State v. Ponce

Belizario Ponce was convicted of possession of cocaine. He contends on appeal the jury was improperly instructed that constructive possession is established when the State has proved dominion and control over the premises where the controlled substance is found. We affirm.

On October 16, 1992, police officers knocked on the door of a residence in Yakima. Mr. Ponce answered the door and gave the officers permission to search. Giving his name as Armando Villa Duran, Mr. Ponce told one officer he and Jose Sanchez had been renting the house for about two months. After a quick reconnaissance to…