Dickerson v. United States

650 A.2d 680, 1994 D.C. App. LEXIS 224, 1994 WL 669824

• Court: District of Columbia Court of Appeals
• Decided: November 29, 1994
• Docket: 90-CF-850
• Status: Published

Opinions

WAGNER, Chief Judge:

Appellant, Bertrand D. Dickerson, was convicted following a jury trial of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to distribute in violation of D.C.Code § 33-541(a)(l) (1981 ed.) (Repl.1993). He argues for reversal on the grounds that: (1) the evidence was insufficient to convict him; (2) the trial court erred in instructing the jury on aiding and abetting; and (3) he was denied the right to a speedy trial. We affirm.

I.

According to the evidence presented by the government, on May 3, 1988, at about 5:00 p.m., on the corner of 18th Place and D Street, N.E., an undercover police officer purchased cocaine from Dickerson’s co-defendant, Derrick Snipe, in exchange for twenty dollars in pre-recorded police funds. The undercover officer returned to a vehicle from which another officer, Kim Holland, was observing the events. Officer Holland gave the location of the transaction and a description of the drug-seller to an arrest team. Officer Holland then saw Snipe walk east on D Street and enter the right rear passenger seat of a grey Nissan Maxima in which three other men were seated. Inside the vehicle, she saw Snipe reach forward while the two men in the front (one of whom was Dickerson) turned toward Snipe, but she could not tell whether Snipe was “passing or receiving.” Officer Holland broadcast these observations to the arrest team. Another officer saw Charles Smith exit the car from the driver’s side, appellant, from the right front passenger side, Snipe, from the right rear passenger side; and Walter Tucker, from the left rear passenger side.

The police arrested Snipe while he stood outside of the back of the ear approximately three feet from the vehicle, and they found there on the ground, in front of appellant’s residence, a napkin containing eighty-three rocks of cocaine. Another officer arrested Smith after he saw him walk to the back of the car and drop a pill bottle. The bottle contained thirteen rocks of cocaine and had appellant’s name and address on it. After arresting Smith, Tucker, and Snipe, the police recovered $642 from the console between the front seats of the Maxima, including the twenty dollars in pre-recorded police funds which the undercover officer had used to make the purchase. Dickerson, who by then was sitting on the steps of his house, was arrested. Dickerson, Snipe, and Smith were indicted for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.¹

After pleading guilty to attempted distribution of cocaine, Snipe testified as a defense witness at appellant’s trial. He testified that although he knew Smith and Tucker, he had never seen appellant prior to the day of the offense. Snipe also testified that he heard Smith ask appellant for a bottle, but he left and sold the drugs he had obtained from Smith to an undercover officer for twenty dollars.² He then returned to Smith’s car where all of the co-defendants were sitting and handed Smith the twenty dollars, which he put in his pocket. Snipe said appellant then left Smith’s car, and the police arrived. During direct examination Snipe testified that appellant left the car as soon as Snipe was getting into the car after the drug transaction. On cross-examination, however, Snipe stated that appellant was in the car when he handed Smith the twenty dollars. Snipe further testified that he never saw appellant in possession of the pill bottle or any money and that appellant did not appear to be involved in the drug transactions.

Appellant testified that he arrived home from work at about 5:00 p.m. and encountered Smith, whom he knew from elementary school and as a boxing partner, near his house. According to appellant, Smith gave him money to buy chicken and asked him for a container. Appellant testified that, without inquiring about Smith’s purpose, he gave Smith an empty pill bottle that once contained prescription medication. When he returned from Kentucky Fried Chicken, appellant said he got into Smith’s car, and the two of them ate the chicken. Although Tucker, whom appellant also knew from school, approached Smith’s car, according to appellant, Tucker never sat in the ear. Appellant testified that he did not know Snipe, who entered Smith’s car. Appellant then left the car.

Appellant testified that while sitting on his steps thereafter, he heard Tucker say “the jump-outs are up the street.” Appellant said he saw two police officers at the corner of Eighteenth Place and D Street wrestling with another individual and an unmarked police cruiser coming down the street heading toward Smith’s car. He testified that Smith, Tucker, and Snipe got out of the car and that Smith attempted to cut between the rear of his car and another parked ear and dropped the pill bottle.

