Opinion
No. 06-03-00161-CR
Submitted: February 26, 2004.
Decided: June 8, 2004. DO NOT PUBLISH.
On Appeal from the 124th Judicial District Court, Gregg County, Texas, Trial Court No. 30307-B.
Before MORRISS, C.J., ROSS and CARTER, JJ.
OPINION
Transito Jose Rodriguez was convicted by a jury of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. He pled true to the enhancement paragraph, and the jury assessed thirty years' imprisonment. Rodriguez contends that there is legally and factually insufficient evidence to support his conviction and that the sentence imposed was disproportionate to the offense, and was therefore cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. I. Factual Background Brandi Johnson and LaToya Williams were two female clerks working at a gasoline station and convenience store when Rodriguez stopped and began filling his vehicle with gasoline. Williams recognized Rodriguez and felt he was pumping more gasoline than he could afford. She approached Rodriguez and asked him whether he had enough money to pay for the gasoline. He told her he did, but only showed her a one dollar bill. Williams took the keys from Rodriguez' truck and went back inside the store. Johnson called the police and went outside to make a note of Rodriguez' license plate number. While Johnson was noting the license plate number, she heard a click. When she turned around, Rodriguez was three feet away, pointing the open blade of a knife at her. Johnson told Rodriguez to "go on with that knife," and went back into the store. Williams called the police again and informed them Rodriguez had a knife. Rodriguez then came into the store, asked the clerks for his keys, and tried to convince them he could obtain the money to pay for the gasoline. They declined to return his keys. Although it is unclear from the record how he did so, Rodriguez was able to start his car and leave the scene before the police arrived. When the police arrived, Johnson and Williams described the events and gave a description of Rodriguez, including what he was wearing and the car he was driving. The police apprehended Rodriguez a few hours later. They discovered an open pocketknife in the console of his vehicle. They transported him back to the station and store, where Johnson identified him. She also identified the knife found in Rodriguez' car as the same knife used in the confrontation. The indictment charged that Rodriguez did "while in the course of committing theft . . . intentionally or knowingly threaten and place Brand[i] Johnson in fear of imminent bodily injury or death, and the defendant did then and there use or exhibit a deadly weapon, to-wit: a knife." The jury found him guilty of aggravated robbery, and an affirmative finding of the use of a deadly weapon was made. II. Legal and Factual Sufficiency In our review of the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we employ the standards set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). This calls on the court to view the relevant evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000). In our review, we must evaluate all of the evidence in the record, both direct and circumstantial, whether admissible or inadmissible. Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 735, 740 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999). When reviewing a challenge to the factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the conviction, we are required to determine whether, considering all the evidence in a neutral light, the jury was rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Zuniga v. State, No. 539-02, 2004 Tex.Crim. App. LEXIS 668, at *20 (Tex.Crim.App. Apr. 21, 2004). There are two ways in which we may find the evidence factually insufficient. First, if the evidence supporting the verdict, considered alone, is too weak to support the jury's finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, then we must find the evidence insufficient. Id. Second, if — when we weigh the evidence supporting and contravening the conviction — we conclude that the contrary evidence is strong enough that the state could not have met its burden of proof, we must find the evidence insufficient. Id. "Stated another way, evidence supporting guilt can `outweigh' the contrary proof and still be factually insufficient under a beyond-a-reasonable doubt standard." Id. If the evidence is factually insufficient, then we must reverse the judgment and remand for a new trial. Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 135 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996). Conflicts in the evidence are to be resolved by the jury. In doing so, it may accept one version of facts and reject another or reject any of a witness' testimony. Penagraph v. State, 623 S.W.2d 341, 343 (Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1981). In so doing, it is the jury's job to judge the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony, and it may resolve or reconcile conflicts in the testimony, accepting or rejecting such portions thereof as it sees fit. Banks v. State, 510 S.W.2d 592, 595 (Tex.Crim.App. 1974). Thus, the appellate court can consider only those few matters bearing on credibility that can be fully determined from a cold appellate record. Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 8. "Such an approach occasionally permits some credibility assessment but usually requires deference to the jury's conclusion based on matters beyond the scope of the appellate court's legitimate concern." Id. Thus, conflicts between witnesses will generally be inviolate, but the validity of testimony can be treated as questionable because of other factors, such as adverse conditions affecting the ability of the witness to observe an assailant. Id. at 9. When evidence both supports and conflicts with the verdict, we must assume the fact-finder resolved the conflict in favor of the verdict. Turro v. State, 867 S.W.2d 43, 47 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). A person commits the offense of robbery if, in the course of committing a theft, with intent to obtain or maintain control of the property, he or she intentionally or knowingly threatens or places another in fear of imminent bodily injury or death. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 29.02(a)(2) (Vernon 2003). The offense becomes aggravated if the person uses or exhibits a deadly weapon. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 29.03(a)(2) (Vernon 2003). "In the course of committing theft" means conduct that occurs during or in immediate flight after the commission of theft. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 29.01(1) (Vernon 2003). Rodriguez contends the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to show that he was guilty of aggravated robbery or that the knife he used during the alleged robbery was a deadly weapon. He does not contest his identity as the perpetrator or whether he, in fact, stole the gasoline. A. Threaten or Place Another in Fear of Imminent Bodily Injury or Death The accused need not expressly threaten another or display a weapon to commit robbery. See Welch v. State, 880 S.W.2d 225, 227 (Tex. App.-Austin 1994), vacated remanded on other grounds, 941 S.W.2d 949 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997); Williams v. State, 827 S.W.2d 614, 616 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, pet. ref'd). It is sufficient to constitute robbery if the accused places the complainant in fear of imminent bodily injury or death to the degree that "reason and common experience" will likely induce the complainant to part with her or his property against his or her will. Devine v. State, 786 S.W.2d 268, 270 (Tex.Crim.App. 1989); Cranford v. State, 377 S.W.2d 957, 958 (Tex.Crim.App. 1964). In Cranford, 377 S.W.2d at 958, the defendant committed robbery when he approached a cashier in a grocery store, handed her a note reading, "Give me your money," verbally assured the cashier he was not joking, and made a gesture the cashier thought was a reach for a weapon. A robbery conviction was also upheld when the defendant was not armed and made no express threats, but his demands for money and "generally aggressive manner" were enough to place a reasonable person in fear of imminent bodily injury or death. Welch, 880 S.W.2d at 227; see also Pitte v. State, 102 S.W.3d 786, 793 (Tex. App.-Texarkana 2003, no pet.) (threat, "you'd better move or I'll knock you out," in conjunction with close proximity and other circumstances sufficient to place complainant in fear of imminent bodily injury or death). Rodriguez points out he did not take any action to stab or "slash" at Johnson, or threaten her with words. While the record supports this contention, there was ample testimony Johnson was reasonable in fearing imminent bodily injury or death when Rodriguez pointed the knife at her. Johnson testified that, when she was taking note of Rodriguez' license plate number, she heard a click. When she turned around, Rodriguez was three feet away, pointing the open blade of a knife at her. She testified she was afraid he would use it, it put her in fear, and she felt threatened. In addition, Officer Chris Taylor testified that pointing a knife at someone, as did Rodriguez, is a direct threat to use deadly force. Here, the threat of a knife pointed at Johnson, in conjunction with Rodriguez' proximity to her, taken together with the other circumstances, was sufficient to place Johnson in fear of imminent bodily injury or death. Reason and common experience suggest that this set of circumstances would place Johnson in the kind of fear likely to induce her to part with her property against her will. Rodriguez contends Johnson was not placed in fear. He points to the fact that she did not scream or yell when he pulled the knife or when he went into the store and that she continued to work until her shift was over. Johnson, however, testified she did not want to continue working, but her supervisor directed her to finish her shift. She also testified positively that she was afraid he would use the knife, that it put her in fear, and that she felt threatened. Viewing the relevant evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, there was ample testimony from which a rational trier of fact could have found that Johnson was reasonable in fearing imminent bodily injury or death when Rodriguez pointed the knife at her. In addition, weighing the evidence in a neutral light, there is factually sufficient evidence to establish that Johnson was reasonable in fearing imminent bodily injury or death. B. Deadly Weapon A deadly weapon is "a firearm or anything manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily injury; or . . . anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury." Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 1.07(17) (Vernon Supp. 2004). Generally, a knife is not a deadly weapon by design. Thomas v. State, 821 S.W.2d 616, 620 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991). A knife can be a deadly weapon, however, if in the manner of its use or intended use it is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. McCain v. State, 22 S.W.3d 497, 503 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000); Brown v. State, 716 S.W.2d 939, 946 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986). To determine whether a knife is a deadly weapon in the manner of its use or intended use, we consider the size, shape, and sharpness of the knife; the manner of its use or intended use; its capacity to produce death or serious bodily injury; and testimony concerning the knife's life-threatening capabilities. Brown, 716 S.W.2d at 946; Nickerson v. State, 69 S.W.3d 661, 670 (Tex. App.-Waco 2002, pet. ref'd). Wounds need not be inflicted before a knife can be determined to be a deadly weapon. Brown, 716 S.W.2d at 946. Each case is examined on its own facts to determine whether the jury could have concluded from the surrounding circumstances that the knife was used or intended to be used as a deadly weapon. Wade v. State, 951 S.W.2d 886, 892 (Tex. App.-Waco 1997, pet. ref'd). These surrounding circumstances can include a defendant's verbal threats, the distance between the defendant and the victim, and the witness' description of the knife. Id. In this case, the knife was admitted into evidence. It had a relatively short blade with the tip broken off. Johnson testified the knife could hurt a person. See Tisdale v. State, 686 S.W.2d 110, 117 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984) (op. on reh'g) (Clinton, J., concurring) (finding that, if from actual observations made at time of offense, victim should express opinion as to "capability" of knife exhibited, it has probative value). Officer Jose Montalvo, Jr., testified the knife found in Rodriguez' vehicle and identified by Johnson as appearing to be the knife Rodriguez pointed at her was a deadly weapon capable of inflicting serious bodily injury or death. Taylor testified that holding that knife out to someone would be a direct threat of deadly force and that the knife could easily kill, or at least do serious bodily injury. In addition, Rodriguez was in close proximity to Johnson, three feet, with the knife pointed at her back. In Tisdale, 686 S.W.2d at 115 (op. on reh'g), the evidence demonstrated that the defendant's use of the knife was by showing it to his victim. The defendant entered a grocery store and carried several items to the cashier. Id. When the cashier opened the cash register, the defendant placed his left hand over the cash tray. Id. The cashier grabbed his hand and said, "No," to which the defendant replied, "Yes," and produced a knife. Id. The cashier backed up, and the defendant took the money from the cash tray. Id. The court noted the defendant was within reach of the cashier, the cashier was in fear of death or serious bodily injury, and thought the defendant could have caused serious bodily injury or death. Id. The court found the defendant's actions were perceived by the cashier as an implied threat, and the finder of fact could find likewise. Id. The concurring opinion in Tisdale pointed out that, in order to determine in a given situation whether a knife is a deadly weapon, a fact-finder should consider its intended use from the attitude indicated by the perpetrator. Id. at 117. When a suspect acts in a way that shows his or her purpose is to convey to the victim that he or she will thwart resistance to a taking by using a knife to harm the person of the victim, the suspect intends for the victim "to believe that the knife [is] capable of producing serious bodily injury or death to obtain the money," Cruz v. State, 576 S.W.2d 841, 843 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979), and the fact-finder is warranted in concluding the knife is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. Id. The Amarillo Court of Appeals in Billey v. State, 895 S.W.2d 417, 422 (Tex. App.-Amarillo 1995, pet. ref'd), wrote:
