Corey Lee Hobbs v. State

AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed October 29, 2015.
S In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-14-01029-CR
COREY LEE HOBBS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 265th Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. F-0959386-R
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Bridges, Francis, and Myers
Opinion by Justice Bridges
Appellant Corey Lee Hobbs pleaded not guilty to possession with intent to deliver
cocaine and using or exhibiting a firearm during the commission of the offense. The trial court
found him guilty and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment. On appeal, he challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction and the sufficiency of the evidence to
support the affirmative finding he used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of
the offense. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Background
Detective Joseph Allen, a member of the narcotics unit with the Dallas Police
Department, received complaints about foot traffic at 4815 Denley Drive in Dallas, Texas. The
location was a suspected drug house.
On July 29, 2009, Detective Allen, along with other officers, conducted covert
surveillance of the house and observed several individuals walking straight to the front door,
entering the house for a short time, and then leaving. Such behavior was indicative of drug sales.
Officers eventually approached two individuals after they left the home and found them
in possession of cocaine. The individuals confirmed purchasing drugs from the Denley house.
Officers conducted further surveillance on July 30 and observed more foot traffic. Officers also
observed a large black male, approximately 6’6” in height and weighing 290 pounds, standing on
the front porch of the house and waving away a suspected narcotics buyer.
Detective Allen then drafted a search warrant, which was executed on July 31 with the
help of Dallas SWAT. During Detective Allen’s preliminary drive-by with SWAT, he observed
a large black male in the doorway conducting what appeared to be a hand-to-hand transaction
with another person. However, when officers searched the home a few hours later, it was empty.
During the search, Detective Timothy Falk observed a camera on the front side of the
house. Inside the master bedroom, a television carried the live video feed from the front door.
Detective Allen and Detective Falk both explained this setup was typical to warn drug dealers of
impending problems such as police presence or a potential robber. Also inside the master
bedroom, Officer Tyrone Wall found a semi-automatic rim fire Mossberg rifle inside a plastic
case and a handgun on top of the dresser just beneath the flat panel television screen. Both guns
were in working order. A box of ammunition was on the floor beneath the bed. Also on the
dresser near the handgun, officers found a half-gallon sized Ziploc baggie containing marijuana.
Detective Allen explained it was common for drug dealers to keep guns in their residence for
protection.
Inside the front door on top of a shelf, Officer Matt Banes found a large piece of crack
cocaine, a scale, and a razor blade on a ceramic plate. A latent fingerprint lifted from the
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ceramic plate matched Hobbs. In a small hallway niche, officers found a piece of wood with the
name “Corey” written on it. In the kitchen, officers also found a uniform badge with the name
“C. Hobbs.”
In the house officers found mail addressed to Hobbs. A black safe found in the master
bedroom had the following documents addressed to Hobbs at the Denley address: (1) a court
order establishing a parent-child relationship, dated February 23, 2006, (2) a payroll stub from
Dallas Independent School District, dated December 26, 2008, and (3) a letter from the Texas
Workforce Commission, dated July 27, 2009. Except for the letter from the Texas Workforce
Commission, all other documents found in the safe predated the search by approximately eight
months. Also found was mail addressed to Hobbs at another home in Dallas and an apartment in
Arlington.
Based on information gathered during the search, Detective Allen ran “Corey L. Hobbs”
through the Dallas County Automated Identification System. He found a previous arrest record
with a mug shot. After comparing the mug shot to the pictures found inside the Denley home, he
determined he was looking for the same Corey L. Hobbs. His primary address was listed as
2814 Wilhurt in Dallas, Texas, which matched a document found inside the master bedroom
safe.
Hobbs’s mother, Thelma, testified in his defense. She testified Hobbs moved out of the
Denley house in March 2009 after he lost his job and moved in with her at the Wilhurt address.
After Hobbs moved out of the Denley home, her nephew, Michael Scott, moved in. Although
she admitted to never meeting Scott, she had seen him and described him as “tall,” “heavyset,”
and maybe “just a touch bigger than Corey.” However, when Hobbs’s girlfriend was asked if
Scott was a pretty big guy, she said, “No, not - - not that big.”
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When asked about Scott’s current location, Thelma explained he passed away “around
like about April or May, about June, July” of 2009. When pressed further about his death, she
said he probably died before July 31, 2009. On redirect, defense counsel asked if it was possible
he died in August 2009, and she answered, “He could have.”
Hobbs moved out of his mother’s house in April 2009 and moved into his girlfriend’s
apartment in Arlington. Thelma acknowledged Hobbs returned to the Denley house on occasion
to collect rent from Scott. However, she did not have any knowledge of Hobbs owning guns or
being involved in criminal activity.
