SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER and BRA NCH, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 16, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 49 8 . REYES v . THE STATE.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a t ri a l b y j u ry

, Ro g er Al can t ara Rey es was co n vi ct ed o n s ep arat e

co u nt s o f p o s s es s io n o f co cai n e an d p o s ses s i o n o f h ero i n

. On ap p eal

, h e co n t en d s t h e

ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt th e co n v i ct i o n s an d t h at t he tri al co u rt erred by

d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n t o s u p p res s ev i d en ce o b t ai n ed d u ri ng a t raffi c s t o p

. W e ho l d t h at

t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed a t t ri al

, i n cl u d i n g t h e p ro ceed s o f t he v eh i cl e s earch

, was

s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n th e co n v i ct i o n s

, b u t rem an d th e cas e t o th e t ri al co u rt fo r fu rt h er

co n si d erat io n o f t h e v al i d i ty o f t h e v eh i cl e search ex ecu t ed aft er t h e v al i d t raffi c s t o p.

1

. W e t u rn fi rs t t o t h e t raffi c s t o p

. On rev i ew o f a m o ti o n t o s u p pres s

, we ap p l y

t h es e p ri n ci p l es :Fi rs t

, . . . [t h e t ri al j u d ge’ s ] fi nd i n g s b as ed u p o n co n fl i ct i ng ev i d en ce are

an al og o u s t o t h e v e rd i ct o f a ju ry an d s h o u l d n o t be d i s t u rb ed b y a

rev i ewi ng co u rt i f t here i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt [t h em ] . Seco n d

, th e

t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s io n w i t h re g a r d t o q u es ti o n s o f fact an d cred i b i l i t y

m u s t b e accep t ed u nl es s cl earl y erro neo u s

. T h i rd

, t h e rev i ewi n g co u rt

m u s t co ns t ru e th e ev i d en ce m o st fav o rab l y t o t h e u p ho l di n g o f t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g s an d ju d g m en t.

M i l l er v. S ta t e

, 28 8 Ga. 2 8 6-2 87 (1 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 8 88 ) (2 0 1 0) (ci tat i o n s

, p u n ct u at i o n

an d fo ot n o t e o m i tt ed .) Fo u rt h

, we rev i ew q u es t i o ns o f l aw d e n o v o

. S ta t e v. Bet h el

,

3 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 8

, 5 0 9 (7 05 SE2 d 8 6 0 ) (2 01 0 ). Fi n al l y

, wh en rev i ewi n g a ru l i n g o n

a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s, we m ay co n s id er t es t i m on y s u bm i t t ed b ot h at th e h eari ng o n t h e

m o ti o n t o s u p p res s an d at t ri al

. See Fo s t er v. S t a t e

, 3 2 1 Ga. A p p

. 1 1 8 (1 ) (7 4 1 SE2 d

2 4 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ); W

h i te v. S t a te

, 2 6 3 Ga. 9 4 , 9 8 (5 ) (4 2 8 SE2 d 7 8 9 ) (1 9 9 3 ).

Th e ev id en ce fro m b o t h p ro ceed i n g s s h o ws th at o n Oct o b er 1 8

, 2 0 12

, Geo rg i a

St at e Pat ro l Tro o p er Ch ri s Carl i s l e was wo rk i ng i n Gwi n n et t Co u n t y i n co l l ab o rat i o n

wi t h th e Im

m i g rat io n an d Cu s t o m s En fo rcem en t arm o f t h e Dep art m en t o f Ho m el an d

Secu ri t y

, co n d u ct i n g s urv ei l l an ce i n co nn ect i o n wi t h an i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o m o n ey

l au n d eri n g

. Carl i s l e t es t i fi ed t h at d ru g cart el s in M ex i co wo u l d a r r a n g e t o t ran s fer

d ru g s al es p ro ceed s t o p eo p le i n t h e Un i t ed St at es wh o wo u l d t hen l au n d er t h e m o n ey

i n t o b an k acco u n t s

. At ab o u t 3 : 3 0 p

. m

., Carl i s le s aw a dark bl u e J eep Co m m an d er

2wi t h a cert ai n l i cen s e t ag n u m b er d ri v e i n t o a b u s i n es s p ark i n g l ot an d

