Court Opinion

ID: 3089622
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 03:48:18.155449+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:06.274685
License: Public Domain

In
The
                                                Court
of Appeals
                        Sixth
Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
 
                                                ______________________________
 
                                                             No. 06-10-00162-CR
                                                ______________________________
 
 
                                      VAUGHN RAY BELL,
Appellant
 
                                                                V.
 
                                     THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
 
 
                                                                                                  

 
 
                                       On Appeal from the 336th
Judicial District Court
                                                             Fannin County, Texas
                                                      Trial Court No. CR-09-23218
 
                                                   
                                               
 
 
 
                                          Before Morriss, C.J.,
Carter and Moseley, JJ.
                                                    Opinion by Chief Justice Morriss
                                                 Dissenting Opinion
by Justice Carter

                                                                   O P I N I O N
 
            In light of the Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals recent opinion in Snowden
v. State, No. PD-1524-10, 2011 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1321 (Tex. Crim. App.
Sept. 28, 2011) (designated for publication), we have withdrawn our previous
opinion in this case issued September 14, 2011, and substitute this
opinion.  See Tex. R. App. P.
19.1.
            At some point during Vaughn Ray Bell’s
Fannin County jury trial for possessing the drug Ecstasy[1]—and
without the record reflecting any action or threat by Bell that warranted such action—some
form of physical restraint was placed on his person for the remainder of his
trial.[2]
            On appeal, Bell asserts that the
evidence is insufficient to link him to the contraband and that the trial court
reversibly erred in shackling Bell during trial.  We conclude (1) sufficient evidence links
Bell to the Ecstasy and (2) shackling Bell during trial, without individualized
evidence of danger from Bell, was error, but (3) the shackling error was
harmless.
(1)        Sufficient
Evidence Links Bell to the Ecstasy
            Bell argues the evidence is legally
insufficient to link him to the contraband. 
The State responds that the evidence is sufficient to tend to connect
Bell to the contraband.
            In evaluating legal sufficiency, we
review all the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court’s
judgment to determine whether any rational jury could have found the essential
elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.  Brooks
v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 912 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979));
Hartsfield v. State, 305 S.W.3d 859,
863 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2010, pet. ref’d). 
Our rigorous legal sufficiency review focuses on the quality of the
evidence presented.  Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 917 (Cochran, J., concurring).  We examine legal sufficiency under the
direction of the Brooks opinion,
while giving deference to the responsibility of the jury “to fairly resolve
conflicts in testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable
inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts.” 
Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9,
13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (citing Jackson,
443 U.S. at 318–19); Clayton v. State,
235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
            At trial, the State was required to
prove that Bell exercised control, custody, management, or care over the Ecstasy
and that he knew the matter possessed was contraband.  See
Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 161 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); see also Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 1.07(a)(39) (West 2011).  Mere presence at the location where drugs are
found is insufficient, by itself, to establish actual care, custody, or control
of those drugs.  Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 162. 
Presence or proximity to drugs, however, when combined with other direct
or circumstantial evidence, may be sufficient to establish control, management,
custody, or care if the proof amounts to more than a strong suspicion or
probability.  Id.  “The ‘affirmative links
rule’ is designed to protect the innocent bystander from conviction based
solely upon his fortuitous proximity to someone else’s drugs.”  Poindexter
v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402, 406 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
When
the accused is not in exclusive possession of the place where the substance is
found, it cannot be concluded that the accused had knowledge of and control
over the contraband unless there are additional independent facts and
circumstances which affirmatively link the accused to the contraband.
 
