Frazier v. State

770 So. 2d 986, 2000 WL 1053992
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedAugust 1, 2000
Docket1998-KA-01590-COA
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 770 So. 2d 986 (Frazier v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Frazier v. State, 770 So. 2d 986, 2000 WL 1053992 (Mich. Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

770 So.2d 986 (2000)

John T. FRAZIER, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Mississippi, Appellee.

No. 1998-KA-01590-COA.

Court of Appeals of Mississippi.

August 1, 2000.
Rehearing Denied October 31, 2000.

*987 Joseph C. Langston, Christi R. McCoy., Booneville, Attorneys for Appellant.

Office of the Attorney General by W. Glenn Watts, Attorney for Appellee.

BEFORE McMILLIN, C.J., BRIDGES, AND PAYNE, JJ.

BRIDGES, J., for the Court:

¶ 1. John T. Frazier was convicted in the Circuit Court of Union County for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to serve a term of twenty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Aggrieved, Frazier has perfected an appeal to this Court on the following issue

I. APPELLANT'S CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE OVERWHELMING WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.

After reviewing the record, we find that the evidence presented was insufficient to show constructive possession. Accordingly, we reverse and render.

FACTS

¶ 2. In February 1997, Frazier and his girlfriend, Angie Sutton, were stopped for questioning in a parking lot in Union County, Mississippi. Frazier was driving a tractor trailer truck owned by Thorton Farms. Several officers asked to search the truck, and Frazier first asked if the officers had a warrant and if he could call his boss to get the boss's permission for the search. Frazier later consented after telling the officers that he was only the driver of the truck not the owner. While conducting the search, the officers opened an unlocked tool box that was attached to the outside of the truck on the passenger side below a high step up door. Looking inside this box, the officers found various items such as a milk crate, an oil can, and tools. Upon examining the STP oil can, officer Mike Foreman noticed a fake bottom. He opened the bottom and found a plastic bag with white powder along with eighteen smaller bags. The powder was determined to be a mixture of amphetamine and methamphetamine weighing 40.01 grams (1.41 ounces). While the police were conducting the search, Frazier was sitting in a patrol car with Officer Chuck Smith. The State presented testimony that at the exact time the STP oil can was found, Frazier began clutching his chest and acting as if he could not breathe. The State presented further evidence that after the drugs were found, Frazier returned to his normal condition and needed no medical assistance. Subsequently, Frazier was arrested.

¶ 3. A consensual search of Angie Sutton's house on the same night produced several baggies with at least one apparently containing methamphetamine residue. In her testimony at trial Sutton stated that she had removed the baggies from Frazier's home when she had been cleaning it while he was out of town.

PROCEEDINGS BELOW

¶ 4. Frazier was indicted for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He was convicted in the Union County Circuit Court and sentenced to serve a term of twenty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Aggrieved with that conviction and sentence, Frazier has perfected an appeal to this Court.

ARGUMENT AND DISCUSSION OF LAW

¶ 5. Frazier argues that his conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Frazier contends that the State presented no evidence that would connect him to the methamphetamine found in the unlocked *988 toolbox. The State maintains that the record contains credible, substantial testimony and evidence in support of the jury's verdict. The State also contends that Frazier faked a heart attack at the exact time the officers were examining the STP oil can. The State argues that this action amounts to a behavioral admission by Frazier. We disagree.

¶ 6. Our standard for reviewing challenges to convictions based on the weight of the evidence is well-established. As to each element of the offense, we consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict. We reverse when, with respect to an element of the offense charged, the evidence is such that reasonable and fair-minded jurors could only find the accused not guilty. McClain v. State, 625 So.2d 774, 778 (Miss.1993).

¶ 7. In order to support a conviction for possession of a controlled substance, the State is not required to prove actual physical possession. Berry v. State, 652 So.2d 745, 748 (Miss.1995). Rather, the State may establish constructive possession by evidence showing that the contraband was under the dominion and control of the defendant. Id. "A presumption of constructive possession arises against an owner of premises upon which contraband is found." Cunningham v. State, 583 So.2d 960, 962 (Miss.1991). However, "when contraband is found on premises which are not owned by a defendant ... the State must show additional incriminating circumstances to justify a finding of constructive possession." Id.

¶ 8. This Court and the Mississippi Supreme Court have consistently held that proximity is an essential element to establish constructive possession, but by itself is not adequate in the absence of other incriminating circumstances. Cunningham, 583 So.2d 960, 962 (Miss.1991). Additionally, where the defendant is on the premises of another, or as in the case at bar, operating the vehicle of another, the State must prove as essential elements that the defendant had dominion and control over the contraband (Fultz v. State, 573 So.2d 689, 689 (Miss.1990)) and knowledge of the presence and character of the cocaine. Campbell v. State, 566 So.2d 475 (Miss. 1990).

Although the Court in Curry stated that possession is not a question susceptible of a specific rule, guidelines were set out to follow in analyzing each case. First, the State must prove that the defendant exercised dominion over the contraband. Curry, 249 So.2d at 416. Second, the State must prove that the defendant was aware of the presence and character of the substance. Id.

Id.

¶ 9. In the case sub judice, the State failed to show additional incriminating circumstances to justify a finding of constructive possession. The State established the following facts which it would construe as sufficient to prove Frazier's guilt:

1. The one baggy containing methamphetamine was found in a truck that had been in Frazier's possession for twenty-five and one-half hours after having been in the possession of Jim Adams for fifteen days prior to Frazier's driving the truck. Additionally, the truck and the unlocked toolbox had been parked unattended for one hour prior to the police search of the vehicle.

2. Baggies with methamphetamine residue were found, not at Frazier's residence, but at Sutton's home which she claimed she removed from Frazier's home.

3. Frazier refused consent to the police search stating that he wanted to call his boss to obtain the boss's permission before allowing a search of his truck.

4. Frazier exhibited some behavior which the police inferred to be physical distress of some sort at the time the toolbox was being searched. The State claims that Frazier's actions in faking a heart attack amounted to incriminating circumstances.

¶ 10. The State incorrectly asserts that Frazier's possession of the truck for twenty-five *989 hours qualifies as an incriminating circumstance. Ferrell v. State, 649 So.2d 831, 834 (Miss.1995).

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770 So. 2d 986, 2000 WL 1053992, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/frazier-v-state-missctapp-2000.