Court Opinion

ID: 3089624
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 03:48:21.319078+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:06.376688
License: Public Domain

In The
              Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
        ______________________________

              No. 06-11-00013-CR
        ______________________________

          TIMOTHY MALONE, Appellant

                         V.

         THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

   On Appeal from the 159th Judicial District Court
              Angelina County, Texas
             Trial Court No. CR-29753

    Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
   Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Morriss
                                         MEMORANDUM OPINION

         Ironically and sadly, Crystal Rita‘s party celebrating the completion of her criminal justice

degree resulted in two shootings, one fatal and one the subject of this appeal.

         The festive atmosphere of Crystal‘s graduation party was shattered when drunken former

correctional officer Timothy Malone shot Crystal‘s boyfriend and killed another partygoer. For

shooting the boyfriend, Malone was convicted by a jury of aggravated assault with a deadly

weapon, sentenced to five years‘ imprisonment, and assessed a $5,000.00 fine. Malone‘s appeal

all centers on his claim of self-defense.                 We affirm the trial court‘s judgment because

(1) sufficient evidence supports the rejection of Malone‘s self-defense claim, and (2) the jury

charge was proper on the two self-defense-negating issues of provocation and unlawfully carrying

a weapon.

(1)      Sufficient Evidence Supports the Rejection of Malone’s Self-Defense Claim

         The party took place at Crystal‘s Hudson, Texas, home.1 She invited friends, including

co-worker Malone, a correctional officer for the Texas Department of Corrections at the Wynne

Unit in Huntsville, Texas. Although Malone lived approximately eighty miles2 away in New

1
 Originally appealed to the Twelfth Court of Appeals, this case was transferred to this Court by the Texas Supreme
Court pursuant to its docket equalization efforts. See TEX. GOV‘T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (West 2005). We are
unaware of any conflict between precedent of the Twelfth Court of Appeals and that of this Court on any relevant
issue. See TEX. R. APP. P. 41.3.
2
 Although the distance between the two cities is not included in the record, we may take judicial notice of the location
of ―cities, counties, boundaries, dimensions, and distances because geographical facts such as these are easily
ascertainable and capable of verifiable certainty.‖ Butts Retail, Inc. v. Diversifoods, Inc., 840 S.W.2d 770, 774 (Tex.
App.—Beaumont 1992, writ denied).

                                                           2
Waverly, he accepted the party invitation. Crystal advised that there would be alcohol at the

party, including her concocted ―trash can punch,‖ and promised Malone ―a bed for him to sleep.‖

       Malone arrived on a motorcycle, which he parked ―real close‖ to the front door of Crystal‘s

home. He delivered an open bottle of vodka to Crystal, who believed he had been drinking.

Since he was spending the night at the home, Malone walked over to Crystal‘s live-in boyfriend,

Joel Gresham, ―said he had already been drinking a little bit,‖ and gave Gresham the keys to the

motorcycle ―right off the bat‖ ―so they‘d be safe.‖ Within Malone‘s sight, Gresham took the keys

to his room and put them into his clothing cabinet ―where they would be safe and away from

everybody.‖ The two returned to the party outside and socialized with others while drinking.

       Crystal testified that Malone consumed two glasses of alcoholic punch, a shot of Patron,

and several beers. While ―it was still early,‖ Crystal became nauseated and dizzy after consuming

too much alcohol. She ―stepped inside the house‖ to ―cool down,‖ but was ―out for about an hour,

hour and a half,‖ until she was physically helped to the master bedroom where she lay down.

       During the party, Malone asked Kenneth Lee Allsbrooks if someone could give him a ride

to New Waverly. Allsbrooks, claiming he was ―playing around,‖ responded, ―Yeah, I‘ll give you

a ride back over there if you leave the motorcycle in the back of my truck with a title to it.‖

According to Jordan Perkins, Malone took the comment seriously and ―got a little agitated, a little

mad.‖ The conversation became heated. Perkins testified Malone ―told [Allsbrooks] . . . a

couple of words I‘m not going to say in here. But he didn‘t want to talk to him.‖ Malone said,

                                                3
―Go on. Get out of my face‖ ―I don‘t want him to talk to me. I don‘t trust him.‖ Perkins ―told

[Allsbrooks] to walk off‖ and explained to Malone that they were joking and would not mind

taking him home and unloading the motorcycle.

