Derrick Lanal Irons v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 71st District Court of Harrison County

In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
______________________________
No. 06-06-00192-CR
______________________________
DERRICK LENAL IRONS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 71st Judicial District Court
Harrison County, Texas
Trial Court No. 05-0398X
Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Moseley
MEMORANDUM OPINION

Derrick Lenal Irons appeals from his conviction by a jury for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and for possession of marihuana. These two charges were tried together, and the jury assessed his punishment at ninety-nine years' confinement and a $250,000.00 fine on the first count, and two years' imprisonment in a state-jail facility and a $10,000.00 fine on the second count.

Irons contends (1) that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the conviction, (2) that the trial court erred by not instructing the jury on how to consider extraneous bad acts at punishment, and (3) that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because at the punishment stage, trial counsel failed to object to testimony about extraneous bad acts by Irons and failed to request an instruction on how those bad acts were to be considered by the jury.

This conviction rests on links to contraband. Irons was a passenger in an automobile in which officers found 500 grams of cocaine and several pounds of marihuana. Irons was in the front seat, the contraband was under several jackets in the middle of the back seat. At trial, the driver of the car, Lamon West, testified that the contraband was all his and that Irons had no reason to know of its existence. The jury obviously believed otherwise. The job of this Court is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support the jury's determination.

In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we view all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).

In a factual sufficiency review, we also view all the evidence, but do so in a neutral light and determine whether the evidence supporting the verdict is so weak or so outweighed by the great weight and preponderance of the evidence that the jury's verdict is clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. Roberts v. State, No. AP-75,051, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 429 (Tex. Crim. App. Apr. 18, 2007); Marshall v. State, 210 S.W.3d 618, 625 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Watson v. State, 204 S.W.3d 404, 414-15 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 134 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). In a factual sufficiency review, we are to afford "due deference" to a jury's determinations. Marshall, 210 S.W.3d at 625.

Irons argues the evidence is insufficient because the State provided insufficient proof of evidence that would link him to the contraband, either as a principal or as a party. When an accused is not in exclusive possession of the place where contraband is found, it cannot be concluded he had knowledge or control over the contraband unless there are additional independent facts and circumstances which affirmatively link him to the contraband. Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744, 748 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Menchaca v. State, 901 S.W.2d 640, 651 (Tex. App.--El Paso 1995, pet. ref'd).

Recognized factors include whether: (1) the contraband was in plain view or recovered from an enclosed place; (2) the accused was the owner of the premises or the place where the contraband was found; (3) the accused was found with a large amount of cash; (4) the contraband was conveniently accessible to the accused; (5) the contraband was found in close proximity to the accused; (6) a strong residual odor of the contraband was present; (7) the accused possessed other contraband when arrested; (8) paraphernalia to use the contraband was in view, or found on the accused; (9) the physical condition of the accused indicated recent consumption of the contraband in question; (10) conduct by the accused indicated a consciousness of guilt; (11) the accused attempted to flee; (12) the accused made furtive gestures; (13) the accused had a special connection to the contraband; (14) the occupants of the premises gave conflicting statements about relevant matters; (15) the accused made incriminating statements connecting himself to the contraband; (16) the quantity of the contraband; and (17) the accused was observed in a suspicious area under suspicious circumstances. Washington v. State, 215 S.W.3d 551, 554 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2007, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication); Lassaint v. State, 79 S.W.3d 736, 740-41 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.); Kyte v. State, 944 S.W.2d 29, 31-32 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 1997, no pet.).

There is no requisite number of links. Rather, it is the logical force the factors have in establishing the elements of the offense that is important. In other words, the question to be answered is this: "Is there evidence of circumstances, in addition to mere presence, that adequately justifies the conclusion that the defendant knowingly possessed the substance." Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 161 n.9 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). (1) See generally King v. State, 895 S.W.2d 701 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Gilbert v. State, 874 S.W.2d 290, 298 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, pet. ref'd).

In this case, the evidence shows that Irons was in the front passenger seat of a car stopped for speeding by police. The testimony was that he appeared to be asleep. The police officer, Deputy Mark Kiser, testified that when he stopped them just outside of Marshall, Texas, headed north on Highway 59, the driver (West) told him that he was coming from Shreveport, Louisiana, and headed for Corinth, Mississippi. (2)

Kiser was suspicious. He then questioned the other passenger, Thomas Holland, who told Kiser they had come from New Orleans and dropped West's nephew off in Houston. When Kiser finally questioned Irons, his story was that he had been picked up by West in Arkansas and had been sleeping ever since. At this point, Kiser was considerably more suspicious. He asked for permission to search the vehicle, and West denied the request. Kiser, being a canine officer, had his dog with him, and told West he was going to have the dog do an open air sweep. West became, as described by Kiser, very nervous, and had to be called back from his wandering toward some nearby woods several times. West yelled to Irons to "take off." Kiser testified that Irons did look around, but another officer, Sergeant Steve Ashmore, was walking toward Irons with his weapon drawn.

