United States v. Vernon Willis Bowman, Jr.

LEWIS, Chief Judge.

Vernon Willis Bowman, Jr., was convicted on the charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) after a nonjury trial in the United States Dis-. trict Court for the District of New Mexico. He now appeals, challenging the legality of the search of his automobile which uncovered approximately forty-eight pounds of marijuana.

The events leading to Bowman’s arrest took place at a so-called checkpoint station located about three miles north of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Bowman was stopped in the early morning hours of October…