Court Opinion

ID: 2898625
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 23:42:24.264581+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:36:55.904715
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-08-0473-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL D

OCTOBER 14, 2009

______________________________

ROY LEE MARTINEZ, APPELLANT

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

_________________________________

FROM THE 121ST DISTRICT COURT OF TERRY COUNTY;

NO. 5785; HONORABLE KELLY G. MOORE, JUDGE

_______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and PIRTLE, JJ.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

          Appellant, Roy Lee Martinez, was convicted by a jury of the offense of aggravated
sexual assault
 and sentenced to thirty years confinement.  By four issues, Appellant
contests:  (1) the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence, (2) whether he was denied
effective assistance of counsel because his counsel failed to object to admission of a
hearsay statement by the child victim, (3) whether he was denied effective assistance of
counsel because his counsel failed to object to extraneous offense evidence, and (4)
whether the cumulative errors by his counsel resulted in ineffective assistance of counsel. 
We affirm.
Background
          The indictment in this cause alleged that on or about January 2, 2004, in Terry
County, Texas, Appellant intentionally and knowingly caused the penetration of the sexual
organ of Amanda Simental (a pseudonym), a child who was then and there younger than
fourteen years of age and not the spouse of Appellant, by Appellant’s sexual organ.
  Prior
to trial, the State filed notice that it intended to offer evidence of other crimes, wrongs or
acts against the victim in its case-in-chief at the guilt/innocence phase of the trial.

          At trial, Amanda’s aunt testified that, in October 2007, Amanda told her that
Appellant had previously raped her while her mother was working a night shift.  According
to Amanda, Appellant had crawled into her bed, pinned her down, and “stuck his penis
inside her where her menstrual cycles come from.”  Amanda was ten years old at the time
of the assault.  Amanda’s aunt contacted the Terry County Sheriff’s office and an
investigation was launched that ultimately led to Appellant’s arrest.
          Amanda’s mother testified she and Appellant lived together from 2002 to 2006.  In
2004, her daughter complained of physical abuse by Appellant to school officials and later
Child Protective Services.  Although she believed her daughters complaints were justified,
she was frightened to come forward because, at that time, she was still living with
Appellant.  She further testified that it was not until October of 2007 that she first learned
of Appellant’s sexual abuse of her daughter.  
          Amanda testified that she was at her grandmother’s house, with her brother and
sister, when the subject of conversation turned to how Appellant had abused them.  At that
time, Amanda took her aunt aside and told her that Appellant raped her.  By rape, Amanda
testified that she meant he “touched her in the wrong way” or “in my middle” when she was
ten years old.  She then testified as follows:
STATE: Okay.  And tell the jury, you have to tell them, okay, what you
mean “the middle part” what do you mean?
 
AMANDA: I don’t know how to put it.
 
STATE:  Tell us in your words?
 
AMANDA:  Your private part.
 
STATE:  Is that the part of your part where you go to the bathroom and
pee?
 
AMANDA:  Yes, sir. 
 
STATE:  Okay.  And did he put his private part inside your private part?
 
AMANDA:  Yes, sir.
 
STATE:  What did it feel like?
 
AMANDA:  It hurt.  
 
STATE:  Did you tell him to stop?
 
AMANDA:  Yes, sir.
 
STATE:  Did he stop?
 
AMANDA: No.

