State v. Padilla

• Decision Date: 27 September 2022
• Docket Number: 1 CA-CR 22-0069
• Parties: STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee, v. BERIZA C. PADILLA, Appellant.
• Court: Arizona Court of Appeals

STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee, v. BERIZA C. PADILLA, Appellant.

No. 1 CA-CR 22-0069

Court of Appeals of Arizona, First Division

September 27, 2022

Not for Publication - Rule 111(c), Rules of the Arizona Supreme Court

Appeal from the Superior Court in Yuma County No. S1400CR202000812 The Honorable Roger A. Nelson, Judge

Arizona Attorney General's Office, Phoenix By Rebecca Jones Counsel for Appellee

Yuma County Public Defender's Office, Yuma By Robert J Trebilcock Counsel for Appellant

Presiding Judge Jennifer M. Perkins delivered the decision of the Court, in which Judge James B. Morse Jr. and Judge Michael J. Brown joined.

MEMORANDUM DECISION

PERKINS, JUDGE:

¶1 Beriza C. Padilla appeals her convictions and sentences for possession of a dangerous drug for sale, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of drug paraphernalia involving methamphetamine, and misconduct involving weapons. For the following reasons, we affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2 We view the facts in the light most favorable to sustaining the verdicts. State v. Payne, 233 Ariz. 484, 509, ¶ 93 (2013). At approximately 12:30 a.m., police officers responded to an emergency call regarding a possible sexual assault near a black vehicle at a motel. Officer Carey arrived at the scene and found a man and woman standing near the open passenger door of a dark-colored BMW. When the subjects saw Carey approaching them on foot, one of them closed the BMW's door, and they began walking toward the motel. Recognizing the male subject as a known convicted felon, Carey told the couple to "hold up." The male stopped, but the female- later identified as Padilla -"picked up her speed" and continued to the motel. Meanwhile, Officer Robinson peered into the BMW and noticed a handgun on the rear passenger side floor.

¶3 Officers then spoke with Padilla, and she denied any knowledge of a possible sexual assault. Padilla explained that she was unemployed and bought the BMW a few days before. Padilla also told the officers that she and the male used the vehicle to go from "hotel to hotel" where they lived, and he was the primary driver. Indeed, Padilla explained that "she was the passenger when they arrived that evening[.]"

¶4 Apparently based on the gun observed in the BMW and the male's status as a prohibited possessor, police officers obtained a warrant, and searched the BMW. See A.R.S. §§ 13-3101(A)(7)(b), -3102(A)(4). In addition to the loaded handgun, they found a covered plastic cup in the front center console containing 426 fentanyl pills. Next to the cup, officers found two bullets in a small bag. Under the front passenger seat, officers located over 7.5 grams of methamphetamine in a tissue box. A small digital scale and several small plastic baggies "consistent with the sale of drugs" were also found in the vehicle. Police did not find any items commonly associated with drug use.

¶5 Alleging both direct and accomplice liability, the State charged Padilla with possession of a dangerous drug for sale (methamphetamine), a class two felony; possession of a narcotic drug for sale (fentanyl), a class two felony; possession of drug paraphernalia involving methamphetamine, a class six felony; and two counts of misconduct involving weapons (MIW), class four felonies. One of the MIW counts referred to the handgun found in the BMW and alleged Padilla used or possessed it "during the commission of any felony [drug] offense[.]" The other MIW count charged Padilla as a prohibited possessor, and was ultimately dismissed after being severed from the remaining charges before trial. Regarding the narcotic drug charge, the State alleged Padilla possessed $1,000 or more of fentanyl. See A.R.S. § 13-3401(36)(j).

¶6 After a two-day trial, the jury rejected Padilla's mere presence defense and found her guilty of the four offenses. The trial court imposed concurrent prison sentences, the longest being seven years for possession of a dangerous drug for sale. Padilla timely appealed, and we have jurisdiction. See Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 9; A.R.S. §§ 13-4031, -4033(A)(1).

DISCUSSION

I. Sufficiency of Evidence

¶7 Padilla challenges the sufficiency of evidence supporting her convictions, arguing the State failed to prove she possessed the drugs, paraphernalia, and handgun located in the BMW. Specifically, Padilla asserts the State presented no direct evidence showing she exercised dominion or control over the contraband or that she had exclusive ownership of the BMW. Padilla claims instead that the evidence only shows she was near the vehicle, and her mere presence was insufficient to establish her guilt.

