State v. Holt

162 So. 3d 549, 2015 La. App. LEXIS 383, 2015 WL 822201
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided February 27, 2015·No. No. 49,643-CA·Published

Opinion

LOLLEY, J.

|,Barney Noel Holt, III, appeals a judgment of the First Judicial District Court, Parish of Caddo, State of Louisiana. For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand for further proceedings.

Facts

On November 18, 2008, Barney Noel Holt, III, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, methamphetamine. At that time, in addition to drugs and drug paraphernalia, the Shreveport Police Department seized $2,290.00 from Holt.1 The State later dismissed the charge against Holt on November 2, 2011, for reasons not included in the record. We take judicial notice of the fact that Holt was convicted and sentenced in another matter, which was affirmed on appeal. State v. Holt, 47,734 (La.App.2d Cir.04/10/13), 112 So.3d 1008, writ denied, 2013-1090 (La.01/17/14), 130 So.3d 339.2

On August 21, 2013, Holt filed a “Motion for Return/Release of Illegally Seized Property,” seeking the return of the mon[551] ey which was seized from him at the time of his arrest on November 18, 2008. Holt claimed that the money had nothing to do with the crime and was no longer needed as evidence because the charge was dismissed. Further, Holt maintained that his right to due process was violated.

| ¿The trial court denied Holt’s .motion without providing reasons — “Denied” was written on Holt’s submitted “show cause” order. This Court issued an order directing the trial court to provide a per curiam opinion explaining its reasons for denying Holt’s motion after he filed a writ application arguing the trial court erred in denying his motion. The trial court complied and timely provided this Court with a per curiam opinion. In that opinion, the trial court stated that although Holt was entitled to seek the release of his property, he failed to comply with the procedural requirements for asserting a claim for the return of seized property in accordance with La. R.S. 40:2610. In response, Holt filed a second writ application, claiming that the trial court erred in denying his motion without a hearing. The writ was granted for perfection as an appeal.

Discussion

The Seizure and Controlled Dangerous Substances Property Forfeiture Act of 1989 (“Forfeiture Act”), La. R.S. 40:2601 et seq., allows the state to seize and have forfeited property that is related to, is a proceed from, facilitates, or is itself a violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, La. R.S. 40:961-995. State v. 2003 Infiniti G35 VIN No. JNKCV51E93MO24167, 2009-1193 (La.01/20/10), 27 So.3d 824.

Louisiana R.S. 40:2608 sets forth the procedure to be followed by the district attorney to commence forfeiture proceedings, including providing notice of pending forfeiture to the owner and interest holder in the property. The statute states, in pertinent part, as follows:

^Forfeiture proceedings shall be commenced as follows:
(l)(a) When the district attorney intends to forfeit property, pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, he shall provide the owner and interest holder with a written assertion within forty-five days after actual or constructive seizure, except in cases in which the property is held for evidentiary purpose, the district attorney shall institute forfeiture proceedings within forty-five days after the final disposition of all criminal proceedings associated with the conduct giving rise to forfeiture. If the district attorney fails to initiate forfeiture proceedings against property seized for forfeiture by serving Notice of Pending Forfeiture within one hundred twenty days after its seizure for forfeiture or if the state fails to pursue forfeiture of the property upon which a timely claim has been properly served by filing a Petition for Forfeiture proceeding within ninety days after Notice of Pending Forfeiture, or if the district attorney fails to provide a written assertion, pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph, the property shall be released from its seizure for forfeiture on the request of an owner or interest holder, pending further proceedings pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.
(b) When no written assertion has been given to the claimant, within the time delays provided herein, the claimant may file a Motion for Release of Seized Property pursuant to the criminal jurisdiction of the court.

The district attorney may bring a forfeiture proceeding in rem or in personam or both. See La. R.S. 40:2612 and 2613. Hearings are then held by the trial court [552] to determine whether the property is to be forfeited. State v. Watson, 49,331 (La.App.2d Cir.10/01/14), 151 So.3d 120.

Here, the trial court relied on La. R.S. 40:2610 in denying Holt’s motion, which regards claims by an owner to seized property. The statute states:

A. Only an owner of or interest holder in property seized for forfeiture may file a claim, and shall do so in the manner provided in this Section. The claim shall be mailed to the seizing agency and to the district attorney by certified mail, Rreturn receipt requested, within thirty days after Notice of Pending Forfeiture. No extension of time for the filing of a claim shall be granted.
B. The claim shall be in affidavit form, signed by the claimant under oath, and sworn to by the affiant before one who has authority to administer the oath, under penalty of perjury or false swearing and shall set forth all of the following:
(1) The caption of the proceedings as set forth on the Notice of Pending Forfeiture or petition and the name of the claimant.
(2) The address where the claimant •will accept mail.
(3) The nature and extent of the claimant’s interest in the property.
(4) The date, identity of the transfer- or, and the circumstances of the claimant’s acquisition of the interest in the property.
(5) The specific provision of this Chapter relied on in asserting that the property is not subject to forfeiture.
(6) All essential facts supporting each assertion.
(7) The specific relief sought.

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State v. Holt, 162 So. 3d 549, 2015 La. App. LEXIS 383, 2015 WL 822201 (La. Ct. App. 2015).

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Related

State v. 2003 Infiniti G35 VIN JNKCV51E93MO24167
27 So. 3d 824 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 2010)
State v. Holt
112 So. 3d 1008 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2013)
State v. Watson
151 So. 3d 120 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2014)