Court Opinion

ID: 4320093
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-11 21:38:17.594891+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:01.760387
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                     San Antonio, Texas
                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

                                        No. 04-17-00616-CR

                                         Damian FERRELL,
                                             Appellant

                                                  v.

                                        The STATE of Texas,
                                              Appellee

                     From the 226th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
                                   Trial Court No. 2015-CR-9916
                              Honorable Sid L. Harle, Judge Presiding

Opinion by:       Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice

Sitting:          Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
                  Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
                  Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice

Delivered and Filed: October 10, 2018

AFFIRMED

           Damian Ferrell appeals his conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled

substance, to wit: cocaine. On appeal, Ferrell challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to

establish adequate affirmative links between him and the cocaine found in the vehicle. We

overrule Ferrell’s issue and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                            BACKGROUND

           At approximately 2:30 a.m. on July 1, 2015, San Antonio Police Officers Jim Acuna and

James Quintanilla were on special patrol for drug and prostitution activity in the area of Haven for
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Hope, which is a housing facility for the homeless. The uniformed officers were patrolling in a

marked patrol vehicle with a video camera mounted to the dashboard and recording. According

to Officer Acuna’s testimony, he and his partner noticed a female standing next to a gray vehicle

that was stopped with its brake lights on in a parking lot. The female was talking to someone

inside the vehicle. In describing what he observed, Officer Acuna stated there was only one person

in the vehicle, which was the driver; he later testified, however, that he could not tell how many

people were inside the gray vehicle. Officer Acuna was not able to see the driver. Officer Acuna

did not recall whether the female was standing next to the driver’s side or the passenger side.

Officer Acuna testified that he suspected a possible drug or prostitution transaction, but he could

not recall if he saw anything pass between the female and the vehicle’s driver.

       As the officers’ patrol car approached the parking lot, the gray vehicle pulled away and

drove through the parking lot and turned on a side street. The officers stopped their patrol vehicle

and briefly spoke to the female, but did not obtain much information from her. During that

exchange, the officers lost sight of the gray vehicle. Officer Acuna could not recall how long the

gray vehicle was out of their sight. Officer Acuna testified that after speaking to the female they

drove in the same direction in which the gray vehicle had driven and found it parked in an angled

parking space on the street. The vehicle was parked “close” to where they initially observed it and

Officer Acuna believed it was the same gray vehicle. Officer Acuna first saw Ferrell as he was

“walking away from the vehicle” and Acuna believed him to be the driver of the gray vehicle. At

trial, Officer Acuna initially stated that Ferrell was “one to two vehicle lengths away” from the

gray vehicle when he first saw him. However, Officer Acuna later admitted he was “uncertain” of

Ferrell’s exact position with respect to the gray vehicle. He also did not recall if he saw Ferrell

exit the gray vehicle or not, but believed he first saw him as Ferrell was walking away from the

car. Officer Acuna initially testified that Ferrell was alone, but later testified he could not recall
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whether anyone else was in the vicinity. During his trial testimony, Officer Acuna conceded he

had only a vague personal recollection of the events and refreshed his memory by reviewing part

of the video and his partner’s report.

         The officers stopped Ferrell and began questioning him. A pat-down of Ferrell’s person

was conducted, but Officer Acuna could not recall what items Ferrell had in his possession. After

the patrol vehicle was re-positioned so the video camera could record the events, Officer Acuna

approached the gray vehicle and shined his flashlight inside through the driver’s window. Officer

Acuna testified that he observed a “white rock-like substance” that he believed to be crack cocaine

in plain view on the driver’s side floorboard, “where the driver’s feet would be.” He estimated the

amount to be about 8.50 grams and testified that it was “more than the amount a normal person

would use for the night.” At trial, a forensic scientist testified that his tests confirmed the substance

was 8.890 grams of cocaine.

         The videotape from the patrol vehicle was admitted into evidence and played for the jury

without any audio. 1 The video, State Exhibit #1-A, shows a vehicle stopped in a parking lot with

its brake lights on. The vehicle drives away as the patrol car approaches the parking lot and its left

blinker comes on. Instead of turning left, the vehicle proceeds through the parking lot and passes

out of sight for a little longer than one minute. During that period of time, the video shows the

vehicle’s headlights reflected off the side of a building as it approaches the end of the parking lot.

