Court Opinion

ID: 2794858
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-20 07:13:01.456109+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:29:11.796407
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                      NO. 03-13-00275-CR

                                    Mario Lewis, Appellant

                                                v.

                                  The State of Texas, Appellee

      FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BELL COUNTY, 264TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
         NO. 68019, THE HONORABLE MARTHA J. TRUDO, JUDGE PRESIDING

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION

                 A jury convicted appellant Mario Lewis of murder and assessed his punishment,

enhanced by a prior felony conviction, at confinement for life in the Texas Department of Criminal

Justice. See Tex. Penal Code § 19.02(b)(1). On appeal, appellant challenges the sufficiency of the

evidence and complains about error in the jury charge. We affirm the trial court’s judgment

of conviction.
                                         BACKGROUND1

               Big G and St. Louis went over to the duplex of Jennifer Harrington-Alexander and

Queenie for a party.2 As the four were sitting around talking, smoking, drinking, and listening to

music, they heard the sounds of an argument between the couple in the duplex next door—yelling,

screaming, and thumping or thudding sounds. The women indicated that they were acquainted with

the neighbor couple, and said that the man, Lynn Wilford, had been abusive to the woman,

Danita Slappy, in the past. At some point, Big G and St. Louis went next door to check on the

woman and perhaps defuse the situation.

               Wilford, intoxicated and belligerent, met Big G and St. Louis outside the door of his

duplex. He did not welcome their interference. A confrontation ensued and curse words were

exchanged. St. Louis urged Big G to return to Jennifer and Queenie’s duplex; Wilford turned back

to go inside his duplex. Thinking the confrontation was over, St. Louis starting walking away. He

then heard gunshots from right behind him at the position where Big G was located. He did not stop

to observe the shooting, but instead kept walking away. St. Louis and Big G then ran to Jennifer’s

truck, jumping inside as she was backing out of the parking lot.

       1
         Because the parties are familiar with the facts of the case, its procedural history, and the
evidence adduced at trial, we provide only a general overview of the facts of the case here. We
provide additional facts in the opinion as necessary to advise the parties of the Court’s decision and
the basic reasons for it. See Tex. R. App. P. 47.1, 47.4. The facts recited are taken from the
testimony and other evidence presented at trial.
       2
          According to the uncontraverted testimony at trial, “Big G,” “St. Louis,” and “Queenie”
are street or nicknames used by Mario Lewis, Raymond Davis Garza, and Minnie Moore
respectively. Because these are the names used by the witnesses in their testimony at trial, we refer
to these individuals by their street or nicknames in this opinion instead of their given names. For
simplicity and consistency, we refer to Jennifer Harrington-Alexander by her first name.

                                                  2
                Police officers responded to the duplex where they found Wilford lying in a pool of

blood in the front yard outside his duplex. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. A

subsequent autopsy confirmed that Wilford died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds: one to his

back and two to the head. The medical examiner opined that each of the two head wounds would

have been “immediately fatal” in and of themselves (exclusive of the other wounds) as the bullets

penetrated the brain, whereas the wound to the back would have been fatal but not as immediately

fatal as the two shots that went through the brain.

                At trial, St. Louis, Jennifer, and Queenie testified about the events of the night. In

addition, police officers testified about their investigation, the medical examiner testified about

Wilford’s wounds and the manner and cause of his death, and a firearms expert testified about the

bullets recovered from the crime scene beneath where Wilford’s head had been and the bullet

recovered from Wilford’s arm where it had lodged after penetrating his back. Appellant did not

testify at trial or present any witnesses on his behalf.

                                            DISCUSSION

                                    Sufficiency of the Evidence

                In his first point of error, appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to

support his conviction for the murder of Wilford.

                Due process requires that the State prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, every element

of the crime charged. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 313 (1979); Rabb v. State, 434 S.W.3d 613,

616 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a

conviction, we consider all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine

whether, based on that evidence and the reasonable inferences therefrom, any rational trier of fact

                                                   3
could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Temple v. State,

390 S.W.3d 341, 360 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); see Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319; Brooks v. State,

323 S.W.3d 893, 899 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). We review all the evidence in the light most

favorable to the verdict and assume that the trier of fact resolved conflicts in the testimony, weighed

the evidence, and drew reasonable inferences in a manner that supports the verdict. Jackson,
443 U.S. at 318; see Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512, 517 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). We consider

only whether the fact finder reached a rational decision. Isassi v. State, 330 S.W.3d 633, 638 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2010) (“Our role on appeal is restricted to guarding against the rare occurrence when a

factfinder does not act rationally.”).

