People v.

Stephen Steele
1961| CJ. Schaeffer| Conduct and Character as Evidence|MND

DOCTRINE:

FACTS:
 Jackson – Informer; Agent Dino – Federal narcotics agentl Stribling – State narcotics
agent.
 Jackson testified that Stephen Steele, the defendant, had told him that he could buy
narcotics from him and had given him his phone number. Jackson called him one day and
said that he wanted to buy an ounce of heroin. Steele said it would cost him $400. The
conversation was listened to through an extension by Agent Dino.
 Stribling accompanied Jackson, while Dino watched from a parked automobile. Jackson
said that he left the scene, so it was Stribling who dealt with Steele. There was an
exchange of marked bills and a small packaged wrapped in paper. Stribling discovered,
when he returned to Jackson’s apartment, that the package was not narcotics but quinine
hydrochloride.
 Dino testified that he observed the meet up and had arrested Steele after the transaction.
 Steele denied having offered to sell narcotics.
 Steele was prosecuted under the ff statutory provision: "Whoever agrees, consents or in
any manner offers to unlawfully sell * * * any narcotic drugs to any person, * * * and then
sells * * * to any person any non-narcotic * * * substance or material shall be imprisoned *
* *."
o Steele contends that if he indeed offered, it was to Jackson and not to Stribling
o

ISSUES:

RULING:


DISPOSITION:
NOTES: