{"id":219,"date":"2017-11-28T11:21:19","date_gmt":"2017-11-28T16:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clearwatercriminallawyer.net\/?p=219"},"modified":"2026-01-31T09:17:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T14:17:07","slug":"florida-drug-possession-acquittal-overturned-appeal-finding-evidence-constructive-possession-existed-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.criminalattorneyclearwater.net\/blog\/florida-drug-possession-acquittal-overturned-appeal-finding-evidence-constructive-possession-existed-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Drug Possession Acquittal Overturned on Appeal After Finding that Evidence of “Constructive Possession” Existed at Trial"},"content":{"rendered":"

As with many crimes, Florida drug possession can be prosecuted in a variety of different ways. It’s clear that if a person is arrested with contraband on his or her person, that might be used as evidence to prove the crime. However, what happens when the drug is present in an area where you are present, but it’s not actually on your person? It’s still possible for the State to seek a conviction under those circumstances based on what is known as “constructive possession.” A November 15, 2017\u00a0case<\/a>, decided by the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeals, reversed the acquittal of the criminal defendant after the appeals court ruled that there was enough evidence to uphold the jury’s finding of possession of cocaine.<\/p>\n

The defendant’s car was stopped after he was spotted parked in front of a house where a man walked up to the passenger side of the car, stayed for a few minutes, and then left. The police searched the defendant’s car and found a small rock of crack cocaine on the sliding track under the driver’s seat. There was no evidence at trial that the defendant owned the car or that anyone else drove or rode in the car regularly.<\/p>\n

The jury returned a verdict of guilty; however, the judge overruled the jury and acquitted the defendant because of a lack of evidence. The State appealed the judge’s decision.<\/p>\n

Continue reading \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As with many crimes, Florida drug possession can be prosecuted in a variety of different ways. It’s clear that if a person is arrested with contraband on his or her person, that might be used as evidence to prove the crime. However, what happens when the drug is present in an area where you are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-drug-crime"],"yoast_head":"\nDrug Case: Constructive Possession Proof<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dealing with drug charges? See how this ruling on drug possession acquittal overturned your defense in Clearwater. 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