Court Opinion

ID: 4043049
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-28 23:14:06.838426+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:03:11.743399
License: Public Domain

068-/S-                                         069(5
                      NO.    PD-0069-15
ORIGINAL
                                    IN    THE
               COURT       OF       CRIMINAL      APPEALS                     FILED IN
                                OF       TEXAS                     COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                                                            MAR 23 2015

                                                                          Abel Acosta, Clerk

                          BOBBY          SIMMONS,
                                ;               Appellant/Petitioner

                                      VS.

                     THE    STATE OF            TEXAS/
                                                Appellee/Respondent

      APPELLANT'S   PETITION          FOR    DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

       In Appeal No.05-14-00241-CR;05-14-00240-CR
                                    from    the
                          Court of Appeals
             for    the   Fifth Judicial               District
                           Dallas/ Texas

                                                 Bobby Simmons
                                                TDCJ-ID#1941546
                                                Telford    Unit
                                                 3899 State Hwy 98
                                                 New   Boston/    Tx    75570

                                                                   RECEIVEDIN
                                                           COURT OFCRIMINAL APPEALS

                                                                       MAR 20 2015

                                                                  Abel Acosta, Clerk
                         TABLE OF   CONTENTS

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES                                  III

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT                     1

STATEMENT OF THE CASE                                 1

STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY                       2

GROUNDS FOR. REVIEW                                   2

   GROUND FOR REVIEW NUMBER ONE.
      Is simple knowledge of contraband possession?

   GROUND FOR REVIEW NUMBER TWO.
      Was the trial court's abuse of discretion
      harmless?

ARGUMENT NUMBER ONE                                   2

ARGUMENT NUMBER TWO                                   4

PRAYER FOR RELIEF                                     5

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE                                6

APPENDIXfOpinion]

                                  II
                           INDEX   OF   AUTHORITIES

CASES

Berger v. U.S.,295 U.S. 78(1935)                      5

Davis v. State,93 s.w.3d 664(Tx-Cr.App.2002)          3

Everett v. State,707 s-w.2d 638(Tx.Cr.App.1986)       4

Lassaint v. State,79 s.w.3d 739(Tx.Cr.App.2002)       4

Oaks v. State,642 s.w.2d 75(Tx.Cr.App.1982)           4
U.S. v. Nobles, 422 U.S.   225(1975)               5
Will. v. State,313 s.w.3d 393(Tx.App.2009)         4

STATUTES

TEX. PENAL CODE§ 1.07(a)(39)                          3

TEX. PENAL CODE§ 6.01(b)                              4

T.R.A.P.    RULE 66.3(a)                              3

                                        III
                            NO.    PD-0069-15

                                   IN    THE
                    COURT   OF    CRIMINAL       APPEALS
                                  OF    TEXAS

                            BOBBY       SIMMONS,
                                               Appellant/Petitioner

                                       VS.

                       THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                               Appellee/Respondent

          APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS:

   Petitioner respectfully submits this Petition for Discretion
ary Review and moves this Honorable Court grant review of this
cause and offers the following in support thereof:

                statement regarding oral argument

   The Petitioner requests oral argument in this case because
such argument may assist the Court in applying the facts to the
issues raised. It is suggested that oral argument may help
simplify the facts and clarify the issues.

                      STATEMENT OF THE CASE

   Petitioner was arrested at the house of a female acquantance.
Although petitioner had a sexual relationship and spent some
nights at this residence he did not live there. As a result
petitioner had several personal items stored at this residence.

   In finding petitioner guilty of possession of the contra

band found by authorities at this residence, the jury reached

a verdict that was contrary to the law and the evidence.

                  STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY

   In Cause No.'s F12-52370-W; F12-52371-W the petitioner was
charged with the offense of possession with the intent to
deliver cocaine in an amount greater than four grams and un
lawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The petitioner was
convicted of such offenses on February 14, 2014 and appealed
the conviction. On December 18, 2014 the Dallas Court of Appeals
affirmed the conviction. No motion for rehearing was filed.
On March 18, 2014 this Petition for Discretionary review was
timely mailed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

                        GROUNDS   FOR REVIEW

                                  I.

