Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Mar 7, 2023
State of Missouri vs. Lee Allen Haneline
Lee Allen Haneline appealed his conviction for possession of a controlled substance. He argued the trial court erred in admitting evidence from a warrantless search of his lunchbox and that there was insufficient evidence to prove possession. The appellate court reversed and remanded for a new trial, finding that the search of the lunchbox violated Haneline's Fourth Amendment rights and that its admission was not harmless error. However, the court found there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction, considering both admissible and inadmissible evidence.