United States v. Musgrave

726 F. Supp. 1027, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15289, 1989 WL 153992
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. North Carolina
DecidedDecember 14, 1989
DocketC-CR-89-127
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 726 F. Supp. 1027 (United States v. Musgrave) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Musgrave, 726 F. Supp. 1027, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15289, 1989 WL 153992 (W.D.N.C. 1989).

Opinion

ORDER

ROBERT D. POTTER, Chief Judge.

I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

THIS MATTER is before the Court on a Memorandum and Recommendation (“M & R”), filed by United States Magistrate Paul B. Taylor on November 17, 1989. The M & R is in response to a Motion to Suppress statements and evidence filed by Defendant on October 26, 1989. The Magistrate conducted a hearing on this matter on November 6, 1989. On December 1, 1989, the Government filed objections to the Magistrate’s Conclusions of Law. Defendant chose not to file objections to the M & R.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Title 28, United States Code, Section 636 requires the Court to make a de novo review of those portions of an M & R to which objection is made. The Court may accept, reject or modify the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate. Moreover, the Court may also receive further evidence.

In this case, the Court has carefully reviewed the entire record. In particular, the Court has read Defendant’s Motion to Suppress, the Government’s response to the Motion to Suppress, the M & R and case law cited therein, and the Government’s objections to the M & R. The Court has also listened to the lengthy tape of the November 6, 1989 hearing. Furthermore, the Court has conducted extensive, independent research regarding the two legal issues presented.

Attached to the Government’s objection is the affidavit of United States Customs *1029 Agent Ronald R. Taylor. Mr. Taylor was unable to testify at the November 6, 1989 hearing because he was out of town. However, his testimony is substantially similar to that of United States Customs Agent Larry F. Harrell who did testify at the hearing. Therefore, the Court does not believe it is necessary to hold another hearing in order to receive Agent Taylor’s testimony. Nonetheless, the Court does believe 28 U.S.C. § 636 permits the Court to consider the affidavit as further evidence. See Proctor v. State Government of North Carolina, 830 F.2d 514 (4th Cir.1987) (finding that court may consider any additional evidence submitted by parties in conducting de novo review). However, because the affidavit does not shed additional light on the factual background of this matter and Defendant objected to its use in a motion filed December 11, 1989, the Court will not consider Agent Taylor’s affidavit. See Order filed December 12, 1989 granting Defendant’s Motion to Strike Agent Taylor’s affidavit.

III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The Government does not object to the Magistrate’s Findings of Fact. The Court’s review of the November 6, 1989 hearing confirms that Defendant and Government agree on the significant facts of this matter. The disagreement between the parties is how the facts relate to the appropriate application of the law. For the sake of clarity, the Court will highlight the relevant factual background of this matter.

On August 2, 1989, Special Agent Larry F. Harrell of the United States Customs Service obtained an anticipatory search warrant authorizing a search of Defendant’s apartment in Statesville, North Carolina. The Customs Service suspected Defendant of receiving a videotape through the mail entitled “Lolita Orgy” which contained child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252. The tape was sent to Defendant by Santos Videos — an undercover Customs Service sting operation. The search warrant authorized the seizure of that tape, other child pornography materials, and records and correspondence relating to child pornography.

The search warrant was executed on August 3, 1989 at 4:30 p.m. An undercover agent posing as a delivery man delivered the Lolita Orgy tape to Defendant. Fifteen minutes later, Agent Harrell and seven other law enforcement personnel knocked on Defendant’s door. Defendant answered the door and retrieved from the pantry the package that had just been delivered containing the Lolita Orgy videotape. At Agent Harrell’s request, Defendant obtained for the agents videotapes from his bedroom. Other videotapes were found by the officers in the pantry. ■

In addition to the Lolita Orgy videotape, a total of thirteen other videotapes were found. Twelve of those videotapes appeared to Agent Harrell to be commercially produced x-rated pornography. The other videotape appeared to have been a copied videotape which had a handwritten title “Down on the Farm.” In accordance with standard operating procedure, the agents made a cursory review of each videotape on Defendant’s V.C.R. to determine if the tapes contained pornography. All thirteen videotapes contained some form of pornography. Therefore, the videotapes were seized for later review at the Custom Service’s office to determine if any of the videotapes contained child pornography. The search for the videotapes and records took about fifteen minutes.

Shortly after finding the videotapes, Defendant was told by Agent Harrell that he would not be placed under arrest at that time, but that the United States Attorney would be consulted and would decide whether to pursue the case. Agent Harrell testified at the hearing that Defendant stated he understood he was not under arrest. Defendant corroborated this testimony at the hearing by stating he knew he was not under arrest.

Thereafter, Agent Taylor asked Defendant if he would mind stepping into a back bedroom. According to Agent Harrell, this was done to ensure Defendant’s privacy as his girlfriend and roommate were present in the apartment. Defendant testified at the hearing that Agent Taylor did not phys *1030 ically escort Defendant to the bedroom. However, because of the number of officers in the apartment, Defendant stated that he did not feel that he had a choice in following the agents to the bedroom.

Agent Taylor questioned Defendant for a total of thirty to forty-five minutes. At no time were more than three officers present in the bedroom and most of the time only Agent Taylor and Postal Inspector James A. Charlton were present. Agent Harrell testified at the hearing that he heard most of the conversation between Agent Taylor and Defendant. According to Agent Harrell, the tone of the conversation was normal. No threats were made nor was any force used to coerce Defendant’s statements. The Agents questioning Defendant did not display their weapons, although three uniformed officers present during the search had weapons visibly displayed. No one raised their voice although Defendant testified that Agent Taylor spoke “sternly” to him several times when questioning his truthfulness but did not “shout or raise his voice.” Overall, Defendant's testimony about the conversation was consistent with that of Agent Harrell.

After the agents completed their search and conversation with Defendant, the officers left the apartment. The agents were at the apartment for one hour. Defendant was not placed under arrest at that time.

IV. THE PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS

Defendant argues that any statements made during the search of his apartment should be suppressed.

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Bluebook (online)
726 F. Supp. 1027, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15289, 1989 WL 153992, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-musgrave-ncwd-1989.