Court Opinion

ID: 4186878
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-18 06:10:32.060434+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:36:40.318662
License: Public Domain

Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library
www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
07/18/2017 01:10 AM CDT

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                                Nebraska Court of A ppeals A dvance Sheets
                                     24 Nebraska A ppellate R eports
                                                STATE v. CAMPBELL
                                               Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

                                        State of Nebraska, appellee, v.
                                        A licia R. Campbell, appellant.
                                                    ___ N.W.2d ___

                                          Filed July 11, 2017.     No. A-16-836.

                1.	 Evidence: Appeal and Error. In reviewing a sufficiency of the evi-
                     dence claim, whether the evidence is direct, circumstantial, or a com-
                     bination thereof, the standard is the same: An appellate court does not
                     resolve conflicts in the evidence, pass on the credibility of witnesses, or
                     reweigh the evidence; such matters are for the finder of fact.
                 2.	 ____: ____. In reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim, the rel-
                     evant question for an appellate court is whether, after viewing the evi-
                     dence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier
                     of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a
                     reasonable doubt.
                3.	 Sentences: Appeal and Error. An appellate court will not disturb a sen-
                     tence imposed within the statutory limits absent an abuse of discretion
                     by the trial court.
                4.	 Judgments: Words and Phrases. An abuse of discretion occurs when a
                     trial court’s decision is based upon reasons that are untenable or unrea-
                     sonable or if its action is clearly against justice or conscience, reason,
                     and evidence.
                5.	 Investigative Stops: Motor Vehicles: Probable Cause. A traffic viola-
                     tion, no matter how minor, creates probable cause to stop the driver of
                     a vehicle.
                6.	 Constitutional Law: Investigative Stops: Motor Vehicles: Police
                     Officers and Sheriffs. Under Fourth Amendment case law, it is reason-
                     able for an officer to request that a driver sit in the patrol car during a
                     traffic stop.
                7.	 ____: ____: ____: ____. Once a motor vehicle has been lawfully
                     detained for a traffic violation, the police officer may order the driver
                     to get out of the vehicle without violating the Fourth Amendment’s pro-
                     scription of unreasonable searches and seizures.
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                             STATE v. CAMPBELL
                            Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

 8.	 Investigative Stops: Motor Vehicles: Police Officers and Sheriffs. It
     is reasonable and lawful for an officer, during a traffic stop, to request
     that a driver exit his or her vehicle.
 9.	 Controlled Substances. A person possesses a controlled substance
     when he or she knows of the nature or character of the substance and of
     its presence and has dominion or control over it.
10.	 Controlled Substances: Evidence: Circumstantial Evidence: Proof.
     Possession can be either actual or constructive, and constructive pos-
     session of an illegal substance may be proved by direct or circumstan-
     tial evidence.
11.	 Controlled Substances. To be guilty of possession of a controlled sub-
     stance, the defendant must possess the controlled substance knowingly
     or intentionally.
12.	 Controlled Substances: Proof. Mere presence at a place where a
     controlled substance is found is not sufficient to show constructive
     possession. Instead, the evidence must show facts and circumstances
     which affirmatively link the accused to the marijuana and parapher-
     nalia so as to suggest that he or she knew of it and exercised control
     over it.
13.	 Investigative Stops: Motor Vehicles. The fact that one is the driver of
     a vehicle, particularly over a long period of time, creates an inference of
     control over items in the vehicle.
14.	 Courts: Jurisdiction. While it is not a constitutional prerequisite for
     jurisdiction, the existence of an actual case or controversy is necessary
     for the exercise of judicial power.
15.	 Moot Question: Words and Phrases. A case becomes moot when
     the issues initially presented in the litigation cease to exist, when the
     litigants lack a legally cognizable interest in the outcome of litiga-
     tion, or when the litigants seek to determine a question which does not
     rest upon existing facts or rights, in which the issues presented are no
     l­onger alive.
16.	 Convictions: Sentences: Moot Question: Appeal and Error. An
     appeal from a criminal conviction is not moot, even though a sentence
     for a criminal conviction has been fully served, when the defend­
     ant is subjected to collateral consequences resulting from the crimi-
     nal conviction.

