Sheldon White v. State, No. 1232, Sept. Term 2019, Opinion by Graeff, J. 

CRIMINAL LAW — SPEEDY TRIAL – 180-DAY REQUIREMENT 

Md. Code Ann., Criminal Procedure Article (“CP”) § 6-103 (2018 Repl. Vol.), 

implemented by Md. Rule 4-271(a), provides that a criminal defendant in the circuit court 

must be brought to trial within 180 days after the earlier of the appearance of counsel or 

the first appearance of the defendant in the circuit court. Pursuant to this 180-day deadline, 

unless the defendant consents to an extension, the charges must be dismissed if the State 

fails to establish good cause for trying the defendant after the 180-day deadline. 

When the State enters a nol pros in a circuit court criminal case and later refiles the same 

charges, however, the 180-day period for trial prescribed by CP § 6-103 and Rule 4-271(a) 

ordinarily begins to run with the arraignment or first appearance of defense counsel under 

the second prosecution. An exception to this general rule applies if the prosecution’s 

purpose in filing the nol pros, or the necessary effect of the nol pros, is to circumvent the 

requirements of the statute and rule. Under those circumstances, the time period running 

with the initial prosecution remains in effect. 

Here, the State did not nol pros the charges after a request for a continuance was denied. 

Because neither the purpose of the nol pros nor the necessary effect was to circumvent Md. 

Rule 4-271(a) or CP § 6-103, the 180-day deadline ran from the filing of the second 

indictment. The circuit court properly denied appellant’s motion to dismiss based on the 

requirements of the statute and the rule.

CRIMINAL LAW — POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE —

MIXTURE OF HEROIN AND FENTANYL — MD. CODE ANN., CRIM. LAW 

ARTICLE § 5-608.1 — SENTENCING ENHANCEMENT — MERGER

Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law Article (“CR”) § 5-602 provides that a person may not 

distribute or dispense a controlled dangerous substance or possess it in sufficient quantity 

to reasonably indicate an intent to distribute. CR § 5-608.1(a) provides that a person may 

not knowingly violate CR § 5-602 with “a mixture that contains heroin and a detectable 

amount of fentanyl.” “A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and, in 

addition to any other penalty imposed for a violation of § 5-602 of this subtitle, on 

conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years.” CR § 5-608.1(b). A 

“sentence imposed under this section shall be consecutive to and not concurrent with any 

other sentence imposed under any other provision of law.” CR § 5-608.1(c).

The plain language of the statute makes clear that CR § 5-608.1 establishes a crime separate 

from that set forth in CR § 5-602, and a defendant may be separately charged, convicted, 

and sentenced pursuant to CR § 5-608.1. Accordingly, a trial court has jurisdiction to 

convict and sentence a defendant on a charge pursuant to CR § 5-608.1. Moreover, a court 
may impose separate sentences for separate convictions of CR §§ 5-602 and 5-608.1; 

merger is not required. 

CRIMINAL LAW — MOTION TO WITHDRAW PLEA AGREEMENT — RULE

4-242 — NOT GUILTY ON AGREED STATEMENT OF FACT 

Md. Rule 4-242(h) provides that, “[a]t any time before sentencing, the court may permit a 

defendant to withdraw a plea of guilty, a conditional plea of guilty, or a plea of nolo 

contendere when the withdrawal serves the interest of justice.” Rule 4-242(h) does not 

authorize withdrawal of a plea of not guilty pursuant to an agreed statement of facts. Where 

there is no suggestion that the plea was anything other than a plea of not guilty pursuant to 

an agreed statement of facts, the defendant cannot move to withdraw the plea and void the 

conviction pursuant to Rule 4-242(h).
Circuit Court for Frederick County

Case No. C-10-CR-19-000120

REPORTED

IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS

OF MARYLAND

No. 1232

September Term, 2019

______________________________________

SHELDON DUKE WHITE

v.

STATE OF MARYLAND

______________________________________

Fader, C.J.,

Graeff,

Harrell, Glenn T., Jr. 

 (Senior Judge, Specially Assigned), 

JJ.

______________________________________

Opinion by Graeff, J.

______________________________________

Filed: May 26, 2021
On September 18, 2018, a grand jury in the Circuit Court for Frederick County 

returned a 25-count indictment against Sheldon Duke White, appellant, for various CDS

and firearm offenses. In January 2019, after forensic testing revealed the presence of 

fentanyl in the seized contraband, the grand jury returned a second indictment against 

appellant, charging identical counts for the same events, plus an additional four counts 

related to the fentanyl. The State then entered a nolle prosequi (“nol pros”) of the charges 

in the first indictment.

1

On June 4, 2019, appellant pleaded not guilty to the charges, pursuant to an agreed

statement of facts, and the court convicted him of possession with intent to distribute heroin 

(count 12), possession with intent to distribute heroin with a detectable amount of fentanyl 

(count 16), and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime (count 25). The

court sentenced appellant to 20 years’ imprisonment on count 25, the first five years 

without parole, 20 years’ imprisonment on count 12, to be served consecutively, but all 

suspended, and 10 years’ imprisonment on count 16, to be served consecutively, but all 

suspended.

On appeal, appellant presents several questions for this Court’s review, which we 

have rephrased slightly, as follows: 

1. Did the circuit court err by denying appellant’s motion to dismiss on

speedy trial grounds?

2. Did the circuit court lack jurisdiction to convict appellant of 

possession with intent to distribute heroin with a detectable amount of 

1 A nolle prosequi, or nol pros, is “an action taken by the State to dismiss pending 

charges when it determines that it does not intend to prosecute the defendant under a 

particular indictment.” State v. Huntley, 411 Md. 288, 291 n.4 (2009).
2

fentanyl pursuant to Md. Code Ann., Criminal Law Article (“CR”) § 

5-608.1 (2018 Supp.), because it is a sentencing enhancement, not a 

stand-alone crime?

3. Did the circuit court err by failing to merge appellant’s two possession

convictions, which both related to possession of a single compound

mixture containing heroin and fentanyl?

4. Did the circuit court abuse its discretion in denying appellant’s motion 

to exclude his post-arrest statement?

5. Did the circuit court err in denying appellant’s motion to withdraw his 

hybrid plea because the proffered evidence contained a dispute of 

material fact?

6. Was there sufficient evidence to sustain appellant’s CDS convictions?

For the reasons set forth below, we shall affirm the judgments of the circuit court.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On June 4, 2019, appellant pleaded not guilty to three drug trafficking and firearms 

charges based on an agreed statement of facts, preserving his right to appeal.2 The 

prosecutor began by explaining the posture of the case:

[PROSECUTOR]: [We] will be proceeding in the manner of a not guilty 

agreed statement of facts, but it’s my understanding that there’s no argument 

to be made with respect to the sufficiency of the evidence, so this is not one 

where the Defense will be arguing that the facts don’t support the charges. 

It’s simply, we have an agreed statement of facts. The Defense is 

going, wants to proceed this way, is my understanding, to preserve certain 

appellate rights; namely with respect to pretrial motions that have adverse 

rulings to them for motion to dismiss, motion to suppress, [and] motion 

regarding admissibility.

2 The Court of Appeals has characterized a plea of not guilty pursuant to an agreed 

statement of facts as a “hybrid plea,” where the accused pleads not guilty, foregoes a trial, 

and proceeds on an agreed statement of facts, but “the accused maintains the ability to 

argue legal issues, as well as sufficiency [of the evidence].” Bishop v. State, 417 Md. 1, 

16, 22 (2010).
3

Appellant did not object to these statements, and defense counsel subsequently affirmed 

that the defense would not contest the statement of facts.

The prosecutor stated that, if the court found appellant guilty of the three charges, 

there was a joint recommendation regarding sentencing, which included 20 years on count 

25, possession of a firearm with a nexus to drug trafficking, and five years of probation. 

The prosecutor continued: 

Count 12, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, he would receive a 

20-year sentence. That would be all suspended consecutive to Count 25.

Count 16, he would receive a 10-year sentence. That would be, and is 

required to be, consecutive under the statute. That would be consecutive to 

Counts 12 and 25, all suspended.

So for a total of 50 years, suspend all but 20 years to serve.

