State v. Adkins

March 11 2009

DA 07-0245

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2009 MT 71

STATE OF MONTANA,

Plaintiff and Appellee,

v.

DAVID ADKINS,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Eighth Judicial District,
In and For the County of Cascade, Cause No. BDC 06-261
Honorable Julie Macek, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

For Appellant:

Jim Wheelis, Chief Appellate Defender; Koan Mercer, Assistant Appellate
Defender; Helena, Montana

For Appellee:

Hon. Steve Bullock, Montana Attorney General; David Ole Olson,
Assistant Attorney General; Helena, Montana

Brant S. Light, Cascade County Attorney; Joel Thompson, Deputy County
Attorney; Great Falls, Montana

Submitted on Briefs: September 24, 2008

Decided: March 10, 2009

Filed:

__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice W. William Leaphart delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1 David Neil Adkins (“Adkins”) appeals from rulings of the Eighth Judicial District

Court denying his untimely motions to suppress un-Mirandized statements that led to the

discovery of evidence which ultimately led to his conviction for felony Criminal

Possession of Dangerous Drugs and misdemeanor Criminal Possession of Drug

Paraphernalia. We affirm.

Factual and Procedural Background

¶2 In April of 2006, Adkins was implicated in a methamphetamine distribution ring.

The individual implicating Adkins also indicated that Adkins kept a small amount of

methamphetamine at his residence. With the assistance of Adkins’s probation officer,

agents from the Central Montana Drug Task Force (“CMDTF”) decided to conduct a

probation search of Adkins’s residence, planning to use any methamphetamine found as

leverage to gain his cooperation in their larger investigation. The agents met Adkins in

his driveway, searched his person pursuant to the terms of his probation, and explained

that he had been implicated in the methamphetamine ring. Upon the agents’ inquiry,

Adkins indicated he had a personal use amount of methamphetamine and paraphernalia

hidden in his basement, which the agents retrieved. Adkins spent the next eleven days

sequestered in a hotel room, cooperating with the CMDTF investigation into the larger

methamphetamine distribution ring in exchange for their promise not to bring federal

charges against him.

2
¶3 On May 25, 2006, Adkins was charged with felony Criminal Possession of

Dangerous Drugs With Intent to Distribute (hereinafter “intent to distribute”) and

misdemeanor Criminal Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Adkins pled not guilty to both

charges, and a jury trial was scheduled. For reasons not relevant to this opinion, at the

omnibus hearing on November 15, 2006, the trial date was continued upon Adkins’s

motion and the court extended the deadline for filing pretrial motions to November 29,

2006. On November 27, 2006, the State moved to amend the information to add an

alternative count of felony Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs (hereinafter “straight

possession”), which the District Court granted. On November 28, 2006, Adkins filed a

motion to suppress statements made during his eleven day sequestration in the hotel

room, alleging the CMDTF agents had not complied with the requirements set forth in

Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602 (1966). Adkins was arraigned on the

straight possession charge and entered a plea of not guilty. On January 23, 2007, the day

before the court heard argument on Adkins’s motion to suppress, the State again moved

to amend the information to dismiss the intent to distribute charge.

¶4 At the hearing, the District Court determined that, in light of the State’s decision to

prosecute Adkins solely for the straight possession charge, Adkins’s motion to suppress

statements made in the hotel room (which formed the basis for the intent to distribute

charge) was rendered moot. The court’s decision was based in part upon the State’s

representation that the remaining charges were based solely on events that occurred

during the initial encounter with the CMDTF agents at Adkins’s residence, prior to his

3
sequestration in the hotel room. Adkins’s defense counsel strenuously objected, arguing

that the straight possession charge constituted a new charge of which Adkins had no

notice. Counsel therefore argued Adkins needed additional time to file a new motion to

suppress statements he made to the CMDTF officers during the initial encounter which

ultimately resulted in the recovery of methamphetamine and paraphernalia from his

residence.

¶5 The District Court explained to Adkins’s counsel that the straight possession

charge was not new, rather, that Adkins had notice of both the charge and the underlying

facts since at least November 27, 2006, when the prosecution amended the information to

add the alternative charge. The court noted that what Adkins’s counsel alleged was an

“11th hour” change in the charges was actually of benefit to Adkins—that the State was

simply removing the more serious alternative charge from the information. Ultimately,

the court denied Adkins’s oral motion to continue, maintaining the scheduled trial date.

