                                                                                     ACCEPTED
                                                                                 01-14-00857-CR
                                                                      FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                              HOUSTON, TEXAS
                                                                            6/18/2015 9:11:08 AM
                                                                           CHRISTOPHER PRINE
                                                                                          CLERK



                     No. 01-14-00857-CR
                              In the                       FILED IN
                        Court of Appeals            1st COURT OF APPEALS
                                                        HOUSTON, TEXAS
                             For the
                                                    6/18/2015 9:11:08 AM
                     First District of Texas        CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
                           At Houston                       Clerk
                  
                          No. 1410607
                   In the 185th District Court
                    Of Harris County, Texas
                  
                   JESSE DIMAS ALVARADO
                            Appellant
                                V.
                  THE STATE OF TEXAS
                             Appellee
                  
                STATE’S APPELLATE BRIEF
                  

                                        DEVON ANDERSON
                                        District Attorney
                                        Harris County, Texas

                                        ABBIE MILES
                                        State Bar No: 24072240
                                        Assistant District Attorney
                                        Harris County, Texas

                                        SARAH BRUCHMILLER
                                        NEIL KRUGH
                                        Assistant District Attorney
                                        Harris County, Texas
                                        1201 Franklin, Suite 600
                                        Houston, Texas 77002
                                        Tel.: 713/755-5826
                                        FAX No.: 713/755-5809

ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED ONLY IF REQUESTED BY APPELLANT
                STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT

        Pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(g) and TEX. R. APP. P. 39.1, the State requests

oral argument only if oral argument is requested by the appellant.


                       IDENTIFICATION OF THE PARTIES

        Pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P. 38.2(a)(1)(A), a complete list of the names of all

interested parties is provided below.

        Complainant, victim, or aggrieved party:

              State of Texas

        Counsel for the State:

              Devon Anderson  District Attorney of Harris County

              Abbie Miles  Assistant District Attorney on appeal

              Neil Krugh & Sarah Bruchmiller  Assistant District Attorneys at

trial

        Appellant or criminal defendant:

              Jesse Dimas Alvarado

        Counsel for Appellant:

              Timonthy Hootman  Counsel on appeal

              Brian Coyne  Counsel at trial

        Trial Judge:


                                            i
Hon. Susan Brown  Presiding Judge




                ii
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT…………………………...…i

IDENTIFICATION OF THE PARTIES…………………………………….……..i

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES………………………………………………………iii

STATEMENT OF THE CASE……………………………………………………..1

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS…………………………………………………....1

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT……………………………………………......4

REPLY TO APPELLANT’S FIRST ISSUE PRESENTED
The evidence is legally sufficient because the firearm was found in the closet of
appellant’s bedroom where he had lived for eight months, his personal belongings
were in the bedroom, and the firearm was partially exposed and visible with the naked
eye to anyone going into the closet where appellant’s clothes were hung. Additionally,
appellant’s allegation that § 46.01(a)(1) of the Texas Penal Code violates the Texas and
United States Constitution is contrary to caselaw that has consistently held that
prohibiting felons from possessing firearms bears a rational basis to the goal of
precluding the abuse of firearm possession by felons………………………………..5

REPLY TO APPELLANT’S SECOND ISSUE PRESENTED
Appellant cannot overcome the presumption of reasonably competent representation
in light of the silent record. If this Court chooses to address the merits of appellant’s
claim, it is possible that trial counsel chose not to object to State’s Exhibit 4 to further
the defensive theory that although appellant engaged in criminal behavior, nothing in
his background suggested that he was violent or had any previous association with
firearms. Further, if it was error for trial counsel to fail to object to the complained of
evidence, appellant has not established that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure
because the complained of evidence revealed no association with firearms or
violence………………………………………………………………………...…..15

CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………27

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE…………………………………………....………28.




                                             iii
                                 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

Alvarado v. State,
 912 S.W.2d 199 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995) ................................................................ 7

Bingham v. State,
  915 S.W.2d 9 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994) ................................................................. 17

Bone v. State,
  7 S.W.3d 828 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).................................................................. 25

Bone v. State,
  77 S.W.3d 828 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002 ................................................................. 17

Brooks v. State,
  323 S.W.3d 893 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)(plurality op.)............................................ 7

Burns v. State,
  122 S.W.3d 434 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet. ref’d) ........................ 20

Caldwell v. State,
 686 S.W.2d 363 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1985, no pet.). ............................. 9

Cannon v. State,
 668 S.W.2d 401 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984) .............................................................. 17

Charles v. State,
 146 S.W.3d 204 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004) .............................................................. 18

Clayton v. State,
  235 S.W.3d 772 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) ................................................................ 8

Conner v. State,
 67 S.W.3d 192 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).................................................................. 7

Davis v. State,
 930 S.W.2d 765 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, pet. ref’d) ....................... 18


                                                    iv
Dewberry v. State,
 4 S.W.3d 735 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) ................................................................... 7

Downs v. State,
 244 S.W.3d 511 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 2007, pet. ref’d) .................................... 20

Evans v. State,
 202 S.W.3d 158 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) .............................................................. 10

Ex parte Granviel,
 561 S.W.2d 503 (Tex.Crim.App.1978) ................................................................. 14

Ex parte Jimenez,
 364 S.W.3d 866 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) .............................................................. 23

Fuentes v. State,
 991 S.W.2d 267 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) ................................................................ 7

Gamble v. State,
 916 S.W.2d 92 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, no pet)............................. 18

Garay v. State,
 940 S.W.2d 211 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref'd)......................... 13

Gipson v. State,
 No. 05-01-00770-CR, 05-01-00771-CR, 05-01-0073-CR, 2003 WL 21053918 (Tex.
 App.—Dallas May 12, 2003, no pet.) .................................................................. 12

Goodspeed v. State,
 187 S.W.3d 390 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) .............................................................. 18

