Court Opinion

ID: 4677179
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-14 16:05:04.580888+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:09.606411
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                   No. 19-2128
                               Filed April 14, 2021

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

ANDREW JOHN JAQUEZ,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Des Moines County, John M. Wright,

Judge.

      A defendant appeals his conviction for drug possession. CONVICTION

REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.

      Martha J. Lucey, State Appellate Defender, and Vidhya K. Reddy, Assistant

Appellate Defender, for appellant.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Sharon K. Hall, Assistant Attorney

General, for appellee.

      Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and Ahlers, JJ.
                                          2

TABOR, Judge.

        The district court found Andrew Jaquez guilty of possession of

methamphetamine on stipulated minutes of evidence.             Jaquez appeals that

conviction, challenging the proof of constructive possession. Because the minutes

failed to establish that Jaquez was aware of the drugs and had dominion and

control over them, the State did not meet its burden of proof. Thus we reverse

Jaquez’s conviction for possession of methamphetamine and remand for dismissal

of that charge and resentencing on his other unchallenged convictions.1

    I. Facts and Prior Proceedings

        Patrolling at 2:00 a.m., Burlington Police Officer Kegan Jacobson saw a

Nissan Altima near the intersection of Summer and Maple Streets. The officer

signaled for the car to stop because it had “an inoperable middle brake light.” The

Altima pulled over at the Circle K gas station. In his report, Officer Jacobson

recalled that the Altima’s driver, later identified as Jaquez, “flung open the driver’s

side door and started running.” The officer pursued on foot. The officer later

reported: “I was able to get within reaching distance and I was able to assist Jaquez

to the ground.” Jaquez continued to resist arrest, resulting in minor injuries to the

officer.2

1 Jaquez also challenges his sentence. But we need not settle that controversy
because our finding of insufficient evidence on the felony count requires a remand
for resentencing on the remaining counts.
2 Officer Jacobson added: “It should also be known, that while assisting Jaquez to

the ground, while he was resting [sic] and trying to flee away from me, that my
black Apple I watch, valued at approximately $500, had the screen shattered and
broken off of it, making it inoperable.”
                                           3

       At Jacobson’s request, fellow officers responded. They handcuffed Jaquez

and secured him in a patrol car. They discovered two other passengers had fled

the Altima.   Officers swept the area but could not locate them.            Police then

searched the car. On the passenger side, the officers found a glass pipe that they

suspected was used to smoke methamphetamine. On the rear floorboard behind

the driver’s seat, the officers found a baggie containing a white powder. The state

crime laboratory later determined the substance was methamphetamine.

       Meanwhile, Officer Jacob Jenkins read the suspect his Miranda rights.

Jaquez volunteered some initial information about the owner of the car but declined

to answer questions about the identity of his passengers. Officer Jenkins wrote in

his report that a squad car video showed a female passenger leave by the rear

passenger side door.3 According to his report, “it appeared as she reached in the

front passenger door for something and then fled on foot.” The video also showed

a male passenger “come out the driver’s side door and also flee northbound.”

       In the wake of that traffic stop, the State charged Jaquez with three counts:

(1) possession of a controlled substance, third offense, a class “D” felony, in

violation of Iowa Code section 124.401(5) (2019); (2) interference with official acts

causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor, in violation of section 719.1(1); and

(3) criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a serious misdemeanor, in violation of

section 716.1. Reaching a deal with the State, Jaquez agreed to plead guilty to

3 The minutes referenced the State’s intent to introduce video recordings into
evidence at trial, but the district court did not mention those recordings in its ruling.
And no videos appear in our appellate record.
                                           4

the first two counts in return for the State recommending concurrent terms and

forgoing a habitual offender enhancement.

         But at the November 2019 hearing, the district court declined to accept

Jaquez’s guilty plea. The court engaged with Jaquez, who admitted driving the

Altima stopped by police. Their exchange continued:

                THE COURT: All right. And did you get out of your vehicle at
         that point?
                THE DEFENDANT: Yep. Right when they pulled behind me I
         took—got out of the vehicle and took off running.
                THE COURT: And when—Well, let me ask you this. Did they
         catch you?
                THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
                THE COURT: And when they caught you, did they search
         you?
                THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
                THE COURT: And did they find methamphetamine on you?
                THE DEFENDANT: No.

