Court Opinion

ID: 4924532
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-23 08:15:57.38409+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:14.809361
License: Public Domain

In The
                                  Court of Appeals
                         Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo
                                  ________________________

                                      No. 07-20-00180-CR
                                  ________________________

                              MARK DAVID SALLEY, APPELLANT

                                                  V.

                              THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

                             On Appeal from the 33rd District Court
                                    Burnet County, Texas
          Trial Court No. 49118, Counts II and IV; Honorable J. Allan Garrett, Presiding

                                         September 20, 2021

                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION
                           Before PIRTLE and PARKER and DOSS, JJ.

      Appellant, Mark David Salley, was charged by indictment with two counts of

criminally negligent homicide, 1 a state jail felony, and two counts of manslaughter, 2 a

      1   TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.05(a), (b).

      2   TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.04(a), (b).
second degree felony, arising from the deaths of two individuals, Pamela Stewart and

Dena Kolb, resulting from a motor vehicle accident caused by Appellant. Following pleas

of not guilty, Appellant was convicted by a jury of the two counts of criminally negligent

homicide and acquitted of the two counts of manslaughter. Punishment was assessed at

two years confinement and a $10,000 fine on each count. The jury recommended that

only the period of confinement be suspended in favor of five years community

supervision. The trial court ordered the sentences and fines to run concurrently. By three

issues, Appellant appeals contending (1) the evidence is insufficient to establish he was

criminally negligent when he caused the fatal collision; (2) the trial court improperly

permitted questioning regarding his prescribed medications; and (3) the trial court erred

in imposing a cumulative fine of $20,000 in the conditions of his community supervision. 3

The State agrees that imposition of a $20,000 fine was erroneous and requests that this

court modify the condition of Appellant’s community supervision so as to require him to

pay $10,000 rather than $20,000 as a condition of supervision.

        We affirm the judgments of conviction for each count of criminally negligent

homicide but remand the case to the trial court to modify condition 14(e) of the conditions

of community supervision, which currently requires Appellant to pay a $20,000 fine, to

reflect a requirement that he pay a fine of only $10,000.

         3 Originally appealed to the Third Court of Appeals, sitting in Austin, this appeal was transferred to

this court by the Texas Supreme Court pursuant to its docket equalization efforts. TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §
73.001. Should a conflict exist between precedent of the Third Court of Appeals and this court on any
relevant issue, this appeal will be decided in accordance with the precedent of the transferor court. TEX. R.
APP. P. 41.3.

                                                      2
        BACKGROUND

        Early in the morning hours of October 2, 2017, during the morning commute to

work, Appellant caused a three-vehicle accident on Highway 29, a four-lane highway with

no dedicated left turn lane. The accident resulted in two deaths. Testimony established

that the scene of the accident is a dangerous intersection and that there are “a lot of

crashes out in that part of the roadway.”

        At the time of the accident, the highway was dry and the sky was partly cloudy.

Overall, weather and driving conditions were favorable. The posted speed limit on the

highway is sixty-five miles per hour. At the site of the accident, the highway is a relatively

straight road.

        Appellant was driving a Dodge truck. The other vehicles involved were a Ford

Focus (car) driven by Pamela Stewart and a Ford Escape (SUV) driven by Dena Kolb.

Appellant and Stewart were both driving in a westerly direction on the inside lane of the

highway with Stewart ahead of Appellant. Stewart had stopped in the inside lane to make

a left turn onto a county road. 4 Appellant’s truck struck Stewart’s car from behind sending

it into a ditch where it came to rest on the driver’s side of the vehicle and up against a

tree. The impact lifted the back of Appellant’s truck and spun it around. The rear of the

truck landed in the oncoming lane of traffic where it collided with Kolb’s SUV which was

traveling east on the highway. The SUV spun in the two easterly bound lanes and

        4    One witness to the accident testified the brake lights and left turn signal on Stewart’s car were
activated.

                                                       3
stopped in the direction of the opposite ditch from where Stewart’s car had come to rest.

Photos introduced into evidence depicted massive damage to all the vehicles.

       According to a witness, the two separate impacts occurred simultaneously. Kolb

died at the scene and Stewart died shortly after she was taken to the hospital. Appellant

was airlifted to a hospital and treated for a concussion and a laceration to his head.

       After the Texas Department of Public Safety concluded its investigation, Appellant

was arrested on September 10, 2018, almost a year after the accident. He posted bond

the following day. He was charged with two counts of manslaughter (Counts I and III)

and two counts of criminally negligent homicide (Counts II and IV).

       During trial, the State presented testimony from law enforcement officers, three

witnesses to the accident, two forensic pathologists who performed autopsies on Stewart

and Kolb, several DPS troopers trained in accident reconstruction, Appellant’s bond

supervision officer, and several other witnesses.

