PD-1419-15
PD-1419-15 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Transmitted 11/4/2015 9:53:23 AM
Accepted 11/5/2015 1:56:48 PM
ABEL ACOSTA
PD No. CLERK
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS
ISRAEL JOE IBARRA, §
Appellant §
§ CAUSE NO. 11-13-00325-CR
V. §
§ TRIAL COURT NO. 6680
THE STATE OF TEXAS, §
Appellee §
PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVEW
FROM THE ELEVENTH COURT OF APPEALS
AT EASTLAND, TEXAS
CHIEF JUSTICE JIM WRIGHT, PRESIDING
PETITION OF PETITIONER (APPELLANT)
COPELAND LAW FIRM
PO Box 399
Cedar Park, Texas 78613
Tel. 512-897-8196
Fax. 512-215-8144
TIM COPELAND
State Bar No. 04801500
Attorney for Appellant
November 5, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Table of Contents
Index of Authorities
I. Identity of Trial Court and Parties 1
II. Statement Regarding Oral Argument 2
III. Statement of the Case 3
IV. Statement of the Procedural History of the Case 4
V. Ground for Review 4
The Court of Appeals erred when, after its review of
the facts concerning Mr. Ibarra’s motion to suppress, it
determined that there was sufficient evidence supporting
the trial court’s decision first, that a confidential informant
was reliable and, second, that under the totality of
circumstances, based upon corroboration of the
informant’s tip, an officer had reasonable suspicion to stop
and detain a vehicle in which Mr. Ibarra was a passenger.
See Smith v. State, 58 S.W.3d 784 (Tex. App. – Houston
[14th Dist.] 2001, pet. ref’d, and Brother v. State, 166
S.W.3d 255, 259, n.5 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); R.R. 2
(transcript of Ibarra’s motion to suppress hearing, pp. 10-
20).
VI. Summary of the Argument 4
VII. Background and Statement of Pertinent Evidence 5
VIII. Court of Appeals’ Decision 8
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS, continued
Page
IX. Argument 9
A. The Court of Appeals deviated from the norm in such
a manner that a review of its opinion is required.
(1) The information from an informant on
which Sheriff Stephens partially based his reasonable
suspicion to stop a vehicle in which Ibarra was a
passenger was, contrary to the Court of Appeals’
holding, unreliable.
(a) There was no evidence that the
informant’s prior collaboration with the Sheriff
involved criminal matters, or whether the information
he had previously provided had resulted in criminal
prosecutions, much less felony convictions.
(b) The informant did not provide any
information concerning specifics of illegal drug
activities or his familiarity with drug usage,
manufacture or sale which would justify reliance on
his information concerning same.
(2) The Sheriff failed to corroborate the
information provided by his informant, in any
meaningful way so the Court of Appeals could hardly
rely on that corroboration to justify “reasonable
suspicion” under a totality of the circumstances test.
(a) The Sheriff’s “surveillance” of
suspected illegal drug activity was woefully
inadequate.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS, continued
Page
(b) The surveillance was did not
corroborate any of the informant’s information
in any meaningful way such that a reviewing
court could find under a totality of the
circumstances test, that the Sheriff had acted
upon reasonable suspicion in stopping the
suspect’s car.
X. Prayer 12
XI. Certificate of Service and Compliance with Rule 9 13
3
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Page
United States Supreme Court cases
Alabama v. White 12
496 U.S. 325 (1990)
Terry v. Ohio 9
392 U.S. 1 (1968)
United States v. Cortez 8
449 U.S. 411 (1981)
Texas Courts of Criminal Appeal cases
Arguellez v. State 8
955 S.W.2d 85 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)
Brother v. State 4, 12
166 S.W.3d 255 n.5 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005)
Texas Courts of Appeal cases
Smith v. State 4,8
58 S.W.3d 784 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. ref’d
Statutes
TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY §481.112(a), (d)(West 2010) 3
United States Constitution
Fourth Amendment 8,12
4
I. IDENTITY OF TRIAL COURT AND PARTIES
TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:
NOW COMES Israel Joe Ibarra, appellant, who would show the Court that
the trial court and interested parties herein are as follows:
HON. SHANE HADAWAY, Judge Presiding, 39th Judicial District Court,
Haskell County, Texas.
ISRAEL JOE IBARRA, appellant, TDCJ No. 01539473, Beto Unit, 1391
FM 3328, Tennessee Colony, Texas 75880.
LYNN INGALSBE, trial attorney for appellant, 11065 S. 3rd St., Abilene,
Texas 79602.
TIM COPELAND, appellate attorney for appellant, P.O. Box 399, Cedar
Park, Texas 78613.
MICHAEL FOUTS, Haskell County District Attorney, trial and appellate
attorney for appellee, the State of Texas, P.O. Box 193, Haskell, Texas 79521.
Petition for Discretionary Review 1
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
II. STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
Appellant believes the clarity of the issue in this case is such that oral
argument would add nothing.
Petition for Discretionary Review 2
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
PD No.
