Court Opinion

ID: 4571077
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-30 06:12:24.490217+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:03.007307
License: Public Domain

Affirm and Opinion Filed September 24, 2020

                                        In The
                             Court of Appeals
                      Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                No. 05-19-00178-CR

                  TRADAREON JAMEL CHOICE, Appellant
                                 V.
                     THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

               On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 6
                            Dallas County, Texas
                    Trial Court Cause No. F-1775538-X

                         MEMORANDUM OPINION
                 Before Justices Myers, Whitehill, and Pedersen, III
                          Opinion by Justice Pedersen, III
      A jury convicted appellant Tradareon Jamel Choice of felony murder. The

trial court assessed his punishment at life in prison. Appellant’s counsel originally

filed an Anders brief. We struck the brief and ordered counsel to file a brief that

addressed any arguable issues found within the record or, if a thorough and

professional review of the record identified no such issues, to file an Anders brief

complying with the requirements of High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 812–13 (Tex.

Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978). Appellant’s counsel responded by filing a brief on

the merits that raised a single issue challenging the trial court’s admission of the lead
detective’s opinion concerning appellant’s responsibility for the complaining

witness’s death. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                            Background

        Detective Derrick Chaney led the investigation into the homicide of Juan

Correa Arzola, for which appellant was charged and ultimately convicted.1 Arzola

was shot while he was standing in front of his home on Nisqually Street and talking

with a neighbor. The neighbor’s son called 911.

        As officers were responding to the shooting, they learned of a robbery that

had just occurred on the same street. Federico Miranda had been grocery shopping

with his girlfriend, Dora Zuniga. When she dropped Miranda off at his home on

Nisqually Street, two men approached him; one held a gun, and they demanded his

wallet. The men took the groceries, Miranda ran into his house, and Zuniga drove

away. As she drove away, she heard a gunshot. Neither Miranda nor Zuniga was

certain which of the robbers fired the shot.

        Appellant ultimately told the police that he had participated in the robbery and

that he had fired the gun when Zuniga started to drive away, because he thought she

was backing up into him and the second robber. He said, however, that he fired the

gun in the air.2

    1
      The complainant’s wife testified that his full name was Juan Jose Correa Arzola. The record contains
references to both names, Correa and Arzola.
    2
      Appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury’s verdict, so we do
not address the investigation and evidence leading to his conviction in detail.
                                                  –2–
      The jury found appellant guilty of murder as charged in his indictment, i.e.,

that while committing the robbery of Miranda, he shot Arzola and caused his death.

         Admissibility of Opinion Concerning Defendant’s Responsibility

      In his single issue, appellant contends the trial court abused its discretion by

allowing Detective Chaney to give his opinion about appellant’s responsibility for

Arzola’s death. We review a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence for

an abuse of discretion. McDonald v. State, 179 S.W.3d 571, 576 (Tex. Crim. App.

2005).

      Appellant’s argument focuses on a single response by Chaney; to afford that

response its proper context, we set forth the relevant exchanges on cross examination

and redirect. On cross examination, appellant’s counsel questioned Chaney:

      Q.    After you were able to do your investigation in this case, this case
      was submitted to the District Attorney’s office; is that fair?
      A.     Yes, ma’am.

      Q.     And the standard for which a case is filed or you have to get an
      arrest warrant, that would be probable cause; is that correct?

      A.     That’s correct.
      Q.   And you believe that you had probable cause to file a felony
      murder charge against my client, Tradareon Choice; is that correct?
      A.     I know I had probable cause, yes, ma’am.

      Q.    And the burden for which a jury must find a person guilty would
      be beyond a reasonable doubt; is that correct?

      A.     That’s correct.

                                         –3–
      Q.    And that’s a higher burden than the one that you needed to
      originally file this case; is that correct?

      A.    In court, yes, ma’am.

Appellant’s counsel then passed the witness, and the prosecutor began his redirect

examination. As he was finishing, he followed up on defense counsel’s questions:

      Q.     Now, Ms. Moore was talking to you earlier about when you file
      a case with the District Attorney’s office you have to have what is called
      probable cause; is that right?

      A.    That is correct.
      Q.    Does that mean that you don’t believe beyond a reasonable doubt
      what you have investigated?
      A.     Probable cause come[s] when making the arrest. You have to
      have probable cause to make the arrest, to file a warrant and put
      someone in jail. And then that does not stop your investigation, just
      putting somebody in jail. You are responsible for completing and
      gathering all of the facts of this investigation and present[ing] these
      facts to the Court to show beyond a doubt that the person -- beyond a
      reasonable doubt that this person is responsible for this crime.

      Q.    After you have completed your investigation and you filed your
      case with the District Attorney, do you accept and take in all
      information with regard to the case to make sure that you are still
      correct?
      A.    Yes, ma’am.

      Q.     Did you get any information after you filed the case with the
      District Attorney’s office that you were incorrect about the
      responsibility of each of these three people?

      A.    No, ma’am. Like I said, the investigation didn’t stop by me just
      putting them in jail. Therefore, I continued, and that’s where I
      discovered that Mr. Wheeler didn’t have any participation. And,
      therefore, that’s why he was -- the charges [were] dropped against him.

