Com. v. Nixson, K. ( 2014 )


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  • J-S34011-14
    NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    PENNSYLVANIA
    Appellee
    v.
    KYNYON DORRELL NIXSON
    Appellant               No. 1224 WDA 2013
    Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence June 24, 2013
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County
    Criminal Division at No(s): CP-25-CR-0003481-2012
    BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and OTT, J.
    MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                            FILED OCTOBER 14, 2014
    Kynyon Dorrell Nixson appeals from the judgment of sentence entered
    June 24, 2013, in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas.          Nixson was
    sentenced to an aggregate term of six to 23 months’ imprisonment following
    his conviction, by a jury, of possession of a controlled substance and
    possession of drug paraphernalia.1 On appeal, Nixson argues the trial court
    erred in denying his motion to suppress drugs found in his residence by his
    parole officer. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
    The facts relevant to Nixson’s suppression claim are set forth by the
    trial court as follows:
    ____________________________________________
    1
    35 P.S. §§ 780-113(a)(16) and (a)(32), respectively.
    J-S34011-14
    At the time the charges were incurred, [Nixson] was on
    supervision from Venango County for DUI. His parole agent with
    the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole was Agent
    Michael Davis. Davis had over sixteen years of experience as a
    parole agent. Davis began supervising [Nixson] in January of
    2011.    On January 27, 2011, [Nixson] executed Conditions
    Governing Special Probation/Parole whereby [he] expressly
    consented to the search of his residence as follows:
    c.   I expressly consent to the search of my person,
    property and residence without a warrant by agents of the
    Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. Any items,
    the possession of which constitutes a violation of
    probation/parole, shall be subject to seizure, and may be
    used      as    evidence      in   the     probation/parole
    violation/revocation process.
    Commonwealth Ex. No. 1
    On August 25, 2012, Davis went to [Nixson’s] residence at
    approximately 5:30 p.m. to perform a routine check. Davis had
    previously been to [Nixson’s] residence on 10 to 15 occasions
    when [Nixson] was present, and had a total of approximately 40
    personal interactions with [Nixson] by that time. Davis testified
    [Nixson] had always been compliant and forthcoming with Davis,
    even when it came to admitting to parole violations. Davis
    testified he had dealt with [Nixson] long enough to know what
    his mannerisms and behavior were.
    On August 25th, Davis knocked several times on [Nixson’s]
    partially open door. [Nixson] failed to respond to the knocks.
    Davis opened the door slightly and called in to [Nixson]. Davis
    observed [Nixson] come around the corner from the living room
    into the kitchen.     Davis entered the residence and asked
    [Nixson] why he hadn’t answered the door. Davis testified
    [Nixson] said he was in the back room. Davis knew this was
    inaccurate as he observed [Nixson] enter the kitchen from the
    living room rather than from the back room down the hallway.
    Davis’[s] report from the incident indicated [Nixson] related he
    was in the bathroom.
    [Nixson] was acting extremely nervous and sweating
    profusely.   Davis asked [Nixson] what was going on and
    [Nixson] just kept saying, “Nothing, nothing, nothing is going
    on, nothing is happening, nothing is going on.” Davis testified
    these were abnormal characteristics for [Nixson] based on
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    Davis’[s] prior interactions with him, which included previously
    catching [him] in the midst of parole violations.
    Davis believed something inappropriate was going on
    based on [Nixson’s] demeanor which included avoidant
    responses to Davis’[s] questioning, [Nixson’s] uncharacteristic
    lack of eye contact with Davis, extreme nervousness and profuse
    sweating. Based on Davis’[s] experience, those responses were
    indicative of activity that would give rise to new criminal charges
    or parole violations.
    While Davis was questioning [Nixson], a man knocked at
    [Nixson’s] door. Davis answered the door. The caller asked for
    a person by a nickname Davis didn’t recognize. Davis said the
    person was unavailable and shut the door. Davis became further
    concerned for his safety as he was alone. Davis testified he
    wanted to secure the residence before something bad happened.
