ÿWPC© ±q•3ó1³ê$äë8åq¾ AéäÙ§:5ý ƒ5¸~Jw‡ÿSûh0¨92’©Hâ!=/ÜŠ>ª¢ó3| Ï㧯v¦ÛèLãsº»¶ªÚNpÕv_”x1?‚É–M™óM5ü}¤ˆC:$Ò6êÍÕøþéÒ'-L¹c—ÎPî(ë>ª® ÀÚìúàÏz1€äg¤Á(½X™ˆ#næƒÔ\ŸÅí„Î=ú£Ée%hú@¼­‹÷˜=xõÇj¼/TáÛ[fg«pí>a–¤Û˜ž'äÉl-cWXž­TZçÎâB`ÎÉv1›]æ¡N ò¼ÙÕ £øÞÄ£_ÌfáúÛcH=B“1ßÀ ßœQZúûx@-KĦ﫶¸Ñ²ØpÿxÑM’.‰^í%ÏuVû¹‡qþD©ÊGÁ;ÑÏšþÞýë÷'öçÙÓu°'v, ¬¤èXM´nPnœTºR¥ØªÈ âùœ5Â%ÍçÎ`¾RDi5ØytXe>gVYý5ÉÇlÈ1œH þð ò2F%…%uåÂĺÀÿ£Þ=§aZÍm‚Íô»œk®ïõÑ­Þ¼ˆ>e>Ý]‰¤ê¾T1±W‘´|t^y®öÃ"Ò nüdšo³¸]bN\ %^ 0ˆdU$Nì z:Ò´^ † z’ Ò wÞ 4â ö  Æ ÆÍ Æ“ ÆY mN6#Á8UNùEGU@Iщ 0DZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZbžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžžž 0릦¦¦ B‘‘ 0¤® D3R D-… 0K²² ASýÆP 0¤ 0Dº A«þ»(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt€¬q)  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÖJ~'ÌΤh£3|xLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 6ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman  ÇÝ ƒRËA$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ônôò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Agent€Riddle€testified€at€trial€that,€instead€of€paying€for€airline€tickets€in€cash,€current€drug€couriers€oftenÐ ° Ðpurchase€frequent€flyer€coupons€that€corporations€advertise€in€the€newspaper.€€The€courier€will€then€make€the€planeÐ n¾ Ðreservations€using€the€name€on€the€coupon.€€Subsequently,€the€courier€will€arrive€at€the€airport€at€the€last€minute€andÐ ,| Ðchange€the€name€on€the€ticket.€€According€to€Agent€Riddle,€this€cuts€down€on€the€time€the€authorities€have€to€check€theÐ ê: Ðreferences€given€by€the€passengers.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2ËA$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€P»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ônôò»»Ô d(|3Ni$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€P»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Ni$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€P»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€P»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼P»»»ÔÑ8€lÌXXdæ»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡î ãPÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼P»îî ã #ԈРР ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àAssigned€on€Briefs€September€20,€2000€SessionÐ ð@ ÐÔ‡XlÌX»¼PÔÌò òÔ#†¼P»XXlÌ+#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòòóó€v.€JAMES€D.€Ô_ÔBRAZELTONÔ_ÔÔ‡XlÌX»¼PÔó óÐ ä4 ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€as€of€Right€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ Ø ( Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„D„2980€€€€€€Cheryl€Blackburn,€JudgeÐ ¾  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<o` AßÐ pÀ  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1999„02477„CCA„R3„CD€„€Filed€November€17,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ eµ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<0` AßÐ 1  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€appellant,€James€D.€Ô_ÔBrazeltonÔ_Ô,€was€convicted€by€a€jury€in€the€Davidson€County€Criminal€CourtÐ &v  Ðof€one€count€of€possession€of€marijuana,Ô#†¼P»XXlÌ¿#ÔÔ‡XlÌX»¼PÔ€over€10€pounds€but€less€than€70€pounds,€with€the€intent€toÐ  \ Ðdeliver,€a€class€D€felony.