Court Opinion

ID: 1082934
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 21:06:35.405581+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:48:50.068715
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

                               AT NASHVILLE             FILED
                           NOVEMBER 1997 SESSION
                                                        February 24, 1998

                                                       Cecil W. Crowson
                                                      Appellate Court Clerk
STATE OF TENNESSEE,                )
                                   )    C.C.A. NO. 01C01-9701-CR-00019
            Appellee,              )
                                   )    DAVIDSON COUNTY
VS.                                )
                                   )    HON. ANN LACY JOHNS,
WILLIAM AUBREY TROTTER, JR.,       )    JUDGE
                                   )
            Appellant.             )    (Possession of cocaine
                                         with intent to sell)

FOR THE APPELLANT:                      FOR THE APPELLEE:

GLENN R. FUNK                           JOHN KNOX WALKUP
Suite 340-M, W ashington Sq.            Attorney General & Reporter
222 Second Ave. N.
Nashville, TN 37201                     DARYL J. BRAND
                                        Asst. Attorney General
                                        450 James Robertson Pkwy.
                                        Nashville, TN 37243-0493

                                        VICTOR S. JOHNSON, III
                                        District Attorney General

                                        SHARON BROX
                                        Asst. District Attorney General
                                        Suite 500, Washington Sq.
                                        222 Second Ave. N.
                                        Nashville, TN 37201

OPINION FILED:____________________

AFFIRMED

JOHN H. PEAY,
Judge
                                      OPINION

              The defendant was indicted for possessing .5 grams or more of cocaine

with the intent to sell. A jury convicted him of this offense and, after a hearing, he was

sentenced as a range II multiple offender to thirteen years incarceration and a $2,000

fine. In this appeal as of right, the defendant contends that:

              1. The evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction;

              2. The trial court erred when it allowed two police officers to give non-
                 expert opinion testimony;

              3. The trial court erred when it limited his cross-examination of one of
                 the police officers; and

              4. The trial court erred when it refused to give the “full circumstantial
                 evidence instruction.”

Upon our review of the record, we affirm the judgment below.

                                         FACTS

              At approximately 2:30 a.m. on October 20, 1994, Lee Dupie, then a patrol

officer for the Metro Police Department, and patrol officer Eby entered the Haynes

Garden Apartments complex in Davidson County and walked to the back of one of the

buildings. Officer Dupie went to the back of a breezeway and, as a patrol car pulled up

to the front of the breezeway, he saw the defendant “walk from the front of the breezeway

to the back of the breezeway.” At that point, he testified, he and Officer Eby stepped into

the breezeway, told the defendant to stop, and identified themselves as police officers.

The defendant stopped and Officer Dupie performed a pat-down search. During the

search he found a “box cutter” and a plastic bag containing a “rocky substance” in one

of the defendant's pockets. At that point, Officer Dupie arrested the defendant. Upon

continuing the search, Officer Dupie found approximately $200 cash in tens and twenties

in the same pocket. The rocky substance was tested by Glen Everett of the Tennessee

                                            2
Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory and determined to be “cocaine base, 3.4

grams.”

              Officer Dupie testified that the amount of cocaine seized from the defendant

was known on the street as an “eight ball.” He further testified that the only evidence he

had that the defendant possessed the cocaine with the intent to sell was the amount of

cocaine, the $200 cash, and the fact that he did not have any paraphernalia for using the

drug on his person. Officer Dupie also testified that, in deciding whether to charge

someone with simple possession or possession with intent to sell, he takes the suspect's

appearance into consideration. He testified that, “most of the time, somebody that is

addicted to crack cocaine is, you know, real thin, probably dirty and doesn't care about

what they look like, and some of the people that sell drugs are, you know, healthy, you

know, they might be clean[.]” He testified that, when he had arrested the defendant, “He

was healthy. It seemed like he was in good shape. His eyes weren't sunken in like he

had been using a lot of drugs or anything like that. . . . He was clean cut.” Officer Dupie

further testified that, at the time he had arrested the defendant, “He didn't appear to be

under the influence of crack cocaine.”

              Officer Jesse Burchwell did not participate in the defendant's arrest, but

testified that he had been with the Metro Police Department for four and one-half years

at the time of the trial, spending the last three and one-half years on the Crime

Suppression Unit. He testified that, while a patrol officer, he had made “hundreds” of

drug related arrests involving “both simple possession and possession for resale of

usually crack cocaine, Dilaudid, and marijuana” and that he had arrested someone for

possession with the intent to sell without any indication of the sale itself “over a hundred”

times. He also testified that he had worked as an undercover officer on “well over a

                                             3
thousand” occasions. He explained that, as such, he had “to know the street language

that the drug dealers are using . . . what to ask for, and . . . approximately what quantity

you are going to get for what you ask for.” According to Officer Burchwell, sales of crack

cocaine were “[u]sually, on the street level, between twenty-dollar ($20.00) rocks and

forty-dollar ($40.00) rocks, which is just what it is. It is worth twenty or forty dollars.” The

“rocks” were usually packaged in “[c]lear plastic bags.” He testified that the most

common “buy” for users was twenty dollars because “[t]hey don't usually have the money

to buy, to go buy more at any one time.” The average weight of a twenty-dollar piece of

cocaine, he testified, “is usually .2 grams.” He further testified that most buys on this

level were paid for with twenty-dollar bills.

