State of Louisiana v. Brian Michael Hughes

Summary

The court held that the evidence was sufficient to support Brian Michael Hughes's conviction for possession of methamphetamine despite a discrepancy between the substance's recorded weights before and after laboratory testing. The state established a sufficient chain of custody, and a rational jury could credit the laboratory chemist's explanation for the discrepancy and conclude that the tested substance was the substance seized from Hughes. The court reversed the court of appeal, reinstated the conviction and sentence, and affirmed them.