Opinion ID: 886754
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Did the District Court err in finding a valid consensual search?

Text: ¶ 52 Beaupre argues that the District Court erred in finding that there was consent to the search because the District Court did not apply the totality of the circumstances test and instead found that the Beaupres were not credible. The State counters that the District Court did look at the totality of the circumstances and properly concluded that the Beaupres had consented to the search. ¶ 53 The knowing and voluntary consent by a citizen to a search is a recognized exception to the warrant requirement. State v. Olson, 2002 MT 211, ¶ 19, 311 Mont. 270, ¶ 19, 55 P.3d 935, ¶ 19. In determining whether consent was knowing and voluntary, we must consider the totality of the circumstances surrounding the giving of the consent. Olson, ¶ 21. Beaupre insists that there was no valid consent because she and Shane were coerced into consenting to the search. She alleges coercion because there were numerous officers in her home, Shane did not read the consent form before he signed it, and Shane was taken off guard because he had been sleeping after a long work shift and was not prepared to face something like this.