Phillip Branch v. Commonwealth ( 2002 )

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Chief Judge Fitzpatrick, Judges Benton, Elder,
Annunziata, Bumgardner, Frank, Humphreys, Clements,
Agee, Felton and Kelsey
Argued at Richmond, Virginia
PHILLIP BRANCH
MEMORANDUM OPINION * BY
v. Record No. 1077-01-2 JUDGE ROSEMARIE ANNUNZIATA
DECEMBER 3, 2002
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
UPON A REHEARING EN BANC
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
Robert W. Duling, Judge
Cynthia E. Payne, Assistant Public Defender
(Office of the Public Defender, on brief),
for appellant.
Robert H. Anderson, III, Senior Assistant
Attorney General (Jerry W. Kilgore, Attorney
General, on brief), for appellee.
On May 7, 2002, a unanimous panel of this Court reversed
and dismissed the conviction of appellant, Phillip Branch, for
possession of a firearm, in violation of Code § 18.2-308.2. 1 The
panel determined that the Commonwealth's evidence did not
establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Branch was aware of the
nature, presence and character of the gun in the car and,
* Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not
designated for publication.
1
Branch was also convicted of attempting to elude the
police in violation of Code § 46.2-817(B). That conviction is
not at issue on appeal.
therefore, that he was not in constructive possession of it. We
stayed the mandate of that decision and reinstated the appeal.
Upon rehearing en banc, we affirm the trial court.
On appeal, we view the facts in the light most favorable to
the Commonwealth, the party prevailing below, and grant to it
all reasonable inferences fairly deducible therefrom. See
Cressell v. Commonwealth, 32 Va. App. 744, 763-64, 531 S.E.2d 1,
10 (2000). On September 27, 2000, at approximately 2:00 a.m.,
Trooper Jeffrey Stump, of the Virginia State Police, observed
Branch travelling 71 miles per hour in a posted 55
miles-per-hour zone. When Stump turned on his emergency lights
and siren, Branch began a high-speed flight, through a
construction zone, that ended only after he ran into a 12-foot
stockade fence. The collision brought the car to a complete
stop. Branch exited the car and ran, leaving behind a person in
the passenger side of the car.
Stump had the passenger exit the car. He saw a .44 Magnum
revolver, partially under the floor mat with the handle in close
proximity to the brake pedal. Branch was apprehended by another
trooper a short time later.
At trial, Branch testified that he was driving the car,
which belonged to his girlfriend, Sherelle Crews, and had been
stolen around 10:30 p.m. that evening and that he and a friend
looked for the stolen car until they found it at approximately
1:00 a.m.
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After locating the car, Branch drove onto Interstate 95.
Branch testified he was speeding because he was afraid to drive
without his license and he knew he was on probation. He stated
he "panicked" and tried to flee when Stump activated his
emergency lights and siren. However, he claimed he did not know
the gun was in the car and contended that it would have been
impossible for him to drive with the gun in the location where
Stump found it.
Branch's girlfriend, Crews, testified that her car was
stolen earlier that evening and that Branch and a friend had
gone to look for it. She denied owning a gun and denied telling
Stump that Branch did not have permission to drive the car.
On appeal, Branch contends the evidence presented by the
Commonwealth was insufficient to establish his constructive
possession of the gun. We disagree and affirm.
When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence after a
conviction, we consider that evidence in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, and we affirm the conviction
unless it is plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.
Shackleford v. Commonwealth, 262 Va. 196, 209, 547 S.E.2d 899,
906-07 (2001) (citing Horton v. Commonwealth, 255 Va. 606, 608,
499 S.E.2d 258, 259 (1998)). When the circuit court sits
without a jury, as in this case, it acts as the fact finder and,
therefore, the court's judgment is accorded the same weight as a
jury verdict. See id. As the fact finder, the court "need not
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believe the accused's explanation and may infer that he is
trying to conceal his guilt." Id. Moreover, "[f]light
following the commission of a crime is evidence of guilt
. . . ." Clagett v. Commonwealth, 252 Va. 79, 93, 472 S.E.2d
263, 271 (1996), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 1122 (1997).
Nevertheless, where the evidence is entirely circumstantial, all
necessary circumstances proved must be consistent with guilt and
inconsistent with innocence, and must exclude every reasonable
hypothesis of innocence. Sutphin v. Commonwealth, 1 Va. App.
