CO UR T OF A P P E A LS E I G H T H D I S T R I C T O F T E X AS E L P AS O , T E X AS
RA YM UNDO SOTE L O, A p p e l l an t,
v. THE STA TE OF TEXA S, A p p e l l e e . §

§ § § § § No
. 08
- 07
- 00 09 5- CR

A p p e a l f r om C o un t y C o urt a t L awN o . 7
o f E l Pas o Co un

t y , T ex as (T C # 20050C 07910)

O P I N IO N Ra y m un do So t el o appea l s h i s co n v i ct i o n f o r driv i n g wh i l e i n t o x i cat ed. Gui l

t was det erm

i n ed b y a j ury . T h e t ri al

co urt as s es s ed pun i s h

men t at 180 day s i

n t h e El Pas o Co un

t y J ai l , b ut s us pen ded i m p o s i t i o n o f t he s e nt e nc e and

p l a c e d Ap p e l l an t o n c o m

m uni t y s u p e r vi s i o n f

o ra p e r i o d o f t w e l ve
m o n t h s . W e a f

f i rm . F ACT UAL SUM M ARY Of f i cerA l l en Lee E di n gt o n t est i f i ed t h at o n

Jun e 4, 20 05 , h e was f

l agg ed d o wn

b y a mo t o r i st
a s h e d r o v e d o w n N o r t h M e s a i n w e s t E l P a s o . H e p r o c e e d e d

t hr o u g h t he ne xt i

nt e r s e c t i o n, and
made a U-t urn i

n an at t em

pt t o l o cat e a po s s i

b l y i n t o x i cat ed driv er t rav el i

n g i n a v eh i cl e t h at mat ch ed t he d e s c r i p t i o n g i ve n t o hi m by t he mo t o r i s t
. O nc e he s p o t t e d i t , he p o s i t i o ne d hi m s e l f be hi nd i t
. As t he dr i ve r , l a t e r s ho w n t o be Ap p e l l ant , p r o c e e d e d t hr o u g h an i

nt e r s e c t i o n, t he ve hi c l e s p e d u p , and t h en s l o wed do wn

s udden l y ev en t h o ugh n o t h i n g was i n f ro n t o f i t
. A ppel l an t s ped up aga i

n , dri f t ed sl i g h t l y o u t o f h i s l ane o f

t r af f i c, and t h e n dr i f

t edb ac k ac r o ss ano t h erl ane o f

t r af f i c. A p p el l ant ’s wh eel s cro s s ed o v er t h e l an e m arker an d o ccupi ed t h e s eco n d l an e o f t raf f i c. He a gai

n s l o wed do wn“N y s t a g m u s i s a n i n vol u n t a r y jer k i n g or bou n ci n g of t h e e yeba l l t h a t occ u r s wh en t h er e i s a d i s t u r ba n ce of 1 t h e ve s t i bu l a r ( i n n er ea r ) s y s t em or t h e ocu l om ot or con t r ol of t h e e ye. Hor i z on t a l g a z e n y s t a g m u s ( HG N ) r efe r s t o a l a t er a l or h or i z on t a l jer k i n g wh en t h e e ye g a z es t o t h e s i d e. I n t h e i m p a i r ed dr i vi n g con t ex t , a l coh ol con s u m p t i on or c o ns u m p t i o n o f

c e rt a i n o t he r c e nt ra l ne rv o u s s y s t e m d e p re s s a nt s , i nha l a nt s o r p he nc y c l i d i ne , hi nd e rs t he a b i l i t y o f t he br a i n t o cor r ec t l y

con t r ol eye m u s cl es , t h er efor e c a u s i n g t h e je r kor bou n ce a s s oci a t ed wi t h HG N
. A s t h e d eg r ee of i m p a i r m en t b eco m es gr ea t er , t h e j er k i n g o r b o u n ci n g , i
. e. t h e n y st a g m u s, b eco m es m o r e pr o n o u n ced. T h i s i s a ssessed in the h o r iz o n ta l g aze n ys ta g mu s te s t.” S ee h ttp://w

w w .n h ts a.do t.go v

/pe o ple /in j ur y /e n f o r c e /n y s tagmus /h gn txt.h tml. A cc or d i n g t o N HT S A s t a n d a r d s , t h e offi ce r s h ou l d m ove t h e obje ct s l owl y bu t s t ea d i l y

fr om t h e c en t er of 2 t h e sub j e c t ’s f a c e tow a r ds t h e lef

t e a r . T h e l e f

t e ye sh o ul d sm o o t h l y

f o l l o w th e o b j e c t , b ut if

th e e ye e xh i b i t s n y sta gm us, the o f f ic e r no te s the c lu e . The o f f ic e r the n c h e c k s the rig h t e ye . a l th ou g h n oth i n g w a s i n f r on t of h i m . A s A p p e l l an t a p p r oa c h e d

an oth e ri n te r s e c ti on , h e c ame to a
c om p l e te s top a t a g r e e n l i g h

t. H e th e n

ma d e a r i g h t tu rn on T h un d e r b i r d D r i v e an d tu rn e d i n to a par ki n g l o t
. A t t h i s po i n t , Of f i cerE di n gt o n act i v at ed h i s o v er h ead l i ght s. A s t h e o f f i c e r a p p roac h e d h i

m , A p p e l l an t e x i t e d t h e v e h i c l e . Ed i

n g t o n o rd e re d

h i m t o re t u rn t o t h e c a r . H e a l s o o b s e r v e d A p p e lla n t p la c e an o b je c t in s id e h is mo u t h

an d c h e wv ig o r o u s ly. A ppel l an t ’ s ey es were red an d gl as s y , an d h e appea red s l eepy o r daze d as i f

