Opinion ID: 2443531
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Withdrawal of Consent

Text: [¶ 24] Having concluded that Nadeau consented to the seizure and search of the flash drive, we next consider Nadeau's assertion that he subsequently withdrew his consent. Nadeau contends that his mother's testimony that she requested the return of the device contradicts the court's finding that there was no evidence that he withdrew his consent to the seizure of the flash drive. He also contends that the court erred in concluding that a parent cannot assert constitutional rights for his or her adult children. [¶ 25] Nadeau's argument that he withdrew his consent to the seizure and search of the flash drive is unpersuasive. [T]he law generally requires that the withdrawal of consent amount to an unequivocal act or statement of withdrawal. ( United States v. Cadieux, 324 F.Supp.2d 168, 170 (D.Me.2004) (quotation marks omitted)); see also United States v. Sanders, 424 F.3d 768, 774 (8th Cir.2005) (Withdrawal of consent need not be effectuated through particular magic words, but an intent to withdraw consent must be made [known] by unequivocal act or statement. (quotation marks omitted)). [¶ 26] There was no evidence that Nadeau personally expressed, directly or otherwise, a desire to withdraw his consent to the search and seizure of the flash drive. In addition, the court was not compelled to accept the mother's testimony that she was acting as her son's authorized agent when she requested the return of the computer and the flash drive from Chief Blais. Although a college student, Nadeau was an adult at the time of these events. There is no presumption at law that the parent of an adult child is acting as the child's authorized agent in matters affecting the child, nor was the court required to find the same as a matter of fact based solely on the mother's claim. Based on the evidence before it, the court was not required to conclude that there was an unequivocal withdrawal of consent.