Welch v. State, CR

• Decision Date: 09 October 1997
• Docket Number: No. CR,CR
• Citation: 955 S.W.2d 181,330 Ark. 158
• Parties: Billy Edward WELCH, Appellant, v. STATE of Arkansas, Appellee. 97-378.
• Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

Page 181

955 S.W.2d 181

330 Ark. 158

Billy Edward WELCH, Appellant, v. STATE of Arkansas, Appellee.

No. CR 97-378.

Supreme Court of Arkansas.

Oct. 9, 1997.

Norman Mark Klappenbach, Fordyce, for Appellant.

Winston Bryant, Attorney General, C. Joseph Cordi, Jr., Assistant Attorney General, Little Rock, for Appellee.

BROWN, Justice.

Appellant Billy Edward Welch was convicted of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, felon in possession of a firearm, simultaneous possession of a controlled substance and a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced as a habitual offender to two terms of life in prison for the possession-with-intent charge and the simultaneous possession charge, six years for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and ten years for the drug paraphernalia. All of Welch's convictions arise out of a traffic stop and the subsequent impoundment and search of his vehicle. On appeal, he raises the issues of sufficiency of the evidence, speedy trial, and suppression of the evidence seized from his vehicle. We affirm.

On the evening of July 28, 1995, the Dallas County Sheriff's Department conducted a safety inspection at the intersection of State Highways 8 and 9 in Dallas County. Deputy sheriffs stopped all vehicles and checked the drivers' licenses and other documentation relating to ownership of the vehicle and insurance. Welch came upon the deputies while driving his Chevrolet El Camino with a friend. He was approached by Deputy Bill Still, an Auxiliary Deputy Sheriff for Dallas County.

Deputy Still later testified that Welch was unable to provide a legible driver's license, proof of insurance, or proof of ownership of the vehicle. Deputy Still reported this situation to his supervisor on the scene, Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Seale. The deputies then checked Welch's license plate and found that it was registered to another vehicle. Both deputies also testified at the suppression hearing that the initial computer report on Welch indicated that there was a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear in court in a different county.

Welch was asked if he had any weapons, drugs, or alcohol in his vehicle. According to the deputies, he initially denied having any drugs or weapons. Later, however, he surrendered a nine millimeter handgun from behind the seat of his El Camino. The deputies then asked if they could search the vehicle, whereupon Welch became angry and refused to allow them to do a search and insisted that he be allowed to go home. Welch was then arrested for the traffic violations, and his car was impounded.

Before impounding the vehicle, the deputies took an inventory of its contents. At trial, the law enforcement officers, including Auxiliary Deputy Still, Deputy Seale, and Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Officer Mike Knoedl, testified about their involvement in the search. Officer Knoedl testified that he occasionally assisted the Dallas County Sheriff's Department in investigations. On this occasion, Deputy Seale asked Officer Knoedl to assist in the search of Welch's vehicle because the El Camino was extremely cluttered. Deputies Still and Seale testified that other law enforcement officers brought them items from the car, and they recorded on a log sheet everything that was found in the vehicle and where it was found. Both of the deputies testified that the purpose of the search was to keep Welch from later claiming that something was missing from his vehicle. Deputy Still also stated that he was searching the vehicle to determine if there were more guns.

While conducting the inventory search, the law enforcement officers found several syringes, a bag containing more than thirty-three grams of methamphetamine, a set of scales, and several spoons. Most of these items were found in an ammunition box that was located in the bed of the El Camino. The officers also found Welch's proof of insurance and proof of ownership of the vehicle in the ammunition box with the drugs. Prior to trial, Welch moved to have all of the items found in the search suppressed. The motion was denied, and Welch was tried by jury, convicted, and sentenced as set out above.

I. Sufficiency of the Evidence

We first consider Welch's argument regarding sufficiency of the evidence because the double jeopardy clause precludes a second trial when a judgment of conviction is reversed for insufficiency of the evidence. King v. State, 323 Ark. 671, 916 S.W.2d 732 (1996); Jones v. State, 323 Ark. 655, 916 S.W.2d 736 (1996).

After the State rested its case, the following exchange took place:

COUNSEL FOR DEFENSE: Your Honor, the State has rested and at this point the defense would move for a directed verdict.

THE COURT: Is that all you've got to say?

COUNSEL FOR DEFENSE: Yes, sir, that's all I'm saying. (The court then gave the State a chance to comment after which the following took place.)

