Court Opinion

ID: 9838135
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-05 13:09:15.763841+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:34:24.089404
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                      San Antonio, Texas
                                                 OPINION

                                         No. 04-22-00255-CR

                                        Charles BORTON, Jr.,
                                              Appellant

                                                   v.

                                         The STATE of Texas,
                                               Appellee

                    From the 216th Judicial District Court, Gillespie County, Texas
                                      Trial Court No. DC7029
                          Honorable Albert D. Pattillo, III, Judge Presiding

Opinion by:       Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice

Sitting:          Rebeca C. Martinez, Chief Justice
                  Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
                  Liza A. Rodriguez, Justice

Delivered and Filed: August 30, 2023

AFFIRMED

           In this appeal, Appellant Charles Borton, Jr., appeals the legal and factual sufficiency of

his conviction and challenges the trial court’s evidentiary rulings as to Borton’s reputation for both

peacefulness and truthfulness. We affirm.

                                             BACKGROUND

           Borton was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after an incident where

he pulled out his gun at an HEB gas station in Fredericksburg. Video surveillance footage from

inside the cashier’s kiosk at the gas station showed a silver pick-up truck pull up to a gas pump
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and then a white car pull up on the opposite side. In the video, the man from the white car, later

identified as the complainant, walked towards the cashier’s kiosk on the silver truck’s side of the

pump. The men appeared to stand very close to each other. The man from the truck, later identified

as Borton, appeared to block the complainant from passing. The complainant then appeared to

stiff-arm Borton into the side of his own truck. Once the complainant passed and approached the

cashier’s kiosk, Borton could be seen taking an object from his side and raising his hand and arm

up, pointing in the direction of the complainant at the cashier’s window.

       At trial, the State’s first witness was an officer in Fredericksburg who was off duty at the

time of the incident. He stated that he was buying gas when he heard arguing and then witnessed

Appellant Borton point a gun at the complainant who was standing at the cashier’s window. The

officer testified that Borton said, “I’m going to shoot you, motherf—er.”

       Appellant Borton testified that the complainant physically confronted him and that,

because of his own disabilities, he felt reasonably fearful and justified in displaying his firearm.

       The complainant testified that he verbally confronted Borton, but that Borton became

physically confrontational and refused to let him pass. The complainant stated he pushed Borton

aside with his forearm and walked towards the cashier’s kiosk. He stated that he noticed from the

corner of his eye when Borton pulled out a chrome revolver. He testified that Borton threatened

to shoot him and said he did not care that the complainant’s daughter was in the car.

       Borton disagreed with the complainant’s account.

       The cashier also testified. She stated that she did not see Borton remove a gun from a

holster and that Borton kept his hand on his hip. The prosecutor pointed out that the cashier made

a statement at the time of the altercation that she did see Borton point a gun in the direction of the

man and her. The cashier agreed that her memory of events would have been more accurate closer

to the time of the incident. But she testified that she was familiar with Borton as a customer and

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stated that she knew he was a veteran. When asked if she was familiar with Borton’s reputation

for truthfulness in the community, she responded that he was a respectful customer. When asked

about Borton’s reputation for peacefulness, she stated that she only knew what other people told

her. It was unclear what others might have told her about Borton or when, and the trial court did

not allow her to continue on the subject. When asked about the complainant, she stated that she

was unfamiliar with him and could not speak as to his reputation in the community.

       Borton now appeals his conviction, arguing 1) the trial court should have allowed the

cashier to testify as to his reputation for truthfulness and peacefulness, and 2) the evidence did not

support the jury’s implied rejection of self-defense. For the following reasons, we affirm.

             APPELLANT’S REPUTATION FOR PEACEFULNESS AND TRUTHFULNESS

A.     Parties’ Arguments

       Borton argues that the trial court improperly excluded testimony about his reputation for

peacefulness and truthfulness and that his conviction should be reversed as a result. The State

argues that Borton failed to properly preserve his complaint for review. It argues that if he had,

the trial court nevertheless correctly excluded the reputation testimony because Borton failed to

show that the testifying witness was familiar with his reputation.

B.     Standard of Review

       “An appellate court reviews a trial court’s decision to exclude evidence under an abuse of

discretion standard.” Burden v. State, 55 S.W.3d 608, 615 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) (citing Green

v. State, 934 S.W.2d 92, 101–02 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). But if an appellant fails to preserve an

alleged error, then the appellate court cannot review the complaint. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1;

Golliday v. State, 560 S.W.3d 664, 669 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018) (citing Reyna v. State, 168 S.W.3d

173, 179 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005)).

