United States v. Parker

594 F.3d 1243, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 2655, 2010 WL 437329
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedFebruary 9, 2010
Docket09-1229
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 594 F.3d 1243 (United States v. Parker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth 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. Parker, 594 F.3d 1243, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 2655, 2010 WL 437329 (10th Cir. 2010).

Opinion

ALARCÓN, Circuit Judge.

The sole issue raised in this appeal is whether the district court clearly erred in enhancing Tyrone Parker’s sentence based on its finding that Parker had obstructed justice. He does not challenge the judgment of conviction or the denial of his motion to suppress the evidence the officers obtained after they entered his apartment after conversing with Parker in his doorway.

We affirm because we conclude that the district court did not clearly err in determining that Parker obstructed justice when he falsely testified at the suppression hearing that he did not consent to the entry of his apartment.

I

On February 19, 2008, officers of the Denver Police Department obtained warrants to search three residences in an apartment complex consisting of forty-three units. After executing the warrants, the officers decided to perform a “knock and talk” 1 with Parker at his residence in the same building. The officers did not have a warrant to search Parker’s apartment. The officers knocked on Parker’s door. After talking to Parker, the officers entered the apartment. In the apartment, the officers seized a Raven Arms .25 caliber handgun, a magazine, ammunition, as well as crack cocaine, and marijuana.

Parker was arrested and taken to the Denver Police Department Headquarters where he wrote out a statement indicating that he consented to the entry by the police officers into his apartment.

On May 6, 2008, a federal grand jury indicted Parker on two counts: Count 1 charged Parker with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1); and, Count 2 with knowingly possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(k). Parker entered a plea of not guilty on May 13, 2008.

II

A

On July 21, 2008, Parker filed a motion to suppress the evidence seized in his apartment, as well as the statements he made there prior to his arrest. He argued in his motion that the evidence was obtained as a result of the warrantless entry into his apartment by Denver Police officers in violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment because he did not freely consent to the search.

B

The hearing on the motion to suppress was conducted on September 26, 2008. In his opening statement, Parker’s counsel argued that the court should also suppress *1245 the written statement Parker executed at the police station because it was not voluntary and because it was the product of deceit and coercion.

Detectives Jeff N. Baran and James Reiva and Officers Anthony Schluck and James Dixon of the Denver Police Department testified on behalf of the prosecution. Special Agent Mark J. Feltz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also testified for the prosecution. Tyrone Parker and his mother, Maebelle Parker, testified for the defense.

Detective Baran testified that a warrant-less “knock and talk” investigation was conducted at Parker’s apartment on February 19, 2008 with Detective Reiva and Officers Schluck and Dixon.

Detective Baran testified that after Detective Reiva knocked on the door, Parker opened it. He was holding a cell phone. Detective Reiva asked Parker: “Can we come in and talk to you?” Suppression Hr’g Transcript at 28, September 26, 2008.

Parker inquired whether the officers had a warrant. The officers responded that they did not have a warrant. Parker then stated: “Yeah, you can come in.” Id. at 28-29.

As Detective Reiva stepped into the apartment, Parker stated: “I have a gun over there.” Id. at 29. The firearm was in plain view from the doorway, once Parker stepped out of the way.

Detective Baran asked Parker if he had been convicted of any prior felonies. Parker replied: ‘Tes.” Id. at 31. Detective Baran then advised Parker of his Miranda rights. Parker stated that he understood his rights. Detective Baran asked if the firearm was loaded. Parker replied that it had six rounds in it — one in the chamber and five in the magazine. Parker stated

that “on New Year’s, I fired a couple of rounds into the air.” Id. at 37.

Detective Baran asked Parker if he knew that as a felon, he could not legally possess a weapon. Parker replied: “Well, it’s a risk I had to take, you know: either be safe and have the gun or get caught with it and go back.” Id.

Detective Reiva testified that he participated in the “knock and talk” investigation at Parker’s apartment. Detective Reiva knocked on Parker’s door. It was a “regular knock.” Id. at 57. Parker opened the door and Detective Reiva said “Denver Police.” Id. Parker was holding a phone next to his ear. Detective Reiva stated to Parker: “Can we come in and talk to you for a minute?” Id. at 59. Parker said “yes” and stepped back and opened the door to make a path for the officers to enter. Id.

When Detective Reiva stepped into the apartment, he saw a chrome-plated handgun sitting on the top of the refrigerator. As Detective Reiva walked over to retrieve the firearm, Parker stated: “I have a gun over there.” Id. at 62. In response to Detective Baran’s question, Parker stated that he was a convicted felon. Id. at 63.

Detective Reiva saw crack cocaine residue on top of the refrigerator. He also saw marijuana and crack cocaine residue in the sink. Detective Reiva overheard Parker consent to a search of the apartment in response to Detective Baran’s request.

c

After Parker was arrested and removed to Denver Police Headquarters, Detective Reiva read a Miranda advisement form to him. Parker stated he understood his rights after they were read to him, and placed his initials after each statement.

*1246 Detective Reiva read the waiver provisions of the advisement to Parker. The form states: “Knowing my rights and knowing what I am doing, I now wish to voluntarily talk to you.” Government’s Response to Motion to Suppress at Ex. 1, August 8, 2008. Parker wrote, “Yes” and signed his name after the waiver admonishment. Id. Detective Reiva then asked Parker to “write the story of what happened.” Suppression Hr’g Transcript at 73, September 26, 2008. Parker’s handwritten statement reads as follows:

I Tyrone Edward Parker heard a knock at my door. The officers then stated that this is the Denver Police Department, may we come in. I agreed, they came into my apartment, I then told them that I have a gun, they retrieved the gun, and the box of ammo, did an apartment search found a little pot, and some crack that was found in my kitchen drain that I use for my personal consumption.

Government’s Response to Motion to Suppress at Ex. 2, August 8, 2008.

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Related

United States v. Carloss
818 F.3d 988 (Tenth Circuit, 2016)
United States v. Lawrence Ward
732 F.3d 175 (Third Circuit, 2013)
Parker v. United States
178 L. Ed. 2d 96 (Supreme Court, 2010)
United States v. Rivera-Carrera
386 F. App'x 812 (Tenth Circuit, 2010)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
594 F.3d 1243, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 2655, 2010 WL 437329, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-parker-ca10-2010.