Jerome Wall v. State of Mississippi

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 96-KA-01019-SCT
JEROME WALL, a/k/a JEROME M. WALL, a/k/a
JEROME MAURICE WALL, a/k/a "COWB0Y"
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 09/12/96
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. ANDREW CLEVELAND BAKER
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: PANOLA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: DAVID L. WALKER
JOHN DAVID WEDDLE
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: JEFFREY A. KLINGFUSS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: ROBERT L. WILLIAMS
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 8/6/98
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED: 8/27/98
BEFORE PRATHER, C.J., ROBERTS AND MILLS, JJ.
ROBERTS, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
¶1. Jerome Wall was indicted by the Grand Jury of the First Judicial District of Panola County,
Mississippi, for possession of a controlled substance, diazepam, as an habitual offender pursuant to
Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-83. He was also indicted on a second count for possession of a controlled
substance, marijuana, less than a kilogram but more than an ounce as an habitual offender pursuant to
Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-83. Wall had been convicted two previous times in Shelby County,
Tennessee, once for aggravated robbery and a second time for robbery.
¶2. After the conclusion of all evidence and after both parties rested, the jury deliberated and returned
a verdict of not guilty with respect to Count One of the indictment and guilty with respect to Count
Two of the indictment. A sentencing proceeding was held wherein the State presented evidence and
the trial court, Judge Andrew C. Baker, presiding, found Wall to be an habitual offender within the
meaning of Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-83. Wall was sentenced to life in the custody of the Mississippi
Department of Corrections without hope of reduction, parole or early release.
¶3. Aggrieved by the judgment rendered against him, Palm has perfected an appeal to this Court
raising the following issues:
I. WHETHER THE VERDICT OF THE JURY AS TO COUNT TWO OF THE
INDICTMENT IS AGAINST THE OVERWHELMING WEIGHT OF THE
EVIDENCE?
II. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED IN DENYING JURY INSTRUCTION D-2
AND IN GRANTING INSTRUCTIONS S-3 AND S-4?
III. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED IN OVERRULING WALL'S MOTION
TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF A CONSTITUTIONAL SPEEDY TRIAL?
IV. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED IN OVERRULING WALL'S MOTION
FOR A DIRECTED VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL?
V. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE'S SENTENCE OF LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE
VIOLATES THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 3 SECTION 28 TO THE MISSISSIPPI
STATE CONSTITUTION?
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
¶4. The State's first witness at trial was Andy Estridge, an investigator with the Mississippi Highway
Safety Patrol. Estridge testified that on March 17, 1995, he was on duty with Dennis Weaver, a
Highway Patrolman. Around 10:30 or 10:40 that morning while completing the issuance of a citation
to another vehicle, Estridge noticed a gray car headed south on U.S. 51 just north of Sardis,
Mississippi, following closely behind another vehicle. Estridge pursued and stopped the gray Buick,
exited his patrol car, and met the driver of the Buick at the rear of the Buick. The driver of the
vehicle informed Estridge that his Tennessee license had been suspended. At this time, Estridge
identified Wall as the driver of the vehicle.
¶5. Estridge testified that he then approached the vehicle to speak to the passenger and detected the
odor of marijuana coming from the passenger's compartment of the vehicle. Estridge testified that he
searched the passenger compartment and found film canisters containing what he believed to be
marijuana. He further testified that Wall became irate and wanted to know who had put the canisters
in his car. Estridge put Wall under arrest and checked him further to make sure Wall did not have any
marijuana on his person. Estridge then gave the film canisters to Officer Weaver and told him to
watch the subject because he Estridge wanted to finish checking the car. Estridge testified while he
began checking the passenger's person, he noticed that Weaver and Wall were gone from the
location. He immediately went to the radio dispatch to call for assistance.
¶6. Weaver returned without Wall, who was not seen again. Estridge identified the film canisters and
they were marked for identification. Estridge testified that he placed the passenger under arrest , got
the tag number on the vehicle, and took photographs of the vehicle which were admitted into
evidence. After another search of the vehicle by Weaver, more alleged marijuana was found on the
driver's side and a duffel bag containing several items was found in the trunk which were marked for
identification by the State. Estridge requested that Investigator Aldridge assist in the location of Wall.
