United States v. Antwan D. Jackson

558 F. App'x 932
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
DecidedMarch 10, 2014
Docket13-13056
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 558 F. App'x 932 (United States v. Antwan D. Jackson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Antwan D. Jackson, 558 F. App'x 932 (11th Cir. 2014).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Antwan Jackson appeals his conviction for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and 924(e)(1). On appeal, Jackson argues the district court erred by denying his motion to suppress the fruits of a traffic stop, and by denying his motion for judgment of acquittal because the government failed to establish venue and possession. Each of these arguments is addressed in turn below.

I. MOTION TO SUPPRESS

The denial of a defendant’s motion to suppress generally involves a mixed question of fact and law. United States v. Lindsey, 482 F.3d 1285, 1290 (11th Cir.2007). Findings of fact are construed in the light most favorable to the prevailing party below and reviewed for clear error, while findings of law are reviewed de novo. Id. We give deference to district courts’ credibility determinations. United States v. McPhee, 336 F.3d 1269, 1275 (11th Cir.2003). A failure to object to a magistrate’s findings in accordance with Rule 59(b)(2) waives a party’s right to review of those findings. See Fed.R.Cr.P. 59(b)(2); United States v. Garcia-Sandobal, 703 F.3d 1278, 1283 (11th Cir.2013) (holding that a defendant waived his right to appellate review on an issue because he did not file a timely objection to the magistrate’s recommendation and report).

A traffic stop does not violate the Fourth Amendment if it is either based upon probable cause to believe a traffic violation has occurred or reasonable suspi *934 cion of criminal activity. United States v. Harris, 526 F.3d 1334, 1337 (11th Cir. 2008). Police officers have probable cause when the facts and circumstances within their collective knowledge would cause a prudent person to believe the suspect has committed or is committing an offense. Craig v. Singletary, 127 F.3d 1030, 1042 (11th Cir.1997) (en banc). Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard than probable cause, and is satisfied by “considerably less than proof of wrongdoing by a preponderance of the evidence.” United States v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1, 7, 109 S.Ct. 1581, 1585, 104 L.Ed.2d 1 (1989). The existence of probable cause or reasonable suspicion is viewed from the standpoint of an objectively reasonable police officer. United States v. Chanthasouxat, 342 F.3d 1271, 1276 (11th Cir.2003). The inquiry is centered on information available to officers at the time of the stop, and not whether a suspect’s conduct is ultimately proved lawful. United States v. Lewis, 674 F.3d 1298, 1305 (11th Cir.2012).

Florida law provides:
A person shall not operate any motor vehicle on any public highway, road, or street on which vehicle the side wings and side windows on either side forward of or adjacent to the operator’s seat are composed of, covered by, or treated with any sunscreening material or other product or covering which has the effect of making the window nontransparent or which would alter the window’s color, increase its reflectivity, or reduce its light transmittance, except as expressly permitted by this section. A sunscreen-ing material is authorized for such windows if, when applied to and tested on the glass of such windows on the specific motor vehicle, the material has a total solar reflectance of visible light of not more than 25 percent as measured on the nonfilm side and a light transmittance of at least 28 percent in the visible light range.

Fla. Stat. § 316.2953. There are exceptions for people with certain medical conditions, law enforcement canine units, and licensed private investigators. Fla. Stat. § 316.29545. Officers are permitted to detain suspects long enough to determine whether they qualify for an exemption to a statute. See Lewis, 674 F.3d at 1304.

Jackson is precluded from arguing that a patrol deputy could not determine the car he was riding in had tinted windows when he passed it on the road. In addition to the deference we give to a district court’s credibility determinations, the uncontested findings of fact from the magistrate, adopted by the district court, state that the car Jackson was riding in had “very, very, very dark” windows, and that an officer was able to determine that fact when he passed the car on the highway. Because Jackson waived his right to challenge those facts on appeal by not objecting to the magistrate’s factual findings, he cannot challenge the officer’s ability to make that determination.

It also does not matter that the record lacks evidence showing the windows of the car Jackson was riding in actually violated the window tint statute. Probable cause is determined by officers’ knowledge at the time of the stop, and the record states that an officer observed a car with heavily tinted windows. Even if the windows did not turn out to violate Florida law, a stop based on an officer’s incorrect but reasonable assessment of facts does not violate the Fourth Amendment.

Jackson’s argument that there was no probable cause to stop the vehicle because officers did not investigate whether he fell within an exemption to the window tint statute also fails, because Moore and Gray were entitled to stop the car and discern whether its operator qualified for an ex *935 emption for the statute. Then, as they effectuated that stop, reasonable suspicion of criminal activity arose further justifying the detention.

Contrary to Jackson’s stance, an officer’s knowledge of the car’s rental status also does not change the probable cause analysis. The statute deals with operation of a ear with tinted windows, and not ownership of such a car.

Finally, Jackson’s argument that a gun on the center console did not justify detention beyond a simple traffic stop fails because the gun was not the reason for extending the stop. The stop was extended because there was reasonable suspicion that the driver had committed battery and had attempted to flee and elude police.

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558 F. App'x 932, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-antwan-d-jackson-ca11-2014.