       Gresham testified that Malone ―was kind of getting talkative, starting to say that, yeah,

‗They‘re going to take my motorcycle‘ and stuff like that, and he was talking back to them.‖

Gresham believed that Malone ―was kind of going overboard about what they were doing because

they were just joking with him, that I could tell . . .. And I know when I overheard it, that Jordan

was trying to explain that to him.‖ Gresham told Perkins to ―shut up. Told [Malone] to hush.

‗You-all stop the conversation.‘‖ Perkins also believed that Terry Adams ―and Mr. Malone had a

little fallout a little bit. [Adams‘] wife, Stephanie, was getting dressed, changing clothes in her

truck; and Mr. Malone asked if he could attend in the changing towards [Adams] with Stephanie.‖

Adams ―kind of upset him.‖

       After these occurrences, Gresham escorted Malone to the room where he would be

sleeping. Gresham testified that Malone grabbed another beer, even though he was ―pretty

drunk,‖ and sat down on the bed. Michael Skates testified that he overheard a conversation where

Allsbrooks jested he was going to make Malone ―think that somebody was messing with his bike.‖

Crystal testified, ―I had heard the truck revving up outside. [Perkins] and his friend [Allsbrooks]

had two trucks that‘s got big pipes on them. And they were having a revving-up contest.‖

Gresham testified the two trucks, which were parked far away from the motorcycle, were much

                                                 4
louder than Malone‘s motorcycle.

       Malone testified, ―I got up. I removed my firearm from the holster . . . and I proceeded to

the front door‖ because he believed someone was stealing his motorcycle. He admitted that he

opened the front door and stated, ―Who‘s messing with my f***ing bike?‖ Skates testified that,

despite the profanity, the tone of the question was ―[r]eal mellow.‖ Andrew Cockrell, who was

standing outside, observed that Malone ―had the gun pointed downwards.‖

       Gresham responded by ―trying to let Malone know that his motorcycle keys were still in

[the] cabinet . . . , and his bike was safe, that nobody‘s been messing with his bike.‖ Perkins also

―showed [Malone] that the bike has never been moved; no one‘s been over there near it.‖ Malone

―looked around‖ and confirmed ―that there was obviously nobody on my bike. There was nobody

near my bike.‖ Nevertheless, the danger did not dissipate.

       Gresham testified, ―[Adams] asked [Malone] why he had a gun at the door‖ in a calm

manner. This differed from Skates‘ testimony that Adams ―dropped his beer that he had in his

hand, walked up to Mr. Malone, and told him to put the damn gun down,‖ and Cockrell‘s

testimony that Adams ―was a bit angry‖ when he told Malone to ―[p]ut the MF gun away.‖

Wanting Malone ―gone from [the] house since he had a gun,‖ Gresham told Malone he ―was going

to go get his key so he c[ould] leave.‖ Gresham remained calm until he was blocked by Malone

from entry into the house. Perkins related:

               [Gresham] walked up to him. Wanted to know what he was doing, why he
       pulled a gun. [Malone] told—put his hand in front of [Gresham], told [Gresham]

                                                 5
       he needed to back down the stairs. [Gresham] backed down the stairs.
              [Adams] came around, walked in front of [Gresham]; and he asked
       Mr. Malone why did he pull a gun, why does he have a gun at this party.
              And Mr. Malone kept looking around, but with a hand in front of [Adams]
       and [Gresham], telling them that they‘re not going to come forward.

Skates testified Gresham did not shove, but ―kind of forced his way into the house,‖ while Adams

told the group ―[y]ou-all call the cops. Get them out here. I‘m going to try to get him to put the

gun down here.‖ Skates continued:

       As I stood here, Mr. Adams spoke several times without—without yelling, again,
       without yelling. Had asked Malone to put the gun down. He said no, he wanted
       his keys. He had assured Malone that the keys . . . was going to be brought to him.
       Malone still didn‘t want to drop the gun. Mr. Adams asked him, ―Is the gun
       loaded?‖ Malone said, ―Yes, it is.‖ And I remember [Adams] reaching out for
       the gun, and that was when the first shot . . .. And I watched [Adams] take that
       shot. Got his arm out. Just went to rapid-fire.