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS
ISRAEL JOE IBARRA, §
Appellant §
§ CAUSE NO. 11-13-00325-CR
V. §
§ TRIAL COURT NO. 6680
THE STATE OF TEXAS, §
Appellee §
PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVEW
FROM THE ELEVENTH COURT OF APPEALS
AT EASTLAND, TEXAS
CHIEF JUSTICE JIM WRIGHT, PRESIDING
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS:
III. STATEMENT OF THE CASE
A jury found Israel Joe Ibarra guilty of possession of more than four grams
but less than 200 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. See TEX.
HEALTH & SAFETY §481.112(a), (d)(West 2010). The trial court assessed his
punishment at confinement for life in the Institutional Division of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice for a term of sixty (60) years.
Petition for Discretionary Review 3
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
IV. STATEMENT OF THE PROCEDURAL HISTORY OF THE CASE
The Eleventh Court of Appeals at Eastland, Texas, by Opinion dated October
29, 2015, affirmed Ibarra’s conviction and sentence. A copy of that opinion is hereto
attached as if fully incorporated herein at length.
V. GROUND FOR REVIEW
The Court of Appeals erred when, after its review of the facts concerning Mr.
Ibarra’s motion to suppress, it determined that there was sufficient evidence
supporting the trial court’s decision first, that a confidential informant was reliable
and, second, that under the totality of circumstances, based upon corroboration of
the informant’s tip, an officer had reasonable suspicion to stop and detain a vehicle
in which Mr. Ibarra was a passenger. See Smith v. State, 58 S.W.3d 784 (Tex. App.
– Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. ref’d, and Brother v. State, 166 S.W.3d 255, 259,
n.5 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); R.R. 2 (transcript of Ibarra’s motion to suppress hearing,
pp. 10-20).
VI. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
When Sheriff Stephens stopped a vehicle in which Ibarra was a passenger, he
did so lacking reasonable suspicion. Stephens testified that his stop was based solely
on information provided by a confidential informant. Stephens did not, for example,
observe any traffic violations; neither did he corroborate the informant’s initial tip
in any meaningful way. Because the informant was not shown to be reliable to any
Petition for Discretionary Review 4
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
degree of reasonable certainty, and because Stephens’ corroboration was inadequate,
under the totality of the circumstances, it follows that the stop was not justified. The
trial court erred in holding otherwise after Ibarra’s hearing on a motion to suppress.
The Court of Appeals then compounded that error when it upheld the trial court’s
decision though there was a dearth of any meaningful testimony cited by the
appellate court in its review.
VII. BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF PERTINENT EVIDENCE
In a suppression hearing held prior to trial, the trial court heard evidence that
about a month prior to Ibarra’s arrest a confidential informant alerted then Sheriff
David Haliburton that Jason Mendez was involved in narcotics trafficking in Haskell
County. Haliburton passed that information to then Deputy Sheriff Winston
Stephens who began sporadic surveillance of a house where Mendez stayed with his
in-laws. (R.R. 2, pp. 11-12). Stephens said that his “surveillance” consisted of
“some drive-ups” to Mendez’s house, and he also testified that he “(sat) off at a
distance somewhere and watch(ed) with binoculars.” (R.R. 2, p. 12). Stephens
testified that he was looking for “activities of what a normal drug house would be.
You know, any vehicles leaving there, try to get a traffic stop in them.” (R.R. 2, p.
12). He said that he “saw activity consistent with what his experience would be of
narcotics” and that there was some “traffic going in and out.” (R.R. 2, p. 13).
Vehicles would “pull up, stay for a little while and leave occasionally,” he said. (The
Petition for Discretionary Review 5
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
activity) wasn’t “24/7.” (R.R. 2, p. 13). Stephens offered that he never got any
concrete information based on his surveillance and, notably, he never mentioned that
Ibarra was ever observed during the surveillance. (R.R. 2, p. 13). Stephens also
testified that during the time that he had Mendez under surveillance he heard from
his own informant that Mendez was dealing drugs. (R.R. 2, p. 13). Stephens testified
that he had known his informant for over ten years and that he had provided reliable
information regarding criminal activity in the past. (R.R. 2, p. 14). Stephens sent
him to make a “buy” from Mendez on December 27, 2012, but the buy fell through
when the informant reported back to Stephens that Mendez was “out of dope.” (R.R.
2, p. 15). The informant told Stephens that Mendez had to go to Abilene to “re-up”
(or get more dope) before he could make a buy. (R.R. 2, p. 15). He also told
Stephens that Mendez was leaving about 8 o’clock that night for Abilene to get more
narcotics to sell but that he would return to Haskell about 9:00 or 9:30. He also told
Stephens that Mendez did not have a driver’s license. From surveillance of his
house, Stephens said that he knew Mendez drove a small, silver Oldsmobile so he
waited in his patrol car south of Haskell on Hwy. 277 that night for Mendez to make
the trip. (R.R. 2, p. 16). Stephens said that he saw Mendez’s pass him heading
toward Stamford and Abilene, but he did not follow. (R.R. 2, p. 16). Instead, he
said, he waited for Mendez to return around 9:00 or 9:30 that night, the time his
informant had told him Mendez would be back. Stephens said that he waited until
Petition for Discretionary Review 6
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
about 9:15, and then he went to grab a sandwich. Ten to fifteen minutes later, when
Stephens drove by Mendez’s house, Mendez’s car was already back at the residence.
