Opinion ID: 294091
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the admission of the marijuana

Text: 28 Finally, Drew and Gipson contend that the admission of the 20 pounds of marijuana as evidence on the heroin charge under 21 U.S.C.A. 174 (1961) was erroneous, the unlawful importation of marijuana being subject to another part of the Code-- 21 U.S.C.A. 176a (1961). The defendants contend the denial of the motion to exclude this evidence constitutes error. We disagree. 29 At the time Drew and Gipson were tried, there was a serious question as to the continuing vitality of the Section 174 evidentiary rule, which allowed an inference of guilt from possession alone. Leary v. United States, 395 U.S. 6, 89 S.Ct. 1532, 23 L.Ed.2d 57 (1969), had held the same presumption invalid as applied to marijuana. Additional doubt existed because of Erwing v. United States, 323 F.2d 674 (9th Cir. 1963), wherein the Section 174 presumption had been declared invalid with respect to cocaine. 30 In Turner v. United States, 396 U.S. 398, 90 S.Ct. 642, 24 L.Ed.2d 610 (1970), decided January 20, 1970, the Supreme Court upheld the presumption as applied to heroin. However, at the time the instant case was tried the court did not have the benefit of the Turner decision. Since the government did not have direct evidence of illegal importation and since the statutory presumption was potentially based upon a sandy foundation, it was no more than careful trial procedure for the government to make the best case it could with regard to knowing illegal possession and intent. It was for this reason that the government was warranted in introducing and the trial court in receiving into evidence the approximately 20 pounds of marijuana. 31 This circuit has held that proof of another crime which aids in or is appropriate in establishing the crime in question is admissible. Matthews v. United States, 407 F.2d 1371, 1381 (5th Cir. 1969). It was not error for the trial court to regard the presence of such a substantial quantity of marijuana in a vehicle also containing heroin as appropriate to show intent with respect to heroin. Both are drugs frequently involved in smuggling; and both are covered by almost identical statutes which are found within the same Code title. The statutory regulations are generally the same for both heroin and marijuana. 32 Thus, although in light of Turner it might now be unnecessary to admit evidence of concurrent possession of marijuana where unrefuted possession of heroin could be shown, such was not the situation when Drew and Gipson were tried and sentenced. While we leave open the issue of the use of such supplemental evidence in future similar cases, we find no error in the trial court's admission of the marijuana into evidence here. 33 The decision of the district court is hereby 34 Affirmed.