Robert Eugene Pritchett v. State ( 2015 )


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  •                                                                                        ACCEPTED
    12-14-00298-CR
    TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS
    TYLER, TEXAS
    2/18/2015 12:21:18 PM
    CATHY LUSK
    CLERK
    Court of Appeals
    State of Texas
    Twelfth Supreme Judicial District        FILED IN
    12th COURT OF APPEALS
    Tyler, Texas                 TYLER, TEXAS
    ___________________________________________________________________
    2/18/2015 12:21:18 PM
    CATHY S. LUSK
    Clerk
    12-14-00298-CR
    __________________________________________________________________
    Robert Eugene Pritchett
    Appellant
    VS.
    The State of Texas
    Appellee
    ____________________________________________________________________
    On Appeal from the 273rd District Court
    San Augustine County, Texas
    Trial Cause No. CR-13-8411
    _______________________________________________________________________________
    APPELLANT’S REPLY BRIEF
    _______________________________________________________________________________
    Respectfully Submitted,
    DONOVAN PAUL DUDINSKY
    Texas State Bar No. 24038869
    701 South Liberty Street
    San Augustine, Texas 75972
    Tel. (936) 275-9871
    Fax. (936)-275-9655
    E-Mail: dpauldudinsky@yahoo.com
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
    SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW
    (Oral Argument Not Requested)
    Page 1 of 24
    I. IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
    The following is a complete list of all parties to the trial court’s judgement or
    order appealed from, and the names and addresses of all trial and appellant counsel:
    Parties:       Appellant        Defendant - Robert Eugene Pritchett
    Trial Counsel:                  For Defendant, Robert Eugene Pritchett
    Donovan Paul Dudinsky
    Rudy Valesquez
    Appellate Counsel:              For Appellant: Donovan Paul Dudinsky
    701 South Liberty Street
    San Augustine, Texas 75972
    Appellee Counsel:               For Appellee: J. Kevin Dutton, District Attorney
    P. O. Box 714
    San Augustine, Texas 75972
    Trial Judge:                    Honorable Judge Charles Mitchell
    273rd Judicial District
    San Augustine, Texas 75972
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett              Page 2 of 24
    II. TABLE OF CONTENTS
    IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL.................2
    TABLE OF CONTENTS...............................................3
    COVER PAGE TO APPELLANT’S REPLY BRIEF....4
    APPELLANT’S POINT OF ERROR 1
    APPELLEE’S REPLY 1
    ARGUMENT TO APPELLEE’S REPLY 1..................5-9
    APPELLANT’S POINT OF ERROR 2
    APPELLEE’S REPLY 2
    ARGUMENT TO APPELLEE’S REPLY 2..................9-16
    APPELLANT’S POINT OF ERROR 3
    APPELLEE’S REPLY 3
    ARGUMENT TO APPELLEE’S REPLY 3..................16-19
    APPELLANT’S POINT OF ERROR 4 & 5
    APPELLEE’S REPLY 4 & 5
    ARGUMENT TO APPELLEE’S REPLY 4 & 5............19-22
    PRAYER.........................................................................23
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE........................................23
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE...............................24
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett                         Page 3 of 24
    Case No. 12-13-00298 CR
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS
    TWELFTH SUPREME JUDICIAL DISTRICT
    TYLER, TEXAS
    ******************************************************************
    ROBERT EUGENE PRITCHETT
    Appellant
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS
    Appellee
    ******************************************************************
    On Appeal From the 273rd Judicial District
    ************************************
    TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF SAID COURT:
    COMES NOW Robert Eugene Pritchett, Appellant, in the above styled and
    numbered cause, by and through his attorney of record Donovan Paul Dudinsky and
    files this his Reply Brief pursuant to Rule 38.3 of the Texas Rules of Appellate
    Procedure, and in support would show the Court the following:
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett              Page 4 of 24
    APPELLANT’S POINT OF ERROR 1.
