DE · jury_instructions
Del. P.J.I. Crim. No. 16.4752(3)
Drug Dealing - Aggravated Possession Tier 5 Quantity
DRUG DEALING: POSSESSION OF
[DESIGNER DRUG]
In order to find Defendant guilty of this charge, you must find that the State
has proved the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
1. The substance possessed was [drug], or any mixture containing
[drug] [, or has a chemical structure substantially similar to [drug] or
that was specifically designed to product an effect substantially
similar to [drug]];
2. Defendant possessed the substance;
3. Defendant acted knowingly; and
4. Defendant possessed [amount] or more of the substance.
“Possession” includes actual possession and constructive possession.
Actual possession means Defendant knowingly had direct physical control over
the substance. Constructive possession means the substance was within
Defendant’s reasonable control, that is, in or about Defendant’s person, premises,
belongings, or vehicle. In other words, Defendant had constructive possession
over the substance if Defendant had both the power and the intention, at a given
time, to exercise control over the substance, either directly or through another
person. Possession may be sole or joint. If one person has actual or constructive
possession of a thing, possession is sole. If two or more persons share actual or
constructive possession over a thing, possession is joint. Possession is proven if
you find beyond a reasonable doubt Defendant had actual or constructive
possession, either alone or jointly with others.
“Knowingly” means Defendant knew or was aware Defendant possessed
the substance. The State need not prove that Defendant had any knowledge of the
weight or quantity of the substance. However, the State must prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that the substance weighed a certain amount or was in a certain
quantity. Knowledge may be inferred from the surrounding circumstances,
considering whether a reasonable person in Defendant’s circumstances would
have had such knowledge.
Provenance
- Source
- courts.delaware.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-23
- Edition
- crim-2022-03-14
- Content hash
b5d8d80ee75babd8e074a6c76adeac3243b5bcb0e49fbf439b86c7ea40050218
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