Court Opinion

ID: 2687501
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-31 21:40:48.466427+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:16:47.627402
License: Public Domain

In the Supreme Court of Georgia

                                           Decided: June 30, 2014

                  S14A0513. THE STATE v. NANKERVIS.

      HUNSTEIN, Justice.

      This case stems from Appellee Thomas Nankervis’ prosecution for

methamphetamine trafficking pursuant to OCGA § 16-13-31 (f). After the jury

returned a guilty verdict on methamphetamine trafficking, the trial court held

that the methamphetamine trafficking statute was unconstitutional and

sentenced Nankervis for manufacturing a controlled substance pursuant to the

rule of lenity. The State appeals, and we now hold that the methamphetamine

trafficking statute is constitutional and that rule of lenity does not apply in this

case. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s ruling, vacate the judgment in

part, and remand.

      On June 15, 2011, a Columbia County grand jury indicted Nankervis for

trafficking in methamphetamine, failure to maintain lane, and violation of the

open container law. After pleading not guilty, Nankervis filed a motion to
dismiss the indictment on the ground that the sentencing provisions of the

methamphetamine trafficking statute, OCGA § 16-13-31 (f) (1), (g) (1), and (g)

(2),1 are unconstitutional.

      After a trial held on August 15 - 17, 2011, a jury found Nankervis guilty

on all three counts in the indictment. The jury was charged on “Trafficking

Methamphetamine,” “Manufacturing Methamphetamine,” “Possession of

Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute,” and                   “Possession of

Methamphetamine,” and the jury opted to find Nankervis guilty of “Trafficking

Methamphetamine.” After the jury’s verdict was published, the trial court

instructed the jury to return a “secondary” verdict, stating: “If you had not had

the charge before you of trafficking in methamphetamine, I need for you to

return a verdict as to whether or not you would have found Mr. Nankervis guilty

or not guilty of the offense of manufacturing methamphetamine.”2 After a quick

deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of guilty for “manufacturing

      1
        OCGA § 16-13-31 (f) and (g) have since been amended. See Ga. L. 2013, Act
84, § 4. Unless otherwise noted, the provisions referenced herein are those that were
in effect prior to amendments that became effective on July 1, 2013.
      2
        Although the trial judge used the phrase “manufacturing methamphetamine,”
it is clear from the record that the trial judge was referring to manufacturing a
“controlled substance” pursuant to § 16-13-30 (b).
                                         2
methamphetamine.”

         The trial court delayed sentencing in order to fully consider the issues

raised in Nankervis’ motion to dismiss. On December 19, 2011, the court issued

an order granting in part Nankervis’ motion to dismiss, holding that OCGA §

16-13-31 (f) and (g) were unconstitutional because they violated Nankervis’

substantive due process and equal protection rights. The trial court held further

that § 16-13-31 (f) (1), which prohibits trafficking methamphetamine, and §

16-13-30 (b), which prohibits manufacturing a controlled substance, prohibit

identical conduct, and therefore, under the rule of lenity, the less severe penalty

for manufacturing was applicable rather than the stricter penalty for trafficking.

On December 22, 2011, the State filed a notice of appeal of the trial court’s

order.

         On March 15, 2012, the court sentenced Nankervis to eight years of

imprisonment for manufacturing a controlled substance pursuant to OCGA § 16-

13-30 (b) and (d), a concurrent 12-month term for failure to maintain lane, and

a fine of $250.00 for the open container violation. The State supplemented its

notice of appeal on March 26, 2012, to appeal the final disposition and

                                         3
sentence.3

      1. The State argues that the trial court erred in finding unconstitutional the

methamphetamine trafficking statute, OCGA § 16-13-31 (f) and (g).4 The trial

      3
       The appeal was docketed to the January 2014 term of this Court and submitted
for a decision on the briefs.
      4
       The applicable versions of OCGA § 16-13-31 (f) and (g) provided as follows:
      (f) Any person who knowingly manufactures methamphetamine,
      amphetamine, or any mixture containing either methamphetamine or
      amphetamine, as described in Schedule II, in violation of this article
      commits the felony offense of trafficking methamphetamine or
      amphetamine and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as
      follows:
          (1) If the quantity of methamphetamine, amphetamine, or a mixture
          containing either substance involved is less than 200 grams, the
          person shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of
          imprisonment of ten years and shall pay a fine of $200,000.00;
          (2) If the quantity of methamphetamine, amphetamine, or a mixture
          containing either substance involved is 200 grams or more, but less
          than 400 grams, the person shall be sentenced to a mandatory
          minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and shall pay a fine of
          $300,000.00; and
          (3) If the quantity of methamphetamine, amphetamine, or a mixture
          containing either substance involved is 400 grams or more, the
          person shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of
          imprisonment of 25 years and shall pay a fine of $1 million.

