Court Opinion

ID: 4044627
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-28 23:39:27.586319+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:00.448085
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                            06-14-00147-CR
                                                                  SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                       TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                                                       3/19/2015 2:18:58 PM
                                                                            DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                                                     CLERK

                 ORAL ARGUMENT WAIVED
                                                           FILED IN
                                                    6th COURT OF APPEALS
                  CAUSE NO. 06-14-00147-CR            TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                                    3/19/2015 2:18:58 PM
                            IN THE                      DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                            Clerk

                     COURT OF APPEALS

     SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT TEXARKANA
____________________________________________________________

               AZIM SHAKUR RAHIM, Appellant

                               V.

                 THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
____________________________________________________________

        ON APPEAL FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW
                   LAMAR COUNTY, TEXAS
   TRIAL COURT NO. 61685; HONORABLE BILL HARRIS, JUDGE
____________________________________________________________

      APPELLEE’S (STATE’S) BRIEF
____________________________________________________________

                    Gary D. Young, County and District Attorney
                    Lamar County and District Attorney’s Office
                    Lamar County Courthouse
                    119 North Main
                    Paris, Texas 75460
                    (903) 737-2470
                    (903) 737-2455 (fax)

                    ATTORNEYS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS
                IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

      Pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 38.2(a)(1)(A), the list of parties and

counsel is not required to supplement or correct the appellant’s list.

                                       -i-
                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                     PAGE NO.:
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . .                                      i

TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                     ii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                        iv

STATEMENT OF THE CASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                           vii

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT. . . . . .                                               viii

ISSUE PRESENTED IN REPLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                           ix

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                 1

STATEMENT OF FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                       2

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                 15

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES

        ISSUE PRESENTED IN REPLY NO. 1: JURY
        CHARGE ERROR DID NOT EXIST; OR IN THE
        ALTERNATIVE, THE APPELLANT, RAHIM, COULD
        NOT PROVE EGREGIOUS HARM. . . . . . . . . . .                                       16

        ISSUE PRESENTED IN REPLY NO. 2: THIS
        COURT SHOULD ORDER THE SUPPLEMENTATION
        OF THE CLERK’S RECORD TO INCLUDE A
        CERTIFIED BILL OF COSTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                              21

PRAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          25

                                                    -ii-
                                                                     PAGE NO.:

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               26

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          26

                                         -iii-
                                 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

CASES:                                                                                  PAGE:

Albrecht v. State, 486 S.W.2d 97, 101 (Tex. Crim.
      App. 1972) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         17

Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim.
     App. 1985) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          20

Armstrong v. State, 340 S.W.3d 759, 766-67 (Tex. Crim.
      App. 2011) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       21-22

Armstrong v. State, 850 S.W.2d 230, 236 (Tex. App.--
      Texarkana 1993), aff’d, 897 S.W.2d 361 (Tex.
      Crim. App. 1995) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           18,19

Ballinger v. State, 405 S.W.3d 346,348, 349 (Tex. App.--Tyler
      2013, no pet.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       22,24

Bluitt v. State, 137 S.W.3d 51, 53 (Tex. Crim.
       App. 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        16

Crank v. State, 761 S.W.2d 328, 341 (Tex. Crim.
     App. 1988) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          17

Graves v. State, 176 S.W.3d 422, 433 (Tex. App.--Houston
     [1st Dist.] 2004, pet. dism’d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                20

Halliburton v. State, 528 S.W.2d 216, 219 (Tex.
      Crim. App. 1975) (op. on reh’g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                      17

Hutch v. State, 922 S.W.2d 166, 172 (Tex. Crim.
      App. 1996) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         19

Johnson v. State, 423 S.W.3d 385, 392 (Tex. Crim. App.
      2014) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      24

                                                    -iv-
Johnson v. State, 963 S.W.2d 140, 144 (Tex. App.--
     Texarkana 1998, pet. ref’d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              17-18,19

Jones v. State, 241 S.W.3d 666, 669 (Tex. App.--Texarkana
      2007, no pet.) (Lamar County) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                 17,19

Mayer v. State, 309 S.W.3d 552, 557 (Tex. Crim.
     App. 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          22

Randyael Dontrell Tyson v. The State of Texas, No.
      06-14-00114-CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 2506,
     at * 13-15 (Tex. App.--Texarkana March 18,
     2015, n.p.h.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      23,24

Robinson v. State, 844 S.W.2d 925, 929 (Tex. App.--
     Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, no pet.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                 17,19

Shipp v. State, 331 S.W.3d 433, 443 (Tex. Crim.
      App. 2011) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      17,19

Tate v. State, 981 S.W.2d 189, 193 n. 5 (Tex. Crim.
       App. 1998) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        17
Taylor v. State, 332 S.W.3d 483, 489, 490 (Tex.
       Crim. App. 2011) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       19,20,21

Whatley v. State, No. 06-12-00117-CR, 2014 WL 7399130,
     at * 1, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 13839, at * 2, *3 (Tex.
     App.--Texarkana December 30, 2014, no pet.) (mem.
     op., not designated for publication) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                   22,24

                                                    -v-
STATUTES:                                                                         PAGE:

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. ART. 103.006
      (WEST 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        22

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. ART. 103.001
      (West 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      22

TEX R. APP. P. 34.5(c)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        23,24

TEX. R. APP. P. 38.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       viii

TEX. R. APP. P. 38.2(a)(1)(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               i

TEX. R. EVID. 404(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         17

                                                  -vi-
                        STATEMENT OF THE CASE

      This is a criminal appeal from the trial court’s final judgment of

conviction. See CR, pgs. 62-64.

      After a jury trial, a jury in Lamar County found the appellant, Rahim,

guilty of the misdemeanor offense of assault causing bodily injury (RR, Vol.

3, pg. 272; CR, pg. 57), as charged in the information. See CR, pg. 5. The

jury assessed punishment at confinement for 365 days in the Lamar County

jail and assessed a fine of none. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 296; CR, pg. 61.

      After pronouncing sentence (RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 298-299), the trial court

signed its final judgment of conviction. See CR, pgs. 62-64. Rahim timely

filed his notice of appeal. See CR, pg. 65. By this appeal, Rahim raised two

(2) issues/points of error.

                                     -vii-
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT

The State will waive oral argument. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.2.

                             -viii-
             ISSUES PRESENTED IN REPLY

ISSUE PRESENTED IN REPLY NO. 1: JURY CHARGE ERROR
DID NOT EXIST; OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, THE APPELLANT,
RAHIM, COULD NOT PROVE EGREGIOUS HARM.

ISSUE PRESENTED IN REPLY NO. 2: THIS COURT SHOULD
ORDER THE SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE CLERK’S RECORD
TO INCLUDE A CERTIFIED BILL OF COSTS.

                        -ix-
                      CAUSE NO. 06-14-00147-CR

                                 IN THE

                         COURT OF APPEALS

     SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT TEXARKANA
____________________________________________________________

                   AZIM SHAKUR RAHIM, Appellant

                                   V.

                 THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
____________________________________________________________

        ON APPEAL FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW
                   LAMAR COUNTY, TEXAS
TRIAL COURT NO. 61685; HONORABLE BILL HARRIS, JUDGE
____________________________________________________________

       APPELLEE’S (STATE’S) BRIEF
____________________________________________________________

TO THE HONORABLE SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS AT
TEXARKANA:

      COMES NOW, the State of Texas, by and through the elected County

and District Attorney of Lamar County, Gary D. Young, and the Lamar

County and District Attorney’s Office, respectfully submits its Appellee’s

(State’s) Brief under Rule 38.2 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.

      Unless otherwise indicated, Azim Shakur Rahim will be referred to as

                                   -1-
“the appellant” or “Rahim” and the State of Texas as “the State.”

                        STATEMENT OF FACTS

      Factual Background.

      On November 20, 2013 (RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 30, 58, 157, 174, 177),

Robert Milton, a licensed peace officer for twenty-three years and six

months and a patrol officer with the City of Paris Police Department,

(Officer Milton) responded to an incident a Quick Stop or a Speedy Stop at

2205 Clarksville in Lamar County, Texas. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 28-30, 60,

70-74, 157. See also State’s Exhibits 9-16. It was daylight; Officer Milton

was on the day shift. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 30.

      On November 20th, Tapfuma Omega Thomas (Thomas) was the cook

(RR, Vol. 3, pg. 92) at the Speedy Stop and was cooking burgers at the time.

See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 110-111. According to Thomas, he was taking an order

for a hamburger that day from Larry Solomon (Mr. Solomon). See RR, Vol.

3, pgs. 113, 115. Mr. Solomon, who called the cook “Tot” (RR, Vol. 3, pg.

179), was placing his order, and Rahim came around to the counter. See RR,

Vol. 3, pg. 115. Mr. Solomon heard somebody say, “hey, Brother Larry.”

See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 179. See also RR, Vol. 3, pg. 194. Mr. Soloman turned

around and it was Rahim, who said, “let me talk to you for a minute.” See

                                     -2-
RR, Vol. 3, pg. 179. See also RR, Vol. 4, pg. 194-197.

       Rahim told Mr. Solomon, “could you please talk to me out here, we

need to have a conversation.”      See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 115.      Rahim was

“[t]alking calm, no raised voices, cuss word”s, nothing.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg.

115. “They went ahead and went outside.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 116.

