Court Opinion

ID: 3071153
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 00:32:50.82431+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:04.139596
License: Public Domain

NOS. 12-13-00381-CR
                                       12-14-00041-CR
                                          12-14-00041-cr
                          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

               TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

                                     TYLER, TEXAS

RICHARD ALAN GRAHAM,                             §      APPEAL FROM THE
APPELLANT

V.                                               §      COUNTY COURT AT LAW #2

THE STATE OF TEXAS,
APPELLEE                                  §   HENDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS
                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION
       A jury found Appellant, Richard Alan Graham, guilty of cruelty to nonlivestock animals (a
wire haired fox terrier and a Catahoula dog) and also found him guilty of cruelty to livestock (an
Appaloosa stallion). The trial court fixed Appellant‘s punishment at confinement for 365 days.
The court, however, suspended confinement and placed Appellant on community supervision for
twenty-four months. In each case, Appellant presents the same issues. We affirm.

                             INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
       In his first issue, Appellant contends that his attorney should have moved for separate
trials of the two accusations against him.       This failure, Appellant argues, demonstrates a
deficiency in performance so severe as to constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.
Applicable Law
       The standard for testing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel is set out in Strickland
v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984), and adopted for Texas
constitutional claims in Hernandez v. State, 726 S.W.2d 53 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). To prevail
on his claim of ineffective assistance, an appellant must show that his attorney‘s representation
fell below the standard of prevailing professional norms, and that there is a reasonable probability
that, but for the attorney‘s deficiency, the result of the trial would have been different. Tong v.
State, 25 S.W.3d 707, 712 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
       Our review of counsel‘s representation is highly deferential; we indulge a strong
presumption that counsel‘s conduct falls within a wide range of reasonable representation.
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2065; Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712. This court will not
second guess through hindsight the strategy of counsel at trial, nor will the fact that another
attorney might have pursued a different course support a finding of ineffectiveness. Blott v. State,
588 S.W.2d 588, 592 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979). Any allegation of ineffectiveness must be firmly
founded in the record, and the record must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness.
Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
       ―The constitutional right to counsel does not mean errorless counsel.‖ Jackson v. State,
766 S.W.2d 504, 508 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985), modified on other grounds on remand from United
States Supreme Court, 766 S.W.2d 518 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). ―Isolated instances in the record
reflecting errors of commission or omission do not cause counsel to become ineffective, nor can
ineffective assistance of counsel be established by isolating or separating out one portion of the
trial counsel‘s performance for examination.‖ Ex parte Welborn, 785 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1990).
Separate Trials
       A defendant may be prosecuted in a single criminal action for all offenses arising out of
the same criminal episode. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 3.02(a) (West 2011). The defendant,
however, has an absolute right to severance upon demand. Id. § 3.04(a) (West 2011); Coleman v.
State, 788 S.W.2d 369, 371 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (en banc).            Subject to some statutory
exceptions not pertinent here, the penal code provides that if a defendant is found guilty of more
than one offense prosecuted in a single criminal action, the sentences assessed for those
convictions shall run concurrently. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 3.03(a) (West 2011); Frank v.
State, 992 S.W.2d 756, 758 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet. ref‘d).
       ―The rule allowing severance rests upon two legitimate concerns: (1) that the jury may
convict a ‗bad man‘ who deserves to be punished–not because he is guilty of the crime charged
but because of his prior or subsequent misdeeds; and (2) that the jury will infer that because the
accused committed other crimes, he probably committed the crime charged.‖ Llamas v. State, 12
S.W.3d 469, 471-72 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).

                                                 2
Discussion
       Appellant argues that his counsel‘s failure to move for separate trials of the two
indictments resulted in the admission of evidence pertaining to two offenses rather than one and
deprived him of a fair trial. An offer of evidence of an extraneous offense to help prove an
element of the charged offense is not nearly as convincing as a formal allegation of another
offense at the same trial. There can be no disputing its admissibility. Evidence of it goes to the
jury for all purposes without the usual limiting instructions concerning the jury‘s consideration of
the extraneous offense.       Woodberry v. State, Nos. 05-00-01823-CR, 05-00-01824-CR,
05-00-01825-CR, 2001 WL 1525906, at *1 (Tex. App.–Dallas Dec. 3, 2001, no pet.) (not
designated for publication); see also Cosio v. State, 353 S.W.3d 766, 775 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011)
(holding defendant not entitled to limiting instruction where State was permitted to proceed under
several incidents of criminal conduct, as opposed to electing one).
       Ordinarily, the State will derive a strategic benefit from the joint trial of the two
accusations. However, in allowing the joint trial of the two offenses, Appellant evaded the
possibility of consecutive sentencing in the event of his conviction of both. A defendant must
decide whether the disadvantage of consolidation outweighs the risk of consecutive sentences if
he exercises his right to sever. The decision is not always easily reached. Multiple factors may
need to be considered such as whether evidence of the other crime will be admissible even if
severed, the egregiousness of the offense, and the strength of the state‘s case generally. Here, the
State‘s evidence was overwhelming in both cases. By failing to ask for separate trials, Appellant
gained the benefit of concurrent sentencing.
       Based on the record before us, we cannot conclude that the choice adopted by Appellant‘s
counsel was not a reasonable trial strategy. Appellant cites no other examples of alleged deficient
performance by his counsel. Appellant‘s first issue is overruled.

