Court Opinion

ID: 2782897
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-02-27 16:03:59.235821+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:51:04.791551
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
      Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this                        Feb 27 2015, 9:21 am
      Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as
      precedent or cited before any court except for the
      purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata,
      collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

      ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
      Jill M. Acklin                                            Gregory F. Zoeller
      McGrath, LLC                                              Attorney General of Indiana
      Carmel, Indiana
                                                                Katherine Modesitt Cooper
                                                                Deputy Attorney General
                                                                Indianapolis, Indiana

                                                   IN THE
          COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

      Kenneth L. Kemp, Jr.,                                     February 27, 2015

      Appellant-Defendant,                                      Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                                48A02-1404-CR-254
              v.                                                Appeal from the Madison Circuit
                                                                Court

      State of Indiana,                                         The Honorable Dennis D. Carroll,
                                                                Judge
      Appellee-Plaintiff
                                                                Cause No. 48C06-1210-FB-1988

      Mathias, Judge.

[1]   Following a jury trial, Kenneth L. Kemp, Jr., (“Kemp”) was convicted in

      Madison Circuit Court of two counts of Class D felony dealing in marijuana

      and one count of Class D felony maintaining a common nuisance. Kemp

      appeals and claims that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence cash and

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015 Page 1 of 10
      marijuana that was discovered during the stop of his vehicle and the subsequent

      search of the car and Kemp’s person, all of which Kemp argues violated his

      right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.

[2]   We affirm.

                                  Facts and Procedural History

[3]   In October 2012, detectives from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department

      were investigating a homicide. To assist in their investigation, they requested

      the assistance of Sergeant Frank Sigler (“Sigler”) of the Madison County Drug

      Task Force. Sigler organized members of the Task Force to observe two

      locations in Delaware County where they believed the suspects of the murder

      investigation might be located. During surveillance of one of these locations,

      the police saw a vehicle at Kemp’s house that matched the description of a

      vehicle used by one of the murder suspects. The police also noticed two cars

      back into Kemp’s driveway in close proximity to one another, as if one car was

      being used to block the view of the other vehicle. At one point, there were

      approximately four cars parked in the driveway. The police thought that this

      pattern of vehicular traffic was consistent with that of illicit drugs sales.

[4]   As they continued to observe the home, the police saw a black minivan drive

      away from Kemp’s house with an individual who matched the description of

      one of the murder suspects. The police pulled the minivan over to ascertain if

      the suspect was in the vehicle. When the occupants of the vehicle did not match

      the identity of the homicide suspect, they were allowed to leave.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015 Page 2 of 10
[5]   Shortly thereafter, another vehicle, a black Chevrolet Impala, arrived at Kemp’s

      home and quickly left. The police also pulled this car over to see if the murder

      suspects were in the vehicle. As the police approached the car, they detected the

      strong odor of raw marijuana and saw a trash bag behind the passenger’s seat.

      Based on the odor of marijuana, the police searched the car and found that the

      trash bag contained two gallon-sized plastic bags of marijuana. Also, what

      appeared to be blood stains were on the pants and shoes of the driver of this car,

      Deondre Turner (“Turner”). Turner declined to cooperate with the police and

      was arrested for possession of marijuana. Based upon the evidence seized from

      Turner’s car, the police contacted the county prosecutor’s office to obtain a

      search warrant for Kemp’s home.

[6]   Before the search warrant was obtained, the police observed another vehicle, a

      Ford truck, back into Kemp’s driveway. One of the undercover officers

      approached the driveway on foot, where he saw Kemp and the driver of the

      truck, later identified as Kelsie Smith (“Smith”) load brown plastic grocery bags

      into the truck. Smith then drove the truck away from Kemp’s residence to his

      home as the police followed him. After Smith pulled into his driveway, the

      police pulled in behind him and approached the truck. Smith exited the truck

      and immediately informed Elwood Police Captain Jason Brizendine (“Capt.

      Brizendine”) that a firearm and marijuana were in the vehicle. Apparently

      without even being asked, Smith also told the police that he had purchased two

      pounds of marijuana from Kemp. A search of Smith’s truck revealed the

      marijuana and a firearm.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015 Page 3 of 10
[7]   Before the officers had time to execute the search warrant, Kemp left his house

      in his vehicle. The police decided to stop Kemp’s vehicle. After he stopped,

      Kemp exited his vehicle, at which time the police detected the strong smell of

      marijuana. Capt. Brizendine conducted a pat-down search of Kemp’s person

      and felt a hard object in Kemp’s groin. Capt. Brizendine began to retrieve the

      object, but before he could, Kemp reached into his pants and pulled the object,

      a tightly-packed roll of cash, from his pants and handed it to Capt. Brizendine.

