Court Opinion

ID: 893056
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-05 18:47:01.297482+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:13:51.441080
License: Public Domain

1   This memorandum opinion was not selected for publication in the New Mexico Reports. Please see
 2   Rule 12-405 NMRA for restrictions on the citation of unpublished memorandum opinions. Please
 3   also note that this electronic memorandum opinion may contain computer-generated errors or other
 4   deviations from the official paper version filed by the Court of Appeals and does not include the
 5   filing date.

 6        IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

 7 STATE OF NEW MEXICO,

 8          Plaintiff-Appellee,

 9 v.                                                           NO. 30,042

10 MANUEL TRUJILLO,

11          Defendant-Appellant.

12 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OFCURRY COUNTY
13 Stephen K. Quinn, District Judge

14 Gary K. King, Attorney General
15 Santa Fe, NM

16 for Appellee

17 Hugh W. Dangler, Chief Public Defender
18 Karl Erich Martell, Assistant Appellate Defender
19 Santa Fe, NM

20 for Appellant

21                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

22 FRY, Chief Judge.

23          Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction

24 after a jury trial for possession of a controlled substance, contrary to NMSA 1978,
 1 Section 30-31-23 (1995) (amended 2006). [DS 2] Defendant raises this issue

 2 pursuant to State v. Franklin, 78 N.M. 127, 129, 428 P.2d 982, 984 (1967) and State

 3 v. Boyer, 103 N.M. 655, 658-60, 712 P.2d 1, 4-6 (Ct. App. 1985). [DS 3; MIO 1] We

 4 issued a calendar notice proposing to summarily affirm Defendant’s conviction.

 5 Defendant filed a timely memorandum in opposition, which we have duly considered.

 6 We affirm.

 7 DISCUSSION

 8        “Substantial evidence review requires analysis of whether direct or

 9 circumstantial substantial evidence exists and supports a verdict of guilt beyond a

10 reasonable doubt with respect to every element essential for conviction.           We

11 determine whether a rational [fact finder] could have found that each element of the

12 crime was established beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Kent, 2006-NMCA-134,

13 ¶ 10, 140 N.M. 606, 145 P.3d 86 (citation omitted). On appeal, we view the evidence

14 in the light most favorable to the verdict, resolving all conflicts and indulging all

15 reasonable inferences in favor of the verdict. State v. Apodaca, 118 N.M. 762, 765-

16 66, 887 P.2d 756, 759-60 (1994).

17        In order to convict Defendant of possession of a controlled substance, the State

18 was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that (1) Defendant had

19 methamphetamine in his possession, and (2) he knew it was methamphetamine. See

20 UJI 14-3102 NMRA. [RP 95] As discussed in greater detail in the calendar notice, a

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 1 police officer testified that he found two pipes and a plastic bag with residue on

 2 Defendant upon his arrest. [DS 2; RP 110-11] The evidence tested positive for

 3 methamphetamine. [RP 110-14] In addition, Defendant testified that he admitted to

 4 using methamphetamine and to having a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine.

 5 [RP 115-16] Defendant’s response does not challenge our understanding of the

 6 evidence. We remain persuaded that the State introduced sufficient evidence that

 7 Defendant had methamphetamine in his possession and that he knew it was

 8 methamphetamine.

 9        Defendant continues to argue that he presented an alternate and credible version

10 of the events. [MIO 3] In his testimony, Defendant disputed that the pipe or bag

11 contained any trace of a controlled substance and suggested that the officer may have

12 tampered with the evidence. [MIO 1] Defendant also claimed that the officer

13 threatened to charge Defendant with possession after he refused to reveal the name of

14 his drug supplier. [MIO 1] As we stated in our calendar notice, the officer and the

15 forensic drug chemist testified that there was residue in the pipes and plastic bags that

16 tested positive for methamphetamine. [RP 110-14] In addition, the officer testified

17 about how he handled the evidence. [RP 110-11] In light of the other evidence, the

18 jury was free to disregard Defendant’s version of events. See State v. Salas, 1999-

19 NMCA-099, ¶ 13, 127 N.M. 686, 986 P.2d 482 (recognizing that it is for the fact

20 finder to make credibility determinations and resolve any conflict in witness

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1 testimony). We remain persuaded that there was sufficient evidence to support

2 Defendant’s conviction for possession of methamphetamine.

3 CONCLUSION

4       We affirm.

5       IT IS SO ORDERED.

6
7                                     CYNTHIA A. FRY, Chief Judge

8 WE CONCUR:

 9
10 JAMES J. WECHSLER, Judge

11
12 LINDA M. VANZI, Judge

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