Court Opinion

ID: 169231
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 17:14:33+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:25:00.912585
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                 United States Court of Appeals
                                                                         Tenth Circuit
                    UNITED STATES CO URT O F APPEALS
                                                                         May 17, 2007
                                 TENTH CIRCUIT                       Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                         Clerk of Court

 U N ITED STA TES O F A M ER ICA,

               Plaintiff - Appellee,                      No. 06-3244
          v.                                               (D. Kansas)
 DW AYN GRANT also know n as CJ,                 (D.C. No. 04-CR-20001-KHV)

               Defendant - Appellant.

                            OR D ER AND JUDGM ENT *

Before KELLY, M U RPH Y, and O’BRIEN, Circuit Judges.

      After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination

of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is

therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

      A jury found Dwayn Grant guilty of one count of possession with intent to

distribute crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Grant appeals from

his conviction, claiming the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on the

      *
        This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited,
however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th
Cir. R. 32.1.
lesser included offense of simple possession and in admitting evidence of

uncharged drugs in his possession at the time of his arrest. W e AFFIRM .

                                    Background

      On October 17, 2003, Officer Brian Hill, a police officer with the City of

Olathe, Kansas, was conducting a routine patrol. As he patrolled the parking area

of an apartment complex, he noticed a car backed into a space on the far, dark end

of the lot. Because it was parked in an isolated location away from the entrance

to the complex, Officer Hill thought it “looked out of place” and shined his

spotlight on the car. (R. Vol. III at 41.) Hill saw the top of a woman’s head in the

passenger seat, but could not see anyone in the driver’s seat. As he approached

the passenger side of the parked car, the passenger, M elva Kennedy, sat up in the

passenger’s seat and began moving from side to side, like “someone sitting in a

chair and kicking a ball.” (Vol. III at 43.) W hen Hill reached the passenger side

window he observed another person, Dwayn Grant, in the reclined driver’s seat.

W hen he shined his flashlight into the car, Hill saw a small glass pipe on the side

of Kennedy’s foot. It appeared to be a crack pipe.

      Hill took the car keys and called for backup. Approximately five minutes

later, Officer Holly Barrow arrived. Hill then instructed Grant to get out of the

car. Grant acted surprised at the presence of the pipe, denied there were drugs in

the car and gave Hill permission to search his person. In Grant’s left rear pocket,

Hill found a plastic baggie with thirty-three individually wrapped packets of a

                                         -2-
white substance. Some of the packages contained cocaine rocks while others

contained cocaine powder. 1 The substance field-tested positive for cocaine.

W hile searching the car, Hill also found a notebook above the visor on the

driver’s side. The notebook contained calculations Hill believed were evidence of

money transactions for drugs. In addition, Hill found $802 in Grant’s w allet.

Grant and Kennedy were arrested.

      Grant was indicted on one count of possession of more than five grams of

cocaine base (crack) with the intent to distribute. After testing determined there

were only 4.1 grams of cocaine base, the government filed a superseding

indictment removing the crack cocaine’s weight. 2 Several days before trial, Grant

filed a motion in limine seeking to preclude the government from introducing

evidence of the additional 5.1 grams of powder cocaine contained in small

packets intermingled w ith the small packets of crack cocaine. The district court

denied the motion.

      1
        Andrew Guzman, the Johnson County Criminalistics Laboratory employee
who tested the substances found in Grant’s baggie, explained: “C ocaine salt
[cocaine hydrochloride] is the common white powder that most people associate
with cocaine. Cocaine base is actually the rock cocaine that is comm only know
as crack cocaine.” (R. Vol. III at 158.) Federal agents identified 4.1 grams of
cocaine base (the charged drug quantity) and approximately 5 grams of cocaine
powder.
      2
        Possession with intent to distribute 5 or more grams of crack cocaine
carries a maximum sentence of forty years. 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B)(IV )(iii).
Less than 5 grams carries a maximum sentence of five years. 21 U.S.C. §
841(b)(1)(D).

