Williams v. State
Williams v. State
Opinion of the Court
The appellant, Larry Keith Williams, appeals from his conviction for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of §
The evidence adduced at trial tended to establish the following. Michael Hunt, a drug investigator, testified that on August 5, 1992, he was making drug purchases as an undercover agent. Hunt testified that a confidential informant was with him in a vehicle. Hunt stated that at 9:10 p.m., he saw the appellant in front of a store on Kirkman Lane in Baldwin County, Alabama. The appellant's codefendant, Chris Williams, approached Hunt's vehicle; Hunt told Williams that he wanted a $20 "rock" of cocaine and gave Williams $20. Hunt stated that he watched Williams walk over and talk to the appellant. He testified that the appellant and Williams were approximately 10 to 15 yards away from his vehicle and that he could clearly see what transpired between Williams and the appellant. He further stated that he saw Williams give money to the appellant and saw the appellant put "something" in Williams's left hand. Hunt testified that he saw Williams carry the item back to his vehicle and that when he reached the vehicle, he handed the item to Hunt. A State's expert witness identified the item as cocaine.
The appellant testified that he was a close friend of Williams's father and that he had known Williams from the time Williams was born, but that he did not have any agreement with Williams to sell cocaine. He stated that although it would not be unusual for him to talk to Williams, he did not provide Williams with any drugs to give to Hunt.
Although this Court has held that the "mere association with persons involved in a criminal enterprise is insufficient to prove participation in a conspiracy," Greer v. State,
The evidence presented by the State of an agreement between the appellant and Williams was sufficient to establish a conspiracy *Page 957 and to establish that the appellant intended to distribute a controlled substance.
Section
"In addition to any penalties heretofore or hereafter provided by law for any person convicted of an unlawful sale of a controlled substance, there is hereby imposed a penalty of five years incarceration in a state corrections facility with no provision for probation if the situs of such unlawful sale was on the campus or within a three-mile radius of the campus boundaries of any public or private school, college, university or other educational institution in this state."
(Emphasis added.)
The appellant was convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The fundamental elements of conspiracy are the agreement between the conspirators to commit a crime and an overt act in furtherance of the agreement. See Wade v.State,
Section
Therefore, we affirm the appellant's conviction for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, but we remand this case to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing at which the appellant is to be sentenced consistent with this opinion. Due return shall be made to this Court within 60 days from the date of the release of this opinion.
AFFIRMED AS TO CONVICTION; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.*
All the Judges concur.
BOWEN, P.J., concurs specially with opinion.
Concurring Opinion
Based on Ex parte Mutrie,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Larry Keith Williams v. State.
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- 8 cases
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- Published