People v. Christman CA2/6

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In late July 2013, Ventura County Sheriff's Narcotics Detective Shane Matthews used a confidential informant to execute a "controlled-buy" of methamphetamine from Christman. Matthews monitored the telephone conversation between the informant and Christman as they arranged the methamphetamine purchase. The informant wore a wireless transmitter during the exchange conducted in a grocery store parking lot. Matthews monitored that conversation as well, and Sheriff's Deputy Alvarez observed the drug transaction ("an exchange at waist level and then the informant walked away"). The deputies conducted a controlled-buy protocol that included searching the informant before the transaction and receiving a methamphetamine bindle from him immediately following the transaction. They did not arrest Christman immediately following the drug transaction nor did they seek an arrest warrant. In the afternoon of August 8, 2013, Matthews and other deputies saw Christman in the same grocery store parking lot and arrested him. During a search incidental to arrest, deputies found three packages of methamphetamine, amounting to 12.3 grams, on Christman and his…