       Crystal testified Gresham was already retrieving Malone‘s keys ―[a]t the time that [Adams]

had actually asked [Malone] if the gun was loaded.‖ Gresham remembered that Adams ―asked

him again why he had the gun or if he was going to put it away . . .. And a fire—I guess a first shot

happened. I don‘t know because I was walking past, and I turned around to see what was

happening.‖ Then Malone shot Gresham, who was walking back with the motorcycle keys and a

cell phone in hand.

       Crystal stated, ―The next thing I recall happening is [Gresham] falling down the stairs that

goes into our bedroom. He falls back. And then Malone steps down the stairs . . .. Well, he

pointed the gun at me.‖ Gresham was ―down on the ground . . . one hand was holding his leg . . .

                                                 6
the other hand was holding his keys telling Malone, ‗Here. Take your keys. Take your keys.

Go. Go. Get out of here.‘‖ Crystal testified that she ―hollered at him and said ‗Malone, what

are you doing?‘ And he looked at me and then he just walked out‖ in a manner that seemed ―calm

like nothing was bothering him.‖ The police were called immediately.

       Malone exited the house, and witnesses watched as he ―rode off on his bike.‖ Crystal

followed Gresham‘s plea to rush to Adams. Crystal testified, ―I slid into the bedroom. There

was blood everywhere.        [Adams] was on the floor.         He was flopping around.‖         She

―immediately started covering bullet holes.‖ Allsbrooks ran into the house and saw that Gresham

―was on the bed holding his leg‖ where he had been shot. Allsbrooks also began putting pressure

on Adams‘ wounds. Despite the group‘s efforts, Adams died.

       Officer Ruben K. Kimball was dispatched to the disturbance at the home. On the way, he

stopped to assist Malone, who had fallen off of his motorcycle after driving it into a ditch.

Kimball spoke with a dispatcher before exiting his vehicle, realized that Malone was connected to

the shootings at the home, and found Malone‘s weapon in the motorcycle‘s saddlebags. Kimball

observed Malone ―was acting in a very, I guess, carousing and jovial manner.‖ Malone was

arrested. While being placed in the police unit, Malone remembered asking Kimball the reason

for his arrest. In a jailhouse recording, Malone stated to a visitor, ―I got arrested. I didn‘t

remember anything. It‘s all coming back in little flashes, little pictures.‖ Malone was taken to

the hospital on the night of his arrest. His blood-alcohol level was .184 at the time of testing.

                                                 7
        In evaluating legal sufficiency of the evidence to prove the charged offense, we review all

the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court‘s judgment to determine whether any

rational jury could have found the essential elements of aggravated assault of Gresham with a

deadly weapon beyond a reasonable doubt. Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 912 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2010) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)); Hartsfield v. State, 305 S.W.3d
859, 863 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2010, pet. ref‘d). Our rigorous legal sufficiency review focuses

on the quality of the evidence presented. Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 917 (Cochran, J., concurring).

We examine legal sufficiency under the direction of Brooks, while giving deference to the

responsibility of the jury ―to fairly resolve conflicts in testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to

draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts.‖ Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13

(Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (citing Jackson, 443 U.S. at 318–19); Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772,

778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).

        Legal sufficiency of the evidence is measured by the elements of the offense as defined by

a hypothetically correct jury charge. Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App.

1997); see also Vega v. State, 267 S.W.3d 912, 916 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Count two of

Malone‘s indictment3 alleges he ―did then and there intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause

bodily injury to Joel Gresham with a firearm, and the defendant did then and there use or exhibit a

deadly weapon, to-wit: a firearm, during the commission of said assault.‖

3
 In count one, Malone was indicted for the murder of Adams. Following deadlock among the jury, the trial court
declared a mistrial as to that charge.

