Juan Francisco Hernandez v. State ( 2014 )

Opinion issued July 22, 2014.
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-13-00245-CR
———————————
JUAN FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 1
Brazoria County, Texas
Trial Court Case No. 191712
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Juan Hernandez was convicted of possession of less than two ounces of
marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.1 After the jury found Hernandez guilty, the
trial court assessed punishment at 180 days’ confinement—which the court
1
TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.121 (West 2010).
probated for a 12-month period—and a fine of $800. Hernandez filed a motion for
new trial, asserting that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel.
The trial court denied the motion.
Hernandez appeals the denial of his motion, arguing that his counsel was
deficient because he (1) failed to adequately investigate and prepare for trial,
(2) failed to timely file pre-trial motions, (3) erroneously permitted off-record
proceedings to occur in judge’s chambers outside Hernandez’s presence,
(4) affirmatively elicited harmful hearsay testimony from a police witness, and
(5) failed to challenge the admissibility of Hernandez’s statements made to police
officers during the search of his vehicle.
We affirm.
Background
Hernandez was stopped by Pearland Police Officer J. Guerrero for an
expired vehicle registration. Hernandez was the only person in the vehicle at the
time, but he was not the registered owner. Officer Guerrero found marijuana in the
vehicle and arrested Hernandez.
At his trial, an issue came up during voir dire whether the jury or trial court
would assess punishment if the jury found Hernandez guilty of marijuana
possession. Hernandez’s counsel noted that he was requesting the jury to assess
punishment; however, the trial court announced that it would assess punishment
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instead, based on Hernandez’s inadequate election. Hernandez did not testify
during the guilt-innocence phase of the trial, but the two officers involved in his
arrest did.
Office Guerrero testified that, as he approached Hernandez’s vehicle, he
noticed a strong smell of marijuana. Based on the smell, he asked Hernandez to
step out of the vehicle and wait on the side of the road while he did a probable
cause search of the vehicle. Officer Guerrero requested assistance, and Officer E.
Morton, who was in the area, stood with Hernandez next to the vehicle while
Officer Guerrero searched it. Officer Morton testified that he also noticed a strong
smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During the search, Officer Guerrero
found a duffle bag in the back seat of the vehicle that contained a glass jar with
marijuana inside. Officer E. Morton testified about two statements Hernandez
made to him while the vehicle was being searched, confirming that (1) Hernandez
could smell the marijuana and (2) there was “maybe” and “probably” marijuana in
the vehicle. The jury found Hernandez guilty of possession of marijuana.
Hernandez testified in the punishment phase of the trial. He stated that there
were “no convictions on my record whatsoever” but listed as his criminal history a
deferred probation for assault, a juvenile adjudication for graffiti, and an earlier
arrest for possession of marijuana. Despite his earlier arrest for marijuana
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possession and the two officers’ testimony that the vehicle smelled like marijuana,
Hernandez testified that he had never smoked marijuana before.
The trial court sentenced Hernandez to one year of community supervision
(probating a 180-day jail term), assessed an $800 fine, and suspended his driver’s
license for 180 days.
Hernandez filed a motion for new trial alleging ineffective assistance of trial
counsel. Both Hernandez and his trial counsel testified at the hearing. During his
testimony Hernandez disclosed that he had two additional arrests for possession of
marijuana—one of which occurred between the arrest and trial in this matter. The
motion for new trial was denied, though the trial court entered an order staying
commencement of the terms of community supervision pending appeal.
Hernandez timely appealed.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims
In one issue, Hernandez contends that his trial counsel provided him
ineffective assistance of counsel in all aspects of his trial. We have consolidated
his allegations into five assertions of counsel deficiency: (1) failure to adequately
investigate and prepare for trial, (2) failure to timely file pre-trial motions,
(3) erroneously permitting off-record proceedings to occur in judge’s chambers
outside Hernandez’s presence, (4) affirmatively eliciting harmful hearsay
4
testimony from a police witness, and (5) failing to challenge the admissibility of
Hernandez’s statements made during the vehicle’s search.
We turn first to the proper standard of review given that the trial court has
already rejected Hernandez’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel by denying
his motion for new trial.