       About that time, Devin Washington (Washington) pulled up to the gas

station to get something to eat, when he saw Rahim and Mr. Solomon come

out of the store. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 136-138. Washington saw them

talking “normally.”    See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 139.      Bobby Woyn Harrison

(Harrison) was also going into the store. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 170. As

Harrison entered the store, a conversation was going on. See RR, Vol. 3, pg.

170. That’s when Harrison saw them exit the store. See RR, Vol. 3, pg.

170.

       Right before Washington got out, he saw Rahim throw a punch. See

RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 137-139. According to Washington, “[i]t was more like

caught him off guard, like a jab to his face.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 139.

According to Mr. Solomon said, “[h]e sucker punched me out of nowhere.”

See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 180; State’s Exhibit 8.

       After that, Washington didn’t see more because a car had blocked his

                                      -3-
view. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 140-141, 145. Washington opened his door to

go to investigate and see what was going on. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 141. “I

seen them both on the ground.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 141. Washington heard

the word, “gun” but he didn’t see it. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 141. “They said it

fell out.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 141. “A good five or six people” were around.

See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 142.

      It wasn’t two minutes later when another patron came in the store and

said to Thomas, “they’re fighting, they’re fighting, go help.” See RR, Vol.

3, pg. 116. Thomas came out that front door of the store. See RR, Vol. 3,

pgs. 117, 185. They were already on the ground. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 117.

      Washington saw Thomas come out, and “[h]e was trying to break up

the fight.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 142. See also RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 164, 171, 183.

They were on the ground for “a few good minutes.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg.

142. See also RR, Vol. 3, pg. 166.

      Mr. Solomon said, “Tot, just get the gun, I ain’t going to shoot

nobody.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 185. That’s when Tot come over and took the

gun out of Mr. Solomon’s hand. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 185.

      Rahim had his knee in his back and was still punching him in the back

of the head. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 117, 121, 124. Rahim had one hand on the

                                     -4-
pistol and Mr. Solomon had both hands on it. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 117, 134,

163. They were both fighting over the gun. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 184-185.

      After they were separated, Washington didn’t see Thomas with the

weapon, and he didn’t witness who took the weapon away. See RR, Vol. 3,

pgs. 153-154.

      Thomas could see that Mr. Solomon was bleeding. See RR, Vol. 3,

pg. 118. Thomas grabbed Rahim, and was asking him to let him go. See

RR, Vol. 3, pg. 118. See also RR, Vol. 3, pg. 187. Thomas got him off of

Mr. Solomon. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 187. Thomas made sure the police were

called. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 122.

      Both relinquished the pistol to Thomas, who passed it to another

witness, Harrison.   See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 119, 121, 128, 155, 164-165.

Harrison had the gun, when the police came. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 164.

      Arrival of Law Enforcement.

      Dispatch advised there was disturbance at the Speedy Stop involving a

gun. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 31, 40, 58. Officer Milton answered the call,

along with Officer Bigler and Sergeant Brandenburg, who was the first

officer on the scene. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 31.

      Sergeant Thomas Brandenburg, a certified peace officer and field

                                      -5-
supervisor, (Sergeant Brandenburg) had primarily supervisory duties for the

past five years in the Paris Police Department. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 55-56.

Sergeant Brandenburg was the direct supervisor of Officer Milton. See RR,

Vol. 3, pg. 79.

      Sergeant Brandenburg secured the gun from a gentleman named

Harrison.    See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 59.         After securing the gun, Sergeant

Brandenburg initially made contact with Rahim, who was “somewhat

aggressive” and shouting at the victim, Larry Solomon (Mr. Solomon). See

RR, Vol. 3, pg. 60. Sergeant Brandenburg tried to separate the parties that

were involved, and he took Rahim to Mr. Bigler’s patrol car. See RR, Vol.

3, pgs. 60-61, 67. Rahim was still “very agitated.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 68.

See also RR, Vol. 3, pg. 75.

      In the patrol car, Rahim told Sergeant Brandenburg that “he had

indeed struck first but he claimed that Mr. Solomon had came at him in what

he describe[d] as an aggressive manner.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 62. See also

RR, Vol. 3, pg. 93. Rahim claimed the gun was never pointed at him. See

RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 62, 65. The gun wasn’t pulled while they were standing up.

See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 65.        The gun got pulled out when they were on the

ground. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 65-66.

                                       -6-
      When Officer Milton arrived, there was several people standing

around, and Sergeant Brandenburg was talking to a gentlemen that was later

identified as Asim Rahim.       See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 31.       Officer Milton

recognized Mr. Bobby Harrison, “Paulia” Harrison and Thomas. See RR,

Vol. 3, pgs. 31-32, 158. Officer Milton spoke with Mr. Solomon, the victim,

to get his side of the story of what happened. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 32, 36.

