Court Opinion

ID: 9854324
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:05:13.618951+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:01.227152
License: Public Domain

Weltner, Justice,
dissenting.
1. The undisputed facts of this case are:
(a) On June 6, 1985, Bassett had in his possession 428 grams of a substance, 342.4 grams of which was pure cocaine.
(b) On that date, OCGA § 16-13-31 (a) based the offense of trafficking in cocaine upon possession of “28 grams or more of cocaine or of any mixture containing cocaine.”
(c) On June 14, 1985, Bassett was indicted for trafficking in cocaine. The indictment charged that on June 6, 1985, he had in his possession “more than 400 grams of a mixture containing cocaine.”
(d) On July 1, 1985, an amendment to OCGA § 16-13-31 became effective, changing one of the elements of the crime of trafficking in cocaine to “possession of 28 grams or more of cocaine.” 1985 Ga. Laws, pp. 552, 553.
(e) On November 14, 1985, Bassett was convicted of trafficking in cocaine, under the indictment returned against him on June 14, 1985. The evidence established that on June 6, 1985, Bassett was in possession of 428 grams of a substance, 342.4 grams of which was pure cocaine.
2. From this outline of the facts, it should be plain that, at all times material, it has been a serious felony under the laws of Georgia for a person to possess 342.4 grams of pure cocaine.
That proposition pertains to the dates of June 6, 1985; June 14, 1985; July 1,1985; and November 14,1985. It holds alike to every day that has passed since Bassett was arrested — just as it holds on the date of this opinion.
3. Because the General Assembly did not repeal the trafficking in cocaine statute but merely amended it, Gunn v. State, 227 Ga. 786 (183 SE2d 389) (1971), and Gunn v. Balkcom, 228 Ga. 802 (188 SE2d 500) (1972), do not apply. Legislative enactment must be accorded its reasonable intendment. Surely, no one would suggest that the General Assembly, merely by amending the definition of the trafficking statute, intended the result of the majority opinion.
I am authorized to state that Chief Justice Marshall joins in this dissent.
*372Robert E. Keller, District Attorney, Clifford A. Sticker, Assistant District Attorney, Michael J. Bowers, Attorney General, William F. Amideo, Assistant Attorney General, for appellees.