Billy Joe Selman v. State ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
06-15-00121-CR
SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
TEXARKANA, TEXAS
10/13/2015 9:31:47 PM
DEBBIE AUTREY
CLERK
NO. 06-15-00121-CR
FILED IN
6th COURT OF APPEALS
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS TEXARKANA, TEXAS
10/14/2015 8:48:00 AM
FOR THE SIXTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS DEBBIE AUTREY
Clerk
BILLY JOE SELMAN
Appellant
VS.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee.
BRIEF OF APPELLANT
On Appeal from the County Court at Law of Hill County, Texas
in Cause No. M0890-14
Hon. Matt Crain, Presiding
RICARDO DE LOS SANTOS
SBN 00792456
202 S. Main Street
Cleburne, Texas 76033
Telephone: (817)558-3885
Fax: (817)641-2525
ABOGAD098@AOL.COM
ATTORNEY FOR
APPELLANT
LIST OF INTERESTED PARTIES
RESPONDENT/APPELLANT
BILLY JOE SELMAN
Represented by:
Trial:
Scott Phillips
SBN 24080595
5041 Airport Freeway
FOli Worth, Texas 76117
817-523-9529
Appeal:
Ricardo De Los Santos
SBN 00792456
202 S. Main
Cleburne, Texas 76033
Office: (817) 558-3885
Fax: (817) 641-2525
COMPLAINANT Represented by:
Trial/Appeal
The State of Texas Hon. R. David Holmes
Hill County Attorney
P. O. Box 253
Hillsboro, TX 76645
(254) 582-4047
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Interested Parties .i
Table of Contents ii
Index of Authorities .iv vii
Texas Codes, Statutes, and Rules viii
Statement of the Case 1
Points of Error 1
(1) DID THE COURT ERR IN DENYING APPELLNAT'S REQUEST TO
REPRESENT HIMSELF?
(2) DID THE STATE FAIL TO PROVE THE ELEMENTS FOR EVADING
ARREST WHEN A FOURTH AMENDMENT VIOLATION HAD
OCCURRED?
(3) WAS THERE A VIOLATION OF DISCOVERY TO THE DFENSE IN
VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 39.14?
Statement of Facts 2
Summary of the Argument.. '" 3
Argument. 4
Point of Error No.1 '" 4 - 14
Point of Error No.2 14 22
Point of Error No.3.. .. 23
Prayer 24
Certificate of Service 25
APPENDIX: HILL COUNTY CLERKS RECORD
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
State Cases
Adams v. United States ex reI. McCann, 317 U.S. 269,
101 S. Ct. 1880, 87 L. Ed. 268 11
Brown v. Wainwright, 665 F.2d 607 (5 th Cir. 1982) 12
Cady v. Dombrowski, 413 U.S. 433, 93 S. Ct. 2523, 37
L. Ed. 2d 706 (1973) 19
California v. Ciraolo, 476 U.S. 207, 213, 106 S. Ct.
1809, 1812, 90 L. Ed. 2d 210 (1986) Oliver, 466 U.S. at 182 n.
12, 104 S.Ct. at 1743 n.12) 16
Chapman, 553 F.2d at 892 4
Ciraolo, 476 U.S. at 213, 106 S. Ct. @ 1812) 17
Cooksey, 350 S.W.3d at 187 $o • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 22
Davis, 74 S.W.3d at 96-97 ..... fl • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 22
Duhig v. State, 171 S.W.3d 631, 637-38 (Tex. App.-
th
Houston [14 Dist.] 2005, pet. ref'd) 18
Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S. Ct. 2525,
45 L.Ed2d 562 """"""""""""""
lit " lit • • • " • $"" • • • :It :It • • ., • • • • " * * •• * «: «: • • • • • • • • • 'O • " •••••• 1, 1
Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835, 95 S.Ct. at 2541. 13
Faretta v. California, supra, Id., at 422 U.S. 818 12
Fla. v. Jardines, - U.S.-, 133 S. Ct. 1409, 1414,
185 L. Ed. 2d 495 (2013) lit • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15
Jardines, 133 S.Ct. at 1415674 16
Jardines, 133 S.Ct. at 141,6 ".18
Jardines, 133S.Ct. at 1416 (quoting Kentucky v. King,
U.S., 131 S. Ct. 1849, 1862, 179 L. Ed. 2d 865 (2011) 17
Johnson v. Zerbest, 304 U.S. 458, 464, 58 S. Ct. 1019,
1023, 82 L.,Ed 1461 (1938) 13
MckasKle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 104 S. Ct. 944,
79 L.Ed 122 " " 11
Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 392, 98 S.Ct.2408,
2413, 57 L. Ed. 2d 290 (1978) 19
Oliver, 466 U.S. at 182 n. 12, 104 S.Ct. at 1743 n. 12) 16
Oliver v. United States, 466 U.S. 170, 180, 104 S.
