State v. Zimmer , 311 Neb. 294 ( 2022 )

Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library
www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
04/22/2022 09:07 AM CDT
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 294State of Nebraska, appellee, v.
Matthew Zimmer, appellant.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed April 1, 2022. No. S-21-352.
1. Search and Seizure: Appeal and Error. The denial of a motion for
return of seized property is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.
2. Statutes: Appeal and Error. Statutory interpretation is a question of
law, which an appellate court resolves independently of the trial court.
3. Criminal Law: Search and Seizure: Property. Property seized in
enforcing a criminal law is said to be “in custodia legis,” or in the cus-
tody of the court.
4. Police Officers and Sheriffs: Search and Seizure: Property. Property
seized and held as evidence is to be safely kept by the officer seizing
it unless otherwise directed by the court, and the officer is to exercise
reasonable care and diligence for the safekeeping of the property.
5. Trial: Search and Seizure: Evidence. Seized property shall be kept so
long as necessary for the purpose of being produced as evidence at trial.
6. Search and Seizure: Property. The proper procedure to obtain the
return of seized property is to apply to the court for its return.
7. ____: ____. A motion for the return of seized property is properly
denied only if the claimant is not entitled to lawful possession of the
property, the property is contraband or subject to forfeiture, or the gov-
ernment has some other continuing interest in the property.
8. ____: ____. Upon the termination of criminal proceedings, seized prop-
erty, other than contraband, should be returned to the rightful owner
unless the government has a continuing interest in the property.
9. Search and Seizure: Property: Proof. Seizure of property from some-
one is prima facie evidence of that person’s right to possession of the
property, and unless another party presents evidence of superior title, the
person from whom the property was taken need not present additional
evidence of ownership.
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 29410. ____: ____: ____. The burden is on the government to show that it has
a legitimate reason to retain seized property.
11. Search and Seizure: Property: Presumptions: Title. The presumptive
right to possession of seized property may be overcome when superior
title in another is shown by a preponderance of the evidence.
12. Criminal Law: Property. Contraband per se comprises objects the pos-
session of which, without more, constitutes a crime.
13. Property. Derivative contraband comprises objects which are not inher-
ently illegal, but are used in an unlawful manner.
Appeal from the District Court for Lancaster County,
Andrew R. Jacobsen, Judge, on appeal thereto from the
County Court for Lancaster County, Joseph E. Dalton,
Judge. Judgment of District Court reversed and remanded with
directions.
Joe Nigro, Lancaster County Public Defender, and Mark
Carraher for appellant.
No appearance for appellee.
Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
Funke, J.
INTRODUCTION
Law enforcement seized Matthew Zimmer’s shotgun, inci-
dent to an arrest. Following his successful completion of pro-
bation, Zimmer moved the county court for Lancaster County,
Nebraska, to return his seized firearm. The court denied the
motion and ordered that the firearm be destroyed. Zimmer
appealed to the district court, which affirmed. Zimmer fur-
ther appeals and asserts that under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-820(Reissue 2016), the trial court was required to return the seized
firearm, because the firearm was not used in the commission of
a crime. We agree that the lower courts erred, and as a result,
we reverse the judgment of the district court and remand the
matter to the district court with directions to reverse the judg-
ment of the county court.
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 294BACKGROUND
In 2018, officers of the Lincoln Police Department were
called to Zimmer’s residence in Lincoln, Nebraska, regarding a
disturbance between Zimmer and his ex-girlfriend. The officers
resolved the situation and left the residence without making
any arrests.
Minutes later, the officers were dispatched back to the
area to investigate reports of gunshots. Although none of the
reporting parties provided an address as to where the gunshots
originated, they indicated that the shots came from the vicin-
ity of Zimmer’s residence. Officers knew, from the earlier
disturbance, that Zimmer kept a shotgun in the residence and
that Zimmer appeared to be intoxicated. Officers attempted to
interview Zimmer, but he was uncooperative and hostile. After
a standoff of significant length, Zimmer was taken into cus-
tody. While Zimmer was being placed under emergency protec-
tive custody at a mental health crisis center, his ex-girlfriend
consented to a search of the residence where officers found
a shotgun and ammunition. The officers also found one spent
shell casing just inside the back door of the residence. Zimmer
denied that he had fired a weapon. Upon his release from the
crisis center, Zimmer was taken into custody for discharging
a firearm in the city limits in violation of Lincoln Municipal
Code § 9.36.010 (1990).
Zimmer was ultimately charged with, and pled guilty to, the
offense of refusing to comply with an order of a police officer
in violation of Lincoln Municipal Code § 9.08.050 (1990). At
sentencing, Zimmer’s counsel requested that the seized firearm
be returned to either Zimmer or Zimmer’s mother because the
firearm was one of the only things Zimmer had inherited from
his deceased father. After confirming that the firearm was not
on Zimmer’s person at the time of his arrest, the sentencing
court advised that it was “going to hold that weapon until
[Zimmer] successfully complete[d] [his] probation, at which
time, then, [it would] reconsider — or [it would] consider
releasing it to [Zimmer’s] mother or some other civil person.
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 294But [it was] not willing to release it at [that] time.” The court’s
accompanying order stated, “Hold weapon until [Zimmer] suc-
cessfully completes probation[;] not to be destroyed until any
other order from court.” Zimmer was sentenced to 6 months
of probation.
Following his successful completion of probation, Zimmer
filed a motion for return of his property and the court set the
motion for hearing. Zimmer appeared pro se at the hearing.
The State opposed the motion, arguing that police officers
were dispatched to Zimmer’s residence because of several
reports of gunshots coming from the area of Zimmer’s resi-
dence. The State also emphasized that during the interaction
with officers, Zimmer made comments about retrieving a gun.
The court overruled the motion and ordered the firearm to
be destroyed.
The court subsequently reconsidered the matter and vacated
its order. The court reset the matter for a hearing, where
counsel appeared on Zimmer’s behalf. Zimmer argued that he
pled guilty to the offense of refusing to comply with an order
of a police officer and that such offense does not encompass
firearms. Zimmer argued that the city attorney chose not
to file a charge for discharging a firearm in the city limits.
Zimmer also argued that he has a constitutional right to own a
firearm and that he holds the freedom to possess or purchase
another gun.
At the hearing, the State offered two exhibits, consisting of
a police report and a probable cause affidavit. Although both
exhibits can be found in our appellate record, the trial court
received only the probable cause affidavit into evidence. The
State then proceeded to argue that the firearm was related to
the offense because the firearm formed the basis for the police
officer’s orders to Zimmer.
The county court again denied Zimmer’s motion and ordered
that the firearm be destroyed. Zimmer appealed to the dis-
trict court, which affirmed the denial of his motion to return
property. Zimmer then appealed to the Nebraska Court of
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 294Appeals, and we moved the matter to our docket. 1 We note that
the State has not filed a brief before us.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
Zimmer’s sole assignment of error is that the district court
erred by affirming the county court’s order denying his motion
to return property.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1,2] The denial of a motion for return of seized property is
reviewed for an abuse of discretion. 2 Statutory interpretation is
a question of law, which an appellate court resolves indepen-
dently of the trial court. 3
ANALYSIS
[3-5] Property seized in enforcing a criminal law is said to
be “in custodia legis,” or in the custody of the court. 4 Property
seized and held as evidence is to be safely kept by the officer
seizing it unless otherwise directed by the court, and the officer
is to exercise reasonable care and diligence for the safekeeping
of the property. 5 The property shall be kept so long as neces-
sary for the purpose of being produced as evidence at trial. 6
[6,7] The proper procedure to obtain the return of seized
property is to apply to the court for its return. 7 A motion for the
return of seized property is properly denied only if the claimant
is not entitled to lawful possession of the property, the property
is contraband or subject to forfeiture, or the government has
some other continuing interest in the property. 8
1
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-1106(3) (Cum. Supp. 2020).
2
State v. Ebert, 303 Neb. 394, 929 N.W.2d 478 (2019).
3
In re Interest of Seth C., 307 Neb. 862, 951 N.W.2d 135 (2020).
4
State v. Agee, 274 Neb. 445, 741 N.W.2d 161 (2007).
5
Id. See, also, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-818 (Reissue 2016).
6
Id.7
Agee, supra note 4.
8
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 294Relevant to the case at hand, two Nebraska statutes deal
with the disposition of seized property, namely §§ 29-818 and
29-820. Under § 29-818, the court where the criminal charge
has been filed and where seized property was or may be used
as evidence has exclusive jurisdiction for disposition of the
property and to determine rights therein, including questions
respecting the title, possession, control, and disposition thereof.
