US v. Brown, 09-1803

US v. Brown, 09-1803, concerned a challenge to a defendant's conviction for possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute.  In affirming the conviction, the court held that, although the district court's factual findings and the inferences made from those findings, which formed the basis of its conclusion that reasonable suspicion existed to stop a car, are not compelled by the record or by the facts, both are nonetheless reasonable and therefore pass constitutional muster.  Further, the affirmance of the district court's finding that the officers had reasonable suspicion to stop the car forecloses the need to address defendant's challenge to the district court's alternate conclusion that the car was not seized when the officers first approached.  Lastly, there was no abuse of discretion in the district court's denial of defendant's motion to suppress evidence without an evidentiary hearing.

Related Link:

• Read the First Circuit's Full Decision in US v. Brown, 09-1803