               In response to the State's question as to what, in his training and

experience, distinguished between a simple possession and a possession for resale,

Officer Burchwell testified, “Usually, the simple possession is usually they always have

a crack pipe with them, and the majority of the time, one small rock of crack cocaine, and

the possession for resale are obviously several rocks of crack cocaine and . . . the

amount of money is an indicator.” Other factors, he testified, included “[s]tanding on the

corner [in an area known to have a high volume of drug traffic], flagging cars down, going

to cars, leaving cars, standing there with really no objective, not, don't live there, not

visiting anyone there.”

               Officer Burchwell testified that he had arrested “hundreds, maybe

thousands” of people for simple possession and that they typically possessed “A very

small amount, a twenty-dollar ($20) rock usually” at the time of their arrest. When asked

by the State, “And in the course of your training and experience, street level dealer,

possession for resale, what amounts are you going to find on that person?” Officer

                                                4
Burchwell testified, “Larger amounts, several rocks, packaged, packages we know it to

be packaged for resale, money, standing in the area of a high volume of drug traffic.”

Upon examining the bag of cocaine which had been confiscated from the defendant, he

testified that it contained ten “rocks” and that each “rock” could be broken in half to sell

“for at least twenty.”

               The defendant called Charlotte Jennings who lived at the Haynes Garden

Apartments. She testified that the defendant had lived with his girlfriend there and that

he had been headed in that direction when she saw him arrested. She also testified that

she had often seen the defendant when she thought he was high, describing his

appearance at those times as “Stumbling, eyes jet red, mumbling, talking out of his

head.”

               The defendant also called his mother, Linda Trotter, who testified that her

son had “started taking drugs in '92” and that he was using drugs often in October of

1994. She testified that she had lived at the Haynes Garden Apartments at that time and

that her son often stayed with her there as well as with a girlfriend who also lived there.

She also testified that, during the entire time she lived there, from 1985 to 1995, it was

a high drug activity area including a lot of selling.

                                         ANALYSIS

               We first address the defendant's contention that the evidence is insufficient

to sustain his conviction. A defendant challenging the sufficiency of the proof has the

burden of illustrating to this Court why the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict

returned by the trier of fact in his or her case. This Court will not disturb a verdict of guilt

for lack of sufficient evidence unless the facts contained in the record and any inferences

                                               5
which may be drawn from the facts are insufficient, as a matter of law, for a rational trier

of fact to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Tuggle, 639

S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982).

              When an accused challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence, we

must review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution in determining

whether “any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime

beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61

L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). We do not reweigh or re-evaluate the evidence and are required to

afford the State the strongest legitimate view of the proof contained in the record as well

as all reasonable and legitimate inferences which may be drawn therefrom. State v.

Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn. 1978).

              Questions concerning the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value to

be given to the evidence, as well as factual issues raised by the evidence are resolved

by the trier of fact, not this Court. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835. A guilty verdict

rendered by the jury and approved by the trial judge accredits the testimony of the

witnesses for the State, and a presumption of guilt replaces the presumption of

innocence. State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn. 1973).

              The defendant was convicted of possessing .5 grams or more of cocaine

with the intent to sell. T.C.A. § 39-17-417(a)(4) (Supp. 1994). He does not dispute his

possession of the drug; rather, he argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove that

he possessed it with the intent to sell it. We disagree. The officers' testimony about the

customs of cocaine dealing together with the amount of cocaine found on the defendant's

person, the fact that it was broken into ten “rocks” each of which could have been further

                                             6
broken in half and sold for twenty dollars apiece, the $200 cash in tens and twenties

found on the defendant, his location at an area known for drug dealing, his demeanor and

the lack of any paraphernalia for using the drug support the conclusion that he possessed

the cocaine for the purpose of selling it. See T.C.A. § 39-17-419 (1991) (“It may be

inferred from the amount of a controlled substance . . . possessed by an offender, along

with other relevant facts surrounding the arrest, that the controlled substance . . . [was]

possessed with the purpose of selling or otherwise dispensing”). This issue is without

merit.

                    We next address the defendant's contention that the trial court erred when

it allowed Officers Dupie and Burchwell “to testify as to their opinion as to why [he] was

guilty of possession for resale versus simple possession.” Initially, we disagree with the

defendant in his characterization of the officers' testimony. Officer Dupie testified as to

why he charged the defendant with possession for sale rather than simple possession.

