Alexander A. Lopez v. State of Indiana ( 2012 )

FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before
Dec 28 2012, 9:50 am
any court except for the purpose of
establishing the defense of res judicata,
CLERK
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case. of the supreme court,
court of appeals and
tax court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
STEVEN E. RIPSTRA GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Jasper, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
JODI KATHRYN STEIN
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
ALEXANDER A. LOPEZ, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 63A04-1201-CR-35
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Plaintiff. )
APPEAL FROM THE PIKE CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable Jeffrey L. Biesterveld, Judge
Cause No. 63C01-1110-CM-186
December 28, 2012
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
PYLE, Judge
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Alexander Lopez (“Lopez”) appeals his conviction for class A misdemeanor
dealing in marijuana.1
We affirm.
ISSUES
1. Whether there is sufficient evidence to support the conviction.
2. Whether the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence.
3. Whether fundamental error occurred when the State referred to
Lopez’s speedy trial request.
4. Whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying Lopez’s motion for
leave to file a belated motion to correct error.
FACTS
On October 2, 2011, deputies with the Pike County Sheriff’s Department executed
a search warrant for the Winslow residence of Ryan Herald (“Herald”) after conducting
several controlled drug buys. In addition to seizing several drug-related items from the
residence, deputies seized Herald’s cell phone.
Later that evening, Deputy Jeff Boger (“Deputy Boger”) took Herald’s cell phone
back to the department in order to “go through it and . . . find out more information
relating to . . . the sale and purchase of drugs.” (Tr. 52). After the phone started ringing,
Deputy Boger checked the caller ID, which indicated that the caller’s name was “Flaco,”
1
Ind. Code § 35-48-4-10.
2
Lopez’s nickname. (Tr. 53). Without identifying himself, Deputy Boger answered the
phone. Lopez, who apparently believed that he was speaking with Herald, “started off by
asking for a ride . . . .” (Tr. 53). At some point in the conversation, Lopez “said he
would give half an ounce . . . of marijuana” for a ride to Indianapolis. (Tr. 54). Deputy
Boger “played along,” and told Lopez that he could provide him with a ride in exchange
for marijuana. (Tr. 55). Deputy Boger arranged to meet Lopez at Herald’s residence the
next morning.
The next morning, Deputy Boger and several other officers with the Pike County
Sheriff’s Department and the Petersburg Police Department positioned themselves “four
or five houses down from” Herald’s residence on County Road 300 East. (Tr. 56).
Deputy Boger and Lopez telephoned “back and forth” several times. (Tr. 57). At one
point, Lopez gave the phone to Joaquin Cunningham (“Cunningham”), who was driving
Lopez from Evansville to Herald’s residence, and Deputy Boger spoke with
Cunningham. As Lopez and Cunningham drove by the officers in Cunningham’s pick-up
truck, Lopez mentioned the officers’ presence, but Deputy Boger reassured him that
“they were cool.” (Tr. 80).
As Deputy Boger spoke with Lopez, Cunningham and Lopez drove “southbound
past” the officers, “[w]ent out of sight briefly,” and then passed the officers again. (Tr.
60). Because officers had discovered an AK-47 during the search of Herald’s residence
and did not know whether the truck’s occupants were armed, they initiated a stop of
Cunningham’s vehicle.
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Officer Chad Tharp (“Officer Tharp”) ordered the occupants to put up their hands
and exit the vehicle. Cunningham “[i]mmediately” put up his hands and exited the
vehicle in accordance with the officer’s orders. (Tr. 87). Lopez started to comply with
Officer Tharp’s commands but lowered his hands as he looked over his shoulder toward
the officers. Lopez then reached down and leaned over toward the center of the truck’s
cab before finally complying with Officer Tharp’s orders.