       The defense presented testimony from Appellant, his significant other, his brother,

an expert forensic engineer, a cardiologist, and numerous character witnesses. After the

defense rested, the State presented rebuttal testimony from one of the DPS troopers.

       The trial court’s instructions to the jury included two counts of manslaughter

(Counts I and III) and two counts of criminally negligent homicide (Counts II and IV).

During deliberation, the jury sent a communication to the court inquiring about the

penalties for criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter. The trial court provided a

boilerplate response that it was not permitted to answer the question and reminded the

                                             4
jury to follow the instructions given. After deliberating, the jury acquitted Appellant of the

manslaughter counts but found him guilty of two counts of criminally negligent homicide.

       Following the presentation of evidence during the punishment phase of trial, the

jury again sent a communication to the court asking for the protocol if a unanimous

decision could not be reached. The trial court again provided the boilerplate response.

After further deliberation, the jury sentenced Appellant to two years confinement and a

fine of $10,000 in each case with a recommendation of community supervision. The jury

also recommended that only the term of confinement be suspended.

       APPLICABLE LAW

       A person acts with criminal negligence “with respect to circumstances surrounding

his conduct or the result of his conduct when he ought to be aware of a substantial and

unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of

such a nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from

the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances

as viewed from the actor’s standpoint.” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 6.03(d). Criminal

negligence involves inattentive risk creation in that the actor ought to be aware of the risk

surrounding the result of his conduct. Juneau v. State, 49 S.W.3d 387, 392 (Tex. App.—

Fort Worth 2000, pet. ref’d). “The key to criminal negligence is not the actor’s being aware

of a substantial risk and disregarding it, but rather it is the failure of the actor to perceive

the risk at all.” Queeman v. State, 520 S.W.3d 616, 622 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017) (quoting

Montgomery v. State, 369 S.W.3d 188, 193 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012)).

                                               5
       To find a defendant criminally negligent, a jury determines that the defendant’s

failure to perceive the associated risk is so great as to be worthy of criminal punishment.

Queeman, 520 S.W.3d at 623. Determining whether a defendant’s conduct involves an

extreme degree of risk must be determined by the conduct itself and not by the resultant

harm. Id. (citing Williams v. State, 235 S.W.3d 742, 753 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007)). Criminal

liability cannot be predicated on every careless act merely because its carelessness

results in death or injury to another. Williams, 235 S.W.3d at 753.

       ISSUE ONE—SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

       The only standard that a reviewing court should apply in determining whether the

evidence is sufficient to support each element of a criminal offense the State is required

to prove beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443

U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979). See Adames v. State, 353 S.W.3d

854, 859 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 912 (Tex. Crim. App.

2010). We consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and

determine whether, based on that evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, any

rational juror could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable

doubt. Queeman, 520 S.W.3d at 622.

       We give deference to the responsibility of the trier of fact to fairly resolve conflicts

in testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts

to ultimate facts. Jenkins v. State, 493 S.W.3d 583, 599 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). Each

fact need not point directly and independently to the appellant’s guilt, as long as the

cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support the

conviction. Id.

                                              6
       We compare the elements of the offense as defined by a hypothetically correct jury

charge to the evidence adduced at trial. Metcalf v. State, 597 S.W.3d 847, 856 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2020) (citing Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)). In

our review, we must evaluate all of the evidence in the record, both direct and

circumstantial and whether properly or improperly admitted. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d

772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). When the record supports conflicting inferences, we

presume the fact finder resolved the conflicts in favor of the prosecution and defer to that

determination. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 326.

       ANALYSIS

       By his first issue, Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support

his conviction. The State was required to prove that Appellant caused the deaths of

Stewart and Kolb by criminal negligence. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.05(a). When

criminal negligence is part of an offense, article 21.15 of the Texas Code of Criminal

Procedure requires the State to allege in the charging instrument the act or acts relied on

(the non-statutory manner and means) that constitute criminal negligence. TEX. CODE

CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 21.15. In Count II of the indictment, Appellant was charged with the

following manner and means of causing Stewart’s death:

       failing to keep a proper lookout for the vehicle occupied by Pamela Stewart
       or following the vehicle . . . too closely or driving the said motor vehicle at
       an unsafe speed or failing to control the speed of said motor vehicle or
       failing to maintain an assured clear distance . . . .

In Count IV of the indictment, Appellant was charged with the following manner and

means of causing Kolb’s death:

                                             7
      failing to keep a proper lookout for the vehicle occupied by Pamela Stewart
      or following the vehicle . . . too closely or driving the said motor vehicle at
      an unsafe speed or failing to control the speed of said motor vehicle or
      failing to maintain an assured clear distance or failing to maintain a single
      lane of travel . . . .

