Court Opinion

ID: 3219618
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-04 07:47:23.441294+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:55.407725
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                         06-15-00164-CR
                                                                              SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                    TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                                                                     7/1/2016 3:00:37 PM
                                                                                        DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                                                                  CLERK

                               NO. 06–15–00164–CR

                                        In the                          FILED IN
                                                                 6th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                   TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                  Court of Appeals               7/1/2016 3:00:37 PM
                                                                     DEBBIE AUTREY
                                Sixth District of Texas                  Clerk

                                  Texarkana, Texas

Parrin Hayes                              §                               Appellant

vs.                                       §

The State of Texas                        §                                Appellee

                     Appeal from the 299th Judicial District Court
                               Travis County, Texas
                          Cause No. D–1–DC–14–204586

                                  STATE’S BRIEF

                                                     ROSEMARY LEHMBERG
                                                     District Attorney
                                                     Travis County, Texas

                                                     Rosa Theofanis
                                                     Texas Bar No. 24037591
                                                     Assistant District Attorney
                                                     District Attorney’s Office
                                                     P.O. Box 1748
                                                     Austin, Texas 78767
                                                     Phone: 512.854.9400
                                                     Fax: 512.854.4810
                                                     Email:Rosa.Theofanis@traviscountytx.gov
Oral Argument Not Requested                          AppellateTCDA@traviscountytx.gov
                Identity of Parties and Counsel

           In accordance with Texas Rule of Appellate
    Procedure 38.2(a)(1)(A), the State supplements the
    Identity of Parties and Counsel set out in the appellant’s
    brief as follows:

Appellate Prosecutor     Rosa Theofanis
                         Assistant District Attorney
                         Travis County District Attorney
                         P.O. Box 1748
                         Austin, TX 78767

                                 i
                                               Table of Contents
Identity of Parties and Counsel ............................................................................ i

Table of Authorities ............................................................................................. ii

Statement of the Case .......................................................................................... 2

Statement Regarding Oral Argument ................................................................ 3

Statement of Facts................................................................................................ 3

Summary of the Argument.................................................................................. 4

State’s Reply to Appellant’s Point of Error One................................................ 5

         The trial court properly denied the appellant funds to retain a private
         laboratory to review the lab notes of the police chemist who tested the
         controlled substance in this case because the appellant did not make a
         sufficient showing to justify appointment of a court-appointed expert.

State’s Reply to Appellant’s Point of Error Two ..............................................12

         The trial court’s denial of a jury charge instruction requiring the jury
         to find that the appellant knew he was in a drug free zone was not
         error because the State was not required to prove a culpable mental
         state with respect to the location of the offense.

State’s Reply to Appellant’s Point of Error Three............................................19

         The trial court did not violate the appellant’s sixth amendment rights
         by limiting his closing argument because his argument regarding the
         drug-free zone conflicted with the law in the charge and thus he was
         not entitled to make it.

Prayer ..................................................................................................................25

Certificate of Compliance...................................................................................26

Certificate of Service...........................................................................................26

                                                             i
                                           Table of Authorities

Cases

Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68 (1985) .................................................................5, 9

Alleyne v. United States,              U.S.      , 133 S. Ct. 2151 (2013) ..................................16

Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (op. on reh'g).12, 13, 18

Archie v. the State of Texas, 615 S.W.2d 762 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981)..................20

Brewer v. Reynolds, 51 F.3d 1519 (10th Cir. 1995) ..............................................10

Bridges v. State, 454 S.W.3d 87 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2014, pet. ref'd) ..............14

Briseno v. Cockrell, 274 F.3d 204 (5th Cir. 2001 ................................................... 9

Cain v. State, 947 S.W.2d 262 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) ......................................... 9

Caldwell v. Mississippi, 472 U.S. 320 (1985)......................................................... 6

Chase v. State, 448 S.W.3d 6 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) ..........................................13

Coble v. State, 330 S.W.3d 253 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).......................................11

Davis v. State, 329 S.W.3d 798 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) .................................19, 23

Derrick v. State, No. 01–96–00101–CR, 1999 Tex. App. LEXIS 187, *4 (Tex.

  App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 14, 1999, pet. ref'd) (not designated for

  publication) .......................................................................................................14

Ehrke v. State, 459 S.W.3d 606 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015).............................5, 6, 8, 9

Ex parte Jimenez, 364 S.W.3d 866 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012)................................... 5

                                                          ii
Fleming v. State, 455 S.W.3d 577 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) ...................................17

Gray v. State, 152 S.W.3d 125 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004) ........................................20

Harris v. State, 125 S.W.3d 45 (Tex. App.—Austin 2003, pet. dism'd) ................16

Harris v. State, 522 S.W.2d 199 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975)......................................20

Hurst v. State, No. 04–13–00465–CR, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 5645, *6–7 (Tex.