€€The€trial€court€sentenced€the€appellant,€as€a€Range€II€offender,€to€sevenÐ òB Ðyears€incarceration€in€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Correction.€€The€appellant€raises€the€followingÐ Ø( Ðissues€for€our€review:€(1)€whether€the€juryððs€verdict€was€supported€by€the€evidence;€and€(2)€whetherÐ ¾ Ðthe€sentence€imposed€by€the€trial€court€was€excessive.€€Upon€review€of€the€record€and€the€partiesððÐ ¤ô Ðbriefs,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð ŠÚ ÐÓñÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€is€Affirmed.ó óÐ V¦ ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼P»àXlÌÝ#ÔÔ‡XlÌX.¼PÔNorma€McGee€Ogle,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€H.€Welles,óó€and€òòJoeÐ "r ÐG.€Riley,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð X ÐÌJohn€E.€Rodgers,€Jr.,€for€the€appellant,€James€D.€Ô_ÔBrazeltonÔ_Ô.Ð Ô$ ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€Marvin€E.€Clements,€Jr.,€Assistant€AttorneyÐ  ð ÐGeneral,€John€Zimmerman,€Assistant€District€Attorney€General,€and€Ana€Escobar,€Assistant€DistrictÐ † Ö  ÐAttorney€General,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð l!¼! ÐÓüÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼P»XXlÌ+ #ÔÔ‡XlÌX»¼PÔÐ 8#ˆ# ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼P»XXlÌì #ÔÔ‡XlÌX»¼PÔÓ  Óà@ìàòòò òI.€€Factual€Backgroundóóó óˆÐ %T % Ðà  àà ` àOn€August€28,€1998,€members€of€the€Metro€Police€Force€and€€the€Drug€EnforcementÐ ê%:!& ÐAgency€set€up€surveillance€on€the€Nashville€Airport,€pursuant€to€a€tip€from€Special€Agent€Kyle€ScottÐ Ð& "' Ðin€San€Diego,€California,€to€watch€a€suspicious€traveler€named€John€Thomas.€€Thomas€had€attractedÐ ¶'#( Ðthe€attention€of€San€Diego€agents€because€he€possessed€some€of€the€ð ðcourier€characteristicsðð€ofÐ œ(ì#) Ðindividuals€carrying€narcotics.€€For€example,€agents€in€San€Diego€considered€Thomas€to€beÐ ‚)Ò$* Ðâ âsuspicious€because€he€had€purchased€a€frequent€flyer€ticket€from€Karen€Ô_ÔWallerÔ_Ô€and€changed€theÐ h*¸%+ý3 ÐÔ_Ôname€on€the€ticket€the€day€he€arrived€at€the€counter.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Additionally,€Thomas€arrived€at€the€last€minuteÐ ° Ðâ âto€board€his€plane.€€Furthermore,€the€phone€number€Thomas€had€given€the€airline€was€disconnected.Ð –æ ÐÌà  àà ` àAgents€Ron€Riddle,€Ricky€Stewart€and€Mike€Woodham€were€among€the€officers€inÐ b² ÐNashville€conducting€the€surveillance.€€They€observed€the€appellant,€James€D.€Brazelton,€and€hisÐ H˜ Ðhalf„brother,€William€Jones,€milling€about€the€waiting€area€where€Thomas€would€exit€from€the€plane.€Ð . ~ ÐJones€and€the€appellant€continuously€checked€to€see€if€they€were€being€watched.€€When€ThomasÐ  d Ðdeplaned,€the€appellant€and€Jones€approached€him€and€the€men€exchanged€ð ðhigh€fives.ðð€€The€menÐ ú J Ðtalked€and€appeared€happy€to€see€each€other.€€Together,€they€walked€to€the€baggage€claim.Ð à 0 ÐÌà  àà ` àAgent€Riddle€proceeded€to€the€secured€area€where€airport€employees€load€the€luggageÐ ¬ ü  Ðonto€the€baggage€claim€conveyor€belt.