Court Opinion

ID: 9640747
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 17:14:21.911516+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:07:50.734675
License: Public Domain

SEARS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The state has proved nothing more than the fact that the package of counterfeit driver’s licenses was delivered to the home of the appellant. There is no evidence that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the Appellant even knew what was inside the package. Also, even if the state could prove knowledge of the contents, there is no evidence that even remotely proves that the Appellant possessed “with the intent to use and sell.” The state has not even proved an intent to use or sell the counterfeit licenses.
The state, and the majority opinion, relies on the note on the greeting card as “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that the Appellant not only knew what was in the package, but, intended to use and sell the con*88tents of the unopened package. First of all, although the note bears a date of March 31, 1987, there is no evidence of the date or, more importantly, the time the note was written. There is not even any proof of who wrote the note.
The majority assumes that the Appellant wrote the note in question. However, the state failed to put on a handwriting expert to prove this assumption. The majority assumes the note was written after delivery of the package and before the execution of the search warrant. However, the state failed to establish time of delivery in order to prove this assumption. The majority assumes Appellant knew what was in the package, and thereby must also assume the Appellant had prior contact with the inmates who mailed the package and was thereby advised of its contents; however, there is no evidence upon which this assumption can be proven. The majority next assumes the Appellant intended to use and sell the fake goods and places one assumption carefully on top of another to build the transparent conclusion of guilt.
The all incriminating note could just have easily been written in regard to some other package containing lawful goods as opposed to contraband. There is no evidence that directly connects this note to this package. Also, there is no evidence to show the Appellant “tracked down the lost goods” as indicated in the note. There is no evidence the “mailman got lazy,” “forgot to leave a notice,” or, that Appellant had his boss “chew on his ass.” There is nothing in the note that shows knowledge of the contents of the package. The shippers of the package are not identified, but the notes inside the package make reference to: “His Shortness”; “His Bigness”; and “The Oldness;” and is signed, “Us.” However, the note allegedly written by the Appellant makes reference only to “Ego Plus (Murkey).”
The majority cannot assume that the note has anything at all to do with the package delivered in the total absence of evidence to support such speculation. The majority cites Powell v. State, 660 S.W.2d 842 (Tex.App.—El Paso 1983); however, they totally ignore the holding in that case. Where Powell received a sealed package, and the state failed to connect him with the contents or the shipper, the El Paso court reversed the conviction and ordered acquittal.
In summation, there is no evidence in the record from which any reasonable trier of fact can find the Appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I would reverse and render a judgment of acquittal.