Court Opinion

ID: 4910387
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-13 07:32:59.184436+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:24.177099
License: Public Domain

Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed September 9, 2021.

                                          In The

                       Fourteenth Court of Appeals

                                 NO. 14-19-00796-CR

                 THOMAS DEWAYNE MORELAND, Appellant

                                             V.
                         THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                      On Appeal from the 149th District Court
                             Brazoria County, Texas
                          Trial Court Cause No. 54671-3

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION

       This appeal involves appellant’s third attempt at post-conviction DNA
testing.1 We hold that the trial court did not err by denying his third motion for
DNA testing because (1) he has not shown that the State manufactured false
evidence; (2) he is procedurally barred from relitigating the testing of items that he

       1
         See Moreland v. State, No. 14-15-01025-CR, 2016 WL 1671616 (Tex. App.—Houston
[14th Dist.] Apr. 26, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (per curiam);
Moreland v. State, No. 14-14-00035-CR, 2014 WL 3051298 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
July 3, 2014, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (per curiam).
previously requested to be tested and items that were previously tested; and (3) he
has not shown that he would not have been convicted if exculpatory DNA testing
results had been obtained for newly requested, previously untested items.

                                    I.      BACKGROUND

A.     Factual Background2

       The decedent was found in her bedroom after having been raped, strangled,
and beaten to death. Appellant confessed to his aunt and then to police officers
that he killed the decedent. He admitted to entering the decedent’s residence
through a window, biting through the decedent’s telephone cord, sexually
assaulting the decedent, strangling her, and beating her with a can of green beans.
He led the police to a storage unit where he had hidden his bloody black pants.
The decedent’s blood was on the pants. Vaginal swabs of the decedent included
sperm that contained appellant’s DNA. His DNA was also on the telephone cord
and can of green beans. Appellant pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated sexual
assault with an agreed sentence of fifty years’ imprisonment.

B.     Procedural Background

       Appellant, acting pro se, filed his first motion for DNA testing in 2013. He
sought DNA testing of (1) a fingerprint on the decedent’s window, (2) the bitten
telephone cord, (3) “the can of tomato paste the attorney said that [appellant’s]
DNA was on it that showed that [he] hit the victim in the head with,” (4) a pair of
bloody black pants taken from a storage unit, and (5) appellant’s “sperm DNA that
was tested with the victim and all mixture DNA.” Appellant wrote in the motion
that he had been taken to a hospital, a warrant was issued to a staff member of the

       2
         In reciting the factual background, we consider appellant’s brief and the State’s exhibits
attached to its response to appellant’s third motion for DNA testing, which include a police
report and the results of DNA testing.

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hospital, and a nurse at the hospital extracted his blood and hairs from his head and
pubic region. The trial court denied the motion, and this court affirmed. See
Moreland v. State, No. 14-14-00035-CR, 2014 WL 3051298 (Tex. App.—Houston
[14th Dist.] July 3, 2014, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (per
curiam).

      Appellant, again acting pro se, filed his second motion for DNA testing in
2015. He sought DNA testing of (1) a telephone cord that was bitten into at the
decedent’s house; (2) a “bean” or “tomato paste” can that was used to hit the
decedent; (3) a pair of black jeans with blood on it that was located in a storage
facility; and (4) vaginal swabs of the decedent. The trial court denied the motion,
and this court affirmed. See Moreland v. State, No. 14-15-01025-CR, 2016 WL
1671616 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 26, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op., not
designated for publication) (per curiam)

      Appellant, with the assistance of counsel, filed a third motion for DNA
testing—the motion that is the subject of this appeal. He sought DNA testing of
the following items:

