Case ID: f-appx_201/html/0253-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Shon MOLETTE, also known as Sean Molette, Defendant-Appellee.
    No. 05-30768
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Sept. 29, 2006.
    Stephanie A. Finley, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Rebecca L. Hudsmith, Federal Public Defender, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Western District of Louisiana, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before DeMOSS, STEWART and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Shon Molette was convicted of distribution of crack cocaine, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He appeals only the conviction for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, for which he was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment.

Molette argues that the evidence at trial was insufficient to sustain the jury’s verdict. Specifically, he contends that he did not have constructive possession of the drugs at issue because they were found outside of his home.

The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Government, showed that Molette was the sole occupant of the home and that the side yards of the property were enclosed by chain link fences. Molette conducted most of his drug transactions in the rear yard of the home. We conclude that there was sufficient evidence for a rational jury to have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Molette had constructive possession over the crack cocaine found in a black bag outside of his home. See United, States v. Romero-Cruz, 201 F.3d 374, 378 (5th Cir.2000); United States v. Onick, 889 F.2d 1425, 1429 (5th Cir. 1989).

Molette concedes that there was some circumstantial evidence of his guilty knowledge. Molette contends, however, that such evidence was insufficient to prove his knowledge of the presence of the drugs given testimony that, when law enforcement officers arrived at his home, he had already been arrested elsewhere and that several individuals fled from the area surrounding his home. Molette presented his theory, that a third party had stashed the black bag on his property, to the jury. An agent from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) testified, however, that drug dealers often hide their drugs outside their home in the hope that police will not discover the drugs during a search of the home. The jury accepted the DEA agent’s testimony and rejected Molette’s explanation of events. We will not disturb that credibility determination. See United States v. Runyan, 290 F.3d 223, 240 (5th Cir .2002).

AFFIRMED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.