AFFIRMED; Opinion Filed August 11, 2015.

In The

Court of Appeals

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

No. 05-14-00833-CR

No. 05-14-00834–CR

MALCOLM MCCLENON, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 363rd Judicial District Court

Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court Cause Nos. F12-54585-W & F12-54586-W

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before Justices Fillmore, Myers, and Evans

Opinion by Justice Myers

Appellant Malcolm McClendon was indicted for intentionally and knowingly possessing 

marijuana in an amount of fifty pounds or less but more than five pounds.1 The State alleged

appellant used or exhibited a deadly weapon in the commission of the offense. Appellant also 

was indicted for the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.2 Appellant pleaded not guilty to 

the charges and pleaded not true to the deadly weapon allegation. The jury found appellant 

guilty as charged, made an affirmative deadly weapon finding, and assessed punishment at 

fifteen years’ imprisonment in the marijuana case and ten years in the firearm case. The trial 

court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently. In three issues, appellant argues the 

 

1

Cause number 05-14-00833-CR; trial court cause number F12-54585-W.

2

Cause number 05-14-00834-CR; trial court cause number F12-54586-W. 
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evidence is insufficient to support the convictions for possession of marijuana and possession of 

a firearm by a felon, and that he used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the 

possession of marijuana offense. We affirm. 

DISCUSSION

Possession of Marijuana

In his first issue, appellant contends the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction 

in 05–14–00833–CR for possession of marijuana in the amount of fifty pounds or less but more 

than five pounds. He argues that he was not in close proximity to the drugs, nor is there 

evidence the drugs were found in plain view while appellant was in the home, and that he did not 

have exclusive custody and control of the house where the drugs were found. Appellant also 

argues the other factors do not link him to the contraband. 

In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we view all the evidence in the light most 

favorable to the verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the 

essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 

313 (1979); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 899 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). We assume the fact 

finder resolved conflicts in testimony, weighed the evidence, and drew reasonable inferences in a 

manner that supports the verdict. Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). 

We also defer to the trier of fact’s determination of witness credibility and the weight to be given 

their testimony. Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 899.

To establish unlawful possession of a controlled substance, the State must prove that 

appellant exercised control, management, or care of the substance, and that he knew the matter 

possessed was contraband. See Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402, 405 (Tex. Crim. App. 

2005). The evidence may be either direct or circumstantial, but must show appellant’s 

connection to the drugs was more than just fortuitous. See Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 161–
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62 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Although appellant’s mere presence where drugs are found, without 

more, is insufficient to establish possession, appellant’s proximity to the drugs combined with 

other evidence can prove possession beyond a reasonable doubt. See id. at 162.

A nonexclusive list of factors that can be sufficient either singly or in combination, to 

establish possession of contraband include: (1) presence when search is conducted; (2) whether 

the contraband is in plain view; (3) proximity to and the accessibility of the contraband, (4) the 

accused being under the influence of narcotics when arrested; (5) possession of other contraband 

or narcotics when arrested; (6) incriminating statements made by the accused when arrested; (7) 

an attempt to flee; (8) furtive gestures; (9) an odor of contraband; (10) the presence of other 

contraband or drug paraphernalia; (11) whether the accused owned or had the right to possess the 

place where the drugs were found; (12) whether the place where the drugs were found was 

enclosed; (13) possession of a large amount of cash; (14) conduct indicating a consciousness of 

guilt; (15) the quantity of the contraband; and (16) whether the accused was the driver of the 

automobile in which the contraband was found. See Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 162 n.12; McQuarters 

v. State, 58 S.W.3d 250, 259 (Tex. App.––Fort Worth 2001, pet. ref’d). The number of factors 

linking a defendant to contraband is not as important as the logical force they create to support 

an inference of knowing possession of contraband. Taylor v. State, 106 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex. 

App.––Dallas 2003, no pet.). 

