State v. DeCuir

599 So. 2d 358, 1992 WL 76694
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 16, 1992
DocketCr91-784
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 599 So. 2d 358 (State v. DeCuir) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. DeCuir, 599 So. 2d 358, 1992 WL 76694 (La. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

599 So.2d 358 (1992)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Lawrence DECUIR.

No. Cr91-784.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

April 16, 1992.

*359 Ronald Melebeck, Abbeville, for defendant-appellant.

Marc T. Amy, Asst. Dist. Atty., Abbeville, for plaintiff-appellee.

Before GUIDRY, J., and HOOD and MARCANTEL,[*] JJ. Pro Tem.

BERNARD N. MARCANTEL, Judge Pro Tem.

On February 4, 1987, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Department deputies, pursuant to a search warrant, entered the residence of defendant, Lawrence Decuir, and his wife, Shirley Decuir, and found quantities of marijuana and cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Defendant and his wife were both charged by bill of information of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, a violation of La.R.S. 40:966A(1), and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a violation of La.R.S. 40:967 A(1). Defendant was found guilty as charged on January 31, 1991.

On May 16, 1991, defendant, Lawrence Decuir, was sentenced to serve five years *360 at hard labor on the cocaine charge and two years at hard labor on the marijuana charge and the sentences were to run concurrently. From this conviction, defendant now appeals, urging six assignments of error, as follows:

(1) The trial court erred in denying the defendant's Motion to Suppress Evidence;

(2) The trial court erred in not sequestering Officer Mike Couvillon, who was designated as the State's case agent;

(3) The trial court erred in denying defendant's motion to suppress confessions or inculpatory statements allegedly made by defendant prior to his being read his Miranda rights;

(4) The trial court erred in allowing the introduction of marijuana into evidence, which was located only after defendant gave a statement to Officer Couvillon prior to being read his Miranda rights and is therefore fruit of an illegally obtained confession;

(5) The trial court erred in allowing Sergeant Couvillon to testify as an expert witness in the packaging and selling of marijuana and/or cocaine, as he was not properly qualified as an expert in this field; and

(6) The jury verdict, finding defendant guilty of possession of marijuana and cocaine with intent to distribute, is contrary to the law and evidence since there was not sufficient evidence produced to render this verdict.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER 1

By this assignment of error, defendant alleges that the trial court erred in denying his Motion to Suppress Evidence.

A hearing on the motion was held on July 27, 1988 and the trial judge heard only argument from the State and defense counsel. Defendant argued that the search warrant was defective because the State had relied on a confidential informant who was untrustworthy. Defendant sought the testimony of Sergeant Michael Couvillon, the affiant on the search warrant application, but the trial judge did not allow defendant to call the officer to testify, believing that, once he found there was probable cause alleged within the four corners of the affidavit, the evidence was inadmissible.

Defendant earlier filed writs of certiorari and review in this court on this assignment of error. This court denied the writ stating that there was no error in the trial court's ruling. Pretrial determination by the appellate court of the admissibility of evidence does not absolutely preclude a different decision on appeal if after trial it is apparent that the determination was patently erroneous and produced unjust results. State v. Ondek, 584 So.2d 282 (La. App. 1 Cir.1991), writ den. 586 So.2d 539 (La.1991); Recon. den. 588 So.2d 1107 (La. 1991).

The evidence adduced at trial did not address these issues. Since no evidence was presented at trial which could have resulted in a different decision on appeal, judicial efficiency demands this court accord great deference to its pretrial decision denying defendant's motion to suppress.

This assignment of error lacks merit.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR NUMBERS 2 AND 5

Assignments of error numbers 2 and 5 were not briefed and are considered abandoned. State v. Dewey, 408 So.2d 1255 (La.1982); Uniform Rules—Courts of Appeal, 2-12.4.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR NUMBERS 3 AND 4

In assignment of error number 3, defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his Motion to Suppress Confessions or Inculpatory Statements allegedly made by defendant because the statements were made to Officer Couvillon prior to the time defendant had been read his Miranda rights. In assignment of error number 4, which is closely related, defendant alleges that the trial court erred in allowing the introduction of marijuana into evidence since it was shown to Officer Couvillon before defendant's Miranda rights were read to him. Defendant claims this evidence *361 was the fruit of an illegally obtained confession.

At this second motion to suppress hearing on November 15, 1990, Officer Couvillon testified that, when he arrived at defendant's residence, he informed defendant that he had a search warrant to search the premises and presented defendant with a copy of the warrant. Officer Couvillon then asked defendant if he had any illegal drugs inside his residence. Defendant advised the officer that he did, told the officer to follow him into the bedroom, and showed the officer an ashtray containing green vegetable material and two joints. Defendant was then placed under arrest for possession of marijuana and was read his Miranda rights. After his rights were read, defendant then advised the officer that there was more marijuana inside the residence.

While Officer Couvillon was tagging the evidence, a fellow officer, Sergeant Broussard, found an "eight ball" of cocaine underneath a pillow in defendant's bedroom. Defendant stated that he had forgotten about it and then removed two packages of cocaine from his wallet.

When Officer Couvillon was asked whether defendant was the target of the investigation when the search warrant was obtained, he stated that the investigation was focusing on one-half pound of marijuana that was inside the residence believed to be owned by Lawrence Decuir and his wife. Officer Couvillon also testified that all of the statements made to him by defendant were free and voluntary. The defendant was not coerced in any way or placed under duress. Officer Couvillon stated that it was the first time he had executed a search warrant where the suspect was so cooperative.

The trial court denied the motion to suppress, "finding that the statements were given freely and voluntarily after being advised of his constitutional rights, and the others were not solicited." Defense counsel asked the court to reconsider its ruling, arguing that defendant was clearly a target in the investigation and no rights had been read to defendant when he was asked whether he had drugs inside his residence. The trial court reaffirmed its decision, stating that "the statements were given free and voluntarily at such time when the defendant was not arrested or detained for interrogation."

Defendant argues that, when Officer Couvillon entered his residence, the investigation passed the investigatory state and focused on the defendant. Defendant argues that he was detained from leaving his residence and deprived of his freedom of action. However, the State argues that the initial questioning was not a custodial interrogation, but an investigative one. Defendant voluntarily and without request showed the officers the location of some of the illegal drugs.

In State v. Thompson,

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Bluebook (online)
599 So. 2d 358, 1992 WL 76694, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-decuir-lactapp-1992.