Court Opinion

ID: 1292759
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-30 05:22:35.220145+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:29:45.151507
License: Public Domain

224 S.E.2d 180 (1976)
290 N.C. 68
STATE of North Carolina
v.
John MINOR.
No. 51.
Supreme Court of North Carolina.
May 14, 1976.
*183 Atty. Gen. Rufus L. Edmisten by Sp. Deputy Atty. Gen. William F. O'Connell and Asst. Atty. Gen. Robert R. Reilly, Raleigh, for the State.
Ronald W. Howell, Marshall, for defendant Minor.
COPELAND, Justice.
Defendant makes a number of assignments of error, but we first consider the question of whether the trial court committed prejudicial error in denying defendant Minor's motion for nonsuit at the close of all the evidence.
"If there is any evidence tending to prove the fact of guilt or which reasonably leads to this conclusion as a fairly logical and legitimate deduction, and not such as merely raises a suspicion or conjecture of guilt, it is for the jury to say whether they are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of guilt." 2 Strong's N.C. Index 2d, Criminal Law § 106 at 654. See State v. Bell, 285 N.C. 746, 208 S.E.2d 506 (1974); State v. Cutler, 271 N.C. 379, 156 S.E.2d 679 (1967); State v. Roberts, 270 N.C. 655, 155 S.E.2d 303 (1967); State v. Mabry, 269 N.C. 293, 152 S.E.2d 112 (1967).
The State relied completely upon circumstantial evidence as to defendant Minor. In order to withstand the motion for nonsuit, there must be substantial evidence of all material elements of the offenses. It makes no difference whether the substantial evidence is circumstantial or direct or both. State v. Stephens, 244 N.C. 380, 93 S.E.2d 431 (1956).
Although the cases against Minor and Ingram were consolidated for trial, the evidence certainly is not identical as to both of them.
What does the evidence show as to the defendant, John Minor, when it is taken in the light most favorable to the State, resolving all contradictions in the State's evidence in its favor and including all the evidence whether it is competent or incompetent? It shows the following:
On 23 July 1973, shortly after midnight, SBI Agent Cope went to the Bill Roberts' homeplace in Cherokee County with a search warrant. He discovered the dilapidated Roberts' house and barn and the so-called Moneymaker house about one-half mile from an unpaved road. There was an one-quarter acre garden plot plowed and planted near the Roberts' house. The vegetable garden apparently had been neglected or abandoned. Near the Moneymaker house the agent walked down a little path to a wooded area. State's Exhibit 7, a photograph, indicates a substantial wooded area obscures the marijuana field from the Moneymaker house. He then walked through the woods and across a branch. The distance from the house along the route traveled was approximately 100 feet. On the other side of the branch he found a field of the dimensions of 400 feet by 150 feet and somewhat circular in shape. In this field were a few stalks of corn growing dispersed among the marijuana plants. The photographs taken on 23 July 1973 indicated corn in the "tasselling stage" and marijuana plants, all approximately six feet in height.
The agent went to the Moneymaker house, and his search revealed some camping gear, weed cutters, strings, hoes, shirts, and a bottle with the name "Minor" on it which contained kerosine or coal oil.
Later on the same day in the afternoon after securing warrants, the agent arrested defendant Minor outside a red Volkswagen owned by co-defendant Ingram. There was some evidence that a search of the vehicle *184 was made and some wilted marijuana leaves were found on the left rear floorboard. These leaves could not have been seen from outside the vehicle.
There was some evidence that a search of the trunk of the vehicle revealed some grains of fertilizer and one marijuana leaf. The only evidence linking defendant Minor to any of the items in the Volkswagen was his presence in Ingram's vehicle before his arrest.
The stipulation tended to show that Ingram had made the arrangements for the use or lease of the premises. There was nothing in it that disclosed any "knowledge" of the lease by defendant Minor. The record is devoid of any evidence making Minor a lessee of any kind.
Defendant Ingram had the one-acre field plowed in which the marijuana was later discovered. It is true that the defendant Minor had been in the neighborhood two or three times with Ingram and they had discussed preparing a garden. A garden was found on the quarter-acre tract adjacent to the Roberts' house. No marijuana was found in that tract.
