State of Washington v. Rodolfo Galvan

FILED
NOV. 14,2013
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 31000-1-III
)
Respondent, )
)
v. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
RODOLFO GALVAN, )
)
Appellant. )
KULIK, J. - Benton County charged Rodolfo Galvan with unlawful possession of
a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after methamphetamine was
found in the car Mr. Galvan was driving. Mr. Galvan appeals. He contends that the trial
court erred in denying to suppress the evidence found in the car and the statements he
made to police. We conclude the trial court properly denied the motion to suppress and
we, therefore, afftrm the convictions.
FACTS
On March 24, 2011, at approximately 10:45 p.m., Mr. Galvan was driving home
alone when he was stopped by Washington State Patrol Trooper David Brandt. Trooper
Brandt initiated the stop because he noticed that one of the vehicle's headlights was
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State v. Galvan
inoperative. Upon contacting Mr. Galvan, Trooper Brandt detected the odor of fresh
marijuana emitting from the vehicle. Trooper Brandt also noticed that Mr. Galvan was
acting nervous. Trooper Brandt questioned Mr. Galvan about whether there was
marijuana in the vehicle. Mr. Galvan told Trooper Brandt that there was none. Trooper
Brandt ordered Mr. Galvan out of the vehicle, handcuffed him, and detained him to
investigate. Trooper Brandt noticed that the marijuana odor changed to burnt marijuana
coming from Mr. Galvan.
Trooper Brandt took Mr. Galvan to the front ofthe patrol car and read Mr. Galvan
his constitutional rights. Trooper Brandt's report was written two days after the incident
and did not include any information about Mr. Galvan's acknowledgement of his rights or
his waiver of those rights. However, at the suppression hearing over one year later,
Trooper Brandt testified that Mr. Galvan stated that he understood his rights and agreed to
talk to Trooper Brandt.
Trooper Brandt asked about Mr. Galvan's last use of marijuana. Mr. Galvan told
Trooper Brandt that he last smoked marijuana two months ago. Trooper Brandt then had
Mr. Galvan tilt his head back. Trooper Brant noticed that Mr. Galvan's eyes were
fluttering, consistent with recent marijuana use. Trooper Brandt also noticed that Mr.
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Galvan's taste buds were green, also consistent with marijuana use. Mr. Galvan then
admitted that he smoked marijuana two hours earlier.
Mr. Galvan was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana. Trooper Brandt
searched Mr. G'alvan and located approximately $1,100 in cash in Mr. Galvan's pockets
and wallet. Trooper Brandt did not find any marijuana. The search occurred prior to Mr.
Galvan being placed in the patrol car.
Mr. Galvan did not sign the consent form to search the vehicle. From outside of
the vehicle, Trooper Brandt observed a blue padlocked gun case on the rear passenger
side floorboard. Trooper Brandt asked Mr. Galvan what was in the case and Mr. Galvan
said it was a lighter. Trooper Brandt did not believe that the case contained a gun or that
Mr. Brandt was prohibited from carrying a gun.
Trooper Brandt seized Mr. Galvan's vehicle and had it towed to the Washington
State Patrol bullpen. Trooper Brandt released Mr. Galvan and told him that he would
forward charges for the possession of marijuana to the Benton County Prosecuting
Attorney. The charge was based on Trooper Brandt's observations and the marijuana
odor emitting from Mr. Galvan.
After impounding the vehicle, Trooper Brandt completed a search warrant
affidavit for the vehicle. Trooper Brandt called Judge Dan Kathyrn and read the affidavit
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State v. Galvan
to the judge. The affidavit requested permission to search the vehicle for controlled
substances including but not limited to marijuana and any evidence of distribution of
those controlled substances. Judge Kathryn gave permission to affix his signature to the
search warrant.
The search warrant completed by Trooper Brandt contained additional information
that was not included in the affidavit read to Judge Kathryn. The search warrant also
allowed for the search of the "[e ]ntire vehicle including engine compartment, covered bed
of vehicle, all interior compartments, any open, closed, locked or otherwise sealed
containers/compartments located inside or outside of the vehicle." Clerk's Papers (CP)
at 63.
The glove compartment of the vehicle was locked. Trooper Robert Morris
unlocked the glove compartment and found a handgun and a clear bag containing white
powder and small chunks. The troopers also opened the padlocked gun case and found a
lighter and a wooden scoop with white powder residue. In the unlocked center console of
the vehicle, Trooper Brandt found a black digital scale with powder residue. The chunks
and white powder residue tested positive for methamphetamine.
