Pursuant to 5 T H C IR . R. 47.5, the court has determined that thi s opinio n should not * be publishe d an d is not precede nt except under the limited circu mstance s set forth in 5 T H C IR . R. 47.5 .4. 

### INTHE UNI TED S TATESCOU RT OFAPPEALS

FORTHE FIFTH CIRCU IT

N o. 09- 50232

UN I TE D S TA TE S OF AM ERI CA , P l ai n t i f f - A pp el l ee v. GE RA RD O T RE J O , D efen d a n t - A p p ell a n t

A pp ealf

rom t h e U n i t ed S t ates D i st ri ctC ou rt f or t h e W est ern D i st ri ctof T exas U S D C N o 3 :06 -C R -2 5 0 6 -1

B ef ore D eM O S S , E L R O D , an d H AY N E S , C i rcui tJu dg es . P E R C U R I A M: * G era rd o T rejo ch a l l en ge s th e con sti tu ti on a l i ty of a w a rra n tl ess en try into ands e ar c h o f hi s ho m e , w hi c h yi e l de d e vi de nc e l e ad i ng t o t he pr e s e ntc o nvi c t i o n. F o rth e r e a s o n s s t a t e d h e r e in , w e a f f i r m t h e d is t r ic tc o u r t ’s d e n ia l o f T r ejo ’s
m o t i o n t o s upp r e s s a nd c o ns e que nt l y af f i r m t he c o nvi c t i o n. I

. F ACT S AND PR OCEDURE T r ejo w a s a r r e s te d a n d in d ic te d fo rp o s s e s s io n w ith in te n t to d is tr ib u te in
excess of

100 ki l ogram s of

m arij u an a. Th e m arij u an a w as f ou n d byof

f i cers of United States Court of App eals

Fifth Circuit 

### F I L E D May 17, 2010 Lyle W . Cayce Clerk Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 1 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

The te s ti m o nyof

th eof f ic e r sp r e s e nt e ds o m eint e rn alc o ntr a dictio n san dc o nf licted 1 at times with Tre

jo ’s testimony

. Upon reviewin g the record, inclu ding the hearingtranscript, we are confi dent that the district court’s resolutionof inconsi stencies and credibilityqu estion s was not clearly erroneou s. C onsequently , we recount the facts largelyas foun d byth e di strict court, withall infere nces takeninfavor of th e prevail ing partyinth e di strict court, inthis ca se , the govern me nt. See Uni ted Sta tes v. Menc hac a- Castr uita , 58 7 F .3d 2 83, 289(5th Cir. 2 0 0 9) (cit ationo mitt ed). 2 t h e T exas D epa rt m en tof P u bl i c S afet y ( D P S ) i n T rej o’ s hom e. Trej o chal l en ged
w h et h er the D P S off i cers ’con du ctleadi n g t o t h e di scovery of t h e drug s vi ol ated h i s F ou rt h A m en dm en t ri gh t s. T rej o m oved t o sup press t h e ph ysi calevi den ce andc e r t ai n s t at e m e nt s he m ad e . The f o l l o w i ng fac t s w e r e a ddu c e d a ta he ar i ng b e fo r e th e d is tr ic t c o u r t , a t w h ic h s e v e r a l o f th e a r r e s tin go ffic e r s , a n d T r ejo hi m s e l f, t e s t i f

i e d. 1 A

. T h e T i p an d the B u st O n N ovem ber 6, 200 6, E du ardo G arza, a hig h ly e xp eri en ced na rcot i cs se r geantw i t h t he D PS , r ec eived a t i p t hata For d van w i t h t em por ar y t ags w as carryi n g “ a l arge qu an t i t y of m arij u an a. ” G arza h ad received i n f orm ati on f

rom t h e sam e t i psteron p revi ou s oc casi on s. Th e van w as l ocat ed i n a H om e D epot pa r ki ng l o ti n El Pas o . G ar z a o bs e r ve d t hati tw as w e i ght e d d o w n i n t he b ac k. At 1 1: 54 a . m . , o f

f i c e r s s aw a H i s pa ni c m an ge ti n t he van anddr ive aw ay . The
m an w as nev er i den t i f i ed. A i r survei l l an ce f ol l ow ed the van t o a nea rby h ou se,
w hi c h was l at e r de t e r m i ne d t o be Tr ej o ’ s . Ther e w e r e no pa s s e nge r s i n t he v an. W h e n t h e van reached the h ou se i tpu l l ed i n t o an att ach ed ga rage. O f f i c e r s ha d m ai nt ai ne d a i rs ur ve i l l anc e o n t he v an anddi r e c t e d o f f i c e r s o n t he gr o und t o t he ho us e . G ar z a dr o ve b y t he r e s i de nc e w hi l e t he v an w as s t i l li n t he garag e. H e t est i f

i ed that t h e r esi den ce app eared va can t : i tw as “ u n kem pt, ” t h ere
w as t r as h i n t he y ar d, a nd t he l awn w as “ ne gl e c t e d. ” Thi s w as i n c o nt r as t t o t he nei ghbor i ng house s on t he s t r ee t
. Based on t he appea r ance of t he r es i denc e, as
w el las t h e t i p and t h e fact t h at t h e h eavily l ad en van entered t h e garage, G arza Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 2 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

