The State of Texas v. Edward Jerome Huff

NUMBER 13-20-00026-CR

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellant,

v.

EDWARD JEROME HUFF, Appellee.

ON APPEAL FROM THE 272ND DISTRICT COURT
OF BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before Chief Justice Tijerina and Justices Cron and Fonseca
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Cron

Appellee Edward Jerome Huff was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm

by a felon, a third-degree felony. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 46.04(a), (e). The trial court

subsequently granted Huff’s motion for new trial on the grounds of incompetency,

ineffective assistance of counsel, and in the interest of justice. The State appealed.

Finding that the record raised a bona fide doubt about Huff’s competency during
trial, we abated the appeal and remanded the case to the trial court to determine whether

it was feasible to conduct a “retrospective competency inquiry given the passage of time,

availability of evidence, and any other pertinent considerations.” The trial court

determined that it was feasible, and a retrospective competency evaluation was

completed. Based on the results of that evaluation, the trial court concluded that Huff was

competent to stand trial and that a formal retrospective competency trial was

unnecessary. We reinstated the appeal and invited the parties to file supplemental briefs.

The remaining issue before us is whether the trial court abused its discretion by

granting Huff a new trial in the interest of justice on his claims of ineffective assistance of

counsel. Although we agree that some of counsel’s complained-of conduct was

constitutionally deficient, we disagree that Huff made the necessary showing of prejudice.

Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s order and remand. 1

I. BACKGROUND

In September 2017, Huff, a convicted felon, displayed a firearm to a retired couple

at Lake Bryan, near Bryan, Texas. According to Huff, he was going to spend the night in

his car before going to a scheduled Veteran’s Administration (VA) appointment in Bryan

the next day. Huff was arrested later that evening.

In November 2017, Huff was indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm by a

felon. See id. Specifically, the State alleged that Huff’s conduct was illegal because he

1 This appeal was transferred to us from the Tenth Court of Appeals in Waco pursuant to a docket-

equalization order issued by the Supreme Court of Texas. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §§ 22.220(a)
(delineating the jurisdiction of appellate courts), 73.001 (granting the supreme court the authority to transfer
cases from one court of appeals to another at any time that there is “good cause” for the transfer). We are
bound by the precedent of the transferring court to the extent that it conflicts with our own. See TEX. R. APP.
P. 41.3.
2
possessed a firearm “at a location other than the premises at which [Huff] lived, to-wit: a

motor vehicle.” See id. § 46.04(a)(2). The State added two enhancement paragraphs,

alleging that Huff was a habitual felony offender. See id. § 12.42(d). In a separate cause

number, Huff was charged by information for the misdemeanor offense of disorderly

conduct—displaying a firearm in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm. See id.

§ 42.01(8). After the charging instruments were filed, the State filed a “motion suggesting

incompetency and request for examination,” alleging in both cause numbers that Huff

might be incompetent to stand trial. The trial court ordered Dr. Jennifer Rockett, a forensic

psychologist, to evaluate Huff’s competency to stand trial and to provide “[her] opinion on

[Huff’s] sanity at the time of the alleged offense.”

Dr. Rockett issued two reports. In her first report, issued June 6, 2018, Dr. Rockett

made the following observations and conclusions on Huff’s sanity:

Charge #1; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon:

Concerning the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon,
[Huff’s] reasoning for purchasing the weapon was based on his delusional
belief that he was being targeted by people associated with his previous
employers because he had filed a lawsuit against them. It is my professional
opinion, however, that he did not know that purchasing the weapon was
legally wrong, not due to his mental illness, but rather due to his possible
(mis)understanding of the law (which does not appear to be based in
delusion). The documents he provided for me to review appeared to have
led him to believe that it was lawful for him to possess a firearm. Thus, it is
my professional opinion that at the time of the offense of unlawful
possession of a firearm by a felon, [Huff] was sane. That is, his knowledge
of wrongfulness was impaired by a mistake of law (or an [in]accurate
reading of the law) rather than because of a mental disease or defect.

Charge #2; Disorderly Conduct by Display of a Firearm by a Felon:

At the time of the offense, [Huff] appears to have been experiencing non-
bizarre, persecutory delusions concerning efforts by his previous employers

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to watch, follow, and record his activities, to create problems for him
financially and with his living arrangements and stability, to place powder
substances and bugs in his car and home to cause him injury and illness,
and to run him off the road on two occasions. His motive for displaying his
firearm appears to have been driven by his persecutory delusions. It
appears that he felt he needed to protect himself from possible harm and
make it known to the people he believed were following him that he had
armed himself. Thus, it is my professional opinion that at the time of the
offense of disorderly conduct by the display of a firearm by a felon, [Huff]
was not sane[,] and his knowledge of wrongfulness was impaired by his
delusional disorder and associated persecutory beliefs.

In her second report, issued June 26, 2018, Dr. Rockett concluded that Huff was

competent to stand trial on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm but incompetent

to stand trial on the associated misdemeanor of disorderly conduct.

The parties disregarded the reports and agreed that Huff was incompetent to stand

trial on both charges. The trial court ordered Huff to be committed to Austin State Hospital

(ASH) for a period not to exceed 120 days for evaluation and to restore him to

competency, if necessary. While committed, Huff was treated by psychiatrist Dr. Andrea

Wright. In her report, Dr. Wright discussed Huff’s delusional disorder and his competency

to stand trial:

Despite his concerns with his current attorney, [Huff] reported that he did
feel he could work with an attorney. He was able to give a detailed account
of the events surrounding his arrest and reported that he had documents to
support his defense strategy. [Huff] stated that he felt ready to move forward
with his case.

