Opinion ID: 2274559
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Bibleway is a church, synagogue, or other place of worship.

Text: Harris also contends the trial judge erroneously denied his motion for judgment of acquittal of Possession of a Controlled Substance within 300 feet of a Church, because the State failed to establish that Bibleway meets the statutory requirement of a church, synagogue or other place of worship. Harris cites to Florida decisions where the statute required the State to prove that the `church' conducted regular religious activities. [39] Unlike Florida law, however, Delaware law omits statutory language requiring the `church' to regularly conduct religious services. It criminalizes possession of controlled substances within 300 feet of the boundaries ... of [any] church, synagogue or other place of worship. [40] At trial, Davis confirmed the nearby building was a `church' and stated that he had been inside the church to investigate a previous complaint. The building in question displayed a sign that read Bibleway Temple Institutional Church of God and Christ. The State presented sufficient evidence at trial for a rational trier of fact to conclude that the building in question was a `church' as contemplated by 16 Del. C. § 4768(a). The Superior Court did not err by denying Harris's motion for judgment of acquittal on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance within 300 feet of a Church.