PD-0233-15
PD-0233-15 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Transmitted 2/27/2015 2:05:32 PM
Accepted 3/2/2015 11:21:31 AM
ABEL ACOSTA
No. PD-______-14 CLERK
IN THE
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellant-Petitioner
March 2, 2015 v.
IRMA CLAUDIA GARCIA
Appellee-Respondent
On the State’s petition for discretionary review from
The Fourth Court of Appeals, San Antonio, Texas
Appellate Cause No. 04-14-00101-CR
Tried in the 144th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Cause No. 2012-CR-8677
STATE’S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
NICHOLAS “NICO” LAHOOD
Criminal District Attorney
NATHAN E. MOREY
Assistant Criminal District Attorney
State Bar No. 24074756
CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Bexar County, Texas
101 West Nueva, Suite 370
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Voice: (210) 335-2414
Fax: (210) 335-2436
Email: nathan.morey@bexar.org
Attorneys for the State of Texas
STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
IDENTITY OF THE PARTIES AND COUNSEL
The parties to the suit are as follows:
Defendant/Appellee/Respondent
Irma Claudia Garcia
Counsel for Defendant/Appellee/Respondent
Adam Crawshaw – counsel at trial and appeal
Hallye Casey Braud – counsel on appeal
Attorneys at Law
San Antonio, Texas
State of Texas
Nathan E. Morey – counsel on appeal and discretionary review
Melissa Saenz – counsel at trial
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys
Bexar County, Texas
Trial Judge
Honorable Andrew Carruthers
Criminal Law Magistrate
Bexar County, Texas
Court of Appeals Panel
Honorable Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
Honorable Karen Angelini, Justice
Honorable Marialyn Barnard, Justice (author of the opinion)
Fourth Court of Appeals District of Texas
San Antonio, Texas
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STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF THE PARTIES AND COUNSEL .................................................................. ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ iii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES............................................................................................. iv
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ...........................................................................................v
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY .................................................................... vi
GROUNDS FOR REVIEW ...............................................................................................1
Sole Ground: Is a warrantless, nonconsensual blood draw
administered in compliance with Transportation Code
section 724.012(b)(3)(B) reasonable under the Fourth
Amendment? .........................................................................1
ARGUMENT .................................................................................................................2
PRAYER FOR RELIEF ....................................................................................................3
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ............................................................................................4
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ....................................................................................5
APPENDIX A: Court of Appeals’ Opinion..................................................................A
APPENDIX B: Order Denying Rehearing ................................................................... B
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STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Statutes:
TEX. PENAL CODE § 49.09(b)(2) .......................................................................... vi
TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 724.012(b)(3)(B) ................................................................2
Cases:
Holidy v. State,
No. PD-0622-14 .................................................................................................2
Missouri v. McNeely,
133 S. Ct. 1552 (2013) .......................................................................................2
Reeder v. State,
No. PD-0601-14 .................................................................................................2
Smith v. State,
No. PD-1615-14 .................................................................................................2
State v. Garcia,
No. 04-14-00101-CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 1022
(Tex. App.—San Antonio Feb. 4, 2015, pet. filed) ................................. vi, 2, 3
State v. Villarreal,
No. PD-0306-14 .................................................................................................2
Rules:
TEX. R. APP. P. 6.3(a) ............................................................................................4
TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(3) ........................................................................................5
TEX. R. APP. P. 9.5(b)............................................................................................4
TEX. R. APP. P. 68.1 ............................................................................................. vi
TEX. R. APP. P. 68.11 .............................................................................................4
iv
STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:
Now comes the State of Texas, by and through Nicholas “Nico” LaHood,
Criminal District Attorney of Bexar County, Texas, and the undersigned assistant
criminal district attorney, with the filing of the following petition for discretionary
review:
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Irma Claudia Garcia, hereinafter referred to as Appellee, was arrested for the
offense of driving while intoxicated. The arresting officer ordered her to submit to
a warrantless blood draw pursuant to Texas Transportation Code section
724.012(b) because Appellee refused to provide a specimen of breath and because
the officer discovered that she had two prior convictions for DWI. The trial court
granted Appellee’s motion to suppress the results of the blood draw on the ground
that the warrantless blood draw was not supported by exigent circumstances. The
Fourth Court of Appeals held that section 724.012(b) does not allow for a
warrantless, nonconsensual blood draw absent exigent circumstances.
