Court Opinion

ID: 3078263
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 01:33:22.900411+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:42:03.945916
License: Public Domain

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

                                     No. 07-11-00268-CR
                                ________________________

                      STEVEN ANTHONY ALMAGER, APPELLANT

                                                V.

                            THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

                           On Appeal from the 22nd District Court
                                    Hays County, Texas
              Trial Court No. CR-10-0106, Honorable Charles Ramsay, Presiding

                                        June 21, 2013

                              MEMORANDUM OPINION
                    Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

      Appellant, Steven Anthony Almager, was convicted by a jury of the offense of

continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than fourteen years of age. 1         He was

sentenced to forty years confinement without the possibility of parole. 2 In two points of

error, Appellant asserts: (1) his counsel was ineffective for not objecting to extraneous

1
See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02(b) (West Supp. 2012).
2
See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 508.145(a) (West 2012).
offense evidence; and (2) the trial court erred in admitting certain extraneous offense

evidence. We affirm.

                                             Background

        In November 2008, Appellant was indicted for the commission of two or more

acts of sexual abuse during a period of thirty days or more in duration against M.G., a

child younger than 14 years of age and not Appellant’s spouse. 3 The indictment alleged

Appellant committed six counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child 4 and two counts

of indecency with a child. 5         The indictment also contained an allegation of family

violence, i.e., that, during the commission of the offenses, M.G. was a member of

Appellant’s family or household. 6           Prior to trial, Appellant filed a motion in limine

requesting a hearing before the admission of any extraneous offense evidence.

        In April 2011, a three-day trial was held. After the jury had been selected, but

before the presentation of the State’s case-in-chief, Appellant re-urged his motion in

limine and objected to the admission of any extraneous offense evidence related to

Appellant’s abuse of M.G.’s brothers or her pets. He asserted the prejudicial effect of

the evidence outweighed its probative value. In response, the State argued that the

evidence was necessary to show Appellant’s method of operation, or modus operandi.

3
 To protect the victim’s and her sibling’s privacy, we refer to them by their initials. See Tex. Fam. Code
Ann. § 109.002(d) (West Supp. 2012). See also Tex. R. App. P. 9.8(b).
4
See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.021(a)(B)(i-v) (West Supp. 2012).
5
See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.11(a) (West 2011).
6
See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 71.001-.007 (West 2008).

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The State’s theory of admissibility was that Appellant controlled M.G. and her siblings

by keeping them in absolute fear of him. The trial court overruled his objection.

       In its opening statement, the State asserted that neither M.G. nor her brothers

told anyone about their abuse until after Appellant was no longer living with them

because they were afraid they would be beaten by him if they disclosed his abuse.

Appellant countered the State’s theory by asserting M.G.’s mother manipulated M.G. to

get back at Appellant, that M.G. did not tell the truth, and that Appellant did not abuse

M.G. or her brothers.

       At trial, P.G., M.G.’s eleven-year-old brother, testified Appellant beat his face and

back with his hands and plastic clothes hangers. L.G., M.G.’s fourteen-year-old brother,

testified Appellant beat him with a plastic clothes hanger, punched him in the face, beat

him with a belt, forced him to drink vodka until he passed out, and called him derogatory

names. Both boys testified they had observed Appellant physically and sexually abuse

M.G.   They also observed M.G. and Appellant in the shower together.             The boys

testified they said nothing to anyone due to their fear of further abuse by Appellant.

       M.G., who was thirteen years old at the time of trial, testified that Appellant

physically abused her and her brothers. She testified to continuous sexual abuse by

Appellant over a long period of time. She did not tell anyone of the abuse because she

feared additional abuse by Appellant and because he had threatened her mother’s life if

she said anything about what he was doing to her.           M.G. also testified Appellant

physically abused and tortured her pets and that as a result of his abuse, both dogs had

died. She testified Appellant’s behavior toward her pets made her afraid.

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      Janie Mott, a sexual assault nurse examiner, testified M.G.’s statement described

detailed accounts of continuous instances where Appellant sexually abused her. Robert

Meade, a DPS forensic scientist, also testified Appellant’s bedroom comforter had

multiple stains containing Appellant’s and M.G.’s DNA.

      The State’s closing did not specifically reference any abuse other than

Appellant’s sexual abuse of M.G. Appellant’s closing attempted to advance defensive

theories that the children’s mother manipulated them to tell their stories of abuse, that

Appellant had no possible motive for abusing the children and that he did not commit

the crimes described by M.G.’s testimony. The jury subsequently convicted Appellant

and the trial court sentenced him to confinement for forty years. This appeal followed.

                                       Discussion

      Appellant asserts his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to inadmissible

extraneous offense evidence of the children’s physical abuse. He also contends the

trial court abused its discretion by allowing M.G. to testify to Appellant’s physical abuse

and torture of her pets because any probative value of her testimony was outweighed

by undue prejudice. We disagree.

      Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

      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

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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 proceedings would have been

different. See Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 812 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999). 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 the 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).      The proper procedure for raising a claim of ineffective

assistance is almost always habeas corpus. Aldrich v. State, 104 S.W.3d 890, 896

(Tex.Crim.App. 2003).

