Endacott

Defendant arrives at Los Angeles International Airport on a plane from a foreign country. Without probable cause, customs officials seize defendant’s laptop computers and view their files. This “border search” does not violate the Fourth Amendment.

Drew Michael Endacott was charged with 10 counts of possession or control of child pornography. (Pen. Code, § 311.11.) The evidence was discovered during a routine suspicionless border search of Endacott’s computers and other digital media. Endacott’s motion to suppress the evidence pursuant to Penal Code section 1538.5 was denied. He pled no contest to one count of possession or control of child pornography. We conclude the search was valid and affirm.

FACTS

On September 29, 2006, Endacott landed at Los Angeles International Airport on a flight from Thailand. He proceeded with his luggage to the customs area of the international terminal.

David Tolentino, a United States Customs and Border Protection employee, encountered Endacott in the customs inspection area. He asked Endacott the purpose of his travel to Thailand and how long he had stayed. Endacott replied that he went to Thailand to rest, to visit a friend and to…