Court Opinion

ID: 4052941
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 02:36:44.437927+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:25.393788
License: Public Domain

PD-1274-14
                                                                     COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                                                                      AUSTIN, TEXAS
                                                                    Transmitted 3/3/2015 3:16:48 PM
March 3, 2015                                                         Accepted 3/3/2015 3:25:07 PM
                                      PD-1274-14                                       ABEL ACOSTA
                                                                                               CLERK

                        IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                              OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

                                BOBBY JOE PEYRONEL
                                      Appellant

                                           v.

                                 THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                        Appellee

          On Petition for Discretionary Review from the First Court of Appeals
          No. 01-13-00198-CR reversing the judgment in cause number 1254877
             From the 174th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas

                  APPELLANT’S BRIEF ON DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

                                                     ALEXANDER BUNIN
                                                     Chief Public Defender
                                                     Harris County, Texas

                                                     FRANCES BOURLIOT
                                                     Assistant Public Defender
                                                     Harris County, Texas
                                                     Texas Bar No. 24062419
                                                     1201 Franklin, 13th Floor
                                                     Houston, Texas 77002
                                                     Phone: (713) 368-0016
                                                     Fax: (713) 437-4317
                                                     frances.bourliot@pdo.hctx.net

                                                     Counsel for Appellant

                          ORAL ARGUMENT NOT PERMITTED
             IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

APPELLANT:                        Bobby Joe Peyronel
                                  SPN # 02483175
                                  701 N. San Jacinto St. 6A1 01L
                                  Houston, Texas 77002

DEFENSE COUNSEL AT TRIAL:         Mr. Richard Oliver
                                  1221 Studewood Street
                                  Houston, Texas 77008

                                  Mr. Alan Cohen
                                  2425 West Loop S., Suite 200
                                  Houston, Texas 77027

DEFENSE COUNSEL ON APPEAL:        Frances Bourliot
                                  Assistant Public Defender
                                  Harris County, Texas
                                  1201 Franklin, 13th Floor
                                  Houston, Texas 77002

STATE COUNSEL AT TRIAL:           Ms. Lisa Collins
                                  Assistant District Attorney
                                  Harris County, Texas
                                  1201 Franklin
                                  Houston, Texas 77002

STATE COUNSEL ON APPEAL:          Eric Kugler
                                  Assistant District Attorney
                                  Harris County, Texas
                                  1201 Franklin, 6th Floor
                                  Houston, Texas 77002

PRESIDING JUDGE:                  Hon. Ruben Guerrero
                                  174th District Court
                                  Harris County, Texas
                                  1201 Franklin, 19th floor
                                  Houston, Texas 77002

                             ii
                                                      Table of Contents

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ................................................................................... ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................. iii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ........................................................................................................ iv
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ..................................................................................................... 1
ISSUE PRESENTED ................................................................................................................... 2
          RESPONSE TO THE STATE’S ISSUE: THE COURT OF APPEALS CORRECTLY
          CONCLUDED THAT PEYRONEL’S OBJECTION TO THE EXCLUSION OF HIS
          SUPPORTERS FROM THE COURTROOM WAS SUFFICIENT TO PRESERVE
          ERROR.

STATEMENT OF FACTS............................................................................................................ 2
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT .............................................................................................. 3
ARGUMENT .............................................................................................................................. 4
          RESPONSE TO THE STATE’S ISSUE: THE COURT OF APPEALS CORRECTLY
          CONCLUDED THAT PEYRONEL’S OBJECTION TO THE EXCLUSION OF HIS
          SUPPORTERS FROM THE COURTROOM WAS SUFFICIENT TO PRESERVE
          ERROR.