      The cash totaled $5,000. Kemp was placed under arrest for dealing in

      marijuana, and a subsequent, more thorough search revealed an additional

      $995 in cash in Kemp’s pants pocket. When the police discovered this money,

      Kemp interjected, “That ain’t no drug money or nothing.” Tr. p. 431. A search

      of Kemp’s vehicle incident to the arrest revealed a duffle bag behind the

      passenger seat that contained a small amount of loose marijuana.

[8]   The State subsequently charged Kemp with Class B felony possession of a

      firearm by a serious violent felon, two counts of Class D felony dealing in

      marijuana, Class D felony possession of marijuana, Class D felony maintaining

      a common nuisance, and Class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana; the

      State also alleged that Kemp was an habitual substance offender.

[9]   Kemp filed a motion to suppress on February 22, 2013, claiming that the

      evidence discovered during the traffic stop and subsequent search of his person

      and vehicle was the result of an unconstitutional search and seizure. The trial

      court held a suppression hearing on March 15, 2013, and entered an order

      denying Kemp’s motion on May 8, 2013.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015 Page 4 of 10
[10]   On March 7, a bifurcated jury trial began. During the first phase of the trial, the

       jury found Kemp guilty of two counts of Class D felony dealing in marijuana,

       Class D felony maintaining a common nuisance, and Class A misdemeanor

       possession of marijuana. During the second phase of the trial, the jury acquitted

       Kemp of possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon. Kemp then

       pleaded guilty to the habitual substance offender allegation.

[11]   The trial court held a sentencing hearing on April 7, 2013, at which time the

       State moved to dismiss the remaining charge of Class D felony possession of

       marijuana, and the trial court declined to enter judgment on the misdemeanor

       possession verdict. The trial court imposed two concurrent three-year sentences

       on the Class D felony dealing convictions and a one-year sentence on the Class

       D felony maintaining a common nuisance conviction, to be served consecutive

       to the three-year sentences. The trial court also enhanced Kemp’s sentence by

       four years as an habitual substance offender. Thus, Kemp received an aggregate

       sentence of eight years. Kemp now appeals.

                                                  I. Waiver

[12]   Before addressing the merits of Kemp’s claims, we first consider the State’s

       argument that Kemp did not properly preserve his current argument for

       purposes of appellate review. Kemp filed a pre-trial motion to suppress the

       evidence found during the search of his vehicle and person, claiming that it

       violated his right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures under both

       Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution and the Fourth Amendment to

       the United States Constitution. After the trial court denied this motion, Kemp’s

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015 Page 5 of 10
       counsel objected to evidence found during the search at trial and requested a

       continuing objection. The trial court granted this request, noting Kemp’s

       continuing objection to “any evidence that relates to [the] search and seizure”

       and that Kemp “does not have an obligation to continually raise that issue and

       the arguments are those which were previously asserted and fully briefed at a

       prior time.” Tr. p. 359.

[13]   As we explained in some detail in Hayworth v. State, 904 N.E.2d 684, 691-92

       (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), Indiana recognizes the validity and utility of continuing

       objections. Here, Kemp properly obtained a continuing objection. However,

       when the State moved to admit certain evidence seized during the search — the

       cash found on Kemp and the marijuana found in Kemp’s vehicle — Kemp’s

       counsel specifically stated “no objection.” Tr. pp. 581-83, 647. By stating

       affirmatively that he had “no objection,” Kemp waived his continuing objection

       to this evidence. See Hayworth, 904 N.E.2d at 693-94 (holding that, assuming

       that trial court granted defendant’s request for a continuing objection, defendant

       waived the objection by affirmatively stating “no objection” when the evidence

       was proffered). Instead, the proper procedure in such a situation is to remain

       silent, not state that there is “no objection” to the evidence. Id. at 694. Still,

       because we prefer to consider the parties’ arguments on the merits, we will

       address Kemp’s arguments.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015 Page 6 of 10
                  II. Warrantless Search of Kemp and His Vehicle

       A. Standard of Review

[14]   When a defendant challenges the propriety of a search following a completed

       trial, the issue is one of whether the trial court properly admitted the evidence.

       Casady v. State, 934 N.E.2d 1181, 1188 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). Questions

       regarding the admission of evidence are left to the sound discretion of the trial

       court, and we review the court’s decision on appeal only for an abuse of that

       discretion. Fuqua v. State, 984 N.E.2d 709, 713-14 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans.

       denied. The trial court abuses its discretion only if its decision is clearly against

       the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before it, or if the court has

       misinterpreted the law. Id. Whether the challenge is made through a pretrial

       motion to suppress or by an objection at trial, our review of rulings on the

       admissibility of evidence is essentially the same: we do not reweigh the

       evidence, and we consider conflicting evidence in a light most favorable to the

       trial court’s ruling, but we may also consider any undisputed evidence that is

       favorable to the defendant. Id.

       B. The Fourth Amendment

[15]   Kemp argues that the search of his person and vehicle violated his right to be

       free from unreasonable searches and seizures as guaranteed by the Fourth

       Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Fourth Amendment

       protects “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers

       and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures[.]” U.S. Const. Amend.

       IV. These protections against unreasonable governmental searches and seizures

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015 Page 7 of 10
       are a principal mode of discouraging lawless police conduct. Friend v. State, 858

       N.E.2d 646, 650 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006) (citing Jones v. State, 655 N.E.2d 49, 54

       (Ind. 1995); Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 12 (1968)). If the police conduct a

       warrantless search, the State bears the burden of establishing that an exception

       to the warrant requirement is applicable. Id.

[16]   Kemp argues that the existence of a warrant to search his home cannot justify a

       search of his car, citing Bailey v. United States, 133 S. Ct. 1031 (2013). Bailey held

       that [o]nce an individual has left the immediate vicinity of a premises to be

       searched . . . detentions must be justified by some . . . rationale” other than the

       warrant to search the premises. Id. at 1043. Here, we believe some rationale

       existed other than the existence of the warrant to search Kemp’s house;

       specifically, the existence of probable cause to arrest Kemp for possession of,

       and dealing in, marijuana.

[17]   An officer has probable cause to arrest when, at the time of the arrest, that

       officer has knowledge of facts and circumstances that would warrant a

       reasonable person to believe that the suspect has committed the criminal act in

       question. Clark v. State, 808 N.E.2d 1183, 1192 (Ind. 2004); see also Kelly v. State,

       997 N.E.2d 1045, 1051 (Ind. 2013) (noting that an officer may arrest a person if

       he has knowledge of facts and circumstances that would warrant a man of

       reasonable caution to believe that the defendant committed the criminal act in

       question). The amount of evidence necessary to meet the probable cause

       requirement is determined on a case-by-case basis. Clark, 808 N.E.2d at 1192.

       This determination is grounded in notions of common sense, not mathematical

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015 Page 8 of 10
       precision. Clark, 808 N.E.2d at 1192. The existence of probable cause is a fact-

       sensitive determination. Kelly, 997 N.E.2d at 1051. It is irrelevant whether the

       police subjectively believed that probable cause existed. VanPelt v. State, 760

       N.E.2d 218, 223 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).

[18]   Here, the police observed vehicular traffic at Kemp’s residence that was

       consistent with dealing in illicit drugs. The police discovered a large amount of

       marijuana in Turner’s vehicle shortly after he left Kemp’s residence. An officer

       saw Kemp and another man load two plastic grocery bags in Smith’s truck.

       When approached by the police, Smith admitted that he had marijuana in his

       truck, and he stated that he had just purchased the marijuana from Kemp. Even

       though Smith was caught “red handed,” and his statements were therefore not

       entirely against his penal interest, his statements were corroborated by the

       traffic at Kemp’s house, the activity seen by the police, and the marijuana found

       in Turner’s vehicle. Cf. State v. Spillers, 847 N.E.2d 949, 955-56 (Ind. 2006)

       (noting that statement of individual caught “red handed” is not truly against his

       penal interest and is more likely an effort to curry favor with the police, but also

       noting that informant’s statements were uncorroborated). Based on these facts

       and circumstances, the trial court could reasonably conclude that the police had

       probable cause to stop Kemp’s car and arrest him for possession of and dealing

       in marijuana.

[19]   Because the police had probable cause to arrest Kemp for possession of and

       dealing in marijuana, they also had the authority to search Kemp’s person

       incident to his arrest. See Richard v. State, 7 N.E.3d 347, 349 (Ind. Ct. App.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015 Page 9 of 10
       2014) (noting that one exception to warrant requirement is a search incident to

       lawful arrest), trans. denied. With regard to the small amount of loose marijuana

       found in Kemp’s vehicle, the police testified that Kemp’s car had a strong odor

       of marijuana about it, thus giving them separate probable cause to search the

       vehicle. See Bell v. State, 13 N.E.3d 543, 546 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014) (noting that

       smell of either burnt or raw marijuana is sufficient to provide probable cause),

       trans. denied.

                                                 Conclusion

[20]   The trial court did not err in admitting into evidence the cash and marijuana

       that was discovered on Kemp during the search of his person following the stop

       of his vehicle. The facts and circumstances known to the police at the time they

       initiated the stop of Kemp’s vehicle was sufficient to establish probable cause to

       arrest Kemp for possession of and dealing in marijuana. Therefore, the search

       of Kemp’s person was justified as a search incident to lawful arrest.

       Additionally, the smell of marijuana emanating from Kemp’s vehicle gave the

       police probable cause to search the vehicle, and in the vehicle they found a

       duffle bag containing a small amount of loose marijuana. Accordingly, we

       affirm the judgment of the trial court.

[21]   Affirmed.

       Najam, J., and Bradford, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision No. 48A02-1404-CR-254 | February 27, 2015Page 10 of 10