In The
Court of Appeals Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont _________________
NO. 09-13-00383-CR _________________
EMANUEL PAUL GRIFFITH, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee __________________________________________________________________
On Appeal from the Criminal District Court Jefferson County, Texas Trial Cause No. 12-15371 __________________________________________________________________
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant Emanuel Paul Griffith appeals his conviction for possession of a
controlled substance, namely cocaine, in an amount of at least four grams or more
and less than two hundred grams. Upon Griffith’s plea of “true” to two
enhancement allegations, the trial court assessed Griffith’s punishment at
confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice for a term of twenty years. In two issues, Griffith contends that the trial
court erred by denying his request for a jury instruction in accordance with article
1 38.23(a) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and that he received ineffective
assistance of counsel during the guilt-innocence phase of trial. We affirm.
I. Background
On August 6, 2012, a detective with the Jefferson County Narcotics Task
Force arranged a controlled buy of narcotics by a confidential informant from a
residence located in Port Arthur, Texas. As the detective and his partner, a
sergeant, watched from their vehicle, the confidential informant drove her vehicle
to the residence and walked around to the back of the house. Shortly thereafter, the
confidential informant emerged from the back of the residence, got into her
vehicle, and drove to a predetermined location, where she met with the detective
and the sergeant and handed them crack cocaine that she said she purchased from
Griffith inside the residence.
On August 7, 2012, the detective prepared and submitted an affidavit to
obtain a warrant to search the residence and to arrest Griffith. Based on the
affidavit, a magistrate judge issued a search and arrest warrant that afternoon.
On August 8, 2012, the detective, the sergeant, and other officers executed
the warrant and located Griffith inside the residence. No one else was found in the
home. During the search of the premises, the officers recovered approximately
twenty grams of crack cocaine, a 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, a loaded .38
2 Special revolver, $1,219 in cash, weigh scales, and a duffle bag containing
additional weigh scales and other items used in the manufacture of crack cocaine.
Griffith was arrested and charged by indictment with possession of a controlled
substance. He was subsequently convicted by a jury for the charged offense and
sentenced to twenty years in prison.
II. Jury Charge
In his second issue, Griffith argues that the trial court erred by denying his
request for a jury instruction under article 38.23(a) of the Texas Code of Criminal
Procedure. Specifically, he claims that the evidence at trial raised a fact issue
regarding whether probable cause existed to support a warrant for the search of
Griffith’s residence and that the trial court was therefore required to include an
article 38.23(a) instruction in the jury charge.
Appellate review of a claim of jury charge error involves a two-step
analysis. Kirsch v. State, 357 S.W.3d 645, 649 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). First, we
must determine whether error in the jury charge exists. Sakil v. State, 287 S.W.3d
23, 25 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). If error is found, we must analyze that error for
harm. Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 743 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). “The degree of
harm necessary for reversal depends on whether the appellant preserved the error
by objection.” Id. If error exists and the appellant objected to the error at trial,
3 reversal is required if we find that the error resulted in “‘some harm’” to the
appellant’s rights. Id. (quoting Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1985)). If the appellant failed to properly object or stated that he had no
objection to the charge, we will reverse only if the record reflects egregious harm
to the appellant. Sakil v. State, 287 S.W.3d at 26; Ngo, 175 S.W.3d at 743-44.
Article 38.23(a) provides that “[n]o evidence obtained by an officer . . . in
violation of any provisions of the Constitution or laws of the State of Texas, or of
the Constitution or laws of the United States of America, shall be admitted in
evidence against the accused” at trial. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann art. 38.23(a)
(West 2005). “When evidence presented before the jury raises a question of
whether the fruits of a police-initiated search or arrest were illegally obtained, ‘the
jury shall be instructed that if it believes, or has a reasonable doubt, that the
evidence was obtained in violation of the provisions of this Article, then and in
such event, the jury shall disregard any such evidence so obtained.’” Robinson v.
State, 377 S.W.3d 712, 719 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (quoting Tex. Code Crim.
Proc. Ann. art. 38.23(a)).
A defendant’s right to the submission of an instruction under article 38.23(a)
“is limited to disputed issues of fact that are material to his claim of a
constitutional or statutory violation that would render evidence inadmissible.”
4 Madden v. State, 242 S.W.3d 504, 509-10 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). To be entitled
to a jury instruction under article 38.23(a), the defendant must meet three
requirements: “(1) [t]he evidence heard by the jury must raise an issue of fact; (2)
[t]he evidence on that fact must be affirmatively contested; and (3) [t]hat contested
factual issue must be material to the lawfulness of the challenged conduct in
obtaining the evidence.” Id. at 510. There must be a genuine dispute about a
material issue of historical fact before an article 38.23 instruction is warranted. Id.
If there is no disputed issue of fact, the legality of the challenged conduct is
determined by the trial court alone as a matter of law. Id. Further, if other facts, not
in dispute, are sufficient to support the lawfulness of the challenged conduct, then
the disputed fact issue is not material to the ultimate admissibility of the evidence
and is not to be submitted to the jury. Id. The disputed fact issue must be essential
to determining the lawfulness of the challenged conduct. Id. at 511. If the
defendant successfully raises a disputed, material issue of fact regarding whether
evidence was illegally obtained, an article 38.23(a) instruction is mandatory and
must be included in the jury charge. Robinson, 377 S.W.3d at 719.