3 sur m i se d t hatt he r es i denc e c oul d be a “ st as h house ” fordr ugs and t hatt he van
w as del iveri n g a l oad of na rcot i cs. About25 m i nute s af t erthe van pu l l ed i nt o t he garag e, i tl ef t , f ol l ow ed by G ar z a and o t he r o f

f i c e r s . The s am e pe r s o n a ppe ar e d t o b e dr ivi ng t he v an, a nd it n o lo n g e rs e e m e d w e ig h te d d o w n . T h e o ffic e r s fo llo w e d th e v a n b u t lo s t it in t r af f i c . Ai rs ur ve i l l anc e a l s o l o s tt he van, so t he gr o und o f f i c e r s r e t ur ne d t o t he resi den ce and res u m ed su rvei l l an ce. A t5: 50 tha tni gh t , w h en i t w as da rk, a w h i t e S U V arrived at t h e res i den ce a n d d r o v e i n t o t h e g a r a g e . Of f i c e r s we r e u n a b l e t o a s c e r t a i n wh e t h e rt h e S UV h ad an y pa ssengers, nor coul d they i den t i f y t h e driver. O f

f i cers al so c ou l d n ot
s e e w he t he ra s e c o nd ve hi c l e w as i n t he g ar ag e . The g ar ag e do o rc l o s e d, a nd t he f ront porc h l i gh tcam e on, as di d l i gh t s w i t h i n t h e r e sid e n ce . A t6: 50, of f i cers deci ded t h at al l ow i n g m ore t i m e t o pass w i t h ou t t ak i n g act i on w as ri sky. Th ey d i d n ot k n ow i f a n oth er v eh i cl e m i gh t arrive, w h i ch cou l d po se a th r ea t t o of f i cers ’safet y or r ai se t h e prospectof m on i t ori n g m u l t i pl e l ocat i on s orveh i cl es. Theya ppr o ac he d t he ho us e t o c o nduc t a “ kno c k andt al k, ” i n ho pe s o f o bt ai ni ng c o n s e n tt o s e a r c h i t
. G a r z a t e s t i f i e d t h a th e d i d n o ts e e ka w a r r a n ta tt h a tt i me becau se he di d n otbel i eve h e ha d p robable cau se. G arza ap proach ed the h ou se w i t h D P S Sergea n t s V alC en i ceros an d E f ren M a r t i ne z , bot h hi g hl ye x p e r i e nc e d i n na r c o t i c s d e t e c t i o n a ndi nt e r d i c t i o n. To
e ns ur e o f

f i c e rs af e t y, st and ar d p r ac t i c e c al l e d f o ro f f i c e r s t o c o nduc tkno c k a nd t al ks i n g r o ups o f t w o o rm o r e . Addi t i o nal l y, f o urm o r e D PS o f

f i c e r s s t o o d a tt he
no r t he as tc o r ne ro f

t he ho us e , t w o o f

f i cers w e r e a tt he no r t hw e s ts i de o f t he h o u s e , a n d o n e o ffic e r w a s n e a r th e g a r a g e . Aca n in e o ffic e rw a s o n th e s id e w a lk i n f ront of a nea rby h ou se. Th e hou se i s f en ced at t h e si des an d rear by a f ou rfoot h i gh roc k wal l

. A ga t e a tt he e as ts i de o f t he ho us e s t o o d aj ar , b utt he
o f f i c e r s s t at i o ne d t he r e di d no ti ni t i al l y e nt e rt he b ac ky ar d. Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 3 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

4 G arza, C en i ceros , an d M art i n ez w en tt o t h e f ront door of

t h e h ou se. T h ey
w ore w i n db reakers t h at i den t i f i ed t h em as pol i ce, an d t h ei r badg es w ere vi sibl e. T h e of f i cers w ore t h ei r f

i rearm s, bu tdi d n otdi spl ay them as t h ey ap proach ed t he ho us e . G ar z a r angt he do o rbe l l , a nd h e c o ul d he ari t , b utno o ne c am e t o t he do o r . M ar t i ne z knoc ke d on t he doo r“ f o rappr o xi m at e l y a m i nut e and a hal f, ” b ut t o no avai l

. G ar za and C eni c er os bo t h t es t i f i ed t hatt hey s m el l ed m ar ij uana as t h ey w ere st an di n g at t h e f ront door. M art i n ez sm el l ed fabri c s of t en er— w h i ch h e kn ew t o be em pl oyed as a m asking ag en tt o cover u p the sm el lof drug s. W hi l e M ar t i ne z w as kno c ki ng, Ceni c e r o s w e nt t o t he e as t s i de of t he h ou se. O n tha tsi de i s a sl i di n g gl ass d oor, w h i ch i s vi sibl e f rom outsi de the rock
w al lenc l os i ng t he s i de and bac kyar d. H ow eve r , of f i c er s c oul d nots ee t hro ugh t h e door becau se t h ere w e re v ert i calbl i n ds i n t h e cl osed posi t i on . C en i ceros t e s t i f i e d t hata m an, w ho m he i dent i f i e d i n c o ur ta s Tr ej o , pus he d t he b l i nds asi de an d l ooked outsi de. U pon seei n g t h e o f f i cers , T rej o ha st i l y ret reat ed t o wa r d t h e r e a ro f

