Opinion ID: 4567072
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Right to Refuse Consent

Text: An officer’s failure to inform a suspect that he has a right to refuse to consent to a search militates against voluntariness. United States v. Shabazz, 993 F.2d 431, 438–39 (5th Cir. 1993). The district court adopted the MJ’s determination that Officer Rodriguez never informed Soriano of his right to refuse consent and that factor weighed against voluntariness. The Government does not directly challenge this determination but contends that Soriano’s experience with law enforcement should offset the amount of weight for this factor. In United States v. Ponce, 8 F.3d 989, 998 (5th Cir. 1993), we held that “experience in the criminal justice system can offset ‘any weight’ accorded to an officer’s failure to advise a suspect of his right to resist a search.” Id. Here, Soriano’s presentence report (PSR) indicates that, while he has no prior convictions, he has been arrested on three occasions. Still, neither the MJ nor the district court made any findings as to whether Soriano’s criminal history would provide him with enough familiarity with the criminal justice system to result in his knowledge of the right to refuse consent. Because the extent of Soriano’s familiarity with law enforcement procedures and its impact on his actions is unclear, the Government has not shown that the MJ clearly erred in determining that this factor weighed against voluntariness. 10 Case: 19-50832 Document: 00515571219 Page: 11 Date Filed: 09/18/2020 No. 19-50832