Mason v. State

SULLIVAN, Justice.

Following a jury trial, Ronald L. Mason was convicted of dealing in a narcotic drug 1 and possessing a narcotic drug. 2 As ex plained below, this is Mason’s second direct appeal. We reverse the dealing conviction because prejudicial hearsay was admitted against Mason, and we grant a new trial.

Background

After receiving a tip from a confidential informant that Mason was distributing heroin from an Indianapolis apartment, Detective Tommie Terrell began surveillance. For two days in May, 1985, Detective Terrell and another officer observed people entering Mason’s apartment…