Opinion ID: 285721
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Facts as to Illegality of the May 6, 1966 Search

Text: 63 We finally reach appellants' complaint that the May 5th (or 6th), 1966 search of the defendant Ales' motel room was illegal. 64 After asserting that Duran has standing to object to the search of Ales' room, Duran asserts that Ales was subjected to an illegal search and seizure. The only reference to its illegality is in appellants' summary of argument, wherein it is referred to as a warrantless search and seizure, by California police (Brief pp. 7, 8) and the statement: The search itself was illegal because it was conducted without a warrant while none of the exceptions to the warrant requirement were shown to be applicable. (Opening Brief, p. 9.) 65 Thus, without any consideration of the record here before us, or any discussion of the facts surrounding the May 6th Alexandria Motel search and seizure of the heroin obtained by Ales with the $7,500 supplied him by Duran, we are asked to hold it was an illegal search, tainting all other evidence obtained in other searches as well as the evidence obtained on May 6th. 66 The Government's position is (a) that any objection to the alleged illegal search and seizure was waived by the defendant's failure to move prior to the trial, or at the trial, to suppress; or to raise any objection at the trial (R.T. 235, et seq.; 237, lines 13-20; 256-269), and (b) that the search and seizure were valid. We agree with each position. 67 The only direct testimony in the record before us as to Exhibit 1-B (the heroin found in Ales' room) was the testimony of Ales alone (R.T. 85-149). See also R.T. 300, lines 19-20; 301, lines 12-17; 302, lines 14-22; 303, lines 2-25. Officer Sanchez, the officer who took charge of Exhibit 1-B was never asked how he came to have Exhibit 1-B in his possession (R.T. 205-292). 68 Exhibit C (the baseball schedule) was taken from Vasquez after his arrest. There was nothing in the testimony of officer Sanchez to indicate an invalid arrest. Exhibit C was obtained in a legal search incident to a lawful arrest. 69 However, in cross-examination of Officer Sanchez, the defense brought out, as a conclusion, that there was heroin found in Ales' room at the Alexandria Motel on May 6, 1966, which was stated to have been Ales'. (R.T. 250, et seq.) 70 There exists in the record before us a complete lack of any evidence as to the circumstances surrounding the finding of the heroin on May 6th, 1966 at the Alexandria Motel after it had been placed under the bed by Ales. There is also a complete lack of any evidence from which it could be ascertained if there existed any illegality in the entry to, or search of, the room, or in the arrest of Ales. 71 Appellants in their opening brief spend eleven pages on standing to object, and not one word on the facts allegedly making the May 6th, 1966 search illegal, other than the stated conclusion that it was an illegal search and seizure. Appellants cannot establish any illegality of the search, for facts to support such a charge were never developed in the record of this case. 6 72 It is Hornbook law that neither party can rely on evidence outside the record of the case on appeal (here, the record made in the prosecution of Duran, Guttierez and Cruz). We are limited on this appeal to the record made in the court below. 4A C.J.S. Appeal and Error § 1143 at pp. 1204-1205 (1957). United States v. Hedberg, 411 F.2d 607 (9th Cir. 1969); Morgan v. United States, 380 F.2d 686, 700 (9th Cir. 1967), cert. denied, 390 U.S. 962, 88 S.Ct. 1064, 19 L.Ed.2d 1160, rehearing denied, 390 U.S. 1008, 88 S.Ct. 1249, 20 L.Ed.2d 110 (1968); Bunn v. United States, 369 F. 2d 809, 810 (5th Cir. 1966); Dodd v. United States, 321 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1963); Rish v. United States, 272 F.2d 60, 61 (4th Cir. 1959). For that same reason we do not, should not, and cannot consider the Government's proof (as a defense to the charge of unlawful search) that the May 6th heroin was discovered through a private search made independently of any police or law enforcement agency, Burdeau v. McDowell, 256 U.S. 465, 41 S.Ct. 574, 65 L.Ed. 1048 (1921), for the Government relies on proof outside the record. 73 We also need not consider the merits of the conviction of Duran on Counts II and V, since he received a similar concurrent sentence on Count I. Sinclair v. United States, 279 U.S. 263 49 S.Ct. 268, 73 L.Ed. 692 (1929); Banzer v. United States, 367 F.2d 865 (9th Cir. 1966), cert. denied, 385 U.S. 1009, 87 S.Ct. 715, 17 L.Ed.2d 546 (1967). 74 But even if the rule of Sinclair, supra, should be changed by the Supreme Court as a result of its consideration of Benton v. Maryland, cert. granted, 392 U.S. 925, 88 S.Ct. 2297, 20 L.Ed.2d 1384 (No. 1185, 1967 Term), reargument ordered, 393 U.S. 994, 89 S.Ct. 481, 21 L.Ed.2d 460 (1968) (renumbered No. 201, 1968 Term), the uncontradicted testimony of Ales, is sufficient to raise the factual determination of whether the principal directing head had actual or constructive possession of the narcotics which he had supplied the money to purchase. The determination of this issue would rest secondarily with the adequacy of properly admitted evidence against Cruz and Guttierez which we next consider. The conviction of Guttierez and Cruz on Count V, however, depends on the legality of the two searches on May 11th or 12th, 1966 — the first at Vasquez' home where Exhibit 4-C, the baseball schedule card, led officers to the Gales Motel, 3029 San Gabriel (Boulevard), Room 24, where the second search took place. 75