IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2000-KA-01034-SCT
JAMES V. WHITE a/k/a JAMES VONELL WHITE
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 5/4/2000 TRIAL JUDGE: HON. BOBBY BURT DELAUGHTER COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: HINDS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: ROBERT M. RYAN THOMAS M. FORTNER LARRY NEAL McMURTRY CHARLES R. SALTZMAN ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY: JEAN SMITH VAUGHAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY: EDWARD J. PETERS NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED-04/10/2003 MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED: MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC.
SMITH, PRESIDING JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. The motion for rehearing is granted. The previous opinions of this Court are withdrawn, and this
opinion is substituted therefor.
¶2. James V. White appeals to this Court from the Circuit Court of Hinds County where he was
convicted of Count II, possession of more than one ounce of marijuana with the intent to distribute, but
found not guilty of Count I, sale of more than one ounce of marijuana. White raises three issues. First, he
challenges the validity of the search of his apartment. Second, he contends that the trial court improperly denied his request for a limiting instruction as to statements regarding his prior bad acts. Finally, he
contends that the trial court erred in refusing to give lesser-included offense instructions to the jury. We
note the issue of telephonic search warrants as an issue of first impression, and we reject such search
warrants. This is a subject for the Legislature as such searches are primarily creatures of statute. However,
we adopt the good faith exception recognized in United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 104 S.Ct. 3405,
82 L.Ed. 2d 677 (1984), and find the officers acted reasonably. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the
judgment of the trial court.
FACTS
¶3. Jeremy Stevens and Brandon Wigley were suspected of dealing marijuana. On January 28, 1998,
the Warren County Sheriff's Department set up a "sting" operation in which undercover officer Tim Williams
attempted to buy $40 of marijuana from Stevens. Stevens offered to find some marijuana for Williams if
he would front him $40. Stevens was given $40 to make the buy.
¶4. Wigley picked up Stevens, and after an unsuccessful trip to Delta, Louisiana, the pair headed to
Hinds County. The Hinds County Sheriff was called, and arrangements were made for Hinds County
officials to assist the Warren County investigators in the undercover operation. Stevens and Wigley arrived
in Clinton and proceeded to White's apartment where they bought marijuana. Later Wigley’s car was
pulled over, and the two were arrested at the Hinds/Warren County line.
¶5. Both the White residence and Wigley's car were placed under surveillance after the buy took place.
The officers watching White's apartment grew concerned that he might be tipped off as a result of
Stevens's and Wigley's arrests. Detective Jeff Crevitt testified that some friends of Jeremy’s at Jeremy’s
trailer were “expecting Stevens and Wigley to return to Warren County.” Hinds County Judge Chet
Henley was contacted by Officer Larry Iles by telephone, and an “oral/telephonic search warrant” was
2 procured for the White residence. A search of the apartment yielded marijuana, pagers, cell phones, bank
statements, a Crown Royal bag, a gun and the $40 given to Stevens to make the buy. White was taken
into custody.
DISCUSSION
I. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO SUPPRESS THE FRUITS OF A SEARCH CONDUCTED BY LAW OFFICERS PURSUANT TO A TELEPHONIC SEARCH WARRANT AS SAID SEARCH WAS THE SAME AS A WARRANTLESS SEARCH AND VIOLATED THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTIONS.
¶6. White contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion in limine to exclude the fruits of what
he alleges was an illegal search. It is true that the officers did not have a paper warrant when they searched
White's apartment. They had, however, received approval of the search from a county judge resulting from
a phone call by one of the officers to the judge.
¶7. While not statutorily provided for in Mississippi, telephonic search warrants could possibly act as
a buffer against warrantless searches which often undermine Fourth Amendment protections. In the trial
court's ruling as to the reasonableness of the search, the judge stated his belief that this Court would prefer
"a finding of probable cause by a neutral and detached magistrate telephonically" in a situation where the
only other alternative would be a warrantless search. While this may be true, there are other problems with
this procedure which warrants a detailed examination and discussion by this Court. If exigent
circumstances existed so as to preclude obtaining a proper search warrant, as long as the officers were in
good faith in their request and followed other procedural safeguards, evidence found as a result of the
issuance of a “telephonic search warrant” would be admissible at trial. However, nothing under current
Mississippi law provides for this type of search warrant.
