Court Opinion

ID: 9677242
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:47:19.556545+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:54.654089
License: Public Domain

STEPHENS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. I cannot agree with the majority that the testimony of Officer Woods establishes that the marihuana was in the plain view of appellant. Although Woods testified that the large brown paper bag was in close proximity to appellant and was open at the top, she did not testify that either she or appellant could see the contents of the bag from their respective positions. Further, she stated that Officer James handed her the bag following appellant’s arrest, whereupon, she examined the contents and found them to be twenty-six one-ounce bags of marihuana. Under these circumstances, whether or not the contents of the bag were in plain view is a matter of mere speculation since it was not shown by the evidence.
In the cases cited by the majority, the contraband was not found within a larger container but was clearly visible and open to view. In Pollan v. State, 612 S.W.2d 594 (Tex.Cr.App.1981), boxes containing numerous bricks of marihuana were opened in the presence of appellant and others, and a general discussion ensued about where to weigh the marihuana. In Hughes v. State, 612 S.W.2d 581 (Tex.Cr.App.1981), marihuana in clear plastic wraps was found on the coffee table in a room occupied by appellant when police officers entered the apartment. In Hernandez v. State, 538 S.W.2d 127 (Tex.Cr.App.1976), marihuana “roaches” were found in an ashtray on the dashboard of a car driven by appellant. It may also be noted that Hernandez was a revocation of probation proceeding and, consequently, the State’s burden was to prove possession only by a preponderance of the evidence. Lastly, in Herrera v. State, 561 S.W.2d 175 (Tex.Cr.App.1978), police officers observed marihuana plants growing in the window of appellant’s apartment. They also found seeds, “roaches,” and loose marihuana on top of the bar in the kitchen and loose marihuana on a nightstand in the bedroom.
In the instant case, the evidence does not show that the marihuana contained in the large paper bag was visible to Officer Woods as she entered the room and approached appellant. It was uncontraverted that appellant had arrived at his sister’s home only five minutes or so prior to the time Officer Woods knocked on the door. Appellant was not standing near or over the bag but was seated. Although he knew Officer Woods by name as a policewoman, he made no furtive gestures or attempts to conceal the bag as she entered the room. In my opinion, the evidence in the record does not establish that the marihuana in the bag was in plain view, even when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict. See Underwood v. State, 571 S.W.2d 7 (Tex.Cr.App.1978). Close proximity to contraband which is not in plain view is insufficient alone to show possession of the contraband. See Underwood v. State, supra; Hernandez v. State, 517 S.W.2d 782 (Tex.Cr.App.1975); Hausman v. State, 480 S.W.2d 721 (Tex.Cr.App.1972).
Appellant’s statement to Officer Woods and his conduct with respect to the money tendered present the only other evidence which may link him to the marihuana. Incriminating statements have often been considered as evidence of intent to violate the statute. See Morgan v. State, 516 S.W.2d 188 (Tex.Cr.App.1974) (appellant said to police officers, “Man you’ve got me. I’ll show you where it is.”); Lewis v. State, 502 S.W.2d 699 (Tex.Cr.App.1973) (passenger said “We’ve had it" to appellant, the driver, after police stopped car following three block chase); Simpson v. State, 486 S.W.2d 807 (Tex.Cr.App.1972) (appellant was heard to exclaim, “We know who turned us in, and he was mad because we wouldn’t give him a fix.’’). In the instant *927case, appellant stated, “Officer Woods, you can’t do that. You know what you are. You’re a cop.” I do not believe that this statement can be construed as any evidence of knowledge or control of the marihuana. It is simply a statement of recognition.
The conduct of appellant with respect to the ten dollar bill presents a more difficult question. Nevertheless, after reviewing all the surrounding circumstances as enumerated in the record, I cannot agree with the majority that the conduct of appellant represents unequivocal evidence of control. Appellant’s behavior may as reasonably be interpreted as an effort to prevent his sister from committing an illegal act if he suspected, but did not have actual knowledge, that she had marihuana to sell. This alternative explanation is consistent with my opinion that the evidence in this case does not establish that the marihuana in the bag was in plain view.
As this is a circumstantial evidence case, the circumstances must exclude every other reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt. Rhyne v. State, 620 S.W.2d 599 (Tex.Cr.App.1981); Sewell v. State, 578 S.W.2d 131 (Tex.Cr.App.1979); Stogsdill v. State, 552 S.W.2d 481 (Tex.Cr.App.1977). Proof amounting to only a strong suspicion or mere probability of appellant’s guilt is insufficient. Rhyne, supra; Ford v. State, 571 S.W.2d 924 (Tex.Cr.App.1978). Any alternative hypothesis must be reasonable, consistent with the facts proved and the circumstances, and not out of harmony with the evidence. Autry v. State, 626 S.W.2d 758 (Tex.Cr.App.1982); Swink v. State, 617 S.W.2d 203 (Tex.Cr.App.1981). After reviewing the record in the light most favorable to the verdict, I am of the opinion that there is a reasonable alternative hypothesis other than guilt which cannot be ignored. Based upon the foregoing discussion, I would hold that the evidence is insufficient to prove appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See Dubry v. State, 582 S.W.2d 841 (Tex.Cr.App.1979); Underwood v. State, supra. Accordingly, I would overrule the State’s Motion for Rehearing.
AKIN and WHITHAM, JJ., concur.