The search and arrest warrant and its supporting probable cause affidavit,
both of which were dated August 7, 2012, were admitted into evidence at trial. In
the probable cause affidavit, the detective, as affiant, stated that: (1) on or about
5 August 6, 2012, he received information concerning drug activity from a
confidential informant; (2) the confidential informant had been at the residence
within the past seventy-two hours and had “personally observed [Griffith] in
possession/control of a useable quantity” of crack cocaine and “in the act of selling
crack cocaine”; (3) through the supervision of the Jefferson County Narcotics Task
Force, the confidential informant made a purchase of crack cocaine from Griffith at
the residence; and (4) the confidential informant “stated that she observed more
crack cocaine and rolls of cash ($100 bills)” at the residence “while making the . . .
controlled purchase.” The probable cause affidavit also contained the following
statements regarding the confidential informant:
Said [confidential informant] is familiar with the appearance, packaging, handling, use, and methods by which the aforesaid illegal substance is introduced into the human body. Further, said [confidential informant] is reliable and credible based on the fact that said [confidential informant] has given information verified as truthful, reliable, and credible in the past. Said [confidential informant] has performed approximately 6 controlled purchases of illegal narcotics from suspected narcotic dealers, which have resulted in other ongoing narcotic investigation[s]. These controlled purchases were made through the supervision of the Jefferson County Narcotics Task Force. Also, I have received information from said [confidential informant] on several occasions, in the recent past, which has proven to be true and correct each time. I have followed up on information given by the [confidential informant] and have been able to corroborate it as being truthful.
6 At trial, the detective provided testimony that was largely consistent with the
allegations contained in the probable cause affidavit. The detective testified that on
August 6, 2012, after being contacted by a confidential informant, he arranged for
the confidential informant to make a controlled buy of narcotics from the
residence. The detective testified that he had used this particular confidential
informant “numerous times” before that date and that the information the
confidential informant had provided to him in the past had proven to be true and
accurate on each occasion. The detective testified that before sending the
confidential informant to the residence to purchase the narcotics, he and the
sergeant searched the confidential informant and her vehicle to ensure that she had
no narcotics on her person or in her vehicle. The detective then gave the
confidential informant money and sent her to the residence to perform the
purchase. The detective testified that as he and the sergeant watched, the
confidential informant drove her vehicle to the residence, parked in the driveway,
and walked around to the back of the house. Later, the confidential informant
emerged from the back of the residence, got into her vehicle, and drove to a
predetermined location, where she met with the detective and the sergeant. The
detective testified that once at the predetermined location, the confidential
informant handed the detective and the sergeant “the crack cocaine that she had
7 purchased from inside the house” and informed the officers that “there was . . .
crack cocaine in the house.”
The sergeant testified that the controlled buy took place at approximately 4
p.m. on August 6, 2012. He corroborated the detective’s testimony that before the
transaction, they searched the confidential informant and her vehicle to ensure that
the confidential informant had no narcotics. Later, the sergeant saw the
confidential informant go to the residence and walk around to the back of the
house. The sergeant testified that although he did not see the confidential informant
actually enter the residence, the confidential informant later told him that she
entered the house through the back door and purchased narcotics while inside the
house. The sergeant further testified that the confidential informant provided the
officers with a detailed description of the layout of Griffith’s house and told them
where drugs and a firearm were located inside the residence. He testified that he
had worked with the confidential informant on over thirty occasions and that she
had never once provided him with incorrect information.
Griffith testified that on August 6, 2012, he went to work at 7 a.m. and did
not return home until 4:15 p.m. Griffith denied that he was at home at 4 p.m. when
the sergeant claimed the controlled buy occurred, denied that anyone entered his
house, and denied selling narcotics to anyone.
8 After the close of evidence, the trial court held a charge conference, during
which defense counsel requested a jury instruction under article 38.23. Defense
counsel did not identify the disputed issues of historical fact that he claimed gave
rise to the need for an article 38.23 instruction, and he did not submit a proposed
instruction in writing. The trial court ultimately denied the requested instruction.
Griffith argues that he was entitled to an article 38.23(a) jury instruction
because there was a factual dispute regarding whether the confidential informant
ever entered the residence and purchased narcotics from Griffith while inside.
Specifically, Griffith argues that his testimony at trial—that no one entered his
house on August 6, 2012, and that he did not sell narcotics to anyone—directly
contradicts the statements in the probable cause affidavit and the officers’
testimony that the confidential informant entered Griffith’s residence on August 6,
2012, and purchased narcotics from Griffith while inside his home. Griffith
contends that he is not claiming that the detective made false statements in the
probable cause affidavit, “but rather that [the officers] could have been mistaken in
relying on the veracity of the [confidential informant] and that there was a
possibility that the [confidential informant] lied to the officers,” which, he
contends, “still presents a situation authorizing the requested jury charge because
the [confidential informant’s] representations constituted the probable cause in the
9 search warrant affidavit, and therefore, were material to the lawfulness of the
search.”
