United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
May 18, 2005
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
______________________
No. 03-30786
_______________________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
RODNEY SANTIAGO,
Defendant-Appellant.
_________________________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Louisiana
________________________________________
Before KING, Chief Judge and DEMOSS and STEWART Circuit Judges.
CARL E. STEWART, Circuit Judge:
Appellant Rodney Santiago (“Santiago”) appeals from the district court’s denial of his motion
to suppress firearms discovered in a search of his residence and a written statement, which resulted
in his conditional guilty-plea conviction for two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1)1 and 924(a)(2)2. For the reasons set forth below, because we
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This statute provides in pertinent part:
It shall be unlawful for any person – who has been convicted in any court of,
a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
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find that the search of the home was lawful and the written statement was voluntarily rendered, we
affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Santiago had previously been convicted of a felony punishable by imprisonment exceeding one
year. On September 12, 2002, the search for a burglary suspect named Danny Rossignol
(“Rossignol”) led deputies of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office to Santiago’s residence because
Santiago had fenced stolen goods for Rossignol in the past. When t he deputies arrived at his
residence, Santiago opened the door allowing them to enter. Upon entering the residence, the
deputies observed a firearm in plain view on a mantle in an adjacent room. Santiago acquiesced to
the deputies request to search his home for items that Santiago may have received from Rossignol.
During the search the deputies discovered two more firearms. One of the firearms present was
identified as one of the items stolen by Rossignol. The deputies also recovered a television set, video
tapes and a tool set, which also had been stolen by Rossignol.
In order to encourage Santiago to sign a written statement drafted by the deputies which
stated that Santiago had purchased the stolen firearm and other items from Rossignol, and had
possessed all three firearms, the deputies promised Santiago that he would not be arrested. They told
Santiago that their focus was on Rossignol, and never informed Santiago of his rights under Miranda
to . . .possess . . .any firearm o r ammunition; or to receive any firearm or
ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign
commerce.
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This statute provides in pertinent part:
Whoever knowingly violates subsection . . . (g) . . . of section 922 shall be
fined as provided in this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
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v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444 (1966).3 Santiago told the deputies that he knew that he was not
allowed to possess any firearms due to his previous conviction.
A few days after the search, the deputies turned over the three firearms seized to the Federal
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (“ATF”). A federal warrant was then issued for Santiago’s
arrest. While in the process of being arrested by the U.S. Marshals at his residence, an additional
firearm was discovered and seized from Santiago’s home. Santiago was then indicted on two counts
of possession of a firearm by a felon in violation of §§ 922 (g) (1) and 924 (a)(2).
Santiago moved in district court to suppress all the evidence seized by the deputies and the
U.S. Marshals during the searches of his residence, and the written statement, asserting that the
searches were illegal and that the statement he had given was involuntary. Santiago asserted that he
did not consent to the deputies entry into and search of his home. He contended that because the
search of his home was illegal, the three firearms seized by the deputies, and the additional firearm
seized by the Marshals, should have been excluded as fruit of the poisonous tree of the illegal search.
Santiago further argued that the written statement was obtained under false pretenses and was not
voluntary because the deputies falsely informed him that the statement would not be used against him
and that he would not be arrested.
The district court found no violation of Santiago’s Fourth Amendment rights and rendered
its oral reasons and order denying his motion to suppress at the conclusion of an evidentiary hearing.
The district court did not issue written reasons or an order. The district court asked whether there
was a valid invitation to enter the residence, and once inside, was there a valid consent to search the
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These include the right to remain silent, and a warning that any statements made by a suspect
could be used against him in a prosecution.
