State v. Jeffrey B. Melling

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 42666
STATE OF IDAHO, ) 2016 Opinion No. 27
)
Plaintiff-Appellant, ) Filed: April 6, 2016
)
v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
JEFFREY B. MELLING, )
)
Defendant-Respondent. )
)
Appeal from the District Court of the Third Judicial District, State of Idaho,
Canyon County. Hon. George A. Southworth, District Judge.
Order granting motion to suppress, reversed and case remanded.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Russell J. Spencer, Deputy
Attorney General, Boise, for appellant. Russell J. Spencer argued.
Sara B. Thomas, State Appellate Public Defender; Jenny C. Swinford, Deputy
Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for respondent. Jenny C. Swinford argued.
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HUSKEY, Judge
The State appeals from the district court’s order granting Jeffrey B. Melling’s motion to
suppress evidence found during a warrantless search of a lockbox. We reverse and remand.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The facts in this case were stipulated to by the parties and are as follows:
Officer Harward responded to a report of a fight in Nampa, Idaho. When he arrived on
the scene, he observed two males, Melling and Brian Tait, arguing on the lawn in front of the
residence. Officer Harward separated the men and spoke with Melling. Melling identified
himself and stated that he and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument earlier that day while
they were at a park. Melling further stated that he then got into an argument with his roommate,
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Tait, over the fact that Melling and his girlfriend had been arguing. Melling stated that Tait
walked up behind him and punched him in the side of the head, leading to further fighting.
While Officer Harward was speaking with Melling, Melling’s girlfriend came outside and
threw a lockbox on the grass, claiming it belonged to Melling. Melling stated he had never seen
the box before and had no idea who it belonged to. Melling became nervous, but continued
telling Officer Harward about the events of the day. Officer Harward then spoke with Melling’s
girlfriend, who told Officer Harward that Melling bought the lockbox in California, and it
contained drug paraphernalia and a vape device. Melling’s girlfriend then showed Officer
Harward where the box had allegedly been located, next to Melling’s wallet in the bedroom
where Melling and his girlfriend were staying.
Officer Harward went back outside to speak with Melling, who again told Officer
Harward that nothing in the box was his. Officer Harward opened the lockbox. Inside, Officer
Harward found a black scale, a pipe with white crystal substance, and some matches, as well as,
two fake identification cards. Officer Harward again asked Melling what was inside the box, and
Melling denied knowledge of the contents. Officer Harward arrested Melling based on the
statements of Melling’s girlfriend that Melling owned the box. Officer Harward handcuffed
Melling. As Officer Harward escorted Melling to the patrol vehicle, he observed Melling
walking strangely, keeping his legs tightly together and only bending at the knees. Officer
Harward had Melling separate his feet to search for weapons or other paraphernalia and when
doing so, a glass pipe fell from Melling’s shorts and shattered on the ground. Melling denied
ownership and knowledge of the pipe.
Officer Harward later tested the shattered portion of the glass pipe that fell from
Melling’s shorts; it tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine. Officer Harward then
received a call from the officer who transported Melling to the Canyon County Jail. He advised
Officer Harward that he had located a bag of white crystal substance inside Melling’s wallet,
which later tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine.
The State charged Melling with possession of methamphetamine. Melling filed a motion
to suppress the evidence, arguing that it was obtained by an unlawful search and seizure. After a
hearing on the motion, the district court granted Melling’s motion, holding that Melling did not
abandon the lockbox and that the search, therefore, violated the Fourth Amendment. The State
timely appeals.
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II.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The standard of review of a suppression motion is bifurcated. When a decision on a
motion to suppress is challenged, we accept the trial court’s findings of fact that are supported by
substantial evidence, but we freely review the application of constitutional principles to the facts
as found. State v. Atkinson, 128 Idaho 559, 561, 916 P.2d 1284, 1286 (Ct. App. 1996). At a
suppression hearing, the power to assess the credibility of witnesses, resolve factual conflicts,
weigh evidence, and draw factual inferences is vested in the trial court. State v. Valdez-Molina,
127 Idaho 102, 106, 897 P.2d 993, 997 (1995); State v. Schevers, 132 Idaho 786, 789, 979 P.2d
659, 662 (Ct. App. 1999).
