PD-1596-15 PD-1596-15 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 12/8/2015 1:11:26 PM Accepted 12/10/2015 5:28:59 PM ABEL ACOSTA CAUSE NUMBER __________________ CLERK
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS
WILLIAM DEWAYNE WHITE PETITIONER
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW IN TRIAL COURT CAUSE NUMBER: CR-14-25152 FROM THE 336TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF FANNIN COUNTY, TEXAS AND FROM THE SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS OF TEXAS IN TEXARAKANA, TEXAS CASE NUMBER: No. 06-15-00078-CR
STEVEN R. MIEARS State Bar of Texas No.: 14025600 December 10, 2015 211 North Main Bonham, Texas 75418 Tel: 903-640-4963 Fax: 903-640-4964 Email: SteveMiears@msn.com
ORAL ARGUMENT IS REQUESTED
1|Page Identity of Parties and Counsel
Under Rule 68.4(a), Rules of Appellate Procedure, the following is a
complete list of the names and addresses of all parties to the trial court’s final
judgments and their counsel in the trial court, and appellate counsel, so the
members of the court may at once determine whether they are disqualified to
serve or should recuse themselves from participating in the decision of the cases
and so the Clerk of the Court may properly notify the parties to the trial court’s
final judgments or their counsel of the judgments and all orders of the Court of
Criminal Appeals.
Trial Judge: THE HONORABLE JUDGE LAURINE BLAKE, 336TH JUDICIAL
DISTRICT COURT
Petitioner .................................... WILLIAM DEWAYNE WHITE
TDC No.: 2001012 Gurney Unit 1385 FM 3328 Palestine, Texas 75803-5000
Steven R. Miears (Counsel on Appeal) SBOT# 14025600 211 North Main POB 736 Bonham, Texas 75418 903 640 4963 fax: 903 640 4964 SteveMiears@msn.com
2|Page Mr. John O’Toole (Counsel at Trial) SBOT #24045095 2414 W. University Drive Suite 122 D McKinney, Texas 75071
THE STATE OF TEXAS Richard E. Glaser SBOT# 08000000 Criminal District Attorney 101 East Sam Rayburn Drive Bonham, Texas 75418
3|Page TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL...................................................2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................... 4
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES........................................................................................ 6
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT...................................................8
STATEMENT OF THE CASE .....................................................................................8
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY.............................................................8
GROUNDS FOR REVIEW STATED .........................................................................8
Ground Number One.
Question: Are sections 481.112 and 481.134(d) of the Health and Safety Code separate offenses?
Ground Number Two:
Question: Does Health and Safety Code section 481.134(d) require proof of a culpable mental state to support a jury finding at trial that an offense was committed in a drug-free zone?
Reasons for Granting Review of Grounds One and Two:
A. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. section 66.3 (a) because the decision of the Court of Appeals may conflict with another court of appeals’ decision on the same issue.
B. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. 66.3 (b) because the Court of Appeals has decided an important question of state or federal law that has not been, but should be, settled by this Court.
C. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. 66.3(d) because the Court of Appeals appears to have misconstrued sections 481.112 and 481.134(d) of the Health and Safety Code.
Ground Number Three.
4|Page Question: Should an alternate juror be allowed to leave the courthouse before the regular jury returns a verdict, absent a motion to sequester the alternate made by a party?
Reason for Granting Review
A. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. 66.3 (b) because the Court of Appeals has decided an important question of state or federal law that has not been, but should be, settled by this Court.
B. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. 66.3(d) because the Court of Appeals appears to have misconstrued article 33.011 and article 35.23 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
ARGUMENT: GROUNDS ONE AND TWO…..................................................... 10
ARGUMENT: GROUND THREE............................................................................ 18
PRAYER FOR RELIEF.........................................................................................21 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE.......... ............................................................................... 22 CERTIFICATE OF WORD COUNT............................................................................... 23 APPENDIX (Copy of Opinion from Court of Appeals)
5|Page INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Statutes and Rules
Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 61.11. p.13
Tex. Code of Crim. Proc. Art. 33.011. p.19
Tex. Code of Crim. Proc. Art. 35.23. p.19
Tex. Code of Crim. Proc. Art. 42.12 section 3(g)(a)(1)(G)(ii). p. 10.
