United States vs. Flowers, No. 05-5149 (10th Cir. 2006)

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS November 2, 2006 TENTH CIRCUIT Elisabeth A. Shumaker Clerk of Court U N ITED STA TES O F A M ER IC A , P l a in t i f f - A p p e ll e e , No. 05-5149 ( N .D . O k l a h o m a ) (N O . 04-C R-212-TC K) v. W ILLIE EA RL FLO W ERS, D efendant-A ppellant. ORDER AND JUDGM ENT* B e f o r e H E N R Y , B R I S C O E , a n d O B R I E N , C i r c u it J u d g e s . * * W i l l i e E a r l F l o w e r s w a s c o n v ic te d a f t e r a ju r y t r i a l o f p o s s e s s i o n o f a f i r e a r m a f te r a f o rm e r f e lo n y c o n v ic tio n , a v io la tio n o f 1 8 U .S .C . § 9 2 2 ( g ) ( 1 ) . T h e d is t r i c t c o u r t f o u n d th a t M r . F l o w e r s h a d b e e n c o n v ic te d o f t h r e e p ri o r f e lo n i e s , a p p li e d th e A r m e d C a r e e r C r im i n a l A c t ( A C C A ) , 1 8 * T h i s o r d e r a n d ju d g m e n t i s n o t b i n d i n g p r e c e d e n t, e x c e p t u n d e r t h e d o c t r in e s o f l a w o f t h e c a s e , r e s j u d i c a t a , a n d c o l la t e r a l e s t o p p e l . T h e c o u r t g e n e ra ll y d i s f a v o rs t h e c it a ti o n o f o r d e r s a n d ju d g m e n ts ; n e v e rt h e le s s , a n o r d e r a n d ju d g m e n t m a y b e c it e d u n d e r t h e te r m s a n d c o n d it i o n s o f 1 0 T H C I R . R . 3 6 .3 ** A f te r e x a m i n i n g t h e b r i e f s a n d a p p e ll a te r e c o rd , t h i s p a n e l h a s d e te r m i n e d u n a n im o u s l y t h a t o r a l a r g u m e n t w o u l d n o t m a te r i a ll y a s s i s t t h e d e te r m i n a ti o n o f th i s a p p e a l . S e e F E D . R . A P P . P . 3 4 ( a ) ( 2 ) ; 1 0 t h C ir . R . 3 4 . 1 ( G ) . T h e c a s e i s t h e r e f o r e o r d e r e d s u b m i t te d w i t h o u t o r a l a r g u m e n t . U . S . C . § 9 2 4 ( e ) , a n d s e n te n c e d h i m t o 2 6 4 m o n th s i n c a rc e ra ti o n , f o ll o w e d b y f i v e ye a rs s u p e rv is e d re le a s e . O n appeal, M r. Flow ers argues that (1) the district court erred in d e n yi n g h i s m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s e v id e n c e f o u n d in h i s c a r d u r i n g h i s O c to b e r 1 5 , 2 0 0 4 d e te n ti o n ; ( 2 ) t h e c o u rt e r r e d in c o n c lu d i n g t h a t h i s 1 9 9 1 O k l a h o m a c o n v i c ti o n f o r e s c a p e f r o m a p e n a l i n s ti t u t i o n c o n s t i t u t e d a violent felony under the A CCA ; and (3) the court violated his Sixth A m e n d m e n t ri g h t s b y f a i li n g t o r e q u i re t h e g o v e r n m e n t to p r o v e t o a j u r y b e yo n d a r e a s o n a b le d o u b t t h a t h e h a d p re v io u s l y b e e n c o n v i c te d o f v io l e n t felonies. W e are not persuaded by M r. Flowers s arguments and therefore a f f i r m h i s c o n v ic ti o n a n d s e n te n c e . I. B AC KG RO U N D O n O c to b e r 1 5 , 2 0 0 4 , T u l s a , O k l a h o m a p o l i c e o f f ic e rs r e c e i v e d a r e p o r t o f a d o m e s t i c d i s tu r b a n c e a t th e h o m e o f L i z a H a r r i n g , M r . F l o w e r s s girlfriend. W hen police officers arrived at M s. H arring s door, she told them that M r. Flow ers had come to her house w ith a handgun and had p o i n t e d i t a t h e r. S h o r t l y a f te r t h e o f f i c e rs a r r i v e d , M r . F l o w e r s c a m e t o t h e d o o r . T h e officers instructed him to show