The disputed fact issues identified by Griffith go to the truthfulness of
statements that were made by the confidential informant and on which the
detective relied to establish probable cause in his affidavit. Even assuming, that
Griffith’s allegations regarding the confidential informant’s veracity are true, they
would have no bearing on whether the magistrate had probable cause to issue the
warrant.
In determining whether probable cause exists to support the issuance of a
search warrant, the task of the issuing magistrate is to determine “whether, given
all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before him, including the ‘veracity’
and ‘basis of knowledge’ of persons supplying hearsay information, there is a fair
probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular
place.” Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238 (1983) (emphasis added); Hennessy v.
State, 660 S.W.2d 87, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1983). The magistrate must
determine whether probable cause exists based solely on the facts contained in the
probable cause affidavit and any reasonable inferences drawn from those facts.
Kennedy v. State, 338 S.W.3d 84, 91-92 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011, no pet.);
10 Borsari v. State, 919 S.W.2d 913, 918 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, pet.
ref’d).
When a probable cause affidavit is based on information received from an
informant, the informant’s veracity, reliability, and basis of knowledge are relevant
considerations in the determination of whether probable cause exists. Gates, 462
U.S. at 230, 233. These factors are not “entirely separate and independent
requirements to be rigidly exacted in every case[.]” Id. at 230. Rather, “they should
be understood simply as closely intertwined issues that may usefully illuminate the
commonsense, practical question [of] whether” probable cause exists, and “a
deficiency in one may be compensated for, in determining the overall reliability of
a tip, by a strong showing as to the other, or by some other indicia of reliability.”
Id. at 230, 233. Significantly, however, any showing of the informant’s veracity,
reliability, or basis of knowledge must be set forth in the probable cause affidavit,
and the magistrate must analyze the existence and strength of those factors, as well
as their overall effect on the existence of probable cause, based solely on the
information contained in the affidavit. See id. at 238.
Further, while the Fourth Amendment demands that there be a truthful
showing of facts sufficient to establish probable cause, “[t]his does not mean
‘truthful’ in the sense that every fact recited in the [probable cause] affidavit is
11 necessarily correct,” since “probable cause may be founded upon hearsay and upon
information received from informants, as well as upon information within the
affiant’s own knowledge that sometimes must be garnered hastily.” Franks v.
Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 164-65 (1978). Rather, the Fourth Amendment requires
the probable cause affidavit to make a truthful showing “in the sense that the
information put forth is believed or appropriately accepted by the affiant as true.”
Id. at 165; see also McCray v. Illinois, 386 U.S. 300, 307 (1967) (explaining that
when determining whether probable cause exists to support a search warrant, “the
magistrate is concerned, not with whether the informant lied, but with whether the
affiant is truthful in his recitation of what he was told.”) (internal citations
omitted).
In the present case, Griffith does not argue that the facts set forth in the
supporting affidavit, on their face, are insufficient to constitute probable cause.
Griffith also does not argue that the detective, as the affiant for the probable cause
affidavit, did not reasonably believe the information he received from the
confidential informant or that the detective made false statements in the affidavit.
Rather, Griffith contends that a fact issue exists as to whether the confidential
informant was actually telling the truth when she told the detective and the
sergeant that she entered Griffith’s residence on August 6, 2012, and purchased
12 narcotics from Griffith inside his home. However, even assuming that the
confidential informant was lying to the officers when she made those statements,
that fact is irrelevant to the determination of whether the magistrate had probable
cause to issue the search warrant as long as the totality of the circumstances set
forth in the probable cause affidavit, including any facts showing the veracity,
reliability, or basis of knowledge of the confidential informant, established that
there was a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime would be found
in Griffith’s residence. See Gates, 462 U.S. at 238; Franks, 438 U.S. at 164-65.
The probable cause affidavit contains allegations that the confidential
informant had provided the detective with information on several occasions in the
recent past and that such information had proven to be true and correct in each
instance. This allegation was sufficient to establish the credibility of the
confidential informant. See Avery v. State, 545 S.W.2d 803, 804-05 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1977); Blake v. State, 125 S.W.3d 717, 726 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
2003, no pet.). Further, the affidavit demonstrates the source of the confidential
informant’s knowledge in that it states that the confidential informant had been
inside the premises to be searched within the seventy-two hours preceding the
submission of the affidavit, that the confidential informant personally observed
Griffith in possession of crack cocaine, and that the confidential informant made a
13 controlled purchase of narcotics from Griffith while inside the premises. See
Daniels v. State, 999 S.W.2d 52, 56 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no
pet.). The affidavit also alleges that the confidential informant is familiar with the
appearance, packaging, handling, use, and methods by which crack cocaine is
introduced into the human body and, thus, demonstrates that the confidential
informant is qualified to recognize the drug at issue in this case. Nothing in the
probable cause affidavit indicates that the confidential informant was untruthful in
the information she provided to the detective.