241, 244, 337 S.E.2d 897, 898 (1985) (citations omitted).
"Whether an alternative hypothesis of innocence is reasonable is
a question of fact and, therefore, is binding on appeal unless
plainly wrong." Stevens v. Commonwealth, 38 Va. App. 528, 535,
567 S.E.2d 537, 540 (2002) (citations omitted).
To support a conviction for knowingly and intentionally
possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony,
there must be proof that the defendant actually or
constructively possessed the firearm at issue. See Blake v.
Commonwealth, 15 Va. App. 706, 708-09, 427 S.E.2d 219, 220-21
(1993). To sustain a conviction based upon constructive
possession, "the Commonwealth must point to evidence of acts,
statements, or conduct of the accused or other facts or
circumstances which tend to show that [Branch] was aware of both
the presence and character of the [gun] and that it was subject
to his dominion and control." Powers v. Commonwealth, 227
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Va. 474, 476, 316 S.E.2d 739, 740 (1984). "'However, the
Commonwealth is not required to prove that there is no
possibility that someone else may have planted, discarded,
abandoned, or placed the [firearm] where [it was] found near an
accused.'" Grier v. Commonwealth, 35 Va. App. 560, 571, 546
S.E.2d 743, 748 (2001) (quoting Pemberton v. Commonwealth, 17
Va. App. 651, 655, 440 S.E.2d 420, 422 (1994)).
Mere proximity to the gun is not sufficient to establish
dominion and control. See Drew v. Commonwealth, 230 Va. 471,
473, 338 S.E.2d 844, 845 (1986). Likewise, "ownership or
occupancy alone is insufficient to prove knowing possession of a
gun located on the premises or in a car." Burchette v.
Commonwealth, 15 Va. App. 432, 435, 425 S.E.2d 81, 83 (1992).
However, ownership, occupancy and proximity are circumstances
that may be considered together to prove constructive
possession. See id.; see generally Drew, 230 Va. at 473, 338
S.E.2d at 845; Powers, 227 Va. at 476, 316 S.E.2d at 740.
We find the Commonwealth's evidence excluded Branch's
hypothesis that someone else placed the gun in the car and that
he neither knew of its presence nor exercised dominion and
control over it. See Archer v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 1,
12-13, 492 S.E.2d 826, 832 (1997) ("'The Commonwealth need only
exclude reasonable hypotheses of innocence that flow from the
evidence, not those that spring from the imagination of the
defendant.'" (citation omitted)).
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The gun was present in plain view and under Branch's feet,
in a car Branch was driving. Branch's contention at trial, that
he would not have been able to operate the car with the gun in
that location, was rejected by the trial court. The photograph
introduced to establish the gun's location relative to the
operating pedals does not place the gun below the brake pedal,
but rather, to the left of the pedal, near the footrest.
Viewing this evidence, together with Branch's flight from
police, the trial court's resolution of the remaining
credibility issues raised by Branch and his witness, Crews,
including Branch's denial that he possessed a gun, we find the
evidence proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Branch possessed
a firearm, in violation of Code § 18.2-308.2.
Affirmed.
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Humphreys, J., with whom Benton, J., joins, dissenting.
Because I would find the circumstantial evidence in this case
was insufficient as a matter of law to prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that Branch constructively possessed the gun, I respectfully
dissent from the majority opinion.
As the majority aptly states, "[w]hen a defendant challenges
the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, the reviewing court
must give the judgment of the trial court sitting without a jury
the same weight as a jury verdict." Tarpley v. Commonwealth, 261
Va. 251, 256, 542 S.E.2d 761, 763 (2001) (citing Hickson v.
Commonwealth, 258 Va. 383, 387, 520 S.E.2d 643, 645 (1999);
Commonwealth v. Taylor, 256 Va. 514, 518, 506 S.E.2d 312, 314
(1998)). Indeed, an appellate court has the duty to examine the
evidence that tends to support the conviction and to uphold the
conviction unless it is plainly wrong or without evidence to
support it. Code § 8.01-680. However, an "appellate court is
equally obligated to set aside the trial court's judgment when it
is contrary to the law and the evidence and, therefore, the
judgment is plainly wrong." Tarpley, 261 Va. at 256, 542 S.E.2d
at 763 (emphasis added).
