Owens v. United States

I am pleased to join Judge Pryor’s opinion for the court. I think it worthwhile, however, to add some thoughts about our conclusion that the evidence was sufficient to support Owens’ conviction for PWID.

There can be no doubt, if the prosecution’s testimony is credited, that Owens participated in the sale of a zip-lock bag of crack cocaine to Larry Hale, an officer of the Metropolitan Police Department who was working under cover. A substantially more difficult question is presented as to whether the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Owens (jointly with Williams) possessed the…