Deshong v. State, 625 S.W.2d 327, 329 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel
Op.] 1981).
            One or more of the factors from the
following nonexclusive list have been used to establish a person’s possession
of contraband:
(1) the contraband was in plain view or recovered from an
enclosed place; (2) the accused was the owner of the premises or the place
where the contraband was found; (3) the accused was found with a large amount
of cash; (4) the contraband was conveniently accessible to the accused; (5) the
contraband was found in close proximity to the accused; (6) a strong residual
odor of the contraband was present; (7) the accused possessed other contraband
when arrested; (8) paraphernalia to use the contraband was in view, or found on
the accused; (9) the physical condition of the accused indicated recent
consumption of the contraband in question; (10) conduct by the accused
indicated a consciousness of guilt; (11) the accused attempted to flee; (12)
the accused made furtive gestures; (13) the accused had a special connection to
the contraband; (14) the occupants of the premises gave conflicting statements
about relevant matters; (15) the accused made incriminating statements
connecting himself or herself to the contraband; (16) the quantity of the
contraband; and (17) the accused was observed in a suspicious area under
suspicious circumstances.
 
Muckleroy v. State, 206 S.W.3d 746, 748 n.4 (Tex. App.—Texarkana
2006, pet. ref’d); see Evans, 202
S.W.3d at 162 n.12.  The number of links
present is not as important as the degree to which they tend to link the
defendant to the controlled substance.  Taylor v. State, 106 S.W.3d 827, 831
(Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.).
            While on patrol, Kevin Sanmann, a trooper
with the Texas Department of Public Safety, noticed the vehicle driving
immediately behind him lacked a front license plate and conducted a traffic
stop.  After initiating contact with the
driver, Sanmann detected a moderate odor of marihuana in the vehicle.  The driver of the vehicle informed Sanmann
that he did not have a driver’s license. 
After questioning the driver outside the vehicle, Sanmann approached
Bell, who was still sitting in the passenger seat.  Sanmann observed marihuana residue “on both
sides of [Bell’s] legs and a little bit right in the center, between his legs.”  Sanmann then requested Bell to step out of
the vehicle and conducted a warrant check using Bell’s name and date of
birth.  The warrant check discovered the
existence of a warrant for Bell’s arrest. 
Sanmann conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered marihuana
residue on the passenger seat and passenger floorboard, as well as a pill
bottle located between the console and the passenger seat.  The pill bottles contained pills with a stamp
resembling a fish.  Sanmann testified
pills containing stamps that resemble “objects or images” are “usually Ecstasy.”  Neither Bell nor the driver “accept[ed]
responsibility” for the pill bottle.  Due
to the position of the pill bottle, Sanmann arrested Bell. 
            In addition to Bell’s presence at
the scene, there are multiple factors linking Bell to the Esctasy. Bell was closer
to the contraband and the contraband was more accessible to Bell.  The pill bottle was “shoved down” between the
console and the passenger seat.  The pill
bottle was in plain view.  Sanmann
testified that the top quarter of the pill bottle was exposed and that it could
be seen outside the vehicle.  Bell
possessed other contraband, marihuana, in the same vicinity as the Esctasy.  Besides the small amount of marihuana residue
observed on the passenger seat,[3] Sanmann testified “[j]ust
very little” residue was on Bell’s clothes. 
Sanmann testified he did not discover any marihuana residue on the
driver’s side of the vehicle.  The jury
could have reasonably concluded Bell made furtive gestures.  While questioning the driver, Sanmann
observed Bell, who was a passenger in the vehicle, “inside the car, moving
around.”  Although the record does not
conclusively establish these gestures were furtive, a rational juror could have
concluded they were.[4]  Bell owned or had a greater right of
possession of the vehicle where the contraband was located.  Sanmann testified that the car belonged to Bell’s
wife, Tanya.[5]  
            Viewing these factors in the light
most favorable to the verdict and since it was within the purview of the jury
to weigh credibility and conflicts in the evidence, we conclude that a rational
juror could find the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable
doubt.  The evidence supporting Bell’s
conviction was sufficient to show Bell had control, management, custody, or
care over the Esctasy.
(2)        Shackling Bell During Trial, Without Individualized Evidence of Danger
from Bell, Was Error
 
