Court Opinion

ID: 2926557
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-11 22:32:07.489817+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:39:18.464280
License: Public Domain

NUMBER 13-08-00661-CR

 
COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG 

 

ROBERTO QUIROGA,							Appellant,

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,							Appellee.

On appeal from the 103rd District Court of Cameron County, Texas.                                                                                                                     

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before Justices Rodriguez, Garza, and Vela
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Garza

	Appellant, Roberto Quiroga, appeals his convictions for murder and tampering with
physical evidence.  See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 19.02(b)(1) (Vernon 2003), 37.09(a)
(Vernon Supp. 2008).  After a jury trial, Quiroga was convicted of two counts of murder and
one count of tampering with physical evidence.  The jury assessed punishment at thirty
years' incarceration in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
for each of the murder counts and ten years' incarceration for the count of tampering with
physical evidence.  The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.  By four issues,
Quiroga alleges that the evidence supporting his convictions is legally and factually
insufficient.  We affirm.
I. Background

	A Cameron County grand jury indicted Quiroga with two counts of murder, one count
of aggravated assault, three counts of deadly conduct, and one count of tampering with
physical evidence. (1)  The charges alleged in the indictment stemmed from Quiroga's
shooting of Eleazar Pantoja on April 15, 2007, Quiroga's subsequent flight to Mexico, and
his sale of the weapon used to shoot Eleazar.
	At Quiroga's jury trial, the State called several witnesses in its case-in-chief,
including Officers Robert Ahrens and Antonio Maldonado, Lawrence John Dahm, M.D.,
Bradley Wayne Drachenburg, Joe "Ezzie" Cortez, Gilbert and Mario Pantoja, Detective Joe
Michael Salinas, and Investigator Daniel Cortez.  Quiroga neither testified nor called any
witnesses to testify on his behalf.
A. Ahrens and Maldonado's Testimony

	Ahrens, an officer for the Harlingen Police Department, testified that he was on
patrol at "The Strip" in Harlingen, Texas, on the night of the incident. (2)  Ahrens was in his
patrol car sitting in traffic approximately 150 feet from the intersection of Tyler Street and
F Street when he observed an individual later identified as Eleazar approach a car.  Ahrens
noted that as Eleazar approached the car, it appeared as if Eleazar was wanting to fight
someone.  Ahrens stated that he thought he saw Eleazar throw something at the car, and
shortly thereafter, he heard gunshots.  Ahrens saw puffs of smoke emanating from a silver
Saturn car, and he saw Eleazar fall to the ground.  Ahrens testified that he did not see a
gun, knife, or any other weapon in Eleazar's hands when Eleazar approached the silver
Saturn.  As he maneuvered his patrol car to get closer to the scene of the incident, Ahrens
called for backup on his radio and observed Gilbert and Jose Luis "Slim" Perez drag
Eleazar's body out of the street.  Upon arriving at the scene, Ahrens secured the area and
loaded Eleazar's body in his patrol car to be immediately taken to the hospital.  In securing
the area, Ahrens did not see any weapons strewn about or removed from the scene.
Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Eleazar was pronounced dead. 	
	Maldonado, also an officer with the Harlingen Police Department, was patrolling a
nearby street when he heard a loud pop that sounded like a gunshot.  He subsequently
heard Ahrens's call for backup and made his way to the scene of the incident.  Upon
arriving at the scene, Maldonado began to question witnesses about what had happened. 
He discovered that most witnesses were uncooperative; however, some people identified
the gunman's car as a "gold or silver vehicle, and it took off eastbound on Tyler."  After
speaking with witnesses, Maldonado began to investigate the scene.  He noticed that there
were rocks that were four inches in diameter at the scene; however, he did not see any
handguns, knives, or bricks in the street.   
B. Dr. Dahm's Testimony

	Dr. Dahm conducted the autopsy on Eleazar's body and concluded that Eleazar
died from a gunshot wound to the left chest.  A routine toxicology exam revealed that
Eleazar was intoxicated and had trace amounts of marihuana in his blood on the night of
the incident.
C. Drachenburg's Testimony

