathews: 2841. Judge: 28 Mathews: Danny called Sunday I don't know what he wanted I called him back Monday and he never did return my call Judge: Well, he talked to me about it, he figured something was going on. Mathews: Where do my other $500 go, do I just give that to Danny, give it to you or what? Judge: Well, I guess give that to Danny and then we'll take care of this. I mean, this will be taken care of today. Mathews: Be taken care of today? Judge: Yeah. Mathews: I was getting worried about it. Judge: Yeah, ignore that, they gotta come through me to do it. So don't worry about it. You see Danny, he figured something was going on that's why he called me on it. And uh and I'll pull it and send a copy of the docket sheet over to the probation department so they know that you're clear. Mathews: What about the 27th? Do I still come up here on the 27th? Judge: You won't need to come back on this at all, period. O.K.? Mathews: O.K. Judge: O.K. goodbye The record further establishes that on January 17, 1992, a conversation took place at Efren's Paint & Body Shop, located in Texas City, Texas, among Respondent, Danny Mendez, [11] and Hollis Mathews in which the following was discussed: Judge: So, ah what we're going to do is I'm going to get old Dave Cook to file an early termination. O.K. now you're scheduled to come on what, next week or week after? Mathews: The 28th but he said not to. Judge: O.K. we're going to, we're going to work something to get you off probation. Let's get them dismissed get it taken off your record. I'm going to appoint, I'm going to get Cook to file a motion have a hearing to have what I don't think we'll do, because all Pacheco wanted to do was just get you to come in and say hey, here I am. You did that, made him feel, you know, fucked him all up so he feels real good so he's happy. We just had a big change of administrations at the D.A.'s office, makes a big, big difference. So probably next week outside two weeks you'll be dismissed, be off probation, be off your record. We gotta go in the back. Cause we got to help Efren. I got a case in the back. . . . . . Judge: I justI just told Hollis, said hey look he was just like you know like hey man I got that son of a bitch come crawling to me. That's all he wanted to do. Mathews: Now he called me. Judge: Huh Mathews: He called me. Judge: That's what I'm saying. He got toyou went in and talked with him oh, shit Mathews: I just, uh Judge: You know he got to dump on you. You know made you feel like a shithead. That's all he wanted to do. So we're going to waive all fees we're going to dismiss the probation. Mendez: How bout that, how bout that D.W.I. class we're taking? Judge: He does not have to do that shit Mendez: He gave him a letter did you show it to him? Mathews: No, not in here. Mendez: Oh, O.K. See he was worrying about it, you know Mathews: II Mendez: Man I don't know what I Judge: So I'll take care of all that stuff Mathews: It's just all had me worried cause I been kinda in the dark I don't know what Judge: Oh, you know what they want to do is feel good you know to make sure that they got you under their thumb, he showed you that he could get you under thumb, their thumb, that's all he needs. So the probation department's taken care of. Now we get Cook to file a motion for early termination. O.K. We do that Tuesday cause Monday the courthouse is closed. Or whenever Cook shows up. We'll get him to file a motion and then they'll scream, holler and yell about it but Mendez: They don't wanta [sic] they can't go over you can they John? Judge: No! absolutely not. That's my case. There's nothing that they can do to go over me. So you have nothing to worry about. Mendez: See he won't have to go over to that D.W.I. class or nothing. Judge: I'll waive that, so he's got no problem Mendez: He was worrying about it, I said Goddamn I said, you know, let me see what we can come up with Judge: We, uh Mendez: I don't understand Judge:  Mendez: I understand, Goddamn, I ain't that, man you know what I done, it was cold this morning and I was putting that goddamn Someone: I think you sureMexico, born in Mexico, you know Mendez: Hey this guy is good as blood man he just can't jump up I'm telling you he told you he's the man that's got all the power in the world. That fucking goddamn what-do-you-call-it Mathews: Probation officer? Mendez: He ain't got dick over him. He says nope I'm waiving and that's it. Mathews: I know Danny, still, if you's [sic] in my position you would be too. Mendez: Yeah, I know yeah. Mathews: You know, I got into this but, you know, Inot really knowing you and not knowing anybody really Mendez: Yeah, well we're not going to fuck you I promise you. I been, you know, your deal is straight, that's why I'm saying hey just come off with the money that makes me even look better, you know I'm just telling you my opinion. You know what I mean. Mathews: We can take care of that tonight or in the morning Mendez: You're not going to get fucked Judge: I'm fixing to get you straight so you just Mathews: I just you know like I was telling you I don't you know until I come back from Vegas I didn't know Danny and I didn't know what was going on Judge: Danny's problem is that Danny doesn't know what the shit'sI mean he says all these things and he don't know what he's talking about and he gets people already committed and involved andand he really doesn't know what he's doing so I mean he's a super guy, he's one of my best friends Mathews: Yeah Judge: But he's he justyou need to take him and kick his ass every once in a while Mathews: I just really got to the point, well now, her'sbetween all that sheetrock and stuff on his house and I already spentI already gave him $500 and I got that other money coming in from my uncle, it's shit probably here now, I don't know. Judge: Super guy, good guy but he just doesn't know what he's talking about a lot of the time anywayyour [sic] in good shape, guarantee it. What we, we'll do is you'll be getting a call from a guy. I got the phone number, the one you gave the 948 number. And ah, ah I'm going to see next timeI see Cook Tuesday, I'll tell him that, you know, he's going to file a motion, you have to get the probation dismissed get it taken off the records for you. Mathews: That call will be an answering machine I been trying to get some work over there at Missouri City and I haven't had no luck yet. Judge: That's O.K. Just remember the name David Cook. David Cook. Man he's another crazy son of a bitch. . . . . . Mathews: Well that other, that something, that money will be here tonight or this evening, it's probably already here Mendez: Well, if it is, come by the house and I'll get it to you in the morning. Judge: Whatever Danny, he tells you, blow it off, talk to me first. O.K.? Mendez: Well I mean he's got to worry about, John, I understand the man he ain't got nobody to look to Judge: I guess so if he told me what was happening, shit I'd be worried about it too. Goddamn, I tell you shit man your nuts are going to jail man some big nigger going to be fucking you in the ass for the next two years Mathews: Now that's when they get me on the murder charge. Go out this door or that one? Mendez: No, I saw Judge: Where you parked? Mathews: Right there. Judge: Go out that door