Erick Hernandez v. State ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
07-14-00388-CR
SEVENTH COURT OF APPEALS
AMARILLO, TEXAS
3/17/2015 4:55:53 PM
Vivian Long, Clerk
NO. 07-14-388-CR
FILED IN
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR7th COURT OF APPEALS
AMARILLO, TEXAS
March 16, 2015
THE SEVENTH SUPREME JUDICIAL 3/17/2015 4:55:53 PM
VIVIAN LONG
CLERK
DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO, TEXAS
***************
ERIC HERNANDEZ
APPELLANT,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
APPELLEE.
***************
APPEAL FROM CAUSE NUMBER 67,846-A FROM THE
47th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF POTTER COUNTY,
THE HONORABLE DAN SCHAAP PRESIDING
***************
BRIEF FOR THE APPELLANT
***************
John Bennett
Post Office Box 19144
Amarillo, Texas 79114
Telephone: (806) 282-4455
Facsimile: (806) 398-1988
State Bar No. 00785691
AppealsAttorney@gmail.com
Attorney for the Appellant
THE APPELLANT REQUESTS ORAL ARGUMENT
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
1. Appellant
Eric Hernandez
Trial Counsel: John Terry (State Bar No. 20872700)
301 South Polk Street, Suite 630
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Telephone: (806) 371-8999
Appellate Counsel: John Bennett (State Bar No. 19799300)
P.O. Box 19144
Amarillo, Texas 79114
Telephone: (806) 282-4455
2. Appellee
The State of Texas
Trial Counsel: Audrey Mink (State Bar No. 24060286)
Potter County District Attorney’s Office
501 S. Fillmore, Suite 5-A
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Telephone: (806) 379-2325
Appellate Counsel: Jack Owen (State Bar No. 15369200)
Katherine Levy (State Bar No. 12266480)
Potter County District Attorney’s Office
501 S. Fillmore, Suite 5-A
Amarillo, Texas 79101
Telephone: (806) 379-2325
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Identity of Parties and Counsel.............................................................................2
Index of Authorities ..............................................................................................5
Statement of the Case............................................................................................8
Statement Regarding Oral Argument ...................................................................8
Issue Presented......................................................................................................8
Did the trial court use the proper standard of review in
ruling on the appellant’s motion to suppress?
Statement of Facts.................................................................................................8
Summary of the Argument..................................................................................15
Argument ............................................................................................................15
I. a. The Propriety of this Claim ..........................................................15
b. Analysis of the Claim’s Propriety ................................................... 16
II. Standard of Review ..........................................................................17
III. The Level of Harm Required............................................................17
IV. Constitutional Law of Traffic Stops .................................................17
V. a. Burden of Proof ................................................................................18
b. Analysis of Evidence and Preservation of Error
Relating to the Burden of Proof ....................................................19
VI. Analysis of this Case under the Law of Traffic
Stops and the Applicable Burden of Proof ....................................21
3
Prayer ..................................................................................................................24
Certificate of Compliance ...................................................................................25
Certificate of Service ..........................................................................................25
Appendix................................................................................... following page 25
consisting of:
Exhibit A .................................................................Judgment & Sentence
Exhibit B ............................................. Pages from the Reporter’s Record
of the Suppression Hearing
4
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Constitutional Provision
U.S. CONST., amend. IV (West supp. 2014).....................................................17
Cases
Aldridge v. State, 2013 WL 3461694 (Alas.Ct.App. 2013)
(not designated for publication)................................................................23
Amador v. State, 221 S.W.3d 666 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007)....................... 17,19,21
Amador-Gonzalez v. United States, 391 F.2d 308 (5th Cir. 1968)......................23
Ford v. State, 158 S.W.3d 488 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) ................................ 17,20
Holloway v. State, 1998 WL 675876 (Tex. App. – Amarillo,
October 1, 1998, pet. ref’d) (not designed for publication) ............... 19-20
Maryland v. Wilson, 519 U.S. 408, 117 S. Ct. 882, 137
L. Ed. 2d 41 (1997).....................................................................................17
Montanez v. State, 195 S.W.3d 101 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006)...............................16
Sieffert v. State, 290 S.W.3d 478 (Tex.App. – Amarillo 2009
2009, no pet.) ............................................................................................18
Smith v. State, 789 S.W.2d 350 (Tex.App. – Amarillo 1990,
pet. ref’d) ..................................................................................................24
State v. Dixon, 206 S.W.3d 587 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006)............................... 23-24
State v. Gray, 158 S.W.3d 465 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) ................................ 18,20
State v. Ross, 32 S.W.3d 853 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000)................................... 18,20
Swearingen v. State, 143 S.W.3d 808 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004) ...........................17
5
Turrubiate v. State, 399 S.W.3d 147 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013).............................21
Ex parte Wilson, 602 S.W.2d 902 (Tex.Crim.App. 1980) ........................... 19-20
Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 116 S. Ct. 1769, 135
L. Ed. 2d 89 (1996).....................................................................................22
Young v. State, 283 S.W.3d 854 (Tex.Crim.App), cert. denied,
558 U.S. 1093, 130 S. Ct. 1015, 175 L. Ed. 2d 622 (2009) .................. 18-21
Rules
TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1.................................................................................... 16,20
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1............................................................................................7
TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(a).....................................................................................17
6
NO. 07-14-388-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR
THE SEVENTH SUPREME JUDICIAL
DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO, TEXAS
***************
ERIC HERNANDEZ
APPELLANT,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
APPELLEE.
