Did those who knew the person best during the developmental stage--his family, friends, teachers, employers, authorities--think he was mentally retarded at that time, and, if so, act in accordance with that determination?

Has the person formulated plans and carried them through or is his conduct impulsive?

Does his conduct show leadership or does it show that he is led around by others?

Is his conduct in response to external stimuli rational and appropriate, regardless of whether it is socially acceptable?

Does he respond coherently, rationally, and on point to oral or written questions or do his responses wander from subject to subject?

Can the person hide facts or lie effectively in his own or others' interests?

Putting aside any heinousness or gruesomeness surrounding the capital offense, did the commission of that offense require forethought, planning, and complex execution of purpose?

Id. at 8-9. Although a jury determined the issue of mental retardation in this case, it is important to note at the outset that a jury determination of mental retardation is not required. See Schriro v. Smith, 546 U.S. 6, 7 (2005) (holding that the Ninth Circuit erred in requiring Arizona courts to conduct a jury trial to resolve mental-retardation claim); see also Briseno, 135 S.W.3d at 9 (holding that Atkins does not require a jury determination of mental retardation in a post-conviction proceeding). With this overview, we now turn to appellant's point of error.

Appellant claims the evidence is factually insufficient to support the jury's determination that he is not mentally retarded, and he argues that the jury's verdict was so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust. The question of whether appellant was mentally retarded was submitted to the jury as "Special Issue No. 1" in the punishment charge: "Do you find by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant, Calvin Letroy Hunter, is a person with mental retardation?" The jury unanimously answered this special issue in the negative.

This Court held in Briseno that the mental-retardation issue is like the affirmative defenses of insanity, incompetency to stand trial, and incompetency to be executed. 135 S.W.3d at 12. Thus, in a habeas action, a defendant has the burden to prove mental retardation by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. Similarly, we held that when the issue is presented at trial, a defendant bears the burden of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, to establish that he is mentally retarded. Gallo v. State, 2007 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1234 at *26 (Tex. Crim. App. Sept. 26, 2007). In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence to support a jury's determination that a defendant is not mentally retarded, we must consider all of the evidence relevant to the issue and evaluate whether "the judgment is so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence so as to be manifestly unjust." See Meraz v. State, 785 S.W.2d 146, 155 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (conducting a factual-sufficiency review of affirmative defense of insanity); see also Bigby v. State, 892 S.W.2d 864, 875 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994) (also conducting factual- sufficiency review of insanity affirmative defense), and Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 437 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006)(Cochran, J., concurring)(stating we should continue to follow the Meraz/Bigby standard of review when the proponent bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence).

The defense presented expert witness Dr. Richard Garnett, a psychologist in private practice with thirty-five years of experience in the field of mental retardation. While Garnett did not administer any IQ or adaptive behavior tests to appellant, he personally interviewed appellant for two hours on May 21, 2004. Garnett testified that appellant verbally "communicated very well" but that appellant demonstrated "no understanding beyond [a] conversational hook." In addition to interviewing appellant and several members of his family, Garnett reviewed appellant's available school records, criminal justice records, job history records, reports from prior testing of the appellant, and the results of testing conducted by the State's expert.

Garnett testified that when appellant was eight years old and in the third grade, a school psychologist administered intellectual and adaptive behavior tests to appellant. Appellant achieved a verbal IQ score of 65, a performance IQ score of 68, and a full-scale IQ score of 64 on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Appellant was identified by the school district as "educable mentally handicapped" and placed in the special-education program. Appellant progressed slowly academically, displayed behavior problems, and was expelled from elementary school for fighting. Madonna Mahew, appellant's aunt, lived with appellant when he was seven through eleven years old and helped him extensively with his schoolwork. Mahew testified that appellant was "slow to pick things up" and was nearly held back in the fifth grade. Appellant continued with special-education classes through high school. He was required to repeat the tenth grade and graduated with a "special diploma" after completing the eleventh grade. Apart from the testing conducted when he was in third grade, appellant's school records do not include any reports of any regular or repeated psychological testing.