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STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A grand jury indicted Appellant for the felony offense of driving while
intoxicated (C.R. at 19). See TEX. PENAL CODE § 49.09(b)(2). The State appealed
the trial court’s order suppressing the results of a blood draw (C.R. at 37, 42-44).
See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 44.01(a)(5). The Fourth Court of Appeals issued a
published opinion affirming the trial court’s order. State v. Garcia, No. 04-14-
00101-CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 1022 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Feb. 4, 2015,
pet. filed). The court of appeals denied the State’s motion for rehearing on
February 23, 2015 (Appendix B). The State now petitions this Court to review the
opinion and judgment of the court of appeals. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.1.
vi
STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
GROUNDS FOR REVIEW
Sole Ground: Is a warrantless, nonconsensual blood draw administered in
compliance with Transportation Code section 724.012(b)(3)(B)
reasonable under the Fourth Amendment?
1
STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
ARGUMENT
The court of appeals concluded that a blood draw administered pursuant to
the Transportation Code was not a reasonable search under the Fourth Amendment
because it did not qualify under any previously recognized exception. Garcia, at
*3–4. The State continues to insist that the holding in Missouri v. McNeely, 133 S.
Ct. 1552 (2013), does not affect the reasonableness of a search administered on a
person with prior convictions for DWI—regardless of a warrant or consent. See
TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 724.012(b)(3)(B).
This petition raises the same ground for review that has previously been
raised by petitions in State v. Villarreal, No. PD-0306-14; Reeder v. State, No. PD-
0601-14; Holidy v. State, No. PD-0622-14; and Smith v. State, No. PD-1615-14—
all of which have been granted by this Court. Each of these cases concern the
impact of the Supreme Court’s holding in McNeely on those drunk-driving
investigation with suspects who have prior convictions for DWI. This Court
recently granted rehearing in Villarreal on February 25, 2015—only a few days
after the court of appeals denied the State’s motion for rehearing in the present
case.
This case does not contain any material factual disputes; the issue at every
stage has been whether the statute permits reasonable searches under the Fourth
Amendment (Jan. 16, 2014 R.R. at 4–22). The court of appeals, in a published
2
STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
opinion, decided that it did not. Garcia, at *3–4. The State has nothing to say that
has not already been said in previous briefs and petitions. There being no material
distinction between these cases, the State respectfully asks this Court to dispose of
this petition in a manner consistent with the petitions in Villarreal, Reeder, Holidy,
and Smith once those cases have been finally decided and a mandate issued.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant-Petitioner State
prays the Court grant the State’s petition for discretionary review and dispose of
this case in a manner consistent with its dispositions in Villarreal, No. PD-0306-
14; Reeder, No. PD-0601-14; Holidy, No. PD-0622-14; and Smith, No. PD-1615-
14.
Respectfully submitted,
NICHOLAS “NICO” LAHOOD
Criminal District Attorney
Bexar County, Texas
/s/ Nathan E. Morey
NATHAN E. MOREY
Assistant Criminal District Attorney
State Bar No. 24074756
101 West Nueva, Suite 720
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Voice: (210) 335-2414
Fax: (210) 335-2436
Email: nathan.morey@bexar.org
Attorneys for the State of Texas
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STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Nathan E. Morey, assistant district attorney for Bexar County, Texas,
certify that a copy of the foregoing petition has been delivered by email to Hallye
Casey Braud and Lisa McMinn on Friday, February 27, 2015 in accordance with
Rules 6.3(a), 9.5(b), and 68.11 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
/s/ Nathan E. Morey
NATHAN E. MOREY
Assistant Criminal District Attorney
State Bar No. 24074756
101 West Nueva, Suite 370
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Voice: (210) 335-2414
Fax: (210) 335-2436
Email: nathan.morey@bexar.org
Attorney for the State of Texas
cc: HALLYE CASEY BRAUD
Attorney at Law
State Bar No. 24081402
LAW OFFICES OF JAMIE BALAGIA, P.C.
