State v. Bridges, ___ N.C. App. ___, 810 S.E.2d 365 (Feb. 6, 2018)

The evidence was sufficient to sustain the defendant’s conviction for possession of methamphetamine. After the police discovered a white crystalline substance in a vehicle, they arrested the defendant who had been sitting in the driver’s seat of the car. While being transported to a detention center the defendant admitted to a detective that she had “a baggie of meth hidden in her bra.” Upon arrival at the detention center, an officer found a bag of “crystal-like” substance in the defendant’s bra. At trial an officer testified without objection to the defendant’s statement regarding the methamphetamine in her bra. Additionally, the actual substance retrieved from her bra was admitted as exhibit. However, the State did not present any other evidence regarding the chemical composition of substance. On appeal, the defendant argued that the State failed to present evidence of the chemical nature of the substance in question. Under Ward, some form of scientifically valid chemical analysis is required unless the State establishes that another method of identification is sufficient to establish the identity of a controlled substance beyond a reasonable doubt. Citing the state Supreme Court’s opinions in Nabors and Ortiz-Zape, the court held that the defendant’s admission constitutes sufficient evidence that the substance was a controlled substance.

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