Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-12-00438-CR
Roy Edward HODGE, Appellant
v.
The STATE of Texas, Appellee
From the 399th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2011CR5364 Honorable Juanita A. Vasquez-Gardner, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
Sitting: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice Karen Angelini, Justice Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
Delivered and Filed: May 15, 2013
AFFIRMED
Roy Edward Hodge was convicted by a jury of possession of a controlled substance with
intent to deliver. On appeal, Hodge challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the
jury’s findings of possession and intent to deliver. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
TRIAL TESTIMONY
Detective Ethan Humble received information from a confidential informant, who had
provided reliable information on multiple occasions in the past, that a male and female were
dealing crack cocaine from an apartment. The confidential informant provided a description of 04-12-00438-CR
both individuals. Based on this information, Detective Humble set up surveillance of the
apartment. After less than one hour, Detective Humble observed someone park his car, knock on
the door, and enter and exit the apartment in less than one minute before returning to his car and
driving away. Based on his observations and the information he previously was provided by the
confidential informant, Detective Humble concluded that the occupants of the apartment were
engaged in dealing drugs and obtained a warrant to search the apartment.
Based on concerns for officer safety, the possible destruction of evidence, and the
possible presence of weapons, the warrant authorized a forced entry into the apartment. When
the seven officers executing the warrant entered the apartment, Detective Humble observed
Hodge sitting on a sofa in the living room. Detective Humble testified that Hodge was similar in
appearance, race, height, and weight to the description provided by the confidential informant;
however, Detective Humble admitted that Hodge was older than the age provided by the
confidential informant. Although Hodge was not bald at the time of trial, Detective Humble
testified that he was bald or close to bald at the time the warrant was executed, which also
matched the confidential informant’s description. Detective Humble agreed that Hodge appeared
to weigh less than the weight provided in the description; however, Detective Humble noted that
the height and weight were approximations. Detective Humble further noted that Hodge could
have lost weight and grown hair in the year between his arrest and the trial. The officers also
located a female, Danielle Saenz, in the bedroom.
After Hodge and Saenz were handcuffed and seated on the sofa, the officers holstered
their weapons. Detective Humble read Hodge and Saenz their Miranda rights and then read the
search warrant to them. Detective Humble then asked Hodge if he wanted to assist the officers
by revealing the location of the narcotics. Detective Humble testified that he asks for assistance
so he does not have to “tear through the apartment and spend a lot of time searching” and -2- 04-12-00438-CR
“rummaging through [the] apartment.” Hodge told Detective Humble that he had some crack
cocaine in the freezer and that was all the narcotics he had. Hodge pointed directly to the freezer
in the adjacent kitchen. One of the officers opened the freezer and removed eight small
individual baggies. After further searching the apartment, a digital scale and two boxes of plastic
baggies were also located in a small cardboard box on the headboard of the bed in the bedroom.
Based on his training and fifteen years of experience, Detective Humble testified that a scale is
used to weigh narcotics and plastic baggies are then used to package the narcotics for sale.
Based on the scale, the boxes of plastic baggies, and the eight individually packaged baggies of
crack cocaine, Detective Humble testified that the crack cocaine, which he field tested, was not
for personal use but was packaged for sale. A second detective who assisted with the execution
of the search warrant also testified that the manner in which the crack cocaine was packaged, the
scale, and the baggies were an indication that the crack cocaine was packaged for sale. After
completing the search and field testing the crack cocaine, Detective Humble asked Hodge if he
would be willing to sign a voluntary acknowledgment of contraband, which Hodge signed.
Detective Humble testified that Hodge was not threatened or forced to sign the acknowledgment,
and no guns were drawn when Hodge signed the form. In both his statements to Detective
Humble and in signing the acknowledgment, Hodge admitted that the crack cocaine was his.
Detective Humble estimated Hodge signed the acknowledgment within twenty minutes from the
officers’ entry into the apartment. Detective Humble further testified that he did not believe the
search could have been conducted and all of the actions taken within three to five minutes.
Danielle Saenz Enriquez testified that the apartment that was searched belonged to her
and Hodge did not keep any of his belongings at her apartment. She testified that she was
getting dressed in the bedroom when the police arrived. Saenz testified that the scale and the
crack cocaine belonged to her, and the crack cocaine was for her personal use. Saenz testified -3- 04-12-00438-CR
that she allowed another friend, Roe Williams, to deal drugs out of her apartment, and she
purchased drugs from him. Saenz stated that the officers who executed the warrant kept their
guns drawn during the entire time they were present in the apartment. Saenz also stated that she
was surprised when Hodge accepted responsibility for the drugs and that Hodge did not use
drugs because he had high blood pressure. Saenz stated that Hodge appeared to be under stress
when he signed the acknowledgment and that the officers had their guns pointed at Hodge while
he signed the form. Saenz stated that Hodge signed the form within two minutes of the officers
entering the apartment.
