COURT OF APPEALS EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS EL PASO, TEXAS
§ JESUS JOSE DURAN, No. 08-17-00108-CR § Appellant, Appeal from the § v. County Court at Law No. 1 § THE STATE OF TEXAS, of El Paso County, Texas § Appellee. (TC# 20140C11470) §
OPINION
In this appeal from a conviction of driving while intoxicated, Jesus Jose Duran contends
that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to suppress the results of a blood draw taken
after a motorcycle accident. The State argued—and the trial court agreed—that Duran gave
voluntary consent to have his blood drawn, meaning the results of the draw were admissible at
trial.
We find no abuse of discretion on this record. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Factual History
This case arises from the aftermath of a one-person motorcycle accident involving Duran.
El Paso Police Department Officer Raul Gallegos was dispatched to the accident scene at
approximately 10:30 p.m., where he saw Duran sitting on a curb next to a motorcycle that was on the ground. According to Gallegos, an eyewitness told him that Duran smelled like alcohol and
that he (the eyewitness) had to stop Duran from attempting to lift the motorcycle off the ground
and ride off.
Gallegos testified that Duran told him that he had blacked out while riding home after
having drank three or four beers at a bar. Gallegos saw a black tire mark on the curb, a cell phone
and wallet that apparently belonged to Duran, and a pool of blood. Duran was the only person at
the scene, which led Gallegos to surmise that Duran had hit the curb and flown off the motorcycle.
Duran was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where his blood was drawn. Testing
revealed that Duran’s blood alcohol content was .215. The legal limit in Texas is .08. The central
issue in this case is whether that blood draw was done with Duran’s consent.
Procedural History
Prior to trial, Duran moved to suppress his arrest and all evidence and statements. At a
pretrial hearing, Officer Gallegos testified that at the hospital, he Mirandized Duran. According
to Gallegos, Duran then consented to the blood draw. Gallegos testified that he did not coerce or
pressure Duran in any way. When asked why the DIC-24 form was not signed by Duran, Gallegos
testified that the form is only signed by defendants who refused to provide a breath or blood
specimen. Gallegos did not obtain a warrant for the blood draw, believing Duran’s consent to be
sufficient.
Duran testified that he never saw the DIC-24 form. He also maintained that he had blacked
out from his head injury and did not recall the accident, speaking with Officer Gallegos, or giving
consent for the blood draw.
The trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law. Among them, the trial court
found that Duran was Mirandized and gave consent for the blood draw. With respect to the head
2 injury, the trial court found:
The defendant’s testimony was that he got knocked out (i.e. had a head-injury) and did not recollect consenting to a blood specimen. Nonetheless, on cross- examination by the State, defendant admitted misjudging the curb while on the bike; thus, crashing. He provided officer with clear specific answers at the scene, and never stated he could not recall due to some head injury or being knocked out. The faulty memory only arose at the hospital with respect to the issue of the blood draw.
Duran was ultimately convicted of driving while intoxicated. This appeal followed.
DISCUSSION
In Issue One, Duran maintains that the blood draw at the hospital violated his Fourth
Amendment rights because Officer Gallegos did not have a warrant to seize his blood, thereby
violating Missouri v. McNeeley.1 The State counters that Duran consented to the blood draw and
that the trial court’s finding that Duran consented to the blood draw is supported by the record,
meaning that Duran’s constitutional rights were not violated and that the trial court was within its
discretion to deny the motion to suppress. We agree with the State.
Standard of Review and Applicable Law
We review a trial court’s decision on a motion to suppress under a bifurcated standard,
affording almost total deference to both (1) the trial court’s assessments of witness credibility and
demeanor and (2) the trial court’s findings of historical fact, so long as those findings are supported
by the record. Crain v. State, 315 S.W.3d 43, 48 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010). We review the
application of the law to the facts de novo. Id. We view the evidence in the light most favorable
to the trial court’s ruling. Wade v. State, 422 S.W.3d 661, 666 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013).
The Fourth Amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures. U.S.
CONST. amend. IV. The taking of a blood specimen constitutes a seizure for purposes of the Fourth
1 133 S.Ct. 1552 (2013)
3 Amendment. Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 767 (1966). To be constitutionally
reasonable, a search or seizure such as a blood draw must be supported by a warrant, unless an
exception to the warrant requirement applies. State v. Villarreal, 475 S.W.3d 784, 795
(Tex.Crim.App. 2014). Voluntary consent is an exception to the warrant requirement. Fienen v.
State, 390 S.W.3d 328, 333 (Tex.Crim.App. 2012). Consent vitiates an officer’s need to get a
warrant before conducting a search or seizure. Id. The State bears the burden of proving the
voluntariness of consent by clear and convincing evidence. Id. Consent is voluntary when it is
freely given and not the result of physical or psychological pressure from the police; the
defendant’s will must not have “been overborne and his capacity for self-determination critical
impaired[.]” Id. We review the totality of the circumstances to determine whether consent was
voluntarily given. Id.
