State v. Long

744 So. 2d 143, 1999 WL 691816
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 25, 1999
Docket97-KA-2434
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 744 So. 2d 143 (State v. Long) 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. Long, 744 So. 2d 143, 1999 WL 691816 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

744 So.2d 143 (1999)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
John LONG.

No. 97-KA-2434.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

August 25, 1999.

*145 Harry F. Connick, District Attorney, Theresa A. Tambuio, Assistant District Attorney, Orleans Parish, New Orleans, Louisiana, Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee.

Sherry Watters, Louisiana Appellate Project, New Orleans, Louisiana, Counsel for Defendant/Appellant.

Court composed of Judge JOAN BERNARD ARMSTRONG, Judge MOON LANDRIEU and Judge MICHAEL E. KIRBY.

ARMSTRONG, Judge.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

On August 21, 1996, the defendant, John Long, was charged by bill information with distribution of crack cocaine, a violation of *146 La. R.S. 40:967(A)(1), and distribution of marijuana, a violation of La. R.S. 40:966(A)(1).[1] The defendant entered a plea of not guilty at his arraignment on September 4, 1996. On September 19, 1996, the trial court denied the defendant's motion to suppress the evidence and found probable cause. The defendant was found guilty as charged on both counts after a twelve-person jury trial on February 4, 1997. The court adjudicated the defendant a third-felony habitual offender on February 28, 1997. He was sentenced on March 7, 1997 on count one as a habitual offender to life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The trial court denied the defendant's motion to reconsider sentence filed that same date, and the defendant filed a notice of appeal. The defendant was sentenced on count two to serve twenty years at hard labor on March 14, 1997, the sentence to run concurrently with the sentence in count one.

FACTS

New Orleans Police Officer Landries Jackson testified that, on July 1, 1996, he and other officers conducted a "buy/bust" narcotics operation, where an undercover officer purchases narcotics from unsuspecting drug dealers who are immediately thereafter arrested by other officers. Officer Jackson was a member of the backup team, parked in the 4500 block of America Street, around the corner from the targeted location, the 4500 block of Dale Street. He said he observed the defendant in the rear of the undercover officer's pickup truck. Officer Jackson said he was normally in audio communication with the undercover officer, but said he did not hear everything that day. The undercover officer notified Officer Jackson and his partner, Det. Othello Thomas, when the transaction was completed, and the officer directed them to the subjects involved in the sale, the defendant and Edgar Martin. He said they got to the defendant and Martin within twenty-five seconds after receiving the go signal. The defendant was walking down Dale Street, and Martin was riding on a bicycle near him. Officer Jackson said the defendant and Martin were the only civilians in that block. Officer Jackson arrested Martin, and recovered four bags of marijuana and some currency from his person.

On cross-examination, Officer Jackson admitted that he erroneously stated in his report of the incident that nine dollars were recovered from the defendant, and that four bags of marijuana were seized from him. He said he found no contraband or money on the defendant. Officer Jackson said this operation was equipped with a video camera, but he did not know whether this particular transaction had been videotaped. He said the serial numbers of currency used to purchase narcotics in these types of operations are usually recorded so that when seized from the suspect it can be used as evidence, but that none of the recorded currency used for these two purchases was recovered from the defendant.

New Orleans Police Officer Tremaine Johnson testified that on July 1, 1996 he participated with other officers in a "buy/ bust" operation, acting as the "spotter," who maintains visual and audio contact with the undercover officer as that officer is approached by street level narcotics dealers. He said the spotter officer also keeps visual contact with the dealer after the transaction is completed. Officer Johnson said he observed Det. Duplantier, the undercover officer, drive to the 4500 block of Dale Street, where he was approached by the defendant. He heard *147 Det. Duplantier and the defendant engage in a conversation about purchasing one piece of crack cocaine. The defendant said he could "take" Det. Duplantier to get the cocaine, and attempted to get into the passenger seat of the officer's pickup truck. Det. Duplantier told him the door handle was broken, and the defendant hopped into the back. The defendant directed Det. Duplantier to drive around the corner to the 4500 block of America Street. There, he met with a second individual, had a brief conversation, and made a hand to hand transaction. The defendant then returned to Det. Duplantier's truck, jumped into the back, leaned over, and handed the officer something. Det. Duplantier drove back around the corner to the 4500 block of Dale Street, whereupon he asked the defendant where he could get some marijuana. The defendant replied affirmatively, pointing to a subject on a bicycle. The defendant went over to the subject, they had a brief conversation, and he handed marijuana to the defendant. The defendant made the sale to Det. Duplantier. After Det. Duplantier left the area, Officer Johnson directed the other officers to take down the defendant and the other subject. Officer Johnson identified a purported audiotape of the conversations between Det. Duplantier and the defendant that day, and the tape was played for the jury. After hearing the tape, Officer Johnson stated that it reflected the same conversation he heard that day over his receiver. After the defendant and the other subject were taken into custody by Officers Jackson and Thomas, Officer Johnson followed Det. Duplantier as he drove back past the arrest scene to verify that the correct subjects had been apprehended. Officer Johnson said the two subjects he saw in police custody were the ones he had observed engaged in drug transactions.

On cross-examination, Officer Johnson testified that he was approximately twenty yards behind Det. Duplantier on Dale Street. He said the defendant was down on one knee when Det. Duplantier pulled up, but that he jumped up and ran to the officer's truck. Officer Johnson said he followed Det. Duplantier's truck when it went around the corner to America Street. Officer Johnson said he could see the residence the defendant went to after leaving the truck to get the cocaine. He said it took no more than thirty seconds from the time the undercover officer left the scene to the time when Officers Jackson and Thomas made the arrests. He said the defendant and Martin stood in the street until Jackson and Thomas made the corner, then the subjects started to move, before being stopped and arrested.

New Orleans Police Officer Othello Thomas testified that, after he and Officer Thomas had apprehended the defendant and Martin, Det. Duplantier positively identified both subjects. On cross-examination, Officer Thomas stated that "buy money," currency which has been photographed or copied, or had the serial numbers recorded, was used in this case. He said none of that currency was recovered from the defendant.

Detective David Duplantier testified that on July 1, 1996 he was working undercover purchasing narcotics. He drove to the 4500 block of Dale Street, where he observed defendant crouched down on a corner. As he approached, the defendant stood up, flagged him down, and asked him what he was looking for. Det. Duplantier said he wanted a twenty-dollar piece of crack cocaine.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
744 So. 2d 143, 1999 WL 691816, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-long-lactapp-1999.