Opinion
No. COA19-80
11-19-2019
STATE of North Carolina, v. Weipeng "Jimmy" LU, Defendant.
Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Assistant Attorney General Matthew Kraus, for the State. The Epstein Law Firm, PLLC, by Drew Nelson, for defendant-appellant.
Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Assistant Attorney General Matthew Kraus, for the State.
The Epstein Law Firm, PLLC, by Drew Nelson, for defendant-appellant.
MURPHY, Judge. A jury found Defendant, Weipeng "Jimmy" Lu, guilty of felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance (Methylone), misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Defendant argues that his probation terms exceed the statutory maximum and that the trial court committed plain error by giving jury instructions that vary from the indictment. After careful review, we vacate and remand for resentencing and hold that the trial court did not commit plain error.
BACKGROUND
At a traffic checkpoint, Sergeant Amanda Efird ("Efird") screened a vehicle in which Defendant was a passenger. Efird detected "[t]he overwhelming odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle," and Defendant confirmed the presence of marijuana. Efird proceeded to search the vehicle with another officer's assistance. Defendant told Efird that the marijuana was located "in a bag behind the driver's seat," and Efird located a drawstring bag, which Defendant professed to own along with its contents. Within the drawstring bag, the officer discovered two sealable plastic bags containing marijuana, a hookah, a "snort straw," and a beer can. The beer can had been altered to serve as an unscrewable container, and inside Efird found "two white crystallized substances"—later identified as Methylone—and a Lorazepam tablet.
Some disagreement emerged at trial as to whether Defendant intended to communicate that he owned all of the bag's contents, or only some.
Defendant was indicted on three offenses, and one indictment specified "an altered beer can" as the sole basis for a possession of drug paraphernalia charge. At trial, the judge gave instructions regarding the possession of drug paraphernalia charge, and, although only the "altered beer can" was named in the paraphernalia indictment, the instructions did not specify the item(s) deemed to be drug paraphernalia.
The jury found Defendant guilty of all charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a suspended sentence of 6-17 months for the felony. Defendant also received two consecutive sentences of 120 days for the two misdemeanor possession offenses. Each sentence was suspended pending a probation period of 36 months and a 12-day split active sentence was imposed for the felony. If activated, the sentences were to run consecutively: the felony sentence first and then the misdemeanor possession sentences.
ANALYSIS
A. Probation Sentencing Error and Clerical Error
Defendant argues the trial court violated N.C.G.S. § 15A-1343.2(c)(2) when it placed him on 36 months’ probation for his misdemeanor convictions. We agree.
We review alleged statutory errors de novo. State v. Wilkerson , 223 N.C. App. 195, 200, 733 S.E.2d 181, 184 (2012). On review, "[w]hen a trial court acts contrary to a statutory mandate, the error ordinarily is not waived by the defendant's failure to object at trial." State v. Hucks , 323 N.C. 574, 579, 374 S.E.2d 240, 244 (1988) (emphasis omitted). The statutory mandate, in this case, restricts the probationary period for misdemeanants sentenced to intermediate punishment, and that time must be between 12 and 24 months "[u]nless the court makes specific findings that longer or shorter periods of probation are necessary ...." N.C.G.S. § 15A-1343.2(d)(2) (2017). When a "trial court [does] not make specific findings that a longer period of probation [is] necessary," we remand. State v. Wheeler , 202 N.C. App. 61, 71, 688 S.E.2d 51, 57 (2010) ; see also State v. Love , 156 N.C. App. 309, 576 S.E.2d 709 (2003).
Here, Defendant argues that the record lacks specific findings to justify a 36-month probation period. The State does not disagree and our review of the record supports Defendant's argument. Thus, the probation period set at trial is vacated and remanded.
Defendant also argues that the trial court erred by issuing written judgments containing clerical errors, including misnumbering the prior conviction points and conviction numbers. The State does not oppose this argument. However, if a judgment containing a clerical error is vacated, then the clerical error is moot. See Shaner v. Shaner , 216 N.C. App. 409, 410, 717 S.E.2d 66, 68 n.2 (2011) (noting "this clerical error has no impact on our minimum contacts analysis and, in light of our reversal of the order, [defendant]’s argument on this point is moot."). As we are remanding to the trial court for resentencing, clerical errors contained in the judgments can be addressed at that time.
B. Plain Error
Defendant argues that the trial court erred when its jury instructions did not identify the item that served as the basis for Defendant's drug paraphernalia charge. Defendant did not object to the possession of drug paraphernalia jury instruction at trial and we review for plain error. N.C. R. App. P. 10(a)(4) ; State v. Odom , 307 N.C. 655, 659, 300 S.E.2d 375, 378 (1983). The standard for plain error is well-established:
For error to constitute plain error, a defendant must demonstrate that a fundamental error occurred at trial. To show that an error was fundamental, a defendant must establish prejudice—that, after examination of the entire record, the error had a probable impact on the jury's finding that the defendant was guilty. Moreover, because plain error is to be applied cautiously and only in the exceptional case, the error will often be one that seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.