          RELEVANT FACTS ........................................................................................................ 4
          ERROR PRESERVATION IS NOT AN INFLEXIBLE,
          HYPER-TECHNICAL CONCEPT ..................................................................................... 4

PRAYER .................................................................................................................................... 8
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ...................................................................................................... 9
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................. 9

                                                                     iii
                                              INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Addy v. State, 849 S.W.2d 425 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, no pet.) ............. 6
Clark v. State, 365 S.W.3d 333 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) ...................................................... 5
Keeter v. State, 175 S.W.3d 756 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) ...................................................... 5
Lankston v. State, 827 S.W.2d 907 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) ................................................ 5
Pena v. State, 285 S.W.3d 459 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009)........................................................ 5
Peyronel v. State, 446 S.W.3d 151 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, pet. granted
   Dec. 17, 2014) ............................................................................................................. 1, 3, 5
Resendez v. State, 306 S.W.3d 308 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) ................................................. 5
State v. Rosseau, 396 S.W.3d 550 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) ................................................... 5
Thomas v. State, 408 S.W.3d 877 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) ................................................... 5
Waller v. Georgia, 467 U.S. 39, 104 S. Ct. 2210, 81 L. Ed. 2d 31 (1984) .......................... 3, 7

Rules
Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1) ...................................................................................................... 5

                                                                 iv
                              STATEMENT OF THE CASE

      Bobby Peyronel was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child younger

than 14 years of age on February 26, 2013 following a jury trial. (C.R. at 214). The

trial court assessed his punishment at fifty (50) years confinement in the Texas

Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division and a $10,000 fine. (R.R. at

246). Mr. Peyronel gave timely notice of appeal. (C.R. at 255).

      In a unanimous published opinion 1 authored by Justice Huddle, the First Court
                                           0F

of Appeals reversed and remanded the case for a new punishment hearing. 2                1F

Specifically, the Court of Appeals held that Peyronel’s objection was sufficient to

preserve alleged error and that the courtroom was improperly closed in violation to

his right to a public trial. This Court granted review on whether Peyronel’s claim that

his Constitutional right to a public trial was preserved for appeal.

1
  Peyronel v. State, 446 S.W.3d 151 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, pet. granted Dec.
17, 2014).
2 The Court of Appeals also modified the judgment to show that Mr. Peyronel was convicted

of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14, not of a child under 6, and affirmed the
judgment as modified.
                                                1
                                  ISSUE PRESENTED

      RESPONSE   TO THE STATE’S ISSUE: THE COURT OF APPEALS
      CORRECTLY CONCLUDED THAT PEYRONEL’S OBJECTION TO THE
      EXCLUSION OF HIS SUPPORTERS FROM THE COURTROOM WAS
      SUFFICIENT TO PRESERVE ERROR.

                               STATEMENT OF FACTS

      On October 27, 2009, Jane’s 3 mother picked up her daughter from Marie
                                      2F

Peyronel’s in-home daycare. (4 R.R. at 63). Jane had attended daycare at Marie’s house

from the time she was about six-weeks-old. (6 R.R. at 65). On October 27, 2009,

Marie Peyronel had a doctor’s appointment and, as was her custom, notified the

parents that either her adult daughter Amber or her husband Bobby Peyronel would

be taking care of the children. (6 R.R. at 63-64). That day, Bobby Peyronel was home

as he had just returned from his uncle’s funeral. (6 R.R. at 69). Marie let Amber know

that she was leaving for the doctor and Amber stated that she would be right over to

pick Jane up. (6 R.R. at 74, 103). Amber lived next door to Marie and had a son,

Evan, who often played with Jane. (6 R.R. at 97, 102). Just minutes after Marie’s

phone call, Amber walked next door and brought Jane back to her house. (6 R.R. at

103). Jane stayed at Amber’s house until Marie picked her up after her doctor’s

appointment. (6 R.R. at 76).

      As she was driving Jane home, Jane told her mother that Bobby had “licked the

owie on her gina.” (4 R.R. at 63). When they arrived at their house, Jane’s mother

3This appellant will use the pseudonym “Jane” to protect the identity of the complaining
witness in this case.
                                           2
discovered that Jane had wet her pants and she then took off her clothes and piled

them together to put in the laundry. (4 R.R. at 109).

