State v. Calvino

632 S.E.2d 839, 179 N.C. App. 219, 2006 N.C. App. LEXIS 1834
CourtCourt of Appeals of North Carolina
DecidedAugust 15, 2006
DocketCOA05-1601
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 632 S.E.2d 839 (State v. Calvino) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Calvino, 632 S.E.2d 839, 179 N.C. App. 219, 2006 N.C. App. LEXIS 1834 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

HUDSON, Judge.

In August 2003, a Dare County grand jury indicted defendant for the following seven offenses: two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver (“PWISD”) cocaine, one count of selling and delivering cocaine, one count of trafficking cocaine by possession, one count of trafficking cocaine by transportation, and two counts of keeping or maintaining a motor vehicle for the purpose of keeping or selling a controlled substance. In August 2004, the cases were tried together and a jury acquitted defendant of trafficking in cocaine by transportation and found him guilty of the remaining charges. The trial court sentenced defendant to consecutive sentences totaling 55 to 60 months of imprisonment, with the last 5 to 6 months suspended on a term of probation. The court also assessed defendant $50,000 in *221 fines and $700 in restitution. Defendant appeals. We find no error in part, vacate in part, and remand for resentencing.

The evidence tends to show that in January 2002, police stopped Justin Freeman in Tyrell County for driving with an expired registration. Freeman consented to a search of his vehicle, which revealed 150.2 grams of cocaine and a firearm. The State dismissed the associated charges against Freeman when the federal government became involved and indicted him for drug and weapon offenses. Facing imprisonment of twenty-five years to life, Freeman agreed to cooperate with the authorities. He spoke with federal authorities, as well as a Dare County investigator, and revealed details about his history of drug-dealing. He reported that he bought drugs in the Western part of the State and sold them in Dare County, where he could realize a 100% mark-up. Freeman stated that in Dare County, he sold the drugs to Zeak Wilmoth, Larry Grubbs, and defendant, Michael Calvino. On 17 April 2003, defendant met with Dare County investigator, Kevin Duprey. Freeman called defendant and the police recorded that phone call, as well as subsequent phone calls and meetings between Freeman and defendant. These recordings were played for the jury at trial.

At trial, Freeman testified that his 17 April 2003 conversation with defendant ended with defendant agreeing to sell Freeman cocaine. On 18 April 2003, Freeman met defendant at a convenience store where he got into defendant’s van and purchased two grams of cocaine. Freeman wore an audio recording device. In subsequent phone conversations, Freeman and defendant negotiated another drug deal. This time, defendant agreed to buy two ounces of cocaine from Freeman. On 25 April 2003, the two met and defendant purchased two ounces of cocaine from Freeman; the exchange again took place in defendant’s van.

Defendant first argues that the trial court erred in entering judgment against him for sale and delivery of cocaine because the indictment was fatally flawed. We agree. It is well-established that the indictment must state, “the name of the person to whom the accused allegedly sold narcotics unlawfully . . . when it is known” State v. Martindale, 15 N.C. App. 216, 218, 189 S.E.2d 549, 550 (1972) (emphasis added). Here, the indictment alleged that defendant sold cocaine to “a confidential source of information,” but it is undisputed that the State knew the name of the individual to whom defendant allegedly sold the cocaine in question: Justin Freeman. While the State con *222 cedes that these cases appear to favor defendant’s position, it contends they were wrongly decided, and argues as such to preserve the issue for further review. However, because such error renders “the indictment [] fatally defective and [it] cannot sustain the judgment in that case,” State v. Long, 14 N.C. App. 508, 510, 188 S.E.2d 690, 691 (1972), we vacate defendant’s conviction for sale and delivery of cocaine.

Defendant next argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the charges of knowingly keeping a motor vehicle for the purpose of selling a controlled substance because the State failed to produce sufficient evidence. We disagree. The court should grant a motion to dismiss if the State fails to present substantial evidence of every element of the crime charged. State v. McDowell, 329 N.C. 363, 389, 407 S.E.2d 200, 214 (1991). In reviewing the trial court’s ruling on a motion to dismiss, we must evaluate the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, resolving all contradictions in the State’s favor. State v. Malloy, 309 N.C. 176, 179, 305 S.E.2d 718, 720 (1983). Ultimately, we must determine “whether a reasonable inference of the defendant’s guilt may be drawn from the circumstances.” State v. Lee, 348 N.C. 474, 488, 501 S.E.2d 334, 343 (1998). N.C. Gen. Stat. .§ 90-108(a)(7) (2002) provides that

[i]t shall be unlawful for any person . . . . [t]o knowingly keep or maintain any store, shop, warehouse, dwelling house, building, vehicle, boat, aircraft, or any place whatever, which is resorted to by persons using controlled substances in violation of this Article for the purpose of using such substances, or which is used for the keeping or selling of the same in violation of this Article.

Id. On appeal, defendant argues that there was insufficient evidence presented to show that his vehicle was used for keeping or selling controlled substances and that the evidence was “insufficient to prove the vehicle alleged.” The North Carolina Supreme Court has held that “[t]he focus of the inquiry is on the use, not the contents, of the vehicle.” State v. Mitchell, 336 N.C. 22, 34, 442 S.E.2d 24, 30 (1994). “The determination of whether a vehicle ... is used for keeping or selling controlled substances will depend on the totality of the circumstances.” Id. Here, defendant argues that his primary use of his, vehicle was as a work van for his legitimate construction business, not for engaging in drug transactions. However, defendant cites no cases in support of his “primary use” argument. Moreover, defendant did not testify or present witnesses and offered no evidence about his *223 construction business or his vehicle. In contrast, Freeman testified that he was “sitting in [defendant’s] van” when Freeman sold defendant cocaine. Freeman also testified that a week later, he attempted to get defendant to get into the car he was driving, but instead defendant had Freeman get into defendant’s “white, I think, Chevrolet work van . .. [the] same van . .. [he] recalled getting in a week prior.” Both of these transactions were observed and recorded by police. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we conclude that the trial court did not err in denying defendant’s motion to dismiss for insufficiency of the evidence.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
632 S.E.2d 839, 179 N.C. App. 219, 2006 N.C. App. LEXIS 1834, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-calvino-ncctapp-2006.