Court Opinion

ID: 4050349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 01:14:30.208151+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:57.711707
License: Public Domain

PD-1081-15                                                  PD-1081-15
                                                       COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                          Oral   argument  requested   AUSTIN, TEXAS
                                                     Transmitted 8/19/2015 11:34:26 AM
                                                       Accepted 8/20/2015 12:57:39 PM
                                                                        ABEL ACOSTA
                      PD-________-15                                            CLERK

       IN THE TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
   _________________________________________________

                TODD ALLEN REICH
                         APPELLANT

                            vs.

               THE STATE OF TEXAS
                       APPELLEE
   _________________________________________________

             FROM THE FIFTH COURT OF APPEALS
                CAUSE NO. 05-14-00562-CR

        APPEAL FROM THE 296TH DISTRICT COURT OF
    COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS, CAUSE NO. 199-80306-2013
   _________________________________________________

          APPELLANT’S PETITION FOR
           DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
   _________________________________________________

GARY UDASHEN                      SORRELS, UDASHEN & ANTON
State Bar No. 20369590            2311 Cedar Springs, Suite 250
gau@sualaw.com                    Dallas, Texas 75201
                                  214-468-8100 (office)
BRETT ORDIWAY                     214-468-8104 (fax)
State Bar No. 24079086
bordiway@sualaw.com               Counsel for Appellant

    August 20, 2015
                          Grounds for Review

 I.!   Did the trial court err in overruling Reich’s objection to not being
       notified that the State sought to prove the child-sexual-abuse
       complainant was younger than 14 years of age?

         a.! In order to provide “actual notice” that the State will seek to
             enhance punishment, must the State provide something, or
             will a defendant’s exhibition of an independent awareness of
             as much suffice?

         b.! Is the State required to provide notice to a defendant that it
             will assert at trial, as a bar to probation eligibility, that a
             child-sexual-abuse complainant was younger than 14 years
             old?

II.!   Did the court of appeals misapply this Court’s case law on suffi-
       ciency of the evidence in finding the evidence sufficient to uphold
       Reich’s conviction for indecency with a child for touching the com-
       plainant’s breast?
                                         Table of Contents

Grounds for Review..................................................................................... 1

Index of Authorities .................................................................................... 4

Identity of Parties and Counsel ................................................................. 6

Statement Regarding Oral Argument ....................................................... 7

Statement of the Case and Procedural History......................................... 8

Ground for Review One ............................................................................ 12

   The trial court erred in overruling Reich’s objection to not being
   notified that the State sought to prove the child-sexual-abuse
   complainant was younger than 14 years of age ................................... 12

      I.    The court of appeals’s holding .................................................... 12

      II. If “actual notice” had been provided, it would have satisfied the
      State’s obligation to provide written notice ...................................... 14

      III. In order to provide “actual notice” the State has to provide
      something, though, and in Reich’s case it did not ............................ 15

      IV. The State is required to notify a defendant in writing if the
      child-sexual-abuse victim is under the age of 14 ............................. 18

      V. Conclusion .................................................................................... 27

Ground for Review Two ............................................................................ 28

   The court of appeals misapplied this Court’s caselaw on sufficiency of
   the evidence in finding the evidence sufficient to uphold Reich’s
   conviction for indecency with a child for touching the complainant’s
   breast...................................................................................................... 28

                                                       2
      I.    The court of appeals’s holding .................................................... 28

      II. There is no evidence Reich intentionally touched the
      complainant’s breast with the intent to arouse or gratify sexual
      desire .................................................................................................. 29

      III. Conclusion .................................................................................... 31

Prayer for Relief ........................................................................................ 32

Certificate of Service ................................................................................. 33

Certificate of Compliance ......................................................................... 33

Appendix .................................................................................................... 34

                                                       3
                                        Index of Authorities

Cases
Baker v. State, 519 S.W.2d 437 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975) ......................... 19
Brooks v. State, 847 S.W.2d 247, 249 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) ................ 15
Buchanan v. State, 911 S.W.2d 11, 15 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995) ........ 14, 16
Dodgen v. State, 924 S.W.2d 216, 219 (Tex.App.—Eastland 1996, pet.
  ref'd) ................................................................................................. 14, 17
Ex parte Beck, 769 S.W.2d 525 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989) .......................... 12
Ex parte Kovacs, 416 S.W.2d 420, 421-22 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967) ......... 24
Ex parte Lawson, 966 S.W.2d 532, 535 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996)24
Ex parte Minott, 972 S.W.2d 760, 761 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) ............... 14
Ex parte Minott, 972 S.W.2d 760, 762 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) ......... 15, 27
Ex parte Patterson, 740 S.W.2d 766, 773–75 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987) ... 12,
  26
Ferguson v. State, 2 S.W.3d 718, 723 (Tex. App.—Austin 1999, no pet.)
  ................................................................................................................ 24
Fernandez v. State, No. 04-96-00374-CR, 1997 WL 164204, *2 (Tex.
  App.—San Antonio 1997, no pet.)......................................................... 16
Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778 (1973); ............................................... 26
Greer v. State, 437 S.W.2d 558 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969) .......................... 31
Hall v. State, 86 S.W.3d 235 (Tex. App.—Austin 2002, pet. ref’d) ......... 31
Hammer v. State, 296 S.W.3d 555, 561-62 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) ....... 23
Hayden v. State, 66 S.W.3d 269, 272 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) .......... 14, 15
Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 16 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) ..................... 31
Ivey v. State, 07-08-0079-CR, 2008 WL 4916098 (Tex. App.—Amarillo
  2008, no pet.) ......................................................................................... 31
Leday v. State, 983 S.W.2d 713, 724 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) ................. 19
Long v. State, 13 Tex. 6, 10 (1871) ........................................................... 12
Marquez v. State, 921 S.W.2d 217, 222 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) ....... 22, 23
McDonald v. State, 179 S.W.3d 571, 576 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) .......... 15
Mitchell v. State, 137 S.W.3d 842, 847 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
  2004, pet. ref’d) ...................................................................................... 15
Moore v. State, 154 Tex. Cr. R. 307, 227 S.W.2d 219 (1950) ................... 13
Morrison v. California, 291 U.S. 82, 88-89 (1934)................................... 23
Nash v. State, No. 01-97-01183-CR, 1999 WL 649164, *2 (Tex. App.—
  Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet. ref’d)...................................................... 16

                                                         4
Reich v. State, No. 05-14-00562-CR, 2015 WL 4505937 (Tex. App.—
  Dallas 2015) ......................................................................... 11, 13, 17, 29
Rogers v. State, 640 S.W.2d 248, 251 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981) ................ 26
Roman v. State, 986 S.W.2d 64, 66 (Tex. App.—Austin 1999, pet. ref’d)
  .......................................................................................................... 14, 17
Schaffer ex rel. Schaffer v. Weast, 546 U.S. 49, 56 (2005) ....................... 22
State v. Mechler, 153 S.W.3d 435, 447 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) .............. 24
Walker v. State, 108 Tex. Crim. 190, 193, 299 S.W. 417, 418 (1927) ..... 19
Watson v. State, 717 S.W.2d 765 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1986, no pet.)
  ................................................................................................................ 25
Weatherby v. State, 61 S.W.3d 733, 741 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001) 24
Wester v. State, 542 S.W.2d 403 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976) ........................ 26
Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d 763 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). ..................... 31
Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d 763, 769 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) .............. 29
Woodard v. State, 931 S.W.2d 747, 749 (Tex. App.-Waco 1996, no pet.) 17
Statutes
TEX. CRIM. PROC. CODE § art. 46C.051 ..................................................... 16
TEX. CRIM. PROC. CODE art. 42.12....................................................... 20, 21
TEX. PEN. CODE §21.11 ................................................................................ 9
Other Authorities
ALI, Model Penal Code, § 1.12(3)(c) ......................................................... 23
Rules
TEX. R. APP. P. 21.8 ................................................................................... 11
TEX. R. APP. P. 66.3(c).......................................................................... 13, 29
Treatises
1 Wharton's Criminal Evidence § 2:9 (15th ed.)...................................... 23
2 J. Strong, McCormick on Evidence § 337, p. 412 (5th Ed. 1999)......... 22
43A George E. Dix & John M. Schmolesky, Texas Practice: Criminal
  Practice and Procedure § 47:16 (3d ed. 2011) ...................................... 25
C. Mueller & L. Kirkpatrick, Evidence § 3.1, p. 104 (3d ed. 2003)......... 22

                                                         5
                  Identity of Parties and Counsel

For Appellant Todd Allen Reich:

     KIRK F. LECHTENBERGER
     CHRISTOPHER K. WOODWARD
          Trial counsel of record
     2525 McKinnon Street, Suite 420
     Dallas, Texas 75201

     GARY A. UDASHEN
     BRETT ORDIWAY
          Appellate counsel of record
     SORRELS, UDASHEN & ANTON
     2311 Cedar Springs Suite 250
     Dallas, Texas 75201

For Appellee the State of Texas:

     CRYSTAL LEVONIUS
     WES WYNNE
          Trial counsel of record
     COLLIN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
     2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 2004
     McKinney, Texas 75071

     ANDREA L. WESTERFELD
          Appellate counsel of record
     COLLIN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

Trial court:

     296TH DISTRICT COURT OF COLLIN COUNTY
     THE HONORABLE JOHN R. ROACH, JR., PRESIDING

                                   6
               Statement Regarding Oral Argument

     This case presents a question of first impression on an important

issue of state law. Reich believes that oral argument will be valuable to

this Court’s understanding of the issue.

                                    7
          Statement of the Case and Procedural History

     After a classroom instruction as to how to respond to inappropri-

ate touching, the sixth-grade complainant alleged that Reich—her phys-

ical education teacher at the school she attended from grades kinder-

garten through third—had done just that. (RR6: 38-43, 84-86). Specifi-

cally, the complainant alleged that on multiple occasions Reich: (1)

rubbed her back and then moved his hands down and rubbed her but-

tocks; (2) concluded a hug by pushing her off by her chest; (3) put her

hand on his privates. The complainant said that all of the alleged con-

tact occurred over clothing. (SX4).

     Upon Reich’s arrest, he waived his constitutional rights and spoke

with Collin County Sheriff’s officers Billy Lanier and Gerald Burke.

(SX8). In the video recording of that interview, in which Reich continu-

ally sobs and professes his innocence, he admits to sharing a close rela-

tionship with the complainant. (SX8). Reich explained that, at the time,

he had few friends and no girlfriend and, admittedly inappropriately,

sought out friendships with his students. (SX8). He speculated that,

yes, he likely had some physical contact with the complainant. (SX8).

But Reich was steadfast in his insistence that it was innocent—his arm

                                      8
may have brushed against her chest, and she may have grabbed his

crotch area on one occasion—Reich never gained any sexual gratifica-

tion. (SX8).

     Nonetheless, a grand jury indicted Reich on February 12, 2013, for

four counts of indecency with a child by contact. (CR: 16-17); see TEX.

PEN. CODE §21.11(a)(1). Specifically, the indictment alleged that Reich

touched the complainant’s breast with his hand (counts one and three)

and caused the complainant’s hand to touch his genitals (counts two

and four). (CR: 16-17). Counts three and four further alleged that, at

the time, Reich “was an employee of a public secondary school” at which

the complainant was enrolled. (CR: 16).

     Reich pleaded not guilty to each count, and on April 7, 2014, his

trial began with voir dire. (RR6: 26). The State presented evidence on

April 9 and 10. (RR6-7). In addition to introducing the complainant’s

and Reich’s interviews, the complainant testified that, at the time, she

thought of Reich more as a friend than a teacher. (RR6: 239). They

spent a great deal of time together at school, often alone, and Reich rou-

tinely hugged her, picked her up, had her sit on his lap, and otherwise

physically conveyed his affection. (RR6: 239, 241-45). The complainant

                                    9
further alleged, however, that he ordered her to keep their relationship

a secret, and threatened that, should she not comply, he would hurt her,

her parents, and her dog. (RR6: 257).

     The evidence additionally showed that, when the complainant was

in third grade, Reich had sent her an email asking, “who is the greatest

teacher in the world,” to which she reacted with considerable distress.

(RR6: 48-50). This surprised her parents, so they set a meeting with

Reich and the school’s principal at which Reich apologized, but forth-

rightly explained that he and the complainant had formed a special

bond and were often alone together. (RR6: 50, 54, 55, 58, 61). Given a

second chance, though, and instructed to never be alone with the com-

plainant again, Reich failed to comply. (RR6: 63, 69-70). Nonetheless,

the school district’s “Security Police Specialist” ultimately concluded

that Reich’s conduct was neither criminal nor even violated district pol-

icy. (RR7: 51-53). It was this conclusion that prompted the complain-

ant’s parents to remove her from Reich’s school. (RR6: 81).

     Upon resting, the State abandoned counts three and four. (RR7:

106). The defense then rested as well. (RR7: 112). Officer Burke accu-

rately summarized the case: “It just basically boils down to the only two

                                   10
people that knew what has occurred [are the complainant and Reich].”

(RR6: 153). The jury apparently believed the complainant’s version, as

the following day, after hearing arguments, the jury found Reich guilty

on the two remaining counts. (RR8: 71); (CR: 246, 249). After consider-

ing the State’s and defense’s punishment evidence, the jury reached a

verdict of six years’ imprisonment on each count. (RR9: 237); (CR: 246,

249). The court then sentenced Reich to serve the sentences consecu-

tively. (RR9: 242-43); (CR: 246, 249).

     Reich timely filed notice of appeal and a motion for a new trial,

the latter of which was overruled by operation of law. (CR: 254, 262); see

TEX. R. APP. P. 21.8(c). On appeal to the Fifth Court of Appeals, Reich

set forth seven grounds of error. In an opinion released July 24, 2015,

the court overruled each and affirmed Reich’s convictions. Reich v.

State, No. 05-14-00562-CR, 2015 WL 4505937 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2015).

No motion for rehearing was filed.

                                     11
                        Ground for Review One

            The trial court erred in overruling Reich’s objec-
            tion to not being notified that the State sought to
            prove the child-sexual-abuse complainant was
            younger than 14 years of age

 I.!   The court of appeals’s holding

       In Reich’s second ground on appeal, he argued that the trial court

erred in overruling his objection to not being notified that the State

sought to prove the complainant was younger than 14 years of age,

making him ineligible for probation. (Ap. Br. at 28-35). It was long ago

held that “[e]very circumstance constituting a statutory offense which

would affect the degree of punishment, must be alleged in the indict-

ment.” Long v. State, 13 Tex. 6, 10 (1871). And, to that end, this Court

has consistently held, in no uncertain terms, that because the affirma-

tive finding of a deadly weapon delays a defendant’s eligibility for pa-

role, and because of the fundamental nature of one’s liberty interest in

parole, a defendant is entitled to notice by written pleading if the State

intends to seek a deadly weapon finding at trial. (Ap. Br. at 32) (citing

Ex parte Patterson, 740 S.W.2d 766, 773–75 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987),

overruled on other grounds by Ex parte Beck, 769 S.W.2d 525 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1989) (citing Moore v. State, 154 Tex. Cr. R. 307, 227 S.W.2d
12
219 (1950)). As, obviously, a defendant has a similar liberty interest in

never being sent to prison in the first place, Reich argued that the cir-

cumstance at issue here was analogous to a deadly weapon enhance-

ment. (Ap. Br. at 32-33). This is an important question of state and fed-

eral law that has not been, but should be, settled by this Court. See TEX.