313 South Main Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78204
Voice: (210) 394-3833
Fax: (210) 271-3833
Email: hallye@dwidude.com
Attorney for Appellee-Respondent
LISA MCMINN
State Prosecuting Attorney
State Bar No. 13803300
P.O.Box 13046
Austin, Texas 78711
Email: Lisa.McMinn@SPA.texas.gov
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STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I, Nathan E. Morey, certify that, pursuant to Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure 9.4(i)(2)(D) and 9.4(i)(3), the above petition for discretionary review
contains 1,317 words according to the “word count” feature of Microsoft Office.
/s/ Nathan E. Morey
NATHAN E. MOREY
Assistant Criminal District Attorney
State Bar No. 24074756
101 West Nueva, Suite 370
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Voice: (210) 335-2414
Fax: (210) 335-2436
Email: nathan.morey@bexar.org
Attorney for the State of Texas
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STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
APPENDIX A: Court of Appeals’ Opinion
A
Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
OPINION
No. 04-14-00101-CR
The STATE of Texas,
Appellant
v.
Irma Claudio GARCIA,
Appellee
From the 144th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2012CR8677
The Honorable Andrew Wyatt Carruthers, Judge Presiding 1
Opinion by: Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Sitting: Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
Karen Angelini, Justice
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Delivered and Filed: February 4, 2015
AFFIRMED
The State appeals from the trial court’s order granting appellee Irma Claudio Garcia’s
motion to suppress. The State contends the trial court erred in granting the motion to suppress
because the Supreme Court’s decision in Missouri v. McNeely, __ U.S. __, 133 S.Ct. 1552 (2013)
does not require the existence of exigent circumstances before a police office can require a
1
The Honorable Lorina Rummel is the presiding judge of the 144th District Court, Bexar County, Texas. However,
the order granting the motion to suppress which is at issue in this appeal was signed by the Honorable Andrew Wyatt
Carruthers, the judge of the Magistrate Court, Bexar County, Texas.
04-14-00101-CR
warrantless, nonconsensual blood draw pursuant to section 724.012(b) of the Texas Transportation
Code. We affirm the trial court’s order granting the motion to suppress.
BACKGROUND
A detailed rendition of the facts is unnecessary given the issue and our disposition. We
therefore provide only a brief factual and procedural background.
The record from the hearing on Garcia’s motion to suppress establishes that Officer
Christopher Dech of the San Antonio Police Department was dispatched to an automobile
collision. When the officer arrived, two individuals told him that a pickup truck driven by Garcia
crashed into the back of their vehicle as both vehicles were traveling along the roadway. Officer
Dech testified he smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from Garcia, and that she had blood
shot eyes and was unsteady on her feet. Garcia admitted to consuming intoxicants at a party. The
office administered the HGN test and noted signs of intoxication. Thereafter, Officer Dech
arrested Garcia and took her to the magistrate’s office for booking.
Garcia declined to provide a breath or blood specimen, but according to Officer Dech, she
admitted she had two prior DWI convictions from Harris County, Texas. As a result of these
admissions, the officer requested Garcia’s criminal history and verified the prior convictions.
Based on the verified, prior convictions, Officer Dech mandated that Garcia provide a blood
specimen pursuant to section 724.012(b) of the Transportation Code. Officer Dech did not obtain
a warrant nor did Garcia consent to the blood draw. There was no evidence presented at the
suppression hearing regarding any possible exigent circumstances — or other exception to the
warrant requirement — that would have permitted the officer to take the blood draw without first
obtaining a warrant.
Garcia was indicted and prior to trial filed a motion to suppress the results of the blood
draw, arguing that the Supreme Court’s decision in Missouri v. McNeely mandated that in the
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04-14-00101-CR
absence of a warrant, the State demonstrate the existence of exigent circumstances prior to
obtaining a nonconsensual blood draw. After hearing the evidence and considering the arguments
of counsel, the trial court agreed and granted Garcia’s motion to suppress. The State then perfected
this appeal.
