Lawrence v. State, A97A0944

• Decision Date: 22 May 1997
• Docket Number: No. A97A0944,A97A0944
• Citation: 227 Ga.App. 70,487 S.E.2d 608
• Parties: , 97 FCDR 2085 LAWRENCE v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 608

487 S.E.2d 608

227 Ga.App. 70, 97 FCDR 2085

LAWRENCE v. The STATE.

No. A97A0944.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

May 22, 1997.

Reconsideration Dismissed June 26, 1997.

Thompson, Fox, Chandler, Homans & Hicks, Robert L. Chandler, Gainesville, Cheryl H. Kelley, for appellant.

Eugene B. Lawrence, pro se.

Lydia J. Sartain, District Attorney, James V. Branch, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.

ELDRIDGE, Judge.

On February 15, 1995, at approximately 7:00 p.m., appellant, Eugene Brenton Lawrence, was walking down Atlanta Street in Gainesville, Hall County, adjacent to the city's housing projects, when two undercover police officers, members of the Hall County Multi Agency Narcotics Squad ("MANS"), drove by in a truck; appellant waved and yelled at them. The agents turned around and came back to talk to appellant. Appellant came over to the truck and asked them what they were doing. Appellant asked the agents what they needed, and agent Neville asked appellant to sell them drugs, i.e., "two twenties." By appellant's own testimony, the agents asked appellant if he would get them some "crack" cocaine in exchange for drugs and money, and appellant agreed, took money from an agent, and left to get the drugs. Agent Neville, before giving appellant the money, asked appellant how he, Neville, could be sure that appellant would come back with the drugs; appellant gave them his Bible to hold until he returned. Appellant went into the projects to get the drugs after taking the money from the agents. Appellant returned a few minutes later with the "crack," which he gave to the agents. The agents then arrested appellant.

Appellant was taken to the MANS headquarters, where he was searched. A piece of crack cocaine and a crack smoking pipe were recovered during the search of appellant's shirt pocket. Appellant testified that he was a drug addict and that he had broken the crack off the piece that he gave to the agents.

Expert testimony was presented that the substance delivered to the agents and the substance found in appellant's possession were both consistent with the appearance of crack cocaine; one of the pieces was tested for and found to be crack cocaine. While only one piece was tested, appellant admitted that he had broken off the piece found in his possession from the other piece given to the agents.

Appellant was convicted on one count of sale of cocaine and one count of possession of cocaine.

1. Appellant's first enumeration of error is that there is insufficient evidence to prove that the substance, either possessed or sold, was cocaine and that there is insufficient

evidence to support a conviction on either count of the indictment.

The expert testified that both pieces, one delivered to the agents by appellant and the other found on appellant, appeared consistent with crack cocaine and that one piece tested positive for cocaine, while the other piece was not tested. Appellant testified that the piece taken from his possession was broken off the piece that he delivered to the officers. Thus, while only one piece had been tested by the expert, by appellant's admission, both pieces came from one larger piece; therefore, there was sufficient evidence before the jury for the jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that both pieces were cocaine. "On appeal of a criminal conviction, the evidence is to be viewed 'in the light most favorable to the prosecution' (i.e., in the light most favorable to the jury's determination that the defendant is guilty), not in the light most favorable to the defendant." (Footnote omitted.) Adams v. State, 255 Ga. 356, 357, 338 S.E.2d 860 (1986). The evidence was such that a rational trier of fact could have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979).

2. Appellant's second enumeration is that, based upon the evidence presented, he cannot be convicted of both sale and possession of cocaine. We do not agree.

The evidence showed that the agents paid money to appellant for the purchase of cocaine. Whether or not appellant acted only as a "middleman" or obtained the crack cocaine from his own stash of cocaine, all of the elements of the crime of sale of a controlled substance, have been satisfied. Harmon v. State, 235 Ga. 329, 219 S.E.2d 441 (1975); Sullivan v. State, 178 Ga.App. 769, 344 S.E.2d 737 (1986). Possession of the cocaine sold is a lesser included offense of sale of the same cocaine. Harmon v. State, supra at 330, 219 S.E.2d 441.

However, when appellant intends to sell only part and not all of the cocaine in his possession, selling some and retaining the rest, the elements of both sale and simple possession have been satisfied as separate offenses. "If a person intends to distribute only a designated part of narcotics which are possessed, both the offense of possession and [sale] may be punished. Merger does not occur because possession of the undesignated narcotic was not necessary for the intended [sale]. [Cits.]" Howard v. State, 144 Ga.App. 208, 209(1), 240 S.E.2d 908 (1977). Thus, under the facts of the case sub judice, appellant is guilty under both counts of the indictment on two separate offenses, sale to the agents and simple possession for his own use; each "[is] not included but each may be committed exclusive of the other. The difference between them is one of kind and not merely one of degree ([cit.])" Buford v. State, 162 Ga.App. 498, 499(4), 291 S.E.2d 256 (1982).

3. The third enumeration of error is that the evidence did not show that appellant "sold" anything to the agents. We do not agree.

The evidence showed that the agents asked for "two twenties" as a specific quantity and price for crack cocaine; appellant then took the money and delivered the drugs from his possession to the possession of the agents. Thus, a drug sale occurred as a matter of law. See Robinson v. State, 164 Ga.App. 652, 653-654(1), 297 S.E.2d 751 (1982); see also Johnson v. State, 154 Ga.App. 353(1), 268 S.E.2d 406 (1980). Even if appellant, under the circumstances, is not treated as the actual seller but merely the conduit or intermediary by which the sale took place, appellant is guilty of selling cocaine, because appellant aided and abetted the sale as a party to the crime. OCGA § 16-2-20(a), (b)(3); Wright v. State, 165 Ga.App. 790(1), 302 S.E.2d 706 (1983).

4. The fourth enumeration of error is that there exists a fatal variance between the evidence and the indictment alleging that appellant sold cocaine. We disagree.

As found in Division 3 herein, the evidence sufficiently showed that appellant sold cocaine to the agents. Even if, arguendo, appellant's argument that he was a mere conduit is accepted, then he is guilty of aiding and abetting the sale as a party thereto. Therefore, there exists no variance between the indictment and the evidence. See generally Gentry v. State, 212 Ga.App. 79, 83(4), 441 S.E.2d 249 (1994).

5. The fifth enumeration of error is that the trial court erred in admitting appellant's custodial statement because it was not voluntarily given but was given in the hope of receiving a benefit.

After conducting a lengthy hearing under Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 12 L.Ed.2d 908 (1964), the trial judge found that appellant's custodial statement was freely and voluntarily made without hope or expectation of benefit.

"Merely telling a defendant that his or her cooperation will be made known to the prosecution does not constitute the 'hope of benefit' sufficient to render a statement inadmissible under OCGA § 24-3-50. Helton v. State, 206 Ga.App. 600, 426 S.E.2d 172 (1992). It is the province of the trial court to weigh the credibility of the witnesses and unless clearly erroneous, its findings of fact will be...