Mr. Galvan was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled
substance, methamphetamine, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Mr.
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Galvan sought to suppress his statements to Trooper Brandt and the evidence found in his
car. After a hearing, the trial court denied the motion. A stipulated facts trial was held,
and Mr. Galvan was found guilty of the crimes charged.
Mr. Galvan appeals. He assigns error to the trial court's denial of his motion to
suppress.
ANALYSIS
Unlawful Search. Appellate review of a denial of a motion to suppress requires
the court to determine "whether substantial evidence supports the challenged findings of
fact and whether the findings support the conclusions oflaw." State v. Garvin, 166
Wn.2d 242,249,207 P.3d 1266 (2009). "Evidence is substantial when it is sufficient to
persuade a fair-minded person of the truth of the stated premise." State v. Reid, 98 Wn.
App. 152, 156,988 P.2d 1038 (1999). Evidence seized during an illegal search must be
suppressed under the exclusionary rule. State v. Gaines, 154 Wash. 2d 711, 716-17, 116
P .3d 993 (2005).
Mr. Galvan contends that the search of his person was unlawful because he was
not under custodial arrest. He maintains that Trooper Brandt did not intend to take Mr.
Galvan to jail so there was no need for anything more than a brief frisk for weapons.
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Warrantless searches are "per se" unreasonable under both the state and federal
constitutions. State v. Walker, 136 Wash. 2d 678, 682, 965 P .2d 1079 (1998). A search
incident to a lawful arrest is a recognized exception to the warrant requirement. State v.
Boursaw, 94 Wash. App. 629, 632, 976 P.2d 130 (1999) (quoting State v. Smith, 119 Wn.2d
675,678, 835 P.2d 1025 (1992)). The exception allows an officer to search an arrestee
for weapons as a measure to protect the officer, or to search for evidence that may be
destroyed. State v. McKenna, 91 Wash. App. 554, 560-61, 958 P.2d 1017 (1998).
A valid custodial arrest is a condition precedent to a search incident to arrest. State
v. O'Neill, 148 Wash. 2d 564, 587, 62 P.3d 489 (2003). Law enforcement must have
probable cause to arrest and the search must be contemporaneous with the arrest.
McKenna, 91 Wash. App. at 560.
When an arrest is noncustodial, the justification for the search is absent because
the encounter will likely'be brief, and the motivation to destroy evidence or use a weapon
will be slight. ld. at 561.
Whether a person is in custody depends on whether a reasonable person under the
same circumstances as the suspect would have considered himself or herself under a
custodial arrest. State v. Reichenbach, 153 Wash. 2d 126, 135, 101 P.3d 80 (2004). The test
is objective and hinges on the manifestation of the arresting officer's intent. State v.
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Salinas, 169 Wash. App. 210, 218, 279 P.3d 917 (2012), review denied, 176 Wash. 2d 1002,
297 P.3d 67 (2013).
Manifestations of intent indicating custodial arrest include handcuffing the suspect
and placing him in the back of the patrol car. State v. Radka, 120 Wash. App. 43, 49, 83
P.3d 1038 (2004). Courts also consider whether the officer infonned the defendant that
he was under arrest. State v. Patton, 167 Wn.2d 379,387,219 P.3d 651 (2009).
The search of Mr. Galvan was a lawful search pursuant to a custodial arrest.
Under the circumstances, a reasonable person under the same circumstances as Mr.
Galvan would have considered himself or herself under a custodial arrest. Trooper
Brandt told Mr. Galvan that he was under arrest. Trooper Brandt ordered Mr. Galvan out
of the vehicle, handcuffed him, took Mr. Galvan to the front of the patrol car, and
questioned him about marijuana use. Trooper Brandt told Mr. Galvan that he was being
detained for the possession of marijuana and read Mr. Galvan his constitutional rights.
Mr. Galvan then admitted that he smoked marijuana two hours earlier. There is no
indication that Mr. Galvan was free to leave. Mr. Galvan's subsequent release after the
arrest does not negate Trooper Brandt's intent to place Mr. Galvan under custodial arrest
for narcotics possession.
The search of Mr. Galvan was not unlawful.
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No. 31 OOO-l-III
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Search ofthe Locked Compartments and Particularity Requirement tor Warrant.
