State v. Bradley ( 2022 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
2022-NCCOA-163
No. COA20-873
Filed 15 March 2022
Moore County, No. 18 CRS 52027; 19 CRS 52656
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
v.
CONNOR ORION BRADLEY, Defendant.
Appeal by Defendant from judgments entered 29 July 2020 by Judge James M.
Webb in Moore County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 7 September
2021.
Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Assistant Attorney General Ebony J.
Pittman, for the State.
Stephen G. Driggers, for Defendant-Appellant.
WOOD, Judge.
¶1 Defendant Connor Orion Bradley (“Defendant”) appeals two judgments
revoking his probation. On appeal, Defendant argues the trial court erred by
revoking his probation based on the findings he (1) possessed Schedule II and
Schedule IV controlled substances and (2) maintained a place for a controlled
substance. For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the trial court’s revocation of
Defendant’s probation.
STATE V. BRADLEY
2022-NCCOA-163
Opinion of the Court
I. Factual and Procedural Background
¶2 On September 5, 2019, Defendant entered a guilty plea to one count of indecent
liberties with a child in 18 CRS 052027. The trial court sentenced Defendant to a
term of 16 to 29 months in confinement, suspended the sentence, and placed
Defendant on 30 months of supervised probation.
¶3 On September 30, 2019, Defendant’s probation officer, Ilissa Epps, filed a
probation violation report. In the report, Epps attested under oath
1. The Defendant committed the offense of driving while
his . . . license was revoked . . . . The Defendant also
committed the criminal offenses of driving a vehicle with
no registration, no inspection, and [fictitious title /
registration card and tag] . . . .
2. The Defendant committed the criminal offense of failure
to register his address within 3 business days of change of
address. . . . This is in violation of . . . [N.C. Gen. Stat. §]
14-208.9(A).
¶4 On November 6, 2019, Defendant entered another guilty plea to one count of
failing to register his new address as a sex-offender in file number 19 CRS 052656.
That same day, the trial court entered an order finding Defendant had violated the
terms and conditions of his probation as set out in the violation report. Defendant
was sentenced to an intermediate punishment of 38 days in prison and was given
credit for 38 days served. Also, on November 6, 2019, the trial court entered judgment
against Defendant sentencing him to 17 to 30 months in confinement. The trial court
suspended this sentence and placed Defendant on 30 months of supervised probation
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Opinion of the Court
under the same conditions set forth in 18 CRS 052027.
¶5 After Defendant was placed on probation for failure to register his address as
a sex offender, he submitted to a risk assessment. The risk assessment found
Defendant to be a “high risk offender.” As a result, the Division of Community
Corrections amended the conditions of Defendant’s probation by requiring he submit
to a curfew and wear an electronic monitoring device.
¶6 Less than five months after Defendant’s probation began, Epps once again filed
a probation violation report in each case. The violation report for 18 CRS 052027
alleged Defendant had 1) failed to pay any money since being placed on probation, 2)
failed to pay any supervision fees since being placed on probation, and 3) committed
the criminal offense of possession with the intent to deliver a schedule IV controlled
substance, maintaining a place for a controlled substance, simple possession of a
scheduled II controlled substance, and simple possession of a schedule IV controlled
substance. The violation report for 19 CRS 052656 alleged Defendant 1) failed to pay
any money since being placed on probation and 2) committed the criminal offense of
possession with the intent to deliver a schedule IV controlled substance, maintaining
a place for a controlled substance, simple possession of a scheduled II controlled
substance, and simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance.
¶7 The trial court held a hearing on these violation reports on July 29, 2020. At
the hearing, Defendant denied he had “knowingly and willfully and without legal
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Opinion of the Court
justification violated the terms and conditions of his probation.”
¶8 The State presented evidence which tended to show the following: On March
19, 2020, Amanda Gooch (“Gooch”) was driving her grandmother’s vehicle in which
Defendant was a passenger in the front passenger seat. While driving, Gooch was
pulled over by Officer McKenzie for careless and reckless driving. Officer McKenzie
then conducted a traffic stop during which time Corporal Faulk and Officer Lucas
arrived. Corporal Faulk walked up to the vehicle, retrieved Gooch’s driver’s license,
and ran the vehicle’s registration. Upon observing Defendant to be moving
excessively in the passenger seat while the traffic stop was ongoing, Officer Lucas
pulled Defendant out of the vehicle. The officers next asked Gooch and Defendant for
permission to search the vehicle but were denied consent.
