Carreon, Lorenzo ( 2015 )


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  •                        NO.
    PD-1199-15
    IN    THE    TEXAS
    COURT OF      CRIMINAL APPEALS
    AUSTIN,TEXAS
    LORENZON CARREON,Appellant
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,Appellee
    Appeal from the Eigth Supreme
    judicial District of Texas
    No.08-12-00239^CR
    From District Court 120th District
    Court El Paso County,Texas
    The Honorable Maria Salas-Mendonza,Judge
    PETITION FOR ©lIT^QE VT.IME
    SEP I6M5               DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
    LORENZO CARREON-PRO SE
    #1828049 Polunsky Unit
    3872 FM 350 South
    Livingston,Texas 77351
    INDENTITY OF INTERESTED PARTIES,COUNSEL AND TRIAL JUDGES:
    FOR APPELLEE,THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    TRIAL COUNSEL: Ms.Tara Flynn Rutledge,Assistant District Attroney
    SBOT No.00796560
    Ms.Robyn R.Griffith,Assistant District Attorney
    SOBT No.   24012738
    APPELLATE COUNSEL: Jaime Esparza,District Attorney:
    Office of the District Attorney of Texas
    500 East San Antonio,Rm. 201
    El Paso,Texas 79901
    Phone:915-546-2059
    FOR APPELLANT.LORENZO CARREON:
    TRIAL COUNSEL:
    Mateo DeKpatz
    SBOT No.05722300
    Mr.Paul R.    Pinon
    SBOT No.24076626
    APPELLATE COUNSEL:
    Mateo DeKoatz,
    SBOT No.05722300
    P.O.Box 1886
    El Paso,Texas 79950
    IDENTITY OF TRIAL JUDGES:
    THE Hon. Maria Salas-Mendoza,Judge
    120th District COurt
    500 East San Antonio,6th Floor
    El Paso,Texas 79901
    Phone:    915-546-2103
    ii.
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    PAGE
    INDENTITY OF INTERESTED PARTTES
    INDEX OF AUTHORIES        ,.                                iii
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT                           iv
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE                                       iv
    ISSUES PRESENTED                                            iv
    ISSUE ONE:   WHETHER THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED BY   :.
    AFFIRMING GROUND ONE OF APPEAL WHERE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY
    NOT INSTRUCTING THE JURY ON INSANITY DEFENSE IN ITS CHARGE
    TO THE JURY AT THE GUILT PHASE OF TRIAL?
    ARGUMENTS                                                    1
    ISSUE TWO:WHETHER THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED BY AFFIRMING
    GROUND TWO OF APPEAL WHERE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING
    TO SUPPRESS APPELLANT'S INCRIMINATING STATEMENTS.
    ARGUMENTS                                                    2
    PRAYER                                                      10
    i.
    INDEX OF AUTHORIES
    STATE CASES                                                PAGE
    Armstrong V. State,718 S.W.2d 686(Tex.Crira.1985)           10
    Bell V.State.724 S-W-2d 780(Tex-Crim-App-1986)             8,9
    Berry V. State, 58 Tex, Cr .R291,125S .W. 580               2
    Cato V State,534 S.W.2d at 138                              5
    Coble V.State,871 S.W.2d 192,201-2(Tex.Crim.App.1994..      3
    Crain v.State,315 S.W.3d 43,52)Tex.Crim.App. 2010)          7
    Duff V. State,751 S.W.2d 175,176(Tex.1988)                  5
    Fuller V.State,423 S.W.2d 924(Tex.Crim.App. 1968)...        2
    Gibson V State,726 S.W.2dl29,132(Tex.Crim.App.1968)...      2
    Green V. State,934 S.W.2d 92,99(Tex.Crim.App. 1996)      9
    Jeffley V. State,938S.W.2d514(Tex.App.---Texarkanal997) 7,10
    Kirby V. State,49 Tex.Cr.R. 517,
    93 S.W. 1030
                   2
    Love V.State, 
    909 S.W.2d 930
    (Tex.App. El Paso 1995)...     4
    McGee V. State, 155 Tex.Cr.R.    639,238 S.W2d 707          2
    McKenzie V. State,521 S.W.637 (Ted.Crim.App.1975)...        4
    Monge V. State,276 S.W.3d 180                                7
    Nutter V. State,93 S.W.3d 130,132(Tex.App.--Hou.1st.Dis.
