Court Opinion

ID: 9764939
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 03:44:59.621657+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:15.872714
License: Public Domain

OPINION
TOM G. DAVIS, Judge.
Appeal is taken from conviction for two separate counts of aggravated robbery. Punishment was assessed by the jury at 12 years for the first count and 14 years for the second count.1
Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support each of the convictions. Specifically, appellant contends that “the proof and evidence offered by the State ... is insufficient to support the conviction” and that “in view of the testimony of Appellant and other defense witnesses, the State has failed to meet their burden of proof.”
In Banks v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 510 S.W.2d 592, this Court set down the standard for reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence:
“In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support the conviction, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict. In doing so, the verdict will be sustained if there is any evidence which, if believed, shows the guilt of the accused.”
See also: Valore v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 545 S.W.2d 477; Clark v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 543 S.W.2d 125; Esquivel v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 506 S.W.2d 613; Resendez v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 495 S.W.2d 934; White v. *772State, Tex.Cr.App., 478 S.W.2d 506; Pogue v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 474 S.W.2d 492.
The first count of the indictment alleged the armed robbery of Francisco Armando Ramirez, who was a clerk at the Circle K store at 6203 Airport in El Paso. Ramirez testified that at about 9:30 p. m. on February 9,1975, the appellant entered the store, got a six-pack of beer from the cooler, and brought it to the check-out stand. After Ramirez had rung up the purchase, the appellant “produced a small pistol and asked me for the money from that first register . . . .” The appellant spoke to Ramirez in Spanish. Appellant then asked for the money “from underneath the tray,” and Ramirez replied there was nothing there. Appellant then directed Ramirez to a second cash register. Ramirez testified that the second register was equipped so that when certain bills were removed an alarm was triggered. Ramirez gave these bills to the appellant. Appellant then demanded money from underneath the tray, and Ramirez lifted the tray to show him there was nothing there. Appellant finally demanded the money in the safe. Ramirez gave him a “dummy bag which is full of papers” from the safe. Appellant then left the store, telling Ramirez “not to look.” Ramirez testified that about $35 was taken.
Ramirez testified that he was certain the man who robbed him was the appellant. Ramirez made an in-court identification of the appellant. He further testified that he had been shown two “photo lineups.” In the first one he identified a seven-year-old picture of appellant as a “younger version” of his assailant. The second photo lineup contained a current picture of appellant, and Ramirez positively identified him. The record also indicates that Ramirez viewed an actual lineup, and again identified the appellant.2
The second count of the indictment alleged the armed robbery of Fabian Lozano, who was a clerk at the Jimbo’s store located at Dyer and Thomason Streets in El Paso. Lozano testified that between 10:00 and 10:15 p. m. on February 9, 1975, the appellant entered the store and went to the beer cooler. Appellant took a six-pack of beer and went to the check-out stand. As Loza-no started to ring up the purchase, appellant displayed a small .22 caliber automatic pistol and told Lozano to “give me the money.” Lozano put the money from the register in a paper sack. Appellant then made Lozano lift the tray to see that there was no money under it. Appellant then asked if there was a safe in the back room and Lozano replied that there was not. Appellant finally asked if there were any more money under the counter. Lozano replied that there was not even though in fact there was. At this point, Lozano testified that the appellant “got a little angry and kind of moved his gun and started shaking.” Lozano started to give him the money below the counter, but before he could do so, the appellant left the store. Lozano immediately called the police, and before he had finished the call a police car arrived. Lozano testified that appellant took at least $265.
Lozano made a positive in-court identification of the appellant. Lozano was shown two photo lineups, and both times he positively identified pictures of the appellant. Lozano was also shown an actual lineup and identified the appellant. No objection was voiced to this testimony.
The State further presented the testimony of Officer Duane Mackelroy of the El Paso Police Department. Mackelroy testified that on the night of February 9, 1975, he and his partner were driving by the Jimbo’s at Thomason and Dyer. As they drove by, Mackelroy “looked inside the Jim-bo’s and I saw a Mexican male standing in there with dark glasses.” Mackelroy saw the clerk in the store “lifting up the box out of the cash register.” The policemen turned around and returned to the store “within a minute” of the time they had seen the above events. They proceeded to search for the robber but were unable to find him. Mackelroy made an in-court identification of the appellant as the man *773he had seen standing at the counter of the store.
In his brief, the appellant refers us to the testimony of several defense witnesses who testified to an alibi for the appellant. All of the testimony mentioned was before the jury for their consideration. It was within the province of the jury to accept or reject any or all of the testimony from witnesses for either the appellant or the State. In the instant case the jury sought to reject the alibi witnesses’ testimony as they had a right to do.
We hold that the evidence set forth above is sufficient to sustain the two convictions.
Appellant next complains that “the trial court erred in not allowing evidence of the lie detector test which revealed appellant did not commit the charged offenses.”
The appellant’s bill of exception reflects that he requested to take a polygraph examination. The State agreed to allow the test, but only if appellant would first agree to be examined by a psychiatrist to see if he was a “good subject” for a polygraph. Appellant was examined by Dr. Ben Hill Pass-more, a licensed psychiatrist, who found “no reason why a polygraph test would not be valid.” The polygraph examination was administered by Reilly W. Taitte, Jr. Based on the polygraph examination, Taitte gave his opinion that “the subject did not commit either of the two alleged robberies on the date in question.” The trial court excluded all such evidence.
It is a very well established rule that results of polygraph examinations are inadmissible for all purposes. King v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 511 S.W.2d 32; Romero v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 493 S.W.2d 206; Humphrey v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 479 S.W.2d 51; Lee v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 455 S.W.2d 316; Hart v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 447 S.W.2d 944; Watkins v: State, Tex.Cr.App., 438 S.W.2d 819; Wall v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 417 S.W.2d 59; Placker v. State, 171 Tex.Cr.R. 406, 350 S.W.2d 546.
Appellant contends this general rule should not apply when there is evidence that the State “agreed, stipulated, participated, encouraged, aided [or] abetted” in the test.
We first note that there is no evidence that the State did anything but allow the test to take place. When the appellant offered this contention to the trial court, the attorney for the State replied:
“ . . . for the purpose of the record, only we would like to make it clear that the State’s attorney consented to the test being conducted but there was [sic] no other agreements nor arrangements . other than consenting to the test being conducted.”
Even if there had been a formal agreement, the testimony would not have been admissible. In Romero v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 493 S.W.2d 206, the defendant, his attorney, and the attorney for the State all agreed in writing before hand that the results of a polygraph examination would be admissible. This Court held:
“ . . . the results of polygraph tests should not be received into evidence, over objection, even if there had been a prior agreement or stipulation. Such a stipulation does nothing to enhance the reliability of such evidence when offered by either side on the issue of the guilt or innocence of the accused.” [Emphasis added.]
See also Robinson v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 550 S.W.2d 54; Lewis v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 500 S.W.2d 167. The trial court properly excluded the polygraph testimony.
The judgment is affirmed.

. The.twq counts involved separate robberies occurring at two different convenience stores within an hour’s time. The counts were joined in a single indictment under the authority of V.T.C.A. Penal Code, Sec. 3.02. The sentences will run concurrently since the two counts were tried together. V.T.C.A. Penal Code, Sec. 3.03.

. The lineup and photo identification testimony was introduced without objection. :