Opinion ID: 1670832
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 31

Heading: instruction on lesser-included offense of simple possession

Text: The court instructed the jury that it could return a verdict of not guilty or Guilty of Manufacture, Distribution, Delivery, or Dispensing a Controlled Substance. The court also instructed the jury, restated and condensed, that the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Draganescu had knowingly or intentionally (1) possessed marijuana with the intent to distribute or deliver it or (2) aided and abetted another to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute or deliver it. [79] Draganescu contends that the district court erred in failing to instruct the jury on simple possession. Relying on a Court of Appeals' decision, [80] Draganescu contends that possession of marijuana over 1 pound is a lesser-included offense of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, regardless of the weight of the marijuana possessed. He further contends that the evidence adduced at his trial provided a rational basis for a juror to acquit him of possession with intent to deliver and convict him of simple possession.