Daniel Medrano v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: May 17, 2004
• Docket: 07-02-00506-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

NO. 07-02-0506-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL E

MAY 17, 2004

______________________________

DANIEL MEDRANO, APPELLANT

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

_________________________________

FROM THE 140^TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;

NO. 2002-439055; HON. JIM BOB DARNELL, PRESIDING

_______________________________

Before QUINN and REAVIS, JJ., and BOYD, S.J. ⁽¹⁾

In this appeal, appellant Daniel Medrano challenges his conviction of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to deliver in an amount of less than 200 grams but more than four grams and the resulting jury-assessed punishment of 44 years confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. In pursuing his appeal, he presents one issue in which he contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence. Disagreeing that reversal is required, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

On December 17, 2001, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Lubbock police stopped a vehicle as a result of a traffic violation. As the vehicle was pulled over, an Hispanic man jumped out of the right front passenger seat and fled the scene. Lubbock officers entered a nearby bar and inquired if anyone had come into the bar within the last few minutes. Appellant was in that bar and was pointed out by the doorman as a person who had just entered. Appellant was detained by a back-up officer who obtained his I.D. and ran a warrant check on him. While they were awaiting the results of the check, the officer who stopped the vehicle arrived, but was unable to identify appellant as the fugitive. As a result of the check, appellant was arrested because of an outstanding warrant. He was placed in a patrol car and transported to the police station. Upon arrival there, appellant was taken out of the car and, as this was done, the cocaine giving rise to the prosecution was found. He subsequently gave the confession sought to be suppressed.

Appellant argues that he should have been released when the officer who stopped the car arrived at the bar and could not identify him as the individual who ran from the car. He reasons that because of this, "his Terry ⁽²⁾ detention became unreasonable and exceeded the scope [of] intrusion allowed under Terry." Appellant filed a pretrial motion to suppress on this basis. Although a hearing was held on the motion, no order expressly overruling the motion appears in the record. Even so, the trial court's actions at trial, including the admission of the cocaine into evidence is sufficient to constitute an implied overruling of the motion and, absent waiver, preserve the question for appellate review. See Gutierrez v. State, 36 S.W.3d 509, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Rey v. State, 897 S.W.2d 333, 336 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

In considering appellant's appellate contentions, the record reveals the following colloquy when the cocaine was tendered into evidence by the State:

Prosecutor: Your Honor, at this time, we would tender State's Exhibits Five and Five-B.

Defense Counsel: Judge, there hadn't been anything to say that scientifically it is cocaine, but I know that is what they picked up, and I don't object to that. [Emphasis added.]

The general rule is that when a pretrial motion to suppress is overruled, an accused need not subsequently object to the admission of the same evidence at trial in order to preserve error. See Gearing v. State, 685 S.W.2d 326, 329 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985), overruled on other grounds by Woods v. State, 956 S.W.2d 33 (1997); McGrew v. State, 523 S.W.2d 679, 681 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975). However, when the accused affirmatively states at trial that he has "no objection" to the admission of the evidence about which complaint is made on appeal, despite the pretrial ruling, he waives any error in the admission of the evidence. See Jones v. State, 833 S.W.2d 118, 126 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 921, 113 S.Ct. 1285, 122 L.Ed.2d 678 (1993); Gearing v. State, 685 S.W.2d at 329; Harris v. State, 656 S.W.2d 481, 484 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983).

Because of appellant's express consent to the admission of the evidence, he has waived his right to appellate review of its admission in this direct appeal. Appellant's issue must be, and is hereby overruled.

Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

John T. Boyd

Senior Justice

Do not publish.

1. John T. Boyd, Chief Justice (Ret.), Seventh Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §75.002(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2004).

2. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968).

fact issue regarding the legality of a search).

