Court Opinion

ID: 4064846
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 21:38:51.323999+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:44.742616
License: Public Domain

AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed March 23, 2015.

                                         S    In The
                                Court of Appeals
                         Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      No. 05-13-01672-CR
                                      No. 05-13-01720-CR

                        FRANCISCO JAVIER ESCOBAR, Appellant
                                       V.
                           THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                      On Appeal from the 194th Judicial District Court
                                   Dallas County, Texas
                      Trial Court Cause Nos. F11-71776 and F13-59278

                             MEMORANDUM OPINION
                           Before Justices Lang, Stoddart, and Schenck
                                   Opinion by Justice Schenck
       Appellant Francisco Javier Escobar appeals the trial court’s judgments convicting him of

the offenses of continuous violence against family and enhanced assault–family violence.

Appellant pled guilty and judicially confessed to both offenses. In case number F11-71776

(continuous violence against the family), the trial court imposed a sentence of eight years; in case

number F13-59278 (enhanced assault–family violence), the trial court imposed a sentence of

eight years, and a fine of $3,000.      The trial court further ordered that the sentences run

concurrently. In two issues, appellant complains that permitting both a conviction for continuous

family violence and a conviction for enhanced assault–family violence violates the Fifth

Amendment’s protection against double jeopardy. Because all dispositive issues are settled in

law, we issue this memorandum opinion. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(a), 47.4. We affirm the trial

court’s judgments.
                                                   BACKGROUND

         On November 6, 2012, appellant was indicted for the offense of continuous violence

against the family. The indictment in case number F11-71776 alleged two acts of domestic

violence. First, that on or about September 11, 2011, appellant caused bodily injury to Ericka

Alvarez, a person with whom he has or had a dating relationship, by forcing her against a wall,

striking her, and kicking her; and, separately, on or about November 5, 2010, caused bodily

injury to Alvarez by striking her, forcing her head to the floor and roadway, and kicking her. As

alleged, the conduct occurred during a period that was 12 months or less in duration. On

November 29, 2012, Appellant judicially confessed and pled guilty to the charge as alleged. The

trial court accepted appellant’s plea of guilty, ordered appellant to have no contact with Ericka

Alvarez, and continued the case to a later date for assessment of punishment.

         While sentencing was still pending in case number F11-71776, appellant was arrested for

again assaulting Alvarez. On September 24, 2013, appellant was indicted for assault bodily

injury–family violence enhancement. The indictment in case number F13-59278 alleged that on

or about August 20, 2013, appellant intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly caused bodily

injury to Ericka Alvarez, by kicking, grabbing, and pulling her. For enhancement purposes, the

indictment also alleged that prior to the commission of the offense alleged in the indictment,

appellant had been convicted for assaulting Alvarez in two misdemeanor cases. 1 On October 16,

2013, appellant judicially confessed and pled guilty to the offense as set forth in the indictment.

         In case number F11-71776, the trial court declined to follow the plea bargain agreement

and imposed a sentence of eight years. In case number F13-59278, the trial court imposed a

1
   The indictment alleged that appellant was convicted of assault in cause number MA12-70684 and cause number MA10-68445, County
Criminal Court No. 7, Dallas County, Texas, on or about November 30, 2012.

                                                             –2–
sentence of eight years and a fine of $3,000. The trial court ordered that the sentences in both

cases run concurrently. Appellant now appeals both judgments.

                                      APPLICABLE LAW

       In case number F11-71776, appellant was indicted for the offense of continuous violence

against the family. A person commits the offense of continuous violence against the family if:

       during a period that is 12 months or less in duration, the person two or more times
       engages in conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 22.01(a)(1) against
       another person or persons whose relationship to or association with the defendant
       is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code.

TEX. PENAL CODE § 25.11(a) (West 2011).           Section 22.01(a)(1) of the Texas Penal Code

provides that “[a] person commits an offense if the person . . . intentionally, knowingly, or

recklessly causes bodily injury to another.” TEX. PENAL CODE § 22.01(a)(1) (West Supp. 2014).

