State v. Johnnie Lynn Owen ( 2014 )

NUMBER 13-12-00374-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellant,
v.
JOHNNIE LYNN OWEN, Appellee.
On appeal from the 105th District Court of
Kleberg County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Garza, Benavides and Perkes
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Garza
By a single issue, the State of Texas appeals the trial court’s order granting a
motion to suppress filed by appellee Johnnie Lynn Owen.1 Because we conclude that
1We note that the appellee is referred to variously throughout the record as “Owen” and “Owens.”
However, on documents bearing his signature, appellee signed as “Owen.”
the trial court erred in granting Owen’s motion to suppress, we reverse the trial court’s
order and remand for further proceedings.
I. BACKGROUND
On May 17, 2010, pursuant to a plea bargain agreement, Owen pleaded guilty to
aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony offense, and
was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.02(a)(1), (b)
(West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). The sentence was suspended, and Owen was
placed on community supervision for ten years.
On May 24, 2011, the State filed a motion to revoke, alleging five violations of
Owen’s community supervision, including possession of and conspiracy to distribute
marihuana, assault of a family member, failure to report, and failure to pay supervision
fees. A warrant for Owen’s arrest was issued on May 25, 2011. Owen hired counsel to
represent him on the motion to revoke. On June 13, 2011, Captain J.D. Longoria of the
Kleberg County Sheriff’s Department arrested Owen on the outstanding warrant.
Sergeant Tim Camarillo of the Kleberg County Sheriff’s Department testified at the
suppression hearing that on June 16, 2011, he conducted an investigation at the home
of Owen’s mother, where Owen, his girlfriend Elizabeth Alegria, and their young child had
been staying in a back bedroom. Alegria and Owen’s mother consented to a search of
the bedroom by Sergeant Camarillo. In the bedroom, Sergeant Camarillo found various
items associated with the use or manufacture of methamphetamine. That same day,
Sergeant Camarillo conducted a videotaped interview with Owen. Sergeant Camarillo
testified at the suppression hearing that he was told that Owen wanted to speak to an
investigator. Owen’s motion to suppress seeks the suppression of statements that he
made during the interview.
2
On June 22, 2011, the State filed its first amended motion to revoke, in which it
added new allegations of “Possession/Transporting Chemical with Intent to Manufacture,”
“Abandon/Endanger Child Criminal Negligence,” and refusal to submit to a drug test, all
allegedly occurring on June 13, 2011. On September 14, 2011, the State filed its second
amended motion to revoke, which did not differ significantly from the June 22, 2011
motion. On November 8, 2011, the State filed its third amended motion to revoke, in
which it alleged a new offense, possession of cocaine, alleged to have occurred on June
13, 2011. Finally, on December 14, 2011, the State filed an additional motion to revoke,
in which it alleged conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine on June 6, 2011,
manufacture of methamphetamine on June 6, 2011, association with a person who
manufactured methamphetamine, and use of methamphetamine on June 11, 2011.
On November 29, 2011, Owen filed a motion to suppress “[a]ny statements” that
he made to law enforcement officers while in custody. The motion asserts that Owen’s
statements were “involuntary and were coerced and enticed”; that he did not knowingly
waive his “right to counsel”; that his statements were taken in violation of article 38.22 of
the code of criminal procedure, see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22 (West,
Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.); and that admission of his statements violates his rights
under “the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
Constitution, Article I, Section[s] 9 and 10 of the Texas Constitution and Articles 1.05 and
38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.” See U. S. CONST. amends. IV, V, VI,
XIV; TEX. CONST. art. I, §§ 9 & 10; TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. arts. 1.05, 38.23 (West,
Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.).
On April 23, 2012, the trial court held a hearing on the State’s December 14, 2011
3
motion to revoke.2 Owen pleaded “not true” to each of the State’s allegations. At the
beginning of the hearing, Owen’s counsel objected to the testimony of Captain Longoria
regarding any statements Owen made to law enforcement officers and reminded the court
that any such statements were the subject of Owen’s pending motion to suppress. The
trial court stated that it would “carry” the motion to suppress.
Captain Longoria testified regarding Owen’s arrest on June 13, 2011. Captain
Longoria stated that when he searched Owen’s pockets, he found a “sniffer” and a small
glass vial containing a white powdery substance, later determined to be a “trace amount”
of cocaine.
