Hampton v. United States
United States Supreme Court
425 U.S. 484, 96 S.Ct. 1646, 48 L.Ed.2d 113 (1976)
- Written by Ariella Zarfati, JD
Facts
Hampton (defendant) told an acquaintance that he knew where to procure heroin and was interested in finding a buyer in order to make some money. Unbeknownst to Hampton, the acquaintance was an informant for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The informant told Hampton that he could find a buyer for Hampton’s heroin. The informant arranged a meeting between Hampton and an undercover DEA agent. Hampton sold heroin to the agent on two different occasions. After the second sale, Hampton was arrested. At trial, Hampton asserted that he had not knowingly sold heroin. Hampton claimed that the DEA informant had provided all the drugs he sold to the undercover agents. Hampton requested a non-standard jury instruction as to the affirmative defense of entrapment. The trial court refused to accept the non-standard instruction. Hampton was convicted after a jury trial. Hampton appealed and the court of appeals affirmed the judgment of conviction. Hampton petitioned the United States Supreme Court for review.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Rehnquist, J.)
Concurrence (Powell, J.)
Dissent (Brennan, J.)
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