€€Using€luggage€tag€numbers€obtained€from€Agent€Scott,€heÐ ’â  Ðlocated€Thomasðð€bags.€€Thomasðð€luggage€consisted€of€two€large,€hard„sided€suitcases€and€oneÐ xÈ  Ðsmaller€flight€attendant€bag.€€Agent€Riddle€detected€a€strong€odor€of€marijuana€and€dryer€sheetsÐ ^®  Ðemanating€from€the€two€hard„sided€cases.€€He€called€in€a€drug€dog,€and€the€dog€indicated€that€bothÐ D”  Ðof€the€hard„sided€cases€contained€narcotics.€€Agent€Riddle€entered€the€main€baggage€claim€area,€andÐ *z  Ðsignaled€to€the€other€agents€present€that€drugs€were€detected€in€Thomasðð€luggage.€€The€agentsÐ ` Ðcontinued€to€watch€the€three€suspects.Ð öF ÐÌà  àà ` àWhen€the€conveyor€belt€for€the€baggage€started,€Thomas€positioned€himself€besideÐ Â Ðthe€initial€opening€for€the€conveyor€belt.€€Jones€stood€further€down€the€conveyor€belt.€€The€appellantÐ ¨ø Ðwalked€to€the€telephones€located€approximately€45€yards€away.€€Police€observed€the€appellant€pickÐ ŽÞ Ðup€the€€telephone,€but€he€did€not€deposit€any€money€or€dial€a€telephone€number.€€Police€testified€thatÐ tÄ Ðthe€appellant€began€to€examine€the€area€in€what€they€termed€ð ðcounter„surveillanceðð,€a€techniqueÐ Zª Ðemployed€by€the€police€when€they€want€to€blend€in€with€the€crowd.€€Additionally,€Agent€RiddleÐ @ Ðtestified€that€the€appellant€watched€for€the€luggage.Ð &v ÐÌà  àà ` àThomas€indicated€to€Jones€to€pick€up€the€flight€bag.€€Thomas€himself€picked€up€theÐ òB Ðtwo€hard„sided€cases€containing€the€marijuana.€€At€this€point,€the€agents€moved€in.€€Agent€RiddleÐ Ø( Ðapproached€Thomas,€identified€himself,€and€asked€Thomas€for€identification.€€Thomas€produced€hisÐ ¾ Ðidentification€card,€which€stated€that€he€was€from€San€Diego.€€Agent€Riddle€then€asked€if€the€luggageÐ ¤ô Ðbelonged€to€Thomas,€to€which€Thomas€replied€yes,€but€added€that€an€unknown€woman€had€packedÐ Š Ú Ðhis€bags.€€Agent€Riddle€considered€this€answer€to€be€suspicious,€because€airline€check„in€personnelÐ p!À  Ðroutinely€ask€passengers€if€they€packed€their€own€bags.€€At€that€point,€Agent€Riddle€told€Thomas€notÐ V"¦! Ðto€lie,€but€to€tell€him€if€the€luggage€contained€narcotics.€€Thomas€admitted€that€the€two€suitcasesÐ <#Œ" Ðcontained€drugs.€€Agent€Riddle€asked€Thomas€to€open€the€suitcases€and€Thomas€voluntarily€did€so.€Ð "$r# ÐThe€two€suitcases€contained€a€total€of€twenty„four€bricks€of€marijuana.€€Agent€Riddle€stated€that€theÐ %X $ Ðmarijuana€in€the€suitcases€had€a€street€value€of€approximately€$120,000.Ð î%>!% ÐÐ Ô&$"& Ðà  àà ` àAt€the€same€time€Agent€Riddle€approachedÔ#†¼P»XXlÌJ #ÔÔ€XlÌX»¼PÔ€Thomas,€Agent€Stewart€began€to€questionÐ ° ÐJones.€€Jones€stated€that€he€ð ðcame€to€the€airport€to€pick€up€dude€[Thomas.]ðð€Additionally,€he€statedÐ –æ Ðthat€he€did€not€know€why€he€came€to€Nashville€from€his€home€in€Indiana€to€pick€up€Thomas.€€AgentÐ |Ì ÐStewart€testified€that€Jones€and€the€appellant€came€to€the€airport€in€a€rental€car.Ð b² ÐÌà  àà ` àSimultaneously,€Agent€Woodham€approached€the€appellant.€€Upon€request,€theÐ . ~ Ðappellant€produced€photo€identification€which€stated€that€his€address€was€in€Indiana.