State v. Dow

• Decision Date: 21 August 1984
• Docket Number: No. 835SC957,835SC957
• Citation: 70 N.C.App. 82,318 S.E.2d 883
• Parties: STATE of North Carolina v. Thomas Lee DOW.
• Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals

Page 883

318 S.E.2d 883

70 N.C.App. 82

STATE of North Carolina v. Thomas Lee DOW.

No. 835SC957.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

Aug. 21, 1984.

Atty. Gen. Rufus L. Edmisten, by Asst. Atty. Gen. George W. Lennon, Raleigh, for the State.

Shipman & Lea, by James W. Lea, III, Wilmington, for defendant appellant.

JOHNSON, Judge.

The evidence adduced at trial tended to show that on 23 November 1982, defendant, Thomas Dow, drove two men, Joe Harvin and Darryl Thompson, to the Sears store located in Independence Mall, Wilmington, North Carolina. Harvin and Thompson went into the store while defendant waited in the automobile with the motor running. A short time later, Harvin and Thompson returned to the automobile, walking very fast and carrying two chain saws which they placed in the trunk of defendant's automobile. Defendant left the scene of the crime with the two men and the chain saws. The three men drove to a house on Hanover Street where Harvin and Thompson removed the chain saws from the trunk and took them to the door of the house. Defendant remained in the automobile. Within a few minutes, they returned to the automobile and placed the chain saws on the rear seat. The three men then drove to a second house where Harvin got out while defendant and Thompson remained in the automobile. After Harvin returned to the automobile and as defendant began to drive away, a police officer arrived and signaled defendant to stop. On reaching the automobile, the officer observed two chain saws on the rear seat. Defendant was removed from the automobile and placed under arrest. While the officer was talking with defendant, several other officers arrived at the scene. One of the officers approached the automobile and asked Harvin to remain in the vehicle. At that time, the officer noticed three small manila envelopes on the rear floor of the automobile. The officer picked up one of the envelopes and examined the contents. As Harvin and Thompson were being removed from the vehicle, one of them lifted the right rear floor mat and revealed nine additional manila envelopes. The substance contained in the twelve envelopes was identified as marijuana.

At the close of the State's evidence, the defendant's motion for dismissal was denied. Defendant testified that the automobile belonged to his adult daughter and that it had been in his custody for approximately three days prior to his arrest. He stated that Harvin and Thompson paid him $13.00 to drive them to Sears. He did not question them as to the nature of their business transaction at Sears. He also testified that the marijuana found in the automobile belonged to Harvin.

At the close of all the evidence, the defendant's motion for dismissal of all charges against him was again denied.

Defendant assigns error to the trial court's denial of his motions to dismiss made at the close of the State's evidence and at the close of all the evidence. He challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence to go to the jury on each of the charges against him.

By presenting evidence at trial, defendant waived his right to assert the denial of his motion for dismissal at the close of the State's evidence as error on appeal. G.S. 15-173; State v. Mendez, 42 N.C.App. 141, 146, 256 S.E.2d 405, 408 (1979). However, his motion made at the close of all the evidence draws into question the sufficiency of all the evidence to go to the jury. State v. Stewart, 292 N.C. 219, 223, 232 S.E.2d 443, 447 (1977). On a motion to dismiss, the evidence is considered in the light most favorable to the State, and the State is entitled to every reasonable inference to be drawn therefrom. State v. Simmons, 57 N.C.App. 548, 550, 291 S.E.2d 815, 817 (1982). Contradictions and discrepancies are for the jury to resolve and do not warrant dismissal. State v. Summitt, 301 N.C. 591, 600, 273 S.E.2d 425, 430, cert. denied, 451 U.S. 970, 101 S.Ct. 2048, 68 L.Ed.2d 349 (1981); State v. Gray, 56 N.C.App. 667, 672, 289 S.E.2d 894, 897, disc. rev. denied, 306 N.C. 388, 294 S.E.2d 214 (1982).

With these principles in mind, we now consider whether the evidence was sufficient to go to the jury on each of the three charges against defendant.

Defendant argues, first, that the State's evidence on the charge of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver was insufficient. He contends that there was no evidence that he was either in actual or constructive possession of the controlled substance found in the automobile. We disagree.

A defendant has possession of a controlled substance when he has both the power and intent to control its disposition or use. State v. Summers, 15 N.C.App. 282, 283, 189 S.E.2d 807, 808, cert. denied, 281 N.C. 762, 191 S.E.2d 359 (1972). Possession may be either actual or constructive. State v. Crouch, 15 N.C.App. 172, 174, 189 S.E.2d 763, 764, cert. denied, 281 N.C. 760, 191 S.E.2d 357 (1972). Constructive possession exists when there is no actual personal dominion over the controlled substance, but there is an intent and capability to maintain control and dominion over it. State v. Spencer, 281 N.C. 121, 129, 187 S.E.2d 779, 784 (1972); State v. Crouch, supra, 15 N.C.App. at 174, 189 S.E.2d at 764-765.

Had the defendant, in the instant case, owned the automobile, an inference that he was in constructive possession of the controlled substance found therein would have been permissible. State v. Glaze, 24 N.C.App. 60, 64, 210 S.E.2d 124, 127 (1974). An inference of constructive possession can also arise from evidence which tends to show that a defendant was the custodian of the vehicle where the controlled substance was found. In fact, the courts in this State have held consistently that the "driver of a borrowed car, like the owner of the car, has the power to control the contents of the car." Id. at 64, 210 S.E.2d at 127; State v. Wolfe, 26 N.C.App. 464, 467, 216 S.E.2d 470, 473, cert. denied, 288 N.C. 252, 217 S.E.2d 677 (1975). Moreover, power to control the automobile where a controlled substance was found is sufficient, in and of itself, to give rise to the inference of knowledge and possession sufficient to go to the jury. See State v. Harvey, 281 N.C. 1, 13, 187 S.E.2d 706, 714 (1972).

In this case, there was competent evidence that the defendant had custody and possession of the borrowed automobile for three days prior to his arrest. There was evidence that the defendant was, at all times relevant herein, the custodian of the automobile and was present, therein, when the controlled substance was found. Therefore, the defendant's control of the premises where the controlled substance was found was sufficient to require submission of the issue of possession to the jury.

There was also ample evidence to warrant submission of the case to the jury on the charges of larceny and possession of stolen goods. A defendant may be found guilty of an offense under the principles of acting in concert if he is:

present at the scene of the crime and the evidence is sufficient to show he is acting together with another who does the acts necessary to constitute the crime pursuant to a common plan or purpose to commit the crime.

State v. Joyner, 297 N.C. 349, 357, 255 S.E.2d 390, 395 (1979). A defendant may, also, be found guilty of an...