Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 2015

Gutierrez, Adam

Gutierrez, Adam
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided November 24, 2015

Gutierrez, Adam

Opinion

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xE>l-P¢>\'\~w-> _ m '+m». hamm umw ne _ » ` § mclennan £oun+y Te_xus § ‘ 54+»\ Jud;ciu\ bis+rac+ Adam.c=u+iew'ez. ` §

Rg\a+or's_ Rebu++al +6. +ribll £oun$el's§kespomse +o Desi,gna+ion Issue.s § To ‘nn@. H.>nm~_ab\e_ ;md_ge or sold a§>w~+: liow\@_’$ Nom,ADAM.&¢u+leN\ez. T.\_;.c.;|”:tl£es?>iz vendor `m .H\L above r’@_&`ev`mce.d Causa, and (¥ile$ -llnlS erul+ll\ +0 +v\a\ Ccuv\sa\'s Re_§povlse +o Des`\gmx\'lov\ eli Issues, and Show +lne Lour+ as {’ollows.` ' ` ` ‘Tr`\o.\ Couv\$e,l §~locl'a§ lhad' +he_ Foi\\m~e +o `;iv\uesl"\ga_le_ alo`v\/\s 0(~` EJ\ Q)L\‘\'e_ ADAM.(‘_-uuTI_EP~%E_?_ are `\mccum+e omal Spa.cious, and also s+a+a(d ll\al he_ as +r~iall counsel had`€ul\ access yj~lo hand +yped males foam +ln'e DCFe,nse, re.poe\+s provided by +lne `mcle.nv\o`\`¢/\ Lcum+ Di§+olc.+ Al+om¢_ys o££ice. And from -l»w>s,e. m>+é's, l-le_ learned e, £aclual basis o\s described by police in +l\e.`\v~; owense_ repor~+s,' T¢‘lo.l L‘.ovmse,l Sl'ode'd in his A{`Cldaw`l* +ho\l' Marll/\m.Ramlr£_; -¢`¢‘r~§+ idev\-l‘~£le_d E_xpcw+e. ADA\M.é\u+`\evme.z_ £:rsl- by name. and la+o.r/ by mug sho+._ Arid counsel also §+a+e's +ho.l~ his no+e's do nol ve€lec.+ \:\\l\€.lhw +l\od- was ex pow*e ADAN\.Eu-Her'~r\ai Saquanl»`\a\l l`mo_ up +l\u+ was V¢`¢)_we_ol by Ms.RM/dm_z_ ar wha+lne.¢‘ ll ms Mev~el a oV\L mph Show u`o. By +r‘ial £l)unsel§ /ID+e'S na+ r'a.¢ ec‘\"m£ +lnlS, "lh'»s sho\$s +lm+ he fallch 'lo `mves+igc\l'£ `m+o lhe_ Sugges’n`ve iden+`¢$;ml~icm 0¢` mar+l\a.`llam`\mz_.

EX pane Ab\\w\.&umc_?`?.v_z_ Rebul\"s -l-o +\a& -lr~'\a\ Co\.mse.l's allegalr`\l>ns, and w`\ll Show +l\e followlv\g/ +lna+ +r\al dounsel failure +o' lnves+‘\_qa+e. va&ded. ine££zh+lve assls+¢m¢~.e_ eli counsel, By +v~.‘al counsel -¢¢\\\ng 'l'o invas+`\ga+; in'lc +h@_ Sugges+§v€_ idenl'l?iccrl`\an 0{~‘ F.X Por+e_ ADAN\ fvu+lerrez Tr\¢‘al Coun$el provided §ne¢€e§llve assi _ §§ Nia\ll £oun$el wou\d have inv@+‘\rga‘led in+o -H\q §§gg$rll@gc mMH ALS He. would have found a line op De(?en$e +l\od' w'ould have allow lum + -F;| m +;m +o su regs +l\e. su e.s+lve `\den+`.l?`\co&`\on. ° °‘ “ ° _ ‘°F 33 N0v242015 CD.' Abe| Acosta, Clerk Becouse De+.chove_z. showing ms.nom`\r~e~z_ owe single pholngmph was Sugges+`\ve Idev\lz‘-¢\Col`\on, w`rl~ness Mo.r+ho.nom'\¢~ez even +es»\‘\¥`\ed +ho\l.