          Amanda also testified Appellant physically abused her, her brother, and her sister 
by hitting them with a cable and making them stand on the wall until they fainted.  She
testified that, when she told her mother of the physical abuse, her mother acted as though
she did not believe Amanda.  She indicated she had complained to school officials and
CPS of the physical abuse but later recanted because she was afraid she would be taken
away from her mother.  She did not tell her mother about the sexual assault because
Appellant threatened to hurt her and kill her mother.  She also believed that, if she told her
mother, she would again not believe her.  She testified Appellant raped her on more than
one occasion.
          Patricia Salazar, a registered nurse and sexual assault nurse examiner, testified she
examined Amanda in October 2007.  She testified that, during the examination, she
noticed a scar on Amanda’s genitalia that evidenced a penetrating injury or actual tear
caused by trauma to her private part.  She also testified that, although the injury could have
occurred six weeks or three years ago, the penetrating injury was consistent with Amanda’s
history of sexual assault.  
          Amy Martinez Cruz, an investigator for the Department of Family and Protective
Services, testified she first met Amanda in February 2006 when she received a complaint
that Amanda had been physically abused by her mother.  There was no mention of sexual
abuse.  She investigated the complaint and it was ruled out–case closed.  Her next
involvement was in August 2006 when she received a report that Amanda was being
physically abused by her mother and Appellant was inappropriately touching Amanda. 
During her first interview, Amanda was in the seventh grade at school.  She told Cruz that
Appellant had been sexually abusing her since the third grade.  In a subsequent interview,
Amanda indicated she made up the story about Appellant being sexually inappropriate with
her because she was mad at her mom.  
          When Cruz interviewed Amanda’s sister, she told Cruz that Amanda said things
because she was mad at their mother and knew CPS would intervene.  Her sister also
indicated Amanda liked to instigate stuff and talk back.  She also told Cruz that Appellant
was nice and did things for them like their own father.  Amanda’s mother told Cruz that she
was convinced Amanda’s statements were false.  Because Amanda recanted, the case
was ultimately closed.
          A year later, in October 2007, Cruz again investigated allegations by Amanda that
Appellant had sexually abused her.  Amanda told Cruz that Appellant took advantage of
her many times.  Amanda referred to her private part as her “middle” and called Appellant’s
private part “his thing.”  On completion of her investigation, Cruz determined there was
“reason to believe that sexual abuse of [Amanda] did occur by [Appellant].” 
          Amanda’s sister testified that, during the period Appellant lived in their house, she
and her siblings lied to protect their own safety because Appellant had threatened to harm
or kill them.  She also corroborated Amanda’s testimony related to physical abuse of the
children by Appellant.
          Thereafter, the jury found Appellant guilty of the offense of sexual assault as
charged in the indictment.  On September 30, 2008, Appellant filed a motion for a new trial
asserting the verdict was contrary to the evidence.  The trial court denied Appellant’s
motion and this appeal followed.
Discussion
          Appellant asserts the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support his
conviction because the State failed to prove Amanda was speaking of her sexual organ
when she referred to her “middle” and there is no independent medical evidence Appellant
penetrated Amanda’s sexual organ with his sexual organ.  He next asserts his counsel was
ineffective because his counsel did not object to testimony by Amanda’s aunt relating
Amanda’s outcry statement when the statement did not meet the statutory requirement that
the testimony be from the first person to whom the child makes a statement about the
offense.
  He also contends his counsel was ineffective because his counsel did not object
to extraneous offense testimony regarding physical abuse and threats. Finally, Appellant
asserts that, if one of his counsel’s errors is insufficient to establish he was ineffective, the
cumulative effect of both errors severely prejudiced Appellant establishing his counsel was
ineffective.
          I.        Sufficiency of the Evidence
          When both the legal sufficiency and factual sufficiency of the evidence are
challenged, we must first determine whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support the
verdict.  Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 133 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996).  
          A.       Legal Sufficiency
                     1.       Standard of Review
          It is a fundamental rule of criminal law that one cannot be convicted of a crime
unless it is shown beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed each element
of the alleged offense.  U.S. Const. amend. XIV; Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.03
(Vernon Supp. 2008).  Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 2.01 (Vernon 2003).  Evidence is legally