Sergeant Camarillo testified regarding his investigation and search of the bedroom
that Owen and Alegria shared with their young child. Sergeant Camarillo described items
found in the bedroom, including a “go bag for people who are doing meth or cooking
methamphetamine” and various items associated with the use or manufacture of
methamphetamine. The State attempted to admit the video recording of Owen’s interview
with Sergeant Camarillo. Owen’s counsel objected, asserting that the interview was
conducted in violation of Owen’s rights because, even though Owen was represented by
counsel in the revocation matter, counsel was not present at the interview. The State
argued that Owen waived his Miranda rights in writing at the beginning of the interview
and stated that he had counsel for the motion to revoke but did not have counsel with
respect to the new allegations of methamphetamine use. The State argued that the Sixth
Amendment right to counsel is “offense specific” and that Owen could therefore be
questioned about the new methamphetamine-related offenses because they were
2 Owen waived his right to have the allegations in the State’s motion to revoke read in court. The
trial court described the motion as containing four counts. The December 14, 2011 motion contains four
counts.
4
unrelated to the allegations in the May 24, 2011 motion to revoke for which Owen was
represented by counsel. The State cited Romo v. State, 132 S.W.3d 2, 4–5 (Tex. App.—
Amarillo 2003, no pet.) in support of its argument. The State also cited Pecina v. State,
361 S.W.3d 68, 77–79 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012), in which the court of criminal appeals
clarified the distinction between a Fifth Amendment right to counsel during custodial
interrogation and a Sixth Amendment right to counsel and discussed both in the context
of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Montejo v. Louisiana, 556 U.S. 778 (2009). The
trial judge stated her intention to review the interview, requested additional briefing from
the parties on the suppression issue, and concluded the hearing.
On April 30, 2012, the State filed an “answer” to Owen’s motion to suppress.
Again, the State argued that: (1) the Sixth Amendment is “offense-specific” and cited
Romo as “on point”; (2) even if Owen had a Sixth Amendment right to counsel during the
interview, he waived it by failing to request counsel at the beginning of the interview, citing
Pecina; and (3) Owen waived any right to counsel by failing to clearly and unequivocally
request counsel during the interview. No post-hearing brief by Owen’s counsel appears
in the record.
The trial court granted Owen’s motion to suppress on May 23, 2012. The State
requested findings of fact and conclusions of law, but no such findings or conclusions
were filed. This appeal followed.
On June 4, 2013, this Court abated the appeal and ordered the trial court to issue
findings of fact and conclusions of law. On November 18, 3013, the trial court filed its
findings of fact and conclusions of law. On January 6, 2014, the State filed an amended
brief in response to the trial court’s findings and conclusions. Owen has not filed an
amended brief.
5
Following a brief recitation of the facts and procedural history of the case, which
are not in dispute, the trial court’s findings and conclusions stated as follows: 3
Interview
The interview which the Court hereby supplements to the record in this
matter indicates the following:
1. When Sergeant Camarillo asked the Defendant if he had an attorney,
Johnnie Owens advised Sergeant Camarillo he had an attorney for the
"MTR and all that stuff, but if it was about anything else then, 'no'[.]"
2. Sergeant Camarillo did not tell Johnnie Owens what he wanted to talk
to him about and began to question him.
3. The very first question Sergeant Camarillo asked Johnnie Owens dealt
with his MTR and the allegations in his MTR. He questioned Johnnie
Owens about his probation and his alleged violations.
4. Sergeant Camarillo asked Johnnie Owens about any new offenses like
"cooking meth," or "dirty ua's."
5. Sergeant Camarillo asked Johnnie Owens about his rehab during
probation and questions if he is currently using.
6. After this line of questioning, Johnnie Owens indicates he might give
information but he indicates his probation officer Cindy Salinas is not
helping him and he asks Sergeant Camarillo for help.
7. Johnnie Owens tells Sergeant Camarillo that he is in jail because he got
"MTR'd again."
8. At one point during the interview, Sergeant Camarillo makes it clear to
Johnnie Owens that the "guys could have gone to probation to snitch
you out."
9. As Johnnie Owens begins to ask for help with a bond, Sergeant
Camarillo makes phone calls to inquire about the status of the bond and
confirms to Johnnie Owens that he is on a "no bond" for the MTR.