                                        -3-
       Kennedy testified for the government, saying Grant had given her a ride

home from work the evening of their arrests. On the way, she smoked some of

Grant’s crack cocaine. Kennedy could not remember whether Grant gave her the

crack cocaine or she found it in his car. In any event, she felt she owed Grant

some form of payment for the drugs. Kennedy knew Grant for five or six years

but had never seen him use drugs.

       Ed D rake, a senior patrol officer with the Olathe Police D epartment, also

testified for the government. According to Drake, a normal user generally

purchases only the amount of crack cocaine he or she wants to smoke at the time

of purchase; a light user might ingest from .2 to .5 grams a day while a heavy user

smokes 1 to 1.5 grams a day; the presence of two types of cocaine indicated Grant

“was basically working two different types of drugs for different clientele.” (V ol.

III at 220.) Drake concluded “these drugs are being      . . . possessed with the

intent to sell.” (Id.)

       The government offered as evidence photographs of the baggie containing

both the crack and the powder cocaine packets confiscated from Grant. Both

drugs were admitted over Grant’s objection.

       At the close of the government’s evidence, the government offered, by

stipulation, a letter written by Grant. In the letter Grant stated he had no problem

with pleading guilty to possession, but the evidence was insufficient to

demonstrate his intent to distribute the drugs.

                                         -4-
      Grant’s theory of defense was that he possessed the drugs, but did not

intend to distribute them. His only evidence was the testimony of his mother,

Carolyn Grant. She explained how Grant would often accompany her and her

husband to the river boat casinos to gamble. A day or two before Grant’s arrest

she gave him approximately $600 to $650 in large bills to hold so she would not

“play[] back” the money. (R. Vol. III at 267.) On the night of the arrest, she and

her husband were waiting for Grant to bring the money to their house so they

could go to the casinos that evening.

      Grant requested an instruction on simple possession, suggesting it was a

lesser included offense of the charged offense. He claimed the jury could

rationally find possession of cocaine base without an intent to distribute. Grant’s

request generated the following colloquy at the preliminary instruction

conference:

      The Court:                Do you have any authority which says I’m
                                required to do that over the Government’s
                                opposition?

      [Defense Counsel]:        I do not. And, in fact, I think the case law is over
                                the Government’s opposition you are not required.

      The Court:                Right.

      [Defense Counsel]:        But I do want to make very clear, I am requesting
                                this instruction consistent with what prior counsel
                                did and submitted to the Court. I don’t want you
                                to think that I’ve abandoned that instruction. I
                                have not. I adopt this, I propose this, I request
                                that it be given.

                                         -5-
(Id. at 295-96.) The judge then asked the government its position. It objected to

the instruction because there was no evidence suggesting Grant was merely a user

who possessed the cocaine for personal enjoyment. The requested instruction was

refused. The next day, at the final instruction conference, the judge addressed

Grant personally regarding the lesser included offense instruction stating: “M r.

Grant, your attorney explained to you that where the Government objects to

giving . . . an instruction as to a lesser included offense that the Court cannot give

that instruction?” (Id. at 304.) Grant answered “Yes.” (Id.) The judge

explained, “So that’s why I overruled that particular request.” (Id.)

      The jury convicted. Thereafter, Grant filed a “Consolidated M otion for

Post-Trial Relief” arguing, inter alia, the evidence was insufficient and the trial

court’s erroneous admission of the powder cocaine required acquittal or a new

trial. The judge denied the motion and subsequently sentenced Grant to 63

months imprisonment. This timely appeal followed.

                                      Discussion

1. Instruction on Lesser Included O ffense

      Grant again contends he was entitled to have the jury consider the lesser

included offense of simple possession (21 U.S.C. § 844), which carries a

significantly less severe penalty than possession with intent to distribute. W e

review de novo whether the offense on which the instruction is sought is a lesser

                                          -6-
included offense to the charged crime, but review the trial court’s determination

whether the evidence justifies the inclusion of the instruction for abuse of

discretion. United States v. Humphrey, 208 F.3d 1190, 1206 (10th Cir.2000)