insufficient if, when viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of
fact could not have found each element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. 
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560, 573 (1979);
Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512, 517 (Tex.Crim.App. 2009).
          The standard is the same in both direct and circumstantial evidence cases.  Laster,
275 S.W.3d at 517-18.  In measuring the legal sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a
conviction, we measure the elements of the offense as defined by a hypothetically correct
jury charge.  Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997).  A hypothetically
correct jury charge is a charge that accurately promulgates the law, is authorized by the
indictment, does not necessarily increase the State’s burden of proof or restrict the State’s
theory of criminal responsibility, and adequately describes the particular offense.  Grotti v.
State, 273 S.W.3d 273, 280-81 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008).
          In measuring legal sufficiency, an appellate court must consider all the evidence that
was before the jury–whether proper or improper–so that we can make an assessment from
the jury’s perspective.  Miles v. State, 918 S.W.2d 511, 512 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996).  As an
appellate court, we sit as a final due process safeguard, ensuring only the rationality of the
fact finder, and we must uphold the jury’s verdict unless it is found to be irrational or
unsupported by more than a “mere modicum” of evidence.  Moreno v. State, 755 S.W.2d
866, 867 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988).  Our role is restricted to guarding against the rare
occurrence when a fact finder does not act rationally.  Laster, 275 S.W.3d at 517.
                     2.       Analysis – Aggravated Sexual Assault
          Per the indictment, Appellant committed the offense of aggravated sexual assault
if he (1) intentionally or knowingly (2) caused the penetration of the sexual organ (3) of a
child (4) by any means and (5) the child was younger than fourteen years of age.  Tex.
Penal Code § 22.021 (a)(1)(B)(i), (2)(B) (Vernon Supp. 2008).
          In aggravated sexual assault cases, where the victim is 17 years of age or younger,
the uncorroborated testimony of the victim alone is sufficient to support a conviction.  Tex.
Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.07(a), (b)(1) (Vernon 2005).  See Empty v. State, 972
S.W.2d 194, 196 (Tex.App.–Dallas 1998, pet. ref’d); Karnes v. State, 873 S.W.2d 92, 96
(Tex.App.–Dallas 1994, no pet.).  The child may testify using language appropriate for
his/her age to describe the sexual assault because “one cannot expect the child victims of
violent crimes to testify with the same clarity and ability as is expected of mature and
capable adults.”  Villalon v. State, 791 S.W.2d 130, 134 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990). 
Furthermore, a child victim’s outcry statement alone can be sufficient to support a
conviction for aggravated sexual assault.  Kimberlin v. State, 877 S.W.2d 828, 831
(Tex.App.–Fort Worth 1994, pet. ref’d) (citing Rodriguez v. State, 819 S.W.2d 871, 873
(Tex.Crim.App. 1991).   
          Appellant contends the evidence is insufficient because the State failed to prove
there was penetration of a sexual organ either by direct or circumstantial evidence. 
Appellant asserts Amanda never described what she meant by her testimony that
Appellant “touch[ed] her middle” and there was no independent medical evidence, either
direct or circumstantial, to establish that Appellant penetrated the victim’s sexual organ with
his sexual organ.  
          “Penetration may be proven by circumstantial evidence;” Nilsson v. State, 477
S.W.2d 592, 595 (Tex.Crim.App. 1972), and there is no requirement that the victim be able
to testify as to penetration.  Villalon, 791 S.W.2d at 133; Nilsson, 477 S.W.2d at 596.  See
Mosley v. State, 141 S.W.3d 816, 823 (Tex.App.–Texarkana 2004, pet. ref’d).  Neither is
medical evidence necessary to prove penetration.  Villalon, 791 S.W.2d at 133.  
          Relying on these principles, we find the evidence sufficient to establish penetration. 
Amanda testified Appellant touched her “in the wrong way” or “in my middle.”  She
explained that by “the middle part,” she meant her “private part,” and agreed with the
prosecutor that you go to the bathroom and pee with your “private part.”  She then agreed
with the prosecutor that Appellant put his private part in her private part and “[i]t hurt.” 
Amanda’s aunt testified that, during her outcry, Amanda told her Appellant raped her,
pinned her down, and “stuck his penis inside her where her menstrual cycles come from.”
Finally, Salazar, the sexual assault nurse examiner that examined Amanda, testified that
Amanda’s genitalia showed scarring which evidenced a penetrating injury or actual tear
caused by trauma to her private part.  She further testified that, although the scarring was
not conclusive evidence of sexual assault, the penetrating injury was consistent with
Amanda’s history of sexual assault. 
          The totality of the evidence, here, was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to have