The defendant would be placed on five years of supervised probation. 

It’s my understanding, this being a joint recommendation, there’s no 

disagreement with respect to these terms.

After defense counsel and the court questioned appellant to make sure he understood 

the rights he was waiving by proceeding with an agreed statement of facts, the State set 

forth the agreed statement of facts as follows:

Detective Scott Grigsby, with Frederick Police Department, would 

testify. He would have been offered and accepted by the Court as an expert 

in drug narcotics investigations, and the common practices of those engaged 

in drug distribution. The State submits, as State’s Exhibit 1, his curriculum 

vitae, stating his training and experience.

The testimony would have been that he, in May of 2018, he, a 

detective with the Frederick Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit, 

began an investigation into an individual known as, quote, Major, unquote, 

suspected of supplying cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl in the Frederick area.
4

Detective Grigsby had received information from confidential 

sources. He was able to identify the suspect as [appellant], who he would 

identify as the individual before you in court today.

Over the course of the investigation, the detective conducted 

surveillance of the defendant and his associates in the Frederick area. A 

confidential informant was utilized to conduct a controlled purchase of 

heroin and fentanyl from [appellant] on July 24th, 2018.

After conducting surveillance and identifying a hotel room believed 

to be utilized by [appellant] for the storage and distribution of narcotics, 

Detective Grigsby applied for, and was granted a search warrant for 7310 

Executive Way. This is Frederick, Maryland, Room 303 of the Mainstay 

Suites Hotel. He was able to secure that on August 20th, 2018. 

* * *

On August 21st, 2018, at approximately 6:45 a.m., members of the 

Frederick Police Department and the SWAT Team executed a search and 

seizure warrant located at 7310 Executive Way, Room 303. Inside the hotel 

room, [appellant] and a female, Sarah Nelson, were located and arrested.

Detective Grigsby verbally read [appellant] his Miranda rights, which 

he stated, yes, that he understood then [sic] in the presence with Detective 

Ray Bednar. 

Detective Grigsby advised [appellant] that he had a search warrant for 

the room. Detective Grigsby [asked appellant] if there was anything illegal 

in the room.

[Appellant] stated, there is a lot of drugs in the nightstand, they are all 

mine, and there are things under the bed, there are things under the bed.

Detective Grigsby stated, what is under the bed?

[Appellant] replied, there is a handgun under the bed. [Appellant] 

replied that everything in the room was his.

The following evidence was recovered with respect to this, these 

particular counts. There were additional items recovered, but with respect to 

these counts, in a plastic bag in the nightstand drawer in the bedroom, a clear 

bag containing 17 gelcaps of suspected heroin, which is approximately 6.9 

grams at the time of processing; and a clear bag containing 25 gelcaps that 
5

was approximately 9.6 grams. These were suspected to be heroin and/or 

heroin and fentanyl.

Detective Grigsby would have testified that the street, that gelcaps of 

heroin sell for approximately 20 to $40 in Frederick. 

Detective Grigsby also would have testified that the evidence in the 

bag in the nightstand is an indication of possession with the intent to 

distribute, because of the large amount, the packaging materials and the --

Court’s indulgence -- the amount of the caps, and the packaging material, 

and the location. 

Directly next to the nightstand was a pair of blue jean shorts on the 

floor, and inside those shorts was [appellant’s] Pennsylvania driver’s license. 

Inside [appellant’s] pants pocket was $1365 in U.S. currency, along with $10 

that was sitting on the nightstand, so a total of $1375 was seized.

Directly next to the pants with [appellant’s] driver’s license and the 

large amount of CDS located on the nightstand, there was a black Pietro 

Beretta [9mm] handgun located under the mattress of the bed. The handgun 

was loaded and had 13 live rounds in the magazine. There was an extra 

magazine with 13 live rounds along with 50 loose live 9mm rounds in a black 

bag next to the handgun.

The State then explained the photographs the State would have introduced, 

including: (1) photographs showing that this was a small hotel suite with three rooms; (2)

photographs depicting where the mattress was lifted and the gun was located; and (3) a 

photograph showing the nightstand with the drawer open with a plastic bag in the bottom 

of the drawer.

The State asked the court to take judicial notice of the testimony of the three officers 

at the suppression hearing, stating that “they would testify that the defendant knowingly 

and voluntarily waived his right to remain silent and right to counsel, and no threats, 

promises, coercion, or inducements were used to elicit his statements.”

The prosecutor continued:
6

Additionally, Detective Grigsby would have testified as an expert 

witness, that often, those involved in the drug trade maintain firearms to 

protect their stash of CDS and large amounts of money from robbery or theft, 

and for protection when dealing with other individuals involved in the drug 

trade.

The gun’s location, in this case, within a few feet of the large amount 

of CDS in the nightstand, as well as the presence of . . . $1375 in the same 

area as the gun and the drugs, is consistent with the firearm being maintained 

with a nexus to drug trafficking. And the defendant’s statements indicating 

his knowledge of and possession of the firearm. 

Additionally, [appellant] did not have any valid employment at the 

time, indicating that the money was the result of drug distribution.

The State would have called crime scene technician, Emma Sentz. She 

would have testified that she test-fired the Pietro Berreta handgun. The State 

would have introduced her report and her testimony into evidence, State’s 

Exhibit 5, we would move into evidence, where she certifies that the firearm 

was operable and capable of being fired. 

Next, the State would have called Laurel Hardy (phonetic sp.), who’s 

a forensic chemist with the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences 

Division. The State would have offered, and the Court would have accepted, 

her as an expert witness in the identification of controlled dangerous 

substances. The State submits her curriculum vitae as State’s Exhibit 6.

* * *

This is the MSP chain of custody form, and also the laboratory report 

showing Ms. Laurel’s results, that there are 17 capsules each containing a 

tan, powdery substance. Of that portion, there was a total gross weight of 

5.931 grams There was a net weight of specimens analyzed of .678 grams. 

They did, in fact, test positive for heroin and fentanyl, indicating the presence 

of fentanyl and heroin together as a mixture. 

Item 6, 25 capsules each containing a tan, powdery substance, total 

gross weight of 8.7 grams, net weight of specimens analyzed, .652 grams. 

They, in fact, did test positive for heroin and fentanyl. Both were present in 

the mixture. 
7

The prosecutor stated that Detective Grigsby would have testified that, when he 

transported appellant to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center, he asked appellant

what appellant would have done if he had the handgun on his person when the police 

executed the search warrant. Appellant stated: “[N]o disrespect to you, but I would have 

shot it out with you all.” The prosecutor concluded the agreed facts by stating that “[t]he 

witnesses would have identified the [appellant] as the individual located in the hotel room 

and possessing the firearms, and in possession with intent to distribute the heroin mixed 

with fentanyl.”

Based on these facts, the court convicted appellant of possession with intent to 

distribute heroin (count 12), possession with intent to distribute heroin with a detectable 

amount of fentanyl (count 16), and possession of a firearm with a nexus to drug trafficking 

(count 25). All other charges, including those related to the July 24, 2018, controlled 

purchase, subsequently were nol prossed.

This appeal followed. 

DISCUSSION

I. 

Speedy Trial

Appellant contends that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the 

charges based on a denial of his speedy trial rights. He asserts that the State “deprived 

[him] of a timely trial within the 180-day period by dismissing the first indictment when 

forensic testing revealed the presence of fentanyl in the seized heroin.”
8

The State disagrees. It asserts that the court properly denied appellant’s motion to 

dismiss. 

A.

Proceedings Below

As indicated, on September 17, 2018, a grand jury returned a 25-count indictment 

charging appellant with various narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses (Case No. C10-CR-18-000890). Counts 1 through 7 related to the controlled purchase on July 24, 2018,

and counts 8 through 25 related to the search and seizure at the hotel on August 21, 2018. 

These latter counts did not contain any charges related to possession or distribution of

fentanyl. Trial was scheduled for February 5 and 6, 2019.

