Opinion ID: 2634828
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: FORM 11. Motion for return of seized property and suppression of evidence.

Text: IN THE DISTRICT COURT THE STATE OF WYOMING ) ) ss: COUNTY OF _________ ) _________ JUDICIAL DISTRICT THE STATE OF WYOMING, ) Plaintiff, ) MOTION FOR RETURN ) OF SEIZED PROPERTY AND vs. ) SUPPRESSION OF EVIDENCE ) JOHN DOE, ) Defendant. ) Criminal Action No. _____ John Doe hereby moves this court to direct that certain property of which he is the owner, a schedule of which is annexed hereto, and which on the _____ day of _________, (year), at the premises known as _______ Street, in the City of _______, in the County of _______, State of Wyoming, was unlawfully seized and taken from him by a Deputy Sheriff of the County of _______, State of Wyoming, (Give name of deputy, if known, and if unknown, so state) be returned to him and that it be suppressed as evidence against him in any criminal proceeding. The petitioner further states that the property was seized against his will and without a search warrant. Defendant further moves that any and all testimony in regard to said property, and testimony or evidence based upon said unlawful search and seizure be likewise suppressed as evidence against him. Dated this ____ day of _______, (year). __________________ Attorney for Petitioner DeLoge's motion was substantially in that form, although it clearly was not a motion to suppress, but rather a motion for the return of property that was his own personal property and arguably of no evidentiary value to any police agency. [¶ 9] 5 Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-2-105 (LexisNexis 2005) provides: § 7-2-105. Disposition and appraisal of property seized or held; notice and order to show cause; judgment. (a) When personal property not subject to be summarily destroyed is seized or held by any peace officer pursuant to any law of this state, or when property seized by any peace officer is delivered to the appropriate law enforcement agency under provisions other than W.S. XX-X-XXXX, or property is taken into custody as lost, mislaid or abandoned, the head of the law enforcement agency shall forthwith ascertain as closely as practicable: (i) The approximate value of the property; (ii) The facts giving rise to the seizure or custody; (iii) The name and position of the person making the seizure or taking the property into custody; (iv) The name and address of the owners of the property or those persons who were in possession of the property at the time of the seizure; (v) The names and addresses of all persons known to have an interest in the property seized. (b) Any property seized by a peace officer shall be delivered immediately to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The head of the law enforcement agency shall maintain custody of the property pending an order of disposal by the court pursuant to this section unless the property is otherwise released according to this section. (c) If the property is lost, mislaid, abandoned or unclaimed or if possession of the property is unlawful, the law enforcement agency shall seek in circuit court or district court an order to show cause why the property should not be sold or forfeited and sold at public auction or transferred to the use of the law enforcement agency. If the lawful owner of the property can reasonably be ascertained, the property shall be delivered to him without judicial action unless the property constitutes evidence of a crime, the possession of the property would be unlawful or ownership and interest are in dispute. (d) Notice and proceedings on the order to show cause shall be according to the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, provided notice by publication shall be once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks. The trial of the issues shall be by the court. (e) On final hearing the order to show cause shall be taken as prima facie evidence that the property is abandoned or unclaimed and is sufficient for a judgment of forfeiture in the absence of other proof. (f) In disputed ownership cases the burden shall be upon the claimants to show that they are the lawful owners or have a legally recognizable interest in the property. (g) When the property is encumbered, the court shall, after deducting costs, direct the payment of the encumbrance from the proceeds of any sale of the property or distribute the property equitably between those persons having a legal interest. (h) The proceedings and judgment of forfeiture shall be in rem and shall be primarily against the property itself. (j) Upon the entry of a judgment of forfeiture the court shall determine the disposition to be made of the property, which may include the destruction or sale of the property or the allocation of the property to some other governmental function or use or otherwise, as the court may determine. (k) Sale of the property shall be at public auction to the highest bidder for cash after two (2) weeks public notice as the court may direct. (m) Upon the application of any