Summary
holding that Crawford's Sixth Amendment concerns about out-of-court statements did not apply to expert's testimony that was based on personal knowledge acquired by having trained and worked at the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's lab
Summary of this case from Hennessey v. StateOpinion
No. 2-08-128-CR
Delivered: August 6, 2009. DO NOT PUBLISH Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)
Appeal from County Criminal Court No. 9 of Tarrant County.
PANEL: CAYCE, C.J.; WALKER and MEIER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
I. INTRODUCTION Appellant Grady Leroy Martin appeals his conviction and sentence for the offense of driving while intoxicated — misdemeanor repetition. In five points, Martin argues that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to suppress blood test results, by admitting expert testimony that did not comport with Texas Rule of Evidence 702 and that violated his rights under the Confrontation Clause, and by placing him on community supervision and ordering him to serve five days' confinement as a condition of his community supervision. We will affirm.
II. BACKGROUND
A black truck rear-ended Ronald Williams's car while he was stopped at a stoplight. The impact caused Williams's vehicle to collide with the vehicle in front of his. Following the accident, Williams saw a man exit the truck and flee the scene. Officer Christina Hunt located Martin and brought him back to the scene where a witness to the accident identified Martin as the man who had exited the truck and fled the scene. Officer Vanessa Hansard, who had been dispatched to the scene, testified at trial that although Martin did not smell of alcohol while in her custody, he slurred his words and exhibited balance problems. Officer Hansard formed the opinion that Martin was intoxicated by something other than alcohol. Because Martin refused to perform any sobriety tests or to take a breath test, Officer Hansard prepared an affidavit for a blood-draw search warrant, and a judge subsequently signed a search warrant based on Officer Hansard's affidavit. Martin's blood was then drawn and transported to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office for analysis. At trial, a toxicologist from the medical examiner's office testified that Martin's blood revealed the presence of the drugs meprobamate, diazepam, nordiazepam, and methadone, the synergistic effect of which would cause intoxication. Martin was charged with failure to stop and render aid and with DWI. For the failure to stop and render aid charge, Martin was tried, convicted, and served two years prior to the DWI trial. For the DWI charge, after the jury convicted Martin, the trial court sentenced him to 365 days in jail and assessed a $4,000 fine. The trial court then suspended the sentence and placed Martin on twenty-four months' community supervision and ordered Martin to spend five days in jail as a condition of his community supervision. Martin objected to the five days' confinement on the ground that this DWI arose out of the same criminal episode as the failure to stop and render aid charge and that the sentence would cause him "to serve more than the law allows." The trial court implicitly overruled Martin's objection and imposed the condition. This appeal followed.III. AFFIDAVIT ALLEGES FACTS TO ESTABLISH PROBABLE CAUSE
In his first and second points, Martin argues that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to suppress evidence of his blood test results because the supporting affidavit did not allege facts sufficient to establish probable cause for the search warrant. Specifically, Martin argues that the affidavit is composed of mere conclusions unsupported by other observations, that it reflects material omissions, that it makes impermissible inferences, and that probable cause for DWI is not established.A. Standard of Review and Law on Search Warrant Affidavits
Generally, the appropriate standard for reviewing a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress is a bifurcated standard of review, giving almost total deference to the trial court's determination of historical facts and reviewing de novo the court's application of the law. Amador v. State, 221 S.W.3d 666, 673 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007); Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). But there are no credibility determinations to be made by the trial court in examining the sufficiency of an affidavit to determine probable cause because probable cause is determined from the four corners of the affidavit alone. Hankins v. State, 132 S.W.3d 380, 388 (Tex.Crim.App.), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 944 (2004); Jones v. State, 833 S.W.2d 118, 123 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 921 (1993); Tolentino v. State, 638 S.W.2d 499, 501 (Tex.Crim.App. 1982). Thus, when reviewing a magistrate's decision to issue a warrant, we apply a highly deferential standard in keeping with the constitutional preference for a warrant. Rodriguez v. State, 232 S.W.3d 55, 60 (Tex.Crim.App. 2007); Swearingen v. State, 143 S.W.3d 808, 810-11 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). Under this standard, we uphold the magistrate's probable cause determination "so long as the magistrate had a substantial basis for . . . conclud[ing]'" that probable cause existed. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 236, 103 S. Ct. 2317, 2331 (1983) (quoting Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 271, 80 S. Ct. 725, 736 (1960), overruled on other grounds by U.S. v. Salvucci, 448 U.S. 83, 100 S. Ct. 2547 (1980)); see Swearingen, 143 S.W.3d at 810. Under the Fourth Amendment, an affidavit is sufficient if, from the totality of the circumstances reflected in the affidavit, the magistrate was provided with a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed. Gates, 462 U.S. at 238-39, 103 S. Ct. at 2332; see U.S. Const. amend. IV; Ramos v. State, 934 S.W.2d 358, 362-63 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1198 (1997). Probable cause will be found to exist if the affidavit shows facts and circumstances within the affiant's knowledge and of which the affiant has reasonably trustworthy information sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that the criteria set forth in code of criminal procedure article 18.01(c) have been met. Tolentino, 638 S.W.2d at 501; see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 18.01(c) (Vernon Supp. 2008). The affidavit must set forth facts which establish that (1) a specific offense has been committed, (2) the property to be searched or items to be seized constitute evidence of the offense or evidence that a particular person committed the offense, and (3) the property or items are located at or on the person, place, or thing to be searched. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 18.01(c); Tolentino, 638 S.W.2d at 501. Although a search warrant affidavit may not be based solely on hearsay or conclusory statements, a search warrant affidavit is not to be deemed insufficient on that score so long as a substantial basis for crediting the hearsay exists or corroborating facts within the officer's knowledge exist, respectively. See Gates, 462 U.S. at 241-43, 103 S. Ct. at 2333-35. A reviewing court should not invalidate a warrant by interpreting the affidavit in a hypertechnical manner. See Gates, 462 U.S. at 236, 103 S. Ct. at 2331; Rodriguez, 232 S.W.3d at 59. Rather, when a court reviews an issuing magistrate's determination, the court should interpret the affidavit in a commonsense and realistic manner, recognizing that the magistrate may draw reasonable inferences. See Rodriguez, 232 S.W.3d at 61; Davis v. State, 202 S.W.3d 149, 154 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006). B. The Search Warrant for Blood Draw The facts alleged in Officer Hansard's affidavit include: that Martin was involved in a three-vehicle accident, that he fled the scene of the accident, that he appeared very intoxicated and was very uncooperative, that he was found in possession of numerous narcotics, that he had a prior DWI arrest, that he stated that his lawyer had told him that he did not have to do anything the officers requested, that his speech was slurred and thick, that his eyes were heavy, that his walk and balance were unsteady, and that he was combative towards the officers. After reviewing Officer Hansard's affidavit, a magistrate issued the search warrant for blood draw. Prior to trial, Martin filed a motion to suppress all evidence obtained pursuant to the search warrant for blood draw. The trial court denied the motion to suppress.C. No Conclusory Statements
On appeal, Martin first argues that the statement in Officer Hansard's affidavit that Martin "appeared very intoxicated" is a mere conclusion unsupported by other observations. To the contrary, Officer Hansard explicitly provided other facts in her affidavit to support her belief that Martin appeared intoxicated, namely that he failed to cooperate, was combative with officers, slurred his speech, and exhibited heavy eyes and unsteady balance. We hold that from the totality of the circumstances reflected in the affidavit, Officer Hansard's statement that Martin "appeared very intoxicated" was not conclusory and was properly included in her affidavit; the statement was based on sufficient underlying facts set forth in the affidavit from which the magistrate could independently determine whether probable cause existed that Martin was probably intoxicated while driving. Cf. McKissick v. State, 209 S.W.3d 205, 212 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. ref'd) (concluding that affidavit did not rely on conclusory statements to such an extent that it was insufficient to show probable cause); Rodriguez v. State, 781 S.W.2d 946, 949 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1989, pet. ref'd) (upholding search warrant when affidavit contained some conclusory statements regarding information received from informant because affidavit also recited investigation and activities by police, which added additional details and corroboration of facts received from informant).D. Omitted Fact Does Not Vitiate Probable Cause
