Court Opinion

ID: 9643840
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 20:41:39.921249+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:28:09.096980
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON STATE’S MOTION FOR REHEARING
DALLY, Judge.
This is an appeal from a conviction for the offense of attempted burglary. The punishment, enhanced by two prior felony convictions, is life imprisonment.
In the panel opinion on original submission the appellant’s judgment of conviction was reversed because of the trial court’s failure to suppress the identification testimony of two witnesses, Josephine Rosado and Theresa Garcia. The panel opinion held that the in-court identification of the appellant by Rosado and Garcia was based upon their observations of the appellant after his arrest and was patently unreliable.
In the panel opinion it was noted that the witnesses observed two men breaking a window at an apartment building. They were unable to observe their faces but were able to see their clothing and their general physical characteristics. Rosado yelled at the pair and the two men walked off and Rosado and Garcia briefly followed them to see in which direction they went. The police arrived approximately five to ten minutes later and were given a description of the men and the direction they headed. The appellant and a companion were apprehended a few blocks away and they consented to return to the scene. The police returned with the pair approximately twenty-five minutes from when Rosado first saw the two men. Rosado and Garcia at that time identified the pair as the two men they saw breaking the window. At trial Rosado and Garcia, after a hearing on the appellant’s motion to suppress, testified as to their identification of the appellant at the scene and identified the appellant as the man the police had brought back.
The State in its motion for rehearing requests that we reconsider our original opinion and their motion. Because of the issues raised, a restatement of the constitutional principles involved is required.
The Supreme Court in its trilogy of United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 87 *512S.Ct. 1926, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149 (1967); Gilbert v. California, 388 U.S. 263, 87 S.Ct. 1951, 18 L.Ed.2d 1178 (1967); and Stovall v. Denno, 388 U.S. 293, 87 S.Ct. 1967, 18 L.Ed.2d 1199 (1967) expressed its concern about the effect of pretrial identification procedures upon eyewitnesses’ subsequent trial testimony. As a result of this concern the Court in Wade created a right to counsel at pretrial confrontations. If that right was violated the witness could not make an in-court identification unless it was shown that the identification had an origin independent of the confrontation. In Gilbert the Supreme Court stated that if the pretrial confrontation was in violation of the defendant’s right to counsel, testimony about the confrontation was inadmissible. The sanctions of Wade—Gilbert were restricted to in-person confrontations, United States v. Ash, 413 U.S. 300, 93 S.Ct. 2568, 37 L.Ed.2d 619 (1973) that occur after the initiation of adversary judicial criminal proceedings, Kirby v. Illinois, 406 U.S. 682, 92 S.Ct. 1877, 32 L.Ed.2d 411 (1972). In the case at bar, the appellant’s right to counsel was not violated since formal criminal proceedings had not been initiated. Kirby v. Illinois, supra; Wyatt v. State, 566 S.W.2d 596 (Tex.Cr.App.1978); Beaupre v. State, 526 S.W.2d 811 (Tex.Cr.App.1975), cert. denied 423 U.S. 1037, 96 S.Ct. 573, 46 L.Ed.2d 412 (1975); Garcia v. State, 626 S.W.2d 46 (Tex.Cr.App.1981).
In the present case the issue raised is whether the appellant was denied due process of law. Stovall, the remaining opinion of the Supreme Court’s trilogy, stated that a pretrial confrontation could be “so unnecessarily suggestive and conducive to irreparable mistaken identification” that it would deny an accused due process of law. The Court while noting that one man showups were widely condemned held that a claimed violation of due process in the conduct of a confrontation depends upon the totality of the circumstances surrounding it. Indeed, the admission of evidence of a one man showup without more does not violate due process. Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 93 S.Ct. 375, 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972). In Stovall the Supreme Court concluded that in the facts of that case the one man showup was “imperative.” The victim of a stabbing was in the hospital and it was unclear how long she might live when the confrontation was arranged. The police, needing to take immediate action to identify the attacker and knowing that only the victim could exonerate the accused, followed the only possible procedure.
