Court Opinion

ID: 2896809
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 00:48:49.70576+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:35:05.308739
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-07-0026-CR

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                     AT AMARILLO

                                        PANEL D

                                   AUGUST 20, 2008

                         ______________________________

                        MARIO ODILON REYNA, APPELLANT

                                           V.

                         THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

                       _________________________________

              FROM THE 64TH DISTRICT COURT OF HALE COUNTY;

        NO. A16870-0607; HONORABLE ROBERT W. KINKAID, JR., JUDGE

                        _______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and PIRTLE, JJ.

                               MEMORANDUM OPINION

      Appellant, Mario Odilon Reyna, was convicted by a jury of driving while intoxicated,

third or more, and punishment was assessed at ninety years confinement. By two issues,

Appellant maintains (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion for mistrial because a

juror withheld her knowledge of Appellant’s family and her husband’s former relationship
to Appellant’s family, and (2) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress. We

affirm.

                                     Background Facts

          On May 6, 2006, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Trooper Benito Gonzales was

transporting a prisoner to the Hale County Jail. He was traveling north along an “S” curve

on FM 789 when he observed a van blocking the “Y” intersection of FM 789 and County

Road 175. The van was parked on the west side of FM 789 directly in front of the county

road. Gonzales made a U-turn to determine if the van was disabled and in need of

assistance. He pulled up behind the van and activated the “take-down” lights on his patrol

car to illuminate the dark area. Before he could exit the vehicle, the van moved forward

about six to ten feet before coming to a stop beyond the intersection. Trooper Gonzales

approached the van and noticed Appellant in the driver’s seat hunched over and not

moving. He requested that Appellant show his hands.

          When Appellant rolled down his window, Gonzales detected a strong odor of alcohol

and other indications of intoxication. When questioned, Appellant responded that he had

consumed only one alcoholic beverage. Gonzales observed an open alcoholic beverage

in the cup holder of the van and asked Appellant if he could open the passenger door to

check for occupants or weapons. Proceeding with Appellant’s permission, he opened the

passenger side door and noticed a small cooler between the driver’s and passenger’s

seats and opened it to reveal more alcoholic beverages. Pursuant to Gonzales’s request,

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Appellant exited the van at which time Gonzales noticed a bottle of tequila in the driver’s

seat. According to Gonzales’s testimony and offense report, Appellant was confused and

disoriented and claimed he had stopped to take a nap and “wee wee.”

       Trooper Gonzales performed the horizontal gaze nystagmus field sobriety test and

observed all six clues indicating Appellant was intoxicated. Appellant was uncooperative

and verbally abusive and refused to participate in other field sobriety tests. He was

arrested for driving while intoxicated and transported to the Hale County Jail with the other

prisoner in the trooper’s patrol car.

       We will address Appellant’s issues in a logical rather than sequential order. Thus,

we first address his contention that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his

motion to suppress.

                                   Motion to Suppress

       Appellant filed a motion to suppress alleging that Trooper Gonzales had no

reasonable suspicion to detain him and further alleged that the community caretaking

exception to the warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment did not support the

trooper’s actions. At the suppression hearing, Gonzales was the only witness to testify for

the State. The substance of Gonzales’s testimony was that he believed the van was

disabled and blocking an intersection. He interrupted the transfer of his prisoner to stop

and check on the situation.

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       The defense called Heath Bozeman, a transportation engineer with the Texas

Department of Transportation, in an effort to establish that Appellant was not blocking the

intersection. The defense argued that Appellant was parked on the shoulder of FM 789

and not blocking the intersection. The defense also asserted there was no evidence to

suggest that Gonzales was engaging in his community caretaking duties.

