Jeffery Scott Estrada v. State

In The
Court of Appeals
Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo
________________________
No. 07-17-00245-CR
________________________
JEFFERY SCOTT ESTRADA, APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
On Appeal from the 154th District Court
Lamb County, Texas
Trial Court No. DCR-5428-16; Honorable Felix Klein, Presiding
February 19, 2019
OPINION
Before QUINN, C.J., and PIRTLE and PARKER, JJ.
Following a plea of not guilty, Appellant, Jeffery Scott Estrada, was convicted by a
jury of engaging in organized criminal activity, a first degree felony,1 and sentenced to
1 TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.02(a)(5) (West Supp. 2018). As applicable to the facts of this case,
an offense under section 71.02(a) is one category higher than the most serious predicate offense listed
under subsection (a) that was committed. § 71.02(b). The “most serious” predicate offense allegedly
committed in this case was delivery of methamphetamine of more than 200 grams but less than 400 grams;
TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.112(e) (West 2017), punishable as a special punishment felony,
by imprisonment for life or for a term of not more than 99 years or less than 10 years and a fine not to
exceed $100,000. Id. Accordingly, the offense in this case was punishable by imprisonment for life or for
a term of not more than 99 years or less than 15 years, without the option of a fine. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.
§ 71.02(b)(3) (West Supp. 2018).
seventeen years confinement. By two issues, Appellant contends (1) the evidence is
insufficient to establish that he committed the offense of engaging in organized criminal
activity as alleged in the indictment and (2) the trial court erred in admitting his written
statement and an audio recording of his interrogation, over objection, because he did not
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his rights before making the oral and written
statements. We reverse based upon an unassigned error and remand for a new trial;2
however, in the interest of justice and because the remaining issues could afford
Appellant greater relief,3 we have reviewed, but overrule issues one and two.
BACKGROUND
On May 8, 2014, Joaquin Coronado, Appellant’s cousin, and Mandy McKinley were
arrested in Plainview. Mandy had methamphetamine on her person and Joaquin had an
outstanding warrant. While in custody, they were interviewed by Agent Jeffrey Ashburn
of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety regarding
a methamphetamine distribution enterprise in Littlefield.
According to Mandy, an admitted addict, she met Joaquin in January 2014, while
he was incarcerated with her ex-husband. In March 2014, Joaquin subsequently sought
her out to see if she could provide him with methamphetamine. The two used
methamphetamine together and Joaquin began staying with her. At the time, Mandy had
a source for obtaining methamphetamine, but when her source was arrested in mid-
March, she contacted her niece in Amarillo to find a new source. Mandy’s niece put her
in touch with a temporary source and eventually connected her and Joaquin with Kenneth
2 See Sanchez v. State, 209 S.W.3d 117, 120-21 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
3 See Darcy v. State, 07-13-00297-CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 6593, at *3 (Tex. App.—Amarillo
June 25, 2015), rev’d on other grounds, 488 S.W.3d 325, 326 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016).
2
Charles Dahl in mid-to-late March as their exclusive source. At first, Kenneth was
delivering “quarters” (seven grams) to Joaquin and Mandy. As the frequency of their trips
to Amarillo increased, so did the weight of the methamphetamine provided by Kenneth.
Mandy testified that for “a couple of weeks,” they drove to Amarillo “every day,” taking
alternate routes to avoid suspicion. Their routine was to purchase one ounce (28 grams)
on one day and two ounces the next day and they alternated between one and two ounces
thereafter. They bought the methamphetamine in bulk and she would weigh it. At
Joaquin’s insistence, each ounce was divided into sixteenths (1.75 grams) which he
would then “front” to others who would sell it for him.
Pursuant to a series of questions from the prosecutor on the business of drug
dealing, Mandy explained that “fronting” the methamphetamine meant providing the
product to group members who in turn would sell it and bring back the money.4 She
disagreed with Joaquin’s business practice of “fronting” because members of the group
were using most of the methamphetamine and not bringing back enough cash to
replenish their supply of methamphetamine. At times, she was forced to use her own
money to “re-up” the supply. By April 2014, she became frustrated when strangers began
coming and going from her apartment to obtain methamphetamine from Joaquin.
