Herman Jackson, Jr. v. State of Mississippi
Herman Jackson, Jr. v. State of Mississippi
Opinion
¶ 1. A Coahoma County jury convicted Herman Jackson of possession of marijuana of more than thirty grams but less than one kilogram with intent to sell, transfer, barter, distribute, or dispense. The trial court sentenced him to ten years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) as a subsequent drug offender 1 and as a non-violent habitual offender. Jackson now appeals, raising several issues through his counsel and pro se. 2 Finding no error, we affirm.
STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶ 2. In June 2013, a confidential informant (CI) told narcotics agents with the Clarksdale Police Department that Jackson possessed a large amount of marijuana and that he was selling it out of his home at 343-B Bolivar Street. Officers considered the CI reliable because the informant had provided information in numerous prior cases and was instrumental in helping to obtain prior convictions. Officers presented the CI's information to a judge and obtained a warrant to search Jackson's house. Officers then conducted "loose surveillance" 3 on the house for approximately twenty-four hours, during which time Jackson did not enter or leave the house. Shortly thereafter, Jackson was seen driving within three blocks of his home. Knowing there was an active warrant for Jackson's arrest due to unpaid municipal fines, 4 officers stopped him and transported him to 343-B Bolivar Street. Officers informed Jackson they were going to search his home. When asked for a key, Jackson stated he did not have one. 5 Officers therefore kicked the door in and conducted a thorough search of the home while Jackson remained in the patrol car.
¶ 3. Even though the home was modest, numerous surveillance cameras were mounted outside to record the house's exterior area. Inside, there was a digital video recorder (DVR) connected to the video-surveillance system, showing the exterior of the house on four split screens on a monitor in real-time. On a living-room sofa, two clear plastic baggies containing a green leafy substance were found, as well as a significant amount of the same substance and some packaging materials in the bedroom on a dresser. Officers also seized from the bedroom a box of sandwich baggies, a set of digital scales, and the DVR system found in the closet. Additionally, they recovered several utility bills that were addressed to Jackson at this address, and Jackson's social-security card, which was lying on a living-room table. A ceramic container on top of the refrigerator in the kitchen was filled with sandwich baggies and a green leafy substance. Female clothing and cosmetics were also observed in the home, indicating a female apparently lived at the residence; however, a male's pair of pants was also observed and photographed.
¶ 4. After the search, Jackson was transported to the Clarksdale Police Department and booked. Jackson requested to use the telephone and made three calls, all of which were recorded without his knowledge and later admitted into evidence at trial. 6 During the calls, Jackson made several statements indicating the house that the officers searched and the drugs were his. While officers did not witness the telephone calls, one officer identified Jackson's voice from the recordings.
¶ 5. A Coahoma County grand jury indicted Jackson for possessing more than thirty grams but less than one kilogram of marijuana with intent to distribute, in violation of Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-139(b)(1) (Rev. 2013). 7 He was also indicted as a subsequent offender under Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-147 (Rev. 2013) and as a non-violent habitual offender under Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-19-81 (Rev. 2015). 8
¶ 6. At trial, narcotics officers testified to the amount of marijuana seized. Eric Frazure, a forensic chemist at the Mississippi Crime Lab accepted as an expert in drug analysis, testified that based on his testing, the green leafy substance seized was marijuana. The jury was instructed on both the charged offense and the lesser-included crime of simple possession of marijuana in an amount of more than 250 grams but less than 500 grams. The jury found Jackson guilty as charged, and he was sentenced to ten years in the custody of the MDOC.
¶ 7. Additional facts will be discussed as they relate to the issues raised.
ANALYSIS
¶ 8. On appeal, counsel for Jackson raises six issues. Jackson's pro se brief supplements his appellate counsel's arguments and raises four more separate issues. We shall discuss each in turn, consolidating where issues overlap.
I. Police Department Telephone Calls
¶ 9. Jackson argues the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress recordings of three telephone calls he made at the Clarksdale Police Department, which were admitted into evidence, because he claims the State's attempts to authenticate the recordings were insufficient. During these telephone calls, Jackson identified the house and the marijuana as his property. Jackson claims there was no evidentiary foundation for the conversation because no one at the police department testified that the machinery was in proper working order while recording, and no one was listening to the conversation to make sure it was accurately recorded.
¶ 10. The standard of review for the admissibility of evidence is abuse of discretion.
Stromas v. State
,
(5) Voice Identification. Identification of a voice, whether heard firsthand or through mechanical or electronic transmission or recording, by opinion based upon hearing the voice at any time under circumstances connecting it with the alleged speaker.