, as he l earn ed

v i a rad i o fro m

o th er o ffi cers , d el i v er a b ag co n t ai n i n g ap p ro xi m at el y $ 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 t o a

f e d e r al ag en t

. Carl is l e t es t i fi ed t h at bas ed o n t h e m o ney t ran s fer, “ [w] e k n o w t hi s

p e r s o n i s i n v o lv ed i n s o m e k i n d o f i l l eg al act .” W h en t h e J eep l eft t h e p ark i n g l o t

,

Carl i s l e fo l l o wed i n hi s u n m ark ed car, k eep i n g t h e J e ep wi t h i n s i gh t as i t t rav el ed

d o wn I-8 5 s o u t h b o u n d t o I-7 5 s o u t h bo u n d

, ev en th o u g h t h e J eep ex i t ed an d t h en

reen t ered t h e h i gh wa y i n w h a t a pp eared to b e a w ay t o d et erm i ne i f an y o n e was

fo l l o w i n g ; t h e J eep p ro ceed ed t o Cl ay to n Co u n t y

, wh ere th e i t ex i t ed an d s t o p p ed at

a Ch ev ro n st at i o n. Th ere, t he J eep p u ll ed u p t o a g as p u m p b u t n ev er g o t g as

, t h en i t

ch an ged l o cat i o n s ev eral t i m es at t he s t at i o n b efo re t h e dri v er an d p as s en g er g o t o ut

an d w en t i n t o th e nei g h b o ri ng res t au ran t t o eat

. O v er th e co u rs e o f ab o u t 4 5 m i n u t es

t o an ho u r, t h e m en wen t in an d o u t o f t h e res t au ran t m ore th an o n ce an d w ere o ft en

s een t al ki n g o n t h ei r cel l p h o n es

. Th e y a ls o s p en t s ev eral m i nu t es lo o ki n g at t h e

u n d ercarri ag e o f t h e J eep fro m t h e fro n t t o th e b ack o f t h e v eh i cl e, wh i ch

, acco rd i n g

t o Carl i s le, co u l d s h o w t h at t h e m en were l o o k in g to s ee if a GPS t rack i n g d ev i ce h ad

b een at t ach ed t o t he J eep

.

A red Fo rd Ex p l o rer wi t h a d ri v e-o u t l i cen s e t ag t h en p u ll ed i n t o t h e Ch ev ro n,

ci rcl ed aro u n d

, an d p ark ed n e x t t o t h e J eep

. Th e d ri ver o f t h e Fo rd g o t o u t an d

3ex ch an g ed a few w o rd s wi t h t h e m en i n t h e J eep ; t wo l arg e, wh eel ed s u i t cas es t h en

were tran s ferred fro m th e Fo rd t o t h e J eep

, b u t t h ere is n o ev i d en ce as t o wh o m o v ed

t h e s u i t cas es

. Th e s am e t wo m en wh o h ad d ri v en t he J eep fro m Gwi n net t Co u n t y g ot

b ack i n t o t h e J eep an d d ro v e ou t o f t h e Ch ev ro n s t at i o n ; t h e Fo rd l eft d ro v e o ff i n a

d i fferen t d i rect i o n

. Carl i s le an d o t h er o ffi cers fo l l o wed th e J eep

, b u t

, co n cern ed t h at

t h e s u i t cas es were fi l led wi t h d ru g s o r m o n ey

, Carl i s l e cal l ed fo r a m ark ed car t o p u l l

o v er t h e J eep fo r an y t raffi c vi o l at i o n

. So o n t h e J eep dro v e o u t s i d e o f i t s l an e an d

t u rn ed w i t h o u t s i g n al i n g an d was p u l l ed ov er b y Offi cer M i t n au l in a m ark ed car;

Carl i s l e t h en arri v ed o n t h e s cen e. A v i d eo reco rd in g o f t h e t raffi c s t o p was

i n t ro du ced i n t o ev i d en ce an d s h o wn at t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i on t o s u p pres s

.

