State v. Tepfenhart

[Cite as State v. Tepfenhart, 2019-Ohio-4599.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
CLARK COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 2018-CA-130
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2018-CR-457
:
STACY TEPFENHART : (Criminal Appeal from
: Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:

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OPINION

Rendered on the 8th day of November, 2019.

...........

JOHN M. LINTZ, Atty. Reg. No. 0097715, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Clark County
Prosecutor’s Office, 50 East Columbia Street, Suite 449, Springfield, Ohio 45502
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

JEFFREY T. GRAMZA, Atty. Reg. No. 0053392, 101 Southmoor Circle NW, Kettering,
Ohio 45429
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

.............

TUCKER, J.
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{¶ 1} Stacy Tepfenhart appeals from her conviction for possession of heroin. She

had entered a no contest plea after the trial court overruled her motion to suppress

evidence. On appeal, Tepfenhart asserts that the trial court erred in overruling her

motion to suppress, because her consent to search her vehicle did not include her purse

on the vehicle’s front seat, the search of which revealed contraband. Although the officer

did not inform Tepfenhart why he sought to conduct the search, we conclude that her

open-ended consent extended to a search of the purse. Thus, the trial court did not err

when it overruled Tepfenhart’s motion to suppress, and, as a result, the trial court’s

judgment will be affirmed.

Facts and Procedural History

{¶ 2} Evidently based on a call from a citizen, Springfield Police Officer Tim Melvin

received a dispatch reporting a GMC Jimmy that was being driven erratically – almost

striking a motorcycle – in the vicinity of a Walmart at 200 South Tuttle Road. Melvin was

aware that there had been a similar call the day before regarding a GMC Jimmy being

driven erratically, but this caller had identified Tepfenhart as the vehicle’s possible driver.

{¶ 3} Melvin drove to the Walmart and, upon arrival, observed a GMC Jimmy

parked near a Game Spot, a business attached to Walmart. Melvin retrieved

Tepfenhart’s photograph and driving record, which revealed that her Ohio driver’s license

was suspended. At this point, Tepfenhart returned to the GMC Jimmy, entered it, and

drove a short distance to another parking spot. Melvin followed, pulled behind the

vehicle, and made a traffic stop based upon Tepfenhart’s suspended license.
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{¶ 4} Upon making contact with Tepfenhart, Melvin suspected she was under the

influence of a narcotic. This suspicion was based upon the facts that Tepfenhart

appeared “drowsy,” her speech, though understandable, was not “very clear,” and there

was no indication of alcohol use. Perhaps because of this suspicion, Melvin requested

Tepfenhart’s consent to search the vehicle. Based on his austere testimony, Melvin did

not inform Tepfenhart of his suspicion or why he was requesting consent to search the

vehicle. Tepfenhart granted the requested consent, without limitation. Prior to the

search, Tepfenhart was removed from her vehicle and placed in the back seat of Melvin’s

cruiser. A purse located on the vehicle’s front seat was opened and searched. The

search of the purse revealed a flexible glasses case, which was open at one end. Melvin

peered into the case and observed what he described as a napkin. Melvin removed the

napkin, and, upon unfolding it, he discovered two plastic bags; each bag contained a

“white substance,” which led Melvin to conclude that each bag contained an “illegal

substance,” and Tepfenhart was arrested.

{¶ 5} Tepfenhart was indicted for possession of heroin and aggravated possession

of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies. Tepfenhart filed a motion to suppress which was

overruled by the trial court. She ultimately pleaded no contest to the heroin possession

count, and the aggravated possession count was dismissed. The trial court sentenced

Tepfenhart to a ten-month prison term. This appeal followed.

Analysis

{¶ 6} Tepfenhart’s only assignment of error is as follows:

THE TRIAL COURT PREJUDICIALLY ERRED AND COMMITTED
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REVERSIBLE ERROR WHEN IT OVERRULED [TEPFENHART’S]

MOTION TO SUPPRESS.

{¶ 7} The assigned error, though stated broadly, is focused upon the assertion that

Tepfenhart’s consent to search the vehicle did not extend to her purse. As explained

below, we conclude otherwise.

{¶ 8} “The standard for measuring the scope of a [person’s] consent under the

Fourth Amendment is that of ‘objective’ reasonableness – what would the typical

reasonable person have understood by the exchange between the police officer and the

[consenting person]?” Florida v. Jimeno, 500 U.S. 248, 251, 111 S.Ct. 1801, 114

L.Ed.2d 297 (1991), citing Illinois v. Rodriguez, 497 U.S. 177, 110 S.Ct. 2793, 111 L.Ed.2d

148 (1990); Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 103 S.Ct. 1319, 75 L.Ed.2d 229 (1983).

Thus, neither the “subjective intentions” of the consenting person nor the “subjective

interpretation” of the requesting officer are relevant. United States v. Mendoza-

Gonzalez, 318 F.3d 663, 667 (5th Cir.2003), quoting Wayne R. LaFave, Search and

Seizure, Section 8.1 (3d Ed. 1996 and Supp. 2003).