€€Later,€policeÐ  d Ðlearned€that€the€appellant€actually€lived€in€San€Diego€with€his€wife€and€two€daughters.€€The€appellantÐ ú J Ðclaimed€that€he€did€not€know€the€other€two€suspects€and€that€he€did€not€understand€why€he€had€beenÐ à 0 Ðstopped€by€the€police.€€However,€police€discovered€that€Jones€is€the€appellantððs€half„brother.€Ð Æ   ÐAdditionally,€the€police€learned€that€the€appellant€had€rented€the€car€that€he€and€Jones€drove€to€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðairport.€€The€police€found€the€rental€agreement,€made€out€in€the€name€of€Thurman€Carey,€among€theÐ ’â  Ðappellantððs€personal€belongings.€€Furthermore,€the€police€found€the€keys€to€the€rental€car€on€theÐ xÈ  Ðappellantððs€person.€€The€appellant€also€stated€that€he€was€in€Tennessee€because€he€was€a€truck€driverÐ ^®  Ðand€J.J.€Carter€had€promised€him€a€job.€€However,€Sheila€Dycus,€an€employee€of€John€CarterððsÐ D”  ÐWorldwide€Moving,€formerly€J.J.€Carter€&€Son,€testified€that€J.J.€Carter€had€been€deceased€for€moreÐ *z  Ðthan€a€decade€and€that€she€could€find€no€record€that€the€appellant€had€applied€for€employment€withÐ ` Ðthe€company.Ð öF ÐÌà  àà ` àA€jury€in€the€Davidson€County€Criminal€Court€convicted€the€appellant€of€one€countÐ Â Ðof€possession€of€marijuana,€over€10€pounds€but€less€than€70€pounds,€with€the€intent€to€deliver.€€TheÐ ¨ø Ðtrial€court€sentenced€the€appellant,€as€a€Range€II€offender,€to€seven€years€incarceration€in€theÐ ŽÞ ÐTennessee€Department€of€Correction.€€The€appellant€raises€the€following€issues€for€our€review:€(1)Ð tÄ Ðwhether€the€juryððs€verdict€was€supported€by€the€evidence;€and€(2)€whether€the€sentence€imposed€byÐ Zª Ðthe€trial€court€was€excessive.Ð @ ÐÌà@ìàA.€Sufficiency€of€the€EvidenceˆÐ  \ Ðà  àà ` àThe€appellant€argues€that€the€juryððs€verdict€was€supported€by€insufficient€evidence.€Ð òB ÐWe€disagree.€€Ô‡XlÌXXXlÌÔUpon€an€appellantððs€challenge€to€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence,€this€court€mustÐ Ø( Ðdetermine€if€any€ð ðreasonable€trier€of€factðð€could€have€found€the€essential€elements€of€the€offenseÐ ¾ Ðbeyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€òòÔ#†XlÌXXXlÌÖ*#ÔÔ‡XlÌXXXlÌÔJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€319,€99€S.Ct.€2781,€2789€(1979);Ð ¤ô ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(e).Ô#†XlÌXXXlÌ,#ÔÔ‡XlÌXXXlÌÔ€€€This€analysis€applies€to€any€guilty€verdict,€whether€based€upon€directÐ Š Ú Ðevidence,€circumstantial€evidence,€or€a€combination€of€direct€and€circumstantial€evidence.€€òòState€v.Ð p!À  ÐDykesóó,€803€S.W.2d€250,€253€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990).€€However,€if€circumstantial€evidence€aloneÐ V"¦! Ðsupports€the€conviction,€the€facts€and€circumstances€ð ðmust€be€so€strong€and€cogent€as€to€excludeÐ <#Œ" Ðevery€other€reasonable€hypothesis€save€the€guilt€of€the€[appellant].ðð€òòState€v.€Crawfordóó,€470€S.W.2dÐ "$r# Ð610,€612€(Tenn.€1971).Ð %X $ ÐÌà  àà ` à€Ô#†XlÌXXXlÌÐ,#ÔÔ‡XlÌXXXlÌÔAdditionally,€the€trier€of€fact,€and€not€the€appellate€courts,€resolvesÔ#†XlÌXXXlÌ /#ÔÔ‡XlÌXXXlÌÔ€all€questionsÐ Ô&$"& Ðconcerning€witness€credibility€and€the€weight€and€value€to€be€given€the€evidence,€as€well€as€allÐ º' #' Ðfactual€issues€raised€by€the€evidence.