    The State has a constitutional duty under the due process clause or the Fourteenth
    Amendment to disclose any material evidence that is favorable to defense.
    APPELLEE’S REPLY 1
    THE STATE DID NOT FAIL TO DISCLOSE EVIDENCE FAVORABLE TO THE
    DEFENSE.
    1.     “Appellant cites the laundry list of cases, which culminate in Brady, that place a
    burden on the state to produce all evidence to the defense. This particularly
    applies to evidence that is favorable to the defense. In this case Appellant sought
    to obtain documents directly from the police department under a subpoena for
    business records.”
    2.     “The items sought by the defense was a written policy on impoundment of
    vehicle and a video of the stop. The written policy on impoundment, if one
    exists, may be a matter that would be subject to a business record request, but the
    video which is actual evidence of a crime, would not. It should be noted that no
    request for discovery, general or specific, was served on the prosecutor.”
    3.     “Appellant took no action to enforce the subpoena. No motion to compel or
    motion for contempt was filed. The policy on impoundment was a moot issue
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett                Page 5 of 24
    anyway as the drugs were found in “plain view” search, not an inventory search.”
    4.     “The failure to turn over the video was not a result of withholding evidence it was
    a result of a computer crash. (RR Vol. 2, P. 73).”
    ARGUMENT TO APPELLEE’S REPLY 1
    Appellant has been for six year to date employed with a practicing defense
    attorney whose office is located in the town of San Augustine, Texas.
    Appellee begins his reply with stating that Appellant cited a “laundry” list of
    cases. Appellee is learned in legal knowledge but perhaps critically lacking in accuracy.
    However, within the Appellant’s cited authorities may be found Article 2.01 of the Code
    of Criminal Procedure in reference to the incumbents duties of district attorneys, “[It]
    shall be the primary duty of all prosecuting attorneys, including any special prosecutors,
    not to convict, but to see justice is done. They shall not suppress facts or secrete
    witnesses capable of establishing the innocence of the accused.”
    Appellee continues in regards to the San Augustine Police Department’s guide
    lines or standardized policy on impound procedure, “ if one exists, may be a matter that
    would be subject to a business record request, but the video which is actual evidence of
    a crime would not.”
    (Reply 1)
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett                Page 6 of 24
    Appellee impliedly concedes that the police department’s policy on impound
    procedure is a business record. Appellant requested pursuant to Tex R.Evid. 803(6) and
    Tex.R.Evid.902(10) the business records of the police department on impound
    procedure. Also requested on the Subpoena to the police department were complete
    employment history of the arresting officer Jonathon Sowell #106, including any citizen
    grievances filed against said officer concerning his harassment of citizens including past
    cases, dropped cases and on-going cases filed against said officer. The complete
    employment history of the other officer involved, James Blackwell #111, including
    reason for his employment termination and any citizen grievances filed against officer
    concerning his harassment of citizens including past cases, dropped cases, and on-going
    cases filed against said officer. The Appellee instructed the police department not to
    respond to Appellant’s request. There was much more left out than just the rules of
    impoundment procedure. (RR. 3, P. 76, L. 20-25).
    During the trial, Appellant’s defense counsel cross examined the officer in charge
    of the police department’s administrative affairs. The officer said the police department
    has a written policy on impoundment procedure. (Vol. 3, P. 75 and 76, L. 18-25, and
    L. 1.). The officer was further cross examined and told defense counsel that the officer
    was told by the district attorney not to release the information on the police
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett                Page 7 of 24
    department’s impoundment procedure and other information requested per defense’s
    subpoena request. (Vol. 3, P. 75, 76, 77, L. 25, L. 1-25 and L. 1-8).
    The State’s counsel, Appellee, was in violation of Due Process and in violation
    of Article 2.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure when Appellee gave legal
    advice to the police department instructing them not to honor nor give Appellant’s
    attorney any items requested in Appellant’s attorney’s subpoena for business records.