Hobbs testified in his own defense. He admitted leaving personal belongings in the
Denley house when he moved out because he did not have anywhere to store them. He denied
owning any guns. He knew Scott had guns because he was an avid hunter, but Hobbs never saw
Scott with guns. He testified Scott died of an accidental gunshot wound in August 2009.
Hobbs explained he used the Denley address when he filed for unemployment with the
Texas Workforce Commission because he had no other address to use. He denied knowledge of
any drug activity in the Denley house, and he never saw any suspicious activity when he picked
up the rent. He claimed he left the safe with his personal documents at the Denley house because
it was safer at that location, and it was easier for him to open mail and file it away. He testified
he was not surprised his fingerprint was lifted from the ceramic plate because he unpacked the
house after moving in so he touched all the plates while putting them in the curio cabinet.
At the end of the bench trial, the trial court found Hobbs guilty of possession with intent
to deliver cocaine and using or exhibiting a firearm during the commission of the offense. The
court sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment. This appeal followed.
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Sufficiency of the Evidence to Support Conviction for Unlawful Possession With Intent to
Deliver
In his first issue, Hobbs argues the evidence is legally insufficient to support his
conviction for unlawful possession with intent to deliver because the State failed to establish
affirmative links between him and the contraband. He specifically argues (1) he did not have
exclusive custody and control of the house where the cocaine was found; (2) he was not present
at the house when officers executed a search warrant; (3) the narcotics were not in plain view;
and (4) he was not in proximity of the drugs. The State responds the evidence is legally
sufficient to support his conviction.
In a legal sufficiency review, we view all the 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. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). The
jury, as the sole judge of witness credibility, is free to believe or disbelieve all or part of a
witness’s testimony. Adames v. State, 353 S.W.3d 854, 860 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).
Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor,
and circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to establish guilt. Hooper v. State, 214
S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
To prove possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, the State must show a
defendant (1) exercised care, custody, control, or management over the controlled substance, (2)
intended to deliver the controlled substance to another, and (3) knew that the substance in his
possession was a controlled substance. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.112(a)
(West 2010); Parker v. State, 192 S.W.3d 801, 805 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet.
ref’d). Mere presence at the location where drugs are found is insufficient, by itself, to establish
care, custody, or control of drugs. Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 162 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
Therefore, when a defendant is not in exclusive possession of the place where the controlled
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substance is found, the State must prove additional facts and circumstances that affirmatively
link the defendant to the contraband in such a way that it can be concluded that the defendant had
knowledge of the contraband and exercised control over it. Parker, 192 S.W.3d at 805.
Affirmative links are established when the evidence, direct or indirect, shows that the accused’s
connection with the drug was “more than just fortuitous.” Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402,
406 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
In determining whether sufficient affirmative links exist, we examine factors such as (1)
whether the defendant was present when the drugs were found; (2) whether the drugs were in
plain view; (3) whether the drugs were found in proximity to and accessible to the defendant; (4)
whether the defendant was under the influence of drugs when arrested; (5) whether the defendant
possessed other contraband or drug paraphernalia; (6) whether the defendant made incriminating
statements when arrested; (7) whether the defendant attempted to flee; (8) whether the defendant
made furtive gestures; (9) whether there was an odor of drugs; (10) whether the defendant owned
or had the right to possess the place where the drugs were found; (11) whether the place the
drugs were found was enclosed; (12) the amount of drugs found; (13) whether the defendant
possessed weapons; and (14) whether the defendant possessed a large amount of cash. Wingfield
v. State, 197 S.W.3d 922, 927 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, no pet.). There is no set formula of
facts that dictates a finding of affirmative links sufficient to support an inference of knowing
possession of contraband. Id. Instead, it is the logical force or degree of factors, not the number
of factors present, which tends to affirmatively link the defendant to the contraband. Id.
Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, the evidence shows officers saw a man
matching Hobbs’ description the day before, and the day of, execution of the search warrant.
Detective Allen testified the basketball jersey Hobbs wore in his mugshot pulled from the Dallas
County Automated Identification System appeared to be the same jersey he saw the man wearing
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on the front porch during his surveillance of the Denley home. Thus, although Hobbs was absent
from the house when officers conducted the search, a reasonable fact-finder could determine
officers observed Hobbs during the days preceding the search.
While we agree the cocaine was perhaps not in plain sight for the officers conducting the
search, the evidence showed Hobbs was approximately 6’6,” and therefore, it was likely easily
accessible for him. Moreover, the drugs and related paraphernalia were on top of the cabinet
located beside the front door making it easier to facilitate the quick foot traffic that officers
observed coming and going from the home.
Despite Hobbs’s attempts to argue Scott had control of the house at the time the search
occurred, the court heard evidence that suggested Scott was not as large as Hobbs and that he
likely died before the search occurred. Moreover, none of Scott’s personal belongings were
found in the house.
