S eeT EX . R. A PP . P. 47. 4. 1 A l th o u g h th e S ta te s o u g h t fo rfe i tu re o f $ 5 7 4 .3 7 , th e tri a l c o u rt 2 det er m i ned t hat$3 6. 93 oft hatam oun tw as notcont r aband , so t he f or f ei t ed a m o u n t a t i s s u e h e re i s $ 5 3 7 .4 4 .



## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH
NO. 2 - 0 6 - 4 3 4 - CV $ 5 7 4 . 3 7 U . S . C O I N A N D AP P E L L ANT CU R R E NC Y; ONE 1 9 9 8 DOD GE P I C K U P ; A N D A L LI T E MS L I S T E D ON E XHI B I T “ A” V. TH E STA TE O F TEXA S A PPELL EE

----- ----- -- FR O M THE 371S T DI STRI CT CO URT O F TARRA NT CO UN TY

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### M E M ORANDU M OP I NI ON 1

----- ----- -- I. I N T R OD U C T I ON Thi s i s an app ea l f r om t he ci vi l f or f ei t ur e of $53 7. 44 an d a 1998 D odge 2 p i c k u p tr u c ku n d e r ch a p ter 5 9 o f t h e T e x a s C o d e o f C ri m i n a l P roc e d u re. I n tw oB o n e d o e s n o t ch a l l e n g e the v a l i d i ty o f t h i s s e a rch w a rr a n t. 3 2 p o in t s , F r e d d ie B o n e a lle g e s t h a t(1 ) t h e e v id e n c e is l e g a l l y a n d f a c t u a lly i ns uf f i ci entt o s upportt he t r i al co urt ’ s f i ndi ng t hat t he m one y i n t he am ountof $ 5 3 7 .4 4 a n d th e D o d g e tru c k w e re c o n tra b a n d a n d (2 ) th u s th a t b o th w e re i m p ro p e rl yfo rfe i te d to th e S ta te . W e w i l l a ffir m .

II. F ACT UALAND P RO CEDU RA L B ACKGROUND I n J u n e 2 0 0 5 O ffi c e r B u d M u rph yo f t h e La k e side P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t,
ac t i ng on a t i p f r om ano t her l aw enf or ce m entag enc y, be gan i nve st i gat i ng Bone f o rd e a lin g d r u g s . O f f ic e r M u r p h yb e g a n h is in v e s t ig a t io n b yq u e s t io n in g p e o p le
com i ng f r om Bo ne’ s r esi dence an d c o n d uct i ng t r ash sear ches, bot h ofw hi ch
c o n f i r me d Of f i c e r M u r p h y ’ s s u s p i c i o n s t h a t B o n e wa s d e a l i n g d r u g s and t hat d ru g s w e re p re s e n t i n B o n e ’s h o u s e . Bas e d o n t h i s e v i d e n c e , Of f i c e rMu r p h yo b t a i n e d a s e a r c h wa r r a n tf or Bone’ s h o u s e , the Dodge pi ck up t r uckt hatBone dr ove , an d a not herpi ck up t r uckt hati s not r el eva nt t o t hi s app ea l . W hi l e t he pol i ce w er e e xec ut i ng t he 3
s e a r c h w a r r a n t , B o n e d r o v e u p t o t h e h o u s e in t h e D o d g e t r u c kw it h a f e m a le
c o m p a n i o n i n th e p a s s e n g e r s e a t. The s ea r ch oft he h o u s e , a nd s pec i f i ca l l y ofBone’ s r oom , yi el ded a
v a ri e ty o f p ro p e rty th a t O ffice r M u rp h yb e l i e v e d B o n e w a s u s i n g i n th e d e l i v e ry3

and di st r i buti on of nar cot i cs. A m ong t he di scover ed i t em s w er e cash, saf es, pol i ce scanner s, cam er as, and cel l ul ar t el epho nes. The po l i ce al so di scover ed i n B one’ s r oom a l ar ge am oun tofdr ug par apher nal i a, in c l udi ng 5 00 cl ear bagg i es t hatO f f i cerM ur phy tes t i f i ed w er e nor m al l y used f ornar cot i cs di st r i buti on, gl ass pi pes and scal es w i t h w hi t e r esi due t hatt he of f i cerbel i eved to b e m e th a m p h e ta m i n e , p i p e s w i th m a rij u a n a re s i d u e , a n d n e e d l e s . Aft e r s e a r c h i n g B o n e ’ s r o o m, t h e p o l i c e t u r n e d t h e i r a t t e n t i o n t o t he D odget r uck . I n t he f l oor boa r d oft he s i n g l e -ca b t r uck , t he pol i ce not i ce d a speaker b ox w i t h a hol e dr i l l ed i n i t . I nsi de t he speakerbox, t he pol i ce di scover ed a cl earbaggi e cont ai ni ng a w hi t e pow der y subst ance, w hi ch l at er t est ed posi t i ve f orm et ham phetam i ne. O n Bo ne’ s per son, t he pol i ce di scover ed
m o re c a s h a n d th e ti tl e to th e tru c k . The po l i ce al so se ar che d t he w om an w ho a r r i ved w i t h Bone i n t he D odge t r uck . O n he r , pol i ce di sc ove r ed a bag con t ai ni ng se ver alcl ea rba ggi esw i t h a
w hi t e r esi due on t hem , one bag contai ni ng a gr een l eaf y subst ance w hi ch l at er t es t ed pos i t i ve f orm ar ij uan a, a sy r i nge , f i ve bl ue pi l l s, t w o gr ee n pi l l s, an d e i ght
w h i te b ro k e n p i l l s . Th e Stat e sought a r ul i ng f r om t he t r i al courtt hatt he pr opert y di scover ed i n B o n e ’s b e d roo m alon g w i th the D o d g e tr u c kan d the ca sh w e re s u bj e c t t o f or f ei t ur e. The S t at e al l eged t hat al l i t em s ofpr opert y w er e cont r aband under4

