Opinion ID: 2520053
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: On February 10, 2000, appellant James Maiola was arrested and taken into custody by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) after detectives conducted a search of Maiola's residence at 6462 Placer, pursuant to a search warrant. The State filed a criminal complaint against Maiola for the charges of manufacturing or compounding of a controlled substance, trafficking in a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm as an ex-felon. At the time of Maiola's initial arraignment, the district court appointed a public defender to represent Maiola and set the preliminary hearing date for September 13, 2000. On August 4, 2000, prior to Maiola's preliminary hearing, the district attorney filed a civil complaint on behalf of the LVMPD for forfeiture of two of Maiola's assets. The complaint stated that during a search of Maiola's person, the detectives located $543 in Maiola's pocket. The detectives also found a firearm described as a .22 caliber AR-7 Explorer rifle in Maiola's bedroom. Maiola admitted that he had purchased the firearm. The complaint alleged that the $543 was subject to forfeiture pursuant to NRS 453.301(9). [1] The firearm was subject to forfeiture pursuant to NRS 453.301(10). [2] The complaint also alleged that the firearm was subject to forfeiture under NRS 202.340 as a dangerous weapon that was in the possession of a person charged with the commission of a public offense. On August 11, 2000, having failed to personally serve process on Maiola, the district attorney filed an affidavit of publication for forfeiture action. The affidavit of publication included an affidavit of due diligence by William Friedlander, an investigator for the Clark County District Attorney's Office. Friedlander verified that Maiola was no longer in custody. Then he attempted to locate Maiola in order to serve him with a summons and complaint for forfeiture. Maiola was no longer living at 6462 Placer. The Department of Motor Vehicles listed 3800 El Conlon as Maiola's address. Friedlander visited that address, but no one answered when he knocked on the door. Friedlander left three notices at that residence, including one on the windshield of a newly registered car parked in the driveway, and he also mailed two notices to that address. Based on Friedlander's affidavit, the district court filed an order for publication on August 11, 2000. From August 17 to September 14, 2000, forfeiture proceedings were published in the Nevada Legal News pursuant to the district court's order for publication. On September 13, 2000, while the forfeiture proceedings were being published in the Nevada Legal News, Maiola, his counsel and a deputy district attorney were present in court at the preliminary hearing on the criminal charges. On October 6, 2000, the district court signed an entry of default against Maiola. On October 13, 2000, the district attorney's office filed a motion for judgment by default, and on October 17, 2000, a judgment by default against Maiola's assets of $543 and the AR-7 Explorer .22 caliber rifle was entered. In the criminal proceedings, Maiola filed a motion to suppress all evidence recovered as a result of an unlawful search. The district court filed an order granting that motion on November 1, 2001. On February 2, 2002, the State stipulated to dismissal of the criminal case against Maiola. The district court ordered that the money be returned to Maiola if a forfeiture action had not been commenced. On February 12, 2002, Maiola filed a motion for return of property, specifically the $543, pursuant to the provisions of NRS 179.085. The district court heard the motion for return of property on February 27, 2002. The district court stated that because the forfeiture action had already been completed, the $543 reverted to the State. Therefore, the court held that it had no basis to consider Maiola's motion for return of property. The district court entered an order denying Maiola's motion for return of property on March 5, 2002. Maiola filed a timely notice of appeal.