10. Sergeant Camarillo tells Johnnie Owens that he does not know the exact
allegations on the MTR, but it is probably for having a dirty urinalysis or
being somewhere he should not be.
3 We note that the throughout the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, Owen is
referred to as “Owens.”
6
11. Sergeant Camarillo then tells Johnnie Owens that he has "additional
charges added to him" for manufacturing and endangering a child.
12. Sergeant Camarillo continues to ask Johnnie Owens to take a urine test
and questions him about whether or not he will test "hot."
13. After further discussions to try and get Johnnie Owens to give
information, Sergeant Camarillo specifically references that he
understands Johnnie Owens may "need to get to rehab" again.
Factual and Legal Analysis
Johnnie Owens seeks to suppress all statements made during his
interview on June 16, 2011 as having been elicited in violation of the Sixth
Amendment right to counsel, as well as the Fifth and Fourteenth
Amendments.
The Sixth Amendment right to counsel attaches at the initiation of
"adversary judicial proceedings." Michigan v. Jackson, 475 U.S. 625, 629–
30 (1986). This means a person is entitled to the help of a lawyer at or after
the time that judicial proceedings have been initiated against him, whether
by way of formal charge, preliminary hearing, indictment, information, or
arraignment. Brewer v. Williams, 430 U.S. 387, 398 (1977). Once an
accused has expressed his desire to deal with the police only through
counsel he should not be subject to further interrogation by the authorities
until counsel has been made available to him, unless the accused himself
initiates further communication. Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 484–85
(1981). A waiver of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel is valid only when
it reflects an intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or
privilege. Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464 (1938).
Where there is a close nexus between the focus of a pre-indictment
investigation and the ultimate charges brought in the indictment, a
defendant's ongoing relationship with counsel that is known (or should be
known) by the government invokes the Sixth Amendment right to counsel
once that right attaches. US. [v.] Medrano, 208 F. Supp. 2d 681, 686 [W.D.
Tex.] 2002), citing U.S. v. Harrison, 213 F.3d 1206, 1213 (9th Cir. [2000]).
Much more than a "close nexus" exists between the focus of the
government's investigation and the charges which were added to his Motion
to Revoke Probation and for which he was subsequently indicted.
The Supreme Court in Cobb held that the Sixth Amendment right to
counsel attaches only to a charged offense, as well as to uncharged
offenses that may be said to be the "same offense" under the so called
Blockburger test. Texas v. Cobb, 532 U.S. 162, 173 [2001]. The
Blockburger test indicates that where the same act or transaction
7
constitutes a violating of two distinct statutory provisions, the test to be
applied to determine whether there are two offenses or only one, is whether
each provision requires proof of a fact which the other does not.
Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1932). The holding of
Cobb is limited to cases in which the government interrogates a defendant
regarding a crime as to which his or her Sixth Amendment right to counsel
has not already attached of its own force, i.e., via indictment. Once the
Sixth Amendment right to counsel has attached and has been invoked,
"written waivers are insufficient to justify police initiated interrogations."
Jackson, 475 U.S. at 642.[4]
The pragmatic approach the Courts seem to have taken with regard
to analyzing Sixth Amendment issues is to ask what purpose a lawyer could
serve at the particular state of the proceedings in question, and what
assistance he could provide to an accused at that stage. Patterson v.
Illinois, 487 U.S. 285, 298 (1988). In addition, it is important to note the
dangers to the accused of proceeding without counsel. Id. An accused's
waiver of his right to counsel is "knowing" when he is made aware of these
basic facts. Id.
The new charges were not indicted at the time of the interview, but
were currently pending in terms of "cases" or anticipated "charges."
Therefore, Sixth Amendment rights had not attached yet.
With regard to the alleged new offense of manufacturing
methamphetamine, this new offense was added as an allegation to his
existing Motion to Revoke Probation within a few days of his interview with
Camarillo, and were subsequently indicted.
In this particular case, the Defendant Johnnie Owens was in custody
pursuant to a Motion to Revoke his Probation. In other words, formal
adversary proceedings against the Defendant had commenced. The State
by filing the motion to revoke had committed itself to prosecute and
formalized its adversarial position with respect to the defendant. Kirby v.