       Pursuant to State v. Cullen, 195 S.W.3d 696, 699-700 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006),

Appellant requested, and the trial court made, findings of fact and conclusions of law. As

relevant here, the trial court made the following findings of fact:

       3. while traveling on Texas FM 789 Trooper Gonzales observed a blue
       passenger van parked in the intersection of Texas FM 789 and County Road
       175;
                                            ***
       5. Trooper Gonzales observed the blue passenger van to be blocking the
       intersection of Texas FM 789 and County Road 175; and
       6. the blue passenger van was parked in a position in the intersection where
       vehicles entering County Road 175 from FM 789 or exiting County Road 175
       into FM 789 would collide with the blue passenger van.

       The trial court made one conclusion of law as follows:

       [t]he defendant was lawfully stopped by Trooper Gonzales because the
       defendant violated Texas Transportation Code Section 545.302. Section
       545.302 states that an operator may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle in an
       intersection. The blue van operated by the defendant was parked in the
       intersection of Texas FM 789 and County Road 175 when observed by
       Trooper Gonzales. The location of the van, where parked, would have
       caused vehicles entering or exiting the two roadways through the intersection
       to collide with the van.

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       I. Standard of Review

       A trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress is reviewed for abuse of discretion.

Balentine v. State, 71 S.W.3d 763, 768 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002). In determining whether the

trial court abused its discretion we accord almost total deference to a trial court’s

determination of the historical facts especially if those determinations turn on witnesses’

credibility and demeanor. Neal v. State, No. AP-75406, 2008 WL 2437667, at *11

(Tex.Crim.App. June 18, 2008). We review the court’s application of the law to the facts

de novo. See Amador v. State, 221 S.W.3d 666, 673 (Tex.Crim.App 2007); Carmouche

v. State, 10 S.W.3d 323, 327 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000); Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 88-

89 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). We do not engage in our own factual review; rather, the trial

court is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their

testimony. State v. Ross, 32 S.W.3d 853, 855 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000). Where, as here, the

trial court makes explicit findings of fact, we determine whether the evidence, when viewed

in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling, supports those findings. See State v.

Kelly, 204 S.W.3d 808, 818-19 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006). The decision of the trial court will

be sustained if it is correct on any theory of law applicable to the facts of that case. Ross,
32 S.W.3d at 856.

       At a hearing on a motion to suppress, the defendant bears the initial burden of

producing evidence that rebuts the presumption of proper police conduct. Ford v. State,

159 S.W.3d 488, 492 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005). Once the defendant satisfies this burden by

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establishing that a search or seizure occurred without a warrant, the burden shifts to the

State to establish that the search or seizure was conducted pursuant to a warrant or was

reasonable. Bishop v. State, 85 S.W.3d 819, 822 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002).

       A. Traffic Violation

       It is a violation of the Texas Transportation Code for an operator to stop, stand, or

park a vehicle in an intersection. Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.302(a)(3) (Vernon Supp.

2007). A traffic violation committed in an officer’s presence authorizes an initial stop. See

Armitage v. State, 637 S.W.2d 936, 939 (Tex. 1982). The decision to stop a vehicle is

reasonable where law enforcement has probable cause to believe that a traffic violation

has occurred. Walter v. State, 28 S.W.3d 538, 542 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000), citing Whren

v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 810, 116 S. Ct. 1769, 135 L. Ed. 2d 89 (1996). Proof that

an offense was actually committed is not a requisite of an investigative detention as long

as the officer reasonably believed that a violation was in progress. Drago v. State, 553
S.W.2d 375, 377 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977).

       B. Discussion

       The crux of Appellant’s defense and one of his arguments on appeal is that the

State failed to prove the existence of an intersection where his van was stopped. Appellant

insists he was parked on the shoulder of FM 789. According to exhibits introduced into

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evidence, FM 789 runs north and south and merges on the west side of an “S” curve with

County Road 175 to form a “Y” intersection.1

       Traffic engineer Bozeman testified that, as defined by the Texas Department of

Transportation, an intersection is the general area where two or more roadways intersect

or merge. Bozeman was not familiar with the intersection nor had he seen photographs

of the location. Instead, his testimony was aided by a February 1, 1955 right-of-way map.

