State of Louisiana v. Steve Duane Williams -Aka- Ayaz Sutaria

STATE OF LOUISIANA

COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

16-140

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

STEVE DUANE WILLIAMS
AKA AYAZ SUTARIA

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APPEAL FROM THE
NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF RAPIDES, DOCKET NO. 317,214
HONORABLE MARY LAUVE DOGGETT, DISTRICT JUDGE

************

JAMES T. GENOVESE
JUDGE

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Court composed of Jimmie C. Peters, James T. Genovese, and John E. Conery,
Judges.

CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED.
SENTENCES AFFIRMED AS AMENDED,
WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

Edward K. Bauman
Louisiana Appellate Project
Post Office Box 1641
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70602-1641
(337) 491-0570
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT:
Steve Duane Williams

Steve (Stephen) D. Williams
Rapides Parish Detention Center III
7400 Academy Drive
Alexandria, Louisiana 71303
In Proper Person

J. Phillip Terrell, Jr., District Attorney
Ninth Judicial District
Jermaine L. Harris, Assistant District Attorney
Post Office Drawer 1472
Alexandria, Louisiana 71309-1472
(318) 473-6650
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana

GENOVESE, Judge.

Defendant, Steve Duane Williams (a/k/a Ayaz Sutaria), was convicted by a

jury of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of

possession of hydrocodone. After a habitual offender hearing, he was adjudicated

a third felony offender and sentenced to twenty years at hard labor on the cocaine

conviction and five years at hard labor on the hydrocodone conviction. He appeals

his convictions and sentences. Through appellate counsel, he alleges insufficiency

of the evidence and excessive sentences. Defendant has also filed a brief with pro

se assignments or error, alleging various due process violations. For the following

reasons, we affirm Defendant’s convictions and sentences, but amend his sentence

on the conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine to require that only

the first two years of that sentence be served without benefit of parole. We also

direct the trial court to give notice to Defendant of his right to post-conviction

relief.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Defendant was charged in October 2013 by a bill of information with one

count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance,

Schedule II, cocaine, a violation of La.R.S. 40:967(A)(1), one count of possession

with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, Schedule III,

hydrocodone, a violation of La.R.S. 40:968(A)(1), and one count of possession of

marijuana, second offense, a violation of La.R.S. 40:966(E)(2).

After commencement of Defendant’s jury trial, the State nolle prossequied

the charge of possession of marijuana. At trial, Defendant was found guilty as

charged on count one, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. On

count two, he was found guilty of the lesser offense of possession of hydrocodone,

a violation of La.R.S. 40:968(C). Defendant then filed a Motion for Post Verdict

Judgment of Acquittal and a Motion for Mistrial, which were denied. Thereafter,

the State charged Defendant as a habitual offender pursuant to La.R.S. 15:529.1.

At his habitual offender hearing, Defendant was adjudicated a third felony

offender. He was subsequently sentenced to twenty years at hard labor on the

conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, without the benefit of

parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, and five years at hard labor on the

conviction for possession of hydrocodone. The two sentences were ordered to be

served concurrently for a total of twenty years imprisonment. Defendant filed a

Motion to Reconsider Sentence, which was denied by the trial court.

FACTS

At trial, Eddie Andrus, a detective with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office,

Metro Narcotics Division, testified that on April 30, 2013, he conducted an

investigation involving Defendant. He stated that a woman, who had been

apprehended with crack cocaine, informed the police that she had purchased the

cocaine from someone she knew only as “Sonny.”1 She then took the police to

2108 Mason Street, Alexandria, Louisiana, the address where she had purchased

the drug. Within twenty-four hours of receiving this information, the police

obtained a search warrant for that address.

On May 3, 2013, as the police drove up to the house on Mason Street, they

saw a man standing in the doorway. When the man saw them, he turned and raced

towards the back of the house. Detective Andrus identified the man in the

doorway as Defendant. As the door was still open, Detective Andrus said they

announced themselves and entered. There was an elderly woman sitting in the

front room, who was Defendant’s mother. As they moved towards the back of the

1
In the trial transcript, the person who sold the crack cocaine was referred to as “Sonny.”
In the search warrant affidavit and in Defendant’s pro se brief, the person who sold the cocaine is
referred to as “Sunny.”
2

house, they saw Defendant exit a room, closing the door behind him. Defendant

advised the officers not to enter because there was a vicious dog in the bedroom.

Despite the warning, Detective Andrus entered the room. In the room, he and

other detectives saw a marijuana blunt in an ashtray in plain sight. They located

two baggies of a substance they believed to be crack cocaine, a pill bottle

containing fifteen pills, and five and a half pills wrapped separately in plastic. In

the bedroom, they also found a letter addressed to Defendant at the Mason Street

address. Upon searching Defendant incidental to his arrest, they found two

thousand four hundred and sixty-five ($2,465.00) dollars in his pocket. Along with

the money was a Louisiana identification card with Defendant’s name, picture, and

the Mason Street address on it. There was no evidence in the bedroom that

Defendant was employed.

Detective Andrus stated a second man was found sleeping in a back

bedroom. He explained that the second man and Defendant’s mother were not

arrested. Although he agreed that they had access to the bedroom which contained

the drugs, there was no evidence they were involved.

Detective Andrus testified that the pill bottle, labeled Alprazolam, was

prescribed to Belinda M. Howard. He explained that Belinda Mills Howard was

the woman who was initially caught with the crack cocaine purchased from

“Sonny” at the Mason Street address.

John Treadway, also a detective with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office,

Metro Narcotics Division, was with Detective Andrus when they arrived at

Defendant’s house. His testimony corroborated Detective Andrus’ testimony.

Detective Treadway also stated that the “vicious” dog in the bedroom was

whimpering under the bed when they entered the room and did not come out as

they searched. When he entered the room, Detective Treadway stated that he saw
3

the marijuana blunt in an ashtray on the dresser and that he located the baggies of

crack cocaine and the pill bottle together behind an old gas heater.

Alex King, a forensic chemist with the North Louisiana Criminalistics

Laboratory, did the analysis to determine the composition of the drugs found in the

Mason Street house. Mr. King testified that the pills were pharmaceutical

preparations containing hydrocodone with a non-narcotic ingredient. The off-

white substance was determined to be cocaine. Mr. King further testified that the

two baggies together contained 25.98 grams of cocaine.

