Willie Weston v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 12th District Court of Leon County

IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-96-183-CR

WILLIE WESTON,

Appellant

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

Appellee

From the 12th District Court

Leon County, Texas

Trial Court # 8024-B

O P I N I O N

Appellant Weston appeals from his conviction for Possession of Cocaine, over 400 grams, with intent to deliver, for which he was sentenced to 18 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division.

On May 25, 1995, Appellant and three other persons were going north on I-45 and were stopped near Centerville by two DPS troopers. Appellant was a passenger in a Chrysler being driven by Margaret Olds. Trailing the Chrysler was a Ford which was driven by Appellant's son, Kerry Weston. Kenneth Cole was a passenger in the Ford. Both cars were stopped for speeding. Trooper Ashby approached Appellant's car while Trooper Brown approached the other car. Both troopers became suspicious when the stories they received from the four individuals, as to where they were going and where they had been, were conflicting. The troopers asked for and received consent to search both vehicles. In the trunk of the Ford, Trooper Ashby found 45.27 grams of cocaine. In the trunk of the car in which Appellant was riding, 375.16 grams of cocaine was found. Appellant and Margaret Olds were arrested. Appellant's son and Cole were also arrested.

Appellant was indicted for and convicted of possession with intent to deliver over 400 grams of cocaine. He appeals on three points of error.

Point 1 asserts the State failed to establish the necessary elements concerning the adulterants and dilutants of the alleged controlled substance rendering the verdict legally insufficient.

The State's chemist testified that part of the cocaine found in Appellant s car, State's Exhibit 17, weighed 211.93 grams and was 44% pure cocaine.

Morever, as noted, 45.27 grams of cocaine was found in the Ford and 375.16 grams of cocaine was in the Chrysler, totaling 420.43 grams (which included adulterants and/or dilutants). The State may adequately establish that a defendant possessed a requisite quantity of drugs, even though only a portion of the drugs have been scientifically tested. Gabriel v. State, 900 S.W.2d 721 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

The Health and Safety Code, 481.112(f), provides that possession of cocaine with intent to deliver is punishable by imprisonment for life or not more than 99 years or less than 15 years and a fine of not more that $250,000 if the controlled substance is by aggregate weight, including adulterants and dilutants, 400 grams or more. This was effective September 1, 1994, and was the governing law on May 25, 1995, the date of Appellant's offense. At the same time the Legislature amended Article 481.002, Definitions, to add sec. (49) which provides adulterant or dilutant mans any material that increases the bulk or quantity of a controlled substance regardless of its effect on the chemical activity of the controlled substance. (Emphasis added). Thus the State adequately established that Appellant possessed 420.43 grams of cocaine.

The evidence is legally sufficient to support Appellant's conviction for possession, with intent to deliver, of a controlled substance, cocaine, over 400 grams.

Point 1 is overruled.

Points 2 and 3 assert the State failed to establish sufficient affirmative links between Appellant and the alleged controlled substance, rendering the evidence legally and factually insufficient.

The standard for legal sufficiency is to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and determine if any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319; Wilson v. State, 836 S.W.2d 59 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).

Factual sufficiency requires viewing the evidence without the prism of "in the light most favorable to the verdict," and setting aside the verdict only if it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust. Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).

To establish the unlawful possession of a controlled substance the State must prove the defendant: (1) exercised care, control or management over the contraband; and (2) had knowledge that what he possessed was contraband. King v. State, 895 S.W.2d 701, 703 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Manning v. State, 864 S.W.2d 198, 201 (Tex. App. Waco 1993, pet. ref d). If the accused is not in exclusive possession of the place where the substance is found, the State must affirmatively link the controlled substance to the accused. Manning, 864 S.W.2d at 202. An affirmative link can be established by showing additional facts from which the jury may infer that the accused knew of the controlled substance and that he exercised care, custody, control or management over it. Id. Affirmative links may be proved by circumstantial evidence. Hurtado v. State, 881 S.W.2d 738 (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, no pet.).

Factors that may establish affirmative links between an accused and contraband include whether the contraband was (1) in plain view; (2) conveniently accessible to the accused; (3) in a car driven by the accused; (4) found in an enclosed space; and whether (5) occupants of the car gave conflicting statements; (6) the defendant was in close physical proximity to a large quantity of contraband; and (7) affirmative statements connect the accused to the contraband. Hurtado, 881 S.W.2d at 743; Stokes v. State, 853 S.W.2d 227, 239 (Tex. App. Tyler 1993, no pet.). Additional facts can affirmatively link an accused with the premises and prove that he jointly possessed and controlled the contraband or the accused is closely related to other persons in joint possession of the contraband, and presence of other contraband or paraphernalia. Stokes, 853 S.W.2d at 240.

The court charged the jury on the law of parties. While mere presence at the crime scene is insufficient to prove that a person is a party to a crime, it is a circumstance tending to prove guilt which, when combined with other facts, may suffice to show Appellant was a participant. Beardsley v. State, 738 S.W.2d 681, 685 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987). It is sufficient if the conclusion of guilt is supported by the combined impact of all the incriminating evidence. Stokes, 853 S.W.2d at 239.

In this case Trooper Brown and Trooper Ashby pulled over two speeding cars traveling together toward Dallas. One trooper approached Appellant s vehicle and the other trooper approached the Ford. The car in which Appellant was riding contained 375.16 grams of cocaine. Appellant and his passenger gave conflicting stories. More cocaine was found in the Ford in which Appellant s son was the driver. Appellant s driver did not pull over his car when first directed to do so by the trooper. Appellant did not seem surprised when he was arrested.

A rational trier of fact could have concluded that Appellant possessed a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and the jury s finding is not against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be clearly wrong or unjust.

Points 2 and 3 are overruled.

The judgment is affirmed.

FRANK G. McDONALD

Chief Justice (Retired)

Before Justice Cummings,

Justice Vance and

Chief Justice McDonald (Retired)

Affirmed

Opinion delivered and filed August 6, 1997

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