ACOSTA, HECTOR v. the State of Texas

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
NO. AP-77,092

HECTOR ACOSTA, Appellant

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS

ON DIRECT APPEAL FROM CAUSE NO. 1513043D
IN THE 396TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
TARRANT COUNTY

Per curiam. KELLER, P.J., filed a concurring opinion. YEARY and KEEL, JJ.,
concurred.

OPINION

In November 2019, a jury convicted Appellant, Hector Acosta, of capital murder

for fatally shooting Erick Zelaya and Iris Chirinos in the same criminal transaction. See

TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.03(a)(7)(A). Based on the jury’s answers to the special issues

set forth in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 37.071, Sections 2(b) and 2(e), the

trial court sentenced Appellant to death. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 37.071,
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Sec. 2(g). 1 Direct appeal to this Court is automatic. Art. 37.071, Sec. 2(h).
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Appellant raises seventeen points of error. In five points of error (one, two, three,

thirteen, and fourteen), he challenges the trial court’s denial of his motions to suppress. In

one point of error (four), he asserts error in the jury charge. In three points of error (five,

six, and seven), he contends that the State improperly elicited, and improperly referenced

in jury argument, evidence of his nationality. In four points of error (eight, nine, fifteen,

and sixteen), Appellant complains of improper prosecutorial jury argument. In three points

of error (ten, eleven, and twelve), he challenges the trial court’s denial of his motion for

continuance. In his last point of error (seventeen), Appellant asserts error in the admission

of evidence.

After reviewing Appellant’s seventeen points of error, we affirm the trial court’s

judgment of conviction and sentence of death.

Background

Appellant, known by the street name “Cholo,” was living at a residence on Truman

Street in Arlington, Texas. One night, the residence was subject to a drive-by shooting.

Appellant was not injured, but a friend who also lived at the residence was shot three times

and nearly died. Appellant later discovered that another friend of his, Erick Zelaya, known

by the street name “Diablo,” had been involved in the drive-by shooting. Months after the

drive-by shooting, Appellant moved to a new residence on Burton Drive which was in the

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1
Unless otherwise indicated, all subsequent citations in this opinion to “Articles” refer to the Texas
Code of Criminal Procedure.
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same neighborhood as the Truman Street residence. Also staying at the Burton Drive

residence were Zelaya and his seventeen-year-old girlfriend, Iris Chirinos.

On September 2, 2017, law enforcement responded to a call from a local resident

who found a severed head in a wooded area near Appellant’s previous residence on Truman

Street. The head was on a dirt path behind an apartment complex and beside the head was

a homemade sign that read, in Spanish, “La Raza Se Restreta y Faltan 4,” which translates

to “respect the race and there are four more.” A black plastic bag, which appeared to have

been burned, was located near the head. Grant Gildon, a homicide detective with the

Arlington Police Department, reported to the scene as police canvassed the immediate area

attempting to identify the severed head. An officer informed Gildon that Mariano Sanchez-

Pina, who had been arrested on an unrelated burglary charge, might have information about

the severed head. Gildon, along with Detective Michael Barakat, met with Sanchez-Pina

several times at the police station. 2 Sanchez-Pina identified the severed head as belonging
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to “Diablo” and provided information about where the rest of his body could be found.

Sanchez-Pina also said that Appellant, whom he knew by the name “Cholo,” was involved

in Zelaya’s murder. The detectives met with two other witnesses who provided

information connecting Appellant and Sanchez-Pina to Zelaya’s murder and

dismemberment. Additionally, police received two anonymous Crime Stoppers tips

connecting Appellant to the murder.

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2
Barakat was assigned to the gang unit. He was asked to assist in the investigation because
officers initially responding to the severed head saw a tattoo on the lip that led them to believe that
the decapitation could be gang related.
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Based on the information received from these informants, Gildon obtained and

executed a search warrant for Appellant’s Burton Drive residence. Inside the residence,

police discovered blood splatters, droplets of blood, and smeared bloodstains throughout

the house. In a bedroom, police discovered a machete and bloodstains that had soaked

through the floor. Police also found trash bags in the living room that contained several

.22-caliber casings, human teeth, some human hair, a blood-stained shirt, a blood-stained

towel, and a cement block with blood on it. In the backyard, police discovered multiple

items that appeared to have blood on them as well as a sword sheath and shell casings.

Police also found an area of disturbed dirt with a pickaxe, a spade, and a shovel nearby.

Underneath the dirt, a rug covering a hole was discovered and, as more dirt was removed,

a human foot was exposed. At that point, Gildon obtained an arrest warrant for Appellant. 3 2F

Eventually, the excavation revealed two bodies that were later identified as being Zelaya

and Chirinos.

Autopsies of Zelaya and Chirinos revealed that both suffered multiple fatal gunshot

wounds along with other injuries. Zelaya had a total of six gunshot wounds—three to the

head, two the torso, and one to the back—and nineteen stab wounds, which included

wounds related to the decapitation, chopping-type wounds down the side of his head,

multiple stab wounds on his upper back and the back of his neck, and cutting wounds on

his extremities. Chirinos’s injuries included a gunshot wound to the chest, which may not

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3
When Gildon obtained the arrest warrant for Appellant, the police had not yet discovered both
bodies, so the arrest was for the charge of murder. The charge was later changed to capital murder
based on the discovery of the second body.
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have immediately been fatal, two gunshot wounds to the head, and blunt force trauma to

the head. Both deaths were deemed to be homicide.

Appellant was arrested on September 7, 2017. Gildon and Barakat interviewed

Appellant at the police station a few hours after his arrest. During the interview, Appellant

confirmed that his nickname was “Cholo” and upon being questioned about his history

with Zelaya and Chirinos, Appellant confessed to murdering them: “If you want to know

the truth, uh, I did kill him, I killed him.” He then described how he murdered Zelaya and

Chirinos.

Appellant described the gun he used in the offense and admitted to shooting both

Zelaya and Chirinos before decapitating Zelaya with a machete. He told the detectives that

after the murders he sold the gun to a man that he did not know. He stated that he placed

Zelaya’s head near the Truman Street residence to send a message to the other people he

believed to be involved in the drive-by shooting. To emphasize his message, Appellant

placed a sign next to Zelaya’s decapitated head that translated to, “the race is to be

respected and there are four more.” Appellant said he showed the bodies to several people

who knew he wanted revenge for the Truman Street shooting and afterwards, he buried the

bodies in his backyard. He told the detectives that his friend, Mariano Sanchez, helped

him move and bury the bodies and that another friend cleaned the house while he dug the

hole in the backyard. Throughout the interview, Appellant maintained that he alone

committed the murders.

Appellant was indicted for capital murder for the deaths of Zelaya and Chirinos. At

trial, the State called fourteen witnesses who presented evidence of: the discovery of
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Zelaya’s severed head; the ensuing police investigation, including Appellant’s interview

and the recovery of the murder weapon; the DNA report concerning evidence collected

from the scene 4; ballistics testing of bullets and cartridges found at the scene; and the
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autopsies of Zelaya and Chirinos. The defense called two witnesses: an employee of the

Mexican Consulate, who testified about the Consulate’s contact with Appellant after his

arrest; and a longtime criminal defense attorney, who testified about the warnings the

detectives gave to Appellant before his interview. Appellant did not testify. The jury found

Appellant guilty of capital murder as charged in the indictment.

During the punishment hearing, the State called fifteen witnesses who presented

evidence of: a murder alleged to have been committed by Appellant two months prior;

Appellant’s affiliation with Mexican gangs and cartels; his plans to engage in the drug trade

if he were sentenced to life in prison; and images and posts from the Facebook page of

“Xholo Monterrey,” which the State theorized belonged to Appellant, who is originally

from Monterrey, Mexico. The defense called twelve witnesses: seven family members,

including Appellant’s younger brother and sister; a cosmetologist who worked with

Appellant’s mother before her death; a retired prison employee who testified about prison

security and inmate classification; and three medical expert witnesses. After deliberating,

the jury affirmatively answered the future dangerousness special issue and negatively

answered the mitigation special issue. See Art. 37.071, §§ 2(b), (e). Accordingly, the trial

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DNA analysis established that Zelaya’s and Chirinos’s DNA profiles matched blood samples
obtained from inside Appellant’s Burton Drive residence. A machete was found inside the
residence and a DNA analysis of its blade matched Zelaya’s DNA profile.
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court sentenced Appellant to death. See Art. 37.071, Sec. 2(g). This appeal followed.

Denial of Motion for Continuance

In three points of error, Appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying his

motion for continuance. Specifically, he asserts that because the continuance was denied,

his trial counsel was unable to properly investigate and prepare for trial. Therefore,

Appellant argues, the denial of the continuance violated his right to due process under the

Fourteenth Amendment (point of error ten), the Eighth Amendment’s requirement of

individualized sentencing (point of error eleven), and his right to effective assistance of

counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment (point of error twelve).

Background

The State filed its complaint against Appellant on September 14, 2017. Appellant’s

trial counsel was appointed to the case on September 20, 2017, with an additional attorney

appointed to the case the following day. Appellant was indicted for capital murder on

September 29, 2017. The trial court filed its scheduling order on November 29, 2018,

which had jury selection set for August 29, 2019, and a trial on the merits set to begin on

October 28, 2019. On July 15, 2019, Appellant filed a written pre-trial motion for

continuance asserting that due to newly and recently discovered matters, trial counsel

needed additional time to investigate. Appellant articulated three reasons for seeking a

continuance:

(1) Trial counsel could not complete their mitigation investigation under
the current trial schedule because: (a) the trial team was unable to
travel to Mexico to interview witnesses who might have corroborating
mitigation information, and (b) the trial team needed additional time
to investigate Appellant’s extraneous offenses, which the State had
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not yet disclosed at the time the motion was filed.

(2) Trial counsel needed more time to review “voluminous disclosures by
the State”—specifically, a hard drive containing approximately 130
hours of video footage that had been provided to the defense six
months earlier.

(3) Trial counsel could not “investigate, draft, and litigate critical pre-trial
motions” under the current trial schedule.

On August 6, 2019, the trial court held a hearing on the continuance motion.

Appellant’s counsel stated that they were behind on their mitigation investigation and had

recently discovered some information regarding Appellant’s mental health that they’d like

to further investigate. Counsel asked for at least three additional months, but perhaps up

to six, to prepare for trial. The evidence presented at the hearing addressed the trial team’s

inability to travel to Monterrey to further their mitigation investigation in person due to the

dangerous conditions presented in Mexico. Appellant had two mitigation specialists

investigating his case and both testified at the continuance hearing.

Vince Gonzales, the initial mitigation specialist appointed on Appellant’s case, had

been on the case for over two years when he testified at the hearing. He said that he had

interviewed about twenty witnesses, including Appellant’s sister, aunts, uncles, employers,

and wife. When asked how much more mitigation work remained, Gonzales indicated that

he thought that most interviews had been completed but that due to recent developments

they needed to conduct more interviews in Mexico. Gonzales did not describe what the

recent developments were, but explained that after consulting with their experts, the trial

team needed to glean information from existing reports, records, and interviews to

supplement what the experts needed. He said that with a three-to-six-month continuance,
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the trial team would be in a better position to present mitigation evidence. Gonzales further

testified that the situation in Monterrey was very dangerous. However, he acknowledged

that the situation had been dangerous since the date of his appointment to Appellant’s case.

Gonzales conceded that, given the ongoing dangerous situation, the trial team would not

be able to conduct any in-person interviews in Mexico, even with a six-month continuance.

Stephen Escriche, Appellant’s second mitigation specialist, was brought onto the

case because he spoke Spanish. Since joining the trial team, Escriche had interviewed

twelve to fifteen people who only spoke Spanish, but still had quite a few witnesses located

in Mexico that he needed to speak to. In a mitigation investigation, Escriche explained, it

is imperative to see where the defendant has lived, take photographs of that location, and

speak to as many family members and witnesses as possible. He further explained that it

is particularly important that mitigation interviews with Spanish-speaking witnesses be

conducted without interpreters because translation disrupts the communication. Escriche

testified that he would be unable to conduct a constitutionally adequate mitigation plan

without traveling to Monterrey to obtain Appellant’s school records, medical records, birth

records, and employment records, as well as speak in-person with Appellant’s friends and

family, and his former teachers and employers. He explained, however, that Monterrey is

a dangerous area due to the presence of drug cartels, and that the U.S. State Department

had issued a warning to prevent citizens from traveling to the area.

On cross-examination, Escriche acknowledged that the situation in Mexico had been

dangerous for the entire time Appellant’s case had been pending and thus, he never had the

ability to travel to Mexico to investigate. He also testified that he did not foresee the
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situation changing anytime soon and, in fact, opined that it might get worse due to the

recent conviction of cartel head Chapo Guzman. Escriche conceded that no period of

continuance would afford him the ability to travel to Mexico to do a mitigation

investigation. He also acknowledged that future interviews with witnesses in Mexico

would have to be via telephone, which would take three to six months to accomplish.

At end of the hearing, the trial court took the matter under advisement, stating that

it was going to stick with the proposed trial date for the time being. The judge advised

Appellant that if something were to change between the date of this hearing and the date

of trial, that he should bring it to the attention of the court. The next day, at a hearing on

pretrial motions, Appellant renewed his motion for continuance in light of the trial court’s

denial of his motions to suppress. The trial judge indicated that he still had the motion

under advisement. At the final pretrial hearing, the trial judge signed an order denying

Appellant’s motion for continuance. Appellant’s counsel acknowledged the trial court’s

order and asserted that that they were proceeding under duress. His counsel sought a

running objection to the denial of the continuance which the trial court granted.

Before individual voir dire began, Appellant renewed his motion for continuance.

Appellant’s counsel informed the trial court that the defense team had two witnesses in

Mexico that they were having trouble locating and needed more time to find them. The

trial court denied the motion. At the end of individual voir dire, Appellant again renewed

his motion for continuance. Appellant’s counsel told the court that the trial team had

interviewed an additional fifteen to twenty individuals in Mexico, but none of them were

willing or able to come testify at trial. He requested more time to find more witnesses.
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The trial court denied Appellant’s request. Before the start of the guilt-phase, Appellant

again renewed his motion for continuance but provided no additional information and made

no further argument. The trial court denied the motion.

Standard of Review

The granting or denial of a motion for continuance falls within the sound discretion

of the trial court. Heiselbetz v. State, 906 S.W.2d 500, 511–12 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); see

Art. 29.03 (providing that criminal action may be continued upon sufficient cause shown

in motion); Art. 29.06(6) (explaining that sufficiency of motion for continuance shall be

addressed to “sound discretion” of court and “shall not be granted as a matter of right”).

Thus, we review a trial court’s ruling on a motion for continuance for an abuse of

discretion. Gallo v. State, 239 S.W.3d 757, 764–65 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). To show

reversible error predicated on the denial of a pretrial motion for continuance, a defendant

must demonstrate both that the trial court erred in denying the motion and that the lack of

a continuance caused harm. Gonzales v. State, 304 S.W.3d 838, 843 (Tex. Crim. App.

2010).

Denial of Due Process

In point of error ten, Appellant contends that the trial court’s denial of a continuance

violated his right to present a meaningful defense, thereby violating his right to due process.

Appellant asserts that his defense team could not complete their mitigation investigation

due to the safety risk imposed by traveling to Monterrey to gather evidence. Next,

Appellant maintains that his counsel needed more time to review discovery materials which

included more than 100 hours of video recordings from the State, as well as time to
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investigate the extraneous offenses the State disclosed only a few weeks prior to the

hearing. Lastly, Appellant argues that his trial counsel’s heavy caseload prevented him

from effectively litigating pretrial matters. We address each of his claims separately.

MITIGATION INVESTIGATION

Appellant asserts that the denial of a continuance deprived him of the opportunity

to find witnesses who could corroborate the information that he self-reported about his life

in Mexico. This, he maintains, left his counsel without an evidentiary basis to challenge

the State’s punishment case or to counter the State’s attacks on the defense experts’

opinions. Appellant does not allege that he was unable to present mitigating evidence; he

simply laments that the source for his mitigating evidence was, to a great extent, limited to

himself. However, his suggestion that witnesses in Mexico would have provided

corroborative information about his childhood in Mexico is purely speculative. See

Renteria v. State, 206 S.W.3d 689, 702 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (explaining that law

requires more than speculation to justify appellate reversal for trial court’s failure to grant

continuance).

Appellant’s mitigation expert, Escriche, testified at the continuance hearing that he

had identified additional witnesses in Mexico that he still needed to interview. But

Appellant’s counsel informed the court that the additional witnesses in Mexico had been

interviewed but were unwilling or unable to testify at trial. Thus, the record shows that

Appellant’s trial team was able to conduct the interviews for which a continuance had been

sought. The purported lack of an evidentiary basis to rebut the State’s punishment case or

its attacks on his experts’ opinions is not attributable to an inability to investigate due to
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the denial of a continuance. Further, Appellant’s speculation about potential corroborative

evidence does not demonstrate specific prejudice to Appellant’s mitigation case caused by

the trial court’s denial of his request for a continuance. See Renteria, 206 S.W.3d at 699

(explaining that defendant must show specific prejudice to his defense to establish that trial

court abused discretion in refusing to grant continuance).

