P. v. Brown
A jury convicted Emma Brown of one count of possession for sale of methamphetamine and one count of possession of narcotics paraphernalia. (Health & Saf. Code, 11378, 11364.) The trial court sentenced Brown to seven years in prison.
Brown appeals, arguing that her convictions must be reversed on several grounds. Brown's primary contention is that the trial court erred by instructing the jury that the prosecution did not need to prove that Brown intended to personally sell the methamphetamine she possessed. Alternatively, Brown contends that if the trial court properly instructed the jury on this point, she was denied adequate notice of the charges against her and received ineffective assistance of counsel. Brown also argues that her convictions must be reversed because: (i) the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence under Evidence Code[1]section 1101 that Brown committed drug offenses on prior occasions; (ii) the trial court abused its discretion by ruling that Brown could be impeached, should she testify, with certain prior convictions; and (iii) the trial court abused its discretion by failing to hold an evidentiary hearing regarding alleged juror misconduct in response to Brown's motion for a new trial. Court conclude that Brown's contentions are without merit and affirm.
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