Opinion ID: 1717140
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did the lower court err in admitting into evidence money discovered in a bag inside the automobile at the time of Matthews' arrest?

Text: The above assignments relate to evidence obtained from the car driven by both appellants and are considered together. Appellant introduced members of her family who testified that she was ill when she consented to the search of the automobile and that the consent was not voluntarily given. After the hearing to suppress such evidence, the trial judge made the following findings of fact: (1) The arresting officers had more than sufficient probable cause to stop the car in which appellants were riding and to arrest. Thus, the arrest was legal and lawful. (2) Seizure of the gun thrown from the window of the car was lawful. (3) A bag of marijuana and ammunition of a caliber other than the gun found to have been used in the robbery were declared irrelevant and inadmissible. (4) Other objects found in the car, later identified as those stolen, were seized lawfully and pursuant to a valid consent by Matthews. (5) The bag of money was lawfully seized under the circumstances and was incident to a lawful arrest. (6) The defendants/appellants presented no evidence refuting the admissibility of the evidence, if secured without valid consent. The State has the burden of proof to show that the accused voluntarily consented to a search. Luton v. State, 287 So.2d 269 (Miss. 1974), cert. den. 417 U.S. 920, 94 S.Ct. 2627, 41 L.Ed.2d 225 (1974). We are of the opinion that the State met that burden of proof, as found by the trial judge, and such determination will not be reversed here. Cutchens v. State, 310 So.2d 273 (Miss. 1975). Also, we are of the opinion that the officers had probable cause to stop the vehicle first being driven by Jacob and to arrest him; that they had probable cause to arrest Matthews after she fled their custody and threw articles from the vehicle; and that Officer Norris, seeing the bag on the floorboard, was authorized to seize it and search the automobile pursuant to arrest.