Ct. 1735, 1742,80 L. Ed.2d 214 (1984) 15
Porteous v. State, 259 S.W.3d 741, 746 (Tex. App.- Houston
{lst Dist.} 2007), pet. dism'd, improvidently granted,
253 S.W.3d 288 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) 16
Reasor, 12 S.W.3d at 817 22
Sandvoal, 241F.3d at 774; Brown, 665 F.2d at 610 .4
Sapienza v. Vincent, 534 F.2d 1007 (2 nd Cir. 1976) 13
Silverman v. United States, 365 U.S. 505, 511 81 S. Ct.
679,683, 5 L. Ed. 2d 734 (1961).... . .. . 15
States v. Hamilton, 559 F.2d 1370, 1373 (5 th Cir. 1977) 6
States v. Pena, 949 F.2d 751, 758 (5 th Cir. 1991) 5
Tuitt v. Fair, 822 F.2d 166, 174, 177 (1 st Cir. 1987) (citing Brown, 665 F.2d at
611) 4
United States v. Sullivan, 112 F.3d 180,
182 95 th Cir. 1997) 5
United States v. Reedy, 304 F.3d 358,372 (5 th Cir. 2002) 5
United States v. Fowler, 735 F.2d 823, 830 (5 th Cir. 1984) 5
United States v. MMR Corp. 954F.2d 1040, 1046 (5 th Cir. 1992) 6
United States v. Tucker, 451 F.3d 1176, 1181-82 (10 th Cir. 2006) 6
United States v. Oreye, 263 F.3d 669, 672 (7 th Cir. 2001), cert.
Denied 535 U.S. 933 122 S. Ct. 1308, 152 L. Ed. 2d 218 (2002) 6
United States v. Beers, 189F.3d 1297 (10 th Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 529
U.S. 1077, 120 S. Ct. 1696, 146 L. Ed. 2d 501 (2000) 7
United States v. Plattner, 330 F.2d 271 (2 nd Cir. 1964) 12
United States v. Mitchell, 137 F.2d 1006 (2 nd Cir. 1943) 12
United States ex reI. Hyde v. McMann, 263F.2d 940 (2 nd Cir.) 12
United States v. Purnett, 910 F.2d 51 (2 nd Cir. 1990) 12
United States v. Matsushita, 794 F.2d 46 (2 nd Cir. 1986) 13
United States v. Brown, 744 F.2d 905 (2 nd Cir. 1984) 13
United States v. Jones. -U.S.--, 132 S. Ct. 945, 950-51 n.3,
1,81 L.Ed.2d 911 (2012) 15
Washington v. State, 152 S.W.3d 209, 214 (Tex. App.-
Amarillo 2004, no pet.) 17
Washington, 152 S.W.3d at 215 (citing Buchanan v. State,
129 S.W.3d 767, 773 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 2004, pet. ref' d) 18
Wright v. State, 7 S.W.3d 148, 152 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) 19
Texas Codes, Statutes, and Rules
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. Art. 39.14 1, 23
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. Art. 36 .3
U.S. Const. Amend. IV 14
U.S.C.A. Const. Amend. 6 7, 8
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On or about May 19, 2015, Appellant was found guilty in the County Court at
Law Number of Hill County, Texas, in Cause Number M0890-14, for the offense of
Evading Arrest "A person commits an offense if he intentionally flees from a person
he knows is a peace officer attempting lawfully to arrest or detain him." The Jury
found Appellant guilty and the Court assessed eight (8) months in the County Jail.
Appellant timely gave Notice of Appeal on November 21,2013.
POINTS OF ERROR
(1) DID THE COURT ERR IN DENYING APPELLNAT'S REQUEST TO
REPRESENT HIMSELF?
(2) DID THE STATE FAIL TO PROVE THE ELEMENTS FOR EVADING
ARREST WHEN A FOURTH AMENDMENT VIOLATION HAD
OCCURRED?
(3) WAS THERE A VIOLATION OF DISCOVERY TO THE DFENSE IN
VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 39.14?
STATEMENT OF FACTS
On or about March 19,2013, BILLY JOE SELMAN was at horne when
Officer Darlin Lebel arrived at his horne without a search warrant or an arrest
warrant and exited her patrol car and demanded that Appellant open his horne door
to issue him or have him sign a Criminal Trespass violation. Subsequently, officer
Lebel and officer Jason Patrick obtained a key from his mother Linda Selman and
entered his bedroom and arrested Appellant for allegedly evading arrest while in his
bedroom. Appellant contends that the arrest was "illegal" and that he had no duty
to respond to any officer that had violated his fourth Amendment rights. This
Appeal resulted.
