Joe Marion Longoria Jr. v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: June 28, 2018
• Docket: 13-16-00680-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

NUMBER 13-16-00680-CR

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG

JOE MARION LONGORIA JR., Appellant,

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.

On appeal from the 36th District Court of San Patricio, Texas.

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Rodriguez and Benavides Memorandum Opinion by Justice Benavides

By two issues, appellant Joe Marion Longoria Jr. challenges his conviction for

possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1 in a third-degree felony quantity.

See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.102 (West, Westlaw through 2017 1st C.S.).

Longoria argues he was: (1) denied his right to select the counsel of his choice, and (2)

receive ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. See U.S. CONST. amend. VI; TEX. CONST.

art. 1, § 10; TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.05 (West, Westlaw through 2017 1st C.S.). Additionally, through our review of the record, we have found a non-reversible clerical error

in the judgment of conviction. We modify the judgment to correct the error and, as

modified, affirm.

I. BACKGROUND Officer Keith Moore of the Aransas Pass Police Department testified that he pulled

the vehicle over for failing to stop at a stop sign. See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 544.010

(West, Westlaw through 2017 1st C.S.) At his request, all three occupants (the driver, the

front-passenger, and Longoria) exited the vehicle. Upon a consented search of his person,

Officer Moore found that Longoria was carrying a syringe hidden inside a flashlight and a

measuring spoon with drug residue. Officer Moore testified that when he asked Longoria

about what the residue was, Longoria responded that it was heroin.

During a search of the vehicle, specifically in the backseat area occupied by

Longoria, Officer Moore found a plastic bag filled with a substance that tested positive for

heroin. Neither the syringe nor the spoon were tested. Longoria, along with the driver and

front-seat passenger, denied knowledge of the drugs found in the vehicle. Longoria was

arrested for the possession of heroin.

Longoria was found guilty for possession of heroin. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY

CODE ANN. § 481.102. The day after the jury returned its guilty verdict, and immediately

before the sentencing hearing, Longoria expressed to the trial court that he wished to

replace his counsel on the grounds that his counsel had not presented certain requested

motions. Longoria did not elaborate as to what specific motions he wanted filed, only that

he felt he “wasn’t given a fair trial” and he “shouldn't be found guilty of this.” The trial judge

responded that his sentencing trial was that day and explained that Longoria’s options

were to represent himself with counsel’s advice or to continue with trial counsel as his

2 representative. The judge also rejected Longoria’s allegations that his counsel dismissed

these motions for “fear of being chewed out” or so as not to “incur the wrath of the Court.”

Longoria chose to proceed with counsel as his representative.

Based on Longoria’s plea of true to two prior felony convictions, the trial court

sentenced Longoria to twenty-five years’ imprisonment in the Texas Department of

Criminal Justice — Institutional Division. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.42 (West,

Westlaw through 2017 1st C.S.). This appeal followed.

II. NO RIGHT TO APPOINTED COUNSEL OF CHOICE

By his first issue, Longoria alleges that he was denied his right to select the counsel

of his choice when the trial judge did not allow new counsel to be substituted before his

sentencing trial.

A. Standard of Review

A trial court's ruling on a motion for withdrawal and replacement of appointed

counsel is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. King v. State, 29 S.W.3d 556, 566 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2000) (en banc).

B. Applicable Law

Under the United States and Texas Constitution, a defendant in a criminal

proceeding is guaranteed the right to have assistance of counsel. Gonzalez v. State, 117

S.W.3d 831, 836 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (citing U.S. CONST. amend. VI; TEX. CONST. art.

I § 10; TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 1.05). “The right to assistance of counsel contemplates

the defendant's right to obtain assistance from counsel of the defendant’s choosing.” Id.

at 836-37. However, the right to “counsel of choice is not absolute.” Id. at 837 (citing

Wheat v. United States, 486 U.S. 153, 159 (1988)). “A defendant has no right to an

3 advocate who is not a member of the bar, an attorney he cannot afford or who declines to

represent him, or an attorney who has a previous or ongoing relationship with an opposing

party.” Id.

The appointment of new counsel, however, is a matter solely within the discretion

of the trial court. Solis v. State, 792 S.W.2d 95, 100 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990); see King v.

State, 29 S.W.3d 556, 566 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). “Texas courts have specifically held

that an indigent defendant does not have a right to the counsel of his own choosing.”

Trammell v. State, 287 S.W.3d 336, 343 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009, no pet.). “While

there is a strong presumption in favor of a defendant's right to retain counsel of choice,

this presumption may be overridden by other important considerations relating to the

integrity of the judicial process and the fair and orderly administration of justice.”

Gonzalez, 117 S.W.3d at 836. Issues such as “personality conflicts and disagreements

concerning trial strategy are typically not valid grounds for withdrawal.” King, 29 S.W.3d

at 566.

