Paul De La Cruz v. State
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Opinion
NUMBER 13-07-00722-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
PAUL DE LA CRUZ, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 117th District Court of Nueces County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Yañez, Rodriguez, and Garza Memorandum Opinion by Justice Yañez
A jury convicted appellant, Paul De la Cruz, of possession of more than four grams
but less than 400 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver, a first degree felony.1 Appellant
1 See T EX . H EALTH & S AFETY C OD E A N N . § 481.112(a), (d) (Vernon Supp. 2009). was sentenced to twenty years' confinement. By five issues, appellant contends: (1) the
evidence is legally insufficient to establish an affirmative link to the cocaine; (2-4) the trial
court erred by admitting evidence of extraneous acts; and (5) the trial court erred in
denying appellant's motion to suppress.2 We affirm as modified.
I. BACKGROUND
On October 29, 2006, police dispatch received a 911 call from an unknown person
stating that there was a fight at "1707 Peabody Street," in Corpus Christi, Texas, and that
someone was injured. Officer Ross Murray arrived at the residence, identified himself, and
knocked on the door. When no one responded, Officer Murray entered the residence
through an unlocked door leading into a bedroom. Officer Murray observed in plain view,
a tray containing crack cocaine on top of a stereo, an identification card belonging to
appellant on top of a speaker, and a scale on a desk next to the stereo in the bedroom.3
In an open drawer, Officer Murray saw a handgun along with another identification card
belonging to appellant. Officer Murray also discovered marihuana "blunts" on the
windowsill next to a bed.4 In the kitchen of the residence, Officer Murray found appellant's
brother, Jesse De la Cruz, with an injured ankle. In "one of the main living rooms," Officer
Murray found a scale in plain view.5 Officer Murray also saw pictures of appellant and
Jesse, which appeared to have been taken at the Peabody residence. Appellant was not
2 W e have regrouped and renum bered appellant's five issues.
3 Officer Joseph Christian testified that after testing the substance found on the tray, "[i]t cam e up as cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine." According to Officer Christian, the cocaine weighed 34 gram s.
4 Officer Jerry Neal explained that a "blunt" "refers to a m arijuana cigarette, cigar rolled up."
5 Pictures of the scale were adm itted through Officer Murray's testim ony.
2 present at the residence when Officer Murray discovered the drugs.
Appellant was indicted jointly with his brother, Jesse, for possession of cocaine with
the intent to deliver. The indictment further alleged that appellant used or exhibited a
firearm during the commission of the offense. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the
State, Jesse pleaded guilty to possession of four grams or more but less than 200 grams
of cocaine.6
The jury found appellant guilty of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, but
acquitted appellant of using or exhibiting a deadly weapon during the commission of a
crime. The jury assessed punishment at twenty years' confinement. This appeal ensued.
II. THE EVIDENCE
At trial, the State offered the testimony of Officer Murray, Officer William Livingston,
Officer Jerry Neal, Officer Joseph Christian, Lydia De la Cruz (appellant's sister),
Investigator Jay Worthington, and Officer Jeff Mills, among others. The trial court admitted
into evidence taped conversations at the Nueces County Jail between appellant and his
mother and between Lydia and Jesse. The State alleged that these conversations
provided evidence of appellant's intent to deliver cocaine.
Officer Neal, of the Corpus Christi Police Department, testified that although he
"happened to show up" at the Peabody residence on October 29, 2006, it was not his case
and he did not provide any assistance to the other officers on that case. However,
according to Officer Neal, in August 2003, he had a previous encounter with appellant at
6 Although appellant alleges in his brief that Jesse agreed to testify against appellant pursuant to the plea agreem ent, there is nothing in the record showing this. Furtherm ore, Jesse did not testify at appellant's trial.
3 the Peabody residence. Officer Neal stated that he was dispatched to the Peabody
residence because someone reported that shots had been fired and that when he arrived,
he saw a "subject run from the driveway into the side door of the residence." Officer Neal
testified that he "gave chase, fresh pursuit, kicked the door open and [appellant] was there
in that room" standing next to the door. Officer Neal saw a "sawed-off" shotgun and a
pistol on the bed and a tray with "some crack cocaine on it."7 Officer Neal stated that
appellant's sister, who was pregnant at the time, came into the room and began crying.8
According to Officer Neal, appellant then told him, "That it was his room, his stuff." Officer
Neal arrested appellant and collected the evidence.9
Through Officer Neal's testimony, the trial court admitted State's exhibits 17, 9, 853,
852, 851, 850, 855, 14, 12, 860, 11, 15, and 8, which were pictures taken of appellant's
bedroom in August of 2003. Officer Neal stated that the pictures showed: (1) a VCR that
was attached to a camera outside of the residence and some shotgun shells next to the
VCR (exhibit 851); (2) a camera outside the residence pointed toward the home (exhibit
852); (3) a camera inside the bedroom pointed toward the driveway (exhibit 8); (4) a wide
shot of the residence showing where the camera was pointed (exhibit 14); (5) "[a] stereo
with a speaker on the side and a small amount of crack cocaine in between" (exhibit 17);
and (6) a shotgun and pistol in Officer Neal's trunk that he had recovered from appellant's
7 Officer Jeff Mills testified that the cocaine found at that tim e by Officer Neal weighed .88 gram s.
8 Lydia, appellant's only sister, testified that she has only one child who was born in 2000 and that she was not pregnant in 2003.
9 On cross-exam ination, Officer Neal stated that the charges against appellant stem m ing from the August 2003 incident were dropped by the district attorney's office.
4 room (exhibit 12).10 Officer Neal stated that he knew from personal experience that
"[appellant] lives in that particular room that [he] was showing, or that's on the
photographs."