                                                      8
       Malone committed the offense of aggravated assault if he intentionally, knowingly, or

recklessly caused bodily injury to Gresham and used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the

assault. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §§ 22.01(a)(1), 22.02(a)(2) (West 2011). A deadly weapon is

anything that, in the manner of its use or intended use, is capable of causing death or serious bodily

injury. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(17)(B) (West 2011). It is undisputed that Malone shot

Gresham with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury. The jury was free to find, based on

the evidence presented, that Malone‘s act was done with the requisite intent.

       Malone‘s argument, however, complains that the evidence was insufficient to support the

jury‘s rejection of his self-defense claim. When a defendant asserts a claim of self-defense, the

State has the ultimate burden of persuasion. Zuliani v. State, 97 S.W.3d 589, 595 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2003). The burden of persuasion does not require the production of evidence; it requires

only that the State prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. at 594. When a jury finds a

defendant guilty, there is an implicit finding against the defensive theory. Id. When reviewing

the sufficiency of the evidence concerning the jury‘s rejection of self-defense, we look to whether

any rational jury could have found against the defendant on the self-defense issue beyond a

reasonable doubt. Saxton v. State, 804 S.W.2d 910, 914 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Hernandez v.

State, 309 S.W.3d 661, 665 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, pet. ref‘d).

       Malone testified in support of his claim of self-defense. According to Malone, the

following occurred after he produced the gun at the doorstep:

                                                  9
        [Gresham]‘s saying, ―Get back in the f[***]ing house.‖ [Adams]‘s saying, ―Is that
        a gun? Do you have a gun?‖ They come up to me on the porch. [Adams]
        pushes me. I keep my hand out at arm‘s length, trying to keep them, you know,
        back a little bit, keep my gun faced down, pointed at the ground. He‘s pushing me
        back. He pushes me into the house. [Gresham] goes to the right, or my left.
        [Adams] goes to my right.

When Gresham went to retrieve Malone‘s keys, Malone was ―feeling very vulnerable at this

moment in time‖ because ―they got me separated.‖ Malone stated Adams was pushing him while

he attempted to keep Adams ―at arm‘s length.‖ Malone testified Adams gave up.

        He backed off. And [Gresham] came up at me . . .. And he said, ―I‘ll kill you.‖
        And then he comes at me, but he keeps his left hand down at his side. And he‘s
        coming at me with his right arm. He‘s kind of pushing (demonstrating), you
        know, hitting me, hitting me, hitting me. And I‘m trying to keep him—keep him
        back at arm‘s length . . .. Then [Gresham] swung at me. And at this point I knew
        he was—he was going to slap me; he was going to punch me, something. And I
        blocked. And then I struck him back.
                I remember because I struck him right there in the shoulder. I think it
        knocked him off balance because he went back a couple of steps.
                That‘s when [Adams] said, ―You‘re dead‖ and he came at me. That‘s
        when he—he climbed on me—or jumped on me.

According to Malone, Adams said, ―Give me the f[***]ing gun‖ and ―You‘re dead.‖ Malone

described that Adams‘ ―right hand was on my left shoulder . . .. And I‘m thinking he‘s stabbing4

me with something . . .. I was trying to get his arm off of me.‖ ―[Adams] gets his hand on the

barrel of my gun . . .. Now I know I‘m in trouble. He‘s starting to pull away. He‘s starting to

pull the gun away from me . . .. I‘m about to lose the gun. I‘m losing my grip. It‘s sliding out.‖

4
 Malone testified, ―I thought he had like a screwdriver or something.‖ Nevertheless, it was undisputed that Adams
and Gresham did not have any weapons during the shooting.

                                                       10
Malone testified he pulled the trigger and shot Adams at this time. Adams sustained eight

gunshot wounds.5

            When he ―saw [Adams] fall back,‖ Malone ―heard steps coming up behind me.‖ He

turned and fired. The first shot missed, so he pulled the trigger again. Malone ―saw an

individual coming at me like this, like he was going to dive-tackle me.‖ After shooting Gresham,