The allegations contained within the four corners of the affidavit were
sufficient to justify a finding of probable cause to search Griffith’s residence. See
State v. Griggs, 352 S.W.3d 297, 302-03 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011,
pet. ref’d) (concluding that allegations in probable cause affidavit that confidential
informant made a controlled purchase of narcotics at the alleged location within
the forty-eight hours before the affidavit was submitted, combined with allegations
that confidential informant had provided accurate information to police on three
prior occasions, were sufficient to constitute probable cause); Daniels, 999 S.W.2d
at 56 (concluding that allegations in probable cause affidavit that affiant had relied
on confidential informant in twenty prior investigations and that confidential
informant had proven to be reliable and credible, combined with allegations that
14 the confidential informant had been inside the alleged premises within the past
forty-eight hours and had personally observed appellant in possession of cocaine,
were sufficient to constitute probable cause for search warrant). We conclude that
the fact issue raised by Griffith—i.e., whether the confidential informant was, in
fact, truthful when she told the detective and the sergeant that she entered
Griffith’s residence on August 6, 2012 and purchased narcotics from him—is not
material to the question of whether the magistrate had probable cause to issue the
search warrant and is, thus, not material to the lawfulness of the search of
Griffith’s residence. See Madden, 242 S.W.3d at 510. The trial court, therefore,
did not err in denying Griffith’s request to include an article 38.23(a) instruction in
the jury charge. See id. We overrule Griffith’s second issue.
III. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
In his first issue, Griffith argues that he was denied effective assistance of
counsel. A defendant facing criminal prosecution has the right to the effective
assistance of counsel. See U.S. CONST. amend. VI; Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 686 (1984); Garcia v. State, 57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex. Crim. App.
2001). To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant
“must first show that his counsel’s performance was deficient.” Bone v. State, 77
S.W.3d 828, 833 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). To make this showing, the defendant
15 must prove that his counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness based on prevailing norms. Jackson v. State, 973 S.W.2d 954, 956
(Tex. Crim. App. 1998). Second, the defendant must show that counsel’s deficient
performance prejudiced his defense. Bone, 77 S.W.3d at 833. To demonstrate
prejudice, a defendant “must show a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”
Garza v. State, 213 S.W.3d 338, 348 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “A reasonable
probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.”
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694; Bone, 77 S.W.3d at 833. “This two-pronged test is the
benchmark for judging whether counsel’s conduct so undermined the proper
functioning of the adversarial process that the trial cannot be relied on as having
produced a reliable result.” Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 812-13 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1999). A defendant must make a sufficient showing on both components of
this standard to succeed on his claim. Id. at 813.
Appellate review of defense counsel’s representation is highly deferential,
and we must indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct fell within a
wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Id. In evaluating the
effectiveness of counsel, we review the totality of the representation and the
particular circumstances of each case. Lopez v. State, 343 S.W.3d 137, 143 (Tex.
16 Crim. App. 2011). We must also make every effort to eliminate the distorting
effects of hindsight, reconstruct the circumstances, and evaluate the conduct from
counsel’s perspective at the time of trial. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. An allegation
of ineffectiveness will be sustained only if it is firmly founded in the record and if
the record affirmatively demonstrates the alleged ineffectiveness. Thompson, 9
S.W.3d at 813. The burden is on the appellant to prove by a preponderance of the
evidence that his trial counsel was ineffective. Id.
Usually, a direct appeal is an inadequate method to present a claim for
ineffective assistance of counsel because the record is undeveloped and does not
adequately reflect the reasons for defense counsel’s actions at trial. Goodspeed v.
State, 187 S.W.3d 390, 392 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Before we denounce trial
counsel’s actions as ineffective, counsel should normally be given an opportunity
to explain the challenged actions. Id. When counsel has not been given an
opportunity to explain the challenged actions, we will only find deficient
performance if the conduct was “so outrageous that no competent attorney would
have engaged in it.” Id. (internal citations omitted).
17 A. Failure to Object to Videotaped Confession Based on Griffith’s Invocation of Right to Remain Silent
Griffith asserts that trial counsel was deficient in failing to object to the
admissibility of Griffith’s videotaped confession on the ground that the confession
occurred after he unambiguously invoked his right to remain silent. The record
reflects that the detective and the sergeant conducted a videotaped interview of
Griffith at his residence shortly after they executed the search and arrest warrant.
The videotaped interview was admitted into evidence during the guilt stage of trial.
The beginning of the video depicts the sergeant advising Griffith of his Miranda
rights, immediately after which the following exchange takes place:
Sergeant: You understand those rights, sir?
Griffith: [Nods head up and down]
Sergeant: You have any questions before we proceed?
Griffith: No. [Shakes head from side to side]
Sergeant: Okay. If I ask you some questions, are you willing to answer them for me?
Griffith: [Shrugs] [inaudible] -- I don’t think so . . .
Sergeant: You don’t think so?
Griffith: -- because I’m not . . . I don’t . . . What questions you wanna ask me? I mean, I don’t . . . no. You did what you did. The only question I ask is -- only question I
18 wanna know is -- you say that I’m set up. Who -- what made you come here and [inaudible] kick my door in? I don’t do nothing out of this house.
Sergeant: Okay. Well, we -- we executed the search warrant here. And, when we talked to you, you --
Griffith: Correct.
Sergeant: -- told us that you had some guns in the house --
Griffith: I told you everything --
Sergeant: -- and you told us that you had some crack cocaine --
Griffith: -- I told you --
Sergeant: -- in the house, correct?
Griffith: Right.
Sergeant: Okay. Is that your -- and that was your crack cocaine, right?