	Drachenburg testified that he and his friends were present at "The Strip," near the
intersection of Tyler and F Streets, on the night of the incident.  He stated that he heard
an initial "bang" followed by "two or three more bangs" and then he saw Eleazar fall to the
ground.  When asked about the series of "bangs" heard, Drachenburg testified that the first
"bang" sounded like a rock hitting a car and the subsequent "bangs" sounded like
gunshots; however, he admitted that he did not see a rock thrown or shots fired.  After
observing Eleazar fall to the ground, Drachenburg noticed a gray Saturn with chrome
wheels take off through a red light.  Drachenburg believed that the driver of the Saturn was
trying to quickly flee the scene.  Drachenburg added that he was not under the influence
of drugs or alcohol on the night in question.     
D. Ezzie's Testimony

	Ezzie stated that he was one of Eleazar's good friends and that they saw each other
"[p]retty much every day."  Ezzie testified that he was at "The Strip" on the night of the
incident and that he observed Eleazar get shot.  While all of the cars in the street were
stopped because of a red light, Eleazar was called over to the silver car and was shot by
the driver.  Ezzie recalled that:  (1) when Eleazar approached the silver car, Eleazar was
holding a beer in his hand; and (2) he did not remember seeing Eleazar throw anything at
the silver car.  Ezzie later admitted that he and Eleazar were members of the Westside
Aquas street gang.  Ezzie denied seeing Eleazar brandish any weapons or say any fighting
words to the driver of the silver car in the moments leading up to the killing. 
E. Gilbert and Mario's Testimony

	Gilbert testified that Eleazar was his older brother and that he was at "The Strip" with
Mario and Eleazar on the night in question.  Gilbert recalled seeing Eleazar being shot, and
he denied that Eleazar threw anything at the silver car.  Instead, Gilbert remembered that
Eleazar was holding a beer as he approached the silver car.  Gilbert also denied that
Eleazar pulled out a firearm or a knife at any time that evening.  Gilbert testified that he: 
(1) heard two gunshots fired; (2) saw Eleazar make a throwing motion only after Quiroga
had shot him; and (3) identified the shooter's silver car.  Gilbert also referenced an incident
at a local car wash where another Westside gang member, Christian Yanez, tried to run
Quiroga over with a car.  Gilbert believed that the shooter was Quiroga and that he was
exacting revenge against Eleazar even though Eleazar was allegedly not involved in the
car wash incident. (3)  Gilbert stated that he saw the silver car pass by several times prior to
the shooting.
	Mario stated that Eleazar was his big brother and his best friend.  Mario noted that
he was a couple of steps away from Eleazar at the time of the shooting.  Mario identified
the shooter's car as a silver Saturn and was able to see the shooter's face.  Mario testified
that Eleazar did not throw anything at the car and that Eleazar only had a beer in his hand
when he approached the car. (4)  Mario heard two shots fired and saw the silver Saturn
immediately flee the scene.  Mario recalled a separate incident involving Eleazar, the silver
Saturn, and him.  Approximately a week prior to the shooting, Eleazar and Mario were
approached by two unidentified individuals bearing hammers.  The two individuals drove
a silver Saturn. (5)  Eleazar and Mario fled from the scene.  Mario identified the shooter as
Quiroga, and when presented a photo lineup, Mario wrote the words, "He shot my brother,"
under Quiroga's photo.  
	On cross-examination, Mario was asked about a drawing he made shortly after the
incident had occurred.  In this drawing, Mario illustrated the crime scene, which showed
that Eleazar had something in his hand at the time he was shot.  At trial, Mario testifed that: 
(1) the object in Eleazar's hand at the time of the shooting was a beer; (2) the beer was
under Eleazar's shirt; and (3) Eleazar was reaching for the beer when he was shot.  
F. Salinas's Testimony

	Salinas, a detective with the Harlingen Police Department, testified that he was the
lead detective in the investigation of Eleazar's death.  Salinas stated that Quiroga drove
a silver Saturn and that, based on his investigation, Quiroga shot Eleazar on the night in
question.  Salinas identified Quiroga in open court as the individual picked out by Mario
from the photo lineup.  Salinas obtained an arrest warrant for Quiroga and tried to locate
him by using his last known addresses, but ultimately was unsuccessful.  Quiroga was later
apprehended by United States Border Patrol agents trying to illegally enter the United
States from Mexico.  Quiroga was transported to a Harlingen jail for questioning by Salinas
who interrogated Quiroga and, after reading Quiroga his Miranda rights, obtained a
confession. (6) See generally Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).  
	At trial, Salinas was asked several questions regarding the interrogation.  Initially,
Quiroga told Salinas that no brick had been thrown and that he was in Mexico on the night
in question.  Later, Quiroga admitted to being in a prison gang, the Texas Syndicate. 
Quiroga also admitted to threatening to kill several people in the past and that he
immediately fled to Mexico after he shot Eleazar.  Quiroga sold the handgun used to shoot
Eleazar while he was in Mexico.  Quiroga also made several contradictory statements to
Salinas, including "I killed him because I was confused," "They messed with the wrong
person," and "If someone would've come instead of that kid it wouldn't have been him you
got me."  Later in the interrogation, Quiroga contradicted his earlier statements by claiming
that Eleazar had thrown a brick at his car.  He did not state that Eleazar had a firearm or
a knife in his possession.  Salinas testified that, after questioning Quiroga, he believed that
Quiroga had adequate time to determine what he was up against and did not believe that
Quiroga acted in self-defense. G. Cortez's Testimony

	Cortez, a crime-scene investigator and evidence custodian for the Harlingen Police
Department, testified that he recovered a pocket knife from the pocket of Eleazar's
sweatshirt.  Cortez stated that the pocket knife had a blade measuring one-and-a-half to
two inches.  He also found a disposable cigarette lighter in Eleazar's sweatshirt.  On cross-examination, Cortez admitted that the pocket knife could have inflicted a fatal wound if it
had been used.
II. Analysis

A. Self-Defense

	In his first and second issues, Quiroga argues that the evidence adduced at trial is
legally and factually insufficient to support the jury's rejection of his claim of self-defense. 
	1. Applicable Law
	Self-defense is justified when a person reasonably believes that force is immediately
necessary to protect himself against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful force. 
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 9.31(a) (Vernon Supp. 2008).
	Furthermore, a person is justified in using deadly force against another:
		(1) if the actor would be justified in using force against the other under
Section 9.31; and 

		(2) when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the deadly
force is immediately necessary;

			(A) to protect the actor against the other's use or attempted
use of unlawful deadly force; or

			(B) to prevent the other's commission of aggravated
kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault,
robbery, or aggravated robbery.

Id. § 9.32(a) (Vernon Supp. 2008).
 
	Once evidence is produced raising the issue of self-defense, the State bears the
burden of persuasion to disprove the defense. (7) Zuliani v. State, 97 S.W.3d 589, 594 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2003).  The State's burden of persuasion does not require the production of
evidence; it requires that the State prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.  Id.  Whether
the defendant acted in self-defense is a fact issue to be determined by the jury.  Saxton
v. State, 804 S.W.2d 910, 913 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (en banc).  The jury is free to accept
or reject any defensive evidence on the issue of self-defense.  Id. at 914.  A jury implicitly
rejects a defensive theory when it finds the defendant guilty.  Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 594.
	2. Standard of Review

	On appeal, when the defendant challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence
supporting the jury's rejection of his self-defense theory,
	we look not to whether the State presented evidence which refuted
appellant's self-defense testimony, but rather we determine whether after
viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any
rational trier of fact would have found the essential elements of murder
beyond a reasonable doubt and also would have found against the appellant
on the self-defense issue beyond a reasonable doubt.

