Opinion ID: 1780851
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Drug Paraphernalia

Text: The State's information charged Hicks with possession of a water pipe, or bong, containing suspected marijuana residue. Officer Lyle Scott of the Mountain Home Police Department testified that the bong was found in the living room of Hicks's mobile home. Two hemostats containing suspected marijuana residue and a marijuana joint were found in close proximity to the water pipe. Because the mobile home was the joint residence of Hicks and Charles Lee, the State had the burden of proving that Hicks knew the water pipe was contraband and that he exercised care, control, and management over it. Darrough v. State, 322 Ark. 251, 908 S.W.2d 325 (1995). This burden was met. Ms. Schatz testified that she went to sleep in Hicks's bedroom on May 10, 1995, as early as 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. and that Charles Lee had left the mobile home as early as 4:00 p.m. that afternoon. From Hicks's own testimony, he was awake and entertaining Rodney Silvers as late as 2:00 a.m. on May 11, 1995. This was only hours before the police search of the mobile home. Given the location of the water pipe at the time it was discovered and the fact that Hicks was the last person awake and in the living room, as opposed to Lee or Ms. Schatz, at the time of the search, there was clear evidence that Hicks, as opposed to any other occupant, had possession of the water pipe.