Apperllant v. State

• Court: Arkansas Court of Appeals
• Writing for the Court: ROBERT J. GLADWIN, Judge
• Citation: Callaway v. State, 2020 Ark. App. 422, No. CR-20-52 (Ark. App. Sep 23, 2020)
• Decision Date: 23 September 2020
• Docket Number: No. CR-20-52,CR-20-52
• Parties: RACHEL CALLAWAY APPERLLANT v. STATE OF ARKANSAS APPELLEE

2020 Ark. App. 422

RACHEL CALLAWAY APPERLLANT v. STATE OF ARKANSAS APPELLEE

No. CR-20-52

ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION II

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

APPEAL FROM THE BAXTER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

[NO. 03CR-18-244]

HONORABLE GORDON WEBB, JUDGE

AFFIRMED

ROBERT J. GLADWIN, Judge

Rachel Callaway appeals her convictions by the Baxter County Circuit Court on two charges of delivery of methamphetamine and one charge of unlawful use of a communication device. Her sole argument on appeal is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting those convictions. We affirm.

I. Facts and Procedural History

On May 29, 2018, Callaway was charged with delivery of methamphetamine, a Class B felony (for the May 7, 2018 purchase of 8.0775 grams); delivery of methamphetamine, a Class A felony (for the May 9, 2018 purchase of 16.0927 grams); unlawful use of a communication device, a Class C felony, and proximity to certain facilities, a Class C felony. Callaway waived her right to a jury trial, and a bench trial was held on May 21, 2019, at which she was represented by appointed counsel. Four witnesses testified at trial: (1) Officer George Eddings; (2) Officer Van Nowlin; (3) Benjamin Gilbert, a forensic chemist at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL); and (4) Beverly Rogers, an inmate at the Baxter County Detention Facility who acted as a confidential informant (CI) for the drug task force.

Callaway's counsel moved for a directed verdict at the close of the State's case-in-chief, arguing that because the State failed to prove that Callaway had taken an active role in the two controlled-buy drug transactions sufficient to establish her as anything other than a "middleman," the evidence was insufficient to support the delivery-of-methamphetamine charges. The circuit court denied the motion; the defense put on no additional evidence; and counsel renewed the motions for directed verdict for the record. The circuit court denied the renewed motions and took the matter under advisement to read certain caselaw presented by Callaway's counsel.

Callaway was convicted on the first three charges:¹ delivery of methamphetamine, a Class B felony; delivery of methamphetamine, a Class A felony;² and unlawful use of a communication device, a Class C felony. She was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment in the Arkansas Department of Correction on each conviction, to run concurrently,pursuant to June 25 and 27 sentencing orders. Callaway filed a timely notice of appeal on July 18.

II. Standard of Review

A motion for a directed verdict is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. E.g., Haney v. State, 2020 Ark. App. 341, at 5, 602 S.W.3d 154, 157. On appeal from a denial of a motion for a directed verdict, the sufficiency of the evidence is tested to determine whether the verdict is supported by substantial evidence, direct or circumstantial. Id. In determining whether there is substantial evidence to support the verdict, this court reviews the evidence in the light most favorable to the State and considers only that evidence that supports the verdict. Id. Substantial evidence is evidence that is of sufficient force and character to compel a conclusion one way or the other beyond suspicion or conjecture. Id. The trier of fact is free to believe all or part of any witness's testimony and may resolve questions of conflicting testimony and inconsistent evidence. Id. at 5-6, 602 S.W.3d at 158. In reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, this court will not weigh the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses; those are matters for the fact-finder. E.g., T.R. v. State, 2018 Ark. App. 328, at 6, 552 S.W.3d 425, 456.

III. Discussion

Callaway first argues that the circuit court erred in denying her timely motions for directed verdict based on the insufficiency of the evidence regarding the delivery-of-methamphetamine charges, but the evidence presented at trial supports the opposite conclusion.

