Nos. 14-02-00410-CR and 14-02-00411-CR.
Modified and Memorandum Opinion Filed May 1, 2003. DO NOT PUBLISH, Tex.R.App.P. 47.2(b).
Appeal from the 228th District Court, Harris County, Texas, Trial Court Cause No. 899,397 and 899,398. Affirmed.
Before Justices YATES, ANDERSON, and FOWLER.
JOHN S. ANDERSON, Justice.
A jury found appellant Lennis David Yates guilty of two charges of sexual assault. See TEX. PENAL. CODE ANN. § 22.011(a)(1)(A) (Vernon Supp. 2003). Punishment for each offense was enhanced and assessed at 27 years' confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The trial court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively. In five points of error, appellant asserts he is entitled to a new trial, or, alternatively, entitled to concurrent sentences. We modify the trial court's judgment and affirm it as modified. See TEX. R. APP P. 43.2(b).
PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL HISTORY
In September, 2001, two sexual assaults were reported to Houston police. The first, occurring on or about September 5, 2001, was reported by L.M., a 34-year-old prostitute; the second, occurring on or about September 12, 2001, was reported by B.B., a 37-year-old prostitute. At the time of the assaults — which involved aberrant sexual behavior — both women were located in the 4300 block of Telephone Road in Houston. According to L.M.'s and B.B.'s reports, their assailant was an attractive white male, 33 to 38 years old, weighing between 160 and 170 lbs., with blonde hair and a "surfer-type" haircut. He told one of the women his name was "Bobby," that he was from Maine, and that he was married. According to the women, their assailant stopped them on the street, called them over to his truck, implied he was hiring them for consensual sex, and then drove them to nearby locations where the assaults took place. In both instances, the assailant drove a red Peterbilt truck driving "bobtail." Each woman described her assault similarly. Each reported she was made to take off her clothes; was handcuffed at the wrists and ankles; was gagged with a sock or something similar; was taped or tied across the mouth; and was threatened with gang rape. Additionally, each feared for her life, was made to endure forceful insertion of a dildo or other large object into her anus and/or vagina, and was verbally and physically abused. Neither woman consented to the behavior. L.M. reported she was shocked or electrocuted with a device that made her "feel like she was being punched in the side." B.B. reported she was whipped, beaten on the side with fists, and had a rib broken. Additionally, B.B. testified that her assailant placed "clamps" on her breasts, tied the clamps together, and pulled on them forcefully. After the assaults, both women were returned to the motel where they were living. Neither was paid. Both women shared their experiences with acquaintances and with the police; both exhibited physical signs of having been handcuffed and/or whipped. During the early morning hours of October 6, 2001, Officer R.J. Manzanales of the Houston Police Department was on patrol on Telephone Road in southeast Houston when he was flagged down by a woman he believed to be a prostitute. The woman told Manzanales a truck driver in a red Peterbilt truck had just stopped, attempted to "pick her up," and was traveling northbound on Telephone Road. She believed the driver was the same "truck driver" wanted by the police for the assaults on L.M. and B.B. During his department's daily "roll call" sessions — held immediately before the beginning of each day's shift — Manzanales had learned of B.B.'s and L.M.'s alleged assaults by a blonde man driving a red Peterbilt truck without a trailer. Proceeding in the direction the woman indicated, Manzanales observed a vehicle coming toward him matching the description given by the woman and by L.M. and B.B. It was a red Peterbilt truck being driven "bobtail," and had no rear license plate. The man driving the truck matched the descriptions provided by L.M. and B.B. The vehicle had turned around and was traveling southbound on Telephone Road. After he stopped the truck, Manzanales observed appellant as the lone occupant. He informed appellant he was being stopped for failure to display a rear license plate. He also informed appellant he fit the description of a person who had been terrorizing prostitutes in the area. Manzanales asked appellant for his driver's license, ran a "standard warrant check" on it, called for back-up, and contacted (1) his supervisor to learn more about the sexual assault suspect and his truck, and (2) his department's sexual assault unit to inform them he had stopped a person matching the description of B.B.'s and L.M.'s assailant. After conversing with his supervisor and unit representative, Manzanales discovered the rape suspect was from Maine and drove a truck outfitted with a bug guard. Manzanales observed a bug guard on appellant's truck and asked appellant where he was from. Appellant informed Manzanales he was from Maine. About this time, another officer arrived. The two officers asked appellant, who had exited his vehicle, if he would consent to a search of his truck. Although appellant initially said "no" to the request, he re-entered the truck and, after a period of time, exited and orally gave permission for the search. He refused to sign a consent form. While it was Manzanales' impression that appellant spent the time inside his truck searching for incriminating evidence, appellant asserts he sat in his truck to smoke a cigarette. In any case, appellant gave oral permission to have officers search his truck and Manzanales placed him in the back of one of the patrol cars. A brief search of appellant's truck revealed a whip, two sets of handcuffs, a black dildo, two rolls of tape, and miscellaneous pornography. After appellant was taken to the police station and his truck towed, a further search revealed alligator clips and a rope matching the description of rope used to tie up one of the complainants. At the police station, appellant was met by Officer Dannye Morgan, who took a photograph of appellant and placed the photograph into a photospread. Morgan showed the photospread to both complainants, who positively identified appellant as their assailant. Upon receipt of complainants' positive identifications, Morgan met with appellant, informed him of his rights, informed him of the accusations made against him, and asked if appellant wished to make a statement. Although appellant provided no formal statement, he told Morgan he had frequented the "whores on Telephone Road" and engaged in "bondage" situations. Morgan asked appellant to provide a saliva sample. Although appellant signed a "consent to search" form so that a sample of his saliva could be obtained, he informed Morgan "it would not do the officer any good." When asked why this was so, appellant stated "he had cleaned the truck out real good." Two charges of sexual assault were filed against appellant. His indictments also included an enhancement paragraph alleging appellant had previously committed aggravated assault. At trial, the jury found appellant guilty of both sexual assaults and made a finding of true to each enhancement. It assessed punishment at 27 years' confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for each offense. The trial court ordered the sentences to run consecutively. Appellant's written notice of appeal was timely filed. ISSUES ON APPEAL
Appellant asserts five points of error, contending (1) the trial court erred in not suppressing evidence seized in the search of his truck; (2) the trial court erred in not granting appellant a new trial in light of new evidence showing the original stop of appellant's truck to be unlawful; (3) the trial court erred in not granting a new trial in light of evidence showing appellant could not have committed the offense as described by complainant; (4) the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on "prostitution" as an alternative offense to "sexual assault"; and (5) the trial court erred in cumulating his sentences. I. DENIAL OF APPELLANT'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS
In his first point of error, appellant asserts the trial court erred in not suppressing the evidence seized from his truck because he was not lawfully stopped. Appellant's argument is based on a letter from the Texas Department of Transportation interpreting section 502.404(a) of the Texas Transportation Code. See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 502.404(a) (Vernon 1999). A. Standard of Review
We review a trial court's motion to suppress under an abuse-of-discretion standard of review. Oles v. State, 993 S.W.2d 103, 106 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999); Dang v. State, No. 14-00-00560-CR, ___ S.W.3d. ___, 2002 WL 31426674, at *3 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 31, 2002, no. pet. h.). There is an abuse of discretion when the ruling is so clearly wrong as to be outside that zone within which reasonable persons might disagree. Cantu v. State, 842 S.W.2d 667, 682 (Tex.Crim. App. 1992). We afford almost total deference to a trial court's determination of the historical facts that the record supports, especially when the trial court's fact findings are based upon an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. State v. Ross, 32 S.W.3d 853, 856 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000). We afford the same amount of deference to the trial court's ruling on mixed questions of law and fact if the resolution of those questions turns on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Carmouche v. State, 10 S.W.3d 323, 327 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000); Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 