BIVENS v. STATE
BIVENS v. STATE
Opinion
APPEARANCES AT TRIAL SILAS R. LYMAN, 1800 W. MEMORIAL RD., STE. 106, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73131 COUNSEL, FOR DEFENDANT.
MICHAEL J. FIELDS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BARRY RETHERFORD, ASST. DISTRICT ATTORNEY, 212 N. WEIGLE, WATONGA, OK 73772, COUNSEL FOR THE STATE.
APPEARANCES ON APPEAL KATRINA CONRAD-LEGLER, P.O. BOX 926, NORMAN, OK 73070, COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT.
MIKE HUNTER, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OKLAHOMA, SHERI M. JOHNSON, ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL, 313 N.E. 21ST ST., OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73105, COUNSEL FOR THE STATE.
SUMMARY OPINION
LUMPKIN, PRESIDING JUDGE:
¶1 Appellant Byron Jerome Bivens was tried by jury and convicted of Trafficking in Illegal Drugs (Count I) ( 63 O.S.Supp.2014, § 2-415 ); Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Count II) ( 63 O.S.Supp.2012, § 2-402 ); Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Count III) ( 63 O.S.2011, § 2-405 ); and Possession of a Dangerous Drug Without a Prescription (Count IV) ( 59 O.S.2011 § 353.24(7) ), all counts After Former Conviction of Two or More Felonies, in the District Court of Blaine County, Case No. CF-2015-97. The jury recommended as punishment fifty (50) years in prison and a $500,000.00 fine in Count I, and one (1) year in prison and a $1,000.00 fine in each of Counts II, III and IV. The trial court sentenced accordingly, ordering the sentences to run concurrently. It is from this judgment and sentence that Appellant appeals.
¶2 Appellant raises the following propositions of error in support of his appeal:
I. The State's evidence in case No. CF-2015-97 was insufficient to convict Appellant of Counts I-IV.
II. Appellant's separate convictions for Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in Counts I, II and IV violate his constitutional protection against Double Punishment and Double Jeopardy.
III. Appellant's Fourteenth Amendment due process rights pursuant to the United States Constitution were violated when the jury was erroneously instructed as to the range of punishment for Trafficking *991 methamphetamine in excess of 200 grams.
IV. Prosecutorial misconduct deprived Appellant of a fair trial as guaranteed by the United States and Oklahoma Constitutions and caused the jury to render an excessive sentence.
V. The trial court committed fundamental error by failing to instruct the jury on the lesser-related offense of Possession of Controlled Drug with the Intent to Distribute, in violation of Appellant's right to due process and a fair trial under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article II, §§ 7 and 20 of the Oklahoma Constitution.
VI. The trial court committed fundamental error by not instructing the jury that Appellant would be ineligible for good time credits.
VII. The trial court failed to properly instruct the jury that Appellant would receive additional punishment of methamphetamine registration if found guilty.
VIII. Alternatively, reversal is required because any failure to adequately and completely preserve issues for review in this Court was the result of the ineffective assistance of counsel.
IX. Appellant's sentence is excessive.
X. The cumulative effect of all the errors addressed above deprived Appellant of a fair trial.
¶3 After thorough consideration of these propositions and the entire record before us on appeal including the original record, transcripts, and briefs of the parties, we find that under the law and the evidence no relief is warranted.
¶4 On July 19, 2015, Appellant was a passenger in a pickup detained for a traffic stop by an officer from the Watonga Police Department. The driver was unable to produce a driver's license or vehicle registration. A warrant check returned an outstanding warrant for the back seat passenger. As the traffic stop progressed, all four occupants of the pickup acted nervous but Appellant particularly so. Appellant was constantly on his phone, had an odor of alcohol about him, and was the only occupant to repeatedly get in and out of the truck. Appellant appeared particularly upset when the officer advised the occupants that the driver was to be arrested and the pickup impounded. Appellant refused to leave the scene and remained by the driver's side door. During the ensuing inventory of the pickup, Appellant asked for a bag of tools lying on the front passenger floorboard. When asked if the bag of tools belonged to him, Appellant replied no. His request was refused. Appellant attempted to persuade the officers to allow him to move the pickup. This request was also refused. Appellant eventually complied with the officers' directives to leave the scene.