h e we re j us t waki

n g up. Of f i cer Edin gt o n

co ul d det ect t h e o do r o f al co h o l em an at i n g f ro m i n s i de t h e v eh i cl e. A s h e an s wered t h e o f f i c e r’ s qu e s t i o n s , A

p p e l l an t h a d a v e ry s l o wan d d e l i b e rat e t o n g u e an d

s l urre d h i s s p e e c h
. B a s e d on th e s e ob s e r v a ti on s , th e of f i c e ra s k e d A p p e l l an t to s te p ou t of

th e v e h i c l e . E d i

n g ton po s i t i o n ed A ppel l an t f o r t h e h o ri zo n

t al gaze n y s t agm us [HGN] t es t
. A

ppel l an t s t o o d wi t h h i s f eet 1 t o get h er an d h an ds at h i s s i de. Of f i cer E di n gt o n f i rst t es t ed f

o r sm o o t h pursui t f o r appr o x i

mat el y t wo
s eco n ds , o b s erv i

n g a l ack o f s mo o t h pursui t an d t h e prese n ce o f

n y s t agm us i n A ppel l an t ’ s ey es . He 2 t h e n c h e c k e d fo rd is t in c t n

ys t a g mu s a t ma x imum d e v iat io n , o b s e r v in g n ys t a g mu s in d e p e n d e n

t ly i nN HT S A s t a n d a r d s s p ec i fy t h a t s t a r t i n g a g a i n fr om t h e c en t er of t h e s u s p ec t ’ s fa ce , t h e offi ce r s h ou l dm ove 3 t he o b j e c t t o w a rd t he l e f

t e a r, b ri ng i ng t he e ye a s f a r o v e r a s p o s s i b l e , a nd ho l d t he o b j e c t t he re f

o r f o u r s e c o nd s . T he o f f ic e r s h o uld

n o te th e c lue if

th e r e is a d is tin c t an d s us tain e d ny s tagmus at th is po in t. Th e o f f ic e r s h o uld

th e n h o ld th e o b j e c t at maximum d e v iatio n f o r at le as t f

o ur s e c o n ds to e n s ur e th at qu ic k mo v e me n t o f th e o b j e c t di d no t po s s ib ly c au s e the ny s ta g mu s . T h e o f f ic e r the n c h e c k s the rig h t e ye . T h is is al s o re f e r r e dto as “ e n d

- p o int” ny s ta g mu s . I n t h i s t est , t h e o f

f i cer m o v es t h e o b

je ct a t a sp eed t h a t w o u l dt a k e ab o u t f o u r seco n d s f

o r t h e o b je ctt o r ea ch 4 th e e dg e o f

th e s us pe c t ’ s l ef

t s h o uld e r . Th e o f

f ic e r n o te s th is c lue if

th e po in t o r an gle at w

h ic h th e e ye b e gin s to d i sp l a y n y st a g m u s i s b ef

o r e th e o b je ct r ea ch es f

o r t y- f i v e d egr ees f

r o m t h e cen t er o f t h e su sp ect’ s f a ce. T h e o f

f i cer t h en m o v e s t he o b

j e c t t o w a rd s t he s u s p e c t ’ s ri g ht s ho u l d e r. G e ne ra l l y , f o rt y- f i v e d e g re e s f

ro m c e nt e r i s a t t he p o i nt w he re t he o b j e c t i s i n f

ro nt o f t he t i p o f t he s ub j e c t ’ s s ho u l d e r. each eye. F i n al l y , Of f i cerE di n gt o n o b serv ed t h e an gl e o f o n set o f n y st agm us pr i o rt o 45 deg r ees. 3 4 B e c a u s e A p p e l l an t e x h ib i te d s ome of th e i n d i c a tor s of

p os s i b l e i n tox i c a ti on , O f

f i c e rE d i n g ton p r oc e e d e d

w i th th e w a l k an d t urn te s t. A c c or d i

n g to O f f i c e rE d i n g ton , A p p e l l an t h a d d i f f i c u l ty perf o rmi n g t h i s t es t
. He l o s t h i s b al an ce, st art ed t o o s o o n , s t epped o f f t h e l i n e, di d n o t t o uch

h eel t o t o e, an d made a

n i m pro per t urn . F i

n al l y , Of f i cer E di n gt o n as ked A

ppell an t t o perf o rm t h e o n el egg ed st an d. A

pp el l an t h ad d i f f i cul t y per f o r m i n g t h i s t est a s w e l l
. He p ut h i s f o o t do wn al mo st i m me d i a te l y , u s e d h i s ar m s f or b a l an c e , an d s w aye d b a c k an d f orth
. B a s e d

on th e f i e l d s ob r i e ty te s ts
an d h i s o wn

o b s erv at i o n s , Of

f i cer Edin gt o n

b el i ev ed A

ppel l an t was i m pai red. LE GAL A ND F ACT UAL SUF F I CI EN CY I n P o in t o f E rr o rO n e , A

p p e lla n t c o mp la in s t h e S t a t e fa ile d t o p r o v e t h a t t h e r e w a s r e a s o n a b le
s u s p ic io n t o e ffe c t u a t e t h e t r a ffic s t o p , an d / o r t h a t t h e e v id e n c e fa ile d t o p r o v e t h e r e w a s p r o b a b le cause t o st o p A

pp el l an t give n t h e t o t al i

t y o f t h e ci r cum st an ces. I n

essen ce, t h i s ar gu men

t i s a ch al l en ge t o t h e l egal an d f act ual s uf f i ci en cy o f t h e ev i den ce t o s uppo rt t h e j ury ’ s i m pl i ed f i n di n g t h at O f f i c e rE d i n g ton h a d r e a s on a b l e s u s p i c i on

