State v. Snapp

153 Wash. App. 485
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedNovember 9, 2009
DocketNo. 37210-0-II
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 153 Wash. App. 485 (State v. Snapp) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Snapp, 153 Wash. App. 485 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009).

Opinions

[488]*488¶1 Daniel Gerald Snapp entered a Newton1 plea to six counts of second degree identity theft on November 16, 2007. Within the plea agreement, the prosecutor’s handwritten recommendation includes language stating that Snapp could appeal the trial court’s decision regarding his CrR 3.6 suppression motion. Even though Snapp does not appeal the voluntariness of his plea, we hold that the State waived any objection to Snapp’s appeal of the trial court’s denial of his motion to suppress by including that language in his statement on plea of guilty. We also hold that under Arizona v. Gant,_U.S._, 129 S. Ct. 1710, 173 L. Ed. 2d 485 (2009), the search incident to arrest that resulted in the collection of evidence of identity theft was proper because the officer searched the car for evidence related to the crime for which Snapp was arrested. In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we also reject Snapp’s argument that the officer’s stop was pretextual. We affirm the convictions.

Bridgewater, J.

FACTS

¶2 At approximately 8:00 am on July 22, 2006, Washington State Trooper Keith Pigott observed a blue Ford Escort driving eastbound in the lane next to him. He initially noticed some debris hanging from the rearview mirror. As he got closer to the vehicle, Trooper Pigott thought that the seat belt was patched together with what appeared to be an aluminum rock-climbing carabiner. As a result, Trooper Pigott dropped back behind the Escort and pulled the car over.

¶3 The driver, later identified as Snapp, pulled into the Silver Dollar Casino parking lot. Trooper Pigott observed Snapp lean forward, as if hiding something under the seat. Trooper Pigott called for assistance, then approached Snapp and asked for his driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. Snapp did not have a license, but he [489]*489provided his Washington State Department of Corrections inmate identification card. Snapp quickly opened the glove box, grabbed the registration, and immediately closed the glove box. Nevertheless, Trooper Pigott observed what appeared to be a plastic bag with white powder in the glove box. The trooper, who is a drug recognition expert, also believed Snapp was under the influence of drugs because of his fidgety, restless, quick, and jerky movements.

¶4 Based on these observations, Trooper Pigott asked Snapp to exit the car. After he asked Snapp if he had any weapons, Snapp produced one knife voluntarily and Trooper Pigott recovered another knife during a pat down. He then conducted a field sobriety test and concluded that Snapp exhibited the signs of someone who was under the influence but not to the point where Trooper Pigott believed an arrest was warranted. Trooper Pigott asked Snapp if there were any drugs or paraphernalia in the car. Snapp admitted there was a methamphetamine pipe but no methamphetamine. Trooper Pigott retrieved the pipe from underneath the driver’s seat.

¶5 Subsequently, Trooper Pigott advised Snapp of his Miranda2 rights, arrested Snapp for drug paraphernalia, and placed Snapp in the trooper’s patrol car. In addition, a driver’s license check revealed that Snapp’s license was revoked and he had a no-bail felony warrant. Meanwhile, a second trooper arrived on the scene and removed the passenger from the car.

¶6 Trooper Pigott searched the car incident to Snapp’s arrest. During the search, he recovered a clear blue plastic accordion file folder with items containing persons’ identities. In addition, he found a black compact disc (CD) wallet containing identification cards and credit cards of various other people.3 Neither the accordion file nor the CD wallet was locked or capable of being locked. The trooper was not [490]*490looking for weapons, nor was he concerned that either item contained evidence that could be immediately destroyed. But he was searching for drugs. In addition, Trooper Pigott found three credit cards not belonging to Snapp in Snapp’s wallet. Finally, Trooper Pigott folded down the back seat of the car and observed in the trunk area a large number of items. Snapp stated that the items were not his and that he had borrowed the car from his girl friend. At that point, Trooper Pigott stopped his search, had the car impounded, and obtained a search warrant for the items in the rear of the car.

¶7 The State charged Snapp with 1 count of first degree identity theft and 21 counts of second degree identity theft. The following July, Snapp filed a motion to suppress evidence, contending that (1) Trooper Pigott did not have probable cause to stop the car Snapp was driving for obstructed vision or defective equipment, (2) the search of the car was illegal, and (3) it exceeded the legal scope of a search incident to arrest. On October 3, 2007, after a CrR 3.6 hearing, the superior court denied Snapp’s motion.

¶8 On November 16, 2007, the State filed an amended information, charging Snapp with six counts of second degree identity theft. That same day, Snapp entered a Newton plea, in which he pleaded guilty to all six counts. On Snapp’s statement of defendant on plea of guilty, the prosecutor included a handwritten statement, stating, “Alford [defendant] can appeal [CrR] 3.6 motion.” Clerk’s Papers at 48. Snapp, his defense counsel, the prosecutor, and the trial court failed to address this notation during the plea and sentencing hearing. In fact, during the standard colloquy with the trial court, Snapp admitted that the declaration of probable cause established facts sufficient for a trial court to find him guilty of all six charges.

[491]*491¶9 Snapp appeals the trial court’s denial of his CrR 3.6 motion to suppress evidence.4

ANALYSIS

I. Appealability

flO As an initial matter, we must determine whether we can reach the merits of Snapp’s appeal, given that he entered a guilty plea. The State maintains that Snapp’s plea was voluntary and thus he waived his right to appeal pretrial motions.

¶11 Generally, a voluntary guilty plea acts as a waiver of the right to appeal. State v. Smith, 134 Wn.2d 849, 852, 953 P.2d 810 (1998). “Due process requires that a defendant’s guilty plea be knowing, voluntary, and intelligent.” In re Pers. Restraint of Isadore, 151 Wn.2d 294, 297, 88 P.3d 390 (2004). Moreover, a valid guilty plea generally waives all constitutional violations that occurred before the guilty plea, except those related to the circumstances of the plea or to the State’s legal power to prosecute regardless of factual guilt. Smith, 134 Wn.2d at 853; see also State v. Amos, 147 Wn. App. 217, 225, 195 P.3d 564 (2008). When a defendant completes a plea statement and admits to reading, understanding, and signing it, this creates a strong presumption that the plea is voluntary. Smith, 134 Wn.2d at 852. But a plea is not voluntary when the defendant, his or her attorney, and the trial court labor under a false impression that the defendant has a right to appeal. Smith, 134 Wn.2d at 853. The sole remedy available for an involuntary plea is for the appellate court to reverse and remand to the superior court to allow Snapp an opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea. State v. Lusby, 105 Wn. App.

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Related

State v. Snapp
275 P.3d 289 (Washington Supreme Court, 2012)
State v. Tamblyn
167 Wash. App. 332 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2012)
State v. Louthan
158 Wash. App. 732 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2010)
State v. Slighte
238 P.3d 83 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2010)
State v. Johnson
231 P.3d 225 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2010)

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Bluebook (online)
153 Wash. App. 485, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-snapp-washctapp-2009.