Tex. Gov’t Code, Section 508.145 (e). p.10
Tex. Health & Safety Code, section 481.112(b). pp. 10, 11, 13.
Tex. Health & Safety Code, section 481.112(c). pp. 10, 11, 13.
Tex. Health & Safety Code, section 481.134(b), p.16.
Tex. Health & Safety Code, section 481.134(d). pp. 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18.
Tex. Health & Safety Code, section 481.134(h). p.10.
Texas Penal Code section 6.02 pp. 9; pp. 12, 13, 15, 16.
Texas Penal Code, Section 1.07 (22). p. 16.
Texas Penal Code, section 12.42(a). p.8, 17.
Cases
Bridges v. State, 454 S.W.3d 87, 88 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2014, pet. ref’d) p.11
Castillo v. State, 319 S.W.3d 966 (Tex. App. Austin 2010). p.20
6|Page Fluellen v. State, 104 S.W.3d 152, 166 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003 no pet.). p.12
Harris v. State, 125 S.W.3d 45, 50 (Tex. App.—Austin 2003, pet. dism'd). pp. 13, 14, 15, 16.
Hastings v. State, 20 S.W.3d 786, 790 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2000). p.16.
Trinidad v. State, 312 S.W.3d 23 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). pp. 19, 20.
Uribe v. State, 573 S.W.2d 819, 821 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978). p. 12.
White v. State, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 11973 (Tex. App. Texarkana Nov. 23, 2015). pp. 11, 14, 16, 19, 22.
Williams v. State, 127 S.W.3d 442, 445 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, pet. ref’d). p.4.
Journals and Articles:
“Disparity by Design: How Drug Free Zone Laws Impact Racial Disparity – And Fail to Protect Youth,” A Justice Policy Institute Report Commissioned by The Drug Policy Alliance, Judith Greene, Kevin Pranis, Jason Ziedenberg, March, 2006. http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_Drug-Free%20Zone%20Laws.pdf. p.11.
7|Page STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
Oral argument is requested.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE Petitioner was convicted by a jury of the third-degree felony offense of delivery
of less than one gram of methamphetamine in a drug-free zone under Tex. Health &
Safety Code, section 481.134(d). (CR p. 88). The drug-free zone finding was made by
the jury at the guilt / innocence phase. (CR p. 104 ) Sentencing was to the judge. After
the trial court found one of the State’s enhancement allegations “true,” (CR p. 88) his
sentencing range increased under Penal Code section 12.42(a) to that of a second
degree felony. He was sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment by the trial court. (CR
CR p. 88.)
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY The published opinion of the Court of Appeals was handed down on
November 23, 2015. Petitioner filed no motion for rehearing. This Petition is
timely if filed within 30 days of that date.
GROUNDS FOR REVIEW
Ground Number One. 8|Page Question: Are sections 481.112 and 481.134(d) of the Health and Safety Code separate offenses?
Question: Does Health and Safety Code section 481.134(d) require proof of a culpable mental state to support a jury finding at trial that an offense was committed in a drug- free zone?
A. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. section 66.3 (a) because the decision of the Court of Appeals conflicts with another court of appeals’ decision on the same issue.
B. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. 66.3 (b) because the Court of Appeals has decided an important question of state or federal law that has not been, but should be, settled by this Court.
C. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. 66.3(d) because the Court of Appeals appears to have misconstrued sections 481.112 and 481.134(d) of the Health and Safety Code.
Question: Should an alternate juror be allowed to leave the courthouse before the regular jury returns a verdict absent a motion to sequester the alternate made by a party?
A. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. 66.3 (b) because the Court of Appeals has decided an important question of state or federal law that has not been, but should be, settled by this Court.