            Bell also argues that his rights to
due process and presumption of innocence were violated by his being restrained
during trial.  Bell asserts that the
trial court has a routine practice of shackling all criminal defendants who are
in custody.
            After the trial on the merits began,
but before the conclusion of the guilt/innocence phase, the trial court ordered
Bell shackled.  The trial court’s
statements on the record strongly suggest its routine practice is to restrain
all criminal defendants who have not been released on bond.  The trial court stated, “Everybody who is in
custody has the same necessity of restraint.”[6]  With admirable candor,[7]
the State conceded at oral argument that the trial court routinely restrains
all criminal defendants who have not been released on bond.[8]
            In its brief, the State concedes the
trial court erred “by requiring Appellant to be shackled without finding a particularized
reason for shackling that was specific to Appellant.”  There is a good reason for this
concession—the law is well established that routine shackling of criminal
defendants is prohibited.  “The law has
long forbidden routine use of visible shackles during the guilt phase.”  Deck v.
Missouri, 544 U.S. 622, 626 (2005).
            Almost ninety years ago, the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals stated:
[I]f
the record discloses no good reason for having the prisoner manacled during the
trial the same will be cause for reversal; on the other hand, if, in the sound
discretion of the court, it appears necessary to retain his shackles to prevent
the escape or self-destruction of the prisoner, or to prevent him from injuring
bystanders or officers of the court, or if necessary to maintain a quiet and
peaceable trial, the court may try the prisoner without having the shackles
removed; his action being subject to the closest scrutiny and review by the
appellate court.
 
            . . . .
 
            We desire to make it perfectly plain
that we regard a trial with the prisoner in irons as obnoxious to the spirit of
our laws and all ideas of justice, and it is only when the record brings the
case clearly within one of the rare exceptions that we would consent for a
conviction to stand.  Before a judge
should permit a case to proceed under such circumstances, he should be very
sure of his ground.
 
Gray v. State,
268 S.W. 941, 949–50 (Tex. Crim. 1924) (op. on reh’g).  This general rule has been reaffirmed
repeatedly.
            The Fourteenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution and Article I, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution
guarantee criminal defendants the right to a fair trial.  U.S.
Const. amend. XIV; Tex. Const.
art. I, § 19; Wynn v. State, 219
S.W.3d 54, 59 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).  The use of restraints, such as shackles,
cannot be justified based on a general appeal to the need for courtroom
security or simple reference to the severity of the charged offense.  Long v.
State, 823 S.W.2d 259, 283 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).  The appearance of a defendant in shackles
before a jury during the guilt/innocence portion of trial, as well as the
punishment phase,[9] can violate the defendant’s
Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process.  Deck,
544 U.S. at 629–34 (2005).  “Visible
shackling undermines the presumption of innocence and the related fairness of
the factfinding process.”  Id. at 630.  In addition to undermining the presumption of
innocence, visible[10] shackling “can interfere
with the accused’s ‘ability to communicate’ with his lawyer,” ability to “participate
in his own defense[,]” and “‘affront[s]’ the ‘dignity and decorum of judicial
proceedings that the judge is seeking to uphold.’”  Id.
at 630–31.  For these reasons, shackling
is called for only in rare circumstances, and the record must detail the
grounds for such action.  Cooks v. State, 844 S.W.2d 697, 722
(Tex. Crim. App. 1992); Gray, 268
