Joshua Evans v. State , 440 S.W.3d 107 ( 2013 )

IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-11-00136-CR
JOSHUA EVANS,
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
From the 361st District Court
Brazos County, Texas
Trial Court No. 10-02910-CRF-361
OPINION
Johannes Kinny was killed during a robbery at the convenience store where he
worked. Joshua Evans was charged in connection with the robbery and Kinny’s death.
He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. TEX. PENAL CODE
ANN. § 19.03(a)(2) (West Supp. 2012).
On appeal, Evans complains that the evidence is insufficient to establish Evans’s
intent to kill, the trial court improperly limited jury selection by preventing Evans from
asking a proper question, and the trial court erred in not suppressing evidence from an
allegedly illegal traffic stop and in not suppressing a statement made by Evans.
Because the evidence was sufficient to establish Evans’s intent to kill while in the course
of committing robbery, the traffic stop was not illegal as alleged, the statement sought
to be suppressed was not introduced into evidence, and although the trial court did err,
by not allowing a proper commitment question, the error was harmless, we affirm
Evans’s conviction for capital murder.
BACKGROUND
Because Evans complains about the sufficiency of the evidence to prove the
capital murder element of intent to kill, we find it necessary to burden the reader with
an extended discussion of the facts from which the jury had to make that decision.
Other facts will be discussed as necessary in connection with the issue to which those
facts relate.
Store surveillance, a total of eight cameras, captured most, but not all, of the
robbery and murder on video. No sound was captured. Unlike most convenience
stores, the cash register at this particular store is not directly by the door. Rather, it is at
the end of the first aisle which runs along the wall of windows from the entrance of the
store. We will, however, refer to the front of the store from the point of view that the
cash register is at the “front” of the store.
The video showed that a man, later identified as Evans, walked into the
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convenience store, and came up the first aisle, toward the front counter. He had his
right hand in the pocket of the camouflage hoodie he was wearing as he entered the
store. The store clerk, Kinny, having previously left the front counter, was near the
back of the store. When he noticed Evans, he walked back toward the front counter
taking the second aisle.
As Evans rounded the end of the first aisle he confronted Kinny on his approach
in the second aisle and pointed a loaded .22 revolver, wrapped in a yellow bandana, at
Kinny’s face. About this time, Corey Stewart, Evans’s accomplice, entered the
convenience store and walked up the first aisle.1 Kinny was about 6 feet from Evans at
the time Evans first pointed the gun at him. Kinny continued to approach Evans and
attempted to grab the gun with both hands, but Evans pulled the gun down and away
from Kinny. Kinny lunged at Evans who then raised the gun to Kinny’s stomach and
upper body. A struggle ensued with Kinny forcing Evans backward through the store.
At some point, not discernible on the video, Kinny was shot. Just behind the last aisle
and out of view of the cameras, the gun apparently dropped to the floor as the struggle
continued toward the back of the store down the last aisle.
Stewart ran from the first aisle around to the last aisle and approached Kinny,
who was still struggling with Evans as Evans continued to move toward the back of the
1 Corey Stewart was also tried and convicted of capital murder in a separate trial. Stewart’s conviction
was affirmed by this Court in Stewart v. State, No. 10-11-00291-CR, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 9644 (Tex.
App.—Waco Aug. 1, 2013) (not designated for publication). No proceedings in the two cases were held
together; therefore, we consider only the record as developed in each of the separate proceedings to
decide the issues presented.
Evans v. State Page 3
store. The remainder of the action continues out of the effective view of surveillance
cameras. Kinny can, however, be seen falling. Stewart and then Evans return within
the view of the camera and make their way up the third aisle toward the store’s front
counter. Evans rounded the end of the aisle and headed to the last aisle where he found
his gun, picked it up off of the floor, and put it in his pocket. Stewart ripped the cash
tray from behind the front counter and started to leave. However, he stopped and
retrieved a pistol that was lying on a shelf beneath the countertop. Stewart and Evans
left the store. Kinny died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the chest. He also
suffered several stab wounds to his back.
