UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO

WESTERN DIVISION

United States of America,

Plaintiff, Case No. 1:18cr80

v. Judge Michael R. Barrett

Alon Russell,

Defendant.

OPINION & ORDER

This matter before the Court upon Defendant Alon Russell’s Motion for Reconsideration. 

(Doc. 40). The United States has filed a Response in Opposition. (Doc. 45). On May 14, 2019, 

a hearing was held on the Motion for Reconsideration.

I. BACKGROUND

The United States has brought one count against Defendant: possession of a firearm by a 

prohibited person in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Defendant 

moved to suppress evidence obtained in a search of the garage of a house on Darbyshire Road in 

Wilmington, Ohio. Defendant was living in the garage at the time of the search. This Court denied 

Defendant’s Motion to Suppress. (Doc. 29). The factual background was previously set forth 

more fully in the Court’s Order on the Motion to Suppress; and therefore the same shall not be 

repeated here.

Defendant argues that the Court erred in finding there was voluntary consent to search 

provided by someone with actual or apparent authority.

I. ANALYSIS

A. Motion for reconsideration
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The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure do not provide for a motion to reconsider. United 

States v. Hopewell, No. 1:08-cr-65, 2009 WL 1026452, at *1 (S.D. Ohio Apr. 15, 2009). Instead, 

“[c]ourts adjudicating such motions in criminal cases typically evaluate such motions under the 

same standards applicable to a civil motion to alter or amend judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 

59(e).” Id. (quoting United States v. Jarnigan, No. 3:08–CR–7, 2008 WL 5248172, at *2 (E.D. 

Tenn. Dec. 17, 2008)). There are three grounds for amending a judgment under Rule 59: “(1) a 

clear error of law; (2) newly discovered evidence; (3) an intervening change in controlling law; or 

(4) a need to prevent manifest injustice.” Leisure Caviar, LLC v. United States Fish & Wildlife 

Serv., 616 F.3d 612, 615 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting Intera Corp. v. Henderson, 428 F.3d 605, 620 

(6th Cir. 2005)). Defendant argues that in denying his Motion to Suppress, the Court committed 

a clear error of law and reconsideration is necessary to prevent manifest injustice. 

B. Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment protects the “right of the people to be secure in their persons, 

houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.” 

U.S. Const. amend. IV. Warrantless searches and seizures “are per se unreasonable . . . subject 

only to a few specifically established and well delineated exceptions.” Katz v. United States, 389 

U.S. 347, 357, 88 S.Ct. 507, 19 L.Ed.2d 576 (1967). One exception to the warrant requirement is 

“a search that is conducted pursuant to consent.” Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 219 

(1973) (citing Davis v. United States, 328 U.S. 582, 593-94 (1946)). “Consent to enter need not 

be explicit.” Smith v. City of Wyoming, 821 F.3d 697, 709 (6th Cir. 2016). It “may be given in 

the form of words, gesture or conduct.” United States v. Carter, 378 F.3d 584, 587 (6th Cir. 2004) 

(en banc). 
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In its Order denying Defendant’s Motion to Suppress, the Court noted that Defendant did 

not raise an argument regarding consent to Sergeant Rager’s initial entry into the home. (Doc. 29, 

PAGEID# 148). Nevertheless, the Court found that there was sufficient evidence of consent to his

initial entry into the home. (Doc. 29, PAGEID# 149). Defendant now challenges that conclusion, 

and also argues that there was not voluntary consent given to Sergeant Rager to enter the house a 

second time after Defendant was placed in the back of a police cruiser.

At the outset, the Court again notes that Defendant never expressly refused consent to allow 

Sergeant Rager to enter the home or search the garage.1

 In certain circumstances, a third party—

a person other than the defendant—can validly consent to a search of the defendant's home. United 

States v. Matlock, 415 U.S. 164, 169, 94 S.Ct. 988, 39 L.Ed.2d 242 (1974) (“[T]he voluntary 

consent of any joint occupant of a residence to search the premises jointly occupied is valid against 

the co-occupant.”). The third party's ability to consent to such a search rests on his or her “joint 

occupation” of and “common authority” over the premises. Fernandez v. California, 571 U.S. 

