Court Opinion

ID: 3168111
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-08 13:08:09.848571+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:03:39.741096
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                       NO. 03-14-00266-CR

                                Clifton Sivad Montague, Appellant

                                                  v.

                                   The State of Texas, Appellee

      FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BELL COUNTY, 264TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
          NO. 70535, HONORABLE MARTHA J. TRUDO, JUDGE PRESIDING

                             MEMORANDUM OPINION

                A jury found appellant Clifton Sivad Montague guilty of murder, found an enhancement

paragraph to be true, and assessed punishment at life imprisonment. See Tex. Penal Code § 19.02.

In his first point of error, Montague contends that the trial court abused its discretion when it

admitted ballistics evidence from an expert witness without first granting Montague his requested

hearing on the admissibility of such evidence. In his second point of error, Montague contends that

the trial court abused its discretion by allowing a witness to testify electronically over Montague’s

objection. We will affirm the trial court’s judgment of conviction.

                                         BACKGROUND1

                Laterrance Deshuan Newsom was found shot to death on the floor of Montague’s

apartment in Killeen. Montague’s roommate and some of his neighbors heard the gunshots. Moments

       1
           The facts recited herein are taken from the testimony and exhibits presented at trial.
after the shooting, Montague approached Trina Ware and her friend, who lived nearby. Montague

told Ware that he had shot someone and handed her a gun, which Ware threw over a fence.

Montague later admitted to Tonika Willis that he had shot Newsom.

               Police recovered bullets and spent shell casings from the apartment and interviewed

witnesses. Montague was eventually arrested and charged with murder. He was convicted and

sentenced, and this appeal followed.

                                           DISCUSSION

Expert testimony

               At trial, the State called Calvin Story, a forensic firearms examiner with the Texas

Department of Public Safety Crime Lab. Outside the presence of the jury, the trial court and the

attorneys addressed Montague’s previously filed motion to suppress ballistics evidence and whether

Montague should be granted a hearing to determine the admissibility of the State’s expert witness’s

testimony. In his motion, Montague had challenged the admissibility of the State’s ballistics

evidence under Texas Rule of Evidence 702, which governs the admission of expert testimony. The

State argued before the trial court that the court had no obligation to conduct a hearing on the

admissibility of the ballistics evidence because such evidence “is well settled and admissible.” The

trial court allowed the expert witness to testify, explaining its decision as follows:

       The Court is going—this particular examiner I believe has testified in this court
       before and the—on other occasions, and I think that defense can properly challenge
       whatever this witness has to say. And then I think it’s going to be up to the jury to
       figure out whether or not they want to put whatever weight and credibility to this
       witness.

                                                  2
In his first point of error, Montague contends that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting

Story’s testimony without first granting Montague his requested hearing on the admissibility of the

testimony. We review the admission of expert testimony for an abuse of discretion. See Coble v.

State, 330 S.W.3d 253, 272 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).

                In a criminal case, upon the request of the defendant, the trial court must conduct a

“gatekeeping” hearing outside the presence of the jury “to determine whether scientific evidence is

sufficiently reliable and relevant to help the jury in reaching an accurate result.” Id. at 273 (footnotes

omitted); see Tex. R. Evid. 705(b) (“Before an expert states an opinion or discloses the underlying

facts or data, an adverse party in a . . . criminal case must . . . be permitted to examine the expert

about the underlying facts or data. This examination must take place outside the jury’s hearing.”).

“Because Rule 705(b) is mandatory, a trial judge’s denial of a timely and proper motion for such

hearing would constitute error.” Alba v. State, 905 S.W.2d 581, 588 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

                We will assume, without deciding, that Montague made a timely and proper request

for a hearing on the admissibility of Story’s testimony and that the trial court erred by admitting

Story’s testimony without conducting the requested hearing. We will therefore consider whether

this error is reversible. See id. (“In such a case, a reviewing court would then be required to decide

whether the trial judge’s error was so harmful as to require a reversal.”). Because such error is not

constitutional, we will reverse the trial court’s judgment on this basis only if the error affected

Montague’s substantial rights. See Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(b); Trevino v. State, No. 04-12-00840-CR,

2014 WL 3518098, at *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 16, 2014, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated

for publication) (“Because the error is not constitutional, we will only reverse if it affected

                                                    3
Trevino’s substantial rights; otherwise, the error must be disregarded.”); see also Clark v. State,

No. 10-15-00022-CR, 2015 WL 5949338, at *4 (Tex. App.—Waco Oct. 8, 2015, pet. filed)

(mem. op., not designated for publication) (stating error in denying Rule 705(b) hearing is reviewed

under Rule 44.2(b)); Meier v. State, No. 05-08-00486-CR, 2009 WL 765490, at *8 (Tex.