After the officers read Cunningham and Lopez their Miranda rights, Cunningham
consented to a search of his vehicle. Cunningham also volunteered that he had marijuana
in his pocket. A search of Cunningham did reveal “a small bag of marijuana in his
pocket.” (Tr. 156). Once the officers had handcuffed and seated Cunningham and
Lopez, Officer Tharp overheard Lopez tell Cunningham that “he couldn’t go down for
that . . . .” (Tr. 139).
During a search of the truck, Deputy Dallas Killian (“Deputy Killian”) located a
baggie “on the transmission covering or hump . . . between the passenger and driver”
sides. (Tr. 159). The baggie contained fourteen (14) grams, or one-half (1/2) ounce, of
marijuana. Cunningham denied knowing anything about the marijuana discovered in the
truck. Officers also recovered a bag belonging to Lopez in the cab.
After placing Lopez and Cunningham under arrest, deputies transported them to
the Pike County Jail, where they were housed together. On October 4, 2011,
Cunningham made a voluntary statement, wherein he represented the following:
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I . . . am a witness that my cousin [Lopez] had no poss [sic] of marijuana or
intent to sell. He was simply trying to get a ride to Indianapolis to get tires
for his truck. The marijuana that was found in th[e] truck was in my
possession because the truck was mine, [e]ven tho [sic] I was unaware of it
being in there. [Lopez] had no awareness that the marijuana was in there as
well.
(Lopez’s Ex. B).
On October 5, 2011, the State charged Lopez with Count 1, class A misdemeanor
possession of marijuana, and Count 2, class A misdemeanor possessing marijuana with
the intent to deliver. That same day, Rebecca Burns (“Burns”), Cunningham’s mother,
spoke with Lopez on the telephone while Lopez was in jail. During the conversation,
which was recorded and later transcribed, Lopez offered Burns money if Burns would
telephone the prosecutor and try to get the charges against Lopez dropped. Lopez told
Burns to represent that Lopez was her nephew and that he should be released because
Cunningham had made a voluntary statement. Lopez told Burns that “they ain’t [sic]
going to do nothing [sic] to” Cunningham for what would be a misdemeanor conviction
whereas Lopez would get a harsher sentence because he was on parole at the time for
“[d]rug dealing and trafficking cocaine . . . .” (State’s Ex. 4 at 19).
Subsequently, while Lopez was in court for a pre-trial hearing, Deputy John
Palmer (“Deputy Palmer”) overheard Lopez tell a bailiff that “all [he] had was a small
bag of marijuana and they’re trying to make a big deal of it.” (Tr. 120). On another
occasion, Deputy Palmer overheard Lopez say that “[a]ll [he] had was a small bag of
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marijuana.” (Tr. 121). Lopez made this statement after meeting with the prosecutor and
his counsel.
The trial court commenced a two-day jury trial on December 12, 2011. During the
trial, Cunningham testified that he had purchased the marijuana found in the truck
approximately three days prior to being stopped, but he had forgotten “where [he] put it.”
(Tr. 297). Cunningham further testified that he usually purchased his marijuana from a
“Michael Smith,” but he did not know “for sure” the name of the person from whom he
purchased the marijuana found in the truck. (Tr. 280). He also did not know what the
person looked like or where he had purchased the marijuana. He testified that he usually
purchased only “very little sacks” of marijuana and seldom purchased “halves and ounces
. . . .” (Tr. 281).
Also during the trial, the trial court, over Lopez’s objections, admitted into
evidence the recording of the telephone call between Lopez and Burns and the deposition
testimony of Deputy Don Burkhart (“Deputy Burkhart”), who was unavailable for trial.
Deputy Burkhart testified that he had observed Lopez and Cunningham having a
conversation, “being led primarily by” Lopez, in the jail’s outdoor recreation area shortly
before Cunningham requested a voluntary statement form from the deputies. (State’s Ex.
3 at 8).