S.W. at 950.
            Before restraining a defendant at
trial, a trial court must set forth with specificity the reasons supporting its
decision to restrain the defendant.  Cooks, 844 S.W.2d 722; Long, 823 S.W.2d at 282 (“the record
must clearly and affirmatively reflect the trial judge’s reasons therefor”); Marquez v. State, 725 S.W.2d 217, 227
(Tex. Crim. App. 1987).  Only in rare
circumstances is shackling called for, and in such event, the record must
detail the grounds for such action.  Long, 823 S.W.2d at 282; Jacobs v. State, 787 S.W.2d 397, 407
(Tex. Crim. App. 1990); Marquez, 725
S.W.2d at 227.  Even if a trial court
does not err in ordering shackles, all efforts must be made to ensure the jury
does not view the defendant in shackles. 
Long, 823 S.W.2d at 282; Ziolkowski v. State, 223 S.W.3d 640, 643
(Tex. App.—Texarkana 2007, pet. ref’d).
            On appeal, the role of an appellate
court is to determine whether the trial court erred in ordering the restraints.  Long,
823 S.W.2d at 282.  Even in the face of error, reversal may not
be called for if such was harmless.  Cooks, 844 S.W.2d at 723; Long, 823 S.W.2d at 283.  In this case, the record fails to reveal any
reasons, other than a general concern for courtroom safety and general concern
that a criminal defendant might flee, to justify the use of restraints.  The trial court did not base its decision on
any evidence that Bell had previously committed violent acts, that Bell was
likely to flee, or that Bell had otherwise disrupted the trial.[11]
            Certainly courtrooms are places
where violence can occur.[12]  Our role is not to second guess the trial
court’s discretion in controlling the courtroom and ensuring the safety of the
litigants, participants, and witnesses in attendance.  If a criminal defendant has acted in a manner
providing justification for restraints, it is well within the trial court’s
sound discretion to order such defendant restrained during trial.  A trial court, though, abuses its discretion
when the court restrains a criminal defendant without reasons, on the record,
specific to that defendant.  Because the
record in this case fails to contain any justification for the shackling beyond
a general concern for courtroom safety, the shackling of Bell was error.
(3)        The
Shackling Error Was Harmless
            Bell argues, citing Deck, 544 U.S. at 629–34, that the State
has the burden to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the error was
harmless.  Because there is no evidence
the error did not result in harm, Bell argues the error was reversible.  In Deck,
the United States Supreme Court concluded that the lack of evidence showing no
harm mandated a reversal.  Id. at 634.  As noted above, Deck concerned visible restraints. 
The United States Supreme Court did not address whether the same
standards for harmless error would apply if the restraints are not perceived by
the jury.  We conclude Deck is distinguishable from this case
due to the fact that there is no evidence, in this case, that the restraints
were perceived by the jury.  To the
extent the tests may differ, we will evaluate the effect of the error in this
case under the Chapman test,[13] as codified by Rule 44.2(a)
of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure as
interpreted by Texas caselaw.
            In our original opinion in this
case, we used the factors announced in Harris
v. State, 790 S.W.2d 568 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989).  In Harris,
the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals provided the following guidance:
[T]he
court should examine the source of the error, the nature of the error, whether
or to what extent it was emphasized by the State, and its probable collateral
implications.  Further, the court should
consider how much weight a juror would probably place upon the error.  In addition, the Court must also determine
whether declaring the error harmless would encourage the State to repeat it
with impunity.  
 
