Court Opinion

ID: 4047051
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 00:19:08.266301+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:56:08.087009
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                         07-14-00414-CR
                                                             SEVENTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                      AMARILLO, TEXAS
                                                                    2/12/2015 2:59:39 PM
                                                                       Vivian Long, Clerk

                        NO. 07-14-00414-CR
                                                 STATE REQUESTS
                                                 ORAL ARGUMENT
                                                      FILED IN
                                                  7th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                    AMARILLO, TEXAS
                             IN THE               2/12/2015 2:59:39 PM
                                                       VIVIAN LONG
                       COURT OF APPEALS                   CLERK

                            FOR THE

             SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                        AMARILLO, TEXAS
******************************************************************
                       KENNETH LOVEJOY,
                                        APPELLANT,

                               VS.

                      THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                         APPELLEE.
******************************************************************
           ON APPEAL FROM THE 108TH DISTRICT COURT
                        CAUSE NO. 68,694-E
                     POTTER COUNTY, TEXAS
          HONORABLE DOUGLAS WOODBURN, PRESIDING
******************************************************************
                          STATE’S BRIEF
******************************************************************
                              RANDALL SIMS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY

                              JOHN L. OWEN, SBN 15369200
                              ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
                              501 S. FILLMORE, SUITE 5A
                              AMARILLO, TEXAS 79101
                              (806) 379-2325
                              jackowen@co.potter.tx.us
                              ATTORNEYS FOR THE STATE
              IDENTITY OF JUDGE, PARTIES, AND COUNSEL

Trial Judge
Honorable Douglas Woodburn
108th District Court
4th Floor, Potter County Courts Building
501 S. Fillmore
Amarillo, Texas 79101

Defendant/Appellant
Kenneth Eugene Lovejoy
Address: unknown

Appellant’s Trial Counsel
Eric Coats
1716 S. Polk
Amarillo, Texas 79102

State’s Attorneys

Randall C. Sims
47th District Attorney
Jennifer Bassett (trial)
John L. Owen (appeal)
Assistant District Attorneys
501 S. Fillmore, Ste. 5A
Amarillo, Texas 79101

                                           i
                          TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            PAGE

IDENTITY OF JUDGE, PARTIES, AND COUNSEL …………………………..i

TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………ii

LIST OF AUTHORITIES…………………………………………………….... iii

STATEMENT OF THE CASE…………………………………………………….1

STATE’S ISSUE PRESENTED ………………………………………………                                         2

           The arresting deputy’s testimony he had observed Lovejoy commit a
    traffic offense was sufficient to establish probable cause for Lovejoy’s arrest
    for that offense and the search of his person; that the deputy’s paramount
    purpose in detaining Lovejoy was to investigate broader criminality does not
    negate the sustainability of the arrest and search. Given that the deputy’s
    testimony was not contradicted and the trial court did not find it incredible,
    did the court abuse its discretion in suppressing the evidence?

FACT STATEMENT ……………………………………………                                               3

ISSUE PRESENTED RESTATED…………………………………                                         6

CONCLUSION AND PRAYER……………………………………………                                            15

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE……………………………………………                                           16

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE…………………………………………… 16

                                       ii
                                          LIST OF AUTHORITIES
                                                                                                                         Page

Cases

Carmouche v. State, 10 S.W.3d 323,327 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007) ....................... 9
Crittendon v. State, 899 S.W.2d 668, 674 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995) .................. 12
Ex parte Reed, 271 S.W.3d 698,727 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008) .............................. 13
Garcia v. State, 218 S.W.3d 756, 760 (Tex.App. - - Houston [1st Dist.] 2007,no
pet.) ........................................................................................................................ 12
Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997) .......................... 10
Hayes v. State, 132 S.W.3d 147, 151 (Tex.App. - - Austin 2004, no pet.) ....... 10
Rawlings v. Kentucky, 448 U.S. 98, 111, 100 S. Ct. 2556, 65 L. Ed. 2d 633
(1980)……………………………………………………………………………...13
State v. Ballard, 987 S.W.2d 889, 892 (TexCrtim..App. 1999).............................13
State v. Gray, 158 S.W.3d 465, 469 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) .............................11,12
State v. Huddleston, 164 S.W.3d 711, 714 (Tex.App. - - Austin 2005, no pet.) . 9
State v. Lockhart, No. 07-04-00304-CR, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6159 (Tex.App.
- - Amarillo Aug. 2, 2005, no pet.)(not designated for publication) .................... 14
State v. McIntosh, No. 08-06-00044-CR, 2008 Tex.App. LEXIS 691 (Tex.App. –
El Paso Jan. 31, 2008, no pet.)(not designated for publication) ..................... 13, 14
State v. Morales, 322 S.W.3d 297, 300 (Tex.App. - - Dallas 2010, no pet.) 12, 13
State v. Whittington, 401 S.W.3d 263, 271 (Tex.App. - - San Antonio 2013, no
pet.) ........................................................................................................................ 13
Will. v. State, 726 S.W.2d 99, 101(Tex.Crim.App. 1986) ......................... 12