    2001,no pet.)                                                3
    Pacheco V. State,
    757 S.W.2d 729
    (Tex.Crim.App. 1988)...       3,4,
    Parker V. State, 206 S.W.3d 593,596(Tex.Crim.App.2006)..         7
    
    Scott, 165 S.W.3d at 43
                                             10
    State V. Steelman, 93 S.W.3d 102,107(Tex.Crim.App.)2002) .       7
    Stover V. State,100 Tex.Cr.R. 16,271 S.W. 616                    2
    Werck V.State,156 Tex.Cr.R. 50,
    238 S.W.2d 793
    ...                 2
    Yelin V. State,751 S.W.2d at 176                                 5
    PAGE
    FEDERAL   CASES
    Arizona V.•' Fulminante ,499 U.S. 279(1991)                          10
    Brown V. Illinois,422 U.S.590(1975)                                  8
    Brinegar V. United States,338 'U.S. 160,175,69 S.Ct:J1302        .8
    Jackson V. Denno,378 U.S.368(1964)                                   
    9 Md. V
    . Pringle,540 U.S. 366(2003)                               7
    7-
    Ohio,379 U.S.89(1964)
    Wong Sun V. United States ,371'U.S. 471,
    STATUTES                                                     PAGE
    TEX.CODE.Ann.Section 8.01 (A)(Vernon Supp. 2001)...       1,2
    TEX.CODE. Crim.Proc. Ann. Art. 46.03(Nernon Supp. 2001).. 1,2
    in
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
    Appellant is proceeding Pro se and waive oral arguments
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE
    APPELLANT, Lorenzo Carreon was charged by indictment with murder.
    Rr5 10-11-. The jury found Appellant guilty.Rr8 59. Jury assessed
    punmishment at 60     years of confinement. Rr9 66.
    STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    The court of Appeal Eighth District of Texas El Paso,Texas issued
    an Opinion affirming the conviction on August 27,2014.
    No rehearing was filed nor PDR due to the lack of legal
    assistance.
    ISSUES PRESENTED
    WHETHER THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED BY AFFIRMING GROUND
    ONE OF APPEAL WHERE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT INSTRUCTING THE JURY.,
    ON INSANITY DEFENSE IN ITS CHARGE TO THE JURY AT THE GUILT PHASE
    OF TRIAL.
    WHETHER THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED BY AFFIRMING GROUND TWO OF
    APPEAL WHERE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO SUPPRESS APPELLANT'S
    INCRIMINATING STATEMENTS.
    i v.
    NO.
    IN THE TEXAS
    COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
    AUSTIN,TEXAS
    LORENZO,:    CARREON, Appellant
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,Appellee
    RULE 2     SUSPENION MOTION
    TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:
    Comes now respectfully,LORENZO CARREON,Appellant in the above
    styled and numbered cause whom are proceeding in Pro se files
    and submit this his Rule 2 Suspenion Motion,and in support,the
    Appellant will show:
    Appellant is confined within the Texas Department of Criminal
    Justice and do not have a way to make additional copies as
    required by the court,and respectfully ask of this court to
    suspend the rule requiring additional copies.
    WHEREFORE,PREMISES CONSIDERED,Appellant prays that the court
    will grant this motion.
    ON   THIS THE/H DAY OF Au qLhSV, 2015
    RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
    LOENZO    CARREON
    Polunsky Unit
    3872 FM 350 South
    Livingston,Texas 77351
    NO.
    IN THE TEXAS
    COURT OF    CRIMINAL APPEALS
    AUSTIN,TEXAS
    LORENZO CARREON,Appellant
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,Appellee
    PETITION FOR OUT OF TIME
    DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
    TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:
    Comes now respectfully,Lorenzo Carreon,Appellant in the above
    styled and numbered cause proceeding in Pro se.files and submits
    this his Petition For For Out of Time Discretionary Review,under
    Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 68.1 and in support,
    shows in the following:
    I.
    GROUNDS    FOR REVIEW ONE
    WHETHER THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED BY AFFIRMING GROUND ONE OF
    APPEAL WHERE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT INSTRCUTING THE JURY ON
    INSANITY DEFENSE IN ITS CHARGE TO THE JURY AT THE GUILT PHASE
    OF TRIAL.
    ARGUMENTS
    The affirmative defense of insanity applies if "at the time of
    the conduct charged,the actor,as a result of severe mental
    disease or defect, did not know that hisconduct was wrong."Tex.
