Opinion ID: 1758839
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Gary Dean Owens challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his possession with intent to deliver conviction. We are required to address sufficiency of the evidence questions before all others. Misskelley v. State, 323 Ark. 449, 915 S.W.2d 702 (1996). At the close of the State's evidence, and at the close of all evidence, Gary Dean Owens moved for a directed verdict on the possession with intent to deliver charge. He argued that there was no evidence he had transferred drugs in exchange for money or something of value. The trial court denied the motion. A directed-verdict motion is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. Durham v. State, 320 Ark. 689, 899 S.W.2d 470 (1995). The test for determining the sufficiency of the evidence is whether there is substantial evidence to support the jury's verdict. Substantial evidence is that which is forceful enough to compel a conclusion one way or another and which goes beyond speculation or conjecture. Davis v. State, 317 Ark. 592, 879 S.W.2d 439 (1994). We review the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellee and consider only that evidence which supports the verdict. Misskelley v. State, supra . The record reveals the following pertinent facts. At 12:55 a.m. on December 29, 1993, a warrant was issued allowing a search of the appellants' residence. The warrant was served at 1:15 a.m. Authorities recovered two packets which were later revealed to contain methamphetamine. One packet, found in the west bedroom of the house, contained 909 milligrams of a substance which was seventy-eight percent methamphetamine (approximately 709 milligrams). The other packet, found in the bedroom where Gary Dean Owens was apprehended, contained 1.57 grams of a substance which was fifty-three percent methamphetamine (approximately 832 milligrams). In addition, the search revealed glass jars containing cloudy liquid, all of which contained traces of methamphetamine; a metal spoon and a plastic scoop with traces of the drug; a container which held scales, syringes, spoons and plastic baggies; a container with 13.1 grams of ephedrine, a base ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine; and various other items which experts would later testify were consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamine such as Sunshine Super Blend B Vitamins, Liquid Fire, Red Devil Lye, coffee filters, baking soda, a funnel, and salt. Police also seized a gas mask, a paperback book on prescription drugs, and a police scanner which was on when the search took place. This evidence was introduced at trial through David Hyden, and Arkansas State Police officer who participated in the search and Norman Kemper, a forensic drug chemist with the State Crime Lab. The State presented other evidence, including the testimony of Barbara Sparks, which will be discussed later in this opinion. However, the physical evidence is all that is necessary to our consideration of this issue. The argument that Owens makes on appeal is the same narrow argument he made in his directed-verdict motionsthe state failed to show that he actually transferred or delivered methamphetamine. It is true that the evidence in this case does not reveal an actual sale or transfer of methamphetamine by Gary Dean Owens. However, such evidence is not necessary to obtain a conviction of possession with intent to deliver. The key element of the crime is the intent to deliver, not actual delivery. See People v. Wolfe, 440 Mich. 508, 489 N.W.2d 748 (1992). Substantial proof of Gary Dean Owens's intent to deliver was presented by the State. We need look no further than the amount of the drug recovered from the Owens residence. In executing the search warrant, officers seized over 1,500 milligrams of unadulterated methamphetamine. Possession of more than two hundred milligrams of methamphetamine gives rise to a presumption of intent to deliver. [2] Ark.Code Ann. § 5-64-401(d) (Repl.1993); Sanchez v. State, 288 Ark. 513, 707 S.W.2d 310 (1986). The jury was instructed that they could consider the quantity of the drug possessed in determining Owens's intent. Since Owens possessed methamphetamine in an amount in excess of the statutory presumption, the evidence is sufficient to support his conviction. Kilpatrick v. State, 322 Ark. 728, 912 S.W.2d 917 (1995); Sanchez v. State, supra .