State v. Moniz

992 P.2d 741, 92 Haw. 472, 1999 Haw. App. LEXIS 227
CourtHawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 27, 1999
Docket21719
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 992 P.2d 741 (State v. Moniz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Hawaii Intermediate 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. Moniz, 992 P.2d 741, 92 Haw. 472, 1999 Haw. App. LEXIS 227 (hawapp 1999).

Opinions

Opinion of the Court by

WATANABE, J.

Defendant-Appellant Juliet1 Moniz (Juliet) appeals from the June 23, 1998 Judgment of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, convicting and sentencing her for Promoting a Detrimental Drug in the Third Degree, specifically marijuana, in violation of Hawai'i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 712-1249 (1993),2 and Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia, specifically, a measuring scale, in violation of HRS § 329-43.5(a) (1993).3

Juliet raises three issues on appeal. First, there was insufficient evidence to support her conviction for Promoting a Detrimental Drug in the Third Degree (for the marijuana). Second, there was insufficient evidence to support her conviction for Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia (for the scale). And third, it was inconsistent for the jury to find her guilty of Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia but not guilty of Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree, specifically .004 grams of methamphetamine located in the bowl of the scale, a violation of HRS § 712-1243 (1993 & Supp.1998).4

[474]*474We agree with Juliet’s first and second contentions. Accordingly, we reverse her convictions for Promoting a Detrimental Drug in the Third Degree and Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia and find it unnecessary to address the inconsistent verdict issue.

BACKGROUND

On December 16, 1995, pursuant to a search warrant, police officers of the Honolulu Police Department entered and searched Apartment D at 94-154 ‘Awalau Street, where Juliet and her husband, Richard Mon-iz (Richard), resided with their two children. At the time the police officers executed the search warrant, Juliet was present in the apartment with her two children and her aunt’s two granddaughters. Juliet testified that she was in the kitchen cooking, when the police knocked on the door. After letting the police into the apartment, she sat down on the couch in the living room. Three of the four children were also in the living room, and the fourth child was taking a bath. Richard was not home at the time, but he arrived shortly thereafter. Juliet testified that she stayed on the couch throughout the search.

The officers recovered various items from the apartment, including: a clear plastic bag, approximately two and a half inches by two inches in size, containing a green leaf-like substance, subsequently determined to contain .634 grams of marijuana; a plastic gram scale, purple in color and approximately four and a half inches by two inches in size, the bowl of which contained traces of a white crystal-like substance, subsequently tested to be .004 grams of methamphetamine; and cash totaling $1,900.00. As a result of the search, Juliet and Richard were indicted on September 12, 1996 and charged in count I with Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (for the methamphetamine residue), in count II with Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia (for the scale), and in count III with Promoting a Detrimental Drug in the Third Degree (for the marijuana).

The testimony and physical evidence offered at trial revealed that the marijuana was recovered from a closed plastic fishing tool box located in the top drawer of a dresser in the bedroom; the scale, along with Richard’s old driver’s license, was found in an orange McDonald’s “Happy Meal” jack-o-lantern bucket, its cover “cut open[,]” that was sitting on top of a video cassette recorder located on the dresser; and the cash, in hundred, twenty,, and one dollar bills, was found in a black woman’s handbag, a small brown patterned handbag, and a turquoise plastic child’s handbag with pink trimming, located around the apartment. Richard testified that the black woman’s handbag in which Juliet’s visa and a wad of hundred dollar bills were found belonged to Juliet. Richard also testified that the other two handbags, each of which housed a wad of one dollar bills folded in half with a rubber band around, belonged to his children. According to Richard, he “used to get plenty dollar bills, so [he] used to give [the children] a whole bunch at one time.” No illegal drugs were found in any of the handbags.

The essence of Juliet’s defense was that Richard, and not she, was responsible for the scale, marijuana, and methamphetamine residue found in their apartment.

In support of Juliet’s defense, Richard testified that he had pleaded no contest to the charges against him, which were identical to the charges against Juliet. Richard admitted that he used and sold drugs. He stated that he had bought the scale “to make sure [he didn’t] get ripped off and to make sure [he didn’t] rip off nobody[,] too,” that Juliet was not present when he bought the scale, and that he didn’t tell her that he was going to buy it “ ’cause it’s my business. She’s got nothing to do with it.” When asked if Juliet ever held or had possession of the scale, Richard responded, “No. Maybe I might [475]*475have left it out. Maybe. I’m not too sure. Or, you know, she might have put it away.”

Richard also testified that Juliet did not use drugs, strongly disapproved of his using drugs, and would leave the room if she saw him smoking marijuana or crystal methamphetamine. He stated that he and Juliet would often “get into big fights” because he would often spend his paychecks on drugs and not come home for three or four days after he got a paycheck. Richard accepted sole responsibility for the marijuana found by the police, which Richard testified was for his personal use. He also stated that the fishing tool box was in his dresser drawer, where he stored his “shorts and stuff.” However, he admitted that Juliet cleaned the apartment and would know what was in the apartment. Richard also conceded that Juliet washed, folded, and put the clothes away in the drawers and “would see if something was in the drawer[.]” Moreover, he sometimes gave drug money to Juliet and she knew the source of the money.

Regarding the large sum of money found in the apartment, Richard explained that Juliet was going to use the money for Christmas gifts and for a birthday party for their daughter. He also stated that the money had come from the monthly deferred compensation payments he received after terminating his employment with the State of Ha-wai'i, Harbors Division.

Juliet testified that she was aware that Richard used drugs and she had seen the marijuana in “[Richard’s] drawer.” However, she denied using drugs herself and stated that she had never touched the scale and didn’t know what the scale was used for. She also testified that although she saw the plastic fishing tool box in the drawer, she “didn’t even notice. Just put [Richard’s] clothes on top. That’s all. I never touch nothing.” Juliet acknowledged that the purses or handbags in which the money had been found belonged either to her or her children. She also confirmed Richard’s testimony that the money in her handbag was for their daughter’s birthday party and for Christmas gift purchases. She explained that she could not deposit the money in a bank account because she received financial assistance and food stamps from the government on behalf of her children and was required by government regulation to have “[u]nder a thousand dollars” in the bank.

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State v. Moniz
992 P.2d 741 (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 1999)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
992 P.2d 741, 92 Haw. 472, 1999 Haw. App. LEXIS 227, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-moniz-hawapp-1999.