Opinion ID: 222783
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Search of the Rental Car and Arrests of Mr. Shigemura and Mr. Kitchell (Video at 27:46-41:10.)

Text: Trooper Hyde then returned Meco to the kennel in the patrol car, and asked Mr. Kitchell and Mr. Sprous to step out of the rental car. He searched both of them for weapons and found none on their persons; however, he did find a large amount of currency in Mr. Kitchell's pocket, later determined to total $17,504.36. By then, two other OHP Troopers had arrived on the scene, and one searched Mr. Shigemura for weapons. This search again was negative. The troopers then placed Mr. Shigemura and Mr. Kitchell in the front and back seats, respectively, of Trooper Hyde's patrol car, and placed Mr. Sprous in another patrol car. The troopers then began a search of the rental car. In the trunk, they found a backpack containing a loaded revolver and cash totaling $41,983, a portion of which was arranged into fourteen separate bundles, each with a $100 dollar bill on top and $1 bills underneath. The search also ultimately uncovered five additional firearms, [4] duct tape, leather gloves, latex gloves, pocket knives, flex cuffs, a police scanner, a hat with the words FBI on it, another hat with the word NARC on it, and a map of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, with the DFW airport circled in black ink. During the search, the video camera in Trooper Hyde's patrol car recorded several conversations between Mr. Shigemura and Mr. Kitchell. At one point, upon seeing one of the troopers bring something out of the interior of the car, Mr. Shigemura said, They found that f      gun, while Mr. Kitchell stated, They went through the trunk. Once the troopers opened the trunk from the outside, Mr. Shigemura stated, Oh f  , we're f    . We're going to be here, you know that? Shortly thereafter, Trooper Hyde returned to the patrol car, asked Mr. Kitchell and Mr. Shigemura to step out, and handcuffed them. Once Mr. Shigemura and Mr. Kitchell were placed back in the patrol car and the search resumed, Mr. Shigemura told Mr. Kitchell that the troopers were looking at all that other sh  in the trunk. John's sh . Now they're looking at that bag. You know what's in that bag  bullsh , gloves and sh . You know what I mean? Mr. Kitchell responded, Mmm, they know what time it is. Mr. Shigemura responded, Yeah, they know what time it is. After some additional conversation, Mr. Shigemura then said to Mr. Kitchell, They ain't got to yours yet, you know what I mean? Later, the following conversation took place as Mr. Shigemura and Mr. Kitchell watched the officers search the trunk: Mr. Shigemura: We've got some weapons charges, you dig what I'm saying? Mr. Kitchell: You ain't lying. Mr. Shigemura: Where was that other f      nine? Mr. Kitchell: In the trunk. Mr. Shigemura: I know, where at? Mr. Kitchell: In the bag. Mr. Shigemura: It was in the bag? Mr. Kitchell: Yeah, they're going to get it out now. Mr. Shigemura: Hmm? Mr. Kitchell: They're getting it now. Mr. Shigemura: What? The bag? Mr. Kitchell: Yeah, they got the bag on top [of the car], I think. Or that's your bag. Mr. Shigemura: That's my bag. . . . . Mr. Shigemura: Uh oh, more sh . John. Mr. Kitchell: My bag? Mr. Shigemura: Yup. Still later, Mr. Kitchell asked Mr. Shigemura, Oh, they're getting down to the pistols now? Mr. Shigemura responded, Mmm hmm. Mr. Shigemura then stated to Mr. Kitchell, Well, you know it could have been worse. They could have busted us on the way back. You know what I'm saying? After the search, Mr. Shigemura, Mr. Kitchell, and Mr. Sprous were transported to a nearby OHP warehouse in Stroud, where Trooper Hyde placed the backpack containing the $41,983 in a large bay area. Trooper Hyde had Meco do a scan of the warehouse, and Meco alerted and indicated to the backpack. Later tests by OHP using an ion scan indicated detectable amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine on the currency in the backpack, although no other drugs were found in the rental car. The $17,504 found on Mr. Kitchell did not test positive for drug residue.
On March 18, 2009, Mr. Shigemura, Mr. Kitchell, and Mr. Sprous were each indicted on one count of possessing firearms in or affecting interstate commerce subsequent to a prior felony conviction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. On April 23, 2009, the defendants filed a joint motion to suppress the evidence seized during the traffic stop, contending, inter alia, that (1) the stop was not supported by reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation; (2) the detention of the defendants during the stop was unlawfully excessive; and (3) Trooper Hyde did not have probable cause to search the vehicle. After a hearing on May 20, 2009, which included testimony by Trooper Hyde regarding the stop and search of the vehicle, the district court denied the motion to suppress. On May 27, 2009, Mr. Shigemura and Mr. Kitchell were found guilty after a one-day jury trial. [5] On August 26, 2009, Mr. Kitchell was sentenced to 188 months in prison, and on September 23, 2009, Mr. Shigemura was sentenced to 78 months in prison. Mr. Kitchell and Mr. Shigemura each filed a timely notice of appeal.