Gutierrez v. State,
 628 S.W.2d 57 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980). .................................................................. 9

Hooper v. State,
 214 S.W.3d 9 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) ................................................................... 8

Huerta v. State,
 359 S.W.3d 887 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.) ......................... 19


                                                    v
Jackson v. State,
  877 S.W.2d 768 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994) .............................................................. 18

Jackson v. Virginia,
  443 U.S 307 (1979)............................................................................................... 7

Jordan v. State,
  56 S.W. 326 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet ref’d) ......................... 13, 15

Lewis v. United States,
  445 U.S. 55 (1980).............................................................................................. 14

Lopez v. State,
 343 S.W.3d 137 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) .............................................................. 18

Mata v. State,
 226 S.W.3d 425 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) ......................................................... 18, 19

Matson v. State,
 819 S.W.2d 839 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) ................................................................ 8

McFarland v. State,
 928 S.W.2d 482 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) .............................................................. 17

National Rifle Ass’n of America, Inc. v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Forearms, and Explosives,
 700 F. 3d. 185 (5th Cir. 2012) .............................................................................. 14

Newsome v. State,
 703 S.W.2d 750 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1985, no pet).......................... 25

Nicholas v. State,
 56 S.W.3d 760 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. ref'd). ......................... 6

Olivarez v. State,
 171 S.W.3d 283 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.). ........................ 10

Ortiz v. State,
 93 S.W.3d 79 (Tex Crim. App. 2002). ................................................................. 22



                                                         vi
Pomier v. State,
  326 S.W.3d 373 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.) ........................... 7

Ramos v. State,
 45 S.W.3d 305 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 2001, pet. ref’d) ...................................... 20

Richardson v. Ramirez,
  418 U.S. 25 (1974).............................................................................................. 15

Rylander v. State,
 101 S.W.3d 107 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) .............................................................. 18

Safari v. State,
  961 S.W.2d 437 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref’d, untimely) ........ 18

Smith v. State,
 821 S.W.2d 844 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). .......................................................... 6, 13

Strickland v. Washington,
  466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984). .............................................................. 16, 17

Swearingen v. State,
  101 S.W.3d 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).................................................................. 8

Taylor v. State,
  106 S.W.3d 827 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.). ............................................. 10

Thompson v. State,
 9 S.W.3d 808 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) ................................................ 16, 17, 24, 25

Toney v. State,
  3 S.W.3d 199 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, pet. ref’d) ........................ 18

United States v. Allbright,
 59 F. 3d 1241 (5th Cir. 1995) (unpublished) ......................................................... 12

United States v. Bernal,
 No. L-08-321, 2008 WL 2078164 (S.D.Tex. May 15, 2008) .................................. 14



                                                         vii
United States v. Darrington,
 351 F.3d 632 (5th Cir. 2003) ................................................................................ 14

United States v. Emerson,
 270 F.3d 203 (5th Cir. 2001) ............................................................................... 14

United States v. Everist,
 368 F.3d 517 (5th Circ. 2004) .............................................................................. 14

United States v. Taylor,
 184 F.3d 816 (5th Cir. 1999) (unpublished) .......................................................... 12

Vasquez v. State,
 819 S.W.2d 932 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1991, pet. ref’d) .............................. 22

Villani v. State,
 116 S.W.3d 297 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. ref’d.) ....................... 7

Walker v. State,
 222 S.W.3d 707 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. ref’d) ...................... 15

Wert v. State,
 383 S.W.3d 747 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.) ......................... 19

Wilkerson v. State,
 736 S.W.2d 656 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987) .............................................................. 21

Williams v. State,
 No. 11-06-00148-CR, 2008 WL 384566 (Tex. App.—Eastland Feb. 14 2008, no pet)
  ......................................................................................................................... 12

Wilson v. State,
 44 S.W.3d 602 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 2001, pet. ref'd) ...................................... 14

Winter v. State,
 725 S.W.2d 728 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1986, no pet.). ............................. 9

Wright v. State,
 401 S.W.3d 813 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet ref’d)....................... 10


                                                             viii
Wyatt v. State,
 23 S.W.3d 18 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) ................................................................... 7

Statutes
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(39) (West Supp. 2013). ........................................ 9
TEX. PENAL CODE. ANN. § 46.04(a)(1) (West 2011) ....................................... 8, 22, 24


Other Authorities
Don B. Kates, Second Amendment, in 4 Encyclopedia of the American Constitution 1640
 (Leonard W. Levy et al. eds., 1986) ..................................................................... 14

Rules
TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(g) ................................................................................................
TEX. R. APP. PROC. 33.1(a) ...................................................................................... 6
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.2(a)(1)(A) ..................................................................................... i
TEX. R. APP. PROC. 38.1(i). .................................................................................... 20
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.2(a)(1)(A) ..................................................................................... i
TEX. R. APP. P. 39.1.................................................................................................. i
TEX. R. EVID. 402 and 403..................................................................................... 22
TEX. R. EVID. 404(b). ............................................................................................ 21




                                                           ix
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:


                          STATEMENT OF THE CASE

      Appellant was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, having

been previously convicted of sexual assault of a child (C.R. 9, 40). Appellant entered a

plea of not guilty to the offense (R.R.III 9). The jury found appellant guilty, and the

trial court sentenced appellant to confinement for 5 years in the Texas Department of

Criminal Justice (R.R.IV 35, 39; C.R. 40). A written notice of appeal was timely filed

(C.R. 40-44).

                        


                             STATEMENT OF FACTS

      The State challenges all factual assertions in appellant’s brief and presents the

following account of the facts.