  App.—San Antonio May 28, 2014, pet. ref'd) (mem. opinion, not designated for

  publication) .......................................................................................................14

Hutch v. State, 922 S.W.2d 166 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) ......................................22

Jackson v. State, 992 S.W.2d 469 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) ...................................23

Jones v. State, 300 S.W.3d 93 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2009, no pet.) ............19, 24

Lighteard v. State, 982 S.W.2d 532 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998, pet. ref'd.9, 10

McCarthy v. State, 65 S.W.3d 47 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) ....................................11

McFail v. State, No. 10–03–00220–CR, No. 10–03–00221–CR, No. 10–03–

  00222–CR, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 11140 at *7 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, pet.

  ref’d) (mem. opinion, not designated for publication)........................................14

McGee v. State, 774 S.W.2d 229 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989), cert. denied, 494 U.S.
1060 (1990) .................................................................................................20, 23

McQueen v. State, 781 S.W.2d 600 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989)...........................16, 18

Moore v. Kemp, 809 F.2d 702 (11th Cir. 1987)...................................................... 6

Mosley v. State, 983 S.W.2d 249 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998).....................................23
                                                          iii
Olivas v. State, 202 S.W.3d 137 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006)......................................18

Perez v. State, 537 S.W.2d 455 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976) .......................................20

Rey v. State, 897 S.W.2d 333 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995) ........................................6, 9

Rider v. State, 567 S.W.2d 192 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978) .................................20, 21

Snowden v. State, 353 S.W.3d 815 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) ..................................11

Starr v. Lockhart, 23 F.3d 1280, 1291 (8th Cir. 1994) ..........................................10

Tuggle v. Netherland, 79 F.3d 1386 (4th Cir. 1996)..............................................10

United States v. Dimas, 3 F.3d 1015 (7th Cir. 1993 ..............................................15

United States v. Falu, 776 F.2d 46 (2d Cir. 1985) ...........................................15, 17

United States v. Jackson, 443 F.3d 293 (3d Cir. 2006)..........................................15

United States v. Koons, 300 F.3d 985 (8th Cir. 2002.............................................15

United States v. Wake, 948 F.2d 1422 (5th Cir. 1991 ............................................15

Uribe v. State, 573 S.W.2d 819 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978) ....................14

Warner v. State, 245 S.W.3d 458 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) ..............................12, 18

Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (en banc)...................21

White v. Johnson, 153 F.3d 197 (5th Cir. 1998) ....................................................10

White v. State, 480 S.W.3d 824 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2015, pet. granted) ........13

Whiting v. State, 797 S.W.2d 45 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (en banc) ..........21, 22, 23
Will. v. State, 127 S.W.3d 442 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, pet. ref'd).........14, 16
Will. v. State, 958 S.W.2d 186 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) ..............................6, 10
                                                 iv
Young v. State, 14 S.W.3d 748 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) ........................................14

Statutes

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 36.13 ........................................................................22

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 36.14 ..................................................................13, 20

TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 481.112..............................................................16

Rules

TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4 ...............................................................................................26

TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2 ..................................................................................11, 12, 23

                                                         v
                               NO. 06–15–00164–CR

                                        In the

                                  Court of Appeals

                                Sixth District of Texas

                                  Texarkana, Texas

Parrin Hayes                              §                               Appellant

vs.                                       §

The State of Texas                        §                                Appellee

                     Appeal from the 299th Judicial District Court

                                Travis County, Texas

                           Cause No. D–1–DC–14–204586

To the Honorable Court of Appeals:

      Now comes the State of Texas and files its brief in response to that of the

appellant.

                                          1
                              Statement of the Case

Nature of the   This is an appeal of the appellant’s conviction by jury for Possession
Case            of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver in a Drug-Free
                Zone. CR 8–9; CR 99.

Trial Court     The Honorable Karen Sage, Judge Presiding, 299th Judicial District
                of Travis County, Texas. Cause No. D–1–DC–14–204586. CR 99.

Course of       On August 26, 2014, the grand jury for Travis County indicted the
Proceedings     appellant for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to
                Deliver in a Drug-Free Zone, enhanced by prior convictions. CR 8–
                9. The appellant proceeded to trial by jury, pleading “not guilty.”
                CR 99. At the close of evidence, the jury found the appellant guilty
                of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, as
                alleged in the indictment. CR 99. CR 90. The jury made a further
                finding that the appellant did commit the offense in a drug-free zone.
                CR 90. The appellant elected for the court to assess sentence. CR
                99. The court entered a sentence of 30 years imprisonment in the
                Texas Department of Criminal Justice. CR 99.

Disposition     Date Order Entered: September 2, 2015. CR 99.
                Sentence: 30 years. Id.

Appeal          Notice of Appeal Filed: September 4, 2015. CR 105.
                Appellant’s Brief Filed: May 2, 2016.
                Appellee’s Brief Timely if Filed: July 1, 2016.