Sergeant: There in the house? Okay. You told us where it was, you admitted that that was yours, correct?
Griffith: Exactly. And, I told you -- and them guns, that was for my protection.
Griffith contends that his statements, “I don’t think so” and then, “no[,]”
constituted an unambiguous invocation of his right to remain silent. He argues,
therefore, that any statements following his invocation of his rights were
19 inadmissible and that trial counsel was deficient in failing to object to the
admissibility of those statements at trial.
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “[n]o
person . . . shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against
himself[.]” U.S. CONST. amend. V. “Consistent with this Fifth Amendment
guarantee, law enforcement officials, before questioning a person in custody, must
inform him that he has the right to remain silent and that any statement he makes
may be used against him in court.” Ramos v. State, 245 S.W.3d 410, 418 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2008) (footnote omitted). “If the individual [in custody] indicates in
any manner, at any time prior to or during questioning, that he wishes to remain
silent, the interrogation must cease.” Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 473-74
(1966). The suspect is not required to use any particular phraseology to invoke the
right to remain silent. Ramos, 245 S.W.3d at 418. However, an interrogating
officer is not required to terminate his questioning unless the suspect’s invocation
of his rights is unambiguous. Id. Further, “[a] police officer is permitted, but not
required, to clarify a suspect’s wishes when faced with an ambiguous invocation of
the right to remain silent.” Kupferer v. State, 408 S.W.3d 485, 489 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet. ref’d). Courts must look to the totality of the
circumstances in determining whether the right to remain silent was
20 unambiguously invoked. Id. “Ambiguity exists when the suspect’s statement is
subject to more than one reasonable interpretation under the circumstances.” Id.
As indicated above, after the sergeant advised Griffith of his Miranda rights
and confirmed that Griffith understood those rights, the sergeant asked Griffith if
he was willing to answer some questions. In response, Griffith shrugged his
shoulders and then said, “[inaudible] . . . I don’t think so . . . [.]” This statement,
combined with Griffith’s act of shrugging his shoulders, was not in itself a clear
and unambiguous statement that Griffith was refusing to talk to the sergeant. See
Kupferer, 408 S.W.3d at 490 (concluding that statement, “I really don’t want to
talk about it,” was not in itself a clear and unambiguous statement of refusal to
talk); Mayes v. State, 8 S.W.3d 354, 359 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1999, no pet.)
(concluding that appellant’s statement that she did not know if she wanted to talk
to police, “at best, expressed ambivalence towards waiving her rights”). Instead, it
could have reasonably been interpreted as signaling indecision or uncertainty
regarding whether Griffith should waive his rights. See Kupferer, 408 S.W.3d at
490.
The sergeant did not simply ignore this statement and continue questioning
Griffith; instead, the sergeant sought to clarify Griffith’s wishes before continuing
the interview. However, before the sergeant could even finish his question, and less
21 than a second or two after saying, “I don’t think so . . . [,]” Griffith continued
speaking, stating:
-- because I’m not . . . I don’t . . . What questions you wanna ask me? I mean, I don’t . . . no. You did what you did. The only question I ask is -- only question I wanna know is – you say that I’m set up. Who -- what made you come here and [inaudible] kick my door in? I don’t do nothing out of this house.
Almost immediately after Griffith purportedly invoked his right to terminate the
interrogation, he reinitiated the interrogation with his inquiry into what the officers
wanted to ask him and why they were at his residence, and his denial of any
wrongdoing. Griffith, therefore, did not clearly and unequivocally express a desire
to remain silent; to the contrary, by continuing to communicate and ask questions
of the officers, he signaled a desire to speak. Thus, we do not find Griffith’s initial
statement, “I don’t think so . . . [,]” to be an unambiguous assertion of his right to
remain silent. See Mayes, 8 S.W.3d at 359 (concluding that appellant’s statement
that “she did not know if she wanted to talk” was not an unambiguous invocation
of right to remain silent, particularly when appellant, after making the statement,
immediately launched into a denial of wrongdoing, thus signaling a desire to speak
to police); see also Juarez v. State, No. 05-12-00125-CR, 2013 WL 3957008, *5
(Tex. App.—Dallas July 31, 2013, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication)
(concluding that appellant’s statement, “I don’t really want to talk, but I don’t even
22 know what you’re here for. [You] say ya’ll are here from Richardson,” was not an
unambiguous invocation of right to remain silent, particularly when appellant
questioned the officers about why they were there both before and after making the
statement); Davis v. State, No. 06-05-00222-CR, 2007 WL 858782, *2, *3 (Tex.
App.—Texarkana Mar. 23, 2007, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for
publication) (concluding that appellant’s statement, “I really don’t want to talk
about it. I mean, I ain’t the one that did it[,]” was not an unambiguous invocation
of right to remain silent because appellant “reinitiated any interrogation with his
immediate denial of wrongdoing made less than a second after the alleged
invocation of his right to [remain silent]”).
Griffith also contends that he said the word “no” in the midst of his response
to the sergeant’s question seeking clarification regarding Griffith’s desire to
answer questions. The record reflects that in responding to the sergeant’s question
seeking clarification about whether Griffith wanted to answer questions, and
immediately after asking the sergeant what questions he wanted to ask him,
Griffith said, “I mean, I don’t . . . no. You did what you did.” Based on our review
of the videotaped interview, we find that when Griffith made this statement, he
could have reasonably been understood as saying, “I don’t . . . no[,]” as he
contends, or he could have reasonably been understood as saying, “I don’t . . .
