Howard Johnson v. State ( 2009 )

IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-07-00315-CR
HOWARD JOHNSON,
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
From the 85th District Court
Brazos County, Texas
Trial Court No. 06-04179-CRF-85
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A jury convicted Howard Johnson of possession of a controlled substance and
sentenced him to eight years in prison. Johnson’s appellate counsel filed an Anders brief
presenting one potential issue. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L.
Ed. 2d 493 (1967). Johnson also filed a pro se brief and supplemental brief raising more
than twenty arguments, which we have divided into nine issues discussed below. The
State did not file a brief. We affirm.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In an Anders case, we must, “after a full examination of all the proceedings, []
decide whether the case is wholly frivolous.” Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S. Ct. at 1400;
accord Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 509-11 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Coronado v. State,
996 S.W.2d 283, 285 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999, order) (per curiam), disp. on merits, 25
S.W.3d 806 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000, pet. ref’d). An appeal is “wholly frivolous” or
“without merit” when it “lacks any basis in law or fact.” McCoy v. Court of Appeals, 486
U.S. 429, 439 n.10, 108 S. Ct. 1895, 1902, 100 L. Ed. 2d 440 (1988). Arguments are
frivolous if they “cannot conceivably persuade the court.” Id. at 426, 108 S. Ct. at 1901.
An appeal is not frivolous if based on “arguable grounds.” Stafford, 813 S.W.2d at 511.
AMENDMENT OF THE INDICTMENT
Enhancement paragraph one alleged that Johnson was convicted of
“Man/Del/possession” of a controlled substance. At punishment, the trial court
allowed the State to abandon the manufacture/delivery portion of the paragraph as
surplusage. Johnson’s objections to the amendment were overruled.
An indictment may not be amended over the defendant’s objection as to form or
substance if the amended indictment charges the defendant with an additional or
different offense or if the substantial rights of the defendant are prejudiced. TEX. CODE
CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 28.10(c) (Vernon 2006). Abandonment is appropriate when it: (1)
abandons one or more alternative means of committing the offense; (2) reduces the
charged offense to a lesser included offense; or (3) eliminates surplusage. See Eastep v.
State, 941 S.W.2d 130, 135 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997), overruled on other grounds by Riney v.
Johnson v. State Page 2
State, 28 S.W.3d 561 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); see also Hardie v. State, 79 S.W.3d 625, 632 n.1
(Tex. App.—Waco 2002, pet. ref’d).
Because enhancement paragraphs are unessential to the indictment’s validity, the
State could abandon the language as surplusage. See Johnson v. State, 214 S.W.3d 157,
158-59 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2007, no pet.); see also Stautzenberger v. State, 232 S.W.3d
323, 328 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, no pet.). Moreover, removal of the
language was a mere abandonment of alternative means for proving the prior
conviction. See Adams v. State, 642 S.W.2d 211, 213 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
1982, no writ). The amendment did not charge Johnson with an additional or different
offense or prejudice his substantial rights. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 28.10(c).
LEGAL AND FACTUAL SUFFICIENCY
Johnson contends that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support
his conviction. We disagree.
Several facts establish the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support
Johnson’s conviction for possession of cocaine. He was the driver and owner of the
vehicle in which the cocaine was found. He was seen making gestures suggesting the
disposal of contraband. The cocaine was found in the area where he was seated and
was positioned such that it actually had to be placed, not thrown, in that area. Other
contraband was found in the vehicle and Johnson was in possession of a large amount
of cash. He also lied about having no prior drug convictions. Although another
passenger, Cynthia Wallace, purportedly “confessed” to owning the cocaine, Officer
Matthew Ford did not observe Wallace making any questionable movements in the
Johnson v. State Page 3
vehicle, Wallace was not seated in the area where the cocaine was found, and Officer
Ford testified that he did not believe that the cocaine could have been tossed into the
confined space where it was found. See Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402, 405-06 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2005); see also Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 162 n.12 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
As the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence, the jury bore the
burden of accepting or rejecting Johnson’s version of the events. See Lancon v. State, 253
S.W.3d 699, 707 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). In doing so, it could reasonably conclude that
Johnson was in possession of the cocaine recovered from the vehicle. Viewing all the
evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, the jury could reasonably conclude,
beyond a reasonable doubt, that Johnson committed the offense of possession of a
controlled substance. Curry v. State, 30 S.W.3d 394, 406 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). The
proof of guilt is not so weak nor the conflicting evidence so strong as to render the
jury’s verdict clearly wrong and manifestly unjust. Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 414-
15 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
JURY CHARGE
Johnson contends that he was entitled to a jury instruction on the
time/proximity defense because he was seated in the back of the patrol car when Ford
discovered the cocaine and Wallace confessed to owning the cocaine.