Mr. Solomon was “about 5’ 8” (RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 68, 120) or “5’ 6” because

he was “the smallest one growing up in Booker T when he was growing up

back in the day.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 187.

      Mr. Solomon said he walked in the store, and Rahim said to him, “we

need to talk.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 32. Rahim admitted that he confronted

the victim. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 68. So, they went outside. See RR, Vol. 3,

pgs. 32, 38, 44, 66. Mr. Solomon said that Rahim started accusing him of

having an affair with his wife. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 32. See also RR, Vol. 3,

pg. 77 (Rahim was upset and felt like Mr. Solomon was seeing his wife).

Mr. Solomon said that Bobby Bostic, Jr. (Bostic), a friend of theirs, had been

spreading those rumors. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 32. Mr. Solomon met Rahim

through Bostic, a veteran friend. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 176. Mr. Solomon

denied an affair (RR, Vol. 3, pg. 32) by saying, “No, I did not.” See RR,

                                     -7-
Vol. 3, pg. 175. See also RR, Vol. 3. Pg. 186.

      At that time, Mr. Solomon said that Rahim started punching him and

picked him up to slam him on the concrete. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 32, 44-45.

“That’s when he picked me up and he slammed me down on the concrete.”

See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 181. Harrison witnessed “him up in the air” (RR, Vol.

3, pgs. 159, 161), and “he dropped down . . . on the side of the concrete.”

See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 159. See also RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 168, 181-182, 191;

State’s Exhibit 10.

      It appeared to Officer Milton that the defendant, Rahim, was a large

and strong enough individual to have picked up and thrown down Mr.

Solomon. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 46. Officer Milton also talked to Rahim. See

RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 37, 41-42. See also State’s Exhibit 18. Officer Milton

talked to Rahim in the “right backseat” of Officer Bigler’s patrol car. See

RR, Vol. 3, pg. 42.

      During that conversation, Rahim said that he struck Mr. Solomon.

See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 38. “There was gun mentioned but [Rahim] said that

Mr. Solomon did not pull the gun on him.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 38.

      Mr. Solomon “was bent over holding his side.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg.

44. See also RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 122, 188. Mr. Solomon “was wincing in pain

                                     -8-
and appeared to be in a great deal of pain.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 45. See also

RR, Vol. 3, pg. 64 (“could tell by his facial expressions he was wincing in

pain; he was holding his side.”), pg. 167. According to Mr. Solomon, he

was feeling “a lot of pain” (RR, Vol. 3, pg. 186), and he “could barely

breathe.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 189.

      On two or three times, Officer Milton asked if Mr. Solomon need an

ambulance. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 45. “Each time he said no.” See RR, Vol.

3, pg. 45. See also RR, Vol. 3, pg. 189.

      Later, Mr. Solomon did get in the ambulance and go to the hospital.

See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 41, 44-45, 58, 132, 167, 189. Mr. Solomon went to

Paris Regional Medical Center emergency room, where he was in the ICU at

the hospital for at least four (4) days from November 20th to November 23,

2013. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 94; State’s Exhibit 17 (medical records). See also

RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 94-99, 190.

      Officer Milton went to see Mr. Solomon in the hospital to check his

injuries. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 45. Other than being upset, Officer Milton did

notice some spots of blood and a cut on one hand. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 45.

See also RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 47-50; State’s Exhibits 1-8. Officer Milton spoke

with Mr. Solomon’s doctor, who said he had fractured ribs and a collapsed

                                     -9-
lung and would need to see a surgeon. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 50. See also RR,

Vol. 3, pg. 169.

      After Mr. Solomon left the hospital, he was still in pain. See RR, Vol.

3, pg. 191. Mr. Solomon carried a cane for at least five months. See RR,

Vol. 3, pg. 191.

      Sergeant Brandenburg did not arrest the defendant, Rahim, that day.

See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 57. Sergeant Brandenburg sent the case off to the

Criminal Investigation Division (or “CID”) because there were more

witnesses that needed to be interviewed by CID. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 57,

75.

      Further Investigation by CID.

      James Mazy was a lieutenant and peace officer in the criminal

investigation division with the City of Paris Police Department (Lieutenant

Mazy). See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 84-85. Lieutenant Mazy had a chance to

investigate an incident that happened on November 20, 2013. See RR, Vol.

3, pg. 86.

      Before Lieutenant Mazy could actually contact anyone, Rahim came

to the police department. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 86-87; State’s Exhibit 19.

Rahim was not in custody, and he contacted Lieutenant Mazy voluntarily.

                                    -10-
See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 88-89.

