STATE v. MERRITT (2019)

Defendant appeals her judgment of conviction for two counts each of delivery of methamphetamine (Counts 1 and 3) and possession of methamphetamine (Counts 2 and 4). We reverse and remand for a new trial on count Counts 1, 2, and 4, and for entry of a judgment of acquittal on Count 3.

In her first assignment of error, defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion in denying her request for a jury waiver. The state concedes the point under State v. Ames, 298 Or. App. 227, 445 P.3d 928 (2019). In Ames, we concluded that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the defendant’s day-of-trial request to waive a jury because “the trial court over-looked the time and resources that could be saved by going forward with a bench trial,” and the “the inconvenience to the court and the jurors was relatively minor, when weighed against defendant’s exercise of his constitutional right to waive trial by jury.” Id. at 238-39, 445 P.3d 928. Accordingly, we reversed and remanded for a new trial. Here, as the state acknowledges, the relevant facts are not materially distinguishable from those in Ames. We must therefore reverse and remand on all counts, save one.

In her fourth assignment of error, defendant contends that the trial court erred by denying her motion for judgment of acquittal on Count 3. Defendant argues that there was no evidence that she possessed a saleable quantity of methamphetamine, making it speculative for a jury to determine that defendant possessed methamphetamine with the intent to transfer it. See State v. Newsted, 297 Or. App. 848, 853-54, 444 P.3d 527 (2019) (intent to transfer can be inferred from a showing that the defendant possessed an amount of a controlled substance inconsistent with personal use, along with materials commonly associated with delivery of controlled substances, such as scales and packaging materials). The state concedes that the evidence presented with respect to Count 3 was insufficient to establish a nonspeculative inference that she intended to transfer the methamphetamine found in her possession. We agree and accept the state’s concession that defendant is entitled to entry of a judgment of acquittal on Count 3.

This resolution obviates the need to address defendant’s remaining assignments of error, which present issues that may not recur on remand.

Counts 1, 2, and 4 reversed and remanded; Count 3 reversed.

PER CURIAM