t h e h o u s e . C e n i c e r o s wa s c o n c e r n e d t h a tt h e p o l i c e h a d b l o wn t h ei r c over an d that t h e m an w ou l d ab scond, dest roy e v id e n ce, ret ri eve a
w eapo n, oral er tot her s t o t he o f f i c er s’pr es enc e, endanger i ng t hei rs afet y. C en i ceros pu rsued the m an in th e d i rect i on he h ad seen h i m exi t ; he p assed t h rough t h e gate i n t o t h e backy ard an d att em pted t o look throu gh a w i n dow of t he s o ut he as tb e dr o o m . The l i ghti n t he r o o m w as no to n, b utt he ha l l w ayl i ght
w as o n, pr o vi di ng s o m e i l l um i nat i o n. The c ur t ai ns on t he w i ndo w w e r e c l o s e d, bu ta gap perm i t t ed C en i ceros t o l ook i n t h e room , w h ere h e saw a person w h om h e w as un able t o i den t i f y, as w el las m an y boxes. T h e off i cers a tthe east s i de of t h e hou se t ol d G arza t h at s om eon e l ooked
o utt he s l i di ng gl as s do o r and t he n r an t o w ar d t he ba c k o f t he ho us e . H e ar i ng t hi s , G ar z a w e nt t o t he e as t s i de o f t he ho us e andi nt o t he b ac ky ar d. The r e he
e n c o u n te r e d C e n ic e r o s , w h o in fo r m e d G a r z a a b o u t t h e p e r s o n a n d th e b o x e s in t h e s o u t h e a s tb e d r o o m. G a r z a l o o k e d t h r o u g h t h e s o u t h e a s tb e d r o o m wi n d o w. Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 4 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

Th e di strict court di scre dite d Garz a’s te stim ony ab out se ein g throu gh the southwe st 2 bedroo m windo w bec aus e othe r tes tim ony indi cat ed that the po sition of the blind s w ouldhave ma deit allb ut im po ssib lef orGarz ato h ave se enb oxeso nth e floor of th e ro om . 5 H e di dn ’ tsee a person , bu t di d s ee severalboxes pack aged w i t h t ap e. B ased on h i s cou n t er- n arcot i cs exp eri en ce, h e b el i eved tha tthe boxes coul d contai n drug s. G arza n ext w en t t o a w i n dow f or t h e southw estbedroom of t h e hou se t o l ook f

or an e xi t , t he pe r s o n s po t t e d b y o f f i c e r s , o ra ddi t i o nalpe r s o ns i n t he ho us e . The bl i nds i n t hi s w i ndo w w e r e c l o s e d, b utG ar z a t e s t i f i e d t hata c r o o ke d b l i nd al l ow ed hi m t o s ee i nt o t he roo m . H e t es t i f i ed t hathe s aw m or e b oxe s of w hat h e suspected w ere drugs. G arza i n st ructed C en i ceros t o st ay i n t h e backy ard 2 t o “ m ak e s ur e no bo dyc am e o utt he w i ndo w . ” Gar z a w e nt ba c k t o t he e as ts i de
o f t h e h o u s e a n d in fo r m e d th e o ff ic e r s th e r e th a t h e k n e w o f a t le a s t o n e p e r s o n ’s presence i n t h e hou se, bu tdi d n otkn ow i f m ore w ere i n si de. A p p r o x i m a t e l y t hr e e m i nu t e s a f t e r l e a v i ng t he f

r o nt d o o r a r e a , a nd f i ve
m i n u t es af

t er f i rstkn ocki n g, G arza ret u rned t o t h e fr o n t door an d k n ocked
a ga i n . M a rti n ez h ea rd a m u ff l ed v oice from in side. M a rti n ez a n n ou n ced : “Sta te po l i c e , pl e as e o pe n t he do o r . ” Tr ej o c o m pl i e d. W he n t he do o ro pe ne d, G ar z a and M art i n e z im m edi atel y n ot i ced a st rong sm el lof m arij u an a. A l t h ou gh i tw as a col d d ay i n N ovem ber, T rej o w as “ sw eati n g prof u sel y. ” M art i n ez an d G arza i de nt i f i e d t he m s e l ve s a s s t at e po l i c e a nd t o l d Tr ej o t hatt he y w e r e i nve s t i ga t i ng i n f orm ati on t h at narcot i cs m ay be l ocat ed at t h e res i den ce. Trej o di d n ot respond , bu tw al ked sl ow l y t ow ard t h e off i cers on t o the p orch. Trej o app eared
su b m i ssive to th e off

i cers ; M a rti n ez saidtha t T rejo h a d a “ d ee r i n th e h ea d l i gh ts lo o k .” C o n s e q u e n tly , th e o ffic e r s d id n o t b e lie v e th a t h e p o s e d a th r e a t, a n d d id
n ot f ri sk T rej o f

or a w eap on . T rej o res pon ded neg ativel y w h en M art i n ez asked
w he t he rt he r e w as a nyo ne e l s e i n t he hous e . M ar t i ne z t he n s t at e d t hathe a nd G arza w i s he d t o g o i ns i de t o c he c k f o rt hr e at s ; Tr ej o t o l d t he m t o g o a he ad

. Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 5 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

Althou ghTrej o te stifie d, th e di strict court di d not find his versionof the events 3 credible . Trej o te stifiedas follows: he was inth e southea st be droom watchingtelevisionwhen he wa s s t art l e db y loud kno cking at the slidi ng doorand the fr ont do or si multane ous ly. Someone s hi ne dal ighti nto thebe droom. He went to the frontdoor and opened it 6 0 to 9 0 se co n ds af

terth e knockin gst art ed

. Heneverh eardth e do orb ell rin g . Garz a , C enic eros , Martine z, and oneotherpers on im me diat ely ente redthe hous e. Garza phys ically pulledTrejo ontoth e fro nt porchan d asked if he wa s alonewhile the other officers were insideth e house. Th e officers did not identifythemselves nor ask whether theycould make a protective sweep of the house for their ownsafety. Trej o staye d outside the hou se for15 -20 minutes, untilth e officers exited it. Accordin g to Tre jo , if he was sweatin g when he answere d the do or, this was