Lulu Thorpe, who taught appellant special-education language arts at Paxon Senior High School in Jacksonville, Florida, testified that appellant was a "low functioning" but "model student" who was willing "to do something about his deficiency." Thorpe remembered that appellant was outgoing and participated in extra-curricular activities. According to Thorpe, appellant could communicate well and spoke up for his rights. Linda Kittles taught appellant special-education world-history classes during high school. Kittles testified that appellant did not focus on academics, that his ranking in the class was "average to below average," and that in her opinion, appellant was properly placed in special-education. According to Kittles, appellant had a bit of a temper and was easily distracted but could be reasoned with. Kittles recalled that appellant was clean-cut and attractive, took pride in his appearance, was very active in the band, and was considered one of the "cool kids" in the school. Kittles testified that appellant could make good conversation until there was something he did not know about, and then he would stop talking. It was not until appellant was in the classroom that his mental disability became apparent.

Appellant testified that following high school, he attended Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Florida, where he took some basic classes in math, English, and social science. Appellant's mother testified that appellant lived in an apartment with a roommate within walking distance of campus. Through an agreement between the community college and Florida A&M University, appellant played the drums and marched with Florida A&M's highly regarded marching band and took a music class at A&M. According to testimony from several witnesses, performing with the marching band required determination, talent, practice, and timing. Appellant's sister, Lynette Hunter, testified that she traveled to Tallahassee to watch appellant march with the band during home football games, but that she never saw him studying when she visited. Although appellant reported that he had twenty-four hours of college credit, Garnett testified that appellant never actually completed any courses.

Appellant was administered another IQ test by Dr. Floyd Jennings ⁽²⁾ in 2004. Appellant achieved a verbal IQ score of 72, a performance IQ score of 80, and a full scale IQ score of 74. Garnett testified that the scores on both IQ tests administered to appellant fall within the range of subaverage intellectual functioning, despite the full scale score on the second being above 70, which is considered the "cutoff point." Garnett explained that because appellant's first test resulted in a full scale IQ score of 64 and the most recent resulted in a full scale score of 74, "roughly you look at where those ranges would overlap" and that would "give you a pretty good idea of where that true score would be."

Garnett also testified that appellant has significant limitations in adaptive behavior. Garnett pointed out that appellant had problems dealing with money and did not budget or know how to file taxes. Appellant could not explain to Garnett a release that he had signed for a job, or why he had filled out his W-4 form the way he had. Appellant also could not interpret a passage from the Bible. Garnett asked appellant to explain the following excerpt from a legal opinion:

Respondent paralegee filed this action for damages in equitable relief alleging that Tennessee in a number of its counties that denied them physical access to the State's courts in violation of Title 2 of the American Disabilities Act which provides no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation or denied the benefits of the services, programs or activities of a public entity. ⁽³⁾

Appellant was not able to do so, even though he told Garnett that he liked reading legal materials. Appellant was able to explain a newspaper section that was written at the fifth- or sixth-grade level, but was not able to look up a word or read from an encyclopedia.

Garnett testified that when he attempted to engage appellant in a conversation regarding the war in Iraq, appellant's answers were very superficial and displayed a "lack of really understanding at an in-depth level." Garnett testified that when he asked appellant if he knew what was going on in Iraq, appellant responded that he thought they were fighting, and in response to further questioning, he told Garnett that he had "heard they're fighting about oil." Garnett then asked appellant, "What do you think about that?" and "What do you really think that's going on over there?" Appellant responded, "Well, I just hope the troops come home soon" and "Well, it's a pretty difficult thing." On cross-examination, Garnett admitted that appellant had also told him that Iraq is in the Middle East near Iran and Syria and that Saddam Hussein had an illegal government.

Garnett explained that appellant wears a "cloak of competence" that masks his deficits in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. To illustrate his point, Garnett related how appellant denied ever having been in special-education classes. Appellant also told Garnett that he had learned about computers in prison, but he actually had taken only a basic keyboarding class. When appellant told Garnett that he would "fix things at home," it was no more than tightening a loose doorknob. Appellant also said that he could cook, but Garnett related that appellant's "cooking" was only chopping vegetables and pouring the contents of a can into a pot. However, on cross-examination, Garnett did admit that appellant was able to explain to him the process of frying chicken.

Because his work history shows that he held twenty-seven different jobs between 1989 and 2004, Garnett characterized apellant as an itinerant worker who lacked regular attendance. Garnett additionally testified that appellant lacked leadership qualities and had no close circle of friends, but did have "many" marriages or relationships with women, which Garnett described as indicating low adaptive functioning. According to Garnett, the actual crime did not appear to be planned but evolved quickly and impulsively.