The disparity between presentations is suspected to be due in part to
[Huff’s] access to the reports by Dr. Rockett and his current medical records
at ASH. I believe that [Huff] was likely minimizing his paranoia as he realized
the negative impact his adamant espousal of his persecutory beliefs had on
his last competency evaluation. Of note, [Huff] would not allow me to obtain
any collateral information from his mother, or any other source, which could
indicate an ongoing and persistent guardedness.

4
Ultimately, his current competency to stand trial determination must be
based on his current presentation in which he demonstrated an ability to
rationally participate in his defense. However, there is concern that [Huff’s]
ability to show flexible reasoning will not persist once his case moves
forward. Specifically, there is a possibility that [Huff] will once again
demonstrate a rigidity of thinking which will render him unable to rationally
assist in his defense. This is more likely to occur if his currently held belief
regarding his parole time out date is determined to be inaccurate.

Yet, at this time there is no evidence that a psychotic disorder, such as
delusional disorder, interfered with his ability to relate to me or assist in his
defense.

The unlawful possession case proceeded to jury trial on September 10, 2019. 2

Huff’s trial counsel informed the trial court that he believed Huff was competent to stand

trial, and Huff testified in his own defense. Huff’s counsel requested and received a jury

charge instruction on necessity. However, the jury rejected the affirmative defense and

found Huff guilty as charged. Huff elected for the trial court to assess punishment. The

trial court found the enhancement paragraphs to be true and assessed punishment at

twenty-five years’ imprisonment, the minimum allowable sentence. See id. § 12.42(d).

The following week, the original trial judge called a hearing sua sponte and made

the following statement:

After Edward Huff's jury trial, I was not comfortable with the outcome [the]
more I thought about it over the weekend. And I’m afraid an injustice was
done to Mr. Huff.

I think, after listening to his testimony, I truly believe that Mr. Huff was
suffering from some kind of paranoid delusion during the few minutes out
there at Lake Bryan. I believe that Mr. Huff believes that he’s not suffering
from a delusion, and I think he really believes his testimony. I believe that
he does believe his testimony; however, I do not believe he was under
attack or due to any lawsuits. All that is paranoia. It’s not fact. I don’t believe
he was lying. I think he really believes, as he sits there today probably

2 The record indicates that the misdemeanor charge against Huff remains pending.

5
believes, his story.

So I went back and read the reports of both ASH and Dr. Rockett. At
ASH they found that he actually does suffer from a paranoid delusion
related to these lawsuits he filed. That’s in the report. Dr. Rockett also found
that Mr. Huff suffers from a paranoid delusion believing he was under attack
at the time of his actions out there at Lake Bryan.

Interestingly, Dr. Rockett further found him to be insane, which is
something I had never heard before the trial. I knew that he had been found
competent . . . on one case, incompetent on the other. Never heard that she
found him to be insane when he pulled out the AR-15, which I believe to the
jury was a very influential fact motivating them to convict, this big scary-
looking rifle that was pulled out. And Dr. Rockett found he did not know right
from wrong when he pulled that weapon.

I’m also concerned that the jury never heard anything about his
paranoid delusion or any insanity out there.

So after evaluating the whole case in retrospect, I don’t have any
confidence in the outcome of this case or the rationale offered by Dr.
Rocket[t] when she finds him to be insane on the misdemeanor but not
insane on the felony when both alleged actions occurred during the same
few minutes at Lake Bryan.

I would like to see him examined by a more experienced forensic
mental expert. Maybe more than one.

I have appointed Mr. Thibodeaux to represent him in a motion for
new trial or appeal, whatever he thinks is proper.

And I’m saying these things now in open court to notify both sides
the way I feel about this thing. I think it [is] my obligation if I believe an
injustice is done to make it known. So I’m doing that now. I want these
concerns investigated and determined if they have any merit.

So that completes my purpose for holding this hearing. Thank all of
y’all for coming.

The State filed a motion to recuse the original trial judge, and he agreed to recuse himself

from the case. The Honorable Joseph Ann Ottis was assigned to the case.

In October 2019, Huff’s appellate counsel filed a motion for new trial arguing that

6
Huff was incompetent during the trial, that he received ineffective assistance of counsel,

and that either of these claims entitled him to a new trial in the interest of justice. In

November 2019, the trial court held a hearing on the motion for new trial.

Trial counsel testified that he prepared for trial by relying on Dr. Wright’s report,

which indicated Huff was competent to stand trial. 3 Counsel said that Huff showed no

signs of incompetency while he represented Huff. According to counsel, Huff was able to

discuss the facts of the case and explain his reasoning behind some of the issues in the

case without difficulty. Counsel described Huff as “[v]ery” intelligent. Counsel explained

that his trial strategy was to use the fact that Huff believed people were following him to

build a necessity defense. He did not pursue an insanity defense because he did not

believe Huff’s delusions reached a level of criminal insanity. He reached this conclusion

based on his “years of experience” representing clients with mental illness and “[b]ecause

[he] saw no indications of insanity that would meet the legal definition in this case.”

However, counsel admitted that he did not read either of Dr. Rockett’s reports,

including her first report that opined that Huff was criminally insane at the time of the

disorderly conduct offense. 4 Counsel also conceded that Huff’s belief that unidentified

individuals were “after him” was “not something that a normal person would have.” For

example, Huff told counsel before trial that he believed that someone working on behalf

of his former employers “was following him” and “trying to cause him harm” because Huff

3 Huff filed a motion asking us to take judicial notice of the fact that trial counsel passed away in

June 2020. We grant the motion and take judicial notice of counsel’s death.
4 Prior to the hearing, the State filed a Brady notice disclosing the same fact. Trial counsel
apparently met with the State after the motion for new trial was filed and disclosed to the prosecutor that
he had not read the Rockett reports.
7
had initiated litigation against the former employers.

