United States v. Murphy

267 F. App'x 311

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Following a jury trial, William C. Murphy, Jr., was convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (2000), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 924(c)(1)(A) (West Supp.2007). The district court sentenced Murphy to ten months in prison on the drug trafficking count and a consecutive sixty months in prison on the firearms count. Murphy timely appeals, challenging the district court’s denial of his two suppression motions.

Murphy first argues that the initial traffic stop violated his Fourth Amendment rights. We find that, based on the information available to the officers at the time of the stop, namely that Murphy was driving with an expired North Carolina driver’s license, the traffic stop was proper. Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 810, 116 S.Ct. 1769, 135 L.Ed.2d 89 (1996) (“As a general matter, the decision to stop an automobile is reasonable where the police have probable cause to believe that a traffic violation has occurred.”).

Murphy also contends that the search warrant was constitutionally deficient because the affidavit supporting the warrant listed one officer, but another officer signed it. We find that this technical error did not amount to a constitutional violation and did not invalidate the search warrant. See United States v. Hyten, 5 F.3d 1154, 1156-57 (8th Cir.1993) (holding that affidavit listing incorrect name of affiant did not require suppression).

Accordingly, we affirm Murphy’s convictions. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.