The Defendant appealed the trial judge’s decision sustaining the charged violation of G.L. 1956 § 21-28-4.01(c) (possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, 18 years or older). The Defendant while driving was pulled over by a Providence Police Officer. After discovering the Defendant did not have a valid license, the police officer placed the Defendant in custody and searched the Defendant’s car. The Officer found a glass jar containing suspected marijuana in the car’s center console. The Defendant argued that the evidence did not establish that the Defendant was in possession of marijuana. The Panel noted that “in order to sustain a possession of marijuana violation, the person must have knowingly or intentionally possessed” the marijuana. Additionally, proof of knowledge can be shown through an individual’s actions or statements, which then must lead to an inference that the individual knew of the marijuana. See State v. Kaba, 798 A.2d 383, 391-92 (R.I. 2002). However, “the mere fact that the consignee takes possession of the container would not alone establish guilt of illegal possession or importation of contraband.” Id. The Panel found that the Defendant’s knowledge of the substance was not reflected in the record, and thus the charged violation could not be sustained. The Panel granted the Defendant’s appeal and dismissed the charged violation.
City of Providence v. M.P., C.A. No. T15-0023 (February 16, 2016) (1725)
Case Index
- Refusal to Submit
- Anonymous Tips
- Arrest
- Availability of a Breathalyzer Machine/ Operator
- Burden of Proof
- Coercion by Officer
- Collateral Estoppel
- Constitutional Issues
- Constructive Refusal to Submit
- Credibility Determinations
- Default Judgment
- Deficient Sample
- Discovery
- Dismissal
- Double Charging
- Evidence
- Fellow-Officer Rule
- Field Sobriety Tests
- Identifying the Defendant
- Inability to Cure a Refusal by Subsequently Submitting
- Jurisdiction of Police Officers
- Knowing and Voluntary Decision
- Missing or Incomplete Transcript
- Motion to Vacate
- Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Penalty
- Physical Inability to Submit to a Chemical Test
- Preliminary Breath Test
- Preliminary Suspension
- Procedure
- Reasonable Grounds/Probable Cause
- Reasonable Suspicion to Stop
- Right to an Independent Medical Examination
- Right to Appeal
- Right to Counsel
- Rights for Use at Station
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- Summons
- Sworn Report
- Telephone Call
- Trial Judge's Findings of Facts
- Traffic Violations
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- Airport Regulations
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- Axle Restriction
- Bailee Plates
- Bolstering
- Burden of Proof
- Care in Starting from Stop
- Clearance for Overtaking
- Colin B. Foote Act
- Collateral Estoppel
- Commercial Motor Vehicle Violation
- Conditions Requiring Reduced Speed
- Constitutional Issues
- Cost and Fees
- Credibility
- Crosswalk Violation
- Default Judgment
- Discovery
- Dismissal
- Double Jeopardy
- Due Care by Drivers
- Evidence
- Failure to Maintain Control
- Failure to Prosecute
- Good Driving Statute
- Hearsay
- Identification
- Immediate Notice of Accident
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- Interval between Vehicles
- Issuance of License
- Judicial Notice
- Jurisdiction
- Jurisdiction of Police Officers
- Laned Roadway Violation
- Leaving the Scene
- License on Person
- Manner of Turning
- Newly Discovered Evidence
- Obedience to Devices
- Obedience to Police Officers
- Open Container
- Operating an Unregistered Vehicle
- Operating without Insurance
- Operation by person other than Lessee
- Overtaking on Right
- Overtaking on the Left
- Parking or Stopping Prohibited
- Parties to an Offense
- Passing
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- Penalties
- Places Where U-Turns Prohibited
- Procedure
- Salvage Laws
- School Bus Violations
- Scituate Town Ordinance 7.2(a)
- Seat Belt Use
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- Summons
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- Traffic Control Signals
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- Turn Signal Required
- Unauthorized Practice of Law
- Venue
- Visibility of Plates
- Weight Restrictions