Hodge testified that he had not gained or lost any weight in three or four years, and he
never shaved his head. Hodge also testified that he signed the acknowledgment because the
officer had guns drawn on him and he felt coerced. Hodge estimated that he signed the form five
minutes after the officers entered the apartment. Hodge stated that Saenz previously told him she
kept drugs in the freezer. Hodge denied ever seeing the scale or baggies that were recovered
from the bedroom. Hodge testified that he did not use drugs. When cross-examined about his
two prior convictions for possession of crack cocaine, Hodge testified that he was in possession
of the crack cocaine on those occasions to trade the drugs for sex.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction, “we view
all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether any rational
trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Adames v. State, 353 S.W.3d 854, 860 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “This standard recognizes the
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Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-12-00438-CR
Roy Edward HODGE, Appellant
v.
The STATE of Texas, Appellee
From the 399th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2011CR5364 Honorable Juanita A. Vasquez-Gardner, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
Sitting: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice Karen Angelini, Justice Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
Delivered and Filed: May 15, 2013
AFFIRMED
Roy Edward Hodge was convicted by a jury of possession of a controlled substance with
intent to deliver. On appeal, Hodge challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the
jury’s findings of possession and intent to deliver. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
TRIAL TESTIMONY
Detective Ethan Humble received information from a confidential informant, who had
provided reliable information on multiple occasions in the past, that a male and female were
dealing crack cocaine from an apartment. The confidential informant provided a description of 04-12-00438-CR
both individuals. Based on this information, Detective Humble set up surveillance of the
apartment. After less than one hour, Detective Humble observed someone park his car, knock on
the door, and enter and exit the apartment in less than one minute before returning to his car and
driving away. Based on his observations and the information he previously was provided by the
confidential informant, Detective Humble concluded that the occupants of the apartment were
engaged in dealing drugs and obtained a warrant to search the apartment.
Based on concerns for officer safety, the possible destruction of evidence, and the
possible presence of weapons, the warrant authorized a forced entry into the apartment. When
the seven officers executing the warrant entered the apartment, Detective Humble observed
Hodge sitting on a sofa in the living room. Detective Humble testified that Hodge was similar in
appearance, race, height, and weight to the description provided by the confidential informant;
however, Detective Humble admitted that Hodge was older than the age provided by the
confidential informant. Although Hodge was not bald at the time of trial, Detective Humble
testified that he was bald or close to bald at the time the warrant was executed, which also
matched the confidential informant’s description. Detective Humble agreed that Hodge appeared
to weigh less than the weight provided in the description; however, Detective Humble noted that
the height and weight were approximations. Detective Humble further noted that Hodge could
have lost weight and grown hair in the year between his arrest and the trial. The officers also
located a female, Danielle Saenz, in the bedroom.
After Hodge and Saenz were handcuffed and seated on the sofa, the officers holstered
their weapons. Detective Humble read Hodge and Saenz their Miranda rights and then read the
search warrant to them. Detective Humble then asked Hodge if he wanted to assist the officers
by revealing the location of the narcotics. Detective Humble testified that he asks for assistance
so he does not have to “tear through the apartment and spend a lot of time searching” and -2- 04-12-00438-CR
“rummaging through [the] apartment.” Hodge told Detective Humble that he had some crack
cocaine in the freezer and that was all the narcotics he had. Hodge pointed directly to the freezer
in the adjacent kitchen. One of the officers opened the freezer and removed eight small
individual baggies. After further searching the apartment, a digital scale and two boxes of plastic
baggies were also located in a small cardboard box on the headboard of the bed in the bedroom.
Based on his training and fifteen years of experience, Detective Humble testified that a scale is
used to weigh narcotics and plastic baggies are then used to package the narcotics for sale.
Based on the scale, the boxes of plastic baggies, and the eight individually packaged baggies of
crack cocaine, Detective Humble testified that the crack cocaine, which he field tested, was not
for personal use but was packaged for sale. A second detective who assisted with the execution
of the search warrant also testified that the manner in which the crack cocaine was packaged, the
scale, and the baggies were an indication that the crack cocaine was packaged for sale. After
completing the search and field testing the crack cocaine, Detective Humble asked Hodge if he
would be willing to sign a voluntary acknowledgment of contraband, which Hodge signed.
Detective Humble testified that Hodge was not threatened or forced to sign the acknowledgment,
and no guns were drawn when Hodge signed the form. In both his statements to Detective
Humble and in signing the acknowledgment, Hodge admitted that the crack cocaine was his.