State v. Lawrence , 365 N.C. 506, 518, 723 S.E.2d 326, 334 (2012) (internal marks and citations omitted). We find no plain error in this case.
We have held that "it is error, generally prejudicial, for the trial judge to permit a jury to convict upon some abstract theory not supported by the bill of indictment." State v. Taylor , 301 N.C. 164, 170, 270 S.E.2d 409, 413 (1980). We have "found that a trial court's jury instructions which vary from the allegations of the indictment might constitute error where the variance is regarding an essential element of the crime charged." State v. Lark , 198 N.C. App. 82, 92, 678 S.E.2d 693, 700-01 (2009). A "trial court's jury instructions [are] fundamentally erroneous [when] the jury [is] instructed on a theory based on a different subsection from the subsection under which the defendant was charged in the indictment." Id. at 92, 678 S.E.2d at 701 (citing State v. Williams , 318 N.C. 624, 631, 350 S.E.2d 353, 357 (1986) ). In State v. Williams , the trial court committed fundamental error when the indictment charged the defendant with rape by force under N.C.G.S. § 14-27.2(a)(2), but the trial court instructed the jury on the elements for rape of a victim under the age of 13, which falls under N.C.G.S. § 14-27.2(a)(1). Williams , 318 N.C. at 628, 350 S.E.2d at 356. Although two crimes may share similar elements, the trial court cannot give the jury instructions for a separate crime unspecified in the indictment. See Lark , 198 N.C. App. at 92, 678 S.E.2d at 700-01.
Effective 1 December 2015, this statute was recodified as § 14-27.21 by S.L. 2015-181, § 3(a).
Yet, the instructions need not mirror the indictment in at least three respects. First, a "trial judge is not required to instruct the jury with any greater particularity upon any element of the offense than is necessary to enable the jury to apply the law with respect to such element to the evidence bearing thereon." State v. Spratt , 265 N.C. 524, 527, 144 S.E.2d 569, 572 (1965). Second, nor does the trial judge need "to state, summarize, or recapitulate the evidence, or to explain the application of the law to the evidence ...." State v. Wallace , 104 N.C. App. 498, 504, 410 S.E.2d 226, 230 (1991). Finally, additional instructions "beyond the essential elements of the crime sought to be charged are irrelevant and may be treated as surplusage." State v. Bollinger , 192 N.C. App. 241, 246, 665 S.E.2d 136, 139 (2008), aff'd per curiam , 363 N.C. 251, 675 S.E.2d 333 (2009). We reasoned that "[t]he gist of the offense is carrying a concealed weapon " and "the additional language, ‘to wit: a Metallic set of Knuckles ’ ... is mere surplusage and not an essential element of the crime of carrying a concealed weapon." Id. , 665 S.E.2d at 139-40.
Our holding in McNair is particularly instructive on surplus language in jury instructions. In that case, the defendant was charged with possession of burglary tools and argued that "the indictment on the charge of possession of burglary tools only identified the pry bar and the bolt cutters as implements of housebreaking in [d]efendant's possession," but "the trial court nevertheless instructed the jury that it could find [d]efendant guilty if it found that he possessed either the pry bar, the bolt cutters, or the work gloves ." State v. McNair , 253 N.C. App. 178, 188-189, 799 S.E.2d 631, 640 (2017), review dismissed, cert. denied , 370 N.C. 77, 803 S.E.2d 394 (2017). We held that "[t]he mere fact that the court mentioned three implements of housebreaking rather than two [did] not constitute error[ ]" because "the trial court properly instructed the jury as to both essential elements of the offense." Id. at 190-191, 799 S.E.2d at 641.
In short, jury instructions must materially align with the indictment just as the indictment must align with the crime.
The relevant crime in this case, possession of drug paraphernalia, consists of three essential elements: (1) "any person to knowingly use, or to possess with intent to use," (2) "drug paraphernalia" (3) "to ... package, store, ... or conceal a controlled substance other than marijuana which it would be unlawful to possess ...." N.C.G.S. § 90-113.22(a) (2017) (emphasis added). Possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia is now a separate offense. See N.C.G.S. § 90-113.22A (2017) (making it a crime "for any person to knowingly use, or to possess with intent to use, drug paraphernalia to ... package, ... store, ... or conceal marijuana ....").
N.C.G.S. § 90-113.22A became effective 1 December 2014 after passage of S.L. 2014-199.
Here, the indictment charged Defendant with "Possession of Drug Paraphernalia":
III. POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
The jurors for the State upon their oath present that on or about the date of offense shown and in the county named above the defendant named above unlawfully and willfully did knowingly possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, an altered beer can , for the purpose of packaging, storing, or concealing a controlled substance which it would be unlawful to possess. This act was in violation of the law referenced above.
As in McNair , the superseding indictment charged the Defendant with all essential elements of the drug paraphernalia offense by asserting that Defendant (1) "unlawfully and willfully did knowingly possess with intent to use" (2) "drug paraphernalia" (3) "for the purpose of packaging, storing, or concealing a controlled substance which it would be unlawful to possess." Naming a specific item of drug paraphernalia was "mere surplusage." See Bollinger , 192 N.C. App. at 246, 665 S.E.2d at 139-40. Next, the trial court's jury instructions for drug paraphernalia possession stated:
The defendant has been charged with unlawfully and knowingly possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia. For you to find the defendant guilty of this offense the State must prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt.
