Loyce Carlton Means v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 228th District Court of Harris County

IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-98-148-CR

LOYCE CARLTON MEANS,

Appellant

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

Appellee

From the 228th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court # 739,327

O P I N I O N

A jury convicted Appellant Loyce Carlton Means of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine and assessed punishment at forty years confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. 481.112(f) (Vernon 1998).

Means complains on appeal that: (1) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction; (2) the trial court erred when it overruled his motion to suppress evidence; and (3) the trial court erred when it overruled his objection to the State s improper jury arguments.

We affirm the conviction.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On December 2, 1996, undercover officer O.J. Latin and an informant went to Means residence in an attempt to purchase three kilos of cocaine. When Latin and the informant arrived at Means residence there was a white City of Houston truck parked in the driveway. The informant introduced Latin as his uncle in order not to arouse Means suspicion that Latin might be a police officer. Means then invited Latin and the informant inside.

Shortly thereafter, a man wearing dark blue City of Houston work pants and a white t-shirt entered the residence while carrying a rectangular-shaped bundle wrapped in a dark blue City of Houston work shirt. Means and the man went into an adjacent room while Latin and the informant remained in the front of the house. From his position in the front room, Latin witnessed Means and the man counting several stacks of money. After approximately two to three minutes, Means closed the door. The informant then called out and told Means that he needed to leave because he had to pick up some kids from school. The informant left and did not return to the residence.

After approximately fifteen minutes, Means and the other man emerged from the room. The other man left and Means summoned Latin inside the room. Once inside the room, Latin noticed an open black briefcase that was filled with money. Latin and Means discussed how many kilos of cocaine Latin wanted to purchase and the price per kilo. Because Latin did not have money for the cocaine with him, Means and Latin agreed that Latin would get the money and return to the residence.

Latin left the residence and met with a fellow officer who had the purchase money. The officer and Latin discussed the specifics of the impending deal and Latin told the officer that he did not plan to go back inside the residence but planned to conduct the deal outside. Latin then placed the rubberband-wrapped bundles of money into a duffel bag and returned to the residence. Latin exited his car and saw Means standing in the driveway of his next-door neighbor s house. Latin left the money in his car and walked over to Means. Means told Latin to get inside a Suburban, which was parked on his next-door neighbor s driveway. Latin entered the Suburban and sat in the back seat, directly behind the driver s seat while Means sat in the driver s seat.

Once inside the Suburban, Means told Latin to get the money and to bring it back. It was at this time that Latin observed another man, later identified as Patrick Jones, approach the residence. Latin asked Means who the man was and Means replied that he [was] cool. Latin then went to retrieve the money and once again sat in the Suburban. Latin waited in the car for a few minutes while Means spoke with Jones. Means told Jones to drive around and check out the area and make sure that there were not any police nearby. Jones did so and then returned approximately five minutes later.

While Jones canvassed the area for police, Means remained outside the car, talking with another suspect, Terry Wiseman. Once Jones returned and spoke with Means, Means entered the Suburban where he again sat in the driver s seat. Means asked Latin about the money and Latin showed him the duffel bag and then handed him the money. Latin asked Means where the cocaine was located. Means, pointing to a trash bag underneath a tree in his yard, told Latin that it was there. Latin walked over to the trash bag and saw what appeared to be three kilos of cocaine. Latin then placed the three kilos in his duffel bag and returned and got back into the Suburban. Latin then tried to open the kilos in order to test the cocaine s purity. Means told Latin that he had a knife that Latin could use to open the packages. Latin and Means exited the Suburban and walked towards Means residence. Means told Latin to go back and shut the Suburban s doors and as Latin was doing so, a blue and white police cruiser and the undercover surveillance van pulled up to Means residence. Means and the other suspects were arrested.

After Means and the other suspects were arrested, Latin obtained a search warrant for Means residence and the black briefcase. No drugs were found in the residence or the briefcase. The briefcase contained $79,060 in cash and various articles of paperwork. The three packages that Latin purchased contained 85.9 % pure cocaine.

Means filed a motion to suppress evidence claiming that some statements within Latin s affidavit were false and that those false statements served as the basis to establish probable cause to issue the search warrant. The trial court denied Means motion. After a jury convicted him, Means appealed.