Similarly in the case at bar we believe that under the totality of the circumstances the confrontation was not unnecessarily suggestive and conducive to irreparable misidentification. While it must be conceded that an on-the-scene confrontation has some degree of suggestiveness, in many situations its use is necessary. First of all by viewing the alleged perpetrator of the offense immediately after the commission of the offense, the witness is allowed to test his recollection while his memory is still fresh and accurate. See United States v. Coades, 549 F.2d 1303 (9th Cir. 1977). Additionally the quick confirmation or denial of identification expedites the release of innocent suspects. See Stidham v. Commonwealth of Kentucky, 444 S.W.2d 110 (1969). Thus the innocent suspect need not be transported to jail and detained until a lineup can be constructed. See Stewart v. United States, 418 F.2d 1110 (D.C.Cir.1969). Furthermore the police would be able to release the innocent suspect and continue their search for the criminal while he is still within the area and before the criminal can substantially alter his looks and dispose of evidence of the crime. See People v. McMath, 45 Ill.2d 33, 256 N.E.2d 835 (1970); Frank v. Blackburn, 605 F.2d 910 (5th Cir.1979) vacated in part 646 F.2d 873. Finally, any possible prejudice resulting from such a confrontation can be exposed by rigorous cross-examination of the witness. See People v. Johnson, 59 Mich.App. 187, 229 N.W.2d 372 (1975).
We also believe that Rosado’s and Garcia’s identification of the appellant was sufficiently reliable so as to be admissible. The Supreme Court in Neil v. Biggers, supra and Mason v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, *51398 S.Ct. 2243, 53 L.Ed.2d 140 (1977) held that even if an identification procedure is suggestive and unnecessary, the admission of identification testimony does not violate due process so long as the identification possesses sufficient aspects of reliability. The Court reiterated that the totality of the circumstances must be reviewed and that various factors should be considered. Among those factors are: (1) the opportunity to view, (2) the degree of attention, (3) the accuracy of the description, (4) the witness’ level of certainty, (5) the time between the crime and the confrontation. In the present case the witnesses were able to view the appellant from only ten yards away and were able to briefly follow the two men. Each witness appears to have been highly attentive but each was only able to give the police a general description. However, both witnesses were quite certain when the suspects were shown to them at the scene and it must be remembered that less than one-half hour had transpired from when the offense occurred and when the confrontation occurred. We must conclude that under the circumstances of this case there was not a very substantial likelihood of irreparable mis-identification.
It is true that the witnesses were not able to view the facial features of the appellant at the time of the offense and that their identification of the appellant is less than certain. However, such matters go to the weight to be given the evidence and not to its admissibility. Valenciano v. State, 511 S.W.2d 297 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Martinez v. State, 507 S.W.2d 223 (Tex.Cr.App.1974). Furthermore, while the panel opinion notes that each witness gave a positive in-court identification, it cannot be argued that the jury was mislead by such identification. The record reflects that the jury was aware of the basis for the witnesses’ identification. During the trial before the jury Rosado testified in part as follows: 1
“Q. And can you describe them?
“A. Well, I saw them, and their clothes, I saw their clothes, only I didn’t see their faces. One had a white pair of pants with a dark shirt, and the other one had dark pants and a dark shirt.
* * * * * *
“Q. You say you started following the men when they were walking away; is that correct?
“A. Uh, huh. We followed them to take a look at them. The only thing I could do was to look at the clothes, because I didn’t see their faces, because they were facing — going that way (indicating), and I told Theresa, I said, ‘Let’s not follow them. Let the police take care of them, because ...

