Opinion
No. 08-11615 Non-Argument Calendar.
December 24, 2008.
Terry Flynn, E. Bryan Wilson, U.S. Attorney's Office, N.D. of Florida, Tallahassee, FL, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Lloyd Lowell Vipperman, Jr., Johnson Vipperman, P.A., Gainesville, FL, for Defendants-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. D.C. Docket No. 06-00038-CR-1-MP-AK-3.
Before ANDERSON, DUBINA and MARCUS, Circuit Judges.
Appellant John Michael Lowry appeals his conviction for conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana plants, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. On appeal, Lowry argues that the district court erred by not suppressing the evidence seized from his property, as the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") agents committed an illegal "knock and talk," because a reasonable person would have known that he was not permitted to enter the property.
In reviewing the denial of a motion to suppress, we review the district court's factual findings for clear error, and review de novo the application of the law to the facts. United States v. Perez, 443 F.3d 772, 774 (11th Cir. 2006). The facts are construed in the light most favorable to the party that prevailed below. Id.
The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. U.S. Const. amend. IV. For a search to be unconstitutional, a defendant must establish both a subjective and an objective expectation of privacy. United States v. Segura-Baltazar, 448 F.3d 1281, 1286 (11th Cir. 2006). A subjective expectation of privacy occurs if the defendant actually expected privacy, and an objective expectation of privacy occurs only when society is prepared to recognize an expectation of privacy as reasonable. Id. Unless expressly prohibited, an officer is permitted to approach a residence and knock on the front door of any property to the extent that a private citizen could do the same. United States v. Taylor, 458 F.3d 1201, 1204 (11th Cir. 2006). The doctrines of trespass and Fourth Amendment searches are distinct, and a trespass does not create a constitutional violation. United States v. Hall, 47 F.3d 1091, 1095-96 (11th Cir. 1995). We have held that a warrantless search is illegal if an officer possesses probable cause, but instead of obtaining a search warrant, creates exigent circumstances to justify a search. United States v. Santa, 236 F.3d 662, 671 (11th Cir. 2000) (quoting United States v. Tobin, 923 F.2d 1506, 1511 (11th Cir. 1991)).
We conclude from the record that the district court did not err in denying the motion to suppress, as the officers conducted a valid "knock and talk" at Lowry's residence, which resulted in Lowry consenting to a search of the property. Accordingly, we affirm Lowry's conviction.
AFFIRMED.