Opinion ID: 1441601
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was there a separate search by the DEB agents?

Text: The state first argues that the DEB agents' entry was a valid extension of the search initiated by McCaslin, justified by what McCaslin observed in plain view in the closet. Under this construction of the facts there was not a separate search by the DEB agents but, rather, one long, uninterrupted search. Alternatively, the state argues that because the DEB agents did not touch or move any of the items there was not a new invasion of Defendant's privacy and therefore not an additional search. We reject both arguments. First, we do not believe the record supports the state's first submission. The trial court ruled that McCaslin's initial warrantless entry was reasonable, and Defendant reluctantly conceded as much at oral argument. We agree that McCaslin's initial warrantless entry was justified as a protective sweep in response to exigent circumstances  a probable burglary in progress. See State v. Fisher, 141 Ariz. 227, 237, 686 P.2d 750, 760, cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1066, 105 S.Ct. 548, 83 L.Ed.2d 436 (1984). We also agree that McCaslin's observation and limited inspection of the items in the closet was a reasonable incidental encounter related to his protective and investigative sweep. See State v. Greene, 162 Ariz. 431, 433, 784 P.2d 257, 259 (1989). On this sparse record, we assume without deciding that the same may be said of the second warrantless entry and search with Sergeant Saylor. It is conceded that McCaslin's and Saylor's observations did not provide probable cause to seek a warrant, and absent a continued exigency or other valid grounds, the justification for warrantless searching came to an end. Fisher, 141 Ariz. at 239, 686 P.2d at 762; State v. Cook, 115 Ariz. 188, 194, 564 P.2d 877, 883 (1977) (upon expiration of exigency justifying a warrantless entry and search and absent more than mere suspicion that items seen in plain view were stolen property, there is no justification for continued warrantless searching). The DEB agents' entry into Defendant's residence and inspection of the items in the closet some forty-five minutes or more after McCaslin's entry was an intrusion into an area in which Defendant had a reasonable expectation of privacy and was a second and separate search. See State v. Morrow, 128 Ariz. 309, 312, 625 P.2d 898, 901 (1981) (A search is an intrusion into an area in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.) (citing Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968)). Second, and contrary to the state's alternative argument, the DEB agents' inspection of the items stored in the closet was also a search. Using the stool to manipulate themselves, rather than the items, so they could get a better view only served to aggravate that intrusion. Cf. Arizona v. Hicks, 480 U.S. 321, 107 S.Ct. 1149, 94 L.Ed.2d 347 (1987) (observation of stereo in plain view not a search but picking it up to get a view of serial numbers was a search). Moreover, the agents' observations were made for the purpose of discovering evidence of guilt to be used in a criminal prosecution. See State v. Grijalva, 111 Ariz. 476, 478, 533 P.2d 533, 535 (citing Haerr v. United States, 240 F.2d 533, 535 (5th Cir.1957) (a search can be defined as an examination of one's premises or person with a view to the discovery of contraband or evidence of guilt to be used in prosecution of a criminal action)), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 873, 96 S.Ct. 141, 46 L.Ed.2d 104 (1975). The fact that the DEB agents did not touch or move any of the items in the closet does not alter that purpose or reduce the impact their presence had on Defendant's privacy. See Morrow, 128 Ariz. at 312, 625 P.2d at 901. Thus, the DEB agents conducted a separate, warrantless search that must stand on some justification of its own, separate from McCaslin's initial entry and search.