Illinois, 406 U.S. 682, 689 (1972). He had already retained an attorney
related to that revocation motion on file. He was facing probation revocation
and possibly prison time. The Defendant specifically told Sergeant
Camarillo that he had an attorney and had an attorney for the "mtr and all
that stuff." It is clear from the record and the testimony during trial that
Sergeant Camarillo was aware of the motion to revoke as his entire line of
questioning was directly related to the Defendant's Motion to Revoke. In
fact, the very first question Sergeant Camarillo asked the Defendant was
related to his motion to revoke. Motions to Revoke Probation are
customarily amended to add new allegations. Sergeant Camarillo
4 We note that the U.S. Supreme Court expressly overruled Michigan v. Jackson in Montejo v.
Louisiana. 556 U.S. 778, 797 (2009).
8
consistently brought up the Defendant's probation, his violations, and drug
issues. He further tried to get him to admit that he would test positive for
drugs which would be an additional violation. This is the danger to Johnnie
Owen at this stage of the proceedings which was not made aware to him,
that his Motion to Revoke could be amended and all the information being
provided, could be used against him in his probation case. An attorney
would have more than likely advised the defendant not to answer any
questions.
It is also important to note that Sergeant Camarillo did not advise the
defendant about the reason he was being questioned until well after the
Admonishments and Waivers had been signed. The defendant asked
numerous times as to the reason he was being questioned. How can any
waiver be knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered into when
adversarial proceedings had already begun, the defendant had an attorney,
and no one told him why he was being questioned[?]
Therefore, with regard to the Motion to Revoke probation, his Sixth
Amendment right to counsel had attached and that right was invoked as a
matter of law by virtue of the defendant's ongoing relationship with his
attorney. Any alleged waiver is insufficient to justify the interrogation
initiated by Sergeant Tim Camarillo, as the very act of approaching the
defendant outside the presence of her counsel violated his Sixth
Amendment right. Law enforcement should respect the accused's choice
to seek counsel and should not act in a manner that dilutes the protection
afforded by the right.
Although it is the State's position that the Defendant was being
questioned on other charges, not yet alleged in the motion to revoke, it was
clear that the interview was being used to gather information both to attempt
to indict on the new charges and to gain information for the motion to revoke
which was subsequently amended just days after the interview.
The trial court found that the statement, information and evidence
obtained as a result of the interview on June 13, 2011, were acquired in
violation of Johnnie Owen's Sixth Amendment rights and therefore were
suppressed.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW AND APPLICABLE LAW
We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress a statement made as a
result of custodial interrogation under the bifurcated standard articulated in Guzman v.
State. Pecina, 361 S.W.3d at 78–79 (citing Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1997); Leza v. State, 351 S.W.3d 344, 349 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Ripkowski
9
v. State, 61 S.W.3d 378, 381–82 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001)). “We afford almost total
deference to the trial court’s rulings on questions of historical fact and on application of
law to fact questions that turn upon credibility and demeanor while we review de novo the
trial court’s rulings on application of law to fact questions that do not turn upon credibility
and demeanor.” Id. at 79. Here, the relevant facts are undisputed and the issue is
whether Owen knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to have counsel present during
the interview. Thus, the proper standard of review is de novo. See Mahaffey v. State,
364 S.W.3d 908, 912 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012).
Article 38.22 of the code of criminal procedure sets forth procedural safeguards for
securing the accused's privilege against self-incrimination in criminal proceedings.
Joseph v. State, 309 S.W.3d 20, 23 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (citing TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC.
ANN. art. 38.22). Included within those safeguards is the prohibition against admission of
any oral statement that the accused made during custodial interrogation unless the
statement was recorded and, before the statement but during the recording, the accused
was warned of his rights and “knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily” waived those rights.
Id. at 23–24; see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22, § 3(a)(1)–(2).5 Admissibility of
5 Article 38.22 provides that the accused must be warned that
(1) he has the right to remain silent and not make any statement at all and that any
statement he makes may be used against him at his trial;
(2) any statement he makes may be used as evidence against him in court;
(3) he has the right to have a lawyer present to advise him prior to and during any
questioning;
(4) if he is unable to employ a lawyer, he has the right to have a lawyer appointed to advise
him prior to and during any questioning; and
(5) he has the right to terminate the interview at any time.
Joseph v. State, 309 S.W.3d 20, 24 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (citing TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.22,
§ 2 [(West, Westlaw 2013 through 3d C.S.])); see Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444 (1996).
