Leonso Garcia v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: June 1, 2006
• Docket: 01-05-00411-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion issued on June 1, 2006

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

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NO. 01-05-00411-CR

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LEONSO GARCIA, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

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On Appeal from the 180th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 975,793

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MEMORANDUM OPINION

          After his pretrial motion to suppress evidence was denied, appellant, Leonso Garcia, pleaded guilty to the felony offense of delivery of marijuana, weighing more than 50 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds, without an agreed recommendation by the State as to punishment. The trial court found appellant guilty and assessed punishment at six years’ confinement in the Harris County Jail. In his sole issue, appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence seized during the search of a trucking container located at the place of arrest. We affirm.

Background

          Undercover detectives from the Harris County Organized Narcotics Task Force negotiated with appellant regarding the possible large sale of marijuana. The undercover detectives were introduced to appellant through a confidential informant. The men met at “Taqueria Ruchies” to discuss possible methods of delivery of the drugs. Appellant agreed to accept a cargo van from the undercover detectives to use during the transaction. A price of $450 per pound was discussed.

          After the detectives made arrangements with the confidential informant, the informant contacted appellant and advised him that the men would like to meet and finalize the deal. Appellant arrived a short time later and told the men that he had a sample of the drugs in his truck. He showed the sample to the undercover detectives and informed the men that the marijuana was located near I-10 and Wayside. Appellant proceeded to a service station at I-10 and Wayside, with the detectives following.

          At the station, appellant met with another man, Everado Moreno. Both men wanted the detectives to do the deal at a nearby residence. The detectives refused to go, saying that they would not take the money to an unknown location. They instructed appellant and Moreno to go to the residence, load the marijuana, and then contact them to give them directions to the residence. Appellant and Moreno agreed and drove to 6323 Queensland, Houston, Texas. The detectives maintained surveillance and observed appellant and Moreno drive into the driveway of the residence and park the van near the rear of the residence.

          Sometime later, surveillance observed a truck leaving the residence. Officers arrived and stopped the truck. Appellant and Moreno were passengers in the truck, and Pablo Velasquez was driving. The truck was registered to Velasquez at 6323 Queensland. All three men were arrested, and officers searched the premises at 6323 Queensland. On the rear of the property, approximately 18 bundles of marijuana weighing 744 pounds were found in an 18-wheeler container. The marijuana was seized by police.

Motion to Suppress

          Appellant filed a pretrial motion to suppress the evidence taken from the trucking container located at 6323 Queensland pursuant to article I, section 9 of the Texas Constitution and article 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. In his sole issue, appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying this motion because the evidence was seized without a warrant, probable cause, or other lawful authority in violation of article I, section 9 of the Texas Constitution and article 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. We disagree.

Standard of Review 

          In reviewing the trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress, we apply a bifurcated standard of review. Carmouche v. State, 10 S.W.3d 323, 327 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). We give almost total deference to the trial court’s determination of historical facts that depend on credibility, while we conduct a de novo review of the trial court’s application of the law to the facts. Id.

          Where, as here, there are no findings of fact, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling and assume that the trial court made implicit findings of fact that support its ruling as long as those findings are supported by the record. State v. Ross, 32 S.W.3d 853, 855 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). If the trial court’s decision is correct on any theory of law applicable to the case, the decision will be upheld. Id. at 856. The fact finder is the sole judge of the witnesses’ credibility and may accept or reject any or all of the witnesses’ testimony. Taylor v. State, 945 S.W.2d 295, 297 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref’d).

Standing

          An accused has standing, under the constitution to contest a search only if he had a legitimate expectation of privacy in the place searched. Villarreal v. State, 935 S.W.2d 134, 138 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Appellant bears the burden to establish standing to object to a search. State v. Klima, 934 S.W.2d 109, 110 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).

           Standing is a question of law, which we review de novo. State v. Johnson, 896 S.W.2d 277, 285 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995), aff’d, 939 S.W.2d 586 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). To have standing, or a reasonable expectation of privacy, a defendant must show: (1) that he had an actual, subjective expectation of privacy, exhibited by measures taken to protect the privacy of the property in question and (2) that his subjective expectation of privacy is one that society is prepared to recognize as reasonable. See Villarreal, 935 S.W.2d at 138.

          The Court of Criminal Appeals has recognized the following factors as relevant to the court’s determination of whether the accused’s subjective expectation was one that society was prepared to recognize as objectively reasonable: (1) whether the accused had a property or possessory interest in the place invaded; (2) whether he was legitimately in the place invaded; (3) whether he had complete dominion or control and the right to exclude others; (4) whether, before the intrusion, he took normal precautions customarily taken by those seeking privacy; (5) whether he put the place to some private use; and (6) whether his claim of privacy is consistent with historical notions of privacy. Id.

          In Villarreal v. State, the Court of Criminal Appeals held that a non-overnight guest did not have standing to challenge search of residence. Id. at 139. In Villarreal, there was no evidence that the defendant had a property or possessory interest in, or unrestricted access to, the residence. Id. Nor was there any evidence that the defendant had dominion or control over the residence or the right to exclude others. Id. Nor was there any evidence that he intended to stay overnight. Id. The court in Villarreal held that the evidence did not establish that Villareal’s “subjective expectation of privacy was one that society was prepared to recognize as objectively reasonable under the circumstances.” Id.

          Appellant admitted in his affidavit attached to the motion to suppress that the property on Queensland belonged to Pablo Velasquez, but he claims that he had a possessory interest because the interior of the property could only be entered through a locked gate to which he had access. He states that he knew the exact location of the trucking container where the marijuana was found, that it was accessible only by lock and key, and that he had access to the key. Appellant argues not only did he have dominion and control over the property, but he also had the right to exclude others. He contends that these are clear indications that his status as to the property on Queensland and the locked container thereon far exceed that of a temporary, invited guest. We disagree.

          Like Villarreal, there is nothing in the record here to show that appellant had a property or possessory interest, complete dominion and control, or any expectations of privacy in the property that were of the types that society views as objectively reasonable. See id. At best, appellant’s affidavit addresses one of the six relevant factors to be considered—that he had legitimate presence in the place searched. Appellant’s mere assertion in his affidavit that he knew where on Velasquez’s property the locked trucking container was located does not satisfy his burden to prove a legitimate expectation of privacy in the residence at 6323 Queensland.

          Further, appellant has not presented any evidence that he was an overnight guest. A non-overnight guest does not have standing to complain of an unlawful search under article I, section 9 of the Texas Constitution. Id. at 139. The evidence in this case is insufficient to demonstrate, among other things, that appellant was anything other than a non-overnight guest.

          Appellant failed to present any evidence during his suppression hearing to establish that he had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the property at 6323 Queensland. See id. at 138. The evidence in the record does not establish that appellant had standing to have the marijuana suppressed. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying appellant’s motion to suppress.

          We overrule appellant’s sole issue.

Conclusion

          We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

George C. Hanks, Jr.

                                                             Justice

Panel consists of Justices Nuchia, Keyes, and Hanks.

Do not publish. Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.