Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-06-03654/USCOURTS-ca8-06-03654-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Gerald Jerome Johnson
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 06-3654

___________

United States of America, *

*

Appellee, *

* Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the

* District of North Dakota.

Gerald Jerome Johnson, *

* [UNPUBLISHED]

Appellant. *

___________

Submitted: September 5, 2008

Filed: September 15, 2008

___________

Before WOLLMAN, SMITH, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

A jury found Gerald Jerome Johnson guilty of distributing more than 50 grams

of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (Count

I); possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, in violation of 18

U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2 (Count II); and possessing a firearm transported in interstate

commerce after he had been convicted of felonies, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) (Count III). The government filed notice under 21 U.S.C.

§ 851(a)(1) of its intent to rely on two prior convictions to enhance Johnson’s sentence

to life in prison: a federal conviction for distributing 2 ounces of cocaine in violation

of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and carrying a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c);

and a state conviction for possessing methamphetamine and cocaine, in violation of

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The Honorable Rodney S. Webb, United States District Judge for the District

of North Dakota.

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N.D. Cent. Code § 19-03.1-23(6) (1997). The district court1 sentenced Johnson on

Counts I and III to concurrent prison terms of life (the statutory mandatory minimum)

and 80 months, respectively; and on Count II to a consecutive prison term of 25 years.

The court also ordered forfeiture of $15,150.

On appeal, counsel has filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738,

744 (1967), arguing that the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict, as it was

based primarily on the suspect testimony of Johnson’s ex-girlfriend; that counsel filed

untimely pretrial motions; and that the district court erred by denying motions to

disqualify the prosecutor and to suppress evidence from the search of Johnson’s

residence and trailer. Johnson has filed a pro se supplemental brief; he also moves to

file a second supplemental brief, and we grant this motion.

We conclude the evidence was sufficient to find Johnson guilty on all counts.

See United States v. Burdine, 515 F.3d 842, 844 (8th Cir. 2008) (court of appeals

reviews sufficiency of evidence in light most favorable to government, resolving

evidentiary conflicts in favor of government, and accepting all reasonable inferences

that support jury’s verdict). It was within the province of the jury, rather than this

court, to assess the credibility of witness Nikki Hilde, Johnson’s ex-girlfriend. See

United States v. Montano, 506 F.3d 1128, 1133 (8th Cir. 2007) (credibility of

witnesses is left to jury to assess); United States v. Thorpe, 447 F.3d 565, 568 (8th

Cir. 2006) (witnesses who testified as part of nonprosecution agreements reflects upon

their credibility, which is within jury’s province to determine); United States v. Stroh,

176 F.3d 439, 440 (8th Cir. 1999) (court of appeals will not weigh evidence nor assess

credibility of witnesses).

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Specifically, there was sufficient evidence that Johnson constructively

possessed the drugs found in the search of his residence, as he rented the house where

they were found, and Hilde’s testimony established that he had control over the rooms

where the drugs were found, that she had, in fact, previously seen him with the drugs,

and that Johnson indicated on March 7 he had bought drugs as planned. The evidence

also supported his intent to distribute them, given the large quantity of drugs and cash,

as well as equipment to weigh and package the drugs. See United States v. CuevasArrendondo, 469 F.3d 712, 715 (8th Cir. 2006) (elements of possession with intent to

distribute are possession and intent to distribute); United States v. Ellefson, 419 F.3d

859, 864 (8th Cir. 2005) (intent to distribute may be inferred from circumstantial

evidence such as weighing equipment and large sum of cash, and possession of large

drug quantity can be enough by itself to show intent to distribute). There was also

sufficient evidence of Johnson’s conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of

drug trafficking, as he had loaded firearms readily accessible in his residence and in

the trailer where he divided drugs. See United States v. Hilliard, 490 F.3d 635, 640

(8th Cir. 2007) (elements); United States v. Spencer, 439 F.3d 905, 914-15 (8th Cir.

