Jamison Whitaker v. the State of Texas
Court
Court of Appeals of Texas
Decided
August 7, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
51%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
Court of Appeals Tenth Appellate District of Texas 10-24-00357-CR Jamison Whitaker, Appellant v. The State of Texas, Appellee On appeal from the 443rd District Court of Ellis County, Texas Judge Cynthia Ermatinger, presiding Trial Court Cause No. 49332CR JUSTICE SMITH delivered the opinion of the Court. MEMORANDUM OPINION Jamison Whitaker appeals from his conviction for the offense of terroristic threat. After finding him guilty, the jury assessed punishment at forty years of confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice— Institutional Division. In his sole issue, Whitaker contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence. We affirm. BACKGROUND Because he was angry at his coworkers at Liberty Tire Recycling in Midlothian, Whitaker confronted a supervisor in the parking lot, saying “I got something for you,” while pointing his finger like a gun. He then went to his car, picked something up, put it back down, and returned to continue yelling at the supervisor. The next day, Whitaker showed a coworker, Frank Byers, an assault rifle he had in the back of his vehicle. Whitaker said he was going to “shoot the place up” and “kill these Mexicans” and the supervisor. Byers reported the threat to his superiors, and they called the police. Although police answered a call regarding a person in possession of a firearm who was making threats, Whitaker was arrested on outstanding traffic warrants. They did not search his vehicle. A tow truck was sent to tow Whitaker’s vehicle for safekeeping, but the towing company took the wrong vehicle. After Whitaker was removed from the premises, Pedro Garcia, the regional vice president for Liberty Tire Recycling, took the firearm from Whitaker’s vehicle and placed it in his office for safekeeping. The police returned about thirty minutes after arresting Whitaker. Garcia then gave the rifle to police. Whitaker was indicted for the offense of terroristic threat. Before trial, he filed a motion to suppress the rifle. He asserted that Garcia committed Whitaker v. State Page 2 burglary of a vehicle when he took the rifle and therefore it is inadmissible. The trial court denied the motion. The jury found Whitaker guilty, and this appeal ensued. MOTION TO SUPPRESS In his sole issue, Whitaker asserts the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress because Garcia unlawfully obtained the rifle. He argues that Garcia committed the offense of burglary of a motor vehicle, making the evidence inadmissible. Standard of Review We review a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress under a bifurcated standard of review. State v. Torres, 666 S.W.3d 735, 740 (Tex. Crim. App. 2023). We afford almost total deference to the trial court's express or implied determination of historical facts and the trial court's rulings on mixed questions of law and fact, especially when those determinations are based on an assessment of credibility and demeanor. Id; State v. Dixon, 206 S.W.3d 587, 590 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). We review pure questions of law, as well as mixed questions of law and fact that do not turn on an assessment of credibility and demeanor, on a de novo basis. Torres, 666 S.W.3d at 740-41. Thus, we review de novo the trial court's application of the law of seizure to the facts. Dixon, 206 S.W.3d at 590. The trial court is the sole factfinder at a suppression Whitaker v. State Page 3 hearing, and it may believe or disbelieve all or any part of a witness’s testimony. Amador v. State, 275 S.W.3d 872, 878 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). We view the record in the light most favorable to the trial court's conclusion and reverse only if the trial court's decision is outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. Dixon, 206 S.W.3d at 590. We will sustain the trial court's ruling if it is supported by the record and is correct on any theory of law applicable to the case. Id. We do not view motions to suppress in isolation, but in the context of the entire record. Douds v. State, 472 S.W.3d 670, 677 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015); State v. Hopper, 842 S.W.2d 817, 819 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1992, no pet.). Applicable Law Texas code of criminal procedure article 38.23(a) provides that evidence obtained by an officer or other person in violation of law is inadmissible in a trial of any criminal case. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.23(a). A person commits the offense of burglary of a vehic
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
August 7, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Overview
Case Name: Jamison Whitaker v. The State of Texas
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
Date: August 7, 2025
Citation: Unknown
Jurisdiction: SA
In this case, Jamison Whitaker appealed his conviction for making a terroristic threat after a jury sentenced him to forty years of confinement. The appeal centered on the trial court's denial of his motion to suppress evidence related to a firearm found in his vehicle.
Key Legal Issues
- Motion to Suppress: Did the trial court err in denying Whitaker's motion to suppress evidence obtained from his vehicle?
- Burglary of a Vehicle: Was the removal of the firearm by Pedro Garcia, a company vice president, unlawful, thus rendering the evidence inadmissible?
Court's Decision
The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's judgment, ruling that the evidence was admissible and that the trial court did not err in denying the motion to suppress.
Legal Reasoning
The court applied a bifurcated standard of review for the motion to suppress, giving deference to the trial court's findings of historical facts while reviewing legal conclusions de novo. The court analyzed whether Garcia's actions constituted burglary of a vehicle under Texas law, which requires proof that the individual entered a vehicle without the owner's consent with the intent to commit a felony or theft.
Key Points from the Court's Analysis:
- Whitaker's argument hinged on the assertion that Garcia unlawfully took the rifle from his vehicle, constituting burglary.
- Garcia testified that he removed the firearm to ensure the safety of employees at Liberty Tire Recycling, believing Whitaker might return after his arrest.
- The court noted that Garcia's intent was to protect others and that he intended to inform the police about the firearm shortly after taking it.
- The court concluded that Article 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, which addresses the admissibility of evidence obtained unlawfully, was not applicable in this case.
Key Holdings
- The trial court's denial of the motion to suppress was upheld.
- Garcia's removal of the firearm did not constitute burglary as he acted in the interest of public safety and intended to turn over the firearm to law enforcement.
Precedents and Citations
- Texas Penal Code § 30.04(a): Defines burglary of a vehicle.
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.23(a): Addresses the inadmissibility of unlawfully obtained evidence.
- Jenschke v. State, 147 S.W.3d 398 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004): Clarifies circumstances under which evidence may be admissible despite potential unlawful seizure.
- Dixon v. State, 206 S.W.3d 587 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006): Discusses the standard of review for motions to suppress.
Practical Implications
This case underscores the importance of understanding how evidence suppression works in Texas criminal law, particularly regarding the actions of private citizens in relation to law enforcement. Key takeaways include:
- The necessity for defendants to clearly establish that evidence was obtained unlawfully to succeed in a motion to suppress.
- The potential for private individuals to act in a manner that may not constitute a violation of law when they are acting in good faith to protect public safety.
- The implications of this ruling for future cases involving terroristic threats and the handling of firearms in potentially dangerous situations.
Overall, the ruling in Jamison Whitaker v. The State of Texas serves as a critical reference point for legal professionals navigating issues of evidence admissibility and the intersection of private actions and law enforcement protocols.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
August 7, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools