State v. Zimmer , 311 Neb. 294 ( 2022 )


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  • Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library
    www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
    06/24/2022 08:06 AM CDT
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    Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
    311 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. ZIMMER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 294
    State of Nebraska, appellee, v.
    Matthew Zimmer, appellant.
    ___ N.W.2d ___
    Filed April 1, 2022.     No. S-21-352.
    1. Search and Seizure: Appeal and Error. The denial of a motion for
    return of seized property is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.
    2. Statutes: Appeal and Error. Statutory interpretation is a question of
    law, which an appellate court resolves independently of the trial court.
    3. Criminal Law: Search and Seizure: Property. Property seized in
    enforcing a criminal law is said to be “in custodia legis,” or in the cus-
    tody of the court.
    4. Police Officers and Sheriffs: Search and Seizure: Property. Property
    seized and held as evidence is to be safely kept by the officer seizing
    it unless otherwise directed by the court, and the officer is to exercise
    reasonable care and diligence for the safekeeping of the property.
    5. Trial: Search and Seizure: Evidence. Seized property shall be kept so
    long as necessary for the purpose of being produced as evidence at trial.
    6. Search and Seizure: Property. The proper procedure to obtain the
    return of seized property is to apply to the court for its return.
    7. ____: ____. A motion for the return of seized property is properly
    denied only if the claimant is not entitled to lawful possession of the
    property, the property is contraband or subject to forfeiture, or the gov-
    ernment has some other continuing interest in the property.
    8. ____: ____. Upon the termination of criminal proceedings, seized prop-
    erty, other than contraband, should be returned to the rightful owner
    unless the government has a continuing interest in the property.
    9. Search and Seizure: Property: Proof. Seizure of property from some-
    one is prima facie evidence of that person’s right to possession of the
    property, and unless another party presents evidence of superior title, the
    person from whom the property was taken need not present additional
    evidence of ownership.
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    Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
    311 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. ZIMMER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 294
    10. ____: ____: ____. The burden is on the government to show that it has
    a legitimate reason to retain seized property.
    11. Search and Seizure: Property: Presumptions: Title. The presumptive
    right to possession of seized property may be overcome when superior
    title in another is shown by a preponderance of the evidence.
    12. Criminal Law: Property. Contraband per se comprises objects the pos-
    session of which, without more, constitutes a crime.
    13. Property. Derivative contraband comprises objects which are not inher-
    ently illegal, but are used in an unlawful manner.
    Appeal from the District Court for Lancaster County,
    Andrew R. Jacobsen, Judge, on appeal thereto from the
    County Court for Lancaster County, Joseph E. Dalton,
    Judge. Judgment of District Court reversed and remanded with
    directions.
    Joe Nigro, Lancaster County Public Defender, and Mark
    Carraher for appellant.
    No appearance for appellee.
    Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
    Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
    Funke, J.
    INTRODUCTION
    Law enforcement seized Matthew Zimmer’s shotgun, inci-
    dent to an arrest. Following his successful completion of pro-
    bation, Zimmer moved the county court for Lancaster County,
    Nebraska, to return his seized firearm. The court denied the
    motion and ordered that the firearm be destroyed. Zimmer
    appealed to the district court, which affirmed. Zimmer fur-
    ther appeals and asserts that under 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-820
    (Reissue 2016), the trial court was required to return the seized
    firearm, because the firearm was not used in the commission of
    a crime. We agree that the lower courts erred, and as a result,
    we reverse the judgment of the district court and remand the
    matter to the district court with directions to reverse the judg-
    ment of the county court.
    - 296 -
    Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
    311 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. ZIMMER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 294
    BACKGROUND
    In 2018, officers of the Lincoln Police Department were
    called to Zimmer’s residence in Lincoln, Nebraska, regarding a
    disturbance between Zimmer and his ex-girlfriend. The officers
    resolved the situation and left the residence without making
    any arrests.
    Minutes later, the officers were dispatched back to the
    area to investigate reports of gunshots. Although none of the
    reporting parties provided an address as to where the gunshots
    originated, they indicated that the shots came from the vicin-
    ity of Zimmer’s residence. Officers knew, from the earlier
