Santiago Esquivel, Jr. v. State ( 2001 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-00-00533-CR
Santiago Esquivel, Jr., Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF HAYS COUNTY, 22ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. CR-99-0446, HONORABLE DON MORGAN, JUDGE PRESIDING
A jury found appellant Santiago Esquivel, Jr., guilty of possessing cocaine with intent
to deliver. The trial court assessed punishment, enhanced by previous felony convictions, at
imprisonment for twenty-five years. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.112(a), (d) (West
Supp. 2001). In eight points of error, appellant contends that the evidence is legally and factually
insufficient and that he did not receive effective assistance of counsel. We overrule these points of
error and affirm the judgment.
Facts and Procedural Background
On May 27, 1999, an anonymous caller told San Marcos Police Officer Terry Nichols
that Joe Ramirez and J. J. Gonzalez were selling cocaine from a room at the Econo Lodge Motel in
San Marcos. Nichols was familiar with both Ramirez and Gonzalez from previous narcotics
investigations. In addition, Nichols had been looking for Gonzalez because he was a fugitive on a
cocaine charge. In a subsequent call, the caller advised Nichols that the two men were probably
staying at the motel with an individual known as Paco. From a prior investigation, Nichols
recognized the nickname as one used by appellant.
As a consequence of the tip, Nichols and other officers with the Hays County
Narcotics Task Force went to the Econo Lodge Motel and established surveillance of room 208,
which was registered in appellant’s name. The officers observed Ramirez standing on the balcony
outside room 208. He subsequently left in a vehicle that had been described by the informant. The
officers also observed children going in and out of the room.
In addition to the observations of the exterior of the motel, the officers occupied an
adjoining motel room. The room was connected to room 208 by a common door through which the
officers could overhear conversations. Nichols testified that he heard people talking about “bagging
up powder” and “overdosing.” After continuing their surveillance for the next two hours, the
officers entered the room, executing a felony arrest warrant for Gonzalez.
Appellant was one of several people in the motel room at the time of the warrant’s
execution. When the police entered the motel room, they found appellant standing in the shower,
fully clothed, with the shower curtain pulled closed. Appellant had a syringe at his feet and was
wearing a pillowcase as a shirt. He appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. Police found
baggies with traces of cocaine on a counter just outside the bathroom in plain view. Gonzalez and
another individual, Maria Torres, were found to have baggies of cocaine on their persons. Torres’s
sixteen-year-old daughter was found with track marks and bruises on her arm and was taken to the
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emergency room for a suspected overdose of cocaine. Along with Gonzalez and Torres, appellant
was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Discussion
Sufficiency of the Evidence
In four points of error, appellant challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the
evidence both as to his possession of cocaine and as to the alleged amount of cocaine. In determining
the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction, the question is whether, after
viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S.
307, 324 (1979); Griffin v. State, 614 S.W.2d 155, 158-59 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981).
“Possession” is defined as actual care, custody, control, or management. Tex. Penal
Code Ann. § 1.07(a)(39) (West 1994). To prove unlawful possession of a controlled substance, the
State must prove that the accused exercised care, control, and management of the substance, and that
the accused knew the substance was contraband. Martin v. State, 753 S.W.2d 384, 387 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1987); Hackleman v. State, 919 S.W.2d 440, 444 (Tex. App.—Austin 1996, pet. ref’d untimely
filed). When, as here, the accused is not in exclusive control of the place the contraband is found,
the State must prove independent facts and circumstances affirmatively linking the accused to the
contraband. Cude v. State, 716 S.W.2d 46, 47 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). “Affirmative links” is a
shorthand expression of what the State must prove to establish that the accused knowingly or
intentionally possessed the contraband. Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744, 747 (Tex. Crim. App.
1995). The required affirmative links can be proven by direct or circumstantial evidence, but the links
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do not need to be so strong that they exclude every other outstanding reasonable hypothesis. Id. at
747-48. The accused’s connection with the drug must be more than “fortuitous.” Id. at 747.