Under § 29-820, law enforcement is authorized to dispose
of certain property seized or held and no longer required as
evidence. Specifically, § 29-820(1)(e) states that “[f]irearms
. . . which have been used in the commission of crime shall
be destroyed” and § 29-820(1)(f) allows law enforcement to
return firearms to owners that “(i) have not been used in the
commission of crime, (ii) have not been defaced or altered
in any manner that violates any state or federal law, (iii) may
have a lawful use and be lawfully possessed, and (iv) [were not
seized in a domestic assault].”
In State v. McGuire, 9 this court considered the interplay of
§§ 29-818 and 29-820 and concluded that when reading the
statutes together, § 29-820 applies only where the exclusive
jurisdiction of a court under § 29-818 has not been invoked.
We reiterated that “the court in which a criminal charge has
been filed has exclusive jurisdiction to determine the rights to
seized property, and the property’s disposition.” 10
Zimmer’s motion for return of the firearm did not indicate
which statute he relies upon, and the county court’s order
overruling the motion is equally vague. The county court’s
comments at the hearing suggest that the motion was over-
ruled because the firearm was used in the commission of a
crime pursuant to § 29-820. The district court’s order affirm-
ing the county court’s order referenced § 29-820(1)(e) and (f)
and discussed how property seized during a criminal matter is
9
State v. McGuire, 301 Neb. 895, 921 N.W.2d 77 (2018).
10
Id. at 903, 921 N.W.2d at 84.
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 294handled. The court ultimately found that the county court did
not err in finding that the firearm should be destroyed because
it was used in the commission of a crime. Neither court order
indicated what crime the firearm was used to commit.
It is clear that the firearm was seized incident to Zimmer’s
arrest for discharging a firearm in the city limits. Although
arrested for discharging a firearm, a complaint was later filed
in the county court charging Zimmer with refusal to obey a
lawful order stemming from the same incident. Zimmer pled
guilty to the charged crime and was sentenced to probation. As
such, our holding in McGuire 11 dictates that § 29-818 was the
appropriate statute for the lower courts to rely upon when con-
sidering Zimmer’s motion for return of seized property.
[8-11] The general rule is well established that upon the ter-
mination of criminal proceedings, seized property, other than
contraband, should be returned to the rightful owner unless the
government has a continuing interest in the property. 12 Seizure
of property from someone is prima facie evidence of that per-
son’s right to possession of the property, and unless another
party presents evidence of superior title, the person from whom
the property was taken need not present additional evidence of
ownership. 13 The burden is on the government to show that it
has a legitimate reason to retain the property. 14 The presump-
tive right to possession of seized property may be overcome
when superior title in another is shown by a preponderance of
the evidence. 15
Here, the record is clear that the firearm was seized from
Zimmer, and as such, he is presumed to be the lawful owner. 16
11
McGuire, supra note 9.
12
Agee, supra note 4.
13
Id.14
Id.15
Ebert, supra note 2.
16
See Agee, supra note 4.
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 294It is also clear that the criminal proceedings against Zimmer
are completed, because he has been satisfactorily released from
probation; therefore, the State would not need the property
as evidence in the future. 17 Further, the State has not shown
the need to retain the property for a tax lien, imposed fine, or
restitution order. 18 Therefore, the State has shown no continu-
ing interest in the property. Additionally, nothing in the record
indicates that Zimmer is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
As such, the only remaining basis for denying the motion for
return of property is whether the property is subject to forfeit­
ure or is contraband.
In general, property is subject to forfeiture only if there is a
statute that provides this remedy. 19 Statutes imposing a forfeit­
ure or penalty are subject to strict construction. 20 Although the
Legislature has provided for forfeiture in discrete situations,
see, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-1111 (Reissue 2016) (gambling
devices); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-431 (Reissue 2016) (property
used in violation of controlled substance laws); Neb. Rev.
Stat. § 25-21,302 (Reissue 2016) (property used in violation of
Child Pornography Prevention Act); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 53-1,111
(Reissue 2021) (alcoholic liquor manufactured, possessed, or
kept for sale contrary to terms of Nebraska Liquor Control
Act), there is no general authorization for the forfeiture of
contra­band. As such, Zimmer’s firearm would not be statuto-
rily subject to forfeiture.