(6) Telephone Conversations. Telephone conversations, by evidence that a call was made to the number assigned at the time by the telephone company to a particular person or business, if (A) in the case of a person, circumstances, including self-identification, show the person answering to be the one called
....
(9) Process or System. Evidence describing a process or system used to produce a result and showing that the process or system produces an accurate result.
M.R.E. 901(b)(5)-(6), (9) (emphasis added).
¶ 11. The State satisfied the authentication requirement through the testimony of Officer Carl Hinton, who testified he was familiar with Jackson's voice on the recording, and identified it as his. Jackson argues this was insufficient to lay a proper foundation, but we disagree. Officer Hinton transported Jackson to the station and booked him, then Officer Hinton allowed Jackson to make three telephone calls. While Officer Hinton did not overhear the calls, he and Jackson were the only individuals in the area when the calls were made, and he observed Jackson ending a call. Further, Cindy Doss, an administrator with the police department, testified that all incoming and outgoing telephone calls at the police station are recorded. She explained the process for obtaining a copy of the recordings and that she made a copy of Jackson's telephone calls as requested by the investigators.
¶ 12. In support of his argument, Jackson cites
Conway v. State
,
¶ 13. We find the State's citation to
Broadhead v. State
,
¶ 14. Additionally, in his pro se brief, Jackson argues that the recordings should have been suppressed because they
were obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment. However, this argument is procedurally barred because it was not presented before the trial court.
See
Bates v. State
,
¶ 15. Relatedly, Jackson argues that Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-507 (Rev. 2013) was violated. This code section is part of the Interception of Wire or Oral Communications Act, and provides that "[n]o person, agency ... or political subdivision of the state, other than the Bureau of Narcotics, is authorized ... to own, possess, install, operate or monitor an electronic, mechanical or other device." However, the bureau "may be assisted by an investigative or law enforcement officer in the operation and monitoring of an interception ... [of communication], provided an agent of the Bureau of Narcotics is present at all times."
¶ 16. In
United States v. Van Poyck
,
(following
Van Poyck
,
¶ 17. Further, Jackson has not proved that the Act applies to the Clarksdale Police Department as Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-535 (Rev. 2013) exempts "a subscriber to a telephone operated by a communication common carrier and who intercepts a communication on a telephone to which he subscribes." The Clarksdale Police Department may well be the "subscriber" to the telephone at issue.
¶ 18. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the properly authenticated telephone recordings into evidence.
II. Search Warrant
¶ 19. Jackson claims the trial court erred in denying Jackson's motion to suppress evidence obtained through an unlawful search warrant. He argues that the warrant was based on unreliable facts from the CI, the information was stale, and the magistrate issuing the warrant was not neutral. We shall discuss each argument in turn.
A. Unreliable Facts
¶ 20. At the hearing on his motion to suppress, Jackson argued that the search warrant was invalid because it was based on unreliable facts and circumstances in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Jackson also argued that the affidavit of underlying facts and circumstances was deficient as it inadequately described the property to be seized.
¶ 21. This Court reviews the admission or exclusion of evidence under an abuse of discretion.
Cooper v. State
,
Roebuck v. State
,
¶ 22. In this case, the search warrant's affidavit of facts and underlying circumstances stated:
INTRODUCTION
There is probable cause to believe that there is [m]arijuana located in the residence of 343 Bolivar Street duplex B, in Clarksdale, Coahoma County, Mississippi. A very ... reliable confidential informant observed a quantity of [m]arijuana at 343 Bolivar Street duplex B.
DETAILS
A very reliable confidential informant went to 343 Bolivar Street duplex B and observed a quantity of [m]arijuana. Present at the residence was Herman Jackson Jr; A.K.A. "Main Love." This informant has provided information and assistance for more than four (4) years, and his/her information has resulted in numerous drug seizures and several arrests on drug charges and numerous convictions in State Courts.
The document was prepared and sworn to on June 18, 2013, by Officer Ricky Bridges, Captain of the Narcotics Special Operations Unit, and Sergeant Gary Smith of the same unit in front of the Clarksdale municipal court judge.
¶ 23. Jackson claims the reliability of the CI was not corroborated by an independent reliable source. We disagree. The documents presented in support of the search warrant contained statements sufficient to show the CI was "very reliable." Further, at the hearing, Captain Bridges testified that he had used the CI for several years, and the information was "always reliable," leading to several arrests. Under the totality of the circumstances, there was sufficient evidence of the CI's veracity, and the trial judge had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed.
¶ 24. Regarding whether the affidavit sufficiently described the property to be seized, the Mississippi Supreme Court "has repeatedly held descriptions in search warrants are sufficient if the places and things to be searched are designated in such a manner that the officer making the search may locate them with reasonable certainty."
Williams v. State
,
B. Staleness
¶ 25. Additionally, Jackson argues pro se that the search warrant was stale because the supporting affidavit did not include the time or date that the CI observed marijuana at the residence, or when the CI related the information to the affiants-Captain Bridges and Sergeant Smith.
¶ 26. The State responds that this issue is procedurally barred because it was not raised before the trial court.
See
Bates
,
¶ 27. Jackson is correct that staleness of information may be a defect in probable cause for a search warrant.
See
Flake v. State
,
Probable cause is a practical inquiry, a function of the totality of the circumstances in each particular case .... Objectivity is the key, for the information supporting probable cause must be such that would lead a reasonably competent issuing magistrate to believe that evidence will be found . The statements in the affidavit as well as any sworn oral testimony presented to the issuing magistrate will be considered.
¶ 28. During the suppression hearing, defense counsel recounted information from the Clarksdale Police Department Report, which is not in the record, and admitted that this same information was presented to the Clarksdale municipal judge to secure the search warrant. On June 18, 2013, Captain Bridges and Sergeant Smith "received credible information from a reliable confidential informant that Jackson was in possession of several pounds of marijuana" that "was being stored at 343B Bolivar Street, known to be Jackson's residence." (Emphasis added.)
¶ 29. The key inquiry is whether the magistrate had a substantial basis to believe marijuana would be found at the address.
Jones
,
C. Neutral Magistrate
¶ 30. Finally, Jackson argues pro se that the search warrant was not valid because it was not signed by a neutral and detached magistrate. Jackson claimed that because he had pleaded guilty to a prior misdemeanor possession-of-marijuana charge before the same municipal judge, that judge could not be neutral at a later date.
¶ 31. Jackson did not present this argument before the trial court; therefore, he is procedurally barred from raising the issue for the first time here. In addition, the argument is without merit. While "[i]t is well-settled that an individual issuing a
warrant must be a detached and neutral magistrate," here there is no evidence in the record indicating the municipal judge was not detached and neutral based on prior dealings with Jackson.
Mitchell v. State
,
III. Evidence Tampering
¶ 32. Next, Jackson argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence due to law enforcement allegedly tampering with the marijuana seized from his house.
¶ 33. The applicable version of Mississippi Rule of Evidence 901(a) states that in order "[t]o satisfy the requirement of authenticating or identifying an item of evidence, the proponent must produce evidence sufficient to support a finding that the item is what the proponent claims it is." The proponent must also "show no reasonable inference of material tampering with, or substitution of, the evidence; however, Mississippi law has never required a proponent of evidence to produce every handler of evidence."
Ellis v. State
,
¶ 34. In Jackson's motion to suppress, 9 he claimed there was a discrepancy between the weight of the marijuana that was allegedly recovered from the residence, and the weight submitted to the Mississippi Crime Laboratory. Attached to his motion was Officer Hinton's arrest report and Sergeant Smith's certified report to the crime lab on the amount of marijuana to be submitted for analysis totaling nineteen baggies. The trial court found the motion raised a chain-of-custody issue and held it in abeyance. 10
¶ 35. At trial, defense counsel modified his argument from weight to amount, seeking to show that more marijuana baggies (nineteen) were submitted to the crime lab than were recovered from the house (nine). In support of his argument, defense counsel attempted to prove that only nine baggies of marijuana were shown in photographs taken by Sergeant Smith at the scene. On cross-examination, the following colloquy occurred between defense counsel and Captain Bridges:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And Mr. Smith, in your presence, took the photographs of those things that you identified as bags containing a green leafy substance; is that correct?
[CAPTAIN BRIDGES]: Yes, sir.
Q: And he took photographs of every item or every bag that appeared to contain a green leafy substance; is that correct?
A: Yes, sir. I think Smith took all the photographs that day.