Appellant also contends that a continuance was needed to effectively challenge the

State’s punishment case against him. But he does not allege, nor does the record reflect,

any specific prejudice to his defense. Appellant filed both a motion and a request for notice

of extraneous offenses on May 17, 2019. The State filed its responsive notice on July 19,

2019, which gave notice of the extraneous offenses it intended to introduce. 5 Appellant
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concedes the existing record does not establish what, if any, additional information

regarding the extraneous offenses that counsel would have discovered. Appellant does not

assert, nor does the record demonstrate, that he was unfairly surprised at trial or unable to

effectively cross-examine any of the State’s extraneous offense evidence. While one of

the extraneous offenses was an alleged murder that involved testimony from multiple

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5
The State’s disclosure notice included the following extraneous offense evidence: capital murder
alleged to have been committed by Appellant in Tarrant County on July 3, 2017; misdemeanor
possession of marijuana alleged to have been committed by Appellant on July 20, 2017; cartel and
gang affiliations as disclosed by Appellant in his interview with detectives in this case; numerous
tattoos on Appellant’s body indicative of cartel and gang affiliation; Appellant overstaying his
2010 tourist visa and remaining in the U.S. illegally; various images and posts from Appellant’s
Facebook account that detail his cartel and gang affiliations; and Appellant’s 2010 conviction for
possession of a firearm from Monterrey, Mexico. The State filed a supplemental disclosure on
October 15, 2019, which included information from a jail informant who testified at the
punishment hearing that he was approached by Appellant about dealing drugs while they were
both incarcerated.
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witnesses, it was not a factually complex murder, and the record reflects that defense

counsel was able to effectively cross-examine these witnesses. Appellant has failed to

show how his trial counsel could have been more effective if given more time to prepare

for the extraneous offense witnesses. See Gallo, 239 S.W.3d at 764–65 (concluding that

defendant failed to show that he was actually prejudiced by trial court’s denial of

continuance given trial counsel’s cross-examination of witness).

DISCOVERY REVIEW

Appellant alleges generally that the denial of a continuance denied him due process

because he was unable to properly review all the discovery evidence. Appellant claimed

in his motion for continuance that the trial team needed more time to review an external

hard drive containing approximately 130 hours of video footage. The record reflects that

the State provided the hard drive containing the footage to the defense in late January 2019.

Six days later, Appellant filed a motion asking the trial court to require the State to identify

the portions of the video that are relevant, exculpatory, or mitigating. In February 2019,

the record reflects that the court and the parties had informal off-the-record discussions

about the State identifying the relevant portions of the video for the defense, and the court

set a tentative June deadline for the State’s disclosure.

At the pretrial hearing on August 7, 2019, the State advised that their review of the

video footage revealed that roughly ninety-seven percent of the video had nothing to do

with the case and that any relevant portions would be identified for the defense. No further

mention of the review of the video footage or the identification of relevant portions of the

footage appear in the record. This suggests that the State provided the necessary
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information to Appellant within the agreed upon timeframe, and that Appellant abandoned

this basis for seeking a continuance. Moreover, Appellant does not claim, nor does the

record reflect, that he was unfairly surprised at trial by the State’s use of any video footage.

Appellant does not otherwise specify what discovery he was unable to review or how he

was prejudiced by the denial of a continuance regarding discovery.

PRETRIAL LITIGATION

As for the purported need for additional time to investigate, draft, and litigate critical

pre-trial motions, the record reflects that Appellant filed approximately seventy pretrial

motions, including motions to suppress evidence, motions in limine, discovery motions,

and motions challenging the constitutionality of the death penalty statutory scheme. In his

motion for continuance and at a subsequent hearing on that motion, Appellant did not

articulate any specific pretrial issues or motions that required further investigating,

drafting, or litigating. Nor does the record reflect any specific pretrial matters that were

not pursued or unable to be pursued due to the lack of a continuance.

In conclusion, the record does not show that Appellant’s trial team was unable to

complete their mitigation investigation, review discovery materials, or litigate pretrial

matters. Nor does the record show that Appellant’s defense was prejudiced by their

purported inability to do so. See Renteria, 206 S.W.3d at 699. Appellant has not

established that the trial court’s denial of a continuance denied him due process. Therefore,

we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying his motion for

continuance. We overrule point of error ten.

Deprivation of Individualized Sentencing
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In point of error eleven, Appellant argues that the trial court’s denial of his motion

for continuance violated the Eighth Amendment. More specifically, he claims that the

denial deprived him of sufficiently individualized consideration at sentencing. Appellant

maintains that he was deprived of a reliable jury determination on whether he deserved a

lesser sentence than death because he lacked access to potentially mitigating evidence from

his formative years in Mexico. He reiterates that the denial of a continuance impaired his

ability to challenge the State’s punishment case and left his expert witnesses vulnerable to

attack because their opinions relied on Appellant’s self-reporting. However, as with his

due process claim, any lack of information that could provide the whole picture of

Appellant’s life was not attributable to the denial of a continuance.

The record reflects that Appellant did in fact have access to witnesses who

potentially had mitigating information about him, including additional interviews with

Spanish-speaking witnesses from Mexico. This access, however, simply did not yield

witness testimony that his counsel could present at trial. Nevertheless, Appellant’s counsel

put forth a well-developed mitigation defense. Through family and friends, counsel

presented evidence of Appellant’s life growing up in Mexico. The evidence reflected that

Appellant’s parents provided a good life for Appellant and his three siblings even though

they lived in a dangerous place. In 2008, after Appellant’s father lost his job, the family

moved to Arlington, Texas, with Appellant joining them in 2010. In 2014, Appellant’s

father fatally shot Appellant’s mother and then took his own life. Appellant presented

evidence that, after the murder-suicide, the local community organized fundraisers to help

his family, but his girlfriend, with whom he has three children, collected the money and
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left town with their children. Shortly thereafter, Appellant began using methamphetamine

and cocaine daily.

Appellant also presented testimony from three experts concerning his brain

functioning. Dr. Antonio Puente, a clinical psychologist, conducted psychological testing

on Appellant and concluded that he suffered from executive brain dysfunction. Puente

explained that Appellant’s brain does not work as it should due to:

 multiple traumatic brain injuries:

Appellant and his sister reported that Appellant sustained multiple head
injuries: at age 5, he fell and hit the front of his head on concrete stairs; at
age 7, he was hit by a rock above his left eye; at age 10, he was hit by a car
while riding his bike and lost consciousness; as a teenager, he was hit on the
head with a baseball bat and lost consciousness and was a passenger in a car
that flipped eight times; and at age 27, he was hit in the back of the head by
a falling brick;

 multiple traumatic experiences:

Puente cited the tragic death of Appellant’s parents, Appellant’s girlfriend
leaving him while pregnant by another man, his chaotic lifestyle with drugs
and “people shooting at his house,” and childhood violence that Appellant
suffered at the hands of his father, who Appellant alleged used “harsh
disciplinary techniques” and frequently whipped him; and

 poly-substance abuse:

Appellant disclosed to Puente that he started using marijuana at age 14, using
cocaine and ecstasy at age 17, and using large amounts of other drugs,
methamphetamine and cocaine in particular, around age 25.

Puente opined that Appellant has slow response times, poor emotional control, and an

impaired ability to understand, adapt, and respond to his environment. Puente stated that

he had been unable to access any medical records from the hospital in Mexico where

Appellant had been previously treated and thus, had to rely on Appellant’s self-reporting
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to perform his assessment. He concluded that Appellant’s intellectual abilities ranged from

upper borderline to low normal levels, though he did not administer an IQ test.

Dr. Jeffery Lewine, a neuroscientist, testified that Appellant’s MRI showed signs of

structural abnormalities in Appellant’s brain—areas in his frontal lobes are smaller than

normal—which resulted in difficulties with decision making and problem solving. Lewine

also testified that Appellant’s EEG showed abnormalities in the fiber tracts interconnecting

brain regions that compromised Appellant’s language functions, emotional function,

memory, and attention. Ultimately, Lewine expressed that the MRI and EEG results

showed that “the frontal lobes of [Appellant’s] brain are not functioning properly[,] and

the different parts of the brain are not talking to each other the way that they normally

should be.” He opined that these “significant abnormalities and dysfunction in the frontal

lobes,” which “related to deficient executive functioning,” resulted from Appellant’s

“complicated life history,” with traumatic brain injury being the main contributing factor.

Lewine acknowledged, however, that he could not exclude substance abuse and “other

stress factors” as contributing factors. Because he could not access Appellant’s medical

records, he also relied on Appellant’s self-reporting in conducting his evaluation.

Dr. Rahn Minagwa, a clinical and forensic psychologist with expertise in childhood

trauma, conducted a psychosocial assessment of Appellant that focused on the risk and

protective factors present during Appellant’s development. 6 He relied on self-reporting
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6
According to Minagwa, the risk and protective factors involve five domains that interact and
change over time: individual factors, family factors, school factors, peer-related factors, and
community and neighborhood factors.
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from Appellant, and in preparing his evaluation, Minagwa only spoke with Appellant and

Appellant’s sister. Minagwa explained that a “risk factor” is “a scientifically established

factor for which there’s strong objective evidence of a causal relationship to a problem.”

He testified that children who have been abused “are at greater risk to develop problems

with substance abuse, school failure, [and] mental problems as they get older.” Further,

without “corrective measures,” the risk follows children into their adult lives and impacts

the ability to form relationships. Minagwa noted the cumulative effect of risk factors: “The

more risks that a child or teenager faces, the greater the likelihood that they’re going to

have problems growing up.” Minagwa explained that “protective factors” are “those

factors that decrease the likelihood of engaging in risky behavior for children.”

Minagwa concluded that Appellant had nineteen out of twenty-eight risk factors

(eight of which were not by choice) and three out of fifteen protective factors. Minagwa

explained that the nineteen risk factors were predictive of Appellant having problems

growing up and in adult life; the protective factors “weren’t sufficient” to counter all the

risk factors. Minagwa opined that without intervention, Appellant would continue to

engage in criminal acts of violence; it would take significant intervention to alter this

trajectory because Appellant’s risk factors were not corrected in adolescence. Minagwa

acknowledged that no intervention had worked on Appellant thus far.

Thus, Appellant put forth multiple mitigation witnesses during punishment. Given

the significant individualized mitigation evidence presented, Appellant has not

demonstrated that the trial court’s denial of a continuance deprived him of individualized

sentencing. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
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refusing to continue the trial. We overrule point of error eleven.

Denial of Effective Assistance of Counsel

In point of error twelve, Appellant argues that the denial of his motion for

continuance rendered his trial counsel ineffective. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

668, 687 (1984) (holding defendant must show deficient performance by counsel and

prejudice to defense to establish Sixth Amendment claim for ineffective assistance of

counsel). He reiterates his claim that his trial counsel lacked an evidentiary basis to

challenge the State’s punishment case or rebut the State’s attacks on the defense experts’

opinions. However, the record reflects that the purported lack of evidentiary basis was not

due to deficient performance on the part of trial counsel. While Appellant’s case had some

language, logistical, and geographical challenges, his trial team (which included three

defense attorneys, a defense investigator, and at least two mitigation specialists) had over

two years to prepare for trial. The record shows that Appellant’s defense team sufficiently

overcame those challenges.

We have not hesitated to declare an abuse of discretion where denial of a

continuance has resulted in representation by counsel who were not prepared. Rosales v.

State, 841 S.W.2d 368, 372 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). This is not such a case. Nothing in

the record reveals that Appellant’s counsel’s performance was constitutionally

compromised. That counsel could have presented a better or different case concerning

either future dangerousness or mitigation, does not demonstrate that the case his counsel

presented or that counsel’s representation failed to pass constitutional muster. Nor does it

demonstrate that Appellant was harmed by his trial counsel’s performance. The record
Acosta – 21

here does not establish that the trial court’s denial of a continuance deprived Appellant of

effective assistance of counsel. See Renteria, 206 S.W.3d at 699. Thus, we conclude that

the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for continuance. We

overrule point of error twelve.

Denial of Motion to Suppress Custodial Statements

In three points of error, Appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying his

motion to suppress his custodial statements to police. He argues that his statements were

taken in violation of Miranda v. Arizona and Art. 38.22 (point of error one), that his waiver

of his Miranda rights was involuntary under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments (point

of error two), and that the admission of his custodial statements violated Art. 38.21 and

38.22 because they were involuntary given the totality of the circumstances (point of error

three).

Background

Detectives Gildon and Barakat interviewed Appellant at the police station a few

hours after his arrest. At the beginning of the interview, Barakat gave Appellant his

Miranda and Art. 38.22 warnings. See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 479 (1966); Art.

38.22, Sec. 2(a). He first asked Appellant in Spanish if he understood Spanish and

Appellant responded in Spanish that he did. Barakat then read the warnings verbatim from

a card issued by the Arlington Police Department that translated the standard warnings into
Acosta – 22

Spanish. As translated into English, the relevant portion of their exchange was as follows 7: 6F

Barakat: Ok. You have the right to maintain silens [sic], silence and to
… not make a statement and any statement you make can be
used against you in your evidence. Understand?

Appellant: [Appellant nods head indicating yes]

Barakat: Any statement can be used as evidence against you in court.
Understand?

Appellant: [Appellant nods head indicating yes]

Barakat: You have the right to have an attorney present to advise with
you during any interview. Do you understand me?

Appellant: [Appellant nods head indicating yes]

Barakat: If you cannot hire an attorney, you have the right to have an
attorney hired to advise with you before and during the
interview.[ 8] Understand?
7F

Appellant: Yes.

Barakat: You have the right to terminate the interview at any time. Do
you understand me?

Appellant: [Appellant nods head indicating yes]

Barakat: And now that you understand your rights. Do you still want to
talk with us? About the new case?

Appellant: Yes.

Barakat: He says yes. He’ll waive his rights himself.

___________________________
7
This exchange is from an excerpt of a transcription and translation that was admitted at the
suppression hearing and, in redacted form, at trial.
8
One possible translation of this warning from Spanish into English results in the use of the word
“employed” rather than “hired,” but Appellant does not argue that there is a substantive difference
between “employ” and “hired.”
Acosta – 23

In a pretrial motion, Appellant sought to suppress the recording of his interview.

Specifically, he asserted that his statements should be suppressed because the detectives:

failed to comply with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations; did not properly warn

him of the Miranda warnings in Spanish; did not inform him that they wanted to speak

with him about a capital murder; and did not obtain a valid waiver of his Miranda and Art.

38.22 rights. The trial court held a pretrial hearing on the motion.

At the hearing, the State presented the testimony of Manuel Murillo, a licensed court

interpreter, who transcribed and translated Appellant’s recorded interview with the

detectives. Murillo explained that word-for-word translations from English to Spanish are

not always possible; an interpreter must use a combination of Spanish words to convey the

meaning of a single English word and rely on situational context for an accurate translation.

After comparing his translation with Barakat’s, Murillo remembered being confused on a

few of Barakat’s interpretations. On cross-examination, Murillo stated that Barakat’s

comment to Gildon that Appellant said he would waive his rights was not a literal

translation of what Appellant said. 9 When asked about whether Appellant was advised of
8F

his right to consult with his consulate, Murillo said that he remembered the detectives

telling Appellant that he had the right to an attorney if he could not afford one but didn’t

remember if they specifically addressed Appellant’s right to meet with his consulate.

Murillo testified, “Off the top of my head, I remember them telling [Appellant] that he had

___________________________
9
Murillo also testified at trial that Appellant did say he understood his rights and was willing to
speak to the detectives during the interview.
Acosta – 24

the right to any attorney, if he couldn’t afford one[,] they could get him one, something in

that light. But I don’t remember specifically anything about a consulate.”

Detective Gildon also testified at the hearing. He said that Barakat was present at

Appellant’s interview because he often assisted with Spanish translation during interviews

and had been working on the investigation in this case. Gildon acknowledged that Barakat

was not acting as a neutral certified interpreter; he was serving as both translator and

detective. Gildon was present when Barakat read the warnings to Appellant in Spanish,

and Barakat indicated to him when Appellant understood each of the warnings. During

Gildon’s testimony, the trial court admitted Appellant’s signed warning form, which was

written in English, from his previous arrest in July 2017. One of the warnings on the form

advised a non-citizen defendant of the right to consular notification. 10 9F On cross-

examination, Gildon was questioned about his understanding of consular notification under

the Vienna Convention. Gildon said that he was aware of the consular notification

requirement but that he did not advise Appellant of his right to consult with the Mexican

Consulate. When interviewing Appellant, he believed it likely that Appellant was not a

U.S. citizen but did not have confirmation at that time. Gildon did not know whether the

arresting officers had advised Appellant of his consular right, nor did Barakat advise

Appellant of that right in Gildon’s presence.

