Court Opinion

ID: 9641180
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 17:24:44.845088+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:35.644240
License: Public Domain

ELLIS, Justice,
dissenting.
Finding myself in disagreement with the majority members of the panel, I record my respectful dissent. I find that the complainant’s testimony and the other evidence at trial do not establish that the complainant was in fear of death or serious bodily injury.
I agree that the evidence need not show express verbal threats, infliction of serious bodily injury or use of a deadly weapon to support a conviction for aggravated sexual assault under the statute as amended in 1981. The conviction is supportable if the evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the verdict, shows that appellant threatened the victim with death, serious bodily injury or kidnapping. Such a threat can be communicated through acts, words or deeds. Richardson v. State, 753 S.W.2d 759 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1988, no pet.). I find that such evidence is lacking in the instant case. I would sustain appellant’s sole point of error and reverse appellant’s conviction and order an acquittal.