ANALYSIS
As noted above, the State contends the Supreme Court’s decision in Missouri v. McNeely
did not require the trial court to grant Garcia’s motion to suppress. More specifically, the State
contends the Supreme Court’s decision does not require the existence of exigent circumstances
before a blood draw may be compelled when law enforcement has failed to obtain a warrant or
consent. Rather, the State contends section 724.012(b), specifically subsection (3)(B) — which
states that an officer shall take a blood draw if a person arrested for DWI has two prior DWI
convictions — permits a warrantless blood draw whether exigent circumstances exist or not. See
TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 724.012(b)(3)(B) (West 2011).
In several cases, this court analyzed McNeely and concluded section 724.012(b) does not
constitute a valid exception to the warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment. See, e.g., Aviles
v. State, 443 S.W.3d 291, 294 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2014, pet. filed); McNeil v. State, 443
S.W.3d 295, 300 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2014, pet. filed); Weems v. State, 434 S.W.3d 655, 665
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 2014, pet. granted). Moreover, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
has now addressed the issue, reaching the same conclusion. See State v. Villarreal, No. PD-0306-
14, 2014 WL 6734178 (Tex. Crim. App. Nov. 26, 2014). 2
2
In Flores v. State, 04-13-00754-CR, 2014 WL 7183481, at *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Dec. 17, 2014, no pet. h.)
(mem. op.) (not designated for publication) (citing Villarreal, 2014 WL 6734178, at *2), this court first recognized
that the court in Villarreal held the provisions in the Texas Transportation Code do not provide a valid exception to
the warrant requirement.
-3-
04-14-00101-CR
In Villarreal, the court held the provisions in the Texas Transportation Code — including
section 724.012(b) — do not provide a constitutionally valid exception to the warrant requirement
of the Fourth Amendment. Id. at *20. The court explained that the McNeely holding made it clear
that drawing an individual’s blood in a DWI case without a warrant “‘is reasonable only if it falls
within a recognized exception’ to the warrant requirement.” Id. (quoting McNeely, 133 S.Ct. at
1558) (emphasis added). Accordingly, based on its interpretation of McNeely, the court rejected
the State’s contention that a warrantless, nonconsensual blood draw conducted pursuant to the
provisions of the Texas Transportation Code falls under a “recognized” exception to the Fourth
Amendment’s warrant requirement. Villarreal, 2014 WL 6734178, at *20. The court likewise
rejected the State’s contention that a search pursuant to the mandates of the Transportation Code
could be upheld under a general Fourth Amendment balancing test. Id.
Accordingly, based on the analysis and holding in Villarreal, as well as the analyses and
holdings in our prior opinions, we hold the trial court did not err in granting Garcia’s motion to
suppress. See Villarreal, 2014 WL 6734178, at *20; Aviles, 443 S.W.3d at 294; McNeil, 443
S.W.3d at 300; Weems, 434 S.W.3d at 665. Contrary to the State’s sole assertion, McNeely
requires the existence of exigent circumstances or some other recognized exception to the warrant
requirement before a police officer can order a warrantless, nonconsensual blood draw pursuant to
the provisions of the Texas Transportation Code, including section 724.012(b). See Villarreal,
2014 WL 6734178, at *20 (quoting McNeely, 133 S.Ct. at 1558) (emphasis added). Here, the State
did not attempt to establish a recognized exception to the warrant requirement of the Fourth
Amendment, relying only on section 724.012(b). We therefore overrule the State’s issue and
affirm the trial court’s order.
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Publish
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STATE v. GARCIA – State’s Petition for Discretionary Review
APPENDIX B: Order Denying Rehearing
B
Irma Claudio GarciaAppellee
Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
Monday, February 23, 2015
No. 04-14-00101-CR
The STATE of Texas,
Appellant
v.
Irma Claudio GARCIA,
Appellee
From the 144th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2012CR8677
The Honorable Andrew Wyatt Carruthers, Judge Presiding
ORDER
Sitting: Sandy Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
Karen Angelini, Justice
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
The panel has considered the Appellant’s Motion for Rehearing and the motion is
DENIED.
_________________________________
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
court on this 23rd day of February, 2015.
___________________________________
Keith E. Hottle
Clerk of Court