B. This Court should grant review under T.R.A.P. 66.3(d) because the Court of Appeals appears to have misconstrued article 33.011 and article 35.23 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
9|Page Argument
Grounds One And Two: This Court has never decided the important question
of whether the offense of manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance
found in penalty group one in section 481.112 of the Health and Safety Code is a
separate offense from manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance in
penalty group one which occurs in a drug-free zone set forth in 481.134(d).
Similarly, this Court has never decided the interrelated question of whether at
guilt/innocence the State must prove that the defendant was knowingly in a drug-
free zone to commit an offense under Health and Safety Code Section 481.134(d).
These are important questions because a drug-free zone finding mandates
significant collateral consequences including: enhanced of punishment ranges, (Health
and Safety Code, section 481.134(c)); mandatory parole ineligibility with mandatory
flat time, (Tex. Gov’t Code § 508.145 (e)); and, the mandatory stacking of some
sentences (Health and Safety Code, section 481.134(h)). It is even classified under
Article 42.12 section 3(g)(a)(1)(G)(ii) as one of the offenses for which a trial court
cannot give regular probation. The enhanced sanctions and collateral consequences are
mandatory, and can result even though the offender had no intent to be in a drug-free
zone, or knowledge he was in it.
10 | P a g e Drug-free zone laws were enacted intending to deter those who would sell drugs
from being around children. But for deterrence to work the offender must know he is
likely to be in a drug-free zone. Drug-free zones have become so ubiquitous, especially
in densely populated cities that disparities in their enforcement affecting the poor and
minorities occur. Some law enforcement agencies have exploited the state of affairs by
using confidential informants to cause undercover drug transactions to transpire in
drug-free zones, when they otherwise would not occur there. Finally, some traffic stops
resulting in drug charges then morph into drug-free zone charges merely because of the
location of the stop. 1
The Sixth Court of Appeals decides here that 481.134(d) is not a separate
offense from 481.112. Thus, the drug-free zone is not a separate element of an
offense. Therefore, the Court holds that proof of a culpable mental state associated
with the drug-free zone is not required. White v. State, No. 06-15-00078-CR (Tex.
App. – Texarkana 2015) p. 6. It agreed with the Seventh Court of Appeals as it
held in Bridges v. State, 454 S.W.3d 87, 88 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2014, pet.
1 These assertions are based in part upon the writer’s real-world experience in practicing criminal law for the last thirty- three years. However, a study which confirm these assertions includes, “Disparity by Design: How Drug Free Zone Laws Impact Racial Disparity – And Fail to Protect Youth,” A Justice Policy Institute Report Commissioned by The Drug Policy Alliance, Judith Greene, Kevin Pranis, Jason Ziedenberg, March, 2006. http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_Drug-Free%20Zone%20Laws.pdf. 11 | P a g e ref’d). Also see Fluellen v. State, 104 S.W.3d 152, 166 (Tex. App.—Texarkana
2003 no pet.).
To support their holdings both the Sixth and Seventh Courts of Appeals
relied upon this Court’s opinion in Uribe v. State, 573 S.W.2d 819, 821 (Tex.
Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978). However, an analysis of Uribe shows its
resemblance to be tenuous. Uribe was a 1978 case where the Appellant was
charged with unlawfully carrying a handgun on a premises licensed to sell
alcoholic beverages in violation of Penal Code, Section 46.02(c). Uribe, at 820.
On appeal the appellant challenged whether the indictment was
fundamentally defective “in that it fails to allege that he knew the premises was
licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, and further that the indictment fails to allege
that it was licensed when he committed the offense.” Uribe, at 821. No motion to
quash had been filed. The Court in Uribe decided that Section 46.02(c) which
proscribes carrying the weapon into a licensed bar does not create an offense
separate from otherwise unlawfully carrying a weapon under 46.02(a). The Court
said that, “its only effect is to raise the penalty when the offense is committed in a
designated place. Thus the offense created by Subsections (a) and (c), supra, does
not require a culpable mental state beyond that contained in Subsection (a).” Uribe
12 | P a g e v. State, 573 S.W.2d 819, 821 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978). Uribe is distinguishable for
several reasons.
