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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

Docket Nos. 39169/39170

STATE OF IDAHO,

Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

TESHA JOWANE SUNDAY,

Defendant-Appellant.

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2013 Unpublished Opinion No. 679

Filed: September 24, 2013

Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk

THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED 

OPINION AND SHALL NOT 

BE CITED AS AUTHORITY

Appeal from the District Court of the Third Judicial District, State of Idaho, 

Canyon County. Hon. Bradly S. Ford, District Judge. 

Judgment of conviction for felony possession of a controlled substance and 

possession of drug paraphernalia, affirmed.

Sara B. Thomas, State Appellate Public Defender; Spencer J. Hahn, Deputy 

Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant. Spencer J. Hahn argued.

Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; John C. McKinney, Deputy 

Attorney General, Boise, for respondent. John C. McKinney argued.

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GRATTON, Judge

Tesha Jowane Sunday appeals from her judgment of conviction for felony possession of a 

controlled substance, Idaho Code § 37-2732(c)(1), and possession of drug paraphernalia, I.C. 

§ 37-2734A(1). We affirm.

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Pursuant to a search warrant, the Caldwell Police Department searched the residence 

where Sunday was staying. Four to six individuals were in the residence during execution of the 

warrant including Sunday, who was in the living room. Sunday told an officer that she was 

staying in the master bedroom and that she had personal belongings in that room. 

A search of the master bedroom led to the discovery of methamphetamine, marijuana, 

and drug paraphernalia. Officers found a cigarette pack containing a baggie of 

methamphetamine and a pipe with a white powder residue in it. The cigarette pack was on an 
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end table between two camping chairs that were situated next to the bed. Testimony revealed 

that Sunday smoked cigarettes and that her purse and identification were found on the bed,

roughly two feet from where the methamphetamine was found. Officers also found two digital 

scales, commonly used to measure illegal narcotics, on the end table and Sunday’s court 

documents were found inside a dresser. The marijuana was located on a shelf inside the closet. 

When the search began, a woman named Bethany was in the master bedroom’s bathroom. 

Bethany admitted to possession of a “meth pipe,” but officers seized multiple pipes during the 

search and it was unclear which pipe she claimed was hers.

Sunday was charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and paraphernalia. 

At trial, the court denied two of Sunday’s requested jury instructions relating to constructive 

possession and the requirement of unity of act and intent. The jury convicted Sunday of 

possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia, but acquitted her of the marijuana charge. 

Sunday timely appeals.

II.

ANALYSIS

Sunday claims there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction of possession of 

methamphetamine, and that the trial court erred when it denied two of her requested jury 

instructions.

A. Sufficiency of the Evidence

Sunday claims the State did not present sufficient evidence from which a reasonable trier 

of fact could conclude she had constructive possession of the methamphetamine found in the 

cigarette pack. Appellate review of the sufficiency of the evidence is limited in scope. A finding 

of guilt will not be overturned on appeal where there is substantial evidence upon which a

reasonable trier of fact could have found that the prosecution sustained its burden of proving the 

essential elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Herrera-Brito, 131 Idaho 383, 

385, 957 P.2d 1099, 1101 (Ct. App. 1998); State v. Knutson, 121 Idaho 101, 104, 822 P.2d 998, 

1001 (Ct. App. 1991). We will not substitute our view for that of the trier of fact as to the 

credibility of the witnesses, the weight to be given to the testimony, and the reasonable 

inferences to be drawn from the evidence. Knutson, 121 Idaho at 104, 822 P.2d at 1001; State v. 

Decker, 108 Idaho 683, 684, 701 P.2d 303, 304 (Ct. App. 1985). Moreover, we will consider the 
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evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution. Herrera-Brito, 131 Idaho at 385, 957 

P.2d at 1101; Knutson, 121 Idaho at 104, 822 P.2d at 1001. 

Absent actual possession of the controlled substance, the State must establish 

constructive possession by showing the defendant knew of the substance and had the power and 

intention to control it. State v. Blake, 133 Idaho 237, 242, 985 P.2d 117, 122 (1999); State v. 

Betancourt, 151 Idaho 635, 638, 262 P.3d 278, 281 (Ct. App. 2011). Constructive possession 

exists where there is a sufficient nexus between the defendant and the controlled substance to

show the defendant had the power and the intent to exercise dominion or control over the 

substance. State v. Garza, 112 Idaho 778, 784, 735 P.2d 1089, 1095 (Ct. App. 1987). 

Constructive possession may be “joint or exclusive.” Blake, 133 Idaho at 242, 985 P.2d at 122. 

A jury may infer knowledge of the substance where a defendant is in control of the premises, but 

additional circumstances showing knowledge are necessary when the control is not exclusive. 

Id.

The State presented evidence that Sunday told officers she had been staying in the master 

bedroom where the methamphetamine was found and that she had personal belongings in the 

room. Sunday’s purse, wallet, and identification were found approximately two feet from the 

cigarette pack that contained the methamphetamine and pipe. Additionally, female apparel was 

found on the chair between the bed Sunday had been using and the cigarette pack; Sunday’s 

court documents were found in a dresser drawer located in the master bedroom. 

Further, the State presented evidence that two digital scales, known to measure illegal 

narcotics, were found on the end table between two camping chairs. A spoon with white residue 

was found located in the dresser drawer lying on top of Sunday’s court documents. A witness 

testified that Sunday smoked cigarettes and a letter posted in the living room of the house 

indicated the residents shared drugs. A jury could conclude from this evidence that not only did 

Sunday have knowledge of the methamphetamine’s presence, but also that she had dominion or 

control over it. 

