State of Iowa
v.
Jenna Lea DeBrower
Appellee
State of Iowa
Appellant
Jenna Lea DeBrower
Attorney for the Appellee
Kyle Hanson, Assistant Attorney General
Attorney for the Appellant
Fred Stiefel
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Poweshiek County, Rose Anne Mefford, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Tabor, P.J., Greer, J., and Carr, S.J. Opinion by Carr, S.J. (5 pages)
Jenna Lea DeBrower challenges the denial of her motions to suppress evidence she claims the State obtained in violation of her constitutional rights. OPINION HOLDS: Law enforcement did not violate DeBrower’s constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. The search of a closed bag in her vehicle was not a warrantless inventory search. Instead, it fell within the automobile exception to the warrant requirement because the officers had probable cause to believe it contained contraband. And the officers did not have to give DeBrower Miranda warnings because she was not in custody.