At trial, the State's first witness was Officer George Eddings of the Baxter County Sheriff's Office. He serves as a criminal investigator primarily for narcotics cases. In May 2018, Officer Eddings conducted a series of two controlled drug buys on May 7 and May 9 through which quantities of methamphetamine were purchased using CI Rogers as the buyer. CI Rogers had been arrested on another charge and was cooperating with law enforcement officials to resolve that charge.

Officer Eddings explained the procedure followed by officers when using a CI to perform a "controlled buy" of narcotics and specifically how that procedure was followed in Callaway's case. This procedure included recording both video and audio of the entire process, which was watched in real time, from when Callaway met with CI Rogers to when CI Rogers returned to the Mountain Home Police Department to hand over the methamphetamine purchased to Officer Eddings.

Regarding the first controlled buy between CI Rogers and Callaway that occurred on May 7, Officer Eddings testified that CI Rogers had previously spoken to Callaway and arranged to purchase eight grams of methamphetamine for $400. Officer Eddings explained that he met CI Rogers behind the Mountain Home Police Department, searched both CI Rogers and her vehicle, provided her with the funds to purchase the methamphetamine, and gave her a phone that would record and transmit audio and video during the controlled buy. After the initial meeting, CI Rogers picked up Callaway at anearby Harps grocery store and drove her to a house approximately three or four miles away to meet with Dwayne Burr. The recordings indicate that Burr told CI Rogers and Callaway that he needed fifteen minutes to get the drugs ready. While waiting to purchase the drugs, CI Rogers and Callaway drove around town before returning to meet with Burr and purchase 8.6 grams of methamphetamine for $400. Following the controlled buy, CI Rogers met back up with Officer Eddings while Callaway remained behind at the residence with Burr. CI Rogers turned over the purchased drugs to officers; the drugs field tested to be methamphetamine.

On May 9, just two days later, a second controlled buy took place between CI Rogers and Callaway. CI Rogers informed Officer Eddings that she had spoken with Callaway on the phone and this time had arranged to buy sixteen grams of methamphetamine. After meeting with officers as before, CI Rogers went directly to the same residence where the first controlled buy took place. She walked into the house and was greeted by Callaway and Burr. Burr once again left to retrieve the drugs, and when he returned, CI Rogers purchased approximately sixteen grams of methamphetamine for $800. As a result of his real-time observation of the audio and video received from CI Rogers, Officer Eddings opined that the drug deal was set up by Callaway.

Officer Van Nowlin of the 14th Judicial Drug Task Force testified next, explained that while monitoring the controlled drug buy, he personally observed Callaway bartering with CI Rogers on the price of the drugs to be purchased. Officer Nowlin stated there was no doubt that Callaway was part of the drug-dealing transaction. He explained that OfficerEddings was leading the controlled buys during which CI Rogers purchased drugs from Callaway and Burr. Officer Nowlin acknowledged that he did not have contact with CI Rogers and that his roll was for safety and surveillance purposes to see who else was moving in the area. Officer Nowlin noted that he was unaware of who owned the residence involved in the controlled buys and that he reviewed neither the audiotapes nor the videotapes of the controlled buys. Officer Nowlin stated that his information regarding the controlled buys was obtained from Officer Eddings, Officer Steele, and related reports.

Benjamin Gilbert, the forensic chemist with the ASCL and the analyst on both of Callaway's drug cases, testified for the State regarding the methods used to test chemical samples and the chain-of-custody procedures utilized. Gilbert stated that he had, in one submission, received two plastic bags, tested them, and found both to be methamphetamine—the total weight of the first was 16.0927 grams; and in a second submission, the total weight was 8.0775 grams.

CI Beverly Rogers, who performed the two controlled buys, testified regarding Callaway's involvement in the two transactions. CI Rogers characterized Callaway as "the middleman pretty much" because Callaway was the person with whom she made the arrangements to purchase the methamphetamine. CI Rogers testified that Callaway had intimate knowledge of the neighborhood around Burr's house, instructed CI Rogers to pick her up from a local Harps grocery store, set the price for the purchases, and helped facilitate both transactions. CI Rogers testified that she assumed Callaway obtained the price for the drugs from Burr because the drugs did not belong to her. CI Rogers admittedthat Callaway did not hand her the drugs, that Burr just put them on the...