App.—Dallas Mar. 25, 2009, no pet.) (not designated for publication) (same); Ghahremani v. State,

No. 14-06-00729-CR, 2007 WL 3146723, at *8 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 30, 2007,

pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (same). “A substantial right is affected when

the error had a substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.”

Schmutz v. State, 440 S.W.3d 29, 39 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “Substantial rights are not affected

by the erroneous admission of evidence if, after examining the record as a whole, we have fair

assurance that the error did not influence the jury, or had but slight effect.” Campbell v. State,

382 S.W.3d 545, 553 (Tex. App.—Austin 2012, no pet.).

               We will conclude that the trial court’s error did not affect Montague’s substantial

rights if we determine that the State’s expert testimony was in fact reliable. See Jackson v. State,

17 S.W.3d 664, 672 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (“[W]e hold that in this case the error was harmless

because the State’s DNA evidence was in fact reliable.”); Johnson v. State, No. 11-08-00243-CR,

2010 WL 2803015, at *2 (Tex. App.—Eastland July 15, 2010, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated

for publication) (“Following Jackson, we hold that any error in failing to conduct a more thorough

Kelly–Daubert hearing outside the jury’s presence was harmless because the HGN evidence was

shown to be reliable and admissible.”). Here, Story testified that seven bullets recovered from the

crime scene were all fired from the same gun. Story also testified that eleven casings recovered from

                                                 4
the scene were all fired from the same gun. Story testified that no gun was submitted to him for

analysis and that, without the weapon, he was unable to determine whether the bullets were fired

from the same gun as the casings.

                Story also explained to the jury how markings are made on bullets and casings and

the techniques and equipment he used in performing his analysis. According to Story’s testimony,

the science behind his methods originated in the 1920s and has been used in courts since then. In

addition, Story testified that he has worked in his field for about 40 years and that he has testified

around 500 times as an expert witness on firearms and tool-mark analysis.

                We conclude that Story’s testimony was sufficiently reliable. It was undisputed

that Story had testified hundreds of times concerning ballistics evidence. See Ramey v. State,

AP-75,678, 2009 WL 335276, at *8 (Tex. Crim. App. Feb. 11, 2009) (not designated for publication)

(noting, in rejecting appellant’s challenge to expert testimony, that expert had testified as ballistics

expert many times). Moreover, expert ballistics testimony has long been allowed by courts. See id.

at 9 (“We have recognized that the underlying theory of tool-mark identification could be reliable

for identifying fired bullets from individual firearms.”); Mays v. State, 563 S.W.2d 260, 263

(Tex. Crim. App. 1978) (noting that court of criminal appeals has long allowed expert ballistics

testimony). Story carefully explained the theory and techniques of his field of expertise and was

subject to cross-examination by Montague’s counsel.

                Moreover, because the gun used in the crime was not recovered, Story did not testify

that the ballistics evidence he examined related to Montague. Rather, he merely concluded that

the bullets and casings originated from one gun, in effect negating any theory that more than one

                                                   5
weapon was used. Because Story’s testimony did not implicate Montague, it could not have had

“a substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict” and therefore did

not affect Montague’s substantial rights. See Schmutz, 440 S.W.3d at 39.

               Because the underlying theory of tool-mark identification is generally reliable and

because Story’s testimony did not implicate Montague in the murder, we conclude that any error the

trial court may have committed in admitting Story’s testimony without a prior hearing was harmless.

Accordingly, we overrule Montague’s first point of error.

Electronic testimony

               In his second point of error, Montague contends that the trial court abused its

discretion by allowing a pregnant witness to testify electronically over Montague’s objection. See

Green v. State, 934 S.W.2d 92, 101–02 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (“As an appellate court we review

the trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence under an abuse of discretion standard.”).