¶5 The inventory of the pickup yielded the tool bag, an orange power tool and a bottle of vodka in the front passenger floorboard. Underneath the front passenger seat was found a black nylon bag containing $280.00 cash, a silver spoon containing a crystal like residue, a digital scale with residue, and three clear baggies of a white, crystal-like substance which tested as methamphetamine in quantities of 205.01 grams, 13.13 grams and 2.91 grams. Also found inside the nylon bag were 3 baggies of a green leafy substance that tested as marijuana in the quantities of 4.25 grams, 0.43 grams, and 0.91 grams. A small jewelry bag was also found containing 10 tablets which tested to be Xanax. Three days later an arrest warrant was obtained for Appellant and he was taken into custody.
¶6 In Proposition I, Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions arguing the State failed to prove he knowingly participated in the crimes. Appellant argues he was only one of four people in the truck and his mere proximity to the bag of drugs is insufficient to connect him to possession of the drugs.
¶7 We review Appellant's challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions in the light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the
*992
essential elements of the crime charged beyond a reasonable doubt.
Davis v. State,
¶8 Each of the offenses Appellant was convicted of committing contains an element of knowing and intentional possession.
See
63 O.S.Supp.2014, § 2-415 (Trafficking); 63 O.S.Supp.2012, § 2-402 (Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance); 63 O.S.2011, § 2-405 (Unlawful Possession of Paraphernalia) and 59 O.S.2011 § 353.24(7) (Possession of a Dangerous Drug Without a Prescription). When an accused is not apprehended while in physical custody of contraband, proof of the knowledge and control necessary to justify an inference of possession (i.e., constructive possession) can be and usually is circumstantial.
Johnson v. State,
¶9 Proof of knowing possession of drugs is often solely circumstantial, and thus requires that guilt be determined through a series of inferences.
¶10 Contrary to Appellant's claim, the evidence in this case shows much more than his mere proximity to the drugs. The evidence, taken as a whole, supports the inference that Appellant knew the bag of drugs was under the front passenger seat where he had been sitting, next to the very visible tool bag. His attempts to either get inside the truck to retrieve the bag or move the truck and retrieve the bag or merely create a diversion set him apart from the conduct of the other occupants of the truck. Reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we find any rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant knowingly and intentionally committed the charged crimes.
¶11 In Proposition II, we review for plain error Appellant's claims of double punishment and double jeopardy.
Head v. State,
¶12 Appellant's convictions in Counts I, II and IV are not barred by the statutory prohibition against double punishment, 21 O.S.2011, § 11(A), or the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy.
See
Sanders v. State
,
¶13 Further, under a traditional double jeopardy analysis, Appellant's convictions were for three separate and distinct offenses requiring dissimilar proof.
See
*993
Logsdon v. State,
¶14 In Proposition III, Appellant contends his due process rights were violated by the trial court incorrectly instructing the jury on the range of punishment and provisions for a fine in Count I, Trafficking, After Former Conviction of Two or More Felonies. Our review is for plain error under the standard set forth above as Appellant neither requested his own instructions nor objected to those given.
Watts v. State
,
¶15 While Appellant had both drug related and non-drug related prior convictions, the record indicates the State relied on all six prior convictions to enhance his sentence under the provisions of the Habitual Offender Act, 21 O.S.2011, § 51.1.
See
Jones v. State
,
¶16 Appellant notes that the Habitual Offender Act does not include provisions for a fine, therefore the reference to a fine in the jury instruction was error. He is correct in that § 51.1 does not address fines. In
Coates v. State,
¶17 Statutory amendments enacted since
Coates
have rendered unworkable
Coates
and its predecessors holding that "[p]unishment may not be assessed by combining statutes, but must fall within the limitations of one statute only."