***************
APPEAL FROM CAUSE NUMBER 67,846-A FROM THE
47th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF POTTER COUNTY,
THE HONORABLE DAN SCHAAP PRESIDING
***************
BRIEF FOR THE APPELLANT
***************
TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEALS:
COMES NOW Eric Hernandez, appellant, and submits this Brief under
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1, requesting a new trial in this cause.
7
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
After his motion to suppress was overruled, the appellant pled guilty to a
charge of possession of methamphetamine. The trial court accepted the plea
agreement and sentenced him to 18 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $500.
(Clerk’s Record (CR), v. 1, p. 73) (Exhibit A to this Brief).
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
Since the issue involved is unusual, the appellant requests oral argument.
ISSUE PRESENTED
Did the trial court use the proper standard of review in ruling on the
appellant’s motion to suppress?
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The appellant moved to suppress the results of a search, which occurred
when the vehicle he was driving was pulled over. Among other things, the
motion argued that the stop was a “pretext” one. (CR, v. 1, p. 17). But the
prosecutor noted that one of the matters raised in the motion was whether the
initial traffic stop was justified. (Reporter’s Record (RR), p. 6).
8
At a hearing on the motion the appellant testified he had been with both
the mother of his daughter and a man named Francisco Reyes on the night in
question. At some point that evening, Mr. Reyes drove off in his pickup with
the appellant as a passenger. (RR, p. 54). The appellant testified the headlights
and taillights were on at that time. (RR, p. 55). Mr. Reyes drove to a location in
Amarillo and got out, leaving the keys in the ignition, evidently giving the
appellant permission to drive the pickup. The appellant testified he did not turn
off the taillights – he walked around the pickup twice to check, and the taillights
were already on and stayed on during the entire time he drove the vehicle that
evening. (RR, p. 56). The appellant admitted on the stand, though, that he did
not have a valid driver’s license or proof of the pickup’s insurance at that time.
(RR, p. 57).
The officer who eventually stopped the pickup testified that after dark that
evening he was sitting in his parked patrol car doing paperwork. (RR, p. 11,
13). The pickup the appellant was driving passed the patrol car, and the officer
testified the pickup’s headlights – i.e., running lights or parking lights – were on,
but no taillights were lit. (RR, p. 12). Newer model cars have headlights called
daytime running lights that are always on when the vehicle is being operated,
but the officer did not know if the 1997 pickup the appellant was driving had
this feature. (RR, p. 28, 31, 33).
9
The officer followed the pickup with his own lights off; “I was attempting
to see if he – if the problem was going to correct itself and it didn't. And I
followed it for a couple of turns,” and then:
the brake lights were activated, and he stayed on them until when he let
off of them, all the lights were on. So I don't know if he knew I was
behind him or he just finally turned them on with the switch.
(RR, p. 12). The officer agreed with the statement that the appellant “hit his
brakes and at that time somehow the taillights started working.” (RR, p. 32-3).
In response to defense counsel’s question, the pickup’s taillights came on before
the video began:
Q. So let me see if I understand just for summary here. You saw no
taillights and then somehow once the video was running, miraculously
the taillights were working. Does that pretty well cover it?
A. They were working when the video came on, yes.
(RR, v. 40).
The officer then followed the pickup for what he thought was “three turns
and two blocks.” (RR, p. 13). Since not operating taillights while driving at
night is an offense, he decided to stop the pickup. (RR, p. 14). He turned on his
overhead lights, which also activated the patrol car’s camera, “backdated” for
thirty seconds. (RR, p. 14). The officer testified that the pickup’s taillights
came on before the video began, (RR, p. 27), so those lights were on for at least
the thirty seconds before the officer activated his overhead lights. (RR, p. 14).
10
The video was entered into evidence as State’s Exhibit 15 and partly
played at the hearing. (RR, p. 23). It shows that when the officer activated his
overhead lights, the appellant stopped. But it also shows that the area the officer
chose for the stop was not particularly well lit – a bright streetlight shines in the
vicinity but is partly obscured by a tree. Nor do the streets along which the
officer followed the appellant appear less safe or more advantageous for a stop
than the area through which the officer followed the pickup.
The officer testified the pickup’s registration label was altered; its number
was changed so the registration appeared to be current. (RR, p. 18). After
pleasantries, he asked the appellant for identification. (RR, v. 14). The
appellant took out his wallet and held it on his lap, which the officer testified is
“normal.” (RR, v. 15). Initially the appellant handed the officer a picture of a
child; he fumbled through his wallet, and the officer saw an ID card among the
contents, but the appellant did not hand the card to the officer, which made the
officer suspicious – the officer felt the appellant was “trying to hide his ID from
me.” (RR, p. 16). The appellant testified the ID was issued by his employer so
the appellant can, among other things, cash checks. (RR, p. 58).
