Analysis Of Rowell V. State 666 So. 2d 830

Analysis of Rowell v. STATE 666 So.2d 830, 831 (1995)
Level of Court: Supreme Court of Alabama/Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals
Facts: Manuel Dee Rowell was arrested for illegal possession of cocaine following a police search of an automobile co-owned by him and a friend who has recently passed away. At the time of his death he has pending cocaine charges against him. The search that was conducted after his death was under a proper search warrant. During the search a matchbox containing crack cocaine under the carpet of the floor on the driver’s side, along with $800 in cash hidden in a boot in the trunk of the car. At the time of arrest Rowell was wearing a telephone pager. After the discovery of these it was submitted under evidence. The State of Alabama was not clear on what type of evidence was needed in order to show that Rowell had knowledge of the drugs, though they ruled it is widely known that telephone pagers, and large sums of money are often associated with drugs, and the distribution of such.

Did Rowell have knowledge of the cocaine and money before the search? 2. Was Rowell guilty of both possession and distribution of cocaine? 3. Where the pager and the money enough to hold precedence to say that Rowell is guilty of both? 4. Was the evidence of regarding the $800 and the telephone pager submitted properly?
Holding: The Alabama Supreme Court decided that the evidence regarding the $800, and the telephone pager were properly submitted to prove the defendant’s constructive possession of cocaine. Therefore to say that Rowell was guilty on all counts that were formerly accused. In accordance it was recognized that Alabama recognizes that large sums of cash are relevant and material to a charge of constructive possession of a controlled substance. Which in this case gave supporting cause for the admission of the $800 and the telephone pager that was found on Rowell at the time. In the proceedings Rowell was found