First, carrying a gun into a bar is different conduct from selling drugs in a
drug-free zone. As a matter of notice it will be readily apparent that one has
entered a bar, whereas being in a drug-free zone is not so easily discernable.
Second, state law requires that licensed bars place conspicuous and even bi-lingual
warnings that entry with a firearm is prohibited and punishable as a higher degree
of offense. See Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 61.11. Third, the collateral consequences
associated with drug-free zones are not applicable to offenses under 46.02(c).
In conflict with the Sixth and Seventh Courts of Appeals are the Third Court
of Appeals and the Fifth Court of Appeals. They have held that 481.112 and
481.134(d) are separate offenses, and that the drug-free zone finding is a distinct
element of the offense set forth in 481.134(d). Harris v. State, 125 S.W.3d 45, 50
(Tex. App.—Austin 2003, pet. dism'd); Johnson v. State, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS
2098, *7, 2007 WL 806317 (Tex. App. Dallas Mar. 19, 2007 non-published).
In Harris v. State, 125 S.W.3d 45, 50 (Tex. App.—Austin 2003, pet. dism'd)
the Third Court of Appeals said, “The third degree felony under article
481.134(d)(1) contains an element that the state jail felony lacks under section
13 | P a g e 481.112(a), (b). These are two separate and distinct offenses. The plain language
of the two statutes, read individually or together, does not lead to absurd
consequences and the language is not ambiguous.” Harris v. State, 125 S.W.3d 45,
50 (Tex. App.—Austin 2003). In Johnson v. State, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 2098,
*7, 2007 WL 806317 (Tex. App. Dallas Mar. 19, 2007 non-published) the Court
construed section 481.134(d), and wrote: “Because the drug-free zone allegation
was part of appellant's forbidden conduct and changes the degree of the offense,
we conclude the trial court did not err in treating it as an element of the offense,
rather than an enhancement, and proceeding accordingly.” Johnson v. State, 2007
Tex. App. LEXIS 2098, *3, 2007 WL 806317 (Tex. App. Dallas Mar. 19, 2007
non-published).
Incidentally, the Sixth Court of Appeals errs here in its reliance upon
Williams v. State, 127 S.W.3d 442, 445 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004) to support its
holding. White id., p. 6. Williams concerned a constitutional challenge to a
different section of the Health and Safety Code than is at issue here. The Court in
Williams held, “Thus, the offense created by sections 481.112(a) and 481.134(c)
does not require a culpable mental state beyond that contained in section
481.112(c).” But the Statute at issue here is 481.134(d). This is important because
14 | P a g e these statutes differ in whether the drug-free zone is determined at guilt/innocence,
or at punishment.
Petitioner readily acknowledges that neither Harris nor Johnson squarely
addressed the requirement of a culpable mental state on the drug-free zone finding.
But, both decided that that the drug-free zone conduct in 481.134(d) creates a
distinct offense, and not just an enhanced penalty range. As a separate element of a
distinct offense the Penal Code mandates that an accompanying mental state
attach.
Under Texas Penal Code section 6.02(a) a person commits no offense unless
he engages in conduct as the definition of the offense requires, with some culpable
mental state. Under Texas Penal Code section 6.02(b) if the definition of an
offense prescribes no culpable mental state, a culpable mental state is nevertheless
required unless the definition "plainly dispenses" with any mental element.
Nothing in either sections 481.112 or 481.134(d) of the Health and Safety Code
dispenses with the requirement of scienter as it relates to the drug-free zone
element.
The Penal Code defines “element of offense” to mean: “(A) the forbidden
conduct; (B) the required culpability; (C) any required result; and (D) the negation
15 | P a g e of any exception to the offense.” Texas Penal Code, Section 1.07 (22). The
commission of the offense in a drug-free zone is the added forbidden conduct
under 481.134(d). A culpable mental state is, therefore, required for that element.
