Affirmed; Opinion Filed January 29, 2018.
In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-17-00818-CR
JOHN DERRECK WILLIAMS, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 90th District Court Young County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 10720
MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Lang-Miers, Fillmore, and Stoddart Opinion by Justice Stoddart A jury convicted John Derreck Williams of possession of a controlled substance,
methamphetamine, with intent to deliver in an amount of four grams or more but less than two
hundred grams. In two issues, appellant argues the evidence is insufficient and the trial court
abused its discretion when it found he was competent to stand trial. We affirm the trial court’s
judgment.1
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Christopher Denney, a police sergeant with the Graham Police Department, stopped a car
driven by appellant for speeding. During the stop, Denney asked appellant and his passenger to
exit the car because he found their behavior suspicious. Denney observed what appeared to be a 1 We note that this case was transferred to this court from the Court of Appeals for the Second District under a docket equalization order. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (West 2013); see also TEX. R. APP. P. 41.3 (regarding controlling precedent). bag of methamphetamine on the front floorboard. He then searched the car. He testified he
found “a little dime bag that holds methamphetamine” and a larger bag containing approximately
five to six grams of methamphetamine. Inside a zippered bag were approximately ten empty
“dime size-type baggies.” Denney explained dime-sized bags are used by drug dealers who sell
methamphetamine. Denney testified the bags are “ultimately going to be filled up and sold to
people once they [the buyers] tell them [the dealers] just how much they’re wanting to
purchase.” Based on his training and experience, Denney believed the quantity of
methamphetamine possessed by appellant was too much to be for personal use. The typical
amount for personal use is a quarter to a half a gram.
In the car’s console, Denney found Nitrile-type rubber gloves, which he explained are
used to keep a person’s hands clean and safe from chemicals, and a digital scale. He testified the
scale, which had white residue on top that appeared to be methamphetamine, is the type of digital
scale commonly used in the sale of narcotics. Denney believed appellant was “out there selling
dope. He’s out there delivering it and dividing up the quantities as to what each person is
wanting to buy in quarter, half grams, grams, and then selling them.” Pipes for smoking
methamphetamine and marijuana also were found in the car. After appellant was arrested, he
told Denney the drugs belonged to him.
A forensic chemist tested the substance seized from appellant and confirmed it was 4.714
grams of methamphetamine.
LAW & ANALYSIS
The jury convicted appellant of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.112(a). In his second issue, appellant challenges
the sufficiency of the evidence to show his intent to deliver because the evidence shows the
drugs were for personal use.
–2– We review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence on a criminal offense for which
the State has the burden of proof under the single sufficiency standard set forth in Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). Acosta v. State, 429 S.W.3d 621, 624–25 (Tex. Crim. App.
2014). Under this standard, the relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2011) (footnotes omitted).
This standard accounts for the factfinder’s duty to resolve conflicts in the testimony, weigh
the evidence, and draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts. Id. When
analyzing legal sufficiency, we determine whether the necessary inferences are reasonable based
upon the combined and cumulative force of all the evidence when viewed in the light most
favorable to the verdict. Id. When the record supports conflicting inferences, we presume that
the factfinder resolved the conflicts in favor of the verdict and defer to that determination. Id.
Direct and circumstantial evidence are treated equally: Circumstantial evidence is as probative as
direct evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor, and circumstantial evidence alone can be
sufficient to establish guilt. Id.
As applicable here, a person commits the offense of possession of a controlled substance
with intent to deliver if he knowingly manufactures, delivers, or possesses with intent to deliver a
controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN.
§ 481.112(a). Methamphetamine is a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1. Id.
§ 481.102(6).
The evidence shows Denney found more than four grams of methamphetamine, small,
empty plastic bags, a scale, and gloves in appellant’s car along with other drug-related items.
Denney testified that based on his training and experience, the quantity of methamphetamine
–3– held by appellant was not consistent with personal use. Denney also explained rubber gloves,
small bags, and the scale are items commonly used by drug dealers. Denney stated: “I believe
[appellant is] out there selling dope. He’s out there delivering it and dividing up the quantities as
to what each person is wanting to buy in quarter, half grams, grams, and then selling them.”
After viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude any
rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime, including intent to
deliver, beyond a reasonable doubt. See Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778. We overrule appellant’s
second issue.
In his first issue, appellant argues the trial court abused its discretion by concluding he was
competent to stand trial. Appellant asserts the competency evaluation was hurried and
incomplete and, as a result, the testifying expert lacked a sufficient basis to offer his opinion.
Before beginning voir dire, appellant’s counsel filed a suggestion of incompetence, which
included his affidavit, and requested an examination. Appellant’s counsel averred that appellant
had an “unauthorized absence from custody” while incarcerated pending trial. After he was
returned to jail, the jail staff reported appellant was talking to himself and to other people not
present in his cell. Appellant believed the government “has his family” and “says that he hears
them but they think he can’t hear them. Defendant says that his brain is on [the] same frequency
as cell phones and television.” On the day of trial, appellant’s counsel informed the court that
his first indication appellant lacked competence occurred that day. Before then, appellant had a
rational understanding of the nature of the proceedings and communicated with counsel.
At the hearing to determine appellant’s competence, the State called Mitch Netterville, the
jail administrator for Young County, to testify.
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Affirmed; Opinion Filed January 29, 2018.
In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-17-00818-CR
JOHN DERRECK WILLIAMS, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 90th District Court Young County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 10720
MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Lang-Miers, Fillmore, and Stoddart Opinion by Justice Stoddart A jury convicted John Derreck Williams of possession of a controlled substance,
methamphetamine, with intent to deliver in an amount of four grams or more but less than two
hundred grams. In two issues, appellant argues the evidence is insufficient and the trial court
abused its discretion when it found he was competent to stand trial. We affirm the trial court’s
judgment.1
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Christopher Denney, a police sergeant with the Graham Police Department, stopped a car
driven by appellant for speeding. During the stop, Denney asked appellant and his passenger to
exit the car because he found their behavior suspicious. Denney observed what appeared to be a 1 We note that this case was transferred to this court from the Court of Appeals for the Second District under a docket equalization order. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (West 2013); see also TEX. R. APP. P. 41.3 (regarding controlling precedent). bag of methamphetamine on the front floorboard. He then searched the car. He testified he
found “a little dime bag that holds methamphetamine” and a larger bag containing approximately
five to six grams of methamphetamine. Inside a zippered bag were approximately ten empty
“dime size-type baggies.” Denney explained dime-sized bags are used by drug dealers who sell
methamphetamine. Denney testified the bags are “ultimately going to be filled up and sold to
people once they [the buyers] tell them [the dealers] just how much they’re wanting to
purchase.” Based on his training and experience, Denney believed the quantity of
methamphetamine possessed by appellant was too much to be for personal use. The typical
amount for personal use is a quarter to a half a gram.
In the car’s console, Denney found Nitrile-type rubber gloves, which he explained are
used to keep a person’s hands clean and safe from chemicals, and a digital scale. He testified the
scale, which had white residue on top that appeared to be methamphetamine, is the type of digital
scale commonly used in the sale of narcotics. Denney believed appellant was “out there selling
dope. He’s out there delivering it and dividing up the quantities as to what each person is
wanting to buy in quarter, half grams, grams, and then selling them.” Pipes for smoking
methamphetamine and marijuana also were found in the car. After appellant was arrested, he
told Denney the drugs belonged to him.
A forensic chemist tested the substance seized from appellant and confirmed it was 4.714
grams of methamphetamine.
LAW & ANALYSIS
The jury convicted appellant of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.112(a). In his second issue, appellant challenges
the sufficiency of the evidence to show his intent to deliver because the evidence shows the
drugs were for personal use.
–2– We review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence on a criminal offense for which
the State has the burden of proof under the single sufficiency standard set forth in Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). Acosta v. State, 429 S.W.3d 621, 624–25 (Tex. Crim. App.
2014). Under this standard, the relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2011) (footnotes omitted).
This standard accounts for the factfinder’s duty to resolve conflicts in the testimony, weigh
the evidence, and draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts. Id. When
analyzing legal sufficiency, we determine whether the necessary inferences are reasonable based
upon the combined and cumulative force of all the evidence when viewed in the light most
favorable to the verdict. Id. When the record supports conflicting inferences, we presume that
the factfinder resolved the conflicts in favor of the verdict and defer to that determination. Id.