      After the jury’s guilty verdict, the court was notified that a female who was

present to support Bobby Peyronel had made a comment to the jury that they had just

convicted an innocent man. (9 R.R. at 7). After this comment, the rule was invoked. (9

R.R. at 8). The State asked that all females who were present to support Mr. Peyronel

be excluded from the courtroom. (9 R.R. at 9). The Defense objected to this exclusion

as overbroad. (9 R.R. at 9). The Court ordered all of Mr. Peyronel’s witnesses and

gallery members to leave for the remainder of the proceedings. (9 R.R. at 9-10).

                           SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

      The First Court of Appeals held that Peyronel’s objection clearly put the trial

court and opposing counsel on notice that he was complaining about the violation of

his Constitutional right to a public trial. Peyronel v. State, 446 S.W.3d 151, 156 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, pet. granted Dec. 17, 2014). The Court of Appeals,

balancing the four factors in Waller, further held that the trial court improperly

ordered a total closure of the courtroom. Waller v. Georgia, 467 U.S. 39, 104 S. Ct.
2210, 81 L. Ed. 2d 31 (1984). Peyronel, 446 S.W.3d at 159.

                                           3
                                    ARGUMENT

      RESPONSE   TO THE STATE’S ISSUE: THE COURT OF APPEALS
      CORRECTLY CONCLUDED THAT PEYRONEL’S OBJECTION TO THE
      EXCLUSION OF HIS SUPPORTERS FROM THE COURTROOM WAS
      SUFFICIENT TO PRESERVE ERROR.

      Relevant Facts:

      After the jury found Mr. Peyronel guilty, the trial court was informed that

someone approached one of the jury members and said “[h]ow does it feel to convict

an innocent man?” (9 R.R. at 7). The trial court first stated that he would find out

who had made the statement and hold her in contempt. (9 R.R. at 7). The trial court

then invoked the Rule, excluding all punishment witnesses from the courtroom. (9

R.R. at 8). The State asked that all female members of Peyronel’s family be excluded

from the courtroom so none of the jurors felt intimidated. (9 R.R. at 8-9). Peyronel’s

counsel responded that the exclusion was overly broad and would “create the

impression in the jury’s mind that he has absolutely no support whatsoever here.” (9

R.R. at 9). The trial judge then summarily excluded Peyronel’s witnesses and gallery

members, stating that “[n]obody will stay in the courtroom while we proceed with this

matter.” (9 R.R. at 9-10).

      Error preservation is not an inflexible, hyper-technical concept

      The Court of Appeals correctly concluded that Peyronel’s objection to his

supporters being excluded from the courtroom was preserved for appellate review.

To preserve error for appeal, Peyronel was required to make a “timely request,
                                          4
objection, or motion” to the trial court; however, error preservation “is not an

inflexible concept” and does not require any “magic language.” See Tex. R. App. P.

33.1(a)(1); Thomas v. State, 408 S.W.3d 877, 884 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (quoting

Lankston v. State, 827 S.W.2d 907, 909 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992)); State v. Rosseau, 396
S.W.3d 550, 555 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). An accused is required to clearly indicate to

the trial judge and to opposing counsel what he is complaining about. Clark v. State,

365 S.W.3d 333, 339 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012), quoting Resendez v. State, 306 S.W.3d
308, 315–16 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). No “hyper-technical or formalistic use of

words or phrases” is required to preserve error. Pena v. State, 285 S.W.3d 459, 464

(Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (quoting Lankston, 827 S.W.2d at 909).

      In determining whether a complaint has been preserved for appeal, the

ultimate consideration is whether the party has clearly made the trial court aware of

what he wants and why he is entitled to it at a time when the trial court is in a

position to do something about it. Keeter v. State, 175 S.W.3d 756, 760 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2005). The Court of Appeals found that the trial court was alerted as to the

specific ground that would be raised on appeal. Peyronel, 446 S.W.3d at 156, quoting

Thomas v. State, 408 S.W.3d 877, 884 (Tex. Crim. App.2013), Lankston v. State, 827
S.W.2d 907, 909 (Tex. Crim. App.1992). Peyronel was clear that the exclusion of his

supporters would create a negative impression in the jury’s eyes—defense counsel

stated that the exclusion would “create the impression in the jury’s mind that he has

absolutely no support whatsoever here.” (9 R.R. at 9).
                                          5
       The State contends that Peyronel’s objection did not alert the trial court to his

specific complaint and was “couched in terms of visible family support for the

appellant rather than the benefits of the public’s observation of official proceedings.”

