State v. Chesnic

2018 Ohio 5327

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: December 31, 2018
• Docket: 2018-A-0030
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Chesnic, 2018-Ohio-5327.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO

STATE OF OHIO, : OPINION

Plaintiff-Appellee, : CASE NO. 2018-A-0030 - vs - :

AMBER M. CHESNIC, :

Defendant-Appellant. :

Criminal Appeal from the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2017 CR 00386.

Judgment: Affirmed.

Nicholas A. Iarocci, Ashtabula County Prosecutor, and Shelley M. Pratt, Assistant Prosecutor, Ashtabula County Courthouse, 25 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH 44047 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).

Phillip L. Heasley, Ashtabula County Public Defender, Inc., 4817 State Road, Suite 202, Ashtabula, OH 44004 (For Defendant-Appellant).

THOMAS R. WRIGHT, P.J.

{¶1} Appellant, Amber M. Chesnic, appeals the trial court’s denial of her motion

to suppress after pleading no contest to three felonies, aggravated trafficking of drugs,

aggravated possession of drugs, and possessing criminal tools. We affirm.

{¶2} Chesnic raises one assignment of error: {¶3} “The trial court erred in overruling defendant’s motion to suppress the

contents of her purse.”

{¶4} She claims the warrantless search of her purse was illegal and should have

been suppressed.

{¶5} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees “[t]he

right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against

unreasonable searches and seizures * * *.” Fourth Amendment, United States

Constitution. The Ohio Constitution likewise protects against arbitrary government

invasions. State v. Hoffman, 141 Ohio St.3d 428, 2014-Ohio-4795, 25 N.E.3d 993, ¶11,

citing State v. Robinette, 80 Ohio St.3d 234, 685 N.E.2d 762 (1997). The touchstone of

both is reasonableness. State v. Michael, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 12AP-508, 2013-Ohio-

3889, 995 N.E.2d 286, ¶10.

{¶6} “‘[S]earches conducted outside the judicial process, without prior approval

by judge or magistrate, are per se unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment—subject

only to a few specifically established and well-delineated exceptions.’ (Footnote omitted.)

Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 357, 88 S.Ct. 507, 19 L.Ed.2d 576 (1967).

{¶7} “When a defendant moves to suppress evidence recovered during a

warrantless search, the state has the burden of showing that the search fits within one of

the defined exceptions to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement. Athens v. Wolf,

38 Ohio St.2d 237, 241, 313 N.E.2d 405 (1974).” State v. Banks-Harvey, 152 Ohio St.3d

368, 2018-Ohio-201, 96 N.E.3d 262, ¶17-18.

{¶8} Appellate courts review rulings on a motion to suppress under a mixed

standard of review. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d

2 71, ¶8. “[T]he trial court assumes the role of trier of fact and is therefore in the best

position to resolve factual questions and evaluate the credibility of witnesses.” Id. We

must accept the trial court's findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible

evidence, and then independently decide whether those facts satisfy the applicable legal

standards without deference to the trial court's decision. Id.

{¶9} Officer Shawn Gonzalez of the city of Geneva police department was the

only witness at the suppression hearing. On the date of Chesnic’s arrest, Gonzalez was

advised by a member of the county drug task force to watch for a passing vehicle whose

occupants were involved in suspected drug activity. Gonzalez stopped the car after the

driver improperly signaled. The driver pulled the car into a driveway on Grant Street.

{¶10} Chesnic was the front seat passenger. Both Chesnic and the driver were

placed under arrest for presenting Gonzalez with suspended driver’s licenses, and the

driver was also driving under suspension.

{¶11} Upon exiting the vehicle, Chesnic had her purse on her shoulder and her

phone in her hand. She was told to remove her purse so that she could be handcuffed.

She pulled away from the officer, and the bag either dropped to the ground or Gonzales

placed it there. He recalls needing assistance securing her. Gonzales placed her cell

phone on her purse. Chesnic advised him that she was not consenting to a search of her

purse.

{¶12} After Chesnic was secured, Gonzales looked in her purse at the scene. He

explained: “I couldn’t put a purse inside my vehicle not knowing if there’s a gun, safety

issue, drugs or anything, because * * * she was being arrested. It’s going with her, and

her purse [was going] into the city jail. So we’re gonna inventory that property.”

3 {¶13} Chesnic did not instruct him to leave her purse on the ground and did not

tell him to leave it in the car.

{¶14} On cross-examination, Gonzales confirmed that the driver and owner of the

car did not want his car left in the driveway in which he was parked. Gonzales called for

a tow of the vehicle and explained he had to inventory the vehicle contents pursuant to

policy. He inventoried the car after looking in Chesnic’s purse.

{¶15} Chesnic argues that because her purse was out of her control at the time of

her arrest, the police did not have the right to inventory it because they should have left

the purse on the ground, in the car, or at the home where the traffic stop occurred.

