Ricardo Casanova Faulk v. Commonwealth

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Baker, Bray and Overton Argued at Norfolk, Virginia

RICARDO CASANOVA FAULK MEMORANDUM OPINION * BY v. Record No. 0154-97-1 JUDGE NELSON T. OVERTON JUNE 9, 1998 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK Westbrook J. Parker, Judge Michael D. Eberhardt for appellant.

Marla Graff Decker, Assistant Attorney General (Mark L. Earley, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

Ricardo Casanova Faulk (defendant) was convicted of grand

larceny of a cellular phone, in violation of Code § 18.2-95(2),

and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation

of Code § 18.2-248. He contends on appeal the evidence was

insufficient to prove (1) he intended to permanently deprive the

owner of the phone, (2) the value of the phone and (3) he

intended to distribute the cocaine. Because we find the evidence

sufficient, we affirm.

The parties are fully conversant with the record in this

case and because this memorandum opinion carries no precedential

value, no recitation of the facts is necessary.

We will reverse his convictions only if they are plainly

wrong or without evidence to support them. See Code § 8.01-680. * Pursuant to Code § 17-116.010 this opinion is not designated for publication. Appellant contends the Commonwealth did not prove he intended to

permanently deprive the victim of the phone and, therefore,

larceny was not established. "Larceny is defined as the wrongful

or fraudulent taking of personal goods of some intrinsic value,

belonging to another, without his assent, and with the intention

to deprive the owner thereof permanently." Jones v.

Commonwealth, 3 Va. App. 295, 300, 349 S.E.2d 414, 417 (1986).

"Intent is the purpose formed in a person's mind which may, and

often must, be inferred from the facts and circumstances in a

particular case." Sandoval v. Commonwealth, 20 Va. App. 133,

137, 455 S.E.2d 730, 732 (1995). The circumstances of this case

show defendant opened a cellular account and obtained a phone

using a false name and Social Security number. He was told to

return the phone after several days, but neither defendant nor

the phone ever returned. The trier of fact was entitled to infer

defendant's intent was to keep the phone.

Appellant next contends the Commonwealth did not prove the

phone was worth $200 or more and analogizes his case to Walls v. Commonwealth, 248 Va. 480, 450 S.E.2d 363 (1994). In Walls two

used television sets were stolen. In an effort to establish

value, the Commonwealth presented the opinion testimony of an

employee of the company that had owned the televisions. The

witness was not familiar with the market value of televisions,

lacked opportunity to make himself familiar, did not know the

original price of the televisions and could not estimate their

- 2 - depreciation. In the instant matter, two clerks working at the

cellular phone store from which the phone was stolen testified.

Their profession was phone sales. They were very familiar with

the phone market and the value of phones. They testified the

phone was worth $300 when new, and it was still in good working

condition. Defendant presented no evidence contradicting their

testimony. The trial court was entitled to infer the phone had

not depreciated more than $100 since sale and, therefore, the

elements of grand larceny had been satisfied. Appellant finally contends there was insufficient evidence

to prove he intended to distribute the cocaine found on his

person. "Because direct proof of [the] intent [to distribute] is

often impossible, it must be shown by circumstantial evidence."

Jones v. Commonwealth, 23 Va. App. 93, 100, 474 S.E.2d 825, 828

(1996). Facts such as the "quantity of drugs and cash possessed,

the method of packaging, and whether [defendant] himself used

drugs," Poindexter v. Commonwealth, 16 Va. App. 730, 735, 432

S.E.2d 527, 530 (1993), are indicative of defendant's intent.

Defendant was found with over thirteen grams of cocaine packaged

in sixteen vials and two plastic bags. Captain Wilson of the

Suffolk Police Department testified the drugs were worth about

$100 per gram. He also testified thirteen grams was not

inconsistent with personal use, but the lack of paraphernalia

connected with personal use, such as razors, lighters or a

smoking device, indicated the cocaine was for sale.

- 3 - Additionally, the packaging in many small, separate containers

was consistent with distribution. This evidence provides

sufficient support for defendant's conviction of possession with

intent to distribute.

Because both of defendant's convictions are not plainly

wrong or without evidence in support, we affirm.

Affirmed.

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