Opinion ID: 2065107
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Possession within the Meaning of the Statute

Text: The defendants assert that the evidence is insufficient to establish possession on the part of both defendants. The statute in question, 12 M.R.S.A. § 4451, makes it unlawful to have in possession a short lobster. The sole defense, provided in subsection 3 of the statute, contemplates the immediate release of all short lobsters. Thus, under the statute, the State need only prove that a short lobster came into the defendants' possession and was not immediately liberated. See State v. Morton, 125 Me. 9, 130 A. 352 (1925); State v. Chadwick, 118 Me. 233, 109 A. 372 (1919). In this case, the defendants together lugged the containers of short lobsters from the beach to a van situated in a parking lot. The evidence of their joint possession of the lobsters was more than sufficient. Accordingly, the presiding Justice was correct in ordering each defendant to pay the statutory fine. [9]