___________________________
10
The Arlington Police Department had three versions of the Spanish-language translations of the
warnings. The photocopy admitted had all three versions. Barakat testified that he gave Appellant
the middle version, which he marked with his name and badge number. This version does not
contain the consular notification. The trial court admitted a copy of the Spanish-language version
of the warnings.
Acosta – 25

Additionally, the State presented testimony from Francisco Campos. In July 2017,

Campos had provided Miranda and Art. 38.22 warnings to Appellant in the presence of a

magistrate during Appellant’s arrest for misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Campos,

who is fluent in Spanish, testified that he read the warnings to Appellant from a Spanish

version of the form, including the right to consular notification but had Appellant sign the

English version of the form. 11 Campos signed the English warning form as “Interpreter.”
10F

Detective Barakat also testified at the suppression hearing. Because Barakat was

fluent in Spanish, he was asked to assist in the investigation and with translating during

Appellant’s interview. After confirming that Appellant understood Spanish, Barakat read

him a Spanish translation of the required Miranda and Art. 38.22 warnings. Barakat

expressed that the warnings he read to Appellant were not necessarily a word-for-word

translation of Art. 38.22, but that his translation sufficiently explained those rights to

Appellant. After each warning, Barakat asked Appellant to confirm whether he understood

the warnings. Appellant indicated that he understood the warnings by nodding his head or

verbally responding, “sí.”

After reading the warnings, Barakat asked Appellant if he was willing to talk about

the new case. He stated that Appellant did not respond immediately but appeared to be

thinking about the question before giving a response. Appellant then said that he was

willing to talk with the detectives. Barakat understood Appellant’s verbal agreement to

talk to them as a waiver of his rights and communicated that to Gildon. Based on his

___________________________
11
The trial court found that it was standard protocol at the Arlington Jail for arrestees to always
sign the English version of the form even if warnings were given in Spanish.
Acosta – 26

observation, Barakat believed that Appellant understood the warnings because Appellant

appeared to be coherent and of normal intelligence, nor did he appear to be intoxicated or

excessively tired. When asked for the basis for that belief, Barakat explained that his belief

was based on the fact that Appellant paused as if considering his options before agreeing

to talk with them. On cross-examination, Barakat said that during the interview he learned

that Appellant was a Mexican national and that he knew of the responsibility of law

enforcement to notify the consulate upon arresting a foreign national. Barakat did not

notify the Mexican Consulate about Appellant’s arrest because he believed this to be the

responsibility of the book-in officer. Barakat did not advise Appellant of his consular

rights, nor was Barakat aware that anyone else would do so.

Appellant presented the testimony of Jose Ortiz-Chavolla, a consular official at the

Mexican Consulate in Dallas. Ortiz-Chavolla testified that the Mexican Consulate learned

of Appellant’s arrest through media reports but did not receive official notification until a

week later. Upon learning of Appellant’s arrest, Ortiz-Chavolla advised Appellant not to

talk to anyone or sign anything without an attorney present. This conversation occurred

after Appellant’s interview with Detectives Gildon and Barakat. Four days after

Appellant’s arrest and interview, Ortiz-Chavolla met with Appellant in person and again

advised him not to make any statements to law enforcement. Ortiz-Chavolla testified that

had there been no delay in learning of Appellant’s arrest, he would have advised Appellant

not to give any statements to law enforcement without an attorney present.

Appellant also presented the expert testimony of Terri Moore, a seasoned criminal
Acosta – 27

defense attorney, who testified about the warnings given to Appellant. Moore said that

while most of the warnings given to Appellant conveyed what Miranda and Art. 38.22

require, the right to an appointed attorney if indigent warning did not. In her opinion, the

warning failed to adequately warn Appellant that he had the right to have an attorney

appointed to represent him because it used the word “hired,” which may convey that money

would be required to have an attorney hired. 12 Because the warning did not use the words
11F

“appointed” or “free,” it suggested that Appellant needed to hire a lawyer. Therefore, she

opined that Appellant was not properly informed of his right to an appointed lawyer which

rendered his statements involuntary.

Finally, Appellant testified about his interrogation. He said that he did not recall

how long the interview lasted but that he was “fatigue[d]” because it had been “[a]round a

week or something like that” since he had slept (although he also said that he could not

recall how long it had been since he had slept). When asked about his education level,

Appellant said that he went to high school but not college. Appellant acknowledged his

prior arrest but denied that the Miranda warnings had ever been given to him before his

September 7 interview. He said that he did not recall seeing the July 2017 warning form

when he was arrested and that he did not recall being given a Spanish version of the form.

He also testified that no one told him or read to him the warning about his consular rights.

Appellant testified that he did not have any money to hire an attorney on the day the

___________________________
12
Moore testified that she was assuming the translation provided by the State was correct.
Acosta – 28

detectives questioned him. When asked explicitly what he understood the warning “if you

cannot hire an attorney, you have the right to have an attorney hired to advise you before

and during the interview” to mean, Appellant said that he “didn’t understand all those

things very well.” When asked how he thought he would get a lawyer based on that

warning, Appellant said that he “never thought about it.” He said that he did not understand

the rights on the Spanish warning card. He further testified that he did not recall indicating

after each warning that he understood. Appellant said that if the consular official had come

to the jail before his interrogation and told him not to talk to the detectives, he would not

have spoken with them. He also indicated that if he had understood all the rights on the

warning card, he would not have talked to the police.

On cross-examination, Appellant expressed that he “just spoke up because [he] was

fatigue[d] and [he] just wanted to find a way to be left alone.” He confirmed that the

detectives did not beat him, threaten him, or hurt him in any way, and that the officers

treated him well. He conceded that he was not sick or injured. The State showed Appellant

the warning forms he signed in July 2017 and September 2017. Appellant acknowledged

that his signature appeared on the July 2017 warning form, but he denied that the jailor had

read anything to him. He stated that he didn’t understand the Spanish translation of those

rights as given in July 2017 because he did not understand Campos’ dialect: “his Spanish

[was] not the kind that [he] could understand.” In the end, Appellant contradicted his

earlier testimony about the warnings, stating that he did not recall the detectives reading

him his Miranda rights and denying that the warnings had been given to him.
Acosta – 29

At the conclusion of the suppression hearing, the trial court orally recited its

findings. The trial court found that Appellant “was given the warnings as set out in 38.22,

Section 2(a),” that Appellant “understood the warnings as given to him by Detective

Barakat,” and that Appellant “freely and voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived

his right to remain silent and answered the officers’ questions.” Based on these oral

findings, the trial court denied Appellant’s motion to suppress his statements. The trial

court later memorialized the ruling by signing a document entitled Motion Index and

Rulings, which indicated that the motion had been “denied.” Pursuant to an order from

this Court, the trial court filed its written findings and conclusions with the Court.

Standard of Review

We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress for an abuse of discretion

under a bifurcated standard. State v. Espinosa, 666 S.W.3d 659, 667 (Tex. Crim. App.

2023). We afford almost total deference to the trial court’s findings of historical fact and

determinations of mixed questions of law and fact that turn on credibility and demeanor.

State v. Hardin, 664 S.W.3d 867, 872 (Tex. Crim. App. 2022). However, we review de

novo the trial court’s determination of legal questions and its application of the law to facts.

Espinosa, 666 S.W.3d at 667. We view the evidence and all reasonable inferences in the

light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling and uphold the ruling if the record supports

it and the ruling is correct under any theory of the law applicable to the case. Espinosa,

666 S.W.3d at 667. We overturn the trial court’s ruling only if it is arbitrary, unreasonable,

or “outside the zone of reasonable disagreement.” State v. Cortez, 543 S.W.3d 198, 203

(Tex. Crim. App. 2018).
Acosta – 30

The Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination prohibits the government

from compelling a criminal suspect to bear witness against himself. Pecina v. State, 361

S.W.3d 68, 74–75 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012); see U.S. CONST. amend. V. The Fifth

Amendment right against self-incrimination is satisfied only when a defendant’s statements

are given voluntarily. Vasquez v. State, 411 S.W.3d 918, 919 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); see

also Art. 38.21. A defendant may claim that his statement was involuntary, and is therefore

inadmissible, under any one of three different theories: 1) that the statement was

involuntary under Art. 38.22, Sec. 6; 2) that the taking of the statement did not comply

with the dictates of Miranda and Art. 38.22, sec. 2 and 3; or 3) that the statement was made

in violation of the Due Process Clause because it was not freely made. Oursbourn v. State,

259 S.W.3d 159, 169 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).

In Miranda v. Arizona, the United States Supreme Court crafted safeguards to

protect the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in the inherently coercive

atmosphere of custodial interrogations. Pecina, 361 S.W.3d at 75; see Miranda, 384 U.S.

at 444. Specifically, Miranda prescribed that, before any questioning occurs, a suspect in

custody must be advised: 1) that he has the right to remain silent; 2) that anything he says

can be used against him in a court of law; 3) that he has the right to the presence of an

attorney; and 4) that if he cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for him prior to

any questioning if he so desires. Florida v. Powell, 559 U.S. 50, 59–60 (2010) (quoting

Miranda, 384 U.S. at 479). The warnings set forth in Art. 38.22, which must be provided

to an accused during a custodial interrogation, are essentially identical to Miranda, except

that they also require the warning that an accused may terminate an interview at any time.
Acosta – 31

See Art. 38.22, §§ 2–3. Both Miranda and Art. 38.22 require that the accused be properly

admonished of these rights for any statements stemming from custodial interrogation to be

admissible as evidence against him. See Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444; Art. 38.22, §§ 2–3.

A suspect may waive his Miranda rights if his waiver is made voluntarily,

knowingly, and intelligently. Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444. The State must prove by a

preponderance of the evidence that any waiver was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary

under Miranda. Leza v. State, 351 S.W.3d 344, 349 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). The waiver

must be “the product of a free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion, or

deception” by law enforcement. Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S. 370, 382 (2010) (quoting

Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 421 (1986)). The defendant waiving the right must have

a “full awareness of both the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of

the decision to abandon it.” Id. at 382-83.

Sufficiency of Warnings

In point of error one, Appellant contends that any statements made after Detective

Barakat’s warnings should have been suppressed because the warnings were

constitutionally and statutorily deficient. Appellant does not dispute that he was advised

of most of his rights under Miranda with the exception of the right to appointed counsel if

indigent. Concerning the right to appointed counsel, Appellant contends that the

translation of that warning was inadequate and failed to convey that he had the right to an

appointed attorney if he could not afford one. Therefore, Appellant argues, the warning

failed to comply with the requirements of Miranda.

But the Supreme Court has repeatedly declined to dictate the particular words in
Acosta – 32

which Miranda must be conveyed. See Powell, 559 U.S. at 60 (noting that, although four

required Miranda warnings are invariable, Supreme Court has never dictated words in

which essential information must be conveyed); Duckworth v. Eagan, 492 U.S. 195, 202

(1989) (observing that Supreme Court has never required that Miranda warnings be given

in exact form described in opinion); California v. Prysock, 453 U.S. 355, 359–60 (1981)

(remarking that “Miranda itself indicated that no talismanic incantation was required to

satisfy its strictures”). So, although law enforcement officers must advise defendants in

custody of all four Miranda rights, they need not recite the warnings according to any

specific formula. See Ex parte Gardner, 959 S.W.2d 189, 192 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996)

(Mansfield, J., concurring) (noting that “substantial compliance—not specific wording—

is all that is necessary for a given set of warnings to comply with Miranda”). The inquiry

is simply whether the warnings “reasonably convey” to a suspect his rights as required by

Miranda. Powell, 559 U.S. at 60; see Duckworth, 492 U.S. at 202 (“fully effective

equivalent” of warnings listed in Miranda is sufficient); Prysock, 453 U.S. at 360 (Miranda

warnings “or their equivalent” will suffice); see also Bible v. State, 162 S.W.3d 234, 240

(Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (“fully effective equivalent” of statutory warnings outlined in Art.

38.22 will suffice).

The trial court found that Appellant’s testimony that Barakat did not give him

warnings prior to his interrogation lacked credibility because it conflicted with video

evidence of the interrogation, as well as Gildon’s and Bakarat’s testimony. Regarding the

privilege against self-incrimination, the court found the weight of the credible evidence

showed the warnings conveyed the existence of the privilege against self-incrimination,
Acosta – 33

the consequences of foregoing it, and the engagement of the adversary system. The court

concluded that the substance of the warnings given by Barakat were the fully effective

equivalent of the required warnings. Therefore, the court found that both of Barakat’s

statements regarding the consequences of waiving the privilege against self-incrimination

clearly and reasonably informed Appellant that any statement could be used as evidence

against him.

Regarding Appellant’s right to an attorney, the court concluded that even with the

translation discrepancy Barakat’s warning was the fully effective equivalent of the warning

required by Miranda and Art. 38.22. Barakat’s warning sufficiently conveyed the essential

message that, if indigent, Appellant had the right to have an attorney even if he could not

hire one himself, and to have that attorney present. According to the trial court, the word

appointed “is not talismanic” and the lack of the use of the word “appointed” did not render

the warnings insufficient. Finally, the trial court concluded that Appellant’s responses and

conduct showed that he understood that he was waiving his right to appointed counsel.

We have previously addressed a warning similar to that about which Appellant

complains. In Darden v. State, a juvenile defendant challenged the statutory warnings set

forth in the Texas Family Code. 629 S.W.2d 46 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982). The defendant

asserted that the warnings provided were not sufficient to satisfy Miranda or Art. 38.22

because the defendant was not informed that if he was unable to employ counsel, one would

be appointed to him. Specifically, the right to counsel warnings read as follows: “[y]ou

have the right to have an attorney present to advise you either prior to any questioning or

during the questioning” and “[i]f you are unable to employ an attorney, you have the right
Acosta – 34

to have an attorney to counsel with you prior to or during any interviews with peace officers

or attorneys representing the State.” Darden at 49. We held that the warning given to the

defendant informed him that if he was unable to employ counsel, he had the right to have

an attorney. Darden, 629 S.W.2d at 51. Thus, we held that the wording of the warning,

although in a slightly different language, was sufficient to satisfy both Miranda and Art.

38.22. Id.

Like the warning in Darden, the warning given to Appellant advised him that he

had the right to an attorney even if he was unable to afford one, and that he had the right to

have an attorney present before and during questioning. We reject Appellant’s contention

that Barakat’s use of the phrase “to have an attorney hired” rather than an exact translation

of the word “appointed” failed to inform Appellant of his right to appointed counsel if

indigent. Even with the translation discrepancy, Appellant was adequately informed of his

right to have a lawyer present before and during the interrogation, and of his right to have

a lawyer provided for him if he could not afford one. When viewed in the context in which

it was given, the warning was the fully effective equivalent of the constitutional and

statutory warning. 13 Thus, the fundamental aspects of Miranda and Art. 38.22 were
12F

honored.

Word-for-word translations into other languages are not always possible. Here, the

trial court determined that the translation variance at issue did not render the Miranda and

___________________________
13
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.22, Sec. 3(e)(2) (requiring the statutory warnings or their
“fully effective equivalent” as a prerequisite to the admissibility of video recorded statements).
Acosta – 35

Art. 38.22 warnings ineffective, and the evidence and law support the trial court’s findings

and conclusions. Detective Barakat “reasonably conveyed” to Appellant his rights as

required under Miranda and Art. 38.22. See Powell, 559 U.S. at 60. Thus, the trial court

did not abuse its discretion in denying Appellant’s motion to suppress his oral custodial

statements to the detectives. We overrule point of error one.

Validity of Waiver

In point of error two, Appellant contests the validity of his waiver, asserting that his

statements to the detectives should have been suppressed because he did not voluntarily,

knowingly, and intelligently waive his Fifth Amendment rights. The record reflects, that

after each warning, Detective Barakat asked Appellant if he understood, and Appellant

answered affirmatively by nodding his head or saying, “Sí.” After completing the warnings,

Barakat asked Appellant, “And now that you understand your rights. Do you still want to

talk with us? About the new case?” Appellant responded, “Si.” Barakat then told Gildon,

“He says yes. He’ll waive his rights himself.”

Initially, Appellant suggests, as he did in his motion to suppress, that his waiver was

not valid because he did not expressly state to Barakat that he waived his rights. Appellant

notes that Barakat’s comment to Gildon indicating that Appellant said that he would waive

his rights was not a literal translation of what Appellant said. Appellant also notes that he

did not sign a waiver form at that time. However, an express written or oral statement of

waiver is not required. North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. 369, 373 (1979); Joseph v. State,

309 S.W.3d 20, 24 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010); see Thompkins, 560 U.S. at 384–85 (explaining

that Miranda “does not impose a formalistic waiver procedure that a suspect must follow
Acosta – 36

to relinquish those rights” and “[a]n implicit waiver of the right to remain silent is sufficient

to admit a suspect’s statement into evidence”). The trial court found that Appellant’s

cooperation and willingness to talk to the detectives was more than sufficient to imply that

he waived his rights. We agree.

As to the voluntariness of Appellant’s waiver, “Miranda protects defendants against

government coercion leading them to surrender rights protected by the Fifth Amendment;

it goes no further than that.” Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 170 (1986). Before it

may be said that a waiver of a Miranda right is involuntary, there must be some element

of official intimidation, coercion, or deception. Leza, 351 S.W.3d at 349; see Connelly, 479

U.S. at 169–70; Oursbourn, 259 S.W.3d at 170. On the issue of voluntariness of

Appellant’s waiver, the trial court found that:

• Appellant “credibly testified” that he was not sick or injured, that
officers “had not beaten or threatened him,” and that he was not
“under the influence of any substances”;

• although the interrogation occurred at night and lasted several hours,
Appellant “did not appear sleep deprived or tired and he never
mentioned that he was”;

• Appellant was offered water at the beginning and end of his interview;
and

• the detectives “did not resort to deception or promises.”