    Appellee asserts “[The] policy on impoundment was a moot issue any way as the
    drugs were found in plain view search, not an inventory search. (Reply 1)
    Appellee would patronize for the excuse of “moot” to sooth his personal decision
    to disregard ethical courtesy and deny Appellant’s request for material evidence
    pursuant a lawful subpoena. Appellant disagrees with the Appellee that the police
    department’s policy on impound is a moot issue because a drug less than 0.01
    hundredths of a gram (not drugs) was discovered during an “Inventory Search.” The
    evidence at trial shows in Defense Exhibit #7, numbered 6690 and entitled “EVIDENCE
    CARD” bears the signature of the arresting officer Sowell, and shows that a drug was
    recovered by an “INVENTORY SEARCH.” The State’s attorney, Appellee, never
    addressed nor disputed the “EVIDENCE CARD” at trial.
    Appellant was arrested for failure to display driver’s license, Appellant’s vehicle
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett                Page 8 of 24
    was then impounded, and Appellant’s vehicle was then subjected to an inventory search.
    During the trial, Appellant’s defense counsel questioned whether the police
    department had an impound policy, that shifted the burden upon the State to prove that
    the police department impoundment policy exist and it was followed. The State,
    Appellee never addressed these issues nor showed or proved that the police department
    followed any specific impoundment procedure.
    Appellants Point of error 1, should be granted.
    APPELLANT’S POINT OF ERROR 2.
    Appellant was denied due process of law when the State through its agents, San
    Augustine Police Department destroyed and or failed to preserve Material
    Exculpatory evidence of a video/audio recording of the Alleged Traffic Violation,
    Detention, Impoundment and Inventory search of the Appellant that form the basis
    of the conviction.
    APPELLEE’S REPLY 2
    THE APPELLANT WAS NOT DENIED DUE PROCESS OF LAW WHEN THE
    VIDEO OF THE STOP WAS LOST OR DESTROYED.
    1.     “Appellant, to prove the State failed to preserve potentially useful evidence, he
    must establish that the evidence was (1) material, (2) favorable to the defense and
    (3) destroyed in bad faith by the State. Salazar v. State, 
    185 S.E. 3d
    90, 92 (Tex.
    App. - San Antonio 2005, no pet.). Appellant must show bad faith on the part of
    the police, in order for failure to preserve to constitute a denial of due process.
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett                Page 9 of 24
    Arizona v. Youngblood, 
    488 U.S. 51
    , 58, 
    109 S. Ct. 333
    , 102 L. Ed 2d 281 (1988).
    Also, McLaffey v. State, 
    937 S.W.2d 51
    , 53 (Tex. App. - Houston [1st Dist.] 1996,
    no pet.). A showing of negligence on the part of officers is not equivalent to bad
    faith. Saldana v. State, 783 S.W. wd 22, 23 (Tex. App. - Austin 1990, no pet.)”
    2.     In this case there is no evidence of bad faith on the part of the police. The only
    evidence was of a computer crash. (RR. Vol. 2, P. 73).
    ARGUMENT TO APPELLEE’S REPLY 2
    (1). Material:
    Material, important; of consequence; such as a reasonable prudent person would
    take into account in making a decision. To say that something is “material” simply
    means that it matters.
    The arresting Officer, Officer Sowell testified that a video (over a half mile) of
    the following Appellants car, the alleged traffic violation, the detention, impoundment
    and inventory search were all recorded on video/audio. A video is material evidence of
    the incident. The audio portion of the video is material evidence. The video/audio is
    just as material as DNA or a finger print is to any criminal case. In Officer Sowell’s
    testimony on cross examination and re-cross, the video/audio would have answered 10
    questions that the Officer Sowell did not answer.
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett               Page 10 of 24
    Officer Blackwell’s testimony on cross examination and re-cross, the video/audio
    would have answered 15 questions that the Officer Blackwell did not answer.
