Court Opinion

ID: 4179473
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-06-21 15:11:00.360521+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:03.626868
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                  No. 16-0985
                              Filed June 21, 2017

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

BOBBY RAY KLINGER SR.,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Mary Pat Gunderson,

Judge.

      Bobby Ray Klinger Sr. appeals from his conviction and sentence for

possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense. AFFIRMED.

      Colista K. Anglese of Hammer Law Firm, P.L.C., Dubuque, for appellant.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Thomas J. Ogden, Assistant

Attorney General, for appellee.

      Considered by Danilson, C.J., and Potterfield and Bower, JJ.
                                        2

DANILSON, Chief Judge.

      Bobby Ray Klinger Sr. appeals from his conviction and sentence for

possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense, a class “D”

felony, in violation of Iowa Code section 124.401(5) (2015). Klinger asserts the

trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress. Klinger also contends trial

counsel rendered ineffective assistance. On our de novo review, we affirm the

district court’s denial of Klinger’s motion to suppress. We also conclude the

record is inadequate to address Klinger’s ineffective-assistance-of-counsel

claims, and we preserve such claims for possible postconviction-relief

proceedings.

      I. Background Facts & Proceedings.

      On November 5, 2015, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Officer Brian Kelley

initiated a traffic stop of Klinger’s vehicle for failure to display headlamps, in

violation of Iowa Code section 321.384.     Officer Kelley testified the vehicle’s

parking lights were on, but Klinger had not turned on the headlights. The video

from Officer Kelley’s squad car dash camera affirmatively shows the headlights

on Klinger’s vehicle were not as bright as the vehicles traveling nearby and one

of the headlights was not working.

      Klinger pulled the vehicle to the side of the road, and Officer Kelley and

Officer Andrew Becker approached the vehicle. Klinger was cooperative and

provided the requested license and registration information. However, Officer

Kelley discovered the license plate affixed to Klinger’s vehicle belonged to a

different vehicle owned by someone other than Klinger. Klinger explained the
                                        3

improper registration was due to the fact he purchased the vehicle approximately

one month prior.

       Officer Kelley ordered Klinger to exit the vehicle, performed a pat-down of

Klinger’s person, and asked Klinger to sit on the curb near the rear of Klinger’s

vehicle. Officer Kelley returned to the squad car and also discovered Klinger was

on active parole for manufacturing methamphetamine. The dash camera video

then shows Officer Kelley walked back to Klinger and spoke with Klinger before

performing a second, more thorough search of Klinger’s person and a search of

his vehicle.

       Officer Kelley stated he had

       seen it before where drug dealers, users, will exchange vehicles for
       narcotics, money, whatever. It was clear something was going on.
       And with that background, that is why I asked him if he had used
       any recently. And given the conditions of his parole, I was making
       sure he was in compliance.

       Officer Kelley testified that during the conversation prior to the second

search Klinger admitted to using methamphetamine that day and consented to

the search of his vehicle.    Klinger denied providing consent.    Unfortunately,

Officer Kelley’s body microphone was muted at the time Klinger’s consent to

search the vehicle was discussed. The body microphone was initially working

but was muted between the time Officer Kelley returned to the squad car after

Klinger was asked to sit on the curb and when Officer Kelley again approached

Klinger.   Officer Kelley testified it was possible he bumped and accidentally

muted the microphone when he bent over. Officer Becker was standing next to

Klinger during the conversation in question but did not testify at the motion-to-

suppress hearing.
                                         4

       While searching Klinger’s vehicle, Officer Kelley discovered a substance

later identified as methamphetamine and a number of syringes inside a backpack

located in the front passenger compartment.       Klinger was then arrested for

possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense. Klinger was

also cited for failure to display headlamps.

       On February 19, 2016, Klinger filed a motion to suppress the evidence

discovered during Officer Kelley’s search of his vehicle. Klinger asserted there

was no probable cause for the traffic stop, the officers exceeded the scope of the

traffic stop, and he did not consent to the search of his vehicle. The motion to

suppress was denied.