Carl is l e t es t i fi ed t hat aft er Rey es

, wh o had b een d ri v in g t h e J eep

, g o t o u t o f t h e

v eh icl e, h e was v ery n erv o u s an d s h ak y , h ad a d ry m o u t h , an d av o i ded ey e co n t act

.

Th e p as s en g er, Si l v es t re Lo p ez Ol o art e, sp o ke v ery li t tl e En g l i s h an d i t was d i ffi cu l t

t o co n fi rm h i s i d en ti t y ; h e h ad a M ex i can i d en t i fi cat i o n card

. Rey es s ai d t h at h e h ad

b een d ri v i n g t h e J eep

, wh i ch was reg i s t ered i n No rt h Caro l i n a, fo r ab o u t 1 5 d ay s; h e

s ai d t h at t h e car b el o ng ed t o a fri en d o f Ol o art e, b u t h e p ers on al l y d i d n o t k n o w wh o

t h e o wn er was

. He cl ai m ed h e h ad k n o wn O l o art e fo r s ev eral y ears

, b u t h e g av e a

n am e d i fferen t t h an t he o n e o n O l o a r t e ’ s i den t i fi cat i o n card

. W h en as k ed wh ere h e

4h ad co m e fro m i n t h e J eep

, Rey es g av e an an s wer in co n si s t en t wi t h wh at Carl i s l e h ad

p ers o n al l y o bs erv ed

. Rey es s ai d t h at h e d ro v e fro m Do rav i l l e t o Cl ay t o n Co u n t y to

g et g as , y et t h e p ri ces were n o t b et t er i n Cl ay to n Co u n t y an d Rey es , i n fact

, d i d n ot

g et an y g as

. Carl i s l e co u l d s ee t h e t wo s u i t cas es i n t h e b ack s eat o f t h e J eep , an d h e

as k ed Rey es i f h e was g o in g t o t h e ai rp o rt

. Rey es rep l ied

, “ n o ” an d t h at h e d i d n ot

k n o w wh at s u i t cas es Carl is l e was t al k i n g ab ou t

. Ol o art e s ai d t h at a fri en d g av e t h em

t h e s u i t cas es an d t o ld t h em t o d ri v e t h em s om ewh ere b u t t h at h e d id n o t k no w h o w

t o co n tact t h e fri en d

.

Th e t r a f f i c s t o p h ad l as t ed al m o s t 24 m i n u t es wh en M i tn au l i ss u ed Rey es a

warn i n g ci t at i o n

, ret u rn ed Rey es ’ s l i cen ce t o h i m

, an d g av e Rey es a fo rm fo r co n s en t

t o s earch t h e J eep

. In a co nv ers at i o n t h at l as t ed sev eral m o re m i n u t es

, Rey es as k ed

q u es ti o n s a b o u t t h e co n s en t fo rm

, ex p res s ed res erv at i o ns b ecau s e t he J eep d i d n ot

b el o n g t o h i m

, an d ul t i m at el y refu s ed t o co n sen t t o a search o f t h e Jeep

. A ft er Rey es

refu sed

, Carl i sl e req u es t ed t h e K-9 o f fi cer wh o had arri v ed s o m et i m e earl i er to

p erfo rm a d o g sn i ff o f t h e v eh i cl e. Th e d og al ert ed

, t h e v eh i cl e was s earch ed

, an d in

t h e s ui t cas es t h e o ffi cers fo u n d 2 2 wrap ped an d t a p e d b ri ck s o f w h at p ro v ed t o b e

h ero i n wei g h i n g ap p ro x im at el y 2 2 ,0 0 0 g ram s an d 7 b ri ck s o f co cai n e w ei g h in g 7 ,7 0 9

g ram s

.

5Bo t h R e ye s a n d Ol oart e were ch arg ed wi t h p o s s es si o n o f an d t raffi ck i n g in

co cai n e an d h ero i n

, an d Rey es was ch arg ed wi th fai l u re t o s i gn al wh i l e t u rn in g

. Rey es

w a s t r i e d s ep arat el y an d co n v i ct ed o n b o th co u n t s o f p os s es si o n b u t acq u i t t ed o f

t raffi ck i ng

.