Statutes

Tex. Penal Code. Ann. Sec. 46.04 (West 2011) ..................................................... 1

                                                               iii
Tex. Transportation Code. Ann. Sec. 545.104 (b) (West 2011) ............................ 10

Tex. Transportation Code. Ann. 543.001 (West 2011) ......................................... 11

Tex. Transportation Code. Ann. 543.004 (a) (West 2011) .................................... 11

Tex. Transportation Code. Ann. 525.025(a) (West 2013) ..................................... 11

                                              iv
                         STATEMENT OF THE CASE

      This is the State’s appeal from the trial court’s order granting defendant

Kenneth Lovejoy’s motions to suppress evidence seized in a search of his person

by a sheriff’s deputy. The Potter County grand jury on April 20, 2014 indicted

Lovejoy for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon on or about March 4, 2014.

See Tex. Penal Code Ann. Sec. 46.04 (West 2011). Included in the indictment

were punishment-enhancing allegations of his two previous felony convictions.

CR: 8.

      Through retained counsel, Lovejoy filed two pre-trial motions addressed to

the seizure of the evidence constituting the basis of the prosecution: a “Motion to

Suppress Due to Illegal Stop” and a “Motion to Suppress Illegal Search.” CR: 12,

16. After an October 30, 2014 hearing, the trial court, by written orders signed

November 14, granted the motions and ordered suppression of the evidence in

question. CR: 42, 43. The State timely filed a notice of appeal, personally signed

by the District Attorney, on December 1, 2014. CR: 44.

                                         1
                              ISSUE PRESENTED
       The arresting deputy’s testimony he had observed Lovejoy commit a traffic
offense was sufficient to establish probable cause for Lovejoy’s arrest for that
offense and the search of his person; that the deputy’s paramount purpose in
detaining Lovejoy was to investigate broader criminality does not negate the
sustainability of the arrest and search. Given that the deputy’s testimony was not
contradicted and the trial court did not find it incredible, did the court abuse its
discretion in suppressing the evidence?

                                         2
                              FACT STATEMENT

      Evidence at the suppression hearing consisted of the testimony of two Potter

County sheriff’s deputies. Evinced there was that Lovejoy’s arrest coincided with

the investigation of burglaries, drug trafficking, and other criminal activity in a

developed area of Potter County north of Amarillo.

      About 11 p.m. on March 3, 2014, deputy Orcutt, from a marked patrol car,

was watching a house known to be occupied by a burglary suspect. RR: 68. Within

Orcutt’s viewing, a dark SUV was driven into the residence’s driveway, but no one

exited the vehicle; after less than a minute, the SUV was backed out of the

driveway, and driven away, south down Broadway Avenue. RR: 69. Knowing

Lieutenant Laird of the Sheriff’s Office was in the area, Orcutt by radio notified

Laird of the suspicious vehicle traveling on Broadway. RR: 41.

      Laird, who driving an unmarked patrol car northbound on Broadway, passed

opposite the vehicle matching the description Orcutt had transmitted. RR: 12. He

turned his patrol car to follow the SUV, and saw it being abruptly turned into a

private driveway. RR: 12. Immediately before the turn was made, Laird saw the

SUV’s brake lights and the vehicle’s back end coming up; this indicated to Laird

that the driver had braked hard. RR: 32. The SUV driver activated the turn signal

only 2-5 feet before turning, Laird related. RR: 35. Under the Traffic Code, Laird

                                         3
noted, a driver must activate a continuous signal of intent to turn at least 100 feet

before the turn. RR: 33.

      Because the SUV driver seemed about to pull back onto the roadway from

the driveway, Laird activated his patrol car lights to effect a traffic stop. RR: 13.

Laird approached the driver, Lovejoy, and asked for Lovejoy’s name, driver’s

license, and proof of insurance. Lovejoy did not have a driver’s license in his

immediate possession, but Laird learned from a computer search that he had a

license. RR: 41, 61-62. A female passenger also occupied the SUV. RR: 49-50.

