Court Opinion

ID: 4282028
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-07 06:45:42.120275+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:56.649912
License: Public Domain

07-17-00454-cr                                                                                        ACCEPTED
SEVENTH COURT OF APPEALS
AMARILLO, TEXAS
6/1/2018 9:08 PM
Vivian Long, Clerk

                                        No. 07-17-00454-CR

                                       COURT OF APPEALS                               FILED IN
                                                                               7th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                 AMARILLO, TEXAS
                                       SEVENTH DISTRICT                        6/1/2018 9:08:38 PM
                                                                                    VIVIAN LONG
                                  FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS                               CLERK

                                       AMARILLO, TEXAS
                                   ------------------------------------
                                         DUSTIN DUMONT,

                                              APPELLANT,

                                     THE STATE OF TEXAS,

                                                 APPELLEE.
                                     ----------------------------------
                              Appealed from the 47TH District Court of
                                          Potter County, Texas
                                          Cause No. 72,382 -A
                           -------------------------------------------------------
                                        APPELLANT’S BRIEF
                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Steven M. Denny
                                                                          SBN: 24005798
                                                                          2414 Line Ave.
                                                                          Amarillo, Texas 79106
                                                                          (806) 379-2010
                                                                          Fax:(806)379-2012
                                                                  steven@lawyerdenny.com

                                                                          Attorney for Appellant,
                                                                          DUSTIN DUMONT

                              ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED

                                                    1
                             No. 07-17-00454-CR
                             DUSTIN DUMONT,
                                  Appellant,
                                     VS.
                           THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                  Appellee,

      In order that the members of the Court may determine disqualification in or
recusal pursuant to T.R.A.P. 74(c), Appellant certifies that the following is a
complete list of parties:

Judge Presiding:                      Honorable Dan Schaap
                                      47th District Court
                                      501 S. Fillmore, Amarillo, TX 79101

Appellant:                            DUSTIN DUMONT # 02174780
                                      Formby Unit
                                      998 County Road AA;
                                      Plainview, TX 79072-9641

Attorney for Appellant                Van Williamson
At Trial:                             2414 Line Ave.
                                      Amarillo, TX 79106

Attorney for Appellant                Steven M. Denny
On Appeal:                            2414 Line Ave.
                                      Amarillo, Texas 79106

Attorney for State                    Audrey Mink
At Trial:                             Assistant District Attorney
                                      47th District Attorney’s Office
                                      501 S.Fillmore Ste 5A
                                      Amarillo, TX 79101

Attorney for State                    47th District Attorney’s Office Jack Owen
on Appeal:                            501 S.Fillmore Ste 5A
                                      Amarillo, TX 79101

                                        2
                                         TABLE OF CONTENTS

NAMES OF ALL PARTIES...................................................................................2

TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................................3

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES..................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................5

STATEMENT OF THE CASE..............................................................................6

STATEMENT OF FACTS.....................................................................................7

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT....................................................................9

ARGUMENT: POINT OF ERROR....................................................................11
   THE EVIDENCE AT TRIAL IS LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT TO
   SUPPORTA CONVICTION FOR UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A
   MOTOR VEHICLE

PRAYER.................................................................................................................17

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE............................................................................18

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE..................................................................18

