Opinion ID: 2239911
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the state's witnesses

Text: At trial, Felix testified that he first met Maloney at a nightclub in Fort Myers. He later saw Maloney at Eddie Seaz's house on January 2, 1989. Seaz told Felix that Maloney was a friend from Illinois who wanted to purchase a kilo of cocaine in order to raise money for a nightclub in Illinois. Maloney indicated that he needed to return to Illinois, had insufficient monies, and had already obtained a purchaser for the cocaine. He also indicated that he had a business partner, but mentioned no names. After a few days, Seaz and Felix met with Maloney and defendant at a prearranged location where their auto was parked. Maloney put Felix's bag in the trunk and Felix got into the back seat of the car; defendant was seated in the front passenger seat. When Felix first entered the car, he asked defendant where the cocaine was located. Defendant told Felix that Seaz and Maloney had placed it in the trunk underneath the spare tire. Maloney, defendant and Felix then headed for Illinois. Maloney initially drove the automobile. Felix related that defendant drove the car the following morning for about five hours. Felix recalled that while defendant was driving, defendant had asked Maloney how much money they would receive for the kilo and Maloney replied, [T]wenty-five. Maloney also indicated to Felix that they wanted to make more money on the deal in order to obtain a liquor license for the club. According to Felix, during this conversation, defendant said that he did not know what he was going to do with his half of the money. Both defendant and Maloney said that they were each expecting to realize $5,000. Further, Felix said that at some later point during the trip, defendant expressed a desire to stop and ingest some of the cocaine because he was not used to the long drive and wanted to stay awake. Lastly, according to Felix, as they passed police officers near a traffic accident, defendant commented while looking at an officer, [I]f you only knew what we had in the trunk. When they arrived in Bloomington, Felix was under the impression that he would be taken to Maloney's residence and left there; and that defendant was going to be dropped off at his apartment. It was also Felix's understanding that he was not to be in the vicinity of the kilo of cocaine, but that they would conduct business elsewhere. Felix believed that as soon as he was given the money from the deal, defendant and Maloney would arrange for his air flight back to Florida. When the three men stopped at defendant's apartment building, defendant opened the door and allowed Felix to exit from the passenger side. Maloney was already at the trunk and handed defendant and Felix their luggage. Felix followed the defendant as he began walking towards his apartment building. Felix and defendant looked back towards the car and saw Maloney remove the kilo from the trunk and place it in his briefcase. Defendant then led the way into his apartment. Once inside, defendant led Felix and Maloney into the lower level of the apartment. Defendant introduced Felix to three men who were present drinking beer and talking. Defendant and Maloney then went into defendant's bedroom and shut the door. Felix remained in the living room watching television with the other men. He smoked some marijuana with Garcia. After about 12 to 15 minutes, defendant and Maloney emerged from defendant's bedroom, sniffing. Maloney then located the telephone and made several calls while walking back and forth between defendant's bedroom and the living room. Felix heard Maloney mention a bottle of wine. Felix testified that he also used the phone in defendant's bedroom to call Seaz. While Felix was in the bedroom, Maloney called defendant back into the room. Defendant entered the room and asked Felix whether he wanted to do a line. Felix did. Maloney then produced the kilo from the briefcase and defendant held the kilo while Maloney scraped it. Maloney returned the kilo to the briefcase while defendant chopped it on a mirror and placed it into lines. The three men then ingested the cocaine. Defendant, Maloney and Felix re-entered the living room. Maloney made another telephone call. Defendant and Maloney then went back into defendant's bedroom and were alone for several minutes before defendant called Garcia into the room. After Garcia went into the bedroom, the door was closed. Hayes arrived as defendant was going upstairs. Maloney introduced Hayes to Felix. Maloney and Hayes then went into defendant's bedroom, closed the door and remained for about seven or eight minutes. Garcia and another man were still present in the apartment, but shortly left for the evening. When Hayes came out of defendant's bedroom, he immediately left the apartment. Maloney asked defendant whether he was also going out. Defendant said, No, he wanted to stay with you guys. Maloney then pulled out a magazine with cocaine folded in it, spread it on the living room table, and he and defendant ingested two more lines of cocaine. Felix declined an offer to join them. After about 15 minutes, Hayes returned to the apartment with the police. Maloney tried to hand the kilo to Felix, who refused it. Maloney then tried unsuccessfully to hide the kilo in the washing machine. Felix admitted that he had lied at his own trial. According to Felix, during his trial, two police officers had lied, so he lied to protect himself. Felix maintained, however, that he was telling the truth while testifying at defendant's trial. He understood that if he lied, he could be prosecuted again. Felix was also examined concerning the plea agreement he accepted. Before entering into the agreement, Felix had been interviewed. Prior to that interview, Felix had never told anyone that defendant said anything about cocaine or ingested cocaine. According to Felix, he had never previously related anything which incriminated defendant in order to remain consistent with his own defense. Investigator Bagnell testified concerning the two interviews he had with defendant. Bagnell related the detailed account which defendant had given, and which essentially comported with the version of events provided by Felix. During cross-examination, when asked what defendant had said during the interview, Bagnell testified that defendant had requested an attorney. Defense counsel moved for a mistrial, but the motion was denied. John Garcia, defendant's roommate and best friend, also testified. Garcia testified that when defendant, Maloney, and Felix arrived at the apartment, Felix remained in the living room, while defendant and Maloney went into defendant's bedroom and closed the door. At some point in the evening, defendant asked or motioned for Garcia to come into his bedroom. Defendant, Maloney and Garcia were the only persons in the bedroom. Garcia and Maloney ingested some of the cocaine. Garcia believed defendant did also, but he did not observe him do so. At the time, defendant was busy unpacking his clothes on the other side of the room. Garcia eventually left the apartment, as he was concerned about the presence of the kilo of cocaine. Scott Scheidenheim, defendant's other roommate, who was also employed at the Traditionz nightclub, testified. Scheidenheim basically confirmed Garcia's testimony that Maloney and defendant had entered defendant's bedroom after their arrival with Felix; and that Garcia had been, at some point, in defendant's bedroom with defendant and Maloney while the door was closed.