    The evidence of the video/audio is material.
    (2). Favorable to the Defense:
    Officer Sowell’s video/audio contains Exculpatory Evidence that is very favorable
    to the Defense. The discrepancies and conflicting testimony of the two officers. The
    video/audio would show what actually transpired that night. As Officer Blackwell
    testified to that the video documents everything. The video/audio would have
    impeached the testimony of the two police officers that testified for the State. The
    video/audio would have contained the answers to a combined, 25 question (during cross
    examination) the officer’s did not answer and if they had been answered would have
    been favorable to the Defense.
    The video would have shown the following:
    1.    The video would show that the Appellant did not violate any moving violation of
    the traffic code.
    2.     The video would show that the Appellant stopped correctly at the intersection of
    Hospital Street and North Milam Street, the intersection of the alleged traffic violation.
    3.       The audio portion of the video, you could hear the arresting Officer asking
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett               Page 11 of 24
    Appellant to search his vehicle. (RR. 2, P. 84)
    4.        The audio portion of the video, you could hear the arresting Officer asking
    Appellant to open his mouth.
    5.        The video would show an illegal search of Appellant mouth by the arresting
    Officer shining a flashlight in Appellants mouth, searching for a crime.
    6.    The video/audio would have shown when Officer Blackwell arrived at the scene.
    7.    The video would show the Appellant being handcuffed and the Appellants pockets
    being searched.
    8.     The video would show when the owner of the vehicle showed up on the scene.
    9.        The conflicting testimony of the two Officers about the inventory search, the
    video would had shown exactly how the inventory was conducted and showed the
    untruthful testimony of the two Officers on how exactly they performed the inventory
    search.
    10.    The video would have shown Officer Sowell filling out an inventory list that was
    absent at trial.
    11.    The audio portion would prove when the wrecker was actually called before the
    inventory search or after.
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett               Page 12 of 24
    As Officer Blackwell testified to, that the video documents everything and the
    video/audio would impeach the testimony of the states witnesses. Therefore the
    video/audio contains exculpatory evidence and favorable evidence to the defense.
    (3). Destroyed in bad faith by the state:
    In the Appellee’s reply, it states, In this case there is no evidence of bad faith on
    the part of the police. The only evidence was of a computer crash.
    Bad Faith, when the rights of someone else are intentionally or maliciously
    infringed upon, such conduct demonstrates Bad Faith.
    Officer Sowell logged Officer Blackwell’s VHS video into evidence, but he never
    logged his own digital video into evidence. At trial, the State let Appellants attorney’s
    view Officer Blackwell’s video. Also, at trial, Officer Sowell never testified that he
    actually download the (his) video. There are no witness testimony that Officer Sowell
    actually downloaded the (his) video. Officer Blackwell testified that he did not know
    what he did with it (the video). (RR. 3, P. 54). During cross examination of Officer
    Sowell, testified that he had a video, but our computer hard drive crashed at the police
    department and lost the video (RR. Vol. 2, P. 73). During the States direct examination
    of officer Sowell, the State never questioned or proved that Officer Sowell actually
    downloaded his video to a computer. The State never proved that Officer Sowell
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett               Page 13 of 24
    actually downloaded his video to the computer that allegedly crashed at the San
    Augustine Police Department. The State never proved when this alleged computer
    crashed.
    In cross examination of Officer Blackwell, he was ask:
    Q: So what we have here is a so-called crime scene, and it’s not normal to take
    pictures?
    A: Well there “generally” would be a video from the patrol car recording the entire
    scene, documenting everything real time. (RR. 3, P. 43, L. 9-13)
    Officer Blackwell did not address the question that was asked. But he did reply
    to the video. The word “generally” (meaning usually; commonly; ordinarily:) would
    be a video. Along with Officer Blackwell’s other statement, that he had no idea what he
    (Officer Sowell’s video) did with it. Seems to imply that Officer Blackwell, knew there
    was no video.