******

“Q. And what description did you give?
“A. Well, that I had seen a dark and a lighter man, and the dark man was wearing dark pants, dark shirt, and the other one was wearing white pants and a dark shirt.
“Q. Did you give any description as to their height or their physical appearances?
“A. Yes. I told them that they was kind of slim men.
“Q. Did you give any type of description as to their possible age?
“A. No. By the way, I looked at them from the back. I thought they were younger men.
“Q. What led you to believe they were younger men.
“A. Because they looked slim and small when I saw them, and I thought they were younger men, because I didn’t see their faces, see, I just saw them to the back and saw the kind of clothes they were wearing, and I didn’t see their face, but they were going that way. It was from the back that I saw them.

******

*514“Q. They brought back two men?
“A. The men, yes, and we gave them the description of their clothes, their build, and when they brought them back, they asked us if those were the men. I told them, yes, because they fit the description we gave them, the same build and the same clothes.
* * * * * *
“Q. Were you able to make any type of identification at that time?
“A. Yes. They asked me, and they had the same pants, the same description of clothing, and the same build.
* * * * * *
“Q. Do you see in this courtroom an Alejandro Garza?
“A. I think this is the man, but he was wearing a — something (indicating). I don’t know what you call it, but like a beard down here (indicating.)
******
“A. That’s him right there (indicating). To me, that’s him, because I noticed him from a distance. The only thing I can see was his dark clothes, the same description that I gave the officer, and I noticed that he had that little thing here (indicating). I don’t know what they call it.
******
“Q. Can you positively tell us whether or not Mr. Garza was, in fact, standing by that window at 416 E. Carson?
“A. Yes, he was, and the other man, too, both holding onto the window, and glass falling on the ground. That’s when I hollered at them to stop breaking those windows, that I lived there.
“Q. Did you see his face?
“A. I saw him sideways, and when I saw — I got close enough to see the clothing. I couldn’t very well see the face, and I didn’t see his face until they were brought back, because they were — it was dark, you know. It was already dark, and I saw what kind of clothing they had when they turned around like that. They had their heads down, but I described them by their build and by their clothes.
“Q. So your identification of him then is based on his clothing and his build when you saw him again?
“A. Yes, then when he was brought back.”
Garcia’s testimony was substantially the same as Rosado’s.
The jury had before it all the relevant information concerning their identification of the appellant and it was the jury’s duty to determine the credibility of their testimony and to decide the weight to be given to their testimony. The Supreme Court in Watkins v. Sowders, 449 U.S. 341, 101 S.Ct. 654, 66 L.Ed.2d 549 (1981) acknowledged that in cases in which identification evidence has been admitted, the jury’s only duty will often be to assess the reliability of that evidence. Additionally, the Court stated in Brathwaite:
“We are content to rely upon the good sense and judgment of American juries, for evidence with some element of un-trustworthiness is customary grist for the jury’s mill. Juries are not so susceptible that they cannot measure intelligently the weight of identification testimony that has some questionable feature.”
In the case at bar the jury had before it evidence of how the witnesses made the identification of the appellant. It was for the jury to decide whether it was credible and the weight it would be given. Furthermore, it should be remembered that the jury was not without other direct evidence. The witnesses saw the two men break and handle the glass; the appellant’s fingerprints were on that glass. We, therefore, conclude that the trial court did not err in overruling the appellant’s motion to suppress. The State’s Motion for Rehearing is granted and we now address the appellant’s other two grounds of error.
*515In his second ground of error the appellant contends that the prosecutor erred when he misstated the law during the closing argument at the guilt-innocence phase of the trial. The following occurred:
“[PROSECUTOR]: It says, ‘The act of breaking and entering a habitation at nighttime raises a presumption that it is done with the intent to commit theft or steal.’
“Now this is a legal presumption. It also goes along with common, everyday sense. If somebody is breaking into somebody else’s house, there has got to be some intent and purpose behind it, and the law says that it is presumed he’s there to steal. Now that shifts the burden as to that presumption to the Defense, and they have got to disprove that he was there to steal if he wasn’t.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I’m going to object to that, Your Honor. We don’t have to prove anything in this case.
“THE COURT: Ladies and gentlemen, you are to recall that I told you it’s up to the State to prove the Defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt by competent evidence. Of course, the Defendant does not have to prove his innocence.
“Please proceed.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I’m going to move for a mistrial on the basis that that comment makes us have to go forward with a defense.
“THE COURT: I just finished explaining to the jury that the Defendant does not have to do anything. The Defendant may remain silent. His silence may not be considered as any evidence of guilt. It’s up to the State to prove his guilt by competent evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. The Defendant doesn’t have to do anything.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: You are overruling my Motion?
“THE COURT: I am.
“[PROSECUTOR]: You can read the burden, and you can read the presumption, for yourselves.”
We believe that the trial court’s prompt instructions to the jury were sufficient to protect the rights of the appellant. Banks v. State, 503 S.W.2d 582 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Guerra v. State, 478 S.W.2d 483 (Tex.Cr.App.1972). This ground of error is overruled.
In the remaining ground of error the appellant asserts that the prosecutor’s remarks about the appellant’s failure to call the co-defendant as a witness were improper jury argument. During the jury argument the following transpired:
“Now if the Defense had a defense to this, Honeycutt would be in here telling you what it was. They would have had another witness in here to say, ‘Hey, man, this guy didn’t do it. He was just with me,’ or ‘He saw it happen and walked up and told me to leave,’ or something like that.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I’ll object to that, Your Honor, I can’t force a eo-De-fendant in here, or force him to testify. I can subpoena him, but I can’t force him to testify and Counsel for the State knows that. I object to his telling them I can bring him in and have Honeycutt say Mr. Garza didn’t take part in this.
“THE COURT: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you are reminded that any party can subpoena an individual whether that individual testifies, whether it’s Mr. Honeycutt or anybody else. It will depend upon the individual.”
The appellant concedes that the issue has already been decided adversely against him in Winkle v. State, 506 S.W.2d 891 (Tex.Cr.App.1974), cert. denied 419 U.S. 843, 95 S.Ct. 75, 42 L.Ed.2d 71 (1974). We are not persuaded by the appellant’s argument to overturn our previous decisions.
Additionally, we note that the remarks were invited by the appellant’s closing argument:
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Now I tried to ask those women did they see any particular people breaking this window. Now the State came in and said, ‘Well, we have Mr. Garza’s fingerprint on a pane of glass.’ That may be true, but we don’t know what he was doing there with *516Honeycutt. I can’t call Honeycutt. He’s a co-Defendant.
“[PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, I object to Defense Counsel going outside the record. He has the right to subpoena Honeycutt and have him in this courtroom today to testify, just like the State does.
“THE COURT: Ladies and gentlemen, I inform you that either side may have subpoenaed any witness they may have desired.
“Please proceed.”
The ground of error is overruled.
The appellant has filed a pro se brief. After a careful review of the contentions raised, we conclude that they are without merit.
The State’s motion for rehearing is granted and the judgment is affirmed.

. The portion of testimony quoted in the panel opinion occurred during the motion to suppress the testimony.