R. APP. P. 66.3(c).

      The court of appeals did “not reach the issue of whether the State

is required to notify a defendant in writing when the victim is under the

age of 14 because, in this case, the record shows Reich had actual notice

of A.D.’s age”:

      Even if written notice was required—an issue we do not ad-
      dress—it is uncontested Reich had actual knowledge prior to
      trial that A.D. was under the age of fourteen and the impact
      of her age on his potential punishment. Several days before
      trial began, Reich filed a “Motion to Declare the Punishment
      of T.P.C. Offense 21.11(a)(1)—Indecency By Contact—
      Unconstitutional,” in which he stated: “Defendant is charged
      with Indecency with a Child (under 14 via contact) per
      21.11(a)(1).” In the motion, Reich acknowledged he “is statu-
      torily prevented from being eligible to receive probation if a
      jury (or judge) were to find Defendant guilty of the underly-
      ing charge” because of section 4(d)(5) of the code of criminal
      procedure. Reich’s motion shows he was on notice of A.D.’s
      age and the impact on his potential punishment before trial.

Reich v. State, No. 05-14-00562-CR, 2015 WL 4505937, *3 (Tex. App.–

Dallas 2015). In so doing, however, the court of appeals did not dispute

                                   13
that the State never actually notified Reich of anything—rather defense

counsel simply filed a motion that anticipated that the State would give

the necessary notice and make this argument.

II.!   If “actual notice” had been provided, it would have satis-
       fied the State’s obligation to provide written notice

       Ordinarily, a defendant is entitled to written notice in some form

that the use of a deadly weapon will be a fact issue at trial. Ex parte

Minott, 972 S.W.2d 760, 761 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). Accordingly, in Bu-

chanan v. State, 911 S.W.2d 11, 15 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995), this Court

noted that “the mere presence of an offense report indicating the State’s

awareness of the existence of such evidence does not indicate an ‘intent

to introduce’ such evidence in its case in chief.”1 This Court modified

this rule somewhat in Hayden v. State, 66 S.W.3d 269, 272 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2001), holding that, under some circumstances, when delivered

shortly after a defendant’s request, witness statements that describe

uncharged misconduct can constitute reasonable notice. Id. In that case,

sometime after the defendant requested notice of uncharged miscon-

1Although Buchanan interpreted Rule of Evidence 404(b), its holding is also appli-
cable to the article 37.07, section 3(g) notice requirement. See Roman v. State, 986
S.W.2d 64, 66 (Tex. App.—Austin 1999, pet. ref’d); Dodgen v. State, 924 S.W.2d 216,
219 (Tex.App.—Eastland 1996, pet. ref'd).
                                        14
duct, the State provided a witness list and witness statements. Id. at

270. When the State offered evidence of the uncharged misconduct dur-

ing the trial, the defendant did not dispute the State’s claim that he had

actual notice of the uncharged misconduct through the witness state-

ments. Id. This Court held that, in light of those circumstances, the

State satisfied the notice requirement. Id. at 272. Along those lines, this

Court has also held that, when a defendant pleads guilty as part of a

plea agreement, and the inclusion of an affirmative finding of a deadly

weapon is a part of that agreement, the defendant has received actual

notice of the State’s intention to seek an affirmative finding that a dead-

ly weapon was used and has waived the right to written notice. Minott,

972 S.W.2d. at 762; see also Brooks v. State, 847 S.W.2d 247, 249 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1993); Mitchell v. State, 137 S.W.3d 842, 847 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, pet. ref’d).

III.!   In order to provide “actual notice” the State has to provide
        something, though, and in Reich’s case it did not

        Nonetheless, it remains that merely providing an “open file” does

not provide reasonable notice of intent to introduce evidence. See

McDonald v. State, 179 S.W.3d 571, 576 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (stating

Hayden merely “modified [Buchanan] somewhat” and citing to it in

                                     15
support of the holding). Similarly, providing a defendant with a child’s

written statement referencing extraneous offenses does not properly no-

tify the defendant that the State intends to use those extraneous offens-

es against him at trial. Fernandez v. State, No. 04-96-00374-CR, 1997
WL 164204, *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997, no pet.). This is because

“[t]he mere presence of an offense report indicating the State’s aware-

ness of the existence of such evidence does not indicate an ‘intent to in-

troduce’ such evidence in its case in chief.” Buchanan, 911 S.W.2d at 15.

This focus on the State’s “intent to introduce” makes certain the de-

fendant is apprised not only of what the State knows, but also what it

intends to introduce at trial. “[A]ctual notice of the State’s ability to in-

troduce extraneous offenses is not the equivalent of notice of what the

State intends to introduce.” Nash v. State, No. 01-97-01183-CR, 1999
WL 649164, *2 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet. ref’d). Just as

the State’s knowledge that a defendant suffered mental health issues

would not absolve the defendant from providing notice of his intention

to offer evidence of an insanity defense, neither does a defendant’s

knowledge of the State’s evidence provide actual notice of the State’s in-

tent to introduce it. See TEX. CRIM. PROC. CODE § art. 46C.051.

                                     16
     In Reich’s case, however, the court of appeals affirmed his convic-

tion for precisely that reason: simply because “Reich’s motion [to De-

clare the Punishment… Unconstitutional] shows he was on notice of

A.D.’s age and the impact on his potential punishment before trial.”

Reich, 2015 WL 4505937 at *3. The court pointed to nothing that the

State actually provided informing Reich of as much. This is directly in

conflict with this Court’s holding in Buchanan. See also Dodgen v. State,

924 S.W.2d 216, 219 (Tex. App.-Eastland 1996, pet. ref’d) (the State’s

notice is not sufficient to allow evidence of all extraneous offenses when

its response only gives notice of its intent to introduce proof of one of-

fense, even when a complete record of defendant’s criminal history is at-

tached). The State has to provide something. Cf. Roman v. State, 986
S.W.2d 64, 66–68 (Tex. App.-Austin 1999, pet. ref’d) (very general writ-

ten notice of the State’s intent to introduce extraneous offenses, togeth-

er with the police offense report attached to and incorporated by refer-

ence in the State’s notice is sufficient); Woodard v. State, 931 S.W.2d
747, 749 (Tex. App.-Waco 1996, no pet.) (State gives sufficient notice

when it gives the defendant copies of his pen packets and criminal his-

                                   17
tory and tells him that everything in the documents was subject to in-

troduction).

       This Court has already allowed the State wide latitude in provid-

ing “actual notice,” rather than the written notice required by law. It

should not further approve as “actual notice” the State providing noth-

ing at all. Accordingly, Reich respectfully requests this Court to grant

this petition so that it may reverse the court of appeals’s holding and

make clear that the State does not provide “actual notice” when it pro-

vides nothing at all. This Court should then remand this case to that

court to consider whether the State is in fact required to notify a de-

fendant in writing when the victim is under the age of 14.

IV.!   The State is required to notify a defendant in writing if the
       child-sexual-abuse victim is under the age of 14

       Should this Court wish to consider that subsequent question in

the first instance, however, Reich again urges that the State was in fact

required to notify him that it would seek to prove the complainant was

younger than 14 years old. Before the court of appeals, the State argued

“the age of the victim is not an enhancement that requires notice” be-

cause it is not the State’s burden to prove as much—it is the defendant’s

“burden of proving he is eligible for community supervision.” (St. Br. at

                                   18
13-14) (citing Leday v. State, 983 S.W.2d 713, 724 (Tex. Crim. App.

1998); Baker v. State, 519 S.W.2d 437 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975)). And, to

be sure, this Court has long held that “[t]he defendant has the burden

to prove eligibility for probation if the case is tried to a jury.” Leday, 983
S.W.2d at 724 (citing Walker v. State, 108 Tex. Crim. 190, 193, 299 S.W.
417, 418 (1927) (“We must not lose sight of the fact that the burden of

showing himself entitled to a suspended sentence rests upon the ac-

cused; that is, that he must satisfy the jury that he has not been con-

victed of a felony in this or any other state prior to the instant trial.”)).