    Cross examination continues:
    Q: And but we do know is that unfortunately that video was destroyed. Were you aware
    of that?
    A: I was not. (RR. Vol. 3, P 43, L. 22-24)
    Officer Brazeal, the custodian of records testified that digital video’s were saved
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett              Page 14 of 24
    digitally to a card. (RR. Vol. 3, P. 74) So, where is the video card of this incident? The
    State said in it’s closing statement that, it just gets downloaded to the “mainframe” (RR.
    Vol. 3, P. 111). The mainframe, that would be the Police Departments computer system,
    network. Networks, have backup. So where is the video? Also in the States closing,
    it also stated that the States Attorney stated, I tried a case where the whole dadgum case
    file was lost by the Police Department. (RR. Vol. 3, P. 111)
    There is reasonable doubt, did Officer Sowell actually downloaded his video
    of the incident. The arresting officer never testified that he did download his video
    of the incident. Officer Blackwell never testified that Officer Sowell down his
    video. Officer Blackwell did testify that he did not know what he (Officer Sowell)
    did with it. The Custodian of records, Officer Brazeal never testified that Officer
    Sowell downloaded the video. The Appellant argues that there is no evidence what
    so ever that the video, was ever downloaded at all. The Appellants attorneys stratige
    was not to address the download issue, and see if the States attorney addressed
    whether or not the video was ever downloaded. The State did not, in it’s
    examination of Officer Sowell, addressed the download of his video. Proof is
    entirely lacking to positively justify officer Sowell’s conduct. There was no
    evidence or proof brought forward in court showing officer Sowell intended to save
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett               Page 15 of 24
    and preserve video/audio evidence for the court and jury to review. Officer’s
    Sowell’s failure to download and save and preserve evidence is a violation of
    Appellant’s right to due process and is an act of “Bad Faith” showing a sordid
    respect for the judicial system of justice.
    Appellant’s Point of Error 2 should be granted.
    APPELLANT’S POINT OF ERROR 3.
    The trial court abused its discretion sustaining prosecution’s objection to defense
    motion to read into the record the relevant section of the Transportation Code for
    the jury’s understanding as it applies to motorists stopping at intersections.
    APPELLEE’S REPLY 3
    THE TRIAL COURT DID NOT ABUSE ITS DISCRETION BY SUSTAINING
    THE STATE’S OBJECTION TO THE DEFENSE SEEKING TO READ A
    SECTION OF THE TRANSPORTATION CODE TO THE JURY.
    1.     “Counsel for the Appellant sought to read a section of the Transportation code to
    the jury during the trial. The State objected and the Court sustained the objection.
    The reading of the law to a jury is a matter largely within the sound legal
    discretion of the trial court, and will not constitute cause for reversal except
    where the matter shows clear abuse and has brought about at least probable
    injury. Buchanan v. State, 52 Tex. Crim 235, 
    106 S.W. 134
    (Tex. Crim. 1907).”
    2.     “The jury is the exclusive judge of the facts, but is bound to receive the law from
    the court and be governed thereby. (Tex. C.C.P. §36.13). Before the court reads
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett                Page 16 of 24
    its charge, counsel for the defense can request instruction or law in writing or by
    dictating into the record. (Tex. C.C.P. §36.15).”
    3.     “The Appellant wanted to read the law as it applies to stopping at an intersection
    controlled by a stop sign to the jury during the trial, no during argument. The
    Court in sustaining the State’s objection said that he would give the jury the law
    in his charge.”
    4.     “Appellant made no request for an instruction concerning the law to be included
    in the Court’s charge and made no objection to it not being included in the
    Court’s charge.”