10
an accused's custodial-interrogation statement requires both the article 38.22 warning
and a waiver. See Joseph, 309 S.W.3d at 24.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stated that a waiver of Miranda rights is
knowing and intelligent if “the accused has been made aware and fully comprehends that
he has the right to remain silent in the face of police interrogation and to discontinue the
dialogue at any time, and that the consequence of his waiver is that his words may be
used against him in a court of law.” Leza, 351 S.W.3d at 350 (citing Ripkowski, 61 S.W.3d
at 384 n.10).
III. DISCUSSION
In his brief and at the suppression hearing, Owen argued that his Sixth Amendment
right to counsel was violated because at the time of the custodial interview, Sergeant
Camarillo knew that an attorney represented him in the revocation matter. In its findings
and conclusions, the trial court agreed, concluding that “the very act of approaching
[Owen] outside the presence of her [sic] counsel violated his Sixth Amendment right.”
The trial court further concluded that Owen did not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily
waive his right to counsel because he was not informed that the State’s motion to revoke
could be amended and that the information he provided in the interview could be used
against him in the revocation proceeding. Because we conclude that this case is
governed by the court of criminal appeals’ holding in Pecina, 361 S.W.3d at 80, we hold
that the trial court erred in granting Owen’s motion to suppress.
In a memorandum opinion not designated for publication, the San Antonio Court
of Appeals recently summarized and applied the holding in Pecina. Smith v. State, No.
04-12-00819-CR, 2014 WL 129632, at **1–2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Jan. 15, 2014, no
pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). Although we recognize that Smith has
11
no precedential value, see TEX. R. APP. P. 47.7(a), we nonetheless find its reasoning
persuasive:
[T]he Court of Criminal Appeals recently determined that a request for court-
appointed counsel during an Article 15.17 hearing does not invoke the right
to counsel for a subsequent police interrogation in Pecina v. State. There,
the Court discussed the difference between the Fifth and Sixth Amendment
rights to counsel after the United States Supreme Court's decision in
Montejo v. Louisiana. Pecina v. State, 361 S.W.3d 68, 73 (Tex. Crim. App.
2012). While in the hospital, Pecina was arrested for killing his wife. Id. at
71. After police obtained an arrest warrant, a magistrate was taken to his
hospital room where Pecina was arraigned pursuant to Article 15.17. Id. at
72. During the Article 15.17 hearing, Pecina requested a court-appointed
attorney. Id. The magistrate then asked if Pecina wished to speak with
police officers waiting outside, and Pecina responded that he did. Id. Prior
to speaking with the detectives, the officers advised Pecina of his Miranda
rights, and Pecina waived them. Id.
Pecina later sought to have the trial court suppress the statements
he gave to the officers. The Court determined Pecina waived his Fifth and
Sixth Amendment rights to counsel—after asking for a court-appointed
attorney at an Article 15.17 hearing—because he “never invoked his right
to interrogation counsel after police gave him Miranda warnings.” Id. at 71.
The Pecina court analyzed Montejo and summarized its application by
stating:
Distilled to its essence, Montejo means that a defendant's
invocation of his right to counsel at his Article 15.17 hearing
says nothing about his possible invocation of his right to
counsel during later police-initiated custodial interrogation.
The [Article 15.17] magistration hearing is not an interrogation
event. An uncharged suspect may invoke his Fifth
Amendment right to counsel (and a defendant who has been
arraigned may invoke his Sixth Amendment right to counsel)
for purposes of custodial interrogation when the police or
other law-enforcement agents approach him and give him his
Miranda warnings. That is the time and place to either invoke
or waive the right to counsel for purposes of police
questioning.
Id. at 78. In accordance with Montejo and Pecina, we conclude appellant's
invocation of his right to counsel at his Article 15.17 hearing did not invoke
his right to counsel for his subsequent interrogation.
12
Smith, 2014 WL 129632, at **1–2; see also Knight v. State, 406 S.W.3d 578, 589 (Tex.