(citing United States v. Duran, 127 F.3d 911, 914 (10th Cir.1997)). It is not a

"broad ranging discretion but is focused narrowly on whether there is any

evidence fairly tending to bear on the lesser included offense." Id. “[A]

defendant is entitled to an instruction concerning a lesser crime, pursuant to

[Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure] 31(c), if the evidence justifies that

instruction.” 3 United States v. Bruce, 458 F.3d 1157, 1162 (10th Cir. 2006)

(quotations omitted), cert. denied, 127 S.Ct. 999 (2007). “[I]f there is evidence to

support a lesser included offense and defendant requests such a charge, the court

has no discretion to refuse to give the instruction.” Id. (quotations omitted). But

a lesser included offense instruction ought not be given to the jury merely to have

a convenient compromise if the decision becomes difficult or in sympathy for the

defendant. And, while possession is necessarily part of possession with intent to

distribute, it is not necessary to give a lesser included offence instruction for that

reason alone.

      To determine whether the district court should have given a lesser included

offense instruction, we apply a four part test:

      3
        “A defendant may be found guilty of . . . an offense necessarily included
in the offense charged.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 31(c)(1).

                                          -7-
      First, the defendant must properly request the instruction; second, the
      elements of the lesser included offense must be a subset of the
      elements of the charged offense; third, the element required for the
      greater, charged offense that is not an element of the lesser offense
      must be in dispute; and fourth, the evidence must be such that the
      jury could rationally acquit the defendant on the greater offense and
      convict on the lesser offense.

Humphrey, 208 F.3d at 1206 (citing Duran, 127 F.3d at 914-15). “If each of

these four elements can be satisfied, the district court must provide the

instruction.” United States v Abeyta, 27 F.3d 470, 473 (10th Cir. 1994); see

United States v. Burns, 624 F.2d 95, 103 (10th Cir. 1980); Keeble v. United

States, 412 U.S. 205, 208 (1973).

      Here, Grant met the first two parts of the four-part test. He requested the

instruction and “[p]ossession of a controlled substance, relative to the crime of

possession of such with intent to distribute, is a prototypal ‘lesser included

offense.’” Burns, 624 F.2d at 104. It is less clear whether he met the third part.

“Absent some evidence to counter the strong inference of [the charged offense]

. . . the issue is not elevated to a truly disputed one.” United States v. Joe, 831

F.2d 218, 220 (10th Cir.1987) (quoting United States v. Rogers, 504 F.2d 1079,

1084 (5th Cir.1974)); see United States v. Haar, 931 F.2d 1368, 1372 (10th Cir.

1991). Thus, the third part of the test is not met by the mere expedient of denial

and “putting the government to its proofs,” but requires a dispute in the evidence.

But, irrespective of the third part, Grant clearly failed to meet the fourth part and

                                          -8-
“Failure to meet any part of the test is fatal for the defendant.” Joe, 831 F.2d at

219.

       Since controlled substances are hardly collector’s items, possession must be

for one of two purposes, personal use or distribution to others. In this case the

only issue was intent.

       Resolution of the issue depends upon reasonable inferences a jury might

draw from the evidence. For three reasons the government suggests only one

inference was reasonable – an intent to distribute: (1) The amount of cocaine

Grant possessed was more than one person would quickly consume and it was

packaged for distribution, (2) Grant’s possession of two types of cocaine suggests

an intent to distribute and (3) the amount of cash in the denominations found in

Grant’s possession were indicative of drug dealing.

       Grant sees it differently. As to the first point he refers to O fficer Drake’s

testimony regarding quantities of crack a heavy user might use 1 to 1.5 grams per

day and contends the amount of crack cocaine he possessed could be consumed by

a heavy user over a course of three to four days. Accordingly, he argues, the

amount does not necessarily imply an intent to distribute drugs. W ith respect to

the second point Grant acknowledges Drake’s testimony that it was not typical for

a person to use both types of cocaine (powder and crack) because a user usually

prefers one over the other. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that Drake did not say a

person will never possess two types of cocaine for personal use. Finally, he

                                           -9-
claims his evidence about the amount and denomination of the money in his

possession negates any inference with respect to the government’s third point.