Mandy met Appellant in March 2014, through Joaquin, and the three began using
methamphetamine together. She recalled Appellant accompanying her and Joaquin to
Amarillo on one trip to buy methamphetamine. She also witnessed Joaquin give
Appellant some of the methamphetamine.
4 Generally, a “dime” or a tenth (0.10) of a gram sold for ten dollars, a “dove” or two tenths (0.20)
of a gram sold for twenty dollars, a “sixteenth” or one and three quarters (1.75) of a gram sold for one
hundred dollars, and an “eight ball” or three and a half (3.5) grams sold for two hundred dollars.
3
Appellant, also an admitted methamphetamine user, either purchased or did favors
for Joaquin in exchange for methamphetamine. Appellant would keep some for personal
use and at times, sold some for profit to pay his bills and make his car payment. He
claimed he obtained methamphetamine in an amount of 1.75 grams at a time. On two
occasions, Joaquin and Mandy enlisted him to cash forged payroll checks for profit. In
that enterprise, Appellant kept more than half of the cash as his profit.
Joaquin and Mandy were arrested on May 8, 2014. Almost six weeks later, on
June 24, 2014, Appellant was arrested for possession of methamphetamine. More than
a week later, on July 2nd, while still in custody, he was interviewed by Agent Ashburn
regarding distribution of methamphetamine between March 2014 and May 2014.
During the interview, which lasted over two hours, Appellant was properly
admonished regarding his Miranda rights on two separate occasions. Appellant admitted
he was a methamphetamine addict and that Joaquin controlled the methamphetamine
distribution enterprise. At the time of Appellant’s interview, several members of the
criminal combination alleged by the State were already in custody.
Over the course of the interview, Appellant admitted that he acquired
methamphetamine from Joaquin in exchange for favors. Appellant also admitted he was
enlisted to cash the two forged payroll checks for Joaquin with fake identification provided
by Mandy and that after cashing the checks, he kept a large portion of the cash for
himself.5
5 After Appellant cashed the two checks, he discovered that two of his sons had become involved
with Joaquin’s enterprise and they had a falling out.
4
Appellant denied he was selling methamphetamine for Joaquin and claimed the
methamphetamine provided to him was for his personal use. He later admitted he sold
some of the methamphetamine for profit. He described how he would buy 1.75 grams of
methamphetamine at a time for eighty dollars and then resell it for one hundred dollars.
He also named at least three persons to whom he sold methamphetamine.
Appellant further admitted traveling to Amarillo with Joaquin and Mandy on one
occasion to meet Mandy’s source at a truck stop. He denied seeing the source but knew
they had acquired methamphetamine because they did not have any with them when they
left for Amarillo. When asked by Agent Ashburn if Appellant would agree that Joaquin
“pretty much ran the show here in Littlefield as far as selling meth,” Appellant agreed that
Joaquin “was the man.”
In exchange for Agent Ashburn notifying the district attorney of Appellant’s
cooperation, Appellant agreed to make a written statement describing the
methamphetamine operation and the check-cashing scheme. Appellant acknowledged
that there were no guarantees in exchange for his cooperation. In his written statement,
Appellant implicated “Felix, Ashley, and Tawny” as other participants “in the deal” with
Joaquin. After writing his statement, Appellant affixed his signature to it. He also
identified other associates in a photo lineup.
The evidence outlined a methamphetamine distribution ring headed by Joaquin.
He and his co-conspirators, including Appellant and Mandy, would travel to Amarillo from
Littlefield to obtain methamphetamine from Kenneth to be distributed to surrounding
towns. Quantities transported by Joaquin and his associates ranged from ounces to
pounds of methamphetamine.
