FOURTH D I VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, BRA N CH and M ERCI ER, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Jul y 12, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 04 7 . THE STATE v . RUCKER.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

A t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Ch arl es Ru ck er’ s m o t i o n t o s u p p res s a h an d g u n reco v ered

i n a warran t l es s s earch o f t h e cam p er wh ere h e l i ved w h i l e o n p ro b at io n. On ap p eal

fro m t h at ru l i n g

, t h e St at e arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred wh en i t g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n

b ecau s e Ru ck er h ad ag reed t h at h i s res i d en ce co u l d b e s earch ed wi t h o u t a warran t as

a co n di t io n o f h i s p r o b at i o n an d b ecau s e t he s earch was no t u n reas o n ab l e. W e

co n cl u d e t h at u n d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f th i s s earc h

, wh i ch i n cl u d e Ru ck er’ s v al id

wai v er o f h i s Fo urt h Am en d m en t ri g h t s

, n ei t h er t h e o ffi cers ’ en t ry b y i n vi t at i o n i n to

t h e cam p er’ s fro n t ro o m n or t h ei r s ei zu re o f t h e h an d g u n t h ey s aw i n p l ai n v i ew fro m

t h at ro om can b e s ai d t o b e u n reas o n ab le. W e t h erefo re rev ers e.W h en t h e fact s m at eri al t o a m o ti o n t o s u p p res s are di s p ut ed

, i t g en eral l y

i s fo r t h e t ri al ju d g e t o res o l v e t h o s e d i s p u t es an d d et erm i n e t h e m at eri al

fact s

. T h i s pri n ci p l e i s a s et t l ed o n e, an d t h i s Co u rt has i d en t i fi ed t h ree

co ro ll ari es o f t h e p ri n ci p l e, wh i ch l i m i t t h e s co p e o f rev i ew i n ap p eal s

f r o m a g ran t o r d en i al o f a m o t i o n t o s u p pres s i n wh i ch th e t ri al c o u r t

h a s m a d e ex p res s fi n d i n g s o f d i s p u t ed fact s

. Fi rs t

, an ap pel l at e co u rt

g en eral l y m

u s t accep t t h o s e fi n d i n g s u n l es s t h ey are cl earl y erro n eo us

.

Seco n d

, an ap p el l at e co u rt m u s t co n s tru e t h e ev i d en t i ary reco rd i n th e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e fact u al fi n d i n g s a n d j u d g m en t o f t h e t ri al

co u rt

. An d th i rd

, an ap pel l at e co u rt gen eral l y m u s t l i m i t i t s c onsi d erat i o n

o f t h e d is p u t ed fact s t o t h o s e ex p res s l y fo u n d b y t h e t ri al co u rt

.

Hu g h es v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 7 4 4

, 7 4 6 (1 ) (7 70 SE2 d 6 3 6 ) (2 0 1 5) (ci t at i o n s

, pu n ct u at i o n

an d fo ot n o t es o m i t t ed ).

Th u s vi ewed i n fav o r of t h e t ri al co u r t ’s fact u al fi nd i n g s an d ju d g m en t

, t h e

reco rd s h o ws t hat o n Sep tem ber 2 6 , 2 0 1 4

, a n arco ti cs i nv es t i g at or w i t h t h e J ack so n

Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s O ffi ce recei v ed an an o n y m o u s ti p t h at Ru ck er w as i nv o l v ed i n t h e

s al e o f i l leg al n arco t ics fro m h i s res id en ce o n Ap p le Val l ey Ro ad

. Th e in v es t i g at o r

al s o l ea r n e d t h at Ru ck er was o n pro b at io n fo r p o s s es s i on o f m et h am p het am i n e, a

2fel o n y

, 1 an d h ad s ig n ed a wai v e r o f ri g h ts as a co nd i ti o n o f h i s p ro b at i o n t h at

p ro v id ed as fo l l ows :

Th e u n ders i g n ed d o es h ereb y ag ree an d co ns en t t o wai v e h i s / h er

[ F] o urt h [A] m en dm en t ri g h ts

, ag reei ng t o wi t : t h at h i s /h er p er s o n

,

p ro p ert y

, res id en ce, v eh i cl e(s ), an d p ap ers m ay b e s ea r ch ed w i t ho u t a

wa rran t

. Sai d co n sen t b ei n g an ag reed [-] u p o n co n d i t i o n o f h i s / h er

p ro b at io n

.