Officer Livingston, also of the Corpus Christi Police Department, testified that he has
worked on over one hundred cases involving "drug houses." According to Officer
Livingston, some of the things that are indicative of a "drug house" include: (1) "stop and
go traffic," i.e., when several cars arrive at the residence in a short period of time, and the
occupants of the cars enter the residence for a few minutes and then leave; (2)
surveillance cameras; (3) "word on the street" that the residence is a "drug house"; (4) calls
or complaints from neighbors that there is a lot of traffic at the residence; (5) weapons in
the residence; (6) "the packaging and assorted materials used to . . . prepare [the]
narcotics," such as "miniature Ziplock" bags; (7) "paraphernalia" or items "associated with
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NUMBER 13-07-00722-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
PAUL DE LA CRUZ, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 117th District Court of Nueces County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Yañez, Rodriguez, and Garza Memorandum Opinion by Justice Yañez
A jury convicted appellant, Paul De la Cruz, of possession of more than four grams
but less than 400 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver, a first degree felony.1 Appellant
1 See T EX . H EALTH & S AFETY C OD E A N N . § 481.112(a), (d) (Vernon Supp. 2009). was sentenced to twenty years' confinement. By five issues, appellant contends: (1) the
evidence is legally insufficient to establish an affirmative link to the cocaine; (2-4) the trial
court erred by admitting evidence of extraneous acts; and (5) the trial court erred in
denying appellant's motion to suppress.2 We affirm as modified.
I. BACKGROUND
On October 29, 2006, police dispatch received a 911 call from an unknown person
stating that there was a fight at "1707 Peabody Street," in Corpus Christi, Texas, and that
someone was injured. Officer Ross Murray arrived at the residence, identified himself, and
knocked on the door. When no one responded, Officer Murray entered the residence
through an unlocked door leading into a bedroom. Officer Murray observed in plain view,
a tray containing crack cocaine on top of a stereo, an identification card belonging to
appellant on top of a speaker, and a scale on a desk next to the stereo in the bedroom.3
In an open drawer, Officer Murray saw a handgun along with another identification card
belonging to appellant. Officer Murray also discovered marihuana "blunts" on the
windowsill next to a bed.4 In the kitchen of the residence, Officer Murray found appellant's
brother, Jesse De la Cruz, with an injured ankle. In "one of the main living rooms," Officer
Murray found a scale in plain view.5 Officer Murray also saw pictures of appellant and
Jesse, which appeared to have been taken at the Peabody residence. Appellant was not
2 W e have regrouped and renum bered appellant's five issues.
3 Officer Joseph Christian testified that after testing the substance found on the tray, "[i]t cam e up as cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine." According to Officer Christian, the cocaine weighed 34 gram s.
4 Officer Jerry Neal explained that a "blunt" "refers to a m arijuana cigarette, cigar rolled up."
5 Pictures of the scale were adm itted through Officer Murray's testim ony.
2 present at the residence when Officer Murray discovered the drugs.
Appellant was indicted jointly with his brother, Jesse, for possession of cocaine with
the intent to deliver. The indictment further alleged that appellant used or exhibited a
firearm during the commission of the offense. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the
State, Jesse pleaded guilty to possession of four grams or more but less than 200 grams
of cocaine.6
The jury found appellant guilty of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, but
acquitted appellant of using or exhibiting a deadly weapon during the commission of a
crime. The jury assessed punishment at twenty years' confinement. This appeal ensued.
II. THE EVIDENCE
At trial, the State offered the testimony of Officer Murray, Officer William Livingston,
Officer Jerry Neal, Officer Joseph Christian, Lydia De la Cruz (appellant's sister),
Investigator Jay Worthington, and Officer Jeff Mills, among others. The trial court admitted
into evidence taped conversations at the Nueces County Jail between appellant and his
mother and between Lydia and Jesse. The State alleged that these conversations
provided evidence of appellant's intent to deliver cocaine.
Officer Neal, of the Corpus Christi Police Department, testified that although he
"happened to show up" at the Peabody residence on October 29, 2006, it was not his case
and he did not provide any assistance to the other officers on that case. However,
according to Officer Neal, in August 2003, he had a previous encounter with appellant at
6 Although appellant alleges in his brief that Jesse agreed to testify against appellant pursuant to the plea agreem ent, there is nothing in the record showing this. Furtherm ore, Jesse did not testify at appellant's trial.
3 the Peabody residence. Officer Neal stated that he was dispatched to the Peabody
residence because someone reported that shots had been fired and that when he arrived,
he saw a "subject run from the driveway into the side door of the residence." Officer Neal
testified that he "gave chase, fresh pursuit, kicked the door open and [appellant] was there
in that room" standing next to the door. Officer Neal saw a "sawed-off" shotgun and a
pistol on the bed and a tray with "some crack cocaine on it."7 Officer Neal stated that
appellant's sister, who was pregnant at the time, came into the room and began crying.8
According to Officer Neal, appellant then told him, "That it was his room, his stuff." Officer
Neal arrested appellant and collected the evidence.9
Through Officer Neal's testimony, the trial court admitted State's exhibits 17, 9, 853,
852, 851, 850, 855, 14, 12, 860, 11, 15, and 8, which were pictures taken of appellant's
bedroom in August of 2003. Officer Neal stated that the pictures showed: (1) a VCR that
was attached to a camera outside of the residence and some shotgun shells next to the
VCR (exhibit 851); (2) a camera outside the residence pointed toward the home (exhibit
852); (3) a camera inside the bedroom pointed toward the driveway (exhibit 8); (4) a wide
shot of the residence showing where the camera was pointed (exhibit 14); (5) "[a] stereo
with a speaker on the side and a small amount of crack cocaine in between" (exhibit 17);
and (6) a shotgun and pistol in Officer Neal's trunk that he had recovered from appellant's
7 Officer Jeff Mills testified that the cocaine found at that tim e by Officer Neal weighed .88 gram s.
8 Lydia, appellant's only sister, testified that she has only one child who was born in 2000 and that she was not pregnant in 2003.
9 On cross-exam ination, Officer Neal stated that the charges against appellant stem m ing from the August 2003 incident were dropped by the district attorney's office.
4 room (exhibit 12).10 Officer Neal stated that he knew from personal experience that
"[appellant] lives in that particular room that [he] was showing, or that's on the
photographs."