In early January 2019, forensic testing revealed the presence of fentanyl in the gel 

capsules seized from the hotel room. On January 22, 2019, the State filed a second 

indictment against appellant (Case No. C-10-CR-19-000120), which charged, in addition 

to the original 25 counts, four additional counts; (1) possession with intent to distribute 

fentanyl (count 14); (2) possession of fentanyl (count 15); (3) possession with intent to 

distribute heroin and a detectable amount of fentanyl (count 16); and (4) conspiracy to 

distribute fentanyl (count 23). On January 30, 2019, the State nol prossed the first 

indictment.

On February 8, 2019, appellant filed a motion to dismiss the January 22, 2019, 

indictment, alleging a violation of his right to a speedy trial. He argued that the State: (1) 

violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial pursuant to Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514 
9

(1972); and (2) “the 180-day rule.” He asserted that, if the State did not try him before 

March 27, 2019, then the case should be dismissed.

The State filed an opposition to the motion. It argued that there was no violation of

appellant’s speedy trial rights because it filed new charges, and it did not act in bad faith 

to gain an unfair advantage over appellant. 

On April 9, 2019, the circuit court denied appellant’s motion to dismiss. It stated

that, with respect to the argument that “it’s a violation of speedy trial because the State’s 

nol prossing the original charges and recharging was done to circumvent [the 180-day 

rule”],

the case law is clear. There has to be something in the record that . . . you’re

approaching the trial date, there’s an effort made to postpone the case, the 

administrative judge denies it, and the State nol prosses and recharges. That 

is clearly not the situation here. So on that, I’m denying the, the denial of the 

speedy trial on that ground. 

With respect to the constitutional right to a speedy trial, the court stated that it would take 

that argument “under advisement.”

B.

Speedy Trial

There are two separate bodies of law addressing delay in bringing a defendant to 

trial on criminal charges. The first is the constitutional right of an accused in a criminal 

prosecution to a “speedy trial.” U.S. Const. amend. VI; Md. Const. Decl. Rts. art. 21. 

“This guarantee serves ‘to prevent undue and oppressive incarceration prior to trial, to 

minimize anxiety and concern accompanying public accusation and to limit the 

possibilities that long delay will impair the ability of an accused to defend himself.’” Singh 
10

v. State, 247 Md. App. 322, 347 (2020) (quoting United States v. Loud Hawk, 474 U.S. 

302, 312 (1986)).

The second body of law is established by statute and rule. It requires the State, 

unless good cause is found or a defendant consents to a later date, to bring a criminal 

defendant to trial no later than 180 days after the earlier of the first appearance of the 

defendant in circuit court or the appearance by counsel. Md. Code Ann., Criminal

Procedure Article (“CP”) § 6-103(a) (2018 Repl. Vol.); Md. Rule 4-271(a).

CP § 6-103 provides: 

(a)(1) The date for trial of a criminal matter in the circuit court shall be set 

within 30 days after the earlier of:

(i) the appearance of counsel; or

(ii) the first appearance of the defendant before the circuit court, as 

provided in the Maryland Rules.

(2) The trial date may not be later than 180 days after the earlier of those 

events.

(b)(1) For good cause shown, the county administrative judge or a designee 

of the judge may grant a change of the trial date in a circuit court:

(i) on motion of a party; or

(ii) on the initiative of the circuit court.

(2) If a circuit court trial date is changed under paragraph (1) of this 

subsection, any subsequent changes of the trial date may only be made by 

the county administrative judge or that judge’s designee for good cause 

shown.

(c) The Court of Appeals may adopt additional rules to carry out this section.
11

The Court of Appeals adopted Md. Rule 4-271(a) to implement this statute. The 

Rule provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

(a) Trial Date in Circuit Court. (1) The date for trial in the circuit court shall 

be set within 30 days after the earlier of the appearance of counsel or the first 

appearance of the defendant before the circuit court pursuant to Rule 4-213, 

and shall be not later than 180 days after the earlier of those events. . . . On 

motion of a party, or on the court’s initiative, and for good cause shown, the 

county administrative judge or that judge’s designee may grant a change of 

a circuit court trial date. If a circuit court trial date is changed, any 

subsequent changes of the trial date may be made only by the county 

administrative judge or that judge’s designee for good cause shown.

The purpose of this statute and rule, often referred to as the “Hicks rule”3 or the 

“180-day deadline” is “to afford reasonably prompt trials, and eliminate excessive 

scheduling delays and unjustifiable postponements.” See State v. Price, 385 Md. 261, 278 

(2005). The Hicks rule was “not intended to be [a] codification[] of the constitutional 

speedy trial right.” State v. Huntley, 411 Md. 288, 294 (2009) (quoting Curley v. State, 

299 Md. 449, 460 (1984)). Rather, it serves to protect “society’s interest in the efficient 

administration of justice,” and the benefit conferred upon a defendant is “purely 

incidental.” Price, 385 Md. at 278.

Here, appellant’s speedy trial claim relies on the time requirements imposed by 

statute and rule. Although he notes on appeal that the circuit court failed to issue a formal 

ruling on his argument that his constitutional right to a speedy trial had been violated, he

did not argue in his brief that he was denied the right to a speedy trial on constitutional 

grounds. At oral argument, counsel confirmed that appellant was not making a claim based 

3 See State v. Hicks, 285 Md. 310, 318, on motion for reconsideration, 285 Md. 334 

(1979).
12

on the constitutional right to a speedy trial. Accordingly, we confine our analysis to the 

180-day deadline imposed by the statute and rule.

Pursuant to the 180-day deadline, unless the defendant consents to an extension, the 

charges must be dismissed if the State fails to establish good cause for trying the defendant 

after this 180-day deadline, also known as the “Hicks date.” See State v. Frazier, 298 Md. 

422, 429 (1984). A more nuanced analysis applies, however, in the situation where, as 

here, the State nol prosses the initial indictment and files new charges.

When the State enters a nol pros in a circuit court criminal case and later refiles the 

same charges, the 180-day period for trial prescribed by CP § 6-103 and Rule 4-271(a) 

“ordinarily begins to run with the arraignment or first appearance of defense counsel under 

the second prosecution.” Curley, 299 Md. at 462. Accord Huntley, 411 Md. at 293. This 

is because a nol pros “is not an occasion for skepticism or suspicion,” but rather, “it is a 

legitimate and accepted way of doing prosecutorial business.” Baker v. State, 130 Md. 

App. 281, 288 (2000).

There is, however, an exception to this general rule if “the prosecution’s purpose in 

filing the nol pros, or the necessary effect of the nol pros, [is] to circumvent the 

requirements” of the statute and rule. Price, 385 Md. at 269 (quoting State v. Glenn, 299 

Md. 464, 467 (1984)). Under those circumstances, “the time period running with the initial 

prosecution” remains in effect. Ross v. State, 117 Md. App. 357, 366–67 (1997) (quoting 

Curley, 299 Md. at 461), cert. denied, 348 Md. 334 (1998). Otherwise, the State could 

avoid the Hicks rule by nol prossing a case and refiling the charges, causing the time 
13

requirements to start over, without a showing of good cause and a postponement granted 

by an administrative judge. Curley, 299 Md. at 466.

Thus, in determining the 180-day deadline in the situation where charges are nol 

prossed and refiled, there are two prongs of analysis. First, a court considers whether the 

necessary effect of a nol pros is to circumvent the requirements of the statute and rule. 

Price, 385 Md. at 269. The second prong of the analysis involves the purpose of the nol 

pros, i.e., whether the prosecution’s purpose in filing the nol pros was to circumvent the 

requirements of CP § 6-103 and Rule 4-271. Id.

The first case addressing the exception to the general rule, Curley v. State, 299 Md. 

449 (1984), involved the necessary effect prong. In that case, the court granted a defense 

request for postponement, but a new trial date was never rescheduled. Id. at 452–53. On 

the Hicks date, the State nol prossed the charges. Id. at 453. The State advised the defense 

of the nol pros by letter, stating that the disposition was based on the inadmissibility of 

certain evidence and a request by the victim’s family. Id. Several months later, the State 

filed a second indictment charging the same offenses. The circuit court denied the 

defendant’s motion to dismiss on speedy trial grounds. Id. at 454. 

