Court Opinion

ID: 9559162
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:23:39.710484+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:09:53.066683
License: Public Domain

HATHAWAY, Judge
(concurring in part and dissenting in part).
While I agree the judgment of guilt on the possession of marijuana count should be affirmed, I believe the evidence is sufficient to also affirm the conviction of possession of marijuana for sale.
Appellant was the only occupant in the automobile having immediate possession and control of the bulky, torn paper bag containing nineteen plastic baggies of marijuana, it being stuffed under his seat and protruding some four inches against his left leg. It may be reasonably inferred that the passenger in the back seat notified him of the police pursuit whereupon appellant ducked down to hide the bag under his seat and tore the bulky bag while attempting to secrete it within the limited space. Appellant’s argument that he just as well might have been hiding the cigarettes in his sock does not reasonably follow since it would appear his object, if concern were for the cigarettes in his immediate possession, would have been to get them off his person. I would affirm on both counts.