[E]vidence is sufficient if a knife is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury or if it is displayed in a manner conveying an express or implied threat that serious bodily injury or death will be inflicted if the desire of the person displaying the knife is not satisfied.In this case, Johnson was making a note of Rodriguez' license plate number after he had pumped gasoline into his vehicle for which he could not pay. Rodriguez' action in pointing a knife at Johnson was an implied threat of deadly force to stop the efforts to effectuate his capture and an implied threat he would thwart efforts to hinder his getaway. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 29.01(1) ("In the course of committing theft" means conduct that occurs during the commission, or in immediate flight after the commission, of theft). The State met its burden of showing that the knife used was a deadly weapon. Rodriguez intended for Johnson to believe that the knife was capable of producing serious bodily injury or death, and the fact-finder was warranted in so concluding. For those reasons, viewing the relevant evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, there was ample evidence from which a rational trier of fact could find that Rodriguez used or exhibited the knife as a deadly weapon during the course of committing robbery. In addition, weighing the evidence in a neutral light, there was factually sufficient evidence to establish that Rodriguez used or exhibited the knife as a deadly weapon during the course of the robbery. III. Disproportionate Sentence Rodriguez also contends his thirty-year sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. See U.S. Const. amend. VIII. Aggravated robbery is a first degree felony. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 29.03(b) (Vernon 2003). A first degree felony is punishable by imprisonment for a term of life or for any term of not more than ninety-nine years or less than five years and by a fine of up to $10,000.00. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 12.32 (Vernon 2003). In addition, Rodriguez pled true to the enhancement paragraph, which presented that he was convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group One of the Texas Controlled Substances Act. This enhanced the punishment range for Rodriguez from fifteen to ninety-nine years. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 12.42(c)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2004). The jury assessed Rodriguez' punishment at thirty years' imprisonment. Rodriguez did not preserve his alleged error for review. To preserve a complaint for appellate review, an appellant must have presented to the trial court a timely request, objection, or motion stating the specific grounds for the ruling desired. Tex.R.App.P. 33.1(a)(1)(A); Rhoades v. State, 934 S.W.2d 113, 119 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996). Rodriguez did not object at the sentencing hearing to his thirty-year sentence on the basis of it being disproportionate to the offense, and therefore being cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Nor did he raise the issue in a post-judgment motion. Accordingly, he has waived this point of error. See Steadman v. State, 31 S.W.3d 738, 742 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. ref'd) (holding defendant waived issue of whether forty-year sentence for aggravated robbery was cruel and unusual punishment); Jackson v. State, 989 S.W.2d 842, 844 (Tex. App.-Texarkana 1999, no pet.). Even if Rodriguez did properly preserve error, we find his sentence does not amount to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. We recognize that a prohibition against grossly disproportionate sentences does survive under the Eighth Amendment and that it does so apart from any consideration of whether the punishment assessed is within the range established by the Legislature in a valid statute. Jackson, 989 S.W.2d at 846. In Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 287-90 (1983), the United States Supreme Court enunciated three factors for evaluating the proportionality of a sentence: (1) the gravity of the offense and the harshness of the punishment, (2) the sentences imposed on other criminals in the same jurisdiction, and (3) the sentences imposed for commission of the same crime in other jurisdictions. The Solem test has subsequently been called into question by Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957 (1991). Therefore, we assess the proportionality of Rodriguez' sentence by applying the Solem test in keeping with our approach in Davis v. State, 905 S.W.2d 655, 664 (Tex. App.-Texarkana 1995, pet. ref'd), and consistent with the Fifth Circuit's modified test as set out in McGruder. We initially make a threshold comparison of the gravity of the offense against the severity of the sentence and then ask whether the sentence is grossly disproportionate to the offense. McGruder v. Puckett, 954 F.2d 313, 316 (5th Cir. 1992); see also Jackson, 989 S.W.2d at 845-46. Only if gross disproportionality is found do we then compare this sentence to sentences received for similar crimes in this and other jurisdictions. McGruder, 945 F.2d at 316; Jackson, 989 S.W.2d at 846. Considering whether Jackson's sentence is grossly disproportionate to the offense, it should be noted that not only is Jackson's sentence within the range of punishment prescribed by the Legislature for habitual felony offenders, but it is also on the low end of the range that could be assessed under these facts. This is not a harsh sentence for conviction of a second felony offense, the second felony being for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Because we find Rodriguez' sentence is not grossly disproportionate to the offense for which he was convicted, factors two and three of the Solem test need not be considered. IV. Conclusion We affirm the judgment.
A violation of Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 29.03 (Vernon 2003).