State v. Smith

Siddoway, A.C.J.

¶1 — Darrell Smith was convicted of multiple crimes arising out of his alleged 12-hour unlawful imprisonment of Eric Chadwick. He was also convicted for possession of methamphetamine found in a search following his arrest. While he makes numerous assignments of error, we find one dispositive: the atypical wording of the elements instructions given at trial could have allowed jurors to convict him even if they entertained reasonable doubt as to his guilt.

¶2 We reject Smith’s single evidence sufficiency challenge (to his conviction for possession of methamphetamine), reverse his…