Appellant also argues that his wife's testimony created a factual dispute. She testified she had never seen appellant in possession of cocaine and denied that the cocaine belonged to him. However, the evidence established that appellant and his wife had been separated for two weeks prior to the arrest and she and the children had been living elsewhere. She was at the residence on the day the warrant was executed to pick up her children and although she and appellant had reconciled, she had not moved back in. Her testimony was, therefore, insufficient to raise a fact issue regarding the probable cause affidavit in support of the search warrant. There being no factual dispute on the legality of the search and seizure of cocaine, the trial court did not err in denying appellant's request for an article 38.23(a) instruction. Issue one is overruled.

By his second and third issues, appellant contends the trial court erred in admitting into evidence his oral confession claiming ownership of the cocaine because it was involuntary under federal and Texas law and was the product of custodial interrogation, which required that it be electronically recorded. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.22, § 3(a)(1) (Vernon 2005). Because both contentions stem from a controversy on whether appellant was induced into admitting ownership of the cocaine in exchange for his wife's release, we will consider them simultaneously.

A confession is admissible only if voluntarily given. Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368, 385-86, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 12 L.Ed.2d 908 (1964). It must be free and voluntary and it must not be extracted by any sort of threats or violence, nor obtained by any direct or implied promises, however slight, nor by exertion of any improper influence. Malloy v. Hogan, 378 U.S. 1, 7, 84 S.Ct. 1489, 12 L.Ed.2d 653 (1964). A threat made by law enforcement to arrest or punish a close relative or a promise to free a relative of a suspect in exchange for a confession may render the suspect's confession inadmissible. Roberts v. State, 545 S.W.2d 157, 161 (Tex.Cr.App. 1977). However, where no express or implied promise or threat is made by law enforcement, a suspect's belief that his cooperation will benefit a relative will not render a confession inadmissible. Id.

A trial court's ruling on admission of evidence is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Weatherred v. State, 15 S.W.3d 540, 542 (Tex.Cr.App. 2000). The standard is the same for a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress. Oles v. State, 993 S.W.2d 103, 106 (Tex.Cr.App. 1999). We apply a bifurcated standard of review giving almost total deference to the court's determination of historical facts and reviewing de novo its application of the law to those facts. Laney v. State, 117 S.W.3d 854, 857 (Tex.Cr.App. 2003); State v. Ross, 32 S.W.3d 853, 856 (Tex.Cr.App. 2000); see also Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex.Cr.App. 1997). The evidence should be viewed in the light most favorable to the court's ruling. Armendariz v. State, 123 S.W.3d 401, 402 (Tex.Cr.App. 2003), cert. denied, 541 U.S. 974, 124 S.Ct. 1883, 158 L.Ed.2d 469 (2004); State v. Ballard, 987 S.W.2d 889, 891 (Tex.Cr.App. 1999). In a suppression hearing the trial court is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. Ross, 32 S.W.3d at 855.

At a hearing on appellant's motion to suppress, Officer Hazlett testified that after the cocaine was discovered in the kitchen, he and one of his deputies discussed whether to arrest both adults in the home due to the quantity of cocaine. According to Hazlett, appellant, who was in the living room on the other side of a partition or bar, must have overheard them and, within minutes, asserted his wife "didn't know anything about this" and admitted ownership of the cocaine. Although appellant testified he had overheard the officers discussing whom to arrest, he testified, contrary to Hazlett, that he was induced into admitting ownership of the cocaine to secure his wife's release. Appellant's wife testified she could not remember if an officer asked appellant "what's this," but likewise maintained appellant confessed in exchange for her release.

Appellant maintains his trial testimony demonstrating that his confession was induced by a promise of leniency for his wife was not challenged by the State on cross-examination. However, during the State's case-in-chief, Officer Hazlett testified that appellant overheard officers discussing whom to arrest and spontaneously admitted ownership of the cocaine and claimed his wife didn't know anything.