Martin next argues that the statement in Officer Hansard's affidavit concerning the "numerous narcotics" found in his possession was misleading because, in fact, the narcotics were Martin's prescription medications. Martin argues that Officer Hansard's failure to state in her affidavit that the narcotics were prescription drugs belonging to Martin was a knowing omission rendering her affidavit insufficient to support a probable cause finding. The United States Supreme Court has held that an affirmative misrepresentation of a material fact that establishes probable cause, made knowingly or recklessly in a probable cause affidavit, will render a search warrant invalid under the Fourth Amendment. See Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 155-56, 98 S. Ct. 2674, 2676 (1978). Although the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has never directly decided whether a Franks analysis applies to omissions, this court, other Texas courts of appeals, and the Fifth Circuit have held that, when a defendant seeks to suppress evidence lawfully obtained by a warrant based on an alleged omission in the affidavit supporting the warrant, he must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the omission was made knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth in an attempt to mislead the magistrate. See Darby v. State, 145 S.W.3d 714, 722 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2004, pet. ref'd); McKissick, 209 S.W.3d at 211-14; Heitman v. State, 789 S.W.2d 607, 610 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1990, pet. ref'd); Melton v. State, 750 S.W.2d 281, 284 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, no pet.); see also United States v. Martin, 615 F.2d 318, 328 (5th Cir. 1980). Accordingly, if a defendant establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that omissions of fact were made in a probable cause affidavit and that such omissions were made knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, the warrant will be held invalid if the inclusion of the omitted facts would vitiate probable cause. Martin, 615 F.2d at 328. Here, the record does not reflect that Officer Hansard intentionally or knowingly, with reckless disregard for the truth, made any omissions in the affidavit that would affect the finding of probable cause to support the issuance of the search warrant for blood draw. Martin has not shown that use of the phrase "numerous narcotics" constituted a material misrepresentation or that Officer Hansard's failure to specifically identify the narcotics as prescription drugs prescribed to Martin constituted an omission made by Officer Hansard intentionally or knowingly with reckless disregard for the truth in an attempt to mislead the magistrate. Nor has Martin shown that the affidavit, if supplemented with the omitted information — that is, that the numerous narcotics were prescription drugs prescribed to Martin — would be insufficient to support a finding of probable cause. Therefore, we hold that the affidavit was not rendered insufficient by the omission of the fact that the "numerous narcotics" referenced in the affidavit were Martin's prescription drugs. See Darby, 145 S.W.3d at 722-23 (concluding that affidavit for search warrant was not rendered invalid by the omission of material facts); see also Garza v. State, 161 S.W.3d 636, 641 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2005, no pet.) (upholding warrant when affidavit omitted reference to fact that witness gave conflicting testimony to police when initially interviewed).E. Additional Statements Can Be Omitted Without Vitiating Probable Cause
Martin's final argument within his first and second points is that Officer Hansard's statements in the affidavit that Martin was "being uncooperative and requested counsel could not be taken as evidence to support the issuance of the warrant" because "[a] request for counsel cannot be used as an inference of guilt." But the affidavit here does not contain a statement that Martin requested counsel; instead, the affidavit contains the statement that Martin "stated that his lawyer told him that he did not have to do anything officers requested." That statement, when viewed from the totality of the circumstances, would appear to explain why Martin refused to perform field sobriety tests and why the blood draw was needed but does not constitute a request for counsel. Accord Dinkins v. State, 894 S.W.2d 330, 350-52 (Tex.Crim.App.) (holding that record did not support a showing that appellant requested an attorney even though at some point during the