State v. Kirkemo

CourtIdaho Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 12, 2022
Docket48588
StatusUnpublished

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

Bluebook
State v. Kirkemo, (Idaho Ct. App. 2022).

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

Docket No. 48588

STATE OF IDAHO, ) ) Filed: August 12, 2022 Plaintiff-Respondent, ) ) Melanie Gagnepain, Clerk v. ) ) THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED DAVID KARL KIRKEMO, ) OPINION AND SHALL NOT ) BE CITED AS AUTHORITY Defendant-Appellant. ) )

Appeal from the District Court of the Third Judicial District, State of Idaho, Washington County. Hon. Susan E. Wiebe, District Judge.

Order denying motion to suppress, reversed; judgment of conviction for possession of a controlled substance, vacated; and case remanded.

Eric D. Fredericksen, State Appellate Public Defender; Jason C. Pintler, Deputy Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant. Kiley Heffner argued.

Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Mark W. Olson, Deputy Attorney General, Boise, for respondent. Mark W. Olson argued. ________________________________________________

HUSKEY, Judge David Karl Kirkemo appeals from his judgment of conviction for felony possession of a controlled substance. Kirkemo alleges the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress because his detention was not supported by a reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity. Because the State did not present sufficient evidence demonstrating a reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity at the time Kirkemo was detained, the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress. Accordingly, the order denying Kirkemo’s motion to suppress is reversed, the judgment of conviction is vacated, and the case is remanded. I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND The district court made the following findings of fact, which are uncontested. Around 3 a.m., Officer Jakich noticed Kirkemo sitting in his car slumped over his steering wheel in a gas

1 station parking lot. Although Officer Jakich thought something was off, he did not make contact with Kirkemo at that time. Kirkemo subsequently drove away, and Officer Jakich followed in his patrol vehicle. To Officer Jakich, Kirkemo appeared lost; while driving under the speed limit, Kirkemo drove down a dead-end road, turned around, circled the block, and proceeded down an alley before pulling over next to a residence. Officer Jakich did not activate his patrol lights, parked a couple of car lengths behind Kirkemo’s car, and approached Kirkemo on foot. Officer Jakich asked Kirkemo if he was lost; Kirkemo said he was not and was on his way to a friend’s house. Officer Jakich noticed Kirkemo’s pupils were constricted, which he believed was unusual because there was very little light at that time in the morning. When Officer Jakich mentioned Kirkemo’s constricted pupils, Kirkemo explained his pupils were constricted because he had an astigmatism and Officer Jakich’s flashlight was shining in his eyes. As Officer Jakich’s body camera video confirms, his flashlight occasionally shined in Kirkemo’s eyes as they were speaking. Kirkemo asked whether Officer Jakich was pulling him over, and Officer Jakich explained that he was investigating Kirkemo because of his constricted pupils. Officer Jakich asked for Kirkemo’s identification. When Kirkemo opened his car door to look for his identification, Officer Jakich saw a container with a marijuana leaf on it, which he recognized as being from a marijuana dispensary. A subsequent search of Kirkemo’s car resulted in the discovery of controlled substances and Kirkemo was arrested. The State charged Kirkemo with felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), Idaho Code § 37-2732(c)(1); misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), I.C. § 37-2732(c)(3); possession of drug paraphernalia, I.C. § 37-2734A; and possession of a legend drug without a prescription, I.C. § 54-1732(3)(c). Kirkemo filed a motion to suppress, arguing that Officer Jakich lacked reasonable suspicion to detain Kirkemo, both when Officer Jakich initially approached and when he asked for Kirkemo’s identification. The district court held a hearing on the motion where only Officer Jakich testified. The district court found that although the initial encounter with Kirkemo was consensual, Kirkemo was seized when Officer Jakich stated he was investigating Kirkemo and asked for his identification. The district court found the seizure was supported by reasonable suspicion because Officer Jakich saw Kirkemo slumped over his steering wheel in the gas station parking lot, driving

2 around like he was lost, and having constricted, pinpoint pupils. Accordingly, the district court denied Kirkemo’s motion to suppress. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Kirkemo entered a conditional guilty plea to felony possession of a controlled substance, reserving his right to appeal the denial of his motion to suppress. The misdemeanor charges were dismissed. The district court sentenced Kirkemo to a unified term of five years, with two years determinate, and retained jurisdiction. Kirkemo timely appeals. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW The standard of review of a suppression motion is bifurcated. When a decision on a motion to suppress is challenged, we accept the trial court’s findings of fact that are supported by substantial evidence, but we freely review the application of constitutional principles to the facts as found. State v. Atkinson, 128 Idaho 559, 561, 916 P.2d 1284, 1286 (Ct. App. 1996). At a suppression hearing, the power to assess the credibility of witnesses, resolve factual conflicts, weigh evidence, and draw factual inferences is vested in the trial court. State v. Valdez-Molina, 127 Idaho 102, 106, 897 P.2d 993, 997 (1995); State v. Schevers, 132 Idaho 786, 789, 979 P.2d 659, 662 (Ct. App. 1999). III. ANALYSIS Kirkemo alleges the district court erred when it denied his motion to suppress because Officer Jakich lacked a reasonable, articulable suspicion that Kirkemo was engaged in criminal activity at the time of the investigative detention. Kirkemo does not challenge any of the district court’s factual findings or the veracity of Officer Jakich’s testimony at the suppression hearing. In response, the State alleges the district court did not err because the investigative detention was supported by reasonable suspicion. The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. Generally, evidence obtained as a result of an unreasonable search or seizure must be suppressed, Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 485 (1963), and typically, seizures must be based on probable cause to be reasonable. Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 499-500 (1983). A limited investigatory detention based on less than probable cause is permissible if it is based upon specific articulable facts which justify suspicion that the detained person is, has been, or is about

3 to be engaged in criminal activity. State v. Sheldon, 139 Idaho 980, 983, 88 P.3d 1220, 1223 (Ct. App. 2003). The reasonableness of the suspicion must be evaluated upon the totality of the circumstances at the time of the investigative detention. State v. Ferreira, 133 Idaho 474, 483, 988 P.2d 700, 709 (Ct. App. 1999). The reasonable suspicion standard requires less than probable cause but more than mere speculation or instinct on the part of the officer. Id.

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Related

Wong Sun v. United States
371 U.S. 471 (Supreme Court, 1963)
Florida v. Royer
460 U.S. 491 (Supreme Court, 1983)
State v. Grigg
233 P.3d 1283 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 2010)
State v. Montague
756 P.2d 1083 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 1988)
State v. Schevers
979 P.2d 659 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 1999)
State v. Ferreira
988 P.2d 700 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 1999)
State v. Valdez-Molina
897 P.2d 993 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1995)
State v. Atkinson
916 P.2d 1284 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 1996)
Matter of Clayton
748 P.2d 401 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1988)
State v. Sheldon
88 P.3d 1220 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 2003)
State v. Brian Ellis Neal
367 P.3d 1231 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 2016)
State v. Natasha Lynn Bly
366 P.3d 193 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 2016)
State v. Bonner
467 P.3d 452 (Idaho Supreme Court, 2020)

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Bluebook (online)
State v. Kirkemo, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-kirkemo-idahoctapp-2022.