Count IV added the additional manner and means of failing to maintain a single lane of

travel. Additionally, the court’s charge instructed the jury on the particular manner and

means charged.

      The State prosecuted Appellant on the theory that his conduct in causing the

accident and resultant deaths was not simply the result of a mistake but rather the result

of reckless conduct. The defense’s strategy was that “accidents happen” at dangerous

intersections. The defense also claimed there was no evidence of distracted driving and

Appellant could only speculate that he may have “dozed off” or that a vehicle in front of

him may have changed lanes at the last possible moment.

      The State presented testimony from three witnesses to the accident. The first

witness, Valerie Kreger, testified she was commuting to work on Highway 29 and traffic

was “heavy” that morning. She was traveling on the inside lane behind Appellant. She

observed him cross the dividing line of the highway on at least three occasions. For her

own safety, she accelerated and moved to the outside lane to pass him. She saw

Stewart’s car stopped and assumed she was waiting to turn left. As soon as she had

cleared Appellant’s truck, she heard what sounded like an explosion and saw the accident

in her rearview mirror. She pulled over and called 911. In response to questioning, she

testified that she did not hear any honking or any squealing from tires braking.

                                            8
        During cross-examination, she testified that she was following Appellant on the

inside lane because “he was making good time.” At first, she observed Appellant weaving

in his lane but when she saw his truck tires “penetrate” the “yellow line,” she decided to

drive around him.

        Witness Roland Tatsch testified he was driving a “dually-truck” and pulling a

gooseneck trailer. He merged onto Highway 29 from an intersecting lane and accelerated

to fifty-five miles per hour. He was traveling in the same direction as Appellant and saw

Appellant pass him on the inside lane. Tatsch admitted he was momentarily distracted

by his phone and seconds later when he looked up, he saw the aftermath of the accident.

According to Tatsch, the back end of Appellant’s truck became airborne and the truck

“twisted sideways” before hitting the ground and landing with the front end pointing south.

Tatsch testified that after the accident, Kolb’s SUV was sideways in the opposite lanes

and Stewart’s car landed in a ditch up against a tree. He pulled over and called 911. Just

as Kreger testified, Tatsch confirmed he did not hear a horn honking or any tires squealing

just prior to the accident.

        The third witness to the accident, Steven Hinds, 5 testified he was driving to work

in the same direction as Appellant on Highway 29. He was in the outside lane and

Appellant was in the inside lane when they departed a controlled intersection

simultaneously. Hinds observed Appellant’s truck drift into his lane six to eight times for

approximately five miles. He described the encroachment into his lane as “just a few

        5 Hinds testified he had recently completed a safety training course. He had an emergency vest in
his vehicle which he put on to assist in the aftermath of the accident.

                                                   9
inches” and did not believe his vehicle and Appellant’s truck would make contact.

However, he eventually adjusted his speed to slow down and allow Appellant to pass him

to avoid traveling side by side.

        Hinds described the three-car accident as occurring “simultaneously.” During

direct examination, in response to questioning, he testified he did not hear squealing tires

nor a horn and he did not see Appellant take any evasive measures to avoid impact.

However, during cross-examination, he testified that Appellant “hit his brakes at the very

last second” and made a “steering motion to the left” where he collided with Kolb’s SUV

coming from the opposite direction. 6 He saw that Stewart’s car had come to rest on the

driver’s side in a ditch and saw Kolb’s SUV spin out in the two opposite lanes. Appellant’s

truck came to rest near the center of the highway.

        Hinds testified that prior to the accident, he saw Stewart’s car stopped in the inside

lane with the brake lights and left turn signal both activated. 7 In his opinion, “[i]t was

obvious . . . that [Appellant] wasn’t paying attention given our drive together.” When asked

if Appellant’s inattention was clear because he failed to take evasive measures to avoid

Stewart’s stopped car, Hinds answered affirmatively.

        The State also presented testimony from former DPS Trooper Jesse Strength. 8

He and his field training officer, Trooper Frank Randolph, responded to the call about a

        6 During redirect examination, Hinds again referred to Appellant making a slight evasive turn just
before the accident.

          7 Former DPS Trooper Jesse Strength testified that based on his investigation, Stewart did not have

her left turn signal activated.
        8 The defense objected to Strength’s qualifications as an expert given his lack of experience. At
the time of the accident, he was not yet certified as a peace officer and was on probationary status. He left

                                                     10
multiple vehicle accident. Trooper Randolph instructed Strength to “mark the scene.” At

trial, Strength opined that Appellant’s conduct, whether inattention or distraction, caused

a chain reaction that resulted in two fatalities.

