A fishing trawler was disabled sixty miles off the coast of Virginia, and the Coast Guard was called to assist. D and several others were rescued from the sinking craft, but before the ship actually sank, an officer from the Coast Guard discovered a large quantity of marijuana on board. Even though the trawler did sink over 240 bales of marijuana were salvaged. The material was seized, tested and put in storage. D was convicted and appealed; the government failed to establish a chain of custody.

This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.

Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.