State v. Staley

The State petitioned for, and was granted review of, a Court of Appeals decision reversing Benny Dean Staley’s conviction for violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. We reverse the Court of Appeals and reinstate Staley’s conviction.

Statement of The Case

Defendant Staley is a musician. On the night of his arrest he was playing at the Pepperdine restaurant in Spokane. At trial Staley testified that he routinely maintains a tip jar which he places on a stool next to his instruments. At the end of an evening’s performance, Staley typically counts the contents of the jar and leaves for…