On the morning of the second day of the trial, the State advised the trial court and
Lopez’s counsel that as Deputy Killian was leading Lopez out of the courtroom following
the prior day’s proceedings, the jurors also were leaving the courtroom “and some of
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them may have seen [Lopez] in handcuffs.” (Tr. 208). The State reported that Lopez
then
had an outburst and attempted to draw the fact that he was in handcuffs to
the attention of more jurors by raising his hands up and . . . gesturing with
the handcuffs and . . . saying words to the effect of: See. They’ve got me
in handcuffs. See. They’ve got me in handcuffs.
(Tr. 208-09). Deputy Killian hurried Lopez into an elevator and went straight to the first
floor. Upon exiting the elevator, however, Lopez noticed that some of the jurors had
reached the first floor, and he again “attempted to bring the fact that he was handcuffed to
the attention of the jurors” before being “forcibly removed” from the courthouse by
Deputy Killian. (Tr. 209).
Outside the presence of the jury and after consulting with Lopez, Lopez’s counsel
advised the trial court that Lopez was merely upset because he was handcuffed despite
already being restrained by a knee brace. Lopez’s counsel then sought a mistrial “due to
the fact that there was knowledge [Lopez] had a knee brace on. It was a restraining
device used by the officers . . . [a]nd there was no need for the handcuffs . . . .” (Tr. 212-
12).
In order to determine whether there was any prejudice, the trial court voir dired the
jurors regarding what they observed or heard after leaving the courtroom. Juror #1 saw
nothing. Juror #2 “wasn’t paying attention” and did not know whether Lopez was
handcuffed or not. (Tr. 221). Juror #3 did not see Lopez wearing handcuffs but heard
Lopez say, “you’re not suppose [sic] to see me in handcuffs.” (Tr. 223). Juror #4 did
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observe Lopez wearing handcuffs but “assumed he would be in handcuffs going back and
forth from [the courtroom] to the jail.” (Tr. 226). Juror #5 observed Lopez being placed
in a police vehicle but “didn’t pay that much attention” to whether he was handcuffed.
(Tr. 230). Juror #6 denied seeing Lopez in handcuffs. The alternate juror “didn’t pay
attention” to Lopez as they were leaving the courtroom. (Tr. 236). All of the jurors
indicated that they could be fair and impartial and nothing that they saw or heard would
affect the presumption of innocence. The trial court therefore denied Lopez’s motion for
mistrial.
The jury found Lopez guilty on both counts. At the sentencing hearing, the trial
court merged Count 1 with Count 2 and imposed a 365-day sentence to be served in the
Pike County Security Center. The trial court further ordered that the sentence run
consecutively to the sentences imposed under three other cause numbers.
Lopez, pro se, filed a notice of appeal on January 24, 2012. On February 6, 2012,
Lopez, by counsel, filed an amended notice of appeal. On April 5, 2012, the Court
Reporter for the Pike Circuit Court (the “Court Reporter”) filed the trial transcript.
On April 25, 2012, Lopez filed a motion for leave to file a belated motion to
correct error pursuant to Indiana Post-Conviction Rule 2 after his appellate counsel
discovered that State’s Exhibits 3 and 4 had not been “transcribed in the trial
Transcript[.]” (App. 178). Specifically, Lopez sought “to hold an evidentiary hearing, in
order to make a complete record for appeal; which hearing may likely consist of
8
testimony from police officers present during the ‘handcuff’ incident, along with the
seven (7) jurors . . . .” (App. 179).
On May 23, 2012, Lopez also filed a motion with this Court, seeking to stay and
remand his appeal to the trial court, or in the alternative, for an extension of time to file
his appellant’s brief. This Court ordered the Court Reporter to transcribe the two audio
exhibits, to file a supplemental transcript, and to file an amended notice of completion of
the transcript, thirty (30) days after which Lopez’s brief would be due. On May 18 and
June 18, 2012, the Court Reporter filed notice of the filing of the transcript of State’s
Exhibit 3 and State’s Exhibit 4, respectively.
