Court Opinion

ID: 4075298
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-30 05:57:49.535522+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:05:30.183195
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                            01-15-00134-CR
                                                 FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
                                                         HOUSTON, TEXAS
                                                     12/18/2015 11:32:33 AM
   No. 01-15-00134-CR                                 CHRISTOPHER PRINE
                                                                     CLERK
            In the
      Court of Appeals
           For the
   First District of Texas                 FILED IN
                                    1st COURT OF APPEALS
         At Houston                     HOUSTON, TEXAS
                        12/18/2015 11:32:33 AM
        No. 1363069                 CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
 In the 338th District Court                Clerk

  Of Harris County, Texas
 

JENNIFER LEANN WATSON
        Appellant
           V.
  THE STATE OF TEXAS
        Appellee
  

STATE’S APPELLATE BRIEF
  

                         DEVON ANDERSON
                         District Attorney
                         Harris County, Texas

                         MOLLY WURZER
                         Assistant District Attorney
                         Harris County, Texas
                         wurzer_molly@dao.hctx.net

                         BRADFORD CROCKARD
                         LAUREN BARD
                         Assistant District Attorneys
                         Harris County, Texas

                         1201 Franklin, Suite 600
                         Houston, Texas 77002
                         Tel.: 713/274-5826
                         FAX No.: 713/755-5809

                         Counsel for Appellee

ORAL ARGUMENT WAIVED
        STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT

Pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P. 39.7, the State waives oral argument.

                                   i
                                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT .......................................................... i

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES .............................................................................................. iii

STATEMENT OF THE CASE ........................................................................................... 1

STATEMENT OF FACTS .................................................................................................. 1

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT .................................................................................. 7

STATE’S REPLY TO APPELLANT’S SOLE POINT OF ERROR ................................. 7

   Standard of Review ......................................................................................................... 7
   Applicable Law................................................................................................................ 9
   Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 9

CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 12

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE .......................................................................................... 13

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ................................................................................ 13

                                                                   ii
                                          INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
CASES

Bessard v. State,
  464 S.W.3d 427 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. ref’d)....................... 9, 10
Cardona v. State,
  665 S.W.2d 492 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) ........................................................................ 8
Degay v. State,
  741 S.W.2d 441 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987) ........................................................................ 8
Duncan v. State,
  321 S.W.3d 54 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, pet. ref’d) ................................. 8
Evans v. State,
  202 S.W.3d 158 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) ........................................................................ 9
Garrett v. State,
  619 S.W.2d 172 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981) .................................................................. 8, 11
Grant v. State,
  566 S.W.2d 954 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978) ........................................................................ 8
Moore v. State,
 605 S.W.2d 924 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980) ........................................................................ 9
Rickels v. State,
  202 S.W.3d 759 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) ........................................................................ 8
Scamardo v. State,
  517 S.W.2d 293 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974) ........................................................................ 8

RULES

TEX. R. APP. P. 39.7.............................................................................................................. i

STATUTES

TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §481.102(6) (West 2010)......................................... 9
TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §481.115 (West 2010) ............................................. 9
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §1.07(39)(West 2011) .................................................................. 9

                                                                iii
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:

                          STATEMENT OF THE CASE

      The appellant was charged by indictment with the offense of possession of a

controlled substance – methamphetamine – with intent to deliver. CR 16. The

appellant pled guilty to this first degree felony offense. CR 29. The trial court

deferred a finding of guilt and placed her on three years community supervision.

CR 29. About ten months later, the State filed a motion to adjudicate guilt. CR 50-

51. A hearing was held January 16 and 20, 2015. II RR 3; III RR 2; CR 62. The

trial court adjudicated the appellant’s guilt and sentenced her to six years in the

Texas Department of Criminal Justice –Institutional Division. III RR 19; CR 62.

The court certified the appellant’s right to appeal, and the appellant filed a timely

notice of appeal. CR 67-68.

                            STATEMENT OF FACTS

      On September 19, 2013, the appellant pled guilty to the first degree offense

of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. CR 31. She was

granted three years community supervision. CR 31.

      On July 31, 2014, the State filed a motion to adjudicate guilt, alleging nine

separate violations of the terms and conditions of the appellant’s community

supervision, which included:
      -    committing an offense against the State of Texas by unlawfully
          intentionally and knowingly possessing a controlled substance –
          methamphetamine – weighing more than 1 gram and less than 4 grams by
          aggregate weight, including any adulterants.
      -   failure to report to her community supervision officer on February 11,
          2014, May 2, 2014, June 25, 2014, and July 15, 2014.
      -   failure to submit to random urine specimen analysis on July 27, 2014.
      -   failure to submit to random urine specimen analysis on June 6, 2014.
      -   failure to submit to random urine specimen analysis on May 1, 2014.
      -   failing to pay supervision fees as directed by the court.
      -   failure to pay court costs as directed by the court.
      -   failure to pay laboratory processing fees as directed by the court.
      -   failure to participate in HCAPD Tier 2 Specialized Caseload – the 338th
          Felony Mental Health Court Specialized Caseload.