First, that the defendant possessed certain drug paraphernalia. Drug paraphernalia means all equipment, products and materials of any kind that are used to facilitate or intended or designed to facilitate violations of the Controlled Substances Act.
Second, that the defendant did this knowingly. A person possessed drug paraphernalia knowingly when the defendant is aware of its presence and has either by himself or together with others both the power and intent to control the disposition or use of said paraphernalia.
And third, that the defendant did so with the intent to use said drug paraphernalia in order to package, store or conceal a controlled substance which would be unlawful to possess.
Methylone is a controlled substance in North Carolina that is unlawful to possess.
Marijuana is a controlled substance in North Carolina that is unlawful to possess.
This instruction gave the jury the essential elements for possession of drug paraphernalia but added an alternate element for possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia. Unlike the gloves in McNair that were within the sphere of housebreaking implements, marijuana paraphernalia is not within the sphere of drug paraphernalia under N.C.G.S. § 90-113.22. Indeed, possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia is in violation of N.C.G.S. § 90-113.22A, which is a section entirely separate from possession of drug paraphernalia. This permitted the jury to convict under N.C.G.S. § 90-113.22A, which is an alternate theory from the possession of drug paraphernalia indictment under N.C.G.S. § 90-113.22. Thus, naming marijuana in the instructions varied from the indictment and was in error.
Having found error by the trial court, we must now determine whether
after examination of the entire record, the error had a probable impact on the jury's finding that the defendant was guilty. Moreover, because plain error is to be applied cautiously and only in the exceptional case, the error will often be one that seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.
Lawrence , 365 N.C. at 518, 723 S.E.2d at 334 (internal marks and citations omitted). "It is the rare case in which an improper instruction will justify reversal of a criminal conviction when no objection has been made in the trial court." State v. Tirado , 358 N.C. 551, 574, 599 S.E.2d 515, 532 (2004) (quoting Henderson v. Kibbe , 431 U.S. 145, 154, 97 S.Ct. 1730, 1736, 52 L.Ed.2d 203, 212 (1977) ). A defendant bears the "burden of showing that the trial court's inclusion of [an alternative theory] in the jury instruction had any probable impact on the jury's verdict." State v. Martinez , 253 N.C. App. 574, 582, 801 S.E.2d 356, 361 (2017).
Here, Defendant has a sole surviving contention for plain error: "by instructing the jury on the illegality of Methylone and marijuana, the trial court invited the jury to consider the items associated with marijuana." The marijuana-related items include "the drawstring bag, the smaller bags containing the marijuana, and the glass jar and bag containing the marijuana residue."
Upon review of the Record, three facts presented during trial undercut any perceived probable impact on the jury verdict under plain error review. First, Efird gave substantially more testimony regarding the "altered beer can" and its contents than the other containers. Although all bags in question were discussed throughout the trial, they were never discussed in detail beyond basic features, with the bags directly containing the marijuana described only as "Ziploc bag[s]" designed to contain a "half sandwich" each. By contrast, the "altered beer can" was the subject of focused and specific questions, with descriptions detailing the manner in which it was discovered as well as its weight and temperature relative to a typical beer can. The jury was also given a demonstration of how it unscrewed. Second, the marijuana was entered into evidence still inside the plastic bags, indicating that the bag was part and parcel of the marijuana possession; the "altered beer can," meanwhile, was an independent exhibit. Finally, the drawstring bag was not entered into evidence at all. As such, the likelihood that the jury understood either the plastic bags or the drawstring bag to be the "paraphernalia" used to "package, maintain, store, or conceal" any controlled substance is limited. Similarly, it is uncontroverted that the "altered beer can," explicitly named in the possession of drug paraphernalia indictment, contained the Methylone and no marijuana. The jury found that Defendant was in possession of Methylone, and it is probable the jury also concluded that Defendant possessed the "altered beer can" that stored the Methylone. It is illogical that the jury simultaneously concluded that the can stored marijuana.
Furthermore, even if the jury did consider the plastic or drawstring bags paraphernalia, the fact that it convicted Defendant on the Schedule I charge for a drug contained exclusively in the "altered beer can" strongly suggests that the jury also believed that Defendant possessed the can itself—a can designed, unlike the other items, for the specific purpose of containing and concealing drugs.
The instruction's prejudicial impact was not probable. Thus, because Defendant has failed to show that the trial court's error did not have a probable impact on the jury's finding of guilt, there was no plain error to award a new trial.
CONCLUSION
We vacate in part and remand for resentencing, which will also address any alleged clerical errors. In addition, although we agree that the trial court erred in adding marijuana to the possession of drug paraphernalia instruction, Defendant has failed to show this error had a probable impact on the jury's finding of guilt to award a new trial.
VACATED IN PART AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING; NO PLAIN ERROR IN PART.
Judges TYSON and YOUNG concur.