Lockhart, Cole Canyon ( 2015 )

PD-1467&1468-15
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
December 18, 2015 Transmitted 12/16/2015 10:56:59 AM
Accepted 12/18/2015 11:55:07 AM
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS ABEL ACOSTA
CLERK
PD-1467-15
PD-1468-15
Cole Canyon Lockhart, Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
On Discretionary Review from
No.'s 13-13-00607-CR & 13-13-00608-CR
Thirteenth Court of Appeals, Corpus Christi-Edinburg
Appeals from No.'s CR-6577 & CR-6612
424th Judicial District Court, Llano County
PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
Tracy D. Cluck
Texas Bar No. 00787254
12600 Hill Country Blvd., Ste. R-275
Austin, Texas 78738
Phone: 512-329-2615
Fax: 512-329-2604
tracy@tracyclucklawyer.com
Attorney for Appellant
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
Page 1 of 19
Identity of Parties, Counsel and Judges
Cole Canyon Lockhart, Appellant
Tracy D. Cluck, Attorney for Appellant at trial, on appeal, and on
discretionary review, 12600 Hill Country Blvd., Ste. R-275, Austin, Texas
78738, phone: 512-329-2615, fax: 512-329-2694, email:
tracy@tracyclucklawyer.com.
State of Texas, Appellee
Wiley B. "Sonny" McAfee, 33rd & 424th Judicial District Attorney, attorney
for State of Texas, P. O. Box 725, Llano, Texas 78643, phone: 325-247-5755, fax:
325-247-5274.
Gary W. Bunyard, 33rd & 424th Judicial Assistant District Attorney, attorney
for State of Texas, P. O. Box 725, Llano, Texas 78643, phone: 325-247-5755, fax:
325-247-5274, email: g.bunyard@co.llano.tx.us.
Judges
Hon. J. Allan Garrett, Presiding Judge of the 33rd Judicial District Court
(suppression hearing), 1701 E. Polk St., Suite 74, Burnet, Texas 78611, phone:
512-756-5436, fax: 512-756-8478.
Hon. Dan Mills, Presiding Judge of the 424th Judicial District Court (trial),
1701 E. Polk St., Suite 74, Burnet, Texas 78611, phone: 512-756-5436, fax: 512-
756-8478.
Justices Rogelio Valdez (Chief Justice), Gina M. Benevides, and Gregory T.
Perkes, Thirteenth Court of Appeals, 901 Leopard, 10th Floor, Corpus Christi,
Texas 78401, phone: 361-888-0416, fax: 361-888-0794.
Page 2 of 19
II. Table of Contents
I. Identity of Parties, Counsel, and Judges 2
II. Table of Contents 3
III. Table of Authorities 4
IV. Appendix Index 5
V. Statement Regarding Oral Argument 5
VI. Statement of the Case and Procedural History 6
VII. Grounds for Review 7
VIII. Argument 9
1. The panel erred by concluding that the search of the containers located
within the curtilage of the trailer where the contraband and gun were found
was an objectively reasonable search and therefore the trial court properly
overruled Appellant's motion to suppress evidence 9
2. The panel erred by concluding that the trial court properly denied
Appellant's request for a jury instruction under article 38.23 of the Texas
Code of Criminal Procedure 11
3. The panel erred by concluding that there was sufficient evidence to
affirmatively link Appellant to the illegal drugs, which are the basis of his
conviction 13
Page 3 of 19
4. The panel erred by failing to address the properly raised and briefed point of
error of sufficiency of the evidence to support Appellant's conviction for
Felon in Possession of a
Firearm 14
IX. Conclusion and Prayer 15
X. Certificate of Service 16
XI. Certificate of Compliance with Tex. Rule App. Proc. 9.4 16
III. Table of Authorities
Cases
Atkinson v. State, 923 S.W.2d 21,23 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996) 12
Davis v. State, 817 S.W.2d 345,346 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991) 9
Floridav. Jardines. U.S. , 133 S. Ct. 1409 (2013) 7,9,10,11
Fosterv. State, 635 S.W.2d 710 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982) 15
Garrett v. State, 220 S.W.3d 926,928-29 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) 9
Garza v. State, 715 S.W.2d 642 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986) 15
Keehn v. State, 223 S.W.3d 348, 349 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) 14
Lassaint v. State, 79 S.W.3d 736, 740
(Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.) 8,13,14
Light v. State, 15 S.W.3d 104 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000) 8,9,15
Page 4 of 19
Madden v. State, 242 S.W.3d 504, 510 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) 12
McFarlandv. State, 930 S.W.2d 99 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996) 15
Munizv. State, 851 S.W.2d 238, 254 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993) 12
Rules & Statutes
Tex. Code Crim. Pro. art. 38.23 6,8,11,12
Tex. R.App. Pro. 41.1 8
Tex. R.App. Pro. 47.1 8,14
Tex. R. App. Pro. 68.4(c) 5
Tex. Penal Code §46.04 6
Tex. Health & Safety Code §481.115(b) 6
IV. Appendix Index
Appendix 1: Lockhart v. State, 13-13-00607-CR & 13-13-00608-CR, (Tex.App.—
Corpus Christi-Edinburg, September 17, 2015)(unpublished panel opinion).
Appendix 2: Brief of Appellant Cole Canyon Lockhart, Cole Canyon Lockhart v.
State of Texas, No. 13-13-00607-CR, filed 7/14/2014.
V. Statement Regarding Oral Argument
Appellee requests oral argument. See Tex. Rule App. Proc. 68.4(c) (2015)
Page 5 of 19
VI. Statement of the Case and Procedural History
This petition for discretionary review requests that this Court review the
judgment and opinion of the Thirteenth Court of Appeals in Lockhart v. State, 13-
13-00607-CR & 13-13-00608-CR (Tex. App. Corpus Christi-Edinburg, September
17, 2015)(unpublished panel opinion)(See Appendix 1).
The procedural history of this case is as follows: Appellant was charged in
separate cause numbers with Possession of a Controlled Substance (trial court no.
CR-6612; COA No. 13-13-00608-CR) and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a
Felon (trial court no. CR-6577; COA No. 13-13-00607-CR). Tex. Health & Safety
Code §481.115(b); Tex. Pen. Code §46.04. Both charges arose from the same
criminal episode and were tried in a single jury trial. The trial court denied
Appellant's motion to suppress evidence before the trial. Appellant was convicted
in both causes by the jury. Appellant appealed to the Third Court of Appeals in
Austin and the case was transferred to the Thirteenth Court of Appeals in Corpus
Christi-Edinburg. Appellant raised and briefed the following points of error
(phrased another way): Did the trial court err by denying Appellant's motion to
suppress evidence?; Did the trial court err by denying Appellant's request for a
jury instruction under Art. 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure?; Was
Page 6 of 19
the evidence admitted at trial insufficient to sustain a conviction for Possession of a
Controlled Substance (13-13-00608-CR only); and, Was the evidence admitted at
trial insufficient to sustain a conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a
Felon (13-13-00607-CR only). In a single, unpublished panel opinion addressing
both appellate causes, the Thirteenth Court of Appeals discussed and overruled
Appellants three points of error he asserts in that arise from his conviction for
Possession of a Controlled Substance. However, the opinion did not acknowledge,
address or discuss the sufficiency of the evidence point of error asserted and
briefed by Appellant in his appeal of the conviction for Unlawful Possession of a
Firearm by a Felon. Appellant timely filed a motion for rehearing and
reconsideration en banc, which was overruled by the Thirteenth Court of Appeals
on October 15, 2015. This petition follows.
VII. Grounds for Review
Appellant contends that the panel did not properly apply Florida v. Jardines
to the facts of the instant case. U.S. , 133 S. Ct. 1409 (2013). The panel
improperly concluded that the search of the curtilage surrounding the trailer where
the contraband, which forms the basis of the charges against Appellant, was
objectively reasonable and therefore the trial court properly denied Appellant's
motion to suppress evidence.
Page 7 of 19
Appellant further contends that the panel improperly concluded that the trial
court did not err by denying Appellant's requested jury instruction under Art.
38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The panel, acknowledging that
controverting evidence was affirmatively placed before the jury by Appellant,
which would entitle Appellant to the requested jury instruction, appears to make a
factual determination regarding the relative persuasiveness of that evidence. This
is precisely the determination by the jury that Appellant was entitled to.
Appellant further contends that the panel improperly concluded that there
was sufficient evidence to affirmatively link him to the illegal drugs which form
the basis of his conviction. When, as here, the accused does not have exclusive
possession of the premises where drugs are found, there must be independent facts
that affirmatively link the accused to those drugs. Lassaint v. State, 79 S.W.3d
736, 740 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.). There are no such facts in the
record and therefore the panel erred.
Appellant further contends that the panel erred by failing to acknowledge,
address, discuss, and rule on a properly raised and briefed point of error: Whether
the evidence adduced at trial was sufficient to sustain a conviction for Unlawful
Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. "The courts of appeals are required to review
Page 8 of 19
verey argument raised by a party that is necessary to the disposition of that
appeal." Light v. State, 15 S.W.3d 104,105 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000). See also
Tex.R.App.Pro. 41.1 and 47.1; Davis v. State, 817 S.W.2d 345,346
(Tex.Crim.App. 1991); and, Garrett v. State, 220 S.W.3d 926,928-29
(Tex.Crim.App. 2007). The issue was properly raised and briefed on direct appeal
by Appellant and the panel erred by not acknowledging, addressing, discussing or
ruling on this issue necessary for the disposition of the appeal. See Appendix 2.
VIII. Argument
1. The panel erred by concluding that the search of the containers located
within the curtilage of the trailer where the contraband and gun were found was an
objectively reasonable search and therefore the trial court properly overruled
Appellant's motion to suppress evidence. The panel concluded that the police
went to the trailer where the drugs and gun were found, which form the basis of
Appellant's convictions, to simply talk to Appellant which, the panel argues, is an
allowable knock and talk under Florida v. Jardines. U.S. , 133 S. Ct. 1409
(2013). However, in the case at bar the police went to the trailer in question to
conduct a criminal investigation specifically regarding whether Appellant was
manufacturing illegal drugs in the trailer at issue. Reporter's Record Vol. 6, pp.
12-13. Before arriving at the location the police discussed their belief that they
would need to conduct a search and asked a K-9 officer to meet them at the trailer.
Id. Upon arriving they detected an odor of chemicals they associated with illegal
Page 9 of 19
drug production while standing at the curb. Reporter's Record Vol. 3, p. 77. They
also knew, before they circled the trailer with a drug-sniffing dog and rummaged
through a trash container and its contents located within the curtilage, that
Appellant was not in the trailer and did not consent to a search. Reporter's Record
Vol. 3, pp. 79-83. The police then used the fruits of this search to obtain a search
warrant for the trailer where they found the drugs and gun, which form the basis of
Appellant's convictions. Id. at 84.
The proper analysis under Jardines is not what the police had in their mind
when they left the station, but rather what their subjective intent was when the
entered the curtilage1. Jardines\ 133 S. Ct. at 1416-17. Here, without consent or a
warrant, they entered the curtilage with a drug-sniffing dog, rummaged through
closed containers within the curtilage, and used the fruits of that search to obtain a
search warrant after they smelled what they believed was evidence of illegal drug
production and at a time when they knew that Appellant was not in the trailer. It is
not objectively reasonable to infer that the purpose of the entry into the curtilage of
the trailer in question was for a reason other than the search that was conducted
without a warrant or consent. And even if police had another reason such as knock
and talk, it is of no moment since conducting a search is what they did. Jardines is
1
Even if the panel is correct that the police were merely conducting an allowable knock and talk,
it is clear that police exceeded the implied limited license to do so by walking around the trailer
with a drug-sniffing dog and rummaging the contents of a trash barrel located within the
curtilage, and closed containers therein, without a warrant or explicit consent. The scope of any
such license, whether express or implied, is limited to purpose and area. Florida v. Jardines,
U.S. , 133 S. Ct. 1409, 1416 (2013). The search warrant obtained with this tainted evidence is
fruit of the poisonous tree. Id. Therefore, the trial court erred by denying Appellant's motion to
suppress evidence.