Id.
at 587–88.
            In Motilla v. State, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals clarified
that overwhelming evidence of guilt, while not determinative, is a factor that
can also be considered.  78 S.W.3d 352,
356–57 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (explaining discussion in Harris concerning weight a juror would probably place on the error
factor).  In Mason v. State, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held the
factors announced in Harris are not applicable to Rule 44.2(b) of the Texas
Rules of Appellate Procedure harmless error analysis of nonconstitutional
errors.  322 S.W.3d 251, 258 n.10 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2010) (noting “that the Harris factors might still be applicable in
Rule 44.2(a) analyses”).
            Since our original opinion was
released, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has announced the elimination of
two of the Harris factors:  the source of the error and whether declaring
the error harmless would encourage repetition of the error with impunity.  Snowden,
2011 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1321.  The
court reasoned that the above two factors were punitive and that Harris erred in including “within its
ambit any concern for the integrity of future trials.”  Id.
at *17.  The court emphasized the inquiry
“should adhere strictly to the question of whether the error committed in a
particular case contributed to the verdict obtained in that case.”  Id.  The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, though,
did confirm that the remaining Harris
factors—the nature of the error, whether the error was emphasized by the State,
the probable implications of the error, and the weight the jury would likely
have assigned to it in the course of its deliberations—continue to be valid
considerations.  Id. at *18.  The court,
though, noted these factors “are not exclusive considerations in any particular
case” and our inquiry should be “whether, or to what extent, the error may have
contributed to the conviction.”  Id.
            The first remaining factor is the
nature of the error.  The error in this
case violates well established constitutional rights.  Conducting a trial where the defendant is in
shackles, without a particularized showing of the need for the shackles in that
defendant’s case, is “obnoxious to the spirit of our laws and all ideas of
justice.”  Ziolkowski, 223 S.W.3d at 643 (quoting Gray, 268 S.W. at 950).  We
continue to believe that the violation of a well established constitutional
right adversely affects the integrity of the process leading to a
conviction.  In the pre-Snowden analysis, this factor would
strongly favor a finding of reversible error. 
Given the Snowden rationale,
however, our harm analysis should assess just the effect of the error on this
particular verdict or result.  Although
obnoxious to the spirit of our laws, the nature of this error did not
contribute to the judgment in this case. 
This factor weighs neither for nor against a finding of harm.
            The second factor is the extent the
error was emphasized by the State.  We
have not been directed to anywhere in the record that the State emphasized the
error in any manner.  Bell argues the
State moved one of the briefcases shielding the shackles from the jury’s view
when it used it as a demonstrative aid. 
The record does reflect that the State used a briefcase as a
demonstrative aid, but the record does not reflect that this briefcase was one
of the briefcases blocking the shackles from the jury’s view.[14]  We have not been directed to anywhere in the
record the State made a reference to or otherwise drew attention to the
defendant’s restraints.  Our own review
of the record has not revealed any such reference.  Clearly, the State did not emphasize the
error or seek in any way to benefit from the error.  This factor weighs strongly in favor of a
finding that the error is not harmful.
            The third factor is the weight a
juror would probably place on the error, assuming he or she was aware of the
error.  In this connection, we should
also consider whether the evidence was overwhelming as well as the character of
the error and how it might be considered in connection with other evidence in
the case.  Motilla, 78 S.W.3d at 359. 
Although the evidence of guilt was sufficient, the evidence linking Bell
to the contraband was not overwhelming. 
The record, though, is silent on whether the jury perceived the
shackles.  In fact, the record does
contain indications that steps were taken to keep the jury from perceiving the
shackles.  We conclude that this factor
does not weigh for a finding of harm.
            The fourth factor is the error’s
probable collateral consequences.  This
factor requires us to “contemplate such things as the disparaging of a sole defense,”
as well as “a probable affect on the harshness of the punishment.”  Higginbotham
v. State, 807 S.W.2d 732, 737 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).  As noted above, the affirmative links,
although sufficient, were not overwhelming. 
Bell’s main defense was that the contraband did not belong to him.  It should be contemplated that the
restraints, if perceived by the jury, could have alleviated some lingering
doubts the jury had concerning whether Bell possessed the contraband.  While Bell had an extensive criminal history,
here he received the maximum sentence available.  Again, though, because the record is silent
on whether the jury perceived the shackles, and steps were taken to avoid the
jury perceiving them, we do not weigh this factor for a finding of harm.
            After careful consideration of the
above factors, we conclude the error in this case did not result in harm to
this defendant in this case.  The lack of
emphasis placed on the error by the State weighs strongly against a finding of
harm, and the remaining factors do not suggest a finding of harm.  The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has
instructed that our inquiry must be focused on whether the error may have
contributed to this defendant’s conviction. 
We conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the error by the trial
court did not contribute to the judgment in this case.
            For the reasons stated, we affirm.
 