      In summary, Grant concedes the government could properly ask the jury to

draw inferences adverse to him, but it w ould not be obligated to do so. Burns,

624 F.2d at 104. From that, he concludes the lesser included offense should have

been given, allowing the jury to infer what it might and decide accordingly. 4

      In response, the government claims Grant was not entitled to the lesser

included offense instruction because there was simply no evidence he used drugs.

Although Grant admitted he possessed drugs, he never admitted to using. In fact,

the only testimony on this subject was from Kennedy, who said she had known

Grant for five or six years and had never seen him use drugs.

      The government’s second and third points (two kinds of drugs and

suspicious cash) permit an inference of intent to distribute, but they are equivocal

and a jury might not draw an allowable inference, even if it is reasonable. The

first point is another matter. There was no direct evidence G rant used drugs.

      4
        W e considered and rejected a similar argument in Haar where we quoted
the district courts findings: “[A] fter hearing all the evidence, I just didn't think
that there was any evidence elicited to establish that M r. Haar merely possessed
it and was not further involved, and I think it all is directed to manufacture and
the jury is either going to have to believe that he was involved in the m anufacture
or not.” 931 F.2d at 1372 (emphasis added). W e then said: “After reviewing the
record as a whole, w e agree with the trial court's determination that the elements
differentiating the two offenses were not in dispute. Therefore, we find no abuse
of discretion in the court's rejection of Defendant's requested lesser-included-
offense instruction for mere possession.” Id.

                                         -10-
Accordingly, his argument that the amount of drugs discovered in his possession

could have been consumed by a heavy user in three to four days is only

theoretical. The issue is, tellingly, not what a hypothetical heavy user might

consume, but what Grant might consume. Grant’s argument would require the

jury to merely speculate about his possible drug use, and heavy drug use at that.

And there was other evidence of Grant’s intent to distribute – possession of

thirty-three small packages of two different forms of cocaine and the presence of

a drug ledger in his vehicle.

      Against an impressive array of evidence suggesting an intent to distribute is

the testimony of Grant’s mother, explaining his suspicious cash. And his

arguments, more hypothetical than rational. But he is required to prove nothing.

His defense may consist entirely of attempting to disparage the government’s

evidence, arguing it is insufficient as proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

      W hile he is presumed innocent and permissible arguments for an acquittal

are largely unbound, he is entitled to a lesser included offence instruction only if

the evidence is such that the jury could rationally acquit him of the greater

offense and convict of the lesser. W e could speculate as to whether a jury might

rationally acquit based upon the inferences discussed, but we need not rest our

decision on such esoteric grounds because his intent was made manifest.

                                         -11-
Kennedy testified to obtaining crack cocaine from Grant the night of his arrest 5

and her testimony went uncontradicted. Such evidence of distribution is

irrefutable evidence of an intent to distribute. The district court did not abuse its

limited discretion in refusing the requested lesser included offense instruction.

      But even if the court erred in refusing the instruction, the error was

harmless. 6 See United States v. Trujillo, 390 F.3d 1267, 1275 (10th Cir. 2004)

(“[A] non-constitutional error is harmless unless the error had substantial

influence on the outcome of trial or if one is left in grave doubt as to its

influence.”). The evidence of Grant’s intent to distribute was overwhelming.

      5
         Kennedy testified she could not remember specifically if Grant handed
her the drugs or if she just helped herself. It matters not. Nothing suggests
Kennedy had her own crack. The only reasonable inference is that Grant knew
she was using his drugs w hen she loaded and lit the crack pipe while they were in
the extremely confines of the car. The jury was correctly instructed:

      The third element of the crime charged requires the government to
      prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant intended to distribute
      the mixture or substance containing cocaine base. The term “to
      distribute,” as used in these instructions, means to deliver or transfer
      possession or control of something from one person to another.