¶9 An officer then shined his flashlight into the vehicle’s passenger side and
observed a plastic container with marijuana on the floorboard. A search of the vehicle
ensued. The officers additionally discovered Alprazolam (Xanax) and Oxycodone
inside the glove box and Clonazepam, a glass marijuana pipe, and one Cigarillo in
the center console. Defendant denied owning any of these substances and alleged the
substances belonged to Gooch. Gooch at first claimed all the substances belonged to
herself; then claimed the substances belonged to nobody; and thereafter claimed half
of the substances belonged to herself and the other half belonged to Defendant.
¶ 10 Defendant remained outside of the vehicle while the search was conducted.
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2022-NCCOA-163
Opinion of the Court
Corporal Faulk testified that during the search Defendant appeared “unsteady on his
feet” and was “falling in and out.” Due to Defendant’s appearance and conduct, the
officers called Emergency Medical Services to treat Defendant. Defendant refused
medical treatment; and, furthermore, at no point was a blood test performed on
Defendant to determine what substance, if any, caused Defendant’s appearance of
impairment.
¶ 11 After conducting a hearing on the probation violations, the trial court revoked
Defendant’s probation for 18 CRS 052027 and 19 CRS 052656 by written judgments
entered July 29, 2020. Defendant gave oral notice of appeal in open court at the
hearing.
II. Discussion
¶ 12 In North Carolina, a court may revoke a defendant’s probation when the
defendant commits a criminal offense in any jurisdiction in violation of N.C. Gen.
Stat. § 15A-1343(b)(1); violates a condition of his probation when the defendant has
previously “received a total of two periods of confinement” under N.C. Gen. Stat. §
15A-1344(d2) (2021); or “absconds by willfully avoiding supervision or willfully
making the defendant’s whereabouts unknown to the supervising probation officer”
in violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1343(b)(3a) (2021). N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1344(a)
(2021). Upon revocation of probation, the sentence the defendant “may be required
to serve is the punishment for the crime of which he had previously been found
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Opinion of the Court
guilty.” State v. Hewett, 270 N.C. 348, 352, 154 S.E.2d 476, 479 (1967) rev’d on other
grounds, Hewett v. North Carolina, 415 F.2d 1316 (1969).
¶ 13 In reviewing a trial court’s decision to revoke a defendant’s probation, we
review for abuse of discretion. State v. Murchison, 367 N.C. 461, 464, 758 S.E.2d 356,
358 (2014). An abuse of discretion occurs when “a ruling ‘is manifestly unsupported
by reason or is so arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned
decision.’ ” State v. Maness, 363 N.C. 261, 279, 677 S.E.2d 796, 808 (2009) (quoting
State v. Peterson, 361 N.C. 587, 602, 652 S.E.2d 216, 227 (2007)). Generally, “when
judgment is suspended in a criminal action upon good behavior or other conditions,
the proceedings to ascertain whether or not the conditions have been violated are
addressed to the sound discretion of the judge . . . .” State v. Guffey, 253 N.C. 43, 45,
116 S.E.2d 148, 150 (1960).
¶ 14 Although Defendant would have us find “substantial evidence” is the standard
for evidence in a probation hearing, our Supreme Court established in State v. Guffey
the evidentiary standard in a probation hearing is “competent evidence.” Id., 253
N.C. at 45, 116 S.E.2d at 150 (citations omitted); see Hewett, 270 N.C. at 353, 154
S.E.2d at 480 (“[T]he alleged violation of a valid condition of probation need not be
proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”). Competent evidence is evidence that is
admissible or otherwise relevant. Competent Evidence BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (7th
ed. 1999)).
STATE V. BRADLEY
2022-NCCOA-163
Opinion of the Court
A. Competent Evidence to Support a Judgment of Simple Possession
¶ 15 Defendant first contends the evidence was insufficient for the trial court to find
he possessed Oxycodone, Xanax, and Clonazepam. We disagree.