        According to Strength, his investigation showed that Appellant had not applied his

brakes before the accident. His conclusion was based in part on the lack of skid marks

from the tires of Appellant’s truck. He testified the width of the skid marks did not match

the truck tires. An accident reconstruction team member with the Texas Department of

Public Safety likewise testified that the tires of Appellant’s truck did not leave any skid

marks.

        During cross-examination, Strength testified he interviewed Appellant a few days

after the accident. According to Strength, the investigation showed that Appellant did not

commit an intentional act and surmised that without a better explanation, the cause of the

accident had to be driver inattention. Strength pressed Appellant for information to

determine the cause of the accident and in doing so, Appellant became nervous.

        During the interview, Appellant reported to Strength that he had slept well the night

before the accident and speculated another vehicle in front of him must have suddenly

changed lanes at the last moment making it difficult for him to react to Stewart’s stopped

car. Strength testified there was no evidence to support Appellant’s speculation that

another vehicle in front of him had suddenly changed lanes. Additionally, Appellant

the Department before the investigation was completed. After voir dire examination, the trial court overruled
defense counsel’s objection.

                                                     11
claimed he could not remember details from the accident in the two years since the

accident.

        After Strength left his position with the Department of Public Safety, his field

training officer, Trooper Randolph, took over the accident investigation. 9 He testified he

had no concerns with Strength’s investigation but also conducted his own investigation

by interviewing the witnesses and studying reports and other documents. He agreed that

the tires of Appellant’s truck did not leave any skid marks. He also discredited Appellant’s

theory that a mystery car had suddenly changed lanes just prior to impact. Based on his

investigation, he listed the following as contributing factors by Appellant: (1) failure to

keep a proper lookout; (2) following too closely; (3) traveling at an unsafe speed; (4) failure

to control speed; (5) failure to maintain a single lane of travel; and (6) traveling into

oncoming traffic. Without an explanation for Appellant’s conduct, Trooper Randolph

opined that Appellant was reckless and negligent in causing the accident.

        The State’s final witness during its case-in-chief was Appellant’s bond supervision

officer. He testified that Appellant was added to his caseload on September 11, 2018,

after posting bond. According to his testimony, during his discussion with Appellant

regarding the allegations, Appellant speculated that he may have closed his eyes before

the accident and possibly “nodded off.” 10

        9The defense objected to Trooper Randolph’s testimony as an expert witness. After voir dire
examination, the trial court overruled the objection.

         10 In a recent decision by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Court held that an appellant

was entitled to a lesser-included offense charge because, under the facts of that case, the jury could have
found the defendant guilty of only the lesser-included offense of deadly conduct because the motor vehicle
collision that resulted in the death of the other driver was a result of his involuntary (and therefore not
reckless) loss of consciousness. See Simms v. State, No. PD-1248-19, 2021 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 783
(Tex. Crim. App. Sept. 15, 2021). No lesser-included offense instruction was requested here.

                                                    12
        After the State rested, Appellant made an unsuccessful motion for directed verdict.

Thereafter, the defense began its case-in-chief with Appellant testifying in his own

defense. He testified to his routine on the evening before the accident. He went to bed

at approximately ten o’clock and awoke at 5:30 a.m. on the morning of the accident. That

morning, he was driving to a job site and was not running late. He testified he felt fine

and was not tired or sleepy. 11

        Appellant had recently traveled Highway 29 once for work but had not regularly

traveled the highway in a decade. Although there was no evidence that he was using his

cell phone or was otherwise distracted, he testified he remembered “looking up and

seeing a stopped vehicle” just ahead in his lane. He explained that he had speculated to

his bond officer that because he could not remember anything, “[m]aybe I closed my eyes

for a minute.” Throughout his testimony, Appellant was resolute about not remembering

the details of the accident.

        During cross-examination, Appellant revealed, over objection, that he had been

treated for depression and insomnia in September 2017, just weeks before the accident.

He also testified, again over numerous objections, that he was taking prescription

medications including Lipitor, Ambien, Meloxicam, Lexapro, Prilosec, and Soma. He

testified that his medications did not make him drowsy.

        11 Later in the defense’s case-in-chief, a cardiologist testified to a theory that perhaps Appellant

had suffered a cardiac episode just before the accident. The doctor had never treated Appellant and only
reviewed medical records to prepare for trial. Appellant’s records showed that in February 2019, more than
a year after the accident, Appellant was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. The doctor, however, could not
opine that Appellant suffered a cardiac episode before the accident.