      Deputy Russell Ackley, of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, was assigned to

an FBI task force, and on December 5, 2013, was charged with the task of overseeing

the execution of a search warrant at 137 Soren Lane in Houston, Harris County,

Texas (R.R.III 15-16). Deputy Ackley’s investigation into that home discovered that
Jesse Alvarado, appellant, lived there, and that he was a registered sex offender

(R.R.III 24, 38-39).1

       Officers David Nieto and Don Miller were also assigned to assist in the

execution of the search warrant on the house on Soren Lane (R.R.III 42-43, 79). The

house had a sign that read “Familia Dimas Alvarado” displayed on the exterior of the

house (R.R.III 17). Upon arrival at the house, the SWAT team made entry into the

home, and encountered four occupants (R.R.III 18-19, 44). The four people were

Alfred Alvarado, Ms. Alvarado, a young female, and appellant (R.R.III 19). Ms.

Alvarado was the mother of Alfred and appellant (R.R.III 19).

       Interviews of the occupants of the house were conducted and evidence was

collected (R.R.III 20-21). Evidence was recovered from the house (R.R.III 21).

Officer Nieto found a 9 mm semiautomatic Beretta pistol, a firearm, in appellant’s

room on a shelf located towards the top of the closet (R.R.III 21, 23, 26, 33, 46-47,

51-52). The back end of the firearm was visible, unobstructed, and could be seen with

the naked eye (R.R.III 60, 73). The firearm was photographed, recovered, and cleared

so the search could continue (R.R.III 55). Appellant admitted that the room where the

gun was found belonged to him (R.R.III 46). Scales and plastic baggies commonly

used to package narcotics were also found in the bedroom along with “wrapped up

money” (R.R.III 22, 47). Appellant’s wallet containing his driver’s license and

1
 Appellant was previously convicted of sexual assault of a child in cause number 933555 of the 228th
district court of Harris County, Texas, and served 8 years confinement (R.R.III 58). Appellant was
released from custody on July 1, 2011 (R.R.III 26).


                                                 2
offender card were also found in the room with men’s clothes (R.R.III 47). There was

a window in the bedroom through which someone could gain entry directly to the

bedroom from outside (R.R.III 47). In the window was a surveillance camera that was

hooked up to a digital recording device and a television (R.R.III 47). Narcotics were

also found in a white vehicle that parked outside the house that belonged to

appellant’s brother, Rudy Alvarado (R.R.III 28-30). Rudy was a gang member with

extensive criminal history that included arrests for narcotics and firearms (R.R.III 29).

      Alfred Alvarado testified at trial and claimed to having bought a firearm for

protection because of the crime in the area (R.R.III 87). Alfred claimed that the room

where the gun was found was his room up until April of 2013 (R.R.III 88). Appellant

moved into that room in May 2013 (R.R.III 91-92). Alfred acknowledged that he

knew his brother could not “be around guns” and thought he pawned the firearm

(R.R.III 92). Alfred tried to take responsibility for the firearm and claimed that

appellant did not know it was there (R.R.IV 5-6, 10). Juanita Alvarado, appellant’s

mother, also testified on his behalf (R.R.IV 13). She admitted that the closet where the

gun was found had appellant’s clothes in it (R.R.IV 18). She also claimed she did not

know about the existence of a security system in the appellant’s room (R.R.IV 19-20).

Ms. Alvarado admitted to not knowing what her sons possessed in the house because

they were adults and “[[didn’t] tell her things” (R.R.IV 22).

                         



                                            3
                        SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

      The evidence is legally sufficient because the firearm was found in the closet of

appellant’s bedroom where he had lived for eight months, his personal belongings

were in the bedroom, and the firearm was partially exposed and visible with the naked

eye to anyone going into the closet where appellant’s clothes were hung. Additionally,

appellant’s allegation that § 46.04(a)(1) of the Texas Penal Code violates the Texas and

United States Constitution is contrary to caselaw that has consistently held that

prohibiting felons from possessing firearms bears a rational basis to the goal of

precluding the abuse of firearms possession by felons.

      Additionally, appellant cannot overcome the presumption of reasonably

competent representation in light of the silent record. If this Court chooses to address

the merits of appellant’s claim, trial counsel chose not to object to State’s Exhibit 4

because the records were admissible to prove an element of the offense, that appellant

was a convicted felon within five years of his release date. If this Court finds that the

complained of evidence was inadmissible, it is possible that trial counsel decided to

not object to this evidence to further the defensive theory that, although appellant

engaged in bad acts, nothing in his background suggested that he was violent or had

any previous association with firearms. Further, if it was error for trial counsel to fail

to object to the complained of evidence, appellant has not established that he was




                                            4
prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure because his criminal history revealed no

association with firearms or violence.

                         


                      REPLY TO FIRST POINT OF ERROR

       Appellant argues that the evidence that appellant possessed the firearm was

legally insufficient because appellant was not affirmatively linked to the firearm, and

because § 46.04(a)(1) of the Texas Penal Code violates the Texas and United States

Constitution. However, the evidence affirmatively linking appellant to the firearm is

legally sufficient because the firearm was found in the closet of appellant’s bedroom

in which he had exclusively lived for eight months, and where his clothes were

hanging in the closet. Appellant admitted that the room belonged to him and his

wallet and identification were found in the room. Additionally, appellant appeared to

be selling drugs from the bedroom, and installed a surveillance system to monitor

activity outside the bedroom window. All of these facts affirmatively link appellant to

the firearm that was partially in plain view on the shelf of appellant’s closet.

       Regarding the constitutional challenge, caselaw that has consistently held that

prohibiting felons from possessing firearms bears a rational basis to the goal of

precluding the abuse of firearms possession by felons, and thus does not run afoul the

Texas or United States Constitution.




                                             5
Preservation of error

         On appeal, appellant claims that § 46.04(a)(1) of the Texas Penal Code violates

the article I Section 23 of the Texas Constitution, and the Second Amendment of the

United States Constitution.2 Appellant made no constitutional objection to the trial

court. It is well settled that almost every right, constitutional and statutory, may be

waived by the failure to object.” Smith v. State, 821 S.W.2d 844, 855 (Tex. Crim. App.

