Douglas James Carter v. State

Douglas James Carter v. State

  IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-97-234-CR

&

No. 10-97-235-CR

     DOUGLAS JAMES CARTER,

                                                                              Appellant

     v.

     THE STATE OF TEXAS,

                                                                              Appellee

From the County Court

Navarro County, Texas

Trial Court Nos. 43598 & 43599

O P I N I O N

      Douglas Carter was convicted by jury of possession of a prohibited weapon and unlawful carrying of a weapon. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 46.02 (Vernon Supp. 1998), § 46.05 (Vernon 1994). The jury assessed punishment for each of these misdemeanor offenses at one year of confinement in the county jail and a $4,000 fine. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 12.21(3) (Vernon 1994), § 46.02(b) (Vernon Supp. 1998), § 46.05(e) (Vernon 1994). Carter appeals the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting both of these convictions.

      The facts surrounding this case were previously detailed in Carter v. State, 10-97-191-CR (Tex. App.—Waco Dec. 23, 1997, pet. filed) (not designated for publication) and need only be briefly summarized in this opinion. On December 10, 1996, Carter approached Troy Miles at a convenience store asking for a ride. Miles took Carter to Wal-Mart. While in the parking lot at Wal-Mart, Miles began to suspect that Carter and another man were attempting to pull a scam on him. Miles ordered Carter out of his car and called police to report this suspicious activity. Officer Munn responded to this call, and after arriving at the Wal-Mart, he searched Carter’s Buick. Inside the car Officer Munn found a three-hole finger ring and a wooden tire knocker. The tire knocker was under the driver’s seat in the vehicle and the three-hole ring was found beneath the driver’s side floor mat. Officer Munn testified that Carter admitted owning the tire knocker and wearing the three-hole ring.

      Carter argued at trial that the tire knocker was not a club as defined by section 46.01(1) of the Penal Code because it was not designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of causing serious bodily injury or death, but for use as a tire knocker. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 46.01(1) (Vernon 1994). Carter also maintained at trial that the three-hole ring found by the officer was not an illegal pair of knuckles but was jewelry. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 46.01(8) (Vernon 1994).

      When the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting a conviction is challenged, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine if a rational finder of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979); Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 647 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 118 S. Ct. 100 (1997); Nevels v. State, 954 S.W.2d 154, 159 (Tex. App.—Waco 1997, pet. ref’d); Williams v. State, 946 S.W.2d 886, 894 (Tex. App.—Waco 1997, no pet.). In conducting a legal sufficiency review we recognize that the jury resolves conflicts in the evidence at trial and judges the credibility of witnesses. Jones, 944 S.W.2d at 647; Nevels, 954 S.W.2d at 160.

I. Possession of a Prohibited Weapon - Knuckles

      Knuckles are defined in the Penal Code as

any instrument that consists of finger rings or guards made of a hard substance and that is designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by striking a person with a fist enclosed in the knuckles.

Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 46.01(8). Section 46.05 of the Penal Code makes it a crime to intentionally or knowingly possess, manufacture, transport, repair, or sell knuckles. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 46.05(a)(6) (Vernon 1994). There is no requirement that the knuckles be used in a prohibited manner in order to be convicted for possession of a prohibited weapon. See Hawkins v. State, 535 S.W.2d 359, 362 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976) (“[T]he moment appellant was placed in possession of the prohibited weapon the offense of possession of a prohibited weapon was complete.”). Few cases analyze what type of items meet the definition of a pair of knuckles, but in Flores v. State the Corpus Christi Court held there was sufficient evidence a device with a primary metal rod with two prongs protruding was a pair of knuckles. 934 S.W.2d 858, 859 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1996, no pet.). The San Antonio Court has also affirmed a conviction for possession of knuckles when the item consisted of a locked knife blade with four finger rings, three of which were broken. Maldonado v. State, 887 S.W.2d 508, 509 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1994, no pet.).

      As the record in the instant case did not contain a photo or complete description of this three-hole ring, we directed that the original trial exhibits be sent to the Court for examination. See Tex. R. App. P. 34.6(g)(2). The alleged “knuckles” consist of three individual rings fused together with a flat surface on the top, upon which there are two raised lion’s heads and an eagle’s head. Red and white stones are designed to fit in the animals’ eyes and mouths. The ring is made of metal, is about three inches wide, and is covered with a textured gold-tone finish. Carter, in support of his claim that this three-hole ring was jewelry, introduced into evidence a copy of the magazine Vibe which contains a picture of an individual wearing a four-hole finger ring. Vibe, Dec.-Jan. 1994-95, at 27.

