Opinion ID: 1660986
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Heading: Background and History of the Case

Text: Anshonetta Marie Tiller was convicted on April 12, 1999, of trafficking in cocaine, a violation of § 13A-12-231(2), Ala.Code 1975. Tiller's conviction was a felony conviction, and for that conviction the trial court sentenced her to 22 years' imprisonment; ordered her to pay a $1,000 victim's compensation assessment; fined her $1,000 in accordance with the Alabama Demand Reduction Assessment Act, § 13A-12-281, Ala.Code 1975; and assessed a $50,000 mandatory fine pursuant to § 13A-12-231(a)(2)(a). Tiller appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeals, arguing: 1) that the State had failed to establish a prima facie case of trafficking in cocaine, 2) that the trial court erred in overruling her objections based on the hearsay rule, 3) that she did not receive effective assistance of counsel, and 4) that the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing her to 22 years' imprisonment. On March 24, 2000, the Court of Criminal Appeals, with an unpublished memorandum, affirmed the judgment of the trial court. Tiller v. State (No. CR-98-2040), ___ So.2d ___ (Ala.Crim.App.2000) (table). Tiller requested certiorari review as to three issues: 1) whether the Court of Criminal Appeals had misapplied the holding of George v. State, 675 So.2d 77 (Ala. Crim.App.1995), relating to the principle of constructive possession as a basis for upholding her conviction; 2) whether the Court of Criminal Appeals had misapplied the holding of Edwards v. State, 502 So.2d 846 (Ala.Crim.App.1986), to support its holding that certain evidence had been properly admitted in the trial court; and 3) whether the Court of Criminal Appeals improperly applied Rule 22.2, Ala. R.Crim. P., regarding a supplemental instruction to the jury. We granted Tiller's petition. We reverse the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals and render a judgment of acquittal in favor of Tiller. Because we base our judgment on the conclusion that the State failed to prove constructive possession, we pretermit discussion of Tiller's issues 2 and 3.