      (1) Charcoal Gray Shorts-Blood Stain Left Pocket;
      (2) Blue and Silver Shorts-G4;
      (3) Gray Tank Top Shirt-Prospirt;
      (4) Gray Mens Underwear-Fruit of the Loom;
      (5) White and Blue Tennis Shoes-Cross Training;
      (6) 2 Pieces of Blue Carpet-With Blood Stains;
      (7) Buccal Swabs-Roy Singleton;
      (8) Buccal Swabs-Thomas Moreland;
      (9) Unopen Green Bean Can-Bent Victim’s Room;
      (10) Blue and White Tennis Shoe-Right Foot;
      (11) Blue and Brown Satchel-Under Victim’s Bed Side Table;
      (12) Wooden Handle-Victim’s Room;
      (13) Black T-Shirt-ME Office;
      (14) Debris From Forehead-From ME Office;
      (15) Pulled Pubic Hair-ME Office;
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      (16) Pulled Head Hair-ME Office;
      (17) Right Fingernail Clippings-ME Office;
      (18) Left Fingernail Clippings-ME Office;
      (19) Oral Swab-ME Office;
      (20) Vaginal Swab-ME Office;
      (21) Anal Swab-ME Office;
      (22) Abdominal and Perineal Swipes-ME Office;
      (23) Head Hair-Thomas Moreland;
      (24) White Pillow and Green Pillow Case;
      (25) Green Flat Sheet;
      (26) Multicolored Quilt;
      (27) Multicolored Comforter;
      (28) Black and White Blanket;
      (29) Swab of Blood from Right of Room Door;
      (30) Cut Phone Cable;
      (31) Swab From Victim’s Cheeks;
      (32) Pubic Hair-Thomas Moreland; and
      (33) Swab From Victim’s Mouth.

He also again sought testing of (1) a fingerprint on the decedent’s window; (2) a
telephone cord; (3) a vegetable can alleged to have been used to hit the decedent in
the head; (4) a pair of pants alleged to contain the decedent’s blood; and (5)
vaginal swabs from the decedent.

      Appellant argued that any previously tested items could be subjected to
newer testing techniques that provide a reasonable likelihood of results that are
more accurate and probative than the results of the previous tests. He argued,
among other things, that if the items to be tested for DNA contained the DNA of a
third party, there would be a greater than fifty percent chance that he would not
have been convicted had he gone to trial.

      Appellant also argued that “his DNA was never taken for comparison
analysis,” and he denied ever giving the State a buccal swab, blood, or hair
follicles. He attached an affidavit, testifying that he was innocent and, “There are

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allegations of fabrication and allegations that some of the DNA testing was
fabricated or not done at all.”

      The State filed a response and attached evidence including the police report,
DNA test results, appellant’s prior motions, the search warrant for appellant’s
DNA samples, and a “return and inventory” affidavit sworn to and signed by a
police officer. In the affidavit, the officer testified that he seized from appellant
two tubes of blood, head and pubic hair, and buccal swabs. The police report
recited, among other things, that appellant had been taken to the Brazosport
Hospital to have his blood drawn and hair samples taken, and a nurse took the
samples from appellant.

      The trial court denied the motion by written order, ruling that appellant (1)
was barred from relief under the doctrines of law of the case and estoppel, “insofar
as Applicant’s prior requests for DNA testing on certain items have been denied by
this Court”; (2) failed to show that the evidence previously subjected to DNA
testing could be subjected to testing with newer testing techniques that provide a
reasonable likelihood of results that are more accurate and probative than the
results of the previous tests; (3) failed to establish that identity was at issue; and (4)
failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that he would not have been
convicted if exculpatory DNA results were obtained from the requested testing.

                                   II.    ANALYSIS

      In his sole issue on appeal, appellant contends that the trial court “abused its
discretion in denying whether a reasonable probability exists that exculpatory
DNA tests would have caused appellant to not be convicted.” Within the issue,
appellant also contends that identity was at issue, and he repeats the claim that he
never gave a buccal swab, blood, or hair for DNA testing. He does not challenge
the trial court’s ruling regarding law of the case and estoppel, nor does he
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challenge the trial court’s ruling that he failed to show that previously tested items
could be subjected to newer testing techniques.

A.    Legal Principles and Standard of Review for Chapter 64 DNA Testing

      A person may submit to their convicting court a motion for DNA testing of
evidence that has a reasonable likelihood of containing biological material. Tex.
Code Crim. Proc. art. 64.01(a-1).       The motion must be accompanied by an
affidavit, sworn to by the convicted person, containing statements of fact in
support of the motion. Id. The motion may request DNA testing of evidence in
the State’s possession that was (1) not previously subjected to DNA testing, or (2)
although previously tested, can be subjected to testing with newer techniques that
provide a reasonable likelihood of results that are more accurate and probative than
the results of the previous test. Id. art. 64.01(b). The court may order DNA testing
under Chapter 64 only if, among other things, the court finds that identity was “at
issue” in the case and the convicted person establishes by a preponderance of the
evidence that they would not have been convicted if exculpatory results had been
obtained through DNA testing. Id. art. 64.03(a)(2)(A).