    disturbance, that Zimmer kept a shotgun in the residence and
    that Zimmer appeared to be intoxicated. Officers attempted to
    interview Zimmer, but he was uncooperative and hostile. After
    a standoff of significant length, Zimmer was taken into cus-
    tody. While Zimmer was being placed under emergency protec-
    tive custody at a mental health crisis center, his ex-girlfriend
    consented to a search of the residence where officers found
    a shotgun and ammunition. The officers also found one spent
    shell casing just inside the back door of the residence. Zimmer
    denied that he had fired a weapon. Upon his release from the
    crisis center, Zimmer was taken into custody for discharging
    a firearm in the city limits in violation of Lincoln Municipal
    Code § 9.36.010 (1990).
    Zimmer was ultimately charged with, and pled guilty to, the
    offense of refusing to comply with an order of a police officer
    in violation of Lincoln Municipal Code § 9.08.050 (1990). At
    sentencing, Zimmer’s counsel requested that the seized firearm
    be returned to either Zimmer or Zimmer’s mother because the
    firearm was one of the only things Zimmer had inherited from
    his deceased father. After confirming that the firearm was not
    on Zimmer’s person at the time of his arrest, the sentencing
    court advised that it was “going to hold that weapon until
    [Zimmer] successfully complete[d] [his] probation, at which
    time, then, [it would] reconsider — or [it would] consider
    releasing it to [Zimmer’s] mother or some other civil person.
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    311 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. ZIMMER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 294
    But [it was] not willing to release it at [that] time.” The court’s
    accompanying order stated, “Hold weapon until [Zimmer] suc-
    cessfully completes probation[;] not to be destroyed until any
    other order from court.” Zimmer was sentenced to 6 months
    of probation.
    Following his successful completion of probation, Zimmer
    filed a motion for return of his property and the court set the
    motion for hearing. Zimmer appeared pro se at the hearing.
    The State opposed the motion, arguing that police officers
    were dispatched to Zimmer’s residence because of several
    reports of gunshots coming from the area of Zimmer’s resi-
    dence. The State also emphasized that during the interaction
    with officers, Zimmer made comments about retrieving a gun.
    The court overruled the motion and ordered the firearm to
    be destroyed.
    The court subsequently reconsidered the matter and vacated
    its order. The court reset the matter for a hearing, where
    counsel appeared on Zimmer’s behalf. Zimmer argued that he
    pled guilty to the offense of refusing to comply with an order
    of a police officer and that such offense does not encompass
    firearms. Zimmer argued that the city attorney chose not
    to file a charge for discharging a firearm in the city limits.
    Zimmer also argued that he has a constitutional right to own a
    firearm and that he holds the freedom to possess or purchase
    another gun.
    At the hearing, the State offered two exhibits, consisting of
    a police report and a probable cause affidavit. Although both
    exhibits can be found in our appellate record, the trial court
    received only the probable cause affidavit into evidence. The
    State then proceeded to argue that the firearm was related to
    the offense because the firearm formed the basis for the police
    officer’s orders to Zimmer.
    The county court again denied Zimmer’s motion and ordered
    that the firearm be destroyed. Zimmer appealed to the dis-
    trict court, which affirmed the denial of his motion to return
    property. Zimmer then appealed to the Nebraska Court of
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    311 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. ZIMMER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 294
    Appeals, and we moved the matter to our docket. 1 We note that
    the State has not filed a brief before us.
    ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
    Zimmer’s sole assignment of error is that the district court
    erred by affirming the county court’s order denying his motion
    to return property.
    STANDARD OF REVIEW
    [1,2] The denial of a motion for return of seized property is
    reviewed for an abuse of discretion. 2 Statutory interpretation is
    a question of law, which an appellate court resolves indepen-
    dently of the trial court. 3
    ANALYSIS
    [3-5] Property seized in enforcing a criminal law is said to
    be “in custodia legis,” or in the custody of the court. 4 Property
    seized and held as evidence is to be safely kept by the officer
    seizing it unless otherwise directed by the court, and the officer
    is to exercise reasonable care and diligence for the safekeeping
    of the property. 5 The property shall be kept so long as neces-
    sary for the purpose of being produced as evidence at trial. 6
    [6,7] The proper procedure to obtain the return of seized
    property is to apply to the court for its return. 7 A motion for the
    return of seized property is properly denied only if the claimant
    is not entitled to lawful possession of the property, the property
    is contraband or subject to forfeiture, or the government has
    some other continuing interest in the property. 8
    1
    