believed that the element of penetration of the child victim’s sexual organ was established
beyond a reasonable doubt. 791 S.W.2d at 133-34.  See Mosley, 141 S.W.3d at 823.
          B.       Factual Sufficiency
                     1.       Standard of Review
          When conducting a factual sufficiency review, we examine all the evidence in a
neutral light and determine whether the trier of fact was rationally justified in finding guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.  Roberts v. State, 220 S.W.3d 521, 524 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007),
cert. denied, 128 S. Ct. 282, 169 L. Ed. 2d 206, 76 U.S.L.W. 3165 (2007); Watson v. State,
204 S.W.3d 404, 415 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006).  We give deference to the fact finder’s
determination when supported by the record, and cannot reverse a conviction unless we
find some objective basis in the record demonstrating that the great weight and
preponderance of the evidence contradicts the verdict.  Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 417.  The
criminal verdict will be set aside “only if the evidence is so weak that the verdict is clearly
wrong and manifestly unjust, or the contrary evidence so strong that the standard of proof
beyond a reasonable doubt could not have been met.”  Gaza v. State, 213 S.W.3d 338,
343 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007).  In addition, the fact finder is entitled to judge the credibility of
the witnesses and may choose to believe all, or some or none of the testimony presented. 
Chambers v. State, 805 S.W.2d 459, 461 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991).  
                     2.       Analysis – Aggravated Sexual Assault
          Appellant contends the evidence is factually insufficient because Salazar could not
testify with certainty that Amanda’s penetration injury was caused by a male sexual organ
or more precisely determine when the injury occurred.  Nevertheless, Salazar did testify
a male sexual organ could have caused the injury and the penetration injury was consistent
with Amanda’s history of sexual abuse.  
          Our evaluation of the evidence “should not substantially intrude upon the jury’s role
as the sole judge of the weight and credibility of testimony” such as Salazar’s. Jones v.
State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 648 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 832, 118 S. Ct.
100, 139 L. Ed. 2d 54 (1997).  To the extent Appellant claims the evidence is factually
insufficient because Salazar’s opinions were less than certain, we hold that the evidence
in support of the jury’s verdict was not so weak as to render the verdict clearly wrong or
manifestly unjust.  Appellant’s first issue is overruled.
          II.       Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
          Appellant’s second and third issues assert he was denied ineffective assistance of
counsel.  His fourth issue asserts that the cumulative effect of the errors asserted in issues
two and three severely prejudiced him and, for this reason, he was denied effective
assistance of counsel.  For convenience, we will consider these issues together.  
           A.       Standard of Review
          We examine ineffective assistance of counsel claims by the standard enunciated 
in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984),
and adopted by Texas in Hernandez v. State, 726 S.W.2d 53, 56-57 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986). 
Appellant has the burden to show by a preponderance of evidence (1) trial counsel’s
performance was deficient in that it fell below the prevailing professional norms, and (2)
the deficiency prejudiced the defendant; that is, but for the deficiency, there is a reasonable
probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different.  See Thompson v.
State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 812 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999).  We examine the totality of counsel’s
representation to determine whether Appellant received effective assistance but do not
judge counsel’s strategic decisions in hindsight.  Id. at 813.  Rather, counsel’s conduct is
viewed with great deference.  Goodspeed v. State, 187 S.W.3d 390, 392 (Tex.Crim.App.
2005).  Any allegation of ineffectiveness must be firmly founded in the record, and the
record must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness.  Thompson, 9 S.W.3d
at 812.   
          In the usual case in which an ineffective assistance claim is made, “the record on
direct appeal will not be sufficient to show that counsel’s representation was so deficient
and so lacking in tactical or strategic decision-making as to overcome the presumption that
counsel’s conduct was reasonable and professional.”  Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828, 833
(Tex.Crim.App. 2002).  This is generally the case because a silent record provides no
explanation for counsel’s actions and therefore will not overcome the strong presumption
of reasonable assistance.  Freeman v. State, 125 S.W.3d 505, 506 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003);
Rylander v. State, 101 S.W.3d 107, 110-11 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003).