The eight shot .22 caliber revolver used by Evans was ultimately located at
Stewart’s apartment. It was loaded with seven hollow-point bullets and one empty
cartridge in its cylinder. An officer testified that hollow-point bullets are designed to
expand upon impact and produce the most damage possible. The revolver was old,
rusty, and had no grips. The cylinder was severely warped so that it would not freely
rotate; further, once it was fired, the cylinder did not lock into place like it was
supposed to. The State’s expert testified that the revolver would only discharge if the
trigger was pulled and stated that the bullet taken from Kinny’s body was fired from
the revolver. Contrary to the State’s expert testimony, Evans’s expert testified that the
revolver would fire without the trigger being pulled if the hammer was pulled back, but
not fully, and released. The expert called this method of firing “fanning.” Evans’s
Evans v. State Page 4
expert admitted, however, that the revolver would not have fired had there not been a
live round in the cylinder.
Evans and Stewart became suspects in the offense and were arrested after a
traffic stop. Stewart was driving the vehicle stopped and Evans was a passenger.
Evans was wearing some of the same distinctive clothing noticed on the convenience
store surveillance video.
While in jail, Evans bragged to a fellow inmate, Justin Stewart, that when the
store clerk reached for a gun, Evans shot him with a .22 revolver. Justin knew who
Evans was because of a news story he had seen; however, the news story did not
mention a .22 revolver being used in the crime. Justin also said that Evans told him “the
other guy” stabbed the clerk until he was dead. Evans told Justin that he and the clerk
had a “scuffle” and that was why Evans had scratches and bandages on his face. Justin
testified that Evans showed no remorse while telling Justin how he shot the clerk and
that Evans was getting excited when telling Justin what happened.
A jailer testified that about a month after Evans was placed in jail, he witnessed a
confrontation between Evans and another inmate. The jailer heard Evans tell the other
inmate, “I’m a killer. I’ll kill you,[]. I’m already a killer.”
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
In his first issue, Evans contends that the evidence is insufficient to show that he
intended to kill Kinny while in the course of committing a robbery.
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Evans argues that the evidence was insufficient to show that he intended to kill
Kinny for several reasons: 1) the video shows Kinny was aggressively struggling with
Evans at the time Kinny was shot; 2) the video shows Evans lowered the gun and did
not shoot Kinny as Kinny approached Evans; 3) the video shows the gun fell to the
floor, indicating a struggle over the gun; 4) the gun was old and foreign and
manufactured without modern safety designs; 5) the gun would fire without the trigger
being pulled; and 6) the gun could have been fired unintentionally. For these reasons,
Evans argues, a rational jury could not find an intent to kill.
Standard of Review
The Court of Criminal Appeals has expressed our standard of review of a
sufficiency issue as follows:
In determining whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support
a conviction, a reviewing court must consider all of the evidence in the
light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether, based on that
evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, a rational fact finder could
have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979); Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9,
13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). This "familiar standard gives full play to the
responsibility of the trier of fact fairly to resolve conflicts in the testimony,
to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts
to ultimate facts." Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. "Each fact need not point
directly and independently to the guilt of the appellant, as long as the
cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to
support the conviction." Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13.
Lucio v. State, 351 S.W.3d 878, 894 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).
The Court of Criminal Appeals has also explained that our review of "all of the
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evidence" includes evidence that was properly and improperly admitted. Conner v.
State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 197 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). And if the record supports conflicting
inferences, we must presume that the factfinder resolved the conflicts in favor of the
prosecution and therefore defer to that determination. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,
326, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979). Further, direct and circumstantial evidence
are treated equally: "Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in
establishing the guilt of an actor, and circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to
establish guilt." Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Finally, it is
well established that the factfinder is entitled to judge the credibility of witnesses and
can choose to believe all, some, or none of the testimony presented by the parties.
Chambers v. State, 805 S.W.2d 459, 461 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
A person commits the offense of capital murder if the person intentionally causes
the death of an individual in the course of committing or attempting to commit a
robbery. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.03(a)(2) (West Supp. 2012). There is no
requirement that the intent to cause death be premeditated or formulated prior to the
commission of the robbery. See Rousseau v. State, 855 S.W.2d 666, 674 (Tex. Crim. App.