The Court of Appeals reversed. Id. at 462–63. It explained that the State’s nol pros

circumvented the Hicks rule because it was entered on the last day of the 180-day deadline, 

and the case could not be tried that day because a trial date had not been assigned and the 

defendant was not in court. Id. Therefore, the State had “already lost the case” when the 

nol pros was filed. Id. Accordingly, “the necessary effect of the nol pros was an attempt 
14

to evade the dismissal resulting from the failure to try the case within 180 days,” and the 

court erred in denying his motion to dismiss. Id.

The Court of Appeals subsequently has explained that 

a nol pros has the “necessary effect” of an attempt to circumvent the 

requirements of [CP § 6-103(a)(2)] and Rule 4-271 when the alternative to 

the nol pros would be a dismissal of the case for failure to commence trial 

within 180 days. When compliance with the requirements of [CP § 6-

103(a)(2)] and Rule 4-271 is, as a practical matter, no longer feasible, then a 

nol pros and later refiling of the same charges has the “necessary effect” of 

an attempt to circumvent the requirements of the statute and the rule.

State v. Brown, 341 Md. 609, 618 (1996). Accord Ross, 117 Md. App. at 369 (“[A] nol 

pros will have the ‘necessary effect’ of an attempt to evade the requirements of [CP § 6-

103(a)(2)] and Rule 4–271 only when the alternative to the nol pros would have been 

dismissal with prejudice for noncompliance” with the 180-day deadline.). 

In Brown, 341 Md. at 612, the State nol prossed the charges on the trial date, stating 

that the DNA testing results had not yet been received. At that time, there were 43 days 

before the expiration of the 180-day deadline. Id. Three months later, the test results were 

received, and the State issued new charges. Id. The defendant filed a motion to dismiss, 

arguing that, although a postponement “probably would have been granted” if requested, 

the prosecutor failed to request a postponement beyond the 180-day deadline, and 

therefore, dismissal was appropriate. Id. The Court of Appeals disagreed, stating:

It is obvious that the nol pros in the case at bar did not have the necessary 

effect of an attempt to circumvent the requirements of [CP § 6-103(a)(2)] and 

Rule 4-271. If the case had not been nol prossed on October 5, 1993, there 

would have been 43 days before the expiration of the 180-day period. . . .

During this 43-day period, the State’s Attorney’s office may have been able 

to expedite the DNA testing and obtain the results so that trial of the case 

could have begun before the deadline. Alternatively, the State’s Attorney’s 
15

office may have obtained from the administrative judge, in accordance with 

[CP § 6-103(a)(2)] and Rule 4-271, a good cause postponement of the trial 

to a date beyond the 180-day period. There was clearly a basis for such 

postponement.

Id. at 620.

The Court rejected the argument that the State should have sought a postponement 

rather than entering a nol pros. Id. at 620–21. It explained:

[T]he decision whether to enter a nol pros or to seek a postponement because 

of the delay in the DNA testing is for the prosecuting attorney and not for an 

appellate court. Hook v. State, 315 Md. 25, 35, 553 A.2d 233, 238 (1989) 

(“‘The entry of a nolle prosequi is generally within the sole discretion of the 

prosecuting attorney, free from judicial control,’” quoting Ward v. State, 290 

Md. 76, 83, 427 A.2d 1008, 1012 (1981)). The State’s Attorney’s office may 

have decided that if the DNA test results were favorable to the defendant, the 

charges would not be refiled, and thus the nol pros on October 5, 1993, would 

have ended the matter. Whatever the reason, however, the decision to enter 

a nol pros or to seek a postponement was within the prosecuting attorney’s 

discretion.

Id. This Court subsequently explained that, as long as a nol pros does not have the purpose 

or necessary effect to circumvent the requirements of the rule, it is a “tactic . . . within the 

arsenal of the State’s Attorney.” Baker, 130 Md. App. at 294.

With respect to whether the nol pros implicates the second prong of the analysis, 

i.e., whether the prosecutor’s purpose in filing the nol pros was to circumvent the 

requirements of the statute and the rule, several cases are instructive. In Baker, 130 Md. 

App. at 285, the State nol prossed the charges on the date of trial, 19 days before the Hicks

date. Id. Six days later, the State filed a new indictment, and Baker filed a motion to 

dismiss. Id. In addressing whether the nol pros had the purpose of circumventing the 180-

day requirement, this Court noted that the prosecutor stated at the hearing on the motion to 
16

dismiss that “the 180 day Rule had never entered into [his] mind.” Id. at 289. We stated 

that, in denying the motion to dismiss, the circuit court “implicitly accepted as a fact that 

the prosecutor had no deliberate purpose to circumvent the 180-day rule.” Id. We held 

that “there [was] no question that the nol pros did not have the purpose of circumventing 

the 180-day requirement.” Id. That case, similar to the present case, involved a situation 

where there had been no denial of a requested postponement by a judge prior to the entry 

of the nol pros. See id. at 301.

In Alther v. State, 157 Md. App. 316, 319, cert. denied, 383 Md. 213 (2004), the 

State initially charged Alther with first-degree rape, but it then dropped that charge. 

Approximately one week before trial, after two prior postponements, the State filed a new 

charging document adding a first-degree rape charge. Id. at 319–20. The State moved to 

consolidate this charge with the other charging document filed six months earlier. Id. at 

19–20. The circuit court denied the motion and advised that there would be no 

postponement of trial. Id. at 20. On the trial date, four days before the Hicks date, the State 

nol prossed all charges but the first-degree rape charge. Id. at 320. It subsequently filed a 

new charging document that included a first-degree rape charge. Id. The circuit court 

denied Alther’s motion to dismiss. Id. at 321–22.

This Court reversed. We noted that the nol pros occurred four days before the Hicks

date, and because there was no way that the State could refile charges and try those charges 

within those four days, the nol pros was done not to cure a defective indictment but for 

strategic reasons, and the circuit court had stated that it would not grant a postponement if 
17

one were requested, essentially finding no good cause for a postponement. Id. at 336–37.4 

The Court held that the nol pros “was for the purpose of avoiding the court’s order denying 

consolidation, and its necessary effect, four days before the end of the 180 day period, was 

to circumvent the 180-day rule.” Id. at 338.

In Price, 385 Md. at 266, the State moved for a continuance one week before the 

trial date. The prosecutor stated that DNA analysis of evidence had not been received, and 

the Hicks date was more than three months away. Id. at 266. The circuit court denied the 

motion for a continuance, and the State nol prosssed the charges. Id. When the State filed 

a new indictment, the defendant filed a motion to dismiss. Id. at 267. The Court of Appeals 

held that, although the nol pros did not have the “necessary effect” of circumventing the 

180-day requirement because there were 94 days left on the Hicks time period at the time 

of the nol pros, the nol pros had the purpose of circumventing the requirements of the 

statute and rule. Id. at 268, 278–79. The Court explained:

In the case sub judice, the State sought and was refused a continuance, 

the administrative judge expressly finding no good cause for one. The effect 

of that ruling was to mandate that trial proceed, as scheduled. The 

consequence of the State not going forward or not producing evidence was 

dismissal of the case or an acquittal. When the State nolle prossed the case, 

it was, as the State concedes, to avoid those results. Thus, the State is correct, 

the nolle pros did not have the “necessary effect” of circumventing the 180 

day requirement of the statute and the rule; rather, it was for the purpose of 

4

In State v. Glenn, 299 Md. 464 (1984), the prosecutor nol prossed charges after he 

determined that there was a defect in the charges and defense counsel said he would object 

to an amendment of the charging document. The Court of Appeals held that the 

prosecutor’s purpose in nol prossing the charges was not to circumvent the 180-day rule 

but because of a legitimate belief that the charging documents were defective. Id. at 467. 

Accord Huntley, 411 Md. at 301 (no purpose to circumvent statute and rule where nol pros

is entered based on denial of motion to amend a flawed indictment, absent a showing of 

bad faith).
18

circumventing, and, indeed, that intention was achieved, the requirement of 

the statute and the rule that trials proceed except when there has been a 

finding of good cause by the administrative judge. Accordingly, we agree 

with the Court of Special Appeals that “the purpose for entering the nol pros 

in the case under consideration was to circumvent the authority and decision 

of the administrative judge.” State v. Price, 152 Md. App. 640, 654, 833 

A.2d 614, 623 (2003).

