Court Opinion

ID: 2760173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-12 12:30:42.141869+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:03.391490
License: Public Domain

IN THE
                        TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

                               No. 10-13-00401-CR

GARY EVAN MATTHEWS,
                                                         Appellant
v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                                         Appellee

                         From the 413th District Court
                            Johnson County, Texas
                            Trial Court No. F46739

                         MEMORANDUM OPINION

      A jury found Appellant Gary Evan Matthews guilty of murder and assessed his

punishment at thirty-eight years’ imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. This appeal ensued.

                                     Issue No. 1

      In his first issue, Matthews contends that the trial court erred in admitting

testimony of other wrongs or acts over his objection because (1) the State failed to

provide proper notice under Rule of Evidence 404(b), (2) the probative value of the
testimony was outweighed by its prejudicial effect, and (3) the testimony constituted

hearsay.

Background

        In a hearing outside the presence of the jury, Andy Smith testified as follows:

              Q.    [By Prosecutor] All right. And did you, in fact, see Mr.
        Matthews on August 19th, 2012?

                    A.   Yes, I did.

               Q.        And can you tell me about your initial interaction with him
        that day?

                A.     He approached me, was asking to borrow a pole saw to trim
        a tree in his property. I was mowing Donna’s front yard at the time. And
        I did not allow him to take my pole saw. I asked him, “What do you
        need?” I offered to go ahead and cut the branches myself. It was there in
        the front yard. It was just a few branches.

                    Q.   All right. And did the two of you have a conversation?

              A.     Yes, we did. After cutting the branches, yeah, we did have a
        conversation, a good, at least 20 minutes, probably.

                    Q.   And what did Gary say to you during that conversation?

               A.     Um, I remember that - - I think he mentioned starting off
        was there was a wood carving statue, I don’t know, dead tree stump in the
        front yard that he said he - - that this character, whatever it was, was
        overlooking the neighborhood just in case something went down. That he
        had lots of guns and ammunition, that - - enough to take care of any
        situation that might arise.

                    Q.   All right. Did he say anything else to you?

               A.     Yeah, there were other conversations. He mentioned that he
        was a three-time Purple Heart winner during Vietnam. That he - - there
        was conversation about being a European marshal [sic] arts champion.
        That I believe it was Chuck Norris or somebody like that came to visit him

Matthews v. State                                                                      Page 2
        in a tournament and that they hung out. I remember some of those
        conversations.

                    Q.   Okay.

               A.    He also mentioned some other conversations that - - kind of
        involving the weapons and the guns, that he had altered some of those to
        make them more powerful.

                    Q.   Okay. And did he say anything else?

                A.    Yes, there were some that kind of evolved around that; he
        mentioned that in this - - he said this in a few other conversations prior to
        this, but I remember that day that he did mention that he could, indeed,
        kill somebody and claim self-defense if - - and he could get away with it
        if that other party had something in their hands that could be construed
        as, you know, a lethal weapon or whatever. He described it like in
        shooting pool, if the other person had a cue stick or something of that
        nature in their hand, that he could, indeed, kill them with his bare hands,
        with his marshal [sic] arts background or with any other device, and get
        away with it.

                    Q.   And get away with it?

                    A.   And get away with it, yes.

               Q.    And why is it that you would not let him use the pole saw
        that day himself?

               A.     Um, well, he approached me. He had - - in his hand, he
        had alcohol and he was - - I could tell he was intoxicated or at least
        partially intoxicated. And another reason, I don’t like people using my
        equipment.

                    Q.   Yes, sir.

              A.      I don’t just give it to anybody. But I thought I could
        probably just take care of it and be done with it and keep peace and move
        on.

               Q.     Yes, sir. And approximately what time that day on August
        19th, 2012, did he say these things to you?

Matthews v. State                                                                       Page 3
                    A.   He first approached me approximately 4:00 in the afternoon.