We acknowledge that uncontroverted testimony of an accused that a confession was obtained in a coercive manner renders it inadmissible as a matter of law. Sinegal v. State, 582 S.W.2d 135, 137 (Tex.Cr.App. 1999). The evidence on the voluntariness of appellant's confession, however, was controverted. As trier of fact, the trial court was the exclusive judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be afforded their testimony in determining the voluntariness of appellant's confession. Burks v. State, 583 S.W.2d 389, 393 (Tex.Cr.App. 1979). The trial court had the duty and responsibility to resolve the controverted facts and did so favorably to the State. Moore v. State, 700 S.W.2d 193, 202-03 (Tex.Cr.App. 1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1113, 106 S.Ct. 1167, 89 L.Ed.2d 289 (1986).

We do not overlook appellant's reliance on Tovar v. State, 709 S.W.2d 25 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1986, no pet.), to support his argument that his confession was induced. However, it is distinguishable. In Tovar, the defendant's confession was held inadmissible because it was obtained by a promise of leniency for his pregnant wife. Id. at 29. The investigator affirmatively testified on cross-examination that Tovar was induced into confessing to possession of marihuana that had been seized from a car owned by his wife so charges would not be filed on her. Id. at 28.

In the underlying case, there is no evidence of a direct or implied promise, improper influence, or threat by any officers. Although appellant and his wife testified that appellant was induced into confessing, he also testified that when he overheard officers ask "what's this" upon finding the cocaine, he indicated "[t]hey weren't saying it loud, like, to me or anything. . . . They weren't really asking me anything." Officer Hazlett testified that appellant must have overheard officers discussing whether to arrest both adults and a few minutes later confessed. We conclude the trial court's ruling that appellant's confession was admissible because it was voluntary and was not an abuse of discretion. Issue two is overruled.

Appellant contends his oral confession was the result of interrogation while in custody and should have been electronically recorded as required by article 38.22, section 3(a)(1) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. We disagree. Article 38.22 generally precludes the use of statements that result from custodial interrogation, absent compliance with procedural safeguards. Shiflet v. State, 732 S.W.2d 622, 623 (Tex.Cr.App. 1985). Section 3(a)(1) prohibits admission of an oral statement unless an electronic recording is made. However, section 5 specifically exempts statements that do not stem from custodial interrogation or that are voluntary. The State concedes that appellant was in custody. Thus, the decisive question is whether appellant's oral confession was the result of interrogation.

Interrogation refers not only to express questioning, but also to words or actions of police officers that they should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response from a suspect. Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 299-302, 100 S.Ct. 1682, 64 L.Ed.2d 297 (1980). See also Morris v. State, 897 S.W.2d 528, 531 (Tex.App.-El Paso 1995, no pet.). As conceptualized in Miranda, interrogation must reflect a measure of compulsion above and beyond that inherent in custody itself. Innis, 446 U.S. at 300. When a suspect in custody spontaneously volunteers information that is not in response to interrogation by officers, the statement is admissible even though not recorded because it is not the product of custodial interrogation. Stevens v. State, 671 S.W.2d 517, 520 (Tex.Cr.App. 1984).

As analyzed above, appellant, who was in the living room, spontaneously claimed ownership of the cocaine after overhearing officers in the kitchen discuss whether his wife would be arrested. There is no evidence of interrogation by words or actions on the part of the officers that elicited appellant's confession regarding the cocaine. ⁽³⁾ By his own testimony, appellant admitted he was not directly questioned or spoken to when Officer Hazlett remarked, "what's this." The confession was not obtained through some measure of compulsion distinct from any compulsive effect inherent in being placed in custody. Smith v. State, 60 S.W.2d 885, 889 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 2001, no pet.). Without such compulsion, direct or indirect, appellant's confession did not arise from custodial interrogation. The trial court's ruling that appellant's confession was not the result of custodial interrogation is supported by the record. Thus, there was no requirement that the confession be electronically recorded. Issue three is overruled.

Don H. Reavis

Justice

1. Appellant does not challenge the conviction for possession of marihuana.

2. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).

3. Appellant admitted possessing marihuana when asked if there was anything he wished to tell the officers upon their entry into the residence. However, he does not challenge the marihuana conviction and we decline to hold that the inquiry resulted in interrogation regarding the cocaine which was not found until later. Appellant testified that during the interim several officers were in the living room with him but did not question him nor speak to him.