¶ 16 “Possession of any item may be actual or constructive.” State v. Alston, 131
N.C. App. 514, 519, 508 S.E.2d 315, 318 (1998), superseded by statute on other
grounds, Act of Aug. 12, 2004, ch. 186, 2004 N.C. Sess. Laws 186; see State v. Perry,
316 N.C. 87, 96, 340 S.E.2d 450, 456 (1986) (stating when a defendant is prosecuted
for contraband “the prosecution is not required to prove actual physical possession of
the materials[,]” rather, “[p]roof of constructive possession is sufficient and that
possession need not always be exclusive” ); see also See State v. Harvey, 281 N.C. 1,
187 S.E.2d 706 (1972); State v. Fuqua, 234 N.C. 168, 66 S.E.2d 667 (1951). Actual
possession occurs when the party has “physical or personal custody of the item.”
Alston, 131 N.C App. at 519, 508 S.E.2d at 318. Constructive possession occurs when
the accused “has both the power and intent to control its disposition or use.” Harvey,
281 N.C. at 12, 187 S.E.2d at 714 (1972); see Alston, 131 N.C. App. at 519, 508 S.E.2d
at 318. Circumstances which are sufficient to support a finding of constructive
possession include “close proximity to the controlled substance and conduct indicating
an awareness of the drugs, such as efforts at concealment or behavior suggesting a
fear of discovery . . . .” State v. Turner, 168 N.C. App. 152, 156, 607 S.E.2d 19, 22-23
(2005).
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Opinion of the Court
¶ 17 In State v. Turner, our Supreme Court held there was sufficient evidence for
constructive possession when the defendant appeared agitated and nervous, his
hands were jumbling around, and he appeared to be passing a tube back and forth
underneath a blanket. Id. The tube was discovered to contain cocaine and though
the defendant denied possession of the tube and did not have exclusive control over
the premises, our Supreme Court held that a totality of the circumstances constituted
“sufficient evidence of constructive possession of cocaine.” Id. at 154-57, 607 S.E.2d
at 21-23.
¶ 18 Here, the trial court found Defendant was in simple possession of Oxycodone,
Xanax, and Clonazepam from the evidence presented at the hearing. The State’s
evidence tended to show Gooch was pulled over for careless and reckless driving and
Defendant was seated in the passenger side of the vehicle. While Officer McKenzie
was conducting the traffic stop, Defendant, like the defendant in Turner, exhibited
behavior suggesting his fear of discovery of the drugs therein because he continued
to move “a lot . . . in the passenger side.” Indeed, Defendant’s movement was to the
extent that Corporal Faulk ultimately had to remove Defendant from the vehicle. A
search ensued when an officer observed marijuana in a clear container on the
floorboard of the passenger side. The fruits of this search showed Defendant was in
“close proximity to the controlled substance” as a pill bottle containing Xanax,
Oxycodone, and Clonazepam was found inside the glove box located directly in front
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Opinion of the Court
of the passenger’s seat. Id. at 156, 607 S.E.2d at 22.
¶ 19 In addition to Defendant being in “close proximity to the controlled substance”
and exhibiting “behavior suggesting a fear of discovery[,]” Defendant also showed
obvious signs of impairment. Id. at 156, 607 S.E.2d at 22-23. Corporal Faulk stated
Defendant was “unsteady on his feet” and “falling in and out” while standing outside
of the vehicle. Due to concerns for Defendant because of the signs of obvious
impairment, Emergency Medical Services were called “to come check him out[] [and]
make sure he did not need to go to the hospital.” Notably, most of the State’s evidence
was admitted by the trial court without objection from Defendant.
¶ 20 In light of the evidence presented by the State, we find competent evidence
existed to support the trial court’s finding of simple possession of a controlled
substance. As such, the trial court’s activation of Defendant’s previously suspended
sentences “are not reviewable on appeal, unless there is a manifest abuse of
discretion.” Guffey, 253 N.C. at 45, 116 S.E.2d at 150; see Pelley, 221 N.C. 487, 500,
20 S.E.2d 850, 858 (1942). There is no evidence of abuse of discretion by the trial
court in this proceeding. We therefore hold the trial court did not err by revoking
Defendant’s probation based upon its finding that Defendant committed the offense
of simple possession of Oxycodone, Xanax, and Clonazepam while on probation.