The record supports these findings.

Appellant does not contend, nor does the record demonstrate, that the detectives

intimidated, coerced, or deceived him in any manner. Appellant does not claim that the

detectives threatened or injured him during the interrogation, that they deprived him of
Acosta – 37

sleep or food, or that he was in any way fearful due to their misconduct. In fact, as the trial

court noted, Appellant confirmed that the detectives did not beat him, threaten him, or hurt

him in any way. No evidence indicates that Appellant was coerced, intimidated, or forced

to make any statement. See Contreras v. State, 312 S.W.3d 566, 574 (Tex. Crim. App.

2010) (“A statement is obtained in violation of constitutional due process only if the

statement is causally related to coercive government misconduct.”). No evidence in the

record shows, or even suggests, that Appellant’s implicit waiver of his rights was

constitutionally involuntary.

Appellant argues that his waiver was not knowing and intelligent because: he was

not adequately informed of his rights; he was ignorant of the U.S. legal system; he was not

informed of the subject of the interview or the charges against him; and he was not advised

of his right to consular notification. A waiver is knowing and intelligent if the accused has

been made aware, and fully comprehends, that he has the right to remain silent in the face

of the police interrogation and to discontinue the dialogue at any time, and that the

consequence of his waiver is that his words may be used against him later in a court of law.

Leza, 351 S.W.3d at 350.

On the issue of Appellant’s knowing and intelligent waiver, the trial court made the

following explicit credibility findings:

• Appellant’s testimony that he did not understand his rights very well
was not credible;

• Barakat’s testimony that Appellant seemed to understand the
warnings was “highly credible, especially given [Appellant’s]
behavior during the interview showing his ability to understand
Barakat”; and
Acosta – 38

• the court interpreter’s testimony that Barakat could “definitely” be
understood was credible.

The court further found that Appellant “had the required level of comprehension of the

right to be waived.” The court concluded that “[t]he weight of the credible evidence reveals

that [Appellant] had the required level of comprehension of his rights even given the

Spanish translation of the warnings.” Appellant indicated orally and by affirmative gesture

that he understood each of those rights. He then agreed to talk with the detectives and

proceeded to answer the detectives’ questions. And when asked at the suppression hearing

about how he thought he would get a lawyer based on the warning given, he testified he

never thought about it. The record supports the trial court’s findings that Appellant

understood the rights that he was waiving.

Appellant points to the adequacy of the Miranda and Art. 38.22 warnings to contend

that because the warnings were inadequate, he was not adequately informed of his right to

appointed counsel. According to Appellant, any implicit waiver of his rights was therefore

not knowing or intelligent. But as we have previously concluded, the warnings given to

Appellant were the effective equivalent of the required constitutional and statutory

warnings and thus, were adequate to protect Appellant’s Miranda and Art. 38.22 rights.

Appellant also contends that his waiver was not knowing and intelligent because, as

a Mexican national, he is largely ignorant of the U.S. legal system. However, while

familiarity with the criminal justice system may be a factor to consider in waiving

constitutional rights, it is not a dispositive factor. See, e.g., Parke v. Raley, 506 U.S. 20, 37

(1992) (treating evidence of defendant’s prior experience with criminal justice system as
Acosta – 39

relevant to question of whether he knowingly waived constitutional rights). Appellant was

twenty-eight years old at the time of the interrogation and had been living in the U.S. for

approximately a decade. See, e.g., Sanchez-Llamas v. Oregon, 548 U.S. 331, 361 (2006)

(Ginsburg, J., concurring) (observing that defendant with eleven years of “life experience”

in the U.S. “scarcely resembles the uncomprehending detainee” contemplated by Vienna

Convention). He had a high school education, and the record supports the trial court’s

conclusion that Appellant had the required level of comprehension to support the knowing

waiver of his rights. Appellant fails to explain how his purported unfamiliarity with the

U.S. legal system rendered his waiver unknowing.

Moreover, the evidence at the suppression hearing demonstrated that, less than two

months before his interrogation, Appellant had been arrested and warned of his Miranda

and Art. 38.22 rights in Spanish in the presence of a magistrate. Campos, who provided

the Spanish warnings in July 2017, testified that he read the Spanish version of the warning

form to Appellant, and Appellant acknowledged his rights by signing the English version

of the form, which was customary at the Arlington Jail. At the hearing, Appellant

acknowledged his signature on both warning forms. While Appellant denied receiving

those warnings and said that he was unable to understand Campos’ dialect, the trial court

found that Appellant was not credible in this testimony. The court found, that even though

Appellant was unfamiliar with the U.S. criminal justice system, he had been exposed to the

required warnings two months prior to his interrogation in September 2017.

Appellant further argues that the waiver of his Miranda rights was not knowing and

intelligent because he was not informed of the subject of the interview or the charges
Acosta – 40

against him. But nothing in Miranda requires a suspect to be informed of the topic of a

custodial interview: “a suspect’s awareness of all the possible subjects of questioning in

advance of interrogation is not relevant to determining whether the suspect voluntarily,

knowingly, and intelligently waived his Fifth Amendment privilege.” Colorado v. Spring,

479 U.S. 564, 577 (1987); see Burbine, 475 U.S. at 422 (observing that Supreme Court

“[has] never read the Constitution to require that the police supply a suspect with a flow of

information to help him calibrate his self-interest in deciding whether to speak or stand by

his rights”); see, e.g., Leza, 351 S.W.3d at 349–50 (holding that failure to inform defendant

he was being questioned about capital murder and not traffic offense was “patently

insufficient” to render his waiver of Miranda either involuntary or insufficiently informed).

Furthermore, while it is true that neither detective expressly informed Appellant that

they wanted to question him about the capital murder of which he was suspected before

Barakat gave Appellant the warnings, he informed Appellant that he was here on a new

charge and that they were investigating a new case. At the end of the warnings, Barakat

asked Appellant if he still wanted to talk about the new case. As the trial court found,

Appellant clearly knew the detectives were investigating a new case, even if the detectives

did not inform him of the nature of that case. When the detectives were trying to establish

Appellant’s relationship to Zelaya, Appellant spontaneously confessed to killing Zelaya

before being told by the detectives that he was dead. The evidence reflects that Appellant

was aware of the crime that the detectives were investigating.

Appellant next asserts that the detective’s failure to advise him of his rights under

Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations is a factor that weighs against
Acosta – 41

a finding that his waiver was valid. Article 36 “addresses communication between an

individual and his consular officers when the individual is detained by authorities in a

foreign country.” Sanchez-Llamas, 548 U.S. at 337; see also Vienna Convention on

Consular Relations art. 36(1)(b), Apr. 24, 1963, 21 U.S.T. 77, 100–101, 595 U.N.T.S. 261,

292 (ratified by the United States on Nov. 24, 1969)). The Vienna Convention states that,

if the foreign national requests, authorities must notify, without delay, the consular officers

of the foreign national’s home country and must inform the foreign national, without delay,

of his right to request assistance from his consulate. Sanchez-Llamas, 548 U.S. at 338–39;

see Sierra v. State, 218 S.W.3d 85, 87 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). However, “Article 36 has

nothing whatsoever to do with searches or interrogations. Indeed, Article 36 does not

guarantee defendants any assistance at all. The provision secures only a right of foreign

nationals to have their consulate informed of their arrest or detention—not to have their

consulate intervene, or to have law enforcement authorities cease their investigation

pending any such notice or intervention.” Sanchez-Llamas, 548 U.S. at 349. As we have

observed, the failure to inform an accused of his right under Article 36 is unlikely “to

produce unreliable confessions,” and that “there is likely to be little connection between an

Article 36 violation and evidence or statements obtained by police.” Sandoval v. State, 665

S.W.3d 496, 524 (Tex. Crim. App. 2022) (quoting Sanchez-Llamas, 548 U.S. at 340).

The trial court found it undisputed that Appellant was not informed of his right to

have the Mexican Consulate notified of his arrest. Appellant testified at the suppression

hearing that, had the consulate official met with him before his interrogation, he would not

have spoken to the detectives. However, Appellant’s consular notification right is distinct
Acosta – 42

from his Fifth Amendment rights, and thus, we cannot discern any relevance to his waiver

of those rights with the lack of notification to the Mexican Consulate. See Sanchez-Llamas,

548 U.S. at 349 (observing that reasons for requiring suppression for Fourth and Fifth

Amendment violations “are entirely absent from the consular notification context”). Given

the other factors demonstrating a knowing and intelligent waiver, we agree with the trial

court that the lack of consular notification does not demonstrate that Appellant’s implicit

waiver of his Fifth Amendment and statutory rights was invalid.

Finally, Appellant contends that his testimony at the suppression hearing

demonstrated that he did not knowingly and intelligently waive his Miranda rights. It is

true, as noted above, that Appellant testified that he did not understand his rights and would

not have waived them had he understood them or had he been advised by consular officials

not to speak with law enforcement. But the trial court was not required to credit

Appellant’s testimony. See Delao v. State, 235 S.W.3d 235, 238 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007)

(“We have held that the trial court is ‘the sole and exclusive trier of fact and judge of the

credibility of the witnesses’ and the evidence presented at a hearing on a motion to

suppress, particularly where the motion is based on the voluntariness of a confession.”);

Green v. State, 934 S.W.2d 92, 98 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Waller v. State, 648 S.W.2d

308, 311 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983); Aranda v. State, 506 S.W.2d 221, 225 (Tex. Crim. App.

1974). The trial court was entitled to believe that Appellant’s testimony was not credible.

See McKittrick v. State, 541 S.W.2d 177, 184 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976) (“trial judge is the

trier of facts and can accept or reject the testimony of the witnesses, including a defendant,

in determining the issues before him”).
Acosta – 43

The trial court found that there was no evidence that Appellant was of low

intelligence, observing that Appellant stopped to think about answers before responding to

questions and sought clarification from the detectives when necessary. The court found

that, based on his responses to the detectives’ questions and his conduct during the

interview, Appellant showed that he understood the rights he was waiving. Ultimately, the

trial court concluded, based on the totality of the circumstances and the preponderance of

the credible evidence, that Appellant’s waiver of his Fifth Amendment rights was valid.

We agree.

Viewing the evidence and all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to

the trial court’s ruling, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

concluding that Appellant’s waiver was voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. See Burbine,

475 U.S. at 422–23 (“Once it is determined that a suspect’s decision not to rely on his rights

was uncoerced, that he at all times knew he could stand mute and request a lawyer, and

that he was aware of the State’s intention to use his statements to secure a conviction, the

analysis is complete and the waiver is valid as a matter of law.”). We overrule point of

error two.

General Voluntariness

In point of error three, Appellant asserts that his statements were involuntary under

Art. 38.21 and 38.22 due to: his lack of sleep; his general unfamiliarity with the U.S. legal

system; law enforcement’s failure to notify the Mexican Consulate of his arrest before his

interrogation; the detectives’ failure to inform him of the subject of the interrogation; and

Barakat’s failure to adequately inform him of his Miranda and Art. 38.22 rights. Appellant
Acosta – 44

claims that he was sleep deprived, rendering his decision to talk to the detectives

involuntary. Appellant testified at the suppression hearing that he was fatigued because he

hadn’t slept in about a week and only spoke to the detectives because he was trying to find

a way to be left alone.

Under Art. 38.21, a statement made by an accused person may be used as evidence

against him if the statement was freely and voluntarily made without compulsion or

persuasion. See Tex. Code Crim. Pro. Ann. art. 38.21. If a question “is raised as to the

voluntariness of a statement, the court must make an independent finding in the absence of

the jury” as to whether the statement was voluntarily made. See Tex. Code Crim. Pro. Ann.

art. 38.22, Sec. 6. When reviewing a general voluntariness claim, courts have considered

the following factors: whether the defendant was advised of his constitutional and statutory

rights; the conditions under which the defendant was questioned; the defendant’s age,

education, and intelligence level; the defendant’s physical or mental impairment, such as

intoxication, illness, the influence of medication or drugs, or other disabilities; and the use

of physical punishment or coercive tactics, such as the deprivation of food or sleep, threats,

or intimidation. See Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 226 (1973); Oursbourn, 259

S.W.3d at 172–73.

Claims of involuntariness based on the defendant’s state of mind when making the

statement are to be resolved by Art. 38.22, Sec. 6, which is aimed at protecting suspects

from law enforcement overreach. Oursbourn, 259 S.W.3d at 171-72 (quoting Connelly,

479 U.S. at 167). But claims of general involuntariness need not be predicated on law

enforcement overreach. Lopez v. State, 610 S.W.3d 487, 495 (Tex. Crim. App. 2020). Such
Acosta – 45

claims could also involve inquiring into the defendant’s state of mind during his

confession. Id. While lack of sleep is a circumstance to consider when determining

whether a statement was voluntarily made, tiredness alone does not show that the

defendant’s capacity for self-determination was impaired. See Sandoval, 665 S.W.3d at

524; see also Chambers v. State, 866 S.W.2d 9, 20 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (lack of sleep

through fault of defendant will not support finding of involuntariness).

Here, Appellant asserted that he only talked to the detectives because he was tired

and wanted to be left alone but, as we have mentioned, his behavior during the interrogation

revealed otherwise. The only evidence of sleep deprivation was Appellant’s testimony that

he hadn’t slept in about a week. Based on the video recording of Appellant’s interrogation,

the trial court found that Appellant did not appear sleep deprived or tired during the

interrogation, nor did he mention being tired during the interrogation. Ultimately, the trial

court found Appellant’s testimony not credible. We agree with the trial court that the

record does not support Appellant’s sleep deprivation claim.

The record shows that Barakat testified that Appellant did not appear to be tired

during his interview; rather, Appellant seemed coherent. Gildon also testified that

Appellant was coherent and able to follow questions. Additionally, the video of

Appellant’s interview rebuts his claim of exhaustion. Nothing in the video indicates that

Appellant was having difficulty staying awake, nor did Appellant state that he was tired.

Rather, the video demonstrates that Appellant was engaged in a coherent dialogue with the

detectives. Even if Appellant was tired during the interview, a claim of tiredness or lack

of sleep itself does not render a statement involuntary. See Sandoval, 665 S.W.3d at 524;
Acosta – 46

Chambers, 866 S.W.2d at 20.

For the reasons previously discussed, we agree with the trial court’s determination

that the other circumstances raised by Appellant did not render his statement involuntary.

The record supports the trial court’s findings and conclusions that Appellant’s statements

were freely and voluntarily made. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

denying Appellant’s motion to suppress his custodial statements to detectives on the

ground that his statements were involuntary under Art. 38.22. We overrule point of error

three.

Denial of Motion to Suppress Search Warrant Evidence

In two points of error, Appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying his

motion to suppress the evidence seized from his Burton Drive residence. Specifically,

Appellant asserts that the affidavit supporting the search warrant for his residence failed to

establish probable cause. 14 Therefore, Appellant argues, the failure to suppress the seized
13F

evidence violated the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution (point of error

thirteen) and Art. I, Sec. 9 of the Texas Constitution (point of error fourteen).

Background

___________________________
14
During his investigation, Gildon obtained 23 search warrants. Appellant filed a pretrial motion
seeking to suppress all the evidence obtained from each of the search warrants. In the motion, he
argued that the affidavit supporting the search warrant for the Burton Drive residence, which
formed the basis for subsequent search warrants, failed to establish probable cause because the
affidavit relied on unnamed witnesses and anonymous Crime Stoppers tips. On appeal, Appellant
complains about the denial of his motion to suppress only as to the evidence seized upon the
execution of the Burton Drive search warrant.
Acosta – 47

In his affidavit before the magistrate, Detective Gildon accused Mariano Sanchez-

Pina of “intentionally and knowingly caus[ing] the death of the victim, an unknown

Hispanic male, by cutting off his head.” The affidavit’s “facts and information” section

began with Gildon’s recitation about being informed of the discovery of human remains

on Truman Street in Arlington. The detective described responding to the location and

observing a human next to a sign that stated, “La Raza Se Restreta y Falton 4.” He asserted

his belief that “the head was severed from a human body with a large knife or sharp object.”

The affidavit next contained information obtained from Sanchez-Pina, who was

identified as the suspect in the affidavit. The affidavit reflected that patrol officers had

arrested Sanchez-Pina, and he told them that he could provide information about the body

that had been found and asked to speak to detectives. Per the affidavit, the arresting officers

reported to Gildon that Sanchez-Pina told them that he was “taken by several guys and

forced to watch a murder happen,” and “described being tied up at an unspecified location

and witnessing a subject being stabbed to death.”