chapter59 of t he Tex as C ode of C r i m i nal Pr ocedu r e because t hey w er e used
ori nt end ed t o be us ed i n t he com m i ss i on of a f el ony unde r C hap t er 481 oft he T e x a s H e a l th a n d S a fe tyC o d e (th e T e x a s C o n tro l l e d S u b s ta n c e s A c t). A ta hea r i ng on t he se i z ur e a nd i nt end ed fo rfe i tu r e o ft he pr ope rt y, t he St at e p r es ent e d t he t es t i m ony ofO f f i ce rM ur phy; Bone di d notpr es entan y t est i m ony. A tt he concl usi on of t he hear i ng, t he t r i al courtr ul ed t hatt he cash
o n B o n e ’s p e rso n ( $ 5 3 7 .4 4 ) a n d th e D o d g e tr u c kw e re c o n tr a b a n d su bj e c t t o fo rfe i tu re b u t th a t th e i te m s a n d th e c a s h ($ 3 6 .9 3 ) fo u n d i n th e b e d ro o m w e re not. Th e t r i al court r easoned t hat because t he D odg e t r uck w as t he onl y pl ace
w h e re th e p o l i c e d i s c o v e re d a n i l l e g a l s u b s ta n c e (a n d n o t m e re l yr e s i d u e ), anyt hi ng f r om i nsi de t he vehi cl e, i ncl udi ng i t em s f oun d on B one’ s per son, w as subj ec t to f or f ei t ur e. Bon e now appeal s, chal l engi ng t he l egal and f act ual
su f f i ci enc y oft he evi den ce t o s upportt he t r i al co urt ’ s j udgm e n t ast o t he
m oney found on h i s per son and t he D odg e t r uck. III. S TANDARD OF R EV I EW I n a t r i al t o t he cou rtw her e, asi n t hi s ca s e , n o fi n di ngsoff ac tor concl usi ons ofl aw ar e f i l ed, t he t r i al court ’ s j udg m ent i m pl i es al l f i ndi ngs off act
n e c e s s a ryto s u p p o rt i t. Ph a ro v. Ch a m b ers Co un ty , 922 S.W . 2d 945, 948 ( Tex. 1996 ) . W her e a r epo rt er ’ s r ec or d i s f i l ed, how eve r , t hes e i m pl i ed f i ndi ngs ar e notconcl usi ve, and an app el l ant m ay chal l enge t hem by r ai si ng bo t h l egal5

and f ac t ual su f f i ci enc y of t he evi den ce poi nt s . BM C S oft ware Bel g. , N. V. v. Marchand, 83 S. W . 3d 78 9, 79 5 ( Tex . 20 02 ) . W her e an appel l antr ai ses s uch poi nt s, t he app l i ca bl e s t and ar d ofr evi ew i s t he sa m e a s t hatt o beap pl i ed i n t he
re v i e w o f j u ry fi n d i n g s o r a tri a l c o u rt’s fi n d i n g s o f fa c t. Rober so n v. Robi

ns on , 76 8 S . W . 2d 28 0, 28 1 ( Tex . 19 89 ) . Th e j udg m ent m ust be af f i r m ed i f i tcan b e u p h e l d o n a n yl e g a l th e o ryth a t fi n d s s u p p o rt i n th e e v i d e n c e . Worf ord v. S tamper, 8 0 1 S .W .2 d 1 0 8 , 1 0 9 (T e x . 1 9 9 0 ). A . LegalSu ff i ci ency W e m a ys u s ta i n a l e g a l s u fficie n c yc h a l l e n g e o n l yw h e n (1 ) th e re c o rd d i s c l o s e s a c o m p le t e a b s e n c e o fe v id e n c e o fa v it a l f a c t ; ( 2 ) t h e t r ia l c o u rtis bar r ed by r ul es of l aw or of evi dence f r om gi vi ng w ei ght t o t he onl y evi dence of f er ed t o pr ove a vi t al f ac t ; ( 3) t he evi den ce of f er ed t o pr ove a vi t al f ac ti s no m or e t han a m er e s ci nt i l l a; or( 4) th e e vi den ce es t abl i sh esco ncl us i vel y t he
o p p o s i te o f a v i ta l fa c t. Uni royal G oodr i ch T i re Co. v. Martinez , 977 S. W . 2d 3 2 8 , 3 3 4 (T e x . 1 9 9 8 ), cert. denied, 5 2 6 U .S . 1 0 4 0 ( 1 9 9 9 ); R o b e rtW . C a l v e rt , "No Evidence" and "I ns uf f i ci ent Evi den ce " Poi