                                                                                    Josh
R. Morriss, III
                                                                                    Chief
Justice
 
 
 
 
 
 
DISSENTING OPINION
 
            What is the
appellate court’s duty when it is clear that a trial court deliberately and
repeatedly violates well-known and established constitutional rights of those
accused of a crime?  We must eradicate
the practice.  The majority opinion fails
to do this and has now reversed its course based on a recent Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals opinion, Snowden v.
State.[15]  I believe this Court’s original opinion is
sound.  The stated reason for this switch
is that Snowden no longer allows an
appellate court to consider, on the issue of harmfulness of error, whether the
failure to reverse for an admitted constitutional error would encourage “the
State” to repeat that error with impunity. 
      
            I do not
think Snowden applies in this
case.  In Snowden, the error was committed by the State’s attorney, whereas
here the action found to be a constitutional error (placing a chain connecting
two iron ankle rings on the ankles of the defendant during jury trial) was the
action of the trial court.  In Snowden, the error was the improper
argument of the State’s counsel which infringed on the defendant’s right to
remain silent—an action taken by one of the advocates in the proceeding; the
trial court merely ruled.  The acts which
constituted the error in this case were solely and completely caused by the
trial judge without involvement by the State’s counsel.  The State never requested that the defendant
be shackled during the trial, and the record reveals that the chain was placed
on the defendant as a practice of this particular court for those who are in
jail awaiting trial, but apparently not for those able to afford bail
(“everybody who is in custody has the same necessity of restraint”).  Apparently, shackling is required for all in
custody with no judgment or discretion being exercised on an individual
basis.  It is the duty of the trial court
to attempt to avoid error; only the appellate courts may determine, after a
review of the entire case, if an error is of such a nature as to require
another trial.  In oral argument, State’s
counsel conceded there was no basis for shackling the defendant and agreed that
constitutional error occurred.  
            Generally,
the trial court commits error by ruling on issues brought before it by one of
the parties.  It is a far different
situation when the action which is a constitutional error is caused by the
judge.  If counsel seeks to continually
violate well-established constitutional provisions, the trial judge is in a
position to prevent or control it.  Who
prevents the judge from continually violating established constitutional
rights?  A basic premise of our system of
justice is that the accused should be presumed innocent until proven guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt.  It is the
function of the trial judge to institute procedures that will assure
this—instead, here, the judge, without any cause, ordered that a chain be
placed on the defendant’s ankles during the jury trial.   The record indicates this is a repeated
practice in this trial court, but we are now holding that since we cannot know
for sure if the jury saw the chain or heard it rattle, the trial court’s
deliberate violation of such a well-known constitutional right does not
constitute reversible error.[16]
            Additionally,
it is important that our courts operate with dignity.  The use of such devices undermines the
dignity of judicial proceedings.  Deck v. Missouri, 544 U.S. 622, 631 (2005). Even if we now believe that
consideration of the prevention of continual violation of constitutional rights
is irrelevant as to the propriety of the outcome, it is highly relevant to the “the
integrity of the process leading to the conviction.”  
            As one who
spent twenty-one years on the trial bench and has devoted most of his life
attempting to provide fair operation of one small part of our system of law, it
is deeply offensive to observe the sanctioning of this practice.  In essence, this case says—Judge, you may
continually violate the most basic constitutional rights of our citizens with
impunity, the very Constitution you took an oath to protect and defend, and
your case will be affirmed unless the defendant is clever enough to produce
evidence, contrary to his best interest at trial, that the jury saw or heard
the chains.   Even if the jury saw or
heard the chains and it is not reflected in the record, you are safe with the
appellate courts, regardless of the harm your continual unconstitutional
practice does to the perception of fairness and the integrity of the process in
our courts.  
            Due to their
very nature, constitutional errors require more scrutiny.  When constitutional errors occur, our inquiry
should be focused on the integrity of the process.  In other words, did the defendant receive a
fair trial.  The restraints in this case
were described as a chain connecting two iron ankle rings; our Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals has found “a trial with a prisoner in irons [is] obnoxious to
the spirit of our laws and all ideas of justice.”   Gray
v. State, 268 S.W. 941, 949–50 (Tex. Crim. 1924) (op. on reh’g).  No trial can be considered a fair trial where
a defendant, who has not been shown to be a threat, is literally tried in
chains that may have been seen or heard by the jury; an error depriving a
defendant of a fair trial cannot be considered harmless.  The error here was of constitutional magnitude;
it was knowingly committed and is an ongoing practice in this trial court;
there is no basis to reasonably conclude that beyond a reasonable doubt, the
error did not contribute to the defendant’s conviction or punishment.   Tex.
R. App. P. 44.2.  It should be
remanded for another trial.  
            I respectfully, but vigorously,
dissent. 
 
