Opinion ID: 788678
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count Three: Manufacturing Marijuana — Seized in September 2002

Text: 26 The basis for this count lies in the 281 marijuana plants the police found in the wooded area on Bernitt's property on September 5, 2002. As the district court noted, the evidence presented at trial showed a mowed path on Bernitt's property from his back garden to the wooded area; a footpath from the mowed area to the plants; that the plants were great in number (281) and in size (some over 8 feet tall); and that they were growing together in a bunch, rather than scattered the way in which wild marijuana plants tend to grow, according to Officer Hoell's trial testimony. Applying the standard for review of sufficiency of the evidence challenges discussed above, a rational jury could have found Bernitt guilty on this count on these facts.