Garnett testified that appellant had an IQ that falls within the range of subaverage intellectual functioning, limitations in several areas of adaptive behavior, and evident signs of mental retardation before the age of 18. Garnett concluded that appellant is mentally retarded.

The State presented expert witness Dr. George Carl Denkowski, a clinical psychologist who reviewed appellant's records and personally evaluated him. Denkowski did not administer an IQ test to appellant because appellant had recently taken an IQ test and, more importantly, because appellant refused to undergo any further IQ testing. Interpreting the results from appellant's 2004 IQ test, Denkowski explained that, according to the testing manual, the band of confidence for this test is "four below and five above," meaning that appellant's IQ score could range from 70 to 79.

Denkowski tested appellant's depression and anxiety levels using the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Appellant's scores indicate that he was "mildly depressed." Denkowski explained that depression affects an individual's IQ score and that "even mild depression can lower it by two or three points." Denkowski believed that appellant's full scale IQ score is actually higher than 74, particularly after taking into account that appellant was handcuffed during the testing, which hampered his performance. Denkowski testified that he also believed that the score artificially understated appellant's mental functioning, in part because the test included questions that are relevant only to school and not to daily life. When questioned regarding the discrepancy in scores between appellant's two IQ tests, Denkowski explained that the test administered in third grade showed an uneven pattern of knowledge acquisition. Denkowski pointed out that the school psychologist who administered the test noted that appellant's "ability to articulate knowledge of appropriate social behavior is average" and that the "scale score analysis suggests poor academic orientation." Denkowski further explained that the test administered to appellant penalizes people who have not achieved well academically and that when the academic functions are removed from the scoring, the result is a better measure of how a person is able to function in the community.

Denkowski tested appellant's adaptive behavior in 2004 by having appellant rate himself using the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System. Appellant achieved an adaptive score of 94 with a score range of 91 to 97. Appellant scored lowest in the communication area, which Denkowski explained measures "social kinds of aspect of communication like, for example, if he comes up to you, really starts talking about something of interest to you or just blurts out whatever is on his mind, will he allow you to talk or will he dominate the conversation, will he talk over you." Denkowski testified that, even with a low score in the communication area, appellant had "a normal ability to meet the ordinary demand of everyday life." Denkowski concluded that appellant was not mentally retarded.

Yvette Baker, who dated appellant during high school, worked with him at McDonald's, and had a child with him, testified that she did not know that appellant was in special-education. Lashon Davis also dated appellant during high school and had three children with him. She testified that she had no trouble conversing with appellant and was not aware that he was in special-education classes. Appellant's aunt, Beatrice Mayhew, testified that despite seeing appellant often while he was growing up and considering him as her own son, she never knew that he was enrolled in special-education courses. Carla Hull, appellant's former neighbor, testified that she knew appellant was in special-education classes, but never knew why. She did not think there was anything wrong with appellant mentally, and she was able to converse with him.

Carl Deal was appellant's general foreman at Vanguard Plastics, a company that manufactures plastic grocery bags and retail bags for large chains. Deal testified that appellant fully filled out a three-page application and a medical questionnaire prior to being hired at Vanguard. Appellant's job duties included monitoring the extrusion of plastic film for the proper thickness, width, and color. Deal explained that the process of maintaining the proper dimensions and color of the film required that appellant take measurements of the film, perform calculations based on a mathematical formula, and then adjust the machinery accordingly. Calculations and adjustments were made on an average of twenty times a shift. Deal also testified that the company sent appellant to a school to become certified as a forklift-operator, which required a written test. Appellant passed the test and received his forklift-operator certification. According to Deal, appellant caused no problems on the job and had no troubles fulfilling his duties.