(R.R. 2, p. 17). Stephens said that he sent his informant back to Mendez for another
dope buy the following day, December 28, but, again, the informant returned empty–
handed. He told Stephens that Mendez had, again, “run out of dope.” (R.R. 2, p.
18). However, his informant told him, Mendez had just left his home for Abilene
again to get more dope, and, again, according to the informant, he would be back
about 9:00 or 9:30 p. m.. (R.R. 2, p. 18). Stephens again set up station south of
Haskell to intercept Mendez on his return. His informant told him the drugs would
either be on Mendez or in the vehicle, Stephens testified, but he did not know who
was with Mendez when he left for Abilene other than his girlfriend, Santana
Guzman. (R.R. 2, p. 18). Stephens said that around 9:30 he saw the car Mendez
was driving coming north on Hwy. 277 from the direction of Stamford and Abilene,
and he fell in behind the vehicle. He ran the car’s registration which came back to
Adam Mendez, Jason’s brother. (R.R. 2, p. 18). Stephens said that he could not tell
who was driving the car or even who was in it when it passed him, but he engaged
his overhead red and blue lights to pull the vehicle over. After it stopped, Stephens
said that he identified the driver, Jason Mendez, who admitted that he did not have
a license. (R.R. 2, pp. 20-21). Santana Guzman was the vehicle’s front passenger;
Ibarra was in the right back passenger’s seat, and Essie Alvarez was seated behind
Petition for Discretionary Review 7
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
the driver. (R.R. 2, p. 21). After everyone was removed from the car, Stephens
asked Mendez if he had any narcotics which Mendez denied, and then Mendez gave
Stephens permission to search the car. (R.R. 4, p. 43). When the search revealed
illegal narcotics but no one in the car claimed ownership, Stephens said that he
arrested everybody in the vehicle. (R.R. 2, pp. 23-24).
Stephens testified that he stopped Mendez’s vehicle solely on the information
provided by his confidential informant who had told him, “they would be hauling
drugs back into Haskell.” (R.R. 2, p. 32). Stephens said that he had not known who
would be in the vehicle when he stopped it, and he had not seen any traffic violations
to justify a stop. (R.R. 2, p. 33). He testified that the vehicle had been stopped,
purely and simply, on the basis of what his informant had told him. (R.R. 2, p. 35).
VIII. COURT OF APPEALS’ DECISION
The Court of Appeals employed the correct standards for review of the trial
court’s decision denying Ibarra’s motion to suppress evidence obtained in violation
of the Fourth Amendment. See e.g., Slip op. at 9 citing Arguellez v. State, 955
S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). Similarly, in its analysis of the underlying
circumstances of the search, the Court of Appeals correctly stated the basis for
appellate assessment of an informant’s reliability as well as the requisite
corroboration needed in cases such as these. Slip op. at 11, citing Smith v. State, 58
S.W.3d 784, 787 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. ref’d) citing United
Petition for Discretionary Review 8
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
States v. Cortez, 449 U.S. 411, 417 (1981)) and Brother v. State, 166 S.W. 3d
255,259 n. 5 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Finally, the Court of Appeals correctly noted
that under Terry1and its progeny, for such a stop to be justified, the officer must have
reasonable suspicion under the totality of the circumstances to justify the stop. It
correctly noted that reasonable suspicion exists only if the officer has specific,
articulable facts that, when combined with their rational inferences, would lead the
officer to reasonably conclude that a person is, has been, or will soon be engaged in
criminal activity. Slip op. at 10.
IX. ARGUMENT
Here, Ibarra takes issue, not with the jurisprudence underlying the rational for
the Court of Appeals’ decision, but with that court’s application of the established
case law in reaching its decision. It is in the review of the evidence adduced from
Ibarra’s motion to suppress hearing where the Court of Appeals deviated from the
norm in such a manner that a review of its opinion is required.
The Court of Appeals noted, in determining that the trial court correctly ruled
that Sheriff Stephens had a reliable informant, that the Sheriff had known the
informant for twelve years. It also noted that the informant had given the Sheriff
“reliable information related to criminal activity in the past.” (Slip op. at 11).
1
Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 30-31 (1968).
Petition for Discretionary Review 9
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
However, that was the sum total of the evidence adduced as the basis for the Sheriff’s
reliance upon his informant. There was no evidence cited, for example, that the
Sheriff had ever relied on his informant in the past to justify criminal arrest; certainly
no evidence that any information the Sheriff had ever received from the informant
had ever resulted in felony convictions. In fact, Sheriff Stephens did not testify what
kind of “criminal” information the informant had provided in the past, and he did
not testify that any information his informant had provided in the past had anything
to do with illegal narcotics trafficking.