nts of Er ror, 38 T EX . L . R EV . 361, 3 6 2

– 6 3 ( 1 9 6 0 ). I n d e term i n i n g w h e th e r t h e re i s l e g a l l ysu ffi c i e n t ev i d e n c e to
su pportt he f i ndi ng unde r r evi ew , w e m us tco ns i derev i den ce f avo r abl e t o t he f i ndi ng i fa r ea so nab l e f ac t - f i nde rco ul d a nd di sr ega r d e vi den ce co nt r ary t o t he6

fi n d i n g u n l e s s a re a s o n a b l e fa c t-fi n d e r c o u l d n o t. Cit y of Kel ler v. W i l so n , 168 S .W .3 d 8 0 2 , 8 0 7 , 8 2 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 5 ). A n y th i n g m o re th a n a s c i n ti l l a o f e v i d e n c e i s l e g a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt th e fi n d i n g . Cont’

l Coff ee Prods. Co. v. Cazarez , 937 S. W . 2d 444, 450 ( Tex. 1 9 9 6 ); Leitch v. Hor nsby , 935 S. W . 2d 114, 118 ( Tex. 1996 ) . W hen t he
e v i d e n c e o ffered to p rov e a v i tal fac t i s s o w e a kas to d o n o m o re th a n cre a te
a m e re su r m i seors us pi ci on ofi t s exi st enc e, t he evi den ce i s no m or e t han a s c i n t i l l a a n d , i n l e g a l e ffe c t, i s n o e v i d e n c e . K i ndred v. Con/Chem , I nc. , 650 S. W . 2d 61, 63 ( Tex. 1983 ) . M or e t han a sc i nt i l l a o fev i den c e e x i s ts i ft he evi den ce f ur ni sh ess om e r ea so nab l e b as i s f ordi ffe ri ng c onc l us i onsby
re a s o n a b l e m i n d s a b o u t th e e x i s te n c e o f a v i ta l fa c t. Ro c o r In t’l , In c . v. Na t’l Uni on F i re I ns . Co. , 7 7 S .W .3 d 2 5 3 , 2 6 2 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). A n yu l ti m a te fa c t m a y b e p ro v e d b yc i rc u m s ta n ti a l e v i d e n c e . Russ el l v. Russ ell, 865 S . W . 2d 929, 9 3 3 ( Tex. 1993 ) . A f ac ti s es t abl i sh ed by ci r cum st ant i al evi dence w he n t he f actm ay be f ai r l y and r easonabl y i nf er r ed fro m o th e r fa c ts p ro v e d i n th e c a s e . Id . H o w e v e r, t o w i t hst and a l egal suf f i ci ency chal l enge, ci r cum st ant i a l e v idence st i l l m ustconsi stofm or e t han
a s c i n ti l l a . Bloun tv. Bo rdens, I nc. , 9 1 0 S .W .2 d 9 3 1 , 9 3 3 (T e x . 1 9 9 5 ).7

B. Fact ualSu ff i ci ency A n assert i on t hatt he evi dence i s f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci ent t o suppo rta f act f i ndi ng m ea ns t hatt he evi den ce s upport i ng t he f i ndi ng i s so w ea k o rt he evi dence t o t he contr ar y i s s o over w hel m i ng t hatt he answ ershoul d be set
a s i d e a n d a n e w tri a l o rd e re d . Gar za v. A lvi

ar, 3 9 5 S . W . 2 d 8 2 1 , 8 2 3 ( T ex. 196 5). W e a r e r equ i r ed t o c ons i deral l oft he evi den ce i n t he ca sei n m ak i ng th i s d e te rm i n a ti o n , n o t j u s t th e e v i d e n c e t h a t s u p p o rts th e fi n d i n g . Ma r. O ver s e a sCo r

p . v. E llis , 9 7 1 S .W .2 d 4 0 2 , 4 0 6 -0 7 (T e x .), cert. denied, 525 U. S. 1 0 1 7 (1 9 9 8 ). I V. C I VIL F ORF EI T UR E L AW C hap t er59 oft he Texa s C o d e o f Cr i m i nal Pr oce dur e p r es cr i best he pr ocedu r es gover ni ng ci vi l f or f ei t ur e, w hi ch i s an i n re m p roceed i ng agai nst
c o n tra b a n d . State v. Si lver Chevrolet