    Pen. Code Ann. Section 8.01(a)(Vernon Supp. 2001). The insanity
    defense provided in Section 8.01 of the Penal Code shall be
    submitted to the jury if supported by competent evidence." Tex.
    Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 46.03 (Vernon Supp. 2001). If evidence
    from any source raise the issue of insanity, the trial court
    1.
    must include an instruction on this defense in the jury charge.
    Gibson V. State,726 S.W.2d 129,132 (Tex.Crim.App. 1987).
    Every person is presumed to be sane and to have sufficient judg
    ment and reason to be responsible for his acts until the contray
    is established. Fuller V. State,423 S.W.2d 924,925(Tex.Crim.
    App. 1968). It is by reason of this presumption that the law
    casts upon one relying on insanity as a defense to a crime the
    burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that
    his intellect was so disordered that he did not know the nature
    and quality of the act he was doing,or if he did know that he
    was unable to distinguish between the right and wrong as to
    the particular act charged. Fuller, citing Wenck V. State,156
    Tex.Cr.R. 50, 
    238 S.W.2d 793
    . Therefore, mere mental deficiency
    or derangement, though it may constitute a form of insanity
    known to and recognized by medical science, does not excuse
    one for crime. Fuller,citing McGee V. State,155 Tex.Cr.R. 639,
    
    238 S.W.2d 707
    .
    .Because the issue of insanity at the time of the commission of
    the offense is primarily a defensive one, it ordinarily should
    be raised during the course of the trial.
    In the case at bar,' Appellant properly raised the issue. If such
    issue is properly raised by competent evidence,the court must
    charge the jury on the insanity defense. Artilce 46.02,Sec.2
    (c)(1), Vernon's Ann. C.C.P.; Berry V. State,58 Tex.Cr.R. 291,
    
    125 S.W. 580
    . Under     such circumstances,reversal will follow
    if the court fails to provide the requested charge. See Stoner
    V. State,100 Tex.Cr.R. 16,271 S.W.616. Appellant submits that
    his request for the insanity defense instruction to the jury
    was proper and based upon legally competent evidence.See state
    ment of facts. •fcdL In tbe case at bar,the jury was exposed to more.
    than:. 16 intsances of la^withess^suppottingv insanity i.iinstS'.uc.KiiQns^,,
    Mere proof that an accused was not brignt or was of weak mind
    does not raise the issue of insanity.Fuller,citing Kirby V.
    State,49 Tex.Cr.R. 517, 
    93 S.W. 1030
    .
    It is the jury's duty, under proper instructions, to determine
    whether the evidence is credible and supports the defenseive
    issue. Id,citing Moore V. State, 
    574 S.W.2d 122
    (Tex.Cr.App.
    1978). When considered with the facts and circumstances con
    cerning an accused and the offense, lay opinion testimony may
    be sufficent to raise the defense of insanity. Pacheco V. State,
    
    757 S.W.2d 729
    (Tex.Crim. App. 1988). In the case at bar, the
    jury was presented with copious lay opinion testimony supporting
    that Appellant suffered from menatl illness and was insane at
    the   time of   the offense.
    The existence of a mental disease,alone,is not sufficient to
    establish legal insanity; rather accused-must show some evidence
    that he was mantally ill at the time of the offense to the point
    that he did not know his conduct was wrong. Plough V. State,725
    S.W.2d 494,500 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1987,no pet.). In Nutter
    V. State,93 S.W.3d 130, 132 (Tex.App.--Hous .[ 14th Dist. ] 200l',no
    pet.), the grocery store clerk testified that at the time of
    the robbery, that defendant appeared clam and not intoxicated
    or irrational in his behavior. Additionally,the clerk further
    testified that      at the time of   the ddFSnda'nt^commandedfher to-
    fillt the grocery bag with money and, throughout the entire :-
    episode, he appeared clam and did not appear "crazy" or as
    though he did not know who he was or what he was doing. In fact,
    the evidence showed,according to the court, that as soon as the
    defendant had the bag of money, he fled the scene and left the
    State. Id.Because the defendant attempted to evade arrest,that
    court reasoned, there was evidence that he knew that his con
    duct was wrong. See Nutter,citing Plough,725 S.W.2d at 500
    (holding that attempts to conceal incriminating evidence and
    to elude officers indicate awareness of wrongful conduct).