CR 50; II RR 9-11. The appellant pled “not true” to each of the nine allegations.

II RR 12-14.

Technical Violations

      The State called Sheena Poole, the appellant’s community supervision

officer, to testify. II RR 17, 19. Poole is assigned to the Felony Mental Health

Court, a specialized court for those on community supervision with a mental health

diagnosis or disorder where they are able to receive assistance from the case

managers and intense supervision from the trial court. II RR 18. Felony Mental

Health Court employs several full-time employees that were available to the

appellant if she needed help with anything. II RR 38. Poole saw the appellant

three times a month outside of the court, and met with her at least every other

week. II RR 19. Poole found the appellant to be polite, but the appellant often was

                                        2
late or missed meetings. II RR 20. She did not take advantage of the resources

that were offered to her through the Felony Mental Health Court. II RR 20.

      Poole enumerated the ways in which the appellant did not comply with the

terms of her community supervision. The appellant failed to report to Poole on

February 11, 2014, May 2, 2014, June 25, 2014, and July 15, 2015. II RR 22-23.

On February 11, 2014, Poole learned the appellant had a conflict with her work

schedule, and she reported a different day. II RR 29. On May 2, 2014, when the

appellant did not show up, Poole went to her house to conduct a field visit later that

day. II RR 30. The appellant claimed she overslept and was tired. II RR 30.

When she did not report on June 25, 2014, she reported two days later on June 27,

2014. II RR 31. On July 15, 2014, the appellant did not report because she was in

custody on the new law violation. II RR 31-32.

      The appellant was ordered to provide urine samples as part of her

community supervision. II RR 23. She failed to submit a urine specimen on May

1, 2014, June 6, 2014, June 26, 2014. II RR 23-24.

      The appellant was ordered to pay fees, and she was behind $39.50 on July

16, 2014. II RR 25. She was ordered to pay court costs, and she was behind $100

on July 16, 2014. II RR 25. The appellant was ordered to pay a lab processing fee,

and she was behind $15 on July 16, 2014. II RR 25-26.

                                          3
      Further, Poole stated that the appellant failed to participate in Felony Mental

Health Court by abiding by the conditions, attending regular treatment, reporting to

her community supervision officer, and providing urine specimens. II RR 26. In

addition, she did not provide the attendance logs for the support groups she was

told to attend. II RR 25.

      The appellant gave Poole a variety of excuses for missing appointments or

being late to scheduled meetings, including oversleeping, childcare issues, not

being able to find her keys, her car not starting, conflicts with her work schedule,

or working late. II RR 22, 25, 27, 29, 34.

New Law Violation

      Deputy Jimmie Norris executed a felony arrest warrant at the appellant’s

home for a different person on July 15, 2014. II RR 41-43. He and other Harris

County Sheriff’s deputies walked up to the door of the home around noon. II RR

44. The door was open, so he and the other deputies loudly identified themselves

and then walked in. II RR 44.

      He immediately saw a bedroom on the right with the door wide open. II RR

45. He heard mumbling in the bedroom. II RR 45-46. He saw two white females

standing by the bed and a male and female (the appellant) in the bed. II RR 46-47;

SX 2. There were many bags in the bedroom, and the two white females appeared

                                         4
to be going through the bags on the far side of the bed. II RR 56. The appellant

and the male were sleeping, so Deputy Norris woke them up by yelling. II RR 47.

      The appellant was nearer to the front of the house, and Deputy Norris

observed a purse on the edge of the bed next to the appellant. II RR 49; SX 2.

Protruding from the unzipped, open purse was a hypodermic needle plunger. II RR

49. He could also see a Disney makeup bag in the purse with hypodermic needles

sticking out of it. II RR 50. In the purse, he could also see little bags commonly

used to transport methamphetamine, baggies with a grayish white reside, and a

baggie with crystal methamphetamine. II RR 50-51. The appellant told Deputy

Norris that her ID was in the purse. II RR 52-53. Deputy Norris found her ID in

the purse inside a matching wallet. II RR 53. No one in the house would admit to

possession of the methamphetamine. II RR 54.

      The substance found in the appellant’s purse was analyzed by chemists with

the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, and it was identified as 1.963

grams of methamphetamine. II RR 63-72.

