Pruitt v. State

Mikell, Judge.

After a bench trial, Jamison Dwain Pruitt was convicted of possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and fined $300. On appeal, he assigns error to the trial court’s denial of his motion to suppress. We reverse the trial court’s order in part and remand for the court to determine whether probable cause existed for the search of Pruitt’s car.

Three principles guide our review of the trial court’s findings of fact.

First, when a motion to suppress is heard by the trial judge, that judge sits as the trier of facts. The trial judge hears the evidence, and his findings based upon…