Opinion ID: 2394791
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Issue of Close Proximity, as Provided in Section 44-53-520(a)(8) of the South Carolina Code

Text: Petitioners argue the court of appeals erred by not definitively ruling on whether the currency in question was closely proximate to the illegal drugs and distributing paraphernalia found on the property. We disagree. Under section of XX-XX-XXX(a) of the South Carolina Code, the State must show that the property seized fits the description of one of the types of properties listed in subsections (1) through (8). Because the court of appeals affirmed the circuit court's holding that the money was traceable under subsection (7), it was unnecessary for the court of appeals to rule on whether the property was closely proximate under subsection (8). However, we defer to the circuit court's finding that the money seized was in close proximity to the contraband, as explained herein. Petitioners submit that the drugs and money were not closely proximate because they were found approximately 140 feet apart, and not in the same building. South Carolina courts have not specifically addressed how close proximity should be measured. However, other states with forfeiture statutes that contain close proximity provisions have found that close proximity should not be defined in terms of measurement, but rather, on a case by case basis. See City of Meridian v. Hodge, 632 So.2d 1309, 1312 (Miss.1994) (declining to set rigid rules to fix close proximity, such as a particular number of feet, or a particular room); see also Limon v. State, 285 Ark. 166, 685 S.W.2d 515, 516 (1985) (finding close proximity means very near and should therefore be determined on a case by case basis). We, too, believe that close proximity, as provided in section 44-53-520(a)(8), should be decided on a case by case basis. We additionally note that by enumerating instances where property is subject to forfeiture, the General Assembly intended to limit the state's forfeiture power to clear situations where property was illegally obtained. We do not believe the General Assembly wished to encourage drug traffickers to strategically house their cash stores so as to evade seizure by the government. Establishing a bright line proximity measure would do just that. Bearing in mind that the circuit judge's finding of close proximity is a question of fact, we will not disturb this finding on appeal unless it is wholly unsupported by the evidence. In making its proximity finding, the circuit court took into account: (1) the drugs and money were housed on the same property, and (2) that property was under the control of Bobby Gibson. We are not prepared to say that, as a matter of law, money is forfeitable simply because it is found on the same property as contraband, or because it is found on property that is controlled by the criminal defendant. However, we are deferential to the circuit court's finding of facts in this case. Therefore, we find that the circuit court's determination that the drugs and the money were closely proximate was supported by the evidence, and our standard of review precludes us from disturbing that finding.