Michael Plummer v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: August 3, 2006
• Docket: 13-05-00326-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

NUMBER 13-05-326-CR

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG

MICHAEL PLUMMER

, Appellant,

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.

On appeal from the County Court at Law No. 1

of Victoria County, Texas.

CONCURRING MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Rodriguez and Castillo

Memorandum Opinion by Justice Castillo

Appellant Michael Louis Plummer represented himself during both phases of the jury trial and has filed a pro se brief on appeal. Plummer filed the clerk's record but, as the majority states, did not file a reporter's record of the trial court proceedings. ⁽¹⁾ Because I disagree with the summary dismissal of Plummer's brief as inadequate, I do not join the majority opinion. However, because I reach the same result, I join the judgment.

I. APPLICABLE LAW

The majority affirms on grounds of inadequate briefing. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(h). Because the brief articulates arguments in support of the points of error raised and provides references to authorities, I conclude the brief is adequate. Tex. R. App. P. 38.9. Even in the absence of adequate briefing, we are authorized, under appropriate circumstances, to "consider the appeal without briefs, as justice may require." Tex. R. App. P. 38.8(b)(4). The clear import of the rules is to "ensure that the appellant's rights are protected." ⁽²⁾ Id.

Moreover, in the absence of a reporter's record, we must proceed to a decision based upon the contents of the clerk's record and the law. ⁽³⁾ See Tex. R. App. P. 37.3(c) (authorizing the appellate court to "consider and decide those issues or points that do not require a reporter's record for a decision"); Whitaker v. State, 160 S.W.3d 5, 8 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004) (reviewing denial of post-conviction petition without a reporter's record); Rivera v. State, 89 S.W.3d 55, 58-59 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Rule 37.3(c) directs us to address those points of error that do not need the reporter's record for decision. See In re Spiegel, 6 S.W.3d 643, 646 (Tex. App.-Amarillo, no pet.). Implicit in the rule is the notion that, when the reporter's record is not before us and the point of error depends upon matters within that record, we may overrule or reject it. Id.

II. THE RECORD

The clerk's record shows that the stop and search were videotaped. ⁽⁴⁾ The State had previously dismissed the information on grounds that "No probable cause to search vehicle [sic]. Therefore, the State no longer wishes to prosecute this case." On that judicial admission, a trial court (other than the convicting court) dismissed the case. ⁽⁵⁾ Four months later, the State re-filed the information. Plummer filed a motion to set aside the information, a motion to suppress the evidence, and a motion to dismiss. After an evidentiary hearing on the motions, the trial court denied the motion to suppress and entered findings of fact and conclusions of law. The docket sheet shows that the trial court took the motion to dismiss under advisement. On the date of trial, the trial court entered an order that denied the motion to dismiss. A jury convicted Plummer and assessed his punishment. This appeal ensued. Plummer filed an appellate brief and a reply brief. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1, 38.3. The State filed an appellee's brief. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.2.

III. APPLICATION OF THE LAW TO THE RECORD FACTS

A. Motion to Set Aside the Information

By his first point of error, Plummer asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion to set aside the information. In that motion, he asserted a speedy trial violation based on article 32A.02 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

Article 32A.02 was declared unconstitutional by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Meshell v. State, 739 S.W.2d 246, 257 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987). See Hernandez v. State, 751 S.W.2d 513, 514 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 1988, no pet.). The right to a speedy trial is subject to a balancing test to determine whether the right has been abridged. Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530 (1972); Shaw v. State, 117 S.W.3d 883, 887 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (citing Barker, 407 U.S. at 530). The court should inquire about (1) the length of the delay, (2) reasons for the delay, (3) the circumstances of the defendant's assertion of the right, and (4) any prejudice that resulted from the delay. Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 887.

The reporter's record is necessary to measure the trial court's decision against the evidence proffered, if any, in support of Plummer's motion. Tex. R. App. P. 37.3(c); Whitaker, 160 S.W.3d at 8. Without the reporter's record, I would overrule Plummer's first point of error.

B. Motion to Suppress

By his second point of error, Plummer asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress. He argues, in part, that article 38.23 precludes admission at trial, and the jury's consideration of, illegally seized evidence. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.23(a), (b) (Vernon 2003). Germane to his argument is that the initial information was dismissed on grounds that the State had no probable cause to search the vehicle and he was harmed by the admission of the evidence. Plummer argues that, at trial, he did not participate in the line of questioning regarding the legality of the traffic stop, probable cause, and consent to search ostensibly so as not to forfeit error.