Estridge further testified that he did not fingerprint the passenger of the vehicle, Denorris Carter, nor
did he request the crime lab to lift fingerprints from the film canisters or other items found in the
vehicle, nor was any part of the vehicle itself fingerprinted.
¶7. Officer Weaver testified that after he and Estridge had stopped the gray Buick, Estridge asked
him to get information from Wall. Weaver identified Wall as the driver of the gray Buick. Weaver
testified that while he was busy placing his ticket book on the rear of the patrol car, Wall ran. Weaver
pursued Wall, but could not retrieve him. Weaver further confirmed the items that Estridge testified
he had found in the gray Buick. However, Weaver could not testify as to whether or not Wall was
ever placed under arrest, but did testify that he did not place him under arrest. Weaver only touched
the handles of the duffel bag and did not touch the bags contained in the duffel bag. Weaver did not
fingerprint the passenger, Carter, and testified that he did not know whether there was any request
made to have any of the items seized from the gray Buick fingerprinted.
¶8. Investigator Sammy Aldridge testified that he was asked to assist in locating Wall. Aldridge was
unsuccessful in his efforts, but later discovered that the Tennessee authorities had located Wall and
had him in custody.
¶9. J.C. Smiley, a crime lab technician with the Mississippi Crime Laboratory, testified that he was
called upon to test the substance contained in Exhibit Number 1 and concluded that it contained
marijuana and Diazepam. Smiley also testified that Exhibit 3 and 5 both contained marijuana. He
testified that only residue was found in the film canisters. However, he testified that he was not asked
to get any fingerprints from the evidence. He also admitted that he had no knowledge concerning to
whom the substances belonged.
¶10. With the end of Smiley's testimony, the State rested and Wall presented his motion for directed
verdict which was denied. Wall rested without calling any witnesses.
DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES
I. WHETHER THE VERDICT OF THE JURY AS TO COUNT TWO OF THE
INDICTMENT IS AGAINST THE OVERWHELMING WEIGHT OF THE
EVIDENCE?
¶11. Wall argues that his conviction was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. He says
that there was no credible evidence which would tend to show that he had direct control or
constructive possession over the controlled substances found in the vehicle and that the jury's verdict
was for that reason against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Wall also states that the fact
that a passenger was in the vehicle is enough to trigger the requirement that the State should have to
show additional incriminating circumstances to justify a finding of constructive possession.
Cunningham v. State, 583 So.2d 960, 962 (Miss. 1991).
¶12. "To determine whether a jury verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, [this
Court] views all of the evidence in the light consistent with the verdict and give[s] the State all
favorable inferences which may be drawn from the evidence." Strong v. State, 600 So.2d 199, 204
(Miss. 1992) (citing Corley v. State, 584 So.2d 769, 773 (Miss. 1991)). This Court will reverse only
when it is convinced that the trial court has abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial.
Strong, 600 So.2d at 204.
¶13. The theory of constructive possession has been explained in Curry v. State, 249 So.2d 414(Miss. 1971), as follows:
[T]here must be sufficient facts to warrant a finding that defendant was aware of the presence
and character of the particular substance and was intentionally and consciously in possession of
it. It need not be actual physical possession. Constructive possession may be shown by
establishing that the drug involved was subject due to his dominion or control. Proximity is
usually an essential element, but by itself is not adequate in the absence of other incriminating
circumstances.
Id. at 416. The theory was further defined in Hamburg v. State, 248 So.2d 430 (Miss. 1971), that
"one who is the owner in possession of the premises, . . . is presumed to be in constructive possession
of the articles found in or on the property possessed." Id. at 432. See Jones v. State, 693 So.2d 375,
376 (Miss. 1997); Townsend v. State, 681 So.2d 497, 510 (Miss. 1996). In other words, the owner
of a vehicle is presumed to be in constructive possession. In the case sub judice, Wall was the owner
and operator of the vehicle and, thus, is presumed to be in constructive possession. Wall did not
present any evidence to overcome this presumption aside of mentioning the fact that there was a
passenger present in the vehicle with him. However, it is of no consequence that there was a
passenger present in the vehicle with Wall. It is quite possible to have joint constructive possession.
