Court Opinion

ID: 2954458
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 23:43:54.988027+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:32:54.910168
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                      NO. 03-09-00370-CR

                                    Frank Gaytan, Appellant

                                                 v.

                                  The State of Texas, Appellee

    FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF COMAL COUNTY, 207TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
         NO. CR2008-134, HONORABLE GARY L. STEEL, JUDGE PRESIDING

                                          OPINION

               A jury convicted forty-five-year-old Frank Gaytan of twenty counts of aggravated

sexual assault and one count of indecency with a child. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 21.11, 22.021

(West Supp. 2010). The jury assessed punishment at ninety-nine years’ confinement on each sexual-

assault count and fifteen years’ confinement on the indecency count, all sentences to run

consecutively. See id. § 3.03(b)(2)(A) (West Supp. 2010) (sentences may run consecutively when

defendant is convicted of multiple offenses arising out of same criminal episode under penal code

sections 21.11 and 22.021). The jury found that between August 18 and September 8, 2004, Gaytan

repeatedly molested his six-year-old niece, C.R., while babysitting her. During the trial, the court

allowed two adult female relatives of Gaytan’s to testify that he had molested them more than twenty

years earlier. Gaytan objected to the admission of their testimony, and on appeal he argues that the

admission of their testimony was error requiring reversal. Gaytan argues that (1) he did not open the

door to their testimony by advancing a defensive theory of fabrication; (2) the testimony’s unfairly
prejudicial effect far outweighed its probative value, see Tex. R. Evid. 403; and (3) the testimony

was not admissible to prove motive, intent, or knowledge under Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b).

Gaytan also argues that the trial court erred by refusing to strike C.R.’s testimony because C.R.

admitted that she could not directly recall being abused. See Tex. R. Evid. 602 (testimony must be

based on personal knowledge). Finally, he argues that the evidence was legally insufficient to

sustain a conviction on sixteen of his twenty assault counts. We affirm.

                     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

               The jury heard evidence that between August 18 and September 8, 2004, Gaytan

babysat C.R. on several occasions. C.R.’s mother, Jennifer Robinson, worked until 6 p.m., and

C.R.’s father slept during the day (he worked night shifts). C.R. would arrive home from school at

approximately 4:15 p.m., and her older brother would arrive home approximately fifteen minutes

later. Gaytan would look after C.R. and her older brother until Robinson got home from work.

               On September 8, 2004, when Robinson arrived home from work, her son told her that

C.R. was “being mean” to Gaytan. He said that C.R. had said she hated Gaytan and did not want him

to babysit her any more. Robinson drove Gaytan home and then returned to her house to ask C.R.

about her brother’s statements. C.R. told Robinson that Gaytan had been touching her vagina and

anus. Robinson called Gaytan to confront him with the accusation, and he denied it. A couple of

days later, C.R. told her mother that Gaytan had also made her touch his penis through his pants.

C.R. said that Gaytan had told her his penis was a “flashlight,” but she knew it was actually his

“wiener.”

                                                2
               On September 10, 2004, Robinson took C.R. to a hospital for a medical examination.

The nurse who examined C.R., Laurie Charles, testified at trial that the examination revealed no

physical evidence of sexual abuse. Charles also testified, however, that during the examination C.R.

repeated her allegation that Gaytan had repeatedly touched her vagina and anus.

               On October 12, 2004, Janet Williams, a child-abuse investigator with the Texas

Department of Family and Protective Services, conducted a forensic interview with C.R. During the

interview, which was recorded, C.R. repeated her allegation against Gaytan. She also stated that

Gaytan touched her every day during the period that he was babysitting her and that at the time she

was in Ms. Presser’s class.

               On the basis of C.R.’s forensic interview, a Comal County grand jury indicted Gaytan

on twenty counts of aggravated sexual assault, each count predicated on an instance in which Gaytan

touched C.R.’s vagina or anus. The grand jury also indicted Gaytan on one count of indecency with

a child, predicated on the “flashlight” incident. Gaytan pleaded not guilty and proceeded to trial.

               During its case in chief, the State called Jennifer Robinson, who testified about her

daughter’s outcry and the ensuing investigation. Robinson also testified that when she called Gaytan

on the day of C.R.’s outcry, he admitted that he had touched C.R. inappropriately. On cross-

examination, Robinson admitted that she had never mentioned this to anyone involved in the

investigation and that it was a “very major thing” to raise for the first time during trial.