"Whether a warrant meets the particularity requirement of the Fourth Amendment is
reviewed de novo." State v. Stenson, 132 Wn.2d 668,691,940 P.2d 1239 (1997).
Mr. Galvan contends that the search of the locked glove compartment and locked
container in the vehicle exceeded the scope of the search warrant because Trooper Brandt
failed to particularly identity these areas in the affidavit to search.
The particularity clause of the Fourth Amendment requires search warrants to
specifically identity both the location to be searched and the items to be seized. U.S.
CONST. amend. IV. "The purpose of the particularity requirement is to prevent the State
from engaging in unrestricted 'exploratory rummaging in a person's belongings' for any
evidence of any crime." State v. Askham, 120 Wash. App. 872, 878, 86 P.3d 1224 (2004)
(quoting Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 467,91 S. Ct. 2022,29 L. Ed. 2d
564 (1971». The description of the items sought in the search must be as specific as
circumstances permit. Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d at 692. The description of the location to be
searched must identity the location adequately enough so that the officer executing the
warrant can, with reasonable care, identity the place intended. State v. Cockrell, 102
Wash. 2d 561, 569-70,689 P.2d 32 (1984).
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No. 3IOOO-I-III
State v. Galvan
Here, the search warrant and accompanying affidavit described with particularity
the location to be searched and items to be seized. Both the affidavit and the search
warrant identified the car driven by Mr. Galvan as the location to be searched. Also, both
identified the items to be seized as controlled substances including but not limited to
marijuana, any evidence of distribution of those controlled substances, and any evidence
of exercise of domain and control of the vehicle. The search of the locked glove
compartment and the padlocked case were within the particular scope of the search
warrant as they both were inside the car and both could possibly contain evidence of
controlled substances. The particularity clause was not violated.
The fact that the search warrant gave more detail than the affidavit does not
invalidate the search. The search warrant merely clarified that the entire vehicle would be
searched, including all interior compartments, any open, closed, locked, or otherwise
sealed containers and compartments located inside or outside of the vehicle. These areas
are all areas inside the vehicle that could contain evidence of controlled substances. The
search warrant did not change the parameters of the search that Judge Kathym agreed
upon.
Mr. Galvan relies on State v. Monaghan, 165 Wn. App. 782,266 P.3d 222 (2012)
to establish that particular permission must be obtained before conducting a search of a
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No. 31 OOO-I-III
State v. Galvan
locked container. Mr. Galvan's reliance on Monaghan is misplaced. Monaghan involved
the scope of a search based on a person's consent to the area to be searched, which did
not include a locked safe inside the vehicle. Id. at 789. Here, Mr. Galvan's consent to the
search is not at issue. Instead, in Washington, when a warrantless search of a vehicle
occurs incident to arrest, and the officer discovers a locked container or glove
compartment, the officer must first obtain a warrant before unlocking and searching those
areas. State v. Vrieling, 144 Wn.2d 489,492,28 PJd 762 (2001). Trooper Brandt
obtained a search warrant before searching the vehicle and its locked compartments and
containers. Particular permission to search the locked compartments and containers was
within the scope of the search warrant.
The search warrant did not violate the particularity requirement of the Fourth
Amendment.
Knowing. Intelligent. and Voluntary Waiver ofRights. Mr. Galvan contends that
the trial court erred by denying to suppress the statements he made to Trooper Brandt.
Mr. Galvan contends that he did not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his
rights before making the statements.
Prior to a custodial interrogation, a defendant must be warned of his right to
remain silent and the right to the presence of an attorney. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S.
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No. 31000-I-III
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436,444, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966). A defendant can waive these rights
given in a Miranda warning provided that the wavier is knowing, voluntary and
intelligent. State v. Bradford, 95 Wash. App. 935, 944, 978 P.2d 534 (1999). The State
bears the burden of proving voluntariness by a preponderance of the evidence. State v.
Braun, 82 Wash. 2d 157, 162,509 P.2d 742 (1973). "When a trial court determines a
confession is voluntary, that determination is not disturbed on appeal if there is
substantial evidence in the record from which the trial court could have found the
confession was voluntary by a preponderance of the evidence." State v. Aten, 130 Wash. 2d
640, 664, 927 P .2d 210 (1996).
In determining whether a defendant voluntarily waived Miranda rights, the
appellate court considers the totality of the circumstances. State v. Allen, 63 Wn. App.
623,626, 821 P.2d 533 (1991). The test for voluntariness is whether '''the confession [is]
the product of an essentially free and unconstrained choice by its maker.'" State v.