6 G a r z a a ls o e x p la in e d th a t h e a n d M a r tin e z w o u ld d o a p r o te c tiv e s w e e p . T r ejo
r e s p o n d e d : “I k n o w w h o y o u g u y s a r e , a n d I k n o w w h a t I h a v e .” G arza an d M art i n ez cond u ct ed a 25-sec on d prot ect ive sw eep of t h e hou se,
w h i ch i n vol ved checki n g each room . A l lof t h e bedroom an d cl osetdoors w ere ope n. N obo dy e l se w as i n t he hous e. G ar za and M ar t i nez ob serv ed se ver al pa ckag ed box es i n t w o of t h e bedroom s. U pon hea ri n g t h at G arza an d M art i n ez hadc o m pl e t e d t he pr o t e c t ive s w e e p, Ceni c e r o s l e f thi s po s i t i o n i n t he b ac ky ar d. G ar z a r e t ur ne d t o Tr ej o , w ho w as s t i l l s t and i ng o ut s i de t he f r o ntdo o r , a nd asked i f t h ey coul d d i scu ss m att ers i n si de the h ou se, as t h e nei gh bors w ere
w atc h i n g. Trej o consented to t h e of f i cers enteri n g t h e hou se. G arza, M art i n ez, an d s e v e ra lot h er of f i cers w en ti n si de, an d w ere s oon j oi n ed by C en i ceros . A lth o u g h th e o ffic e r s h a d s p o k e n E n g lis h to T r ejo , w h ic h h e u n d e r s to o d , T r ejo i n di cat ed that he preferred t o speak Sp an i sh. T rejo ref u sed w h en C en i ceros a s k e d fo r c o n s e n t to s e a r c h th e h o u s e . W h e n a s k e d to s ig n a co n s e n t fo r m , T r ejo sai d: “ I’ m not goi n g t o si gn i t , you gu ys al readykn ow w h a t ’ s i n t h ere. ” W h en Tr ej o w as i nf

o r m e d t hato f

f i c e r s w o ul d g e ta s e ar c h war r anti f he ref u sed
consen t , he repl i ed “[t ] h at’ s f i n e .” G arza l ef

tt h e hou se t o obtai n a searc h
w ar r ant
. O n t he w ay o ut , he e nco unte r ed t he c ani ne o f f i c er , and l ear ned t hat t he do g hada l e r t e d t o t he pr e s e nc e o f na r c o t i c s i n t he g ar ag e . The r e m ai ni ng o f f i c e r s e xi t e d t he ho us e a r o und 7: 30
. The y hand c uf fe d and de t ai ne d Tr ej o o ut fron t w h i l e w a i ti n g for th e w a rra n t. 3 Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 6 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

du e toth e chores h e h a d perf or me d b etwe en5 :0 0an d 6 :0 0th at evenin g . He denied looking through the slidingglass door, and he denied takingfive minutes toan swer th e fro nt door. 7 G arza draft ed an af

f i da vi tdetai l i n g h i s observati on s of t h e van an d h ou se th a t d a y , th e cir c u m s ta n c e s o f th e k n o c k a n d ta lk , th e o ffic e r s ’ a b i l ityto s m e ll
m arij u an a f

rom t h e fr on tp orch, G arza’ s view of the pack ages f rom t h e backy ard anddur i ng t he pr o t e c t ive s w e e p, Tr ej o ’ s c o nduc ta nd s t at e m e nt s , a nd t he c ani ne a l e r tt o ma r ij u a n a . B a s e d u p o n t h e a f f i d a v i t , a wa r r a n twa s i s s u e d a t1 : 3 5 a . m. t h e nex tm orni n g. W h en t h e w arran tw as executed of f i cers f ou n d 4 3 boxes
c ont ai ni ng appr oxi m at el y 755 ki l ogr am s o f m a r ij ua na. Fol l ow i ng t hi s di sc ove r y, T rej o w as arres t ed an d qu est i on ed. H e t h en m ad e an in cri m i n ati n g w ri t t en statem en t. B

. T h e M ot i on t o Su pp ress an d C on vi ct i on T r ej o mo v e d t o s u p p r e s s t h e ma r ij u a n a o b t a i n e d f r o m h i s r e s i d e n c e . H e argu ed that: ( 1) t h e of f i cers ’entry i n t o t h e b acky ard w as un l aw f u lbecau se t h ere
w ere no exi gen tci rcum st an ces n otof t h e of f i cers ’ow n m ak i n g; ( 2) he d i d n ot
consen t t o t h e of

f i cers ’ en t ry i n t o t h e h ou se; an d ( 3) t h e of f i cers ’en try w a s n ot j us t i f i e d a s a pr o t e c t ive s w e e p. H e c o nt e nde d t hathi s a r r e s tw as i l l e ga l , a nd t he r e f o r e t hathi s po s t