A. Standard of review
In Strickland v. Washington, the United States Supreme Court recognized
that a criminal defendant has a Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of
counsel, observing the “crucial role” the right to counsel plays in our adversarial
system. 466 U.S. 668, 685, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2063 (1984); see Ex parte Jimenez,
364 S.W.3d 866, 882–83 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). A criminal defendant claiming
that trial counsel was ineffective must prove that (1) trial counsel’s performance
fell below an “objective standard of reasonableness” and (2) the deficient
performance prejudiced his defense such that “there is a reasonable probability
that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would
have been different.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687–88, 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2064,
2068; Jimenez, 364 S.W.3d at 883.
To determine whether Hernandez has shown counsel’s performance was
objectively deficient under the first prong of Strickland, we look to the totality of
the representation and the particular circumstances of the case at the time of trial,
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ignoring the effect of “20/20 hindsight.” Jimenez, 364 S.W.3d at 883; Thompson v.
State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). We indulge a strong
presumption that counsel rendered adequate assistance and acted in furtherance of
a sound trial strategy. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2065; Jimenez, 364
S.W.3d at 883; Ex parte White, 160 S.W.3d 46, 51 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). To
overcome the presumption of reasonable professional assistance, an allegation of
ineffectiveness must be firmly rooted in the record. Salinas v. State, 163 S.W.3d
734, 740 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). There are “countless ways” to provide effective
assistance; therefore, an appellate court’s scrutiny of trial counsel’s conduct should
be highly deferential and presumed to be in furtherance of sound trial strategy
unless the record demonstrates otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence. Ex
parte Rogers, 369 S.W.3d 858, 862 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (quoting Strickland,
466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2065).
Under the second prong of Strickland, an appellant must show that there is a
reasonable probability that, but for his counsel’s deficient performance, the result
of the proceeding would have been different. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 694,
104 S. Ct. at 2064, 2068; Andrews v. State, 159 S.W.3d 98, 102 (Tex. Crim. App.
2005). What is required to meet the “reasonable probability” standard is a lesser
burden than the more-likely-than-not standard. Shanklin v. State, 190 S.W.3d 154,
165 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet. dism’d improvidently granted).
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A reasonable probability is “a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068.
“The two prongs of Strickland need not be analyzed in a particular order” on
appeal. Ex parte Martinez, 330 S.W.3d 891, 901 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “If it is
easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient
prejudice . . . that course should be followed.” Cox v. State, 389 S.W.3d 817, 819
(Tex. Crim. App. 2012). Therefore, if we determine that Hernandez cannot
establish prejudice as a result of his counsel’s alleged deficiency, we need not
consider whether trial counsel’s actions were ineffective. Id.
When, as here, an appellant first raises the issue of ineffective assistance of
counsel in a motion for new trial, we review the trial court’s denial of the motion
for an abuse of discretion. Riley v. State, 378 S.W.3d 453, 457 (Tex. Crim. App.
2012); Rodriguez v. State, 329 S.W.3d 74, 81 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
2010, no pet.); Cf. Broussard v. State, 68 S.W.3d 197, 206 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2002, pet. ref’d) (noting that, without new trial motion to create record
of trial counsel’s reasons for actions, appellate court must presume actions were
product of overall strategic design and reasonable). An abuse of discretion occurs
when the trial court’s decision is so clearly wrong as to lie outside the zone of
reasonable disagreement. Cantu v. State, 842 S.W.2d 667, 682 (Tex. Crim. App.
1992). We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling,
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and will reverse only if no reasonable view of the record could support the trial
court’s finding. Webb v. State, 232 S.W.3d 109, 112 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). We
defer to the trial court’s resolution of historical facts and, so long as a reasonable
view of the evidence supports the trial court’s decision to deny Hernandez’s
motion for new trial, we will affirm. Acosta v. State, 411 S.W.3d 76, 90 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, no pet.).
B. Failure to adequately investigate and prepare for trial
Hernandez contends that his trial counsel “fail[ed] to conduct an
independent investigation into the facts and circumstances of the charge alleged”
and “fail[ed] to conduct any sort of meaningful preparation of a punishment case.”
