State of Iowa v. Andrew Jay Porter

Peace officers executed a validly obtained search warrant at a suspected drug house while Andrew Porter happened to be visiting the house. Surveilling officers witnessed Porter carry a backpack into the house prior to executing the warrant. But when asked about the bag later, Porter denied knowledge of it. Officers searched the backpack, and they found drugs and drug paraphernalia. Porter faced drug possession charges, and he sought to suppress evidence of the contents of the backpack. The district court denied the motion. This court granted Porter’s application for discretionary review. He argues the district court erred by finding he lacked standing to challenge the search because he had abandoned the backpack by disclaiming ownership.

Holding: Discretionary review from the denial of the defendant’s motion to suppress evidence obtained allegedly in violation of his constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches. Affirmed.