               The State then called C.R., who was ten years old at the time. She testified that

Gaytan touched her vagina and anus many times while he was babysitting her, each time while she

was sitting in his lap in the living room of her home. C.R. also testified about the “flashlight”

incident. On cross-examination, C.R. admitted that she had no direct memory of Gaytan abusing her

                                                   3
and that she was basing her testimony on (1) conversations she had subsequently had with her

mother and (2) parts of her recorded interview that she had recently watched. Gaytan then moved

to have C.R.’s testimony stricken because it was not based on personal knowledge. See Tex. R.

Evid. 602. The court denied his motion.

               After Gaytan cross-examined C.R., the State sought to introduce testimony by four

of Gaytan’s adult relatives who alleged that Gaytan had touched them inappropriately when they

were children. These instances of abuse allegedly occurred in 1976, 1979, 1981, and 1985. The

State proposed to offer this testimony under Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b), arguing that it was

probative of Gaytan’s intent, motive, and knowledge with regard to his abuse of C.R. See Tex. R.

Evid. 404(b). The State also argued that the testimony was admissible under Rule 404(b) to rebut

the suggestion, allegedly made by Gaytan during his opening statement and cross-examination of

C.R, that C.R. had fabricated her allegations. After hearing extensive argument from both sides, the

court decided to allow testimony concerning the incidents in 1981 and 1985. The court refused to

allow testimony concerning the incidents in 1976 and 1979 because Gaytan was a juvenile at the

time they allegedly occurred. Gaytan requested and was granted a running bill of objection to the

testimony that the court admitted.

               The State then called Cherie Perez, who was Gaytan’s niece and was thirty years old

at the time of trial. Perez testified that from the time she was five or six years old until she was

eleven, Gaytan repeatedly touched her vagina after luring her into his bedroom with candy and

games. The abuse allegedly occurred at Gaytan’s mother’s house, where Gaytan lived. Perez also

testified that Gaytan touched her in the back of a van while they were on a family trip.

                                                 4
                Next, the State called Tanya Gaytan (“Tanya”), another of Gaytan’s nieces, who was

thirty-five years old at the time of trial. Tanya also testified that from the time she was four or five

years old until she was ten, Gaytan would touch her vagina and make her touch his penis after luring

her into his bedroom with candy and games. These incidents also allegedly occurred at Gaytan’s

mother’s house.

                After Tanya testified, Gaytan sought to play portions of C.R.’s recorded forensic

interview that allegedly conflicted with C.R.’s trial testimony. The State sought to have the entire

video played for the jury, and the trial court granted its request. Janet Williams, the child-abuse

investigator who conducted the interview, testified to the circumstances surrounding the interview.

On cross-examination, she confirmed that C.R. had told her she was a student in Ms. Presser’s class

at the time Gaytan abused her. Gaytan then introduced school records that showed C.R. was actually

in Ms. Presser’s class during the 2003-2004 school year, a fact that he argued was significant because

the dates in the indictment were part of the 2004-2005 school year.

                After closing arguments, the jury convicted Gaytan on all twenty-one counts in the

indictment. Gaytan elected to have the jury assess punishment, and during the punishment phase he

presented evidence that he was mildly mentally retarded with an IQ of sixty-four. The jury

subsequently assessed punishment at ninety-nine years’ confinement on each sexual-assault

count and fifteen years’ confinement on the indecency count, all sentences to run consecutively.

Gaytan appeals.

                                                   5
                                    STANDARD OF REVIEW

                We review trial court rulings on the admissibility of evidence for abuse of discretion.

Carrasco v. State, 154 S.W.3d 127, 129 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). A trial court abuses its discretion

when its ruling is arbitrary or unreasonable. State v. Mechler, 153 S.W.3d 435, 439 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2005). A trial court does not abuse its discretion if its decision is within “the zone of

reasonable disagreement.” Bigon v. State, 252 S.W.3d 360, 367 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).

                When an appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his

conviction, we examine all of the evidence adduced at trial in the light most favorable to the verdict

and ask whether the jury was rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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

                                           DISCUSSION

                In twenty-two points of error, Gaytan argues that (1) the trial court erred by admitting

Perez and Tanya’s testimony; (2) the trial court erred by refusing to strike C.R.’s testimony after C.R.

admitted she could not directly recall being abused; and (3) the evidence was legally

insufficient to support a conviction on sixteen of the twenty assault counts. We will address these

arguments in turn.

Perez’s and Tanya’s Testimony

                The trial court admitted Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony under Texas Rule of

Evidence 404(b) (“Rule 404(b)”). The court ruled that the testimony was admissible (1) to rebut

Gaytan’s suggestion that C.R. was fabricating her allegations and (2) to establish motive, intent, and

                                                   6
knowledge.1 See Tex. R. Evid. 404(b) (evidence of extraneous offenses admissible to prove motive,

intent, and knowledge); Bass v. State, 270 S.W.3d 557, 563 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008)

(extraneous-offense evidence admissible to rebut defense of fabrication). Gaytan argues that he did

not advance a theory of fabrication and that his motive, intent, and knowledge were not at issue. He

also argues that even if he did advance a theory of fabrication and his motive, intent, and knowledge

were at issue, the trial court still should have excluded Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony under Texas

Rule of Evidence 403 because the testimony’s probative value was greatly outweighed by its unfairly

prejudicial impact. See Tex. R. Evid. 403 (“Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its

probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.”). We will examine

Gaytan’s arguments in turn.

       Whether Gaytan Advanced a Defensive Theory of Fabrication

               Gaytan acknowledges that extraneous-offense evidence is admissible under

Rule 404(b) to rebut a defensive theory of fabrication, see Bass, 270 S.W.3d at 563, but he argues

that he did not advance such a theory during trial. The State contends, as it did at trial, that Gaytan

advanced a theory of fabrication during his opening statement and while cross-examining C.R.,

thereby opening the door to rebuttal testimony from Perez and Tanya.2

       1
           The court seemed to believe that only the rebuttal theory was applicable, but it instructed
the jury that it could also consider Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony in evaluating Gaytan’s motive,
intent, and knowledge. For purposes of our review, it does not matter which theories of admissibility
the trial court believed were applicable. See Bowley v. State, 310 S.W.3d 431, 434 (Tex. Crim. App.
2010) (we uphold trial court’s evidentiary ruling if it was proper under any applicable legal theory).
       2
         On appeal, the State also argues that Gaytan advanced a fabrication theory during closing
argument. This fact strikes us as irrelevant to the question of whether Gaytan opened the door to
extraneous-offense evidence, as obviously the trial court had already decided to admit such evidence
before closing argument.

                                                  7
               We will first address whether Gaytan advanced a fabrication theory while cross-

examining C.R. During the cross-examination, Gaytan’s attorney asked C.R. several questions about

her allegations. C.R. admitted that she had no direct memories of being abused by Gaytan, and

defense counsel asked her about the basis of her testimony. She answered that she had reviewed her

videotaped interview and had several conversations with her mother. Defense counsel did not ask

C.R. whether she had fabricated her allegations or why she had made an outcry.

               We hold that this cross-examination did not advance a fabrication theory entitling the

state to offer extraneous-offense evidence in rebuttal. “[T]he responses elicited from the State’s

witnesses on cross-examination . . . must be sufficient to construct a defensive theory before the

State may introduce extraneous-offense evidence in rebuttal.” Bargas v. State, 252 S.W.3d 876, 890

(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008, no pet.) (citing Walker v. State, 588 S.W.2d 920, 922-23

(Tex. Crim. App. 1979)). Merely challenging the complainant’s credibility on cross-examination

does not automatically open the door to rebuttal evidence. Id.; see also DeLeon v. State, 77 S.W.3d
300, 314 (Tex. App.—Austin 2001, pet. ref’d) (citing Caldwell v. State, 477 S.W.2d 877, 879 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1979)). Gaytan’s attorney challenged C.R.’s credibility but did not elicit responses from

her that were sufficient to construct a defensive theory of fabrication. We turn, then, to consider

whether his opening statement raised a theory of fabrication.

               During his opening, Gaytan’s attorney stated:

       The defense in this case is real simple: this didn’t happen . . . . What the evidence
       is going to show is that [C.R.] got mad at Frank because he wouldn’t play with her
       anymore [sic]. She made this statement [alleging abuse] and there’s no evidence to
       support it . . . the story changes and grows and cracks and there’s no physical
       evidence.

                                                 8
We hold that this statement was sufficient to raise a theory of fabrication that entitled the State to

offer extraneous-offense evidence in rebuttal. The leading case on point is Bass, 270 S.W.3d 557.