Id. at 278–79. Accord Huntley, 411 Md. at 293 n.9 (The “purpose” prong applies when the 

State seeks to circumvent a ruling by the court that “exercises control over the court’s 

calendar.”).

With this background in mind, we address the arguments in this appeal.

C.

Analysis 

To begin our analysis, we note that the 180-day deadline on the first indictment in 

this case was March 27, 2019. Appellant’s attorney entered her appearance on the first 

indictment on September 28, 2018. March 27, 2019, is 180 days from that date. When the 

State nol prossed the charges in the first indictment on January 30, 2019, there were 56 

days left before March 27, 2019, the 180-day deadline.

The State argues that the circuit court correctly denied appellant’s motion to dismiss 

based on Hicks. It asserts that the 180-day deadline ran from the second indictment because

appellant did not meet his burden to prove that the decision to nol pros the counts in the 

first indictment “was done with the purpose or necessary effect of circumventing the 180-

day deadline.”

Appellant acknowledged at oral argument that the nol pros here did not have the 

necessary effect of evading the 180-day requirement. We agree. As illustrated in the cases 
19

discussed, supra, where the nol pros is entered when there is a significant amount of time 

before the 180-day deadline, and there are options to try the case in accordance with the 

statute and the rule or obtain a postponement based on good cause, the necessary effect of 

the nol pros is not to circumvent the statute and the rule. As indicated, at the point the 

initial charges were nol prossed, there were 56 days remaining to try the case within the

180-day deadline. Thus, as appellant concedes, the nol pros did not have the necessary 

effect of circumventing the 180-day requirement.

Appellant contends, however, that the “purpose” of the nol pros was to evade the 

requirement of the statute and rule. He asserts that the State had several options after it 

received the testing results indicating the presence of fentanyl in the seized heroin, 

including “seek[ing] a continuance to obtain a superseding indictment.” He asserts that the 

State did not do that “likely for strategic reasons—because continuances are often denied 

close to trial.” Appellant argues that the purpose of the nol pros was to “sidestep a showing 

of good cause to avoid an adverse determination.” 

The cases on which appellant relies, Ross, 117 Md. App. at 361–62, 369–70, and 

Price, 385 Md. at 266, both involved situations where the State requested a continuance, 

the administrative judge denied the request, and the State then entered the nol pros. In 

these cases, the purpose of the nol pros was to circumvent the “requirement of the statute 

and the rule that trials proceed except when there was been a finding of good cause by the 

administrative judge.” Price, 385 Md. at 279. Accord Ross, 119 Md. App. at 370. As the 

Court of Appeals recently explained, it is “those types of scenarios, where the nol pros is 
20

used as a clear stand-in for a failed continuance request, that the prophylactic analysis of 

Curley and the sanction of Hicks were designed to address.” Huntley, 411 Md. at 296–97. 

Here, by contrast, the State did not nol pros the charges after a request for a 

continuance was denied. There was no evidence that it was seeking to “circumvent a ruling 

exercising control over the court’s calendar.” See Huntley, 411 Md. at 293 n.9. Indeed, 

the circuit court expressly noted that the nol pros did not follow the denial of a 

postponement, and in denying the motion to dismiss, it implicitly found that the purpose 

of the nol pros was not to circumvent the statute or the rule. Appellant does not point to 

anything in the record from which we could conclude that the circuit court’s finding in this 

regard was clearly erroneous.

Accordingly, because neither the purpose of the nol pros nor the necessary effect 

was to circumvent Md. Rule 4-271(a) or CP § 6-103, the 180-day deadline ran from the 

filing of the second indictment. The circuit court properly denied appellant’s motion to 

dismiss based on the requirements of the statute and the rule.

5

5 The decision whether to enter a nol pros on an existing indictment or seek a 

continuance or other relief is a tactical decision for the State’s Attorney’s Office. That 

decision, however, could be problematic for the State if the court determines that the 

purpose of the nol pros was to circumvent the statute and the rule. Similarly, it could weigh 

against the State with respect to a constitutional speedy trial claim if the circuit court finds 

that the State did not act in good faith. See Singh v. State, 247 Md. App. 322, 339–341 

(2020); Greene v. State, 237 Md. App. 502, 513–14 (2018). As indicated, with respect to 

the 180-day requirement, there was no such finding here, and we are not addressing 

whether there was any violation of appellant’s constitutional right to a speedy trial.
21

II. 

Possession of a Mixture of Heroin and Fentanyl

Appellant contends that his conviction and sentence for possession of a mixture of 

heroin and fentanyl with intent to distribute was improper. He makes two arguments in 

this regard. First, he argues that his conviction was invalid because CR § 5-608.1 “is a 

sentence enhancement, not a standalone crime.” Second, he contends that, if his conviction 

pursuant to CR § 5-608.1 was proper, it should have merged with his conviction pursuant 

to CR § 5-602 at sentencing. We will address each issue, in turn.

A.

Background

When appellant was arrested, the police found 42 gel capsules. Testing of the 

capsules revealed a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Appellant was convicted of two drug 

possession charges.

First, he was convicted of possession with intent to distribute heroin in violation of 

CR § 5-602, which provides that a person may not:

(1) distribute or dispense a controlled dangerous substance; or

(2) possess a controlled dangerous substance in sufficient quantity 

reasonably to indicate under all circumstances an intent to distribute or 

dispense a controlled dangerous substance.

The sentence for a conviction pursuant to § 5-602 is set forth in CR § 5-608(a), which 

provides in relevant part:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who violates a 

provision of §§ 5-602 through 5-606 of this subtitle with respect to a 

Schedule I or Schedule II narcotic drug is guilty of a felony and on 
22

conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years or a fine not 

exceeding $15,000 or both.

Second, appellant was convicted of possession with intent to distribute a mixture of 

heroin and fentanyl in violation of CR § 5-608.1. That statute provides as follows:

(a) A person may not knowingly violate § 5-602 of this subtitle with:

(1) a mixture that contains heroin and a detectable amount of fentanyl 

or any analogue of fentanyl; or

(2) fentanyl or any analogue of fentanyl.

(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and, in addition to 

any other penalty imposed for a violation of § 5-602 of this subtitle, on 

conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years.

(c) A sentence imposed under this section shall be consecutive to and not 

concurrent with any other sentence imposed under any other provision of 

law.

As indicated, the court sentenced appellant to 20 years for possession of a handgun 

with a nexus to a drug trafficking crime; a consecutive suspended sentence of 25 years for 

possession of heroin with intent to distribute, in violation of CR § 5-602 (count 12); and a 

consecutive suspended sentence of ten years for knowingly possessing a heroin/fentanyl 

mixture with intent to distribute, in violation of CR § 5-608.1 (count 16).

B.

CR § 5-608.1

Appellant contends that his conviction pursuant to CR § 5-608.1 for possession with 

intent to distribute a mixture of fentanyl and heroin is “invalid because [CR] § 5-608.1 is a 

sentencing enhancement, not a standalone crime.” He asserts that the State failed to charge 
23

him with a cognizable offense when it indicted him on this offense, and therefore, the court 

did not have jurisdiction to convict him of this charge.6

The State disagrees. It contends that the plain language of CR § 5-608.1 shows that 

it established a crime, as opposed to a mere sentence enhancement.

CR § 5-608.1 was enacted in 2017. See 2017 Md. Laws, Ch. 569. We could not 

find, nor did the parties cite, any reported decision addressing the question raised here, i.e., 

whether CR § 5-608.1 created a new crime or whether it is merely a sentencing 

enhancement for a violation of CR § 5-602.

7

This question raises an issue of statutory interpretation. “The cardinal rule of 

statutory interpretation is to ascertain and effectuate the real and actual intent of the 

Legislature.” Bey v. State, 452 Md. 255, 265 (2017) (quoting State v. Johnson, 415 Md. 

