Steve E. Gaither v. State ( 2012 )

NO. 07-10-00069-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL A
JANUARY 31, 2012
STEVE E. GAITHER, APPELLANT
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
FROM THE 364TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;
NO. 2007-418,617; HONORABLE BRADLEY S. UNDERWOOD, JUDGE
Before CAMPBELL and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.
OPINION
Appellant Steve E. Gaither appeals from his jury conviction of the offense of
possession of cocaine, with intent to deliver, in an amount more than four grams and
less than 200 grams1 and the resulting sentence of twenty-two years of imprisonment
and a $10,000 fine. Through six errors, appellant contends the trial court reversibly
erred. We disagree and affirm.
1
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.112(d) (West 2011).
Background
After appellant’s plea of not guilty, evidence was introduced to show that
Lubbock police responded to a domestic disturbance call from a Lubbock apartment.
An officer saw a man, later identified as appellant, walking out of the apartment.
Appellant ran, disregarding directions to stop, but was caught, subdued and arrested.
In the search of his person that followed his arrest, officers found in appellant’s front
pants pocket two baggies containing a white powdery substance and a baggy of a
green leafy substance. Testimony showed one baggy contained 0.82 grams of cocaine,
the second, 18.33 grams of cocaine. An officer testified the other substance found on
appellant’s person was marijuana but it was not tested. A narcotics investigator testified
the 0.82 grams of cocaine was consistent with a “user amount” while the 18.33 grams
was consistent with a “dealer amount.”
The court’s charge gave the jury the options of finding appellant not guilty, guilty
of possession of the cocaine or guilty of its possession with the intent to deliver. The
jury found him guilty of the greater offense.
Analysis
Sufficiency of the Evidence
In appellant’s first issue, he points out there is no direct evidence he had the
intent to deliver the cocaine in his possession and argues the circumstantial evidence of
that intent is insufficient to sustain his conviction.
We evaluate the sufficiency of evidence supporting criminal convictions under the
standard set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d
2
560 (1979); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 894-95 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010) (plurality
opinion). That standard requires that we view all evidence in the light most favorable to
the verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Salinas v. State, 163
S.W.3d 734, 737 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005). The jury, as the sole judge of the credibility of
the witnesses, is free to believe or disbelieve all or part of a witness's testimony. Jones
v. State, 984 S.W.2d 254, 257 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998).
Intent to deliver can be proven by circumstantial evidence. Rhodes v. State, 913
S.W.2d 242, 251 (Tex.App.--Fort Worth 1995), aff'd, 945 S.W.2d 115 (Tex.Crim.App.
1997). Courts also infer the intent with which a person is acting from his acts, words
and conduct. Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 487 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995). With regard
to the intent to deliver drugs, pertinent factors include (1) the nature of the location
where the defendant was arrested, (2) the quantity of drugs the defendant possessed,
(3) the manner of packaging of the drugs, (4) the presence or absence of drug
paraphernalia, (5) whether the defendant possessed a large amount of cash in addition
to the drugs, and (6) the defendant's status as a drug user. Williams v. State, 902
S.W.2d 505, 507 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, pet. ref'd). Possession of multiple
types of drugs is also a factor to be considered in evaluating intent to deliver. Jordan v.
State, 139 S.W.3d 723, 726 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2004, no pet.). These are evaluative
factors; evidentiary sufficiency does not require the presence of each factor.
No evidence specifically described the apartment complex at which appellant
was arrested as a common location for drug transactions. An officer testified appellant
“was the only one around” the apartment complex he saw when he arrived. When
3
arrested, appellant possessed neither paraphernalia for drug use nor that associated
with drug selling. As noted, the cocaine was in two packages. No evidence showed
appellant had any significant amount of cash but he was carrying both cocaine and
marijuana when he was arrested. Appellant introduced a video from the in-car camera
showing his behavior in the patrol car that transported him to jail, and argued his slurred
speech indicated he was under the influence of an intoxicant. The video was not strong
evidence that appellant was a drug user, and during the guilt-innocence stage of trial
the jury saw no additional evidence bearing on that question other than his possession.
The Lubbock police narcotics investigator who testified was not involved with
appellant’s arrest, but testified to his experience with narcotics cases and expressed
opinions. He testified he had 22 years’ experience as a police officer, the last six as an
investigator of narcotics cases. He told the court that, based on his experience with
cocaine users, a single use of powder cocaine would consume, on average, about half
a gram of the substance. He also said a single use could involve “from .30 to .50
grams.” Asked how often a “typical powder cocaine user” would use the drug during a
day, the investigator mentioned two times a day, and said it “may be four,” but said the
consumption “totally depends upon [the user’s] habit.”