Analysis
In his sole issue on appeal, Duran asserts that the State violated McNeeley by seizing his
blood without a warrant. But Duran’s position presupposes the lack of consent to the seizure. The
trial court specifically found that Duran did consent to having his blood drawn. As such, the
threshold question in this case is whether Duran consented to the seizure of his blood. If so, no
warrant was required, McNeeley does not apply, and the evidence was admissible. Only if Duran
did not consent—or if his consent was not voluntary—would McNeeley apply.
Determining whether a person consented to a search or seizure is a mixed question of fact
and law, one that may turn largely on witness credibility and demeanor. See, e.g., Aguayo v. State,
No. 08-13-00283-CR, 2015 WL 6741873, at *4 (Tex.App.--El Paso Nov. 4, 2015, no pet.)(not
designated for publication)(the question of whether a defendant in a hospital consented to a blood
draw by law enforcement when the only evidence presented was the testimony of the defendant
4 and the testimony of the officer hinged on witness credibility); Hernandez v. State, No. 08-05-
00384-CR, 2007 WL 867651, at *2 (Tex.App.—El Paso Mar. 22, 2007, no pet.)(not designated
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COURT OF APPEALS EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS EL PASO, TEXAS
§ JESUS JOSE DURAN, No. 08-17-00108-CR § Appellant, Appeal from the § v. County Court at Law No. 1 § THE STATE OF TEXAS, of El Paso County, Texas § Appellee. (TC# 20140C11470) §
OPINION
In this appeal from a conviction of driving while intoxicated, Jesus Jose Duran contends
that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to suppress the results of a blood draw taken
after a motorcycle accident. The State argued—and the trial court agreed—that Duran gave
voluntary consent to have his blood drawn, meaning the results of the draw were admissible at
trial.
We find no abuse of discretion on this record. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Factual History
This case arises from the aftermath of a one-person motorcycle accident involving Duran.
El Paso Police Department Officer Raul Gallegos was dispatched to the accident scene at
approximately 10:30 p.m., where he saw Duran sitting on a curb next to a motorcycle that was on the ground. According to Gallegos, an eyewitness told him that Duran smelled like alcohol and
that he (the eyewitness) had to stop Duran from attempting to lift the motorcycle off the ground
and ride off.
Gallegos testified that Duran told him that he had blacked out while riding home after
having drank three or four beers at a bar. Gallegos saw a black tire mark on the curb, a cell phone
and wallet that apparently belonged to Duran, and a pool of blood. Duran was the only person at
the scene, which led Gallegos to surmise that Duran had hit the curb and flown off the motorcycle.
Duran was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where his blood was drawn. Testing
revealed that Duran’s blood alcohol content was .215. The legal limit in Texas is .08. The central
issue in this case is whether that blood draw was done with Duran’s consent.
Procedural History
Prior to trial, Duran moved to suppress his arrest and all evidence and statements. At a
pretrial hearing, Officer Gallegos testified that at the hospital, he Mirandized Duran. According
to Gallegos, Duran then consented to the blood draw. Gallegos testified that he did not coerce or
pressure Duran in any way. When asked why the DIC-24 form was not signed by Duran, Gallegos
testified that the form is only signed by defendants who refused to provide a breath or blood
specimen. Gallegos did not obtain a warrant for the blood draw, believing Duran’s consent to be
sufficient.
Duran testified that he never saw the DIC-24 form. He also maintained that he had blacked
out from his head injury and did not recall the accident, speaking with Officer Gallegos, or giving
consent for the blood draw.
The trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law. Among them, the trial court
found that Duran was Mirandized and gave consent for the blood draw. With respect to the head
2 injury, the trial court found:
The defendant’s testimony was that he got knocked out (i.e. had a head-injury) and did not recollect consenting to a blood specimen. Nonetheless, on cross- examination by the State, defendant admitted misjudging the curb while on the bike; thus, crashing. He provided officer with clear specific answers at the scene, and never stated he could not recall due to some head injury or being knocked out. The faulty memory only arose at the hospital with respect to the issue of the blood draw.
Duran was ultimately convicted of driving while intoxicated. This appeal followed.
DISCUSSION
In Issue One, Duran maintains that the blood draw at the hospital violated his Fourth
Amendment rights because Officer Gallegos did not have a warrant to seize his blood, thereby
violating Missouri v. McNeeley.1 The State counters that Duran consented to the blood draw and
that the trial court’s finding that Duran consented to the blood draw is supported by the record,
meaning that Duran’s constitutional rights were not violated and that the trial court was within its
discretion to deny the motion to suppress. We agree with the State.