Without so much as a cursory examination of section 6.02 as requested in
Petitioner’s brief on appeal, (Pet. Brief on Appeal p. 19), and as if by ipse dixit, the
Sixth Court says, “Section 481.134 does not set forth a mens rea separate from the
mens rea required to prove delivery of a controlled substance.” White, id., at p. 6.
In this holding the Court errs.
Noteworthy, and odd, is that the Health and Safety Code permits the drug-
free zone issue to be decided either at the guilt/innocence phase under section
481.134(d), or at the punishment phase under section 481.134(b). See Hastings v.
State, 20 S.W.3d 786, 790 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2000) which holds this choice is
made by the State at its unfettered discretion. But, Harris v. State, 125 S.W.3d 45,
52 (Tex. App.—Austin 2003) disagrees with this premise. The statutes give no
direction on which procedure is to be followed, but the consequences from the
choice are significant.
If the drug-free zone fact is determined at the punishment phase under
481.134(b), the offense is “punishable” as a higher degree offense. Whereas, under
16 | P a g e 481.134(d), if the drug-free zone finding is made “at trial” the offense results in an
actual conviction for the higher degree offense. Here the drug-free zone issue was
submitted at the guilt/innocence phase of “trial” under 481.134(d). Appellant’s
conviction was thus for a third degree felony, and not just punishable as a third
degree felony. As a third degree felony conviction it was subject to enhancement
under section Texas Penal Code section 12.42(a), and punished as a second degree
felony. The choice, therefore, by the State to seek the drug-free zone finding from
the jury at guilt/innocence, and then seek the enhancement at punishment, caused
his range of punishment to increase from that of a third degree felony to a second
degree felony. He was harmed because he was sentenced to fifteen years when his
exposure should have been only up to ten.
If the State elects, as it did here, to seek the conviction for the higher offense
under 481.134(d) at guilt/innocence then the State, as a matter of fairness, should
have to prove a culpable mental state regarding that issue. In holding it does not,
the Court of Appeals errs. Having erred in this respect, the Court never addressed
the Petitioner’s claim that no evidence supported the jury’s verdict he delivered the
methamphetamine, knowing he was in a drug-free zone.
17 | P a g e A significant conflict exists between the Courts of Appeals in Texas on
whether under 481.134(d) a drug-free zone finding is an element of a separate
offense, and not just a punishment enhancement statute, requiring proof of a
culpable mental state regarding that element. This Court should grant review to
clarify which Court is correct.
Argument
Grounds Two and Three: In this case the regular jury retired to deliberate
guilt or innocence. The trial court admonished the alternate juror to continue to
follow the rules previously given, and allowed the alternate to leave the court
house. Before the jury reached a verdict it was discovered that one of the regular
jurors was disqualified because she was on felony probation. This juror was
removed and the alternate was summoned to return to the courthouse. The
Petitioner made a timely objection to the seating of the alternate which was
overruled. RR. Vol. 4 pp. 57-62. The Court of Appeals held that the Petitioner
waived his right to appeal this issue by not requesting that the alternate be
sequestered when the regular jury retired to deliberate. White v. State, 2015 Tex.
App. LEXIS 11973 (Tex. App. Texarkana Nov. 23, 2015) p. 3.
18 | P a g e In its published opinion the Court of Appeals holds that is okay for alternate
jurors to leave the courthouse before the regular jury reaches a verdict. The Court of
Appeals reasons that since the Petitioner did not request that the alternate be
sequestered under article 35.23 of the Code of Criminal Procedure he waived his right
to appeal this issue. The Court holds that his objection to seating the alternate juror
could, therefore, not preserve the issue as error under Article 33.011. White v. State,
No. 06-15-00078-CR (Tex. App. – Texarkana 2015), p. 2-3.
The Court of Appeals errs in this holding because article 35.23 is not applicable
to alternate jurors, apart from its application to the regular jury. Article 33.011 is the
statute controlling the trial court’s procedures for alternate jurors prior to the regular
jury’s verdict. None cited by the Court of Appeals support the application of article
35.23 to sequestering alternate jurors.
Under Article 33.011 an alternate juror may replace a regular juror prior to the
jury reaching a verdict. As observed by this Court, the statute does not give the trial
court guidance on whether the alternate juror is to be present and participate in the
jury’s deliberations, or should be sequestered from the regular jury until called upon to
serve. The presence of the alternate going with the regular jurors into the jury room,
but not participating, however, has been disapproved. See Trinidad v. State, 312
19 | P a g e S.W.3d 23 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). Also see Castillo v. State, 319 S.W.3d 966 (Tex.
App. Austin 2010). In Trinidad, this Court suggests that the other option is to
“sequester” the alternate. This Court never suggested that the alternate should be
allowed to leave. Nor has the Court ever suggested that a motion to sequester an
alternate under Article 35.23 is required.
Article 33.011 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure states that, “An
alternate juror who does not replace a regular juror shall be discharged after the jury
has rendered a verdict on the guilt or innocence of the defendant.” This Court has left
the issue open on what a trial court is supposed to do with an alternate juror pending a
verdict. This Court should grant review to clarify whether a trial judge should sua
sponte sequester an alternate juror until a verdict is reached, or the alternate is seated on
the jury. This should not be a decision left to the parties after the regular jury retires, as
the Court of Appeals holds.
Allowing an alternate juror to leave the courthouse while the regular jury
deliberates creates several unnecessary risks that the alternate may become influenced
by an outside source. Keeping the alternate juror under the watchful eye and protection
of the trial court helps insure the integrity of the jury, and the availability of the juror to
serve. Allowing the parties to decide whether an alternate stays or goes is an invitation
20 | P a g e to juror disqualification from a plethora of unpredictable sources. This Court has
never given guidance to trial judges on what to do with alternate jurors until the regular
jury reaches a verdict. Allowing an alternate to leave the courthouse invites potential
juror misconduct. The Court of Appeals errs in holding that to preserve the error in
seating the alternate the Petitioner had to have moved to sequester the alternate prior to
juror leaving the courthouse.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
This Court should grant review. After review, the Court should remand the
case back to the trial court for a new trial.
APPENDIX
A copy of the opinion of the Court of Appeals is attached.
RESPECTFULLY SUMITTED, steve miears ____________________ Steven R. Miears 211 North Main Bonham, Texas 75418 Stevemiears@msn.com Tel. 903-640-4963 Fax: 903-640-4964 State Bar Card No. 14025600 Attorney for Petitioner 21 | P a g e Certificate of Service
This is to certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing
Petition for Discretionary Review was delivered by electronic e-filing to Richard
E. Glaser, Fannin County Criminal District Attorney; 101 East Sam Rayburn Drive;
Bonham, Texas 75418; on December 8, 2015; and to the State Prosecuting Attorney,
LISA C. McMINN, P.O. Box 13046, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711 by
electronic e-filing, and that a copy was mailed to the Petitioner, William White.
steve miears _________________________________ Steven R. Miears
22 | P a g e CERTIFICATE OF WORD COUNT Counsel for the Petitioner certifies that the word count of this brief is less than
4,056 words and within the limitations for length of petitions for discretionary
review.
steve miears _________________________ Steven R. Miears
23 | P a g e In The Court of Appeals Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
No. 06-15-00078-CR
WILLIAM DEWAYNE WHITE, Appellant
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 336th District Court Fannin County, Texas Trial Court No. CR-14-25152
Before Morriss, C.J., Moseley and Burgess, JJ. Opinion by Justice Moseley OPINION The jury found that William Dewayne White knowingly delivered less than one gram of
methamphetamine in a drug-free zone, a third degree felony.1 After the trial court found one of
the State’s enhancement allegations “true,” White was sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment.