Thompson, 73 Wash. App. 122, 131,867 P.2d 691 (1994) (quoting Schneckloth v.
Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218,225,93 S. Ct. 2041, 36 L. Ed. 2d 854 (1973». Factors that a
court considers in assessing the totality of the circumstances include the defendant's
physical condition, age, mental abilities, experience, and the conduct of the police. Aten,
130 Wash. 2d at 664. A voluntary waiver need not be expressed; it may be implied by the
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No. 31 OOO-l-III
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facts and circumstances under which the statement is made. State v. Haverty, 3 Wn. App.
495,498,475 P.2d 887 (1970).
Here, the trial court did not err by denying Mr. Galvan's motion to suppress his
statements. There is substantial evidence in the record to support the trial court's
determination that Mr. Galvan gave a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver after
being given a Miranda warning by Trooper Brandt. The trial court concluded that Mr.
Galvan waived his constitutional rights and knew what he was doing at the time as
indicated by his subsequent decision to deny consent to search the vehicle. Indeed, the
report filed by Trooper Brandt indicated that Mr. Galvan knew enough to deny consent to
search his car. Based on this denial, it can be deduced that Mr. Galvan also knew that he
had the right to choose whether or not to answer Trooper Brandt's questions. In fact, Mr.
Galvan chose not to answer at least one of the questions posed by Trooper Brandt.
Although Mr. Galvan seemed nervous when answering the questions, there is no evidence
that Mr. Galvan did not know that he could refuse to answer the questions.
Trooper Brandt informed Mr. Galvan that he was under arrest for possession of
marijuana and read to Mr. Galvan the constitutional rights provided to him. There is no
evidence that Trooper Brandt subjected Mr. Galvan to any threats, trickery, or
intimidation to elicit answers to the questions. The evidence is sufficient to show that Mr.
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No.31000-I-II1
State v. Galvan
Galvan knew his rights, and voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived them when
he made his statements.
The trial court did not err in denying Mr. Galvan's motion to suppress statements
made to Trooper Brandt.
We affirm.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to
RCW 2.06.040.
Kulik, J.
WE CONCUR:
Brown, 1.
~#~.It~
Siddoway, A.C.J.
13
Renee S. Townsley
The Court ofAppeals 500 N Cedar ST
Clerk/Administrator ofthe Spokane, WA 99201-1905
(509) 456-3082 State of Washington Fax (509) 456-4288
TDD #1-800-833-6388 Division III http://www.courts.wa.govlcourts
November 14,2013
E-mail E-mail
Emily Kay Sullivan Andrew Kelvin Miller
Benton County Prosecutor Benton County Prosecutors Office
7122 W Okanogan PI Bldg A 7122 W Okanogan PI Bldg A
Kennewick, WA 99336-2359 Kennewick, WA 99336-2359
Michelle Tobin Trombley Norma Rodriguez
Rodriguez & Associates, P.S. Rodriguez & Associates, PS
7502 W Deschutes PI 7502 W Deschutes PI
Kennewick, WA 99336-7719 Kennewick, WA 99336-7719
mtrombley@rodriguezlawwa.com norma@rodriguezlawwa.com
CASE # 310001
State of Washington v. Rodolfo Galvan
BENTON COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT No. 111006691
Counsel:
Enclosed please find a copy of the opinion filed by the Court today.
A party need not file a motion for reconsideration as a prerequisite to discretionary review by the
Supreme Court. RAP 13.3(b); 13.4(a). If a motion for reconsideration is filed, it should state with
particularity the pOints of law or fact which the moving party contends the court has overlooked or
misapprehended, together with a brief argument on the pOints raised. RAP 12.4(c). Motions for
reconsideration which merely reargue the case should not be filed.
Motions for reconsideration, if any, must be filed within twenty (20) days after the filing of the
opinion. Please file an original and two copies of the motion. If no motion for reconsideration is filed,
any petition for review to the Supreme Court must be filed in this court within thirty (30) days after the
filing of this opinion (may be filed by electronic facsimile transmission). The motion for reconsideration
and petition for review must be received (not mailed) on or before the dates they are due. RAP 18.5{c).
Sincerely,
~)J0~
Renee S. Townsley
Clerk/Administrator
RST:pb
Enc.
c: E-mail
Hon. Craig Matheson
c: Rodolfo Galvan
1055 E 27th Ave.
Kennewick, WA 99337-5552