1986). As a prerequisite to presenting a complaint for appellate review, the record

must show that the complaint was made to the trial court by a timely and specific

request, objection, or motion. TEX. R. APP. PROC. 33.1(a). Even constitutional right

may be waived. Rhoades v. State, 934 S.W.2d 113, 120 (Tex.Crim.App.1996) (finding

waiver of cruel and unusual punishment argument for failure to object); Nicholas v.

State, 56 S.W.3d 760, 768 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. ref'd).

         Since appellant did not raise this constitutional challenged to § 46.04(a)(1) in

the trial court, he has waived the ability to challenge its constitutionality on appeal.

Appellant’s point of error regarding the constitutionality of § 46.04(a)(1) should be

overruled for this reason alone.

Standard of Review

         Legal sufficiency is the only standard a reviewing court should apply in

evaluating whether the evidence proving each element of the charged offense has

been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Brooks v. State, 323 S.W.3d 893, 912 (Tex.

2
    Appellant’s brief at 41-42.

                                             6
Crim. App. 2010)(plurality op.); Pomier v. State, 326 S.W.3d 373, 378 (Tex. App.—

Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.). Accordingly, this Court must apply a legal-

sufficiency standard when addressing appellant’s sufficiency arguments. Brooks, 323

S.W.3d at 912; Pomier, 326 S.W.3d at 378.

      Under a legal sufficiency review, “the relevant question is whether, after

viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier

of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable

doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S 307, 319 (1979); Conner v. State, 67 S.W.3d 192, 197

(Tex. Crim. App. 2001). This Court considers all the evidence and the reasonable

inferences therefrom. Conner, 67 S.W.3d at 197; Alvarado v. State, 912 S.W.2d 199, 207

(Tex. Crim. App. 1995). The jury, as the trier-of-fact, “is the sole judge of the

credibility of the witnesses and of the strength of the evidence.” Fuentes v. State, 991

S.W.2d 267, 271 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Villani v. State, 116 S.W.3d 297, 301 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. ref’d.). This Court should not re-evaluate the

weight and credibility of the evidence and thereby substitute its judgment for that of

the fact finder. Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 735, 740 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); Villani,

116 S.W.3d at 301.

      Reconciliation of conflicts in the evidence is within the exclusive province of

the jury, and the jury may choose to believe some testimony and disbelieve other

testimony. Wyatt v. State, 23 S.W.3d 18, 30 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). There is a

presumption that conflicted facts were resolved in favor of the prosecution. Matson v.

                                            7
State, 819 S.W.2d 839, 847 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Each fact need not point directly

and independently to the guilt of appellant, as long as the combined and cumulative

force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support the conviction.

Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Hooper v. State, 214

S.W.3d 9, 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct

evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor, and circumstantial evidence alone can be

sufficient to establish guilt. Hooper, 214 S.W.3d at 13. The question is not whether a

rational jury could have entertained a reasonable doubt, but whether it necessarily

would have done so. Swearingen v. State, 101 S.W.3d 89, 96 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).

The “cumulative force” of all circumstantial evidence can be sufficient for a jury to

find the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. See Powell v. State, 194 S.W.3d 503,

507 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).

Analysis

      An offense is committed when “[a] person who has been convicted of a

felony…possesses a firearm [] after the conviction and before the fifth anniversary of

the person’s release from confinement following the conviction of the felony or the

person’s release from supervision, under community supervision, parole, or

mandatory supervision, which is later.” See TEX. PENAL CODE. ANN. § 46.04(a)(1)

(West 2011). In the present case, appellant was accused of possessing a firearm on

December 5, 2013, after being convicted of the felony offense of sexual assault of a

child on August 12, 2013, and having been released from confinement as a result of

                                           8
that conviction on July 3, 2011 (C.R. 9). “’Possession’ means actual care, custody,

control, or management.” See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 1.07(a)(39) (West Supp.

2013).


         When the evidence shows that the defendant was not in exclusive possession

of the contraband, the evidence must establish affirmative links between the

defendant and the contraband. The affirmative link must be of such that a reasonable

inference can be made that the accused knew of the contraband and exercised control

over it. Winter v. State, 725 S.W.2d 728, 731 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1986, no

pet.). Without these additional facts and circumstances affirmatively linking the

defendant to the contraband, it cannot be concluded that the defendant had

knowledge or control over the contraband. Cude, 716 S.W.2d at 47; Flores v. State, 650

S.W.2d 429, 430 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983); Caldwell v. State, 686 S.W.2d 363, 365 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1985, no pet.). The additional evidence can be

circumstantial as long as the evidence excludes every other reasonable hypothesis

except that of the guilt of the defendant. Gutierrez v. State, 628 S.W.2d 57, 60 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1980).

         The following non-exclusive list of factors may be the affirmative link(s) to a

defendant and the contraband he is accused of possessing: (1) the defendant’s

presence when the search was conducted, (2) whether the contraband was in plain

view; (3) the defendant’s proximity to, and accessibility of, the narcotic; (4) whether


                                            9
the defendant was under the influence of narcotics when arrested; (5) whether the

defendant possessed narcotics or other contraband when arrested; (6) whether the

defendant made incriminating statements; (7) whether the defendant attempted to

flee; (8) whether the defendant made furtive gestures; (9) whether there was an odor

of narcotics; (10) whether other contraband or drug paraphernalia was present; (11)

whether the defendant owned, or had the right to possess, the place where the

contraband was found; (12) whether the place where the contraband was found was

enclosed; (13) whether the defendant was found with a large quantity of cash; (14)

whether the conduct of the defendant indicated a consciousness of guilt; and (15)

whether a large quantity of contraband was present. See Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158,

162 n. 12 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); See also Wright v. State, 401 S.W.3d 813, 818-19 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet ref’d); See also Olivarez v. State, 171 S.W.3d 283,

291-92 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.). The number of links present

is less important than the degree to which each link connects the accused to the

contraband. Taylor v. State, 106 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.).