to s top an d

d e ta i n A p p e l l an t. Standard of

R evie w I n r e vi e w i ng t he l e g a l s u f

f i c i e nc y o f t he e vi d e nc e , w e c o ns i d e r a l l o f t he e vi d e nc e i n t he l i g ht
m o s t f av o rab l e t o t h e v erdi ct an d det erm i n e wh et h er a rat i o n al

j uro r co ul d h av e f

o un d t h e es s en

t i ale l e me n

t s o f t h e c ri me b e yo n d

a re a s o n a b l e d o u b t
. J ac k s on v . V ir gin ia , 443 U.S
. 3 0 7, 318-19, 99 S
. Ct
. 2 7 8 1 , 2 7 8 8
- 8 9 , 6 1 L. E d
. 2 d 5 6 0 ( 1 9 7 9 ) ; Ho op e r

v . State , 214 S. W
. 3d 9, 13 (T ex . Cri m . A pp. 2 0 0 7 )
. W e mu s t g iv e d e fe r e n c e t o “ t h e r e s p o n s ib ili t y o f t h e t r ie ro f fa c t t o fa ir ly r e s o lv e c o n flic t s in te s ti m on y , to w e i g h

th e e v i d e n c e , an d

to d raw r e a s on a

b l e i n f e r e n c e s f r om b a s i c f a c ts to u l ti ma te f act s . ” Hooper , 2 1 4 S.W .3 d a t 1 3 , citing Jack

s on , 4 4 3 U .S. at 3 1 8 -1 9 , 9 9 S.C t . a t 2 7 8 1
. I n r e v i e w i n g th e f a c tu a l s u f f i c i e n c y of th e e v i d e n c e , w e v i e wa l l

th e e v i d e n c e i

n a n e u tr a l l i g h t, f av o ri n g n e i t h e r p art y . J

oh ns on v . State , 2 3 S.W .3 d 1 , 7 (Te x .C ri m .A p p . 2 0 0 0 ); C

le wis v . State , 922 S
. W
. 2 d 1 2 6 , 1 2 9 ( T e x . C r i

m . A p p . 1 9 9 6 )
. I n p e r f

orm i n g our r e v i e w , w e ar e to g i v e d u e d e f e r e n c e to t h e f a c t f i n d e r’ s d e t e rm

i n a t i o n s . S

e e id

. a t 8
- 9 ; C

le wis , 9 2 2 S
. W. 2 d

a t 1 3 6
. T he f

a c t f i nd e ri s t he j udge o f t h e credi

b i l i t y o f t h e wi

t n es s es an d may

“b el i ev e all , s o me, o r n o n e o f t h e t es t i mo n y . ” See C ha mb e r s v . State , 8 0 5 S
. W
. 2 d 4 5 9 , 4 6 1 ( T e x . C r im. A p p . 1 9 9 1 )
. E v id e n c e is fa c t u a lly s u ffic ie n t if i t i s s o w e ak

t ha t i t w o u l d be c l e ar l

y w r o ng and mani f

e s t l y unj u s t t o a l l o w t he ve r d i c t t o s t and , o rt he f i n d i n g o f g u i l t i s a g a i n s t t h e g re a t w e i g h

t an d p re p o n d e ran c e o f t h e av a i l a b l e e v i d e n c e . Johns on , 23 S
. W
. 3 d a t 1 1
. T h

u s , t h e qu e s t io n

w e mu s t c o n s id e rin

c o n d u c t in g a fa c t u a l s u f

f i c ie n c y r e v ie wis
w he t he ra ne u t r a l r e vi e wo f a l l t he e vi d e nc e , bo t h f

o r and a g a i

ns t t he f i nd i ng , d e mo ns t r a t e s t ha t t he p r oof of g u i l t i s s o ob v i ou s l

y w e ak a s to u n d e r m

i n e c on f i d e n c e i n th e f a c t f i n d e r ’ s d e te r m

i n a ti on , or t h e p roo f o f g u i l t , a l t h o u g h a d e qu a t e i f t ak e n a l o n e , i s g re a t l y o u t w e i g h e d b y

c o n t rary p roo f
. See id. Jur y Instr uction T h e j ury was i n s t ruct ed pursua

n t t o A rt i cl e 38.23( a) o f

t h e Tex as C o d e o f

Cri m i n al Pr o cedure: Yo u are i n s t ruct ed t h at un der o ur l aw n o ev i den ce o b t ai n ed o r deri

v ed b y an o f f i cer o ro t h e rp e r s o n

a s a r e s u l t o f a n u n l aw fu l s t o p an d d e t e n t io n s h a ll b e a dmis s ib le in e v i d e n c e a g a i

n s t s u c h a c c u s e d . A

n o f f i c e r i s p e rm

i t t ed t o mak e a

t e m p o rary i n v es t i gat i v e det en t i o n o f a mo t o ri s t i f t h e o f

f i cer h as s peci f

i c art i cul ab l e f

act s , wh i ch t aken t o get h er wi

t h rat i o n al i

n f eren ces f ro m t h o s e f

act s , l ead t h em

t o co n cl ude t h ata

p e r s o n d e t a in e d a c t u a lly is , h a s b e e n , o r s o o n w ill b e e n g a g e d in c r imin a l a c t iv it y. N ow , b e ar i

n g i n m i n d , i f youf i n d f r om th e e v i d e n c e th a t on

th e oc c a s i on

i n qu e s ti on t h e o ffic e rd id

n o t h av e a

r e a s o n a b le s u s p ic io n

o f c r imi n a l a c t iv it y im

me d iat e ly p r e c e d i ng hi s s t o p and

d e t e nt i o n by t he o f

f i c e r he r e i n o r y o u have a r e a s o na bl e d o u bt t he r e o f , t he n s u c h s t o p p i