- ar r e s ti nc r i m i nat i ng s t at e m e nts ho ul d b e s upp r e s s e d. Th e di stri ctc our tdeni ed t he m ot i on. I tf ound t hatt he o f

f i c er s had pro babl e c ause to en ter t he bac kyar d of t he hous e i n l i ghtof t he t i p, t he van
ar r ivi ng att he hous e and l e av i ng ag ai n unl ad e n, t he unke m pta ppe ar anc e o f t he ho us e , Tr ej o ’ s fai l ur e t o a ns w e rt he do o r , t h e s m e l lo f m ar ij uana , a nd t he ap pe ar anc e a nd i m m e di at e f l i ght o f a pe r s o n at t he s l i di ng do o r . The c o ur tf o und t h at t h e potenti alt h at Trej o c o u ld fl ee, ha rm t h e of f i cers , or destr oy evi den ce gave r i se t o exi gent c i r c um st ance s. Th e c our t f ound t he of

f i c ers’ i n vest i gat ive t act i cs reasona bl e, i n cl u di n g t h e deci si on t o w atc h t h e hou se and t h en condu ct a knoc k and t al k. The ex i gentc i r c um st ance s w er e c ause d by Tr ej o’ s unu sual react i o n t o t h e kn ock an d tal k, an d w ere not “ m an u fact u red” by the of f i cers ’ Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 7 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

Trialwas delayed b ecau se Trej o abscon ded toMexico for approximatelytwenty 4 month s. Tre

jo voluntarily returned and relinquishe d himself to authorities, whereupo n legal procee dings resu med. 8 act i on s. B ecau se t h e of f i cers w ere j u st i f

i ed i n enteri n g t h e backy ard, t h ey w ere l i kew i se a ll o w ed to l ook i n t o t h e w i n dow s un der t h e pl ai n vi ew doct ri n e. M o r e o ve r , Tr ej o c o ns e nt e d t o t he o f f i c e r s ’e nt r y t o c on du cta p r o t e c t ive s w e e p. The c o ur tne xt f

o und t hat t he a f

f i da vi tund e r l yi ng t he s e ar c h war r ant , r e s ul t i ng as i tdi d f

rom l aw f

u lact i on s by t h e off

i cers , p rovi ded a deq u ate proba bl e cause. Any m i s s t at e m e nt s i n t he a f f i da vi tdi d no tund e r m i ne i t s v al i di t y. Fi nal l y, t he
c o u r t h e ld t h a t T r ejo ’ s p r e - a n d p o s t-a r r e s t s ta te m e n ts w e r e n o t im p r o p e r ly el i ci t ed. Th eref

ore, t h e m arij u an a an d T rej o’ s s t atem en t s w ere adm i ssibl e. F ol l ow i n g t h e den i alof the m ot i on t o sup press, T rej o consented to a ben ch t r i alon s t i pul at ed f

ac t s i n or dert o pr es erve hi s Fourt h A m endm en tc hal l enge fo ra p p e a l. T h e co u r t fo u n d T r ejo g u iltyo f a ll e le m e n ts b e y o n d a re a s o n a b le

4 d ou b t. T rejo w a s sen ten ced to sev en ty m on th s’i m p ri son m en t. I I

. DI S CUS S I ON In th i s a p p ea l , T rejo ch a l l en ge s th e d i stri ct cou rt’ s d en i a lof h i s m oti on to
s upp r e s s t he m ar ij uanaf o und i n hi s hom e a s w e l la s hi s i nc r i m i nat i ng
s t at e m e nt s t o t he o f

f i c e r s . H e av e r s t hat t he o f f i c e r s l ac ke d p r o ba bl e c aus e a nd
e xi ge ntc i r c um s t anc e s b e f o r e ap pr o ac hi ng hi s ho m e ande nt e r i ng hi s b ac ky ar d. H e says t h at i f

exi gen tci rcum st an ces w e re p resen t , t h ese w ere m an u fact u red b yth e o ffic e r s ’k n o c k a n d ta lk

. T r ejo a ls o a r g u e s th a t t h e d is tr ic t c o u r t c le a r ly erred i n f

i n di n g t h at he consen t ed to t h e off i cers ’p rot ect ive sw eep of t h e hou se, t hatt he c our tc l ear l y e r r ed i n f i ndi ng hi s adm i ss i ons t o t he o f f i c er s vol untar y, andt hatt he s e ar c h war r antw as i nva l i d. Aw a r r a n tle s s s e a r c h o f a h o m e o rits cu r tila g e is p r e s u m p tiv e ly
u n r e a s o n a b le u n d e r th e F o u r th A m e n d m e n t. Un i t ed S t ate s v. Troop , 514 F. 3d 40 5, 4 09-11 ( 5th C i r . 2 00 8)

. H o w e ve r , t he s e ar c h i s pe r m i s s ibl e i f t he Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 8 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

9 h om eo w n er co n sen ts, or p rob a b l e cau se an d ex i ge n t ci rcu m stan ces a re p rese n t. Uni t e d St at e s v . G o m e z - Mo r e no , 4 79 F. 3d3 50 , 3 54 ( 5t h Ci r . 2 00 7)

. The g o v e r n m e n t b e a r s th e b u r d e n o f s h o w in g e x ig e n t c ir c u m s ta n c e s . Un i t ed S t ate s v . Ne w m an , 4 7 2 F

. 3 d 2 3 3 , 2 3 7 ( 5 t h C i r . 2 0 0 6 ) (c i t a t i o n o mi t t e d )

