State v. Boghos Terzian

Citations

• 162 A.3d 1230
• 2017 WL 2713305
• 2017 R.I. LEXIS 98

Syllabus

The defendant, Boghos Terzian (the defendant), appeals from judgments of conviction entered in the Superior Court following a jury trial. The defendant was convicted on three counts of felony assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. Before the Supreme Court, the defendant contended that the Superior Court justice erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence seized by police during a warrantless entry and search of his home. The state asserted that consent and exigent circumstances justified the officers' warrantless entry and search of the defendant's home. The Supreme Court rejected the state's argument and held that the warrantless search was in violation of the defendant's Fourth Amendment rights. Additionally, the Supreme Court held that the admission of the firearm did not amount to harmless error. Accordingly, the Supreme Court vacated the judgment of the Superior Court and remanded the case for a new trial.