However, there was nothing evidencing who lived at this home. Alternatively, she claims

a second officer should have watched over the purse while another secured a warrant to

search it, and that an inventory search was not justified.

{¶16} The state claims the search of Chesnic’s purse was permissible as an

inventory search, and alternatively, via the inevitable discovery doctrine. The trial court

agreed with the state and denied Chesnic’s suppression motion. The trial court made the

following factual findings in support of its decision, which are supported by competent

credible evidence:

{¶17} “When the defendant got out of the car she was carrying a large shoulder

bag style purse. She was required to put the purse down in the driveway when she was

handcuffed. When she was arrested, the defendant told Officer Gonzalez that she did

not consent to a search of her purse. She was placed in another officer’s patrol car. After

the defendant was placed in the cruiser, Deputy Sterrick retrieved the purse and it was

searched, resulting in the discovery of the items giving rise to these charges, i.e.,

4 methamphetamine, digital scales, and baggies, among other things. Nothing suspicious

was observed in the vehicle the defendant was riding in, prior to her arrest. * * * Officer

Gonzalez candidly testified that he was looking for weapons or contraband in the purse.

He also stated that it was an inventory search of the purse.

{¶18} “* * *

{¶19} “[T]he defendant’s purse was not retrieved from the vehicle. She evidenced

her desire and intention to bring the purse with her when she was directed to get out of

the car. The purse was in her physical possession when she was placed under arrest. *

**

{¶20} “* * * the testimony at the hearing was not entirely clear that the purse was

actually inventoried at the scene * * *.”

{¶21} An inventory search is not subject to the Fourth Amendment's warrant

requirement or a probable-cause review, because it is a search that is made for

administrative reasons and is unrelated to a criminal investigation. State v. Mesa, 87

Ohio St.3d 105, 109, 717 N.E.2d 329 (1999) (upholding the search of an armrest console

as part of the inventory search of a lawfully impounded vehicle).

{¶22} The Supreme Court recently reiterated the parameters of the inventory

search in State v. Banks-Harvey, 152 Ohio St.3d 368, 2018-Ohio-201, 96 N.E.3d 262,

¶21:

{¶23} “As a practical matter, the personal effects with a person at the time of his

or her arrest must be stored while the person is in jail. And because the police are

potentially responsible for the items, they are permitted to search and inventory the

personal effects that come into their custody. Colorado v. Bertine, 479 U.S. 367, 373,

5 107 S.Ct. 738, 93 L.Ed.2d 739 (1987) (upholding the search of a backpack in a vehicle

as part of an inventory search of a lawfully impounded vehicle). This administrative

search and inventory is intended to help guard against claims of theft or careless handling

and also protects the police from dangerous instruments. Id. Accord Lafayette at 647,

103 S.Ct. 2605, 77 L.Ed.2d 65 (1983) (upholding the inventory search of an arrestee's

shoulder bag conducted at the police station). Even if less intrusive means of protecting

property are available, such as sealing items in a plastic bag and placing them in a

secured locker rather than searching and inventorying them, it is not unreasonable for

police, as part of routine procedure incident to incarceration, to search any article or

container in the arrestee’s possession in accordance with established inventory

procedures. Lafayette at 647-648, 103 S.Ct. 2605.” (Emphasis added.)

{¶24} In Banks-Harvey, however, the court found the inventory search rule did not

apply because the defendant had left her purse in the car, and the owner of the car was

present and not being arrested at the time. Thus, when the police retrieved her purse

from the car, the car was not going to be towed and inventoried, and as such, the retrieval

of her purse from the car was unlawful. And the subsequent warrantless search of the

purse was a violation of the Fourth Amendment requiring exclusion. Banks-Harvey

further rejected the inevitable discovery doctrine because there was nothing evidencing

that the car would have been searched absent the discovery of drugs in her purse. Id. at

¶31. Instead, the officer recalled seeing a capsule on the car’s floorboard and decided to

search the vehicle only after finding the narcotics in the purse. Id.

{¶25} Unlike Banks-Harvey, however, Chesnic had her purse on her shoulder and

under her control at the time she exited the vehicle when she was being arrested. Thus,

6 the officer was required to store her purse while she was in jail. Moreover, the driver of

the vehicle here was already under arrest at the time. The driver advised Gonzalez that

he did not want his vehicle left at the Grant Street residence, and accordingly his car was

going to be towed and inventoried. Thus, Banks-Harvey is distinguishable. Further,

Gonzalez explained that Chesnic and her purse were going to the city jail, and thus, he

had to inventory its contents consistent with policy.

{¶26} Contrary to Chesnic’s arguments, it is unreasonable to expect police to

leave an arrestee’s purse in a driveway or to require an officer to stand guard over a purse

in a driveway while a warrant is obtained. As stated in Banks-Harvey, it is not

unreasonable for police, as part of routine procedure incident to incarceration, to search

an arrestee’s purse consistent with policy because officers are required to store an

individual’s possessions with a person at the time of their arrest. Id. at ¶22.

