State v. Ward

BRADY, Justice.

In the case sub judice the State presented expert witness testimony at trial to the effect that pills found on Defendant Jimmy Waylon Ward’s person, in his vehicle, and at his residence were pharmaceuticals classified as controlled substances under the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act. N.C.G.S. ch. 90, art. 5 (2009). The issue for our review is whether the trial court abused its discretion by permitting the State’s expert witness to identify certain pills when the expert’s methodology consisted solely of a visual inspection process. Under the facts of this case, the…