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-1106
    (3) (Cum. Supp. 2020).
    2
    State v. Ebert, 
    303 Neb. 394
    , 
    929 N.W.2d 478
     (2019).
    3
    In re Interest of Seth C., 
    307 Neb. 862
    , 
    951 N.W.2d 135
     (2020).
    4
    State v. Agee, 
    274 Neb. 445
    , 
    741 N.W.2d 161
     (2007).
    5
    
    Id.
     See, also, 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-818
     (Reissue 2016).
    6
    
    Id.
    7
    Agee, 
    supra note 4
    .
    8
    
    Id.
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    Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
    311 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. ZIMMER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 294
    Relevant to the case at hand, two Nebraska statutes deal
    with the disposition of seized property, namely §§ 29-818 and
    29-820. Under § 29-818, the court where the criminal charge
    has been filed and where seized property was or may be used
    as evidence has exclusive jurisdiction for disposition of the
    property and to determine rights therein, including questions
    respecting the title, possession, control, and disposition thereof.
    Under § 29-820, law enforcement is authorized to dispose
    of certain property seized or held and no longer required as
    evidence. Specifically, § 29-820(1)(e) states that “[f]irearms
    . . . which have been used in the commission of crime shall
    be destroyed” and § 29-820(1)(f) allows law enforcement to
    return firearms to owners that “(i) have not been used in the
    commission of crime, (ii) have not been defaced or altered
    in any manner that violates any state or federal law, (iii) may
    have a lawful use and be lawfully possessed, and (iv) [were not
    seized in a domestic assault].”
    In State v. McGuire, 9 this court considered the interplay of
    §§ 29-818 and 29-820 and concluded that when reading the
    statutes together, § 29-820 applies only where the exclusive
    jurisdiction of a court under § 29-818 has not been invoked.
    We reiterated that “the court in which a criminal charge has
    been filed has exclusive jurisdiction to determine the rights to
    seized property, and the property’s disposition.” 10
    Zimmer’s motion for return of the firearm did not indicate
    which statute he relies upon, and the county court’s order
    overruling the motion is equally vague. The county court’s
    comments at the hearing suggest that the motion was over-
    ruled because the firearm was used in the commission of a
    crime pursuant to § 29-820. The district court’s order affirm-
    ing the county court’s order referenced § 29-820(1)(e) and (f)
    and discussed how property seized during a criminal matter is
    9
    State v. McGuire, 
    301 Neb. 895
    , 
    921 N.W.2d 77
     (2018).
    10
    
    Id. at 903
    , 921 N.W.2d at 84.
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    STATE v. ZIMMER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 294
    handled. The court ultimately found that the county court did
    not err in finding that the firearm should be destroyed because
    it was used in the commission of a crime. Neither court order
    indicated what crime the firearm was used to commit.
    It is clear that the firearm was seized incident to Zimmer’s
    arrest for discharging a firearm in the city limits. Although
    arrested for discharging a firearm, a complaint was later filed
    in the county court charging Zimmer with refusal to obey a
    lawful order stemming from the same incident. Zimmer pled
    guilty to the charged crime and was sentenced to probation. As
    such, our holding in McGuire 11 dictates that § 29-818 was the
    appropriate statute for the lower courts to rely upon when con-
    sidering Zimmer’s motion for return of seized property.
    [8-11] The general rule is well established that upon the ter-
    mination of criminal proceedings, seized property, other than
    contraband, should be returned to the rightful owner unless the
    government has a continuing interest in the property. 12 Seizure
    of property from someone is prima facie evidence of that per-
    son’s right to possession of the property, and unless another
    party presents evidence of superior title, the person from whom
    the property was taken need not present additional evidence of
    ownership. 13 The burden is on the government to show that it
    has a legitimate reason to retain the property. 14 The presump-
    tive right to possession of seized property may be overcome
    when superior title in another is shown by a preponderance of
    the evidence. 15
    Here, the record is clear that the firearm was seized from
    Zimmer, and as such, he is presumed to be the lawful owner. 16
    11
    McGuire, 
    supra note 9
    .
    12
    Agee, 
    supra note 4
    .
    13
    