                Appellant does not dispute that the evidence at trial was sufficient to demonstrate the

shooting murder of Wilford. Rather, he challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to establish his

identity as the perpetrator. In his brief, appellant asserts that there is no evidence showing that he

is Mario Lewis as alleged in the indictment because there was no in-court identification of him as

such by any witness. He further asserts that the evidence fails to show his identity as the perpetrator

because there was no eyewitness testimony or physical evidence connecting him to the shooting.

                The State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is the person who

committed the offense charged. Miller v. State, 667 S.W.2d 773, 775 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984);

Wiggins v. State, 255 S.W.3d 766, 771 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2008, no pet.); Roberson v. State,

16 S.W.3d 156, 167 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000, pet. ref’d). No one method or formalized procedure

is required for the State to prove the identity of the accused; identity may be proven by direct

evidence, circumstantial evidence, or even inferences. Wiggins, 255 S.W.3d at 771; Roberson,
16 S.W.3d at 167; see Gardner v. State, 306 S.W.3d 274, 285 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). We review

                                                  4
the totality of the circumstances to determine whether there is sufficient evidence showing that a

defendant is the individual who committed the offense. Rohlfing v. State, 612 S.W.2d 598, 601

(Tex. Crim. App. 1981); Becerra v. State, No. 01-13-00807-CR, 2014 WL 2582901, at *3 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] June 10, 2014, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication). The

absence of an in-court identification is merely a factor for the jury to consider in assessing the weight

and credibility of the witnesses’ testimony. Wiggins, 255 S.W.3d at 771.

                In the first part of his challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, appellant claims

the evidence is insufficient to prove his identity as the perpetrator because none of the witnesses

identified him in open court as Mario Lewis (as alleged in the indictment). However, at trial several

witnesses identified appellant in open court as Big G. Queenie, who was dating appellant at the time

of the murder, and St. Louis, who was with appellant during the confrontation with Wilford,

identified appellant as Big G by pointing to him in the courtroom and describing his clothing.

Subsequently, one of the investigating detectives testified that during the course of her investigation

of the murder she developed a suspect known as “BG, Big G, and then Mario.” She further testified

that she was able to identify that individual as Mario Lewis. Thus, the record contains evidence

demonstrating that appellant was Big G and that Big G was Mario Lewis.

                Furthermore, at trial appellant stipulated that Lynn Wilford (the victim of the

shooting) was the subject of the autopsy in this case and was the same person alleged to be deceased

in the indictment. The written stipulation was admitted into evidence and published to the jury. The

stipulation is signed by the prosecuting attorney, appellant’s defense attorney, and appellant.

Appellant’s signature as “Mario Lewis” appears on the line entitled “Defendant.” Thus, the record

                                                   5
contains evidence that the defendant on trial was Mario Lewis.3 From the witnesses’ in-court

identification of appellant as Big G, the detective’s testimony that the individual known as Big G

was Mario Lewis, and the stipulation admitted into evidence, the jury could have rationally

concluded that the man appearing in open court throughout the trial was the person known as Big G,

was the Mario Lewis indicted for this particular offense, and was the defendant in this case.

               Appellant next argues that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction

because the absence of eyewitness testimony and corroborating physical evidence render the

circumstantial evidence too weak to demonstrate appellant’s identity as the perpetrator of the murder.

Appellant correctly notes that there was no testimony from eyewitnesses who described seeing

appellant shoot Wilford. However, such testimony is not necessary to demonstrate appellant’s guilt.

See Gardner, 306 S.W.3d at 285 (noting that eyewitness testimony implicating defendant is not

necessarily required to support conviction). Appellant also correctly notes that there was no physical

evidence—such as DNA or fingerprints from the crime scene or gunshot residue or blood spatter on

clothing recovered from appellant’s apartment—directly connecting appellant to the crime or crime

scene. However, direct evidence, including “physical evidence,” is not required to prove guilt.

