Opinion ID: 788678
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 17 When reviewing a conviction for sufficiency of the evidence, our threshold inquiry is whether `after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.' United States v. Curtis, 324 F.3d 501, 505 (7th Cir.2003) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)). This court will overturn a jury verdict on a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence only if after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government ... the record is devoid of evidence from which a reasonable jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.; see also United States v. Brown, 328 F.3d 352, 355 (7th Cir.2003). In so doing, this court does not weigh evidence or make credibility determinations. Brown, 328 F.3d at 355. Bernitt has not met this high burden for the reasons stated below. 18
19 Count One of the indictment charges Bernitt with manufacturing marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B). The elements of this offense consist of the following: (1) that the defendant manufactured a controlled substance; (2) that the defendant did so knowingly or intentionally; and (3) that the defendant knew that the substance he manufactured was a controlled substance. 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). 1 20 Bernitt claims that the evidence is insufficient to show that he manufactured marijuana. Bernitt alleges that the plants were growing wild on his property. However, several facts belie Bernitt's asserted defense. The definition of manufacturing includes the production of a substance. 21 U.S.C. § 802(15). Production is in turn defined as planting, cultivation, growing, or harvesting of a controlled substance. 21 U.S.C. § 802(22). At trial, Officer Hoell testified that there were 110 marijuana plants ranging in height from two to eight feet growing alongside Bernitt's house. According to Officer Hoell, the plants seemed very healthy and lush. Officer Hoell also testified that he found 248 marijuana plants in Bernitt's garden behind his home. In Officer Hoell's estimation, these plants were well-tended. Half of the marijuana patches were weeded and the marijuana plants were green, lush, and growing thick, even though the grass surrounding the plants was brown and dry. Moreover, Officer Hoell found the marijuana plants in the garden growing in rows. Finally, Bernitt also admitted at trial that he picked leaves from the plants growing alongside his house to make herbal tea to ease the taking of his medication. Viewing these facts in the light most favorable to the government, they together evince cultivating and harvesting of marijuana. We conclude there is sufficient evidence of manufacturing marijuana to sustain the jury's verdict. 21
22 Bernitt claims that there was no evidence before the jury establishing that he made any sales or deliveries of marijuana to anyone. To prove that the defendant possessed marijuana with the intent to deliver, the prosecution had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the following: (1) that the defendant knowingly or intentionally possessed marijuana; (2) that the defendant possessed marijuana with the intent to distribute it; and (3) that the defendant knew the substance he possessed and sought to distribute was a controlled substance. 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); see also United States v. Starks, 309 F.3d 1017, 1022 (7th Cir.2002). 23 While there appears to have been no direct evidence presented which showed that Bernitt processed the drug for commercial purposes or delivered it to anyone, this circuit's precedent holds that the quantity and packaging of drugs, as well as the presence of drug paraphernalia, can be sufficient to support the inference of an intent to distribute. Hence, this evidence can support a conviction for possession with intent to distribute under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a). See United States v. Folks, 236 F.3d 384, 390-92 (7th Cir.2001) (finding that plastic bags and a scale covered with drug residue constituted evidence to support conviction for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance); United States v. Billops, 43 F.3d 281, 285 n. 5 (7th Cir.1994) (A conviction for possession with intent to distribute under § 841(a) can be supported by the possession of a quantity of drugs larger than needed for personal use. (internal quotations omitted)) and cases cited therein; United States v. Garrett, 903 F.2d 1105, 1113 & n. 10 (7th Cir.1990) (collecting cases which regard packaging of drugs as supporting inference of intent to distribute). 24 The government presented the following evidence: (1) the presence of over 300 healthy, well-tended marijuana plants on Bernitt's property; (2) a weighing scale with marijuana residue; and (3) two ziplock bags of the drugs evenly measured at approximately 138 grams each, stored in Bernitt's refrigerator. All of this evidence, viewed in the government's favor, supports the jury's finding of guilt on this count. 25
26 The basis for this count lies in the 281 marijuana plants the police found in the wooded area on Bernitt's property on September 5, 2002. As the district court noted, the evidence presented at trial showed a mowed path on Bernitt's property from his back garden to the wooded area; a footpath from the mowed area to the plants; that the plants were great in number (281) and in size (some over 8 feet tall); and that they were growing together in a bunch, rather than scattered the way in which wild marijuana plants tend to grow, according to Officer Hoell's trial testimony. Applying the standard for review of sufficiency of the evidence challenges discussed above, a rational jury could have found Bernitt guilty on this count on these facts.