       Klinger stipulated to a trial on the minutes, which was held on June 2,

2016. The court found Klinger guilty of possession of a controlled substance,

third or subsequent offense, and sentenced Klinger to a term of incarceration not

to exceed five years, to run consecutively to his sentence for his parole

revocation.

       Klinger now appeals.

       II. Standard of Review.

       “We review the district court’s denial of a motion to suppress on

constitutional grounds de novo.” State v. Coleman, 890 N.W.2d 284, 286 (Iowa

2017). We also review ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims de novo. State

v. Straw, 709 N.W.2d 128, 133 (Iowa 2006).            “This review requires ‘an

independent evaluation of the totality of the circumstances as shown by the

entire record.’”   State v. Pals, 805 N.W.2d 767, 771 (Iowa 2011) (citation

omitted). “We give considerable deference to the trial court’s findings regarding
                                           5

the credibility of the witnesses, but are not bound by them.” State v. Tague, 676

N.W.2d 197, 201 (Iowa 2004).

       III. Analysis.

       On appeal, Klinger contends the court erred in denying his motion to

suppress because the officers did not have probable cause to initiate the traffic

stop and the warrantless search of Klinger’s vehicle was carried out without

probable cause or legal justification. Klinger also contends trial counsel rendered

ineffective assistance.

       A. Motion to Suppress.

       Klinger maintains the officers’ seizure of Klinger by initiating the traffic stop

and search of his vehicle violated his right to be free from unreasonable searches

and seizures under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and

article I, section 8 of the Iowa Constitution.

       1. Stop. First, we consider Klinger’s argument with respect to the traffic

stop. “A traffic stop is permissible under our Iowa and Federal Constitutions

when supported by probable cause or reasonable suspicion of a crime.” State v.

McIver, 858 N.W.2d 699, 702 (Iowa 2015). “When a peace officer observes any

type of traffic offense, the violation establishes both probable cause to stop the

vehicle and reasonable suspicion to investigate.” Id.

       Klinger testified at the hearing on the motion to suppress, and maintains

on appeal, his headlights were on at the time he was stopped. However, Officer

Kelley testified he observed only Klinger’s parking lights were on and his

headlights were not illuminated. Officer Kelley stated upon approaching Klinger’s

vehicle he told Klinger his headlights were not on and instructed him to turn the
                                           6

knob. Officer Kelley testified Klinger then turned the knob and the lights turned

on. The dash camera video provides little help in ascertaining any increased

illumination after Officer Kelley instructed Klinger to turn on the headlights. 1 But

the dash camera video of Klinger’s vehicle driving past the law enforcement

vehicle shows Klinger only had one working headlight.           Because the officers

observed Klinger to be in violation of Iowa Code sections 321.384, .385, or .419,

there was probable cause supporting the initiation of the traffic stop.

       2. Search. Next, we consider whether Officer Kelley’s search of Klinger’s

vehicle violated his constitutional rights.     “Warrantless searches are per se

unreasonable if they do not fall within one of the well-recognized exceptions to

the warrant requirement.” State v. Lowe, 812 N.W.2d 554, 568 (Iowa 2012)

(citation omitted). “Consent searches are one of these exceptions.” Id. “To be

valid, consent must be voluntary.” Id.

       Officer Kelley testified, and the State maintains, Klinger consented to the

search of his vehicle. Klinger denies that he provided consent. It is troubling that

the body microphone was muted at the time Officer Kelley alleged Klinger

provided consent, as is the State’s failure to call Officer Becker to testify.

Nonetheless, the district court found Officer Kelley’s testimony more credible.