Counsel additionally conceded that, despite knowing that Dr. Wright had

diagnosed Huff with delusional disorder, persecutory type, he never consulted the

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to learn about “the specific

DSM criteria for that specific mental illness,” even though this diagnostic tool was

available to him. As read into the record, the DSM states that, in terms of everyday

functionality, “the impairment is usually more circumscribed than that seen with other

psychotic disorders.” Lastly, counsel acknowledged that he never discussed the

possibility of raising an insanity defense with Huff, and consequently, he never requested

an insanity evaluation or hired a psychiatrist to evaluate Huff’s mental condition at the

time of the offense.

David Barron testified that he was appointed to represent Huff in September 2017. 5

However, he withdrew in November 2018, and he was replaced by trial counsel.

According to Barron, he suggested to Huff that they present an insanity defense, but Huff

rejected the idea. The “major reason” Barron withdrew was Huff’s refusal to present an

insanity defense. Barron opined that insanity was the only viable defense available to

Huff.

Dr. John Fabian, a psychologist hired by Huff, stated in a supporting affidavit that

an insanity defense “may have been viable.” He testified more assertively during the

hearing, opining that an insanity defense “[c]ertainly” would have been “viable.” He

clarified, though, that his opinion was based on his review of the trial transcript and the

5 The State has notified us in a brief that Barron passed away in July 2021. On our own motion,

we take judicial notice of his death.
8
Rockett and ASH reports and that he had not been retained to perform a sanity evaluation

on Huff. He further opined that some of Huff’s responses at trial, when viewed in

conjunction with the ASH and Rockett reports, should have triggered a competency

inquiry.

Huff’s mother, Shirley Huff, testified that Huff stayed with her in Florida for

approximately a month in the summer of 2017. It was during this Florida trip that Huff

purchased the firearm at issue. Shirley had not seen her son in ten years. She said that,

although it was not apparent at first, Huff began displaying odd behavior and was “not the

same” person anymore. For example, she said that Huff “was always looking over his

back because he said they were following him,” but he believed he was safe “at his mom’s

house” because “they couldn’t come in [her] yard.” It is undisputed that, despite having

her contact information, trial counsel did not attempt to contact Shirley as part of his

investigation.

Finally, although present at the hearing, Huff did not testify. In a supporting affidavit

attached to his motion for new trial, Huff stated that his meetings with trial counsel before

and during trial were limited and that counsel never discussed an insanity defense with

him during any of those meetings. Huff does not state in his affidavit that, had counsel

suggested such a defense, he would have agreed to the strategy. Huff attempted to

introduce the affidavit into evidence during the hearing, but the trial court sustained the

State’s hearsay objection, and Huff does not challenge that ruling on appeal.

The trial court ultimately granted the motion for new trial on the grounds of

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incompetence, ineffective assistance of counsel, and in the interest of justice. 6 This

appeal followed. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 44.01(a)(3) (permitting the State

to appeal an interlocutory order granting a new trial).

As noted, we previously abated the appeal and remanded the case to the trial court

to determine the feasibility of a retrospective competency evaluation. See Turner v. State,

422 S.W.3d 676, 696 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); Bautista v. State, 605 S.W.3d 520, 530

(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2020, no pet.). Finding it feasible, the trial appointed

psychologist Dr. Antoinette McGarrahan to conduct the evaluation.

Dr. McGarrahan reviewed the entire appellate record and conducted a current

mental status examination of Huff. Dr. McGarrahan ultimately concluded that although

Huff “may have suffered from mental illness (namely[,] a delusional disorder) at the time

of his trial,” he “was competent to stand trial” because the record reflected that “Huff did

have sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of

rational understanding” and that “Huff did have a factual and rational understanding of the

proceedings against him.” Dr. McGarrahan found Huff’s testimony during both phases of

trial to be “the most compelling basis” for her opinion, noting that Huff “testified relevantly,

rationally, and coherently without interference of mental health symptoms.” Regarding

Huff’s capacity to engage in a reasoned choice of legal strategies, Dr. McGarrahan stated:

The mere fact that he would not entertain an insanity defense or take a plea
offer is not inherently irrational or reflective of incompetency. Nor is the fact

6 Huff’s motion also contained constitutional challenges to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 21,

which establishes a 30-day deadline for filing a motion for new trial. See TEX. R. APP. P. 21.4(a). The gist
of his argument was that the short deadline creates a procedural hurdle to filing an adequate ineffective
assistance claim, thereby forcing defendants to raise the claim in a subsequent habeas proceeding, even
though they are not entitled to appointed counsel in such proceedings. In its order granting the motion, the
trial court expressly found those grounds moot, and they are not at issue in this appeal.
10
that Mr. Huff requested that he be appointed new counsel. Mr. Huff
explained his reasoning behind these decisions, which reflected logical
reasoning and consideration of what the long-term ramifications would be
on his life if found insane or having pleaded guilty to another felony.
Simultaneously, he knew the risk of taking his case to trial. He understood
that there were no ideal options in his situation. His decisions with respect
to strategy were thought[-]out and in sync with his trial attorney’s affirmative
defense approach according to information put on the record during the trial.