¶ 21 While our dissenting colleague correctly identifies that a finding of
constructive possession requires more than a defendant merely being present within
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Opinion of the Court
a vehicle in which drugs are found, State v. Ferguson, 204 N.C. App. 451, 459-60, 694
S.E.2d 470, 477 (2010), other incriminating circumstances existed in the case sub
judice to support the trial court’s finding that Defendant violated the terms of his
probations by committing the offenses of possessing a schedule II and IV substance.
See id. (“As a general rule, mere proximity to persons or locations with drugs about
them is usually insufficient, in the absence of other incriminating circumstances, to
convict for possession.” (internal quotation marks omitted)).
B. Competent Evidence of Maintaining a Vehicle for Sale of a Controlled
Substance
¶ 22 Defendant next argues there was no substantial evidence to support the trial
court’s finding Defendant willfully maintained a vehicle for the sale of a controlled
substance. We agree, but hold this error was not prejudicial.
¶ 23 Section 90-108(a)(7) of our general statutes states, in relevant parts,
[i]t shall be unlawful for any person . . . [t]o knowingly keep
or maintain any . . . vehicle . . . which is resorted to by
persons using controlled substances . . . for the purpose of
using such substances, or which is used for the keeping or
selling of the same . . . .
¶ 24 N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-108(a)(7) (2021). The word “keep” in Section 90-108(a)(7)
“refers to possessing something for at least a short period of time—or intending to
retain possession of something in the future—for a certain use.” State v. Rogers, 371
N.C. 397, 402, 817 S.E.2d 150, 154 (2018). When determining if a defendant kept a
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Opinion of the Court
vehicle, the “focus of the inquiry is on the use, not the contents, of the vehicle.” State
v. Mitchell, 336 N.C. 22, 34, 442 S.E.2d 24, 30 (1994), overruled in part by State v.
Rogers, 371 N.C. 397, 817 S.E.2d 150 (2018). “Maintain” as used in Section 90-
108(a)(7) means to “bear the expense of; carry on . . . hold or keep in an existing state
or condition.” State v. Allen, 102 N.C. App. 598, 608, 403 S.E.2d 907, 913 (1991)
(quoting Black’s Law Dictionary 859 (5th ed. 1979)), rev’d on other grounds, 332 N.C.
123, 418 S.E.2d 225 (1992).
¶ 25 Although the definitions of “keep” and “maintain” differ, “they do not describe
separate offenses[] . . . [and are] often used interchangeably . . . .” State v. Weldy, 271
N.C. App. 788, 791, 844 S.E.2d 357, 361 (2020). When deciding if a defendant violated
Section 90-108(a)(7), this court looks to circumstances such as “defendant’s use of the
vehicle, title to or ownership of the vehicle, property interest in the vehicle, payment
toward the purchase of the vehicle, and payment for repairs to or maintenance of the
vehicle.” Id.; see also State v. Alvarez, 260 N.C. App. 571, 575, 818 S.E.2d 178, 182
(2018).
¶ 26 In this case, the violation reports purported, amongst other allegations,
Defendant had committed the criminal offense of “maintaining a place for a controlled
substance.” At the hearing, Corporal Faulk’s testimony tended to show Gooch was
pulled over for careless and reckless driving, Defendant was merely Gooch’s
passenger, and that the vehicle belonged to neither Gooch nor Defendant, but rather
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Opinion of the Court
belonged to Gooch’s grandmother. The State presented no competent evidence that
Defendant possessed any ownership interest in the vehicle, paid for any expenses in
connection with the vehicle, or used the vehicle aside from this instance where he was
a passenger. Accordingly, no evidence supports the trial court’s finding Defendant
violated a condition of his probation by “maintaining a place for a controlled
substance.”
¶ 27 However, the absence of competent evidence to support the trial court’s finding
Defendant maintained a place for a controlled substance does not necessarily mean
the trial court abused its discretion by revoking Defendant’s probation. The plain
text of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1343 states the “defendant must[] [c]ommit no criminal
offense.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1343(b)(1) (2021). The word “offense” in Section 15A-
1343 is singular, denoting a singular new criminal offense is sufficient to revoke
probation. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1344(a) (2021); see also State v. Coltrane, 307
N.C. 511, 516, 299 S.E.2d 199, 202 (1983) (“The evidence in a probation revocation
hearing must satisfy the court that defendant has willfully or without lawful excuse
violated a condition of probation.” (emphasis omitted)).