         Because the police did not find the drugs on Jaquez’s person, the court

explored the concept of constructive possession with him.

                THE COURT: And where was the methamphetamine found?
                THE DEFENDANT: In the backseat of the vehicle and on the
         passenger’s side of the vehicle.
                THE COURT: So at the time that you were driving that motor
         vehicle up to the point when you stopped at Circle K and got out, did
         you know that there was methamphetamine in the vehicle?
                THE DEFENDANT: No.

         Hearing this denial, the court turned to Assistant County Attorney Todd

Chelf.

                THE COURT: So Mr. Chelf, how do you think the State can
         prove     beyond      a    reasonable    doubt    Possession        of
         Methamphetamine?
                MR. CHELF: Your Honor, reading the facts of the Complaint
         and Affidavit, I think the State would have officers testify that the
         methamphetamine was located in the area of the car in which he was
         located, and that would be what the State would be relying upon.
                                         5

              THE COURT: Well, let’s see if I understand this correctly. Mr.
       Jaquez says that, No. 1, he was driving the vehicle, and the
       methamphetamine found was in the back seat and the passenger’s
       seat; and, No. 2, he did not know the methamphetamine was in the
       vehicle at the time he was arrested. So what else does the State
       have to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt?
              MR. CHELF: Your Honor, at this time the State has probable
       cause to proceed on this matter. I don’t know that depositions have
       been taken and that additional evidence has been developed in this
       case.

       Not reassured by the prosecutor’s description of the available evidence, the

court told Jaquez, “I cannot take your guilty plea in this case, and let me tell you

why. Now, I noticed from your reaction from what I said that it might be one of

those reactions that, I just want to get it over with.” Jaquez responded: “I know.”

In explaining why it was rejecting his guilty plea, the court delivered a primer on

constructive possession: “You have to know that there’s methamphetamine in your

vehicle, and that you knowingly possessed it in some fashion.”           The court

continued:

              But it sounds to me like you didn’t know it was there. And
       here’s the thing, if you were to go to trial and the State could not
       prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you knew the
       methamphetamine was in your possession, you may not be
       convicted of this.
              Now, I can’t take a guilty plea from somebody who says that
       he did not know that the controlled substance was in the car. And
       you certainly didn’t have it on you when you were arrested.

       The court then set the matter for trial. In early December 2019, Jaquez

appeared for a bench trial.4 Neither side presented live testimony. The same

judge who rejected the guilty plea ruled that the State proved beyond a reasonable

4 That same day, the State supplemented its minutes of evidence but only to add
a state criminalist as a witness who expected to testify about lab tests confirming
the seized baggie contained methamphetamine. The attached drug chemistry
report showed the “crystalline substance” weighed one gram.
                                          6

doubt    that   Jaquez   committed     the    offense   of   felony   possession    of

methamphetamine based on the minutes of evidence.5 The court also found

Jaquez guilty of interference and criminal mischief. The court ran those three

sentences concurrently but consecutively to a pending probation-revocation case

in Wapello County. Jaquez appeals his drug conviction and the consecutive

sentence.

    II. Scope and Standard of Review

        We review Jaquez’s challenge to the sufficiency of evidence for errors at

law. See State v. Myers, 924 N.W.2d 823, 827 (Iowa 2019). We generally apply

the same standard in reviewing the verdict in a bench trial as in a jury trial. Id. But

in jury-waived cases, the court’s findings of fact have the effect of a special

verdict—binding on appeal if supported by substantial evidence.6             State v.

Fordyce, 940 N.W.2d 419, 425 (Iowa 2020). If the court’s verdict is supported by

substantial evidence, we will affirm. Myers, 924 N.W.2d at 826. We view the

record in the light most favorable to the court’s decision. Id. at 827. Still, “the

evidence must raise a fair inference of guilt and do more than create speculation,

suspicion, or conjecture.” See State v. Webb, 648 N.W.2d 72, 76 (Iowa 2002).