"When 'a conviction is based on circumstantial evidence, all
necessary circumstances proved must be consistent with guilt and
inconsistent with innocence and exclude every reasonable
hypothesis of innocence.'" Grier v. Commonwealth, 35 Va. App.
560, 571, 546 S.E.2d 743, 748 (2001) (quoting Garland v.
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Commonwealth, 225 Va. 182, 184, 300 S.E.2d 783, 784 (1983)).
Thus, the evidence itself, when taken in the light most favorable
to the Commonwealth, must exclude every reasonable hypothesis of
innocence. 2
The evidence in this case, taken in the light most favorable
to the Commonwealth and as accepted by the trial court, proved
that Branch was driving a car that did not belong to him when he
was observed speeding by the police. The evidence further proved
that a police pursuit ensued, during which Branch drove at speeds
in excess of 80 miles per hour, drove through a road construction
zone where the car collided with construction barrels and drove
across railroad tracks at a high rate of speed. As Trooper Stump
testified, when Branch hit the railroad tracks, the car he was
driving left the ground and collided with a 12-foot stockade
fence, traveling "five, six feet through the fence before it
stopped." Stump testified that when the car came to a stop, he
observed Branch "immediately" get out of the car and run. Stump
stated that when he approached the driver's side of the car, he
saw the gun at issue "underneath the driver's foot pedal and
partially under the [floor] mat." The photograph admitted into
evidence during trial revealed that the handle of the gun was
2
As the majority recognizes, it is fundamental that such
hypotheses must be reasonable and flow from the evidence itself.
"The Commonwealth need . . . not [exclude] those [hypotheses]
that spring from the imagination of the defendant." Hamilton v.
Commonwealth, 16 Va. App. 751, 755, 433 S.E.2d 27, 29 (1993).
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indeed, in close proximity to the brake pedal, that the floor mat
was askew, and that other debris was scattered on the floor of the
passenger compartment. The evidence also established that Branch
was on probation at the time of the incident and that he was
driving without a valid operator's license. Finally, depending on
the version of the events accepted by the trial court, the
evidence proved that the car had either been stolen that evening
and Crews had given Branch permission to search for it, or that
Branch was driving Crews' car without her permission.
Applying the above-stated standard of review, I conclude that
this evidence, while certainly suspicious to the extent of showing
a probability of guilt, is insufficient as a matter of law to
establish Branch's constructive possession of the gun. First, the
Commonwealth produced no direct evidence linking the gun to
Branch. In addition, and contrary to the view espoused by the
majority, there was simply no evidence that the gun was in plain
view while Branch was in control of the car. Indeed, the evidence
established that the contents of the driver's side floor area of
the car were askew and in disarray when Trooper Stump approached
the car, immediately after the collision. Thus, any conclusion
that the gun was in plain view, or even in close proximity to
Branch, prior to the collision and while Branch was in control of
the car, could not be reached without an exercise in conjecture
and speculation.
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Next, although it is reasonable to infer that Branch ran from
police because he had knowledge of the gun in the car, the
inference, standing alone, is insufficient to establish Branch's
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Neither this inference, nor the
evidence, excluded the remaining reasonable hypotheses of Branch's
innocence. Indeed, Branch claimed he ran because he knew he was
on probation and that he was driving without a license when
Trooper Stump observed him speeding. Assuming the trial court
rejected Branch's testimony to this effect, the trial court's
factual determinations, as suggested by the majority, establish
that Branch was committing a separate offense when Trooper Stump
observed him speeding. Namely, unauthorized use of a vehicle,
which can be either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the
value of the car at issue. Therefore, neither the trial court,
nor this Court, could assume, based on the evidence produced by
the Commonwealth that Branch ran from police because he had
knowledge of the gun. To do so would again, amount to nothing
more than rank speculation and conjecture.
Finally, and contrary to the holding of the majority, the
evidence does not exclude the reasonable hypothesis, flowing from
the undisputed evidence, that someone other than Branch may have
placed the gun in the car. Assuming the trial court rejected the
testimony of both Branch and Crews, it remains patently clear that
at least two other people had access to the car that evening –
Crews and Branch's passenger. No evidence, circumstantial or
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otherwise, excluded the very reasonable possibility that one of
those individuals placed the gun in the car, unbeknownst to
Branch.