Powell v. State, 355 So.2d 1378, 1379 (Miss. 1978). The State was not required to establish
additional incriminating circumstances. Ferrell v. State, 649 So.2d 831, 835 (Miss. 1995).
¶14. Furthermore, this case is quite similar to Wolf v. State, 260 So.2d 425 (Miss. 1972). In Wolf,
this Court rejected the defendant's argument, stating that the evidence showed that the car belonged
to Wolf, that he had been driving it, that the marijuana was found in the immediate proximity of the
defendant, and that these circumstances were sufficient to support the jury's finding of guilt. Id. at
432. These are exactly the facts described in the record of the present case. The evidence presented
to the jury in the case sub judice was sufficient to support the jury's guilty verdict. Therefore, Wall's
first assignment of error is without merit.
II. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED IN DENYING JURY INSTRUCTION D-2
AND IN GRANTING INSTRUCTIONS S-3 AND S-4?
¶15. Wall's next assignment of error is that the trial judge erred in denying jury instruction D-2 and in
granting instructions S-3 and S-4. Wall first made a request for a peremptory instruction, D-2,
instructing the jury to return a verdict of not guilty on Count 2 of the indictment which was denied by
the trial judge. The standard of review for peremptory instructions and directed verdicts are the same.
"In passing upon a request for a peremptory instruction, all evidence introduced by the State is to be
accepted as true, together with any reasonable inferences that can be drawn from that evidence, and if
sufficient evidence to support a verdict of guilty exists, the motion for a directed verdict is to be
overruled." Brown v. State, 556 So.2d 338, 340 (Miss. 1990) (citing Butler v. State, 544 So.2d 816(Miss. 1989)). "Furthermore, when the trial court has erred in refusing to grant the defendant's
request for a peremptory instruction, then the case must be reversed and the defendant discharged."
Brown, 556 So.2d at 340 (citing Sisk v. State, 290 So.2d 608, 611 (Miss. 1974)). However, this
Court recognizes that a defendant shall not be discharged short of a conclusion that given the
evidence, taken in the light most favorable to the verdict, no reasonable, hypothetical juror could find
beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty. Id.
¶16. However, as discussed in the previous issue, there was sufficient evidence to support a finding
by the jury that Wall had constructive possession over the controlled substance found in his vehicle.
This is all that is legally required to survive a motion for a directed verdict, or as here a peremptory
instruction. Id. Because there was legally sufficient credible evidence to submit to the jury, it was
proper for the trial court to refuse the peremptory instruction. There is no merit to this assignment of
error.
¶17. Wall also objected to Jury Instructions S-3 and S-4. Wall claims that the jury was improperly
instructed since Jury Instruction S-3 included the phrase "there must be sufficient facts to warrant a
finding by the jury that Jerome Wall was aware of the presence and character of the Diazepam and
Marijuana . . ." This Court's standard in reviewing jury instructions is to read all instructions together
to determine whether the jury has been correctly instructed. Townsend, 681 So.2d at 509. As long as
the instructions given to the jury as a whole fairly and adequately state the law and are supported by
the evidence, reversal is inappropriate. Id. See also Sanders v. State, 313 So.2d 398, 401 (Miss.
1975). Wall contends that there was no evidence to support the State's instruction that Wall was
aware of the presence of marijuana in the vehicle and the instruction should have been denied.
¶18. The record shows that Wall was driving the vehicle. The officers ran the tag and found the
vehicle to be registered to Wall which shows he had dominion and control over the vehicle. This is
sufficient evidence to send the case to the jury and, thus, to support instruction S-3. Townsend, 681
So.2d at 509-10. There is no merit to this assignment of error.
¶19. Lastly, Wall claims it was error to give Jury Instruction S-4, a "flight instruction." In Tran v.
