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People v. Polk (2019) · DecisionDepot
/ California Court of Appeal People v. Polk Published Filed 7/8/19 (unmodified opinion attached)
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION TWO THE PEOPLE, E069641 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super.Ct.No. RIF1603909) v. ORDER MODIFYING OPINION; TANNER JOSEPH POLK, AND DENIAL OF PETITION FOR REHEARING Defendant and Appellant. [NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT]
The petition for rehearing filed by appellant on June 28, 2019, is denied. The
opinion filed in this matter on June 14, 2019, is modified as follows:
On page No. 2, the first paragraph, the word “cell” is changed to “area.”
On page No. 5, subheading “B,” the word “CELL” is changed to “AREA.”
On page No. 5, the first paragraph under subheading “B,” the fourth sentence,
remove the words “in any of the cells.”
On page No. 5, the first paragraph under subheading “B,” the fifth sentence, the
word “cell” is changed to “area.”
1
On page No. 10, the first full sentence, the word “cell” is changed to “area.”
On page 10, the second full sentence, the word “cell” is changed to “area.”
On page 16, the first full paragraph, the third sentence, the word “cell” is changed
to “bunk.”
In the concurrence, on page 1, section “I,” the first sentence, the word “cell” is
changed to “area.”
Except for these modifications, the opinion remains unchanged. The
modifications do not effect a change in the judgment.
More from California Court of Appeal Source: opinion data from the Free Law Project / CourtListener (public-domain court records). DecisionDepot is for informational use only and is not legal advice — verify against the official reporter before relying on any text or AI-generated summary.
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION
MILLER J.
RAPHAEL J. Filed 6/14/19 (unmodified opinion) See concurring opinion.
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION *
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, E069641
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIF1603909)
TANNER JOSEPH POLK, OPINION APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Daniel A. Ottolia, Judge.
Arielle N. Bases, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
*Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this opinion is certified for publication with the exception of subsections sections D and E in the Discussion.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Michael Pulos and Michael D.
Butera, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Defendant and appellant Tanner Joseph Polk, an inmate at the California
Rehabilitation Center in Norco, was found in his cell with eight small pieces of cut-up
and numbered paper, along with a greeting card. A correctional officer touched the paper
and some of it had a grainy feel. The correctional officer had learned from other prison
officers during routine training that a current trend in the prisons was the possession of
methamphetamine-infused paper. He did a preliminary test at the prison and discovered
the presence of methamphetamine on one piece of paper and on a small corner of the
greeting card. The paper was tested at a laboratory, and some of the papers were found to
contain methamphetamine; the remainder of the greeting card tested negative.
Defendant was found guilty of possession of methamphetamine while in prison.
(Pen. Code, § 4573.6.) 1 Defendant admitted he had suffered one prior serious or violent
felony conviction (§§ 667, subds. (c), (e)(1), 1170.12, subd. (c)(1)). Defendant was
sentenced to six years in state prison.
Defendant makes the following claims on appeal: (1) insufficient evidence was
presented to support that he possessed a usable amount of methamphetamine and he had
knowledge that it was methamphetamine, to support his conviction of violating section
4573.6; (2) the correctional officer should not have been allowed to testify as to whether
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
the papers contained a usable amount of narcotics as his testimony was speculative and
lacked foundation; (3) the trial court deprived defendant of a right to present a defense by
refusing to allow him to properly address the quantity of methamphetamine found on the
papers; (4) cumulative errors warrant dismissal; and (5) the trial court erred by denying
his Romero 2 motion to dismiss his prior strike conviction. We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A. OFFICER CARRION’S BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Correctional Officer
Anthony Carrion was assigned to the investigative services unit at the California
Rehabilitation Center in Norco (CRC). Defendant was an inmate at CRC. Officer
Carrion had been with the investigative services unit for eight months as of April 26,
2016. Prior to being assigned to the investigative services unit, he was a search and
escort officer for six years, a yard officer for three years, and a dorm officer for one year.
He had been with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for more than 11
years. Prior to working at CRC, he attended a 16-week training academy, where he was
taught how to search cells and inmates. Each year he attended a week-long refresher
course. The training included the recognition of narcotics. Specifically, for
methamphetamine, he was trained to look for a crystal material similar to table salt.
Officer Carrion was trained on different methods of usage of methamphetamine.
It commonly was snorted, smoked or taken intravenously. He explained he had been
2 People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497.
advised that a current trend was methamphetamine-infused paper. The
methamphetamine was dissolved in water and paper was soaked in the water. The paper
would then be dried and cut into pieces. A user would put the paper under the tongue and
it would dissolve into the bloodstream.
Officer Carrion explained that when he was a dorm officer, he had been involved
in searching each inmate’s cell; these searches occurred five times each day. Inmates
usually had a lookout who alerted the other inmates by yelling, “walking.” Once this
occurred, he paid particular attention to how inmates reacted when he was approaching
the cells. If there was an alert, he was aware that something was going on in the dorm. If
Carrion suspected an inmate had contraband, he would search the inmate from head to
toe. The cell was thoroughly searched for contraband, which could include narcotics,
tattoo materials and any other unauthorized materials.
While he was a yard officer, Officer Carrion was involved in searching the yard
before and after the inmates were in the yard. He and the other officers would search for
contraband, including narcotics. Inmates were searched in the yard if they exhibited
suspicious behavior. As a search and escort officer, he would assist the assigned dorm
officer in conducting searches of the cells. Again, he and the dorm officer would look for
inmates exhibiting suspicious behavior. At all times during these searches, he was
looking for contraband. He conducted eight to 10 searches a day of inmates, cells and
other facilities while a search and escort officer.