In i t s o r d er d en y i n g Rey es ’ s m o ti o n t o s u p p res s

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

Rey es was l eg al l y s t o p p ed b e c a u s e h e fai l ed t o s i g n al befo re tu rn i n g an d fai l ed to

m ai n t ai n h i s l an e wh i l e d r i v i n g

. Th e co u rt al s o fo u n d t h at

, an al y zi n g t h e t o t al i t y o f

t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e o ffi cers d i d n o t u nreas o n ab l y ex t en d t h e s t o p o f t he car o r i t s

o ccu pan t s

. In s o d o i n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h at i t “ d o es n ot fi n d t h at t he u s e o f t h e

can i n e co n t emp o r a n eo u sl y wi th t h e t raffi c s to p t o co n d u ct an op en ai r search o f t h e

v eh icl e was i n v i o l at i o n o f th e Defen d an t’ s ri g ht s .” (Em p h as is s u p pl i ed ). Th e co u rt

al s o f o u n d as a m at t er o f fact t h at Rey es an d Ol o art e g av e co n fl i ct i n g s t o ri es

, t h at

Rey es i nd i cat ed t hat h e was d ri v i n g a fri en d’ s car bu t d ecl i n ed t o n am e t h e fri en d

, an d

t h at Rey es was n erv ou s an d s h ak i n g d u ri ng t h e en co u n t er.

1

. Rey es d oes n o t co nt es t t h e v al i d i t y o f th e i n it i al traffi c s t o p

. R at h er, h e

co n ten d s t h at th e o ffi cers d et ai ned h i m aft er t h e t raffi c s t o p was co m p l et ed i n o rd er

t o p erfo rm t h e d o g s n i f

f a n d t h at t h e o ffi cers d i d n o t h av e reas o n ab l e s u sp i ci o n o f

cri m i n al act i v i t y

t o d o s o.

6Th e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt rec e n t l y h as rei t erat ed t h at “ a po l i ce s t o p

ex ceed in g t h e t i m e n eed ed t o h an d l e t h e m at t er fo r wh i ch t h e s to p w as m ad e v i o l at es

t h e Co n s t i t u t i o n ’ s s h i el d ag ai n s t u n reas o n ab l e s ei zu res

. ” R o d r i g uez v. Un it ed S t a t es

,

_ U. S.

_ (1 3 5 SCt 1 6 0 9

, 1 9 1 LE2 d 4 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ). “ Li k e a Ter r y s t o p

, t h e t o l erab l e

d u rat i o n of p o l i ce i n qu i ri es i n th e t raffi c-s t o p co n t ex t i s d et erm i n ed b y t h e s ei zu re’ s

‘ m i s s i o n ’

— t o ad d res s t h e traffi c vi o l at i o n t hat w arran t ed t h e st o p

, a n d at t en d to

rel at ed s afet y co n cern s .” Id

. at

_ _ (II) (ci t at i o n s om i t ted .) An o ffi cer m ay n ot co n d u ct

u n rel at ed in v es ti g at i o n s d uri n g an o t h erwi s e l awfu l t r a f f i c s t o p “ in a way t h at

p r o l o n g s t h e s t op

, ab s en t t h e reas o n ab le s u s p i ci o n o rd in ari l y d em an d ed to ju s t i f y

d et ai ni n g an i n d i vi d u al .” Id

. at

_ _ (II). Th u s, b ecau s e “ a d o g s n i ff i s n o t fai rl y

ch aract eri zed as p art o f t h e o ffi cer’ s t raffi c m i s s i o n ,” a d o g s n i ff t h at p ro lo n g s t h e

t raffi c s t o p m

u st b e j u s t i fi ed b y reas o n ab l e s u s pi ci o n o f o t h er cri m i n al act i v i t y

. Id

. at

_ _ (1 ).

Here, as t h e v i d eo s h o ws an d t h e St at e co nced es

, th e do g s n i ff was p erfo rm ed

aft er t h e co m

p let i o n o f th e t raffi c-v i o l at i o n s t o p w as co n cl u d ed an d aft er s ev eral m o re

m i n u t es o f at t em

p t i n g t o g et Rey es t o co n s en t t o a s earch o f t h e J eep

. Th e d o g s n i ff

cl earl y p ro l o n ged th e t raffi c- v i o l at i o n p o rt i o n o f t h e s t o p an d t h erefo re, t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s co n cl u si o n t h at th e d o g s n i ff o ccu rred d uri n g th e t raff i c s t op was i n co rrect

.