State, 681 So.2d 514 (Miss. 1996), this Court held that flight instructions which indicate that flight
may be considered as a circumstance of guilt or guilty knowledge are appropriate only where the
flight is unexplained and is probative of guilt or guilty knowledge. Tran v. State, 681 So.2d 514, 519
(Miss. 1996). In the case sub judice, Wall gives no explanation for his flight. Thus, the only question
to be answered is whether the flight was probative.
¶20. The answer to this question is obviously yes. Wall and his companion were stopped in Wall's
vehicle. The officers discovered contraband of two types in the vehicle. After the officers discovered
the controlled substances, Wall fled from the scene. If Wall was innocent, threatened or afraid, this
fact was not bought out to the jury. Consequently, his flight was probative of guilty knowledge. The
two-prong test of Tran is met and, thus, the fight instruction was appropriate. There is no merit to
this assignment of error.
III. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED IN OVERRULING WALL'S MOTION
TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF A CONSTITUTIONAL SPEEDY TRIAL?
¶21. In this allegation of error Wall claims he was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial.
However, it appears from the record that there is no speedy trial problem in the case sub judice. Wall
was stopped on March 17th , 1995, at which time he fled immediately upon being arrested. He was
later arrested on March 30th, 1995, in Tennessee on other charges for which he became incarcerated
in Tennessee until his release on November 3, 1995. Wall remained out of custody until April 16th ,
1996, at which point he was arrested again and was taken into custody for Mississippi. It was at this
time that the State of Mississippi was finally able to locate him and begin extradition proceedings. On
April 19th , 1996, Wall agreed to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the Mississippi courts. On May
29th, 1996, Wall appeared before the Court Administrator and asked that the case be continued to
give him additional time to get an attorney. The Court Administrator then set his return date for June
11th, 1996. His trial began on August 5th, 1996.
¶22. Thus, the record shows that the State of Mississippi did not even know of Wall's whereabouts
until April of 1996. The defendant's arrest and incarceration in Tennessee on other charges does not
start the clock ticking against the State of Mississippi. The State was not even able to arrest Wall
until April of 1996 when he was arrested again on another charge and was turned over to the State of
Mississippi. Thus, only about four months passed from the time Mississippi gained custody of Wall
and re-arrested him on the present charge until his trial took place in August of the same year. This
does not implicate a delay of proportions sufficient to trigger the analysis under Barker v. Wingo,
407 U.S. 514 (1972). This Court has held that a delay of eight months or longer is presumptively
prejudicial. Herring v. State, 691 So.2d 948, 955 (Miss. 1997). "Until there is some delay which is
presumptively prejudicial, there is no necessity for inquiry into the other factors that go into the
balance." Barker, 407 U.S. at 530. Therefore, this Court need not even consider the other three
Barker factors as Wall's assignment of error is without merit.
¶23. However, if this Court were to address this issue on the merits, the other three factors would
weigh heavily in favor of the State. The four factors to consider according to Barker are: (1) length
of the delay, (2) reason for the delay, (3) defendant's assertion of his right, and (4) prejudice to the
defendant. Herring, 691 So.2d at 955-56.
¶24. This Court has held that "[o]nce we find the delay presumptively prejudicial, the burden shifts to
the prosecutor to produce evidence justifying the delay and to persuade the trier of fact of the
legitimacy of these reasons." State v. Ferguson, 576 So.2d 1252, 1254 (Miss. 1991). The State has
shown and the lower court found that the overwhelming majority of the delay in the case sub judice is
due to Wall himself. He fled the jurisdiction, fought extradition after he had already waived it, and
asked for the case to be continued so he could have additional time to get an attorney. This factor
weighs in favor of the State.
¶25. When considering the third factor, it is important to note that Wall did not assert his right to a
speedy trial until June 11, 1996. This was merely two months before he received a trial. Thus, this
factor weighs against Wall.
¶26. The fourth and final factor to consider is the prejudice that Wall suffered as a result of the delay
of his trial. "The prejudice prong of the Barker test seeks to prevent oppressive pretrial incarceration,
minimize anxiety and concern of the accused, and to limit the possibility that the defense will be
impaired by the inability to locate witnesses or by failing memory of witnesses." Taylor v. State, 672
So.2d 1246, 1261 (Miss. 1996). Wall seems to feel that being in jail was sufficient prejudice.