“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.” Acosta v. State, 429 S.W.3d 621,

625 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) (quoting Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007)).

It is not necessary that every fact and circumstance point directly and independently to the

       3
         We also note that at the beginning of voir dire, the trial court introduced appellant to the
venire panel as “Mr. Mario Lewis” and appellant verbally greeted the venire panel by saying “Good
Morning.” Moreover, prior to appellant’s arraignment before the jury, the trial court explicitly asked
appellant—in front of the jury—“And you are Mario Lewis?” Appellant answered, “Yes, ma’am.”

                                                  6
defendant’s guilt; it is enough if the conclusion is warranted by the combined and cumulative force

of all the incriminating circumstances. Acosta, 429 S.W.3d at 625; Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13. As

long as the verdict is supported by a reasonable inference, it is within the province of the fact finder

to choose which inference is most reasonable. Laster, 275 S.W.3d at 523. Furthermore, the trier of

fact may use common sense and apply common knowledge, observation, and experience gained in

ordinary affairs when drawing inferences from the evidence. Acosta, 429 S.W.3d at 625; Boston

v. State, 373 S.W.3d 832, 837 (Tex. App.—Austin 2012), aff’d, 410 S.W.3d 321 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2013).

               Moreover, this aspect of appellant’s argument focuses on particular evidence not

presented at trial. In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, however, we consider whether the

jury’s finding of guilt was justified considering the evidence that was admitted at trial, not what

evidence is absent from the record. In performing our sufficiency review, we do not re-evaluate the

weight and credibility of the evidence or substitute our judgment for that of the fact finder. Isassi,
330 S.W.3d at 638; Williams v. State, 235 S.W.3d 742, 750 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Instead, we

determine whether the necessary inferences are reasonable based upon the cumulative force of the

evidence when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict. Sorrells v. State, 343 S.W.3d 152,

155 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); see Temple, 390 S.W.3d at 360.

               The evidence adduced at trial showed that only three people were present in the front

yard of Wilford’s duplex at the time of the confrontation and shooting: Wilford, Big G, and

St. Louis. Jennifer testified that she heard gunshots coming from where the confrontation occurred.

St. Louis testified that as he was walking away, the shots came from behind him where Big G was

standing. Expert testimony demonstrated that the bullets recovered from the crime scene and the

                                                   7
bullet recovered from Wilford during the autopsy were fired from the same firearm. The firearms

expert also testified that the firearm used was most likely a revolver. While the murder weapon was

not recovered, witnesses testified that Big G had a revolver earlier in the evening. Further, St. Louis

told police officers that after the shooting, when he and Big G got into Jennifer’s truck, he saw Big G

put a gun in his pocket. There was no evidence showing that St. Louis had a gun of any type that

night. Also, in his testimony, St. Louis denied shooting Wilford. From this circumstantial evidence,

and reasonable inferences therefrom, the jury could have rationally concluded that appellant was the

individual who shot Wilford.

               Appellant also argues that some of the evidence was contradicted by St. Louis’s

testimony at trial. He correctly notes that during his testimony at trial, St. Louis equivocated about

what he saw Big G put in his pocket after the shooting. However, St. Louis also conceded that

he told police that he “notice[d] [Big G] putting the gun up in his pocket.”              Conflicting

witness testimony does not preclude a fact finder from finding a defendant guilty. Becerra,

2014 WL 2582901, at *3; see Earls v. State, 707 S.W.2d 82, 85 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) (upholding

guilty verdict even though victim misidentified defendant at trial but correctly identified defendant

at time of his arrest). As exclusive judge of the facts, the fact finder has full responsibility for

resolving conflicts in the testimony, weighing the evidence, and drawing reasonable inferences

therefrom. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319; Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App.

2007). Thus, when the record supports conflicting inferences, we must presume that the trier of fact

resolved any such conflicts in favor of the verdict and defer to that resolution. Jackson, 443 U.S.

at 326; Anderson v. State, 416 S.W.3d 884, 888 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). We do not reassess witness

credibility. Thornton v. State, 425 S.W.3d 289, 303 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

                                                  8
                  Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction when, based on the evidence and

reasonable inferences therefrom, any rational fact finder could have found the essential elements of

the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319; Anderson, 416 S.W.3d at 888.