               Q.        Okay. And was this, in fact, the same day that Bradley Kidd
        was - -

                    A.   Yes.

                    Q.   - - shot?

                    A.   Yes, it was.

        Matthews objected to this testimony, arguing that the State failed to give notice

under Rule 404(b) of its intent to offer the evidence; that the testimony constituted

inadmissible extraneous offenses under Rule 404(b); and that the prejudicial effect of the

testimony outweighed its probative value. The trial court overruled the objections, and

Smith testified accordingly on direct examination before the jury.

        Subsequently, on redirect examination of Smith, the following exchange

occurred:

              Q.         [By Prosecutor] And, again, why did you give this second
        statement?

              A.     Because I just felt like I - - I’d left out a lot of stuff. I was - -
        the whole thing, just shocking, it was devastating.

                    Q.   Right.

              A.     And I don’t know. I had a hard time thinking about what
        I’m going to write down. This just happened.

               Q.     Okay. And from August 19th, 2012, to today, has your
        version of events as what happened ever changed?

                    A.   Has it?

                    Q.   Has it ever changed?

Matthews v. State                                                                            Page 4
                    A.   No.

               Q.     And in regard to your second statement, there was some talk
        about what was or wasn’t in there, but in your second statement, you do
        write “I’ve been in several conversations - -“

                      [Defense Counsel]: Objection, Judge. That’s improper for
        him to - - he’s testifying. It’s not a question.

                        [Prosecutor]: I’m reading what’s in the second statement. I
        believe it’s already been explored in great detail.

                         ….

                      [Defense Counsel]: He’s reading from someone’s statement.
        That’s not a question. He’s testifying.

                         THE COURT: Were you going to ask a question?

                     [Prosecutor]: Yes, sir, I’m going to say, “This statement
        that’s made in your statement, is that correct? Did you put that in your
        second statement?”     Because that’s what was examined in cross-
        examination.

                         THE COURT: The objection is overruled.

               Q.     (BY [Prosecutor]) Sir, in your second statement, did you say,
        “I’ve been in several - -“

                      [Defense Counsel]: Judge, I’m going to object again. He’s
        reading from - - that’s hearsay. It’s not - - I’m using it for impeachment.
        He’s testifying and bolstering what someone’s written statement is. That’s
        improper. I object to it.

                         THE COURT: Overruled.

              Q.      (BY [Prosecutor]) Sir, again, in your second statement, did
        you say “I’ve been in several conversations with Gary prior and he always
        seemed fascinated with altercations - -“

                     [Defense Counsel]: Judge, again, I’m going to object again.
        That’s an improper way to examine the witness.

Matthews v. State                                                                     Page 5
                         THE COURT: Overrule.

                         [Defense Counsel]: Can we approach the witness, Judge - -

                         THE COURT: No.

                         [Defense Counsel]: - - I mean the bench.

                         THE COURT: No. Overrule. Sit down.

              Q.     (BY [Prosecutor]) Sir, in your second statement, did you say,
        “I have been in several conversations with Gary prior and he always
        seemed fascinated with altercations where he could kill someone”?

                        [Defense Counsel]: Again, Judge, I’m going to object for the
        record. This is a violation of the Motion in Limine. We’re not having a
        hearing. This is an improper way to - - it’s hearsay, it’s bolstering, Your
        Honor, and it’s - - he’s - - the Counsel’s testifying. So I’m going to object
        to this line of questioning.

                     THE COURT: I’ll overrule it. You’ve made that objection
        and I’ve overruled that objection, so the record is clear on that point.

              Q.      (BY [Prosecutor]) Sir, again, in your second statement, did
        you say “I’ve been in several conversations with Gary prior and he always
        seemed fascinated with altercations where he could kill someone and get
        away with it”? Did you say that, sir?

                    A.   Yes, sir.

              Q.      Did you also say, “He mentioned that if the other person
        had a weapon of any kind in their hands or possession he could kill them
        with his bare hands”?

                         [Defense Counsel]: Objection, leading.

                         THE COURT: Overruled.

              Q.     Did he also say, sir, “He mentioned that if the other person
        had a weapon of any kind in their hand or possession he could kill them
        with his bare hand because he’s an expert level in marshal [sic] arts and
        then he could claim that it was in self-defense”?