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residence. The district court noted that while the deputies had not advised Santiago of his
Miranda rights, any potential taint of the search was removed by Santiago’s testimony at the hearing
that he was familiar with his rights. The district court stated that without this testimony, it would
have admitted only the firearm found in plain view by the deputies upon their entry into Santiago’s
home. Santiago entered a conditional guilty plea to both counts of the indictment, reserving his right
to appeal the district court’s denial of his motion to suppress. The district court sentenced him to
sixty months imprisonment as to both counts, to run concurrently, followed by three years supervised
release as to both counts, to run concurrently. Santiago filed a timely notice of appeal.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In reviewing a district court’s denial of a defendant’s motion to suppress, this court reviews
factual findings, including credibility choices, for clear error, while we review legal conclusions de
novo. United States v. Solis, 299 F.3d 420, 435 (5th Cir. 2002); United States v. Foy, 28 F.3d 464,
474 (5th Cir. 1994). Where a district court’s denial of a suppression motion is based on live oral
testimony, the clearly erroneous standard is particularly strong because the judge had the opportunity
to observe the demeanor of the witnesses. Solis, 299 F. 3d at 436; Foy, 28 F.3d at 474. We review
the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party, which in this case is the government.
Solis, 299 F. 3d at 436. If the record supports more than one permissible interpretation of the facts,
the reviewing court will accept the district court’s choice between them, absent clear error. United
States v. Posada-Rios, 158 F.3d 832, 868 (5th Cir. 1998).
DISCUSSION
I. Preservation of appeal
Santiago argues that the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress without making
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factual findings to support its ruling. The government responds that Santiago’s conditional guilty plea
did not preserve for appeal this particular argument. Because Santiago did not raise this objection
prior to filing his appeal, the government argues that he waived it. We disagree with the government.
A defendant may preserve the right to appeal an adverse ruling on a pretrial motion by
entering a conditional plea. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 (a) (2). A conditional guilty plea must be
written, consented to by the government, and approved by the district court. Id. We have held that
the writing must state explicitly the particular issues preserved for appeal. United States v. Wise, 179
F.3d 184, 186-87 (5th Cir. 1999). However, we have also held that we will excuse a defendant’s
failure to comply with the writing requirement of Rule 11 (a) (2) if the record demonstrates that the
spirit of the rule has been fulfilled. Id. at 187; see also Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(h) (providing that any
variance from the procedures required by Rule 11 which does not affect substantial rights shall be
disregarded). Furthermore, a plea will be considered conditional if the record clearly indicates that
the defendant intended to enter a conditional guilty plea, that the defendant expressed the intention
to appeal a particular pretrial ruling, and that neither the government nor the district court opposed
such a plea. Wise, 179 F.3d at 187.
Our review of the re-arraignment hearing transcript clearly shows that Santiago expressly
intended to reserve his right to appeal t he district court’s denial of his suppression motion. The
district court acknowledged Santiago’s reservation of his right to appeal several times throughout the
course of that hearing. The government eventually withdrew its initial objections to Santiago’s
reservation of his right to appeal under a conditional guilty plea. The record also shows handwritten
revisions made on the factual basis sheet submitted by the government which specifically states that
Santiago reserves his right to challenge the factual findings later on appeal. Finally, the district court
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at the re-arraignment hearing stated that it was not necessary for Santiago to refer to the written
statement in the factual basis in order to preserve his right to appeal its admissibility. Thus, we find
that the record reflects that Santiago entered a conditional guilty plea that preserved his right to
appeal all aspects of the district court’s denial of his motion to suppress, including any failure by the
district court to make credibility determinations.
II. Rule 12(d) - required factual and credibility determinations
Santiago argues that the district court, in order to discern whether he had consented to the
deputies’ entry and subsequent search of his home, should have expressly determined which
witnesses’ testimony was credible. Santiago also argues that the district court should have expressly
ruled on whether his signed statement was given voluntarily.
Rule 12(d) states that when a ruling on a pretrial motion requires the district court to decide
factual issues, the district court must state its essential findings supporting its ruling on the record.
Fed. R. Crim. P. 12 (d). Santiago correctly notes that the district court’s oral ruling denying his
suppression motion did not expressly set forth its factual or credibility determinations. He also points
to the following statement made by the district judge during the suppression hearing to assert that the
required factual and credibility determinations have not been made:
I realize there’s a dispute as to the fact concerning whether or not Mr.