His current assignment with the investigative services unit involved conducting
investigations of gangs and narcotics in the CRC. For the investigation of narcotics, they
focused on inmates who had prior rule violations regarding narcotics and on any inmates
who may be linked to narcotics coming into the facility. His assignment included the
entire CRC. He could conduct a search in any part of the facility.
During his time at CRC, he had found methamphetamine more than 20 times.
Narcotics were commonly brought into the prison during visitation; by lower-level
inmates who worked outside the prison; and thrown over the fence into the facility.
Officer Carrion had been taught about usable quantity of drugs in the academy. He had
been taught it was not the amount that could get the person “high” but rather an amount
that could be “manipulated.”
B. SEARCH OF DEFENDANT AND HIS CELL Defendant was housed in dormitory 408. On April 26, 2016, a search was
conducted by Officer Carrion in dormitory 408. He entered the walkway into the dorm
area. No one sounded an alert and there was no suspicious movement in any of the cells.
Carrion approached defendant’s cell; defendant was sitting on his bunk facing away from
him. Defendant was looking down toward his hand. Defendant turned and saw Carrion.
He straightened up and had a look of “Oh, Shit” on his face; his eyes got wide.
Defendant was ordered to his feet and told to put his hands on his head. Defendant was
searched and nothing was found on his body.
Officer Carrion then searched defendant’s bunk area. At this point, he observed
there were several pieces of cut-up paper on defendant’s bunk. There were five white,
one blue and two yellow cut-up pieces of paper. In addition, a greeting card was found.
Carrion had never seen pieces of paper cut up like the ones on defendant’s bed, but had
been hearing through investigative service units at other prisons that there was a
possibility of methamphetamine-infused paper being sent into prisons. He personally had
not seen methamphetamine-infused paper.
He picked up the cut-up pieces of paper. They did not feel like ordinary paper.
The paper he picked up felt grainy, like sand. He put the pieces of paper in an evidence
bag. Officer Carrion also inspected a lined piece of paper, which was found underneath a
greeting card. It did not have an unusual feel and he did not seize it as evidence. He next
inspected the greeting card. In the bottom corner, the same substance as on the cut-up
paper appeared to be present. No other items were seized from defendant’s bunk area.
Officer Carrion took the items to his office. He tested one of the pieces of paper
with a kit kept in the prison to give a preliminary determination of the presence of
narcotics. He also tested a small corner of the greeting card. They both tested positive
for methamphetamine. The remaining pieces of paper and the greeting card were sent to
the California State Department of Justice for further testing.
Officer Carrion had heard that methamphetamine-infused paper was cut up in
order to be disposed of, placed on the tongue or sold in small dosages. He opined that
based on his education and experience dealing with methamphetamine in prison, the cut-
up paper constituted a usable amount. He indicated that one piece of paper may have a
high dosage and another a low dosage, but no matter the amount it definitely can be used.
Officer Carrion explained that the value of narcotics in prison was three times the
value on the street. Carrion could not establish a value for the cut-up pieces of paper
because it was the first time “we’ve actually had it.”
On cross-examination, Officer Carrion admitted this case was the first where he
actually encountered methamphetamine-infused paper. He was asked by the defense, “So
the only thing that you’re basing your experience or your assumption that people can
actually use or get high off these meth-infused papers is what you’ve heard; that that
correct?” Carrion responded, “Based off of the training of the officers, yes.” He did not
know the specific dosage in the cut-up papers. He also indicated the look of the paper
was not unusual; it was only the feel. Carrion did not find any other pieces of paper
among defendant’s belongings that were suspicious like the ones found on defendant’s
On April 26, 2016, defendant was administered a drug test and it came back
negative for methamphetamines.
C. LABORATORY TESTING OF THE METHAMPHETAMINE Irene Cabrera was a criminalist employed by the California State Department of
Justice working in the Riverside laboratory. She had previously tested paper for the
presence of controlled substances 10 to 20 times. When testing for a controlled substance
on paper, she would record her observations of the paper then would weigh the paper.
She would obtain the net weight, which would be the paper and whatever substance was
contained in the paper. She initially tested the greeting card and two of the eight pieces
of cut paper. She was then asked to test two more of the cut pieces of paper.
Cabrera tested four of the eight pieces of paper, which she randomly selected from
the plastic bag. Cabrera was not offering any testimony on what was considered a usable
amount of a controlled substance. Her laboratory only used the term “residual” amount
and not trace amount, which was anything under .01 grams. Substances less than .01
grams were not tested because it was unclear if there would be any remaining after
testing. It was up to the court to order a test of these small amounts.
Cabrera explained that she could not put the paper into the Gas Chromatograph
Mass Spectrometer (GCMS), which tested for the presence of narcotics. She took a part
of one of the scraps of paper. She put it into some water and mixed it with a solvent and
it changed into a gas. This gas was placed into the GCMS. The first scrap was
designated 1-A. Its net weight—the paper and the substance—weighed .027 grams. For
1-A, she stated, “there was not enough sample present there for me to be able to confirm
that methamphetamine was in that sample.” The second scrap, 1-B, was weighed (paper
and substance) and was .024 grams. It was tested and was positive for
methamphetamine. A portion of the greeting card was tested and no controlled
substances were detected. The third scrap, 1-C, which weighed .030 grams, and the
fourth scrap, 1-D, which weighed .017 grams both tested positive for methamphetamine.
The size of the pieces of paper was not part of her testimony.
