State v. Aguilar-Ocampo, 219 N.C. App. 417 (Mar. 20, 2012)

The trial court did not err by declining to give the defendant’s proposed jury instruction on the element that the defendant acted “knowingly.” The instructions given by the trial court adequately contained the substance of the defendant’s proposed instruction. Specifically, it instructed the jury that in order to possess or sell cocaine, the defendant must have been aware of its presence and have had the power and intent to control its distribution or use. These instructions effectively inform the jury that the defendant must have had knowledge of the substance and the crime being committed, and he must have intentionally and voluntarily participated in the crime.