State v. Plain

752 So. 2d 337, 2000 WL 202057
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 18, 2000
Docket99 KA 1112
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 752 So. 2d 337 (State v. Plain) 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. Plain, 752 So. 2d 337, 2000 WL 202057 (La. Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

752 So.2d 337 (2000)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Timothy PLAIN.

No. 99 KA 1112.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

February 18, 2000.

*340 Wick Cooper, Assistant District Attorney, Baton Rouge, for Appellee, State of Louisiana.

George Downing, Peggy T. Goods, Baton Rouge, for Defendant/Appellant, Timothy Plain.

Before: CARTER, LeBLANC, and PETTIGREW, JJ.

CARTER, J.

The defendant, Timothy Plain, was charged by bill of information with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a violation of LSA-R.S. 14:95.1. He pled not guilty. He moved to suppress physical evidence, inculpatory statements and/or confessions, but the motion was denied. Following a bench trial, he was found guilty as charged. He was sentenced to ten years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and suspended a $1,000 fine.[1] He now appeals, designating four assignments of error.

SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

In assignment of error number four, the defendant contends the trial court erred in finding the evidence sufficient to convict him of the charge.

In reviewing claims challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, this court must consider "whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). See also LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 821B; State v. Mussall, 523 So.2d 1305, 1308-09 (La.1988).

Louisiana Revised Statute 14:95.1, in pertinent part, provides:

A. It is unlawful for any person who has been convicted of ... any violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law which is a felony ... to possess a firearm or carry a concealed weapon.
* * * * * *
C. Except as otherwise specifically provided, this Section shall not apply to the following cases:
(1) The provisions of this Section prohibiting the possession of firearms and carrying concealed weapons by persons who have been convicted of certain felonies shall not apply to any person who has not been convicted of any felony for a period of ten years from the date of completion of sentence, probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.

(Footnote omitted).

Louisiana Revised Statute 14:95.1 does not make "actual" possession a necessary element of the offense or specifically require that the defendant have the firearm on his person to be in violation. "Constructive" possession satisfies the possessory element of the offense. Constructive possession occurs when the firearm is subject to the offender's dominion and control. Dominion and control over a weapon are sufficient to constitute constructive possession even if the control is only temporary in nature and even if the control is shared with another person. Mere presence in an area where a firearm is found, or mere association with an individual found to be in possession of a firearm, does not necessarily establish possession. See State v. Fisher, 94-2255, p. 4 (La.App. 1st Cir.12/15/95), 669 So.2d 460, 462, writ denied, 96-0958 (La.9/20/96), 679 So.2d 432.

The State relied upon documentary and testimonial evidence to establish the defendant's commission of the offense. The State introduced State Exhibit # 2, in globo, *341 into evidence. The exhibit consisted of certified true copies of the following: (1) bill of information 8-90-1484, filed in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court (JDC) on August 28, 1990, charging defendant with possession with intent to distribute cocaine on July 9, 1990; (2) October 12, 1990 minutes indicating that the defendant pled guilty to the charge; and (3) January 25, 1991 minutes indicating that the defendant was sentenced to five years at hard labor on the charge.

The State presented testimony from James Poss, an employee of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Probation and Parole Division. Poss identified the defendant in court as the person he had supervised under Nineteenth Judicial District Court docket number X-XX-XXXX during a five year probationary term. Poss possessed documentation reflecting that the defendant had been advised that he was prohibited from possessing a weapon.

The State presented testimony from Baton Rouge City Police Officer Randall Wiedeman. Officer Wiedeman applied for the search warrant contained in State Exhibit # 1, in globo. The warrant authorized a search of the residence of the defendant and his wife, Benita Plain.

When Officer Wiedeman arrived at the defendant's residence only Benita Plain was present at the home. Officer Wiedeman presented Ms. Plain with the search warrant and she paged the defendant.

The defendant arrived at the scene a few minutes later in a Chevrolet extra-cab pick-up truck, "like a show truck." Officer Wiedeman identified the defendant in court as the person who had arrived at the scene. Officer Wiedeman presented the search warrant to the defendant and advised him of his Miranda rights. He then asked the defendant if the defendant had any knowledge of any narcotics or weapons in the house, and the defendant stated he "had a .9 millimeter underneath the mattress in his bedroom." After Officer Wiedeman handcuffed the defendant, he led police officers to his bed and pointed out the location of the weapon. Police recovered a weapon from the area the defendant had pointed out, between the mattress and the box springs of the bed. When Officer Wiedeman brought the weapon back into the living room, Ms. Plain stated that she had never seen the gun before. Officer Wiedeman identified State Exhibit # 3 as the weapon recovered—a.9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol, serial number "TKC 78705[,]" and State Exhibit # 4, in globo, as the weapon's loaded magazine. The defendant told Officer Wiedeman that he (the defendant) had purchased the weapon from a Mr. Williams or a Mr. Wilson. Subsequently, a search of the defendant's truck uncovered an additional magazine capable of fitting the weapon. The defendant stated that the magazine was broken and he intended to get it fixed.

Ms. Plain testified that the weapon belonged to her, was stored under her side of the bed, and was never handled by the defendant. She disputed Officer Wiedeman's account of the defendant leading police to the weapon. On cross-examination, Ms. Plain claimed that the defendant arrived at the scene in his own truck. She claimed no knowledge of a magazine being in the vehicle.

The defendant testified on his own behalf. He claimed the weapon belonged to his wife and that he had never seen the weapon until its discovery by police. He disputed Officer Wiedeman's testimony concerning his (the defendant's) stating the weapon belonged to him, his pointing out the weapon to police, and his identifying the person from whom he had purchased the weapon.

On cross-examination, the defendant conceded that he was the same person convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine under docket # X-XX-XXXX and that Poss was his probation officer. He claimed that he arrived at the scene in a truck belonging to his father. When *342 asked if he had had the magazine in the truck, the defendant answered, "not to my knowledge."

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
752 So. 2d 337, 2000 WL 202057, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-plain-lactapp-2000.