7Th e tri al co u rt rel i ed o n t hat fi n d i n g a n d d i d n o t an al y ze wh et h er t h e o ffi cers h ad

reas on ab l e s u s p i ci o n of o t h er cri m i n al act i v it y to ju st i fy ei th er t h e i n it ial s t o p o r

Rey es ’ s co nt in u ed d et en t i o n fo r t h e d o g s n i ff.

W h et h er a t raffi c s t o p was reas o n ab l e u n d er t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t d o es n ot

d ep en d u p o n t h e s u b

j ect i v e m o t i v es , b el i efs

, o r i n ten t i o n s o f t h e i nd i v i d u al o ffi cers

i n v o l v ed

. See W

hr en v. Un i t ed S t a t es

, 5 1 7 U. S. 8 0 6

, 81 3 (II) (A) (1 1 6 SCt 1 7 6 9

, 1 3 5

LE2 d 89 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (“ [s ] ub

ject i v e i n t en t i o ns p l ay n o ro le i n o r d i n ary

, p ro b ab l e-cau s e

Fo u rt h Am en d m en t an al y si s ,” an d “ t h e co n s t i t ut i o nal reas o nab len es s o f t raffi c s t op s

[d o es n o t ] d ep en d [ ] on th e act u al m o t i v at i o n s o f t h e i nd i vi d u al o ffi cers in vo l v ed ”);

Ma r yl a n d v. Ma co n

, 47 2 U. S. 4 6 3

, 4 7 0 -4 7 1 (II) (A) (1 0 5 SCt 2 7 7 8, 8 6 LE2 d 3 7 0 )

(1 9 8 5) ( “ [w] h et her a Fo u rt h Am en d m en t v i o l at io n h as o ccu rred t u rn s o n an o b ject i v e

as s es s m en t o f t h e offi cer’ s act i o n s i n l ig h t o f t h e fact s an d ci rcu m s t an ces co n fro n t i n g

h i m at t h e t i m e, an d n ot o n t he offi cer’ s act u al s t at e o f m i n d at t h e t im e t h e ch al l en g ed

act i on w a s t a k e n ”) (ci tat i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed ); Ro dr i g uez v. S ta te

, 2 9 5 Ga.

3 6 2

, 3 71 (2 ) (b ), n. 1 3 (7 61 SE2 d 1 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (s am e). Th u s

, a s t o p m ay b e ju s t i fi ed

b as ed o n reas o n ab l e s u s p ici o n o f a s ep arat e v i o l at i on o f l aw fro m t h e b as is g i v en by

t h e o ffi cer fo r t h e s t o p

. See, e.g

. , Ma xwel l v. S t a t e

, 2 4 9 G a. Ap p

. 74 7

, 7 4 8 (5 4 9 SE2 d

5 3 4 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (o ffi cer wh o s to pp e d v eh icl e b as ed o n p ro bab le cau s e o f a t raffi c

8v i o l at i o n al s o h ad reas o n ab l e s u s p i ci o n of a s ep arat e v i o l at io n o f l aw); Un it ed S t a t es

v. Ca r d o n a Ri ver a

, 9 0 4 F 2 d 1 1 4 9

, 1 1 5 3 (7 t h Ci r. 1 99 0 ) (wh ere o ffi cers ’ cl ai m t h at

t h ey s t o pp ed d efen d an t fo r t raffi c v i o l at i o n s was “ n o t wo rt h y o f b el i ef” b u t wh ere

o ffi cers h ad o t h er “ o b

ject i v el y reas o n ab l e gro u n d s fo r d o i n g s o,” t h e st o p was l eg al ).

Cf. Deven p eck v. Al f o r d

, 5 43 U. S. 1 4 6

, 15 3 (II) (1 25 SCt 5 8 8

, 1 6 0 LE2 d 5 3 7) (2 0 0 4 )

(an o ffi cer’ s “ s u bject i v e reas o n fo r m ak i ng t h e arres t n eed no t b e t h e cri m i n al o ffen s e

as t o wh i ch t h e k n o wn fact s p ro v i d e p ro b ab l e cau se”).

