Garland Ray Wiley v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 124th District Court of Gregg County

In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
______________________________
No. 06-07-00045-CR
______________________________
GARLAND RAY WILEY, JR., Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 124th Judicial District Court
Gregg County, Texas
Trial Court No. 33689-B
Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Carter
MEMORANDUM OPINION

Garland Ray Wiley, Jr., appeals his conviction by a jury for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. When the car in which Wiley was a passenger was detained by the police, a pistol was discovered underneath Wiley's leg. A jury found Wiley guilty as charged in the indictment. The jury assessed punishment at five years' imprisonment, and the trial court sentenced Wiley consistent with the jury's assessment. On appeal, Wiley argues the evidence is legally and factually insufficient. We affirm.

The Evidence Is Legally Sufficient

Wiley argues the evidence is legally insufficient because the evidence was insufficient to prove he intentionally, knowingly, or consciously possessed the firearm. Wiley also argues there were insufficient links to tend to connect him to the firearm. In our review of the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we employ the standards set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). This calls on the court to view the relevant 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 our review, we must evaluate all of the evidence in the record, both direct and circumstantial, whether admissible or inadmissible. Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 735, 740 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Johnson v. State, 871 S.W.2d 183, 186 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).

Anitrias Glover testified that, on or about August 11, 2005, Stephen Glover, her nephew, and other individuals started arguing in her yard. The argument escalated, and one of the individuals started shooting. Stephen Glover was struck by the gunfire, but left the scene along with the other individuals involved. Ms. Glover identified Wiley as one of the individuals present during the shooting.

While investigating the shooting at Ms. Glover's residence, Officer Doug Brinkley, an officer with the Longview Police Department, stopped a motor vehicle containing five males having some similarities to the descriptions provided by Ms. Glover. The passenger in the right rear seat identified himself as Stephen Glover, the passenger in the middle rear seat was Jose Rodrigues, (1) the driver was Demetrius Williams, the passenger in the front seat was William Nelson, and the passenger in the left rear seat was Wiley. Officer Lanie Smith, an officer with the Longview Police Department, arrived at the scene in response to Brinkley's call for backup. As Brinkley approached the vehicle, Glover appeared to lean forward and attempt to hide something. While Brinkley was having the occupants of the car identify themselves, Smith observed a shotgun in the back seat between Glover and Rodrigues.

Smith and Sergeant Brittenberg who had just arrived at the scene, requested Glover to exit the car. After handcuffing Glover, Brittenberg removed a shotgun which was located between Glover and Rodrigues. The officers then instructed Rodrigues and Nelson to exit the vehicle and discovered another shotgun on the front passenger floorboard. Before Wiley was removed from the vehicle, Brittenberg removed a pistol from underneath Wiley's right leg. Wiley was ultimately charged with unlawful possession of the pistol after previously being convicted of a felony. The State introduced evidence that Wiley had been previously convicted on or about August 1, 2003, of possession of a controlled substance.

In order to prove unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, the State must prove the defendant has been previously convicted of a felony and possessed a firearm "after conviction and before the fifth anniversary of the person's release from confinement following conviction of the felony or the person's release from supervision under community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision, whichever date is later." Tex. Penal Code Ann. 46.04(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2007). "[T]o support a conviction for possession of a firearm, the State must show (1) that the accused exercised actual care, control, or custody of the firearm, (2) that he was conscious of his connection with it, and (3) that he possessed the firearm knowingly or intentionally." Nguyen v. State, 54 S.W.3d 49, 52 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2001, pet. ref'd). When the firearm is not found on the accused's person or is not in the accused's exclusive possession, additional facts must link the accused to the contraband. Id. at 53; Jones v. State, 963 S.W.2d 826, 830 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 1998, pet. ref'd). One of the factors that may link a defendant to the firearm is whether the contraband was conveniently accessible to the accused. Nguyen, 54 S.W.3d at 53; Jones, 963 S.W.2d at 830.

