United States v. Sorenson

28 F. Supp. 2d 1310, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19023, 1998 WL 839879
CourtDistrict Court, D. Utah
DecidedOctober 7, 1998
Docket2:97-cv-00336
StatusPublished

This text of 28 F. Supp. 2d 1310 (United States v. Sorenson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Sorenson, 28 F. Supp. 2d 1310, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19023, 1998 WL 839879 (D. Utah 1998).

Opinion

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

BENSON, District Judge.

On October 29, 1997 defendants Valerie Marie Sorenson, Howard Dillon and Joseph Hyder were indicted on one count of possession of meperidine with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Defendant Valerie Marie Sorenson filed a Motion to Suppress and later an Amended Motion to Suppress. Defendant Sorenson seeks to suppress syringes found at her residence on July 18, 1997, and a statement made by Sorenson to Detective Broadhead on August 1, 1997. She also sought to suppress statements made by her husband Joseph Hyder, but the Magistrate Judge properly instructed that such motion should be reserved as a motion in limine to be raised if the government attempts to use such evidence.

On August 20, 1998, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation in which it was recommended that defendant’s Motion to Suppress as to the initial search of the residence and storage closet on July 18, 1997 be denied; that the evidence obtained from the second search, made by Officers Broadhead and Winters on the morning of July 19, 1997 — without Officer Kelly’s authorization — should be suppressed; and that the motion to suppress the statement made by Valerie Marie Sorenson to Officer Broadhead on August 1,1997 be denied.

Defendant Valerie Marie Sorenson filed a timely objection to the Report and Recommendation and objects to the part of the Recommendation which finds that the initial search of the locked storage closet was lawful. Additionally, defendant Sorenson objects to the Magistrate Judge’s finding that the initial search of the storage facility was within the scope of the supervised release agreement as an administrative search. The Government did not file a response to the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation.

Having considered the Report and Recommendation, defendant Sorenson’s objection, and other relevant materials, this Court *1312 ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation in its entirety and rules that defendant Valerie Marie Sorenson’s Motion to Suppress is DENIED as to the initial search of the residence and storage closet of defendant Joseph Hyder and Valerie Marie Sorenson on July 18, 1997; that the evidence obtained from the second search, made by Officers Broadhead and Winters on the morning of July 19, 1997 should be SUPPRESSED; and defendant’s Motion to Suppress the statement made by Valerie Marie Sorenson to Officer Broadhead on August 1, 1997 is DENIED.

REPORT & RECOMMENDATION

BOYCE, United States Magistrate Judge.

Defendants, Valerie Marie Sorenson, Howard Dillon and Joseph Hyder, have been indicted on one count of possession of meper-idine with intent to distribute (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)) (File Entry # 1). The defendant, Valerie Marie Sorenson, made a motion to suppress and thereafter submitted an amended motion to suppress (File Entries # 37,44). A memorandum was submitted in support of the motion (File Entry # 38).

The defendant Sorenson seeks to suppress syringes found at her residence July 18, 1997, and a statement made by Sorenson to Detective Broadhead on August 1,1997. Defendant also sought to suppress statements made by her husband Joseph Hyder which Sorenson contends involve privileged information (File Entry # 44). 1

Hearing was held on the motion to suppress and defendant Sorenson submitted an updated memorandum (File Entry # 56). The United States submitted a memorandum in opposition to the defendant Sorenson’s motion to suppress (Tr. p. 57). The case has been referred to the magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. 636(b)(1)(B). This report and recommendation is submitted pursuant to the reference on the defendant Valerie Marie Sorenson’s motion to suppress.

Evidence

David Broadhead, a detective with the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, testified that he was assigned narcotics enforcement duties (Tr. p. 4). On July 18, 1997 Broadhead was investigating Joseph Hyder based on information Broadhead had that Hyder and his wife, defendant Valerie Marie Sorenson, were distributing meperidine syringes in Salt Lake County (Tr. p. 5). Through the use of an informant purchases of meperidine from Hyder and Sorenson had been made (Id.). The drug was manufactured through a legitimate pharmaceutical source (Tr. p. 6). Broadhead determined Hyder was a federal pretrial releasee and that Agent Steve Kelly was his probation officer. Broadhead also had information that Hyder and Sorenson had numerous meperidine syringes. The officer was concerned about a public health danger from the drug and based on information from medical personnel believed that there could be overdose deaths (Tr. p. 7). Mr. Steven Kelly, Hyder’s probation officer, was contacted and Kelly was advised of what had transpired. This was on July 18,1997, a Friday (Tr. p. 7). Because of the safety concerns, it was determined to proceed with an investigation. Hyder was actually on federal supervised release (Tr. p. 8) and the possibility of conducting a search of his premises was discussed. Kelly apprised Broadhead of the federal policies and procedures that were required (Tr. p. 8). Kelly requested that Broadhead and his officers assist him in the investigation and an attempt would be made to obtain Hyder’s consent to a search (Tr. p. 9).

The officers approached Hyder at his residence, he was standing in the doorway. Broadhead and Kelly went towards Hyder who recognized Kelly, spoke to him and they shook hands (Id). Hyder invited both persons into the residence and asked if they would like to sit down. Kelly explained to Hyder the purpose of the visit and asked to check his residence. Hyder was very cooperative. He told Kelly about a small amount of marijuana in the residence, which was *1313 retrieved (Tr. p. 10). A Miranda 2 warning was given to Hyder who agreed to speak to the officers without an attorney (Tr. p. 10).

Two other officers entered the premises to help with the search and Kelly continued to speak to Hyder. Hyder said there were several boxes of meperidine syringes located in a storage closet at the residence. Hyder said the syringes had been put in the closet by defendant, Sorenson, who was not at home. The officers asked Hyder’s permission to get a key for the closet from the manager and Hyder agreed. A detective Winters obtained a key for the closet from the apartment complex manager (Tr. p. 11). Eventually a bag containing seven boxes of syringes, ten in each box, were recovered as well as loose syringes (Tr. p. 12). No other search of the residence was conducted. Because of Mr. Hyder’s cooperation and confession there was no extensive exploration of the residence, just a low key visual inspection. After recovery of the seven boxes, Kelly told Hyder of the concern about selling the syringes on the street.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
28 F. Supp. 2d 1310, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19023, 1998 WL 839879, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-sorenson-utd-1998.