Edward Macauthur Gaye v. Commonwealth

• Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Decided: June 5, 2007
• Docket: 0986061
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Chief Judge Felton, Judges Frank and Beales Argued at Chesapeake, Virginia

EDWARD MACAUTHUR GAYE MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY v. Record No. 0986-06-1 JUDGE RANDOLPH A. BEALES JUNE 5, 2007 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK Charles D. Griffith, Jr., Judge

Anthony J. Nicolo (Ferrell, Sayer & Nicolo, P.C., on brief), for appellant.

Richard B. Smith, Special Assistant Attorney General (Robert F. McDonnell, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

Edward Macauthur Gaye (appellant) was convicted by the trial court of possession of

cocaine with the intent to distribute (second offense), pursuant to Code § 18.2-248.1 On appeal,

he argues that the trial court erred in finding that the evidence was sufficient to prove he intended

to distribute the cocaine found in his possession.2

Appellant does not argue on appeal that the evidence was insufficient to prove he

possessed the cocaine. He argues only that the evidence did not prove he possessed the drugs

* Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication. 1 Code § 18.2-248(A) reads, “Except as authorized in the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.), it shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, give, distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture, sell, give or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance.” 2 Appellant’s petition for appeal asked for review of the trial court’s denial of his motion to suppress, but this Court did not grant review of the issues related to reasonable suspicion or probable cause. with the intent to distribute them. In such cases, when reviewing a record to determine whether

the evidence was sufficient to support a conviction, we consider the evidence in the light most

favorable to the Commonwealth and will not overturn the conviction unless the decision was

“plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.” Higginbotham v. Commonwealth, 216 Va.

349, 352, 218 S.E.2d 534, 537 (1975).

Three “rocks” of cocaine were found in the car appellant was driving. Officer Killian

testified that the rocks were individually wrapped and placed together in a baggie. Appellant

also had $85 in his possession, but no smoking devices. Investigator Jamal Davis, an expert in

investigation of narcotics, its packaging, and its distribution, testified that the manner in which

the drugs were packaged was typical of distribution and inconsistent with personal use. He also

noted that the lack of a smoking device “shows me that he is not a user.”

Appellant testified that he used crack cocaine, heroin, and powder cocaine, amounting to

a $270-a-day habit. He stated that he received $345 each month through Social Security and that

he had no job. He claimed that his friends gave him drugs on a regular basis.

Although alone the weight of the drugs and the amount of money found on appellant

were not necessarily indicative of an intent to distribute controlled substances, the record

contains sufficient additional evidence upon which the trial court could conclude that appellant

intended to distribute the drugs. Investigator Davis explained that the manner in which the drugs

were packaged was inconsistent with personal use. He explained that the lack of a smoking

device was important in his evaluation of the circumstances, too. The trial court found this

expert testimony credible. See Mercer v. Commonwealth, 259 Va. 235, 242-43, 523 S.E.2d 213,

217 (2000) (explaining that the fact finder assesses the credibility of witnesses, including

experts, and appellate courts generally should defer to those findings).

-2- The trial court also heard appellant’s testimony. The trial court found, if appellant really

used all the drugs that he claimed he used, then he “had to be dealing” to make the money to

support his habit. The court did not believe that his friends would give him $270 worth of drugs

a day. The court used the factual conclusion that appellant was lying as further evidence of his

guilt. See Black v. Commonwealth, 222 Va. 838, 842, 284 S.E.2d 608, 610 (1981) (“The fact

finder need not believe the accused’s explanation and may infer that he is trying to conceal his

guilt.”).

As the evidence is sufficient to support the trial court’s finding of guilt, we affirm the

conviction.

Affirmed.

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