During the cross-examination of Sergeant Smith, defense counsel had him count every distinct baggie containing the "green leafy substance" that he could visibly identify from the photographs presented, which totaled nine baggies. However, Sergeant Smith testified there were "baggies inside of the bigger baggies," and he was only testifying about the number of baggies clearly visible from the individual photographs. Sergeant Smith also confirmed that his report to the crime lab had a total of nineteen baggies submitted for testing. He testified in great detail as to what he submitted to the lab, as documented in his report, which totaled nineteen baggies: exhibit one was two clear plastic baggies; exhibit two was two large and five small baggies; and exhibit three was two large baggies and eight small baggies. Frazure, a forensic chemist at the crime lab, also testified about the submission of the same number of baggies for each exhibit, with a total net weight of 258.3 grams, which lab tests confirmed was marijuana.
¶ 36. Despite this testimony, in Jackson's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or, in the alternative, a new trial, he continued to argue that the evidence was unlawfully tampered with by members of the Narcotics Division of the Clarksdale Police Department, because more marijuana was submitted to the crime lab "than was supposedly seized from the home." The motion stated that a witness, presumably Sergeant Smith, "candidly admitted" seizing nine baggies of marijuana but submitted nineteen baggies to the lab for testing.
¶ 37. We are not persuaded by Jackson's argument of evidence tampering. There is no "candid admission" by any witness that only nine baggies of marijuana were seized from the house, only that nine baggies can be seen in the photographs. Further, Captain Bridges did not indisputably agree that a photograph was taken of every gram and baggie of marijuana, but merely that Sergeant Smith was the photographer that day.
¶ 38. The fact that all of the baggies could not be seen from the photographs does not mean that nineteen baggies of marijuana were not recovered from the house. The testimony implies that the baggies collected were the same number of baggies tested. The testimony of Officers Bridges, Smith, and Frazier did not support evidence tampering. Rule 901(a) was satisfied; the green leafy substance was proven to be marijuana. Jackson does not meet his burden of proving evidence tampering.
IV. Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶ 39. Relatedly, Jackson argues that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict because the statutory weight requirement was not met due to the alleged tampering of the marijuana. He also argues pro se that the State failed to meet its circumstantial-evidence burden.
¶ 40. The relevant inquiry to the sufficiency of the evidence is whether, "viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt."
Bush v. State
,
¶ 41. Since we found Jackson's argument on evidence tampering without merit, this argument is without merit as well. The evidence showed over 250 grams of marijuana was seized from Jackson's residence. This evidence is sufficient to prove the weight requirement element beyond a reasonable doubt.
¶ 42. There was also sufficient evidence presented to support the jury's finding that Jackson possessed and intended to sell the marijuana. The drug was found throughout the house in various stages of being packaged-divided in multiple and different size baggies. Also seized was a package of sandwich baggies consistent with those used to store the marijuana at the residence, a blue plastic tray with a green leafy substance and residue, fifteen small clear plastic baggies (some with green leafy residue), one cloth bag with residue, a Walmart bag with residue, and a digital scale indicating Jackson was measuring the marijuana for sale. Further, the elaborate surveillance system on the modest house, complete with cameras, a DVR, and a live-feed flat-screen monitor, indicated Jackson was involved in the drug trade. During one of Jackson's recorded telephone calls at the police station played to the jury, Jackson told an individual to "[g]o to the spot ... under that tub, is a green box. It got some racks in it, man. Get it. Go over there now man. You need to stop doing what you['re] doing now and go over there and get it." Possession of a large amount of money-hidden-also indicated Jackson was selling the marijuana. The jury was given the lesser-included offense instruction of simple possession but elected to convict Jackson of the greater crime. There was sufficient evidence for the jury to draw a reasonable inference of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence.
¶ 43. Additionally, in his pro se brief, Jackson argues the State failed to prove he lived at the residence or constructively possessed the marijuana because officers did not see him entering or leaving the residence on the day of the search, and he denied having keys to the house. Even so, the State presented evidence to show that several utility bills were addressed to Jackson at the house's address.
11
Further, in the telephone calls from the police station, Jackson speaks of the house as his. Even though Jackson pointed to evidence showing he did not live at the residence, "factual disputes are properly resolved by the jury ...."
Moore v. State
,
V. Motion for Recusal
¶ 44. Jackson contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for recusal. 12 Jackson requested the trial judge recuse himself due to Jackson's involvement in a fight with a Coahoma County Sheriff's Department deputy in a prior case in 2006. Jackson claims he was assaulted by the deputy in front of the judge during his arraignment proceedings. The trial judge denied the motion, claiming he had no recollection of the altercation; therefore, it could not bear on his impartiality during Jackson's trial.