Matthews v. State                                                                       Page 6
                         [Defense Counsel]: Objection, leading.

                    A.   Yes, sir.

Rule 404(b) Notice

        We begin with Matthews’s complaint that the trial court erred in admitting

testimony of other wrongs or acts because the State failed to provide proper notice

under Rule of Evidence 404(b). More specifically, Matthews argues that the statements

that

        he had lots of guns and ammunition, enough to take care of any situation
        that might arise, that [he] mentioned that he was a three-time Purple
        Heart winner during Vietnam, that [he] was a European martial arts
        champion, that he hung out with Chuck Norris or somebody like that who
        came to visit him in a tournament, and that [he] always seemed fascinated
        with altercations where he could kill someone and get away with it

were not contained in any of the State’s notices of intent to introduce evidence of

extraneous matters; therefore, these statements were inadmissible.

        “Rule 404(b) literally conditions admissibility of other-crimes evidence on the

State’s compliance with the notice provisions of Rule 404(b).” Hernandez v. State, 176
S.W.3d 821, 824 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Rule 404(b) provides:

        Evidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts is not admissible to prove the
        character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It
        may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive,
        opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of
        mistake or accident, provided that upon timely request by the accused in a
        criminal case, reasonable notice is given in advance of trial of intent to
        introduce in the State’s case-in-chief such evidence other than that arising
        in the same transaction.

TEX. R. EVID. 404(b).

Matthews v. State                                                                      Page 7
        The purpose of Rule 404(b)’s notice requirement is to prevent surprise to the

defendant and apprise him of the evidence the State plans to introduce at trial. See

Hernandez, 176 S.W.3d at 823-24; Hayden v. State, 66 S.W.3d 269, 272 (Tex. Crim. App.

2001). The rule requires “reasonable” notice. Hayden, 66 S.W.3d at 272.

        On January 18, 2013, Matthews filed his “Request for Notice of Intent to Offer

Extraneous Conduct Under Rule 404(b) and Evidence of Conviction of an Extraneous

Crime or Bad Act Under Article 37.07.” In response, the State filed its “Notice of Intent

to Introduce Evidence of Extraneous Matters” on September 9, 2013, which stated in

relevant part:

        3.    On or about August 19, 2012, the defendant began drinking beer at
        7:30am and continued until 7:45pm at his home in Johnson County, Texas.
        This was witnessed by … Andy Smith ….

        ….

        10.   On or about August 19, 2012, the defendant stated to Andy Smith
        “in my house I have the ability to shot [sic] someone and get away with
        it”. This occurred in Johnson County, Texas, and within hours of the
        defendant killing Kidd.

        ….

        17.   On or about March 1, 2007 to August 19, 2012, the defendant would
        almost daily threaten to kill … Andy Smith in Johnson County, Texas.

        ….

        29.    On or about February 1, 2009, to August 19, 2012, the defendant
        stated to Andy Smith “In my house, I have the ability to shoot someone
        and get away with it”. This occurred in Johnson County, Texas.

        On October 2, 2013, the State then filed its “1st Amended Notice of Intent to

Introduce Evidence of Extraneous Matters” and its “2nd Amended Notice of Intent to

Matthews v. State                                                                  Page 8
Introduce Evidence of Extraneous Matters.”1 In the second amended notice, the State

repeated the list of relevant “evidence of extraneous matters” above and added:

        37.    From on or about August 1, 2010 to August 19, 2012, in Johnson
        County, Texas, the defendant told Andy Smith, on multiple occasions, that
        his house is the safest because of his weapons.

        38.    On or about August 1, 2012, in Johnson County, Texas, the
        defendant placed a carved wooden item on top of a partially cut down
        tree in his yard and told Andy Smith … that this item watched over the
        neighborhood.

        39.    From on or about February 1, 2009 to August 19, 2012, in Johnson
        County, Texas, the defendant told Andy Smith, on multiple occasions, that
        if someone attacked him with a deadly weapon, he had the ability to kill
        that person with his bare hands and then claim the killing was in self-
        defense.