5  Jaquez stipulated to two prior drug offenses, establishing this was his third
offense.
6 In cases tried without a jury, the court is supposed to “find the facts specially and

on the record, separately stating its conclusions of law and rendering an
appropriate verdict.” Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.17(2); see State v. Sayre, 566 N.W.2d
193, 196 (Iowa 1997) (requiring court to follow rule even when defendant is
stipulating to a bench trial on the minutes). Here, the court’s ruling sets out neither
its findings of fact nor conclusions of law, skipping right to the verdict. Although
Jaquez does not complain about the court’s failure to comply with rule 2.17(2), its
shortcut hampers our ability to review for substantial evidence.
                                        7

   III. Analysis

      Jaquez contends the minutes contained insufficient evidence that he

possessed the baggie of methamphetamine. Because Jaquez did not have actual

possession of the drugs, the parties agree that constructive possession is the

issue. See State v. Atkinson, 620 N.W.2d 1, 3 (Iowa 2000) (“[A]ctual possession

requires substances to be found on the defendant’s person, and that was not the

case here.”). “The existence of constructive possession turns on the peculiar facts

of each case.” Webb, 648 N.W.2d at 79.

      To prove constructive possession, the State had to show three elements:

(1) Jaquez exercised dominion and control over the contraband, (2) he knew of its

presence, and (3) he knew it was a controlled substance. See Atkinson, 620

N.W.2d at 3. When, as here, the police find the drugs in a car, we apply “specific

rules” for assessing constructive possession. Id. at 3–4. Because Jaquez was not

the sole occupant of the Altima, we may not infer that he knew about the

methamphetamine or had the ability to control it. See State v. Carter, 696 N.W.2d

31, 39 (Iowa 2005) (holding inference of possession arising from exclusive

possession of premises cannot assist the State where defendant was in joint

possession of vehicle in which drugs were located).

      Without that inference, the State must rely on other circumstances in the

record. Id. For example, we might ask: (1) were the drugs in plain view? (2) were

they intermingled with the accused’s personal effects? (3) were they found on the

same side of the car seat as the accused or immediately next to him? (4) did the

accused own the vehicle? and (5) did he engage in suspicious activity? See id.

Even if the answer is yes to some of these questions, we must still decide whether
                                          8

all the facts lead to a reasonable inference that the accused knew the drugs were

present and could exercise control and dominion over them. See id. That right to

maintain control goes beyond a “raw physical ability” to reach out and grab the

drugs. State v. Bash, 670 N.W.2d 135, 139 (Iowa 2003). Rather, the accused

must have a proprietary interest or an immediate right to take possession of the

controlled substance. Id.

       To start with plain view, Officer Jenkins wrote in his report: “standing around

the car, I observed a small clear Ziploc style bag of a white crystalline substance

on the rear driver’s side floorboard of the vehicle.” Although the baggie may have

been in plain view from the officer’s vantage point peering into the back of the car,

it would not have been in plain view of Jaquez from the driver’s seat.7 Contrast

State v. McMullen, 940 N.W.2d 456, 462 (Iowa Ct. App. 2019) (rejecting claim that

defendant did not know contraband was in the vehicle when “reasonable person

would have observed the open exposed cup in the console containing marijuana”).

       Second, the record does not show that any of Jaquez’s personal belongings

were near the drugs. Contrast State v. Kemp, 688 N.W.2d 785, 790 (Iowa 2004)

(holding State proved constructive possession when police found rolling papers

used for smoking marijuana among accused’s personal effects in console of car

he owned and had been driving).