The affidavit stated that Gildon and Barakat went to the Arlington Police

Department to speak with Sanchez-Pina. It then recited the information that Sanchez-Pina

provided to the detectives, which included the following:

• a subject known by the street name “Cholo” had accused Sanchez-
Pina of stealing money and was threatening to kill him;

• on September 1, 2017, Cholo and a subject named “Diablo” came to
Sanchez-Pina’s residence, but he refused to open the door because he
was scared, and they left;

• later that day, Sanchez-Pina received a phone call from Cholo
Acosta – 48

instructing him to come to his residence and threatening that, if he did
not, Cholo would kill him;

• Sanchez-Pina went to Cholo’s residence, which he identified on a map
as 202 Burton Drive; upon arrival, Sanchez-Pina opened the front
door slightly and saw a dead male on the living room floor; a jacket
was covering the person’s head, but Sanchez-Pina could tell it was
Diablo based on the clothing; Sanchez-Pina became fearful and left;

• after Sanchez-Pina returned home, Cholo called him again and told
him to come back to his residence, again threatening to kill him if he
did not;

• when Sanchez-Pina returned to Cholo’s residence, he was instructed
to go the backyard, where he saw Cholo digging a large hole; several
others were in the backyard watching Cholo dig the hole; Cholo told
Sanchez-Pina that “he wanted him to see how they handled things,”
and Sanchez-Pina then left;

• Sanchez-Pina did not know Diablo’s real name or Cholo’s real name,
but he confirmed that both had been living at 202 Burton Drive;

• Sanchez-Pina had witnessed Cholo and the other residents of 202
Burton Drive in possession of firearms and other weapons; and

• Sanchez-Pina confirmed that Diablo was from El Salvador and had a
girlfriend who was seventeen.

The affidavit next contained information provided by a witness who was not named

in the affidavit:

While your Affiant and Detective Barakat were speaking with the suspect,
other officers continued looking for possible witnesses around the scene.
Officers located a witness, who was fully identified and is available to testify,
who observed the suspect and another male subject talking about “Diablo”
previously burglarizing the suspect’s apartment. The two subjects were
caught on video, which was provided to officers. After the unknown subject
left, the suspect told the witness he had to leave because the unknown subject
was going to kill somebody and he was going to record it.

The affidavit then reflected that, after meeting with that witness, Gildon received
Acosta – 49

information about a Crime Stoppers tip:

Your Affiant was then contacted by the Arlington Police Department
Tactical Intelligence Unit and informed they had received a Crime Stoppers
Tip from an anonymous source referenc[ing] this investigation. The subject
stated they were calling [in] reference [to] the murder investigation. The
caller stated a male subject named[] Alexis Acosta, who goes by the alias[]
“Le Cholo,” had been showing pictures on his phone of the crime scene. The
subject was believed to have a tattoo on his arm that reads “el mas odiado.”
A search of this subject’s information revealed his possible identity to be
Hector Acosta-Ojeda, Hispanic male, date of birth 08/25/89. This subject was
stopped by Patrol Officers on 07/20/17, after leaving 202 Burton Drive,
Arlington, Texas, and subsequently arrested.

The affidavit next reflected that the detectives met with another unnamed witness:

Your Affiant and Detective Barakat then met with another witness, who has
been fully identified and is available to testify. The witness stated on
09/01/17, the suspect contacted her while she was at work and wanted to talk.
She informed him she was busy[,] but he could meet her on her dinner break
at Taco Bell. While seeing each other on her dinner break, the suspect
appeared upset. He told the witness that earlier that day multiple subjects
picked him up and forced him to go to the residence at 202 Burton Drive.
Once there, the suspect stated “Cholo” made him cut off the arms of the
victim. She stated she believes there is possible evidence on the suspect’s
cell phone, which she turned over to Detectives.

The affidavit stated that the detectives then showed Sanchez-Pina a photo spread

containing a photo of Appellant, and Sanchez-Pina identified Appellant as the person that

he knew as “Cholo.” They showed Sanchez-Pina a photograph of the severed head, and

he identified it as the person he knew as “Diablo.” Sanchez-Pina also described what he

was wearing the night “Diablo” was killed and told the detectives where to find his

(Sanchez-Pina’s) clothing and shoes.

The affidavit then reflected that Gildon received another Crime Stoppers tip:

After speaking with the witness, your Affiant received another Crime
Stoppers Tip from a male subject who stated he had an employee who told
Acosta – 50

him about the murder. He stated his employee knows a subject named Alexis
Acosta, whom he stated murdered the victim. He further stated Acosta was
showing photographs of the victim’s severed head. He then stated Acosta
told him he killed the victim and his 17 year old girlfriend. He stated the
subject also had the tattoo on his arm that read, “el mas odiado.”

Gildon concluded his affidavit by asserting that, based on information provided by

witnesses and “the suspect,” he believed that probable cause existed for the issuance of a

search warrant for the residence at 202 Burton Drive:

to search for evidence of blood at the location, any human remains that could
be located at the location, any knives or sharp[-]edged weapons that could
have been used to severe [sic] the victim’s head, any and all cellular
telephones capable of taking and maintaining photographs and videos that
could be evidence in this case, photographs of the location, and any other
items believed to be evidence of the offense of Murder.

The trial court found that probable cause existed and signed the warrant authorizing

the search of 202 Burton Drive and the seizure of the described evidence. The police

executed the search warrant that same day. They discovered, among other things, the

bodies of Zelaya and Chirinos, blood evidence in the house and backyard, a machete, and

ammunition casings. The evidence obtained pursuant to the Burton Drive warrant was

admitted at Appellant’s trial.

After Appellant’s trial, the trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law

concerning the denial of Appellant’s motion to suppress the evidence obtained pursuant to

the search warrants. Concerning the Burton Drive warrant, the trial court made the

following findings and conclusions:

4. Mariano Sanchez-Pina is named in the affidavit.

5. The affidavit contains the information obtained from two unnamed
individuals who had been fully identified by law enforcement and were
Acosta – 51

available to testify, and two anonymous individuals who had provided
Crime Stoppers tips.

6. The affidavit does not contain a statement about the credibility or
reliability of the two unnamed individuals who had been identified or
the anonymous individuals who had provided the Crime Stoppers tips.

7. The affidavit does not contain a statement that the unnamed individuals
were private citizens whose only contact with law enforcement was as
a witness to the crime.
…

45. The affidavit for Search Warrant No. 06-17-037-SW contains the
statements of Mariano Sanchez-Pina:

• Upon being arrested, Sanchez-Pina informed officers that he had
been tied up at an unspecified location and witnessed a subject being
stabbed to death;

• Sanchez-Pina then gave a statement to detectives about what he had
observed;

• Sanchez-Pina had known “Cholo” for years;

• Sanchez-Pina stated that “Cholo” and “Diablo” came to his
residence, 710 Truman Street in Arlington, Texas, on September 1,
2017;

• Later, on September 1, 2017, Sanchez-Pina received a phone call
from “Cholo” instructing him to come to “Cholo’s” residence, 202
Burton Drive in Arlington, Texas;

• When Sanchez-Pina arrived at 202 Burton Drive, he saw a male
subject, who he believed to be “Diablo,” dead on the living room
floor;

• Sanchez-Pina had known “Diablo” for approximately one week;

• Sanchez-Pina became fearful and went back home;

• After getting home, Sanchez-Pina received another call from
“Cholo” instructing him to come back to 202 Burton Drive or
“Cholo” would kill Sanchez-Pina;
Acosta – 52

• Sanchez-Pina returned to 202 Burton Drive and went to the
backyard where he saw “Cholo” digging a hole;

• Sanchez-Pina stated “Cholo” told him that he wanted Sanchez-Pina
to see how “they handle things”;

• Sanchez-Pina stated on the night “Diablo” was killed, Sanchez-Pina
was wearing white van shoes, blue jeans, and a red striped shirt;

• Sanchez-Pina stated the red striped shirt was at his residence, 710
Truman Street in Arlington, Texas; and

• Sanchez-Pina stated that the red striped shirt would appear to have
blood on the front, but it was not blood.

46. The statements of Sanchez-Pina are a detailed first-hand account of
what he personally observed.

47. The statements of Sanchez-Pina are corroborated by the physical
evidence and information provided by unnamed informants.

48. Sanchez-Pina was shown a photo spread containing Defendant, and he
identified Defendant as the person he knows as “Cholo.”

49. After Sanchez-Pina stated that he had seen “Diablo” deceased at 202
Burton Drive, he identified the photograph of the severed head found in
the 400 block of Truman Street as belonging to “Diablo.”
…

54. The information from the unnamed informants, standing alone, is
insufficient to establish probable cause, but it is a circumstance the
magistrate could have considered, along with all the other
circumstances in the affidavit, in determining that probable cause
existed to issue the search warrant.

55. Collectively, the unnamed informants corroborated that an individual
known as “Cholo” or “Le Cholo” had killed someone at 202 Burton
Drive[,] and Sanchez-Pina had first-hand information about that
person’s death.

56. Defendant was arrested after leaving 202 Burton Street in Arlington,
Texas on July 20, 2017, which predated this search warrant and
Acosta – 53

demonstrated Defendant’s connection to that residence.
…

58. Giving proper deference to the magistrate’s decision, the totality of the
facts contained in the affidavit, when read in a common-sense and non-
technical manner, establish probable cause to issue a search warrant for
the residence located at 202 Burton Drive.

59. Furthermore, if the information from the unnamed informants is excised
from affidavit, the totality of the circumstances provided in the
remainder of the affidavit sufficiently establish probable cause to
support issuance of the search warrant for 202 Burton Drive.

(Internal citations omitted.) The trial court upheld the magistrate’s probable cause

determination and issuance of the Burton Drive search warrant.

Standard of Review

Under the Fourth Amendment and its Texas equivalent, issuance of a search warrant

depends on probable cause. Diaz v. State, 632 S.W.3d 889, 892–93 (Tex. Crim. App. 2021);

see U.S. CONST. amend. IV (providing that “no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable

cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be

searched, and the persons or things to be seized”); TEX. CONST. art. I, § 9 (providing that

“no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without

describing them as near as may be, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or

affirmation”). Probable cause exists when, under the totality of the circumstances, there is

a fair probability that evidence of a crime will be found at the specified location. Illinois v.

Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238 (1983); State v. Duarte, 389 S.W.3d 349, 354 (Tex. Crim. App.

2012). The test for finding probable cause is whether a reasonable reading by the

magistrate would lead to the conclusion that the four corners of the affidavit provide a
Acosta – 54

‘substantial basis’ for issuing the warrant. State v. Elrod, 538 S.W.3d 551, 557–58 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2017) (quoting Duarte, 389 S.W.3d at 354).

If a search warrant affidavit relies on information from an informant, the issue is

whether the information is sufficiently reliable or the informant credible such that the

magistrate had a substantial basis for crediting the information. Duarte, 389 S.W.3d at

356–58. If the facts contained within the affidavit support an inference that the informant

is credible or the information is reliable, then the informant’s information can supply

probable cause. Diaz, 632 S.W.3d at 893. The credibility of informants depends on what

type of informant they are. Id. A citizen-informer is presumed to speak honestly and

accurately. State v. Le, 463 S.W.3d 872, 878 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015); see Duarte, 389

S.W.3d at 357 (“Citizen informants are considered inherently reliable; confidential

informants are not.”).

Information obtained from anonymous or first-time confidential informants of

unknown reliability must be coupled with facts from which an inference may be drawn that

the informant is credible or that his information is reliable. Duarte, 389 S.W.3d at 357.

Such an inference may be drawn if the information given is corroborated, is a statement

against the informant’s penal interest, is consistent with information provided by other

informants, is a detailed first-hand account, is combined with an accurate prediction of the

subject’s future behavior, or when there is a substantial basis for crediting the hearsay. Id.

at 356–57. The requirement of facts showing credibility or reliability does not apply to

information obtained from citizens who freely share the information with police without

withholding their names. See West v. State, 720 S.W.2d 511, 513 n.2 (Tex. Crim. App.
Acosta – 55

1986) (declining to view information given by citizens who report a crime and freely share

information with police with the same suspicion usually reserved for anonymous police

informants with an unproven record of reliability).

Because of the constitutional preference for searches to be conducted pursuant to a

warrant, we apply a highly deferential standard when reviewing the magistrate’s decision

to issue a search warrant. Bonds v. State, 403 S.W.3d 867, 873 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).

We interpret the affidavit in a commonsensical and realistic manner, and we defer to all

reasonable inferences that the magistrate could have made. State v. McLain, 337 S.W.3d

268, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). We consider the totality of the circumstances and

determine whether there are sufficient facts stated within the four corners of the affidavit,

coupled with reasonable inferences from those facts, to establish a fair probability that

evidence of a particular crime would likely be found at a specified location. Rodriguez v.

State, 232 S.W.3d 55, 62 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). The focus is not on what other facts

could or should have been included in the affidavit; the focus is on the combined logical

force of facts that are in the affidavit. Elrod, 538 S.W.3d at 560 (quoting Duarte, 389

S.W.3d at 354–55).

“The task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a practical, common-sense

decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before [him or her],

including the ‘veracity’ and ‘basis of knowledge’ of persons supplying hearsay

information, there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found

in a particular place.” Gates, 462 U.S. at 238. Ultimately, the test is whether the affidavit,

when read in a commonsensical and realistic manner and afforded all reasonable inferences
Acosta – 56

from the facts contained within, provided the magistrate with a substantial basis for the

issuance of a warrant. Foreman v. State, 613 S.W.3d 160, 164 (Tex. Crim. App. 2020); see

Wiede v. State, 214 S.W.3d 17, 25 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (affirming that reviewing court

must consider totality of circumstances in determining existence of probable cause: “a

divide-and-conquer or piecemeal approach is prohibited”); Le, 463 S.W.3d at 878 (stating

that probable cause is “a flexible, non-demanding standard”).

So long as the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause

existed, we will uphold the decision to issue a search warrant. Elrod, 538 S.W.3d at 557;

see Jones v. State, 364 S.W.3d 854, 857 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (“Although the reviewing

court is not a ‘rubber stamp,’ ‘the magistrate’s decision should carry the day in doubtful or

marginal cases, even if the reviewing court might reach a different result upon de novo

review.’”) (quoting Flores v. State, 319 S.W.3d 697, 702 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)). When

the trial court makes express findings of fact, we examine the record in the light most

favorable to the ruling and uphold those fact findings if the record reasonably supports

them. Martin v. State, 620 S.W.3d 749, 759 (Tex. Crim. App. 2021).

Analysis

Appellant asserts that the affidavit supporting the Burton Drive search warrant failed

to establish probable cause because it lacked sufficient facts to establish the credibility of

the witnesses or the reliability of their information. 15 In his assertion, Appellant treats all
14F

___________________________
15
Art. I, Sec. 9 of the Texas Constitution contains no requirement that a seizure or search be
authorized by a warrant. Foreman v. State, 613 S.W.3d 160, 164 (Tex. Crim. App. 2020) (quoting
Hulit v. State, 982 S.W.2d 431, 436 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998)). The inquiry is whether, under the
Acosta – 57

witnesses who provided information to the police as either confidential informants or

anonymous tipsters. However, Sanchez-Pina was a named informant who was an

eyewitness to criminal activity in which he participated. After his arrest, he provided

specific information to police regarding alleged criminal activity involving Zelaya’s

murder that took place at Appellant’s residence. This Court has consistently held that when

a probable cause affidavit specifies a named informant as supplying the information upon

which probable cause is based, the affidavit is sufficient if the information given is

sufficiently detailed to suggest direct knowledge on the informant’s part. See Elrod, 538

S.W.3d at 559; Matamoros v. State, 901 S.W.2d 470, 478 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Avery

v. State, 545 S.W.2d 803, 804 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977).

Appellant acknowledges the Court’s prior holdings concerning named informants

but contends that Sanchez-Pina should not enjoy the presumption of reliability because his

information is contradictory, lacks detail, and does not constitute a statement against penal

interest. It is true that Sanchez-Pina first told arresting officers that he witnessed a murder

at an unspecified location but then later reported to the detectives that he encountered

Zelaya deceased on the floor after being summoned by Appellant to the Burton Drive

residence. However, we do not find these statements to be mutually exclusive. An

unspecified location does not mean that the location is unknown. And Sanchez-Pina’s

___________________________
totality of the circumstances, the search or seizure was reasonable. Id. On appeal, the only aspect
of the search of Appellant’s residence that he believes to be unreasonable is the same aspect that
he finds objectionable under the Fourth Amendment—the lack of probable cause underlying the
Burton Drive search warrant. Therefore, our analysis under Art. I, Sec. 9, is the same as our Fourth
Amendment analysis.
Acosta – 58

statements about witnessing a murder and then later seeing that the victim was dead are not

inconsistent. Additionally, Sanchez-Pina told the detectives that Zelaya had been stabbed

and while the cause of Zelaya’s death was determined to be from multiple gunshot wounds,

the medical examiner also testified that he had been stabbed nineteen times. Thus, we do

not find the information supplied by Sanchez-Pina to be contradictory.

Even if his statements appear to be conflicting, the question is not whether Sanchez-

Pina might be a credible witness at trial for the purpose of proving beyond a reasonable

doubt that Zelaya was murdered at Appellant’s residence. Instead, the question is whether

Gildon could rely upon Sanchez-Pina’s statements as just one of several factors when

making a probable cause determination. See State v. Ford, 537 S.W.3d 19, 25 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2017). When considered together, Sanchez-Pina’s statements connect him,

Appellant, and the Burton Drive residence with Zelaya’s murder.

