State of Louisiana v. Terrance Lamont Johnson AKA - Terrance L. Johnson

CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 28, 2018
DocketKA-0017-0766
StatusUnknown

This text of State of Louisiana v. Terrance Lamont Johnson AKA - Terrance L. Johnson (State of Louisiana v. Terrance Lamont Johnson AKA - Terrance L. Johnson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State of Louisiana v. Terrance Lamont Johnson AKA - Terrance L. Johnson, (La. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

KA 17-766

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

TERRANCE LAMONT JOHNSON

AKA - TERRANCE L. JOHNSON

**********

APPEAL FROM THE THIRTY-THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF ALLEN, NO. CR-2016-0819 HONORABLE JOEL GERARD DAVIS, DISTRICT JUDGE

BILLY HOWARD EZELL JUDGE

Court composed of Sylvia R. Cooks, Billy Howard Ezell, and D. Kent Savoie, Judges.

CONVICTION FOR ATTEMPTED DISTRIBUTION OF HYDROCODONE AND ACETAMINOPHEN AFFIRMED; SENTENCE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF HYDROCODONE AND ACETAMINOPHEN VACATED AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING. Herbert Todd Nesom District Attorney 33rd Judicial District Court Steven Sumbler Assistant District Attorney P. O. Box 839 Oberlin, LA 70655 (337) 639-2641 COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE: State of Louisiana

Chad M. Ikerd Louisiana Appellate Project P.O.Box 2125 Lafayette, LA 70502 (225) 806-2930 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Terrance Lamont Johnson

Terrance Lamont Johnson S.C.C. Bldg. 4 D 158 Treatment Plant Road Tallulah, LA 71282 EZELL, Judge.

Defendant Terrence Lamont Johnson was charged by a bill of information

on March 23, 2016, with two counts of distribution of Schedule III, controlled

dangerous substances, hydrocodone and acetaminophen, in violation of La.R.S.

40:968(A)(1). A jury trial commenced April 10, 2017, and on April 11, 2017,

Defendant was found guilty of one count of attempted distribution of a Schedule

III controlled dangerous substance and one count of distribution of a Schedule III

controlled dangerous substance. Defendant was sentenced on May 9, 2017, to five

years at hard labor on the conviction for attempted distribution of a Schedule III

drug, with credit for time served, and fifteen years on the distribution of a Schedule

III drug, with five years suspended and three years active probation upon release,

with credit for time served. The two sentences were ordered to be served

concurrently.

Defendant filed the present appeal, wherein he asserts that the evidence was

insufficient to sustain the convictions and that defense counsel rendered ineffective

assistance. For the following reasons, we find that there is no merit to assignment

of error number one and that the allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel

should be relegated to post-conviction consideration.

FACTS

At trial, the following testimony and evidence was admitted to the jury. Jeff

Manuel testified that he worked as a confidential informant for the Allen Parish

Narcotics Taskforce. He said that he was a recovering drug addict, having been

addicted to hydrocodone and had volunteered to be a confidential informant

because he understood how drugs could destroy a life. Because of his experience,

he wanted to help resolve the problem in the community. He testified that he has

been sober since 2007. Mr. Manuel explained that he has helped the narcotics team with approximately twenty to twenty-five drug cases. Mr. Manuel testified

that on November 20, 2014, he was contacted by Defendant and offered

hydrocodone. Mr. Manuel contacted the Allen Parish Narcotics team and advised

them of Defendant’s call. On that date, he met with the narcotics team. He was

given $120. The narcotics team installed audio and video surveillance equipment

in his vehicle. Before he left to meet with Defendant, the narcotics team searched

both him and his car. He drove to Defendant’s girlfriend’s house where he met up

with Defendant. Defendant got into his car, and they made the exchange of money

for the drugs. Following the exchange, Mr. Manuel met with the narcotics team.

The narcotics officers took possession of the drugs, took the audio and video

equipment, and again searched Mr. Manuel and his vehicle. Mr. Manuel testified

that on January 14, 2015, he was once again contacted by Defendant regarding the

purchase of more hydrocodone. Mr. Manuel stated he contacted the narcotics

officers and again, using $105, purchased more drugs from Defendant. Mr.

Manuel stated he went through the same preparation for the purchase of the drug as

described above. This time, he met Defendant in a hospital parking lot to make the

exchange.

Newton Ingalls was a deputy with the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office/

Narcotics Division at the time of the November 20, 2014, and January 14, 2015,

controlled buys from Defendant. He testified that on November 20, 2014, the

narcotics team was contacted by Mr. Manuel that Defendant had contacted him

about purchasing some hydrocodone. The deputy and Detective William Johnson

met with Mr. Manuel at a designated location. At the time, Defendant was a

suspected drug dealer. The deputy and the detective searched Mr. Manuel and his

vehicle, and installed audio and video surveillance equipment in his vehicle. They

gave him money for the purchase. They monitored the call Mr. Manuel made to 2 Defendant to agree to a location to meet for the exchange of drugs for money. At

the location, Defendant got into Mr. Manuel’s vehicle. They sat briefly, made the

exchange, and Defendant exited the vehicle. Mr. Manuel returned to where the

deputy and the detective were waiting for him. They took possession of the drugs,

searched Mr. Manuel and his vehicle to be sure there were no other drugs or

money, and nothing was found. They took the audio and video equipment.

Deputy Ingalls testified that the same routine for a controlled buy was

performed on January 14, 2015, when Mr. Manuel notified them that Defendant

had contacted him about purchasing more hydrocodone pills. Deputy Ingalls

identified Defendant in open court as the man from whom the hydrocodone pills

were purchased on November 20, 2014, and January 14, 2015. Deputy Ingalls

stated the money given to Mr. Manuel to purchase the drugs was never recovered.

William Johnson, a detective with the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office, testified

that he was the lead investigator with the narcotics team. He stated he and Deputy

Ingalls worked together with Mr. Manuel to conduct controlled buys from

Defendant. His testimony was the same as Deputy Ingalls’s and Mr. Manuel’s

testimonies. On November 20, 2014, and January 14, 2015, he and Deputy Ingalls

placed surveillance equipment in Mr. Manuel’s truck. The detective identified the

CD he burned from the audio and video recordings. At the first controlled buy,

Mr. Manuel was given $120 for the buy and at the second purchase, Mr. Manuel

was given $105.

Detective Johnson stated that although the serial numbers on the money had

been recorded, they never recovered the money. He stated that they did not expect

to recover the money as it was an ongoing investigation.

Ida Benoit testified that she was a forensic analyst working for the

Southwest Louisiana Criminalistic Laboratory. She qualified as an expert on drug 3 analysis. She testified that the two batches of pills she was given on December 11,

2014, and January 15, 2015, for analysis were hydrocodone pills. Ms. Benoit’s

report was published to the jury.

ERRORS PATENT

In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all appeals are reviewed for

errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find there is

one error patent.

The sentence imposed by the trial judge for distribution of hydrocodone and

acetaminophen in violation of La.R.S.

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