But, as the State acknowledged on appeal, the victim-age provisions

were relatively recently added to the probation-eligibility statute, which

before concerned only prior convictions. (St. Br. at 14). And, as the State

further acknowledged, no court has yet determined whether the burden

on a defendant to prove he has no final felony convictions extends to the

context at issue in this case. (St. Br. at 14).

      As to that question of first impression, the State contended the

victim-age provisions are “similar to [the] prior felony conviction” provi-

sion and that the traditional rule should thus apply. (St. Br. at 13). But

the State failed to point to any similarity at all. Instead, the State iden-

                                      19
tified a distinction between the victim-age and deadly-weapon provi-

sions, the latter of which “only renders a person ineligible ‘when it is

shown’ that a deadly weapon was used,” while the former of which

“simply states that a defendant ‘is not eligible for community supervi-

sion under this section if… the victim of the offense was younger than

14 years of age at the time the offense was committed.’” (St. Br. at 14)

(citing TEX. CRIM. PROC. CODE art. 42.12 §§ 3g(2) & 4(d)(5)). Thus, the

State concluded the victim-age provisions “[are] a simple statement of

eligibility not requiring any showing of proof [by the State].” (St. Br. at

14). And from this, the State then concluded that, absent a required

showing of proof, the burden must be on the defendant. (St. Br. at 14-

15).

       The victim-age provisions are not silent as to the burden of proof,

though. The statute states “[a] defendant is not eligible for community

supervision under this section if,” among other things, “the defendant is

convicted of [a sexual offense and] the victim of the offense was younger

than 14 years of age at the time the offense was committed.” TEX. CRIM.

PROC. CODE art. 42.12 §§ 4(d)(5) & (6) (emphasis added). This language

implies that the “default” is that the defendant is eligible for community

                                    20
supervision, but if it shown the victim was younger than 14 the defend-

ant is not. The burden would of course, then, be on the State to prove

the victim’s age. If the statute said “a defendant is eligible for communi-

ty supervision under this section if the victim was 14 years of age or

older,” by contrast, that language would suggest the burden was on the

defendant to show he was eligible. And, sure enough, those “other

things” a “defendant is not eligible for community supervision under

this section if” are all things the State in fact must prove, or which the

jury determines: the crime committed, the sentence. See TEX. CRIM.

PROC. CODE art. 42.12 §§ 4(d)(1), (2), (7), (8) (emphasis added).

     Even if the victim-age provisions are silent as to the burden of

proof, though, that distinction does not at all show, as the State urged,

that those provisions should be treated the same as the prior-felony-

conviction provision. See TEX. CRIM. PROC. CODE art. 42.12 §4(e) (requir-

ing “the defendant [to] file[ ] a written sworn motion with the judge that

the defendant has not previously been convicted of a felony in this or

any other state.”). As to this question of first impression, Reich urges

the Court that it makes entirely more sense to conclude that the burden

is on the State.

                                    21
     First, where the plain text of a statute is silent on the allocation of

the burden of persuasion, “the ordinary default rule” is that the plaintiff

bears the burden. See, e.g., Schaffer ex rel. Schaffer v. Weast, 546 U.S.
49, 56 (2005) (citing 2 J. Strong, McCormick on Evidence § 337, p. 412

(5th Ed. 1999) (“The burdens of pleading and proof with regard to most

facts have been and should be assigned to the plaintiff who generally

seeks to change the present state of affairs and who therefore naturally

should be expected to bear the risk of failure of proof or persuasion”); C.

Mueller & L. Kirkpatrick, Evidence § 3.1, p. 104 (3d ed. 2003) (“Perhaps

the broadest and most accepted idea is that the person who seeks court

action should justify the request, which means that the plaintiffs bear

the burdens on the elements in their claims”)). And in criminal cases, of

course, the State is the plaintiff. See Marquez v. State, 921 S.W.2d 217,

222 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (“We have generally held, even for constitu-

tional claims, that the party seeking to change the status quo bears the

burden of showing facts entitling him to relief.”).

     More important, though, is that the default rule is fair and makes

sense in this circumstance because evidence of the complainant’s age

would be primarily within the knowledge of the State. Cf. 1 Wharton’s

                                    22
Criminal Evidence § 2:9 (15th ed.) (explaining that, as to affirmative de-

fenses, it is “fair and makes sense” for the burden to be on the defend-

ant because “the facts in support of such a defense would be peculiarly

within the knowledge of the accused”) (citing Morrison v. California,

291 U.S. 82, 88-89 (1934); ALI, Model Penal Code, § 1.12(3)(c) (Proposed

Official Draft 1962)). “The burden should logically be assigned to the

party who is best positioned to carry that burden.” Marquez, 921 S.W.2d

at 226 (Baird, J., dissenting).

     To that end, the complainant’s age, like whether a deadly weapon

was used, relates to the charged offense, not the defendant’s criminal

history. And in sexual assault cases, the complainant is typically the

State’s chief witness. See, e.g., Hammer v. State, 296 S.W.3d 555, 561-62

(Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (“Sexual assault cases are frequently ‘he said,

she said’ trials in which the jury must reach a unanimous verdict based

solely upon two diametrically different versions of an event, unaided by

any physical, scientific, or other corroborative evidence.”). Evidence of

the complainant’s date of birth, then, is primarily within the State’s

hands. Indeed, to force a defendant to prove the complainant’s age could

permit that burden to become an impossible one were the complainant

                                   23
not to testify. And the legislature simply could not have intended as

much. See Ex parte Lawson, 966 S.W.2d 532, 535 (Tex. App.—San An-

tonio 1996) (rejecting an interpretation of statute that places an impos-

sible burden on the defendant); Ferguson v. State, 2 S.W.3d 718, 723

(Tex. App.—Austin 1999, no pet.) (“Appellant, in showing that some ac-

tual harm resulted from the erroneous jury charge, should not have the

impossible burden of showing that, but for the erroneous jury charge,

she would have been acquitted.”); Ex parte Kovacs, 416 S.W.2d 420, 421-

22 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967) (“To hold in a case of this nature that the

probation officer must allege the exact date when probationer violated

the terms of his probation by leaving the State without consent would

be placing an impossible burden on the State.”); State v. Mechler, 153
S.W.3d 435, 447 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (Cochran, J., concurring) (col-

lecting cases and noting that, in interpreting statutes, courts have re-

jected readings that would place an impossible burden on the State);

Weatherby v. State, 61 S.W.3d 733, 741 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001)

(Dauphinot, J., concurring) (“The law cannot impose an impossible bur-

den.”). By contrast, “[t]he usual manner of proof” to show no prior felony

convictions is for the defendant to simply testify at the penalty phase

                                   24
that he or she has never before been convicted of a felony in Texas or

any other state. 43A George E. Dix & John M. Schmolesky, Texas Prac-

tice: Criminal Practice and Procedure § 47:16 (3d ed. 2011) (citing Wat-

son v. State, 717 S.W.2d 765 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1986, no pet.)

(testimony by defendant that he had never been charged with a felony

before sufficient proof of no conviction)). Even if this Court were forced

to read a burden into the victim-age provisions, then, it makes entirely

more sense to read them as placing the burden on the State.

     Accordingly, regardless of this Court’s reading of the statute—

whether, as Reich urges, it plainly puts the burden on the State, or, as

the State urged, it is silent to the burden—this Court should hold that

the State must prove the victim’s age if it wishes to preclude a defend-

ant from probation. And because it is the State’s burden, it also must

give notice.

     The State did not challenge this last step in its brief on appeal.

