State v. Cummings

647 S.E.2d 869, 220 W. Va. 433

• Court: West Virginia Supreme Court
• Decided: June 29, 2007
• Docket: 33223
• Status: Published

Opinions

BENJAMIN, Justice:

In the instant appeal, appellant Michael Cummings seeks reversal of the November 29, 2005, jury verdict finding him guilty of the felony offenses of attempting to operate a clandestine drug lab and conspiracy to attempt to operate a clandestine drug lab. He was sentenced on March 6, 2006 to consecutive sentences of not less than two nor more than ten years for the Attempt conviction and not less than one nor more than five years for the Conspiracy conviction and fined $5000. On appeal he raises several assignments of error, including sufficiency of evidence to support his conviction, the trial court’s failure to suppress certain evidence based upon allegations of an illegal search and the sufficiency of his indictment. After careful review of the record before this Court, including detailed examination of the transcript of Appellant’s November 29, 2005, trial, applicable precedent and the arguments of the parties, we reverse Appellant’s conviction.

I.

Factual and Procedural History

On February 1, 2005, Trooper J.K. Cox stopped a vehicle driven by Appellant and owned by James Foreman for allegedly speeding¹ near Reedy, Roane County, West Virginia. At the time the vehicle was stopped, Appellant’s wife, Amy Cummings² was seated in the back center of the vehicle and another woman, Rachel Pritt, was in the passenger seat. Trooper Cox approached the vehicle and asked for vehicle registration and insurance information. Amy Cummings informed the trooper that the car belonged to a friend of hers, that she did not know where the vehicle information was located and asked permission to look for it. After permission was obtained, she reached across the front seat and reached into the glove compartment. Becoming concerned for officer safety after losing sight of Amy Cummings’ hand and Ms. Pritt, Trooper Cox ordered the women out of the vehicle and patted them down looking for weapons.³

Thereafter, the trooper ordered Appellant out of the vehicle and, noticing a bulge in his pocket, asked Appellant to empty his pockets. Among the items removed from Appellant’s pockets was a knife to which a small container was attached. Trooper Cox then directed Appellant to empty the contents of the container onto the vehicle’s hood. Appellant complied with the trooper’s request and three hydrocodone pills and two bags of a substance appearing to be methamphetamine⁴ were removed from the container. Appellant was then placed under arrest and secured in the trooper’s cruiser. While securing Appellant in the cruiser, the trooper observed Amy Cummings attempt to hide one of the bags containing methamphetamine. Ms. Cummings was then likewise secured in the trooper’s cruiser.

Trooper Cox testified that he had observed six boxes of cold medicine containing pseu-doephedrine in a yellow Dollar General bag sitting on the rear floorboard of the vehicle directly behind the drivers’ seat upon his initial approach to the vehicle. This testified that based upon his experience, he was aware that cold medicine containing pseudoephed-rine is a primary ingredient for making methamphetamine. After securing Appellant and Mrs. Cummings in his cruiser, the trooper searched ⁵ the vehicle and found a white bag containing six boxes of matches, each box containing fifty individual match packets, and also containing two bags of ten syringes each, on the rear floor board behind the passenger seat.

On May 25, 2005, the Roane County Grand Jury returned a five count indictment against Appellant.⁶ Arguing that all evidence against him was obtained pursuant to an illegal search, Appellant moved to suppress all evidence gathered during the February 1, 2005, traffic stop. A suppression hearing was held on October 6, 2005, at which Trooper Cox testified regarding the traffic stop and attendant search. By order dated November 17, 2005, the trial court granted Appellant’s suppression motion, in part, and denied it, in part. By its order, the trial court suppressed all evidence of the container contents because it was obtained in violation of Appellant’s Fourth Amendment rights. The trial court noted that while the trooper was justified in requiring the Appellant to empty his pockets, there was no justification to require Appellant to open the container and empty its contents.⁷ Accepting the troopers’ testimony that the bag containing six boxes of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine was in plain view in the back seat as the trooper approached the vehicle, the trial court refused to suppress the cold medication evidence. Rejecting the argument that the bags found in the car constituted “fruit of the poisonous tree”⁸, the trial court found the trooper justified in searching the vehicle due to his observation of the cold medicine in plain view and its incriminating character being immediately apparent to him. Accordingly, the trial court held that the cold medicine, matches and syringes would be admissible at trial subject to the State laying a proper foundation.