      After viewing the evidence in the record in the light most favorable to the verdict, we believe there is legally-sufficient evidence the three-hole ring found by Officer Munn was a pair of knuckles. The three-hole ring fits the definition of knuckles as it consists of finger rings, is made of a hard substance, and according to Officer Munn, was designed to cause serious bodily injury when placed on a person’s hand for use in striking other individuals. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 46.01(8). There was also evidence that the knuckles were intentionally or knowingly possessed by Carter because they were found in his car and because Carter claimed to wear the knuckles as jewelry. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 46.05(a)(6). Cause number 10-97-235-CR is therefore affirmed as legally-sufficient evidence shows Carter intentionally or knowingly possessed a prohibited weapon, knuckles.  

II. Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon - Club

      Section 46.02 of the Penal Code makes it an offense to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carry a club. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 46.02(a) (Vernon Supp. 1998). A club is an

instrument that is specially designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by striking a person with the instrument, and includes but is not limited to the following:

(A) blackjack;

(B) nightstick;

(C) mace;

(D) tomahawk

Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 46.01(1) (Vernon 1994). Items such as a baseball bat or rolling pin, which may be used to cause serious bodily injury or death, are nevertheless excluded from the statutory definition of a club because these items are not specifically designed for the purpose of causing injury. See Alexander v. State, 617 S.W.2d 269, 270 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1981) (quoting practice commentary to section 46.02); Coleman v. State, 790 S.W.2d 369, 372 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990, no pet.); see also Reisner v. State, 627 S.W.2d 728, 729 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1982); Heerma v. State, 786 S.W.2d 532, 533 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990, no pet.). For example, in Alexander v. State the Court of Criminal Appeals held there was insufficient evidence a twelve inch chain with a nylon cord tied to the last link was a club because there was no evidence this item was specifically designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury or death. See Alexander, 617 S.W.2d at 270; see also Reisner, 627 S.W.2d at 728-29 (insufficient evidence a bracelet with twenty-eight half-inch metal studs was a club).

      The alleged “club” in the instant case is a wooden stick approximately 18 inches long, is cylindrical in shape, has a black metallic tip, and has a cord attached to the handle. On the stick there is a label indicating that this is a “HICKORY TIRE KNOCKER” and includes a manufacturer’s name and a number which are difficult to read. On cross-examination Officer Munn testified that he was familiar with tire knockers and that the stick seized was a tire knocker. Carter, also during his cross-examination of Officer Munn, attempted to demonstrate that tire knockers are sold for the purpose of testing tire pressure by showing Officer Munn another tire knocker purchased from a local truck stop.

      In deciding Carter’s claim that a tire knocker is not a club, we look to the Dallas Court of Appeals decision in Coleman v. State which examined this same issue. 790 S.W.2d at 369. In Coleman, the tire knocker seized was made of hickory wood, was eighteen inches long, cylindrical in shape, had a leather thong tied through the handle, and had the words “V & B TIRE KNOCKER” printed on it. Id. at 370. The defendant in Coleman had a professional truck driver testify that tire knockers are used to bump truck tires to determine if the tire has the correct air pressure. Id. Faced with this testimony, the Dallas Court concluded that the tire knocker was not a club because no evidence showed the tire knocker was designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of striking a person in order to cause serious bodily injury or death. Id. at 372.

      We agree with the holding of the Dallas Court. The State failed to present any evidence the tire knocker seized by Officer Munn was designed or made for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury or death and not for checking tires. The fact that this item could possibly be used as a weapon to cause injury does not relieve the prosecution of its burden to prove it was actually made, designed, or adapted for that purpose. Additionally, we do not believe there is any evidence Carter adapted the tire knocker to be a weapon. The State argues that this item was adapted to serve as a club not by “any physical alteration” but because the totality of the circumstances show Carter did not have a legitimate purpose for possessing the item. The State believes that because the tire knocker was found with knuckles, during a pigeon drop, and because tire knockers are generally used to test tires on commercial trucks the jury could infer that Carter had intended it to serve as a club, and thus, he had adapted it to that purpose. We disagree. There is no evidence Carter modified the tire knocker in any way to adapt it to serve as a club. See Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 13 (10th ed. 1993) (defining adapt as “to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification”). As there is legally-insufficient evidence the tire knocker is a club, Carter’s legal sufficiency point in cause number 10-97-234-CR is sustained. The trial court’s judgment is reversed, and we render a judgment of acquittal in cause number 10-97-234-CR. See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(c); Bryant v. State, 905 S.W.2d 457, 460 (Tex. App.—Waco 1995, pet. ref’d).

                                                                               BOBBY L. CUMMINGS

                                                                               Justice

Before Chief Justice Davis,

      Justice Cummings, and

      Justice Vance

Affirmed in Cause No. 10-97-235-CR  

Reversed and rendered judgment of acquittal in Cause No. 10-97-234-CR.  

Opinion delivered and filed April 1, 1998

Do not publish