As the majority recognizes, the trial court was most
certainly entitled to disbelieve Branch's assertions that he did
not know the gun was in the car. Nevertheless, the trial court's
rejection of this testimony, although another circumstance of
guilt, does not provide a factual basis for establishing beyond a
reasonable doubt that Branch had knowledge of the gun, nor that it
was subject to his dominion and control. See Tarpley, 261 Va. at
256-57, 542 S.E.2d at 764.
In summary, the majority utilizes the standard of review to
supply a sufficient factual basis to support Branch's conviction,
where none exists in the record. The evidence here, considered as
a whole, in my view is highly suspicious of Branch's guilt.
However, it simply does not prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that
Branch constructively possessed the gun found on the floor of the
car. See Littlejohn v. Commonwealth, 24 Va. App. 401, 415, 482
S.E.2d 853, 860 (1997) ("Suspicion, no matter how strong, is not
enough. Convictions cannot rest upon speculation and conjecture."
(citing Bishop v. Commonwealth, 227 Va. 164, 170, 313 S.E.2d 390,
393 (1984); Smith v. Commonwealth, 192 Va. 453, 461, 65 S.E.2d
528, 533 (1951))). For these reasons, I would find the trial
court's judgment was based upon evidence that was insufficient as
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a matter of law and, therefore, plainly wrong, and I would reverse
the conviction.
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Monday 10th
June, 2002.
Phillip Branch, Appellant,
against Record No. 1077-01-2
Circuit Court No. 01-F-59
Commonwealth of Virginia, Appellee.
Upon a Petition for Rehearing En Banc
Before the Full Court
On May 21, 2002 came the appellee, by the Attorney
General of Virginia, and filed a petition praying that the Court
set aside the judgment rendered herein on May 7, 2002, and grant
a rehearing en banc thereof.
On consideration whereof, the petition for rehearing
en banc is granted, the mandate entered herein on May 7, 2002 is
stayed pending the decision of the Court en banc, and the appeal
is reinstated on the docket of this Court.
The parties shall file briefs in compliance with Rule
5A:35. The appellee shall attach as an addendum to the opening
brief upon rehearing en banc a copy of the opinion previously
rendered by the Court in this matter. It is further ordered that
the
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appellee shall file with the clerk of this Court twelve
additional copies of the appendix previously filed in this case.
A Copy,
Teste:
Cynthia L. McCoy, Clerk
By:
Deputy Clerk
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THE COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Benton, Annunziata and Humphreys
Argued at Richmond, Virginia
PHILLIP BRANCH
MEMORANDUM OPINION * BY
v. Record No. 1077-01-2 JUDGE ROBERT J. HUMPHREYS
MAY 7, 2002
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
Robert W. Duling, Judge
Cynthia E. Payne, Assistant Public Defender
(Office of the Public Defender, on brief),
for appellant.
Robert H. Anderson, III, Senior Assistant
Attorney General (Randolph A. Beales,
Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
Phillip Branch appeals his conviction, after a bench trial,
for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation
of Code § 18.2-308.2. Branch contends that the trial court
erred in finding the evidence sufficient as a matter of law to
sustain the conviction. 3
On September 27, 2000, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Trooper
Jeffrey Stump, of the Virginia State Police, was working
stationary radar on Interstate 95 in the City of Richmond. He
* Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not
designated for publication.
3
Branch was also convicted of attempting to elude police in
violation of Code § 46.2-817(B). That conviction is not at
issue on appeal.
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observed Branch travelling 71 miles per hour in a posted 55
miles-per-hour zone. Trooper Stump turned on his emergency
lights and siren and followed Branch's car northbound on
Interstate 95. Branch slowed his car briefly, but after
approximately 30 seconds he accelerated and reached a speed of
more than 80 miles per hour.
Branch, followed by Stump, arrived at the James River
Bridge, where "traffic was backed up" due to construction that
limited travel to one southbound lane. Branch drove the car
through the construction area and hit construction barrels that
struck and damaged Stump's police car. Branch then proceeded
north in the shutdown lanes of Interstate 95, passing traffic
that had stopped or slowed for the construction zone. Branch
finally left the interstate and proceeded onto Seventh Street,
where his car hit the railroad tracks at a high rate of speed.
His car left the ground and hit a 12-foot stockade fence, which
brought the car to a complete stop. Branch then got out of the
car and ran, leaving behind a person in the passenger side of
the car.
Stump approached the stopped car and removed the passenger.