In summary, this case involves expert opinions and evidence both in favor of and against a finding of mental retardation. Appellant's IQ was scored below 70 before the age of 18 and above 70 at the age of 33. Denkowski theorized that appellant's uneven acquisition of knowledge served to artificially lower his IQ score in third grade. Appellant attended special-education classes in school and had an average or below- average class ranking. He excelled in marching band, which required a great deal of concentration and timing to perform complicated maneuvers. One high-school teacher described appellant as a good conversationalist, provided that he was discussing a subject about which he was knowledgeable, while another high-school teacher described appellant as "low functioning." Members of appellant's family, as well as women with whom he had close relationships, did not even know appellant was in special-education classes and did not have any trouble communicating with appellant. The evidence showed that appellant held several jobs, passed a written test to become a certified forklift-operator, and took measurements and did mathematical calculations for his job at Vanguard Plastics. The jury was ultimately in the best position to make credibility determinations and evaluate this conflicting evidence. Briseno, 135 S.W.3d at 9; Hall v. State, 160 S.W.3d 24, 40 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004), cert. denied, 545 U.S. 1141 (2005).

The evidence was sufficient to support the jury's determination that appellant failed to prove mental retardation. The judgment was not so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence so as to be manifestly unjust. Meraz, 785 S.W.2d at 155. Point of error one is overruled.

B. Pretrial Determination of Mental Retardation

In point of error two, appellant claims that he was entitled to a pretrial determination of mental retardation by the judge or a jury separate from that determining guilt. As discussed above, the Texas Legislature has not established a statutory scheme for the presentation and determination of an issue of mental retardation in a capital murder trial. However, in the meantime, this Court has formulated temporary judicial guidelines in addressing Atkins claims. Briseno, 135 S.W.3d at 5. The guidelines formulated in Briseno do not address when the determination of mental retardation is to be made. However, a jury determination of mental retardation is not required. See Schriro, 546 U.S. at 7 (holding that the Ninth Circuit erred in commanding Arizona courts to conduct a jury trial to resolve mental-retardation claim); see also Briseno, 135 S.W.3d at 9 (holding that Atkins does not require a jury determination of mental retardation in a post-conviction proceeding). In the absence of legislation or a constitutional requirement directing when the determination of mental retardation is to be made or by whom, the trial court committed no error in denying appellant a pretrial determination of mental retardation by a judge or jury separate from that determining guilt. Point of error two is overruled.

THE DEFINITION OF SOCIETY

In point of error three, appellant complains that the trial court failed to provide a definition of "society" within the future-dangerousness special issue. Appellant argues that the trial court should have instructed the jury that the term "society," as used in the context of the special issue in this trial, means prison society for the next forty years, after which parole is a possibility. This Court has repeatedly stated that terms such as "society" require no special definition, and appellant has provided us with no reason to revisit the issue here. Blue v. State, 125 S.W.3d 491, 504-05 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Earhart v. State, 877 S.W.2d 759, 767 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). Point of error three is overruled.

FUTURE DANGEROUSNESS

In his fifth point of error, appellant challenges the factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury's determination regarding future dangerousness. See Art. 37.071 § 2(b)(1). This Court has consistently declined to conduct a factual-sufficiency review in this context, and appellant's arguments do not persuade us to retreat from these holdings. Renteria v. State, 206 S.W.3d 689, 707 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Russeau v. State, 171 S.W.3d 871, 878 n. 1 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 2982 (2006). Point of error five is overruled.

In his fourth point of error, appellant challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury's determination regarding the future-dangerousness issue. A jury may consider a variety of factors when determining whether a defendant will pose a continuing threat to society. See Wardrip v. State, 56 S.W.3d 588, 594 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); see also Keeton v. State, 724 S.W.2d 58, 61 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987). We must view all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury's finding and determine whether, based on that evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the answer to the future-dangerousness issue was "yes." Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 557-58 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).

Appellant urges this Court to examine the issue of his future dangerousness in the context of a prison environment because he will spend at least forty years in prison. According to appellant's expert risk-assessment witness, Mary Alice Conroy, appellant is not a continuing threat in prison because appellant has not been violent during previous periods of incarceration and his past violent acts have been committed only in free society. In Bible v. State, 162 S.W.3d 234 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005), however, we rejected a similar claim, explaining that "[g]ood behavior in prison does not preclude a finding of future dangerousness. All that is required is that the evidence be sufficient for a rational trier of fact to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that there is a probability the defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society." Id. at 245.