According to appellant, an officer searched Smith’s car and recovered a substantial amount of cash from the area between the driver’s and passenger’s front seat. Appellant testified that after the officers arrested Snipe, Smith, and Tucker, an officer returned to the area around Smith’s car, went to the base of the lamp post, and retrieved drugs. After about ten minutes, according to appellant, Officer Pender picked up from the ground the pill bottle containing appellant’s name and address which Smith had dropped. Officer Pender asked appellant for identification, and then arrested him.

Appellant denied ever using, selling or possessing drugs, or seeing Tucker, Smith, or Snipe possess drugs on May 3, 1988. He denied that there was any conversation about drugs while he sat in Smith’s car. Appellant also denied knowledge of the stash at the lamp post and in the pill bottle.

II.

Appellant argues that the evidence was insufficient to establish that he actually or constructively possessed any of the drugs recovered, that he intended to possess the drugs, or that he even had knowledge of their existence. In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this court applies the same standard as the trial court. We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, recognizing the province of the trier of fact to weigh the evidence, determine the credibility of the witnesses and to draw reasonable inferences from the testimony. Leonard v. United States, 602 A.2d 1112, 1114 (D.C.1992) (citations omitted); Nelson v. United States, 601 A.2d 582, 593 (D.C.1991); In re A.B., 556 A.2d 645, 649 n. 8 (D.C.1989) (quoting Ford v. United States, 498 A.2d 1135, 1137 (D.C.1985)); accord, Head v. United States, 451 A.2d 615, 622 (D.C.1982), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 115 S.Ct. 156, 130 L.Ed.2d 95 (1994). No distinction is drawn between direct and circumstantial evidence, id., and the evidence need not compel a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In re T.M., 577 A.2d 1149, 1151 (D.C.1990); Curry v. United States, 520 A.2d 255, 263 (D.C.1987). “[T]he government is not required to negate every possible inference of innocence.” Jones v. United States, 625 A.2d 281, 288 (D.C.1993). When the defendant introduces evidence after the government’s ease in chief, this court may consider all of the evidence when determining the sufficiency of the evidence. Hairston v. United States, 497 A.2d 1097, 1104 n. 12 (D.C.1985).

Viewing the evidence, both direct and circumstantial, against these standards, we conclude that the evidence was adequate to support the jury’s finding that appellant jointly and constructively possessed the drugs. See Bernard v. United States, 575 A.2d 1191, 1195-96 (D.C.1990); Curry, supra, 520 A.2d at 263. First, there was evidence that a substantial amount of drugs was in a bottle bearing appellant Dickerson’s name and address. In addition, there was evidence that after making a drug sale, Snipe joined Dickerson and Smith in a car and reached into the area of the console from which a large amount of money was recovered. The funds recovered from that area included the money used by the police to make the drug purchase. Snipe, who was a witness for Dickerson at trial,³ admitted that he and Tucker were selling crack for Smith and that appellant Dickerson was present when he gave Smith the money for the drugs which he sold to the undercover officer. The remaining drugs were found outside of the car from which Dickerson and the others had just exited and directly in front of Dickerson’s residence.

It was within the province of the jury to reject, as it apparently did, appellant’s innocent explanation for the transfer and use of his bottle and his innocent presence defense. We conclude that there was sufficient evidence for the jury to infer that there was a concert of illegal action involving the drugs by Dickerson and his companions, the disclaimer of appellant and Snipe notwithstanding. Such evidence “tend[s] to dispel any fear that the ‘constructive possession’ doctrine has cast too wide a net.” ⁴ See Wheeler v. United States, 494 A.2d 170, 173 (D.C.1985). See also United States v. Covington, 459 A.2d 1067, 1071 (D.C.1983).

III.