The officer stated the appellant did not “bring his wallet up to me” –
instead the appellant kept his hands in his lap, “like he was trying to hide
something, be it a weapon or…” (RR, p. 17). The appellant testified that at that
11
time he was stalling for fear of going to jail, since he had no valid driver’s
license. (RR, p. 58). He could not bring his wallet upwards from his lap, he
testified, because the wallet was chained to a loop on his trousers, like one used
by a biker or trucker – “it only goes so far because of the chain.” (RR, p. 58-9).
Due to the possibility of a weapon, the officer asked the appellant to step
out. The officer then asked and received consent to search the appellant’s
pocket, where he found methamphetamine. The officer therefore arrested the
appellant for possession of a controlled substance. (RR, p. 20-1, 38). A vehicle
inventory revealed, among other things, more methamphetamine and a glass
smoking pipe. (RR, p. 22).
When asked why he was concerned that the appellant might have a
weapon or might present a threat, the officer answered that when he questioned
the appellant before removing him from the pickup, the appellant could not tell
him who owned the pickup:
He stuttered. Like he didn't produce the answer immediately. And
through my experience, if you borrow somebody's truck, you are going
to know who you borrowed. And he didn't – he wouldn't tell me who he
borrowed the truck from … Which is indicative to most illegal activity if
they're not in their truck.
(RR, p. 25). But on the video the appellant can be heard twice answering clearly
– and quickly in response to the officer’s inquiry – that the truck belonged to
Francisco Reyes. (State’s Exhibit 15, at 23:15:51 and 23:16:03).
12
Throughout the testimony the fact that the stop was warrantless was clear:
the officer stopped the pickup the appellant was driving because, he stated, the
pickup’s taillights were off; the stop was due to that violation. (RR, p. 14). The
officer did not know at that time that the appellant had no driver’s license, did
not know that the registration had been altered, and was unaware of the
methamphetamine in the appellant’s pocket and elsewhere in the pickup. (RR,
p. 35-6). Nothing suggested a warrant was issued.
The mother of the appellant’s daughter then testified that a friend named
Francisco owns the pickup. She saw Francisco drive it that evening after dark
with the appellant as a passenger. The pickup’s taillights were on. (RR, p. 43-
47). When the brake lights went off, the taillights were still on. (RR, p. 47).
At closing argument, defense counsel argued that the evidence calls into
question the officer’s testimony. The trial court agreed this creates an issue.
(RR, p. 68) (Exhibit B to this Brief). But the trial court placed the burden on the
appellant to disprove the officer’s allegation that the taillights were initially off:
I think I have to take the officer's observations at face value, absent
evidence that this vehicle could not have done what the officer surmised
it did because of what he observed … I don't hear the evidence that says
it's not possible. I'm going to have to take what he says at face value.
(RR, p. 69) (emphases added) (Exhibit B). The defense specifically contested
this placement of the burden:
13
Basically, that he has to have objective – articulable, objective reasons
for the stop. And our position is that the video renders it a question of
the officer's word. We have two other people who say those lights were
on and we saw them.
(RR, p. 70) (Exhibit B). But the trial court simply rejected this, and suggested
that the appellant could have a jury decide the issue:
of course, you know, you’re probably entitled to have a jury to make a
decision about any of that. But at this point, I’m not going to grant the
Motion to Suppress.
(RR, p. 71) (Exhibit B). The trial court took copies of case law submitted by
each side, stating that “if upon review of those, I come to a different conclusion,
I will certainly advise y’all, but I don't think that's going to be the situation.”
(RR, p. 72).
The appellant later accepted the State’s plea offer and was sentenced
accordingly, but the certification of appeal recites that because matters were
raised by written motion and ruled on beforehand – and had not been waived or
withdrawn – the appellant still enjoyed the right of appeal. (CR, v. 1, p. 57).
This was also stated in the plea bargain papers, (CR, v. 1, p. 60), and by the
prosecutor at the plea hearing: “It is part of our agreement that he will preserve
his appellate right on the issues raised at the Motion to Suppress.” (RR, plea
hearing, p. 11).
14
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
The appellant respectfully urges that the trial court assigned an improper
burden when evaluating the motion to suppress and the evidence adduced.
Instead of judging the witnesses’ credibility and drawing inferences in order to
decide whether the officer had reasonable suspicion in order to stop the pickup,
the trial court explicitly took the officer’s testimony “at face value” and required
the appellant to produce proof showing that the officer’s statements were false.
Since the law requires the State to prove that the stop was reasonable under the
totality of the circumstances, the trial court did not actually evaluate this, and
appellant’s guilty plea should be vacated and the cause remanded.
ARGUMENT
Did the trial court use the proper standard of review in ruling on the
motion to suppress?