The evidence in this case shows that at around 11:30 a.m. on April 17, 2012, Dallas 

Police Officer Daniel Foster and several other officers conducted a “knock-and-talk” 

investigation at a duplex house located at 310 Cumberland Street, Dallas, Texas. The officers 

were part of a narcotics team and their investigation was in response to a “drug complaint” the

department had received. After Officer Foster knocked on the door, appellant opened the door 

“fairly quickly,” exited, and closed it behind him. He was talking on a cell phone. The officers 
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could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside the house. In response to Officer Foster’s 

questions, appellant said he lived at the location. After appellant stepped outside and shut the 

door, another officer told Officer Foster he had seen someone run up and lock the door behind 

appellant. That officer, Chris Wagner, testified that he had looked through the window into the 

living room after appellant stepped outside and saw a man wearing a white t-shirt run to the front 

door and lock it, grab a small bag from the floor area, and then run to the rear of the residence. 

The bag was later recovered during the search and marijuana was found inside. 

When Detective Foster asked appellant whether there were any other people living in the 

house, appellant admitted there were other people in the house. Appellant knocked on the front 

door––he discovered it had been locked behind him––and two other people came out onto the 

porch area. Appellant told Officer Foster he had been renting the house, living there for the last 

two or two and a half weeks, and that he was working on the house for the “manager,” who lived 

next door. Appellant told the officers the other two individuals, Dominique Sharper and Michael 

Kelly, were just visiting him. Appellant admitted they had been smoking marijuana but denied 

there were any other drugs in the house. 

Officer Foster asked appellant for consent to search the house. Appellant replied that he 

would prefer they ask the “manager” for consent to search because he owned the property; 

appellant was just renting the apartment from him. Another officer knocked on the door but they 

were unable to make contact with anyone at the next door unit; it appeared to be vacant. Officer 

Foster testified that after he informed appellant there was probable cause to believe there were 

drugs inside the house and that the officers could obtain a search warrant, appellant consented to 

letting the officers search the house.

Upon commencing the search, the first thing officers found was ten bags of marijuana 

shoved under a staircase that was under construction at the rear of the house. Officer Wagner 
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testified that someone walking down the stairs would not see the bags of marijuana, but they 

would be able to see them if they were going up the stairs. Officer Wagner also discovered a 

“cutout” with a shelf in the wall of the dining room. The shelf was loose. When he picked up 

the shelf, Officer Wagner found a hidden compartment containing more marijuana and a gun. 

The gun was ready to fire. Officer Wagner testified that a person walking through the room 

would not know the hidden compartment was there. Officer Wagner also testified that they 

found a scale containing marijuana residue and a large number of empty bags that could have 

been used to break the marijuana down to sell it on the street. In the living room, officers found 

a container inscribed with the phrase, “A friend with weed is a friend indeed,” and a Tupperware 

container with the word “kush” on it. Another officer, Rebecca Barrios, testified that she found 

mail with appellant’s name on it. The mail, which was found on a coffee table, was addressed to 

appellant at an address on Abrams Road, Dallas, Texas, and was dated December 1, 2011. 

Officers found a Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Parole Division, “electronic monitoring 

program/daily curfew schedule” that contained appellant’s printed name, TDCJ number, and the 

same Abrams Road address. The schedule stated it was valid from May 12, 2011 until 

completed successfully. Officers also found a red cell phone and a black cell phone. 

A total of $975 in various denominations of currency was found during the search: 35 

$20 bills (totaling $700), 15 $10 bills ($150), 15 $5 bills ($75), 40 $1 ($40), and 40 quarters 

($10). Officer Barrios testified that the large number of $20 bills was consistent with someone 

dealing drugs on a $20-a-gram level. Additionally, Michael Kelly, appellant’s cousin, testified 

that appellant’s financial situation was precarious: 

Q. [PROSECUTOR:] Did he seem to be getting by? What was his financial 

situation?