                                         2
                     Statement Regarding Oral Argument

      Because the issues, facts, legal authorities, and arguments pertinent to the

instant appeal are adequately addressed in the briefs submitted by the parties, the

State respectfully asserts that the Court’s decisional process would not be

significantly aided by oral arguments. Accordingly, the State does not request oral

argument.

                               Statement of Facts

      On August 8, 2014, an Austin Police officer was doing camera surveillance

of a homeless services center when he noticed the appellant. 6 RR 32. 6 RR 37–

39. 6 RR 44. The appellant appeared “out of place.” 6 RR 44. He was standing

at a corner with his back to the wall and was being approached by known drug

users “who were obviously contrasted in dress and hygiene from him.” 6 RR 46.

      Through the surveillance camera, the officer saw “numerous hand-to-hand

transactions” and called on fellow officers to detain the appellant. 6 RR 48. 6 RR

71–72.

      Several officers closed on the location and arrested the appellant. 6 RR 96.

He was carrying $119 in small denomination bills, crumpled up and shoved into

both pockets. 6 RR 100. The officers also recovered a cigarette box containing a

                                        3
clear plastic bag that had several rocks of cocaine weighing 1.98 grams. 6 RR 99;

6 RR 174–75.

      At trial, an officer testified that a drug-free zone associated with St. David's

Episcopal Day School, an early childhood school, was approximately 570 feet

from the location where the appellant was arrested. 6 RR 102; 6 RR 106.

                           Summary of the Argument

      The trial court properly denied the motion to have an appointed expert review

the State crime lab analyst’s work because the appellant did not make the threshold

showing of “concrete” reasons justifying independent analysis necessary to justify

appointment of an expert by the court. Even assuming arguendo, that the trial court

erred in denying the defendant a court-appointed analyst to review the notes the

State’s chemist made of his analysis of the cocaine, there is no evidence of harm

because the appellant has failed to demonstrate that independent review would

uncover the hypothetical problem he identifies: “dry-labbing” or “fake results.”

      The court also did not err in denying the appellant’s request to charge the jury

that the occurrence of the offense in a drug free zone had to have been known to the

defendant because the State was not required to prove a culpable mental state with

respect to the location of the offense. Assuming, arguendo, it was error to deny the

charge, any harm affected the judgment as to punishment only.

                                          4
       Finally, the court did not abuse its discretion in limiting the appellant’s

closing argument so that he could not argue to the jury that “if possession in a drug-

free zone is part of the crime, then knowing it's a drug-free zone is also part of the

crime.”   This statement conflicted with the law given the charge and thus he was

not entitled to argue this to the jury.

                         State’s Reply to Point of Error One
       The trial court properly denied the appellant funds to retain a private
       laboratory to review the lab notes of the police chemist who tested the
       controlled substance in this case because the appellant did not make a
       sufficient showing to justify appointment of a court-appointed expert.

Standard of Review

       A trial court’s denial of a request to appoint a court-appointed chemist is

reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 81–83, 86

(1985); Ehrke v. State, 459 S.W.3d 606, 617 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). “The burden

is on the defendant to provide concrete reasons for why the expert should be

appointed.” Ehrke, 459 S.W.3d at 615 citing Ex parte Jimenez, 364 S.W.3d 866,

877–78 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012).

Argument and Authorities

       The appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for

funds to retain a private laboratory to review the lab notes of the police chemist

who tested the controlled substance in this case. Appellant’s Br. at 6.

                                          5
      An indigent defendant's right to a court-appointed expert for chemical

analysis depends on threshold showing of “concrete” reasons justifying

independent chemical analysis of the controlled substance. Ehrke, 459 S.W.3d at

615; Rey v. State, 897 S.W.2d 333, 339 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). In order to make

this preliminary showing, the requesting defendant must present more than

“undeveloped assertions that the requested assistance would be beneficial.”

Williams v. State, 958 S.W.2d 186, 192 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) quoting Caldwell

v. Mississippi, 472 U.S. 320, 323–24 n.1 (1985). Instead, a motion should be

supported by “affidavits or other evidence in support of his defensive theory, an

explanation as to what his defensive theory was and why expert assistance would

be helpful in establishing that theory, or a showing that there was a reason to

question the State's expert and proof.” Rey, 897 S.W.2d at 341. A “reviewing

court ‘must assess the reasonableness of the trial judge's actions [in ruling on an

Ake motion] at the time he took it.’” Id. n.9, citing Moore v. Kemp, 809 F.2d 702,

710 (11th Cir. 1987).

      In this case, “with respect to a particularized showing,” the appellant’s

counsel initially argued to the court that allegations of “dry-labbing” (“the practice

in which an analyst will fake doing the actual lab work”) at the APD lab justified

appointment of an expert in this case. 3 RR 5–6. He did not offer into evidence

anything in support of the claim of “dry-labbing” in the APD lab. Id.
                                          6
      After hearing Counsel’s arguments, the trial court cited Ehrke v. State and its

requirement that there be “independent facts to suspect that the drug tests were

faulty” in a particular case. 3 RR 8. The court also expressed concern that testing

“on every single defendant that just asks for it” had the potential to “bleed the

County dry” and reset the case for two weeks so “we can all have more facts.” 3

RR 10.