Pi ckup , 140 S . W . 3d 691, 692- 93 ( Tex. 2 0 0 4 ); Ha rdyv. S tate , 10 2 S . W . 3d 12 3, 12 6- 27 ( Tex . 20 03 ) . U nderchapt er 5 9 , p e r s o n a l p r o p e rt y t h a t h a s b e e n u s e d in t h e c o m m is s io n o fa f e lo n yin vi ol at io n ofchapt er48 1 o ft he T exas H eal t h and S af et y C ode ( t he T exas C o n tro l l e d S u b s ta n c e s A c t) i s c o n tra b a n d s u bj e c t to fo rfe i tu re . T EX . C ODE C R IM . P R OC . A NN . a rt. 5 9 .0 1 (2 )(B )(i ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ); Re a l Prop . L oc a te d a t4125 Bl a n to n, W

i ch ita F a l l s v. S tate , 2 3 0 S .W .3 d 4 7 6 , 4 8 1 (T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 200 7, pet . den i ed) . Si m i l ar l y, m one y i s su bj ec t t o f or f ei t ur e i f i ti s der i ved f r om8

m a n u fa c tu ri n g , d e l i v e ri n g , se l l i n g , o r p o s s e s s i n g a c o n tro l l e d s u b s ta n c e . T EX . C ODE C R IM . P R OC . A NN . a rt. 5 9 .0 1 (2 ); A n tr i m v. S tate , 868 S. W . 2d 809, 812 (T e x . A p p .— A u s ti n 1 9 9 3 , n o p e t.). M et ham phetam i ne i s a contr o l l ed
su bs t anc e, an d pos se ss i on ofi ti s a f el ony. T EX . H EALT H & S A FE TY C ODE A NN . § § 4 8 1 .1 0 2 (6 ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ), 4 8 1 .1 1 5 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 3 ). I n a Chapt er59 f o rfe i tu re hea r i ng, t he t r i al co urtm us tf i r stde t er m i ne
w het hert he pr ope rt y i n que st i on i s i nde ed “c ont r aba nd” as d ef i ned by t he
s ta tu te . T EX . C ODE C R IM . P R OC . A NN . a rts . 5 9 . 0 1 ( 2 ) , 5 9 .0 5 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 6 ); 1 9 9 6 Ca d

i l l a can d 2 0 02Linc o l

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les v. S tate , No . 0 2

- 0 7
- 0 0 0 1 7
- CV , 2 0 0 8 W L1 6 3 5 5 2 , a t * 4 ( T e x . A p p . — F o rt W o rth J a n . 1 7 , 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t. h .) (m e m . o p .). T h e S ta te m u s t e s ta b l i s h , b ya p re p o n d e ra n c e o f th e e v i d e n c e , a su bs t ant i al ne xus or con nec t i on bet w ee n t he pr ope rt y t o bef or f ei t ed and t he st at ut or i l y def i ned cr i m i nal ac t i v i ty . S ta tev. $11, 014 . 00 , 820 S. W . 2d 783, 7 8 5 (T e x . 1 9 9 1 ); Fort y- Seven Thousand Two Hundred D ol

l ar s U. S. Cur

renc y, e t al. v. S tate , 8 8 3 S .W .2 d 3 0 2 , 3 0 6 (T e x . A p p .— E l P a s o 1 9 9 4 , w ri t d e n i e d ); 19 91 Cadi

l l ac and 2 00 2 Li

ncol n A utom obi

les , 20 08 W L 16 35 52 , at*4 . Thu s, t h e S t a t e m u s tp r o v e , c o n s id e r in g a ll t h e e v id e n c e , t h a titis m o r e re a s o n a b ly pr oba bl e t han nott hatt he se i z ed pr ope rt y w asei th e r i n te nde d f orus e i n, or der i ved f r om , a vi ol at i on of t he of f enses enum er at ed i n t he f or f ei t ur e st at ut e.9

$9, 050. 00 i

n U. S. Cur

renc y v. Sta te , 874 S. W . 2d 158, 161 ( Tex. A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] 1 9 9 4 , w ri t d e n i e d ). The St at e m ay pr ove t he r equ i r ed su bs t ant i al ne xust hr ough
c i rc u m s ta n ti a l e v i d e n c e . $11, 014. 00 , 820 S. W . 2d at 785 . W hen r el yi ng on ci r cum st ant i al ev i den ce , t he St at e m us t of f er evi den ce t hatr ai se s m or e t han a m e re s u rm i s e o r s u s p i c i o n re g a rd i n g th e s o u rc e o f th e p ro p e rtyo r m o n e y . Id. H ow ever , t he S t at e i s notr equi r ed t o excl ude ever y possi bl e m eans by w hi ch
a p e rs o n m a yh a v e a c q u i re d th e s e i z e d p ro p e rty . $7, 05 8. 84i n U. S . Cur

rency
v. S tate , 3 0 S .W .3 d 5 8 0 , 5 8 6 ( T e x . A p p .— T e x a rk a n a 2 0 0 0 , n o p e t.); Four T h o usa n d

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l a rs i nU.S. Curren c yv. S tate , 944 S. W . 2d 24, 27 ( Tex. A pp. — Texa rk a n a 1 9 9 7 , no w r i t ) . The t r i al co urtm any dr aw an y a nd a l l r ea so nab l e i nf er enc esf r om t he ci r cum st anc ess how n byt he
e v i d e n c e . $7, 058. 84 , 30 S . W . 3d a t586. V. F ORFEI TUR E OF $537. 44 I n hi s f i r stpoi nt , Bon e con t end s t hatt he evi den ce w asl ega l l y a nd f a c t ua l l y i ns uf f i c i e ntt o s up po rtt het r i a l c ou rt ’ s d e t e r m i n a ti o n t ha t$537 . 44
w asco nt r aba nd a nd t huss ubj ec tt o f or f ei t ur e u nde rch apt er59 of t he cod e o f
cr i m i nal pr ocedu r e.10