A defendant’s mere presence at a place where contraband is being used or possessed
by others does not suffice to link him to the contraband. Martin, 752 S.W.2d at 387. Factors to be
considered when evaluating affirmative links include: (1) the defendant’s presence when the search
was executed; (2) whether the contraband was in plain view; (3) the defendant’s proximity to and
accessibility of the contraband; (4) whether the defendant was under the influence of a controlled
substance when arrested; (5) whether the defendant possessed other contraband when arrested; (6)
whether the defendant made incriminating statements when arrested; (7) whether other contraband
or drug paraphernalia was present; (8) whether the defendant owned or had the right to possess the
place the drugs were found; and (9) whether the place the drugs were found was enclosed.
Whitworth v. State, 808 S.W.2d 566, 569 (Tex. App.—Austin 1991, pet. ref’d). The number of
factors present in any particular case is less important than the logical force the factors have, alone
or in combination, in establishing the elements of the offense. Id.
There was ample evidence from which a jury could have concluded that appellant was
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of possessing more than four grams of cocaine. The motel room
was registered in appellant’s name; the motel owner testified that he generally requests some form
of identification of motel guests when they register. In the moments preceding the police entry into
the room, the police overheard narcotics-related conversations. When the police entered the motel
room, appellant was found in the bathroom, fully clothed, with an uncapped syringe at his feet, and
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under the apparent influence of cocaine. Police found in plain view empty baggies containing cocaine
residue on the counter of the sink area just outside the bathroom.
The officers found cocaine in various other places in the small room. Gonzalez had
thirteen baggies of cocaine in a shopping bag under his shirt. Maria Torres was in possession of
cocaine as well as unused syringes, and her daughter had to be transported to the hospital for a
suspected overdose. In addition, the police found cocaine loose in an ashtray in a dresser drawer. The
officers seized cocaine in an amount exceeding nine grams. Viewing this evidence in the light most
favorable to the verdict, a rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant
exercised care, custody, or control over the cocaine knowing that it was contraband. Points of error
four and six are overruled.
When conducting a factual sufficiency review, the evidence is not viewed in the light
most favorable to the verdict. Instead, all the evidence is considered equally, including the existence
of alternative hypotheses. Orona v. State, 836 S.W.2d 319, 321 (Tex. App.—Austin 1992, no pet.).
A factual sufficiency review asks whether a neutral review of all the evidence, both for and against
the finding of guilt, demonstrates that the proof of guilt is so obviously weak or so greatly
outweighed by contrary proof as to undermine confidence in the jury’s determination. Johnson v.
State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). A verdict may be set aside for factual insufficiency
only if a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is clearly wrong and unjust. Clewis v. State, 922
S.W.2d 126, 129 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Stone v. State, 823 S.W.2d 375, 381 (Tex. App.—Austin
1992, pet. ref’d untimely filed).
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The evidence relevant to appellant’s guilt was essentially uncontradicted. Disputing
the inferences to be drawn from the facts, appellant argues that the facts demonstrated that appellant
was a mere hanger-on or user, rather than a distributor of cocaine. Because appellant was not found
with cocaine on his person, he argues that he did not exercise care and control over the drugs or
possess them with intent to deliver. Appellant acknowledges that a person with the same name as
he rented the room, but urges that there is no evidence that he was that person.
We are not free to reweigh the evidence merely because we feel that a different result
is more reasonable. Clewis, 922 S.W.2d at 135. A decision is not manifestly unjust simply because
the fact finder resolved conflicting views of the evidence in the State’s favor. Roise v. State, 7
S.W.2d 225, 233 (Tex. App.—Austin 1999, pet. ref’d). Viewing the evidence neutrally, and giving
due deference to the jury’s verdict, we hold that the verdict is not manifestly unjust. Points of error
five and seven are overruled.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
In his first three points of error, appellant contends he did not receive effective
assistance of counsel at trial. Appellant complains that counsel was ineffective in failing to (1) object
to the prosecution’s use of extraneous offenses, (2) contest the legality of the search of the hotel
room, and (3) request notice of the State’s intent to introduce evidence of extraneous offenses or bad
acts.
To prevail on this claim, appellant must show that counsel made such serious errors
that he was not functioning effectively as counsel and that these errors prejudiced appellant’s defense
to such a degree that he was deprived of a fair trial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687
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(1984); Hernandez v. State, 988 S.W.2d 770, 771-72 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). The adequacy of
defense counsel’s assistance is based upon the totality of the representation rather than upon isolated
acts or omissions of trial counsel. Garcia v. State, 887 S.W.2d 862, 880 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994).
