US v. Walter Fayall, III
Filing
920090309
Opinion
UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 08-4572
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. WALTER FAYALL, III, Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, at Florence. Terry L. Wooten, District Judge. (4:06-cr-00765-TLW-1)
Submitted:
January 12, 2009
Decided:
March 9, 2009
Before NIEMEYER and Senior Circuit Judge.
TRAXLER,
Circuit
Judges,
and
HAMILTON,
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Michael A. Meetze, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Florence, South Carolina, for Appellant. W. Walter Wilkins, United States Attorney, Rose Mary Parham, Carrie A. Fisher, Assistant United States Attorneys, Florence, South Carolina, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM: Walter Fayall, III, was indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 922(g)(1) (2006).
Fayall moved to suppress the evidence upon
which the indictment was based, arguing that he was arrested, and his vehicle was searched, without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. The district court denied the motion after an Fayall pled guilty, preserving his right of the suppression motion, and was
evidentiary hearing. to appeal the
denial
sentenced to thirty-six months' imprisonment. Fayall argues on appeal that the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress because the officers did not have probable cause to arrest him for trespassing under a
municipal ordinance of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. contends that the ordinance is void for vagueness
He also under the
United States Constitution and facially invalid under the laws and Constitution of South Carolina. We review the district court's factual findings
underlying the denial of a motion to suppress for clear error and its legal conclusions de novo. 400 F.3d 212, 216 (4th Cir. 2005). United States v. Grossman, When a suppression motion
has been denied, we construe the evidence in the light most favorable to the government. 542, 547 (4th Cir. 1998). 2 United States v. Seidman, 156 F.3d
An arresting officer may, without a warrant, search a person who is validly arrested based upon probable cause. When an
Michigan v. DeFillippo, 443 U.S. 31, 35-36 (1979).
occupant or recent occupant of a vehicle is lawfully arrested, officers may also search the vehicle incident to the arrest. Thornton v. United States, 541 U.S. 615, 623-24 (2004). the probability, and not a prima facie showing, of "[O]nly criminal
activity is the standard of probable cause."
Illinois v. Gates,
462 U.S. 213, 235 (1983) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In the context of an arrest, probable cause exists
"when `facts and circumstances within the officer's knowledge . . . are sufficient to warrant a prudent person, or one of reasonable caution, in believing, in the circumstances shown, that the suspect has committed, is committing, or is about to commit an offense.'" Porterfield v. Lott, 156 F.3d 563, 569
(4th Cir. 1998) (quoting DeFillippo, 443 U.S. at 37). The Myrtle Beach city ordinance under which Fayall was arrested provides that "no person shall enter upon the lands or premises owned or occupied by another for any other reason than a legitimate cause." observation ordinance, of When officers arrest a suspect based upon that violates a presumptively cause, valid the
conduct to
sufficient
constitute
probable
and
ordinance has not been declared unconstitutional, a subsequent determination that the ordinance is unconstitutional does not 3
invalidate possible
the
arrest of
and a
any law
incident so
search, and
"with
the
exception
grossly
flagrantly
unconstitutional that any person of reasonable prudence would be bound to see its flaws." DeFillippo, 443 U.S. at 37-40.
In this case, the district court properly found that Fayall's arrest was supported by probable cause. The arresting
officers observed Fayall next to a vehicle parked in a parking lot of a closed business, in an area that was marked as a towaway zone. Upon him the questioning, could not Fayall any and valid another reason individual for their the
accompanying presence on
state
property.
Fayall
would
not
respond
to
request for information, and the other individual stated that they were parking there in order to "walk along the strip"
nearby.
These were sufficient facts to demonstrate a reasonable that Fayall was Because violating the the Myrtle has not Beach been
probability trespassing
ordinance.
ordinance
declared unconstitutional, and is not "grossly and flagrantly unconstitutional" on its face, the validity of the search
incident to Fayall's arrest is not affected by any arguments that the ordinance should be declared unconstitutional. Finding no error in the district court's denial of Fayall's judgment. legal motion to suppress, we affirm the district court's
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and are adequately 4 presented in the materials
contentions
before
the
court
and
argument
would
not
aid
the
decisional
process. AFFIRMED
5
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?