U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2001

United States v. Williams

United States v. Williams
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · Decided August 20, 2001 · Niemeyer, Motz, Gregory
17 F. App'x 106

United States v. Williams

Opinion

OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Frederick Bernard Williams appeals his conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, contending that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction. In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, the relevant question is not whether the court is convinced of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but rather whether the evidence, when viewed in the *107 light most favorable to the Government, was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Burgos, 94 F.3d 849, 862-63 (4th Cir. 1996) (en banc). At the bench trial, Detective Hartig testified that Williams admitted that marijuana packaged for sale and found in Williams’ bag at Williams’ workplace was his and that he sold it. Williams also admitted that he was aware of the presence of another quantity of marijuana located in a trashcan near his workstation. While Williams denied making these statements, the trial court clearly chose to believe Detective Hartig, and we will not review the trial court’s credibility determinations. Mazzell v. Evatt, 88 F.3d 263, 270-71 (4th Cir. 1996). Thus, we affirm Williams’ conviction. We dispense with oral argument, because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.

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