Court Opinion

ID: 29524
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:39:45+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:55:09.882452
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                             No. 02-50440
                           Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                Plaintiff - Appellee

     v.

MICHAEL JOHN NELSON

                Defendant - Appellant

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Western District of Texas
                      USDC No. W-01-CR-93-3
                       --------------------
                         November 7, 2002

Before KING, Chief Judge, and DeMOSS and BENAVIDES, Circuit
Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Michael John Nelson appeals his conviction and 78-month

sentence for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.   Nelson

asserts that the evidence is not sufficient to support the jury’s

verdict that he was a participant in the conspiracy.   Nelson

argues that the only evidence linking him to the conspiracy was

the testimony of a coconspirator, who is not reliable, who has a

prior conviction for lying to the Government, and who testified

     *
        Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
                            No. 02-50440
                                 -2-

to obtain a lenient sentence.    Nelson contends that he was merely

present when the police executed a search warrant.

       We review the record to determine “whether any reasonable

trier of fact could have found that the evidence established the

essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.”

United States v. Ortega Reyna, 148 F.3d 540, 543 (5th Cir. 1998).

We view the evidence “in the light most favorable to the

government,” and we draw all reasonable inferences and make all

credibility choices in support of the verdict.    Id.   To establish

a drug conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 846, the Government must

prove beyond a reasonable doubt that two or more persons had an

agreement to violate the narcotics laws, that the conspirator had

knowledge of the conspiracy and intended to join it, and that the

conspirator voluntarily participated in the conspiracy.      United

States v. Inocencio, 40 F.3d 716, 725 (5th Cir. 1994).

       Nelson’s coconspirator’s testimony is sufficient to

establish his guilt because it is not incredible as a matter of

law.    United States v. Bermea, 30 F.3d 1539, 1552 (5th Cir.

1994).    The jury determines the credibility of the witnesses and

was free to accept the coconspirator’s testimony over that of

Nelson.    United States v. Martinez, 975 F.2d 159, 161 (5th Cir.

1992).    In addition, although Nelson’s mere presence at the scene

is insufficient to establish his guilt, the jury was free to find

“knowledgeable, voluntary participation from presence when the

presence is such that it would be unreasonable for anyone other
                          No. 02-50440
                               -3-

than a knowledgeable participant to be present.”   United States

v. White, 219 F.3d 442, 447 (5th Cir. 2000); United States v.

Evans, 941 F.2d 267, 272 (5th Cir. 1991).   Accordingly, the

judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.