Based on the evidence presented at trial and the reasonable inferences therefrom, we conclude that

the jury could have rationally found beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant is Big G, that Big G

shot and killed Wilford, that Big G is Mario Lewis, and that appellant is Mario Lewis. Taken as a

whole, the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that

appellant was the person who shot Wilford causing his death.4 See Gardner, 306 S.W.3d at 285

(“[T]he State may prove [a] defendant’s identity and criminal culpability by either direct or

circumstantial evidence, coupled with all reasonable inferences from that evidence.”). Therefore,

the evidence is sufficient to support appellant’s conviction for murder. We overrule appellant’s first

point of error.

                                           Jury Charge Error

                  In his second point of error, appellant asserts that the trial court erred by failing to

properly tailor the definition of the term “knowingly” in the jury charge to the applicable conduct

element of murder.

                  We review alleged jury charge error in two steps: first, we determine whether error

exists; if so, we then evaluate whether sufficient harm resulted from the error to require reversal.

Kirsch v. State, 357 S.W.3d 645, 649 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012); Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 743–44

        4
           Once again, because the parties are familiar with the evidence adduced at trial, we do not
recite all of the evidence supporting appellant’s conviction in our analysis. Rather, we limit our
recitation to the evidence that is relevant to appellant’s particular sufficiency challenge.

                                                     9
(Tex. Crim. App. 2005). The trial court must charge the jury on the “law applicable to the case,”

which requires that the jury be instructed on each element of the offense charged. See Tex. Code

Crim. Proc. art. 36.14; see also Dinkins v. State, 894 S.W.2d 330, 339 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995)

(because jury charge instructs jury on law applicable to case, it must contain accurate statement of

law and set out all essential elements of offense). The judge’s duty to instruct the jury on the law

applicable to the case exists even when defense counsel fails to object to inclusions or exclusions

in the charge. Taylor v. State, 332 S.W.3d 483, 486 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). The jury charge should

tell the jury what law applies and how it applies to the case. Delgado v. State, 235 S.W.3d 244, 249

(Tex. Crim. App. 2007).

                The Penal Code delineates three “conduct elements” that can be involved in an

offense: (1) the nature of the conduct, (2) the result of the conduct, and (3) the circumstances

surrounding the conduct. McQueen v. State, 781 S.W.2d 600, 603 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989); see Tex.

Penal Code § 6.03. The statutory definitions of the culpable mental state in a jury charge must be

tailored to the conduct elements of the offense. Cook v. State, 884 S.W.2d 485, 487 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1994). Murder is a “result of conduct” offense because it punishes the intentional or knowing

killing of another regardless of the specific manner of causing the person’s death (e.g., shooting,

stabbing, suffocating). Young v. State, 341 S.W.3d 417, 423 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); see Schroeder

v. State, 123 S.W.3d 398, 400 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (“Murder is a ‘result of conduct’ offense,

which means that the culpable mental state relates to the result of the conduct, i.e., the causing of

the death.”).

                Here, the abstract portion of the jury charge included the following instructions and

definitions regarding the culpable mental states “intentionally” and “knowingly:”

                                                 10
               A person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect to a result of his
       conduct when it is his conscious objective or desire to cause the result.
               A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to the nature of his
       conduct or to circumstances surrounding his conduct when he is aware of the nature
       of his conduct or that the circumstances exist.

(Emphasis added.) The trial court’s definition of “intentionally” was tailored to the result of the

conduct. In contrast, the trial court’s definition of “knowingly” was not tailored to the result of the

conduct but instead contained language regarding the nature of the conduct and language regarding

the circumstances surrounding the conduct.

               A trial court errs by failing to limit the definitions of the culpable mental states to the

conduct element or elements involved in the particular offense. Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481,

492 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Cook, 884 S.W.2d at 491. Accordingly, the trial court erred in failing

to tailor the definition of the culpable mental state of “knowingly” to the result of conduct.