And nor could it. But were this Court to wonder if it might hold that the

burden was the State’s but that notice was not required, Reich again

urges this Court that because of the fundamental nature of his liberty

interest in receiving probation, where, as here, the burden is on the

                                   25
State to prove ineligibility for as much, a defendant is entitled to notice

that the State will attempt to do so. (Ap. Br. at 32-33) (citing Patterson,
740 S.W.2d at 773–75 (“We dare not deny a constitutional guarantee

against deprivation of liberty which would be routinely granted against

deprivation of property when proper notice has not been given.”); see al-

so Rogers v. State, 640 S.W.2d 248, 251 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981) (“We

begin by recognizing that the liberty of a probationer is protected by the

due process and due course of law provisions of the constitutions.”) (cit-

ing Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778 (1973); Wester v. State, 542
S.W.2d 403 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976)).

     Thus, for all these reasons, Reich urges this Court that, were it to

consider without remand whether the State is required to notify a de-

fendant in writing when the victim is under the age of 14, because the

burden is on the State to prove the complainant was younger than 14,

and that, accordingly, the State was required, but failed, to give notice,

the trial court erred in denying Reich’s objection to the State’s failure.

Moreover, because the failure to provide notice is “constitutional error,”

and this Court therefore must vacate Reich’s sentence and reverse the

case for a new punishment hearing unless it determines beyond a rea-

                                    26
sonable doubt that the error did not contribute to punishment, Reich

urges this Court that the trial court’s error was not harmless beyond a

reasonable doubt. Patterson, 138 S.W.3d at 647 (citing Ex parte Minott,

972 S.W.2d 760, 762 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998)). Even if a no-notice finding

does nothing more than affect an appellant’s parole eligibility, this

Court must vacate the finding, as it impacts the “character” of the ap-

pellant’s punishment. Id.; Tellez, 170 S.W.3d at 163-64. And in Reich’s

case, the trial court’s error potentially transformed his sentence from

probation to imprisonment. Certainly, this Court cannot be sure of as

much beyond a reasonable doubt.

V.!    Conclusion

       Reich respectfully requests this Court to grant this petition so

that it may reverse the court of appeals’s holding and make clear that

the State does not provide “actual notice” when it provides nothing at

all.

                                   27
                        Ground for Review Two

            The court of appeals misapplied this Court’s
            caselaw on sufficiency of the evidence in finding
            the evidence sufficient to uphold Reich’s convic-
            tion for indecency with a child for touching the
            complainant’s breast

 I.!   The court of appeals’s holding

       In Reich’s first ground on appeal, he argued the evidence was le-

gally insufficient to support his conviction for touching the complain-

ant’s breast with the intent to arouse and gratify the sexual desire of

any person. Reich denied that he touched her breast intentionally, and

with the intent to arouse and gratify sexual desire. But the complain-

ant’s testimony, as well—if it could even be construed to imply that

Reich intentionally touched her breasts—in no way supports an infer-

ence that he did so in any sort of sexualized manner. (Ap. Br. at 25). Ra-

ther, she testified that “[s]ometimes,” following a hug, “he would kind of

just place his hands [on her “chest area”] and push [her] away.” (Ap. Br.

at 25). Thus the evidence showed that any touching of the complainant’s

breast was incidental; accordingly, the evidence was legally insufficient

to support the jury’s guilty verdict. (Ap. Br. at 26).

       The court of appeals rejected Reich’s argument, however, conclud-

                                     28
ing that “a reasonable jury could infer the requisite intent by Reich.”

Reich, 2015 WL 4505937 at *2. Specifically, the court pointed to the ev-

idence that:

       Reich liked to spend a lot of time alone with A.D., and he
       kept her after class to talk to her. Reich had A.D. sit on his
       lap, he touched her bottom, he put his hands on her back
       and under her shirt, he put her hands on his penis, and he
       told her not to tell anyone about their interactions. He also
       “would touch [her] chest area” and would “kind of place his
       hands” on her chest area. Lanier testified Reich was seeking
       affection from the children he taught and Reich told Lanier
       he intentionally touched A.D. on her breasts.

Id.

       In rejecting Reich’s argument, the court of appeals misapplied this

Court’s caselaw on sufficiency of the evidence. See TEX. R. APP. P.

66.3(c). Specifically, the court of appeals applied a standard of review

that is considerably less demanding than this Court has set out in cases

such as Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d 763, 769 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).

II.!   There is no evidence Reich intentionally touched the com-
       plainant’s breast with the intent to arouse or gratify sexual
       desire

       There is no question that Reich touched her breast. The issues at

trial were whether he did so intentionally, and, if so, with the intent to

arouse and gratify sexual desire.

                                    29
      Contrary to the court of appeals’s holding, the complainant’s tes-

timony—if it could even be construed to imply that Reich intentionally

touched her breasts—in no way supports an inference that he did so in

any sort of sexualized manner. On direct examination, she testified that

“[s]ometimes,” following a hug, “he would kind of just place his hands

[on her “chest area”] and push [her] away.” (RR6: 252). Then, on cross-

examination, the complainant confirmed that she had earlier testified

that Reich touched her breasts. (RR6: 278). And finally, on re-direct ex-

amination, she again affirmed that he touched her “chest area.” (RR6:

311). That’s it.

      In sum, then, the evidence indicated any touching of the com-

plainant’s breast was incidental; even viewing the evidence in the light

most favorable to the verdict, Reich touched the complainant’s breasts

only in an effort to push her off of him. (RR6: 252). And, in light of the

complainant’s age at the time, such an action cannot inherently be in-

ferred as sexual, as opposed to an older, post-pubescent girl. Indeed, the

complainant’s testimony is directly in line with the conclusion reached

by Plano ISD’s investigation: “that [Reich] did have inappropriate con-

                                   30
tact with” the complainant, but that contact “was not malicious, nor did

it meet the elements of a criminal offense.” (RR7: 53).

        There is, in fact, no evidence Reich touched the complainant’s

breast intentionally with the intent to arouse and gratify sexual desire.

A “strong suspicion of guilt does not equate with legally sufficient evi-

dence of guilt.” Winfrey, 393 S.W.3d at 769. This is not a case where the

jurors chose between competing rational inferences–the State’s evidence

simply does not rise above suspicion. See, e.g., id.; Ivey v. State, 07-08-

0079-CR, 2008 WL 4916098 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2008, no pet.) (revers-

ing conviction based on insufficient evidence because conclusion reached

by speculation); Greer v. State, 437 S.W.2d 558 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969)

(intent must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by facts and circum-

stances which lead with reasonable certainty to conclusions sought and

not left to speculation or surmise); Hall v. State, 86 S.W.3d 235 (Tex.

App.—Austin 2002, pet. ref’d) (requiring more than mere conjecture or

speculation); Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 16 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007)

(“A conclusion reached by speculation ... is not sufficiently based on

facts or evidence to support a finding beyond a reasonable doubt.”).

III.!   Conclusion

                                    31
     The evidence here was insufficient to prove that Reich touched the

complainant’s breasts with the intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire.

The court of appeals has misapplied the caselaw in deciding otherwise.

                           Prayer for Relief

     Based on the foregoing, Reich prays that the Court grant this peti-

tion for discretionary review.

                                 Respectfully submitted,

                                      /s/ Gary A. Udashen
                                 Gary A. Udashen
                                 State Bar No. 20369590
                                 gau@sualaw.com

                                      /s/ Brett Ordiway
                                 BRETT ORDIWAY
                                 Bar Card No. 24079086
                                 bordiway@sualaw.com

                                 SORRELS, UDASHEN & ANTON
                                 2311 Cedar Springs Road Suite 250
                                 Dallas, Texas 75201
                                 (214)-468-8100 (office)
                                 (214)-468-8104 (fax)

                                 Attorneys for Appellant

                                   32
                        Certificate of Service

     I, the undersigned, hereby certify that a true and correct copy of
the foregoing Petition for Discretionary Review was electronically
served to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office and State Prose-
cuting Attorney on August 19, 2015.

                                       /s/ Gary A. Udashen
                                  Gary A. Udashen

                      Certificate of Compliance

      Pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(3), undersigned counsel certifies
that this brief complies with:

  1.! the type-volume limitation of TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(2)(D) because
      this petition contains 4,460 words, excluding the parts of the brief
      exempted by TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(1).