Appellant also argues for the first time on appeal that his right to a speedy trial was violated by a twenty-four month delay between his initial arrest and the commencement of his trial. Appellant claims he was prejudiced by the delay because by the time of trial he had turned twenty-two years of age, and therefore was ineligible for sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YEA), D.C.Code §§ 24-801-807 (1981 ed.) (Repl.1989). This court must consider the well-established multi-factor balancing test in analyzing appellant’s speedy trial claim: (1) length of the delay; (2) reason for the delay; (3) defendant’s assertion of the right; and (4) prejudice to the defendant. Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 2192, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972); Lyons v. United States, 645 A.2d 574 (D.C.1994). None of these factors is “a necessary or sufficient condition to the finding of a deprivation of the right of speedy trial,” and the court must undertake a sensitive balancing process of all four factors in order to reach its decision. Barker, 407 U.S. at 533, 92 S.Ct. at 2193.

The record reflects that appellant was arrested on May 3, 1988. The original indictment was dismissed for want of prosecution on September 13, 1988, and appellant was not re-indicted until January 11, 1989. The period between the dismissal and re-indictment is not considered when evaluating the Sixth Amendment speedy trial claim.⁵ United States v. Loud Hawk, 474 U.S. 302, 310-12, 106 S.Ct. 648, 653-55, 88 L.Ed.2d 640 (1985); MacDonald, supra note 5, 456 U.S. at 7-9, 102 S.Ct. at 1501-02; accord, United States v. Koller, 956 F.2d 1408, 1413 (7th Cir.1992). Therefore, the total delay for purposes of our analysis is twenty months. While a twenty-month delay is substantial, this court has held that delays of that length and even longer do not, standing alone, constitute a violation of the right to a speedy trial. See, e.g., Graves v. United States, 490 A.2d 1086, 1090 (D.C.1984) (en bane) (25 months), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1064, 106 S.Ct. 814, 88 L.Ed.2d 788 (1986); (Ulysses) Jones v. United States, 483 A.2d 1149 (D.C.1984) (34 months), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1118, 105 S.Ct. 2363, 86 L.Ed.2d 263 (1985); Cates v. United States, 379 A.2d 968, 970 (D.C.1977) (59 months).

With respect to the second factor in this analysis, the reasons for the delay, this court applies different weights depending upon the basis for it.

A deliberate attempt to delay the trial in order to hamper the defense should be weighted heavily against the government. A more neutral reason such as negligence or overcrowded courts should be weighted less heavily but nevertheless should be considered since the ultimate responsibility for such circumstances must rest with the government rather than with the defendant. Finally, a valid reason, such as a missing witness, should serve to justify appropriate delay.

Barker, supra, 407 U.S. at 531, 92 S.Ct. at 2192. This court has created an intermediate category of significant delay which is applied to government actions less culpable than deliberate foot-dragging, but more culpable than the neutral category. Graves, supra, 490 A.2d at 1092.

In this case, forty-four days are attributable to the government’s negligence in losing its file, and eighty-five days are attributable to the government’s requests for continuances of two scheduled trial dates because of committed leave of its various witnesses.⁶ At least four months of delay, from September 5, 1989 through January 24,1990, are attributable to counsel for co-defendant.⁷ The forty-four days of delay between August 1, 1988 and the dismissal of the case on September 13, 1988 are weighed against the government as significant, but less heavily than where the government delays deliberately to gain some tactical advantage. See id. at 1092-93. The remaining delay was institutional, which is weighed less heavily against the government. Barker, supra, 407 U.S. at 531, 92 S.Ct. at 2192; Graves, supra, 490 A.2d at 1094. Therefore, the only “significant” delay attributable to the government occurred very early in the case. The rest of the delay was for neutral, institutional reasons, and none of the delay appears to be attributable to a deliberate attempt by the government to gain a tactical advantage.