On the other hand, the house was full of Hobbs’s personal items, including a piece of
wood in the hallway niche with the name “Corey” written on it and a uniform badge with the
name “C. Hobbs” in the kitchen. A safe containing documents addressed to Hobbs at the Denley
home was found inside the master bedroom. One piece of mail addressed to him was dated four
days before officers executed the search warrant, which indicated Hobbs had recently been to the
house and likely during the time officers were conducting surveillance. Thus, the logical force
of the evidence affirmatively linked Hobbs to the drugs, and the connection was “more than just
fortuitous.” See, e.g., Poindexter, 153 S.W.3d at 406, 411 (finding that photograph of defendant
and utility bill addressed to him inside home provided evidence he lived there when drugs were
found); see also Davis v. State, 05-14-00378-CR, 2015 WL 1542211, at *4 (Tex. App.—Dallas
Apr. 2, 2015, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (reasonable juror could
conclude defendant possessed drugs when headboard with defendant’s name on it was in
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bedroom where drugs were found and officers found mail addressed to defendant in home).
Thus, the evidence was legally sufficient to support his conviction for possession of a controlled
substance with intent to deliver. We overrule Hobbs’ first issue.
Sufficiency of the Evidence to Support a Special Finding Hobbs Used a Deadly Weapon
During Commission of the Offense1
In his second issue, Hobbs challenges the trial court’s finding he used a deadly weapon
during the commission of the offense. His entire argument rests on the fact the police failed to
run the registration on the guns to determine ownership, and it was equally as likely the guns
belonged to his cousin or another occupant of the house.
As noted above, we view all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict.
Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. When considering whether the evidence is sufficient to support an
affirmative - finding Hobbs used a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense, the
question is whether a rational tier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that the mere
possession of firearms facilitated the associated crime. Gale v. State, 998 S.W.2d 221, 224 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1999); Patterson v. State, 769 S.W.2d 938, 941 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). “Use” can
mean “any employment of a deadly weapon, even simple possession, if such possession
facilitated” the associated crime. Patterson, 769 S.W.2d at 941. Further, a defendant’s
proximity to the guns at the time of the search is not dispositive. Coleman v. State, 145 S.W.3d
649, 653 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004) (affirming deadly weapon finding when police discovered
firearms in close proximity to contraband and not close proximity to defendant). Rather, the
“cumulative effect” of the evidence may allow a rational trier of fact to determine the defendant
used a deadly weapon to facilitate an offense. Id. at 655.
1
Although the indictment charged him using or exhibiting a deadly weapon, it is undisputed the only issue is whether he used a deadly
weapon during commission of the offense.
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The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has noted two theories courts have applied when
considering if a defendant “used” a gun despite his absence at the time of a search. See Plummer
v. State, 410 S.W.3d 855, 859 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). The “drug fortress theory” acknowledges
that firearms stored at a drug-manufacturing or distribution location might be used to defend
against police or thieves. Id. The “more than strategic proximity theory” requires an evidentiary
connection between the guns and drugs to establish that the guns facilitated or could have
facilitated the drug trafficking offense. Id. Both theories, however, recognize that drug dealers
frequently use guns to protect themselves and their merchandise. Id.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the special finding, a reasonable
factfinder could have determined Hobbs used the weapons to facilitate the offense. Although the
weapons were not found near the cocaine, the handgun was found near other drugs and next to
the television providing a live video stream of the front door. It was reasonable for the factfinder
to conclude the gun’s proximity to other drugs provided easy access to the owner to protect the
contraband from potential thieves. Detective Allen also explained it was common for drug
dealers to keep guns in their residence for protection. See Andrada v. State, No. 07-13-00278-
CR, 2015 WL 1221504, at *3 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Mar. 16, 2015, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not
designated for publication) (jury could believe defendant used firearm to facilitate offense when
officer testified a person dealing narcotics might possess a gun to protect the drugs). Moreover,
both guns were in working order.
The factfinder was free to reject Hobbs’ explanation that the weapons belonged to Scott.
And, the officers’ failure to run the - registration of the guns to determine ownership is not
determinative when other factors weigh in favor of the State. See Coleman, 145 S.W.3d at 651,
655 (despite no evidence that gun was registered to defendant and defendant was not present
inside house when officers found weapons, a reasonable juror could determine defendant used a
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deadly weapon during the commission of a drug offense). Accordingly, the cumulative force of
the evidence establishes Hobbs “used” a deadly weapon to facilitate the delivery of drugs. We
overrule his second issue.
Conclusion
Having overruled Hobbs’ issues, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
/David L. Bridges/
DAVID L. BRIDGES
JUSTICE
Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47
141029F.U05
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S
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
COREY LEE HOBBS, Appellant On Appeal from the 265th Judicial District
Court, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-14-01029-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. F-0959386-R.
Opinion delivered by Justice Bridges.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Justices Francis and Myers participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered this 29th day of October, 2015.
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