. W e r e v i e w a di st r i c tc our t ’ s fac t ualdet er m i nat i ons c onc er ni ng a m ot i on t o suppr es s f orc l ear e r r o r . I d. H ere, t h e di st ri ctcourtexam i n ed w h et h er t h e fact s and ci rcum st an ces of th is ca s e g a v e ris e to e x i g e n t c ir c u m s ta n c e s . H o w e v e r , w e d o n o t t h in k it
n ece ssa ryto en ga ge i n this i n q u i ry . T h e of fi cers m a d e a w a rra n tl ess en try into Trej o’ s bac kyar d t o ens ure t hathe di d notabs c ond, des t r oy evi denc e, orr et r i eve a w e a p o n . E v e n a s s u m in g , argue ndo , t hatt hi s v i o l at e d Tr ej o ’ s r i ght s und e rt he F ou rth A m en d m en t, the off i cers su b seq u en tl y o b tain ed T r ejo ’ s con sen t t o cond u cta prot ect ive sw eep of t h e i n te rio r o f th e hom e. “W h en a person gi ves c o ns e ntt o s e ar c h, t hatc o ns e ntm ay , butdoe s notne c e s s ar i l y, di s s i pa t e t he t ai nt of a p ri or F ou rth A m en d m en t vi olati on . ” Un i t ed S t ate s v. Hernan d ez , 279 F. 3d 302, 307 ( 5t h C i r . 2002) ( quot at i on and c i t at i on o m i t t ed)

. For t he evi denc e t o b e adm i ss ibl e, c ons entm ustbe vo l untar i l y given, and s uch c ons entm u stbe an in d e p e n d e n t a c t o f fr e e w ill. I d. “ T h e f

irstprongof

t h i s i n qu i ry f

ocuses on coe rcion , the seco n d on ca u sa l con n ection w i th the con sti tu ti on a lviol a ti on . ” I d. (q u o ta tion a n d cita tion om itted ). A. Vol unt ar i ne s s o f

Cons e nt The c o ns e nte xc e pt i o n t o t he w ar ran t r e qui r e m e ntr e qui r e s t he g o v e r n m e n tto s h o w , u n d e ra to t a li t yo f c ir c u m s t a n c e s , t h a tth e d e fe n d a n t ’s
c o n s e n t t o s e a r c h w a s v o lu n ta r ilyg iv e n . Uni t e d St at e s v . Fr e e m an , 482 F. 3d 829 , 831

- 32 (5t h C i r. 200 7)

. I n evaluati n g vol u n t ari n ess, w e consi der si x fact ors:

“ ( 1) t h e vol u n ta rin e ss of t h e defen da n t ’ s c u st odi alst atus; ( 2) t h e presence of
coerc ive pol i ce procedu res; ( 3) t h e ext en tan d l evelof t h e defen da n t ’ s c ooperati on
w i t h t he pol i c e; ( 4) t he def endant ’ s aw ar enes s of h i s r i ghtto ref

use c ons ent ; ( 5) Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 9 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

10 t he de fe nda nt ’ s educ at i o n and i nt e l l i ge nc e ; and ( 6) t he de f e nda nt ’ s b e l i e f

t hatno i n crim i n a ti n g e vid en ce w i l lbe f ou n d

. ” G o m e z - Mo r e no , 4 7 9 F

. 3 d a t3 5 7 n . 5
. “ No sing l e factor is dispo sit ive . ” I d. T h e vol u n t ari n ess of consen t i s a qu estio n of fa c t r e v ie w e d fo rc le a re r r o r . Un itedS ta tes v. S o lis , 299 F

. 3d 420 , 436 ( 5th C i r. 2 0 0 2 ). Tr ej o ha s no ts ho w n t hatt he di s t r i c tco ur tcl e ar l y e r r e d i n f i ndi ng t hathe vol u n t ari l y consen t ed to t h e prot ect ive sw eep. C on cerni n g t h e f i rstfact or, w h en Tr ej o ope ne d t he doo r , t he of f i c e r s di d notpl ac e hi m i n po l i c e c us t o dy ; r at he r , he vol u n t ari l y w al ked t ow ard t h em on t o t h e f ront porch. H e w as n otres t rai n ed du ri n g t h e prot ect ive sw eep. U n der t h e sec on d fact or, t h e pol i ce proc edu res w ere
n o t u n d u ly c o e r c iv e : th e o ffic e r s a t th e d o o r k n o c k e d a n d r e q u e s te d t h a t T r ejo open t h e door. O t h er of f i cers sec u red t h e peri ph ery of t h e ho m e . T h e of

f i cers t he n a s ke d i f

t he y c o ul d c on du cta pr o t e c t ive s w e e p; Tr ej o c o ns e nt e d. The
o f f i c e r s ’t ac t i c s s ho w e d r e s t r ai nta nd dis c i pl i ne , r e s pe c t i ng t he s anc t i t y o f t he h o m e . S ee Payton v. New Y ork , 445 U

. S. 573, 585 ( 1980) ( st at i ng t hat“ physi c al
en try of the h om e is th e ch i ef evil a g a in st w h i ch the w ord i n g o f th e F ou rth Am e ndm e nti s di r e c t e d” ) (c i t at i o n o m i t t ed). Thi r d, Tr ej o c o o pe r at e d wi t h t he p o lic e a n d a n s w e r e d t h e i r q u e s tio n s . T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t fo u n d th a t T r ejo to ld Ma r t i n e z t o “ g o a h e a d ” a f t e rMa r t i n e z a s k e d i f t h e o f f i c e r s c o u l d p e r f

o r m a pr o t e c t ive s w e e p. O n t h e f

ou rt h fact or, T rej o w as evi den t l y aw are of hi s r i gh tt o ref

u se c o ns e nt : he di d ex ac t l y t hatw he n, af t e rt he pr o t e c t ive s w e e p, t he o f f i c e r s s o ugh t to co n d u c t a th o r o u g h s e a r c h o f th e h o m e . N e x t, fo rth e fi f t h fa c to r , th e r e is
n ot h i n g i n t h e rec ord t o su ggest that T rej o lacked t h e edu cat i on an d i n t el l i gen ce t o com preh en d the n ature of t h e of f i cers ’act i on s. R ather, h i s stat em en t s evi n ce an unde r s t and i ng o f t he s i t uat i o n. W hi l e he w as m o r e c o m f o r t abl e usi ng S p a n is h , T r ej o u n d e r s to o d a n d in itia llyco m m u n ic a te d w ith th e o ffic e r s in Engl i s h

