Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Madeline Henderson, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1978-08-07
Citations: 64 A.D.2d 906
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Madeline Henderson, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 64
Pages: 906–906

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Madeline Henderson, Appellant.

Opinion:
—Appeal by defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County, rendered January 28, 1975, convicting her of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. Judgment affirmed. The trial court correctly charged the jury that the defense of agency, though applicable to the crime of criminal sale of a controlled substance, is not relevant to the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (see Penal Law, § 220.09). This holding obtains because the crime of mere possession of a controlled substance is punishable without regard to whether the possessor is acting as seller or buyer, or the agent of either (see People v Sierra, 45 NY2d 56; People v Carr, 41 NY2d 847; People v Sheldon K., 26 NY2d 949; People v Perez, 60 AD2d 656). Hopkins, J. P., Damiani, Titone and Suozzi, JJ., concur.