  2.! the typeface requirements of TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(e) and the type
      style requirements of TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(e) because this brief has
      been prepared in a proportionally spaced typeface using Microsoft
      Word 2011 in 14-point Century Schoolbook.

                                       /s/ Gary A. Udashen
                                  Gary A. Udashen

                                   33
Appendix

   34
AFFIRMED; Opinion Filed July 24, 2015.

                                               In The
                                Court of Appeals
                         Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                       No. 05-14-00562-CR

                               TODD ALLEN REICH, Appellant
                                           V.
                               THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                       On Appeal from the 199th Judicial District Court
                                    Collin County, Texas
                           Trial Court Cause No. 199-80306-2013

                              MEMORANDUM OPINION
                          Before Justices Brown, Stoddart, and Schenck
                                   Opinion by Justice Stoddart
       A jury convicted Todd Reich of two counts of indecency with a child by contact. On

appeal, Reich argues: (1) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for touching the

complainant’s breasts; (2) the trial court erred by overruling his objection to the State’s failure to

notify him the State would seek to prove the complainant was younger than fourteen years old;

(3) the trial court erred by overruling his objection to the prosecutor’s closing arguments about

burden of proof; (4) the State delayed disclosing evidence; (5) the trial court erred by admitting

testimony from an undisclosed witness; and (6) the trial court erred by overruling his objection to

the prosecutor referring to the complainant as the “victim.” We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
                                       FACTUAL BACKGROUND

        The complainant, A.D., attended Hunt Elementary School where Reich was her physical

education teacher. A.D. testified when she was in kindergarten, her relationship with Reich was

like a friendship and they spent a lot of time alone together. Reich also was her teacher when she

was in first, second, and third grades. Reich would keep A.D. after class to talk to him. He also

would have her sit on his lap, he would scratch her back underneath her shirt, and sometimes he

would touch her bottom. When A.D. would sit on his lap, Reich would make her touch him

“down near the private parts.”        One day when A.D. was in second grade, she was not

participating in physical education class because she had a broken arm. Reich called A.D. to him

and had A.D. sit on his lap. A.D. testified while she was sitting on his lap, Reich made her touch

“[h]is lower private part” that he uses for “[g]oing to the bathroom.”

        Reich also would hug A.D. very hard as though he were going to pick her up. Sometimes

when he would hug her, A.D. testified, “it felt like he would touch my chest area . . . When he

stopped hugging me, he would kind of just place his hands there and push me away.” Reich told

A.D. she should not tell anyone and, if she did, he would hurt her, her parents, and her dog.

        Billy Lanier, an investigator with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, testified he

interviewed Reich. Reich told Lanier that A.D. was the sexual aggressor and at the time he

interacted with A.D. “he was at a point in his life that he was depressed, lonely and was seeking

out affection. . . . he was at a point in his life that he was alone, he did not have a girlfriend, that

he developed a relationship with these children and that he was looking for affection and these- -

children were the ones that were supplying that to him.” When asked whether Reich said he

accidentally or purposefully touched A.D.’s breasts, Lanier answered “[i]nitially accidental, then

purposeful at the end” of the interview. Lanier testified: “he said that yes, it was intentional that

                                                  –2–
[sic] when he did touch her on the breast.” Lanier further testified it is extremely common for

people who commit sex offenses to portray the touching as accidental or playful.

                                          LAW & ANALYSIS

A.     Sufficiency of the Evidence

       In his first issue, Reich argues the evidence is insufficient to show he intentionally

touched A.D.’s breasts with the intention to arouse and gratify sexual desire. Reich concedes he

touched A.D.’s breasts.      His argument is the evidence is insufficient to show “he did so

intentionally, and, if so, with the intent to arouse and gratify sexual desire.”

       We review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence on a criminal offense for which

the State has the burden of proof under the single sufficiency standard set forth in Jackson v.

Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). Acosta v. State, 429 S.W.3d 621, 624–25 (Tex. Crim. App.

2014). Under this standard, the relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the

light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential

elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2011).

       This standard accounts for the factfinder’s duty to resolve conflicts in the testimony, to

weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts. Id.

Therefore, in analyzing legal sufficiency, we determine whether the necessary inferences are

reasonable based upon the combined and cumulative force of all the evidence when viewed in

the light most favorable to the verdict. Id. When the record supports conflicting inferences, we

presume the factfinder resolved the conflicts in favor of the verdict and therefore defer to that

determination. Id. Direct and circumstantial evidence are treated equally: circumstantial evidence

is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor, and circumstantial evidence

alone can be sufficient to establish guilt. Id.

                                                  –3–
       The evidence shows Reich liked to spend a lot of time alone with A.D., and he kept her

after class to talk to her. Reich had A.D. sit on his lap, he touched her bottom, he put his hands

on her back and under her shirt, he put her hands on his penis, and he told her not to tell anyone

about their interactions. He also “would touch [her] chest area” and would “kind of place his

hands” on her chest area. Lanier testified Reich was seeking affection from the children he

taught and Reich told Lanier he intentionally touched A.D. on her breasts. From this evidence, a

reasonable jury could infer the requisite intent by Reich. See id.; see also Conner v. State, 67
S.W.3d 192, 197 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).

       Although Reich argues on appeal that in the video of his police interrogation, he admitted

he “may have brushed against [her] breasts accidentally, in the course of picking her up, but he

never intentionally touched her breasts,” the jury was responsible for resolving any conflicts in

the testimony, weighing the evidence, and drawing reasonable inferences from the facts. See

Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778. In contrast to Reich’s testimony, Lanier testified it is extremely

common for people who commit sex offenses to portray the touching as accidental or playful.

The jury also heard A.D.’s testimony. We must assume the jury weighed Reich’s credibility, as

well as the other evidence, to reach its conclusion, and we defer to the jury’s credibility

determination. See Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d 763, 768 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); Brooks v.

State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 899 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (plurality op.).

       Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude a rational

trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Reich intentionally touched A.D.’s

breasts with the intention to arouse and gratify sexual desire. See Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778.

We overrule Reich’s first issue.

                                               –4–
B.     Notice of A.D.’s Age

       In his second issue, Reich argues the trial court erred by overruling his objection to the

State’s failure to notify him in writing that A.D. was younger than fourteen years of age.

(Because A.D. was younger than fourteen at the time of the offense, Reich was ineligible for

community supervision. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art., 42.12, § 4(d)(5) (West Supp.

2014)). Tracking the statute, the indictment charged Reich with indecency with a child younger

than seventeen years of age.

       Section 4(d)(5) of article 42.12 of the code of criminal procedure states: “A defendant is

not eligible for community supervision under this section if the defendant is convicted of an

offense listed in Section 3g(a)(1)(C), (E), or (H), if the victim of the offense was younger than

fourteen years of age at the time the offense was committed.” Id. Reich was convicted of an

offense listed in section 3g(a)(1)(C), indecency with a child. Nothing in section 4(d)(5) requires

the State to provide written notice that the victim is under the age of fourteen to the defendant.

Id.

       We do not reach the issue of whether the State is required to notify a defendant in writing

when the victim is under the age of fourteen because, in this case, the record shows Reich had

actual notice of A.D.’s age. Even if written notice was required—an issue we do not address—it

is uncontested Reich had actual knowledge prior to trial that A.D. was under the age of fourteen

and the impact of her age on his potential punishment. Several days before trial began, Reich

filed a “Motion to Declare the Punishment of T.P.C. Offense 21.11(a)(1)–Indecency By Contact–

Unconstitutional,” in which he stated: “Defendant is charged with Indecency with a Child (under

14 via contact) per 21.11(a)(1).” In the motion, Reich acknowledged he “is statutorily prevented

from being eligible to receive probation if a jury (or judge) were to find Defendant guilty of the

                                               –5–
underlying charge” because of section 4(d)(5) of the code of criminal procedure. Reich’s motion

shows he was on notice of A.D.’s age and the impact on his potential punishment before trial.

