State v. Wood, 14949

Decision Date19 April 1994
Docket NumberNo. 14949,14949
Citation117 N.M. 682,875 P.2d 1113,1994 NMCA 60
PartiesSTATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Claude WOOD, Defendant-Appellant.
CourtCourt of Appeals of New Mexico

Sammy J. Quintana, Chief Public Defender, Christopher Bulman, Asst. Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, for defendant-appellant.

Tom Udall, Atty. Gen., Bill Primm, Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for plaintiff-appellee.

OPINION

DONNELLY, Judge.

Defendant appeals his conviction for possession of cocaine, contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 30-31-23(D) (Cum.Supp.1993). In challenging his conviction, Defendant argues that (1) the trace amount of cocaine he was alleged to have possessed was insufficient to support his conviction; (2) as applied to him, the possession statute is unconstitutionally vague; and (3) his conviction for possession of cocaine violates constitutional protections against double jeopardy. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm.

FACTS

On April 10, 1992, Defendant was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and was transported to a local police station. As part of the booking procedure, Defendant was asked to empty his pockets. Defendant was observed removing three syringes and a soft drink bottle cap from his pants pocket. The syringes had needles still attached to them, and two of the needles were exposed. There was no visible trace of cocaine on any of the items. Two of the syringes contained a small amount of blood. The syringes and the bottle cap were seized and sent to a crime laboratory for testing. The syringes tested positive for cocaine; the bottle cap tested negative. The amount of cocaine present in the syringes was less than 0.0001 gram.

After receipt of the test results from the crime lab, Defendant was charged with possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, under Section 30-31-23. Following a jury trial Defendant was found guilty.

DISCUSSION
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence

Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. In order for this Court to conclude that there was sufficient evidence to support a conviction, the evidence must be such that a rational jury could have found each element of the particular crime to be established beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Garcia, 114 N.M. 269, 273-74, 837 P.2d 862, 866-67 (1992); see also State v. Sutphin, 107 N.M. 126, 131, 753 P.2d 1314, 1319 (1988). On appeal we do not reweigh the evidence, nor do we substitute our judgment concerning the weight or effect of the evidence for that of the fact finder. Sutphin, 107 N.M. at 131, 753 P.2d at 1319. Instead, we view the evidence in a light most favorable to support the verdict, resolving all conflicts and indulging all inferences in favor of the verdict reached below. State v. Ungarten, 115 N.M. 607, 609, 856 P.2d 569, 571 (Ct.App.1993). In determining the sufficiency of the evidence we review both direct and circumstantial evidence. Id.

To convict an individual of possession of a controlled substance both possession and knowledge of possession of a controlled substance must be established. Section 30-31-23; see also SCRA 1986, 14-3102. Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence as to each of these requirements. We review the evidence bearing upon each element.

A. Possession

In enacting Section 30-31-23(D), the legislature specifically made possession of "a controlled substance" or "a narcotic drug," as enumerated in certain schedules, a criminal act. Id. Defendant argues that the trace amount of cocaine found in his possession is insufficient to prove a violation of Section 30-31-23(D), and that the language of the statute he is charged with violating is ambiguous. In response the State contends that the legislature, by using the words "a controlled substance" and "a narcotic drug," chose words which are clear on their face and the statute affirmatively resolved the question of whether possession of a small or trace amount of a controlled substance constitutes a criminal offense.

In State v. Grijalva, 85 N.M. 127, 509 P.2d 894 (Ct.App.1973), this Court considered the question of whether a "usable" amount of a controlled substance was necessary to support a conviction for possession of a controlled substance. We interpreted the words "any amount" in accordance with their plain meaning and stated that "the mere possession of any amount of the prohibited substance is enough to violate the statutory proscription." Id. at 130, 509 P.2d at 897. Grijalva The starting point in every case involving the construction of a statute is an examination of the language utilized by the drafters of the act. See Roth v. Thompson, 113 N.M. 331, 332, 825 P.2d 1241, 1242 (1992) (primary objective of statutory construction is to ascertain and give effect to intent of legislature). Reading the language of Section 30-31-23, we think it is clear that the words "a controlled substance" or "a narcotic drug" are used in their ordinary context, and that, in enacting Subsection D of the statute, the legislature intended to prohibit possession of any identifiable amount of a controlled substance. See Grijalva, 85 N.M. at 130, 509 P.2d at 897. There is no indication in Subsection D that a specific amount is required for conviction. In contrast with the approach taken in Subsections C and D, in enacting Subsection B the legislature adopted differing penalties for possession of specific quantities of marijuana. See Sec. 30-31-23(B)(1)-(3) (declaring that possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is, for the first offense, a petty misdemeanor; possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is, for the second offense, a misdemeanor; possession of more than one ounce and less than eight ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor; and possession of eight ounces or more of marijuana is a fourth-degree felony). This evinces a legislative intent to impose increased punishments based upon the quantity of marijuana an individual is shown to have possessed. In framing Subsection C, however, the legislature used the words "any amount" and "a controlled substance," and in enacting Subsection D, the legislature used the words "a controlled substance" and "a narcotic drug."