                                                           3
                         INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

                                       Cases
Adelman v. State, 828 S.W.2d 418 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992)……………………14
Allen v. State, 651 S.W.2d 267 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983) ……….………………13
Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010)……………………….11
Carter v. Estelle, 691 F.2d 777 (5th Cir. [Tex.] 1982)……………………..……15
Cooks v. State, 169 S.W.3d 288 (Tex. App. Texarkana 2005 no pet.)…………..14
Curry v. State, 30 S.W.3d 394 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000) ……………….…………12
Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 735 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999) ………………….……12
Foster v. State, 635 S.W.2d 710 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982)……………………….13
Foster v. State, 779 S.W.2d 845 (Tex.Crim.App. 1989)………………..…...……9
Gardner v. State, 780 S.W.2d 259,(Tex. Crim. App. 1989)……………………...16
Gold v. State, 736 S.W.2d 685 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987)………………………...14
Gollihar v. State, 991 S.W.2d 303 (Tex. App. Texarkana 1999)……………..…15
Gollihar v. State, 46 S.W.3d 243 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001)……………..……14, 15
Greenwood v. State, 823 S.W.2d 660 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992)…………………..16
Griego v. State, 345 SW 3d 742(Tex. App. Amarillo 2011, no pet.)……….……11
Houston v. State, 663 S.W.2d 455 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984)……………………..13
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979)……………………….………11, 12, 14
Jones v. State, 680 S.W.2d 499 (Tex. App. Austin 1983, no pet.)……………11, 14
Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009)………………………12
McFarland v. State, 930 S.W.2d 99 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996)…………………....13
Narvaiz v. State, 840 S.W.2d 415 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992)……………………..12
O'Neal v. State, 811 S.W.2d 219 (Tex. App. Dallas 1991pet. Granted affirmed).16
Ortiz v. State, 577 S.W.2d 246 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979)………………………..13
Porier v. State, 662 S.W.2d 602 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) ……………………….14
Richardson v. State, 973 S.W.2d 384 (Tex. App. Dallas 1998, no pet.)………….16
Sanders v. State, 346 S.W.3d 26 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2011, pet. ref'd)…....…11
Schexnider v. State, 943 S.W.2d 194 (Tex. App. Beaumont 1997, no pet.)……15
Smith v. State, 961 S.W.2d 501 (Tex. App. San Antonio 1997,reh'g denied)…..16
Sterner v. Marathon Oil Co., 767 S.W.2d 686 (Tex. 1989)………………………14
Torres v. State, 785 S.W.2d 824 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989)……………………….14
Wallace v. State, 955 S.W.2d 148 (Tex. App. Beaumont 1997, no pet.)………..16

                                  Statutes
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 38.04………………………………………..………12
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 44.25………………………………………………..13
Texas Penal Code § 31.07………………………………………………...6, 10, 16

                                       4
DUSTIN DUMONT                    §      IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                                 §
VS.                              §      OF
                                 §
THE STATE OF TEXAS               §      AMARILLO, TEXAS

                                No. 07-17-00454-CR

                                DUSTIN DUMONT,

                                      Appellant,

                                         VS.

                             THE STATE OF TEXAS,

                                      Appellee.

                              APPELLANT’S BRIEF

TO THE COURT OF APPEALS:

      Appellant, DUSTIN DUMONT, respectfully submits this brief. Mr. Dumont

will be referred to as Appellant and the State of Texas will be referred to as State.

                                           5
                                   STATEMENT OF THE CASE

         Appellant, DUSTIN DUMONT, was charged with the offense of

Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (UUMV), alleged to have occurred on or about

May 31st, 2016. (RR 2-85.7-8)1 The indictment alleged that appellant: “did then and

there intentionally or knowingly operate a motor propelled vehicle, namely a 1998

Triumph Tiger, without the effective consent of William Riley, the owner” (CR

1.24) 2 in violation of Texas Penal Code §31.07 which provides in part:

A person commits an unauthorized use of a vehicle if he intentionally or knowingly
operates another's boat, airplane, or motor-propelled vehicle without the effective
consent of the owner.

Appellant entered a plea of not guilty (RR 2-85.18) and a jury trial was held on

December 11 and 12, 2017, after which the jury found appellant guilty (RR 3-37.7)

and the same jury set punishment at five years confinement in the Texas Department

of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division. (RR 3-58.24) Notice of Appeal was

given. (CR 1.54)

1 The Reporter’s record in this case consists of 4 volumes. Citation is in the form of “RR volume# -page# . line#
2 The Clerk’s record in this case consists of 2 volumes. Citation is in the form of “CR volume#. page#”

                                                         6
                            STATEMENT OF FACTS

      William Riley, a firefighter for the city of Amarillo, (RR 2-92.2) testified that

he had purchased a 1998 Triumph Tiger motorcycle around May 2, 2016 (RR 2-

92.20) from someone in Lubbock. (RR 2-92.11) On May 31, 2016, at around 9:30

p.m., (RR 2-94.3) Mr. Riley saw the motorcycle pass by his fire station at 34th and

Western Street in Amarillo. (RR 2-94.20) The motorcycle had gone missing between

when he had parked it in his driveway the night before (May 30, 2016) and when he

was to leave for work that morning. (RR 2-93.8-10) Riley noticed the motorcycle

missing that morning but due to work duties, had waited to file the stolen vehicle

report after he went to work. (RR 2-93.21)(RR 2-89.20) Riley and some other

firefighters followed the motorcycle, (RR 2-95.2) its driver, and a female passenger

