Melvin Lee Hill v. the State of Texas

Summary

The Fourth Court of Appeals of Texas affirmed Melvin Lee Hill’s convictions for attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. The court held that legally sufficient direct and circumstantial evidence linked Hill to firearms found in a vehicle and supported the jury’s finding that he intended to commit an aggravated assault and took conduct beyond mere preparation.

Holdings

1. The evidence was legally sufficient to affirmatively link Hill to the firearms and support his conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.
2. The evidence was legally sufficient for the jury to find that Hill, with the specific intent to commit an assault using or exhibiting a deadly weapon, performed an act amounting to more than mere preparation that tended but failed to effect the aggravated assault.

Questions Presented

1. Whether legally sufficient evidence linked Hill to the firearms found in the trunk of the vehicle to support his conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.
2. Whether legally sufficient evidence established that Hill, with the specific intent to commit aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, performed an act amounting to more than mere preparation.

Disposition

affirmed