The back door of the vehicle was open, and the dog alerted on a pile of clothing (several jackets) in the middle of the back seat. Under the pile of jackets, officers found a black bag containing 500 grams of cocaine and about a pound of marihuana.

Kiser testified that Irons told him that the car belonged to his girlfriend. On cross-examination, some question was raised about that, with counsel attempting to show that Irons had said, "Mon's girlfriend," rather than "my girlfriend." (3)

Applying the factors listed above to the evidence, the drugs were recovered from an enclosed space (the car), there was some evidence that Irons's girlfriend was the owner of the car, Irons had approximately $600.00 in cash on his person, and the contraband was accessible and found close to him. There was testimony that Irons might not have realized where he had been taken because he had been "smoking weed"; that was also suggested as a reason for his sleepiness. In addition, the occupants of the premises gave explanations that had very little in common about their travels. All of these factors militate to some degree in favor of the State.

The evidence that Irons was either sleeping or pretending to be sleeping could be interpreted as an attempt to avoid questioning. There is also testimony suggesting that Irons at least briefly considered attempting to flee, but did not because an officer was too near for such an attempt to have a real chance of success. Both of those matters may favor the State's case, but the evidence is quite weak.

There was no evidence of any odor of contraband, no evidence that Irons had other contraband on his person when arrested, and no paraphernalia was in view or found on his person. These factors do not link Irons to the contraband, and this lack of evidence applies in favor of Irons. We also note that the quantity of cocaine recovered was quite large, which tends toward a conclusion that it was not meant solely for personal use, but intended for sale to others.

Reviewing all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we find that it is legally sufficient to allow a trier of fact to find that Irons possessed the cocaine with intent to deliver and that he possessed the marihuana.

In a factual sufficiency review, we also look at all the evidence, but in a neutral light. The only evidence other than that of the State was taken from the driver of the car, West. West confessed his own culpability, testifying that Irons had no knowledge of or connection with the drugs. West was also cross-examined to considerable effect by the State. It was apparent that the trial was the first time West had ever made these statements. West was incarcerated at the time of trial, and his constantly shifting panorama of stories did not provide for easy belief.

The credibility of witnesses is uniquely within the purview of the fact-finder. Thus, it is within the province of the jury to disbelieve West's exculpatory testimony and to instead believe that Irons was involved in the possession and sale of the substantial amounts of contraband found with him in the automobile. The State's evidence is not so weak, nor is the evidence to the contrary so compelling to require reversal. We find the evidence factually sufficient. The contentions of error are overruled.

Irons next contends in two related arguments that error is shown (1) because the trial court failed to instruct the jury on the burden of proof that the State had to meet before the jury could consider extraneous bad acts at punishment, and (2) he contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel did not complain about the absence of such an instruction.

At the punishment phase, the State may introduce evidence of "an extraneous crime or bad act that is shown beyond a reasonable doubt." Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.07, 3(a)(1) (Vernon 2006). This standard of proof is law applicable to the case. Huizar v. State, 12 S.W.3d 479, 484 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). A defendant is entitled to have the jury receive a reasonable doubt instruction regarding extraneous offenses without request. Id. It is error if the trial court fails to instruct the jury sua sponte. See id. at 481. A defendant need not object at trial to preserve error. Id. at 484. However, the failure to object increases an appellant's burden on appeal, imposing the higher hurdle of a showing of egregious harm before reversal is in order. Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985) (op. on reh'g); Zarco v. State, 210 S.W.3d 816 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.).

At punishment, the State called a single witness: Jeff Palmer, the commander of the State Line Narcotics Task Force in Northeast Mississippi. He testified that he personally knew Irons and that Irons had been convicted in 1998 for possession of cocaine. He testified that in March 2006, he had executed a search of Irons's house and found ninety-five grams of cocaine hidden in the house, and nearly $5,000.00 in his pocket. He also testified that he took a statement from Irons, which the State then introduced into evidence without objection. (4)

In that statement, Irons set out the pattern that he followed in buying ounces of crack cocaine, identifying his source, and stating that he normally bought three to four ounces at a time, one or two times a week.