88-80 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). We review de novo the trial court's application of law to those facts in the determination of reasonable suspicion and probable cause. Id. at 87-88. See also Carmouche, 10 S.W.3d at 327; Manzi v. State, 56 S.W.3d 710, 716 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. granted) aff'd 88 S.W.3d 240 (appellate court reviews de novo a trial court's application of law of search and seizure). In determining whether the trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress is supported by the record, we generally consider only the evidence adduced at the hearing on the motion unless the suppression issues have been consensually relitigated by the parties during the trial on the merits. Rachal v. State, 917 S.W.2d 799, 809 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996); Dang, 2002 WL 31426674, at *3. Because the parties in this case did not consensually relitigate the suppression issues at trial, we will examine only the evidence before the trial court at the suppression hearing. B. Discussion
Appellant argues on appeal that the trial court erred in failing to suppress evidence seized from appellant's truck after his traffic stop. He asserts the evidence was illegally seized as a result of an unlawful search because (1) Manzanales' initial stop was improper and lacked probable cause, and (2) appellant did not consent to be searched. Appellant's arguments are without merit. 1. Evidence supports a finding appellant was lawfully stopped.
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, in part, that "the right of people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated." U.S. CONST. AMEND. IV. Warrantless searches are per se unreasonable unless they fall into a recognized exception. Hulit v. State, 982 S.W.2d 431, 434 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998). One recognized exception occurs when a police officer has "reasonable suspicion" criminal activity is afoot. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S.1, 29, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 1884 (1968); Davis v. State, 947 S.W.2d 240, 244 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997); James v. State, ___ S.W.3d ___, 2003 WL 69576, at *4 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2003, no pet. h.). Reasonable suspicion exists if the officer has "specific articulable facts" that, when combined with rational inferences from those facts, would lead him to reasonably suspect that a particular person has engaged in, or is, or soon will be, engaging in illegal conduct. Id. See also Garcia v. State, 43 S.W.3d 527, 530 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001); Townsend v. State, 813 S.W.2d 181, 185 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, pet. ref'd). The information provoking an officer's reasonable suspicion need not be based on the officer's own personal observations, but may be based on an informant's tip which bears sufficient "indicia of reliability" to justify a stop. Carmouche, 10 S.W.3d at 328. Reasonable suspicion is determined by considering the "totality of the circumstances." Woods v. State, 956 S.W.2d 33, 38 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). The same standards for reasonable suspicion apply whether the person detained is a pedestrian or occupant of an automobile. Carmouche, 10 S.W.3d at 328. Thus, reasonable suspicion applies to traffic stops. U.S. v. Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. 873, 880-81, 95 S.Ct. 2574, 2574 (1975). Here, the trial court heard appellant's motion to suppress based on appellant's motion and affidavits from both sides. See TEX. CRIM. P. CODE ANN. art. 28.01, § 1(6) (Vernon 1989). Appellant offered his own affidavit; the State offered the affidavit of Manzanales. Manzanales' affidavit recited several "specific articulable facts" to support a finding that Manzanales had reasonable suspicion to stop appellant: (1) Manzanales had heard reports of a person driving a red Peterbilt truck assaulting prostitutes in the Telephone Road area; (2) Manzanales was on Telephone Road; (3) Manzanales was flagged down by a female he believed to be a prostitute; (4) the female stated she was aware of a person in a red Peterbilt truck assaulting prostitutes; (5) the female stated a truck and driver matching the assailant's description had just stopped, attempted to "pick her up," and was driving northbound on Telephone Road; and (6) Manzanales noted a red Peterbilt truck that had reversed its direction to travel southbound on Telephone Road. Finding this evidence to be sufficient proof to support reasonable suspicion, we conclude Manzanales' stop of appellant was lawful. Because Manzanales' stop was lawful, the trial court's denial of appellant's motion to suppress on this basis was proper. 2. Evidence supports a finding appellant gave consent to be searched.