    ARGUMENT TO APPELLEE’S REPLY 3
    Appellant’s defense counsel deemed justification imperative to fairly and
    honorably allow a jurys intelligent guidance for their understanding during the
    guilt/innocense phase of trial the section 544.10 (3) of the Texas Transportation code
    and apply its controlling law during cross examination as it may confirm or contradict
    the stopping officer’s reason for conducting Appellant’s roadside detention.
    Appellant was assured by the court that the wording of the relevant wording of
    the Transportation Code would be place into the jury charge. To Appellant’s knowledge
    no transcript of conversation at bar supports Appellant’s contention nor Appellant’s
    assertion.
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett               Page 17 of 24
    Appellee asserts that Appellant “[made] no request for an instruction concerning
    the law to be included in the court’s charge and made no objection to it not being
    included in the court’s charge.”
    (Reply 3)
    During Appellant’s request for the reading the relevant section of the
    Transportation code into the record, Appellant approached the bench for side bar.
    Appellee objected to Appellant “[reading] what you believe the law is.” (Vol. 2, P. 77,
    L. 14-16) And the Appellee then objected to Appellant being at side bar. The presiding
    judge sustained Appellee’s objection to Appellant being at side bar.
    (Vol. 2, P. 77, L. 23-25).
    Appellee cites an authority “[Where] upon trial for murder the State’s counsel in
    arguing the case to the jury read extracts from the Texas Criminal Reports, and the
    charge of the court was in line practically with the authorities so read, and there were
    no facts read to the jury from said reports. Held, that the reading of the law to the jury
    is within the sound legal discretion of the court, and does not constitute reversible error
    unless probable injury is shown. Quoting: A. P. Buchanan v. The State, 
    106 S.W. 134
    (Tex. Crim. 907).
    Appellee cites a 118 year-old case wherein the State’s counsel was allowed to
    read the authority of the law but in this case Appellant’s counsel was not allowed to read
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett                Page 18 of 24
    the authority of the law. It is probable that if the jury had been allowed 118 years later
    the opportunity to hear counsel’s argument incorporating the wording of the Texas
    Transportation Code’s relevant section of controlling law there would be no reversible
    error. It is probable that if the jury had been allowed during guilt/innocence to hear
    counsel’s argument incorporating the wording of the relevant section of controlling law
    applicable to the facts of the officer’s reasons for stopping Appellant, would the jury
    have found that the officer’s reasons “were in line practically with the authorities so
    read.” Buchanan, 
    Id. The jury’s
    decision and verdict was the trial outcome of testimony the jury heard
    at trial. It is true and known the trial outcome had not in it the jury’s hearing and
    reading not what Appellant’s counsel “believes” the governing law is but what Texas
    says the governing law is to be.
    Appellant’s point of error 3 should be granted.
    APPELLANT’S POINT OF ERROR 4 and 5.
    Appellant’s Constitutional Rights were violated under the Fourth Amendment of
    the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 9 of the Texas Constitution
    when the reasonable alternatives that were available to impoundment were not
    implemented.
    The inventory search of Appellant’s vehicle was an illegal unconstitutional
    investigative search for evidence in violation of Article 1, Section 9 of the Texas
    Constitution.
    APPELLEE’S REPLY 4 & 5
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett               Page 19 of 24
    THERE IS NO REVERSIBLE ERROR DUE TO THE IMPOUNDMENT OR
    INVENTORY SEARCH, AS THE DRUGS WERE FOUND IN PLAIN VIEW.
    1.     “This reply applies to both Issue 4 and Issue 5.”
    2.     “Appellant claims his rights were violated by the impoundment of the vehicle
    when there was an alternative means of protecting the vehicle available. This
    would be true if the drugs were found because of the inventory search. That
    would make the evidence the fruit of an improper search and not admissible.
    That is not the case here, the drugs were found in plain view.
    (RR. Vol. 3, P.12).”
    ARGUMENT TO APPELLEE’S REPLY 4 & 5
    Appellee, replies to Appellant’s point of error four and five, to which,
    Appellee replied there was no relationship between inventory and drug recovery.
