People v. Becktel

The State appeals from an order of the circuit court of Ogle County which suppressed as evidence a quantity of marijuana seized following a search of the house and garden occupied by defendant, Donald R Becktel. The State challenges the trial court’s ruling as manifestly erroneous, asserting that defendant lacked standing to contest the search and seizure, and that police conduct was proper under the “open fields” doctrine or under the theory of plain view.

On June 30, 1983, officers of the Ogle County sheriff’s department executed a search warrant upon defendant’s residence near Mt. Morris.…