Lat er o n t h e sam e d ay

, t h e t hree o ffi cers w en t t o Ru ck er’ s res i d en ce, a cam p er ab o ut

1 5 feet wi d e park ed o n an o p en l o t

. 2 W h en t h e o ffi cers k no ck ed o n t h e b ack d o o r o f

t h e cam p er, a w o m an as k ed wh o was t h ere. W hen t h e offi cers i d en ti fi ed t h em s el v es

,

t h e wo m an res p on d ed t h at s h e h ad to p u t on so m e cl o t h es b efo re s h e co u l d co m e to

t h e d o o r. W h en t h e cl o t h ed wo m an ap p eared at t h e d oo r m o m en t s l at er, t h e o ffi cers

t o l d h er t h at t h ey were i n v es ti g at i n g co m p l ai n t s o f “ p o s s i bl e n arco t i c act i v i t y i n t h e

area” an d as k ed i f t hey co u l d “ co m e i n s i d e an d s p eak wi t h h er,” t o w h i ch t h e wo m an

ag reed

.

1 See OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 0 (c) (“ Ex cep t as o th erwi se p ro v i ded , an y p ers o n wh o

v i o l at es s u b s ect i o n (a) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n wi t h res p ect t o a co n tro l led s u bs t an ce in

Sch ed u l e I o r a n arco t i c d ru g i n Sch ed u l e II s h al l b e g ui l t y o f a fel on y ”).

2 T h ere i s n o d i s p ut e t hat t h e o ffi cers b el i ev ed t h at t h e cam p er w as Ru ck er’ s

res i den ce an d t h at i t was i n fact h i s res i d en ce.

3On ce i n si d e t h e l i vi n g ro o m

, t h e o ffi cers co n fi rm ed by “ g lan c[i n g ] aro u n d t h e

h o u s e” t h at Ru ck er was n o t p res en t

. Fro m t he s am e v an t ag e p o i n t i n t h e l i v i n g ro o m

,

h o wev er, o n e o f t h e o ffi cers s aw a b l ack rev ol v er o n wh at ap p eared t o b e a n i g h t s t an d

i n t h e ad jo i n i n g b ed ro o m

. A n o ff i cer es t i m at ed t h at th e n i g h t s t an d was “ s ev en o r

ei g h t feet ” fro m t h e fro n t d o o r o f t h e cam p er. W h en t h e w o m an t o l d t h e o ffi cer t h at

t h e g u n d i d n o t b el o n g t o h er b u t rat her t o Ru ck er, th e o ffi cer en t ered t h e b ed ro o m

,

t o o k th e rev o l v er, an d ad vi s ed t h e wo m an t h at t h ey wer e g o i ng t o o b t ai n a s earch

warran t fo r a search o f t he en ti re cam p er. On h eari n g t hi s

, t h e wo m an sai d

, “ If y o u ’ re

g o i n g t o g e t a s e a r c h warran t, we h av e t h i s i n here,” an d h an d ed th e o ffi cers a

m ari ju an a g ri n d er co nt ai n i n g a s m al l am o un t o f m et h am p h et am i n e an d a m ari

ju an a

p i p e i n t h e jar o f t h e g ri n d er. Th e wo m an al s o t o ld th e o ffi cers t h at s h e an d Ru ck er

were “ s t ay i n g t o g et h er” i n t h e cam p er, h ad b een i n “ a rel at i o n s h i p fo r a s h o rt am o u nt

o f t i m e,” an d th at s h e w a s s l e ep in g in t he s am e ro o m as Ru ck er. Aft er o n e o f t h e

o ffi ce r s o b t a i n ed a s earch w arran t

, wh i ch t h ey co n s i d ered “ err[i n g ] o n t h e s i d e o f

cau t i on ” i n l i g h t of Ru ck er’ s wri t t en wai v er, t h e o f f i cers al s o s ei zed em

pt y b u t an e

can s

, a p ro p an e t o rc h

, s o m e hy p o d erm i c n eed l es

, an d a s aw. Th e o ffi cers t h en

o b t ai n ed a n a r r e s t w arran t fo r Ru ck er, w ho was arres t ed t h e n ex t d ay at a ch em i cal

p l an t n earb y

.

4Ru ck er was ch arg ed wi t h p o s s es s i on o f m et h am p h et am i ne an d po s s es s i o n o f

a fi rearm b y a co nv i ct ed fel o n

. At t h e h eari n g o n Ru ck er’ s m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, t h e

p art i es s t i p u l at ed t hat t h e d ru g p o ss es s i o n ch arg e h a d b e e n d is m i s s ed fo r reas on s

u n rel at ed t o t h e v al id it y of t h e search o f t h e cam p er. Aft er h eari n g t es t i m o n y fro m al l

t h ree o ffi cers

, t h e t ri al co u rt fi l ed a wri t t en o rd er i n cl u d i n g t he fo l l o w i n g fact u al

fi nd i ng s :

– T h e p o l i ce o ffi cers “ d i d n o t art i cu l at e an y reas o n ab l e o r g o od -fai t h

s u s p i ci o n fo r t h e s earch ,” t h e o n l y b as i s fo r wh i ch was an “ u n v eri fi ed ”

an d “ an o n y m o us t i p .”