Page 10 of 19
directly on point. Id. If the panel's reasoning is correct, then police are free to
conduct full scale searches of private property and rummage through whatever they
find there at will without warrant or consent, so long as they have the concurrent
purpose to talk to the occupants. This is clearly not the law as set out by the
United States Supreme Court in Jardines. Id. The panel should have concluded
that that the search was not objectively reasonable under the 4th Amendment to the
United States Constitution and therefore the trial court should have granted
Appellant's motion to suppress evidence. Id.
2. The panel erred by concluding that the trial court properly denied
Appellant's request for a jury instruction under article 38.23 of the Texas Code of
Criminal Procedure. The panel examines the record and notes that while Appellant
introduced evidence that the police trespassed onto the property where the trailer in
question is located , the state controverted this evidence with testimony by a police
officer that while there is in fact a "No Trespassing" sign at the entrance of the
property he did not believe it was intended to apply to him3. Moreover, the police
officer testified that he was aware of the "No Trespassing" sign and did not have
permission or consent to enter the private property and did not have a search
warrant4.
2
Appellant introduced a photograph of "No Trespassing" signs posted at the entrance to the
fishing camp where the trailer in question is located. Reporter's Record Vol. 6, p. 75.
3
Reporter's Record, Vol. 3, pp. 79-80.
4
Reporter's Record, Vol. 3, pp. 76-77, 80.
Page 11 of 19
Here the record is clear that Appellant affirmatively contested, by
introduction of controverting evidence and by cross-examination of state's
witnesses, the state's evidence that the police lawfully entered into the fishing
camp where the trailer was located. However, the panel appears to make a factual
determination that the state's evidence is more persuasive on this issue and thus
Appellant was not entitled to a jury instruction on this issue. Panel Opinion at 9.
By doing so, the panel has substituted its judgment about the evidence for that of
the jury. This is precisely why Appellant is entitled to a jury instruction on this
issue as mandated by Article 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
The proper inquiry for the court of appeals is not whether the testimony
elicited on this issue by the state is more persuasive than the evidence introduced
by Appellant, or whether there is evidence in the record from which the trial court
could have concluded that the police conduct was lawful, but rather was there
conflicting evidence on this issue before the jury5. Since the record shows that
there was in fact conflicting evidence on this issue before the jury, Appellant is
entitled to a jury instruction on this issue as he requested. Here the record is clear
that the jury had disputed evidence before it on this issue and that Appellant
affirmatively introduced evidence on this issue disputing the state's evidence. The
legality of the search of the trailer is clearly material since it relates to the
5
Article 38.23, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure; Madden v. State, 242 S.W.3d 504, 510
(Tex.Crim.App. 2007); Muniz v. State, 851 S.W.2d 238, 254 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993); Atkinson v.
State, 923 S.W.2d 21,23 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996).
Page 12 of 19
lawfulness of police conduct in obtaining the evidence, which forms the gravamen
of the offenses for which Appellant was tried. Therefore, Appellant was entitled to
a jury instruction on this disputed issue of material fact as requested. The panel
erred in concluding that there was no genuine dispute about a material fact
challenging the legality of the entrance into the fishing camp by police without a
warrant. Appellant's second issue should have been sustained.
3. The panel erred by concluding that there was sufficient evidence to
affirmatively link Appellant to the illegal drugs, which form the basis of his
conviction. The panel notes that the record shows that the Appellant was generally
connected to illegal drugs by a named, cooperating individual6, and that Appellant
was connected to the location where the contraband was later found. However, the
panel does not note, and the record does not show, that Appellant is affirmatively
linked to the particular drugs which form the basis of his conviction. Moreover, as
the panel notes, Appellant did not have exclusive possession of the premises where
the contraband was found. Panel Opinion at 12. The state must introduce
evidence that Appellant is affirmatively linked to the drugs which he is accused of
possessing in such a manner to show that he knew of the existence of the drugs and
that he exercised actual care, custody or control over it. Lassaint v. State, 79
S.W.3d 736, 740 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.)(emphasis added).
Here the panel argues that there was evidence from which an inference could be
drawn that Appellant knew of the existence of drugs generally in the trailer, but not
6
The record does not reflect that this hearsay statement testified to by Deputy Burke was made
for the truth of the matter asserted.
Page 13 of 19
that there is evidence in the record from which a rational trier of fact could
conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant exercised actual care, custody
or control over the specific drugs which form the basis of the charges against him
as the law requires. See id.
When as here, the accused does not have exclusive possession of the
premises where drugs are found, there must be independent facts that affirmatively
link the accused to those particular drugs. Id. at 740. There are no facts in the
record that show that Appellant exercised actual care, custody or control over the
specific drugs he is accused of possessing. Therefore, the panel erred in
concluding that the evidence at trial was sufficient to establish the necessary
affirmative link between Appellant and the contraband he was convicted of
possessing.
4. The panel tailed to address the properly raised and brieled issue ot
sufficiency of the evidence to support Appellant's conviction for Felon in
Possession of a Firearm. Appellant properly raised and briefed the issue of
whether the evidence admitted at trial is insufficient to sustain a conviction for
unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon7. However, the panel opinion makes
no mention of this point of error. The court of appeals must "address every issue
raised and necessary to final disposition of the appeal." Tex.R.App.Pro. 47.1;
Keehn v. State, 223 S.W.3d 348, 349 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007). Each point of error
7
Appellant's Brief, No. 13-13-607-CR, filed 7/14/2015, pp. 32-47 (Appendix 2).
Page 14 of 19
should be addressed by the court of appeals separately, clearly indicating the
reason for the outcome of the case. See Light v. State, 15 S.W.3d 104
(Tex.Crim.App. 2000). When an Appellant raises the issue of legal sufficiency of
the evidence, the court of appeals must always address this issue even if the
conviction can be reversed on other grounds since a finding that the evidence is
legally insufficient to support a conviction prevents retrial. See Garza v. State, 715
S.W.2d 642 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986); Foster v. State, 635 S.W.2d 710
(Tex.Crim.App. 1982); McFarlandv. State, 930 S.W.2d 99 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996).
The panel erred by not addressing the properly raised and briefed issue of the legal
sufficiency of the evidence at trial to support a conviction for possession of a
firearm by a felon.
IX. Conclusion and Prayer
For the reasons stated in this petition, Appellant respectfully prays that this
v^Guft gfailt QiSCiCtiOliary icVievv, reVei'Sc tilt; jutigilicilt diiu OpiillOli Oi tiic
Thirteenth Court of Appeals, and order the court of appeals to review Appellant's
properly briefed point of error regarding the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a
conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
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Page 15 of 19
Texas Bar No. 00787254
12600 Hill Country Blvd., Ste. R-275
Austin, Texas 78738
Phone: 512-329-2615
Fax: 512-329-2604
tracy@tracyclucklawyer.com
X. Certificate of Service
This certifies that on December 16, 2015, a copy of this document was
served on Gary W. Bunyard, Assistant District Attorney, 33rd & 424th Judicial
District Attorneys Office, P. O. Box 725, Llano, Texas 78643,
g.bunyard@co.llano.tx.us. See Tex. Rule App. Proc. 9.5 (2015) and Tex. Rule
App.Proc. 68.11(2015).
Tracy D. Cluck
XI. Certificate of Compliance with Tex. Rule App. Proc. 9.4
This certifies that this document complies with the type-volume limitations
because this document is computer-generated and does not exceed 4,500 words.
Using the word-count feature of Microsoft Word, the undersigned certifies that this
document contains approximately 3,432 words in the document except in the
following sections: caption, identity of parties and counsel, statement regarding
oral argument, table of contents, index of authorities, statement of the case,
statement of issues presented (grounds for review section), statement of
jurisdiction, statement of procedural history, signature, proof of service,
certification, certificate of compliance, and appendix. This document also complies
Page 16 of 19
with the typeface requirements because it has been prepared in a proportionally
spaced typeface using 14-point font. See Tex. Rule App. Proc. 9.4 (2015).
Tracy D. Cluck
Page 17 of 19
APPENDIX 1
Page 18 of 19
NUMBERS 13-13-00607-CR and 13-13-00608-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
COLE CANYON LOCKHART, Appellant,
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 424th District Court
of Llano County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Benavides and Perkes
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Benavides
By three issues on appeal, appellant Cole Lockhart asserts that (1) the trial court
erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence obtained from a search warrant; (2) the
trial court erred in denying his request for a jury instruction under article 38.23 of the
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure; and (3) the evidence is insufficient to sustain his
conviction for possession of methamphetamines. We affirm.
I. BACKGROUND 1
On April 5, 2012, Sheriff Bill Blackburn received a tip that an individual by the
name of Allen Stone had purchased methamphetamines from Lockhart, and Stone
subsequently died. Acting on a tip, Llano County Sheriff Investigator Mark Burke,
Deputy John Gillespie along with his canine partner Chack, Lieutenant Brad Evans, and
Sheriff Bill Blackburn approached a travel trailer occupied by Lockhart located on the
premises of Long's Fishing Camp2 in Llano County. The record shows that Sheriff
Blackburn had previously spoken to Lockhart over the telephone regarding the
investigation.
Investigator Burke testified that upon arriving at the travel trailer, his eyes, nose,
and throat began to burn from an "ammonia" or "cat-urine type odor," and that based
upon his training as a narcotics investigator, such a smell is "normally associated" with
the manufacture of methamphetamines. Deputy Gillespie also experienced a similar
reaction. Deputy Gillespie's canine, Chack, performed a "free air sniff' of the exterior
front door of the travel trailer, and Chack alerted Deputy Gillepsie of a positive alert of
narcotics.
Lockhart spoke with the sheriffs investigators outside of the trailer. The
Investigators asked Lockhart for his consent to search the travel trailer, but Lockhart
refused. After Lockhart refused, Investigator Burke inspected a 55-gallon drum
1
This appeal was transferred from the Third Court of Appeals pursuant to a docket equalization
order issued by the Texas Supreme Court. See TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (West, Westlaw through
Ch. 46, 2015 R.S.).
2
Long's Fishing Camp was described as a "recreation area that's frequented by lots of people from
lots of different areas."
trashcan located in the front of the travel trailer. Inside of the trashcan, Investigator
Burke found: (1) an empty container of Good Sense Iodine, which he testified is used in
the manufacture of drugs; (2) coffee filters, which he testified is used in the manufacture
of drugs to "filter substances out from other substances"; and (3) Wal-Finate, a cold
tablet which contains pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient used in the manufacture of
drugs. Investigator Burke testified that the iodine, coffee filters, and cold tablets were
found together inside of a discarded Chicken Express bag located inside of the trashcan.
Using the information gathered at the scene, Investigator Burke subsequently
applied for and received a warrant to search the travel trailer. After executing the
search warrant on the travel trailer, investigators found, among other things: (1) a Marlin
.22-caliber rifle; (2) a tool bag with chemicals in it; (3) glass pipes typically used for
smoking methamphetamines; and (3) a substance weighing 0.27 grams that tested
positive for methamphetamines.
The State indicted Lockhart for: (1) unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a
third-degree felony, see TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 46.04 (West, Westlaw through Ch. 46,
2015 R.S.), enhanced by a prior felony conviction3, see id. § 12.42(a) (West, Westlaw
through Ch. 46, 2015 R.S.); and (2) possession of methamphetamine, a substance listed
in Penalty Group 1, in an amount of less than one gram, a state-jail felony. See TEX.
HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.115(b) (West, Westlaw through Ch. 46, 2015 R.S.).
Lockhart pleaded not guilty and was tried before a jury on guilt-innocence, as well as on
punishment. The jury found Lockhart guilty as charged for both offenses4 and assessed
3
At trial, Lockhart stipulated to his prior conviction for manufacture of a controlled substance, a
first-degree felony. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 481.112(a), (d) (West, Westlaw through Ch. 46, 2015
R.S.).
4
Appellate cause number 13-13-00607-CR is assigned to the unlawful possession of a firearm
punishment at ten years and one day imprisonment with the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice—Institutional Division (TDCJ-ID) for the unlawful possession of a
firearm by a felon conviction and two years' confinement with TDCJ-ID for the
possession of methamphetamine conviction, both sentences to run concurrently.
This appeal followed.
II. MOTION TO SUPPRESS
By his first issue, Lockhart contends that the trial court erred by denying his
motion to suppress the evidence seized from the travel trailer.
A. Standard of Review
In reviewing a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress, we must view the
evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling. Johnson v. State, 414
S.W.3d 184, 192 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); State v. Garcia-Cantu, 253 S.W.3d 236, 241
(Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Motions to suppress are reviewed pursuant to a bifurcated
standard under which the trial judge's determinations of historical facts and mixed
questions of law and fact that rely on credibility are granted almost total deference when
supported by the record. Johnson, 414 S.W.3d at 192. But when mixed questions of
law and fact do not depend on the evaluation of credibility and demeanor, we review the
trial judge's ruling de novo. Id. (citing State v. Kerwick, 393 S.W.3d 270, 273 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2013); Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)).
B. Discussion
Lockhart bases his suppression argument solely on the grounds that the sheriff's
conviction, and appellate cause number 13-13-00608-CR is assigned to the possession of
methamphetamine conviction.
investigators conducted an unlawful search upon his property prior to obtaining the
warrant. Relying heavily on Florida v. Jardines, 133 S. Ct. 1409 (2013), Lockhart argues
that the sheriffs investigators entered his property with the intent to search his premises
in violation of the Fourth Amendment. See id. at 1417. Stated another way, the
question before us is whether the sheriff's investigators' conduct in this case was an
objectively reasonable search. The answer to this question depends upon whether the
officers had an implied license to enter the area outside of Lockhart's travel trailer, which
in turn depends upon the purpose for which they entered. See id. As noted in
Jardines, "a police officer not armed with a warrant may approach a home and knock,
precisely because that is no more than any private citizen might do." Id. at 1416 (citing
Kentucky v. King, 131 S. Ct. 1849, 1862 (2011)) (internal quotation).
In this case, the trial court's findings of fact shed some light on this inquiry. The
trial court made the following relevant findings:
2. 'On April 5, 2012, an individual named Amanda Robinson reported
to Llano County Sheriffs Office that Cole Lockhart... [was] cooking
methamphetamine at the subject property. Amanda Robinson
reported that she witnessed her friend, Allen Stone, purchase
methamphetamine from the Defendant and Amanda Meager at the
subject property on April 4, 2012.
3. On April 5, 2012 [Lockhart] contacted Llano County Sheriff . . .
Blackburn by telephone regarding the death of Allen Stone which
had occurred on April 5, 2012.
4. On April 5, 2012, at 10:45 p.m., Llano County Sheriff.. . Blackburn,
together with other deputies, went to the subject property to speak
with [Lockhart]. On arrival, [Lockhart] was not present. Sheriff
Blackburn contacted [Lockhart] by cell phone and asked [Lockhart]
to return to the subject property to talk. [Lockhart] arrived at the
subject property approximately 10 minutes later.
5. [Lockhart] spoke with Sheriff Blackburn about the death of Allen
Stone and about how [Lockhart] knew of individuals that were
selling narcotics to Allen Stone.
On arrival at the subject property at 11:30 p.m. Deputy John
Gillespie detected a "cat urine" odor coming from the subject
property causing his eyes, nose, and upper throat to burn slightly.
Deputy Gillespie experienced the same symptoms and reaction on
September 2, 2011, when deputies had located precursor chemicals
and a finished batch of methamphetamine (later confirmed to
contain methamphetamine by the DPS laboratory).
10. When confronted with the information received by Amanda
Robinson[,] [Lockhart] denied cooking or selling methamphetamine.
At approximately 11:55 p.m. [Lockhart] declined to give consent to
search the subject property stating that he did not occupy the travel
trailer.
11. The owner of Long's Fishfing] Camp and the travel trailer . . . told
Sheriff Blackburn that [Lockhart] was the occupant of the travel
trailer and had occupied the travel trailer for several days.
This record shows that Sheriff Blackburn and his deputies approached Lockhart's
trailer with the purpose of investigating Stone's death and the dealing of drugs to Stone,
and not to conduct a search of Lockhart's trailer. Upon his arrival at the trailer, Lockhart
did not consent to the deputies' request to search the travel trailer, but did not ask the
officers to leave either. Furthermore, Lockhart voluntarily spoke with Sheriff Blackburn
about Stone's death and about individuals who may have sold drugs to Stone. Viewing
this evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling, we conclude that the
sheriffs investigators conducted an objectively reasonable search and did not enter
Lockhart's property with the initial intent to search. Thus, the facts in this case are
factually distinguishable from Jardines. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying
Lockhart's motion to suppress. See id. at 1416-17. Lockhart's first issue is overruled.
III. ARTICLE 38.23 INSTRUCTION
By his second issue, Lockhart asserts that the trial court reversibly erred by
denying his request for a jury instruction under article 38.23 of the code of criminal
procedure. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.23 (West, Westlaw through Ch. 46,
2015 R.S.).
A. Standard of Review
Our first duty in analyzing a jury-charge issue is to decide whether error exists.
Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 743 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). If we find error, we then
analyze that error for harm. Id. Preservation of charge error does not become an
issue until we assess harm. Id. (citing Middleton v. State, 125 S.W.3d 450, 453 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2003)).
In assessing harm we first examine whether the defendant objected to the
erroneous charge. Id. If the defendant did not object, "then he must show that the
error was 'fundamental' and that he suffered 'egregious harm.'" Reeves v. State, 420
S.W.3d 812, 816 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (quoting Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157,
171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985)). The appellant must show "actual, rather than theoretical,
harm." Warner v. State, 245 S.W.3d 458, 461 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Some
examples of egregious harm include those errors that "affect the very basis of the case,"
"deprive the defendant of a valuable right, or vitally affect a defensive theory." Id.
(internal quotations and citation omitted). This particular standard is a "high and difficult
standard which must be borne out of by the trial record." Reeves, 420 S.W.3d at 816.
If, however, the defendant properly objected, then he will obtain relief if the record
shows that he suffered "some harm." Id. This standard requires us to consider (1) the
jury charge as a whole, (2) the arguments of counsel, (3) the entirety of the evidence,
and (4) other relevant factors revealed by the record as a whole. Wooten v. State, 400
S.W.3d 601, 606 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
B. Applicable Law
A defendant's right to the submission of jury instructions under article 38.23(a) is
limited to disputed issues of fact that are material to his claim of a constitutional or
statutory violation that would render evidence inadmissible. Madden v. State, 242
S.W.3d 504, 509-10 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). The terms of the statute are mandatory,
and when an issue of fact is raised, a defendant has a statutory right to have the jury
charged accordingly. Id. at 510 (internal citation omitted). The only question is
whether under the facts of a particular case an issue has been raised by the evidence so
as to require a jury instruction. Id. Where no issue is raised by the evidence, the trial
court acts properly in refusing a request to charge the jury. Id. (citing Murphy v. State,
640 S.W.2d 297, 299 (Tex.Crim.App.1982)). Before a defendant is entitled to an article
38.23 instruction, (1) the evidence heard by the jury must raise an issue of fact; (2) the
evidence on that fact must be affirmatively contested; and (3) the contested factual issue
must be material to the lawfulness of the challenged conduct in obtaining evidence. Id.
Without a genuine dispute about a material fact, the legality of the conduct is
determined by the trial judge alone, as a question of law. Id. And if other facts, not in
dispute, are sufficient to support the lawfulness of the challenged conduct, then the
disputed fact issue is not submitted to the jury because it is not material to the ultimate
admissibility of the evidence. Id. In other words, the disputed fact must be an essential
one in deciding the lawfulness of the challenged conduct. Id.
8
C. Discussion
Here, Lockhart argues that disputed material facts existed at trial regarding
whether access to Long's Fishing Camp by police was allowed despite a "No
Trespassing" sign located on the front of the camp property. We disagree. There was
no evidence that Lockhart owned the recreational fishing camp property that he alleges
the sheriff's investigators trespassed on. Furthermore, there is no disputed evidence to
show that Lockhart sought to exclude the sheriff's investigators from his trailer or the
fishing camp in general. To the contrary, Lockhart engaged in conversation with Sheriff
Blackburn near the travel trailer that he occupied without once asking Sheriff Blackburn
or the other deputies to leave the premises. Finally, the evidence is undisputed that
Long's Fishing Camp is a "recreation area" that is frequented by the public who pay
access fees to the property. Deputy Burke testified that the "No Trespassing" sign was
likely intended for individuals who wanted to fish on the camp without paying an access
fee.
Based on the record, we agree with the trial court's conclusion that no genuine
dispute about a material fact existed to challenge the legality of the sheriff's investigators'
entrance onto Long's Fishing Camp, or the area around the trailer that Lockhart occupied.
As a result, the trial court did not err in denying Lockhart's request for an article 38.23 jury
instruction. See id. Because we find that no error exists, our analysis ends here. See
Ngo, 175 S.W.3d at 743. Lockhart's second issue is overruled.
IV. SUFFICIENCY CHALLENGE
By his final issue, Lockhart asserts that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his
conviction for possession of methamphetamines.
A. Standard of Review
In reviewing sufficiency of evidence to support a conviction, we consider all of the
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether, based on that
evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational fact finder could have found
the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Winfrey v. State, 393
S.W.3d 763, 768 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); Gear v. State, 340 S.W.3d 743, 746 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2011) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979)); see Brooks
v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 895 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (plurality op.). In viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we defer to the fact-finder's credibility
and weight determinations because the fact-finder is the sole judge of the witnesses'
credibility and the weight to be given to their testimony. Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 899. It
is unnecessary for every fact to point directly and independently to the guilt of the
accused; it is enough if the finding of guilty is warranted by the cumulative force of all
incriminating evidence. Winfrey, 393 S.W.3d at 768.
The elements of the offense are measured as defined by a hypothetically correct
jury charge. Vlllarreal v. State, 286 S.W.3d 321, 327 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (citing
Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)). Such a charge is one that
accurately sets out the law, is authorized by the charging instrument, does not
unnecessarily increase the State's burden of proof or unnecessarily restrict the State's
theories of liability, and adequately describes the particular offense for which the
defendant was tried. Id. Under a hypothetically correct jury charge, Lockhart is guilty
of possession of methamphetamines if he knowingly or intentionally possessed
methamphetamines in an amount of less than one gram. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY
10
CODE ANN. §481.115(b).
B. Discussion
Lockhart solely challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his conviction
on the element of unlawful possession on the ground that he was not affirmatively linked
to the methamphetamines found in the travel trailer. We disagree.
To prove unlawful possession of a controlled substance, the State must prove that:
(1) the accused exercised control, management, or care over the substance; and (2) the
accused knew the matter possessed was contraband. Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d
402, 405-06 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Under the so-called "affirmative links" rule,
whether this evidence is direct or circumstantial, "it must establish, to the requisite level of
confidence, that the accused's connection with the drug was more than just fortuitous."