3 ¶8. White argues that to uphold the “telephonic search warrant” would be a violation of the Fourth
Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 3, Section 23 of the Mississippi Constitution.
Though Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure sets out procedures to obtain a “telephonic
search warrant,” we have no such rule, and our state constitution says nothing about such warrants. White
also submits that in the absence of a specific statute, telephonic search warrants are contrary to the
applicable law of Mississippi and that the search of his apartment should be treated as a warrantless search.
¶9. It is for this Court as the final interpreter of Mississippi's Constitution to determine the legality of
this type of search. Penick v. State, 440 So. 2d 547, 551 (Miss. 1983). This Court finds that the search
was a warrantless search, as Mississippi has yet to recognize the viability of telephonic warrants. In Boyd
v. State, 206 Miss. 573, 40 So. 2d 303 (1949), we reversed a conviction based on the illegality of a
warrant. There the officer had signed the affidavit at his office, and a judge in another county signed off on
the warrant. The officer never appeared before the judge, and thus the warrant was illegally obtained. We
note that the process of appearing before the judge is important in Mississippi. The current status of our
law requires the affiant’s and the affidavit’s presence before the issuing magistrate before a search warrant
may properly issue. See Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-157(a)(2) (2001). The form of an affidavit for a
search warrant also indicates the presence of the affiant at issuance. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-25-15
(2000). Thus, by requiring a sworn affidavit before issuance of a warrant, we insure the affidavit is free
from facts which might be discovered later and included in a subsequently filed affidavit to support the
finding of probable cause. Whiteley v. Warden, 401 U.S. 560, 91 S. Ct. 1031, 28 L. Ed. 2d 306
(1971).
4 ¶10. In the case sub judice, no recording was made of the phone call in which this search warrant was
authorized, and no paper copy of the search warrant existed at the time of the search. There does exist
a document made under oath in this record which resembles a search warrant affidavit, executed by the
narcotics officer the day after this search. Also in the record is a warrant bearing the judge’s signature
which also was executed the day afterwards.
¶11. The several states that have accepted telephonic warrants require specific procedures most of
which were not met here. The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure allow for such warrants, and map out
a procedure complying with constitutional mandates. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 41. Such a process should
certainly be allowed considering the changing times and advancements in technology. Further, more than
one-third of the States have expressly adopted such warrants by statute, court rule or case law. See
generally Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.8(b); Alaska Stat. §§ 12.35.010 and 12.35.015 (1991); Ariz. Rev. Stat.
§ 13-3914 (1999); Cal. Penal Code § 1526 (1998); Idaho Code § 19-4404 (1994); Ind. Code § 35-33-
5-8 (1998); Iowa Code § 321J.10 (1998); § 462A.14D (2000) (However, these two code sections allow
for telephonic warrants in cases where an officer is demanding blood or urine specimens from those
suspected of driving or operating a boat while under the influence. Iowa does not authorize telephonic
search warrants in general cases. See Iowa Code § 808.3 (1998)); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 22-2502 (1995);
La. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art 162.1 (1999); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 780.651 (1998); Minn. R. Crim.
P. 36.08; State v. Andries, 297 N.W. 2d 124 (Minn. 1980); Mont. Code Ann. § 46-5-221 (1991);
Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 29-814.03 & 29-814.05 (2001); Nev. Rev. Stat. 179.045(2) (1997); N.J. Rules of
Court 3:5-3; N.Y. Crim. Pro. Law §§ 690.35 & 690.36 (1998); N.C. Gen. Stat Ann. § 15A-244, 245
(2001) (See Criminal Code Commission Commentary); N.D. R. Crim. P. 41(c)(2); Or. Rev. Stat.
5 § 133.545(5) (1999); S.D. Codified Laws § 23a-35-5 (2001); Utah Code Ann. § 77-23-204(2) (1998);
Wash. Sup. Ct. Crim. R. 2.3 (c); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 968.12(3) (1998).