   Appeal from the District Court for Lancaster County:
A ndrew R. Jacobsen, Judge. Affirmed.
   Joe Nigro, Lancaster County Public Defender, and Shawn
Elliott for appellant.
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                        STATE v. CAMPBELL
                       Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

   Douglas J. Peterson, Attorney General, and Joe Meyer
for appellee.
  Moore, Chief Judge, and Pirtle and Bishop, Judges.
  Pirtle, Judge.
                        INTRODUCTION
   Alicia R. Campbell appeals her convictions and sentences
in the district court for Lancaster County for failure to obey a
lawful order of the Nebraska State Patrol, possession of mari-
juana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence for each offense and argues that her
sentence for failure to obey a lawful order of the State Patrol is
excessive. Based on the reasons that follow, we affirm.
                        BACKGROUND
   On August 27, 2015, Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Kyle
Gress was assigned to the traffic division and was working a
targeted patrol along Highway 2 near Lincoln, Nebraska. He
was in a marked patrol car and was in uniform. His primary
duty was enforcing traffic laws. Around 5 p.m., he noticed a
vehicle that appeared to be speeding. The posted speed limit
was 65 miles per hour, and Gress estimated the vehicle was
traveling about 80 miles per hour. He used the radar device in
his patrol car and confirmed that the vehicle was speeding at
79 miles per hour. He then initiated a traffic stop.
   Gress testified that once the vehicle stopped, he approached
it on the passenger side. He testified that he does this for safety
reasons when making stops, because it keeps him away from
the traffic side of the vehicle. As he approached the vehicle,
he noticed that the windows had a dark tint and that the
passenger-side window was partially open. Gress thought this
was unusual because most people roll the window down all the
way when he approaches a vehicle. There was an adult male
in the front passenger seat, later identified as Devin James,
and Campbell’s 5-year-old daughter was in the back seat.
Gress asked Campbell for her driver’s license and registration.
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                       STATE v. CAMPBELL
                      Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

Campbell gave Gress her driver’s license and tried to locate
her registration.
   Almost immediately upon Gress’ approaching the vehicle,
James became involved and began talking over Campbell and
Gress. James began video recording the stop on his cell phone
by placing it at the window, which interfered with Gress’ view
of the driver. There was also a rescue unit in the area with
its siren on, which made it difficult for Gress to communi-
cate with Campbell. Gress testified that as a result of these
circumstances, he was having difficulty hearing and seeing
Campbell. He asked Campbell to exit her vehicle and walk
back to his patrol car so he could conduct the traffic stop.
Gress walked over to the driver’s side of Campbell’s vehicle
to make sure she exited safely. However, Campbell remained
in her vehicle.
   Gress stayed on the driver’s side of the vehicle and asked
her again to exit her vehicle so he could conduct the traffic
stop. Gress stated that he did not recall telling Campbell the
reason for the traffic stop, even though she asked him why
she had been stopped. Campbell did not get out of her vehicle.
Gress told her multiple times that she needed to exit her vehi-
cle, but she did not comply. She asked for Gress’ supervisor to
come to the location, and Gress stated that he had already tried
to contact him. During this exchange, James repeatedly stated
that Campbell was not going to get out of the vehicle. James
continued talking over Gress and continued video recording
the events, as well as narrating the video. James stated that he
was transmitting the video through a “live-streaming app” on
his cell phone. This caused Gress concern, and he told James
to stop recording because it was an “officer safety issue.”
Gress testified that due to James’ actions, he could not com-
municate with Campbell. He testified that he felt James was
trying to control the situation by not permitting him to speak
to Campbell.
   Gress told Campbell that he was giving her a lawful order
to get out of her vehicle and that if she did not comply, she
would be arrested. Campbell did not comply with Gress’ order.
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                        STATE v. CAMPBELL
                       Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

