Court Opinion

ID: 2766945
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-06 20:02:20.559909+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:29.175104
License: Public Domain

Filed 1/6/15 P. v. McCullough CA3
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

              IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
                                      THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                     (Sacramento)
                                                            ----

THE PEOPLE,

                   Plaintiff and Respondent,                                            C074675

         v.                                                                 (Super. Ct. No. 13F02802)

ANTOINE JON MCCULLOUGH,                                                ORDER MODIFYING OPINION
                                                                        AND DENYING PETITION
                   Defendant and Appellant.                                FOR REHEARING

                                                                       [NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT]

         THE COURT:

       The opinion filed December 9, 2014, in the above cause is modified in the
following respect:

         On page 6, footnote 3 is changed to read as follows:

       The officer also may have been justified in searching portions of the passenger
compartment based on a rear passenger’s outstanding arrest warrant (see People v.
Schmitz (2012) 55 Cal. 4th 909, 927, fn. 19 (Schmitz) [vehicle search incident to arrest
may only be justified where concerns of officer safety or evidence destruction are
implicated]), but as the officer testified the center console was within reach of one of the
passengers on searchable probation, we consider only that status as a justification for the
search.

                                                             1
This modification does not change the judgment.

The petition for rehearing is denied.

HULL         , Acting P. J.

MURRAY       , J.

 HOCH        , J.

                                        2
Filed 12/9/14 P. v. McCullough CA3 (unmodified version)
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

              IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
                                      THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                     (Sacramento)
                                                            ----

THE PEOPLE,

                   Plaintiff and Respondent,                                                 C074675

         v.                                                                      (Super. Ct. No. 13F02802)

ANTOINE JON MCCULLOUGH,

                   Defendant and Appellant.

         Defendant Antoine Jon McCullough appeals the judgment of the trial court
contending its denial of his motion to suppress evidence pursuant to Penal Code
section 1538.5 was erroneous. The Attorney General agrees the court erred in denying
defendant’s motion. Notwithstanding both parties’ agreement, we conclude the trial
court did not err and affirm the judgment.
                         FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
         Defendant was charged with possession of a controlled substance, namely
methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11378--count one); unlawful transportation of

                                                             1
a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a)--count two)1; unlawful
possession of a firearm by a felon (Pen. Code, § 29800, subd. (a)(1)--count three);
unlawfully carrying of a concealed firearm (Pen. Code, § 25400, subd. (a)(1)--count
four); and unlawful possession of methamphetamine while armed with a loaded firearm
(Health & Saf. Code, § 11370.1, subd. (a)--count five). The firearm and
methamphetamine that are the basis of these charges were both recovered during a search
of a car driven by defendant following a traffic stop.
       Defendant moved to suppress all evidence obtained during the warrantless search
of the car (including the contraband and defendant’s subsequent statements), contending
the traffic stop and ensuing search were not reasonable because the officer made a
mistake of law when he believed the car’s windows were illegally tinted. The People
opposed defendant’s motion arguing, (1) the officer had reasonable suspicion of a
Vehicle Code violation to justify the traffic stop and (2) the probation status of
defendant’s passengers authorized the search of the center console, which was within the
passengers’ reach, where the contraband was found.
                               Testimony at Suppression Hearing
       At approximately 11:24 p.m. on May 2, 2013, Deputy Sheriff Carlos Cabrera
noticed a white Buick Century with tinted rear side and rear windows that defendant was
driving. Deputy Cabrera was unable to see through the tinted windows -- even to see the
silhouettes of the rear passengers -- despite shining a spotlight on the car. Based on his
understanding the tinted windows were out of compliance with the Vehicle Code, Deputy
Cabrera performed a traffic stop. Defendant testified he could see through the rear

1      Although Health and Safety Code section 11379 was amended effective January 1,
2014, to provide that “transports” means to transport for sale, the amendment has no
effect on this appeal. (Stats. 2013, ch. 504, § 2.) As discussed later, this count was
dismissed in the plea agreement.