While Stephens said his informant told him Mendez (the driver of the vehicle
in which Ibarra was a passenger when it was stopped) was dealing drugs, the
informant did not provide any details supporting that accusation. Moreover, while
Stephens testified that he had sent his informant into the home to buy narcotics from
Mendez, the informant did not tell Stephens how, when or where he had witnessed
Mendez dealing drugs nor did he offer any other evidence that supported his
accusations that Mendez was a drug dealer. Neither does the record reflect that the
informant had any knowledge about methamphetamine in general or even such
familiarity with the drug that he would recognize it if he saw it. Stephens did not
testify that his informant observed anyone in the home in possession of any illegal
narcotic. Neither did the informant identify any participants of Mendez’s illegal
drug operation, and he certainly did not say that Ibarra was part of any such
Petition for Discretionary Review 10
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
operation. The record is also silent on whether the informant named anyone else in
the home as a customer for the narcotic, and, finally, the informant did not observe
any illegal drug use in the home. In sum, in the Court of Appeals’ review supporting
the trial court’s findings, the Court fails to cite the kind of facts necessary to affirm
that finding because those facts were absent from the record reviewed. (See Slip op.
at 11).
Ignoring the Court of Appeals’ conclusion supporting the trial court’s finding
that the informant’s tip was reliable, the Court’s review of the evidence concerning
the Sheriff’s efforts to corroborate the tip was also inadequate. Evidence relied upon
by the trial court and, in turn, by the appellate court in its review fell woefully short
of that needed for corroboration. By his own testimony, the Sheriff’s efforts to
corroborate the tip consisted of sporadic and cursory “surveillance” of the house
where Mendez lived. (Sheriff Stephens said his surveillance basically consisted of
watching the house from a distance a few times with binoculars). (R.R. 2, p. 12).
Stephens said he observed “traffic going in and out” of the house, whatever that
means. But, Stephens nevertheless concluded from his observations that the traffic
was consistent with “what a normal drug house would be” without providing any
details to support that conclusion. (R.R. 2, pp. 12-13). He admitted, for example,
that he never got any concrete information based on his surveillance except for the
type of car Mendez usually drove (which anyone familiar with Mendez in a small
Petition for Discretionary Review 11
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
town such as Haskell, including an informant, could have known from even casual
observation). (R.R. 2, p.13). The Court of Appeals’ opinion also relates, in
supporting the trial court’s determination, that the informant also provided testimony
on Mendez’s southbound travel routes and times when Mendez left his home to
secure illegal drugs to sell. Again, that testimony, in context, does little to
corroborate the informant’s initial tip. Evidence showed that Mendez’s had family
members who lived south of the home Stephens had surveilled so there was another
reasonable explanation for his southbound travel. Despite such inadequacies in the
record the Court of Appeals determined, in its review, that the tip was nevertheless
corroborated.
As correctly noted by the Court of Appeals at p. 12 of its opinion, “…
corroboration refers to whether the police officer, in light of the circumstances,
confirms enough facts to reasonably conclude that the information given to him is
reliable and temporary detention is thus justified.” Brother v. State, 166 SW.3d 255,
259, n.5 (Tex. Crim. App. – 2005) (citing Alabama v. White, 496 U.S. 325, 330-31
(1990)). Here, the trial court erred in finding that the informant was reliable or that
there were sufficient facts to corroborate the unreliable informant’s tip. The Court
of Appeals in its review of that decision then compounds that error when it finds
support for the trial court despite the dearth of justifiable evidence to do so. In so
doing, the Court of Appeals joins the trial court in its erroneous application of the
Petition for Discretionary Review 12
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
pertinent case law employed to establish reliability of informants and sufficiency of
requisite corroboration of their tips. It is the Court of Appeals deviation from the
norm in its review of the trial court’s decision that justifies this petition as well as
the reversal of the appellate opinion itself.
X. PRAYER
WHEREFORE, Mr. Ibarra prays that this Court reverse the judgment of the
appellate court and render a judgment of acquittal for violation of Ibarra’s Fourth
Amendment guarantees, or, in the alternative, remand for such other and further
relief to which he is entitled.
COPELAND LAW FIRM
P.O. Box 399
Cedar Park, TX 78613
Mobil/Text: 512.897.8196
Fax: 512.215.8114
Email: tcopeland14@yahoo.com
By: /s/ Tim Copeland
Tim Copeland
State Bar No. 04801500
Attorney for Appellant
XI. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE AND OF
COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 9
This is to certify that on November 3, 2015, a true and correct copy of the
above and foregoing document was served on the State Prosecuting Attorney, PO
Box 12405, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711, and on Michael Fouts, Haskell
County District Attorney P.O. Box 193, Haskell, Texas 79521 in accordance with
the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, and that the Petition for Discretionary
Petition for Discretionary Review 13
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
Review is in compliance with Rule 9 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure and
that portion which must be included under Rule 9.4(i)(1) contains 2846 words.
/s/ Tim Copeland
Tim Copeland
Petition for Discretionary Review 14
Israel Joe Ibarra v. The State of Texas
No. 11-13-00325-CR
11TH COURT OF APPEALS
EASTLAND, TEXAS
JUDGMENT
Israel Joe Iba1Ta, * From the 39th District
Court of Haskell County,
Trial Court No. 6680.
Vs. No. 11-13-00325-CR * October 29, 2015
The State of Texas, * Opinion by Bailey, J.
(Panel consists of: Wright, C.J.,
Willson, J., and Bailey, J.)