Hernandez specifically complains that his counsel failed to make an “independent
investigation into what other person or persons may have been responsible for the
marijuana that was found in the truck that day.” He argues that the truck he was
driving actually belonged to his brother, David, and that David and others at his
place of employment had access to the truck before the arrest. Presumably, then,
one of them could have exonerated Hernandez by testifying that the marijuana was
actually his.
A criminal defense lawyer must have a firm command of the facts of the
case to render reasonably effective assistance of counsel. Ex parte Ybarra, 629
S.W.2d 943, 946 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982); Ex parte Duffy, 607 S.W.2d 507, 516
8
(Tex. Crim. App. 1980). Counsel has the responsibility to seek out and interview
potential witnesses. Ex parte Duffy, 607 S.W.2d at 517. We cannot view defense
counsel’s conduct as consistent with a sound trial strategy if counsel’s failure to
conduct an investigation left him unable to make an informed strategic decision.
Id. at 526; Ex parte Welborn, 785 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990); see
also Shanklin, 190 S.W.3d at 164–65 (stating there can be no “strategy” to not call
witness if counsel had no knowledge concerning testimony witness would have
offered).
Hernandez’s counsel testified at the hearing on the motion for new trial. He
offered that, “in hindsight,” he should have presented the case differently;
however, an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim must be analyzed from the
perspective of counsel at the time he acted and without the “deleterious effects of
hindsight.” Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813. Regarding his thoughts at the time he
made trial strategy decisions, he testified that he had reviewed the case and taken
notes on the offense report, interviewed Hernandez, and in his opinion developed a
strategy. He stated that he “didn’t just walk into this courtroom and read the
offense report and read the allegation.” When questioned about his trial strategy on
the specific issue of Hernandez’s brother being the owner of the vehicle containing
the marijuana, Hernandez’s counsel responded that he thought calling the brother
as a witness would have been “futile.” He explained:
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Q. And what was your reasonable trial strategy in failing to contact
David, the owner of the vehicle, in a circumstantial evidence
case like this?
A. Well, I felt that David—very unlikely he’s going to admit that
yes, the marijuana is his and would seem to me to be futile.
To prevail on a Strickland challenge based on counsel’s failure to identify or
call a defense witness, the aggrieved client must establish harm by showing that
the witness was available to testify and that the testimony would have been of
some benefit to the defense. See Ex parte White, 160 S.W.3d at 52. Hernandez fails
to establish any harm. He did not offer an affidavit from his brother, David, or any
other person who had access to the truck, indicating that he would have testified
that the marijuana actually belonged to him. Without knowledge of what the
witness would have testified to at trial, we cannot conclude that Hernandez was
harmed by his counsel’s failure to call any of these potential witnesses. Given the
deference afforded a trial court’s ruling on a motion for new trial, we also cannot
conclude that the trial court erred by denying the motion based on this allegation of
ineffective assistance of counsel. See Acosta, 411 S.W.3d at 90.
Regarding counsel’s preparation for the punishment phase of trial,
Hernandez complains that he would have provided lengthier testimony had his
counsel told him the types of information that would have been relevant to that
phase of the trial. Again, we conclude that Hernandez cannot meet his burden to
establish harm, even if we were to presume his counsel was deficient. Hernandez
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had already been found guilty by the jury; the trial court judge was deciding
punishment. Ultimately, the court sentenced Hernandez to one year of community
supervision—half the length that could have been assigned. And his fine of $800
was less than half the maximum fine for a Class B misdemeanor. TEX. PENAL
CODE ANN. § 12.22 (West 2011).
Hernandez offered that he would have testified that he went to church,
donated his time and money, and cared for family members had his counsel better
prepared for trial and informed him of the types of information relevant to a
punishment determination. He asserts that “there is good reason to believe that
similar testimony during the punishment phase would have impacted Judge Mills
in a manner beneficial to appellant.”
We cannot conclude that this additional testimony would have lessened his
punishment, particularly considering that the trial judge who sentenced him was
the same judge who considered and denied his motion for new trial on the exact
issue of un-elicited mitigating testimony. See Shanklin, 190 S.W.3d at 166 (“In
considering a motion for new trial, the trial court possesses broad discretion in
determining the credibility of the witnesses and in weighing the evidence to
determine whether a different result would occur upon retrial.”); see also
Mazratian v. State, 961 S.W.2d 353, 358 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, no
pet.) (defendant failed to meet second prong of Strickland by showing prejudice:
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“[H]e received a probated sentence . . . . Appellant has not shown that there is a
reasonable probability that, but for trial counsel’s [error], the result of the trial
would have been different.”).