App.—Eastland 2013, pet. ref’d) (relying on Pecina in holding that appellant, after he was
magistrated and had requested an attorney, waived his right to counsel during custodial
interrogation by failing to request counsel “when law enforcement personnel approach[ed]
him and warn[ed] him of his rights under Miranda”); Banks v. State, No. 14-11-00722-CR,
2013 WL 1907884, at **8–9 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] May 7, 2013, pet. ref’d)
(mem. op., not designated for publication) (relying on Pecina and Montejo in rejecting
appellant’s argument that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated by fact that
he was represented by counsel and interviewed without notice to counsel).
Here, the trial court erred in concluding that by “the very act of approaching” Owen
without the presence of counsel, Sergeant Camarillo violated Owen’s Sixth Amendment
right. See Pecina, 361 S.W.3d at 78 (“If the defendant also wishes to invoke his Sixth
Amendment right to counsel during the ‘critical stage’ of post-arraignment custodial
interrogation, he may certainly do so. But he does so by invoking that right to counsel,
pursuant to Miranda, Edwards, and Minnick when law enforcement or other state agents
embark upon custodial interrogation.”) (footnotes omitted); Hughen v. State, 297 S.W.3d
330, 335 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (“After Montejo, the Sixth Amendment does not bar
police-initiated interrogation of an accused who has previously asserted his right to
counsel. On the other hand, the Fifth Amendment does bar police-initiated interrogation
of an accused who, in the context of custodial interrogation, has previously asserted his
right to counsel during such interrogation, unless the accused’s counsel is actually
present.”) (citations omitted).6 In the present case, with regard to the allegations
6 We note that, although Owen disputes that he initiated the contact with Sergeant Camarillo, and
the trial court’s findings of fact do not resolve the dispute (“[Sergeant] Camarillo made contact with” Owen),
it does not matter. Thus, for purposes of our review, we assume that law enforcement officers initiated the
13
regarding use or manufacture of methamphetamine, Owen’s Sixth Amendment right to
counsel had not attached. Owen was arrested on a motion to revoke that did not contain
the allegations of manufacturing or distribution of methamphetamine. “The Sixth
Amendment right to counsel attaches once the ‘adversary judicial process has been
initiated[.]’” Pecina, 361 S.W.3d at 77. “Generally, an Article 15.17 initial appearance
and magistration marks the initiation of adversarial judicial proceedings in Texas and
‘plainly signals’ the attachment of a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel.” Id.
The United States Supreme Court has held that, in deciding whether an accused
“actually invoked his right to counsel,” reviewing courts must use an objective standard
“[t]o avoid difficulties of proof and to provide guidance to officers conducting
interrogations[.]” Pecina, 361 S.W.3d at 79 (quoting Davis v. United States, 512 U.S.
452, 458–59 (1994)). “The accused ‘must unambiguously request counsel’ during a
custodial interrogation; thus, ‘he must articulate his desire to have counsel present
sufficiently clearly that a reasonable police officer in the circumstances would understand
the statement to be a request for an attorney.’” Id. (quoting Davis, 512 U.S. at 459). “We
view the totality of circumstances from the viewpoint of the objectively reasonable police
officer conducting custodial interrogation.” Id.
We have reviewed Sergeant Camarillo’s interview with Owen. 7 At the beginning
of the interview, Sergeant Camarillo asked if Owen had retained a lawyer. Owen
confirmed that he had retained a lawyer. Sergeant Camarillo stated that without Owen’s
lawyer present, Owen cannot speak to law enforcement. Owen responded, “I can talk,
contact.
7 We note that the videotaped interview is almost inaudible and very difficult to understand. This
Court requested an additional copy, and received a second copy that was also almost inaudible.
14
depends upon what it is. If it is the MTR, I can’t talk. If it’s something else, then I can
talk.”8 Sergeant Camarillo then advised Owen of his rights, including the right to terminate
the interview at any time. Owen then signed and initialed a waiver card. We conclude
that Owen failed to “unambiguously request counsel” during his custodial interrogation.
See id.9
Although Owen could have invoked his Fifth Amendment right to have counsel
present at the beginning of his interview with Sergeant Camarillo, see id. at 78, it is
undisputed that he failed to do so. And even if he had a Sixth Amendment right to counsel
regarding the methamphetamine allegations, he waived it by failing to invoke it at the
beginning of the interview. See id. at 80 (“[Appellant] could invoke either [his Fifth or Sixth
Amendment right to counsel] or both in precisely the same manner—by telling the officers,
after they gave him the Miranda warnings, that he wished to have an attorney before
speaking to them. He did not do so.”). Accordingly, we hold that Owen waived his Fifth
right and his Sixth Amendment right, if any, to the presence of counsel during custodial
interrogation by failing to invoke his right to counsel when he was approached for
custodial interrogation. See id.