This matter proceeded to trial on November 29, 2005, and was submitted to the jury upon two counts of the indictment, the count of attempting to operate a clandestine drug lab and the count of conspiracy to attempt to operate a clandestine drug lab. The only evidence presented by the State was the testimony of Trooper Cox, the six boxes of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine, the six boxes of matches and the syringes. In sum, Trooper Cox testified that pseu-doephedrine was a principal ingredient for making methamphetamine, that red phosphorous, such as that found on match strike plates was needed for the methamphetamine making process and that syringes are used to inject liquid methamphetamine. No evidence was presented by the State indicating that the materials belonged to Appellant, that he had purchased them or that he was aware of their presence in the vehicle. Appellant moved for judgment of acquittal at the close of the State’s evidence arguing that there was no evidence connecting the cold medicine, matches and syringes to him. Further, he argued that there was no evidence that he assembled the materials with the intent to make methamphetamine. Finally he argued that there was no evidence of a conspiracy other than being in the same car with a person, Amy Cummings, named as his cocon-spirator.⁹ Finding the State had made a prima facie case, -the trial court denied Appellant’s motion. Appellant presented no witnesses in rebuttal and the jury returned a verdict of guilty on both counts of the indictment.

After the trial court denied Appellant’s post-trial motions for judgment of acquittal based upon insufficiency of evidence, for new trial based upon undisclosed evidence and expert qualifications, and for arrest of judgment due to failure of the indictment, Appellant was sentenced and the instant appeal ensued. In this appeal Appellant raises 3 assignments of error: (1) the trial court erred in failing to suppress evidence found during the vehicle search¹⁰; (2) the circuit court erred in denying Cummings’ motion for judgment of acquittal due to insufficiency of evidence to support a conviction, i.e, there was no evidence of intent, possession or conspiracy; and (3) the circuit court erred in denying motion for acquittal based upon a deficiency in the indictment, i.e., he was charged with assembling cold medicine containing “speudopedrine” and not pseu-doephedrine, the main ingredient in the cold medicine found in the vehicle he was driving. Finding Appellant’s argument regarding insufficiency of evidence to support a conviction to be dispositive of the instant appeal, we decline to address the remaining assignments of error.

II.

Standard of Review

As the dispositive issue in this matter is whether the circuit court erred in denying Appellant’s motion for judgment of acquittal based upon insufficiency of the evidence, we apply a de novo standard of review. State v. LaRock, 196 W.Va. 294, 304, 470 S.E.2d 613, 623 (1996). This Court explained the standard of review for a claim of insufficiency of evidence in Syllabus Point 1 of State v. Guthrie, 194 W.Va. 657, 194 W.Va. 657, 461 S.E.2d 163 (1995), wherein it held:

The function of an appellate court when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, is sufficient to convince a reasonable person of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, the relevant inquiry 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 proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Further, Syllabus Point 3 of Guthrie explains:

A criminal defendant challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction takes on a heavy burden. An appellate court must review all the evidence, whether direct or circumstantial, in the light most favorable to the prosecution and must credit all inferences and credibility assessments that the jury might have drawn in favor of the prosecution. The evidence need not be inconsistent with every conclusion save that of guilt so long as the jury can find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Credibility determinations are for a jury and not an appellate court. Finally, a jury verdict should be set aside only when the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it is weighed, from which the jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. To the extent that our prior cases are inconsistent, they are expressly overruled.

This Court has also stated:

In a criminal case, a verdict of guilt will not be set aside on the ground that it is contrary to the evidence, where the state’s evidence is sufficient to convince impartial minds of the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence is to be viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution. To warrant interference with a verdict of guilt on the ground of insufficiency of evidence, the court must be convinced that the evidence was manifestly inadequate and that consequent injustice has been done.

Syllabus Point 1, State v. Starkey, 161 W.Va. 517, 244 S.E.2d 219 (1978), overruled on other grounds by State v. Guthrie, 194 W.Va. 657, 461 S.E.2d 163 (1995). With these standards in mind, we now examine Appellant’s conviction.

III.

Discussion

Appellant was convicted of attempting to operate a clandestine drug lab in violation of W. Va.Code § 60A-4-411.(2003) and conspiracy¹¹ to attempt to operate a clandestine drug lab in violation of W. Va.Code § 60A-4-411 (2003). West Virginia Code § 60A-4-411 provides:

(a) Any person who operates or attempts to operate a clandestine drug laboratory is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be confined in a state correctional facility for not less than two years nor more than ten years or fined not less than five thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars, or both.

(b) For purposes of this section, a “clandestine drug laboratory” means any property, real or personal, on or in which a person assembles any chemicals or equipment or combination thereof for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine or lyser-gic acid diethylamide in violation of the provisions of section four hundred one of this article.

(c) Any person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this section shall be responsible for all reasonable costs, if any, associated with remediation of the site of the clandestine drug laboratory.

Appellant argues that this statute requires evidence of intent to manufacture methamphetamine and evidence of possession of the substances required for the manufacture of methamphetamine, both of which were lacking in the State’s evidence at trial. The State responds that both intent and possession may be inferred from the circumstances.