The parties do not dispute that the relationship between appellant and Alvarez was covered by

section 71.0021(b) of the family code; the record reflects that appellant testified that Alvarez was

his wife and the mother of his four children.

       In case number F13-59278, appellant was indicted for the offense of enhanced assault–

family violence. Under section 22.01(b) of the Texas Penal Code, a misdemeanor assault

becomes a third degree felony if the assault is committed against a person whose relationship to

the defendant is described by section 71.0021(b) of the family code, and “it is shown on the trial

of the offense that the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense under this chapter,

Chapter 19, or Section 20.03, 20.04, 21.11, or 25.11 against a person whose relationship to or

association with the defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family

Code.” Id. at § 22.01(b)(2)(A).

                                          DISCUSSION

       In his first issue, appellant challenges the conviction and sentence for enhanced assault–

family violence imposed in case number F13-59278 as a violation of the Double Jeopardy
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Clause. Appellant argues that he cannot be convicted for both continuous violence against the

family and enhanced assault–family violence because both cases were based, in part, on the same

predicate misdemeanor conviction (MA12-70684), and thereby violate double jeopardy. In a

related second issue, appellant challenges the conviction and sentence for continuous violence

against the family imposed in case number F11-71776 because another predicate conviction

(MA10-68445) alleged in the enhanced assault–family violence case “could very well be” one of

the acts upon which the continuous violence against the family was based, thereby violating

double jeopardy.

Double Jeopardy

          The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution

provides that no person shall “be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life

or limb.” Brown v. Ohio, 432 U.S. 161, 164 (1977). This guarantee is applicable to the states

through the Fourteenth Amendment. Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784, 787 (1969). The

Double Jeopardy Clause protects against a second prosecution for the same offense after an

acquittal or a conviction, and against multiple punishments for the same offense. See Brown,
432 U.S. at 165; Evans v. State, 299 S.W.3d 138, 140–41 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Here,

appellant complains that multiple punishments have been assessed for the same offense.

          The guarantee against multiple punishments does no more than prevent greater

punishment than the legislature intended. Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359, 366 (1983). When

the same act violates two different penal statutes, the two offenses are the same for double

jeopardy purposes if one of the offenses contains all the elements of the other; they are not the

same if each offense has a unique element. Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304

(1932).

                                               –4–
Presentment Of Double Jeopardy Claims

       Appellant makes his double jeopardy challenge for the first time on appeal. In general, a

defendant bears the burden of preserving a double jeopardy objection at or before the time the

issue of his guilt is submitted to the finder of fact. See Gonzalez v. State, 8 S.W.3d 640, 642

(Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Long v. State, 130 S.W.3d 419, 423 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

2004, no pet.). However, because of the fundamental nature of double jeopardy protections,

appellant may raise a double jeopardy claim for the first time on appeal when two conditions are

met: (1) the undisputed facts show the double jeopardy violation is clearly apparent on the fact

of the record, and (2) enforcement of the usual rules of procedural default serves no legitimate

state interest. See Langs v. State, 183 S.W.3d 680, 687 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Gonzalez, 8
S.W.3d at 643. “A double-jeopardy claim is apparent on the face of the trial record if resolution

of the claim does not require further proceedings for the purpose of introducing additional

evidence in support of the double-jeopardy claim.” Ex Parte Denton, 399 S.W.3d 540, 544 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2013). The critical inquiry is whether the record before the reviewing court clearly

reflects a double jeopardy violation. Long, 130 S.W.3d at 424; Roy v. State, 76 S.W.3d 87, 93

(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, no pet.).