Based on the results of Dr. McGarrahan’s evaluation, the trial court determined

that Huff was competent at the time of trial and that a formal retrospective competency

trial was unnecessary. We reinstated the appeal and invited the parties to file

supplemental briefs in view of the proceedings below. Both parties filed supplemental

briefs focused solely on the ineffective assistance claims. Huff concedes that the

competency ground is no longer viable and asks us to affirm on the ineffective assistance

grounds.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW & APPLICABLE LAW

A trial court’s decision to grant a new trial is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.

State v. Thomas, 428 S.W.3d 99, 103 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). Generally, a trial court

abuses its discretion when it acts without reference to any guiding rules or principles. Id.

In conducting our analysis, we “view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial

court’s ruling, defer to the court’s credibility determinations, and presume that all

reasonable fact findings in support of the ruling have been made.” Id. at 104. “The mere

fact that a trial court may decide a matter differently from an appellate court does not

demonstrate an abuse of discretion.” Id. at 103–04.

Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 21.3 provides a non-exhaustive list of grounds

that require a new trial. See TEX. R. APP. P. 21.3; State v. Herndon, 215 S.W.3d 901, 909

11
(Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (explaining that the “list is illustrative, not exclusive”). A trial court

may also grant a new trial “in the interest of justice,” as occurred here. See Herndon, 215

S.W.3d at 906 (reaffirming “in the interest of justice” as an independent ground for

granting a new trial and tracing its origin to an 1873 opinion). “[B]ut ‘justice’ means in

accordance with the law.” Id. at 907. A trial court “cannot grant a new trial on mere

sympathy, an inarticulate hunch, or simply because he personally believes that the

defendant is innocent or ‘received a raw deal.’” Id. “To grant a new trial for a non-legal or

legally invalid reason is an abuse of discretion.” Id.

Conversely, “a trial court has wide discretion in ruling on a motion for new trial

which sets out a valid legal claim.” Id. at 908. We will not disturb a trial court’s decision to

grant a new trial in the interest of justice if the defendant: “(1) articulated a valid legal

claim in his motion for new trial; (2) produced evidence or pointed to evidence in the trial

record that substantiated his legal claim; and (3) showed prejudice to his substantial rights

under the standards in Rule 44.2 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.” Id. at 909.

“The defendant need not establish reversible error as a matter of law before the trial court

may exercise its discretion in granting a motion for new trial.” Id. Instead, granting a new

trial is within the trial court’s discretion if “the defendant demonstrates that his first trial

was seriously flawed and that the flaws adversely affected his substantial rights to a fair

trial.” Id.

Ineffective assistance of counsel is a valid legal claim that may support a motion

for new trial in the interest of justice. Thomas, 428 S.W.3d at 107. The right to reasonably

effective assistance of counsel is enshrined in both the United States Constitution and

12
the Texas Constitution. See U.S. CONST. amend. VI; TEX. CONST. art. I, § 10; see also

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.051. To establish an ineffective assistance claim, the

defendant must first demonstrate, “by a preponderance of the evidence, that trial

counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under the

prevailing professional norms.” Lopez v. State, 343 S.W.3d 137, 142 (Tex. Crim. App.

2011). Because there “are countless ways to provide effective assistance in any given

case,” a reviewing court must be highly deferential and “indulge a strong presumption that

counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that

is, the defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the

challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy.” Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. 668, 689 (1984) (quotation marks and citation omitted). To overcome this

presumption, “[a]ny allegation of ineffectiveness must be firmly founded in the record, and

the record must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness.” Thompson v.

State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).

The defendant must also demonstrate that he was prejudiced by his counsel’s

deficient performance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693. This second prong of the analysis is

satisfied by showing a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors,

the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. at 694. “A reasonable

probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. In

conducting our analysis, we consider the totality of the evidence before the factfinder. Id.

at 695. Notably, this is a more difficult burden to meet than the harm analysis under Texas

Rule of Appellate Procedure 44.2. Ex parte Martinez, 330 S.W.3d 891, 903 (Tex. Crim.

13
App. 2011); see TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(a) (“If the appellate record in a criminal case reveals

constitutional error that is subject to harmless error review, the court of appeals must

reverse a judgment of conviction or punishment unless the court determines beyond a

reasonable doubt that the error did not contribute to the conviction or punishment.”).

Therefore, when a trial court grants a new trial “in the interest of justice,” and the legal

claim underpinning that decision is ineffective assistance of counsel, we review prejudice

under Strickland, not Rule 44.2(a).

III. ANALYSIS

Of the grounds on which the trial court granted the motion for new trial, only two

remain, and they are actually one and the same—in the interest of justice based on

ineffective assistance of counsel. See Thomas, 428 S.W.3d at 107. Huff claimed that his

counsel was ineffective for two reasons: (1) counsel failed to conduct a proper

investigation into raising an insanity defense; and (2) counsel elicited testimony from Huff

about his paranoid delusions that undercut Huff’s necessity defense. As to the first

ground, although we agree with the trial court that counsel’s failure to thoroughly

investigate Huff’s mental health history was constitutionally deficient, we disagree that

Huff made a sufficient showing of prejudice. Similarly, even if we assume that counsel’s

questions during trial were misguided and below an objective standard of

reasonableness, Huff has not demonstrated that, but for counsel’s questions, the

outcome of his trial would have been different.

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A. Failure to Investigate Insanity Defense

1. Duty to Investigate

Trial “counsel has a duty to make reasonable investigations or to make a

reasonable decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary. In any

ineffectiveness case, a particular decision not to investigate must be directly assessed

for reasonableness in all the circumstances, applying a heavy measure of deference to

counsel’s judgments.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691. When counsel is aware of information

that would lead a reasonable attorney to investigate the possibility of raising an insanity

defense, counsel’s failure to conduct such an investigation renders their representation

ineffective. Ex parte Imoudu, 284 S.W.3d 866, 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). This

investigation may include gathering available mental health records and seeking a

professional assessment of the client. Id. at 869–70.

