Opinion ID: 1271220
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: WAS THE EVIDENCE SUFFICIENT TO CONVICT THE DEFENDANT AS A PARTY TO THE CRIME OF POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, CONTRARY TO SEC. 161.41(1m) AND SEC. 939.05, STATS.?

Text: Section 939.05, Stats., provides: 939.05 Parties to Crime. (1) Whoever is concerned in the commission of a crime is a principal and may be charged with and convicted of the commission of the crime although he did not directly commit it and although the person who directly committed it has not been convicted or has been convicted of some other degree of the crime or of some other crime based on the same act. (2) A person is concerned in the commission of the crime if he: (a) Directly commits the crime; or (b) Intentionally aids and abets the commission of it; or (c) Is a party to a conspiracy with another to commit it or advises, hires, counsels or otherwise procures another to commit it. Such a party is also concerned in the commission of any other crime which is committed in pursuance of the intended crime and which under the circumstances is a natural and probable consequence of the intended crime.... In this case, the jury was instructed on all three alternative theories of party to a crime liability. We are faced, then, with the issue of whether or not the evidence is sufficient to convict the defendant of party to the commission of the crime under sec. 939.05 (2) (b) or (c), Stats. The testimony indicates that the defendant was not present when the actual exchange was made between Kohls and agent Heiciecker; therefore, he clearly did not directly commit the offense under sec. 939.05 (2) (a). Rather, to sustain a finding of guilty, the jury must have found that Hecht intentionally aided and abetted the commission of the crime or was party to a conspiracy to commit the offense. Because this case concerns a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the party to a crime finding, the following rules apply: Several rules applied in appellate review of the sufficiency of the evidence in criminal cases have been stated so frequently in our late cases that they need no citation of authority to support them. The burden of proof is upon the state to prove every essential element of the crime charged beyond reasonable doubt. The test is not whether this court or any of the members thereof are convinced beyond reasonable doubt, but whether this court can conclude the trier of facts could, acting reasonably, be so convinced by evidence it had a right to believe and accept as true. A criminal conviction can stand based in whole or in part upon circumstantial evidence. The credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the evidence is for the trier of fact. In reviewing the evidence to challenge a finding of fact, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the finding. Reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence can support a finding of fact and, if more than one reasonable inference can be drawn from the evidence, the inference which supports the finding is the one that must be adopted. Our review of the record in response to a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence is so limited by these rules. Bautista v. State, 53 Wis. 2d 218, 223, 191 N.W.2d 725 (1971). See also, State v. Charbarneau, 82 Wis. 2d 644, 650-51, 264 N.W.2d 227 (1978). The Wisconsin case law is very clear that the jury need not unanimously agree as to in which of the alternative ways a defendant has committed an offense under the party to a crime theory. Rather, the jury must unanimously agree as to the defendant's participation in the crime. May v. State, 97 Wis. 2d 175, 190, 293 N.W.2d 478 (1980), and Holland v. State, 91 Wis. 2d 134, 143-44, 280 N.W.2d 288 (1979). This is because there is a single offense under sec. 161.41(1m), Stats., possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and three alternative ways for which the defendant could be found liable for the commission of this offense under the party to a crime theory: By direct commission, by aiding and abetting, or by conspiracy. Holland v. State, 91 Wis. 2d at 144. As we have already stated, this case only involves the latter two of the three alternative methods. The first of these alternatives under the statute involves aiding and abetting the commission of the crime. This court dealt with the principle of aider and abettor liability in the recent decision of State v. Sharlow, 110 Wis. 2d 226, 327 N.W.2d 692 (1983). The Sharlow opinion contained the following discussion: `Aiding and abetting has been explained in Hawpetoss v. State, 52 Wis. 2d 71, 187 N.W.2d 823 (1971). Therein we defined those concerned in the commission of a crime and stated: ` The elements of complicity, or aiding and abetting are that a person (1) undertakes conduct (either verbal or overt action) which as a matter of objective fact aids another person in the execution of a crime, and further (2) he consciously desires or intends that his conduct