United States v. Borden

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: June 18, 2024
• Docket: 23-40484
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Case: 23-40484 Document: 65-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/18/2024

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit

____________ FILED June 18, 2024 No. 23-40484 Lyle W. Cayce Summary Calendar Clerk ____________

United States of America,

Plaintiff—Appellee,

versus

Johnathan Samuel Borden,

Defendant—Appellant. ______________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 2:22-CR-317-1 ______________________________

Before Higginbotham, Stewart, and Southwick, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam: * Johnathan Samuel Borden appeals his conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon, arguing the district court erred by denying his motion to suppress evidence discovered during police officers’ warrantless search of his backpack. In denying his motion, the district court determined the exigent circumstances exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant _____________________ * This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4. Case: 23-40484 Document: 65-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/18/2024

No. 23-40484

requirement applied. See Kentucky v. King, 563 U.S. 452, 460 (2011). Specifically, the district court found that exigent circumstances existed based on “the need to assist” Borden during an apparent medical emergency. Brigham City v. Stuart, 547 U.S. 398, 403 (2006); see United States v. Troop, 514 F.3d 405, 409 (5th Cir. 2008). We review the district court’s “factual findings for clear error and the ultimate constitutionality of law enforcement action de novo.” United States v. Robinson, 741 F.3d 588, 594 (5th Cir. 2014). Here, the police officers’ testimony at the suppression hearing — corroborated by their body camera videos — demonstrates that “there was an objectively reasonable basis” for concluding a medical emergency existed. See United States v. Toussaint, 838 F.3d 503, 509 (5th Cir. 2016); Troop, 514 F.3d at 410. Borden argues the officers’ actions indicate they did not actually think a medical emergency existed, but their subjective beliefs are irrelevant. See Toussaint, 838 F.3d at 509. Given the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable view of the evidence supports the district court’s conclusion that exigent circumstances — a medical emergency or overdose — existed. See United States v. Massi, 761 F.3d 512, 520 (5th Cir. 2014). AFFIRMED.