In Bass, as here, the defendant was accused of abusing one child, and the court of criminal appeals

considered whether the defendant’s opening statement advanced a fabrication theory that entitled the

State to offer rebuttal testimony from other children the defendant had abused. During his opening

statement, Bass’s attorney said that the complainant’s allegations were “pure fantasy” and “pure

fabrication.” Id. at 557. He also said that the allegations were “contrary to [Bass’s] character, not

worthy of belief” because “[a]s a pastor and minister, [Bass] is the real deal and the genuine article.”

Id. at 558. Finally, Bass’s attorney characterized the complainant’s accusation as “scattered,

crumbling,” and “bizarre.” Id. The court of criminal appeals held that these statements advanced a

fabrication theory that the State was entitled to rebut with extraneous-offense testimony. Id. at 563

(“[A] defense opening statement, like that made in this case, opens the door to the admission of

extraneous-offense evidence, like that admitted in this case, to rebut the defensive theory presented

in the defense opening statement.”).

                Gaytan attempts to distinguish Bass by arguing that his attorney did not clearly

advance a fabrication theory and did not suggest that Gaytan’s character put him above suspicion.

While it is true that Gaytan’s attorney did not use the words “pure fantasy” or “pure fabrication” like

Bass’s attorney, the Bass court did not suggest that such “magic words” are necessary to advance a

theory of fabrication. Gaytan’s attorney provided C.R.’s motive for fabricating (“[C.R.] got mad at

Frank because he wouldn’t play with her anymore [sic]”); he said that there was “no evidence to

support” C.R.’s allegations; and he claimed that C.R.’s “story changes and grows and cracks.” “[I]t

is at least subject to reasonable disagreement” whether these statements suggested that C.R. was

                                                   9
fabricating her story; thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting extraneous-offense

evidence to rebut that suggestion. Id.

                Gaytan argues that his attorney’s comments were far less “extreme” than Bass’s

attorney’s, so they should not be deemed to advance a fabrication theory. He argues that if

comments like his are deemed to advance a fabrication theory, then “there will be precious few

defendants who can offer any theory of the case in opening statement without the state being able

to then introduce extraneous acts evidence.” Gaytan argues that a “more reasonable reading of Bass

indicates that the defendant may open the door to extraneous acts where the defensive theory is

extreme in nature.” Gaytan argues that this reading fits Bass and the cases it relies on, Daggett v.

State, 187 S.W.3d 444, 453-54 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005), and Powell v. State, 63 S.W.3d 435, 438-40

(Tex. Crim. App. 2001).3

                The problem with Gaytan’s reading of Bass is that Bass plainly says nothing about

limiting its holding to “extreme” defensive theories.4 Moreover, the court of criminal appeals has

reaffirmed Bass’s holding without limiting it to “extreme” theories: “a defense opening statement

may open the door to the admission of extraneous-offense evidence to rebut defensive theories

presented in that opening statement.” De La Paz v. State, 279 S.W.3d 336, 345 (Tex. Crim. App.

2009). This is a simple proposition: if the opening statement presents a defensive theory, it opens

        3
         In both of these cases, as in Bass, the defendants affirmatively represented that they would
not or could not have committed the crimes alleged. See Daggett v. State, 187 S.W.3d 444, 453-54
(Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (defendant gave sweeping direct-examination testimony disavowing any
sexual misconduct with minors); Powell v. State, 63 S.W.3d 435, 438-40 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001)
(defendant claimed in opening statement that he lacked opportunity to molest complainant).
        4
         Nor does Gaytan cite any other case suggesting that extraneous offenses are admissible to
rebut only “extreme” defensive theories.

                                                   10
the door to rebuttal evidence in the form of extraneous offenses. As explained above, it is at least

subject to reasonable disagreement whether Gaytan’s opening statement advanced a defensive theory

of fabrication; thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by allowing the State to present

extraneous-offense evidence in rebuttal. Bass, 270 S.W.3d at 563.

               Having concluded that Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony was admissible to rebut

Gaytan’s fabrication theory, we do not need to consider whether their testimony was also admissible

to establish Gaytan’s intent, motive, or knowledge under Rule 404(b). See Bowley v. State,

310 S.W.3d 431, 434 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (we uphold trial court’s evidentiary ruling if it was

proper under any applicable legal theory).5 We turn, then, to the second part of Gaytan’s argument—

namely, that even if Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony was admissible to rebut a defensive theory of

fabrication, the trial court should have nevertheless excluded it because it presented a danger of

unfair prejudice that far outweighed its probative value. See Tex. R. Evid. 403 (“Rule 403”).

       Rule 403—Probativeness Versus Danger of Unfair Prejudice

               Rule 403 states that relevant evidence “may be excluded if its probative value is

substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.” Gaytan argues that the trial court should

have excluded Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony under Rule 403 because (1) the testimony was not

       5
          For the same reason, we do not need to address the State’s argument that Perez’s and
Tanya’s testimony was admissible to rebut a defensive theory of “lack of opportunity.” It is not clear
that Gaytan actually advanced such a theory at trial.

                                                 11
probative given how much time had elapsed since Gaytan allegedly abused the women6 and (2) the

testimony was unfairly prejudicial because it was “inherently inflammatory” in nature.

                Regarding the amount of time that had elapsed (what we will call the “remoteness”

issue), Gaytan notes that “the extraneous acts complained of” by Perez and Tanya “were twenty-four

and twenty-eight years old at the time of trial.”7 He asserts that “not one case has upheld the

admission of an extraneous act this remote.”8 He also asserts that “[c]ase law in this area is filled

with examples of cases reversed on remoteness grounds with a far shorter lapse in time between the

extraneous offense and the charged conduct.”

                Gaytan is correct that remoteness can significantly lessen the probative value of

extraneous-offense evidence. See Newton v. State, 301 S.W.3d 315, 320 (Tex. App.—Waco 2009,

pet. ref’d). This is because, logically, the passage of time allows things and people to change. Cf.

Miller v. State, 549 S.W.2d 402, 403 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977) (witness cannot be impeached with

excessively remote conviction because “a remote conviction is a poor indication of the accused’s

present character”). It is important to note, however, that remoteness alone is not sufficient to render

an extraneous offense excludable under Rule 403. See Corley v. State, 987 S.W.2d 615, 620 (Tex.

App.—Austin 1999, no pet.). Rather, remoteness is but one aspect of an offense’s probativeness.

       6
          Gaytan suggests that temporal remoteness factors into Rule 404(b) analysis as well as Rule
403 analysis. This suggestion is incorrect. See Newton v. State, 301 S.W.3d 315, 318 (Tex.
App.—Waco 2009, pet. ref’d) (remoteness is component of Rule 403 analysis, not Rule 404(b)
analysis).
       7
           The State contests these figures, but for present purposes we can assume they are correct.
       8
          In point of fact, this assertion is incorrect. See, e.g., id. at 322 (upholding admission of
twenty-five-year-old extraneous offense); Norwood v. State, No. 07-08-0101-CR, 2009 Tex. App.
LEXIS 4979, at *13 (Tex. App.—Amarillo June 30, 2009, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for
publication) (upholding admission of thirty-year-old extraneous offense).

                                                  12
See Newton, 301 S.W.3d at 318. It is therefore an element of the factorial analysis that courts should

conduct in deciding whether to exclude evidence under Rule 403:

        [A] trial court, when undertaking a Rule 403 analysis, must balance (1) the inherent
       probative force of the proffered item of evidence along with (2) the proponent’s need
       for that evidence against (3) any tendency of the evidence to suggest decision on an
       improper basis, (4) any tendency of the evidence to confuse or distract the jury from
       the main issues, (5) any tendency of the evidence to be given undue weight by a jury
       that has not been equipped to evaluate the probative force of the evidence, and (6) the
       likelihood that presentation of the evidence will consume an inordinate amount of
       time or merely repeat evidence already admitted.

Gigliobianco v. State, 210 S.W.3d 637, 641-42 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (footnotes omitted). In

evaluating these factors, a court should bear in mind that

       Relevant evidence may be excluded under Rule 403 only if its probative value is
       substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Under Rule 403, it is
       presumed that the probative value of relevant evidence exceeds any danger of unfair
       prejudice. The rule envisions exclusion of evidence only when there is a clear
       disparity between the degree of prejudice of the offered evidence and its probative
       value.

Hammer v. State, 296 S.W.3d 555, 568 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (emphasis added) (footnotes and

internal quotation marks omitted). With these thoughts in mind, we analyze the Rule 403 factors as

they apply to Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony.

               Factor 1: Inherent Probative Force

               As already noted, because Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony concerned extremely remote

events, the trial court could have reasonably found that its inherent probative force was significantly

reduced. At the same time, because the testimony was remarkably similar to C.R.’s, the trial court

                                                  13
could have reasonably found that its inherent probative force was significantly bolstered.9 See

Newton, 301 S.W.3d at 318. Thus, at most, the first factor somewhat favors exclusion.

               Factor 2: Proponent’s Need for Evidence

               This factor weighs strongly in favor of admission; without Perez’s and Tanya’s

testimony, the State’s case would have basically come down to C.R.’s word against Gaytan’s. See

Hammer, 296 S.W.3d at 568 (“Rule 403 . . . should be used sparingly, especially in ‘he said, she

said’ sexual-molestation cases that must be resolved solely on the basis of the testimony of the

complainant and the defendant.”). There was no physical evidence or eyewitness testimony

supporting C.R.’s allegations, and several of the State’s witnesses (e.g., Jennifer Robinson, Laurie

Charles, Janet Williams) essentially simply repeated what C.R. had told them. Cf. Newton,
301 S.W.3d at 320 (State’s need for extraneous-offense evidence was “considerable” because State

had no physical evidence or eyewitness testimony).

               Factor 3: Tendency of Evidence to Suggest Decision on an Improper Basis

               Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony did “have a tendency to suggest a verdict on an

improper basis because of the inherently inflammatory and prejudicial nature of crimes of a sexual

nature committed against children.” Id. Before Perez and Tanya testified, however, the court

instructed the jury that it could only consider their testimony for proper purposes:

       9
         Again, Perez and Tanya were, like C.R., Gaytan’s nieces. Both women testified that, like
C.R., Gaytan molested them when they were roughly six years old by touching their vaginas or
making them touch his penis. Both women also testified that Gaytan molested them in a house
belonging to a relative while other relatives were nearby.

                                                 14
       If you find the State has proven the defendant’s involvement in these other acts, if
       any, you may only consider this testimony as it may aid you, if it does, in determining
       the motive, intent, knowledge and a rebuttal of a defensive theory of the defendant
       in relation to the offense on trial and you may not consider those other acts for any
       other purpose.

The court included a similar instruction in the jury charge. We presume that the jury obeyed these

instructions. See Resendiz v. State, 112 S.W.3d 541, 546 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (appellate courts

presume jury follows instructions). Because the court did what it could to mitigate the improper

influence of Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony, the third factor at most somewhat favors exclusion.

               Factor 4: Tendency of Evidence to Confuse or Distract Jury

               This factor weighs in favor of admission; Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony was

straightforward and directly relevant to the only issue in the case, namely whether Gaytan abused

C.R. See Tex. R. Evid. 401 (evidence is relevant if it makes material fact more or less probable);

Bass, 270 S.W.3d at 562-63 (agreeing with State’s claim that when defendant stands accused of

abusing one child, evidence that he abused other children in similar fashion is relevant).

               Factor 5: Tendency of Evidence to be Given Undue Weight by Jury

               This factor concerns “a tendency of an item of evidence to be given undue weight by

the jury on other than emotional grounds. For example, ‘scientific’ evidence might mislead a jury

that is not properly equipped to judge the probative force of the evidence.” Gigliobianco,
210 S.W.3d at 641 (citation omitted). Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony was not prone to this

tendency, as it concerned matters easily comprehensible by laypeople. Thus, this factor weighs in

favor of admission.

                                                 15
                Factor 6: Likelihood that Evidence will be Too Time-Consuming or Repetitive

                Perez and Tanya were on the stand for relatively brief periods of time; their testimony

occupies only thirteen pages of a trial transcript that spans more than 200. Cf. Lane v. State, 933
S.W.2d 504, 520 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (factor weighed in favor of admission where

extraneous-offense testimony amounted to “less than one-fifth” of trial testimony). Furthermore,

their testimony was not repetitive; indeed, it was critical to the State’s case (as discussed above) and

unlike any other evidence presented. Therefore, this factor weighs in favor of admission.

                Summing Up the Rule 403 Factors

                In sum, a few factors weighed against admitting Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony, and

a few factors weighed in favor of admitting Perez’s and Tanya’s testimony. In such a situation,

especially bearing in mind that “Rule 403" envisions exclusion of evidence only when there is a

clear disparity between the degree of prejudice of the offered evidence and its probative

value,”Hammer, 296 S.W.3d at 568, the trial court could have reasonably concluded that Perez’s and

Tanya’s testimony should be admitted under Rule 403. Thus, we cannot say that the trial court

abused its discretion by admitting the testimony. See Newton, 301 S.W.3d at 321-22. We overrule

Gaytan’s points of error concerning Rule 403.