will yield such assistance. (at 78) `In that same case we pointed out that, where one person knew the other was committing a criminal act, he should be considered a party thereto when he acted in furtherance of the other's conduct, was aware of the fact that a crime was being committed, and acquiesced or participated in its perpetration. See also State v. Nutley, 24 Wis. 2d 527, 129 N.W.2d 155 (1964); State v. Haugen, 52 Wis. 2d 791, 191 N.W.2d 12 (1971); Taylor v. State, 55 Wis. 2d 168, 197 N.W.2d 805 (1972); and State v. Cydzik, 60 Wis. 2d 683, 211 N.W.2d 421 (1973). These cases hold that defendants may be found guilty of being concerned in the commission of a crime if, between them, they perform all the necessary elements of the crime with mutual awareness of what the other is doing. It is not necessary that each defendant be present at the scene of the crime.' State v. Sharlow, 110 Wis. 2d at 240, citing Roehl v. State, 77 Wis. 2d 398, 407-08, 253 N.W.2d 210 (1977). (Emphasis added.) See also, State v. Balistreri, 106 Wis. 2d 741, 758, 317 N.W.2d 493 (1982); Holland v. State, 91 Wis. 2d at 141; and State v. Charbarneau, 82 Wis. 2d at 651-53. Hecht has argued on appeal that he cannot be guilty as a party to the crime of possession with the intent to deliver because he merely directed agent Heidecker to a potential source of cocaine. After reviewing the record, we find that the defendant did not merely recommend a source to the agents and then withdraw himself from all later occurrences. His testimony indicates that he did in fact call Vollmer because he believed that Vollmer would be able to obtain the drug for the agents. His action did not stop after this contact. He found out the price of the cocaine from Vollmer, and he testified that he communicated this price to Heidecker. Hecht also took the agent to Vollmer's Fort Atkinson residence and introduced agents Heidecker and Malone to Vollmer. He accompanied Vollmer and Heidecker into the basement of the house and was present during a phone call, after which Vollmer informed the agent that his previous source would not be able to make a deal that night. However, his participation continued well past this introduction between the agent and Vollmer. The following day, Heidecker spoke with Hecht and arranged to meet with him at a tavern in Jefferson county. Heidecker testified that Hecht told him that he and Grove had put the deal together, to take place that night, and that Hecht quoted two prices for the cocaine. After meeting at the tavern, Hecht once again accompanied the agents to Vollmer's house, Hecht leading the way in his car while Heidecker and Vollmer followed in a second car. Hecht accompanied Heidecker and Vollmer into the house and was present during the two phone calls which confirmed the details of the coming exchange. He also accompanied Vollmer in Vollmer's car to the parking lot adjacent to the prearranged meeting place for the exchange, where Hecht then left because the Madison source did not want to be seen by anyone except those directly involved in the exchange. Approximately three minutes after Hecht left, Kohls came up to Vollmer's car, entered the car, and the exchange between Heidecker and Kohls was completed. It is not always an easy task to define what degree of conduct is needed to satisfy a charge of aiding and abetting. Drawing an exact line of sufficient participation, especially in drug distribution cases, is difficult if not impossible. United States v. Winston, 687 F.2d at 834. However, once a defendant moves past the point of merely directing the buyer to a potential source, the likelihood that criminal liability will attach begins to escalate. It is only when the directing or recommending takes on a wider scope or becomes a part of more widespread activities that any real chance of criminality arises. The criminality of such acts begins to form as one moves along a continuum from a single, casual naming of another as a possible source of illicit drugs, through introducing another to the seller, to accompanying another to a meeting with the seller during which the sale takes place, through handling the narcotics and sharing in the proceeds of the sale. Annot., 42 A.L.R.3d 1072, 1075 (1972). That this problem is a difficult one is indicated by the varying degrees of conduct required to sustain a conviction in the numerous jurisdictions which have addressed it. [7] Although Hecht's conduct was not located at that extreme end of the continuum at which the defendant is present at the transfer, handling the narcotics and sharing in the proceeds, it is clear to us that the defendant's conduct satisfies this court's criteria of aiding and abetting as set forth in Sharlow. Under the first of the two elements, Hecht undertook conduct which aided in the execution of the crime. He set up the initial meeting between the agent and Vollmer, a person who he thought could obtain cocaine for the agent or could contact a potential source of the drug. He was present when phone calls were made which