Opinion ID: 450644
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Search of Rayo's Luggage

Text: 49 Rayo contends that his consent to the search of his luggage and pants was involuntary. He also argues that the failure to give him a warning under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), before obtaining his consent to the search requires suppression of the evidence. The district judge found that Rayo's consent was voluntary. Whether a consent to search was voluntary is a question of fact, subject to the clearly erroneous standard of review. United States v. Fleishman, 684 F.2d 1329, 1334 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1044, 103 S.Ct. 464, 74 L.Ed.2d 614 (1982). 50 It is the government's burden to show that consent was given freely and voluntarily. Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 221-22, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 2045-46, 36 L.Ed.2d 854 (1973). Voluntariness is a factual issue based on the totality of circumstances surrounding the giving of consent. Id. at 227, 93 S.Ct. at 2047; United States v. Ritter, 752 F.2d 435, 439 (9th Cir.1985). On appeal the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 469, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942). The government and Rayo disagree as to the encounter in his hotel room. The district judge who saw, heard, and evaluated the testimony on the suppression issue accepted the government's view. That determination is not shown to be clearly erroneous. Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a). 51 When the police knocked on Rayo's motel room door they told him in Spanish that they were police. When he opened the door, their guns were drawn and he was arrested. Such an armed confrontation is of course a factor in the voluntariness inquiry, see United States v. Perez, 644 F.2d 1299, 1303 (9th Cir.1981). But after entering Rayo's room and determining that there were no weapons or other persons present, the officers holstered their guns. Although under arrest, Rayo was not handcuffed. The fact of custody does not itself negate voluntariness. United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411, 424, 96 S.Ct. 820, 828, 46 L.Ed.2d 598 (1976); United States v. Hall, 565 F.2d 917, 920 (5th Cir.1978). 52 Nor does it necessarily follow that because he did not receive Miranda warnings until five hours later, after he was brought to the police station, consent to the search was vitiated. The failure to receive Miranda warnings is another factor to be considered, United States v. Ritter, 752 F.2d at 439; United States v. Lemon, 550 F.2d 467, 472 n. 5 (9th Cir.1977); as is also the delay in receipt of the warnings. While in the hotel room the officers did inform Rayo of the purpose of their investigation, and he responded that he had nothing to hide, and that he was in Los Angeles to gamble. He repeated that statement when the police discovered the funds in his suitcase. These statements were exculpatory. The district court found them voluntary. Rayo has shown no prejudice from the delay in advising him of his Miranda rights. The suppression motion was properly denied. 8 53