THE COURT: The motion for directed verdict is denied.

COUNSEL FOR DEFENSE: Your Honor, then the defense would now rest and we renew our motion for a directed verdict and I would like to say that the defense is resting without calling the defendant, or a witness, after discussing that with my client and he is in agreement, is that right, Mr. Welch?

The court then denied the renewed motion. At no time did defense counsel state any grounds for his motion, which violates Rule 33.1 of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure. See also Dixon v. State, 327 Ark. 105, 937 S.W.2d 642 (1997); Smallwood v. State, 326 Ark. 813, 935 S.W.2d 530 (1996). Thus, the trial judge had no opportunity to rule on specific grounds with respect to any of the charges. We hold that Welch is procedurally barred from raising this issue on appeal.

II. Suppression of the Evidence

Welch's next point concerns the items seized by the Dallas County Sheriff's Department while conducting a warrantless search prior to impoundment of his vehicle. When reviewing the denial of a suppression motion, this court makes an independent examination of the evidence based on the totality of the circumstances, and we will not reverse the trial judge's decision unless it is clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. Brunson v. State, 327 Ark. 567, 940 S.W.2d 440 (1997), reh'g denied, 327 Ark. 567, 940 S.W.2d 440 (1997).

We initially examine the general law relating to inventory searches. Inventory or administrative searches are excepted from the requirement of probable cause and a search warrant. Florida v. Wells, 495 U.S. 1, 110 S.Ct. 1632, 109 L.Ed.2d 1 (1990). The purpose of an inventory search is to protect the property, the police, and the public. Id. The rationale is that police officers can better account for the property if they have an accurate record of what is contained in a vehicle when it is impounded. Moreover, the police and the public are protected by ensuring that the vehicle does not contain explosives or other harmful items. As part of an inventory search, the police are permitted not only to search the vehicle, but also the containers within the vehicle. Id. Colorado v. Bertine, 479 U.S. 367, 107 S.Ct. 738, 93 L.Ed.2d 739 (1987); Snell v. State, 290 Ark. 503, 721 S.W.2d 628 (1986), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 872, 108 S.Ct. 202, 98 L.Ed.2d 153 (1987).

In order for a search of a properly detained vehicle to fall within the inventory search exception to the search warrant requirement, there must be standard operating procedures established by the law enforcement agency conducting the search. Florida v. Wells, supra; Colorado v. Bertine, supra; Snell v. State, supra. The procedures must be followed and the inventory search must not be conducted solely for investigative purposes. Id. There is no requirement that the procedures for the inventory search be in writing. United States v. Lowe, 9 F.3d 43 (8th Cir.1993). See also United States v. Skillern, 947 F.2d 1268 (5th Cir.1991), cert. denied, 503 U.S. 949, 112 S.Ct. 1509, 117 L.Ed.2d 646 (1992); Snell v. State, supra.

Absent a showing that the true intent of the police officers was to conduct an evidentiary search, the testimony of police officers that they always take inventory of impounded vehicles and that they always search containers is sufficient. Id. The fact that police officers have some idea or expectation of what they might find does not invalidate the purpose of the search. Indeed, the police are not required to weigh the individual's privacy interest against the probability of finding hazardous materials before opening a container in the vehicle. Colorado v. Bertine, 479 U.S. at 374, 107 S.Ct. at 742.

a. Standard Procedures.

Turning to the case at hand, Welch argues that the Dallas County Sheriff's Department did not follow normal procedures for an inventory search because the Department did not have written procedures and the deputy sheriffs could not be specific as to what the procedures were. In Snell v. State, supra, this court relied on the testimony of law enforcement officers to prove the inventory search, which included opening a container, was standard procedure. Accordingly, we turn to the testimony of the law enforcement officers to determine whether standard operating procedures were in place. Deputy Sheriff Seale testified that he always searches vehicles that are impounded:

Q. --as far as the Dallas County Sheriff's Department is concerned what does inventory mean?

A. Well, it's part of our policy, as far as I know, that in case, you know, if we impound a vehicle we got everything listed and documented then the subject can't come back later on and say that such-and-such is missing--

....

Q. Okay. Do you--Mr. Seale, have you participated in other inventory searches?

A. I have.

Q. Yes, sir. Is this the--the way y'all did this any different than your normal procedure?

A. No.

....

Q. Now, what were you looking for when you were searching the vehicle?

A. Weren't looking for any certain thing, we was just documenting...