Palmer testified that he was familiar with the movement of narcotics in Corinth, Mississippi, (Irons's home) and that he believed Irons was either the top or one of the top crack or powder cocaine distributors in that area.

On cross-examination, Palmer acknowledged that Irons had been out on bond on another case and had not been tried. It was also brought out on cross-examination that he had arrested Irons several times and that Irons had been found guilty only once, in 1998. On redirect, the State zeroed in on the testimony about Irons having been arrested in Mississippi on drug charges June 8, 2004, and had been released on bond; in other words, he was free on bond in the Mississippi case when he was arrested in this case in March 2005.

The evidence was clearly admissible at punishment. However, Irons was entitled to a jury instruction that evidence of these other bad acts had to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt as set out above; the court was obligated to provide such an instruction sua sponte even in the absence of a complaint by counsel. Even though Irons neither requested such an instruction nor objected to its absence, there is no doubt that it was error to have omitted this instruction to the jury.

Because Irons neither requested such an instruction regarding the burden of proof concerning these extraneous offenses nor objected to its omission from the charge, we must decide whether "the error is so egregious and created such harm that he 'has not had a fair and impartial trial'--in short 'egregious harm.'" Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171; Moore v. State, 165 S.W.3d 118, 126 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 2005, no pet.). Our first duty in analyzing a jury-charge issue is to decide whether error exists. Middleton v. State, 125 S.W.3d 450, 453 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (citing Hutch v. State, 922 S.W.2d 166, 171 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996)). Then, if we find error, we analyze that error for harm. Id. Preservation of charge error does not become an issue until we assess harm. Id. The degree of harm necessary for reversal depends on whether the appellant preserved the error by objection. Hutch, 922 S.W.2d at 171. Under Almanza, jury charge error requires reversal when the defendant has properly objected to the charge and we find "some harm" to his rights. Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171; see also Hutch, 922 S.W.2d at 171. When the defendant fails to object or states that he has no objection to the charge, we will not reverse for jury-charge error unless the record shows "egregious harm" to the defendant. Bluitt v. State, 137 S.W.3d 51, 53 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004); Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171. Thus, we review alleged charge error by considering two questions: (1) whether error existed in the charge; and (2) whether sufficient harm resulted from the error to compel reversal. Ngo v. State, 175 S.W.3d 738, 744 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Thus, we look to see whether the omission of this instruction caused Irons egregious harm, taking all of the circumstances into account.

In making this determination, the actual degree of harm must be assayed by taking into account a number of factors. Some of the factors which enter into this determination involve a review of the entire jury charge, the state of the evidence (including the contested issues and the weight of probative evidence), the argument of counsel, and any other relevant information revealed by the record of the trial as a whole. Almanza, 686 S.W.2d at 171; Moore, 165 S.W.3d at 126. Egregious harm is a difficult standard to prove and must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Hutch, 922 S.W.2d at 171. The purpose of this review is to illuminate the actual, not just theoretical, harm to the accused. Id.

Texas courts have concluded that egregious harm has not been shown because of the omission of a reasonable doubt instruction when the defendant did not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence connecting him to the extraneous conduct at trial and/or on appeal; see McClenton v. State, 167 S.W.3d 86, 98 (Tex. App.--Waco 2005, no pet.); Bolden v. State, 73 S.W.3d 428, 432 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet. ref'd); Arnold v. State, 7 S.W.3d 832, 835 (Tex. App.--Eastland 1999, pet. ref'd); or when the evidence connecting the defendant to the extraneous conduct is "clear-cut"; see Johnson v. State, 181 S.W.3d 760, 766 (Tex. App.--Waco 2005, pet. ref'd); Allen v. State, 47 S.W.3d 47, 52-53 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 2001, pet. ref'd). (5)

Further, there was no argument advanced to the jury that the burden of proof fell any lower than the reasonable doubt standard or that the standard was any less onerous than the reasonable doubt standard contained in the jury's previous instructions.

In this case, the evidence is concise and pointed. It consists of direct testimony from a live witness who was available for cross-examination and of Irons's own written statement in which he set out his cocaine purchasing habits, giving the specific quantities and the frequency of the purchases listed. Despite defense counsel's efforts on cross-examination, there is no evidence or suggestion that casts doubt on either Palmer's testimony or on Irons's statement. Irrespective of whether the jury was charged with the need to find it beyond a reasonable doubt, it meets that standard anyway.