      When the case was re-called, counsel for the appellant stated he had “not

been able to find any further complaints about APD's lab.” 4 RR 4. Again, he did

not offer any affidavit or other evidence in support of his claim of “dry-labbing” in

the APD lab. Id. Additionally, Counsel cited a difference in the initial and tested

weight of the drugs of a third of a gram. 4 RR 4. In response, the State argued that

“it is common that we see that difference in weight from the time that the

substance is removed from the defendant and the time that the substance goes to a

qualified forensic laboratory with the appropriate scales that have been tested.” 4

RR 6. Counsel did not offer a defensive theory involving the weight discrepancy

beyond saying that it “raises a concern.” 4 RR 4. He also did not establish how

expert assistance would be helpful in establishing a theory or why this small

difference in weight might constitute a reason to question the State's expert or

proof. Id. Relying again on Ehrke, the trial court held that “absent a preliminary

                                         7
showing” the appellant was “not entitled to an expert,” and denied the motion. 4

RR 8.

         On appeal, the defendant argues he should have been given assistance to

make the “preliminary showing” required. Appellant’s Br. at 9. In support of this,

the appellant points generally to the phenomenon of forensic fraud by state crime

lab analysts and asserts the need for expert assistance in order to discover forensic

fraud.    Id. at 10–12.   But the Court of Criminal Appeals implicitly rejected

generalized claims—such as that “forensic fraud is a concealed phenomenon”—

that could be made in every case when it held that “[c]reating an absolute right for

the defendant to state-funded independent chemical analysis in all controlled-

substance cases would unduly burden the state.” 459 S.W.3d at 617.

         The position that court-appointed expert assistance should be generally

available to attempt to establish a threshold case for testing is also at odds with the

Court of Criminal Appeals holding in Ehrke v. State that “there must be some

preliminary showing of a significant issue of fact to require the court to appoint an

expert.” 459 S.W.3d at 617. As the trial court noted, there could be “a lot of

situations where you have independent facts to suspect that the drug tests were

faulty.” 3 RR 8. But the defense did not take steps that would have constituted a

preliminary showing that “dry-labbing” was a legitimate concern in this case, such

as obtaining affidavits in support of his assertions or establishing a factual issue
                                          8
through other means. The appellant also did not tie the fact of the slight weight

discrepancy to any defensive theory. Given the absence of any “significant issue

of fact” in this case, the trial court’s denial of a request to appoint a court-

appointed chemist was not an abuse of discretion. Ake, 470 U.S. at 81–83, 86;

Ehrke, 459 S.W.3d at 617.

Harm

       The appellant argues that the denial of an expert witness is structural error

and thus not subject to harmless error analysis, citing Rey v. State, 897 S.W.2d
333, 339 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). Appellant’s Br. at 13. However, in Cain v.

State, 947 S.W.2d 262 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997), the Court of Criminal appeals

effectively overruled Rey, holding held that “except for certain federal

constitutional errors labeled by the United States Supreme Court as ‘structural,’ no

error . . . is categorically immune to a harmless error analysis.” Id. at 264.

       Because the Supreme Court has not held Ake error to be structural, following

Cain, it remains subject to error analysis. See Lighteard v. State, 982 S.W.2d 532,

535 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998, pet. ref'd) (“[A]lthough labeled as structural

error by the Court of Criminal Appeals in the Rey case, the United States Supreme

Court did not label denial of an expert as a structural error in the Ake case.”);

Briseno v. Cockrell, 274 F.3d 204, 210–211 (5th Cir. 2001).

       The appellant argues that the Court of Criminal Appeals decision in
                                           9
Will. v. State, 958 S.W.2d 186, 194 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997), because it

distinguished Rey in the course of its analysis, demonstrated that the court did not

overrule Rey and that Rey remains controlling precedent. Appellant’s Br. at 14–15.

While it is true that the Court did distinguish Rey in Williams, the Court did not

refer to Cain in doing so or carve out an exception to the rule announced in Cain:

that structural error is defined by the United States Supreme Court. Williams, 958

S.W.at 194.

       The Fifth Circuit has explicitly held that Ake error is subject to harmless-

error analysis. White v. Johnson, 153 F.3d 197, 201 (5th Cir. 1998) (citing Tuggle

v. Netherland, 79 F.3d 1386, 1388 (4th Cir. 1996); Brewer v. Reynolds, 51 F.3d
1519, 1529 (10th Cir. 1995); Starr v. Lockhart, 23 F.3d 1280, 1291 (8th Cir. 1994),

three other circuits that have “expressly concluded that Ake error is subject to

harmless-error analysis.”). Based on the absence of United States Supreme Court

defining Ake error as structural error and in light of Fifth Circuit precedent holding

that Ake error is not structural, notwithstanding Williams, after Cain, the harmless

error rule for constitutional errors applies to Ake error. Lighteard, 982 S.W.2d at

535.