      Appellant argues that the evidence is legally insufficient because “[t]here is no

evidence that appellant actually knew that the pistol was inside the house, or that his

brother had even purchased it” and “that a conviction under the circumstances of this

case would result in a violation of constitutional rights of appellant’s family members




                                          10
and himself to keep and bear arms under article I, Section 23 and the Second

Amendment.”3

        Turning to the first reason appellant urges as grounds for reversal, the evidence

is legally insufficient to sustain the conviction because there was no evidence

presented to the jury that appellant knew the firearm was in the house.4 Appellant

complains that since the firearm was not in plain view, and he did not flee or verbally

associate himself with the firearm, the evidence affirmatively linking it to him is legally

insufficient.5 Appellant offers no similar fact scenario in which analogous evidence

was found to be legally insufficient.

        In the present case, appellant had been living in the bedroom attached of the

closet where the firearm was found for eight months at the time the search warrant

was executed (R.R.III 91-92). Appellant’s clothes were in the closet were the firearm

was found (R.R.III 47, R.R.IV 18). The back of the firearm was unobstructed and

visible with the naked eye by anyone going into that closet (R.R.III 60, 73). Appellant

admitted that the bedroom belonged to him (R.R.III 46). Appellant’s wallet

containing his driver’s license and offender identification card were also found in the

bedroom connected to the closet where the firearm was found (R.R.III 47). There was

also evidence of the use and sale of narcotics (R.R.III 22, 47). Appellant also set up a

surveillance camera in the bedroom (R.R.IV 19-20). The jury was entitled to rely upon

3
  Appellant’s brief at 40-42.
4
  Appellant’s brief at 40-41.
5
  Appellant’s brief at 41.


                                            11
all these fact to determine that appellant was in possession of the firearm. See Gipson v.

State, No. 05-01-00770-CR, 05-01-00771-CR, 05-01-0073-CR, 2003 WL 21053918, at

* 5 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 12, 2003, no pet.) (holding that the evidence proving

possession of a firearm was factually sufficient when the State presented evidence that

the firearm was accessible to the defendant and partially visible when the officer

entered the room, and occupant of apartment testified it did not belong to her); See

Williams v. State, No. 11-06-00148-CR, 2008 WL 384566, at * 3 (Tex. App.—Eastland

Feb. 14 2008, no pet) (holding that possession evidence was sufficient when firearm

was found in an unclosed space accessible to the defendant); See also United States v.

Taylor, 184 F.3d 816 (5th Cir. 1999) (unpublished) (holding that evidence of possession

was sufficient when contraband was found in defendant’s room, and personal

property belonging to him, narcotics, and money were also found in the room); See

also United States v. Allbright, 59 F. 3d 1241 (5th Cir. 1995) (unpublished) (holding that

evidence of possession of methamphetamine was sufficient when methamphetamine

was found in a bedroom defendant admitted belonged to him that also contained drug

paraphernalia, defendant’s personal papers, and the co-occupant of the bedroom had

not been in bedroom for two weeks).

      The firearm was found in the closet of appellant’s bedroom in which he had

exclusively lived for eight months, and where his clothes were hanging in the closet.

Appellant admitted that the room belonged to him and his wallet and identification

were found in the room. Additionally, appellant appeared to be selling drugs from the

                                           12
bedroom, and installed a surveillance system to monitor activity outside the bedroom

window. All of these facts affirmatively link appellant to the firearm that was partially

in plain view on the shelf in appellant’s closet. Appellant’s point of error should be

overruled.

          Appellant then argues that the “Court should nevertheless acquit [appellant]

because…[a] conviction under the circumstances of this case would result in a

violation of the constitutional rights of appellant’s family members and himself to

keep and bear arms under article I, section 23 and the Second Amendment.”6

Appellant neither provides authority that the proposition that appellant’s family has

standing to challenge the constitutionality, state or federal, of 46.04(a)(1) of the Texas

Penal Code, nor that his constitutional rights have been infringed upon in any way.7

          In addressing the constitutionality of a statute, the statute is to be presumed

constitutional and valid, and construed in an effort to not run afoul the constitution.

Smith v. State, 149 S.W.3d 667, 670 (Tex. App.-Austin 2004, pet. ref'd) (citing Smith v.

State, 898 S.W.2d 838, 847 (Tex. Crim. App.1995)); Jordan v. State, 56 S.W.3d 326, 329–

30 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet. ref'd) (citing Garay v. State, 940 S.W.2d

211, 215 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref'd)). Appellant has the burden

of establishing that 46.04(a)(1) is unconstitutional. Jordan, 56 S.W.3d at 330 (citing




6
    Appellant’s brief at 41-42.
7
    Appellant’s brief at 42-43.


                                             13
Garay, 940 S.W.2d at 215); Wilson v. State, 44 S.W.3d 602, 604 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth

2001, pet. ref'd) (citing Ex parte Granviel, 561 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex.Crim.App.1978)).

       It is well established that the government may restrict access and possession of

firearms to those finally convicted of a felony offense. See National Rifle Ass’n of

America, Inc. v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Forearms, and Explosives, 700 F. 3d. 185 (5th Cir.

