Nelson v. United States

In this consolidated appeal, appellant Douglas Nelson appeals his convictions stemming from two separate trials. In the first trial, appellant was convicted of unlawful distribution of cocaine, in violation of D.C.Code § 48-904.01(a)(1) (2001); and possession of drug paraphernalia (“PDP”), in violation of D.C.Code § 48-1103(a) (2007). On appeal, appellant argues that he was prejudiced by the trial court’s admission of “effectively expert testimony” from an arresting officer, who was called as a lay witness, regarding the use of scales for weighing narcotics. Appellant also claims that his…