Anthony Chamberlain v. State ( 2015 )

AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed May 27, 2015.
S In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-13-01213-CR
ANTHONY CHAMBERLAIN, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 194th Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. F-1263564-M
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Lang, Stoddart, and Schenck
Opinion by Justice Schenck
Appellant Anthony Chamberlain was indicted for possession with intent to deliver four
grams or more, but less than two hundred grams, of methamphetamine, a controlled substance.
Appellant pled not guilty. A jury found appellant guilty as charged, and the trial court sentenced
appellant to thirty years in prison. In four issues, appellant challenges the trial court’s rulings on
his trial objections to evidence and statements made in the State’s closing argument. Appellant
also challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. Finding no reversible
error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. Because all dispositive issues are well-settled in
law, we issue this memorandum opinion. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(a), 47.4.
I. BACKGROUND
Dallas Police Officer Jeff Miller testified at trial that he received information that
someone described as “Big Ant” was selling narcotics from a house located on Pebble Valley in
Dallas, Texas. Dallas Police Detective Michael Reuler testified that while he and his partner,
Detective Menchaca, were driving by the house in an unmarked vehicle in order to investigate
the information they received from Miller, they saw a Dodge minivan parked in front of the
house, and several people loading clothing and personal belongings into the van. The van drove
away from the house. Reuler and Menchaca followed. Reuler also contacted Miller in his
marked police car nearby.
Reuler and Menchaca observed the driver of the van commit two traffic violations and
reported this to Miller. Miller caught up with the van and turned on the lights of his marked
police car. The van did not stop. Instead, it took approximately a quarter of a mile to pull over
to the side of the road, during which time Miller observed everyone in the van frantically moving
around. When the van eventually stopped, appellant, the driver, gave Miller an expired license,
prompting his arrest. Miller called Reuler and Menchaca to provide cover while Miller and his
partner, Detective Kevin Whitworth, removed the other occupants of the van. Bobby Springer
was in the front passenger seat; Amie Shuemaker and Amber McNutt were in the back seat.
The officers then searched the van, finding personal effects, such as a laundry basket,
clothes, and luggage in the backseat. The glove box contained marijuana, a large clear baggie
that contained marijuana cigarettes, some white pills, Springer’s identification, and several
smaller green baggies. The officers found a black case under the passenger seat directly behind
the driver (where Shuemaker was sitting) that contained a crystal-like substance later determined
to be sixteen grams of methamphetamine, white pills, blue pills, more marijuana, and a few small
baggies. A glass pipe of the type used for smoking methamphetamine was underneath the front
passenger seat. Several needles were scattered on the floor throughout the van. A search of the
occupants was equally revealing. Shuemaker possessed a syringe filled with liquid
methamphetamine; appellant had $1,500 in cash in his pocket.
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The suspected methamphetamine in the black case was sealed and sent to the
Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences (SWIFS). The resulting tests confirmed the
substance was indeed methamphetamine, having a total weight of 26.6 grams of 60 percent
purity.
Detective Marcella St. John, an undercover narcotics detective with the Dallas Police
Department’s clandestine lab squad, testified regarding the making, distributing, and using of
methamphetamine. St. John testified that street level of methamphetamine is usually more
diluted than 60 percent, suggesting that the drug in this case was from a mid-level supplier. St.
John testified that a user can obtain between ten and twenty “hits” from one gram of the drug,
and the street price for one gram is approximately one hundred dollars. St. John also testified
that it is not common for users to keep large quantities of methamphetamine around. She stated
that the amount found in the van indicates to her that appellant was dealing and not just using.
Defense counsel called one witness, Rose Reeder, who testified that her daughter was
married to appellant. Reeder testified that on December 16, 2012, she gave appellant $1,500 in
cash to bail her daughter out of jail. Appellant was arrested the following day.
Appellant was charged with the offense of possession with intent to deliver
methamphetamine, a controlled substance, in an amount of four grams or more, but less than two
hundred grams. The trial court also instructed the jury on the law of parties. The jury found
appellant guilty of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance as charged in
the indictment. After a hearing on punishment, the trial court sentenced appellant to thirty years’
confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. This
appeal followed.
