Opinion ID: 200712
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Consent to Search the Apartment

Text: 17 Marshall also challenges the district court's finding that Jones's consent was freely and voluntarily given. Proof of valid consent requires that the prosecution show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the consent was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily given. United States v. Perez-Montanez, 202 F.3d 434, 438 (1st Cir.2000). Whether consent was voluntary or the result of coercion is a question of fact to be determined from an examination of the totality of circumstances. United States v. Twomey, 884 F.2d 46, 51 (1st Cir.1989) (citation omitted). Factors to be considered include age, education, experience, knowledge of the right to withhold consent, and evidence of coercive tactics. Id. at 51. 18 The officers testified that Jones freely consented both verbally and in writing after the consent to search form was read to her in its entirety. Furthermore, they testified that Jones was repeatedly informed of her right to refuse consent. Conversely, Jones testified that her consent was obtained through threats and coercion. She stated that she was denied access to her home and was forced to sit in her car while the officers secured her home, was intentionally frightened into believing that she would be arrested in front of her children if she did not consent, and was told that the officers would search the rooms even if she did not consent because they were going to get a search warrant. The district court credited the officers' testimony and specifically discredited Jones's testimony, concluding that Jones lied to protect Marshall. In the absence of a reason not to do so, this court defers to the district court's personal observations and evaluation of the witnesses' credibility. See Perez-Montanez, 202 F.3d at 438. 19 Even if Jones's testimony is to be believed, the district court's finding of no coercion survives this court's review. Although Jones was not permitted to enter her home while the officers were present, she was not placed in custody or restrained in any way. Her testimony that the officers told her that she could stay implies that she realized that she was free to leave. Moreover, the fact that the officers told her that they were going to search the apartment regardless of whether she consented because they intended to get a warrant is not inherently coercive. Probable cause had been established and the officers had a good faith belief that a warrant would issue. See Twomey, 884 F.2d at 52. But See Bumper v. North Carolina, 391 U.S. 543, 88 S.Ct. 1788, 20 L.Ed.2d 797 (1968) (holding that consent was not voluntarily given where the officers indicated that they already had a warrant to imply that resisting consent would be futile).