(State’s Brief at 7-8). However, one of the fundamental reasons that an accused is

entitled to a public trial is that excluding his supporters would have a “chilling effect

on the defense and an adverse affect on the jury's perception of appellant's character.”

Addy v. State, 849 S.W.2d 425, 429 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, no pet.).

       The presence of an accused's friends in the courtroom lends moral
       support to the accused and helps insure honest proceedings. If an
       accused is denied the presence of his friends, he is denied a public trial,
       unless the trial court can articulate on the record some compelling
       reason for excluding them.
Addy v. State, 849 S.W.2d 425, 429 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, no pet.).

       The judge and opposing counsel understood that Peyronel was complaining

about the exclusion of his supporters from the punishment phase of his trial—the

State argued for the exclusion, stating that “it is pretty clear throughout the trial that

there is support” for Peyronel. (9 R.R. at 9). The trial judge agreed with the State,

mandating that “[n]obody will stay in the courtroom while we proceed with this

matter.” (9 R.R. at 9-10).

       Peyronel was not required to use any “magic language”—he was required to

clearly indicate his argument to the judge and to opposing counsel. The State and the

trial judge understood Peyronel’s objection to the total closure of the courtroom.

Thus, the Court of Appeals correctly concluded that Peyronel had sufficiently

                                            6
preserved this issue for appellate review. Finally, in order to justify the closure of the

courtroom to Peyronel’s supporters, the trial court was required to make weigh the

four Waller factors; and in failing to do so, the trial court improperly ordered a total

closure of the courtroom and violated Peyronel’s right to a public trial. Waller v.

Georgia, 467 U.S. 39, 45, 104 S. Ct. 2210, 2215, 81 L. Ed. 2d 31 (1984).

                                            7
                                       PRAYER

      Mr. Peyronel respectfully asks this Honorable Court to affirm the opinion of

the Court of Appeals and remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings.

                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              Alexander Bunin
                                              Chief Public Defender
                                              Harris County Texas

                                              /s/Frances Bourliot
                                              _______________________
                                              Frances Bourliot
                                              Assistant Public Defender
                                              Harris County Texas
                                              TBN 24062419
                                              1201 Franklin, 13th floor
                                              Houston Texas 77002
                                              Phone: (713) 368-0016
                                              Fax: (713) 368-9278

                                          8
                                 Certificate of Service

       This is to certify that a copy of the foregoing Appellant’s Brief on
Discretionary Review has been served on the District Attorney of Harris County,
Texas, by e-file on the 3rd day of March, 2015. A copy has also been sent by e-file to
the State Prosecuting Attorney, also on the 3rd day of March, 2015.

                                                /s/Frances Bourliot
                                                _______________________
                                                Frances Bourliot

                              Certificate of Compliance

       Pursuant to proposed Rule 9.4(i)(3), undersigned counsel certifies that this brief
complies with the type-volume limitations of Tex. R. App. Proc. 9.4(e)(i).
1.     This brief contains 2,318 words printed in a proportionally spaced typeface.
2.     This brief is printed in a proportionally spaced, serif typeface using Garamond
14 point font in text and Garamond 13 point font in footnotes produced by
Microsoft Word software.
3.      Upon request, undersigned counsel will provide an electronic version of this
brief and/or a copy of the word printout to the Court.
4.       Undersigned counsel understands that a material misrepresentation in
completing this certificate, or circumvention of the type-volume limits in Tex. R. App.
Proc. 9.4(j), may result in the Court's striking this brief and imposing sanctions against
the person who signed it.

                                                /s/Frances Bourliot
                                                _______________________
                                                Frances Bourliot

                                            9