Be+. chovez_ Jos+ Showecl her a Sing\le pholo_gmph 0€ F_x poole ABAM.G»MTIERREZ.[S"RR‘A+ |°IQ. Anol +l\e Showlng oF +he s‘.ng\e P\'\o+ogmoh was done 0<(»'+€.¢‘ w`vlness Mo¢%lr\a. R¢\\M`\rez gave De+.£l\¢l\l@-Z -l-lo@_ wrong Name..E'>'RR~A+\Q(D. Del~.£l\ovez_ even Con+oel'ed Ms.llow\`\r‘ez.. . ~l~o' lexL loeb \<v\ow ll\o\' loe could no+ fmd a adam R`wos in +l\e sjys+em G-RR¢A+A\Z-'a®.&y +¢~lol counsel Po`\lm§ -lo invesh‘go+e.,he provided `\l\eli$ech‘ve ass`.s+onco. 0(-` counsel / because he Fo`\led +o Pmd o. \‘me_ o€ De.¢ense 'wl\`\cl\ would howe A|lo\oeal h`\w\ lo F~I@. a Mo-l`\ov\ -lo Suppve$$ ‘H\& Sugge_SH\/e J:Aenlll?lcolion.f~? -lc`\o.\ £ouv\sel would have lmesl`\_qaled l\e. would have Kf\owi'\ +\no\-\' ‘\‘ne. +wo vic¥\Ms nevet‘ Iclen‘\`&`\`€d EX ‘m¢l'€_ ADAM.G¢WIERR&L ou+oPo\ line up or `w\ cow-l cmcl by +l\em v\ol doing SO, i-lwou\d lr\ove gave him o llne 045 ole(‘ense,+o-P.le a mellon ~l'o Supprj‘ess mar¥\r\a.Ro.\/v\`w_~ez. Sugge.slw"ve. `\dev\l`\¥l£al`\ov\.bu+ by +r\ial £ouv\$el hal ivlv€§f`\§a’rd'.n£ `\Mo ike Sugge$\"\ve Io(ev\l~\'(""\(’_a+`\ov\ l'l' prejudice EX po.¢"c~€_ ADl\M.£-)MTIERREZ. Becolqse `r\» allowed suggesl`we '\olen+ll‘lcol'lov\ be en~ler~ed inlo ~l'.~`\al, isecause wilness Morllr\o. Ram`\re.z_ +es+‘.€‘\ed al +r\m\ lolev\¥\+`yiv\g E\ pao+e ADAM.L€¢u+iewez fS-eR-A+la"d A{»`lev~ uel.£lmver_ Showeol ,Ms.Ro_ml\~ez_ a Siv\_qle pl\ol-o_qmph 0{-‘ Expom+e ADAN\.&ufierr‘e.-c., ES~RQ\A+ \°I¢D. find by +r.‘ol counsel nol facing a mo+;on +o suppress ll\e `Suggesllve, iden'li¢l(;a+iov\ i'+ prejudice E\L pma AbAM£:zu+ler'¢\ez, because l+ allowed a T‘Sl\lv'\’ ‘Ww\+ \~WS_{"ound al l'lne home o(` ms.¢!am`¢¢‘e_z +o be enmeol `\Mo evidence /R-Rn`M s+ole‘s eu\‘.\>`\+ No.aD.aM U“ess mmm.Rm`\ree even +es~l`r¢led ‘\'\\ok she did nol- \<v\ow ahyll\‘w\g aboul- `\P Ex poole ADAM.

Gm:l:msz had done any+l\l¢\£ [E;'RR'A*\BD-Tnial counsel S'lo’red `in his ll¢l-`Edo.vi-\', -l\~rl he we¢\+ +o~lhe cvime seene. and spoke w§-ll\ his inves+`\go+ar abowlr lois ‘m-\ervlews w\¥\¢\ polev\¥\o`\ v.\`¢\v\esses `\¢\C\ud`\v\g llne -lwo \llcllw\s. ®. , _*-'-`_ .__..-»~V \,-¢ ,_.`_.~`.,, ,_`,¢ EX par+e Annnn_`éu+:er¢\e-z_ uebulls +o -ll\e slmlo_snnenls above and will shea -lw,& he is incornecl ama inlei~vieuis or \.i\lness.e.ecnuse +u¢ moines +eol:caea -lo nol lal\<mg lo -lrial counsel are l-\is `\nvesl-igal'or.f$-RR-A+QU&.TML S~lel'evnenls lh 4r`\o.\ counsels Al`-C-i¢lovil are nol- supporleol by ‘ll\e_ reoord. I{` -W\e »l-o'lol'\l'\/ op +ho. C.ir`cumslances in¢l'\e.ales llel a suhslo.nlla\ likelihood O@ Mis`\denl`i€ical'lov\ €xis+s,+l\ev\ admission oé‘ +lie ldenl`\licalion o€ +he delendan\- amoun‘ls+o a denial o¢" due oroce.ss, See heil.\loq L\.S o.l' l°lZ-‘l‘l, llclaw\s, 397 SM.Zol.a’¥ '74>\l.

