United States v. Muhlenbruch

634 F.3d 987, 84 Fed. R. Serv. 960, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 3155, 2011 WL 536493
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedFebruary 17, 2011
Docket10-1396
StatusPublished
Cited by74 cases

This text of 634 F.3d 987 (United States v. Muhlenbruch) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth 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. Muhlenbruch, 634 F.3d 987, 84 Fed. R. Serv. 960, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 3155, 2011 WL 536493 (8th Cir. 2011).

Opinion

BEAM, Circuit Judge.

The district court sentenced defendant Randall Muhlenbrueh to two concurrent sentences of 120 months’ imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of knowingly receiving child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), and knowingly possessing child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). On appeal, Muhlenbrueh challenges his convictions, arguing that (A) the district court erred when it denied his motions to suppress statements and evidence; (B) the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his convictions; (C) the district court erroneously allowed the jury to view Muhlenbruch’s videotaped confession multiple times; and (D) his convictions for both possessing and receiving the same images of child pornography violate the Double Jeopardy Clause. 1 Muhlenbrueh also challenges his sentence on several grounds. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with instructions.

I. BACKGROUND

In late 2004, Muhlenbrueh lived with his wife, Tatiana, in an apartment in Marshall-town, Iowa. In November of 2004, however, Tatiana was ordered to have no contact with Muhlenbrueh following a domestic dispute in which Tatiana allegedly assaulted Muhlenbrueh. Despite the order, the couple resumed cohabitation at Muhlenbruch’s apartment sometime in early December of 2004. While Tatiana was staying at the apartment on December 10, 2004, she discovered apparent images of child pornography on Muhlenbruch’s computer. When Tatiana confronted Muhlenbrueh about the images, Muhlenbrueh offered to delete the images but Tatiana convinced him not to. The following day, Muhlenbrueh and Tatiana traveled to Des Moines to do some Christmas shopping.

Unbeknownst to Muhlenbrueh, Tatiana contacted Jaret Klaas, a private citizen, and asked him to enter Muhlenbruch’s apartment and copy the child pornography files from Muhlenbruch’s computer onto a CD while Muhlenbrueh and Tatiana were in Des Moines. Using a key that Tatiana left under a doormat outside Muhlenbruch’s apartment, Klaas entered the apartment, accessed Muhlenbruch’s computer, and downloaded what he believed were images of child pornography onto CDs. Klaas then went to the Marshall-town Police Department and reported to Officer Curtis Hansel that Muhlenbrueh possessed child pornography on his computer. When Officer Hansel told Klaas that more information was needed before the police could take action, Klaas gave Officer Hansel the CDs containing files from Muhlenbruch’s computer. Officer Hansel reviewed the images on the CDs and believed, based on his training and experience, that the images constituted child pornography.

Soon after Officer Hansel reviewed the CDs, he began to prepare a search warrant for Muhlenbruch’s apartment. Meanwhile, an officer was assigned to conduct surveillance on Muhlenbruch’s apartment and to prevent entry while the search warrant was being processed. Muhlenbrueh and Tatiana returned to the apartment from Des Moines before the warrant was secured. There, an officer briefly spoke with Tatiana and Muhlenbrueh without explaining why law enforcement was present. The officer told Muhlenbrueh that he was *994 not under arrest and Muhlenbruch was transported to the police station in the backseat of a patrol car for questioning. 2 At the police station, Muhlenbruch was placed in a hallway near the booking area while officers questioned Tatiana. Tatiana explained to the officers that she found child pornography on Muhlenbruch’s computer and directed Klaas to enter Muhlenbruch’s apartment to retrieve the images.

After Tatiana’s interview, Officer Hansel and Detective Jeremy Linsenmeyer interviewed Muhlenbruch regarding the images found on his computer. A DVD recording of the interview shows that Muhlenbruch was interviewed in a relatively small, windowless room with the door closed for approximately twenty-two minutes. Before the officers began questioning Muhlenbruch, they explained that Muhlenbruch was not under arrest and that he was free to leave at any time. Officer Hansel then told Muhlenbruch that they wanted to ask him about pictures of children found on Muhlenbruch’s computer. Muhlenbruch initially denied downloading child pornography on his computer but he admitted to saving adult pornography in a hidden computer folder entitled “AA727.” Detective Linsenmeyer stressed to Muhlenbruch the importance of being honest and he explained that Muhlenbruch’s denial of downloading child pornography differed from Tatiana’s statement. Shortly after this exchange, Muhlenbruch asked, “I am going to ask you at this point, do I need to bring an attorney in?” Detective Linsenmeyer responded, “That’s up to you. I don’t tell you one way or the other.” Muhlenbruch said, “Okay,” and he confessed to downloading child pornography approximately thirty seconds later without making any further references to counsel. This confession occurred approximately seven- and-a-half minutes into the interview. Muhlenbruch then elaborated that he would “never touch a child” but child pornography was like “the forbidden fruit. You ain’t supposed to have it, so then you want it.”

After Muhlenbruch explained why and how he downloaded child pornography, Officer Hansel reiterated, “Like I told you, Randall, you’re going to walk out this door no matter what.” Detective Linsenmeyer asked Muhlenbruch whether he would sign a form granting consent to seize Muhlenbruch’s computer. Muhlenbruch responded, “I do wonder if I shouldn’t have an attorney here to help me on this one.” Detective Linsenmeyer again told Muhlenbruch, “This is totally up to you.... If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.” Officer Hansel added, “[W]e can’t tell you one way or the other” and again explained to Muhlenbruch that he was not under arrest and that “no matter what you say, or do, or don’t do ... you’re walking out that door.” Muhlenbruch then requested to consult a lawyer. Detective Linsenmeyer told Muhlenbruch that they would proceed to prepare a search warrant and that Muhlenbruch would need to remain at the police station until the warrant was secured to prevent Muhlenbruch from destroying or hiding the computer. Muhlenbruch then asked the officers whether his computer would be destroyed during the search. The officers explained that the computer would not be destroyed and Muhlenbruch replied that if he got his computer back, he would consent to the search. Later, Muhlenbruch reiterated, “I’ll give you consent because you guys have been more than straightforward with me, and I don’t think you’re trying to hang *995 me, I really don’t.” It is undisputed that Muhlenbruch was not advised of his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966) at any point before or during the recorded interview.

After Muhlenbruch gave consent to seize his computer, Detective Linsenmeyer and Officer Hansel traveled to Muhlenbruch’s apartment in a patrol car with Muhlenbruch seated in the front passenger seat. Inside the apartment, Muhlenbruch assisted the officers by unhooking the cables to his computer tower.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
634 F.3d 987, 84 Fed. R. Serv. 960, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 3155, 2011 WL 536493, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-muhlenbruch-ca8-2011.