Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977). · Go Syfert
Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“this court has held that an experienced officer may be qualified to testify that a certain green leafy plant substance is marihuana" because it "has different characteristics from other green leafy plant substances.”
120 citation events (66 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Nathaniel Kyle Furstonberg v. the State of Texas (texapp, 2022-10-06)
Treatment trajectory · 1977 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1977 2001 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 47 distinct citers.
examined Cited as authority (quoted) Nathaniel Kyle Furstonberg v. the State of Texas (3×) also: Cited "see"
Tex. App. · 2022 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
this court has held that an experienced officer may be qualified to testify that a certain green leafy plant substance is marihuana" because it "has different characteristics from other green leafy plant substances.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Timothy Edward Smith v. the State of Texas
Tex. App. · 2024 · confidence medium
App. 1982) (because a police officer was not qualified to identity pills that matched the description of “numerous [innocuous] tablets appearing remarkably similar” to the controlled substance, the State failed to meet the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard in the absence of chemical testing); Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Nathaniel Kyle Furstonberg v. the State of Texas
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
When you couple this fact with the State’s heavy burden of proof, it is easy to 2 understand why, in cases like Curtis, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held that mere visual identification is insufficient evidence to prove the existence of a controlled substance in powdered form.1 See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Latoya Renee Henderson v. the State of Texas
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
See Deshong v. State, 625 S.W.2d 327, 329-30 (Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1981); Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Tavario Jermaine Smith v. State
Tex. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
App. [Panel Op.] 1981) (“The officer was permitted to testify, without objection, that the substance in the baggie was mari[j]uana.”); Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Tavario Jermaine Smith v. State
Tex. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
App. [Panel Op.] 1981) (“The officer was permitted to testify, without objection, that the substance in the baggie was mari[j]uana.”); Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Kenneth Ray-Beck Clifford v. State
Tex. App. · 2016 · confidence medium
ANALYSIS Appellant relies on Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Sonya Kay Hargett v. State
Tex. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
A presumptive test, sometimes referred to as a field test, merely determines the positive identification of certain drugs, but it "is not sufficient evidence of the presence of a controlled substance on which to base a conviction.” Smith v. State, 874 S.W.2d 720, 724 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist] 1994, pet. ref’d) (O'Connor, J„ dissenting) (citing Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App.1977)).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Palmberg, Bryan Elliott (3×) also: Cited "see"
Tex. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Neda Kindsvater Smith v. State (2×) also: Cited "see"
Tex. App. · 2014 · confidence medium
The other pills could not be identified by their markings. 6 In Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Terrance Mendoza v. State
Tex. App. · 2011 · confidence medium
App. 2002) (officer qualified to identify substance as marijuana); Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Drew v. State
Tex. App. · 1997 · confidence medium
Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex.Crim.App.1977).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Smith v. State (4×)
Tex. App. · 1994 · confidence medium
Appellant cites Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977), for the proposition that although an experienced narcotics officer may identify marihuana, he may not testify that a powdered substance is heroin.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Margarito Ortega v. State
Tex. App. · 1993 · confidence medium
App. 1980); Curtis v. State , 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Howard v. State
Tex. App. · 1986 · confidence medium
Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex.Crim.App.1977); Bowen v. State, 649 S.W.2d 384, 386 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1983, pet. ref’d).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hill v. State
Tex. App. · 1985 · confidence medium
Whitehead v. State, supra, 556 S.W.2d 802, 805 ; Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex.Cr.App.1977); Fletcher v. State, 547 S.W.2d 634, 636 (Tex.Cr.App.1977); Herrington v. State, 534 S.W.2d 331, 333-334 (Tex.Cr.App.1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Russell v. State
Tex. App. · 1985 · confidence medium
In Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex.Crim.App.1977), cited by appellant, the “condition” merely recited, “remain within a specified place.” In this case, condition No. 16 specifically prohibits appellant from directly or indirectly using the premises at 451 McCarty Road, San Antonio, Texas, for promotion and aggravated promotion of prostitution.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ward v. State (2×)
Tex. Crim. App. · 1983 · confidence medium
Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 63 (Tex.Cr.App.1977), and see Jones v. State, 538 S.W.2d 113, 115 (Tex.Cr.App.1976); Duran v. State, 552 S.W.2d 840, 843 (Tex.Cr.App.1977).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Roberson v. State (2×) also: Cited "see"
Tex. Crim. App. · 1981 · confidence medium
Although I do not vote today to declare this condition void, the Court has held that a condition “Report to the probation officer as directed,” is so vague and indefinite that it cannot be enforced, see Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex.Cr.App.1977); and Parsons v. State, supra. Likewise, “Report to the probation officer as required,” is an unenforceable condition, see Harris, supra. However, I adhere to the rule announced in Brown v. State, 508 S.W.2d 366 (Tex.Cr.App.1974), that estoppel may be applicable to such a condition. .
cited Cited as authority (rule) Pesina v. State
Tex. Crim. App. · 1978 · confidence medium