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
The charge of Evading Arrest in Texas requires "A person commits an
offense if he intentionally flees from a person he knows is a peace officer
attempting lawfully to arrest or detain him." There is no evidence that showed that
BILLY JOE SELMAN planned to or committed an offense by intentionally fleeing
from a person he knew was a peace officer who attempting lawfully to anest or
detain him because he was at his home and a clear violation of the Fourth
Amendment had occurred, therefore the charge of Evading Arrest was legally
invalid and conviction cannot stand.
ARGUMENT
POINT OF ERROR NO.1
(1) DID THE COURT ERR IN DENYING APPELLNAT'S REQUEST TO
REPRESENT HIMSELF?
The impetus behind the limitations on the right to self-representation is the
inherent tension between that right and the right to counsel in the Sixth
Amendment. Sandvoal, 241 F.3d at 774; Brown, 665 F.2d at 610. A defendant's
assertion of the right to self-representation necessarily results in a waiver of the
right to representation by counsel. Chapman, 553 F.2d at 892. And in the tug of
war between these two rights, courts have consistently added their precedential
weight behind the right to counsel, noting that it is the preeminent right. Tuitt v.
Fair, 822 F.2d 166, 174, 177 n st
Cir. 1987) (citing Brown, 665 F.2d at 611).
Against this background, the Government next turns to whether Fields clearly and
unequivocally asserted his right to self-representation and whether he subsequently
waived that right.
The Court has required an individual to clearly and unequivocally assert the
desire to represent himself.
Standard of Review.
This court reviews the district court's denial of a motion for new trail for an abuse
of discretion. See United States v. Sullivan, 112 F.3d 180, 182 95 th Cir. 1997)
(citing United States V. Pena, 949 F.2d 751, 758 (5 th Cir. 1991).
In order to prevail on a motion for new trial based on newly-discovered
evidence, a defendant has to show that: (1) the evidence is newly discovered and
was unknown to the defendant at the time of trial; (2) the failure to detect the
evidence was not due to a lack of diligence by the defendant; (3) the evidence is not
merely cumulative or impeaching; (4) the evidence is material; and (5) the evidence
introduced at a new trial would probably produce an acquittal. United States V.
Reedy, 304 F.3d 358, 372 (5 th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted). Motions for a new
trial based on newly discovered evidence are "disfavored by the courts and
therefore are viewed with great caution. "United States V. Fowler, 735 F.2d 823,
830 (5th Cir. 1984). Appellant contends that his Constitution rights were violated
to self representation when he wrote a letter to the Court and submitted a Motion
For New Trial that was denied by the Court when it was presented to the Court and
abusing the Court's discretion by not conducting a hearing. (Exhibit 1 3,4)
As a general rule, a district court has the discretion to deny a motion for new
trial without an evidentiary hearing. United States v. MMR Corp. 954 F.2d 1040,
1046 (5 th Cir. 1992) (citations omitted.) Usually, a district court holds and evidentiary
1047 hearing only in "certain unique situations typically involving allegations of
1048 jury tampering, prosecutorial misconduct, or third party confession. "United
1049 States V. Hamilton, 559 F.2d 1370, 1373 (5 th Cir. 1977).
Where defendant's motion for self-representation was made before jury
selection and was not made for the purpose of delay, trial court erred in denying his
motion to proceed pro se and conduct voir dire and that decision mandated an
automatic reversal. United States V. Tucker, 451 F.3d 1176, 1181-82 (loth Cir.
2006).
Of course the flip-side of adequately explaining the perlis of self-representation,
is that a judge can explain too much. "If the judge exaggerates either the advantages
of being represented or the disadvantages of self-representation, he will be accused of
having put his thumb on the scale and prevented the defendant from making an
informed choice. United States Ve Greye, 263 F.3d 669, 672 (7th Cire 2001), cert.
Denied 535 U.S. 933 122 S. Ct. 1308, 152 L. Ed. 2d 218 (2002)
6
"While we may perhaps prefer the district court to allow defendant to fully
explain his reasons for dissatisfaction with counsel, 'formal inquiry is not essential
here the defendant otherwise stated his reasons for dissatisfaction on the record."
United States v. Beers, 189 F.3d 1297 (loth Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1077,
120 S. Ct. 1696, 146 L. Ed. 2d 501 (2000).
The constitutional right of self-representation in a criminal case is conditioned upon
a voluntary, knowing and intelligent waiver of the right to be represented by counsel.
U.S.C.A. Const. Amend 6.
Once a defendant waives representation by counsel and asserts the Sixth
Amendment right of self-representation at a criminal trial, the trial court must fully
inform him in some manner of the nature of the charges against him, the possible
penalties, and the dangers of self-representation. U.S.C.A. Const. Amend 6.
Trial court's obligation to fully inform defendant who waives right to counsel and
asserts right to self-representation of the nature of the charges against him, the possible
penalties, and the dangers of self-representation arises under the Sixth Amendment,
and it applies to state, as well as federal judges. U.S.C.A. Const. Amend 6.