    Thus,that court found the conduct not tending to suggest that
    he was insane at the time of the offense. See Nutter,citing
    Coble V. State,871      S.W.2d 192,201-2(Tex.Crim.App. 1994))(holding
    that the defendant was not entitled to instruction on insanity
    because evidence showed he was not irrational either during
    or after the offense). In the instant case, the record does
    not tend to demonstarte that Appellant attempted to conceal
    3.
    incriminating evidence or to elude officers the time of the
    offense.To the contrary, the record depicts Appellant living,
    sleeping,drinking alcohol, and remaining in the same clothing,
    in a blood spattered apartment, with the dead body, he did not
    attempt to leave. He cleaned neither his aprtment nor his person.
    His telephone conversations with his brother began with small
    talk. In fact,any evidence tending to suggest concealment of
    criminality happened only.after the offense. The burning of the
    body was determined to be post-mortem by Dr.Contin. In other
    words, even if the burning of the body is to be interpreted as
    evidence of concealment, it is also evidence of complete insnai-
    ty- burning a body in the middle of an apartment.
    in Jeffley V. State, 
    938 S.W.2d 514
    (Tex.App.---Texarkana 1997,
    no pet.), the defendant requested a jury instruction on the
    insanity defense, and the trial court denied the request,
    the reviewing court noted that "if the evidence from any source
    raised the issue of a defensive theory, it must be included
    in the court's charge." Jeffley,citing Gibson V. State, 726
    S.W.2d 129,132 (Tex.Crim. App. 1987)(bpv on: reh'g).
    Failure to do so is reversible error. Id,citing McKenzie V. State
    
    521 S.W.2d 637
    (Tex.Crim. App. 1975). The defendant there con
    tended that "the insanity defense was raised by his testimony
    that he was upset and nervous, that he could not remember the
    events surrounding the charge, and according to the psychologists
    hypothetical testimony, that loss of memory was a possible re
    sult of insanity."Jeffley at 514. Though that court recognized
    that lay opinion testimony,when considered with facts and
    circumstances concerning an accused and the offense, may suffice
    to taise the issue of insanity (citing Pacheco V. State,
    757 S.W.2d 729
    ,736 (Tex.Crim. App. 1988), it held that "being upset
    and nervous under these circumstancs was not inconsistent with
    sanity. A defenat's nervousness is   insufficient to show insanity1.'
    Jeffley citing Love V. State, 909:S.W.2d 930 (Tex.App.-El gaso
    £995,pet. ref'd).
    4.
    In the case at bar, unlike in Jeffley, the lay witness evidence
    received by the jury went beyond a depiction of mere nevousness
    and being upset. In the instant case, Appellant was yelling and
    cussing to himself on the night of the incident.(August 1,2010),
    acting "crazy" and "10-7" by most accounts. Appellant had a
    history of mental illness,the use of psychotropic medication,
    alcoholism, and abuse since youth. See Statement of fact.
    In   cato V. State,534 S.W.2d at 138, the defendant testified
    that the last thing he remembered about the events that occurred
    before the strangling of his wife was that he was arguing with
    her, that she was yelling at him, and that she struck him.
    The next thing he remembered was that the victim had a wire,cord,
    or belt tied around her neck.The Court of Criminal Appeals held
    The Court of Criminal Appeals held that no insanity instrudtion
    was required under this testimony. See Jeffley.
    In <-his case at bar, in addition to experiencing memory loss
    to experiencing memory loss and an alcoholic blackout,Appellant
    was behaving in an abnormal way before, during,and after the
    offense.   See Statement of facts.
    Unlike the records in Nutter,Cato, and Feffley, our record in
    dicates beer bottles, covered in blood, and where Appellant and
    the burnt decedent had remained for days. Appellant yelled and
    cussed to himself. He paced around outside. He did not flee.
    He had small-talk conversations prior to disclosing that he
    had killed someone.He was 10-7.
    Appellant argues herewith that the trial court's refusal to
    instruct the jury on the defense of insanity amounted to reversi
    ble error. The Texas SUpreme Court has determined that proof
    of mere possibilities in a civil case will not support the sub
    mission of an issue to the jury,Duff V. State,751 S.W.2d 175,
    176 (Tex.1988), and that the burden of proof on : sanity issue
    in a criminal case is by a preponderance of the evidence,the
    same as would be required in a civil case. Tex.Crim.Proc.Code Ann
    art 47.03,Section 1(c)(Vernon Supp. 1997). Testimony that
    something could have occurred amounts to no evidence. See Duff V.
