Opinion
Docket No. 78-4293.
Decided January 25, 1980.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, Edward J. Grant, Prosecuting Attorney, and John L. Wildeboer, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Best, Arnold, Gleeson Best, P.C. (by Chad C. Schmucker), for defendant.
Defendant appeals from the circuit court's denial of his petition for the return of an assortment of chattels and approximately $2,000 in cash removed from his bedroom by police officers executing a valid search warrant. Defendant previously won an acquittal by directed verdict on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, which arose out of the same search.
The question to be decided in a case of this type is "the superior right of possession as between the seizing authority and the one from whom the property was seized". People v Rosa, 11 Mich. App. 157, 161; 160 N.W.2d 747 (1968), aff'd 382 Mich. 163; 169 N.W.2d 297 (1969). See also, Oakland County v Bice, 386 Mich. 143; 191 N.W.2d 338 (1971).
However, defendant has not claimed that the property in question was seized from his possession. Nor does he allege that he exercised over the property that dominion and control which is the hallmark of possession. See 73 CJS, Property, § 14(a), pp 196-197. He merely claims that the property was found in his room and that he gave no one else permission to put it there. Those allegations are insufficient to establish even a prima facie right to possession. The trial court correctly denied defendant's petition.
Affirmed.
I dissent. As stated by the majority, the property seized belongs to the party with the superior right of possession. See People v Rosa, 11 Mich. App. 157; 160 N.W.2d 747 (1968). I believe that defendant has the superior right in this case.
According to 63 Am Jur 2d, Property, § 39, p 323:
"One may have possession of a chattel, even in the absence of actual personal custody, if the chattel is under his control and in a place where it must have been put by his act or in his behalf, or where the chattel is within his power in such a sense that he can and does command its use."
In his petition for return of personal property, defendant stated that on November 24, 1976, $2,046 was seized from his room in Apartment A-59 in the Centaur Apartment building complex. He further stated that no other person had his permission to store any currency in his room or in the premises. It is my opinion that such allegations allege a possessory interest.
It is important to keep in mind that no other party is alleging a possessory interest in the money. Since the prosecution against defendant resulted in his acquittal, I do not believe the state can be considered to have a possessor right superior to that of defendant. In order to be lawful, a search warrant need only be based upon probable cause. If the state can retain the money although there is insufficient evidence to convict the defendant, the result, I believe, effectively amounts to a confiscatory fine based upon mere probable cause.
I would reverse.