I. a. The Propriety of this Claim
To preserve a complaint for appellate review, the complaining party must
have made a proper “timely request, objection or motion,” stating “the grounds
for the ruling that the complaining party sought from the trial court with
sufficient specificity” to “make the trial court aware of the complaint…” And
the trial court must have ruled on the matter “either expressly or implicitly,” or
15
refused to do so. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a). “The record must sufficiently reflect
that the trial court ruled adversely on a motion,” but a “trial court’s ruling on a
matter need not be expressly stated if its actions or other statements otherwise
unquestionably indicate a ruling.” Montanez v. State, 195 S.W.3d 101, 104
(Tex.Crim.App. 2006).
b. Analysis of the Claim’s Propriety
The appellant filed a written motion to suppress arguing that the stop was
improper. (CR, v. 1, p. 17-18). After hearing the evidence, the trial court stated
that at that point, “I’m not going to grant the Motion to Suppress.” (RR, p. 72).
Although the trial court left open the possibility that its decision could change
after reading the case law, no further action on the appellant’s part was
necessary: “if upon review of those, I come to a different conclusion, I will
certainly advise y’all, but I don’t think that’s going to be the situation.” (RR, p.
72). And in the certification of appeal, the trial court made clear its conclusion –
as did the State – that an adverse ruling on the suppression matter had been
made. (CR, v. 1, p. 57, 60; RR, plea hearing, p. 11). Even if the ruling was not
expressly stated, which it seems to have been, “its actions or other statements
otherwise unquestionably indicate a ruling.” Montanez, 195 S.W.3d at 104.
The matter was therefore properly preserved for review.
16
II. Standard of Review
Whether a lower court used the applicable standard of review is reviewed
de novo. Swearingen v. State, 143 S.W.3d 808, 810 (Tex.Crim. App. 2004).
III. The Level of Harm Required
Claims of improper searches are constitutional in nature. U.S. CONST.,
amend. IV (West supp. 2014). “If the appellate record in a criminal case reveals
constitutional error that is subject to harmless error review,” the conviction must
be reversed unless the court “determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the
error did not contribute to the conviction…” TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(a).
IV. Constitutional Law of Traffic Stops
The reasonableness of a traffic stop, as any Fourth Amendment matter, is
evaluated by balancing “the public interest and the individual's right to personal
security free from arbitrary interference by law officers.” Maryland v. Wilson,
519 U.S. 408, 411, 117 S. Ct. 882, 137 L. Ed. 2d 41 (1997). “An officer conducts
a lawful temporary detention when he has reasonable suspicion to believe that
an individual is violating the law.” Ford v. State, 158 S.W.3d 488, 492
(Tex.Crim.App. 2005). Once the burden is shifted, the State must prove
reasonableness “under the totality of the circumstances.” Amador v. State, 221
S.W.3d 666, 672 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007). The “burden is on the State to elicit
17
testimony showing sufficient facts to create a reasonable suspicion.” Sieffert v.
State, 290 S.W.3d 478, 484 (Tex.App. – Amarillo 2009, no pet.).
And an officer’s own evaluation of what constitutes “reasonable
suspicion” is by no means the end of the matter. In evaluating a claim of
reasonable suspicion the trial court is “the sole trier of fact and judge of
credibility” and is “not compelled to believe” officers’ testimony, “even if
uncontroverted, based on credibility and demeanor.” State v. Ross, 32 S.W.3d
853, 857 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000). The trial court’s proper evaluation of the
testimony is the key to appellate analysis: “the judge may believe or disbelieve
all or any part of a witness’s testimony, even if that testimony is not
controverted,” because “it is the trial court that observes first hand the demeanor
and appearance of a witness, as opposed to an appellate court which can only
read an impersonal record.” State v. Gray, 158 S.W.3d 465, 466-7 (Tex.Crim.
App. 2005).
V. a. Burden of Proof
Where a defendant attempts to suppress evidence due to what is claimed
to be an illegal arrest, he bears the “initial burden of proof … to rebut the
presumption” that the officer’s conduct was proper, which he may satisfy by
“establishing that he was arrested without a warrant.” Young v. State, 283
18
S.W.3d 854, 872 (Tex.Crim.App) (emphasis added), cert. denied, 558 U.S.
1093, 130 S. Ct. 1015, 175 L. Ed. 2d 622 (2009). The “burden then shifts to the
State to prove that the search or seizure was nonetheless reasonable under the
totality of the circumstances.” Amador, 221 S.W.3d at 672.
b. Analysis of Evidence and Preservation of Error
Relating to the Burden of Proof
The appellant must “establish” that the arrest was warrantless. In Young,
whether a warrant existed was uncertain; the officer testified he was searching
for a car, which he found at a house with the appellant. When ordered outside,
“the appellant was uncooperative, and he was arrested.” Id. at 872. But
the appellant failed to offer evidence that the arrest was warrantless. He
could have done so easily by asking Officer Hodge if the arrest was
made pursuant to a warrant. The appellant, however, failed to do so.
Therefore, we must presume proper conduct, and the burden never
shifted to the State to produce evidence of a warrant or, alternatively, to
prove the reasonableness of the arrest.