Trial court's obligation to fully inform defendant who waives right to counsel and
7
asserts right to self-representation of the nature of the charges against him, the possible
penalties, and the dangers of self-representation arises under the Sixth Amendment,
and it applies to state, as well as federal judges. V.S.C.A. Const. Amend 6. Appellant
submits the following from the cold record:
THE COURT: Thank you. I do have some questions in the fact that you have
underlined certain paragraphs, or certain parts of the paragraphs, in this waiver of
attorney and I wanted to get your true intent as to your request. You have
underlined the fact that you have the right to represent yourself, also that you have
knowingly and intelligently waived your rights, and that you request the Court to
allow you to proceed without an attorney being appointed for you, but you also
underlined "so that I can hire my own private attorney." So I wanted to ask you,
Mr. Selman, what is your intent in signing that waiver of attorney?
THE DEFENDANT: Well, I my intention was to try to find and hire a private
attorney in time that I was given between 4 o'clock yesterday about 3:30 when the
hearing was over and this morning, and that wasn't enough time. I know my
constitutional rights say I can represent myself. That seems to be good enough, unless
you want to reschedule.
8
THE COURT: Well, I'm not going to reschedule the hearing, but I want you to
understand that while you do have the right to represent yourself, if you do elect to
do so, there are certain requirements. I mean, you're going to be held to the same
standards as an attorney in representing yourself in a jury trial, such as you have to
know the rules of evidence; you have to know how to conduct voir dire; you need to
know how many strikes that you get during voir dire process. I mean, those are just
some of the examples that you need to know, that only you really are above to obtain
through legal training, and I'm asking you, have you had any of that training? Are
you capable of representing yourself in an actual jury trial?
THE DEFENDANT: I don't have a license to practice law in the State of Texas, no.
THE COURT: Well, do you know the rules of evidence?
THE DEFENDANT: I know that you all can't prove that this was me, for this case,
and I
THE COURT: I'm not the one -I'm not the one that has the burden of proof. I'm
not trying to prove anything; okay? I'm here to make sure that you get a fair trial,
and part of the part of that, part of my job, is to make sure that you are equipped
with counsel to assist you through this legal process of a fair trial. I'm not the State
of Texas; okay? I'm an impartial person that is here and listens to the evidence and
decides what is admissible and what is not admissible under the terms under the
law, so I - I don't make any arguments for or against either party; okay? I'm here
9
to make sure that you get a fair trial, and I'm I have great concerns of you
representing yourself on a jury trial. I think if it was - if it was some other hearing,
you probably would have the ability to do that.
THE DEFENDANT: I would tend to agree with you. I would like a fair trial as
well. Mr. Phillips has visited me probably a total of 15 minutes to prepare for this,
so I'm not real sure that I'm getting a fair trial as far as being defended, you know,
properly.
THE COURT: Well, I can tell you that in the pretrial motions that he has filed
today, the motions in limine, it does appear that he has reviewed the case. It does
appear that he has prepared for the case. We have voir dire - he has tendered to the
Court a voir dire PowerPoint where he is prepared to go fonvard on your case, so I
mean, I don't know whether or not you're satisfied with that, but that - but I want
you to know that it does appear that he has prepared for your case, even though it
might seem to you that it is a very limited time in talking with you. So I guess I
want to I want to make it very clear. Are you okay with going fonvard today with
him as your assisted - him as your attorney?
THE DEFENDANT: I'll allow due process the opportunity to work, yes, sir.
THE COURT: Okay. So you're okay with Mr. Phillips representing you today?
THE DEFENDANT: Today, yes.
10
THE COURT: Okay. Well, let's take up some preliminary matters before the jury
comes in. Mr. Selman, in Cause M0890-14, you stand charged with evading arrest
or detention. That is a Class A misdemeanor. It has a range of punishment of up to
one year in the county jail and a fine not to exceed $4,000.00. Do you understand
what you are charged with?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: How do you - well, is it necessary, Mr. Phillips, for the State to read
the charging instrument?
MR. PHILLIPS: We will waive the reading at this time, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Mr. Selman, how do you plead to the offense alleged: guilty, not
guilty or no contest?
THE DEFENDANT: Not guilty (RR V5, p. 9-13)
Argument
It has been well settled by The Supreme Court of the United States, that the Sixth
Amendment guarantees a criminal defendant an independent constitutional right of
self-representation. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806,95 S. Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed2d
562; MckaskIe v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 104 S. Ct. 944, 79 L.Ed 122; Adams v.
United States ex reI. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 101 S. Ct. 1880, 87 L. Ed. 26811
"the right of self-representation finds support in the structure of the Sixth Amendment,
as well as in the English and colonial jurisprudence from which the Amendment
emerged. Faretta v. California, supra, Id., at 422 U.S. 818.
