Court Opinion

ID: 4170978
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-23 16:06:12.768897+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:06.480130
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                 AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

                                    IN THE
             ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                DIVISION ONE

                       STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee,

                                        v.

                   JEFFREY ISAIAH BATTLE, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 16-0587
                               FILED 5-23-2017

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                        No. CR2015-156421-001
              The Honorable Margaret R. Mahoney, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By Joseph T. Maziarz
Counsel for Appellee

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Lawrence H. Blieden
Counsel for Appellant
                             STATE v. BATTLE
                            Decision of the Court

                        MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Donn Kessler delivered the decision of the Court, in which Presiding
Judge Peter B. Swann and Judge Kent E. Cattani joined.

K E S S L E R, Judge:

¶1            Appellant Jeffrey Isaiah Battle was tried and convicted of
possession or use of marijuana, a class 1 misdemeanor, and sentenced to
one year probation. Counsel for Battle filed a brief in accordance with
Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Clark, 196 Ariz. 530
(App. 1999). Finding no arguable issues to raise, counsel requests this Court
search the record for fundamental error. Battle was given the opportunity
to, but did not file a supplemental pro per brief. For the reasons that follow,
we affirm Battle’s conviction and sentence.

               FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2             In December 2015, Phoenix Police Department detective SS
observed a vehicle with unlawfully dark window tint fail to make a
complete stop. SS followed the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop for the
violations. As SS approached the stopped vehicle, he noticed Battle exit the
driver’s side and hurry into the driveway of the nearby residence.

¶3            SS and his partner exited their vehicle and gave Battle a
command to stop. As SS approached Battle, he noticed a “very strong odor
of marijuana” emanating from Battle. Battle was driving on a suspended
license, and the keys to the vehicle were discovered in his pockets. The
detectives conducted an inventory of the vehicle prior to towing it.

¶4            Upon opening the door to the vehicle, SS testified that he
smelled a very strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. SS
found a handgun and pieces of a green leafy substance both in the center
console and under the driver’s seat. A police forensic scientist testified that
the green leafy substance tested positive for cannabis resin.

¶5             SS testified that Battle acknowledged that he smelled like and
used marijuana, but denied knowing the marijuana was in the vehicle.
Battle testified that he smelled like marijuana because he had been around
friends who were smoking. Battle is not the owner of the vehicle, but he

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                             STATE v. BATTLE
                            Decision of the Court

admitted he was using it that day. Mail and medical records belonging to
Battle were also discovered inside the glove compartment of the vehicle.

¶6           After a trial to the court, Battle was convicted of possession or
use of marijuana and sentenced to a year of unsupervised probation. Battle
timely appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Article 6, Section 9, of
the Arizona Constitution and Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) sections
12-120.21(A)(1) (2016) and 13-4033(A)(1) (2010).1

                                DISCUSSION

¶7              In an Anders appeal, this Court must review the entire record
for fundamental error. Error is fundamental when it affects the foundation
of the case, deprives the defendant of a right essential to his defense, or is
an error of such magnitude that the defendant could not possibly have had
a fair trial. See State v. Henderson, 210 Ariz. 561, 567, ¶ 19 (2005) (citation
omitted). To obtain reversal for fundamental error, the defendant bears the
burden to show the error was prejudicial. Id. at ¶ 20.

¶8            In reviewing the sufficiency of evidence at trial, “[w]e
construe the evidence in the light most favorable to sustaining the verdict,
and resolve all reasonable inferences against the defendant.” State v. Greene,
192 Ariz. 431, 436, ¶ 12 (1998) (citation omitted). “Reversible error based on
insufficiency of the evidence occurs only where there is a complete absence
of probative facts to support the conviction.” State v. Soto-Fong, 187 Ariz.
186, 200 (1996) (quoting State v. Scott, 113 Ariz. 423, 424-25 (1976)).

¶9            To be convicted of possession or use of marijuana, the State
must prove that the defendant had knowledge of the presence of the
marijuana, as well as that the marijuana was in his dominion and control.
A.R.S. § 13-3405(A)(1) (2016); State v. Snodgrass, 19 Ariz. App. 391, 396 (1973)
(citations omitted). Both knowledge and possession may be shown by
circumstantial evidence. State v. Hull, 15 Ariz. App. 134, 135 (1971) (citation
omitted).

¶10             Substantial evidence supports the conviction. Detective SS
testified that both Battle and the vehicle smelled very strongly of marijuana.
The marijuana was found in locations easily accessible to and visible from
the driver’s seat of the vehicle Battle admitted to driving. See State v. Teagle,
217 Ariz. 17, 27, ¶ 41 (App. 2007) (citation omitted) (“Constructive
possession can be established by showing that the accused exercised

1      We cite to the current version of statutes unless changes material to
this decision have occurred.

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                             STATE v. BATTLE
                            Decision of the Court

dominion and control over the drug itself, or the location in which the
substance was found”); State v. Moses, 24 Ariz. App. 305, 307 (1975) (citation
omitted) (holding that another person’s presence does not diminish
defendant’s guilt as exclusive possession is not required). Battle testified
that the vehicle always smelled strongly of marijuana and that the smell
alone would not have made him aware marijuana was present in the car.
However, the court did not find this testimony credible. The court did not
err in finding that Battle knowingly possessed marijuana.

                               CONCLUSION

¶11           After careful review of the record, we find no meritorious
grounds for reversal of Battle’s conviction or modification of the sentence
imposed. The evidence supports the verdict, the sentence imposed was
within the sentencing limits, and Battle was represented at all stages of the
proceedings below and was allowed to address the court before sentencing.
Accordingly, we affirm Battle’s conviction and sentence.

¶12            Upon the filing of this decision, counsel shall inform Battle of
the status of the appeal and his options. Defense counsel has no further
obligations, unless, upon review, counsel finds an issue appropriate for
submission to the Arizona Supreme Court by petition for review. See State
v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85 (1984). Battle shall have thirty days from
the date of this decision to proceed, if he so desires, with a pro per motion
for reconsideration or petition for review.

                          AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
                          FILED: AA

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