Id. Yet where the fact of a warrantless arrest is obvious, that matter is
established; “Any ultimate fact may be established by circumstantial evidence
from which the jury” or presumably the trial court sitting as factfinder “may
draw reasonable inferences.” Holloway v. State, 1998 WL 675876, at *2 (Tex.
App. – Amarillo, October 1, 1998, pet. ref’d) (not designed for publication),
citing Ex parte Wilson, 602 S.W.2d 902, 905 (Tex.Crim.App. 1980).
19
Since here, unlike in Young, the fact that the stop was made without a
warrant was obvious, and particularly since the State elicited this testimony and
did not contest the matter, the lack of a warrant was properly established.
Holloway, 1998 WL 675876, at *2; Wilson, 602 S.W.2d at 905.
And despite the clear lack of a warrant, which should have shifted the
burden to the State, the trial court placed the burden on the appellant to disprove
the officer’s allegation; the trial court explicitly accepted the latter at face value:
I think I have to take the officer's observations at face value, absent
evidence that this vehicle could not have done what the officer surmised
it did because of what he observed … I don't hear the evidence that says
it's not possible. I'm going to have to take what he says at face value.
(RR, p. 69) (emphases added). Thus the trial court did not evaluate the officer’s
credibility under Ross and did not take into account the controverting testimony
– although such contradiction is not required anyway under Gray – and thus did
not judge whether the officer had reasonable suspicion under Ford to stop the
appellant. And the defense argued that such a burden was improper:
Basically, that he has to have objective – articulable, objective reasons
for the stop. And our position is that the video renders it a question of
the officer's word. We have two other people who say those lights were
on and we saw them.
(RR, p. 70). But the trial court simply suggested that this would be relevant in
front of a jury. (RR, p. 71). The matter was therefore properly preserved for
review. Rule 33.1(a), supra.
20
VI. Analysis of this Case under the Law of Traffic Stops
and the Applicable Burden of Proof
The appellant does not contend that, had the trial court used the proper
standard of review of the evidence, its conclusions should not stand here.
“Almost total deference is given to the trial court’s implied findings, especially
those based on an evaluation of witness credibility and demeanor.” Turrubiate
v. State, 399 S.W.3d 147, 150 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013).
But there’s the rub. The trial court’s conclusion was not made based on
an evaluation of witness credibility and demeanor so as to judge whether the
State met its burden of showing the officer had reasonable suspicion to make the
stop under the totality of the circumstances, as Young and Amador require.
Instead the trial court explicitly accepted the officer’s testimony at face value
and required the appellant to disprove the allegation.
And had the trial court evaluated all the controverted testimony under the
proper standard, it might conceivably have granted the appellant’s motion. This
negates any suggestion of harmlessness beyond a reasonable doubt under Rule
44.1(a). At very best the officer’s memory was partly inaccurate – he testified
the appellant did not say who owned the pickup. This is belied by the video,
which reveals that the appellant clearly and truthfully stated the vehicle belongs
to “Francisco Reyes.” (RR, p. 25; State’s Exhibit 15, at 23:15:51 and 23:16:03).
21
The officer’s testimony is also odd in another respect. He stated that the
taillights were initially off, but that they came on before the camera began taping
the incident, while the appellant was “riding” the pickup’s brake lights. This is
plausible. The officer testified he followed the pickup when he says the
taillights were off, “attempting to see if he – if the problem was going to correct
itself and it didn’t.” Yet the problem was then corrected, as he further testified;
the taillights were turned on while the brake lights were on, so the taillights
stayed on when the brake was no longer used. (RR, p. 12). And the officer still
followed the pickup for at least thirty seconds after the taillights were turned on,
then decided to make the stop despite that the correction of the sole traffic
violation he alleged. (RR, p. 13-14).
This is curious. On the one hand, the appellant’s written motion to
suppress, while arguably inartfully drawn, contends that the stop was a “pretext”
one. (CR, v. 1, p. 17). The doctrine of pretext stops under the Fourth
Amendment has largely been rendered defunct by rulings that “the constitutional
reasonableness of traffic stops” does not depend “on the actual motivations of
the individual officers listed” – the proper basis for complaint of intentional
discrimination in applying the law “is the Equal Protection Clause, not the
Fourth Amendment.” Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 813, 116 S. Ct.
1769, 135 L. Ed. 2d 89 (1996).
22
On the other hand, the delay in making the stop is relevant to the officer’s
credibility. In State v. Dixon, 206 S.W.3d 587 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006), a delay
was noted between observation of a traffic offense and the resulting stop
“diminishes the credibility of” the officers’ “claim that they stopped him for an
unlawful turn.” In granting the suppression motion and entering findings of fact
“relating to the time and distance the police followed the driver,” the trial court
“was in effect saying, ‘If you really thought the driver had committed a traffic
offense, then why did you wait so long before pulling him over?’” Id. at 591.
