Case Name: STATE of South Dakota, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. Kyle Louise BUCHHOLZ, aka Kyle Louise Bucholz, Defendant and Appellant
Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: South Dakota
Decision Date: 1999-08-11
Citations: 598 N.W.2d 899
Docket Number: No. 20706
Parties: STATE of South Dakota, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. Kyle Louise BUCHHOLZ, aka Kyle Louise Bucholz, Defendant and Appellant.
Judges: [¶ 37.] MILLER, Chief Justice, and KONENKAMP, Justice, concur.
Reporter: North Western Reporter 2d
Volume: 598
Pages: 899–910

Head Matter:
1999 SD 110
STATE of South Dakota, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. Kyle Louise BUCHHOLZ, aka Kyle Louise Bucholz, Defendant and Appellant.
No. 20706.
Supreme Court of South Dakota.
Considered on Briefs April 26, 1999.
Reassigned June 22, 1999.
Decided Aug. 11, 1999.
Mark W. Barnett, Attorney General, Constance K. Nilles, Assistant Attorney General Pierre, South Dakota, Attorneys for plaintiff and appellee.
Mary G. Keller, Huron, South Dakota, Attorney for defendant and appellant.

Opinion:
GILBERTSON, Justice (on reassignment).
[¶ 1.] Kyle Louise Buchholz appeals from her conviction of possession of controlled substance in violation of SDCL 22-42-5. We affirm.
FACTS
[¶ 2.] Kyle Buchholz was returning home to Redfield, South Dakota, at approximately 12:30 in the afternoon of March 16,1998, after attending a weekend foosball tournament in Huron, South Dakota. The South Dakota Highway Patrol had set up a vehicle safety checkpoint along the highway Buchholz was traveling. As Buchholz approached the checkpoint, the highway patrol officer noticed a headlight was not working on the car she was driving. When Buchholz reached the safety checkpoint, the officer approached, asked for a driver's license and informed her a headlight was not working on the vehicle.
[¶ 3.] As Buchholz did not have her driver's license with her, the officer asked her to pull over and have a seat in his patrol vehicle. Once Buchholz was seated in the car, the officer ran her identification and asked her where she was coming from. Buchholz stated she had been at a foosball tournament in Huron.
[¶ 4.] The officer wrote Buchholz a warning ticket. As the two were walking back to Búchholz's car, the officer asked her if she was transporting drugs. Buchholz replied no. The officer then asked if he could search her vehicle and she consented. The officer located a fanny pack, and, upon opening it, methamphetamine was found along with various drug paraphernalia. The search continued and an empty vial believed to have contained methamphetamine was found in another bag. Field tests revealed the substances were methamphetamine.
[¶ 5.] Buchholz was placed under arrest for possession of controlled substances and taken to the Huron Regional Correction Center. Buchholz was booked and asked to provide a urine sample. She initially refused, however after being threatened with catheterization, she provided a urine sample. The sample tested positive for methamphetamine.
[¶ 6.] Prior to trial, defense counsel made a motion to suppress the results of the urine test. The trial court denied the motion. Defense counsel made two other motions, one for specific discovery of a search warrant affidavit authorizing the search of a Huron hotel during the foosball tournament and another for appointment of an expert witness on fingerprints. The trial court denied both these motions.
[¶ 7.] Buchholz was subsequently convicted of possession of a controlled substance (SDCL 22-42-5) and sentenced to five years in the South Dakota Women's Prison.
[¶ 8.] Buchholz appeals, arguing:
1. Whether the seizure of Buchholz's urine violated her constitutional rights.
2. Whether specific discovery of a search warrant affidavit should have been granted.
3. Whether a fingerprint expert should have been appointed.
4. Whether there was sufficient admissible evidence to support a finding of guilt.
5. Whether the sentence imposed violated Buchholz's ' constitutional rights.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[¶ 9.] A trial court's findings of fact used to support or deny a motion to suppress are reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard. State v. Anderson, 1996 SD 59, ¶ 8, 548 N.W.2d 40, 42; State v. Stetter, 513 N.W.2d 87, 91 (S.D.1994); State v. Corder, 460 N.W.2d 733, 736 (S.D.1990). "This court's function under the clearly erroneous standard is to determine whether the decision of the lower court lacks the support of substantial evidence, evolves from an erroneous view of the applicable law or whether, considering the entire record, we are left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made." State v. Dreps, 1996 SD 142, ¶ 8, 558 N.W.2d 339, 341 (citing State v. Baysinger, 470 N.W.2d 840, 843 (S.D.1991)). Whether an officer had a lawful basis to conduct a warrantless search is reviewed de novo as a question of law. State v. Ashbrook, 1998 SD 115, ¶ 6, 586 N.W.2d 503, 506 (citing State v. Krebs, 504 N.W.2d 580, 585 (S.D.1993) (citation omitted)).