               Appellant did not object to the definition of “knowingly” in the jury charge at trial.

Therefore, he is not entitled to reversal unless he was egregiously harmed by that definition. See

Barrios v. State, 283 S.W.3d 348, 350 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (“If the error was not objected to,

it must be ‘fundamental’ and requires reversal occurs only if it was so egregious and created

such harm that the defendant ‘has not had a fair and impartial trial.’” (quoting Almanza v. State,

686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (op. on reh’g))). Any harm inflicted by the erroneous

charge must be “assayed in light of the entire jury charge, the state of the evidence, including the

contested issues and weight of the probative evidence, the argument of counsel, and any other

relevant information revealed by the record of the trial as a whole.” Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171;

see Arrington v. State, 451 S.W.3d 834, 840 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). We engage in this assessment

                                                  11
to illuminate the actual, not just theoretical, harm to the accused. Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 174; see

Cosio v. State, 353 S.W.3d 766, 777 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (“An egregious harm determination

must be based on a finding of actual rather than theoretical harm.”). Jury charge error is egregiously

harmful if it “affect[ed] the very basis of the case,” “deprive[d] the defendant of a valuable right,”

or “vitally affect[ed] a defensive theory.” Cosio, 353 S.W.3d at 777; see Arrington, 451 S.W.3d at

840. Egregious harm is a difficult standard to meet and must be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Taylor, 332 S.W.3d at 489; see Arrington, 451 S.W.3d at 840; Gelinas v. State, 398 S.W.3d 703, 710

(Tex. Crim. App. 2013).

               In considering the jury charge as a whole, when the error involves a misstatement of

the required culpable mental state, we “may consider the degree, if any, to which the culpable mental

states were limited by the application portions of the jury charge.” Hughes v. State, 897 S.W.2d 285,

296 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); Cook, 884 S.W.2d at 492 n.6. In this case, although the trial court gave

an incorrect definition of “knowingly” in the abstract portion of the charge, the court properly

applied the law to the factual context and limited the culpable mental states to the result of

appellant’s conduct in the application paragraph:

       Now, bearing in mind the forgoing instructions and definitions, if you believe from
       the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 19th day of February,
       2011, in the County of Bell, and State of Texas, as alleged in the indictment, the
       Defendant, Mario Lewis, did then and there intentionally or knowingly cause the
       death of an individual, namely, Lynn Wilford, by shooting Lynn Wilford with a
       firearm, a deadly weapon, you will find the defendant guilty of Murder, but if you do
       not so believe, or if you have a reasonable doubt thereof, you will acquit the
       defendant and so say by your verdict, not guilty.

(Emphasis added.) Thus, the jury was instructed that it could convict appellant of murder only if it

found that he had intentionally or knowingly caused the result, that is, the death of Wilford. This

                                                 12
instruction is consistent with the statutorily prohibited conduct. See Tex. Penal Code § 19.02(b)(1).

We presume that the jury followed this instruction. See Luquis v. State, 72 S.W.3d 355, 366 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2002); Williams v. State, 226 S.W.3d 611, 618 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007,

no pet.). When the application paragraph of the charge correctly instructs the jury on the law

applicable to the case, this mitigates against a finding of egregious harm. See Patrick, 906 S.W.2d

at 493; Hughes, 897 S.W.2d at 296–97; see, e.g., Medina v. State, 7 S.W.3d 633, 640 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1999); Kuhn v. State, 393 S.W.3d 519, 529–30 (Tex. App.—Austin 2013, pet. ref’d); Williams,
226 S.W.3d at 618.

               In addition, as mentioned above, the alternative culpable mental state of

“intentionally” in the abstract portion of the charge was properly limited to the result of appellant’s

conduct. “The harmfulness of error in a jury charge should be measured, at least in part, against the

likelihood that the jury’s verdict was actually based upon an alternative theory of culpability not

affected by erroneous portions of the charge.” Williams, 226 S.W.3d at 618 (citing Atkinson v. State,

923 S.W.2d 21, 27 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996), overruled on other grounds by Motilla v. State,