In a recent Alaska case, in contrast, an officer testified he stopped the
defendant “as soon as it was practical to do so. He explained at some length
why he was unable to stop” the defendant “right after he saw the traffic
violation.” Aldridge v. State, 2013 WL 3461694, at *3 (Alas.Ct.App. 2013) (not
designated for publication). And in an older case the Fifth Circuit noted that
although a delayed traffic stop “is not necessarily improper, and at times may be
good police practice,” Amador-Gonzalez v. United States, 391 F.2d 308, 314 (5th
Cir. 1968), the officer making the stop should be prepared to explain the delay:
every time there is a delay in making the arrest and there is a search
made as incidental to the arrest, the law enforcement officers take the
risk that they will be charged with using the arrest as a mere pretext for
the search.
Id.
23
Here the officer’s admission of waiting to stop the pickup, combined with
a lack of explanation for and a lack of impediment to making the stop earlier,
plus the fact that the area in which he actually made the stop was no more
favorable than the places he could have earlier stopped the appellant, is relevant
to whether he had reasonable suspicion to make the stop in the first place. When
the doctrine of pretext stops was more viable, this Court noted that the theory
may apply to “traffic violations by officers who … have delayed the stop until
long after observing the traffic infractions.” Smith v. State, 789 S.W.2d 350,
352 (Tex.App. – Amarillo 1990, pet. ref’d). Under Smith and Dixon, these facts
affect the reasonableness of the stop and the officer’s credibility in claiming that
the pickup’s taillights were off.
But the trial court considered neither the contested fact of the taillights’
operation, nor the delay, nor any other factors in the appellant’s favor. The trial
court felt the officer’s testimony was to be taken at face value and that the
appellant bore the burden of proving him wrong, despite having established that
no warrant existed.
PRAYER
For the reason stated, the appellant prays the Court vacate his plea and
order a new trial, or order all relief the Court may deem appropriate.
24
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ JOHN BENNETT
John Bennett
Post Office Box 19144
Amarillo, Texas 79114
Telephone: (806) 282-4455
Facsimile: (806) 398-1988
AppealsAttorney@gmail.com
State Bar No. 00785691
Attorney for the Appellant
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I hereby certify that this entire Brief contains 4,848 words.
/s/ JOHN BENNETT
John Bennett
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
This is to certify that a true and correct copy of the above was served by
personal delivery, on Jack Owen, Esq. and Kathy Levy, Esq., Assistant Potter
County District Attorneys, at 501 S. Fillmore, Amarillo, TX 79101, on March
16, 2015, and another by email to them at jackowen@co.potter.tx.us.
/s/ JOHN BENNETT
John Bennett
25
APPENDIX
Exhibit A
JUDGMENT & SENTENCE
CASE No. 67,846-A COUNT
INCIDENT NO./TRN: 9157882320 AOOI
THE STATE OF TEXAS § IN THE 47TH DISTRICT
§
v. § COURT
ERICK HERNANDEZ POTTER COUNTY, TEXAS
STATE ID NO.: TX04311946 §
JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION BY COURT — WATVER OF JURY TRIAL
Date Judgment
Judge Presiding: HON.DANSCHAAP Entered: 10/20/2014
Attorney for
Attorney for State: AUDREY MINK Defendant: JOHN TERRY
Offense for which Defendant Convicted:
POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, ENHANCED
Charging Instrument: Statute for Offense:
INDICTMENT 481.115[d] Health and Safety Code
Date of Offense:
9/22/2013
Degree of Offense: Plea to Offense: Findings on Deadly Weapon:
2ND DEGREE FELONY GUILTY N/A
Terms of Plea Bargain:
EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS TDCJ-ID, $500 FINE, CODIS SAMPLE
Plea to 1st Enhancement Plea to 2nd Enhancement/Habitual
Paragraph: TRUE Paragraph: N/A
Findings on 1st Enhancement Findings on 2nd
Paragraph: TRUE Enhancement/Habitual Paragraph: N/A
Date Sentence Imposed: 10/20/2014 Date Sentence to Commence: 10/20/2014
Punishment and Place EIGHTEENU8) YEARS INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION, TDCJ
of Confinement:
THIS SENTENCE SHALL RUN CONCURRENTLY.
SENTENCE OF CONFINEMENT SUSPENDED, DEFENDANT PLACED ON COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR N/A .
Fine: Court Costs: Restitution: Restitution Payable to:
$500
as per attached bill $N/A D VICTIM (see below) D AGENCY/AGENT (see below)
of cost
Sex Offender Registration Requirements do not apply to the Defendant. TEX CODE CRDM. PROC. chapter 6g
The age of the victim at the time of the offense was N/A . O
If Defendant is to serve sentence in TDCJ, enter incarceration periods in chronological order.
From 9/22/2013 to 10/20/2014 From to From to
Time From to From to From to
Credited:
If Defendant is to serve sentence in county jail or is given credit toward fine and costs, dbeldSO irrr*_
N/A DAYS NOTES: N/A
All pertinent information, names and assessments indicated above are incorporated into the language of the judgment below by reference. • ^
This cause was called for trial in Potter County, Texas. The State appeared by her Assistant District Attorney.
