Court Opinion

ID: 3016393
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:15:31.378593+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:22.634679
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ____________

                                       No. 03-2163
                                      ____________

                            UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                            v.

                                 CHELSEA L. YOCUM,

                                             Appellant
                                      ____________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                                 (D.C. No. 01-cr-00072-2)
                     District Judge: Honorable William W. Caldwell
                                      ____________

                       Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                   October 25, 2004

       Before: SCIRICA, Chief Judge, FISHER and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges.

                                   (Filed April 7, 2005)
                                      ____________

                               OPINION OF THE COURT
                                    ____________

FISHER, Circuit Judge.

       In this appeal, Appellant Chelsea Yocum (“Yocum”) challenged her conviction

under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) for distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50

grams or more of crack cocaine. She also challenged her sentence on the basis that the
District Court erred in determining that she was not entitled to a two level downward

departure for acceptance of responsibility pursuant to U.S. S ENTENCING G UIDELINES

M ANUAL § 3E1.1. We held the appeal C.A.V. pending United States v. Booker, 543 U.S.

   , 125 S. Ct. 738 (2005). Subsequent to Booker, Appellant informed the Court that she

also wished to challenge her sentence under Booker. We now affirm the judgment of

conviction, vacate the sentence and remand for re-sentencing in accordance with Booker.

Because the underlying events are known to the parties, we focus here on our rationale.

                                             I.

       Yocum contends that there was insufficient evidence to establish that she

possessed 22.5 grams of crack cocaine found in the hotel room where she was arrested.1

       This Court applies a “particularly deferential” standard of review when deciding

whether a jury verdict is based upon legally sufficient evidence. United States v.

Cothran, 286 F.3d 173, 175 (3d Cir. 2002) (citing United States v. Dent, 149 F.3d 180,

187 (3d Cir. 1998)). The Court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the

government and sustain the verdict if any rational juror could have found the elements of

the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. Furthermore, because Yocum did not file a

timely motion for judgment of acquittal pursuant to Rule 29 of the Federal Rules of

Criminal Procedure, the trial record must be examined only for plain error. United States

       1
        Though Yocum was convicted for distribution and possession with intent to
distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, she only contests the jury’s finding that she
constructively possessed the 22.5 grams of crack cocaine found in the hotel room.

                                             2
v. Powell, 113 F.3d 464, 466-67 (3d Cir. 1997). Under this test, before an appellate court

can correct a plain error not raised at trial, there must be (i) an error; (ii) that is plain; and

(iii) the error must affect substantial rights. Johnson v. United States, 520 U.S. 461, 467

(1997) (citing United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732 (1993)). If each of these

conditions are met, then the Court may exercise its discretion to notice a forfeited error,

but only if the error (iv) seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of

judicial proceedings. Id. (internal citation and quotation omitted).

       At trial, because there was no evidence of Yocum’s actual possession of the 22.5

grams of crack cocaine, the government alternatively sought to establish that Yocum had

constructive possession of the drugs. Constructive possession is established where the

government presents “sufficient evidence to support an inference that the individual

‘knowingly has both the power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion or

control over a thing, either directly or through another person or persons.’” United States

v. Brown, 3 F.3d 673, 680 (3d Cir. 1993) (quoting United States v. Iafelice, 978 F.2d 92,

96 (3d Cir. 1992). Dominion and control need not be exclusive but can be shared with

others. Id. (quoting United States v. Davis, 461 F.2d 1026, 1035 (3d Cir. 1972)).

       We find that sufficient evidence was presented for a rational juror to conclude

beyond a reasonable doubt that Yocum constructively possessed the 22.5 grams of crack

cocaine found in the hotel room where she was arrested. Yocum attempted to delay the

officers gaining entry to the hotel room, she lied about the presence of her co-defendant

                                                3
who was hiding in the bathroom of the hotel room, and she attempted to conceal both a

marijuana roach and a cocaine-coated razor blade in the pocket of her coat. Additionally,

the police officers discovered numerous small, clear yellow, plastic zip-loc baggies,

commonly used to store drugs, sitting in plain view on a bedside table. The 22.5 grams of

crack cocaine in question were found in the pocket of a coat also sitting in plain view in

the hotel room. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, we

find that a rational juror could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Yocum

constructively possessed the 22.5 grams of crack cocaine. Cf. Iafelice, 978 F.2d at 96-97

(emphasizing need to consider facts in context of surrounding circumstances and

accordingly finding defendant’s use of beeper and suspicious driving (consistent with

counter surveillance) and that drugs were in defendant’s car supported jury finding that

defendant had constructive possession of drugs). Accordingly, we will affirm the

judgment of conviction.

                                             II.

       Having determined that the sentencing issues Yocum raises are best determined by

the District Court in the first instance, we will vacate the sentence and remand for

re-sentencing in accordance with Booker.

                                             4