Trial counsel testified that his decision not to investigate an insanity defense was

based on his lay opinion that Huff was not criminally insane at the time of the incident. In

reaching this conclusion, counsel relied on his interactions with Huff and his prior

experience representing other clients with mental illnesses. Therefore, we look to whether

his decision not to investigate an insanity defense was reasonable under the

circumstances. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691.

We conclude that counsel’s decision not to explore the possibility of an insanity

defense was unreasonable for several reasons. First, his decision was uninformed. Both

the United States Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals have looked

to the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Standards when evaluating whether

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trial counsel’s lack of investigation was reasonable under the circumstances. See, e.g.,

Rompilla v. Beard, 545 U.S. 374, 387 (2005); Ex parte LaHood, 401 S.W.3d 45, 50 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2013). Those standards state that defense counsel has “a duty to be well-

informed regarding the legal options and developments that can affect a client’s interests

during a criminal representation.” ABA Criminal Justice Standards for the Defense

Function, Continuing Duties of Defense Counsel 4–1.3(e) (4th ed. 2017). They also

provide that “investigative efforts should commence promptly and should explore

appropriate avenues that reasonably might lead to information relevant to the merits of

the matter.” Id. Duty to Investigate and Engage Investigators 4–4.1(c). This includes

“efforts to secure relevant information in the possession of the prosecution, law

enforcement authorities, and others.” Id.

Here, counsel admitted that he was “unaware” that Dr. Rockett had conducted a

sanity evaluation because he was “under the mistaken impression that her examination

was [only] on competency.” Counsel claimed that “the only thing [he] had been advised

of was the competency/incompetency evaluation.” And he implied through his testimony

that since Huff had been restored to competency at ASH, he did not deem it necessary

to seek out the earlier competency evaluation, acknowledging that he “never actually

read” it. Of course, Huff’s competency to stand trial and his sanity at the time of the

offense are distinct legal issues, and just because Huff was eventually competent to stand

trial does not necessarily mean that he was sane at the time of the offense. See Pham v.

State, 463 S.W.3d 660, 669 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2015, pet. ref’d) (explaining that,

although the “two issues share some similar considerations, they remain two distinct legal

16
concepts with distinctive definitions, procedures, and consequences”). In any event, the

trial court’s April 25, 2018 “Order for Examination Regarding Incompetency” expressly

required Dr. Rockett to conduct both a competency evaluation and to “state [her] opinion

on [Huff’s] sanity at the time of the alleged offense.” We conclude that it was unreasonable

for counsel to rely exclusively on his lay opinion about Huff’s sanity when it was apparent

from the face of the clerk’s record that an insanity evaluation had already occurred. At a

minimum, counsel had a duty to obtain and read the report before deciding not to

investigate a possible insanity defense. See Rompilla, 545 U.S. at 383 (counsel’s failure

to review a relevant file that was readily available constituted an unreasonable

investigation); Ex parte Imoudu, 284 S.W.3d at 870 (counsel’s failure to request available

jail records that would have shown applicant was suffering from mental health problems

constituted an unreasonable investigation).

Relatedly, counsel acknowledged that, although he was aware that Dr. Wright had

diagnosed Huff with delusional disorder, persecutory type, he never consulted the DSM

to educate himself about “the specific DSM criteria for [Huff’s] specific mental illness.”

These criteria, which were read into the record at the motion for new trial hearing, include

a delusion that “involves the individual’s belief of being conspired against, cheated, spied

on, followed, poisoned, maliciously maligned, or harassed or obstructed in the pursuit of

long-term goals.” Counsel admitted that the DSM was available to him and that Huff

displayed many of these criteria during their interactions, a fact we discuss in more detail

below. And had counsel consulted the DSM, he would have also known that, in terms of

everyday functionality, Huff’s “impairment is usually more circumscribed than that seen

17
with other psychotic disorders,” a fact that would have informed counsel’s impression of

Huff’s mental disorder. Without an informed understanding of Huff’s mental disease,

whether from the DSM or some other available source, it is difficult to see how counsel

could have made a reasoned decision not to investigate an insanity defense.

Next, counsel’s decision not to investigate an insanity defense is inconsistent with

what he knew about Huff’s mental health history. See Bouchillon v. Collins, 907 F.2d 589,

597 (5th Cir.1990) (“It must be a very rare circumstance indeed where a decision not to

investigate [an insanity defense] would be ‘reasonable’ after counsel has notice of the

client’s history of mental health problems.”). Beyond his knowledge that Huff had been

diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder that put his competency to stand trial at issue,

counsel knew from Dr. Wright’s report that she had recommended antipsychotic

medication but that “Huff refused the medication” because he did not believe that he

suffered from mental illness. Dr. Wright also expressed her “concern” that Huff was “likely

minimizing” his symptoms because “he realized the negative impact his adamant

espousal of his persecutory beliefs had on his last competency evaluation” and that Huff’s

“ability to show flexible reasoning will not persist once his case moves forward.” Dr. Wright

likewise noted a “disparity between presentations” in her evaluation and Dr. Rockett’s

evaluation, yet counsel acknowledged that he “never actually read” either of Dr. Rockett’s

reports.

