John H. Magee v. State of Mississippi

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2017-KA-00703-COA
JOHN H. MAGEE A/K/A JOHN HENRY MAGEE APPELLANT
A/K/A JOHN MAGEE
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI APPELLEE
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/12/2017
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. CHRISTOPHER LOUIS SCHMIDT
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: HARRISON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT,
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: OFFICE OF STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER
BY: GEORGE T. HOLMES
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: ABBIE EASON KOONCE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: JOEL SMITH
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 05/29/2018
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE LEE, C.J., FAIR AND GREENLEE, JJ.
GREENLEE, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. A Harrison County jury convicted John Magee of the illegal transfer of a controlled
substance in violation of Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-139(a)(1) (Supp. 2017),
enhanced per section 41-29-147 (Rev. 2013), and as a habitual offender under section 99-19-
81 (Rev. 2015). Magee appeals, asserting that the trial court erred by admitting evidence that
$21,000 cash was in the trunk of his car, found pursuant to a search warrant. Finding no
error, we affirm.
BACKGROUND
¶2. In 2015, two Gulfport Police Department narcotics detectives developed information
that led them to believe that Magee was selling narcotics. On May 4, 2015, the detectives
conducted a controlled purchase, in which Detective Larry McCook posed as an undercover
buyer and presented himself to Magee in the parking lot of a retail store. Equipped with a
concealed video camera and live audio transmitter, Detective McCook entered Magee’s car
and purchased four pills from Magee for $150. Testing later revealed three of the pills were
oxymorphone and one was hydromorphone.
¶3. On May 20, 2015, law enforcement arrested Magee at his home, and pursuant to a
search warrant, searched Magee’s car. Over 100 dosage units1 of Schedule II narcotics and
approximately $21,000 cash were found in the car. On November 9, 2015, a Harrison County
grand jury indicted Magee on four counts: two counts of transferring a controlled substance,
one count of trafficking a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a controlled
substance with the intent to transfer or distribute. Magee moved to sever the counts, and the
State agreed, electing to try count one, transfer of a controlled substance in violation of
section 41-29-139(a)(1), with an enhanced penalty per section 41-29-147, and as a habitual
offender under section 99-19-81.
¶4. In relation to the remaining charges, Magee filed a motion in limine requesting that
the trial court exclude any evidence of other alleged drug sales as being more prejudicial than
probative. The trial judge granted the motion. During trial, the State requested that Detective
McCook be allowed to testify about Magee’s arrest and the search of Magee’s vehicle. As
1
The record does not state the type of drug found in Magee’s car.
2
part of its request, the State sought to introduce testimony concerning the $21,000 cash found
in Magee’s car. The State contended that this testimony was necessary to tell the “complete
story” of the crime because it was unusual for a person to have so much cash in his car.
Magee’s counsel argued that the specific dollar amount would be overly prejudicial. The trial
judge ultimately allowed the testimony.
¶5. Velveda Harried, a forensic scientist, confirmed that the pills Detective McCook
purchased were oxymorphone and hydromorphone, both Schedule II controlled substances.
A video and audio recording of the transfer was played for the jury, and a still photograph
of Magee’s face, captured during the transfer, was entered into evidence.
¶6. Following trial, the jury found Magee guilty. On April 12, 2017, Magee was sentenced
as a habitual offender to sixteen years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of
Corrections. Magee timely appealed.
DISCUSSION
¶7. Magee argues Detective McCook’s testimony specifying the amount of cash found
in Magee’s trunk was inadmissible under Mississippi Rule of Evidence 404(b)(1)2 and more
prejudicial than probative.
¶8. We note that, although Magee argues on appeal that Detective McCook’s testimony
was inadmissible under Rule 404(b), Magee did not assert a specific objection under Rule
404(b) during trial. Magee has therefore waived that issue for review. See Tidwell v. State,
2
Under Mississippi Rule of Evidence 404(b)(1), “Evidence of a crime, wrong, or
other act is not admissible to prove a person’s character in order to show that on a particular
occasion the person acted in accordance with the character.”
3
806 So. 2d 1146, 1148 (¶8) (Miss. Ct. App. 2002). We thus turn to Magee’s remaining
argument: whether the admission of Detective McCook’s testimony concerning the amount
of cash found in Magee’s trunk was more prejudicial than probative under Mississippi Rule
of Evidence 403.3
¶9. “The admissibility of evidence rests within the discretion of the trial court, . . . and
reversal is appropriate only when an abuse of discretion resulting in prejudice to the accused
occurs.” Irby v. State, 893 So. 2d 1042, 1047 (¶20) (Miss. 2004) (citing Sturdivant v. State,
745 So. 2d 240, 243 (¶10) (Miss. 1999)). Further, “[u]nder Rule 403, the exclusion of
prejudicial evidence is permissive; that is, if a trial court determines that the prejudicial effect
of evidence substantially outweighs its probative value, it is not obligated to exclude the
evidence, but may do so at its discretion.” Ross v. State, 954 So. 2d 968, 993 (¶44) (Miss.
2007).
¶10. We agree with the trial court that the admission of Detective McCook’s testimony
concerning the amount of cash found in Magee’s car was not unduly prejudicial but
probative. In considering whether to admit the testimony, the court heard arguments from
both the defense and the State. Magee argued that the admission of the specific amount of
cash found in his trunk was more prejudicial than probative because it implied that he was
involved in other illegal drug transfers. The State contended the admission of the testimony
was necessary to tell the complete story of the crime: the car was searched at the time of
3
Rule 403 states: “The court may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by a danger of one or more of the following: unfair prejudice,
confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, wasting time, or needlessly
presenting cumulative evidence.”
4
Magee’s arrest at his home; the cash was found in the same vehicle Magee used to conduct
the drug transaction; and the unusually large amount of cash, which was found in close
proximity to the narcotics, was unexplained. See Jordan v. State, 158 So. 3d 348, 351 (¶10)
(Miss. Ct. App. 2014). Although the testimony concerning the cash was prejudicial, the trial
judge was within his discretion to admit it, and the admission of the testimony did not unduly
prejudice Magee to the extent requiring reversal. Further, even if the admission of the
specific amount of cash had been error, such error was harmless because the overwhelming
“weight of the evidence against [Magee was] sufficient to outweigh the harm done by
allowing admission of the evidence.” Webb v. State, 113 So. 3d 592, 601 (¶30) (Miss. Ct.
App. 2012). Magee’s conviction and sentence are affirmed.
¶11. AFFIRMED.
LEE, C.J., IRVING AND GRIFFIS, P.JJ., BARNES, CARLTON, FAIR,
WILSON, WESTBROOKS AND TINDELL, JJ., CONCUR.
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