Gress told her she was under arrest and needed to exit the
vehicle. Campbell still refused to get out of her vehicle.
   Gress next tried to reach into the vehicle through the
driver’s-side window, which was partially down, to unlock the
door which Campbell had previously locked. A struggle ensued
when he did so, and Gress ended up breaking the driver’s-
side window of the vehicle. He then tried reaching into the
vehicle through the same window opening again. As a result
of the struggle and broken glass, Gress had cuts on both of his
arms. Gress subsequently disengaged from the struggle, backed
away from the vehicle, and waited for other officers to arrive.
Campbell exited the vehicle after two other troopers, includ-
ing Gress’ supervising officer, arrived on scene. Campbell and
James were both arrested and taken into custody.
   After Campbell and James were arrested, police conducted
an inventory search. The search uncovered marijuana and sev-
eral items of drug paraphernalia.
   The State filed an information charging Campbell with
seven counts: (1) assault of an officer in the third degree, (2)
failure to obey a lawful order of the State Patrol, (3) speeding,
(4) failure to use a child passenger restraint, (5) no valid regis-
tration, (6) possession of marijuana, and (7) possession of drug
paraphernalia. Campbell pled not guilty to the charges.
   A jury trial was held on counts 1, 2, and 5, and a bench trial
was held on counts 3, 4, 6, and 7. At the jury trial on counts 1,
2, and 5, Gress testified, giving his account of the traffic stop
as set forth above. During the testimony of Gress, the State
offered and the court received into evidence the video of the
traffic stop taken by the camera on Gress’ cruiser.
   Campbell testified in her own defense. She admitted that
Gress told her to exit her vehicle and come back to his cruiser
and that she did not comply. She testified that she did not get
out of her vehicle because she was afraid. She stated that she
was afraid because Gress did not tell her the reason for the stop
when she asked him multiple times, he refused to look at her
proof of insurance that she was trying to show him on her cell
phone, and he disapproved of James’ recording the stop. She
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                        STATE v. CAMPBELL
                       Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

stated that based on those actions, she did not know what his
intentions were. Campbell further testified that she is a rape
victim and that based on her prior trauma, she was afraid of
going back to Gress’ cruiser with him. She also testified that
she was concerned for her safety because Gress put his hand on
his gun a few times during the traffic stop. Because of her fear,
she told Gress to have his supervisor come to the scene and
then she would exit her vehicle. She testified that she wanted
the supervisor present to ensure her safety and to have a wit-
ness to the interactions between her and Gress.
   Campbell also testified that during the encounter, she used
her cell phone to call the 911 emergency dispatch service, at
which point she perceived Gress to become upset. She admit-
ted that the 911 dispatch officer told her that she should exit
the vehicle, but that she was too afraid to do so given all that
had occurred.
   James also testified in Campbell’s defense, and his video
recording of the events was admitted into evidence.
   At the close of the State’s case in the jury trial, the district
court sustained Campbell’s motion for a directed verdict as
to count 5, no valid registration. The jury acquitted Campbell
of count 1, assault of an officer in the third degree, but found
her guilty of count 2, failure to obey a lawful order of the
State Patrol.
   The bench trial on counts 3, 4, 6, and 7 was held after the
other counts had been submitted to the jury. Sgt. Michael
Grummert of the State Patrol testified for the State. As part of
his job, he had received training on how to detect controlled
substances, including marijuana, and had experience in doing
so. He testified that he was familiar with what marijuana looks
like and how it smells. He had also been trained in how mari-
juana is ingested.
   Grummert conducted an inventory search of the vehicle
after Campbell was arrested. He testified that during the
search, he found a brown purse which contained a marijuana
grinder, rolling papers, a marijuana pipe, and a small bag-
gie of marijuana. Grummert testified that in his opinion, the
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                        STATE v. CAMPBELL
                       Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