“A defendant is entitled to an instruction on [a defensive issue] if the issue is
raised by the evidence, whether that evidence is strong or weak, unimpeached or
contradicted, and regardless of what the trial court may think about the credibility of
the defense.” Ferrel v. State, 55 S.W.3d 586, 591 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Kelly v. State, 195
Johnson v. State Page 4
S.W.3d 753, 756 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006, pet. ref’d). However, “a defensive instruction
is not required when the issue in question is not a statutorily-enumerated defense and
merely serves to negate elements of the State’s case.” Ortiz v. State, 93 S.W.3d 79, 92
(Tex. Crim. App. 2002), cert. denied, 538 U.S. 998, 123 S. Ct. 1901, 155 L. Ed. 2d 824 (2003);
Moore v. State, 143 S.W.3d 305, 315-16 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, pet. ref’d). The defense
Johnson claims entitlement to does not implicate statutory or affirmative defenses, but
merely serves to negate the control, management, or care element of possession. No
instruction was required. See Ortiz, 93 S.W.3d at 92; see also Moore, 143 S.W.3d at 315-16.
EXPERT TESTIMONY
Johnson argues that the trial court abused its discretion by allowing Officer Billy
Couch to testify as an expert because (1) Couch was designated shortly before trial; and
(2) the trial court limited Couch’s testimony to “purchasing,” but Couch testified to
“trafficking” when he explained why a person purchasing narcotics has money
accessible and when a user carries paraphernalia on his person. Johnson filed a pro se
motion for notice of expert witnesses, which trial counsel adopted, but the record does
not indicate that disclosure was ever ordered. See Tamez v. State, 205 S.W.3d 32, 39-40
(Tex. App.—Tyler 2006, no pet.); see also TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 39.14(b)
(Vernon Supp. 2008). Neither did Johnson object to Couch’s testimony. Under these
circumstances, the complaint is not preserved for appellate review. See TEX. R. APP. P.
33.1; see also Martinez v. State, 98 S.W.3d 189, 193 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); Tamez, 205
S.W.3d at 40.
Johnson v. State Page 5
EXCLUSION OF THE CONFESSION
Johnson complains that a sworn confession was excluded. Wallace’s notarized
letter confession, however, was admitted into evidence and read aloud to the jury
during the State’s cross-examination of Johnson. This complaint presents nothing for
our review. See Webb v. State, No. 12-07-00315-CR, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5718, at
*5 (Tex. App.—Tyler July 31, 2008, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication).
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE OF WITNESSES
Johnson argues that he was denied the right to compulsory attendance of
witnesses because the trial court failed to rule on his original and amended pro se
motions to subpoena Wallace and another witness. Because Johnson was represented
by counsel, the trial court was not required to entertain these motions. See Robinson v.
State, 240 S.W.3d 919, 922 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
DUE PROCESS
Johnson maintains that the investigation by police and the district attorney’s
office violated due process, as indicated by a police report that the State delayed
disclosing in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215
(1963). This report is not in the record; thus, we cannot determine whether a Brady
violation occurred. See Carraway v. State, 507 S.W.2d 761, 764 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974).
Johnson further argues that his continued detention violated due process in light
of the police report and Wallace’s confession. However, several affirmative links
connect Johnson to the cocaine and the record indicates that Wallace could not be
located; there is no indication in the record that the investigation was unfairly focused
Johnson v. State Page 6
on Johnson. See Harris v. State, No. 06-05-00031-CR, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 7558, at
*5 (Tex. App.—Texarkana Sept. 14, 2005, no pet.) (not designated for publication).
ILLEGAL SENTENCE
Johnson contends that his sentence is illegal because of two enhancement
paragraphs. He argues that paragraph one is improper because it involved an offense
that occurred before September 1, 1994. Paragraph one alleged that Johnson was
convicted of manufacture/delivery/possession of a controlled substance in an amount
of 4-200 grams. Because the State abandoned the manufacture/delivery portion of the
enhancement, we are concerned with possession. Both at the time of the offense and
now, possession of a controlled substance in an amount of 4-200 grams is a felony. See
Act of May 18, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 678, § 1, 1989 Tex. Gen. Laws 2230, 2936-37
(amended 1993) (current version at TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.115(d)
(Vernon 2003)). It could be used for enhancement. See TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. §
12.42(a)(2) (Vernon Supp. 2008) (“If it is shown on the trial of a state jail felony
punishable under Section 12.35(a) that the defendant has previously been finally
convicted of two felonies…on conviction the defendant shall be punished for a second-
degree felony.”); see also TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. § 12.33 (Vernon 2003) (A second degree
felony is punishable by 2 to 20 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed
$10,000); Boren v. State, 182 S.W.3d 422, 424 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005, pet. ref’d).
