Commonwealth v. Houghtlin

After a jury trial in a District Court, the defendant, Robert Houghtlin, was convicted and sentenced on complaints charging unlawful possession of a Glass B controlled substance (butalbital) and Class C controlled substances (diazepam and codeine), and on a fourth complaint charging unlawful possession of a Glass D substance (marihuana) with intent to distribute. On appeal, Houghtlin argues that the trial judge erred in admitting evidence that he possessed a shotgun at the time of his arrest, and that the judge exacerbated the error by disallowing explanation about the weapon. Houghtlin also…