He also pointed out to defense counsel, “I think you’re trying to make the intersection as

a hard-to-find area, and it is not. It’s the general area.”

       Trooper Gonzales testified numerous times that Appellant’s van was blocking the

intersection of County Road 175 and FM 789. Although the van was never physically on

FM 789, it nevertheless blocked the entrance to County Road 175. He further testified that

he was justified in detaining Appellant because he was in violation of § 545.302(a)(3) of

the Transportation Code for which a citation may issue. We conclude that Trooper

Gonzales’s conduct was reasonable.

       It is of no consequence that Appellant’s van moved forward and away from the

intersection after Gonzales activated his patrol car lights. Section 545.302(a)(3) does not

prescribe a minimum time the vehicle must be stopped in the intersection for the act to

       1
        County Road 175 is a dirt road unmarked by lines, rope, or a cement curb, which
is extended by a path made from vehicles that have traveled over it numerous times.

                                              7
constitute an offense. When viewed in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling,

the findings of fact and conclusion of law are supported by the evidence.

       Appellant also complains that the trial court’s ruling on his motion to suppress

cannot be sustained under the community caretaking exception to the warrant requirement

of the Fourth Amendment because there is no evidence to support Trooper Gonzales’s

actions. If the trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress is correct on any theory of law

applicable to the case, the decision will be sustained. Ross, 32 S.W.3d at 855-56. Having

upheld the trial court’s ruling because Appellant committed a traffic violation in Gonzales’s

presence thereby justifying Gonzales’s actions, we need not address Appellant’s

community caretaking argument. We conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion

in denying Appellant’s Motion to Suppress. Issue two is overruled.

                                     Motion for Mistrial

       By his first issue, Appellant maintains the trial court erred in denying his motion for

mistrial because a juror withheld her knowledge of Appellant’s family and her husband’s

former relationship to Appellant’s family. We disagree.

       I. Standard of Review

       We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion for mistrial for abuse of discretion. See

Webb v. State, 232 S.W.3d 109, 112 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007). We view the evidence in the

light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling and uphold the ruling if it was within the zone

                                               8
of reasonable disagreement. Wead v. State, 129 S.W.3d 126, 129 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004).

A trial court abuses its discretion in denying a motion for mistrial only when no reasonable

view of the record could support the ruling. Webb v. State, 232 S.W.3d 109, 112

(Tex.Crim.App. 2007).

       A. Discussion

       In the case at bar, after the receipt of the jury’s verdict at the guilt/innocence stage,

but prior to commencement of the punishment phase, defense counsel informed the trial

court that Appellant’s mother and stepfather recognized Juror Farias as an ex-relative of

Appellant’s family and that there had been “tremendous acrimony over child custody stuff.”

Appellant moved for a mistrial on that basis, whereupon the following colloquy occurred

between the trial court and Juror Farias:

       Court: And Ms. Farias, do you know the Defendant in this case?

       Juror: No, I don’t know him.

       Court: And do you know if you have ever, in the past, ever been related to
       him or any members of his family that you know of?

       Juror: I did know them, but when I looked, his parents lived across the street
       from me and then I realized that my husband was married to, I guess, his
       sister, at one time, but I don’t know him.

       Court: So whenever we conducted the voir dire examination you didn’t know
       that connection, or anything like that?

       Juror: I didn’t know that connection until I saw his parents and then I thought,
       well, the name clicked, and I thought well I wonder if that’s the same person,
       but I don’t know him.

                                               9
       Court: And the fact that you realized, I guess, during the trial that these
       people sitting in the Courtroom were living across the street from you at one
       point in time; did that affect your ability to be fair and impartial in the case
       and [j]udge the evidence?

       Juror: No, I don’t believe it does.

       Court: And it is yes or no.

       Juror: No, it doesn’t.

       Court: It did not affect your ability in deciding the facts of this case?

       Juror: No.