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II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
We first consider appellant’s third issue in which he challenges the legal sufficiency of
the evidence to prove that he had intent to deliver.
A. Standard of Review
We review the sufficiency of the evidence under the standard set out in Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). Matlock v. State, 392 S.W.3d 662, 667 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
We examine all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether any
rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable
doubt. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319; Matlock, 392 S.W.3d at 667. We defer to the jury’s
determinations of credibility and may not substitute our own judgment for that of the jury.
Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 899 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (plurality op.); King v. State, 29
S.W.3d 556, 562 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
B. Applicable Law
To prove unlawful possession of a controlled substance, the State must prove beyond
reasonable doubt that the defendant exercised dominion over the substance and that he knew it to
be contraband. Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402, 405 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Regardless of
whether this evidence is direct or circumstantial, it must establish that a defendant’s connection
to the contraband was more than fortuitous. Blackman v. State, 350 S.W.3d 588, 594–95 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2011). Thus, mere presence at the location where drugs are found is insufficient, by
itself, to establish the requisite degree of control to support a conviction. Evans v. State, 202
S.W.3d 158, 162 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). That said, possession need not be exclusive. Henry v.
State, 409 S.W.3d 37, 42 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, no pet.). When the defendant is
not in exclusive possession of the place where the substance is found, there must be additional
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independent facts and circumstances that link him to the contraband. Poindexter, 153 S.W.3d at
406. 1
Intent to deliver may be proved by circumstantial evidence, such as the quantity of drugs
possessed, the manner of packaging, whether the defendant possessed a large amount of cash,
evidence of drug transactions, and the nature of the location where the defendant was arrested.
Taylor v. State, 106 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.). Intent to deliver is a
question of fact for the jury to resolve, and it may be inferred from the acts, words, or conduct of
the defendant. Id.
C. Analysis
Here, the evidence establishes several factors that link appellant to the methamphetamine
found in the van. Law enforcement received information that the house on Pebble Valley,
Dallas, Texas, was a drug house and that a man nicknamed “Big Ant” was selling
methamphetamine at that house. Shuemaker testified that appellant lived there and his name is
“Anthony.” And, while officers were surveilling the house, they saw appellant standing in front
of the house, loading belongings into the van.
Officer Miller testified that for officer-safety purposes, police officers are trained to
observe the behavior of passengers in a vehicle being stopped. When the lights on the marked
police car signaled the van to pull over, all of the van occupants started moving around. As he
put it, hands were going places, people were ducking down and getting back up; it looked as if
the van occupants were either hiding something or reaching for weapons. Appellant was driving.
Miller testified that appellant could have pulled over immediately because he was in a residential
neighborhood with many safe places to stop. Instead, appellant took approximately a quarter of
1
Texas courts have recognized a “non-exclusive” list of circumstances supporting an inference of possession. Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 162 n.12
(listing same). It is not the number of links that is dispositive; rather, it is the logical force of all the evidence, both direct and circumstantial.
Taylor v. State, 106 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.).
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a mile to stop, providing the time necessary for the black case to be transferred to the back of the
car and hidden beneath the rear seat. That case contained 26.6 grams of methamphetamine. The
van was also full of other obvious signs of drug use and trafficking, including a second bag of
crystalline substance that was not tested but was also suspected to be methamphetamine;
marijuana; a variety of pills, including hydrocodone; and drug paraphernalia, such as a glass
pipe, needles, and small empty baggies. Appellant was carrying $1,500 in cash.
While appellant’s mere presence in the van where the methamphetamine was found may
not have been sufficient, in itself, to establish his control over it, Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 162, he
was not merely present in the van. The evidence, viewed as a whole, richly supports a
reasonable juror’s decision to draw the inference linking appellant, both directly and as a party,
to the methamphetamine found in the van, thus showing appellant’s knowledge of and control
over the methamphetamine.