The salient facts in this case are not in dispute; only their legal significance is at issue.
Therefore, we exercise free review of the trial court’s legal conclusion that Melling did not
abandon the lockbox. State v. Agundis, 127 Idaho 587, 590, 903 P.2d 752, 755 (Ct. App. 1995).
III.
ANALYSIS
The district court, relying primarily on State v. Isom, 641 P.2d 417 (Mont. 1982), held
that Melling did not abandon the lockbox because his disclaimer of ownership was likely an
effort to avoid incrimination as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment and because the
investigating officer had reasonable indicia that the box belonged to Melling. The State argues
that Idaho does not recognize a “trying to avoid incrimination” exception to the abandonment
rule. We agree with the State.
A person challenging a search has the burden of showing that he or she had a legitimate
expectation of privacy in the item or place searched. State v. Pruss, 145 Idaho 623, 626, 181
P.3d 1231, 1234 (2008). That involves a two-part inquiry: Did the person have a subjective
expectation of privacy in the object of the challenged search? Is society willing to recognize that
expectation as reasonable? Id. The first inquiry is a question of fact; the second is a question of
law. Id. Assuming, arguendo, that Melling demonstrated a subjective expectation of privacy in
the lockbox, we hold that society is not willing to recognize an expectation of privacy as
reasonable where the owner abandoned the item.
One who voluntarily abandons property prior to the search cannot be said to possess the
requisite privacy interest. Abel v. United States, 362 U.S. 217, 241 (1960). Abandonment, in the
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Fourth Amendment context, occurs through words, acts, and other objective facts indicating that
the defendant voluntarily discarded, left behind, or otherwise relinquished his interest in his
property. See Bond v. United States, 77 F.3d 1009, 1013 (7th Cir. 1996); United States v.
McDonald, 100 F.3d 1320, 1327 (7th Cir. 1996) (overruled on other grounds); United States v.
Ramos, 12 F.3d 1019, 1023-24 (11th Cir. 1994).
Idaho courts have held that disclaimer of ownership or possession constitutes
abandonment. See State v. Zaitseva, 135 Idaho 11, 13 P.3d 338 (2000); State v. Harwood, 133
Idaho 50, 981 P.2d 1160 (Ct. App. 1999). In Harwood, police officers received information that
a bondee was hiding in Harwood’s rented hotel room. Harwood, 133 Idaho at 51, 981 P.2d at
1161. The officers knocked on Harwood’s door and were given permission to enter and search
the room. Id. After searching the room, one of the officers noticed a fanny pack under the bed
and asked Harwood about it. Id. Harwood said something like, “That’s not mine.” Id. The
officer instructed Harwood not to reach under the bed while everyone was discussing the fanny
pack. Id. During the conversation, Harwood again disclaimed ownership of the fanny pack,
stating that it belonged to a woman he met at a bar. Id. The officers asked if they could take the
fanny pack as found property, and Harwood consented. Id. at 52, 981 P.2d at 1162. The officers
searched the fanny pack and discovered cash, methamphetamine, and identification belonging to
Harwood. Id. The district court held that Harwood had abandoned the fanny pack. Id. On
appeal, the Court stated that the property had been abandoned spontaneously and that the
abandonment was not the result of any police intimidation or interrogation. Id. at 53, 981 P.2d at
1163.
In Zaitseva, a police officer pulled over a car for speeding. Zaitseva, 135 Idaho at 12, 13
P.3d at 339. Neither the driver nor the passenger, Zaitseva, owned the car or had a valid driver’s
license. Id. The officer received permission to search the car from the driver, Zaitseva, and the
owner (via telephone). Id. As the driver exited the car, she tried to remove a bag. Id. The
officer asked the driver to leave the bag in the car. Id. Both parties denied ownership of the bag.
Id. The officer searched the bag and found documents that led to Zaitseva’s conviction for
possession of a forged check. Id. On appeal, Zaitseva argued that the scope of consent to search
the car did not extend to the bag. Id. at 13, 13 P.3d at 340. The Court affirmed the district
court’s denial of the motion, holding that consent to search a car includes consent to search
containers. Id. at 11, 13 P.3d at 338. Additionally, the Court held that Zaitseva had abandoned
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her privacy interest in the contents of the bag when she denied ownership in response to the
officer’s inquiry. Id. at 13, 13 P.3d at 340.
