Brandon R. Burnett v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: May 19, 2005
• Docket: 01-04-00513-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

____________

NO. 01-04-00513-CR

BRANDON RUIGE BURNETT, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

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On Appeal from the 174th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 950812

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 MEMORANDUM OPINION

            Appellant, Brandon Ruige Burnett, pleaded not guilty to the felony offense of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, cocaine, weighing 400 grams or more. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.112(f) (Vernon 2004). Appellant and the State elected a bench trial. The trial court denied appellant’s motion to suppress evidence, found appellant guilty, and assessed punishment at 25 years’ confinement and a $10,000 fine. In two points of error, appellant contends that (1) he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel stipulated that the substance recovered by police officers was cocaine that weighed 997.3 grams, and (2) the trial court abused its discretion by denying his motion to suppress evidence. We affirm.

Factual Background

          Houston Police Department (HPD) Officer Castille witnessed a possible drug transaction involving three persons inside a Buick Roadmaster parked in the lot of a restaurant at the 6500 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard in Houston. Officer Castille saw appellant get out of the Buick, while holding a black backpack, and get onto a motorcycle. Appellant drove out of the parking lot on the motorcycle, and the Buick followed. When Officer Castille’s partner saw the Buick violate two traffic laws, he used his police radio to broadcast a description of appellant’s motorcycle and also requested a marked police car to stop the Buick.

          HPD Officer Boling was driving his marked police car and responded. As he drove towards the requested area, Officer Boling observed appellant’s motorcycle traveling southbound at a high rate of speed in the 8100 block of Highway 288. As he paced appellant’s speed, Officer Boling determined that appellant was speeding at a rate of over 100 miles per hour in a 70 miles per hour zone. Officer Boling stopped appellant, approached him, and requested a driver’s license and proof insurance. When appellant responded that he did not have a driver’s license or insurance, Officer Boling told appellant that he would issue him a citation for speeding, asked appellant to step into the back seat of his patrol car, and instructed appellant to hand him the backpack that appellant was wearing. Appellant punched the officer in the face, dropped the backpack, and ran into the median of the freeway. Officer Boling ran after appellant, and, after a struggle in which a civilian motorist stopped to assist, Officer Boling arrested appellant for assault and for evading arrest. A search of appellant’s backpack conducted after his arrest produced a package containing 997.3 grams of cocaine. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

          In his first point of error, appellant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by entering into a stipulation with the State that the substance recovered from appellant’s backpack was cocaine in the amount of 997.3 grams. Appellant argues that, by stipulating to the testimony of the State’s chemist, trial counsel relieved the State of its burden to prove, as an essential element of the offense, that the unknown substance was cocaine.

          To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant must show that (1) his counsel’s performance was deficient, and (2) a reasonable probability exists that the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064 (1984). The first prong of the Strickland test requires that the defendant show that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 812 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Thus, the defendant must prove objectively, by a preponderance of the evidence, that his counsel’s representation fell below professional standards. Mitchell v. State, 68 S.W.3d 640, 642 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). The second prong requires that the defendant show a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693-94, 104 S. Ct. at 2068; Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 812. Because the reviewing court must, however, indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance, the defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action “might be considered sound trial strategy.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2065. Any allegation of ineffectiveness must be firmly founded in the record, and the record must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness. Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813 (citing McFarland v. State, 928 S.W.2d 482, 500 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996)). Under normal circumstances, the record on direct appeal will not be sufficient to show that counsel’s representation was so deficient and lacking in tactical or strategic decision-making as to overcome the presumption that counsel’s conduct was reasonable and professional. Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828, 833 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).

          The record shows that trial counsel stipulated that the substance recovered in the backpack was cocaine weighing 997.3 grams, “subject to” the motion to suppress, which was not waived by the stipulation. When the stipulation was entered into evidence, the trial court asked appellant’s trial counsel whether he had explained to appellant “his rights.” Appellant’s trial counsel replied that he had. In addition, the trial court asked appellant whether he understood that he was waiving his right to have the State prove, with a witness, that the substance was cocaine and the quantity of the substance, and also asked whether appellant’s trial counsel had explained the stipulation to him. Appellant responded “yes.”