Officer Livingston, also of the Corpus Christi Police Department, testified that he has
worked on over one hundred cases involving "drug houses." According to Officer
Livingston, some of the things that are indicative of a "drug house" include: (1) "stop and
go traffic," i.e., when several cars arrive at the residence in a short period of time, and the
occupants of the cars enter the residence for a few minutes and then leave; (2)
surveillance cameras; (3) "word on the street" that the residence is a "drug house"; (4) calls
or complaints from neighbors that there is a lot of traffic at the residence; (5) weapons in
the residence; (6) "the packaging and assorted materials used to . . . prepare [the]
narcotics," such as "miniature Ziplock" bags; (7) "paraphernalia" or items "associated with
the preparation of drugs or in drug trafficking"; (8) in cases of crack cocaine, items such
as baking soda, vinegar, or glass vessels used to prepare the "crack"; and (9) a large
amount of narcotics, "[u]sually anything over a gram."
Officer Livingston testified that the amount of crack cocaine considered for personal
use is "called a rock," which usually weighs about .08 grams. Officer Livingston stated that
when the police discover "anything" over one or two rocks, the police begin investigating
whether the person in possession is selling the narcotics. According to Officer Livingston,
there are two types of sellers of narcotics, a street-level dealer who sells the drugs "on the
10 Officer Neal did not describe the other exhibits adm itted. The other pictures showed: (1) a close-up picture of a VCR, sm all TV, and speakers (exhibit 9); (2) a close-up of a pistol (exhibit 853); (3) VCR "hook-up" to the outside cam era (Exhibit 851); (4) a cam era pointed outside (exhibit 855); (5) a picture of a residence (exhibit 860); and (6) a lighter and an unknown object on a windowsill (exhibit 11).
5 street" and would probably have "five, ten rocks on him" and the person supplying the
street seller, who would have either multiple grams or larger amounts over an ounce.11
Officer Livingston testified that a "rock" is .08 grams, and that a gram of crack cocaine can
be divided into seven doses or units. To determine how many doses can be created from
an ounce of crack cocaine, one would multiply seven (doses per gram) by twenty-eight,
which is the amount of grams in one ounce.12 According to Officer Livingston, the usual
unit of a rock of cocaine sells for twenty dollars, but that there is also a smaller quantity
referred to as "dime-size rocks" and larger amounts that are sold for fifty dollars.
The State then asked Officer Livingston to review State's exhibits 203 and 9,
pictures taken at the Peabody residence on October 29, 2006.13 Officer Livingston testified
that exhibit 203 showed a tray containing a large "chunk" of crack cocaine that is part of
a "cookie," smaller pieces referred to as "dimes" and "twenties," and larger pieces called
"fifties." Officer Livingston stated that large amounts of narcotics indicate that someone
was probably selling the drugs. Officer Livingston described the item in State's exhibit 9
as a "Tec 9 pistol," which is, according to Officer Livingston, "used—it's liked by people
who are in the drug business, because of the way it looks." Officer Livingston then
reviewed several pictures taken when the August 2003 incident occurred, including State's
11 Officer Livingston stated, "Depending on the . . . the am ount that [the person has], then . . . we're gonna consider them a higher level— level dealer. W hen you start getting over the ounces, then that's— especially when it com es to crack cocaine, that's to m e an indication of a pretty sizable dealer."
12 Officer Livingston did not state the total am ount of doses in one ounce; however, based on our calculation, the num ber of doses using his form ula is 196.
13 State's exhibit 203 was adm itted through Officer Murray's testim ony along with State's exhibit 18, a picture of what appears to be a dining room , and State's exhibits 19, 20, and 21, pictures of an open drawer with a weapon and one of appellant's identification cards.
6 exhibits 855 and 15. Officer Livingston stated that he believed State's exhibit 855 showed
a surveillance camera, which "tells [him] that—that that's probably a place being used to
traffic narcotics, because surveillance cameras are commonly used by narcotics traffickers
to protect their investment, their drugs, their money." Officer Livingston explained that
State's exhibit 15 showed a scale, which is "used to weigh out the narcotics."
On cross-examination, Officer Livingston admitted that he did not know who lived
at the Peabody residence. Furthermore, he did not know that Jesse had presumably
"claimed ownership" of the drugs found at the Peabody residence, by stating "They [the
drugs] were mine." On redirect examination by the State, Officer Livingston identified
State's exhibit 601 as a picture of a Texas State Department of Public Safety identification
card issued to appellant showing his address as 1707 Peabody.14
Lydia, appellant's sister, testified that she previously lived at the Peabody residence
with appellant, her mother, and Jesse. During direct examination,15 when asked by the
State if she remembered that after Jesse showed her some pictures, she told appellant
"that they had a picture of his I-Tec gun there; also that they had a picture of a plate with
a big cookie, with several dimes and twenties?," Lydia responded that she remembered
that conversation. Then the following colloquy occurred:
[The State]: And you told [appellant] that there was a picture of his I-Tec gun, also, a picture of his stereo, also a picture of some blunts on his window sill, and also about that plate that had a picture of a cookie, dimes and twenties.
14 The identification card was found by Officer Murray in October 2006.
15 The trial court allowed the State to treat Lydia as a hostile witness by asking leading questions.
7 [Lydia]: I did say that, but I didn't really mean—
[The State]: Did you say that, ma'am?
[Lydia]: —it was his. It was just the way—
[The State]: Ma'am, answer—
[Lydia]: it came out.
[The State]: —my question.
....
[The State]: Did you?
[Lydia]: Yes, I did—
[The State]: —say that?
[Lydia]: —say that.
On cross-examination, Lydia testified that Jesse showed her some pictures of drugs that
Jesse claimed belonged to appellant.
The trial court admitted State's exhibits 1200 and 1201, transcripts of several
conversations between appellant and his mother, Linda, recorded while he was an inmate
at the Nueces County Jail awaiting trial. Javier Carrizales, the "Official Court Interpreter
for Nueces County," translated the conversations from Spanish to English, and the
prosecutor read excerpts from the transcripts into the record.16 In the first conversation,
appellant spoke to Linda about his bond and then asked, "[H]as Lu made any money, my
money?" Linda replied, "Uh, just 50." Appellant told Linda that "[t]here's supposed to
16 The trial court adm itted the actual recordings, m arked State's exhibits 201 and 202, through the testim ony of Jay W orthington, an internal affairs investigator with the Nueces County Sheriff's Departm ent and custodian of recorded phone calls. Although these tapes were played for the jury, the tapes were not transcribed by the court reporter and are not included in the record.