               At a pre-trial hearing, the State informed the trial court that one of the State’s

witnesses, Trina Ware, was pregnant and living in New York. According to the State, Ware’s doctor

had instructed her not to travel. The State then proposed that Ware testify remotely by electronic

means that the State characterized as “a glorified Skype.” Montague opposed this arrangement

and filed a motion to suppress Ware’s testimony on Confrontation Clause grounds.

               During the pre-trial hearing, Montague informed his attorney that he did not want

to wait in jail for six months until Ware had her baby and was able to travel again. Montague’s

attorney then made the following statement to the court:

                                                 6
               I addressed to my client that if you grant our suppression, he’s got to wait
       six months to get his trial? And he very emphatically—he wants his trial now. So
       in effect my client is waiving my efforts to suppress that and we are now acceptable
       to the electronic presentation if that’s all that’s available.

               It appears it is. End of story.

Montague’s attorney went on to discuss the scheduling of another witness’s testimony, referring to

that issue as “a lot more important” than the dispute over Ware’s remote testimony.

               Later in the hearing, the trial court stated, “Now, as far as the technology for [Ware],

defense have indicated they don’t have any problem then with proceeding with that.” Montague’s

attorney did not contradict that assertion. However, later in the hearing, Montague’s attorney asked

the trial court to rule on his motion to suppress Ware’s testimony. The trial court asked, “I thought

you told me that you were going to abandon your motion to suppress that and that you all, your client

wanted the trial date, therefore you were willing to do that?” Montague’s attorney responded, “That

is correct.” At that point, Montague indicated that he was confused by this discussion, so the trial

court explained to Montague that his trial would be postponed for several months if Ware was not

allowed to testify remotely. The court stated, “Your choice is wait until she has a baby, or force the

trial to come. Your lawyer has indicated you wanted to have your trial. You’re ready for it. You

don’t want to sit in jail and wait for five months.” Neither Montague nor his attorney contradicted

this statement, and the trial court went on to explain that the case would proceed to trial.

               At trial, Montague renewed his objection to Ware’s electronic testimony. According

to Montague’s counsel, a letter from Ware’s physician indicated that the concern over Ware traveling

was a result of Ware’s mental health history. Montague stated that the defense had previously

                                                  7
believed that the physician’s advice not to travel arose from Ware’s “physical” condition, not

“the space between her ears.” Montague also mentioned general concerns about the inadequacies

of remote testimony. The trial court then stated that it was the court’s understanding that Montague

had previously indicated “that you all would be willing to let [Ware] testify telephonically or

electronically because your client and you had asked initially for a continuance and your client

was opposed to that.” The court further explained to Montague’s counsel, “you indicated to the

Court that you would agree to proceed with her testimony being electronic and upon that proof

[of Ware’s pregnancy].”

               Ware then testified remotely outside the presence of the jury. Ware explained that

she was pregnant, that she suffered from several mental health issues, and that her physician had

advised her not to travel more than 70 miles (the distance required for Ware to obtain medical care).

According to Ware, her doctor was concerned that Ware could go into pre-term labor if she traveled

farther. At the conclusion of Ware’s testimony, the trial court decided to allow Ware to testify

electronically before the jury. The court explained its decision as follows:

              I’m going to find that this witness is medically unable to travel, based on her
       testimony and the doctor’s statement as well.

                And regarding the fact that she’s just been hospitalized a week or so ago, has
       medical issues and with the worries about her being able to safely deliver, I think
       that it is not a good idea for her to travel in accordance with her testimony and the
       doctor’s testimony. So I’ll permit her to testify electronically.

Appearing electronically, Ware then testified in front of the jury that on the night of the murder

Montague told her that he had shot someone and had handed her a gun.

                                                 8
               The State contends that, because Montague agreed at the pre-trial hearing to go to

trial and allow Ware to testify electronically, Montague invited any error the trial court may have

committed in allowing Ware to testify and is estopped from arguing on appeal that his Confrontation

Clause rights were violated. Assuming without deciding that Montague is not estopped from raising

his Confrontation Clause objection and has preserved it for appellate review, we conclude that the

trial court did not abuse its discretion by allowing Ware to testify remotely.