A . Evi den ceO ff er ed att he Forf eit ur e Hear i ng O f f i ce rM ur phy, w ho w ast he onl y w i t nes s att he fo rfe i tu r e h ea r i ng, t es t i f i ed t hat , ba se d on i nf or m at i on f r om an ot herl aw enf or ce m ent age ncy , he
su sp ec t ed Bone o fde al i ng dr ugs . A ct i ng on t hati nf or m at i on, O f f i ce rM ur phy st opp ed car s com i ng f r om t he hou se, and t he dr i ver s of t hose car s ver i f i ed t hat Bone w asde al i ng dr ugs outoft he hous e. Tr as h f r om t he hous e c ont ai ned dr ug par apher nal i a t hatt est ed posi t i ve f or m et ham phetam i ne. O f f i cerM ur phy al so knew f r om peopl e l i vi ng w i t h Bo ne and f r om hi s ow n obser vat i ons on m or e t han te n o c c a s i o n s th a t th e D o d g e tru c kw a s d ri v e n e x c l u s i v e l yb yB o n e . O f f i cerM ur phy al so t est i f i ed t hat t he sear ch ofBo ne’ s r esi dence r eveal ed
s e ve r a l i t e m s o fd r ug pa r a ph e r na l i a i n Bo ne ’ s r oo m , i nc l ud i ng a pp r ox i m a t e l y 500 bagg i es and w ei ghi ng scal es tr adi t i onal l y used i n dr ug deal i ng, bot h ofw hi ch h a d a w h it e re s id u e o n t h e m (t h e o f f ic e rt e s t if ie d t h a tt h e re s id u e w a s , in h is
o p in io n , m e t h a m p h e t a m in e ), a n d it e m ss u c h a s n e e d le s a n d p ip e s c o m m o n ly
us e d t o i n g e s t d r u g s . A d r u g - d e t e c t i n g c a n i n e a l e rt e d o n n e e d l e s a n d one of t he sa f esdi sc ove r ed i n Bone ’ s bed r oom . Furt her m or e, t he pol i ce di sc ove r ed a cam cor deri n B one’ s bedr oom . I nsi de t he cam cor derw as “a vi deo o f [ Bo ne] hol di ng a m et h pi pe i n hi s hand, sm oki ng i t . ” I n a ddi t i on t o de sc r i bi ng hi s ow n i nve st i gat i on j us tpr i ort o t he exe cut i on oft he se ar ch w ar r ant , O f f i ce rM ur phy add i t i on al l y t es t i f i ed t o Bone ’ s pr i or11

cr i m i nal hi st or y ofdi s t r i but i ng na r cot i cs . The St at e s upport ed t hi s t es t i m ony by s ubm i t t i ng i nt o e vi den ce se ver al pa stj udgm ent s f r om ca se s i n w hi ch Bone had pl ea ded gui l t y t o ei t herpos se ss i on ofa con t r ol l ed su bs t anc e o rpos se ss i on o f a c o n tro l l e d s u b s ta n c e w i th th e i n te n t to d e l i v e r. O n t he day t hatpol i ce w er e execut i ng t he sear ch w ar r ant , Bo ne ar r i ved i n a vehi cl e cont ai ni ng m et ham phetam i ne and sever al ot her dr ugs. Furt her m or e, eve n t hough Bone had t ol d t he pol i ce t hathe w asune m pl oye d a tt he t i m e, he
w asca r r yi ng $537. 44 i n c as h. O f f i ce rM ur phy al so s t at ed t hat , i n hi s t r ai ni ng and exp er i ence, dr ug deal er s of t en possessed sum s of cash t o pur chase i t em s t o m ake m or e dr ugs. Based on these obser vat i ons, O f f i cerM ur phy t e s t i f i ed t hat , i n hi s opi ni on, t he m oney, t he D odg e t r uck, and al l oft he ot heri t em s t hat t he pol i ce di sc ove r ed w hen t heyex ec ut ed t he se ar ch w ar r antw e r e p r oce eds f r o m o ro t h e r w is e u s e d in t h e c o m m is s io n o f n a r c o t ic s d is t r ib u t io n b y B o n e in vi ol at i on of chapter48 1 o ft he heal t h and saf et y code. D ur i ng c r os s exa m i nat i on, how eve r , O f f i ce rM ur phy t es ti fi ed t hatt he p o lic e d i d n o tt a k e a n yf in g e r p r in t s o f fo ft h e s p e a k e rb o xo rt h e b a g g ie
con t ai ni ng t he m et ham phe t am i n e . The of f i ce rf urt hers t at ed t hathe ha d no per so nal kn ow l edg e t hatt he ca sh w as a p r oce ed gai ned f r om t he com m i ss i on o f a fe l o n yu n d e r c h a p te r 4 8 1 o f th e h e a l th a n d s a fe tyc o d e .12