 
 
                                                                                    Jack
Carter
                                                                                    Justice
 
Date
Submitted:          November 2, 2011
Date
Decided:             November 3, 2011
 
Publish
 

[1]Specifically,
Bell was charged with possessing one gram or more, but less than four grams, of
a controlled substance in penalty group 2, to-wit: Ecstasy.  The controlled substance known as Ecstasy is
3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine.  The
State provided notice of intent to enhance Bell’s punishment, alleging two
prior felony convictions.  See Tex.
Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.116 (West 2010); Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 12.41(a)(3)
(West 2011).
 

[2]The
jury found Bell guilty, found both enhancements to be true, and assessed
punishment at twenty years’ imprisonment. 
The trial court sentenced Bell accordingly.

[3]We
note the record contains a dismissal which states that the quantity was not a
useable quantity.  At oral argument, Bell
argued we should not consider the presence of marihuana because it was not a
useable quantity.  We disagree; the
presence of contraband is an affirmative link even if not a useable quantity.
 

[4]On
cross-examination, Sanmann testified that he had asked Bell to look for the
proof of insurance and conceded that Bell could have been following his
instructions and that the movements did not factor into his “decisionmaking of
whether or not [Bell] possessed something.” 
On direct examination, Sanmann testified, based on his experience as a
police officer, when “someone’s moving around a lot in the vehicle,” that
“they’re hiding stuff.”  
 

[5]On
cross-examination, Sanmann testified that, on one occasion, Bell said “wife”
and on another, Bell said “girlfriend.” 
The record at guilt/innocence does not clearly establish the specific
relationship of the parties.  Regardless
of whether Tanya was Bell’s wife or girlfriend, the jury could reasonably deduce
that Bell had a greater right of possession of the vehicle than the
driver.  We note that, during the
punishment phase, Tanya testified she had been married to Bell for four
years.  

[6]During
the guilt/innocence phase of trial, the following exchange occurred outside the
presence of the jury:
 
                [Defense Counsel]:  . . . . I understand that we took a break
because my client didn’t have any leg irons on him and, currently, for the
record, he has a chain that is linked between his two ankles, if I’ve described
that correctly.  We would object to that
being used as a device in front of the jury. 
I think he has the right to a presumption of innocence and this chain,
even though we will do the best to keep the jury from seeing it, if they do see
it, that’s going to destroy this presumption of innocence and deny him his
right to a fair trial.
                We already have a sheriff’s
deputy standing within arm’s reach of him, which should be sufficient amount of
security.  We have a bailiff that’s been present.  I believe we have two bailiffs now and -- in
addition to -- two or three highway patrolmen right outside.  I don’t think the chain is necessary.  I think it’s going to deprive him of a fair
trial and his rights under the United States and Texas Constitution.  So, we’re going to object to that.
 
                THE COURT:  Any response from the State?
 
                [The State]:  Yes, Your Honor.  I would just ask the Court to have the
bailiff provide a report as -- sitting in the various seats of the jurors’
seats -- as to whether he can see the defendant’s seat as the -- as he’s
currently configured and if he can see that the defendant is chained, making an
obvious attempt to see that.
 
                THE BAILIFF:  No, ma’am, you can’t.  You can see the pants leg and the pants leg
covers the cuffs up, so you cannot see the chains.
 
                [Defense Counsel]:  But that presupposes he’s not allowed to move
and, if he moves any, they’re going to hear a chain rattle and they’re going to
look over here and go, who’s rattling a chain, who’s chained up, and it can only
be my client that’s chained up.  I’ve
been getting up, walking around; the bailiff has; everybody’s been getting up
except Ray.  They hear that chain going,
they’re going to think he must have been doing something that got him chained
up.  There’s really no need to have him
chained up, Judge.
                I don’t think any of his
offenses are escapes or failure to appears. 
I’m not swearing to that, but, as I remember off of his criminal
history, he doesn’t have anything like that, Judge.  I don’t think there’s any evidence of any
intent to flee.
 