The third factor is assertion of the right. “The defendant’s assertion of his speedy trial right ... is entitled to strong evidentiary weight in determining whether the defendant is being deprived of the right.” Sell v. United States, 525 A.2d 1017, 1023 (D.C.1987) (quoting Barker, supra, 407 U.S. at 531-32, 92 S.Ct. at 2192-93). The “failure to assert the right will make it difficult for a defendant to prove that he was denied a speedy trial.” Barker, 407 U.S. at 532, 92 S.Ct. at 2193. Although not dependent on particular language, we have consistently stressed the importance of a direct assertion of the right, emphasizing that the assertion has more credence when a speedy trial is requested directly. E.g., Turner v. United States, 622 A.2d 667, 678 (D.C.1993); Lyons, supra, 645 A.2d at 583; Graves, supra, 490 A.2d at 1098; Sell, 525 A.2d at 1024-25. In evaluating this factor, we “weigh the frequency and force of the objections as opposed to attaching significant weight to a purely pro forma objection.” Barker, 407 U.S. at 529, 92 S.Ct. at 2191; e.g., Graves, 490 A.2d at 1090; Sell, 525 A.2d at 1025; Jackson v. United States, 503 A.2d 1225, 1228 (D.C.1986).

Appellant concedes that he never asserted his right to a speedy trial in the trial court. Thus, this factor weighs heavily against him. Although appellant twice moved to sever his trial from his co-defendants (on March 3 and August 2, 1989) on the ground that the evidence against him was weaker than that against his co-defendants, and twice opposed the government’s motions for continuance of trial dates (on April 27 and July 20,1989), he never moved for an immediate trial. On the April date, appellant merely stated that he was “anxious to resolve this case.” It was not until July when he filed the same objection that he finally apprised the court about the imminence of his twenty-second birthday. He added to his objection to a continuance, a one-line handwritten statement mentioning finally that he would “be 22 in September and if convicted would be ineligible for DCYOA [sic],” i.e., that he would reach his twenty-second birthday on September 11 and lose his eligibility for sentencing under the YRA.

Even if we were to assume, as does the dissenting opinion, that appellant’s oppositions to the government’s motions for continuance constitute an assertion of the right to a speedy trial, they would not weigh heavily in the speedy trial analysis. See Turner, supra, 622 A.2d at 678-79. We have held that such objections do not have the force of a motion for a speedy trial and will not be accorded significant weight. Id.; Sell, supra, 525 A.2d at 1024-25 (significance of early and frequent assertion diminished by only one assertion during appeal); Jackson, supra, 503 A.2d at 1228-29 (timing and force of assertion made one year after arrest and two months prior to trial inadequate); Graves, supra, 490 A.2d at 1098-99 (minimal weight accorded to assertions in motion to dismiss and motion for release). Therefore, appellant’s objection to the continuances would not be accorded significant weight, Turner, 622 A2d at 678-79, and appellant’s failure to assert his speedy trial rights explicitly, directly, and forcefully remains a formidable hurdle to prevailing on the claim under binding precedents. See Barker, supra, 407 U.S. at 532, 92 S.Ct. at 2192; see also Turner, 622 A.2d at 678; Graves, 490 A.2d at 1098.

Further detracting from appellant’s position on the assertion of his speedy trial rights is that the record does not reflect that he objected to a continuance of the trial date from September 5, 1989, six days before he reached his twenty-second birthday, to November 20,1989. There is at least a possibility that his trial might have been completed before his birthday. It was an important time for appellant to object and demand a speedy trial if he desired one. When defense counsel agrees to several continuances, “it dilutes any assertion he may have made for a speedy trial.” Turner, supra, 622 A.2d at 678. We note, however, that it was not the government which sought the continuance on this occasion, but counsel for co-defendant Smith. Both the government and appellant were ready for trial as they both were on January 24, when defense counsel for Smith again had to request a new trial date. Again, it does not appear from the record that appellant objected. Considering these circumstances, appellant’s conceded failure to make a direct assertion of the right to a speedy trial, and appellant’s somewhat delayed objections registered with the trial court, and given the weight accorded this particular factor under Barker and its progeny, this part of the analysis does not weigh in any significant way in appellant’s favor.

