Opinion ID: 773057
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Matter other than propensity.

Text: 8 The elements of possession with intent to distribute under 21 U.S.C. sec. 841(a)(1) are: (1) possession of a controlled substance; (2) knowledge that the material is a controlled substance; and (3) intent to distribute it. Lanier v. United States, 220 F.3d 833, 840 (7th Cir. 2000). Jones argues that because he was only disputing the first element, possession, the government should not have been permitted to present evidence on the second and third elements. However, this contention misapprehends the government's burden in a criminal trial. In all criminal cases, the government must prove each element, even those that the defendant does not specifically contest, beyond a reasonable doubt to convict a defendant. Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 69 (1991) ([T]he prosecution's burden to prove every element of the crime is not relieved by a defendant's tactical decision not to contest an essential element of the offense.); see also Mathews v. United States, 485 U.S. 58, 64-65 (1988) (A simple plea of not guilty puts the prosecution to its proof as to all elements of the crime charged.) (citation omitted). Even though Jones focused only on the first element of the alleged crime, denying that he possessed the drugs contained in the house on North 45th Street, the government was still required to prove both his knowledge that the substances were narcotics and his intent to distribute by submitting evidence on those issues. United States v. Kellum, 42 F.3d 1087, 1093 (7th Cir. 1994). 9 The Rule 404(b) evidence submitted in this case aided the prosecution in carrying its burden of proving intent and knowledge, and so satisfies the first prong of the Rule 404(b) test. Jones's transactions with Harris, Weatherby, and Wooten showed that Jones in the past had sold drugs that he had possessed. Evidence that he previously distributed narcotics supports a finding that he intended to distribute the drugs found when the 1998 search warrant was executed and that he knew these substances were drugs. Indeed, intent to distribute drugs and knowledge that a particular substance is a narcotic often are proven through testimony about prior sales of controlled substances. See, e.g., United States v. Denberg, 212 F.3d 987, 993-94 (7th Cir. 2000); United States v. Tringali, 71 F.3d 1375, 1379 (7th Cir. 1995). Jones's discussions with Harris and Weatherby concerning the search warrant and confiscation of Jones's drugs aided the prosecution in establishing that Jones knew he was selling a controlled substance. Delaney's testimony furthered the government's case by demonstrating that Jones had repeatedly possessed large amounts of narcotics, which supports a finding that the possessor intended to distribute the drugs to others since such quantities are unlikely to be consumed by a single person. Also, Delaney's testimony supported the proposition that Jones had previously been present in the house when substantial amounts of drugs were present, increasing the probability that he knew that the substances in the house in 1998 were narcotics. 10