The Third Department reversed defendant’s conviction of criminal possession of a controlled substance and dismissed the indictment. Defendant’s presence in a garage where methamphetamine was being manufactured was not enough to support the People’s theory she constructively possessed the drugs. The facts that defendant had admitted to using methamphetamine in the past and had recently purchase a legal allergy drug which can be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine did not demonstrate her exercise of dominion and control over the drugs in the garage:
As defendant was not found to be in physical possession of methamphetamine, the People proceeded against her on a theory of constructive possession. Thus, it was their burden to establish that she “exercise[d] dominion or control” over the methamphetamine in the one-pot or the area where it was found (Penal Law § 10.00 [8]…) . Defendant’s mere presence in the garage where the methamphetamine was found is not enough, standing alone, to establish dominion or control … . There were no other indicators that defendant had dominion or control over the garage or of the property where it was located; she did not reside there, and there was no evidence that she had keys, kept belongings there or frequently spent time there … . The People argue that the couch where defendant said she was napping was near the shelf where the one-pot containing methamphetamine was found … , and they emphasize the one-pot’s presence in plain view, the smoke and chemical odor noticed by the police officer and the presence in the garage of various substances and tools used to produce methamphetamine. However, knowledge of the presence of an illegal substance does not, without more, meet the People’s burden to demonstrate that a defendant “had the ability and intent to exercise dominion or control over the contraband” … . People v Yerian, 2018 NY Slip Op 04981, Third Dept 7-5-18
CRIMINAL LAW (EVIDENCE, CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION, ALTHOUGH DEFENDANT WAS PRESENT IN A GARAGE WHERE METHAMPHETAMINE WAS BEING MANUFACTURED, THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO DEMONSTRATE SHE CONSTRUCTIVELY POSSESSED THE DRUGS, POSSESSION CONVICTION REVERSED AND INDICTMENT DISMISSED (THIRD DEPT))/EVIDENCE (CRIMINAL LAW, CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION, ALTHOUGH DEFENDANT WAS PRESENT IN A GARAGE WHERE METHAMPHETAMINE WAS BEING MANUFACTURED, THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO DEMONSTRATE SHE CONSTRUCTIVELY POSSESSED THE DRUGS, POSSESSION CONVICTION REVERSED AND INDICTMENT DISMISSED (THIRD DEPT))/CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION (CRIMINAL LAW, ALTHOUGH DEFENDANT WAS PRESENT IN A GARAGE WHERE METHAMPHETAMINE WAS BEING MANUFACTURED, THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO DEMONSTRATE SHE CONSTRUCTIVELY POSSESSED THE DRUGS, POSSESSION CONVICTION REVERSED AND INDICTMENT DISMISSED (THIRD DEPT))/DOMINION AND CONTROL (CRIMINAL LAW, CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION, ALTHOUGH DEFENDANT WAS PRESENT IN A GARAGE WHERE METHAMPHETAMINE WAS BEING MANUFACTURED, THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO DEMONSTRATE SHE CONSTRUCTIVELY POSSESSED THE DRUGS, POSSESSION CONVICTION REVERSED AND INDICTMENT DISMISSED (THIRD DEPT))/METHAMPHETAMINE (CRIMINAL LAW, CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION, ALTHOUGH DEFENDANT WAS PRESENT IN A GARAGE WHERE METHAMPHETAMINE WAS BEING MANUFACTURED, THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO DEMONSTRATE SHE CONSTRUCTIVELY POSSESSED THE DRUGS, POSSESSION CONVICTION REVERSED AND INDICTMENT DISMISSED (THIRD DEPT))