Title: State v. Siler
Citation: 310 N.C. 731, 314 S.E.2d 547
Docket Number: 46A84
State: north-carolina
Issuer: north-carolina Supreme Court
Date: April 30, 1984

314 S.E.2d 547 (1984) 310 N.C. 731 STATE of North Carolina v. Richard Raymond SILER, III. No. 46A84. Supreme Court of North Carolina. April 30, 1984. *548 Rufus L. Edmisten, Atty. Gen. by John R.B. Matthis, Sp. Deputy Atty. Gen. and *549 Philip A. Telfer, Asst. Atty. Gen., Raleigh, for the State. Bruce C. Fraser, Winston-Salem, for defendant-appellant. BRANCH, Chief Justice. Defendant's sole contention upon appeal is that the trial judge erroneously failed to charge on the lesser included offenses of misdemeanor possession and felony possession. Defendant points out that the crime of "trafficking," as defined in G.S. 90-95(h)(3)a, requires that a party possess at least 28, but not more than 200, grams of cocaine. Defendant maintains that while there is evidence to support a finding that he "trafficked," i.e., possessed at least 28 grams, there is also evidence from which the jury could have found that he possessed less than the requisite 28 grams. Defendant's own testimony was that he only knew about the small plastic bag of cocaine on the front seat of Caudle's car. No analysis was done to verify the weight of the substance in this small bag. Thus, defendant maintains that the jury could have found that he possessed less than 28 grams and would thereby be guilty of only misdemeanor or felony possession under G.S. 90-95(d)(2). The Court of Appeals majority rejected defendant's contention, holding the evidence insufficient to support a charge on the lesser included offense. We disagree. Nevertheless, we conclude that the trial judge correctly charged the jury under the circumstances of this case. The court charged, in pertinent part, as follows: The court went on to charge on the possible verdicts: Thus, the jury was instructed that if they should find that defendant possessed less than 28 grams, they should consider whether he was guilty of simple possession. Under the circumstances of this case, there being no evidence as to the amount of cocaine in the smaller bag, the trial judge's charge on the lesser included offense was adequate. *550 The decision of the Court of Appeals finding no error in the trial court's instruction as modified is affirmed. MODIFIED and AFFIRMED.