State v. Herrera

563 P.2d 100, 90 N.M. 306
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 15, 1977
Docket2679
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 563 P.2d 100 (State v. Herrera) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Herrera, 563 P.2d 100, 90 N.M. 306 (N.M. Ct. App. 1977).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

Defendant was convicted of trafficking in heroin. His appeal raises issues as to: (1) sufficiency of the evidence and (2) judicial misconduct. Other issues listed in the docketing statement have not been briefed. They are deemed abandoned. State v. Vogenthaler, 89 N.M. 150, 548 P.2d 112 (Ct.App.1976).

Sufficiency of the Evidence

This issue is before us even though no motion for a directed verdict was made at the close of the evidence. State v. Lard, 86 N.M. 71, 519 P.2d 307 (Ct.App.1974).

Searching for heroin pursuant to a search warrant, officers searched the house and curtilage of defendant. See State v. Aragon, 89 N.M. 91, 547 P.2d 574 (Ct.App.1976). Under a boat trailer, in a “freshly dug earth spot”, a vial was found which contained heroin. Defendant and his wife were arrested; subsequently, the wife pled guilty to possession of heroin.

Defendant claims the evidence is insufficient to show that he possessed the heroin that was found. Since he was not in physical possession of the heroin when it was found by the officers, defendant must have constructively possessed the heroin. By constructive possession, we mean knowledge of the presence of the heroin and control over it. State v. Montoya, 85. N.M. 126, 509 P.2d 893 (Ct.App.1973).

Defendant was not in exclusive possession of the premises; his wife resided with him. Because defendant was not in exclusive possession, an inference of constructive possession cannot be drawn unless there are incriminating statements or circumstances tending to support the inference. State v. Bowers, 87 N.M. 74, 529 P.2d 300 (Ct.App.1974); State v. Baca, 87 N.M. 12, 528 P.2d 656 (Ct.App.1974). Such additional evidence is present in this case.

Inside the house officers found numerous “tinfoils” approximately one and one-half inches square. The tinfoil was unused. There is evidence that “caps” are usually wrapped in tinfoil of this size. On the way to the police station, the wife remarked that “ ‘You got everything that we had, that’s all that we had’ ”. (Our emphasis.) Defendant told his wife to keep her mouth shut. This evidence sustains the inference that defendant constructively possessed the heroin that was found.

Defendant claims the evidence was insufficient to show trafficking because the evidence is insufficient to show that he intended to distribute the heroin. Section 54-11-20 N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl. Vol. 8, pt. 2, Supp. 1975).

There is evidence that the heroin weighed 3.3 grams and was 16 percent pure. There is evidence that the usual purity of street heroin is 3 to 5 percent and that street heroin is packaged in weights of 20 to 40 milligrams. Reduction of the heroin which was found to street purity, packaged for street sale, would result in at least 264 caps of heroin. There is evidence that heroin is generally packaged for resale on the street in small tinfoil packets, called caps. There is evidence that the search failed to disclose paraphernalia indicating use of the heroin on the premises. This evidence, together with the large number of tinfoil squares, permits the inference that defendant intended to distribute the heroin. See State v. Bowers, supra.

The evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction.

Judicial Misconduct

(a) Remarks Concerning Witnesses

The defense called Tartaglia as a witness. Tartaglia, an employee of an Albuquerque drug rehabilitation program, testified as to street usage and practices in connection with heroin. On cross-examination, the State asked Tartaglia whether defendant or defendant’s wife was a member of “your program”. Defense counsel, stating no reasons, objected and moved for a mistrial. Tartaglia stated that under federal law he could not give information “on any of the clients on the program” without permission of the client.

Defense counsel then interrupted, stating that Tartaglia’s testimony was not the law. Defense counsel proceeded to make a speech about federal law and regulations. In the speech, defense counsel stated that the director of the program, Richard Gomez, was “out in the hall”, and would have information about the program and what could not be revealed under federal law. The trial court remarked: “You shouldn’t be calling people like that as a witness.”

Defendant again moved for a mistrial, stating no grounds. On appeal, defendant asserts the “unnecessary remarks concerning the calling of witness Tartaglia” amounted to judicial misconduct. This is incorrect. The context shows the trial court’s remark referred to Gomez and not Tartaglia.

In cross-examining Tartaglia, the State asked a series of questions concerning Tartaglia’s unwillingness to testify in cases involving heroin users because such testimony would cause people on a methadone maintenance program to distrust Tartaglia. Defense counsel objected “to this line of questioning” as irrelevant and hypothetical. The trial court remarked: “If you don’t want your witnesses cross-examined, don’t call them. Objection overruled.” Defense counsel objected to the remarks and moved for a mistrial. Defendant asserts this remark also amounted to judicial misconduct.

Neither of the remarks was a display of bias against or in favor of a party. State v. Sedillo, 76 N.M. 273, 414 P.2d 500 (1966); State v. Mireles, 84 N.M. 146, 500 P.2d 431 (Ct.App.1972); State v. Clark, 83 N.M. 484, 493 P.2d 969 (Ct.App.1971). Neither of the remarks amount to an undue interference by the trial court or show such a severe attitude that proper presentation of the case was prevented. In Re Will of Callaway, 84 N.M. 125, 500 P.2d 410 (1972).

The remarks do indicate impatience on the part of the trial court. However, when considered in context, we cannot say that the remarks deprived defendant of a fair trial. State v. Gurule, 90 N.M. 87, 559 P.2d 1214 (Ct.App. decided January 4, 1977).

(b) Interruption of Closing Argument

In cross-examining an officer, the defense brought out that the officer told the grand jury that he seized approximately an ounce of heroin. The trial evidence shows that the weight was 3.3 grams or less than one-seventh of an ounce. The officer explained the discrepancy on the basis that he had not weighed the heroin prior to his grand jury testimony.

During closing argument by the defense, the following occurred:

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Bluebook (online)
563 P.2d 100, 90 N.M. 306, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-herrera-nmctapp-1977.