We acknowledge that the State's main point in jury argument at punishment was focused on Irons's activities selling cocaine in Mississippi-- charges from which he had been released on bond when arrested for this offense in Texas. We also recognize that, in this case, Irons received the maximum punishment for the offenses. Nevertheless, even ordinary harm could only exist, since the evidence was clearly admissible, if there was something to suggest that the reasonable doubt standard might not have been met. There is no evidence to the contrary, and Palmer's testimony was quite clear. (6)

We find that egregious harm has not been shown to exist in this case. This aspect of the contentions of error is overruled.

Irons also argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because of the failure to take action to ensure that the reasonable doubt instruction was presented in the punishment charge, and for failing to object to Palmer's testimony about unadjudicated offenses and bad acts. (7)

The standard of testing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel is set out in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). To prevail on this claim, the appellant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence (1) that his counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) that the deficient performance prejudiced his defense. Id. at 689; Rosales v. State, 4 S.W.3d 228, 231 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). To meet this burden, the appellant must prove that his attorney's representation fell below the standard of prevailing professional norms and that there is a reasonable probability that, but for his attorney's deficiency, the result of the trial would have been different. Tong v. State, 25 S.W.3d 707, 712 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). Under this standard, a claimant must prove that counsel's representation so undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that the trial cannot be relied on as having produced a just result. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686.

Irons argues that the testimony about Irons being out on bond and under indictment for delivery of a controlled substance in Mississippi when he was arrested in Texas for this offense, and about prior arrests, was objectionable because testimony about the indictment in Mississippi and arrests did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he had committed those acts. That is not a proper basis for excluding the testimony.

Irons also points out that trial counsel asked questions on cross-examination that brought out nonresponsive answers indicating that Irons was out on bond (at the time of this trial) for selling cocaine and that he had arrested Irons "several different times." Irons suggests that failing to object to those answers was ineffective.

It appears that the bond being referenced was in connection with the arrests and convictions in Mississippi, which was the main topic of Palmer's previous testimony. There was no apparent reason to object, and it was made clear to the jury that Irons had not been convicted of that crime. There was a reasonable tactical purpose to counsel's failure to object.

Palmer's testimony that he had arrested Irons several different times was not responsive to defense counsel's question, which was, "You arrested Mr. Irons in 1998?" The answer was objectionable, but there could also be reasonably tactical reasons for counsel to elect not to interrupt the flow of his questioning or to draw particular attention to matters by stopping the trial cold for an objection and instruction to disregard. Counsel could have been concentrating his efforts on showing the jury that Irons had never been otherwise convicted of a crime in Mississippi and that pure allegations did not prove that a crime had been committed. We do not find counsel ineffective for failing to object in these instances.

Irons also argues that counsel was ineffective because of his failure to request the jury instruction previously discussed. The argument is that, had he properly requested the instruction or objected to its absence, he would then have only had to demonstrate "harm" rather than "egregious harm" in order to prevail on appeal. Thus, he argues, counsel was constitutionally ineffective because this error would have provided a much easier test for him to satisfy on appeal.

True, the test would have been much easier to meet if Irons's counsel had brought to the trial court's attention that the charge should direct the attention of the jury to the reasonable doubt standard which was required. It is also true that counsel's failure to call this to the attention of the court was error on counsel's part. However, under these facts, even if counsel's actions in regard to this oversight were incorrect, this mistake did not result in substantial prejudice and reversible error has not been shown. In this case, there was simply no evidence to counter the evidence of the extraneous acts and no real indication that they were either untrue or inaccurate.

We find that there is not a reasonable probability that, but for Irons's trial counsel's alleged deficiency in regard to the complained-of errors or perceived errors, the result of the trial would have been different.

We affirm the judgment.

 

Bailey C. Moseley

Justice

 

Date Submitted: April 10, 2007

Date Decided: May 10, 2007

 

Do Not Publish

1. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals wrote in Evans that these should just be called "links" from now on, as using the modifier "affirmative" adds to much confusion within the context of a factual sufficiency review. 202 S.W.3d at 162.

2. Harrison County, Texas, is west of Shreveport, Louisiana; Mississippi is east of Shreveport, Louisiana.

3. This was referring to West, whose first name is "Lamon."

4. The testimony shows that Irons was given Miranda warnings and that he acknowledged the written statement was true and correct and signed the statement. See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).

5. It is not purported that the examples listed in this paragraph constitute an exclusive list.

6. This case is distinguishable from Avery v. State, 941 S.W.2d 221, 223 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 1996, no pet.). In it, the defendant requested that the reasonable doubt charge be given but the court refused, lowering the bar for the degree of harm from "egregious error" which had to be shown in order to grant reversal.

7. Article 37.07 states that relevant evidence of prior bad acts is admissible at the punishment phase if it can be established beyond a reasonable doubt. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.07, 3(a)(1).