               The Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause provides that “[i]n all criminal

prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to be confronted with the witnesses against him.”

U.S. Const. amend. VI. “The principal concern of the Confrontation Clause is to ensure the

reliability of the evidence against a criminal defendant by subjecting it to rigorous testing in

the context of an adversary proceeding before the trier of fact.” Jessop v. State, 368 S.W.3d 653,

679–80 (Tex. App.—Austin 2012, no pet.) (citing Maryland v. Craig, 497 U.S. 836, 845 (1990)).

However, the right to confrontation is not absolute. See Craig, 497 U.S. at 848; Horn v. Quarterman,

508 F.3d 306, 317 (5th Cir. 2007) (“[G]iven the trial court’s efforts to confirm Birk’s illness and

inability to travel and the care with which the other aspects of Horn’s confrontation rights were

preserved, we cannot say that the decision to permit Birk to testify via two-way closed-circuit

television constituted an unreasonable application of established federal law.”); United States v.

Gigante, 166 F.3d 75, 81–82 (2d Cir. 1999) (stating that “two-way closed-circuit television

testimony does not necessarily violate the Sixth Amendment” and holding that trial court did not

abuse its discretion in allowing witness to testify because witness’s fatal illness and participation

in witness protection program “satisfy the exceptional circumstances requirement”).

                                                  9
               Texas courts have allowed witnesses to testify electronically when the witness

was seriously ill, a child, or on active military duty in another country. See Gonzales v. State,

818 S.W.2d 756, 764 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (holding trial court did not deny appellant his

constitutional rights by allowing child witness to testify by two-way closed-circuit system); Rivera

v. State, 381 S.W.3d 710, 713 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2012, pet. ref’d) (“We conclude that under

the circumstances, the preference for having witnesses testify in the courtroom must give way to the

practical considerations involving Taylor’s military obligation that made his physical presence

impractical.”); Paul v. State, 419 S.W.3d 446, 459 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2012, pet. ref’d) (“Jordan’s

serious health situation was an exceptional circumstance that warranted permitting her testimony by

a computer video conferencing system.”); Stevens v. State, 234 S.W.3d 748, 782 (Tex. App.—Fort

Worth 2007, no pet.) (“Ward’s tenuous health situation—documented by letters from his treating

cardiologist—was an exceptional circumstance that warranted permitting his testimony by two-way

closed circuit television.”). At least one court has held that allowing a pregnant witness with a risk

of miscarriage to testify by means of a two-way conferencing system did not violate the defendant’s

Sixth Amendment rights. See Acevedo v. State, No. 05-08-00839-CR, 2009 WL 3353625, at *8

(Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 20, 2009, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication).

               The key inquiry in these cases is whether the method of electronic testimony used by

the State preserves the “salutary effects of face-to-face confrontation” relevant to a Sixth Amendment

analysis. See Stevens, 234 S.W.3d at 782. These salutary effects include “(1) the giving of testimony

under oath, (2) the opportunity for cross-examination, (3) the ability of the fact-finder to observe

demeanor evidence, and (4) the reduced risk that a witness will wrongfully implicate an innocent

                                                 10
defendant when testifying in his presence.” Id. (citing Craig, 497 U.S. at 845–46); see Gonzales,
818 S.W.2d at 764 (applying “Craig criteria” and concluding that witness “testified under oath, was

subject to extensive cross-examination, and was observed by the judge, the jury and appellant”).

                 Here, Ware’s testimony preserved each of these effects. Ware testified under oath,

she was cross-examined, the jury was able to observe her demeanor, and the defendant was able

to observe Ware throughout her testimony. We conclude that Ware’s at-risk pregnancy was an

exceptional circumstance that justified her testifying remotely. Accordingly, we hold that the trial

court did not abuse its discretion by allowing Ware to testify electronically, and we overrule

Montague’s second point of error.

                                          CONCLUSION

                 Having overruled each of Montague’s points of error, we affirm the judgment

of conviction.

                                              __________________________________________

                                              Scott K. Field, Justice

Before Justices Puryear, Pemberton, and Field

Affirmed

Filed: January 6, 2016

Do Not Publish

                                                 11