Direct and circumstantial evidence are treated equally: Circumstantial evidence is as probative as
direct evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor, and circumstantial evidence alone can be
sufficient to establish guilt. Id.
As applicable here, a person commits the offense of possession of a controlled substance
with intent to deliver if he knowingly manufactures, delivers, or possesses with intent to deliver a
controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN.
§ 481.112(a). Methamphetamine is a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1. Id.
§ 481.102(6).
The evidence shows Denney found more than four grams of methamphetamine, small,
empty plastic bags, a scale, and gloves in appellant’s car along with other drug-related items.
Denney testified that based on his training and experience, the quantity of methamphetamine
–3– held by appellant was not consistent with personal use. Denney also explained rubber gloves,
small bags, and the scale are items commonly used by drug dealers. Denney stated: “I believe
[appellant is] out there selling dope. He’s out there delivering it and dividing up the quantities as
to what each person is wanting to buy in quarter, half grams, grams, and then selling them.”
After viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude any
rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime, including intent to
deliver, beyond a reasonable doubt. See Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778. We overrule appellant’s
second issue.
In his first issue, appellant argues the trial court abused its discretion by concluding he was
competent to stand trial. Appellant asserts the competency evaluation was hurried and
incomplete and, as a result, the testifying expert lacked a sufficient basis to offer his opinion.
Before beginning voir dire, appellant’s counsel filed a suggestion of incompetence, which
included his affidavit, and requested an examination. Appellant’s counsel averred that appellant
had an “unauthorized absence from custody” while incarcerated pending trial. After he was
returned to jail, the jail staff reported appellant was talking to himself and to other people not
present in his cell. Appellant believed the government “has his family” and “says that he hears
them but they think he can’t hear them. Defendant says that his brain is on [the] same frequency
as cell phones and television.” On the day of trial, appellant’s counsel informed the court that
his first indication appellant lacked competence occurred that day. Before then, appellant had a
rational understanding of the nature of the proceedings and communicated with counsel.
At the hearing to determine appellant’s competence, the State called Mitch Netterville, the
jail administrator for Young County, to testify. Netterville had frequent contact with appellant
while appellant was incarcerated and could evaluate appellant’s physical and mental condition.
Appellant was assigned to the outside work detail where he appeared to be “functioning fine,”
–4– performing tasks assigned to him, and following orders. Appellant did not engage in any
unusual behavior until three days before trial when he escaped while on work duty. When
appellant was returned to the jail approximately one hour later, he was agitated and appeared
intoxicated. He was segregated from others in the jail and, while watching him on a camera,
Netterville saw appellant talking to himself, a behavior Netterville previously had not observed.
After Netterville testified, the trial court heard arguments from counsel and took the matter under
advisement. The court recessed the hearing to qualify the venire.
The court continued the competency hearing outside the venire’s presence. The State
called Dr. Brandon Bates to testify.2 Bates has been a licensed psychologist for fifteen years and,
as part of his practice, performs trial competency and insanity evaluations for the State. Bates
reviewed background information about the charges against appellant, including the police
report, and the reasons for the examination. Bates then conducted a clinical interview to
determine appellant’s competency.
Bates testified he used clinical procedures, techniques, and tests accepted in the State of
Texas to determine competency. Bates observed appellant was alert and “oriented” although he
appeared anxious, was evasive, had poor eye contact, and hesitated when answering questions.
Appellant cooperated during the interview and Bates did not encounter problems communicating
with appellant. Appellant verbalized the charges against him and the basis for those charges.
Appellant understood the adversarial nature of the proceedings and the consequences of the
pending criminal charges. They discussed appellant’s attorney and the attorney’s purpose. Bates
testified appellant “was able to verbalize to me the purpose of his attorney and what his role was
in helping him with the court proceeding.” Bates believed appellant could disclose pertinent
2 Although the exact timing of events is not clear from the record, Bates testified he performed the competency evaluation on the day he testified.
–5– facts, events, and states of mind to his attorney. Bates was not aware whether appellant had any
intellectual disability or mental illness.
