William Craig Burgie v. Commonwealth of Kentucky

CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky
DecidedJanuary 11, 2024
Docket2023 CA 000018
StatusUnknown

This text of William Craig Burgie v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (William Craig Burgie v. Commonwealth of Kentucky) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
William Craig Burgie v. Commonwealth of Kentucky, (Ky. Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

RENDERED: JANUARY 12, 2024; 10:00 A.M. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

Commonwealth of Kentucky Court of Appeals NO. 2023-CA-0018-MR

WILLIAM CRAIG BURGIE APPELLANT

APPEAL FROM MCCRACKEN CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE TIMOTHY KALTENBACH, JUDGE ACTION NO. 22-CR-00037-002

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE

OPINION AFFIRMING

** ** ** ** **

BEFORE: CALDWELL, EASTON, AND TAYLOR, JUDGES.

EASTON, JUDGE: William Craig Burgie (“Burgie”) appeals the judgment of the

McCracken Circuit Court after a jury convicted him of first-degree possession of a

controlled substance (methamphetamine), and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Burgie claims he was entitled to a directed verdict, was denied a unanimous

verdict, is entitled to a new sentencing phase, and should not have been ordered to

pay court costs. We affirm. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On the night of December 7, 2021, Trooper Eric West (“West”) of the

Kentucky State Police (“KSP”) was patrolling the Melber1 area in McCracken

County watching for general traffic violations. West parked at a post office so that

he could watch vehicles coming and going at a nearby four-way stop. West

noticed a pick-up truck with expired registration tags at the four-way stop. Based

on this infraction, West decided to pull the truck over and conduct a traffic stop.

Burgie was the driver of the truck, and Rebecca Bellamy (“Bellamy”) was the only

passenger.

West obtained identifying information for both Burgie and Bellamy.

West “ran” their information through a computer system to check for any issues.

During this search, West learned the truck was owned by Burgie’s father. West

also learned Bellamy had an active arrest warrant from another county.

West thought Bellamy was intoxicated, so he first asked Burgie to exit

the truck. Burgie complied. West asked for consent to search the truck, which

Burgie granted. West quickly frisked Burgie to see if there were weapons on his

person. West then asked Bellamy to exit the truck. West testified he removes

women from vehicles quickly because they may hide contraband on their persons

1 Melber is an unincorporated community on the line between McCracken and Graves counties.

-2- in such a manner that it would not be appropriate for him to search. There was no

female officer on the scene.

Bellamy confirmed her identity and was arrested. West testified he

performed a limited pat down of Bellamy. He searched Bellamy’s purse, finding a

syringe. The syringe contained a residue that field-tested positive for

methamphetamine. Bellamy was charged for possession of the methamphetamine-

tinged syringe.

Deputy Jeff Hartman (“Hartman”) of the McCracken County Sheriff’s

Department arrived at the scene to assist. West searched the passenger side of the

truck while Hartman searched the driver’s side. West found nothing else, but

Hartman discovered a plastic baggie in the gap between the console2 and seatbelt

connection for the driver’s side. This baggie contained a white crystalline

substance that was consistent with methamphetamine. The baggie was placed in

an evidence bag.

Hartman later testified about his extensive experience with those who

possess drugs and their efforts to hide them. He said he often finds drugs and

paraphernalia under the seat or between the possessor’s seat and a middle console.

2 The officers referred to this area as a console. We have one photograph of the truck interior, and we can see no place to store items in this middle area, which is what one might expect when referring to a console. The middle area appears to be designed possibly to serve as a narrow seat for a third person. When the top of this middle area is folded down, it could have a storage area and serve as an armrest for the driver and passenger.

-3- He offered this without objection to explain why he searched the area where the

drugs were found. Hartman surmised the baggie belonged to Burgie. It was found

by his seat separated from the passenger’s seat.

After the plastic baggie was found, Burgie said to Hartman that he did

not want to go to jail and was willing to work as a confidential informant.

Hartman relayed Burgie’s statements to West. Hartman then had to leave the

scene to respond to another call.

Burgie then proposed to West that he could assist law enforcement in

locating individuals with warrants for their arrest. West replied he was not

interested in such an arrangement, but he was interested in Burgie potentially

helping him find illegal narcotics. Burgie agreed. For Burgie’s protection, he was

placed in handcuffs until Bellamy was removed from the scene. After Bellamy

was taken to jail, Burgie’s handcuffs were removed, and he was allowed to leave.

No charges were brought against Burgie that night.

Deputy Larry Jones (“Jones”) of the Graves County Sheriff’s Office

testified he knew Burgie, and that, from time-to-time, Burgie would send text

messages to Jones. The day after Burgie’s traffic stop by West, Burgie and Jones

had the following text exchange:

Burgie: Okay, so I got something for you. More of asking for advice, I guess. Okay look, last night I got stopped on some straight bull****, man. Okay, look I was driving my dad’s truck last night, get pulled over by

-4- a trooper. He pulls a bag of dope out of his pocket and says, ‘Oh, this was by your seat, you’re going to jail.’ Who can I talk to about that bull**** that might actually help, because this particular guy has really just been trying to f*** me around for a minute.

Jones: Who was the trooper?

Burgie: West.

Jones: Gotcha. Man, I’m not sure, your attorney would be the best route.

Burgie: Nah, he was trying to get me to tell on someone, he didn’t even charge me, he knew that he didn’t find it in the truck.

Jones: You need to call KSP.

A few days after this text exchange, Jones ran into West at the Graves

County Courthouse. West brought up his encounter with Burgie. Jones made a

joke with West about planting drugs in Burgie’s vehicle during this traffic stop.

West asked Jones what he meant. Jones showed West the text messages from

Burgie. Jones also sent West a screenshot of the text exchange. Perhaps

understanding what this meant in terms of Burgie’s actual desire to assist law

enforcement, West immediately sought charges against Burgie.

The McCracken County Grand Jury indicted Burgie for first-degree

possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), second offense, and

possession of drug paraphernalia. The possession of methamphetamine charge was

based on the methamphetamine found in the plastic baggie, while the possession of

-5- drug paraphernalia was based on possession of the baggie itself. Burgie appeared

before the McCracken Circuit Court for arraignment. Burgie pled not guilty to the

charges. Burgie was determined to be an indigent person pursuant to KRS3

Chapter 31 and was assigned conflict counsel by contract with the Kentucky

Department of Public Advocacy (“DPA”).

The circuit court conducted a one-day jury trial on October 12, 2022.

Officers West, Hartman, and Jones testified on behalf of the Commonwealth.

Trooper Eric Fields (“Fields”) also testified about the separate chains of custody of

the baggie of methamphetamine and the syringe. Fields explained he repackaged

and submitted the evidence separately as the baggie of methamphetamine was for

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