Case Name: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Lon S. HYSELL, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1973-08-17
Citations: 281 So. 2d 417
Docket Number: No. 72-966
Parties: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Lon S. HYSELL, Appellee.
Judges: HOBSON and BOARDMAN, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 281
Pages: 417–419

Head Matter:
STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Lon S. HYSELL, Appellee.
No. 72-966.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
Aug. 17, 1973.
Robert L. Shevin, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Charles Corees, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., Tampa, for appellant.
James A. Gardner, Public Defender, and Mary Jo M. Gallay, Asst. Public Defender, Bradenton, for appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The State appeals from the trial court's order granting a motion to suppress evidence. Appellee, Lon S. Hysell, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The motion to suppress was directed to certain contraband found by the police officers during a search of appellee's automobile. The State seeks, in effect, to validate the search and use of the seized evidence on the basis of a consent search. (U.S.Const. amend. IV & amend. XIV).
There can be no serious doubt that when a defendant gives consent, freely and voluntarily, to a search of his own property, the necessity for a search warrant is obviated, and the defendant cannot then complain of the fruits of the search. It is equally well established by abundant judicial interpretation that a voluntary consent to a search or seizure waives the well-known immunity rule.
We also note that voluntary consent is to be determined from the totality of all the circumstances involved in a particular proceeding. As was stated by the Supreme Court in Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 1973, 412 U.S. 218, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 36 L.Ed.2d 854 (opinion rendered May 29, 1973, not yet reported) knowledge of a right to refuse is not a prerequisite of a voluntary consent search.
Whether such consent has been given is, in the first instance, a question of fact to be determined by the trial court in the light of the totality of the circumstances of this case. After proper hearing, the trial judge ordered the evidence suppressed. But, it is respectfully submitted, we cannot infer from the record that the trial court made such a finding of fact. In the absence of such finding, we are unable to assume and discharge the traditional role and function of an appellate court. The trial court is vested with the exclusive power to determine and decide fact matters. We are ill-equipped to do so.
For the reasons stated herein, we remand the case to the trial court with directions to take such further proceedings upon the motion to suppress as are not inconsistent with this opinion and as the trial court deems advisable.
HOBSON and BOARDMAN, JJ., concur.
MANN, C. J., dissents, with opinion.