He calls attention to Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Cr.App.1977), where this court stated: “. . .
cited Cited "see" Palmberg, Bryan Elliott
Tex. Crim. App. · 2016 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App.1977).
cited Cited "see" Palmberg, Bryan Elliott
Tex. Crim. App. · 2016 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
discussed Cited "see" Knight, Laura
Tex. App. · 2015 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977). 8 recording, indicated Judy Cox's hydrocodone was picked up on July 19, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. and that the transaction had been verified by observing the security camera's video recording, which showed Appellant involved in the transaction at 4:34 p.m.
discussed Cited "see" Palmberg, Bryan Elliott
Tex. App. · 2015 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977)(holding that neither an experienced narcotics officer’s testimony that a substance field-tested positive for an opiate derivative, nor his hearsay testimony that he was told by a chemist that the substance was heroin, was sufficient to prove that substance was, in fact, heroin).
cited Cited "see" Williams, Michael James
Tex. App. · 2015 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App. 1977).
cited Cited "see" Williams, Michael James
Tex. App. · 2015 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited "see" Laura Knight v. State
Tex. App. · 2015 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App.1977). 4 .
cited Cited "see" Jacory Dewayne Bussey v. State
Tex. App. · 2014 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited "see" Keith Rochell Woods v. State
Tex. App. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis , 548 S.W.2d at 59 .
discussed Cited "see" Adrian Barajas Menchaca A/K/A Adrian B. Menchaca v. State (2×)
Tex. App. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State , 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex. Crim.
discussed Cited "see" Adrian Barajas Menchaca A/K/A Adrian B. Menchaca v. State (2×)
Tex. App. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State , 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited "see" Brisco, Larry v. State
Tex. App. · 2002 · signal: see · confidence high
Greathouse , 33 S.W.3d at 459 ; see Curtis v. State , 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited "see" Rickels v. State
Tex. App. · 2002 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex.Crim.App.1977).
cited Cited "see" Terry N. Rickels v. State
Tex. App. · 2002 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State , 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited "see" Greathouse v. State
Tex. App. · 2000 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex.Crim.App.1977).
discussed Cited "see" Paul Thomas v. State
Tex. App. · 1999 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State , 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
discussed Cited "see" Jackson v. State
Tex. App. · 1992 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App.1977) (although an experienced officer may be qualified to testify that a green leafy substance is marihuana, an experienced narcotic officer can not look at a white or brown powdered substance and testify that it is heroin to prove that the substance is heroin since there are many controlled as well as non-eontrolled powdered substances that appear in white or brown powdered form).
discussed Cited "see" Stanfield v. State (2×)
Tex. Crim. App. · 1986 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis, supra; Hardison, supra. The majority calls this the "quirky consequence" of this interpretation.
cited Cited "see" Aranda v. State
Tex. App. · 1985 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Tex.Crim.App.1977) and cases cited therein.
cited Cited "see" Harris v. State
Tex. Crim. App. · 1980 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57 (Tex.Cr.App.1977); Aguilar v. State, 542 S.W.2d 871 (Tex.Cr.App.1976); Parsons v. State, 513 S.W.2d 554 (Tex.Cr.App.1974).
discussed Cited "see" Frazier v. State (2×)
Tex. Crim. App. · 1980 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57 (Tex.Cr.App.1977) (an opinion by Judge Dally); cf. Johnson v. State, 498 S.W.2d 198 (Tex.Cr.App.1973).
cited Cited "see" Duran v. State
Tex. Crim. App. · 1977 · signal: see · confidence high
See Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57 (Tex.Cr.App.1977).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." in the Matter of Z.R., a Child
Tex. App. · 2013 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See Osbourn, 92 S.W.3d at 538 (noting it does not take an expert to identify marijuana because “[u]nlike other drugs that may require chemical analysis, marihuana has a distinct appearance and odor that are familiar and easily recognizable to anyone who has encountered it”); see also Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Dudley v. State (2×)
Tex. App. · 2001 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Aguilar v. State, 850 S.W.2d 640, 642 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1993), rev’d on other grounds, 887 S.W.2d 27 (Tex.Crim.App.1994); see also Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App.1977) (although an experienced narcotics officer may identify marihuana, he may not testify that a powdered substance is heroin).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Brandon Linn Dudley v. State of Texas
Tex. App. · 2001 · signal: see also · confidence medium
App. 1994); see also Curtis v. State , 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex. Crim.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Floyd Calvin Roberts v. State
Tex. App. · 1999 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See Bright, 556 S.W.2d at 321-22 ; see also Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57, 59 (Tex.Crim.App.1977) (test showing substance was opiate derivative did not prove substance was heroin because other opiate derivatives resemble heroin). 1 Roberts argues for a similar ruling here because other green, leafy, seedy substances resemble marihuana.
cited Cited "see, e.g." Fierro v. State
Tex. Crim. App. · 1986 · signal: see also · confidence low
See also Curtis v. State, 548 S.W.2d 57 (Tex.Cr.App.1977).
William Charles CURTIS, Appellant,
v.
the STATE of Texas, Appellee
53415.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Mar 16, 1977.
548 S.W.2d 57
Laird Palmer, Austin, for appellant., Robert 0. Smith, Dist. Atty., and Richard E. Banks, Asst. Dist. Atty., Austin, Jim D. Vollers, State’s Atty., David S. McAngus, Asst. State’s Atty., Austin, for the State.
Dally, Douglas, Odom.
Cited by 76 opinions  |  Published
1 passage pin-cited by 1 case
Pinpoint authority: bottom 80%
Citer courts: Court of Appeals of Texas (1)