Saxton, 804 S.W.2d at 914.  A person commits the offense of murder if he "intentionally
or knowingly causes the death of an individual."  Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.02(b)(1). 
	When a defendant challenges the factual sufficiency of the jury's rejection of a
defense, we review all of the evidence in a neutral light and ask whether the State's
evidence, taken alone, is too weak to support the finding and whether the proof of guilt,
although adequate if taken alone, is against the great weight and preponderance of the
evidence.  Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 595.
	3. Discussion
	In the instant case, Quiroga admitted that he shot and killed Eleazar with his gun
while in his car.  After shooting Eleazar, Quiroga immediately ran a red light in order to
quickly flee to Mexico.  On appeal, Quiroga directs us to statements he made to Salinas
in the interrogation that Eleazar approached his car on the night in question with a brick in
his hand and subsequently threw the brick at the car. (8)  Because Eleazar allegedly threw
a brick at Quiroga's car, Quiroga contends that he was justified in using deadly force.  
	Several witnesses testified that Eleazar did not throw anything at Quiroga's car and
that he approached the car with only a beer in his hand.  Ahrens testified that he thought
he saw Eleazar throw something at Quiroga's car, and Drachenburg stated that he heard
an object strike Quiroga's car.  However, neither Ahrens nor Drachenburg saw precisely
what, if anything, was thrown at Quiroga's car.  Gilbert noted that Eleazar made a throwing
motion only after Quiroga had fired a shot.  Furthermore, Quiroga himself offered
conflicting statements as to whether a brick had been thrown and noted that he thought the
brick was a weapon and that the brick hurt his arm and leg. (9)  The resolution of the
conflicting testimony was within the province of the jury.  See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann.
art. 38.04 (Vernon 1979); see also Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App.
2007) ("This standard [the legal sufficiency standard] accounts for the factfinder's duty to
resolve conflicts in the testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable
inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts. . . . [W]e determine whether the necessary
inferences are reasonable based upon the combined and cumulative force of all the
evidence when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict.").    
	In investigating the crime scene, law enforcement did not find any bricks; instead,
they found a few rocks that were at most four inches in diameter, suggesting that Quiroga's
use of deadly force was unreasonable.  See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 9.32(a)(2); see also
Chandler v. State, No. 07-05-0401-CR, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 4527, at **2-3, *6 (Tex.
App.-Amarillo May 31, 2007, pet. ref'd) (mem. op., not designated for publication)
(affirming a murder conviction and rejecting a self-defense theory where the deceased
threw a sandal at defendant's trailer and allegedly approached defendant "enraged");
Hatcher v. State, No. 05-00-00214-CR, 2002 Tex. App. LEXIS 25, at *1, **14-15 (Tex.
App.-Dallas, Jan. 4, 2002, pet. dism'd) (mem. op., not designated for publication)
(affirming a murder conviction and rejecting a self-defense theory where defendant shot
the deceased after an altercation involving a group of men calling each other names,
throwing bottles and rocks, and inviting each other to fight); Cantu v. State, No. 03-00-00082-CR, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 4385, at **1-2, **8-9 (Tex. App.-Austin June 29, 2001,
pet. ref'd) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (affirming a murder conviction and
rejecting a self-defense theory where defendant shot the deceased after two rival gangs
exchanged insults and the deceased and his gang allegedly threw rocks and bottles at
defendant's house).  Although law enforcement later discovered that Eleazar had a small
pocket knife in his possession on the night in question, no witnesses, including Quiroga,
stated that Eleazar attempted to attack Quiroga with the pocket knife.  Mario testified that: 
(1) he observed Quiroga drive by Eleazar and his friends several times as if to scope out
the scene; and (2) members of Eleazar's gang had previously tried to run Quiroga over at
a local car wash and that Quiroga's killing of Eleazar was motivated by revenge. 
	Based on the evidence adduced at trial, we conclude that it was not irrational for the
jury to convict Quiroga of murder and reject his self-defense theory.  See Saxton, 804
S.W.2d at 914.   
	The jury's decision to reject Quiroga's claim of self-defense ultimately hinged upon 
the credibility of the witnesses and the evidence, including Quiroga's statements to Salinas. 
See Miller v. State, 177 S.W.3d 177, 183 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet. ref'd). 
"Unless the available record clearly reveals a different result is appropriate . . . [we] must
defer to the jury's determination concerning what weight to give contradictory testimonial
evidence because resolution often turns on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor, and
those jurors were in attendance when the testimony was delivered."  Johnson v. State, 23
S.W.3d 1, 8 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).  Therefore, after reviewing all of the evidence in a
neutral light, we conclude that the State's evidence, taken alone, is not too weak to support
the jury's rejection of Quiroga's self-defense claim.  See Zuliani, 97 S.W.3d at 594-95. 
Furthermore, we cannot say that the verdict was clearly wrong or manifestly unjust.  See
id. at 595.  Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to
support the jury's rejection of Quiroga's claim of self-defense.  We overrule Quiroga's first
two issues.
B. Tampering With Physical Evidence
	By his third and fourth issues, Quiroga contends that the evidence supporting his
conviction for tampering with evidence is legally and factually insufficient.  In particular,
Quiroga asserts that the State failed to establish that he was aware that an investigation
was in progress when he disposed of the firearm used to kill Eleazar.  Quiroga further
asserts that his disposal of the firearm did not impede the investigation regarding Eleazar's
death.  The State argues that the evidence supporting Quiroga's conviction for tampering
with evidence is legally and factually sufficient because Quiroga admitted to police that "he
knew[:]  (1) he had shot someone; (2) that [the] gun was used in the shooting; (3) that the
gun could be used to tie him to the shooting[;] and (4) this was why he sold it."
 1. Applicable Law
 A person commits the offense of tampering with physical evidence if he:  (1) knows
that an investigation or official proceeding is pending or in progress; (2) alters, destroys,
or conceals any record, document, or thing, and; (3) intends to impair its verity, legibility,
or availability as evidence in the investigation or official proceeding.  Tex. Penal Code Ann.
§ 37.09(a)(1).  The three elements of section 37.09(a)(1) of the penal code include "'two
different culpable mental states'--knowledge and intent."  Williams v. State, 270 S.W.3d
