State v. Koch

341 P.3d 112, 267 Or. App. 322, 2014 Ore. App. LEXIS 1662
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedDecember 3, 2014
DocketCR1112062; A151401
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 341 P.3d 112 (State v. Koch) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Koch, 341 P.3d 112, 267 Or. App. 322, 2014 Ore. App. LEXIS 1662 (Or. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

HASELTON, C. J.

Defendant appeals a judgment of conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII), ORS 813.010. Defendant argues that the trial court (1) erred in denying his motion to suppress urinalysis test results that were obtained after officers violated defendant’s rights under Article I, section 12, of the Oregon Constitution, and (2) committed plain error by imposing a $255 conviction fee pursuant to ORS 813.030. We reach the first assignment of error only; the nature of our disposition obviates any need to consider the second assignment of error. As explained below, we conclude that, under the totality-of-the-circumstances analysis established in State v. Jarnagin, 351 Or 703, 277 P3d 535 (2012), the urinalysis derived from a constitutional violation, and the trial court’s admission of that evidence requires that defendant’s conviction be reversed and the case be remanded.

We review the denial of a motion to suppress for errors of law and are bound by the trial court’s factual findings that are supported by sufficient evidence in the record. State v. Ehly, 317 Or 66, 75, 854 P2d 421 (1993). In this case, the trial court made certain factual findings concerning the motion to suppress. In describing the pertinent events, therefore, we draw from those express findings, together with other undisputed facts contained in the record and reasonable inferences consistent with the trial court’s ruling. See Ball v. Gladden, 250 Or 485, 487, 443 P2d 621 (1968) (in the absence of express findings, we generally presume that the trial court decided factual issues consistently with its ultimate conclusion).

On the morning of June 7, 2011, defendant, who was under post-prison supervision, drove to the Clackamas County Work Release Center.1 An intake deputy at the center observed that defendant “appeared to be under the influence of something” and knew that defendant had just driven himself there. The intake deputy subsequently contacted the Milwaukie Police Department, prompting a DUII investigation.

[324]*324Officers Neitch and Hall arrived at the center around noon. They immediately went to the small meeting room where defendant was waiting. Upon encountering defendant, the officers observed that he appeared glassy-eyed and lethargic, had droopy eyelids, and nodded off at times. After introducing themselves and advising defendant that they were investigating him for DUII, the officers questioned him about his activities that morning. They asked whether defendant had driven to the work release center; defendant admitted that he had. The officers asked defendant if he had consumed alcohol, which defendant denied, or drugs, which defendant admitted. In particular, defendant said that, before his arrival at the work release center, he had consumed several prescription medications— Suboxone, Pristiq, and Seroquel — all of which are controlled substances.2

Approximately 10 to 15 minutes after the encounter began, the officers, concerned that circumstances had become compelling, read the Miranda warnings to defendant, who, in turn, indicated his understanding. Neitch then asked defendant if he would perform a series of field sobriety tests. Defendant responded that he was not willing to perform the tests and that he wanted to speak to his attorney. Hall replied that, “at this point in the investigation,” defendant “wouldn’t be able to speak to an attorney,” but that there would be “ample opportunity to make a phone call” later on. Hall proceeded to read a Rohrs admonishment— that is, a warning that refusal to submit to physical tests could be used against defendant in court, see State v. Rohrs, 157 Or App 494, 499, 970 P2d 262 (1998), aff'd, 333 Or 397, 40 P3d 505 (2002) — and demonstrated a physical test. Hall again asked defendant to perform the field sobriety tests, and, this time, defendant complied.

Defendant performed poorly on the field sobriety tests. Despite defendant’s earlier invocation of his right to counsel, Hall asked defendant “how he thought he did on the test,” to which defendant replied, “not so good.”

[325]*325After the field sobriety tests were completed, the officers placed defendant under arrest and transported him to the police station. Nothing in the record indicates that the officers readvised defendant of his Miranda rights at that point — or at any other point during the investigation. At the station, the officers sought defendant’s consent to an Intoxilyzer test, as well as his participation in a Drug Recognition Evaluation (DRE).3 Hall read an implied consent form, advising defendant of the rights and consequences related to taking or refusing a breath test.4 Defendant agreed to submit to an Intoxilyzer breath test, which Hall administered. While Hall and defendant were in the testing room, Hall asked whether defendant would drive with a person in his current condition; defendant replied that no, he would not. Hall also asked how much medication defendant had taken. Defendant responded that he took an extra quarter pill of the Seroquel, which he thought had affected his ability to drive.

After the Intoxilyzer showed that defendant had 0.0 percent blood alcohol content, Officer Funkhouser, a drug recognition expert, took over the investigation from Hall and Neitch. Funkhouser proceeded with the DRE, which included another interview with defendant.

At the end of the DRE, defendant gave a sample of his urine to Funkhouser. That urine later tested positive for methamphetamine, as well as two prescription medications, Pristiq and Lamictal.

Defendant was charged with DUII. The state alleged that defendant “did unlawfully drive a motor vehicle *** while under the influence of intoxicants, to-wit: controlled substances.” Defendant filed a motion to suppress, alleging, [326]*326among other things, a violation of his right to an attorney-under Article I, section 12, and seeking suppression of all statements, the field sobriety tests, the DRE, and the urinalysis. At the suppression hearing, the trial court heard extensive testimony from Neitch and Hall, who described the entire interaction with defendant as “polite” and “cooperative.”5 The main issue at the hearing was whether a Miranda violation had occurred; the parties’ arguments focused on whether, and at what point, defendant was in custody or under compelling circumstances. The trial court noted that reading defendant his Miranda rights but then refusing to honor his request for counsel was “confusing, if not misleading,” with respect to the meaning of that right.

The trial court issued a letter opinion, rendering the following findings of fact concerning the motion to suppress:

“Defendant drove himself to the Clackamas County Work Release Center (WRC) and presented signs of impairment at the intake. Milwaukie PD Officer [s] Hall and Neitch were dispatched to the WRC to investigate a possible DUII. During the course of the investigation, Officer Neitch read Defendant his Miranda warnings and asked if he would be willing to take Field Sobriety Tests (FST). Defendant declined to take FST and asked to speak with an attorney. Officer Hall read Defendant a Rohrs

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
341 P.3d 112, 267 Or. App. 322, 2014 Ore. App. LEXIS 1662, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-koch-orctapp-2014.