Steve E. Gaither v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: January 31, 2012
• Docket: 07-10-00069-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

NO. 07-10-00069-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL A

JANUARY 31, 2012

STEVE E. GAITHER, APPELLANT

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

FROM THE 364TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;

NO. 2007-418,617; HONORABLE BRADLEY S. UNDERWOOD, JUDGE

Before CAMPBELL and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

OPINION

Appellant Steve E. Gaither appeals from his jury conviction of the offense of

possession of cocaine, with intent to deliver, in an amount more than four grams and

less than 200 grams1 and the resulting sentence of twenty-two years of imprisonment

and a $10,000 fine. Through six errors, appellant contends the trial court reversibly

erred. We disagree and affirm.

1 Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.112(d) (West 2011). Background

After appellant’s plea of not guilty, evidence was introduced to show that

Lubbock police responded to a domestic disturbance call from a Lubbock apartment.

An officer saw a man, later identified as appellant, walking out of the apartment.

Appellant ran, disregarding directions to stop, but was caught, subdued and arrested.

In the search of his person that followed his arrest, officers found in appellant’s front

pants pocket two baggies containing a white powdery substance and a baggy of a

green leafy substance. Testimony showed one baggy contained 0.82 grams of cocaine,

the second, 18.33 grams of cocaine. An officer testified the other substance found on

appellant’s person was marijuana but it was not tested. A narcotics investigator testified

the 0.82 grams of cocaine was consistent with a “user amount” while the 18.33 grams

was consistent with a “dealer amount.”

The court’s charge gave the jury the options of finding appellant not guilty, guilty

of possession of the cocaine or guilty of its possession with the intent to deliver. The

jury found him guilty of the greater offense.

Analysis

Sufficiency of the Evidence

In appellant’s first issue, he points out there is no direct evidence he had the

intent to deliver the cocaine in his possession and argues the circumstantial evidence of

that intent is insufficient to sustain his conviction.

We evaluate the sufficiency of evidence supporting criminal convictions under the

standard set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d

2 560 (1979); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 894-95 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010) (plurality

opinion). That standard requires that we view all 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. Salinas v. State, 163

S.W.3d 734, 737 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005). The jury, as the sole judge of the credibility of

the witnesses, is free to believe or disbelieve all or part of a witness's testimony. Jones

v. State, 984 S.W.2d 254, 257 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998).

Intent to deliver can be proven by circumstantial evidence. Rhodes v. State, 913

S.W.2d 242, 251 (Tex.App.--Fort Worth 1995), aff'd, 945 S.W.2d 115 (Tex.Crim.App.

1997). Courts also infer the intent with which a person is acting from his acts, words

and conduct. Patrick v. State, 906 S.W.2d 481, 487 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995). With regard

to the intent to deliver drugs, pertinent factors include (1) the nature of the location

where the defendant was arrested, (2) the quantity of drugs the defendant possessed,

(3) the manner of packaging of the drugs, (4) the presence or absence of drug

paraphernalia, (5) whether the defendant possessed a large amount of cash in addition

to the drugs, and (6) the defendant's status as a drug user. Williams v. State, 902

S.W.2d 505, 507 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, pet. ref'd). Possession of multiple

types of drugs is also a factor to be considered in evaluating intent to deliver. Jordan v.

State, 139 S.W.3d 723, 726 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2004, no pet.). These are evaluative

factors; evidentiary sufficiency does not require the presence of each factor.

No evidence specifically described the apartment complex at which appellant

was arrested as a common location for drug transactions. An officer testified appellant

“was the only one around” the apartment complex he saw when he arrived. When 3 arrested, appellant possessed neither paraphernalia for drug use nor that associated

with drug selling. As noted, the cocaine was in two packages. No evidence showed

appellant had any significant amount of cash but he was carrying both cocaine and

marijuana when he was arrested. Appellant introduced a video from the in-car camera

showing his behavior in the patrol car that transported him to jail, and argued his slurred

speech indicated he was under the influence of an intoxicant. The video was not strong

evidence that appellant was a drug user, and during the guilt-innocence stage of trial

the jury saw no additional evidence bearing on that question other than his possession.

The Lubbock police narcotics investigator who testified was not involved with

appellant’s arrest, but testified to his experience with narcotics cases and expressed

opinions. He testified he had 22 years’ experience as a police officer, the last six as an

investigator of narcotics cases. He told the court that, based on his experience with

cocaine users, a single use of powder cocaine would consume, on average, about half

a gram of the substance. He also said a single use could involve “from .30 to .50

grams.” Asked how often a “typical powder cocaine user” would use the drug during a

day, the investigator mentioned two times a day, and said it “may be four,” but said the

consumption “totally depends upon [the user’s] habit.”