    Id.
    14
    
    Id.
    15
    Ebert, 
    supra note 2
    .
    16
    See Agee, 
    supra note 4
    .
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    Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
    311 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. ZIMMER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 294
    It is also clear that the criminal proceedings against Zimmer
    are completed, because he has been satisfactorily released from
    probation; therefore, the State would not need the property
    as evidence in the future. 17 Further, the State has not shown
    the need to retain the property for a tax lien, imposed fine, or
    restitution order. 18 Therefore, the State has shown no continu-
    ing interest in the property. Additionally, nothing in the record
    indicates that Zimmer is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
    As such, the only remaining basis for denying the motion for
    return of property is whether the property is subject to forfeit­
    ure or is contraband.
    In general, property is subject to forfeiture only if there is a
    statute that provides this remedy. 19 Statutes imposing a forfeit­
    ure or penalty are subject to strict construction. 20 Although the
    Legislature has provided for forfeiture in discrete situations,
    see, 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-1111
     (Reissue 2016) (gambling
    devices); 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-431
     (Reissue 2016) (property
    used in violation of controlled substance laws); 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21
    ,302 (Reissue 2016) (property used in violation of
    Child Pornography Prevention Act); 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 53-1
    ,111
    (Reissue 2021) (alcoholic liquor manufactured, possessed, or
    kept for sale contrary to terms of Nebraska Liquor Control
    Act), there is no general authorization for the forfeiture of
    contra­band. As such, Zimmer’s firearm would not be statuto-
    rily subject to forfeiture.
    In considering whether Zimmer’s firearm is contraband, we
    note that neither party cites to, nor does this court find any,
    statutory definition of “contraband.” As a result, as we often
    do, we turn to the dictionary to ascertain the word’s plain and
    17
    See State v. Buttercase, 
    296 Neb. 304
    , 
    893 N.W.2d 430
     (2017).
    18
    See Agee, 
    supra note 4
    .
    19
    State v. Driscoll, 
    184 Vt. 381
    , 
    964 A.2d 1172
     (2008).
    20
    County of Merrick v. Beck, 
    205 Neb. 829
    , 
    290 N.W.2d 642
     (1980).
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    ordinary meaning. 21 Black’s Law Dictionary defines “contra-
    band” as “[g]oods that are unlawful to . . . possess.” 22
    [12] Decisional law recognizes two kinds of contraband. 23
    Traditional, or per se, contraband is defined as “objects the
    possession of which, without more, constitutes a crime.” 24 It is
    well established that a claimant has no right “to have [per se
    contraband] returned to him.” 25 Since the State has not shown
    that it is a crime for Zimmer to possess the seized firearm,
    the rule mandating forfeiture of per se contraband is inappli-
    cable here.
    [13] Courts have also recognized derivative contraband as
    the second kind of contraband. 26 “Derivative contraband are
    articles which are not inherently illegal, but are used in an
    unlawful manner.” 27 The firearm seized from Zimmer would
    fall within this second category if in fact it was used in an
    “unlawful manner” as an instrumentality of crime.
    Here, the evidence offered by the State indicates that offi-
    cers went to Zimmer’s residence after receiving reports of
    shots fired in that vicinity. The officers knew that Zimmer
    owned a shotgun that he kept inside his residence and later
    found the shotgun, along with ammunition and a spent shell
    casing, near the back door of the residence. However, accord-
    ing to the evidence, none of the reporting parties identified that
    the shots came from Zimmer’s residence or that Zimmer was
    21
    See, Ash Grove Cement Co. v. Nebraska Dept. of Rev., 
    306 Neb. 947
    ,
    
    947 N.W.2d 731
     (2020); State v. Gilliam, 
    292 Neb. 770
    , 
    874 N.W.2d 48
    (2016).
    22
    Black’s Law Dictionary 402 (11th ed. 2019).
    23
    United States v. Farrell, 
    606 F.2d 1341
     (D.C. Cir. 1979).
    24
    Plymouth Sedan v. Pennsylvania, 
    380 U.S. 693
    , 699, 
    85 S. Ct. 1246
    , 
    14 L. Ed. 2d 170
     (1965).
    25
    United States v. Jeffers, 
    342 U.S. 48
    , 54, 
    72 S. Ct. 93
    , 
    96 L. Ed. 59
     (1951).
    26
    See Farrell, 
    supra note 23
    . See, also, People v. Steskal, 
    55 Ill. 2d 157
    , 
    302 N.E.2d 321
     (1973).
    27
    Steskal, 
    supra note 26
    , 
    55 Ill. 2d at 159
    , 
    302 N.E.2d at 323
    .
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    STATE v. ZIMMER
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    the person who fired the shots. Additionally, the probable cause
    affidavit indicates that although multiple shots were fired,
    only one shell casing was found within Zimmer’s residence.
    None of the officers testified that Zimmer’s gun appeared to
    have been recently fired. Zimmer specifically denied firing the
    weapon. And although arrested for discharging a firearm within
    the city limits, the State chose not to prosecute Zimmer with
    that offense, and instead, it prosecuted him with the offense of
    refusing to comply with an order of a police officer.
    In regard to the offense of refusing to comply with an
    order of a police officer, the evidence shows that Zimmer was
    ­uncooperative and hostile toward law enforcement. However,
    the evidence does not show that Zimmer possessed the fire-
    arm during his interaction with law enforcement. Further,
    our record is devoid of the factual basis offered to support
    Zimmer’s guilty plea, so we are unable to ascertain what evi-
    dence the State relied upon to prosecute the charge.
    The State has the burden to establish that the firearm was
    used by Zimmer in an unlawful manner as an instrumental-
    ity of crime. Based upon the appellate record, we conclude
    that the State failed to meet that burden. As such, the district
    court erred in affirming the county court’s denial of Zimmer’s
    motion for return of seized property.
    CONCLUSION
    We conclude the State has failed to meet its burden to show
    that Zimmer’s seized firearm is contraband or subject to forfeit­
    ure, or that the government has some other continuing interest
    in the property. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the
    district court and remand the matter to the district court with
    directions to reverse the judgment of the county court.
    Reversed and remanded with directions.