The right of self-representation was recognized in t his circuit well before The
Supreme Court's decision in Fat'etta. United States v. Plattner, 330 F.2d 271 (2nd
Cir. 1964); United States v. Mitchell, 137 F.2d 1006 (2nd Cir. 1943); United States
ex reI. Hyde v. McMann, 263 F.2d 940 (2nd Cir.). In United States v. Purnett, 910
F.2d 51 (2nd Cir. 1990), The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reasoned that:
"The right to self-representation and the assistance of counsel are separate rights
depicted on the opposite sides of the same Sixth Amendment coin." Id, at 54.
The alternative argument could be that the defendant acquiesced to counsel's
representation, by failing to reassert his right to self-representation. Brown v.
Wainwright, 665 F.2d 607 (5 th Cir. 1982).
"Our decision here should not be read to imply that a trial court may unduly defer
a ruling on a firm request by a defendant to represent himself in the hopes the
defendant may change his mind. A defendant is entitled to conduct his own defense
even if the court doubts his legal expertise or ability, so long as the request is
12
intelligently and clearly made. Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835, 95 S.Ct. at 2541. Neither
should it be read to indicate that a defendant, to avoid waiver, must continually renew
his request to represent himself even after it is conclusively denied the trial court.
After a clear denial of the request a defendant need not make fruitless motions or
forego cooperation with defense counsel in order to preserve the issue of appeal. Id.,
at 612.
The defendant's acquiescence thereafter cannot be read to signify waiver of a
constitutionally protected right, see Johnson v. Zerbest, 304 U.S. 458, 464, 58
S. Ct. 1019, 1023,82 L.Ed 1461 (1938) (stating 'we do not presume acquiescence
is the loss of fundamental rights. ') (internal quotes omitted); even a lawyer could
not be faulted for failing to renew a motion under those circumstances." Id. at 101.
Sapienza v. Vincent, 534F.2d 1007 (2nd Cir. 1976), (Defendant's mid-trial
request to proceed pro-se properly denied, the right must invoked prior to the start
of the trial.); United States v. Matsushita, 794 F.2d 46 (2nd Cir. 1986), (samet.
United States v. Brown, 744 F.2d 905 (2nd Cir. 1984), (same). In other words, in
order for the defendant to have represented himself at his criminal trial, he would
have had to make the request prior to the stm1 of trial, and the defendant did exactly
13
that. Once, the defendant asserted his right of self-representation, the onus was
placed upon this Court to entertain the defendant's motion, which this Court failed
to do, resulting in the deprivation of the defendant's Sixth Amendment Right of
Self-representation.
The above cold record clearly supports Appellant's contention that a
subjective standard should be used by this Honorable Court as to Appellant's
Constitutional Right for self-representation in which he states that he was coerced
and under duress and did not freely or voluntarily waive his constitutional right.
(2) DID THE STATE FAIL TO PROVE THE ELEMENTS FOR EVADING
ARREST WHEN A FOURTH AMENDMENT VIOLATION HAD
OCCURRED?
Entry onto Curtilage and Search and Arrest in Appellant's House
The Fourth Amendment provides that "[t]he right of the people to be secure in
their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,
shall not be violated." U.S. CONST. Amend. IV. When the government obtains
information by "physically intruding" on an individual's house, "a 'search' within the
original meaning of the FOUlih Amendment" has "undoubtedly occurred.
14
Fla. v. Jardines, - U.S. - - , 133 S. Ct. 1409, 1414, 185 L. Ed. 2d 495 (2013)
(quoting United States v. Jones, - U.S. - - , 132 S. Ct. 945, 950-51 n. 3, 181
L. Ed. 2d 911 (2012)). The Supreme Court has held that although the Fourth
Amendment does not "prevent all investigations conducted on private property," the
home "is first among equals." Id. One of the core principles of the Fourth Amendment
is a person's right "to retreat into his own home and there be free from unreasonable
governmental intrusion." Id. (quoting Silverman v. United States, 365 U.S. 505, 511
81 S. Ct. 679, 683, 5 L. Ed. 2d 734 (1961)). As the Supreme Court stated in Jardines,
This right would be oflittle practical value if the State's agents could
stand in a home's porch or side garden and trawl for evidence with
impunity; the right to retreat would be significantly diminished if the
police could enter a man's property to observe his repose from just
outside the front window.
To that end, the Fourth Amendment also protects the curtilage, the area
"immediately sunounding and associated with the home," which is classified as "pari
of the home itself for Fomih Amendment purposes. "Id. (quoting Oliver v. United
States, 466 U.S. 170, 180, 104 S. Ct. 1735, 1742, 80 L. Ed. 2d 214 (1984). The
curtilage is the area around the home, including porches and other ar'eas adjacent to the
home, that is "intimately linked to the home, both physically and psychologically" and
1
"to which the activity of the home life extends." Jardines. 133 S.Ct. at 1415 (quoting
674 California v. Ciraolo, 476 U.S. 207, 213, 106 S. Ct. 1809, 1812, 90 L. Ed. 2d 210(1986) and Oliver, 466 U.S. at 182 n. 12, 104 S.Ct. at 1743 n. 12).