All the evidence pointed to Ingram as the lessee or possessor of the premises; the person who had the ground plowed; the owner and operator of the automobile in which some wilted marijuana leaves were found. Warrants had already been issued and served when the vehicle was searched. Obviously Minor is not charged with possession of any marijuana in the Volkswagen. The only possible link of Minor to the Volkswagen was his presence in the front-passenger seat prior to his arrest outside the vehicle. The only evidence linking him to the premises was a bottle in the Moneymaker house with the name "Minor" on it. His mother said it contained coal oil and belonged to her. No controlled substance was found in the Moneymaker house.
All the evidence of the State and defendant must be considered on the motion to nonsuit at the close of the case. There is nothing in the defendant's evidence to help the State's case. It simply explains Minor's presence at the scene where he was arrested.
The brief and argument of the State concedes that in order to hold Minor the State's case must rest on "constructive possession" by the defendant Minor of the field of marijuana.
Possession of narcotics may be either actual or constructive. An accused has possession of contraband materials within the meaning of the law when he has both the power and intent to control the drug or its use. Thus, when such materials are found on premises under the control of defendant, this fact gives rise to an inference of knowledge and possession which may be sufficient to take the case to the jury. State v. Harvey, 281 N.C. 1, 187 S.E.2d 706 (1972). "Also, the State may overcome a motion . . . for judgment as of nonsuit by presenting evidence which places the accused `within such close juxtaposition to the narcotic drugs as to justify the jury in concluding that the same was in his possession.' [Citations omitted.]" State v. Harvey, supra at 12-13, 187 S.E.2d at 714. In Harvey the facts indicated that defendant was found alone in a room in his home some three to four feet from the marijuana. Our Court held that this evidence supported the reasonable inference that the marijuana was in defendant's possession.
Our Court in Harvey and in State v. Allen, 279 N.C. 406, 183 S.E.2d 680 (1971) referred to Hunt v. State, 158 Tex. Crim. 618, 258 S.W.2d 320 (1953). In that case defendant was convicted of unlawful possession of marijuana. The evidence against him indicated that he had been seen at a lumber pile between two buildings reaching under the end of the pile. Later two tobacco cans full of marijuana were found in this place. This was held sufficient for a conviction.
Our Court in State v. Spencer, 281 N.C. 121, 187 S.E.2d 779 (1972), held that evidence disclosing that defendant had been seen on numerous occasions in and around a pig shed where marijuana was found, this being some twenty yards from the defendant's residence, and that some marijuana *185 seeds were found in defendant's bedroom, lead to a reasonable inference that defendant exercised custody and control over the pig shed and the marijuana found therein.
In State v. Allen, supra, our Court held that it was sufficient to show "constructive possession" where the heroin was found in a house with the public utilities listed in defendant's name; an Army identification card and other papers bearing defendant's name were found in the same bedroom where the heroin was discovered; and a sixteen-year old boy, having obtained heroin from the described house pursuant to defendant's instructions, sold it at defendant's direction.
In each of these cases our Court, speaking through Justice Branch, held there was sufficient evidence to go to the jury. Defendants were placed in either actual possession of the drugs or in such close juxtaposition to the drugs as to raise a reasonable inference that they controlled the contraband.
In our case the evidence does not come close to the fact situations of any of the cases discussed. About all our evidence shows is (1) that defendant Minor had been a visitor at an abandoned house leased or controlled by co-defendant Ingram; (2) that the marijuana field was 100 feet away from the house but obscured by a wooded area; (3) that the marijuana field was accessible by three different routes; (4) that on the date of Minor's arrest he was on the front seat of a Volkswagen automobile owned and operated by Ingram, where some wilted marijuana leaves were found on the left rear floorboard and one marijuana leaf was found in the trunk.
The most the State has shown is that defendant had been in an area where he could have committed the crimes charged. Beyond that we must sail in a sea of conjecture and surmise. This we are not permitted to do. The trial judge should have allowed the motion for judgment as of nonsuit at the close of defendant's evidence. Other material assignments of error were raised, but it is unnecessary to consider these because we have concluded the trial court was in error in not granting the motion for nonsuit. The decision of the Court of Appeals is
REVERSED.