¶12. Nonetheless, that is not the current state of the law in Mississippi. We note that in our sister states
telephonic search warrants are primarily a creature of statute. Where they have been accepted in the
ordinary course of police investigation, certain specific safeguards exist in these jurisdictions to insure
authenticity and proper issuance upon the finding of probable cause. Typical of these safeguards are the
requirements: (l) that the entire telephone conversation be recorded; (2) that the officer seeking the warrant
is placed under oath by the impartial magistrate while the officer relates the facts supporting a finding of
probable cause; and (3) that a paper copy is prepared and provided to the premises owner-either by
means of facsimile machine or by requiring the magistrate to read aloud word-for-word the contents of the
search warrant he or she has authorized for copying by the officer executing the warrant. See generally
ABA Criminal Justice Section, Guidelines for the Issuance of Search Warrants 73-76 (1990).
Telephonic search warrants are constitutionally infirm absent the existence of procedural safeguards and
compliance with them. See United States v. Richardson, 943 F.2d 547, 549 (5th Cir. 1991). Thus,
we find that the search here was a warrantless search.
¶13. We decline to accept telephonic search warrants as valid. We hold that it is for the Legislature to
create a statutory procedure for telephonic search warrants providing a constitutionally sound method to
procure such a search warrant to properly issue using existing procedure. Here, we conclude that the
telephonic search warrant is merely one action of the officer to be examined by this Court as to whether
the officers acted reasonably under the circumstances then existing.
¶14. Nonetheless, while the search was a warrantless search, it is possible that a warrantless search can
be found reasonable. The United States Supreme Court has found that the Fourth Amendment
6 exclusionary rule should not be applied to bar the use in the prosecution's case-in-chief of evidence
obtained by officers acting in reasonable reliance on a search warrant issued by a detached and neutral
magistrate but ultimately found to be invalid. United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 104 S.Ct. 3405,
82 L.Ed.2d 677 (1984). Mississippi has yet to determine whether such a "good faith" exception applies
under its own law. In Leon, the Court held:
[W]here the officer's conduct is objectively reasonable, 'excluding the evidence will not further the ends of the exclusionary rule in any appreciable way; for it is painfully apparent that...the officer is acting as a reasonable officer would and should act in similar circumstances. Excluding the evidence can in no way affect his future conduct unless it is to make him less willing to do his duty.
Id. at 919-20 (quoting Stone v. Powell, 428 U.S.465, 539-40, 96 S.Ct. 3037, 49 L.Ed.2d 1067 (1976)
(White, J., dissenting).
¶15. The proper application of the good faith exception to the Fourth Amendment exclusionary rule was
reiterated by the Fifth Circuit:
The [U.S. Supreme] Court has stated that the exclusionary rule should not be applied to suppress evidence if the evidence was obtained by officers acting in objectively reasonable reliance on a subsequently invalidated search warrant. However, this good faith exception does not apply if: (1) in issuing the warrant the magistrate is misled by information in the affidavit that the affiant knows is false or would have known was false except for his reckless disregard of the truth; (2) the issuing magistrate wholly abandons his judicial role; (3) the warrant is based on an affidavit so lacking in indicia of probable cause that official belief in its existence is entirely unreasonable; or, (4) the warrant is so facially deficient in failing to particularize the place to be searched and things to be seized that the executing officers cannot reasonably presume it to be valid.
United States v. Russell, 960 F.2d 421, 423 (5th Cir. 1992) (citations omitted) (applying good faith
exception where warrant was procedurally defective); see United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 922-
23, 104 S. Ct. 3405, 82 L. Ed. 2d 677 (1984) (adopting good faith exception to Fourth Amendment
exclusionary rule).
7 ¶16. In the present case, the officers had obtained warrants via telephone from another judge on
previous occasions, leading them to mistakenly believe that this procedure was valid. As we have stated
above, it is not. However, since the officers in this case did not have the benefit of this opinion, we find that
they acted in good faith in obtaining their procedurally defective warrant. Cf. State v. Spivey, 675 So.
2d 1335, 1339 (Ala. Crim. App. 1994) (applying good faith exception where judge telephonically
expanded scope of warrant).
¶17. Because we find in reviewing the record that the police officers believed in good faith that their
telephonic warrant was valid, we find that the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule is applicable in
this case. None of the enumerated-above restrictions on its application is present on the facts before us.