The trial court’s decision that this testimony did not warrant a new trial is
not so clearly wrong as to lie outside the zone of reasonable disagreement;
therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for new
trial on this basis.
C. Failure to timely file pre-trial motions
Hernandez asserts that his counsel was deficient by “fail[ing] to timely file
motions to protect appellant’s rights during trial.” Specifically, he complains that
he told his attorney he wanted the jury to assess punishment, yet his attorney failed
to timely or adequately file his election. Hernandez wanted the jury to assess
punishment “because he felt they would be more lenient with him if he was
convicted.”
Hernandez must meet his burden under both Strickland prongs to prevail on
an ineffective assistance of counsel claim; failure to meet either prong prohibits a
finding of ineffective assistance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 694, 104 S. Ct. at
2064, 2068. If Hernandez fails to meet his burden to demonstrate harm, we may
overrule the issue without analyzing whether counsel’s conduct was deficient. Cox,
389 S.W.3d at 819; Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 570 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
12
Hernandez did not demonstrate harm. The motion that he claims was
untimely filed was a request to have the jury determine punishment. Instead, the
trial court assessed punishment by probating Hernandez’s sentence. This is the
same result he sought in his untimely motion: to “be granted community
supervision . . . .” Hernandez appears to concede a lack of prejudice, stating in his
appellate brief that counsel’s failure to timely file his motion “is not per se
ineffective” but could be considered part of “cumulative errors” requiring reversal.
Given that the trial court placed Hernandez on community supervision as
requested and the lack of assurance that a jury would have recommended a more
lenient sentence, we cannot conclude Hernandez was prejudiced by his counsel’s
failure to elect to have the jury determine punishment. Thus, the trial judge did not
abuse its discretion in denying the motion for new trial on that basis.
D. Acquiescing to off-record proceedings in judge’s chambers
Hernandez also complains that his counsel “fail[ed] to object to proceedings
during trial that took place in private, off the record, and outside of appellant’s
presence.” Hernandez contends that challenges for cause were asserted during an
off-record conversation leaving him unable to discern “whether there were any
other additional challenges for cause that were made but not granted.” The State
responds that Hernandez had not met his burden on this issue. For instance, during
the hearing on Hernandez’s motion for new trial, his trial counsel would not
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confirm that strikes for cause were asserted at the off-record conference. In fact,
counsel testified that he would have asked for a record if anything of any relevance
or importance occurred and would not have prejudiced his client by failing to do
so.
We are required to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial
court’s ruling. Webb, 232 S.W.3d at 112. Hernandez’s speculation that the content
of the off-record discussion affected the composition of the jury panel is
insufficient to require reversal of the trial court’s decision to deny the motion for
new trial. Cf. Muennink v. State, 933 S.W.2d 677, 682 (Tex. App.—San Antonio
1996, pet. ref’d) (overruling ineffective assistance argument based on trial
counsel’s failure to insist that court reporter make record of jury selection); see Ex
parte Howard, No. AP–76809, 2013 WL 4859010, at *5 (Tex. Crim. App. Sept.
11, 2013) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (holding that appellant was
unable to establish prejudice based on unrecorded bench conferences or counsel’s
failure to object to jury shuffle); Anderson v. State, No. 10-09-00306-CR, 2010
WL 4140317, at *4–5 (Tex. App.—Waco Oct. 20, 2010, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not
designated for publication) (overruling appellant’s contention that unrecorded
conferences required reversal and holding that “ineffective assistance claim will
not be sustained on the basis of mere speculation” regarding what occurred in
unrecorded conference).
