State v. Cass

61 So. 3d 840, 2011 La. App. LEXIS 436, 2011 WL 1380024
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 13, 2011
Docket46,228-KA
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 61 So. 3d 840 (State v. Cass) 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 v. Cass, 61 So. 3d 840, 2011 La. App. LEXIS 436, 2011 WL 1380024 (La. Ct. App. 2011).

Opinions

LOLLEY, J.

_|jThis criminal appeal arises from the First Judicial District Court, Parish of Caddo, State of Louisiana. The defendant, James L. Cass, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance, namely marijuana, a violation of La. R.S. 40:966(A)(1). He was adjudicated a second [842]*842felony offender and sentenced to 40 years at hard labor “without benefit,” and fined $20,000. This appeal ensued. For the following reasons, we affirm Cass’ conviction, amend his sentence in part, and affirm the amended sentence.

Facts

On June 15, 2007, at approximately 11:00 a.m., law enforcement officers from the Shreveport Police Department and the Caddo Sheriffs Office entered the residence of James L. Cass to execute a no-knock search warrant. Officers testified they broke open the front door, announced their presence and their intentions to execute the search warrant, secured the occupants of the residence on a sofa, and searched the residence. Cass, his wife, and his two small children were present at this time. Cass advised the officers that he had marijuana in the master bedroom. A search of that bedroom produced a “fanny pack” that contained 34 individually packaged bags of marijuana totaling 42.2 grams, as well as $22 in cash. An additional $1,000 in cash was found inside a shoe in the closet of the master bedroom.

Cass was subsequently arrested and charged. He pleaded not guilty and a jury trial was held. At this trial, Cass was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance, 12marijuana, a violation of La. R.S. 40:966(A)(1). He was charged as a second felony offender and sentenced to 40 years at hard labor “without benefit.” He was also fined $20,000.00. This appeal followed.

Law and Discussion

Cass asserts three assignments of error. First, Cass contends that the jury rendered the verdict upon insufficient evidence and, therefore, the conviction should be revised to possession rather than possession with intent to distribute. Second, Cass argues the sentence of 40 years was excessive because the crime of which he was convicted involved marijuana, which he submits is no longer considered dangerous. Third, Cass asserts that the imposition of a $20,000.00 fine is unconstitutional because he is indigent and unable to pay due to his prison sentence.

Insufficiency of the Evidence

Cass claims the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his conviction. While he admits he possessed marijuana, he contends the evidence was insufficient to prove he had intent to distribute it. The standard of appellate review for a sufficiency of the evidence claim is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Carter, 42,894 (La.App.2d Cir.01/09/08), 974 So.2d 181, writ denied, 2008-0499 (La.11/14/08), 996 So.2d 1086. The Jackson standard, now legislatively embodied in La. C. Cr. P. art. 821, does not provide the appellate court with a vehicle to ^substitute its own appreciation of the evidence for that of the factfinder. State v. Pigford, 2005-0477 (La.02/22/06), 922 So.2d 517; State v. Dotie, 43,819 (La.App.2d Cir.01/14/09), 1 So.3d 833, writ denied, 2009-0310 (La.11/06/09), 21 So.3d 297. The appellate court does not assess the credibility of witnesses or reweigh evidence. State v. Smith, 1994-3116 (La.10/16/95), 661 So.2d 442. A reviewing court accords great deference to a jury’s decision to accept or reject the testimony of a witness in whole or in part. State v. Eason, 43,788 (La.App.2d Cir.02/25/09), 3 So.3d 685, writ denied, 2009-0725 (La.12/11/09), 23 So.3d 913.

After viewing the totality of the evidence, a rational trier of fact could have [843]*843concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that the evidence presented by the state was sufficient to find the defendant guilty of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; thus Cass’s arguments to the contrary are without merit. There was ample evidence to support the jury’s conclusion. Thirty-four individually packaged bags of marijuana as well as $22 in cash were recovered from a “fanny pack” in Cass’s residence. An additional $1,000 was found in the same room. Further, three law enforcement officers testified Cass admitted to them while they searched his residence that he distributed marijuana.

In his defense, Cass admits to possessing the marijuana, but argues it was for his personal medicinal use. However, a search of his residence failed to produce the paraphernalia necessary for him to use it. Cass also denies making any statements that implied he distributed marijuana. He further claims the money recovered from his home was earned through ^legitimate enterprise; however, he produced no evidence at trial to support this assertion. While Cass hoped the jury would accept his testimony, obviously, it did not.

The evidence presented at trial led the trier of fact to conclude Cass is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. We find this conclusion to be reasonable; therefore, Cass’s assertions to the contrary are without merit.

Excessive Sentence

Cass alleges his sentence is unconstitutionally excessive because the sentencing court failed to consider all the facts and circumstances of his case. In particular, he argues the decriminalization of marijuana in other states warrants a less severe sentence in Louisiana. He also argues the court did not adequately consider the factors set forth in La. C. Cr. P. art. 894.1.

There is a two-pronged inquiry for appellate review of sentences for exces-siveness when there is a substantive motion to reconsider. First, the record must show that the sentencing court complied with La. C. Cr. P. art. 894.1. The court need not list every aggravating or mitigating factor so long as the record reflects that it adequately considered the guidelines. State v. Marshall, 1994-0461 (La.09/05/95), 660 So.2d 819; State v. Lin-near, 44,830 (La.App.2d Cir.12/09/09), 26 So.3d 303. When the record shows an adequate factual basis for the sentence imposed, remand is unnecessary even in the absence of full compliance with the article. State v. Lobato, 603 So.2d 739 (La.1992); State v. Linnear, supra. No sentencing factor is accorded greater weight by statute than any other sentencing factor. State v. Taves, 2003-0518 (La.12/03/03), 861 So.2d 144; State v. Linnear, supra. | sThe second prong is the constitutional excessiveness standard. Constitutional review turns upon whether the sentence is illegal, grossly disproportionate to the severity of the offense, or shocking to the sense of justice. State v. Lobato, supra; State v. Livingston, 39,390 (La.App.2d Cir.04/06/05), 899 So.2d 733.

Cass was convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He was sentenced as a second felony habitual offender under La. R.S. 15:529.1, which provides:

A. Any person who, after having been convicted within this state of a felony ... thereafter commits any subsequent felony within this state, upon conviction of said felony, shall be punished as follows

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
61 So. 3d 840, 2011 La. App. LEXIS 436, 2011 WL 1380024, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-cass-lactapp-2011.