claimant, the court may fix the value of a forfeitable interest in the seized property and permit the claimant to redeem the property upon the payment of a sum equal to the value, which sum shall be disposed of as would the proceeds of the sale of the property under a judgment of forfeiture. (n) The balance of the proceeds, if any, shall be deposited in the general operating account of the state, county or municipal entity that has fiscal authority over the law enforcement agency confiscating the property. ( o ) This section does not apply to property which is subject to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, W.S. XX-XX-XXX through XX-XX-XXX. [¶ 10] We conclude that both the rule and the statute make it plain that DeLoge may seek to have his property restored to him, absent some justification provided by the State for its continued retention of that property. DeLoge has availed himself of a remedy provided to him by law. See City of West Covina v. Perkins, 525 U.S. 234, 119 S.Ct. 678, 142 L.Ed.2d 636 (1999) (It follows that when law enforcement agents seize property pursuant to warrant, due process requires them to take reasonable steps to give notice that the property has been taken so the owner can pursue available remedies for its return. [Emphasis added.]). As in the West Covina case, here there is no contest that the State had the right to seize the property in the first instance nor has the State at this point denied its ultimate obligation to return that property, absent some justification for its continued retention. Id. at 119 S.Ct. 681. [¶ 11] DeLoge filed a notice of appeal before the district court had an opportunity to decide the motion on its merits. Whether the district court intended to simply ignore the motion, or to rule on it eventually, is not revealed by the record. It is clear that DeLoge's multiplicity of motions and petitions garbled the proceedings in this case and made the district court's task quite difficult. DeLoge's appeal was premised on the notion that his motion had been deemed denied by operation of W.R.C.P. 6(c): (c) Motions and Motion Practice.  (1) Unless these rules or an order of the court establish time limitations other than those contained herein, all motions, except (A) motions for enlargement of time, (B) motions made during hearing or trial, (C) motions which may be heard ex parte, and (D) motions described in subdivisions (3) and (4) below, together with supporting affidavits, if any, shall be served at least 10 days before the hearing on the motion. Except as otherwise provided in Rule 59(c), or unless the court by order permits service at some other time, a party affected by the motion shall serve a response, if any, together with affidavits, if any, at least three days prior to the hearing on the motion or within 20 days after service of the motion, whichever is earlier. Unless the court by order permits service at some other time, the moving party shall serve a reply, if any, at least one day prior to the hearing on the motion or within 15 days after service of the response, whichever is earlier. Unless the court otherwise orders, any party may serve supplemental memoranda or rebuttal affidavits at least one day prior to the hearing on the motion. (2) A request for hearing may be served by the moving party or any party affected by the motion within 30 days after service of the motion. Absent a timely request for hearing the court may, in its discretion, determine the motion without a hearing. A motion not determined within 90 days after filing shall be deemed denied. A party whose motion has been deemed denied shall have 10 days after the effective date of such denial to serve such pleadings or other papers, if any, as may be required or permitted. (3) A party moving for a protective order under Rule 26(c) or to compel discovery under Rule 37(a) may request an immediate hearing thereon. An immediate hearing may be held if the court finds that a delay in determining the motion will cause undue prejudice, expense or inconvenience. (4) A motion relating to the exclusion of evidence may be filed at any time. Absent a request for hearing by a moving party or any party affected by the motion, the court may, in its discretion, determine the motion without a hearing. [Emphasis added.] [¶ 12] W.R.Cr.P. 1(a) provides that: In the event that a procedure is not established by these rules, the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure shall govern. However, we decline to import the deemed denied rule into criminal proceedings where a district court is required either by the tenor of the governing rules, or the precepts of due process, to timely dispose of motions filed by criminal defendants. See Patrick v. State, 2005 WY 32, ¶ 8, 108 P.3d 838, 841 (Wyo.2005). [¶ 13] For this reason, we dismiss this appeal and remand the matter to the district court with directions that it rule in a timely manner on the merits of DeLoge's motion for the return of his property. Because of this disposition, we will not address the other issues raised by DeLoge at this time.