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E. Eliciting hearsay testimony from police witness
Hernandez argues that his attorney committed professional error when he
attempted to impeach the arresting officer. Based on counsel’s testimony at the
hearing on Hernandez’s motion for new trial, counsel believed the arresting officer
was testifying at trial about matters not included in his police report. Counsel asked
Officer Morton whether he had any idea who put the bag containing the marijuana
in the car and then, more specifically, whether he knew if another person, such as
Hernandez’s brother, put it in the car. These questions led Officer Morton to testify
about a conversation he had with Hernandez’s brother. Hernandez complains that
the decision to raise this topic during cross-examination was error and inconsistent
with any reasonable trial strategy because Hernandez’s counsel was wrong—he
misremembered the content of the police report and the attempt to impeach elicited
harmful testimony.
While testifying at the hearing on the motion for new trial, Hernandez’s
counsel agreed that he made a “mistake” and that the testimony elicited was not
helpful “[o]n the whole.” Nonetheless, counsel did offer a reason for asking the
questions: “That was the only way I could get in the fact that the truck did not
belong to Mr. Hernandez and that his brother stated the truck belonged to him.”
Litigants are not guaranteed an error-free representation by their counsel. Ex
parte Felton, 815 S.W.2d 733, 735 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Ingham v. State, 679
15
S.W.2d 503, 509 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) (en banc). Isolated mistakes generally do
not require a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel. Ingham, 679 S.W.2d at
509. Even if this mistake did meet the first prong of Strickland, we conclude that
Hernandez has not demonstrated harm from the testimony. See Ladd, 3 S.W.3d at
570 (holding that failure to establish prejudice prong of Strickland test precludes
any relief).
Hernandez’s analysis of this issue is limited to a single sentence: “His
reckless introduction of an otherwise inadmissible hearsay statement in a manner
which actually underscored that statement was objectively deficient, and Appellant
was likely prejudiced by it.” Officer Morton had testified that he called
Hernandez’s brother to confirm Hernandez’s story. The brother told him that he
had not seen Hernandez in two days. He confirmed that the vehicle was newly
purchased. But the brother said nothing about who owned the marijuana.
Hernandez fails to demonstrate how this testimony prejudiced him at trial.
Besides, this issue was presented to the trial court in the motion for new
trial, which was denied. We cannot conclude that the trial court abused its
discretion in holding that Hernandez failed to meet his burden to establish
ineffective assistance of counsel based on this exchange during cross-examination
of Officer Morton. To the extent this testimony can be viewed as harmful, it is
within the zone of reasonable disagreement, which makes it insufficient to
16
conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by denying the motion for new
trial.
F. Failure to challenge the admissibility of Hernandez’s statements made
during the vehicle search
Hernandez’s final complaint concerns his counsel’s failure to object to
Officer Morton’s testimony recounting incriminating statements made by
Hernandez during the vehicle search. Officer Morton testified as follows:
Q. Did you ask him about the marijuana smell in the truck?
A. Yes. I asked if he smelled marijuana in the truck; and he said,
yes.
Q. Did you ask him if there was marijuana inside the truck?
A. Yes. I asked him if—if there was any marijuana inside the
truck. He shrugged his shoulders, said maybe and said
probably.
Hernandez asserts that his counsel should have objected to this testimony as
inadmissible custodial statements made without the benefit of Miranda-style,
statutory warnings. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22; Miranda v.
Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602 (1966). If Hernandez cannot establish a
reasonable likelihood that a pre-trial motion to suppress or proper objection to
admission of his statement would have been successful—and, as a result, would
have altered the outcome of the proceeding—then counsel’s failure to take those
actions cannot support an ineffective assistance claim. See Yuhl v. State, 784
17
S.W.2d 714, 717 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1990, pet. ref’d); Martinez v.
State, No. 04-04-00057-CR, 2005 WL 2138121, at *1–2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio
Sept. 7, 2005, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). The record does
not support Hernandez’s assertion that he was in custody when these statements
were made.
A person held for investigative detention is not “in custody.” Dowthitt v.
State, 931 S.W.2d 244, 255 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). The point that a traffic stop
escalates from an investigative (non-custodial) to a custodial detention is
determined based on objective factors surrounding the event. See State v. Ortiz,
382 S.W.3d 367, 372–73 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). These include whether there is
probable cause to arrest and whether the defendant has become the focus of the
investigation. Dowthitt, 931 S.W.2d at 254–55. “[T]he primary question is whether
a reasonable person would perceive the detention to be a restraint on his movement
‘comparable to [a] formal arrest,’ given all the objective circumstances.” Ortiz, 382
S.W.3d at 372; Dowthitt, 931 S.W.2d at 255.