The final factor for consideration in the analysis, is prejudice, which generally must be considered in light of the harm the speedy trial requirements address, namely: (1) to prevent oppressive pre-trial incarceration; (2) to minimize anxiety of the defendant; and (3) to limit the possibility of impairment of the defense, the most important. Barker, supra, 407 U.S. at 532, 92 S.Ct. at 2193; Jackson, supra, 503 A.2d at 1229. Appellant does not claim prejudice ’ related to any of these factors.⁸ Instead, he argues that he could have been considered for sentencing under the YRA if his trial had occurred sooner. We have said that “[l]oss of the opportunity to be considered for youthful offender treatment is prejudice of a sort germane to speedy trial analysis.” United States v. Alston, 412 A.2d 351, 361 (D.C.1980) (en banc) (citing United States v. Roberts, 515 F.2d 642, 646 (2d Cir.1975)). However, this harm must still be considered and balanced against the other Barker factors involved in the analysis. What seems to divide the majority from the dissenting opinion on the speedy trial issue is the weight our dissenting colleague accords the prejudice factor in the Barker analysis. However, we must be mindful in our consideration that no one factor is “a necessary or sufficient condition to the finding of a deprivation of the right of speedy trial”; rather our decision requires a sensitive balancing of the length and reasons for the delay, the assertion of the right to a speedy trial, and prejudice. Barker, 407 U.S. at 533, 92 S.Ct. at 2193.

Roberts, supra, 515 F.2d 642, relied upon by our dissenting colleague, differs in important respects from this case. In Roberts, a divided panel upheld the dismissal by the trial court of an indictment against a defendant on the ground that he had been denied a speedy trial.⁹ In that case, unlike this one, three of the Barker factors were weighed heavily against the government in the court’s analysis, and the other factor, assertion of the right to a speedy trial, was weighed only slightly against the defendant. Id.

Roberts, who was awaiting trial on multiple felony counts, had made an arrangement with the prosecutor to plead guilty to a misdemeanor information. Not until thirteen months after Roberts was indicted and six months after he had passed his eligibility date for treatment as a young adult offender did Roberts assert his right to a speedy trial. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 4209, 5010(a), 5021.¹⁰ In reviewing the trial court’s application of the multi-factor test of Barker in his opinion, Judge J. Joseph Smith concluded that attention to these variables supported the trial court’s decision to dismiss. In Judge Smith’s view, “the usual justification for assigning great, and perhaps decisive weight to [the] single factor[,] [assertion of the right was] plainly missing”; therefore, he concluded that this factor tended “to negative [Roberts’] speedy trial claim only slightly.” Roberts, supra, 515 F.2d at 648.¹¹

Significantly for purposes of comparison with the case before this court, the trial court in Roberts had found that the government had delayed the plea for its own benefit. Although Roberts had been prepared to enter a plea of guilty about the time of his arraignment, which was some seven months before he lost his Youth Act eligibility, the government refused to permit him to do so until he had delivered on a promise to testify for the government against another defendant. Id. at 646-47. However, the government had made no effort to bring to trial speedily the case in which it wanted Roberts to testify either. Thus, there was a finding that under those particular circumstances, both the length and reason for the delay weighed heavily against the government. Id.

This case is unlike Roberts where it was determined that the government had intentionally delayed the proceedings for its .own benefit. See United States v. Davis, 679 F.2d 845, 850 (11th Cir.1982) (government acts at its own risk in prolonging a defendant’s case deliberately and for its own benefit), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1207, 103 S.Ct. 1198, 75 L.Ed.2d 441 (1983); United States v. Carini 562 F.2d 144, 149 (2d Cir.1977). Here, there is no claim that any of the delays attributable to the government were calculated to gain a tactical advantage at the expense of prejudice to the defendant. Moreover, in this case, the only “significant” delay attributable to the government occurred early in the case, and the remainder of the delay was neutral or for institutional reasons. The government was not responsible for the delay between September 5, 1989 and January 24, 1990. This part of the delay is attributable to counsel for the co-defendant Smith. Moreover, there is no basis here for weighing three out of the four Barker factors heavily against the government as occurred in Roberts. ¹²

In summary, considering and balancing all of the Barker factors, the length and reasons for the delay, appellant’s belated expression of an interest in resolving the case, the absence of a direct request for a speedy trial, and the nature of the prejudice asserted, we conclude that appellant was not deprived of his right to a speedy trial.