5
In an eleven-page indictment, returned on April 12, 2016, Appellant was charged
with the felony offense of engaging in organized criminal activity. In relevant part, the
indictment alleged that Jeffery Scott Estrada:
[O]n or about and between the 1st day of March, 2014 through the 15th day
of May, 2014, and before the presentment of this indictment, in [Lamb
County, Texas], did:
Then and there knowingly deliver or possess with the intent to deliver a
controlled substance in Penalty Group 1, to-wit: Methamphetamine, in an
amount of 200 grams or more but less than 400 grams.
And the defendant did then and there commit said offense with the intent to
establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a
combination, said combination consisting of three or more of the following
individuals: Kenneth Charles Dahl, Joaquin Manuel Coronado, Mandy Beth
McKinley, Celina Laiz Rodriguez, Ashley Kohl Rios, Eliseo Joel Martinez,
Santiago Vizcarra, Jr., Isidro Lopez, Rodney Trevino, Jr., Summer McFadin,
Felix Delarosa, Gillyan Goodwin, Natasha Rodriguez, Amanda Silvas,
William Grant, Tawny Castillo and Jonathan Estrada, who collaborated in
carrying on the heretofore criminal activity, by agreeing with one another
that they would engage in conduct constituting said offense, and each
individual named above, together with one or more of those individuals,
performed an overt act in furtherance of said agreement, to-wit: [whereupon
the indictment lists ten pages of “overt acts.”]
At no time did Appellant move to quash the indictment or otherwise object to the
indictment on the basis that possession with intent to deliver is not a predicate offense for
purposes of the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity. 6 At trial, when the jury
charge tracked the indictment, Appellant again did not object on that basis. After
submission of the case to the jury, it returned a general verdict of guilty as to the offense
of engaging in organized criminal activity and then later assessed Appellant’s punishment
at seventeen years confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice. This appeal followed.
6 See infra pp. 8-9.
6
ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
A person commits the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity “if, with
the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a
combination . . . the person commits or conspires to commit one or more of the following:
[enumerated predicate offenses].” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.02(a) (West Supp. 2018).
The predicate offenses are then listed in the eighteen enumerated subsections to section
71.02(a). The subsection relevant to this particular prosecution is subsection five which
provides as follows:
(5) unlawful manufacture, delivery, dispensation, or distribution of a
controlled substance or dangerous drug, or unlawful possession of a
controlled substance or dangerous drug through forgery, fraud,
misrepresentation or deception;
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.02(a)(5).
The gravamen of the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity is a
circumstance surrounding the conduct—the existence or creation of a combination that
collaborates in carrying on criminal activities. O’Brien v. State, 544 S.W.3d 376, 391 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2018). A “combination” requires three or more persons who collaborate in
carrying on criminal activities. § 71.01(a) (West Supp. 2018). “Profits” means property
constituting or derived from any proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, from an offense
listed in section 71.02. § 71.01(c) (West Supp. 2018). “Conspires to commit” means that
a person agrees with one or more persons that they or one or more of them engage in
conduct that would constitute the offense and that person and one or more of them
perform an overt act in pursuance of the agreement. An agreement constituting
conspiring to commit may be inferred from the acts of the parties. § 71.01(b) (West Supp.
2018). The overt act “need not be criminal in itself” and “acts that suffice for party
7
liability—those that encourage, solicit, direct, aid, or attempt to aid the commission of the
underlying offense—would also satisfy the overt act element of section 71.02.” Otto v.
State, 95 S.W.3d 282, 284 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).
CHARGE ERROR—UNASSIGNED ISSUE
Here, the predicate offenses alleged in both the indictment and the jury charge for
the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity were (1) delivery of a controlled
substance, to-wit: methamphetamine, in an amount of 200 grams or more but less than
400 grams and (2) possession with intent to deliver, a controlled substance, to-wit:
methamphetamine, in an amount of 200 grams or more but less than 400 grams. The
indictment further alleged that Appellant committed one or more of these predicate
offenses as part of a collaboration of three or more persons “agreeing with one another
that they would engage in conduct constituting said offense.”
