Court Opinion

ID: 2717070
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-11 13:00:44.50558+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:52:35.717956
License: Public Domain

Case: 13-15618    Date Filed: 08/11/2014   Page: 1 of 4

                                                            [DO NOT PUBLISH]

               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                        FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                          ________________________

                                No. 13-15618
                            Non-Argument Calendar
                          ________________________

                  D.C. Docket No. 3:13-cr-00077-MMH-JBT-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                       versus

KENNETH JACKSON,

                                                             Defendant-Appellant.

                          ________________________

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Middle District of Florida
                         ________________________

                                (August 11, 2014)

Before MARCUS, PRYOR and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

      Kenneth Jackson appeals his convictions for possession of marijuana with

intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(D), and being a
              Case: 13-15618     Date Filed: 08/11/2014    Page: 2 of 4

felon in knowing possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1)

and 924(a)(2). Jackson argues on appeal that the district court erred in denying his

motion to suppress the evidence found in his residence by law enforcement officers

who were executing an arrest warrant. After thorough review, we affirm.

      Because rulings on motions to suppress involved mixed questions of fact and

law, we review a district court’s factual findings for clear error, and its application

of law to those facts de novo. United States v. Bervaldi, 226 F.3d 1256, 1262

(11th Cir. 2000). A magistrate judge’s conclusion, adopted in full by a district

court, is a legal determination subject to de novo review. Id. Factual findings are

construed in the light most favorable to the prevailing party, in this case, the

government. Id. However, where a defendant failed to raise an issue in the district

court, we review only for plain error. United States v. Anaya Castro, 455 F.3d
1249, 1253 (11th Cir. 2006). Under that standard, if there is (1) an error (2) that is

plain and (3) affects substantial rights, then we may exercise our discretion to

correct the error, but only if (4) the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity,

and public reputation of judicial proceedings. United States v. Lewis, 492 F.3d
1219, 1222 (11th Cir. 2007) (en banc).

      Although searches and seizures inside a home without a search warrant are

presumptively unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment, an arrest warrant

founded on probable cause implicitly carries with it the limited authority to enter a

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residence in which the suspect lives, when there is reason to believe the suspect is

present. Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 586, 603 (1980). In order to assess

whether entry pursuant to an arrest warrant complies with the Fourth Amendment,

we use a two-part test. Bervaldi, 226 F.3d at 1263. First, a law enforcement

officer must have a reasonable belief that the location to be searched is the

suspect’s residence. Id. Second, the officer must have reason to believe that the

suspect is within the residence. Id.

      The facts and circumstances within the officer’s knowledge, when viewed in

totality, must support the officer’s reasonable belief. Id. In evaluating the officer’s

reasonable belief, we are sensitive to common sense factors indicating a suspect is

within the residence. Id. The presence of the suspect’s vehicle is sufficient to

create the inference that the subject is home. United States v. Magluta, 44 F.3d
1530, 1538 (11th Cir. 1995). If the initial entry into the suspect’s residence is

lawful, the officers are permitted to seize any contraband in plain view within the

residence. United States v. Smith, 459 F.3d 1276, 1290 (11th Cir. 2006).

      Here, the district court did not err in denying Jackson’s motion to suppress.

Because Jackson acknowledges that the residence was his home, the sole issue on

appeal is whether there was sufficient evidence to support the officers’ reasonable

belief that he was within the residence at the time of entry. See Bervaldi, 226 F.3d

at 1263. Jackson initially argues, for the first time on appeal, that the officers

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reached this conclusion based on stale evidence that should have been disregarded

-- evidence suggesting that a year earlier, Jackson had a habit of conducting drug

sales from his home during midday. However, the record shows that although the

sales occurred a year earlier, the officers had no information to suggest that

Jackson was otherwise legally employed. Thus, the district court did not commit

plain error in considering this evidence.

      Moreover, and in any event, the officers did not rely solely upon the

information about the prior drug sales. When the officers arrived at Jackson’s

residence, his motorcycle, the only vehicle registered in his name, was present. In

addition, a pair of shoes rested near the door, and one of the officers heard an

unidentified noise from inside the residence.        Finally, as we’ve mentioned,

although it was the middle of the day, Jackson had no known source of

employment.     Viewed in totality, these circumstances support the officers’

reasonable belief that Jackson was home at the time they entered his residence, and

the district court did not err in denying Jackson’s motion to suppress.

      AFFIRMED.

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