People v. James

The State appeals an order of the circuit court of Champaign County suppressing cocaine evidence taken from the purse of defendant Delores James. Defendant was a front-seat passenger in an automobile driven by Ruth Boolman, when the vehicle was stopped to investigate a possible license violation. After determining there was no serious problem with the vehicle license, the officer stated that the area was a high drug-traffic area and the officers were checking vehicles. For purposes of this appeal, we assume Boolman, outside defendant’s presence and without her knowledge, consented to a search…