People v. Hampton

603 N.W.2d 270, 237 Mich. App. 143
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 19, 1999
DocketDocket 209450
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 603 N.W.2d 270 (People v. Hampton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Hampton, 603 N.W.2d 270, 237 Mich. App. 143 (Mich. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

Fitzgerald, J.

Following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of possession with intent to deliver more than 225 but less than 650 grams of cocaine, MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(ii); MSA 14.15(7401)(2)(a)(ii), possession with intent to deliver less than fifty *145 grains of cocaine, MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(iv); MSA 14.15(740l)(2)(a)(iv), and resisting and obstructing arrest, MCL 750.479; MSA 28.747. He was sentenced to prison terms of 240 to 360 months, 160 to 240 months, and twenty-four to forty-eight months, respectively. Defendant appeals as of right. We affirm.

On January 30, 1997, police raided the home of Brian Sumner after conducting two or three controlled purchases of cocaine at his residence. A substantial amount of cocaine was seized during the raid. Officer Timothy Gonzalez interviewed Sumner and informed him that the police wanted to know who his suppliers were and that if Sumner was willing to cooperate with police in three “busts” Gonzalez would try to “work out” a deal with the prosecutor with respect to the charges facing Sumner. Sumner named defendant, Frank Hampton, III, as his supplier. Sumner and defendant were long-time acquaintances but not close friends.

A few days later, Gonzalez and Lt. Frank Saucedo met with Sumner. Sumner indicated that if he “set up” defendant, he would not be able to set up anyone else. Gonzalez eventually agreed to this arrangement and told Sumner to call defendant and set up a time for defendant to deliver drugs to Sumner, at which time the officers would catch defendant with the drugs (a “buy/bust”).

On March 23, 1997, Gonzalez contacted Sumner and told him that a drug deal needed to be completed that day. Gonzalez arranged for surveillance of both defendant’s house and Sumner’s house. Sumner called defendant and then went to defendant’s house at 1045 Chittock Street in Jackson. Defendant was not home, and Sumner returned approximately one hour later. *146 Defendant was heading toward his house and told Sumner to go home and that he would talk to Sumner later. Sumner went home, called defendant, and told him he needed a “couple of ounces.” Defendant indicated that he would be over in a little while to talk to him. Sumner reported this conversation to Gonzalez on Gonzalez’ cellular phone.

Approximately fifteen minutes later, while Sumner was outside near a sidewalk, defendant drove up in his blue Mercedes. The two men spoke outside the car. Defendant indicated that he did not bring the drugs because the price had been raised from $900 to $1,000 an ounce, and he wanted to make sure that Sumner still wanted them. Officer Ted Ahlers observed defendant talking with Sumner and did not see Sumner hand anything to defendant. Defense witnesses Maurice Pool and Phillip Cole also observed defendant talking with Sumner and did not see Sumner hand anything to defendant. After defendant left, Sumner phoned Gonzalez and indicated that defendant was going to get the drugs.

Approximately five to ten minutes later, defendant returned to his house and, about three minutes later, left again. Officer Ahlers, who lived next door to defendant and who was surveilling defendant’s house, radioed to Gonzalez and informed him that defendant left his residence and was heading north on Chittock in a blue Mercedes. Gonzalez attempted to intercept defendant’s vehicle, but failed. Gonzalez radioed that defendant was leaving the intersection at a high rate of speed. Defendant proceeded to turn into a driveway and to drive through residential backyards before reaching a fence. Officer Timothy Black and Officers Gleeson and Demeuse, who were assigned to assist in *147 the traffic stop, observed defendant running on foot. Gleeson, Demeuse, and Black ordered defendant to surrender. Defendant continued to run and was eventually apprehended by a police dog while attempting to jump a fence. At that time, defendant threw a hat over the fence, leaving a trail of white powder.

Upon defendant’s arrest, Gonzalez instructed Officer Ahlers to surround and secure defendant’s house until a search warrant could be obtained. Officer Gonzalez prepared an affidavit and warrant, which were presented to and signed by a district judge. The search warrant was presented to defendant’s mother, who used a key to unlock defendant’s door. Upon execution of the warrant, the officers seized 396.64 grams of cocaine from inside a brown duffel bag in an upstairs bedroom and 8.6 grams of marijuana from a dresser in an upstairs hallway. Additionally, the officers seized 27.63 grams of cocaine from a bag thrown by defendant, 0.28 grams of cocaine from defendant’s car, and 0.21 grams of cocaine from the inside of defendant’s hat. Also seized was $14,000 in cash.

Defendant’s theory of the case was that Sumner planted the cocaine on defendant and in defendant’s house. Golden Gibson testified that he and defendant were working together in an automobile salvage and resale business and that he had given defendant the proceeds from two automobile auctions to invest ($4,700), the proceeds from the wholesale of some cars ($8,500), and the proceeds from the sale of three other cars ($1,700).

Carmen Wade, defendant’s girlfriend, testified that at least five or six of defendant’s siblings had keys to his house and that the bedroom where the cocaine *148 was seized was a storage room. She testified that she had never seen the brown duffel bag in the room.

Several of defendant’s friends and relatives, including Montell White, Kandra Walker, and LaDonna Hampton Lewis, testified that they attended a gambling party at defendant’s residence on March 22, 1997. They testified that Sumner was hosting the party. They also testified that they observed Sumner standing by the bar while holding a brown duffel bag, but that they did not know what subsequently happened to the bag.

Charles Suddeth testified that he observed the conversation between Sumner and defendant at Sumner’s house on March 23 and that he saw Sumner hand a sack of white powder to defendant and ask defendant to weigh it for him. Defendant became irate and said he did not have time, and Sumner persisted because he “had left his scales behind the bar at defendant’s house.” After further argument, defendant snatched the bag and left. Shortly thereafter, Suddeth saw defendant being pursued by police.

Defendant first claims that the evidence discovered as a result of the search at his residence should have been suppressed because the search warrant’s description of the premises to be searched was inaccurate. A trial court’s ruling regarding a motion to suppress evidence as illegally seized will not be reversed on appeal unless it is clearly erroneous. People v Toodle, 155 Mich App 539, 543; 400 NW2d 670 (1986). A ruling is clearly erroneous when it leaves this Court with a definite and firm conviction that the trial court made a mistake. People v Hahn, 183 Mich App 465, 469; 455 NW2d 310 (1989), remanded on other grounds 437 Mich 867 (1991).

*149 Page one of the “Search Warrant and Affidavit” described the premises to be searched as follows:

A two story wood frame single family dwelling tan with brown trim and an open extended porch.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
603 N.W.2d 270, 237 Mich. App. 143, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-hampton-michctapp-1999.