Sanders v. State
Sanders v. State
Opinion
The appellant, Cornelius Antonio Sanders, was indicted by the Jefferson County grand jury for distributing cocaine, in violation of §
The evidence presented at trial tended to show the following. Jerroll Richardson, an undercover police officer, and an informant named "Jerry" went to a residence in Jefferson County where Richardson was introduced to Sanders. Richardson observed Sanders seated near a table separating a white powder. Richardson also saw a .357 magnum pistol on the table near Sanders.
Richardson told Sanders that he wanted to purchase $150.00 worth of cocaine. Sanders, Richardson and another individual in the residence went outside where Richardson gave Sanders $150.00. Sanders told Richardson that he should come back later that evening to get the cocaine. Later that same evening, Richardson and the informant met Sanders in a motel room. Once there, another individual brought a package to Sanders. Sanders handed the package to Richardson. The substance in the package was later tested and determined to be cocaine.
The officer testified that the informant was with him when he went to the residence and to the motel to meet Sanders. However, the officer knew only the informant's first name and had no other information about the informant or his address. The trial court allowed defense counsel to cross-examine the officer concerning any information that the officer had about the informant. However, the officer testified under oath that he had no additional information. The district attorney prosecuting the case stated on the record that he had no information about the informant other than that provided by the officer. Thus, any further identification and the address of the informant could not be provided by the district attorney.
The Alabama Supreme Court has held that "if a confidential informer is a material witness, i.e., an active participant in the illegal transaction which leads to the charges brought against the accused, then the accused is entitled to learn from the State the identity of the confidential informant and his address." Self v. State,
However, this Court finds that there has been no violation of the disclosure requirement set forth in Roviaro. In Johnson v.State,
The State is not required to produce the name and address of the informant if the informant is not an active participant in the illegal transaction that led to the charges against the accused. In Lightfoot v. State,
"In cases . . . in which the informant has introduced the undercover law enforcement officer to the accused and then has only witnessed the drug sale between the *Page 717 officer and the accused, this Court has characterized the informant as a passive observer. In such cases, the disclosure of the informant's identity has not been required even where there has been a proper and timely request."
It appears from the record that the informant in this case merely travelled with the undercover agent to the sites where money was paid and where the cocaine was obtained. The record does not reflect that the informant actively participated in the crime itself. Therefore, the informant was a passive observer and his identity need not have been disclosed.Hunter v. State,
Even assuming that the informant was more than a mere passive observer, we have held that the "State is only obligated to furnish the accused with information that is presently within the possession and control of the State." Alleyne v. State,
Evidence is relevant if it has probative value, regardless of how slight, upon a matter in issue. Mitchell v. State,
The judgment of the trial court is due to be, and it is hereby, affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
All the Judges concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Cornelius Antonio Sanders v. State.
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published