United States v. Joseph Lamont Stokes

This appeal presents two questions. The first is whether the search of a probationer’s car, as part of a criminal investigation and based only on reasonable suspicion, violates the Fourth Amendment. The second question is whether the procedural distinctions between the Armed Career Criminals Act (“ACCA”), 18 U.S.C. § 924 (e), and the federal three-strikes law, 18 U.S.C. § 3559 (c), deprive an individual sentenced under the ACCA of equal protection and due process. We conclude that neither the search nor the statutory sentencing framework violates the Constitution. We therefore affirm the judgment of the district court.

Factual and Procedural Background

Joseph Stokes worked at the Last Chance Casino in Helena, Montana. He had previously been convicted of various crimes, including robbery. At the time of his arrest in this case, Stokes was on probation for felony intimidation. His probation carried numerous conditions, including provisions that he not drink alcohol or possess firearms and that he “submit to searches of his person, vehicle, personal effects and residence by [his] supervising officer, at any time, without a warrant” if there was “reasonable cause” for the…