As a matter of unassigned error, we note that possession with intent to deliver is
not a predicate offense enumerated in section 71.02(a). See Walker v. State, No. 07-16-
00245-CR, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 2817, at *5-6 (Tex. App.—Amarillo March 30, 2017,
pet. granted) (mem. op., not designated for publication); State v. Foster, No. 06-13-
00190-CR, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 5877, at *4 (Tex. App.—Texarkana June 2, 2014, pet.
ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (stating that “the terms of [section
71.02(a)(5)] are not violated by simply possessing a controlled substance with the intent
to deliver it” and concluding the trial court properly quashed an indictment alleging
organized criminal activity based on the predicate offense of simply possessing a
controlled substance with intent to deliver). Simple possession of a controlled substance
is a predicate offense only if committed through forgery, fraud, misrepresentation, or
deception. See § 71.02(a)(5). Additionally, “possession with intent to deliver” cannot be
8
incorporated into “delivery” to legitimize an incorrect predicate offense. See Hughitt v.
State, 539 S.W.3d 531, 537 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2018, pet. granted). An incorrectly
alleged predicate offense is fundamental error where, as here, it cannot be ascertained
whether the jury voted to convict based upon the proper predicate offense of delivery of
a controlled substance or the improper predicate offense of possession with intent to
deliver. See Fraser v. State, 523 S.W.3d 320, 342 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2017, pet.
granted) (finding that when a jury charge allows for conviction on a theory not supported
by the law, the verdict cannot stand).
Although the Court of Criminal Appeals has determined that the enumerated
predicate offenses listed under section 71.02(a) are merely alternate manner and means
of committing the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity and are not elements
of the primary offense; O’Brien, 544 S.W.3d at 391, such a distinction is of little
consequence where, as here, the jury charge allows for a conviction based upon facts
which do not constitute the offense charged. It is simply a fundamental constitutional
principle that one cannot be convicted for something that does not constitute a criminal
offense. Posey v. State, 545 S.W.2d 162, 163 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977) (holding that “if it
is the manner and means by which an act is done that makes the otherwise innocent act
a criminal offense, it is necessary to allege facts showing the manner and means which
make the act a criminal offense”); Hughitt, 539 S.W.3d at 536 (vacating a section 71.02(a)
conviction where the predicate offense was possession of a controlled substance with
intent to deliver).
Furthermore, the error need not be preserved through objection by Appellant and
it may be raised sua sponte by a reviewing court as unassigned error. Walker, 2017 Tex.
App. LEXIS 2817, at *7 (finding charge error allowing a jury to convict based on facts that
9
do not constitute an offense to be egregiously harmful and thus warranting reversal of the
judgment based on unassigned error); Sanchez v. State, 209 S.W.3d 117, 120-21 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2006) (holding same).
Because the jury charge in this case allows for a conviction based upon facts that
do not constitute the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity, Appellant’s
conviction cannot stand. Accordingly, based on this unassigned error, the judgment of
the trial court is reversed.
PROPER REMEDY
In Bowen v. State, 374 S.W.3d 427 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012), the Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals held that if an appellate court concludes the evidence supporting a
conviction is legally insufficient, the court is not necessarily limited to ordering an acquittal
but may instead reform the judgment to reflect a conviction as to any lesser-included
offense and remand for a new punishment hearing. Id. at 431-32. In Arteaga v. State,
521 S.W.3d 329, 340 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017), the Court further expanded the application
of Bowen and its progeny to a cause involving jury-charge error. While the error in this
case can be described as jury-charge error, unlike the facts in Arteaga, the error here
deals with the merits of the offense itself—not just a fact affecting the appropriate range
of punishment. The error in the charge at hand permitted the jury to convict Appellant of
the offense of engaging in criminal activity based upon a theory authorized by law and a
theory not authorized by law. This difference sufficiently distinguishes the opinion in
Arteaga from the facts of this case and renders application of Bowen and its progeny
inappropriate to the facts of this case.