Defining the boundaries of curtilage is a "familiar" concept "easily understood
from our daily experience." Oliver. 466 U.S. at 182 n. 12, 104 S.Ct. at 1743 n. 12. In
determining whether a particular area is so intimately tied to the home as to constitute
curtilage, we consider factors including (1) the proximity of the area to the home; (2)
whether the area is included within an enclosure surrounding the home; (3) the nature
of the uses to which the area is put; and (4) the steps taken by the resident to protect
the area from observation by people passing by. Whether a particular area is
included within the cUliilage is detennined by whether the defendant had a reasonable
expectation of privacy in the area. Porteous v. State, 259 S.W.3d 741, 746 (Tex.
App.- Houston nSf Dist.} 2007), pet. dism'd, improvidently granted, 253 S.W.3d
288 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008)
2. Intrusion onto curtilage notjustified
Law enforcement officers are not required to " 'shield their eyes' when passing
by the home on public thoroughfares,' " but their ability "to gather information is
16
sharply circumscribed" when they leave the public thoroughfares and enter
constitutionally protected areas. rd. At 1415 (quoting Ciraolo, 476 U.S. at 213,106
S. Ct. @ 1812). When officers gather information in constitutionally protected areas,
we must determine whether this was "accomplished through an unlicensed physical
intrusion" onto the propeliy. Id. Law enforcement officers, like members of the public,
have an implied license to approach a home via the front walkway and knock on the
front door. Id. ("This implicit license typically permits the visitor to approach the home
by the front path, knock promptly, wait briefly to be received, and then (absent
invitation to linger longer) (leave."); Washington v. State, 152 S.W.3d 209, 214
(Tex. App.-Amarillo 2004, no pet.) (holding that general restrictions upon intruding
upon curtilage do "not prevent a police officer from approaching and knocking upon
the front door of a home"). Police officers who do not have a warrant to search the
property "may approach a home and knock, precisely because that is 'no more than any
private citizen might do.' "Jardines, 133S.Ct. at 1416 (quoting Kentucky v. King,
U.S. ,131 S. Ct. 1849, 1862, 179 L. Ed. 2d 865 (201l).
This implied license granting permission to police officers to enter onto the
curtilage to contact the resident exists so long as the resident has not manifested an
17
intent to restrict access to his home, such as by locking a gate or posting signs
indicating that the officer is not invited, and the officer "does not deviate from the
normal path of traffic" to the front or back door of the house. Washington, 152
S.W.3d at 215 (citing Buchanan v. State, 129 S.W.3d 767, 773 (Tex.App.-Amarillo
2004, pet. rerd); see also Duhig v. State, 171 S.W.3d 631, 637-38 (Tex. App.-
Houston [14 th Dist.] 2005, pet. rer d) (citing with approval cases from other
intermediate appellate courts holding that approaching back door of home is
permissible and does not constitute search when officers have first tried fi'ont door and
received no answer). A license to enter onto property is limited to a particular area of
the property. See Jardines. 133 S.Ct. at 1416. Thus, an implied license to approach
the front door via the front walkway to contact the resident does not extend permission
to walk up to a window located on a separate side of the house to attempt to contact the
resident. See id. ("The scope of a license-express or implied-is limited not only to a
particular area but also to a specific purpose.").
Appellant contends that the officers made the observations leading to appellant's
arrest from the curtilage, a constitutionally protected area, and they had neither an
express nor an implied license to be in the specific area of the curtilage from which
18
they made their observations. It is undisputed that the officers did not have a waHant
to search appellant's house and that the officers did not have probable cause to believe
that any criminal activity was occurring in the house.
Appellant contends other than depending on Cady v. Dombrowski, 413 U.S.
433,93 S. Ct. 2523, 37 L. Ed. 2d 706 (1973), which established the community-
caretaking exception, the State provides no authority for why that doctrine, which
recognizes that "[t]he need to protect or preserve life or avoid serious injury is
justification for what would be otherwise illegal absent an exigency or emergency,"
should be expanded to cover the situation present here, in which officers, in an attempt
to make contact with the Appellant reference a possible class C ticket did invade the
property and privacy rights of an unrelated individual. Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S.
385,392,98 S.Ct.2408, 2413, 57 L. Ed. 2d 290 (1978) (stating purpose of community-
caretaking exception); Wright v. State, 7 S.W.3d 148, 152 (Tex.Crim.App.1999)
(noting that community-caretaking exception has "narrow
applicability" and stating, "Only in the most unusual circumstances will waHantless
searches of private, fixed property, or stops of persons located thereon, be
justified under the community caretaking function, given the greater expectation of
19
privacy inherent with respect to residences and other private real property").