On appeal, White argues (1) that the trial court erred in recalling and seating an alternate
juror who was allowed to leave the courtroom after the charge was read to the jury, (2) that the
statute for the offense is unconstitutional because it fails to require a culpable mental state, and
(3) that while the evidence was sufficient to show that he delivered a controlled substance, it was
insufficient to support a finding that he delivered the controlled substance while knowingly being
in a drug-free zone. We find that White failed to preserve his first two issues for appeal and that
the State was not required to prove that White’s knowing delivery of methamphetamine occurred
while he knew he was in a drug-free zone. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
I. Complaint Involving Alternate Juror Is Unpreserved
Following voir dire, which resulted in the seating of an alternate juror, the trial court
provided comprehensive instructions to the jury that, among other things, warned them not to
discuss the case with others or perform any individual investigation. After closing arguments, the
trial court held the alternate juror and retired the remaining jurors to deliberate. The trial court
then allowed the alternate juror to leave the courtroom, but reminded him that he was subject to
1 See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.112(b) (West 2010); Act of May 13, 2011, 82d Leg., R.S., ch. 170, § 6, 2011 Tex. Gen. Laws 707, 712 (amended 2015) (current version at TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.134(d) (West Supp. 2015)).
2 recall and was to “follow all of the rules that [had] been in place.” Neither White nor the State
objected to the trial court’s decision to allow the alternate juror to leave the courtroom.
As the jury was deliberating, the trial court discovered that one of the jurors, Marie Cooper,
was on felony community supervision for a theft offense.2 The trial court decided to release
Cooper and recall the alternate juror. White then made the following objection:
Your Honor, for purposes of the record, we would object. I know [the alternate juror] has been here throughout the whole trial; however, Ms. Cooper has been in and out of the jury room. Who knows what they have already discussed since they have been in deliberations now for a little over 30, 45 minutes. We would object to removal. I think it prejudiced the defendant in this case and we would ask -- first we would object to substituting the jurors, and then we will ask that Ms. Cooper be removed and ask for a mistrial, as well.
On appeal, White argues that the trial court erred in failing to sequester the alternate juror and in
allowing him to leave the courtroom.3 The State argues that White’s point of error is not preserved.
We agree.
A trial court is permitted to allow the jury to separate after the court’s charge is read “unless
the court or a party makes a motion to sequester the jury or a party timely objects to a request to
separate.” Sanchez v. State, 906 S.W.2d 176, 178 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1995, pet. ref’d & pet.
dism’d) (citing Krueger v. State, 843 S.W.2d 726, 728 (Tex. App.—Austin 1992, pet. ref’d)
(per curiam)); see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 35.23 (West 2006). “Therefore, the defendant
2 See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 35.16(a)(3) (West 2006). 3 Article 33.011 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure states, “An alternate juror who does not replace a regular juror shall be discharged after the jury has rendered a verdict on the guilt or innocence of the defendant . . . .” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 33.011 (West Supp. 2014). Citing to this Article, White argues that the alternate juror was discharged and then permitted to return. However, it is clear that the alternate juror was specifically informed that he could be recalled and was, in fact, recalled before the jury rendered its verdict. Thus, the alternate juror was never discharged under Article 33.011. 3 must either timely file a motion to sequester or timely object to a request to separate to preserve
for appeal a complaint that the trial court deprived the defendant of the right to have the jury
sequestered.” Sanchez, 906 S.W.2d at 178; see Polk v. State, 367 S.W.3d 449, 454 (Tex. App.—
Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, pet. ref’d); Callen v. State, 303 S.W.3d 322, 326 (Tex. App.—Eastland
2009, pet. ref’d). A timely objection is one that is made at the earliest possible opportunity or one
“‘that is made before jury deliberations begin or before the jury asks to separate.’” Sanchez, 906
S.W.2d at 178 (quoting Keiser v. State, 880 S.W.2d 222, 223 (Tex. App.—Austin 1994, pet.
ref’d)). Further, Rule 33.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure states,
As a prerequisite to presenting a complaint for appellate review, the record must show that:
(1) the complaint was made to the trial court by a timely request, objection, or motion that:
(A) stated the grounds for the ruling that the complaining party sought from the trial court with sufficient specificity to make the trial court aware of the complaint, unless the specific grounds were apparent from the context; and
....