Detective Humble estimated Hodge signed the acknowledgment within twenty minutes from the
officers’ entry into the apartment. Detective Humble further testified that he did not believe the
search could have been conducted and all of the actions taken within three to five minutes.
Danielle Saenz Enriquez testified that the apartment that was searched belonged to her
and Hodge did not keep any of his belongings at her apartment. She testified that she was
getting dressed in the bedroom when the police arrived. Saenz testified that the scale and the
crack cocaine belonged to her, and the crack cocaine was for her personal use. Saenz testified -3- 04-12-00438-CR
that she allowed another friend, Roe Williams, to deal drugs out of her apartment, and she
purchased drugs from him. Saenz stated that the officers who executed the warrant kept their
guns drawn during the entire time they were present in the apartment. Saenz also stated that she
was surprised when Hodge accepted responsibility for the drugs and that Hodge did not use
drugs because he had high blood pressure. Saenz stated that Hodge appeared to be under stress
when he signed the acknowledgment and that the officers had their guns pointed at Hodge while
he signed the form. Saenz stated that Hodge signed the form within two minutes of the officers
entering the apartment.
Hodge testified that he had not gained or lost any weight in three or four years, and he
never shaved his head. Hodge also testified that he signed the acknowledgment because the
officer had guns drawn on him and he felt coerced. Hodge estimated that he signed the form five
minutes after the officers entered the apartment. Hodge stated that Saenz previously told him she
kept drugs in the freezer. Hodge denied ever seeing the scale or baggies that were recovered
from the bedroom. Hodge testified that he did not use drugs. When cross-examined about his
two prior convictions for possession of crack cocaine, Hodge testified that he was in possession
of the crack cocaine on those occasions to trade the drugs for sex.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction, “we view
all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether any rational
trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Adames v. State, 353 S.W.3d 854, 860 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “This standard recognizes the
trier of fact’s role as the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence.” Id.
-4- 04-12-00438-CR
POSSESSION
When an accused is not in exclusive possession of the place where a controlled substance
is found, the evidence must show that “the accused’s connection with the drug was more than
just fortuitous.” Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402, 406 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). “Mere
presence at the location where drugs are found is thus insufficient, by itself, to establish actual
care, custody or control of those drugs.” Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 162 (Tex. Crim. App.
2006). “However, presence or proximity, when combined with other evidence, either direct or
circumstantial (e.g., “links”), may well be sufficient to establish that element beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Id. Some of the “links” that Texas courts have considered include: (1) the
defendant’s presence when a search was conducted; (2) whether the contraband was in plain
view; (3) the defendant’s proximity to and the accessibility of the narcotic; (4) whether the
defendant made incriminating statements when arrested; (5) whether other contraband or drug
paraphernalia were present; (6) whether the defendant owned or had the right to possess the
place where the drugs were found; and (7) whether the place where the drugs were found was
enclosed. Id. at 162 n.12. The number of links is not dispositive, “but rather the logical force of
all of the evidence, direct and circumstantial.” Id.
In this case, Hodge told Detective Humble that the crack cocaine was in the freezer.
Moreover, he signed an acknowledgment form stating that the crack cocaine belonged to him.
Although Hodge and Saenz testified that the officers had their weapons drawn and coerced
Hodge into signing the acknowledgment, the jury elected to believe Detective Humble’s
testimony that the officers’ weapons were holstered when Hodge voluntarily signed the
acknowledgment. The logical force of Hodge’s statements to Detective Humble and his
execution of the acknowledgment support the jury’s finding that Hodge was in possession of the
crack cocaine. -5- 04-12-00438-CR
INTENT TO DELIVER
Intent to deliver can be proven by circumstantial evidence. Gaither v. State, 383 S.W.3d
550, 553 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2012, no pet.); Kibble v. State, 340 S.W.3d 14, 18 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, pet. ref’d). Some factors to consider in determining intent include the
manner of packaging of the drugs and the presence or absence of drug paraphernalia. Gaither,
383 S.W.3d at 553; Kibble, 340 S.W.3d at 18-19. “Expert testimony by experienced law
enforcement officers may be used to establish an accused’s intent to deliver.” Moreno v. State,
195 S.W.3d 321, 326 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. ref’d); see also Kibble, 340
S.W.3d at 19.
In this case, the crack cocaine was packaged in eight individual baggies, and a scale and
additional boxes of plastic baggies were also found in the apartment. Moreover, based on his
experience, Detective Humble testified that the crack cocaine was not for personal use but was
packaged for sale. This evidence is legally sufficient to support the jury’s finding of Hodge’s
intent to deliver the crack cocaine.
CONCLUSION
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
DO NOT PUBLISH
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