23 know[,]” thus signaling further indecision or uncertainty as to whether he wished
to waive his rights. We find that either the first or second interpretation is
reasonable under the circumstances and that Griffith’s statement was, therefore,
ambiguous. See Kupferer, 408 S.W.3d at 489. However, even if Griffith did say, “I
don’t . . . no[,]” Griffith, once again, continued speaking immediately after making
this statement, asking the sergeant to explain why officers were at his home and
denying any wrongdoing. Thus, Griffith did not express a clear desire to remain
silent. Based on the totality of the circumstances, we conclude that Griffith’s
statements did not unambiguously invoke his right to remain silent. See Kupferer,
408 S.W.3d at 490-91; Mayes, 8 S.W.3d at 359; see also Juarez, 2013 WL
3957008, at *5; Davis, 2007 WL 858782, at *3.
To successfully assert that the failure of trial counsel to object at trial
constituted ineffective assistance of counsel, an appellant must show that the trial
judge would have committed error in overruling the objection. Ex parte Parra, 420
S.W.3d 821, 824-25 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). Because the record does not establish
that Griffith unambiguously invoked his right to remain silent at the beginning of
the videotaped interview, Griffith has not shown that the trial judge would have
committed error in overruling an objection on that ground. See id. Further, trial
counsel’s reasons for not objecting to the admission of the videotaped confession
24 based on Griffith’s invocation of the right to remain silent do not appear in the
record. When the record is silent regarding trial counsel’s strategy or reasons for
his actions at trial, we will not speculate about why counsel acted as he did. See
Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). Griffith has failed
to show that trial counsel’s performance was deficient on this ground.
B. Failure to Object to Videotaped Confession Based on Officers’ Use of “Question First, Warn Later” Interrogation Technique
Griffith also argues that trial counsel was deficient in failing to object to
Griffith’s videotaped confession on the ground that Griffith “was subjected to an
improper ‘question first, warn later’ interrogation technique,” in violation of
Missouri v. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600 (2004), and Carter v. State, 309 S.W.3d 31 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2010). A “question first, warn later” interrogation technique refers to a
strategy in which officers interrogate a suspect without providing Miranda
warnings and obtain a confession; then, after the inculpatory statements are made,
officers provide Miranda warnings, obtain a waiver of the warnings from the
suspect, and have the suspect repeat the inculpatory statements to cure the initial
absence of Miranda warnings. See Seibert, 542 U.S. 604-05.
In Seibert, a plurality of the Supreme Court concluded that a “question first,
warn later” interrogation technique circumvents the objectives of Miranda by
25 rendering any warnings given ineffective. Id. at 613, 616-17. The Seibert plurality
found that officers may use this interrogation technique to obtain a confession that
the suspect may not have made if he had understood his rights at the outset. Id. at
613. In his concurring opinion, Justice Kennedy determined that when a two-step
interrogation technique is used in a deliberate, calculated way to undermine
Miranda warnings, a post-warning statement by the suspect must be excluded
unless “curative measures” are taken before the post-warning statement is made.
Id. at 622 (Kennedy, J., concurring).
In Carter, the Court of Criminal Appeals expressly adopted Justice
Kennedy’s concurrence in Seibert. 309 S.W.3d at 38. Accordingly, when a
defendant receives Miranda warnings following an earlier violation of his Miranda
rights, the threshold question in determining the admissibility of any post-warning
statements is whether the officer “deliberately employed a two-step ‘question first,
warn later’ interrogation technique to circumvent [the defendant’s] Miranda
protections.” Id. The deliberateness determination “‘will invariably turn on the
credibility of the officer’s testimony in light of the totality of the circumstances
surrounding the interrogation.’” Id. at 39 (quoting United States v. Stewart, 536
F.3d 714, 719-20 (7th Cir. 2008)). If the officer did, in fact, deliberately employ a
two-step interrogation technique to circumvent the defendant’s Miranda rights, any
26 post-warning statements by the defendant must be excluded unless curative
measures were taken before the post-warnings statements were made. Vasquez v.
State, 411 S.W.3d 918, 919 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
The sergeant’s statements in the videotaped interview suggest that he or
other officers spoke to or questioned Griffith before the recorded interview began
and, thus, before the sergeant advised Griffith of his Miranda rights on the video.
The record, however, is silent with respect to the circumstances under which the
prior questioning occurred. The record does not disclose whether Griffith was in
custody at the time he was initially questioned by the officers, 1 and if he was in
custody, the record does not indicate whether the officers advised Griffith of his
Miranda rights and obtained a waiver of those rights before the initial questioning
began. See Ervin v. State, 333 S.W.3d 187, 213 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
2010, pet. ref’d) (concluding that post-warning statement was not the product of a
1 Although the record reflects that the officers had a search and arrest warrant at the time they searched Griffith’s residence and suggests that the initial questioning occurred at some point after the officers arrived at the residence to execute the warrant, the record does not show whether Griffith was, in fact, in custody at the time of the initial questioning. See Dowthitt v. State, 931 S.W.2d 244, 255 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (concluding that “custody” can be established by showing that “there is probable cause to arrest and law enforcement officers do not tell the suspect that he is free to leave[,]” but noting that “the officers’ knowledge of probable cause [must] be manifested to the suspect” and the manifestation, combined with other circumstances, must be sufficient to “lead a reasonable person to believe that he is under restraint to the degree associated with an arrest”).
