THIRD DIVISION MIKELL, P. J., MILLER and BLACKWELL, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. (Court of Appeals Rule 4 (b) and Rule 37 (b), February 21, 2008) http://www.gaappeals.us/rules/
May 1, 2012
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A12A0395. MARTINEZ v. THE STATE.
MIKELL, Presiding Judge.
Jackson Martinez was convicted by a jury of one count each of trafficking
cocaine and reckless driving. Martinez appeals from the order denying his motion for
new trial, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and arguing that the trial court
erred in admitting prior bad acts into evidence and by failing to give an appropriate
limiting instruction. Discerning no error, we affirm.
On appeal from a criminal conviction, we view the evidence
in the light most favorable to the verdict, and [Martinez] no longer enjoys a presumption of innocence; moreover, an appellate court determines evidence sufficiency and does not weigh the evidence or determine witness credibility. The verdict must be upheld if any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.1
So viewed, the record shows that a confidential informant notified Special
Agent Angel Santos, an officer with the Fayette County Drug Task Force, that the
informant and others would be bringing a large quantity of cocaine from Gwinnett
County to Fayette County. The informant told Santos that two specific vehicles, a
Crown Victoria and a Honda Civic, would be transporting four kilograms of cocaine
to an address on Pine Trail in Fayette County. Members of the task force assembled
near the location on Pine Drive and waited for the two vehicles to arrive. When they
arrived, the occupants of the Crown Victoria were apprehended. Seeing this,
Martinez, driving the Honda Civic, fled from the scene through a ditch, breaking a
culvert pipe, nearly striking police officers standing in the street, and damaging
several police vehicles before Officer Santos was able to stop the Honda Civic by
striking it head-on with his own vehicle. In the back of the Honda Civic, a black
backpack containing approximately four kilograms of cocaine was found.
1 (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Barber v. State, 235 Ga. App. 170 (509 SE2d 93) (1998). See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S. 307 (99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979).
2 Martinez was arrested and transported to the hospital for evaluation after the
crash. After being released, Officer Jody Thomas and Captain Mike Pruitt advised
Martinez of his Miranda rights, which Martinez waived by making a voluntary
statement admitting that he was the driver of the Honda Civic and that he did know
that the car contained illegal drugs.
1. Martinez contends that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his
trafficking in cocaine conviction,2 arguing that the state failed to prove that he had
knowledge that the contraband he was transporting was cocaine.
Martinez argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove that he knew that
the black bookbag in the Honda Civic contained cocaine because the evidence
presented did not exclude the hypothesis that the confidential informant could have
placed the cocaine in the car without Martinez’s knowledge. A conviction based upon
circumstantial evidence “is supported only if the proved facts exclude every
2 OCGA § 16-13-31 defines the offense of illegal drug trafficking. Martinez was convicted of cocaine trafficking under subsection (a) (1) of that statute, which provides in pertinent part that “[a]ny person . . . who is knowingly in possession of 28 grams or more of cocaine or of any mixture with a purity of 10 percent or more of cocaine . . . commits the felony offense of trafficking in cocaine.”
3 reasonable hypothesis save that of the defendant’s guilt.” 3 In this case, the jury was
presented with the following evidence sufficient to determine beyond a reasonable
doubt that Martinez was guilty of trafficking in cocaine: in his custodial statement,
Martinez admitted that he was the driver of the Honda Civic and that he had been
paid to drive drugs from Gwinnett County to Fayette County. Martinez further stated
that he had transported both cocaine and marijuana in the past; that he had been told
he was transporting marijuana; and that he had charged a lower fee based on that
belief. The backseat passenger told Martinez he was transporting four kilos of cocaine
only as they spotted the police offers. Martinez further admitted to fleeing and trying
to damage cars during his flight because he knew he would be caught and wanted to
tear things up in the process.
“It is the jury’s role to resolve evidentiary conflicts, determine witness
credibility, and decide the reasonableness of hypotheses based upon the
circumstantial evidence.” 4 Further, doubts as to the reasonableness of the hypotheses
are “to be decided by the jury which heard the evidence and where the jury is
3 (Footnote omitted.) Brown v. State, 307 Ga. App. 99, 100 (1) (a) (704 SE2d 227) (2010). 4 (Punctuation and footnote omitted.) Ferrell v. State, 312 Ga. App. 122, 125 (1) (717 SE2d 705) (2011).