¶6 On January 25, 2007, Adkins filed a “Motion for a Hearing on Miranda.” In

substance, the motion sought to exclude the statements Adkins made to the CMDTF

agents which led to the discovery of methamphetamine and paraphernalia in his

basement. The District Court denied the motion as untimely. A jury trial was held, and

Adkins was convicted of both charges.

Issues

¶7 We restate the dispositive issues on appeal:

4
¶8 1. Was the District Court required to hold a second omnibus hearing upon
Adkins’s arraignment on an alternative charge where the factual basis for the alternative
charge was the same as the factual basis for the initial charges?

¶9 2. Did the District Court err in denying Adkins’s motion for a suppression hearing
as untimely?

¶10 3. Was Adkins denied effective assistance of counsel?

Standard of Review

¶11 A district court’s determination that a motion to suppress is untimely is a

conclusion of law which we review for correctness. State v. VonBergen, 2003 MT 265,

¶ 7, 317 Mont. 445, 77 P.3d 537. We review for abuse of discretion a district court’s

determination of the existence of good cause to grant relief from a waiver of an untimely

motion to suppress. VonBergen, ¶ 18. We similarly review a district court’s trial

administration rulings for abuse of discretion. State v. Price, 2006 MT 79, ¶ 17, 331

Mont. 502, 134 P.3d 45. Finally, claims of ineffective assistance of counsel implicate

mixed questions of law and fact for which our review is de novo. State v. Wood, 2008

MT 298, ¶ 19, 345 Mont. 487, 191 P.3d 463.

Discussion

¶12 As a threshold matter, Adkins’s assertion that the dispositive issue on appeal is

whether the CMDTF agents’ un-Mirandized questioning violated his constitutional rights

is not well taken. It is well established that this Court should avoid constitutional issues

whenever possible. See e.g. Sunburst Sch. Dist. No. 2 v. Texaco, Inc., 2007 MT 183, ¶

62, 338 Mont. 259, 165 P.3d 1079. Where, as here, we deem it possible to resolve the

5
merits of an appeal without resort to a resolution of constitutional questions presented, we

take that approach. Sunburst, ¶ 62. We therefore turn to the dispositive issues on appeal.

¶13 1. Was the District Court required to hold a second omnibus hearing upon
Adkins’s arraignment on an alternative charge where the factual basis for the
alternative charge was the same as the factual basis for the initial charges?

¶14 Section 46-13-110(1), MCA, provides that the District Court shall hold an

omnibus hearing “within a reasonable time following the entry of a not guilty plea but not

less than 30 days before trial.” The District Court may grant the State leave to

substantively amend an information up until five days before trial. Section 46-11-205(1),

MCA. Where the State substantively amends an information, the defendant must be

given a reasonable time to prepare for trial on the amended information. Section 46-11-

205(2), MCA. The criminal procedure statutes are silent as to whether a new omnibus

hearing is required where a criminal defendant is arraigned on an alternative charge in an

amended information. However, failure to hold an omnibus hearing where such failure

prejudiced the defendant may constitute reversible error. Section 46-20-701(1), MCA.

¶15 Adkins contends that the plain language of § 46-13-110(1), MCA, required the

District Court to hold a new omnibus hearing after he entered a plea of not guilty to the

alternative straight possession charge contained in the amended information. The State

counters that the factual basis underlying the intent to distribute charge was identical to

the factual basis underlying the straight possession charge, and thus a new omnibus

hearing was not required because it would serve no practical purpose. Essentially, the

State argues that the District Court correctly concluded that “nothing had changed.”

6
¶16 We find the State’s logic persuasive. Adkins was originally arraigned on the

intent to distribute charge. The charge of Possession of Dangerous Drugs With the Intent

to Distribute is predicated on a criminal defendant’s possession of dangerous drugs.

Here, the intent to distribute charge was predicated on Adkins’s possession of the drugs

found in his basement. Therefore, the factual basis underlying the amended charge of

straight possession was identical to the factual basis underlying the intent to distribute

charge for which an omnibus hearing had already been held. Where, as here, the State

amends an information to charge an alternate, lesser included offense which is supported

by an identical factual basis, the District Court is not required to hold a new omnibus

hearing.