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of conviction appealed from hereby is

Affirmed.

1 . Smith and Snipe were also indicted for distribution of a controlled substance.

2 . In return for selling drugs for Smith, according to Snipe, he received drugs for his personal use.

3 . Snipe pleaded guilty prior to Dickerson’s trial.

4 . We also reject appellant's argument that the trial court committed reversible, plain error in instructing the jury on aiding and abetting as there was evidence to support it. See Head, supra, 451 A.2d at 626; see also United States v. Staten, 189 U.S.App.D.C. 100, 108, 581 F.2d 878, 884 (1978).

5 . Such delay is addressed under the Due Process Clause or any statute of limitations. See United States v. MacDonald, 456 U.S. 1, 7-9, 102 S.Ct. 1497, 1501-02, 71 L.Ed.2d 696 (1982). The period of dismissal at the early stages of the proceedings in this case resulting from the government’s inability to locate its file does not rise to the level of a due process violation.

6 . The government has calculated the period of its request for continuances from April 27, 1989 to September 5, 1989. However, the first scheduled trial date for which it sought a continuance was set by the court on February 28, 1989 to be held on June 12, 1989. The interim between those two dates should be attributed to institutional delay. Even assuming that time were counted in the way the government did in its brief, the difference would be minimal, and our result would be the same.

7 . The government and appellant were ready for trial on September 5, 1989 and November 20, 1989, but diere was a scheduling conflict with co-defendant’s counsel, and the case was continued through January 24, 1990. On January 24, a new trial date was set for March 27, 1990, over appellant’s objection, but it is not clear from the record whether all or part of the delay was to accommodate co-counsel or because of court congestion.

8 . It does not appear from the record that appellant’s defense was impaired. Rather, the delay may have made possible the availability of favorable testimony given on appellant's behalf by his co-defendant Snipe, who pleaded guilty on August 2, 1989, just one month before the last trial date which preceded appellant's twenty-second birthday.

9 . Judge Frederick van Pelt Bryan concurred in the result only on the ground that the trial court’s decision constituted a proper exercise of judicial discretion. Roberts, supra, 515 F.2d at 648. The third member of the panel dissented, pointing out that a denial of the right had not been established, particularly in light of Roberts' failure to assert his speedy trial rights at a meaningful time, "in view of the Supreme Court’s emphatic warning that 'failure to assert the right will make it difficult for a defendant to prove that he was denied a speedy trial.' " Id. at 649 (quoting Barker, supra, 407 U.S. at 532, 92 S.Ct. at 2193).

10 . The government argued unsuccessfully on appeal that the speedy trial guarantee afforded no protection to a defendant who had no expectation of going to trial and that Roberts’ speedy trial rights had not been violated.

11 . Judge Smith declined to weigh the assertion of the right against Roberts, concluding that he was probably ignorant of the need to do so. Roberts, supra, 515 F.2d at 647. In contrast, the dissenting judge pointed out that Roberts had been represented by counsel about whom no claim of ineffective assistance had been raised, and that knowing fully the terms of the plea agreement, they had never asserted a right to a speedy trial until many months after Roberts’ eligibility for youth offender treatment had expired. Thus, in light of the Supreme Court's admonition in Barker about the consequences of failure to assert the right to a speedy trial, the dissenting judge would have vacated the trial court’s judgment of dismissal. Id. at 649.

12 .Since appellant did not raise the speedy trial question in the trial court, this court must rely on the record before us. Consequently, in the absence of any findings by the trial court concerning appellant's particular circumstances, this court cannot determine the degree of prejudice to appellant occasioned by the loss of the opportunity to be sentenced as a youthful offender. Cf. Roberts, supra, 515 F.2d at 646 (appellate court, crediting the trial court’s findings that there was a real and substantial' possibility that [Roberts] would receive the notable benefits of youthful offender treatment,” held that "the loss of the right to be considered for youthful offender treatment amounted in this case to little less than loss of the right to receive such treatment”). The type of record apparently developed in Roberts is not available to this court for review.