(RR 2-138.1-2) to an address on Lawson Street in Potter County. (RR 2-95.25)

      Appellant identified a person at the house as “Ambree” that was attempting to

sell him the motorcycle. (RR 2-152.13) Appellant left a deposit of $300 before being

allowed to go on a test ride. (RR 2-167.4) The motorcycle would be worth between

“two to three thousand dollars” in the condition it was in prior to being stolen, (RR

2-109.15) but had significant issues that would affect its value upon recovery

                                          7
including paint, (RR 2-99.20), ignition switch, (RR 2-166.22) a battery (RR 2-

166.19) and a gas cap. (RR 2-96.19) Appellant was to pay an additional $300 to

purchase the motorcycle for a total of $600. (RR 2-183.4)

      Riley testified that appellant did not appear to know that the firetruck was

following him. (RR2-112.7) Upon arrival at the house, Riley saw motorcycle parts

and other stolen things in an open garage, (RR 2-127.15-17) which was promptly

closed and all the lights in the house were off within a minute of appellant’s arrival.

(none of which was done by appellant) (RR 2-97.13) One resident confronted the

firemen and fled on a motorcycle. (RR 2-170.17) Appellant testified that Ambree

was the one who had left. (RR 2-170.12) Despite firefighters taking a picture of the

license plate of the motorcycle that had left the scene, (RR 2-123.6) officers did not

attempt to locate that suspect. (RR 2-156.23) A different license plate was attached

to the motorcycle when it was recovered and there is no mention of running that

plate to identify its owner. (RR 2-109.10) After a while, appellant became convinced

that the motorcycle really did belong to Riley, and not Ambree, and offered it back

to Riley. (RR 2-100.22) Appellant waited with the firefighters an hour (RR 2-111.8)

for police to arrive without attempting to flee (RR 2-111.11) as all the other residents

of the house did (RR 2-107.2-3) despite ample opportunity. (RR 2-138.19)

                                           8
                             SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

        This is a case of legally insufficient evidence. The burden was on the State

to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant intentionally or knowingly

operated a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent. From his point of view,

Appellant was attempting to purchase a 20 year old motorcycle for $600 that if it

were in “excellent” condition would be worth between “two to three thousand

dollars.” (RR 2-109.15) 3 This vehicle was not in “excellent” condition however. It

had a rattle can paint job (RR 2-99.20) and serious mechanical defects. (RR 2-

96.19-20) Appellant thought the motorcycle was being offered for what seemed to

him to be a reasonable price for the condition of the vehicle because it “had

problems.”(RR 2-166.16). Appellant left a deposit of half the asking price before

being allowed to go on a test ride. (RR 2-167.4)

        Evidence of flight may be used against the accused to show guilt, but

appellant did not attempt to flee or hide from his accusers. (RR 2-111.11) In fact,

he waited as much as an hour for police to arrive (RR 2-111.8) and sort out the

misunderstanding. The residents of the house, who appellant alleges were selling

3 According to Kelley Blue Book, a common online vehicle value estimation tool, a 1998 Triumph Tiger in
“excellent” condition is worth $2,510 as of the date of filing this brief.
https://www.kbb.com/motorcycles/triumph/tiger/1998/?pricetype=retail

                                                       9
the stolen motorcycle, were not cooperative (RR 2-129.4) and at least one did

indeed flee. (RR 2-170.17) In a prosecution under Texas Penal Code §31.07, one

of the elements to be proven by the State is the knowledge of the defendant that he

did not have the consent of the owner to operate the motor-propelled vehicle in

question. Since there is no testimony that appellant knew that he did not have

consent to operate the motor vehicle, the conviction must be reversed and rendered

due to legally insufficient evidence.

                                         10
                               POINT OF ERROR

THE EVIDENCE AT TRIAL IS LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT
 A CONVICTION FOR UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

                       ARGUMENT POINT OF ERROR

1. Standard of Review for Claims of Legal Insufficiency

      The only standard that a reviewing court should apply in determining whether

the evidence is sufficient to support each element of a criminal offense the State is

required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard set forth in Jackson v.

Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979). See Brooks v. State,

323 S.W.3d 893, 912 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010); Jones v. State, 343 S.W.3d 550, 552

(Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2011, no pet.). Under that standard, in assessing the

sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction, the Court should

consider all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine

whether, based on that evidence and reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom,

any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond

a reasonable doubt. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319; Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 912;

Sanders v. State, 346 S.W.3d 26, 31 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2011, pet. ref'd). Griego

v. State, 345 SW 3d 742(Tex. App.- Amarillo 2011, no pet.)

                                         11
      The trier of fact is the sole judge of the weight of the evidence and credibility

of the witnesses; Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.04, and a reviewing court may

not re-evaluate the weight and credibility determinations made by the fact-finder.

Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 735, 740 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999). Thus, a reviewing

court should resolve any inconsistencies in the evidence in favor of the verdict. Curry

v. State, 30 S.W.3d 394, 406 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000). Sufficiency of the evidence is

measured by the elements of the offense as defined by a hypothetically correct jury

charge. Id. at 404.

      When reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court must

determine whether “any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements

of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt,” and not whether the appellate court

“believes that the evidence at the trial established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512, 517 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009), [quoting Jackson v.

Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-319 (1979)]. Further, after “giving proper deference” to

the role of the trier of fact, an appellate court must “uphold the verdict unless a

rational fact-finder must have had reasonable doubt as to any essential element.”

Laster, 275 S.W.3d at 518, citing Narvaiz v. State, 840 S.W.2d 415, 423 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1992).

                                          12
      However, an appellate court is empowered to reverse a conviction because the

verdict is contrary to the evidence presented at trial. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art.

44.25. A review of the sufficiency of evidence, although based upon a review of the

facts, is a determination of law. Allen v. State, 651 S.W.2d 267, 269-270 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1983). An appellate court must always address challenges to the sufficiency of

the evidence. McFarland v. State, 930 S.W.2d 99, 100 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Such

a review must be conducted when a legal sufficiency challenge is raised, even if the

conviction must be reversed on other grounds, because a finding that the evidence is

legally insufficient to support the conviction prevents a retrial under double jeopardy

law. Ortiz v. State, 577 S.W.2d 246, 250 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979); Foster v. State,

635 S.W.2d 710, 717 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982); McFarland v. State, 930 S.W.2d 99,

100 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).

      In reviewing a legal sufficiency-of-evidence claim, the appellate court should

review the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict or judgment, and this

standard is used whether the case was proven by direct evidence or circumstantial

evidence. Houston v. State, 663 S.W.2d 455, 456 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). The

standard for judging the sufficiency of the evidence is whether, after viewing the

                                          13
evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have

found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Adelman v.

State, 828 S.W.2d 418, 421 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992); Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S.

at 319 n.12. The reviewing court should do as follows: (1) examine the record for

evidence that supports the finding, while ignoring all evidence to the contrary; and

(2) if there is no evidence to support the finding, examine the entire record to see if

the contrary proposition is established as a matter of law. Cooks v. State, 169 S.W.3d
288, 290 (Tex. App. Texarkana 2005, pet. denied), applying civil standard of Sterner

v. Marathon Oil Co., 767 S.W.2d 686, 690 (Tex. 1989).

      Evidence is legally sufficient only if the state has affirmatively proven each

of the essential elements of the offense. Gold v. State, 736 S.W.2d 685 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1987), (overruled on other grounds), Torres v. State, 785 S.W.2d 824 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1989). When considering a sufficiency point of issue, the appellate court

should consider all of the evidence, both proper and improper, from both the guilt

and punishment phases of the trial. Porier v. State, 662 S.W.2d 602, 606 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1984); Jones v. State, 680 S.W.2d 499, 502 (Tex. App. Austin 1983, no pet.).

The State’s case falls short if there is a material variance between the indictment

allegations and the proof at trial. Gollihar v. State, 46 S.W.3d 243, 246 (Tex. Crim.

                                          14
Ohio App. 2001) (Explanation of a material variance versus an immaterial variance). In

Gollihar, the State presented a facially adequate indictment alleging the theft of a

go-cart that was described in part by listing a product serial number. Id. at 246. The

proof at trial conformed in all respects to the allegations in the indictment except for

a one-digit discrepancy in the serial number. Id. at 246. Although the jury convicted

the defendant, the defendant claimed insufficiency of the evidence because the State

had failed to prove what it had alleged in the indictment. Id. at 246. The court of

appeals reversed the defendant’s conviction based upon this fact. Gollihar v. State,

991 S.W.2d 303 (Tex. App. Texarkana 1999), overruled in Gollihar v. State, 46
S.W.3d at 246; Carter v. Estelle, 691 F.2d 777, 781-782 (5th Cir. [Tex.] 1982) (Texas

courts consistently held that variances between proof and indictment allegations

require reversal with prejudice). The Court of Criminal Appeals thus held that only

a “material” variance between the indictment and proof offered at trial will render

the evidence insufficient. Gollihar v. State, 46 S.W.3d at 247.

