State v. Moeller

388 N.W.2d 872

• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: July 10, 1986
• Docket: 15072
• Status: Published

Opinions

HENDERSON, Justice.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On June 27, 1985, a Tripp County jury returned two verdicts which found appellant-defendant Kyle Chris Moeller (Moel-ler), guilty of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, to wit: Cocaine, a violation of SDCL 22-42-2 and SDCL ch. 34-20B; and guilty of Possession of a Controlled Substance, to wit: Cocaine, a violation of SDCL 22-42-5 and SDCL ch. 34-20B. The trial court, by an Order Suspending Imposition of Sentence, did not enter a judgment of conviction on the above offenses. Instead, as the title of the order denotes, the trial court suspended the imposition of Moeller’s sentence, placed him c i five years’ probation, imposed a $1,000 fine, and ordered Moeller to serve 30 days in the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Moeller contends he was entrapped. We affirm.

FACTS

In April 1984, South Dakota DCI Special Agent Dennis Boots (Boots), a/k/a Dennis Baker, began an undercover investigation of illegal drug distribution in Tripp County and the surrounding area. Upon his arrival, local law enforcement officials showed Boots a picture of Moeller. Law enforcement intelligence reports indicated that Moeller was involved with drugs. Moeller, who at the time of trial was 27 years old, worked on his parents’ farm and lived in a mobile home thereon approximately 25 miles northwest of Winner, South Dakota.

In the following months of 1984, Boots observed Moeller in the local bars. In July 1984, Boots tried to buy Moeller a drink in a local tavern, but Moeller declined. After this, and until March 1985, Boots did not investigate Moeller to any great extent. Boots, however, did observe Moeller smoking marijuana on two occasions, but Boots had no interaction with Moeller until March 1985.¹

In March 1985, Boots learned that Moel-ler was interested in selling a sports car. Thereafter, Boots phoned Moeller’s parents several times and expressed an interest in purchasing the car. Moeller, through another individual, then contacted Boots about the car sale. On March 14, 1985, Boots and a local individual who was cooperating in the investigation, went to Moel-ler’s residence under the pretense of purchasing Moeller’s car. Since the car was not there, the three talked and smoked some of Moeller’s marijuana. Boots twice asked Moeller to sell him some marijuana. Moeller refused stating that he did not deal in drugs. Thereafter, Moeller did give Boots two marijuana joints for the road.

Moeller met Boots at a Winner bar the next day, March 15, 1985 and Boots gave' Moeller $100 to hold the sports car. Purchase price of the car was agreed at $2,200 but its wholesale market value in Denver was only $700 to $800. Moeller set the price for the car. At this time, Boots suggested a trade of 24 pounds of Columbian marijuana for 12 pounds of Sensamelion marijuana. Sensamelion marijuana, is a hybrid of more value in illegal drug markets. Boots previously made it known that he was from California and that Sensamelion was not as readily available in California as was Columbian marijuana. Moeller responded that he did not deal but that he might know some interested individuals.

Boots thereafter left the Winner area for two weeks under the pretense of going to California. Upon his return to Winner, and on one of the first two days of April 1985, Boots again met with Moeller at the latter’s residence. At this time, the car sale was discussed. Boots then stated that his father owned a construction company in California and his father’s company needed workers. Boots further stated he had previously made $9,000 a month working for his father’s construction company and that Moeller could make $5,000 a month. Employing a calendar, Boots and Moeller planned when they could leave for California and when they could return to Winner for a scheduled event and pick up Moeller’s cousin Tim. On this same date, Boots again suggested the marijuana trade. Moeller thereupon inquired as to how many pounds of Columbian marijuana he could get in trade for his sports car.

In the following days, Moeller informed his parents of the $5,000-a-month California construction job and arranged for his cousin Kathy to take over some of his farm duties. Moeller also contacted an individual in Pierre concerning the marijuana trade.