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Means first issue on appeal claims that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for delivery of cocaine by actual transfer to Latin because there was no evidence that he either placed the cocaine underneath the tree or ordered someone else to do so. A defendant s assertion that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction has been held to preserve a claim that the evidence is legally insufficient. Weightman v. State, 975 S.W.2d 621, 624 n.6 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998); Williams v. State, 958 S.W.2d 186, 190 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Bryant v. State, 923 S.W.2d 199, 206 (Tex. App. Waco 1996, no pet.). When reviewing a legal sufficiency challenge, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine whether, based on that evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 US. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2788-89, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); Alvarado v. State, 912 S.W.2d 199, 207 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

The State alleged in the indictment that Means delivered cocaine in three ways: (1) by actual transfer to Latin; (2) by constructive transfer to Latin; or (3) by offering to sell it to Latin. The State, in anticipation of variances in the proof, may plead alternative theories of the same offense in the conjunctive and charge the jury in the disjunctive. Lawton v. State, 913 S.W.2d 542, 551 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); White v. State, 890 S.W.2d 69, 72 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); Lehman v. State, 792 S.W.2d 82, 84-85 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990). When the State does so, it is not required to prove the defendant s guilt under all the alleged theories; it only needs to prove guilt under one theory to support the conviction. White, 890 S.W.2d at 72; Lehman, 792 S.W.2d at 84-85; Bohnet v. State, 938 S.W.2d 532, 535 n.2 (Tex. App. Austin 1997, pet. ref d).

A constructive transfer occurs when a defendant transfers a controlled substance either belonging to [him] or under his direct or indirect control, by some other person or manner at the instance or direction of the defendant. Davila v. State, 664 S.W.2d 722, 724 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984); Stolz v. State, 962 S.W.2d 81, 82 (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref d). Here, the evidence shows that Means and Latin discussed how much cocaine Latin wanted to purchase and its price. Means then directed Latin to get the purchase money and sit in the Suburban. Means got into the Suburban, asked Latin where the money was, and directed Latin to hand it to him. Means took the money and then told Latin where the cocaine was by pointing to a trash bag beneath a tree in his yard. The Court of Criminal Appeals has stated that a constructive transfer can occur when the seller places the drugs in a particular location and then advises the buyer of this location so that the buyer may retrieve the drugs. Queen v. State, 662 S.W.2d 338, 340 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983). This is our present situation. Therefore, we find that the evidence is legally sufficient to support Means conviction of delivery of cocaine by constructive transfer and overrule his first issue.

MOTION TO SUPPRESS

Means second issue on appeal claims that the trial court erred when it overruled his motion to suppress because Latin made false statements in his supporting affidavit. Means claims that Latin s misstatements falsely created probable cause for the search warrant and that the various articles of paperwork seized pursuant to the illegal search warrant should have been suppressed. Means claims that when the false allegations are excised from the probable cause affidavit, the remaining statements do not establish probable cause and thus, the evidence was seized pursuant to an illegal search warrant. See Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 154-55, 98 S. Ct. 2674, 2676, 57 L. Ed. 2d 667 (1978).

In Franks, the United States Supreme Court stated that if a defendant makes a substantial preliminary showing that either the probable cause affiant made an intentionally or knowingly false statement or made a statement with reckless disregard for the truth in the probable cause affidavit and the false statement is necessary to the finding of probable cause, the defendant is entitled to a hearing. // Id. If the defendant establishes at the hearing by a preponderance of the evidence that the affiant intentionally or knowingly made a false statement or made it with reckless disregard for the truth, the false statement is excised from the probable cause affidavit. Id. The remainder of the affidavit is then examined to determine if there is sufficient content to establish probable cause. Id. If not, then the search warrant is void and the fruits of the search are excluded. Id. at 155.

However, there is a presumption that a search warrant s supporting affidavit is valid. Id. at 171. For a defendant to be entitled to an evidentiary hearing, his attack must be more than conclusory. Id. The defendant must allege that the affiant made deliberate falsehoods or had a reckless disregard for the truth and he must accompany those allegations by an offer of proof. Id. The defendant s offer of proof must state specifically what portion of the probable cause affidavit is allegedly false and should be accompanied by a statement of supporting reasons. Id. If the defendant meets the above criteria and the material that is the subject of the alleged falsity or reckless disregard is excised from the affidavit and the remainder of the affidavit is sufficient to support a finding of probable cause, no hearing is required. Id. at 172. However, if the remaining content is not sufficient to establish probable cause, the defendant is entitled to his hearing. Id. at 172.

At a motion to suppress hearing, the trial court is the trier of facts and the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). When reviewing a trial court s ruling on a motion to suppress, we must afford almost total deference to the trial court s application of law to fact questions which turn upon an evaluation of the credibility and demeanor of the witnesses. Loserth v. State, 963 S.W.2d 770, 772 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998); Guzman, 955 S.W.2d at 89. We must view the record evidence and all its reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the trial court s ruling and sustain the trial court s ruling if it is reasonably supported by the record and is correct on any theory of law applicable to the case. Guzman, 955 S.W.2d at 89; Hernandez v. State, 963 S.W.2d 921, 923 (Tex. App. San Antonio 1998, pet. ref d). However, we review de novo the trial court s determination of mixed questions of law and fact that do not turn upon an evaluation of the credibility and demeanor of the witnesses. Loserth, 963 S.W.2d at 773; Guzman, 955 S.W.2d at 89.