Sunday argues Bethany’s presence and confession removes any inference the 

methamphetamine was Sunday’s. Though Bethany did admit to ownership of a pipe, at least two 

pipes were found at the residence and the jury could conclude that the pipe referenced was not 

the one found in the master bedroom. And as noted in Blake, more than one individual can 

possess an item; thus, Bethany’s ownership would not preclude the jury from finding Sunday had 
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possession. Finally, the jury heard from two defense witnesses with varying contradictions to the 

State’s evidence; however, questions of weight and credibility are left with the trier of fact. In 

the light most favorable to the State, the jury could conclude that Sunday both knew of the 

presence of methamphetamine and had the intent to exercise dominion or control over it.

B. Jury Instructions

Sunday challenges the denial of two of her proposed jury instructions: (1) an instruction 

explaining that “mere proximity” alone cannot establish constructive possession; and (2) an 

instruction on the requirement of the existence of “a union or joint operation of act and intent.” 

The question whether the jury has been properly instructed is a question of law over which we 

exercise free review. State v. Severson, 147 Idaho 694, 710, 215 P.3d 414, 430 (2009). When 

reviewing jury instructions, we ask whether the instructions as a whole, and not individually, 

fairly and accurately reflect applicable law. State v. Bowman, 124 Idaho 936, 942, 866 P.2d 193, 

199 (Ct. App. 1993). A trial court must inform the jury on “all matters of law necessary for their 

information,” I.C. § 19-2132(a), where sufficient evidence supports it. State v. Johns, 112 Idaho 

873, 880-81, 736 P.2d 1327, 1334-35 (1987) (citations omitted).

1. Instruction on mere proximity 

Sunday requested a jury instruction that read, “mere proximity to contraband cannot 

establish constructive possession.” The trial court denied this instruction, instead relying on the 

definition for possession from the Idaho Criminal Jury Instructions:

A person has possession of something if the person knows of its presence 

and has physical control of it, or has the power and intention to control it. More 

than one person can be in possession of something if each knows of its presence 

and has the power and intention to control it. 

The instruction recites verbatim Idaho Criminal Jury Instruction 421. The I.C.J.I. are presumed 

correct, and trial courts should closely follow the pattern instructions to avoid unnecessary 

appeals. McKay v. State, 148 Idaho 567, 571 n.2, 225 P.3d 700, 704 n.2 (2010); State v. Hopper, 

142 Idaho 512, 514, 129 P.3d 1261, 1263 (Ct. App. 2005).

The trial court properly relied on the I.C.J.I. definition of possession because I.C.J.I. 421 

provides the requirements necessary to convict a defendant of a possession charge. Specifically, 

knowledge of the presence of the substance and power and intention to control it; therefore, a 

jury is unable to find a defendant guilty based on mere proximity alone. The definition of 
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possession in I.C.J.I. 421 adequately covers the law of constructive possession and an instruction 

on “mere proximity” was unnecessary.

2. Instruction on union or joint operation of act and intent

At trial, Sunday argued that an instruction on union of act and intent was necessary 

because possession of a controlled substance is a general intent crime. The trial court denied the 

proposed unity instruction because the court was concerned the instruction could confuse or 

mislead the jury since one of the charges was a specific intent crime. On appeal, the State argues 

that not only would the instruction have confused the jury, but also that the definition of 

possession adequately covers the requirement of unity of act and intent.

Sunday’s proposed instruction was taken from I.C.J.I. 305, “In every crime or public 

offense there must exist a union or joint operation of act and intent or criminal negligence.” 

I.C.J.I. 305 (brackets omitted). The comment for I.C.J.I. 305 further explains, “[t]he word 

‘intent’ does not mean an intent to commit a crime but merely the intent to knowingly perform 

the interdicted act, or by criminal negligence the failure to perform the required act” (citing State 

v. Parish, 79 Idaho 75, 310 P.2d 1082 (1957)). Finally, the comment for I.C.J.I. 305 takes note 

that the “instruction is unnecessary when the crime charged requires a specific mental element 

and the jury is properly instructed regarding that mental element” (citing State v. Hoffman, 137 

Idaho 897, 55 P.3d 890 (Ct. App. 2002)).

A court should customarily give an instruction on the requirement that the act and intent 

occur in unity when the charge is a general intent crime. See State v. Baldwin, 69 Idaho 459, 

464, 208 P.2d 161, 164 (1949) (noting a trial court should “generally” give an instruction on 

unity). Yet, as the comment explains, the instruction is unnecessary for specific intent crimes. 

Sunday was charged with two general intent crimes for possession of a controlled substance and 

the specific intent crime of possession of paraphernalia. The trial court correctly noted that to 

include the instruction in the present case could lead the jury to apply the instruction to the 

differing charges. More importantly, for the purpose of Sunday’s challenge on appeal, so long as 

the unity of act and intent requirement was adequately covered elsewhere in the jury instructions,

there is no reversible error. 

The instruction given to the jury on possession provided adequate coverage of the legal 

concept that the act must occur simultaneously with the requisite intent. The definition of 

possession, taken from I.C.J.I. 421, indicates the State needed to establish that Sunday “knew” of 
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the presence of the substance and “had physical control of it, or had the power and intention to 

control it.” The instruction adequately provides for the concept of unity by expressing both 

intent and act together in the instruction and the jury could not convict Sunday absent finding

that both existed. The instruction on possession adequately instructed the jury that a union or 

joint operation of act and intent existed and thus, the proposed instruction was unnecessary. 

III.

CONCLUSION 

The State presented sufficient evidence to convict Sunday of possession of 

methamphetamine and the court did not err in refusing to give Sunday’s proposed jury 

instructions. Sunday’s judgment of conviction is affirmed.

Chief Judge GUTIERREZ and Judge MELANSON CONCUR.