Court Opinion

ID: 2951881
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 21:56:29.514393+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:41:33.674421
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-09-00731-CR

Benjamin Guevera Ramirez, Appellant

v.

The State of Texas, Appellee

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF LAMPASAS COUNTY, 27TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. 8344, HONORABLE JOE CARROLL, JUDGE PRESIDING

M E M O R A N D U M   O P I N I O N

		Following a bench trial, appellant Benjamin Guevera Ramirez was convicted of the
offense of sexual assault of a child.  See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.011(a)(2)(A) (West Supp. 2009).
Punishment was assessed at sixteen years' imprisonment. 
		The district court heard evidence that on December 17, 2008, Ramirez, a 36-year-old
man, had sexual intercourse with J.G., a fourteen-year-old girl.  J.G. testified at trial and described
in detail her prior relationship with Ramirez, the circumstances surrounding the alleged intercourse,
and the act itself.  J.G. reported the incident first to an adult friend, Janet Lynn Hackworth, and
later to her aunt and legal guardian, Judy Hall.  Both Hackworth and Hall testified at trial.  Other
witnesses included N.S., a fourteen-year-old girl who had knowledge of J.G.'s prior relationship
with Ramirez; Janice Denson, a licensed clinical social worker who had counseled J.G. for several
sessions after the incident had been reported to the authorities; and Mikey Betancourt, a forensic
interviewer with the Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center who had interviewed J.G. regarding
the incident.  Both Denison and Betancourt testified that J.G. had discussed the incident with them. 		The district court also considered evidence from Debbie Coates, the sexual assault
nurse examiner who had performed an exam on J.G.  Coates testified that J.G. had told her that
she and Ramirez "had sex at his trailer" on December 17, 2008.  Coates performed a genital exam
on J.G. and found that J.G.'s sexual organ had been penetrated in the past, although Coates admitted
on cross-examination that she could not determine when the penetration had occurred.  A report of
Coates's findings was admitted into evidence.
		Three witnesses testified for the defense:  Adam Trejo, Ramirez's former roommate;
Roger Griffith, Ramirez's friend; and Tammy Stone, Ramirez's girlfriend and the mother of his
daughter.  All three witnesses claimed that Ramirez was not present at his trailer at the time J.G. had
said that she and Ramirez had sex.
		The district court found Ramirez guilty as charged.  During punishment, Ramirez
pleaded true to an enhancement paragraph in the indictment alleging a prior conviction for the
felony offense of burglary of a habitation.  The district court subsequently sentenced Ramirez to
sixteen years' imprisonment.  This appeal followed.
		Ramirez's court-appointed attorney has filed a motion to withdraw supported by a
brief concluding that the appeal is frivolous and without merit.  The brief meets the requirements of
Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), by presenting a professional evaluation of the record
demonstrating why there are no arguable grounds to be advanced.  See also Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S.
75 (1988); High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); Currie v. State, 516 S.W.2d 684

(Tex. Crim. App. 1974); Jackson v. State, 485 S.W.2d 553 (Tex. Crim. App. 1972); Gainous
v. State, 436 S.W.2d 137 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969).  Ramirez received a copy of counsel's brief
and was advised of his right to examine the appellate record and to file a pro se brief.  No pro se brief
has been filed.
		We have reviewed the record and counsel's brief and agree that the appeal is frivolous
and without merit.  We find nothing in the record that might arguably support the appeal.  Counsel's
motion to withdraw is granted.
		The judgment of conviction is affirmed.

						__________________________________________
						Bob Pemberton, Justice
Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Puryear and Pemberton
Affirmed
Filed:   August 18, 2010
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