– Th e o ffi cers “ co u l d n o t p ro v i d e an y d efi n it i ve reas o n fo r b el i ev i n g th e

h o m e bel o n g ed t o ” Ru ck er an d t hat t h ey “ h ad n o in fo rm at io n ab o ut th e

[wo m an ] at t he res i d en ce, i n cl u d i n g wh et h er s h e l i v ed t h ere.”

– Th e “ o n l y ev i den ce i n t h e reco rd ” t h at t h e wo m an an s w eri n g t h e d o o r

h ad au th o ri t y t o g i v e co n s en t was “ t h e tes t im o n y t h at t h ere w as s o m e

cl o t h i n g b el o n gi n g t o a [wo m an ] i n s i d e t he res id en ce an d t h at s he m ay

h av e b een s t ay in g t here.”

On t h e b as i s o f t h es e fi n d i n g s, t h e co urt h el d t h at n o t wi t h s t an d i n g Ru ck er’ s wri t t en

wai v er, t h ere was “ n o au t h o ri t y ” fo r t h e s earc h o f h i s res i den ce i n h i s ab s en ce, an d

“ n o rel i an ce” o n t h at wai v er was p o s s i b l e “ b ecau s e [p o l i ce had ] n o reas on ab l e g o o d

5fai t h s u s p i ci o n ” fo r t h ei r s earch

. Th e co u rt al s o h el d t h at ev en i f th e o ffi cers d i d h av e

au t h o ri t y t o s earch

, t h ei r o b tai n i n g o f t h e h an d gu n was “ so cl o s e i n t i m e an d s p ace to

t h e[i r] i l l eg al en t ry ” t h at t h ere w ere “ n o in t erv en i n g ci rcu m s t an ces ” t o at t en u at e t h e

co n cl u s i o n t hat t h e ev i d en ce w as pro p erl y su p p res s ed as fru i t of t h e po i s o n o u s t ree.

Th e St at e arg ues t h at t he t ri al co urt erred as a m at t er o f law wh en i t co n cl u d ed

t h at t h e s earch o f t h e cam per was u n reas o n ab l e an d t h erefo re i l l eg al . W e ag ree.

As a p rel i m i nary m at t er, we can n o t accep t th e t ri al co u rt ’ s cl earl y erro n eo u s

fac t u al fi n di ng s th at t h e o ffi cers h ad “ n o i n fo rm at i on ” ab o u t t h e wo m an wh o

an s wered t h e do o r o f Ru ck er’ s cam p er o r t hat t h e “ on l y ev i d e n ce i n t h e reco rd ”

s u p p ort i n g a co n cl u s io n t h at s h e h ad au t h o ri t y t o gi v e co n s en t was tes t im o n y t h at s h e

h ad cl o t hi n g t h ere an d “ m ay hav e been s t ay i n g th ere.” Th e wo m an ’ s p res en ce al o n e

i n t h e cam

p er w as s o m e ev id en ce o f her au t h o ri t y t o g i v e co ns en t

, an d th e wo m an

t o l d t h e o ffi cers s h o rt l y a f t e r t h e y en t ered

, b u t aft er th ey h ad s een th e h an d g u n at

i s su e, t h at s h e was i n v o l v ed i n a rel at i o n s hi p wi t h Ru ck er an d h ad be e n s h ari n g a

b ed ro o m wi t h h i m i n th e cam p er. W e are aware t h at “ we g en eral l y m u s t pres u m e t h at

t h e ab s en ce o f a fi n d in g o f fact t h at wo u l d t en d to u n d erm i ne t he co ncl u s io n o f t h e

t ri al co u rt refl ect s a co n si d ered ch o i ce t o r e je c t t h e ev i d en ce o ffered t o p ro v e t h at

fact [.] ” Hu g h es

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 7 4 7 (1 ). W e m ay reject a cl earl y erro n eo us fi nd i n g o f fact

,

6h o wev er, i d

. at 7 4 6 (1 ), an d t h ere i s n o t h i n g i n t h e reco rd b efo re u s t o co n t rad i ct t h e

wo m an ’ s acco u n t o f h er rel at i o n s h i p wi th Ru ck er. Ev en i f t h e t ri al co u rt was en t i t l ed

t o d i s b el i ev e t h e offi cers ’ t es t i m o n y as t o w h at th e wo m an t o l d t h em o n t h i s s u b ject