In considering whether Zimmer’s firearm is contraband, we
note that neither party cites to, nor does this court find any,
statutory definition of “contraband.” As a result, as we often
do, we turn to the dictionary to ascertain the word’s plain and
17
See State v. Buttercase, 296 Neb. 304, 893 N.W.2d 430 (2017).
18
See Agee, supra note 4.
19
State v. Driscoll, 184 Vt. 381, 964 A.2d 1172 (2008).
20
County of Merrick v. Beck, 205 Neb. 829, 290 N.W.2d 642 (1980).
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 294ordinary meaning. 21 Black’s Law Dictionary defines “contra-
band” as “[g]oods that are unlawful to . . . possess.” 22
[12] Decisional law recognizes two kinds of contraband. 23
Traditional, or per se, contraband is defined as “objects the
possession of which, without more, constitutes a crime.” 24 It is
well established that a claimant has no right “to have [per se
contraband] returned to him.” 25 Since the State has not shown
that it is a crime for Zimmer to possess the seized firearm,
the rule mandating forfeiture of per se contraband is inappli-
cable here.
[13] Courts have also recognized derivative contraband as
the second kind of contraband. 26 “Derivative contraband are
articles which are not inherently illegal, but are used in an
unlawful manner.” 27 The firearm seized from Zimmer would
fall within this second category if in fact it was used in an
“unlawful manner” as an instrumentality of crime.
Here, the evidence offered by the State indicates that offi-
cers went to Zimmer’s residence after receiving reports of
shots fired in that vicinity. The officers knew that Zimmer
owned a shotgun that he kept inside his residence and later
found the shotgun, along with ammunition and a spent shell
casing, near the back door of the residence. However, accord-
ing to the evidence, none of the reporting parties identified that
the shots came from Zimmer’s residence or that Zimmer was
21
See, Ash Grove Cement Co. v. Nebraska Dept. of Rev., 306 Neb. 947,
947 N.W.2d 731 (2020); State v. Gilliam, 292 Neb. 770, 874 N.W.2d 48(2016).
22
Black’s Law Dictionary 402 (11th ed. 2019).
23
United States v. Farrell, 606 F.2d 1341 (D.C. Cir. 1979).
24
Plymouth Sedan v. Pennsylvania, 380 U.S. 693, 699, 85 S. Ct. 1246, 14 L.
Ed. 2d 170 (1965).
25
United States v. Jeffers, 342 U.S. 48, 54, 72 S. Ct. 93, 96 L. Ed. 59 (1951).
26
See Farrell, supra note 23. See, also, People v. Steskal, 55 Ill. 2d 157, 302
N.E.2d 321 (1973).
27
Steskal, supra note 26, 55 Ill. 2d at 159, 302 N.E.2d at 323.
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STATE v. ZIMMER
Cite as 311 Neb. 294the person who fired the shots. Additionally, the probable cause
affidavit indicates that although multiple shots were fired,
only one shell casing was found within Zimmer’s residence.
None of the officers testified that Zimmer’s gun appeared to
have been recently fired. Zimmer specifically denied firing the
weapon. And although arrested for discharging a firearm within
the city limits, the State chose not to prosecute Zimmer with
that offense, and instead, it prosecuted him with the offense of
refusing to comply with an order of a police officer.
In regard to the offense of refusing to comply with an
order of a police officer, the evidence shows that Zimmer was
­uncooperative and hostile toward law enforcement. However,
the evidence does not show that Zimmer possessed the fire-
arm during his interaction with law enforcement. Further,
our record is devoid of the factual basis offered to support
Zimmer’s guilty plea, so we are unable to ascertain what evi-
dence the State relied upon to prosecute the charge.
The State has the burden to establish that the firearm was
used by Zimmer in an unlawful manner as an instrumental-
ity of crime. Based upon the appellate record, we conclude
that the State failed to meet that burden. As such, the district
court erred in affirming the county court’s denial of Zimmer’s
motion for return of seized property.
CONCLUSION
We conclude the State has failed to meet its burden to show
that Zimmer’s seized firearm is contraband or subject to forfeit­
ure, or that the government has some other continuing interest
in the property. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the
district court and remand the matter to the district court with
directions to reverse the judgment of the county court.
Reversed and remanded with directions.