State v. Matarazzo Case Brief Summary | Law Case Explained

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State v. Matarazzo | 262 S.C. 662 (1974)
It would be hard for a person to know about every single item that may be in his or her home, particularly if he or she lives with roommates. In State versus Matarazzo, we’ll see whether a person could be convicted for possessing marijuana that he didn’t own simply because the marijuana was located in his home.
Joe Frank Matarazzo lived in a rented trailer in Hampton, South Carolina. Russell Curl and Willie Mays lived with Matarazzo, but they didn’t pay rent and were only considered Matarazzo’s guests. In April of 1973, five police officers went to Matarazzo’s trailer based on information that the police received from an informant. Matarazzo was at work when the police came to his trailer, but Curl, Mays, and nine other people were inside of Matarazzo’s trailer. The police officers smelled burning marijuana and found a warm marijuana pipe on the floor in the trailer. The police determined that the gathering at Matarazzo’s trailer was a quote, “pot party,” unquote. When the police searched Matarazzo’s trailer, they also found multiple bags of marijuana. Matarazzo knew about the bags of marijuana in the trailer, but Curl and Mays claimed that Matarazzo didn’t own the marijuana. Previously, Matarazzo admitted that he knew that there had been parties at his trailer, but he claimed that he didn’t have any knowledge that the parties were pot parties.
The State of South Carolina charged Matarazzo with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. At trial, Matarazzo filed a motion for a directed verdict, claiming that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to support a conviction. The trial court judge denied Matarazzo’s motion. Matarazzo was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison. Matarazzo appealed to the South Carolina Supreme Court.
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