In ll\is false misidenl-i¢i'co+ion exisls, Because. \,.\`\l'ness Ma¢+lna.l<awl{rez_ even les-lil"\o_d -l\¢\o:\» Sv\e. aid nol \<no~.o anvll\`\ng alooul' ll? Ex parle. AbAN\ » Gu+iewe-¢_ lea done any+liii\g fs»aR-M\BD. Bul lesl‘il!ieol al +rial an +he s+on wenzel/ing ex pane Aonwl.omreneez_. /s~mz.s\l\e'%.

And ~lhe. +wo vlclims never idenli¢led E! par+e Aolam.c-’m+»`errez_ oul o@ a line up or alz,,/+rial f§-RR-A+Ql'%. Tlne s+uleMel/ll's +lna+ +r`\al Counse.l Maole_ ln his A~ll€idavi+ ls unsuppa¥*l-ed by +lne_ recordl Tria\ counsel slo=lreol +l\al he used a Two-s+ep analysis asKlnB(D wl\e)cl\er ll\e prelria\ procedure was impermissibly suaaesli`ve/ and($l) ll So, whellner +\,ic Sugges+ive prelrial procedure gave rise -la a very Suhs~lanlio\\ likelihood 0£` irreparable misldcnli’€lcallov\.:£n -l‘nis case+l\e +wo people +'ha+ ll\e s+al'e used as wilnesses,+es+il'ieol +o nol' mowing Ol(lyllnirg abolx\' il jEX par+e_ ADAM,Gul`ierrez_ haul done any'lloir\g.:f$»kk~ /l+ le~wD. And lhen lhe -lwo vicllms never idenl'il-"led El par+e. A¢law\. ’C1u1tn=_eal=_-z_ oul o€ a line up or a+ +¢~ial. G-RR-A+al?\. By +r‘uil counsel l`oiling lo invesligale and failing +o P.le a mo+ian ~l»o Suppre`ss +l\e Suggo_sll\le_ iden+iflcal-`\on, he allowed ‘llne +voo vS\lness +o +esl'i-l`y L\+ +r.'ol, admiralme ex paine Anm.au+;errez. G'RR.A+ \50-|8%.

A€+er ll\e +uio witnesses +eslilied +o no+- l<nowing any»lhina, aboul w\\ml' mppen.é.en-nuso-,\s'¢d.we T.slian wall ms en+ered in+o evidence l\ool a mixl`ure cl 3 B.N.A's on +lie. T-Slniv\+, and +he. ‘|'-sliirlr was never +es+ecl agains+ ~Hne people +lna+ lived in -ll\e home were +l\e T~Slnir+ was Pouncl. D.N.llo les+ing needed +o be alone_ on é\uodalupe, pedro.Ramirez, because he was a $uspec+ ol` +his crime. (3). `|~xl waslrleve¢~ +es+eA agains+ +lne T-sh`n-l -\'o see l£‘ he hall Con+nc:l' w¢‘+h +ke T-Sl\‘\v‘>r. l':X pmr+e. Aolam.&u+iee‘rez. Sla+emev\+s -lo ll\.i<_-.

Rebu+lle owe ~lrue amd correcl' and are Supparleol by +l\e kecowl. ' P(‘oyer‘ F_x pow+e AbAv\/\.t:lur;\:\=_ms_z_ prays wall +l\ls \va\o¢qb\e Loul~ls. 0£ er\mm\ appeals C-zmv\-l§ blm Y‘el\e(l on llis \\.G“I ~\,ew`\‘rcsl\ llabeol$ eovpms.- l l `@irk¢leale 0€" S<>.N`\ce 4 `Zl`_, ADAN\.`C-.u-llew>ez_. l-le\"e by Lev~l"\¥y -.l'l'lod' a copy c)§’ The lorego`mg <;,A|As del`\v'eveol by unlleal S+ale§ Vl’la`\\ ov\ Tl'\ls Z\Mh clay 0\° N'O\lember‘. 30\‘5.