. F i n a l l y , T r ej o a p p e a r e d r e s i g n e d t o t h e fa c tt h a to f f i c e r s wo u l d f

i nd Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 10 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

11 i ncr i m i nat i ng evi denc e, ye ts t i l lal l ow ed t he o f f i c er s t o c onductt he pr ot ec t ive s w e e p . In s u m , a l lfa c to r s m ilita te in fa v o ro f fin d in gth a t T r ejo v o lu n ta r ily
c o n s e n t e d to th e p r o t e c t iv e s w e e p . T r ejo ta k e s is s u e w i t h t h e d is t r ic tc o u r t ’s rej ect i on of

hi s t est i m on y concerni n g t h e ev en t s at hi s hom e. B u tt h i s r ej ect i on
w as b as e d o n a c r e dibi l i t y de t e r m i nat i o n, w hi c h we s e e no o c c as i o n t o s e c o nd g u e s s . See , e . g. , Un i t ed S ta tes v. G arza , 11 8 F

. 3 d 27 8 , 28 3 ( 5 th C i r. 19 9 7 ). In
sum , T rej o vol u n t ari l y consen t ed t o t h e of f i cers ’ en t ry i n t o h i s hom e t o condu ct t he pr o t e c t ive s w e e p. B . In d e p e n d e n t A c t o f F r e e W ill

“ T o deter m i n e w h et h er t h e defen da n t ’ s c on sent w as an i n dep en den tactof f r ee w i l l , br eaki ng t he c ausalc hai n bet w ee n t he c ons entand t he c ons t i t ut i onal vi ol at i on, w e m ustc ons i dert hre e fac t or s: 1) t he t em por alpr oxi m i t y o f t he i l l egal
c onductand t he c ons ent ; 2) t h e pre se nce of i nt erveni ng c i r c um st ance s; and 3) th e p u rp ose a n d th e fl a gr a n cyof th e initi a lm i scon d u ct. ” Hernan d ez , 279 F. 3d
a t 3 0 7 (cita tion s o m itted ). M ere m i n u t es separated the al l eged l y i l l egal en t ry i n t o T rej o’ s backya rd andt he o f

f i c e r s ’e f f o r t s to gai n Tr ej o ’ s c o ns e ntt o c o nduc ta pr o t e c t ive s w e e p. T h e f i rstfact or w ei gh s i n favor of sup pressi on . H ow ever, w h i l e som e of f i cers en t ered t h e backy ard to a sc e rta i n t h at Trej o w as not t ryi n g t o f l ee, dest roy e vi de nc e , o ro bt ai n a w e ap o n, o t he ro f f i c e r s r e m ai ne d o n t he por c h t o pur s ue t he k n ock an d talk stra teg y. T rejo cam e to th e doo r of his ow n acco rd , em erg ed on to t h e porch, an d al l ow ed t h e of f i cers t o enter h i s hom e. Th e of f i cers ’executi on of th is p e r m is s ib le s tr a te g yw a s a n in te r v e n in gc ir c u m s ta n c e . S ee Un i t ed S t ate s v. Jon es , 2 3 9 F .3 d 7 1 6 , 7 2 0 -2 1 (5 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) (r e c o g n iz in gth a t k n o c k a n d ta lk
m ay be a reasona bl e tact i c w h en off i cers su spectd rug-r el ated a ct ivi t y bu td o not h ave p robable cau se)

. Final l y, t h e of f i cers ’entry i n t o T rej o’ s backya rd w as a
m e r e b r e a c h o f t h e h o m e ’s c u r t il a g e , n o ta fu ll -s c a le s t o r m in go f t h e h o m e ’s in te r io r . W e th u s ca n n o t c o n s id e rth e o ffic e r s ’a c tio n s fla g r a n t m is c o n d u c t. S ee Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 11 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

12 Payton , 4 4 5 U .S . a t 5 8 5 ; Hernan d ez , 2 79 F. 3d at 30 7. The m ai n pu r po s e o f t he act i on s w as not t o rai d the h om e t o sear ch fo r evi den ce, bu tt o ensu re of f i cer
s a fe ty
. S ee B ro w n v. Illi n o is , 4 22 U

