Minnesota Supreme Court Rules in Drug ‘Sale’ Case

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that giving cocaine to someone to hide is not the same as selling the drug.

The court reversed both the district court and appeals court which prohibited Abshir Abtidon Barrow from withdrawing his guilty plea. Barrow had been under investigation for dealing crack cocaine from his Faribault home.

Court documents say when Barrow left his home with his wife behind the wheel, officers pulled him over, frisked him and found crack cocaine in his pocket. Officers questioned Barrow's wife who said she was hiding more cocaine in her bra at her husband's request.

Barrow later pleaded guilty to selling cocaine, but sought to withdraw the plea in May 2013. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the district court.