The trial court's findings of fact and conclusions of law span three pages in the clerk's record. The trial court recites the testimony at the evidentiary hearing and observations gleaned from the video recording of the stop. Two separate findings of fact demonstrate that the trooper testified Plummer gave consent to search the vehicle, although the video recording did not reflect the initial consent due to audio problems. However, Plummer "proceeds to re-affirm the fact that he gave consent to search the car because it was the right thing to do." In part, in its conclusions of the law, the trial court found that (1) the trooper had probable cause to stop Plummer's vehicle because he was traveling in excess of the posted speed limit, (2) Plummer knowingly, intentionally gave consent to search for drugs, (3) the search of the vehicle was with consent, (4) the trooper had probable cause to arrest Plummer for the charged offense, and (5) the evidence seized "is the product of a valid search and is admissible."

In reviewing the trial court's decision, I must employ the familiar bifurcated standard of review articulated in Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). ⁽⁶⁾ Under this standard, review of the trial court's determination of historical facts, although deferential, must be "supported by the record." Id. Similarly, the application-of-law-to-fact questions that do not turn on credibility and demeanor must be reviewed de novo. Id. Without a reporter's record, the propriety of the trial court's ruling is not possible. See Tex. R. App. P. 37.3(c). Further, the record does not show that Plummer requested the trial court to include the article 38.23 instruction in the jury charge or that he objected to the charge for its omission. Thus, I would overrule Plummer's second point of error.

C. Invalid Warrant

By his third point of error, Plummer asserts that the trial court erred by not dismissing the warrant that was issued (1) on the basis of tainted evidence because, essentially, the State had previously concluded probable cause was lacking, and (2) by other than the court having jurisdiction over the case in violation of article 23.04. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 23.04 (Vernon 1989). Plummer's motion to dismiss encompassed his complaint on appeal. The trial court entered an order denying the motion. The order shows that the trial court convened a hearing and Plummer appeared. However, the order does not address the present claim. Even assuming Plummer presented the complaint to the trial court, the clerk's record does not demonstrate he secured a ruling. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(2). Thus, I would overrule Plummer's third point of error.

D. Double Jeopardy

By his fourth point of error, Plummer asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss on grounds of double jeopardy. He maintains that, because the State moved and the trial court previously dismissed the information, double jeopardy protections applied. He relies on Sanchez v. State, 845 S.W.2d 273 (Tex. Crim. 1992) as relevant precedent.

In Sanchez, the reviewing court had the benefit of a reporter's record. ⁽⁷⁾

See id. at 275. In this case, the trial court's order contains its findings with respect to the jeopardy claim. One of the findings states that, at the time the trial court dismissed the original information, "no trial had been scheduled thus no jury panel had been impaneled or sworn nor had any witnesses in a non-jury trial been sworn." Further, the order recites, "There had been no conviction or acquittal of the offense. Nor was the reason for dismissal insufficient evidence. Accordingly, jeopardy had not attached."

The order dismissing the original information is in the record and shows that another trial court dismissed on grounds other than insufficient evidence. However, a determination of the propriety of the remaining relevant findings and conclusions of law requires a reporter's record of the proceedings. See Tex. R. App. P. 37.3( c). Thus, I would overrule Plummer's fourth issue.

E. Brady

By his fifth point of error, Plummer asserts that the trial court erred in failing to dismiss the case because the State failed to provide him exculpatory evidence and, thus, violated the mandate in Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963). ⁽⁸⁾

The State responds that Plummer's concession that he announced ready for trial defeats his Brady claim.

Prosecutors are prohibited from suppressing facts or secreting witnesses who may establish the innocence of the accused. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 2.01 (Vernon Supp. 2005). Review of a prosecutor's alleged failure to disclose exculpatory evidence requires the reviewing court to (1) employ a materiality standard rather than a constitutional harmless-error standard in evaluating the evidence; and (2) determine the materiality of the evidence in light of all other evidence properly introduced at trial. Hampton v. State, 86 S.W.3d 603, 612 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). The reviewing court considers any adverse effect that the prosecutor's non-disclosure might have had on the preparation or presentation of the accused's case. Thomas v.State, 841 S.W.2d 399, 405 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). The reviewing court assesses the possibility that an adverse effect might have occurred in light of the totality of the circumstances and with an awareness of the difficulty of reconstructing in a post-trial proceeding the course that the defense and the trial would have taken had the defense not been misled by the prosecutor's failure to disclose. Id. This determination is made after examining the alleged error in the context of the overall strength of the State's case.  See id.