Reginald Cooper, a lieutenant with the Alexandria Police Department,

testified that in the year 2000, he had searched the Mason Street house based on

information given to him by a confidential informant and had located a trunk full

of drugs. On that occasion, Defendant was arrested and charged with distribution

of cocaine as part of the investigation. In that prior case, Defendant pled guilty and

was sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

Captain Larry Coutee, a thirty-eight year veteran with the Alexandria Police

Department, was qualified as an expert in the field of distribution, packaging, and

manufacturing of crack cocaine. He testified that he was also involved in the 2000

drug investigation which resulted in Defendant being convicted of distribution of

crack cocaine. Captain Coutee further testified that, in the instant case, the amount

of crack cocaine found, a less than twenty-six grams, was consistent with

distribution of cocaine. He estimated the cost of the drugs Defendant had in his

possession to be worth more than two thousand five hundred ($2,500.00) dollars,

much more than what a person would usually spend at one time for personal use.

He also explained that in the case of a dealer pedaling crack cocaine, there

generally will not be regular drug user paraphernalia found with the drugs, which

is another indicator that the drugs were not for personal use. Finally, he noted that
4

a large amount of money in the pocket of a suspected drug dealer can also be

deemed to be evidence of his or her occupation as such.

Anthony Ferrell, Defendant’s nephew, testified that the cocaine located

behind the old gas heater belonged to him. He explained that he had been living

with his grandmother, Defendant’s mother, at the Mason Street house, in the same

room where the drugs were located. At the time of Defendant’s trial, Mr. Ferrell

was in prison for offenses unrelated to drugs. At the time of his testimony, he had

about two-and-a-half more years left to serve before he would be released from

incarceration. He stated that shortly before he went to prison, he left the cocaine

behind the gas heater for when he got out. Mr. Ferrell stated that the cocaine was

for his personal use. He further stated that Defendant moved into the house after

he became incarcerated, which was two to three months prior to Defendant’s

arrest. Mr. Ferrell also claimed that Belinda Howard had spent the night at his

grandmother’s house, had left the pill bottle, and had never returned to retrieve it;

however, he was not clear about when Ms. Howard had stayed overnight and had

no explanation as to how the pill bottle got behind the gas heater with the cocaine.

Defendant testified in his own defense. After a long diatribe about how he

was picked on by police officers because he was African American, he explained

that he had been living somewhere else, but was in the process of moving in with

his mother. He stated that he had already changed his address to the Mason Street

house and that that was the reason the letter found in the bedroom was sent to him

at that address. He further stated that when he saw the police advancing on the

house, he ran to put his puppy in the bedroom because he did not want the police to

shoot the dog. He denied that the cocaine was his and stated that he did not even

know the cocaine and the pill bottle were in the room.

5

ERRORS PATENT

In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all appeals are reviewed for

errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find two

errors patent.

In the first error patent, we note an illegally excessive sentence relative to

parole. Defendant was sentenced, as a third felony habitual offender, to serve

twenty years at hard labor on his conviction of possession with the intent to

distribute cocaine. The number of years to be served without the benefit of parole,

probation, or suspension of sentence is not entirely clear. At Defendant’s

sentencing hearing, the trial court stated in pertinent part:

I’m going to sentence you for possession with intent, CDS II to
twenty years. . . . And will be without – under the statute will be[]
without benefit of probation or suspension, but it doesn’t say without
benefit of parole. So I’m going to do a minimum of ten years without
benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

....

It’s day per day? Okay. Well, I was reading the statute and it
just said – it just said without benefit of – any sentence imposed under
the provisions of this section shall be at hard labor without benefit of
probation or suspension of sentence. And I didn’t know what the
distinction there was.

....

So if for some reason that doesn’t make it day per day, I’m
going to do ten years without benefit of probation, parole or
suspension of sentence. Otherwise it will be in accordance with the
statute in DOC rules.

At the hearing on Defendant’s Motion to Reconsider Sentence, the

prosecutor, Mr. Harris, stated that he wished to clarify the sentence on the

conviction for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine:

BY MR. HARRIS:

He was sentenced to 20 years on the Count One,
Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS II. I think there
6

was some confusion because one portion, I believe the
Court said that it was 10 years suspended without parole
and then I guess the other 10 years would’ve been
eligible, but I believe that’s not appropriate under the
Statute for Habitual Offenders so I want the – and I
believe you said that later, but the minutes don’t reflect
that.

BY THE COURT:

Okay. Yeah, I said it would be a minimum, unless
the law provides otherwise. So if the law provides
otherwise, then I defer to that. It would be, it would be
all 20.

BY MR. HARRIS:

So could the minutes reflect that, that that is in fact
not the case and for clarification purposes, it’s 20 years
hard labor on the Count One pursuant to the Habitual
Offenders statute.

The trial court later issued “Written Reasons for Determination Pursuant to

R.S. 15:529.1” which stated that the twenty year sentence for possession of cocaine

with the intent to distribute is to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or

suspension of sentence. Thus, it appears that the entire twenty year sentence was

imposed without benefit of parole. This renders the sentence illegally excessive.

In State v. Dossman, 06-449, 06-450, pp. 2-3 (La.App. 3 Cir. 9/27/06), 940

So.2d 876, 879, writ denied, 06-2683 (La. 6/1/07), 957 So.2d 174, this court

addressed a similar situation:

Although Section G of the habitual offender statute requires all
enhanced sentences to be imposed without benefit of probation or
suspension of sentence, it does not authorize the trial court to impose
enhanced sentences without benefit of parole. La.R.S. 15:529.1(G).
“[T]he restrictions on parole eligibility imposed on multiple offender
sentences under La.R.S. 15:529.1 ‘are those called for in the reference
statute.’” State v. Tate, 99-1483, pp. 1-2 (La.11/24/99), 747 So.2d
519, 520 (citation omitted). The penalty provision for unauthorized
entry of an inhabited dwelling, the reference statute in the present
case, does not authorize the trial court to impose any portion of the
sentence without benefit of parole. La.R.S. 14:62.3. Thus, the trial
court improperly denied parole eligibility. Accordingly, we amend
Defendant’s sentence to delete the denial of parole eligibility. See
7

State v. Buckley, 02-1288 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/5/03), 839 So.2d 1193 and
State v. Gregrich, 99-178 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/13/99), 745 So.2d 694.
Further, we instruct the trial court to make an entry in the minutes
reflecting this change. See Tate, 747 So.2d 519.

The statute at issue, La.R.S. 40:967(B)(4)(b), requires that only the first two

years of the sentence to be served without the benefit of parole. Accordingly, we

amend Defendant’s sentence for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine to

require that only the first two years of his sentence be served without the benefit of

parole. The trial court is instructed to make an entry in the court minutes reflecting

this change.

The second error patent arises out of the fact that the record before this court

does not indicate that the trial court advised Defendant of the prescriptive period

for filing post-conviction relief as required by La.Code Crim.P. art. 930.8. Thus,

the trial court is directed to inform Defendant of the provisions of article 930.8 by

sending appropriate written notice to Defendant within fifteen days of the rendition

of this opinion and to file written proof in the record that said notice has been

given. State v. Roe, 05-116 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/1/05), 903 So.2d 1265, writ denied,

05-1762 (La. 2/10/06), 924 So.2d 163.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

The following assignments of error have been submitted by Defendant’s

appellate counsel and also by Defendant pro se:

ATTORNEY ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR:

1. The evidence presented at trial, when viewed in a light most
favorable to the prosecution, was insufficient to sustain the
convictions.