10
Here, the verdict rendered by the jury was a general verdict—meaning we are
unable to determine whether some or all of the jurors believed Appellant was guilty of
engaging in organized criminal activity based upon a theory authorized by law (delivery
of a controlled substance) or upon a theory not authorized by law (possession with intent
to deliver a controlled substance). Because the record supports both possibilities, the
appropriate remedy is not to acquit or to reform the judgment of conviction. The
appropriate remedy is to reverse and remand for a new trial. See Stromberg v. California,
283 U.S. 359, 367-70, 51 S. Ct. 532, 75 L. Ed. 1117 (1931) (holding remand for a new
trial to be the appropriate remedy when conviction was based on a general jury verdict
encompassing both a constitutional and an unconstitutional theory of conviction); Fraser,
523 S.W.3d at 335-36 (holding remand for a new trial was appropriate where erroneous
jury charge allowed for conviction based upon a theory authorized by law and a theory
not authorized by law). Therefore, the appropriate remedy in this case is to reverse the
conviction and remand this cause to the trial court for a new trial. While our disposition
of this unassigned error renders unnecessary the consideration of Appellant’s two issues,
because we are remanding this matter to the trial court for further proceedings, in the
interest of justice, we will address Appellant’s issues to determine if they would afford him
any greater relief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.
Addressing Appellant’s issues in a logical rather than numerical order, we need to
first review his second issue by which he challenges the suppression of certain evidence,
before we review his first issue by which he challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to
support his conviction.
11
MOTION TO SUPPRESS CONFESSION—ISSUE TWO
By his second issue, Appellant contends the trial court erred by admitting, over
objection, a written statement and audio recording of his interrogation because he did not
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his rights before making those statements.
At the hearing on his motion to suppress, Appellant testified he had been using
methamphetamine three to four times a day several weeks before his arrest and he was
not in his right mind when he gave his oral and written statements more than a week after
last using methamphetamine. He claimed he was still under the influence of
methamphetamine when he gave his statements and did not remember voluntarily
providing the contents of his statements. During cross-examination, although he claimed
not to be an expert, he testified it takes three days to get methamphetamine out of his
system after a “regular hit”; but, he was using greater quantities.
Agent Ashburn, a nineteen-year veteran of the Department of Public Safety,
testified he would not have conducted an interview with an intoxicated suspect. To do so
would have tainted the information. According to Agent Ashburn, Appellant knew where
he was and responded appropriately to all questions. In his experience, an intoxicated
suspect would have been jittery, unable to sit still, and would have rambled. Appellant
did not exhibit any of those characteristics. Neither did Appellant appear tired, exhausted,
or sleepy during the lengthy interview.
The trial court acknowledged reviewing two hours and ten minutes of Appellant’s
taped interview. In denying the motion to suppress, the court found that Appellant was
properly admonished and understood his rights. His interview was coherent, he
understood what he was doing, and he gave appropriate responses. Appellant “was in
12
full control of his mental faculties” and “wasn’t influenced any way that rendered his
confession involuntary.”
We review a trial judge’s ruling on a motion to suppress under a bifurcated
standard of review. Valtierra v. State, 310 S.W.3d 442, 447 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). First,
we afford almost total deference to a trial judge’s determination of historical facts that the
record supports especially when the trial judge’s findings are based on an evaluation of
credibility and demeanor. Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
The trial judge is the sole trier of fact and judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the
weight to be given their testimony. State v. Ross, 32 S.W.3d 853, 855 (Tex. Crim. App.
2000). We review the trial court’s findings in the light most favorable to his ruling and
determine whether the evidence supports those findings. State v. Kelly, 204 S.W.3d 808,
818 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Second, we review a trial court’s application of the law to
the facts de novo. State v. Dixon, 206 S.W.3d 587, 590 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). We will
sustain the trial court’s ruling if that ruling is reasonably supported by the record and is
correct on any theory of law applicable to the case. Id.
Article 38.22, section 2(b) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides that
no written or oral statement of an accused is admissible unless the accused is given
statutory warnings and “knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily” waives those rights. TEX.
CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22, § 2(b) (West 2018). Whether a confession was
voluntarily made is to be determined by the totality of the circumstances. Delao v. State,
235 S.W.3d 235, 239 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). An accused’s intoxication is a factor to
consider in evaluating the voluntariness of a confession. Leza v. State, 351 S.W.3d 344,
351 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Bell v. State, No. 07-14-00028-CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS
13
2211, at *3 (Tex. App.—Amarillo March 9, 2015, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for
publication).