¶18. We note that a majority of this Court obliquely avoided an opportunity to adopt this exception
sixteen years ago. Stringer v. State, 491 So. 2d 837, 840 (Miss. 1986). In a concurring opinion joined
by two other justices, Justice Robertson criticized the majority for not specifically addressing Leon, and
argued that this Court was not obligated to follow Leon by either the federal Constitution or our state
constitution. Id. at 841, 846-50 (Robertson, J., concurring). While it remains true that we are not obliged
to adopt the good faith exception, we find that the legal and policy arguments favoring its adoption (as
enunciated in Leon) are persuasive. Moreover, the majority’s refusal to rely on Leon in Stringer is not
a precedential force against our adopting Leon today, since the Stringer Court had an alternative ground
available by which to affirm the trial court’s admission of evidence. No such alternative is available in the
present case. Further, by merely alluding to Leon without so much as naming it or its holding, the
Stringer majority clearly chose not to close the door on Leon, as Justice Robertson’s concurrence urged
it to do.
8 ¶19. We find that the conclusions these officers made in the field with limited time and information to be
reasonable under the circumstances. The officers were attempting to prevent the destruction of evidence
instead of effectuating arrest and seizure. We conclude that the officers reasonably believed in good faith
they had a valid telephonic search warrant and were acting reasonably. Therefore, we find that Leon is
applicable.
¶20. Today, we adopt the Leon good faith exception to warrantless searches and further find that it
applies to the case at bar. The officer stated that a district attorney had informed them in police procedures
training that such warrants were permissible under appropriate circumstances. Further, the officer stated
that he had obtained such a warrant on one or two prior occasions. Beyond that, the oral statement was
given under oath to a neutral magistrate. More importantly, the following morning, the officer filled out a
written warrant and record of the telephone conversation and presented it to the authorizing judge. Thus,
a follow up procedure utilizing some, though admittedly not all, of the generally recognized safeguards was
used here. Instead of immediately entering the apartment and conducting a warrantless search, these
officers "did their duty" by pursuing a more careful, prudent course. Thus, the officers had a reasonable
good faith belief that they were executing a valid warrant, and the exclusionary rule should not operate in
this case.
¶21. The Leon Court did enumerate four circumstances under which any officer should know better
than to proceed on a warrant, no matter what the magistrate tells him:
Suppression therefore remains an appropriate remedy if [1] the magistrate or judge in issuing a warrant was misled by information in an affidavit that the affiant knew was false or would have known was false except for his reckless disregard of the truth. The exception we recognize today will also not apply in cases where [2] the issuing magistrate wholly abandoned his judicial role in the manner condemned in Lo-Ji Sales, Inc. v. New York, 442 U.S. 319, 99 S. Ct. 2319, 60 L. Ed. 2d 920 (1979); in such circumstances, no reasonably well trained officer should rely on the warrant. Nor would an officer manifest
9 objective good faith in relying on [3] a warrant based on an affidavit “so lacking in indicia of probable cause as to render official belief in its existence entirely unreasonable.” Finally, depending on the circumstances of the particular case, [4] a warrant may be so facially deficient—i.e., in failing to particularize the place to be searched or the things to be seized—that the executing officers cannot reasonably presume it to be valid.
468 U.S. at 923 (citations omitted & boldfaced numerals added). None of these exceptions goes to a
purely formal issue like whether the warrant was issued on paper or via telephone, fax, or e-mail. The
exclusionary rule does not achieve its purpose when evidence is barred, and criminals go free, merely
“because the form of the warrant was improper in some respect.” Id. at 915-17. Only when the
exclusionary rule can have some meaningful effect is it to be applied:
Suppressing evidence obtained pursuant to a technically defective warrant supported by probable cause also might encourage officers to scrutinize more closely the form of the warrant and to point out suspected judicial errors. We find such arguments speculative and conclude that suppression of evidence obtained pursuant to a warrant should be ordered only on a case-by-case basis and only in those unusual cases in which exclusion will further the purposes of the exclusionary rule.
Id. at 918.
