HanaFineman

Period
May7,2014
IRAC
Bondv.UnitedStates

AmannamedStevenDewayneBondwasridingonaGreyhoundbustravelingfrom
CaliforniatoLittleRock,Arkansas.OncethebusarrivedtotheTexanborder,Border
PatrolAgentCesarCantuboardedthebustochecktheimmigrationstatusofthe
passengers.Hefoundthattherewerenopassengersridingthebusthatwereillegallyinthe
UnitedStates,andmadehiswaybacktothefrontofthebus.Onthewaythere,Agent
Cantusqueezedthepassengersbagsintheoverheadcompartments.WhenAgentCantu
arrivedatBondsgreencanvasbag,hefeltabricklikeobjectandaskedBondifhecould
openthebagtosearchit.Bondconsentedtothesearch,leadingAgentCantutofinda
brickofmethamphetamine.StevenDewayneBondwaschargedwithconspiracyto
possess,andpossessionwithintenttodistribute,methamphetamineandsentencedto57
monthsinprison.ThelegalquestionofthiscaseisdoesBondhavestanding?Hashe
[sought]topreserve[something]asprivate?
TheCAv.Ciraolocasein1986clearlyestablishedtherulethatifonehas
standing,aphysicalbarrierofprivacythatthepublicmaydeemasreasonable,theyare
protectedbytheFourthAmendmentandastateofficialmustobtainawarranttoconduct
anysearchofapersonortheirproperty.Withtheknowledgeofthatrule,thequestionis
whetherornotBondhasstandinginthiscase,and,ifso,wouldtheprivacyheexpectedto
haveberecognizedasreasonablebysociety?
TheFourthAmendmentprotectsTherightofthepeopletobesecureintheir
persons,houses,papers,andeffects,againstunreasonablesearchesandseizures.Due
toBorderPatrolAgentCesarCantuworkingasanofficerofthestate,Bondcanarguehis
FourthAmendmentrights.AgentCantusjobistopatroltheborder,makingsurethatno
illegalimmigrantspassthrough.ThefactsofthecaseclearlystatethatAgentCantu
satisfiedhimselfthatthepassengerswerelawfullyintheUnitedStates.Therefore,the
Agentdidnothaveanyreasonablesuspiciontobreakthebarrierofprivacythatthe
passengersonthebushavecreatedwiththeirluggage.Yes,itistruethatAgentCantudid
haveareasontosuspectthattherewascontrabandinBondsbagafterfeelingthe
bricklikeobject.However,theinitialbagsqueezewasnotconductedwithanysolid
knowledgeorevidencetocreatealogicalreasontodoso.
WhenBondboardedthebuswithhisnontransparentbag,placingitintheoverhead
compartment,heknewthatitwasinclearviewoftheotherpassengersandthatitwouldbe
likelythattheymayhandleormovehisbackaroundwhengrabbingtheirown.Whathedid
notexpectwasthatsomeonewouldgrabhisbackwiththeintenttosearchwhatwas
inside.Bondsoughtprivacyfromtheotherpassengers,andsocietywouldrecognizethis
expectationasreasonable.AgentCantusbagsqueezedidnothavethesamepurpos
eorintentthatBondwouldexpect,thereforeviolatinghisFourthAmendmentrights.
AgentCantudidnothaveareasontosqueezethepassengersontheGreyhound
busbagsinthefirstplace.Bondhadstandingandareasonableexpectationofhisrightof
privacy.AgentCantusbagsqueezeviolatedhisrightsandhisprotectionagainst
unreasonablesearchesandseizuresasacitizenoftheUnitedStates.