      On November 26, 2013, Lieutenant Mazy interviewed Rahim. See

RR, Vol. 3, pg. 99. Lieutenant Mazy also interviewed Mr. Harrison and his

wife at the same time. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 103.    Upon the conclusion of his

investigation, Lieutenant Mazy concluded that Mr. Solomon was assaulted

by Rahim. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 99.

      Jury Trial.

      On August 5, 2014, the trial court presided over the voir dire

proceedings. See RR, Vol. 2, pgs. 1-66. After challenges for cause and

peremptory strikes, the trial court impaneled a petit jury of six regular jurors

and one alternate. See RR, Vol. 2, pg. 69.

      On August 13, 2014, the trial court proceeded with the jury trial in

cause number 61685 by pre-admitting State’s Exhibits 1-8, which were

pictures, along with State’s Exhibit 17, the medical records. See RR, Vol. 3,

pgs. 7-8. The trial court then administered the oath to the jurors. See RR,

Vol. 3, pg. 10.

      After the trial court gave additional instructions to the jury (RR, Vol.

3, pgs. 10-16) and to the witnesses after the Rule was invoked, the State

presented the charging instrument. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 18-19. Rahim

                                      -11-
entered a plea of “not guilty.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 19.

      Following opening statements (RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 20-27), the State

called Officer Milton as its first witness. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 28. During his

testimony, Officer Milton identified Rahim as the defendant in open court.

See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 37. As its next witness, the State called Sergeant

Brandenburg, who also identified Rahim as the defendant in open court. See

RR, Vol. 3, pg. 63.      The State’s third witness, Lieutenant Mazy, also

identified Rahim as the defendant in open court. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 90.

      The State called several additional witnesses and concluded with Mr.

Solomon as its last witness. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 199. Upon the conclusion

of Mr. Solomon’s testimony, the State rested. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 200-201.

      As Rahim began his case-in-chief, defense counsel called Kameel

McWilliams (McWilliams).        See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 201.       Following the

testimony of McWilliams (RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 201-212), Rahim testified on his

own behalf.    See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 212-248.        At the conclusion of his

testimony, Rahim rested. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 249. Subsequently, both

parties rested and closed. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 254.

      Following a charge conference, the trial court inquired, “any

objections, concerns, comments on the jury charge?” See RR, Vol. 3, pg.

                                     -12-
255.      The State voiced “[n]o objections or concerns regarding the jury

charge, Your Honor.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 255. Through defense counsel,

Rahim voiced, “No objections, no concerns, Your Honor.” See RR, Vol. 3,

pg. 256. The trial court then read the court’s charge to the jury. See RR,

Vol. 3, pg. 257; CR, pgs. 54-56.

       After closing arguments (RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 258-270), the jury retired to

begin its deliberations. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 270. Upon the conclusion of its

deliberations, the jury reached a verdict. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 271-272. By

its verdict, the jury found Rahim guilty of the offense of assault causing

bodily injury, as charged in the information. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 272; CR,

pg. 57.

       The trial court then proceeded with the punishment phase of the jury

trial. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 274. Upon the conclusion of the punishment

phase, the State rested. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 287. Rahim elected not to take

the stand, and the defense rested. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 287. Both sides rested

and closed. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 288.

       The trial court then read its punishment charge to the jury. See RR,

Vol. 3, pg. 289; CR, pgs. 58-60. After closing arguments (RR, Vol. 3, pgs.

290-293), the jury retired to begin its deliberations. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 293-

                                       -13-
294. Upon the conclusion of its deliberations, the jury reached a verdict.

See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 295-296. By its verdict, the jury assessed punishment

at confinement for 365 days in the Lamar County jail and assessed a fine of

none. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 296; CR, pg. 61. Later, the trial court set an

appeal bond and pronounced sentence. See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 298-299.

      On August 13, 2014, the trial court signed its final judgment of

conviction. See CR, pgs. 62-64. Rahim timely filed his notice of appeal.

See CR, pg. 65.

      Proceedings in this Court.

      On or about August 18th, Rahim filed his notice of appeal in this

Court. The County Clerk of Lamar County filed the Clerk’s Record on or

about September 18, 2014. The official court reporter filed the Reporter’s

Record on or about December 1, 2014.

      The appellant, Rahim, filed the first (of two) motions for extension of

time to file his brief, which this Court granted initially until January 21,

2015. After this deadline, Rahim filed his brief on or about January 25,

2015 along with a second motion for extension of time, which this Court

granted on January 27, 2015.

                                    -14-
      The State filed a motion for extension of time, which this Court

granted on March 3, 2015. The State filed its brief on March 19, 2015.