        ….

        41.    From on or about February 9, 2009 to August 19, 2012, in Johnson
        County, Texas, the defendant told Andy Smith, on multiple occasions, that
        he was an expert in martial arts and could kill a person with his bare
        hands.

        42.    From on or about February 9, 2009 to August 19, 2012, in Johnson
        County, Texas, the defendant told Andy Smith, on multiple occasions, that
        he has altered his firearms to make them more powerful.

        43.   That on or about July 1, 2012, in Johnson County, Texas, the
        defendant told Andy Smith that his [sic] has killed people in the past.

        First, the State’s second amended notice of intent to introduce evidence of

extraneous matters did include notice of Smith’s testimony that, during their

conversation on August 19, 2012, Matthews said that he had lots of guns and

ammunition—enough to take care of any situation that might arise. The State’s second

1 Matthews did not argue in the trial court, nor does he argue in this Court, about the reasonableness of
the timing of the State’s October 2, 2013 first and second amended notices of intent to introduce evidence
of extraneous offenses.

Matthews v. State                                                                                  Page 9
amended notice specifically states: “37. From on or about August 1, 2010 to August 19,

2012, in Johnson County, Texas, the defendant told Andy Smith, on multiple occasions,

that his house is the safest because of his weapons.”

        Second, Matthews did not complain in the trial court that he was not provided

notice of Smith’s testimony on redirect examination that he had said Matthews always

seemed fascinated with altercations where he could kill someone and get away with it.

Matthews cannot therefore complain about it on appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a);

Banda v. State, 890 S.W.2d 42, 62 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994) (stating that trial objection must

comport with issue raised on appeal to preserve issue for review).

        Finally, to constitute an extraneous offense, the evidence must show a crime or

bad act and that the defendant was connected to it. Lockhart v. State, 847 S.W.2d 568, 573

(Tex. Crim. App. 1992). Smith’s testimony that Matthews mentioned that he was a

three-time Purple Heart winner during Vietnam, that he was a European martial arts

champion, and that he hung out with Chuck Norris or somebody like that who came to

visit him in a tournament does not, on its face, show a crime or bad act. Rule 404(b)’s

notice requirement therefore does not apply to this evidence. See TEX. R. EVID. 404(b).

Rule 403

        We next turn to Matthews’s argument that the trial court erred in admitting

testimony of other wrongs or acts because the probative value of the testimony was

outweighed by its prejudicial effect. To the extent Matthews is making a Rule 403

complaint about Smith’s testimony on redirect examination, his complaint is not

preserved because he did not make the complaint as to Smith’s testimony on redirect

Matthews v. State                                                                   Page 10
examination in the trial court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a); Lopez v. State, 200 S.W.3d 246,

251 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. ref’d).

        Under Rule 403, otherwise relevant evidence “may be excluded if its probative

value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the

issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, or needless

presentation of cumulative evidence.” TEX. R. EVID. 403.

        [A] trial court, when undertaking a Rule 403 analysis, must balance (1) the
        inherent probative force of the proffered evidence along with (2) the
        proponent’s need for that evidence against (3) any tendency of the
        evidence to suggest decision on an improper basis, (4) any tendency of the
        evidence to confuse or distract the jury from the main issues, (5) any
        tendency of the evidence to be given undue weight by a jury that has not
        been equipped to evaluate the probative force of the evidence, and (6) the
        likelihood that presentation of the evidence will consume an inordinate
        amount of time or merely repeat evidence already admitted. Of course,
        these factors may well blend together in practice.

Newton v. State, 301 S.W.3d 315, 319 (Tex. App.—Waco 2009, pet. ref’d) (quoting

Gigliobianco v. State, 210 S.W.3d 637, 641-42 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (footnote omitted)).

We review the trial court’s determination under Rule 403 for an abuse of discretion.

Mozon v. State, 991 S.W.2d 841, 847 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).

