Daniel Miles v. State of Arkansas

Daniel MILES v. STATE of Arkansas

CA CR 01-147 ___ S.W.3d ___

Court of Appeals of Arkansas

Division II

Opinion delivered December 19, 2001

1. Criminal law -- felony conviction based on accomplice testimony -- corroboration required. -- Because the instinct for survival renders testimony of an accomplice less than completely credible, Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-89-111(e)(1) (Supp. 2001) provides that a conviction cannot be had in any case of felony upon the testimony of an accomplice unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense; the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows that the offense was committed and the circumstances thereof.

2. Evidence -- accomplice testimony -- corroborating evidence must be substantial. -- The corroborating evidence need not be sufficient standing alone to sustain the conviction, but it must, independent from that of the accomplice, tend to a substantial degree to connect the defendant with commission of the crime; corroborating evidence may be circumstantial so long as it is substantial; evidence that merely raises a suspicion of guilt is insufficient to corroborate an accomplice's testimony.

3. Evidence -- accomplice testimony -- relevant facts in determining connection of accomplice with crime. -- The presence of an accused in the proximity of a crime, opportunity, and association with a person involved in the crime are relevant facts in determining the connection of an accomplice with the crime; however, proof that merely places the defendant near the scene of a crime is not sufficient corroborative evidence of the defendant's connection to it.

4. Criminal law -- possession of contraband -- constructive possession may be shown by joint control. -- Although constructive possession may be implied when contraband is in the joint control of the accused and another person, joint occupancy, standing alone, is insufficient to establish possession or joint possession.

5. Criminal law -- possession of contraband -- what State must show. -- To establish possession or joint possession of contraband the State must establish that (1) the accused exercised care, control, and management over the contraband, and that (2) the accused knew the matter possessed was contraband.

6. Criminal procedure -- corroborating evidence insufficient to connect appellant with crime -- case reversed & dismissed. -- Where the appellate court, upon eliminating the accomplice's testimony, found that although the remaining evidence was sufficient to independently establish the crime, the only evidence produced by the State to connect appellant with the commission of the offenses, aside from the accomplice's testimony, was that appellant was walking out of a bedroom in the accomplice's house when the police arrived, there was not sufficient evidence to satisfy the requirement of Ark. Code Ann. § 16-89-111(e)(1); there was no evidence, other than the accomplice's testimony, to show that appellant exercised care, control, or management over the various items in the accomplice's home used in the manufacture of methamphetamine; appellant's conviction was reversed, and the case was dismissed.

Appeal from Pulaski Circuit Court, Seventh Division; John B. Plegge, Judge; reversed and dismissed.

William Owen James and Clay T. Buchanan, for appellant.

Mark Pryor, Att'y Gen., by: Clayton K. Hodges, Ass't Att'y Gen., for appellee.

John Mauzy Pittman, Judge. The appellant in this criminal case was arrested when a search warrant was executed on the residence of Charles Patterson. Patterson was outside working on a car when the police team approached and detained him there. Appellant and another man were found while they were exiting a bedroom in Patterson's residence. The bedroom contained several items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, and the distinctive odor of a methamphetamine laboratory was noticed in the trailer. At appellant's jury trial, Patterson testified that he had been charged with the same offenses as appellant but had agreed to plead guilty in exchange for leniency. Patterson further testified that appellant had manufactured methamphetamine at Patterson's house and that appellant spent several nights every week at his home. Appellant was convicted of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, and this appeal followed.

For reversal, appellant argues that his directed-verdict motion should have been granted because the evidence against him was insufficient. He contends that Patterson was an accomplice and that there was not sufficient corroboration of Patterson'stestimony to support appellant's conviction. We agree, and we reverse.

Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-89-111(e)(1) (Supp. 2001) provides that a conviction cannot be had in any case of felony upon the testimony of an accomplice unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense. The corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows that the offense was committed and the circumstances thereof. Id. The reason for the rule is that the instinct for survival renders the testimony of an accomplice less than completely credible. Foster v. State, 290 Ark. 495, 720 S.W.2d 712 (1986).

The corroborating evidence need not be sufficient standing alone to sustain the conviction, but it must, independent from that of the accomplice, tend to a substantial degree to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime. Rhodes v. State, 276 Ark. 203, 634 S.W.2d 107 (1982). The corroborating evidence may be circumstantial so long as it is substantial; evidence that merely raises a suspicion of guilt is insufficient to corroborate an accomplice's testimony. Gordon v. State, 326 Ark. 90, 931 S.W.2d 91 (1996). The presence of an accused in the proximity of a crime, opportunity, and association with a person involved in the crimeare relevant facts in determining the connection of an accomplice with the crime; however, proof that merely places the defendant near the scene of a crime is not sufficient corroborative evidence of the defendant's connection to it. Pickett v. State, 55 Ark. App. 261, 935 S.W.2d 281 (1996).

In reviewing this issue on appeal, we eliminate the testimony given by Patterson, and we examine what remains of the State's evidence to determine if it independently establishes the crime and tends to connect appellant with its commission. Andrews v. State, 344 Ark. 606, 42 S.W.3d 485 (2001). Although the remaining evidence in the present case is sufficient to independently establish the crime, the only evidence produced by the State to connect appellant with the commission of the offenses, aside from Patterson's testimony, is that appellant was walking out of a bedroom in Patterson's house when the police arrived. That is not sufficient to satisfy the requirement of § 16-89-111(e)(1). See Pickett v. State, supra. Although constructive possession may be implied when the contraband is in the joint control of the accused and another person, joint occupancy, standing alone, is insufficient to establish possession or joint possession. Stanton v. State, 344 Ark. 589, 42 S.W.3d 474 (2001). The State must also establish that (1) the accused exercised care, control, andmanagement over the contraband, and (2) the accused knew the matter possessed was contraband. Id. In the present case there was no evidence, other than Patterson's testimony, to show that appellant exercised care, control, or management over the various items in Patterson's home used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Reversed and dismissed.

Stroud, C.J., and Griffen, J., agree.