DECISION
[¶ 10.] 1. Whether the seizure of Buch-holz's urine violated her constitutional rights.
[¶ 11.] Our recent decision in State v. Hanson, 1999 SD 9, 588 N.W.2d 885 controls the disposition of this case. The issue in Hanson was exactly the same as is now before us: "[w]hether the seizure of [the defendant's] urine violated her constitutional rights." In Hanson our analysis concluded that no violation occurred. 1999 SD 9, ¶ 40, 588 N.W.2d at 893-4. There is no factual or legal reason in the case now before us to conclude otherwise.
[¶ 12.] The three disputed matters are: (1) whether there was probable cause to believe the evidence existed; (2) whether exigent circumstances existed; and (3) whether procurement of the sample was reasonable considering the interests of the accused and society. Hanson, 1999 SD 9 at ¶ 28, 588 N.W.2d at 892.
[¶ 13.] a. Probable cause
[¶ 14.] Buchholz's vehicle was legally stopped in a traffic check because she had a headlight out. When stopped she also failed to produce the driver's license she should have had in her possession. Buch-holz informed the officer she had come from a foosball tournament in Huron. The officer was aware of possible drug use at the tournament. The officer also knew that Buchholz was rumored to use methamphetamine and her ex-husband had been arrested for possession of methamphetamine the week before.
[¶ 15.] After issuing a warning ticket, the officer subsequently asked if she would consent to a search of her vehicle for drugs. Unlike Hanson, here Buchholz gave consent to the search. The subsequent search produced methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A field test at the scene clearly indicated to the officer the suspicious substance was methamphetamine. Buchholz was arrested and a urine sample was taken.
[¶ 16.] This provides a stronger case for probable cause than existed in Hanson. Here Buchholz was the sole occupant of the car while in Hanson two other occupants were found in the car besides the defendant. An open vial containing methamphetamine is no less an indication of consumption of that substance than a half-empty open container of alcoholic beverages or an odor of alcoholic beverages emanating from a car. State v. Tilton, 1997 SD 28, ¶ 13, 561 N.W.2d 660, 663 (citing State v. Peterson, 407 N.W.2d 221, 223 (S.D.1987)). If the officer had probable cause to arrest Buchholz for possession, which he clearly did, "it would follow [he] had probable cause to test her for traces of the illegal substance for which she was arrested." Hanson 1999 SD 9 at ¶ 33, 588 N.W.2d at 892.
[¶ 17.] b. Exigent circumstances
[¶ 18.] "Exigent circumstances exist when there is a situation that demands immediate attention and there is no time to get a warrant." Hanson, 1999 SD 9 at ¶ 35, 588 N.W.2d at 892 (citing State v. Heumiller, 317 N.W.2d 126, 129 (S.D.1982)). In Hanson, expert testimony was provided to show that marijuana does not dissipate from a person's system as quickly as does alcohol. Id. In this case an expert testified that methamphetamine use would only be detectable for two to three days.
[¶ 19.] Nevertheless exigent circumstances exist as a prompt test will indicate a higher concentration of the drug. This assists law enforcement in determining whether consumption of the drug was on the day of the stop or recent.
[¶ 20.] According to authority cited by the defendant, urine tests for methamphetamine are only accurate for 24 to 48 hours from consumption of the drug. Citing United States v. Pond, 36 MJ 1050, 1058 (AFCMR 1993). If the officer was confronted with a driver who manifested no outward signs of drug consumption yet recovered an open drug vial from the driver's car, it is logical to assume the period for testing had about run its course. It is illogical to require that the officer, who is sitting on a rural highway must somehow locate the Beadle County State's Attorney to draft an affidavit, find a Magistrate or Circuit Judge to issue the search warrant, and take the defendant to a medical facility to obtain a urine sample if one is not voluntarily provided, all of which is to be completed while the 24-hour clock is ticking towards expiration of a testing period that may have already expired.