ng o f t he a c c u s e d

w o u l d be i l l e g a l
. Fu r t he r mo r e , i f yo uf i nd t he f a c t s t o be s o , o r

i f yo uhave a

r e a s o na bl e d o u bt t he r e o f , yo uw i l l d i s r e g ar d

t he te s ti mon y of th e of f i c e rr e l a ti v e to h i s s top p i

n g th e D e f

e n d an t an d h i s c on c l

u s i on dr awn as a r esul

t t h er eo f an d yo u wi l l

n o t co n si dersuc h e v i den ce f o ran y pu r po se w h a ts oe v e ran d

you m u s t th e r e f or e a c qu i t th e D e f e n d an t, a n d f i n d h i m n ot g u i l ty on b o t h cases. Anal y s is A f a c tu a l s u f f i c i e n c y r e v i e w i s on l

y a p p r op r i a te to a d dr e s s th e s u f f i c i e n c y of th e S ta te ’ s p r oof
o f t h e e l e me n

t s o f t h e c h arg e d

o f f e n s e . Ha nk

s v . State , 1 3 7 S.W .3 d

6 6 8 , 6 7 2 (Te x .C ri

m .A p p . 2 0 0 4 ). R e s o l u t i o n o f a f a c t i s s u e p urs u an

t t o an A rt i c l e 3 8 .2 3 i

n s t ru c t i o n o n l y a f f e c t s w h a t e v i d e n c e t h e j u ry
w i l l c o n s i d e r i n d e t e rm i n i n g g u i l t ; i t d o e s n o t a d dre s s t h e f

a c t u a l s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e i

n s u p p o rt
o f t h e e s s e n t i a l e l e me n t s o f t h e c h arg e d o f

f e n s e . See H

anks , 1 3 7 S.W .3 d

a t 6 7 1 . In

o t h e r w o rd s , a f a c t u a l s u f f i c i e nc y r e vi e w is o nl

y a p p r o p r i a t e r e g ar d i

ng t he S t a t e ’s p r o o f

o f t he e l e me nt s o f

t he
o f f e n s e , n o t t h e j ury ’ s i

m p l i e d f i n d i n g s o f f a c t s s u p p o rt i n g re a s o n a

b l e s u s p i c i o n . Id
. a t 6 7 2
. S imila r ly, b e c a u s e a le g a l s u ffic ie n c y r e v ie wis a ls o lim it e d t o t h e e s s e n

t ia l e le me n

t s o f t h e o ffe n s e , t h e A

r t ic le 3 8 .2 3 i n s t ru c t i o n c an n o t b e u s e d t o me a s ure t h e l e g a l s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e . Se e Mali k

v . State , 9 5 3 S.W .2 d

2 3 4 , 2 4 0 (Te x .C ri

m .A p p . 1 9 9 7 ). F o ra c o n v ic t io n o f dr iv in g w h ile in

t o x ic a t e d , t h e p r o s e c u t io n mu s t p r o v e b e yo n d

a r e a s o n a b le do ub t t h at t he d e f

e nd a n t was i n t o x i cat ed wh i l e dri

v i n g a m o t o r v eh i cl e i

n a pub l i c pl ace . T EX .P EN .C O D E A

NN . § 4 9
. 0 4 ( V e rn o n 2 0 0 3 )
. T h e p r e s e n c e o ra b s e n c e o f r e a s o n a

b le s u s p ic io n

is
n o t an e l e me n t o f t h e o f f e n s e c h arg e d
. See id. ; Hanks , 137 S. W
. 3d at 671, qu oti ng C ad de ll v . State , 123 S.W
. 3 d

7 2 2 ( T e x . A

p p . - - H ou s ton

[ 1 4 th D i s t.] 2 0 0 3 , p e t. r e f

’ d ) ( w h e th e rorn ot e v i d e n c e was i l l e g a l l y o b t a i n e d i s n o t an e l e me n t o f t h e o f f e n s e , an d t h e re f

o re n o t s u b j e c t t o a s u f f i c i e n c y re v i e w ).In th e r e po r te r ’s r e c o r d, th is s tate me n t is in c o r r e c tly attr ib ute d to th e tr ial c o ur t; h o w e v e r , f r o m th e c o n te xt, 5 it app e ar s to b e th e pro s e c uto r ’s s tate me n t B e c a u s e Ap p e l l ant d o e s no t c ha l l e ng e t he s u f f i c i e nc y o f t he e vi d e nc e s u

p p o r t i ng t he e l e me nt s o f

t he
o f f en s e, we o v errul e Po i

n t o f E rr o r On e. I M P ROP ER

ARGUM EN T I n P o in t o f E rr o r T w o , A

p p e lla n t c o mp la in s t h a t t h e p r o s e c u t o rmis s t a t e d t h e lawd ur in g v o ir di re, wh i ch v i o l at ed hi s c o ns t i t u t i o n al ri gh t t o a f ai r t ri al un der b o t h

t h e Uni t ed St at es an d T ex as Co n st i t ut i o n s. Rele v an t F ac ts D ur i ng vo i rd i r e , t he p r o s e c u t o r a t t e m

p t e d t o p ar a

p hr a s e t he d e f

i ni t i o n o f i nt o xi c a t i o n. T he pro s e c ut o r s t a t e d t h e f

o l l o wi n g: P r os e c u tor : W e ’ v e g ot a s h ar p j ury th i s m orn i n g . O k ay . S o d

run k i s n ot e qu a l

to 5 i n tox i c a te d
. O k ay . A

n d I w i l l g i v e you a te c h n i c a l r e a s on f or th a t. I n t o x ic a t e d is w h a t w e c a ll a t e r m o f ar t
. T h e r e is a d e fin it io n . W e ’ ll b e d e a l i n g w i th th a t d e f i n i ti on . I t’ s n ot d