      The appellant’s boyfriend, Chris Hernandez, testified that he did not know

the other two women were in the house until the police woke them up. II RR 76-

77. He knows that one of the women, Desiree, is addicted to drugs, and her

reaction to the police was consistent with someone who was high. II RR 77-79.

The appellant was not using drugs, and he had never seen her use drugs since he

                                        5
met her on March 26, 2014. II RR 81. Hernandez also has a long drug history. II

RR 83-85.

      The appellant’s fourteen year old daughter, Mileah Alvarez, testified that she

let Desiree in the house that morning. II RR 86-87. Desiree was holding a Mickey

Mouse bag that she stole from Alvarez.            II RR 88.   Desiree walked to the

appellant’s bedroom. II RR 88. Then the police came. II RR 89.

      The appellant testified that the police took her into the living room after they

entered the house. II RR 99. They asked for her ID, and she told them it was

zipped up in her purse in the bedroom. II RR 99. When they asked her about the

drugs, she told them they were not hers. II RR 100. She believed the drugs

belonged to one of the other two women because of the way they were acting. II

RR 101, 103-105.

Judge’s Ruling

      The trial court found that the appellant:

      - committed an offense against the State of Texas by unlawfully
        intentionally and knowingly possessing a controlled substance –
        methamphetamine – weighing more than 1 gram and less than 4 grams by
        aggregate weight, including any adulterants.
      - failed to report to her community supervision officer on February 11,
        2014, May 2, 2014, June 25, 2014, but not on July 15, 2014.
      - failed to submit to random urine specimen analysis on July 27, 2014.
      - failed to submit to random urine specimen analysis on June 6, 2014.
      - failed to submit to random urine specimen analysis on May 1, 2014.
      - failed to pay supervision fees, but the trial court did not factor it into
        punishment.

                                          6
        - failed to pay court costs, but the trial court did not factor it into
          punishment.
        - failed to pay laboratory processing fees, but the trial court did not factor
          it into punishment.
        - failed to participate in HCAPD Tier 2 Specialized Caseload – the 338th
          Felony Mental Health Court Specialized Caseload.

II RR 122-123.

                         SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

        The trial court found multiple allegations in the motion to adjudicate to be

true.   Since only one sufficient ground is needed to support a revocation of

community supervision, this Court need not consider whether the trial court abused

its discretion in finding the appellant possessed methamphetamine.

        Further, even if the new law violation is considered, the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in finding it true that the appellant possessed methamphetamine

by a preponderance of the evidence. The direct and circumstantial evidence link

the appellant to the drugs.

        STATE’S REPLY TO APPELLANT’S SOLE POINT OF ERROR

        In his sole point of error, the appellant argues that the trial court abused its

discretion by revoking the appellant’s community supervision because the evidence was

insufficient to prove all the elements of possession of a controlled substance. App. Br. 9.

                                   Standard of Review

        An appellate court reviews the trial court’s decision to revoke community

supervision under an abuse of discretion standard. Cardona v. State, 665 S.W.2d
7
492, 493 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). If the State does not meet its burden of proof, an

order to revoke community supervision is an abuse of the trial court’s discretion.

Id. at 493-4. The court is the sole trier of fact in a community supervision

revocation. Grant v. State, 566 S.W.2d 954, 956 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978).

         In a community supervision revocation hearing, the State must prove the

allegation by a preponderance of the evidence, or by “the greater weight of the

credible evidence which would create a reasonable belief that the defendant has

violated a condition of his probation.” Rickels v. State, 202 S.W.3d 759, 763-4

(Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (citing Scamardo v. State, 517 S.W.2d 293, 298 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1974)). As the trier of fact, the trial court determines the credibility of

witnesses. Garrett v. State, 619 S.W.2d 172, 174 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981). The

appellate court examines the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court’s

order. Duncan v. State, 321 S.W.3d 54, 57 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010,

pet. ref’d) (citing Garrett, 619 S.W.2d at 174). It is within the discretion of the

trial judge to either continue community supervision or to revoke community

supervision. Degay v. State, 741 S.W.2d 441, 449 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987). An

order revoking community supervision must be based on a condition of the

community supervision imposed by the court or on a condition as modified by the

court.    Id.   Only one sufficient ground is needed to support a revocation of

community supervision. Moore v. State, 605 S.W.2d 924, 926 (Tex. Crim. App.

                                          8
1980); Bessard v. State, 464 S.W.3d 427, 429 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

2015, pet. ref’d).

                                  Applicable Law

      A person commits the offense of possession of methamphetamine if he

knowingly or intentionally possesses methamphetamine - a Penalty Group 1

substance. TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §481.115(a) (West 2010); TEX.

HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §481.102(6) (West 2010). When the weight of the

methamphetamine is greater than one gram but less than four grams, this offense is

a third degree felony. TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §481.115(c) (West

2010).

      Possession means “actual care, custody, control, or management.” TEX.

PENAL CODE ANN. §1.07(39)(West 2011). Mere presence at the location where

drugs are found is not enough to establish possession. Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d
158, 162 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). Presence or proximity combined with other

direct or circumstantial evidence may be sufficient to establish possession. Id. It is

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

direct and circumstantial evidence. Id.

                                      Analysis

      First, this Court need not address the appellant’s sole point of error. The

appellant does not complain that the trial court erred in finding that she failed to

                                          9
report to her community supervision officer, failed to submit to urine specimen

analysis, or failed to participate in Felony Mental Health Court Specialized

Caseload. Poole testified where and when the appellant had missed appointments,

missed urine specimen analysis appointments, and how she failed to participate in

Felony Mental Health Court. The trial court found these five other allegation

paragraphs to be true in addition to the new law violation allegation paragraph. II

RR 122. Since only one sufficient ground is needed to support a revocation of

community supervision, this Court need not consider whether the trial court abused

its discretion in finding the appellant committed a new law violation. See Bessard,
464 S.W.3d at 429.

      Alternately, the State proved that the appellant committed the offense of

possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine – by a preponderance of

the evidence. The appellant was not merely present in a house where drugs were

found. The direct and circumstantial evidence affirmatively link her to the drugs.

The appellant was living in the house with her children, and the purse where the

drugs were found belonged to the appellant. II RR 97. Deputy Norris observed the

purse to be closest to the appellant. II RR 49; SX 2. The other two women were

on the other side of the bed near the white male on the far side of the room from

the appellant and the purse. II RR 46-47, 56; SX 2. The drugs and paraphernalia

were both in the purse and in the Disney bag inside the purse in plain view. II RR

                                        10
46-45, 56. The appellant’s ID was in the purse with the drugs, needles, and

baggies. II RR 49-53.

      As the sole trier of fact, the trial court was free to disbelieve the testimony of

the appellant, her boyfriend Hernandez, and her fourteen year old daughter

Alvarez. See Garrett, 619 S.W.2d at 174. All three had an interest in ensuring the

appellant did not go to prison. Both the appellant and Hernandez have a drug

history. II RR 83-85. Alvarez testified that she saw Desiree with the Disney bag

earlier in the day. II RR 88. The testimony of the Deputy Norris indicated,

however, that the drugs, baggies, and needles were not only in the Disney bag in

the purse, but also around the Disney bag in the purse. II RR 49-51. It is not

probable that Desiree had the drugs, decided to plant them on the appellant, was

able to get around the bed, place both the Disney bag and other paraphernalia in

the appellant’s purse, and go around to the other side of the bed in the short time it

took Harris County Sherriff’s deputies made entry into the bedroom.

      Viewed in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling, the State proved

the appellant possessed methamphetamine by a preponderance of the evidence.

The trial court did not abuse its discretion in revoking the appellant’s community

supervision for multiple allegations. The appellant’s sole point of error should be

overruled and the appellant’s community supervision revocation affirmed.

                                          11
                                  CONCLUSION

      It is respectfully submitted that all things are regular and the conviction

should be affirmed.

                                                 DEVON ANDERSON
                                                 District Attorney
                                                 Harris County, Texas

                                                 /s/
                                                 MOLLY WURZER
                                                 Assistant District Attorney
                                                 Harris County, Texas
                                                 1201 Franklin, Suite 600
                                                 Houston, Texas 77002
                                                 (713) 274-5826
                                                 TBC No. 24082073
                                                 Wurzer_molly@dao.hctx.net

                                         12
                         CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      This is to certify that a copy of the foregoing instrument has been sent to the

following email address via TexFile:

      Randall J. Ayers
      Attorney at Law
      rjayerslaw@comcast.net

                                                /s/
                                                MOLLY WURZER
                                                Assistant District Attorney
                                                Harris County, Texas
                                                1201 Franklin, Suite 600
                                                Houston, Texas 77002
                                                (713) 274-5826
                                                TBC No. 24082073
                                                Wurzer_molly@dao.hctx.net

                      CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

       The undersigned attorney certifies that this computer-generated document
has a word count of 2,607 words, based upon the representation provided by the
word processing program that was used to create the document.

                                                /s/
                                                MOLLY WURZER
                                                Assistant District Attorney
                                                Harris County, Texas
                                                1201 Franklin, Suite 600
                                                Houston, Texas 77002
                                                (713) 274-5826
                                                TBC No. 24082073
                                                Wurzer_molly@dao.hctx.net
Date: 12/18/2015

                                         13