                                ADMISSIBILITY OF PHOTOGRAPHS
       In his second issue, Appellant complains that the trial court abused its discretion in
overruling his objection to photographs showing bones of an unknown nature scattered on the
premises where the animals were kept.          Appellant argues that the probative value of the
photographs was substantially outweighed by their prejudicial effect.

                                                 3
Standard of Review and Applicable Law
       The admissibility of a photograph is within the sound discretion of the trial court. Gallo v.
State, 239 S.W.3d 757, 762 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
       A photograph is relevant if it has ―any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of
consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be
without the evidence.‖ Id. Photographs that are relevant, that are shown to be correct, that
illustrate disputed fact issues, and that accurately represent their subjects at a given time are
ordinarily admissible to identify, illustrate, or explain persons, places, and things for the benefit of
the jury. Cotlar v. State, 558 S.W.2d 16, 18 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977). Evidence regarding the
context of the crime is a fact of consequence and photographs illustrating the context are generally
admissible. Wyatt v. State, 23 S.W.3d 18, 29 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). Ordinarily, a photograph
is admissible if oral testimony regarding what is depicted in the photograph is also admissible.
Gallo, 239 S.W.3d at 762.
       If a photograph is otherwise admissible, it is not rendered inadmissible merely because it is
gruesome or might tend to arouse the passions of the jury, unless it is offered solely to inflame the
minds of the jury. Erazo v. State, 144 S.W.3d 487, 489 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
       Texas Rule of Evidence 403 allows for the exclusion of otherwise relevant evidence when
its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Gallo, 239
S.W.3d at 762. ―Rule 403 favors the admission of relevant evidence and carries a presumption
that relevant evidence will be more probative than prejudicial.‖ Id. Among the factors to be
considered in weighing the probative value of photographs against their prejudicial effect are their
gruesomeness, detail, size, the number of exhibits, the availability of other means of proof, and
the circumstances unique to the case. Id. at 763.
Discussion
       Appellant argues that the photographs of bones of an unknown nature scattered about on
the ground were substantially more prejudicial than probative. The photographs illustrate the
condition of the premises where Appellant kept the mistreated, unattended animals. Bones and
skeletons littered the ground. The donkeys had gnawed bark from the trees. The slovenly,
unkempt surroundings where the animals were kept reflect the distressing general lack of care the
animals received. Moreover, we do not view the challenged photographs as unduly inflammatory.
The probative value of the challenged photographs was not substantially outweighed by their

                                                    4
prejudicial effect. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting them. Appellant‘s
second issue is overruled.

                                                   DISPOSITION
         Having overruled Appellant‘s first and second issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial
court.

                                                                               BILL BASS
                                                                                   Justice

Opinion delivered August 13, 2014.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Bass, Retired J., Twelfth Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment.

                                              (DO NOT PUBLISH)

                                                           5
                                   COURT OF APPEALS

      TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                           JUDGMENT

                                           AUGUST 13, 2014

                                          NO. 12-13-00381-CR

                                   RICHARD ALAN GRAHAM,
                                           Appellant
                                              V.
                                     THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                           Appellee

                            Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2
                     of Henderson County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 2012-0802CL2)

                        THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
judgment.
                        It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the judgment
of the court below be in all things affirmed, and that this decision be certified to the court
below for observance.
                    Bill Bass, Justice.
                    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Bass, Retired J., Twelfth Court of Appeals,
                    sitting by assignment.
                                   COURT OF APPEALS

      TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                           JUDGMENT

                                           AUGUST 13, 2014

                                          NO. 12-14-00041-CR

                                   RICHARD ALAN GRAHAM,
                                           Appellant
                                              V.
                                     THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                           Appellee

                            Appeal from the County Court at Law No 2
                     of Henderson County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 2012-0803CL2)

                        THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
judgment.
                        It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the judgment
of the court below be in all things affirmed, and that this decision be certified to the court
below for observance.
                    Bill Bass, Justice.
                    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Bass, Retired J., Twelfth Court of Appeals,
                    sitting by assignment.