substance in the baggie was in fact marijuana. The purse was
located on the back seat of the vehicle, behind the front pas-
senger seat. Grummert testified that the purse appeared to
be “a female’s purse” and noted that Campbell was the only
adult female in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Grummert
also found rolling papers, a second marijuana grinder, and a
purple cylinder containing marijuana in what he described as a
“brown leather carpet bag.” This bag was located on the mid-
dle of the passenger seat. Grummert testified that the rolling
papers, grinders, and pipe are used for ingesting marijuana.
Finally, Grummert located a black leather bag on the back seat
behind the driver’s seat which contained a black cylinder with
marijuana residue and alcohol.
   After the bench trial, the district court found Campbell
guilty of count 3, speeding; count 6, possession of marijuana;
and count 7, possession of drug paraphernalia. The court found
Campbell not guilty of count 4, failure to use a child passen-
ger restraint.
   The district court subsequently sentenced Campbell to 7
days in jail on count 2, failure to obey a lawful order, and
ordered her to pay fines for the other infractions.

                 ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
   Campbell assigns that the trial court erred in (1) finding
there was sufficient evidence to convict her of failure to obey a
lawful order of the State Patrol, (2) finding there was sufficient
evidence to convict her of possession of marijuana, (3) find-
ing there was sufficient evidence to convict her of possession
of drug paraphernalia, and (4) imposing an excessive sentence
on her conviction for failure to obey a lawful order of the
State Patrol.

                   STANDARD OF REVIEW
   [1,2] In reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim,
whether the evidence is direct, circumstantial, or a combina-
tion thereof, the standard is the same: An appellate court does
not resolve conflicts in the evidence, pass on the credibility
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          Nebraska Court of A ppeals A dvance Sheets
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                        STATE v. CAMPBELL
                       Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

of witnesses, or reweigh the evidence; such matters are for
the finder of fact. State v. Draper, 295 Neb. 88, 886 N.W.2d
266 (2016). The relevant question for an appellate court is
whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favor-
able to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable
doubt. Id.
   [3,4] An appellate court will not disturb a sentence imposed
within the statutory limits absent an abuse of discretion by
the trial court. State v. Draper, supra. An abuse of discretion
occurs when a trial court’s decision is based upon reasons that
are untenable or unreasonable or if its action is clearly against
justice or conscience, reason, and evidence. Id.

                           ANALYSIS
Sufficiency of Evidence—
Failure to Obey
Lawful Order.
   Campbell first argues that the evidence was insufficient to
convict her of failure to obey a lawful order of the State Patrol.
Campbell was convicted of violating Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-2008
(Reissue 2014), which states: “Any person who fails or refuses
to obey any lawful traffic direction or any lawful order of the
superintendent or any of the subordinate officers or employees
of the Nebraska State Patrol . . . shall be deemed guilty of a
Class III misdemeanor.”
   It is undisputed that Gress was an employee of the State
Patrol and that Campbell failed to obey Gress’ order. Campbell
focuses her argument on the lawfulness of Gress’ order. She
contends that his order was not lawful because he never
informed her of the reason for the traffic stop and because
he asked her to exit her vehicle less than a minute after he
approached the vehicle. She argues that when Gress’ actions
are examined as a whole, it is evident that she had good reason
to believe that Gress was not acting lawfully, nor within the
scope of his duties.
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                       STATE v. CAMPBELL
                      Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