       We overrule Reich’s second issue.

C.     State’s Closing Arguments

       In his third and fourth issues, Reich argues the trial court erred by overruling his

objections to the prosecutor’s closing arguments, which, he asserts, misstated and shifted the

State’s burden of proof.

       We review a trial court’s ruling on an objection to improper jury argument for abuse of

discretion.   Garcia v. State, 126 S.W.3d 921, 924 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).             Proper jury

arguments generally fall within one of four areas: (1) summation of the evidence, (2) reasonable

deduction from the evidence, (3) answer to opposing counsel’s argument, and (4) plea for law

enforcement. Freeman v. State, 340 S.W.3d 717, 727 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). When examining

challenges to jury argument, we consider the remark in the context in which it appears. Jackson

v. State, 17 S.W.3d 664, 675 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (citing Gaddis v. State, 753 S.W.2d 396,

398 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988)).

       At trial, Reich raised objections to the State’s final closing argument:

       [Prosecutor]: You would agree with me that a child who would say something
       about this to this seriousness, that would say something like this that wasn’t true,
       that would be an evil child. This is a person in her forensic interview that says
       she likes going to Catholic school because she likes going to Mass. This is a
       person who described how she never told her friend I was sexually assaulted. I
       never used those words she said, but maybe it is a good thing that my friend used
       those words. Maybe God sent my friend. That’s what she said. You know she is
       not an evil child.

       [Defense counsel]: Again, Judge, I am going to object. It is lowering the
       burden and that’s improper.

              THE COURT:             Ladies and gentlemen, you will receive the burden
       of proof in the Charge of the Court.

       [Defense counsel]:      With all due respect, Your Honor, can I get a ruling?
                                               –6–
               THE COURT:             Overruled.

       Reich argues the trial court erred by overruling his objections to the prosecutor’s

statement that the jury’s verdict would reflect whether A.D. was “an evil child that would make

up such horrible accusations.” From the context of this record, the trial court could have

concluded the prosecutor was responding to arguments from Reich’s counsel attacking A.D.’s

credibility. In his closing, Reich’s counsel argued:

       [Defense counsel]: Now, what’s this table over here [prosecutor’s table] going
       to do? They are going to ride in here on two horses. Horse number one, Todd is a
       monster. Horse number two, believe [A.D.] one hundred percent.
       ....
       [Defense counsel]: Horse number two. Let’s be clear about something. In
       order for you to convict, you are going to have to believe [A.D.] one hundred
       percent, so let’s talk about [A.D.].
       ....
       [Defense counsel]: What goes on in the mind of a nine-year-old? Who knows?
       . . . I don’t know. I will never know.

Only after Reich’s counsel argued the jury would need to believe A.D. “one hundred percent”

and questioned “what goes on in the mind of a nine-year-old” did the prosecutor postulate that

only an “evil child” would fabricate the accusations made by A.D. Because the trial court could

have concluded the prosecutor’s statement fell within the area of answering opposing counsel’s

arguments, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion by overruling Reich’s

counsel’s objections.

       Reich also complains the court erred by overruling his objection to the prosecutor’s

statement about Reich’s subpoena power. In apparent anticipation of the prosecutor’s final

closing argument, Reich’s counsel argued:

       And I want to digress, momentarily. This prosecutor gets up here and starts
       talking about equal subpoena power. The burden is on her. Just because I am
       aggressive, just because I go out and do my job and I get exhibits doesn’t mean I
       have anything to proactively do. I don’t play checkers. I do my job. And you
                                               –7–
       may not like me, and I understand that. And that just goes with the territory. But
       don’t you let this good prosecutor get up here and turn the tables because the
       burden always stays with her.

The State responded in its final closing argument:

       [Prosecutor]: And I do mention that the Defense has equal subpoena power.
       They had every statement. They had the opportunity to talk to every witness, and
       you can’t just throw things out. And even though it is my burden of proof, if
       there was something that somebody else had to say, they had every opportunity to
       bring that person.

       [Defense counsel]:      I would object to that. That’s shifting the burden also.

               THE COURT:             Overruled.

       The record shows that Reich’s counsel first raised the equal subpoena power issue before

the prosecutor ever mentioned it in front of the jury. The trial court could have concluded the

prosecutor’s reference to equal subpoena was responsive to defense counsel’s remark.

Additionally, a prosecutor may comment on a defendant’s failure to produce witnesses and

evidence so long as the comment does not fault the defendant for exercising his right not to

testify. See Jackson, 17 S.W.3d at 674; Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 491 (Tex. Crim. App.

1995) (if language can reasonably be construed to refer to appellant’s failure to produce evidence

other than own testimony, comment is not improper). Because the prosecutor’s comment was

properly directed toward Reich’s ability to subpoena witnesses and not toward Reich’s failure to

testify, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion by overruling Reich’s objections.

       Even if the trial court erred by overruling the objections, the trial court cured any harm or

prejudice that might have occurred. The jury charge included instructions about the burden of

proof, and Reich does not complain about these instructions on appeal. We presume the jury

followed the court’s instructions absent evidence to the contrary, which Reich has not provided.

See Taylor v. State, 332 S.W.3d 483, 492 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.2d
103, 116 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). By advising the jury on the proper burden of proof, we
                                                –8–
conclude the trial court cured any harm or prejudice that might have occurred. See Gamboa v.

State, 296 S.W.3d 574, 580 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (holding court generally presumes jury will

follow judge’s instructions).

          We overrule Reich’s third and fourth issues.

D.        Brady Material

          In his fifth issue, Reich argues the State improperly delayed disclosing four pieces of

evidence in violation of his rights under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963), and he was

prejudiced because he would have conducted voir dire and used his peremptory strikes

differently if he had known about the evidence earlier.1

          To establish a claim under Brady, a defendant must demonstrate “(1) the State failed to

disclose evidence, regardless of the prosecution’s good or bad faith; (2) the withheld evidence is

favorable to him; [and] (3) the evidence is material, that is, there is a reasonable probability that

had the evidence been disclosed, the outcome of the trial would have been different.” Ex parte

Miles, 359 S.W.3d 647, 665 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (citing Hampton v. State, 86 S.W.3d 603,

612 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002)). However, “Brady and its progeny do not require prosecuting

authorities to disclose exculpatory information to defendants that the State does not have in its

possession and that is not known to exist.” Pena v. State, 353 S.W.3d 797, 810 (Tex. Crim. App.

2011); see also Harm v. State, 183 S.W.3d 403, 407 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). The State’s duty to

produce Brady material attaches when the information comes into the State’s possession. Harm,
183 S.W.3d at 407.

          Reich complains about four pieces of evidence:

     1
     In his brief, Reich also argues his counsel would have conducted opening argument differently if he had known about the evidence.
However, Reich’s counsel had the evidence prior to opening arguments.

                                                                –9–
       Court’s Exhibit 1: A letter from a civil attorney representing A.D.’s family to the
       Plano Independent School District advising the district that civil litigation was a
       “virtual certainty.”

       Court’s Exhibit 2: Notice that A.D.’s mother changed a prior statement she made
       about the school district’s investigation of A.D.’s allegations. She originally
       stated “we do feel it was investigated properly.” She revised her statement to:
       “we do not feel it was investigated properly.”

       Court’s Exhibit 3: A hand-written journal entry from A.D.

       Court’s Exhibit 4: A.D.’s mother’s voluntary statement to police.

Before making their opening statements, the parties made arguments to the trial court about

whether the State properly disclosed the evidence, and the trial court overruled Reich’s Brady

objections.