Here, i n ad d i ti o n t o pro b ab l e cau s e fo r fai l u re t o si g n al an d m ai n t ai n l an e wh i l e

d ri v i ng

, t h e o ffi cers m ay h av e h ad reas o n ab l e s u s p i ci o n p ri o r t o s to p p i n g t h e J eep o f

o t h er i ll eg al act i vi t y ari s in g o u t o f t h e co l l ect i v e k n o wl ed g e of t h e offi cers wh o were

i n co m m u n i cat i o n wi t h each o th er b o t h d u ri n g t h e m o n ey l au n d eri n g i n v es t i g at i o n

an d t he s u b s eq u en t ev en t s at t h e Ch ev ro n s tat i on

. See Bu r g es o n v. St a t e

, 2 6 7 Ga. 1 0 2,

1 0 5 (3 ) (a), 4 7 5 S.E.2 d 5 8 0 (1 9 9 6 ) (s et t i n g fo rt h t he co l l ect i v e k no wl ed g e ru l e).

Th e St at e b ears th e bu rd en o f p ro vi n g fact s t h at es t ab l i s h a b as i s fo r co n t i n u ed

d et en t i o n

. McS

wa i n v. S t a te

, 2 40 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0

, 6 1 (5 2 2 SE2 d 5 5 3 ) (1 9 9 9). A l t h o u g h

wh et h er t h e St at e h as m et t h i s b u rd en i s a q ues t i o n o f l aw, Ro sa s v. S t a t e

, 2 7 6 G a.

Ap p

. 5 1 3

, 5 1 6 (1 ) (b ) (6 24 SE2 d 1 42 ) (2 0 0 5 ), we are u n ab l e t o ad d res s th e q u es t i o n

o n ap p eal b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt di d no t m ak e an y fi n di n g s rel at ed t o Rey es ’ s

9i n v o l v em en t i n t h e earl i er t ran s fer of m o n ey t o an u n d erco v er ag en t w h i c h

, i f

cred i b l e, i s rel ev an t t o a d et erm i n at i o n of wh et h er t h e o ffi cers h a d reas o n ab l e

s u s p i ci o n

, b o t h b efo re t h e t raffi c s t o p an d t h ereaft er, t h at Rey es was i n v o l v ed i n o t h er

cri m i n al act i v it y

, s u ch as m o ney l au n d eri ng o r d ru g t r a f f i ck i ng

. An d “ an ap p el l at e

co u rt g en eral l y m

u s t l i m i t i ts co n s i d erat io n o f t h e d i s p u t ed fact s t o t h o s e e x p res s l y

fo u n d b y t he tri al co u rt .” Hu g h es v. S t at e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 7 4 4, 7 4 6 ( 1 ) ( 7 7 0 SE2 d 6 3 6 )

(2 0 1 5) (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ). “ If t h e tri al co urt has m ad e ex p res s fi n d i n gs o f fact

, b u t n ot

wi t h s u ffi ci en t d et ai l t o p erm i t m ean i n g fu l ap p el l at e rev i ew, an ap p el l at e co u rt m ay

rem an d fo r fu rt her fi n d i n g s .” Id ., n . 6 (ci tat i o n s o m i tt ed ).

B e c au s e t h e t ri al co urt erred b y fi n d in g t h at th e d og s n i ff o ccu r r e d

co n tem p o ran eo u s ly w i t h t h e t ra f f i c s t o p an d b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t m ak e

fi nd i ng s reg ard in g Reye s ’ p o ss i b l e i n v o l v em en t i n ev en t s d i s co v ered d u ri n g t h e

m o ney lau n d eri n g i n v es t i g at i o n

, we v acat e b ot h th e t ri al co u rt ’s o r d e r d en y i n g

Dav is ’ s m o t i o n to s u p pres s an d t h e ju d gm en t o f co n v ict i o n an d rem an d th e cas e fo r

fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s co n s i s t en t w i t h t h is o p i n i o n. See S t a t e v. Ab le

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 2,

6 3 6 (7 42 SE2 d 1 4 9 ) (2 01 3 ) (v acat i n g an d rem an d i n g d eci s i o n o n m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

fo r t ri al co urt t o fu rt h er co n s i d er i s s ues ); s ee al s o Ro d r i gu ez

, _ U. S. at

_

_ .