Malone took his motorcycle keys from Gresham‘s hand and left. As a result of the alleged

altercation, Malone testified he sustained a black eye, and ―[p]retty much the whole left side of my

face was swollen, and my shoulder was swollen.‖ Malone‘s mother testified that, during her first

visit with Malone while he was in jail, his ―left eye was just humungous, red, puffy with a cut over

it on the fatty part‖ and that Malone‘s eye was ―swollen shut.‖ She also claimed Malone ―had a

thing on this shoulder . . .. It was like dents, big dents in his shoulder . . .. One of them had a scratch

in it.‖

            Ashley Denby, who transported Malone to the hospital following his arrest, did not recall

any injuries on Malone. Officer Jose Mantilla, who booked Malone into jail, did not see any

injuries, and none were clearly indicated in Malone‘s photograph taken during the booking

process. Malone told the nurse his pain rating was ―zero.‖ Staff Sergeant Jesus Guerrero, who

booked Malone back into jail after hospital treatment, also testified that no injuries were present.

            Although Cockrell heard ―some fussing,‖ ―argument,‖ and ―foot steps . . . like, maybe

somebody was being pushed,‖ Malone‘s version of the altercation that led to the shooting was
5
    This fact alone placed Malone‘s claim of self-defense in serious jeopardy.

                                                            11
countered by several other witnesses. Gresham testified, ―There was never a scuffle in my

house,‖ and that he did not use force or see anyone use force against Malone. According to

Crystal, the conversation between Adams and Malone was ―[b]asically, trying to get Malone to

hand over the gun so things wouldn‘t exceed [sic] to another level.‖ Perkins did not hear any

fighting or commotion. Noting that Malone was ―[a]rm distance‖ from Adams, Skates testified,

―I seen them two talking back and forth. Mr. Adams took his right arm reaching out after he

asked if the gun was loaded‖ just before being shot. Finally, although Malone testified Adams

―was right at me‖ ―in the intimate space‖ when he shot Adams eight times, Malone could not

explain the lack of visible blood on his clothing.

       One may use force against another ―when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes

the force is immediately necessary to protect the actor against the other‘s use or attempted use of

unlawful force.‖ TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.31 (West 2011). This includes using deadly force

against the other if ―the actor would be justified in using force against the other under Section

9.31,‖ and ―when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately

necessary‖ ―to protect the actor against the other‘s use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force.‖

TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.32(a) (West 2011). Because the Jackson standard is the only

standard we apply, we examine the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict.

       Malone was the only eyewitness who testified that the shootings were an act of

self-defense. Malone agreed on the stand that his statements asking officers whether he ―had hurt

                                                 12
somebody‖ indicated lack of recollection. His blood-alcohol level, hours after the event, was

.184. Pictures taken during Malone‘s booking and the testimony of officers who encountered

Malone are inconsistent with Malone‘s claimed injuries from the alleged altercation. As the

judge of credibility, the jury was free to discount Malone‘s testimony.

       The jury was free to reject the theory of self-defense, even if it believed some or all of

Malone‘s testimony. With respect to Gresham, Malone recalled, ―I turned when I heard the

footsteps coming up behind me . . .. I fired a shot. [Gresham] kept coming at me. I fired again.

That‘s when he fell.‖ The use of deadly force is justified only to protect the actor against

another‘s use of deadly force.     Malone‘s testimony that, ―in his left hand [Gresham] had

something . . .. I thought it was keys,‖ established that Malone had time to observe Gresham and

verify that he was not carrying a weapon. Even with the alleged statement by Gresham that he

would kill Malone, which was made earlier, the jury could have found that Malone‘s testimony of

the dive-tackle did not establish Gresham was using or attempting to use any deadly force.

Therefore, because the jury could find Malone was not protecting himself from Gresham‘s ―use or

attempted use of unlawful deadly force,‖ either because they disbelieved any altercation occurred

between Gresham and Malone or because they did not find any use of deadly force by Gresham,

the evidence was sufficient to reject Malone‘s self-defense theory. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.

§ 9.32(a)(2)(A).

       The evidence was sufficient to support the conviction.