1993).
Proof of a requisite culpable mental state is almost always proved by
circumstantial evidence. Hernandez v. State, 819 S.W.2d 806, 810 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991);
Dillon v. State, 574 S.W.2d 92, 94 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); Watkins v. State, 333 S.W.3d 771,
Evans v. State Page 7
781 (Tex. App.—Waco 2010, pet. ref’d). Intent may be inferred from acts, words, and
conduct of the accused. Hernandez, 819 S.W.2d at 810. Additionally, the intent to kill
may be inferred from the use of a deadly weapon in a deadly manner. Jones v. State, 944
S.W.2d 642, 647 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996); Adanandus v. State, 866 S.W.2d 210, 215 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1993); Godsey v. State, 719 S.W.2d 578, 580-581 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986);
Watkins, 333 S.W.3d at 781. If a deadly weapon is used in a deadly manner, the
inference of intent to kill is almost conclusive. Adanandus, 866 S.W.2d at 215. Where a
deadly weapon is fired at close range and death results, the law presumes an intent to
kill. Ex parte Thompson, 179 S.W.3d 549, 556 n.18 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); Flanagan v.
State, 675 S.W.2d 734, 744-45 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) (op. on reh'g); Womble v. State, 618
S.W.2d 59, 64 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1981); Watkins, 333 S.W.3d at 781.
Argument
Evans, relying on the Court of Criminal Appeals opinion in Foster v. State,
contends evidence presented rebutted the presumption that he intended to kill Kinny.
Foster v. State, 639 S.W.2d 691 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982). Specifically, Evans asserts that
the video rebuts the presumption because it shows he lowered the gun at one point and
there was a struggle over the gun. Evans also contends that because the gun could be
fired without pulling the trigger and because the State’s expert admitted that the gun
could have fired accidentally, the presumption of intent to kill was rebutted.
In Foster, however, the Court of Criminal Appeals determined that no rational
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jury could have found that the defendant intended to kill because other evidence
showed that (1) the defendant and the victim had a loving relationship on the evening
of the shooting; (2) the weapon involved was defective and fired easily, even with its
safety on; (3) after the shooting, the defendant promptly sought medical assistance for
the victim and then notified the police; (4) the defendant freely admitted handling the
weapon when it discharged; and (5) he was extremely distraught after the shooting. See
id.; Wilkerson v. State, 881 S.W.2d 321, 324 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). Here, in contrast,
there was no such “other” evidence; thus, Foster is easily distinguished and is not
controlling.
Evans pointed a .22 revolver, fully loaded with hollow-point bullets including a
live round in the cylinder, toward Kinny’s head. He lowered the gun and then raised it
to Kinny’s chest/stomach area during the struggle. The two were no more than an
arm’s length apart when Kinny was shot. The video is inconclusive about how or when
exactly Kinny was shot. After retrieving his gun, Evans and Stewart left Kinny to die in
the convenience store. Unlike Foster, he did not seek medical help for Kinny nor did he
report the shooting. Evans displayed no remorse. Evans even bragged to an inmate
that he shot Kinny and threatened to kill another inmate at the jail, warning the other
inmate that he, Evans, was a “killer.” At most, the evidence Evans points to presents an
alternate explanation for what happened. The jury, being the sole judge of the
credibility of the witnesses and having the ability to resolve conflicts, if any, in the
Evans v. State Page 9
testimony, was free to disregard Evans’s view of the evidence and argument as to the
circumstances surrounding Kinny’s death.
Utilizing the required standard of review, we reject Evans’s insufficiency claim.
There was abundant evidence from which a rational jury could determine Evans
intended to kill Kinny when Evans shot Kinny in the course of the robbery. Evan’s first
issue is overruled.
COMMITMENT QUESTION
Evans next argues that the trial court erred when it sustained the State’s objection
to a question asked by Evans’s counsel during voir dire, believing the question to be an
improper commitment question. This is a challenge to the trial court’s limitation of voir
dire questioning.
