Joby Jermarr Brooks v. Commonwealth ( 2007 )

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Humphreys, Clements and McClanahan
Argued at Richmond, Virginia
JOBY JERMARR BROOKS
MEMORANDUM OPINION * BY
v. Record No. 0622-06-2 JUDGE ROBERT J. HUMPHREYS
JUNE 19, 2007
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY
William H. Ledbetter, Jr., Judge Designate
S. Jane Chittom, Appellate Defender (Office of the Appellate
Defender, on brief), for appellant.
J. Robert Bryden, II, Assistant Attorney General (Robert F.
McDonnell, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
Joby Jermarr Brooks (“Brooks”) appeals his conviction of possession of marijuana with
intent to distribute, in violation of Code § 18.2-248.1. On appeal, Brooks argues that the trial
court erred in qualifying Deputy Kevin Walsh (“Walsh”) as an expert in the packaging and
distribution of illegal substances and that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction.
For the following reasons, we disagree, and affirm Brooks’ conviction.
ANALYSIS
I. Expert Witness
Brooks argues that the trial court erred in qualifying Walsh as an expert witness.
Specifically, Brooks contends that Walsh “could not answer questions about the relationship
between one ounce of marijuana and an inference of intent to distribute” and, thus, “his
*
Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
testimony could not assist the fact finder to determine whether or not the marijuana possessed by
Brooks was for personal use.” For the following reasons, we disagree.
Generally, to qualify as an expert witness, one needs only to have a degree of knowledge
of a subject matter beyond that of people of common intelligence and ordinary experience so that
such person’s opinion will have value in assisting the trier of fact in understanding the evidence
or determining a fact in issue. Conley v. Commonwealth, 273 Va. 554, 560, 643 S.E.2d 131, 134
(2007) (citing Velazquez v. Commonwealth, 263 Va. 95, 103, 557 S.E.2d 213, 218 (2002)). “An
expert witness may acquire the requisite knowledge of a subject matter through experience and
observation in a variety of ways, including participation in a vocation, without formal training or
education.” Id. (citing Norfolk & Western Ry. Co. v. Anderson, 207 Va. 567, 571, 151 S.E.2d
628, 631 (1966); Neblett v. Hunter, 207 Va. 335, 339, 150 S.E.2d 115, 118 (1966)). The
determination of whether a witness qualifies as an expert on a given subject matter is an issue
submitted to the discretion of the trial court which, on appeal, we will not reverse unless it
plainly appears that the witness was not qualified. See Atkins v. Commonwealth, 272 Va. 144,
153, 631 S.E.2d 93, 97 (2006); Johnson v. Commonwealth, 259 Va. 654, 679, 529 S.E.2d 769,
783 (2000).
Here, Walsh was called to give an expert opinion regarding the distribution and
packaging of the marijuana. Clearly, Walsh had experience with narcotics distribution.
Specifically, Walsh had attended a three-day, advanced narcotics interdiction course. He had
been involved in over one hundred arrests for the possession of controlled substances, and
between fifteen and twenty arrests for possession with the intent to distribute. And he had
conducted interviews of several marijuana users. The trial court determined that his experience
was “limited,” but “you’ve got to start somewhere.” Accordingly, the trial judge found that his
experience and the advanced narcotics course “provide[d] him with the type of knowledge that
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he needs to give an expert opinion of the type he’s going to be asked about.” We cannot say that
based on Walsh’s training and experience, the trial court abused its discretion in allowing Walsh
to testify regarding the packaging of the marijuana.
Brooks also argues that because Walsh’s testimony “lacked ‘empirical data’ from which
his conclusion (‘inconsistent with personal use’) could be established,” the trial court erred in
qualifying him as an expert in the packaging and distribution of marijuana. Specifically, Brooks
argues that because Walsh had no data regarding how much marijuana a user would consume in
a day, he could not “reliably opine” on whether the amount possessed by Brooks was
inconsistent with personal use. However, when viewing Walsh’s testimony in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, as we are required to do, see Martin v. Commonwealth, 4
Va. App. 438, 443, 358 S.E.2d 415, 418 (1987), we disagree with Brooks’ characterization of
Walsh’s testimony, and thus find this argument to be without merit.
