Cottman v. State
Maryland Court of Special Appeals
886 A.2d 932 (2005)
- Written by Rich Walter, JD
Facts
The State of Maryland (plaintiff) prosecuted Nathaniel Cottman, Jr. (defendant) for illegal possession of cocaine. The trial evidence established that Cottman and his partner were standing next to each other when the partner, who had been concealing cocaine in her mouth, sold the cocaine to a buyer. Just prior to the sale, the partner and Cottman each asked the buyer for assurances that he was not a police officer. The buyer gave those assurances, but he was in fact an undercover policeman. Throughout the sale, Cottman looked up and down the street, which was the normal practice of a drug dealer's accomplice on the lookout for nearby police. Police arrested and searched Cottman but found no drugs or money on his person. The jury convicted Cottman and he appealed to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Kenney, J.)
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