We review a trial court's ruling regarding the limitation of voir dire questioning
for an abuse of discretion. Hernandez v. State, 390 S.W.3d 310, 315 (Tex. Crim. App.
2012); Barajas v. State, 93 S.W.3d 36, 38 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). A trial court retains
discretion to restrict voir dire questions that are confusing, misleading, vague and
broad, or are improper commitment questions. Hernandez, 390 S.W.3d at 315. To
preserve error regarding the manner of voir dire, the record must reflect that (1) the trial
court was on notice of a specific, proper question that a party wanted to ask, and (2) the
party was precluded from asking it. See Sells v. State, 121 S.W.3d 748, 756 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2003); Franklin v. State, 12 S.W.3d 473, 477 & n. 4 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Nunfio v.
Evans v. State Page 10
State, 808 S.W.2d 482, 484 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (overruled in part on other grounds by
Gonzales v. State, 994 S.W.2d 170 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999)).
The question asked by counsel was,
Well, if there was a reasonable doubt in your mind as to whether or not
the killing was intentional you would find him not guilty of capital
murder even though you believe that he committed a robbery and caused
the death?
The State began to object before the jury panel member to whom the question was
directed could answer. The trial court immediately sustained the “objection,” and
determined the question was a commitment question. Counsel informed the trial court
that he wished to ask the question to each juror. The trial court again stated that the
question was a commitment question. We find Evans’s complaint to be preserved for
review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1; Sells, 121 S.W.3d at 756.
A commitment question is one that commits a prospective juror to resolve, or
refrain from resolving, an issue a certain way after learning a particular fact. Standefer v.
State, 59 S.W.3d 177, 179 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). Often a commitment question requires
a "yes" or "no" answer and the answer commits a juror to resolve an issue in a particular
way. Id. Not all such questions are improper, however. Id. at 181. Where the law
requires a certain type of commitment from jurors, such as considering the full range of
punishment, an attorney may ask prospective jurors to commit to following the law in
that regard. Id. See also Hernandez, 390 S.W.3d at 315. Further, for a commitment
question to be proper, one of the possible answers to that question must give rise to a
Evans v. State Page 11
valid challenge for cause. Standefer, 59 S.W.3d at 182.
Here, the question sought to be asked required a yes or no answer and
committed the jurors to resolve an issue in a particular way, i.e. find Evans not guilty if
they did not believe beyond a reasonable doubt that Evans intentionally killed Kinny
even though they believed a robbery and death occurred. However, it was not an
improper commitment question. Because both robbery and intent to kill are elements of
capital murder, the law required the jurors to be able to find Evans not guilty of capital
murder if they found he did not intend to kill Kinny even though Kinny was killed in
the course of committing robbery. It committed the venire members to follow the law;
and if they could not, they would be subject to a challenge for cause. See TEX. CODE
CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 35.16 (b)(3) & (c)(2) (West 2006); Barajas v. State, 93 S.W.3d 36, 39
(Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Further, no additional facts were supplied beyond what was
necessary to sustain a challenge for cause. See Standefer, 59 S.W.3d at 182. Accordingly,
the trial court abused its discretion in sustaining the State’s objection and limiting
Evans’s voir dire questioning.
Harm
This type of error is of constitutional magnitude, violating the right to be heard
found in article I, section 10 of the Texas Constitution. See Jones v. State, 223 S.W.3d 379,
381 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); see also TEX. CONST. art. I, § 10. Thus, we must reverse the
conviction unless we determine beyond a reasonable doubt that the error did not
Evans v. State Page 12
contribute to the conviction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(a); Jones, 223 S.W. at 380. We
consider the following factors in making this determination:
(1) any testimony or physical evidence admitted for the jury's
consideration; (2) the nature of the evidence supporting the verdict; (3) the
character of the alleged error and how it might be considered in
connection with other evidence in the case; (4) the jury instructions; (5) the
State's theory and any defensive theories; (6) closing arguments; (7) voir
dire; and (8) whether the State emphasized the error.