¶ 45. Canon 3(E)(1)(a) of the Code of Judicial Conduct explains the rule concerning judicial disqualification: "Judges should disqualify themselves in proceedings in which their impartiality might be questioned by a reasonable person knowing all the circumstances ... including but not limited to instances where ... the judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party ...."
See also
UCRCCC Rule 1.15 (giving procedure for motions for recusal of judges). The decision to recuse is left to the sound discretion of the trial judge, as long as the correct legal standards are consistently applied.
Jackson v. State
,
¶ 46. The trial judge did not abuse his discretion in denying Jackson's request for recusal. The judge did not even recall the 2006 incident in the courtroom; therefore, a reasonable person would not question the judge's impartiality. Further, Jackson has provided no specific evidence to indicate the trial judge was biased or unqualified, except his own numerous speculative comments. The fact the judge ruled against him on certain motions or jury instructions is insufficient.
See
VI. Cumulative Error
¶ 47. Jackson argues that the cumulative effect of various errors deprived him of a fundamentally fair trial.
The cumulative error doctrine stems from the doctrine of harmless error which holds that individual errors, which are not reversible in themselves, may combine with other errors to make up reversible error, where the cumulative effect of all errors deprives the defendant of a fundamentally fair trial. However, where there was no error in part, there can be no reversible error to the whole.
Harris v. State
,
VII. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
¶ 48. Jackson, arguing pro se, claims one of his defense counsel was ineffective because counsel allegedly "guaranteed" that Jackson would not have to go to trial since the State would be unable to prove that he possessed marijuana. Additionally, he claims counsel incorrectly told him the marijuana obtained from the search warrant would be excluded, as would be the telephone calls made at the police station.
¶ 49. "When a party raises an ineffective assistance of counsel claim on
direct appeal, the proper resolution is to deny relief without prejudice to the defendant's right to assert the same claim in a post-conviction relief proceeding."
Graves v. State
,
VIII. Prosecutorial Misconduct
¶ 50. Arguing pro se, Jackson claims the State committed prosecutorial misconduct. However, at trial his counsel made no such objections. It is well established that "the failure to make a contemporaneous objection serves as a waiver of any error" and is procedurally barred.
Washington v. State
,
¶ 51. Jackson discusses numerous witnesses he contends were allowed to present "false testimony" during various times, including Sergeant Smith at the grand jury proceedings, as well as prosecutorial misstatements made during opening and closing statements at trial, all of which allegedly prejudiced him. He argues against the admission of the State's "false" evidence and testimony showing he lived at the house, the nineteen baggies of marijuana, and his outstanding arrest warrant.
¶ 52. Prosecutors are allowed "wide latitude" in their arguments, "limiting them not only to facts, but also to deductions and conclusions which may be drawn therefrom, and to the application of the law to those facts."
Holly v. State
,
¶ 53. Here, the record does not indicate that the State presented any "false evidence"-Jackson's arguments about the residence, baggies of marijuana, and outstanding arrest warrant have all been previously discussed in other issues and found without merit. Moreover, prosecutors are not limited only to the facts, but any reasonable conclusions that can be drawn from them. Finally, the prosecutor's opening or closing statements contained no statements that were impermissible, "exceptionally flagrant," or prejudicial to Jackson. This issue is without merit.
IX. State's Evidence
¶ 54. Before trial, Jackson moved to suppress the evidence obtained by the issuance of the search warrant because it was allegedly issued unlawfully. Now, for the first time on appeal, Jackson argues pro se that the State knowingly used false evidence and "perjured testimony" at the pre-trial suppression hearing; therefore, the trial court should have suppressed the evidence. This argument is procedurally barred because it was not presented before
the trial court.
See
Bates
,
¶ 55. Jackson claims Captain Bridges's testimony at the suppression hearing was false and Bridges later committed perjury at trial because his testimony "changed" to mislead the jury into believing Jackson was the only person who had access to the residence. Also, Jackson argues that he was arrested based on an invalid outstanding warrant. However, as previously discussed, the trial court denied Jackson's motion to suppress the evidence because the search was conducted under a valid warrant. Also, Jackson's arguments about false testimony are not supported by the record and are without merit.
X. Confidential Informant
¶ 56. Jackson argues pro se that the trial court erred in denying his request for disclosure of the CI's identity. However, it is well established that "the disclosure of an informer who is not a material witness to the guilt or innocence of the accused, is within the sound discretion of the trial court."