Considering the quantity and location of drugs and drug paraphernalia found throughout
the van, including syringe needles scattered on the floor, a rational jury could have concluded
appellant had knowledge of the drugs found in the van. Moreover, when police officers turned
on their lights to signal the van to pull over, all of the van occupants, including appellant, began
moving around as if they were hiding something. A rational jury could have concluded that
appellant deliberately delayed pulling over until he and the other occupants in the van had an
opportunity to hide the methamphetamine. The logical force of the combined pieces of
circumstantial evidence in this case, coupled with reasonable inferences from them, is sufficient
evidence to connect appellant to the actual care, custody, control, or management of the
methamphetamine found in the van. See Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 166.
The evidence also establishes several factors with respect to the “intent to deliver”
element of appellant’s conviction. See Kibble v. State, 340 S.W.3d 14, 18–19 (Tex. App.—
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Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, pet. ref’d) (factors establishing intent to deliver include the quantity of
drugs possessed, the manner of packaging of the drugs, the presence or absence of drug
paraphernalia, possession of large amounts of cash in addition to the drugs). St. John testified
that the quantity and quality of the methamphetamine found in the van indicated to her that
appellant was dealing. Appellant’s house was known as a drug distribution point and that
someone known as “Big Ant” was the person reputed to be selling the drugs. And, in addition to
the methamphetamine for which he was charged, the van contained other indicia of drug
trafficking, including syringes and small baggies often used to package and sell drugs. While
appellant introduced testimony from a family member in an effort to explain the $1,500 in cash
he possessed, jurors were not compelled to credit that testimony.
The jury was instructed to determine whether appellant, acting alone or as a party,
knowingly possessed the methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Viewing the evidence in a
light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude that a rational jury could have found that
appellant, individually or acting with others, knowingly possessed the methamphetamine found
in the van with intent to deliver. See Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 166. Accordingly, we overrule
appellant’s third issue.
III. PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENT
Appellant objected to the admission of Amie Shuemaker’s statement under rule 403.
Shuemaker gave a written statement to police on the day of the incident indicating that the
methamphetamine belonged to appellant. At trial, Shuemaker testified that she did not know if
the narcotics were appellant’s and did not remember what happened that day. The trial court
allowed the State to impeach Shuemaker’s testimony with her prior written statement and
instructed the jury not to consider the statement as substantive evidence of appellant’s guilt. In
his first issue, appellant contends the trial court erred in overruling his objection to the
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admissibility of Shuemaker’s written statement because of the risk that the jury would misuse
Shuemaker’s prior inconsistent statement for an unintended purpose
A. Standard of Review
“We review the trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence, as well as its decision
as to whether the probative value of evidence was substantially outweighed by the danger of
unfair prejudice, under an abuse of discretion standard.” Martinez v. State, 327 S.W.3d 727, 736
(Tex. Crim. App. 2010).
B. Applicable Law
The credibility of a witness may be attacked by any party, including the party calling the
witness. TEX. R. EVID. 607. A witness may be impeached with a prior statement when he gives
testimony at trial that is inconsistent with the prior statement. TEX. R. EVID. 613(a); Smith v.
State, 520 S.W.2d 383, 386 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975). The witness must be told the statement’s
contents, the time and place where the statement was made, and to whom it was made. TEX. R.
EVID. 613(a). The witness must also be given the opportunity to explain or deny the statement.
Id. “The rule of admissibility of evidence of this nature should be liberal and the trial judge
should have the discretion to receive any evidence which gives promise of exposing falsehood.”
Smith, 520 S.W.2d at 386.
To be sure, a party may not use a prior inconsistent statement under the guise of
impeachment to introduce inadmissible evidence. Hughes v. State, 4 S.W.3d 1, 3–4 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1999); Kelly v. State, 60 S.W.3d 299, 301 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2001, no pet.). To determine
whether the impeachment was for an improper purpose, courts should conduct a rule 403
balancing analysis. Hughes, 4 S.W.3d at 5. “[A] trial court abuses its discretion under Rule 403
when it allows the State to admit impeachment evidence for the primary purpose of placing
evidence before the jury that was otherwise inadmissible.” Id. Factors to consider in the
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analysis include whether the State was aware its witness would testify unfavorably, whether the
State was able to elicit any favorable testimony from the witness, and whether the State had a
legitimate purpose for eliciting the prior inconsistent statement. See id; see also Kelly, 60
S.W.3d at 301.
