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

Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided March 28, 2018·No. KA-0017-0766·Unknown

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

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APPEAL FROM THE

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

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BILLY HOWARD EZELL

JUDGE

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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

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

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.

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