       A court of appeals must reverse for any preserved error subject to harmless-

error review that violated an appellant's constitutional rights unless it determines

beyond a reasonable doubt that the error did not contribute to the conviction or
                                         10
punishment. TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(a). "The reviewing court should calculate, as

nearly as possible, the probable impact of the error on the [fact finder] in light of

the other evidence." McCarthy v. State, 65 S.W.3d 47, 55 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).

Factors that appellate courts should consider include the nature of the error,

whether it was emphasized by the State, the probable implications of the error, and

the weight the jury would likely have assigned to it in the course of its

deliberations." Snowden v. State, 353 S.W.3d 815, 822 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).

      Contrary to the appellant’s assertion that the “onus” is “upon the State to

prove the error was harmless” (Appellant Br. at 15), “the burden to demonstrate

whether the appellant was harmed by a trial court error does not rest on either the

appellant or the State.” Coble v. State, 330 S.W.3d 253, 280 (Tex. Crim. App.

2010). Instead, “[i]t is the responsibility of the appellate court to assess harm after

reviewing the record.” Id.

      Assuming, arguendo, that the trial court erred in denying the defendant a

court-appointed analyst to review the notes the State’s chemist made of his

analysis of the cocaine, the error did not contribute to the conviction or

punishment. TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(a). There is no reason to believe that review by

a second analyst would have any effect on the case because the record does not

demonstrate that independent review of an analyst’s notes would be capable of

uncovering “dry-labbing” or “fake results,” the hypothetical fraud he alleges. For
                                          11
this reason, there is no evidence of harm. Id.

      The State asks this Court to overrule the appellant’s first point of error.

                       State’s Reply to Point of Error Two

      The trial court’s denial of a jury charge instruction requiring the jury
      to find that the appellant knew he was in a drug free zone was not
      error because the State was not required to prove a culpable mental
      state with respect to the location of the offense.

      In his second point of error, the appellant argues that the trial court erred in

not charging the jury with regard to mens rea to the occurrence of the offense in a

drug free zone. The trial court did not err because the State was not required to

prove that the appellant knew that the prohibited conduct took place within a drug

free zone.

Standard of Review

      “The failure to preserve jury-charge error is not a bar to appellate review,

but rather it establishes the degree of harm necessary for reversal.” Warner v.

State, 245 S.W.3d 458, 461 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Where no proper objection

was made to the jury charge at trial, the appellant may only obtain reversal if it

resulted in egregious harm to the appellant. Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157,

171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (op. on reh'g).

                                          12
Preservation of Error

      Defendants must make any objection to the jury charge in writing or dictate

them to the court reporter, in the presence of the court and opposing counsel, in

order to preserve the error. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 36.14; Chase v. State, 448
S.W.3d 6, 12 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). The appellant did not object to the charge in

writing or by dictation in this case. See 6 RR 192–195. Thus, the appellant may

only obtain reversal in this case if an error charge resulted in egregious harm.

Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171.

Argument and Authorities

      “The appellant asserts that the trial court erred in “dispensing” with a mens

rea requirement for the fact of the occurrence of possession of a controlled

substance in a drug-free zone. Appellant’s Br. at 19. The court’s ruling was not in

error because the State was not required to prove that the appellant committed the

offense with knowledge he was within a drug free zone.

      Intermediate appellate courts in Texas considering the issue have uniformly

held that the State does not have to prove a culpable mental state with respect to

the location of the offense. As the appellant notes, this Court recently held that

“the State was not required to prove that [the defendant’s] knowing delivery of a

controlled substance occurred while he was knowingly within a drug-free zone.”

White v. State, 480 S.W.3d 824, 827 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2015, pet. granted).
                                        13
The Dallas Court of Appeals has reached the same conclusion. Williams v. State,

127 S.W.3d 442, 445 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, pet. ref'd). The Amarillo Court of

Appeals has also observed that “a good deal of authority” holds “that the State

need not prove a culpable mental state with respect to the location of the offense.”

Bridges v. State, 454 S.W.3d 87, 88–89 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2014, pet. ref'd).

See also Uribe v. State, 573 S.W.2d 819, 821 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1978)

(holding that there is no necessity to allege separate culpable mental state to raise

penalty for offense of carrying handgun on premises where alcohol was sold);

Hurst v. State, No. 04–13–00465–CR, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 5645, *6–7 (Tex.