2. The trial court erred in admitting evidence without having the
[S]tate establish that the evidence was[,] in fact[,] what it was
purported to be.

8

3. The sentences imposed by the trial court were cruel, unusual and
excessive, in violation of Article I, § 20 of the Louisiana Constitution
of 1974.

DEFENDANT’S PRO SE ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR2:

[1.] Should the [c]ourt have allowed [Defendant] proper due process
which would have allowed a preliminary examination?

[2.] The [c]ourt [erred] by not allowing [Defendant] his right to a fair
trial.

[3.] By the [c]ourt not [allowing Defendant] a Preliminary
Examination, probable cause was never cross-examined[,] and the
court violated [Defendant’s] rights[] by forming a[] conviction off of a
partial record[,] whereas an appeal will be base[d] off of a partial
judgment[] because certain evidence is not [a part] of the record[;] the
affidavit of probable cause in support of the application for search
warrant, initial police report, and supplemental police reports.

[4.] The evidence presented at trial was insufficient to sustain the
conviction on possession with the intent to distribute.

[5.] The trial court failed to carry [its] burden of proof, probability of
misidentification that [Defendant] was the offender [involved] in the
incident of Belinda Mills.

[6.] The trial court [committed] fatal error in denying the
[Defendant’s] rights to Due Process.

[7.] The trial court [erred] in suppression of exculpatory evidence to
aid the defense in preparing a proper defense for [Defendant].

ATTORNEY ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE

In brief, Defendant asserts that the State failed to prove that he had

knowingly possessed the crack cocaine with intent to distribute or that he

knowingly and illegally possessed hydrocodone.

When the issue of sufficiency of evidence is raised on appeal,
the critical inquiry of the reviewing court is whether, after viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational

2
For clarity, Defendant’s seven pro se assignments of error have been categorized into
five specific errors as argued in his brief and as hereinafter addressed.
9

trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,
99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State ex rel. Graffagnino v.
King, 436 So.2d 559 (La.1983); State v. Duncan, 420 So.2d 1105
(La.1982); State v. Moody, 393 So.2d 1212 (La.1981). The role of the
factfinder is to weigh the respective credibility of each witness.
Therefore, the appellate court should not second guess the credibility
determinations of the factfinder beyond the sufficiency evaluations
under the Jackson standard of review. See State ex rel. Graffagnino,
436 So.2d 559, citing State v. Richardson, 425 So.2d 1228 (La.1983).

State v. Miller, 98-1873, p. 5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/13/99), 746 So.2d 118, 120, writ

denied, 99-3259 (La. 5/5/00), 761 So.2d 541.

Further, in State v. Ortiz, 96-1609, p. 12 (La. 10/21/97), 701 So.2d 922, 930,

cert. denied, 524 U.S. 943, 118 S.Ct. 2352 (1998), the Louisiana Supreme Court

stated:

When circumstantial evidence is used to prove the commission of the
offense, La.R.S. 15:438 requires that “assuming every fact to be
proved that the evidence tends to prove, in order to convict, it must
exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence.” This is not a
separate test to be applied when circumstantial evidence forms the
basis of a conviction; all evidence, both direct and circumstantial must
be sufficient to satisfy a rational juror that the defendant is guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Porretto, 468 So.2d 1142
(La.1985).

Defendant was convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute

and illegal possession of hydrocodone. Cocaine is a Schedule II controlled

dangerous substance. La.R.S. 40:964(A)(4). Louisiana Revised Statutes

40:967(A)(1) provides that it is illegal to possess cocaine with the intent to

distribute the drug. At the time Defendant was charged, hydrocodone with a non-

narcotic ingredient was a Schedule III controlled dangerous substance. La.R.S.

40:964(D)(d). It is illegal to possess hydrocodone without a valid prescription.

La.R.S. 40:968(C).

Defendant argues that he did not know the cocaine or the bottle of

hydrocodone pills were in the bedroom. He points out that other people had access

10

to the room. Defendant testified he was in the process of moving into his mother’s

house; thus, he had his mail forwarded to her house. Defendant insisted he was

unaware that the cocaine was in the room, hidden as it was behind an old gas

heater, next to a pill bottle that contained hydrocodone pills with Belinda M.

Howard’s name on the label. He further points out that Ms. Howard, who directed

the police to the address on Mason Street, indicated she purchased the cocaine

from someone named “Sonny.” Defendant argues the State failed to prove both

that he possessed the drugs and that he had the intent to distribute the cocaine.

Accordingly, he alleges that there was insufficient evidence to sustain the

convictions.

The first circuit, in State v. Griffin, 07-974, pp. 9-11 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2/8/08),

984 So.2d 97, 107-08, discussed possession of drugs and whether the evidence was

sufficient to establish that the defendant had the specific intent to distribute crack

cocaine, as follows:

On the issue of whether the evidence sufficiently proved
possession, the State is not required to show actual physical
possession of the narcotics by a defendant in order to convict. See
State v. Trahan, 425 So.2d 1222, 1226 (La.1983). Constructive
possession is sufficient. A person is considered to be in constructive
possession of a controlled dangerous substance if it is subject to his
dominion and control, regardless of whether it is in his physical
possession. Id. However, the mere presence in the area where
narcotics are discovered or mere association with the person who does
control the drug or the area where it is located is insufficient to
support a finding of constructive possession. See State v. Harris, 94-
0970, p. 4 (La.12/8/94), 647 So.2d 337, 338 (per curiam).

A determination of whether there is “possession” sufficient to
convict depends on the peculiar facts of each case. State v. Gordon,
93-1922, p. 9 (La.App. 1st Cir.11/10/94), 646 So.2d 995, 1002.
Factors to be considered in determining whether a defendant exercised
dominion and control sufficient to constitute possession include his
knowledge that drugs were in the area, his relationship with the person
found to be in actual possession, his access to the area where the drugs
were found, evidence of recent drug use, and his physical proximity to
the drugs. State v. Toups, 2001-1875, p. 4 (La.10/15/02), 833 So.2d
910, 913.
11

Guilty knowledge is an essential element of the crime of
possession of cocaine. However, since knowledge is a state of mind,
it need not be proven as fact, but rather, may be inferred from the
circumstances. State v. Major, 2003-3522, pp. 8-9 (La.12/1/04), 888
So.2d 798, 803. Herein, the defendant does not contest his possession
of the cocaine. However, the defendant does contest the knowledge
element of the offense.

....