The burden is on appellant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that counsel’s representation
fell below the standard of prevailing professional norms, and that there is a reasonable probability that
but for counsel’s deficiency the result of the trial would have been different. McFarland v. State, 845
S.W.2d 824, 842 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). In reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance, we entertain
a strong presumption that counsel rendered adequate assistance and exercised reasonable professional
judgment and that counsel’s conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689; Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). Failure
to make the required showing of either deficient performance or sufficient prejudice defeats the
ineffectiveness claim. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 700.
In his first point of error, appellant complains of counsel’s failure to object to the
State’s introduction of extraneous offenses. In determining whether counsel’s failure to request and
object to the admission of extraneous offenses constituted deficient performance, we must first decide
whether the offenses were admissible, because failure to object to otherwise admissible testimony
does not render counsel ineffective. See Heiman v. State, 923 S.W.2d 622, 625 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, pet. ref’d). Extraneous offenses are inadmissible to prove character
conformity, but may be admissible for other purposes such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent,
preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident if the probative value of this
evidence substantially outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice. Tex. R. Evid. 403, 404(b). Thus,
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an extraneous offense may be admissible if it is relevant to a material issue and if the relevance of the
evidence outweighs its inflammatory or prejudicial potential. See Williams v. State, 662 S.W.2d 344,
346 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983).
Appellant cites seventeen alleged extraneous acts that he claims should have been
excluded from evidence, including: (1) Officer Nichols’s testimony that he was familiar with appellant
from a previous narcotics investigation where cocaine was found, appellant was present in possession
of a syringe, and appellant was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia; (2) testimony
concerning the circumstances of appellant’s arrest in this case, particularly that he was found in the
bathtub under the influence of drugs; (3) evidence that other individuals present in the motel room
were in possession of cocaine, and that they were arrested and subsequently convicted of possession
of cocaine with intent to deliver; (4) that appellant was arrested with a Lone Star card and two
unsigned checks made payable to appellant; (5) that cocaine residue was found in an ashtray in a
dresser drawer and in a lady’s cosmetics case on a counter by the sink; (6) that appellant was known
by the police to be a drug and cocaine user; and (7) that the physical condition of the sixteen-year-old
girl indicated drug use. Because defense counsel did not object to the admission of this evidence,
appellant advances the argument that he was prejudiced by its admission. We disagree.
Appellant has cited no authority to support his contention that the evidence of use and
possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia by others in the room is inadmissible. The State is
entitled to show circumstances surrounding an arrest. Maddox v. State, 682 S.W.2d 563, 564 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1985). Because the evidence was directly connected to, contemporaneous with, and
inseparable from appellant’s arrest, the evidence was properly admitted. Id. at 565.
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Appellant also fails to cite any authority for his assertion that the residue and drug
paraphernalia found in close proximity to him constitute extraneous offenses. This evidence is
relevant and admissible to show that appellant was a participant in the crime for which he was
charged. Beardsley v. State, 738 S.W.2d 681, 685 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987). The State sought to
establish appellant’s custody and control over, and access to, the drugs, that he was arrested in close
proximity to contraband, and that the contraband was in plain view. Thus the challenged proof was
integral to the offense for which appellant was charged. Aside from the relevance of this evidence
in proving appellant’s guilt as a principal, the State also relied on the theory that he was a party to
the offense committed by others.
Appellant also complains of counsel’s failure to object to the admission of a Lone Star
card and two unsigned checks made payable to appellant. The State elicited testimony that appellant
was found fully dressed with a wallet on his person. The wallet contained a Lone Star card for food
stamps, an unsigned check in the amount of $60 made out to appellant for yard work, and a second
blank check also for $60 for yard work. On cross-examination of one of the police officers, counsel
established thatSunlike others in the roomSappellant had no drugs or cash on his person. Appellant
fails to cite any authority to support his argument that these items are inadmissible extraneous acts.
He does not identify any prejudice resulting from the admission of these items and we find none.
Of the seventeen alleged acts listed by appellant, only four arguably qualify as
extraneous offenses. They involve the testimony of two police officers that they recognized appellant
when he was arrested because he had been present at the execution of a search warrant at a different
location on a prior occasion where drugs had been found. Both officers testified that they knew
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appellant to be a user of narcotics and that he had been issued a citation for possession of drug
paraphernalia on a previous occasion. Evidence of prior drug use is admissible when the evidence
raises an inference in favor of the existence of a motive on the part of the accused to commit the
offense for which he is charged. Puente v. State, 888 S.W.2d 521, 527 (Tex. App.—San Antonio
1994, no pet.); Johnson v. State, 651 S.W.2d 303, 313 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1983, no pet.).