App.—San Antonio May 28, 2014, pet. ref'd) (mem. opinion, not designated for

publication), citing Young v. State, 14 S.W.3d 748, 750 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000)

(“Because a drug-free zone finding is necessary to enhance punishment, but is not

an element of the offense or a separate offense, it need not be pled in the

indictment.”); McFail v. State, No. 10–03–00220–CR, No. 10–03–00221–CR, No.

10–03–00222–CR, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 11140 at *7 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004,

pet. ref’d) (mem. opinion, not designated for publication); Derrick v. State, No.

01–96–00101–CR, 1999 Tex. App. LEXIS 187, *4 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] Jan. 14, 1999, pet. ref'd) (not designated for publication) (“The State was not

required to prove mens rea as to proximity to a school.”).

                                         14
      Similarly, federal circuit courts interpreting a federal “schoolyard statute”

providing “stiff penalties for anyone convicted of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of

a public or private elementary or secondary school,” have rejected a requirement

that the dealer know that a sale was geographically within the prohibited area. See

e.g., United States v. Falu, 776 F.2d 46, 48–50 (2d Cir. 1985) (“Although we are

aware that some schools are not clearly recognizable as such from all points within

the 1,000-foot radius, Congress evidently intended that dealers and their aiders and

abettors bear the burden of ascertaining where schools are located and removing

their operations from those areas or else face enhanced penalties.”); United States

v. Jackson, 443 F.3d 293, 299 (3d Cir. 2006)(“[T]he government does not have to

show that the defendant had knowledge that he was possessing narcotics within

1,000 feet of a school.”) (emphasis in original), citing United States v. Dimas, 3
F.3d 1015, 1022 (7th Cir. 1993); Falu, 776 F.2d at 50; United States v. Koons, 300
F.3d 985, 993 (8th Cir. 2002) (holding that “a defendant need not know that he

distributed drugs within the 1,000 foot zone to be convicted”); United States v.

Wake, 948 F.2d 1422, 1432 (5th Cir. 1991)(recognizing Congress’ intent to create

a drug-free zone).

      The appellant argues as a matter of policy that Texas law disfavors “strict

liability” offenses and that Texas criminal statutes generally require a culpable

mental state. Appellant’s Br. at 20–21. But, the crime the appellant was convicted
                                         15
of—possession of cocaine with intent to deliver—contains a culpable mental state.

A person commits the offense of delivery of a controlled substance if he knowingly

delivers, or possesses with intent to deliver a controlled substance listed in penalty

group one. TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 481.112(a). Thus, the culpable mental

state in section 481.112 of the Texas Health and Safety Code provides the mental

state required for the offense. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 481.112;

McQueen v. State, 781 S.W.2d 600, 603 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989); Williams v. State,
127 S.W.3d at 445.

      Furthermore, although the drug free zone provision raises the minimum term

of confinement or imprisonment for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, it

does not create a separate offense because “its only effect is to raise the penalty

when an enumerated offense is committed in a designated place.” Williams, 127
S.W.3d at 445. The appellant’s reliance on Harris v. State, 125 S.W.3d 45, 50

(Tex. App.—Austin 2003, pet. dism'd) to say that delivery of a controlled

substance and delivery of a controlled substance within a drug-free zone are

separate offenses is misplaced because that case actually addressed a different

issue: whether the drug-free zone question should be addressed at the

guilt/innocence phase or the punishment phase of trial. See id. at 51–52. Because

of this context, Harris should not be construed to support the requirement of a

separate mens rea for the fact of the occurrence of the offense in a drug-free zone.
                                         16
      The question of whether the possession took place in a drug free zone, a

“fact that, by law, increase[d] the penalty for [the] crime” was “submitted to the

jury and found beyond a reasonable doubt.” Alleyne v. United States,         U.S.   ,

133 S. Ct. 2151, 2155 (2013). CR 90.

      The appellant goes on to argue that mens rea should be assigned to drug-free

zone allegations as a matter of policy.       Appellants Br. at 24–25.      But the

legislature’s intent to create a drug-free zone for the protection of children is not

furthered by the application of a mens rea to this fact. In Fleming v. State, 455
S.W.3d 577 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014), the Court of Criminal Appeals held there is

no fundamental right to a mens rea element regarding the age of the victim in

sexual assault or murder statutes and declined to read a mens rea element into the

statute because the statute serves the legitimate state objective of protecting

children. Id. at 582. Following the same reasoning, federal courts have held that

to “find that a requirement that the dealer know that a sale is geographically within

the prohibited area would undercut [] unambiguous legislative design.” Falu, 776
F.2d at 50. The federal courts’ analysis applies here, where declining to read a

mens rea requirement into the circumstances of the possession appropriately places

the burden on those in possession of drugs “of ascertaining where schools are

located and removing their operations from those areas or else face enhanced

penalties.” Falu, 776 F.2d at 50. See also, Fleming, 455 S.W.3d at 582.
                                         17
       Additionally, because drug possession is an act criminalized because of its

very nature, it does not fall into the category of “otherwise innocent behavior” that

“becomes criminal because of the circumstances under which it is done,” and for

which “a culpable mental state is required as to those surrounding circumstances.”