As to the evidence of defendant’s intent to distribute crack
cocaine, it is well settled that intent to distribute may be inferred from
the circumstances. [State v.] Hearold, 603 So.2d [731] at 735
[(La.1992)]. Factors useful in determining whether the State’s
circumstantial evidence is sufficient to prove intent to distribute
include: (1) whether the defendant ever distributed or attempted to
distribute illegal drugs; (2) whether the drug was in a form usually
associated with distribution; (3) whether the amount was such to
create a presumption of intent to distribute; (4) expert or other
testimony that the amount found in the defendant’s actual or
constructive possession was inconsistent with personal use; and (5)
the presence of other paraphernalia evidencing intent to distribute.
State v. House, 325 So.2d 222, 225 (La.1975).

In the absence of circumstances from which an intent to
distribute may be inferred, mere possession of illegal drugs is not
evidence of intent to distribute unless the quantity is so large that no
other inference is reasonable. See State v. Greenway, 422 So.2d 1146,
1148 (La.1982).

In the instant case, we find the evidence was sufficient to establish

constructive possession of the drugs by Defendant. It is true, as noted above, that

simply being present in the area where narcotics are discovered does not

necessarily support a finding of constructive possession. However, when

Defendant saw the police exit their vehicle in front of the house, he rushed back to

the bedroom. As the police began searching the house, Defendant came out of the

bedroom, closing the door behind him, and claimed that there was a vicious dog

inside the room. He told the police not to enter. The dog, however, was seemingly

more afraid of the police than they were of it, as the dog remained under the bed

the entire time they were searching the room. The exaggeration of the dog’s

ferociousness in an apparent attempt to keep the police out of the room could have
12

convinced the jury that Defendant knew the drugs were there, thus evidencing his

guilty state of mind.

Defendant’s nephew, Anthony Ferrell, testified that the cocaine was his and

that he had left the cocaine in two baggies on the floor behind the gas heater to

await his return from prison. According to Mr. Ferrell’s testimony, he went to

prison in 2013. At Defendant’s trial in 2015, Mr. Ferrell testified that he had two

and a half years more prison time to serve. The jury could easily have found it

hard to believe that someone would stash twenty-five hundred ($2,500.00) dollars

of crack cocaine loosely in two baggies behind a heater, knowing that he would not

return to that room for at least five years. Obviously, the jury chose not to believe

Mr. Ferrell’s testimony. “It is the role of the factfinder to weigh the respective

credibility of the witness, and therefore the appellate court should not second guess

the credibility determination of the trier of fact beyond the sufficient evaluations

under the Jackson standard of review.” State v. Johnson, 01-1084, p. 3 (La.App. 3

Cir. 2/6/02), 817 So.2d 120, 123. See also State ex rel. Graffagnino v. King, 436

So.2d 559 (La.1983).

Further, even if the drugs did belong to Mr. Ferrell prior to his being

incarcerated, someone still sold Ms. Howard crack cocaine the day before from

that location, and it was not Mr. Ferrell. If this was the case, it appears that

Defendant was aware of the cocaine and commenced selling it, thereby taking

dominion and control of the drug. It is well established jurisprudence that a person

can have constructive possession if he jointly possesses drugs with another and if

he willfully and knowingly shares with his partner the right to control the drugs.

State v. Henry, 08-658 (La.App. 5 Cir. 10/27/09), 27 So.3d 935, writ denied, 09-

2485 (La. 4/23/10), 34 So.3d 269.

13

We also find that the evidence was sufficient to establish that Defendant

possessed the cocaine with intent to distribute. Captain Larry Coutee testified as

an expert in crack cocaine manufacturing, packaging, and distribution. Captain

Coutee testified that the street value of the crack cocaine found in Defendant’s

possession was around twenty-five hundred ($2,500.00) dollars. He further stated

that in most cases, someone who was only using cocaine could not afford to

purchase that much cocaine at one time. Captain Coutee explained that crack

cocaine is cooked and comes out as rocks, which are broken up into small pieces

and sold for around twenty ($20.00) dollars apiece. The fact that Defendant had

over two thousand four hundred ($2,400.00) dollars in his pocket, mostly all

twenty ($20.00) dollar bills, also indicated that he was dealing rather than keeping

all of the drug for personal use; and, Detective Andrus testified there was no

evidence that Defendant was employed at the time of his arrest. Furthermore, if

Defendant possessed the drug for personal use, there should have been some drug

paraphernalia, such as a pipe from which to smoke the drug, and no pipe or any

other smoking paraphernalia were found. Finally, as previously noted above,

Defendant had a history of selling crack cocaine from that address.

With regard to the hydrocodone, Defendant argues in brief that the evidence

was insufficient to establish that he possessed hydrocodone with intent to

distribute; however, Defendant was found guilty only of illegal possession of the

hydrocodone pills. Though there was no clear evidence he was distributing the

drug, Defendant produced no evidence that he had a valid prescription for the drug.

Whereas the jury had sufficient reason to conclude that Defendant was in the

business of selling crack cocaine, and the pills were found hidden with the cocaine,

it was reasonable for the jury to conclude that Defendant illegally possessed the

pills.
14

Considering the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution as we

are compelled to do, we find that the evidence was sufficient for the jury to find

Defendant guilty of possession of the crack cocaine with intent to distribute and

guilty of illegal possession of the hydrocodone pills. Accordingly, there is no

merit to this assignment of error.

ATTORNEY ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER TWO

Defendant contends that the trial court erred when it allowed Alex King, the

forensic chemist who testified regarding the drugs submitted for testing, to identify

the pills found in a pill bottle labeled “Alprazolam” as hydrocodone with a non-

narcotic ingredient by visual inspection only. Defendant argues that while visual

inspection of a drug such as pills has been held to be sufficient, testimony alone

without other corroborating evidence, whether direct or circumstantial, was not

sufficient.

In State v. Smith, 12-2358, pp. 4-6 (La. 12/10/13), 130 So.3d 874, 877-78

(emphasis added), our supreme court held:

Substantial jurisprudence exists, in fact, for the proposition that a
contraband drug may be identified by circumstantial evidence as well
as direct testimony with respect to scientific tests conducted on the
substance. See, e.g., United States v. Eakes, 783 F.2d 499, 505 (5th
Cir.1986) (Such circumstantial proof may include “ ‘ “evidence of the
physical appearance of the substance involved in the transaction,
evidence that the substance produced the expected effects when
sampled by someone familiar with the illicit drug, evidence that the
substance was used in the same manner as the illicit drug, testimony
that a high price was paid in cash for the substance, evidence that
transactions involving the substance were carried on with secrecy or
deviousness, and evidence that the substance was called by the name
of the illegal narcotic by the defendant or others in his presence.” ’ ”)
(quoting United States v. Scott, 725 F.2d 43, 45-46 (4th Cir.1984)
(quoting United States v. Dolan, 544 F.2d 1219, 1221 (4th
Cir.1976))); State v. Harris, 02-1589, p. 6 (La.5/20/03), 846 So.2d
709, 713-14 (“The federal courts subscribe generally to the view
that the ‘government need not introduce scientific evidence to
prove the identity of a substance . . . as long as there is sufficient
lay testimony or circumstantial evidence from which a jury could
find that a substance was identified beyond a reasonable doubt,
15

the lack of scientific evidence does not warrant reversal.’
Identification of a controlled substance does not require direct
evidence if available circumstantial evidence established its identity
beyond a reasonable doubt. . . . Identification based upon familiarity
through law enforcement coupled with present observation of the
substance at hand will suffice to establish the illicit nature of a
suspected substance.”) (quoting United States v. Harrell, 737 F.2d
971, 978 (11th Cir.1984) (other citations omitted)); State v. Chatman,
599 So.2d 335, 347 (La.App. 1 Cir.1992) (“As long as there is
sufficient lay testimony or circumstantial evidence from which a jury
could find beyond a reasonable doubt that a substance was identified
beyond a reasonable doubt, the lack of scientific evidence does not
warrant reversal.”) (citing United States v. Sanchez DeFundora, 893
F.2d 1173, 1175 (10th Cir.1990)).

At trial, Mr. King testified that “the pharmaceutical tablets in this case are

items A, B and G, and those items were visually characterized pharmaceutical

preparations containing hydrocodone with a non-narcotic ingredient[,] which is a

Schedule III in Louisiana at that time.” He further explained:

If they look like – if they are pharmaceutical tablets and they don’t
look like they’ve been messed with in any way – the markings are
intact on them. The shape and size of the tablets are intact.
Sometimes if the tablets come in contact with bodily fluids or
moisture you’ll lose that so we’ll have to do a more in depth analysis.
That wasn’t the case on this evidence. So when the pharmaceutical
tablets that come from a legitimate manufacturer and dispensed by a
pharmacy, we just do a visual examination on those. We use a
reference library that’s used nationwide by law enforcement. So we
do have paperwork to back up that visual examination. But that’s all
that’s necessary for that type of evidence.

In a fifth circuit case, State v. Murphy, 09-432 (La.App. 5 Cir. 11/24/09), 28

So.3d 496, writ denied, 10-16 (La. 6/25/10), 38 So.3d 334, several pills were

discovered in defendant’s shoe. At trial, a forensic chemist testified that upon

visual inspection he determined, using reference material as in the present case,

that the pills were a Schedule IV drug. The arresting officer also testified that he

identified the pills using a reference book which described various narcotics and

showed pictures of the pills. The fifth circuit determined that despite the lack of

scientific evidence, the expert’s visual examination and testimony, together with

16

the officer’s testimony, was sufficient. In Murphy, the fifth circuit referred to a

third circuit case, State v. Carter, 07-1237 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/9/08), 981 So.2d 734,

writ denied, 08-1083 (La. 1/9/09), 998 So.2d 712, that discussed visual inspection

of a pill suspected of being hydrocodone, as follows:

Even without the benefit of direct scientific evidence, we find
that the expert testimony of Mr. Waguespack was sufficient to show
the pills contained clonazepam. The Louisiana Supreme Court has
adopted the view of the federal courts that the “ ‘government need not
introduce scientific evidence to prove the identity of a substance . . .
as long as there is sufficient lay testimony or circumstantial evidence
from which a jury could find that a substance was identified beyond a
reasonable doubt, the lack of scientific evidence does not warrant
reversal.’ ” State v. Harris, 02-1589, p. 6 (La.5/20/03), 846 So.2d
709, 713 (quoting United States v. Sanchez DeFundora, 893 F.2d
1173, 1175 (10th Cir.1990), cert. denied, 495 U.S. 939, 110 S.Ct.
2190, 109 L.Ed.2d 518 (1990)). The supreme court further found,
“[i]dentification based upon familiarity through law enforcement
coupled with present observation of the substance at hand will suffice
to establish the illicit nature of a suspected substance.” Harris, 02-
1589 at 6, 846 So.2d at 714 (citing United States v. Harrell, 737 F.2d
971, 978-79 (11th Cir.1984)).

Further, in a case factually similar to the instant matter, the
Third Circuit found the evidence at trial was sufficient to support the
defendant’s conviction for possession with intent to distribute
hydrocodone. State v. Carter, 07-1237 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/9/08), 981
So.2d 734, writ denied, 08-1083 (La.1/9/09), 998 So.2d 712. In that
case, officers recovered pills from under the back seat of a police car
after the defendant exited the vehicle. Id., 07-1237 at 14, 981 So.2d at
743. At trial, an expert in forensic chemistry testified that the pills
contained hydrocodone. He stated he had not performed chemical
analysis on the pills, but had identified them by visual inspection and
comparison to pictures in a book. Id., 07-1237 at 14, 981 So.2d at
744. Additionally, a police officer testified he had seen similar pills in
the past in connection with his job, and that the pills at issue were
hydrocodone pills. Id. Relying in part on State v. Harris, the Third
Circuit found there was sufficient lay and expert testimony from
which the jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that the pills at
issue were hydrocodone. Carter, 07-1237 at 16, 981 So.2d at 745.

Murphy, 28 So.3d at 499-500.

In the instant case, as in Murphy and Carter, while not exactly testifying that

he was the one who initially identified the pills, when asked how he concluded that

17

the pills were hydrocodone after they were discovered in Defendant’s room,

Detective Andrus answered:

Generally[,] someone on scene takes their phone and you can
Google a description of the pill and it will show results in there. And
when you click on it, it will give you an actual picture of the pill that
you’re Googling and you can visually identify to match. And it will
tell you what schedule that pill is.

Detective Andrus testified that he had been in law enforcement for more

than twelve years, six years with the Metro Narcotic Unit. He further testified that

he had received extensive training in narcotics investigations and field testing of

drugs. Mr. King testified he had been with North Louisiana Criminalistics

Laboratory for fifteen years and had qualified as an expert in drug analysis in

several district courts in Louisiana.

Based on the expert testimony of Mr. King, together with Detective Andrus’

testimony, we find that the evidence was sufficient for the jury to conclude that the

pills seized from Defendant’s house were hydrocodone. Accordingly, we find that

the trial court did not err in allowing the admission of the evidence. Thus, there is

no merit to this assignment of error.

ATTORNEY ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER THREE

Defendant argues that the mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years

without the benefit of parole constituted cruel and unusual punishment and was

constitutionally excessive.

Defendant was convicted of possession of a controlled dangerous substance,

Schedule II, with intent to distribute. Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:967(B)(4)(b)

provides for a range of imprisonment “at hard labor for not less than two years not

more than thirty years, with the first two years of said sentence being without

benefit of parole[.]” Defendant was sentenced, however, under the Habitual

Offender Law. The applicable habitual offender provision for a third felony
18

offender provides: “The person shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a

determinate term not less than two-thirds of the longest possible sentence for the

conviction and not more than twice the longest possible sentence proscribed for the

first conviction[.]” La.R.S. 15:529.1(A)(3)(a). Defendant was sentenced to twenty

years at hard labor, the mandatory minimum sentence.

Article 1, § 20 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, prohibits
“cruel, excessive, or unusual punishment.” A sentence which falls
within the statutory limits may nevertheless be excessive under the
circumstances. State v. Sepulvado, 367 So.2d 762 (La.1979); State v.
Naquin, 527 So.2d 601 (La.App. 3 Cir.1988). To constitute an
excessive sentence this court must find that the penalty is so grossly
disproportionate to the severity of the crime as to shock our sense of
justice or that the sentence makes no measurable contribution to
acceptable penal goals and, therefore, is nothing more than needless
imposition of pain and suffering. State v. Campbell, 404 So.2d 1205
(La.1981); State v. Everett, 530 So.2d 615 (La.App. 3 Cir.1988), writ
denied, 536 So.2d 1233 (La.1989). The trial judge is given wide
discretion in imposing a sentence, and a sentence imposed within the
statutory limits will not be deemed excessive in the absence of
manifest abuse of discretion. State v. Howard, 414 So.2d 1210
(La.1982).

State v. Walker, 96-112, pp. 3-4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/5/96), 677 So.2d 532, 534-35,

writ denied, 96-1767 (La. 12/6/96), 684 So.2d 924.

A trial court must look at the particular circumstances of the
case and the defendant’s background in order to impose a sentence
that is suited for him. On review, the issue is not whether another
sentence would have been more appropriate; rather, it is whether the
trial court abused its discretion.

State v. Beverly, 03-1348, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/3/04), 867 So.2d 107, 110

(footnotes omitted).

Mandatory minimum sentences imposed on multiple offenders
under the Habitual Offender Law are presumed to be constitutional,
and a defendant bears the burden of rebutting that presumption. State
v. Ladd, 13-1663, p. 3 (La.App. 4 Cir. 7/2/14), 146 So.3d 642, 644,
vacated and remanded on other grounds, 14-1611 (La. 3/27/15), 164
So.3d 184, (citing State v. Johnson, 97-1906, pp. 5-6 (La. 3/4/98), 709
So.2d 672, 675, and State v. Short, 96-2780, p. 8 (La.App. 4 Cir.
11/18/98), 725 So.2d 23, 27). To rebut the presumption that a
mandatory minimum sentence is constitutional, a defendant must
clearly and convincingly show that:
19

[he] is exceptional, which in this context means that
because of unusual circumstances, the defendant is a
victim of the legislature’s failure to assign sentences that
are meaningfully tailored to the culpability of the
offender, the gravity of the offense, and the
circumstances of the case.

Id. (quoting State v. Lindsey, 99-3302, p. 5 (La. 10/17/00), 770 So.2d
339, 343). “[D]epartures downward from the minimum sentence
under the Habitual Offender Law should occur only in rare
situations.” Lindsey, p. 5, 770 So.2d at 343 (quoting Johnson, 97-
1906, p. 8, 709 So.2d at 677).

State v. Hall, 14-1046, p. 15 (La.App. 4 Cir. 5/15/15), 172 So.3d 61, 70.

In brief, Defendant’s total argument consists of an assertion that his twenty

year sentence and his five year sentence are “constitutionally excessive as they

make no contribution to acceptable goals of punishment and are nothing more than

the purposeless imposition of pain and suffering and are grossly out of proportion

to the severity of the crime.” Defendant does not explain how the mandatory

sentence is excessive in his case or in what way he is exceptional or a victim of the

legislature’s failure to assign a sentence that is meaningful to his circumstance.

Thus, Defendant has failed to meet his burden of proof. There is no merit to this

assignment of error.

PRO SE ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR:

Defendant’s pro se assignments of error do not correlate with his argument,

which is one long, somewhat rambling dissertation of the injustice imposed on

him, including discrimination based on race. We categorize Defendant’s seven pro

se assignments of error into five specific errors as follows: 1) Defendant was

denied a preliminary hearing; 2) Defendant’s speedy trial rights were violated

pursuant to La.Code Crim.P. arts. 578 and 701; 3) the State failed to negate any

reasonable probability of misidentification; 4) the search warrant was insufficient;

20

therefore, the evidence should have been suppressed; and, 5) prosecutorial

misconduct.

PRO SE ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE3

Defendant argues he was not given a preliminary hearing; therefore, he was

denied the right to prepare a defense. He contends that he could have questioned

the witnesses and established impeachment evidence and Brady v. Maryland, 373

U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194 (1963) evidence. However, in State v. Lewis, 09-350, pp. 4-

5 (La.App. 4 Cir. 12/16/09), 28 So.3d 548, 552, writ denied, 10-129 (La. 9/3/10),

44 So.3d 697 (footnote omitted), the fourth circuit noted:

While a preliminary examination can act as a discovery
technique, the law does not treat it as such. The primary function of a
preliminary examination is to determine whether probable cause exists
to hold the defendant for the charged offense or a lesser included one.
State v. Mayberry, 457 So.2d 880 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/10/84).

The State need only present a prima facie case. If the evidence
does not support probable cause, the court must order the defendant’s
release from custody or bail. This is not a judicial dismissal of the
case and the State may still proceed against the defendant. As noted
in State v. Sterling, 376 So.2d 103 (La.1979):

[A] preliminary examination does not determine the
validity of the charge brought against a defendant, but
rather determines whether or not there is probable cause
to deprive the defendant of his liberty. See State v.
Jenkins, 338 So.2d 276 (La.1976).

Id., 376 So.2d at 104.

A conviction renders moot any claim of an improper denial of a
preliminary examination. State v. Jackson, 2001-1268 (La.App. 4 Cir.
2/6/02), 809 So.2d 1127 citing State v. Washington, 363 So.2d 509
(La.1978) and State v. Mayberry, 457 So.2d 880 (La.App. 3
Cir.1984).

In the instant case, Defendant has been convicted. Therefore, the matter is

moot. Furthermore, Defendant’s motion to suppress the evidence was heard on

3
Note that Defendant’s seven assignments of error have been re-designated as
assignments of error one through five as set forth above.
21

October 30, 2015, and Detective Andrus testified regarding whether there existed

sufficient probable cause to issue the search warrant. Detective Andrus was

thoroughly cross-examined, and Defendant had his opportunity to establish

impeachment evidence and Brady material. Accordingly, there is no merit to this

assignment of error.

PRO SE ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER TWO

On September 23, 2013, Defendant filed a Motion to Quash Bill of

Information wherein he alleged La.Code Crim.P. art. 701(B)(1)(a) required that a

bill of information be filed within sixty days of his arrest. Defendant was arrested

on May 3, 2013, and the bill of information was not filed until October 24, 2013.

He argued that La.Code Crim.P. art. 532(7) required that the indictment be

quashed because he had not been brought to trial in a timely manner. On the same

date, Defendant filed a Motion for Dismissal of Prosecution, alleging that the

search warrant was invalid and illegal. Hearings were scheduled to address all

three motions.

At the hearing on the Motion to Quash the Bill of Information, following

testimony, submission of documents, and arguments, the trial court ruled that

Defendant’s allegation of a 701 violation was moot. In State v. Gordon, 04-633, p.

12 (La.App. 1 Cir. 10/29/04), 896 So.2d 1053, 1062-63, writ denied, 04-3144 (La.

4/1/05), 897 So.2d 600, the first circuit explained why in the current case,

Defendant’s motion was moot pre-trial, is moot now, and quashing the indictment

was not the correct remedy in either case:

Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure article 701, which
provides the statutory right to a speedy trial, merely authorizes pre-
trial relief. The remedy for a speedy trial violation under article 701 is
limited to release from incarceration without bail or release of the bail
obligation for one not incarcerated. Once a defendant has been
convicted, any allegation of a violation is moot. See State v. Kelly,
92-2446, p. 18 (La.App. 4th Cir.7/8/94), 639 So.2d 888, 896, writ
22

denied, 94-2087 (La.1/6/95), 648 So.2d 921; State v. Cowger, 581
So.2d 283, 286 (La.App. 5th Cir.1991). Therefore, the trial court
properly denied defendant’s motions to quash and supplements insofar
as they were based upon a violation of article 701.

In addition to the limitations provided for by article 701, LSA-
C.Cr.P. art. 578(2) provides for a two-year time limitation (from the
date of institution of the prosecution) within which the trial of a
defendant accused of a non-capital felony must be commenced. The
defendant was charged on March 27, 2003, for an offense committed
on February 4, 2002. Prior to the defendant’s August 28, 2003 nolo
contendere plea, the trial court set the defendant’s trial for September
of 2003, well within the time limitation. Thus, to the extent that
defendant’s motions were based on article 578(2), they were properly
denied by the trial court.

Defendant was incarcerated in May 2013. The bill of information was filed

October 24, 2013. While it is true that La.Code Crim.P. art. 701(B)(1)(a) provides

that an indictment or bill of information must be filed within sixty days of the

defendant’s arrest when he is in custody, the remedy for the failure to do so is

being released from custody or from the bail obligation. However, in the instant

case, once the bill of information was filed in October, that remedy was no longer

available. Additionally, once the bill of information was filed on October 23,

2013, the State had two years from the date of the institution of the prosecution to

commence trial. Institution of prosecution commences upon the filing of an

indictment or a bill of information. State v. Cotton, 01-1781 (La.App. 1 Cir.

5/10/02), 818 So.2d 968, writ denied, 02-1476 (La. 12/13/02), 831 So.2d 982.

Accordingly, the State had until October 2015 to bring Defendant to trial. La.Code

Crim.P. art. 578(2). Defendant’s trial commenced in August 2015, two months

before the deadline to commence trial.

While Defendant claims his right to a speedy trial was violated, he did not

file a motion for a speedy trial pursuant to La.Code Crim.P. art. 701(D). Thus,

there is no merit to this assignment of error.

23

PRO SE ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER THREE

Defendant asserts that “[i]n cases involving a defendant’s claim that he

wasn’t the person who committed the crime[,] [Jackson v. Virginia], the [S]tate is

required to negate any reasonable probability of misidentification[.]” Defendant

cites State v. Robinson, 02-530 (La.App. 5 Cir. 10/29/02), 831 So.2d 460, writ

denied, 03-100 (La. 2/13/04), 867 So.2d 676, to support his position that he was

not the person who sold the crack cocaine to Ms. Howard.

However, this is not a matter of a “misidentification.” In Robinson, the

witness testified that the defendant was the man who approached her vehicle,

offered to sell her drugs, took her money, and gave her the drugs. She had

described his clothing and included that fact that he had missing teeth in the front

of his mouth. The defendant, however, alleged on appeal that the State had failed

to negate the reasonable probability that she misidentified him. The fifth circuit

determined that the defendant was not misidentified.

In the instant case, while it was true that the person to whom he sold the

drugs did not testify at trial or otherwise identify Defendant as “Sunny,” this was

not a matter of a witness identifying one person when there was the possibility it

was some other person whom the witness saw. The issue of Defendant’s identity

was resolved by circumstantial evidence wherein it was determined that the

evidence was sufficient, including the element of who sold Ms. Howard the drug.

The jury heard the evidence and arguments and concluded that Defendant was the

one who possessed the crack cocaine and sold the drug to Ms. Howard. There is

no merit to this assignment of error.

PRO SE ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER FOUR

Defendant also filed a Motion to Suppress Evidence 703 wherein he asserted

that the evidence should be suppressed because the search warrant was invalid.
24

Following the admission of the search warrant and affidavit into evidence, and the

testimony of Detective Andrus, the trial court denied the motion to suppress the

evidence.

Defendant argues that the search warrant was invalid because it lacked

sufficient information to establish probable cause. Detective Andrus stated in his

affidavit:

On 4-30-2013[,] your Affiant[,] Detective Andrus[,] arrested Ms.
Belinda Mills[4] with approx [sic] three grams of crack cocaine.
During a post arrest interview[,] Ms. Mills told Detective Andrus she
would like to corporate [sic] with officers. Ms. Mills then rode with
Detective Andrus, Cappel, Belgard, and Parker to Mason St. in
Alexandria where she identified the residence believed to be located at
2108 Mason St. as where she purchased her crack cocaine from. Ms.
Mills told Detective Andrus she purchased this crack cocaine from
this residence within twenty four hours of pointing the residence out.
Ms. Mill[s] also told Detective Andrus she knows the B/M who sold
her the crack cocaine from this residence as “Sunny”.

The proper standard of review for examining mixed questions of fact and

law on a motion to suppress is abuse of discretion. In State v. Everett, 11-1311, pp.

2-3 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/9/12), 89 So.3d 463, 466, this court quoted State v.

Bargeman, 98-617, p. 5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/28/98), 721 So.2d 964, 967, writ

denied, 99-33 (La. 5/28/99), 743 So.2d 658, as follows:

When a trial court rules on a defendant’s motion to
suppress, the appellate court must look at the totality of
the evidence presented at the hearing on the motion to
suppress. The appellate court should not overturn a trial
court’s ruling, unless the trial court’s conclusions are not
supported by the evidence, or there exists an internal
inconsistency in the testimony of the witnesses, or there
was a palpable or obvious abuse of discretion.