¶22. In a companion case to Leon, the Court even more emphatically held that a technical deficiency
should not trigger the exclusionary rule: “we refuse to rule that an officer is required to disbelieve a judge
who has just advised him, by word and by action, that the warrant he possesses authorizes him to conduct
the search he has requested.” Massachusetts v. Sheppard, 468 U.S. 981, 989-90, 104 S. Ct. 3424,
82 L. Ed. 2d 727 (1984). The Court went on to state:
An error of constitutional dimensions may have been committed with respect to the issuance of the warrant, but it was the judge, not the police officers, who made the critical mistake. “[T]he exclusionary rule was adopted to deter unlawful searches by police, not to punish the errors of magistrates and judges.”
Id. at 990 (quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 263, 103 S. Ct. 2317, 76 L. Ed. 2d 527 (1983)).
10 ¶23. Noting the deference allowed to the trial court, and the situation presented below, we find that the
search was reasonable under the Leon good faith exception. The trial court, even in the absence of a state
statute regarding telephonic search warrants, properly upheld the search as a reasonable warrantless
search. Thus, the trial court is affirmed.
II. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING A MOTION IN LIMINE REGARDING PRIOR BAD ACTS OF DEFENDANT AND IN DENYING THE DEFENSE A CAUTIONARY JURY INSTRUCTION IN THAT REGARD.
¶24. The admissibility of evidence related to prior acts is governed, partially, by Rule 404(b) of the
Mississippi Rules of Evidence. The reason for the rule is to prevent the State from raising the inference that
the accused has committed other crimes and is therefore likely to be guilty of the offense charged.
Lancaster v. State, 472 So.2d 363, 367-68 (Miss.1985); Davis v. State, 377 So.2d 1076
(Miss.1979).
¶25. There are exceptions, however. Evidence of a prior offense is admissible if offered, not to show
the accused's criminal tendencies, but to prove identity, knowledge, intent, common criminal scheme or
plan, or absence of mistake. Robinson v. State, 497 So.2d 440, 442 (Miss.1986). We have held that
evidence of prior acts offered to show intent to distribute is not barred by M.R.E. 404(b) and is properly
admissible if it withstands scrutiny under M.R.E. 403 and is accompanied by a proper limiting instruction.
Swington v. State, 742 So.2d 1106, 1111 (Miss. 1999); Smith v. State, 656 So.2d 95, 100 (Miss.
1995); Holland v. State, 656 So.2d 1192, 1196 (Miss. 1995).
¶26. The ultimate resolution of this issue depends on the purpose for which the evidence was offered.
White's previous misdemeanor conviction for possession of marijuana and Stevens's and Wigley's accounts
of previous sales of marijuana by White are not admissible "to show that he acted in conformity therewith."
11 M.R.E. 404(b). The State contends that the statements in the officer's report were offered "to establish
whether the defendant had the requisite intent to distribute or sell marijuana." The suggestion is that if he
intended to distribute before, he intended to distribute this time. The distinction is that while the prior act
is not accepted as evidence of the entire crime, it is accepted as evidence of a constituent element of the
crime. In prior opinions, we have followed the general trend and held that previous involvement with drugs
can be admitted on the issue of intent to distribute. See Swington v. State, 742 So. 2d at 1111; Smith
v. State, 656 So. 2d at 100; Jowers v. State, 593 So. 2d 46, 47 (Miss.1992). Given the difficulty of
proving subjective intent, we see no reason to categorically exclude evidence of prior sales. The trial court
did not err in denying White's motion in limine regarding the exclusion of statements discussing prior bad
acts.
¶27. Even when other-crimes evidence is admissible under M.R.E. 404(b), it must pass through the
"ultimate filter" of M.R.E. 403. Jenkins v. State, 507 So.2d 89, 93 (Miss.1987). Furthermore, the jury
must be informed as to the limited purpose for which they are allowed to consider the other-crimes
evidence. This cannot be accomplished if "its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of
unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury." In Smith, the defendant argued that it was
error for the trial court not to grant a cautionary instruction, sua sponte. We agreed and held that
"wherever 404(b) evidence is offered and there is an objection which is overruled, the objection shall be
deemed an invocation of the right to M.R.E. 403 balancing analysis and a limiting instruction." 656 So.2d
at 100. See also Bounds v. State, 688 So.2d 1362, 1371-72 (Miss. 1997).