Agreeing with the prosecutor that the roughly 18 grams of powder contained in

the larger baggy represented about 36 “hits,” the investigator expressed the opinion that

amount represented a “dealer amount,” asserting that “typical” cocaine “addicts” do not

carry that amount of cocaine on their person. See, e.g., Fox v. State, No. 08-02-00160-

CR, 2003 Tex.App. LEXIS 8576, at *9 (Tex.App.—El Paso, October 2, 2003, no pet.)

(mem. op., not designated for publication) (officer testimony that 6.49 grams of crack is 4 more than any individual user would have for their personal use, but it would not be an

uncommon amount for a low-level dealer and it was “highly unlikely that a couple would

have that much crack cocaine for their personal use”). He further agreed with the

prosecutor that, at an assumed rate of four uses a day, the amount represented “nine

days worth of hits.” He opined its purchase price “probably” would have been between

$350 and $400. He further testified that if sold by the half-gram, powder cocaine would

bring between $30 and $50 per half-gram.

Cross-examined, the investigator acknowledged that a user of cocaine could

consume more than a half-gram at a time, and that there was no “magic number” of

grams to distinguish a “user amount” from a “dealer amount.” He acknowledged also

that a person’s possession of packaging materials and cash in small denominations

were indicators the person was selling drugs. He maintained, though, that he had never

seen anyone “just carrying around [18 grams] for personal use.”

Other Texas courts have relied on opinion testimony like that given by the

investigator here to support a finding of intent to deliver drugs. See, e.g., Jordan, 139

S.W.3d at 726-27; Taylor v. State, 106 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2003, no

pet.); Mack v. State, 859 S.W.2d 526, 529 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, no writ);

Misner v. State, No. 04-03-00323-CR, 2004 Tex.App. Lexis 3085 (Tex.App.—San

Antonio April 7, 2004, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication). The jury

was free to accept the investigator’s description of the behavior of typical cocaine

possessors and users, and in particular to accept as accurate his testimony of the

amounts of powder cocaine typically consumed by users. More importantly, at the guilt-

innocence stage of the trial, with no evidence of drug-use paraphernalia or convincing 5 evidence of personal drug use,2 the jury well could have regarded appellant as a non-

user of the cocaine he was carrying. If so, a conclusion he intended to transfer the

cocaine to another3 would be virtually self-evident.

Even if the jury regarded appellant as a user, we find the evidence it heard,

viewed in the light most favorable to its verdict, permitted the conclusion appellant

possessed the cocaine with the intent to deliver it to another. We resolve appellant’s

first issue against him.

Jury Argument

Appellant’s second through fifth issues raise complaints concerning the

prosecutor’s jury arguments. Twice during argument in the guilt-innocence stage of trial

and twice during punishment argument, appellant objected to statements of the

prosecutor. The trial court sustained the objections on each occasion, instructed the

jury to disregard the statements, but denied appellant’s requests for a mistrial.

Appellant argues the court erred by not granting a mistrial.

Sustained Objections

We review a trial court's denial of a motion for a mistrial under an abuse-of-

discretion standard. See Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 567 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999). A

2 During the punishment stage of trial, appellant presented testimony showing his use of cocaine and marijuana. 3 See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.002(8) (West 2011) (defining “deliver”).

6 mistrial is an extreme remedy for prejudicial events that occur at trial and should be

exceedingly uncommon. Bauder v. State, 921 S.W.2d 696, 698 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996). A

mistrial is required only when the impropriety is clearly calculated to inflame the minds

of the jury and is of such a character as to suggest the impossibility of withdrawing the

impression produced in the minds of the jury. Hinojosa v. State, 4 S.W.3d 240, 253

(Tex.Crim.App. 1999); Herrero v. State, 124 S.W.3d 827, 836 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th

Dist.] 2003, no pet.). In analyzing whether a prejudicial event is so harmful as to warrant

a mistrial, we consider the prejudicial effect, the curative measures taken, and the

certainty of conviction absent the prejudicial event. See Hawkins v. State, 135 S.W.3d

72, 77 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). In most instances, an instruction to disregard the

objected-to remarks will cure the error. Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 115

(Tex.Crim.App. 2000). Because curative instructions are presumed effective to

withdraw from jury consideration almost any evidence or argument that is objectionable,

trial conditions must be extreme before a mistrial is warranted. Bauder, 921 S.W.2d at

700.

The law provides for, and presumes, a fair trial free from improper argument by

the state. Thompson v. State, 89 S.W.3d 843, 850 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2002,

pet. ref'd). There are four permissible areas of jury argument: (1) summation of the

evidence, (2) reasonable deductions from the evidence, (3) answers to the argument of

opposing counsel, and (4) pleas for law enforcement. Id.

