Terri Cox Ferguson v. State ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
01-14-00247-CR
FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
7/23/2015 4:03:18 PM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
CLERK
No. 01-14-00247-CR
In the FILED IN
1st COURT OF APPEALS
Court of Appeals HOUSTON, TEXAS
For the 7/23/2015 4:03:18 PM
First District of Texas CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
At Houston
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No. 1330035
In the 174th District Court
Harris County, Texas
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TERRI COX FERGUSON
Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
Appellee
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APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR REHEARING AND EN BANC
RECONSIDERATION
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DAVID MITCHAM
State Bar No: 14205300
1314 Texas, Suite 1314
Houston, Texas 77002
Tel.: 713/222-1616
FAX No.: 713/222-6262
mitchamlaw@att.net
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
AUTHORITIES...……………………………………………………………..……iii
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT.………………………………………...…….1
POINT FOR REHEARING……………………………..…………………..……..1
THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT, AS TO THE
ELEMENT OF INTOXICATION, TO SUPPORT THE
CONVICTION.
CONCLUSION………………………………………..………………………….10
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE………………….………………………….10
CERTIFICATE OF SEVICE………………………….…………………………..11
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INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
CASES
Adames v. State, 353 S.W.3d 854 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) .................................................... 2
Hernandez v. State, 107 S.W.3d 41 (Tex. App.- San Antonio, 2003, pet. Ref’d) ................3
Jackson v. Virginia, 99 S Ct. 2781(1979) ........................................................................ 1, 2, 10
Smithhart v. State, 503 S.W.2d 283 (Tex.Crim.App.1973) ................................................. 3,4
In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970) ...........................................................................................2
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TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:
INTRODUCTION
On July 9, 2015, the court filed a memorandum opinion affirming appellant’s
conviction. Appellant incorporates by reference her brief and the Court’s opinion in
support of her motion for rehearing and en banc reconsideration.
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POINT FOR REHEARING
THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT, AS TO THE ELEMENT OF
INTOXICATION, TO SUPPORT THE CONVICTION.
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SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
The Court’s opinion erred in holding that the evidence is sufficient to establish
that the appellant was intoxicated by not having the normal use of her mental and
physical faculties by reason of the introduction of a controlled substance, a drug, a
dangerous drug, a combination of those substances, or any substance into her body.
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ARGUMENT
The Court reviewed the evidence using the Jackson standard of review. “When
reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we view all of the evidence in the light most
favorable to the verdict to determine whether any rational fact finder could have
found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979); Adames v. State, 353 S.W.3d
854, 859 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (holding that Jackson standard is only standard to use
when determining sufficiency of evidence).” (Op. 3) However, under this standard,
evidence is insufficient to support a conviction if considering all record evidence in
the light most favorable to the verdict, a factfinder could not have rationally found
that each essential element of the charged offense was proven beyond a reasonable
doubt. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781; In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 361, 90
S. Ct. 1068, 25 L. Ed. 2d 368 (1970). Evidence is insufficient under this standard in four
circumstances: (1) the record contains no evidence probative of an element of the
offense; (2) the record contains a mere "modicum" of evidence probative of an
element of the offense; (3) the evidence conclusively establishes a reasonable doubt;
and (4) the acts alleged do not constitute the criminal offense charged. See Jackson, 443
U.S. at 314, 318 n. 11, 320, 99 S. Ct. 2781.
The evidence fails to show that appellant did not have the normal use of her
mental or physical faculties as a result of any substance. No officer testified that
appellant did not have the normal use of her physical and mental faculties. Further, no
evidence shows “a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of
those substances, or any substance” caused appellant to not have the normal use of
her mental or physical faculties.
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The evidence and testimony in the instant case is devoid of expert testimony as
found in various other cases to reasonably find that appellant did not have normal use
of her mental or physical faculties resulting from the introduction of a drug or
combination of drugs.
“While intoxicated” is the contested element, but the reason for not having the
normal use is important and necessary since, by definition, one cannot be found to be
intoxicated if he lacks the normal use of mental or physical faculties for a different
reason, such as disability, illness, fatigue, stress, or seizures. An individual can only be
found intoxicated by reason of the introduction of a substance into the body.
Hernandez v. State, 107 S.W.3d 41 (Tex. App.- San Antonio, 2003, pet. Ref’d)
In the present case, none of the investigating officers smelled alcohol, nor did
they find any alcohol, or suspect alcohol as the reason for not having the normal use
of mental or physical faculties.
After being arrested, appellant was asked and agreed to submit the draw of a
blood sample at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. (R.R. III. 149-160) The
blood test was negative for alcohol. Furthermore, none of the toxicology experts
presented by the State could say with any reasonable degree of medical certainty that
the medications and marijuana in the appellant’s blood alone or together caused loss
of the normal use of her mental or physical faculties.
Alcohol intoxication is a common occurrence and requires no expertise, but the
rule as to whether a person is under the influence of drugs is different. Smithhart v.