In the instant matter, the State asked the jury and now asks this Court to infer intent to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of two ingredients required for such manufacture solely from evidence that Appellant was operating a vehicle, not owned by him, which contained cold medicine and matches in the real- passenger area.¹² While we agree with the State that intent¹³ may often be inferred from the circumstances, we also believe that evidence of possession is necessarily required.

Possession of ingredients or equipment used in the manufacture of a controlled substance is akin to possession of a controlled substance. This Court has previously held that:

The offense of possession of a controlled substance also includes constructive possession, but the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had knowledge of the controlled substance and that it was subject to the defendant’s dominion and control.

Syl. Pt. 4, State v. Dudick, 158 W.Va. 629, 213 S.E.2d 458 (1975) (emphasis added). Dudick further explained:

In West Virginia mere physical presence on premises in which a controlled substance is found does not give rise to a presumption of possession of a controlled substance, but is evidence to be considered along with other evidence demonstrating conscious dominion over the controlled substance.

Syl. Pt. 3, Dudick (emphasis added). See also, State v. Chapman, 178 W.Va. 678, 363 S.E.2d 755 (1987) (per curiam) (reversing conviction for possession of controlled substance where only evidence of possession was presence at mobile home where substance was seized).

The basis of the State’s argument that Appellant was in constructive possession of the cold medicine and matches is his status as driver of the vehicle in which the items were found. It is commonly accepted that constructive possession may exist where the defendant has exhibited dominion, ownership or control over the contraband itself or dominion and control over the vehicle in which it was concealed. See, e.g., United States v. Johnson, 470 F.3d 1234, 1238 (8th Cir.2006) (contraband found under vehicle’s driver’s seat where defendant was vehicle’s driver and fled from police); United States v. Garcia, 917 F.2d 1370, 1376 (5th Cir.1990); United States v. Galiffa, 734 F.2d 306, 316 (7th Cir.1984) (rental of vehicle in defendant’s name sufficient additional evidence to justify finding of constructive possession). The Fifth Circuit has recognized, however, that while “[k]nowledge of the presence of contraband may ordinarily be inferred from the exercise of control over the vehicle in which it is concealed, [courts] also look for additional factors and circumstances evidencing a consciousness of guilt on the part of the defendant.” Garcia, 917 F.2d at 1376-7, citing United States v. Richardson, 848 F.2d 509, 513 (5th Cir.1988).

This requirement of additional circumstances to justify such an inference was explained by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in a case involving a conviction for possession of a methamphetamine making ingredient. In United States v. Valadez-Gallegos, 162 F.3d 1256 (10th Cir.1998), the court explained the government’s burden to demonstrate constructive possession of the alleged contraband stating:

we may not uphold a conviction obtained by piling inference upon inference. An inference is reasonable only if the conclusion flows from logical and probabilistic reasoning. The evidence supporting the conviction must be substantial and do more than raise a suspicion of guilt.... To prove constructive possession when there is joint occupancy of a vehicle, the government must present direct or circumstantial evidence to show some connection or nexus individually linking the defendant to the contraband. The government must present some evidence supporting at least a plausible inference that the defendant had knowledge of and access to the ... contraband.

Valadez-Gallegos, 162 F.3d at 1262 (internal quotations and citations omitted).

We agree with the Tenth Circuit that a conviction arising from the possession of illegal contraband, here ingredients for the manufacturer of methamphetamine, requires the State to do more than pile inference upon inference. There must be some evidence indicating that the defendant actually or constructively possessed and assembled the methamphetamine ingredients. Accordingly, we now hold that in order to sustain a conviction for violation of W. Va.Code § 60A-4-411 (2003), by assembling any chemicals or equipment for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had actual or constructive possession over the chemicals and/or equipment. In order to establish constructive possession where the defendant is present in a vehicle wherein such materials are found, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had knowledge of the presence of the chemicals and/or equipment to be used for the purposes of manufacturing methamphetamine and that such items were subject to the defendant’s dominion and control.

Upon review of the evidence presented at Appellant’s trial, we conclude that the State did not meet this burden in the instant matter. All of the State’s case was presented through the testimony of one witness, Trooper Cox. There were no other witnesses. There was no forensic evidence (such as fingerprints on the cold medicine or matches). The State offered no evidence, other than that the cold medicine and matches which were discovered in the back seat of a vehicle driven by, but not owned or rented by, Appellant. The Appellant was not the only person in the vehicle. There were two other passengers either of whom may have owned some or all of the items. Neither were called by the State. There was no evidence presented that the defendant had purchased the items, either by introducing a receipt for the same containing his name or through the testimony of a person who may have sold the items to him. There was no evidence that the Appellant was even aware the items were in the vehicle prior to their discovery by Trooper Cox. There is simply no evidence to support an inference of actual or constructive possession. Absent a finding of actual or constructive possession, a finding that the Appellant was assembling the materials for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine is therefore not plausible. Likewise, the State failed to prove actual or constructive possession of the materials by Appellant’s alleged co-conspirator, Amy Cummings. Absent evidence sufficient to meet the necessary elements of the crimes for which Appellant was charged, Appellant’s convictions must be reversed.

IV.

Conclusion

In the instant matter, the State failed to prove the Appellant has actual or constructive possession of the materials the State alleged he was assembling for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine. Absent proof of actual or constructive possession of the alleged contraband, a conviction for assembling such materials in violations of W. Va.Code § 60A-4b-411 necessarily fails. Simply put, there was insufficient evidence introduced at the trial of this matter to sustain Appellant’s convictions for violating W. Va. Code § 60A-4-411 and for conspiracy to violate W. Va. code § 60A-4-411. Accordingly, we reverse both convictions.¹⁴

Reversed.

1 . The trooper testified at trial that he "clocked” the vehicle driven by Appellant traveling at 63 miles per hour on Route 14, near Reedy, Roane County, through the use of stationary radar. Although the trooper testified at trial that the speed limit in the area was 55 miles per hour, he testified at an earlier suppression hearing that the speed limit was 40-45 miles per hour. There is no print-out from the radar to verily the speed at which the Appellant was traveling, only the trooper’s memory and report.

2 . The traffic stop actually occurred about a mile down the road from where the trooper noticed the vehicle speeding, in front of the house where Amy Cummings was living at the time.

3 . After verifying Amy Cummings was not armed, Trooper Cox permitted her to telephone the vehicle’s owner, Roger Foreman, to determine where the vehicle information was located. At the time that call was made, law enforcement personnel were at the Foreman residence executing a search warrant related to the operation of a methamphetamine laboratory. It appears that one of the officers executing the search warrant actually answered Ms. Cummings’ call.

4 . The substance later tested positive as methamphetamine.

5 . The trooper testified during the suppression hearing that the Cummings consented to the vehicle search although Appellant argues any such consent was not voluntary.

6 . The indictment included one count of operating a clandestine drug laboratory by assembling chemicals and equipment, including six boxes of matches, six boxes of cold medicine containing [pseudoephedrine], and two bags of syringes for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine, one count of attempting to operate a clandestine drug laboratory by assembling chemicals and equipment, including six boxes of matches, six boxes of cold medicine containing [pseudoephedrine], and two bags of syringes for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine, one count of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, with intent to deliver, and two counts of conspiracy relating to the each of the prior counts of operating and attempting to operate a clandestine drug laboratory.

7 . As a result, the possession charge was dropped.

8 . Appellant argued in support of his motion to suppress that the vehicle would not have been searched but for the discovery of the methamphetamine in the container attached to the knife. Likewise, the cold medicine would not have appeared to be incriminating but for the illegal discovery of the methamphetamine.

9 .It appears from the record before this Court that the third person in the vehicle, Rachel Pritt, was not charged with any crime. It is unclear from the record as to why she was not called by the Slate as a witness at trial.

10 . Appellant’s argument in this respect is twofold. First, he argues the cold medicine was not in “plain view” at the time of the vehicle stop. Therefore, its presence and alleged incriminating nature would not trigger authority to search the vehicle. Secondly, he argues the items discovered during the vehicle search, the cold medicine, matches and syringes, constitute "fruits of the poisonous tree” because the vehicle search was prompted by the illegal container search resulting in the discovery of the methamphetamine.

11 . W. Va.Code § 61-10-31 (1971) provides, in pertinent part, that "[i]t shall be unlawful for two or more persons to conspire (1) to commit any offense against the State ..., if, ..., one or more of such persons does any act to effect the object of the conspiracy."

12 . The State also argues that the presence of syringes, which may be used to inject liquid methamphetamine, provides support for the inference of intent and possession in the instant matter. However, there was no evidence presented that syringes are necessary for the operation of a clandestine drug laboratory. As such, the presence of syringes is not relevant to a finding that W. Va.Code § 60A-4-411 was violated, as they do not constitute chemicals or equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

13 .The State argues "Appellant’s intent to operate a methamphetamine laboratory was formed when he decided to get in a car and drive to Parkersburg, West Virginia, to obtain an inordinate amount of cold medicine containing pseu-dophedrine and matches with red phosphorus, all of which are key ingredients for producing methamphetamine." The problem with this argument is that there was simply no evidence introduced at trial that Appellant drove to Par-kersburg for the purpose of obtaining these materials, that he actually obtained them or that he even knew they were present in the vehicle.

14 . We note that the State may not seek to retry Appellant for these charges. See, Syl. Pt. 4, State v. Frazier, 162 W.Va. 602, 252 S.E.2d 39 (1979) ("The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Federal and this State's Constitutions forbids a second trial for the purpose of affording the prosecution another opportunity to supply evidence which it failed to muster in the first proceeding”).