Finally, based on his own interactions with Huff, counsel conceded that Huff’s

belief that unidentified individuals were “after him” was “not something that a normal

person would have.” Prior to trial, Huff explained to counsel his belief that someone

18
working on behalf of his former employers “was following him” and “trying to cause him

harm” because Huff had initiated litigation against the former employers. Huff provided

counsel with specific examples of these incidents, including Huff’s belief that someone

tried to “poison” him through air conditioning vents in his home, vehicle, and later a motel

room. See Ex parte Imoudu, 284 S.W.3d at 870 (concluding that, among other evidence,

counsel’s observation of applicant’s “odd” and “bizarre behavior” should have “indicate[d]

that [a]pplicant may have been insane at the time of the offense—at least enough to look

into it”). Counsel also knew that these delusions motivated Huff to purchase the firearm

while he was visiting his mother. It is noteworthy that, despite knowing the foregoing

information, counsel did not attempt to contact Huff’s mother to ask her about Huff’s state

of mind when he purchased the firearm. Based on her testimony, she would have

confirmed that Huff was expressing paranoid delusions at the time of the purchase. See

Ex parte LaHood, 401 S.W.3d at 51 (citing counsel’s failure to contact family members

about a client’s mental health history as evidence of an inadequate investigation).

After reviewing the quantum of evidence known to counsel before trial, as well as

the information that should have been known to counsel, we conclude that counsel’s

failure to investigate an insanity defense was unreasonable under the circumstances. See

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691.

2. No Prejudice

To prevail on his ineffective assistance claim, Huff must also demonstrate that he

was prejudiced by his counsel’s deficient performance. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693.

We conclude that Huff failed to prove prejudice for two reasons.

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First, there is no evidence in the record that, had counsel investigated and

recommended an insanity defense, Huff would have followed counsel’s advice. In Ex

parte Imoudu, a case cited by Huff, the applicant made the following claims in an affidavit:

The lawyers did not discuss an insanity defense with me. Had they hired a
psychiatrist to evaluate me, the psychiatrist concluded that I was insane at
the time of the offense, and the lawyers explained the insanity defense to
me, I would have rejected the plea bargain, pled not guilty by reason of
insanity, and gone to trial.

284 S.W.3d at 870. There is no such evidence in this record. On the contrary, the

evidence in the record indicates that Huff was aware of the possibility of raising an insanity

defense but was firmly opposed to the idea. According to Dr. Wright’s report, Huff had

read Dr. Rockett’s first report and was aware of Dr. Rockett’s opinion that he was

criminally insane at the time of the disorderly conduct offense. After Huff’s competency

had been restored at ASH, Barron advised Huff to raise an insanity defense in his felony

case, and it was the fallout from their disagreement over pursuing this defense that led

Barron to withdraw as Huff’s counsel. Thus, unlike the defendant in Ex parte Imoudu, Huff

had already considered and rejected an insanity defense. See id.

Further, there is no affirmative evidence in the record that, had counsel also

advised Huff to raise an insanity defense, Huff would have reconsidered and “pled not

guilty by reason of insanity.” See id. Huff did not testify at the evidentiary hearing, and

although he attempted to admit his supporting affidavit, the trial court sustained the

State’s hearsay objection, and Huff has not challenged that ruling on appeal.

Consequently, his affidavit is not part of the evidentiary record. See Scaggs v. State, 18

S.W.3d 277, 281 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000, pet. ref’d) (“Motions for new trial and affidavits

20
and controverting affidavits are mere pleadings unless offered and admitted in

evidence.”); see also Sanchez v. State, No. 03-19-00437-CR, 2021 WL 2672038, at *2

(Tex. App.—Austin June 30, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication)

(same).

Even if we could consider it, Huff’s affidavit falls short of the affidavit that supported

a finding of prejudice in Ex parte Imoudu. Although Huff stated in his affidavit that he and

trial counsel never discussed an insanity defense, unlike the applicant in Ex parte Imoudu,

Huff never affirmatively stated that he would have gone forward with an insanity defense

if counsel had advised him to. See Ex parte Imoudu, 284 S.W.3d at 870. Any implied

finding that Huff would have reconsidered his position had counsel also recommended

an insanity defense is mere speculation. Simply put, there is no reasonable possibility

that the outcome of the trial would have been different without an affirmative showing that

Huff would have agreed to an insanity defense in the first instance. See Strickland, 466

U.S. at 694; Ex parte Imoudu, 284 S.W.3d at 870.

When this case was first argued to us, Huff suggested that his incompetency

prevented him from engaging in a reasoned choice of legal strategies. If true, this could

have possibly excused his previous rejection of the insanity defense. However, given the

outcome of the retrospective competency evaluation, Huff now concedes that he is not

entitled to a new trial based on incompetence. Thus, the State’s issues regarding

competency are moot. See Turner v. State, 570 S.W.3d 250, 263 (Tex. Crim. 2018)

(“Given the jury’s verdict that Appellant was competent to stand trial, the points of error

related to competency in his original brief are now moot.”). And we accept as true Dr.

21
McGarrahan’s conclusion that Huff previously rejected the insanity defense based on a

rational concern about the collateral consequences of potentially being found criminally

insane.

Second, the record does not establish that “the insanity defense would have been

validly raised and likely to succeed at trial.” Ex parte Imoudu, 284 S.W.3d at 870; see Hill

v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 60 (1985) (explaining that “where the alleged error of counsel

is a failure to advise the defendant of a potential affirmative defense to the crime charged,

the resolution of the ‘prejudice’ inquiry will depend largely on whether the affirmative

defense likely would have succeeded at trial”). The insanity defense in Texas is narrow.