27 “question-first” interrogation technique because suspect was not in custody during
initial questioning). Even assuming Griffith was in custody and was not properly
Mirandized before the initial questioning started, the record is silent regarding the
length of the initial questioning, the officers’ conduct and demeanor during the
initial questioning, the scope and extent of the initial questioning, the amount of
time that passed between the initial questioning and the videotaped interview, and
other factors relevant to the determination of whether the officers deliberately
employed a two-step interrogation technique for the purpose of circumventing
Griffith’s Miranda rights. See Carter, 309 S.W.3d at 40-41 (identifying and
analyzing factors relevant to deliberateness inquiry).
Based on the record before us, Griffith has not demonstrated that the trial
court would have erred in overruling an objection under Seibert and Carter if one
had been made. See Parra, 420 S.W.3d at 824-25. Further, trial counsel’s reasons
for not objecting to the admission of the videotaped confession under Seibert and
Carter do not appear in the record; thus, we may not speculate about why counsel
acted as he did. See Jackson, 877 S.W.2d at 771. We conclude that Griffith has not
demonstrated that trial counsel was deficient on this ground.
28 C. Warrant and Supporting Affidavit, Hearsay Statements, and Testimony Regarding Credibility of the Confidential Informant
Griffith next argues that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by (1)
introducing into evidence a copy of the search and arrest warrant and its supporting
affidavit, which included hearsay statements made by the confidential informant;
(2) eliciting testimony from the detective and the sergeant that “allowed the
officers to build up the credibility of the [confidential informant,]” including
testimony that the confidential informant had provided information to the sergeant
on thirty prior occasions and that such information had proven accurate on each
occasion; and (3) failing to object to hearsay statements made by the detective in a
video admitted into evidence that depicts officers going through Griffith’s
residence, including statements by the detective that the residence shown in the
video and the vehicle parked in the driveway belonged to Griffith.
Griffith did not file a motion for new trial. The record is therefore silent as to
trial counsel’s reasons for admitting the warrant and supporting affidavit into
evidence and for questioning the detective and the sergeant in the manner that he
did. The record is also silent as to trial counsel’s reasons for declining to object to
the video, which included the detective’s comments regarding Griffith’s ownership
of the residence and vehicle. When the record is silent as to trial counsel’s strategy
29 or tactics, we will not speculate about the basis for trial counsel’s decision to act as
he did. See Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 814. We conclude, therefore, that Griffith has
failed to rebut the strong presumption that trial counsel’s actions were based on
sound trial strategy. See id. at 813.
However, even if we were to assume that counsel rendered deficient
assistance by introducing the warrant and supporting affidavit into evidence,
eliciting testimony from the State’s witnesses regarding hearsay statements made
by the confidential informant or the credibility of the confidential informant, or
failing to object to hearsay comments in the videotape, Griffith has not shown that
his defense was prejudiced by trial counsel’s actions. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at
687; Garza, 213 S.W.3d at 347. To show prejudice, an appellant must show “that
there is a reasonable probability that but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the
result of the proceeding would have been different.” Jackson, 973 S.W.2d at 956.
Griffith argues that trial counsel’s errors “reduced whatever slim hopes that
[Griffith’s] testimony would have [had] in swaying the jury to believe him when he
said he hadn’t sold drugs to anyone within the three days before the search.”
However, Griffith’s testimony that he did not sell drugs to anyone during the three
days before the search was pertinent, if at all, only to his contention at trial that
probable cause did not exist to support the search and arrest warrant. As we
30 explained in our analysis of Griffith’s second issue, Griffith’s testimony that he did
not sell drugs to anyone during the three days before the search (and, thus, that the
confidential informant’s statements to the contrary were untruthful) was not
material to the determination of whether probable cause existed because probable
cause for a search warrant is determined from the four corners of the probable
cause affidavit. Therefore, even if trial counsel had not engaged in the complained-
of conduct, Griffith’s testimony would not have negated the existence of probable
cause or invalidated the warrant, and it did not create a fact issue for the jury to
decide.
Further, other evidence admitted at trial overwhelmingly established
Griffith’s guilt. As already noted, the State admitted Griffith’s August 8, 2012
videotaped confession into evidence during the guilt-innocence phase of trial.
During the videotaped confession, Griffith acknowledged that the substance found
in his residence during the execution of the search warrant was crack cocaine and
admitted that the cocaine belonged to him. Griffith has not shown that his
videotaped confession was inadmissible. Further, the jury heard the following
additional evidence during the guilt stage of trial: (1) testimony that officers
recovered at least twenty grams of crack cocaine at Griffith’s residence on August
8, 2012; (2) testimony from the officers that Griffith told them during the August
31 8, 2012 videotaped interview that the crack cocaine found at his residence
belonged to him; and (3) testimony from a forensic scientist that the substance
obtained from Griffith’s home was cocaine and that its aggregate weight was 20.10
grams. As such, there was ample evidence to support Griffith’s conviction for
possession of cocaine even if trial counsel had not introduced the complained-of
evidence or failed to object to the detective’s hearsay statements at trial. Given the
evidence presented, Griffith has not shown that there is a reasonable probability
that the result of the proceeding would have been different but for counsel’s
alleged unprofessional errors. See Lemons v. State, 426 S.W.3d 267, 274 (Tex.