B. Legaland Fact ualSu ff i ci ency of t he Evi dence H e r e , B o n e h a d a n e x t e n s iv e c r i m i n a l h is t o r yo fd e a lin g d r u g s ; p e o p le l eavi n g B o ne’ s house ver i f i ed t hathe w as cur r ent l y deal i ng dr ugs, and t r ash f r om Bo ne’ s house i ndi cat ed t hatdr ugs w er e pr esenti n t he hou se. Sever al it e m s i n B on e’s bed r oo m i nd i ca t ed t ha the w as d ea l i ng drug s, a ca ni ne un it
a l e rte d to th e p re s e n c e o f d ru g s o n n e e d l e s a n d i n a s a fe d i s c o v e re d i n B o n e ’s
r oom , and a vi deotape i n a cam cor der i n hi s r oom pr oved thatBo ne had used
m e th a m p h e ta m i n e . A ddi t i onal l y, O f f i cer M ur phy t est i f i ed t hat i n hi s t r ai ni ng and exp er i ence, dr ug deal er s car r y quan t i t i es of cash on t hei r per son f oruse i n pur chasi ng i t em s f orm ak i ng m or e d r ugs ; O f f i ce rM ur phy’ s t e st i m ony di r ec t l y l i nke d t he
une m pl oye d Bone t o ov er$500 i n c as h. W hi l e t hi s evi den ce al o ne m i ghtbe i ns uf f i ci entt o e st abl i sh t he nex us bet w ee n t he ca sh an d f el oni ousac t i vi t y, t he addi t i onal evi dence f r om Bo ne’ s hi st or y, cur r entdeal i ngs, and i t em s di scover ed i n h i s ro o m s u p p o rt th e tri a l c o u rt’s d e te rm i n a ti o n . C f . $2 06 7 i

n U. S . Cur

rency
v. S tate , 7 4 5 S .W .2 d 1 0 9 , 1 1 1 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 1 9 8 8 , n o w ri t.) ( st at i ng t hat“ [ t ] he f ac tt hatt he f or f ei t ed p r ope rt y w asf ound at , orne ar , t he
con t r ol l ed su bs t anc e doe s not es t abl i sh t he nex us be t w ee n t he pr ope rt y a nd t he
s a l e o r c o m m e rc i a l d i s tri b u ti o n o f a c o n tro l l e d s u b s ta n c e ” ).13

Th er ef or e, t he evi dence r ai ses m or e t han a m er e sur m i se orsuspi ci on t hat t he so ur ce of t he m one y on Bone r el at ed t o dr ug dea l i ng. S e e $ 1 1 ,0 14. 00 , 820 S.W .2 d at785. Gi ven al l t he evi den ce t hatt he onl y pl aus i bl e s our ce of i ncom e f orBo ne ( t he only sour ce expl ai ned t o t he t r i al court , as Bone pres ent ed no al t er nat i ve expl anat i on) w as f r om dr ug deal i ng act i vi t i es, and B one’ s past
a n d p re s e n t u s e o f d ru g s h i m s e l f, th e S ta te d e m o n s tra te d th a t i t w a s m o re pr oba bl e t han nott hatt he ca sh w asei t heri nt end ed f orus e i n orde r i ved f r om a vi ol at i on of chapter48 1 and t hus const i t ut ed contr aband subj ect t o f or f ei t ur e. S e ecf. Fifty-Si

xT h o usa n d

S e venHun dred

D o l l a rs i nU.S. Curren c yv. S tate , 730 S. W . 2d 659, 662 ( Tex. 1987 ) ( hol di ng t hata p l a u s i bl e a l t er nat i ve exp l ana t i on f ort he pr es enc e o fa l ar ge su m ofm one y m ade se i z ed pr ope rt y no t
s u bj e c t to fo rfe i tu re ); $9, 05 0. 00i n U. S . Cur

rency , 874 S. W . 2d a t161. F u rth e rm o re , c o n s i d e ri n g o n l yth e e v i d e n c e i n s u p p o rt o f th e tri a l c o u rt’s j udgm ent , an d di sr ega r di ng t he con t r ary e vi den ce t hata r ea so nab l e j ur orco ul d, t her e i s atl ea sta sc i nt i l l a o fev i den ce t hatt he m one y w asde r i ved fro m or o th e rw i s e u s e d i n th e s a l e o r d i s tri b u ti o n o f a c o n tro l l e d s u b s ta n c e . S ee Uni roya l G oodr i ch Ti re Co. , 9 7 7 S .W .2 d a t 3 3 4 ; $11, 014. 00 , 82 0 S . W . 2d at 7 8 5 . T h e e v i d e n c e i s th e re fo re l e g a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt th e tri a l c o u rt’s j u d g m e n t. See Cont ’ l Coff eeProds . Co. , 9 3 7 S . W . 2 d a t4 5 0 . A d d i t i o n al l y, con si der i ng a l l oft he evi den ce , w e c ann ots ay t hatt he f or ego i ng i s so w ea k o r14