The Fourth Amendment guarantees to every individual the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. U.S. CONST. AMEND. IV. However, a search made after voluntary consent is not unreasonable. Kolb v. State, 532 S.W.2d 87, 89 (Tex.Crim. App. 1976); Manzi, 56 S.W.3d at 716. To determine voluntariness, the trial court must look at the totality of the circumstances surrounding the statement of consent. Id.; Lackey v. State, 638 S.W.2d 439, 447 (Tex.Crim. App. 1982). The State is required to prove the voluntariness of consent by clear and convincing evidence. State v. Ibarra, 953 S.W.2d 242, 243 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997; Manzi, 56 S.W.3d at 716. Among the factors to be considered in determining voluntariness are whether the consenting person is in custody; whether he or she was arrested at gunpoint; and whether the person was informed that he or she did not have to consent. Laney v. State, 76 S.W.3d 524, 532 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, pet. granted). Other relevant factors include the age, education, and intelligence of the accused; the constitutional advice given to the accused; the length of the detention; the repetitiveness of the questioning; and the use of physical punishment. Id.; Reasor v. State, 12 S.W.3d 813, 818 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000). Here, the trial court considered two affidavits at appellant's suppression hearing. Appellant's affidavit stated that appellant never gave consent — oral or written — for his truck to be searched; Manzanales' affidavit stated that while appellant declined to sign a written consent form and initially declined to allow officers to search his truck, appellant changed his mind regarding the search after being allowed to re-enter his vehicle. Interpreting the affidavits in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling, we conclude appellant voluntarily consented to be searched. See Maniz, 56 S.W.3d at 717. First, appellant's and Manzanales' accounts of the stop and search are virtually identical except for the consent issue. Next, appellant's initial denial of the search and refusal to sign a consent form indicate appellant was fully aware of his right to refuse. Finally, evidence that appellant re-entered his truck and gave consent only after having had the opportunity to be inside his vehicle supports the conclusion appellant believed no incriminating evidence would be found. The fact that appellant initially refused to give police consent, while a factor to be considered in evaluating the voluntariness of his later decision to give consent, is not determinative. Id. at 718. See also U.S. v. Pulvano, 629 F.2d 1151, 1157 (5th Cir. 1980) (finding defendant who "refuses to cooperate with police on the grounds that he is constitutionally permitted to do so, may change his mind at some later time and decide to voluntarily cooperate."). Neither is failure of police to obtain a written consent to search. Maniz, 56 S.W.3d at 719 ("It is well established . . . that a valid consent to search may be oral."); U.S. v. Gomez-Diaz, 712 F.2d 949, 952 (5th Cir. 1983) (defendant who verbally agreed to x-ray procedure, but refused to sign written consent form, nevertheless gave consent). Because we find clear and convincing evidence to support (1) a finding that appellant was lawfully stopped, and (2) a finding that appellant voluntarily consented to be searched, we conclude the trial court did not err when it denied appellant's motion to suppress. Accordingly, we overrule appellant's first point of error. II. DENIAL OF APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL
In his second and third points of error, appellant asserts the trial court erred in not granting him a new trial because (1) new evidence suggests there was no valid basis for the State's initial traffic stop; and (2) evidence exists that establishes appellant could not have committed the offense against L.M. as complainant described it. We disagree. A. Standard of Review
A trial court has wide discretion in granting a new trial, and the trial court's discretion will not be disturbed on appeal absent a showing of a manifest abuse of discretion. Champion Int'l Corp. v. Twelfth Court of Appeals, 762 S.W.2d 898, 899 (Tex. 1988); Allied Rent-All, Inc. v. Int'l Rental Ins., 764 S.W.2d 11, 13 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, no writ.). This standard of review also applies to trial court decisions based upon newly-discovered evidence. Keeter v. State, 74 S.W.3d 31, 37 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002). Motions for new trial on grounds of newly-discovered evidence are disfavored by the courts and viewed with great caution. Margraves v. State, 56 S.W.3d 673, 685 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, no pet.). B. Discussion