      Almost immediately into their conversation, Lovejoy asked Laird where a

particular street in the area was. RR4:41. Lovejoy explained that he was en route to

see a friend he identified as “Little.” RR: 14. Laird was familiar with Travis Little,

a burglary convict and suspected drug dealer, and asked Lovejoy how he knew

Little; he and Little had done time in “the joint” together, Lovejoy answered. RR:

14, 44. Through further questioning, Laird learned that Lovejoy was on parole out

of Hutchinson County following his conviction for manufacture and delivery of

drugs. RR: 45.    Lovejoy’s SUV bore decals of skulls and crossbones and “AC,”

insignia of the prison gang Aryan Circle, Laird noted. RR: 40.

      Laird thought he should investigate Lovejoy, apart from the observed traffic

violation, because of burglaries in the area and Lovejoy’s vehicle’s presence at a

                                          4
burglary suspect’s residence. RR: 36. Other cautionary circumstances were that

Lovejoy was a parolee from a different county and professed to be en route to the

residence of another felon. RR: 14. Laird directed Lovejoy to exit the SUV, and

walk to the area between the back of the SUV and front of Laird’s patrol car. RR:

19, 47. But, Laird’s plan was merely to do a “pat down” search of Lovejoy,

complete a field interview card memorializing their interaction, and then release

him. RR: 47, 17.

      Lovejoy walked awkwardly, with legs together, toward the designated spot,

as if he was guarding some object. RR: 47. Laird did the “pat down” search of

Lovejoy, but departed from the usual practice of beginning the search at a person’s

top and moving down the body; he instead immediately searched Lovejoy’s mid-

section to check for weapons. RR: 51-52. In Lovejoy’s groin area Laird felt an

object thought to be the handle of a firearm. RR: 52. Laird secured the object,

which was a .25 Raven automatic pistol. R: 54. Lovejoy asserted he was taking the

pistol to his friend’s residence to shoot it. RR: 53.

      Laird arrested Lovejoy for possessing a firearm as a felon. RR: 58. At some

point in their investigation, Laird told Lovejoy he had stopped Lovejoy for failing

to timely signal intent to turn. RR: 13.

                                            5
                        ISSUE PRESENTED (RESTATED)
       The arresting deputy’s testimony he had observed Lovejoy commit a traffic
offense was sufficient to establish probable cause for Lovejoy’s arrest for that
offense and the search of his person; that the deputy’s paramount purpose in
detaining Lovejoy was to investigate broader criminality does not negate the
sustainability of the arrest and search. Given that the deputy’s testimony was not
contradicted and the trial court did not find it incredible, did the court abuse its
discretion in suppressing the evidence?

             I.     The Trial Court’s Fact findings and Legal Conclusions

   After the suppression hearing, the trial court signed written findings of fact and

conclusions of law. CR: 40-41. Of particular significance in the State’s appeal

here were the following fact findings by the trial court:

      1. On March 3, 2014, Potter County Sheriff officer Laird stopped the

            Defendant’s vehicle for suspicion.

      2. Deputy Lair [sic] informed Defendant that he was stopped due to

            numerous burglaries and other crimes having been committed in the area.

      ...

      5. Deputy Laird testified that he also stopped Defendant’s vehicle for failing

      to signal intent to turn 100 feet before turning.

                                           6
6. Although he normally notified people he stopped of a traffic violation

immediately after identifying himself, Deputy Laird did not mention the

traffic violation to Defendant until after his arrest.

7. On the probable cause statement presented as an exhibit by the defense

Deputy Laird stated that the reason for the stop was suspicion.

8.    Deputy Laird did not prepare a citation or warning for the traffic

violation.

9. Deputy Laird indicated that Defendant did signal intent to turn, but did

not do so for 100 feet prior to turning.

...

13. Deputy Laird ordered Defendant out of the vehicle for the purpose of

filling out a field interview card.

14. At the time Deputy Laird ordered the Defendant out of the vehicle,

Deputy Laird had collected most of the information from the Defendant

inquired of by the field interview card.

...

                                      7
      16. Prior to conducting a pat down search of Defendant Officer Laird

      identified no specific articulable facts or conclusions drawn from such facts

      that indicated Officer Laird believed Defendant had a weapon on his person.

The court’s conclusions of law were as follows:

      1. In the absence of a traffic violation, there was no probable cause for the

         stop.