292, 299, 134 S. Ct. 1126, 188 L. Ed. 2d 25 (2014). In addition, depending on the circumstances, 

an officer may rely on the apparent authority of a person consenting to a search. Illinois v. 

Rodriguez, 497 U.S. 177, 188-89, 110 S.Ct. 2793, 2797, 111 L.Ed.2d 148, 156 (1990). Apparent 

authority arises when a third party (1) does not possess actual authority to consent but appears to 

have such authority and (2) the law enforcement officer reasonably relied, from an objective 

perspective, on that appearance of authority. Id. at 185-89. 

 1

Under the rule set forth in Georgia v. Randolph, “a physically present inhabitant's express refusal of 

consent to a police search is dispositive as to him, regardless of the consent of a fellow occupant.” 547 U.S. 103, 

122-23, 126 S.Ct. 1515, 164 L.Ed.2d 208 (2006). However, this rule “applies only when the objector is standing in 

the door saying ‘stay out’ when officers propose a consent search.” Fernandez, 134 S.Ct. at 1136. Because 

Defendant never expressly refused consent to have Sergeant Rager enter the house and Defendant was not 

physically present when Sergeant Rager entered the garage, the Randolph rule does not apply.
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Sergeant Rager testified that there were approximately eight adults and children in the 

home. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 86). Even if the adults present in the house on Darbyshire Road lacked 

actual authority to consent to the search, the Court finds that they had apparent authority; and it 

was reasonable for Sergeant Rager to believe that those adults had authority to consent to the 

search. 

When Sergeant Rager arrived at the house on Derbyshire Road, he first spoke to a young 

boy holding a basketball. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 0:48). The boy asked, “Do you 

need someone?” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 0:49). Sergeant Rager asked him if his 

mom or dad were here. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 0:50). The boy responded, “My 

mom is not here, but [inaudible],” and ran into the house. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 

at 0:48). It is clear from this interaction that the boy was going into the house to find someone to 

talk to Sergeant Rager. When Sergeant Rager reached the front door of the house, a female came 

out of the house. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 1:32). This female was later identified 

as Savannah New. Sergeant Rager explained that there was a report of people fighting. (Doc. 25, 

PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 1:36). New told Sergeant Rager that the people who were fighting 

were in the garage. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 1:40). Rager asked how to get into 

the garage, and New showed him to a door inside the house that led to the garage. (Doc. 25, 

PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 1:40 to 1:56). As he followed New inside, Sergeant Rager asked 

her what the house number was. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 1:50). At that point, 

New told Sergeant Rager that this was not her house, but it belonged to “Christy” who was not 

home. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 1:57, 2:17). A man who was in the living room 

of the house confirmed that the two people who were fighting were now in the garage. (Doc. 25, 

PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 2:30). Sergeant Rager knocked on the door of the garage, and 
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Defendant came to the door. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 2:34 to 2:42). Sergeant 

Rager asked Defendant if he lived here, and he responded, “I stay here with friends.” (Doc. 25, 

PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 2:59). Sergeant Rager asked Defendant to walk outside and talk. 

(Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 3:05). Defendant refused to go outside, and said, “talk to 

me here, man.” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 3:16). Defendant then starting yelling 

and told New and the man in the living room, that “somebody should call somebody, because I 

didn’t do nothing.” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 3:57). Defendant asked them, “where 

is she, the house lady?” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 0:48). New responded, “she’s 

not here.” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 0:48). Defendant walked towards the back of 

the house yelling for the “house lady.” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 4:07). New then 

said, “Christy’s gone.” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 4:10). Sergeant Rager followed 

Defendant as he continued walking and walked out the back door. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t 

Exh. 2 at 4:13). The video shows two people working on a lawnmower in the back yard and at 

least three children playing on the deck. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 4:16). Defendant 

walked out into the yard while yelling, “where’s the house lady?” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t 

Exh. 2 at 4:19). The video shows that Defendant approached the three adults in the yard, but none 

of the adults responded to Defendant. As he walked back inside the house, Defendant repeated, 

