Court Opinion

ID: 9527472
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:30:54.524143+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:48.316352
License: Public Domain

OPINION UPON REHEARING
SULLIVAN, J.
On January 16, 1991 in Young v. State (1991) 2d Dist., Ind.App., 564 N.E.2d 968, we affirmed a Class C felony conviction for possession of cocaine but reversed a Class D felony conviction, also for possession of cocaine.
We held in part as follows:
"... at the time Young was stopped, he had 1.3529 grams of cocaine on his person and 8.1005 grams of cocaine in a spray can found in his car. Although the cocaine found in the spray can was not discovered until several hours after Young was arrested, Young's original possession of both packages of cocaine was simultaneous. We therefore conclude that Young was charged and con*973victed, in effect, of two violations which arose from his single act of simultaneous possession of two packages of cocaine. Indiana courts have found, in such situations, that a defendant may properly be convicted of but one offense. (Citations omitted)." 564 N.E.2d at 978.
The State has filed its Petition for Rehearing requesting that we adopt the position advocated by Judge Chezem in her separate opinion which dissented in part. The State cites Diggs v. State (1988) Ind., 581 N.E.2d 461, in support of its petition.
At first blush, Diggs would appear to permit two separate possession convictions under the facts before us. In that case, however, the discussion was had in a context different from that which confronts us. The issue in Diggs related to the quantity of cocaine contained in various State exhibits and whether the quantity in at least two of those exhibits was sufficient to support separate Class D felony convictions.
Be that as it may, unlike the facts before us, the facts recited in Diggs do not disclose that the drugs found on his person when he was booked in at the jail, had been in his possession at the time when he was arrested at the house where other quantities were seized. To be sure, under the circumstances, a reasonable inference might be drawn to that effect but not compelled. In any event, we do not believe the message in Diggs is so clear as to require the granting of the State's petition.
The author of this opinion upon rehearing takes issue with an assertion in the State's petition that the Indiana Supreme Court has rejected "one transaction decisions". The Diggs case, along with Seay v. State (1990) Ind., 550 N.E.2d 1284 is cited.
The "same transaction" or "continuous occurrence" test continues to be applied in various cases. See e.g. Ellis v. State (1988) Ind., 528 N.E.2d 60. Most recently, and subsequent to the decision in Diggs, the court applied the Ellis "identical incident" test and reversed one of two conviections for acts which "took place simultaneously on one occasion". Bowling v. State (1990) Ind., 560 N.E.2d 658, 660. If change or clarification is to be forthcoming, it is not within the prerogative of this Court.
SHIELDS, J., opinion. concurs with separate
CHEZEM, J., dissents.
SHIELDS, P.J.