21.] Hanson concluded, based on an examination of case law from other jurisdictions, there is no basis for treating drug testing any different from blood-alco-blood-alcotesting. Hanson, 1999 SD 9 at ¶ 36, 588 N.W.2d at 893. See State v. Strong, 493 N.W.2d 834 (Iowa 1992) (cocaine); State v. Thompson, 244 Neb. 189, 505 N.W.2d 673 (1993) (cocaine). "In both cases exigent circumstances existed and the difference is at most only in the matter of degree, not whether the circumstances exist or not." Id.
We are persuaded that requiring an ar-restee to submit to a urine test is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. It is a less intrusive search than the withdrawal of blood from the human body. It involves no risk of trauma or pain. Like alcohol in the blood system, traces of controlled substances in the urine will also disappear over time. In Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives' Ass'n, 489 U.S. 602, 109 S.Ct. 1402, 103 L.Ed.2d 639 (1989) the Court noted that '[although the metabolites of some drugs remain in the urine for longer periods of time . the delay necessary to procure a warrant nevertheless may result in the destruction of valuable evidence.' Id. at 623, 109 S.Ct. at 1416.
Id. (Citing United States v. Edmo, 140 F.3d 1289, 1292 (9th Cir.1998)). See also United States v. Twiss, 127 F.3d 771 (8th Cir.1997), reh'g & suggestion for reh'g en banc denied.
[¶ 22.] c. Balancing of interests of the accused and society
[¶ 23.] This issue was also analyzed in Hanson:
We have held in issue one that there was probable cause to arrest Hanson for possession of marijuana. As such, the officers had the right to search her in a medically reasonable manner based on exigent circumstances and as incident to that lawful arrest for the drug. The state must establish the procedure itself was reasonable when weighing the accused's interests in privacy and security against society's interest in the procedure in identifying the perpetrator of the crime.
The type of testing used in this case, submitting a urine sample, would seem to be more reasonable and less intrusive on a person's life than the alternative of attempting to secure a warrant. If a warrant were necessary, significant restraints would have to be placed upon the individual to preserve the chain of evidence while the law enforcement sought to locate a magistrate or circuit judge and obtain a warrant.
Urination into a specimen container is reasonable process. As a normal body function, urination is less intrusive than removal of blood by a syringe. There is no threat to the safety or the health of the individual. Considered in the analysis is whether all reasonable medical precautions were taken and no unusual or untested procedures were employed. Here no unusual or untested procedures were required.
1999 SD 9 at ¶ 38-40, 588 N.W.2d at 893 (internal citations and quotations omitted).
[¶ 24.] The sample was not demanded of Buchholz at random but probable cause existed to believe her body fluid would test positive for drug consumption. Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 770, 86 S.Ct. 1826, 1835, 16 L.Ed.2d 908, 919-20 (1966). She was the sole occupant of the car in which the methamphetamine was found. The urine sample and its results are highly accurate and essential to the community's interest in fairly and accurately determining Buchholz's guilt or innocence. This urine sample .provided evidence of her knowledge that the drug was in her car and enabled the State to establish the required element of knowledge. Hanson, 1999 SD 9 at ¶ 40, 588 N.W.2d at 894 (citing Strong, 493 N.W.2d at 837-38 (citing Winston, 470 U.S. at 762, 105 S.Ct. at 1617-18, 84 L.Ed.2d at 670). See also State v. Dickson, 329 N.W.2d 630, 632 (S.D.1983)).
[¶ 25.] 2. Whether specific discovery of a search warrant affidavit should have been granted.
[¶ 26.] Buchholz argues that the safety check was connected to a search of a Huron hotel conducted earlier that weekend, pursuant to a warrant. Therefore, Buchholz argues that under SDCL 23A-35-4.1, which permits a defendant to discover the contents of an affidavit supporting a search warrant, she should have been able to discover the affidavit supporting the earlier search of the hotel. The trial court determined the evidence sought was not relevant. We agree.
[¶ 27.] The proper standard for ruling on a discovery motion is whether the information sought is "relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action....'" SDCL 15 — 6—26(b)(1). "This phraseology implies a broad construction of "relevancy" at the discovery stage because one of the purposes of discovery is to examine information that may lead to admissible evidence at trial." Kaarup v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 436 N.W.2d 17, 20 (S.D.1989) (citing 8 C. Wright and A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure, § 2008 (1970)). "[T]he ex tent of discovery permitted by either side rests in the discretion of the court." State v. Catch the Bear, 352 N.W.2d 640, 644 (S.D.1984) (citing State v. Means, 268 N.W.2d 802, 815 (S.D.1978); State v. Wade, 83 S.D. 337, 343, 159 N.W.2d 396, 400 (1968); see also State v. Erickson, 525 N.W.2d 703, 711 (S.D.1994)).