¶8 We review claims of insufficient evidence de novo, State v. Bible, 175 Ariz. 549, 595 (1993), and our review is limited to determining whether substantial evidence exists to support the verdict. State v. Scott, 177 Ariz. 131, 138 (1993); see Ariz. R. Crim. P. 20(a) (directing courts to enter judgment of acquittal "if there is no substantial evidence to warrant a conviction"). Substantial evidence is such proof that "reasonable persons could accept as adequate and sufficient to support a conclusion of defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." State v. Mathers, 165 Ariz. 64, 67 (1990) (quoting State v. Jones, 125 Ariz. 417, 419 (1980)). In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence, we test the evidence "against the statutorily required elements of the offense," State v. Pena, 209 Ariz. 503, 505, ¶ 8 (App. 2005), and "do not reweigh the evidence to decide if we would reach the same conclusions as the trier of fact." State v. Borquez, 232 Ariz. 484, 487, ¶ 9 (App. 2013) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

¶9 To convict, the State had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Padilla possessed the drugs, handgun, and paraphernalia (scale and baggies) that police officers seized from the BMW. See A.R.S. §§ 13-3102(A)(8); 3407(A)(2); -3408(A)(2); -3415(A). "Possession may be actual or constructive." State v. Gonsalves, 231 Ariz. 521, 523, ¶ 9 (App. 2013). "Constructive possession" is the exercise of dominion or control over an object in the absence of actual physical possession. State v. Cox, 214 Ariz. 518, 520, ¶ 10 (App. 2007). Constructive possession exists when the object "is found in a place under [the defendant's] dominion [or] control and under circumstances from which it can be reasonably inferred that the defendant had actual knowledge of the existence of the [property]." Id. (quoting State v. Villavicencio, 108 Ariz. 518, 520 (1972)). Circumstantial evidence alone may establish constructive possession. State v. Teagle, 217 Ariz. 17, 27, ¶ 40 (App. 2007); Cox, 214 Ariz. at 520, ¶ 10. And "it is not necessary to show that a defendant exercised exclusive possession or control over the substance itself or the place in which the illegal substance was found; control or right to control is sufficient." State v. Curtis, 114 Ariz. 527, 528 (App. 1977).

¶10 Here, the jury could reasonably conclude from the circumstantial evidence that Padilla knowingly possessed the drugs, handgun, and paraphernalia found in the BMW. As the vehicle's owner, Padilla generally had dominion and control over the BMW and its contents. See State v. Murphy, 117 Ariz. 57, 61 (1977) ("[I]f contraband is found in an arrestee's home in an unsecluded or obvious place it is sufficient to sustain a verdict for possession."). She was a passenger in the BMW on the way to the motel, and she was standing next to the BMW's open passenger door when officers arrived. The fentanyl was in the center console, an area commonly used by a front-seat passenger, and the methamphetamine and handgun were under and directly behind the passenger seat. See State v. Petrak, 198 Ariz. 260, 266, ¶ 19 (App. 2000) (requiring the state to establish the defendant "could have used the weapon to further the felony drug offense" such as by "the spatial proximity and accessibility of the weapon to the defendant and to the site of the drug offense.").

¶11 The evidence showed that Padilla continued walking away from Officer Carey after he commanded her to "hold up." The jury therefore could reasonably infer Padilla's consciousness of guilt. See State v. Cota, 229 Ariz. 136, 142, ¶ 11 (2012) ("Evidence of flight is admissible to show consciousness of guilt when the defendant flees in a manner which obviously invites suspicion or announces guilt.") (citation omitted).

¶12 Because officers did not find evidence consistent with drug use in the BMW, the jury could reasonably infer that the fentanyl and methamphetamine were not for personal use. The jury was entitled to infer from these circumstances, including Padilla's unemployment, that the couple sold the drugs to support themselves. Based on the foregoing, the jury could reasonably surmise that Padilla knew the drugs, paraphernalia, and gun were in the BMW. Substantial evidence therefore supported Padilla's convictions under either theory of direct or accomplice liability.

¶13 Padilla also argues that a notebook found in the BMW alone was insufficient to establish her possession of the drugs. But we need not evaluate the evidentiary value of the notebook because, as explained, evidence other than the notebook established Padilla's unlawful possession. Because substantial evidence supported Padilla's convictions, we need not separately address her argument that the trial court erred by denying her motion for a judgment of acquittal under Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 20. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 20(a)(1) (providing that a judgment of acquittal is only appropriate if there is "no substantial evidence to support a conviction").

II. Misconduct Involving Weapons

¶14 Padilla asserts that the statute prohibiting the use of a deadly weapon while committing a...