    Yelin,751 S.W.2d at 176. Appellant argues that in this case,
    the sixteen articles of evidence(enumberated,supra), and the
    great weight of the record,tended to prove Appellant's insanity
    at the time of the commission of the offense and amounted to
    more than a mere possibility that his mental disabilites and
    surrounding circumstances had rendered him insane. More specifi
    cally ,Appellant argues that the insanity defense was a factual
    defense supported by competent proof and which required the
    trial court to submit a defensive instruction to the jury.
    See Jeeffley V. State,938 S.W.2d 514,515-17(Tex.App.—Texaskana
    1997,no pet.). Because the trial court denied Appellant's
    requested charge on the insanity defense,and because there was
    some evidence,that is,competent lay-witness testimony supporting
    the issue. Appellant argues that he was deprived of his right
    to a fair trial.And the Court of Appeals Erred in denying relief,
    GROUND FOR REVIEW TWO
    WHTHER THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED BY AFFIRMING GROUND TWO OF
    APPEAL WHERE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO SUPPRESS APPELLANT'S
    INCRIMINATING STATEMENTS.
    ARGUMENTS
    The trial court failed to suppress fruits of Appellant's illegal
    arrest. The"fruit of the poisnous tree" doctrine generally pre
    cludes the use of evidence,both direct and indirect, obtained
    following an illegal arrest. Monge V. State,276 S.W.3d 180,citing
    Wong Sun V. United States,371 U.S. 471,484,83 S.Ct 407,9 LEd.2d
    441 (1963). At the suppression hearing,Appellant argued that he
    was arrested without warrant and as a result, all evidence re
    sulting therefrom should be suppressed. He argues such herewith
    and concomitantly urges that no attenuation existed to purge
    the taint of the warrantless arrest.See Wong Sun V. United 
    States supra
    .
    A. APPELLANT WAS ARRESTED WITHOUT
    WARRANT.
    The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects
    citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures at the hands
    ]of government officials. Crain V. State, 315 S.W.3d 43,52
    (Tex.Crim.App. 2010). probable cause for a warrantless arrest
    exist if,at the moment the arrest is made,the facts and circum
    stances within the arresting officer's knowledge and of which
    he has reasonably trustworthly information are sufficient to
    warrant a prudent man as believing that the person arrested
    had committed or was committing an offense. Beck V. State of
    Ohio, 379 U.S. 89,91,85 S.Ct 223,225, 13 L.Ed.2d 142(1964):
    Parker V. State, 206 S.W.3d 593,596 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006).An
    offense is deemed to have occurred within the presence or view
    of an officer when any of his senses afford him an awareness
    of its occurrence.State V. Steelman, 93 S.W.3d 102,107(Tex.Crim.
    App. 2002).The test for probable cause is an objective one,
    unrelated to the subjective beliefs of the arresting officer,
    Maryland V. Pringle, 540 U.S. 366,371,124 S.Ct 795,800,157
    L.Ed.2d 769 (2003). A finding of probable cause requires
    more than bare suspicion but less than...would justify...
    7.
    conviction. Brinegar V. United States,338 U.S. 160,175,69
    S.Ct 1302,1310,93 L.Ed 1879 (1949).
    In this case "at bar the record indicates that police officers
    were dispatched reagrding a "subject with a 'knife". When they
    arrived,they observed Appellant sitting and smoking a cigarette.
    They slapped Appellant's face, and took Appellant down. The
    police neither had a warrant when they arrested Appellant,nor
    ^did they, know whether there was a body in the apartment:j;-.o:j
    nor did they have probable that any crime had been committed.
    See records from suppressing hearing.
    B. THE EVIDENCE WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY
    ATTENUATED TO PURGE THE TAINT.
    The evidence was not sufficiently attenuated to purge the taint.
    Evidence that is sufficiently attenuated from the unlawful arrest
    is not considered to have been obtained therefrom. Monge V.
    State,citing Sims V.State,84 S.W.3d 805,810(Tex.App.-Houston
    List Dist.] 2002,no pet.).The prosecution carries the burden
    of proving attenuation.Monge,citing Brown V. Illinois,422 U.S.