    Davis testified he asked [Nixson] if he could conduct a search.
    [Nixson] consented to the search. Davis did not seek permission
    from a supervisor to conduct a search.
    Davis searched the area of the sofa in the area where
    [Nixson] was sitting. Davis found a cell phone behind the couch.
    Davis searched the kitchen where he found a bag of beer cans.
    This concerned Davis because he caught [Nixson] drinking a few
    weeks earlier. Davis continued a search of [Nixson’s] sofa where
    he found a white sock containing drug paraphernalia and
    cocaine, shoved down behind a sofa cushion. Davis placed
    [Nixson] in handcuffs. Davis called another agent and asked him
    to come to the residence and call the City of Erie Police.
    Trial Court Opinion, 10/15/2013, at 2-4.
    Nixson was subsequently charged with possession with intent to
    deliver (PWID) cocaine,2 possession of cocaine and possession of drug
    paraphernalia.     He filed a pretrial motion to suppress, arguing that Agent
    Davis had no reasonable suspicion to conduct a search of his residence. See
    ____________________________________________
    2
    35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30).
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    Omnibus Pretrial Motion for Relief, 2/26/2013.                  Following a hearing
    conducted on March 25, 2013, the trial court denied Nixson’s motion to
    suppress. The case proceeded to a jury trial on May 16, 2013, and the jury
    returned a verdict of guilty on the charges of possession of cocaine and
    possession of drug paraphernalia, and not guilty on the charge of PWID.
    Nixson was sentenced on June 24, 2013, to a term of six to 23½ months’
    incarceration    for   possession     of   cocaine,   and   a   concurrent   one-year
    probationary term for possession of drug paraphernalia.             He filed a post-
    sentence motion, which the trial court denied on July 1, 2013. This timely
    appeal followed.3
    Nixson raises two related claims on appeal. First, he contends Agent
    Davis conducted a search of his residence in violation of his statutory
    authority under 61 Pa.C.S. § 6153, that is, without prior approval of the
    agent’s supervisor, and absent reasonable suspicion that Nixson was either
    in possession of contraband or evidence of violations of the terms of his
    parole. Second, Nixson argues that, even if we conclude Agent Davis had
    reasonable suspicion to conduct a “personal search,”4 the drugs were not
    ____________________________________________
    3
    On July 29, 2013, the trial court ordered Nixson to file a concise statement
    of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). After
    receiving two extensions of time to comply with the court’s directive, Nixson
    filed a concise statement on September 25, 2013.
    4
    A “personal search” is defined as “[a] warrantless search of an offender's
    person, including, but not limited to, the offender's clothing and any
    (Footnote Continued Next Page)
    -4-
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    found on Nixson’s person or within his reach. Accordingly, Nixon asserts the
    trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress.
    Our review of a trial court’s denial of a pretrial motion to suppress
    evidence is well-settled:
    In an appeal from the denial of a motion to suppress our role is
    to determine whether the record supports the suppression
    court’s factual findings and the legitimacy of the inferences and
    legal conclusions drawn from those findings. In making this
    determination, we may consider only the evidence of the
    prosecution’s witnesses and so much of the defense as, fairly
    read in the context of the record as a whole, remains
    uncontradicted. When the factual findings of the suppression
    court are supported by the evidence, we may reverse only if
    there is an error in the legal conclusions drawn from those
    factual findings.
    Commonwealth v. Colon, 
    31 A.3d 309
    , 312 (Pa. Super. 2011) (quotation
    omitted), appeal denied, 
    42 A.3d 1058
    (Pa. 2012).
    At the time of the search, Agent Davis was Nixson’s parole officer, and
    was conducting a routine check of Nixson’s residence.        Therefore, Agent
    Davis derived his authority from 61 Pa.C.S. § 6153, which provides, in
    relevant part:
    (b) Searches and seizures authorized.--
    (1) Agents may search the person and property of
    offenders in accordance with the provisions of this section.
