Opinion ID: 1288422
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Trial court's grant of motion of judgment of acquittal

Text: When we review the grant or denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal, we examine the record for sufficiency of the evidence supporting the trial court's determination. The trial court must deny the motion if there is some evidence of guilt produced at trial. State v. Gratiot, 104 Idaho 782, 663 P.2d 1084 (1983). Conversely, the motion shall be granted if the record reflects a total lack of inculpatory evidence at trial. State v. Vargas, 100 Idaho 658, 659, 603 P.2d 992, 993 (1979) (citing State v. O'Bryan, 96 Idaho 548, 531 P.2d 1193 (1975)). In the present case, we are called upon to review the trial court's grant of a motion for judgment of acquittal. Therefore, we review the record to determine if there is indeed no evidence upon which a guilty verdict can be based. Id. We find that the trial court erred in concluding that there was no evidence produced at trial upon which a guilty verdict for manufacturing a controlled substance, or manufacturing a controlled substance in the presence of a child, could be based. It reached this erroneous conclusion based upon the incorrect analysis of the statutory exemption discussed above. Under our interpretation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, proof that Griffith was growing marijuana, irrespective of the purpose, is evidence upon which a guilty verdict on a charge of manufacturing can be based. We find that the trial transcript contains ample evidence that Griffith was involved with the growing of marijuana and that this activity took place in the presence of children. Brandy, Griffith's stepdaughter, testified that she witnessed Griffith watering the plants. Additionally, Bonnie testified that the plants were being grown by Griffith. This is evidence to support a finding that the plants were Griffith's and that he grew them in the presence of a child. Because the State produced evidence that Griffith manufactured marijuana, we hold that the trial court erred in granting the motion for judgment of acquittal. Id.