(R . Vol. I, Doc. 123 at 19 (emphasis added).)
      6
          The trial court erroneously stated “where the Government objects to
giving . . . an instruction as to a lesser included offense [] the Court cannot give
that instruction.” (R. Vol. III at 304.) The government claims the trial court’s
m istake w as the result of the representations of Grant’s counsel and therefore, w e
should not review this claim because Grant invited the error. “The invited-error
doctrine prevents a party who induces an erroneous ruling from being able to have
it set aside on appeal.” United States v. Deberry, 430 F.3d 1294, 1302 (10th Cir.
2005) (quotations omitted), cert. denied, 127 S.Ct. 113 (2006). Because we find
any error harmless, we need not decide the issue on this basis.

                                         -12-
2.    Admission of Evidence

      Grant claims the trial court erred in admitting evidence he possessed

powder cocaine under Rule 404(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence. The

government argues Rule 404(b) is inapplicable because it only applies to evidence

of acts extrinsic to the charged crime. According to the government this evidence

was properly admitted, not under Rule 404(b), but because it was so inextricably

intertwined with the charged offense that the witnesses’ testimony would have

been confusing and incomplete if it were excluded. W e agree.

      “W e review the district court’s admission of evidence for abuse of

discretion.” United States v. Portillo-Quezada, 469 F.3d 1345, 1353 (10th Cir.

2006). “Rule 404(b) only applies to evidence of acts extrinsic to the charged

crime.” United States v. Lam bert, 995 F.2d 1006, 1007 (10th Cir. 1993)

(quotations omitted). 7 Because the evidence of Grant’s possession of powder

      7
          Rule 404(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence provides as follow s:

              (b) Other Crimes, W rongs, or A cts.--Evidence of other
              crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the
              character of a person in order to show action in conformity
              therewith.     It m ay, however, be admissible for other
              purposes, such as proof of m otive, opportunity, intent,
              preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of
              mistake or accident, provided that upon request by the
              accused, the prosecution in a criminal case shall provide
              reasonable notice in advance of trial, or during trial if the
              court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown, of the
              general nature of any such evidence it intends to introduce
              at trial.

                                          -13-
cocaine is not extrinsic, but is intrinsic to the possession with intent to distribute

crack cocaine charge, Rule 404(b) is inapplicable. Id. (“Other act evidence is

intrinsic when the evidence of the other act and the evidence of the crime charged

are inextricably intertwined or both acts are part of a single criminal episode or

the other acts were necessary preliminaries to the crime charged.”) (quotations

omitted); see also United States v. Record, 873 F.2d 1363, 1372 n.5 (10th Cir.

1989) (“An uncharged act may not be extrinsic if it was part of the scheme for

which a defendant is being prosecuted or if it was inextricably intertwined with

the charged crime such that a witness’ testimony would have been confusing and

incomplete without mention of the prior act.”) (citations and quotations omitted).

      “Such intrinsic ‘other act’ evidence, although not excluded by 404(b), is

still subject to the requirement of Fed.R.Evid. 403 that its probative value is not

substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.” Lam bert, 995 F.2d

at 1007-08. Here, the evidence of Grant’s possession of the powder cocaine was

relevant to whether his possession of the crack cocaine was w ith the intent to

distribute it. He fails to demonstrate this evidence was more prejudicial than

probative.

      Grant concedes the evidence was relevant to his intent but nonetheless

argues the court failed to meet its “duty to excise evidence of other uncharged

wrongs if [it] can do so without destroying the relevancy of the evidence that

addresses itself to the charges.” United States v. Kelley, 635 F.2d 778, 782 (10th

                                          -14-
Cir. 1980). He claims evidence of his possession of the powder cocaine was “not

necessary to explain to the jury the government’s belief that he was engaged in

the distribution of crack cocaine” because the government’s experts did not so

testify. (Appellant’s Br. at 19.) Grant’s reliance on Kelley is misplaced. Kelley

involved extrinsic 404(b) evidence. But, more important, the premise of the

argument fails. As the government argued, just because the government’s experts

did not specifically rely on the presence of the powder cocaine in reaching their

conclusions does not mean the jury could not consider it a factor in determining

whether Grant intended to distribute the crack cocaine.

      A FFIR ME D.

                                               ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                               Terrence L. O’Brien
                                               Circuit Judge

                                        -15-