His reasons were based on his actual experiences in investigating and arresting drug

offenders. He did not testify that, in his “opinion,” the defendant was guilty as charged.

Nor did Officer Burchwell, who also testified about the common differences between

users and sellers, based on his experiences in the field. In response to a similar

argument, this Court has previously held that a narcotics officer may testify about the

language used by drug dealers and the appearance of cocaine. See State v. Carey, 914

S.W.2d 93, 96 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).

                    Additionally, in support of his argument, the defendant relies on an outdated

version of Tennessee Rule of Evidence 701.1 At the time the defendant was tried on July

22 and 23, 1996, Rule 701(a) provided as follows:

         1
             See Tenn. R. Evid. 701 (1994-199 5).

                                                    7
                  If a witness is not testifying as an expert,2 the witness's
                  testimony in the form of opinions or inferences is limited to
                  those opinions or inferences which are
                  (1) rationally based on the perception of the witness and
                  (2) helpful to a clear understanding of the witness's testimony
                  or the determination of a fact in issue.

To the extent that one could characterize the officers' testimony in this case as “opinion

or inferences,” it fell within the parameters of this Rule. This issue is without merit.

                  The defendant also contends that the trial court improperly limited his cross-

examination of Officer Burchwell. During defense counsel's questioning of Officer

Burchwell, he asked if the officer had “ever made an arrest for possession for resale that,

after [an independent review by the prosecutor’s office or by a Judge or by a jury], turned

into a conviction for simple possession?” Officer Burchwell then asked if counsel meant

“by trial or by plea bargain?” A bench conference ensued during which the trial court

ruled “That is misleading to the jury when you include plea bargaining. That is going to

have to be specifically excluded.” Defense counsel objected to the ruling, arguing that

“a plea bargain includes cases where the State agrees that the proper charge is simple

possession, and if the State agrees to that, then that means that an independent review

has been conducted and that is what the disposition is.” The trial court responded, “That

is not plea bargaining.             I vehemently disagree with that characterization of plea

bargaining.” Defendant now complains that the trial court's ruling was error.

                  We first note that “[t]he propriety, scope, and control of the cross-

examination of witnesses is . . . within the reasonable discretion of the trial judge.

Appellate courts may not disturb discretionary limitations on cross-examination absent

         2
          It is undisputed that neither of the officers was testifying as an “expert.” Howeve r, it would have
been w ithin the trial cou rt's discretion to allow the o fficers to te stify as exp ert witness es with res pect to
the common characteristics of cocaine dealers. Under our Rules of Evidence, “If scientific, technical, or
other sp ecialized k nowled ge will subs tantially assist the trier of fact to u ndersta nd the ev idence o r to
determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training or
education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise.” Tenn. R. Evid. 702.

                                                         8
a clear and plain abuse.” State v. Richardson, 875 S.W.2d 671, 675 (Tenn. Crim. App.

1993) (citations omitted). We see no such abuse here. Moreover, our rules of evidence

provide for the exclusion of evidence, even if it is relevant, where “its probative value is

substantially outweighed by the danger of . . . misleading the jury.” Tenn. R. Evid. 403.

We agree with the trial court that the implication of the defendant's question -- that plea

bargains result from the district attorney's determination that the arresting officer's charge

is incorrect -- is misleading. As pointed out by the State in its brief, plea bargains are

often entered into “for practical reasons having little to do with the legal or factual merits

of the case.” This issue has no merit.

               Finally, the defendant contends that the trial court erred when it refused to

charge the jury with the “full circumstantial evidence instruction.” The defendant refers

to the jury instruction that, when the proof against a defendant is completely

circumstantial in nature, the “facts must exclude every other reasonable theory except

that of guilt” before it can convict. T.P.I. - Crim. 42.03(a). A trial court is required to give

this instruction when all of the evidence is circumstantial, whether or not the defendant

requests it. See State v. Thompson, 519 S.W.2d 789, 792 (Tenn. 1975). However, when

the proof is both direct and circumstantial, the trial court is required to give the instruction

only if the defendant requests it. Id. The request must be in writing. Tenn. R. Crim. P.

30(a).

               The proof in this case was both direct and circumstantial. We acknowledge

that the defendant's counsel orally requested the “full” circumstantial evidence instruction.

However, the record contains no written request as required by our rules of procedure.

This Court has previously held that, “[a]bsent a written request, a trial court's refusal to

give [this] instruction is not error.” State v. Derek Denton, No. 02C01-9409-CR-00186,

                                               9
Shelby County (Tenn. Crim. App. filed Aug. 2, 1996, at Jackson) citing State v. Mackey,

638 S.W.2d 830, 836 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1982). This issue is without merit.

             The judgment below is affirmed.

                                                ______________________________
                                                JOHN H. PEAY, Judge

CONCUR:

______________________________
JOSEPH M. TIPTON, Judge

______________________________
DAVID H. WELLES, Judge

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