McQueen, 781 S.W.2d at 603.

       The trial court did not err in denying the appellant a jury instruction

requiring the jury to find the appellant knew he was in a drug-free zone.

Harm

       The appellant argues that denial of the jury instruction harmed him because

it raised the mandatory minimum sentence. Appellant’s Br. at 26–27.

       The appellant may only obtain reversal if the charge resulted in egregious

harm to the appellant. Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171. “The appellant must have

suffered actual, rather than theoretical, harm.”     Warner, 245 S.W.3d at 461.

Reviewing courts should consider 1) the jury charge; 2) the state of the evidence,

including the contested issues and the weight of the probative evidence; 3) the final

arguments of the parties; and 4) any other relevant information revealed by the

record of the trial as a whole. Olivas v. State, 202 S.W.3d 137, 144 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2006).

       The appellant elected to go to the judge for punishment in this case. 5 RR 8.

Subsequently, the jury made a finding that the appellant committed the offense of
                                         18
possession of a controlled substance along with a special finding that at the time of

the offense, he was in a drug free zone. CR 90. The judge then assessed a

sentence of 30 years, relying on the jury’s finding. CR 99.

      Because the denial of the instruction could only impact punishment, if this

Court finds reversible error, the “drug-free zone” finding should be struck from the

judgment and the cause remanded for a new trial as to punishment only. Jones v.

State, 300 S.W.3d 93, 99–101 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2009, no pet.).

                      State’s Reply to Point of Error Three
      The trial court did not violate the appellant’s sixth amendment rights
      by limiting his closing argument because his argument regarding the
      drug-free zone conflicted with the law in the charge and thus he was
      not entitled to make it.

      In his third point of error, the appellant argues that the trial court erred in not

allowing him to argue to the jury that “if possession in a drug-free zone is part of

the crime, then knowing it's a drug-free zone is also part of the crime.” Appellant’s

Br. at 31. The trial court did not err because, given the charge, this was not an

argument he was entitled to make.

Standard of Review

       The trial court's ruling restricting a defendant's jury argument is reviewed

for abuse of discretion. Davis v. State, 329 S.W.3d 798, 825 (Tex. Crim. App.

2010). However, improper denial of a jury argument may constitute a denial of the

                                          19
defendant's right to counsel if the jury argument is one the defendant is entitled to

make. McGee v. State, 774 S.W.2d 229, 238 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989), cert. denied,

494 U.S. 1060 (1990)

Argument and Authorities

      The appellant asserts that “in the absence of binding precedent by the Court

of Criminal Appeals or the Third District Court of Appeals or clearly delineated

instructions in the jury charge limiting the mens rea to the simple act of possession,

[he] was entitled to rely upon the ambiguity to persuade the jury that it should

apply the mens rea for both the act of possession itself and the proscribed

location.” Appellant’s Br. at 31. This is incorrect because the jury was the finder

of fact and was bound to receive the law from the court.

      A trial court is required to fully instruct the jury on the law applicable to the

case and to apply that law to the facts presented. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art.

36.14; Perez v. State, 537 S.W.2d 455 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976); Harris v. State, 522
S.W.2d 199 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975). The court must charge on all the essential

elements of an offense. Rider v. State, 567 S.W.2d 192, 195 (Tex. Crim. App.

1978); Gray v. State, 152 S.W.3d 125, 127 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). “Where the

indictment alleges the proper culpable mental state, but the charge to the jury omits

such culpable mental state, an essential element, the charge, is fundamentally

                                         20
defective.” Archie v. the State of Texas, 615 S.W.2d 762, 766 (Tex. Crim. App.

1981)(citations omitted).

      Generally, permissible jury argument concerns (1) a summation of the

evidence; (2) reasonable deductions from the evidence; (3) answering argument of

opposing counsel; or (4) pleas for law enforcement. Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d
103, 115 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (en banc). Argument that misstates the law or is

contrary to the court's charge is improper. Whiting v. State, 797 S.W.2d 45, 48

(Tex. Crim. App. 1990) (en banc).

      In this case, the trial court sustained the State’s objection to Counsel’s

statement during closing argument that “if possession in a drug-free zone is part of

the crime, then knowing it's a drug-free zone is also part of the crime” as a

“misstatement of the law.” 7 RR 28. Following this, at the bench, the court

admonished the appellant that it had ruled on the appellant’s legal objection to the

charge and that the ruling was contained in “the law that I gave the jury.” 7 RR 29.

The court then reiterated to the jury that “the law of the Court” and the “law that

applies to the case” was contained in the charge. 7 RR 29–30. This ruling did not

constitute an abuse of discretion.