8 be . . . 200," and that Linda should tell "Luis" not to "mess with the other one." Linda
informed appellant that she did not know whether Luis "[was] selling." The State then read
excerpts from the transcripts to the jury, including the following:
[Appellant]: There's supposed to be like, um the one l already had already there, it should be like 200. . . . So make sure it is 200 and the other one, that's the one that he hasn't messed, tell him don't mess with that one.
[Linda]: Okay. That way, so I can tell Luis that I need to give him more money. I don't know how much Luis has or if he is selling, or if he is not, or he is just spending it.
[Appellant]: You better not—like I told you, I got like 200 and the other one, that the other one is like 300. The one I haven't messed with.
[Linda]: Okay. Because I took some money from Luis. I took some money because he said it wasn't 200, it was less. And he took, like, 15 for himself to eat, since he was helping you sell it.
[Appellant]: He hasn't messed with the other one?
[Linda]: No. I took it away from him.
[Appellant]: It is still the big piece?
[Linda]: The big one.
[Appellant]: Did we sell anything else?
[Linda]: I can't hear you, [appellant].
[Appellant]: I said did Luis get rid of anything else?
9 [Linda]: Oh, I think he just needed a small one, like a 50 one, right?
[Appellant]: How much money did y'all get? I should have like 200, at least, 180 something.
[Linda]: I don't know how much Luis has on him.
[Appellant]: Uh-huh.
[Linda]: Yes. Because he is just fine there with the white girl. She wants 50. No. [Appellant] said that I can't touch that filth.
[Appellant]: I don't know what is in there. I don't want to cut it and then they leave me out of it.
[Linda]: Since Luis saw it, he said it was like $400.
[Appellant]: Yeah, but I don't want to do nothing, because I don't want to mess it up.
[Linda]: That is why I told him that you don't want anything. I told him, "I think he just has a dime left."
[Linda]: Yeah. [Luis] said I will sell it all. . . . He said it was 170 and he just took pen to ink. That is what he did. And 60, 70, 150 for you.
[Linda]: You wanted 350 for everything.
[Appellant]: Yeah.
[Linda]: Do you want to sell it? I said, "[Appellant] doesn't want anyone
10 to sell it. He just wants 350 for it. That is all." I was going to ask Pete.
[Appellant]: 300 at least.
[Linda]: Oh, at least 300? Okay. That is fine. Anyways, Lydia is going to see who wants some. Like you said, you need someone who knows how to cut it, right?
[Linda]: They're going to cut it like that, and then it's not going to come out.
[Linda]: He gave Nieto a dime to go get some filth, and Nieto never came back. . . .
[Linda]: What can I tell you? I was going to tell you something. Oh, like, Chrissy told me that they didn't have any evidence on anybody with that filth. They didn't catch anyone with it, right?
[Linda]: And you-all can fight, saying that there was nobody, and that the filth—somebody put it there. That's all. It is one. Not Jesse. He's going back, anyways for parole and all of that.
[Linda]: I will have your money, the 150 by tonight.
[Appellant]: Yeah, because I want you to send it today, like take it to the mail today, so it could be here by tomorrow.
11 [Appellant]: If not, just tell Lu to get rid of the other stuff I got.
[Linda]: Luis already gave me all of the money.
[Appellant]: No, mom. The other stuff I had.
[Linda]: I have it stored.
[Appellant]: Well, give it to somebody, so they can sell it for me.
[Linda]: Okay. Anyways, I will tell (undecipherable) to sell it for more.
[Appellant]: Tell Lu I at least want 300 out of it.
[Appellant]: Did she get me the other stuff or what?
[Linda]: Nah. It is right, they have to weigh it to see how much it is?
[Linda]: At night, I'll give it to him, because I don't think he knows where it is at.
[Linda]: And no one is going to buy it like that. You need to weigh it to see how much it is.
[Linda]: I had 30 left, and no one wants it the way you want to do it.
[Appellant]: What?
[Linda]: Buy the 300 just like that.
[Appellant]: I said tell Lu to cut it, I said.
12 [Linda]: Oh, Luis knows how?
[Appellant]: Yeah, I'm pretty sure he does. But tell him to at least cut 300 out of it. Tell him I at least want 300 out of it.
[Linda]: Both of y'all are going to go to court, right?
[Linda]: Well, you need to tell them that it wasn't a lot of filth, that the door was open and they left it all there.
[Appellant]: I know.
[Linda]: That's all that can be done. I don't know. Anyways, I need to know how much filth it is?
[Appellant]: What, mom?
[Linda]: I need to know, so I can know how much of all of that is going to be.
[Appellant]: Where is everybody at? Did you ever move the other stuff?
[Linda]: No. No one knows how to cut it.
[Appellant]: Okay.
[Linda]: Lydia went to see Jesse.
[Linda]: And Pete, right? They said they had pictures of you-all when they took the filth out of the house.
[Linda]: They can't give the pictures they have to Junior.
13 [Appellant]: The what, Mom?
[Linda]: They can't give him the pictures that they took of the house. They can't give them to Junior.
[Appellant]: I don't know.
[Linda]: He just said they have photos from your drawer, right?
[Linda]: There's a lot of . . . knives, rocks, and I don't know how much rock you had, and a pistol, and they all have the—that in photos.
[Linda]: And all of that Junior has.
[Linda]: And Lydia, Jesse showed Lydia all of that.
[Appellant]: Oh?
[Linda]: Marijuana, also. You did marijuana, too?
[Appellant]: No.
[Linda]: Right. You don't have a lot of filth.
[Linda]: She said there was some [filth] on top of the TV and another one on the window, and you had it everywhere.
[Appellant]: Oh, no mom.
[Linda]: They have all the photographs and Junior showed it to Lydia. I know they can give it to anybody, just to them.
14 [Appellant]: No.
III. AFFIRMATIVE LINKS
By his first issue, appellant contends that the evidence is legally insufficient to
establish an affirmative link between him and the cocaine found in the bedroom of the
Peabody residence.17 The State counters that the evidence showed that the drugs were
discovered in appellant's bedroom, there were two official identification cards belonging to
appellant found in close proximity to the drugs, and "both [appellant] and other members
of his family made damaging admissions and hearsay statements, admitted without
objection, linking him to the cocaine in question."