Id. (citing Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744, 747 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995)). Thus, when the
accused is not in exclusive possession of the place where the substance is found, it
cannot be concluded that the accused had knowledge of and control over the contraband
unless there are additional independent facts and circumstances which affirmatively link
the accused to the contraband. Id. at 406 (internal citation and quotations omitted).
Courts have developed numerous non-exclusive factors to determine whether the
evidence is sufficient to affirmatively link the accused to the controlled substance. These
factors include whether: (1) the contraband was in plain view or recovered from an
enclosed place; (2) the accused was the owner of the premises or had the right to
possess the place where the contraband was found; (3) the accused was found with a
large amount of cash; (4) the contraband was conveniently accessible to the accused, or
found on the same side of the vehicle as the accused was sitting; (5) the contraband was
11
found in close proximity to the accused; (6) a strong residual odor of the contraband was
present; (7) the accused possessed other contraband when arrested; (8) paraphernalia to
use the contraband was in view, or found on the accused; (9) the physical condition of the
accused indicated recent consumption of the contraband in question; (10) conduct by the
accused indicated a consciousness of guilt; (11) the accused attempted to escape or flee;
(12) the accused made furtive gestures; (13) the accused had a special connection to the
contraband; (14) the occupants of the premises gave conflicting statements about
relevant matters; (15) the accused made incriminating statements connecting himself to
the contraband; (16) the quantity of the contraband; and (17) the accused was observed
in a suspicious area under suspicious circumstances. Lassaint v. State, 79 S.W.3d 736,
740-41 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.) (internal citations omitted). The
number of factors is not as important as the logical force the factors have in establishing
the elements of the offense. Id.
Here, Deputy Burke testified that a "named cooperating individual" had provided
the Llano County sheriff's office with a tip that an individual who had died in the county the
previous night had purchased methamphetamines from Lockhart. Tips such as this
have been held to have sufficient probative value to establish an affirmative link between
an accused and the contraband found in his home. See Poindexter, 153 S.W.3d at 409.
Additionally, Deputy Burke further testified that Lockhart and Amanda Meager were the
only individuals who had access to the trailer where the methamphetamines were found.
See Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d at 740-41 (Factor Two). Once inside the trailer, sheriff's
investigators found a duffle bag with an eyeglasses prescription issued to Lockhart, as
well as parts to a chainsaw. The evidence also shows that Lockhart cut cedar trees for
12
landowners in the area. See id. (Factor Two). Furthermore, the evidence shows that
the baggy of methamphetamines and a pipe used to smoke methamphetamines was
seized from the "rafters" of the travel trailer. See id. (Factor One). Finally, Deputy
Burke testified that a strong residual "cat urine" odor permeated the travel trailer, which
indicated the manufacture of methamphetamines. See id. (Factor Six).
After considering all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we
determine that based on that evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational
fact finder could have found that sufficient evidence affirmatively links Lockhart to the
contraband to sustain his conviction for possession of methamphetamines. See id.;
see also Winfrey, 393 S.W.3d at 768. We overrule Lockhart's third issue.
V. Conclusion
We affirm the trial court's judgments.
GINA M. BENAVIDES,
Justice
Do not publish.
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2 (b).
Delivered and filed the
17th day of September, 2015.
13
APPENDIX 2
Page 19 of 19
No. 13-13-00607-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI/EDINBURG
COLE CANYON LOCKHART,
Appellant
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
BRIEF OF APPELLANT
COLE CANYON LOCKHART
TRACY D. CLUCK
Texas Bar No. 00787254
1450 West Highway 290, #855
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Telephone: 512-264-9997
E-Fax: 509-355-1867
tracy@tracyclucklawyer.com
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
COLE CANYON LOCKHART
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
The following is a list of all parties to this appeal and the names and
addresses of those parties' counsel:
APPELLANT/DEFENDANT COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT
Cole Canyon Lockhart Tracy D. Cluck
1450 West Highway 290, #855
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
tracy@tracyclucklawyer.com
APPELLEE/STATE COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE/STATE
State of Texas, District Attorney's Wiley B. McAfee, D.A.
Office of the 424th & 33rd Gary Bunyard, Asst D.A.
Judicial District g.bunyard@co.llano.tx.us
Trial Court:
The Honorable Dan Mills
424th Judicial District Court Judge
Llano County, Texas
Jury Trial
The Honorable J. Allan Garrett
33rd Judicial District Judge
Llano County, Texas
Suppression Hearing
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND
COUNSEL 2
TABLE OF
CONTENTS 3
TABLE OF
AUTHORITIES 5
ISSUES
PRESENTED 9
STATEMENT OF
FACTS 10
STATEMENT OF THE CASE 13
SUMMARY OF THE
ARGUMENT 14
ARGUMENT 17
I. The Trial Court Erred In Denying Appellant's Motion
To Suppress Evidence 17
A. Standard of Review 17
B. Argument 18
II. The Trial Court Erred In Denying Appellant's Request
for a Jury Instruction Under Art. 38.23 of the Texas
Code of Criminal Procedure 27
A. Standard of Review 27
B. Argument 28
III. The Evidence Admitted at Trial is Insufficient to
Sustain a Conviction for Unlawful Possession of
a Firearm by a Felon 32
A. Standard of Review 32
B. Argument 37
CONCLUSION AND PRAYER 47
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 48
CERTIFICATE OF WORD COUNT 48
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
CASES Page
Almanzav. State, 686 S.W.2d 157 (Tex.Crim.App. 1985) 28
Atkison v. State, 923 S.W.2d 21 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996) 28, 29
Barrios v. State, 283 S.W.3d 348 (Tex.Crim.App. 2009) 28
Bates v. State, 155 S.W.3d212
(Tex.App.^Dallas 2004, no pet.) 33,34,39,42,44
Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010) 35
Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995)..34,35,43
Cantu v. State, 944 S.W.2d 669
(Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 1997, pet. ref d) 36
Carvajalv. State, 529 S.W.2d 517 (Tex.Crim.App. 1975) 36
Copelandv. State, 1M S.W.2d 14
(Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1988, no pet.) 41
Cude v. State, 716, S.W.2d46 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986) 34
Dixon v. State, 918 S.W.2d 678
(Tex.App.—Beaumont 1996, no pet.) 35,36,43,44
Dubry v. State, 382 S.W.2d 841
(Tex.Crim.App [Panel Op.] 1979) 37
Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006) 36,45
Fagan v. State, 362 S.W.3d 796
(Tex.App.—Texarkana 2012, pet. ref d) 33
Fla. v. Jardines, U.S. , 133 S. Ct. 1409 (2013)
19,21,22,23,24,25,27,31
Garcia v. State, 790 S.W.2d 22
(Tex.App.—San Antonio 1990, pet. dism'd)....39,45,46
Gilbert v. State, 874 S.W.2d 290
(Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist] 1994, pet. ref d) 36
Grant v. State, 989 S.W.2d 428
(Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.) 37
Guitonv, StateJM S.W.2d 5 (Tex.Crim.App. 1987) 40
Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997) 17
Hurtado v. State, 881 S.W.2d 738
(Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, pet. ref d) 36
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781,
61L.Ed.2d560(1979) 32,34,35
Jones v. State, 963 S.W.2d 826
(Tex.App.—Texarkana 1998, no pet.) 36
Kingv. State, 895 S.W.2d701 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995) 33
Lassaintv. State, 79 S.W.3d 736 (Tex.App.—Corpus
Christi 2002, no pet.) 32,33,34,35,36,37,42
Madden v. State, 242 S.W.3d 504 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) 28
Mart. v. State, 753 S.W.2d 384 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988) 33
Martinets v. State, 884 S.W.2d 185
(Tex.App.—Austin 1994, no pet.) 34,35
Menchaca v. State, 901 S.W.2d 640
(Tex.App.—El Paso 1995, pet. ref d) 34
Mohmedv. State, 977 S.W.2d 624
(Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1998, pet. ref d) 36
Moreno v. State, 821 S.W.2d 344
(Tex.App.—Waco 1992, pet. ref d) 45
Muniz v. State, 851 S.W.2d 238 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993) 29
Muzick v. State, 862 S.W.2d 794
(Tex.App.—El Paso 1993, pet. ref d) 34
Naquin v. State, 607 S.W.2d 583 (Tex.Crim.App. 1980) 38
Ngov. State, 175 S.W.3d 738 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) 28
Nguyen v. State, 54 S.W.3d 49
(Tex.App.—Texarkana 2001, no pet.) 33,42
Oaks v. State, 642 S.W.2d 174 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982) 42
Ortiz v. State, 930 S.W.2d 849
(Tex.App.—Tyler 1996, no pet.) 36
Pitonyakv. State, 253 S.W.3d 834
(Tex.App.—Austin 2008, pet ref d) 23,26,27
Poindexterv. State, 153 S.W.3d402 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005)..43
Powell v. State, 1D12-244, 1D12-1036
(Fla. C A 1 , May 22, 2013) 23
Roberson v. State, 80 S.W.3d 730
(Tex.App.—Houston [1 st Dist] 2002, pet. ref d) 40
Sandoval v. State, 946 S.W.2d 472
(Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 1997, no pet.) 34
Smith v. State, 176 S.W.3d 907
(Tex.App.—Dallas 2005, pet. ref d) 36,37
State v. Derrow, 981 S.W.2d 776
(Tex.App.—Houston [1 st Dist.] 1998, pet. ref d) 36
7
State v. Robinson, 334 S.W.3d 776 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011) 17
Sutton v. State, 328 S.W.3d 73
(Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2010, no pet.) 34
Taylor v. State, 106 S.W.3d 827
(Tex.App.—Dallas 2003, no pet) 36
Tijerina v. State, 334 S.W.3d 825
(Tex.App.—Amarillo 2011, pet. ref d) 18,27
Travis v. State, 658 S.W.2d 502 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982) 33
Villarealv. State, 935 S.W.2d 134 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996) 17
Valtierra v. State, 310 S.W.3d 442 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010).... 18
Washington v. State, 902 S.W.2d 649
(Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1995, pet. ref d) 36
Watson v. State, 752 S.W.2d 217
(Tes.App.—San Antonio 1988, pet. ref d) 44,45
Watson v. State, 861 S.W.2d 410
(Tex.App.—Beaumont 1993, pet. ref d) 36
Whitworth v. State, 808 S.W.2d 566
(Tex.App.—Austin 1991, pet. ref d) 37
Will. v. State, 313 S.W.3d 393
(Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, pet. ref d) 36
WongSunv. United States, 31 \ U.S. 471 (1963) 23
CONSTITUTIONS
U.S. Const, am. IV 14,18,27,31
U. S. Const, am. V 14,18,27,31
8
Tex. Const, art. l,sec. 9 14,18,27,31
STATUTES & RULES
Tex. Pen. Code § 12.42(a) 13
Tex. Pen. Code §30.05 25,26,30,31
Tex. Pen. Code §46.01(3) 41
Tex. Pen. Code §46.04 12, 13
Tex. Code Crim. Pro. art. 38.23 14,15,18,27,28,31,32
Tex. Health & Safety Code §481.115(b) 13
Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(a) 27
ISSUES PRESENTED
1. Whether the trial court erred by denying Appellant's motion to
suppress evidence.
2. Whether the trial court erred by denying Appellant's request for a
jury instruction under Article 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal
Procedure.
3. Whether the evidence adduced at trial was sufficient to sustain a
conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:
Appellant Cole Canyon Lockhart respectfully submits this his brief in
support of his appeal from the jury's verdict of guilt. The parties will be
referred to by name or by their designation in the appeals court.
The Clerk's Record will be cited by page number as "Tr. [page
#]." The Court Reporter's Record will be cited by volume and page number
as "R—Vol. [volume #], pg. [page number], and where necessary, [#]
[line number].