¶ 28 The trial court is not required under the language of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-
1344(a) and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1343(b)(1) to find more than one new criminal
offense exists in order to revoke a defendant’s probation. Here, the trial court found
Defendant committed multiple probation violations. In its judgment revoking
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Opinion of the Court
Defendant’s probation for 18 CRS 052027, the trial court found Defendant violated
his probation by failing to pay any money since being placed on probation; failing to
pay any supervision fees; possessing with the intent to deliver a schedule IV
substance; maintaining a place for a controlled substance; and simple possession of a
schedule II and IV substance. Likewise, in its judgment revoking Defendant’s
probation for 19 CRS 052656, the trial court found Defendant violated his probation
by failing to pay any money since being placed on probation; possessing with the
intent to deliver a schedule IV substance; maintaining a place for a controlled
substance; and simple possession of a schedule II and IV substance.
¶ 29 As discussed supra, sufficient competent evidence existed to support the trial
court’s finding that Defendant committed the criminal offense of simple possession of
a controlled substance. Thus, despite the lack of competent evidence that Defendant
maintained a vehicle for sale of a controlled substance, the trial court did not abuse
its discretion by revoking Defendant’s probation and activating his suspended
sentences.
III. Conclusion
¶ 30 After a careful review of the record and applicable law, we hold the trial court
did not abuse its discretion by revoking Defendant’s probation and activating his
sentences. Accordingly, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
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2022-NCCOA-163
Opinion of the Court
Judge GORE concurs.
Judge HAMPSON dissents by separate opinion.
No. COA20-873 – State v. Bradley
HAMPSON, Judge, dissenting.
¶ 31 The majority correctly concludes no evidence supports the trial court’s Finding
Defendant violated a condition of his probation by “maintaining a place for a
controlled substance.” However, the evidence in this case is also insufficient to
establish Defendant violated a condition of his probation by committing the criminal
offense(s) of simple possession of Schedule II and IV controlled substances. Thus, the
evidence does not support the trial court’s determination Defendant willfully violated
the condition of his probation that Defendant not commit any criminal offense as
alleged in the violation report(s). Therefore, the trial court abused its discretion in
revoking Defendant’s probation on this basis. Consequently, the trial court’s
Judgments revoking Defendant’s probation should be reversed. Accordingly, I
dissent.
I.
¶ 32 It is important to first make clear the criminal offense(s) Defendant was
alleged to have committed and what offense was not alleged. Defendant was alleged
to be in simple possession of Schedule II and IV controlled substances. These offenses
apparently correspond to the pill bottle containing alprazolam (Schedule IV), the
oxycodone pill (Schedule II), and the clonazepam (Schedule IV) pill found in the glove
box of the car. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-90(1)(13) (listing oxycodone in Schedule II);
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-92(a)(1)(a),(i) (listing alprazolam and clonazepam in Schedule
IV). Defendant was not alleged to have been in possession of the marijuana found on
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HAMPSON, J., dissenting
the passenger side floorboard.1 See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-94(1) (listing marijuana in
Schedule VI).
¶ 33 The fact Defendant was not alleged to have committed the offense of possession
of the marijuana is significant. This is because the State hinged much of its case—if
not the majority—on the marijuana. Indeed, after the conclusion of the evidence, the
State’s argument in full heavily relied on the marijuana:
Your Honor, I believe Corporal Faulk testified that there was
what is believed to be marijuana in the passenger floorboard
where Mr. Bradley was seated. Furthermore, that he was
unsteady on his feet, and they were concerned for him such that
they called EMS, despite the fact that he refused EMS.
Additionally that there were controlled substances in the glove
box, that while Ms. Gooch went back and forth about whether or
not it was hers, she did implicate that some of them were the
defendant’s, and that there were -- there was marijuana
paraphernalia also found in the vehicle.
Your Honor, I think that there’s sufficient evidence that the
defendant was constructively in possession of the marijuana,
given that it was on the floorboard in a seat where he was sitting.