¶17 This conclusion is consistent with a holistic view of our criminal procedure

statutes and relevant case law. Conspicuously absent from § 46-11-205, MCA, which

provides for a substantive amendment of an information up to five days before trial, is

language requiring that a new omnibus hearing be held. Rather, the statute logically

provides that the defendant must be given a reasonable time to prepare for trial on the

amended information. Section 46-11-205, MCA. The statute therefore requires the

District Court to allow reasonable time for a defendant to prepare for trial in light of the

substantive changes to the information. In the event the factual basis underlying the

amended charge differs from the factual basis underlying the charge upon which the

defendant was originally arraigned, a new omnibus hearing may be appropriate.

However, in the instant case, as the District Court aptly noted, nothing had changed.

7
¶18 2. Did the District Court err in denying Adkins’s motion for a suppression
hearing as untimely?

¶19 Under § 46-13-302(1), MCA, “[a] defendant aggrieved by an unlawful search and

seizure may move the court to suppress as evidence anything obtained by the unlawful

search and seizure.” By statutory mandate, a motion to suppress must be made at or

before the omnibus hearing, or by a subsequent date upon the court’s order. Section 46-

13-101(1), MCA; VonBergen, ¶¶ 11, 16. Failure to bring a motion to suppress within this

timeframe constitutes a waiver. VonBergen, ¶¶ 11, 16 (citing § 46-13-102(2), MCA.)

Where such a waiver occurs, the court may grant relief upon good cause shown. Section

46-13-101(1), MCA. When considering whether to grant relief from a waiver, a district

court “retains the authority to control the progress of the case, and may, within its

discretion, grant or deny the requested relief, as it deems appropriate.” VonBergen, ¶ 21.

¶20 The District Court held an omnibus hearing on August 2, 2006. Upon Adkins’s

motion, the court extended the deadline to file pretrial motions to November 29, 2006. In

compliance with the deadline, Adkins filed a motion to suppress statements he made to

the CMDTF agents during his eleven day sequestration in the hotel room. However,

Adkins’s motion to suppress did not address, even tangentially, the issue of whether the

un-Mirandized statements given during his initial encounter with the CMDTF agents in

his driveway, which ultimately led to the discovery of methamphetamine and

paraphernalia, were gained in violation of his constitutional rights. Adkins’s failure to

file a motion to suppress evidence obtained during his initial encounter with the CMDTF

agents constituted a waiver. VonBergen, ¶¶ 11, 16.
8
¶21 While the District Court was at liberty to grant Adkins relief from the waiver for

good cause shown, we conclude that its decision not to grant such relief was within its

broad discretion to control the progress of the case. VonBergen, ¶ 21. Adkins argues that

good cause was established by virtue of the change in the nature of the charges against

him. However, as discussed above, the intent to distribute charge was predicated upon

Adkins’s possession of the methamphetamine found in his basement during the initial

encounter with the CMDTF agents. The straight possession charge was based wholly

upon the identical facts. The record indicates that the only evidence of Adkins’s

possession of methamphetamine was the physical evidence found in his basement.

Therefore, Adkins’s counsel had notice of the facts supporting the straight possession

charge (and by extension, the facts giving rise to a motion to suppress the evidence

supporting that charge) at the time of his original arraignment on the intent to distribute

charge. Under these circumstances, the District Court did not abuse its discretion by not

finding good cause to grant relief from Adkins’s waiver of the right to file a motion to

suppress un-Mirandized statements which ultimately led to the discovery of the

methamphetamine and paraphernalia in his basement.

¶22 Adkins cites State v. Bentley, 156 Mont. 129, 477 P.2d 345 (1970), for the

proposition that where confusion over charges exists between the parties and the district

court, relief from an untimely motion should be granted. Bentley is inapposite to the

circumstances in this case. There, we affirmed the district court’s decision to grant relief

from a waiver where the State expressed its intention to dismiss a charge against the

9
defendant and then failed to fulfill its promise to do so. Bentley, 156 Mont. at 132, 133,

477 P.2d at 346. Here, any confusion over charges was Adkins’s alone. In the final

analysis, Adkins was aware of the factual basis for both the intent to distribute and the

straight possession charge, and any corresponding motion to suppress, from the inception

of the case. Adkins’s contention that the nature of the charges against him had

fundamentally changed is without support in the record. The District Court did not abuse

its discretion by finding that no good cause existed for allowing an untimely motion to

suppress.

¶23 3. Was Adkins denied effective assistance of counsel?

¶24 As a threshold matter, we note the State does not dispute that Adkins’s ineffective

assistance claim is record-based and therefore appropriate for review on direct appeal.

We thus analyze Adkins’s claim under the two-part test articulated by the United States

Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984).