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State, 503 S.W.2d 283 (Tex.Crim.App.1973). Smithhart was charged with operating a
vehicle while under the influence of drugs to the degree, which renders the driver
incapable of safely operating a vehicle. In Smithhart, the police officer testified to many
symptoms of possible intoxication: incoherent speech, glassy eyes, admission of
recent ingestion of valium and drinking vodka earlier, and an accident, but unable to
connect the symptoms to the reason for not having the normal use of faculties since
the officer was not qualified to give an opinion as to drugs.
A person waking up from a seizure might experience fatigue, confusion, and
difficulty with gross motor skills such as walking, dilated pupils, flushing, retrograde
amnesia, and thick-tongued speech. Appellant coming out of a seizure, which can
mimic intoxication, could have caused the symptoms observed by the officers.
The first person to come into direct contact with the appellant following the
accident was Deputy Michael White who stated she was unresponsive to his requests
to get out of the car, very incoherent in a daze, had “foam” coming out of her mouth
and was shaking (R.R. III. 84-86, 102-103)
Stephen Bynum observed the appellant just before Deputy White and stated
that the appellant was either drunk or having a seizure. (R.R. VI. 84-85). He stated
that when he looked at her face she did not appear to be drunk but was having some
type of episode. (R.R. VI. 88)
Sergeant Robert Francis conducted field sobriety tests on the appellant. The
first test he administered was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test. The first thing he
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noticed was that she had unequal pupil size. (R.R. IV. 33) He asked her if she had a
recent head injury and she stated that her dog had knocked her down and she injured
her head. He did not detect any odors of alcohol. He was not able to complete the
HGN test because of the unequal pupil size. However, he stated that no nystagmus
was present. (R.R. IV. 34) The appellant was unable to perform the walk and turn test
as well as the one leg stand because of prior injuries. (R.R. IV. 57-59). He also had her
perform the Rhomberg Test and detected a sway and she estimated 30 seconds as 20
seconds. (R.R. IV. 59) She had issues doing the alphabet test but was able to do a
hand dexterity test. (R.R. IV. 61) Since Sergeant Francis was not currently certified as
a Drug Recognition Expert he was not allow to opine as to whether the appellant was
intoxicated. He stated that he did not smell any marijuana in the appellant’s vehicle,
on her breath or on her person. (R.R. IV. 125-126)
Deputy James Stanley read the appellant her warnings and took her to the
hospital to obtain a blood draw and expressed no opinion as to whether she was
intoxicated or any signs of intoxication. (R.R. IV. 143-151)
Dr. Walterscheid related the drugs reflected in the lab analysis report to include
no alcohol but clonazepam, 7 – aminoclonazepam, temazepam, carisoprodol,
meprobamate, delta-9– tetrahydrocannabinol and nor–carboxy–tetrahydrocannabinol.
(R.R. V. 120-121) At the conclusion of his testimony he answered that he could not
testify with any reasonable, reliable scientific basis for determining based upon his
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reading of the toxicology report and the evidence before the court that the appellant
was intoxicated at the time in question on September 29, 2011. (R.R. V. 139)
Dr. Plunkett stated that based upon the State’s toxicology reports an opinion
could not be given that appellant was intoxicated or impaired. (R.R. VI. 129) She
stated that the lab report reflected low levels of each of the drugs reflected in the
report (R.R. VII. 118-125) and that the report did not reflect amounts consistent with
someone who had taken 10 somas. (R.R. VII. 124)
Nu Lienko stated that somewhere between 4 and 5 o’clock, the appellant came
in and picked up an order to go. She sounded normal when she ordered the
sandwiches over the phone and appeared normal when she picked up the sandwiches.
(R.R. VI. 14-21)
Dr. Irwin S. Novak stated a seizure is an electrical disorder of the brain. The
patient may be confused, may stare, be disoriented and may be able to do some motor
activities. They are unaware of their surroundings and have slurred speech, shaking,
salivation and foaming at the mouth. (R.R. VII. 47) They can continue to drive a car
but they would drive it erratically. (R.R. VII. 47) From reading the description of the
appellant at the scene and the police reports, DVD’s of the appellant and witness
statements he was able to determine that it was consistent with a seizure. (R.R. VII.
49)
Dr. Novak stated that he has performed thousands of Horizontal Gaze
Nystagmus tests and that if a patient had unequal pupil sizes it would be consistent
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with someone who had just had a seizure. (R.R. VII. 51) The person should be taken
to a hospital because they would be in a postictal state and may be disoriented,
confused, unsteady, have slurred speech, be befuddled and may try to fill in details but
their memory is faulty. (R.R. VII. 52) They will not remember that they had a seizure
and will not remember events that occurred during the postictal state. (R.R. VII. 53)
Following a seizure it could take from minutes to days before their memory kicks
back in. (R.R. VII. 54) A person in the state of seizure is not capable of a conscious
act. If they are driving a car they cannot keep a proper lookout, control their speed
properly, maintain a single lane of traffic or avoid collision with persons or property.
