Opinion ID: 1628512
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Witness Steve Brown

Text: Next, the appellant asserts that the trial court erred in permitting Steve Brown, Coordinator of the Fifth Judicial District Drug Task Force, to offer opinion testimony during the sentencing phase that a substance he identified as Super Manitol, a Vitamin B supplement commonly used to increase the yield of methamphetamine and cocaine, along with what he believed to be methamphetamine, were found in appellant's home. Particularly, appellant disputes Brown's qualifications to offer this testimony. We initially observe that appellant has offered no case law to support his argument. We do not consider arguments that are unsupported by authority or convincing argument. Hicks v. State, 327 Ark. 652, 941 S.W.2d 387 (1997). In any event, Officer Brown had five years with the task force and as coordinator, was responsible for initiating major crime and narcotics investigations, and coordinated these investigations with state, local, and federal agencies. In view of his experience, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in permitting the officer to testify as to what he believed to be methamphetamine, for it is apparent that he had knowledge in this area beyond that of an ordinary person. See Poyner v. State, supra .