In re WB

• Decision Date: 13 June 2001
• Docket Number: No. 00-1178.,00-1178.
• Citation: 641 N.W.2d 543
• Parties: In the Interest of W.B., Minor Child, W.B., Minor Child, Appellant.
• Court: Iowa Court of Appeals

641 N.W.2d 543

In the Interest of W.B., Minor Child,

W.B., Minor Child, Appellant.

No. 00-1178.

Court of Appeals of Iowa.

June 13, 2001.

Thomas W. Polking of Wilcox, Polking, Gerken, Schwarzkopf, Hoyt & Copeland, P.C., Jefferson, for appellant.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Tabitha Gardner, Assistant Attorney General, and Cynthia Goins Voorde, County Attorney, for appellee.

Heard by SACKETT, C.J., and ZIMMER, and VAITHESWARAN, JJ. VOGEL, J., takes no part.

ZIMMER, J.

W.B. appeals a juvenile court dispositional ruling finding he committed the delinquent act of possession of alcohol under the legal age in violation of Iowa Code section 123.47(2) (1999). W.B. contends the juvenile court erred in concluding there was substantial evidence that he had possession or control of alcohol at a party. We agree and reverse.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings. On March 11, 2000, seventeen-year-old W.B. went to the home of a friend. His friend and another acquaintance told W.B. they planned to attend a party at a rural Calhoun county residence. W.B.'s friends asked him if he would pick them up at the party in about two hours. W.B. agreed to do so.

Later, W.B. traveled to the location of the party to pick up his friends. When he arrived, the party was already in progress. W.B. entered the house where the party was being held. Approximately fifty young people from the area were in attendance. Almost all were under age. Alcohol was available at the party to anyone who wanted it. The alcoholic beverages were being kept in a refrigerator in the basement. Those persons consuming the alcohol were contributing money to those who brought it. W.B. did not take alcohol to the party and the State offered no evidence to show that W.B. purchased, consumed or personally possessed any alcohol while at the party.

When police arrived at the party, W.B. and a number of other minors fled the scene. W.B. testified that he knew his mere presence at a party where alcohol was being consumed was a violation of his school's rules and could result in his suspension from athletic activities. He claims this was his motivation in fleeing the party. W.B. turned himself in to authorities the next day.

On April 21, 2000, the State filed a petition alleging that W.B. committed the delinquent act of possession of alcohol under the legal age, in violation of Iowa Code section 123.47(2). After an adjudicatory hearing, the juvenile court concluded W.B. was an integral part of a group that possessed a significant amount of alcoholic liquor and beer. The court also concluded W.B. aided and abetted his friends in their possession and control of alcohol. As a result, the court concluded W.B. committed the delinquent act of possession of alcohol under legal age. W.B. was ordered to serve six months informal probation and perform twenty-four hours of community service. W.B. appeals contending there was insufficient evidence to support his delinquency adjudication.

II. Scope of Review. Our review of juvenile delinquency proceedings is de novo. In re T.V., 563 N.W.2d 612, 613 (Iowa 1997). While we give weight to the fact-findings of the trial court, we are not bound by them. In re C.T., 521 N.W.2d 754, 756 (Iowa 1994).

III. Sufficiency of the Evidence. W.B. contends the juvenile court erred in concluding there was substantial evidence that he had possession or control of alcohol at a party.

A. Possession. The juvenile court found proof beyond a reasonable doubt that W.B. possessed alcohol in violation of Iowa Code section 123.47(2). Section 123.47(2) states, in pertinent part, "A person or persons under legal age shall not purchase or attempt to purchase, or individually or jointly have alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer in their possession or control...." The issue presented by this appeal is whether or not W.B. violated section 123.47(2) merely by being present at a party where alcoholic beverages were available to minors. No Iowa appellate court has addressed this issue.

The State does not contend it proved W.B. was in actual possession of alcohol. Actual possession would require alcohol to have been found on W.B.'s person. See State v. Atkinson, 620 N.W.2d 1, 3 (Iowa 2000). Indeed, there is no evidence in the record to show W.B. purchased, attempted to purchase, consumed, or personally possessed any alcohol. Nevertheless, the State claims W.B. was properly adjudicated a delinquent by virtue of his mere presence at a party where alcohol was accessible to minors. In support of this argument, the State contends we should extend the doctrine of constructive possession, which has evolved in the context of controlled substance cases, to cases involving possession of alcohol by minors. In narcotics cases, constructive possession is established by showing:

(a) that the accused exercised dominion and control ... over the contraband,

(b) that he had knowledge of its presence, and

(c) that the accused had knowledge that the material was a narcotic.

Id. "Constructive Possession exists when the accused has control or the right to control the substance." State v. Brandt, 444 N.W.2d 97, 98 (Iowa Ct.App.1989) (quoting State v. Pierce, 240 N.W.2d 678, 679 (Iowa 1976)). Utilizing these criteria, possession of controlled substances can be proved without actual physical possession being shown. Because W.B. testified that alcohol was available to him if he desired it, the State argues W.B. was in constructive possession of alcohol even though he did not physically possess it while at the party.

In response, W.B. contends the constructive possession standard used in cases dealing with possession of illegal drugs should not be imported to cases involving minors in possession of alcoholic liquor. He argues that alcohol differs sufficiently from illegal drugs to justify application of a different standard to prove possession or control. We agree. Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription is illegal in any context, while possession of alcohol is illegal only by those under the age of twenty-one. Blind application of the doctrine of constructive possession to section 123.47(2) could lead to absurd and, we believe, unintended results. For instance, a minor who knows his parents, guardians, or adult roommates keep beer in their refrigerator would arguably be guilty of possession merely because he has knowledge of the presence of the alcoholic beverages and has the ability to maintain control over them. In addition, a minor who was present at a party where alcohol was available, but did not drink alcohol and encouraged other minors not...