As for Appellant’s complaint that Sanchez-Pina’s information lacked detail, we

disagree. Gildon’s affidavit is sufficiently detailed to suggest direct knowledge on

Sanchez-Pina’s part. Sanchez-Pina described his interactions with Appellant and his

personal observations of events related to Zelaya’s murder. He gave specific facts about

the severed head, the circumstances of Zelaya’s death and dismemberment, the location of

Zelaya’s body, and the hole that was dug to bury Zelaya’s body. He was able to give these

details because he observed them. Sanchez-Pina had first-hand knowledge of Zelaya’s

murder, as well as Appellant’s attempts to conceal the evidence by burying the body. The

particularized facts given by Sanchez-Pina adequately show that he had personal or direct

knowledge of the matters he asserted. See, e.g., Wilkerson, 726 S.W.2d 542, 545 (Tex.
Acosta – 59

Crim. App. 1986) (information related by witness suggests personal and direct knowledge

and is entitled to credibility).

Finally, Appellant argues that Sanchez-Pina’s information does not constitute a

statement against interest. The statement against interest exception to the hearsay rule

originates in the commonsense notion that people ordinarily do not say things that are

damaging to themselves unless they believe that those statements are true. Walter v. State,

267 S.W.3d 883, 890 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). In the information he volunteered to the

detectives, Sanchez-Pina placed himself at the stabbing of Zelaya, in the presence of

Zelaya’s dead body, and at the subsequent efforts to conceal the body. Nevertheless, even

if Sanchez-Pina’s statements did not subject him to criminal liability, being a statement

against interest is only one way to show the reliability of an informant’s information. We

have already determined that the information Sanchez-Pina gave was reliable as a detailed

first-hand account of Zelaya’s murder. Furthermore, his statements were corroborated and

consistent with information received from other informants.

Appellant treats the two unnamed witnesses as confidential informants or

anonymous tipsters. However, these types of informants are treated the same when

evaluating the information given in support of warrants; their reliability depends on facts

from which an inference may be drawn that they are credible or that their information is

reliable. Diaz, 632 S.W.3d at 893; Duarte, 389 S.W.3d at 357. Their credibility or

reliability must be demonstrated within the four corners of the affidavit. Id.

Here, Gildon stated in his affidavit that these two witnesses were identified and

available to testify. While these witnesses were not named in the affidavit, we find it
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reasonable to treat them as citizen informers rather than confidential informants or

anonymous tipsters. See West, 720 S.W.2d at 513 n.2. Both witnesses provided their name

and their contact information to law enforcement which can be inferred from their

availability to testify at Appellant’s trial. Further, both witnesses met with the detectives

in person and provided physical evidence. One witness reported a conversation between

Sanchez-Pina and an unknown male talking about Zelaya’s prior burglarizing of Sanchez-

Pina’s apartment and an anticipated murder. The detectives were then provided with a

video that captured that conversation which, in turn, corroborated the witness’ statements.

The second witness provided information that corroborated Sanchez-Pina’s statement that

he was forced to go to Appellant’s residence. This witness also provided information that

inculpated Sanchez-Pina in Zelaya’s murder—that Appellant made him cut off Zelaya’s

arms. The witness then gave Sanchez-Pina’s cell phone to law enforcement because she

believed it contained evidence of the murder.

These witnesses were neither confidential informants acting on a quid pro quo basis

nor were they anonymous tipsters; they were ordinary citizens. In turn, the affidavit was

not required to show that both witnesses were credible. See Marquez v. State, 725 S.W.2d

217, 233 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987) (explaining that “as a matter of constitutional law an

ordinary citizen as a witness in a case . . . is presumed to be reliable and no special showings

are required”). Nevertheless, these witnesses disclosed their identities to law enforcement,

met with the detectives, provided evidence to the detectives, and made themselves

available to testify. These are facts from which an inference may be drawn that these

witnesses are credible and that their information is reliable. See Ford, 537 S.W.3d at 26
Acosta – 61

(explaining that “a court cannot simply discount the information given by an informant

without looking at the circumstances that corroborate the information”).

Finally, the affidavit included information provided by two anonymous Crime

Stoppers tips. The first tipster identified Appellant by name, supplied Appellant’s street

name, and described a tattoo on his arm. This tip also asserted that Appellant had been

showing pictures of the crime scene on his phone. The second tipster also identified

Appellant by name and street name and described the same tattoo as the first tipster. This

tipster further stated that Appellant told his employee that he murdered Zelaya and was

showing photographs of his severed head to people. Both tipsters provided information

that was consistent with information received by other witnesses.

Considering the totality of the circumstances, we hold that Detective Gildon’s

affidavit sufficiently established probable cause to justify the issuance of the search warrant

for Appellant’s Burton Drive residence. From the face of the affidavit, the magistrate had

a substantial basis to find, either directly or through reasonable inference, that there was a

fair probability that evidence of a crime would be found at Appellant’s residence at the

time the affidavit was signed. See Elrod, 538 S.W.3d at 556 (observing that “although the

magistrate’s determination of probable cause must be based on the facts contained within

the four corners of the affidavit, the magistrate may use logic and common sense to make

inferences based on those facts”). Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

denying Appellant’s motion to suppress the evidence seized from his residence. We

overrule points of error thirteen and fourteen.
Acosta – 62

Nationality as Evidence of Future Dangerousness

In three points of error, Appellant complains that in presenting evidence of his cartel

affiliations and then referencing that evidence in closing argument, the State improperly

highlighted his Mexican nationality. Appellant contends that the invocation of his Mexican

nationality as evidence of future dangerousness violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights

to equal protection and due process (point of error five), constituted prosecutorial

misconduct that violated his right to due process (point of error six), and violated Art.

37.071, Sec. 2(a)(2) (point of error seven).

As a preliminary matter, we disagree with Appellant’s characterization of the

record. The State presented evidence and argued to the jury that Appellant was a future

danger for several reasons, including his affiliation with Mexican drug cartels and his role

as a hitman for them. However, though the evidence showed that Appellant was from

Mexico, the State did not offer specific evidence of Appellant’s nationality as evidence of

future dangerousness, nor did the State argue that Appellant was a future danger because

he is Mexican or from Mexico. Even so, we address Appellant’s arguments point by point.

Background

During the punishment phase of Appellant’s trial, the State offered the testimony of

Chirino’s brother, Edgar Macias, who described the murder of Triston Algiene at the hands

of Appellant in July 2017. On the night of Algiene’s murder, Macias went to visit Chirinos

at Appellant’s residence. While there, Macias drank alcohol, smoked methamphetamine,

and ingested Xanax with Appellant, Zelaya, and three other men. At one point in the

evening, Macias went to get more alcohol and when he returned, he found Algiene tied up
Acosta – 63

in Appellant’s room with a blanket over his body. Macias witnessed Appellant shoot

Algiene in the head and then get shovels from the garage. He also observed a hole in the

concrete floor of Appellant’s bedroom. Roughly two weeks after the murder, Macias was

arrested for possession of body armor while driving with Appellant. Concerned he would

be implicated in Algiene’s murder, Macias reported his story to Detective Gildon.

Eventually, Algiene’s body was excavated from underneath the flooring of Appellant’s

bedroom and an autopsy revealed that his body had been cut in half. Appellant was

subsequently charged with capital murder for the death of Algiene.

During Detective Gildon’s punishment testimony, the State presented several

images and posts from Appellant’s Facebook account. In two photographs, Appellant is

seen wearing the body armor that law enforcement seized when Macias and Appellant were

arrested. In a Facebook post, Appellant discussed getting revenge for the shooting on

Truman Street. His Facebook account also contained pictures of drug activity.

The State also presented evidence of Appellant’s self-proclaimed membership in

several Mexican drug cartels. Corporal Ruben Martinez, a gang officer for the Tarrant

County Sheriff’s Office, testified about his encounter with Appellant while he was booked

into jail for the instant offense. Martinez explained that he identifies gang members coming

into the jail to separate inmates by affiliation for safety and security reasons. He testified

that he interviewed Appellant at the jail because his clothing and tattoos were
Acosta – 64

representative of gang affiliation and cartel membership. 16 During the interview, which
15F

was conducted in Spanish, Appellant told Martinez that he had been a member of Los

Carnalitos and was currently a member of the Cartel del Noreste, a Mexican drug cartel.

Appellant explained the operational structure of the cartel and the various roles of its

members. Appellant also disclosed to Martinez that his role in the cartel was as a hitman.

Dr. David Grantham, the director of intelligence for the Tarrant County Sheriff’s

Office, also testified to Appellant’s gang and cartel affiliations. Dr. Grantham, who had

extensive experience studying international criminal organizations, reviewed Martinez’s

report of his interview with Appellant and the photographs of Appellant’s tattoos. He

opined that the information provided by Appellant accurately represented Mexican drug

cartels. Based on Appellant’s tattoos and the information he provided in his interview with

Martinez, Dr. Grantham had a high degree of confidence that Appellant was a current or

former member of Carte del Noreste.

In its closing, the State argued that Appellant was a future danger for several

reasons. The jury was told that it could make its determination based on the facts presented

___________________________
16
Specifically, Martinez noted that Appellant wore red shoes and had a belt buckle that depicted
Al Pacino in his role as the drug lord “Tony Montana” in the movie Scarface. Martinez explained
that red shoes can be an indicator of cartel membership and that cartel members often wear clothing
that links them to Scarface. He also described Appellant’s tattoos, which included: “818,” the area
code of Monterrey, Mexico where Appellant is from; a marijuana plant; “El mas Odioado,” which
translates to “the most hated”; three dots, which is a gang indicator particular to Hispanic gangs; a
female chola or gangster with a clown face; the letters “c-n-l-s,” an abbreviation for Carnalitos,
which means “brothers” and is a Mexican gang; the letters “NL,” which stand for “Nueva Leon”;
the number “13,” which is affiliated with “Sur Trece,” the Mexican Mafia; the outline of an assault
rifle or AK-47, which is an indicator of affiliation with cartels; and a depiction of a production
stamp used in Mexico with the words “hecho in Mexico,” which translates to “made in Mexico.”
Acosta – 65

regarding the murders of Zelaya and Chirinos and the unrelated murder of Algiene. The

State commented the following in regard to Appellant’s affiliation with Mexican drug

cartels:

But you know more about him, don't you? How do you feel about Mexican
drug cartels, international drug organizations, crime syndicates? If that
doesn't strike fear in your hearts. We know he's a part -- if you can't look at
his telltale signs at the work he puts in on these bodies and know what he's a
part of, he admits it. He tattoos his love of violence on his body, El mas
Odiado, the most hated. He has demonstrated a knowledge of the
organization to Ruben Martinez. And you know from Dr. Grantham that that
knowledge is real and authentic. He's a hit man. I'm a sicario. And that's what
the AK-47 tattoo says on his ankle. He has worked his way up in the
organization, but he doesn't want to stop there. As you know from the
Facebook records, he wants to be a comandante, he wants to be a commander
in the organization.

The State also mentioned the testimony of Appellant’s expert, Dr. Minagawa, in which he

stated that there’s a high probability that Appellant is likely to engage in criminal acts of

violence in the future. The State did not offer any specific evidence of Appellant’s Mexican

nationality as evidence of future dangerousness.

Standard of Review

To preserve a complaint for appellate review, a defendant must make a timely and

specific objection to the trial court and obtain an adverse ruling. TEX. R. APP. P.

33.1(a)(1)(A). We have consistently held that the failure to object in a timely and specific

manner to the admission of evidence during the trial forfeits complaints about the

admission of that evidence on appeal, even when error in its admission concerns a

constitutional right. See Fuller v. State, 253 S.W.3d 220, 232 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008);

Saldano v. State, 70 S.W.3d 873, 889 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Similarly, a defendant
Acosta – 66

forfeits his right to complain on appeal about improper prosecutorial jury argument if he

fails to object to the argument and to pursue his objection to an adverse ruling. Hernandez

v. State, 538 S.W.3d 619, 622 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018); Cockrell v. State, 933 S.W.2d 73,

89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). As with the admission of evidence and improper jury

argument, the failure to object at trial to alleged prosecutorial misconduct forfeits an

appellate claim about the denial of due process for such misconduct. See Clark v. State,

365 S.W.3d 333, 340 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012).

Analysis

We have combined all three points of error. In points of error five, six, and seven,

Appellant asserts that the invocation of his Mexican nationality as evidence of future

dangerousness violated the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the Fourteenth

Amendment, violated Art. 37.071, Sec. 2(a)(2), and denied him due process. Appellant

argues that the State elicited testimony from Martinez and Dr. Grantham with the intention

of highlighting his Mexican nationality, and then improperly referenced his nationality in

its closing argument. Appellant believes this testimonial evidence was used by the State

to suggest that because he is Mexican, he is more likely to be a future danger and should

be sentenced more harshly.

For the Court to review these three grounds, Appellant had to have preserved any

alleged error during trial. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A). Appellant acknowledges that

he did not object at trial to the testimony at issue or to the State’s jury argument referencing

it as violating his equal protection and due process rights. Appellant also acknowledges

that he did not object to the State’s elicitation of the testimony at issue or the State’s jury
Acosta – 67

argument referencing it on the basis that the elicitation and argument constituted

prosecutorial misconduct violating his right to due process. Nor did Appellant object to

the alleged statutory violation under Art. 37.071. See Art. 37.071, Sec. 2(a)(2) (State is

prohibited from offering evidence that defendant will engage in future criminal conduct

because of defendant’s race or ethnicity).

Appellant acknowledges that he did not object on equal protection or due process

grounds in the trial court. He further acknowledges our opinion in Saldano v. State, in

which we held that the failure to object to testimony alleged to have improperly appealed

to jurors’ racial prejudices in violation of the Equal Protection Clause precluded raising the

equal protection claim on appeal. See 70 S.W.3d 873, 889 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). But

Appellant nevertheless urges us to reach his complaint and determine that error relating to

the admission of evidence of nationality concerns an absolute systemic requirement not

subject to forfeiture.

Appellant contends that since Saldano, the United States Supreme Court has

recognized that the particularly invidious nature of racial bias in criminal prosecutions

forecloses application of procedural hurdles that would otherwise bar review of such a

claim. However, neither of the cases that Appellant cites addresses procedural default due

to the failure to comply with the contemporaneous-objection rule. See Buck v. Davis, 580

U.S. 100, 121 (2017) (holding that trial counsel’s introduction of expert testimony using

race as predictive factor in determining future dangerousness constituted ineffective

assistance of counsel); Pena-Rodriguez v. Colorado, 580 U.S. 206, 225 (2017) (holding

that Sixth Amendment requires that juror no-impeachment rule give way to permit trial
Acosta – 68

court to consider evidence of juror’s statement indicating that he or she “relied on racial

stereotypes or animus to convict a criminal defendant”).

The contemporaneous-objection rule protects important policy interests. See

Martinez v. State, 91 S.W.3d 331, 336 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (explaining rationale for

rule); see also Wainright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72, 88–89 (1977) (detailing many reasons for

requiring compliance with contemporaneous-objection rule). Accordingly, we have

consistently held that error in the admission of evidence is subject to procedural default,

even when the error may involve a constitutional right. See, e.g., Darcy v. State, 488

S.W.3d 325, 329 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016); Fuller v. State, 253 S.W.3d 220, 232 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2008); see also Henderson v. United States, 568 U.S. 266, 271 (2013) (observing that

“‘[n]o procedural principle is more familiar … than that a constitutional right,’ or a right

of any other sort, ‘may be forfeited … by the failure to make timely assertion of the right

before a tribunal having jurisdiction to determine it’” (quoting United States v. Olano, 507

U.S. 725, 731 (1993)). The recent Supreme Court opinions that Appellant relies on—

which rightly aim at removing improper considerations of race in the criminal justice

system—do not alter or eliminate a state’s ability to require compliance with the

contemporaneous-objection rule to preserve error, even with respect to error impacting

constitutional rights. In turn, we conclude that Appellant failed to preserve his Equal

Protection and Due Process claim.

Next, Appellant contends that the State’s argument here was so improper that it rises

to prosecutorial misconduct in violation of due process. Appellant acknowledges that he

did not object to the alleged prosecutorial misconduct at trial. He further acknowledges
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that this Court has held that error stemming from improper jury argument relates to a Marin

category-three right that is forfeitable by inaction. See Cockrell v. State, 933 S.W.2d 73,

89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Nevertheless, he contends that the State’s argument here was

so improper that it rises to prosecutorial misconduct in violation of due process. He relies

on our opinion in Grado v. State to assert that we should hold that the alleged prosecutorial

misconduct (the elicitation of evidence and jury argument concerning nationality) is at least

a category-two Marin waiveable-only right.

Appellant’s reliance on Grado is misplaced. In Grado, we held that “[t]he

unfettered right to be sentenced by a sentencing judge who properly considers the entire

range of punishment is a substantive right necessary to effectuate the proper functioning of

our criminal justice system.” 445 S.W.3d 736, 741 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). Therefore, we

classified that right as a Marin category-two right. Id. In contrast, we have consistently

held that error arising from improper jury argument must be preserved by an objection

pursued to an adverse ruling; otherwise, any error from it is forfeited. See Hernandez v.