           IS SIMPLE KNOWLEDGE OF CONTRABAND POSSESSION?

                                  II-

        WAS THE TRIAL COURT'S ABUSE OF DISCRETION HARMLESS?

                        ARGUMENT NUMBER ONE

  A.   REASON FOR REVIEW.
  The Dallas Court of Appeals decision here is in direct con

flict with the decisions of the Honorable Court and the lower

appellate courts. TEX.R.APP.P.66.3(a)

   B.   ARGUMENT.

   Petitioner requests this court grant Petition to exercise

its power to supervise this State's lower court's. Specifically,

this court should grant his Petition to examine the rulings

of the Dallas Court of Appeals and its holdings that the evi

dence was sufficent to support unlawful possession and that

the abuse of discretion was    harmless.

           IS SIMPLE   KNOWLEDGE   OF   CONTRABAND   POSSESSION?

   Given the facts developed at trial there is no question

that petitioner knew that there were firearms in the residence.

The residence was not his and the his        female friend who was

the owner of the residence had a constitutional right to

possess these firearms.

   Possession is defined as actual care, custody, control, or

management of an item. Tex.Penal Code§ 1.07(a)(39). For a felon

to be held criminally responsible for possession of a firearm,

the State must prove the felon Voluntarily possessed the fire

arm. Davis v. State,93 s.w.3d 664,667(Tx.App.2002). Possession

is deemed voluntary if the accused knowingly obtains or re-

cieves the thing possessed or is aware of his control of the
thing for a sufficient time to permit him to terminate his

control. TEX. PENAL CODE§ £.)!(b);Williams v.     State,313 s.w.3d

393,397(Tx.App.2009)

   The gun that was found under the bed was Bridget's(RR4:70),

the simply fact that petitioner knew about the gun does not
rise to the level that he possessed it. At most, the evidence

cited by the Court of Appeals proves that petitioner knew that
there were guns present in the residence, not that he exercised

care, custody, control, or management of them, see Oaks v.

State,642 s.w.2d 75,77(Tx.Cr.App.1982)(possession means more

than being where the action is);   Lassaint v. State,79 s-w.3d

736(Tx.App.2002). petitioner's knowledge of the mere presence
of the firearms is insufficient to establish the requisite
mental state—knowledge of his possession of those drugs. The

Court of Appeals erred in its holding on this issue.

                         ARGUMENT NUMBER   TWO

        WAS THE TRIAL COURT'S ABUSE OF DISCRETION HARMLESS?

   The Appeals court found petitioner's ground two to be harm

less.   But this Honorable Court in Everett v.   State,707 s.w.

2d 638,641(Tx.Cr.App.1986) stated: "Argument injecting matters

not in the record is clearly improper; but argument inviting

speculation is even more dangerous because it leaves to the

imagination of each juror whatever extraneous 'facts' may be
needed to support, a conviction. The United States Supreme Court

in Berger v. U.S.,295 U.S. 78(1935) stated: "It is fair to say
that the average jury, in a greater or less degree, has con
fidence that [the obligation to do justice], which so plainly
rests upon the prosecuting attorney, will be faithfully observed.
Consequently, improper suggestions, insinuations and, especially,
assertions of personal knowledge are apt to carry much weight
against the accused when they should properly carry none."
   After the court abused its discretion in allowing the prose
cutor this illegal questioning, the prosecutor could have
brought forth evidence of his assertions if it existed he did
not.

   Although a court is entitled to rely to a great extent on the
parties' attorneys to protect their own clients interests, the
court, too has a duty to ensure that a criminal defendant re
ceives a fair trial. U.S. v. Nobles,422 U.S.225,230(1975).
Because this error was never harmless the Court of Appeals
erred in it's holding it was.

                        PRAYER FOR RELIEF

   For the reasons stated above, it is respectfully submitted
that the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas should grant this
Petition for Discretionary Review.

