People v. Lumpkin

• Decision Date: 23 July 1975
• Docket Number: No. 56961,56961
• Citation: 231 N.W.2d 637,394 Mich. 456
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Ervin E. LUMPKIN, Defendant-Appellee. 394 Mich. 456, 231 N.W.2d 637
• Court: Michigan Supreme Court

Page 637

231 N.W.2d 637

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellant, v.Ervin E. LUMPKIN, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 56961.

394 Mich. 456, 231 N.W.2d 637

Supreme Court of Michigan.

July 23, 1975.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., and Robert A. Derengoski, Sol.Gen., Lansing, John A. Smietanka, Berrie County Pros.Atty., St. Joseph, Edward R. Wilson, Director, Pros.Attys.Appellate Service and Sp. Asst. Atty. Gen., Detroit, for the People.

Stuart M. Israel, Asst. Defender, Ann Arbor, for defendant-appellee.

MEMORANDUM OPINION.

The defendant, Ervin Lumpkin, was convicted in a non-jury trial on April 17, 1973, of the offense of possession of heroin contrary to the provision of M.C.L.A. § 335.341(4)(a);M.S.A. § 18.1070(41)(4)(a).On June 4, 1973, defendant was sentenced to a term of 16 months to 4 years in prison, with appropriate credit for time already spent in jail.

In the early morning hours of August 23, 1972, defendant was stopped by Michigan State Police TrooperAllen Engstrom for speeding on I--94 in Berrien County, Michigan.Defendant was the driver of the vehicle, and there was one other passenger.A routine registration check run on the car revealed that the license plate did not match the vehicle.Trooper Engstrom testified that under these circumstances it was his practice to ask the driver if he knew the contents of the trunk.Upon being so questioned, defendant replied that he knew the trunk's contents and that he would show the trooper what was in the trunk.When defendant opened the trunk, trooper Engstrom noticed a leather shaving kit and inquired about its contents.According to trooper Engstrom, the defendant then opened the kit, which revealed a small vial containing a white powdery substance.Subsequent tests determined that the substance was heroin.

The defendant took the stand and admitted that he opened the trunk of the car for trooper Engstrom.One major area of disagreement centered on ownership of the shaving kit.While trooper Engstrom testified that the defendant had informed him that the kit was his, the defendant denied ownership of the kit.The trial court decided this credibility question against the defendant and, as mentioned earlier, found him guilty.

The Court of Appeals, relying on People v. Chism, 390 Mich. 104, 211 N.W.2d 193(1973)andPeople v. Zeigler, 358 Mich. 355, 100 N.W.2d 456(1960), reversed, holding that a defendant must be informed of his right not to submit to a warrantless search.59 Mich.App. 304, 229 N.W.2d 426(1975).In this, the Court of Appeals erred.Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 36 L.Ed.2d 854(1973)andPeople v. Reed, 393 Mich. 342, 224 N.W.2d 867(1973), hold that the accused need not necessarily be informed of his right to refuse to consent to a search as a precondition to a valid consent.'The law today is that knowledge of the right to refuse is but one factor in the totality of circumstances to be examined in construing the reasonability...