State v. McAdam

66 P.3d 252, 31 Kan. App. 2d 436, 2003 Kan. App. LEXIS 267
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedApril 11, 2003
Docket88,139
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 66 P.3d 252 (State v. McAdam) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. McAdam, 66 P.3d 252, 31 Kan. App. 2d 436, 2003 Kan. App. LEXIS 267 (kanctapp 2003).

Opinion

Green, J.;

Brian Keith McAdam appeals from his convictions by a jury of conspiracy to unlawfully manufacture methamphetamine, attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia, attempted theft, and conspiracy to possess anhydrous ammonia. On appeal, McAdam contends that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction of conspiracy to unlawfully manufacture methamphetamine and attempted theft. We disagree. In addition, McAdam contends that the evidence was insufficient to show that either he or his accomplices attempted to possess anhydrous ammonia or conspired to possess anhydrous ammonia in an unapproved container. We agree and reverse. McAdam further contends that the trial court wrongly failed to give the jury a cautionary instruction regarding an accomplice testimony. We disagree and affirm. Additionally, McAdam maintains that the trial court imposed an illegal sentence. We disagree. Finally, McAdam contends that the attor *438 ney fees assessed against him were excessive. We direct the trial court to determine the appropriate amount of attorney fees which can be imposed under K.S.A. 2002 Supp. 22-4513, K.A.R. 105-5-7, and the Board of Indigents’ Defense Services (BIDS) reimbursement tables.

McAdam was staying at the home of his friend Marcus Maley. Maley lived with his girlfriend and her son. Maley and McAdam agreed to manufacture methamphetamine. They had made methamphetamine before and decided it was time to make more. Maley usually would act as a lookout and “go fer.” He would help McAdam by removing ephedrine pills from blister packs, poking holes in cans of ether, and performing other menial tasks.

On this occasion, Maley and McAdam had everything they needed to make methamphetamine except anhydrous ammonia. They decided to use Maley’s car to steal anhydrous ammonia from the Kincaid Co-Op.

Before leaving, Casey Carter joined Maley and McAdam at Maley’s home. While Maley changed into dark clothes, either McAdam or Carter loaded Maley’s girlfriend’s car with the materials for the manufacturing process. The group left in Maley’s car at around 9:30 or 10 that night. Maley drove, Carter sat in the front passenger seat, and McAdam rode along in the back seat. Maley and McAdam brought along two cooler-like water jugs to cany the anhydrous ammonia and a larger cooler. During the trip, McAdam operated a scanner and looked through a list of scanner frequencies. McAdam did not have any particular responsibility during the trip. Once at the Kincaid Co-op, Carter got out of the car to steal the anhydrous ammonia as planned.

Deputy Max Skelton was also at the Kincaid Co-op, checking on the anhydrous ammonia tanks, when he saw tracks, smelled ammonia, and saw a white male running away from the anhydrous ammonia tanks into the woods. As he was attempting to stop the man, Skelton saw a car turn on its headlights and slowly drive by. When Skelton stopped the car, he observed that Maley was driving the car and McAdam was in the back seat. Undersheriff Darin Dalsing arrived and noticed frost on one of the hoses of an anhydrous ammonia tank.

*439 During the stop, Maley gave the officers consent to search his car. In the trunk of the car, Skelton discovered an ice chest containing a single water jug that smelled of anhydrous ammonia and a margarine container with an orange powder residue that smelled of ether. This residue later tested positive for methamphetamine. The officers also discovered two scanners, a list of scanner frequencies, a single walkie-talkie, and night vision goggles in the car.

Maley asked Dalsing what he could do to stay out of jail. Dalsing told Maley it depended on what information he could provide. Maley stated he could give the officer McAdam’s methamphetamine lab.

Maley then gave die officers consent to search his house and his girlfriend’s car. In the trunk of his girlfriend’s car, officers discovered a shotgun, starting fluid, coffee filters, a face mask, lithium batteries, rock salt, drain opener, a weed sprayer, propane bottles, a heater, a two-liter bottle full of ether, a digital scale, rubber gloves, and ten bottles of ephedrine tablets. In Maley’s garage, officers discovered a bag of green vegetation and zig-zag rolling papers. A few days later, a Kincaid employee found two water jugs, one of which was half full of anhydrous ammonia, in some trees in the vicinity of the anhydrous ammonia tanks.

Maley gave officers a written statement that McAdam had given him some money to give him a ride. While Maley was driving, an unknown individual got in the car, and they drove to the Kincaid Co-Op to steal anhydrous ammonia. Although Maley was originally charged with a number of crimes related to this incident, these charges were later dismissed without prejudice in exchange for his testimony against McAdam.

McAdam was charged with 10 counts: (1) attempted unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine, (2) conspiracy to commit unlawful manufacture of metliamphetamine, (3) possession of methamphetamine, (4) felony possession of drug paraphernalia, (5) attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia, (6) criminal possession of a firearm, (7) attempted theft, (8) misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, (9) criminal trespass, and (10) conspiracy to possess anhydrous ammonia.

*440 During the jury trial, Maley testified that he had lied in his written statement to the police. McAdam elected not to present any evidence.

The jury found McAdam not guilty of Count 1, attempt to commit unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine; Count 3, possession of methamphetamine; Counts 4 and 8, possession of drug paraphernalia; Count 6, possession of a firearm; and Count 9, criminal trespass. The jury found McAdam guilty of Count 2, conspiracy to commit unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine; Count 5, attempt to unlawfully possess anhydrous ammonia; Count 7, attempted theft; and Count 10, conspiracy to unlawfully possess anhydrous ammonia.

McAdam was sentenced to 173 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay $4,890 in attorney fees.

Was there sufficient evidence of an overt act to support McAdams conviction for conspiracy to commit unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine?

McAdam first maintains that there was insufficient evidence at trial to support his convictions. “When sufficiency of the evidence is attacked, the standard of review is whether, after review of all the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the appellate court is convinced that a rational factfinder could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt/ [Citation omitted.]” State v. Zabrinas, 271 Kan. 422, 441-42, 24 P.3d 77 (2001).

McAdam first attacks his conviction for conspiracy to commit unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine based on insufficient evidence. The first element of conspiracy is “an agreement between two or more persons to commit or assist in committing a crime .... [Citation omitted.]” State v. Smith, 268 Kan. 222, 227, 993 P.2d 1213 (1999); see K.S.A.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Wallin
366 P.3d 651 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2016)
State v. Scoville
188 P.3d 959 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2008)
Tomlin v. State
130 P.3d 1229 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2006)
Laymon v. State
122 P.3d 326 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2005)
State v. Boley
113 P.3d 248 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2005)
Collins v. State
103 P.3d 988 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2005)
State v. McAdam
83 P.3d 161 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2004)
Kotila v. Commonwealth
114 S.W.3d 226 (Kentucky Supreme Court, 2003)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
66 P.3d 252, 31 Kan. App. 2d 436, 2003 Kan. App. LEXIS 267, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mcadam-kanctapp-2003.