Jones v. State, 264 S.W.3d 26, 28 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. ref’d);
Lancaster v. State, 319 S.W.3d 168, 171 (Tex. App.—Waco 2010, pet. ref’d).
The defense’s theory of the case was that, because of the condition of the gun
used and the nature of the struggle for the gun, the shooting was accidental and Evans
did not intend to kill Kinny. Thus, Evans could not be found guilty of capital murder.
During voir dire, Evans’s counsel explained to the panel members that to prove a
capital murder, the State had to prove a robbery and that during the course of that
robbery, someone was intentionally killed. He further explained that if only part of the
offense was proved, the parties could ask for a lesser included offense instruction and
the jury would be able to consider a lesser offense, such as aggravated robbery or
murder. He gave an example that if the jury believed an aggravated robbery and a
killing took place but did not believe beyond a reasonable doubt the killing was
intentional, the jury could find a defendant guilty of the lesser included offense of
murder.
Counsel also read the definitions of knowingly and intentionally and explained
Evans v. State Page 13
that to intend to kill is more serious, i.e. capital murder, than merely having knowledge
that conduct is reasonably certain to cause death, i.e. murder. Some panel members saw
a difference between knowing and intentional. A few did not. Of those who did not,
one requested a demonstration of the difference. After trying to explain further, the
trial court stepped in to give an example and the panel member then understood the
difference. However, counsel took issue with the court’s example and again explained
the difference between knowledge and intent.
Later in his voir dire, counsel returned to the issue of the difference between
knowledge and intent. Counsel asked the panel to assume that the State proved beyond
a reasonable doubt that there was a robbery and that someone was killed. He asked if
anyone believed that would be enough to find a defendant guilty of capital murder
without any specific evidence of intent to kill. A few panel members raised their hands.
Panel members no. 1 and no. 14 did not require specific evidence of intent to kill. When
panel member no. 15 agreed with the others, the trial court interrupted and explained
that “An intent to do one thing is not necessary proof that you intended to do
something else.” After further explanation about how a person is not required to have
an intent to kill to commit a robbery, panel member 15 said he could consider a separate
intent to kill. Counsel then asked the commitment question.
Later, several panel members were questioned at the bench so that the parties
could make their challenges for cause. Of those questioned were the two panel
Evans v. State Page 14
members who had difficulty finding a distinction between a knowing killing and an
intentional killing. Panel member no. 1 said she would find the defendant guilty of
capital murder if he knowingly killed rather than intentionally killed someone. She was
stricken for cause. Panel member no. 14 assured the court he could follow the law given
to him. Panel member no. 15 was not questioned because he or she was rehabilitated
during voir dire.
The jury seated saw most of the offense from the store’s surveillance camera
video. Although it could not be determined from the video precisely when the shot was
fired that killed Kinny, as we have held, there was sufficient evidence to support a
finding of Evans’s intent to kill Kinny. Whether the evidence supported an intent to kill
was discussed considerably by both Evans and the State during argument, but there
was no emphasis of the “error” of the court by the State and no effort to confuse the jury
on the issue that intent to kill must be proven by the State.
The court’s charge instructed the jury on various definitions, including intent.
The jury was instructed on not only the offense of capital murder, but also the lesser
offenses of murder and felony murder. If the jury believed there was no intent to kill
but only that Evans knowingly caused Kinny’s death, they were given the opportunity
to find Evans guilty of murder rather than capital murder. Further, if the jury believed
there was no intent to kill but only that Evans committed an act “clearly dangerous to
human life” by shooting Kinny, they were given the opportunity to find Evans guilty of
Evans v. State Page 15
felony murder rather than capital murder or murder.
After considering the record in light of the factors and especially in light of
counsel’s ability to determine which panel members could not see a difference between
knowing and intentional and counsel’s ability to strike those members for cause or
rehabilitate them, we determine beyond a reasonable doubt that the trial court’s error in
not permitting the commitment question to be asked did not contribute to the
conviction.
Evan’s second issue is overruled.