2012) (holding that “[o]ne implication of this emphasis on the virtuous citizen is that

the right to arms does not preclude laws disarming the unvirtuous citizens (i.e.,

criminals) or those who, like children or the mentally imbalanced, are deemed

incapable of virtue.”) This theory suggests that the Founders would have supported

limiting or banning “the ownership of firearms by minors, felons, and the mentally

impaired.” See Don B. Kates, Second Amendment, in 4 Encyclopedia of the American

Constitution 1640 (Leonard W. Levy et al. eds., 1986); See also United States v. Emerson,

270 F.3d 203, 261 (5th Cir.2001) (inferring from scholarly sources that “it is clear that

felons, infants and those of unsound mind may be prohibited from possessing

firearms”); See also United States v. Bernal, No. L-08-321, 2008 WL 2078164, at * 3

(S.D.Tex. May 15, 2008) (holding that the defendant, a felon, “did not have a

fundamental right to possess a Hipoint .45 caliber pistol on October 25, 2007.”); See

United States v. Everist, 368 F.3d 517, 519 (5th Circ. 2004); United States v. Darrington, 351

F.3d 632, 633-34 (5th Cir. 2003); Emerson, 270 270 F.3d at 260-61; Lewis v. United States,

445 U.S. 55, 66 (1980) (holding that Congress could rationally conclude that any

felony conviction was a sufficient basis for restricting a felon’s ability to possess a

                                              14
firearm); Richardson v. Ramirez, 418 U.S. 25, 56 (1974) (holding the disenfranchisement

of felons, even after completing their sentences and parole, does not violate equal

protection).

      Both the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeal had found Texas Penal Code §

46.04 is constitutional. See Walker v. State, 222 S.W.3d 707, 712-13 (Tex. App.—

Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. ref’d) (relying on Jordan and holding that holding that

precluding felons from possessing body armor is rationally related to the goal of

precluding the abuse of such possession by felons); See also Jordan v. State, 56 S.W. 326,

330-31 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet ref’d) (holding that the statute was

rationally related to the goal of preventing felons access to firearms because of the

increased risk of felons abusing firearm possession).

      Appellant has not carried his burden of establishing that § 46.04(a)(1) violates

the state or federal constitution. To the contrary, there is ample state of federal

authority granted the State and Congress the authority to preclude those convicted of

felony offenses from possession firearms. Appellant’s point of error should be

overruled.


                   REPLY TO SECOND POINT OF ERROR

      Appellant argues that trial counsel was deficient for failing to object to

inadmissible and substantially prejudicial character evidence. However, appellant

cannot over the presumption of reasonably competent representation in light of the


                                           15
silent record. Additionally, trial counsel was not deficient because it is possible that

trial counsel chose not to object to State’s Exhibit 4 because the complained of

evidence was admissible to prove an element of the charged offense. Also, one

possible strategy for not objecting to the complained of evidence is that the evidence

furthered the defensive theory that appellant had never previously engaged in conduct

involving firearms. Further, appellant if it was error for trial counsel to fail to object to

the complained of evidence, appellant has not established that he was prejudiced by

trial counsel’s failure because his criminal history revealed no association with firearms

or violence.

Analysis

       In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant

must show: (1) counsel’s performance was deficient; and (2) this deficiency was so

prejudicial that it rendered the trial unfair. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 677-

78, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064 (1984). The first prong of the Strickland standard requires the

defendant to show that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of

reasonableness. Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 812 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).

Regarding the second prong, the defendant must show a reasonable probability that,

but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been

different. Id. Failure to make the required showing of either deficient performance or

sufficient prejudice defeats the ineffectiveness claim. Id. at 813.



                                             16
      An appellate court examines the totality of the representation and the particular

circumstances of each case in evaluating the effectiveness of counsel. Id. An appellate

court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide

range of reasonable professional assistance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688. Judicial

scrutiny of counsel’s performance must be highly deferential. Id. A defendant carries

the burden of proving his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel by a

preponderance of the evidence. Cannon v. State, 668 S.W.2d 401, 403 (Tex. Crim. App.

1984). A defendant must overcome the strong presumption that an attorney’s actions

were sound trial strategy. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688. Furthermore, a claim of

ineffective assistance of counsel must be firmly supported by the record. McFarland v.

State, 928 S.W.2d 482, 500 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996), overruled on other grounds, Bingham v.

State, 915 S.W.2d 9 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994).

      The record on direct appeal usually will not be sufficient to show that counsel’s

representation was so deficient and so lacking in tactical or strategic decision making

as to overcome the presumption that counsel’s conduct was reasonable and

professional. Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828, 833 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). Rarely will the

trial record contain sufficient information to permit a reviewing court to fairly

evaluate the merits of such a serious allegation. Id. In the majority of cases, the record

on direct appeal is simply underdeveloped and cannot adequately reflect the alleged

failings of trial counsel. Id. (quoting Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813-14).




                                            17
      Trial counsel should ordinarily be afforded an opportunity to explain his

actions before being denounced as ineffective. Rylander v. State, 101 S.W.3d 107, 110-

11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003); see also Charles v. State, 146 S.W.3d 204, 210 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2004) (person with most, if not exclusive, knowledge of the salient facts

regarding an ineffectiveness claim is usually defendant’s trial counsel). Absent such an

opportunity, an appellate court should not find deficient performance unless the

challenged conduct was so outrageous that no competent attorney would have

engaged in it. Goodspeed v. State, 187 S.W.3d 390, 392 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).

      When the record is silent as to counsel’s trial strategy, an appellate court may

not speculate about why counsel acted as she did. Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771

(Tex. Crim. App. 1994); Toney v. State, 3 S.W.3d 199, 210 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th

Dist.] 1999, pet. ref’d); Safari v. State, 961 S.W.2d 437, 445 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] 1997, pet. ref’d, untimely filed); Davis v. State, 930 S.W.2d 765, 769 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, pet. ref’d); Gamble v. State, 916 S.W.2d 92, 93 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, no pet.). Without testimony from trial counsel, an appellate

court must presume that counsel had a plausible reason for her actions. Lopez v. State,

343 S.W.3d 137, 142-43 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011); Mata v. State, 226 S.W.3d 425, 430-31

(Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Safari, 961 S.W.2d at 445. In the absence of such testimony,

an appellate court cannot meaningfully address claims of ineffectiveness. Davis, 930

S.W.2d at 769.




                                           18
      A sound trial strategy may be imperfectly executed, but the right to effective

assistance of counsel does not entitle a defendant to errorless or perfect counsel.

