United States v. Dortch

JERRY E. SMITH, Circuit Judge:

Cecil Dortch appeals his conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). He challenges the denial of his motion to suppress evidence, the sufficiency of the evidence, and the denial of his motion to proceed pro se. Concluding that the incul-patory evidence was the fruit of an illegal search, we reverse and remand for entry of a judgment of acquittal.

I

At approximately 11:30 p.m., highway patrol officers Rick Anderson and Robert Ener stopped Dortch on Interstate 10 near Beaumont, Texas, purportedly for traveling too…