Evidence at the suppression hearing showed that Appellant had been in custody
for eight days prior to his interview and, therefore, presumably since last using
methamphetamines.7 When he gave his oral and written statements, he was properly
advised of his rights, and although at the hearing on his motion to suppress, he claimed
he was still under the influence of methamphetamines and could not have voluntarily
made his statements, he never made those claims during his interview.
In addition to the testimony presented at the suppression hearing, the trial court
listened to Appellant’s interview and determined that his statements were voluntarily
made. This court’s review of the interview is consistent with the trial court’s finding that
Appellant’s statements were voluntarily made. Eight days had lapsed since Appellant
had last used methamphetamine. Appellant was clear and coherent in his answers to
Agent Ashburn’s questions. He was cooperative and did not ramble. There was no
indication of coercion or intimidation during the interview. Appellant made an independent
and informed decision to give an oral and written statement to Agent Ashburn. Applying
the appropriate standard of review, we find the trial court’s finding that Appellant’s
confession was voluntary is reasonably supported by the record and there was no error
in admitting the confession during trial. Issue two is overruled.
7 Numerous references in the record are made to “nine” days having passed since Appellant’s
arrest on June 24, 2014, and his custodial interrogation on July 2, 2014. However, the time period between
those dates is eight days.
14
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE—ISSUE ONE
By his first issue, Appellant contends the evidence is insufficient to establish the
elements of engaging in organized criminal activity. He emphasizes that the State failed
to prove his intent to participate in the combination as well as his co-conspirators’ intent
to participate in the combination. We disagree.
The only standard that a reviewing court should apply in determining whether the
evidence is sufficient to support each element of a criminal offense the State is required
to prove beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443
U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979). See Adames v. State, 353 S.W.3d
854, 859 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 912 (Tex. Crim. App.
2010). We consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and
determine whether, based on that evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, any
rational juror could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable
doubt. Queeman v. State, 520 S.W.3d 616, 622 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017).
We give deference to the responsibility of the trier of fact to fairly resolve conflicts
in testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts
to ultimate facts. Jenkins v. State, 493 S.W.3d 583, 599 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). Each
fact need not point directly and independently to the appellant’s guilt, as long as the
cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support the
conviction. Id.
In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence, we compare the elements of the
offense as defined by a hypothetically correct jury charge to the evidence adduced at trial.
Thomas v. State, 444 S.W.3d 4, 8 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) (citing Malik v. State, 953
15
S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)). In our review, we must evaluate all of the
evidence in the record, both direct and circumstantial and whether properly or improperly
admitted. Jenkins, 493 S.W.3d at 599; Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2007). When the record supports conflicting inferences, we presume the fact finder
resolved the conflicts in favor of the prosecution and defer to that determination. Jackson,
443 U.S. at 326.
As discussed hereinabove, and as defined by a hypothetically correct jury charge
under the indictment in this case, the elements of the offense of engaging in organized
criminal activity are as follows:
(1) with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or
in the profits of a combination;
(2) the accused commits or conspires to commit;
(3) delivery of a controlled substance.
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.02(a) (West Supp. 2018).8
While the State was required to prove not only that Appellant intended to establish,
maintain, or participate in a group of three or more persons, it was also required to
establish that the members of that group intended to work together in a continuing course
of criminal activities. O’Brien, 544 S.W.3d at 391; Dowdle v. State, 11 S.W.3d 233, 235-
36 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Munoz v. State, 29 S.W.3d 205, 208 (Tex. App.—Amarillo
2000, no pet.). The continuing course of criminal activities must encompass more than
one crime or criminal episode. Munoz, 29 S.W.3d at 208. There must be an agreement
8 As a factual issue necessary to establish the applicable range of punishment, the jury was also
required to determine the applicable weight of the controlled substance delivered.
