State Of Washington v. Jamie A. Heslen

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
May 3, 2016
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 47020-9-II
Respondent,
v.
JAMIE A. HESLEN, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant.
SUTTON, J. — Jamie A. Heslen appeals her conviction for unlawful possession of a
controlled substance (methamphetamine) and the imposition of a community custody provision.
We hold that the State provided sufficient evidence to show that Heslen had actual or constructive
possession of methamphetamine and the trial court did not err when it imposed a community
custody condition prohibiting her from possessing or consuming marijuana. Accordingly, we
affirm Heslen’s conviction and sentence.
FACTS
On January 17, 2014, Officer Garrett Spencer stopped a pickup truck and arrested the
driver. During a search incident to arrest, he found a small baggie of suspected methamphetamine
in the driver’s pocket. Heslen was a passenger in the truck.
Officer Spencer contacted Deputy Ryan Tully, who advised that he had probable cause to
arrest Heslen for delivery of a controlled substance. Officer Spencer arrested Heslen and read her
No. 47020-9-II
Miranda1 warnings. Deputy Tully arrived at the scene and spoke with Heslen. Heslen told Deputy
Tully that the backpack in the passenger seat belonged to her and that there was “possibly some
marijuana in it.” Verbatim Report of Proceedings (Aug. 6, 2014) at 32.
The following morning Deputy Tully, Officer Spencer, and Lieutenant Jim Bergstrom
executed the search warrant for the truck. While searching the truck, Lieutenant Bergstrom located
the only backpack found in the truck and found three cards that he believed to be health cards with
Heslen’s name on them. Deputy Tully assisted in searching the backpack and located a pipe
containing methamphetamine within a pouch inside the backpack.
After a bench trial, the trial court found Heslen guilty of unlawful possession of a controlled
substance (methamphetamine). At sentencing, the trial court found that Heslen had a chemical
dependency that contributed to the offense unlawful possession of a controlled substance
(methamphetamine), ordered her to submit to a drug evaluation, ordered her to comply with
recommended services and treatment, and prohibited her from possessing or consuming marijuana
during her community custody term. Heslen appeals her conviction and the community custody
prohibition related to possessing or consuming marijuana.
ANALYSIS
I. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Heslen argues that the State did not show that she physically controlled a backpack, pipe,
or methamphetamine at the time of her arrest or that she had constructive possession of the
methamphetamine. We disagree.
1
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).
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No. 47020-9-II
The test for determining the sufficiency of the evidence is whether, after viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Berg 181 Wn.2d 857, 867, 337 P.3d 310 (2014). A claim of
insufficiency admits the truth of the State’s evidence, and all reasonable inferences from the
evidence must be drawn in favor of the State and interpreted most strongly against the defendant.
State v. Andy, 182 Wn.2d 294, 303, 340 P.3d 840 (2014). We defer to the trier of fact on issues of
conflicting testimony, credibility of witnesses, and the persuasiveness of the evidence. Andy, 182
Wn.2d at 303.
Possession may be actual or constructive. State v. Chouinard, 169 Wn. App. 895, 899, 282
P.3d 117 (2012). Constructive possession is the exercise of dominion and control over an item.
State v. Davis, 182 Wn.2d 222, 227, 340 P.3d 820 (2014). Constructive possession is established
by viewing the totality of the circumstances, including the proximity of the property and ownership
of the premises where the contraband was found. Davis, 182 Wn.2d at 234. However, mere
proximity is insufficient to show dominion and control. Davis, 182 Wn.2d at 234.
Here, by claiming insufficiency of the evidence, Heslen admits the State’s evidence that
the pipe containing methamphetamine was found within a pouch located in the backpack that she
admitted belonged to her. The totality of the circumstances provides substantial evidence for the
fact finder to reasonably infer that Helsen had constructive possession of the backpack and that
she possessed the pipe containing methamphetamine. Accordingly, we affirm Helsen’s
conviction.
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No. 47020-9-II
II. COMMUNITY CUSTODY CONDITION
Heslen also argues that the trial court erred when it imposed a prohibition from possessing
or consuming marijuana while in community custody. We disagree.
A. RIPENESS
The State argues that the matter is not ripe for review because marijuana is a federally
controlled substance and state law is preempted. We disagree.
The claim is ripe if the issues raised are primarily legal, do not require further factual
development, and the challenged action is final. State v. Cates, 183 Wn.2d 531, 534, 354 P.3d 832(2015). Here, the issue is primarily legal because Heslen is arguing that the trial court did not have
the statutory authority to prohibit her possession or consumption of marijuana as a condition of
community custody. No factual developments are required and the challenged action is final. State
v. Valencia, 169 Wn.2d 782, 789-90, 239 P.3d 1059 (2010) (holding that sentencing conditions
are final).
B. COMMUNITY CUSTODY CONDITIONS
Heslen argues that the trial court did not have the statutory authority to impose a
community custody condition prohibiting her possession or consumption of legal quantities of
marijuana because it is not crime-related and it did not contribute to the offense of unlawful
possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). We disagree.
We review a trial court’s statutory authority to impose a community custody condition de
novo. State v. Acevedo, 159 Wn. App. 221, 231, 248 P.3d 526 (2010). Where the trial court has
statutory authority, we review the imposition of a condition for abuse of discretion. State v. Polk,
187 Wn. App. 380, 397, 348 P.3d 1255 (2015). We review the trial court's finding that the
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community custody prohibition is crime-related for substantial supporting evidence. State v.
Zimmer, 146 Wn. App. 405, 413, 190 P.3d 121 (2008).
A sentencing court has the statutory authority to impose crime-related prohibitions and
community custody conditions as part of a sentence under RCW 9.94A.505(9).2 RCW 9.94A.703
authorizes specific mandatory, waivable, and discretionary conditions as a part of any term of
community custody. Unless waived by the court, the court shall order an offender to refrain from
possessing or consuming controlled substances except pursuant to lawfully issued prescriptions.
RCW 9.94A.703(2)(c). Additionally, the court may order an offender to refrain from possessing
or consuming controlled substances, including alcohol, or to comply with any crime-related
prohibitions. RCW 9.94A.703(3)(e), (f); see State v. Julian, 102 Wn. App 296, 304-05, 9 P.3d
851 (2000) (“While the link between the condition imposed and the crime committed need not be
causal, the condition must be related to the circumstances of the crime.”).
Here, the trial court expressly found that Heslen had a chemical dependency that
contributed to her offense of unlawful possession of methamphetamine and Heslen does not
challenge the trial court’s finding. Thus, the prohibition against possession and consumption of
marijuana was crime-related and we hold that the trial court properly exercised its discretion by
prohibiting Heslen from possessing or consuming marijuana during her community custody.
2
Former RCW 9.94A.505(8) (2010), amended by LAWS OF 2015, ch. 287, § 10.
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CONCLUSION
We affirm Heslen’s conviction and hold that the trial court did not err when it imposed a
community custody condition prohibiting Heslen from possessing or consuming marijuana.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,
it is so ordered.
SUTTON, J.
We concur:
MAXA, A.C.J.
MELNICK,
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