in the Matter of v. M.

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-98-00370-CV

In the Matter of V. M.

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. J-12,984, HONORABLE W. JEANNE MEURER, JUDGE PRESIDING

The State filed a petition alleging that V.M., a juvenile, engaged in delinquent

conduct by possessing marihuana in an amount of two ounces or less. See Tex. Health & Safety

Code Ann. § 481.121 (a), (b)(1) (West Supp. 1999). The court adjudicated appellant delinquent

and committed him to the Texas Youth Commission. In one issue, appellant contends that the

evidence is insufficient to support the court's delinquency judgment. We will affirm the court's

judgment.

Background

The only witness to testify at the adjudication hearing was Austin Police Officer

David Fugitt. On May 10, 1998, Fugitt was on patrol in the 2300 block of Wertz Avenue.

Around 3:00 a.m., he noticed several juveniles standing in the street around the back of a parked

blue Cadillac. Fugitt parked his patrol car away from the group. He got out of the car, hid behind

a tree and observed the group from about fifty feet away. The lighting was good enough that he

could see the individuals but he could not see underneath the car. Fugitt recognized one group

member as appellant since he had had dealings with him in the past. Fugitt knew appellant was

under seventeen years old. Fugitt believed the group was violating the city curfew. He continued

to watch the group and realized from a familiar odor that some of them were smoking marihuana.

Appellant was standing next to the right rear tire while the other juveniles were standing three to

four feet directly behind the car. He saw two of the juveniles, but not appellant, pass a cigar pipe,

or blunt, back and forth.

As Fugitt approached the group, one of the individuals ran away. When Fugitt was

fifteen to twenty feet away from the group, appellant "turned his back to me and then he bent over

and appeared as though he was straightening his pant leg." Fugitt approached the car from the

left side and appellant, with his back against the right side of the car, bent over, stood up, and

slowly walked away from the car. Fugitt walked to the right rear of the car to the exact area

where he saw appellant bend over and found a plastic sandwich bag containing marihuana. The

plastic bag was lying directly next to the right rear tire. Fugitt believed that it had been placed

there rather than thrown because it was sitting upright next to the tire. On cross-examination,

Fugitt stated that he had not been able to see the right rear tire before he approached the group.

Additionally, Fugitt never saw appellant or any of the other juveniles handle the plastic bag of

marihuana. Appellant was the only group member Fugitt observed in close proximity to the

plastic bag of marihuana. Fugitt explained that when appellant bent over, he could not see any

of appellant's hand movements. Because of appellant's actions and his close proximity to the

plastic bag of marihuana, Fugitt arrested appellant for possession of marihuana. Fugitt searched

appellant but did not find any marihuana on his body.

Discussion

Appellant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his delinquency

adjudication. He contends that the evidence did not establish that he exercised care, custody and

control over the plastic bag of marihuana because there was no affirmative link between him and

the marihuana.

In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, the question is whether, after viewing

all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have found

the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U.S. 307

(1979); Geesa v. State , 820 S.W.2d 154 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Griffin v. State , 614 S.W.2d 155

(Tex. Crim. App. 1981). The standard of review is the same in direct and circumstantial evidence

cases. Green v. State , 840 S.W.2d 394, 401 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). The trier of fact, in this case

the trial court, is the exclusive judge of the witness's credibility and the weight to be given his

testimony and is free to accept or reject any or all of the testimony. Adelman v. State , 828 S.W.2d

418, 421 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). The fact finder may draw reasonable inferences and make

reasonable deductions from the evidence. Benevides v. State , 763 S.W.2d 587, 588-89 (Tex.

App.--Corpus Christi 1988, pet. ref'd).

In order to adjudicate appellant delinquent for unlawful possession of marihuana,

the State must prove that appellant exercised care, control, and management over the marihuana

and that he knew the substance in his possession was marihuana. King v. State , 895 S.W.2d 701,

703 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). Possession of marihuana need not be exclusive and evidence which

shows the accused jointly possessed the marihuana with others is sufficient. Whitworth v. State ,

808 S.W.2d 566, 569 (Tex. App.--Austin 1991, pet. ref'd).

When marihuana is not found on the body of the accused and when the accused is

not in exclusive possession of the place where the marihuana is found, there must be additional

independent facts and circumstances that affirmatively link the accused to the marihuana in such

a manner that it can be concluded he had control over it. See Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744,

747-48 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Whitworth v. State , 808 S.W.2d 566, 569 (Tex. App.--Austin

1991, pet. ref'd); Trejo v. State , 766 S.W.2d 381, 384-85 (Tex. App.--Austin 1989, no pet.).

An affirmative link generates a reasonable inference that the accused knew of the marihuana's

existence and exercised control over it. See Whitworth , 808 S.W.2d at 570 . The independent

facts and circumstances must show that the accused's connection with the marihuana was more

than fortuitous. Brown , 911 S.W.2d at 746-47 ; Martinets v. State , 884 S.W.2d 185, 187 (Tex.

App.--Austin 1994, no pet.). The mere presence of the accused in the vicinity of where

marihuana is found is insufficient to establish possession of marihuana. McGoldrick v. State , 682

S.W.2d 573, 578-79 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985); Oaks v. State , 642 S.W.2d 174, 177 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1982); Randle v. State , 828 S.W.2d 315, 317 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, no pet.).

Various factors have been articulated to help determine what constitutes an

affirmative link so that the accused's connection to the marihuana meets the elements of intentional

and knowing possession. See Whitworth , 808 S.W.2d at 569 (summarizing and listing thirteen

factors identified in various opinions from court of criminal appeals tending to establish elements

of possession); Trejo , 766 S.W.2d at 384-85 . "The number of factors present is less important

than the logical force of those factors, alone or in combination, in establishing the elements of the

offense." Martinets , 884 S.W.2d at 188 (citing Whitworth , 808 S.W.2d at 569 , and Trejo , 766

S.W.2d at 385 ).

Of the factors we set out in Whitworth , the ones applicable in this case include

whether (1) the marihuana was in plain view; (2) the marihuana was conveniently accessible to the

accused; (3) a strong odor of marihuana was present; (4) paraphernalia to use the marihuana was

in view of the accused; and (5) the conduct of the accused indicated a consciousness of guilt.

In the present case, Fugitt did not find the marihuana away from the car where the

other juveniles were standing but instead found it on the ground exactly where appellant had been

standing before he walked away. Because of the way the plastic bag was sitting on the ground,

it did not appear to Fugitt that it had been thrown but that it had been placed on the ground. Since

appellant was standing next to the right rear tire and the other five juveniles were standing three

to four feet away from the back of the car, appellant was the only member of the group in close

proximity to the marihuana and it was easily accessible to him. Additionally, only appellant bent

down next to the right rear tire where Fugitt found the marihuana. Fugitt noticed a strong

marihuana odor coming from appellant. Fugitt observed appellant's companions passing a cigar

pipe or blunt back and forth in appellant's view. Finally, appellant's conduct of turning his back

to Fugitt, bending down, straightening up and then slowly walking away when Fugitt approached

him indicated a consciousness of guilt.

As the State argued, these links when considered together would allow the fact

finder to infer that appellant had the plastic bag of marihuana in his possession, that when he saw

Fugitt approaching the group, he bent down to place it near the tire and then walked away from

the car. We hold that the evidence was sufficient to affirmatively link appellant to the plastic bag

of marihuana.

Conclusion

When considered in the light most favorable to the verdict, the evidence would

allow a rational trier of fact to find that appellant exercised care, custody and control of the

marihuana beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence is sufficient to establish that appellant

possessed marihuana. Appellant's issue is overruled and the court's judgment adjudicating

appellant delinquent is affirmed.

Bea Ann Smith, Justice

Before Justices Jones, B. A. Smith and Yeakel

Affirmed

Filed: July 29, 1999

Do Not Publish

worth v. State,

808 S.W.2d 566, 569 (Tex. App.--Austin 1991, pet. ref'd).

When marihuana is not found on the body of the accused and when the accused is

not in exclusive possession of the place where the marihuana is found, there must be additional

independent facts and circumstances that affirmatively link the accused to the marihuana in such

a manner that it can be concluded he had control over it. See Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744,

747-48 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Whitworth v. State , 808 S.W.2d 566, 569 (Tex. App.--Austin

1991, pet. ref'd); Trejo v. State , 766 S.W.2d 381, 384-85 (Tex. App.--Austin 1989, no pet.).

An affirmative link generates a reasonable inference that the accused knew of the marihuana's

existence and exercised control over it. See Whitworth , 808 S.W.2d at 570 . The independent

facts and circumstances must show that the accused's connection with the marihuana was more

than fortuitous. Brown , 911 S.W.2d at 746-47 ; Martinets v. State , 884 S.W.2d 185, 187 (Tex.

App.--Austin 1994, no pet.). The mere presence of the accused in the vicinity of where

marihuana is found is insufficient to establish possession of marihuana. McGoldrick v. State , 682

S.W.2d 573, 578-79 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985); Oaks v. State , 642 S.W.2d 174, 177 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1982); Randle v. State , 828 S.W.2d 315, 317 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, no pet.).

Various factors have been articulated to help determine what constitutes an

affirmative link so that the accused's connection to the marihuana meets the elements of intentional

and knowing possession. See Whitworth , 808 S.W.2d at 569 (summarizing and listing thirteen

factors identified in various opinions from court of criminal appeals tending to establish elements

of possession); Trejo , 766 S.W.2d at 384-85 . "The number of factors present is less important

than the logical force of those factors, alone or in combination, in establishing the elements of the

offense." Martinets , 884 S.W.2d at 188 (citing Whitworth , 808 S.W.2d at 569 , and Trejo , 766

S.W.2d at 385 ).

Of the factors we set out in Whitworth , the ones applicable in this case include

whether (1) the marihuana was in plain view; (2) the marihuana was conveniently accessible to the

accused; (3) a strong odor of marihuana was present; (4) paraphernalia to use the marihuana was

in view of the accused; and (5) the conduct of the accused indicated a consciousness of guilt.

In the present case, Fugitt did not find the marihuana away from the car where the

other juveniles were standing but instead found it on the ground exactly where appellant had been

standing before he walked away. Because of the way the plastic bag was sitting on the ground,

it did not appear to Fugitt that it had been thrown but that it had been placed on the ground. Since

appellant was standing next to the right rear tire and the other five juveniles were standing three

to four feet away from the back of the car, appellant was the only member of the group in close

proximity to the marihuana and it was easily accessible to him. Additionally, only appellant bent

down next to the right rear tire where Fugitt found the marihuana. Fugitt noticed a strong

marihuana odor coming from appellant. Fugitt observed appellant's companions passing a cigar

pipe or blunt back and forth in appellant's view. Finally, appellant's conduct of turning his back

to Fugitt, bending down, straightening up and then slowly walking away when Fugitt approached

him indicated a consciousness of guilt.

As the State argued, thes