                                              2
windows while driving, the front windows of the car are not tinted, and he could see both
the driver and passenger side mirrors.
       There were three passengers in the car: a male passenger sat in the front passenger
seat and two female passengers sat in the rear seat. Deputy Cabrera testified that two of
the passengers were on searchable probation. Specifically, Deputy Cabrera testified,
“[the records check] revealed that two of the occupants were on probation and one of
them had a warrant for her arrest” and that it was “searchable probation.” Deputy
Cabrera also testified that “[o]ne of the rear passengers [was] on searchable probation.”
After determining the passengers’ probation status, Deputy Cabrera requested the
assistance of additional officers to conduct a probation search of the car.
       Deputies Cabrera and Gray searched the car and found a loaded handgun, three
bags containing pills that tested positive for methamphetamine/Ecstasy, and a scale in a
secret compartment “hidden underneath the center console by the [emergency] brake.”
To access the secret compartment, Deputy Gray reached from the front passenger seat
into the center console and pulled away the false floor within the console. Deputy
Cabrera testified the center console was within reasonable reach of the front seat
passenger and within reach of at least one of the rear passengers on searchable probation.
                                      Trial Court’s Findings
       The trial court found the traffic stop was not justified by a reasonable suspicion,
and the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule did not apply because the officer
made a mistake of law in believing the windows of the car were illegally tinted.
However, the court relied on People v. Brendlin (2008) 45 Cal. 4th 262 (Brendlin),
weighed the factors set forth in Brown v. Illinois (1975) 422 U.S. 590 [45 L. Ed. 2d 416]
(Brown), and found the information obtained subsequent to the traffic stop, i.e., the arrest
warrant and the probation status of the passengers, supported a search of the vehicle. The
court further found it was not a pretextual stop and there was no flagrant conduct by the
officer who erroneously, but in good faith, believed there had been a violation of the

                                              3
Vehicle Code. Thus, the court denied defendant’s motion to suppress the evidence
obtained in the search of the car.
                        Proceedings after Motion to Suppress was Denied
       After his motion to suppress evidence was denied, defendant withdrew his plea of
not guilty and pled no contest to count five (unlawful possession of methamphetamine
while armed with a loaded firearm) in exchange for a stipulated sentence to serve four
years in state prison and dismissal of all other charges. The court dismissed all remaining
charges, sentenced defendant to serve the upper term of four years in prison for a
violation of Health and Safety Code section 11370.1, subdivision (a), awarded
presentence credits, and imposed various fines and fees.
                                       DISCUSSION
       Defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress
evidence because the taint of the illegal traffic stop was not attenuated by the fact two
passengers in the car were on probation because the ensuing search exceeded the scope of
a lawful probation search. The Attorney General agrees the court erred in denying
defendant’s motion because there was insufficient evidence to establish the secret
compartment, where the contraband was found, was reachable by a passenger who was
on probation. We disagree with both contentions. Based on the record, we conclude the
taint of the illegal traffic stop was attenuated by the probation search of the car and it was
reasonable for the deputies to search the secret compartment within the center console as
part of the probation search.
                                        Standard of Review
       In reviewing the trial court’s denial of a motion to suppress evidence pursuant to
Penal Code section 1538.5, we consider the record in the light most favorable to the trial
court’s disposition and defer to the trial court’s factual findings, whether explicit or
implicit, if supported by substantial evidence. (People v. Tully (2012) 54 Cal. 4th 952,
979; People v. Weaver (2001) 26 Cal. 4th 876, 924.) Any conflicts in the evidence are

                                              4
resolved in favor of the trial court’s order. (People v. Limon (1993) 17 Cal. App. 4th 524,
529.) Additionally, “ ‘ “[when] two or more inferences can reasonably be deduced from
the facts,” either deduction will be supported by substantial evidence, and “a reviewing
court is without power to substitute its deductions for those of the trial court.”
[Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (In re J. (1979) 25 Cal. 3d 522, 527.) We exercise our
independent judgment to determine whether, on the facts found, the search or seizure was
reasonable under the Fourth Amendment of the federal Constitution. (Tully, at p. 979.)
We affirm the trial court’s ruling if it is correct on any theory of applicable law, even if
for reasons different than those given by the trial court. (People v. Evans (2011)
200 Cal. App. 4th 735, 742; People v. Hua (2008) 158 Cal. App. 4th 1027, 1033.)
                                      Illegality of Traffic Stop
       We agree with both parties that the trial court correctly concluded Deputy Cabrera
lacked reasonable suspicion to justify the traffic stop, and the good faith exception to the
exclusionary rule does not apply because the officer’s mistake was one of law and was
not objectively reasonable. (People v. Lopez (1987) 197 Cal. App. 3d 93, 101; accord
People v. Ramirez (2006) 140 Cal. App. 4th 849, 854; see also People v. Teresinksi (1982)
30 Cal. 3d 822, 831.) The tinted rear window and rear side windows on the car were not
violations of the Vehicle Code because the car bore operational side mirrors. (Veh.
Code, §§ 26708, subds. (b)(4), (b)(8), 26708.5, subd. (a).) Therefore, it was appropriate
for the court to conclude the traffic stop was illegal.2

