Opinion ID: 677684
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Authority to Consent to Entry

Text: 10 Defendants argue that even if White's actions rose to a level from which consent could be inferred, White did not have authority to consent. Valid consent may be obtained from a third party who possessed common authority over or other sufficient relationship to the premises or effects sought to be inspected and thus had actual authority to consent. Matlock, 415 U.S. at 171 n. 7; United States v. Kelley, 953 F.2d 562, 566 (9th Cir.1992); United States v. Yarbrough, 852 F.2d 1522, 1534 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 866 (1988). Common authority rests on mutual use of the property by persons generally having joint access or control for most purposes. Matlock, 415 U.S. at 171; see also United States v. Dearing, 9 F.3d 1428, 1429 (9th Cir.1993); Kelley, 953 F.2d at 566. Even if the consenting third party does not in fact possess actual authority to consent, a warrantless search may be justified when the authorities have reasonable grounds to believe the consentor has apparent authority to consent. Yarbrough, 852 F.2d at 1534; see also Illinois v. Rodriguez, 497 U.S. 177, 188-89 (1990); Dearing, 9 F.3d at 764; United States v. Welch, 4 F.3d 761, 764 (9th Cir.1993). 11 White had authority to consent to entry. Moreover, even if we were to question whether White had actual authority, it was reasonable for the officers to believe that he did. White and Strickland were co-occupants of the motel room; when deputies entered the motel room, they found both defendants' traveling bags. No evidence suggests that White's access to the room or his freedom to come and go was limited. Furthermore, by answering the door, White indicated that he not only was a joint user of the room, but also had control over the premises. Finally, Strickland did not voice an objection to the officers' entry or to their request to speak with White, nor did White expressly or implicitly indicate with speech or mannerisms that he needed to obtain permission from somebody else to permit the officers' entry.