Matamoros v. State (500 S.W.3d 58, 2016)

OPINION

Opinion by Justice Rodriguez

A jury convicted appellant Wilson Orlando Matamoros a/k/a Wilson Matamoros a/k/a Wilson Orlando Matamoros Reyes of one count of intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree felony. See Tex Penal Code Ann. § 49.08 (West, Westlaw through 2015 R.S.). Additionally, the jury convicted appellant of committing the offense of failure to stop and render assistance, which in this case is a second-degree felony. See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 550.021(c)(1), 550.023 (West, Westlaw through 2015 R.S.). The jury assessed appellant’s punishment at seventeen years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice—Institutional Division, on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.

In his sole issue, appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the State’s conviction. We affirm.

I. Background

On February 7, 2014, at 11:30 P.M., officers responded to the scene of an accident in Brownsville, Texas. It is undisputed that a minivan crashed into a bus stop approximately ten minutes prior to the officers’ arrival, resulting in the death of Ricardo Briones. Eyewitness testimony -established that soon after the accident, a person was seen exiting the van and running from the accident scene.- It is also undisputed that shortly after the accident, the owner of the van, Mario Daniel De La Cruz, arrived at the scene and told police that an employee of his,