      (g)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and
      notwithstanding Code Section 16-13-2, with respect to any person who
      is found to have violated this Code section, adjudication of guilt or
      imposition of sentence shall not be suspended, probated, deferred, or
      withheld prior to serving the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment
      prescribed by this Code section.
          (2) The district attorney may move the sentencing court to impose
                                         4
court held that § 16-13-31 (g) (2), which allows for a reduced sentence if a

defendant provides substantial assistance to the State, violated Nankervis’ right

to substantive due process and equal protection under the United States and

Georgia Constitutions. The trial court concluded that all persons convicted

under § 16-13-31 (f) (1) were similarly situated, but Nankervis was treated

differently because he could not provide assistance and therefore was ineligible

for a reduced sentence under § 16-13-31 (g) (2).

      “Unless governmental action infringes upon a fundamental right or the

complaining party is a member of a suspect class, a substantive due process or

equal protection challenge is examined under the ‘rational basis’ test.” Favorito

v. Handel, 285 Ga. 795, 796 (1) (684 SE2d 257) (2009).5 “Initially, the claimant

must establish that he is similarly situated to members of the class who are

            a reduced or suspended sentence upon any person who is convicted
            of a violation of this Code section and who provides substantial
            assistance in the identification, arrest, or conviction of any of his
            accomplices, accessories, coconspirators, or principals. Upon good
            cause shown, the motion may be filed and heard in camera. The
            judge hearing the motion may impose a reduced or suspended
            sentence if he finds that the defendant has rendered such substantial
            assistance.

      5
          The parties do not dispute that the rational basis test applies here.
                                             5
treated differently from him. Next, the claimant must establish that there is no

rational basis for such different treatment.” Harper v. State, 292 Ga. 557, 560

(1) (738 SE2d 584) (2013) (punctuation omitted). “Under the rational basis test,

a court will uphold the statute if, under any conceivable set of facts, the

classifications drawn in the statute bear a rational relationship to a legitimate end

of government not prohibited by the Constitution.” Id. at 560-61 (punctuation

omitted).

      We question whether defendants who are convicted of trafficking

methamphetamine and provide substantial assistance should be considered

similarly situated to those defendants who are convicted of trafficking

methamphetamine but are unable to provide substantial assistance.

Additionally, we note that those defendants who provide substantial assistance

are not necessarily treated differently because the trial court retains discretion

to impose a reduced sentence. OCGA § 16-13-31 (g) (2).

      However, even assuming that defendants convicted of methamphetamine

trafficking who provide substantial assistance are similarly situated and treated

differently than those who cannot provide assistance, we find that there is a

rational basis for doing so: the legislature intended to reward individuals with

                                         6
a reduced sentence in exchange for information that is useful in assisting law

enforcement officials with identifying, arresting, or convicting other individuals

involved with illegal drugs and shutting down drug networks. Accordingly, we

conclude that OCGA § 16-13-31 (f) (1), (g) (1), and (g) (2) do not violate

Nankervis’ substantive due process or equal protection rights because these

provisions bear a rational relationship to a legitimate objective of the

government. See United States v. Torres, 33 F3d 130, 132 (1st Cir. 1994)

(finding 18 USC § 3553 (e), which provided for a lower sentence based on a

defendant’s substantial assistance, did not violate equal protection clause

because it was rational to reward a defendant who gives information to assist the

government in shutting down a drug network); United States v. Musser, 856 F2d

1484, 1487 (11th Cir. 1988) (same); State v. Benitez, 395 So2d 514 (4) (Fla.

1981) (rejecting equal protection challenge to law that allowed for reduced

sentence if a defendant agreed to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to

stop drug trafficking); Wheatt v. State, 410 So2d 479 (III) (Ala. Crim. App.

1982) (same).

      2. The State contends that the trial court erred in applying the rule of

lenity in this case. “[T]he rule of lenity comes into play only to resolve

                                        7
ambiguities that remain ‘after applying all other tools of statutory

construction.’” Higdon v. State, 291 Ga. 821, 826 (2) (b) (733 SE2d 750)

(2012). However, where there is a specific and a general criminal statute, the

rule of lenity is not implicated, and “a specific statute will prevail over a general

statute, absent any indication of a contrary legislative intent.” Mann v. State,

273 Ga. 366, 368 (1) (541 SE2d 645) (2001) (punctuation omitted); see also

Woods v. State, 279 Ga. 28, 31 (3) (608 SE2d 631) (2005) (“Where a crime is

penalized by a special law, the general provisions of the penal code are not

applicable.”) (punctuation omitted).

      Nankervis was indicted for violating OCGA § 16-13-31 (f) (1), which

provides that “[a]ny person who knowingly manufactures methamphetamine .