his hands, turn around backw ards, and w alk 2 t o w a r d t h e m s l o w l y. M r . F l o w e r s c o m p l i e d , a n d t h e o f f i c e r s p l a c e d h i m i n h a n d c u f f s a n d p a t te d h i m d o w n . A f t e r th a t in s p e c t io n r e v e a l e d n o w e a p o n s , the officers put M r. Flow ers in a patrol car. They placed the contents of his p o c k e t s , i n c l u d i n g h i s c a r k e ys , o n t h e h o o d o f a p a t r o l c a r . O f f i c e r K e v i n D o r s e y a s k e d f o r M r . F l o w e r s s i d e n ti f ic a ti o n w h i l e o th e r o f f ic e rs c o n ti n u e d t o t a l k t o M s . H a rr in g . M s . H a r r i n g t o l d t h e o f f i c e rs t h a t t h e g u n M r . F l o w e r s h a d p o in t e d a t h e r m i g h t b e i n h e r b a c k ya r d , b u t , a f t e r t h e o f f i c e r s w e r e u n a b l e t o f i n d i t t h e r e , s h e s a i d t h a t it m i g h t b e i n M r . F l o w e r s s c a r . S e r g e a n t R o b e r t R o h l o f f p r o c e e d e d to r e a d M r . F l o w e r s h i s M i r a n d a ri g h t s a n d a s k e d w h a t had happened. M r. Flow ers denied that he had brought a gun to M s. H a r r i n g s h o u s e o r t h a t a n y g u n s w e r e in h is c a r. S e r g e a n t R o h l o f f a s k e d h i m i f h e w o u l d h a v e a n y o b j e c t io n t o t h e o f f i c e r s s e a r c h i n g t h e c a r , a n d M r . Flow ers stated that he w ould not. T h e o f f i c e rs t h e n d is c o v e re d th a t M r . F l o w e r s c a r w a s l o c k e d a n d a s k e d h im f o r t h e k e ys . M r . F l o w e r s t o l d t h e m h e d i d n o t k n o w w h e r e th e k e ys w e r e , b u t O f f ic e r D o r s e y t h e n r e m e m b e r e d th a t k e ys h a d b e e n t a k e n f r o m M r . F l o w e r s s p o c k e t a n d p la c e d o n t h e p a tr o l c a r. O f f ic e r R o h l o f f r e c o v e r e d th e k e ys , o p e n e d th e tr u n k , a n d d is c o v e re d a b ri e f c a s e c o n ta in i n g tw o handguns. A f t e r a g r a n d j u r y i n d i c te d h i m f o r p o s s e s s i o n o f a f i r e a r m a f t e r a 3 f o r m e r f e lo n y c o n v ic tio n , in v io la tio n o f 1 8 U .S .C . § 9 2 2 ( g ) ( 1 ) , M r . F l o w e r s f il e d a m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s , a r g u i n g t h a t t h e s e a rc h o f th e tr u n k w a s t h e f r u i t o f a n u n la w f u l d e te n tio n a n d a r r e s t. T h e d is tr ic t c o u rt c o n d u c te d a h e a r i n g a n d th e n d e n ie d th e m o tio n . T h e c o u r t r e a s o n e d t h a t t h e o f f i c e r s h a d r e a s o n a b l e s u s p i c io n t o d e t a i n M r . F l o w e r s w h e n th e y f ir s t a r r i v e d a t M s . H a r r i n g s h o u s e a n d th a t t h e y h a d p r o b a b le c a u s e to a r r e s t h i m o n c e th e y l e a rn e d th a t h e h a d p o in t e d a g u n a t h e r . M o r e o v e r, t h e c o u rt s a id , M r . F l o w e r s h a d c o n s e n te d to t h e s e a rc h o f his car. T h e ju ry c o n v ic te d M r. F lo w e r s o f th e § 9 2 2 ( g ) ( 1 ) f ir e a r m c h a r g e . T h e p r e s e n te n c e r e p o r t c o n c lu d e d th a t M r . F l o w e r s w a s a n a rm e d c a r e e r criminal because he had three prior convictions for crimes of violence: firstdegree robbery in 1967, second-degree burglary in 1989, and escape from a p e n a l i n s t i t u t io n i n 1 9 9 1 . M r . F l o w e r s o b j e c te d o n