Huerta v. State, 359 S.W.3d 887, 891 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.).

It is not sufficient that the defendant show, with the benefit of hindsight, that his

counsel’s actions or omissions during trial were merely of questionable competence.

Id. Rather, to show that counsel’s acts or omissions were outside the range of

professionally competent assistance, the defendant must show that counsel’s errors

were so serious that he was not functioning as counsel. Id.

       Following his conviction, appellant did not file a motion for new trial. As

such, appellant’s trial counsel has not had the opportunity to explain his trial strategy

or how his actions and inactions were possibly consistent with such a strategy.

Accordingly, the record is silent regarding counsel’s strategy. In such a circumstance,

it must be presumed that counsel had a plausible strategic reason for his manner of

representation. Mata, 226 S.W.3d at 430-31. Facing a silent record, it would be

inappropriate for a reviewing court to speculate that counsel’s representation of

appellant was not guided by sound trial strategy.

      Given the silent record, appellant has failed to overcome the presumption that

trial counsel’s challenged actions and omissions were sound trial strategy. For this

reason alone, appellant’s allegations of ineffectiveness for failing to object character

evidence regarding appellant should be defeated. Wert v. State, 383 S.W.3d 747, 757-58

(Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.); Downs v. State, 244 S.W.3d 511, 515

                                           19
(Tex. App.--Fort Worth 2007, pet. ref’d); Burns v. State, 122 S.W.3d 434, 436-37 (Tex.

App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet. ref’d); see also Ramos v. State, 45 S.W.3d 305, 311-

12 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 2001, pet. ref’d) (rejecting defendant’s eighteen allegations

of ineffectiveness solely because record was silent regarding trial counsel’s strategy).

        In the event this Court chooses to address the merits of appellant’s claim of

ineffective assistance of counsel despite the silent record, appellant’s point of error

should be overruled because the evidence was admissible and there was a strategic

reason for not objecting to the evidence. Specifically, appellant complains that trial

counsel did not object to the introduction of evidence regarding appellant’s “prison

records…containing the laundry list of bad-acts that appellant had, according to the

records, engaged in over time.”8 Appellant points out that these records contain

“evidence of multiple arrests, escape, masturbating in front of prison officials and use

of all told forms of illegal narcotics imaginable…”9 Appellant fails to cite to the

record when discussing the evidence that he alleges trial counsel should have objected

to.10 The general allegations made by appellant do not identify which statements

appellant is specifically complaining about or the legal grounds under which he

believes each individual statements is inadmissible, and thus the point of error has not

been adequately briefed. See TEX. R. APP. PROC. 38.1(i). As such, appellant has failed

to demonstrate that trial counsel was deficient

8
  Appellant’s brief at 48.
9
  Appellant’s brief at 49.
10
   Appellant’s brief at 48.


                                            20
      The State assumes for the sake of argument that appellant is referring to State’s

Exhibit 4, which consists of twenty-three pages of records from the Review and

Release Processing Section of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole

Division (R.R.V State’s Exhibit 4). Contained in such records are information about

the underlying sexual assault, appellant’s deferred adjudication probation, the motion

and allegations to revoked appellant’s deferred adjudication probation, his release

date, family history, and the indictment (R.R.V State’s Exhibit 4). Trial counsel did not

object when the State offered State’s Exhibit 4 (R.R.III 25).

      A criminal defendant is “entitled to be tried on the accusations made in the

State’s pleading and he should not be tried for some collateral crime or being a

criminal generally.” Wilkerson v. State, 736 S.W.2d 656, 659 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987).

Thus, evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts are not admissible to prove the

character of the defendant, but may be admissible for other legitimate purposes. TEX.

R. EVID. 404(b). “The general standard or test for the admission of an extraneous

offense is whether the prosecution can show (1) that the offense or transaction is

relevant to a material issued in the case, and (2) that the probative value of the

evidence to the trier of fact outweighs its prejudicial or inflammatory nature.”

Wilkerson, 736 S.W.2d at 659. Appellant cites a long list of cases for the proposition




                                           21
that appellant’s failure to object to alleged bad character evidence rendered his

performance deficient.11

           To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel for failure to object to the

admission of evidence or testimony, appellant must identify the specific objection and

prove that it would have been successful. Ortiz v. State, 93 S.W.3d 79, 93 (Tex Crim.

App. 2002). An isolated failure to object does not amount to deficient performance

because whether “counsel provides a defendant adequate assistance is to be judged by

the totality of the circumstances rather than by isolated acts or omissions.” Vasquez v.

State, 819 S.W.2d 932, 938 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1991, pet. ref’d) (holding that

trial counsel’s performance was not deficient despite making the wrong objection and

jury argument in light of the totality of the representation).

           In the present case appellant was charged with possessing a firearm within five

years of release from confinement, parole, or mandatory release. See TEX. PENAL

CODE. ANN. § 46.04(a)(1) (West 2011). (C.R. 9). Thus, the record contained in State’s

Exhibit 4 was relevant and probative in proving an essential element of the charged

offense, when appellant was convicted and then released from confinement. See TEX.

R. EVID. 402 and 403.

           Appellant has failed to demonstrate that redaction of some statements made in

State’s Exhibits 4 would have been required even had trial counsel objected. This

Court should reject appellant’s argument that the trial court’s failure to object

11
     Appellant’s brief at 45 footnote 7.


                                              22
constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. Ex parte Jimenez, 364 S.W.3d 866, 887

(Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (‘The failure to object to proper questions and admissible

testimony…is not ineffective assistance.”). To the extent that some information

contained in State’s Exhibit 4 may have been inadmissible, it is clear that trial

counsel’s strategy was to paint appellant as a man who committed and was convicted

of a non-violent sex offense, and while the sexual nature of the offense may be

offensive to some, there is no allegation that appellant was a violent person, or there

were allegations that he was convicted of an offense involving violence or the use of a

firearm (R.R.III 36-37, 39).12 Highlighting the lack of firearms in appellant’s past

played perfectly into trial counsel’s argument that the forearm was Alfred’s and the

officers moved it to make is visible when it actually was well hidden in the closet

unbeknownst to appellant (R.R.IV 27-28). While this strategy may seem

unconventional because, by necessity, it highlights the sexual nature of the underlying

offense, it could ring true as brutally honest in the eyes of a jury because it is so

unconventional. Even failing to object to the information contained in State’s Exhibit

4 regarding the summary of the sexual assault could be strategic to highlight the

absence of a weapon used in commission of the offense.