        Matthews’s defense was that he shot Bradley Kidd in self-defense. Matthews’s

intent was therefore a prominent issue in dispute at trial. The State had a need for

Smith’s testimony regarding what Matthews said just hours before the killing because it

was probative on the issue of Matthews’s intent to commit the charged offense,

especially because Smith claims that Matthews said he could kill someone, claim self-

defense, and get away with it. Furthermore, although the State acknowledges that

Matthews v. State                                                                     Page 11
some time was spent on developing this evidence, the testimony was limited to one

witness, and we do not believe that it could cause jury confusion or distraction or cause

the jury to give it undue weight.

        Rule 403 “envisions exclusion of [relevant] evidence only when there is a ‘clear

disparity between the degree of prejudice of the offered evidence and its probative

value.’” Hammer v. State, 296 S.W.3d 555, 568 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (quoting Conner v.

State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001)). We cannot say that there is a “clear

disparity” between the danger of unfair prejudice posed by Smith’s testimony and its

probative value.    Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by overruling

Matthews’s Rule 403 objection to Smith’s testimony.

Hearsay

        Finally, we address Matthews’s contention that the trial court erred in admitting

testimony of other wrongs or acts because the testimony constituted hearsay. Similarly

to his Rule 403 complaint, to the extent Matthews is making a hearsay complaint about

Smith’s testimony other than his testimony on redirect examination, his complaint is not

preserved because he did not make the complaint as to any other portion of Smith’s

testimony in the trial court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a); Thornton v. State, 994 S.W.2d 845,

853 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1999, pet. ref’d).

        Hearsay is not admissible except as provided by statute, by the evidentiary rules,

or by other rules prescribed under statutory authority. TEX. R. EVID. 802. Hearsay is “a

statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing,

offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” TEX. R. EVID. 801(d). A

Matthews v. State                                                                     Page 12
statement is not hearsay, however, if “[t]he declarant testifies at the trial or hearing and

is subject to cross-examination concerning the statement,” and the statement is

“consistent with the declarant’s testimony and is offered to rebut an express or implied

charge against the declarant of recent fabrication or improper influence or motive.”

TEX. R. EVID. 801(e)(1)(B).

        During cross-examination of Smith, Matthews established that Smith did not

include in his written statement to police after the shooting everything that he was

testifying to at trial. For instance, Smith admitted that he did not include in his written

statement that Matthews had a wooden character in his front yard that was going to

protect the neighborhood. Smith also acknowledged that he did not include in his

written statement that Matthews had indicated that he had received three Purple Hearts

in Vietnam, was a friend of Chuck Norris’s, was a martial-arts expert, and could kill

someone with his hands. Smith testified that he did not write down that Matthews said

that his house was the safest because of all the weapons he had inside, that Matthews

told him that he could kill someone and claim self-defense if the person had something

in his hands, or that Matthews said that he had the ability to alter weapons to make

them more powerful. The following exchange then occurred:

               Q.     [By Defense Counsel] But you testified here in court today
        that’s what he told you?

                    A.   Yes.

                    Q.   Is that right?

                    A.   Yes, sir.

Matthews v. State                                                                    Page 13
                Q.   And you think those are important statements in the context
        of this murder investigation; is that correct?

                    A.   It’s what - - it’s what happened so I do think it’s important.

                Q.   Okay. But you didn’t think it was important enough at the
        time, although you say you knew about it, to write it down to the police
        out there when Mr. Kidd was deceased and Gary Matthews was under
        arrest for murder. You didn’t think that was relevant, didn’t think it was
        important?

                    A.   I think it is important.

               Q.      But you didn’t tell the police about it at that time. You
        didn’t write it down in your statement?

                    A.   I did not write it down. I gave a verbal.

               Q.     They weren’t rushing you, were they? I mean, they weren’t
        rushing you. You had plenty of time. You could have said, “Hey, guys,
        I’ve got information - - “

                    A.   I’ve never done this before, so I felt rushed.

                    Q.   You - -

                    A.   Can I - -

             Q.     You felt rushed. It was 9:00. You had plenty of time, didn’t
        you? Didn’t you?

              A.    I guess. I mean, I don’t know how much time - - I didn’t
        know how long they would be there. I didn’t know. I know what I was
        doing and what I was concerned about.