t he evi dence t o t he contr ar y oft he f in d in g (o f w hi ch t her e w as l i t t l e) i s so o v e rw h e l m i n g th a t th e tri a l c o u rt’s j u d g m e n t s h o u l d b e s e t a s i d e . S eeGarza , 395 S. W . 2d at823. Thus , t he evi den ce i s f ac t ual l y su f f i ci ent t o su pportt he tr i a l co u rt ’s j u d g m e n t. D es pi t e t he evi den ce di sc u ss ed abo ve, Bone r es t s hi s ar gum enton t he A ntr im c a s e , i n w hi ch t he A us t i n CcourtofA ppe al s se tf ort h f i ve f ac t or s f or det er m i ni ng w het herev i den ce i s su f f i ci entt o s upporta j ud g m e n tgr ant i ng fo rfe i tu re . S e eA n tr

im , 86 8 S . W . 2d at 81 4. W hi l e t hi s courthas notadopted th e s a m e fi v e -fa c to r a p p ro a c h to re v i e w i n g fo rfe i tu re c a s e s , th e fa c to rs nev ert hel es s su pportt he t r i al co urt ’ s det er m i na ti o n i n t hi s ca se . Fi r st , t he pol i ce di sc ove r ed t he m one y on Bone, a m an w i t h a l ong h i st or y ofde al i ng dr ugsan d w ho t heyco nf i r m ed had r ec ent l y de al tdr ugs ; ad di t i o n a l l y, Bone
a l i g h te d fro m a v e h i c l e c o n ta i n i n g i l l e g a l d ru g s . See i d. at 8 1 4 ( n o ti n g tha t a fa c to r fo r c o n s i d e ra ti o n i s s u s p i c i o u s a c ti v i tyc o n s i s te n t w i th d ru g tra ffick i n g ). A ddi t i onal l y, even t hou gh, undert he A n tr i m f ac t or s, t he am o untof
m o n e ya tis s u e in t h is c a s e is n o t a la r g e a m o u n t , t h e lo w a m o u n to fm o n e yis notdi sp os i t i ve; Bone w asan une m pl oye d m an ca r r yi ng ov er$500 of
u n e x p l a i n e d c a s h . See i d. ; $ 7,0 5 8 .84, 30 S. W . 3d at58 9. Fi nal l y, O f f i cer M ur phy con si st ent l y t es t i f i ed t hat , i n hi s opi ni on t he ca sh , t he D odge t r uck , an d t he ot herpr ope rt y w asal l be i ng us ed by Bone i n de l i ver i ng a nd di st r i but i ng15

n a r c o t ic s . A c c o r d in g ly , w e h o ld t h a tt h e e v id e n c e is l e g a l lya n d f a c t u a lly
s u f f ic ie n tt o s u p p o r tt h e t r ia l c o u rt ’s d e t e r m in a t io n . W e t h e r e f o r e o v e r r u le B o n e ’s fi rst po i n t. V I. F ORF EI T UR E OFT HE D ODGE T RUCK B o n e ’s s e c o n d p o in tis t h a tt h e e v id e n c e is le g a llya n d f a c t u a lly i ns uf f i ci ent t o su pport t he t r i al cou rt ’ s j udgm ent f or f ei t i ng t he D o d g e p i ck up t r uck t o t he S t at e. A . S ta n d i n g to C o n te s t F o rfe i tu re A s i tdi d dur i ng t he hea r i ng a t th e t r i al co urt , t he St at e c ont end s on app ea l t hat Bone doe s not hav e st and i ng t o con t es tt he f or f ei t ur e o ft he D odge t r uck . The Stat e b as esi t s ar gum enton t he f ac tt hatBone w asnott he
r egi st er ed ow neroft he vehi cl e. Th e r ecor d r ef l ect s t hatt he t i t l e t o t he t r uck
w as i n B one’ s w al l etw hen t he pol ic e ar r est ed hi m . O f f i cerM ur phy tes t i f i ed th a t th e ti tl e w a s a n “ o p e n ti tl e .” T h e tri a l c o u rt v e ri fi e d th a t b y “ o p e n ti tl e ,” O f f i ce r M u rp h y m ea nt“ t he or i gi nal t i t l e, l i ke , an ope n t i t l e w her e y ou c an go and s i gn y ourna m e o ver , ” t hat“ a p er so n c oul d t ak e, i fi t[s i c] ha d t he r i ght si gnatur es, and go d ow n t o t r ansf ert he t i t l e. ” Bone q ual i f i esasan ow nerunde rt he f or f ei t ur e s t at ut e i f he i s “a pe r so n
w ho cl ai m s an equi t abl e orl egal ow ner shi p i nt er esti n t he pr opert y. ” S ee T EX . C ODE C R IM . P R OC . A NN . a rt . 5 9 .0 1 (6 ). O f f ic e r M u r p h y t e s t if ie d t h a tn o to n ly16

