Moore v. State

613 N.E.2d 849, 1993 Ind. App. LEXIS 544, 1993 WL 158770
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 18, 1993
Docket49A05-9204-CR-113
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 613 N.E.2d 849 (Moore v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Moore v. State, 613 N.E.2d 849, 1993 Ind. App. LEXIS 544, 1993 WL 158770 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993).

Opinions

SHARPNACK, Chief Judge.

ON PETITION FOR REHEARING

Subsequent to our memorandum decision of December 2, 1992, 604 N.E.2d 1267, the [850]*850appellant filed a petition for rehearing. We grant the petition for rehearing, vacate our prior decision and reverse Moore's convictions for dealing in cocaine as a class B felony and possession of cocaine as a class C felony.

Moore raises several issues for review, but we address only the dispositive issue of whether the evidence is sufficient to support Moore's convictions.

In his appeal, Moore contends that the evidence presented by the state is insufficient to sustain his conviction for either dealing in cocaine or possession of cocaine. Specifically, Moore argues that the state has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he had control over the contraband so as to establish that he possessed it. We agree.

When we review the evidence supporting a conviction, we may neither reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses. Washington v. State (1982), Ind., 441 N.E.2d 1355, 1358. Where the evidence is in conflict, we are bound to view only that evidence which is most favorable to the verdict and judgment of the trial court. Id. If there is any substantial evidence supporting the judgment, we must affirm. Hutchinson v. State (1985), Ind., 477 N.E.2d 850.

The state bore the obligation of producing substantial evidence on each element of the two offenses of which Moore was con-viected. According to the relevant portions of Ind.Code § 85-48-4-1:

"(a) A person who: * * * * * *
(2) possesses, with intent to: * * * * * *
(c) deliver ... % % * # * *
cocaine or a narcotic drug, pure or adulterated, classified in schedule I or II; commits dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug, a Class B felony...."

Pursuant to the relevant portions of I.C. § 35-48-4-6:

"(a) A person who, without a valid prescription or order of a practitioner acting in the course of his professional practice, knowingly or intentionally possesses cocaine (pure or adulterated) or a narcotic drug (pure or adulterated) classified in schedule I or II commits possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, a Class D felony, except as provided in subsection (b).
(b) The offense is:
(1) A Class C felony if the amount of the drug involved (pure or adulterated) weighs three (8) grams or more...."

We find no substantial evidence in the record to support the element of possession common to both offenses for which Moore was convicted. Instead, the evidence reveals the following. On October 12, 1990, in response to information that narcotics were being sold out of apartment two at 3502 North Salem, the Indianapolis police force sent in an informant to purchase cocaine. Approximately thirty minutes later, the police executed a search warrant at that address. The police entered the unlocked apartment and, in the ensuing confusion, spotted eight small yellow bags laying out in plain view on a cocktail table. Inside those bags, the police discovered 1.1257 grams of crack cocaine. The police also spotted a brown leather pouch lying on the table. Inside the pouch were two large sandwich bags, and inside those two bags were individually wrapped packages containing more crack cocaine. The police recovered drug paraphernalia from a back room. On the ground outside of the apartment building, between the building and some bushes, the police found more crack cocaine and a set of keys to the apartment. The police detained two men, Mr. Pollard and Mr. Robinson, who were standing outside of the apartment at the time of the drug raid.

After forcing everyone inside the apartment to the floor, patting them down and handcuffing them, the police seated the individuals on a couch. Moore, who had been lying on the couch when the police entered the apartment, was one of those individuals. Moore appeared intoxicated and disoriented at the time, and the couch upon which he had been reclining was ap[851]*851proximately four feet from the tables where the police found the drugs. A search of Moore revealed that Moore had no drugs, no money and no paraphernalia on his person.

The state does not argue, and there is no evidence to suggest, that any of the cocaine seized by the police was on Moore's person. Generally, however, where actual possession is absent, constructive possession will sustain a conviction of a drug offense. Young v. State (1985), Ind., 478 N.E.2d 50. To prove constructive possession of contraband by an accused who is present on the premises where contraband is found, there must be additional elements of intent and capability to maintain control and dominion over the substance. Perry v. State (1981), Ind.App., 418 N.E.2d 1214. . The capability to maintain control, as would establish construe tive possession, is the ability to reduce the controlled substance to one's personal possession or to direct its disposition or use. Riding v. State (1988), Ind.App., 527 N.E.2d 185. "While a possessory interest in the premises is generally sufficient to show a person's ability to exercise control over drugs found on the premises, exclusive control of the premises permits the additional inference that the person intended to maintain control of the drugs." Id. at 187-188. In a manufacturing type setting, a defendant's presence does not compel a conviction but it does present a prima facie case of possession. Ledcke v. State (1973), 260 Ind. 882, 296 N.E.2d 412, 417.

"In the case of simple possession:
'[MJerely being or having been present in a place where marijuana is found is not sufficient proof that such person is in possession of the drug where he is not in exclusive possession of the place' Arant v. State (1972), Fla.App., 256 So.2d 515, 516.
The reason is that normally, without more, no 'natural probative force' can be placed upon mere presence at a place where narcotics are found. One could just as easily be present innocently as guiltily. Although evidence of presence would certainly be relevant, it alone would not be sufficient to sustain a conviction."

Ledcke, 296 N.E.2d at 418.

The state's argument in the case before us unfolds as follows. First, Moore was inside an apartment where cocaine was discovered. Second, because Moore had nonexclusive control over this apartment, the state had to prove both that Moore knew of the cocaine's presence and that he had control over it. Third, the state proved these two elements by introducing evidence that, when the police entered the apart ment, Moore was within a few feet of the drugs, the drugs were in plain view of Moore, and Moore was in an intoxicated and disoriented state.

The state's argument here is flawed because the state failed to prove that Moore had nonexclusive control over the apartment.

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Moore v. State
613 N.E.2d 849 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1993)

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Bluebook (online)
613 N.E.2d 849, 1993 Ind. App. LEXIS 544, 1993 WL 158770, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/moore-v-state-indctapp-1993.