Opinion ID: 164946
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Warrantless Search of the Container at the DEA's Office

Text: 13 Jackson argues that the warrantless search of the container and its contents at the DEA's office violated his Fourth Amendment rights. He claims that the plain view exception to the warrant requirement does not apply because Perry was not certain that there was contraband inside the container. This argument is unavailing. 14 The warrantless search of the baby powder container at the DEA's office was valid. A warrantless search of a legally seized container is invalid unless it falls within one of the narrow and well-delineated exceptions to the warrant requirement. Flippo v. West Virginia, 528 U.S. 11, 13, 120 S.Ct. 7, 145 L.Ed.2d 16 (1999); United States v. Corral, 970 F.2d 719, 725 (10th Cir.1992). A warrantless search can be conducted if law enforcement agents see, within plain view, the contents of a container and it is apparent or a foregone conclusion that such contents are contraband. Corral, 970 F.2d at 725. [W]here the police already possess knowledge approaching certainty as to the contents of the container, the search of the container does not unreasonably infringe upon the individual interest in preserving the privacy of those contents. Id. at 725-26. 15 The plain view exception to the warrant requirement applies to the search which took place at the DEA's office. When Perry first searched the container pursuant to Jackson's consent, he saw a white powdery substance inside a baggy hidden within the baby powder container. Perry testified that, based on his training and experience, he thought it was very unlikely that the baggy contained something other than narcotics. 2 Moreover, Perry knew that Jackson had paid for his coach ticket in cash and was traveling from California to Ohio. Perry knew that such travel arrangements were consistent with those of drug smugglers. Perry knew that drugs are sometimes smuggled inside baby powder containers. Under such circumstances, it was a foregone conclusion that the baby powder container held drugs. As a consequence, the plain view exception applies to the search of the baby powder container which took place in the DEA's office. 16