Breckenridge v. State
,
XI. Sentence
¶ 57. Jackson claims that the trial court abused its discretion in declining to reduce Jackson's sentence under Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-139(h) (Supp. 2014). This code section gives the trial judge discretion to mitigate a sentence by twenty-five percent or more, if the person is "convicted of an offense under this section that requires the judge to impose a prison sentence which cannot be suspended or reduced and is ineligible for probation or parole ...."
¶ 58. Jackson was originally indicted as a non-violent habitual offender under section 99-19-81 and as a subsequent drug offender under section 41-29-147. However, the State later moved to amend the indictment, and an order was entered allowing Jackson to be sentenced under either section 99-19-81, or as a violent habitual offender section 99-19-83, meaning he could face a life sentence under the latter statute.
¶ 59. Moreover, in June 2013, at the time Jackson committed the offense, the maximum sentence he could receive if convicted as a non-violent habitual and subsequent drug offender was sixty years.
See
¶ 60. At the sentencing hearing, the State noted that it would agree to Jackson being sentenced under section 99-19-81, relieving him of a life sentence under section 99-19-83. Additionally, the State agreed that Jackson should receive the benefit of being sentenced under the amended sentencing statutes, reducing his potential sentence from sixty to ten years. Because the sentencing recommendations by the State were reasonable, the trial court decided not to reduce Jackson's sentence under section 41-29-139(h). We find no error in this regard.
¶ 61. The judgment and sentence of the circuit court are affirmed.
¶ 62. AFFIRMED.
LEE, C.J., IRVING AND GRIFFIS, P.JJ., CARLTON, FAIR, WILSON, GREENLEE, WESTBROOKS AND TINDELL, JJ., CONCUR.
Jackson was previously convicted by a jury for possession of cocaine and marijuana in February 2007. He appealed pro se, raising many of the same issues. This Court affirmed his conviction and sentence in
Jackson v. State
,
On appeal, Jackson is represented by the Office of State Public Defender, but he also filed a pro se initial brief and reply brief. Rule 28(b) of the Mississippi Rules of Appellate Procedure authorizes an appellant in a criminal appeal to file a pro se supplemental brief and raise "issues not addressed by counsel, but such issues must be based on the record."
Captain Bridges testified that "loose surveillance" means the officers were "staying in the area, but not completely visible the whole time." He explained that they cannot sit close to a residence in a high-crime area because it will disclose that the "narcs are looking at my house"; therefore, the officers move around while watching the residence.
Jackson, pro se, claims officers created a "false warrant" to cover up an illegal traffic stop, but a valid warrant for overdue fines is included in the record. He also claims the police report was falsified, but there is no legitimate evidence to support this contention.
Jackson maintained the house is not his residence despite evidence to the contrary.
All incoming and outgoing telephone calls at the station are recorded.
At one point, Jackson, pro se, disputes the statute under which he was charged. However, we note that the statute was amended and the changes became effective in July 2017. Jackson was charged and convicted under the statute as it was written in December 2013, which may be the source of his confusion. Jackson also claims the district attorney produced false evidence to indict and convict him, which will be discussed in the third issue.
The trial court granted the State's request to amend Jackson's indictment, permitting him to be sentenced under either habitual offender statute section 99-19-81 or -83 because Jackson had been convicted of a crime of violence-two counts of aggravated assault in 1996. Jackson was ultimately sentenced under section 99-19-81, thereby avoiding a mandatory life sentence.
At the time of his arrest, Jackson was charged with possession of marijuana under thirty grams but not over 250 grams under section 41-29-139(c)(2)(C). In his motion to suppress filed in February 2015, he claims that while nineteen baggies were recovered from the residence as a result of the search warrant, only eighteen baggies were delivered to the lab, where it was determined the weight of the marijuana was over 250 grams, not under 250 grams as Officer Hinton had found. Jackson requested the evidence be suppressed due to this weight discrepancy, which counsel claimed caused Jackson's initial charge to be elevated from a misdemeanor to a felony. Jackson was ultimately indicted for possession with intent to distribute more than thirty grams but less than one kilogram under section 41-29-139(b)(1), and Jackson's argument related to this issue focused more on the number of baggies, not the weight.
As the State notes, however, on appeal Jackson is no longer raising a chain-of-custody issue.
In his pro se brief, Jackson claims these utility bills, as well as his social-security card, were "false evidence" created by the district attorney, and the testimony by Captain Bridges and Sergeant Smith about finding these documents was false as well. No evidence, however, supports these contentions.
Jackson also raised this argument against the same judge in his prior appeal on yet another charge. We found that issue without merit as well.
Jackson
,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.