See Ruffin v. State, 270 S.W.3d 586, 593 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (explaining that, unlike

some other jurisdictions, Texas does not have a “diminished responsibility” or “diminished

capacity” defense). Even if there is a significant causal link between a person’s mental

disease and their commission of an offense, so long as the person appreciated that their

conduct was wrong or illegal at the time of the offense, they are not entitled to an insanity

instruction. Id. at 592; see Kelly v. State, 195 S.W.3d 753, 757 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006,

pet. ref’d) (“Evidence of mental disease or defect does not, standing alone, equate to

evidence of insanity.”). Stated differently, a person who appreciates right from wrong

while committing a criminal offense but feels morally justified in their actions because of

a mental disease is not entitled to an insanity defense. Ruffin, 270 S.W.3d at 592.

Here, the evidence was sufficient to establish that Huff’s paranoid delusions

motivated him to purchase the gun. He irrationally believed that someone was out to get

him, and he therefore needed a gun to protect himself. But that is not the test to determine

22
whether Huff was criminally insane at the time of the offense. Instead, we must look for

evidence in the record that, due to his “severe mental disease or defect, [Huff] did not

know that his conduct was wrong.” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 8.01(a); see Ruffin, 270

S.W.3d at 592. We have found none.

In Ex parte Imoudu, the habeas applicant hired a psychiatrist who opined by

affidavit that the applicant “was suffering from untreated schizophrenia, was unable to

discern right from wrong, and was insane at the time of the offense.” 284 S.W.3d at 871.

This record lacks similar affirmative evidence of insanity. Huff’s retained expert, Dr.

Fabian, expressly testified that he had not evaluated Huff’s sanity at the time of the

offense, saying only that, from his review of the record, he believed it was a “viable”

defense. In explaining his conclusion, Dr. Fabian said that the record reflected that Huff’s

decision to purchase the firearm was “fueled by irrational persecutory delusions.” But

Huff’s irrational justification for purchasing the firearm is not probative as to whether Huff

was criminally insane at the time of the offense. See Ruffin, 270 S.W.3d at 592.

Conversely, Dr. Fabian also acknowledged that there is affirmative evidence in the record

that Huff “had knowledge of wrongfulness or some legal consequence of purchasing a

gun in the first place.” Indeed, Huff testified during the guilt-innocence phase that he knew

it was illegal for him to possess a firearm for five years after his release from prison and

that he purchased the firearm because “it was beyond the five-year anniversary of [his]

parole.” He also testified during the punishment phase that he mistakenly believed he

could lawfully possess a firearm, regardless of whether it was on his premises or

elsewhere, because his right to vote had been restored in Texas. In other words, just as

23
Dr. Rockett had originally concluded, the record before us indicates that Huff’s unlawful

possession of a firearm was rooted in a mistake of law, not his inability to appreciate right

from wrong.

Unlike the retained expert in Ex parte Imoudu, Dr. Fabian never affirmatively stated

that Huff’s mental disease prevented him from appreciating that it was illegal for him to

possess a firearm outside the premises where he lived. See 284 S.W.3d at 871; TEX.

PENAL CODE ANN. § 46.04(a)(2); Conrad v. State, 77 S.W.3d 424, 426 (Tex. App.—Fort

Worth 2002, pet. ref’d) (finding failure to investigate deficient but concluding appellant

failed to show prejudice because “there was no evidence offered at the hearing on the

motion for new trial that any physician or social worker would have testified that

[defendant] was legally insane at the time of the offense”). Based on this record, Huff

would not have been entitled to an insanity instruction. The most Huff could have hoped

for by raising such a defense was jury nullification. While certainly possible, such an

outcome is too speculative to sustain an ineffective assistance claim. See Strickland, 466

U.S. at 695 (“The assessment of prejudice should proceed on the assumption that the

decisionmaker is reasonably, conscientiously, and impartially applying the standards that

govern the decision.”); Miller v. State, 548 S.W.3d 497, 513 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018)

(Alcala, Judge, dissenting) (explaining that “actual prejudice is considered under an

objective standard rather than being based on speculation about the possibility of jury

nullification or some other extreme event”). We conclude that there is no evidence that

“the insanity defense would have been validly raised and likely to succeed at trial.” Ex

parte Imoudu, 284 S.W.3d at 870. Therefore, even under our deferential standard of

24
review, the trial court abused its discretion by impliedly finding that Huff met the second

Strickland prong on his failure-to-investigate claim.

B. Counsel’s Questions Did Not Sabotage Huff’s Necessity Defense

Huff also claimed his counsel was ineffective by asking him about his paranoid

delusions at the end of the guilt-innocence phase of trial. Counsel’s trial strategy was to

raise a necessity defense, which required Huff to admit to the illegal conduct, see Juarez

v. State, 308 S.W.3d 398, 406 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010), and required some evidence in

the record demonstrating, among other things, that Huff reasonably believed his conduct

was immediately necessary to avoid imminent harm. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.

§ 9.22(1); Maciel v. State, 631 S.W.3d 720, 723 (Tex. Crim. App. 2021) (“A defense is

supported (or raised) by the evidence if there is some evidence, from any source, on each

element of the defense that, if believed by the jury, would support a rational inference that

that element is true.”). “‘Reasonable belief’ means a belief that would be held by an

ordinary and prudent man in the same circumstances as the actor.” TEX. PENAL CODE

ANN. § 1.07(a)(42).

