Archer v. Commonwealth

A jury convicted Daniel Lee Archer of possessing Preludin, a Schedule II drug, with intent to distribute, and fixed his punishment at 25 years in prison and a fine of $25,000. The trial court approved the jury’s verdict and sentenced Archer in accordance therewith. The sole issue on appeal is whether the evidence is sufficient to support the conviction.

On March 3, 1981, police officers of the City of Richmond conducted a surveillance of a restaurant from a rooftop across the street. From this vantage point, they observed several similar transactions. In each, the defendant received money from…