                                                    13
        Appellant denied that he was drifting or weaving in his lane before the accident

and claimed he had taken evasive measures just before the accident by applying his

brakes and turning to the left. When asked why he had told his bond officer that he

“nodded off,” he testified he was speculating and insisted that the words he used were

“dozed off.” He also claimed that he was speculating when he told law enforcement

officers that a vehicle in front of him had suddenly changed lanes.

        Appellant presented testimony from Dr. Eric Moody, a forensic engineer and an

accident reconstructionist. He reviewed accident reports, photos, diagrams, and data

from the vehicles. 12 Although he testified that he agreed with the way Strength had

marked the accident scene, he disagreed with Strength’s conclusion on the skid marks.

Dr. Moody concluded that long skid marks (seventy-five feet), which he attributed to the

tires of Appellant’s truck, indicated that Appellant had made an evasive maneuver just

prior to impact.

        During his testimony, Dr. Moody focused on the human factors of detection,

perception, and reaction to a situation rather than on the contributing factors to the

accident addressed during the State’s case-in-chief. According to Dr. Moody, Appellant

did not have advance warning of a stopped car on the highway and failed to detect and

perceive the situation which resulted in a failure to react in time to avoid impact. When

asked if Appellant was negligent in failing to timely detect, perceive, and react, Dr. Moody

        12He did not have direct access to the vehicles involved so he referred to general information about
the types of vehicles involved.

                                                    14
answered, “[t]hat’s correct.” He would not, however, categorize Appellant’s conduct as

gross negligence or recklessness.

       The remainder of the defense’s case included numerous witnesses, including his

significant other of over twelve years and his brother. They all testified to Appellant’s

good reputation and character.

       After the defense rested, Trooper Randolph testified as a rebuttal witness. He

explained that traveling at an unsafe speed or being unable to control speed are not

indications of speeding. Rather, an unsafe speed is determined from the surrounding

circumstances. For example, even though Appellant was not speeding according to the

posted speed limit of sixty-five miles per hour, he was traveling at an unsafe speed and

failed to control his speed when he failed to avoid striking Stewart’s stopped car. Trooper

Randolph also rebutted Dr. Moody’s opinion that the tires of Appellant’s truck left seventy-

five-foot skid marks. According to Randolph, such lengthy skid marks could not have

been made without causing screeching or squealing tires and the three witnesses to the

accident all testified they did not hear any squealing sounds.

       Appellant relies heavily on Queeman v. State to obtain a reversal of his conviction

and a judgment of acquittal. He contends there is no evidence to show he was engaged

in risky behavior that was substantial and unjustifiable. Queeman similarly involved a

fatal rear-end collision when a vehicle stopped to make a left turn was struck by

Queeman. Although the speed involved was significantly less than in the instant case,

the collision nevertheless resulted in the death of the individual in the stopped vehicle.

Queeman was convicted for criminally negligent homicide for failure to control speed and

                                            15
failure to maintain a proper distance. Queeman, 520 S.W.3d at 619. On direct appeal,

Queeman’s conviction was reversed and a judgment of acquittal was entered based on

insufficient evidence of whether he was “engaged in any criminally culpable risk-creating

conduct . . . or any other misconduct that created or contributed to a ‘substantial and

unjustifiable’ risk of death.” Queeman v. State, 486 S.W.3d 70, 77 (Tex. App.—San

Antonio 2016) (citations omitted). The Court of Criminal Appeals agreed the evidence

was insufficient to support Queeman’s conviction. Queeman, 520 S.W.3d at 619.

       Queeman is, however, distinguishable from Appellant’s case. Queeman was

charged with two non-statutory manner and means of committing the offense whereas

Appellant was charged with numerous manner and means of causing the accident.

Queeman claimed he was traveling at thirty-six to thirty-seven miles per hour in a forty-

mile-per-hour zone. The trooper investigating the accident testified that Queeman was

“traveling ‘significantly’ faster than 36 or 37 miles per hour.” Id. at 620. He did not,

however, quantify or explain what he meant by “significantly.” Id. at 625. Neither was the

evidence sufficient to show the length of or reason for Queeman’s inattentiveness that

caused the accident. Id. at 626.

       In its analysis, the Court determined that Queeman was speeding and was

inattentive; however, in its lengthy examination of the case, the Court found insufficient

evidence to elevate the case from one of ordinary civil negligence to criminal negligence

without engaging in speculation. Id. at 630. The Court concluded there was no evidence

of a failure to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that constituted a gross deviation

from the standard of care an ordinary person would have exercised under the same

circumstances. Id. at 631.