(2) the trial court:
(A) ruled on the request, objection, or motion, either expressly or implicitly; or
(B) refused to rule on the request, objection, or motion, and the complaining party objected to the refusal.
TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a).
Our review of the record demonstrates that White failed to raise any objection when the
trial court permitted the alternate juror to leave. Even after the alternate juror’s return, White’s 4 objection to the trial court was related to the removal of Cooper, not to the trial court’s failure to
sequester the alternate juror. Thus, we conclude that White raised no timely and specific objection
to the trial court’s failure to seat a non-sequestered alternate juror. Accordingly, we overrule
White’s first point of error.
II. White Failed To Preserve Any Constitutional Challenge to Section 481.134
In his second point of error, White argues that Section 481.134(d) of the Texas Health and
Safety Code is facially unconstitutional because it “fail[s] to provide for a culpable mental state
for the drug free zone finding.” This issue is not preserved.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held “that a defendant may not raise for the first
time on appeal a facial challenge to the constitutionality of a statute.” Karenev v. State, 281 S.W.3d
428, 434 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009).4 In his appellate brief, White admits that he raised no complaint
at trial relating to the constitutionality of Section 481.134(d). Accordingly, White has failed to
preserve his complaint for our review. See id.; Ibenyenwa, 367 S.W.3d at 422; Williams v. State,
305 S.W.3d 886, 893 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2010, no pet.); Sony v. State, 307 S.W.3d 348, 353
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 2009, no pet.); see also Fluellen v. State, 104 S.W.3d 152, 167–68 (Tex.
App.—Texarkana 2003, no pet.). We overrule White’s second point of error.
4 White acknowledges the holding in Karenev, but contends that it “should not be the law. . . [because it] was a plurality opinion.” “Although the four-judge concurrence in Karenev held that the requirement that a facial challenge to a statute be preserved is not absolute, the five-judge majority plainly stated that . . . ‘a defendant may not raise for the first time on appeal a facial challenge to the constitutionality of a statute.’” Ibenyenwa v. State, 367 S.W.3d 420, 422 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2012, pet. ref’d) (quoting Karenev, 281 S.W.3d at 434). “We are bound to follow the majority opinion in the absence of language adopting the concurrence.” Id. 5 III. The State Was Not Required To Prove that White Was Knowingly in a Drug-Free Zone
During trial, the jury heard evidence that White sold 0.24 grams of methamphetamine to a
confidential informant. The drug transaction was captured on an audio/video recording and was
played for the jury. The jury also heard testimony that the transaction took place within 1,000 feet
of the Family Life Center, a drug-free zone. White does not argue that the evidence is insufficient
to establish that he knowingly delivered methamphetamine. Instead, he argues that the State failed
to prove that White was knowingly in a drug-free zone at the time of the transaction.
Section 481.134(d) of the Texas Health and Safety Code raises the level of offense for
delivery of a controlled substance “if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was
committed: (1) . . . within 1,000 feet of any real property that is . . . the premises of a public or
private youth center . . . .” TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.134(d); see Harris v. State,
125 S.W.3d 45, 51 (Tex. App.—Austin 2003, pet. ref’d, untimely filed). Section 481.134 does not
set forth a mens rea separate from the mens rea required to prove delivery of a controlled substance.
Thus, “a good deal of authority holds that . . . the State need not prove a culpable mental state with
respect to the location of the offense.” Bridges v. State, 454 S.W.3d 87, 88 (Tex. App.—Amarillo
2014, pet. ref’d) (citing Uribe v. State, 573 S.W.2d 819, 821 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978));
see Williams v. State, 127 S.W.3d 442, 445 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, pet. ref’d). Because the
State was not required to prove that White’s knowing delivery of a controlled substance occurred
while he was knowingly within a drug-free zone, we overrule White’s final point of error.
6 We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Bailey C. Moseley Justice
Date Submitted: November 20, 2015 Date Decided: November 23, 2015
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