The record in this case shows that appellant has a long history of violent offenses. Beginning in the late 1980s and throughout the early 1990s, appellant was abusive toward Lashon Smith, the mother of three of his children. He hit her on the head, face, chest, and stomach, even when she was pregnant. Appellant once knocked Smith unconscious when he threw her against a wall. Another time, appellant beat Smith during an argument and fired two shots as she ran away from him. Appellant pursued Smith, and when he caught her, he dragged her down the street by her hair. Appellant also beat his wife, Everlyn, causing her to call the police at least twelve times. Everlyn testified that appellant threatened her at different times with a hammer, a knife, and a gun, and that he fired a semi-automatic pistol while children were present.

Appellant attempted to rape his neighbor, Carla Hull, in February 1990. In December 1994, he was involved in an armed robbery at a Wendy's, during which a female employee was held at gunpoint, hit several times, and threatened with death. Appellant and another man committed a home invasion in January 1995. Appellant placed a gun to Shenita Meyers' head and forced her to leave the house with his accomplice to get money while he remained there alone with Meyers' five-year-old daughter. In January 1999, appellant entered Ho Long's home in Florida, placed a gun to his head, and stole his car. Several days later, appellant's wife, Everlyn, was stopped by police while driving Long's car in Houston. This led to appellant's arrest soon thereafter. A revolver was found in his possession, and he was subsequently charged and convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm. In July 2003, appellant again stole a car at gunpoint, this time from Tulia Jarrett, an elderly woman, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jarrett's stolen car was recovered by police a month later in Houston with appellant's wallet and mail inside.

On September 2, 2003, appellant entered the office of the Ambassador North Apartments in Houston and demanded money from Sandra Sanchez and Curtis Everett at gunpoint. On September 15, 2003, appellant committed a robbery at a Taco Bell and fired five shots at employee Jerall Mims, who escaped harm. As appellant fled, he crossed through a backyard located directly behind the Taco Bell. When confronted by the resident's father, appellant shot him in the chest.

On October 23, 2003, appellant committed a robbery at a Kentucky Fried Chicken and shot employee Elijah Mitchell in the stomach. On October 25, 2003, appellant shot Jung Choi while robbing him at Beauty Max, the offense for which he was convicted in this case. On November 7, 2003, appellant fired six shots at Danny Patel at the Crystal Inn when Patel investigated a sudden blackout at the Inn. On November 10, 2003, appellant committed a robbery at the Ori Sub Sandwich Shop and shot employee To Duong in the leg. Two days later, while committing a robbery at a Stop-N-Shop convenience store, appellant pistol whipped and shot Nguyen Tan Lu, killing her.

In summary, Appellant has shot five people, killing two of them, and he has assaulted numerous others. There was sufficient evidence presented from which a rational jury could conclude that appellant posed a future danger to society. Point of error four is overruled.

EXTRANEOUS-OFFENSE INSTRUCTION

In the sixth point of error, appellant complains that the trial court erred in declining to instruct the jury at punishment that they could consider evidence of appellant's extraneous offenses only if they found beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed those offenses. This Court has previously held that there is no error in not having a burden of proof instruction concerning extraneous offenses as long as the punishment charge properly requires the State to prove the special issues, other than mitigation and affirmative defenses, beyond a reasonable doubt. Garcia v. State, 57 S.W.3d 436, 442 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); see also Gallo, 2007 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1234 at *26. The jury charge at punishment in this case correctly required the State to prove the non-mitigation special issues beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, point of error six is overruled.

CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE TEXAS

DEATH-PENALTY SCHEME In point of error seven, appellant argues that the Texas death-penalty scheme is unconstitutional as applied to him because, in light of the single aggravating future dangerousness factor, it was weighted toward an arbitrary sentence of death since the jury had no discretion to assess a sentence of life without parole. This Court has previously considered and rejected this claim, and appellant has given us no reason to reconsider it here. Arnold v. State, 873 S.W.2d 27, 39-40 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). Point of error seven is overruled.

We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Meyers, J.

Delivered: November 7, 2007

Publish

1. Unless otherwise indicated all references to Articles refer to the Code of Criminal Procedure.

3. This Court has determined that the excerpt, which was read aloud by Garnett during punishment proceedings, is from the syllabus of Tennessee v. Lane, 541 U.S. 509 (2004). The actual text of the syllabus reads:

It is impossible, from the record before this Court, to know which version appellant was asked to explain.