Okla. Stat. tit. 63 § 2-402(A)(1)

S-2018-952

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### COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS ### STATE OF OKLAHOMA ### CASE NO. S-2018-952 **THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA** Appellant, v. **JOHN GLENN MORGAN** Appellee. **OPINION** *Rowland, J.:* The State of Oklahoma charged John Glenn Morgan with possession of a controlled drug, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and unsafe lane change. Following a motion to suppress evidence obtained during a warrantless search of Morgan's vehicle during a traffic stop, the district court granted the motion, resulting in the dismissal of two felony counts against Morgan. The State appeals this decision, claiming errors in the district court's evaluation of the traffic stop's duration, Morgan's consent to a search, the justification for continued detention, and the applicability of an independent source doctrine. **BACKGROUND** On September 5, 2018, Owasso Police Officer Josua Goins stopped Morgan after witnessing reckless driving. During the stop, a drug dog was brought to screen the vehicle. After the dog alerted, officers found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The district court later ruled that the extended detention to wait for the drug dog was not supported by reasonable suspicion after the initial traffic violation was addressed. ### DISCUSSION #### Proposition 1: Proper Evaluation of Duration of the Stop The court acknowledges that any motorist has the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures under both the United States and Oklahoma Constitutions. A traffic stop should be limited to its purpose, and any extended detention must be justified through reasonable suspicion. The district court considered the duration of the stop and determined that once Officer Goins had administered necessary tests and checks, he had no basis for further detention and should have issued a citation. #### Proposition 2: Consent to Search and Duration Requirements The State argues that Morgan's consent to search the trailer should extend the permissible duration of the stop. Still, the court finds that the time spent inspecting the trailer after the sober tests and inspection does not justify further detention without any additional reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. #### Proposition 3: Justification for Extended Detention The State failed to provide sufficient justification for extending the detention beyond investigating the traffic violation. The details already addressed during the stop contradicted the necessity for prolonged inquiry based on Morgan's logbook, a secondary issue due to the unavailability of a trooper to assist. #### Proposition 4: Independent Source Doctrine The State contended that any evidence obtained during the illegal extension could be justified under the independent source doctrine; however, the trial court found no separate basis for the initial stop's extension that would legitimize the evidence obtained afterward. ### DECISION The Court affirms the district court's ruling to grant Morgan's motion to suppress. The evidence obtained during the extended stop is inadmissible, reinforcing the importance of adhering to constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure during traffic stops. **Affirmed**. **Concurrences**: Lewis, Kuehn, Lumpkin, Hudson. [Download PDF](https://opinions.wirthlawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/S-2018-952_1734278226.pdf)

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F-2013-788

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In OCCA case No. F-2013-788, Travis Lenard Mikado appealed his conviction for Attempting to Elude a Police Officer and Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance for both Marijuana and Methamphetamine. In a published decision, the court decided to reverse the conviction for the misdemeanor Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance while affirming the convictions for Attempting to Elude a Police Officer and the felony possession of Methamphetamine. One judge dissented. The case began when two police officers saw Mikado driving erratically, crossing the centerline. They activated their lights and followed him into a parking lot. Instead of stopping, Mikado accelerated, jumped the curb, and took off down the street, leading the officers on a high-speed chase. The pursuit ended when Mikado lost control of his car, which flipped multiple times. He was thrown from the vehicle but was conscious when officers reached him. A search revealed he had Methamphetamine and Marijuana in his pockets. Mikado challenged his convictions for Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, claiming they violated laws against multiple punishments. However, he hadn’t raised this challenge before the trial, so the court evaluated it for plain error, which occurs when there is an obvious mistake that impacts the fairness of the trial. The court found that Mikado's two drug possessions were part of a single act since both drugs were found in one location. The ruling referenced past decisions where individuals could not be punished more than once for the same offense if it was part of one action, as in Mikado’s case. The court decided that since the Methamphetamine and Marijuana were both in the same pocket, it counted as one act of possession. Therefore, the conviction for one of the drugs was reversed. In summary, the court affirmed most of Mikado’s convictions but recognized that he should not have been punished for both drugs separately, leading to a significant change in his sentencing.

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