Cabrera could only say that a controlled substance was present; she was unable to
determine a percentage of methamphetamine to paper. She could not state, for example,
that fifty percent of the weight was methamphetamine.
D. DEFENSE CASE Defendant presented the testimony of Erin Crabtrey. Crabtrey was a forensic
toxicologist and laboratory director for Bio-Tox Laboratories in Riverside. She had a
degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in forensic science. Her laboratory was a
private testing facility that helped agencies such as the Riverside County Coroner’s
office. Her sole job as a toxicologist was drug analysis and interpretation. She primarily
testified for the prosecution. Crabtrey had reviewed the reports prepared by Cabrera and
Her understanding of a usable amount of methamphetamine came from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. She also received additional
information at meetings of the California Association of Toxicologists. Crabtrey stated
that “usable amount” referred to a quantitative or numerical amount to determine whether
or not you have enough of a particular substance to produce an effect.
Crabtrey indicated it was impossible to determine a usable amount from the scraps
of paper. The results only showed the presence of methamphetamine and did not
calculate how much methamphetamine was present in each of the four papers tested.
Without a quantitative amount she would not be able to determine if there was a usable
amount of methamphetamine in those samples. She had never tested methamphetamine-
infused paper. She thought it was possible to quantify the actual amount of
methamphetamine in the paper but that was not done in this case. She agreed that the
scientific community did not define usable amount. She equated a dose with usable
amount; there had to be enough of the drug to produce an effect.
Defendant testified on his own behalf. He admitted being convicted of a felony,
for which he was serving a prison sentence. Defendant was sitting on his bunk the
morning of April 26. Officer Carrion approached him, told defendant to put his hands on
top of his head and to back away from his bunk; he was surprised because he had not
seen Carrion approach. He was not expecting Carrion to be in his cell. Carrion left his
cell and did not tell him anything. Three hours later he returned and put handcuffs on
defendant, advising they had found methamphetamine-infused paper on his bunk.
Defendant admitted he had the pieces of paper but they were in a binder above his
bed. He insisted they were movie tickets for the movie shown at the prison on Friday
nights. He got the tickets from another inmate. He also denied that the greeting card was
on his bunk; it was stored in the bottom of his locker. Defendant denied he had
knowledge that any of the paper he possessed contained methamphetamine. Defendant
admitted he had used methamphetamine in the past, up to the time he went to prison.
Officer Carrion was recalled in rebuttal. He confirmed that movies were shown in
the prison “game room” on Friday nights. Chairs were available for the inmates to sit in
while they watched the movie. To his knowledge, there was no set seating arrangement
and no numbers on the seats. He had never heard of a movie ticket plan. He did not
recall a binder with additional papers being around defendant’s bunk. Defendant never
told him the pieces of paper were movie tickets.
DISCUSSION
A. INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE Defendant claims the evidence did not support the elements of a violation of
section 4573.6, specifically that the cut-up paper in his possession contained a usable
amount of methamphetamine, and there was insufficient evidence that he had knowledge
of the substance on the paper. Based on our review of authority regarding usable
amounts of controlled substances, and the circumstantial evidence and expert testimony
presented in this case, the evidence establishes that defendant possessed a usable quantity
In addressing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a
conviction, the appellate court must determine “‘whether from the evidence, including all
reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom, there is any substantial evidence of the
existence of each element of the offense charged.’ ” (People v. Crittenden (1994) 9
Cal.4th 83, 139, fn. 13, overruled on another ground in People v. Yeoman (2003) 31
Cal.4th 93.) In making this determination the court “must examine the whole record in
the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses substantial
evidence—evidence that is reasonable, credible and of solid value—such that a
reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
(People v. Kraft (2000) 23 Cal.4th 978, 1053.)
“By definition, ‘substantial evidence’ requires evidence and not mere speculation.
In any given case, one ‘may speculate about any number of scenarios that may have
occurred . . . . A reasonable inference, however, “may not be based on suspicion alone,
or on imagination, speculation, supposition, surmise, conjecture, or guess work. [¶]
. . . A finding of fact must be an inference drawn from evidence rather than . . . a mere
speculation as to probabilities without evidence.” ’ ” (People v. Cluff (2001) 87
Possession under section 4573.6 requires that the state prove beyond a reasonable
doubt the standard elements of possession found in the Health and Safety Code. (People
v. Carrasco (1981) 118 Cal.App.3d 936, 947-948.) Thus, the elements for a section
4573.6 violation are (1) unlawfully exercising control over a controlled substance,
(2) having knowledge of the substance’s presence, (3) having knowledge of the
substance’s nature as a controlled substance, and (4) possessing the substance in an
amount sufficient to be used as a controlled substance. (Carrasco, at p. 947, fn. 2.)
Here the jury was instructed in accordance with Carrasco. “Usable amount” was
defined as “a quantity that is enough to be used by someone as a controlled substance.
Useless traces are not usable amounts. On the other hand, a usable amount does not have
to be enough in either amount or strength to effect the user.”
The jury was also instructed, “The People allege that the defendant possessed the
following items: At least three cut pieces of methamphetamine-infused paper. You may
not find the defendant guilty unless all of you agree that the People have proved that the
defendant possessed at least one of the items and you all agree on which item he
possessed.” We assume the jurors followed the instructions. (People v. Sanchez (2001)
26 Cal.4th 834, 852.) Based on the foregoing instruction, the jury had to determine that
only one of the cut-up pieces of paper constituted a usable amount of methamphetamine.