C. Discussion

Longoria argues that the trial court erred in not allowing his counsel to withdraw and

for new counsel to be substituted before the sentencing hearing. Longoria claims that the

trial judge’s denial of his request to fire and replace his counsel was arbitrary because no

reason was given other than that the court wished for the sentencing to proceed as

planned. Appellant claims this unreasonable and arbitrary interference with his right to

select counsel rises to the level of a constitutional violation. See Gonzalez, 117 S.W.3d

at 837. However, as in this case, where the defendant is indigent and counsel has been

appointed, there is no established right to pick and choose one’s representation. See

4 Trammell, 287 S.W.3d at 343. Furthermore, a trial judge holds the right to run his or her

court effectively and safeguard orderly procedure. See Thompson v. State, 447 S.W.2d

920 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969). “[A]n accused may not wait until the day of trial to demand

different counsel or to request that counsel be dismissed so that he may retain other

counsel.” Webb v. State, 533 S.W.2d 780, 784 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976). The trial court

made Longoria aware of his right to represent himself and that his choice at that point was

whether he wanted his counsel to reside in an advisory position or remain as his

representative. Longoria chose to proceed to the sentencing phase with his assigned

counsel as his representative.

Here, Longoria did not meet his burden of proving entitlement to a change of

counsel. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying his day-of-trial request, and

thus Longoria’s first issue is overruled.

III. NO INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

By his second issue, Longoria asserts that he did not receive effective assistance

of counsel at trial. He alleges that his counsel’s disregard of certain requested motions

are specific acts that fall outside the range of professionally competent assistance.

A. Applicable Law

Claims alleging ineffective assistance of counsel are governed by the standard set

out in Strickland v. Washington, which requires a defendant to meet the heavy burden of

proving (1) that counsel's representation or advice fell below objective standards of

reasonableness and (2) the result of the proceeding would have been different but for trial

counsel's deficient performance. 466 U.S. 668 (1984); Ex parte Bryant, 448 S.W.3d 29,

39 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). To prevent unfairly assessing attorney conduct in hindsight,

5 “there is a presumption that the trial attorney's performance conformed to prevailing

professional norms at the time of trial—i.e., the challenged action ‘might be considered

sound trial strategy.’” Bryant, 448 S.W.3d at 39 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689).

For an appellate court to find trial counsel ineffective, “any allegation of

ineffectiveness must be firmly founded in the record, and the record must affirmatively

demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness.” Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1999). Typically, when the counsel’s motivations for tactical decisions are

absent from the record, the appellant is unable to overcome the “strong presumption that

counsel's conduct was reasonable.” Mallett v. State, 65 S.W.3d 59, 63 (Tex. Crim. App.

2001). “A vague inarticulate sense that counsel could have provided a better defense is

not a legal basis for finding counsel constitutionally incompetent.” Bone v. State, 77

S.W.3d 828, 836 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Courts look to “the totality of the representation

and the particular circumstances of each case in evaluating the effectiveness of counsel.”

Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813. If the appellant fails to prove one prong of the test, the

second prong need not be examined. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697; Garcia v. State, 57

S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).

B. Discussion

Longoria argues his trial counsel was ineffective because he failed to present

numerous motions that Longoria had requested for his defense. Longoria claims by

specifically disregarding these requests, counsel fell below an objective standard of

reasonableness, and this satisfies the first prong of the Strickland test. Instead of

disregarding his client’s wishes, Longoria argues that counsel could have withdrawn based

on the obvious conflict between them or followed Longoria’s wishes by filing the motions

6 no matter how frivolous he found them. However, the motions referred to are not specified

anywhere within the record. In light of the presumption of reasonableness, Longoria fails

to meet the required specificity as to how counsel’s actions could be deemed

unreasonable. See Bone, 77 S.W.3d at 836; Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813. Here, the

record shows that counsel was “not sure what some of that stuff was” but that he would

not file a frivolous motion with the court. Under the presumption that counsel acts with

“sound trial strategy” in mind, and absent any other proof in the record to “demonstrate the

alleged ineffectiveness,” merely deviating from a client’s preferred method of defense does

not equate to acting outside the range of professionally competent assistance. See

Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813; Bryant, 448 S.W.3d at 39. Longoria cannot overcome the

first prong of Strickland. See 466 U.S. at 690.

Assuming arguendo that Longoria satisfied the first prong of the Strickland test,

Longoria does not adequately prove that the result would be different. See Id. The

evidence in this case, as Longoria points out, is circumstantial. However, without knowing

the motions Longoria Claims should have been presented, it is not possible to determine

their effect on the case. Therefore, the unknown motions are not sufficient to undermine

the confidence in the outcome of the case. See Bone, 77 S.W.3d at 833. Longoria has

not satisfied the governing Strickland test and thus has failed to prove his claim of

ineffective assistance of counsel. Longoria’s second issue is overruled.

IV. REFORMATION OF THE JUDGMENT

On review of the record, we observe that the written judgment of conviction for

possession of heroin contains non-reversible clerical errors. The judgment states that

Longoria pleaded “not true” to the two prior enhancement paragraphs of the indictment.

7 However, in our review of the trial transcript, Longoria in fact pleaded “true” to the two prior

enhancements alleged in the indictment.

This Court has authority to modify incorrect judgments when the necessary

information is available to do so. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2(b) (authorizing a court of

appeals to modify trial court’s judgment and affirm it as modified); Bigley v. State, 865

S.W.2d 26, 27–28 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (concluding that the Texas Rules of Appellate

Procedure empower courts of appeals to reform judgments). Accordingly, we modify the

judgment of conviction to reflect that Longoria pleaded “true” to both enhancement

paragraphs.

V. CONCLUSION

We affirm the judgment, as modified.

GINA M. BENAVIDES, Justice

Do not publish. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2 (b).

Delivered and filed the 28th day of June, 2018.