      In reviewing the trial court’s order denying DNA testing, we give “almost
total deference to the trial court’s resolution of questions of historical fact and
application-of-law-to-fact issues that turn on witness credibility and demeaner, but
we consider de novo all other application-of-law-to-fact questions.” Holberg v.
State, 425 S.W.3d 282, 284–85 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) (quotation omitted). We
may infer findings necessary to support the trial court’s ruling if they are
reasonably supported by the record. Cf. Dunning v. State, 572 S.W.3d 685, 692
(Tex. Crim. App. 2019) (regarding trial court’s ruling following testing).

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B.     Resolution of Fact Issues Regarding Prior Testing

       Assuming without deciding that a convicted person may use the Chapter 64
process for asserting a claim that the State fabricated DNA evidence, as appellant
appears to do, the record does not undermine the trial court’s implied rejection of
this claim.3 In his affidavit, appellant does not testify regarding any material facts
concerning the allegation that his biological material was not previously collected;
he alleges merely that “[t]here are allegations of fabrication.” The State presented
evidence through the police report, an affidavit, and appellant’s own prior
admission from his first motion for DNA testing to show that appellant’s biological
materials were collected. Considering this evidence, the trial court reasonably
could have found that appellant’s biological materials were collected, and the court
could have rejected appellant’s contrary claim. Thus, the trial court did not err by
refusing DNA testing on items collected from appellant—his hair and buccal
swabs.

C.     Procedural Default for DNA Testing of Previously Requested Items and
       Previously Tested Items

       Appellant does not challenge or make any argument on appeal related to the
trial court’s rulings that (1) he is barred by the law-of-the-case doctrine and
estoppel from requesting DNA testing on items that he had requested in his two
prior motions; or (2) he failed to show that previously tested items could be
subjected to newer DNA testing techniques.

       Because appellant does not challenge a theory of law applicable to the case
that supports the trial court’s rulings regarding previously requested and previously
tested items, we uphold the trial court’s rulings without considering the merits of

       3
         Habeas is available to challenge an involuntary guilty plea based on false evidence. See
Ex parte Barnaby, 475 S.W.3d 316, 322–23 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015).

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the unchallenged bases for the rulings. See Gutierrez v. State, 585 S.W.3d 599,
614 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2019, no pet.) (citing Copeland v. State, 501
S.W.3d 610, 614 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016)); see also Moore v. State, 605 S.W.2d
924, 926 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1980); State v. Hoskins, No. 05-13-00416-
CR, 2014 WL 4090129, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 19, 2014, no pet.) (mem.
op., not designated for publication) (“An appellant, whether the State or the
defendant, must challenge all independent bases or grounds that fully support a
judgment or appealable order.”).

       Accordingly, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred by denying DNA
testing of the following items for which appellant previously requested DNA
testing:

       (1) a fingerprint on the decedent’s window;
       (2) the telephone cord;
       (3) the can of green beans;
       (4) the bloody black pants; and
       (5) vaginal swabs of the decedent.

And, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred by denying DNA testing of the
following additional items, which the State’s evidence shows were previously
tested:

       (6) charcoal gray shorts;
       (7) blue and white “cross training” tennis shoes;
       (8) buccal swabs for Roy Singleton;
       (9) buccal swabs for appellant;
       (10) oral swab of the decedent;
       (11) anal swab of the decedent; and
       (12) abdominal and perineal swipes of the decedent.4

       4
          Of these twelve items, only the fingerprint on the decedent’s window was not
previously tested for DNA. Appellant did not make any showing in the trial court, or on appeal,
that the other eleven items could be subjected to testing with newer techniques that provide a
reasonable likelihood of results that are more accurate and probative than the results of the
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D.     Remaining Items: No Showing Appellant Would Not Have Been
       Convicted
       Excluding the items listed above, we will assume that DNA testing of the
following items would be exculpatory:

