Maddox v. State

502 So. 2d 779
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Alabama
DecidedJune 11, 1985
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 502 So. 2d 779 (Maddox v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Maddox v. State, 502 So. 2d 779 (Ala. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

The appellants, Richard M. Maddox, Vickie Ellen Callahan, and Gary Dean Gillum, were arrested on June 10, 1982, and charged with violating the Alabama Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Ala. Code 1975, § 20-2-1 through 20-2-144. Appellants Maddox and Gillum were specifically charged with trafficking in cannabis, in violation of § 20-2-80, and appellant Callahan was specifically charged with possession of marijuana, in violation of § 20-2-70. Indictments were returned against each appellant, by the June 1982 term of the Coosa County Grand Jury, indicting each with the violation for which they were initially charged.

On December 2, 1982, Maddox was found guilty of trafficking in cannabis by a Coosa County jury. Following an unfavorable pre-sentence report, Maddox was sentenced to a term of fifteen years in the penitentiary. On November 28, 1983, eleven months after Maddox was found guilty, Callahan pleaded guilty to felony possession of marijuana and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. On the same day, Gillum pleaded guilty to trafficking in cannabis, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. In a supplemental plea agreement, the State, with apparent approval of the trial court, agreed that Callahan and Gillum retained the right to appeal the legality of the search which led to the obtaining of evidence against the appellants.

Subsequent to this agreement, Callahan and Gillum moved to consolidate their appeals with that of Maddox. A similar motion was made by the State. All appellants are represented by the same attorneys on appeal. The motions to consolidate were granted by this court on November 7, 1984.

On his appeal, Maddox questions the legality of the search and seizure of evidence which led to his conviction. At trial his motion to suppress, after a hearing thereon, was overruled by the trial court. In a supplemental brief filed on behalf of Callahan and Gillum, they raise the same issues presented for review by Maddox. Resolution of the issues raised by Maddox will be dispositive of the issues raised by Callahan and Gillum.

On June 9, 1982, Officer David Windsor, an investigator with the Coosa County Sheriff's Department, received information that marijuana was being grown on premises *Page 781 subsequently determined to be occupied by Maddox, Callahan, and Gillum. Based upon this information, Windsor and Coosa County Deputy Sheriff Terry Browning proceeded to the property. Windsor and Browning approached from a dirt road south of the property and observed what Windsor described as a "normal farmhouse scene."

Windsor testified that he observed a dwelling house, shed, garage, and chicken house, all grouped in the same general area. The chicken house was located 15 to 20 feet from the dwelling. Attached to the east side of the chicken house was a greenhouse-type structure "covered with corrugated fiberglass." Windsor and Browning observed this scene from a wooded area south of the buildings and beyond an "old fence," which encircled the property. This fence was described as "old," but not decayed. Windsor testified that the fence was approximately 200 to 300 feet south of the buildings. J.M. Keel, a land surveyor, testified that the fence was 400 to 425 feet from the greenhouse.

After observing the general area, the deputies then walked along the "edge of the woods" in a westerly direction, to a position due south of the greenhouse. In order to get a better view, Windsor then crossed the fence and concealed himself in some bushes along the edge of a pond which was on the property. From this position, Windsor studied the scene with the aid of a pair of binoculars. Windsor testified that with the aid of the binoculars he observed "a couple of small plants," which he recognized as marijuana, growing outside the greenhouse doors.

Windsor then moved closer to the greenhouse and hid behind a pickup truck parked in front of the greenhouse. Windsor observed two more marijuana plants growing outside the greenhouse. The greenhouse had two large doors which were open; however, a plastic partition with large slits hung at the opening. Windsor could see into the greenhouse and observed more marijuana plants. The deputies then left and obtained a search warrant based on Windsor's observations.

On June 10, 1982, Windsor and five other law enforcement personnel returned to the property to execute the search warrant. The warrant was directed to Gillum as owner of the property. His ownership was indicated by the county tax assessor's records. Maddox, Callahan, and Gillum were found in the greenhouse. Windsor testified that, upon being arrested, Maddox stated, "I don't guess that was such a good idea after all." During a search of the residence, marijuana was found in almost every room. The appellants accompanied the officers during the search, and Windsor testified that Maddox identified one of the bedrooms as being his. The two other bedrooms were identified as belonging to Callahan and Gillum. Maddox also claimed ownership of some "cash money" which was in the room identified as his. In reference to the money, Maddox purportedly stated to Windsor, "I have just gotten my check cashed. That doesn't have anything to do with this." Maddox did not take the stand in his own behalf either on the motion to suppress or at trial. He offered no evidence at trial and his defense consisted of a probing and searching cross-examination of the State's witnesses and arguments to the jury.

On appeal the appellants contend that the search warrant was improperly issued and therefore that no evidence resulting from the search would be admissible against them. Appellants do not question the facial sufficiency of the affidavit nor do they dispute the evidence presented to the magistrate to support a finding of probable cause for the issuance of the search warrant. Rather they contend that all the evidence before the magistrate was obtained by the officer in violation of their Fourth Amendment rights, and, therefore, that it was improper for the magistrate to consider it in making a determination of probable cause. The State's sole argument is that Maddox did not have standing to contest the search; it neither addresses the validity of the search nor the issues as raised by Callahan and Gillum. *Page 782

I
In contending that the evidence seized pursuant to the search warrant should have been suppressed, it is argued that Windsor's actions in gaining his information for the magistrate's probable cause determination constituted a search; that this warrantless search could not be justified as falling within the "open fields" or "plain view" doctrines; and that, therefore, the evidence obtained should not have been used to secure the warrant. In effect, the appellants contend that the two doctrines do not operate to allow Officer Windsor's observations to be utilized as probable cause to support the issuance of the search warrant. We agree that the cited doctrines are inapplicable to the facts of this case; however, we view the inapplicability of these doctrines as having no effect on the issuance of the warrant.

Our analysis will first focus on Officer Windsor's initial observations from his position near or at the pond. We will then discuss the ramifications of Officer Windsor's second position closer to the greenhouse. As will be seen, Officer Windsor did not violate any of the appellants' Fourth Amendment rights until he crossed the constitutionally protected threshold of the curtilage in order to obtain a better view of the plants he had previously identified as marijuana.

A.

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Ex Parte Maddox
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Bluebook (online)
502 So. 2d 779, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/maddox-v-state-alacrimapp-1985.