Cmin«^l/ Waiver of Counsel (select one) —:
£3 Defendant appeared in person with Counsel. rn
D Defendant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived the right to representation by counsel inbimtang in <5d3n court: ~n
Both parties announced ready for trial. Defendant waived the right of trial by jury and enterBl the plea inoicated above.
The Court then admonished Defendant as required by law. It appeared to the Court that Defendant wW men tally competently
stand trial, made the plea freely and voluntarily, and was aware of the consequences of this plea. The Court received the plea and
67846 976554 Page 1 of 2
entered it of record. Having heard the evidence submitted, the Court found Defendant guilty of the offense indicated above. In the
presence of Defendant, the Court pronounced sentence against Defendant.
The Court FINDS Defendant committed the above offense and ORDERS, ADJUDGES AND DECREES that Defendant is
GUILTY of the above offense. The Court FINDS the Presentence Investigation, if so ordered, was done according to the applicable
provisions of TEX. CODE CRIM. PROG. art. 42.12 § 9.
The Court ORDERS Defendant punished as indicated above. The Court ORDERS Defendant to pay all fines, court costs, and
restitution as indicated as per attached bill of cost.
Punishment Options (select one)
H Confinement in State Jail or Institutional Division. The Court ORDERS the authorized agent of the State of Texas or the
Sheriff of this County to take, safely convey, and deliver Defendant to the Director, Institutional Division, TDCJ* The Court
ORDERS Defendant to be confined for the period and in the manner indicated above. The Court ORDERS Defendant remanded to the
custody of the Sheriff of this county until the Sheriff can obey the directions of this sentence. The Court ORDERS that upon release
from confinement, Defendant proceed immediately to the Potter County District Clerk. Once there, the Court ORDERS Defendant to
pay, or make arrangements to pay, any remaining unpaid fines, court costs, and restitution as ordered by the Court as per attached
bill of costs.
D County Jail—Confinement / Confinement in Lieu of Payment. The Court ORDERS Defendant immediately committed to
the custody of the Sheriff of Potter County, Texas on the date the sentence is to commence. Defendant shall be confined in the Potter
County Jail for the period indicated above. The Court ORDERS that upon release from confinement, Defendant shall proceed
immediately to the Potter County District Clerk, Once there, the Court ORDERS Defendant to pay, or make arrangements to pay,
any remaining unpaid fines, court costs, and restitution as ordered by the Court as per attached bill of costs.
D Fine Only Payment, The punishment assessed against Defendant is for a FINE ONLY. The Court ORDERS Defendant to proceed
immediately to the Office of the Potter County District Clerk. Once there, the Court ORDERS Defendant to pay or make
arrangements to pay all fines and court costs as ordered by the Court in this cause as per attached Bill of Cost.
Execution / Suspension of Sentence (select one)
13 The Court ORDERS Defendant's sentence EXECUTED.
D The Court ORDERS Defendant's sentence of confinement SUSPENDED. The Court ORDERS Defendant placed on community
supervision for the adjudged period (above) so long as Defendant abides by and does not violate the terms and conditions of
community supervision. The order setting forth the terms and conditions of community supervision is incorporated into this
judgment by reference.
The Court ORDERS that Defendant is given credit noted above on this sentence for the time spent incarcerated.
Furthermore, the following special findings or orders apply;
DEFENDANT IS ORDERED TO PROVIDE
3E CODIS SAMPI
Signed and entered on the tt day of
Clerk:
THE STATE OF TEXAS X Cause Mo.
X
2- x
Signature of Bailiff,
Acting for the Court, who took
the thumbprint immediately to
the left hereof on this
.day of
Thumbprint
74
67846 Page 2 of 2
Exhibit B
PAGES FROM REPORTER’S RECORD
OF THE SUPPRESSION HEARING
68
11:09AM 1 earlier. And you don't really have evidence about this
11:09AM 2 particular truck or whether this is even possible or
11:09AM 3 not.
11:09AM 4 MR. TERRY: No. And it's not referenced
11:09AM 5 in his report anywhere either.
11:09AM 6 THE COURT: I -- I -- I understand that
11:09AM 7 his report is -- is probably -- and I haven't seen the
11:09AM 8 report, but I would presume it's not detailed and/or is
11:09AM 9 it intended to be detailed to differentiate between
11:09AM 10 observing what he sees on the front versus the back and
11:09AM 11 e x p l a i n i n g that for purposes of your cross-examination
11:09AM 12 of h i m .
11:09AM 13 MR. TERRY: Your Honor, I would posit to
11:09AM 14 the Court, there's a reason we have in-car video. And
11:09AM 15 if in-car video doesn't match, that brings into question
11:09AM 16 the --
11:09AM 17 THE COURT: W e l l , I know it -- it creates
11:09AM 18 an issue, Mr. Terry. It does create an issue. But,
11:09AM 19 again, he's very clearly testified that he followed the
11:09AM 20 vehicle for a w h i l e to observe what was going on. And
11:09AM 21 we also know that it kicks back and how that happens, I
11:09AM 22 don't really know, but it goes and captures some t i m e ,
11:10AM 23 you know, backwards from when the lights are i n i t i a t e d ,
11:10AM 24 but it doesn't capture five-minutes worth. It captures
11:10AM 25 30-seconds worth.