The State did so despite the fact the State never alleged Defendant committed this
offense in violation of his probation.
1 A critical reviewer of this case may well wonder why—if the State was going to allege
possession of anything on a “constructive possession” theory on these facts—it didn’t allege
constructive possession of marijuana.
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2022-NCCOA-163
HAMPSON, J., dissenting
¶ 34 Compounding this confusion as to what offense or offenses Defendant was
alleged to have committed, in rendering its decision, the trial court did not specifically
identify what offenses it found Defendant had committed in violation of his probation,
stating: “The Court finds the respondent has unlawfully, willfully and without legal
justification violated the terms and conditions of his probation as is alleged in the
violation reports, and the Court specifically finds that he’s committed subsequent
offenses.” The trial court’s Judgments also do not independently identify the offenses
found to have been committed instead reciting violations of paragraph numbers of
the violation reports. As such, there is a legitimate question on the existing record
as to whether the trial court relied on a non-alleged offense of possession of
marijuana, in whole or in part, to find grounds to revoke Defendant’s probation. If
the trial court—as a result of the State’s representations—was acting under a
misapprehension Defendant was alleged to have possessed the marijuana, this would
constitute an abuse of discretion. At a minimum, this would require a remand to the
trial court to clarify its ruling and determine whether the evidence supported a
finding Defendant committed the offenses he was actually alleged to have committed.
II.
¶ 35 Indeed, the majority opinion focuses its analysis of whether the evidence
supports the trial court’s Judgments revoking probation—quite correctly—only on
possession of the Schedule II and IV substances. As the majority articulates:
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HAMPSON, J., dissenting
“Possession of any item may be actual or constructive.” State v. Alston, 131 N.C. App.
514, 519, 508 S.E.2d 315, 318 (1998). The evidence here does not support a theory of
actual possession of the Schedule II and IV substances by Defendant. Nobody in this
case argues it does.
¶ 36 Instead, the State contends—and the majority agrees—the evidence was
adequate to support a finding Defendant constructively possessed the Schedule II and
IV substances. The law related to constructive possession applicable to this case was
well-summarized by our prior decision in State v. Ferguson:
“A person is in constructive possession of a thing when, while not
having actual possession, he has the intent and capability to
maintain control and dominion over that thing.” State v. Beaver,
317 N.C. 643, 648, 346 S.E.2d 476, 480 (1986) (citing State v.
Williams, 307 N.C. 452, 455, 298 S.E.2d 372, 374 (1983)). “Unless
a defendant has exclusive possession of the place where the
contraband is found, the State must show other incriminating
circumstances sufficient for the jury to find a defendant had
constructive possession.” State v. Miller, 363 N.C. 96, 99, 678
S.E.2d 592, 594 (2009) (citing State v. Matias, 354 N.C. 549, 552,
556 S.E.2d 269, 271 (2001)). As a general rule, “ ‘mere proximity
to persons or locations with drugs about them is usually
insufficient, in the absence of other incriminating circumstances,
to convict for possession.’ ” State v. Weems, 31 N.C. App. 569, 570,
230 S.E.2d 193, 194 (1976) (citations omitted). Accordingly, “the
mere presence of the defendant in an automobile in which illicit
drugs are found does not, without more, constitute sufficient proof
of his possession of such drugs.” Weems, 31 N.C. App. at 571, 230
S.E.2d at 194.
204 N.C. App. 451, 459–60, 694 S.E.2d 470, 477 (2010).
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HAMPSON, J., dissenting
¶ 37 In this case, the evidence, without more, simply does not support a finding
Defendant was in constructive possession of the Schedule II and IV substances found
inside of a pill bottle inside of a glove box of a car not owned nor operated by
Defendant.2 In its analysis, the majority correctly summarizes the salient evidence
offered by the State: Gooch was pulled over for suspected driving while impaired and
Defendant was Gooch’s passenger; Defendant was removed from the vehicle due to
“a lot of excessive moving in the passenger side”; Defendant was characterized as
“unsteady on his feet” and “falling in and out”; after Defendant was removed from the
car, a search of the vehicle revealed a pill bottle containing Xanax, Clonazepam, and
Oxycodone inside the glove box.3 Additionally, the evidence showed the car was not
registered to Defendant but rather Gooch’s grandmother and there was no evidence
Defendant had or exercised any ownership of the car.
