Court Opinion

ID: 9842445
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-23 01:00:26.811148+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:09.239189
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-50901         Document: 00516906196             Page: 1      Date Filed: 09/22/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                      ____________
                                                                                United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Fifth Circuit
                                       No. 22-50901
                                     Summary Calendar                                  FILED
                                     ____________                             September 22, 2023
                                                                                  Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                           Clerk

                                                                       Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                             versus

   Stephen Dudley Brunson,

                                               Defendant—Appellant.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                           for the Western District of Texas
                                USDC No. 4:22-CR-57-1
                      ______________________________

   Before Smith, Higginson, and Engelhardt, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Stephen Dudley Brunson appeals his jury-verdict conviction for
   possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of a mixture containing
   methamphetamine. He argues that the district court erred by denying his
   motion to suppress the methamphetamine found on his person because the

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-50901      Document: 00516906196          Page: 2    Date Filed: 09/22/2023

                                    No. 22-50901

   Texas State Troopers prolonged his detention during a traffic stop in
   violation of the Fourth Amendment.
          We review factual findings for clear error and the ultimate
   constitutionality of the law enforcement action de novo. United States v.
   Robinson, 741 F.3d 588, 594 (5th Cir. 2014). All evidence is viewed in the
   light most favorable to the prevailing party. United States v. Alvarez, 40 F.4th
   339, 344 (5th Cir. 2022). Thus, we “will uphold the district court’s ruling if
   there is any reasonable view of the evidence to support it.” Id. (citation and
   internal quotation omitted).
          Even if Brunson’s detention had been unconstitutionally prolonged,
   which we do not reach, the inevitable discovery doctrine “renders the
   exclusionary rule inapplicable to otherwise suppressible evidence if that
   evidence would inevitably have been discovered by lawful means.” United
   States v. Jackson, 596 F.3d 236, 241 (5th Cir. 2010). Brunson concedes that
   the troopers were justified in stopping his vehicle to investigate misdemeanor
   traffic violations.   The record and relevant Texas statutory provisions
   support the district court’s determination that there was probable cause for
   the troopers to arrest Brunson for those misdemeanor offenses.             The
   methamphetamine was found on Brunson’s person during the search
   incident to his arrest for those misdemeanor offenses. Accordingly, the
   district court’s denial of Brunson’s suppression motion on this basis was not
   erroneous.
          AFFIRMED.

                                          2