A. Really, there was no financial situation.

Q. What do you mean?
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A. He really didn’t have money. Didn’t have money. You know, what he had is 

what people would help him out. I never known him to have since then no more 

than 30 or $40. To him, it was like he had money.

Q. 30 or $40 was a lot to him?

A. Not a lot of money, but he looked at it was enough for him to get by that day 

and probably until the next day. “I got money, 30 or $40,” you know.

I’m, “Yeah, okay. You got money.”

Q. He was kind of one of those guys that lived day to day?

A. Yeah.

Officers found a total of 5.85 pounds, or 2653.56 grams, of marijuana during their search 

of the home according to Lauren Woolridge, a drug chemist with the Southwestern Institute of 

Forensic Sciences. Officer Wagner testified that the marijuana was a high-grade variety known 

as “kush,” “hydro,” or “popcorn weed,” and that it is more expensive, stronger, and more 

pungent than “regular” marijuana. He testified that such a large amount of a high-grade 

marijuana would have given off a distinct odor. Given the strong smell, he believed someone 

living in the home would have been aware of the marijuana. Officer Wagner also testified that 

the house was “[p]retty small.” Woolridge agreed that, at $20 a gram, the estimated value of the 

marijuana found in the house would have been $53,071.20. 

Detective Timothy Falk, a narcotics detective with the Dallas Police Department, testified 

that he obtained a search warrant for the two cell phones seized from the residence. He found 

text messages on both phones that seemed indicative of drug transactions. On the red phone, 

there were pictures of money and a gun similar to the one seized in this case. Detective Falk 

testified, however, that there were no text messages or photos on either phone that could be 

connected to appellant. 

The evidence showed appellant was present when the search was conducted. A portion 

of the 5.85 pounds of marijuana recovered from the property was stashed beneath an unfinished 
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stairway at the back of the house. Officer Foster testified that the bags of marijuana would have 

been visible to someone going up the stairs. More marijuana and the gun were found in a hidden 

compartment in the dining room. Officer Foster testified the house was “pretty small,” and the

marijuana was hidden in such a way as to be accessible only to one who exercised control over 

the house. Appellant admitted to law enforcement officers, and he testified at trial, that he was 

smoking marijuana on April 17, 2012, when the officers arrived. Officer Foster testified that 

individuals will sometimes attempt to minimize their guilt by admitting to the possession of 

smaller amounts of drugs while denying any knowledge of larger quantities of drugs found at a 

location. Officer Foster also testified that, when he knocked on the door, appellant opened the

door, walked onto the porch, and quickly shut the door behind him. Another officer observed an 

individual locking the door behind appellant and then picking up a bag and carrying it to the rear 

of the house. The bag was recovered during the search and marijuana was found inside. Officer 

Foster testified that he could smell the odor of marijuana emanating from the house. The 

evidence showed the marijuana found at the property was of a high-grade quality and that it gave 

off a strong, pungent odor that would have been difficult for the occupants of the house to 

ignore. Officers also found a large number of baggies and a scale, and two containers were 

found in the living room with inscriptions indicating they had been used for marijuana. The 

evidence found in the house suggested the marijuana was being broken down, packaged, and 

sold out of the house. Appellant told the officers he lived at the location and that the other two 

individuals who were with him were just visiting. He said he was renting the house from the

“manager” that lived next door, but when officers knocked on the door to the next-door unit, it 

appeared to be unoccupied. A total of $975 in various denominations of U.S. currency was 

found during the search. Appellant, however, was unemployed at the time of his arrest, and 

when appellant’s cousin, Kelly, was asked about appellant’s financial situation, he responded, in 
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part, that “there was no financial situation” and that appellant “really didn’t have money.” Other 

evidence showed that the large number of $20 bills found by officers (totaling $700 out of the 

$975 recovered) was consistent with someone dealing drugs on a $20-a-gram level. Viewing the 

evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude the evidence in this case is

sufficient to link appellant to the marijuana. We overrule appellant’s first issue.

Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

In his second issue, appellant contends the evidence is insufficient to support the

conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon. 

The indictment in 05–14–00834–CR alleged that on or about April 17, 2012, appellant 

intentionally and knowingly possessed a firearm, to wit: a handgun, and that the possession was 

before the fifth anniversary of his release from parole for a prior felony conviction. See TEX.

PENAL CODE ANN. § 46.04(a)(1).3 “Possession’ means actual care, custody, control, or 

management.” Id. § 1.07(a)(39). As in cases involving the possession of a controlled substance, 

when an individual is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm, the State must prove the 

accused (1) exercised care, custody, control, or management over the firearm, and (2) knew the 

object was a firearm. See Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 161; Poindexter, 153 S.W.3d at 405. If the 

accused is not in exclusive possession of the area where the contraband or firearm is found, the 

evidence must link the accused to the contraband or weapon. Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 162; 

Poindexter, 153 S.W.3d at 406. Regardless of whether the evidence used is direct or 

circumstantial, the State must establish that the accused’s connection with the firearm was more 

than just fortuitous. Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 161. As we noted earlier, mere presence at the 

location where the contraband is found is insufficient, by itself, to establish actual care, custody, 

 

3

Appellant stipulated to the underlying felony at the beginning of trial, so the only issue before us is whether the evidence is sufficient to 

support the possession element. 
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or control of the contraband. Id. at 162. But when combined with other links, either direct or 

circumstantial, presence or proximity may be sufficient to establish that element beyond a 

reasonable doubt. See id. There is no set formula to determine what links are sufficient and the 

number of links is not as important as the “logical force” or degree to which the factors, alone or 

in combination, tend to link the accused to the weapon. Id. Factors that may establish the link 

include (1) whether the contraband or weapon was in plain view or found on the accused; (2) the 

accused’s proximity and accessibility to the weapon or contraband; (3) whether the accused 

owned or controlled the place where the contraband or weapon was found; (4) whether the 

accused made any incriminating statements; (5) whether the accused tried to flee; and (6) 

whether the accused made furtive gestures. Id. at 162 n.12; Poindexter, 153 S.W.3d at 409–12. 

The jury in this case could have reasonably concluded appellant’s connection to the 

firearm was more than fortuitous. The firearm was found, along with some of the marijuana, in a

hidden compartment in the dining room. Officer Wagner testified that a person walking through 

the dining room would not have known about the hidden compartment. Appellant testified that 

because the house was being remodeled and only one room was furnished, he was essentially 

living in one room while he stayed there. Appellant told the officers that while he lived at the 

310 Cumberland Street address, the other two individuals were just visiting. Although the gun 

and some of the marijuana were found in the hidden shelf compartment, Officer Foster testified 

that the marijuana seized from the house was a high-grade quality and had a strong, pungent odor 

that would have been apparent to anyone in the house. Appellant, in fact, expressed familiarity 

with the type and quality of the “kush” marijuana seized in this case, stating on crossexamination that he was familiar with it because he was a “pothead.” Kelly testified that, about a 

week before the arrest, he went to the house and saw a firearm in the back of the house where the 

remodeling work was being done. The gun “was sitting on the counter” and “was out in the 
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open.” At the time he saw the firearm, the owner of the house, “Mr. D,” was at the house and he 

and appellant were outside talking. Kelly had gone into the house looking for the bathroom and 

went in the wrong direction. He testified that after he saw the gun he went outside and told 

appellant and Mr. D, “Hey, somebody needs to go put that up.” After reviewing the evidence in 

the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude the evidence is sufficient for a rational jury 

to find beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant exercised care, custody, control, or management 

of the firearm. The jury was not required to believe appellant’s testimony that he had no idea to 

whom the handgun belonged. See Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 166. Accordingly, the evidence is 

sufficient to support the jury’s verdict. We overrule appellant’s second issue.