12
   Specifically, trial counsel highlighted that
“Q. [r]egarding his conviction for sexual assault of a child, that was not an aggravated sexual assault,
was it?
  A. No, sir, it was not.
Q. Aggravated sexual assault would have meant that he had forcible sex with somebody, wouldn’t
it?” (R.R.III 39).




                                                   23
           Appellant argues that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to object

because “the records had no relevance to any issues to be decided by the jury other

than to show that because appellant was a bad person in the past he must, logically,

have been a bad person on this occasion and therefore been a felon in possession of

that pistol.”13 This is factually inaccurate. The State had to prove the prior felony

conviction as well as the conviction and release dates to prove the elements of the

charged offense as discussed above. See TEX. PENAL CODE. ANN. § 46.04(a)(1) (West

2011). Thus the evidence that appellant complains of on appeal was relevant, and had

a relevance and was not simply an attempt to paint appellant as a bad person.

           Trial counsel’s performance must be evaluated looking at the totality of the

representation. Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813. During the trial, the location of the firearm

and its ability to be seen with the naked eye by someone entering the closet became

important in establishing possession. The State presented photographs of the firearm

in an attempt to establish that the firearm was visible to anyone entering the closet

(State’s Exhibits 17 and 18). Position and location of the firearm became a pivotal

issue in establishing appellant’s possession or lack thereof, of the firearm. Trial

counsel was able to get the officers to admit that the firearm had been moved prior to

being photographed, thus calling into question the most compelling piece of the

State’s evidence (R.R.III 35, 63, 65-66, 69, 70). This clearly was consequential with the



13
     Appellant’s brief at 48.


                                            24
jury who deliberated for approximately an hour despite only about four hours of

testimony (C.R. 59-60). Id.

      Trial counsel called two witnesses, appellant’s brother and his mother.

Appellant’s brother, Alfredo, testified that he bought firearms for his own personal

protection, and the firearm in question did not belong to appellant (R.R.III 87-88,

R.R.IV 5-6, 10). Mrs. Alvarado testified that, despite the fact that her belongings were

in the closet where the firearm was found, she did not see or know a firearm was in

the closet, thus making appellant’s lack of awareness that the firearm was in his closet

more plausible (R.R.IV 17). It cannot be said that trial counsel was ineffective when

he called the testimony of the law enforcement officers into questions, and offered an

alternative possessor for the firearm. Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813.

      Assuming it was deficient for trial counsel to fail to object to inadmissible

character evidence, it cannot be said that appellant suffered any prejudice as a result of

this failure. Bone v. State, 7 S.W.3d 828, 833 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). When trial

counsel’s strategy was to highlight the fact that his criminal past was non-violent trial

counsel’s strategy was to argue that appellant was a sex offender, not a violent person

with any association to firearms, it cannot be said that appellant suffered prejudice as

a result of failing to object to the admission of the evidence that furthered that

strategy. See Newsome v. State, 703 S.W.2d 750 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1985,

no pet) (holding that trial counsel was not ineffective for using the defendant’s “’bad




                                           25
record as a youngster’ as an explanation for the police officer’s strong belief that they

has the right man after they checked his criminal record”).

      Appellant cannot overcome the presumption of reasonably competent

representation in light of the silent record. If this Court chooses to address the merits

of appellant’s claim, trial counsel chose not to object to State’s Exhibit 4 because the

evidence was admissible and to further the defensive theory that although appellant

engaged in criminal behavior, nothing in his background suggested that he was violent

or had any previous association with firearms. Further, if it was error for trial counsel

to fail to object to the complained of evidence, appellant has not established that he

was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure because his criminal history revealed no

association with firearms or violence. Appellant’s point of error should be overruled.

                        




                                           26
                                 CONCLUSION

      It is respectfully submitted that all things are regular and that the conviction

should be affirmed.

                                                    DEVON ANDERSON
                                                    District Attorney
                                                    Harris County, Texas



                                                    /a/ Abbie Miles
                                                    ABBIE MILES
                                                    Assistant District Attorney
                                                    Harris County, Texas
                                                    1201 Franklin, Suite 600
                                                    Houston, Texas 77002
                                                    (713) 755-5826
                                                    TBC No. 24072240
                                                    Miles_abbie@dao.hctx.net
                                                    Curry_Alan@daohctx.net



                      CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

       The undersigned attorney certifies that this computer-generated document has

a word count of 7,953 words, based upon the representation provided by the word

processing program that was used to create the document.

                                                    /s/ Abbie Miles

                                                    Abbie Miles
                                                    Assistant District Attorney




                                         27
                          CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      This is to certify that a copy of the foregoing instrument has been mailed to the

appellant’s attorney at the following address on June 18, 2015:


      Timothy Hootman
      2402 Pease Street
      Houston, Texas 77003



                                                     /s/ Abbie Miles
                                                     ABBIE MILES
                                                     Assistant District Attorney
                                                     Harris County, Texas
                                                     1201 Franklin, Suite 600
                                                     Houston, Texas 77002
                                                     (713) 755-5826
                                                     TBC No. 024072240
                                                     Miles_abbie@dao.hctx.net
                                                     Curry_Alan@dao.hctx.net


Date: June 18, 2015




                                          28