This court has inspected the record in this cause and concludes that
there is no e1Tor in the judgment below. Therefore, in accordance with this
court's opinion, the judgment of the trial court is in all things affirmed.
Opinion filed October 29, 2015
In The
Eleventh Court of Appeals, .
No. 11-13-00325-CR
ISRAEL JOE IBARRA, Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee .
On Appeal from the 39th District Court
Haskell County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 6680
O P IN I O N
The jury convicted Israel Joe Ibarra of possession of more than four grams but
less than 200 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. See TEX. HEALTH &
SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.112(a), (d) (West 2010). The trial court assessed
Appellant's punishment at confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice for a term of sixty years. Appellant challenges his
conviction in three issues. We affirm.
Background Facts
Haskell County Sheriff Winston Stephens1 testified at both the suppression
hearing and during trial that he received information from his predecessor,
Sheriff David Halliburton, that a confidential informant told Sheriff Halliburton that
Jason Mendez was dealing drugs in Haskell County. In response to Sheriff
Halliburton's repo1i, Sheriff Stephens set up surveillance on Mendez's house for
approximately a month. Sheriff Stephens then received information from his own
confidential informant that Mendez was dealing drugs. Sheriff Stephens testified
that he had known his confidential informant for approximately twelve years. The
confidential informant had given Sheriff Stephens reliable information related to
criminal activity in the past. Sheriff Stephens also testified· that the confidential
info1mant had never given him information that was not reliable.
At Sheriff Stephens's request, the confidential informant attempted to buy
drugs from Mendez on December 27, 2012, but Mendez was out of drugs that day.
The confidential informant told Sheriff Stephens that Mendez would be going to
Abilene that evening to "re-up his dope." The confidential informant said that
Mendez would be traveling northbound in a silver car with a Dallas Cowboys star
on the back windshield.
Sheriff Stephens observed Mendez leaving for Abilene at the time that the
confidential informant told him that Mendez would be leaving Haskell. Sheriff
Stephens attempted to intercept Mendez on his return to Haskell on December 27,
but he missed seeing Mendez's vehicle return that evening. Sheriff Stephens
testified that the confidential informant told him that Mendez would be leaving for
Abilene to purchase more drugs the next evening (December 28) and would return
to Haskell between 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The
1Sheriff Stephens was the chief deputy at the time of the incident.
2
confidential informant also told Sheriff Stephens that Santana Guzman would be in
the vehicle with Mendez.
On the evening of December 28, Sheriff Stephens saw a silver Oldsmobile
with a star on the back driving toward Haskell. Sheriff Stephens started driving
behind the car. A check of the vehicle's registration information indicated that the
car belonged to Mendez's brother. Sheriff Stephens activated his emergency lights
and pulled the car over. Mendez was driving, Guzman was in the front passenger
seat, Essie Alvarez was in the backseat behind the driver, and Appellant was in the
backseat behind Guzman. Sheriff Stephens instructed Mendez to exit the vehicle
and asked for his driver's license. Mendez replied that he did not have his license.
Sheriff Stephens asked for permission to search the vehicle and Mendez
consented. All of the occupants then exited the vehicle.
Sheriff Stephens, along with another officer, searched the vehicle. Sheriff
Stephens testified that the car smelled of burnt marihuana. Inside the vehicle, the
officers found an open box that contained a small amount of marihuana, two
marihuana pipes with marihuana residue, and rolling papers. They also found digital
scales on the front floorboard. The officers found, on the front driver's side above
the door, a small scooper that is used to bag drugs.
Sheriff Stephens spoke with Guzman separately from the group. Guzman
admitted that she had contraband on her person and retrieved a small bag from
inside
.her pants. Inside the bag were several baggies, a small blue flashlight, and a small
container of marihuana. Inside the baggies was an off-white, crystal-type substance.
This substance was later tested and determined to be a total of 1.01 grams of
methamphetamine.
All of the occupants were arrested for drug possession. Appellant did not have
any identification on him, and he gave a false name when he was arrested. The car
was impounded and searched again the next day. In the subsequent search;
. I
Sheriff Stephens found a small, soft-sided bag wedged between the backseat and the
body of the vehicle on the driver's side. Sheriff Stephens also found another portion
of a marihuana clip. Inside the soft-sided bag were Ziploc baggies that contained
more off-white, crystal-type substance. The contents were tested and determined to
be a total of 3.09 grams of methamphetamine.
Analysis
We first address Appellant's sufficiency issues. Appellant challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence in his second and third issues. We review sufficiency of
the evidence issues under the standard of review set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443
U.S. 307 (1979). Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 912 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010);
Polk v. State, 337 S.W.3d 286, 288-89 (Tex. App. Eastland 2010, pet. ref'd).