C. The Record
When the State called Shuemaker to testify, she testified that she did not want to be in
court and did not want to testify. Shuemaker testified that she was sitting in the back seat of the
van when it was pulled over by the police. However, when asked a series of questions regarding
the actions of the occupants of the van as it was being pulled over, Shuemaker repeatedly stated
that she did not know or did not remember. Eventually, Shuemaker refused to answer the State’s
questions and stated she did not have anything to say.
The State asked Shuemaker if she remembered writing a statement for the police and
Shuemaker replied that she did not. When asked if she recognized a copy of a statement the
State showed her, Shuemaker replied, “I recognize that you said that’s the one I wrote the day
this happened.” Shuemaker acknowledged that the handwriting on the statement could be hers,
but she stated that she did not remember writing it. When the State asked Shuemaker about
specific statements within the written statement, Shuemaker replied, “I plead the Fifth.”
Shuemaker testified that the black case containing the methamphetamine was handed to
her and she threw it in the back. She also testified that the case came from the front seat. But
she stated she did not remember who originally had the case, or who handed the case to her.
Appellant objected to the admission of Shuemaker’s prior inconsistent statement based
on the lack of foundation, hearsay, relevance, and if admitted, the statement’s prejudicial effect
outweighed its probative value. The trial court overruled appellant’s objection; however, the
trial court informed counsel that it would give a limiting instruction in the jury charge that the
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statement was admitted for impeachment purposes. The State then called Detective Conway
who described his interview with Shuemaker and identified Shuemaker’s written statement.
Shuemaker’s written statement was admitted into evidence and read to the jury. In her written
statement, Shuemaker stated the drugs belonged to appellant, appellant handed the black case to
Springer, Springer passed the case to the back seat, and Shuemaker put the case behind her seat.
The second page of Shuemaker’s written statement contains the following sentence, “[p]lease do
not let anyone know I have said these things or I will deny all of this.”
D. Analysis
Appellant contends Shuemaker’s prior inconsistent statement was inadmissible because it
was used for a substantive purpose other than impeachment—to prove that the drugs found under
Shuemaker’s seat in the van belonged to appellant. Appellant argues that the only evidence that
indicates appellant passed the drugs to the passengers in the back seat was Shuemaker’s written
statement. Appellant further contends the State knew that Shuemaker would not testify in
accordance with her prior written statement.
The record indicates that the trial court balanced the probative value of admitting
Shuemaker’s prior inconsistent statement for its legitimate impeachment purpose against the
danger of unfair prejudice created by the jury misusing the statement for substantive purposes.
Hughes, 4 S.W.3d at 4–5. The analysis included consideration of whether the State was
surprised by the witness’s recantation. Appellant argues the State knew Shuemaker would deny
making the written statement because Shuemaker stated that she would do so on the second page
of the statement. After Shuemaker’s testimony, and outside the presence of the jury, the trial
court asked the prosecutor if she believed Shuemaker would testify consistent with her written
statement when called as a witness. The prosecutor informed the trial court that she believed
Shuemaker would reluctantly testify consistent with the statement. See Kelly, 60 S.W.3d at 302
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(observing that “Hughes teaches that prior knowledge is key” and that it is not enough for State
to “suspect” its witness could turn).
The trial court also considered whether the State was able to elicit any favorable
testimony from the witness. At the beginning of Shuemaker’s testimony, although she agreed
with the prosecutor that she did not want to be there, she appropriately answered the questions
asked of her. Shuemaker testified that she was in the back seat of the van when it was pulled
over by the police. She also testified that the black case started in the front seat, was handed to
her, and she threw it in the back. The State was able to elicit some favorable testimony from
Shuemaker, thus supporting a finding by the trial court that the State did not call Shuemaker for
the primary purpose of eliciting otherwise inadmissible testimony. It was only when the State
began asking Shuemaker about appellant and whether appellant owned the black case and the
drugs that Shuemaker refused to answer questions, became argumentative, and stated she did not
remember. Based on the record, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in finding
that the State did not know Shuemaker would recant. Given Shuemaker’s refusal to answer any
questions regarding appellant’s involvement, her inability to remember making a written
statement to the police on the day of the incident, and her refusal to identify her own handwriting
or signature, we conclude that using Shuemaker’s prior written statement to impeach her
credibility was not unfairly prejudicial. See TEX. R. EVID. 403; Kelly, 60 S.W.3d at 302.
