State v. Weide

812 S.W.2d 866, 1991 Mo. App. LEXIS 946, 1991 WL 103388
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 18, 1991
DocketWD 43703
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 812 S.W.2d 866 (State v. Weide) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri 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. Weide, 812 S.W.2d 866, 1991 Mo. App. LEXIS 946, 1991 WL 103388 (Mo. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

FENNER, Judge.

Appellant, Jerry M. Weide, appeals his conviction for possession of methamphetamine, a controlled substance, § 195.020.2, RSMo 1986.

The evidence showed that on September 22,1989, Detective Randall Eich of the City of Warrensburg Police Department obtained a warrant to search the residence of appellant and his wife, Kimberly Weide, at Route 5, Warrensburg, Missouri. Among the items named in the warrant were methamphetamine, a chrome plated revolver, records of narcotic transactions, cash, drug paraphernalia and a set of scales.

When the police arrived at the Weide residence to execute the search warrant, Kimberly Weide was present at the house. Shortly after the officers arrived, Jerry Weide emerged from the woods next to the residence and he was placed under arrest.

In executing the search warrant, Detective Eich searched a bureau located in a hallway off the kitchen in the house. The drawers of the bureau contained various papers, including motor vehicle titles and telephone bills. Most of the documents bore the name of Jerry Weide. In particular, there was a receipt for a Harley Davidson motorcycle purchased by Jerry Weide. On top of the bureau there was a Harley Davidson beer can, some Harley Davidson cigarettes and a small wooden box, among other items. Inside the wooden box was found a clear ziplock bag containing an off white substance, later determined to be methamphetamine, with a street value of $2,000.00.

In his first point, appellant claims that the trial court erred in overruling his Motion for Judgment of Acquittal at the Close of the State’s Evidence. Appellant alleges that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction.

In deciding on the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, the evidence and all favorable inferences reasonably to be drawn therefrom must be considered in *869 the light most favorable to the verdict. State v. Guinan, 665 S.W.2d 325, 329 (Mo. banc 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 873, 105 S.Ct. 227, 83 L.Ed.2d 156 (1984). An appellate court’s function is not to weigh the evidence, but to determine only whether there was sufficient evidence from which reasonable persons could have found the defendant guilty. State v. Barber, 635 S.W.2d 342, 343 (Mo.1982).

To sustain a conviction for possession of a controlled substance, the state must prove that the defendant knowingly and intentionally possessed the proscribed substance and that the defendant was aware of the presence and nature of the substance in question. State v. Adkins, 800 S.W.2d 28, 30 (Mo.App.1990). Possession may be proved by circumstantial evidence and knowledge may be inferred therefrom. Id. Where actual possession is not shown, constructive possession will suffice even where joint control exists, as long as other facts buttress an inference that the defendant had knowledge of the presence of the controlled substance. Id.

When a conviction rests on circumstantial evidence alone, the evidence and facts must be inconsistent with any reasonable theory of innocence. State v. Wahby, 775 S.W.2d 147, 154 (Mo. banc 1989). The evidence need not, however, be conclusive of guilt, nor must the evidence demonstrate the impossibility of innocence. Id. Weighing the evidence to determine whether the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is the function of the jury and not the reviewing court. State v. Adkins, 800 S.W.2d at 30.

A defendant’s access to an area in which drugs are found is an incriminating fact which is not destroyed by the fact that another also had access to the area. State v. Adkins, 800 S.W.2d at 30. The fact that contraband is found with other items belonging to the defendant is incriminating. See, State v. Witters, 794 S.W.2d 315, 318-19 (Mo.App.1990); See also, State v. Gulley, 776 S.W.2d 492, 494 (Mo.App.1989). The value of illegal drugs is also relevant to show knowing and intentional possession. State v. Lowrance, 619 S.W.2d 354, 357 (Mo.App.1981); State v. Lewis, 526 S.W.2d 49, 53 (Mo.App.1975).

The drugs were found in a box on top of a bureau which was located in a conspicuous place in appellant’s residence. Along with the box containing the drugs on top of the bureau was a Harley Davidson beer can and Harley Davidson cigarettes. It is reasonable to infer that appellant was the owner of the Harley Davidson items when a receipt was found showing appellant to be the owner of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Furthermore, the documents in the bureau bearing appellant’s name showed that he had access to the bureau. The value of the drugs found, $2,000.00, was also an incriminating fact. These facts are consistent with each other, consistent with appellant having been in possession of the methamphetamine and inconsistent with any reasonable theory of his innocence.

Appellant’s first point is denied.

In his second point, appellant argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress the evidence seized because the search warrant was invalid. Appellant argues that Detective Eich acted in bad faith when applying for the warrant by withholding material facts from the issuing judge. Appellant further argues under this point that the warrant was invalid because Detective Eich did not corroborate the information used in obtaining the warrant.

Section 542.276, RSMo Supp.1990, 1 sets forth the procedure for application, issuance and execution of a valid search warrant. Section 542.276.2 requires, inter alia, the application to be in writing and to state facts sufficient to show probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant. Section 542.276.3 permits supplementation of the application by written, verified affidavit which “shall be considered in determining whether there is probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant....” Section 542.276.4 provides that the issuing judge is to hold a non-adversary hearing to deter *870 mine whether sufficient facts have been stated to justify issuance of a search warrant. Section 542.276.4 further provides that “[i]f it appears from the application and any supporting affidavit that there is probable cause to believe that property, article, material, substance, or person subject to seizure is on the person or at the place or in the thing described, a search warrant shall immediately be issued.” Section 542.276.10 addresses when a search warrant is deemed invalid citing seven defects.

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Bluebook (online)
812 S.W.2d 866, 1991 Mo. App. LEXIS 946, 1991 WL 103388, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-weide-moctapp-1991.