                                                13
(2)      The Jury Charge Was Proper on the Two Self-Defense-Negating Issues of Provocation and
         Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon

         In accordance with Section 9.31(a)(2) and (3) and Section 9.32(b)(2) and (3) the jury was

also instructed that a belief that deadly force was immediately necessary was reasonable unless

they found (A) that Malone provoked Gresham or (B) that Malone was engaged in the unlawful

carrying of a weapon at the time he shot Gresham.6

         Malone argues that the trial court erred in submitting these instructions to the jury. Our

review of alleged jury charge error involves a two-step process. Abdnor v. State, 871 S.W.2d 726,

731 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); see also Sakil v. State, 287 S.W.3d 23, 25–26 (Tex. Crim. App.

2009). Initially, we determine whether an error occurred, and then evaluate whether sufficient

harm resulted from the error to require reversal. Abdnor, 871 S.W.2d at 731–32.

         A charge on provocation is required when there is sufficient evidence (1) that the
         defendant did some act or used some words which provoked the attack on him,
         (2) that such act or words were reasonably calculated to provoke the attack, and
         (3) that the act was done or the words were used for the purpose and with the intent
         that the defendant would have a pretext for inflicting harm upon the other.

Smith v. State, 965 S.W.2d 509, 513 (Tex. 1998). A provocation instruction should be submitted

to the jury only ―when there is evidence from which a rational jury could find every element of

provocation beyond a reasonable doubt.‖ Id. at 514. Our inquiry is whether ―a rational jury

could have found provocation beyond a reasonable doubt, viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to giving the instruction.‖ Id.

6
 As described in detail below, the jury could have also rejected Malone‘s self-defense theory based on either a finding
that Malone provoked Gresham or that Malone was unlawfully carrying a weapon.

                                                         14
       During the charge conference, Malone‘s attorney objected:

       [T]he State has failed to raise an issue of provocation. . .. Without sufficient
       evidence for the jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that my client provoked
       anybody, the Court should not include as a requirement that the jury find
       ―provoked‖ but should find as a matter of law that he did not provoke either of the
       victims.

       While Malone did provide some evidence that he thought he was being attacked by

Gresham, there was evidence from which the jury could find that Malone provoked Gresham.

The first element is provocation in fact. The jury heard that Malone came to the front door with

pistol in hand and used profanity in asking who was tampering with his motorcycle. There was

testimony that Malone physically blocked Gresham from entering his own residence. Cockrell

and Malone testified that an argument ensued between Malone and Adams. Malone testified that

he shot Adams and then heard Gresham‘s footsteps coming toward him. ―Usually the act or

words which cause the attack will be leveled directly at the victim. However, acts or words

directed at a third party may likewise provoke a difficulty.‖ Smith, 965 S.W.2d at 514. The jury

could find Malone‘s use of profanity, carrying a loaded gun at Gresham‘s girlfriend‘s home, being

noticeably drunk, failing to put the gun away, arguing with Adams, and shooting Gresham‘s friend

Adams were all acts of provocation.

       The second element of provocation asks whether the defendant‘s acts or words were

reasonably calculated to provoke the attack. ―An act is reasonably calculated to cause an attack if

it is reasonably capable of causing an attack, or if it has a reasonable tendency to cause an attack.‖

                                                 15
Id. at 517. In Smith, the victim intervened in an argument between the defendant and a third

person, by brandishing a knife and warning the defendant not to speak to the third person. Id.

The court noted that the evidence supported a conclusion that continued exchanges between the

defendant and the third person ―were likely to have a volatile effect on the victim such that the

victim might, and probably would, have attacked appellant to make good on his warning.‖ Id.

The court found ―the act of provocation in this case, the continued argument by the appellant with

[the third person], could have been found by the jury under the circumstances to have been

reasonably calculated to cause an attack by the victim.‖ Id. at 518. Here, Malone testified

Gresham fought with him and told him, ―I‘ll kill you.‖ Malone testified he fought with Adams

after this statement. Malone was continuously asked before and during the alleged fight to put his

gun away. His failure to put the gun down, his argument with Adams, and his shooting Adams

could have been found by the jury under the circumstances to have been reasonably calculated to

cause an attack by Gresham, given his earlier alleged threat.