Here, the testimony tended to show that appellant was willing to rent a motel room under his name
to facilitate the distribution of cocaine. The evidence was admissible to establish appellant’s motive
and intent in being present in the motel room, and to show that he was not a mere bystander.
Even assuming that the evidence was inadmissible, we do not believe that counsel’s
failure to object to its introduction amounts to ineffective assistance of counsel. The failure to object
to inadmissible testimony can constitute a sound and plausible trial strategy. Counsel’s failureSor
decisionSnot to object appears to be consistent with his trial strategy.
The defense theory was clear. As a matter of trial strategy, defense counsel sought
to establish that appellant was a mere user rather than a distributor of cocaine. In his opening
statement, counsel emphasized that appellant’s “mere presence” at the scene was insufficient to
convict him. Counsel argued:
[T]he focus of this investigation was not Mr. Esquivel. And I think the evidence will
point that out, that he was one of a number of hangers-on in the room . . . . [T]he
evidence will show that Mr. Esquivel was not in possession of any of the controlled
substances found in that room and that whatever may have happened with the person
that maySthe evidence may or may not show they went to the hospital. Mr. Esquivel
was not the target of that. And Mr. Esquivel was not the person responsible for that.
And, certainly, the charge is possession, with intent to deliver. I think the
evidence will show Mr. Esquivel never had any care, custody or management or
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control, even, of the controlled substance, much less the intent to deliver. Watch the
evidence and what it shows you about his involvement in this case.
On cross-examination, defense counsel sought to establish that the circumstances of
the prior incident were identical to those in the present case and that appellant was a mere user and
not a distributor. Counsel established that the officers were familiar with appellant as a user from the
prior contact; that he was not found with drugs on his person; and that Gonzalez, who was found
with baggies of drugs and a substantial amount of cash on his person, was most likely the distributor.
In closing argument, counsel argued that Gonzales and Torres, as the individuals with
drugs found on their persons, were properly arrested and indicted, but that appellantSas on the prior
occasionSwas simply found with a syringe: “And we find him in exactly the same situation here:
cocaine all over the place, and [appellant] is there standing in a bathtub. Nothing around him.”
Counsel later argued: “He hangs out with bad people, he is in the wrong place at the wrong time too
many times.” Thus, counsel pursued a viable trial strategy designed to minimize his client’s
culpability while admitting to those aspects of the evidence consistent with a “hanger-on” theory.
Invoking the presumption in favor of effectiveness, as we must, we cannot view this decision in an
otherwise fairly aggressive and competent defense as demonstrating incompetency.
Trial strategy may constitute ineffective assistance only if the record demonstrates that
the conduct by counsel is without any plausible basis. Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1999); McFarland, 928 S.W.2d at 501; Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 506 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1991). An appellate court must avoid the distortions of hindsight, and must evaluate
counsel’s conduct from his perspective at the time of trial. Ex parte Kunkle, 852 S.W.2d 499, 505
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(Tex. Crim. App. 1993). A conscious and informed decision on trial strategy cannot be the basis for
a constitutional ineffective assistance claim unless it is so ill-chosen that it permeates the trial with
obvious unfairness.
Even assuming that counsel erred by not objecting to the admission of the various
items of evidence, appellant fails to demonstrate how the unobjected-to evidence might have
influenced the fairness of the trial. Thus, appellant satisfies neither prong of the Strickland test: he
neither demonstrates error so egregious that it amounted to ineffective representation nor
demonstrates a reasonable probability that, but for this error, a different outcome might have been
achieved. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. Point of error one is overruled.
In his third point of error, appellant further contends that his trial counsel was
ineffective because he failed to request notice from the State that the State intended to introduce
evidence of extraneous offenses. Citing Jaubert v. State, appellant asserts that the trial court’s failure
to request the State to disclose its intent to use evidence of extraneous bad acts is per se ineffective
assistance because it undermines the adversarial process. No. 10-99-00090-CR, 2000 LEXIS 7512
(Tex. App.—Waco Oct. 31, 2000, no pet. h.).
