Court Opinion

ID: 4042682
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-28 23:09:18.453472+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:18.626163
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                                                                                                                   FILED IN
                                                                                                            6th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                                              TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                                                                                            3/5/2015 1:02:54 PM
                                                                          In The                                DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                                                                                    Clerk
                                                                    Court of Appeals
                                                      Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

                                                               ______________________________

                                                                     No. 06-05-00068-CV
                                                               ______________________________

                                                             $800.00 IN U.S. CURRENCY, Appellant
               
                                                                                V.
               
                                                                THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                                                

                                                          On Appeal from the 62nd Judicial District Court
                                                                      Lamar County, Texas
                                                                      Trial Court No. 71954

                                                   

                                                            Before Morriss, C.J., Ross and Carter, JJ.
                                                          Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Morriss

                                                                   MEMORANDUM OPINION

              Responding to a 9-1-1 report of a domestic disturbance, Paris police officers encountered
Sammy Earl Woods.

   At the scene, Woods' girlfriend advised officers she believed that Woods had a weapon. Officers described Woods as

   nervous, "antsy," exhibiting paranoia, and sweating profusely. Because of their safety concerns, officers handcuffed

   Woods and conducted a pat-down search, finding a syringe, marihuana, methamphetamine, and $800.00 cash in Woods'

Opinion - 06-05-00068-CV.html[3/2/2015 3:33:42 PM]
   pockets. After Woods pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, the County Attorney's Office commenced a

   forfeiture proceeding, claiming that the $800.00 found in Woods' pockets was contraband. After a hearing, the trial

   court held that the money was contraband and ordered that it be forfeited to the State of Texas. Woods appeals from the

   trial court's ruling.

              We affirm the judgment of the trial court because we hold (1) searching Woods' person was legal, (2) legally and

   factually sufficient evidence supported the trial court's ruling, (3) the trial court did not deny Woods the right to cross-

  examine officers Lee Foreman or Matt Moody, and (4) Woods was not entitled to have an attorney appointed to

   represent him in the forfeiture proceeding.

  (1)       Searching Woods' Person Was Legal

              Woods contends an illegal search led to the seizure of the $800.00. The evidence in the record shows that the

   Paris police officers were responding to a call about a domestic disturbance. Woods' girlfriend told officers at the scene

   that she believed Woods possessed a weapon. Woods appeared nervous and kept sticking his hands in his pockets. At

   that point, the officers handcuffed Woods and conducted a pat-down search of his person. The officer felt an object that

   he recognized
as a syringe. On removing the syringe, the officer also discovered a bag containing marihuana. At that

    point, Woods was placed under arrest and searched for additional contraband. That search turned up the

   methamphetamine and cash in his other pockets.

              A pat-down search is reasonable where the officer can point to specific and articulable facts that reasonably

   warrant the intrusion. O'Hara v. State, 27 S.W.3d 548, 550–51 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000), citing Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S.
1, 21 (1968). Here, the officer testified that (1) he was told Woods may have a weapon and (2) Woods appeared

   nervous and kept sticking his hands in his pockets. These are specific articulated facts that warrant a pat-down search.

              When an officer is conducting a pat-down search, no additional privacy interest is implicated by the seizure of an

   item whose identity is already plainly known through the officer's sense of touch. Minnesota v. Dickerson, 508 U.S.
366, 375 (1993). Here, the officer felt an item that he knew was a syringe. On removing the syringe, he discovered the

   marihuana. After discovering the marihuana, officers placed Woods under arrest. The subsequent search, conducted

  
incident to the arrest, revealed the $800.00 cash made the subject of this case. From the record before us, it appears the

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   search was reasonable. We overrule this point of error.

  (2)       Legally and Factually Sufficient Evidence Supported the Trial Court's Ruling

              Woods claims the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support a finding that the $800.00 cash was

   contraband. When we review a challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we consider only the evidence and

   inferences tending to support the trial court's findings and disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary. See

   Weirich v. Weirich, 833 S.W.2d 942, 945
(Tex. 1992). In reviewing the factual sufficiency of the evidence, we must

  
consider and weigh all the evidence and set aside the judgment only if that judgment is so contrary to the overwhelming

   weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust. See Cain v. Bain, 709 S.W.2d 175, 176 (Tex. 1986) (per

   curiam). Where, as in this case, findings of fact and conclusions of law are neither filed nor requested, the appellate

   court must presume that the trial court made all the necessary findings to support the judgment. Lassiter v. Bliss, 559
S.W.2d 353, 358 (Tex. 1977); see Money of the United States in the Amount of $8,500.00 v. State, 774 S.W.2d 788, 791

   (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, no writ).