Appellant submits excerpts of the transcript to support his position:
MR. HOLMES: Your Honor, I call Officer Darlin Lebel.
Q. Okay. When you went to the residence, what did you see?
A. Mr. Selman run inside the home.
A. I got to the door and advised Mr. Selman to open the door.
MR. HOLMES: Okay. Her report indicates that she went to the residence to
criminally trespass him from the property, so I'm going to refresh her recollection-
Q. (BY MR. HOMES) Was there any other reason that you went to the residence,
other than that he fled from you? And if you need to refer to your report -
A. Yes, sir. The homeowners asked me to do a criminal trespass on him.
Q. Okay. And so was that also your purpose in following Mr. Selman to the residence?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And so when you say, "to do a criminal trespass," what does that entail?
A. To advise Mr. Selman that he's not allowed back on that property and that if he does,
further actions will be taken.
Q. Okay. And is it your department's policy - I've seen it with other departments. Is it
your department's policy to actually, like, write out a citation with a criminal trespass
warning?
A. Yes, sir. We have to get him to sign a piece of paper.
Q. Acknowledging that he'd been warned?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Okay. Was that also your intent of being at the property?
A. Yes, Sir.
Q. So when you went up to the house, what did you do?
A. Advised Mr. Selman to open the door.
Q. Was it locked?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you attempt to enter the residence?
A. I don't remember.
Q. Okay. And did Mr. Selman ever corne to the door?
A. No, sir. (RR V5, P 97-99)
The Record is clear and direct. The purpose of the Hubbard Police Department
was to notify Appellant that any future Criminal Trespass could lead to possible
charges. Appellant contends this factor in itself negates any obligation for Appellant
to consent to any search or seizure while at his home without a valid arrest warrant or
search warrant.
Q. Okay. Ultimately, Officer Lebel, did you or Officer - Chief Patrick make an arrest on
Mr. Billy Joe Selman that day?
A. Yes, sir, we did.
Q. And for what was he charged?
A. For evading.
Based on the factual circumstances presented in this case, the Court should
conclude that the arresting officers, at the time they initially approached appellant's
house, did not possess an objectively reasonable belief, based on specific and
articulable facts, that appellant's house harbored individuals who posed a danger to
those on the arrest scene. Reasor, 12 S.W.3d at 817; Cooksey, 350 S.W.3d at 187
(holding that officers did not have reasonable, articulable suspicion that defendant
posed danger to their safety); Davis, 74 S.W.3d at 96-97 (holding that officers did not
have reasonable, articulable suspicion that someone other than two women who were
being watched by officer was inside trailer and might harm officers). The Court should
therefore hold that the search in this case cannot be justified under the protective-
sweep exception to the warrant requirement.
Appellant submits the transcript excerpts which clearly show a Constitutional
violation of the Fourth Amendment in the instant case.
(3) WAS THERE A VIOLATION OF DISCOVERY TO THE DFENSE IN
VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 39.14?
In reviewing the COUli Reporters Record it is clear that a violation of Article
39.14 occUlTed in the instant case. In support of the position Appellant presents the
following testimony that was elicited by Trial Counsel:
Q. Okay. Okay. Now - so you arrive - does your - was your car equipped with any
kind of dashcam video?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Okay. And was a dashcam video made of this incident?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Okay/ Was it entered into evidence?
A. It should have been.
Q Okay. Okay. Because I was looking through your report and I didn't see anything
about a dashcam video being made. Do you know of any reason -
A. There was not one turned in?
Q. The report doesn't seem to indicate that. Do you know otherwise?
A. Our reports don't state about evidence.
Appellant contends that the above testimony clearly shows a violation of
Article 39.14 and request this Honorable Court reverse and dismiss the instant
case.
PRAYER
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant prays this
Honorable COUl1 in the interest of Justice reverse and remand with an order of
dismissal in the instant case.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
sf Ricardo De Los Santos
RICARDO DE LOS SANTOS
SBN 00792456
202 S. Main Street
Cleburne, Texas 76033
(817) 558-3885
(817) 336-3355 fax
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I hereby certifY in accordance with TRAP 9.4, that this document has 5712 word
count in the Microfoft Word document.
Is/Ricardo De Los Santos
Ricardo De Los Santos
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certifY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document was sent
via electronic filing on October 13, 2015 and a copy to the Honorable R. David
Holmes, County Attorney, at the Hill County law office.
/s/Ricardo De Los Santos
Ricardo De Los Santos
NO. 06-15-00121-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
BILL Y JOE SELMAN
Appellant
VS.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee.
