Opinion ID: 1267164
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: On December 15, 1992, Deputy Richard Bennett (herein Bennett), a narcotics task force officer with the Upshur County Sheriff's Department, and Eddie Bennington (herein Bennington), a confidential informant who was working with Bennett, drove to the defendant's apartment complex for the purpose of purchasing marijuana from the defendant. [1] In order that the prospective transaction could be recorded, Bennington was equipped with a hidden body microphone which was being monitored and taped by Bennett from a vehicle strategically parked to capture the conversation between Bennington and the defendant. [2] Bennington found the defendant outside his apartment complex working on his automobile. When Bennington approached the defendant, the following colloquy occurred: [3] Informant Ronny told me earlier I might be able to get a bag [4] off of you, man. Chez Who? Informant Ronnie B____. Chez I can't now. Informant Can't now, huh? Chez I just sold the last one a little while ago. Informant Just a little while ago? S[]t. When will you get anymore? Do you know? Chez I don't know. Later in the same conversation, there was some discussion which could be interpreted as inquiring whether the defendant could acquire more marijuana since he had sold the last one a little while ago. The audio portion of this phase of the conversation between Bennington and the defendant was of poor quality, with the transcribed tape containing many inaudible statements. However, there could be little doubt that the essence of the conversation is that Bennington would be returning the next day in an attempt to purchase some marijuana from the defendant. [5] Following this meeting, Bennett instructed Bennington to return the next day to repeat his efforts to purchase marijuana from the defendant. What occurred the next day is not entirely captured on tape since Bennington returned to the defendant's apartment without the hidden body microphone and without any funds to complete the transaction. However, according to Bennington's in-court testimony, he returned to the defendant's apartment the next morning (December 16, 1992) when what occurred is best described in Bennington's own words: Q Okay and could you tell us what happened when you went back that next morning? A He went somewhere, when I got there, he went somewhere else and he got some and he came back. Q He got some what? A Marijuana. Q Okay and did you purchase the marijuana at that time? A No, sir, I didn't. Q Okay and why didn't you purchase it? A Cause I didn't have the money and I did have the officer, you know. Q Okay, and did yousodid you indicate to him that you would come back later, or A Yeah, I told him I had to go get the money off either my brother or my mother. Q Off of who? A My brother or my mother. Q Okay. So did youyou left at that time? A Yes, sir, I did. Q But he'd shown you the marijuana. A Yes, sir. Later that same day, Bennington and Bennett returned to the defendant's residence. Mr. Bennington was now wearing the hidden body microphone and was monitored and taped by Bennett. During this return visit, Bennington purchased 2.27 grams of marijuana from the defendant for thirty dollars. The entire transaction was recorded; however, significant portions of the discussion were inaudible. The defendant was indicted on May 10, 1993, for unlawfully and feloniously delivering a controlled substance in violation of W. Va.Code 60A-4-401(a) (1983). [6] At trial, Bennington admitted on cross-examination that he persisted in his efforts to purchase marijuana from the defendant on several occasions prior and subsequent to December 15, 1992. On each of these occasions, the defendant would refuse to deal with Bennington. Mr. Bennington admitted that at the time of the delivery of marijuana, which formed the basis of the indictment, the defendant appeared hesitant, and Bennington acknowledged that he had put a little pressure on the defendant to sell him the marijuana. [7] The defendant's version of the various transactions is that Bennington had approached him on December 13th and 14th trying to buy marijuana, to which the defendant replied on at least one occasion that I don't mess with it, leave me alone. The defendant stated that when Bennington came to his house on December 15th, the defendant told Bennington that he would get him some marijuana from a third party so that Bennington would stop bothering him. [8] The defendant testified that Bennington tried to get him to sell drugs to Bennington several times after the sale transpired on December 16th (the date of the sale which formed the basis of the indictment), but he refused to sell Bennington marijuana because he knew it was wrong, and that except for the one transaction, the defendant never sold marijuana to Bennington. [9] On June 28, 1993, the jury returned a guilty verdict of one count of delivery of a controlled substance, marijuana. The trial court, after conducting a sentencing hearing, entered an Order on January 27, 1994, sentencing the defendant to one to five years in the West Virginia State Penitentiary. That sentence was suspended and the defendant was placed on probation for a period of five years. One of the conditions of probation was that the defendant was to serve 120 days in the Upshur County Jail. The issues raised by the defendant on this appeal are: (1) the failure of the trial court to enter a judgment of acquittal based on the defense of entrapment; and (2) the excessiveness of the sentence under the circumstances.