Huff claims that, by asking him during redirect whether he was suffering from

paranoid delusions at the time of the offense, counsel undermined the reasonableness of

his belief that his conduct was immediately necessary to avoid imminent harm. Although

Huff received a necessity instruction, he claims that he was harmed because the jury was

originally deadlocked by a vote of 9–3 but eventually returned a guilty verdict after

receiving an Allen charge. The record reflects that two of the jurors were crying when the

verdict was delivered. Huff suggests that, without the improper questions hamstringing

25
his necessity defense, the trial would have likely resulted in a hung jury. We conclude

that, even if counsel’s questions were inappropriate, Huff has failed to show prejudice

because the State had already vigorously cross-examined Huff on the same subject

matter. As such, any effect counsel’s additional questions may have had on the jury’s

verdict was de minimis.

Huff testified in his own defense and laid out his reasoning for purchasing the

firearm. Huff described a series of events that occurred after he sued his former

employers and that caused him to fear for his safety. These included “particles” coming

from air conditioning vents in his apartment, in his car, and later in his motel room that

caused unexplained and persistent skin irritation; someone breaking into his motel room;

vehicles following him; two men following him around a CVS, which he reported to police;

and someone breaking into another motel room where Huff was staying and going

through his things, which Huff also reported to police. At this point, Huff decided to leave

the area and go to his mother’s home in Florida. On the way there, he had a blowout even

though he had just purchased a new set of tires. According to Huff, police officers who

responded to the scene told him that someone had tampered with his tire. Finally, Huff

described an incident where someone ran him off the road while he was in Florida. Based

on these events, Huff believed that he needed a firearm to protect himself and purchased

one at a gun show in Florida.

Huff returned to Texas to go to a scheduled VA appointment and was living in his

vehicle at the time. He described the events that caused him to brandish the weapon at

Lake Bryan. It began when a vehicle honked at him at a four-way stop and then followed

26
him into the park. Once inside the park, Huff lost sight of the vehicle, but then it

reappeared while Huff was standing outside of his vehicle admiring the lake. As the

vehicle approached him, Huff thought it was traveling at an unusually slow speed.

Concerned for his safety, Huff grabbed the firearm from his vehicle and stood with it by

his side as the vehicle passed him by. He claimed he never pointed the weapon and that

it was unloaded.

Predictably, the State extensively cross-examined Huff about the reasonableness

of his belief that (as the State put it) someone was “out to get him.” See Mays v. State,

318 S.W.3d 368, 383 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (“Mental disease is not an attribute of the

reasonable, ordinary and prudent person. Thus, although the general rule is that the jury

must determine the relative credibility of the evidence raising a ‘reasonable belief’ about

a fact, reliance upon paranoid beliefs and delusions negates the type of reasonableness

that an ordinary and prudent person would have under the circumstances.”). At one point,

the State pointedly asked Huff whether he appreciated the fact that he could be perceived

as “paranoid.” This theme of Huff’s “paranoia” was persistent throughout the cross-

examination.

Before redirect began, counsel initiated a bench conference to discuss whether

the State had “opened the door” to an insanity defense by “talking about paranoia or

mental illness.” 7 Counsel explained that he wanted to ask Huff whether he believed that

his actions were right, even though they may have been wrong under Texas law, and

potentially ask for an insanity instruction. The State objected on the basis that Huff failed

7 The trial court had previously granted the State’s motion in limine, which included any mention of

Huff’s mental disease.
27
to provide notice of the defense. The trial court overruled the objection, and counsel asked

Huff the following questions:

[Counsel]: Now, the prosecutor has brought up things saying, basically,
that he thinks that your thought processes . . . show that you
were paranoid on that day. So let me ask you, did you believe
beyond anything that your actions on that day were right?
Whether they were legally right or not, do you believe that
what you did was right in possessing a firearm to protect
yourself?

[Huff]: Yes, sir.

[Counsel]: Even if that was due to a level of paranoia that is not normal?

[Huff]: Can you explain? Can you define “paranoia”? Can you explain
“not normal”?

[Counsel]: I’m just asking you. He brought up things that your actions in
believing that somebody is out to get you indicates paranoia,
didn’t he?

[Huff]: That’s what he stated, yes, sir.

....

[Counsel]: If the question were to be submitted concerning whether or
not you suffer from a mental disease or defect that made it to
where you believed you couldn’t tell the difference between
right or wrong, you believed you were right even though under
Texas law you were wrong, would that be an accurate
statement?

[Huff]: At the time I believed I was within the law.

Both parties rested, and counsel conceded during the charge conference that Huff

was not entitled to an insanity instruction based on the evidence in the record: “I don’t

think I was able to meet the requirement, Judge.” The trial court agreed. The State argued

that Huff was also not entitled to a necessity instruction because there was no evidence

28
of imminent harm. The State did not argue under Mays that Huff’s paranoid delusions

precluded a necessity instruction. See 318 S.W.3d at 383. Labeling it a “close” call, the

trial court allowed it, and the jury was instructed on necessity. During closing arguments,

the State emphasized, as it had during cross-examination, that Huff “was not justified in

having that firearm because of this paranoid belief that everyone’s out to get him.”

In arguing that counsel “sabotaged” his necessity defense by asking the above

questions, Huff fails to acknowledge that the State had already made the same point

repeatedly during his cross-examination. In truth, the die was cast when counsel and Huff

decided to raise a necessity defense based on Huff’s paranoid delusions. If anything,

counsel’s belated attempt to pivot to an insanity defense only reinforces our conclusion

that his failure to investigate insanity pretrial was unreasonable. But Huff has not shown,

but for counsel’s allegedly improper questions, there is a reasonable probability that the

result of the trial would have been different. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. We sustain

the State’s remaining issue.

IV. CONCLUSION

We reverse the trial court’s order granting a new trial and remand for further

proceedings consistent with this memorandum opinion.

JENNY CRON
Justice

Do not publish.
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

Delivered and filed on the
23rd day of October, 2025.

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