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
In the case at bar, Deputy Sheriff Brad Evans obtained an unverified tip
that Appellant was cooking methamphetamine at a cabin located in Long's
Fishing Camp on a private road at Buchanan Dam, Texas. R. Vol. 6, p. 12-13,
17-19. The entrance to the fishing camp has a conspicuously posted "No
Trespassing" sign. R. Vol. 6, p. 75. Dep. Evans phoned Sheriff Blackburn to
discuss the tip. R. Vol. 6, p. 12-13. The two law enforcement officers
decided to travel to the cabin in an effort to "prove the information to be true
or false." Id. Before arriving at the cabin, Dep. Evans contacted Llano
County Narcotics Investigator Mark Burke and Llano County K-9 Officer
John Gillespie to meet the pair at the cabin with a drug-sniffing dog because
10
he "felt there would be a need for a search warrant." Id. The pair then went
to the cabin and knocked on the door but received no answer. Id. Instead of
leaving, Sheriff Black burn contacted Appellant by phone and asked him to
meet the officers at the cabin. Id. When Appellant arrived he was asked for
consent to search the cabin and he "immediately" refused consent. Id. A
drug-sniffing dog was circled around the cabin searching the perimeter and
porch. Id. The dog alerted on the front door of the cabin. Id. Despite several
officers asking Appellant for consent to search he was "angry and refused to
allow consent." R. Vol. 6, p. 15.
At that point Deputy Burke made the decision to obtain a search warrant
and then began walking around the cabin. R. Vol. 3, p. 79-80. Deputy Burke
testified that could smell an ammonia odor, which he associated with drug
activity, from the road but could not tell where the odor was coming from. R.
Vol. 3, p. 77. As he walked around the cabin, Deputy Burke noticed a green
barrel with a lid that he believed to be a trash-can immediately next to and
within 10 feet of the front door of the cabin. R. Vol. 3, p. 82. Without a
warrant or consent, Deputy Burke then opened the barrel and rummaged
through the contents finding an opaque Chicken Express bag that he opened
and rummaged as well. R. Vol. 3, p. 83. Inside the bag he found several
11
items he associated with drug cooking. Id. Dep. Burke then ran a criminal
history check of Appellant. Based on "all of the . . . information," a search
warrant was obtained and a search of the cabin was made resulting in the
seizure of the alleged contraband which forms the basis of the conviction in
this cause. R. Vol. 3, p. 84; R. Vol. 6, p. 7-11; Tr. 136-37.
Appellant was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon,
enhanced . Tex. Pen. Code §46.04; Tr. 6-7. The state offered evidence,
which was admitted by stipulation, of prior felony convictions by Appellant.
R. Vol. 6, 43-74; Tr. 126. This evidence supports the enhancement paragraph
of the indictment. Tr. 6-7. Appellant did not testify at either phase of trial.
Appellant filed a motion to suppress evidence. Tr. 34-36, 48-60, 61-66.
After a brief hearing and stipulated facts, the motion to suppress was denied
by the trial court. R. Vol. 2; R. Vol. 6, p. 4-19; Tr. 67. Appellant requested
findings of fact and conclusions of law. Tr. 72. Subsequently, the trial court
entered findings of fact and conclusions of law. Tr. 82-87.
1
Appellant was also charged, in a separate indictment, with Possession of a Controlled
Substance, Penalty Group 1, Less Than 1 Gram, arising from the same facts as this case.
12
Appellant was convicted by a jury on all counts alleged in the
indictment and this appeal follows. R. Vol. 4, p. 59-60; Tr. p. 124, 133, 136-
37, 140.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellant was charged, by indictment, with one count of Unlawful
Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Tr. 6.; Tex. Pen. Code §46.04. The
indictment included an enhancement paragraph alleging that Appellant had
been previously convicted of a felony offense thereby enhancing the
punishment for this offense to that of a second-degree felony. Tr. 6; Tex. Pen.
Code § 12.42(a). Appellant was also charged as part of the same criminal
episode, in a separate indictment, with one count of Possession of a Controlled
Substance, Penalty Group 1, Less than 1 gram. Tex. Health & Safety Code
§481.115(b). That charge was prosecuted in the same trial and is the subject
of a separate appeal {Cole Canyon Lockhart v. The State of Texas, Cause No.
13-13-00608-CR, In The Thirteenth Court of Appeals—Corpus
Christi/Edinburg).
After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted with the jury assessing the
following punishment: 10 years and 1 day confinement in the Institutional
13
Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and a fine of $10,000.
Tr. 124, 133. A judgment of guilt was entered by the court consistent with the
jury's punishment verdict. Tr. 136. This appeal follows. Tr. 140.
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
Appellant asserts three points of error. In his first point of error
Appellant argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress
evidence. Appellant contends that police unlawfully intruded into private
property, posted with a with "No Trespassing" sign, without permission,
consent, or a warrant and then gathered information and evidence which they
used to obtain a search warrant to search a cabin located on the private
property. As a result of the search with the tainted warrant, evidence of
contraband was obtained which forms the basis of Appellant's conviction in
this case. The evidence used against Appellant was thus obtained in violation
of the laws of the United States and/or Texas constitutions and should have
been suppressed by the trial court under the exclusionary rule and/or Article
38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. U.S. Const, am. IV, XIV;
Tex. Const, art. 1, sec.9; Tex. Code. Crim. Pro. §38.23. Therefore, Appellant
contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress evidence
and that his conviction should be reversed.
14
In his second point of error, Appellant contends that the trial court erred
by denying his request to include a 38.23 instruction in the jury charge. Tex.
Code Crim. Pro. §38.23. The jury heard testimony from State's witnesses that
the fishing camp and road leading to the cabin, where the contraband that
forms the basis of Appellant's conviction was seized, was open to the public.
Appellant refuted that testimony by cross-examination and by admitting
evidence indicating that the road and property are private and entry without
permission is forbidden. The evidence which forms the gravamen of the
offense for which Appellant was convicted was derived directly as a result of
the unlawful entry by police into this property. Therefore, there was
conflicting evidence before the jury, affirmatively challenged by Appellant,
regarding whether the fundamental evidence against Appellant was lawfully
obtained by police. As such, the trial court should have included a 38.23
instruction in the jury charge. However, the trial court, over Appellant's
objection and tender of a proposed 38.23 charge, refused to so instruct the
jury. As a result of the trial court's error Appellant was harmed. Therefore,
his conviction should be reversed.
15
In his third point of error, Appellant contends that there was insufficient
evidence at trial of an affirmative link between Appellant and the contraband
found in the cabin at Long's Fishing Camp he is convicted of possessing.
Moreover, there was no evidence that the contraband is in fact a firearm as
defined by statute. The contraband was not on Appellant's person, he was not
found in the cabin, he was not found in, near or in sight of the contraband, the
state offered no DNA or fingerprint evidence linking Appellant to the
contraband, the evidence at trial showed that Appellant did not have sole or
exclusive access to the cabin where the contraband was found, there was no
evidence that Appellant possessed a key to the padlocked cabin where the
contraband was found, and there were no items found on Appellant or in the
cabin that linked Appellant to the contraband. Appellant denied that the
contraband is his and none of his actions gave rise to an inference that he was
aware of the contraband found in the cabin. The contraband was not offered
or admitted into evidence at trial.
The State has failed to prove that Appellant exercised actual care,
custody, management or control over the contraband found in the cabin.
Moreover, the State has failed to prove that the item alleged to be a firearm is
in fact a firearm as statutorily defined. Therefore, the evidence at trial is not
16
sufficient such that a rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable
doubt that Appellant possessed a firearm. As such, the evidence was not
sufficient to sustain a conviction in this case and Appellant's conviction
should be reversed.
ARGUMENT
I. The trial court erred by denying Appellant's motion to
suppress evidence.
A. Standard of Review
A trial court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence is reviewed
under an abuse of discretion standard. Villarealv. State, 935 S.W.2d 134, 138
(Tex.Crim.App. 1996). Appellate courts afford great deference to the trial
court's determination of facts supported in the record. Guzman v. State, 955
S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). Mixed questions of law and fact are
afforded similar deference. Id. However, issues that do not turn on the
credibility or demeanor of witnesses are reviewed de novo. Id. The evidence
is viewed in the light most favorable to the ruling. State v. Robinson, 334
S.W.3d 776, 778 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011). If the trial judge makes express
findings of fact, as in this case, the appellate court, viewing the evidence in
the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling, determines whether the
17
evidence supports the factual findings made below. Valtierra v. State, 310
S.W.3d 442, 448 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010); Tr. 82. An appellate court, in
reviewing the harm from a trial court's erroneous denial of a motion to
suppress, evaluates "the entire record in a neutral, impartial, and even-handed
manner, not in the light most favorable to the prosecution" . . . and must
reverse the conviction unless, beyond a reasonable doubt, the error did not
contribute to the conviction. Tijerina v. State, 334 S.W.3d 825, 835
(Tex.App.—Amarillo 2011, pet. ref d).
B. Argument
The trial court erred in denying Appellant's motion to suppress because
police entered private property, posted with a "No Trespassing" sign,
rummaged through a closed container near the door of a cabin on that
property, circled the cabin perimeter, porch and front door with a drug-
sniffing dog, all without a warrant and without consent or permission, and
then used this unlawfully obtained information to obtain a search warrant
resulting in seizure of the contraband used to convict Appellant of the instant
offense. U.S. Const, amend. IV, XIV; Tex. Const, art. 1, sec. 9; Tex. Code
Crim. Pro. art. 38.23; R. Vol. 3, p. 76-77, 84; R. Vol. 6, p. 18, 75.
18
The United States Supreme Court has held that an intrusion onto the
curtilage of a residence by police with the subjective intent to search the
premises violates the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Florida v. Jardines, U.S. , 133 S. Ct. 1409 (2013). When an officer
enters a constitutionally protected area the "scope of . . . [his] license—
express or implied—is limited not only to a particular area but also to a
specific purpose." Id. at 1416. Central to this inquiry is the subjective intent
of the officers when they step onto the curtilage of a residence. Id. at 1417.
This subjective intent can be inferred from the behavior of the officers when
they enter a constitutionally protected area. See id. In Jardines, police, acting
on a tip, approached the door of a residence with a drug dog. Jardines, 133
S. Ct. at 1413. Police could smell marijuana at the door with their own noses
and the drug dog alerted on the door as well. Id. at 1413, 1421. Police then
used this information to obtain a warrant to search the residence and seized
contraband which formed the basis of criminal charges against an occupant of
the residence. Id. at 1413.
In the instant case Deputy Sheriff Brad Evans obtained an unverified tip
that Appellant was cooking methamphetamine at a cabin located in Long's
Fishing Camp on a private road Buchanan Dam, Texas. R. Vol. 6, p. 12-13.
19
Dep. Evans phoned Sheriff Blackburn to discuss the tip. Id. The two law
enforcement officers decided to travel to the cabin in an effort to "prove the
information to be true or false." Id. Before arriving at the cabin, Dep. Evans
contacted Llano County Narcotics Investigator Mark Burke and Llano County
K-9 Officer John Gillespie to meet the pair at the cabin with a drug-sniffing
dog because he "felt there would be a need for a search warrant." Id. The
pair then went to the cabin and knocked on the door but received no answer.
Id. Instead of leaving, Sheriff Black burn contacted Appellant by phone and
asked him to meet the officers at the cabin. Id. When Appellant arrived he
was asked for consent to search the cabin and he "immediately" refused
consent. Id. A drug-sniffing dog was circled around the cabin searching the
perimeter and porch. Id. The dog alerted on the front door of the cabin. Id.
Despite several officers asking Appellant for consent to search "he refused to
allow consent." R. Vol. 6, p. 15.
