Court Opinion

ID: 4194187
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-08 18:20:45.822091+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:57.655492
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                           Washington State
                                                                                           Court of Appeals
                                                                                            Division Two

                                                                                            August 8, 2017

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                         DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                                No. 48945-7-II

                        Respondent,

        v.                                                    UNPUBLISHED OPINION

 CURTIS EDWARD VINCENT,
 A/K/A CHRIS VINCENT,

                        Appellant.

       MAXA, A.C.J. – Curtis Vincent appeals his conviction of unlawful possession of a

controlled substance–methamphetamine. He argues that because the methamphetamine was in

his baseball hat rather than on his person, the evidence was insufficient to show actual

possession. We hold that the presence of methamphetamine in Vincent’s hat constituted actual

possession. Therefore, we affirm his conviction.

                                              FACTS

       On February 14, 2016, a City of Aberdeen police officer arrested Vincent following a

traffic stop. Vincent was wearing a baseball hat. At the police station, a corrections officer

checked the inside band of the hat and discovered a small bag containing what appeared to be a
No. 48945-7-II

controlled substance. Forensic testing established that the substance contained

methamphetamine.

       The State charged Vincent with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Vincent

presented an affirmative defense of unwitting possession based on his testimony that he was

unaware that he had methamphetamine in his hat that day. Vincent admitted that he was a

frequent drug user, that he stored drugs in his hat, and that he was the only one that had

possessed or worn the hat. But he stated that he did not realize he had methamphetamine on him

that day. The jury found Vincent guilty.

       Vincent appeals his conviction.

                                            ANALYSIS

       At the close of the evidence, the parties agreed that the trial court would instruct the jury

only on actual possession and not on constructive possession. Vincent argues that based on that

instruction, the State presented insufficient evidence that he had actual possession of the

methamphetamine found in his hat because he did not have physical custody of the

methamphetamine. Instead, he claims that his hat had physical custody of the methamphetamine

and therefore the most the State could prove was constructive possession. We disagree.

       The test for determining sufficiency of the evidence is whether, after viewing the

evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found guilt

beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Homan, 181 Wash. 2d 102, 105, 330 P.3d 182 (2014). In a

sufficiency of the evidence claim, the defendant admits the truth of the State’s evidence and all

reasonable inferences drawn from that evidence. Id. at 106.

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No. 48945-7-II

       “ ‘Actual possession means that the goods are in the personal custody of the person

charged with possession; whereas, constructive possession means that the goods are not in

actual, physical possession but that the person charged with possession has dominion and control

over the goods.’ ” State v. Staley, 123 Wash. 2d 794, 798, 872 P.2d 502 (1994) (quoting State v.

Callahan, 77 Wash. 2d 27, 29, 459 P.2d 400 (1969)). In the context of a search incident to arrest,

actual possession includes items “ ‘immediately associated’ with the arrestee’s person.” State v.

Byrd, 178 Wash. 2d 611, 621, 310 P.3d 793 (2013).

       Vincent argues that Staley supports his argument that he did not have actual possession of

the methamphetamine. In Staley, the court addressed a proposed jury instruction stating that

fleeting, momentary, temporary, or unwitting possession is not unlawful. 123 Wash. 2d at 798.

The court stated that the State must prove more than a passing control to establish actual

possession, but also noted that a momentary handling may support a finding of possession. 123
Wash. 2d at 801-02. But Staley did not address whether carrying drugs in a hat or any other article

of clothing constituted actual possession. And this discussion is inapplicable here, where it is

clear that Vincent had more than passing control over the hat.

       The facts in this case demonstrate actual possession. The methamphetamine was in

Vincent’s baseball hat. Vincent was wearing the hat. As a result, he had physical custody of

both the hat and the methamphetamine. This situation is no different than if the

methamphetamine was in Vincent’s pants pocket or in a bag he was carrying.

       We affirm Vincent’s conviction for possession of a controlled substance.

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No. 48945-7-II

        A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW

2.06.040, it is so ordered.

                                                      MAXA, A.C.J.

 We concur:

 JOHANSON, J.

 LEE, J.

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