run k
. T h e d e f

i n i t i on , to p ara p h ra s e , i n t o x i c a t i o n a c t u a l l y i s g o i n g t o me an

i m p a i re d
. In res po n s e t o de f

e n s e c o un s e l ’ s o b

j e c t i o n , t h e c o urt res po n de d: T h e C o ur t : W e h av e - - a s I ’ v e s a id b e fo r e , me mb e r s o f t h e jury, yo uw ill g e t a ll t h e d e f i n i t i o n s f rom me a t t h e e n d

o f t h e t ri a l . So t h e l aw ye rs are t ryi n g t o ph rase t h i n gs i n o rder t o as k yo u s o me ques t i o n s b ut t h e l aw yo u’ re go i

n g t o get yo u’ re go i

n g t o get f

ro m me. T he c o ur t o ve rru l e d

t he o bj e c t i o n and

Ap p e l l ant ’s r e qu e s t f

o ra m i s t r i a l
. T he p r o s e c u t o rt he n
c o n t i n ue d: P r o secut o r : Yo u wi l l

b e gi v en a f ul l def i n i t i o n a nd wh at yo u wi l l

f i n d i s t h ese wo rds b ei n g us ed i n t h i s d ef i n i t i o n . It n eeds t o b e v ery cl ear t h at i m p a i rme n t i s s o me t h i

n g t h a t yo u ’ re g o i

n g t o h av e t o f

i g ure o u t
. Now, wh a t d oe s th e l aws ay ? I w i l l r e a d i t. I t w i l l tak e me j u s t a s eco n d. A

pe r s o n co m

m i t s an o f f en s e i f t h e pers o n

i s i n t o x i cat ed wh i l e o perat i

n g a m o t o r v eh i cl e i

n a pub l i c pl ace . Do es n ’ t s ay drun k.A n d al l t h i s wi l l t i e t o get h eras t h e Judg e gi v es y o u t h e l aw. I j ust w an t yo ut o b e f

am i l i ar. A na lysis G e n e ra l l y , a p ros e c u t o r’ s s t a t e me n t s d uri n g v o i r d i re w i l l n o t c o n s t i

t u t e e rror u n l e s s t h e y

are
c o n tr ary to th e c o ur t’ s c h a rg e . S e e Wi lde r v . State , 1 1 1 S
. W. 3 d

2 4 9 , 2 5 3 ( T e x. Ap p . - - T e xar k ana 2 0 0 3 , p e t
. r e f

’d )
. Abs e nt e vi d e nc e t o r e bu t t he p r e s u m p t i o n, t he r e vi e w i

ng c o ur t m

u s t p r e s u me t he j ury f o l l o w e d t h e t ri a l c o urt ’ s i

n s t ru c t i o n s an d

a dmo n i s h me n t s . Se e Thr if

t v . State , 176 S. W
. 3d 221, 2 2 4 (Te x .C ri

m .A p p . 2 0 0 5 ). W h i l e th e T e x a s P e n a l

C od e d oe s n ot u s e th e w or d “ i m p a i r m en t ” i n th e d e f i n i ti on of

“ i n t o x i cat ed,” t h e pro s ecut o r’s s t at e m e nt s w e re n o t co n t rar y t o t h e co urt ’ s ch arge. T h e ch arge
ex pl ai n ed t h at a perso n i s “ i

n t o x i cat ed” wh en t h at perso n do es n o t h av e t h e n o rm al us e o f h i s ph y s i cal
o rme n t a l fa c u lt ie s b y r e a s o n

o f t h e in t r o d u c t io n o f a lc o h o l. S t a t in g t h a t a p e r s o n in s u c h a s t a t e is

“ i m pai red” i s n o t co n

t rar y t o t h e ch arge, an d i s s uppo rt ed b y t h e Tex as P e na l C o de an d T ex as j uri s p ru d e n c e . SeeT EX .P EN .C O D E A NN . § 4 9
. 0 1 ( 2 ) ( A) ; s e e als o Le wis v . State , 191 S. W
. 3d 335, 341 (T ex . A pp. -- W aco 2006, pet
. ref ’ d)( des cri b i n g A ppel l an t ’ s perf o rm an ce o n

f i el d s o br i et y

t es t as

“ i n di cat i o n o f i m pai rm en t ”). M o r e o ve r , t h e v en i

re pan el was di rect ed t o o n l

y co n s i der t h e l aw a s p rov i d e d b y t h e c o urt
. S

e e T h r i ft , 1 7 6 S
. W
. 3 d

a t 2 2 4
. C on s e qu e n

tl y , w e ov e rr ul e P oi

n t of E r r or T w o. E VI DE NT I AR Y E RR OR I n P oi n t of E rr or T h

r e e , A p p e l l an t c on te n d s th e tr i a l

c our t e rr e d

b y a l l ow i n g O f f i c e rE d i n g ton t o t est i f y co n cer n i n g t h e admi

n i st r at i o n an d r esul t s o f t h e h o r izo n

t al gaze ny st agm

us t est s b ecause t h e t e s t s w e re i

m p rope rl y a dm i n i s t e re d p urs u an t t o N H TSA

t e s t i n g p roce d ure s . Standard of

R evie wW e re v i e we v i d e n t i ary ru l i n g s f o r an a b u s e o f d i s c re t i o n . Rodr igu e

z v . State , 203 S. W
. 3d 8 3 7 , 8 4 1 ( T e x . C r im. A

p p . 2 0 0 6 )
. W e ar e r e qu ir e d t o u p h o ld t h e t r ia l c o ur t ’ s d e c is io n w h e n it fa lls
w i th i n th e z on e of r e a s on a