Johnson further contends that paragraph one is improper because the State failed
to prove the amount of the controlled substance. However, the State introduced the
penitentiary packet into evidence at guilt-innocence. At punishment, the State moved
Johnson v. State Page 7
to reintroduce all evidence admitted at guilt-innocence. The pen packet could be used
to prove the prior conviction and the State was “not required to prove the defendant
guilty of each element of the prior convictions alleged; since that has already been done
at previous trials.” Reynolds v. State, 227 S.W.3d 355, 360-61 (Tex. App.—Texarkana
2007, no pet.); see Flowers v. State, 220 S.W.3d 919, 921-22 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
As for paragraph two, Johnson pleaded “true” to the second enhancement
paragraph and the record does not affirmatively reflect that the enhancement is
improper; thus, he is estopped from challenging the use of that conviction to enhance
his sentence.1 See Ex parte Rich, 194 S.W.3d 508, 513 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
In summary, the enhancement paragraphs were properly used and Johnson’s
sentence is not illegal.
UNPRESERVED COMPLAINTS
Johnson has raised other complaints addressing the granting of the State’s
motion in limine, defects in the enhancement paragraphs, improper jury argument, and
admission of his 1993 and 1997 convictions for possession of cocaine, a 1989 conviction,
cigar guts, driving while license suspended offense, and county jail offenses. However,
Johnson has failed to preserve these issues for appellate review by neglecting to object
1 Johnson argues that the enhancement paragraph listed an incorrect 1999 date instead of the
correct 1997 date. However, the correct date is included in the penitentiary packet admitted into
evidence. See Reese v. State, 905 S.W.2d 631, 635 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1995, pet. ref’d) (“[V]ariance
between [] indictment and [] proof was not material or fatal in light of the otherwise precise correlation
between the pen packet and the identifying information stated within the indictment.”); see also Guerra v.
State, No. 04-06-00245-CR, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 1955, at *13-14 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Mar. 14, 2007,
pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication) (Because “penitentiary packets with the correct cause numbers
were admitted into evidence during the punishment phase,” and Guerra did not “allege that the
variances between the cause numbers in the enhancement allegations and those read at the punishment
phase surprised him to his prejudice, the variances are not material and do not require reversal.”).
Johnson v. State Page 8
when testimony or evidence regarding these matters was admitted or an objection was
otherwise required. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1.
INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE
To prove ineffective assistance of trial counsel, an appellant must show that: (1)
counsel’s performance was deficient; and (2) the defense was prejudiced by counsel’s
deficient performance. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052,
2064, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); see also Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 521, 123 S. Ct. 2527,
2535, 156 L. Ed. 2d 471 (2003).
Johnson alleges several failures by trial counsel. He filed a pro se motion for new
trial alleging ineffective assistance, but no hearing was held on the motion. The record
is silent as to any reasons explaining trial counsel’s actions and we will not so speculate.
See Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 814 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Absent a record
revealing trial counsel’s strategy or motivation, Johnson has not defeated the strong
presumption that trial counsel’s actions fell within the wide range of reasonable
professional assistance. See id. His ineffective assistance claim is better raised through
an application for a writ of habeas corpus. See Rylander v. State, 101 S.W.3d 107, 110
(Tex. Crim. App. 2003).
To prove ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, Johnson must show that: (1)
counsel’s performance was deficient; and (2) there is a reasonable probability he “would
have prevailed on appeal” but for counsel’s deficient performance. Ex parte Santana, 227
S.W.3d 700, 704-05 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Johnson cannot meet this standard. Our
review of the trial record does not suggest that there is any reasonable probability that
Johnson v. State Page 9
Johnson “would have prevailed on appeal” if counsel had presented some of the issues
he discusses in his pro se response. See id.
INDEPENDENT REVIEW
Having conducted an independent review of the record, we find this appeal to be
wholly frivolous. We affirm the judgment. Pursuant to Rule of Appellate Procedure
48.4, counsel must send Johnson a copy of our decision by certified mail, return receipt
requested, at Johnson’s last known address. TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4. Counsel must also
notify Johnson of his right to file a pro se petition for discretionary review. Id.; see also Ex
parte Owens, 206 S.W.3d 670, 673-74 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Villanueva v. State, 209
S.W.3d 239, 249 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006, no pet.). We grant counsel’s motion to
withdraw, effective upon counsel’s compliance with the aforementioned notification
requirement as evidenced by “a letter [to this Court] certifying his compliance.” See
TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4.
FELIPE REYNA
Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Reyna, and
Justice Davis
(Chief Justice Gray concurring with note)*
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed July 8, 2009
Do not publish
[CR25]
* (Chief Justice Gray joins no part of the opinion. A separate opinion will not
follow. He notes, however, that for the reasons expressed in his concurring opinion in
Johnson v. State Page 10
Kirven v. State, No. 10-08-00064-CR, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3338, at *10-14 (Tex. App.—
Waco May 13, 2009, no pet.) (not designated for publication) (Gray, C.J., concurring), his
dissenting opinion in Garner v. State, No. 10-05-00218-CR, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 4246, at
*17-20 (Tex. App.—Waco May 30, 2007, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication)
(Gray, C.J., dissenting), and his concurring opinion in Villanueva v. State, 209 S.W.3d
239, 249-252 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006, no pet.) (Gray, C.J., concurring), he joins only the
judgment affirming the trial court’s judgment.)
Johnson v. State Page 11