                                     Respectfully submitted/
                         CERTIFICATE      OF   SERVICE

   The undersigned petitioner hereby certifies that a copy

of the foregoing has been mailed, U.S. mail postage prepaid,

to the Office of the Criminal District Attorney for Dallas

County, Frank Crowley Courts Bldg.,            133 N. Riverfront BLVD.

LB-19, Dallas, Texas 75207-4399, and to the State Prosecuting

Attorney,   P.O.   Box 12405,   Austin,   Tx 78711,      on this 18th

day of March 2015.
AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed December 18, 2014.

                                              In The

                                   Court of Appeals
                         ifffftfj district of Qtexaa at Dallas
                                      No. 05-14-00240-CR

                                      No. 05-14-00241-CR

                                BOBBY SIMMONS, Appellant
                                                V.
                               THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                       On Appeal from the 363rd Judicial District Court
                                    Dallas County, Texas
                   Trial Court Cause Nos. F-1252370-W and F-1252371-W

                               MEMORANDUM OPINION
                         Before Justices Bridges, Lang-Miers, and Myers
                                   Opinion by Justice Bridges
       A jury convicted appellant Bobby Simmons of possession with intent to deliver cocaine

in cause number F-1252370-W and sentenced him to sixty years' imprisonment.               The jury

convicted him of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in cause number F-1252371-W and

sentenced him to five years' imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. On appeal, Simmons challenges

the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.

He also argues the trial court abused its discretion by permitting the State to improperly cross-

examine him and that the trial court violated his constitutional rights to confrontation. We affirm

the trial court's judgments.
                                                             Background

        Dallas Police officers in the narcotics division received an anonymous citizen complaint

regarding possible drug transactions at 7353 Chaucer Place. Based on the information, officers

used confidential informants to make two controlled buys two days in a row.                           The narcotics

division confirmed the drugs purchased were cocaine.

        With this information, Sergeant Anthony Martin told his supervisor a search of the

location was necessary. On February 15, 2012, officers executed a search warrant. Upon entry

into the home, officers found five people inside: four adults and one juvenile. Simmons was

found in the master bedroom.

        After officers removed the individuals from the home, they began a thorough search. In

the master bedroom, officers found a razor blade, crack cocaine, plastic bowls, and marijuana in

plain view. They also found the IDs of Bridget Rowewright and Simmons on the dresser. In a

dresser drawer, they found a scale, packaging material, and a box of ammunition. In a drawer

that pulled out from under the master bed, officers found a safe and a handgun. Under the

handgun, a detective found a temporary paper copy of a small ID card with Simmons's name on

it. Based on the IDs and clothing found in the room, officers believed Rowewright and Simmons

both occupied the room.

        Officers also found a black safe in the master bedroom closet. Inside the safe, officers

found a package described by Sergeant Martin as "unknown contraband'" and another handgun.

The handgun was in working condition when it was seized and had live rounds in the chamber.

The weapon was "ready to go."

        Based on the totality of the circumstances, which included drug paraphernalia and the

amount of drugs found in close proximity to weapons, officers testified narcotics were being

    Sergeant Martin later described the package in the safe as a white substance in a clear baggie.
distributed from the residence. They also testified it was reasonable to believe Simmons was in

care, custody, and control of both the narcotics and the weapons found in the master bedroom.

In fact, Sergeant Martin testified the gun under the bed was within arms' reach, and a handgun in

close proximity to drugs is a "tool of the trade. You keep your protection where your drugs are."

       The jury convicted Simmons of both possession with intent to deliver cocaine and

unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This appeal followed.

                                   Sufficiency of the Evidence

        In his first issue, Simmons challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his

conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon because the State failed to prove he

actually possessed the firearm.     He contends his proximity to the firearm was "merely

fortuitous."

        The standard for determining whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support a

conviction is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution,

any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a

reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); Johnson v. State, 364 S.W.3d
292, 293-94 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). The jury is the exclusive judge of witness credibility and

the weight to be given testimony.     Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 111 (Tex. Crim. App.

2000) (en banc). It is also within the exclusive province of the jury to reconcile conflicts in the

evidence. Id.