8Although the videotaped interview is difficult to understand, the State quoted Owen in its brief.
Owen does not dispute the quoted language, and we agree that it accurately reflects the gist of Owen’s
statement.
9 See, e.g., Davis v. United States, 512 U.S. 452, 462 (1994) (holding that statement, “Maybe I
should talk to a lawyer” was not request for counsel); Davis v. State 4, 313 S.W.3d 317, 341 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2010) (holding that statement, “I should have an attorney” was not unambiguous request for counsel);
Mbugua v. State, 312 S.W.3d 657, 665 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, pet. ref’d) (holding that
question, “Can I wait until my lawyer gets here?” was not unambiguous request for counsel); Gutierrez v.
State, 150 S.W.3d 827, 832 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, no pet.) (deciding that question, “Can
I have [my attorney] present now?” was ambiguous question about counsel); Halbrook v. State, 31 S.W.3d
301, 302 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2000, pet. ref'd) (determining that statement, “Do I get an opportunity to
have my attorney present?” did not constitute clear and unambiguous invocation of counsel); Flores v.
State, 30 S.W.3d 29, 34 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000, pet. ref'd) (holding that question, “Will you allow
me to speak to my attorney before?” was not clear and unequivocal invocation of right to counsel).
15
The trial court also concluded that because Owen was not informed that the
information he provided could be used to amend the State’s motion to revoke, he did not
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his rights. We disagree.
In Leza v. State, the court of criminal appeals explained:
There are two facets to any inquiry with respect to the adequacy of a
purported waiver of Miranda rights:
First, the waiver must be “voluntary in the sense that it was
the product of a free and deliberate choice rather than
intimidation, coercion, or deception.” Second[,] the waiver
must be made “with a full awareness both of the nature of the
right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision
to abandon it.”
Before it may be said that a waiver of a Miranda right is involuntary,
however, there must be some element of official intimidation, coercion, or
deception. And, with respect to the requirement that the waiver also be
knowing and intelligent,
[o]nce it is determined that a suspect[ ] . . . at all times knew
he could stand mute . . ., and that he was aware of the State's
intention to use his statements to secure a conviction, the
analysis is complete and the waiver is valid as a matter of law.
It will suffice to render a waiver knowing and intelligent, in other
words, that the accused has been made aware, and fully comprehends, that
he has the right to remain silent in the face of police interrogation and to
discontinue the dialogue at any time, and that the consequence of his
waiver is that his words may be used against him later in a court of law. It
is true, as the appellant contends, that none of the interrogating officers
expressly informed him that the subject of the interrogation would be, not
the traffic infraction for which he was arrested, but the capital murder of
which he was suspected. But this circumstance is patently insufficient, as
a matter of law, to render his waiver of Miranda rights either involuntary or
insufficiently informed. The Supreme Court of the United States has
expressly determined that “a suspect's awareness of all the possible
subjects of questioning in advance of interrogation is not relevant to
determining whether the suspect voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently
waived his Fifth Amendment privilege.”
Leza, 351 S.W.3d at 349–50 (internal quotations, footnotes, and citations omitted).
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We have already held that Owen waived his Fifth Amendment right and his Sixth
Amendment right, if any, to counsel during the custodial interrogation by failing to invoke
his right to counsel when Sergeant Camarillo approached him and gave him his Miranda
warnings. See Pecina, 361 S.W.3d at 78 (noting that a defendant may invoke Fifth and
Sixth Amendment right to counsel when law-enforcement agents approach him and give
him his Miranda warnings). We further hold that Owen’s waiver of his rights was
voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. See Leza, 351 S.W.3d at 350 (“After all, the appellant
was expressly informed that ‘anything’ he said may be used against him.”) (quoting
Colorado v. Spring, 479 U.S. 564, 577 (1987)). We sustain the State’s sole issue.
IV. CONCLUSION
We reverse the trial court’s order granting Owen’s motion to suppress and remand
to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
DORI CONTRERAS GARZA,
Justice
Do not publish.
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Delivered and filed the
29th day of May, 2014.
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