A usable quantity of a controlled substance is shown if “it was of a quantity which
could be potentiated by consumption in any of the manners customarily employed by
users, rather than useless traces or debris of narcotic.” (People v. Piper (1971) 19
The California Supreme Court in People v. Leal (1966) 64 Cal.2d 504, 512 held,
“in penalizing a person who possesses a narcotic the Legislature proscribed possession of
a substance that has a narcotic potential; it condemned the commodity that could be used
as such. It did not refer to useless traces or residue of such substance. Hence, the
possession of a minute crystalline residue of narcotic useless for either sale or
consumption . . . does not constitute sufficient evidence in itself to sustain a conviction.
Since in the present case the prosecution proved no more than defendant’s possession of
traces of narcotics and did not show that such residue was usable for sale or
consumption,” the matter was reversed.
In People v. Rubacalba (1993) 6 Cal.4th 62 (Rubacalba), the court responded to
an argument that the crime of possession could not be proven unless the prosecution
showed the controlled substance had a certain purity. The Supreme Court held: “the
Leal usable-quantity rule prohibits conviction only when the substance possessed simply
cannot be used, such as when it is a blackened residue or a useless trace. It does not
extend to a substance containing contraband, even if not pure, if the substance is in a
form and quantity that can be used. No particular purity or narcotic effect need be
proven.” (Id. at p. 66; see also People v. Karmelich (1979) 92 Cal.App.3d 452, 456
[“The decision in Leal must be limited to such cases, where only a residue unusable for
any purpose, is found; it does not extend to a case such as this . . . where the presence of
heroin itself, not a mere blackened residue on a spoon, was discovered”].)
In this case, Officer Carrion found several cut-up pieces of paper, which had a
grainy feel, and he had been trained in his 11 years working in the prison system that
methamphetamine could look and feel like table salt. It was evident to Carrion that these
pieces of paper contained a substance, and preliminary tests showed that the paper
contained methamphetamine. This was not blackened residue or a useless trace as
described in Rubacalba and Leal.
Officer Carrion further testified that it was in a form that could be used. He
testified he had been recently trained that inmates were bringing methamphetamine-
infused paper into prisons. He also testified that the methamphetamine present on the
papers was a usable amount as it was used by placing the paper in the mouth and
dissolving it under the tongue. This was the common method by which this paper was
used. Despite never before seeing methamphetamine-infused paper, he recognized the
methamphetamine based on the grainy feel of the paper. His suspicions were confirmed
both by his own preliminary testing and by Cabrera’s testing at the laboratory. This was
sufficient to support that the small pieces of paper infused with methamphetamine were a
usable quantity and not a useless trace or blackened residue.
It is true that there is no specific testimony as to the weight of the
methamphetamine, only the weight of the three cut-up pieces of paper including the
substance. However, a quantitative amount need not be proven. The case law only refers
to useless traces or blackened residue, which was not the case here. (People v.
Karmelich, supra, 92 Cal.App.3d at p. 456.)
The People refer to People v. Carmical (1968) 258 Cal.App.2d 103. In that case,
officers found a balloon they believed to contain heroin in the defendant’s pocket. Along
with the balloon, the officers found milk sugar, which was commonly mixed with heroin.
(Id. at pp. 105-106.) When the chemist tested the contents of the balloon, it tested
positive for heroin but the amount was not specified. On appeal, the defendant argued it
was not shown a usable amount of heroin was in the balloon. (Id. at p. 107.) The
appellate court noted that while only trace amounts of heroin may have been in the
balloon, it was part of a large volume of material. One of the officers opined that the
volume was sufficient to indicate it was possessed for purposes of sales. Further, milk
sugar was commonly mixed with heroin in preparation for sale. This was sufficient to
establish usable quantity. (Id. at pp. 107-108)
The People also refer to People v. Camp (1980) 104 Cal.App.3d 244, 249. In that
case, the evidence established that a cigarette the defendant tried to abandon when he saw
officers, “weighed .4 gram, was handrolled, made up of mint leaves ‘laced with PCP’ and
that such a cigarette was sufficient to produce a narcotic effect on a person who takes as
little as two puffs.” (Id. at p. 248, fn. omitted.) The appellate court concluded this was
sufficient to show a usable amount as no case had held that a chemical analysis of the
substance sufficient to determine the weight or volume of the controlled substance was
required. It also concluded, “It is immaterial whether the contraband is visually
indistinguishable because it is mixed together with an inert substance of similar color and
texture, or because, as a clear liquid, it adheres and dries onto the material to which it is
fixed. In either case, the contraband was added to a substance for purpose of ingestion—
its obvious intended use.” (Id. at p. 249.)
In this case, as in Carmical and Camp, Officer Carrion testified that the pieces of
paper felt grainy and did not feel normal. He also testified that the methamphetamine-
laced paper was used by putting it in the mouth and eating it or sucking on it. Here,
based on the feel of the paper and Carrion’s experience, like in Camp and Carmical, were
sufficient to determine that the amount was usable regardless of its weight or separation
from the material to which it was adhered. His testimony was sufficient to establish the
pieces of paper infused with methamphetamine was a usable quantity.
Further, there was sufficient evidence to support that defendant had knowledge
there was methamphetamine on the papers. Here, Officer Carrion had never seen
methamphetamine-infused paper but found defendant in possession of several cut-up
pieces, which he had been trained were used to ingest methamphetamine. When he
approached defendant in his cell, defendant immediately looked up with an expression of
“Oh Shit,” indicating his knowledge of the presence of the controlled substance.
Defendant did not immediately explain to Carrion that these were movie tickets and it
was clear to Carrion after he felt these pieces of paper that they were not normal.