Under the Jackson standard, we review all of the evidence in the light most favorable
to the verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the
elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319;
Isassi v. State, 330 S.W.3d 633, 638 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). When conducting a
sufficiency review, we consider all the evidence admitted at trial, .including pieces
of evidence that may have been improperly admitted. Winfrey v. State, 393 S.W.3d
763, 767 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2007). We defer to the factfinder's role as the sole judge of the witnesses'
credibility and the weight their testimony is to be afforded. Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at
899. This standard accounts for the factfinder' s duty to resolve conflicts in the
testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts
to ultimate facts. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319; Clayton, 235 S.W.3d. at 778. When the
record supports conflicting inferences, we presume that the factfinder resolved the
conflicts in favor of the prosecution and defer to that determination. Jackson, 443
U.S. at 326; Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778.
In his second issue, Appellant asserts that the evidence was insufficient to
supp01i his conviction for possession with intent to deliver any of the
methamphetamine. He contends that the State only showed that he was in close
proximity to the drugs because they were located in a car in which he was a
passenger. He also asserts that only an accomplice witness testified that he knew
about the methamphetamine and its purpose. In this regard, Appellant contends that
the accomplice's testimony was not corroborated by any independent evidence. In
his third issue, Appellant contends that the evidence was insufficient to prove the
amount of methamphetamine for which he was convicted. Appellant challenges the
amount the State linked him to and argues that the evidence proven by the State
amounts to less than four grams. Specifically, he asserts that there is insufficient
evidence linking him to the methamphetamine recovered from Guzman's pants.
When, as in this case, the jury's verdict could have been based on the
testimony of an accomplice, the sufficiency review must incorporate the accomplice
witness rule stated in Article 38.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. TEX. CODE
CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.14 (West 2005). In order to support a conviction based
upon the testimony of an accomplice, there must be corroborating evidence that
tends to connect the accused with the offense. Id.; Malone v. State, 253 S.W.3d 253,
257 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). In reviewing the sufficiency of the corroborating
evidence, we eliminate the accomplice testimony from consideration and focus on ·
the remaining portions of the record to determine whether there is any evidence that
. - . ) '
tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime. Solomon v. State,
49 S.W.3d 356, 361 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Cathey v. State, 992 S.W.2d 460, 462-
63 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). The corroborating evidence may be direct or
circumstantial and need not be sufficient by itself to establish the defendant's guilt; ·
it is sufficient if the combined weight of the non-accomplice evidence tends to
connect the defendant to the offense. Solomon, 49 S.W.3d at 361; Gosch v. State,
829 S.W.2d 775, 777 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). We review the c01Toborating
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict. Taylor v. State, 328 S.W.3d'574,
578 (Tex. App.-Eastland 2010, pet. ref d). Once corroborated, testimony of an
accomplice may be considered by the jury in the· same manner as any other
competent evidence. See Herron v. State, 86 S.W.3d 621, 632 (Tex. Crim. App.
2002). ·
Non-accomplice testimony was introduced showing that Appellant was in the
back passenger seat near the location of the methamphetamine, that the car smelled
of burnt marihuana, that marihuana was in plain view in the vehicle, that digital
scales and rolling papers were also found in plain view, that the vehicle matched the
description given to Sheriff Stephens by the confidential informant, and that the
confidential informant told Sheriff Stephens that the driver of the vehicle was
bringing chugs back from Abilene. In this case, the jury could have rationally found
that the corroborating evidence tended to connect Appellant to the possession of the
methamphetamine. Malone, 253 S.W.3d at 258-59; Woodruff v. State, No. 11-09-
00171-CR, 2011 WL 2671926, at *2 (Tex. App.-Eastland July 7, 2011, no pet.)
(mem. op., not designated for publication). Therefore, we consider the accomplice
witness testimony in conducting our review of the sufficiency of the evidence.
In cases involving unlawful possession of a controlled substance, the State
must prove that the accused exercised care, custody, control, or management over
the substance and that the accused knew that the matter possessed was contraband.
Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744, 747 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Martin v. State, 753
S.W.2d 384 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). When the accused is not shown to have had
exclusive possession of the place where the contraband· was found, the evidence
must link the accused to the contraband and establish that the accused's connection
with the chug was more than fortuitous. Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 161-62
(Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Pollan v. State, 612 S.W.2d 594 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel
6
Op.] 1981). Alvarez, an accomplice, testified .that Appellant handed her a small bag
that contained a portion of the methamphetamine and told her to "get lid of it."
Alvarez then stuffed the bag behind her in the backseat of the vehicle. From this
evidence, the jury could have determined beyond a reasonable doubt that
Appellant exercised care, custody, control, or management over the
methamphetamine found in the bag that Alvarez stuffed behind her in the backseat
of the vehicle and that he knew the substance was contraband. See Woodruff, 2011
WL 2671926, at *2.
We next address the methamphetamine found on Guzman. We consider
several non-exclusive factors when determining whether there are affirmative links
between the accused and the controlled substance: (1) the accused's presence when
the search was executed; (2) whether the contraband was in plain view; (3) the
accused's proximity to and the accessibility of the contraband; (4) whether the
accused was under the influence of a controlled substance when he was arrested;
(5) whether the accused possessed other contraband when he was arrested;
(6) whether the accused made incriminating statements; (7) whether the accused
attempted to flee; (8) whether he made furtive gestures; (9) whether there was an
odor of contraband; (10) whether other contraband or drug paraphernalia was
present; (11) whether the accused owned or had the right to possess the place where
) .
the drugs were found; (12) whether the place the drugs were found was enclosed;
(13) whether the accused was found with a large amount of cash; and (14) whether
the conduct of the accused indicated a consciousness of guilt. Evans, 202 S.W.3d at
162 n.12.