€òòState€v.€Pruettóó,788€S.W.2d€559,€561€(Tenn.€1990).Ô#†XlÌXXXlÌ)0#ÔÔ‡XlÌXXXlÌÔÐ  (ð#( ÐÔ#†XlÌXXXlÌa1#ÔÔ‡XlÌXXXlÌÔAccordingly,€this€court€will€not€reweigh€or€reevaluate€the€evidence€presented€at€trial.€€òòState€v.Ð †)Ö$) ÐMatthewsóó,€805€S.W.2d€776,€779€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990).Ô#†XlÌXXXl̸1#ÔÔ‡XlÌXXXlÌÔ€€Moreover,€because€the€juryððs€verdictÐ l*¼%* Ðreplaces€the€presumption€of€the€appellantððs€innocence€with€a€presumption€of€the€appellantððs€guilt,Ð R+¢&+ Ðthe€appellant€carries€the€burden€of€demonstrating€to€this€court€why€the€evidence€will€not€support€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðjuryððs€findings.€€òòState€v.€Tuggleóó,€639€S.W.2d€913,€914€(Tenn.€1982).Ô#†XlÌXXXl̬2#Ô€Ô‡XlÌXXXlÌÔFurthermore,€on€appeal,€thisÐ ° Ðcourt€will€accord€the€State€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€and€all€reasonable€inferencesÐ –æ Ðwhich€may€be€drawn€therefrom.€òòState€v.€Williamsóó,€657€S.W.2d€405,€410€(Tenn.€1983).Ô#†XlÌXXXlÌq4#ÔÐ |Ì ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€order€to€sustain€the€appellantððs€conviction,€the€State€must€establish€that€theÐ H˜ Ðappellant€knowingly€possessed,€with€the€intent€to€deliver,€over€10€pounds€but€less€than€70€poundsÐ . ~ Ðof€marijuana.€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„17„417(a)(2)€&€(g)(2)(1997).€€Furthermore,€Ô‡XlÌXXXlÌÔthe€appellantððsÐ  d Ðintention€to€possess€a€controlled€substance€for€the€purpose€of€sale€or€delivery€may€be€inferred€fromÐ ú J Ðthe€amount€of€a€controlled€substance,€along€with€other€relevant€facts€surrounding€the€arrest.€€Tenn.Ð à 0 ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€39„17„419€(1997);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Mitchellóó,€No.€02C01„9702„CC„00070,€1997€WLÐ Æ   Ð567913,€at€*6€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Jackson,€September€15,€1997).€€Ô#†XlÌXXXlÌ7#ÔÐ ¬ ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àAgent€Stewart€testified€that€the€Tennessee€Bureau€of€Investigation€lab€report€revealedÐ xÈ  Ðthat€Thomasðð€suitcases€contained€a€total€of€61€pounds€of€marijuana.€€Ô‡XlÌXXXlÌÔAdditionally,€Agent€RiddleÐ ^®  Ðstated€that€an€amount€as€large€as€the€one€the€police€recovered€from€the€appellant€and€his€co„Ð D”  Ðdefendants€will€typically€be€broken€down€into€smaller€amounts€for€sale.€€Moreover,€Agent€RiddleÐ *z  Ðmaintained€that€marijuana€is€usually€sold€ounces€at€a€time.€€Accordingly,€the€jury€could€haveÐ ` Ðreasonably€found€that€the€appellant€intended€to€deliver€over€10€pounds€but€less€than€70€pounds€ofÐ öF Ðmarijuana.€€However,€the€appellantððs€major€contention€seems€to€be€that€the€State€producedÐ Ü, Ðinsufficient€evidence€to€prove€his€possession€of€the€marijuana.€€We€disagree.Ô#†XlÌXXXlÌ:#ÔÐ Â ÐÌà  àà ` àA€drug€conviction€can€be€sustained€upon€a€finding€of€either€actual€or€constructiveÐ ŽÞ Ðpossession.€€òòState€v.€Cooperóó,€736€S.W.2d€125,€129€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1987).