Kevin Speer v. State of Indiana

995 N.E.2d 1, 2013 WL 2367980, 2013 Ind. App. LEXIS 266
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 31, 2013
Docket79A02-1209-CR-748
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 995 N.E.2d 1 (Kevin Speer v. State of Indiana) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kevin Speer v. State of Indiana, 995 N.E.2d 1, 2013 WL 2367980, 2013 Ind. App. LEXIS 266 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

OPINION

MAY, Judge.

Kevin Speer appeals his convictions of and sentences for Class B felony conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, 1 Class B felony manufacturing methamphetamine, 2 Class D felony possession of methamphetamine, 3 Class A misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia, 4 Class D felony possession of two more chemical reagents or precursors with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance, 5 and Class D felony maintaining a common nuisance. 6 He presents six issues for our review:

1. Whether the evidence from Speer’s traffic stop was obtained in violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States *4 Constitution and Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution;
2. Whether the evidence obtained as a result of the search warrant was seized illegally;
3. Whether the trial court abused its discretion when it denied Speer’s motion for mistrial;
4. Whether the State presented sufficient evidence Speer committed the crimes with which he was charged;
5. Whether Speer’s convictions of Class B felony manufacturing a methamphetamine and Class D felony possession of two more chemical reagents or precursors with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance subject Speer to double jeopardy because the State used the same evidence to prove Speer committed both crimes; and
6. Whether Speer’s sentence was inappropriate based on his character and the nature of the offense.

We affirm in part, and reverse and remand in part.

PACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On September 25, 2011, Detective Chad Robinson of the Lafayette Police Department was conductiñg surveillance at the residence of David Balsar, who was suspected of' participation in drug activity. Around 10:00 p.m., a red truck with an attached trailer left the residence. Detective Robinson followed the vehicle and noticed the license plates on both the trailer and the truck were partially obscured. He initiated a traffic stop.

Speer who was driving the vehicle and Jason Ferguson was his passenger. Detective Robinson discovered the plates on the truck were registered to a different vehicle. Back-up officers arrived at the scene, and Detective Robinson told Speer he would be conducting a dog sniff investigation of the vehicle. The dog alerted for the presence of narcotics near the driver’s door.

Detective Robinson searched the cab of the truck and found a black pouch containing, syringes, methamphetamine, and digital scales; a bag of syringes; two glass smoking pipes; and a device for smoking marijuana. He also found plastic aquarium tubing, more syringes, a funnel, measuring cups,. Heet starting fluid, lithium batteries, coffee filters, and pseudoephed-rine pills. The officers on scene recognized an odor consistent with that of a methamphetamine manufacture lab. Detective Robinson filed an affidavit in support of a search warrant, which was issued, and the rest of the truck and trailer were searched. The subsequent search yielded additional items that could be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

The State charged Speer with Class B felony conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, Class B felony manufacturing a methamphetamine, Class D felony possession of methamphetamine, Class A misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia, Class D felony possession of two or more chemical reagents or precursors with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance, and Class D felony maintaining a common nuisance. The State also alleged Speer was an habitual substance offender. After a jury trial, Speer was convicted on all counts and found to be an habitual substance offender. The trial court sentenced Speer to an aggregate sentence of thirty-three and one-half years incarcerated.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

1. Admission of Evidence

Speer did not seek interlocutory review of the denial of his motion to suppress but *5 instead appeals following trial. This issue is therefore “appropriately framed as whether the trial court abused its discretion by admitting the evidence at trial.” Lundquist v. State, 834 N.E.2d 1061, 1067 (Ind.Ct.App.2005). Our review of rulings on the admissibility of evidence is essentially the same whether the challenge is made by a pre-trial motion to suppress or by trial objection. Id. We do not reweigh the evidence, and we consider conflicting evidence most favorable to the trial court’s ruling. Id. However, we must also consider the uncontested evidence favorable to the defendant. Id.

Speer argues the search of his vehicle violated the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution. Although the Fourth Amendment and Article 1, Section 11 are textually similar, each must be separately analyzed. State v. Washington, 898 N.E.2d 1200, 1205-06 (Ind.2008), reh’g denied.

a. Fourth Amendment

Speer argues Detective Robinson did not have reasonable suspicion to stop his vehicle, and thus the ensuing search violated Speer’s Fourth Amendment rights. We disagree.

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Under the Fourth Amendment, a police officer may stop a vehicle if he has reasonable suspicion a traffic law has been violated or other criminal activity is taking place. Meredith v. State, 906 N.E.2d 867, 869 (Ind.2009). “An officer’s decision to stop a vehicle is valid so long as his on-the-spot evaluation reasonably suggests that lawbreaking occurred. This discretion, however, does not extend to an officer’s mistaken belief about what constitutes a violation as a matter of law.” Id. at 870.

Detective Robinson testified he stopped Speer’s vehicle because its license plate was not properly displayed. Indiana law requires:

(a) License plates shall be displayed ...
(1)For a ... trailer ... upon the rear of the vehicle ...
* * * * :'fi :|:
(3) For every other vehicle, upon the rear of the vehicle ...
* ⅜ ⅝ * ⅛ *

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
995 N.E.2d 1, 2013 WL 2367980, 2013 Ind. App. LEXIS 266, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kevin-speer-v-state-of-indiana-indctapp-2013.