. . commits the felony offense of trafficking methamphetamine” and sets the

punishment for such an offense at a mandatory minimum of ten years of

imprisonment and a fine of $200,000, if the quantity of methamphetamine is less

than 200 grams.       OCGA § 16-13-30 (b) and (d) make it unlawful to

“manufacture, deliver, distribute, dispense, administer, sell, or possess with

intent to distribute any controlled substance” and set the punishment at between

                                         8
five and 30 years of imprisonment.6

      The clear language of these statutes demonstrates that § 16-13-31 (f) is a

specific law criminalizing “trafficking methamphetamine” while § 16-13-30 (b)

criminalizes the manufacturing of any “controlled substance.” “Furthermore,

the most reasonable interpretation of the legislative intent in enacting OCGA §

16-13-31 (f) (1) was to supplant the general punishment provision of OCGA §

16-13-30 (b) with a specific and potentially more harsh punishment provision

for [trafficking] methamphetamine.” Richards v. State, 290 Ga. App. 360, 363

(2) (659 SE2d 651) (2008) (physical precedent only); see also Bassett v.

      6
       The applicable versions of OCGA § 16-13-30 (b) and (d) provided as follows:
      (b) Except as authorized by this article, it is unlawful for any person to
      manufacture, deliver, distribute, dispense, administer, sell, or possess
      with intent to distribute any controlled substance. . . .
                    *                  *                    *
      (d) Except as otherwise provided, any person who violates subsection
      (b) of this Code section with respect to a controlled substance in
      Schedule I or Schedule II shall be guilty of a felony and, upon
      conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than
      five years nor more than 30 years. Upon conviction of a second or
      subsequent offense, he or she shall be imprisoned for not less than ten
      years nor more than 40 years or life imprisonment. The provisions of
      subsection (a) of Code Section 17-10-7 shall not apply to a sentence
      imposed for a second such offense; provided, however, that the
      remaining provisions of Code Section 17-10-7 shall apply for any
      subsequent offense.
                                        9
Lemacks, 258 Ga. 367, 370 (2) (370 SE2d 146) (1988) (penalties for trafficking

under § 16-13-31 are “greater” than those provided in § 16-13-30 (b)). Thus,

because a more specific law applies to trafficking methamphetamine, the general

provisions of § 16-13-30 (b) for manufacturing controlled substances do not

apply. See Woods, 279 Ga. at 31. There being no uncertainty as to which

statute applies, the rule of lenity is not implicated. See Richards, 290 Ga. App.

at 363.

      3. Having found that § 16-13-31 (f) is not unconstitutional and that the

rule of lenity does not apply, we must now determine whether there was

sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict of guilt under § 16-13-31 (f).

Viewed in the light most favorable to that verdict, the evidence adduced at trial

established as follows. In the early morning hours of April 26, 2011, a law

enforcement officer stopped Nankervis for erratic driving behavior and weaving

across travel lanes. During the stop, officers noticed an open beer can on the

center console of the van, and upon questioning, Nankervis admitted that there

was a marijuana cigarette in the van. Officers proceeded to search the van and

found coffee filters, tubing, a funnel, a bottle with tubing coming out of it, a

bottle containing a liquid substance, a can of Coleman fuel, drain cleaner,

                                       10
muriatic acid, a cold pack containing ammonium nitrate, a coffee grinder,

lithium batteries, and rubber gloves. A narcotics investigator testified at trial

that all of these items could be used together to produce methamphetamine and

were consistent with a methamphetamine lab. Specifically, he testified that the

bottle found in Nankervis’ van at the time contained a liquid substance that was

in the process of being converted into methamphetamine.                 Additionally,

investigators found scales, which are consistent with selling drugs, as well as

syringes, a spoon, and straws, commonly used for ingesting drugs. Investigators

also found a bag containing less than one gram of methamphetamine. We find

that the evidence was sufficient to enable a rational trier of fact to conclude

beyond a reasonable doubt that Nankervis was guilty of trafficking in

methamphetamine, failure to maintain lane, and violation of the open container

law. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (99 SCt 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979).7

      For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the trial court erred by

sentencing Nankervis for manufacturing a controlled substance rather than for

      7
        Because we have found that the trafficking in methamphetamine statute
applies in this case and is constitutional and because the evidence supports the jury’s
finding of guilt for methamphetamine trafficking, any error in the trial court’s request
for a secondary verdict on “manufacturing methamphetamine” was harmless.
                                          11
trafficking methamphetamine. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s ruling

granting in part Nankervis’ motion to dismiss, vacate the judgment and sentence

on Count 1, and remand with direction to enter judgment on Count 1 for

trafficking methamphetamine and to sentence Nankervis accordingly. In

addition, because the trial court improperly imposed a fine for the open

container violation that exceeds the statutory cap, see OCGA § 40-6-253 (c)

(setting maximum fine at $200), we also vacate the sentence on Count 3 and

remand for resentencing on that count.

      Judgment affirmed in part and vacated in part and case remanded for entry

of judgment and sentencing. All the Justices concur.

                                      12