102

. Rey es al s o ch al l en g es t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce o n b o t h co u n t s o f

p o s s es s i o n o f a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce. W h en t he ap pel l at e co u rt s rev i ew t h e

s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, t h ey d o n o t “ re-wei g h t he ev i d en ce” o r res o l v e co n fl ict s

i n t h e t es t i m o ny ; i n s t ead th ey d e f e r “ t o t h e ju ry ’ s as s es s m en t o f t h e wei g h t an d

cred i b i l i t y o f t h e e v id en ce.” Gr ees o n v. S ta t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. 7 64

, 76 5 (7 0 0 SE2 d 3 4 4 )

(2 0 1 0). See al s o Gl a z e v. S t a t e

, 31 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 9

, 6 8 0

- 6 8 1 ( 1 ) (7 32 SE2 d 7 7 1 )

(2 0 1 2). Ap p el l at e co u rt s d et erm i n e wh et h er “ aft er v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce in t h e l i g ht

m o s t f a v o rab l e t o t h e p ro s ecu t i o n

, an y rat i o n al tri er of fact co u l d h av e fo u n d t h e

es s en t i al el em en ts o f t h e cri m e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e do u b t.” Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

, 4 4 3

U. S. 3 07

, 31 9 (III) (B) ( 9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 79 ) (ci t at i o n an d em p h as i s

o m it t ed ).

Rey es was fo u n d t o b e dri v in g a J eep

, t h e s am e v eh i cl e h e h ad been d ri v i n g fo r

t wo o r t h ree week s

, t hat co n t ai n ed s ui t cas es t h at co nt ai n ed l arg e q uan t i t i es o f h ero in

an d co cai n e. W h en d ri v i n g fro m Gwi n n et t t o Cl ay to n Co u n t y

, h e m ad e a m an eu v er

t h at ap p eared t o an o ffi cer t o b e an at t em p t t o en su re t h at n o o n e was fo ll o wi n g t h e

J eep

. At th e Ch ev ro n

, h e an d Ol o art e s earch ed t h e u n d ercarri ag e o f th e J eep i n a way

t h at ap p eared t o an o ffi cer t o b e an at t em p t t o en s u re t h at a GPS d ev i ce h ad n o t b een

at t ach ed t o t he J eep

. He an d hi s p as s en g er wai t ed fo r al m os t an h ou r at t h e Ch ev ro n

11wi t h o u t b u y i n g gas b efo re a Fo rd Ex p l o rer arri v ed

, an d t hey were p res en t wh en t h e

t wo l arg e s u i t cas es were t ran s ferred fro m t h e Fo rd t o t h e b ack seat area o f t h e J eep

.

Th e s u i tcas es were in p l ai n v i ew i n t h e b ack s eat of t h e J eep at t h e t i m e o f t h e t raffi c

s t op

, y et wh en co n fro n t ed ab o u t t h em

, Rey es d en i ed k n o wi n g wh at s u i t cas es Carl is l e

was t al k i ng ab ou t

. Rey es t es t i fi ed i n h i s o wn d efen se th at h e was a on l y a d ri v er fo r

Ol o art e, t h at h e fo l l o wed Ol o art e’ s i n s t ru ct i on s on w here to d ri v e an d wh ere t o p ark

,

t h at h e n ev er h ad c o n t act wi t h t h e p eo p l e i n t he Fo rd Ex p lo rer, an d t h at h e d i d n ot

m o ve t h e s u i t cas es fro m

t h e Fo rd t o t he J eep

.