b l e d i s a g r e e me n

t, an d w e may n ot r e v e r s e s ol e l y b e c a u s e w e d i s a g r e e w i

th i t
. Se e id
. Rele v an t F ac ts D e f e n s e c o un s e l

a s k e d t o t ak e O f

f i c e r Ed i n g t o n o n v o i r d i re o u t s i d e t h e p re s e n c e o f t h e j u ry to q u e s ti on h i m r e g ar d i n g th e a dm

i n i s tr a ti on of th e f i e l d s ob r i e ty te s ts i n g e n e r a l an d

th e H GN te s ts i n part i cul ar. T h e o f

f i cer t es t i f i ed t h at h e po s i

t i o n ed A ppel l an t t o s t an d wi

t h h i s l egs an d f

eet t o get h er wi t h h i s h an ds at h i s s i de. Of

f i cer E di n gt o n t o o k o ut h i s i

n k pen an d as ked wh et h er A

ppel l an t was
wea ri n g co n t act s o r gl as s es . He po s i

t i o n ed t h e pen t wel

v e t o f i f t een i n ch es f ro m A ppel l an t ’ s f ace . I n c he c k i ng f o rs mo o t h p ur s u i

t , O f f i c e rE d i ng t o n mo ve d

t he p e n t o t h e s id e f

o ro ne s e c o nd

and
m o v ed i t b ack t o c e nt e r at a rat e o f o n e s eco n d. He a dm

i t t ed t h at t h e NHTSA

man ual requi res
s l o wer mo v em

en t o f t h e o b j ect , mo v i n g i t t o ward t h e ear f

o r t wo s eco n ds an d t h en

ret urn i n g t o cen t er f o r t w o s e c o n d s . Co un s el t h en as ked Of f i cer Edin gt o n

t o ex pl ai n h i s a d m i n i s t rat i o n o f t h e t es t f o r di s t i n ct
n ys t a g mu s a t ma x imu m d e v ia t io n . E d in g t o n t e s t if ie d t h a t h e t o o k

t h e s t imu lu s s lig h

t ly a b o v e e ye l ev el , t wel

v e t o f i f t een i n ch es f r o m t h e cen t ero f t h e f ace, mo v i ng t h e pen t o t h e o ut war d- mo st po rt i o n o f o n e ey e s o t h at t h ere was al

m o s t n o v i s i

b l e wh i t e at t h e co rn er. He t h en mo v ed t h e pen b a c k t o t h e c e n t e r o f t h e fa c e an d p a s s e d it t o t h e o u t e rmo s t p o r t io n o f t h e o t h e re ye . T imi

n g is i m p o rt an t t o t h i s p art o f

t h e t e s t an d

re qu i re s a m i n i m u m o f s i x s e c o n d s p e r e ye . F i n al l y , Of f i cer Edin gt o n

ex pl ai n ed t h e t es t t o det erm

i n e t h e o n s et o f n

y s t agm us pri o r t o 45 degrees
. He t o o k ei gh

t s eco n ds per ey

e an d ch ecke d eac h ey

e o n ce. Def

en s e co un s el

po i n t ed o ut t h at t h e NHTSA

man ual adv i s es f o ur sec o n ds rat h er t h an

ei gh t s eco n ds per ey

e. T h e o f f i cer adm i t t edt h at h e s h o ul d h av e perf o rm ed t h e t es t t wi ce. At t h e co n cl us i o n o f t h e v o i r di re exa m i na t i o n, A p p e l l an t a s k e d t h e c o u r t t o e x c l

u d e a l l t e s t i mo n y w i t h re g ard t o t h e H GN t e s t i

n g . Th e c o u rt
o ve rru l e d t he o bj e c t i o n: Th e C o urt : I’ m aw are o f i t
. I’ v e re a d i

t
. I am c o n c e rn e d t h a t t h e d e v i a t i o n s w e re s ome w h a t s i g n i f

i cant b u t I am

g oi n g to a l l owth e te s ti

mon y . S o I o ve rru l e yo ur o bj e c t i o n. I w i l l a l l o wi t bu t I may

r e c o ns i d e rt hi s o n a moti on f ur th e rd ow n

th e r oa d i f i

t b e c ome s n e c e s s ary to d o i t. B u t f or ri g h t n o w , yo ur ob

j e c t i o n i s o v e rru l e d
. Anal y s is F o re x p e r t t e s t imo n

y t o b e a dmis s ib le , t h e w it n e s s mu s t b e qu a lifie d b y “kn o w le d g e , s k ill , ex peri en ce, t rai

n i n g, o r educat i o n

. . . . ” T EX .R .E V ID . 702. T h e pro po n en t m us t dem o n s t rat e t h at t h e w i t n e s s i s qu a l i f

i e d a s an e x

p e rt o n t h e s p e c i f

i c ma t t e r i n qu e s t i o n . W

y att v . State , 23 S. W
. 3d 18, 27 ( T ex . Cr i

m . A pp . 20 00 )
. T o b e co n si der ed r el i ab l e, ev i den ce b ased o n a sci en t i f i c t h eo ry m ust
s a t i s f y t hr e e c r i t e r i a : ( 1 ) t he und e r l

y i ng s c i e nt i f

i c t he o ry m

u s t be va l i d ; ( 2 ) t he t e c hni qu e a p p l y i ng t he t h e o r y m u st be val i d ; and ( 3 ) t he t e c hn i qu e m u st have bee n a