The determination of whether a probable cause affiant s statements were false or made with reckless disregard of the truth is a question of fact and the trial court, as the sole fact-finder and judge of the witnesses credibility, is owed great deference and its ruling will be overruled only if it was an abuse of discretion. // Janecka v. State, 937 S.W.2d 456, 462 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).

During the motion to suppress hearing, Means claimed that Latin s probable cause affidavit contained two false statements. First, Means claimed that Latin falsely stated that he saw a drug transaction between Means and the unidentified City of Houston employee. // Means claimed that Latin did not actually witness a drug transaction because Latin could not see what the unidentified man s bundle contained because the bundle was concealed by a work shirt. Means claimed that at most, Latin witnessed what he thought or suspected was a drug transaction.

Second, Means claimed that Latin falsely stated that he offered to sell more drugs to Latin and offered to reenter his residence to retrieve the additional drugs. // Means pointed out that Latin s offense report, which Latin completed after the probable cause affidavit, did not contain an account of Means alleged offer to sell Latin additional drugs nor his offer to reenter his house to retrieve the drugs. Means argued that Latin s offense report and probable cause affidavit contradict each other because Latin would have included Means offer to commit another felony in his offense report if that had actually transpired.

During the suppression hearing, Latin testified that he knew that Means drug supplier was a City of Houston employee who made his drug deliveries in a City of Houston vehicle. Latin stated that when he arrived at Means residence, he saw a City of Houston vehicle in the driveway and saw the unidentified man enter the residence with a rectangular brick-shaped bundle wrapped in a City of Houston work shirt. Latin averred that he witnessed Means and the unidentified man count out money in an adjoining room. Latin stated that based upon these observations and his experience as a narcotics officer, he formed the opinion that he witnessed a drug transaction.

Latin further testified that the reason he did not include in his offense report Means offer to sell him additional drugs and to retrieve them from his residence is that he did not remember all the details of the undercover operation when he authored his offense report several days after Means arrest. Latin stated that he completed his probable cause affidavit immediately after the arrest and that the details were fresh in his mind and that is why his probable cause affidavit was more detailed than his subsequent offense report.

Because the information in Latin s affidavit was substantially correct and the information he averred to in his affidavit was believed by him or accepted by him as true, there was no misrepresentation within the meaning of Franks. See Janecka, 937 S.W.2d at 465; Massey v. State, 933 S.W.2d 141, 147 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). Therefore, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling Means motion to suppress.

We overrule Means second issue.

IMPROPER JURY ARGUMENTS

Means third issue claims that the trial court erred when it allowed the State to engage in improper jury argument by permitting the State to improperly inject facts that were outside the record during its closing arguments. Specifically, Means complains about the following remarks:* * *

STATE:. . . There s some things I want to tell you. First is drug dealing is a business. If you don t think it is, then you are being naive.

Let me tell you something about that business. It s not handled the way legitimate businesses are. You don t keep account records. You don t write people checks. You don t do things that track yourself back --

DEFENSE:I m going to object. None of this is in evidence.

COURT:Overruled. The jury understands this is the argument phase of the case. Continue, please.

* * *

Proper jury argument must be confined to four permissible areas: (1) summation of the evidence; (2) reasonable deductions from the evidence; (3) answers to the arguments of opposing counsel; and (4) pleas for law enforcement. McFarland v. State, 989 S.W.2d 749, 751 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Williams v. State, 948 S.W.2d 954, 957 (Tex. App. Waco 1997, pet. ref d).

During his closing argument, Means questioned the State s lack of corroborative and physical evidence. Means also challenged the veracity of Latin s testimony and urged the jury that Latin may have fabricated his testimony in order to compensate for the lack of evidence against him. Means also insinuated that it was not reasonable for the State to have as little evidence as it did and that this was further proof that he did not commit the offense as charged by the State.

The State, in response to Means closing arguments, argued that drug dealing is a business in which records are not kept like they would be in that of a legitimate business. The State claimed that this was the reason that there was such scant physical evidence against Means. The State s closing arguments were a proper response to Means closing arguments.

We overrule Means third issue.

The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

REX D. DAVIS

Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Davis

Justice Vance

Justice Gray

Affirmed

Opinion delivered and filed October 13, 1999

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