4 authorized to find that the evidence, though circumstantial, was sufficient to exclude
every reasonable hypothesis save that of guilt, that finding will not be disturbed
unless the verdict of guilty is insupportable as a matter of law.”5 Accordingly, we
conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s verdict that Martinez
was guilty of trafficking in cocaine beyond a reasonable doubt.6
2. Martinez next contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion in
limine to redact references to prior drug trafficking from the statement he made to
Officer Thomas after his arrest because these references impermissibly placed his
character in evidence. We disagree.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Martinez made a statement to
Officer Thomas admitting that he was the driver of the Honda Civic containing four
kilograms of cocaine, that he had transported narcotics several times before and that
he had pre-arranged prices based upon whether he was to transport cocaine or
marijuana. Officer Thomas stated that Martinez made this statement to explain that
he only found out that he was transporting cocaine once officers began trying to
apprehend his car and that is why he tried to escape in such a reckless manner. The
5 (Footnote omitted.) Id. 6 See Perez v. State, 249 Ga. App. 28, 29 (546 SE2d 564) (2001).
5 portions of the statement challenged by Martinez “were an integral part of a criminal
confession, and such statements are not rendered impermissible because the language
used therein indicates that the accused has committed another and separate offense.”7
3. Martinez next argues that the trial court erred by not giving a limiting
instruction to the jury on the references to the prior acts of drug trafficking. However,
“[t]he failure to give a requested charge which is authorized by the evidence can be
harmless error. The inquiry is whether it is highly probable that the error contributed
to the verdict.”8 Even disregarding Martinez’s statement regarding his prior acts of
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THIRD DIVISION MIKELL, P. J., MILLER and BLACKWELL, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. (Court of Appeals Rule 4 (b) and Rule 37 (b), February 21, 2008) http://www.gaappeals.us/rules/
May 1, 2012
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A12A0395. MARTINEZ v. THE STATE.
MIKELL, Presiding Judge.
Jackson Martinez was convicted by a jury of one count each of trafficking
cocaine and reckless driving. Martinez appeals from the order denying his motion for
new trial, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and arguing that the trial court
erred in admitting prior bad acts into evidence and by failing to give an appropriate
limiting instruction. Discerning no error, we affirm.
On appeal from a criminal conviction, we view the evidence
in the light most favorable to the verdict, and [Martinez] no longer enjoys a presumption of innocence; moreover, an appellate court determines evidence sufficiency and does not weigh the evidence or determine witness credibility. The verdict must be upheld if any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.1
So viewed, the record shows that a confidential informant notified Special
Agent Angel Santos, an officer with the Fayette County Drug Task Force, that the
informant and others would be bringing a large quantity of cocaine from Gwinnett
County to Fayette County. The informant told Santos that two specific vehicles, a
Crown Victoria and a Honda Civic, would be transporting four kilograms of cocaine
to an address on Pine Trail in Fayette County. Members of the task force assembled
near the location on Pine Drive and waited for the two vehicles to arrive. When they
arrived, the occupants of the Crown Victoria were apprehended. Seeing this,
Martinez, driving the Honda Civic, fled from the scene through a ditch, breaking a
culvert pipe, nearly striking police officers standing in the street, and damaging
several police vehicles before Officer Santos was able to stop the Honda Civic by
striking it head-on with his own vehicle. In the back of the Honda Civic, a black
backpack containing approximately four kilograms of cocaine was found.
1 (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Barber v. State, 235 Ga. App. 170 (509 SE2d 93) (1998). See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S. 307 (99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979).
2 Martinez was arrested and transported to the hospital for evaluation after the
crash. After being released, Officer Jody Thomas and Captain Mike Pruitt advised
Martinez of his Miranda rights, which Martinez waived by making a voluntary
statement admitting that he was the driver of the Honda Civic and that he did know
that the car contained illegal drugs.
1. Martinez contends that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his
trafficking in cocaine conviction,2 arguing that the state failed to prove that he had
knowledge that the contraband he was transporting was cocaine.
Martinez argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove that he knew that
the black bookbag in the Honda Civic contained cocaine because the evidence
presented did not exclude the hypothesis that the confidential informant could have
placed the cocaine in the car without Martinez’s knowledge. A conviction based upon
circumstantial evidence “is supported only if the proved facts exclude every
2 OCGA § 16-13-31 defines the offense of illegal drug trafficking. Martinez was convicted of cocaine trafficking under subsection (a) (1) of that statute, which provides in pertinent part that “[a]ny person . . . who is knowingly in possession of 28 grams or more of cocaine or of any mixture with a purity of 10 percent or more of cocaine . . . commits the felony offense of trafficking in cocaine.”
