People v. Burkhart CA2/5

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 13, 2014
DocketB248690
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Burkhart CA2/5 (People v. Burkhart CA2/5) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Burkhart CA2/5, (Cal. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Filed 6/13/14 P. v. Burkhart CA2/5 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION FIVE

THE PEOPLE, B248690

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. MA056490) v.

RICHARD BYRON BURKHART,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Lisa Mangay Chung, Judge. Affirmed as modified with directions. Laurie Wilmore, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Paul M. Roadarmel, Jr., Stephanie M. Myoshi and Connie H. Kan, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. I. INTRODUCTION

A jury convicted defendant, Richard Byron Burkhart, of: two counts of methamphetamine possession for sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11378); one count of methamphetamine transportation etc. (Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a)); and one count of billy possession. (Pen. Code,1 § 22210 .) Defendant admitted he had served eight prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)) and had a prior drug-related felony conviction. (Health & Saf. Code, § 11370.2, subd. (c).) Defendant was sentenced to 18 years and 4 months in the county jail. We modify the judgment and affirm as modified.

II. THE EVIDENCE

On June 9, 2012, defendant was arrested for possession of 3.27 grams of powder containing methamphetamine, a salable amount. Defendant did not appear to be under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of his arrest. He appeared to be completely sober. Nor was he in possession of any paraphernalia designed for controlled substance use. Three “throwing knives” were within defendant’s reach in the passenger compartment of the Suburban defendant was driving. An axe handle was attached by bungee cords to the Suburban’s engine. On September 5, 2012, Deputy Robert Gonzalez arrested defendant pursuant to a warrant. Defendant was on a street known for narcotics use and sales. Defendant was in possession of two baggies containing 0.04 and 1.35 grams of methamphetamine. These were salable amounts. Defendant did not appear to be under the influence of controlled substances. He appeared to be completely sober. He was not in possession of any paraphernalia associated with controlled substance use. Defendant’s cellular telephone contained text messages consistent with narcotics sales. Defendant admitted selling illegal drugs, but denied receiving any money in return. Defendant said he acted as a

1 Further statutory references are to the Penal Code except where otherwise noted.

2 middle man and was paid in methamphetamine. Defendant said he sold narcotics to support his addiction. Notably, a controlled substance “sale” includes transfers for noncash benefits. (People v. Harris (2000) 83 Cal.App.4th 371, 374; People v. Peck (1996) 52 Cal.App.4th 351, 357; People v. Lazenby (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 1842, 1845.)

III. DISCUSSION

A. Defendant’s Evidence Suppression Motion

1. Evidence and standard of review

Defendant moved to suppress an axe handle found in the engine compartment of the Suburban he was driving at the time of his June 9, 2012 arrest. (§ 1538.5.) The trial court denied the motion. We apply the following standard of review: “‘Our review of issues related to the suppression of evidence seized by the police is governed by federal constitutional standards.’ (People v. Lenart (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1107, 1118; see Cal. Const., art. I, § 28, subd. (f)(2).) ‘In reviewing a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress evidence, we defer to that court’s factual findings, express or implied, if they are supported by substantial evidence. [Citation.] We exercise our independent judgment in determining whether, on the facts presented, the search or seizure was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.’ ([People v.] Lenart, [supra, 32 Cal.4th] at p. 1119.)” (Robey v. Superior Court (2013) 56 Cal.4th 1218, 1223.) The evidence adduced at the evidence suppression hearing was as follows. Deputy Larry Pico had arrested defendant for controlled substance violations approximately 10 times over a 6-year period. Deputy Pico was on patrol at midnight on June 9, 2012. Deputy Pico’s cruiser passed a Suburban. Deputy Pico shone his spotlight on the passing Suburban. Deputy Pico recognized defendant as the driver. Defendant and Deputy Pico made eye contact. Deputy Pico assumed defendant was on probation. Deputy Pico noted the Suburban’s license plate light was dim or out. Deputy Pico made

3 a U-turn and initiated a traffic stop. Deputy Pico saw a plastic bag fly from the Suburban’s driver’s window. Deputy Pico had seen suspects toss contraband from vehicles more than five times. The maneuver raised Deputy Pico’s suspicion. The tossed object was a plastic bag containing a substance resembling methamphetamine. Deputy Pico arrested defendant. Deputy Pico then conducted a search of the Suburban. Deputy District Attorney John Evans asked Deputy Pico, “Did [you do] a search of his Suburban incident to the arrest based on what you had recovered in the investigation?” Deputy Pico responded, “Yes, I did.” Deputy Pico recovered an axe handle from the engine compartment. Deputy Pico referred to it as a billy club. The billy club had been strapped to the engine with bungee cords.

2. Issues preserved for appeal

Defendant asserts any argument Deputy Pico had probable cause to believe the Suburban contained contraband was forfeited by failure to raise it in the trial court. We find no forfeiture. Defendant relies on Deputy Pico’s testimony at the suppression of evidence hearing. Defendant’s counsel, Frederick McCurray, asked Deputy Pico, “Now, you said you conducted a search incident to the arrest?” Deputy Pico answered, “Correct, sir.” Mr. McCurray subsequently asked, “So as part of your search incident to arrest you went and opened the hood of the vehicle?” Deputy Pico again answered, “Correct, sir.” On direct examination, however, Mr. Evans asked Deputy Pico, “Did [you do] a search of his vehicle incident to the arrest based on what you had recovered in the investigation?” Deputy Pico responded, “Yes, I did.” (Italics added.) What Deputy Pico had recovered was 3.27 grams of powder containing methamphetamine. Defendant had tossed the methamphetamine from the Suburban. The trial court could reasonably infer the scope of Deputy Pico’s search was governed by his belief additional contraband would be discovered. In addition, Mr. Evans argued the recovered contraband permitted Deputy Pico to search any area of the Suburban where narcotics might be found.

4 Moreover, the question before the trial court was whether Deputy Pico’s actions were objectively reasonable in light of the facts and circumstances confronting him. (Scott v. United States (1978) 436 U.S. 128, 135-138; People v. Carrington (2009) 47 Cal.4th 145, 168; People v. Sanders (2003) 31 Cal.4th 318, 334.) Deputy Pico’s state of mind was irrelevant to the inquiry. (Scott v. United States, supra, 436 U.S. at pp. 135- 138; People v. Carrington, supra, 47 Cal.4th at p. 168; People v. Sanders, supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 334.) Therefore, we are not concerned with Deputy Pico’s subjective basis for the search.

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Bluebook (online)
People v. Burkhart CA2/5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-burkhart-ca25-calctapp-2014.