{¶ 9} In Jimeno, the requesting officer informed Jimeno, who was stopped for a

traffic violation but suspected of drug trafficking, that he believed Jimeno was transporting

drugs in his car. The officer requested permission to search the vehicle, which Jimeno

granted without limitation. During the search, the officer observed and then opened a

paper bag, finding a large quantity of cocaine inside. The Florida courts, including the

Florida Supreme Court, concluded that a person’s consent to search a particular area

does not extend to closed containers located within that area. The United States

Supreme Court reversed, noting that Jimeno did not limit the scope of the search, that the
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officer informed Jimeno that he suspected Jimeno was transporting drugs, and that

“[c]ontraband goods are rarely strewn across the * * * floor of a car.” Jimeno at 251,

quoting United States v. Ross, 456 U.S. 798, 820, 102 S.Ct. 2157, 72 L.Ed.2d 572 (1982).

Under these circumstances, and using the objective reasonableness standard, the court

ruled that the scope of Jimeno’s consent included the closed bag in which the cocaine

was found.

{¶ 10} Thus, when a person is informed of the item or items (usually drugs,

weapons, or both) for which the consent to search is being sought, and then consent is

granted without limitation, the consent includes unlocked but closed containers (such as

a purse) that could contain the announced subject of the search. State v. Boling, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 25310, 2013-Ohio-4813, ¶ 21; State v. Stepp, 4th Dist. Scioto No.

09CA3328, 2010-Ohio-3540, ¶ 31.

{¶ 11} The more difficult scenario presented by this case is that the officer

requested consent to search, but, in doing so, did not mention the subject of the search,

and the resulting consent was without limitation. The case law suggests that, in this

circumstance, an open-ended consent extends to closed, but easily opened, containers

located in the area or place to be searched.

{¶ 12} United States v. Snow, 44 F.3d 133 (2d Cir.1995) is a leading example of

this conclusion. Snow and his companions were the subject of a traffic stop. Based

upon conflicting answers to questions he posed to Snow and the other occupants of the

vehicle, the officer became suspicious and requested consent to search the vehicle.

Without imposing any limits, Snow granted the requested consent. A closed but

unlocked duffle bag was found in the vehicle’s back seat; when it was opened, a quantity
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of marijuana was found.

{¶ 13} Snow asserted that, since the officer did not inform him of the purpose of

the search, “this missing factor from the Jimeno equation” compelled the conclusion that

his consent did not include the duffle bag. Snow at 135. The court rejected this

argument, noting that despite the so-called “missing factor,” the “inquiry under Jimeno

[was] the same: whether it [was] reasonable for [the] officer to consider [Snow’s] general

consent * * * to include consent to examine a [duffle bag] lying on the floor of the car.”

Id., quoting Jimeno at 251. Using the objective reasonableness standard, the court

concluded as follows:

* * * the term “search” implies something more than a superficial,

external examination. It entails “looking through,” “rummaging,” “probing,”

“scrutiny,” and “examining internally.” We therefore conclude, based on

the plain meaning of this common word, that an individual who consents to

a search of his car should reasonably expect that readily-opened, closed

containers discovered inside the car will be opened and examined.

That the defendant did not – and probably could not – know what the

officer was looking for does not change our view of his consent. It is self-

evident that a police officer seeking general permission to search a vehicle

is looking for evidence of illegal activity. It is just as obvious that such

evidence might be hidden in closed containers. If the consent to search is

entirely open-ended, a reasonable person would have no cause to believe

that the search will be limited in some way.

Id. The conclusion reached in Snow is the prevailing view among the federal circuit
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courts. See United States v. Canipe, 569 F.3d 597 (6th Cir.2009) (quoting Snow with

approval); United States v. Zapata, 18 F.3d 971 (1st Cir.1994); Mendoza-Gonzalez, 318

F.3d 663 (5th Cir.2003); United States v. Crain, 33 F.3d 480 (5th Cir.1994).

{¶ 14} We acknowledge the contrary view articulated in State v. Brooks, 11th Dist.

Ashtabula No. 2011-A-32, 2012-Ohio-646. That court, on similar facts to the pending

case, concluded as follows:

Given the lack of any “expressed object” for the search, it logically

follows the patrolman did not have any justifiable reason for looking into

appellee’s black purse. Under such circumstances, the fact that appellee

did not place any limits on the search is inconsequential, since a reasonable

person could only conclude that, in light of the abbreviated conversation

between herself and the patrolman, she had only consented to a basic

search of the cab itself. Hence, because the patrolman exceeded the

scope of appellee’s consent by looking in the black purse, the discovery of

the substance in the small green “coin” purse was unconstitutional.

Id. at ¶ 18.