Additionally, defendant admitted methamphetamine use prior to entering prison. This
was sufficient to establish defendant’s knowledge of the illegal substance.
While the evidence here is susceptible to an interpretation other than one
supporting the elements of the charged offenses, that does not warrant reversal. (People
v. Catlin (2001) 26 Cal.4th 81, 139.) Rubacalba and Leal both establish that a blackened
residue and useless trace will not support a usable quantity finding. Here, the evidence
established that there were three separate pieces of paper, which contained
methamphetamine. A quantitative analysis establishing the purity of those substances
was not required and Officer Carrion’s testimony supported that there was a usable
quantity. The circumstances reasonably justify the jury’s conclusion that the elements of
the crimes had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
B. OFFICER TESTIMONY ON USABLE AMOUNT Defendant contends the trial court erred by allowing Officer Carrion to testify that
the amount of methamphetamine on the papers found was a usable amount.
1. ADDITIONAL FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Prior to trial, defense counsel filed motions in limine to exclude testimony by the
correctional officer as to whether the methamphetamine on the paper was a usable
amount on the grounds of relevance and unduly prejudicial pursuant to Evidence Code
section 352; lack of foundation; and speculation. It had not been shown that the
correctional officer had the foundation to opine whether a piece of paper that tested
positive for methamphetamine was a usable amount. The People filed opposition, that
Officer Carrion had extensive training and experience in identifying controlled
substances and was qualified to testify that defendant possessed a usable quantity of
A hearing was held on the motions in limine. Defense counsel argued that the
percentage of methamphetamine on the paper was not known from testing and the People
had failed to lay a foundation that Officer Carrion was qualified to quantify the amount.
The People responded it only needed to be shown that there was methamphetamine
present, and not the quantity in relation to the paper. Carrion had extensive experience
investigating methamphetamine use. The trial court ruled that it would allow the
testimony of Carrion. It had been shown he had extensive training and experience, and
defendant would have the opportunity to cross-examine him regarding his experience and
“The requirements for expert testimony are that it relate to a subject sufficiently
beyond common experience as to assist the trier of fact and be based on matter that is
reasonably relied upon by an expert in forming an opinion on the subject to which his or
her testimony relates. [Citations.] Such evidence is admissible even though it
encompasses the ultimate issue in the case.” (People v. Olguin (1994) 31 Cal.App.4th
Evidence Code section 801, subdivision (b) allows an expert to testify “Based on
matter (including his special knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education)
perceived by or personally known to the witness or made known to him at or before the
hearing, whether or not admissible, that is of a type that reasonably may be relied upon
by an expert in forming an opinion upon the subject to which his testimony relates, unless
an expert is precluded by law from using such matter as a basis for his opinion.”
The determination that a witness qualifies as an expert and the decision to admit
expert opinion testimony are within the discretion of the trial court and will not be
disturbed without a showing of a “manifest abuse.” (People v. Hill (2011) 191
Cal.App.4th 1104, 1118; see also People v. Mendoza (2000) 24 Cal.4th 130, 177,
superseded by statute on other grounds in People v. Brooks (2017) 3 Cal.5th 1.)
Officer Carrion had been working at the prison for over 11 years. He had been
trained on the recognition of methamphetamine. He had found methamphetamine in the
prison over 20 times. He also regularly attended training. He had received training that a
new method of bringing methamphetamine into prison through the mail system was by
infusing methamphetamine into paper. It was cut up and placed in the mouth to dissolve.
Based on Carrion’s training and experience, he could testify that the cut-up pieces of
paper felt like methamphetamine and were in a form commonly used to ingest the drug.
Defendant contends that Office Carrion had never before seen methamphetamine
infused paper or observed anyone ingest the papers. As such, he should not have been
allowed to testify as to usable quantity.
However, Officer Carrion had been a corrections officer for 11 years and had
extensive knowledge as to the desire of inmates to smuggle contraband into the prisons.
Following defendant’s argument, Carrion could only testify to those items that he had
personally witnessed smuggled into the prison facility or that he had witnessed an inmate
use. That is not the law. Evidence Code section 801 allows an expert to rely on training
and education in addition to personal experience. Carrion could properly rely on his
training, which included discussions with other prison officers as to ways contraband was
making its way into the prison system, and that methamphetamine-infused paper was
used by placing it into one’s mouth to dissolve. The trial court properly admitted
Carrion’s testimony regarding usable amount of methamphetamine.
C. EXCLUSION OF DEFENSE ARGUMENT Defendant insists the trial court prevented him during closing argument from
properly addressing the quantity of methamphetamine found on the papers in an attempt
to challenge whether the papers contained a usable amount. Defense counsel should have
been allowed to comment on the lack of quantitative analysis of the methamphetamine
though scientific testing.
1. ADDITIONAL FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The jury was instructed that a usable quantity is “a quantity that is enough to be
used by someone as a controlled substance. Useless traces are not usable amounts. On
the other hand, a usable amount does not have to be enough in either amount or strength
Defense counsel argued that manipulation was not the legal definition of usable
amount. Defense counsel then put a slide up for the jury, which asked if the district
attorney proved that the methamphetamine was a usable amount. Specifically, “That is,
was the ‘quantity’ enough to be used by a person as a controlled substance.”
Defense counsel then addressed Cabrera’s testimony. First, she argued, “Nowhere
in the CALCRIM will it say ‘manipulate.’ What it will say is whether there’s a quantity
and whether it’s enough to be used by someone as a controlled substance, and by Ms.
Cabrera’s own testimony, she cannot quantify the methamphetamine in those papers.”
