State v. Paul

185 So. 3d 188, 15 La.App. 5 Cir. 501, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 135, 2016 WL 360833
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 27, 2016
DocketNo. 15-KA-501
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 185 So. 3d 188 (State v. Paul) 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. Paul, 185 So. 3d 188, 15 La.App. 5 Cir. 501, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 135, 2016 WL 360833 (La. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

JUDE G. GRAVOIS, Judge.

^Defendant, Láwhit L. Paul, appeals his conviction and sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. For the reasons, that follow, we affirm defendant’s conviction and sentence. We further remand the matter for correction of the minute entries and the Uniform Commitment Order to reflect defendant’s proper conviction, as hereinafter set forth.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On October 31, 2013, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney filed a bill of information alleging that defendant violated La. R.S. 40:967(A) in that he possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute. On November 5, 2013, defendant appeared at his arraignment and pled not guilty.

On February 20, 2014, the trial court held a hearing on defendant’s motions to suppress evidence and statement and denied the motions. On May 13, 2014, Shana Travis appeared at a status hearing where defendant offered a note of evidence. Ms. Travis testified and submitted an affidavit stating that the qocaine in |aquestion belonged to her. On February 3, 2015, immediately preceding trial, defendant filed a motion in limine seeking to exclude alleged other crimes evidence, which was denied.

The case proceeded to trial before a jury on February 3 and 4, 2015. On February 4, 2015, the jury returned a verdict against defendant of guilty as charged. On February 6, 2015, defendant filed a motion for a new trial, which was denied that same day. Thereafter, on February 6, 2015, the trial judge sentenced defendant to two years imprisonment at hard labor to be served without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.1

. Defendant filed a motion-for appeal on February 6, 2015, before sentencing. The motion was granted on February 25, 2015.2 Defendant’s appeal follows.

FACTS

Detective William Whittington of the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office testified that in August and September of 2013, he worked in the Project STAR Division, [193]*193dealing with violent crime and narcotics trafficking investigations.. At the end of August 2013, he began investigating narcotics activity at 4120 Lac Bienville Drive, Apartment D, in Harvey, Louisiana. He had been told that a black male with short hair in his /‘maybe, early thirties, late twenties” was selling drugs from that location. The man went by the nickname “Whit” and had two Infiniti sports cars, one white and one black. Detective Whit-tington began visual surveillance of the location. While he was conducting surveillance, he observed the subject whom he believed to be the target of his investigation, later identified Las defendant,3 exit the apartment and meet with people who knocked on the door. This observation corroborated the information Detective Whittington had received.

Detective Whittington testified that he observed what he, through his training, understood to be “numerous” hand-to-hand transactions between defendant and people who had knocked on the door of the apartment. From the vantage point at which he was conducting surveillance, he could not see what was exchanged. However, upon observing one hand-to-hand transaction, the buyer was stopped and marijuana was found on his person.

As Detective Whittington continued surveillance of the apartment, he observed defendant leave- in a .white Infiniti. He had “patrol” conduct a stop of the vehicle. The officers conducting the stop learned defendant’s identity and relayed the information to Detective Whittington. The officers ran the subject license plate and learned that the car was- registered to a “Teresa Ruffin” with the Lac Bienville address.4 Detective Whittington applied for a search warrant -for the Lac Bienville address based on the information gathered as a result of his surveillance.

Detective Whittington testified that on September 17, 2013, he and other officers in his division executed the search warrant at 4120 Lac Bienville Drive, Apartment D. It was “apparent” to Detective Whitting-ton that only a male lived there. He observed only men’s clothing and shoes and one furnished bedroom. The second bedroom appeared to be where defendant kept dogs that were found in the apartment. Detective Whittington testified that the officers found cocaine in the freezer of the apartment. There was a joint stipulation before the court that the six bags found in the freezer during the search contained a substance that tested positive for cocaine, and the weight of the cocaine was determined to be twenty-t;one grams. The officers also found another bag containing white powder in the refrigerator. It was further stipulated that this additional bag of white powder was inconclusive as to the presence of cocaine. . Detective Whitting-ton testified that baking powder, a white powder, is a common agent used to “cut” cocaine. He also stated that a digital scale was found in defendant’s bedroom,5 along with Ziploc bags with “marijuana residue,” and a loaded magazine.6 Detective Whit-tington stated that no gun was ever recovered, and the ammunition was not related to any charge in the present case. Detec[194]*194tive Whittington also testified that neither the scale nor the baggies were taken into evidence or tested for any narcotic residue.

Detective Nicholas Gamier of the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office testified that he started the investigation of defendant along , with Detective Whittington.7 During their surveillance, Detective Gamier observed hand-to-hand transactions. They apprehended one buyer and discovered marijuana on his person. During the surveillance, it was established that Ms. Ruf-fin was associated with the Lac Bienville location.

Detective Gamier testified that on September 17, 2013, he participated in the search of defendant’s apartment. He did not ask for the “green leafy” residue found in the baggies to be tested, and the baggies were not kept in evidence. Detective Gamier testified that a digital scale box was found, but the actual scale was not located. He stated that the white powder found in the freezer tested positive for cocaine, but the white" powder found in the refrigerator was negative for cocaine. He did not have the cocaine tested for purity to' determine if it had been “cut” with anything. He observed a fake wall outlet in defendant’s bedroom 16that was “almost like a hide-away type safe,” but he did not test it for narcotic residue or take it into evidence.

Detective John Wiebélt of the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office testified’ that he was present during the search of 4120 Lac Bienville Drive, Apartment D, on September 17, 2013. He photographed the scene and identified and discussed the photographs he had taken. There were two pit bulls at the apartment, and the second bedroom appeared to , be where the dogs were kept. There was men’s clothing in defendant’s bedroom and closets. Defendant’s mail- and identification were found at the apartment. He identified a photograph showing Ziploc bags on which “marijuana residue” was found.- He stated detectives found a handgun box and ammunition; however, no gun was located. He photographed baggies, the box for a digital scale, and a fake electrical outlet that could be used to “secret” narcotics because these items could be indicative of distribution! He photographed the inside of the freezer where the cocaine was found inside, of a Tyson chicken bag. He photographed the baggies of cocaine from the freezer.

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Bluebook (online)
185 So. 3d 188, 15 La.App. 5 Cir. 501, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 135, 2016 WL 360833, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-paul-lactapp-2016.