Cline v. State

We affirm Cline’s conviction of trafficking in cocaine. Cline pled nolo contendere when his motion to dismiss and motion to suppress were denied, reserving his right to appeal the rulings on both motions.

We address objective entrapment due process issues arising out of the involvement of an untested and unmonitored informant, who served as a middleman during a drug transaction and who gave authorities the information leading to Cline’s arrest.

At the motion to suppress hearing, Deputy Chase testified he had previously arrested the informant, Frank Petrone, on cocaine charges. The deputy spoke…