[*58] OPINION

DALLY, Commissioner.

This is an appeal from an order revoking probation. On April 9, 1973, the appellant was convicted for the offense of possession of heroin; his punishment, assessed by a jury, is imprisonment for 10 years; the court, on the recommendation of the jury, placed the appellant on probation.

Four of the conditions of probation were that the appellant:

“1. Commit no offense against the laws of this State or of any other state or of the United States;
“3. Report to the probation officer as directed;
“7. Remain within a specified place;
“10. Pay $10.00 a month probation supervision fee to the Travis County Adult Probation Department not to exceed twenty-four (24) payments.” [1]

The State’s Amended Motion to Revoke Probation, which was filed on April 17, 1975, alleged that the appellant had violated each of these conditions of probation as follows:

“ . . .he Failed to Report as directed; Failed to notify his Probation Officer of a change of address; and Failed to Pay his Supervision Fee as directed. Furthermore, he violated the provisions of his probation in that he committed the offense of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, to-wit: Heroin, in that on or about the 10th day of May, 1974, in the County of Dallas, State of Texas, the defendant did then and there knowingly and intentionally deliver to Eddie Brown a controlled substance, namely, Heroin.”

The appellant, who was in federal custody, was returned to Travis County, and after a hearing the court revoked probation on each of the four grounds alleged in the amended motion to revoke probation; the court imposed sentence on June 12, 1975.

The order to revoke probation for a violation of conditions 3 and 7 cannot be sustained because these conditions are so vague and indefinite that they cannot be enforced; they do not inform the probationer with sufficient certainty of what he is to do. See Parsons v. State, 513 S.W.2d 554 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Flores v. State, 513 S.W.2d 66 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); DeLeon v. State, 466 S.W.2d 573 (Tex.Cr.App.1971); Brown v. State, 508 S.W.2d 366 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Cotton v. State, 472 S.W.2d 526 (Tex.Cr.App.1971).

There is not sufficient evidence, if any, to support the allegation that the appellant violated condition of probation 10 that he was to pay a supervision fee. There is not sufficient evidence to show that the appellant had the ability to pay and willfully refused to pay the supervision fee. See Herrington v. State, 534 S.W.2d 331 (Tex.Cr.App.1976); Gormany v. State, 486 S.W.2d 324 (Tex.Cr.App.1972); Barber v. State, 486 S.W.2d 352 (Tex.Cr.App.1972); Brown v. State, supra; Cotton v. State, supra.

