Powers v. Commonwealth

Defendant Ralph Durham Powers challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury’s verdict convicting him of possession of LSD with intent to distribute in violation of Code § 18.2-248. Confirming the verdict, the trial court sentenced defendant to a 15-year penitentiary term and a fine of $5,000.

The facts are drawn from the testimony of Detective J. C. Turner, the only witness called by the Commonwealth other than the chemist who analyzed the suspect substance. At 6:25 a.m. on April 15, 1982, Turner executed a warrant to search premises defendant and his wife had rented and…