Furthermore, the defendant bears the burden of proving the inadmissibility of

evidence seized with a warrant. La.Code Crim.P. art. 703(D). In State v. Friday,

10-2309, pp. 5-6 (La.App. 1 Cir. 6/17/11), 73 So.3d 913, 920, writ denied, 11-1456

4
“Ms. Belinda Mills” and “Ms. Mills” referred to in this affidavit are the same person as
Ms. Belinda Mills Howard referred to throughout this opinion.
25

(La. 4/20/12), 85 So.3d 1258, the first circuit discussed the factors pertinent for

reviewing claims that a search warrant application failed to state probable cause, as

follows:

Article 1, § 5 of the Louisiana Constitution requires that a
search warrant issue only upon an affidavit establishing probable
cause to the satisfaction of an impartial magistrate. See also La.Code
Crim. P. art. 162. Probable cause exists when the facts and
circumstances within the affiant’s knowledge and of which he has
reasonably trustworthy information are sufficient to support a
reasonable belief that an offense has been committed and that
evidence or contraband may be found at the place to be searched.
State v. Johnson, 408 So.2d 1280, 1283 (La.1982). The facts
establishing the existence of probable cause for the warrant must be
contained within the four corners of the affidavit. State v. Duncan,
420 So.2d 1105, 1108 (La.1982); State v. Green, 2002-1022, pp. 6-7
(La.12/4/02), 831 So.2d 962, 968.

An issuing magistrate must make a practical, common-sense
decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit,
there is a “fair probability” that evidence of a crime will be found in a
particular place. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317,
2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983); State v. Byrd, 568 So.2d 554, 559
(La.1990). The process of determining probable cause for the
issuance of a search warrant does not involve certainties or proof
beyond a reasonable doubt, or even a prima facie showing, but rather
involves probabilities of human behavior, as understood by persons
trained in law enforcement and as based on the totality of
circumstances. The process simply requires that enough information
be presented to the issuing magistrate to enable him to determine that
the charges are not capricious and are sufficiently supported to justify
bringing into play the further steps of the criminal justice system. See
State v. Rodrigue, 437 So.2d 830, 832-33 (La.1983).

The review of a magistrate’s determination of probable cause
prior to issuing a warrant is entitled to significant deference by
reviewing courts. “[A]fter-the-fact scrutiny by courts of the
sufficiency of an affidavit should not take the form of de novo
review.” Gates, 462 U.S. at 236, 103 S.Ct. at 2331. Further, because
of “the preference to be accorded to warrants,” marginal cases should
be resolved in favor of a finding that the issuing magistrate’s
judgment was reasonable. United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102,
109, 85 S.Ct. 741, 746, 13 L.Ed.2d 684 (1965).

In State v. Cortes, 11-794, pp. 13-14 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/1/12), 84 So.3d 733,

742, this court quoted State v. Williams, 04-1309, pp. 21-22 (La.App. 5 Cir.

4/26/05), 902 So.2d 485, 499, writs denied, 05-1640 (La. 2/3/06), 922 So.2d 1173,
26

924 So.2d 144, as follows: “‘In determining whether the ruling on a motion to

suppress was correct, the court is not limited to the evidence adduced at the hearing

on the motion, but may consider all pertinent evidence given at the trial of the

case.’”

We find that Detective Andrus’ affidavit was sufficient for the judge signing

the warrant to determine there was a “fair probability” that illegal drugs were sold

from the stated location. Detective Andrus testified at the suppression hearing, and

his narrative was the same as the information that was given to the judge signing

the warrant. While at trial, there was no identification of Defendant as “Sunny”

(the one who Ms. Howard reportedly said sold her the drug), the judge was given a

name, a location, and the items sought; and, the items sought were located at that

location.

Moreover, in brief, Defendant points out that Ms. Howard’s reliability was

not established in the affidavit, and that at trial, it was brought out that Ms. Howard

had a lengthy criminal history, therein casting doubt on her reliability. At trial,

physical evidence established that the pill bottle containing the hydrocodone found

next to the cocaine in Defendant’s bedroom was prescribed to Ms. Howard,

evidencing she was obviously in that house at some point.

We find the relevant information given to the judge who issued the search

warrant was sufficient, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it ruled

that the search warrant was valid. There is no merit to this assignment of error.

PRO SE ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER FIVE

In this assignment of error, Defendant argues prosecutorial misconduct.

Defendant asserts that Detective Andrus lied and that the State encouraged him to

lie. He asserts that the judge who signed the search warrant “abandoned his neutral

and detached role[.]” He asserts that he was discriminated against because he is
27

black, and the police are white. He asserts that “the prosecutor improperly

introduce[d] illegal[] evidence, assassinated the character of the accuse[d] and the

prosecution made inflammatory statements before and during closing arguments

calling the accuse[d] a ‘nigger’ in front of the jury and no one did anything to stop

this assassination by prosecution[.]”

As noted above, Defendant filed a Motion for Mistrial following the

conviction, wherein he claimed that the prosecutor asked the jury, “[A]re you

going to believe a nigger in jail[?]” At the habitual offender hearing, Defendant

again raised this allegation. The trial judge noted that she did not hear that

statement, and, if she had, she would have granted a mistrial on the spot. Defense

counsel stated that he may have missed hearing the prosecutor make such a remark

and, for that reason, did not object.

At the hearing on the mistrial motion, the trial court denied the motion,

stating emphatically that she heard no such statement during closing argument and

that defense counsel must not have heard it because he did not object; therefore,

the issue was not preserved on appeal. Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure

Article 841, in pertinent part, provides that “[a]n irregularity or error cannot be

availed of after verdict unless it was objected to at the time of occurrence.” We

find that the trial court was correct in its ruling. Finally, a review of the transcript

of the State’s closing argument shows there was no such remark made, and

Defendant makes no reference in his brief to where in the record this alleged

statement was made.

As for the remaining allegations in Defendant’s brief of wrongdoing by the

State, the police, and the trial court, the accusations are conclusory,

unsubstantiated, not found in the record, and thus, neither establish nor warrant

relief.
28

DISPOSITION

We affirm Defendant’s convictions and sentences, but amend Defendant’s

sentence for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine to require only the first

two years to be served without the benefit of parole. We instruct the trial court to

make an entry in the court minutes reflecting this change. Additionally, we direct

the trial court to inform Defendant of the provisions of La.Code Crim.P. art. 930.8

by sending appropriate written notice to him within fifteen days of the rendition of

this opinion and to file written proof in the record that said notice was given.

CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED.
SENTENCES AFFIRMED AS AMENDED,
WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

29