Brooks’ counsel asked Walsh, “Does a heavy marijuana smoker smoke at least one ounce
of marijuana in a day?” Walsh responded, “I wouldn’t say an ounce. That’s a little bit more.
An ounce of marijuana is a lot.” Later, Brooks’ counsel asked Walsh “whether marijuana users
bag up a small amount of marijuana so when they put it in a joint or use it in a bong they know
exactly what amount they’re using.” Walsh responded, “they’re done different ways . . . . A lot
of times they have a bag of marijuana, they pack as much as — depending on what they have to
smoke it in.” (Emphasis added). Clearly, based on his training and experience in narcotics
investigation, Walsh knew that an ounce of marijuana is more than the heavy marijuana smoker
consumes in a day and that many times, marijuana smokers pack the marijuana into one bag for
personal use. This is sufficient “knowledge of a subject beyond that of persons of common
intelligence and ordinary experience.” Neblett, 207 Va. at 339, 150 S.E.2d at 118. Moreover,
any ambiguity or imprecision in the answers to questions Brooks’ counsel posed on voir dire are
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properly considered by the fact finder as affecting the weight to be given his testimony rather
than its admissibility. See Horsley v. Commonwealth, 2 Va. App. 335, 339, 343 S.E.2d 389, 391
(1986) (the credibility of the expert witness and the weight to be accorded the evidence are
matters within the province of the trier of fact). Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in qualifying Walsh as an expert in the packaging and distribution of
marijuana.
II. Sufficiency
Brooks argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove possession with intent to
distribute, in violation of Code § 18.2-248.1. Again, we disagree.
When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged on appeal, the evidence and all
reasonable inferences fairly deducible therefrom must be viewed in the light most favorable to
the Commonwealth, and the trial court’s judgment should be affirmed unless it is plainly wrong
or without evidence to support it. Green v. Commonwealth, 223 Va. 706, 712, 292 S.E.2d 605,
609 (1982).
“Because direct proof of intent is often impossible, it must be shown by circumstantial
evidence.” Servis v. Commonwealth, 6 Va. App. 507, 524, 371 S.E.2d 156, 165 (1988). “When
the proof of intent to distribute narcotics rests upon circumstantial evidence, the quantity which
the defendant possesses is a circumstance to be considered. Indeed, quantity, alone, may be
sufficient to establish such intent if it is greater than the supply ordinarily possessed for one’s
personal use.” Dukes v. Commonwealth, 227 Va. 119, 122, 313 S.E.2d 382, 383 (1984).
Likewise, “possession of a small quantity creates an inference that the drug was for the personal
use of the defendant.” Id. (citing Dutton v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 762, 765, 263 S.E.2d 52, 54
(1980)). Moreover, circumstantial proof of a defendant’s intent includes the presence or absence
of drug paraphernalia. Shackleford v. Commonwealth, 32 Va. App. 307, 326-27, 528 S.E.2d
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123, 133 (2000). Expert testimony, usually that of a police officer familiar with narcotics, is
routinely offered to prove the significance of the quantity and packaging of drugs regarding
whether it is for personal use. Id.
Here, Walsh testified that the amount present — .99 ounce — was inconsistent with
personal use. Moreover, the marijuana was packaged in twenty-six individual bags, which
would facilitate distributing small quantities to several individuals. And, Brooks did not have a
smoking device on his person, indicating he did not intend to use the marijuana. Based on this
evidence, we cannot say that the trial court’s decision was plainly wrong or without evidence to
support it. Accordingly, we hold that the evidence was sufficient to support Brooks’ conviction
for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Code § 18.2-248.1.
CONCLUSION
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in qualifying Walsh as an expert witness, nor
did it err in finding the evidence sufficient to support Brooks’ conviction for possession with
intent to distribute. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court.
Affirmed.
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