                   SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

      By this appeal, Rahim brings two (2) issues/points of error. This

Court should overrule each of these issues/points of error for these reasons:

      (1)    Jury charge error did not exist in the present case because the

extraneous-offense-evidence was admissible to rebut Rahim’s defensive

theory of self-defense and/or to show Rahim’s intent. Because jury charge

error did not exist, the present case should not involve an analysis for

egregious harm; but even it did, Rahim could not prove egregious harm.

      (2)    This Court should order the trial court clerk (i.e. the County

Clerk of Lamar County, Texas) to supplement this appellate record with a

certified bill of costs.   Once this Court has ordered and received this

supplemental bill of costs, the evidence will be legally-sufficient to support

the trial court’s final judgment of conviction, which required the appellant

(Rahim) to pay court costs.

      In summary, this Court should overrule the appellant’s, Rahim’s, two

(2) issues/points of error on appeal, and affirm the trial court’s final

judgment of conviction in all respects.

                                     -15-
                   ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES

ISSUE PRESENTED IN REPLY NO. 1: JURY CHARGE ERROR
DID NOT EXIST; OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, THE APPELLANT,
RAHIM, COULD NOT PROVE EGREGIOUS HARM.

      A.     Standard of Review: Egregious Harm.

      “[A]n affirmative denial of objection, as in this case, shall be deemed

equivalent to a failure to object.” See Bluitt v. State, 137 S.W.3d 51, 53

(Tex. Crim. App. 2004). “An appellant may raise such unobjected-to charge

error on appeal, but may not obtain a reversal for such error unless it resulted

in egregious harm.” See id.

      In the present case, as in Bluitt, Rahim stated through his counsel, “No

objections, no concerns, Your Honor.” See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 256. Such an

affirmative denial of objection should be deemed equivalent to a failure to

object. See Bluitt, 137 S.W.3d at 53. Under Bluitt, Rahim may raise such

unobjected-to charge error on appeal, but may not obtain a reversal for such

error unless it resulted in egregious harm. See id.

     B.     Jury Charge Error Did Not Exist: The Trial Court Did Not
Abuse its Discretion in Instructing the Jury That It Could Consider
Evidence of the 2007 Assault.

      With his first issue/point of error, Rahim contended that the trial court

erred when it instructed the jury in its charge that it could consider evidence

                                      -16-
of the appellant’s prior bad acts as evidence of his character because

character was not an essential element of a charge or defense.            See

Appellant’s Brief, pgs. 10, 14 (citing Tate v. State, 981 S.W.2d 189, 193 n. 5

(Tex. Crim. App. 1998)). In assessing jury charge errors, however, this

Court must first determine whether error exists. See Shipp v. State, 331
S.W.3d 433, 443 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).

      In the present case, jury charge error did not exist because an

extraneous offense may be used to rebut a defensive theory, such as self-

defense, even though the purpose is not mentioned in Tex. R. Evid. 404(b).

See, e.g., Robinson v. State, 844 S.W.2d 925, 929 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st

Dist.] 1992, no pet.) (citing Crank v. State, 761 S.W.2d 328, 341 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1988); Halliburton v. State, 528 S.W.2d 216, 219 (Tex. Crim. App.

1975) (op. on reh’g); Albrecht v. State, 486 S.W.2d 97, 101 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1972)). Citing Halliburton, it is well settled, according to this Court,

that when an accused claims self-defense, the State, in order to show the

accused’s intent, may introduce rebuttal evidence of prior violent acts by the

accused in order to show the intent of the person claiming self-defense. See

Jones v. State, 241 S.W.3d 666, 669 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2007, no pet.)

(Lamar County); Johnson v. State, 963 S.W.2d 140, 144 (Tex. App.--

                                     -17-
Texarkana 1998, pet. ref’d); Armstrong v. State, 850 S.W.2d 230, 236 (Tex.

App.--Texarkana 1993), aff’d, 897 S.W.2d 361 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

      As applied here, the trial judge initially recalled the testimony from a

defense witness, who testified during Rahim’s case-in-chief, along with the

testimony from Rahim himself, and then ruled the following:

             I also recall that the young man who testified -- he was
      wearing the black shorts and the green shirt with the black
      glasses. He was, I think, the first Defense witness. I can’t think
      of his name.

                 MS. HAIRSTON:              The little boy, Devon
      Washington?

                   THE COURT: No. No.

                   MR. BRANNAN: Kameel McWilliams.

                    THE COURT: I believe that he testified that the
      Defendant was -- and I’m paraphrasing his words -- a peaceful,
      law-abiding citizen. I think that was the impression he left with
      the jury, that Defendant would not be the aggressor in this kind
      of a situation. So, I think we have had evidence -- and I believe
      the Defendant himself when he testified a while ago -- again,
      testified that he was a peaceful and law-abiding citizen. And
      I’m paraphrasing the testimony.

