Opinion ID: 339879
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of Paraphernalia as Evidence.

Text: 17 In its case-in-chief, the Government offered in evidence the box of Glad Bags, balance scale, cocaine tester, tea strainer, and unopened bottle of lactose seized during the search of the premises in question on the night of July 11th. Jones objected to the introduction of this evidence on the ground that its probative value was outweighed by its prejudicial impact, since, according to the appellant, intent to commit the crimes had not been made an issue by the not guilty plea of Jones. Appellant cites United States v. Conley, 523 F.2d 650, 654 (8th Cir. 1975), cert. denied, 424 U.S. 920, 96 S.Ct. 1125, 47 L.Ed.2d 327 (1976); United States v. Buckhanon, 505 F.2d 1079, 1083 n. 1 (8th Cir. 1974); United States v. Brown, 453 F.2d 101, 107-08 (8th Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 405 U.S. 978, 92 S.Ct. 1205, 31 L.Ed.2d 253 (1972). 18 Appellant's argument is without force and these cases are inapposite. All of the items in question are commonly used in the processing and distribution of cocaine, and therefore, were liable to seizure and introduction into evidence as instrumentalities of the crime charged, that Jones possessed cocaine for the purpose of distribution. See United States v. Bridges, 419 F.2d 963, 967-68 (8th Cir. 1969). Moreover, under the statute, the prosecution was obligated to prove appellant knowingly and intentionally possessed cocaine with intent to distribute. In the pretrial omnibus hearing, Jones indicated that lack of intent would be one of his defenses. The evidence here bears directly upon an element of the crime and was admissible for that reason. 19 For the same reason the court did not err in permitting the Government to introduce the unsealed bottle of lactose containing 0.19 percent cocaine which was seized in the search of Jones' apartment. The prosecution offered and the court admitted this questioned exhibit as bearing on appellant's intent to distribute the approximately 16 grams of cocaine contained in a brown bottle which the DEA officers seized at Jones' premises. The substance contained in the questioned exhibit (Exhibit 19A), although containing a small trace of cocaine, was not part of the charge contained in the indictment. The Government did not offer that exhibit to prove Jones' possession with intent to distribute the small amount of cocaine contained therein, but only to show that Jones possessed the greater quantity of drugs charged in the indictment for the purpose of preparing diluted dosages for distribution. Moreover, the prosecutor breached no pretrial agreement in presenting this evidence to the jury. The Government at a pretrial conference had represented only that the exhibit later marked 19A would not be offered as proof of the possession charged in count II of the indictment. Finally, given these circumstances, we do not believe that the prejudicial impact of this exhibit outweighed its probative value on the issue of intent. The trial court did not err in admitting this exhibit. 20