Opinion ID: 2200725
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Shotguns, Rifles, and Handguns.

Text: The district court properly denied Ludtke's application for return of the firearms under Iowa Code section 809.5(2) because [t]he possession of the property is prohibited by law. Iowa Code § 809.5(2)(a)(1987). The district court also properly held that the firearms could not be turned over to Ludtke's brother as a designee. Once forfeitable property is seized, no right to the property may be transferred by anyone other than the State unless the seizure and forfeiture is declared by the court to be a nullity. Iowa Code § 809.6. Here, the State lawfully possesses the firearms pursuant to a validly executed search warrant. The firearms are forfeitable property. See Iowa Code § 809.1(2)(a). However, the district court erred in concluding that Ludtke's application for return of seized property was untimely and in concluding that Ludtke thus abandoned the property. The notice of seizure that Ludtke received was based on a repealed forfeiture statute. See Iowa Code ch. 809 (1985) (repealed, 1985 Iowa Acts ch. 201, § 22). Under the controlling statute, notice of seizure merely informs the person from whom the property was seized of the name of the person taking custody of the seized property, the date and time of the seizure, the identity of the law enforcement agency seizing the property, and the description of the items seized. Iowa Code § 809.2 (1987). The legislature clearly intended to change prior law requiring the clerk of court to notify every possible owner or lienholder, as well as the office of the attorney general, following every seizure. See Iowa Code § 809.2 (1985) (repealed, 1985 Iowa Acts ch. 201, § 22); Iowa Code § 809A.3 (Supp.1985) (repealed, 1986 Iowa Acts ch. 1140, § 19). The legislature intended to eliminate the provision for automatic termination of property interests in the seizure hearing. See Iowa Code § 809A.3(1), (4) (Supp.1985) (repealed, 1986 Iowa Acts ch. 1140, § 19). These amendments eliminate needless expense and inconvenience in those situations where the State holds seized property as evidence with no intent to forfeit the owner's interests at the conclusion of the case. Consequently, the legislature did not intend that a notice of seizure would trigger abandonment or establish a time within which claims must be filed. Instead, notice of release or notice of forfeiture is necessary to establish a time within which claims must be filed. See Iowa Code §§ 809.5(1), 809.9. Here, the notice received by Ludtke cannot be construed as a notice of release of property no longer needed by the State. See Iowa Code § 809.5(1). Nor may the notice be construed as a notice of forfeiture. See Iowa Code § 809.8(1). Because the State failed to give proper notice, Ludtke's application was timely. The State failed to extinguish Ludtke's ownership interest in the property. The State gave neither notice of release nor notice of forfeiture. However, the State argues that no forfeiture notice is needed when the property seized may not legally be possessed. Iowa Code § 809.6. Iowa Code section 809.6 provides in part, [p]roperty which may not legally be possessed is forfeited to the state by its seizure without further filing of a notice of forfeiture. This statutory provision essentially embodies and codifies the definition of contraband per se contained in existing case law. We have recognized that certain property, the possession of which is illegal, is contraband per se, e.g., heroin and other illegally controlled substances, moonshine and sawed-off shotguns. In re Property Seized on January 31, 1983, 362 N.W.2d 565, 568 (Iowa 1985). See also State v. Merchandise Seized, 225 N.W.2d 921, 924-25 (Iowa 1975). Contraband per se may not legally be possessed, and no valid ownership interest may exist in such property. Since no ownership interest may exist in such property, no forfeiture proceedings are necessary. Merchandise Seized, 225 N.W.2d at 925. We believe the firearms in this case are not contraband per se and were not automatically forfeited to the State by seizure. These firearms generally are lawful to possess. They are not illegal and are not offensive weapons as defined by Iowa Code section 724.1. Rather, the firearms are by nature derivative contrabandproperty innocent in itself and generally lawful to possess but which may become contraband by its illegal use. See In re Property Seized, 362 N.W.2d at 568; State v. McGraw, 191 Iowa 1090, 1094-95, 183 N.W. 593, 595 (1921). See also United States v. Bowdach, 414 F.Supp. 1346, 1353 (S.D.Fla.1976) (shotgun possessed by convicted felon); State v. Bryant, 250 So.2d 344, 346 (Fla.App.1971) (pistol possessed by convicted felon). The State lawfully possesses the firearms owned by Ludtke. However, the State has not acquired ownership of the firearms through either the abandonment of seized property or by a forfeiture proceeding. The State's failure to file a timely claim for forfeiture terminates the State's right to claim a forfeiture of the forfeitable property. Iowa Code § 809.8(2). Therefore, the State must hold the firearms until they can be returned to a person who demonstrates a right to possession or until the property has been deemed abandoned and ownership established in the seizing agency. The district court continues to have jurisdiction to enter appropriate orders. See Iowa Code § 809.5. We affirm the trial court's ruling that the firearms not be returned to Ludtke. We reverse the ruling that the firearms had been abandoned and the State could dispose of them. We remand for further proceedings consistent with our opinion.