413, 421–22 (2010)). In ascertaining the intent of the legislature, we apply the following 

well-settled rules of statutory interpretation:

[W]e begin with the normal, plain meaning of the statute. If the language of 

the statute is unambiguous and clearly consistent with the statute’s apparent 

purpose, our inquiry as to the legislative intent ends ordinarily and we apply 

the statute as written without resort to other rules of construction. We neither 

add nor delete language so as to reflect an intent not evidenced in the plain 

6 Appellant did not make this argument below. Because the claim is jurisdictional, 

however, and not subject to waiver, we will address it. See State v. Chaney, 304 Md. 21, 

25 (1985) (“[A] court is without power to render a verdict or impose a sentence under an 

indictment which does not charge a cognizable offense[,]” and such a claim “is 

jurisdictional and may be raised at any time.”), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1067 (1986); Md. 

Rule 4-252(d).

7

In Singh, 247 Md. App. at 332 n.7, this Court stated in a footnote, as we hold today, 

that CR § 5-608.1 “created an additional offense,” but the issue whether the statute created 

an offense or a sentencing enhancement was not raised in that case.
24

and unambiguous language of the statute, and we do not construe a statute 

with “forced or subtle interpretations” that limit or extend its application.

* * *

Where the words of a statute are ambiguous and subject to more than 

one reasonable interpretation, or where the words are clear and unambiguous 

when viewed in isolation, but become ambiguous when read as part of a 

larger statutory scheme, a court must resolve the ambiguity by searching for 

legislative intent in other indicia, including the history of the legislation or 

other relevant sources intrinsic and extrinsic to the legislative process. In 

resolving ambiguities, a court considers the structure of the statute, how it 

relates to other laws, its general purpose and relative rationality and legal 

effect of various competing constructions.

In every case, the statute must be given a reasonable interpretation, 

not one that is absurd, illogical or incompatible with common sense.

Id. at 265–66. Accord Phillips v. State, 451 Md. 180, 196–97 (2017).

In accordance with these rules of statutory construction, we begin our analysis with 

the language used in CR § 5-608.1. The plain language of the statute shows the intent that 

§ 5-608.1 would establish a separate offense, for which a defendant may be separately 

charged, convicted, and sentenced. This intent is shown in several ways. 

Initially, the statute sets forth the elements of an offense, i.e., knowingly violating 

CR § 5-602 with a mixture that contains heroin and fentanyl. CR § 5-608.1(a). Moreover, 

the statute provides that anyone “who violates this section is guilty of a felony,” and “upon 

conviction” of the offense, is subject to a penalty of ten years of imprisonment, “in addition 

to any other penalty imposed for a violation of [CR] § 5-602.” CR § 5-608.1(b). Finally,

subsection (c) provides that a sentence imposed for a violation of CR § 5-608.1(a) “shall 

be” consecutive to any other sentence imposed. CR § 5-608.1(c). 
25

The plain language of the statute makes clear that CR § 5-608.1 establishes a crime

separate from that set forth in CR § 5-602. Because the plain language is unambiguous, 

we will “apply the statute as written without resort to other rules of construction.” Bey, 452 

Md. at 265.

Accordingly, we hold that CR § 5-608.1 created a new offense, which can result in 

a conviction separate from a conviction pursuant to CR § 5-602. The circuit court had

jurisdiction to convict and sentence appellant on this charge.

C.

Merger

Appellant next contends that, assuming a charge of violating CR § 5-608.1 is a 

cognizable offense, his conviction pursuant to that statute should have merged at 

sentencing with his conviction, pursuant to CR § 5-602, for possession with intent to 

distribute heroin. He argues that both convictions arose from the same act of possession, 

and, “[b]y failing to merge these convictions at sentencing, the court allowed [appellant]

to be punished twice for the same offense.”

The State contends that the trial court properly imposed separate sentences for the 

two possession convictions because “[m]ultiple punishments for the same conduct do not

offend double jeopardy principles where the legislature has specifically authorized multiple 

punishments.” It asserts that this was the clear intention of CR § 5-608.1, and merger of 

the offenses would render CR § 5-608.1 “a nullity” because charges pursuant to CR § 5-

608.1 and § 5-602 would always merge and functionally void the additional ten years 

contemplated by the statutory scheme.
26

“Merger is the common law principle that derives from the protections afforded by 

the Double Jeopardy Clause.” State v. Frazier, 469 Md. 627, 641 (2020). “The Double 

Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the common 

law of Maryland guard against ‘multiple punishments for the same conduct, unless the 

legislature clearly intended to impose multiple punishments.’” Morris v. State, 192 Md. 

App. 1, 39 (2010) (footnote omitted) (quoting Jones v. State, 357 Md. 141, 156 (1999)). 

Here, it is undisputed that both convictions arose from the same conduct, i.e., the criminal 

act of possessing the gel capsules with intent to distribute.

“Maryland recognizes three grounds for merging a defendant’s convictions: (1) the 

required evidence test; (2) the rule of lenity; and (3) ‘the principle of fundamental 

fairness.’” Carroll v. State, 428 Md. 679, 693–94 (2012) (quoting Monoker v. State, 321 

Md. 214, 222–23 (1990)). Appellant relies on two of those grounds in arguing that merger 

was required.

Initially, appellant contends that his conviction for possession of heroin with an 

intent to distribute should have merged into his conviction for possession with intent to 

distribute a mixture that contained heroin and fentanyl under the required evidence test. 

The Court of Appeals has described the required evidence test as follows: 

If each offense requires proof of a fact which the other does not, the offenses 

are not the same and do not merge. However, if only one offense requires 

proof of a fact which the other does not, the offenses are deemed the same, 

and separate sentences for each offense are prohibited.

Twigg v. State, 447 Md. 1, 13 (2016) (quoting Nightingale v. State, 312 Md. 699, 703 

(1988), abrogated by statute). 
27

Assuming that merger of these crimes generally would be appropriate under the 

required evidence test, there is an exception to this merger requirement where “the General 

Assembly has specifically or expressly authorized multiple punishments.” State v. 

Lancaster, 332 Md. 385, 394 (1993). As the Court of Appeals has explained:

Where the legislature specifically authorizes cumulative punishment under 

two statutes, regardless of whether those two statutes proscribe the same 

conduct, cumulative punishment may be imposed under the statutes in a 

single trial. See Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. at 368, 103 S. Ct. 673 [(1983)]. 

The Supreme Court has said that with respect to cumulative punishments 

imposed in a single trial, “the Double Jeopardy Clause does no more than 

prevent the sentencing court from prescribing greater punishment than the 

legislature intended.” Id. at 366, 103 S. Ct. 673. The bottom line in resolving 

“the question of what punishments are constitutionally permissible is not 

different from the question of what punishments the Legislative Branch 

intended to impose.” Albernaz v. United States, 450 U.S. 333, 344, 101 S.Ct. 

1137, 67 L.Ed.2d 275 (1981). 

Id. Accord Holbrook v. State, 364 Md. 354, 369 (2001) (Where a legislature “specifically 

authorizes cumulative punishment under two statutes irrespective of whether they prohibit 

the same conduct, such punishment may be imposed under the statutes in a single trial.”). 

Here, as we have explained, the legislature specifically authorized multiple 

punishments when the single act of possession with the intent to distribute violates CR §§ 

5-602 and 5-608.1. Indeed, as the State points out, “that was the entire point for enacting 

[CR] § 5-608.1 in the first place; i.e., to allow for more severe punishment in cases where 

a person knowingly violates [CR] § 5-602 with a heroin/fentanyl mixture.” Because the 

legislature clearly authorized multiple punishments, merger is not required under the 

required evidence test.
28

Appellant next argues that principles of “fundamental fairness” compel merger in 

this case.8“In deciding whether fundamental fairness requires merger, we have looked to 

whether the two crimes are ‘part and parcel’ of one another, such that one crime is ‘an 

integral component’ of the other.” Carroll, 428 Md. at 695 (quoting Monoker, 321 Md. at

223). Only in rare circumstances does fundamental fairness require merger. Id.

We first address the State’s argument that this issue is not preserved for review

because it was not raised below. When a court fails to merge a sentence when it is required, 

this constitutes an illegal sentence as a matter of law. Britton v. State, 201 Md. App. 589, 

598–99 (2001). Because the court may correct an illegal sentence at any time, see Md. 