p p l i e d p r o p e r l

y o n t he o c c a si o nin qu e s t i o n . K

e lly v . State , 8 2 4 S.W .2 d

5 6 8 , 5 7 3 (Te x .C ri

m .A p p . 1 9 9 2 ). T h e Co ur t o f

Cr i m i n al A pp eal s h as det er m

i n ed t h at b o t h

t h e t h eo ry

un der l y i n g t h e HGN t est
an d t h e t e c h

n i qu e e m p l o ye d i n a dm i n i s t e ri n g i t are s u f f i c i e n t l y re l i a b l e . Se e Eme r

s on v . State , 880 S
. W
. 2 d 7 5 9 , 7 6 8 ( T e x . C r i

m . A p p . 1 9 9 4 )
. F orte s ti

mon y c on c e rn i n g a d e f e n d an t’ s p e r f or man c e on t h e H GN t e s t t o b e a dm

i s s i b l e , i t m u s t b e s h o w n t h a t t h e t e s t i f y i n g w i t n e s s i s qu a l i f

i e d a s an e x p e rt
c o n c e rn i n g i t s a dm i n i s t rat i o n an d t e c h n i qu e . Emer

s on , 8 8 0 S
. W. 2 d

a t 7 6 9
. A l awe nf

o r c e me nt of f i c e ri s qu a l i f

i e d a s an e x p e r t i f h e h a s r e c e i

v e d p r a c ti ti on e r c e r ti f

i c a ti on b y th e S tate of T e x a s to
a dm i n i s t e r t h e H GN t e s t i

n g . Id
. B u t t h is is n o t t h e e x c lu s iv e me an s b y w h ic h an o ff ic e rmay qu a lif

y. Se e K e r r v . State , 9 2 1 S.W .2 d

4 9 8 , 5 0 2 (Te x .A

p p .--F o rt W o rt h

1 9 9 6 , n o p e t .)(Emer

s on d oe s n ot
r e qu i r e th a t an e x p e r t m u s t b e c e r ti f

i e d b y th e S ta te of T e x a s b e f or e h i s te s ti

mon y on th e s u b j e c t ofH GN t e st w i l l be a dm i ss i bl e ) ; s e e als o Elli

s v . State , 86 S. W
. 3d 759, 761 (T ex . A pp. -- W aco 2002, p e t . re f ’ d ) reaf f irm ing its holding

i n Sm ith v . State , 6 5 S
. W. 3 d 3 3 2 , 3 4 4 ( T e x. Ap p . - - Wa c o 2 0 0 1 , no p e t .) that E mer

s on do es n o t requi

re t h at cert i f

i cat i o n b e i s s ued b y

t h e St at e. Rat h er, i f

i t i s s h o wn t h at t h e o f

f i cer h as ex

t en s i v e t rai n i n g an d ex peri en ce i n adm i n i s t eri n g t h e t es t , an d h as b een

cert i f i ed t h roug h a t ra i n i n g c o urs e s p e c i f

i c a l l y i n c l u d i n g t h e a dm

i n i s t rat i o n o f t h e H GN t e s t , t h e t ri a l

c o u rt d o e s no t a

bu s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i

n a l l o w i ng t he o f f i c e rt o t e s t i f

y a s an e xp e r t o n t he a dm i ni s t r a t i o n and t e c h n i qu e o f t h e H GN t e s t
. See Kerr , 921 S. W
. 2d at 502. I n E m e r s on , t he c o ur t d e t e r m

i ne d t ha t t he H GN t e c hni qu e ha d be e n a p p l i e d p r o p e r ly. Emer s on , 880 S. W
. 2d at 769. T h e co urt ex am i n ed t h e reco rd an d co n cl

uded t h at t h e t ech

n i que, as presc ri b ed b y t h e Uni t ed St at es Depa

rt men t o f T ran s po rt at i o n

an d t h e St at e o f

T ex as , was f

o l l o wed b y t h e o f f i c e r. Id
. T h e o ffic e r ’ s t e s t imo n y in d ic a t e d t h a t h e fo llo w e d t h e p r o c e d

ur e s a s o u t lin e d

in t h e D W I D e t e n

t i o n man u a l
. Id
. I n McRaev . State , t h e def en dan t co n t en ded t h at t h e t ri al

co urt err ed i n al l o wi n g t h e arrest i

n g o f f i cer t o t es t i f

y t h at h e s i gn al ed s i

x cl ues , t h e m

ax i m um n um b er po s s i b l e, b eca us e b y t h e o f f i cer’ s o wn adm

i s s i o n , h e adm

i n i s t ered t h e t es t i

n co rr ect l y . 152 S. W
. 3d 739, 743 ( T e x . A p p . - - H ou s ton

[ 1 s t D i s t.] 2 0 0 4 p e t. r e f

’ d
. )
. H e te s ti f

i e d th a t h e a dm

i n i s te r e d a l l th r e e p ar ts of t h e H GN t e s t , b u t a t t h e a dminis t r a t iv e lic e n s e r e v o c a t io n h e ar in g , t h e o ffic e r t e s t ifie d h e h a d o n ly adm i n i s t ered t wo po rt i o n s . He h ad n o t co n duct ed t h e o n s et -o f -n y s t agm us po rt i o n

o f t h e t es t
. He
a l s o a dm i t t e d t o mak i ng s e ve r a l m i s s t a t e me nt s . Fo re xam

p l e , hi s t e s t i

mo ny d i f f e r e d c o nc e rni ng t he
nu m be ro f s e c o nd s i t t o o k t o c o nd u c t t he s mo o t h p ur s u i

t and ma xi m u m d e vi at i o n p o r t i o ns o f

t he H GN t e s t
. Id
. H e a ls o a dmit t e d t h a t h e ma d e o n ly o n e p a s s o f e a c h e ye r a t h e r t h an t w o , an d t h a t h is f a i l ure t o mak e t w o p a s s e s o f e a c h e ye w a s a

v i o l a t i o n o f t h e g u i d e l i

n e s i n t h e N H TSA

man u a l
. Id
. T he c o ur t r e c o g niz e d t ha t s l i g ht d e vi a t i o ns i n t he t i m i ng o f t he H GN t e s t d o no t a f f e c t e it h e r t he t e c h n i qu e o r t h e a dm

i s s i b i l i t y o f t h e H GN e v i d e n c e . Id ., c iti ng C om pto n v . State , 120 S. W
. 3d 375,3 7 8 ( T e x . A p p . - - T e x a r k an a

