by Justine Joya, Antoinnette Borbon, Ibraham Dbouk, and Silvia Ramos
The methamphetamine drug case against Defendant Rosevelt Beatty concluded on the morning of July 9.
Rosevelt Beatty is charged with two counts of transporting a controlled substance, two counts of selling a controlled substance, and two counts of possession.
Agent Ryan Bellamy was the undercover agent in this case whose responsibility was to purchase methamphetamine and report back to lead investigator Alicia Slater.
The investigation revolved around Beatty’s middle-man, Mark Costa. Agent Bellamy directly purchased the drugs from Mr. Costa, but whether or not the drugs truly belonged to him or were supplied by another party – Beatty – was the main question.
Two incidents that occurred on November 27, 2012, and January 8, 2013, led to Beatty’s arrest. The drug exchange that occurred in November took place at a Sacramento liquor store. Originally, Costa told Agent Bellamy to pick up from his house, but upon arrival Costa took him to the liquor store. Once another vehicle pulled up, Costa left Agent Bellamy in the car, went inside the liquor store, came back and handed Bellamy the drugs.
The exchange on January of 2013 was very similar to the one earlier that year. Costa and Agent Bellamy were waiting in a car when a black vehicle appeared nearby. Costa got out of the car he and Bellamy were in and approached the black vehicle. Shortly after, he returned with 6.00 grams of methamphetamine.
During Defense Attorney Ortiz’s cross-examination of Agent Slater on Tuesday July 8, it was agreed that the hearing would continue the next morning with the recording of the interrogation of Mr. Beatty.
While being interrogated by Mr. Ortiz, Agent Slater kept trying to force in information that was not being asked. When asked why the liquor store’s video surveillance was being used as testimony but the physical evidence was never subpoenaed, Agent Slater replied by saying she never went to retrieve it. She began to speak about the interrogation with the defendant and made statements that required speculation. Objections were made by the defense, and sustained by the judge. Mr. Ortiz stated that “she is filled with excuses” and called to meet with counsel. The judge, prosecution and defense all agreed that the trial would continue with the recording the next morning.
The following day Deputy District Attorney Michael Vroman, with an agreement from the defense, played the recording of the exchanges between Officer Slater and Beatty. Slater read Beatty his Miranda rights and told him he was being arrested for “conspiracy and selling methamphetamine.”
After Judge Stephen Mock read the jury instructions, both counsels proceeded with their closing arguments.
DDA Vroman took an interesting approach by illustrating the ways in which Beatty was guilty of being an aider and abettor, co-conspirator and perpetrator, through an analogy of marriage.
In response to the fact that no one in the Yolo County Narcotics Enforcement Team physically saw Beatty turn the drugs over to Costa, Vroman argued that, given the phone calls, the black vehicle, and the meeting at the liquor store, it was clear that Costa did not have sole possession of the drugs; thus they were given to him by Beatty.
Vroman concluded by emphasizing to the jurors that they are to take into account only reasonable conclusions.
Mr. Ortiz delivered just as strong an argument, reinforcing the fact that it was Mr. Costa who directly sold the drugs to Agent Bellamy, leaving no doubt that he is guilty.
Ortiz then continued by stating that no one in the investigation ever physically saw Beatty turn over Agent Bellamy’s methamphetamine to Costa, and that there were no recordings in which Beatty admitted to possessing or knowing the quantity of the methamphetamine.
All in all, Mr. Ortiz concluded that the prosecution’s argument was based on “speculation and guesses.”