       The prosecutor explained that on the Thursday or Friday before trial, she received a

telephone call from a civil attorney representing the Hunt Elementary School principal. The

attorney informed the prosecutor he had been hired because Plano ISD believed it might be sued

based on a letter sent by an attorney representing A.D.’s family. The prosecutor asked the

lawyer to send the letter to him, which he did not do immediately. However, when she did

receive it, the prosecutor sent the letter to Reich’s counsel.     Reich does not dispute the

prosecutor’s explanation about how and when she came into possession of Court’s Exhibit 1.

       As to Court’s Exhibit 2, the prosecutor explained that when she met with A.D.’s mother

as part of her trial preparation, A.D.’s mother informed the prosecutor that she omitted the word

“not” from the sentence about whether the school properly investigated the allegations. The

prosecutor told the trial court: “So I sent an email to the Defense saying she left out the word

‘not.’” In response to the email, Reich’s counsel also asked for a copy of the mother’s witness

statement, Court’s Exhibit 4, which the prosecutor provided, even though she previously

produced the witness statement to defense counsel several months earlier.        The prosecutor

                                              –10–
provided the trial court with her original email sending Court’s Exhibit 4 to Reich’s counsel; the

email was dated several months prior to trial.

       Finally, during the same meeting with A.D.’s mother, A.D.’s mother provided the

prosecutor with two pages from A.D.’s journal (Court’s Exhibit 3). The prosecutor told the trial

court: “I did not know that existed when they came in for witness prep.” The prosecutor then

provided a copy to Reich’s counsel.

       There is no indication in this record that the State delayed providing any evidence to

Reich. Rather, the record shows the State produced all four exhibits promptly. The State had no

obligation to produce the evidence before it knew the evidence existed. See Pena, 353 S.W.3d at

810; Harm, 183 S.W.3d at 407. Because the record does not support the conclusion the State

withheld evidence, we conclude Reich has not shown the State violated his rights under Brady.

We overrule Reich’s fifth issue.

E.     Witness List

       In his sixth issue, Reich argues the trial court erred by admitting Billy Lanier’s testimony

because his name was not included on the State’s witness list. During voir dire, the State

informed Reich that it failed to include Lanier on its witness list, and the State intended to call

Lanier during trial. Lanier is the investigator who interviewed Reich for more than two hours

about the allegations by A.D. The State also told the trial court that Lanier’s name appeared in

the offense report.

       We review the trial court’s decision to permit Lanier’s testimony for an abuse of

discretion. See Wood v. State, 18 S.W.3d 642, 650 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). “If the trial judge

allows a witness to testify who does not appear on the State’s witness list, we consider whether

the prosecutor’s actions constitute ‘bad faith’ and whether the defendant could have reasonably

anticipated the witness’ testimony.” Id. In his brief, Reich concedes there is no evidence of bad

                                                 –11–
faith by the prosecutor, but he argues his counsel could not have reasonably anticipated Lanier

would be called as a witness. We disagree.

         Given the nature of the interaction between Reich and Lanier, Reich’s counsel reasonably

could have anticipated Lanier would be called as a witness. Reich’s counsel indicated at trial

that he was not surprised by the State adding Lanier. The following exchange occurred with the

trial court:

         THE COURT: Okay. [Defense counsel], [the prosecutor] says you are not going
         to be surprised that they would call the person who interviewed the alleged victim
         [sic] in this case, and I would tend to agree with you not being surprised.

         [Defense counsel]: I may not disagree with that completely. However, just
         because [co-counsel] and myself may be a little bit more advanced than a novice
         criminal defense lawyer, we shouldn’t be punished that way.

In light of the role Lanier played in the investigation of A.D.’s allegations, including

interviewing Reich for more than two hours, his name appearing in the offense report, and

Reich’s counsel’s representation to the trial court that he was not surprised, we conclude the trial

court did not abuse its discretion by permitting Lanier to testify. We overrule Reich’s sixth

issue.

F.       Referring to A.D. as a “Victim”

         Reich filed a motion in limine to prohibit the State from using the word “victim” in front

of the jury because he denied any criminal sexual conduct occurred and the word “victim”

implied the State met its burden to show the alleged crime was committed. The judge denied the

motion, but granted Reich’s request for a running objection. In his seventh issue, Reich argues

the trial court erred by overruling his objection and allowing the State to refer to A.D. as the

“victim.” Even if we assume the trial court erred, we conclude Reich was not harmed.

         Reich and the State agree that no Texas court has determined whether the State’s use of

the word “victim” is improper.       However, when considering whether a defendant suffered
                                               –12–
ineffective assistance of counsel when his lawyer failed to object to a prosecutor’s use of the

term victim, our sister court commented the word “victim” is “not so inflammatory or prejudicial

as to necessarily cause harm to the defendant when used occasionally in a lengthy trial by the

attorneys or witnesses.” Weatherly v. State, 283 S.W.3d 481, 486 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2009,

pet. ref’d). The Corpus Christi court rejected a similar argument. See Gonzalez v. State, No. 13-

13-00427-CR, 2014 WL 4049800, at *16 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Aug. 14, 2014, pet. ref’d)

(citing Weatherly, 293 S.W.3d at 486; Byler v. State, No. 03–01–00012–CR, 2002 WL 347753,

at *3 (Tex. App.—Austin Mar. 7, 2002, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication)

(rejecting argument that counsel was ineffective “by allowing the State to use the word ‘victim’”

and collecting cases where prosecution employed terms such as “this killer” and “butcher” to

refer to defendant)). “[T]he word ‘victim’ is mild and non-prejudicial, and is commonly used at

trial in a neutral manner to describe the events in question. . . . it is not error for the State,

witnesses, or defense counsel to use the word ‘victim’ at trial.” Tollefson v. Stephens, Nos. SA:

14-CV-144-DAE, SA: 14-CV-171-DAE, 2014 WL 7339119, at *17 (W.D. Tex. Dec. 23, 2014).

       Under Rule 44.2(b), any error that does not affect a substantial right must be disregarded.

TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(b). A substantial right is affected when “the error has a substantial and

injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.” Rich v. State, 160 S.W.3d 575,

577 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Conversely, an error does not affect a substantial right if we have

“fair assurance that the error did not influence the jury, or had but a slight effect.” Solomon v.

State, 49 S.W.3d 356, 365 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). When conducting a harm analysis, we

consider the whole record, including any testimony or physical evidence admitted for the jury’s

consideration, the nature of the evidence supporting the verdict, the character of the alleged error

and how it might be considered in connection with other evidence in the case, the jury

instructions, the State’s theory and any defensive theories, closing arguments, voir dire, and

                                               –13–
whether the State emphasized the error. Easley v. State, 424 S.W.3d 535, 542 (Tex. Crim. App.

2014); Rich, 160 S.W.3d at 577.

            After examining the entire record, we conclude the error was harmless. The State used

the term “victim” to refer to A.D. in the jury’s presence nine times during a two-day jury trial.

Defense counsel also referred to A.D. as a “victim” in front of the jury.2 Here the State’s use of

the word victim in this case was not so inflammatory or prejudicial as to affect Reich’s

substantial rights. We overrule Reich’s seventh issue.

                                                               CONCLUSION

            We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                                                             /Craig Stoddart/
DO NOT PUBLISH                                                               CRAIG STODDART
TEX. R. APP. P. 47                                                           JUSTICE
140562F.U05

       2
        Defense counsel had the following exchange with a witness:
       Q. And that brings me to a great question. You mentioned the reason the victim in this case was taken to the Child Advocacy Center was
why?
       A. Why the victim was?
       Q. Correct.
       A. To be forensically interviewed.
       Q. Why would you need a forensic interview of the potential victim?
       A. So that it could be recorded.

                                                                    –14–
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

TODD ALLEN REICH, Appellant                            On Appeal from the 199th Judicial District
                                                       Court, Collin County, Texas
No. 05-14-00562-CR         V.                          Trial Court Cause No. 199-80306-2013.
                                                       Opinion delivered by Justice Stoddart.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                           Justices Brown and Schenck participating.

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 24th day of July, 2015.

                                                –15–