MOTION TO SUPPRESS–LEGALITY OF STOP
Next, Evans argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his
motion to suppress evidence because the evidence was obtained as a result of an illegal
traffic stop.
No pre-trial motion to suppress was filed. Evans initially urged a motion to
suppress, via an objection, during trial after the officer who conducted the traffic stop
testified and his in-car video was introduced into evidence but before the items seized
from Evans were introduced. The jury was then excused and a hearing on the objection
was held. Evans complained outside the presence of the jury that he believed the traffic
stop to be illegal and the eventual introduction of Evans’s t-shirt and shoes should be
excluded under Article 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. After
considerable discussion, the trial court denied the “motion to suppress.” With the next
Evans v. State Page 16
witness, the State sought to introduce all the items seized from Evans after the traffic
stop. Those items included the t-shirt and shoes and also included money and socks.
Evans re-urged his previous “objection” as to all items being introduced. It was
overruled. On appeal, Evans complains only about the admission of the shoes and
socks.
Presentation
As a preliminary matter, we determine whether the form of Evans’s “motion”
was properly presented to the trial court for determination. Article 38.23 is the Texas
exclusionary rule, which a defendant may invoke when he asserts that certain evidence
was obtained illegally. That provision reads as follows:
No evidence obtained by an officer or other person in violation of any
provisions of the Constitution or laws of the State of Texas, or of the
Constitution or laws of the United States of America, shall be admitted in
evidence against the accused on the trial of any criminal case. In any case
where the legal evidence raises an issue hereunder, the jury shall be
instructed that if it believes, or has a reasonable doubt, that the evidence
was obtained in violation of the provisions of this Article, then and in such
event, the jury shall disregard any such evidence so obtained.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.23(a) (West 2005). There is a distinction between the
admissibility of evidence under Article 38.23 (which is decided solely by the trial judge)
and the jury's role under Article 38.23 in considering evidence that has been admitted.
Holmes v. State, 248 S.W.3d 194, 199 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). The issue presented to the
trial judge—the admissibility of evidence—is independent of the issue given to the jury
in the charge—whether the evidence may be considered in reaching a verdict. Id. at
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200. Evans only requested a decision by the trial court; he did not request an article
38.23 instruction to the jury and does not complain that one was not given in the charge
as to the evidence seized as a result of the traffic stop.
The first sentence of Article 38.23 speaks to the admissibility of evidence. TEX.
CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.23(a) (West 2005); Holmes, 248 S.W.3d at 199; Pierce v.
State, 32 S.W.3d 247, 251 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). The trial judge determines its
admissibility under Rule 104(a), and his "decision to exclude evidence could be
determined by a ruling of law, a finding of fact, or both." TEX. R. EVID. 104(a); Holmes,
248 S.W.3d at 199 (quoting Pierce, 32 S.W.3d at 251).
A defendant may challenge the admissibility of evidence in either of two ways:
(1) he may object to the admission of the evidence at the time it is offered at trial and
request a hearing outside the presence of the jury; or (2) he may file a pretrial motion to
suppress evidence and have it heard and ruled upon before trial. Holmes, 248 S.W.3d at
199 (citing TEX. R. EVID. 103(c); TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 28.01, § 1(6) (West 2006);
Pierce, 32 S.W.3d at 251). Trial judges "have an obligation to entertain evidence and
argument on exclusionary rule objections and to independently and definitively resolve
questions of law and fact presented by such objections." Holmes, 248 S.W.3d at 199
(quoting 40 GEORGE E. DIX & ROBERT O. DAWSON, TEXAS PRACTICE: CRIMINAL
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, § 4.163 at 263 (2d ed. 2001)).
Thus, by objecting to the legality of the stop and then later to the admissibility of
Evans v. State Page 18
the evidence seized as a result of the stop, Evans’s “motion” to suppress the evidence
was properly presented to the trial court.