                THE COURT:  [Defense Counsel], your objection is
noted.  It will otherwise be
overruled.  The bailiff’s obligation is
to the jury, not to an inmate.  There is
a person here to handle that.  Everybody who is in custody has the same
necessity of restraint.  The
difficulty is, the sheriff’s office has one discreet and, therefore, we only
have the one that’s been available.  We
have allowed for y’all to position briefcases, and somebody went down and got
an extra one so you have two.  The State
also has one under there.  So, it’s the
Court’s opinion that there is no impact on the presumption, and the defendant
will just be mindful about movement of his legs, and we will be sure to give
breaks for everybody to use the restroom and he can move his legs at that time.
 
(Emphasis added.) 
 

[7]We
appreciate the State’s professionalism and integrity in making this concession
and commend the State for clarifying the record in this regard.
 

[8]The
State represented to this Court that a more discreet restraint is normally used
than the restraint in this case. 
However, as this Court stated in Austin
v. State, No. 06-07-00161-CR, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 8630 (Tex.
App.––Texarkana Nov. 18, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for
publication), whether a restraint such as a “leg brace” was visible is not the
correct question.  While a restraint
which is not visible may result in less harm, a trial court errs if it
restrains a criminal defendant without specific reasons for the restraints in
the record.

[9]In
Deck, the United States Supreme Court
announced that a trial court errs in shackling a defendant during the
punishment phase of a trial when there is no evidence that the defendant was
violent, likely to flee, or had otherwise disrupted the trial.  Deck,
544 U.S. at 630–31.  

[10]Deck concerned restraints that were only
visible.  See id. at 628.  The law, though, is well-established that any
form of restraints requires the record to reflect reasons specific to the
criminal defendant.  See Austin, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 8630.  This case presents an additional issue not
discussed by the United States Supreme Court in Deck.  The record contains
some evidence the restraints may have been audible.  In this case, Bell’s trial counsel stated the
chains would be audible.  The trial court
did not take exception to this statement and instructed the defendant to be “mindful
about movement of his legs . . . .”  On
appeal, Bell directs our attention to numerous references to the record where
the jury entered and exited the courtroom. 
Bell argues he was required to rise for the jury, which resulted in the “rattling
of the chains.”  The record does not
reflect the defendant rose and does not reflect the chains rattled, but the
record also does not reflect that the defendant did not rise and does not
reflect that the chains did not rattle. 
In Wiseman v. State, the First
District Court of Appeals considered, among other factors, the defense counsel’s
statement on the record that the chains were audible.  Wiseman
v. State, 223 S.W.3d 45 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).

[11]The
State directs our attention to its notice of intent to introduce evidence of
extraneous offenses and bad acts.  We
note that, at punishment, the State introduced evidence of Bell’s extensive
criminal history.  Although the vast
majority of the offenses were for possession of controlled substances, the State
did introduce evidence of misdemeanor convictions for evading arrest, resisting
arrest, and terroristic threat.  At the
time Bell was ordered restrained, the record did not contain evidence of these
prior offenses, and the trial court did not reference these prior offenses when
deciding to restrain Bell.
 

[12]On
July 1, 1992, a gunman opened fire in the courtroom of the Fort Worth Court of
Appeals killing two attorneys and wounding at least two others, including a
former law clerk to this Court.  See Davis v. State, 890 S.W.2d 489, 491
n.1 (Tex. App.––Eastland 1994, no pet.).

[13]“The
Chapman test is codified in Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 44.2(a), which
provides that constitutional error requires reversal of the judgment ‘unless
the court determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the error did not
contribute to the conviction or punishment.’” 
Clay v. State, 240 S.W.3d 895,
904 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (quoting Tex.
R. App. P. 44.2(a)).

[14]The
State represented at oral argument that the briefcase used as a demonstrative
aid was not the same briefcase used to block the shackles from the jury’s
view.  This representation, though, is
not part of the record.  Regardless, as
noted above, the record does not demonstrate the briefcase used as a
demonstrative aid was one of the briefcases shielding the shackles from the
jury’s view.

[15]Snowden v. State, No. PD-1524-10, 2011
Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1321 (Tex. Crim. App. Sept. 28, 2011) (designated for
publication). 

[16]Defense
counsel objected that any movement by Bell would cause the jury to hear a chain
rattle.  The court admonished Bell to be
“mindful about movement of his legs . . . .”