      2. Deputy Laird did not have reasonable suspicion to stop the Defendant’s

         vehicle due to numerous burglaries and other crimes having been

         committed in the area at times other than the evening of the arrest.

      3. Deputy Laird did not have reasonable suspicion to prolong the detention

         of Defendant in order to fill out a field interview card. Deputy Laird

         already had sufficient information to complete a field interview card.

      4. Deputy Laird’s desire to fill out a field interview card did not justify

         detention.

By its November 14, 2014 written orders, the court granted Lovejoy’s suppression

motions. CR: 42, 43.

                       II.   Summary of the State’s Argument

   Undisputed was that Lovejoy committed a traffic offense, failing to timely

signal intent to turn, within Deputy Laird’s observation. Laird had probable cause
                                         8
to arrest Lovejoy for that offense and for not having his driver’s license with him;

the “pat down” search of appellant’s clothing, resulting in discovery of the firearm,

was legally justified as a search incident to arrest.

   The trial court suppressed the evidence upon a faulty premise: that reasonable

suspicion to believe Lovejoy was then engaging in burglaries or other criminality

was lacking, and therefore the detention of him was illegal. The court overlooked

the independent basis for the pat down search - - the probable cause for arrest

occasioned by Lovejoy’s commission of the traffic offense. That Deputy Laird’s

primary purpose in detaining Lovejoy was to investigate his involvement in

criminality in the area was immaterial. The objective legal justification for the pat

down search, a search incident to arrest for the traffic offense, renders lawful the

seizure of the firearm on appellant’s person.

                             III.    Argument and Authority

                                    A. Standard of Review

   A bifurcated standard is used to review an order granting or denying a motion

to suppress. State v. Huddleston, 164 S.W.3d 711, 714 (Tex.App. - - Austin 2005,

no pet.), citing Carmouche v. State, 10 S.W.3d 323, 327 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007).

An appellate court must give ‘almost total deference to a trial court’s determination

of the historical facts that the record supports,’ especially when those fact findings

                                            9
are based on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Id., 164 S.W.3d at 714,

citing, Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). The same

level of deference should also be accorded a trial court’s rulings on mixed

questions of law and fact if those decisions turn upon the credibility and demeanor

of the witnesses. Id., 164 S.W.3d at 715, citing Guzman, 955 S.W.2d at 89 and

Hayes v. State, 132 S.W.3d 147, 151 (Tex.App. - - Austin 2004, no pet.).

Appellate courts review de novo, however, mixed questions of law and fact that do

not turn on the credibility and demeanor of the witnesses. Id., 165 S.W.3d at 715,

citing Carmouche, 10 S.W.3d at 327, Guzman, 955 S.W.2d at 89, and Hayes,
132 S.W.3d at 151.

                     B. Seizure of the Firearm From Lovejoy
       Should Have Been Sustained as Resulting From a Search Incident to Arrest

      Four provisions of the Texas Transportation Code bear upon the seizure

involved in this case:

       . . An operator intending to turn a vehicle right or left shall signal

      continuously for not less than the last 100 feet of movement of the vehicle

      before the turn.

Tex. Transportation Code Ann. Sec. 545.104 (b)(West 2011).

                                        10
            Any peace officer may arrest without warrant a person found

      committing a violation of this subtitle [relating to traffic offenses].

Texas Transportation Code Ann. Sec. 543.001 (West 2011).

            . . An officer shall issue a written notice to appear if:

                   (1) the offense charged is speeding or a violation of the open

                       container law, Section 49.03, Penal Code; and

                   (2) The person make a written promise to appear in court . . .

Texas Transportation Code Ann. Sec. 543.004 (a)(West 2011).

            A person required to hold a license . . . shall:

                   (1) have in the person’s possession while operating a motor

                       vehicle the class of driver’s license appropriate for the type

                       of vehicle operated; and

                   (2) Display the license on the demand of a magistrate, court

                       officer, or peace officer . .

Texas Transportation Code Ann. Sec 521.025 (a)(West 2013). Then, a peace

officer may arrest a person for committing any traffic offense except speeding and

a violation of the open container law. See State v. Gray, 158 S.W.3d 465, 469

                                           11
(Tex.Crim.App. 2005); Garcia v. State, 218 S.W.3d 756, 760 (Tex.App. - -

Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.).

      Here, after seizing Lovejoy’s firearm, Deputy Laird arrested Lovejoy for the

offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. RR: 58. At some point

during their interaction, Laird informed Lovejoy that the reason for the traffic stop

was Lovejoy’s failure to properly signal an intention to turn his vehicle. RR: 13.