. S. 5 90, 6 03- 04 ( 19 75 ) (no t i ng t hatt he p u rp o se a n d fl a g r a n cyof th e officia l m isco n d u ct a re “p a rticu la rly” im p o rta n t). O n t he w hol e, t her e i s nota c ausalc hai n bet w ee n t he i ni t i alpot ent i al l y i l l egal
c o n d u c t a n d T r ejo ’ s a c t o f fr e e w ill a llo w in gth e o ffic e r s in to h is h o m e . S ee Hernan d ez , 2 79 F. 3da t3 07
. T h ere f o r e , t he o f

f i c e r s ’o bs e r va t i o ns dur i ng t he pr o t e c t ive s w e e p wer e n ot g ai ne d i n de r o ga t i o n o f Tr ej o ’ s r i ght s und e rt he F ou rth A m en d m en t. C . T h e W a r r a n t I s V a lid E ve n if w e pu rge f

rom t h e w arran taf f i da vi tan y i n f

orm ati on of

f i cers o bt ai ne d a s a r e s ul to f t he i nt r us i o n o f

Tr ej o ’ s b ac ky ar d, und e rt he i nde pe nde nt
s o u r c e d o c tr in e , su ffic ie n t fa c ts r e m a in to c o n s tit u te p r o b a b le ca u s e . S ee Un i t ed St at e s v . Has s an , 8 3 F .3 d 6 9 3 , 6 9 7 (5 th C ir . 1 9 9 6 ) ( c i t a t i o n o m itt e d ). T h is i ncl udes t he c or r obo r at ed t i p about t he van, t he van appear i ng t o de l ivera c ar go t o T r ej o ’ s ho us e , t he a ppe ar anc e o f t he ho us e , t he s m e l lo f m ar ij uanaa nd
m as ki ng ag e nt s , t he b o xe s o bs erved dur i ng t he pr o t e c t ive s w e e p, a nd t he
c a n in e ’ s p o s itiv e a le r t fo rth e p r e s e n c e o f n a r c o tic s . S ee Un i t ed Stat es v. P i err e , 958 F

. 2d 1 3 0 4 , 1 3 1 0 ( 5th C i r. 199 2) ( en ban c) (reasoni n g t h at t h e sm el lof
m ar ij uanac an give r i s e t o pr o ba bl e ca us e )

. G ar z a t e s t i f i e d t hathe b e l i e ve d t he of f i cers ha d p robable ca u se t o seek a w arran taf t er t h e of

f i cers sm el l ed
ma r ij u a n a a n d t h e c a n i n e c o n f i r me d t h i s o b s e r v a t i o n . I n l i g h to f t h e s e fa c t s , we eas i l y c onc l ude t hatt he o f f i c er s w oul d have so ught a s ear c h w ar r antev en had th e yn o t o b s e r v e d b o x e s th r o u g h th e b a c k w in d o w s o f T r ejo ’ s h o u s e . Se eHas s an , 83 F. 3d at697.

D . T r ejo ’ s S ta te m e n ts , a n d th e M a r iju a n a , W e r e A d m is s ib le Tr ej o al s o a r gue s t hatt he di s t r i c tc o ur te r r e d b y fai l i ng t o s upp r e s s t he
w ri t t en a n d oralstat em en t s h e g ave of f i cers a s w el la s t h e ph ysi calevi den ce of Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 12 Date Filed: 05/17/2010N o. 09- 50232

Tre j o acknowle dges th at h e wa s a dminis tere d, an d waived , his Mirandari ghts prior 5 to giving

th e written statement. 13 t h e searc h

. T rej o’ s oralstat em en t s to the of f i cers d u ri n g t h e course of t h e kn ock andt al k wer e a dm i s s ibl e . Tr ej o w as no ti n c us t o di ali nt e r r o ga t i o n b e c aus e he h ad not been p l aced u n der f orm alarres tor a rest rai n tt an t am ou n t to arres t
w h e n h e t o ld th e o ffic e r s h e k n e w w h o th e yw e r e a n d h e k n e w w h a t h e h a d

. S ee Un i t ed S t ate s v. Ch avez , 2 8 1 F .3d 4 7 9 , 4 8 6 (5t h C ir

. 2 0 0 2 ); Uni t e d S t at e s v. B e ngi ve nga , 845 F. 2d 593, 596 ( 5t h C i r . 1988) ( en banc )

. There f or e, t he fac tt hat t he o f f i c er s di d notadm i ni st era Mi r andaw a r n i n gd o e s n o t r e n d e rth is
s ta te m e n t in a d m is s ib le

. S ee O regon v. Mathi ason , 4 2 9 U .S

. 4 9 2 , 4 9 5 (19 7 7 ). W e have c onc l uded t hat Trej o v al i dl y c ons ent ed t o t he o f f i c er s’pr ot ec t ive
sw eep of

hi s hom e, an d t h at the of f i cers ’observati on s gave ri se t o probab l e cause
u p o n w h ic h a v a li d w a r r a n tw a s is s u e d . T h e r e fo r e , w e m u s t r eje c tT r ejo ’s
c o nt e nt i o n t hathi s i nc ul pa t o r y w r i t t e n s t atem entf o l l o w i ng e xe c ut i o n o f t he
w a r r a n t is fr u it o f th e p o is o n o u s tr e e . S ee W ong S u n v. Un i t ed S t ate s , 3 71 U

. S. 47 1, 4 84

- 86 ( 19 63 )

. W e l i ke w i s e r ej e c tTr ej o ’ s argu m en tt hatt he m ar ij uana 5 d is c o v e r e d in h is h o u s e w a s th e fr u it o f a n ille g a l s e a r c h

. Se ei d. at487- 88. I I I

. C ONC L US I ON F or t h e for egoi n g reasons, w e h ol d t h at the di st ri ctcou rtproperl y den i ed T r ejo ’ s m o tio n to s u p p r e s s h is s ta te m e n ts a n d th e m a r iju a n a d is c o v e r e d a t h is h o u s e . T h e j u d g me n to f t h e d i s t r i c tc o u r ti s A F F I RMED. Case: 09-50232 Document: 00511113066 Page: 13 Date Filed: 05/17/2010