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C.     Law

       Borton cites Texas Rule of Evidence 103(a)(2) in support of his argument on the

admissibility of his reputation evidence with a citation, which states: “A party may claim error in

a ruling to admit or exclude evidence only if the error affects a substantial right of the party and,

if the ruling excludes evidence, a party informs the court of its substance by an offer of proof,

unless the substance was apparent from the context.” TEX. R. EVID. 103(a)(2). However, Rule

103 “is entirely separate from Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 33.1, which imposes the

requirement of making a specific request, objection, or motion to preserve error on appeal.”

Golliday, 560 S.W.3d at 668–69 (citing TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1). In fairness, Rule 33.1 provides for

the grounds of a complaint to be apparent from context. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1; Booth v. State,

No. 05-18-00679-CR, 2019 WL 2482629, at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 14, 2019, no pet.) (mem.

op., not designated for publication); Nash v. State, No. 03-12-00456-CR, 2013 WL 4516182, at *3

(Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 21, 2013, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication).

Nevertheless, “[a]ll error… may be waived by the failure to properly put the trial court on notice

of the objection or request.” Reyna, 168 S.W.3d at 177.

       When an appellant wishes to appeal the trial court’s decision to exclude evidence, he must

have “put the trial court on notice as to what he wants, why he thinks he is entitled to it, in a clear

enough manner for the court to understand him at a time when the court is in the proper position

to grant relief.” King v. State, No. 05-17-00965-CR, 2018 WL 4959415, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas

Oct. 15, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (citing TEX. R. APP. P.

33.1(a)(1)(A); Pena v. State, 285 S.W.3d 459, 464–65 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009)). This concept is

also known as “party responsibility.” Pena, 285 S.W.3d at 463 (citing Reyna, 168 S.W.3d at 176).

“Party responsibility” requires that “[t]he proponent, if he is the losing party on appeal, must have

told the judge why the evidence was admissible.” Reyna, 168 S.W.3d at 177. “The party must do

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everything necessary ‘to bring to the judge’s attention the evidence rule or statute in question and

its precise and proper application to the evidence in question.’” Id. (citing Martinez v. State, 91

S.W.3d 331, 335–36 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002)); 1 Stephen Goode, et al., Texas Practice: Guide to

the Texas Rules of Evidence: Civil and Criminal, § 103.2, at 14 (2d ed.1993)); accord Golliday,

560 S.W.3d at 670–71. Before we can reach the merits, it must be clear that the complaining party

on appeal brought to the trial court’s attention the very complaint that party is now making on

appeal. Martinez, 91 S.W.3d at 336 (citing State v. Mercado, 972 S.W.2d 75, 78 (Tex. Crim. App.

1998)).

D.        Analysis

          Here, it was clear from the record that Borton wanted to ask the HEB gas station cashier

about his reputation in the community, first as to truthfulness and then as to peacefulness. See

TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A); Reyna, 168 S.W.3d 173, 180 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (Holcomb, J.,

dissenting). But when the prosecutor objected as to foundation, Borton provided no response:

DEFENSE: And do you know Mr. Borton?

CASHIER: I don’t know him personally, but I have seen him in H-E-B many times.

DEFENSE: Do you know his reputation for truthfulness in the community?

PROSECUTOR: Objection, Your Honor. This witness has no knowledge as to that issue.

TRIAL COURT: Well, she — she can answer the question then.

CASHIER: I’ve just known him to always been a, you know, respectful customer. You know, he

was a — he’s a veteran, I know that.

DEFENSE: And do you know his reputation in the community for peacefulness and law-

abidingness?

PROSECUTOR: Objection, Your Honor. She has no knowledge of that.

DEFENSE: Reputation.

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TRIAL COURT: Do you — do you know, Ms. —

CASHIER: Only — only from what other people have told me.

TRIAL COURT: Okay. Sustained.

DEFENSE: Okay. Has anyone told you anything bad about Mr. Borton?

PROSECUTOR: Objection, Your Honor.

TRIAL COURT: Sustained.

DEFENSE: All right.

       There was no theory argued to the trial court as to why it should not sustain the State’s

objection. See Martinez, 91 S.W.3d at 336. Borton conceded when counsel responded “okay”

and then changed course. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1. Whereas a party is expected to “do everything

necessary ‘to bring to the judge’s attention the evidence rule or statute in question and its precise

and proper application to the evidence in question,’” Borton did nothing to preserve his complaints

about the trial court’s exclusion of reputation testimony. Reyna, 168 S.W.3d at 177 (quoting

Martinez, 91 S.W.3d at 336). Because Borton provided no basis for the trial court to consider an

error in its rulings regarding the admission of his reputation evidence, we conclude that he has

waived his complaints on appeal. Borton’s first and second issues are overruled.