3 reasonable hypothesis save that of the defendant’s guilt.” 3 In this case, the jury was
presented with the following evidence sufficient to determine beyond a reasonable
doubt that Martinez was guilty of trafficking in cocaine: in his custodial statement,
Martinez admitted that he was the driver of the Honda Civic and that he had been
paid to drive drugs from Gwinnett County to Fayette County. Martinez further stated
that he had transported both cocaine and marijuana in the past; that he had been told
he was transporting marijuana; and that he had charged a lower fee based on that
belief. The backseat passenger told Martinez he was transporting four kilos of cocaine
only as they spotted the police offers. Martinez further admitted to fleeing and trying
to damage cars during his flight because he knew he would be caught and wanted to
tear things up in the process.
“It is the jury’s role to resolve evidentiary conflicts, determine witness
credibility, and decide the reasonableness of hypotheses based upon the
circumstantial evidence.” 4 Further, doubts as to the reasonableness of the hypotheses
are “to be decided by the jury which heard the evidence and where the jury is
3 (Footnote omitted.) Brown v. State, 307 Ga. App. 99, 100 (1) (a) (704 SE2d 227) (2010). 4 (Punctuation and footnote omitted.) Ferrell v. State, 312 Ga. App. 122, 125 (1) (717 SE2d 705) (2011).
4 authorized to find that the evidence, though circumstantial, was sufficient to exclude
every reasonable hypothesis save that of guilt, that finding will not be disturbed
unless the verdict of guilty is insupportable as a matter of law.”5 Accordingly, we
conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s verdict that Martinez
was guilty of trafficking in cocaine beyond a reasonable doubt.6
2. Martinez next contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion in
limine to redact references to prior drug trafficking from the statement he made to
Officer Thomas after his arrest because these references impermissibly placed his
character in evidence. We disagree.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Martinez made a statement to
Officer Thomas admitting that he was the driver of the Honda Civic containing four
kilograms of cocaine, that he had transported narcotics several times before and that
he had pre-arranged prices based upon whether he was to transport cocaine or
marijuana. Officer Thomas stated that Martinez made this statement to explain that
he only found out that he was transporting cocaine once officers began trying to
apprehend his car and that is why he tried to escape in such a reckless manner. The
5 (Footnote omitted.) Id. 6 See Perez v. State, 249 Ga. App. 28, 29 (546 SE2d 564) (2001).
5 portions of the statement challenged by Martinez “were an integral part of a criminal
confession, and such statements are not rendered impermissible because the language
used therein indicates that the accused has committed another and separate offense.”7
3. Martinez next argues that the trial court erred by not giving a limiting
instruction to the jury on the references to the prior acts of drug trafficking. However,
“[t]he failure to give a requested charge which is authorized by the evidence can be
harmless error. The inquiry is whether it is highly probable that the error contributed
to the verdict.”8 Even disregarding Martinez’s statement regarding his prior acts of
drug trafficking, the evidence of his guilt is overwhelming. In addition, the court gave
the pattern jury instruction on credibility, including language that the jury may
consider a witness’s credibility. Under these circumstances, we find it highly probable
that the failure to issue the requested limiting instruction, even if in error, was
harmless and did not contribute to the jury verdict.9
Judgment affirmed. Miller, J., concurs and Blackwell, J., concurs fully and
specially.
7 (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Walker v. State, 264 Ga. 79, 80 (3) (440 SE2d 637) (1994). Accord Washington v. State, 268 Ga. 598, 599-600 (2) (492 SE2d 197) (1997); Greer v. State, 199 Ga. App. 106, 107 (1) (403 SE2d 825) (1991). 8 (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Brown v. State, 289 Ga. 259, 261 (2) (710 SE2d 751) (2011). 9 Id.
6 A12A0395. MARTINEZ v. THE STATE.
BLACKWELL, Judge, concurring specially and fully.
I concur fully in the opinion of the Court, but I write separately to explain why
we need not decide in this case whether Martinez is right when he argues that the
State was required to prove that he knew the identity of the controlled substance in
which he was trafficking. Even if he were right, there was evidence at trial that, when
Martinez encountered law enforcement officers, a passenger informed Martinez that
they were transporting several kilograms of cocaine. After the passenger informed
Martinez that they had cocaine, Martinez attempted to drive away with the cocaine,
an act that, the jury could have found, itself amounted to trafficking. Accordingly,
even assuming that Martinez is right about the knowledge element of OCGA § 16-13-
31—something about which I offer no opinion—there is enough evidence in this case
to sustain his conviction for trafficking in cocaine. Cf. Harrison v. State, 309 Ga.
App. 454, 457-458 (2) (a) (711 SE2d 35) (2011) (declining to decide whether, to
prove trafficking in cocaine, the State must prove that the defendant knew of weight
of cocaine because, even assuming that it is required to prove such knowledge, jury
instruction adequately conveyed that requirement).