To obtain a new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence, a defendant must show (1) the new evidence was unknown to defendant at the time of trial; (2) failure to discover the evidence was not due to defendant's lack of diligence; (3) the evidence has a materiality that probably would cause a different result in another trial; and (4) the evidence is admissible and not merely cumulative, corroborative, collateral or impeaching. Id.; Moore v. State, 882 S.W.2d 844, 849 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994). Unless the defendant satisfies all four requirements, he is not entitled to a new trial. Margraves, 56 S.W.3d at 685. Neither of the two pieces of evidence upon which appellant relies for a new trial meets these four criteria. 1. Department of Transportation's "statute interpretation" letter
In his second point of error, appellant asserts the recently-discovered communication from the Texas Department of Transportation — authoritatively construing section 502.404 of the Texas Transportation Code — shows appellant's initial traffic violation was not in fact an offense. Because it was not an offense, appellant asserts, appellant's stop was unlawful and evidence seized as a result of it was inadmissible. We disagree. As determined in Part I(B)(1) above, there is no requirement a traffic regulation must be violated in order for an officer to have reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle. Cook v. State, 63 S.W.3d 924, 929 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, no pet.). Indeed, Manzanales had reasonable suspicion to stop appellant even without the traffic violation; any evidence suggesting appellant committed no traffic violation, therefore, is immaterial. Immaterial evidence fails to satisfy the third requirement for obtaining a new trial on the basis of new-found evidence. See Margraves, 56 S.W.3d at 685 (to form the basis for a new trial, new-found evidence must have a materiality that probably would cause a different result at trial). Because appellant's letter fails to meet all four criteria required to obtain a new trial on the basis of newly-discovered evidence, we hold the trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion for new trial on the basis of appellant's letter from the Department of Transportation. Accordingly, we overrule appellant's second point of error. 2. Appellant's alibi witness
In his third point of error, appellant claims the trial court erred when it denied his motion for new trial because an alibi witness — Latoya Johnson — was willing to testify she was in Dallas with appellant making deliveries on the morning of September 5, 2001. Because appellant has an alibi for the date of the alleged assault against L.M., appellant claims, the assault against L.M. could not possibly have been "committed . . . as it was described by [complainant]." This argument fails for three reasons. First, appellant cites no authority to support his conclusory statement that Johnson's testimony necessarily requires a new trial; thus, he presents nothing for our review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(h) (requiring brief to contain a "clear and concise argument for the contentions made, with appropriate citations to authority and to the record."). See also Jensen v. State, 66 S.W.3d 528, 534 n. 3 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, no pet.). Second, if appellant traveled with Johnson the morning of September 5, certainly he was aware of that fact by the time his case came to trial. He himself could have solicited Johnson's testimony at trial. See Sawyer v. State, 778 S.W.2d 541, 545 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1989, pet. ref'd) (holding that when a defendant knows about a witness and chooses not to inform his attorney, a trial court does not abuse its discretion in overruling a motion for new trial based on a claim of newly discovered evidence). Third, appellant's alibi evidence does not disprove the fact that appellant sexually assaulted complainant; it merely suggests the assault did not occur on September 5. Because L.M. testified appellant assaulted her "around the beginning of September" and appellant's charging instrument alleged he committed the offense "on or about" September 5, the State was not required to prove appellant's sexual assault occurred on September 5 — only that it occurred prior to presentment of the charging instrument and within the limitations period. See Schoenbauer v. State, 85 S.W.3d 400, 405 (Tex.App.-Tyler 2002, no pet.); Sledge v. State, 953 S.W.2d 253, 256 (Tex.Crim. App. 1997); Moore v. State, 4 S.W.3d 269, 277-78 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.). Because appellant cites no authority to suggest the State had a duty to call Johnson as a witness, because appellant himself could have called Johnson to testify, and because the State was not required to prove L.M.'s sexual assault occurred on September 5, we conclude the trial court did not err when it denied appellant's motion for new trial based on appellant's alibi witness. Accordingly, we overrule appellant's third point of error. III. TRIAL COURT'S FAILURE TO INSTRUCT JURY ON "PROSTITUTION"