             So, I believe the Defendant’ character for being a
      peaceful and law-abiding citizen is in issue and considering the
      self-defense claim, the State offering this evidence under 404
      and 405, I believe that it is in fact relevant.

See RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 242-243.

                                     -18-
      As set forth above, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

“allow[ing] the State to ask questions regarding the 2007 assault” (RR, Vol.

3, pg. 243) because (1) the extraneous offense could be used to rebut

Rahim’s defensive theory of self-defense, see Robinson, 844 S.W.2d at 929;

and/or (2) the State, in order to show Rahim’s intent, could introduce

rebuttal evidence of prior violent acts by the accused (Rahim) in order to

show the intent of the person claiming self-defense. See Jones, 241 S.W.3d

at 669; Johnson, 963 S.W.2d at 144; Armstrong, 850 S.W.2d at 236. For

these reasons, the extraneous-offense-evidence was admissible, and the trial

court did not err in instructing the jury that it could consider evidence of the

2007 assault. See id. Thus, jury charge error did not exist. See Shipp, 331
S.W.3d at 443. In conclusion, Rahim’s first issue/point of error should be

overruled, and this Court should not address his claim of egregious harm.

See Appellant’s Brief, pgs. 15-16.

      C.     Alternatively, Rahim Could Not Prove Egregious Harm.

      “[E]gregious harm is a difficult standard to prove and such a

determination must be done on a case-by-case basis.” See Taylor v. State,

332 S.W.3d 483, 489 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (citing Hutch v. State, 922
S.W.2d 166, 172 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996)). “[T]he actual degree of harm

                                      -19-
must be assayed in light of the entire jury charge, the state of the evidence,

including the contested issues and weight of probative evidence, the

argument of counsel and any other relevant information revealed by the

record of the trial as a whole.” See Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171

(Tex. Crim. App. 1985). This Court should examine any “part of the record

as a whole which may illuminate the actual, not just theoretical, harm to the

accused.” See Taylor, 332 S.W.3d at 490. “Errors which result in egregious

harm are those that affect the very basis of the case, deprive the defendant of

a valuable right, vitally affect the defensive theory, or make a case for

conviction clearly and significantly more persuasive.” See id.

      In applying the law to this appellate record as a whole, Rahim could

still not prove egregious harm because first, the entire jury charge correctly

included a limiting instruction. See CR, pg. 55; Graves v. State, 176 S.W.3d
422, 433 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, pet. dism’d) (extraneous

offenses thus get a limiting instruction under article 38.37 during the guilt

innocence phase). Second, the state of the evidence, including the contested

issues and weight of probative evidence, was still strong even without the

extraneous evidence of the 2007 assault because a number of eyewitnesses

(Thomas, Washington, Harrison) still testified against Rahim and his version

                                     -20-
of the November 20th events. Third and finally, the argument of counsel for

the State did not even mention the 2007 assault during the opening argument

(RR, Vol. 3, pgs. 258-262), and the final closing argument had only a brief

reference. See RR, Vol. 3, pg. 268 (“You heard he had assaultive behavior

in the past.”).

        Viewing this record as a whole, Rahim could not establish any actual

harm.     See Taylor, 332 S.W.3d at 490.        Accordingly, the appellant’s,

Rahim’s, first issue/point of error should be overruled.

ISSUE PRESENTED IN REPLY NO. 2: THIS COURT SHOULD
ORDER THE SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE CLERK’S RECORD
TO INCLUDE A CERTIFIED BILL OF COSTS.

        A.    Introduction.

        With his final issue, Rahim contended that the record did not contain a

certified bill of costs; therefore, the appellant cannot be made to pay costs of

court. See Appellant’s Brief, pg. 17. In this regard, Rahim argued that since

the record did not contain a certified bill of costs, a judgment against him for

costs cannot be supported. See Appellant’s Brief, pg. 17.

      B.    Standard of Review:         Sufficiency of Evidence for Costs
Assessment.

        An appellant in a criminal case may challenge the sufficiency of the

evidence supporting court costs on direct appeal. See Armstrong v. State,

                                      -21-
340 S.W.3d 759, 766-67 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).                To measure the

sufficiency of the evanesce supporting an award of court costs, this Court

must view the record in the light most favorable to the award. See Whatley

v. State, No. 06-12-00117-CR, 2014 WL 7399130, at * 1, 2014 Tex. App.

LEXIS 13839, at * 2 (Tex. App.--Texarkana December 30, 2014, no pet.)

