Opinion ID: 2623122
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The search of the residence was unlawful, thereby invalidating Holmes' statements to police.

Text: Holmes claims he did not voluntarily give his consent to search the residence because he was under the influence of drugs, held in police custody for 45 minutes prior to signing the consent, and not advised that he had the right to refuse to sign the consent. He argues that his consent to search the home was involuntary and his confession must be suppressed as fruit of the poisonous tree infected by the unlawful search and seizure of evidence from the residence. While the State contends the search and seizure issues are not properly before this court because they were not raised by Holmes during the first trial, our review of the record establishes that the issue of his consent was litigated during the suppression hearing in the first trial. The State further argues that Holmes did not object to the consent to search at trial and thus the issue was not preserved for appeal. When a motion in limine or a motion to suppress is denied, the moving party must object to the evidence at trial to preserve the issue on appeal. State v. Saenz, 271 Kan. 339, 349, 22 P.3d 151 (2001). Holmes failed to object to Officer Easter's testimony regarding Holmes' consent. However, because consent was raised by Holmes during his suppression hearing and this issue is so integral to his argument regarding the admissibility of his confession, we elect to address the issue. `The existence and voluntariness of a consent to search and seizure is a question of fact that the trier of fact must decide in light of the totality of the circumstances; the trial court's decision will not be overturned on appeal unless clearly erroneous. State v. Buckner, 223 Kan. 138, 144, 574 P.2d 918 (1977). The State must prove voluntariness by a preponderance of the evidence. 223 Kan. at 143.' State v. Rexroat, 266 Kan. 50, 55, 966 P.2d 666 (1998) (quoting State v. Ruden, 245 Kan. 95, 105, 774 P.2d 972 [1989]). In determining whether consent was voluntary, the trial court should consider whether the individual was threatened or coerced, and whether he was informed of his rights. [Citation omitted.] Ruden, 245 Kan. at 105. The individual's mental state is also a factor in determining the voluntariness of his or her consent to search. See United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411, 424-25, 46 L. Ed. 2d 598, 96 S. Ct. 820 (1976). The evidence admitted during Holmes' motion to suppress, the testimony of Officer Easter regarding Holmes' signing the consent to search, and the absence of any evidence indicating that Holmes' consent to search was anything but his free and voluntary choice support the determination that Holmes' consent was voluntary. Knowledge of the right to refuse consent is not required for a finding of voluntariness. See Watson, 423 U.S. at 424-25; Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 234, 36 L. Ed. 2d 854, 93 S. Ct. 2041 (1973). Based upon the totality of all the circumstances, including the testimony elicited at the hearing on Holmes' motion to suppress in his first trial as set forth below, we conclude that the trial court was correct in its determination that the consent was voluntary and the evidence seized was properly admitted into evidence. See State v. Wimberly, 246 Kan. 200, 210-11, 787 P.2d 729 (1990). Thus, the search of the residence was correctly based upon Holmes' voluntary consent to search. We therefore reject Holmes' argument that his confession be suppressed under the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine.