Stewart v. State

756 P.2d 900, 1988 Alas. App. LEXIS 45
CourtCourt of Appeals of Alaska
DecidedMay 13, 1988
DocketNo. A-1117
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 756 P.2d 900 (Stewart v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Alaska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stewart v. State, 756 P.2d 900, 1988 Alas. App. LEXIS 45 (Ala. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinions

OPINION

COATS, Judge.

Darryl G. Stewart was convicted of one count of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the second degree (delivery of heroin). AS 11.71.020(a). Following a bench trial before Superior Court Judge Karl S. Johnstone, Stewart was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment with three years suspended. Stewart appeals his conviction and sentence. We affirm his conviction, but remand for resentencing.

FACTS

The charge against Stewart arose out of the sale of twenty-two grams of heroin by Curtis Young to Police Investigator Eduardo Campoamor on December 5, 1984. Stewart’s charge was part of a multicount indictment involving other drug-related offenses by Curtis Young, James Wheeler, Ernestine Walker, and Larry Washington. Campoamor bought small quantities of heroin from Young and Wheeler on several occasions. In the course of these transactions, Campoamor and Wheeler spoke about a man in Seattle known as “Buck” in terms suggesting that Buck was the supplier of Wheeler’s heroin. Buck was later identified as Larry Washington.

On December 3, 1984, Campoamor attempted to purchase an ounce of heroin from Wheeler. Wheeler said he would have to phone “his people.” Campoamor called Wheeler later that evening. The person who answered the phone said that Wheeler was not there, but offered to let Campoamor speak with “Curtis.” Curtis Young told Campoamor that he and Wheeler were “partners ... in the same family.” Young said he had been checking on the price for an ounce, but had not been able to contact “his boy.”

On December 5, Campoamor had another series of conversations with Young about buying an ounce of heroin. In the afternoon, Young told Campoamor that the heroin “was supposed to be arriving.” At 9:23 p.m., Young called Campoamor and left a coded message that the heroin had arrived. When Campoamor returned Young’s call, Young told him that he had to pick up the drug at the airport.

At the airport, several police officers were conducting surveillance on incoming flights from Seattle. At 9:40 p.m., the officers noticed a man, later identified as Stewart, that they regarded as suspicious. Approximately twenty minutes later, the officers observed Young meeting Stewart. Young and Stewart left together, and they arrived at Young’s residence at about 10:26 p.m. At 10:29 p.m., Young telephoned Campoamor, repeating the coded message that the heroin was in. Young stated that [903]*903he needed to “break down the material.” Young arranged to meet Campoamor at the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Muldoon at 11:00 p.m. Young and Stewart left Young’s Turpin Street apartment at 11:05 p.m., and drove in Young’s car to Muldoon. Young parked in the parking lot of the Sportsman’s Too bar. Young went to a phone booth and left a message for Cam-poamor to call him at the phone booth number.

While Campoamor was looking for a phone booth, he saw Young’s car, and also saw Young standing in the phone booth. Campoamor pulled up next to Young, and Young got into Campoamor’s vehicle. Campoamor and Young drove across the street to complete the transaction, while Stewart remained in Young’s car.

After Campoamor and Young drove off, Stewart left Young’s car and walked around the parking lot. Stewart walked back and forth in front of the Sportsman’s Too, looking around the corners of the building and down the alley. He spoke briefly with a woman who came out of the bar.

After completing the transaction, Cam-poamor dropped Young off in the Sportsman’s Too parking lot. As Young approached his car, Stewart began walking towards Young. Before Young and Stewart could make contact, the police moved in and arrested them. Later, during a police search of Young’s residence, one of Stewart’s suitcases was found with a name tag reading “Bill Jones” on it.

CO-CONSPIRATOR STATEMENTS

Stewart argues that the trial court erred in admitting statements of Young and Wheeler against him as evidence. The trial judge admitted them as statements by a co-conspirator of a party made during the course of and in furtherance of a conspiracy. A.R.E. 801(d)(2)(E).

In order to admit co-conspirator statements against a defendant, the prosecution must show:

1)the existence of a conspiracy; ...
2) that the statement was made while the conspiracy was continuing; and
3) that the statement was made “in furtherance” of the conspiracy.

Adams v. State, 706 P.2d 1183, 1187 n. 3 (Alaska App.1985). The existence of the joint undertaking must be shown by a preponderance of the evidence. Hawley v. State, 614 P.2d 1349, 1354-56 & n. 9 (Alaska 1980). Stewart does not contest that there was a conspiracy to distribute heroin or that the various statements which were admitted against him were made while the conspiracy was continuing and were made in furtherance of the conspiracy. Rather, Stewart argues that before any statements of co-conspirators could be admitted against him, the state was required to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Stewart was part of the conspiracy. The state argues that they did present sufficient proof to show that Stewart was a part of the conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Stewart argues that the state was required to show his connection with the conspiracy by evidence which was independent of the co-conspirator statements. This was clearly the law in Alaska at the time of Hawley. See 614 P.2d at 1354-56. Subsequent to Hawley, however, the United States Supreme Court decided Bourjaily v. United States, — U.S. —, 107 S.Ct. 2775, 97 L.Ed.2d 144 (1987). In Bourjaily, the majority of the court held that the trial judge could consider the co-conspirator’s statements in deciding whether there was sufficient evidence to show that there was a conspiracy. Id. 107 S.Ct. at 2782. The Supreme Court relied on Federal Rule of Evidence 104(a), which provides in part: “Preliminary questions concerning ... the admissibility of evidence shall be determined by the court, subject to the provisions of subdivision (b). In making its determination it is not bound by the rules of evidence except those with respect to privileges.” Alaska Rule of Evidence 104(a) is identical to Federal Rule of Evidence 104(a). Inasmuch as it appears that Haw-ley relied on former federal authority, which required proof of the conspiracy by independent evidence, it is possible that the Alaska Supreme Court would follow Bour-[904]*904jaily. There was a strong dissent in Bour-jaily, however, so it is also possible that the Alaska Supreme Court would adhere, on state grounds, to the independent evidence of the conspiracy test it previously set forth in Hawley.

The state argues that, even under the Hawley test, there was sufficient evidence of the conspiracy and Stewart’s connection to the conspiracy to uphold Judge Johnstone’s decision to admit the co-conspirator statements. The state points to Young’s statement made to Campoamor indicating that he had to pick up the drug at the airport, and also points to United States v. DeJesus,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Sanders v. State
364 P.3d 412 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2015)
State v. Blalock
442 N.W.2d 514 (Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, 1989)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
756 P.2d 900, 1988 Alas. App. LEXIS 45, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stewart-v-state-alaskactapp-1988.