Vallier v. State

OPINION DIES, Chief Justice. Appellant was convicted by a jury of the offense of Possession of a Controlled Substance, to-wit, cocaine. Punishment was assessed by the jury at five years in the Texas Department of Corrections, probated, and, in addition, a fine of ten thousand dollars. Appeal has been perfected to this Court on one ground of error, viz: “The evidence is insufficient to support a conviction for possession of a controlled substance in this cause.” Appellant has provided us with an able and thorough brief from which we conclude the evidence is insufficient to show appellant was in possession of the contraband found in the house. However, cocaine was found in an automobile in the driveway. The testimony concerning this follows: “We executed the search warrant for the residence and the vehicles associated. The car was parked in the driveway. I asked [appellant] if it was his and he said it was. He asked me if I needed to look in it and I told him I did. He reached in his pocket and gave me the keys to it.” The case at bar seems to us to be controlled by Christopher v. State, 639 S.W.2d 932, 935 (Tex.Crim.App.1982), where the Court wrote: “To support a conviction for possession of marihuana the evidence must affirmatively link the accused to the contraband in such a manner and to such an extent that a reasonable inference may arise that the accused knew of the contraband’s existence and of its whereabouts, [citing authorities] This affirmative link is established by showing additional facts and circumstances which indicate the accused’s knowledge and control of the contraband, [citing authorities] “In the instant case, the appellant was in possession of the key to the camper which reasonably implies his control over the contraband....” Appellant’s ground of error is overruled. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. Affirmed.