Enamorado v. State

534 N.E.2d 740, 1989 Ind. LEXIS 43, 1989 WL 18222
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 2, 1989
Docket49S00-8607-CR-00694
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 534 N.E.2d 740 (Enamorado v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Enamorado v. State, 534 N.E.2d 740, 1989 Ind. LEXIS 43, 1989 WL 18222 (Ind. 1989).

Opinions

DICKSON, Justice.

The defendants Maximo Enamorado and Jose Sada were convicted of dealing in cocaine and conspiracy to commit dealing in cocaine, both class A felonies, and lesser felonies for violations of the Indiana Controlled Substances Act. The court reduced the presumptive sentence of thirty years for each of Enamorado’s class A felonies to twenty-four years and ordered that they be served concurrently. Sada received concurrent thirty year sentences.

Each defendant has brought a direct appeal which we shall address in this opinion, regrouping defendants’ challenges as follows:

1. sufficiency of evidence of intent to deal and date of agreement,
2. warrantless arrest and search,
3. jury inspection of State’s exhibits after the State arguably rested without rebuttal, and
4. sentencing.

1. Sufficiency of the Evidence

The defendants argue that the evidence fails to establish the necessary intent to deal cocaine in that they were only “mules,” low-level couriers who transport drugs for a dealer. Sada contends that he did not even possess the cocaine. Challenging their conspiracy convictions, the defendants argue that the evidence fails to establish the occurrence of the agreement on the date alleged in the information. Sada further claims that he did not conspire to deliver the cocaine, but rather only accompanied Enamorado.

In addressing the issue of sufficiency of evidence, we will affirm the conviction if considering only the probative evidence and reasonable inferences supporting the verdict, without weighing or assessing witness [742]*742credibility, a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Case v. State (1984), Ind., 458 N.E.2d 223; Loyd v. State (1980), 272 Ind. 404, 407, 398 N.E.2d 1260, 1264, cert. denied, 449 U.S. 881, 101 S.Ct. 231, 66 L.Ed.2d 105.

On October 1, 1985, an Indianapolis police detective, pursuant to a warrant, searched the motel room of John Wheeling-ton. Upon discovering assorted narcotics and paraphernalia, the detective arrested Wheelington. While in police custody, Wheelington described a pending drug transaction between himself and two Hispanic men who were returning from Florida with high-grade cocaine. In exchange for some cocaine for his personal use, Wheelington was to “cut” the cocaine and assist the two men in its sale. Wheeling-ton stated that the delivery was to occur within a day or two. “Mexico Joe” and “Max” were to call Wheelington on his pager, whereupon he was to call them and give them his number so they could call again and arrange the meeting.

On October 2, at about 6:00 a.m. the detective and other officers took Wheeling-ton to the motel room and waited for the phone call from the two men. At 9:00 p.m., “Mexico Joe” called Wheelington’s pager. Returning the call, Wheelington gave “Mexico Joe” the motel room and phone numbers. “Mexico Joe” responded that he and “Max” would reach the room in about ten minutes. About ten or fifteen minutes later, the defendants, both Hispanic, and a woman arrived by car at the motel. When the three came to Wheelington’s room, knocked and entered, they were placed under arrest while a police officer searched a grocery sack Enamorado had carried in. The police officer unwrapped a smaller brown bag within the sack and found a clear plastic bag with a white powder in it. A lab analysis revealed the white powder was cocaine, 272 grams at 92.9% purity. Witnesses for the State testified that the amount and purity of the cocaine indicated that it was to be “cut” or “stepped on” to form smaller, less potent units for sale. The arresting officers also found in each defendant’s jacket a small bag of cocaine.

Jose “Mexico Joe” Sada claims that he did not possess the cocaine because Enamorado brought it into the motel room. For the purpose of criminal liability, a person who has the intent and capability of maintaining control over contraband constructively possesses it. Fassoth v. State (1988), Ind., 525 N.E.2d 318, 323. Circumstantial evidence of the care, management and control over the contraband may prove constructive possession. Jeffers v. State (1985), Ind., 485 N.E.2d 81. However, mere presence or association with another who actually possesses contraband is insufficient to show constructive possession. Lewis v. State (1985), Ind.App., 482 N.E.2d 487, 491. The jury could reasonably infer Sada’s management or control over the cocaine from the agreement between Wheelington and the defendants, Sada’s trip with Enamorado, his knowledge of the cocaine, and his call to Wheelington’s pager to arrange the delivery. Furthermore, as an accomplice, Sada is criminally responsible for his confederate’s acts done in the probable and natural consequence of their plan. Moredock v. State (1987), Ind., 514 N.E.2d 1247.

Ind.Code § 35-48-4-1, in its relevant portion, states: “A person who: ... (2) [possesses, with intent to manufacture or deliver, cocaine or a narcotic drug ... commits dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug....” (emphasis added). Intent to deliver is a lower threshold than intent to distribute to individual drug users. The defendants’ testimony establishes that they knew they were transporting cocaine for delivery to Wheelington, regardless of what the ultimate selling arrangement was to have been.

In any event, the jury could infer the necessary intent from the large amount of cocaine the defendants had in their possession. Possession of a large amount of narcotics is circumstantial evidence of intent to deliver. The probative value of the quantity in proving intent increases as the quantity itself becomes greater. Montego v. State (1987), Ind., 517 N.E.2d 74, 76. In Montego, 83 grams of cocaine was suffi-[743]*743dent proof of intent to deliver. Id. Based on the drcumstantial evidence of possessing 272 grams of cocaine, the jury could infer the defendants’, intent to deliver; the evidence is sufficient to support the dealing convictions.

Regarding their conspiracy convictions, the defendants assert that the evidence is insufficient to establish the occurrence of the agreement on the date alleged in the information. The information places the date of the agreement on or about October 2. Because the timing of the agreement is not an essential element of the offense, a conspiracy conviction may be supported by an information which does not specify the precise date of the agreement. Brown v. State (1980), Ind.App., 403 N.E.2d 901. Enamorado’s own testimony establishes the existence of an agreement with Wheelington. From Wheeling-ton’s testimony and Sada’s acts in pursuance of the cocaine delivery, the jury could infer Sada’s part in the agreement. See Isom v. State (1986), Ind., 501 N.E.2d 1074, 1075; Haynes v. State (1985), Ind.,

Related

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51 N.E.3d 103 (Indiana Supreme Court, 2016)
O'NEILL v. State
719 N.E.2d 1243 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1999)
Sada v. State
706 N.E.2d 192 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1999)
Penick v. State
659 N.E.2d 484 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1995)
Isom v. State
589 N.E.2d 245 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1992)
Knowles v. State
571 N.E.2d 1308 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1991)
Valle v. State
550 N.E.2d 746 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1990)
Enamorado v. State
534 N.E.2d 740 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1989)

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Bluebook (online)
534 N.E.2d 740, 1989 Ind. LEXIS 43, 1989 WL 18222, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/enamorado-v-state-ind-1989.