During the interview, appellant informed Bates that his brain operates on the same
frequency bands as cell phones do and worried that the “Illuminati” was targeting his family.
Bates testified this fear did not indicate a mental illness, explaining: “[t]he problem is based on
his history; that all of this is really, really new. And that’s extremely rare in something like
schizophrenia for these symptoms to pop up all the sudden. Same thing with like the delusional
thinking. It seems like over the past two or three days that all of the sudden this came up, and
that would be extremely rare in a situation like true mental illness.” Bates agreed it was possible
appellant experienced a psychotic episode causing him to hear voices and reach irrational
conclusions. He conceded an opportunity to conduct a more detailed examination over several
sessions would be helpful to determine whether appellant truly experienced psychotic episodes.
Bates testified appellant’s reported symptoms were “inconsistent with [a] typical psychotic
episode and actually more consistent with something like malingering.” Bates did not think
appellant needed psychological treatment and concluded appellant was competent.
After hearing the testimony, the trial court concluded appellant was competent and
proceeded with trial.
A person is presumed competent to stand trial and shall be found competent to stand trial
unless proven incompetent by a preponderance of the evidence. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN.
art. 46B.003(b). A person is incompetent to stand trial if the person does not have (1) sufficient
present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding or
(2) a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him. Id. art.
46B.003(a). If the trial court or either party suggests a defendant may be incompetent, the court
“shall determine by informal inquiry whether there is some evidence from any source that would
–6– support a finding that the defendant may be incompetent.” Id. art. 46B.004(c). If, after an
informal inquiry, the trial court determines that evidence exists to support a finding of
incompetency, the court shall order an examination to determine whether the defendant is
competent to stand trial. Id. art. 46B.005(a); see also Turner v. State, 422 S.W.3d 676, 692 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2013). The trial court shall then hold a trial to determine whether the defendant is
competent to stand trial on the merits. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.005(b).
We review issues involving competency determinations for an abuse of discretion.
Montoya v. State, 291 S.W.3d 420, 426 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009), superseded by statute on other
grounds as stated in Turner v. State, 422 S.W.3d 676, 692 & n.31 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). We
may not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court; instead, we determine whether the trial
court’s decision was arbitrary or unreasonable. Montoya, 291 S.W.3d at 426. A trial court’s
firsthand factual assessment of a defendant’s competency is entitled to great deference on appeal.
Ross v. State, 133 S.W.3d 618, 627 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
Appellant complains that the competency issue was addressed while the venire was
waiting for voir dire to begin and the “pace of proceedings [was] not conclusive [sic] to a
deliberative determination of a complex issue . . . suggesting that the trial court was forced to act
without reference to guiding rules or principles concerning such matters.” We note that the code
of criminal procedure does not specify a time frame for reviewing a criminal defendant’s
competency. Additionally, although Bates indicated an opportunity to conduct a more detailed
examination of appellant over several sessions would be helpful to determine whether appellant
experienced a psychotic episode, Bates did not state he needed additional information to
determine whether appellant was competent to stand trial. Even if we assume appellant was
impaired to some extent, the evidence does not show that this impairment rendered him
incompetent to stand trial. See Moore v. State, 999 S.W.2d 385, 396 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) (“it
–7– is within the purview of the trial judge to distinguish evidence showing only impairment from
that indicating incompetency as contemplated by the law”).
The evidence does not show appellant could not consult with his attorney or did not
understand the proceeding against him. The evidence supports the conclusion that appellant was
competent. He stated the charges against him and the reason for those charges, he understood
the adversarial nature of the proceedings and the consequences of the pending criminal charges
against him, he understood his attorney’s purpose and his attorney’s role in the court
proceedings, and he could disclose pertinent facts, events and states of mind to his attorney.
Based on the evidence, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion by concluding
appellant was competent to stand trial. We overrule appellant’s first issue.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
/Craig Stoddart/ CRAIG STODDART JUSTICE
Do Not Publish TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b) 170818F.U05
–8– Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT
JOHN DERRECK WILLIAMS, Appellant On Appeal from the 90th District Court, Young County, Texas No. 05-17-00818-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. 10720. Opinion delivered by Justice Stoddart. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Justices Lang-Miers and Fillmore participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered this 29th day of January, 2018.
–9–