Appellant also argues the jury used Shuemaker’s statement for its truth despite the trial
court’s instruction. As part of the written jury charge, the trial court gave the following limiting
instruction:
You are instructed that a witness may be impeached by showing that he or she has
made other and different statements out of court from those made before you on
the trial. Such impeachment evidence may be considered by you to aid you, if it
does so, in determining the weight, if any, to be given the testimony of the witness
at trial and his or her credibility. Such impeaching evidence, if any, is not to be
considered as tending to establish the alleged guilt of the defendant in such a case.
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Therefore, you are further instructed that prior inconsistent statements allegedly
made by Amie Shuemaker out of court were admitted only for the purpose of
impeaching the said witness, if you find it does impeach her, and you cannot
consider said impeachment testimony as any evidence whatever of the guilt or
innocence of the defendant.
Thus, the jury was instructed not to consider Shuemaker’s prior inconsistent statement for its
truth. Hughes, 4 S.W.3d at 5 (explaining that impeachment evidence is prejudicial when “the
State profits from the witness’s testimony only if the jury misuses the evidence by considering it
for its truth”). Generally, we presume the jury follows the trial court’s instructions in the manner
presented. Thrift v. State, 176 S.W.3d 221, 224 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). To rebut this
presumption, appellant must point to evidence that the jury failed to follow the trial court’s
instructions. Colburn v. State, 966 S.W.2d 511, 520 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). Although
appellant argues there was a “huge risk the jury would misuse the written statement for its truth,”
appellant does not point to any evidence that the jury did not follow the trial court’s instruction
to use Shuemaker’s statement for impeachment purposes only. Thrift, 176 S.W.3d at 224. In
light of the trial court’s proper instruction regarding the use of the evidence and the appellant’s
failure to rebut the presumption that the jury followed that instruction, we presume the jury did
not consider Shuemaker’s written statement for its truth. Id.
Finally, we conclude that any error in admitting Shuemaker’s statement would have been
harmless in any event. The erroneous admission or exclusion of evidence is non-constitutional
error. 2 Wilson v. State, 451 S.W.3d 880, 886 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, pet. ref’d).
Our appellate procedural rules require us to disregard any such error unless it “had a substantial
and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.” King v. State, 953 S.W.2d
266, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977). If, after examining the record as a whole, it appears that an
2
Appellant did not lodge a contemporaneous Confrontation Clause objection.
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error did not influence the jury or influenced the jury only slightly, we consider it to be harmless
and allow the conviction to stand. Neal v. State, 256 S.W.3d 264, 285 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
The presence of overwhelming evidence of guilt also plays a determinative role in evaluating
whether error is harmless. Id.
In reviewing the record as a whole, we consider testimony or physical evidence admitted
for the jury’s consideration, the nature of the evidence supporting the verdict, the character of the
alleged error in connection with other evidence in the case, jury instructions given by the trial
court, the State’s theory and any defensive theories, closing argument, and even voir dire, if
material to appellant’s claim. Morales v. State, 32 S.W.3d 862, 867 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
The jury heard Shuemaker’s live testimony that the drugs came from someone in the front seat of
the van. The jury also heard testimony from the police officers about movement in the van prior
to the stop, and what was found once it was searched.
We concluded above that the evidence was sufficient for the jury to convict appellant of
knowingly possessing the methamphetamine found in the van with intent to deliver. The trial
court instructed the jury to consider Shuemaker’s prior written statement for the purpose of
impeachment only. The jury was also charged on the law of parties, which would make any
active participant in the offense directly liable. In light of the record evidence, any error in
admitting Shuemaker’s prior written statement for the purpose of impeachment had a slight
effect, if any, on the jury’s decision . See Neal, 256 S.W.3d at 285.