Agreeing with the prosecutor that the roughly 18 grams of powder contained in
the larger baggy represented about 36 “hits,” the investigator expressed the opinion that
amount represented a “dealer amount,” asserting that “typical” cocaine “addicts” do not
carry that amount of cocaine on their person. See, e.g., Fox v. State, No. 08-02-00160-
CR, 2003 Tex.App. LEXIS 8576, at *9 (Tex.App.—El Paso, October 2, 2003, no pet.)
(mem. op., not designated for publication) (officer testimony that 6.49 grams of crack is
4
more than any individual user would have for their personal use, but it would not be an
uncommon amount for a low-level dealer and it was “highly unlikely that a couple would
have that much crack cocaine for their personal use”). He further agreed with the
prosecutor that, at an assumed rate of four uses a day, the amount represented “nine
days worth of hits.” He opined its purchase price “probably” would have been between
$350 and $400. He further testified that if sold by the half-gram, powder cocaine would
bring between $30 and $50 per half-gram.
Cross-examined, the investigator acknowledged that a user of cocaine could
consume more than a half-gram at a time, and that there was no “magic number” of
grams to distinguish a “user amount” from a “dealer amount.” He acknowledged also
that a person’s possession of packaging materials and cash in small denominations
were indicators the person was selling drugs. He maintained, though, that he had never
seen anyone “just carrying around [18 grams] for personal use.”
Other Texas courts have relied on opinion testimony like that given by the
investigator here to support a finding of intent to deliver drugs. See, e.g., Jordan, 139
S.W.3d at 726-27; Taylor v. State, 106 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2003, no
pet.); Mack v. State, 859 S.W.2d 526, 529 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, no writ);
Misner v. State, No. 04-03-00323-CR, 2004 Tex.App. Lexis 3085 (Tex.App.—San
Antonio April 7, 2004, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication). The jury
was free to accept the investigator’s description of the behavior of typical cocaine
possessors and users, and in particular to accept as accurate his testimony of the
amounts of powder cocaine typically consumed by users. More importantly, at the guilt-
innocence stage of the trial, with no evidence of drug-use paraphernalia or convincing
5
evidence of personal drug use,2 the jury well could have regarded appellant as a non-
user of the cocaine he was carrying. If so, a conclusion he intended to transfer the
cocaine to another3 would be virtually self-evident.
Even if the jury regarded appellant as a user, we find the evidence it heard,
viewed in the light most favorable to its verdict, permitted the conclusion appellant
possessed the cocaine with the intent to deliver it to another. We resolve appellant’s
first issue against him.
Jury Argument
Appellant’s second through fifth issues raise complaints concerning the
prosecutor’s jury arguments. Twice during argument in the guilt-innocence stage of trial
and twice during punishment argument, appellant objected to statements of the
prosecutor. The trial court sustained the objections on each occasion, instructed the
jury to disregard the statements, but denied appellant’s requests for a mistrial.
Appellant argues the court erred by not granting a mistrial.
Sustained Objections
We review a trial court's denial of a motion for a mistrial under an abuse-of-
discretion standard. See Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 567 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999). A
2
During the punishment stage of trial, appellant presented testimony showing his
use of cocaine and marijuana.
3
See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.002(8) (West 2011) (defining
“deliver”).
6
mistrial is an extreme remedy for prejudicial events that occur at trial and should be
exceedingly uncommon. Bauder v. State, 921 S.W.2d 696, 698 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996). A
mistrial is required only when the impropriety is clearly calculated to inflame the minds
of the jury and is of such a character as to suggest the impossibility of withdrawing the
impression produced in the minds of the jury. Hinojosa v. State, 4 S.W.3d 240, 253
(Tex.Crim.App. 1999); Herrero v. State, 124 S.W.3d 827, 836 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th
Dist.] 2003, no pet.). In analyzing whether a prejudicial event is so harmful as to warrant
a mistrial, we consider the prejudicial effect, the curative measures taken, and the
certainty of conviction absent the prejudicial event. See Hawkins v. State, 135 S.W.3d
72, 77 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). In most instances, an instruction to disregard the
objected-to remarks will cure the error. Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 115
(Tex.Crim.App. 2000). Because curative instructions are presumed effective to
withdraw from jury consideration almost any evidence or argument that is objectionable,
trial conditions must be extreme before a mistrial is warranted. Bauder, 921 S.W.2d at
700.
The law provides for, and presumes, a fair trial free from improper argument by
the state. Thompson v. State, 89 S.W.3d 843, 850 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2002,
pet. ref'd). There are four permissible areas of jury argument: (1) summation of the
evidence, (2) reasonable deductions from the evidence, (3) answers to the argument of
opposing counsel, and (4) pleas for law enforcement. Id.