[¶ 28.] Buchholz failed to make any showing that the traffic safety check was related to the earlier searches at the hotel. At the preliminary hearing, defense counsel asked the officer, "Were you thinking of the rumors that had gone around about the foosball tournament when this safety check was set up?" The officer responded, "No." Buchholz was not searched, arrested, or charged on the basis of the search warrant at the hotel. Therefore, as to this issue, the trial court did not err.
[¶ 29.] 3. Whether a fingerprint expert should have been appointed.
[¶ 30.] "A trial court's decision regarding appointment of an expert will not be set aside absent an abuse of discretion." State v. Red Star, 467 N.W.2d 769, 771 (S.D.1991) (citing State v. Jaques, 428 N.W.2d 260, 264 (S.D.1988)). "The trial judge has broad discretion in determining the necessity of the appointment of an expert in a given factual environment." Red Star, 467 N.W.2d at 771 (citing State v. Hallman, 391 N.W.2d 191, 194 (S.D.1986)).
[¶ 31.] Four elements must be satisfied before appointment of an expert must be made:
[ T]he request must be (1) in good faith; (2) reasonable in all respects; (3) timely and specifically set forth the necessity of an expert; and (4) clear in that defendant is financially unable to obtain the required service himself and that such service would otherwise be justifiably obtained were the defendant financially able.
Red Star, 467 N.W.2d at 771 (citing State v. Stuck, 434 N.W.2d 43, 50-51 (S.D.1988)). The trial court determined Buchholz's request did not fit the requirements of Red Star. We agree.
[¶ 32.] Buchholz requested an expert to testify that fingerprints could have been taken from the surfaces of drug paraphernalia. However, there was no necessity for an expert in this case. The chemist for the State testified that fingerprints could have been taken, but were not. Buchholz has made no showing that the trial court abused its discretion with regard to its decision not to appoint an expert witness.
[¶ 33.] 4. Whether there was sufficient admissible evidence to support a finding of guilt.
In determining the sufficiency of the evidence on review, the question presented is whether there is evidence in the record which, if believed by the fact finder, is sufficient to sustain a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In this review, we must accept that evidence, and the most favorable inferences to be fairly drawn therefrom, which will support the verdict. In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court will not resolve conflicts in the evidence, pass on the credibility of witnesses, or weigh the evidence. No guilty verdict will be set aside if the evidence, including circumstantial evidence and reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, sustains a reasonable theory of guilt.
State v. Knecht, 1997 SD 53, ¶ 22, 563 N.W.2d 413, 421 (internal citations and quotations omitted).
[¶,34.] Buchholz argues there was insufficient evidence to convict her with possession of a controlled substance. We do not agree. Buchholz was the sole occupant of a car that contained methamphetamine. Drug paraphernalia was found amongst her luggage. The urinalysis provided information Buchholz knew of the methamphetamine and had used methamphetamine. Like Hanson, Buchholz was not charged with possession of drugs in her body (or use) but possession of the drug found in the car. 1999 SD 9 at ¶ 43, 588 N.W.2d at 894. There is more than sufficient evidence to convict her on this charge. We affirm.
[¶ 35.] 5. Whether the sentence imposed violated Buchholz's constitutional rights.
[¶ 36.] Buchholz claims that the five-year sentence violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. However, the record is void of a sentencing hearing transcript. Without the complete record, we will presume the trial court acted properly. D.G. v. D.M.K., 1996 SD 144, ¶ 29, 557 N.W.2d 235, 240 (citing Baltodano v. North Cent. Health Services, Inc., 508 N.W.2d 892, 895 (S.D.1993)). Buchholz has not overcome this presumption in favor of the trial court. Id. (Citing Owens v. Moyes, 530 N.W.2d 663, 665 (S.D.1995)). We affirm.
[¶ 37.] MILLER, Chief Justice, and KONENKAMP, Justice, concur.
[¶ 38.] AMUNDSON, Justice, concurs in part and dissents in part.
[¶ 39.] SABERS, Justice, dissents.
. SDCL 22-42-5 provides:
No person may knowingly possess a controlled drug or substance unless the substance was obtained directly or pursuant to a valid prescription or order from a practitioner, while action in the course of the practitioner's professional practice.... A violation of this section is a Class 4 felony.
. Supra note 1.