worked out the arrangements for the exchange. Hecht acted further to ensure that Heidecker and Vollmer continued their contact, by making telephone calls between the two parties and relaying information, by physically escorting the agents to Vollmer's house for each of the two meetings, and, finally, by accompanying Vollmer to meet the agents just prior to the final sale. Under the second of the two elements, namely, that Hecht intended that his actions yield such assistance, we believe that such intent may be inferred from the defendant's conduct itself. State v. Charbarneau, 82 Wis. 2d at 655, citing State v. Cydzik, 60 Wis. 2d at 697. Although Hecht claims that he was merely a passive observer and that his only participation was to introduce Vollmer to Heidecker, we believe that his conduct proceeded much beyond this point. Once again, we are struck by the glaring fact that Hecht appeared to do all within his power to ensure that Vollmer and the agents continued their contact in order to reach the point of making an exchange, short of being present at the actual transfer. The jury may have inferred from this continued conduct facilitating the contact between the parties that Hecht did indeed intend to lend his assistance in bringing about the actual exchange. This inference is supported by the record and, though it involves circumstantial evidence, circumstantial evidence may be sufficient to support a conviction. In this case, we believe that Hecht's continued pattern of conduct was inconsistent with any reasonable hypothesis of innocence, namely, his claim of passive observation. State v. Charbarneau, 82 Wis. 2d at 655-56. [8] Although he was not physically present at the actual exchange, we have stated in prior case law that to be found guilty of aiding and abetting in the commission of an offense, it is not necessary that all defendants be present at the scene of the crime. State v. Sharlow, 110 Wis. 2d at 240. This court has also held that aider and abettor liability extends to the natural and probable consequence of the intended acts, as well as any other crime which, under the circumstances, was a natural and probable consequence of the intended crime. Such issues are questions of fact for the jury to decide. State v. Balistreri, 106 Wis. 2d at 757-59; State v. Asfoor, 75 Wis. 2d 411, 428, 249 N.W.2d 529 (1977); and State v. Cydzik, 60 Wis. 2d at 697. In this case, the jury could reasonably find that the defendant put into motion the wheels of a mechanism that would ultimately lead to a sale of cocaine to the agents. By his acts of keeping Vollmer and the agents in close contact, he kept those wheels turning in a fluid motion. Under these circumstances, the jury could also reasonably find that the natural and probable consequence of this chain of events was the sale of cocaine and that the defendant is, therefore, liable for the possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, under the theory of aiding and abetting the commission of the crime. Under the second theory, namely, conspiracy to commit the crime, this court set down the necessary elements in State v. Nutley, 24 Wis. 2d at 556. The two elements are: (1) An agreement among two or more persons to direct their conduct toward the realization of a criminal objective. (2) Each member of the conspiracy must individually consciously intend the realization of the particular criminal objective. Each must have an individual `stake in the venture.' Id. Once again, Hecht argues that his involvement in the crime was not to such a degree as to sustain his conviction as a conspirator. He asserts that he acted merely to recommend Vollmer as a possible source of cocaine to the agents and that he had no stake in the venture. This court has recognized that the existence of an agreement may be demonstrated by circumstantial evidence. Id. at 559. This court has also recognized that the circumstantial evidence utilized to demonstrate an agreement need not indicate an express agreement among the parties; rather, a mere tacit understanding of a shared goal is sufficient. Hawpetoss v. State, 52 Wis. 2d at 81; and O'Neil v. State, 237 Wis. 391, 404-05, 296 N.W. 96 (1941). The fact that all of the parties do not know one another does not absolve them of their status of conspirators. `If there is a meeting of minds, brought about in any way, to accomplish the common purpose, the essentials of a guilty combination are all satisfied.' O'Neil v. State, 237 Wis. at 405 (citations omitted). In this case, we believe that the same facts which support Hecht's liability under the theory of aiding and abetting in the commission of the crime also support a finding of conspiracy. This is often the case, for though there may be distinctions between aiding and abetting and conspiracy, this court has noted that in certain cases, these distinctions are often blurred. Holland v. State, 91 Wis. 2d at 142. `There will be some overlapping between [the conspiracy provision] and the aiding and abetting provision because a conspirator or solicitor