Jones v. United States

TERRY, Associate Judge:

Appellant Nathan Jones was convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute it, 1 carrying a pistol without a license, 2 possession of an unregistered firearm, 3 and possession of ammunition without a valid registration certificate. 4 We reverse the cocaine conviction because the trial court gave an erroneous instruction to the jury.

Mr. Jones, his wife, and their three children were back seat passengers in a car that was stopped for a traffic violation. The police officer who stopped the car saw a gun on the floor next to the front passenger’s feet. A search…