Court Opinion

ID: 9882469
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-05 22:10:15.755895+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:59:52.130109
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Caupp, 2023-Ohio-2889.]

                               IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                  SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                     MONTGOMERY COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO                                     :
                                                   :
       Appellee                                    :   C.A. No. 29717
                                                   :
 v.                                                :   Trial Court Case No. 2021 CR 03379
                                                   :
 MATTHEW CAUPP                                     :   (Criminal Appeal from Common Pleas
                                                   :   Court)
       Appellant                                   :
                                                   :

                                             ...........

                                             OPINION

                                      Rendered on August 18, 2023

                                             ...........

MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by MICHAEL P. ALLEN, Attorney for Appellee

MARY ADELINE R. LEWIS, Attorney for Appellant

                                            .............

TUCKER, J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Matthew Caupp appeals from his conviction for

aggravated possession of drugs. Caupp claims his conviction was not supported by

sufficient evidence. Because we find no merit in this argument, the judgment of the trial

court is affirmed.
                                                                                       -2-

                            I.     Facts and Procedural History

      {¶ 2} On May 5, 2021, City of Clayton Police Officer Cody Cecil was on routine

patrol. At approximately 11:00 p.m., he encountered a Chevy pickup truck near the

intersection of Westbrook Road and Ohio State Route 49. Cecil ran the vehicle’s license

plate and discovered the truck was registered to Caupp, who had an outstanding warrant

for his arrest. Cecil initiated a stop and determined that Caupp, who was driving the

truck, was the vehicle’s only occupant.

      {¶ 3} Because Caupp was being arrested on the warrant, officers determined that

the vehicle would be towed, and they conducted an inventory search. Cecil located a

glass pipe on the driver’s seat that was several inches long with white residue. He found

more glass pipes in the center console. A plastic bottle with a “smoker pipe,” which Cecil

described as a bong with white residue, was located behind the front passenger seat.

Cecil testified that he believed, based upon his experience and training, that the white

residue was consistent with the use of methamphetamine.      Finally, Cecil located a soda

can located directly behind the center console. When he picked up the can, Cecil noted

that it was not the appropriate weight for an unopened can of soda. He then observed

that the can had a “false lid.” After unscrewing the top of the can, Cecil found what was

later determined to be methamphetamine.

      {¶ 4} Caupp was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs in

violation of R.C. 2925.11(A). Following a jury trial, he was convicted as charged. The

trial court sentenced Caupp to a term of community control not to exceed five years.
                                                                                         -3-

        {¶ 5} Caupp appeals.

                               II.   Sufficiency of the Evidence

        {¶ 6} Caupp’s sole assignment of error states:

              THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO GRANT THE

        APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR ACQUITTAL UNDER RULE 29 BECAUSE

        THE STATE FAILED TO PROVE THAT HE WAS KNOWINGLY IN

        POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

        {¶ 7} Caupp asserts the trial court erred by overruling his Crim.R. 29 motion for

acquittal. In support, he argues that the State failed to present evidence sufficient to

support his conviction for aggravated possession of drugs.

        {¶ 8} “A Crim.R. 29(A) motion for acquittal tests the sufficiency of the evidence

presented at trial.” State v. Cranford, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 23055, 2011-Ohio-384,

¶ 31.    “A sufficiency of the evidence argument challenges whether the State has

presented adequate evidence on each element of the offense to allow the case to go to

the jury or sustain the verdict as a matter of law.” Id., citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio

St.3d 380, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). In reviewing this issue, we apply the standard set

forth in State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991):

              An appellate court's function when reviewing the sufficiency of the

        evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence

        admitted at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would

        convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable
                                                                                        -4-

       doubt. The relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light

       most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found

       the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Id. at paragraph two of the syllabus.

       {¶ 9} Caupp was convicted of possession of drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A),

which prohibits the knowing possession of drugs. “A person acts knowingly, regardless

of purpose, when the person is aware that the person's conduct will probably cause a

certain result or will probably be of a certain nature.      A person has knowledge of

circumstances when the person is aware that such circumstances probably exist.” R.C.

2901.22(B).

       {¶ 10} “ ‘Possess’ or ‘possession’ means having control over a thing or substance,

but may not be inferred solely from mere access to the thing or substance through

ownership or occupation of the premises upon which the thing or substance is found.”

R.C. 2925.01(K). Possession of a drug may be either actual physical possession or

constructive possession. State v. Mabry, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 21569, 2007-Ohio-

1895, ¶ 18; State v. Wolery, 46 Ohio St.2d 316, 329, 348 N.E.2d 351 (1976). A person

has constructive possession of an object when he is conscious of the presence of the

object and able to exercise dominion and control over it, even if it is not within his

immediate physical possession. State v. Hankerson, 70 Ohio St.2d 87, 434 N.E.2d 1362

(1982), syllabus. Readily usable drugs in close proximity to an accused may constitute

sufficient circumstantial evidence to support a finding of constructive possession. State

v. Ruby, 149 Ohio App.3d 541, 2002-Ohio-5381, 778 N.E.2d 101, ¶ 36 (2d Dist.).
                                                                                        -5-

“Establishment of ownership is not required.” State v. Rastbichler, 2d Dist. Montgomery

No. 25753, 2014-Ohio-628, ¶ 33. In determining whether an individual possessed an

item, it is necessary to consider all the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.

Mabry at ¶ 20.

       {¶ 11} The only issue Caupp raises is whether the State proved that he knowingly

possessed the drugs inside the vehicle. While he admits he was the owner of the truck,

he argues there was no evidence that he was the sole user of the truck. He also argues

there was no evidence that either the drug paraphernalia or the can containing

methamphetamine belonged to him. He thus claims that the State relied on “wholly

circumstantial” evidence which “fell short” of establishing ownership of the drugs.

       {¶ 12} Caupp correctly notes that the State did not present direct evidence that he

knew there were drugs in his vehicle.      However, circumstantial evidence and direct

evidence have the same probative value. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 272, 574

N.E.2d 492 (1991).

       {¶ 13} Here, the evidence established that Caupp was the owner, operator, and

sole occupant of the vehicle stopped by Cecil. A glass pipe with white residue was found

in Caupp’s seat after he exited the vehicle. A bong with white residue and more glass

pipes were in areas that were within Caupp’s reach from the driver’s seat. Likewise,

Cecil testified that the soda can, which was located directly behind the center console,

was within Caupp’s reach from the driver’s seat. All the items found by the officer were

in open view and within reach of Caupp while seated in the vehicle. Thus, a reasonable

juror could have inferred that Caupp knew these items were in his vehicle. Further,
                                                                                       -6-

because drug paraphernalia was readily apparent in the vehicle, some of which had white

residue identified by Cecil as being indicative of methamphetamine, a reasonable juror

could have inferred that Caupp had also been aware of the methamphetamine inside the

false soda can.

       {¶ 14} After viewing the record in a light most favorable to the State, we conclude

that the State presented evidence sufficient to demonstrate constructive possession of

the methamphetamine found in the vehicle.        Therefore, the assignment of error is

overruled.

                                      III.   Conclusion

       {¶ 15} Caupp’s sole assignment of error being overruled, the judgment of the trial

court is affirmed.

                                     .............

WELBAUM, P.J. and EPLEY, J., concur.