frequently also aids and abets the actual commission of the crime.' Id. at 142, citing the Wisconsin Legislative Council 1953 Report, vol. 5, Judiciary Committee Report, at 5. We believe that this is such a case. As to the first element, we believe that the jury could have reasonably inferred that there existed a tacit agreement between the defendant and Vollmer concerning the sale of cocaine to the agents (and an agreement between Vollmer and Kohls in which Kohls would know of Hecht's role in contacting Vollmer). Hecht's actions, as well as the actions of Kohls and Vollmer, clearly support such an inference, State ex rel. Kanieski v. Gagnon, 54 Wis. 2d 108, 117, 194 N.W.2d 808 (1972), and the existence of such agreements may be demonstrated by circumstantial evidence, State v. Nutley, 24 Wis. 2d at 559. Hecht did not merely direct the agents to Vollmer. Rather, he contacted Vollmer personally, inquired about the possibility of obtaining a large amount of cocaine and the prices for the drug, then escorted the agents to Vollmer's residence and personally introduced Heidecker to Vollmer. His subsequent conduct supports the second element of conspiracy, that he consciously intended the achievement of the exchange of cocaine between the Madison source and Heidecker. Intent may be inferred from conduct, State v. Charbarneau, 82 Wis. 2d at 655. Under these circumstances, we believe that there is ample evidence from which the jury could have reasonably inferred intent on Hecht's part. His conduct evinces an intent to facilitate all of the contacts between Vollmer and the agent leading up to the actual sale. Although he was not present at Kohls' arrival, the mere fact that he was present until approximately three minutes before Kohls' arrival and was present during all prior negotiations among Vollmer, the agents, and the Madison source supports this finding that Hecht fully intended that the actual sale be accomplished. As we stated previously, it is not necessary for all conspirators to know one another. Therefore, it is not necessary that the defendant and Kohls became personally acquainted with one another. Rather, it is sufficient that there was a meeting of the minds of Hecht, Vollmer, and Kohls to accomplish the common purpose of selling the cocaine to agents Heidecker and Malone. The court of appeals noted, and we believe that the evidence overwhelmingly supports, the inference that both Kohls and Hecht were parties with Vollmer to a tacit agreement toward the realization of the delivery of the drug to the agents. The support for this inference is once again found in Hecht's presence during phone calls made by the unnamed source to Vollmer setting up the transaction and in Hecht's presence immediately prior to Kohls' arrival to make the sale. The defendant argues strenuously that he had no stake in the venture. However, while evidence of such a stake may be persuasive of the degree of the party's involvement, lack of a stake in the venture does not absolve one of party to a crime liability. Krueger v. State, 84 Wis. 2d 272, 286, 267 N.W.2d 602 (1978). It is not a third element to either of the theories of aiding and abetting liability or conspiracy. As we have stated above, we find the defendant's participation to such a degree as to support a finding of guilt under either theory, regardless of the presence or absence of such a stake. However, it is clear to this court that Hecht did believe that he had a stake in the venture. Although agent Heidecker testified that it was not his practice to offer money to parties who connect him with a source, Hecht gave the following testimony: A. Yes, then [Heidecker] kept asking about more drugs, and he saidhe offered Donald Grove and myself $1,700 apiece if we could connect him with a person who could connect him possibly with a source of drugs. Q. What was your response? A. Well, $1,700 was about half of my income for that year, so I was kind of interested in going along with him. We believe that Hecht's testimony concerning his belief of a stake further supports the jury's finding that he consciously intended the sale, to ensure his collection of the $1,700, and is also indicative of his advanced degree of involvement in the entire venture. We find the evidence in this case sufficient to sustain a conviction on a party to a crime theory. The defendant's position of innocence conflicts with the facts that the jury may have reasonably believed. State v. Charbarneau, 82 Wis. 2d at 657. In conclusion, then, we hold that the procuring agent theory is not a valid defense in Wisconsin. We also hold that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction for party to the crime of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, contrary to secs. 161.41 (1m) and 939.05, Stats., where a defendant's course of conduct clearly facilitates an exchange of cocaine between the buyers and the source of the drug. By the Court. The decision of the court of appeals is affirmed; the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.