      This case demonstrates the inadequacies inherent in evaluating such claims on

direct appeal.   See Patterson v. State, 46 S.W.3d 294, 306 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth

2001, pet. ref’d).   Like Patterson, Appellant’s motion for a new trial did not claim

ineffective assistance of counsel and the trial court did not hold a hearing to determine

                                            5
whether Appellant’s complaint involved actions that may or may not have been

grounded in sound trial strategy.

          At trial, not only did the State solicit testimony as to these extraneous offenses

but Appellant’s counsel also solicited such testimony in his examination of the witnesses

in order to impeach their credibility and emphasize inconsistencies in their prior

statements. The record is silent as to whether trial counsel’s failure to object at trial was

a matter of trial strategy, and if so, whether the strategy was sound. Thus, to find

Appellant’s counsel ineffective, we would have to engage in prohibited speculation. See

Stafford v. State, 101 S.W.3d 611, 613-14 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet.

ref’d).    See Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 814 (finding that failure to make the required

showing of deficient performance defeats an ineffective assistance claim). 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).

          Alternatively, assuming, without deciding, the representation by Appellant’s

attorney fell below the prevailing professional norms, given M.G.’s testimony of

continuous sexual abuse over a long duration coupled with her brothers’ corroborative

testimony and the incriminating DNA evidence, we cannot find there is a reasonable

probability the outcome would have been different even if the trial court would have

sustained an objection.        In aggravated sexual assault cases, the uncorroborated

testimony of the child victim alone is sufficient to support a conviction. See Tex. Code

Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.07(a), (b)(1) (West Supp. 2012). See also Empty v. State, 972

                                               6
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.).      Accordingly, Appellant’s first point of error is

overruled.

         Extraneous Offense Evidence

         As a general rule, to prevent an accused from being prosecuted for some

collateral crime or misconduct, the State may not introduce evidence of crimes, wrongs

or other bad acts similar to the offense charged. Roberts v. State, 29 S.W.3d 596, 600-

01 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. ref’d). Rule 404(b) provides that evidence

of “other crimes, wrongs, or acts” is inadmissible to prove a defendant’s character in

order to show action in conformity therewith. Nevertheless, such evidence may “be

admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation,

plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.” Tex. R. Evid. 404(b). In

addition, a “party may introduce evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts if such

evidence logically serves to make more or less probable an elemental fact, an

evidentiary fact that inferentially leads to an elemental fact, or defensive evidence that

undermines an elemental fact.” Martin v. State, 173 S.W.3d 463, 466 (Tex.Crim.App.

2005).

         Whether extraneous offense evidence has relevance apart from character

conformity, as required by Rule 404(b), is a question for the trial court. Moses v. State,

105 S.W.3d 622, 627 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003). So, too, is a ruling on the balance between

probative value and the countervailing factors set out in Rule 403, although that balance

                                            7
is always biased in favor of the admission of otherwise relevant evidence. De La Paz v.

State, 279 S.W.3d 336, 343 (Tex.Crim.App. 2009).

       We review a trial court’s decision to admit extraneous offenses under an abuse-

of-discretion standard. Prible v. State, 175 S.W.3d 724, 731 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005), cert.

denied, 546 U.S. 962, 126 S. Ct. 481, 163 L. Ed. 2d 367 (2005). We will uphold the trial

court’s ruling if it is within the zone of reasonable disagreement; id., i.e., “if the evidence

shows that (1) an extraneous transaction is relevant to a material, non-propensity issue,

and (2) the probative value of that evidence is not substantially outweighed by the

danger of undue prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury.” De La Paz,
279 S.W.3d at 344. See Hernandez v. State, 205 S.W.3d 555, 558 (Tex.App.—Amarillo

2006, pet. ref’d).

       Appellant’s counsel’s opening statement asserted that M.G.’s allegations of

physical and sexual abuse were being fabricated because she was being manipulated

by her mother.       As such, there is at least a reasonable argument that extraneous

offense evidence was admissible for the non-character-conforming purpose of rebutting

Appellant’s defensive theories.         See Bass v. State, 270 S.W.3d 557, 563

(Tex.Crim.App. 2008). The incidents of physical abuse of M.G., her brothers, and her

pets tend to explain why she and her brothers feared Appellant, why they were

compliant with his demands, and why they did not tell anyone about his abuse until he

was no longer living in their house.

       Furthermore, much of Appellant’s argument regarding unfair prejudice simply

asserts the evidence was inherently prejudicial. Thus, Appellant has failed to establish

                                              8
that the probative value of the evidence significantly or substantially outweighed its

prejudicial effect. See Segundo v. State, 270 S.W.3d 79, 87-88 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008).

See also Wyatt v. State, 23 S.W.3d 18, 26 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000) (“[a]ny evidence

presented by the State is generally prejudicial to the defendant”).      The trial court,

therefore, did not abuse its discretion to decide that the extraneous offense evidence in

question was admissible to rebut Appellant’s defensive theories. See Bass, 270 S.W.3d

at 563-64. Alternatively, assuming without deciding the trial court erred, its admission

was harmless given the overwhelming evidence of Appellant’s guilt. Appellant’s second

point of error is overruled.

                                       Conclusion

       The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

                                                 Patrick A. Pirtle
                                                     Justice

Do not publish.

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