The determination of admissibility of evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial
court, and will not be reversed on appeal unless a clear abuse of discretion is shown. Martinez,
327 S.W.3d at 736; Kelly, 60 S.W.3d at 302. We conclude appellant has not shown abuse of
discretion or harmful error. We overrule appellant’s first issue.
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IV. CLOSING ARGUMENT
In his second issue, appellant contends the trial court erred by overruling his objection to
the State’s comments about Shuemaker’s written statement during closing argument. Appellant
contends the State’s closing argument violated the trial court’s instruction regarding
Shuemaker’s written statement. The State responds that its comments were taken out of context
and were allowable jury argument.
A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
We review a trial court’s ruling on an objection to improper jury argument for abuse of
discretion. Garcia v. State, 126 S.W.3d 921, 924 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). Proper jury argument
generally falls within one of four areas: (1) summation of the evidence, (2) reasonable deduction
from the evidence, (3) answer to opposing counsel’s argument, and (4) plea for law enforcement.
Freeman v. State, 340 S.W.3d 717, 727 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). In examining challenges to
jury argument, we consider the remark in the context in which it appears. Gaddis v. State, 753
S.W.2d 396, 398 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). While the State may not use its closing argument to
admit evidence that is outside the record and prejudicial to the defendant, Borjan v. State, 787
S.W.2d 53, 57 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990), a curative instruction by the court will generally cure
error if a prosecutor mentions facts outside the record. Freeman, 340 S.W.3d at 727–28;
Gamboa v. State, 296 S.W.3d 574, 580 n.12 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009).
B. Analysis
Appellant complains that despite the trial court’s instruction that Shuemaker’s written
statement was to be considered for impeachment purposes only, on two occasions during its
closing argument, the State asked the jury to consider the truth of Shuemaker’s prior inconsistent
statement to find that the drugs being passed through the vehicle originated with appellant.
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Defense counsel objected when the prosecutor referred to Shuemaker’s statement about the drugs
being passed through the van, as follows:
Prosecutor: Now, you, the jury, are the sole judges of the facts in the case. You
decide what the facts are. You determine the credibility to give to the witnesses.
Now, you heard Ms. Amie [Shuemaker] testify. Okay? You heard her testify.
You see she was reluctant to testify. And you understand why once you heard
that statement. Okay? You heard her say that the defendant is her friend. She
doesn’t want to rat on her friend. She also told you that she has kids to worry
about, you know. She lives in a mean world out there in those streets. She knows
the consequences of snitching. But she told you if there’s any doubt as to who
possessed those drugs, there’s any doubt as to who those drugs – who the passing
of those drugs began with, remember in her statement she told you that the
defendant passed the –
Defense Counsel: Your Honor, I object. That’s an improper comment on the
weight of the evidence, further the court’s instructions.
Trial Court: I’ll overrule, but the Court will instruct the jury to follow the court’s
instruction in the Court’s charge. Go ahead.
Prosecutor: Okay. Ask you to determine credibility of the witnesses in the case.
I want you guys not – to look at not only what they said. I want you to look at
their demeanor. Okay? I want you to – you know, you’re allowed to make fair
deductions from all the – everything that you’ve heard and the observations that
you made during this case. Okay?
Appellant argues the trial court erred in overruling his objection to the State’s argument
because the prosecutor’s argument added facts that were not to be considered as evidence of
appellant’s guilt or innocence. In response, the State asserts that the prosecutor’s statement that
appellant passed the drugs to another occupant of the van was a fair summary of the evidence
and an implicit plea that the jury consider the evidence in the record and Shuemaker’s credibility
as a witness.