C.R.’s Testimony

                Gaytan argues that the trial court erred by refusing to strike C.R.’s testimony after

C.R. admitted that she could not directly recall being abused. We hold that this point of error is

                                                  16
waived because after C.R. made this admission, Gaytan’s attorney asked her several more questions

before moving to strike her testimony.

                  To preserve error regarding the admission of evidence, a party must make a timely

objection or motion to strike. Tex. R. Evid. 103(a). To be timely, an objection or motion to strike

must be made “as soon as the objectionable nature of the evidence [becomes] apparent.” Ethington

v. State, 819 S.W.2d 854, 858 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). If the objection or motion to strike is made

any later, error is waived. See Wilson v. State, 71 S.W.3d 346, 349 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); see also

Jasso v. State, 112 S.W.3d 805, 813 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. ref’d)

(“The standard set by our high court for the timely assertion of objections is both demanding and

unforgiving.”).

                  Here, on cross-examination, Gaytan’s attorney asked C.R. several questions about her

direct-exam testimony and received several answers of “I don’t know” or “I can’t remember.” He

eventually asked C.R. point-blank: “[C.R.], do you remember anything about August of 2004?” She

answered, “No.” That was when Gaytan’s attorney needed to move to strike C.R.’s previous

testimony for lack of personal knowledge. See Ethington, 819 S.W.2d at 858 (to preserve error,

motion to strike must be made as soon as basis for objection becomes apparent). He did not,

however, move to strike her testimony until after he asked twelve more questions and received

twelve more answers. He therefore waived error. Cf. Lagrone v. State, 942 S.W.2d 602, 617-18

(Tex. Crim. App. 1997) (finding objection untimely when appellant’s counsel objected after

prosecutor had spoken only four words following testimony in question). We overrule Gaytan’s

point of error concerning the denial of his motion to strike C.R.’s testimony.

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Legal Sufficiency

               Finally, Gaytan argues that the evidence was legally insufficient to support conviction

on sixteen of his twenty assault counts. He bases this argument on the contention that he babysat

C.R. during two separate time periods and there was no evidence that he abused C.R. during the time

period (August to September 2004) on which the State elected to seek conviction. See Phillips v.

State, 193 S.W.3d 904, 909-10 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (State must elect which transactions it will

rely upon for conviction; “This allows the trial judge to distinguish the evidence which the State is

relying on to prove the particular act charged in the indictment from the evidence that the State has

introduced for other relevant purposes.”).

               The only evidence that Gaytan babysat C.R. during two separate time periods was

C.R.’s statement, made during her videotaped interview, that she was in Ms. Presser’s class when

Gaytan babysat her. C.R. was in Ms. Presser’s class during the 2003-2004 school year, but August

and September 2004, the dates alleged in the indictment, were part of the 2004-2005 school year.

Thus, Gaytan argues, we must infer that C.R. was talking about a separate period of babysitting in

her videotaped interview, and therefore the State did not show that the dates alleged in the indictment

actually corresponded to when C.R. might have been abused.

               Although C.R. did state in her videotaped interview that she was in Ms. Presser’s

class when Gaytan babysat her, the jury also heard evidence from C.R.’s mother, Jennifer Robinson,

that Gaytan babysat C.R. during August and September of 2004. Because we view the evidence in

the light most favorable to the verdict, Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 899, we must conclude that the jury

believed Robinson on this point and disbelieved C.R. The jury is entitled to believe or disbelieve

any portion of the evidence. See Brown, 270 S.W.3d at 568. It seems plausible that the jury simply

                                                  18
thought C.R. was mistaken about the timing of her abuse.10 Robinson’s testimony provided a

reasonable basis for the jury to conclude that Gaytan actually babysat C.R. during August and

September of 2004, not while C.R. was in Ms. Presser’s class. Thus, the evidence was legally

sufficient to support the dates elected by the State. See Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 899. We overrule

Gaytan’s legal sufficiency issue.

                                          CONCLUSION

               For the reasons stated above, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                               __________________________________________

                                               David Puryear, Justice

Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Puryear and Pemberton

Affirmed

Filed: January 21, 2011

Publish

       10
          On this point, it is worth noting that while C.R. stated in her videotaped interview that she
was in Ms. Presser’s class when Gaytan babysat her, at trial she could not remember whose class she
had been in or who Ms. Presser was.

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