       Thereafter the trial court ruled that, based on the evidence before it, the motion for

mistrial was denied. The trial court then inquired if the parties were ready to proceed to the

punishment phase. The State announced it was ready and defense counsel requested a

recess to discuss what had occurred. Following a short recess, the trial proceeded to the

punishment phase. Defense counsel never requested permission to question Juror Farias

regarding her relationship with Appellant’s family or any potential bias in that regard, nor

did he object to her qualifications or further service as a juror.

       The State contends that Appellant has not preserved his contention for appellate

review. We agree. In Franklin v. State, 12 S.W.3d 473, 477 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000)

(Franklin I), a juror revealed for the first time during trial that she knew the complainant.

The trial court denied defense counsel’s request to question that juror about the nature of

her relationship with the victim, how long it had lasted, whether or not she could set aside

any of her relationship with the victim in sitting in judgment, or whether she would tend to

                                              10
give more or less credence to the victim’s testimony and truthfulness given their

relationship. The court of appeals determined that the trial court had erred in refusing to

permit questioning of the juror to develop the nature of the relationship, but held that

because counsel did not specifically request to make a separate bill of exception for

purposes of appeal, the error was waived. Citing Nunfio v. State, 808 S.W.2d 482, 484

(Tex.Crim.App. 1991), overruled on other grounds, 994 S.W.2d 170, 171 (Tex.Crim.App.

1999), the Court of Criminal Appeals disagreed. Noting that once the trial court was on

notice of defense counsel’s proposed questions, they found that the refusal to permit the

request amounted to a direct order not to ask those questions. The Court then concluded

that the appellant had obtained a ruling and properly preserved the complaint for review.

Franklin I, 12 S.W.3d at 477.

       In the case at bar, after the trial court ruled adversely to Appellant on his motion for

mistrial, defense counsel made no effort to question Juror Farias about the nature of her

relationship with Appellant’s family to determine potential bias and provide a basis for

appellate review. Furthermore, Appellant never sought to make a separate record as a bill

of exception for appellate purposes, nor did he object to Juror Farias’s continued service

as a juror. Thus, we conclude under the rationale of Franklin I, Appellant failed to preserve

the denial of his motion for mistrial for appellate review.

       Assuming, arguendo, that error was preserved and that the information withheld by

Juror Farias was material, we are convinced, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Appellant

                                              11
was not denied his constitutional right to trial before an impartial jury. See Tex. R. App. P.

44.2(a). See also Franklin v. State, 138 S.W.3d 351, 354 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004) (Franklin

II); Sypert v. State, 196 S.W.3d 896, 902-03 (Tex.App.–Texarkana 2006, pet. ref’d).

Materiality is determined by evaluating whether the withheld information would likely reveal

the juror harbored a bias or prejudice to such a degree that the juror should have been

excused from jury service. Sypert, 196 S.W.3d at 900. Mere familiarity is not necessarily

material information. Franklin I, 12 S.W.3d at 478, citing Decker v. State, 717 S.W.2d 903,

907 (Tex.Crim.App. 1983).

       Juror Farias was unaware during voir dire of a potential relationship with Appellant’s

family. She did not know Appellant and recognized his parents only after trial had

commenced. She then realized her husband had been married to Appellant’s sister at one

time. The trial court questioned her on her ability to be fair and impartial, to which she

responded affirmatively.     Additionally, where, as here, bias or prejudice was not

established as a matter of law, the trial court had discretion to determine whether bias or

prejudice actually existed to such a degree that Juror Farias was disqualified and should

have been excused from jury service. See Anderson v. State, 633 S.W.2d 851, 853-54

(Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1982).        After questioning Juror Farias concerning her

knowledge of or relationship to other members of Appellant’s family, whether or not she

could be fair and impartial, and whether her ability to decide the facts would be affected

by that knowledge or former relationship, the trial court concluded that she was qualified

                                             12
to continue to serve as a juror. This, the trial court had discretion to do. Issue one is

overruled.

                                      Conclusion

      Having overruled both of Appellant’s issues, the trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

                                                Patrick A. Pirtle
                                                    Justice

Do not publish.

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