At some point, the trial court held a hearing on Lopez’s motion, and on June 18,
2012, the trial court denied the motion. Specifically, the court explained that it denied the
motion because Lopez’s direct appeal was pending in this Court. Lopez now appeals his
conviction as well as the denial of his motion.
DECISION
1. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Lopez asserts that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for dealing
in marijuana.
When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a
conviction, appellate courts must consider only the probative evidence and
reasonable inferences supporting the verdict. It is the fact-finder’s role, not
that of appellate courts, to assess witness credibility and weigh the evidence
to determine whether it is sufficient to support a conviction. To preserve
this structure, when appellate courts are confronted with conflicting
evidence, they must consider it most favorably to the trial court’s ruling.
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Appellate courts affirm the conviction unless no reasonable fact-finder
could find the elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It
is therefore not necessary that the evidence overcome every reasonable
hypothesis of innocence. The evidence is sufficient if an inference may
reasonably be drawn from it to support the verdict.
Drane v. State, 867 N.E.2d 144, 146-47 (Ind. 2007) (quotations and citations omitted).
To convict Lopez of class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana with intent to
deliver, the State was required to prove that he knowingly or intentionally possessed
thirty (30) grams or less of marijuana with the intent to deliver it to another person. See
I.C. § 35-48-4-10.
This court has long recognized that a conviction for possession of
contraband may be founded upon actual or constructive possession.
Constructive possession is established by showing that the defendant has
the intent and capability to maintain dominion and control over the
contraband.
In cases where the accused has exclusive possession of the premises
on which the contraband is found, an inference is permitted that he or she
knew of the presence of contraband and was capable of controlling it.
However, when possession of the premises is non-exclusive, the inference
is not permitted absent some additional circumstances indicating
knowledge of the presence of the contraband and the ability to control it.
Among the recognized “additional circumstances” are: (1) incriminating
statements by the defendant; (2) attempted flight or furtive gestures; (3) a
drug manufacturing setting; (4) proximity of the defendant to the
contraband; (5) contraband is in plain view; and (6) location of the
contraband is in close proximity to items owned by the defendant.
Holmes v. State, 785 N.E.2d 658, 660-61 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (citations omitted).
It is undisputed that Lopez did not exercise exclusive control of the vehicle. Thus,
the State was required to present evidence of additional circumstances indicating his
knowledge of the presence of the marijuana and his ability to control it.
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In this regard, the State presented evidence that Lopez made several incriminating
statements. Namely, he offered one-half ounce of marijuana to Deputy Boger in
exchange for a ride to Indianapolis. Officers later found one-half ounce of marijuana in
the truck. Lopez also made statements about the amount of marijuana found in the truck,
stating that he only had a “small” amount. (Tr. 120, 121).
The State also presented evidence that Lopez made furtive gestures after being
stopped by the police. Officers testified that despite numerous commands to put up his
hands, Lopez lowered them, out of the officers’ sight, as he leaned down and toward the
center of the truck. Deputy Killian discovered the bag of marijuana in plain view on the
floor of the truck, in the area where Lopez had made his furtive movements and in an
area to which Lopez had access. Officers also discovered items belonging to Lopez in
the cab of the truck.
Contrary to Lopez’s assertion, this case is not analogous to Brent v. State, 957
N.E.2d 648 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011), trans. denied. In that case, this court found insufficient
evidence of constructive possession of marijuana, where the suspicious behavior was
attributable to the driver, not Brent, the passenger. Here, however, suspicious behavior
was also attributable to passenger Lopez.