Santiago gave permission to enter and whether or not he gave
consent, and whether or not the signing of the statement was coercive
or not. Those are issues that can be addressed at trial. The jury can
be given the right and special verdict questions to decide to what
extent, if any, his actions . . . under the circumstances were voluntary.
Nonetheless, our review of the suppression hearing transcript reveals that the district court
initiated comprehensive questioning and discussion involving the issues now on appeal. While the
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district court’s statement above may give the appearance that the required factual or credibility
determinations were not made, this court may nonetheless independently review the record to
determine whether the district court’s decision is supported by “any reasonable review of the
evidence.” United States v. Yeagin, 927 F.2d 798, 800 (5th Cir. 1991). Furthermore, because
credibility determinations are for the district court, this court assumes that the district court accepted
the version of events offered by the government’s witnesses when it conflicts with the version offered
by defense witnesses in denying a defendant’s suppression motion. See United States v. Smith, 543
F.2d 1141, 1145 (5th Cir. 1976).
III. Consent to entry and search
A warrantless entry into and search of a dwelling is presumptively unreasonable unless consent
is given or probable cause and exigent circumstances justify the encroachment. United States v.
Jones, 239 F.3d 716, 719 (5th Cir. 2001). Here, neither probable cause nor exigent circumstances
have been asserted by the government as justifying the warrantless entry into and search of
Santiago’s home. Rather, the government contends that Santiago gave the deputies consent to enter
and search his home. Santiago disputes this contention.
In order to satisfy the consent exception, the government must prove, “by a preponderance
of the evidence,” that “consent to the search was freely and voluntarily given.” Solis, 299 F.3d at
436 (quoting United States v. Gonzales, 121 F.3d 928, 938 (5th Cir. 1997)). “The voluntariness of
consent is a question of fact to be determined from a totality of the circumstances.” Id. (quoting
United States v. Cooper, 43 F.3d 140, 144 (5th Cir. 1995)). This court considers six factors in
evaluating the voluntariness of consent to search, all of which are relevant, but no one of which is
dispositive or controlling. Id. (citing United States v. Kelley, 981 F.2d 1464, 1470 (5th Cir. 1993)).
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Those six factors are: “(1) the voluntariness of the defendant’s custodial status; (2) the presence of
coercive police procedures; (3) the extent and level of the defendant’s cooperation with the police;
(4) the defendant’s awareness of his right to refuse to consent; (5) the defendant’s education and
intelligence; and (6) the defendant’s belief that no incriminating evidence will be found.” Id. (quoting
United States v. Olivier-Becerril, 861 F.2d 424, 426 (5th Cir. 1988)). The consent, however, may
not be given “simply in acquiescence to a claim of lawful authority.” Id. (quoting United States v.
Lopez, 911 F.2d 1006, 1010 (5th Cir. 1990)).
Our independent review of the record reveals the following evidence supporting a finding that
Santiago consented to the deputies entry into and search of his home:
The deputies testified that -
• When the deputies knocked on Santiago’s door and identified themselves as police,
Santiago opened his front door and invited them into his home without being asked;
• One of the deputies then asked Santiago for permission to search his home for the
items that he had purchased from Rossignol and Santiago agreed;
• As the deputies were searching the house, Santiago, on his own and in a very
cooperative manner, pointed out or brought the items he purchased to the deputies
including a Taurus 38 Special.
Santiago testified that -
• When the deputies knocked on his door and identified themselves as police, he opened
the door;
• He is familiar with his Miranda rights based on a criminal record going back to 1964;
• The deputies never stated that they would kick down the door if he did not open it.
Record evidence which could be read as supporting Santiago’s assertion that he neither
invited the deputies into his house, nor consented to the search is as follows:
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The deputies testified to the following -
• Their search lasted for forty-five minutes because the house was very cluttered;
Santiago’s brother, Ulysses, testified that -
• He went to see Santiago on September 12, 2002, and the deputies made him wait
outside for approximately forty-five minutes;
• Santiago normally kept the house very clean and in order, but when he entered it after
the deputies had left, he noticed that the house looked ramshacked, with things
thrown around, looking as if it had been searched.