Further warranting Lovejoy’s arrest, Laird noted, was Lovejoy’s not having his

driver’s license in his immediate possession while driving. RR: 42.

      In sum, what developed at the scene was the emergence of probable cause to

arrest Lovejoy for the traffic offenses, a pat down search of Lovejoy’s person, and

a formal custodial arrest. Whether Laird’s primary purpose in stopping Lovejoy

was to investigate narcotics trafficking and recent burglaries is immaterial. See

Crittendon v. State, 899 S.W.2d 668, 674 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995)(holding that

traffic stop is not unlawful just because the detaining officer had an ulterior motive

in making it). Probable cause being present for an arrest of Lovejoy for the traffic

offenses, the pat down search of his person was justified as a search incident to

arrest. See Williams v. State, 726 S.W.2d 99, 101 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986)(probable

cause to arrest for illegal parking justified seizure of paper bag containing a firearm

on the vehicle’s front seat); State v. Morales, 322 S.W.3d 297, 300 (Tex.App. - -

Dallas 2010, no pet.)(though officer arrested accused on outstanding warrants,
                                          12
which were not produced in court, search of vehicle yielding contraband was

justified on an independent basis: the accused commit a traffic violation and did

not have proof of insurance).

      A search incident to arrest should be upheld as long as probable cause

existed to arrest the defendant for some offense, even if not the actual reason for

the arrest. State v. Morales, 322 S.W.3d at 300. In that connection, that the search

preceded the formal arrest is inconsequential if probable cause existed for the

arrest. Rawlings v. Kentucky, 448 U.S. 98, 111, 100 S. Ct. 2556, 65 L. Ed. 2d 633

(1980); State v. Ballard, 987 S.W.2d 889, 892 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999).

      When an appellate court’s independent review reveals that the trial judge’s

findings and conclusions are not supported by the record, the court has authority to

make contrary or alternative findings and conclusions. Ex parte Reed, 271 S.W.3d
698, 727 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008); State v. Whittington, 401 S.W.3d 263, 271

(Tex.App. - - San Antonio 2013, no pet.). The uncontradicted evidence here was

that Lovejoy’s traffic offense was a basis for the stop and provided probable cause

for his arrest. Contrary to the trial court’s finding, deputy Laird did not testify he

told Lovejoy the stop was made to investigate recent burglaries and drug offenses.

Under the circumstances, the pat down search of Lovejoy was legally justified. The

trial court abused its discretion in suppressing the firearm whose possession is the

subject of this prosecution. See State v. McIntosh, No. 08-06-00044-CR, 2008
                                         13
Tex. App. LEXIS 691 (Tex.App. - - El Paso Jan. 31, 2008, no pet.)(not designated

for publication)(trial court’s suppression order not supported by the record and not

supported by a correct legal theory) and State v. Lockhart, No. 07-04-00304-CR,

2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6159 (Tex.App. - - Amarillo Aug. 2, 2005, no pet.)(not

designated for publication)(trial court abused discretion in applying law to the

facts).

                                         14
                        CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

      WHEREFORE, the State prays that the Court reverse the trial court’s order

suppressing evidence.

                                                 Respectfully submitted,

                                                 RANDALL SIMS
                                                 District Attorney
                                                 Potter County, Texas

                                                 __/s/ John L. Owen___

                                                 John L. Owen
                                                 Assistant District Attorney
                                                 Potter County Courts Bldg.
                                                 Suite 5A
                                                 501 S. Fillmore
                                                 Amarillo, Texas 79101
                                                 (806) 379-2325
                                                 FAX (806) 379-2823
                                                 SBN 15369200
                                                 jackowen@co.potter.tx.us

                                                 Attorneys for the State

                                       15
                            CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I hereby certify that on this 12th day of February, 2015, a true copy of the

foregoing State’s brief was served on defendant Kenneth Lovejoy’s attorney, Eric

Coats, at 1716 South Polk Street, Amarillo, Texas 79102, by depositing the same

in the United States Mail, postage prepaid.

                                                  __/s/ John L. Owen______
                                                  Assistant District Attorney

                      CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

      In accordance with Tex.R.App.P. 9.4 (i)(3), I hereby certify that the

foregoing brief contains, as reflected in the computer program word count, 3,328

words. That count includes words in portions of the brief which, under the Rule,

are excluded from the prescribed word limit.

                                                  __/s/ John L. Owen___
                                                  Assistant District Attorney

                                         16
17