United States v. Timothy Singleton

The government appeals from the district court’s order granting Singleton’s motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to a warrantless search of his father’s house. The government challenges the district court’s determination that Singleton had standing to challenge the legality of the search. The district court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231 . We have jurisdiction over this timely appeal pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3731 . We vacate the district court’s order and remand for further proceedings on Singleton’s motion to suppress.

I

On February 11, 1992, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (Agents) obtained a search warrant for a residence located at 135 West 62nd Street in Los Angeles (the front house), which authorized them to search for, among other items, cocaine and firearms. Two days later, a group of Agents and Los Angeles Police Department Officers (Officers) executed the search warrant. In conducting the search, the Agents and Officers discovered the residence owned by Singleton’s father, 135V2 West 62nd Street (the back house), which was located behind the front house. At the back house, the Officers and Agents found four people: Singleton,…