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cause ND. on»a~na-ca ‘ £our+s 0{` Cr'imlnal appeals 0¢ Te\Lo.:-:».

ADAM.E\UTI.\`:R%EZ

F_x'pn¢~+e Aonnn.eiu+aen¢ee, Rebu+l\e +o +he mclaan ol‘ `Fec.+ y And conclusions 0¢ +li`e sum Jud;r_in\ nis+n:c+ cour+ el melennav\ £oun+y, Tems.

To -l-ho. l-lononalo\e Judge eli £our\+s `04` criminal Appeolls: COME:S ’No\»i AbAMiG\ul*le¢‘¢‘e~c.,.‘l'._D.C.J'.-‘l¢l8833l8 ¥`elo.l'or ll\ ‘l'l\€_ above relevenceol £uuse_, and 'l"ileb +his Rebul+le +o +he Flrwl`l¥lg'$ bc FAC+$ and C.pv\clu$lons} And '\n)`\ll Shou\ l'l'\e Cour“l' ‘l’\v\@_ Fol_lo_w`mg l Due +o +he Fincling and cenclus`\`ons ol- +he bislric’r Cour+ 09 - mclennan coun+y,are nc>+ Cerree+) Anol will Slnou.~ by +he kecorA.

The allega+ions +hal» mere wade lha+ -\riul counsel reviewed +he.

Circumsluv\ces surrounding lhe applianan £hcu~ge_'<a, including lden+iciee+ _ lmf\s made o¢ Appl¥can+.

E! pa.r+e AbllM.C-¢m:c;kk£z Rebulls by Sl\owi`vig lhe £bur\+, ‘lhul» +riu\ Counsel €ailecl +o lnvesligalg because i+‘ he would have lnves+i_qul-ed l:\e would howe Known ~-|'hu+ -lhe wilness was $houin a S.'n le pho+og_raph 043 E~)` pnr+e Abl\w\. &ulierrez. r§ RK A+lql> Av\d ¢~(` he al'ol review -llne. idem+l€lcq%lon N\nele 00 applicnn+ he -(»`a`iled -lo -Pile al Mo+iovi +0 Suppress Jrhe Su_qgesin\/e lden+i¢ica-liov\. "l’¢\iul counsel §+u+e's +~ha-l- his inves+igu+ion included cl review 0(-` wl-ll\ess S+u*rew\ev\ls and D..N A analyses (.“D, - _ E)\ par+e. AOAM.&=¢u+ierl‘ez_ lReloul'ls,and will $how +he court I&` 'lviol Couvlsel would have reviewed 'wl‘mess- ':`slul'emelol$/ be would \r\o.lle Kvlow¢\ +ho.'l' llle wilness marlho.?lomlrez, was Showrl only one phologmph,o€ F_)k poole ADP~W\. £¢wh`ewez_ whie‘n nner ll sugges+lve `lclevl-l`rl`lca-‘l`lolf\. (S‘l§l’v A+\ch.onol ic ne reviewed +lie D.ll.o. Annlyses,wlly lsil win ne meal lo leqneel he ellen mo owns +l~n+ were +`wnd on +he ‘l’-shir-l./B`-RR-A+l=.nhlbil No.?§:l\.

Tl‘iol counsel S+ole's +hol~ his 'lvlves+lga+or\ lnlel~vlewe.ol ‘l'lle w`\‘l'n€$$e.$) l:\lrl' +M€, record w`\\l Slrlov\l -ch\~ h@_ `\g l\ol' covvec_l» oboul who+ he ls S+ol‘e`lng. FF>~RR-Maooi.

Ex.polv~+e AI>RW\ c-¢lxlIERREz_ Rebvllls +o 'l~lrle alleged-lon " Made_, +horl opplicon+ -l»`oiled lo presen+ £nc.ls and _Ci‘r‘cum S‘l'a¢\C€,S/ Sl\DW`lV.\S l'\€, WQS pfe_`_\_“d`.¢_€_d, Ey\ pap+& ADAW\. £_'mE allee presen+ed +hés facl“.s in his ll.o’? wvil~, +ho+ lug Sugges+ive lden*l"rlicol`\ovl dep¢~ived Appliconl~ o€' al fain +riol and Due. proce§$. EX pnr~+e ADAM.¢=,u+ier\r~e-c.