In his fourth point of error, appellant asserts the trial court erred in not instructing the jury on the possibility of finding appellant guilty of the alternative offense of "prostitution." Because prostitution, as defined in the Texas Penal Code, varies from sexual assault only with regard to the level of consent given, appellant argues, the trial court should have included the lesser offense of prostitution in its charge to the jury. Appellant failed to preserve this point of error for review, however. As a prerequisite to presenting a complaint for appellate review, the record must show that (1) the complaint was made to the trial court by a timely request, objection or motion, and (2) the trial court ruled on the request, objection, or motion — either expressly or implicitly — or refused to rule on it and the complaining party objected to the refusal. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1) and (2). Here, appellant made no request for inclusion of a "prostitution" instruction to the jury; he did not object when the trial court failed to include such an instruction; and he acknowledges prostitution is not a "lesser included offense" of sexual assault. Therefore, appellant has failed to preserve this point of error for appellate review. See id.; Butler v. State, 872 S.W.2d 227, 236 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994). Despite this failure, appellant nevertheless asserts he is entitled to an instruction on prostitution because "there are constitutional reasons why such an instruction should be given." See Apprendi v. New. Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 2363 (2000) ("It is unconstitutional for a legislature to remove from the jury the assessment of facts that increase the prescribed range of penalties to which a criminal defendant is exposed."); Almanza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex.Crim. App. 1985) (op. on reh'g) (finding reversal is required, even in cases where no proper objection was made at trial to a jury instruction, where appellant has "not had a fair and impartial trial"). Because "sexual assault" is a felony and "prostitution" a misdemeanor, he argues, a dramatic difference exists between the two offenses' punishments. Consequently, the issue of consent becomes pivotal to the amount of time served and should be submitted to the jury. Appellant's argument is erroneous because the issue of consent was submitted to the jury. Indeed, in order to convict appellant of sexual assault the jury necessarily had to find appellant (1) intentionally or knowingly, (2) caused the penetration of the anus or female sexual organ of another person by any means, (3) without that person's consent. See TEX. PENAL. CODE ANN. § 22.011(a)(1)(A) (Vernon Supp. 2003). Because appellant waived his objection to the trial court's failure to include a "prostitution" instruction — and because no constitutional reason compels us to require such an instruction — we overrule appellant's fourth point of error. IV. CUMULATION OF SENTENCES
In his fifth and final point of error, appellant asserts the trial court erred in cumulating his sentences rather than ordering appellant to serve his sentences concurrently. We agree. When an accused is found guilty of more than one offense arising out of the "same criminal episode" prosecuted in a single criminal action, the sentence for each offense "shall run concurrently." TEX. PENAL. CODE ANN. § 3.03(a) (Vernon Supp. 2003); Fernandez v. State, 814 S.W.2d 417, 420 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, pet. granted), aff'd 832 S.W.2d 600. "Criminal episode" means the commission of two or more offenses, regardless of whether the harm is directed toward or inflicted upon more than one person, where "the offenses are the repeated commission of the same or similar offenses." TEX. PENAL. CODE ANN. § 3.01(2) (Vernon 1994). Here, appellant was found guilty of committing the same offense — sexual assault — against two different complainants. His sentences, therefore, should run concurrently. The trial court, however, ordered cumulative sentences. This was improper. We therefore sustain appellant's fifth point of error and modify appellant's sentence accordingly. CONCLUSION
Finding no abuse of discretion or error except the trial court's application of cumulative sentences, we modify the lower court's judgment below and affirm this judgment as modified.