              In a forfeiture proceeding, the State must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the property seized is

   contraband and, therefore, the property is subject to forfeiture. Tex. Code Crim.
 Proc. Ann. arts. 59.02(a), 59.05(b)

   (Vernon Supp. 2005); see $9,050.00 in United States Currency v. State, 874 S.W.2d 158, 161 (Tex. App.—Houston

   [14th Dist.] 1994, writ denied). Contraband is defined, in part, as any property that is used or intended to be used in the

   commission of any felony under Chapter 481 of the Texas Health and Safety Code (Texas Controlled Substances Act).

   See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 59.01(2) (Vernon Supp. 2005). The State has the burden of proving there is a

    substantial nexus between the property and the illegal activity. $4,182 v. State, 944 S.W.2d 24, 27 (Tex. App.—

  Texarkana 1997, no writ).

              Officer Joel Chipman testified he found $800.00 cash in Woods' pockets, along with
marihuana,

   methamphetamine, and a syringe. He also testified the $800.00 was found in two $100 bills, twenty-two $20s, nine

   $10s, and fourteen $5s, denominations Chipman testified were consistent with what persons involved in the narcotics

   trade would have in their possession. Further, Woods pled guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance in

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   connection with this episode. Woods claimed that the money was part of a home improvement loan he had recently

   received. However, the record contains no evidence, other than Woods' assertion, of any loan.

              Reviewing only the evidence supporting the trial court's ruling, we hold the State met its
burden and proved it

   was more probable than not that the $800.00 was either used, or intended to be used, in the commission of a felony

   drug offense. Considering all of the evidence in the record, we hold that the trial court's ruling was not so contrary to

   the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong or unjust. Accordingly, we overrule this point of error.

              In what is also effectively an attack on the sufficiency of the evidence, Woods contends Chipman presented false

   testimony during the hearing. Woods asserts that Chipman lied about the events surrounding Woods' arrest. Woods also

   contends Chipman lied about the existence of a home improvement loan Woods alleged he had received.

              Except for Woods' claims, obviously not believed by the trial court, there is no evidence in the record to support

   Woods' contentions. Woods was allowed to cross-examine Chipman regarding his search and arrest. If Woods had

   wished to rebut the testimony of Chipman, he could have called other witnesses to do so. He did not. We cannot

   conclude that Chipman presented false testimony at the hearing or that any such testimony could have changed the

   outcome of the hearing. Accordingly, we overrule this point of error.
  (3)       The Trial Court Did Not Deny Woods the Right to Cross-Examine Officers Foreman and
Moody
              Woods contends he was not allowed to cross-examine officers Foreman and Moody at his
forfeiture hearing.

   Neither officer was presented as a witness by either the State or Woods. Therefore, no direct examination took place

   and hence no cross-examination was possible.

              Officer Foreman was present at the hearing. Woods never asked to question Foreman. Officer Moody was not

   present at the hearing. If Woods had wished to question him, he could have secured his presence through subpoena or

   other process. There is no evidence in the record that Woods made an attempt to do so. We find no basis for this

   complaint and overrule this point of error.
  (4)       Woods Was Not Entitled To Have an Attorney Appointed To Represent Him in the Forfeiture Proceeding
              Woods contends he was denied the assistance of counsel at the hearing. A forfeiture hearing is a civil

   proceeding. It is conducted in the same manner and under the same rules as all other civil cases. See Tex. Code Crim.

   Proc. Ann. art. 59.05(a)(b) (Vernon Supp. 2005).

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              While a trial court may occasionally appoint counsel to represent an indigent party, a civil litigant has no

      constitutional right to a free lawyer. See Sandoval v. Rattikin, 395 S.W.2d 889, 893–94 (Tex. Civ. App.—Corpus

      Christi 1965, writ ref'd n.r.e.). Additionally, there is no statutory right to appointed counsel during a forfeiture

   proceeding. Accordingly, we overrule this point of
error.

              We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

   
                                                                                      Josh R. Morriss, III
                                                                                      Chief Justice

  Date Submitted:          November 21, 2005
  Date Decided:             November 22, 2005

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