       Appellant asserts that the double jeopardy violation is apparent from the face of the

record. With respect to his first issue, appellant refers us to his indictment for enhanced assault–

family violence in case number F13-59278. The indictment alleged that appellant assaulted

Ericka Alvarez on August 20, 2013. The indictment also alleged that the August 20, 2013

assault was rendered a third degree felony pursuant to section 22.01(b)(2) of the Texas Penal

Code, because appellant had been previously convicted of two misdemeanor assaults against a

family member with whom defendant has or had a dating relationship (MA12-70684 and MA10-

68445). The record before this Court does not contain copies of the judgments or any other

                                                –5–
documents pertaining to appellant’s convictions in MA12-70684 and MA10-68445.

Nevertheless, appellant speculates that the MA12-70684 case number indicates that the offense

for which he was convicted in that case must have occurred in 2012 or before. Appellant further

speculates that the offense in MA12-70684 must have occurred within the same time period

underlying his conviction for continuous violence against the family, the period between

November 5, 2010, and September 11, 2011. On the basis of these speculations, appellant argues

that the conduct in MA12-70684 was subsumed within the continuous violence against the

family conviction, and could not be used as a predicate for the enhanced assault–family violence

charge.

          In his second issue, appellant argues that his conviction for continuous violence against

the family also violates double jeopardy because “it could very well be” that his conviction in

MA10-68445 constituted one of the acts upon which the continuous violence against the family

conviction was based. Again, based solely on the case number, appellant speculates that the

offense for which he was convicted in MA10-68445 must have occurred in 2010. Appellant

argues that a person can be convicted of continuous violence against the family or a predicate

act, but not both. But there is nothing in the record to indicate that the offense for which

appellant was convicted in MA10-68445 occurred during the same time period underlying his

conviction for continuous violence against the family.

          Appellant bears the burden of presenting a record showing on its face that an undisputed

double jeopardy violation was involved. See Gonzalez, 8 S.W.3d at 645; Roy, 76 S.W.3d at 94.

Other than the indictment in case number F13-59278 which listed appellant’s convictions for

assault in MA12-70684 and MA10-68445 for enhancement purposes, there is no mention of

MA12-70684 and MA10-68445 in the record before this Court. There is nothing in the record to

indicate when the underlying offenses took place; there is nothing in the record to indicate that

                                                –6–
either offense occurred during the same 12-month-or-less period underlying the continuous

violence against the family case.       Additional evidence with respect to the offenses and

convictions in MA12-70684 and MA10-68445 is necessary to support appellant’s double

jeopardy claim. See Ex Parte Denton, 399 S.W.3d at 544.

        We conclude that the record before this Court does not clearly reflect a double jeopardy

violation with respect to either of appellant’s issues. See Roy, 76 S.W.3d at 93. Therefore, by

failing to object at trial, appellant forfeited his right to raise his double jeopardy claims for the

first time on appeal. See Langs, 183 S.W.3d at 687. Appellant’s first and second issues are

resolved against him.

                                         CONCLUSION

        Having resolved both of appellant’s issues against him, we affirm the judgments of the

trial court.

                                                      /David J. Schenck/
                                                      DAVID J. SCHENCK
                                                      JUSTICE

Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47

131672F.U05

                                                –7–
                                       S
                              Court of Appeals
                       Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

FRANCISCO JAVIER ESCOBAR,                          On Appeal from the 194th Judicial District
Appellant                                          Court, Dallas County, Texas
                                                   Trial Court Cause No. F-1359278-M.
No. 05-13-01672-CR        V.                       Opinion delivered by Justice Schenck.
                                                   Justices Lang and Stoddart participating.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 23rd day of March, 2015.

                                             –8–
                                       S
                              Court of Appeals
                       Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

FRANCISCO JAVIER ESCOBAR,                          On Appeal from the 194th Judicial District
Appellant                                          Court, Dallas County, Texas
                                                   Trial Court Cause No. F11-71776-M.
No. 05-13-01720-CR        V.                       Opinion delivered by Justice Schenck.
                                                   Justices Lang and Stoddart participating.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 23rd day of March, 2015.

                                             –9–