Rebul+"s iv +l\e alleged snemen+, +m+ D.N.A +es+ang \Meoll<erleol +he Clll`\m Dl` Ex povl'e. ADAML»MU_ERRE;/ because ‘l'he¢`~e were (S\ di-(il`-renl~ D.N.l¥s Cwl "l~he ‘l`\$`hl{f+, bind +lle 'Di$l"¢‘icl~ Al+or‘ney's ’o+`¥»'ce ¥`o.iled l»o presen+ ` who l*ne collier +wo D.N.'A'S belong ‘l*o, because ;+ .W,u\o| show +he idenllw op +lle person who lived nl +l;e."'“" home were -l~\oe ‘\’°.Sb‘ll‘l' wolS 'l`-olmol.‘l'l\ere we<‘e.' O‘l'hev‘ Suspecl' `m lhis'_el~ime lhocl' +he slod'e used as cl l v\l`l\-vle$$. FS»RR»A+Qllq\_G-wloolol\upe. ’(>eclv~o. Ramirez.. l (;o,\ F_x pow+e_ Al>¢lm.c-.ul-lem~e.z. Rebvll+_s +o +\r\e, Slu+emen+e +\ml were moldQ.,o€ hls`l;\c\lw\ 04` perjured +e$+§wlony, +Me,Y claim +hol+ F_x palo+e ADAvl/l\ GuTIERRl=_z. pel~.) wmol `+es‘\`\¢vuw\\/ was w\'\e\\\) w`\-¥\l\_ olA’l' Wlel`l*\'. `EX palf‘+e ADAN\.EMTIERRE'L` Rebul+\"s by Skowing ~\'\r\a‘c~ banle,\.l<e.n¥ -presevl+ed perf)m~aol +e.s’+§mony. Doln`le\ \(Cv\’l'. +es~¥`l£€ed' \'o gel-lng cl Lul\ al-\' |Ql‘.\S AM J'uls+ occ-lar .M`lo\ni¢gh’r} +o go l?o +he, home o€ mav+lla.eo.mlrez_,bewuso_ Ol hispanlc male came ou+ her ol++ic.[§‘RR~A+\QlD. 4 now -ll\e recovd shows +ho.’c all 04` llr\`\s was happen`mg A¥-l»ev‘ vl/l`ldv\_`lgll\' because banie\. \<evl-\- +¢s\"l$*l€_d 'h~) +v\a‘c.

E>ul+ -lMe, E\/\\nlb`l+ lho& -Hne Slu+¢ A++omefs used,$how's 'W\Ol‘l Dcm\e.\.l<evl+ perjured kim Se\€ , Be_c.c\vlse_ he sla+és ' llml lle"@llol nol"§m¢l\ +lla all+l¢». on +l\e, vll\,llle. day dc ‘\'\'\`£. Cl"lMQ.)bl/l'\’ ‘\'\r\e. pho‘\’o Shov\l'$ "\l?. did because, ll go+¢','ol _Da&e, l>llr +l\e, hollow 09 +l\e. photo +hol+ SMQW`$ \0"7'30\\ ‘\'\'\€. daly he C\al`lwls ’r\\o€r he did mol' Seal~cl\ +l\e. A+lic_. /B-RR.M Evlll‘.bl+ l\lo.?)@. , effll¥é’,¥‘ EX polN-€. ADAM&:MTLERRE; pfay'é +l'lol+ +hiS Honor\alble.

Collr‘+c£ Lrlwl`ma\ appeals (`:llr‘olv\‘\'s \\`llrvl vallee cm his ll._O"l \~ll"\+ 09 Habea§ Lol~pu_s, (33¢ ' C£Y‘+il!l`l;ll+e. 0(-` Sel‘\lic_e_ fl ADAM¢C'\MTIERREZ; He,l‘e. by cedle +\ncl+ cl C.opy 409 ~H'le £ovec_)'oil\_g walz de\*lver'ecl by uni-led S+al-e.s mall oil +llls ao+l\ daly chc Nclvembev~,?lol§, Rgpec+¢u l ll Su b ml`++ed

/ll>ilill GuTT.E.RRl-_z. fn c shut measle (lD.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.