April 7, 1985, was the date set for the marijuana trade. On this day, at 2:45 p.m., Boots told Moeller that Moeller and the person trading marijuana should possess some drugs so that he, Boots, would be sure they were not undercover narcotics officers. Moeller stated that he could obtain cocaine from an individual in Winner and various quantities of cocaine were further discussed. As testified to at trial, however, the sole reason Boots wanted Moeller to get drugs was so he could arrest Moeller for having drugs. Later that afternoon, Moeller phoned Boots and stated that everything was fine on his end.

That evening, the parties met in a Winner bar and then proceeded to the Winner airport. There, Moeller and the individual from Pierre removed from their persons small packets containing cocaine and handed them to Boots. Boots asked the price and then handed money to the person from Pierre. Moeller received the cocaine he possessed from the individual from Pierre and possessed it as Boots had requested so that Boots would believe he, Moeller, was not an undercover narcotics officer.

Within minutes, the parties were arrested. During Moeller’s booking at the Winner Police Station, a cocaine spoon necklace and a cocaine sifter were taken from Moel-ler. Although in Moeller’s possession, the cocaine sifter was the property of the individual from Pierre.

After a jury trial, Moeller was convicted of possession and distribution of cocaine. At all appropriate times, defense counsel moved for the dismissal of the charges because entrapment, as a matter of law, existed. This the trial court refused to do. Instead, the entrapment issue was left for the jury’s resolution and they were instructed thereon.

DECISION

I.

DOES THE EVIDENCE REVEAL ENTRAPMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW? WE HOLD THAT IT DOES NOT.

Entrapment is the “inducement of one to commit a crime not contemplated by him for the mere purpose of instituting criminal proceedings against him.” State v. Williams, 84 S.D. 547, 551, 173 N.W.2d 889, 891 (1970). When determining whether entrapment exists, this Court uses the subjective test first espoused in Sorrells v. United States, 287 U.S. 435, 53 S.Ct. 210, 77 L.Ed. 413 (1932). Under this test, also known as the origin of intent test, State v. Nelsen, 89 S.D. 1, 7, 228 N.W.2d 143, 147 (1975), the focus is on where the intent to commit the crime originated, i.e., whether in the defendant or in the government agent. State v. Johnson, 268 N.W.2d 613, 614 (S.D.1978). Thus,

it is the jury’s duty to decide whether the defendant was predisposed to commit the crime. In other words, does the evidence show that the criminal intent is traceable to the defendant or to the Government Agent? Where the genesis of the intent to commit the criminal act is in the mind of the Government Agent “and the accused is by persuasion, deceitful representation, or inducement lured into the commission of a criminal act” entrapment is established. If, however, the defendant was predisposed to commit the crime when encouraged to do so by an agent, the defense will fail because there is no entrapment when agents merely offer the defendant an opportunity to commit the offense. Thus, to decide this issue the subjective intent of the defendant should be focused on by the jury, to-wit, was he intent on performing the criminal act with the police only furnishing him an opportunity, or was he an innocent person lured into committing a crime.

State v. Nelsen, 89 S.D. at 7-8, 228 N.W.2d at 147 (citations omitted). When conflicting evidence exists as to the origin of the intent to commit the crime charged, the question of entrapment is for the jury, Williams, 84 S.D. at 553, 173 N.W.2d at 892, and when there is substantial evidence from which the jury may infer that the criminal intent originated in the defendant’s mind, entrapment as a matter of law is not established. Id.

“There are two components to the entrapment defense; the defendant must show police inducement to commit the crime and that he was not predisposed to commit the specific criminal act.” State v. Iverson, 364 N.W.2d 518, 528 (S.D.1985). The four principal inducements which may locate the intent in the State are appeals to friendship, sympathy, offers of excessive amounts of money, and appeals to a narcotic’s needs. State v. Nagel, 279 N.W.2d 911, 916 (S.D.1979). “In addition to showing such inducements, the defendant must also show that ‘undue, prolonged or persistent pressures were exerted against him, ... that this inducement was dangled in front of him’[,] ... or that he was ‘played upon’_” Nelsen, 89 S.D. at 10-11, 228 N.W.2d at 148 (citations omitted). In determining whether a defendant was predisposed to commit the specific criminal act, the facts surrounding the transaction are relevant as are several definite criteria such as whether the defendant first suggested the crime; the defendant’s readiness to commit the crime; the defendant’s familiarity with the criminal activity; the defendant’s possession of a large supply of illegal contraband before the alleged entrapment; the defendant’s ready access to the contraband; and the defendant’s ability to collect a large quantity of contraband in a short time. Id., 89 S.D. at 10, 228 N.W.2d at 148.

In the present case, as concerns the inducement component of the entrapment defense, the facts do reveal that an offer of employment at an exceptional wage was dangled in front of Moeller and Moeller testified that but for this employment offer, he would not have procured the cocaine requested by Boots. Thus, presumably, the first component was established.²

As for the second component, the absence of a predisposition to commit the specific criminal act, Moeller does not fair so well. Pacts reveal that although Boots suggested the marijuana trade and the possession of drugs to prove the parties were not undercover narcotics officers, Moeller stated that he could get cocaine and could get it locally. Moeller readily responded to Boots’ request and Moeller expressed no reservations about procuring or possessing cocaine. Moeller discussed various quantities that could be procured and when arrested, he possessed a cocaine spoon and a cocaine sifter. In a matter of hours, Moel-ler procured the cocaine, Moeller’s and Boots’ conversations revolved around illegal drug use, and Moeller had previously distributed marijuana to Boots. Although Moeller stated that he never sold drugs or used cocaine, the offenses for which he was arrested, to wit, possession and distribution of a controlled substance, do not require that he consume, use, or sell such a substance but only require that he possess and deliver/transfer it and this is what Moeller did.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, Johnson, 268 N.W.2d at 616, we hold that conflicting evidence exists as to Moeller’s predisposition to commit the crimes.³ Therefore, the trial court correctly refused to rule entrapment existed as a matter of law. After Boots suggested the crimes, it was Moel-ler’s activities that brought it to fruition. Moeller was ready to commit the crimes, he was familiar with the criminal activity, he had ready local access to the drug, and he collected it within a few hours. Under these circumstances, the disposition and ability to commit the crimes were not implanted in an unwary innocent nor staged for his performance. Entrapment, as a matter of law, was not established and the trial court properly submitted the issue to the jury. Based on the facts and the entrapment instruction, the jury found there was no entrapment.

II.

WAS BOOTS’ INVESTIGATORY CONDUCT SO OUTRAGEOUS AS TO BAR PROSECUTION OF MOELLER UNDER DUE PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS? WE HOLD IT WAS NOT.

In United States v. Russell, 411 U.S. 423, 431-32, 93 S.Ct. 1637, 1643, 36 L.Ed.2d 366, 373 (1973), the United States Supreme Court stated: “While we may some day be presented with a situation in which the conduct of law enforcement agents is so outrageous that due process principles would absolutely bar the government from invoking judicial processes to obtain a conviction, the instant case is distinctly not of that breed.” (Citation omitted.)

Based on this language and the facts of the present case, Moeller contends Boots’ conduct in instigating the crimes was so outrageous as to bar his prosecution under due process considerations.

The above-quoted language has been labeled as dicta, see United States v. Dion, 762 F.2d 674, 685 (8th Cir.1985), cert. granted, — U.S. -, 106 S.Ct. 270, 88 L.Ed.2d 225 (1985); and United States v. Prairie, 572 F.2d 1316, 1318 (9th Cir.1978). Other cases, however, have held or intimated that outrageous police conduct, in an entrapment setting, will bar prosecution because of due process violations. See special writings in Hampton v. United States, 425 U.S. 484, 96 S.Ct. 1646, 48 L.Ed.2d 113 (1976) (Powell and Blackmun, Justices, concurring in judgment; Brennan, Stewart, and Marshall, Justices, dissenting); United States v. Twigg, 588 F.2d 373 (3rd Cir.1978); United States v. Johnson, 565 F.2d 179 (1st Cir.1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 1075, 98 S.Ct. 1264, 55 L.Ed.2d 780 (1978); United States v. Quinn, 543 F.2d 640 (8th Cir.1976); and United States v. Archer, 486 F.2d 670 (2nd Cir.1973).

In the case at bar, however, we do not have police instigating violent crimes against third persons for the purpose of gathering evidence. We do not have police instigating crimes by gratuitously supplying the criminal tools or devices. We do not have police instigating crimes by supplying the defendant with contraband to be sold to other police agents. We do not have police instigating crimes by gratuitously supplying the wares and indispensable ingredients when the defendants do not have the means or money to obtain them on their own. We do not have police instigating crimes by furnishing the facilities for criminal operations. We do not have police instigating crimes by completely controlling the criminal enterprise and providing the expertise when the defendants do not have the know-how and can provide only minimal assistance. And we do not have police instigating crimes through police violation of the law or through police violation of a defendant’s, or the public’s, constitutional or statutory-rights. Thus, under these circumstances, although we cannot condone Boots’ final tactics for procuring Moeller’s arrest, we cannot hold the undercover activities here in question .to be so outrageous so as to bar prosecution because of due process violations.

Affirmed.

FOSHEIM, C.J., and MORGAN, J., concur. WUEST, J., and HERTZ, Circuit Judge, Acting as Supreme Court Justice, dissent. SABERS, J., not having been a member of the Court at the time this action was submitted to the Court, did not participate.

1 . The dissent paints a scenario of Agent Boots pursuing Moeller for drug sales and Moeller refusing “for fully a whole year.” This scenario, however, is not supported by the written record herein. The record indicates, as previously stated, that Boots had no interaction with Moeller until March 1985. Boots testified that he never tried to get to know Moeller during that year, and never tried other times to get to know Moeller, because Winner is "a small community and in order to get to know people you don’t just walk up and ask them for drugs.” Moeller's own trial testimony indicates that Moeller did not remember Boots’ offer to buy a drink and did not remember even seeing Boots until March 1985. Thus, the record reveals that it took Boots a year to meet Moeller and that Moeller was unaware of Boots’ presence in Winner. until March 1985. Of the six or seven times, per Agent Boots’ testimony, that Boots had contact with Moeller, one contact was in July 1984 when Boots attempted to buy Moeller a drink, and the other six contacts were in March and April 1985. This does not support the dissent’s contention that Boots hounded Moeller for an entire year.

2 . The dissent states that it is obvious that appeals to friendship, appeals to sympathy, and offers of excessive amounts of money are easily attributable to the government. Although we presume the $5,000-a-month California job was an offer of excessive amounts of money, Moel-ler admitted at trial that Boots never offered him any large amount of money for the cocaine and that the car sale and the California job were not contingent on the drug deals. As for appeals to friendship and sympathy, the written record does not reveal such. Boots testified that he did not know Moeller that well, and Moeller testified that he did not care for Boots and that Boots was not a very good friend. Additionally, Moeller testified that Boots did not plead with him as a friend, did not make him feel sorry for Boots, and that he did not deliver cocaine out of sympathy.

3 . The dissent states: "There is nothing in the testimonial record to demonstrate that Moeller had a detailed knowledge of the logistics of drug transactions, an understanding of techniques in trafficking of cocaine, nor of any predisposition to sell or possess cocaine.” The written record, however, among other things, reveals that Moel-ler was familiar with drug culture language and talked often about marijuana and drugs. Moel-ler gave — distributed—marijuana to Boots, Moeller inquired about trading his car for five pounds of marijuana, and Moeller arranged the marijuana trade. Moeller accepted the idea of possessing drugs, Moeller brought up obtaining cocaine, and Moeller procured cocaine within a matter of hours. An individual from Pierre had a list of people, which list was admitted into evidence. This list noted individuals with whom she was hoping she could get to sell drugs for her. Moeller’s name was on it with $720 of hopeful drug sales projected. Finally, the record reveals that Boots and Moeller discussed California cocaine, that Moeller said he would fit right in with Boots’ California friends who were involved in drugs, and that Moeller said he thought he knew a California drug dealer; further, that maybe Boots and he could get rid of some drugs through the California drug dealer. This evidence diminishes the thrust of advocacy that Moeller had no knowledge or understanding of drug deals and that he was not predisposed to distribute or possess cocaine.