¶28. In the case at bar, White argues that the trial court erred in denying his request for an instruction
as to the limited purposes for which the other-crimes evidence could be considered. While it is true that
12 the trial court denied the defense's proffered limiting instruction, he did not fail to give one. Court instruction
C-6 clearly states:
The Court instructs the jury that, as to Count 2, evidence of alleged sales of marijuana, either on the date in question or on previous occasions, are offered in an effort to show motive, opportunity, intent, plan, and/or preparation regarding the defendant James White. In other words, if you find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant possessed marijuana on the date alleged, then you may consider any evidence of alleged marijuana sales in determining whether the defendant possessed the marijuana with the intent to distribute or sell it, giving such evidence whatever weight, worth, and credibility, if any you think it deserves for that purpose.
Further, if you find the defendant guilty of the sale alleged in Count 1, you may consider that sale as possible evidence of guilty knowledge by the defendant of the nature and presence of any marijuana that he is charged with possessing in count 2.
You are not, however, under any circumstances, to consider any evidence of alleged prior marijuana sales in reaching a verdict as to Count 1, or for any other purpose not specifically authorized by this instruction.
(emphasis added).
¶29. The instruction requested by defense (D-9) states:
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury you have heard evidence concerning the defendant's alleged involvement in drug related activities. The Court instructs you that the evidence was offered in an effort to show motive, opportunity, intent, and preparation, regarding the defendant James White. You may give this testimony such weight and credibility as you deem proper under the circumstances. However, you can not and must not consider this testimony in any way regarding whether or not James White is guilty or not guilty of the charge for which he is presently on trial.
The instruction given by the court was very similar to that submitted by the defense, and perfectly adequate
under the dictates of this Court's case law. Thus, there was no error in admitting the evidence of prior bad
acts, and the jury was properly instructed as to the limits on their consideration of such acts. This allegation
of error is without merit.
13 III. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING LESSER- INCLUDED OFFENSE INSTRUCTIONS.
¶30. A defendant is entitled to have jury instructions given which present his theory of the case. Smith
v. State, 802 So.2d 82, 88 (Miss. 2001) (collecting authorities). This principle of law is not boundless,
as the court may refuse an instruction which incorrectly states the law, is covered fairly elsewhere in the
instructions, or is without foundation in the evidence. Id. Jury instructions should be given only when
evidence in the case being tried supports them. Walker v. State, 740 So.2d 873, 888 (Miss. 1999). This
Court has found that a lesser-included offense instruction is authorized if a rational or reasonable jury could
find the defendant not guilty of the principal offense in the indictment, but guilty of the lesser-included
offense. Pleasant v. State, 701 So.2d 799, 804 (Miss. 1997). White was found guilty of possession of
more than one ounce of marijuana with the intent to distribute. He alleges error in that the jury was not
given an instruction on the lesser-included offense of simple possession. We find that there is no foundation
in the evidence which would mandate such an instruction.
¶31. In order to prove possession, the State must prove that White had dominion and control over the
marijuana found in his apartment. Jackson v. State, 689 So.2d 760, 767 (Miss. 1997); Berry v. State,
652 So.2d 745, 748 (Miss. 1995); Campbell v. State, 566 So.2d 475, 477 (Miss. 1990). White
admitted that he had purchased approximately two ounces of marijuana at his apartment on the night of his
arrest and that he shared some with his friends. We find that this conclusively shows dominion and control.
Thus, the possession portion of the offense is clearly met.
14 ¶32. The more difficult question is whether based upon the evidence presented a reasonable jury could
have found White guilty of possession, as opposed to possession with intent to distribute. White's assertion
at trial was that he did not intend to distribute the marijuana within his possession, rather he intended only
to share a "smoke sack" with two of his friends. This is similar to the argument recently presented to and
dismissed by this Court in Meek v. State, 806 So.2d 236 (Miss. 2001) . In Meek, the defendant argued
that "his actions did not constitute a transfer because he did not intend to place the contraband in commerce
nor intend to distribute the substance for economic gain." Id. at 239. This Court has equated the general
terms "transfer" and "deliver." Evans v. State, 460 So.2d 824, 828 (Miss. 1984). In Meek, we noted
that distributing "includes transactions which are sales as well as transactions which may not be considered
sales." Meek, 806 So. 2d at 239-40; Rogers v. State, 599 So.2d 930, 934 (Miss. 1992). The intent
of the delivery and transfer of narcotics statute is "to thwart the exchange or transfer of the substance
whether accompanied by consideration or not." Id.; Wilkins v. State, 273 So.2d 177 (Miss. 1973).