The vehicle does not make a left-hand turn, which would have placed it on the street directly in

front of the patrol car, but rather appears to turn to the right. The patrol car drives in that direction

and makes a right-hand turn on to the same street. The patrol car then stops in the street behind

several vehicles that are parked in angled spots along the side of the building. No people are seen

1
 At the conclusion of a pretrial suppression hearing, the trial court found the officers failed to administer Miranda
warnings to Ferrell prior to a custodial interrogation and suppressed Ferrell’s statements to the officers at the scene.

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in the video. The video, which is facing forward, shows Officer Acuna standing in front of the

patrol vehicle and talking to someone off screen to the left. Officer Acuna walks toward the person

(Ferrell) and the video partially shows him performing a pat-down of Ferrell’s person and going

through several items. Specifically, the video shows Officer Acuna counting several cash bills; no

evidence was admitted at trial of the amount of money in Ferrell’s possession.

       The patrol vehicle is then repositioned to face the vehicle, showing Ferrell for the first time,

in handcuffs standing in front of the patrol car with Officer Acuna. The video shows Officer Acuna

talking to Ferrell and gesturing with his right hand, which is holding an item that appears to be car

keys. After Officer Quintanilla comes over to stand next to Ferrell, Officer Acuna walks over to

the vehicle and the front headlights flash “on” against the wall. Officer Acuna shines his flashlight

through the driver’s side window of the vehicle and then returns to stand by Ferrell, talking to him

again. After a period of time, Officer Acuna again returns to the vehicle and the video shows the

rear brake lights flash “on.” Officer Acuna opens the driver’s side door of the vehicle, and looks

around inside the vehicle with his flashlight. As Officer Acuna walks away from the vehicle, its

driver’s side door is shown to be wide open.

       Ferrell was indicted for possession with intent to deliver cocaine in the amount of four

grams or more but less than 200 grams (Count I) and possession of the same quantity of cocaine

(Count II). The indictment also contained an enhancement allegation of a prior conviction in 2010.

A jury found Ferrell guilty of possession with intent to deliver cocaine in the amount of four grams

or more but less than 200 grams (Count I). See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.112 (a),

(d) (West 2017). The trial court found the enhancement allegation “true” and sentenced Ferrell to

fifteen years’ imprisonment. Ferrell appealed.

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                                           DISCUSSION

       In a single issue, Ferrell argues the evidence is insufficient to prove he was the driver of

the gray vehicle, and therefore insufficient to prove he had actual care, custody, and control over

the cocaine found inside the vehicle.

       Standard of Review

       In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we determine whether, viewing all the

evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have found the

essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,

319 (1979); Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 899 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). The essential elements

of the crime are those defined by a hypothetically correct jury charge. Thomas v. State, 444 S.W.3d
4, 8 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); Johnson v. State, 364 S.W.3d 292, 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012)

(hypothetically correct jury charge accurately sets out the law, is authorized by the indictment,

does not unnecessarily increase the State’s burden, and adequately describes the particular

offense). We must defer to the jury’s assessment of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight

to be given to their testimony. Brooks, 323 S.W.3d at 899.

       Circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient, and is as probative as direct evidence in

establishing guilt. Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Juries may reach

conclusions based on factually supported inferences, which are conclusions reached by

considering other facts and deducing a logical consequence from them. Id. at 16. Juries may not,

however, reach conclusions based on mere speculation, i.e., mere theorizing or guessing about the

possible meaning of the facts and evidence presented. Id. We determine whether the necessary

inferences are reasonable based upon the cumulative force of the evidence when viewed in the

light most favorable to the verdict. Murray v. State, 457 S.W.3d 446, 448 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015).

We presume that the jury resolved any inconsistencies in the evidence in favor of the verdict and
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defer to that resolution. Id. at 448-49. “Each fact need not point directly and independently to the

guilt of the appellant, as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is

sufficient to support the conviction.” Thomas, 444 S.W.3d at 8 (quoting Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at

13).