2       Although neither trial counsel asked the officer about the functionality of the side
mirrors, the traffic stop could have been justified by the rear window tinting and the need
to further investigate the side mirrors. If the officer could not determine whether the side
mirrors were situated “to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror
for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle” (§ 26708, subd. (b)(8)), then
the tinted rear window could have provided a reasonable suspicion of a Vehicle Code
violation such that a stop is justified to investigate the functionality of the side mirrors
and the visibility provided by those mirrors to the rear of the car. Unfortunately, this
information is not in the record.

                                               5
                    Intervening Circumstances Warranted Probation Search
       In determining whether the taint of an illegal traffic stop has been sufficiently
attenuated by an intervening circumstance to render the evidence seized in the stop
admissible, the court should consider the factors set forth in Brown, supra, 422 U.S. 590
[45 L. Ed. 2d 416]. (Brendlin, supra, 45 Cal.4th at pp. 268-269.) These factors include
(1) the “temporal proximity of the Fourth Amendment violation to the procurement of the
challenged evidence,” (2) “the presence of intervening circumstances,” and (3) “the
purpose and flagrancy of the official misconduct.” (Brown, at pp. 603-604; Brendlin, at
p. 269.)
       With respect to the first factor, the closeness of time between the stop and the
search generally operates in favor of exclusion, but is not a dispositive factor. (Brendlin,
supra, 45 Cal.4th at p. 270.) Indeed, where the intervening circumstance is not a
volitional act by the defendant, the first factor is outweighed by the other two. (Ibid.)
Here, the intervening circumstance is the discovery of the passengers’ searchable
probation status.3 These are the prototypical non-volitional acts contemplated in
Brendlin, and the temporal proximity of the search is outweighed by the intervening
circumstances and relative blamelessness of the officer’s error in conducting the stop as
described below.
       With respect to the second factor, as noted above, the intervening circumstance in
this case is the discovery by the officer of two passengers on searchable probation. That
a person is on probation and subject to a search condition provides ample authority to
search the person and any area under his or her “common authority.” (See People v.

3      The officer also may have been justified in searching portions of the passenger
compartment based on the rear passenger’s outstanding arrest warrant (see People v.
Schmitz (2012) 55 Cal. 4th 909, 927, fn. 19 (Schmitz) [vehicle search incident to arrest
may only be justified where concerns of officer safety or evidence destruction are
implicated]), but as this case turns on whether the front passenger had access to the
contraband, we exclusively consider his probation status as a justification for the search.

                                              6
Durant (2012) 205 Cal. App. 4th 57, 66 (Durant); People v. Smith (2002) 95 Cal. App. 4th
912, 916.) “Probationers in California typically consent in advance to warrantless
searches as a condition of probation, in exchange for the opportunity to avoid a prison
sentence. [Citation.] Such consent operates as a ‘ “complete waiver of that probationer’s
Fourth Amendment rights, save only his [or her] right to object to harassment or searches
conducted in an unreasonable manner.” ’ [Citation.]” (Durant, supra, 205 Cal.App.4th
at p. 64.) Thus, the officer clearly acted within his authority in searching the passenger
compartment of the car, at least to the extent the searched area was under the passengers’
“common authority.”
       Finally, with respect to the third factor, “a mere ‘mistake’ with respect to the
enforcement of our traffic laws does not establish that the traffic stop was pretextual or in
bad faith.” (Brendlin, supra, 45 Cal.4th at p. 271.) Here, while the officer believed the
vehicle’s windows were illegally tinted, his error was a result of not knowing the rear
windows could all be darkly tinted so long as the vehicle had functional rear and side
view mirrors. We conclude the officer’s mistake does not mean the traffic stop was
clearly pretextual or made in bad faith.
       Thus, on the facts before us, we conclude the probation status of the passengers in
the car adequately attenuated the taint of the illegal traffic stop so that the evidence
obtained in the search was not inadmissible as “fruit of the poisonous tree.” (Durant,
supra, 205 Cal.App.4th at pp. 64-65, citing Wong Sun v. United States (1963) 371 U.S.
471, 488 [9 L. Ed. 2d 441].)
           The Search Did Not Exceed the Permissible Scope of a Probation Search
       An officer who discovers a passenger in a car is on probation with a search
condition may search the interior of the car. (Schmitz, supra, 55 Cal.4th at pp. 926-927;
see also People v. Baker (2008) 164 Cal. App. 4th 1152, 1159 (Baker) [treating search of
passenger compartment based on passenger’s probation or parole search status equally];
People v. Woods (1999) 21 Cal. 4th 668, 682 [officers can search areas they “reasonably

