State Of Washington v. Stephen Lee Vanness

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedMarch 2, 2015
Docket70839-2
StatusPublished

This text of State Of Washington v. Stephen Lee Vanness (State Of Washington v. Stephen Lee Vanness) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State Of Washington v. Stephen Lee Vanness, (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 70839-2-1 Respondent, DIVISION ONE v.

PUBLISHED OPINION STEPHEN LEE VANNESS,

Appellant. FILED: March 2, 2015

Leach, J. — Stephen Lee VanNess appeals his conviction for possession

of heroin and possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He claims

that a postarrest search of a locked box police found in his backpack violated the S coo Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 7 of tfie : •§

Washington State Constitution. Because the State does not show that this

search meets any exception to the warrant requirements of these provisions, tfif vz^l CO .; C

search violated the state and federal constitutions. The police based a later or

request for a warrant to search the box solely on observations from this

unconstitutional search. Thus, the controlled substances the State found when

executing the warrant must be suppressed as fruits of the poisonous tree.

Therefore, we do not reach the issues VanNess raises in his statement of

additional grounds. We reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this

opinion. No. 70839-2-1 / 2

FACTS

On November 29, 2012, the Everett Police Department received a citizen

report about seeing Stephen Lee VanNess. The dispatcher informed responding

Officer Robert Edmonds that VanNess had warrants out for his arrest. Edmonds

obtained a physical description, made contact with VanNess, and arrested him.

When arrested, VanNess was wearing a backpack and carrying a bag. Edmonds

removed the backpack. A second officer arrived. Edmonds handcuffed

VanNess, walked him and his bags to the patrol car, and placed the backpack on

top of the car trunk. A third officer arrived.

Edmonds asked VanNess for permission to search the backpack.

VanNess did not respond. Everett Police Department had a policy requiring

officers to search backpacks for dangerous items, adopted after an officer had

failed to search a backpack and, after transporting it to the police station,

discovered a pipe bomb inside. Following that policy, Edmonds searched

VanNess's backpack. During the search, at least one officer stood near

VanNess next to the right rear passenger door of Edmonds's patrol car.

Edmonds found three knives attached to the exterior of the backpack and

another inside. Edmonds then arrested VanNess for possessing these knives

because their blade length made them dangerous weapons under the Everett

Municipal Code.

-2- No. 70839-2-1 / 3

In VanNess's backpack Edmonds also found a box measuring six inches

by four inches by two inches, locked with a three-number combination lock.

Edmonds asked VanNess if he could search the locked box. Again, VanNess did

not respond. When Edmonds asked if the box contained anything dangerous,

VanNess continued his silence. In an earlier case, Officer Edmonds executed a

warrant to search a vehicle and discovered a box of similar size that contained a

dangerous handgun. Edmonds used a flathead screwdriver to pry open the box

one-quarter to one-half inch. He looked inside and did not see any dangerous

item but saw evidence of controlled substances. In his later affidavit of probable

cause, he stated that he saw a scale and small plastic "baggies" and smelled

vinegar, which he associated with heroin. Edmonds stopped his search, returned

the box to the backpack, and sealed the backpack. He delivered it to the Everett

Police Department's property room.

Edmonds applied for and received a warrant to search the box. When he

searched the box, he found suspected methamphetamine and heroin, a digital

scale, a glass pipe, and several plastic baggies. The State charged VanNess

with possession of heroin with intent to deliver and possession of

methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

The trial court denied VanNess's motion to suppress evidence of the box

contents, concluding that Edmonds lawfully searched the backpack and the

-3- No. 70839-2-1/4

locked box incident to VanNess's arrest. The court noted its concern for officer

safety and reasoned that because officers found knives outside and in the

backpack, the box could have also contained dangerous materials. The court

ruled that officers conducted a proper inventory search of VanNess's backpack

but ruled that the inventory search exception did not justify a warrantless search

of the locked box. It then found that the items discovered in the box during the

search incident to arrest established probable cause to obtain a warrant.

At trial, the court admitted the evidence the police found in the locked box.

A jury found VanNess guilty of possession of heroin and guilty of possession of

methamphetamine with intent to deliver. VanNess appeals.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

A Washington court must presume that a warrantless search violates both

the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 7 of

the Washington State Constitution.1 The State carries the heavy burden to prove

that a narrowly drawn exception to the warrant requirement applies to make the

search lawful.2 We review de novo a trial court's conclusions of law about a

suppression request.3

1 State v. Kirwin. 165 Wn.2d 818, 824, 203 P.3d 1044 (2009). 2 Kirwin, 165 Wn.2d at 824. 3 State v. Hinton. 179 Wn.2d 862, 867, 319 P.3d 9 (2014) (citing State v. Schultz, 170 Wn.2d 746, 753, 248 P.3d 484 (2011)); State v. Brock, 182 Wn. App. 680, 685, 330 P.3d 236 (2014), review granted, No. 90751-0 (Wash. Jan. 7, 2015). -4- No. 70839-2-1 / 5

This court also reviews de novo a trial court's assessment of a

magistrate's probable cause determination when issuing a search warrant.4

When an investigating officer properly applies for a warrant and a magistrate

determines probable cause exists, on appeal we resolve all doubts in favor of a

warrant's validity.5 But "[w]hen an unconstitutional search or seizure occurs, all

subsequently uncovered evidence becomes fruit of the poisonous tree.6 If

unconstitutionally obtained information provides the only basis for a warrant, the

court must suppress evidence seized under the warrant.7

ANALYSIS

VanNess contends that Edmonds's warrantless search of the locked box

violated both the Fourth Amendment and article I, section 7. The State asserts

that the search incident to arrest and inventory exceptions to the constitutional

warrant requirements validate this search. We agree with VanNess.

The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and

seizures.8 Article I, section 7 of the Washington Constitution further narrows the

State's authority to search.9 It ensures that "[n]o person shall be disturbed in his

4 State v. Neth, 165 Wn.2d 177, 182, 196 P.3d 658 (2008). 5 State v. Lyons, 174 Wn.2d 354, 360, 275 P.3d 314 (2012); State v. Fisher, 96 Wn.2d 962, 964, 639 P.2d 743 (1982). 6 State v. Ladson. 138 Wn.2d 343, 359, 979 P.2d 833 (1999). 7 State v. Young. 123 Wn.2d 173, 196, 867 P.2d 593 (1994). 8 U.S. Const, amend.

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