Rule 4-345(a), we will review a claim of merger based on the required evidence or the rule 

of lenity even if it was not raised below. Pair v. State, 202 Md. App. 617, 625 (2011).

Merger on the basis of fundamental fairness, however, is a fact-driven test. Id. at 

645. Unlike the required evidence test and the rule of lenity, which can “be decided as a 

matter of law” based on the charges, merger based on fundamental fairness is a “fluid test 

dependent upon a subjective evaluation of the particular evidence in a particular case.” Id.

at 649. As such, a failure to merge a sentence under the fundamental fairness test does not 

result in an “illegal sentence,” and therefore, to preserve the issue for appeal the argument 

8 Appellant does not argue, for good reason, that merger is required pursuant to the 

rule of lenity, which requires merger where it is not clear if the legislature intended two 

crimes arising out of a single act to be punished separately. See Latray v. State, 221 Md. 

App. 544, 555 (2015) (If the Court is “uncertain as to what the Legislature intended” with 

regard to separate or single punishments, “we turn to the so-called ‘Rule of Lenity,’ by 

which we give the defendant the benefit of the doubt.”) (quoting Walker v. State, 53 Md. 

App. 171, 201 (1982)). 
29

must be made to the trial court. Id. Accord Clark v. State, 246 Md. App. 123, 139 (The

merger theory of fundamental fairness “does not enjoy the same ‘procedural dispensation 

of [Md.] Rule 4-345(a)’ that permits correction of an illegal sentence without a 

contemporaneous objection[,]” and therefore, contemporaneous objection is required for 

preservation of this argument on appeal.) (quoting Potts v. State, 231 Md. App. 398, 414 

(2016)), cert. granted, 470 Md. 205 (2020).

Here, appellant did not argue below that the imposition of separate sentences under 

the two statutes was fundamentally unfair. Accordingly, this issue is not preserved for 

review. See Clark, 246 Md. App. at 139; Pair, 202 Md. App. at 649. Cf. Latray v. State, 

221 Md. App. 544, 555 (2015) (reviewing claim for merger based on fundamental fairness 

despite the failure to raise it at sentencing).

Even if the issue were properly before this Court, we would conclude that merger is 

not warranted under principles of fundamental fairness. It is not fundamentally unfair to 

impose a sentence authorized by the legislature. See State v. Wilson, 471 Md. 136, 186 

(2020) (Witness tampering and obstruction of justice offenses did not merge under 

principle of fundamental fairness where merger would negate plain language and intent of 

the statute.); Clark, 246 Md. App. at 139 (Fundamental fairness did not compel merger, in 

part because the “legislature obviously intended to punish [the] two acts separately, and 

not under one sentence.”). The circuit court properly imposed separate sentences for 

appellant’s separate convictions pursuant to CR §§ 5-602 and 5-608.1.
30

III. 

Motion to Exclude Statement

On April 19, 2019, appellant filed a motion in limine to exclude a post-arrest

statement he made to the officer transporting him to the detention center. Appellant stated 

that he “would have shot it out” with police if the handgun that was found in his hotel room 

had been on his person when the search warrant was executed.

9 He argued that the 

statement should be excluded because it was irrelevant and unduly prejudicial.

Appellant contends that the circuit court abused its discretion in denying this

motion, asserting that the prejudicial effect of the statement substantially outweighed its 

probative value. Although he acknowledges that the statement “was the most prominent 

piece of evidence that [appellant] constructively possessed the firearm,” he argues that it

raised an improper inference that he had a “propensity to use violence against law 

enforcement.” 

The State contends that the circuit court properly exercised its discretion in denying 

the motion. It argues that the statement was relevant to the violation of CR § 5-621(b)(1),

and its relevance was not outweighed by any danger for unfair prejudice.

Evidence is “relevant” if it has “any tendency to make the existence of any fact that 

is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it 

would be without the evidence.” Md. Rule 5-401. Relevant evidence generally is 

9 Appellant also filed a motion to suppress, arguing that the statement was 

inadmissible because it was involuntarily made. That motion was denied, and the ruling is 

not challenged on appeal.
31

admissible. Rule 5-402. It may be excluded, however, “if its probative value is 

substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or 

misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless 

presentation of cumulative evidence.” Rule 5-403. As this Court has explained:

“Evidence is never excluded merely because it is ‘prejudicial.’ If prejudice 

were the test, no evidence would ever be admitted. Parties . . . have a right to 

introduce prejudicial evidence. Probative value is outweighed by the danger 

of ‘unfair’ prejudice when the evidence produces such an emotional response 

that logic cannot overcome prejudice or sympathy needlessly injected into 

the case.”

Moore v. State, 84 Md. App. 165, 172 (quoting J. Murphy, Maryland Evidence Handbook, 

§ 509, p. 160 (1989)), cert. denied, 321 Md. 385 (1990).

The Court of Appeals recently explained the appropriate standard of review as a 

two-step process:

First, we consider whether the evidence is legally relevant which is a 

conclusion of law that we review de novo. Portillo Funes v. State, 469 Md. 

438, 478, 230 A.3d 121 (2020) (citing Ford v. State, 462 Md. 3, 46, 197 A.3d 

1090 (2018)) (“An appellate court reviews de novo a trial court’s 

determination as to whether evidence is relevant.”). After determining 

whether the evidence in question is relevant, we consider whether the trial 

court abused its discretion by admitting relevant evidence which should have 

been excluded as unfairly prejudicial. Thus, the trial judge’s ruling on the 

admissibility of evidence under Rule 5-403 is reviewed for abuse of 

discretion. Id. The standard of review for “[a]n abuse of discretion occurs 

where no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the circuit 

court.” Williams v. State, 457 Md. 551, 563, 179 A.3d 1006 (2018) 

(citing Fuentes v. State, 454 Md. 296, 325, 164 A.3d 265 (2017)). Appellate 

“courts ‘are generally loath to reverse a trial court unless the evidence is 

plainly inadmissible under a specific rule or principle of law or there is a 

clear showing of an abuse of discretion.’” Portillo Funes, 469 Md. at 479, 

230 A.3d 121 (quoting Merzbacher v. State, 346 Md. 391, 404–05, 697 A.2d 

432 (1997)).

Montague v. State, 471 Md. 657, 673–74 (2020).
32

Here, appellant’s statement clearly was relevant with respect to the firearms charges

against him. Appellant was charged with violating CR § 5-621(b)(1), which provides that,

“[d]uring and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, a person may not . . . possess a firearm 

under sufficient circumstances to constitute a nexus to the drug trafficking crime.” The 

evidence showed that appellant advised the police that the room contained drugs and a 

handgun, which showed his constructive possession of the handgun seized. See Neal v. 

State, 191 Md. App. 297, 316, cert. denied, 415 Md. 42 (2010) (“A person has constructive 

possession over contraband when he or she has dominion or control over the contraband 

itself or over the premises or vehicle in which it was concealed.”). The statement that 

appellant would have “shot it out” if the handgun had been on his person, as opposed to 

under the bed, was relevant to support the inference that appellant possessed the handgun 

to protect against the seizure of his drugs, satisfying the nexus requirement.

Appellant does not dispute that the evidence was relevant. Rather, he asserts that 

the unfair prejudice of the statement outweighed its probative value because the statement 

created an impermissible inference that he had a propensity for violence. Although the 

admission of the statement certainly was prejudicial to appellant, we cannot conclude that 

the circuit court abused its discretion in determining that it was not unfairly prejudicial to 

an extent that outweighed the probative value of the evidence. We uphold the court’s ruling 

denying appellant’s motion to exclude the statement.
33

IV.

Motion to Withdraw Plea Agreement

Appellant’s next contention involves his motion to withdraw his plea agreement, 

which he filed after his conviction, but before sentencing. Appellant contends that the

circuit court erred in denying his motion to withdraw his plea because “the proffered 

evidence contained a dispute of material fact.” Specifically, he alleges that there was a 

dispute of material fact regarding whether he “possessed a firearm on the date alleged in 

the indictment.” He notes that the indictment lists the offense date as August 21, 2018, 

when law enforcement seized a gun during the execution of the search warrant, but the 

firearm test certification submitted with the statement of facts certified the offense date as 

July 23, 2018. 

