Opinion ID: 1769196
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The videotape evidence was properly admitted

Text: Police were investigating Glover's condominium because of complaints of heavy traffic in and out of it. Glover shared the condominium with Nathaniel Meadows. After a two-week surveillance, a search warrant was executed. The police found marijuana and other items in the master bedroom, including a red coat in the bedroom closet. The coat contained a small measuring scale, three plastic baggies of crack cocaine, some personal documents with Glover's name, his social security card, a list of people who had not paid for the drugs, and a videotape. Conviction of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute requires proof of: 1) actual or constructive possession of the controlled substance; 2) knowledge or awareness of its presence or nature, and 3) intent to distribute. MAI-CR 3d 325.08. To show constructive possession, the state had to show, at a minimum, that Glover had access to and control over the premises where the substance was found. State v. Purlee, 839 S.W.2d 584, 588 (Mo. banc 1992). Where there is joint control of an area, something additional is required to connect the accused to the drugs. Id. For example, presence of a defendant's personal belongings in close proximity to the drugs may support an inference that he possessed the drugs. State v. Foulks, 72 S.W.3d 322, 326 (Mo. App. 2002). There are two types of relevant evidence, logical and legal. State v. Tisius, 92 S.W.3d 751, 760 (Mo. banc 2002). Evidence is logically relevant if it tends to make any fact at issue more or less probable or tends to corroborate other relevant evidence. Id. Legal relevance is a determination of the balance between the probative and prejudicial effect of the evidence. Id. The jury never saw the videotape nor did it hear a detailed description of the contents. There was testimony from an officer that he had viewed the tape and that it depicted Glover engaging in sexual intercourse. The prosecutor then argued in closing that the personal nature of the videotape showed that only Glover would have had it. He further argued that the presence of the personal tape with the drugs in the master bedroom closet, along with numerous other personal items belonging to Glover in the room, supported the conclusion that Glover occupied the master bedroom and possessed the drugs. In this case, Glover contended he did not possess the drugsMeadows did. Clearly, the personal nature of the tape in the same coat as the drugs in the master bedroom closet made it more probable that Glover was the possessor of the coat and, thus, in constructive possession of the drugs. The tape was logically relevant. The limited testimony that the videotape showed Glover engaging in sexual intercourse was not so prejudicial as to convict him without regard to the videotape's probative value. The probative value on the issue of who would have possession of that videotape was relatively high and the prejudicial value relatively low. Balancing the probative value and prejudicial effect of the evidence rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Hayes, 88 S.W.3d 47, 60 (Mo.App. 2002). In this case, the trial court did not abuse that discretion by admitting the videotape evidence. As the videotape evidence was properly admitted, appellate counsel was not ineffective in failing to raise the issue on appeal. Failing to raise a nonmeritorious claim does not convict counsel of being ineffective. State v. Nunley, 923 S.W.2d 911, 924 (Mo. banc 1996).