During argument in the guilt-innocence phase of trial, the prosecutor made the
statements, “35 different people can get ahold of this poison. Children in our
community—” Later, the prosecutor argued to the jury, “Drug dealing is a business. It’s
7
just like any other business except it’s illegal, but Steve Gaither is a businessman, and
that’s what he was doing that morning. He was [peddling] his business, and his
business—”. The jury had heard evidence appellant possessed an amount of drugs
under circumstances indicating an intent to deliver them. We find the court’s instruction
that the jury disregard the prosecutor’s argument adequately addressed any prejudice
from either argument. See Weinn v. State, 281 S.W.3d 633, 641 (Tex.App.—Amarillo
2009), aff’d No. PD-0338-09, 2010 Tex.Crim.App. LEXIS 793 (2010) (holding argument
asking the jury to consider who drugs might be delivered to can be a proper plea for law
enforcement).
During punishment summation, the State started its argument by stating “I know
it’s been a long couple of days, but here you are at the end, and you’re now faced with
the task of answering the question of what does it mean –what does it—what is it worth
in Lubbock County when someone sells drugs on our streets.” A bit later, the
prosecutor stated “It is Steve Gaither’s fault. Put the blame where it goes, at his feet.
He made the decisions to bring this poison into our community. He may have used it as
well, but he’s the one that made the decision to bring this kind of poison into our
community and to further put it out on our streets, make it available to other people to--”.
On both occasions, appellant objected that the argument was outside the record. As
noted, the trial court sustained the objections and provided an instruction to disregard.
On appeal, the State contends the first argument was a proper plea for law
enforcement asking the jury to determine the proper punishment for the crime of which
they had just convicted appellant. See Weinn, 281 S.W.3d at 641. It argues the second
argument was a proper summation of the evidence showing appellant’s intent to deliver.
8
See Fant-Caughman v. State, 61 S.W.3d 25, 28 (Tex.App.—Amarillo 2001, pet. ref’d).
In any event, after careful review of the record, after considering the arguments alone
and cumulatively, we find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in denying each of
appellant’s requests for a mistrial. We overrule his second, third, fourth and fifth issues.
Overruled Objection
In appellant’s sixth issue, he argues the trial court erred by overruling his
objection to the State’s argument during the punishment stage in which a plea for the
jury to abide by the expectations of the community through its sentence was advanced.
The State argued “When somebody does this kind of crime, what is it worth? You’re the
ones that get to make that decision. People always say why don’t they do something
about people who have cocaine on them, who sell it? Why don’t people do something
about it? Appellant objected that the argument was a plea to community expectations.4
The State asserts the argument was a proper plea for law enforcement and
directs us to several cases in which similar arguments were made and upheld. See,
e.g., Haynes v. State, 627 S.W.2d 710, 714 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982) (panel op.); Luna v.
State, No. 07-02-0058-CR, 2003 Tex.App. LEXIS 7344 at *2-4 (Tex.App.—Amarillo
Aug. 27, 2003, no pet.). The State also contrasts this argument with those that ask for a
particular sentence, such as Cortez v. State, 682 S.W.2d 419, 420 (Tex.Crim.App.
1984) (telling the jury only a life sentence would satisfy the people of the community).
4
Additional statements were made that appellant complains about on appeal.
However, he did not object to those statements at trial and thus has not preserved his
claims about those statements for our review. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1. Even if we were to
consider those statements, it would not change the outcome of the appeal.
9
We review a court's overruling of an objection to an improper jury argument
under a reversible-error standard. Wesbrook, 29 S.W.3d at 115. An argument
constitutes reversible error when it violates a statute, injects new and harmful facts into
the case, or is manifestly improper. Id.; Ponce v. State, 299 S.W.3d 167, 174-75
(Tex.App.—Eastland 2009, no pet.). We review the record in its entirety to determine
whether any erroneous statements were made, and if so, we determine whether they
were so prejudicial as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial. Johnson v. State, 233
S.W.3d 109, 114 n.4 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, no pet.); Jones v. State, No.
14-07-00715-CR, 2010 Tex.App. LEXIS 1540, at *7-8 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
March 4, 2010, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication).
Case law examples of improper demands to meet community expectations
include the argument, "Now, the only punishment that you can assess that would be any
satisfaction at all to the people of this county would be life [imprisonment]." Cortez, 683
S.W.2d at 420. In another example, the prosecutor told the jury, "So I ask you, this is a
hard decision that you have to make, but I will tell you on behalf of the State of Texas,
an aggravated sexual assault such as this, probation is not what this community and
what the State would want." Mata v. State, 952 S.W.2d 30, 33 (Tex.App.--San Antonio
1997, no pet.). See also Smith v. State, 966 S.W.2d 111, 112-13 (Tex.App.—Beaumont
1999, pet. ref’d) (collecting cases). We agree with the State that the trial court did not
err by overruling appellant’s objection to this argument.
10
We overrule appellant’s sixth issue, and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
James T. Campbell
Justice
Publish.
11