                                               7
believe the probationer has complete or joint control over”].) However, the officer is
restricted to “those areas of the passenger compartment where the officer reasonably
expects that the [passenger] could have stowed personal belongings or discarded items
when aware of police activity.” (Id. at p. 926.)
       1. Whether Front Passenger was on Searchable Probation
       The Attorney General focuses on the trial court’s implicit deduction that the front
passenger was on probation, and contends there is insufficient evidence to support that
conclusion. We disagree.
       Although there was no express testimony that the front passenger was on
probation, it was reasonable for the trial court to deduce he was based on Deputy
Cabrera’s testimony. Deputy Cabrera testified one of the rear passengers was on
probation, one of the rear passengers had an outstanding arrest warrant, and two
passengers in the car were on searchable probation. The court indicated its understanding
that the front seat passenger was on probation when it sought to clarify that the front
passenger could reach into the console and the secret compartment. The prosecutor
informed the court that “Deputy Gray was on the passenger side searching. . . . It was
Deputy Gray that reached in from the passenger side and took out those pills, that gun
and that scale, which leads us to believe logically that a passenger sitting in a passenger
seat based on where Deputy Gray was when he searched the console easily had
accessibility to those items.”
       Based on this record, it is reasonable to conclude, as the trial court implicitly did,
that one rear passenger was a probationer, the other rear passenger had an outstanding
arrest warrant, and the front passenger was the second probationer.
       2. Whether it was Reasonable to Search the Secret Compartment
       We must determine whether it was reasonable for the deputy to search the secret
compartment. Schmitz expressly left undecided whether a search based on a passenger’s
status as a searchable probationer or parolee extends to “closed compartments of the car

                                              8
like the glove box, center console, or trunk . . . .” (Schmitz, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 926,
fn. 16.) However, Schmitz instructs that “[t]he reasonableness of such a search must
necessarily take into account all the attendant circumstances, including the driver’s
legitimate expectation of privacy in those closed compartments, the passenger’s
proximity to them, and whether they were locked or otherwise secured.” (Ibid.) Based
on these factors, we conclude the instant search was reasonable.
       The evidence adduced at the hearing on the motion to suppress was that the center
console was within reasonable reaching distance of the front passenger and the rear
passenger on searchable probation. Deputy Cabrera testified it did not take much to
remove the floor of the center console to reveal the secret compartment with the
contraband. He explained that “[i]t just came right off.” Based on this testimony, the
trial court could implicitly find that both the front passenger and rear passenger on
searchable probation could have reached into that secret compartment. (See Schmitz,
supra, 55 Cal.4th at pp. 931-932 [finding it reasonable to search shoes and a chip bag on
the rear seat of the car where a parolee, whose search condition authorized the search,
was seated in front passenger seat because the parolee could reach the rear seat].)
       As to the driver’s expectation of privacy, there is no evidence the driver of the car
controlled access to the center console or its secret compartment such that it could not
reasonably be expected a passenger would place items within the compartment.
       Additionally, the center console of a car is not “an inherently private repository for
personal items” rendering the search unreasonable. (Compare Cardwell v. Lewis (1974)
417 U.S. 583, 590 [41 L. Ed. 2d 325, 335] [“One has a lesser expectation of privacy in a
motor vehicle because its function is transportation and it seldom serves as one’s
residence or as the repository of personal effects”] with Baker, supra, 164 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1159 [“a purse has been recognized as an inherently private repository for personal
items”].) Indeed, “like the automobile itself, property transported inside the automobile
is subject to a reduced expectation of privacy.” (Schmitz, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 930.)

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      Accordingly, we conclude the deputy’s search of the center console and secret
compartment as being within reaching distance of a probationer who was on searchable
probation was reasonable.
                                   DISPOSITION
      The judgment is affirmed.

                                                    HOCH          , J.

We concur:

     HULL         , Acting P. J.

     MURRAY , J.

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