App.—Texarkana 2013, pet. ref’d); Perez v. State, 352 S.W.3d 751, 761-62 (Tex.
App.—San Antonio 2011, no pet.); Williams v. State, 837 S.W.2d 759, 763 (Tex.
App.—El Paso 1992, no pet.). We, therefore, overrule Griffith’s contention that he
received ineffective assistance of counsel on these grounds.
D. Decision to Call Griffith to Testify
Griffith next argues that trial counsel was deficient in calling him to testify
during the guilt-innocence phase of trial. A criminal defendant has a constitutional
right to testify on his own behalf. Rock v. Arkansas, 483 U.S. 44, 51-52 (1987);
Smith v. State, 286 S.W.3d 333, 338 n. 9 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). This right can be
knowingly and voluntarily waived only by the defendant, not his counsel. Smith,
32 286 S.W.3d at 338 n. 9. “A defendant who rejects his attorney’s advice on this
matter, preempts his attorney’s strategy, and insists that a different strategy be
followed, however, may not complain of ineffective assistance of counsel.”
Hubbard v. State, 770 S.W.2d 31, 43 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1989, pet. ref’d); see
also Duncan v. State, 717 S.W.2d 345, 348 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). Here, the
record is silent regarding the reasons why Griffith testified at trial. We do not know
whether trial counsel advised Griffith to testify or whether Griffith asserted that he
should testify on his own behalf. Therefore, Griffith has failed to rebut the strong
presumption that his trial counsel rendered adequate assistance at trial on this
ground. See Escobedo v. State, 6 S.W.3d 1, 10-11 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1999,
pet. ref’d); see also Rahe v. State, Nos. 14-11-00707-CR, 14-11-00708-CR, 2013
WL 440557, *3 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 5, 2013, no pet.) (mem.
op., not designated for publication).
E. Failure to Object to State’s Cross-Examination during Hearing on Griffith’s Motion to Disclose Identity of the Confidential Informant Griffith also argues that trial counsel was deficient by failing to object to
certain questions asked by the State during its cross-examination of Griffith at a
pretrial hearing on Griffith’s motion to disclose the identity of the confidential
informant. Specifically, Griffith argues that trial counsel should have objected
33 when the prosecutor asked Griffith whether he was in possession of cocaine at the
time the officers executed the search warrant. Griffith argues that this line of
questioning was not proper during the hearing because it was not relevant to the
issue of whether the confidential informant’s identity should be disclosed and that
trial counsel’s failure to object caused defendant to judicially confess to the offense
of possession of cocaine at the pretrial hearing, thereby limiting Griffith’s defenses
at trial.
Again, we note that Griffith did not file a motion for new trial. As a result,
we do not know trial counsel’s reasons for not objecting to the State’s questions
during the pretrial hearing. We do not know whether trial counsel reviewed
Griffith’s videotaped confession before the pretrial hearing and assessed its
admissibility, and we do not know what information or advice trial counsel may
have given to Griffith before that hearing. On this record, all we can discern is that
for some undetermined reason, counsel did not object at the pretrial hearing, “and
only further inquiry will provide the information necessary to make the proper
determination whether he provided the effective assistance envisioned under the
Sixth Amendment.” Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 814. We conclude, therefore, that
Griffith has failed to overcome the strong presumption that counsel was motivated
34 by sound trial strategy in declining to object to the State’s questions at the pretrial
hearing. See id. at 813-14
Further, even assuming trial counsel’s representation fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness, Griffith has failed to demonstrate that he was
prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to object. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694;
Garza, 213 S.W.3d at 347. Excluding Griffith’s testimony from the pretrial hearing
regarding his possession of the cocaine, the evidence at trial—including Griffith’s
videotaped confession, the testimony from the detective and the sergeant that
Griffith admitted during the videotaped interview that the cocaine found in
Griffith’s residence belonged to him, the forensic scientist’s testimony that the
substance found in Griffith’s home constituted 20.10 grams of cocaine—amply
supports Griffith’s conviction. We conclude that Griffith has failed to show that he
was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to object to the State’s questions at the
pretrial hearing. See Lemons, 426 S.W.3d at 274; Perez, 352 S.W.3d at 761-62;
Williams, 837 S.W.2d at 763. We, therefore, overrule Griffith’s contention that he
received ineffective assistance of counsel on this ground. Because the record does
not affirmatively demonstrate trial counsel’s alleged ineffective assistance, we
overrule Griffith’s first issue.
35 Having overruled all of Griffith’s issues on appeal, we affirm the judgment
of the trial court.
AFFIRMED.
_____________________________ CHARLES KREGER Justice
Submitted on June 25, 2014 Opinion Delivered August 31, 2015 Do not publish
Before McKeithen, C.J., Kreger, and Horton, JJ.