th e g r o u n d s t h a t h e h a d a S i x t h A m e n d m e n t r i g h t t o a ju r y t r i a l o n t h e is s u e o f w h e th e r h e h a d b e e n c o n v ic te d o f th e s e o f f e n s e s . H o w e v e r, h e d id n o t o b j e c t t o t h e p r e s e n te n c e r e p o r t s c h a ra c te r i z a ti o n o f th e o f f e n s e s a s c r i m e s o f v io l e n c e . T h e d i s tr ic t c o u r t o v e r r u l e d t h e o b j e c t io n a n d s e n t e n c e d M r . F l o w e r s t o 2 6 4 m o n th s i n c a rc e ra tio n , f o llo w e d b y f iv e ye a r s s u p e r v is e d r e le a s e . II. D ISC USSIO N 4 M r . F l o w e r s d o e s n o t d i s p u t e th e d is t r i c t c o u r t s f a c t u a l f in d i n g s r e g a rd i n g h i s m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s , a n d w e th e r e f o re e x a m i n e d e n o v o th e question of w hether the officers violated his rights under the Fourth A m e n d m e n t . U n i te d S t a te s v . W i ll ia m s , 2 7 1 F .3 d 1 2 6 2 , 1 2 6 6 ( 1 0 t h C i r. 2 0 0 1 ) . W i t h r e g a rd t o t h e c h a r a c te r i z a ti o n o f h is p r i o r e s c a p e c o n v ic ti o n , w e n o t e t h a t M r . F l o w e r s d i d n o t ra i s e t h a t is s u e i n t h e d i s tr ic t c o u r t p r o c e e d i n g s , a n d s o o u r r e v ie w i s f o r p l a in e r r o r . U n i t e d S t a te s v . V i s i n a iz , 4 2 8 F . 3 d 1 3 0 0 , 1 3 0 8 ( 1 0 t h C i r . 2 0 0 5 ) . W e e x a m i n e d e n o v o th e q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r th e S i x t h A m e n d m e n t re q u i re s t h e g o v e r n m e n t to s u b m i t t o a j u r y t h e f a c t o f M r . F l o w e r s s p r io r c o n v i c t i o n s . A . M otion to Suppress M r . F l o w e r s c o n c e d e s t h a t [ t ] h e o f f i c e r s w e r e i n i t ia l l y j u s t i f i e d i n o r d e r i n g [ h im ] a t g u n p o i n t t o w a lk b a c k w a r d s t o t h e m , a n d in h a n d c u f f in g [ h im ] b e c a u s e [ t h e o f f i c e rs ] w e r e in v e s t i g a ti n g a r e p o r t t h a t a m a n h a d a g u n , a n d th e c a l l e r h a d v e ri f ie d to p o l i c e th a t [ M r . F l o w e r s ] p r e v io u s l y h a d a g u n . A p l t s B r . a t 1 0 . H o w e v e r, M r . F l o w e r s a r g u e s t h a t t h e d e te n ti o n b e c a m e u n re a s o n a b le a f te r t h e o f f ic e r s f r i s k e d h im a n d f o u n d n o w e a p o n s . A t t h a t p o i n t , h e a s s e r t s , h e n o lo n g e r p r e s e n te d a d a n g e r , a n d th e c o n ti n u e d u s e o f h a n d c u f f s w a s u n r e a s o n a b le u n d e r t h e F o u r t h A m e n d m e n t . T h e s e a rc h o f h is c a r, h e c o n c l u d e s , w a s t h e f ru i t o f th a t u n l a w f u l d e te n ti o n . 5 T h e a ll o w a b le s c o p e o f a n in v e s t i g a ti v e d e te n ti o n c a n n o t b e d e te r m i n e d b y r e f e r e n c e t o a b r i g h t - l i n e r u l e . U n i t e d S t a te s v . N e f f , 3 0 0 F . 3 d 1 2 1 7 , 1 2 2 0 ( 1 0 th C i r . 