State v. Solberg

831 P.2d 754, 66 Wash. App. 66, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 456
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJune 15, 1992
Docket26624-2-I
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 831 P.2d 754 (State v. Solberg) 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. Solberg, 831 P.2d 754, 66 Wash. App. 66, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 456 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinions

Kennedy, J.

Appellant Scott Solberg appeals from his conviction of one count of violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture or deliver, RCW 69.50.401). Specifically, Sol-berg alleges that he was unlawfully arrested, that his residence was unlawfully seized, that the search warrant was based on illegally obtained evidence and insufficient evidence of probable cause, and that the trial court erred in imposing an exceptional sentence following his conviction. We affirm the conviction; however, we reverse the exceptional sentence and remand for resentencing within the standard range.

I

The following facts are taken from the testimony at Solberg's suppression hearing. On April 27, 1989, Seattle [69]*69Police Officer Dermis Brown received an anonymous telephone call from a woman who identified herself as a real estate agent. This woman told Officer Brown that, while she was showing Solberg's residence to a prospective buyer, she was unable to show the basement because it was locked. She also stated that she smelled a strong odor of marijuana at the residence.

The following day, April 28, Officers Paulsen and Brown went to Solberg's residence to investigate the anonymous tip. Both Officer Paulsen and Officer Brown testified that upon leaving their car, they smelled marijuana. They also noticed that the east side of the house was mildewed, the paint was peeling off of the house,1 and several of the basement windows were blackened.

Based on what they had smelled and seen, Officers Paul-sen and Brown executed an affidavit to Seattle City Light to obtain the power consumption records for Solberg's residence. An official at Seattle City Light told them that the power consumption records were consistent with the operation of four or five halide grow lamps. Officer Brown testified that, at this point, he felt they had probable cause to secure a search warrant. We agree.

Officers Paulsen and Brown then returned to Solberg's residence for a detailed description of the house for the search warrant. When they arrived at the house, they noticed a van in the driveway that had not been there before. Because the officers were worried that Solberg might be dismantling the grow farm,2 they decided to approach the house before securing a search warrant.

The officers knocked on the door, and Edward Bowley,, a codefendant, answered and stepped out onto the porch. Officer Brown told Bowley that they were "investigating a [70]*70possible grow farm here, and we're going to get a search warrant, but before we do anything or ask any questions, we're going to read you your Miranda Rights." At this point, Solberg joined Bowley and the officers on the porch. Officer Brown then read Solberg and Bowley their Miranda rights.3 Officer Paulsen said that he suspected four or five halide grow lamps, and Solberg responded, "No, I have four".

Other officers arrived at the residence to wait with Sol-berg and Bowley while Officers Paulsen and Brown left to secure a search warrant. During the 3 hours it took to secure a search warrant, Solberg and Bowley were not allowed to leave the premises. Although the testimony at the hearing was conflicting, the trial court found on substantial evidence that the officers did not enter or search the house until Officers Paulsen and Brown returned with the search warrant.

A search of the residence revealed 496 marijuana plants, 473 grams of cut marijuana, halide lamps, transformers, timers and other items necessary for grow farms.

Solberg moved to suppress the evidence found during the search on the basis that he was unlawfully arrested, that his residence was unlawfully seized and that the affidavit in support of the search warrant lacked probable cause. The court found that Officers Paulsen and Brown had probable cause to arrest Solberg, thus, the court held that Solberg was lawfully arrested. The court also found that, during the 3-hour wait for the search warrant, the house had not been seized. Finally, the court found that before the search warrant was obtained, no officers entered the house, that the search pursuant to the search warrant was lawful and that the affidavit in support of the search warrant contained probable cause. The court therefore refused to suppress the marijuana and other evidence found in Solberg's house.

Solberg waived his right to a jury trial and the court found him guilty of the crime charged.

[71]*71II

A. Warrantless Arrest

Solberg first argues that he was unlawfully arrested. Sol-berg contends that even if the police had probable cause to arrest him, absent a warrant or exigent circumstances, the arrest was unlawful because he was arrested in his home.

Both the Fourth Amendment and article 1, section 7 of the Washington Constitution provide significant constitutional safeguards to individuals in their homes. "It is a 'basic principle of Fourth Amendment law' that searches and seizures inside a home without a warrant are presumptively unreasonable." Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 586, 63 L. Ed. 2d 639, 100 S. Ct. 1371 (1980). In Payton, the Supreme Court held that, absent consent or exigent circumstances, the Fourth Amendment prohibits the warrantless entry into an individual's home to make a felony arrest even though probable cause exists to arrest the individual. 445 U.S. at 587-88; State v. Holeman, 103 Wn.2d 426, 429, 693 P.2d 89 (1985) (applying the same rule to Const. art. 1, § 7).

The initial issue in the instant case is whether Solberg was arrested in his home. The State argued below, and seems to be arguing on appeal, that because Officers Paul-sen and Brown read Solberg his rights on his porch, Solberg was not arrested in his home.

In State v. Carlow, 44 Wn. App. 821, 723 P.2d 522 (1986), two police officers went to the defendant's home, without a warrant, to question him. They knocked on the door and the defendant answered and stepped out onto the porch. At this point, the officers arrested the defendant. On appeal, the court upheld the validity of the arrest without a warrant on the basis that the defendant was arrested outside of his home, that is, while on the porch of his home.4 44 Wn. App. at 826.

In Holeman, however, the defendant was arrested, without a warrant, while standing in the doorway of his home. On [72]*72appeal, the court held that the arrest was unlawful as the defendant was arrested in his home without a warrant and absent exigent circumstances. 103 Wn.2d at 429. The court explained:

It is no argument to say that the police never crossed the threshold of David's house. It is not the location of the arresting officer that is important in determining whether an arrest occurred in the home for Fourth Amendment purposes. Instead, the important consideration is the location of the arrestee. United States v. Morgan, 743 F.2d 1158 (6th Cir. 1984); United States v. Johnson,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Smith
55 P.3d 686 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2002)
State v. Jacobson
965 P.2d 1140 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1998)
State v. Smith
963 P.2d 642 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1998)
State v. Johnson
904 P.2d 1188 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1995)
State v. Creelman
878 P.2d 492 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1994)
State v. Olson
872 P.2d 64 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1994)
State v. Solberg
861 P.2d 460 (Washington Supreme Court, 1993)
State v. Solberg
831 P.2d 754 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1992)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
831 P.2d 754, 66 Wash. App. 66, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 456, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-solberg-washctapp-1992.