                                              16
       Here, the evidence showed that on the morning of the accident, Highway 29 was

congested with traffic. The posted speed limit is sixty-five miles per hour. Multiple

witnesses testified that Appellant drifted in his lane numerous times and even crossed the

yellow line into oncoming traffic on several occasions. One witness testified that he

observed Appellant engage in such conduct over a five-mile stretch of the highway. The

witnesses all took measures to either accelerate and pass Appellant or slow down to

avoid traveling beside his truck. One witness testified “[i]t was obvious . . . that [Appellant]

wasn’t paying attention . . . .”

       Appellant himself testified that he speculated he had “dozed off.” His bond officer

also testified that Appellant had reported to him that he may have closed his eyes before

the accident or “nodded off.” During his testimony, Appellant indicated he had “looked

up” just before realizing that Stewart’s car was stopped ahead. His words indicate his

eyes were not focused on the highway just prior to the accident.

       Conflicting evidence was offered on whether Appellant applied his brakes and

made an evasive slight turn to the left when he saw Stewart’s car stopped on the highway.

There was also conflicting evidence on whether Stewart had activated her left turn signal.

Experts offered conflicting evidence on whether skid marks at the scene were made by

the tires on Appellant’s truck. The jury, as the trier of fact, was free to resolve any conflicts

and did so in the prosecution’s favor.

       Appellant’s expert, Dr. Moody, testified that Appellant was negligent, but not

reckless, in failing to detect, perceive, and react to Stewart’s stopped car. The jury agreed

with the expert’s opinion and rejected a conviction for manslaughter. However, the jury

                                               17
determined that Appellant’s failure to perceive the risk was so great as to be worthy of

criminal punishment and convicted him of the offense of criminally negligent homicide.

       The State established beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant’s conduct caused

the deaths of Stewart and Kolb. It also established that Appellant ought to have been

aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death from his conduct.        Testimony

established that Appellant was weaving on the highway for approximately five miles

before the accident and he speculated that he had “dozed off” as a reason for his untimely

reaction to Stewart’s stopped car. The evidence showed that Appellant failed to keep a

proper lookout and, although he was not speeding, he failed to maintain a safe speed or

control his speed under the circumstances—heavy traffic during an early morning

commute on a highway with a posted speed limit of sixty-five miles per hour and without

a dedicated left turn lane. Based on the evidence presented, the jury was free to

reasonably infer that Appellant fell asleep at the wheel—conduct that he ought to have

known presented a risk of such a nature and degree that his failure to perceive it

constituted a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would

have exercised under all the circumstances when viewed from his standpoint.

       Unlike in Queeman, here, the evidence presented by the State was sufficient to

elevate Appellant’s case from one of ordinary civil negligence to criminal negligence.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude the jury found

all the essential elements of criminal negligence beyond a reasonable doubt. Issue one

is overruled.

                                            18
       ISSUE TWO—ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE

       By his second issue, Appellant challenges an evidentiary ruling by which the trial

court allowed questioning regarding his prescription medications even though the

indictment did not allege that he was under the influence of any drug at the time of the

accident. The State contends the issue was not preserved for review because Appellant

failed to obtain a ruling on one of his objections. Alternatively, the State asserts the

admission of evidence of Appellant’s prescription medications, if error, was harmless.

       An appellate court reviews a trial court’s ruling on the admission of evidence for an

abuse of discretion. Rhomer v. State, 569 S.W.3d 664, 669 (Tex. Crim. App. 2019) (citing

Rodgers v. State, 205 S.W.3d 525, 527 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Powell v. State, 63

S.W.3d 435, 438 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001)). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts

without reference to any guiding rules and principles or acts arbitrarily or unreasonably.

Rhomer, 569 S.W.3d at 669 (citing Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 380 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1990)). The trial court does not abuse its discretion if the decision to admit or

exclude the evidence is within the zone of reasonable disagreement. See Rhomer, 569

S.W.3d at 677. If the trial court’s evidentiary decision is supported by the record and

there is any theory of law that would support the ruling, it is not an abuse

of discretion. See Osbourn v. State, 92 S.W.3d 531, 538 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).

       Evidence is relevant if it tends to make a fact more or less probable than it would

be without the evidence and the fact is of consequence in determining the action. TEX.

R. EVID. 401. To be admissible, evidence must be relevant. TEX. R. EVID. 402. Even if

evidence is relevant, the trial court may exclude the evidence “if its probative value is

substantially outweighed by a danger of unfair prejudice.” TEX. R. EVID. 403. Evidence

                                            19
is unfairly prejudicial when it has an undue tendency to suggest an improper basis for

reaching a decision. Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 389 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990)

(op. on reh’g).

       ANALYSIS

       Appellant filed a pretrial motion in limine asking, among other things, that the State

not reference any “evidence regarding drugs or prescription medications that [he] took or

that [were] found on scene.” The motion was granted. It is well-settled that a motion in

limine, whether granted or denied, preserves nothing for appellate review. See Griggs v.