[117 N.M. 685] further held that "[t]he statutes under which defendant was charged do not require possession of any certain quality or quantity of the marijuana or drugs." Id. Although Grijalva only addressed the question of "usable" amount and was decided under prior law, we believe the reasoning of that case is also applicable to Defendant's argument in the present case.

This Court will not read language into a statutory provision which is clear on its face. See State v. Gutierrez, 102 N.M. 726, 730, 699 P.2d 1078, 1082 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 102 N.M. 734, 700 P.2d 197 (1985). Section 30-31-23 is unambiguous; a plain reading of the provision indicates that any clearly identifiable amount of a controlled substance is sufficient evidence to support a conviction for possession of a controlled substance. See Grijalva, 85 N.M. at 130, 509 P.2d at 897 ("Statutory words are presumed to be used in their ordinary and usual sense."); see also Herron v. State, 111 N.M. 357, 359, 805 P.2d 624, 626 (1991) (when enacting or amending a statute, the legislature is deemed to be aware of existing statutes and judicial decisions).

Relying in part upon cases from other jurisdictions, Defendant also argues that the legislature intended the words "any amount" to mean a "usable amount" or a "measurable amount" of a controlled substance. In advancing this contention Defendant relies on out-of-state authority. See, e.g., People v. Leal, 64 Cal.2d 504, 50 Cal.Rptr. 777, 413 P.2d 665, 670 (1966) (en banc). We disagree with the rationale of the decisions Defendant urges us to follow, and, instead, we are guided by the plain language of Section 30-31-23(D). As discussed above, we believe the statutory design in adopting the language of Section 30-31-23(D) is that the words "a controlled substance" or "a narcotic drug" were intended by the legislature to mean what they say, i.e., any clearly identifiable amount of a controlled substance defined therein.

Defendant further argues that applying a literal interpretation of Section 30-31-23(D) to permit his prosecution for possession of any amount of a controlled substance produces a harsh result because he was also prosecuted for possession of drug paraphernalia pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 30-31-25.1 (Repl. Pamp.1989). Defendant argues that Section 30-31-25.1 is designed to discourage possession of a used syringe containing a minute amount of a narcotic drug and, therefore, overlaps in effect with Section 30-31-23. This argument, however, misperceives the role of the court. A reviewing court may not substitute its judgment concerning policy grounds for enactment of criminal statutes. "[T]he power to define Applying the principles discussed above to the record before us, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence of Defendant's possession of a controlled substance so that the jury could reasonably determine that this element of the crime was established beyond a reasonable doubt. See Garcia, 114 N.M. at 273-74, 837 P.2d at 866-67; see also State v. McCarthy, 25 Conn.App. 624, 595 A.2d 941, 944 (recognizing as majority view the view that possession of "any amount" of a controlled substance is sufficient to uphold possession conviction), cert. denied, 220 Conn. 925, 598 A.2d 366 (1991); State v. Vance, 61 Haw. 291, 602 P.2d 933, 943-44 (1979); State v. Robinson, 426 S.E.2d 317, 318 (S.C.1992) (holding that a "measurable amount" of a controlled substance is not required to sustain a conviction of possession of narcotics; legislature intended to prohibit possession of even trace amounts). See generally Danny R. Veilleux, Annotation, Minimum Quantity of Drug Required to Support Claim That Defendant is Guilty of Criminal "Possession" of Drug Under State Law, 4 A.L.R. 5th 1 (19...

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