{¶27} Finally, we reject Chesnic’s argument that suppression is required because

Gonzalez’s testimony failed to establish the applicable police policy governing his

inventory of an arrestee’s possessions and whether he actually inventoried the contents

of Chesnic’s purse at the scene or later at the jail. Because Chesnic did not raise this

issue to the trial court, it is waived on appeal. State v. Thomas, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-16-

36, 2017-Ohio-4356, 91 N.E.3d 1273, ¶18, appeal not allowed, 151 Ohio St.3d 1456,

2017-Ohio-8842, 87 N.E.3d 223, citing State v. Shindler, 70 Ohio St.3d 54, 58, 636 N.E.2d

319 (1994). Moreover, Chesnic likewise fails to raise this issue in her appellate brief, and

instead, only makes this argument in her reply brief. Reply briefs are designed to allow

an appellant to respond to the appellee’s brief. City of Dublin v. Friedman, 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 16AP-516, 2017-Ohio-9127, 101 N.E.3d 1137, ¶63. “A party may not

7 advance new arguments in its reply brief.” Clifton Care Ctr. v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family

Servs., 2013-Ohio-2742, 994 N.E.2d 879, ¶13.

{¶28} Based on the foregoing, Chesnic’s sole assigned error lacks merit, and the

trial court’s decision is affirmed.

DIANE V. GRENDELL, J., concurs with a Concurring Opinion,

COLLEEN MARY O’TOOLE, J., dissents.

____________________

DIANE V. GRENDELL, J., concurs with a Concurring Opinion.

{¶29} I concur in the judgment and opinion of the court. I write separately,

however, to note that Officer Gonzalez’ search of Chesnic’s purse was reasonable under

Fourth Amendment standards even if the argument had not been waived. Brigham City

v. Stuart, 547 U.S. 398, 403, 126 S.Ct. 1943, 164 L.Ed.2d 650 (2006) (“the ultimate

touchstone of the Fourth Amendment is ‘reasonableness’”).

{¶30} Officer Gonzalez testified as follows regarding the search at the

suppression hearing:

[Chesnic] exited the vehicle with her purse on her left shoulder, and

was instructed to come to the rear of the vehicle. * * * She was told

to remove her purse because I was handcuffing her -- can’t handcuff

her with the purse on. She pulled away from me. I almost, I think I

had the bag in my hand, or the bag dropped at this point in time,

because she pulled away from me. * * * When she was secured I

then gained possession of the purse. Because now I have to secure

8 it in my vehicle. * * * Officer Lynch had a flashlight out while I went

through it. I couldn’t put a purse inside my vehicle not knowing if

there’s a gun, safety issue, drugs or anything, because eventually

we’re going to go to -- she was being arrested. It’s going with her,

and her purse into the city jail.

{¶31} As recognized in the majority opinion, the Ohio Supreme Court has held

that the police “are permitted to search and inventory the personal effects that come into

their custody” inasmuch as “the personal effects with a person at the time of his or her

arrest must be stored while the person is in jail.” State v. Banks-Harvey, 152 Ohio St.3d

368, 2018-Ohio-201, 96 N.E.3d 262, ¶ 21.

{¶32} In Banks-Harvey, the evidence found during the inventory search of the

defendant’s purse was suppressed because the police obtained possession of the purse

in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Id. at ¶ 23 (“[i]n this case, the trooper retrieved a

personal item belonging to an arrestee from a place that is protected under the Fourth

Amendment”). However, “if appellant had been arrested * * * with her purse on her

person,” as Chesnic was in this case, “[the court] would have been compelled to reach a

different result.” Id. at ¶ 24.

{¶33} Although the search of Chesnic’s purse has been characterized as an

inventory search by the parties, the search was more akin to an administrative search

such as is conducted at airports and government buildings. Officer Gonzalez’ testimony

clearly indicates that his purpose was not to inventory the contents of the purse, but to

search for contraband prior to the purse accompanying Chesnic to jail. Chesnic’s purse

would have been subject to the same search if she were voluntarily seeking to visit the

9 jail (or an airport or the building in which this court sits). Compare Indianapolis v. Edmond,

531 U.S. 32, 47-48, 121 S.Ct. 447, 143 L.Ed.2d 333 (2000) (the holding that a highway

checkpoint program the primary purpose of which was the discovery and interdiction of

illegal narcotics violated the Fourth Amendment did “not affect the validity of border

searches or searches at places like airports and government buildings”); State v. Book,

165 Ohio App.3d 511, 2006-Ohio-1102, 847 N.E.2d 52, ¶ 17 (4th Dist.) (evidence

obtained during court-security screening ruled inadmissible where “the screenings carried

out in the Chillicothe Municipal Courthouse were not uniformly applied”).

{¶34} For the additional reasons stated above, I concur in the judgment and

opinion of the majority.