State, 213 S.W.3d 923, 926 n.1 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Instead, there must be a proper

objection to the proffered evidence. McDuff v. State, 939 S.W.2d 607, 618 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1997) (citing Basham v. State, 608 S.W.2d 677, 679 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980)).

       During cross-examination, the prosecutor asked Appellant if he was on “any type

of medication.” An objection by defense counsel was sustained by the trial court “until it

becomes relevant.” Appellant then confirmed that he was being treated for depression

and insomnia and the prosecutor again asked about “the list of medications” and defense

counsel again objected. The trial court announced that because the State had not alleged

any kind of intoxication, questions could be asked about medications but “you can’t link

anything up until we approach again.” Defense counsel announced his objection “to any

mention of medication at all” as being highly prejudicial and not alleged in the indictment.

After a colloquy on the issue, the trial court announced as follows:

       Here is what we’re going to do: You can ask the question, all right, and if
       there is - - if they need to pose an objection, make the objection. And then
       if we need to go outside the presence of the jury to clarify everything, we
       will.

                                             20
Defense counsel again objected and the trial court announced, “[i]t’s noted.”

       Appellant’s testimony continued and he answered questions regarding his

medications. When asked whether any of the medications can cause drowsiness, he

testified “I don’t get drowsy, sir.” Later in his cross-examination, he was reminded that he

mentioned to his bond supervision officer that he “might have nodded off” before the

accident but he had difficulty remembering the details of the accident. He clarified that

he was “speculating” to his supervision officer that he may have “dozed off.”

       At the conclusion of the prosecutor’s cross-examination, defense counsel moved

for a mistrial arguing that the State had violated the motion in limine by questioning

Appellant about his medications over objection and the trial court’s ruling. Defense

counsel renewed objections to that line of questioning. Outside the jury’s presence, both

sides argued their respective positions after which the trial court denied the motion for

mistrial. Defense counsel then requested an instruction to the jury to disregard any

evidence regarding Appellant’s prescribed medications and that such testimony be

stricken from the record. The trial court also denied that request. Defense counsel then

strategized that he would also need to question Appellant on his medications to respond

to the State’s line of questioning. Defense counsel explained as follows:

       so the record is clear, I don’t want the court of appeals saying, “Well, you
       have waived your objection to all that by proceeding with your own
       questions and answers.” Once again, we are by no means waiving,
       foregoing, surrendering, abandoning our objections nor our request for the
       jury to be instructed to disregard and for a mistrial.

                                            21
The State suggests that Appellant failed to obtain a ruling on one of defense counsel’s

objections when the trial court announced, “[i]t’s noted.” The State also contends that

Appellant procedurally defaulted his issue by failing to request a running objection.

       We assume for the sake of argument that Appellant did properly preserve his

complaint regarding questioning on his medications. See Stinson v. State, No. 05-07-

01236-CR, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3186, at *1-2 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 8, 2009, no pet.)

(mem. op., not designated for publication) (concluding that error was preserved when the

trial court ruled on appellant’s objections made at a hearing on a motion in limine held

before opening statements).      After the various discussions on questions regarding

Appellant’s medications, the trial court was aware of the nature of Appellant’s complaint.

See Alikhan v. Alikhan, No. 03-19-00515-CV, 2021 Tex. App. LEXIS 5832, at *11 (Tex.

App.—Austin July 22, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing AIS Servs., LLC v. Mendez, No.

05-07-01224-CV, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 6794, at *4-5 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 27, 2009,

no pet.) (mem. op.) (noting that essential element of an implicit ruling is awareness by the

trial court of the complaint supposedly being ruled on). That said, for the following

reasons, we find that error, if any, in allowing the line of questioning on Appellant’s

medications was harmless.

       We review a trial court’s evidentiary ruling for harm under Rule 44.2(b) of the Texas

Rules of Appellate Procedure as non-constitutional error. TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(b). In our

review, we disregard non-constitutional error unless it affected the substantial rights of

the accused. Garcia v. State, 126 S.W.3d 921, 927 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004); Crim v. State,

No. 03-19-00445-CR, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 9729, at *11 (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 11,

2020, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication). An accused’s substantial

                                            22
rights are “affected when the error had a substantial and injurious effect or influence in

determining the jury’s verdict.” Thomas v. State, 505 S.W.3d 916, 926 (Tex. Crim. App.

2016) (citing King v. State, 953 S.W.2d 266, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)). Conversely,

such an error is harmless if the reviewing court is reasonably assured that the error did

not influence the verdict or had but a slight effect. McDonald v. State, 179 S.W.3d 571,

578 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).