2006) (upholding possession-in-furtherance conviction where defendant had multiple

firearms dispersed through his residence, one was loaded, firearms were near drugs,

and firearms were readily accessible to defendant). Finally, the evidence was

sufficient to support the felon-in-possession conviction, as Johnson stipulated he was

a convicted felon, the government presented evidence of an interstate nexus, the

firearms were present in the house Johnson rented and the trailer he owned, and Hilde

testified she recognized them as firearms that Johnson owned or showed her. See

United States v. Jones, 266 F.3d 804, 813 (8th Cir. 2001) (elements); United States

v. Abfalter, 340 F.3d 646, 654 (8th Cir. 2003) (constructive possession of firearm

established where suspect had dominion over premises where firearm was located, or

had ownership or dominion over firearm itself).

We also find the district court did not err in denying Johnson’s motion to

suppress evidence obtained during a search of his residence pursuant to the terms of

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a probationary sentence he was then serving, which contained his consent to search

his residence. At the time, the probation officer had reasonable suspicion, because he

had received information from law enforcement personnel that Johnson was involved

with illegal drugs and guns. See United States v. Solomon, 432 F.3d 824, 827 (8th

Cir. 2005) (standard of review); United States v. Brown, 346 F.3d 808, 811 (8th Cir.

2003) (when probationer consents to search condition, his already-reduced expectation

of privacy diminishes significantly; government legitimately needs more freedom to

search probationers). As to his argument that the search was too broad because it

included areas over which Johnson had no control, those areas were searched after a

search warrant was obtained, Johnson did not challenge the warrant, and he had no

standing to challenge the search based on a claim that he had no control over the areas

searched, see United States v. Pierson, 219 F.3d 803, 806 (8th Cir. 2000) (factors

relevant to determination of standing to object to search include control of area

searched). The claim that counsel submitted untimely pretrial motions can be easily

addressed here, as the court’s decision to address the motions on the merits cured any

prejudice caused by their untimely filing. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

668, 694 (1984) (defendant must show both that counsel’s performance was deficient

and that deficiency prejudiced his defense); United States v. Cook, 356 F.3d 913, 919-

20 (8th Cir. 2004) (ineffective-assistance claim may be addressed on direct appeal

where record is fully developed).

Johnson’s pro se filings raise several additional arguments, which we reject

seriatim as meritless. First, the district court did not abuse its discretion in arranging

for Johnson to review discovery materials inside the courthouse during breaks in the

trial. See United States v. Robinson, 439 F.3d 777, 779 (8th Cir. 2006) (standard of

review). Second, although Johnson argues in his pro se brief that the search warrant

was not issued until the search had begun, the search was valid at that point based on

the probationary search term. Third, there was no plain error in the jury-selection

process, as Johnson presents no evidence that one of the jurors was related to his exwife, let alone that she was influenced by such a relationship; or that a statement made

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by a jury-pool member (later excused) at a sidebar, regarding her belief in his guilt,

biased the jury panel. See United States v. Pirani, 406 F.3d 543, 550 (8th Cir. 2005)

(en banc) (plain-error review); cf. United States v. Wintermute, 443 F.3d 993, 1003

(8th Cir. 2006) (“Speculation and unsubstantiated allegations do not present a

colorable claim of outside influence of a juror.”). Finally, the court did not err, plainly

or otherwise, in finding that Johnson had two prior felony drug offenses which

subjected him to a mandatory life sentence under section 841(b)(1)(A). See United

States v. Roundtree, No. 07-2607, 2008 WL 2831844, at *5 (8th Cir. July 24, 2008)

(felony drug offense is any drug conviction punishable by imprisonment for more than

one year; citing 21 U.S.C. § 802(44)). Johnson’s reliance on Lopez v. Gonzales, 127

S. Ct. 628, 627-28 (2006) (addressing meaning of “felony punishable under the

Controlled Substances Act” for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(2)), is misplaced.

Upon reviewing the record independently under Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75,

82-84 (1988), we have found no non-frivolous issues. Accordingly, we affirm. We

also grant counsel’s motion to withdraw, and deny Johnson’s motion for new

appointed counsel.

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