Opinion ID: 2760898
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: [¶13] First, Fox argues that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for trafficking because the evidence at trial established only that he possessed some, but not all, of the ingredients and materials that can be used to 7 manufacture methamphetamine. He further asserts that the evidence was insufficient to link him with the residue found on the items in the shed. The State argues that there was sufficient direct and circumstantial evidence that Fox successfully manufactured methamphetamine. [¶14] “In reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence in a criminal matter, we consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the State to determine whether the trier of fact rationally could have found beyond a reasonable doubt every element of the offense charged.” State v. Johnson, 2014 ME 83, ¶ 10, 95 A.3d 621 (quotation marks omitted). A person is guilty of unlawful trafficking in a scheduled drug if the person “intentionally or knowingly trafficks in what the person knows or believes to be a scheduled drug, which is in fact a scheduled drug,” and the drug is a schedule W drug. 17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(A) (2013). Methamphetamine is a schedule W drug. 17-A M.R.S. § 1102(1)(A) (2013). The definition of “traffick” includes “[t]o make, create, [or] manufacture.” 17-A M.R.S. § 1101(17)(A) (2013). “Manufacture” means “to produce, prepare, propagate, compound, convert or process, either directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis.” 17-A M.R.S. § 1101(4) (2013). A person is guilty of aggravated trafficking in a scheduled drug if the person violates section 1103 and, at the time 8 of the offense, has one or more prior convictions for any felony drug offense involving a schedule W drug. 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(B)(1). [¶15] We have recently decided two cases addressing the proof necessary to support a conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine. First, we concluded that circumstantial evidence of the successful completion of the manufacturing process is sufficient to support a conviction, even where not all of the necessary materials are found in the defendant’s possession. State v. Woo, 2007 ME 151, ¶¶ 19, 21, 938 A.2d 13. In that case, although there was no direct evidence linking the defendant to methamphetamine, we concluded that the State had presented sufficient circumstantial evidence to support a conviction. Id. ¶ 20. We concluded that “[b]ecause there was direct and indirect evidence in the record that [the defendant] had all of the substances needed to prepare or process methamphetamine, the jury could have reasonably inferred that [the defendant] successfully manufactured methamphetamine.” Id. ¶ 21. [¶16] In State v. Lowden, we concluded that the State’s evidence was insufficient to support a conviction for trafficking in methamphetamine. 2014 ME 29, ¶ 21, 87 A.3d 694. There, a law enforcement officer encountered the defendant boiling a substance in a glass container on a Coleman cooking stove. Id. ¶ 6. MDEA agents found various chemicals and glassware in the defendant’s bedroom, along with a handbook for creating methamphetamine. Id. ¶ 7. 9 Although the chemicals found at the scene were consistent with the methods described in the handbook, the defendant did not have all of the essential ingredients, and there was no evidence that the necessary chemical syntheses had occurred. Id. ¶ 8. On these facts, we concluded that the evidence was insufficient to support the defendant’s conviction because “unlike in Woo, there [was] no evidence, either direct or circumstantial, from which the jury could infer that [the defendant] successfully created methamphetamine or that methamphetamine had been created on or brought to the premises.” Id. ¶ 21. [¶17] Here, the proof is stronger than in both Lowden and Woo. Most importantly, actual methamphetamine residue was found on a piece of tubing and a funnel in Fox’s mother’s shed. Considered together with the expert testimony concerning how tubing and funnels are typically used in the manufacturing process, this evidence would allow the jury to find that the manufacturing process had been successfully completed. See Woo, 2007 ME 151, ¶ 20, 938 A.2d 13. Additional circumstantial evidence supports the jury’s verdict: Easler purchased pseudoephedrine for Fox with the understanding that he would receive methamphetamine in return, Fox and his wife were in the shed while visiting Fox’s mother, and recordings of Fox’s conversations with his wife reveal that, in the context of a conversation concerning the allegations of manufacturing, Fox referred to an acquaintance as a “rat.” The jury also had the opportunity to hear 10 Fox’s response to being informed by his wife that MDEA agents had searched the shed. Although Fox’s wife testified that Fox had not manufactured methamphetamine and that the pair had merely used drugs in the shed, the jury was free to reject this testimony. See State v. Allen, 2006 ME 20, ¶ 26, 892 A.2d 447 (“The weight to be given to the evidence and the determination of witness credibility are the exclusive province of the jury.” (quotation marks omitted)). [¶18] In short, there was evidence that Fox intended to create methamphetamine, that he had access to many of the materials necessary to make methamphetamine, and that he had, in fact, created methamphetamine, which was found on some of those items. This is more than enough evidence to support a finding that Fox successfully manufactured methamphetamine. See Woo, 2007 ME 151, ¶ 20, 938 A.2d 13.
[¶19] Fox next argues that, because the parties’ stipulation to Fox’s prior conviction was never offered in evidence, the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for aggravated trafficking, which requires proof of a prior drug-related conviction. The State argues, and we agree, that the stipulation obviated the need for proof or findings relating to the prior conviction. [¶20] In a case involving a simple assault that was charged as a felony due to two prior convictions, we held that a stipulation to a prior conviction will 11 “obviat[e] the need for any proof of or findings about the prior conviction[]” where it is “abundantly clear” that the defendant has agreed to stipulate to the existence of his prior conviction. State v. Ireland, 2005 ME 48, ¶ 4, 870 A.2d 119. Here, Fox failed to draw the court’s attention to the failure of proof regarding his prior conviction at any time during trial, including when he made his two motions for judgment of acquittal. He also failed to raise the issue when the court imposed a sentence that was necessarily predicated on proof of the prior conviction. Moreover, the stipulation served to protect Fox’s interests by preventing the jury from learning about his prior criminal conduct. Under these circumstances, it is abundantly clear that Fox agreed, through his attorney, that evidence of his prior conviction need not be presented to the jury. We are not persuaded that Fox’s conviction must be vacated as a result of the State’s administrative oversight in failing to formally introduce the stipulation on the record.