United States v. Ricardo Castillo, Jr. ( 2022 )


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  •                  United States Court of Appeals
    For the Eighth Circuit
    ___________________________
    No. 22-1195
    ___________________________
    United States of America,
    lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellee,
    v.
    Ricardo Castillo, Jr.,
    lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellant.
    ____________
    Appeal from United States District Court
    for the Northern District of Iowa - Western
    ____________
    Submitted: August 10, 2022
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    [Unpublished]
    ____________
    Before COLLOTON, GRUENDER, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
    ____________
    PER CURIAM.
    Ricardo Castillo, Jr., appeals after he pleaded guilty to a child pornography
    offense. His counsel has moved for leave to withdraw, and has filed a brief under
    Anders v. California, 
    386 U.S. 738
     (1967), arguing that the district court1 erred by
    denying his motion to suppress.
    Upon careful review, we conclude that the district court did not err in denying
    the motion to suppress. Castillo did not show that the head of security for his former
    employer and the digital forensics expert who conducted a forensic examination of
    his work computer should be deemed agents of the government for Fourth
    Amendment purposes. See United States v. Ringland, 
    966 F.3d 731
    , 735 (8th Cir.
    2020); United States v. Weist, 
    596 F.3d 906
    , 910 (8th Cir. 2010). We agree with the
    district court that Castillo did not show that the two private individuals acted solely
    or primarily with the intent to assist law enforcement or that the government directed
    them to search the computer. See Ringland, 966 F.3d at 736; United States v.
    Highbull, 
    894 F.3d 988
    , 992-93 (8th Cir. 2018). We also agree that Castillo did not
    have a reasonable expectation of privacy in his work laptop, as his employer’s
    policies informed him that he should not expect such privacy. See Biby v. Bd. of
    Regents, of Univ. of Neb., 
    419 F.3d 845
    , 850-51 (8th Cir. 2005).
    We have also independently reviewed the record under Penson v. Ohio, 
    488 U.S. 75
     (1988), and have found no non-frivolous issues for appeal. Accordingly, we
    grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm.
    ______________________________
    1
    The Honorable Leonard T. Strand, Chief Judge, United States District Court
    for the Northern District of Iowa.
    -2-