The People objected as improper argument and misstates the law. The objection was
sustained but the motion to strike the statement was denied.
Defense counsel further argued “I think it’s fair to characterize [Crabtrey] as a
prosecution witness. However, even she had testified she cannot determine a usable
amount in this case. That is, she cannot determine the quantity that is enough to be used
by someone as a controlled substance. Why? Because you do not know the quantitative
amount of the methamphetamines in this case.” The People’s objection on the ground of
improper argument was sustained.
Defense counsel then argued, “Also, [Crabtrey] testified that even money
sometimes or oftentimes tests positive for controlled substance because it passes through
so many hands and touches so many surfaces. So what does that mean? That means that
if we are going to say that here today that [defendant] is guilty of possessing a usable
amount, without knowing the quantity of methamphetamine in those papers, that means
each and every one of us here—” The prosecutor objected as improper argument and
asked that the slide be removed.” A chambers conference was conducted.
The prosecutor elaborated that the argument misstated the law. It was improper to
imply to the jury that there had to be specific number attached to the methamphetamine
in order to find a usable amount. The trial court agreed that the argument was improper.
Quantity only meant that it had to be on the paper. It does not have to be numerically
quantified. The argument was leading the jury to believe they had to come up with a
number. Defense counsel disagreed with the trial court “wholeheartedly.” It was not a
misstatement of the law. The trial court responded, “I disagree. Take that slide off. You
can use the “usable” language in the jury instruction. That’s the only language you can
Defense counsel objected that defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights to a fair trial
and effective counsel were being violated. The prosecutor responded that defense
counsel was arguing quantity meant “quantitative amount,” which was improper.
Defense counsel disagreed. The trial court understood the argument the same as the
prosecutor. Defense counsel could not use “quantifiable amount.”
The Sixth Amendment right to counsel includes the “right to have counsel present
closing argument to the trier of fact.” (People v. Marshall (1996) 13 Cal.4th 799, 854;
see also Herring v. New York (1975) 422 U.S. 853, 862 [“[F]or the defense, closing
argument is the last clear chance to persuade the trier of fact that there may be reasonable
doubt of the defendant’s guilt”].) “Although counsel have ‘broad discretion in discussing
the legal and factual merits of a case [citation], it is improper to misstate the law.’”
(People v. Mendoza (2007) 42 Cal.4th 686, 702.)
Trial courts have broad discretion to limit closing arguments, including in criminal
cases. (People v. Herring, supra, 422 U.S. at p. 862.) “The presiding judge must be and
is given great latitude in controlling the duration and limiting the scope of closing
summations. He [or she] may limit counsel to a reasonable time and may terminate
argument when continuation would be repetitive or redundant. He [or she] may ensure
that argument does not stray unduly from the mark, or otherwise impede the fair and
orderly conduct of the trial.” (Ibid.)
Here, the trial court interpreted defense counsel’s argument to be that the People
had to prove as an element of section 4573.6 a specific quantitative amount of
methamphetamine was on the paper. As recognized by defendant, the People did not
have to prove the purity of the methamphetamine or that it was capable of producing a
narcotic effect. We cannot say the trial court abused its discretion by interpreting
defendant’s argument to be that a specific amount must be shown to be a usable amount.
Even though defense counsel understood she was only arguing that the amount of
substance was a useless trace or residue, the trial court did not abuse its broad discretion
in finding that the argument implied to the jury that it must determine the purity or
numerical amount of the substance on the paper.
We further reject defendant’s claim that his Sixth Amendment right to present “his
strongest” defense was violated. Defendant was allowed to argue that Officer Carrion
could not recognize methamphetamine-infused paper because he had not seen it before
and had no idea how it was used. Further, defendant’s expert Crabtrey testified, albeit
relying on an improper standard from the National Highway Safety Administration, that
in order to find a usable amount, a numerical amount was required to determine if enough
of the particular substance was present to produce an effect. This was not the proper
legal standard for a violation of section 4573.6 but defendant was allowed to present the
evidence. Based on the foregoing, defendant was allowed to present his defense and his
Sixth Amendment rights were not violated.
D. CUMULATIVE ERROR Defendant contends that the cumulative impact of the errors by the trial court in
admitting Officer Carrion’s testimony and restricting his closing argument rendered his
defense “far less persuasive” and undermined confidence in the verdict. Initially, we
found no error in the admission of Carrion’s testimony or in the restriction of defense
counsel’s argument. “In examining a claim of cumulative error, the critical question is
whether [the] defendant received due process and a fair trial. [Citation.] A predicate to a
claim of cumulative error is a finding of error.” (People v. Sedillo (2015) 235
Cal.App.4th 1037, 1068.) Here, there is no cumulative effect of multiple errors, the only
situation in which the cumulative error doctrine applies. (People v. Williams (2013) 56
Cal.4th 165, 201, abrogated on other grounds in People v. Elizalde (2015) 61 Cal.4th
523; Sedillo, at p. 1068.)
E. ROMERO MOTION Finally, defendant contends the trial court erred by refusing to strike his prior
Prior to sentencing, defendant filed a Romero motion to strike his prior conviction
for violating section 288.5, continuous sexual abuse of a child. He argued that the instant
crime was a non-impact offense as it was unclear if the pieces of paper could actually be
used. Further, were he not incarcerated, his actions would constitute a misdemeanor.
