Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lazaro C. RODRIGUEZ, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1976-08-16
Citations: 537 F.2d 120
Docket Number: No. 76-1674
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lazaro C. RODRIGUEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before THORNBERRY, CLARK and TJOFLAT, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 537
Pages: 120–120

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lazaro C. RODRIGUEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 76-1674
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Aug. 16, 1976.
L. Aron Pena, Edinburg, Tex., for defendant-appellant.
Edward B. McDonough, Jr., U. S. Atty., Mary L. Sinderson, George A. Kelt, Jr., Robert A. Berg, Corpus Christi, Tex., James R. Gough, Asst. U. S. Attys., Houston, Tex., for plaintiff-appellee.
Before THORNBERRY, CLARK and TJOFLAT, Circuit Judges.
Rule 18, 5 Cir., see Isbell Enterprises, Inc. v. Citizens Casualty Co. of New York et al., 5 Cir. 1970, 431 F.2d 409, Part 1.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
In a trial before the Court without a jury, appellant was convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1). The sole question on appeal is the legality of the search of appellant's truck by a Border Patrol officer (which revealed 810 lbs of marijuana in a large metal box) at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita, Texas. The District Court found that the checkpoint was the functional equivalent of the border and, further, that the officer had probable cause to search. There is ample evidence in the record to support these findings; and, further, the circumstances were sufficiently exigent to justify a search without a warrant. The conviction is AFFIRMED.