Here, the State presented evidence to support Lopez’s conviction for possession of
marijuana with the intent to deliver it to another person. Indiana Code § 35-48-1-11
defines “delivery” as meaning the actual or constructive transfer of a controlled substance
from one person to another. Because intent is a mental state, triers of fact generally must
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resort to the reasonable inferences arising from the surrounding circumstances to
determine whether the requisite intent exists. Love v. State, 741 N.E.2d 789, 792 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2001). Circumstantial evidence showing possession with intent to deliver may
support a conviction. Id.In this case, the State presented evidence that Lopez, believing he was speaking to
Herald, offered Deputy Boger one-half ounce of marijuana in exchange for a ride to
Indianapolis. Deputy Boger agreed and arranged to meet Lopez the next day. The
following day, Lopez spoke with Deputy Boger on the phone, intending to meet him as
arranged. When Deputy Killian searched the truck in which Lopez was riding, he
discovered one-half ounce of marijuana in the truck. Given the evidence, the jury could
reasonably infer that Lopez intended to deliver the marijuana to Deputy Boger. We
decline Lopez’s invitation to reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of the
witnesses.
2. Admission of Evidence
Lopez also asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the
recording of the telephone conversation between Lopez and Burns wherein Lopez briefly
mentioned his parole three times, referred to his prior period of incarceration twice, and
referred to his prior conviction once. Specifically, Lopez argues that the evidence was
irrelevant; prejudicial; and prohibited by Evidence Rule 404(b), which provides that
“[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a
person in order to show action in conformity therewith.”
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Generally, a trial court’s ruling on the admissibility of evidence is reviewed for an
abuse of discretion. Hape v. State, 903 N.E.2d 977, 991 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), trans.
denied. We will reverse a trial court’s decision only if it clearly against the logic and
effect of the facts and circumstances of the case. Id. Even if the decision was an abuse
of discretion, we will not reverse if the admission of evidence constituted harmless error.
Id.Here, we need not decide whether the trial court improperly admitted the
conversation because we conclude any error to be harmless.
No error in the admission of evidence is grounds for setting aside a
conviction unless such erroneous admission appears inconsistent with
substantial justice or affects the substantial rights of the parties. The
improper admission of evidence is harmless error when the conviction is
supported by such substantial independent evidence of guilt as to satisfy the
reviewing court that there is no substantial likelihood that the questioned
evidence contributed to the conviction.
Lafayette v. State, 917 N.E.2d 660, 668 (Ind. 2009) (internal citations omitted).
A reversal may be obtained only if the record as a whole discloses that the
erroneously admitted evidence was likely to have had a prejudicial impact upon the mind
of the average juror and thereby contributed to the verdict. Granger v. State, 946 N.E.2d
1209, 1217 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). Thus, the question is not whether there is sufficient
evidence to support the conviction absent the erroneously admitted evidence, but whether
the evidence was likely to have had a prejudicial impact on the jury. Shepherd v. State,
902 N.E.2d 360, 364 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), trans. denied.
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Here, Deputy Boger testified that Lopez offered him one-half ounce of marijuana
in exchange for a ride to Indianapolis. The State presented evidence that Lopez
possessed one-half ounce of marijuana on the day and at the place that he and Deputy
Boger had arranged to meet. The State also presented evidence that Lopez made
incriminating statements.
As to the recording, the jury heard approximately fifteen minutes of a telephone
conversation between Lopez and Burns wherein Lopez offered money if Burns would
telephone the prosecutor and the judge and tell them to release him because Cunningham
admitted that the marijuana was in his possession. Also in the recording, Lopez briefly
mentioned his parole three times, referred to his prior period of incarceration twice, and
referred to his prior conviction once. As to the jury hearing “themselves characterized as,
in essence and paraphrasing, ‘country redneck gringos,’” (Lopez’s Br. at 13), it was
Burns, not Lopez, who stated that Lopez and Cunningham were in “redneck” and
“gringo” territory. (State’s Ex. 4 at 10, 11).
In light of the evidence, particularly Lopez’s incriminating statements, we cannot
say that admitting the recording had a prejudicial impact on the jury. We therefore find
that any error in admitting the evidence must be disregarded as harmless.
