United States v. James Joshua Thompson, AKA James Deas
Opinion
Opinion
Tallman, J.
The United States appeals the district court’s order suppressing drug evidence seized by the Coast Guard from a vessel off the coast of Washington State. James Joshua Thompson, the skipper of the boat, was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 (a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, and one count of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 (a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 18 U.S.C. § 2 . We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We reverse the district court’s suppression order and remand for further proceedings.
I
On August 30, 2000, shortly after 8:00 p.m., a Coast Guard 27 foot patrol boat encountered and stopped the M/V IKEA, a 19-to-22-foot pleasure craft, near the San Juan Islands. The IKEA was traveling southbound when the Coast Guard intercepted it. Thompson was operating the IKEA, and Kanwanjit Bassi was the only-other person on board. Coast Guard Boatswain’s Mate Terry Reed and Petty Officer Bruce Karakashian boarded the vessel to conduct a safety inspection.
During the inspection, Reed asked Thompson for the boat’s registration. Thompson was unable to…