2 0 0 2 ) . [ C ] o m m o n s e n s e a n d o rd i n a r y h u m a n e x p e ri e n c e m u s t g o v e r n o v e r r i g i d c r i t e r i a . I d . ( i n t e r n a l q u o t a ti o n m a r k s o m i t te d ) . A c c o r d i n g l y, e v e n t h o u g h t h e u s e o f h a n d c u f f s i s n o t j u s t i f i e d i n every investigative detention, a Terry stop does not become unreasonable j u s t b e c a u s e p o lic e o f f ic e rs u s e h a n d c u f f s o n a s u s p e c t. I d . T h e u s e o f h a n d c u f f s d u r in g a n i n v e s t i g a t iv e d e t e n t io n i s r e a s o n a b l e if i t i s reasonably necessary to protect [the officers ] personal safety and to m a in t a in t h e s t a tu s q u o d u r i n g t h e c o u rs e o f [ t h e d e te n ti o n ] . I d . a t 1 2 2 0 2 1 ( in t e r n a l q u o t a ti o n m a r k s o m i tt e d ) . A p p l yi n g t h i s s ta n d a r d , w e c o n c l u d e t h a t th e o f f i c e r s c o n t i n u e d u s e of handcuffs after they patted dow n M r. Flow ers did not violate the Fourth Amendment. Even though the officers found no weapons in M r. Flowers s p o c k e ts , M s . H a r r i n g s r e p o r t t h a t M r . F l o w e r s h a d b e e n a rm e d in d i c a te d t h a t h e m i g h t s t i l l p o s e a th r e a t t o t h e ir s a f e t y. S e e id . ( c o n c lu d i n g t h a t officers did not act unreasonably by continuing to hold suspects in h a n d c u f f s w h i le t h e y s e a r c h e d a c a r f o r w e a p o n s ) . A c c o r d i n g l y, t h e o f f i c e r s w ere authorized to keep M r. Flow ers in handcuffs w hile they continued to search for w eapons. M o r e o v e r, a s t h e d is t r i c t c o u r t n o t e d , o n c e th e o f f i c e rs r e c e i v e d 6 f u r t h e r i n f o r m a ti o n f r o m M s . H a r r i n g a s t o M r . F l o w e r s s t h r e a te n in g c o n d u c t, t h e y h a d p r o b a b le c a u s e to a r r e s t h i m . A t t h a t p o i n t , t h e c o n ti n u e d a p p li c a ti o n o f h a n d c u f f s w a s j u s t i f ie d o n th a t g r o u n d a s w e ll . S e e U n i t e d S t a te s v . P a t a n e , 3 0 4 F . 3 d 1 0 1 3 , 1 0 1 7 ( 1 0 t h C i r . 2 0 0 2 ) ( P o l i c e a r e e n ti t l e d t o b a s e a n a r r e s t o n a c it i z e n c o m p l a in t . . . o f a v ic ti m . . . w i t h o u t i n v e s t i g a ti n g t h e tr u t h f u ln e s s o f th e c o m p l a in t , u n l e s s . . . t h e y h a v e re a s o n t o b e l i e v e i t s f i s h y. ) ( c i t in g G u z e l l v . H i l le r , 2 2 3 F . 3 d 5 1 8 , 5 1 9 - 2 0 ( 7 t h C i r . 2 0 0 0 ) ( i n t e r n a l q u o t a ti o n m a r k s o m i t t e d ) , r e v d o n o t h e r g r o u n d s , 5 4 2 U . S . 6 3 0 (2 0 0 4 ); s e e g e n e ra lly 2 W a yn e R . L a F a v e , S e a r c h a n d S e iz u r e § 3 . 4 ( a ) , a t 2 2 4 - 2 2 5 ( 4 t h e d . 2 0 0 4 ) ( n o t i n g th a t [ b ] y f a r t h e p r e v a i l i n g v i e w i s t h a t c o r r o b o r a ti o n i s n o t e s s e n ti a l i n v i c ti m - w i t n e s s c a s e s , a n d a rg u i n g th a t w h e n a n a v e r a g e c i t i z e n te n d e rs in f o r m a ti o n t o t h e p o li c e , t h e p o li c e s h o u l d b e p e r m i t te d t o a s s u m e t h a t t h e y a r e d e a l i n g w i t h a c r e d i b l e p e r s o n i n t h e a b s e n c e o f s p e c ia l c ir c u m s t a n c e s s u g g e s t i n g th a t s u c h m i g h t n o t b e th e case ). T h u s , t h e s e a rc h o f M r . F l o w e r s s c a r w a s n o t t h e f r u i t o f a n u n la w f u l d e t e n t io n o r a r r e s t . A d d i ti o n a l ly, a s t h e d i s tr ic t c o u r t n o t e d , M r . F l o w e r s p r e s e n te d n o e v id e n c e i n d i c a ti n g t h a t h i s c o n s e n t t o t h e s e a rc h w a s t h e p r o d u c e o f p o l i c e c o e r c i o n . A c c o r d i n g l y, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t c o r r e c t l y concluded that the search comported w ith the Fourth A mendment. 