If the court’s order revoking probation is to be sustained, it must be on the evidence offered to prove the allegation that the appellant violated the condition of probation that he would commit no offense against the laws of this state, by the delivery of heroin to Eddie Brown on the 10th day of May, 1974. The appellant urges that the evidence is insufficient to sustain this allegation because there is no evidence of probative value to support the allegation that the substance delivered to Eddie Brown was heroin.

The State asserts that there is sufficient evidence to prove that the substance delivered to Eddie Brown by the appellant was heroin as alleged. Brown, an experienced narcotic officer, who was working as an undercover agent, made a Marquis reagent field test of the substance he obtained from[*59] the appellant. He testified there was a positive reaction to the Marquis reagent, which indicated that the substance delivered to him by the appellant was an opiate derivative. The chemist who analyzed the substance was not called as a witness, but Brown’s hearsay testimony that the chemist told him the substance was heroin was admitted without objection. The State also argued that Brown, who was an experienced narcotic officer, observed the powdered substance which was in an orange balloon, and that his opinion as an expert that the substance was heroin is sufficient to sustain the court’s finding.

A Marquis reagent test which is positive does not prove a substance is heroin. Brown correctly testified that it was merely evidence that the substance was an opiate derivative. There are at least twenty-five organic substances that can be extracted from opium; morphine, codeine and paregoric are among these substances. Drugs of Abuse, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Dept, of Justice, 3rd ed. Brown’s testimony that he was told by the “DEA lab” chemist the substance was heroin is hearsay evidence of no probative value. Mendoza v. State, 522 S.W.2d 898 (Tex.Cr.App.1975); Ex parte Martinez, 530 S.W.2d 578 (Tex.Cr.App.1975).

This Court has held that an experienced officer may be qualified to testify that a certain green leafy plant substance is marihuana. Miller v. State, 168 Tex.Cr.R. 570, 330 S.W.2d 466 (1959); Satery v. State, 455 S.W.2d 294 (Tex.Cr.App.1970); Jordan v. State, 486 S.W.2d 784 (Tex.Cr.App.1972); Boothe v. State, 474 S.W.2d 219 (Tex.Cr.App.1971). However, we are unwilling to say that an experienced officer can look at a white or brown powdered substance and testify that it is heroin since morphine, codeine, paregoric, other opiates, other controlled substances, and noncontrolled substances also appear in white or brown powdered form. A green leafy plant substance which is marihuana has different characteristics from other green leafy plant substances; an expert can determine the difference. The evidence here does not show that even the experienced expert can distinguish one white or brownish powdered substance from another and determine which is heroin.

The State is required to show in a revocation of probation proceeding that the court’s order is supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Scamardo v. State, 517 S.W.2d 293 (Tex.Cr.App.1975). The State has failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the substance delivered by the appellant to Brown was heroin. See Roberts v. State, 537 S.W.2d 461 (Tex.Cr.App.1976); cf. United States v. Gregorio, 497 F.2d 1253 (4th Cir.1974) cert. denied 419 U.S. 1024, 95 S.Ct. 501, 42 L.Ed.2d 298; United States v. Atkins, 473 F.2d 308 (8th Cir.1973).

Officer Brown testified that in May, 1975, in federal court the appellant had been found guilty of an offense arising out of the same transaction relied upon for revocation of probation in this case. Since there is no evidence that the federal conviction was final, the State quite properly does not rely upon that conviction as evidence to sustain the order of revocation here. See Harris v. State, 169 Tex.Cr.R. 71, 331 S.W.2d 941 (1960); Jansson v. State, 473 S.W.2d 40 (Tex.Cr.App.1971); Prince v. State, 503 S.W.2d 777 (Tex.Cr.App.1974).

There is no explanation in the record and we are at a loss to understand why the State failed to call the chemist who it was said analyzed the substance to prove by him, if it could, that the substance in question was heroin. If that chemist was for some good reason unavailable, why did the State not have another chemist who was close by and available as a witness analyze the substance so it could offer his testimony? Under the record submitted, we must find there was an abuse of discretion in revoking the appellant’s probation.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

Opinion approved by the Court.

DOUGLAS and ODOM, JJ., dissent.
1

. We observe the order revoking probation incorrectly recites these conditions in different language than the order entered when probation was granted.