The State can meet its burden with circumstantial evidence, but it must establish that the defendant's connection with the firearm was more than fortuitous. Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744, 747 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). In this case, the firearm was found directly underneath Wiley's leg and was touching his leg. As such, the firearm was clearly in close proximity to Wiley. The number of links present is not as important as the degree to which they tend to link the defendant to the firearm. Washington v. State, 215 S.W.3d 551, 555 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2007, no pet.); Taylor v. State, 106 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex. App.--Dallas 2003, no pet.). The fact that the firearm was directly underneath Wiley's leg and in contact with his leg reveals such a close proximity and consciousness of the firearm's presence to allow a rational juror to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Wiley intentionally and knowingly was in possession of the firearm.

The Evidence Is Factually Sufficient

Wiley argues the evidence is factually insufficient because the evidence was insufficient to prove he intentionally, knowingly, or consciously possessed the firearm. The vehicle did not belong to Wiley, no ammunition was found on Wiley, and Wiley's fingerprints were not found on the gun. Further, Wiley denied possession of the pistol and testified he was in the car merely to obtain a ride to his girlfriend's house.

In a factual sufficiency review, we review all the evidence, but do so in a neutral light and determine whether the evidence supporting the verdict is so weak or is 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, 220 S.W.3d 521, 524 (Tex. Crim. App. 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). The difference between the standards for legal and factual sufficiency is that legal sufficiency requires the reviewing court to defer to the jury's credibility and weight determinations while factual sufficiency permits the reviewing court to substitute its judgment for the jury's on these questions "albeit to a very limited degree." Marshall, 210 S.W.3d at 625.

Wiley was the sole witness for the defense. Wiley testified his sole purpose for getting into the vehicle was to obtain a ride to his girlfriend's house. On cross-examination, Wiley admitted they did not proceed directly to his girlfriend's house. Instead, Wiley testified they "slow blocked," which apparently means to simply drive around. Although he admitted he knew there were guns in the car, Wiley emphatically denied possessing any pistol. Wiley testified that Rodrigues had a pistol "stuck in his pants" when he got into the car and that he felt Rodrigues slide something in his direction as Rodrigues was removed from the vehicle. Detective Gary Shirley testified the pistol was submitted for fingerprinting, but no fingerprints were recovered from the pistol.

Conflicts in the evidence are to be resolved by the jury. In doing so, it may accept one version of facts and reject another or reject any of a witness' testimony. Penagraph v. State, 623 S.W.2d 341, 343 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981). Thus, the appellate court can consider only those few matters bearing on credibility that can be fully determined from a cold appellate record. Johnson, 23 S.W.3d at 8. "Such an approach occasionally permits some credibility assessment but usually requires deference to the jury's conclusion based on matters beyond the scope of the appellate court's legitimate concern." Id. Thus, conflicts between witnesses will generally be inviolate, but the validity of testimony can be treated as questionable because of other factors. Id.

Wiley admitted he knew there were guns in the car and testified he knew "they all would've got out the car and started shooting" if they had seen certain individuals. Wiley also admitted he was a convicted felon and was aware he was not supposed to possess a firearm. "Although an appellate court reviewing factual sufficiency has the ability to second-guess the jury to a limited degree, the review should still be deferential, with a high level of skepticism about the jury's verdict required before a reversal can occur." Roberts, 220 S.W.3d at 524. We are unable to form the high level of skepticism necessary to conclude the evidence is factually insufficient.

During our review of the record, we noted the judgment listed the "Statute for Offense" as "46.02(a) Penal Code." We reform the judgment to reflect that Wiley was convicted under "Section 46.04(a) Penal Code" and affirm the judgment as reformed.

 

Jack Carter

Justice

 

Date Submitted: November 5, 2007

Date Decided: November 28, 2007

 

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1. The spelling contained in the reporter's record.