A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
In a legal sufficiency review, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.18 We must consider all of the evidence
that the trier of fact considered even if that evidence was wrongly admitted.19 "It is not
necessary that every fact point directly and independently to the defendant's guilt, but it is
enough if the conclusion is warranted by the combined and cumulative force of all the
incriminating circumstances."20
17 Appellant does not challenge any other elem ents of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. See T EX . H EALTH & S AFETY C OD E A N N . § 481.112(a), (d).
18 Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W .3d 402, 405 (Tex. Crim . App. 2005).
19 Lopez v. State, 267 S.W .3d 85, 95 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2008, no pet.).
20 Id. (citing Hooper v. State, 214 S.W .3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim . App. 2007)).
15 A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally possesses a
controlled substance in Penalty Group 1 with intent to deliver.21 To prove possession of
a controlled substance, the State must show that the accused: (1) intentionally or
knowingly exercised control, management, or care over the substance; and (2) knew that
the substance was contraband.22 However, "[w]hen an accused is not in exclusive
possession and control of the place where contraband is found, it cannot be concluded he
had knowledge or control over the contraband unless there are additional independent
facts and circumstances that affirmatively link him to the contraband."23 A link between the
accused and the contraband may be established by the following nonexclusive list of
factors: (1) the contraband was in plain view; (2) the accused owned the premises or had
the right to possess the place where the contraband was found; (3) the accused had a
large amount of cash when found; (4) the accused's access to the contraband; (5) the
accused's close proximity to the contraband; (6) there was a strong residual odor of the
contraband; (7) the accused possessed other contraband when arrested; (8) paraphernalia
to use the contraband was present on the accused or in plain view; (9) the accused was
under the influence of narcotics when arrested; (10) the accused's conduct indicated a
consciousness of guilt; (11) the accused attempted to escape or flee; (12) the accused
made furtive gestures; (13) the accused had a special connection to the contraband; (14)
conflicting statements about relevant matters were made by the occupants of the place
21 See T EX . H EALTH & S AFETY C OD E A N N . § 481.112(a) (Vernon Supp. 2009).
22 Lopez, 267 S.W .3d at 91.
23 Lassaint v. State, 79 S.W .3d 736, 740 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.).
16 where the contraband was found; (15) the accused made incriminating statements
connecting himself to the contraband; (16) the quantity of the contraband; and (17) the
accused was observed in a suspicious area under suspicious circumstances.24 The
sufficiency of links is not based on the number of factors established, but on the logical
force of all the circumstantial and direct evidence.25
B. Analysis
In this case, it is undisputed that appellant was not present at the Peabody
residence when Officer Murray found the drugs on October 29, 2006, and we acknowledge
that many of the factors usually linking a defendant to the contraband are not present in
this case. However, the list is nonexclusive, and the jury heard evidence of additional
independent facts and circumstances that link appellant to the contraband in this case.26
First, Officer Neal testified that in a previous encounter, he entered the Peabody
residence through a "side door" that led to a bedroom appellant claimed was his room.
Officer Murray testified that he entered the Peabody residence through a door leading to
a bedroom where he discovered the drugs with a Texas driver's license belonging to
appellant.27 The driver's license listed the Peabody residence as appellant's address.
Next, Lydia admitted that she told appellant that Jesse showed her pictures of
24 Lopez, 267 S.W .3d at 92.
25 Evans v. State, 202 S.W .3d 158, 162 (Tex. Crim . App. 2006); Lopez, 267 S.W .3d at 92; Lassaint, 79 S.W .3d at 741.
26 See Lassaint, 79 S.W .3d at 740; see also Lopez, 267 S.W .3d at 92 ("There is no established or set form ula of factors that would dictate a finding of a link to support a reasonable inference of knowing possession of contraband.").
27 Officer Murray testified that the Peabody residence only had two bedroom s.
17 appellant's gun, stereo, and "blunts" on his windowsill. Lydia stated she told appellant that
there was a picture of a plate of drugs and that Jesse told her the drugs belonged to
appellant.28
Finally, appellant's mom, Linda, told appellant that "they" had pictures of "some
[filth] on top of the TV and another one on the window." Officer Murray testified that he
found marihuana on top of a television set and marihuana "blunts" on the windowsill next
to a bed. Linda also stated that the pictures were of appellant's drawer, pistol, and knife.
State's exhibits 19, 20, and 21 show an open drawer with a gun found next to appellant's
identification card. Linda also informed appellant that there was a picture of his "rocks."
Officer Livingston described crack cocaine as "rocks," and Officer Mills stated, "'Rock' is
a—the street term for cocaine base or crack cocaine." In addition, during his conversations
with his mother, appellant discussed cutting and then selling an unspecified item. Officer
Murray testified that "cutting it up" refers to "using a razor blade to cut a smaller piece of
crack cocaine from a larger piece."
Construing the above evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict,29 we
conclude that based on the logical force of all the evidence, the jury could have found an
affirmative link between the cocaine and appellant beyond a reasonable doubt and that
appellant intentionally or knowingly exercised control, management, or care over the
cocaine and knew that the substance was contraband.30 Therefore, the evidence was
28 This testim ony was adm itted without objection.
29 See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319; Poindexter, 153 S.W .3d at 405.
30 See Lopez, 267 S.W .3d at 91.
18 legally sufficient to support appellant's conviction. We overrule appellant's first issue.
IV. EXTRANEOUS OFFENSE EVIDENCE
By his second issue, appellant challenges the trial court's admission of extraneous
offense evidence. Specifically, appellant contends that pursuant to Texas Rules of
Evidence 404(b) and 403, the trial court erred in admitting evidence that appellant "possibly
possessed cocaine in August 2003." The State maintains that the evidence was
admissible to prove appellant's intent to deliver.31 By his third and fourth issues, appellant
contends that evidence that Officer Murray found a handgun and marihuana at the
Peabody residence was inadmissible.