At that point, and after the drug-sniffing dog had circled the cabin and
alerted on the front door, Deputy Burke made the decision to obtain a search
warrant and began walking around the cabin. R. Vol. 3, p. 79-80. Deputy
Burke testified that could smell an ammonia odor, which he associated with
drug activity, from the road but could not tell where the odor was coming
20
from. R. Vol. 3, p. 77. As he walked around the cabin, Deputy Burke noticed
a green barrel with a lid that he believed to be a trash-can immediately next to
and within 10 feet of the front door of the cabin. R. Vol. 3, p. 82. Without a
warrant or consent, after the drug-sniffing dog had been deployed around the
perimeter of the cabin and its porch and had alerted on the front door of the
cabin, after he had sought and was again refused consent to search by
Appellant, and after he had made the decision to obtain a search warrant,
Deputy Burke opened the barrel that was located within 10 feet of the cabin
door, and rummaged through the contents. While rummaging the contents of
the barrel, Deputy Burke found an opaque Chicken Express bag that he
opened and rummaged as well. R. Vol. 3, p. 83. Inside the bag he found
several items he associated with drug cooking. Id. Dep. Burke then ran a
criminal history check of Appellant. Based on "all of the . . . information," a
search warrant was obtained by Deputy Burke and a search of the cabin was
made resulting in the seizure of the alleged contraband which forms the basis
of the conviction in this cause. R. Vol. 3, p. 84; R. Vol. 6, p. 7-11.
In Jardines, the United States Supreme Court held that "[t]he investigation
of Jardines home was a 'search' within the meaning of the Fourth
Amendment." Jardines at 1418-19. The facts of the instant case are on point.
21
In Jardines, acting on an unverified tip, police went to his door and knocked
in order to talk to him about the tip. Id. at 1413. Officers could smell what
the believed to be marijuana coming from the home. Id. at 1413, 1421.
Jardines fled the scene but was apprehended. Id. at 1413. Police brought a
drug-sniffing dog to the door of the residence which alerted on the door. Id.
Based on the information obtained in this investigation, police obtained a
warrant and searched his home. Id. Based on the evidence obtained during
the search of the home Jardines was charged with drug trafficking. Id.
In Jardines the Court found that "[t]he officers were gathering information
in an area belonging to Jardines and immediately surrounding his house—in
the curtilage of the house," which enjoys the same Fourth Amendment
protection as the house itself. Id. at 1414. The curtilage is any area
surrounding the home in which the "activity of home life" occurs. Id. at 1415.
The officer's actions in entering the curtilage for the purpose of gathering
information about drug activity violated the Fourth Amendment to the United
States Constitution, applicable to the states via Fourteenth Amendment
incorporation . Id. at 1414. As a result all evidence obtained after the officers
2
The government argued at the suppression hearing that since Defendant's home is a trailer
on private property that it is not a home and has no curtilage. The argument is specious.
"Our state and federal constitutions declare that homes—whether castles or cabins,
22
entered the curtilage of the home;—when they crossed the curb to walk up to
the door—must be suppressed as "fruit of the poisonous tree." See Jardines,
133 S. Ct. 1409 (2013); see also Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471
(1963)3. The Court explicitly held that, just as in the case at bar, "[t]he
government's use of trained police dogs to investigate the home and its
immediate surroundings is a 'search' within the meaning of the Fourth
Amendment." Id, at 1417-18. "[T]he officers learned what they learned only
by physically intruding on Jardines'1 property . . . [and that] is enough to
establish . . . [a violation of the Fourth Amendment]. Id. at 1417.
mansions or mobile homes—are protected spaces that require a warrant or other lawful
basis to justify a governmental intrusion." Powell v. State, 1D12-244, 1D12-1036 (Fla. CA
1, May 22, 2013) (Florida case applying Jardines to suppression issues).
The State argued at the suppression hearing that once they establish that a valid warrant is
issued, the court may only inquire as to the sufficiency of the affidavit used to obtain the
warrant and cannot inquire into matters that are not within the "four corners" of the
affidavit. Therefore, the State argued, that any evidence obtained by a facially valid
warrant is not subject to exclusion under the Fourth Amendment and matters which
occurred prior to obtaining the warrant are not relevant.
It is a basic tenet of criminal jurisprudence that all evidence obtained as a result of a
violation of the Fourth Amendment must be suppressed. This includes evidence obtained
later by search warrant using that information. The government cannot justify an otherwise
unlawful search based on the information obtained by that search. The mere fact that here,
as in Jardines, the government later obtained a search warrant based on the information
gathered by the unlawful intrusion into the constitutionally protected curtilage of
Defendant's home does not nullify the constitutional injury or its remedy—suppression of
the evidence. See Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 484-85, 487-88
(1963)(evidence obtained by Fourth Amendment violation excluded as fruit of the
poisonous tree); and, Pitonyak v. State, 253 S.W.3d 834, 848 (Tex.App.—Austin 2008, pet.
ref d)("[a] search warrant may not be procured lawfully by the use of unlawfully obtained
information").
23
As Justice Scalia points out in Jardines, to claim that in these situations
officers are merely gathering evidence in plain sight which is a lawful activity
that falls within the scope of the license to approach the door of a home, talk
to its occupants, and enter if invited is a "false generalization" since "no one is
impliedly invited to enter . . . the home in order to" look for incriminating
evidence. Jardines at 1416, n. 4. Based on the foregoing, the conviction
should be reversed and all evidence obtained after the unlawful entry onto the
curtilage of the cabin should be suppressed as fruit of the poisonous tree.
At the suppression hearing, the State argued that the officers were merely
engaged in a "knock and talk" exercise. But here, as in Jardines, as Justice
Scalia point out, "that is not what they did." Jardines at 1415, n. 1.
Moreover, the State argued that the subjective intent of the officers is not
relevant. However, that argument was explicitly rejected by a majority of the
United States Supreme Court. Id. 1416-17. The State also argued that there
was an independent basis for a search warrant without using information or
evidence tainted by a violation of the Fourth Amendment under Jardines.
However, an independent basis for obtaining a warrant will not nullify the
constitutional injury. For it is not the sufficiency of the warrant that is
complained of but rather the unlawful search itself. "The fact that equivalent
24
information could be obtained by other means does not make lawful the use of
means that violate the Fourth Amendment." Jardines, 133 S. Ct. at 1419, n. 2.
The State also argued that Jardines is a narrow case regarding the use of drug-
sniffing dogs and is not relevant to searches of the curtilage of a residence. As
Justice Scalia points out, Jardines is not a case about a dog. Id. at 1416, n. 3.
Though it is clear from Jardines that taking a drug-sniffing dog to the door of
a residence as part of a drug activity investigation without a warrant or
consent is prohibited by the Fourth Amendment. Id. at 1417-18. To argue
that Jardines is not a case about curtilage is without merit. Florida v.
Jardines, 133 S. Ct. 1409 (2013) (entry onto curtilage by police violates
Fourth Amendment).
Deputy Burke testified at trial that the road into Long's Fishing Camp,
despite a "No Trespassing" sign being posted, was a public access road and
area. R. Vol. 3, p. 79-80; R. Vol. 6, p. 75. However, the trespassing statute in
Texas does not provide an exception for police nor does it provide an
exception simply because of prior non-enforcement by the owner of the
property. Tex. Pen. Code §30.05. Moreover, the statute explicitly applies to
non-residential land, including recreational vehicle parks and agricultural
land, such as the land at issue in this case, where a sign is posted that entry is
25
forbidden. Id; R. Vol. 6, p. 75. In this case the private property where the
cabin is located is clearly and unambiguously posted that trespassing is
forbidden and permission must be obtained to lawfully enter. R. Vol. 6., p.
75. Deputy Burke testified that he was in fact aware of the "No Trespassing"
sign on the property. R. Vol. 3, p. 76. To the extent that any implied license
to enter the property without permission existed, to knock and talk or
otherwise, that license was negated by the by the "No Trespassing" sign.
Deputy Burke also testified that he did not have permission or consent to
enter the private property. R. Vol. 3, p. 76-77. Nor, did he have a warrant.
Therefore, the private property where the cabin is located was unlawfully
entered by police who, by virtue of that unlawful entry into the private
property, obtained evidence which forms the gravamen of the offense for
which Appellant was convicted. R. Vol. 3, p. 79-80. There being no
sufficient basis to obtain the search warrant in this case absent the unlawful
entry into the private property where Appellant and the cabin were located4,
and the evidence in this case having been obtained by virtue of the unlawful
4
The only information in the affidavit used to obtain the search warrant that was not
obtained from the unlawful entry into the private property where the cabin was located is
the unverified tip from an informant. R. Vol. 6, p. 7-11; R. Vol. 3, p. 84-85. Appellant
contends that this is not sufficient for the warrant to have been validly issued absent the
unlawfully obtained information. See Pitonyakv. State, 253 S.W.3d 834, 848 (Tex.App.—
Austin 2008, pet. ref d). Deputy Burke, who obtained the search warrant in this case,
conceded this point on cross-examination. R. Vol. 3, p. 78.
26
entry into private property by police, the trial court should have suppressed
the evidence. Jardines, 133 S. Ct. 1409; Pitonyakv. State, 253 S.W.3d 834,
848 (Tex.App.—Austin 2008, pet. ref d).; U. S. Const., am. IV, XIV; Tex.
Const., art. 1, sec. 9; Texas Code Crim. Pro. §38.23; R. Vol. 3, p. 84-85.
Appellant's motion to suppress evidence should have been granted by the
trial court and the failure to do so was error. The unlawfully obtained
evidence, which was admitted at trial over the objections of Appellant, was
most if not all of the evidence admitted against Appellant and it logically
follows that it contributed substantially in the juror's deliberations in arriving
at their verdict. R. Vol. 3, p. 34-35, 49, 50, 51, 62, 112, 113. Therefore, this
court should reverse Appellant's conviction. See Tijerena v. State, 334
S.W.3d 825, 835 (Tex.App.—Amarillo 2011, pet. refd); Tex. R. App. Pro
44.2(a).
II. The Trial Court Erred by Denying Appellant's Request for a
Jury Instruction Under Art. 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal
Procedure.
A. Standard of Review
In reviewing a trial court's denial of a requested jury instruction, an
appellate court must first determine whether the charge contains error.
27
Barrios v. State, 283 S.W.3d 348, 350 (Tex.Crim.App. 2009); Ngo v. State,
175 S.W.3d 738, 743 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005). If the charge does contain error,
then the appellate court must determine if the appellant suffered harm.
Barrios, 283 S.W.3d at 350; Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171
(Tex.Crim.App. 1985). Reversal is required if the error "is calculated to
injure the rights of the defendant," which has been interpreted to mean that
there is "some harm." Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171. Harm from failure to
include a 38.23 instruction in the jury charge is subject to Almanza analysis.
Atkison v. State, 923 S.W.2d 21, 27 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996).
B. Argument
A trial court must give an article 38.23 jury instruction if the evidence
raises a disputed fact issue about whether evidence was lawfully obtained.
Tex. Code Crim. Pro. art. 38.23; Madden v. State, 242 S.W.3d 504, 510
(Tex.Crim.App. 2007). A defendant is entitled to the submission of a jury
instruction under art. 38.23 if the evidence heard by the jury raises a fact
issue, the evidence on the fact is affirmatively contested, and the contested
factual issue is material to the lawfulness of the challenged conduct in
obtaining evidence. Id. at 510. "The evidence which raises the issue [of
whether the evidence was obtained illegally] may be either strong, weak,
28
contradicted, unimpeached, or unbelievable." Muniz v. State, 851 S.W.2d
238, 254 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). "[W]hen there are disputed issues of fact
affecting the legality of [the seizure of evidence] . . . the question of exclusion
may be tried to the jury . . . and the judge must include in his final charge an
instruction that, if the jury 'believes, or has a reasonable doubt, that the
evidence was obtained in violation of. . . any provision of the Constitution or
laws of the State of Texas, or of the Constitution or laws of the U.S., . . . then
and in such even, the jury shall disregard any such evidence so obtained."'