Santiago testified that -
• While he did open the door when the deputies knocked and identified themselves, he
did not invite them in, but rather, one of the deputies pulled him outside and held him
against the wall as the other deputies entered his house;
• He did not consent to the search of his house;
• He was not cooperative with the deputies during the search, and was not free to move
around, but instead was made to sit on a sofa guarded by one of the deputies as the
others conducted the search;
• When he tried to get off the sofa, one of the deputies grabbed his arm and bent it
around his back, while another put a flashlight up to his neck;
• He did not reveal to the deputies where any of the stolen items were.
The fact that the deputies were in Santiago’s house for forty-five minutes, which is not
disputed, appears to somewhat contradict the deputies testimony of Santiago’s immediate, complete
and voluntary cooperation in locating the evidence at issue in this case. However, the question we
must answer is whether, based on the evidence before us, the district court’s assumed finding that
Santiago invited the deputies into his home and consented to their search was reasonable. We find
that it was reasonable. Finding ample support in the record for the district court’s factual findings,
we reject Santiago’s claim that he did not consent to the entry and search of his home. Solis, 299
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F. 3d at 436; Posada-Rios, 158 F.3d at 868.
IV. The significance of our consent determination
The import of our determination that law enforcement was given consent to enter Santiago’s
residence is significant. Foremost, of course, is the fact that the first of the firearms recovered was
observed by deputies resting in plain view on a mantle within the home. Santiago also acknowledged
to law enforcement that he was aware that he had a prior felony conviction on his criminal record.
The necessary determination that we must make concerns whether the discovery of the firearm
implicates the plain view doctrine, which, of course, is an exception to the Fourth Amendment’s
Warrant Clause. See, e.g., Horton v. California, 496 U.S. 128, 134 (1990); Coolidge v. New
Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 465 (1971); see also United States v. Simmonds, 262 F.3d 468, 470 (5th
Cir. 2001) (“It has long been established that law enforcement officers may seize anything they find
in plain view without any search warrant.”) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
We have recognized that in Horton, the Supreme Court identified several criteria that would
support a finding that an inculpatory object discovered in plain view was not seized in contravention
of the Fourth Amendment. See United States v. Paige, 136 F.3d 1012,1023 (5th Cir. 1998). First,
the member of law enforcement who discovered the object in plain view, must have had a lawful right
to be in the place where it was recovered. Id. Second, and quite obviously, the object had to have
been observed in plain view. Id. Third, the inculpatory nature of the object must have been apparent,
in the sense that it would immediately provide law enforcement with probable cause to believe that
the object is a derivative of a crime. Id. However, the foregoing should not be interpreted too
narrowly, for we have also recognized that law enforcement does not actually have to be cognizant
that the object discovered is contraband, “‘only that there be a practical, nontechnical probability that
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incriminating evidence is involved.’” United States v. Hill, 19 F.3d 984, 989 (5th Cir.1994) (quoting
United States v. Espinoza, 826 F.2d 317, 319 (5th Cir. 1987)). Fourth, law enforcement must have
been in a position to lawfully secure access to the object. Paige, 136 F.3d at 1023.
These considerations guide our inquiry as to whet her law enforcement’s discovery of the
firearms implicated Fourth Amendment concerns regarding the constitutionality of their seizure. We
begin very simply by acknowledging that we have already determined that Santiago gave deputies
consent to enter into his home, thus without belabored analysis of this first Horton consideration, we
find that the deputies were lawfully within Santiago’s home when the firearm was discovered. See,
e.g., United States v. Cardona, 955 F.2d 976, 982 n. 15 (5th Cir. 1992); United States v. Dorr, 636
F.3d 117, 121 (5th Cir. 1981). Secondarily, it is also clear from the suppression hearing transcript
that the firearm was seen in plain view. Though we do not get the sense from the record that deputies
entered into the home operating under the belief that they would discover a cache of weapons, we
have never asked law enforcement “to ignore the significance of items [observed] in plain view . . .
