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Eduardo Rodriguez Hernandez v. State
Citation: Not availableDocket: 03-96-00231-CR
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas; April 10, 1997; Texas; State Appellate Court
Original Court Document: View Document
Eduardo Rodriguez Hernandez was convicted of capital murder by a jury, with the district court imposing a life sentence as the State did not seek the death penalty. The case arose from the discovery of Felix Rivera Gamez's body, which showed signs of robbery and had been brutally attacked. Following the crime scene investigation, Hernandez, found in an encampment with blood on his clothes and cuts on his hands, was arrested for public intoxication along with others present. Initially, police could not communicate with him due to a language barrier, but later, after he sobered up, Hernandez confessed to participating in the robbery and murder alongside another man. Hernandez's appeal centered on whether his confession should be suppressed due to an unlawful warrantless arrest. Texas law permits warrantless arrests for offenses committed in an officer's presence. The court found that the officers had probable cause to arrest Hernandez for public intoxication, given his state and the surrounding circumstances, including his physical injuries and the hazardous conditions of the encampment. The court concluded that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the confession, as there was sufficient evidence to justify the arrest. Ultimately, the appellate court affirmed the conviction.