16
by the participants to act together in the continuing course of activity and it is not
necessary that the participants know each other’s identity or their particular role in the
criminal activity. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.01(a)(1).
A person acts with intent with respect to the nature of his conduct or to a result of
his conduct when it is his conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause
the result. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 6.03(a) (West 2011). Direct evidence of a culpable
mental state is not required and may be proven by circumstantial evidence. Hart v. State,
89 S.W.3d 61, 63 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). “A jury may infer intent from any facts which
tend to prove its existence, including the acts, words, and conduct of the accused, and
the method of committing the crime . . . . This has been the rule in Texas for over 100
years.” Id. at 64.
Here, the indictment alleged that Appellant committed the offense with the intent
to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination
with more than three individuals, including Kenneth, Joaquin, and Mandy,9 who
collaborated in carrying on the criminal activity by agreeing with one another to engage
in conduct constituting the offense and by performing an overt act in furtherance of that
agreement. The indictment listed numerous overt acts as to each individual, including
Appellant, of possession, purchases, and delivery of methamphetamine, and the
proceeds received therefrom. The indictment also contained references to handguns and
forged check-cashing as part of the criminal enterprise.
In his oral and written statements, Appellant admitted to acquiring
methamphetamine from Joaquin on multiple occasions, whether by purchase or in
9 Including Appellant, the enterprise involved eighteen individuals.
17
exchange for favors. He also admitted he would resell the methamphetamine for profit to
pay his bills. Appellant also confessed to being part of a check-cashing scheme with
Mandy and Joaquin in which he cashed payroll checks with false identification provided
by Mandy on at least two occasions. In each instance, Appellant kept more than half of
the cash as his share of the profit. Kenneth, Joaquin, Mandy, and Appellant operated as
a “combination” (three or more persons) for profit and collaborated in criminal activities,
and from the evidence, it was reasonable to conclude that it was Appellant’s conscious
objective to engage in those illegal activities.
The trial court granted testimonial immunity to four of Appellant’s co-conspirators:
(1) Isidro Lopez, (2) Mandy Beth McKinley, (3) William Grant, and (4) Celina Rodriguez.
Except for William Grant, who failed to show at trial, Isidro, Mandy, and Celina all testified
regarding Appellant’s participation in the combination by selling methamphetamine for
profit.10
Although reluctant to do so, Mandy offered testimony that was illustrative of the
“combination’s” intent as well as Appellant’s guilt. She testified that beginning in March
2014, she and Joaquin began using methamphetamine together. Using Kenneth as their
source in Amarillo to obtain methamphetamine, she and Joaquin began making frequent
trips to acquire methamphetamine. During that same time period, she met Appellant.
She confirmed that Appellant made at least one trip to Amarillo with them and she
observed Joaquin provide Appellant some of the methamphetamine for distribution to
10 As accomplices, their testimonies required corroboration by other evidence tending to connect
Appellant to the offense. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.14 (West 2005); Malone v. State, 253 S.W.3d
253, 257 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Other evidence tending to connect Appellant to the offense included his
oral and written statements and Agent Ashburn’s testimony as well as Appellant’s cell phone, the contents
of which were obtained with a search warrant. The jury was properly instructed on accomplice-witness
testimony.
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others. Mandy testified she never heard Joaquin and Appellant enter into an agreement
to distribute methamphetamine; however, she also testified that Appellant was Joaquin’s
“right-hand man”—a claim vehemently denied by Appellant when he gave his statement.
Isidro Lopez was also in the business of selling drugs before Joaquin was released
from jail. He was arrested on April 8, 2014. He testified that he went to Amarillo with
Joaquin at least seven times beginning in March 2014. On all but one of those trips, they
obtained four ounces (112 grams) of methamphetamine at a time from Kenneth. On one
of those trips, Isidro bargained with Kenneth for two pounds (896 grams) of
methamphetamine, using some cash and various stolen items as currency. He admitted
delivering methamphetamine for Joaquin but denied having any agreement with Appellant
to do so. Although he did see Appellant exchange cash with Joaquin for
methamphetamine, he described Appellant as merely a “user,” contrary to Mandy’s
testimony that Appellant was Joaquin’s “right-hand man.”
Appellant’s former girlfriend, Celina Rodriguez, moved to Littlefield in March 2014.
She moved in with Appellant after her mother kicked her out. She testified that Appellant
regularly obtained methamphetamine from Joaquin. She saw Appellant give Joaquin
cash for methamphetamine on several occasions and also saw him provide
methamphetamine to several of his co-conspirators. During cross-examination, Celina’s
credibility was called into question when she admitted lying to Agent Ashburn about
Joaquin’s operation. Celina’s cooperation was gained in exchange for a promise of help
with regards to regaining custody of her children.
There was conflicting testimony given as to Appellant’s role in Joaquin’s operation.
The jury, as the trier of fact, was free to resolve those inconsistencies in favor of the
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verdict. Jenkins, 493 S.W.3d at 599; Curry v. State, 30 S.W.3d 394, 406 (Tex. Crim. App.
2000). Furthermore, even if there was no direct evidence of Appellant’s participation in
the delivery of a controlled substance, circumstantial evidence of his intent could have
been inferred from participation with the group. See Gomez v. State, No. 03-05-00842-
CR, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7919, at *5 (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 16, 2008, pet. ref’d) (mem.
op., not designated for publication).
In Gomez, the appellant was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity
with two of his siblings. On appeal, the appellant argued the evidence was insufficient
because the State had failed to prove that his sister, the third person necessary for a
criminal combination, had agreed or conspired to participate in criminal activity. Id. at *3.
In rejecting the argument, the court found that the jury could have inferred her involvement
because his sister owned and arranged for utility services at the house where the drugs
were sold and where a search warrant produced drugs, weapons, surveillance
equipment, cash, drug paraphernalia, and other evidence used in dealing drugs. There
was also evidence that the sister and the appellant’s other sibling were drug users. Id. at
*5.
Here, for purposes of establishing the delivery of a controlled substance, “delivery”
means the act of delivering. TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.002(9) (West 2017).
“Deliver” means to transfer, actually or constructively, to another a controlled substance,
regardless of whether there is an agency relationship between the transferor and the
transferee. The term also includes offering to sell a controlled substance. TEX. HEALTH
& SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.002(8). Under this definition, in the context of an engaging in
organized criminal activity offense, it is sufficient if any member of the combination
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delivers a controlled substance to another member of the combination in carrying out the
criminal objective of the combination.
Analyzing the evidence presented in this case against this framework, we observe
that the prosecution inadequately accounted for the actual or constructive transfer of any
specific quantity of a controlled substance, on any specific date, by a member of the
combination to either another member of the combination or to the public at-large.11 To
a great extent, the jury was left to speculate as to just when and how much
methamphetamine was transferred by Joaquin to Appellant, or from Appellant to anyone
else. However, for purposes of our sufficiency analysis, the evidence was sufficient to
satisfy the State’s burden of establishing delivery if it established the delivery of the
requisite amount by any member of the combination to any other member of the
combination.
In that regard, the record establishes that on or about the relevant time period
between March 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014, Kenneth delivered to Joaquin, Mandy, and Isidro
(all members of the combination) more than the 200 to 400 grams alleged in the
indictment. From that stash of methamphetamine, Joaquin delivered to Appellant (also a
member of the combination) on numerous occasions for his use and further delivery at
least 1.75 grams. Accordingly, the evidence is legally sufficient to establish that Appellant
and members of the combination had the requisite intent to establish, maintain, or
participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination, and that in the course of
that combination Appellant committed or conspired to commit the predicate offense of
11 As is evident throughout the record, the prosecution mistakenly relied on possession of a
controlled substance, not delivery, as the predicate offense for engaging in organized criminal activity.
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delivery of methamphetamine in an amount of 200 or more grams. Accordingly, issue
one is overruled.
CONCLUSION
Because we cannot reform the conviction to any lesser-included offense as
discussed hereinabove, the trial court’s judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded
for a new trial.
Patrick A. Pirtle
Justice
Publish.
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