€€Moreover,€as€this€courtÐ tÄ Ðhas€stated:Ð Zª Ðà8  àBefore€a€person€can€be€found€to€constructively€possess€a€drug,€it€must€appear€that€theÐ @ Ðperson€has€ð ðthe€power€and€intention€at€a€given€time€to€exercise€dominion€and€controlÐ &v Ðover€.€.€.€[the€drugs]€either€directly€or€through€others.ðð€€In€other€words,€ð ðconstructiveÐ  \ Ðpossession€is€the€ability€to€reduce€an€object€to€actual€possession.ðð€€The€mere€presenceÐ òB Ðof€a€person€in€an€area€where€drugs€are€discovered€is€not,€alone,€sufficient€to€supportÐ Ø( Ða€finding€that€the€person€possessed€the€drugs.€€Likewise,€mere€association€with€aÐ ¾ Ðperson€who€does€in€fact€control€the€drugs€or€property€where€the€drugs€are€discoveredÐ ¤ô Ðis€insufficient€to€support€a€finding€that€the€person€possessed€the€drugs.Њ ÚÐ Ð  ÐòòState€v.€Brownóó,€823€S.W.2d€576,€579€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1991)(citations€omitted).€€However,€anÐ p!À  Ðappellantððs€ð ðproximity,€presence,€or€association€is€sufficient€when€accompanied.€.€.€with€testimonyÐ V"¦! Ðconnecting€the€[appellant]€with€the€incriminating€surrounding€circumstances.ðð€€òòUnited€States€v.Ð <#Œ" ÐRatcliffeóó,€550€F.2d€431,€434€(1977);€òòcf.óó€òòState€v.€Jonesóó,€No.€02C01„9601„CC„00030,€1996€WLÐ "$r# Ð629199,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Jackson,€October€31,€1996)(finding€that€where€the€only€evidenceÐ %X $ Ðof€defendantððs€possession€of€drugs€was€his€proximity€to€their€location,€that€evidence€was€insufficientÐ î%>!% Ðto€establish€constructive€possession).€€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€the€present€case,€Agent€Stewart€testified€that€the€appellant€and€Jones€actedÐ  (ð#( Ðsuspiciously€while€they€waited€for€Thomasðð€plane€to€land.€€He€stated€that€they€often€glanced€aroundÐ †)Ö$) Ðfurtively€to€see€if€they€were€being€watched.€€Additionally,€Agent€Riddle,€Agent€Stewart,€and€AgentÐ l*¼%* ÐWoodham€all€testified€that€Thomas,€Jones,€and€the€appellant€greeted€each€other€with€ð ðhigh€fivesððÐ R+¢&+ Ðwhen€Thomas€deplaned.€€Furthermore,€the€three€men€talked,€laughed,€then€walked€together€to€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðbaggage€claim.€Thomas€and€Jones€positioned€themselves€to€retrieve€the€luggage,€while€the€appellantÐ ° Ðpositioned€himself€at€the€telephones,€pretended€to€make€a€call,€and€set€up€surveillance.€€Moreover,Ð –æ ÐJones€told€Agent€Stewart€that€he€had€come€from€Indiana€to€ð ðpick€up€dude€[Thomas].ðð€€Agent€StewartÐ |Ì Ðmaintained€that€Jones€and€the€appellant€had€arrived€at€the€airport€via€rental€car,€and€further€assertedÐ b² Ðthat€the€appellant€told€Agent€Stewart€that€he€had€rented€the€car.€€Additionally,€the€rental€agreement,Ð H˜ Ðin€someone€elseððs€name,€and€the€keys€to€the€rental€car€were€among€the€appellantððs€personalÐ . ~ Ðbelongings.€€òòCf.óó€òòState€v.€Brownóó,€No.€03C01„9409„CR„00350,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€at€Knoxville,Ð  d ÐJuly€25,€1995)(stating€ð ðthe€defendant€was€more€than€merely€present€in€the€area€where€the€cocaineÐ ú J Ðwas€found€and€more€than€just€associated€with€the€passenger€who€tossed€the€cocaine.