STATE v. 2012 213690 (2014)

Ricky Cheeks seeks review of the Court of Appeals' opinion in State v. Cheeks, 400 S.C. 329, 733 S.E.2d 611 (Ct.App.2012), affirming his convictions and sentences and finding the trial judge did not err in charging the jury that “actual knowledge of the presence of crack cocaine is strong evidence of a defendant's intent to control its disposition or use.” Based on earlier precedent of this Court, the Court of Appeals determined the jury charge did not negate the mere presence charge that Cheeks was entitled to. See State v. Kimbrell, 294 S.C. 51, 362 S.E.2d 630 (1987); Solomon v. State, 313 S.C. 526, 443 S.E.2d 540 (1994).

Following the issuance of the Court of Appeals' opinion, this Court, in State v. Cheeks, 401 S.C. 322, 737 S.E.2d 480 (2013), affirmed co-defendant Derrick Cheeks' convictions and sentences; however, this Court held the “strong evidence” charge unduly emphasized the evidence, and deprived the jury of its prerogative to draw inferences and to weigh evidence. This Court stated the charge converted all persons merely present who have actual knowledge of the drugs on the premises into possessors of that drug and largely negated the mere presence charge, and erroneously conveyed that a mere permissible evidentiary inference was, instead, a proposition of law.

Based on State v. Derrick Cheeks, we find the same charge was improper in the case at hand. However, we also find petitioner was not prejudiced by the charge. There was no evidence that petitioner was “merely present;” rather, petitioner provided financial assistance to the drug operation, aided and abetted the operation, and was in actual possession of the drugs. Accordingly, the Court of Appeals' opinion is

AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.

PER CURIAM.

TOAL, C.J., PLEICONES, BEATTY, KITTREDGE and HEARN, JJ., concur.