Further, he acknowledged his prior crimes were a mistake but he had suffered abuse as a
child, and from substance abuse. His past decisions were mainly made due to his
substance abuse. Defendant was not a danger to society and fell outside the spirit of the
Three Srikes law. The trial court indicated it had read the Romero motion, the People’s
opposition 3 and intended to deny the motion. The trial court asked if either party wished
to be heard on the decision to deny the motion and defense counsel submitted.
A trial court has discretion to dismiss a strike prior under section 1385. (Romero,
supra, 13 Cal.4th at pp. 529-530.) The trial court considers “ ‘whether, in light of the
nature and circumstances of his present felonies and prior serious and/or violent felony
convictions, and the particulars of his background, character, and prospects, the
3 The People’s opposition is not part of the record on appeal.
defendant may be deemed outside the scheme’s spirit, in whole or in part, and hence
should be treated as though he had not previously been convicted of one or more serious
and/or violent felonies.’ ” (People v. Carmony (2004) 33 Cal.4th 367, 377.)
“[A] trial court’s refusal or failure to dismiss or strike a prior conviction allegation
under section 1385 is subject to review for abuse of discretion.” (People v. Carmony,
supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 375.) “This standard is deferential . . . it asks in substance whether
the ruling in question ‘falls outside the bounds of reason’ under the applicable law and
the relevant facts.” (People v. Williams (1998) 17 Cal.4th 148, 162.)
“Because the circumstances must be ‘extraordinary . . . by which a career criminal
can be deemed to fall outside the spirit of the very scheme within which he squarely falls
once he commits a strike as part of a long and continuous criminal record, the
continuation of which the law was meant to attack’ [citation], the circumstances where no
reasonable people could disagree that the criminal falls outside the spirit of the three
strikes scheme must be even more extraordinary.” (Carmony, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p.
Here, defendant has failed to show the trial court’s decision to refuse to strike his
prior felony conviction was irrational and arbitrary. His prior criminal history between
1997 and 2003 involved theft convictions for which he was placed on probation. On
August 12, 2013, he committed the prior conviction, a violation of section 288.5,
subdivision (a), continuous sexual abuse of a child and was sentenced to six years in state
prison. He had to register as a sex offender when he was released from prison. He was
in prison on that offense when he committed the current offense.
While defendant’s history revealed previous non-violent crimes, his strike
conviction was for continuous sexual abuse of a child. While in prison, he committed the
current offense, which the probation officer described as involving a high degree of
planning and sophistication.. Even being in custody did not deter defendant from
Defendant contends that the trial court misunderstood its discretion. However,
defendant did not request that the trial court explain its determination that the Romero
motion was to be denied. We presume the trial court understood and correctly applied
the law in exercising its discretion and defendant has failed to meet his burden of
affirmatively demonstrating error. (People v. Mosley (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 489, 498-
499.) The trial court did not abuse its discretion by declining to strike defendant’s prior
DISPOSITION The judgment is affirmed..
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL UBLICATION
RAPHAEL J. [People v. Polk — E069641]
Is there any quantity of a controlled substance that is too small to be a “usable
quantity” under California law?
Our answer in today’s opinion, at least in my view, is no. I join the opinion but
write to explain this answer. Under our reading of existing law, the “usable quantity”
element—counter to the ordinary meaning of those words—does not actually depend on
the quantity of the drug in the defendant’s possession. In this case, any measurable
quantity of methamphetamine would suffice to support defendant’s conviction; we hold
that a small quantity of that drug here was sufficient, even though its precise amount was
unknown and could be the smallest amount measurable by the laboratory. Under our
reasoning, it is sufficient that some quantity of the drug was in a form suitable for
consumption. Under the law as we find it, a drug is in a usable quantity simply if it—in
whatever quantity—is possessed in a form that is typical for (or at least amenable to)
controlled substance ingestion.
In his jail cell, defendant Tanner Joseph Polk possessed eight scraps of paper, four
of which were lab-tested for the presence of methamphetamine. Three of those—
weighing .017 grams, .024 grams, and .03 grams—tested positive.
But the lab could not determine the quantity of methamphetamine on each scrap.
Thus, Polk’s primary argument in this appeal is that the prosecution failed to prove an
essential element of his drug possession crime: that he possessed a “usable quantity” of
the methamphetamine. His argument has appeal based on the language of the element.
After all, if an unknown quantity of methamphetamine on three tiny scraps of paper is
sufficient to show a “usable quantity” beyond a reasonable doubt, it is hard to see how
any quantity could ever be too small. We nevertheless hold that his argument fails under
Our Supreme Court has stated that an “essential element[]” of every drug
possession case is that the defendant possessed a controlled substance “‘in a quantity
usable for consumption or sale.’” (People v. Martin (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1180, 1184;
People v. Palaschak (1995) 9 Cal.4th 1236, 1242). Accordingly, under the official
instruction that states the elements in most simple-possession drug cases, the jury is told
that the prosecution must demonstrate that “[t]he controlled substance was in a usable
amount.” (CALCRIM No. 2304.) Likewise, our opinion today states that an element of
the defendant’s Penal Code section 4573.6 crime was that the drug was in an “amount
sufficient to be used as a controlled substance.” (Maj. opn., ante, at p. 12.)
In most cases, the “usable quantity” element is uncontested. Whatever else may
be at issue in a drug case (for example, a defendant’s knowledge of the drug’s presence),
enough of the substance typically is involved that the parties do not contest whether the
quantity is usable. Moreover, when little of the drug is present because the defendant has
consumed it, the People can base the prosecution on the larger, ingested quantity (People
v. Palaschak, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 1242), an argument not made in this case.