However, this Court does not agree. Williamson v. State, 512 So.2d 868, 877 (Miss. 1987)
(implicitly overruled in Hansen v. State, 592 So.2d 114, 134 (Miss.1991) on grounds unrelated. It is
important to note that Wall was incarcerated for other offenses, not because of the crime with which
he is now charged. Russell v. Lynaugh, 892 F.2d 1205, 1216 (5th Cir. 1989) (cannot claim anxiety
of incarceration when serving time for another crime). Wall does not even attempt to assert the last
factor, impairment of defense, which is considered when determining if a defendant has been
prejudiced. In sum, Wall has made no showing of prejudice to himself or to his defense. Weighing the
Barker factors together, this writer finds no constitutional violation of Wall's prosecution. As there
was good cause for the delay in bringing Wall to trial, and as Wall was not prejudiced by the delay,
this assignment of error is without merit.
IV. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED IN OVERRULING WALL'S MOTION
FOR A DIRECTED VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL?
¶27. Wall argues that the trial court erred in not granting his motion for a directed verdict at the
conclusion of the State's case and after he had rested, asserting that the State failed to meet its burden
of proof, as it had not shown evidence of constructive possession of the controlled substance. "When
reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court looks at the lower court's ruling `on the last
occasion when the sufficiency of the evidence was challenged.'" Ballenger v. State, 667 So.2d 1242,
1252 (Miss. 1995) (quoting Green v. State, 631 So.2d 167, 174 (1994 Miss)). The last occasion
upon which Wall challenged the sufficiency of the evidence was in his Motion for a New Trial.
Therefore, this Court is to consider all of the evidence presented throughout the course of the trial.
"All evidence and inferences derived therefrom, tending to support the verdict, must be accepted as
true, while all evidence favoring the defendant must be disregarded." Ballenger, 667 So.2d at 1252.
See Hart v. State, 637 So.2d 1329, 1340 (Miss. 1994); Clemons v. State, 460 So.2d 835, 839 (Miss.
1984). "Matters regarding the weight and credibility to be accorded the evidence are to be resolved
by the jury." Wetz, 503 So.2d at 808. Therefore, this Court will not disturb a jury's finding unless it is
found that no reasonable and fairminded hypothetical juror could find beyond a reasonable doubt that
the defendant was guilty. Ballenger, 667 So.2d at 1252-53.
¶28. Accepting all of the evidence and the reasonable inferences that flow from it in favor of the
prosecution, it is clearly sufficient to support a guilty verdict. It was not error for the trial court to
deny the motion for a directed verdict. This assignment of error is without merit.
V. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE'S SENTENCE OF LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE
VIOLATES THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 3 SECTION 28 TO THE MISSISSIPPI
STATE CONSTITUTION?
¶29. Wall claims his life without parole sentence is disproportionate under the rationale of Clowers v.
State, 522 So.2d 762 (Miss. 1988), and Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277 (1983). "Sentencing is within
the complete discretion of the trial court and not subject to appellate review if it is within the limits
prescribed by statute." Hoops v. State, 681 So.2d 521, 537 (Miss. 1996). "'Further, the general rule
in this state is that a sentence cannot be disturbed on appeal so long as it does not exceed the
maximum term allowed by statute.'" Hoops, 681 So.2d at 538 (quoting Fleming v. State, 604 So.2d
280, 302 (Miss. 1992)). However, this Court will use the three-pronged analysis as set forth by the
United States Supreme Court in Solem v. Helm, but only when a threshold comparison of the crime
committed to the sentence imposed leads to an inference of "gross disproportionality." Hoops, 681
So.2d at 538. The three factors set out in Solem for courts to consider when conducting a
proportionality analysis if the threshold comparison is met are:
(a) gravity of the offense and the harshness of the penalty;
(b) sentences imposed on other criminals in the same jurisdiction; and
(c) sentences imposed for the commission of the same crime in different jurisdictions.
Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. at 292. Rummel v. Estelle, 445 U.S. 263 (1980), serves as a guide in the
determination of this threshold comparison. The defendant in Rummel was sentenced to life in prison
with the possibility of parole under a recidivist statute for a third non-violent felony conviction.
Although the total loss from the three crimes was less than $250.00, the United States Supreme
Court found Rummel's sentence to be proportionate and not violative of the Eighth Amendment.
¶30. In light of Rummel, it cannot be argued that Wall's sentence was grossly disproportionate to his
crime. In the present case, the record indicates that Wall was convicted of robbery in August of 1991
or 1992; of armed robbery in August of 1992; and most recently of possession of a controlled
substance on August 6, 1996. Moreover, this Court has held that armed robbery is a crime of
violence per se. Ashley v. State, 538 So.2d 1181, 1185 (Miss. 1989) (citing King v. State, 527 So.2d
641, 646 (Miss. 1988)). Thus, Wall would be classified as a habitual offender according § 99-19-83
and could receive a life sentence without parole. For crimes classifiable as felonies in which
significant terms of imprisonment in the state penitentiary can be given, the length of the sentence
actually imposed is purely a matter of legislative prerogative. Hopson v. State, 625 So.2d 395, 404
(Miss. 1993). Therefore, as long as the sentence is within the limits of the statute, the imposition of
such sentence is within the sound discretion of the trial court and this Court will not reverse it. On
balance, these facts do not lend themselves to a finding that Wall received a sentence grossly
disproportionate to his crimes. Therefore, an extended proportionality review under Solem is not
warranted. There is no merit to this assignment of error.
CONCLUSION
¶31. Wall first contends that the jury verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
However, it is presumed that the owner of a vehicle is in constructive possession of evidence found
within the vehicle. Wall was not only the owner of the vehicle, but he was also the driver of the
vehicle when it was stopped by the highway patrol. The evidence presented to the jury was sufficient
to support the jury's guilty verdict. Wall's first assignment of error is without merit.
¶32. Wall next contends that the trial judge should have granted peremptory instruction D-2, and
denied jury instructions S-3 and S-4. There was legally sufficient, credible evidence to submit the
case to the jury and, thus, it was proper for the trial court to refuse the peremptory instruction.
Furthermore, instructions S-3 and S-4 were supported by the evidence and were appropriately given.
Wall's second assignment of error is without merit.
¶33. Wall's third argument that he did not receive a constitutional speedy trial is also unpersuasive.
Only a time period of four months passed between the time the State of Mississippi became aware of
Wall's location and the time he went to trial. This does not charge a delay of proportions sufficient to
trigger the analysis under Barker. Therefore, Wall's third assignment of error is meritless.
¶34. Wall's asserts in his fourth assignment of error that the trial judge erred in overruling his motion
for a directed verdict. However, this Court has stated that it will not reverse unless it is found that no
reasonable and fairminded hypothetical juror could find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant
was guilty. That is not the case here. All of the evidence and reasonable inferences flowing from it
clearly support a guilty verdict. The trial judge was correct in denying Wall's motion for a directed
verdict. This assignment of error is without merit.
¶35. Lastly, Wall claims that the trial judge's sentence of life without parole was violative of the
Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments and Article 3 Section 28 of the Mississippi State Constitution.
However, the record shows that Wall had been convicted of two previous crimes, robbery and armed
robbery. These crimes of violence and drug offenses are the reason the legislature devised § 99-19-
83. The imposition of such a sentence is within the sound discretion of the trial judge and is not found
to be grossly disproportionate. Therefore, Wall's last assignment of error is also found to be without
merit.
¶36. CONVICTION OF POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, TO-WIT: LESS
THAN A KILOGRAM BUT MORE THAN ONE (1) OUNCE OF MARIHUANA AND
SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT AS AN HABITUAL OFFENDER IN THE
CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AFFIRMED.
PRATHER, C.J., PITTMAN, P.J., BANKS, McRAE, SMITH, MILLS AND WALLER, JJ.,
CONCUR. SULLIVAN, P.J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY.