State v. Rogers

681 So. 2d 994, 1996 WL 551661
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedSeptember 27, 1996
Docket95 KA 1485
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 681 So. 2d 994 (State v. Rogers) 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. Rogers, 681 So. 2d 994, 1996 WL 551661 (La. Ct. App. 1996).

Opinion

681 So.2d 994 (1996)

STATE of Louisiana,
v.
Kenneth ROGERS.

No. 95 KA 1485.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

September 27, 1996.

*995 Michael Distefano, Plaquemine, for State-Appellee.

C. Jerome D'Aquila, New Roads, for Defendant-Appellant.

Before LOTTINGER, C.J., and FOIL, and FOGG, JJ.

FOGG, Judge.

Kenneth Rogers was charged by bill of information in counts one and two with distribution of cocaine and in counts three and four with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, violations of LSA-R.S. 40:967(A). The charge on count four was dropped by the district attorney following the trial court's granting of a motion to suppress. Defendant pled not guilty and, after trial by jury, was convicted on counts one, two and three. The trial court sentenced him to serve a term of *996 ten years with the Department of Corrections on the first count of distribution, fifteen years with the Department of Corrections on the second count of distribution, and five years with the Department of Corrections on the count of possession with intent to distribute, all to be served consecutively to each other. Defendant has appealed, urging nine assignments of error. Assignment numbers one, two, three, six, and seven were not briefed on appeal and, therefore, are considered abandoned. See Uniform Rules— Courts of Appeal, Rule 2-12.4.

FACTS

On April 2, 1992 and April 23, 1992, defendant reportedly sold cocaine to an undercover narcotics agent. Detective Kenneth Mitchell, a narcotics agent with the St. John the Baptist Sheriff's Office, was assigned to the River West Narcotics Task Force. On April 2, 1992, he was working in the White Castle area when he approached defendant in the parking lot of the Cracker Barrel. Det. Mitchell asked defendant where he could find a "twenty," referring to a twenty dollar piece of crack cocaine. Defendant thereafter produced two small pieces of crack cocaine which he sold to Det. Mitchell. Det. Mitchell stated that he had a confidential informant (CI) in the car with him, but that the CI did not take part in the transaction. The detective stated that he got a good look at defendant who identified himself as Kenneth Rogers. Further, he identified defendant from police photos.

On April 23, 1992, Det. Mitchell saw defendant inside Freddie's Lounge in White Castle. He approached him and asked where he could get two twenty's worth of crack cocaine. Defendant requested that Det. Mitchell follow him outside where he displayed several pieces of crack cocaine. Det. Mitchell chose the larger pieces and paid forty dollars to defendant. On this occasion, Det. Mitchell was not accompanied by the CI.

On August 19, 1992, Lt. Timothy Collins of the Plaquemine City Police Department and the LEAD Narcotics Task Force was contacted by the CI who stated that defendant would be at the Wag-A-Sac grocery with a large amount of crack cocaine. He arranged to have the CI contact defendant to verify that he had the crack cocaine before the police moved in. Prior to this, the CI was strip searched to insure that he was not carrying contraband. Lt. Gulotta, Det. Noel and Det. Cox assisted Lt. Collins. When they arrived on the scene, the CI approached defendant's car, stayed there a couple of seconds, then walked away with his hands in his pockets (the pre-arranged signal to indicate that defendant had crack cocaine in his possession). The police pulled in behind defendant's vehicle. Defendant, who was counting something in his hand, looked up, jumped out of his car and started running. The officers informed him they were police officers and told him to stop. As defendant was running down the side of the Wag-A-Sac, Det. Noel, who had been inside the store, came out and apprehended him. At this time defendant attempted to throw what was in his hand. The officers observed what appeared to be white particles of crack cocaine fly out of a bottle in defendant's hand and land in the parking lot. Twenty-one white pieces were collected and turned out to be crack cocaine.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER 4

By this assignment of error, defendant maintains that the trial court erred when it allowed state witnesses to testify when the state failed to serve a written notice on defendant stating the names and addresses of witnesses the state intended to use to disprove defendant's alibi defense. Defendant relies on LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 727(B).

As the state called its first witness, Det. Mitchell, defense counsel objected to any witnesses who would testify that defendant was present at any particular place or time in contradiction to his alibi defense. Defense counsel stated at trial that the state had served upon the defense a notice to disclose all alibi witnesses, which the defense alleged it did. Defendant contends that LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 727(B) requires the state to reciprocate.

Following argument on the matter, the trial court stated:

*997 I'm not going to grant the motion, but I will say that the law is clear. They are (the state) suppose to give you the information ten days thereafter. No less than ten days before trial. But, since you had full disclosure of their file you knew who the witnesses were going to be. It's no surprise to you and you're not prejudiced by it. But, I will say this, in the future— you know, the whole purpose of this particular article, it makes the defendant give over the information and it's for a reason, that the District Attorney's Office can investigate these individuals, now. And, I don't know whether or not the District Attorney's Office, but from what I've just heard, I don't think they've investigated or questioned these people. We're missing the boat. The next case I have with you, ten days, you give him the notice, and I suggest that you interview these people.

LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 727 provides, in pertinent part:

A. Upon written demand of the district attorney stating the time, date, and place at which the alleged offense was committed, the defendant shall serve within ten days, or at such different time as the court may direct, upon the district attorney a written notice of his intention to offer a defense of alibi. Such notice by the defendant shall state the specific place or places at which the defendant claims to have been at the time of the alleged offense and the names and addresses of the witnesses upon whom he intends to rely to establish such alibi.
B. Within ten days thereafter, but in no event less than ten days before trial, unless the court otherwise directs, the district attorney shall serve upon the defendant or his attorney a written notice stating the names and addresses of the witnesses upon whom the state intends to rely to establish the defendant's presence at the scene of the alleged offense and any other witnesses to be relied on to rebut testimony of any of the defendant's alibi witnesses.
. . . .
D. Upon the failure of either party to comply with the requirements of this rule, the court may exclude the testimony of any undisclosed witness offered by such party as to the defendant's absence from or presence at, the scene of the alleged offense. This rule shall not limit the right of the defendant to testify in his own behalf.
E. For good cause shown, the court may grant an exception to any of the requirements of Subsections A through D of this Section.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
681 So. 2d 994, 1996 WL 551661, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-rogers-lactapp-1996.