United States v. Havens

446 U.S. 620 (1980)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Havens (D) and McLeroth (D1) were attorneys who got on a flight from Lima Peru to Miami. In Miami, customs officials searched D1 and found cocaine sewn into his shirt pockets. D1 implicated D. D's luggage was seized without a warrant, and the officers found no drugs but seized a T-shirt with torn pieces that matched the patches sewn into D1's shirt to conceal the cocaine. The T-shirt and other evidence were suppressed on a motion prior to the trial. D1 turned on D and testified against him at trial. D took the stand in his own defense and denied involvement, and the evidence from the luggage was used to impeach him. D was found guilty and appealed. The Court of Appeals reversed.