State v. Rivera

2009 NMCA 049, 207 P.3d 1171, 146 N.M. 194
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 16, 2009
Docket25,798
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 2009 NMCA 049 (State v. Rivera) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico 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. Rivera, 2009 NMCA 049, 207 P.3d 1171, 146 N.M. 194 (N.M. Ct. App. 2009).

Opinion

OPINION

WECHSLER, Judge.

{1} This case is before us on remand from the New Mexico Supreme Court. In this opinion, we address whether the State’s warrantless search and seizure was reasonable. This inquiry requires findings on the factual question of whether there was state involvement in the original opening of the package in Denver. We reverse and remand this issue to the district court for further consideration. We analyze the remaining issues to assist the district court in its analysis if it finds that there was not state involvement in the original opening. If the district court so finds, then a private actor breached Defendant Erica Rivera’s expectation of privacy, and the ensuing investigation of the package was reasonable.

{2} Additionally, we reiterate that the Fourth Amendment is not violated when a private actor infringes on the privacy rights of another without state involvement. See State v. Murillo, 113 N.M. 186, 188, 824 P.2d 326, 328 (Ct.App.1991). Therefore, the Denver station employee’s invasion of Defendant’s privacy does not implicate the Fourth Amendment. Further, although there was state involvement in the transfer of the package from Denver to Albuquerque and in the opening of the package in Albuquerque, the involvement was reasonable because the investigation did not exceed the scope of the original opening. In addressing this issue, we evaluate and adopt the private search doctrine laid out in United States v. Jacobsen, 466 U.S. 109, 122, 104 S.Ct. 1652, 80 L.Ed.2d 85 (1984).

BACKGROUND

{3} The facts are generated primarily by the testimony of Agent Gerald Perry of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at the hearing on the motion to dismiss. In December 2003, a package was shipped to Defendant in Albuquerque using the services of the El Paso-Los Angeles Limousine Express Company (Bus Company). The package was inadvertently rerouted to the Denver station. A woman who identified herself as Defendant called the Bus Company numerous times inquiring about the package, which she claimed contained beef jerky. Because of the number of calls made, a Denver station employee became suspicious and, against the Bus Company’s policy, opened the package. The Denver station employee discovered a pillow, under which was a toolbox filled with bundles of what appeared to be marijuana. The Denver station employee called the Bus Company’s Los Angeles office, which then contacted Agent Perry to inform him of the situation. Based on the description of the package and its contents, and based on his experience, Agent Perry believed that the packaging of the bundles was consistent with the packaging of marijuana. He instructed the caller to have the package rewrapped and sent on the next bus to Albuquerque. A Bus Company representative informed Defendant that the package would arrive at the Albuquerque station the next day.

{4} The package arrived at the Albuquerque station shortly before closing that next day, where the manager of the station opened it in Agent Perry’s presence, and Agent Perry confirmed that the packaging was consistent with marijuana. Defendant did not arrive until the following morning, whereupon she took physical possession of the package, before surrendering it moments later when a companion informed her that police were present. Defendant subsequently drove away from the bus station. Presumably, Agent Perry seized the package at that point, and another officer caught up to Defendant’s vehicle and arrested her.

{5} The district court granted Defendant’s motion to suppress the package and evidence found in the package. It made findings from the bench, which it later adopted in air order nunc pro tunc adopting Defendant’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, that there was state involvement and a seizure in Denver when Agent Perry directed that the package be sent to Albuquerque, and if there was no seizure in Denver, then one occurred in Albuquerque with Agent Perry’s involvement in opening the package. The district court did not make any findings on the question of whether there was state involvement in the original opening of the package by the Denver station employee. The district court dismissed the case.

{6} The State filed its notice of appeal, and this Court affirmed the district court’s suppression of the package and evidence from the package on Confrontation Clause grounds. State v. Rivera, 2007-NMCA-104, ¶ 22, 142 N.M. 427, 166 P.3d 488, rev’d, 2008-NMSC-056, ¶ 1, 144 N.M. 836, 192 P.3d 1213. The Supreme Court reversed and remanded, holding that the Confrontation Clause does not apply to pretrial hearings. Rivera, 2008-NMSC-056, ¶ 1, 144 N.M. 836, 192 P.3d 1213. We now reverse the district court’s order, in which it concluded that an illegal seizure occurred when Agent Perry directed the Denver station employee to ship the package to Albuquerque and, if not then, when Agent Perry oversaw the package’s opening in Albuquerque. We remand on the question of whether there was state involvement in the original opening of the package in Denver.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

{7} When a defendant raises a Fourth Amendment issue concerning a warrantless search or seizure, the state has the burden of proving its justification. State v. Martinez, 1997-NMCA-048, ¶9, 123 N.M. 405, 940 P.2d 1200. We review the facts in the light most favorable to the prevailing party and defer to the district court’s findings of fact when they are supported by substantial evidence. State v. Urioste, 2002-NMSC-023, ¶ 6, 132 N.M. 592, 52 P.3d 964. We review the district court’s application of the law to the facts de novo. State v. Baca, 2004-NMCA-049, ¶ 11, 135 N.M. 490, 90 P.3d 509.

FOURTH AMENDMENT ISSUES

{8} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects against unreasonable search and seizure. U.S. Const, amend IV. New Mexico recognizes the principle that the Fourth Amendment is not violated when a private actor infringes on the privacy rights of another without state involvement. Murillo, 113 N.M. at 188, 824 P.2d at 328 (“The courts of New Mexico, like other jurisdictions, have accepted the longstanding rule that the protections of the Fourth Amendment do not apply to private individuals acting for their own purposes.” (footnote omitted)); see also Jacobsen, 466 U.S. at 113, 104 S.Ct. 1652 (reiterating that the Fourth Amendment applies only to governmental action and not “to a search or seizure, even an unreasonable one, effected by a private individual not acting as an agent of the [government or with the participation or knowledge of any governmental official” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).

A. The Original Opening in Denver

{9} We thus address the factual question of whether the Denver station employee opened the package without state involvement. “[Wjhether a ‘private’ person is acting as an agent of the government is determined as a question of fact in light of all the circumstances.” Murillo, 113 N.M. at 190, 824 P.2d at 330. We do not agree with the State that it is “undisputed” that the Denver station employee opened the package absent any state involvement.

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Related

State v. Rivera
2010 NMSC 046 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 2010)
State v. Santiago
2009 NMSC 045 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 2009)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2009 NMCA 049, 207 P.3d 1171, 146 N.M. 194, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-rivera-nmctapp-2009.