The State contends that the circuit court properly exercised its discretion in denying 

appellant’s motion to withdraw his plea. It does not dispute that the firearms examiner 

erroneously listed July 23, 2018, as the date of the offense on the certification, but it argues 

that this certificate had no bearing on appellant’s plea. It notes that both the indictment 

and the agreed upon statement of facts stated that the handgun was recovered on August 

21, 2018, and therefore, appellant was charged with, and convicted of, possessing the gun 

on August 21, 2018.

Md. Rule 4-242(h) provides that, “[a]t any time before sentencing, the court may 

permit a defendant to withdraw a plea of guilty, a conditional plea of guilty, or a plea of 

nolo contendere when the withdrawal serves the interest of justice.” This Court reviews 
34

the denial of a motion to withdraw a plea for abuse of discretion. See Blinken v. State, 291 

Md. 297, 309 (1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 973 (1982).

Initially, we note that the Rule, by its terms, applies only to a “plea of guilty, a 

conditional plea of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere.” Rule 4-242(h). Appellant did not 

enter one of those pleas.

A guilty plea is “an unconditional confession of guilt,” and appellate review is 

limited. Bishop v. State, 417 Md. 1, 17–18 (2010). A conditional guilty plea reserves the 

right to appeal specified issues, and if the defendant prevails on appeal, he or she may 

withdraw the plea. Rule 4-242(d). A plea of nolo contendere is a “plea by which the 

defendant does not contest or admit guilt.” Id. at 18 (quoting Black’s Law Dictionary 1147, 

1269 (9th ed. 2009). This plea waives many appellate rights, but it preserves the right “to 

plead and prove his innocence in a civil action.” Id.

Here appellant did not enter any of the pleas covered by the rule. Rather, appellant 

pleaded not guilty pursuant to an agreed statement of facts. Under an agreed statement of 

facts, the State and the defense agree to the ultimate facts, and the court merely applies the 

law to the agreed upon facts. Bishop, 417 Md. at 21. Accord State v. Thomas, 464 Md. 

133, 140 (2019). By entering such a plea, the accused retains the right to argue legal issues, 

including the sufficiency of the evidence. Bishop, 417 Md. at 22. If the prosecutor fails to 

present evidence to support all elements of the crime, an acquittal will result. Id. at 23 

(collecting cases).

Rule 4-242(h) does not authorize withdrawal of a plea of not guilty pursuant to an 

agreed statement of facts, presumably because the conviction is the result of the court’s 
35

decision based on the facts, as opposed to the defendant’s acknowledgment of, or failure 

to contest, his or her guilt. We hold that, where there is no suggestion that the plea was 

anything other than a plea of not guilty pursuant to an agreed statement of facts, the 

defendant cannot move to withdraw the plea and void the conviction pursuant to Rule 4-

242(h). See Hamm v. State, 72 Md. App. 176, 187 n.6 (1987) (Defendant’s plea of not 

guilty on an agreed statement of facts was “not the functional equivalent of a guilty plea,”

and “even if it were, we do not suggest that it would be subject to withdrawal under Md. 

Rule 4–242(f).”), cert. denied, 311 Md. 285 (1987), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 843 (1988).

In any event, even if the Rule was applicable, we would conclude that the circuit 

court properly exercised its discretion in denying the motion on the ground that it was not 

“in the interests of justice to allow [appellant] to withdraw his proceeding whereby he 

entered a not guilty plea but agreed to submit on the statement of facts read into the record.” 

As the State notes, the indictment charged appellant with possessing the handgun on

August 21, 2018, and the agreed statement of facts provided that the handgun was found 

in the hotel room on August 21, 2018. There was no dispute of fact that appellant possessed 

the gun on August 21, 2018. That the firearm examiner made a clerical error on the date 

of the offense in his certificate certifying that the firearm was operable did not generate a 

dispute of fact. Accordingly, the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in denying

appellant’s motion to withdraw the prior proceedings. 
36

V.

Sufficiency of the Evidence

Appellant’s last contention is that there was not sufficient evidence to support his 

conviction for constructive possession of the CDS concealed in the nightstand in the hotel 

room. He asserts that the hotel room was shared with another person, and the drugs were 

found outside of plain view and not shown to be in his control.

The State contends that appellant has waived this contention because he did not 

object at the plea hearing when the State proffered to the court, prior to proceeding on the 

agreed statement of facts, that appellant did not claim that the facts did not support the 

charges. In any event, the State asserts that appellant’s argument is meritless, noting that

appellant explicitly told the officers that all the CDS in the hotel room belonged to him.

With respect to the waiver argument, we recently explained that there is no 

preservation requirement for sufficiency claims in cases tried without a jury. Rivera v. 

State, 248 Md. App. 170, 179, 183 (2020). The State cites no cases to support its contention 

to the contrary. Accordingly, we turn to the merits.

“In considering the legal sufficiency of the evidence following a non-jury trial, the 

appellate court must determine whether ‘after viewing the evidence in the light most 

favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential 

elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Moore v. State, 189 Md. App. 90, 97 

(2009) (quoting State v. Albrecht, 336 Md. 475, 479 (1994)), aff’d 424 Md. 118 (2011). 

This Court has explained the essential elements of constructive possession of contraband 

as follows: 
37

The State has the burden to prove that the accused had actual or 

constructive possession and control of the contraband. See Taylor v. State, 

346 Md. 452, 458–59, 697 A.2d 462 (1997). “Possess” under § 5–101(u) of 

the Criminal Law Article “means to exercise actual or constructive dominion 

or control over a thing by one or more persons.” “‘Control’ of a controlled 

dangerous substance has been defined as the exercise of a ‘restraining or 

directing influence over’ the thing allegedly possessed.” Taylor, 346 Md. at 

457, 697 A.2d 462; see McDonald v. State, 347 Md. 452, 474, 701 A.2d 675 

(1997).

Contraband need not be found on a defendant’s person in order to 

establish possession. State v. Suddith, 379 Md. 425, 432, 842 A.2d 716 

(2004). To prove possession of contraband, whether actual or constructive, 

joint or individual, the State must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the 

accused knew “of both the presence and the general character or illicit nature 

of the substance.” Dawkins v. State, 313 Md. 638, 651, 547 A.2d 1041 

(1988). Thus, “[a]n individual’s knowledge of the contraband is a key 

element in finding that individual guilty of possessing it . . .” Suddith, 379 

Md. at 432, 842 A.2d 716. Indeed, knowledge of the presence of an object 

is generally a prerequisite to the exercise of dominion and control. Dawkins, 

313 Md. at 649, 547 A.2d 1041. 

Handy v. State, 175 Md. App. 538, 564, cert. denied, 402 Md. 353 (2007). 

We recently explained that the “controlled set of guidelines” for determining 

constructive possession is as follows: 

1) proximity between the defendant and the contraband, 2) the fact that the 

contraband was within the view or otherwise within the knowledge of the 

defendant, 3) ownership or some possessory right in the premises or the 

automobile in which the contraband is found, or 4) the presence of 

circumstances from which a reasonable inference could be drawn that the 

defendant was participating with others in the mutual use and enjoyment of 

the contraband.

Moseley v. State, 245 Md. App. 491, 506 (2020) (emphasis omitted) (quoting Folk v. State, 

11 Md. App. 508, 518 (1971)). 

Here, appellant was arrested in the hotel room where the CDS was found, and thus, 

he was in close proximity to the contraband. See id. Moreover, when asked whether there 
38

was anything illegal in the room, he directed the officers to the nightstand, indicating that 

there were “a lot of drugs in the nightstand,” and that “they were all [his].” This showed 

direct knowledge of both the presence of the CDS and the illicit nature of the items. Handy, 

175 Md. App. at 564. Accordingly, a rational trier of fact could have found that he had 

constructive possession of the CDS for which he was convicted. 

JUDGMENTS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT 

FOR FREDERICK COUNTY AFFIRMED. 

COSTS TO BE PAID BY APPELLANT.
The correction notice(s) for this opinion(s) can be found here: 

https://mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/import/appellate/correctionnotices/cosa/1232s19cn.pdf