        To establish unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, the State must prove the

appellant was previously convicted of a felony offense and possessed a firearm after the

conviction and before the fifth anniversary of his release from confinement or community

supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision, whichever is later. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §

                                                -3-
    46.04(a)(1) (West 2011). Simmons admits his status as a convicted felon is not in dispute.2

    Rather, he contends the State failed to establish he exercised care, custody, control, or

    management of the firearm.

             The State does not have to prove an appellant had exclusive custody of the firearm.

Smith v. State, 176 S.W.3d 907, 916 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet. ref d). However, when there

    is no evidence the appellant was in exclusive control of the place where the firearm was found,

the State must offer additional, independent facts and circumstances affirmatively linking him to

the firearm. Id. The purpose of affirmatively linking the accused to the firearm is to protect

    innocent bystanders from conviction based solely on their fortuitous proximity to the firearm.

Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402, 406 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).

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

to establish possession include whether the appellant owned the residence where the firearm was

found, whether he was in close proximity to the firearm and had ready access to it, whether he

attempted to flee, whether his conduct indicated a consciousness of guilt, whether he had a

special connection to the firearm, and whether he made incriminating statements. Smith, 176
S.W.3d at 916.               No set formula exists to dictate a finding of affirmative links sufficient to

support an .inference of knowing possession of contraband. Id. It is the "logical force" of the

factors, not the number of factors present, that determines whether the elements of the offense

have been established. Id.

             Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, the State introduced a

government document in which Simmons listed the residence as his address.                                               Simmons was

present in the master bedroom, where the guns were found, during the search. While the guns

2
    The State introduced pen packet information regarding an August 10, 2009 conviction for burglary of a habitation.

                                                                       -4-
were not in plain view, Sergeant Martin testified the gun in the drawer under the bed was within

arms' reach. Moreover, a temporary ID card with Simmons's name was found underneath the

gun.

       The jury heard testimony about drugs and drug paraphernalia found in the master

bedroom. They also heard the room contained male clothing and shoes indicating Simmons

occupied the room with Rowewright. When asked about finding drugs and a handgun in close

proximity in the bedroom, Sergeant Martin testified, "It's absolutely a tool of the trade. You

keep your protection where your drugs are." Because evidence indicated Simmons stayed in the

room, his fingerprints were lifted from a scale thereby linking him to the drug paraphernalia and

drugs in the room, and his temporary ID was found under the gun, the jury could logically

conclude he exercised care, custody, control, or management of a firearm, which he had for

protection while dealing drugs.

       In reaching this conclusion, we reject Simmons's argument his conviction cannot stand

because he testified he did not live in the residence, the police did not find his fingerprints on the

guns, he denied possessing the guns, and he testified Rowewright placed his identification in the

room when he was incarcerated for a prior burglary offense.           Simmons's arguments simply

challenge the jury's conclusions, as the exclusive judge of witness credibility, to weigh and

determine conflicts in the evidence. We must defer to the jury's determination. See Wesbrook,

29S.W.3datlll.

        We further reject his contention that the jury's failure to find he "used" or "exhibited a

deadly weapon" in the drug possession case has bearing on the sufficiency of the evidence for

unlawful possession of a firearm. As the State argues, the weapons were stored in a drawer

attached to the master bed and in a safe, which explains the jury's reluctance in finding that a

weapon was "used" or "exhibited" during the offense. Thejury's conclusion, however, does not

                                                 -5-
address whether Simmons "possessed a firearm" in violation of section 46.04(a)(1). See Tex.

Penal Code Ann. § 46.04(a)(1). Accordingly, the evidence is legally sufficient to support

Simmons's conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in cause number F-

1252371-W. We overrule Simmons's first issue.

   Cross-Examination of Appellant Based on Facts Not in Evidence and Violation of the
                         Constitutional Right to Confrontation

       Because Simmons's second and third issues are based on the same objectionable

testimony, we address them together. Simmons argues the trial court abused its discretion by

allowing the State to ask him improper questions that assumed facts not in evidence and the

questions concerned potential out-of-court statements by a non-testifying accomplice witness,

which violated his constitutional right to confrontation.      The objectionable exchange is as

follows:

              Q.     The address on your tax return, in y'all's room, Bridget,
              Walter, and Ricky say you stayed, you never seen those drugs in
              there?