69
11:10AM 1 MR. TERRY: W e l l , Ms. Mink asked if it
11:10AM 2 was possible there was a short when she cross-examined
11:10AM 3 him. One of the things that the video shows is those
11 : 1 0AM 4 lights kept working. That's a l l .
11: 10AM 5 THE COURT: You know, I -- again, I think
11:10AM 6 that's just speculation there and I wouldn't consider it
11: 10AM 7 anything besides speculation. But I think I have to
11:10AM 8 take the officer's observations at face value, absent
11:10AM 9 evidence that this vehicle could not have done what the
1 1 : 1 0AM 10 officer surmised it did because of what he observed.
11:1 0AM 11 And his surmise in that regard is that the headlight
1 1 : 1 0AM 12 switch was not engaged and that it had its front beams
11: 11AM 13 on because it was turned on and it was running with
11: 11AM 14 those as we have seen vehicles coming down the road in
11: 11AM 15 the m i d d l e of the day with their headlights on. We call
16 them headlights because that's what we see. And those
11: 11AM 17 lights are automatic. No one has to, quote, unquote,
18 turn them on. And so that's sort of where it boils down
11: 11AM 19 to me -- for me here is, is do we have evidence that
11: 11AM 20 what the officer is suggesting is not possible?
11 :11AM 21 MR. TERRY: Well --
11 : 11AM 22 THE COURT: I don't hear the evidence
11: 11AM 23 that says it's not possible. I'm going to have to take
11-.11AM 24 what he says at face value. And that means that I think
1 1 : 1 1 AM 25 he had a reasonable basis to make the stop and I think
70
1 your client consented to the search.
11: 11AM 2 MR. TERRY: Okay. I would -- without
3 going through everything -- and I would simply submit
11: 11AM 4 some cases to the Court.
11: 11AM 5 THE COURT: Oh, and I w i l l certainly take
11: 11AM 6 your cases into consideration. I mean, they probably
7 don't address my specific concerns about the evidence.
11:12AM 8 MR. TERRY: They do not. But the cases
11 :12AM 9 are -- let me just say it for the record. Florida
1 1 : 1 2AM 10 versus Royer.
11:12AM 11 THE COURT: I'm familiar with it.
1 1 : 1 2AM 12 MR. TERRY: Baldwin versus State.
11:12AM 13 THE COURT: Not so.
1 1 : 1 2AM 14 MR. TERRY: Wade versus State.
1 1 : 1 2AM 15 McQuarters versus State.
11:12AM 16 THE COURT: And -- and -- and -- is that
1 1 : 1 2AM 17 the -- and what is the gist of those cases?
1 1 : 1 2AM 18 MR. TERRY: Basically, that he has to
1 1 : 1 2AM 19 have objective -- articulable, objective reasons for the
1 1 : 1 2AM 20 stop. And our position is that the video renders it a
11:12AM 21 question of the officer's word. We have two other
1 1 : 1 2AM 22 people who say those l i g h t s were on and we saw them.
11:12AM 23 And consequently, the video -- there's a reason for
11: 12AM 24 that. And that's why when sometimes officers'
11: 12AM 25 testimonies don't match what happens, we go with what
71
11:12AM 1 our lying eyes say.
11:12AM 2 THE COURT: Well -- and -- and -- and, of
11:12AM 3 course, you know, you're probably entitled to have a
11:13AM 4 jury to make a decision about any of that. But at this
11:13AM 5 point, I'm not going to grant the Motion to Suppress.
11:13AM 6 MR. TERRY: I understand. And there's
11:1 SAM 7 one other case I'm submitting.
11:1 SAM 8 THE COURT: Okay.
11 :1 SAM 9 MR. TERRY: Smirl, which was --
11 :1 SAM 10 THE COURT: Spell that.
11 :1 SAM 11 MR. TERRY: S-M-I-R-L.
11:1 SAM 12 THE COURT: Okay.
11:1 SAM 13 MR. TERRY: Versus State. It was decided
11:1 SAM 14 October 13th of 2014, here in the 7th Court of Appeals.
11:1 SAM 15 THE COURT: Hot off the presses.
11:1 SAM 16 MR. TERRY: Yeah. And it's i n c l u d e d .
11:1 SAM 17 And I have copies of all three of these cases for
11:1 SAM 18 Ms. Mink.
11:1 SAM 19 THE COURT: Okay. And does it basically
11:1 SAM 20 stand for the same proposition?
11:1 SAM 21 MR. TERRY: Pretty much. Let me -- on
11:1 SAM 22 Smirl, the specific language to stop and temporarily
11:1 SAM 23 detain a person, an officer must have specific,
11:1 SAM 24 articulable facts that would lead him to reasonably
11:1 SAM 25 conclude that a person is, has been or w i l l be engaged