Court Opinion

ID: 9772627
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 17:24:24.838018+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:46.369827
License: Public Domain

BAIRD, Judge,
concurring.
Because the evidence in the instant case involves possession of cocaine which was invisible to the naked eye, any sufficiency of the evidence analysis requires our consideration of Daniels v. State, 574 S.W.2d 127 (Tex.Cr.App.1978), and Shults v. State, 575 S.W.2d 29 (Tex.Cr.App.1979). When they are considered, I agree the Court of Appeals erred in reversing appellant’s conviction.
*377Our laws do not require the State to prove the possession of a minimum amount of a controlled substance. Cantu v. State, 546 S.W.2d 621, 622 (Tex.Cr.App.1977); Johnson v. State, 658 S.W.2d 623, 627 (Tex.Cr.App. 1983); and, Jackson v. State, 807 S.W.2d 387, 389 (TexApp. — Houston [14th Dist.] 1991). The rule in this State for many years was that to prove a knowing possession of a controlled substance, the substance possessed must be visible to the naked eye and measurable. See, Coleman v. State, 545 S.W.2d 831, 835 (Tex.Cr.App.1977); Tomlin v. State, 170 Tex.Crim. 108, 338 S.W.2d 735, 737 (1960); Johnson, 658 S.W.2d at 627; Pelham v. State, 164 Tex.Crim. 226, 298 S.W.2d 171, 173 (1957); Greer v. State, 163 Tex. Crim. 377, 292 S.W.2d 122 (1956); Ortega v. State, 861 S.W.2d 91, 95 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1993); Kemp v. State, 861 S.W.2d 44, 46 (TexApp. — Houston [14th Dist.] 1993); Palmer v. State, 857 S.W.2d 898, 901 (Tex. App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1993); and, Irvine v. State, 857 S.W.2d 920, 922 (TexApp.— Houston [1st Dist.] 1993). See also, Daniels v. State, 853 S.W.2d 749, 751 (TexApp.— Houston [1st Dist.] 1993) (A rational finder could find a knowing possession when there is testimony the amount of controlled substance was capable of being seén).
But an exception to this rule exists when other evidence demonstrates the defendant knowingly possessed the substance. Reyes v. State, 480 S.W.2d 373, 374 (Tex.Cr.App. 1972); and, Daniels, 574 S.W.2d at 128-129. In these cases the rule is:
... When the quantity of a substance possessed is so small that it cannot be quantitatively measured, there must be evidence other than its mere possession to prove that the defendant knew the substance in his possession was a controlled substance.
Shults, 575 S.W.2d at 30. See, Mendoza v. State, 636 S.W.2d 198,200 (Tex.Cr.App.1982); Campbell v. State, 822 S.W.2d 776, 777 (Tex. App. — Houston [14th Dist.] 1992); Manuel v. State, 782 S.W.2d 335, 336 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1989); and, Lopez v. State, 760 S.W.2d 770, 776 (TexApp. — Corpus Christi 1988). Additionally, possession of the container in which the substance was found is not, itself, sufficient to prove a knowing possession. Garner v. State, 848 S.W.2d 799, 801 (Tex.App. — Corpus Christi 1993). See also, Coleman, 545 S.W.2d at 835; Greer v. State, 163 Tex.Crim. 377, 292 S.W.2d 122 (1956); and, Thomas v. State, 807 S.W.2d 786, 787-788 (TexApp. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1991).
With the foregoing in mind, I agree with the Court of Appeals that “the mere presence of the trace amounts of cocaine in the syringe will not alone establish that appellant knowingly possessed the cocaine.” Joseph v. State, 866 S.W.2d 281, 284 (TexApp. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1993). But I disagree with the Court’s finding that “the State has not produced sufficient evidence to establish that appellant knew the syringe he possessed contained a controlled substance.” Ibid. Appellant was arrested in an abandoned house known to be frequented by narcotic users. When officers arrived appellant and two other individuals were seated around several bottle caps. The officers testified bottle caps are often used to hold crack cocaine as it is melted. Appellant was seated on the ground, his arm out, and a syringe positioned above his arm. Under these circumstances, I believe a rational trier of fact could conclude the “other evidence” produced by the State demonstrated appellant knowingly possessed cocaine. See, Shults, supra; and, Daniels, supra. Therefore I join the judgment of the Court.