Standard of Review
We evaluate a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress under a bifurcated
standard of review. Ford v. State, 158 S.W.3d 488, 493 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). The trial
judge is the sole trier of fact and judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence and
testimony. Wiede v. State, 214 S.W.3d 17, 24-25 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Accordingly, we
give almost total deference to the trial court's determination of historical facts if
supported by the record. Ford, 158 S.W.3d at 493. But we review de novo the trial court's
application of the law to those facts. Id. We give the prevailing party "the strongest
legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from
that evidence." State v. Castleberry, 332 S.W.3d 460, 465 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). We
must uphold the trial court's ruling if it is supported by the record and correct under
any theory of law applicable to the case. State v. Stevens, 235 S.W.3d 736, 740 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2007).
Traffic Stop Testimony
Officer Ian Mader had been out of field training for about six to seven months at
the time of the robbery and murder at the convenience store. When he arrived at work
on April 2, 2010, he was briefed about the robbery and murder and also watched the
surveillance video from the convenience store. While on patrol, Mader received a
Evans v. State Page 19
“BOLO,” or “be on the lookout,” for an older model white Lincoln with the license plate
HCK 841. He later saw the vehicle stopped at a traffic light. Mader immediately
radioed dispatch that he had located the vehicle and began following it. Immediately
after the vehicle pulled into a parking lot, Mader initiated a traffic stop for failing to
signal 100 feet before making the turn. Due to what he had seen on the surveillance
video, he and another officer on the scene conducted it as a felony stop for the officers’
safety. Mader’s in-car video of the entire stop was introduced into evidence.
On cross-examination, Mader affirmed that he initiated the traffic stop because
he felt a traffic offense had been committed. Although he did not know how to
measure it on the video, he stated, “…that day I believe[d] that they did commit a traffic
violation….” Mader was aware that later a measurement was taken and it was
confirmed that a traffic violation had not occurred, but “…that day [he] firmly believed
a traffic violation occurred….” He further explained,
That day, sir, there’s a lot of things going through my mind, a lot of other
things and I, whether through inexperience or tunnel vision or whatever
the case may be, I did not believe that the vehicle signaled for more than
100 feet. I believe he signaled for approximately 30 feet.
Mader did not know the exact measurement of the distance. He was told later,
however, that it was more than 100 feet.
Argument
Evans argued at trial and argues on appeal that the officer’s belief of the distance
traveled between the time the turn signal was activated and the turn was made was
Evans v. State Page 20
unreasonable, thus making the stop illegal. A police officer's reasonable mistake about
the facts may yet legitimately justify his own conclusion that there is probable cause to
arrest or reasonable suspicion to detain. Robinson v. State, 377 S.W.3d 712, 720 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2012). This is so because a mistake about the facts, if reasonable, will not
vitiate an officer's actions in hindsight so long as his actions were lawful under the facts
as he reasonably, albeit mistakenly, perceived them to be. Id. at 720-721. There is no
dispute that the stop was lawful under the facts as Mader perceived them to be.
Evans’s argument is that Mader’s mistake about the facts was unreasonable.
After listening to the officer’s testimony and viewing the video, the trial court
determined that Mader reasonably believed he had the authority to stop the vehicle for
a traffic violation that he had observed. Because the trial judge is the sole trier of fact
and judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence and testimony and his ruling is
supported by the record, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying
Evans’s motion to suppress.
Evans’s third issue is overruled.
MOTION TO SUPPRESS–STATEMENT
Finally, Evans complains that the trial court abused its discretion in denying
Evans’s motion to suppress his confession. The confession, however, was not
introduced into evidence. Where evidence obtained as a result of an interrogation has
not been used, the appellate court need not entertain a complaint attacking the
Evans v. State Page 21
admissibility of that evidence. Baker v. State, 956 S.W.2d 19, 22 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
Thus, even if the denial of his motion to suppress his confession was erroneous, because
the confession was not introduced at trial, Evans was not harmed. See id. Evans’s
fourth issue is overruled.
CONCLUSION
Having overruled each issue presented on appeal, we affirm the trial court’s
judgment.
TOM GRAY
Chief Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Davis, and
Justice Scoggins
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed August 22, 2013
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