APPENDIX OF APPELLANT
On Appeal from the County COUli at Law of Hill County, Texas
in Cause No. M0890-14
Hon. Matt Crain, Presiding
RICARDO DE LOS SANTOS
SBN 00792456
202 S.Main Street
Cleburne, Texas 76033
Telephone: (817)558-3885
Fax: (817)641-2525
ABOGAD098@AOL.COM
ATTORNEY FOR
APPELLANT
APPENDIX:
DISTRIT CLERK OF HILL COUNTY
EXHIBIT 1. COpy OF "MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL MOTION IN ARREST
OF JUDGMENT.
EXHIBIT 2. COURT'S ORDER DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION.
EXHIBIT 3. COPY OF ENVOLOPE TO THE COURT FROM APPELLANT.
EXHIBIT 4. COpy OF LETTER FROM APPELLANT TO COURT.
, !
CAUSE NO~S. M0890-14 Zul5 JUv" 23 1\;1 8: Oli
STATE OF TEXAS § IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW
§
VS. §
§
BILLY JOE SELMAN § HILL COUNTY~ TEXAS
MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL, MOTION IN ARREST OF JUDGMENT
TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:
COMES NOW, Billy Joe Selman, the Defendant in the above styled and numbered cause,
and files this Motion for New Trial and Motion in Arrest of Judgment pursuant to Rules 21 and
22 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, and in support thereof would show this court the
following;
1. The Defendant was sentenced on May 19th, 2015. This Motion, filed within the
thirty-day timetable, is therefore timely. A hearing must be commenced before the 75th day
after the sentence, which is August 3, 2015, or this motion is overruled by operation oflaw.
2. The verdict in this cause is contrary to the law and the evidence. See Tex. R.
App. P. 21.3.
3.
alleged:
Criminal Appeals has emphasized:
Motion for New Trial, Arrest ofJudgment, and Appointed Appellate counsel.
, r
For more than one hundred and twenty years, our trial judges have had the discretion to
grant new trials in the interest of justice, In Mullins v. State, 37 Tex. 337, 339-340
(1872-73), the Supreme Court, which at that time [lad criminal jurisdiction, held:
... The discretion of the District Court, in granting new trials, is almost the only
protection to the citizen against the illegal or oppressive verdicts of prejudiced,
careless, or ignorant juries, and we think the District Court should never hesitate
to use that discretion whenever the ends ofjustice have not been attained by those
verdicts.
State v. Gonzalez, 855 S.W.2d 692 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).
6. For the foregoing reasons, and for such other reasons that may arise on the
hearing of this Motion, Defendant requests a new trial.
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Defendant prays that the Court set aside
the judgment of conviction entered in this cause and order a new trial on the merits.
Respectfully submitted,
Billy Joe Selman
Pro-se defendant
CERTIFICATE OF PRESENTMENT
By signature above, I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above and a/I
foregoing has been mailed to the Office for the Hill County Court at Law, on this day,M ~
.:ruNE
Motion for New Trial, Arrest ofJudgment, and Appointed Appellate counsel. 20f3
, (
-li,2015.
CJ&:IFICATE OF SERVICE
This is to certify that on Ji4 -ti, 2015, a true and correct copy of the above and
:Jwve
foregoing document was served on the County Attorney's Office, Hill County, Texas, by mail
delivery.
Bil1Y~
NOTICE FOR A SETTING
On " , 2015, the Defendant filed a Motion for New
Trial and Motion in Arrest of Judgment. The Court finds that the party is entitled to a hearing on
this matter, and it is THEREFORE ORDERED that a hearing on this motion is set for
_ _ _ _ _ _ _, at ,
Signed on _
JUDGE PRESIDING I COURT COORDINATOR
Arrest ofJudgment, and Appointed Appellate counseL
AFFIDAVIT
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, appeared Billy Joe Selman, who after being
duly sworn by me stated the following under oath:
"My name is Billy Joe Selman. I am acting as a pro~se attorney in this cause. I am over
the age of 18 years, have never been convicted of a felony, and am competent to make this
affidavit.
I hereby swear or affirm that the following facts supporting my motion are true and
correct:
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, this /3 day
,20l5.
CRAIG HAGOOO
NOTARY PUOI.IC
STATE OF TI~'
~lI'1Q" My Comm. bpirH ttl.(1;,ZOiS
AJjfidtrvtt on MOtiOft for JUlr:l/?1J'felJtt, and Appointed Appellate counsel,
HGf L j,.
U) ,
" ;,.J'
CAUSE NO'S. M0890-14
ZDl5 JlJN 23 B= 0,
STATE OF TEXAS § IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW
§
VS. §
§
BILLY JOE SELMAN § HILL COUNTY, TEXAS
ORDER
On q~ -z.3 , 2015, came on to be considered Billy Joe Selman's Motion for
New Trial and Motion in Arrest of Judgment, and said motion is hereby
on MOitiOn
-
-•.1
111
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