Opinion ID: 1614900
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Intent to Distribute or Transfer

Text: Mississippi case law indicates that both the quantity of the contraband seized, as well as the nature of the contraband, will be determinative of whether the accused possessed the contraband with the intent to distribute. Coyne v. State, 484 So.2d 1018, 1021 (Miss. 1986). See also, Bryant v. State, 427 So.2d 131 (Miss. 1983) and Breckenridge v. State, 472 So.2d 373 (Miss. 1985). In the instant case, law enforcement officers seized 118 bales of marijuana weighing approximately 5,100 pounds. Considering this large amount in the light most favorable to the State, with all reasonable inferences that may be drawn therefrom, the trial judge committed no error in overruling appellant's motion for a directed verdict in the issue of intent to distribute. Similarly, the trial judge was correct in overruling appellant's motion for a new trial. In addition, this Court holds the jury verdict in the present case was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence on the issues of knowledge, possession, or intent to distribute.