   The evidence shows that Gress asked Campbell to step out
of her vehicle shortly after making contact. However, the tim-
ing of Gress’ initial order does not make the order unlawful.
His initial request was made because James was interrupt-
ing Gress and was holding his cell phone up to the window,
obstructing Gress’ view into the vehicle. There was also a
rescue unit going by with its siren on, making it hard to com-
municate with Campbell.
   At the time of Gress’ initial request to exit the vehicle,
Campbell had no reason to question his authority. She was
driving her vehicle 14 miles over the posted speed limit
at the time she was stopped. Gress was in a marked patrol
car and was in uniform. It was daylight at the time of the
stop, and there was heavy traffic on Highway 2, where she
was stopped.
   When Gress moved to the driver’s side of the vehicle, he
continued to order Campbell to exit her vehicle so he could
conduct the traffic stop. Campbell refused to comply, and the
situation escalated from there.
   [5] In regard to Campbell’s contention that Gress’ order
was unlawful because he did not tell her the reason for the
traffic stop, she cites to no authority for her position and we
find none. Gress stopped Campbell for speeding, a traffic vio-
lation, and therefore he had probable cause to stop her. See
State v. Verling, 269 Neb. 610, 694 N.W.2d 632 (2005) (traf-
fic violation, no matter how minor, creates probable cause to
stop driver of vehicle). The fact that he did not tell her that
she was stopped for speeding does not make his order to exit
the vehicle unlawful.
   We conclude that Campbell’s argument that Gress’ order
was not lawful is without merit. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-2005(1)
(Reissue 2014) gives all officers of the State Patrol, as peace
officers, the power to enforce “the Nebraska Rules of the Road,
and any other law regulating the registration or operation of
vehicles or the use of the highways.” As previously stated,
Gress executed a traffic stop of Campbell’s vehicle because
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                       STATE v. CAMPBELL
                      Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

Campbell was speeding, a traffic violation. Campbell does not
argue that the stop was unlawful. Gress was in uniform and
was driving a marked patrol car at the time of the stop. Gress
testified that he ordered Campbell out of her vehicle in order
to complete the traffic stop because James was interfering with
the stop. The video footage from Gress’ cruiser, as well as the
video taken by James, corroborates Gress’ testimony. Gress
asked or ordered Campbell to exit her vehicle multiple times,
and he told her that if she did not comply, she would be violat-
ing a lawful order and would be arrested.
   [6-8] Under Fourth Amendment case law, the Nebraska
Supreme Court has held that it is reasonable for an officer
to request that a driver sit in the patrol car during a traffic
stop. See State v. Verling, supra. See, also, Pennsylvania v.
Mimms, 434 U.S. 106, 98 S. Ct. 330, 54 L. Ed. 2d 331 (1977)
(once motor vehicle has been lawfully detained for traffic
violation, police officer may order driver to get out of vehicle
without violating Fourth Amendment’s proscription of unrea-
sonable searches and seizures). Therefore, it is reasonable
and lawful for an officer to request that a driver exit his or
her vehicle.
   We conclude the evidence was sufficient to support a find-
ing that Gress’ order was lawful and that Campbell refused to
obey that lawful order. Accordingly, the evidence was suffi-
cient to support a conviction for failure to obey a lawful order
of the State Patrol.
Sufficiency of Evidence—
Possession of Marijuana
and Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia.
   Campbell next assigns that there was insufficient evi-
dence to convict her of possession of marijuana and posses-
sion of drug paraphernalia. She makes the same argument
in regard to both assignments of error, so we will address
them together. Campbell argues that the evidence was insuf-
ficient, because James was in closer proximity to the purse
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                        STATE v. CAMPBELL
                       Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

containing the baggie of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and
had easier access to it. She also contends that her mere pres-
ence in the vehicle was not enough to find her guilty of the
two offenses.
   [9-11] A person possesses a controlled substance when he
or she knows of the nature or character of the substance and
of its presence and has dominion or control over it. State v.
Rocha, 295 Neb. 716, 890 N.W.2d 178 (2017). Possession can
be either actual or constructive, and constructive possession of
an illegal substance may be proved by direct or circumstantial
evidence. Id. “To be guilty, the defendant must possess the
controlled substance ‘knowingly or intentionally.’” Id. at 761,
890 N.W.2d at 210.
   [12] Campbell did not have actual possession of the mari-
juana and paraphernalia, so the question before us is whether
there is sufficient evidence from which a trier of fact could
reasonably infer that she was in constructive possession, i.e.,
that she was aware of the presence of the marijuana and
paraphernalia and had dominion or control over it. See State v.
Howard, 282 Neb. 352, 803 N.W.2d 450 (2011). Mere presence
at a place where a controlled substance is found is not suffi-
cient to show constructive possession. Id. Instead, the evidence
must show facts and circumstances which affirmatively link
Campbell to the marijuana and paraphernalia so as to suggest
that she knew of it and exercised control over it.
   [13] The purse was located on the back seat of the vehicle
behind the passenger seat where James had been sitting. The
purse contained the baggie of marijuana, as well as drug para-
phernalia. The purse belonged to either Campbell or James, as
they were the only two adults in the vehicle. When Grummert
was asked if he was able to determine who the owner of
the purse was, he testified that it appeared to be “a female’s
purse” and that Campbell was the only adult female inside the
vehicle at the time of the stop. Further, the fact that one is the
driver of a vehicle, particularly over a long period of time,
creates an inference of control over items in the vehicle. State
v. Howard, supra. Campbell was driving at the time of the
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                        STATE v. CAMPBELL
                       Cite as 24 Neb. Ct. App. 861