To apply the standards of review applicable to, and decide, claimed Brady error, a reporter's record is necessary. Because such a record is not before this Court, I would overrule Plummer's fifth issue presented. See id.

F. Remaining Points

In subsidiary points, Plummer raises factual sufficiency and due process claims. Plummer couches his due process claims in the context of his Brady and double jeopardy claims. I have already determined that a reporter's record is necessary with respect to those claims. Similarly, a factual sufficiency decision requires applying relevant standards to the evidence adduced at trial. In a factual sufficiency review, the appellate court views all the evidence in a neutral light, both for and against the finding, and sets aside the verdict if "proof of guilt is so obviously weak as to undermine confidence in the jury's determination, or the proof of guilt, although adequate if taken alone, is greatly outweighed by contrary proof." Vodochodsky v. State, 158 S.W.3d 502, 510 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (citing Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 11(Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Zuliani v. State, 97 S.W.3d 589, 593-94 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003)). Without a reporter's record, the factual sufficiency claim cannot be determined. See Tex. R. App. P. 37.3(c). Thus, I would overrule Plummer's remaining subsidiary points of error.

IV. CONCLUSION

Having found no error of law in the record, I join the judgment but not the opinion of the majority.

ERRLINDA CASTILLO

Justice

Do not publish.

Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).

Concurring Memorandum Opinion delivered

and filed this 3rd day of August, 2006.

1. The prosecuting attorney previously requested we abate the appeal and order Plummer to file the reporter's record. As of this writing, that motion has not been decided.

2. Whether or not indigency is a factor, we are called upon to apply the rules equally "as justice may require." See Tex. R. App. P. 38.8(b)(4).

3. I am mindful that it is an appellant's responsibility to properly initiate the process of securing a reporter's record. See Tex. R. App. P. 35.3(b).

4. Plummer filed a motion to transfer the original exhibits and documents to this Court, and that motion was denied.

5. See Bryant v. State, 187 S.W.3d 397, 400 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) ("[a] fact that is judicially admitted needs no evidence from the party benefitting by the admission . . . the fact is thereafter to be taken for granted; so that the one party need offer no evidence to prove it, and the other is not allowed to disprove it") (citations omitted)). A jury note in the clerk's record asked, "Is the judicial process relevant in this case-grounds to dismiss?" The trial court instructed that the jury consider culpability only.

6. Under Guzman, the relevant standard of review depends on the type of question presented. Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). We must afford almost total deference to the trial court's determination of the historical facts that are supported by the record, especially where the determination is based on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Id. We also afford almost total deference to the trial court's application of the law to the facts, where the application turns on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Id. Where the application of the law to the facts does not revolve around an evaluation of credibility and demeanor, we review the issue de novo. Id. However, in such a case we still afford deference to the trial court's determination of the subsidiary fact questions. Id.

7. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held: "In fact, the trial court's findings and conclusions/agreed statement of facts simply indicates that appellant was arraigned on that date and entered a plea of 'not guilty.'" Sanchez v. State, 845 S.W.2d 273, 275 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). "Thus, there was no attachment of jeopardy on that date in the absence of evidence of an announcement of ready by both parties per [appellant]." Id.

8. The prosecution has no duty to turn over evidence not in its possession or not known to exist. State v. Blanco, 953 S.W.2d 799, 802-03 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 1997, pet. ref'd) (citing Hafdahl v. State, 805 S.W.2d 396, 399 n.3 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990)). Although the prosecution has no duty to turn over evidence not in its possession or not known to exist, the prosecution does have a duty to learn of any favorable evidence known to others acting in the case on the State's behalf, including the police. Blanco, 953 S.W.2d at 802-03 (citing Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 419 (1995)).

A Brady violation occurs if: (1) the State failed to disclose evidence, regardless of the prosecution's good or bad faith; (2) the withheld evidence is favorable to the defendant; and (3) the evidence is material, that is, there is a reasonable probability that had the evidence been disclosed, the outcome of the trial would have been different. Ex parte Richardson, 70 S.W.3d 865, 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Thomas v.State, 841 S.W.2d 399, 404 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). To show prejudice, an appellant must show a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different had the State timely disclosed the evidence to the defense. Little v. State, 991 S.W.2d 864, 866 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). A defendant in a criminal case must be granted a new trial when evidence tending to establish the defendant's innocence has been intentionally withheld, thus preventing its production at trial. Tex. R. App. P. 21.3(e).