Opinion ID: 2426456
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Xerox CopiesIllegal Search

Text: Judge Bates first contests the admission of the xerox copies of the 29 hundred-dollar bills found in his coat pocket after his arrest. He contends the money was found as a result of an illegal search incident to an illegal arrest. Judge Bates was arrested without a warrant at the scene of the arrest of Ed Riklin. In the early afternoon of July 16, 1976, immediately following the arrest of Ed Riklin, and while the police and Riklin were still standing in the street in front of his apartment, Judge Bates drove up in front of the apartment in his car. He was within twenty-five yards of the arresting group when he stopped his car and began backing away. At that moment, Detective Musick saw him and ran toward the car, holding up his badge and ordering the Judge to stop. Judge Bates stopped, turned off his car and stepped out. A few minutes later he asked Detective Musick to look into the pocket of his coat, which was lying on the front seat, and get the car keys. Detective Musick did not find the keys, but found instead, 29 one-hundred dollar bills. The Master overruled this objection in the hearing, and stated in his findings that the money was found, not as a result of a search, but as a result of a request from Judge Bates. We agree that there was no search, and even if there were a search, the money is admissible under the plain view doctrine. Judge Bates contends that the constitutional exclusionary rule which would exclude evidence obtained by an illegal search is applicable to civil cases, but cites in support, two United States Supreme Court cases which hold that forfeiture proceedings, although civil in form, are essentially criminal or quasi-criminal in so far as the application of the exclusionary rule is concerned. One 1958 Plymouth Sedan v. Pennsylvania, 380 U.S. 693, 85 S.Ct. 1246, 14 L.Ed.2d 170 (1965); Boyd v. United States, 116 U.S. 616, 6 S.Ct. 524, 29 L.Ed. 746 (1886); One 1963 Chevrolet Pickup Truck v. Commonwealth, 208 Va. 506, 158 S.E.2d 755 (1968). We have stated that these proceedings are civil in nature. In re Brown, supra . We reserve the question as to whether these proceedings might be quasi-criminal for the purposes of application of the exclusionary rule of the 4th and 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. We find the evidence complained of admissible in any case. In a recent case from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Craig v. State, 533 S.W.2d 827 (Tex.Cr.App.1976), the Court, quoting from Haerr v. United States, 240 F.2d 533 (5th Cir.1957), stated that, Mere observation does not constitute a search. A search implies an examination of one's premises or person with a view to the discovery of contraband and or evidence of guilt to be used in prosecution of a criminal action. The term implies exploration investigation or question. [11] In Craig, a party who was under arrest asked the police officer making the arrest to get a brief case containing some valuables out of his truck. Following this request, the officer accidentally observed a gun lying in plain view on the floor of the truck. The requesting party voluntarily requested this action as did Judge Bates in this case. The plain view doctrine articulated in Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 466, 91 S.Ct. 2022, 29 L.Ed.2d 564 (1971), would exempt the seizure of this money even if there has been a search. If an officer has prior justification for an intrusion and in the course of this intrusion, he inadvertently comes across a piece of evidence incriminating to the accused, then the evidence is admissible under the plain view doctrine. Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731, 89 S.Ct. 1420, 22 L.Ed.2d 684 (1969); Harris v. U. S., 390 U.S. 234, 88 S.Ct. 992, 19 L.Ed.2d 1067 (1968); Ker v. Calif., 374 U.S. 23, 83 S.Ct. 1623, 10 L.Ed.2d 726 (1963). In this case the justification for Detective Musick's presence was Judge Bates' request that the Detective check the Judge's coat pockets for the car keys. In addition to the above, we are certain that the search if there were a search, could be justified as a search incident to a lawful arrest. Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752, 89 S.Ct. 2034, 23 L.Ed.2d 685 (1969); and Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. 108, 84 S.Ct. 1509, 12 L.Ed.2d 723 (1964). Probable cause is necessary to arrest a person without a warrant and the standard is no less stringent than that needed to obtain a warrant. Whiteley v. Warden, 401 U.S. 560, 565, 91 S.Ct. 1031, 28 L.Ed.2d 306 (1971). Facts and circumstances within the knowledge of Detective Musick at the time of the arrest of Judge Bates were sufficient in themselves to warrant a man of reasonable caution in the belief that Riklin and Judge Bates were involved in a conspiracy to commit bribery. Carroll v. U. S., 267 U.S. 132, 162, 45 S.Ct. 280, 69 L.Ed. 543 (1925); Ker v. Calif., supra . Detective Musick had listened to all tapes, or had knowledge of their contents. He had observed Judge Bates at the Northwest Mall with Riklin that morning and had lost the threesome when he attempted to follow. He had seen Riklin with the same briefcase which he observed at the Mall. Only a few minutes after he had participated in Riklin's arrest he then observed Judge Bates attempting to leave the scene after Judge Bates must have observed the arrest of Riklin. We find no theory upon which the money obtained from Judge Bates upon his arrest was obtained in violation of his 4th and 14th Amendment privileges.