State v. Sierra Dawn Grace ( 2010 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 37555
STATE OF IDAHO, ) 2010 Unpublished Opinion No. 750
)
Plaintiff-Respondent, ) Filed: December 21, 2010
)
v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
SIERRA DAWN GRACE, ) THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
) OPINION AND SHALL NOT
Defendant-Appellant. ) BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
)
Appeal from the District Court of the Fifth Judicial District, State of Idaho, Twin
Falls County. Hon. Randy J. Stoker, District Judge.
Judgment of conviction and sentence for possession of methamphetamine,
affirmed.
Molly J. Huskey, State Appellate Public Defender; Eric D. Fredericksen, Deputy
Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Lori A. Fleming, Deputy Attorney
General, Boise, for respondent.
________________________________________________
Before GUTIERREZ, Judge, GRATTON, Judge
and MELANSON, Judge
PER CURIAM
Sierra Dawn Grace appeals from the judgment entered upon her conditional guilty plea to
possession of methamphetamine. On appeal, Grace challenges the denial of her motion to
suppress. Specifically, she argues that the district court made a clearly erroneous factual finding
that Grace voluntarily consented to a search of her purse. The incident in question occurred after
Officer Ken Rivers approached Grace and sought to determine if she had any connection to a
fight that had been called in. In addition to questioning Grace about any involvement in the
fight, Officer Rivers requested verification of identification and requested permission to search
Grace’s purse. Grace responded “Sure” to the request for search of her purse, handed her purse
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to the officer adding, “I don’t see why you have to do this though . . . .” Officer Rivers
discovered a pipe containing methamphetamine residue in the purse.
Whether a consent to a search was voluntary is a question of fact, the determination of
which is reviewed on appeal for clear error. State v. Reynolds, 146 Idaho 466, 472, 197 P.3d
327, 333 (Ct. App. 2008); State v. Stewart, 145 Idaho 641, 648, 181 P.3d 1249, 1256 (Ct. App.
2008). “Findings will not be deemed clearly erroneous if they are supported by substantial
evidence in the record.” Stewart, 145 Idaho at 648, 181 P.3d at 1256 (quoting State v. Jaborra,
143 Idaho 94, 98, 137 P.3d 481, 485 (Ct. App. 2006)).
The voluntariness of an individual’s consent is a question of fact to be determined based
upon the totality of the circumstances. Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 248-49 (1973);
State v. Varie, 135 Idaho 848, 852, 26 P.3d 31, 35 (2001). In order to be valid, consent cannot be
the result of duress or coercion, either direct or implied. Schneckloth, 412 U.S. at 248. The mere
presence of officers asking for consent to search is not sufficient, as a matter of law, to constitute
improper police duress or coercion. See United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411, 424-25 (1976).
Instead, the court must consider all of the surrounding circumstances and find consent
involuntary only if “coerced by threats or force, or granted only in submission to a claim of
lawful authority . . . .” State v. Hoisington, 104 Idaho 153, 158, 657 P.2d 17, 22 (1983) (quoting
Schneckloth, 412 U.S. at 233).
The district court found that the state met its burden of proving that Grace voluntarily
consented to the search of her purse.
Here, it is clear that consent to search was freely given by Grace. Rivers asked
Grace if he could search her purse. Grace replied “Sure” and handed her purse to
Rivers. At no time did Grace tell Rivers he could not search her purse or
withdraw consent in any other way. The Court finds as a fact that Grace’s
questioning of why Rivers had to search her purse as she handed it to him did not
act as withdrawal of her consent. The act of handing Rivers the purse and her
response were an unequivocal consent to search. Grace’s consent is further
evidenced by her holding items from her purse as it was being searched when
asked and her later statement that she wouldn’t have let Rivers go through her
purse if she knew there was anything in it.
No threats were made by Rivers towards Grace if she did not consent to
the search of her purse. Though Rivers was initially accompanied by another
officer, [Rivers] was the only officer conducting the search. Further the questions
asked by Rivers regarding Grace’s permission to search her purse allowed Grace
adequate opportunity to reject his requests. The tone of voice used by Rivers
during the encounter was [calm] and unthreatening. As such, the act of handing
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her purse to Rivers and her response of “Sure” constituted adequate consent to
search by Grace. See State v. Knapp, 120 Idaho 343, 348, 815 P.2d 1083, 1088
(Ct. App. 1991) (consent to search may be in the form of words, gestures, or
conduct).
On appeal, Grace argues that “the district court made a clearly erroneous factual finding
that Ms. Grace voluntarily consented to a search of her pur[se].” She focuses exclusively on the
fact that, while the officer was searching her purse, Grace stated, “I don’t see why you have to do
this, though . . . .” Grace’s reliance on this single statement, to the exclusion of all of the other
facts in the record, does not show clear error in the district court’s determination that Grace’s
consent was voluntary. Substantial evidence supports the district court’s finding, based on the
totality of the circumstances, that Grace voluntarily consented to the search of her purse. Grace
has failed to show error in the denial of her motion to suppress. Accordingly, Grace’s judgment
of conviction for possession of methamphetamine is affirmed.
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