See
Gaines v. State,
¶18 Further, nothing in our constitution or other statutory provisions dictates the holding in
Coates
and
Gaines
that it is improper to combine two penal statutes to determine the imposition of a fine when a defendant is subject to the Habitual Offender Act or some other enhanced sentence of imprisonment. In fact, the general rule is that when two different statutes regulate the same subject matter, both provisions are to be given effect, as long as such effect would not defeat the intent of the Legislature.
Livingston v. State
,
¶19 The substantive drug statute in Coates (Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substance within 2000 Feet of a School) and *994 statutes in similar cases, neither impose a mandatory minimum fine nor state that the fine shall be imposed in addition to other punishment. However, the Trafficking statute, 63 O.S.2011, § 2-415, specifically allows for the imposition of a fine in addition to other punishment. We find no error in the trial court's instruction in this case on the imposition of a fine on a sentence enhanced under § 51.1 when the underlying substantive penal statute, 63 O.S.2011, § 2-415(D) specifically includes provisions for a fine and states the fine shall be imposed in addition to other punishment provided by law. 1 To the extent Coates and its predecessors prohibit the imposition of a statutorily authorized fine in the sentencing of a habitual offender under § 51.1, those cases are hereby overruled. We find no error and thus no plain error in the instruction given to the jury in this case.
¶20 In Proposition IV, we have reviewed Appellant's claims of prosecutorial misconduct for plain error under the standard set forth above as none of the alleged instances were met with contemporaneous objections.
Malone v. State
,
¶21 We evaluate alleged prosecutorial misconduct within the context of the entire trial, considering not only the propriety of the prosecutor's actions, but also the strength of the evidence against the defendant and the corresponding arguments of defense counsel.
Sanders,
¶22 Contrary to Appellant's claims, the prosecutor's comments did not shift the burden of proof or misstate the law of drug possession and drug trafficking. The prosecutor's comments did not constitute "societal alarm" as they did not refer to the crime rate in general, crimes committed by others, or deterring others from committing crimes.
See
McElmurry v. State
,
¶23 In Proposition V, we review the trial court's failure to
sua sponte
instruct the jury on the lesser included/lesser related offense of Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute for plain error under the standard set forth above.
Daniels v. State
,
¶24 The proper test for determining whether instructions on a lesser related or lesser included offense are required involves a two part analysis which first requires courts to make a legal determination about whether a crime constitutes a lesser included offense of the charged crime.
Davis v. State,
¶25 In Proposition VI, we review for plain error the trial court's failure to
sua sponte
instruct the jury on institutional earned credits.
See
Daniels,
¶26 In Proposition VII, Appellant contends the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury sua sponte that if convicted, he would be subject to the Oklahoma Methamphetamine Registry Act. Appellant asserts this is additional punishment and the failure to make the jury aware of the additional punishment is a denial of his due process rights.
¶27 "[T]rial courts have a duty to instruct the jury on the salient features of the law raised by the evidence with or without a request."
Hogan v. State
,
¶28 The Oklahoma Methamphetamine Registry Act, 63 O.S.Supp.2013, § 2-701, establishes a registry of persons convicted of various methamphetamine crimes, and applies to all persons convicted after November 1, 2010, and all persons on probation for any specified offense as of that date.
See
Wolf v. State,
¶29 The State directs us to
Reed v. State
,
¶30 The requirements of the Oklahoma Methamphetamine Registry Act were not part of the range of punishment for Appellant's offense nor did any statutory provision permit a judge or a jury to impose, delay, alter, or suspend registration and no provision within the Oklahoma Methamphetamine Registry Act authorizes a sentencing judge or jury to require or preclude compliance with the Act. As we found with the Sex Offender Registration Act, the Oklahoma Methamphetamine Registry Act is a regulatory scheme that is entirely separate and distinct from the applicable punishment range.
