Opinion ID: 1057661
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Sell or Deliver

Text: It is an offense for a defendant to knowingly ... [p]ossess a controlled substance with intent to ... deliver or sell the controlled substance. Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(4) (Supp.2005). Cocaine is a Schedule II controlled substance. Id. § 39-17-408(a), (b)(4) (2003). Knowing possession with the intent to deliver or sell 300 or more grams of cocaine is a Class A felony. Id. § 39-17-417(j)(5). Ostein and Foxx were each charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver 300 grams or more of cocaine. With respect to the mens rea element of knowingly, our legislature has declared that a defendant acts knowingly with respect to the conduct or to circumstances surrounding the conduct when the person is aware of the nature of the conduct or that the circumstances exist. Id. § 39-11-302(b) (2003). With respect to the element of possession, this Court has previously observed that the statute prohibiting `possession' of a controlled substance is not restricted to proof of actual possession, and evidence of either constructive possession or other control over the substance is sufficient to establish this element. State v. Ross, 49 S.W.3d 833, 845 (Tenn.2001). Accordingly, although a defendant's mere presence at a place where controlled substances are found will not support an inference of possession, a person in possession of the premises where controlled substances are found may also be presumed to possess the controlled substances themselves. Id. at 846 (citation omitted). In addition to proving that the accused knowingly possessed the controlled substance, the prosecution must also prove that the accused intended to sell or deliver the substance. It may be inferred from the amount of a controlled substance or substances possessed by an offender, along with other relevant facts surrounding the arrest, that the controlled substance or substances were possessed with the purpose of selling or otherwise dispensing. Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-17-419 (2003). The State must also prove, of course, that the substance collected at the scene is the controlled substance alleged and was present in the amounts alleged.