      The standard of proof used in circumstantial evidence cases is the same

ultimate standard as used in direct evidence cases, and a reviewing court may

consider the existence of all alternative reasonable hypotheses in conducting such a

review. Schexnider v. State, 943 S.W.2d 194, 198 (Tex. App. Beaumont 1997, no

                                          15
pet.); Wallace v. State, 955 S.W.2d 148, 151 (Tex. App. Beaumont 1997, no pet.);

Smith v. State, 961 S.W.2d 501, 504 (Tex. App. San Antonio 1997, reh'g denied);

Richardson v. State, 973 S.W.2d 384, 385 (Tex. App. Dallas 1998, no pet.).

2. Facts, Law, and argument for Legal Sufficiency

        Because this issue pertains to the legal sufficiency of the evidence, Appellant

refers this Court of Appeals to the Statement of Facts above and the record in their

entirety, as issues regarding legal sufficiency require an analysis of the entire record.

See Greenwood v. State, 823 S.W.2d 660, 661 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (entire record

needed to resolve sufficiency point of errors); See also O'Neal v. State, 811 S.W.2d
219, 221 (Tex. App. Dallas 1991).

        The State alleged that appellant “did then and there intentionally or knowingly

operate a motor propelled vehicle, namely a 1998 Triumph Tiger, without the

effective consent of William Riley, the owner” (CR 1.24). An essential element of

UUMV that the State must prove under Texas Penal Code §31.07 is the knowledge

of the defendant that he did not have the consent of the owner to operate the motor-

propelled vehicle in question. Gardner v. State, 780 S.W.2d 259,(Tex. Crim. App.

1989)

        A review of the facts in this case reveal that there was no testimony that

                                           16
appellant knew that Ambree did not own the motorcycle. There was no testimony

that the motorcycle was being offered for an exceptionally low price. Appellant did

not attempt to flee. Foster v. State, 779 S.W.2d 845, 859 (Tex.Crim.App. 1989), cert.

denied, 494 U.S. 1039, 110 S. Ct. 1505, 108 L. Ed. 2d 639 (1990) (Evidence of flight

is admissible as a circumstance from which an inference of guilt may be drawn .) The

person Appellant identified as the person selling the motorcycle DID flee. The

firefighters testified that it appeared that there were other motorcycle parts and stolen

items in the house. There was no testimony that appellant had any link to the house.

There was no testimony that appellant knew he was being followed and went to the

house as a ruse. To the contrary, his return to the house and the subsequent reaction

to his return with the fire department by the residents of the house supports

appellant’s assertion that he did not know Ambree was not the owner of the

motorcycle.

                          CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

      For the above and forgoing reasons, the evidence that appellant knew that he

did not have consent to operate the 1998 Triumph Tiger motorcycle is legally

insufficient. Appellant respectfully prays that upon appellate review, the Court of

Appeals reverse the judgment of conviction and render a judgment of acquittal for

Appellant.

                                           17
                                              Respectfully Submitted,

                                                 /s/steven denny
                                              STEVEN M. DENNY
                                              ATTORNEY AT LAW
                                              2414 Line Ave.
                                              AMARILLO, TEXAS 79106
                                              (806) 379-2010
                                              SBN: 24005798
                                              lawyerdenny@aol.com

                         CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

       I, Steven M. Denny, attorney for the Appellant, certify that a true and correct
copy of the foregoing brief has been provided to the Randall County Criminal
District Attorney on this the 1 day of June 2018

                                                      /s/steven denny
                                                    STEVEN M. DENNY

                      CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
      I, Steven M. Denny, attorney for the Appellant, certify that this brief complies
with T.R.A.P. 9.4 and contains 3,232 words as calculated by Microsoft Word in the
included content as described in T.R.A.P 9.4(1) on this the 1 day of             June
, 20_18_.

                                                     /s/steven denny
                                                    STEVEN M. DENNY

                                         18