People v. Strickland CA3

Filed 11/7/25 P. v. Strickland CA3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT

(El Dorado) ----

THE PEOPLE, C101900

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 23CR1135)

v.

CHRISTOPHER STRICKLAND,

Defendant and Appellant.

Defendant Christopher Strickland was convicted of possession of flammable material, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. On appeal, he contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence derived from a warrantless entry into his apartment. He maintains that sheriff’s deputies unlawfully used a ruse to procure his consent to enter. We disagree and affirm the judgment. BACKGROUND I. In June 2023, Strickland filed a police report with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department after he received a message claiming a woman with whom he had an online relationship had been kidnapped. Strickland had not met the woman in person. El

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Dorado Sheriff’s Deputy Cade Miller called Strickland to follow up on the case. During the phone call, Deputy Miller discussed with Strickland the possibility that his online relationship was a catfishing scam. The alleged kidnappers had demanded a $500 ransom, payable in online gift cards. Strickland explained that he paid the ransom with gift cards, but the alleged kidnappers demanded more money and refused to release the woman. After the phone call, Deputy Miller filed a report and was off work for the next three to four days. Upon his return, Deputy Miller found numerous text messages from Strickland on his work phone. Strickland was upset and felt that Deputy Miller was not properly investigating the alleged kidnapping. One text message said something like, “something is going to burn tonight.” Another said, “whatever happens tonight is on you.” The following day, Deputy Miller and his partner Deputy Steven Fulton went to a local supermarket after one of the employees discovered a suspicious box in the parking lot. The deputies found a cardboard box containing liquor bottles with liquid inside and rags protruding from the top, which appeared to be Molotov cocktails. The deputies dispatched the explosive ordinance disposal and hazardous material units to secure the items for testing and disposal. A supermarket employee showed the deputies video surveillance of the car suspected to be involved in the incident. Based on the footage, the deputies were able to identify the license plate and determined that the car was registered to Strickland. The surveillance video also showed the individual who drove the car and left the box in the parking lot. The individual was later identified as Strickland. Deputy Miller attempted to contact Strickland but was unsuccessful. The next day, Deputy Miller and Deputy Fulton went to Strickland’s apartment. Strickland eventually invited the deputies inside, and as they passed through the kitchen, they saw what appeared to be Molotov cocktails in a box on the floor. The deputies placed Strickland under arrest.