We review a trial court's admission of extraneous offense evidence under an abuse
of discretion standard.32 We must uphold the trial court's decision to admit the extraneous
evidence if it is within the zone of reasonable disagreement.33 "An appellate court would
misapply the appellate abuse of discretion standard of review by reversing a trial court's
admissibility decision solely because the appellate court disagreed with it."34
Pursuant to rule 404(b), evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is inadmissible
"to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith."35
31 The trial court adm itted the extraneous offense evidence for this purpose.
32 Powell v. State, 63 S.W .3d 435, 438 (Tex. Crim . App. 2001).
33 Id.
34 Id.
35 Berry v. State, 233 S.W .3d 847, 858 (Tex. Crim . App. 2007) (quoting T EX . R. E VID . 404(b)).
19 However, such evidence is admissible if offered for another purpose, such as proof of
motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake
or accident.36 To be admissible under rule 404(b), evidence of appellant's alleged
possession of .88 grams of cocaine in 2003 would have to be relevant apart from showing
character.37 The evidence is relevant if it
tends to establish some elemental fact, such as identity or intent; that it tends to establish some evidentiary fact, such as motive, opportunity or preparation, leading inferentially to an elemental fact; or that it rebuts a defensive theory by showing, e.g. absence of mistake or accident . . . [or] that it is relevant upon a logical inference not anticipated by the rulemakers.[38]
"Where the state's direct evidence, however, clearly shows the intent element of the crime
and that evidence is uncontradicted by the defendant or not undermined by
cross-examination of the state's witnesses, the offer of other crimes is unjustified [to prove
intent] due to the lack of relevancy."39
1. Evidence of the 2003 Incident at the Peabody Residence
Evidence of the 2003 incident was not admissible under rule 404(b) because it did
not tend to make appellant's intent to deliver the crack cocaine in 2006 more or less
36 T EX . R. E VID . 404(b); De La Paz v. State, 279 S.W .3d 336, 342-43 (Tex. Crim . App. 2009).
37 Rankin v. State, 974 S.W .2d 707, 718 (Tex. Crim . App. 1998) (op. on reh'g) ("If the trial court determ ines the evidence has no relevance apart from character conform ity, it is inadm issible.").
38 Id.
39 Id. at 719.
20 likely.40 The State presented evidence that during the 2003 incident, appellant admitted
to possession of cocaine, and a surveillance camera was found in his bedroom. Officer
Livingston then testified that "surveillance cameras are commonly used by narcotics
traffickers to protect their investment, their drugs, their money." However, no evidence was
presented that the surveillance camera found in appellant's bedroom in 2003 was used to
protect appellant's "investment, drugs, or money." Furthermore, no evidence was
presented that in 2003, appellant possessed the cocaine with the intent to deliver and
appellant was not charged with an offense for that incident. In fact, Officer Mills stated that
the amount of cocaine found in 2003, .88 grams, would be typical for personal use; and
Officer Livingston testified that, in his experience as a narcotics investigator, he considered
less than one gram of cocaine to be an amount for personal use.
The fact that appellant allegedly possessed a small amount of crack cocaine, the
amount an individual would possess for personal use, in 2003 was not probative as to
appellant's intent to possess the larger amount of crack cocaine on the date of the charged
offense. Therefore, the extraneous offense evidence did not tend to make it more or less
likely that appellant possessed the large amount of crack cocaine in 2006 with the intent
to deliver.
The State alleges that appellant "opened the door" to the extraneous offense
evidence because he claimed in his opening statement that the drugs were not his and
40 See id. at 718 (providing that "if a defendant objects on the grounds that the evidence is not relevant, violates Rule 404(b), or constitutes an extraneous offense, the proponent m ust show that the evidence has relevance apart from showing character") (citing Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W .2d 372, 387 (Tex. Crim . App. 1990) (en banc) (op. on reh'g)).
21 belonged to Jesse.41 Here, we find that appellant did not go "beyond simply pleading not
guilty" during his opening statement by asserting that the cocaine did not belong to him;
therefore, he did not open the door to admission of the extraneous offense evidence.42
Moreover, appellant's intent to deliver may have been inferred from the quantity of
drugs possessed by appellant43 and from the other evidence presented by the State. The
State presented evidence that the amount of crack cocaine found was thirty-four grams.
The State presented Officer Livingston's testimony that large amounts of narcotics indicate
that someone was probably selling the drugs.44 Officer Livingston testified that State's
exhibit 203, a picture of items found by Officer Murray at the Peabody residence in 2006,
showed "a large chunk" or "cookie" of crack cocaine, and several smaller pieces of crack
cocaine called "dimes," "twenties," and "fifties." Officer Livingston also stated that a "Tec
9 pistol"—the type of weapon found with the drugs at the Peabody residence in 2006—is
"liked" by people who deal drugs. Officer Christian testified that thirty-four grams is
considered too much for mere "personal use." Furthermore, appellant asked Linda to sell
41 See Robbins v. State, 88 S.W .3d 256, 261 (Tex. Crim . App. 2002) (concluding that the extraneous evidence of appellant's relationship with the victim was relevant because appellant "went beyond sim ply pleading not guilty through vigorous cross-exam ination of the prosecution witnesses suggesting that the victim 's death was caused by som e m eans other than an intentional act by appellant," and concluding that it was "at least debatable whether this is sufficient to put appellant's intent at issue").
42 See id. ("[I]n Texas a sim ple plea of not guilty usually does not m ake issues such as intent a relevant issue of consequence for purposes of determ ining the adm issibility of relationship evidence under Rule 404(b)."); G arcia v. State, 201 S.W .3d 695, 704 (Tex. Crim . App. 2006) (stating that in Robbins, "we pointed out that a sim ple plea of not guilty does not put intent at issue in each case").
43 Parker v. State, 192 S.W .3d 801, 805 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. ref'd).
44 Hankton v. State, 23 S.W .3d 540, 546 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. ref'd) (explaining that "possession of large quantities of cocaine, corroborated by expert testim ony, is sufficient to prove intent to deliver").