There are four situations that have been recognized to escalate an
investigative detention into custody: (1) a suspect is physically deprived of
freedom in a significant way, (2) the police tell the suspect that he cannot leave,
(3) the police create a situation that would lead a reasonable person to believe his
freedom of movement has been significantly restricted, and (4) the police have
18
probable cause to arrest a suspect, manifest that knowledge of probable cause to
the suspect, and do not tell the suspect that he is free to leave. State v. Saenz, 411
S.W.3d 488, 496 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (citing Dowthitt, 931 S.W.2d at 255).
The restriction of the suspect’s movement must be tantamount to an arrest to rise to
the level of custody. Dowthitt, 931 S.W.2d at 255.
At trial, Hernandez would have had the burden of proving that his statements
were obtained during a custodial detention. See Herrera v. State, 241 S.W.3d 520,
526 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Hernandez raised the issue in his motion for new trial,
which the trial court denied. A trial court’s determination of “custody” presents a
mixed question of law and fact. Id. at 526. “[W]e afford almost total deference to a
trial judge’s ‘custody’ determination when the questions of historical fact turn on
credibility and demeanor.” Id. at 526–27; Shanklin, 190 S.W.3d at 166 (“In
considering a motion for new trial, the trial court possesses broad discretion in
determining the credibility of the witnesses and in weighing the evidence to
determine whether a different result would occur upon retrial.”).
At the hearing on the motion for new trial, Hernandez testified that Officer
Guerrero, the police officer who initially stopped him, explained that the traffic
stop was for an expired registration. Officer Guerrero then asked him to get out of
the vehicle. According to Hernandez, this action made him feel that he was not free
to leave. About fifteen minutes later, Officer Morton arrived. Hernandez testified
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that this felt like a long time to wait. According to Hernandez, Officer Morton’s
arrival “made me feel very uncomfortable like I was not free to leave at all.”
Hernandez did not testify that the police said or did anything to him that would
objectively indicate that the traffic stop had evolved into something equivalent to a
formal arrest; instead, he claimed that he “could tell” that he could not leave.
Meanwhile, Officer Guerrero testified at trial that he initially stopped
Hernandez for an expired registration then, as he approached the vehicle, noticed a
strong smell of “raw marijuana.” Based on that smell, he asked Hernandez to get
out of the vehicle. Officer Morton testified that he also noticed the smell of
marijuana coming from the vehicle when he arrived. Officer Morton “went and
stood with the—the gentleman at the back of the truck and spoke with him as
Officer Guerrero completed a probable cause search of the vehicle.” Officer
Morton testified that Hernandez was not under arrest or handcuffed; they were
“just making conversation” with each other. After asking Hernandez where he was
going, he asked whether Hernandez could smell marijuana in the truck, and
Hernandez replied, “Yes.” Officer Morton testified that, when he asked Hernandez
if there was any marijuana in the truck, “He shrugged his shoulders, said maybe
and said probably.”
We conclude that the objective facts do not indicate that this was a custodial
interrogation requiring the Miranda-style warnings found in article 38.22.
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Hernandez had not been handcuffed, and his movement had not been significantly
restricted otherwise. The police had not said anything to him that could be
considered an objective manifestation of a subjective belief of guilt. Hernandez
and Officer Morton were standing together on the side of the road talking while
Officer Guerrero searched the vehicle. Hernandez was not in custody; his purely
subjective belief that he soon would be arrested does not alter our conclusion. See
Ortiz, 382 S.W.3d at 373 (holding that “undisclosed subjective belief of the suspect
that he is guilty of an offense should not be taken into consideration—the
reasonable person standard presupposes an ‘innocent person.’”); see also Dowthitt,
931 S.W.2d at 254–55.
We conclude that Hernandez has not met his burden to establish that his
counsel provided him ineffective assistance of counsel or that the trial court erred
by denying his motion for new trial on that basis.
Conclusion
Having overruled Hernandez sole issue, we affirm the judgment of the trial
court.
Harvey Brown
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Keyes, Bland, and Brown.
Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
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