Garland v. Commonwealth

In a bench trial, Anthony Gregory Garland was convicted of possessing cocaine and sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. The dispositive question in this appeal is whether the evidence is sufficient to support the conviction. Finding it is not, we reverse.

On February 4, 1981, the police, executing a search warrant, entered a dwelling in the City of Charlottesville. Present in the house were Melanie Henderson and a young child. In a bedroom, the police found marijuana, hashish, a set of scales and other drug paraphernalia, and approximately four grams of cocaine.

In the same room, the…