Use or Exhibition of a Deadly Weapon

In his third issue, appellant argues the evidence is insufficient to support the finding in 

05–14–00833–CR that he used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the 

possession of marijuana offense. 

Article 42.12, section 3g(a)(2) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure permits the entry 

of a deadly weapon finding when it is shown that a defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon, 

or he was a party to the offense and knew that a deadly weapon would be used or exhibited. See

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, § 3g(a)(2). In the context of a deadly weapon finding, 

the term “use” means any employment of a deadly weapon, even simple possession, if that 

possession facilitates the associated felony. Coleman v. State, 145 S.W.3d 649, 652 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2004); Patterson v. State, 769 S.W.2d 938, 941 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). However, the 

term “exhibit” requires a weapon to be consciously shown, displayed or presented to be viewed. 

Coleman, 145 S.W.3d at 652; Patterson, 769 S.W.2d at 941.

When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a deadly weapon finding, the 

issue is whether the weapon was found to have facilitated the defendant’s possession and 
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intended distribution of the drugs. See Coleman, 145 S.W.3d at 655. The defendant’s proximity 

to the gun at the time of the search is not dispositive. Id. at 654. Likewise, ownership is not 

necessary to establish that a defendant used a deadly weapon in violation of article 42.12, section 

3g. Smith v. State, 176 S.W.3d 907, 919 (Tex. App.––Dallas 2005, pet. ref’d). The focus is on 

the proximity of the guns to the drugs, not the proximity of the guns to the defendant. See 

Coleman, 145 S.W.3d at 654–55; see also Moreno v. State, 978 S.W.2d 285, 289 (Tex. App.––

Fort Worth 1998, no pet.) (defendant “used” weapons found in container lying beside concealed 

cocaine to facilitate his possession of narcotics with intent to distribute). We must determine 

whether the cumulative effect of the factors could have allowed a rational jury to determine that 

the defendant used the weapons to protect the drugs and the proceeds therefrom. Coleman, 145 

S.W.3d at 655. If we determine the State failed to show a defendant used a deadly weapon in the 

commission of an offense, we may delete the deadly weapon finding. See Drichas v. State, 175 

S.W.3d 795, 798 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).

Officer Foster testified that they found the handgun hidden along with a quantity of the 

marijuana in the shelf compartment. A handgun is a deadly weapon per se. TEX. PENAL CODE 

ANN. § 1.07(a)(17)(A). Evidence showed that the handgun, which had been reported stolen out 

of College Station, was loaded; it had eight rounds in the clip and one in the chamber. The gun 

was ready to be fired. As Officer Wagner noted, “All you have to do is pull the trigger.” Other 

evidence showed it is very common for people selling drugs to be armed in order to protect their

drug supply. A rational trier of fact could have found that appellant “used” the weapon to 

facilitate his possession and intended distribution of the narcotics. See Coleman, 145 S.W.3d at 

655. Therefore, the evidence in this case is sufficient for the jury to have concluded appellant 

used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the possession of marijuana 

offense. We overrule appellant’s third issue.
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We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

/ Lana Myers/

LANA MYERS

JUSTICE

Do Not Publish

TEX. R. APP. P. 47

140833F.U05
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Court of Appeals

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

JUDGMENT

MALCOLM MCCLENON, Appellant

No. 05-14-00833-CR V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 363rd Judicial District 

Court, Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. F12-54585-W.

Opinion delivered by Justice Myers. Justices 

Fillmore and Evans participating.

Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 11th day of August, 2015.
–14–

Court of Appeals

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

JUDGMENT

MALCOLM MCCLENON, Appellant

No. 05-14-00834-CR V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 363rd Judicial District 

Court, Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. F12-54586-W.

Opinion delivered by Justice Myers. Justices 

Fillmore and Evans participating.

Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 11th day of August, 2015.