Williams v. State

ROBERTS, J.,

for the Court:

¶ 1. In May 1999, Willie Lee Williams was indicted for the sale or transfer of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school. He was also charged as a subsequent drug offender. In August 1999, Williams went to trial. Prior to voir dire of the jury, the prosecution successfully moved to amend the indictment to charge Williams as a habitual offender pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-19-81 (Supp.2011). The jury found Williams guilty. During a bifurcated proceeding, the Marion County Circuit Court found Williams qualified for enhanced sentencing as…