During argument in the guilt-innocence phase of trial, the prosecutor made the

statements, “35 different people can get ahold of this poison. Children in our

community—” Later, the prosecutor argued to the jury, “Drug dealing is a business. It’s 7 just like any other business except it’s illegal, but Steve Gaither is a businessman, and

that’s what he was doing that morning. He was [peddling] his business, and his

business—”. The jury had heard evidence appellant possessed an amount of drugs

under circumstances indicating an intent to deliver them. We find the court’s instruction

that the jury disregard the prosecutor’s argument adequately addressed any prejudice

from either argument. See Weinn v. State, 281 S.W.3d 633, 641 (Tex.App.—Amarillo

2009), aff’d No. PD-0338-09, 2010 Tex.Crim.App. LEXIS 793 (2010) (holding argument

asking the jury to consider who drugs might be delivered to can be a proper plea for law

enforcement).

During punishment summation, the State started its argument by stating “I know

it’s been a long couple of days, but here you are at the end, and you’re now faced with

the task of answering the question of what does it mean –what does it—what is it worth

in Lubbock County when someone sells drugs on our streets.” A bit later, the

prosecutor stated “It is Steve Gaither’s fault. Put the blame where it goes, at his feet.

He made the decisions to bring this poison into our community. He may have used it as

well, but he’s the one that made the decision to bring this kind of poison into our

community and to further put it out on our streets, make it available to other people to--”.

On both occasions, appellant objected that the argument was outside the record. As

noted, the trial court sustained the objections and provided an instruction to disregard.

On appeal, the State contends the first argument was a proper plea for law

enforcement asking the jury to determine the proper punishment for the crime of which

they had just convicted appellant. See Weinn, 281 S.W.3d at 641. It argues the second

argument was a proper summation of the evidence showing appellant’s intent to deliver. 8 See Fant-Caughman v. State, 61 S.W.3d 25, 28 (Tex.App.—Amarillo 2001, pet. ref’d).

In any event, after careful review of the record, after considering the arguments alone

and cumulatively, we find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in denying each of

appellant’s requests for a mistrial. We overrule his second, third, fourth and fifth issues.

Overruled Objection

In appellant’s sixth issue, he argues the trial court erred by overruling his

objection to the State’s argument during the punishment stage in which a plea for the

jury to abide by the expectations of the community through its sentence was advanced.

The State argued “When somebody does this kind of crime, what is it worth? You’re the

ones that get to make that decision. People always say why don’t they do something

about people who have cocaine on them, who sell it? Why don’t people do something

about it? Appellant objected that the argument was a plea to community expectations.4

The State asserts the argument was a proper plea for law enforcement and

directs us to several cases in which similar arguments were made and upheld. See,

e.g., Haynes v. State, 627 S.W.2d 710, 714 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982) (panel op.); Luna v.

State, No. 07-02-0058-CR, 2003 Tex.App. LEXIS 7344 at *2-4 (Tex.App.—Amarillo

Aug. 27, 2003, no pet.). The State also contrasts this argument with those that ask for a

particular sentence, such as Cortez v. State, 682 S.W.2d 419, 420 (Tex.Crim.App.

1984) (telling the jury only a life sentence would satisfy the people of the community).

4 Additional statements were made that appellant complains about on appeal. However, he did not object to those statements at trial and thus has not preserved his claims about those statements for our review. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1. Even if we were to consider those statements, it would not change the outcome of the appeal.

9 We review a court's overruling of an objection to an improper jury argument

under a reversible-error standard. Wesbrook, 29 S.W.3d at 115. An argument

constitutes reversible error when it violates a statute, injects new and harmful facts into

the case, or is manifestly improper. Id.; Ponce v. State, 299 S.W.3d 167, 174-75

(Tex.App.—Eastland 2009, no pet.). We review the record in its entirety to determine

whether any erroneous statements were made, and if so, we determine whether they

were so prejudicial as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial. Johnson v. State, 233

S.W.3d 109, 114 n.4 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, no pet.); Jones v. State, No.

14-07-00715-CR, 2010 Tex.App. LEXIS 1540, at *7-8 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

March 4, 2010, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication).

Case law examples of improper demands to meet community expectations

include the argument, "Now, the only punishment that you can assess that would be any

satisfaction at all to the people of this county would be life [imprisonment]." Cortez, 683

S.W.2d at 420. In another example, the prosecutor told the jury, "So I ask you, this is a

hard decision that you have to make, but I will tell you on behalf of the State of Texas,

an aggravated sexual assault such as this, probation is not what this community and

what the State would want." Mata v. State, 952 S.W.2d 30, 33 (Tex.App.--San Antonio

1997, no pet.). See also Smith v. State, 966 S.W.2d 111, 112-13 (Tex.App.—Beaumont

1999, pet. ref’d) (collecting cases). We agree with the State that the trial court did not

err by overruling appellant’s objection to this argument.

10 We overrule appellant’s sixth issue, and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

James T. Campbell Justice

Publish.