€€The€defendantÐ à 0 Ðowned€the€car€out€of€which€the€passenger€tossed€the€cocaine;€he€knew€the€passenger€and€he€was€inÐ Æ   Ðan€area€known€for€drug€transactions.ðð)Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àA€reasonable€jury€could€have€concluded€that€the€appellant€drove€with€Jones,€his€half„Ð xÈ  Ðbrother,€from€Indiana€to€Nashville,€in€order€to€pick€up€Thomas€and€retrieve€the€marijuana€for€laterÐ ^®  Ðdelivery.€€The€appellant€rented€the€getaway€car€and€served€as€a€lookout€in€the€airport.€€Furthermore,Ð D”  Ðthe€appellant€lied€about€not€knowing€the€other€two€defendants,€one€of€whom€was€his€half„brother.€Ð *z  ÐAdditionally,€the€appellant€lied€about€his€reason€for€being€in€Nashville.€He€stated€that€J.J.€Carter,€aÐ ` Ðman€who€had€been€deceased€for€more€than€a€decade,€had€promised€him€a€job.€€There€was€sufficientÐ öF Ðevidence€to€convict€the€appellant€of€possession€of€marijuana€with€the€intent€to€deliver.€€This€issueÐ Ü, Ðis€without€merit.Ð Â ÐÌà@¢¢#ìàB.€€SentencingˆÐ ŽÞ Ðà  àà ` àThe€appellant€also€contends€that€ð ðthe€trial€court€imposed€an€excessive€sentence€inÐ tÄ Ðboth€its€length€and€consecutive€nature.ðð€€The€trial€court€sentenced€the€appellant,€as€a€Range€IIÐ Zª Ðoffender,€to€seven€years€incarceration€in€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Correction.€We€note€that€theÐ @ Ðjury€only€convicted€the€appellant€of€one€offense;€therefore,€the€trial€court€only€ordered€the€appellantÐ &v Ðto€serve€one€seven€year€sentence.€€There€were€no€additional€sentences€for€the€trial€court€to€makeÐ  \ Ðconsecutive.€€This€issue€is€without€merit.€Ð òB Ѐ€Ð Ø( Ðà  àà ` àThe€appellantððs€main€contention€is€that€his€sentence€is€too€long.€However,€other€thanÐ ¾ Ða€broad€general€statement€that€his€sentence€is€excessive,€the€appellant€does€not€specify€how€the€trialÐ ¤ô Ðcourt€erred€in€sentencing€him,€whether€the€error€was€by€sentencing€him€in€the€inappropriate€range,Ð Š Ú Ðby€using€improper€enhancement€factors,€or€by€ignoring€relevant€mitigating€factors.€€Tenn.€R.€App.Ð p!À  ÐP.€27(a)(7)€states€that€an€appellantððs€brief€shall€contain€ð ð[a]n€argument€.€.€.€setting€forth€theÐ V"¦! Ðcontentions€of€the€appellant€with€respect€to€the€issues€presented,€and€the€reasons€therefore,€includingÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€reasons€why€the€contentions€require€appellate€relief,€with€citations€to€authorities,€or€appropriateÐ "$r# Ðreferences€to€the€record.€.€.€relied€on.ðð€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Killebrewóó,€760€S.W.2d€228,€231€(Tenn.Ð %X $ ÐCrim.€App.€1988).€€The€appellant€failed€to€comply€with€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€27(a)(7).€€Therefore,€theÐ î%>!% Ðappellant€has€waived€the€issue.€€òòMatthewsóó,€805€S.W.2d€at€779.Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌÌÌÌÌÐ 8,ˆ', Ðà@MM"ìàòòò òIII.€€Conclusionóóó óˆÐ ° Ðà  àà ` àBased€upon€the€foregoing,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð –æ ÐÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð  d Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àNORMA€McGEE€OGLE,€JUDGE