But in a relatively rare case involving merely a tiny quantity, when is an amount
“unusable” and when is it “usable”? Juries are provided with language that governs such
a determination. The caselaw quoted above states that a quantity of a controlled
substance must be “usable for consumption.” The standard jury instruction, this part of
which was used here, likewise states: “A usable amount is a quantity that is enough to be
used by someone as a controlled substance.” (CALCRIM No. 2304.) Juries, including
the one in this case, are told that a “useless trace” is not a “useable amount.” (Ibid.).
Juries, however, are given no particular way to determine what differentiates a
“useless trace” from a “usable amount.” That is, if, say, 3 milligrams of
methamphetamine is a usable amount, is 2 milligrams a useless trace? 1? Something
There is only one plausible way that the law, or a jury, could make such a
distinction based on quantity alone. And that is by reference to an amount that may have
a narcotic effect on someone who is using the controlled substance, which is the reason
why the substances are prohibited in the first place. In other words, it could be that
amounts too tiny to affect a user are useless traces, and anything greater is an amount
But this way of distinguishing useless from usable quantities is prohibited by our
Supreme Court’s law. Under People v. Rubacalba (1993) 6 Cal.4th 62, 66, “[n]o
particular purity or narcotic effect need be proven” in a drug case. This proposition of
law also is typically provided to juries, including the one here. (CALCRIM No. 2304.)
This Rubacalba rule eliminates any rational way of distinguishing a “useless”
quantity of a controlled substance from a “usable” one. And it is the reason why, under
our opinion today, even the smallest measurable amount of methamphetamine found on a
piece of paper—which the amount on each scrap of paper in this case could have been—
is sufficient to support a conviction. The import of Rubacalba on the “usable quantity”
element is to ensure that no prosecution could ever fail on that element simply because
the quantity prosecuted is too small. (See People v. Mata (1986) 180 Cal.App.3d 955,
959 [where prosecution is not required to prove that a controlled substance has an effect,
“the quantity of PCP involved is not relevant in a prosecution for sale of the drug”].)
Although the usable quantity element does not actually preclude any prosecution
based on quantity alone, it seems to me that that element has an application. Given the
caselaw, the usable quantity element is actually about the form that the controlled
substance is in, regardless of its precise quantity. In this regard, Rubacalba—the source
of the “useless trace” term—stated that the “usable-quantity rule prohibits conviction
only when the substance possessed simply cannot be used, such as when it is a blackened
residue or a useless trace.” (People v. Rubacalba, supra, 6 Cal.4th 62, 66.)
A blackened residue may come in a substantial quantity; but it is in a form in
which no user ingests it. A “useless trace” may be read in the same manner. A dusting
of a drug on a person’s sweater; residue of cocaine on a piece of currency; a dog-detected
odor of marijuana on a car’s floor mat from an indiscernible remnant of the drug—these
are examples of possession of a drug in a form that is unusable as a controlled substance.
(See People v. Piper (1971) 19 Cal.App.3d 248, 250 [prosecution’s burden is to show
that the drug “could be potentiated by consumption in any of the manners customarily
employed by users”]; People v. Camp (1980) 104 Cal.App.3d 244, 249 [controlled
substance of unknown quantity was mixed with another substance “for the purpose of
Consequently, in my view, we are interpreting the caselaw’s requirement of a
“quantity usable for consumption” as a requirement of a “form useable for consumption.”
Most other states reject the “usable quantity” element entirely. (See, e.g., State v.
Cheramie (Ariz. 2008) 189 P.3d 374, 378 [“[a] ‘usable quantity’ is neither an element of
the possession offense nor necessary to sustain a conviction for it.”]; Richardson v.
People (Colo. 2001) 25 P.3d 54, 58 [“possession of a usable quantity is not an element of
the crime of possession”]; State v. Rhode (Idaho 1999) 988 P.2d 685, 687 [“Neither the
evidentiary nor the statutory rationale for implementing the usable-quantity rule
recommends the adoption of the usable-quantity rule by this Court”]; State v. Brown
(Kan. 1989) 783 P.2d 1278, 1285 [joining “majority view” that any amount of a
controlled substance can sustain a conviction].)
Our state’s adoption of a usable quantity element creates the appearance of a
substantial difference between the law in California and other jurisdictions. But today’s
opinion indicates that difference is not as great as it seems. Our state does not actually
preclude a conviction merely because the quantity of a controlled substance is too small,
which is why the small but indeterminate amount of methamphetamine sufficed to
support the conviction in this case. The law may preclude prosecution of a controlled
substance in unusable form. But the reason why we uphold Polk’s conviction is that he
possessed a measurable amount of methamphetamine—whatever its actual quantity—in a
form suitable for ingestion.
RAPHAEL J. AI-generated · verify before citing Holding. The court held that the evidence was sufficient to support a conviction for possession of a controlled substance in prison, as the methamphetamine-infused paper constituted a usable quantity rather than a useless trace or residue.
Issues
Whether there was sufficient evidence to support the finding of a usable amount of methamphetamine. Whether there was sufficient evidence to support the finding that the defendant had knowledge of the substance's presence and nature. Whether the trial court erred in allowing a correctional officer to testify regarding the usable amount of narcotics. Whether the trial court erred in denying the defendant's Romero motion to dismiss a prior strike conviction. Disposition. Affirmed
“The Leal usable-quantity rule prohibits conviction only when the substance possessed simply cannot be used, such as when it is a blackened residue or a useless trace.” “It is immaterial whether the contraband is visually indistinguishable because it is mixed together with an inert substance of similar color and texture, or because, as a clear liquid, it adheres and dries onto the material to which it is fixed.”