Guzman admitted that she had contraband on her person and retrieved a small
bag from inside her pants. Inside the bag were several baggies, a small blue
flashlight, and a small container of marijuana. The back to the flashlight was found
in the back floorboard, near where Appellant had been sitting. Furthermore, the
7
baggies retrieved from Guzman's person were similar in make and size to the
baggies recovered from the bag stuffed in the backseat of the vehicle.
Intent to deliver may be proven by circumstantial evidence. Coutts have
considered several factors in determining intent, including the quantity of drugs the
defendant possessed, the manner of packaging of the drugs, and the presence or
absence of drug paraphernalia for use or sale. See Brown v. State, 243 S.W.3d 141,
149-50 (Tex. App.-Eastland 2007, pet. ref d); Jordan v. State, 139 S.W.3d 723,
726 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 2004, no pet.). Here, Appellant was present when the
drugs were found on Guzman, the packaging of the chugs found in the backseat was
similar to the drugs found on Guzman, and there were baggies and scales in the car
(which are indicative of intent to deliver). From this evidence, the jury could have
determined beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant exercised care, custody,
control, or management over the methamphetamine found on Guzman's person and
that he knew the substance was contraband.
In conside1ing the factors listed above, we find that the evidence shows that
Appellant was present when the search was executed, that he was in close proximity
to and had access to the methamphetamine, that the place in which the drugs were
found was enclosed, and that Appellant gave a false name when he was arrested.
See Felder v. State, 848 S.W.2d 85, 98 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (giving false
identification to a police officer indicates a consciousness of guilt). The jury, as the
trier of fact, was the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and of the weight
to be given their testimony. CRIM. PROC. art. 36.13 (West 2007), 38.04 (West 1979).
As such, the jury was entitled to accept or reject any oral) of the testimony of any
witness. Adelman v. State, 828 S.W.2d 418, 421 (Tex. C1inl. App. 1992). In
addition, the jury was entitled to draw reasonable inferences from the evidence.
Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. We have reviewed the evidence in the light most favorable
to the verdict, and we hold that a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a
8
reasonable . doubt that Appellant intentionally or knowingly possessed
methamphetamine in an amount of more than four grams. We ovenrule Appellant's
second and third issues.
In his first issue, Appellant argues that the trial court erred when it denied his
motion to suppress. Specifically, Appellant challenges Sheriff Stephens's basis for
initiating the traffic stop. He contends that the warrantless stop and subsequent ·
search of the vehicle was not based on reasonable suspicion because the
"confidential informant's information which led to the stop and search was not
reliable." Appellant also contends that Sheriff Stephens did not testify as to any
details that support the informant's information that Mendez was "dealing drugs."
A trial court's denial of a motion to suppress is reviewed for an abuse of
discretion. Arguellez v. State, 409 S.W.3d 657, 662 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). We
review a trial court's ruling under a bifurcated standard of review. Amador v. State,
221 S.W.3d 666, 673 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89
(Tex. Crim. App. 1997). Almost complete deference is given to its determination of
historical facts, especially if those facts are based on an assessment of credibility
and demeanor. Crain v. State, 315 S.W.3d 43, 48 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010); Amador,
221 S.W.3d at 673 (citing Guzman, 955 S.W.2d at 89). We review de novo a trial
court's application of the law to the facts. Wade v. State, 422 S.W.3d 661, 667 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2013); Valtierra v. State, 310 S.W.3d 442, 447 (Tex. Crim. App 2010).
Regardless of whether the trial court granted or denied the motion, appellate courts
view the evidence in the light most favorable to the ruling. Wade, 422 S.W.3d at
666; State v. Woodard, 341 S.W.3d 404, 410 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). We will
uphold the trial court's ruling if it is reasonably grounded in the record and correct
on any theory of law applicable to the case. Wade, 422 S.W.3d at 667; Valtierra,
310 S.W.3d at 447-48. When the trial court does not issue findings of fact, we imply
9
findings that support the trial court's ruling if the evidence supports those findings.
State v. Kelly, 204 S.W.3d 808, 818-19 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
There are three distinct types of police-citizen interactions: (I) consensual
encounters that do not implicate the Fourth Amendment; (2) investigative detentions
that are Fourth Amendment seizures of limited duration and scope, which must be.
supp1ied by reasonable suspicion of criminal activity; and (3) arrests that are
reasonable only if supported by probable cause. Wade, 422 S.W.3d at 667;
Woodard, 341 S.W.3d at 410-11 (citing Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 434
(1991); Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 30-31 (1968); Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S. 103,
111-12 (1975)). A detention occurs when a reasonable person, taking into account
all circumstances, feels they are not at liberty to ignore the police and go about their
business. Kaupp v. Texas, 538 U.S. 626, 629 (2003) (quoting Bostick, 501 U.S. at
437). There is no dispute that Sheriff Stephens conducted an investigative detention
for purposes of the Fourth Amendment when he stopped Mendez's car.