    _______________________
    (Footnote Continued)
    personal property which is in the possession, within the reach or under the
    control of the offender.” 61 Pa.C.S. § 6151.
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    (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit
    searches or seizures in violation of the Constitution of the
    United States or section 8 of Article I of the Constitution of
    Pennsylvania.
    (c) Effect of violation.--No violation of this section shall
    constitute an independent ground for suppression of evidence in
    any probation or parole proceeding or criminal proceeding.
    (d) Grounds for personal search of offender.--
    (1) A personal search of an offender may be conducted by
    an agent:
    (i) if there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that
    the offender possesses contraband or other
    evidence of violations of the conditions of
    supervision; …
    (2) A property search may be conducted by an agent if
    there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the real or
    other property in the possession of or under the control of
    the offender contains contraband or other evidence of
    violations of the conditions of supervision.
    (3) Prior approval of a supervisor shall be obtained for a
    property search absent exigent circumstances. No prior
    approval shall be required for a personal search.
    ****
    (6) The existence of reasonable suspicion to search shall
    be determined in accordance with constitutional search
    and seizure provisions as applied by judicial decision. In
    accordance with such case law, the following factors,
    where applicable, may be taken into account:
    (i) The observations of agents.
    (ii) Information provided by others.
    (iii) The activities of the offender.
    (iv) Information provided by the offender.
    (v) The experience of agents with the offender.
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    (vi) The experience             of   agents   in   similar
    circumstances.
    (vii) The prior criminal and supervisory history of
    the offender.
    (viii) The need to verify compliance with the
    conditions of supervision.
    61 Pa.C.S. § 6153(b)(1)-(2), (d)(1)-(6).5
    Therefore, the statute provides that a parole agent may not conduct a
    search that would violate a parolee’s constitutional rights.                 
    Id. at 6153(b)(2).
         Rather, an agent must have reasonable suspicion that a
    parolee possesses contraband or other evidence of a violation of the terms
    of his parole before subjecting him to a warrantless search.                 
    Id. at 6153(d)(1)(i).
    Further, while the statute proscribes a “property search”6 in
    the absence of either exigent circumstances or prior approval from a
    supervisor, it also states that “[n]o violation of this section shall
    constitute an independent ground for suppression of evidence in any
    probation or parole proceeding or criminal proceeding.”              
    Id. at 6153(c),
    ____________________________________________
    5
    In his brief, Nixson argues that Agent Davis operated outside his authority
    as set forth in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9912. However, that statute details the
    supervisory authority of county probation officers. Here, Agent Davis
    testified that he was an agent for the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and
    Parole, and that Nixson was on parole for DUI at the time of the search.
    See N.T., 3/25/2013, at 6, 15.           Therefore, Agent Davis derived his
    supervisory authority from Section 6153. Nevertheless, the statutes contain
    substantially identical provisions with regard to the issues raised herein.
    6
    A “property search” is defined as “[a] warrantless search of real property,
    vehicle or personal property which is in the possession or under the control
    of the offender.” 61 Pa.C.S. § 6151.
    -7-
    J-S34011-14
    (d)(3) (emphasis supplied).      Accordingly, under the clear terms of the
    statute, evidence recovered during a warrantless search of a parolee’s
    person or property is subject to suppression only if the search was
    conducted in violation of the parolee’s constitutional rights.
    Here, the trial court found that the drugs were recovered during a
    “personal search” of Nixson, rather than a “property search.”        See Trial
    Court Opinion, 10/15/2013, at 6 (finding that the drugs were found behind a
    sofa cushion in an area that “was within reach of [Nixson] and under his
    control.”). Furthermore, the court concluded the search was supported by
    Agent Davis’s reasonable suspicion that Nixson violated the conditions of his
    parole, and that Nixson had “verbally consented to the search, and
    previously consented to the search in writing pursuant to the contract of
    special conditions governing his parole.” 