Hammer v. State, 2008 MT 342, ¶ 10, 346 Mont. 279, 194 P.3d 699. A defendant bears

the burden of proving that: 1) the performance of defendant’s counsel was deficient; and

2) that counsel’s allegedly deficient performance was prejudicial. Hammer, ¶ 10 (citing

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687). Where the defendant makes an insufficient showing as to

one prong of the test, it is unnecessary to address the other prong. Hammer, ¶ 10.

“[W]hen it is possible to dispose of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim based on

the claim’s failure to establish that the defendant was sufficiently prejudiced, it is best to

follow that course.” Hammer, ¶ 10.

10
¶25 In order to show that defense counsel’s allegedly deficient performance was

prejudicial, a defendant must show that a reasonable probability exists that the result of

the proceeding would have been different had defense counsel’s performance not been

deficient. Clausell v. State, 2005 MT 33, ¶ 19, 326 Mont. 63, 106 P.3d 1175. Where a

defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is predicated upon failure to file a

motion to suppress evidence, he must “establish that there was arguably some merit to

such a motion.” State v. Frasure, 2004 MT 305, ¶ 12, 323 Mont. 479, 100 P.3d 1013.

¶26 Adkins asserts that the CMDTF agents’ failure to Mirandize him rendered his

unwarned statement regarding the location of the methamphetamine and paraphernalia in

his home, and in turn the physical fruits of those unwarned statements, inadmissible. The

State maintains that the physical evidence would be admissible pursuant to the doctrine

of inevitable discovery.

¶27 Assuming arguendo that Adkins, while on probation, was entitled to Miranda

warnings prior to his providing the location of the evidence, and assuming that the fruits

of those un-Mirandized statements would be subject to the exclusionary rule,1 the

physical evidence supporting Adkins’s conviction would have nonetheless been

admissible under the doctrine of inevitable discovery.

1
Because we conclude that ultimately, the evidence would have been admissible under the
inevitable discovery doctrine, we leave open the question of whether the exclusionary rule would
have application to evidence that was the fruit of an un-Mirandized statement. (See U.S. v.
Patane, 542 U.S. 630, 124 S. Ct. 2620 (2004), plurality opinion holding that the exclusionary
rule does not require the suppression of physical evidence discovered as a result of un-
Mirandized but voluntary statements.)
11
¶28 The inevitable discovery doctrine is an exception to the general rule that courts

must exclude evidence obtained by illegal means. This Court has recognized the

application of the inevitable discovery doctrine in Montana. See e.g. State v. Dickinson,

2008 MT 159, 343 Mont. 301, 184 P.3d 305; State v. Notti, 2003 MT 170, 316 Mont.

345, 71 P.3d 1233; Clausell v. State, 2005 MT 33, 326 Mont. 63, 106 P.3d 1175. The

doctrine of inevitable discovery provides that evidence otherwise inadmissible under the

exclusionary rule need not be excluded if the prosecution can show that the evidence

would have been discovered by legal means. Dickinson, ¶ 19; Notti, ¶ 20. Our inquiry in

this regard requires us to determine whether law enforcement had sufficient evidence to

procure a search warrant. See e.g. Dickinson, ¶ 25 (citations omitted). Where we have

found that law enforcement had sufficient untainted evidence to obtain a search warrant,

we have applied the doctrine of inevitable discovery. Dickinson, ¶¶ 25-27.

¶29 In the instant case, Adkins does not dispute that under the conditions of his

probation, his residence was subject to random search at any time, with or without

probable cause. It is also uncontroverted that at the time Adkins informed the officers of

the location of the methamphetamine and paraphernalia in his basement, his probation

officer was present and poised to conduct a probation search. Finally, there is no dispute

that the CMDTF agents (and by extension Adkins’s probation officer) had been informed

by Adkins’s colleague that he had a personal use amount of methamphetamine hidden in

his house. The imminent probation search was an independent legal means by which the

12
evidence would have been discovered, and therefore falls under the purview of the

doctrine of inevitable discovery.

¶30 We conclude that a motion to suppress based on the CMDTF agent’s failure to

administer Miranda warnings would have been without merit. Consequently, Adkins’s

counsel’s failure to timely file such a motion was not prejudicial, thus his ineffective

assistance of counsel claim must fail.

¶31 Affirmed.

/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART

We concur:

/S/ JIM RICE
/S/ JOHN WARNER
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER

13