Here, the parties stipulated to the following facts: Melling told Officer Harward that he
had never seen the box before and had no idea who it belonged to; Melling’s nervousness was
attributed to the presence of the lockbox; Melling told Officer Harward that nothing in the box
was his; and Melling denied knowledge of the contents of the box. The district court did not find
that Melling’s repeated denials of ownership were in response to police intimidation or
interrogation. Therefore, we hold that Melling’s words, actions, and the objective facts indicate
that Melling voluntarily abandoned his privacy interest in the lockbox. Society is not willing to
recognize a privacy interest in abandoned property.
Despite Melling’s denials of ownership, the district court held Melling did not abandon
the lockbox for two reasons: (1) Melling was trying to avoid incrimination, and (2) Officer
Harward had “reasonable indicia” that the lockbox belonged to Melling.
In determining that Melling did not abandon the lockbox because he was only denying
ownership to avoid incrimination, the district court relied on Isom, a Montana Supreme Court
case. However, in Isom, the court found that the disclaimer of property was made during a
custodial interrogation prior to the officers giving the Miranda1 warning. Isom, 641 P.2d at 422.
Melling does not contend that his statements were made during custodial interrogation. Isom is
inapposite.
Furthermore, there is no Idaho case that provides a “trying to avoid incrimination”
exception to the abandonment rule. In fact, in a concurring opinion, Judge Schwartzman
observed, “There is no such thing as a right against consensual self-incrimination. There is only
a right against compelled self-incrimination.” Harwood, 133 Idaho at 54, 981 P.2d at 1164
(Schwartzman, J., concurring).
Additionally, neither Harwood nor Zaitseva analyzed whether the officers had reasonable
indicia that the container belonged to the abandoning party, presumably because such an inquiry
is unnecessary, as it neither informs whether the defendant had a subjective privacy interest in
the item or whether society would recognize that interest as legitimate. See U.S. v. Colbert, 474
F.2d 174 (5th Cir. 1973). In Colbert, two police officers observed Colbert and Reese walking
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Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
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down the street carrying briefcases. Id. at 175. Because Colbert matched the description of a
wanted felon, the officers approached the two men. Id. As the officers approached, Colbert and
Reese set their briefcases on the sidewalk. Id. Colbert and Reese identified themselves as book
salesmen, and when the officers asked what was in the briefcases, Colbert and Reese stated that
they did not need to show the officers anything and denied ownership and knowledge of the
briefcases. Id. After being frisked, Colbert and Reese began walking away, but they were
stopped and arrested on other charges. Id. While in the police car, they again denied knowing
anything about the briefcases. Id. The officers then searched the briefcases and found sawed-off
shotguns. Id. The Court found that Colbert and Reese abandoned the briefcases when they
disclaimed ownership and began walking away from the briefcases, even though the officers
observed the two men carry and set down the briefcases. Id. at 177. Because they abandoned
the briefcases, Colbert and Reese had no expectation of privacy in them. Id. Tellingly, the
Court’s analysis did not analyze the officers’ subjective beliefs nor conduct an objective analysis
of whether the officers had reason to believe that the abandoning parties were in fact the owners.
This would be so because it would neither clarify the defendant’s subjective belief or the interest
society is willing to recognize. Therefore, Officer Harward’s subjective beliefs about ownership
of the lockbox is irrelevant to the issue of abandonment.
IV.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we hold that Melling abandoned his privacy interest when he
disclaimed ownership of the lockbox and its contents, and there is no expectation of privacy in
abandoned property that society would deem reasonable. We further hold that Idaho does not
have a “trying to avoid incrimination” exception to its abandonment analysis. Finally, we hold
that an officer’s subjective belief concerning the veracity of a defendant’s disavowal of
ownership is irrelevant to determining whether a defendant abandoned the property. Because the
search of the lockbox was permissible, the subsequent arrest and discovery of evidence were
legal. Therefore, the district court’s order granting Melling’s motion to suppress is reversed, and
the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Judge GUTIERREZ and Judge GRATTON CONCUR.
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