Court Opinion

ID: 9475717
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 05:36:29.498508+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:44:53.619665
License: Public Domain

FERGUSON, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
I concur in the result the majority reaches, but I write separately to clarify the standard for determining the sufficiency of evidence to establish knowing possession.
The majority relies upon United States v. Collins, 764 F.2d 647, 652 (9th Cir.1985) (mere possession of a substantial quantity of narcotics is sufficient to support a finding of defendant’s knowledge), and United States v. Guzman, 446 F.2d 1137, 1139 (9th Cir.1971) (evidence of possession of contraband “serves as a substantial basis to draw an inference of ... knowledge”), for the proposition that possession of a large quantity of narcotics alone may be sufficient in some cases to support a finding that a defendant knowingly possessed the narcotics. While there are undoubtedly some circumstances where the approach set forth in Collins would be appropriate — as, for example, where a defendant possesses contraband about his person, in a pocket, or in a container which makes the contents visible—I believe that Guzman sets forth the appropriate standard to be applied in this case.
Under the standard set forth in Guzman, possession of narcotics creates an inference of knowledge; it does not necessarily provide sufficient evidence to support a finding of knowledge. Id. at 1139. The court in Guzman cites as authority a line of cases addressing the sufficiency of evidence in convictions for illegal importation. None of these cases states the blunt rule that the Collins court derived from Guzman and United States v. Sutton, 446 F.2d 916, 920 (9th Cir.1971). Rather, they emphasize that “[pjossession ... must be such as to establish both control over the subject and knowledge of its presence,” Eason v. United States, 281 F.2d 818, 820 (9th Cir.1960), and that “[p]roof that one had exclusive control and dominion over property on or in which contraband narcotics are found is a potent circumstance, tending to prove knowledge of the presence of such narcotics and control thereof.” Evans v. United States, 257 F.2d 121, 128 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 358 U.S. 866, 79 S.Ct. 98, 3 L.Ed.2d 99 (1958).
I agree with the majority that Walitwarangkul’s knowledge can be better proved *1355by the circumstantial evidence that he had a claim check and key to the suitcase, appeared nervous when questioned by customs, changed his story about ownership of the suitcase, and was traveling under an assumed name. Under the standard articulated in Guzman, Walitwarangkul’s possession of a suitcase containing over a kilogram of heroin establishes an inference that he knew about the contents of the suitcase. This inference and the circumstantial evidence provided a sufficient basis for the jury to convict Walitwarangkul of knowingly possessing heroin.
I write separately to emphasize that where, as here, the contraband is found in a locked or sealed container, the appropriate standard for the sufficiency of the evidence is that possession of the container permits an inference of knowledge which, in the light of all the other evidence, may be a sufficient basis for a jury to convict a defendant of knowing possession.