7 The State also notes that a glass pipe, suspected of being paraphernalia, was in
plain view on the passenger seat. The minutes do not state that the pipe was
tested for drugs. It also appears that Jaquez had a front-seat passenger who
would have obstructed his view of any item left on the seat. And the pipe was not
among Jaquez’s belongings.
                                          9

       Third, the baggie was on the driver’s side of the car but on the rear

floorboard. The State argues that it is reasonable to infer that Jaquez “tossed it

behind him before or as he exited.” But it is equally reasonable to infer that one of

the other passengers tossed it there without his knowledge. Moreover, Officer

Jacobson reported that Jaquez bailed from the Altima right after stopping; the

officer did not mention seeing any furtive movements while Jaquez was still in the

car. And even if the drugs were within Jaquez’s reach, constructive possession

requires more than proximity to the contraband. See State v. Cashen, 666 N.W.2d

566, 572 (Iowa 2003) (holding accused’s position near drugs, though pertinent,

was not enough to show control and dominion);8 see also State v. Cain, No.19-

0699, 2020 WL 2893250, at *6 (Iowa Ct. App. June 3, 2020) (“We can only

speculate whether Cain was able to ‘maintain control over the drugs or have the

right to control the drugs’ that were in the back of the van.”).

       Fourth, Jaquez did not own the vehicle. The minutes show that he borrowed

the car from the registered owner and had not returned it when promised. Contrast

McMullen, 940 N.W.2d at 462 (finding constructive possession when car belonged

to accused).

       Fifth, Jaquez did engage in suspicious activity. He fled the car after the

officer pulled him over. And after losing the foot chase, he resisted arrest. The

State highlights his “incriminating flight” as the lynchpin for constructive

8In Cashen, the court also noted that police did not find the accused’s fingerprints
on the baggie of marijuana. 666 N.W.2d at 572. Likewise, the minutes do not
show that authorities found Jaquez’s prints on the baggie of methamphetamine.
                                          10

possession.9 But Jaquez argues the motivation for his flight was ambiguous

because he was also wanted on an out-of-county arrest warrant and driving with a

suspended license. What’s more, the two unidentified passengers also fled,10

casting their own motivations into the mix. Contrast Carter, 696 N.W.2d at 40

(finding driver had constructive possession when driver quickly exited vehicle, but

passenger made no furtive movements).

       Even viewing the minutes in a light favorable to the court’s verdict, we find

insufficient evidence to prove constructive possession beyond a reasonable doubt.

The minutes provide no insight into how the baggie ended up on the backseat

floorboard of the borrowed Altima or how long it had been there. See Cashen, 666

N.W.2d at 572. Granted, sometimes the accused’s flight is potent proof. Not so

here. The State did not tie Jaquez’s evasive conduct to any knowledge that the

methamphetamine was in the car. The police did not discover the drugs until after

he ran. So this was not a case in which the accused engaged in incriminating

actions when confronted with police finding contraband. See Kemp, 688 N.W.2d

at 789; see also State v. Wilson, 878 N.W.2d 203, 214 (Iowa 2016) (“The inference

that flight was motivated by the defendant’s desire to avoid prosecution for the

crime charged is strongest when the defendant flees in its immediate aftermath or

shortly after being accused thereof.”). For all we know, his outstanding warrant or

9 Our supreme court has described “headlong flight” as “the consummate act of
evasion” and “suggestive of some wrongdoing” when provoked by the presence of
a police vehicle. State v. Kreps, 650 N.W.2d 636, 648 (Iowa 2002). But recall the
question in Kreps was whether flight triggered reasonable suspicion for an
investigatory stop. By contrast, the State relies on Jaquez’s flight to fuel its burden
to prove possession beyond a reasonable doubt.
10 When questioned by an officer, a man matching the description of the fleeing

passenger denied any involvement with Jaquez.
                                       11

suspended license may have prompted him to flee. Any link between Jaquez’s

suspicious conduct and the baggie was speculative on this record.

      Beyond his flight, few facts support an inference of constructive possession.

For instance, the State offered no information from the passengers to incriminate

Jaquez. And Jaquez made no declarations suggesting the drugs were his. When

viewed as a whole, the minutes do not provide substantial evidence supporting the

court’s verdict. Thus, we reverse Jaquez’s possession conviction and remand for

dismissal of that charge, as well as resentencing on the unchallenged convictions.

      CONVICTION REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.