(R.R. VII. 53-54)
The fact that the appellant had no nystagmus was significant because patients
have nystagmus when they are taking medications such as benzodiazepines and non-
benzodiazepines in high levels. Anisocoria or unequal pupils would not be seen. The
unequal pupil sizes would indicate another medical condition such as seizures had
occurred. (R.R. VII. 56) When appellant was examined and determined to have
unequal pupil sizes she should have been taken to the hospital and been evaluated.
(R.R. VII. 57)
From Dr. Novak’s review of the DVD reflecting the interrogation by the police
officers she appeared to be inconsistent and disoriented and a person who has had a
seizure is unaware that the seizure occurred. (R.R. VII. 57-58) The first seizure while
driving occurs frequently and is possibly unrecognized. They have seizures - - these
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are paroxysmal episodic events that can occur anywhere under any circumstances
whether they’re awake or asleep, but the first seizure while driving is a clinically
recognize event and possibly under recognized. (R.R. VII. 60)
Dr. Novak conducted a medical examination of appellant beginning on
September 13, 2013, which included an EKG, electrocardiogram, an EEG,
electroencephalogram, a 72 – hour EEG with video and ambulatory monitoring, brain
MRI, magnetic resonance scan imaging, chest X-ray, and urinalysis.
He also reviewed medical records for the Houston Methodist Hospital’s
emergency room for September 25, 2013. The medical records reflected that she had
had a seizure. (R.R. VII. 62-63) The EMS records of the incident noted, and an M.D.
was present, that there were multiple episodes of peti mal, which probably reflect
complex partial seizures. (R.R. VII. 63) Additionally the EEG that was recorded
revealed findings that were consistent with diffused disturbance of brain function and
focal potentially epileptogenic lesions. (R.R. VII. 64-65) Appellant had a interictal
abnormality that in her case was right and left, the frontal and central areas of the
brain which is consistent with a seizure but no actual seizures that were ongoing at the
time of the 72- hour monitors. Normal healthy patients do not have interictal activity.
They have normal EEG’s and do not have spikes and they don’t have sharp waves or
spikes in waves. (R.R. VII. 65) Seizures are episodic paroxysmal events that occur out
of the background, out of the blue. (R.R. VII. 66-67)
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Dr. Novak also reviewed the records of appellant being admitted to St. Luke’s
Hospital at The Vintage on January 21, 2014. When she was admitted she had an
altered mental status, probable seizure and possible pseudo seizure. Pseudo seizures
are unconscious seizures. They have no abnormality in electrical activity. They occur
less often than regular seizures and there’s no abnormality in the EEG. The patients
are unconscious of what happens. It’s a subconscious disorder and falls into
psychiatric dysfunction and what they call disassociated state. (R.R. VII. 70-71) At St.
Luke’s the appellant was intubated after sedation and admitted on a respirator. (R.R.
VII. 71)
In-reference to partial complex seizures it is possible that a person could be on
the beltway and go into a seizure and continue to drive. (R.R. VII. 74) The description
of the appellant that was reflected in the offense report would be consistent with a
tonic seizure. (R.R. VII. 102) The only time unequal pupil size are the result of drugs
is if the drugs were put in the eye. (R.R. VII. 103)
The symptoms of unequal pupils, no nystagmus in the eyes, responsive to light,
foaming at the mouth, nonresponsive to questions, and shaking uncontrollably are
consistent with a seizure. (R.R. VII. 128)
Facts supporting an essential element, “reason for not having the normal use”,
were not proved and a rational trier of fact could not have found beyond a reasonable
doubt the essential element that the appellant did not have normal use of her mental
faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, or a
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dangerous drug into the body, or a combination of two or more of these substances
into the body. Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, no
rational trier of fact could have found the essential element of “intoxication” of the
crime of driving while intoxicated beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 99
S. Ct. 2781 (1979).
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CONCLUSION
It is respectfully submitted that the Court grant this motion for rehearing and/or
grant en banc reconsideration.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
This is to certify that the foregoing instrument has a total of 2636 words.
David Mitcham
DAVID MITCHAM
State Bar No: 14205300
1314 Texas, Suite 1314
Houston, Texas 77002
Tel.: 713/222-1616
FAX No.: 713/222-6262
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
This is to certify that a copy of the foregoing instrument has been mailed to the
appellee’s attorney at the following address on July 23, 2015.
ALAN CURRY
Assistant District Attorney
Harris County, Texas
1201 Franklin, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77002
David Mitcham
DAVID MITCHAM
State Bar No: 14205300
1314 Texas, Suite 1314
Houston, Texas 77002
Tel.: 713/222-1616
FAX No.: 713/222-6262
mitchamlaw@att.net
Date: July 22, 2015
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