(mem. op., not designated for publication) (citing Mayer v. State, 309
S.W.3d 552, 557 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)). If a criminal action is appealed,

the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure required that “an officer of the court

shall certify and sign a bill of costs stating the costs that have accrued and

send the bill of costs to the court to which the action or proceeding is

transferred or appealed.” See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 103.006

(West 2006). Further, “[a] cost is not payable by the person charged with

the cost until a written bill is produced or is ready to be produced, containing

the items of cost, signed by the officer who charged the cost or the officer

who is entitled to receive payment for the cost.” See Tex. Code Crim. Proc.

Ann. art. 103.001 (West 2006); Ballinger v. State, 405 S.W.3d 346, 348

(Tex. App.--Tyler 2013, no pet.). In addition, there is no requirement that a

certified bill of costs be filed, either at the time the judgment is signed or

before the case is appealed. See Whatley, 2014 WL 7399130, at * 1, 2014

                                      -22-
Tex. App. LEXIS 13839, at * 2-3 (citing Ballinger, 405 S.W.3d at 348).

      When a cost assessment is challenged on appeal, and the bill of costs

has been omitted from the appellate record, then the clerk’s record may be

supplemented with the bill of costs. See Tex. R. App. P. 34.5(c)(1); Johnson

v. State, 423 S.W.3d 385, 392 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); Whatley, 2014 WL
7399130, at * 1, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 13839, at * 3; Ballinger, 405
S.W.3d at 348. In this situation, “supplementing the record to include the

bill of costs is appropriate and does not violate due process.” See Ballinger,
405 S.W.3d at 349.

      C.    Application of Law to the Present Case.

      In Randyael Dontrell Tyson v. The State of Texas, No. 06-14-00114-

CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 2506, at * 13-15 (Tex. App.--Texarkana March

18, 2015, n.p.h.), a recent appeal from Lamar County which raised a similar

complaint to the one in the present case, this Court asked the County Clerk

of Lamar County to prepare and file an itemized bill of costs. See id, 2015

Tex. App. LEXIS 2506, at * 15.          In response, this Court received a

supplemental clerk’s record containing a certified bill of costs. See id. In

Tyson, the itemized bill of costs showed that, excluding the fine that was

also included as court costs, the total amount of court costs was $302.00.

                                     -23-
See id. Because the supplemental record contained a bill of costs supporting

the amount of court costs assessed, this Court in Tyson found that there was

sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s judgment for costs. See id.

       As in Tyson, the same outcome and/or result should occur here. If not

already requested, this Court should, again, ask the County Clerk of Lamar

County, Kathy Marlowe, to prepare and file an itemized bill of costs. See id;

Tex. R. App. P. 34.5(c)(1); Johnson v. State, 423 S.W.3d 385, 392 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2014); Whatley, 2014 WL 7399130, at * 1, 2014 Tex. App.

LEXIS 13839, at * 3; Ballinger, 405 S.W.3d at 348. In this situation,

“supplementing the record to include the bill of costs is appropriate and does

not violate due process.” See Ballinger, 405 S.W.3d at 349. The State prays

for such relief.

       Once the supplemental record containing a bill of costs is received

from the County Clerk of Lamar County, there should be sufficient evidence

to support the trial court’s judgment for costs in the amount of $302.00. See

Tyson, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 2506, at * 15. Accordingly, the appellant’s,

Rahim’s, second issue/point of error should be overruled.

                                      -24-
                                   PRAYER

      WHEREFORE PREMISES CONSIDERED, the State of Texas prays

that upon final submission without oral argument, this Court order the trial

court clerk to supplement the appellate record to include a certified bill of

costs; and then affirm the trial court’s final judgment of conviction, adjudge

court costs against the appellant, and for such other and further relief, both at

law and in equity, to which it may be justly and legally entitled.

                                 Respectfully submitted,

                                 Gary D. Young
                                 Lamar County & District Attorney
                                 Lamar County Courthouse
                                 119 North Main
                                 Paris, Texas 75460
                                 (903) 737-2470
                                 (903) 737-2455 (fax)

                                 By:________________________________
                                      Gary D. Young, County Attorney
                                      SBN# 00785298

                                 ATTORNEYS FOR STATE OF TEXAS

                                      -25-
                  CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

      Pursuant to Rule 9.4(i)(3) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure,

the “Appellee’s (State’s) Brief” was a computer-generated document and

contained 6275 words--not including the Appendix, if any. The undersigned

attorney certified that he relied on the word count of the computer program,

which was used to prepare this document.

                                      ______________________________
                                      GARY D. YOUNG
                                      gyoung@co.lamar.tx.us

                     CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      This is to certify that in accordance with Tex. R. App. P. 9.5, a true

copy of the “Appellee’s (State’s) Brief” has been served on the 19TH day of

March, 2015 upon the following:

      Don Biard
      McLaughlin Hutchison & Biard LLP
      38 First Northwest
      Paris, TX 75460

                                      ______________________________
                                      GARY D. YOUNG

                                    -26-