Ducworth v. Stubblefield ( 2005 )

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE.  IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 239(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

George M. Ducworth, Solicitor, Tenth Judicial Circuit,        Respondent,

v.

Donald Stubblefield, One Mobile Home, Serial Number HON56014CK3516528 and Real Property known as 167-C Holbrooks Circle, Westminster, S.C.,        Appellant.

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Appeal From Oconee County
Alexander S. Macaulay, Circuit Court Judge

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Unpublished Opinion No. 2005-UP-523
Submitted August 1, 2005 – Filed September 15, 2005  

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AFFIRMED

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Beattie B. Ashmore, of Greenville, for Appellant.

J. David Standeffer and James Brislane, both of Anderson, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM: George Ducworth, solicitor for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, brought this civil forfeiture action against Donald Stubblefield seeking the forfeiture of Stubblefield’s real property pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. §44-53-520 (2002).  The trial judge heard the case without a jury and confirmed the forfeiture in favor of the State.  Stubblefield appeals.  We affirm[1] pursuant to Rule 220(b)(2), SCACR and the following authorities:

1.  The trial judge did not err in affirming the forfeiture because the state had probable cause to seize Stubblefield’s property:  S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-520(a)(4) (2002) (providing that “[a]ll property, both real and personal, which in any manner is knowingly used to facilitate production, manufacturing, distribution, sale, importation, exportation, or trafficking in various controlled substances” is subject to forfeiture); Medlock v. One 1985 Jeep Cherokee VIN 1JCWB782FT129001, 322 S.C. 127, 131, 470 S.E.2d 373, 376 (1996) (“The purpose of a forfeiture hearing is to confirm that the State had probable cause to seize the property forfeited.”); Boas v. Smith, 786 F.2d 605, 609 (4th Cir.1986) (stating the initial burden is on the State to demonstrate “probable cause for belief that a substantial connection exists between the property to be forfeited and the criminal activity defined by statute”); Medlock, 322 S.C. at 131, 470 S.E.2d at 376 (quoting S.C.Code Ann. § 44-53-586(b)(1) (Supp. 1994)) (“If probable cause is shown, the burden then shifts to the [property] owner to prove that he or she ‘was not a consenting party to, or privy to, or did not have knowledge of, the use of the property which made it subject to seizure and forfeiture.’”) City of Sumter Police Dep’t v. One (1) Blue Mazda Truck VIN No. JM2UF1132N0294812, 330 S.C. 371, 373, 498 S.E.2d 894, 895 (Ct. App. 1998) (holding an action for forfeiture of property is a civil action at law); Townes Assocs. v. City of Greenville, 266 S.C. 81, 86, 221 S.E.2d 773, 775 (1976) (“In an action at law, on appeal of a case tried without a jury, the findings of fact of the judge will not be disturbed upon appeal unless found to be without evidence which reasonably supports the judge's findings.”).

2.  The forfeiture of Stubblefield’s property does not violate the Excessive Fines Clause: Austin v. United States, 509 U.S. 602, 113 S.Ct. 2801, 125 L.Ed.2d 488 (1993) (holding the Excessive Fines Clause is applicable to civil forfeiture cases); United States v. Candler, 36 F.3d 358, 365 (4th Cir.1994) (stating to determine if a violation of the Excessive Fines Clause occurred, a court must examine (1) the nexus between the offense and the property and the extent of the property’s role in the offense, (2) the role and culpability of the owner, and (3) the possibility of separating offending property that can readily be separated from the remainder); Id. (providing the following factors to consider in measuring the strength and extent of the nexus between the property and the offense: (1) whether the use of the property in the offense was deliberate and planned or merely incidental and fortuitous; (2) whether the property was important to the success of the illegal activity; (3) the time during which the property was illegally used and the spacial extent of its use; (4) whether its illegal use was an isolated event or had been repeated; and (5) whether the purpose of acquiring, maintaining or using the property was to carry out the offense); Medlock at 132, 470 S.E.2d at 377 (adopting the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ three-part instrumentality test to determine when a violation occurs). 

AFFIRMED.

HEARN, C.J., and STILWELL and KITTREDGE, JJ., concur.     

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[1]  Because oral argument would not aid the court in resolving the issues on appeal, we decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.