Atkinson v. State, 923 S.W.2d at 23.
Deputy Burke testified at trial that the road into Long's Fishing Camp,
despite a "No Trespassing" sign being posted, was a free access road and
public area. R. Vol. 3, p. 79-80; R. Vol. 6, p. 75. He further testified that the
road into the camp and in front of the cabin where the contraband was found
is a public road. R. Vol. 3, p. 80. Appellant affirmatively contested this
testimony by cross-examination and by offering and admitting a photograph
of the entrance to Long's Fishing Camp showing a "No Trespassing" sign and
another sign showing that Llano County maintenance ends at the entrance to
the fishing camp indicating that the road is in fact a private road. R. Vol. 3, p
79-80, 81; R. Vol. 6, p. 75. Deputy Burke further testified that he was aware
29
of the "No Trespassing" sign but that he "routinely accesses that property."
R. Vol. 3, p. 76, 80. Deputy Burke also testified that he did not stop in at the
office and check in with the owner, and did not have permission or consent to
enter the private property. R. Vol. 3, p. 76-77. Nor, did he have a warrant. R.
Vol. 3, p. 77.
The trespassing statute in Texas does not provide an exception for
police nor does it provide an exception simply because of prior non-
enforcement by the owner of the property. Tex. Pen. Code §30.05.
Moreover, the statute explicitly applies to non-residential land, including
recreational vehicle parks and agricultural land, such as the land at issue in
this case, where a sign is posted that entry is forbidden. Id; R. Vol. 6, p. 75.
In this case the private property where the cabin is located is clearly and
unambiguously posted that trespassing is forbidden and permission must be
obtained to lawfully enter or remain5. R. Vol. 6., p. 75. Deputy Burke
testified that he was in fact aware of the "No Trespassing" sign on the
property. R. Vol. 3, p. 76. To the extent that any implied license to enter the
property without permission of the owner existed, to knock and talk or
5
The sign requires visitors to turn right and immediately check in at the fishing camp
office. Deputy Burke instead turned left and went straight to the cabin without checking in
or obtaining permission to be on the private property where the cabin is located. R. Vol. 3,
p. 76-77; R. Vol. 6, p. 75.
30
otherwise, that license was negated by the by the "No Trespassing" sign. See
Jardines, 133 S. Ct. 1409. Therefore, the entry of police into the private
property where the cabin is located was unlawful under the laws and
constitutions of Texas and the United States and should have been suppressed
by the trial court or jury. Tex. Penal Code §30.05; Tex. Code. Crim. Pro.
§38.23; U. S. Const, am. IV, XIV; Tex. Const, art. 1, sec. 9.
The evidence of contraband upon which Appellant's conviction relies,
was obtained by police as a direct result of their entry into the private property
where the cabin is located. The jury heard conflicting evidence from the State
and Appellant as to whether the property, and road leading into the property,
is public or private. Appellant affirmatively cross-examined and admitted
evidence challenging the State's witness on this issue. This contested fact
issue is material to the lawfulness of police conduct in obtaining the evidence
that forms the gravamen of the offense for which the jury convicted
Appellant. Appellant requested that the jury charge include a 38.23
instruction and submitted a proposed jury instruction on this issue, but the trial
court denied Appellant's request for a 38.23 instruction in the jury charge. Tr.
115, 117-23; R. Vol. 5, p. 8-14. The trial court erred by refusing Appellant's
31
requested jury charge and failing to charge the jury on this issue . If the
charge had included a 38.23 instruction, and if the jury agreed with Appellant,
then there would not have been any evidence of contraband considered by the
jury and Appellant would have been acquitted. Therefore, Appellant was
harmed by the trial court's refusal to include a 38.23 instruction in the jury
charge. Appellant's conviction should therefore be reversed.
III. The Evidence Admitted at Trial is Insufficient to Sustain a
Conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
A. Standard of Review
In determining the legal sufficiency of the evidence, the appellate court
must inquire as to "whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Lassaint v. State,
79 S.W.3d 736 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 2002)(citing Jackson v. Virginia,
443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979)). In evaluating the
evidence of unauthorized possession of a firearm by a felon, appellate courts
6
The court was stated that it was inclined to give a 38.23 instruction given the evidence at
trial. However, after the court received a phone call at the bench from the elected district
attorney, the court denied the instruction based on the State's argument. R. Vol. 5, p. 9-10,
13,14.
32
apply the same rules adopted for possession of controlled substances cases.
Bates v. State, 155 S.W.3d 212, 216 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2004, no pet.). In
drug possession cases, the State must prove both that the defendant had actual
custody, control and management over the drugs and that the defendant had
knowledge that the drugs were in fact contraband. Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d at 736
(citing King v. State, 895 S.W.2d 701, 703 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995)(citing
Martin v. State, 753 S.W.2d 384, 387 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988)). Likewise, to
support a conviction of unauthorized possession of a firearm, the State must
prove that the accused exercised actual care, custody, control or management
over the firearm. See Bates, 155 S.W.3d at 216; Nguyen v. State, 54 S.W.3d
49, 52-3 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 2001, no pet.)(partially overruled on other
grounds by Fagan v. State, 362 S.W.3d 796 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 2012, pet.
refd)).
"[T]he evidence must affirmatively link the accused to the contraband
in such a manner and to such an extent that a reasonable inference may arise
that the accused knew of the contraband's existence and that he exercised
control over it. Lassaint, 79 S.WJd at 740 (citing Travis v. State, 658 S.W.2d
502, 503 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982). "When an accused is not in exclusive
possession and control of the place where contraband is found, it cannot be
33
concluded he had knowledge or control over the contraband unless there are
additional independent facts and circumstances that affirmatively link him to
the contraband." Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d at 740 (citing Brown v. State, 911
S.W.2d 744, 748 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995); Cude v. State, 716 S.W.2d 46, 47
(Tex.Crim.App. 1986); Sandoval v. State, 946 S.W.2d 472, 476 (Tex.App.—
Corpus Christi 1997, no pet)); Bates, 155 S.WJd at 216-17; See Sutton v.
State, 328 S.W.3d 73,76 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2010, no pet.)(affirmative
links doctrine applicable to unauthorized possession of firearm cases).
When contraband is not found on the person of the accused, additional
facts must link the accused citizen to the contraband. Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d at
740 (citing Menchaca v. State, 901 S.W.2d 640, 651 (Tex.App.—El Paso
1995, pet. refd); Musickv. State, 862 S.W.2d 794, 804 (Tex.App.—El Paso
1993, pet. refd)). The affirmative links doctrine, the appropriate means of
applying the Jackson rationality standard of review, holds that evidence, direct
or circumstantial, must establish that the defendant's connection with the
contraband is more than just fortuitous—he must have exercised actual care,
control or custody of the contraband, must have been conscious of his
connection with the contraband, and must have known what that the item was
contraband. Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d at 740 (citing Martinets v. State, 884 S.W.2d
34
185, 188 (Tex.App.—Austin 1994, no pet.); Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744
(Tex.Crim.App. 1995)); See Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 895
(Tex.Crim.App. 201Q)(Jackson standard controls in evaluating sufficiency of
the evidence challenges). The "affirmative links must be sufficient that a
rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that [the defendant]
exercised actual custody, control or management over the contraband."
Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d at 740 (citing Dixon v. State, 918 S.W.2d 678, 679
(Tex.App.—Beaumont 1996, no pet.)).
Courts have developed a non-exclusive list of factors to be considered
in making the determination of whether the evidence is sufficient to
affirmatively link an accused citizen with contraband. These factors may
include whether the accused citizen was the owner or had exclusive
possession of the premises where contraband was discovered, whether the
contraband was within close proximity or view of the accused citizen when it
was found, whether the accused citizen possessed other contraband when
arrested, whether paraphernalia to use or associated with the contraband was
found on the person of the defendant or in his view, conduct of the accused
citizen indicating consciousness of guilt, whether the accused citizen
attempted to flee authorities when the contraband was discovered, and
35
whether the accused citizen has any special connection to the contraband.
Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d at 740, 41 (citing Carvajalv. State, 529 S.W.2d 517, 520
(Tex.Crim.App. 1975); State v. Derrow, 981 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tex.App.—
Houston [1 st Dist] 1998, pet. ref d); Mohmedv. State, 977 S.W.2d 624, 627
(Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1998, pet. ref d); Cantu v. State, 944 S.W.2d 669, 670
(Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 1997, pet. ref d); Ortiz v. State, 930 S.W.2d 849,
853 (Tex.App.—Tyler 1996, no pet.); Dixon, 918 S.W.2d at 681; Washington
v. State, 902 S.W.2d 649, 652 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1995, pet.
ref d); Watson v. State, 861 S.W.2d 410, 414-15 (Tex.App.—Beaumont 1993,
pet. ref d)); Smith v. State, 176 S.W.3d 907, 916 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2005, pet.
ref d); Williams v. State, 313 S.W.3d 393, 397-98 (Tex.App.—Houston [1 st
Dist.] 2009, pet. ref d); Taylor v.State, 106 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex.App.—
Dallas 2003, no pet); see Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 162 n.12
(Tex.Crim.App. 2006).
"The number of factors is not as important as the logical force the
factors have in establishing the elements of the offense." Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d
at 741 (citing Jones v. State, 963 S.W.2d 826, 830 (Tex.App.—Texarkana
1998, no pet.); Hurtado v. State, 881 S.W.2d 738, 743 (Tex.App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 1994, pet. ref d); Gilbert v. State, 874 S.W.2d 290, 298 (Tex.App.—
36
Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, pet. ref d)); see Smith, 176 S.W.3d at 916. "[P]roof
amounting to a strong suspicion or even a probability will not suffice."
Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d at 741 (citing Grant v. State, 989 S.W.2d 428, 433
(Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.)(citing Dubry v. State, 582
S.W.2d 841,844 (Tex.Crim.App [Panel Op.] 1979))). "[T]he question of
whether the evidence is sufficient to affirmatively link the accused to the
contraband must be answered on a case by case basis. Lassaint, 79 S.W.3d at
741 (citing Whitworth v. State, 808 S.W.2d 566, 569 (Tex.App.—Austin
1991, pet. ref d)).
B. Argument
In the case at bar, police found and seized what was alleged to be a .22 rifle
on a bed inside a cabin at Long's Fishing Camp during a search of the cabin.
R. Vol. 3, p. 69, 70, 86, 104. Appellant challenged the sufficiency of the
evidence in the trial court by moving for a directed verdict, which was denied.
R. Vol. 4, p. 6.
There was no fingerprint or DNA evidence at trial connecting Appellant to
the contraband at issue in this case. R. Vol. 3—P. 10, 88, 90. There was no
evidence at trial of any connection between the contraband discovered and
37
Appellant or any other particular source. R. Vol. 3—P. 94. Appellant was not
found with any contraband, ammunition or paraphernalia on his person.
Appellant was not found or seen in the cabin, within sight of or near the
firearm, the contraband or paraphernalia found in the cabin7. R. Vol. 3—P.
99. There was not any evidence that Appellant was under the influence of
alcohol or drugs. There was no evidence that Appellant possessed a large sum
of cash when he was arrested and none was found in the cabin. There was no
evidence that drugs were being cooked or sold from the cabin. R. Vol. 3, p.
93. Moreover, only a very small amount of a controlled substance was
located hidden in the cabin. R. Vol. 3—P. 114.