      The appellant was entitled to have the jury charged on all elements of the

offense. Rider, 567 S.W.2d at 195. But he was not entitled to argue to them that

they could apply a law different from that in the charge. Whiting, 797 S.W.2d at
                                        21
48. The appellant’s argument is incompatible with the principle that “the jury is

the exclusive judge of the facts, but it is bound to receive the law from the court

and be governed thereby.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 36.13.

      The appellant disputes that his argument was contrary to the charge.

Appellant’s Br. at 31. The charge states “if you have found the defendant guilty

and you further find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the

offense in a drug-free zone, to wit: within 1,000 feet of the premises of a school,

namely, St. David's Episcopal School located at 301 East 8th Street, Austin, Texas,

you will so state.” CR 86. Thus, the paragraph charging the drug-free zone, unlike

the paragraph above, charging possession, contains no mens rea requirement. Id.

Given that language in the charge, the jury did not have to find that the appellant

knew he was in a drug free zone when he committed the offense in order to make

the drug-free zone finding. Id. Adding a mental state requirement where it is

absent from the charge constitutes arguing contrary to the charge. See, Whiting v.

State, 797 S.W.2d at 48.

      There exists a general presumption that the jury followed the

court’s instruction. See, Hutch v. State, 922 S.W.2d 166, 170 (Tex. Crim. App.

1996). If the jury had rejected the drug free zone finding because they did not

believe the appellant knew he was in a drug free zone, the basis for their rejection

of the finding would not have been discernable from the charge.
                                        22
       "Although [the Court of Criminal Appeals has] held that improper denial of

a jury argument may constitute a denial of the right to counsel, this holding

assumes that the jury argument is one the defendant is entitled to make." Davis v.

State, 329 S.W.3d at 825 ; Jackson v. State, 992 S.W.2d 469, 476 (Tex. Crim. App.

1999). The trial court made it clear that the “ambiguity” the appellant identifies in

the charge was not intended and that his argument was contrary to the law in the

charge. 7 RR 29. Because the appellant was not entitled to present a statement of

the law that was contrary to that presented in the charge to the jury, the court did

not deprive him of effective assistance of counsel when it upheld the State’s

objection to his statement. Jackson, 992 S.W.2d at 476; Whiting, 797 S.W.2d at

48; McGee v. State, 774 S.W.2d at 238.

Harm

       The appellant claims that if he had been able to argue to the jury that

“knowing it's a drug-free zone” was required for the finding, he would have been

able to prevent an affirmative finding on the drug-free zone, changing the

minimum punishment. Appellant’s Br. at 32–33.

       The trial court's ruling is reviewed under the constitutional error standard to

determine whether it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. TEX. R. APP. P.

44.2(a); Mosley v. State, 983 S.W.2d 249, 259 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998).

                                          23
      The charge asked the jurors to find whether the “defendant committed the

offense in a drug-free zone” not whether he “knowingly committed the offense in a

drug free zone.” CR 86. If the appellant had argued that “knowing it's a drug-free

zone” was also a requirement, the State would likely have argued in rebuttal that

the charge did not include this requirement. The State’s argument would have a

stronger foundation in the charge.

      Nonetheless, if this court finds that the appellant by his argument could have

prevented an affirmative finding on as to whether the offense was committed in the

drug-free zone, the “drug-free zone” finding from the judgment should be struck

from the judgment and the cause remanded for a new trial as to punishment only.

Jones v. State, 300 S.W.3d at 99–101.

       The State asks this Court to overrule the appellant’s third point of error.

                                          24
                                       Prayer
      For these reasons, the State prays this Court to overrule appellant’s points of

error and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                       Respectfully submitted,

                                       Rosemary Lehmberg
                                       District Attorney
                                       Travis County

                                       /s/ Rosa Theofanis
                                       ROSA THEOFANIS
                                       Texas Bar No. 24037591
                                       Assistant District Attorney
                                       Travis County District Attorney’s Office
                                       P.O. Box 1748
                                       Austin, Texas 78767
                                       Phone: 512.854.9400
                                       Fax: 512.854.4810
                                       Email: Rosa.Theofanis@traviscountytx.gov
                                       AppellateTCDA@traviscountytx.gov

                                          25
                             Certificate of Compliance

      Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4(i)(3), effective December

1, 2012, the State certifies that the length of this brief is 5,283 words. The State

also certifies, pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4(e), a conventional

typeface 14–point was used to print this brief.

                                        /s/ Rosa Theofanis
                                        ROSA THEOFANIS
                                        Assistant District Attorney

                                Certificate of Service

      This is to certify that the above State’s brief has been served on the appellant

by U.S. mail, electronic mail, by facsimile, or electronically through the electronic

filing manager to his attorney Alexander Calhoun, 4301 W. William Cannon

Drive, B–150, #260, Austin, Texas, 78749,  on this 1st

day of July, 2016.

                                        /s/ Rosa Theofanis
                                        ROSA THEOFANIS
                                        Assistant District Attorney

                                           26