    Id. On appeal,
    Nixson argues Agent Davis exceeded his authority when he
    conducted a “property search” of the residence. First, he claims that, since
    there were no exigent circumstances supporting the search, Agent Davis was
    required to obtain prior approval for the search pursuant to subsection
    (d)(3). Moreover, he asserts his signing of the “consent to search” form as
    a provision of his parole did not “trump statutory law.” 
    Id. at 13.
    Nixson
    also states Agent Davis had no reasonable suspicion to believe that Nixson
    “was engaging in criminal activity or conduct violating the terms of his
    release” in order to justify a search of his person.      Nixson’s Brief at 14.
    Alternatively, he contends that even if we find Agent Davis acted with the
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    requisite reasonable suspicion, the drugs were found during an unauthorized
    “property search,” rather than a “personal search.”
    We agree with Nixson that the drugs were uncovered during a
    “property search” of his residence, rather than a “personal search.”7
    Moreover, we agree that under the terms of subsection (d)(3), in the
    absence of exigent circumstances,8 Agent Davis was obligated to obtain prior
    approval from his supervisor to conduct a “property search,” and that Agent
    Davis failed to do so. We also agree that the fact Nixson signed a “consent
    ____________________________________________
    7
    It is evident from a review of Agent Davis’s testimony at the suppression
    hearing that the drugs were found while the agent was conducting a
    property search of Nixson’s residence. Before beginning the search, Agent
    Davis asked Nixson to remove the cushions from the left section of the “two
    section” corner couch he was sitting on in the living room. N.T., 3/25/2013,
    at 22. After finding no contraband, Agent Davis proceeded to search the
    kitchen and other areas in the living room before returning to search the
    right section of the couch, where he eventually found the drugs. 
    Id. at 23-
    24. There was no testimony that the drugs secreted in the right section of
    the couch were within Nixson’s reach or under his control while he was
    seated on the left section of the couch, which Agent Davis described as a
    “big corner couch” of “fairly good size.” 
    Id. at 25.
    Accordingly, we disagree
    with the trial court’s conclusion that the drugs were found during a “personal
    search” of Nixson.
    8
    We note that neither the trial court, nor the Commonwealth, contend that
    exigent circumstances were present in this case to justify the search, and
    our review of the record reveals none. See Commonwealth v. Howard,
    
    64 A.3d 1082
    , 1089 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal denied, 
    74 A.3d 118
    (Pa.
    2013) (factors to be considered in determining whether exigent
    circumstances exist for warrantless search of private residence include:
    gravity of offense; reasonable belief offender is armed; clear showing of
    probable cause; likelihood suspect will escape if not swiftly apprehended;
    and time of entry).
    -9-
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    to search” form as a condition of his parole was not determinative of
    whether Agent Davis had the requisite reasonable suspicion to search his
    residence.9    See Commonwealth v. Hunter, 
    963 A.2d 545
    (Pa. Super.
    2008) (“The search of a parolee is only reasonable, even where the
    parolee has signed a waiver similar to the one in this case, where the
    totality of the circumstances demonstrate that “(1) the parole officer had
    reasonable suspicion to believe that the parolee committed a parole
    violation; and (2) the search was reasonably related to the duty of the
    parole officer.”) (emphasis supplied), appeal denied, 
    980 A.2d 605
    (Pa.
    2009).
