Jermaine T. Dearman v. State of Indiana

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 25, 2020
• Docket: 19A-CR-2951
• Status: Published

Opinion

FILED Mar 25 2020, 10:39 am

CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Jon A. Keyes Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Allen Wellman McNew Harvey, LLP Attorney General of Indiana Greenfield, Indiana Ellen H. Meilaender Supervising Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Jermaine T. Dearman, March 25, 2020 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 19A-CR-2951 v. Appeal from the Hancock Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Dan E. Marshall, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 30D02-1906-F6-1149

Najam, Judge.

Statement of the Case [1] Jermaine Dearman appeals his conviction for possession of a controlled

substance, as a Level 6 felony, following a bench trial. Dearman presents a

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 19A-CR-2951 | March 25, 2020 Page 1 of 3 single issue for our review, namely, whether the State presented sufficient

evidence to support his conviction. We reverse.

Facts and Procedural History [2] On June 10, 2019, the State charged Dearman with possession of a controlled

substance, as a Level 6 felony (“Count I”), and possession of marijuana, as a

Class A misdemeanor (“Count II”). The information for Count I alleged that

Dearman violated Indiana Code Section 35-48-4-7(a) (2019) when he possessed

“Tetrahydrocannabinols [‘THC’] (pure or adulterated) listed in Schedule I”

while in the possession of a handgun. Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 13. Dearman

pleaded guilty to Count II.

[3] At a bench trial on Count I, the parties stipulated to the facts, including that

Dearman possessed vape cartridges containing hash oil. In his opening

statement, defense counsel argued that Dearman could not be convicted as

charged because Indiana Code Section 35-48-4-7(a) “specifically excludes

marijuana,” which is defined in relevant part as hash oil. Tr. at 14. The trial

court took the matter under advisement and found Dearman guilty as charged

and entered judgment of conviction for Count I. This appeal ensued.

Discussion and Decision [4] Dearman contends, and the State agrees, that his conviction on Count I must be

vacated. At trial on Count I, the parties stipulated that Dearman possessed

“vape cartridges containing THC hash oil.” Agreed Stipulation of Facts at 1.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 19A-CR-2951 | March 25, 2020 Page 2 of 3 Again, Dearman was charged and convicted under Indiana Code Section 35-

48-4-7, which provides in relevant part that

(a) A person who, without a valid prescription or order of a practitioner acting in the course of the practitioner’s professional practice, knowingly or intentionally possesses a:

(1) controlled substance (pure or adulterated); or

(2) controlled substance analog (pure or adulterated);

classified in schedule I, II, III, or IV, except marijuana, hashish, or salvia, commits possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (b).

(b) The offense is a Level 6 felony if the person commits the offense and an enhancing circumstance applies.

(Emphasis added). As the parties acknowledge on appeal, “marijuana” is

defined in relevant part as “including hashish and hash oil.” I.C. § 35-48-1-

19(a). Thus, a defendant’s possession of hash oil is not a violation of Indiana

Code Section 35-48-4-7.

[5] We hold that, because the undisputed evidence shows that Dearman possessed

hash oil, his conviction for possession of a controlled substance, as a Level 6

felony, must be vacated.

[6] Reversed.

Kirsch, J., and Brown, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 19A-CR-2951 | March 25, 2020 Page 3 of 3