       Analysis

       Count I of the indictment alleged that, on or about July 1, 2015, Ferrell did “knowingly

possess, with intent to deliver, a controlled substance, namely: COCAINE, which by aggregate

weight, including adulterants and dilutants was of an amount Four (4) grams or more but less than

Two Hundred (200) grams.” The jury charge tracked the language of the indictment, and included

instructions defining the terms “possession” and “deliver.” “Possession” was defined as meaning

“actual care, custody, control or management of the controlled substance.” “Deliver” was defined

as meaning “to transfer, actually or constructively, to another a controlled substance, regardless of

whether there is an agency relationship.” Count II alleging simple possession was charged in the

alternative. The jury returned a verdict of “guilty” on Count I, and thus did not consider Count II.

       As noted, Ferrell was convicted of possession of a controlled substance with intent to

deliver. On appeal, Ferrell only challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to prove the element of

“possession.” To prove possession of a controlled substance, the State must prove the accused:

(1) exercised care, custody, control, or management over the controlled substance, and (2) knew

the substance was contraband. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(39) (West Supp. 2017); Tate v.

State, 500 S.W.3d 410, 413 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). The State must establish that the defendant’s

connection with the contraband was “more than fortuitous.” Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744, 747

(Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Barbosa v. State, 537 S.W.3d 640, 645 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2017,

no pet.). A defendant’s mere presence at the location where drugs are found is insufficient, by

itself, to establish actual care, custody, and control. Tate, 500 S.W.3d at 413. However, presence
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when combined with other independent facts and circumstances may justify a reasonable inference

that the defendant knowingly possessed the drugs. Id. at 413-14; Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158,

162 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). In Evans, the Court of Criminal Appeals outlined a non-exclusive

list of fourteen possible factors, or “affirmative links,” that may indicate a link connecting the

defendant to the knowing possession of drugs:

       (1) the defendant’s presence when a search is conducted; (2) whether the
       contraband was in plain view; (3) the defendant’s proximity to and the accessibility
       of the narcotic; (4) whether the defendant was under the influence of narcotics when
       arrested; (5) whether the defendant possessed other contraband or narcotics when
       arrested; (6) whether the defendant made incriminating statements when arrested;
       (7) whether the defendant attempted to flee; (8) whether the defendant made furtive
       gestures; (9) whether there was an odor of contraband; (10) whether other
       contraband or drug paraphernalia were present; (11) whether the defendant owned
       or had the right to possess the place where the drugs were found; (12) whether the
       place where the drugs were found was enclosed; (13) whether the defendant was
       found with a large amount of cash; and (14) whether the conduct of the defendant
       indicated a consciousness of guilt.

Evans, 202 S.W.3d. at 162 n.12.

       It is not the number of links that is dispositive, but the logical force of all of the combined

circumstantial and direct evidence. Id. at 162. Further, other possible links that do not exist in a

case do not undermine the links that are present in the case. Id. at 164; Lair v. State, 265 S.W.3d
580, 588 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008, pet. ref’d). In Tate, the court clarified that

although the Evans factors are helpful in guiding a court’s analysis, “the ultimate inquiry remains

that set forth in Jackson: [b]ased on the combined and cumulative force of the evidence and any

reasonable inferences therefrom, was a jury rationally justified in finding guilt beyond a reasonable

doubt?” Tate, 500 S.W.3d at 414.

       Ferrell argues that the evidence proved only that he was present in the vicinity where the

cocaine was found, which is insufficient to establish the possession element. He stresses Officer

Acuna’s testimony that he only saw Ferrell as he was walking away from the parked gray vehicle,

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and could not identify Ferrell as the driver of the vehicle, or even recall how many people were

inside the vehicle. Ferrell also argues that Officer Acuna’s credibility was undermined by his

frequent testimony that he “could not recall” many of the details surrounding the events that

occurred two years prior, such as whether he saw anything pass between the female and the driver

of the gray vehicle, the length of time the gray vehicle was out of his sight, whether he observed

Ferrell exiting the gray vehicle or merely walking away from it, and how far away Ferrell was

when the officers first observed him. In arguing that the jury’s verdict was based on speculation,

rather than reasonable inferences, Ferrell cites to the absence of many of the Evans factors, such

as the lack of any drugs or drug paraphernalia on his person, the fact that he was not under the

influence of drugs at the time, the fact that he did not attempt to flee or make furtive gestures, and

the lack of evidence tying him to the gray vehicle.