Later in his argument, the prosecutor stated, “The State submits to you that we presented
sufficient evidence to prove he was in possession, he exercised care, custody and control of those
drugs, okay, that he passed them through the vehicle to other members in the vehicle which were
hidden from police, which they ultimately found.” Defense counsel did not object to this
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statement at trial; however, appellant now complains that the prosecutor again improperly asked
the jury to consider Shuemaker’s statement for its truth. The State urges the comment was a
summary of the evidence combined with the elements of the offense.
Appellant asserts the prosecutor’s argument—that appellant passed the drugs to another
occupant of the minivan—went outside the permissible scope of closing argument by adding
facts which were not to be considered as evidence of appellant’s guilt or innocence, but only for
impeachment of Shuemaker’s credibility. However, a prosecutor may draw reasonable, fair, and
legitimate inferences from the facts in the evidence. Borjan, 787 S.W.2d at 57. And a
prosecutor may argue his opinions concerning issues in a case so long as the opinions are based
on the evidence in the record. Barnard v. State, 730 S.W.2d 703, 718 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987).
The evidence included Shuemaker’s testimony that the black bag was passed back to her from
the front seat, where appellant was located, and Officer Miller’s testimony that all of the van
occupants were moving around as if they were hiding something. Consequently, we conclude
that the prosecutor’s argument was a reasonable deduction from the evidence and a legitimate
plea for law enforcement, and thus falls within the areas of proper jury argument. See Freeman,
340 S.W.3d at 727. The trial court did not err in overruling defense counsel’s objection to the
State’s closing argument. Appellant’s second issue is overruled.
V. EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY
In his fourth issue, appellant asserts the trial court erred in allowing Detective Marcella
St. John to testify as an expert witness for the State. St. John was listed on the State’s witness
list that was provided to appellant. However, the State did not designate St. John as an expert,
and the State did not provide appellant with a separate list of expert witnesses. Over appellant’s
objection, St. John testified regarding her qualifications and experience as a clandestine drug lab
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expert; the properties of methamphetamine and the way it is produced, distributed, and used; and
whether the facts of appellant’s case were indicative of drug distribution.
A. Standard of Review
We review a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude expert testimony for an abuse of
discretion. Sexton v. State, 93 S.W.3d 96, 99 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Trejos v. State, 243
S.W.3d 30, 48 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. ref’d). A trial court abuses its
discretion when it acts without reference to any guiding rules or principles. Montgomery v.
State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 380 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990).
B. Analysis
The trial court had discretion to order the disclosure of the names of the State’s experts as
requested by appellant below. 3 However, the trial court did not do so. Instead, the trial court
deferred ruling on appellant’s request for disclosure of the State’s expert witnesses and told
defense counsel that if he wanted a hearing at the time the State called an expert, the trial court
would give him one. Because the record does not contain an order granting appellant’s request
for disclosure of the State’s expert witnesses, the trial court did not err in allowing Detective St.
John to testify. Harris v. State, 287 S.W.3d 785, 792 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, no
pet.), abrogated on other grounds by Barrios v. State, 283 S.W.3d 348 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009).
We overrule appellant’s fourth issue.
3
Article 39.14(b) of the code of criminal procedure allows a trial court to order the State to list its experts upon request:
On motion of a party and on notice to the other parties, the court in which an action is pending may order one or more of
the other parties to disclose to the party making the motion the name and address of each person the other party may use at
trial to present evidence under Rules 702, 703, and 705, Texas Rules of Evidence. The court shall specify in the order the
time and manner in which the other party must make the disclosure to the moving party, but in specifying the time in which
the other party shall make disclosure the court shall require the other party to make the disclosure not later than the 20th
day before the date the trial begins.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 39.14(b) (West Supp. 2014).
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VI. CONCLUSION
Having resolved all of appellant’s issues against him, we affirm the judgment of the trial
court.
/David J. Schenck/
DAVID J. SCHENCK
JUSTICE
Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47
131213F.U05
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S
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
ANTHONY CHAMBERLAIN, Appellant On Appeal from the 194th Judicial District
Court, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-13-01213-CR V. Trial Court Cause No. F-1263564-M.
Opinion delivered by Justice Schenck.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Justices Lang and Stoddart participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered this 27th day of May, 2015.
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