stop, and the evidence showed that she and James had been in
Kansas City, Missouri, before driving through Lincoln. They
were on their way to Denver, Colorado, with California being
their final destination. Campbell was apparently the owner of
the vehicle as well, because she testified about looking for her
registration for the vehicle when first pulled over.
   When reviewing a criminal conviction for sufficiency of
the evidence to sustain the conviction, the relevant question
for an appellate court is whether, after viewing the evidence
in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational
trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Howard, supra.
We conclude that the evidence, viewed in the light most
favorable to the prosecution, was sufficient to find Campbell
guilty of both possession of marijuana and possession of drug
paraphernalia. Her second and third assignments of error are
without merit.
Excessive Sentence.
   Campbell argues that her sentence for failure to obey a law-
ful order of the State Patrol is excessive. She claims that she is
entitled to judicial relief in the form of a reduced jail sentence
or probation. However, Campbell admits in her brief that she
has already served the 7-day jail sentence.
   [14,15] While it is not a constitutional prerequisite for
jurisdiction, the existence of an actual case or controversy
is necessary for the exercise of judicial power. Johnston v.
Nebraska Dept. of Corr. Servs., 270 Neb. 987, 709 N.W.2d
321 (2006). A case becomes moot when the issues initially
presented in the litigation cease to exist, when the litigants
lack a legally cognizable interest in the outcome of litigation,
or when the litigants seek to determine a question which does
not rest upon existing facts or rights, in which the issues pre-
sented are no longer alive. Id. Because Campbell has already
served the jail sentence she is challenging, her claim that her
sentence is excessive does not rest upon existing facts and
she lacks a legally cognizable interest in the outcome of the
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issue. Therefore, her assignment of error challenging her jail
sentence is moot.
   [16] We recognize that the Nebraska Supreme Court has
held that an appeal from a criminal conviction is not moot,
even though a sentence for a criminal conviction has been
fully served, when the defendant is subjected to “collateral
consequences” resulting from the criminal conviction. State v.
Patterson, 237 Neb. 198, 204, 465 N.W.2d 743, 748 (1991).
We do not find that this exception to the mootness doctrine is
applicable in the present case.
   For the sake of completeness, even if Campbell’s excessive
sentence argument was not moot, the 7-day jail sentence is
not excessive. The failure to obey a lawful order of the State
Patrol is a violation of § 81-2008, a Class III misdemeanor,
punishable by a maximum of 3 months’ imprisonment, a $500
fine, or both. There is no minimum time for imprisonment. See
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106 (Cum. Supp. 2014). Campbell was
sentenced to 7 days in jail. Campbell’s sentence is within the
statutory limits, and we find no abuse of discretion by the trial
court in imposing a 7-day sentence.
                       CONCLUSION
   We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to find
Campbell guilty of failure to obey a lawful order of the State
Patrol, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug para-
phernalia. We determine that Campbell’s excessive sentence
argument is moot and that even if it was not moot, it is with-
out merit. Accordingly, Campbell’s convictions and sentences
are affirmed.
                                                  A ffirmed.