w as t h e Do d g e t r u c kd r i v e n e x c l u s i v e l yb yB o n e b u tt h a ts o me o n e wh o l i ved
w i t h Bone s ai d t hatt he D odge t r uckw asBone’ s. Addi t i ona l l y, O f f i ce rM ur phy te s ti fi e d th a t a l th o u g h th e v e h i c l e w a s te c h n i c a l l yre g i s te re d i n s o m e o n e e l s e ’s
n a m e, i ti s com m on f ordr ug de al er s t o dr i ve veh i cl est hatt heydo n ot t ec hni ca l l y ow n. The evi den ce es t abl i sh ed t hat as t he ow ner of t he t r uckw ho had notye tr egi st er ed hi s t i t l e, B o n e had atl ea stan eq ui t abl e i nt er es ti n t he D odg e t r uck and t her ef or e had st andi ng t o contes ti t s f or f ei t ur e t o t he S t at e. See i d. ; Fi r st Nat. Ban k of El Campo, TX v. Buss , 143 S . W . 3d 915, 922 ( Tex. A pp. — C or pus Chr i st i 2004 , pe t . de ni ed) ( not i ng t hata per so n i n pos se ss i on of
a v e h i c l e w h o i s th e i n te n d e d o w n e r o f th e v e h i c l e h a s a n e q u i ta b l e p o s s e s s o ry ri g h t i n th e v e h i c l e e v e n i f th a t p e rs o n i s n o t n a m e d o n th e v e h i c l e ’s ti tl e ). B . G ro u n d sfo r F o rfe i tu re O f f i cerM ur phy t est i f i ed t hat on t he day t he pol i ce execut ed t he sear ch
w ar r ant , Bone ar r i ved att he hous e d r i vi ng t he D odget r uck . I ns i de t he D odge t r uck , pol i ce di sc ove r ed m et ham phe t am i ne. Thi s unc ontro v e rt ed t es t i m ony es t abl i sh ed t hatt he t r uckw as con t r aba nd— i tw asus ed i n t he com m i ss i on of
a fe l o n i o u s a c t, i .e . p o s s e s s i n g a n d tra n s p o rti n g m e th a m p h e ta m i n e . S ee T EX . C ODE C R IM . P R OC . A NN . a rt. 5 9 .0 1 (2 )(B )(i ); T EX . H E ALT H & S A FE TY C ODE A NN . §§ 48 1. 102 ( 6) , 481. 115 . Bone di d notpr es entor e l i ci tan y c onf l i ct i ng e v i d e n c e as to th i s p o i n t.17

Th er ef or e, t her e i s m or e t han a sci nt i l l a ofevi dence t o suppo rt t he t r i al
court ’ s f i ndi ng t hat t he D odg e t r uck w as subj ectt o f or f ei t ur e, and t he evi dence i sl e g a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt th e tri a l c o u rt’ s j u d g m e n t. S ee Cont’ l Coff ee Prods . Co. , 937 S . W . 2d at450. Fu rt her m ore , t he evi den ce s upport i ng t he f i ndi ng i s notso w eak, nor i s t he evi dence t o t he contr ar y so over w hel m i ng t hat th e tri a l c o u rt’s j u d g m e n t s h o u l d b e s e t a s i d e . S eeGarza , 395 S . W . 2d a t823. T h u s , th e e v i d e n c e i s a l s o fa c tu a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt th e tri a l c o u rt’s j u d g m e n t. See i

d. Bone n eve rt hel es s r el i eson t he r ul e e num er at ed i n O ne 19 83Chevrolet Bl azer v. State f ort he pr opos i t i on t hatm er e p os se ss i on of a f el ony w ei ghtof
n a rc o ti c s i n a v e h i c l e d o e s n o t a l l o w th e S ta te to s e i z e th a t v e h i c l e . S ee737 S. W . 2d 39, 40 ( Tex. A pp. — El Pas o 198 7, w r i t r ef ’ d n. r . e. ) . Bone’ s r el i anc e o n t hi s case, how ever , i s m i spl aced, as t he st at ut e r el i ed on i n t hatcase has si nce cha nge d a nd no w i ncl ude s a s pec i f i c pr ovi si on s t at i ng t hatpos se ss i ng a nd t r ansport i ng m et ham phetam i ne ( w hi ch i s a f el ony) m akes t he pr opert y i n w hi ch th e d ru g s w e re h i d d e n a n d tra n s p o rte d c o n tra b a n d s u bj e c t to fo rfe i tu re . S ee T EX . C ODE C R IM . P R OC . A NN . a rt. 5 9 .0 1 (2 )(B )(i ); T EX . H EALT H & S A FE TY C ODE A NN . § § 4 8 1 .1 0 2 (6 ), 4 8 1 .1 1 5 . A c c o rd i n g l y , B o n e ’s s e c o n d p o i n t i s o v e rru l e d .18 V II. C ON C L U S I ON H a v i n g o v e rru l e d b o th o f B o n e ’s p o i n ts , w e a ffir m t h e t ri a l c o u rt’s j u d g m e n t.
P E R CU R I AM
PA N EL B: W A LKER, D A U PH I N O T, an d HO LM A N , JJ. Del i ve r e d: M a r c h 6, 2008