Stump then went to the driver's side of the car and observed a
.44 Magnum revolver under the driver's foot pedal and partially
under the floor mat. Branch was apprehended by another trooper
a short time later.
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At trial, Branch testified that he was driving the car, but
claimed the car belonged to his girlfriend. Branch further
testified that her car had been stolen around 10:30 p.m. that
evening, approximately three and one-half hours before Stump
attempted to pull Branch over. Branch stated that he and a
friend had gone to look for the stolen car for his girlfriend,
and had found it at approximately 1:00 a.m. that morning, on a
dark road. Branch then drove the car onto Interstate 95. He
conceded he did not have a driver's license and that he was on
probation at the time. Further, he admitted he was speeding
when he was initially observed by Stump. He claimed he was
afraid of driving without his license and that he wanted to
return the car to his girlfriend quickly.
Branch testified he did not pull over when Stump turned on
his lights and siren because he knew he was not supposed to be
driving. He admitted running from the troopers on foot when the
car finally came to a stop. However, he claimed he did not know
the gun was in the car. He stated that he never saw the gun,
and testified that it would have been impossible for him to
drive with the gun in the location where it was found by Stump.
Branch's girlfriend testified that her car had been stolen
that evening and that Branch and a friend had gone to look for
it. She denied owning a gun.
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On appeal, Branch contends the evidence presented by the
Commonwealth was insufficient to establish his constructive
possession of the gun. We agree.
When reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence after a conviction, we consider
that evidence in the light most favorable to
the Commonwealth, and we affirm the
conviction unless it is plainly wrong or
without evidence to support it. The circuit
court sitting without a jury in this case
acted as the fact finder; hence, the court's
judgment is accorded the same weight as a
jury verdict. As the fact finder, the court
"need not believe the accused's explanation
and may infer that he is trying to conceal
his guilt." 4
Nevertheless, where the evidence is entirely circumstantial, all
necessary circumstances proved must be consistent with guilt and
inconsistent with innocence and must exclude every reasonable
hypothesis of innocence. 5
To support a conviction for knowingly and intentionally
possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony,
there must be proof that the defendant possessed the firearm at
issue. 6 "'Possession may be actual or constructive.'" 7 The
4
Shackleford v. Commonwealth, 262 Va. 196, 209, 547 S.E.2d
899, 906-07 (2001) (quoting Black v. Commonwealth, 222 Va. 838,
842, 284 S.E.2d 608, 610 (1981)).
5
Sutphin v. Commonwealth, 1 Va. App. 241, 244, 337 S.E.2d
897, 898 (1985) (citations omitted).
6
Blake v. Commonwealth, 15 Va. App. 706, 708-09, 427 S.E.2d
219, 220-21 (1993).
7
Brown v. Commonwealth, 15 Va. App. 1, 7-8, 421 S.E.2d 877,
882 (1992) (quoting Castaneda v. Commonwealth, 7 Va. App. 574,
583-84, 376 S.E.2d 82, 86-87 (1989)).
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principles that govern constructive possession of illegal drugs
also apply to constructive possession of a firearm. 8 Thus, to
sustain a conviction based upon constructive possession, "the
Commonwealth must point to evidence of acts, statements, or
conduct of the accused or other facts or circumstances which
tend to show that [Branch] was aware of both the presence and
character of the [gun] and that it was subject to his dominion
and control." 9 "'However, the Commonwealth is not required to
prove that there is no possibility that someone else may have
planted, discarded, abandoned, or placed the [firearm] where [it
was] found near an accused.'" 10
Further, mere proximity to the gun is not sufficient to
establish dominion and control. 11 Likewise,
[o]wnership or occupancy of a car or of
premises where [a firearm is] found is a
circumstance that may be considered together
with other evidence tending to prove that
the owner or occupant exercised dominion and
control over items in the car or on the
premises in order to prove that the owner or
occupant constructively possessed the [gun];
however, ownership or occupancy alone is
insufficient to prove knowing possession of
8
Grier v. Commonwealth, 35 Va. App. 560, 570, 546 S.E.2d
743, 747-48 (2001).
9
Powers v. Commonwealth, 227 Va. 474, 476, 316 S.E.2d 739,
740 (1984).
10
Grier, 35 Va. App. at 571, 546 S.E.2d at 748 (quoting
Pemberton v. Commonwealth, 17 Va. App. 651, 655, 440 S.E.2d 420,
422 (1994)).
