Court Opinion

ID: 9470452
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:06:40.081208+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:41:54.613177
License: Public Domain

K.K. HALL, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
I cannot agree with the majority’s conclusion that the trial judge erred in refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of simple possession of cocaine, and I, therefore, dissent.
The decision whether there is enough evidence to justify a lesser-included offense instruction rests within the sound discretion of the trial judge. United States v. Chapman, 615 F.2d 1294, 1298 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 446 U.S. 967, 100 S.Ct. 2947, 64 L.Ed.2d 827 (1980); United States v. Busic, 592 F.2d 13, 26 (2d Cir.1978). In my view, the trial judge exercised sound discretion.
When Levy possessed the cocaine, he had been suspended from his job without pay. His annual salary had been $20,473. The quantity of cocaine included 0.8 grams of 100% pure cocaine base found on Levy’s person and 4.75 ounces of 95% pure cocaine hydrochloride found in his car. The evidence revealed that 5 ounces of 95% pure cocaine hydrochloride “uncut” had a value almost equal to Levy’s previous annual salary and, if reduced to cocaine base, had a potential yield of 1300 doses. It is inconceivable to me that anyone in Levy’s financial circumstance would have such a large quantity of cocaine for personal use alone. It is also common knowledge that “the purer the drug the more likely it is that it will be ‘cut’ or diluted and resold before being consumed.” United States v. Burns, 624 F.2d 95, 102 n. 1 (10th Cir.1980). In addition, the potential street value of the cocaine was $35,000 and more or less equal to the value of the 427 pounds of marijuana in United States v. Rogers, 504 F.2d 1079 (5th Cir.1974), where the Fifth Circuit held that the lesser-included offense instruction was not required.
The evidence produced here gives rise to a strong inference that Levy intended to distribute at least some of the cocaine. The four pipes and other paraphernalia recovered from Levy’s apartment are hardly sufficient to counter the inference of intent to distribute. In the absence of any significant evidence to counter this inference, an instruction on the lesser-included offense of simple possession is not warranted. United States v. Seni, 662 F.2d 277, 285 (4th Cir. 1981); United States v. Rogers, supra at 1084.
The majority also concludes that Levy’s insufficiency of evidence assertion “drops by the boards” with a remand for a new trial. Levy asserts that but for the 4.75 ounces of cocaine found in his car which, he contends, should have been excluded, the evidence of 0.8 grams found on his person was insufficient to support his conviction. Levy’s assertion lacks merit. The trial judge correctly admitted the cocaine obtained in the search of Levy’s car, and, therefore, there was ample and sufficient evidence for the jury to find Levy guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For these reasons, I would uphold the conviction.