Standard of Review and Applicable Law
We review a trial court’s decision on a motion to suppress under a bifurcated standard,
affording almost total deference to both (1) the trial court’s assessments of witness credibility and
demeanor and (2) the trial court’s findings of historical fact, so long as those findings are supported
by the record. Crain v. State, 315 S.W.3d 43, 48 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010). We review the
application of the law to the facts de novo. Id. We view the evidence in the light most favorable
to the trial court’s ruling. Wade v. State, 422 S.W.3d 661, 666 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013).
The Fourth Amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures. U.S.
CONST. amend. IV. The taking of a blood specimen constitutes a seizure for purposes of the Fourth
1 133 S.Ct. 1552 (2013)
3 Amendment. Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 767 (1966). To be constitutionally
reasonable, a search or seizure such as a blood draw must be supported by a warrant, unless an
exception to the warrant requirement applies. State v. Villarreal, 475 S.W.3d 784, 795
(Tex.Crim.App. 2014). Voluntary consent is an exception to the warrant requirement. Fienen v.
State, 390 S.W.3d 328, 333 (Tex.Crim.App. 2012). Consent vitiates an officer’s need to get a
warrant before conducting a search or seizure. Id. The State bears the burden of proving the
voluntariness of consent by clear and convincing evidence. Id. Consent is voluntary when it is
freely given and not the result of physical or psychological pressure from the police; the
defendant’s will must not have “been overborne and his capacity for self-determination critical
impaired[.]” Id. We review the totality of the circumstances to determine whether consent was
voluntarily given. Id.
Analysis
In his sole issue on appeal, Duran asserts that the State violated McNeeley by seizing his
blood without a warrant. But Duran’s position presupposes the lack of consent to the seizure. The
trial court specifically found that Duran did consent to having his blood drawn. As such, the
threshold question in this case is whether Duran consented to the seizure of his blood. If so, no
warrant was required, McNeeley does not apply, and the evidence was admissible. Only if Duran
did not consent—or if his consent was not voluntary—would McNeeley apply.
Determining whether a person consented to a search or seizure is a mixed question of fact
and law, one that may turn largely on witness credibility and demeanor. See, e.g., Aguayo v. State,
No. 08-13-00283-CR, 2015 WL 6741873, at *4 (Tex.App.--El Paso Nov. 4, 2015, no pet.)(not
designated for publication)(the question of whether a defendant in a hospital consented to a blood
draw by law enforcement when the only evidence presented was the testimony of the defendant
4 and the testimony of the officer hinged on witness credibility); Hernandez v. State, No. 08-05-
00384-CR, 2007 WL 867651, at *2 (Tex.App.—El Paso Mar. 22, 2007, no pet.)(not designated
for publication)(trial court was free to resolve question of whether defendant had mental faculties
to consent to a blood test against defendant where officer testified defendant was awake and
appeared to be coherent at time warnings were given). Here, as in Aguayo and Hernandez, the
issues of whether Duran (1) consented and (2) had the mental capacity to consent to the blood
draw ultimately boil down to a conflict in testimony between Duran and Officer Gallegos. At the
suppression hearing, Duran insisted that he did not consent to the blood draw. Officer Gallegos
testified that Duran did consent. Because the trial court heard live testimony and we operate from
a cold record, we must afford almost total deference to the trial court on which witness was more
credible.
Notwithstanding the high hurdle of challenging a credibility determination on appeal,
Duran argues that Officer Gallegos’ assertion that consent was given is not credible as a matter of
law because (1) Officer Gallegos knew that Duran was in a hospital receiving medical attention
for head trauma, (2) Officer Gallegos could not conduct field sobriety tests on Duran because
Duran was not physically able to do them in his condition, and (3) Officer Gallegos did not write
down that Duran had consented to a blood draw, nor did he have a video or audio recording of
Duran giving consent. Even given these factors, the trial court was still in a better position than
this Court to determine whether Officer Gallegos’ testimony was credible. Additionally, the trial
court noted that there were inconsistencies in Duran’s account of events that cast doubt on his
credibility as a witness.
Again, mental capacity to consent to a search is an issue for the finder of fact. Hernandez,
2007 WL 867651, at *2. Given the conflict in evidence, given the lack of any third-party evidence
5 tending to corroborate testimony one way or another, and given that the issue of Duran’s consent
largely hinges on a trial-level credibility determination as between Duran’s word and Officer
Gallegos’ word, the trial court’s credibility determination controls the outcome here, and this Court
is not in a position to reverse the trial court’s decision. The trial court’s determination that Duran
consented to the blood draw was supported by the record, meaning that the trial court was within
its discretion to deny the motion to suppress.
Issue One is overruled.
CONCLUSION
We find no reversible error presented before us. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
June 10, 2019 YVONNE T. RODRIGUEZ, Justice
Before McClure, C.J., Rodriguez, and Palafox, JJ.
(Do Not Publish)