State, 538 S.W.3d 619, 622 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018) (reaffirming that “[t]he right to a trial

untainted by improper jury argument is forfeitable”). Thus, we conclude that Appellant

failed to preserve his due process claim.

Finally, Appellant urges us to conclude that the right contained in Art. 37.071, Sec.

2(a)(2) is a Marin category-one nonwaivable right because the statute imposes a duty on

the trial court to prevent presentation of evidence that the defendant’s race or ethnicity

makes it likely the defendant will engage in future criminal conduct. Appellant

acknowledges that he did not object to the alleged statutory violation at trial. He also
Acosta – 70

acknowledges that Art. 37.071, Sec. 2(a)(2), predates our opinion in Saldano. But he

contends that the statute did not factor into our Marin category determination because it

was not in effect at the time of Saldano’s trial. He urges us to conclude that the right

contained in Art. 37.071, Sec. 2(a)(2) is a Marin category-one nonwaivable right because

the statute, although expressing a prohibition on the State, necessarily imposes a duty on

the trial court to prevent presentation of evidence (and, necessarily, argument) that the

defendant’s race or ethnicity makes it likely the defendant will engage in future criminal

conduct. He maintains that, because the statute is written in mandatory terms and is

designed to protect a defendant’s right to equal protection, the right should be deemed both

nonwaivable and nonforfeitable.

But “[t]o say that a statute is ‘mandatory’ is simply to say that the law prescribes

the manner in which a particular action should or shall be taken.” Ex parte McCain, 67

S.W.3d 204, 210 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). While some mandatory statutes create category-

two Marin rights, see, e.g., Proenza v. State, 541 S.W.3d 786, 801 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017)

(holding that claims of improper judicial commentary that violate Art. 38.05 are not subject

to forfeiture by inaction), we have concluded that Art. 37.071, Sec. 2(a)(2), does not. See

Compton v. State, 666 S.W.3d 685, 730 (Tex. Crim. App. 2023).

Art. 37.071 governs the punishment phase of capital murder trials. Subsection

2(a)(2) limits the type of evidence that the State may offer. While the provision implicates

the constitutional right of equal protection, it governs the admissibility of evidence. See Ex

parte Carter, 521 S.W.3d 344, 349 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017) (distinguishing between

violations of constitutional rights and statutory or procedural violations, and stating that,
Acosta – 71

while “procedural errors or statutory violations may be reversible error,” they “are not

necessarily fundamental or constitutional errors”). Consequently, an alleged violation of

Art. 37.071, Sec. 2(a)(2), must be raised at trial, and because Appellant failed to do so, he

forfeited this claim.

Because Appellant failed to preserve these claims at trial, we cannot review them

on this instant appeal. See, e.g., Brooks v. State, 990 S.W.2d 278, 286 (Tex. Crim. App.

1999) (defendant’s failure to object at trial forfeited appellate claim that testimony was

admitted for sole purpose of appealing to potential racial prejudices of jury); Archie v.

State, 221 S.W.3d 695, 699 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (defendant must pursue adverse ruling

on objection to jury argument to preserve error in prosecutorial argument); Clark v. State,

365 S.W.3d 333, 340 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (appellant forfeited due process claim by

failing to object to prosecutorial misconduct at trial); Mosley v. State, 666 S.W.3d 670, 676

(Tex. Crim. App. 2023) (appellant did not properly preserve statutory violation complaint

by failing to state ground with sufficient specificity at trial). Consequently, we overrule

points of error five, six, and seven.

Admission of Surveillance Video Footage

In point of error seventeen, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in admitting a

recording of surveillance video footage because it had not been properly authenticated

under Rule 901 of the Texas Rules of Evidence. Appellant contends that the State did not

properly authenticate the surveillance video it recovered from a neighbor’s security system.

Because the trial court reasonably concluded that the State’s evidence satisfied its burden

of establishing a prima facie case of authenticity, we find no abuse of discretion in
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admitting the evidence.

Background

During the investigation of Zelaya’s murder, officers canvassed the area between

Appellant’s residence on Burton Drive and his former residence on Truman Street looking

for evidence. Officers recovered home surveillance footage from Appellant’s neighbor

whose property was approximately eight houses down from Appellant. During trial, the

State offered the neighbor’s surveillance video footage, as well as his testimony, to show

that Appellant transported Zelaya’s decapitated head. The neighbor testified that he had

two security cameras mounted on the side of his house which were in operation during the

timeframe of the offense. After an officer reviewed the footage from the neighbor’s

security cameras, detectives collected the video. The neighbor confirmed that the footage

on the disk fairly and accurately depicted the street outside his driveway on the night of the

offense at issue. The surveillance footage contained a timestamp which indicated that the

recording was from September 2, 2017, at approximately 12:30 P.M. to 1:00 P.M.

On voir dire cross-examination, Appellant asked the neighbor how he knew that the

footage from the video came from his surveillance equipment. The neighbor said he knew

the footage came from his security system because it showed a part of his yard, his

neighbor’s house, and the intersection near his home. The neighbor conceded that he did

not view the footage before the video was taken by detectives. Instead, he watched it at

the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office after the footage had been downloaded onto

a disc by law enforcement. The neighbor testified that the disc being offered into evidence

was the same disk he reviewed at the district attorney’s office. Appellant objected to the
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admission of the video because it was not properly authenticated. The trial court overruled

the objection and admitted the video.

The State published the video during Detective Gildon’s testimony, who narrated

the video while it played for the jury. During his narration, Gildon stated that Appellant

was on a bicycle with a sign over his shoulder and a black trash bag with a heavy round

object in it swinging from the handlebars. Gildon believed Appellant was the cyclist in the

video because the cyclist passed the security cameras around the same time that Appellant

told the detectives he took the sign and Zelaya’s severed head to the Truman Street

location. 17 Appellant did not object to Gildon’s testimony about the surveillance video.
16F

Standard of Review

We review a trial court’s ruling on authentication for an abuse of discretion. Fowler

v. State, 544 S.W.3d 844, 848 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). Under this deferential standard, if

the trial court’s ruling that a jury could reasonably find the proffered evidence to be

authentic is at least within the zone of reasonable disagreement, an appellate court must

uphold the court’s admissibility decision. Id. Rule 901, which governs the authentication

requirement for the admissibility of evidence, requires the proponent of an item of evidence

to “produce evidence sufficient to support a finding that the item is what the proponent

claims it is.” TEX. R. EVID. 901(a).

We have described the authentication requirement as a liberal standard of

___________________________
17
We note that Appellant told the detectives that he had walked to the Truman Street location, not
that he was riding a bicycle.
Acosta – 74

admissibility. Fowler, 544 S.W.3d at 849 (quoting Butler v. State, 459 S.W.3d 595, 600

(Tex. Crim. App. 2015)). The proponent must only produce sufficient evidence that a

reasonable fact finder could properly find genuineness. Tienda v. State, 358 S.W.3d 633,

638 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). Conclusive proof of authenticity before allowing admission

of disputed evidence is not required. Fowler, 544 S.W.3d at 848. It is ultimately the jury’s

role to determine whether an item of evidence is indeed what its proponent claims; the trial

court need only make the preliminary determination that the proponent of the evidence has

supplied facts sufficient to support a reasonable jury determination that the proffered

evidence is authentic. Id. at 848–49; Butler, 459 S.W.3d at 600.

Evidence may be authenticated in a number of ways, including by direct testimony

from a witness with personal knowledge, by comparison with other authenticated evidence,

or by circumstantial evidence. Tienda, 358 S.W.3d at 638; see Butler, 459 S.W.3d at 602

(noting that authenticating evidence may be direct or circumstantial). Further, authenticity

may be established with evidence of “distinctive characteristics and the like,” including

“[t]he appearance, contents, substance, internal patterns, or other distinctive characteristics

of the item, taken together with all the circumstances.” TEX. R. EVID. 901(b)(4).

Analysis

The State contends that because Appellant did not object to Gildon’s testimony

about the video footage, he failed to preserve his complaint for appellate review. The State

notes that after the trial court overruled his authentication objection and admitted the video,

Appellant did not object to Gildon’s testimony about the surveillance video’s contents, nor

did he obtain a running objection or a ruling on his authentication complaint. Ordinarily,
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to preserve a complaint about the erroneous admission of evidence, an objection must be

made at the time the inadmissible evidence is offered unless the complaining party obtained

a running objection or obtained a ruling on his complaint in a hearing outside the presence

of the jury. Lopez v. State, 253 S.W.3d 680, 684 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). However, the

State’s reliance on the general preservation rule here is misplaced. The error preservation

rule does not apply when the unobjected-to evidence, which proves the same facts as the

objected-to evidence, is not subject to the same objection as the objected-to evidence. See

Matz v. State, 14 S.W.3d 746, 747 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).

In Matz v. State, we held that the defendant did not forfeit his hearsay objection to

the admission of the child complainant’s videotaped interview by failing to object to the

child’s trial testimony. Id. We observed that the objection to the videotape went to its form,

not its substance, and that the defendant could not be expected to raise a hearsay objection

to the child’s live trial testimony. Id. Similarly, Appellant did not object to the substance

of the video, but to the authenticity of the video. His objection regarded whether the State

had established that the video was in fact what it purported to be—the surveillance video

footage from Appellant’s neighbor’s security cameras. On direct examination, Gildon

narrated the video based on his observations of the video. There was no basis for Appellant

to make an authentication objection to the detective’s testimony. Thus, the failure to object

to Gildon’s testimony about what he believed the footage depicted did not forfeit

Appellant’s authentication objection.

Turning to the merits of Appellant’s arguments, he asserts that his neighbor lacked

sufficient knowledge of the video footage to testify to its accuracy or reliability for two
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reasons. First, the neighbor did not witness the events depicted on the video, and therefore

could not verify that the video accurately represented the scene on that date and time.

Second, the neighbor failed to provide sufficient evidence that his surveillance system

reliably created the video that was presented, that the system was functioning properly, and

the footage reflected the correct date and time. Therefore, Appellant contends that the State

failed to properly authenticate the surveillance video.

We have previously held that it is possible for a proponent of a video to sufficiently

prove its authenticity without the testimony of someone who either witnessed what the

video depicts or is familiar with the functioning of the recording device. See Fowler, 544

S.W.3d at 848–50. Video recordings without audio are treated as photographs and are

properly authenticated when it can be proven that the images accurately represent the scene

in question and are relevant to a disputed issue. Id. at 849; see Huffman v. State, 746 S.W.2d

212, 222 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988) (concluding that rules relating to admission of ordinary

photographs applied to exhibit that was only visual portion of videotape). Thus,

Appellant’s neighbor didn’t have to witness what the State alleged the video to show—that

Appellant transported Zelaya’s decapitated head. Because the surveillance video did not

contain audio, the neighbor properly authenticated the video by accurately representing the

scene in question—his yard and that which was nearby. The neighbor testified that he had

not seen the footage before giving it to officers, but he knew the video came from his

surveillance system because it contained views that were familiar to him. He stated that

the video fairly and accurately depicted the street outside his driveway.

The State also presented circumstantial evidence that authenticated the surveillance
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video. The neighbor testified that detectives retrieved the surveillance video shortly after

he noticed law enforcement canvasing the area near to his house. Further, the date and

time stamp on the surveillance video is corroborated by Appellant’s statement regarding

the date and time he transported Zelaya’s decapitated head. Finally, the video depicted a

cyclist carrying a sign and trash bag containing an object similar in size and shape to a

severed head during the timeframe that Appellant reported transporting the sign and head

to the Truman Street location.

Based on the appearance, content, and substance of the surveillance video, when

considered with the circumstances in which the video was recovered and the homeowner’s

testimony, the trial court reasonably concluded that the State satisfied its burden of

presenting a prima facie case of authenticity. See, e.g., Druery v. State, 225 S.W.3d 491,

502 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (holding that authentication was proper because it contained

sufficient distinctive internal characteristics to support a finding that it was what the

proponent claimed it was). Certainly, it was within the zone of reasonable disagreement

for the trial court to conclude that a reasonable juror could find that the surveillance video

was in fact the footage recorded by Appellant’s neighbor’s security system. See Fowler,

544 S.W.3d at 848. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion

in admitting the surveillance video over Appellant’s objection. We overrule point of error

seventeen.

Jury Charge Error

In point of error four, Appellant challenges the trial court’s Art. 38.22, Sec. 7,

instructions in the jury charge. Appellant’s contention is that the trial court erred when it
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instructed the jury that it could consider Appellant’s statement made during interrogation,

even if the jury found the detectives failed to adhere to the requirements of Miranda and

Art. 38.22, if the statement contained true facts that established Appellant’s guilt. Because

the trial court erred in misstating the law in the jury charge, Appellant argues he was

egregiously harmed.

Background

During the guilt-innocence phase of Appellant’s trial, the jury charge included an

Art. 38.22, Sec. 7 instruction, but the charge also included additional instructions relating

to Sec. 3(c). The Sec. 3(c) instructions were included in both the abstract paragraph and

the application paragraphs of the Art. 38.22, Sec. 7 instructions. The relevant portion of

the jury charge is as follows:

You are instructed that before a statement of an accused made orally
to law enforcement officers and made while in custody may be considered,
it must be shown by legal evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that prior to
making such oral statement that the accused has been warned by the person
to whom the statement is made, or by a magistrate, that (1) he has the right
to remain silent and not make any statement at all and that any statement he
makes may be used against him at his trial, (2) that any statement he makes
may be used as evidence against him in court, (3) that he has right to have a
lawyer present to advise him prior to and during any questioning, (4) that if
he is unable to employ a lawyer, he has the right to have a lawyer appointed
to advise him prior to and during any questioning, and (5) that he has the
right to terminate the interview at any time, and that the accused, prior to and
during the making of the statement, knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily
waived the rights in the warnings as set out above. The use of substantially
equivalent language constitutes adequate compliance with this requirement.
This rule does not apply to any statement that contains assertions of facts or
circumstances that are found to be true and which conduce to establish the
guilt of the accused, such as the finding of secreted property or the instrument
with which he states the offense was committed.
So, in this case, [i]f you find beyond a reasonable doubt that the
aforementioned warning was given, either verbatim or in substantially
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equivalent language, to the defendant prior to his having made such
statement, if he did make it, or if you find that the defendant’s statement, if
any, contained assertions to facts or circumstances that were found to be
true, if they were, and which conduced to establish the guilt of the accused,
if they did, then you may consider the statement, if any, for all purposes.
However, if you find from the evidence, or if you have a reasonable
doubt thereof, that prior to the time the defendant gave the alleged statement
to Grant Gildon or Michael Barakat, if he did give it, the said Grant Gildon
or Michael Barakat did not warn, either verbatim or in substantially
equivalent language, the defendant in the respects enumerated above, or that
the defendant’s statement, if any, does not contain assertions to facts or
circumstances that are found to be true and which conduce to establish the
guilt of the accused, then you will wholly disregard the alleged confession or
statement and not consider it for any purpose nor any evidence obtained as
a result thereof.

(Emphasis added). When presented with the jury charge, Appellant asked the trial court to

make two changes to the charge: one regarded the use of the term “substantially equivalent”

in the voluntariness instruction and the second concerned corpus delicti. The trial court

denied both of Appellant’s requests. Neither Appellant nor the State objected to the

inclusion of the Sec. 3(c) instructions in the jury charge.

Standard of Review

In reviewing an alleged jury charge error, we determine whether error exists, and if

so, we evaluate whether sufficient harm resulted from the error to require reversal. Alcoser

v. State, 663 S.W.3d 160, 165 (Tex. Crim. App. 2022); Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 743–

44 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). The degree of harm required for reversal depends on whether

the jury charge error was brought to the trial court’s attention. See Almanza v. State, 686

S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (op. on reh’g) (setting forth standards of appellate

review for claim of jury charge error). If the alleged jury charge error has not been raised

by an objection or request for an instruction, see Arts. 36.14, 36.15, reversal is required
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only if the appellant suffered egregious harm. Alcoser, 663 S.W.3d at 165; see Almanza,

686 S.W.2d at 171.

Egregious harm exists if the error affects the very basis of the defendant’s case,

deprives him of a valuable right, or vitally affects a defensive theory. Alcoser, 663 S.W.3d

at 165; Ngo, 175 S.W.3d at 750. A finding of egregious harm must be based on actual

harm rather than theoretical harm. Alcoser, 663 S.W.3d at 165 (quoting Cosio v. State, 353

S.W.3d 766, 777 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011)). Egregious harm is a difficult standard to meet,

and the analysis is fact specific. Alcoser, 663 S.W.3d at 165; Villarreal v. State, 453 S.W.3d

429, 433 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). We assess harm in light of the entire jury charge, the

state of the evidence, including the contested issues and weight of probative evidence, the

argument of counsel, and any other relevant information revealed by the record of the trial

as a whole. Alcoser, 663 S.W.3d at 165 (quoting Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171).

Art. 38.22 dictates when a defendant’s statements may be used at trial. When an

issue is raised by the evidence, Sec. 7 requires that the trial judge appropriately instruct the

jury on the law pertaining to that statement. See Art. 38.22, Sec. 7. Oral confessions are

generally inadmissible unless there is compliance with the requirements of Art. 38.22, Sec.

3(a). See Art. 38.22, Sec. 3(e); Woods v. State, 152 S.W.3d 105, 116 (Tex. Crim. App.