¶ 38 First, the mere fact Defendant was a passenger in the car is, by itself,
2 Additionally, I am not convinced there is any difference between Defendant’s
proffered “substantial evidence” standard and the majority’s “any competent evidence
standard,” but to the extent there is any daylight between the two, I reach the same
conclusion: there is no competent evidence to support a finding of constructive possession.
3 I note with appreciation that the majority does not rely on the evidence of the out-
of-court statements from Gooch concerning who owned the substances in the car. The State
offering those out-of-court statements to prove the substances belonged, in whole or part, to
Defendant constitutes inadmissible hearsay testimony. Even though Defendant did not
object to these statements, we also presume the trial court did not rely on them either. See
State v. Allen, 322 N.C. 176, 185, 367 S.E.2d 626, 631 (1988) (“The presumption in non-jury
trials is that the court disregards incompetent evidence in making its decision.”).
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HAMPSON, J., dissenting
insufficient to establish constructive possession. Id. Second, the two additional
incriminating circumstances were: (1) Defendant was removed from the car for
“excessive moving” and (2) he was unsteady on his feet and appeared to be “falling in
and out.”
¶ 39 Here, there was no evidence Defendant’s “excessive moving” had any
connection to the pill bottle or was an attempt to conceal the substances. In prior
cases, the suspicious or nervous behavior conduct indicated “an awareness of the
drugs, such as efforts at concealment or behavior suggesting a fear of discovery.”
State v. Turner, 168 N.C. App. 152, 156, 607 S.E.2d 19, 22–23 (2005) (evidence two
suspects were passing a tube later determined to contain cocaine between each other
under a blanket); see also State v. McNeil, 359 N.C. 800, 801–02, 617 S.E.2d 271, 272–
73 (2005) (defendant acted nervous, ran from police, and admitted possession of some
of the drugs that police found); State v. Butler, 356 N.C. 141, 147–48, 567 S.E.2d 137,
141 (2002) (taxicab driver felt defendant “struggling” in the backseat behind him and
pushing against the front seat, and the police found drugs under the seat 12 minutes
later); State v. Harrison, 14 N.C. App. 450, 450–51, 188 S.E.2d 541, 542 (1972) (officer
noticed the defendant moving around on the back seat and partially concealing a
brown envelope with his hand). In this case, there was no evidence that Defendant’s
excessive moving indicated any awareness of the Schedule II or IV substances in the
glove box or that he was attempting to conceal the Schedule II and IV substances.
STATE V. BRADLEY
2022-NCCOA-163
HAMPSON, J., dissenting
Nor was there evidence Defendant was evasive or non-compliant with law
enforcement.
¶ 40 Next, the evidence Defendant was unsteady on his feet and “falling in and out”
appears to be used as circumstantial evidence that Defendant was impaired.
However, there is no evidence Defendant’s impairment was the result of ingesting
Schedule II or IV substances. For example: there was no evidence of a blood test, no
evidence Defendant’s behavior was consistent with one impaired by the Schedule II
and/or IV substances, or any evidence from which such impairment might be inferred.
Any speculation Defendant was impaired by the Schedule II and IV substances and
thus, Defendant was “in possession” of those substances is just that: speculation. See
State v. Angram, 270 N.C. App. 82, 87, 839 S.E.2d 865, 868 (2020) (“Although
circumstantial evidence may be sufficient to prove a crime, pure speculation is not,
and the State's argument is based upon speculation.”).
¶ 41 Thus, because the evidence of Defendant’s “constructive possession” of
Schedule II or IV substances is nothing more than speculative, there is no competent
evidence to support a finding Defendant committed the offenses of possession of a
Schedule II and Schedule IV substances. Thus, the trial court erred in finding
Defendant violated conditions of his probation by committing the subsequent offenses
alleged in the violation reports. Consequently, the trial court erred in entering its
Judgments, revoking Defendant’s probation, and activating his sentences.
STATE V. BRADLEY
2022-NCCOA-163
HAMPSON, J., dissenting
Accordingly, the trial court’s Judgments should be reversed.