22 an undisclosed item and to find someone to "cut" it up, which Officer Murray described as
"using a razor blade to cut a smaller piece of crack cocaine from a larger piece." From this
evidence, the jury was free to infer that appellant and Linda were arranging the sale of
crack cocaine while he was in jail. Therefore, we conclude that admission of the 2003
incident was unjustified due to the lack of relevancy.45 Because the 2003 incident was not
relevant to a fact of consequence aside from its tendency to show action in conformity with
character,46 we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting it.47
However, our analysis does not end here. Because we have found error in the
admission of the extraneous evidence, we must conduct a harm analysis.48 In our analysis,
we disregard nonconstitutional error that does not affect the substantial rights of the
defendant.49 "A substantial right is violated when the error had a substantial and injurious
effect or influence in determining the jury's verdict."50
Here, the jury properly heard evidence that appellant, while in jail, directed Linda
and others to continue selling crack cocaine. The jury also heard Lydia's testimony that
the drugs found at the Peabody residence belonged to appellant and Linda's testimony that
pictures of appellant's "rocks" existed. That appellant may, in a collateral case, have
45 Rankin, 974 S.W .2d at 719.
46 See id. at 718.
47 See Powell, 63 S.W .3d at 438.
48 See T EX . R. A PP . P. 44.2; Reyes v. State, 69 S.W .3d 725, 742 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2002, pet. ref'd) (providing that the erroneous adm ission of extraneous evidence is subject to a harm analysis).
49 T EX . R. A PP . P. 44.2(b).
50 Reyes, 69 S.W .3d at 742.
23 possessed .88 grams of crack cocaine three years earlier seems almost insignificant in
comparison with his conduct in the primary offense. Therefore, after reviewing the record,
we conclude that the error did not have a substantial and injurious effect or influence in
determining the jury's verdict."51 Accordingly, appellant's second issue is overruled.
2. Evidence of the Gun and Marihuana
Appellant argues that the gun found at the Peabody residence in 2006 "is not
relevant to the charges." However, as the State correctly asserts, the indictment alleged
that appellant "during the commission of the offense, used and exhibited a deadly weapon,
to-wit: a firearm." Therefore, evidence that the gun was found with the drugs was relevant
to the charged offense and was not inadmissible pursuant to rule 404(b).52 We overrule
appellant's third issue regarding the admission of the gun.
Appellant also maintains that the trial court should have excluded evidence of the
marihuana pursuant to rule 403, arguing that evidence of the marihuana was not relevant,
"impressed the jury in some irrational way," and "the State had no need for presenting
[evidence of the marihuana] to prove any fact of consequence." The State counters that
evidence of the marihuana was relevant to prove that the cocaine was linked to appellant.53
At trial, before Officer Murray testified, appellant objected to any testimony that
51 See Reyes, 69 S.W .3d at 742.
52 See Coleman v. State, 145 S.W .3d 649, 654-55 (Tex. Crim . App. 2004) (providing that even if the defendant is not present when a gun is found in close proxim ity to drugs, there is sufficient evidence to show that the weapon was used to protect or facilitate possession of the drugs, and thus to support a finding that the defendant used the deadly weapon during the com m ission of a crim e).
53 See Brown v. State, 911 S.W .2d 744, 748 (Tex. Crim . App. 1995) ("Indeed, we have even recently held that evidence of extraneous transactions m ay be adm itted in drug possession cases whenever they tend "to prove the requisite affirm ative link to the contraband.") (citing Saenz v. State, 843 S.W .2d 24, 27 (Tex. Crim . App. 1992)).
24 marihuana was found at the scene because appellant had not been charged with that
offense and it was an extraneous offense. The trial court overruled appellant's objections
and admitted evidence of the marihuana on the basis that it was "part of the whole scene."
Appellant did not object to evidence of the marihuana on the basis that it was not relevant
or that it was inadmissible pursuant to rule 403, as he now argues on appeal.
Officer Murray then testified, without objection, that when he entered the bedroom,
he noticed "marijuana in plain view on top of a large television that was against the north
wall." Later, when the State offered exhibits 49 and 50 into evidence, pictures of what
Officer Murray identified as "[m]arijuana blunts [he] found in the room," appellant objected
to those exhibits pursuant to rules 404(b) and 403. Although appellant objected to the
exhibits depicting the marihuana found at the Peabody residence pursuant to rule 403, he
did not object on that basis when Officer Murray previously testified that he found
marihuana in plain view. Therefore, appellant did not preserve error.54 We overrule
appellant's third issue regarding admission of evidence that Officer Murray found
marihuana at the Peabody residence.
3. Testimony of Narcotics Officer
By his fourth issue, appellant contends that the "trial court improperly admitted
testimony from [a] specialized narcotics officer portraying appellant's house as a drug
54 See Leday v. State, 983 S.W .2d 713, 718 (Tex. Crim . App. 1998) (en banc) (providing that overruling an objection to evidence will generally not result in reversal when evidence of the sam e fact was received, either before or after the com plained-of ruling); Ethington v. State, 819 S.W .2d 854, 858 (Tex. Crim . App. 1991) (en banc) ("[I]t is well settled that an error in the adm ission of evidence is cured where the sam e evidence com es in elsewhere without objection; defense counsel m ust object every tim e allegedly inadm issible evidence is offered.").
25 house in general without notice to the defense" pursuant to rule 404(b).55 Appellant argues
that Officer Livingston's testimony that the Peabody residence was a "drug house"
constituted extraneous offense evidence requiring notice.
Assuming that the State portrayed the Peabody residence as a "drug house,"
appellant has cited to no authority, and we find none, providing that a description of an
inanimate object, such as a house, is treated as a crime, wrong, or act attributable to the
defendant.56 Therefore, we overrule appellant's fourth issue.
V. MOTION TO SUPPRESS
By his fifth issue, appellant contends that the trial court should have granted his
motion to suppress the evidence found at the Peabody residence. Appellant argues that
the police officer's entry and search of the residence was illegal.
Appellant filed a motion to suppress requesting that the trial court suppress all
evidence found as result of the allegedly illegal search. In his motion, appellant argued
that there was no probable cause or permission to search the Peabody residence. At a
pre-trial hearing, appellant told the trial court that it could hear the motion to suppress
"along with the case" and make a ruling at the time. The trial court agreed to hear the
motion at trial and make a ruling at that time. At the pre-trial hearing, the trial court did not
hear any evidence on appellant's motion to suppress.
