Halsema v. State

RUCKER, Justice.

Is the weight of a given quantity of drugs a matter of general knowledge and experience that jurors possess? On this record we conclude it is not.

Background

Tried as co-defendants, cousins Frank and Ritchie Halsema were convicted of several drug-related offenses including possession of methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a school. They pursued separate appeals. One issue common to both was whether, in the absence of scientific measurement, there was sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the weight of the drugs was at least three grams. In Frank Halsema's case, one panel of…