7 B. Escape Conviction W e r e v ie w f o r p l a in e r r o r M r . F l o w e r s s c o n te n ti o n t h a t h i s 1 9 9 1 e s c a p e c o n v ic tio n d id n o t c o n s titu te a v io le n t f e lo n y u n d e r t h e A C C A . In order to prevail, M r. Flow ers m ust demonstrate: (1) error, (2) that is p l a in , a n d ( 3 ) t h a t t h e e rr o r a f f e c ts s u b s t a n ti a l r i g h t s . V i s i n a iz , 4 2 8 F . 3 d a t 1 3 0 8 . E v e n if M r . F l o w e r s m a k e s t h i s s h o w i n g , w e m a y e x e rc is e d is c r e ti o n t o c o r r e c t t h e e rr o r o n l y i f it s e r i o u s l y a f f e c t[ s ] t h e f a i r n e s s , i n t e g r i t y, o r p u b li c r e p u t a t i o n o f j u d i c i a l p r o c e e d in g s . U n it e d S ta t e s v . O l a n o , 5 0 7 U . S . 7 2 5 , 7 3 2 ( 1 9 9 3 ) ( in t e r n a l q u o t a ti o n m a r k s o m i tt e d ) . H e r e , M r . F l o w e r s c o n c e d e s t h a t t h e r e is n o e r r o r a n d th a t h i s c o u n s e l h a s p r e s e r v e d th e c la im i n o r d e r t o p u r s u e r e v e rs a l o f th i s p r e c e d e n t b y e n b a n c o r S u p r e m e C o u r t r e v i e w . A p l t s B r . a t 1 3 . A s M r . F l o w e r s a c k n o w l e d g e s , w e h a v e a d o p te d a c a te g o r i c a l a p p r o a c h to e s c a p e c o n v ic ti o n s , h o l d i n g t h a t t h e s e c o n v ic ti o n s c o n s t i t u t e c ri m e s o f v io l e n c e d e s p i t e th e u n d e rl yi n g c ir c u m s t a n c e s . S e e U n i t e d S t a te s v . M o u d y, 1 3 2 F . 3 d 6 1 8 , 6 2 0 ( 1 0 t h C i r . 1 9 9 8 ) ( s t a ti n g t h a t [ e ] v e r y e s c a p e s c e n a r i o i s a p o w d e r k e g , w h i c h m a y o r m a y n o t e x p lo d e in t o v i o l e n c e a n d r e s u l t i n p h ys i c a l i n j u r y t o s o m e o n e a t a n y g i v e n ti m e , b u t w h i c h a lw a ys h a s t h e s e r i o u s p o t e n t ia l t o d o s o a n d t h a t t h i s c h a r a c t e r iz a t i o n a p p l i e s to a l l e s c a p e s , w h e th e r o r n o t v i o l e n c e w a s a c tu a ll y i n v o l v e d ) ( c it i n g U n i t e d S t a te s v . G o s l in g , 3 9 F .3 d 1 1 4 0 , 1 1 4 4 ( 1 0 t h C i r. 1 9 9 4 ) ) . 8 C. Sixth Amendment C laim F i n a l l y, M r . F l o w e r s a r g u e s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t v i o l a t e d h i s S i x t h A m e n d m e n t r i g h ts b y f a il i n g t o s u b m i t t h e f a c t o f h is p r i o r c o n v ic ti o n s t o a j u r y. T h i s a r g u m e n t i s a ls o f o r e c lo s e d b y c ir c u it p r e c e d e n t. S e e U n i t e d S t a te s v . M o o r e , 4 0 1 F . 3 d 1 2 2 0 , 1 2 2 3 , 1 2 2 6 ( 1 0 t h C i r . 2 0 0 5 ) ( h o l d i n g t h a t th e f a c t o f p r i o r c o n v ic ti o n s u n d e r § 9 2 4 ( e ) n e e d n o t b e c h a r g e d in a n i n d i c tm e n t a n d p r o v e n to a ju r y a n d a l s o t h a t th e g o v e rn m e n t n e e d n o t c h a rg e in a n in d i c tm e n t a n d p r o v e to a ju r y t h a t a d e f e n d a n t s p r i o r c o n v i c t i o n c o n s t it u t e s a v i o l e n t f e l o n y u n d e r § 9 2 4 ( e ) ) . III. CONCLUSION A c c o rd i n g l y, w e A F F I R M M r . F l o w e rs s c o n v ic ti o n a n d s e n te n c e . E n t e r e d f o r th e C o u r t Robert H. Henry C ir c u it J u d g e 9

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.