          B.       Outcry Statement – Issue Two
          Appellant first asserts counsel was ineffective because he failed to object to
testimony of Amanda’s outcry statement by her aunt.  Appellant contends that an objection
was proper because her aunt was not the first person to whom Amanda made an outcry
statement.   Appellant contends Amanda made her first outcry statement to her mother,
Diana.  
          Article 38.072 of the Code of Criminal Procedure permits outcry statements by
victims of child abuse to be admitted during trial, despite the hearsay rule, if the statement
was made by the child against whom the offense was allegedly committed and the
statement was made to the first person to whom the child made the statement about the
offense.  See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.072 § 1 (1), § 2 (1) & (2) (Vernon 2005). 
To qualify as proper outcry statements, the child must have described the alleged offense
in some discernible way and must have more than generally insinuated that sexual abuse
occurred.  Garcia v. State, 792 S.W.2d 88, 91 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990).  See Sims v. State,
12 S.W.3d 499, 500 (Tex.App.–Dallas 1999, pet. ref’d); Hayden v. State, 928 S.W.2d 229,
231 (Tex.App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, pet. ref’d). 
          The Sims court held the trial court did not abuse its discretion by holding a Family
Services employee, and not a child victim’s mother, was the proper outcry witness. 12
S.W.3d at 500.  The appellant in Sims contended the mother should have been the proper
outcry witness because the child initially told her mother that appellant “had touched her
private parts.”  Id.  Subsequent to the statement made to the mother, the child made a
statement to a Family Services employee that provided specific details establishing the
elements of the charged offense (indecency with a child).  Id.  Because the record failed
to show that the child provided a clear description of the charged offense to her mother,
as required by article 38.072, the Sims court held that it was reasonable for the trial court
to determine the statement made by the child to the Family Services employee met the
requirements of article 38.072.  Id. 
          Here, as in Sims, the record establishes that Amanda made a statement to her aunt
that provided specific details establishing the elements of the charged offense.  The record
also establishes that any outcry statement made by Amanda to her mother was related to
physical abuse or, at most, inappropriate touching of a sexual nature.  Thus, under Sims,
an objection to Amanda’s aunt’s testimony was not in order.  The law as applied to the
facts of this case indicate that the performance of Appellant’s counsel was not deficient
and did not fall below prevailing professional norms.  Appellant’s second issue fails to
satisfy the first element of an ineffective counsel claim and is overruled.
          C.       Extraneous Offenses  - Issue Three 
          Appellant next complains that his counsel was ineffective because he did not object
to the State’s evidence of extraneous offenses.  Specifically, Appellant contends witnesses’
testimony that he physically abused the children and threatened them was inadmissible
under Rule 404(b) of the Rules of Evidence and a proper objection would have resulted
in the testimony being excluded. 
          Here, not only did the State solicit testimony as to these extraneous offenses but
Appellant’s counsel also solicited such testimony in his direct examination of witnesses in
order to impeach their credibility and emphasize inconsistencies in their prior statements. 
Here, the record is silent as to whether trial counsel’s failure to object to the extraneous
offenses was a matter of trial strategy, and if so, whether the strategy was sound.  Failure
to make the required showing of deficient performance defeats Appellant’s ineffectiveness
claim.  Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 814 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999).  Moreover, where
counsel not only fails to object but elicits the very testimony Appellant finds objectionable,
“[w]e decline to hold that such actions which waive evidentiary grounds may automatically
be transformed into grounds for relief for ineffective assistance of counsel.”  Ex parte
Ewing, 570 S.W.2d 941, 948 (Tex.Crim.App. 1978).  Appellant’s third issue is overruled. 
Because we have overruled issues two and three, Appellant’s fourth issue regarding
cumulative error is pretermitted
.                                                           Conclusion
 
          The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.  
          
 
                                                                           Patrick A. Pirtle 
                                                                                  Justice  

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