          The record before us demonstrates that trial counsel consulted with appellant concerning their joint decision to stipulate to the evidence. Although the record before us suggests that appellant’s trial strategy was to pursue the motion to suppress evidence, the record before us is silent concerning trial counsel’s actual reasons for stipulating to the testimony of the State’s chemist. See Mayhue v. State, 969 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex. App.—Austin 1998, no pet.) (citing Reyes v. State, 849 S.W.2d 812, 815 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (holding that defendant may raise ineffective assistance of counsel claim and develop record in proceeding on motion for new trial.)) To hold trial counsel ineffective based on the grounds that appellant asserts here, when the record is silent concerning trial counsel’s strategy, would require that we speculate, which we decline to do. See Gamble v. State, 916 S.W.2d 92, 93 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, no pet.). We must, therefore, presume that counsel had a plausible reason for his actions. See Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 814. We hold that appellant has not met his burden of proving ineffective assistance of counsel by a preponderance of the evidence.

          We overrule point of error one.

Motion to Suppress

          In his second point of error, appellant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his motion to suppress evidence. Appellant argues that the initial stop was predicated on the erroneous suspicion that appellant was engaged in a drug transaction. Appellant further asserts that the officer detained him longer than was necessary to issue a citation for speeding because his sole purpose in stopping appellant was to search for narcotics.

We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress for abuse of discretion, and we review the record of the hearing on the motion in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling. Balentine v. State, 71 S.W.3d 763, 768 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Ruling on a motion to suppress lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. Villarreal v. State, 935 S.W.2d 134, 138 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).

At the hearing on the motion, the trial court is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and decides the weight to give their testimony. Id.; Romero v. State, 800 S.W.2d 539, 543 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990). We must sustain the trial court’s ruling if it is reasonably supported by the record and is correct on any theory of law applicable to the case. Villarreal, 935 S.W.2d at 138; see Romero, 800 S.W.2d at 543. When, as here, the trial court does not file findings of fact concerning its ruling on a motion to suppress, we assume that the court made implicit findings that support its ruling, provided those implied findings are supported by the record. See Corbin v. State, 85 S.W.3d 272, 276 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).

A violation of a traffic law provides sufficient authority for an officer to stop a vehicle. McVickers v. State, 874 S.W.2d 662, 664 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993); Garcia v. State, 827 S.W.2d 937, 944 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992); Dogay v. State, 101 S.W.3d 614, 618 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, no pet.). Furthermore, an officer may initiate a stop for a traffic violation regardless of the officer’s subjective intent. Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 812-13, 116 S. Ct. 1769, 1774 (1996); Garcia v. State, 827 S.W.2d 937, 944 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). A peace officer may arrest an offender without a warrant for any offense committed in the officer’s presence or within his view. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 14.01(b) (Vernon 1977). Incident to such a lawful arrest, an officer may conduct a warrantless search of the person and the passenger compartment of the vehicle. New York v. Belton, 453 U.S. 454, 260, 101 S. Ct. 2860, 2894 (1981); State v. Ballard, 987 S.W.2d 889, 892 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).

Officer Boling testified that he observed appellant speeding. Based upon this observation, Officer Boling had probable cause to stop appellant for a traffic violation. See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.351 (Vernon 1999) (requiring driver to control speed of vehicle); Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 542.301 (Vernon 1999) (providing that violation of provisions of Title 7, Subtitle C of Texas Transportation Code constitutes offense). Moreover, the record negates appellant’s contentions and reflects that Officer Boling stopped appellant initially for the speeding and not because of the radio transmission.

Appellant also contends that Officer Boling detained appellant beyond the necessary time to issue him a citation for speeding in order to search appellant for narcotics. Yet, the record reflects that Officer Boling asked appellant to enter the police car after appellant could not produce a driver’s license or proof of insurance, as Officer Boling requested. The Transportation Code makes it an offense for a person to operate a vehicle without a driver’s license or proof of insurance. See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 521.021, 601.051 (Vernon 1999). Unlike speeding, driving without a license or without proof of insurance are offenses for which one may be custodially arrested. See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 543.004 (Vernon Supp. 2004-2005); Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 14.06(b) (Vernon 2005). Officer Boling was thus entitled to detain appellant beyond the time necessary to issue a speeding citation.

Moreover, appellant committed the offense of assault, when he punched Officer Boling in the face, and the offense of evading detention, when he ran away after assaulting the officer. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. §§ 22.01, 38.04 (Vernon 2003). Officer Bolling did not search appellant’s backpack until after lawfully arresting appellant for the offenses of speeding, failure to provide a driver’s license and proof of insurance, assault, and evading. We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying appellant’s motion to suppress the evidence seized from appellant’s backpack after his arrest.

          We overrule point of error two.

Conclusion

We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

          Elsa Alcala

          Justice

Panel consists of Justices Taft, Alcala, and Higley.

Do not publish. Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)