140, 142 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (quoting Stewart v. State, 240 S.W.3d 872, 874 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2007)).  "The statute requires the knowledge of an investigation and the intent
to impair a thing's availability as evidence."  Id. "A person acts knowingly, or with
knowledge, with respect . . . to circumstances surrounding his conduct when he is aware
. . . that the circumstances exist."  Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 6.03(b) (Vernon 2003).  "A
person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect . . . to a result of his conduct when it
is his conscious objective or desire to . . . cause the result."  Id. § 6.03(a).
 2. Standard of Review 
	In a legal sufficiency review, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.  See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,
318-19 (1979); Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 414-17 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).  We do
not reevaluate the weight and credibility of the evidence, whether circumstantial or direct,
nor do we substitute our own judgment for that of the trier of fact.  Mosley v. State, 141
S.W.3d 816, 821 (Tex. App.-Texarkana 2004, pet. ref'd); Beckham, 29 S.W.3d at 151.
Instead, we consider whether the jury reached a rational decision.  Beckham, 29 S.W.3d
at 151.
	Each fact need not point directly and independently to the guilt of the appellant, as
long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support
the conviction.  Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (citing Barnes
v. State, 876 S.W.2d 316, 321 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994);  Johnson v. State, 871 S.W.2d 183,
186 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993); Alexander v. State, 740 S.W.2d 749, 758 (Tex. Crim. App.
1987)).  Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt
of an actor; circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt.  Guevara v.
State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 49 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).  On appeal, both circumstantial and
direct evidence cases are examined using the same standard of review.  Id.
	When reviewing the factual sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, we
view all the evidence in a neutral light, favoring neither party.  Neal v. State, 256 S.W.3d
264, 275 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 414.  We then ask whether the
evidence supporting the conviction, although legally sufficient, is nevertheless so weak that
the fact finder's determination is clearly wrong and manifestly unjust or whether conflicting
evidence so greatly outweighs the evidence supporting the conviction that the fact finder's
determination is manifestly unjust.  Lancon v. State, 253 S.W.3d 699, 704 (Tex. Crim. App.
2008); Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 414-15, 417.  To reverse under the second ground, we
must determine, with some objective basis in the record, that the great weight and
preponderance of all the evidence, though legally sufficient, contradicts the verdict. 
Watson, 204 S.W.3d at 417.
	We measure the sufficiency of the evidence by the elements of the offense as
defined by the hypothetically correct jury charge.  Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240
(Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Adi v. State, 94 S.W.3d 124, 131 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 2002,
pet. ref'd).  "Such a charge would accurately set out the law, would be authorized by the
indictment, and would not unnecessarily increase the State's burden of proof."  Malik, 953
S.W.2d at 240. 
	3. Discussion
	On appeal, Quiroga argues that the State failed to present evidence demonstrating
that:  (1) he knew of an ongoing investigation into the killing of Eleazar when he sold the
gun used in the shooting; and (2) the sale of the gun somehow impeded the investigation. 
The evidence established that Quiroga fled to Mexico immediately after shooting Eleazar. 
While there, Quiroga secured a buyer for the gun used to kill Eleazar.  In statements made
to Salinas, Quiroga noted that he sold the gun in Mexico "[s]o that someone here doesn't
kill someone and then put the blame on me . . . it's a big problem if it happens."  However,
Quiroga also stated that after shooting Eleazar he "just got [his] things and went.  No one
knew anything about what . . . was happening.  My family didn't know anything."  Salinas
testified that Quiroga's sale of the gun used to shoot Eleazar impeded his investigation
because he was unable to match the bullets found at the scene with the gun.    
	The indictment in the instant case alleged the following:  "knowing that an
investigation was in progress, to wit:  investigation of ELEAZAR PANTOJA's death,
[Quiroga] intentionally or knowingly conceal[ed] a weapon, to wit:  a firearm, with intent
to impair its availability as evidence in the investigation."  (Emphasis in original.)  See
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 37.09(a)(1).  
	The State suggests that the jury was rational in inferring that Quiroga was aware of
an investigation that was "in progress" based on his immediate flight to Mexico and the sale
of the gun.  We agree.  
	Proof of knowledge or intent is an inference that may be drawn by the fact finder
both from direct evidence and from evidence of the circumstances surrounding the act. 
Guevara, 152 S.W.3d at 50; Wolfe v. State, 917 S.W.2d 270, 275 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996)
(stating that  the trier of fact can infer knowledge from all the surrounding circumstances). 
Therefore, a jury can infer knowledge or intent from the acts, conduct, and remarks of the
accused and from the surrounding circumstances.  Hernandez v. State, 819 S.W.2d 806,
810 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); LaPoint v. State, 750 S.W.2d 180, 182 (Tex. Crim. App.
1986).  Although the State did not produce evidence clearly demonstrating Quiroga's
knowledge as to the status of the investigation into Eleazar's death, we find that a rational
jury could have concluded that Quiroga fled to Mexico and immediately sold the gun
because he knew that an investigation into Eleazar's death was "in progress" and that the
State's case against Quiroga would have been augmented by the finding of the gun.  See
Guevara, 152 S.W.3d at 50; Wolfe, 917 S.W.2d at 275; see also Hernandez, 819 S.W.2d
at 810; LaPoint, 750 S.W.2d at 182.  In addition, a rational jury could have found that
Quiroga's sale of the gun in Mexico impeded the investigation into Eleazar's killing.  See
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 37.09(a)(1); see also Beckham, 29 S.W.3d at 151.  
	Therefore, in viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we
conclude that the evidence supporting Quiroga's conviction for tampering with physical
evidence is legally sufficient.  See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 318-19; Watson, 204 S.W.3d at
414-17.  Furthermore, in viewing the evidence in a neutral light, we cannot say that the
jury's verdict is clearly wrong or manifestly unjust.  See Neal, 256 S.W.3d at 275; Watson,
204 S.W.3d at 414.  We therefore hold that the evidence is factually sufficient.  See
Lancon, 253 S.W.3d at 704.  Accordingly, we overrule Quiroga's third and fourth issues. 