    590,604,95 S.Ct 2254,45 L.Ed 2d 416 (1974).In deciding whether
    appellant's confession,which Appellant asserts was giving follow
    ing his illegal arrest,was sufficiently attenuated as to permit
    the use of the confession at trial,a reviewing court considers
    the following factors:
    (l)whether Miranda warning were given;
    (2)the temporal proximity of the arrest and the confession;
    (3)the presence of intervening circumstances;and
    (4)the purpose and flagrancy of the official misconduct.
    Monge citing Brwon,422 U.S. at 603-04,95 S.Ct 2254; Bell V. State
    724 S.W.2d 780,788 (tex.Crim.App. 1986).
    The reviewing court will apply each of the factors,in turn,to
    the evidence adduced at the suppression hearing.See Monge.
    C.PURPOSE AND FLAGRANCY OF OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT.
    Skipping to the fourth Brown factor due to length of PDR,in
    which the courts examine the extent of law-enforement miscon
    duct,is one of the most imporant considerations in an attenuation
    analysis.See Bell,724 S.W.2d at 789,709 S.W.2d at 668. When
    official misconduct is elevated to require the clearest
    indications of attenuation.See Bell,724 S.W.2d at 789.
    In arguing flagrancy of the police misconduct,Appellant reminds
    the court of the following: Appellant had been tased at least
    two(maybe "four or five") times; Police officers believed
    Appellant to be 10-7 ,basically...not all there ;.Appellant had
    not slept,drank alcohol(He was suffering from alcohol withdraws),
    or eaten while in custody all night;the interviewiing detectives
    were aware that Appellant suffered from depression and some
    other illnesses; Appellant's family had made the interviewing
    detectives aware of Appellant's mental health history and related
    "assessments jDetect-ive Posada felt that he was slow,maybe de
    pressed. ..was an alcoholic,was sweaty,was experiencing a dip
    in blood-sugar level,and asked for some sugar.Jackson V. Denno,
    378 U.S. 368,84 S.Ct 1774,12 LE.2d 908 (1964).
    Appellant distinguishes the facts of the instant case from the
    police conduct involved in Bell,in which the arresting officer
    believed that a warrant exception applied. See Bell,724 S.W.
    2d at 785-87. In the case at bar,Appellant was the subject of
    a waErantless arrest that did not fall within any of the recog
    nized exceptions. The State's rational for the warrantless arrest
    is not contained in the record. Further, for the aforementioned
    reasons,the tain of such warrantless arrest was not purged and
    inculpatory statement(s) by Appellant were unattenuated.
    Therefore,the Appellant argues that the Court of Appeals erred
    in failing to agree that the trial court erred in failing to
    suppress the confession.
    Appellant asserts that he confessed to decedent's murder only
    after his will was overborne by more than nine hours of
    physical and mental coercion. A confession in involuntary or
    coerced if the totality of the circumstances demonstrates that
    the confessor did not make   the decision to confess of his own
    free will. Green V. State,934 S.W.2d 92,99 (tex.Crim.App.1996)
    9.
    (citing Arizona V. Fulminante,499 U.S. 279,285-86,111 S.Ct 1246,
    113 L.Ed 2d 302 (1991).A reviewing court determines whether a
    confession was voluntary under the due process Clause of the
    Fourteenth Amendment by examining the totality of the circum
    stances surrounding its acquisition.Id,citing Armstrong V.State,
    718 S.W.2d 686,693(Tex.Crim.App. 1985):Scott,165 S.W.3d at 43.
    Appellant points to a number of factors which he alleges acted
    in combination to render his confession involuntary. He points
    to the duration of the custody and interrogation. The record
    indicaites that Appellant was at around 7:00 p.m.,subject to
    three "initial investigation(s)" until admitting his guilty on
    video shortly after 4:30 a.m. Appellant,there were also long
    periods where Appellant was left isolated in a holding cell.
    Appellant, at the time an active alcoholic,also stresses that
    he was without sleep,alcohol,and food for that lengthy periods
    of time. It was only after he admitted to the murder that
    Appellant (was) given a pop tart. See Vasquez,above.
    WHEREFORE,PREMISES CONSIDERED,Appellant prays that the Court
    of "Criminal Appeals will grant this Out of Time Petition For
    Discretionary Review and the relief that he seeks.
    ON THIS THEfH DAY OF A 001)^2015
    RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
    LORENZO CttRREON
    Polunsky Unit #1963496
    3872 FM 350 South
    Livingston,Texas 77351
    10.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: PD-1199-15

Filed Date: 9/16/2015

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 9/30/2016