Court Opinion

ID: 9380120
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-17 14:04:13.288687+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:13.225203
License: Public Domain

RENDERED: MARCH 10, 2023; 10:00 A.M.
                       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

                Commonwealth of Kentucky
                         Court of Appeals

                            NO. 2022-CA-0276-MR

JORDAN BROWN                                                       APPELLANT

              APPEAL FROM MUHLENBERG CIRCUIT COURT
v.               HONORABLE BRIAN WIGGINS, JUDGE
                       ACTION NO. 21-CR-00336

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY                                             APPELLEE

                                  OPINION
                                 AFFIRMING

                                 ** ** ** ** **

BEFORE: THOMPSON, CHIEF JUDGE; DIXON AND GOODWINE, JUDGES.

GOODWINE, JUDGE: Jordan Brown (“Brown”) appeals the February 9, 2022

judgment of the Muhlenberg Circuit Court. We affirm.

            On August 28, 2021, Brown overdosed at the home of Chandra

Walker (“Walker”). Walker called 911. Both law enforcement and emergency

medical services (“EMS”) responded to the call. EMS found Brown unresponsive,

administered Narcan, and transported Brown to the hospital. Police searched
Brown and his surroundings and discovered a loaded syringe, a scale, heroin, and

an ounce of methamphetamine.

                As a result of this incident, Brown was indicted on one count of

trafficking in controlled substances in the first degree.1 Thereafter, Brown filed a

motion to dismiss, arguing KRS 218A.133 bars prosecution for trafficking. The

trial court denied the motion. Brown then entered a conditional guilty plea and,

upon entry of the final judgment, he was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.

This appeal followed.

                We review questions of statutory interpretation de novo, giving no

deference to the findings of the trial court. Wilson v. Commonwealth, 628 S.W.3d

132, 140 (Ky. 2021).

                A person shall not be charged with or prosecuted for a
                criminal offense prohibiting the possession of a
                controlled substance or the possession of drug
                paraphernalia if:

                    (a) In good faith, medical assistance with a drug
                        overdose is sought from a public safety answering
                        point, emergency medical services, a law
                        enforcement officer, or a health practitioner
                        because the person:

                         1.   Requests emergency medical assistance for
                              himself or herself or another person;

1
    Kentucky Revised Statutes (“KRS”) 218A.1412, a Class C felony.

                                              -2-
                      2.   Acts in concert with another person who
                           requests emergency medical assistance; or

                      3.   Appears to be in need of emergency medical
                           assistance and is the individual for whom
                           the request was made;

                 (b) The person remains with, or is, the individual who
                     appears to be experiencing a drug overdose until
                     the requested assistance is provided; and

                 (c) The evidence for the charge or prosecution is
                     obtained as a result of the drug overdose and the
                     need for medical assistance.
KRS 218A.133(2). Brown argues the Commonwealth was prohibited from

charging him with trafficking in a controlled substance because the offense

resulted from evidence discovered as a result of his overdose and subsequent

medical treatment.

             Prosecution for trafficking offenses is not prohibited by KRS

218A.133. It is fundamental to statutory construction that we first look “to the

language of the statute, giving the words their plain and ordinary meaning.”

Overstreet v. Kindred Nursing Centers Limited Partnership, 479 S.W.3d 69, 73

(Ky. 2015) (citation omitted). Where the language of the statute is unambiguous,

we will not consider extrinsic evidence, including evidence of legislative intent.

Id. (citation omitted).

             KRS 218A.133 specifically prohibits charging or prosecuting an

individual for criminal offenses related to possession of controlled substances

                                         -3-
and/or paraphernalia. The statute does not mention trafficking offenses.

Trafficking offenses are distinct from possession charges. Trafficking is separately

defined as “to manufacture, distribute, dispense, sell, transfer, or possess with

intent to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or sell a controlled substance[.]” KRS

218A.010(56). The General Assembly unambiguously chose only to prohibit

charging or prosecuting for possession offenses but not for trafficking offenses.

             Based on the foregoing, the February 9, 2022 judgment of the

Muhlenberg Circuit Court is affirmed.

             ALL CONCUR.

 BRIEFS FOR APPELLANT:                     BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:

 Adam Meyer                                Daniel Cameron
 Frankfort, Kentucky                       Attorney General of Kentucky

                                           Courtney J. Hightower
                                           Assistant Attorney General
                                           Frankfort, Kentucky

                                          -4-