                    Q.   Okay.

        Based on the foregoing testimony, we conclude that Matthews impliedly charged

Smith with recent fabrication or improper influence or motive. It was not therefore

hearsay for the State to ask Smith during redirect examination if, in his second

Matthews v. State                                                                         Page 14
statement to police, he said such things as that, in conversations with Matthews,

Matthews always seemed fascinated with altercations where he could kill someone and

get away with it. See TEX. R. EVID. 801(e)(1)(B). We overrule Matthews’s first issue.

                                         Issue No. 2

        In his second issue, Matthews contends that the trial court erred in commenting

to the jurors on the evidence in the trial, thus denying his right to due process of law.

Matthews complains about the trial court’s following statement, made at the end of the

second day of testimony:

        Ladies and gentlemen, the State has rested, which means they’ve
        completed their Case in Chief, about 25 minutes faster than I thought they
        would so they did a good job. And what the next thing - - there’s some
        things that the Court has to do with the attorneys between now and when
        I can ask the Defense what their next move is going to be, so I will excuse
        you for today, and in the morning, we’ll be ready to go at 9:00. But I’ll tell
        you that the case is on the schedule that I thought it would be and we’re in
        good shape. So if you’ll accompany the bailiff out of the courtroom.

        “Ordinarily, a complaint regarding an improper judicial comment must be

preserved at trial.” Unkart v. State, 400 S.W.3d 94, 99 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). The

“traditional and preferred procedure” for seeking relief at trial for a complaint that

must be preserved is “(1) to object when it is possible, (2) to request an instruction to

disregard if the prejudicial event has occurred, and (3) to move for a mistrial if a party

thinks an instruction to disregard was not sufficient.” Id. at 98-99 (quoting Young v.

State, 137 S.W.3d 65, 69 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004)). A party may skip the first two steps

and request a mistrial, but he will be entitled to one only if a timely objection would not

Matthews v. State                                                                        Page 15
have prevented, and an instruction to disregard would not have cured, the harm

flowing from the error. Id. at 99.

         Here, Matthews did not object to the trial court’s remarks, request an instruction

to disregard, or move for a mistrial. His complaint was first made in his motion for new

trial.    Matthews’s complaint that the trial court’s above-quoted statement was an

improper comment to the jurors on the evidence in the trial was therefore not

preserved. See id.; Bryant v. State, 455 S.W.2d 235, 236 (Tex. Crim. App. 1970).

         The Court of Criminal Appeals, however, has granted relief on an improper-

judicial-comment complaint that was not preserved at trial. See Blue v. State, 41 S.W.3d
129 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (plurality op.). In Blue, the trial judge had apologized to the

jurors about the delay in the case, telling them that the defendant was still deciding

whether to accept the State’s plea offer or go to trial. Id. at 130. The trial judge further

told the jurors, “I prefer the defendant to plead,” and “[W]e were all trying to work

toward that and save you time and cost of time.” Id. A plurality of the Court decided

that the trial judge’s remarks vitiated the defendant’s presumption of innocence and

were fundamental error of constitutional dimension that required no objection. Id. at

131-32.

         The circumstances in this case differ from the circumstances in Blue. Here, the

trial court’s comments focused not on the weight of any evidence presented, any

arguments made, or any positions taken; rather, the comments merely conveyed the

trial court’s hope to keep the trial on schedule based on the State’s concluding its case in

Matthews v. State                                                                    Page 16
chief sooner than expected. See also Unkart, 400 S.W.3d at 99-102. We therefore overrule

Matthews’s second issue.

        Having overruled both of Matthews’s issues, we affirm the trial court’s

judgment.

                                                   REX D. DAVIS
                                                   Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray,
       Justice Davis, and
       Justice Scoggins
       (Chief Justice Gray concurs with a note)*
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed December 11, 2014
Do not publish
[CRPM]

       *(Chief Justice Gray concurs in the Court’s judgment. A separate opinion will
not issue.)

Matthews v. State                                                                Page 17