78 S.W.3d 352 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002)); see Sanchez v. State, 376 S.W.3d 767, 775 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2012). Here, the evidence presented at trial was sufficient for the jury to find appellant guilty

under the “intentionally” culpable mental state. Based on the evidence presented, the jury could have

reasonably found that appellant fatally shot Wilford three times, with the two “immediately fatal”

gunshot wounds to Wilford’s head being inflicted as Wilford lay on the ground. Thus, the evidence

supports a finding that it was appellant’s conscious objective or desire to cause Wilford’s

death—that is, that appellant acted intentionally. Therefore, with respect to the element of causing

death, the jury was presented with an alternate theory of culpability, supported by sufficient

                                                  13
evidence, on which it could have found appellant guilty. For these reasons, we conclude that

consideration of the entirety of the jury charge weighs against a finding of egregious harm.

                 Regarding the state of the evidence and the arguments of counsel, the primary

contested issue at trial, as reflected by the evidence and parties’ arguments, was not whether

appellant acted with the requisite culpable mental state but whether he was the perpetrator of the

shooting. Appellant’s defense was not that he had inadvertently or accidentally caused Wilford’s

death or that he lacked the requisite mental state to commit the charged offense. Instead, appellant’s

theory was that he was not the person who shot Wilford and the evidence failed to identify him as

the shooter. Consequently, throughout the trial and during closing arguments, the parties focused

on the credibility of the witnesses and the plausibility of their versions of the events, not on whether

appellant possessed the culpable mental state required to commit murder. Appellant never indicated

that he lacked the requisite culpable mental state to commit the charged offense, nor did any

evidence raise this inference. After reviewing the evidence, we conclude that the state of the

evidence weighs against of a finding of egregious harm.

                 As for the arguments of counsel, the determination of whether appellant was the

perpetrator hinged on the credibility of the witnesses, and the parties focused on that in their closing

arguments. Although the State briefly discussed the mens rea element, the prosecutor did not

highlight or rely on the erroneous jury charge instruction but instead focused on the intentional

aspect of the shooting, even noting that the mens rea element was undisputed.5 Both side’s argument

        5
            The prosecutor argued:

                Intentionally or knowingly. When you take a look at those gunshots in the
        fence, when you take a look at where the rounds were [re]covered beneath the head
        of Lynn Wilford, there’s no doubt that whoever did it intended to do it.

                                                  14
focused on whether the evidence established that appellant was the person who shot Wilford. In

sum, we perceive nothing in the closing arguments to indicate that appellant was egregiously harmed

by the charge error. The arguments of counsel weigh against a finding of egregious harm.

               Finally, with regard to the final factor, appellant has not pointed to any other relevant

information, nor are we aware of any information that should be considered in analyzing any

potential harm.

               On this record, we cannot conclude that the charge error affected the very basis of the

case, deprived appellant of a valuable right, or vitally affected the defensive theory. See Jones

v. State, 229 S.W.3d 489, 494 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2007, no pet.) (“[T]he intent of [appellant]

in touching [the child victim], while it was a part of the State’s required proof, was not a contested

issue and consequently [appellant] could not be egregiously harmed by the definition of the

intentional and knowing state of mind.”); Saldivar v. State, 783 S.W.2d 265, 268 (Tex.

App.—Corpus Christi 1989, no pet.) (“Where no defense is presented which would directly affect

an assessment of mental culpability, there is no harm in submitting erroneous definitions of

‘intentionally’ and ‘knowingly.’”). Accordingly, after reviewing the record and considering the

relevant factors, we hold that the erroneous definition of “knowingly” in the abstract portion of the

jury charge did not egregiously harm appellant. We overrule his second point of error.

              Knew what they were doing. It’s not like the gun accidently discharged. Or
       there was an accident.
              This was an intentional act. That this man knew what he was doing. He
       knew what he was doing.
              That’s not in dispute.

                                                  15
                                          CONCLUSION

               Having concluded that the evidence was sufficient to support appellant’s conviction

and that the erroneous jury charge instruction did not egregiously harm appellant, we affirm the trial

court’s judgment of conviction.

                                               __________________________________________
                                               Cindy Olson Bourland, Justice

Before Chief Justice Rose, Justices Pemberton and Bourland

Affirmed

Filed: April 16, 2015

Do Not Publish

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