Jeffery Johnson v. State of Mississippi

194 So. 3d 191, 2016 Miss. App. LEXIS 384, 2016 WL 3248789
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedJune 14, 2016
Docket2015-KA-00070-COA
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 194 So. 3d 191 (Jeffery Johnson v. State of Mississippi) 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
Jeffery Johnson v. State of Mississippi, 194 So. 3d 191, 2016 Miss. App. LEXIS 384, 2016 WL 3248789 (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

GREENLEE, J.,

for the Court:

¶ 1. On October 30, 2014, Jeffrey Johnson was convicted of possession of marijuana in an amount more than ten grams but less than thirty grams with the intent to distribute, and was sentenced as a habitual offender to six years’ imprisonment and fined $500. Johnson appealed his conviction to this Court. Finding no error, we affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

¶ 2. In 1987, Johnson was convicted of felony burglary. 1 In 1997, Johnson was convicted of a second felony, possession of cocaine, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. In 2004, after being convicted of a third felony, possession of cocaine in an amount greater than ten grams but less than thirty grams, Johnson was sentenced to .fifteen years’ imprisonment.

¶ 3. On November 29, 2012, Starkville Police Department Officer Derek Nelson observed Johnson apparently driving without a.seatbelt. After stopping Johnson, Nelson observed that Johnson’s seatbelt was buckled around his waste, but that the seatbelt strap was tucked underneath his shoulder. Upon asking Johnson for his driver’s license and insurance, Nelson noticed a light smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Nelson asked Johnson *196 to step out of his car and interviewed Johnson. Nelson then called Joe Huffman, Johnson’s probation officer, to assist.

¶4. When Huffman arrived, he also smelled marijuana coming from the car. Huffman immediately put Johnson in handcuffs, taking him into custody. Johnson admitted to Huffman that Johnson had marijuana in the console of his vehicle. Huffman searched the vehicle and discovered a plastic bag containing 29.6 grams of marijuana. Johnson admitted to Huffman,' Nelson, and Sergeant George Coleman of the Starkville Police Department that the marijuana was “for-the women.” Upon further search of the vehicle,- Huffman discovered boxes of sandwich bags and condoms in the trunk.

¶ 5. Johnson was originally indicted On August 5, 2013, for possession of marijuana in an amount less than thirty grams with the intent to distribute, in violation of Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-139 (Rev.2013). More than three weeks before trial on August 4, 2014, the State filed a motion to amend the indictment, charging Johnson as a habitual offender, pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-19-81 (Rev.2015), and also as a second or subsequent drug offender, pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-147 (Rév.2013). The trial court held-a hearing on the State’s motion and granted it. During the same week, the State inforihed Johnson’s attorney of possible sale-of-cocaine charges being considered by the grand jury against Johnson. Johnson’s trial commenced on October 28, 2014'.

¶ 6.’ At trial, Huffman testified- that, based on this and his experience, in his opinion, Johnson intended to take the marijuana, break it 'down into smaller amounts, and trade it for sexual encounters. Further, Johnson testified that he was headed to a friend’s house to watch football, that he expected fifteen to twenty people to be there, that everyone shares what they bring, and that if someone wanted some of his marijuana they could have it. The court denied pi’oposed defense jury instructions D-5 and D-6 concerning witness testimony. On October 30, 2014, the jury found Johnson guilty of possession of marijuana in an amount less than . thirty grams with intent to distribute. As a result Of his habitual — and subsequent-offender status, the trial court sentenced him to six years’ incarceration, to be served day-for-day, without the possibility of parole, earned or early release, or weekend passes. Following the jury’s guilty verdict and the trial court’s sentencing, Johnson filed a motion for a directed verdict and, alternatively, a judgment' notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV). The circuit court denied his motion. Johnson now appeals to this Court. We affirm.

DISCUSSION

¶ 7. Johnson argues that the State did not prove his intent to distribute, that there was an improper jury instruction, that the circuit court erred in not allowing him to “fully” cross-examine Nelson, that the amending of the indictment was improper, that his attorney provided ineffective assistance of counsel, and that plain error occurred. Johnson later filed an amended brief in which he asserts further ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims for his counsel’s failure to object to testimony and not wanting to go to trial. He also claims that the trial judge should have recused himself, and that Johnson was wrongly denied post-conviction bail.

I. Intent to Distribute

¶ 8. Johnson argues that his conviction for possession of marijuana in an amount less than thirty grams with the intent to distribute was against the weight and suf *197 ficiency of the evidence because the State failed to prove the intent-to-distribute element of his charge. To support his argument he asserts that no rational trier of fact could have found intent to distribute and that the State “used conjecture to imply that [he] was going , to share the marijuana.”

A. Sufficiency of the Evidence

¶ 9. “The standard of review for the denial of a motion for directed verdict and JNOV is the same.” Parks v. State, 884 So.2d 738, 743 (¶ 15) (Miss.2004). “[D]irected verdict and JNOV [motions] both challenge the legal sufficiency of the evidence presented at trial.” Id. The Court “considers all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the State and gives the State the benefit .of all favorable inferences that may reasonably be drawn from the evidence.” Id. The critical inquiry in addressing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence “is whether the evidence shows beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the. act charged, and that he did so,under such circumstances that every element of the offense existed; and where .the evidence fails to meet this test it is insufficient to support a conviction.” Bush v. State, 895 So.2d 836, 843 (¶ 16) (Miss.2005) (quoting Carr v. State, 208 So.2d 886, 889 (Miss.1968)). “The relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 315, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)). The Court must reverse if the facts, viewed in that light, are so overwhelmingly in favor of the appellant that reasonable minds .could not have arrived at a guilty verdict. Parks, 884 So.2d at 744 (¶ 15). The Court must affirm when there is substantial evidence in support of the verdict of such quality and weight that reasonable and fair-minded jurors exercising impartial judgment ■ might have' reached different conclusions. Id.

¶ 10. A “transfer” under the statute for the delivery and transfer of narcotics is a change of possession from one person to another. White v. State, 842 So.2d 565, 576 (¶ 32) (Miss.2003).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Skylar O'Kelly v. State of Mississippi
267 So. 3d 282 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2018)
Jameil Clark v. State of Mississippi
Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2017

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
194 So. 3d 191, 2016 Miss. App. LEXIS 384, 2016 WL 3248789, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jeffery-johnson-v-state-of-mississippi-missctapp-2016.