Gerald Strachan v. State Alaska

BOOCHEVER, Justice. OPINION. Anchorage police officers arrested Gerald Strachan and his wife on charges of selling and possessing cocaine. The arrests stemmed from a series of purchases for a total sum of approximately $1,400 made by an undercover police agent during a three-week period in the summer of 1978. Strachan was indicted for possession of cocaine and for the sale of one-fourth ounce of cocaine on July 13. Strachans wife was charged with four sales in similar "retail" quantities and she plead no contest to two charges. Both Strachans had evidently been involved in a continuing small-scale cocaine sales operation out of their house in Anchorage over a substantial period of time. Strachan was convicted on two counts in the indictment and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for sale of cocaine and three years imprisonment for possession. The sentences were to run concurrently, and Strachan has appealed the seven-years term.