“somebody call somebody.” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 4:33). Defendant continued 

to ignore Sergeant Rager’s directions to walk outside. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 

4:45). By this time, a second officer had arrived and can be seen inside the house. (Doc. 25, 

PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 4:57). As Defendant continued to resist going outside, and yelling 

that he had done nothing wrong, the man in the living room stood by, trying to ignore Defendant 

and looking at his phone. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 5:02).
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After Defendant was placed in handcuffs and put in the back of the cruiser, Sergeant Rager 

spoke to Jennifer Alston, who explained that she was Defendant’s fiancé, and she and Defendant 

had been arguing since 4:00 in the morning. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 8:10). After 

gathering information from Alston and checking on Defendant, Sergeant Rager began walking 

back towards the house. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 12:49). As Sergeant Rager 

reached the front door, two of the men came outside. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 

13:20). Sergeant Rager asked again, “who’s house is this?” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 

2 at 13:21). One of the men told him, “Christy,” but explained that she was not here. (Doc. 25, 

PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 13:24). Officer Rager, asked them “where is that little white girl I 

talked to when I first walked in?” (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 13:26). One of the 

men called for Savannah. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 13:28). Savannah came to the 

front door holding a baby. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 13:29). Officer Rager asked 

New for her name, she responded, and then Officer Rager walked past her to go into the garage. 

(Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 13:32). Alston followed Officer Rager into the garage. 

(Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 13:41). Officer Rager began asking Alston about the 

backpack Defendant had left behind. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 13:45). Alston 

stated the backpack was hers. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 82; Gov’t Exh. 2 at 13:45). Officer Rager 

looked into the partially unzipped backpack and could see part of a pistol grip. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 

89). Sergeant Rager removed it from the garage and took it outside in order to maintain control of the 

area. (Doc. 25, PAGEID# 91).

At no time did Defendant use the names of any of the adults in the house, which would 

indicate he knew who they were. At no time did anyone in the house tell Sergeant Rager that he 

did not have permission to come into the house or garage. Instead, Sergeant Rager’s bodycam 

video shows the adults in the house cooperating with Sergeant Rager, answering his questions, and 
7

stepping out of his way to allow him into the house. The Court finds that these actions demonstrate 

consent. Accord United States v. Ortiz, 455 F. App'x 669, 671–72 (6th Cir. 2012) (finding that 

under the circumstances, stepping back, gesturing, and opening the door wider unambiguously 

conveyed assent). 

The Court notes that this was not the first time that Sergeant Rager had been called to this 

house on Darbyshire Road to remove someone. At the hearing on the Motion to Suppress, Sergeant 

Rager testified as follows:

Q. Have you responded to this house before?

A. Yes.

Q. On what type of calls?

A. Usually it's the lady that owns the house wants somebody removed for disturbances, 

loud arguing.

Q. About how many times had you responded to that house before?

A. Oh, I've probably been there five times.

(Doc. 25, PAGEID# 81).

The Court also notes that the adults present in the house on Darbyshire had the right to 

invite Officer Rager to conduct a search. As the Supreme Court has explained:

. . . the lawful occupant of a house or apartment should have the right to invite the 

police to enter the dwelling and conduct a search. Any other rule would trample on 

the rights of the occupant who is willing to consent. Such an occupant may want 

the police to search in order to dispel “suspicion raised by sharing quarters with a 

criminal.” 547 U.S., at 116, 126 S.Ct. 1515; see also Schneckloth, 412 U.S., at 243, 

93 S.Ct. 2041 (evidence obtained pursuant to a consent search “may insure that a 

wholly innocent person is not wrongly charged with a criminal offense”). And an 

occupant may want the police to conduct a thorough search so that any dangerous 

contraband can be found and removed.

Fernandez, 571 U.S. at 307. 
8

Therefore, the Court finds that under the circumstances, Sergeant Rager’s initial entry into 

the house or the subsequent search of its garage did not violate the Fourth Amendment.

III. CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, Defendant Alon Russell’s Motion for Reconsideration (Doc. 40)

is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 /s/ Michael R. Barrett _

Michael R. Barrett, Judge

United States District Court