Appellant would have been entitled to this notice under Texas Code of Criminal
Procedure article 37.07, section 3(g), and Texas Rule of Evidence 404(b). Tex. Code Crim. Proc.
Ann. art. 37.07, § 3(g) (West Supp. 2001); Tex. R. Evid. 404(b). The State was obligated to provide
such notice, however, only if appellant timely requested disclosure. Trial counsel’s failure to file pre-
trial motions generally does not result in ineffective assistance of counsel. Autry v. State, 27 S.W.3d
177, 182 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000, pet. ref’d); Wills v. State, 867 S.W.2d 852, 856 (Tex.
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App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, pet. ref’d); Martinez v. State, 824 S.W.2d 688, 690 (Tex.
App.—El Paso 1992, pet. ref’d).
In the present case, the record is silent as to whether trial counsel received notice of
the extraneous acts. The record also does not reveal whether he was surprised by any of the so-called
extraneous acts. It is also possible that counsel determined not to request the evidence, hoping that
the prosecutor would not locate or focus on other evidence. By raising appellant’s motive and intent
in his opening argument, appellant opened the door for the State to come forward with its evidence
on those issues. That the proof adduced was consistent with the defense theory demonstrates that
its admission was strategic and purposeful on the part of defense counsel and harmless even if error.
Although purposefully deciding not to request disclosure of the State’s intent to
introduce evidence of extraneous offenses may amount to questionable trial strategy, appellant also
has not satisfied the second prong of the Strickland test. Appellant has not stated what steps he
would have taken if he had received written notice of the State’s intent to introduce extraneous
evidence. Autry, 27 S.W.3d at 182. Nor has he demonstrated that a different outcome would have
been likely if trial counsel had been in possession of written disclosure from the State of its plan to
introduce extraneous offenses. Point of error three is overruled.
In his second point of error, appellant complains that his counsel was ineffective
because he failed to file a motion challenging the legality of the search of the motel room. Although
the officers entered the motel room on the basis of a felony arrest warrant for Gonzalez, appellant
contends that the search of the room was illegal and that his counsel should have contested the
legality of the search. Appellant does not contest the authority of the police officers to enter the
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motel room to make the arrest, but contends specifically that the search of the drawers was illegal.
We disagree. The record establishes that the officers made a “dynamic” entry of the motel room to
execute a felony warrant on a person who was known to be armed. Under a long line of cases, police
officers are entitled to search for and seize any evidence or weapons on an arrestee’s person or the
area within his immediate control. See, e.g., Knowles v. Iowa, 525 U.S. 113, 116-17 (1998);
California v. Acevedo, 500 U.S. 565, 584 (1991); Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 753, 762-63
(1969); Rogers v. State, 774 S.W.2d 247, 264 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). Counsel was not ineffective
for failing to challenge the legality of the room search. Point of error two is overruled.
Direct appeal of ineffective assistance claims is particularly difficult in issues relating
to trial strategy when defense counsel was otherwise competent and aggressive. Appellant’s motion
for new trial did not raise an ineffectiveness of counsel claim. A bare trial record is seldom adequate
to prove ineffectiveness of counsel. See Jackson, 877 S.W.2d at 772 (Baird, J., concurring). After
carefully reviewing the trial record, we hold that appellant has failed to establish that his counsel’s
performance was deficient. There is nothing in the record to overcome the strong presumption that
counsel’s actions fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Absent evidence
to the contrary, we hold that counsel was not ineffective for failing to request notice of or object to
evidence of extraneous offenses, or for failing to file a pretrial motion challenging the search of the
motel room.
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Hearsay
In his final point of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred in admitting
Officer Nichols’s testimony that appellant was the person who rented the motel room where the
cocaine was found. Appellant objected that the testimony constituted inadmissible hearsay. Because
the owner of the motel was called as a witness and testified to the same evidence without objection,
we hold that the error, if any, was harmless. See Johnson v. State, 967 S.W.2d 410, 417 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1998); Mayes v. State, 816 S.W.2d 79, 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Point of error eight is
overruled.
Conclusion
Having overruled appellant’s eight points of error, we affirm the judgment of the trial
court.
__________________________________________
Jan P. Patterson, Justice
Before Chief Justice Aboussie, Justices Yeakel and Patterson
Affirmed
Filed: May 17, 2001
Do Not Publish
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