Brown v. State

Following a bench trial, the trial court found Reuben Brown guilty of trafficking in cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. On appeal, Brown contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress. Brown also challenges the sufficiency of the evidence. For reasons that follow, we affirm.

The record demonstrates that, on April 7, 1998, a confidential informant told DeKalb County Police Detective M. T. Lewis that drugs were being sold from an apartment in Sutton Village on Jolly Avenue. Based on this information, Lewis set up a controlled buy. After Lewis searched the informant to ensure that he had no contraband or money on him, Lewis gave him money and watched him walk into the apartment. Approximately ten minutes later, the informant returned to Lewis carrying a bag containing cocaine. Lewis then completed an affidavit and application for a search warrant. On April 7, the magistrate issued the warrant, which Lewis and members of the DeKalb County Strike Force executed. Upon entering the apartment, the police found Brown and a 14-year old female in a room with two couches, a television, and a stack of clothing.