3. Fundamental Error
During defense counsel’s cross examination of Deputy Boger, defense counsel
implied that the State was behind schedule on discovery. The State objected and
explained to the trial court that the State was under a time constraint because of the
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defendant’s assertion of his right to a speedy trial. Because Lopez did not object to the
State’s reference to the assertion of his right to a speedy trial at trial, Lopez now contends
that this reference constituted fundamental error.
Fundamental error is a substantial, blatant violation of basic principles of due
process that render the trial unfair to the defendant. Stafford v. State, 736 N.E.2d 326,
332 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000), trans. denied. The fundamental error doctrine is extremely
narrow. Wooden v. State, 757 N.E.2d 212, 215 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000), trans. denied. In
order to qualify as fundamental error, the error must be so prejudicial to the rights of the
defendant as to make a fair trial impossible. Mitchell v. State, 726 N.E.2d 1228 (Ind.
2000), abrogated on other grounds by Beattie v. State, 924 N.E.2d 643 (Ind. 2012).
Here, Lopez’s cursory one-page argument fails to allege how he was prejudiced by
this comment and how it made a fair trial impossible. Further, our review of the
transcript reveals no such prejudice. We find no fundamental error.
4. Motion to Correct Error
Lopez contends that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for
leave to file a belated motion to correct error. Lopez argues that he should be allowed “to
make a better record with respect to the juror examination conducted on th[e] issue” of
whether he was prejudiced by being in the jurors’ presence while in handcuffs. Lopez’s
Br. at 17.
Lopez’s argument fails for several reasons. First, the State correctly points out
that this Court acquired jurisdiction when the notice of completion of clerk’s record was
15
filed on February 6, 2012. See Ind. Appellate Rule 8. The appeal of a conviction has the
effect of transferring jurisdiction of the case to the appellate court and suspending any
further trial court jurisdiction over the action. Bradley v. State, 649 N.E.2d 100, 106 (Ind.
1995). The trial court therefore lacked the authority to rule on Lopez’s motion and
properly denied the motion on that basis.
Second, the State also correctly points out that Indiana Post-Conviction Relief
Rule 2(2) is not the proper avenue of relief for Lopez to pursue. Specifically, pursuant to
Rule 2(2), an eligible defendant who is entitled to relief on a belated motion to correct
error is a defendant who, but for the defendant’s failure to do so timely, would have the
right to challenge on direct appeal a conviction or sentence after a trial or plea of guilty
by filing a notice of appeal. Here, however, Lopez timely filed a notice of appeal. He is
therefore not eligible to proceed under this rule.
Lastly, even if the trial court had jurisdiction to rule on the motion, and Lopez was
eligible to proceed under Rule 2(2), his argument would still fail. This Court reviews the
denial of a belated motion to correct error for an abuse of discretion. Moshenek v. State,
868 N.E.2d 419, 422 (Ind. 2007). Our review of the evidence reveals that the situation
regarding the jurors seeing Lopez in handcuffs was promptly brought to the attention of
the trial court, and the jurors were individually questioned about what they had seen.
They were also asked whether what they had seen was in any way going to influence
them to believe that Lopez’s guilt was a foregone conclusion, and whether they had
formed at that point any conclusion as to Lopez’s guilt or innocence. All seven jurors
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stated they would be fair and impartial. Although Lopez had the opportunity to question
officers about the incident, he failed to call them to the stand. Lopez provides no
compelling reason for this Court to allow him to supplement the trial record with
additional evidence. This is particularly true given that Lopez is, in part, responsible for
calling jurors’ attention to the fact that he was handcuffed. See Wright v. State, 828
N.E.2d 904 (Ind. 2005) (explaining that under the invited error doctrine, a party may not
take advantage of an error that he commits, invites, or which is the natural consequence
of his own neglect or misconduct). We find no error.
Affirmed.
FRIEDLANDER, J., and BROWN, J., concur.
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