    Nevertheless, subsection (c) of the statute clearly states “[n]o
    violation of this section shall constitute an independent ground for
    suppression of evidence in any probation or parole proceeding or criminal
    proceeding.”     61 Pa.C.S. § 6153(c).         Therefore, while the fact that Agent
    Davis failed to obtain prior approval from a supervisor before conducting a
    “property search" of Nixson’s residence was improper under the statute, it
    ____________________________________________
    9
    We also reject the trial court’s suggestion that Nixson’s statement to Agent
    Davis constituted a consent to search. Agent Davis was Nixson’s parole
    agent, and had already indicated to Nixson that Nixson’s behavior had
    aroused his suspicion. See N.T., 3/25/2013, at 17 (“I was asking him what
    was going on, why he didn’t answer the door, what – why are you acting like
    this. You’re making me nervous…”). Therefore, when Agent Davis told
    Nixson that he was going to search the residence, we fail to see how
    Nixson’s response, “Go ahead, there’s nothing in here,” could constitute a
    voluntary consent to search. See 
    id. at 22.
    - 10 -
    J-S34011-14
    did not constitute grounds for suppression of the evidence so long as the
    search did not violate Nixson’s constitutional rights.          Therefore, we must
    determine whether the trial court properly found that Agent Davis possessed
    the requisite reasonable suspicion “to believe that [Nixson] possesse[d]
    contraband    or   other   evidence      of   violations   of   the   conditions   of
    supervision[.]” 61 Pa.C.S. § 6153(d)(1)(i).
    Our review of the record reveals that, at the time of search, Agent
    Davis had been a probation/parole officer for 16 years, and had been
    supervising Nixson for 18 months.         N.T., 3/25/2013, at 6-7, 10.      He had
    visited Nixson’s home 10 to 15 times, but had approximately 40 personal
    interactions with Nixson so that he was very familiar with Nixson’s demeanor
    and personal characteristics. 
    Id. at 11,
    13. In fact, Agent Davis testified
    that, generally, Nixson was “very compliant” and “remorseful” even when,
    on prior occasions, the agent had caught him violating the conditions of his
    parole. 
    Id. at 15.
    However, on the day in question, Agent Davis observed
    Nixson exhibiting the characteristics which were not “normal for him.” 
    Id. at 14.
    Specifically, the agent testified:
    His behavior and mannerisms on that day immediately put me
    on point. I was legitimately scared. I did not know what was
    going on. I was not comfortable. Something was going on in
    that residence and I did not know what. And, typically, if I ever
    asked him a question prior, he would answer it. Kynyon, have
    you been drinking? Yes. I mean, he was – he was never trying
    to hide anything from me. He was always forthcoming[.]
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    J-S34011-14
    
    Id. at 16-17.
    However, when Agent Davis asked him what was going on,
    Nixson “just kept saying, nothing, nothing, nothing is going on, nothing is
    happening, nothing is going on.”               
    Id. at 17.
      The agent explained that
    Nixson “was not acting the way [he] had previously seen him act.” 
    Id. He was
    also nervous, sweating profusely, providing avoidant answers, and not
    making eye contact.        
    Id. at 17-18.
            Moreover, Agent Davis testified that
    when he has conducted searches of other parolees, who have exhibited
    atypical behavior, he has uncovered contraband or violations “probably a
    hundred percent of the time.” 
    Id. at 20.
    Therefore, considering the factors set forth in subsection 6153(d)(6),
    we find the record supports the trial court’s determination that Agent Davis
    had reasonable suspicion that Nixson possessed contraband or evidence of a
    violation of the terms of his parole when he conducted a “property search” of
    Nixson’s residence. Accordingly, we conclude the trial court properly denied
    Nixson’s suppression motion.10
    Judgment of sentence affirmed.
    ____________________________________________
    10
    To the extent that our conclusion is distinct from the trial court’s finding,
    we note we “may affirm the lower court on any basis, even one not
    considered or presented in the court below.” Commonwealth v. Burns,
    
    988 A.2d 684
    , 690 n.6 (Pa. Super. 2009), appeal denied, 
    8 A.3d 341
    (Pa.
    2010).
    - 12 -
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    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 10/14/2014
    - 13 -
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 1224 WDA 2013

Filed Date: 10/14/2014

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 12/13/2024