Upon our examination of the transcript of testimony, we decline to diverge from

the district court’s credibility determination. See State v. Lane, 726 N.W.2d 371,

1
  In support of his assertion the headlights were on when he was stopped, Klinger relies
on the testimony of a private investigator who examined Klinger’s vehicle months after
the incident. The private investigator noted the vehicle had an automatic headlights
system but stated the automatic function can be turned on and off by simply turning a
knob. The private investigator’s testimony does not support any finding with respect to
whether the headlights were or were not turned on at the time the officers initiated the
traffic stop.
                                          7

379 (Iowa 2007) (“The district court stated ‘it carefully considered the conflicts in

testimony’ and found the ‘officers to be more credible.’ While we are not bound

by these determinations, we give deference to the credibility determinations by

the district court.”).

       The court also found Klinger’s consent was given voluntarily. Factors to

be considered in determining the validity of consent include: (1) “knowledge by

the defendant of the right to refuse to consent,” (2) “whether police asserted any

claim of authority to search prior to obtaining consent,” (3) “[t]he show of force or

other types of coercive action” as well as “the use of deception by police,” (4) “a

threat by police to obtain a search warrant and forcibly execute it,” and (5) “[t]he

existence of illegal police action just prior to the time the consent is given.” State

v. Reiner, 628 N.W.2d 460, 465 (Iowa 2001). The district court held:

       [T]he court finds Defendant gave consent to search the vehicle.
       Here, Defendant was not detained at the time of the consent to
       search. He was seated on the curb without handcuffs near the rear
       of his car. Officer Kelley explained why he was conducting further
       investigation at the time he asked Defendant to exit his vehicle.
       Although Klinger was not advised of his right to leave or his right to
       voluntarily refuse consent, Klinger testified he studied to be a
       paralegal and was aware of his right to voluntarily refuse consent.
       Officer Kelley subjected Klinger to a pat-down before and after
       Officer Kelley asked him if he could search the vehicle. The stop
       was temporary, brief, and public; in all respects a typical traffic stop.

We add that in the dash camera video during the time Officer Kelley testified he

sought consent, Klinger is observed affirmatively nodding, although we do not

know if this was in response to the request to search. Moreover, Klinger remains

calm even while Officer Kelley is searching the vehicle, but again, we do not

know if Klinger was just being compliant or had consented to the search.
                                          8

       Upon our de novo review of the record, we adhere to the district court’s

credibility finding and conclude Klinger provided voluntary consent to the search

of his vehicle. Therefore, the search did not violate Klinger’s constitutional rights.

       Because we find sufficient probable cause supported the traffic stop and

Klinger consented to Officer Kelley’s search of his vehicle, we affirm the district

court’s denial of Klinger’s motion to suppress.

       B. Ineffective Assistance.

       Klinger also contends trial counsel was ineffective in failing to raise

arguments regarding sentencing and failing to depose the State’s witnesses. To

prevail on an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, Klinger “must show by a

preponderance of the evidence that his trial counsel failed to perform an

essential duty and prejudice resulted.” State v. Ondayog, 722 N.W.2d 778, 784

(Iowa 2006).    However, “[o]nly in rare cases will the trial record alone be

sufficient to resolve the claim on direct appeal.”      Straw, 709 N.W.2d at 133.

“Because ‘[i]mprovident trial strategy, miscalculated tactics, and mistakes in

judgment do not necessarily amount to ineffective assistance of counsel,’

postconviction proceedings are often necessary to discern the difference

between improvident trial strategy and ineffective assistance.”       Ondayog, 722

N.W.2d at 786 (citation omitted).

       The record is insufficient to discern trial counsel’s strategy with respect to

the allegations of ineffective assistance as raised by Klinger.        We therefore

preserve Klinger’s ineffective-assistance claims for possible postconviction-relief

proceedings.
                                         9

      IV. Conclusion.

      On our de novo review, we affirm the district court’s denial of Klinger’s

motion to suppress.    We also conclude the record is inadequate to address

Klinger’s ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims, and we preserve such claims

for possible postconviction-relief proceedings.

      AFFIRMED.