.” United States v. Roberts, 619 F.2d 379, 381 (5th Cir. 1980). Moreover, i t is of no great
significance that the firearms were apparently discovered inadvertently. Compare United States v.
Elwood, 993 F.2d 1146, 1152 (5th Cir.1993) (noting that under the plain view doctrine discovery of
inculpatory evidence does not have to be inadvertent) with Roberts, 619 F.2d at 381 (inadvertent
discovery of illegal paraphernalia was permissible under t he plain view doctrine). Third, the
incriminating character of the firearm was readily apparent, as we have often recognized the
interrelatedness between the possession of firearms and criminality. See generally, e.g., United States
v. Thomas, 120 F.3d 564, 570 (5th Cir. 1997); United States v. Westbrook, 119 F.3d 1176, 1192
(5th Cir. 1997). Given that the deputies went to Santiago’s home because they believed that he had
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information related to Rossignol’s recent burglaries -- as Santiago had acted as a “fence” for
Rossignol -- and because the deputies were also aware that Santiago had prior criminal convictions,
the incriminating character of the firearm was immediately apparent. See, e.g., United States v. Wells,
98 F.3d 808, 810 (4th Cir. 1996) (observing that agents who were aware prior to entering the home
of a suspect that he had prior felonies, were provided with sufficient probable cause to believe that
a firearm seen in plain view constituted evidence of a § 922(g)(1) violation); see also Elwood, 993
F.2d at 1152. Fourth, and finally, we conclude that the deputies had a lawful right of access to the
firearm. See Paige, 136 F.3d at 1023. We observed in Paige that this factor is “‘implicated in
situations such as when an officer on the street sees an object through the window of the house, or
when officers make observations via aerial photography or long-range surveillance. In those cases
the officers cannot use the plain view doctrine to justify a warrantless seizure, because to do so would
require a warrantless entry upon private premises.’” Id. (quoting United States v. Naugle, 997 F.2d
819, 823 (10th Cir. 1993)). Ho wever, under the facts in this case, this final prong has far less
importance in our plain view doctrine calculus because the gun was located in a place where the
deputies had a lawful right to be. See Naugle, 997 F.2d at 823. Therefore, with the foregoing
considerations addressed, we find that the discovery of the first firearm, the .38 Taurus, fell within
the ambit of the plain view doctrine.
The deputies’ resultant discovery of the second and third firearms, further, did not contravene
any concerns implicated by the Fourth Amendment. In fact we believe that law enforcement’s
discovery of these remaining firearms from Santiago’s home complied with well-understood
constitutional principles regarding the discovery of inculpatory evidence, for as the Supreme Court
recognized in Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218 (1972), a warrantless search is clearly
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permissible under the Fourth Amendment if law enforcement is given permission to effectuate the
search in the first instance. Id. at 219. Relying on Schneckloth, we do not perceive any error with
the district court’s factual findings that Santiago voluntarily surrendered the second and third firearms
to the law enforcement officers. Accordingly, we hold that the district court’s finding that Santiago
gave consent for Jefferson Parish Deputies to enter into his home was well-supported by the record,
and as a consequence, the discovery and seizure of the firearms was lawful. Consequently, we find
that Santiago’s motion to suppress the firearms, which form the substantive basis of his felon-in-
possession of a firearm conviction must be affirmed.
V. The constitutionality of the written statement
The final issue that subsists is whether the district court erred in its refusal to suppress the
written statement signed by Santiago, wherein he acknowledged that he was in possession of three
firearms, which had been provided to him by Rossignol. Santiago contends that the confession was
not volitional, and that he simply signed the statement because he had received assurances from the
Jefferson Parish deputies that he would not be arrested if he cooperated. Therefore, we must briefly
consider whether the statement -- which in essence was a confession of complicity with Rossignol –
should be construed as involuntary.
A confession is voluntary if the Government proves by a preponderance of the evidence that
the defendant voluntarily waived any rights against self-incrimination. See United States v. Mullin,
178 F.3d 334, 341 (5th Cir. 1999). The statement must be voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently
made, and the individual confessing must be cognizant of the rights being abandoned and the potential
consequences of doing so. United States v. Ornelas-Rodriguez, 12 F.3d 1339, 1347 (5th Cir. 1994).
We assess the voluntariness of a confession under the totality of the circumstances. Mullin, 178 F.3d
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at 341. The district court’s credibility and factual findings made during the suppression hearing will
be reviewed for clear error, however, a question regarding whether a confession was voluntary is a
legal one that is reviewed de novo. Id.
The Supreme Court has long held that in resolving questions related to the voluntariness of
a defendant’s confession, a reviewing court must look to whether the defendant’s capacity to resist
was overborne to such a degree that the resulting confession could not be said to be the product of
the accused’s own self-determination. See Rogers v. Richmond, 365 U.S. 534, 544 (1961).
Moreover, the fact that certain promises may, or may not, have been made by law enforcement to
secure the confession are not the sole determinant factor we evaluate in determining whether the
confession will be upheld, for “[t]he Constitution does not prohibit every element which influences
a criminal suspect to make incriminating admissions.” United States v. Washington, 431 U.S. 181,
187 (1977). Consequently,“a confession is not involuntary merely because the suspect was promised
leniency if he cooperated with law enforcement officials.” United States v. Bye, 919 F.2d 6, 9 (2d Cir.
1990) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
In this matter, it cannot be seriously argued that Santiago, with a criminal record spanning
some three decades, was caught completely unaware of the consequences of providing assistance to
law enforcement. Cf. United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411, 424-25 (1976) (recognizing that
among the factors that should be considered in determining whether a defendant’s consent with law
enforcement was voluntary was whether the defendant had prior familiarity with the law and prior
encounters with law enforcement); see also Soffar v. Cockrell, 300 F.3d 588, 596 (5th Cir. 2002 )
(countenancing the use of deception to secure a confession unless in doing so the defendant is
completely unaware of the rights being abandoned). Additionally, simply because law enforcement
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engaged Santiago in a conversation in a noncustodial environment which thereby resulted in his
providing inculpatory statements -- which were transcribed in the written statement that he signed --
does not implicate serious concerns related to the constitutionality of the statement provided that we
are satisfied that the statement was not ultimately the product of coercion. See Beckwith v. United
States, 425 U.S. 341, 348 (1976).
Our review of the record does not indicate that Santiago’s naivete compelled him to disclose
that Rossignol had provided him with the three firearms. To the contrary, as a prior felon, Santiago
was quite aware that he was not permitted to possess the weapons, and therefore, his voluntary
cooperation was likely nothing more than a reasoned attempt to obviate the consequences of having
conceded to the officers t hat he had served as a “fence” for Rossignol the preceding day.
Notwithstanding Santiago’s claim that his written statement was the product of improper inducements
by the law enforcement officers, the district court rejected this claim after measuring the credibility
of all the witnesses. Following a careful review of the record, we are satisfied that any assurances
given to Santiago were limited and that the district court’s implicit conclusion to that effect was not
clearly erroneous. As such, because we do not find that the written statement was the product of
either duress or any undue coercion, the district court appropriately determined that the statement
was not rendered involuntarily. Therefore, t he district court’s denial of Santiago’s motion to
suppress the written statement was proper.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, we find that the district court’s conclusion that Santiago voluntarily consented
to allow Jefferson Parish Sheriff Office deputies to enter and search his residence was not clearly
erroneous, and therefore affirm the denial of Santiago’s motion to suppress the firearms. Similarly,
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because we find that the written statement that was not signed by Santiago involuntarily, the district
court correctly denied the motion to suppress the statement as well.
AFFIRMED.
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United States v. Santiago
Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Date filed: 2005-05-18
Citations: 410 F.3d 193
Copy Citations