State of Tennessee v. William Darnell Richardson

The defendant, William Darnell Richardson, appeals his Lawrence County Circuit Court jury convictions of possession of 0.5 grams or more of a Schedule II controlled substance with intent to sell, simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a revoked or suspended license, arguing that he is entitled to plain error relief for inappropriate and prejudicial statements made by the prosecutor during closing arguments, that the trial court erred by admitting evidence contravening the rules of hearsay, and that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction of possession of 0.5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to sell.  Because the trial court erred by admitting certain hearsay evidence, we reverse the defendant’s conviction for simple possession of Alprazolam and remand for a new trial on that charge.  Because the evidence was insufficient to sustain the defendant’s conviction of driving on a revoked or suspended license, we vacate that conviction and dismiss that charge.  We affirm the defendant’s conviction of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell and find no plain error in the prosecutor’s closing argument.