interrogation appellant asked detective "what a lawyer would tell him to do," and detective informed appellant "in no uncertain terms that a lawyer would tell him to keep his mouth shut and not to talk to the police at all"), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 832 (1995). Even leaving out those two statements — that Martin was uncooperative and that he stated that his lawyer told him that he did not have to do anything officers requested — the affidavit alleges sufficient other facts, which are set forth above, to support a finding of probable cause for issuance of a search warrant for blood draw. As such, we hold that the affidavit provided the magistrate with sufficient information to support an independent judgment that probable cause for DWI existed for the search warrant for blood draw. See Pitonyak v. State, 253 S.W.3d 834, 848 (Tex.App.-Austin 2008, pet. ref'd) (holding that if tainted information is unnecessary to establish probable cause for the warrant, then the defendant could not have been harmed by the inclusion of the tainted information); Riley v. State, No. 03-04-00206-CR, 2004 WL 2900508, at *1 (Tex.App.-Austin Dec. 16, 2004, pet. ref'd) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (stating that even if challenged passage is removed from affidavit, the remaining information stated probable cause for issuing the search warrants).F. Motion to Suppress Properly Denied
In light of the information contained within the four corners of Officer Hansard's affidavit, we hold that, considering the totality of the circumstances, the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed to support the issuance of the search warrant for blood draw. See Gates, 462 U.S. at 238, 103 S. Ct. at 2332; Vafaiyan v. State, 279 S.W.3d 374, 384 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2008, pet. ref'd) (holding that when considered together with the other evidence described within the four corners of the affidavits, the totality of the circumstances provided the magistrate with a substantial basis for concluding probable cause existed to search); see also Goodrum v. State, No. 01-01-00950-CR, 2003 WL 1995634, at *5 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] May 1, 2003, pet. ref'd) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (concluding that, under the totality of the circumstances, the magistrate had sufficient evidence linking appellant to the crime to issue a search warrant allowing police to draw his blood to further their investigation). Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Martin's motion to suppress and by admitting the blood test result. See Cantu v. State, No. 05-07-01625-CR, 2009 WL 1479412, at *2 (Tex.App.-Dallas May 28, 2009, no pet.) (not designated for publication) (holding that trial court did not err by denying appellant's motion to suppress after appellate court reviewed the affidavit as a whole and concluded that affidavit authorized magistrate's issuance of search warrant for collection of buccal swabs); Torres v. State, No. 04-07-00522-CR, 2009 WL 89695, at *3 (Tex.App.-San Antonio Jan. 14, 2009, pet. ref'd) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (holding that trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying motion to suppress the results of the legal blood draw and by admitting that evidence at trial). We overrule Martin's first and second points.During the punishment hearing, Martin pleaded true to a prior 2005 DWI conviction.
In this case, Judge Billy Mills from County Criminal Court No. 3 issued the blood draw warrant. Throughout the remainder of the opinion, we refer to him as "magistrate" to reflect the capacity in which he was serving.
Because the search warrant at issue bears this title, we use the same title for ease of reference.
See Ward v. State, No. AP-74695, 2007 WL 1492080, at *3-4 (Tex.Crim.App. May 23, 2007) (not designated for publication) (stating that "[t]his Court has yet to state clearly that Franks should apply to omissions" and that "[w]e need not decide that issue today"), cert. denied, 128 S. Ct. 650 (2007); see also Renteria v. State, 206 S.W.3d 689, 704 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006) (assuming that Franks applied to omissions in an affidavit).
The State points out that
[i]t is difficult to fathom how [the fact that the "numerous narcotics" were Martin's prescription medications] could have been relevant to a magistrate trying to determine the existence of probable cause. If the suspect is driving around in what seems to be a mobile drug store, and appears to be under the influence of narcotics, it hardly matters whether his drugs are in neat bottles or in a more traditional "junkie" packaging.
Moreover, the voluntary taking of prescription drugs, which impair mental or physical faculties, is not a defense to DWI. See generally Nelson v. State, 149 S.W.3d 206, 210 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2004, no pet.).