¶33. This Court has held that it is not necessary for the transferor to make a profit or that there be
consideration for the transaction to constitute a transfer or distribution under the statute. Rogers v. State,
599 So.2d 930 (Miss. 1992); Turner v. State, 573 So.2d 1340 (Miss. 1990); Minor v. State, 482
So.2d 1107 (Miss. 1986); Boone v. State, 291 So.2d 182, 184 (Miss. 1974). Further, as we stated
in Meek:
A transfer is a change of possession from one person to another. See Commonwealth v. McCue, 338 Pa.Super. 117, 487 A.2d 880, 883 (1985). Also, a transfer is any act by which the holder of an object delivers it to another with the intent of passing whatever rights he has in the latter. See United States v. Nutter, 13 M.J. 803, 803-04 (A.F.C.M.R.1981)....We find that the only intent necessary is an intent to relinquish possession and control. The intent of the recipient is immaterial. All that is required is that Meek, the transferor, have knowledge of the character and presence of the controlled
15 substance and that he intentionally transfer it to another with the intent to part with possession and control.
Meek v. State, 806 So.2d at 240. Here, the evidence put on by White on his own behalf clearly meets
the definition of possession with intent to distribute. We find that White was not entitled to a jury instruction
on lesser-included offenses; and therefore, the trial judge did not err in denying his request. This issue is
similarly without merit.
CONCLUSION
¶34. This Court cautions that today's finding of a good faith Leon exception in this particular case and
finding that the officers acted reasonably is no recognition of the validity of telephonic search warrants. To
the contrary, we reject such a notion. The subject of telephonic search warrants is for the Legislature to
address. We are sending a clear message that such warrants are not valid, such that from this day on, no
officer or judge will be able to claim ignorance of the clearly-stated law in this respect. In this particular
instance before us, however, where the officers and the judge did not have the benefit of this opinion’s
guidance, we affirm the trial court’s determination that the officers demonstrated their good faith belief that
they were adhering to the letter of the Fourth Amendment.
¶35. In conclusion, we admonish all law enforcement officers and prosecutors to understand that our
adoption today of the Leon “good faith” exception should not be interpreted, in any way, as an opportunity
for them to be less diligent or less thorough in following the mandates of the United States Constitution, the
Mississippi Constitution, or case law interpretations thereof, regarding search and seizure. Here, the
officers’ use of a telephonic search warrant merely aids and reenforces the reasonableness of their actions
in this case.
16 ¶36. In adopting the Leon, good faith exception we note what the Supreme Court stated: In the absence of an allegation that the magistrate abandoned his detached and neutral role, suppression is appropriate only if the officers were dishonest or reckless in preparing their affidavit or could not have harbored an objectively reasonable belief in the existence of probable cause....The affidavit related the results of an extensive investigation and, as the opinions of the divided panel of the Court of Appeals make clear, provided evidence sufficient to create disagreement among thoughtful and competent judges as to the existence of probable cause. Under these circumstances, the officers’ reliance on the magistrate’s determination of probable cause was objectively reasonable, and application of the extreme sanction of exclusion is inappropriate. 468 U.S. at 926.
¶37. We find no error in admitting evidence of prior bad acts, nor do we find error in the denial of a
lesser-included offense instruction. We, therefore, affirm the trial court’s judgment.
¶38. CONVICTION OF POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA IN AN AMOUNT OF MORE THAN ONE (1) OUNCE WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE AND SENTENCE OF NINE ( 9) YEARS, SIX (6) YEARS SUPERVISED PROBATION WITH NINE (9) YEARS TO SERVE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AFFIRMED. APPELLANT SHALL RECEIVE CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED AND SHALL REIMBURSE HINDS COUNTY FOR ATTORNEY FEES AT THE RATE OF $35 PER MONTH TO BEGIN 60 DAYS AFTER RELEASE.
PITTMAN, C.J., WALLER, COBB, DIAZ, EASLEY AND CARLSON, JJ., CONCUR. GRAVES, J., DISSENTS WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION. McRAE, P.J., NOT PARTICIPATING.