A police officer may briefly detain a person to investigate possible criminal
activity, even if there is no probable cause, if the officer has reasonable suspicion to
believe there is possible criminal activity. Terry, 392 U.S. at 22; Ford v. State,
158 S.W.3d 488, 492 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). The stop must be justified, and the
scope
must be reasonably related to the circumstances justifying the stop. Terry, 392 U.S.
•
at 20. A police officer has reasonable suspicion if he has specific, articulable facts
that, when combined with their rational inferences, would ·1ead the officer to
reasonably conclude that a person is, has been, or soon will be engaged in criminal
activity. Ford, 158 S.W.3d at 492. This is an objective standard that ignores the
subjective intent of the officer and looks at whether there is an objective reason for the
detention. Wade, 422 S.W.3d at 668. Courts determine reasonable suspicion under
the totality of the circumstances. Id. Individual circumstances may seem innocent
enough in isolation, but if the circumstances combine to reasonably suggest
IO ,
. .
the imminence of criminal conduct, an investigative detention is justified. Id.; Ford,
158 S.W:3d at 492.
Appellant argues that Sheriff Stephens lacked reasonable suspicion when he
stopped the vehicle. In this regard, Sheriff Stephens testified that he relied solely on
the information provided by his confidential informant in making the decision to
stop the vehicle rather than observing any traffic violations. Appellant contends that
the totality of the circumstances did not rise to a level of reasonable suspicion based
on the confidential informant's report and Sheriff Stephens's independent
observations. We disagree.
Sheriff Stephens testified that he acted in response to his confidential
inf01mant's information about Mendez trafficking drugs. As noted previously, the
identity of the confidential informant was known to Sheriff Stephens.
Sheriff Stephens testified that he had known the inf01mant for approximately twelve
years, that he had given Sheriff Stephens reliable information related to criminal ·
activity in the past, and that he had never given him information that was not reliable.
In situations involving the police's use of an informant, we consider the
informant's reliability in analyzing the totality of the circumstances. Smith v. State,
58 S.W.3d 784, 789 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. ref d) (citing
United States v. Cortez, 449 U.S. 411, 417 (1981)). "A confidential informant can
provide the requisite reasonable suspicion to justify an investigative detention so
long as additional facts are present to demonstrate the informant's reliability." Id .
. at 790. Although an unverified tip might not provide enough support to justify an
arrest or the issuance of a warrant, 1twill be sufficient to justify an investigative stop
if it is made by a known informant who has provided information in the past.
Adams v. Williams, 407 U.S. 143, 146-47 (1972) (explaining that information
obtained from an informant who has been used before is stronger than an anonymous.
tip).
11
The confidential informant contacted Sheriff Stephens and told him that·
Mendez was dealing chugs from his Mendez's mother's residence. Sheriff Stephens
witnessed several vehicles come and go from the residence, and he testified that the
behavior was consistent with "what a normal drug house would be." Additionally,
Sheriff Stephens had worked with the confidential informant in the past several
years, and the confidential informant's information had proven reliable in the past.
This testimony from Sheriff Stephens established the confidential informant's
reliability.
Furthermore, the confidential informant provided Sheriff Stephens with
information about Mendez leaving for Abilene to purchase more drugs the next
evening and returning around 9:30 p.m. The confidential informant told
Sheriff Stephens that Mendez would be traveling n01ihbound in a silver car.
Sheriff Stephens stopped Mendez in a silver car, traveling northbound from Abilene,
around 9:30 p.m. This testimony served to corroborate the veracity of the
informant's information. Mendez arrived in the vehicle described by the informant,
at the time and place provided by the informant. Corroboration does not mean that
Sheriff Stephens must personally observe the conduct that caused him to
reasonably suspect that a crime is being, has been, or is about to be committed.
Brother v. State, 166 S.W.3d 255, 259 n.5 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (citing Adams,
407 U.S. at 147). "Rather, corroboration refers to whether the police officer, in
light of the circumstances, confirms enough facts to reasonably conclude that the
information given to him is reliable and a temporary detention is thus justified." Id.
(citing Alabama v. White, 496 U.S. 325, 330-31 (1990)).
Based on the totality of the circumstances, we find that Sheriff Stephens had
reasonable suspicion to initiate the traffic stop of the vehicle. In light of the .
testimony presented during the suppression hearing, which · indicated that the
confidential informant had a track record of providing reliable information in the
12
past, as well as the details of Mendez's conduct that Sheriff Stephens corroborated,
we cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by denying Appellant's
motion to suppress. See Smith, 58 S.W.3d at 790 (explaining that testimony
regarding confidential informant's "track record" for "providing credible
information in the past" can provide additional facts needed to establish reasonable
suspicion through confidential informant's tip); see also Adams, 407 U.S. at 144-47
(determining that sufficient indicia of reliability were present when officer knew
informant and when informant had previously given officer reliable information).
We overrule Appellant's first issue:
· This Court's Ruling
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
JOHN M. BAILEY
JUSTICE
October 29, 2015
Publish. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Panel consists of: Wright, C.J.,
Wilson, J., and Bailey, J.
13