[T] h e l aw reco g n i zes t h at p o s ses s i o n can b e act ual o r co n s t ru ct iv e, s ol e

o r jo i n t

. . . . A p ers o n h as act u al p o s ses s i o n o f a t h i n g i f h e k n o wi n g l y

h as d i rect p h y s i cal co n t ro l o f i t at a g i v en t i m e. A p er s o n wh o

, t ho u g h

n o t i n act u al po s s es s i on

, k n o wi n g l y has b ot h th e p o w er an d i nt en t i o n at

a g i v en t i m e t o ex erci s e d o m i n io n o r co n tro l o v er a t h i n g i s t h en i n

c o ns t ru ct iv e p o s ses s i on o f i t

. If on e p ers o n al on e h as act u al o r

co n s t ru ct iv e p o ss es s i o n o f a t h i n g

, p o s s es si o n i s so l e, b ut i f t wo o r m o re

p ers on s s h are act ual or co n s t ru ct i ve p o s s es s io n of a t h i n g

, p os s es si on i s

jo i n t

.

Ho l ima n v. S t a t e

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6

, 78 (1 ) (7 2 0 SE2 d 3 6 3 ) (2 0 1 1 ) o v erru l ed i n p art

,

o n o t h er g ro un d s

, Ma d

d o x v. S t a t e

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 11

, 8 1 5 (2 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ). Th e t ri al co urt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry o n t h i s l aw. “ A

12fi nd i ng o f co n s tru ct iv e p o s s es s i o n o f co n t rab an d c a n n o t r e s t u p o n m ere s p at i al

p ro x im it y t o t h e co n trab an d ,” Mi t ch el l v. S t a t e

, 2 6 8 Ga. 5 9 2

, 5 9 3 (4 9 2 SE2 d 2 0 4 )

(1 9 9 7), an d t h e defen d an t ’ s m ere p res en ce at t h e s cen e o f th e cri m e i s an in su ffi ci en t

b as i s t o co nv i ct

. W

h i pp l e v. S ta t e

, 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 1, 1 3 2 (1 ) (4 2 7 SE2 d 1 01 ) (1 9 9 3 ).

Here, t h e ju ry h ad s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o co n cl u d e t h at Rey es was a p art y t o t h e cri m e

o f p o s s es s i o n of t h e co n t rab an d

. He d ro v e an d i n s p ect ed t h e v eh i c l e i n a way t h at

s u g g e s ted h e was wo rri ed ab o u t b ei n g fo l l o wed ; h e was p res en t wh en t h e t w o

s u i t cas es were t ran sferred t o t h e J eep ; an d t h e s u i t cas es were in p l ai n v i ew i n t h e

v eh icl e as he d ro v e away fro m t h e Ch ev ro n

. Th us

, t h e St at e’ s ev i d en ce s h o wed m o re

t h an Rey es ’ m ere p res en ce i n t h e J eep or s paci al pro x i m i t y t o t h e co n t rab an d ; i t rai s ed

a reas o n ab l e in feren ce t h at Rey es h ad t h e in t en t to ex erci se co n t ro l ov er t h e

co n trab an d

.

Re ye s arg u es t h at b ecau s e Ol o art e h ad eq ual acces s t o t h e s u it cas es

, t h e

ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s co n v i ct i on o f p o ss es s i o n o f t h e co n t rab an d.

Bu t as th i s Co u rt h as recen t l y cl ari fi ed

,

Ci rcu m s t an ti al ev i d en ce t h at m u l t i p l e o ccu p a n t s o f a car h ad eq ual

acces s t o h id den co n t rab an d m ay s u p p o rt t h e t heo ry t h at al l th e

o ccu p an t s were g ui lt y as p art i es t o t h e cri m e an d h ad jo i n t co n s t ru ct iv e

p o s s es si o n o f t h e co n t rab an d

. Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e St at e m ay

13el ect t o p ro s ecu te t h e o ccu p an t s j o i n t l y o r s ep arat el y o r m ay el ect t o

p ro s ecu t e o n l y

o n e o f t h e o ccu p an t s fo r d i rect l y co m m it t in g t h e cri m e,

b u t n ev ert h el es s p ro v e t h e s o le p ro s ecu t ed o ccu p an t was g u i l t y as a

p art y t o t h e cri m e.

Ma d d o x , 3 22 Ga. Ap p . at 8 11 (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e rema n d ed wi t h d i r e c t i o n

. An d

r ews

, P. J., a n d

Mi l l er , J., co n cu r

.

14