2 0 0 3 , p e t
. r e f’ d )
. B u t b e c a u s e t h e o ffic e ra c kn o w le d g e d t h a t h is adm i n i s t rat i o n o f t h e t es t was i

n v al i d, t h e co urt co ul d n o t co n cl ude t h at t h e HGNt ech

n i que wa s p r o p er l y ap p l i ed, n o r c o u l d i t c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e e rror w a s me re l y a s l i g h t v ari a t i o n . Id
. at 744. I n C om pto n v . State , t h e d e fe n d an t ’ s p r in c ip a l ar g u me n

t w a s t h a t t h e o ffic e rfa ile d t o p r e c is e ly f o l l o wt he D WI D e t e c t io nM anu a l ’s i ns t ru c t i o ns f

o ra dm i ni s t e r i ng bo t h t he s mo o t h p ur s u i t and
max i m um dev i at i o n po rt i o n s o f t h e HGNt es t
. 120 S. W
. 3d 375, 378 (T ex . A pp. -- T ex arkan a 2003, pet
. r e f ’ d )
. T h e d e f

e n d an t c om p l a i n e d th e of f i c e ra dm i n i s te r e d th e s mooth

p ur s u i t te s t i n e l e v en
s ec o n d s r at h er t h an

s i xt e e n s e c o n d s . Id
. He a

rgued t h at t h e i

n creas ed s peed a

mo un t ed t o an i n a p p ropri a t e a

p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e t e c h

n i qu e , i n v a l i d a t i n g t h e re s u l

t s . Id
. T he c o ur t r e

j e c t e d t he
ar g u me nt be c a

u s e , i f a c c e p t e d , i

t w o u l d e f f e c t i ve l y ne g a t e t he u s e f

u l ne s s o f t he t e s t s e nt i

r e l y and any
v ari a t i o n i n t i m i n g w o u l d re qu i

re c o urt s t o e x c l

u d e t h e re s u l

t s a s un re l i a b l e . Id
. A s f

o r t h e m ax i m um d e v i a ti on p orti on of th e H GNte s t, th e d e f

e n d an t c on c e d e d

th a t th e of

f i c e rtoo k n i n e te e n s e c on d s to perf o r m t he t e s t , b ut argued t h at t h e t es t s h o ul d h av e t aken at l eas t t h i

rt y t wo s eco n ds

-- s i

xt een
s e c o n d s t o t e s t a t ma x i

m u m d evi at i o n , p l

u s s i xt e e n s e c o n d s t o p o s i

t i o n t h e e ye s . Id
. a t 3 7 9
. T he
c o ur t f o und t ha t a ny var i a t i o n i

n t he t i me t ak e n t o a

p p r o p r i a t e l

y p o s it io n t he e ye s w o u l d

have no
e f f ect o n t h e rel i ab i l i

t y o f t h e t es t an d co ul d n o t f o rm t h e b as i s f

o r ex cl udi n g t h e resul

t s f r o m t he
e v i d e n c e p re s e n

t e d a t t ri a l
. Id
. T h

u s , it w o u ld

b e un r e a s o n a b l e t o c o n c lu d e t h a t an y v ar iat io n

in adm i n i s t eri n g t h e t es t s , n o mat t er h o w s l i gh t , co ul d aut o mat i call

y un derm i n e t h e adm

i s s i b i l i t y o f an i n d i v i d u a l ’ s p o o r p e rf

o rm an c e o f t h e t e s t s . Id
. H e r e , Ap p e l l ant d o e s no t c ha l l e ng e t he qu a l i f i c a t i o ns o f O f

f i c e r E d i ng t o n a s an e xp e r t o n t he H GN te s ti

n g . I n s te a d , h e c om

p l a i n s th a t O f f i c e r E d i n g ton i m p r op e r l y a dm i n i s te r e d th e te s t. B oth McR ae an d Com

pton i n v o l v ed dev i at i o n s i

n t h e t i m i n g o f t h e HGNadm

i n i s t rat i o n , b ut McR ae al so i nvo l ve d m i s s t a t e me nt s ma d e by t he o f f i c e rand a c o m p l e t e f a i l ur e t o a dm

i ni s t e ro ne p o r t i o n o f

t heHGN t es t
. Such i s n o t t h e ca s e h ere. Of f i cer Edin gt o n

dev i at ed i

n t h e t i m i ng o f

t h e t es t s an d,
a l th ou g h th e tr i a l c our t op i n e d th a t th e d e v i a ti on s w e r e s ome w h a t s i g n i f i c an t, o ur c our ts h av e n ot h e l d th a t ti m i n g e rr or s a l on e j u s ti f

y ex clus i on

of H GN te s ti

mon y . B e c a u s e w e f i n d n o a b u s e of d i s c r e ti on , w e ov e rru l e P oi n t of E rr or T h r e e an d a f f i r m th e j u d g me n

t of th e tr i a l c our t.
J ul y 29, 2009 A NN C RA WF OR D M cC L URE , J

us t i ce Bef o r e Ch ew, C. J. , McCl

ur e, an d Car r , JJ. C arr , J
. , no t p ar t i c i

p a t i ng ( D o N o t P u

bl i s h)