At trial, during direct examination by the State, Officer Murray testified, without
55 See T EX . R. E VID . 404(b).
56 See Manning v. State, 114 S.W .3d 922, 926 (Tex. Crim . App. 2003) ("An extraneous offense is any act of m isconduct, whether resulting in prosecution or not, that is not shown in the charging papers. It is an offense that is extra, beyond, or foreign to the offense for which the party is on trial.") (internal quotations om itted).
26 objection, that he entered the Peabody residence through an unlocked door after being
dispatched to the Peabody residence. Officer Murray stated that when he entered, he
noticed in plain view, on the right side of me, which would be on the east side of the room, there was a desk with a stereo on it. On top of the stereo there's a tray with what I was able to identify as crack cocaine. Next to it was an ID. In addition, on that desk, there was a desk drawer that [was] open and in plain view, there was a handgun, as well as an ID next to the handgun. There was paraphernalia. I continued in through the room. I noticed there was marijuana in plain view on top of a large television that was against the north wall. . . .
The State later asked, "Officer, you testified that you saw a weapon there?" and Officer
Murray responded, "Yes sir." Officer Murray then described the weapon as an
"Intertech9mm" and described it as a "handgun that's designed to shoot 9mm rounds" with
a "high-capacity magazine." According to Officer Murray, a "[h]igh-capacity magazine is
one that's designed to hold a large number of rounds." Appellant did not object to this
testimony.
The State then offered into evidence: (1) a picture of the dining room; (2) a picture
that Officer Murray described as an open drawer with a gun inside57; (3) a close-up photo
of the identification card belonging to appellant found in the drawer near the gun; (4)
another picture of the open drawer with the gun and identification card inside; and (5) a
picture of a tray with the crack cocaine. After appellant's trial counsel took Officer Murray
on voir dire, he stated that he had no objection to admission of those exhibits.58 The trial
57 W e note that there are two State's exhibits m arked as 19 in the record. The other State's exhibit 19 appears to be a picture of the surveillance cam era found in the Peabody residence in 2003.
58 During the voir dire exam ination, Officer Murray stated that he did not take the photographs, that the photographs depicted the scene as he found it on that day, that the drawer was open when he arrived, and that he "froze the scene" before the crim e scene investigators arrived.
27 court then admitted the pictures into evidence.
However, when the State offered into evidence the actual gun found at the Peabody
residence, appellant objected "pursuant to the motion to suppress on file, that this was the
result of an illegal search." The trial court asked the jury to leave the courtroom and asked
Officer Murray several questions regarding his entry into the Peabody residence. Officer
Murray told the trial court that after he knocked on the door and there was no response,
he made entry to "determine if there was [sic] any injured parties or if there was a fight in
progress." Officer Murray explained that he had been dispatched because there had been
a 911 call indicating that someone had been in a fight and was injured at the Peabody
residence. Appellant's counsel took Officer Murray on voir dire and Officer Murray stated
that he did not know who made the 911 call because he had been dispatched. After
hearing argument from the State and appellant, the trial court denied appellant's motion
to suppress.
In Flores v. State, this Court concluded "that the rationale for permitting an accused
to stand silent at trial following a pre-trial denial of a suppression motion does not apply
when: (1) the trial court has not yet ruled on the motion; and (2) the State offers evidence
the accused seeks to exclude."59 Here, the trial court had not ruled on appellant's motion
to suppress and instead, carried the motion over to trial. Therefore, the mere filing of his
motion to suppress did not preserve error, and appellant was required to make a timely
59 129 S.W .3d 169, 173 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2004, no pet.).
28 objection at trial to do so.60 Appellant did not object when the trial court admitted evidence
that he sought to suppress, including Officer Murray's testimony that he found in plain view
a tray with crack cocaine, a gun next to appellant's identification card, and marihuana.61
In fact, when the State offered pictures of the crack cocaine and the gun, appellant stated
through his trial counsel that he did not object. Although appellant later urged his motion
to suppress outside the presence of the jury and objected to the admission of the evidence
on the same grounds, we find that he failed to object at the earliest opportunity, and has
therefore not preserved error.62 We overrule appellant's fifth issue.
VI. MODIFICATION OF JUDGMENT
The Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure give this Court authority to modify
judgments sua sponte to correct typographical errors and make the record speak the
truth.63 The trial court's judgment indicates the statute for the offense of which appellant
was convicted was Section 481.115 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, which is entitled
"Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 1."64 Our review of the record shows that the
60 See Thomas v. State, 884 S.W .2d 215, 216 (Tex. App.–El Paso 1994, pet. ref'd) (concluding that because appellant failed to obtain a hearing or ruling on his m otion to suppress before trial, and agreed that the m otion could be carried over to trial and raised by objection at the appropriate tim e, "the m ere filing of the m otion to suppress did not preserve error, and Appellant was required to m ake a tim ely objection at trial in order to do so").
61 See T EX . R. A PP . P. 33.1(a)(1)(A); Flores, 129 S.W .3d at 171; Thomas, 884 S.W .2d at 216 ("To be tim ely, an objection m ust be raised at the earliest opportunity or as soon as the ground of objection becom es apparent.").
62 See Thomas, 884 S.W .2d at 216-17.
63 T EX . R. A PP . P. 43.2; French v. State, 830 S.W .2d 607, 609 (Tex. Crim . App. 1992); Rhoten v. State, 299 S.W .3d 349, 356 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2009, no pet.); Gray v. State, 628 S.W .2d 228, 233 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1982, pet. ref'd).
64 See T EX . H EALTH & S AFETY C OD E A N N . § 481.115 (Vernon Supp. 2009).
29 correct statute for the offense is section 481.112(d) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.65
Therefore, we hereby modify the judgment to indicate that the statute under which
appellant was convicted is section 481.112(d) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
VII. CONCLUSION
We affirm the judgment as modified.
_____________________ LINDA R. YAÑEZ, Justice
Do not publish. SEE TEX . R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Delivered and filed the 1st day of April, 2010.
65 See id. § 481.112(d).
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