       (1) Blue and Silver Shorts-G4;
       (2) Gray Tank Top Shirt-Prospirt;
       (3) Gray Mens Underwear-Fruit of the Loom;
       (4) 2 Pieces of Blue Carpet-With Blood Stains;
       (5) Blue and Brown Satchel-Under Victim’s Bed Side Table;
       (6) Wooden Handle-Victim’s Room;
       (7) Black T-Shirt-ME Office;
       (8) Debris From Forehead-From ME Office;
       (9) Pulled Pubic Hair-ME Office;
       (10) Pulled Head Hair-ME Office;
       (11) Right Fingernail Clippings-ME Office;
       (12) Left Fingernail Clippings-ME Office;
       (13) White Pillow and Green Pillow Case;
       (14) Green Flat Sheet;
       (15) Multicolored Quilt;
       (16) Multicolored Comforter;
       (17) Black and White Blanket;
       (18) Swab of Blood from Right of Room Door;
       (19) Swab From Victim’s Cheeks;
       (20) Swab From Victim’s Mouth.

See Reed v. State, 541 S.W.3d 759, 773 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017) (reciting items that
could be tested, assuming without deciding that the results of DNA testing would
be exculpatory).

       To be entitled to Chapter 64 DNA testing of these items, appellant must
show by a preponderance of the evidence—a greater than fifty percent

previous tests. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 64.01(b); Routier v. State, 273 S.W.3d 241, 250
(Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Thus, the trial court did not err in refusing DNA testing of these
previously tested items. And even if we presumed exculpatory testing results of the fingerprint
on the decedent’s window, we would reach the same conclusion in Part II.D of this opinion,
below.

                                              9
likelihood—that he would not have been convicted if the proposed testing’s
exculpatory results were available at the time of trial. Id. at 774. “Exculpatory” in
this context means results excluding appellant as the donor of DNA on these items.
Id.

      Appellant has not shown how exculpatory results of testing these items
would result in a jury finding him not guilty, as opposed to merely “muddying the
waters.” See id. Appellant does not explain the significance of these items as they
relate to the other evidence in the case. Nor is appellant’s reliance on Esparza v.
State, 282 S.W.3d 913 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009), persuasive. Esparza was convicted
of aggravated sexual assault although he advanced an alibi defense, and the Court
of Criminal Appeals concluded that there was a reasonable probability that he
would not have been convicted if DNA testing of the rape kit were exculpatory
because the evidence of guilt was based on eyewitness identification and other
circumstantial evidence. See id. at 922.

      Here, exculpatory results of testing these items would not undermine
appellant’s multiple confessions and the corroborating circumstances, including the
presence of his DNA on the phone cord and can of green beans, his directing
police officers to find his pants that contained the decedent’s blood, and the
presence of his sperm in the decedent’s vagina. See Reed, 541 S.W.3d at 775–76
(convicted person failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that he would
not have been convicted of murder involving rape when the person’s DNA profile
was found in the semen inside the victim’s vagina and the murder occurred near
the time of the sexual encounter; “[t]he presumed exculpatory results do nothing to
undermine the State’s case or alter the evidentiary landscape”); see also
Swearingen v. State, 303 S.W.3d 728, 736 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (“Texas courts
have consistently held that a movant does not satisfy his burden under Article

                                           10
64.03 if the record contains other substantial evidence of guilt independent of that
for which the movant seeks DNA testing.”). Moreover, we may consider that
appellant pleaded guilty to both aggravated sexual assault and the murder. Cf.
Dunning v. State, 572 S.W.3d 685, 694-95 (Tex. Crim. App. 2019) (considering
the defendant’s guilty plea while upholding trial court’s finding that the defendant
would have been convicted even though the post-conviction DNA testing excluded
him as a major contributor to all items tested and revealed the presence of third-
party touch DNA in the crotch area of the victim’s shorts; noting that the defendant
knew when he pleaded guilty that the State’s case was based on identifications by
an intellectually disabled and hearing-impaired victim who was under fourteen
years of age and that there had been no DNA testing before his plea).

      Because appellant did not show by a preponderance of the evidence that he
would not have been convicted in light of presumed exculpatory DNA test results
for the items listed above, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred in denying
appellant’s Chapter 64 motion for DNA testing of these items.

                               III.   CONCLUSION

      Appellant’s sole issue is overruled.       The trial court’s order denying
appellant’s third motion for DNA testing is affirmed.

                                      /s/    Ken Wise
                                             Justice

Panel consists of Justices Wise, Bourliot, and Wilson.
Do Not Publish — Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).

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