Court Opinion

ID: 2869727
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-06 03:08:53.341002+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:27.768315
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                       NO. 03-04-00433-CR

                              Vergie Eugene Greenwood, Appellant

                                                  v.

                                   The State of Texas, Appellee

  FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TOM GREEN COUNTY, 119TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
      NO. B-03-0945-S, HONORABLE THOMAS J. GOSSETT, JUDGE PRESIDING

                             MEMORANDUM OPINION

               Appellant Vergie Eugene Greenwood forced his way into the complainant’s residence

and assaulted her. A jury found him guilty of burglary of a habitation, and the court imposed an

eighteen-year prison sentence. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 30.02 (West 2003). Appellant’s only

contention on appeal is that his trial counsel was ineffective during jury selection because he did not

question a panelist who stated that she had been the victim of a similar crime. We will affirm.

               During the prosecutor’s voir dire, she asked the panelists if any of them had had an

experience that would make it difficult to be impartial in a trial for burglary and assault. Several

panelists indicated that they had. One, identified in the record as “prospective juror” and addressed

by the prosecutor as “ma’am,” said that she had “suffered an assault and attempted burglary, but it

was a number of years ago” and that “I do think I could be fair.” Appellant asserts that his attorney

failed to speak further to this panelist and thereby rendered ineffective assistance.
               At the conclusion of his own voir dire, appellant’s counsel asked the panelists if any

of them knew a reason “why you couldn’t be a fair and impartial, unbiased and certainly an open-

minded juror.” A panelist identified as “prospective juror” and addressed by counsel as “ma’am”

responded, “I’ve already stated—.” Counsel interrupted, saying “I know what you said, and I believe

there was somebody else over here, and Ms. Ryan.”

               Although it is impossible to be sure, the unidentified panelist who spoke up during

counsel’s voir dire may have been the same panelist who earlier spoke to the prosecutor. In any

event, it is clear that defense counsel was concerned about the issue of potential bias. In the absence

of any evidence to the contrary, we must presume that counsel exercised reasonable professional

judgment during jury selection and used his peremptory strikes in a manner calculated to protect

appellant’s rights. See Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994).

               Finding no merit to appellant’s sole claim on appeal, we affirm the judgment of

conviction.

                                               __________________________________________

                                               David Puryear, Justice

Before Chief Justice Law, Justices Patterson and Puryear

Affirmed

Filed: July 13, 2005

Do Not Publish

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