       The third element of the provocation doctrine involves the question of intent. Id. This

element ―is a matter of fact, to be determined from all of the circumstances.‖ Id. In Smith, the

court decided that evidence supporting the conclusion that the defendant continued to argue with a

third person despite the victim‘s threat and request to stop was enough to raise the question of

whether it could be the defendant‘s aim to ―continue the argument to inspire the deceased to attack

the appellant so that the appellant would have a pretext for killing the deceased.‖ Id. at 519.

                                                16
Here, Gresham‘s girlfriend was inside the house. Malone was reportedly drunk and irrational and

was carrying a loaded deadly weapon which he appeared to be prepared to use. There was

evidence that, despite repeated entreaties, Malone refused to put his weapon away at the door and

physically blocked Gresham from entering the home to retrieve the motorcycle keys.                 He

continued to argue and hold his weapon when inside the home, despite requests from Gresham and

Adams, and the alleged threat made by Gresham. Even after shooting Adams, Malone still held

onto his weapon. Knowing that Crystal was inside the home, along with the presence of other

partygoers, whom Gresham could have felt the responsibility to protect, the question was raised, in

the same posture as it was raised in Smith, as to Malone‘s intent in his continued refusal to yield the

weapon.

           The evidence was sufficient to raise the issue of provocation. Therefore, submission of

the provocation instruction was not erroneous.

           Next, pursuant to Section 46.02 of the Texas Penal Code, the court instructed the jury that

unlawful carrying of a weapon

           is committed if a person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about
           his or her person a handgun if the person is not on the person‘s own premises or
           premises under the person‘s control, or inside of or directly en route to a motor
           vehicle that is owned by the person or under the person‘s control. You are
           instructed, however, that a person is not unlawfully carrying a weapon if the person
           is traveling.

It is undisputed that Malone was carrying a gun on Crystal‘s premises, not his own.7

7
    Malone did not have a concealed handgun license.

                                                       17
       Malone objected to the inclusion of the court‘s instructions with respect to unlawful

carrying of a weapon because he believed he was ―still traveling as a matter of law.‖ Yet, ―[t]he

question of whether one is a ‗traveler‘ is a fact question to be resolved by the trier of fact.‖

Illingworth v. State, 156 S.W.3d 662, 664 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005, no pet.) (citing Smith v.

State, 630 S.W.2d 948, 950 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982)). The Legislature has never defined what

―traveling‖ means, and its precise meaning has been the subject of much debate. Id. at 664–65;

Ayesh v. State, 734 S.W.2d 106, 108 (Tex. App.—Austin 1987, no pet.).

       Malone believed that he established he was traveling since he travelled from another

county—a distance of approximately eighty miles—to attend the party and was promised an

overnight stay. Texas courts have generally distinguished ―traveling‖ based on the distance and

duration of the trip. See Birch v. State, 948 S.W.2d 880, 882 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997, no

pet.); Illingworth, 156 S.W.3d at 665; Ayesh, 734 S.W.2d at 108; Sanchez v. State, 122 S.W.3d
347, 356 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003, pet. ref‘d) (driving fifteen minutes between cities in

different counties did not constitute traveling). ―Some cases hold that once a traveler arrives at

his destination and secures a room he is no longer a traveler.‖ Illingworth, 156 S.W.3d at 665–66

(citing Ballard v. State, 167 S.W. 340 (Tex. Crim. App. 1914); see Evers v. State, 576 S.W.2d 46,

50 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978)). The evidence did not establish as a matter of law that Malone was

travelling. Before the shootings, Malone had been shown to a room where he would stay

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overnight, and his destination when he left his home had been the party. 8 No evidence suggests

he had any further destination. Therefore, the trial court did not err in submitting the unlawful

carrying of a weapon issue to the jury in the face of Malone‘s assertion that he was traveling.

         We affirm the trial court‘s judgment.

                                                                  Josh R. Morriss, III
                                                                  Chief Justice

Date Submitted:             October 18, 2011
Date Decided:               November 3, 2011

Do Not Publish

8
 The State ―is not required to introduce evidence controverting appellant‘s assertion of ‗traveler‘ status‖; here, the jury
would have been free to find that Malone had arrived at his destination and was no longer traveling at the time of the
offense. See Ayesh, 734 S.W.2d at 108.

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