Cardenas v. State

OPINION

CANNON, Justice.

I. NATURE OF THE CASE

This is an appeal from bench trial convictions for aggravated possession of cocaine and for failure to pay the controlled substance tax. Appellant Cardenas complains that the search of his vehicle and seizure of cocaine was illegal and that his counsel was ineffective. We affirm.

II. FACTS

A. State’s Version

On an evening in February 1991, Officer Greg Fountain, a member of the Chambers County narcotics task force, was patrolling Interstate 10. He observed an eastbound Chevrolet Cavalier with Mississippi plates failing to stay in a single marked lane.…