                            LEGAL SUFFICIENCY AND SELF-DEFENSE

A.     Parties’ Arguments

       Borton argues that the evidence supported his theory of self-defense and that the jury could

not have rationally rejected it. He argues that this court should enter a judgment of acquittal. The

State argues that the jury could have drawn multiple inferences from the evidence, and that it was

within the jury’s purview to disbelieve Borton’s testimony. The State concludes that, in deferring

to the jury’s implied credibility findings, Borton’s legal sufficiency complaint should be overruled.

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B.       Standard of Review

         When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we determine whether any rational trier

of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Witcher

v. State, 638 S.W.3d 707, 709–10 (Tex. Crim. App. 2022) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S.

307, 319 (1979)). We use a hypothetically correct jury charge as our metric and view the evidence

in the light most favorable to the prosecution. Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1997); Witcher, 638 S.W.3d at 709–10. In viewing the evidence in the light most favorable

to the prosecution, we do not reevaluate the evidence’s weight and credibility and substitute our

judgment for the factfinder’s. Queeman v. State, 520 S.W.3d 616, 622 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017);

see also TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 36.13 (naming the jury as “exclusive judge of the

facts”). Rather, “we defer to the jury’s assessment of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight

to be given to their testimony.” Valverde v. State, 490 S.W.3d 526, 528 (Tex. App.—San Antonio

2016, pet. ref’d) (citing Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 899 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)). It is then

our duty to decide whether the necessary inferences are reasonable based on the cumulative force

of all the evidence when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict. Braughton v. State, 569

S.W.3d 592, 608 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018); Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 15 (Tex. Crim. App.

2007).

         When an appellant also challenges the jury’s rejection of self-defense, we examine whether

a rational jury could have rejected the defense beyond a reasonable doubt. Dudzik v. State, 276

S.W.3d 554, 557 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, pet. ref’d) (citing Saxton v. State, 804 S.W.2d 910, 914

(Tex. Crim. App. 1991)). First, the appellant must have presented some evidence to support a

claim of self-defense. Id. (citing Zuliani v. State, 97 S.W.3d 589, 594–95 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003)).

Then, the State must have proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, even considering the

appellant’s necessity defense. See id.

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        We note that the “issue of self-defense is a fact issue to be determined by the jury, which

is free to accept or reject the defensive issue.” Dudzik, 276 S.W.3d at 557 (citing Saxton, 804

S.W.2d at 912 n.5); accord Valverde, 490 S.W.3d at 528. “The statements of the defendant and

his witnesses do not conclusively prove a claim of self-defense….” Smith v. State, 355 S.W.3d

138, 146 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, pet. ref’d). Ultimately, we must determine

whether the jury’s verdict can be considered rational based on the evidence as a whole. See Dudzik,

276 S.W.3d at 557 (citing Muniz v. State, 851 S.W.2d 238, 246 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)).

C.      Law

        As applicable in this case, a person commits aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by

1) intentionally or knowingly 2) threatening another with imminent bodily injury 3) by exhibiting

a deadly weapon. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §§ 22.01, 22.02; Robinson v. State, No. 05-20-00247-

CR, 2021 WL 1921021, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 13, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op., not

designated for publication); Dixon v. State, No. 05-22-00201-CR, 2023 WL 3963999, at *1 (Tex.

App.—Dallas June 13, 2023, no pet. h.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). 1

        A defendant may justify aggravated assault with self-defense. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.

§ 9.31; Dotson v. State, 146 S.W.3d 285, 292 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, pet. ref’d). To do so,

he must show that he reasonably believed his actions were immediately necessary to protect

himself against another person’s use or attempted use of unlawful force. See TEX. PENAL CODE

ANN. § 9.31(a); Dotson, 146 S.W.3d at 292.

        Self-defense does not apply to verbal provocation alone. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.

§ 9.31(b)(1); Walters v. State, 247 S.W.3d 204, 213 n.40 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). It also does not

apply if the defendant provoked the other person. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.31(b)(4); Hanley

1
  Contrary to Appellant’s brief, exhibiting a deadly weapon is not synonymous with using deadly force. See Gamino
v. State, 480 S.W.3d 80, 87 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2015) (citing TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.04).

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v. State, 921 S.W.2d 904, 911 (Tex. App.—Waco 1996, pet. ref’d). That is, unless the defendant

abandoned the encounter (or communicated his intent to do so if he believed he could not safely

abandon the encounter), and the other person persisted in his use or attempted use of unlawful

force against the defendant. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.31(b)(4); Smith v. State, No. 12-16-

00329-CR, 2017 WL 4161594, at *2 (Tex. App.—Tyler Sept. 20, 2017, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not

designated for publication); Stralow v. State, No. 12-15-00224-CR, 2016 WL 625239, at *2 (Tex.

App.—Tyler Feb. 17, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication).

D.     Analysis

       The record shows that a jury could have reasonably believed beyond a reasonable doubt

that Borton assaulted the complainant by threatening him with a gun. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.

§§ 22.01, 22.02. The complainant testified that he and Borton argued about a gas pump and that

Borton became physically confrontational when the complainant called him an a—hole. He

testified that he used his forearm to push Borton aside to pass him and that Borton pulled out a gun

at that point, stating “I’m going to shoot you, motherf—er.” The surveillance video from the gas

station, though not high quality, appears to confirm the complainant’s version of events.

       When shown the video of how Borton appears to block the man’s path, Borton stated,

“Once I was in fight and flight mode, everything was based on muscle memory. If I did that, it

was not intentionally to block him.” Borton criticized the reliability of the footage in general. He

stated, “[I]t’s almost like it’s missing frames, important frames in my situation. But the frames

where I drew my firearm, the frames when — when he attacked me. He — he didn’t hit me with

his arm, he hit me with his head. And — and his arm. And then at one point he threw his other

arm and I thought he was going to try to pull me down and slam me into the ground.”

       Borton argues that the evidence supports his theory of self-defense. However, his argument

could not succeed if the jury disbelieved his testimony. See Valverde, 490 S.W.3d at 529. The

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jury was free to reject his testimony and adopt the testimony of other witnesses. See Smith, 355

S.W.3d at 146. For example, the off-duty officer who witnessed the altercation testified that

Borton pointed his gun at the complainant and stated, “I’m going to shoot you, motherf—er,” while

the complainant was facing away from him. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §§ 22.01, 22.02. The

witness’s testimony corroborated the complainant’s testimony. Based on their testimony, the jury

could have believed that Borton was the aggressor. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 9.31(b); Hooper,

214 S.W.3d at 14.

       Borton argues that he was extremely physically infirm and 100% disabled. First, it is

unclear what it means for Borton to be 100% disabled. Second, any information about the effect

of Borton’s past injuries on his physical condition at the time of the altercation came only from

Borton’s testimony. See Smith, 355 S.W.3d at 146. The jury might have doubted the extent of

Borton’s physical infirmities after watching the surveillance video and hearing testimony that

suggested Borton physically provoked the complainant. See Valverde, 490 S.W.3d at 529.

       Borton argues that he “was completely caught by surprise when the complainant, in an

angry rage, charged at [him] and screamed at the top of his lungs three times at [him], ‘What do

you think you’re doing.’”     However, his testimony differs from the complainant’s.            The

complainant testified that he said to Borton, “Hey, what’s — what’s wrong, you didn’t see me or

what?” He said that Borton responded, “Shut the f— up. Get — get the f— out of here.” Here,

the jury could have chosen to believe the complainant over Borton. See id.

       There are several examples of these discrepancies, all dependent on the jury’s interpretation

of witness credibility. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 36.13; Valverde, 490 S.W.3d at 529.

Based on the evidence as a whole, we cannot conclude that the jury was irrational to evaluate

witness credibility against Borton’s favor. See Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 15–16. Borton’s argument

that evidence was presented to support his theory of self-defense 1) does not show that the jury’s

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decision to reject it was unreasonable or irrational, and 2) does not render the evidence in support

of his conviction legally insufficient. See Smith, 355 S.W.3d at 146. Accordingly, we overrule

Borton’s legal sufficiency complaint.

                                     FACTUAL SUFFICIENCY

       Borton argues that we should review the jury’s rejection of self-defense for factual

sufficiency, because “[a] reviewing court may evaluate an affirmative defense for legal and factual

sufficiency.” However, contrary to Borton’s assertion, “[s]elf-defense is a defense, not an

affirmative defense.” Dudzik v. State, 276 S.W.3d 554, 557 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, pet. ref’d)

(citing Saxton v. State, 804 S.W.2d 910, 913–14 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991)). Therefore, “both legal

and factual sufficiency challenges to the jury’s rejection of self-defense [are reviewed] under the

Jackson v. Virginia standard.” Rankin v. State, 617 S.W.3d 169, 182 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] 2020, pet. ref’d) (citing Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 895 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)). We

overrule Borton’s factual sufficiency complaint.

                                          CONCLUSION

       First, because Borton did not preserve error as to the trial court’s rulings on his reputation

evidence, we considered those complaints waived. Next, the record showed sufficient evidence to

support Borton’s conviction. His legal sufficiency complaints turned on the jury’s evaluation of

witness credibility. Therefore, we overruled Borton’s legal sufficiency complaint in favor of

deferring to the jury’s implied findings. His factual sufficiency complaints depended on self-

defense being classified as an affirmative defense. Because self-defense is not an affirmative

defense, we overruled Borton’s factual sufficiency complaint. Accordingly, the trial court’s

judgment is affirmed.

                                                   Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice

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