Opinion ID: 762536
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The District Court's Ruling and the Trial

Text: 71 In a decision from the bench, the district court denied the suppression motion, finding that the seizure of the guns was lawful because they had been in plain view: 72 The officer testified that his partner stood outside the bathroom while Ms. Branch used the facilities and that the partner called to Abousamra telling him he had just found a pistol on a shelf outside the bathroom. Abousamra went to his partner and observed two more pistols on other shelves in plain view in an open closet by the bathroom.... The court finds this version credible. 73 Obviously the police wanted to guard the bathroom, the place where Ms. Branch was alone, and not wander throughout the apartment at that point. Ms. Branch testified when she came out of the bathroom the officers were in possession of the three guns.... 74 .... 75 The court believes that the guns were in plain view. The defendant made several false statements in connection with the purchase of the gun in Colorado which undermine his credibility. He has the greatest motive to lie in this case. Moreover, a photograph of the bedroom closet in which the defense maintains the guns were kept indicates that it would be very hard for a stranger in such a brief period of time at night to find guns under the clothing that would have been hanging in the closet.... 76 It is much more plausible that the guns were in plain view as Officer Abousamra testified. 77 (Suppression Hearing Transcript, February 10, 1998 (Feb. 10 Tr.), at 21-22.) 78 Following that decision, the parties agreed to waive a jury trial and stipulated that the trial evidence as to the finding of the guns would be the evidence presented at the suppression hearing. They also stipulated, inter alia, that Kiyuyung had a prior conviction. The court warned Kiyuyung that the stipulated facts would virtually assure a verdict of guilty in a bench trial, and it gave him an opportunity to withdraw his jury waiver. Kiyuyung declined, and the case was tried to the court. 79 Kiyuyung was found guilty and was sentenced as indicated above.