U.S. v. Devalois

Federal 7th Circuit Court
Criminal Court
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 24-1787
Decision Date: 
February 14, 2025
Federal District: 
N.D. Ind., South Bend Div.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Judge: 
BRENNAN

Defendant was found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm as a felon and appealed, arguing that the district court erred when it denied his motion to suppress because law enforcement unconstitutionally prolonged a traffic stop to conduct a dog sniff. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, finding that the district court’s conclusion that the officer did not prolong the traffic stop in order to conduct a dog sniff was not clearly erroneous where the evidence supported that the length of the stop was dictated by “diligence and not delay” and, as a result, the discovery of the firearm was made pursuant to a lawful search and seizure. (SYKES and ST. EVE, concurring)