       As noted, our analysis focuses on the independent factors linking Ferrell to the gray vehicle

and the drugs that are present, rather than the factors that are absent. See Evans, 202 S.W.3d at

164. Here, almost 9 grams of cocaine were found in plain view on the driver’s side floorboard of

the closed gray vehicle. See id. at 162 n.12 (listing factor #2 “whether the contraband was in plain

view,” and factor #12 “whether the place where the drugs were found was enclosed”). As the court

stated in Tate, “it would be reasonable to infer that the owner-driver would be aware of items in

his vehicle in plain view.” Tate, 500 S.W.3d at 417. Such an inference would be especially

reasonable in this case where the drugs were found on the floorboard “where the driver’s feet

would be,” and thus were found in close physical proximity to the driver of the vehicle. See Evans,
202 S.W.3d at 162 n.12 (factor #3, “the defendant’s proximity to and the accessibility of the

narcotic”).

       Thus, the more determinative inquiry is what facts exist to link Ferrell to the gray vehicle

in which the cocaine was found. Officer Acuna testified he suspected a drug or prostitution
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transaction when he first saw the female talking to the driver of the gray vehicle, who drove away

as soon as the patrol car approached. Officer Acuna testified that, in his experience, it is common

for a vehicle to immediately leave the area when the police arrive if illegal activity is occurring.

The video shows the gray vehicle’s route and when it passes out of direct sight, shows its headlights

reflecting off the wall where it either had to stop, or turn left or right on to the side street. The

vehicle does not turn left. Officer Acuna testified that he and his partner followed the direction of

the gray vehicle and the video shows their patrol car turning on to the side street by the building

wall. Officer Acuna testified that he first saw Ferrell as he was “walking away from” the gray

vehicle and he was only “one to two vehicle lengths” away from it when he was stopped by the

officers. In addition, Officer Acuna testified that Ferrell was the only person in the vicinity at the

time. The video does not show any other people in the immediate area, but also does not show

Ferrell at the time of the initial contact. The jury was entitled to evaluate Officer Acuna’s

credibility and to believe his testimony about Ferrell’s proximity to the gray vehicle. The jury

could also draw a reasonable inference that the gray vehicle parked on the side street was the same

gray vehicle the officers had observed earlier, with the driver talking to the female, because Officer

Acuna testified they followed in the same direction, the video shows that only one minute had

elapsed, the vehicle was found parked close by, and the parked vehicle was the same type of car,

i.e., a dark sedan.

        The video further shows that a short time after Officer Acuna conducts the pat-down of

Ferrell and examines the items found on Ferrell’s person, the officer is shown holding something

resembling keys in his right hand. Officer Acuna then approaches the gray vehicle and the rear

brake lights flash. After looking inside the driver’s window with his flashlight, Officer Acuna

later returns to the vehicle, the front headlights flash against the wall, and a few seconds later the

driver’s side door is shown to be wide open. Therefore, based on the video, the jury could have
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reasonably inferred that Ferrell had the keys to the gray vehicle in his possession and Officer Acuna

used the keys to open the driver’s door and gain access to the interior of the vehicle where the

cocaine was found on the floorboard in plain sight. Therefore, a rational factfinder could conclude

that Ferrell was the driver of the vehicle and knowingly had possession of the drugs found inside

it.

       It was the jury’s role to assess credibility and determine the weight of the evidence, and on

review we must presume the jury resolved any inconsistencies, or conflicting inferences, in favor

of its verdict. Tate, 500 S.W.3d at 413. We conclude that the logical force of the combined pieces

of circumstantial evidence in this case, coupled with reasonable inferences from them, is sufficient

to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Ferrell exercised actual care, custody, control, or

management of the cocaine found on the driver’s floorboard of the vehicle. See id. We therefore

affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                         Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice

DO NOT PUBLISH

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