There was in fact no evidence at trial that Appellant was observed with the
.22 rifle that was found inside the cabin or that he had any knowledge that the
firearm was in the cabin. See Naquin v. State, 607 S.W.2d 583
(Tex.Crim.App. 1980)(state failed to prove sufficient affirmative link to
contraband where no direct evidence of actual possession by defendant and no
evidence that defendant knew that the contraband was where it was found). If
7
Deputy Burke testified that a named cooperating source told him that she had been
involved with the purchase of contraband from Appellant at the cabin recently, but the state
did not call the named cooperating source to testify about these facts. Moreover, Deputy
Burke testified that he had no reason to believe that this person was reliable. Presumably
the jury received this hearsay evidence not for the truth of the matter asserted, but instead
to show probable cause. R. Vol. 3—P. 78.
38
the firearm is not found on the accused citizen's person or is not seen in the
accused citizen's exclusive care, custody, control or management, the State
must offer additional, independent facts and circumstances that link the
defendant to the firearm. Bates, 155 S.W.3d at 216-17. Having failed to do
that, the State has thus failed to establish the necessary affirmative link, by
circumstantial or direct evidence, between Appellant and the contraband
seized from the cabin to sustain a conviction in this case.
Although police testified that they believe that Appellant had access to the
cabin, there was no specific evidence at trial that Appellant had exclusive
access or that the cabin was in fact his residence. R. Vol. 3—P. 98. To the
contrary, the testimony at trial showed that police believed that any number of
people had access to the cabin including the general public. R. Vol. 3—P. 80,
95, 96, 97-98. Despite testimony that the cabin was padlocked and could not
be entered without a key, there was no evidence at trial that Appellant
possessed a key to the cabin. R. Vol. 3—P. 98; See Garcia v. State, 790
S.W.2d 22 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1990, pet. dism'd)(no affirmative link
where appellant did not have key to area where drugs found). No evidence
was offered at trial that Appellant leased or used the cabin as a residence, such
as lease agreements, utility bills, or pay stubs. Moreover, the state did not call
39
the owner of the cabin to testify regarding the status of the cabin and
Appellant's access. See Roberson v. State, 80 S.W.2d 730 (Tex.App.—
Houston [1st Dist] 2002, pet. ref d)(where accused citizen is not in exclusive
possession of the place where contraband is discovered, additional
independent facts and circumstances must link him to the contraband). In
short, the State failed to prove at trial that Appellant had resided at or had sole
or exclusive access to the cabin at the fishing camp.
In Guiton v. State, the Court of Criminal Appeals, affirming reversal by the
Court of Appeals, held that the evidence was not sufficient to uphold a
conviction for possession of heroine found in a motel room where the
defendant was observed retrieving a key and preparing to enter the room
which was registered in his name. 742 S.W.2d 5 (Tex.Crim.App. 1987). The
Court of Appeals found, inter alia, that there was no evidence indicating to
whom the room had been rented. Id. The court held that the state failed to
prove that the defendant had sole access to the room. Id. "When the accused
is not in exclusive possession of the place where the [contraband] is found, it
cannot be concluded that the accused had knowledge of and control over the
contraband unless there are additional independent facts and circumstances
which affirmatively link the accused to the contraband." Id. at 8. In the
40
instant case, just as in Guiton, the State has failed to prove that Appellant had
sole access to the place where contraband was found and failed to prove,
though independent facts and circumstances, that the firearm is affirmatively
linked to Appellant.
There was no evidence at trial that Appellant had actual care, custody or
control of the .22 rifle found at the cabin . At best the state could argue that
Appellant had access to the cabin and therefore the jury could infer that
Appellant had knowledge that the contraband was in the cabin . However,
even assuming arguendo that the state established that Appellant was aware of
the contraband in the cabin and knew what it was, which Appellant does not
concede, the State must additionally "prove that the [firearm] was within his
actual care, custody, or control." Copeland v. State, 141 S.W.2d 14, 15
(Tex.App.—Houston [1 st Dist.] 1988, no pet.)(emphasis in original)(state
established that defendant possessed the substance and knew what it was, but
8
In fact the State did not introduce into evidence the item they allege to be a firearm or a
photo of the firearm. Neither did the State introduce any expert testimony that the alleged
contraband is in fact an operable firearm within the statutory definition nor when the rifle
was manufactured (firearms manufactured before a certain date are not illegal to possess
even if they are operable—an important fact since the rifle was described as being "old").
Tex. Pen. Code §46.01(3). Instead the State offered only a demonstrative exhibit which
they claim is a diagram of a firearm similar to that seized from the cabin. Appellant does
not concede that the alleged contraband is in fact a firearm within the statutory definition.
9
Appellant does not concede this point.
41
failed to prove that the substance was within his actual custody, care or
control); see Bates, 155 S.W.3d at 216; Nguyen, 54 S.W.3d at 52-3. The state
offered no evidence at trial that the contraband seized from the cabin was in
Appellant's actual care, custody or control. Therefore, the evidence at trial
failed to establish the required affirmative link between Appellant and the
contraband seized from the cabin sufficient to sustain a conviction in this case.
Id.
The only physical evidence at trial that connected Appellant to the cabin
was an eyeglass prescription found inside a closed duffle bag found in the
cabin. R. Vol. 3—P. 63, 105. However, this item was not found near the .22
rifle. R. Vol.3, p. 58-59. Instead it was found in a duffle bag elsewhere in the
cabin with no evidence to suggest when or why the duffle bag was placed into
the cabin or how the prescription came to be in the bag. R. Vol. 3—P. 105.
See Laissant, 79 S.W.3d 736 (even where defendant's fingerprints were found
on bag full of cocaine, no affirmative link was established since it could not
be ascertained when the prints on the bag were made). At best this evidence
can only show that Appellant, or someone he knows, may have had access to
the cabin at sometime in the past (or perhaps just the duffle bag). See Id. at
739 (citing Oaks v. State, 642 S.W.2d 174, 177 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982)(mere
42
presence of an accused citizen at a place where contraband is found is not
sufficient to establish possession even if he knows of the contraband's
existence)); see also Dixon, 918 S.W.2d 678 (even where some factors
establish a link to the contraband this is not dispositive where outweighed by
countervailing factors); and, Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402
(Tex.Crim.App. 2005)(while independent affirmative link factors can be
shown by circumstantial evidence, the factors must establish that the accused
citizen's connection with the drug was more than just fortuitous).
There was no evidence admitted at trial connecting the .22 rifle, which was
located on the bed at the front of the cabin, to the duffle bag located in the
back of the cabin where Appellant's eye-glass prescription was found—in fact
there was no other evidence found in the cabin connected to the .22 rifle or
Appellant10. R. Vol. 3, p. 58-59. As presented, and in light of the strength,
logical thrust and number of all of the countervailing factors, the presence of
the eyeglass prescription fails to establish a sufficient affirmative link between
Appellant and the contraband discovered in the cabin. See Brown, 911
S.W.2d at 746 (evidence of affirmative links must be of such strength that the
evidence would support no inference other than the guilt of the accused
10
The State argued in closing that there were bullets in the duffle bag. R. Vol.4, p. 50.
However, no such evidence was admitted at trial. R. Vol. 4, p. 52-57.
43
citizen); Dixon, 918 S.W.2d at 681 (factors establishing an affirmative link to
contraband were outweighed by countervailing factors).
In Watson v. State, the owner/operator of a tractor-trailer was stopped
while transporting 600-700 pounds of cocaine in the trailer of his rig. 752
S.W.2d 217 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1988, pet. refd). Finding that the
evidence showed that the defendant was not the only person with access to the
trailer, the court held that the state failed to prove an affirmative link between
the owner/driver of the truck and trailer and the large quantity of cocaine
found inside. Id. "[W]ithout some evidence excluding the reasonable
hypothesis that appellant was unaware of the presence of the cocaine, the trier
of fact could not conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant
knowingly possessed the cocaine." Id. at 222. In the case at bar, the evidence
is far less compelling than in Watson. There is no evidence in the instant case
that would exclude the reasonable hypothesis that Appellant was unaware of
the contraband found in the cabin. Though the evidence need not be so strong
as to exclude every possible reasonable hypothesis other than guilt, it must be
sufficient that a rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that
an accused citizen exercised actual care, custody control or management over
the contraband. Dixon, 918 S.W.2d at 681 (emphasis added); Bates, 155
44
S.W.3d at 216. Therefore, the evidence at trial is not sufficient to establish
the requisite affirmative link between Appellant and the contraband seized
from the cabin sufficient to sustain a conviction. See Watson, 752 S.W.2d
217.
Appellant gave no incriminating statements, did not act suspiciously at the
scene, and made no attempts to flee while the cabin was searched. In short,
Appellant's actions do not give rise to the inference that he had any
knowledge that there was contraband in the cabin (or even that he resided at
the cabin for that matter). See Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 162, n.12; Smith, 176
S.W.3d at 916; Taylor, 106 S.W.3d at 831; Moreno v. State, 821 S.W.2d 344
(Tex.App.—Waco 1992, pet. ref d)(no affirmative link to contraband where
accused citizen did not make furtive gestures, attempt to escape, or make
incriminating statements). Therefore, there is no evidence in this case that any
act or omission by Appellant gives rise to an affirmative link to the
contraband seized from the cabin.
In Garcia, a case with some similarities to the instant case, police received
a tip that drugs would be transported in a particular car. 790 S.W.2d 22. The
defendant was stopped at a planned roadblock, appearing nervous and sweaty
45
as the sole occupant of the vehicle. Police found a large amount of
contraband hidden in the car. Despite this, the court found that the state failed
to establish an affirmative link between the contraband and the defendant
since, among other reasons, the contraband was not found on the person of the
defendant, the defendant did not make incriminating statements, and the
defendant did not have a key to the trunk where the contraband was found. Id.
at 22. As in Garcia, Appellant in the case at bar did not have any firearms or
other weapons on his person, Appellant did not make any incriminating
statements, and Appellant did not have a key to the cabin where the
contraband was found. Just as in the Garcia case, in the instant case the State
has failed to establish an affirmative link between Appellant and the
contraband he is alleged to have possessed. Id.
The State has failed to prove an affirmative link between the contraband
seized from the fishing camp cabin and Appellant by independent facts and
circumstances. The State has failed to prove that Appellant had sole or
exclusive access to the cabin in which the contraband was found. The State
failed to prove that Appellant resided in the cabin. The State has failed to
prove that Appellant has any connection to the contraband found in the cabin.
The State has failed to prove that Appellant had any knowledge of the
46
existence of the contraband which was found in the cabin. The State has
failed to prove that Appellant exercised actual care, custody, management or
control over the old .22 rifle found in the cabin. Moreover, the State has
failed to prove that the item alleged to be a firearm is in fact a firearm as
statutorily defined. Therefore, the evidence at trial is not sufficient such that a
rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant
possessed a firearm. As such, the evidence was not sufficient to sustain a
conviction in this case and Appellant's conviction should be reversed.
CONCLUSION AND PRAYER
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant, Cole Canyon
Lockhart, respectfully prays that this Court reverse the jury's verdict.
Appellant further prays that the Court grant such other and further relief to
which Appellant is justly entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Tracy D. Cluck
TRACY D. CLUCK
Texas Bar No. 00787254
1450 West Highway 290, #855
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Telephone: 512-264-9997
E-Fax: 509-355-1867
47
tracy@tracyclucklawyer.com
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
COLE CANYON LOCKHART
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Brief of Appellant,
Cole Canyon Lockhart, has been served on the attorney listed below by fax to
325-247-5274, on July 13, 2014:
424th & 33rd District Attorney's Office
Mr. Wiley B. McAfee, Dist. Atty.
Mr. Gary Bunyard, Asst. Dist. Atty.
/s/ Tracy D. Cluck
TRACY D. CLUCK
CERTIFICATE OF WORD COUNT
I certify that the pertinent portion of the brief for the Appellant, Cole
Canyon Lockhart, is comprised of approximately 9283 words.
/s/ Tracy D. Cluck
TRACY D. CLUCK
48