State v. Hinkle

Harshbarger, Justice:

A drug sale in Morgantown by Hinkle to undercover agent State Trooper Lucas was arranged by a police informant identified as T. C. With T. C. present, Hinkle sold Lucas four ounces of hashish.

At trial Lucas was the only State witness testifying to the sale. Hinkle and his witnesses testified that T. C. urged Hinkle to sell drugs and that Hinkle was reluctant to do so. At the end of the State’s case and all the evidence, Hinkle unsuccessfully moved for a directed verdict of acquittal based on his entrapment defense. The issue was submitted to a jury that convicted him.

The…