This judge-alone trial addressed whether the defendant possessed fentanyl for trafficking purposes.
The defendant admitted to trafficking cocaine and possessing proceeds of crime but denied knowing the 100 pills contained fentanyl, asserting he believed them to be Percocet for personal use due to an addiction.
The court found reasonable doubt regarding the defendant's knowledge of the pills' fentanyl content and his intent to traffic them, based on expert testimony and the defendant's narrative of personal use.
Consequently, the defendant was acquitted of fentanyl trafficking but convicted of simple possession of fentanyl, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of proceeds of crime.