                                         –4–
      Q.    Based on all of the information that you received, including
      speaking with each of these four people, do you still believe beyond a
      reasonable doubt that Tradareon Choice and Joshua Valdez and Shemar
      McCarthy are responsible for what happened that night including the
      death of Juan Correa Arzola.
      A.     Yes, ma’am.

      Defense counsel objected that these questions required the witness “to make

a legal conclusion that is for the trier of fact.” The prosecutor responded that he had

not asked the witness whether he thought the individuals were guilty or not guilty,

“but whether he still believes that they were responsible as based on the investigation

and any other information that he has received after he gave the case to the District

Attorney’s office.” The trial court overruled the objection.

      Appellant argues that by providing these answers, “Detective Chaney gave his

opinion about Appellant’s guilt,” and that “is not permitted.” He cites Boyde v. State

for the proposition that “[n]o lay witness or expert witness can give an opinion about

the guilt or innocence of a defendant.” 513 S.W.2d 588, 590 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974).

Boyde does assert that “the expression of guilt or innocence in this case was a

conclusion to be reached by the jury . . . Thus, no witness was competent to voice

an opinion as to guilt or innocence.” Id. However, we agree with the State that

Chaney did not testify that appellant was guilty of felony murder. When read in

context, it is apparent the detective stated that after gathering all the evidence in his

investigation—including evidence discovered after filing the case—he continued to

                                          –5–
believe that the persons charged, including appellant, were responsible for the death

of Arzola.

      Detective Chaney was a lay witness at this trial, testifying to his own conduct

while investigating Arzola’s death and the related robbery. A lay witness may give

opinion testimony so long as it is (a) rationally based on his perception and (b)

helpful to a clear understanding of his testimony or to determine a fact in issue. TEX.

R. EVID. 701. “An opinion is not objectionable just because it embraces an ultimate

issue.” TEX. R. EVID. 704. Relying on these rules, the Texas Court of Criminal

Appeals has concluded that a defendant arguing self-defense on appeal did not

receive ineffective assistance of counsel when his attorney failed to object to a police

officer’s opinion that the defendant had not been attacked. Ex parte Nailor, 149
S.W.3d 125, 134 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). Similarly, employing these rules, we have

approved admission of a detective’s opinion that when a person kills another in self-

defense, he usually remains at the scene to explain what happened, rather than

fleeing and disposing of the weapon. Madison v. State, No. 05-15-00859-CR, 2016
WL 7163913, at *3–4 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 8, 2016, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not

designated for publication).

      In this case, the State introduced evidence that had worked for the Dallas

Police Department for nearly twenty years. He testified in detail concerning his

oversight of this homicide investigation and the manner in which evidence was

gathered. His testimony concerning the development of an investigation generally—

                                          –6–
and this investigation specifically—was based on his personal experience and

perceptions. See TEX. R. EVID. 701(a). And his testimony concerning the progression

of required standards of proof in a criminal case, and how they applied in this

investigation, was helpful to explain why he arrested appellant and why he continued

to investigate the circumstances of Arzola’s death after the arrest. See TEX. R. EVID.

701(b). Nor was Chaney’s opinion inadmissible because it embraced an ultimate

issue in the case, i.e., who was responsible for killing Arzola. See TEX. R. EVID. 704.

      Moreover, when we review both exchanges between counsel and Chaney, it

is apparent that the defense initiated the discussion involving (a) burdens of proof

and (b) the detective’s belief concerning the quantum of proof that existed against

appellant. Defense counsel elicited Chaney’s opinion that probable cause existed to

file the case against appellant. However, the following questions suggested that

Chaney might not have developed sufficient evidence to establish appellant’s

responsibility beyond a reasonable doubt. As we have discussed, lay opinions are

admissible to give a clear understanding of a witness’s testimony. TEX. R. EVID.

701(b). “Evidence that is used to fully explain a matter opened by the other party

need not be otherwise admissible.” Goodwin v. State, No. 05-08-00291-CR, 2009
WL 311457, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 10, 2009, no pet.) (not designated for

publication). Accordingly, even if Chaney’s opinion—standing alone—could be

adjudged inadmissible, the State elicited the opinion to clarify a subject that the

defense introduced in cross examination. Thus, Chaney’s opinion was admissible,

                                         –7–
and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling appellant’s objection.

See, e.g., Rudd v. State, No. 05-07-00447-CR, 2008 WL 2955157, at *4 (Tex.

App.—Dallas Aug. 4, 2008, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication) (trial court

did not err in concluding defense counsel opened door for State to rebut incomplete

and inaccurate picture left by questioning).

      We overrule appellant’s single issue.

                                    Conclusion

      We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                           /Bill Pedersen, III//
                                           BILL PEDERSEN, III
                                           JUSTICE

      190178f.u05

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

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

TRADAREON JAMEL CHOICE,                      On Appeal from the Criminal District
Appellant                                    Court No. 6, Dallas County, Texas
                                             Trial Court Cause No. F-1775538-X.
No. 05-19-00178-CR          V.               Opinion delivered by Justice
                                             Pedersen, III. Justices Myers and
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                 Whitehill participating.

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

Judgment entered this 24th day of September, 2020.

                                       –9–