Doyle v. State

1973 OK CR 282, 511 P.2d 1133, 1973 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 516
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedJune 13, 1973
DocketA-18116
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 1973 OK CR 282 (Doyle 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
Doyle v. State, 1973 OK CR 282, 511 P.2d 1133, 1973 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 516 (Okla. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinions

OPINION

BLISS, Presiding Judge:

In the District Court of Cleveland County, Case No. CRF-72-204, appellant, Linda Jean Doyle, hereinafter referred to as defendant, was charged, tried and convicted for the offense of Sale of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, to-wit: Sale of an Amphetamine. Her punishment was fixed at two (2) years imprisonment. From that judgment and sentence, she has perfected her timely appeal to this Court.

Officer Jay Lowell testified he was an acting undercover narcotics officer for the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office during the month of April 1972. Approximately one week prior to April 19, 1972, he met defendant and Richey Stowe at the Golden Cue, an establishment located at the Campus Corner, Norman. The pair requested a ride to Oklahoma City to a rock concert. Lowell refused but agreed to drive them to defendant’s apartment. While en route to the apartment, during a conversation, defendant stated she planned to attend a rock concert in Oklahoma City and intended to purchase a quantity of LSD at that concert. Also on this date, she offered to sell him three LSD tablets which he refused to purchase.

Lowell further testified that on April 19, 1972, at approximately 6:00 p.m. he and Arthur Linville were driving in the vicinity of the above mentioned apartment complex located at the corner of Lindsey and Classen, Norman, Oklahoma. He stated they observed defendant conversing with a male companion in the front of this apartment complex. Linville, who was driving their vehicle, stopped at the complex and Lowell engaged in a conversation with defendant and her companion. Lowell asked defendant “Did you get the acid?” Defendant responded she did not, but inquired whether he would be interested in a quantity of “speed.” He indicated his interest and defendant stated she had fifty (SO) mini-bennies for sale. Defendant’s companion left their presence and the trio proceeded into the residence. Defendant obtained from the kitchen a cellophane package purportedly containing fifty (50) mini-bennies and requested fifteen dollars ($15.00) in exchange for them. They agreed upon a negotiated price of thirteen dollars ($13.00) and the exchange was consummated. Linville and Lowell locked the package, marked as State’s Exhibit 1, in a metal container they were carrying in their vehicle, and delivered the package to Officer Gary Robberson on April 23, 1972.

Arthur Linville testified he was also an acting undercover narcotics officer for the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office on the above mentioned date. Linville’s testimony corroborated and substantiated all material portions of Officer Lowell’s testimony above. For that reason it will not be necessary to give a detailed description of Linville’s testimony.

Officer Gary Robberson, Cleveland County Deputy Sheriff, testified he received State’s Exhibit 1 from Officers Linville and Lowell, sealed the exhibit in an Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation envelope and delivered the envelope to Don Flynt at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Laboratory.

Don Flynt, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation chemist, testified he exam[1136]*1136ined State’s Exhibit 1 and found from a qualitative analysis the tablets to contain an amphetamine. Further, he stated the substance was classified generally as a central nervous system stimulant. Finally, he stated he did not conduct a quantitative analysis of the tablets. Thereafter, the State rested.

For the defense Wes Whittlesey, M. D., testified the defendant was a patient at the Health Department under treatment for diabetes. Further, he stated defendant presently was being treated with insulin taken by injection. Finally, his testimony revealed diabetics become fatigued very easily and he often prescribed amphetamines for such symptoms.

Defendant testified relating her medical history and the fact it was because of her physical condition she had the above tablets in her possession. Defendant stated she purchased the above tablets for the price of fifteen dollars ($15.00) at the Liberty Bar and took them to reduce the fatigue from which she suffered as a result of her diabetes. Further, she related she had been married but presently was divorced. Of that marriage she had a child which was institutionalized in California with a birth defect. Finally, she admitted to selling the tablets in the instant transaction. Thereafter, the Defense rested.

In defense counsel’s first proposition he asserts the state failed to meet its burden of proving the contraband admitted into evidence Contained a controlled dangerous substance. This contention is predicated upon counsel’s assumption 63 O.S.1971, § 2-206 places the burden upon the state to prove the presence of amphetamine in sufficient concentration to stimulate the central nervous system. It is asserted the absence of such proof is insufficient to support a conviction. Counsel submits that since the testimony of the state chemist is not composed of evidence of the concentration or quantity of the drug, he could not testify to the stimulating effect of the tablets qualitatively analyzed.

Title 63 O.S.1971, § 2-206 states in pertinent part as follows:

“D. Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a stimulant effect on the central nervous system:
“1. Amphetamine, its salts, optical isomers, and salts of its optical isomers.”

A statute which declares unlawful possession of narcotic drugs which have an exciting effect on the central nervous system of a human or animal, but without further defining the quantity or amount that must be possessed before possession becomes unlawful, does not require the state to prove that the quantity of the drug possessed by the * accused was sufficient to have an exciting effect on the nervous system where the drug itself is within the description of the statute. State v. Jefferson, Mo., 391 S.W.2d 885. Although the rule in Jefferson, supra, was decided upon an issue arising out of an offense of possession of an amphetamine, it is in point with the case at bench. Possession and sale of amphetamine in the Oklahoma Code are both prohibited by authority of 63 O.S.1971, § 2-401. The categorization of amphetamine as a controlled dangerous substance is by authority of 63 O. S.1971, § 2-206 and is applied to both offenses.

Clearly by the statutory language stating “which contains any quantity of the following substances” the legislature classified amphetamine as a controlled dangerous substance in any quantity. The phrase “having a stimulant effect on the central nervous system” is merely descriptive of the essential nature of the prohibited derivatives and does not imply the necessity of proving a quantitative analysis of the contraband in establishing a prima facie case for a violation of the act. See Jefferson, supra.

In defendant’s second proposition she alternatively argues that if the language of [1137]*113763 O.S.1971, § 2-206 is construed to prohibit a controlled dangerous substance in any quantity, that portion of the statute is unconstitutional as it is an arbitrary and unreasonable application of the police power as a sale of a harmless quantity of the substance could be prohibited by the act.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1973 OK CR 282, 511 P.2d 1133, 1973 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 516, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/doyle-v-state-oklacrimapp-1973.