III. Conclusion

	Based on the foregoing, we affirm the trial court's judgment.
  
 
 DORI CONTRERAS GARZA,
							Justice

Do not publish.  
Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).
Memorandum Opinion delivered and 
filed this the 13th day of August, 2009.
1.   The indictment also contained an enhancement paragraph which stated that Quiroga had previously
been convicted of felony possession of marihuana on February 8, 1994, and felony aggravated assault on
January 31, 1996.  The State subsequently dismissed all of the charges alleged in the indictment except for
the two counts of murder, one count of tampering with physical evidence, and the enhancement paragraphs.
2.  Ahrens identified "The Strip" as a place in Harlingen where "people drive their vehicles up and down
. . . basically east on Tyler and then they turn around and go back west on Harrison."
3.  Salinas testified, based on his own investigation, that Eleazar was not involved with the car wash
incident.
4.  However, Investigator Cortez testified that Mario told him on the day after the incident that he saw
Eleazar throw something at the silver car.
5.  Mario believed that the two individuals were around eighteen or nineteen years old.  It was
undisputed that Quiroga was an "older gentleman." 
6.  After asking Salinas about the interrogation of Quiroga, the State moved to admit a videotape and
English translation of the interrogation.  Both items were admitted without objection. 
7.  It is axiomatic that the "'defendant has a right to an affirmative instruction on every defensive issue
raised by the evidence whether the evidence is produced by the [S]tate or by the defense, whether it is strong
or feeble, whether it is umimpeached or contradicted, or whether it is conflicting.'"  Saxton v. State, 804
S.W.2d 910, 913 n. 9 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (quoting Ramos v. State, 478 S.W.2d 102, 104 (Tex. Crim. App.
1972)). 
8.  On cross-examination, Ahrens stated that objects such as bricks could be considered deadly
weapons.
9.  In his statements to Salinas, Quiroga was unsure if the object allegedly thrown was a brick or a rock.