Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
Table of Contents
Smith's Criminal Case Compendium
About
This compendium includes significant criminal cases by the U.S. Supreme Court & N.C. appellate courts, Nov. 2008 – Present. Selected 4th Circuit cases also are included.
Jessica Smith prepared case summaries Nov. 2008-June 4, 2019; later summaries are prepared by other School staff.
Instructions
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Criminal Procedure > Indictment & Pleading Issues > Specific Offenses > Drug Offenses > Precursor Chemical Offenses
An indictment charging the defendant with possession of methamphetamine precursors was fatally defective and the defect could not be cured by amendment. Specifically, the indictment failed to allege that the defendant possessed the precursors knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that they would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. The trial court allowed the State to amend the indictment to add this allegation at trial. The amendment was improper and the indictment was fatally defective.
Over a dissent, the court held that an indictment charging possession of methamphetamine precursors was defective because it failed to allege either the defendant’s intent to use the precursors to manufacture methamphetamine or his knowledge that they would be used to do so. The indictment alleged only that the defendant processed the precursors in question; as such it failed to allege the necessary specific intent or knowledge.