2004). However, Sec. 3(c) sets forth an exception to non-compliance with Sec. 3(a) by

allowing the admission of a non-compliant oral statement that contains “assertions of facts

or circumstances that are found to be true,” and “establish the guilt of the accused.” Art.

38.22, Sec. 3(c).

Analysis
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Appellant acknowledges and we agree that the Art. 38.22, Sec. 7 instructions were

correctly given. However, we have previously held that the Sec. 3(c) exception is a

question of law, not of fact, that should not be submitted to the jury. Moon v. State, 607

S.W.2d 568, 572 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980) (“Likewise, we determine that Article 38.22, Sec.

3(c) deals only with the legal issue of the admissibility of the oral statement, which is a

question of law to be determined by the trial court.”).

Both parties acknowledge, the trial court erred by adding the Sec. 3(c) exception

instructions to the Art. 38.22, Sec. 7, instructions. 18 However, given the state of the
17F

evidence, and our conclusion that the warnings given to Appellant complied with the

requirements of Miranda and Art. 38.22, we conclude that Appellant did not suffer

egregious harm due to the trial court’s erroneous inclusion of the Sec. 3(c) instructions in

the jury charge. It does not matter if the statutory exception under Sec. 3(c) applied to

Appellant’s statements because, as discussed above, the record demonstrates that the

Miranda and Art. 38.22 requirements were met. We overrule point of error four.

Improper Jury Argument

In four points of error, Appellant challenges the State’s jury argument. More

specifically, Appellant asserts that the prosecutor improperly argued outside the record

during the guilt phase (point of error nine), commented on his right to remain silent (points

of error fifteen and sixteen), and bolstered the credibility of the State’s punishment

witnesses (point of error eight).

___________________________
18
The State concedes that the trial court erred in giving the additional Sec. 3(c) instructions.
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Outside the Record

In point of error nine, Appellant contends that the trial court erred in overruling his

objections to the State’s argument being outside of the record during its guilt phase closing

argument. Specifically, Appellant argues that the State’s comment that it could have easily

contradicted Appellant’s witness’ testimony with witnesses it chose not to call was an

improper argument because it introduced facts outside the record. Thus, Appellant argues

the trial court’s ruling had a substantial and injurious effect on Appellant’s conviction.

Background

As mentioned above, Appellant presented the expert testimony of Terri Moore, a

longtime criminal defense attorney. Moore opined that the warnings provided by Detective

Barakat did not substantially comply with Miranda or Art. 38.22. Because the warnings

did not comply with the constitutional and statutory requirements, Moore believed

Appellant’s waiver was ineffective which rendered his statements involuntary. During her

testimony, the prosecutor had Moore read highlighted portions of this Court’s opinion in

Darden v. State, as well as highlighted portions from Bustinza v. State, an unpublished

opinion from the Corpus Christi–Edinburg Court of Appeals. 629 S.W.2d 46 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1982); No. 13-11-00314-CR, 2012 WL 3755530 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–

Edinburg Aug. 29, 2012, no pet.). According to the State, these two cases contradicted

Moore’s testimony that Appellant’s waiver was not valid because the warnings he received

were inadequate.

In its closing argument, the State argued that the warnings Appellant received were

sufficient:
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One, the use of substantially equivalent language constitutes adequate
compliance with this rule, meaning the rule that says the warnings have to be
given.

Substantially equivalent language, and it was done here. All right. Now, yes,
they brought in a criminal defense attorney to take the stand and say, well, it
didn’t sound good enough to me.

Now, I submit to you, ladies and gentlemen, that the only difference between
Terri Moore and [Appellant’s defense attorneys] is that Terri Moore sat in
this chair instead of at that table over there. Okay. She was acting as a
member, a fully functioning member of the criminal defense team in this
case.

I’m sure that I -- and I’m sure you will agree, I could have brought five or
six or ten prosecutors in here to disagree with Ms. Moore, to say, well,
sounded okay to me. . .

But see, that wouldn’t be appropriate. It’s not right to do that. But if I had
done that and they had said exactly what I just said, the difference between
their testimony and Ms. Moore’s would be that their testimony would be in
accordance with the law. Their testimony . . .

Their testimony would be guided by the opinion that was cited, that was
authored by the Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest criminal court in this
state, on par, on a level with the Supreme Court of this state. The Supreme
Court does civil cases, Court of Criminal Appeals does criminal cases. That’s
the law. That’s not in dispute. But Ms. Moore said she didn’t like it.

She didn’t think it was right. She doesn’t get to pick and choose what the law
is. The law is the law. And the law is right here. And the statement is fine.
And you can consider it for all purposes. (Emphasis added).

Standard of Review

Generally, the bounds of proper closing argument are left to the sound discretion of

the trial court. Milton v. State, 572 S.W.3d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 2019). Thus, we

review a trial court’s ruling on an objection to jury argument for an abuse of discretion. Id

at 241. Proper jury argument generally falls within one of four areas: (1) summation of the
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evidence; (2) reasonable deduction from the evidence; (3) answer to argument of opposing

counsel; and (4) plea for law enforcement. Id. at 239. The focus of argument must

encourage the jury to decide the case on the evidence in front of it rather than information

outside the record. Id. at 240. Therefore, reference to facts not in evidence, nor inferable

from the evidence, is improper. Brown v. State, 270 S.W.3d 564, 570 (Tex. Crim. App.

2008); see Freeman v. State, 340 S.W.3d 717, 728 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (“A prosecutor

may not use closing arguments to present evidence that is outside the record.”).

Analysis

Assuming, without deciding, that the State’s argument in this regard was improper,

we conclude that any error was harmless, as it did not affect Appellant’s substantial rights.

See Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(b); Martinez v. State, 17 S.W.3d 677, 692 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000)

(applying non-constitutional standard for determining harm in improper argument cases).

In considering harm flowing from an improper jury argument, we consider the severity of

the misconduct, curative measures, and the certainty of conviction absent the misconduct.

Id. at 693. Here, these factors weigh in favor of finding that any error was harmless.

First, the State’s argument could be fairly characterized as an analogy; the

presentation of an expert defense attorney witness who opined that the warnings given to

Appellant were insufficient could easily be confronted with the presentation of an expert

prosecutor witness who would opine the exact opposite to be true. Thus, the argument is

more akin to a comment on Moore’s credibility as an expert than an attempt to focus the

jury’s attention on facts outside the record. The State’s argument could also be seen as

pointing out Moore’s potential for bias in favor of Appellant due to her work as a criminal
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defense attorney. Second, the case law referenced by the prosecutor was the subject of a

line of questioning with Moore during her testimony. As to curative measures, the jury

was instructed that arguments made by the parties in closing were not evidence of

Appellant’s guilt. Finally, as discussed in greater detail in other sections of this opinion,

the record supports the certainty of Appellant’s conviction absent any alleged improper

jury argument. Accordingly, we overrule point of error nine.

Improper Comment on Failure to Testify

In points of error fifteen and sixteen, Appellant argues that the prosecutor made an

improper comment on Appellant’s right to remain silent during the State’s closing

argument in violation of the Fifth Amendment (point of error fifteen) and Art. 38.08 (point

of error sixteen). Appellant contends that the State’s comments on what Appellant must

have known and what exculpatory testimony he must have been unable to provide

constituted an impermissible reference to Appellant’s constitutional and statutory right to

remain silent.

Background

During the guilt phase of Appellant’s trial, the State presented evidence from

Eustorgio Salas, IV, who testified that two days after the bodies of Zelaya and Chirinos

were discovered, he purchased a gun from his friend; Appellant was present during this

transaction. According to Salas, Appellant demonstrated how to load the gun. Two days

after buying the gun, Salas saw news reports connecting Appellant to the murders of Zelaya

and Chirinos. Because he was concerned that the gun he purchased may have been used

in the murders, Salas turned the gun in to law enforcement. Subsequent ballistics testing
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revealed that the gun Salas purchased was the same gun that fired the casings found in the

trash bags at Appellant’s house, as well as the bullets recovered from the bodies of Zelaya

and Chirinos.

During its closing argument, the State discussed the recovered murder weapon.

Specifically, the prosecutor argued the following:

The .22 revolver is the murder weapon. [Law enforcement] had the murder
weapon. They recovered it from Mr. Salas. But they didn’t know for sure
that it was the murder weapon until a couple of things were done.

First, the bullets were removed from the autopsy. And during the autopsy,
they were submitted to ballistics analysis and they proved to be -- to have
come from that gun. But the defendant knew that was the murder weapon.

(Emphasis added). Appellant objected to the State’s comment as a comment on his failure

to testify. The trial court overruled the objection. The prosecutor later made a similar

argument concerning the machete:

[Erick Zelaya’s] head and his body bore obvious sharp cutting wounds. So
yes, [law enforcement] suspected that they might have the weapon, but they
didn't know they had the weapon until DNA analysis proved that it was, in
fact, the weapon because Erick Zelaya's blood was found on the blade of that
machete.

They didn't know for sure until DNA. But the defendant knew.

(Emphasis added). Appellant did not object to this argument.

Standard of Review

Under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, “[n]o person … shall

be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself”. U.S. CONST. amend.

V. Texas also recognizes this right in its Constitution and under Art. 38.08. See Tex. Const.

art. I, § 10 (“He shall not be compelled to give evidence against himself[.]”); Art. 38.08
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(failure of defendant to testify “shall not be taken as a circumstance against him, nor shall

the same be alluded to or commented on by counsel in the cause”). Thus, a comment on a

defendant’s failure to testify violates both the federal and state Constitutions as well as

Texas statutory law. Randolph v. State, 353 S.W.3d 887, 891 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); see

Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609, 615 (1965).

However, the implication that the State’s comment referred to the defendant’s

failure to testify must be a clear and necessary one. Randolph, 353 S.W.3d at 891. Indirect

or implied allusions, or language that might be construed as such, do not suffice to show a

violation. Id.; Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 490–91 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). The test

is whether the language used was manifestly intended to be or was of such a character that

the jury would necessarily and naturally take it as, a comment on the defendant’s failure to

testify. Randolph, 353 S.W.3d at 891; see Bustamante v. State, 48 S.W.3d 761, 765 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2001) (collecting cases). Therefore, we must analyze the context in which the

comment was made to determine whether the language used was of such character.

Randolph, 353 S.W.3d at 891; Bustamante, 48 S.W.3d at 765. We must also view the

State’s argument from the jury’s standpoint and resolve any ambiguities in the language in

favor of its being a permissible argument. Randolph, 353 S.W.3d at 891. If some other

explanation for the prosecutor’s remark is equally plausible, we cannot find that the

prosecutor manifestly intended to comment on the defendant’s failure to testify. Id.

Analysis

Appellant contends that the prosecutor’s comment was improper because only

Appellant can testify to his knowledge. See Owen v. State, 656 S.W.2d 458, 459 (Tex.
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Crim. App. 1983) (explaining that conviction must be reversed if prosecutor’s remark

called jury’s attention to absence of evidence that only defendant’s testimony could

supply). However, we do not find that the prosecutor’s comment was an attempt to draw

the jury’s attention to evidence that could only come from Appellant. The inference that

Appellant asks us to draw here is tenuous given the context of the statement.

During that portion of its jury argument, the State was referring to Appellant’s

interview with the detectives and reminding the jury of the facts that Appellant revealed

during that interview that were later corroborated by other evidence. When placed in that

context, the prosecutor’s comment can reasonably be construed as referring to statements

made by Appellant during his interview with detectives. See, e.g., Lopez v. State, 339

S.W.2d 906, 910–11 (Tex. Crim. App. App. 1960) (holding that reference to defendant

“not telling everything” where prosecutor was discussing defendant’s written statement

was not comment on failure to testify but reference to written statement); see also Cruz v.

State, 225 S.W.3d 546, 548–50 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (concluding that it was clear from

the record that prosecutor’s statements to jury referred to defendant’s own written

statement, which had been admitted into evidence, and therefore were not comment on

defendant’s failure to testify); Garcia v. State, 126 S.W.3d 921, 924 (Tex. Crim. App.

2004) (State’s references to defendant’s statement in evidence and comparison between

statement and other evidence is not comment on defendant’s failure to testify or right to

remain silent).

Nothing in the record suggests that the prosecutor manifestly intended the remark

to be a comment on Appellant’s failure to testify at trial. The jury would not have naturally
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and necessarily understood the prosecutor’s comment to refer to Appellant’s failure to

testify at trial. Considering the context in which it was made, the prosecutor’s comment

could have been reasonably construed as a reference to statements Appellant made during

his interview with detectives. Because there is an equally plausible explanation for the

prosecutor’s comment, there is no constitutional or statutory violation of Appellant’s

privilege against self-incrimination. See Randolph, 353 S.2.3d at 491. Therefore, we

conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by overruling Appellant’s objection

to the prosecutor’s comment. We overrule points of error fifteen and sixteen.

Bolstering Comment

In point of error eight, Appellant asserts that the prosecutor’s remark, “truth sells,”

was improper. Specifically, Appellant argues that the comment violated his substantial

rights because it bolstered the credibility of the State’s witnesses and the overall credibility

of the prosecution’s theory that Appellant would be a future danger.

Background

During Appellant’s closing argument at punishment, his counsel commented on past

experiences with the prosecutor. Appellant’s counsel stated the following:

Now, [prosecutor] and I have tried a few cases together. He’s a very good
lawyer. He’ll give what I consider to be an outstanding argument. It will be
the best one you probably ever hear in your life. I’m not looking forward to
it.

In response, the prosecutor stated the following during the State’s closing argument:

I’d like to thank [defense counsel] for the very kind words that he had to say
about me. It’s true, we have tried a lot of cases together. I do not, however -
- I don’t take his words as meaning very much, not that they weren’t kind
words, but the things he said about me have nothing to do with me. If it looks
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like I have to him made good closing arguments in the past, it’s because truth
sells. I have a lot to work with. (Emphasis added).

The prosecutor then continued with his closing argument with no objection from Appellant.

Standard of Review

As previously noted, the right to a trial untainted by improper jury argument is

forfeitable. Hernandez, 538 S.W.3d at 622; Cockrell, 933 S.W.2d at 89. A defendant

forfeits his right to complain on appeal about improper prosecutorial jury argument if he

fails to object to the argument and pursue his objection to an adverse ruling. See Archie,

221 S.W.3d at 699. Appellant acknowledges that he did not object to the “truth sells”

remark during the State’s closing argument. He further acknowledges this Court’s

precedent requiring an objection to avoid forfeiting an appellate complaint about improper

jury argument. However, Appellant contends that due to the significant role the prosecutor

plays in the courtroom, remarks made by a prosecutor carry a great deal of influence on

the jury. Thus, he argues that reversal is required, even absent an objection.

To support this argument, Appellant relies on this Court’s opinion in Blue v. State.

See 41 S.W.3d 129 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (holding trial court’s comments to jury were

fundamental error of constitutional dimension that did not require objection to preserve

error). However, Blue concerned improper judicial comments to which the defendant did

not object. As we later explained in Proenza v. State, that the right at issue in Blue—the

right to be tried in a proceeding devoid of improper judicial commentary—is at least a

category-two, waiver-only right. 541 S.W.3d 786, 797–801 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017). The

alleged error here involves a prosecutorial comment, not a judicial comment.
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Nonetheless, Appellant contends that an improper prosecutorial jury argument is

comparable to a fundamental error consistent with the federal plain error standard. See,

e.g., United States v. Gracia, 522 F.3d 597 (5th Cir. 2008). The traditional term in Texas

criminal law that corresponds to plain error is fundamental error. Jimenez v. State, 32

S.W.3d 233, 238 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). We have previously rejected the idea that

fundamental error, as a freestanding doctrine of error preservation, exists independently

from Marin’s categorized approach. Proenza, 541 S.W.3d at 793. Instead, we consider

questions of fundamental error under the framework set forth in Marin. Mendez v. State,

138 S.W.3d 334, 341 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004); see Proenza, 541 S.W.3d at 794

(recognizing Marin’s subsumption of any fundamental error doctrine when re-iterating that

questions of fundamental error now are considered in Marin’s framework). We have

considered error relating to improper jury argument under the Marin framework and

concluded that it concerns a forfeitable right. See Hernandez, 538 S.W.3d at 622; Cockrell,

933 S.W.2d at 89.

Moreover, we have previously declined to hold that error preservation was not

required to raise an improper jury argument complaint on direct appeal. See Hernandez,

538 S.W.3d at 623. Appellant does not cite to any change in circumstances or a law that

would prompt us to revisit our categorization of the right. Nor does his argument

referencing the federal plain error standard prompt us to overrule our precedent. Therefore,

we conclude that an improper prosecutorial jury argument must be preserved by an

objection followed by an adverse ruling; otherwise, the defendant forfeits the complaint

about such argument on appeal. See Hernandez, 538 S.W.3d at 623 (“Even incurably
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improper jury argument is forfeitable.”). Because Appellant did not object to the

prosecutor’s “truth sells” comment at trial, he forfeited his complaint about it on appeal.

We overrule point of error eight.

Conclusion

Finding no reversible error, we affirm the trial court’s judgment of conviction and

sentence of death.

Delivered: June 5, 2024

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