       Several non-exclusive factors to consider in conducting a harm analysis under

Rule 44.2(b) include (1) the nature of the error, (2) whether or to what extent the

erroneously admitted evidence was emphasized by the State, (3) the probable collateral

consequences of the error, and (4) how much weight the jury is likely to place on the

erroneously admitted evidence during deliberations. Snowden v. State, 353 S.W.3d 815,

822 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).

       In the underlying case, during direct examination, Appellant testified that he may

have told his bond supervision officer “[m]aybe I closed my eyes for a minute.” During

cross-examination, he testified that in 2017, he was treated for depression and insomnia.

His medications included Lipitor for cholesterol, Ambien for sleep, Meloxicam for arthritis,

Lexapro for depression, and Soma, a muscle relaxant. He testified that his medications

did not make him drowsy. Also, during cross-examination, he testified that he “dozed off”

and did not see Stewart’s car stopped ahead of him. But he claimed that he speculated

he “dozed off” because he had difficulty remembering specifics about the accident.

Appellant’s bond supervision officer also testified that Appellant had speculated to him

that he “nodded off” while driving.

                                            23
       Additionally, the State placed little emphasis on Appellant’s medications in its

closing arguments. The only reference to Appellant’s medications was that “Soma,

Lexapro, Ambien” are “consistent with nodding off.” Because Appellant told his bond

supervision officer that he possibly “dozed off” before the accident and speculated during

his testimony that he may have closed his eyes before the accident, any questioning

regarding his medications and whether some of them could cause drowsiness was

rendered harmless. After examining the entire record, we have fair assurance that error,

if any, did not have a substantial or injurious effect or influence on the jury’s verdict. Issue

two is overruled.

       ISSUE THREE—CONCURRENT FINES

       Appellant contends the trial court erred in imposing a cumulative fine of $20,000

when his convictions arose from the same criminal episode. Although he frames his

complaint as an assessment of “two $10,000 fines consecutively,” the written judgments

reflect that the sentences shall run concurrently. Appellant filed a written objection to the

assessment of the two fines and also moved to modify condition 14(e) of his community

supervision to reflect a total fine of $10,000 and not $20,000. The State agrees that

condition 14(e) should be modified to reflect that Appellant be assessed a fine of only

$10,000 and notes that the written judgments do not require modification because the

fines are to be paid concurrently and not consecutively. We agree.

       Section 3.03 of the Texas Penal Code provides that when an accused is found

guilty of more than one offense arising from the same criminal episode prosecuted in a

single criminal action, a sentence for each offense shall be pronounced and generally,

the sentences shall run concurrently. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 3.03(a). Fines which are

                                              24
part of concurrent sentences run concurrently. See State v. Crook, 248 S.W.3d 172, 176-

177 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). See also Alexander v. State, Nos. 03-16-00074-CR, 03-16-

00075-CR, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 10338, at *2-3 (Tex. App.—Austin Sept. 22, 2016, pet.

ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (modifying judgments to reflect that fines

run concurrently).

        ANALYSIS

        Here, the two separate judgments reflect that Appellant’s sentences shall run

concurrently. Thus, there is no error in the second judgment on Count IV that also reflects

a concurrent fine of $10,000. However, the trial court did err in imposing as a condition

of community supervision that Appellant pay a total fine of $20,000. Although this court

does have authority to reform judgments, it does not have authority to modify conditions

of community supervision. The State references Rules 43.2 and 43.6 of the Texas Rules

of Appellate Procedure as authority for permitting this court to amend Appellant’s

conditions of community supervision. 13 However, only the court in which a defendant is

tried has authority to modify conditions of community supervision. See TEX. CODE CRIM.

PROC. ANN. art. 42A.051(b).            Therefore, we remand the cause to the trial court for

modification of condition 14(e) of Appellant’s conditions of community supervision. Issue

three is overruled as it relates to Appellant’s request to reform the Judgment on Count IV

to delete assessment of the fine but is sustained as to the error presented in condition

14(e) of the conditions of his community supervision.

        13 Rule 43.2(b) gives this court authority to modify and affirm a trial court’s judgment. TEX. R. APP.
P. 43.2(b). Rule 43.6 provides that this court “may make any other appropriate order that the law and the
nature of the case require.” TEX. R. APP. P. 43.6.

                                                     25
       CONCLUSION

       The trial court’s judgments are affirmed. However, the cause is remanded to the

trial court so that condition 14(e) of Appellant’s community supervision may be corrected

to reflect assessment of a total fine of only $10,000.

                                                         Patrick A. Pirtle
                                                             Justice

Do not publish.

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