              A.       No, sir. No, sir.

              Q.       Are you aware when Bridget tells the detective that you
              stay in the room? Did you - - did you know that?

              A.       No, sir.

              Q.       If I played you an interrogation interview where Bridget
              says that, that's a lie?

              A.      I don't stay there. I been in there before. Don't mean I
              stay there. I don't live there.

              Q.       Again, when Bridget tells the detective - -

                           [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Judge, I object. This is
              presuming evidence submitted about an interview and I object on
              those grounds.

                                  THE COURT: It's cross-examination. Overruled.

                                                -6-
       In his second issue, Simmons argues this exchange resulted in the State presenting

evidence to the jury regarding information Rowewright provided to police about his status as an

occupant of the residence, which exceeded the bounds of proper cross-examination by assuming

facts not in evidence.

       Assuming without deciding that the State's questions to Simmons were improperly

admitted as presuming facts not in evidence, we conclude Simmons was not harmed by the

evidence.    Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 44.2(b) states that any error, other than

constitutional error, that does not affect substantial rights must be disregarded. Tex. R. App. P.

44.2(b). In other words, we disregard the erroneous admission of evidence if it did not adversely

affect the jury's verdict, or had but a slight effect on the jury's verdict. Johnson, 84 S.W.3d at

729.

       Simmons argues the admission of the evidence moved the State's case from "one of non-

persuasion to one of persuasion." However, the alleged statements Rowewright made to police

were not the only evidence linking Simmons to the master bedroom. For example, the jury heard

he listed the residence as his address on a government document. They also heard from several

detectives about men's clothing and shoes found in the bedroom. Based on the men's clothing

and their knowledge that Rowewright was Simmons's girlfriend, the jury could infer he lived in

the room, despite his denial.      Moreover, detectives found two identification cards with

Simmons's name in the master bedroom. Thus, we cannot agree with Simmons that the State's

questions moved the case from "one of non-persuasion to one of persuasion." Accordingly,

Simmons has failed to show the admission of the evidence adversely affected the jury's verdict.

We overrule his second issue.

       In his third issue, Simmons argues his constitutional right to confrontation was violated

because Rowewright did not testify, the State never played any police interview of her, nor did it
admit any statements made by her. Therefore, he contends, the State offered the unproven, out-

of-court testimonial statement of a non-testifying accomplice.    The State responds Simmons

failed to preserve his issue for review. We agree.

        To preserve error, a defendant must make a timely, specific objection and obtain an

adverse ruling by the trial court. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1. Even constitutional error may be waived

for failure to object at trial. Briggs v. State, 789 S.W.2d 918, 924 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (en

banc). Specifically, a defendant waives his constitutional right to confront witnesses if he does

not object at trial to the denial of that right. See Eustis v. State, 191 S.W.3d 879, 885 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. ref d); see also Lytle v. State, No. 05-10-01134-CR, 2012
WL 266450, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 31, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for

publication).

        While Simmons argues the context of the objection provided the trial court and the State

with adequate notice that he was objecting on the basis of the Confrontation Clause, we do not

agree. Counsel's objection did not, in any way, reference the right to confrontation.      If the

record indicates an objection, besides presuming facts not in evidence, it might be that counsel

was objecting on the basis of hearsay. However, courts have consistently held that a hearsay

objection does not preserve error on a Confrontation Clause claim. See Eustis, 191 S.W.3d at

886; see also Lytle, 2012 WL 266450, at *2. Accordingly, Simmons failed to preserve his third

issue for our review, and it is overruled.

                                                -8-
                                Court of Appeals
                      ifftftfj Bistrtct of Qfexas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

BOBBY SIMMONS, Appellant                           On Appeal from the 363rd'Judicial-District'
                                                   Court, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-14-00240-CR       V.                        Trial Court Cause No. F-1252370-W.
                                                   Opinion delivered by Justice Bridges.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                       Justices Lang-Miers and Myers
                                                   participating.

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

Judgment entered December 18, 2014.

                                            -10-