    Appellant was placed under custodial arrest for not having his drivers’ license
    at the time to show the arresting officer. (RR. Vol. 2, P. 85, L. 22-23).
    Appellant’s trial attorney cross examined and questioned the arresting officer
    as to whether the arresting officer had developed probable cause to search
    Appellant’s vehicle. The arresting officer testified that he did not have probable
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett             Page 20 of 24
    cause to search Appellant’s vehicle and conducted an inventory search of
    Appellant’s vehicle. (RR. Vol. 2, P. 88, 89, L. 18-25, 1-6).
    Immediately following Appellant’s arrest, the arresting officer impounded
    Appellant’s vehicle without consideration whatsoever for alternatives available to
    impoundment. Appellant’s trial attorney during cross examination of the arresting
    officer put questions to the arresting officer concerning multiple alternatives
    available, and arresting officer answered that he did not consider alternatives to
    impoundment but impounded the vehicle when he arrested Appellant. (RR. Vol. 2,
    P. 94, 99, 107, L. 3-25, 1-25, 1-20).
    Appellant agrees with Appellee’s statement, “this would be true if the drugs
    were found because of the inventory search. That would make the evidence the fruit
    of an improper search and not admissible.”
    Defense Exhibit # 7 numbered #6670 and entitled “EVIDENCE CARD”
    bears the signature of one of the two officers who conducted the inventory search
    and the exhibit prima facie shows that a drug was recovered by an (INVENTORY
    SEARCH.)
    Appellant points out Appellee’s omission of Appellee’s in-court examination
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett            Page 21 of 24
    of the arresting officer who testified that after placing Appellant in the arresting
    officer’s patrol unit, the arresting officer immediately began conducting an
    inventory search of Appellant’s vehicle. (RR. Vol. 2, P. 38, L. 4-9).
    Appellant points out Appellee’s in-court direct examination of the second
    officer who testified that he was helping the first officer perform the inventory
    search of Appellant’s vehicle and while the second officer was helping perform the
    inventory, the second officer found drug evidence in the Appellant’s vehicle.
    (RR. Vol. 3, P. 8, L. 8-11).
    The testimony presented at trial proves the search of Appellant’s vehicle was
    not conducted pursuant to having probable cause. Appellee’s reply is contrary to
    the evidence and testimony elicited at trial.
    Appellant’s point of errors 4 and 5 should be granted.
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett             Page 22 of 24
    PRAYER FOR RELIEF
    WHEREFORE ABOVE PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant prays that
    Honorable Court reverse the judgement of the trial court and render judgement in
    favor of Appellant, or in the alternative, Appellant respectfully request that the
    Honorable Twelfth Court of Appeals remand this case back to the 273rd District
    Court of San Augustine County, Texas for a new trial.
    Respectfully submitted,
    LAW OFFICE OF DONOVAN PAUL DUDINSKY
    701 South Liberty Street
    San Augustine, Texas 75972
    Phone:      936-275-9871
    Fax:        936-275-9655
    E-Mail:     dpauldudinsky@yahoo.com
    XII. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
    I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of this Appellant’s Brief was
    served on each attorney of record or party in accordance with the Texas Rules of
    Civil Procedure (Appealed) on this 19th day of February, 2015.
    /s/donovan paul dudinsky
    ________________________
    Donovan Paul Dudinsky
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett            Page 23 of 24
    XIII. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
    I certify that this document contains 4,217 words (counting all parts of the
    font. I certify that this document was prepared with Word Perfect X6, and
    according to the programs word-count function, the sections covered by TRAP
    9.4(i)(1) contains 4,217 words.
    /s/ donovan paul dudinsky
    __________________________
    Donovan Paul Dudinsky
    Appellant’s Reply Brief
    Robert Eugene Pritchett            Page 24 of 24
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 12-14-00298-CR

Filed Date: 2/18/2015

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 9/28/2016