Burnett v. State

1988 OK CR 161, 760 P.2d 825, 1988 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 175, 1988 WL 88112
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedAugust 18, 1988
DocketF-84-812
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 1988 OK CR 161 (Burnett v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Burnett v. State, 1988 OK CR 161, 760 P.2d 825, 1988 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 175, 1988 WL 88112 (Okla. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinions

OPINION

BRETT, Presiding Judge:

The appellant, Johnny Albert Burnett, in Case No. CRF-83-100 in the District Court of Marshall County, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance With Intent to Distribute in violation of 63 O.S.1981, § 2-401(B). He was tried by a jury and sentenced to ten (10) years’ imprisonment and a five thousand dollar ($5,000.00) fine. Prom this judgment and sentence, he appeals.

On August 25, 1984, Jimmy and Patricia Morgan agreed to sell $8,400.00 worth of Methamphetamine to buyers, who, although unknown to them, were actually agents with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OSBN), Wes Hearon and John Guy-ton. At trial, the State introduced evidence, although somewhat in conflict, to show that the drugs had been supplied by William Dick Burnett and appellant. This evidence was provided through the testimony of Patricia and Jimmy Morgan who also testified that the attempted sale had taken place pursuant to a plan whereby they and the Burnetts were to meet at the Sand Bass Motel. The Burnetts rented two rooms at the motel and gave the Morgans the key to room 6, in which the drugs were placed, so that the Morgans could show the drugs to the prospective buyers who were the OSBN agents. The Burnetts watched the transaction from the other room. When the buyers arrived, Patricia Morgan took Agent Hearon to room 6 and showed him the drugs. They then went back to the buyer’s van where Jimmy Morgan was waiting with Agent Guyton. At that time, the Agents arrested the Morgans. They then went to room 11 and arrested the Burnetts.

Appellant first contends that his conviction was based upon the insufficiently corroborated testimony of accomplices in contravention of the requirements set forth in 22 O.S.1981, § 742. In this case, there was independent evidence that connected appellant with commission of the crime. See Hager v. State, 665 P.2d 319, 323 (Okl.Cr.1983). The motel owner, Mr. Williams, testified that appellant had rented room 6 on the night of the arrest; room 6 was the room where the drugs were later found. Agent Hearon and Mr. Whittington, an Ardmore police officer, testified they saw appellant and his brother at the Sand Bass Motel at the time that the transaction took place. We find this testimony does more than raise a suspicion of guilt, it sufficiently connects the appellant with the commission of the crime. See Howard v. State, 561 P.2d 125 (Okl.Cr.1977). This evidence gave sufficient corroboration to the Morgans’ testimony for the jury to consider it. See Frye v. State, 606 P.2d 599 (Okl.Cr.1980).

Appellant further asserts that the trial court erroneously allowed the accomplices to corroborate each other’s testimony. Although the testimony in question did in effect consist of mutual corroboration, there was also independent corroborating testimony. The jury was permitted to hear the Morgans’ testimony of the Bur-netts’ surveillance of the drug transaction. Appellant quoting from Jackson v. State, 12 Okl.Cr. 446, 158 P. 292 (1916) states: “The State cannot put on the witness stand two witnesses of equal credibility, one of whom barely makes a case, and another which exonerates the accused and contend for a conviction.” However, the record does not support the application of the Jackson rule in this case. Although there were some inconsistencies in Jimmy and Patricia Morgans’ testimony, it was not entirely contradictory, nor did it exonerate appellant.

Appellant asserts that there was no evidence that he was ever in possession of the drugs and cites Brown v. State, 481 P.2d 475 (Okl.Cr.1971). The court in Brown stated that possession involves the exercise of dominion and control over the thing allegedly possessed. However, exclusive possession is not necessary and joint possession can be proven by circumstantial evidence. The court went on to [828]*828say that joint possession cannot be inferred from a defendant’s presence where the drug was found; there must be additional evidence of the defendant’s knowledge and control. Id.

In this case, appellant did not have exclusive possession of the drugs; he was involved, however, as a joint possessor. Appellant was on the premises at the time of the transaction and he had rented the room where the drugs were found. These facts provide sufficient evidence that appellant had knowledge of the drugs and joint control.

In his second proposition, appellant claims that the magistrate committed error in binding him over for trial. At preliminary hearing the State does not need to present evidence sufficient for a conviction at trial. The State only needs to show that a crime was committed and that there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant committed it. Where the record shows there was competent evidence on these issues, the decision of the trial court will not be disturbed on appeal. Jones v. State, 660 P.2d 634 (Okl.Cr.1983). Upon review of this record, we find that the magistrate had reasonable cause to believe that appellant had been closely involved in the drug transaction and was properly bound over for trial.

Appellant asserts in his third assignment of error that the trial court’s conduct prejudiced him. He contends the jury was able to hear an off-the-record discussion at the bench and that the Judge’s comments and tone of voice caused the jury to be unsympathetic toward him. We find appellant’s speculations to be unsupported by evidence. Furthermore, the record indicates that no objection was made as to the court’s comments at the time of trial. Therefore, absent fundamental error, this issue was not properly preserved for review by this Court.

The fourth assignment of error asserts that the State’s evidence was contradictory and will not support a conviction. The evidence and credibility of witnesses is to be judged exclusively by the jury. Ellis v. State, 651 P.2d 1057 (Okl.Cr.1982). Our review of the record reflects that there was sufficient competent evidence on which the jury could have based their decision. See Spuehler v. State, 709 P.2d 202 (Okl.Cr.1985). Therefore, we will not disturb the jury’s verdict on this proposition of error.

Appellant, in his fifth proposition of error, has stated that the court erred by permitting a violation of its own order which materially prejudiced appellant and that the court erred in not requiring defense counsel to divulge a potential conflict of interest.

By order the trial court directed the prosecutor to notify the defense attorney of any plea negotiations and the date and time of any pleas made by the Morgans. The record reflects that the Morgans pled guilty on April 17, 1984, and appellant’s counsel was not notified until that afternoon which was two days before trial. Appellant has presented no evidence to show that the negotiations with the Morgans actually took place at a time other than that testified to. Accordingly, appellant has not shown that prejudice resulted or that the State was not in compliance with the requirements of the order.

As to the contention that appellant was denied effective assistance of counsel because the Morgans’ attorney at preliminary hearing served later as counsel for appellant at trial, we find no showing that counsel actively represented conflicting interests so as to warrant a reversal. The Supreme Court has held that when an objection has not been made at trial, an appellant must establish that an actual conflict of interest adversely affected the lawyer’s performance.

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Related

White v. State
1995 OK CR 15 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1995)
Boyd v. State
839 P.2d 1363 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1992)
Banks v. State
1991 OK CR 51 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1991)
Huckaby v. State
1990 OK CR 84 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1990)
Ellis v. State
795 P.2d 107 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1990)
Burnett v. State
1988 OK CR 161 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1988)

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Bluebook (online)
1988 OK CR 161, 760 P.2d 825, 1988 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 175, 1988 WL 88112, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burnett-v-state-oklacrimapp-1988.