11
Drew v. Commonwealth, 230 Va. 471, 473, 338 S.E.2d 844,
845 (1986).
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[a gun] located on the premises or in a
car." 12
In order for ownership or occupancy of property or of a car to
be sufficient to support the inference that the owner or
occupant also possessed the gun at issue, the owner or occupant
must be shown to have exercised dominion and control over the
premises and to have known of the presence, nature, and
character of the gun at the time of such ownership or
occupancy. 13
In the case at bar, the only evidence tending to establish
Branch's constructive possession of the gun is the fact that it
was found on the floor of the driver's side of the car he was
driving. Indeed, the undisputed evidence established that
Branch was not the owner of the car and that the car had been
stolen by a person or persons unknown, only a few hours before
the gun was discovered by Stump. Further, unlike many of the
cases cited by the Commonwealth, Branch was not the sole
occupant of the car when he was ultimately stopped by police,
nor did the evidence tend to exclude the reasonable possibility
that someone other than Branch placed the gun in the car without
Branch's knowledge. 14 Furthermore, none of the cases relied upon
12
Burchette v. Commonwealth, 15 Va. App. 432, 435, 425
S.E.2d 81, 83 (1992).
13
Id. at 435, 425 S.E.2d at 83-84.
14
See Hamilton v. Commonwealth, 16 Va. App. 751, 754-55,
433 S.E.2d 27, 28-29 (1993); Langston v. Commonwealth, 28
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by the Commonwealth involved a collision similar to the incident
at issue. Finally, as the photograph in evidence demonstrates,
the gun was found under the pedals of the car and partially
under a floor mat, which itself was askew from its normal
position, – a combination of conditions which would clearly have
made the car more difficult to operate.
Accordingly, Branch contends that the evidence is
consistent with his claim that he had no knowledge of the gun,
as it was concealed somewhere out of his view by someone else
and was forced under the gas and brake pedals as a result of the
accident. Branch further argues that he could not have driven
the car with the gun under the pedals as it was found by police.
We agree with Branch's contention that the circumstantial
evidence in this case, while clearly suspicious, simply does not
exclude every reasonable hypothesis of Branch's innocence,
Va. App. 276, 285-86, 504 S.E.2d 380, 384-85 (1998); Logan v.
Commonwealth, 19 Va. App. 437, 444-45, 452 S.E.2d 364, 368-69
(1994); and Watkins v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 335, 349, 494
S.E.2d 859, 866 (1998). See also Adkins v. Commonwealth, 217
Va. 437, 438-39, 229 S.E.2d 869, 870 (1976) (finding
constructive possession of marijuana found in the floor of the
driver's side of the car where defendant, who was sitting in the
passenger side of the car when police approached, was the only
occupant in the front seat and police had observed furtive
movements by the occupant of the front seat upon approaching the
car); and Grier, 35 Va. App. at 570-71, 546 S.E.2d at 748
(finding constructive possession of drugs and a firearm where
the defendant, the sole passenger in the car, was observed
exchanging capsules and unidentified small objects from the
window of the car for cash just minutes prior to being stopped
by police).
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supported by evidence in the record. Moreover, the
Commonwealth's insistence that Branch's flight from police is
evidence of his guilt lends little credence to its position.
Branch contended that his reason for running was his guilty
knowledge that he was driving without a driver's license, he was
on probation, and he was speeding when he was observed by
Trooper Stump. Thus, while the evidence viewed in the light
most favorable to the Commonwealth "creates a strong suspicion,
indeed a probability," that Branch constructively possessed the
gun, the evidence does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt
that Branch was aware of the "presence, nature, and character"
15
of the gun at the time of his occupancy of the car.
Furthermore, "we have said, suspicious circumstances and
probability of guilt, no matter how strong, are insufficient to
sustain a criminal conviction." 16 Because the circumstances of
this case do not exclude the reasonable hypothesis that someone
else placed the gun in the car, unbeknownst to Branch, we hold
that the trial court was plainly wrong in finding the evidence
sufficient as a matter of law to support Branch's conviction on
this charge. Accordingly, the decision of the trial court must
be reversed and the charge dismissed.
Reversed and dismissed.
15
Rogers v. Commonwealth, 242 Va. 307, 320, 410 S.E.2d 621,
629 (1991).
16
Id.
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