Opinion ID: 1841427
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Count I, Manufacture of Marijuana

Text: ¶ 9. Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-139(a)(1) makes the manufacture of marijuana unlawful. Our law defines the term manufacture as: the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion or processing of a controlled substance, either directly or indirectly, by extraction from substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, and includes any packaging or repackaging of the substance or labeling or relabeling of its container. Miss.Code Ann. § 41-29-105(q) (Rev. 2005). ¶ 10. Williams argues that the evidence against him was insufficient to support his conviction. During the testimony of Agent Umfress, it was established that someone had been videotaped by the surveillance camera tending the plants located in the woods. On the first video, which was admitted into evidence as State Exhibit 1, the suspect could be seen bending over, tending to the plants, and then walking away from the plants. Because of the low angle of the camera, the suspect could be seen only from the waist down. However, the first video clearly did show two dogs, a white German shepherd and a cocker spaniel, accompanying the suspect. Two dogs fitting the description of the dogs on the video were found at Williams's residence, according to Umfress's testimony. ¶ 11. The second video, which was admitted as State Exhibit 2, again showed a suspect tending the plants. However, because Umfress raised the camera angle after monitoring the first video, the suspect's face was very clearly shown. Umfress and another agent identified this suspect as John Williams. Williams admitted that the marijuana plants found in the woods were his. ¶ 12. When the search warrant was executed at Williams's residence, the agents recovered two marijuana plants which were being grown on Williams's property, marijuana in a Tupperware bowl and a film canister, and marijuana-growing literature and paraphernalia. Williams admitted that these items belonged to him. The forensic analysis report from the Tupelo Crime Lab, which was admitted as State Exhibit 4, confirmed that the plants and substances recovered from the woods and Williams's residence were indeed marijuana. The aggregate weight of these items was 39.4 grams. ¶ 13. It is clear the State presented sufficient evidence presented to find beyond a reasonable doubt that Williams was indeed guilty of each element of the crime of manufacturing marijuana. Therefore, this issue is without merit.