Case Title: State v. McDougald

Citation: 362 N.C. 224

Docket Number: 64A07

State: north-carolina

Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

Date: 2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court
Slip Opinion
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. DWIGHT MCDOUGALD
No. 64A07
FILED: 7 MARCH 2008
Search and Seizure–search of defendant’s apartment–refusal of consent by
defendant–consent by wife–harmlessness of error
The decision of the Court of Appeals in a prosecution for conspiracy to traffic in
MDA is reversed and remanded for determination if any error under Georgia v. Randolph, ___
U.S. ___, 164 L. Ed. 2d 208 (2006), in the search of defendant’s apartment based upon his wife’s
consent after defendant refused consent was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
Appeal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7A-30(2) from the
decision of a divided panel of the Court of Appeals, 181 N.C.
App. 41, 638 S.E.2d 546 (2007), finding no error in judgments
entered 12 April 2005 by Judge Jerry Cash Martin in Superior
Court, Guilford County.  On 11 October 2007, the Supreme Court
allowed defendant’s petition for discretionary review as to an
additional issue.  Heard in the Supreme Court 14 February 2008.
Roy Cooper, Attorney General, by John P. Scherer II,
Assistant Attorney General, for the State.
Irving Joyner for defendant-appellant.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals to this Court from the decision
of the Court of Appeals on the basis of a dissent. In light
of the State’s concession of error, we reverse the decision
of the Court of Appeals as to the appealable issue of right
i.e. whether it was appropriate to dismiss defendant’s
appeal on procedural grounds. The case is remanded to the
Court of Appeals to determine if any error under Georgia v.
Randolph, _ U.S. _, 164 L. Ed. 2d 208 (2006) was harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt.  The remaining issues addressed
Supreme Court
Slip Opinion
-2-
by the Court of Appeals are not before this Court and its
decision as to these issues remains undisturbed. 
REVERSED IN PART AND REMANDED.