United States v. Padron

657 F. Supp. 840, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2602
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedMarch 20, 1987
DocketCrim. A. 87-12 MMS
StatusPublished
Cited by32 cases

This text of 657 F. Supp. 840 (United States v. Padron) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Padron, 657 F. Supp. 840, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2602 (D. Del. 1987).

Opinion

MURRAY M. SCHWARTZ, Chief Judge.

Defendants Jesus Padrón (“Padrón”) and Marcelino Rubio (“Rubio”) are charged with violating 21 U.S.C. § 841, possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Rubio is also charged with one count of possession of cocaine with intent to sell under 21 U.S.C. § 841. Defendants have filed motions to suppress the marijuana discovered in the search of the automobile, and Rubio moves to suppress his subsequent statements and the cocaine found in his car after the arrest as fruits of an illegal search. The Court held an evidentiary hearing on March 6. The Court will deny defendants’ motions for the reasons discussed below.

*842 FACTS

On January 14, 1987, defendants were travelling north on Interstate 95 (“1-95”) from Miami, Florida, with an ostensible destination of Boston, Massachusetts, in Rubio’s car. Padrón was driving throughout this episode, with Rubio in the passenger seat. After defendants left the toll booth on 1-95 just inside the Delaware border, Corporal Michael Wilbur (“Cpl. Wilbur”) of the Delaware State Police began to follow. The officer stated his suspicions were aroused by defendants’ car, but he gave no specific reason for tracking it. 1 Cpl. Wilbur drove an unmarked car, but was in uniform, and defendants testified they noticed him following almost immediately. The officer stated that defendants were driving below the speed limit, an unusual occurrence on 1-95, and he tailed them for approximately 11 miles. He also noted the car had a Florida license plate, but he did not run a check on the number.

Defendants exited 1-95 on to Route 13, a four lane highway, and proceeded south for eight miles, still followed by Cpl. Wilbur. The officer stated the defendants’ car continued under the speed limit, causing traffic to back up on the two southbound lanes, and cars were forced to pass the defendants. Padrón testified that he drove between 50 and 55 miles per hour, and kept up with traffic at all times. While travel-ling down Route 13, Cpl. Wilbur radioed Trooper Albert Homiak to request assistance. Trooper Homiak proceeded south on Route 13 and approached defendants’ vehicle from the rear, where he followed them for approximately two miles; Cpl. Wilbur was directly in front of the defendants at this point. Upon travelling eight miles south on Route 13, both officers testified that defendants’ car began weaving within its lane, and then while negotiating a curve moved three feet into the left lane, nearly striking a passing truck. Padrón testified that he maintained a steady course throughout and never left his lane. Trooper Homiak turned on his emergency lights and the three automobiles pulled over to the right shoulder.

After stopping, Rubio exited the passenger side and approached Trooper Homiak, who was behind defendants’ car. They met between the vehicles, where Rubio gave Trooper Homiak the car registration and they had a brief conversation. Rubio stated that he was looking for Route 301, which he believed was a shortcut, and that his destination was Boston. The two men then went to sit in Trooper Homiak’s car as it was exceptionally cold. Trooper Homiak then asked Rubio the name of the driver, who Rubio could only identify initially as “Jesus,” and then he remembered the last name. Trooper Homiak testified that he looked at the registration and knew Rubio owned the vehicle.

During this exchange, Cpl. Wilbur approached the driver’s side and spoke with Padrón through a partially open window. Padrón handed over his driver’s license and stated he did not have the registration. Cpl. Wilbur then asked Padrón to come to his vehicle. When Padrón opened the door, Cpl. Wilbur testified he smelled a “very moderately strong” odor emanating from the car that he immediately identified as raw marijuana. Tr. at 10. He stated that from the strength of the odor he believed there was “a considerable amount” in the car. Padrón and Rubio testified they smoke cigarettes and cigars, respectively, and that the car had a strong tobacco odor from the smoke and ashtrays.

*843 Once inside his car, Cpl. Wilbur questioned Padrón about his destination and the name of the passenger, who Padrón could only identify as “Ivan,” which is Rubio’s common name. Cpl. Wilbur testified that upon asking if he could search the car, Padrón “told me it was not his vehicle, and I explained to him that he is the operator of the vehicle and in charge of that vehicle.” Tr. at 11. Padrón testified that he also told Cpl. Wilbur that “the other man” owned the automobile. Padrón then agreed to the search, at which point Cpl. Wilbur filled out a standard Delaware State Police consent form in Spanish, which Padrón reviewed cursorily before signing. 2

Cpl. Wilbur then met briefly with Trooper Homiak next to defendants’ car to compare their stories. Cpl. Wilbur stated that Padrón had signed a consent form, at which point Trooper Homiak secured his car by removing the keys and storing his weapons. He then informed Rubio that the car would be searched, and Rubio did not respond. Trooper Homiak did not, however, inform Cpl. Wilbur that Rubio owned the vehicle. The defendants’ car, a 1982 Mustang, was a hatchback without a separate trunk area. While Trooper Homiak was at his car, Cpl. Wilbur opened the driver’s door and opened a leather bag in the back seat. He immediately discovered a ziplock bag containing marijuana. The officers then placed the defendants under arrest and resumed the search. Trooper Homiak opened the hatchback door and searched the other leather bags, finding additional caches of marijuana. He then radioed for a tow truck to remove the vehicle, and the officers transported the defendants separately to Troop 6. Prior to departing the scene, Trooper Homiak testified that Rubio made two unsolicited statements: 1) “Nice job.” 2) “There is forty-one pounds in there,” while gesturing toward the car. While driving to Troop 6, Rubio stated, “I guess I’ll get about ten years for this.” Trooper Homiak testified that these statements were wholly unsolicited, and he neither initiated the conversation nor questioned defendant. Both officers testified that the defendants were never apprised of their Miranda rights, before or after the arrest. 3 Upon his return to Troop 6, Trooper Homiak continued the search, discovering additional marijuana and one kilo of cocaine hidden behind a speaker.

ANALYSIS

The government argues that Padrón, as only a passenger in Rubio’s car, does not have standing to challenge the validity of the search. Defendants make three arguments: 1) the stop was pretextual as the officers had no objective basis for finding a traffic violation; 2) Padron’s consent was invalid because he was not the owner of the vehicle and he did not act voluntarily; 3) there was no factual basis for Cpl. Wilbur smelling raw marijuana to provide probable cause to search the vehicle. The Court will consider these arguments seriatim.

I. Standing

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Bluebook (online)
657 F. Supp. 840, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2602, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-padron-ded-1987.