State v. Goins

• Decision Date: 04 February 2004
• Docket Number: Case No. S-2003-61
• Citation: 2004 OK CR 5,84 P.3d 767
• Parties: STATE OF OKLAHOMA, Appellant v. MELVIN HENRY GOINS, Appellee.
• Court: United States State Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma. Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma

2004 OK CR 5

84 P.3d 767

STATE OF OKLAHOMA, Appellant v. MELVIN HENRY GOINS, Appellee.

Case No. S-2003-61

Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma

February 4, 2004

Francis R. Courbois, Oklahoma City, OK, for defendant.

F. Pat Versteeg, Assistant District Attorney, Sayre, OK, for appellant.

F. Pat Versteeg, Assistant District Attorney, Sayre, OK, for state.

Francis R. Courbois, Oklahoma City, OK, for appellee.

OPINION

LILE, VICE PRESIDING JUDGE:

¶1 Melvin Henry Goins was charged with Trafficking in Illegal Drugs (Marijuana) in violation of 63 O.S.2001, § 2-415 in the DistrictCourtofBeckhamCounty, Case No. CF-2002-790. Goins filed a motion to suppress the evidence alleging, generally, that the search of his vehicle was in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. A hearing was held before the Honorable Charles L. Goodwin.

¶2 Judge Goodwin ruled that the evidence must be suppressed, because the search was in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The State asserts that it cannot proceed without the evidence and now appeals to this Court based on 22 O.S.Supp.2002, § 1053(5). Section 1053 provides, in part, that the State may appeal,

Upon a pretrial order, decision, or judgment suppressing or excluding evidence where appellate review of the issue would be in the best interests of justice.

¶3 We find that the State's appeal is proper and review of this issue is in the best interests of justice. Furthermore, this case presents an issue of first impression in this State.

¶4 On April 21, 2002, Melvin Henry Goins, driving a motor home, was stopped by Oklahoma State Trooper Ty Williamson for following too closely in violation of 47 O.S.2001, § 11-310. Goins accompanied Williamson to the patrol vehicle where Williamson issued Goins a warning citation, returned his papers to him, and told Goins, "that is all I need."

¶5 Goins began to exit Williamson's vehicle, and Williamson asked Goins if he could ask him something before he left. Goins replied, "Sure." Williamson asked Goins if he was carrying any drugs, guns, large amounts of money or anything illegal in the motor home. Goins answered in the negative. Williamson then asked if he could search the vehicle and Goins said that he could. Troopers searched Goins motor home and discovered about three hundred (300) pounds of marijuana.

¶6 In suppressing the evidence, the trial court relied on McGaughey v. State, 2001 OK CR 33, 37 P.3d 130, and United States v. McSwain, 29 F.3d 558 (10th Cir. 1994). The trial court stated, "when the purpose of the stop is terminated, . . . then any further search or request to search is illegal. That's illegal under McGaugheyand McSwain." The State argues that the trial court's reliance on these cases is misplaced and its ruling is in error.

¶7 The trial court did not rule on the validity of the stop, nor did Goins assert that the initial stop was invalid. We presume, for the purpose of this analysis, that the initial stop was valid. Our review of the trial court's decision is based on an abuse of discretion standard, which has been defined as a clearly erroneous conclusion and judgment, one that is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts presented. State v. Love, 1998 OK CR 32, ¶ 2, 960 P.2d 368, 369.

¶8 The two cases relied on by the trial court are based on specific fact situations distinguishable from the facts of this case. In McGaughey, this Court held that once an officer realizes that his reason for a traffic stop is mistaken, any further detention violates the Fourth Amendment, absent specific circumstances. McGaughey, 37 P.3d at 137, 144. The facts of the relevant search reveal that McGaughey was stopped because the trooper could not see his taillights; however, once the stop was made, the trooper saw that the taillights were working. This Court ruled that the trooper should have terminated the stop.

¶9 Similar facts occurred in McSwain. A Utah Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a vehicle because he could not read the expiration date on the temporary registration sticker in the rear window. Once the vehicle was stopped, the trooper could see that the registration was valid. Ultimately, the trooper asked for consent to search, which was given, and cocaine was discovered in the vehicle.

¶10 The Courts in each of these cases held that once the troopers approached the vehicles and observed that there was no violation, the purpose of the stop was satisfied. Therefore, the actions by the trooper in extending the traffic stop to ask for identification, driver's license, etc. exceeded the limits of lawful investigative detention and violated the Fourth Amendment. McGaughey, 37 P.3d at 140-41; McSwain, 29 F.3d at 561-62.