See
Reed,
¶31 Further, it is not analogous to the 85% Rule as registration pursuant to the Oklahoma Methamphetamine Registry Act has no bearing on the issue of guilt or the actual term of imprisonment or fine imposed. Thus, registration pursuant to Oklahoma Methamphetamine Registry Act is not a material consequence of sentencing and is a collateral matter outside the jury's purview. Registration pursuant to Oklahoma Methamphetamine *996 Registry Act is not a salient feature of the law in drug cases upon which trial courts have a duty to instruct. Finding no error in the absence of a jury instruction on the Oklahoma Methamphetamine Registry Act, we find no error and thus no plain error.
¶32 In Proposition VIII, we review Appellant's claims of ineffective assistance of counsel under the standard set forth in
Strickland v. Washington,
¶33 As addressed in this opinion, trial counsel failed to object to the allegations of error raised in Propositions II, III, IV, V, VI and VII. However, counsel's failures to raise objections did not prevent this Court from thoroughly reviewing the allegations of error under the plain error standard. In each instance none of the alleged errors were sufficient to warrant relief. Therefore, any trial objections raised by counsel would have been overruled. We have previously held that trial counsel will not be found ineffective for failing to raise objections which would have been overruled.
Eizember v. State,
¶34 In Proposition IX, Appellant argues that his fifty (50) year sentence is excessive. The question of excessiveness of punishment must be determined by a study of all the facts and circumstances of each case.
Rackley v. State,
¶35 In Proposition X, Appellant argues the accumulation of errors denied him a fair trial. This Court has held that a cumulative error argument has no merit when this Court fails to sustain any of the other errors raised by Appellant.
Engles v. State
,
DECISION
¶36 The JUDGMENT and SENTENCE is AFFIRMED. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals , Title 22, Ch.18, App. (2018), the MANDATE is ORDERED issued upon the delivery and filing of this decision.
LEWIS, V.P.J.: Concur
HUDSON, J.: Concur in Result
KUEHN, J.: Concur in Result
ROWLAND, J.: Concur
¶1 I concur in the results of today's decision. However, I disagree with the manner in which the Court resolves Proposition V. The Majority utilizes a two-step approach that
*997
begins with the "elements" test to determine whether Possession with Intent to Distribute is a lesser related offense of Trafficking in this case. However, in
Shrum v. State,
¶2 Reviewing for plain error in this case, the Court should look to "whether the evidence might allow a jury to acquit the defendant of the greater offense and convict him of the lesser."
Harris v. State
,
¶1 I agree that Appellant's conviction should be affirmed. However, I disagree with the analysis used in Proposition V regarding lesser related offenses. The Majority categorically rejects the idea that Possession with Intent to Distribute can ever be considered a lesser related option in a Trafficking prosecution. To the extent that our prior case law supports that suggestion, it is in conflict with
Shrum v. State
,
This is not the first time we have declined to extend Coates . In Land-Cooper v. State , Case No. F-2015-1139, opinion not for publication (Feb. 28, 2017) we declined to extend the holding of Coates to invalidate a fine clearly authorized by the Legislature in 63 O.S.2011, § 2-415 where the defendant's sentence was enhanced under § 51.1.
Appellant's reliance on
Wolf
is misplaced as it did not address the jury instruction issue, rather the holding in
Wolf
found Subsections (B) and (H) of Section 2-701 unconstitutional as violating the defendant's due process rights to notice.
The Majority relies on
Dufries v. State
,
While the term "trafficking" usually connotes economic transactions, the crime Appellant was convicted of is merely an aggravated possession offense. Nevertheless, prosecutors in Trafficking cases routinely offer evidence that tends to show economic activity, such as digital scales, retail packaging, and transaction records. They also present evidence of the "street value" of the drugs that were seized. In fact, over defense objection, the prosecutor in this case elicited an officer's testimony about the street value of the methamphetamine on which the Trafficking charge was based. The State may not have to prove an intent to distribute to obtain a conviction for Trafficking, but I believe it is disingenuous to treat Trafficking and Possession with Intent to Distribute as if they were completely unrelated crimes.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Byron Jerome BIVENS, Appellant, v. STATE of Oklahoma, Appellee.
- Cited By
- 28 cases
- Status
- Published