Opinion ID: 1937752
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: standard of reviewsuppression hearing

Text: In determining the correctness of a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress, the Supreme Court will uphold the trial court's findings of fact unless those findings are clearly erroneous. State v. Blakely, 227 Neb. 816, 420 N.W.2d 300 (1988). In determining whether a trial court's findings on a motion to suppress are clearly erroneous, the Supreme Court recognizes the trial court as the trier of fact and takes into consideration that the trial court has observed witnesses testifying regarding such motion to suppress. State v. Blakely, supra . See, also, State v. Abdouch, 230 Neb. 929, 434 N.W.2d 317 (1989). If police have acted without a search warrant, the State has the burden of proof that the search was conducted under circumstances substantiating the reasonableness of such search or seizure. State v. Vrtiska, 225 Neb. 454, 406 N.W.2d 114 (1987). Pursuant to Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968), and Sibron v. New York, 392 U.S. 40, 88 S.Ct. 1889, 20 L.Ed.2d 917 (1968), Juhl argues that Deputy Jensen was limited to conducting only a pat-down search of Juhl. In Terry v. Ohio, supra , the U.S. Supreme Court held that in appropriate circumstances, even without probable cause, an officer is entitled for the protection of himself and others in the area to conduct a carefully limited search of the outer clothing of... persons in an attempt to discover weapons which might be used to assault him. 392 U.S. at 30, 88 S.Ct. at 1884-85. In Sibron v. New York, supra , a companion case to Terry, the Court determined that an incident search without probable cause may not precede an arrest and serve as part of its justification. 392 U.S. at 63, 88 S.Ct. at 1902. However, the Court recognized that pursuant to Terry, an initial incident search may be justified if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person may be armed. Juhl argues that, in view of Terry and Sibron, Jensen did not possess a reasonable basis for detaining and searching Juhl, and, even if a search were justified, the officer was limited to a pat-down search of Juhl's jacket and was not constitutionally entitled to intrude into the jacket's pocket to extract the physical evidence. It is certainly true that, as Juhl maintains, pursuant to the 4th and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and article I, § 7, of the Nebraska Constitution, a citizen has a right to be free from an unreasonable search and seizure. Furthermore, as Terry and Sibron indicate, an officer must have a reasonable basis for even a brief investigatory stop and search of an individual. However, the question whether Jensen had the requisite reasonable basis to make a Terry stop and search need not be answered, because the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, guaranteed by the fourth amendment to the U.S. Constitution and by article I, § 7, of the Nebraska Constitution, can be waived by the consent of the citizen. State v. Horn, 218 Neb. 524, 357 N.W.2d 437 (1984). The consent required to support a consensual search must be essentially free and unconstrained choice and not the product of a will overborne and a critically impaired capacity for self-determination. Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 36 L.Ed.2d 854 (1973); State v. Horn, supra . Cf. United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411, 96 S.Ct. 820, 46 L.Ed.2d 598 (1976). Whether a person consented to a search is determined from all the circumstances surrounding the search. Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, supra ; State v. Horn, supra ; State v. Van Ackeren, 194 Neb. 650, 235 N.W.2d 210 (1975). Any consent to a search must be voluntary and not the result of duress or coercionexpress, implied, physical, or psychological. Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, supra ; United States v. Fike, 449 F.2d 191 (5th Cir.1971); Phelper v. Decker, 401 F.2d 232 (5th Cir.1968). There is no evidence that any officer used or directed force against Juhl in obtaining the physical evidence from Juhl. When Deputy Jensen asked what Juhl had in his jacket's pocket, Juhl raised his right arm and responded, [C]heckan unequivocal invitation for Jensen's search of Juhl's jacket. Juhl's right to be free from an unreasonable search and seizure was not violated, since Juhl consented to the search by Jensen, and, thus, the trial court's overruling of Juhl's motion to suppress was correct.