¶11 Both cases are distinguishable from the case at hand. The holdings of McSwainand McGaughey were based on a specific set of facts where the vehicle was stopped based on a mistaken belief that the vehicle did not comply with the law or that the driver had violated or was violating the law. A detention that continues beyond the point where the officer determines that the stop was made on a mistaken belief cannot be considered reasonably related in scope to the initial justification for the stop. McGaughey, 37 P.3d at 137; McSwain, 29 F.3d at 561-62.

¶12 In McGaughey and McSwain, the officer continued the detention after it was determined that the stop was made on a mistaken belief. However, even in McGaughey, this Court acknowledged that, if the stop is based on an observed traffic violation, which is not made under mistaken belief, then the traffic stop is valid under the Fourth Amendment. McGaughey, 37 P.3d at 136; See also Lozoyav. State , 1996 OK CR 55, ¶ 32, 932 P.2d 22, 32.

¶13 Two different situations may support further police actions after an initial valid stop is concluded. On this point the Tenth Circuit has stated:

Lengthening the detention for further questioning beyond that related to the initial stop is permissible in two circumstances. First, the officer may detain the driver for questioning unrelated to the initial stop if he has an objectively reasonable and articulable suspicion illegal activity has occurred or is occurring. Second, further questioning unrelated to the initial stop is permissible if the initial detention has become a consensual encounter.

United States v. Hunnicutt, 135 F.3d 1345, 1349 (10th Cir. 1998)[internal citations omitted].

¶14 In Hunnicutt, a police officer stopped a vehicle for weaving across the shoulder line and the centerline of his lane of travel. Hunnicutt took 10-12 seconds to stop. When stopped, Hunnicutt produced a license, but no insurance verification. He claimed to be buying the car from someone else, but the name he gave did not match the registered owner of the car. Computer checks also showed that the Hunnicutt's driver's license had been suspended. Hunnicutt and the passengers told inconsistent stories about their travel destinations. Hunnicutt denied that there were any illegal substances or weapons in the car. A drug dog was called and a large quantity of methamphetamine was found.

¶15 The Court found that the officer formed an "objectively reasonable and articulable suspicion" of illegal activity to support the extension of the traffic stop. The Court reasoned that because the officer asked about guns and drugs before returning the driver's license, the stop must have been supported by the reasonable suspicion. Id. The Court found that the officer's suspicion was properly based on "a driver who had no proof that he was the vehicle's owner, no registration, and no proof he was otherwise authorized to operate the vehicle." The driver failed to stop promptly, and, after the stop, the passengers repeatedly moved back and forth and leaned over. The totality of the circumstances supported further detention. Id.

¶16 We relied on Hunnicutt to support the extension of a valid traffic stop based on an "objectively reasonable and articulable suspicion" in State v. Paul, 2003 OK CR 1, 62 P.3d 389. However, this Court has yet to publish a case on the second exception, a driver's voluntary consent to an extension of the traffic stop; therefore, we look to other jurisdictions for guidance.

¶17 The Tenth Circuit, in United States v. Hernandez, 93 F.3d 1493, 1498 (10th Cir. 1996), discussed the second justification for the extension of a valid stop; the consensual encounter. The Hernandez case is instructive on this specific issue and is indistinguishable from the case at bar. In Hernandez, the Court held that "a traffic stop may become a consensual encounter if the officer returns the license and registration and asks questions without further constraining the driver by an overbearing show of authority." Id., 93 F.3d at 1498. In Hernandez, Oklahoma Highway Patrolman Dennis Flowers, stopped a vehicle for speeding. After writing a warning citation and checking the validity of the driver's license and registration, the officer returned the Hernandez's documents to him and told him he was free to go. As Hernandez turned to get out of the patrol car, the officer inquired if he could ask a few questions. Hernandez said he could. The officer asked about travel itinerary and whether there was any contraband in the car. Hernandez said there was none and consented to a search of the car. The officer testified that he was "fishing." A subsequent search revealed sixty-five pounds of pseudoephedrine (a precursor used in the manufacture of methamphetamine) and $1800.

¶18 The Court held that the driver's consent was voluntary applying the test of whether a reasonable person in the driver's position would believe he was not free to leave. Hernandez, 93 F.3d at 1499. The Court in Hernandez determined that, "There was no evidence that Flowers used a commanding or threatening manner or tone of voice, displayed a weapon, or touched Hernandez. . . . There was no evidence that Flowers' manner was accusatory, persistent, and intrusive." Id.

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