{¶ 15} Interestingly, the Eleventh District, on similar facts, came to the opposite

conclusion two years later in State v. Korb, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2013-L-126, 2014-Ohio-

4543. After being stopped for a traffic violation, Korb was asked for consent to search

her purse. She granted the request without limitation. The officer looked inside a wallet

within the purse and found identification cards belonging to someone else. On appeal,

Korb argued, among other things, that by looking into the wallet the officer exceeded the

scope of her consent. Rejecting this contention, the court stated the following:
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[The officer] testified that it was his purpose “to find out if she had

any weapons or contraband in her purse.” It is not clear from the record,

however, that [the officer] expressed his purpose of the search to Korb.

Whether Korb knew of [the] purpose does not change the outcome. If Korb

knew [the officer] was looking for contraband, it was reasonable to

understand that such could be found in the wallet. If Korb did not know the

purpose of the search, this fact does not invalidate her otherwise valid

general consent to search. “If consent to search is entirely open-ended, a

reasonable person would have no cause to believe that the search will be

limited in some way,” regardless of the fact “[t]hat the defendant did not –

and probably could not – know what the officer was looking for.”

Id. at ¶ 28, quoting Snow, 44 F.3d 133, 135 (2d Cir.1995) and United States v. Canipe,

569 F.3d 597, 605 (6th Cir.2009).

{¶ 16} Although we recognize the discussed alternate view, we conclude that

Tepfenhart’s general open-ended consent included her purse and the glasses case within

the purse. A person who grants an open-ended consent to search her vehicle should

reasonably understand that the search will include “readily-opened, closed containers

located inside the vehicle.” Snow at 135. Melvin’s failure to articulate the reason for the

requested consent does not alter this conclusion, because a reasonable person should

understand “that a police officer seeking general permission to search a vehicle is looking

for evidence of illegal activity * * * [and] that such evidence might be [located] in closed

containers.” Id. Thus, the assignment of error is overruled.

Conclusion
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{¶ 17} Finding no merit in Tepfenhart’s assignment of error, the judgment of the

Clark County Common Pleas Court is affirmed.

.............

HALL, J., concurs.

DONOVAN, J. dissents:

{¶ 18} I disagree. There is no question that Tepfenhart had a legitimate

expectation of privacy in the contents of her purse. “Indeed a purse is a type of container

in which a person possesses the highest expectation of privacy.” United States v. Jeffers,

520 F.2d 1256, 1268 (7th Cir.1975), fn. 17. Purses are “repositories of especially personal

items that people generally like to keep with them at all times.” Wyoming v. Houghton,

526 U.S. 295, 308, 119 S.Ct. 1297, 143 L.Ed.2d 408 (Breyer, J., concurring). Rifling

through a woman’s purse without permission is a substantial invasion. Purses contain a

wide range of personal effects, including prescriptions, feminine products, credit card

receipts, photos, and other personal information.

{¶ 19} The police did not have probable cause to believe that Tepfenhart had

placed contraband in her purse, and the necessary consent to search her purse was not

obtained. Significantly, the police did not identify the object of the search. Thus any

reliance by the majority on Boling, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25310, 2013-Ohio-4813, and

Stepp, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 09 CA 3328, 2010-Ohio-3540, is misplaced. Boling was

informed his pat-down was for drugs and weapons. Stepp was informed the trooper was

looking for pills. Tepfenhart was not informed what the officer was searching for when
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consent to search the vehicle was requested.

{¶ 20} I am of the view that we should not follow the Eleventh District’s decision in

Korb; as the Korb court noted, the owner consented to the search of her purse and was

present when the officer searched it on the trunk of the vehicle. See Korb, 11th Dist. Lake

No. 2013-L-126, 2014-Ohio-4543, at ¶ 27. We should follow the Eleventh District’s

decision in Brooks, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2011-A-32, 2012-Ohio-646, which is more

analogous to the facts of this case. Like Brooks, Tepfenhart reasonably only consented

to a “basic search” of the vehicle. The consent was non-specific. Given the lack of any

“expressed object” for the search, it logically follows the police officer did not have

authority to open Tepfenhart’s purse and the eyeglass container therein; it is only logical

that the search must be limited to the specific authorization given.

{¶ 21} Furthermore, even if absent an identified “search object,” the officer could

search Tepfenhart’s purse, he certainly had no authority to rummage through all the

purse’s contents and open a closed napkin stuffed in an eyeglass container.

{¶ 22} “The word ‘automobile’ is not a talisman in whose presence the Fourth

Amendment fades away and disappears.” Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443,

461-462, 91 S.Ct. 2022, 2035, 29 L.Ed.2d 564 (1971). By upholding the search in this

case, the Court not only ignores this principle, but creates another talisman to overcome

the requirements of the Fourth Amendment – no expressed object of a non-specific

consent request is necessary. Because the State failed to meet its burden to show that

the search of the purse was performed within the scope of Tepfenhart’s consent, I would

reverse.
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Copies sent to:

John M. Lintz
Jeffrey T. Gramza
Hon. Douglas M. Rastatter