,

t h e n

, t h e co u rt was n o t en t i t l ed t o m i sch aract eri ze t h e reco rd as n ot in cl ud i n g s u c h

i n fo rm at i o n

– an erro r th at weak en s o u r co n fi d en ce i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s u l ti m at e l eg al

co n cl u s i o n

. See S t a t e v. Po r t er

, 2 8 8 Ga. 5 2 4

, 52 6 (2 ) (a) (7 05 SE2 d 6 3 6 (2 0 1 1 ) (wh en

a tri al co u rt “ h as cl earl y erred i n s o m e o f i t s fi n d i n g s o f fact an d /o r h as m i sap p l i ed t h e

l aw t o s o m e d eg ree, t h e d eferen ce o w ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s u l t i m at e ru l i n g i s

d i m i n i s h ed .”).

N ex t, t h e l aw g o v ern i n g a warran t l es s en t ry i n t o o r s earch o f a pro b at i o n e r ’s

res i den ce i s cl ear. “ If a warran t l es s s earch has occu rred p urs u an t t o a s p eci al

co n di t i o n o f p ro b at i o n, a rev i ewi n g co u rt [m u s t ] an al y ze th e fact s an d ci rcu m s t an ces

t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e s earch i n q u es ti o n was b as ed u p o n rea s o n a b l e g ro u n d s

,

b al a n c i n g t h e g o v ern m en t ’ s n eed t o search ag ai ns t t h e i n vas i o n cau s ed b y t h e

w a r r a n t l es s s earch .” Ha r r el l v. S ta t e

, 2 5 3 G a. Ap p

. 4 4 0, 44 2 (2 ) (5 59 SE2 d 1 5 5 )

(2 0 0 2). “ A s earch co n d u ct ed pu rs u an t t o a s p eci al co n di t i o n o f p ro b at i o n n eed n o t b e

m ad e as a ro u t i n e i n ci d en t o f th e p ro b at i o n s u p erv i s i o n pro ces s

. Th e ru l e i s th at t h ere

m u st b e s o m e co n du ct reas o n a b l y s u g g es t i ve o f cri m i n al act iv it y t o t ri g g er t h e

7s earch .” Ro cco v. S t at e

, 2 6 7 G a

. Ap p

. 9 0 0

, 9 0 3 (2 ) (6 01 SE2 d 1 8 9) (2 0 0 4 )

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed ). Su ch a s earch “ can b e p ro m pt ed b y a g o o d -fai th

s u s p i ci o n , ari s i n g fro m

ro u t i ne p o l i ce i n ves t i g at i v e wo rk .” Id . Th u s

,

as a g en eral ru le, t h e p ol i ce can s earch a p ro bat i o n er, wh o i s s u b ject t o

a wai v er o f Fo u rt h Am en d m en t ri g h t s as a s p eci al co n d i t i o n o f

p ro b at io n

, at an y t im e, d ay o r n ig h t

, an d wi th o r wi t h o u t a w arran t

,

p r o vi d ed t h er e exi s t

s a rea s o n a b l e or g o o d

-f a i th su s p i ci on f o r s ea rch

,

t h a t i s, t h e p o l i ce mu s t n o t m e r el y b e a ct i n g i n b a d f

a it h or i n a n

a r b i t r a r y a n d ca pr i ci o u s ma n n er (s u ch a s s ea r ch i n g t o ha r a s s [ a ]

p r o b a t io n er

)

.

Hes s v. S t a t e

, 2 96 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 0

, 3 02 (2 ) (6 7 4 SE2 d 3 6 2 ) (2 0 0 9 ) ( p u n c t u at i o n an d

fo o t n o t e o m it t ed ; em

p h as is s u p p l i ed ); s ee al so Br o o ks v. S t a t e

, 2 92 G a. Ap p

. 4 4 5

, 4 4 9

(2 ) (6 64 SE2 d 8 27 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

Gi v en t h at Ru ck er do es n o t ch al l en g e t he v al i d i t y o f h i s w ri t t en wai v er o f h i s

F ou rt h Am en d m en t ri g h t s, t he o n l y i s s u e b efo re u s i s wh et her p o l i ce act e d i n b a d

fai t h o r i n an arb i t rary o r cap ri ci o u s m an n er wh en

, act in g o n t he b as i s o f an

an o ny m o u s t i p an d wi t h th e k n o w l ed g e t hat Ru ck er was o n p ro bat i o n fo r a d ru g

o f f e n s e a n d h ad s i g n ed a v al i d wai v er o f h i s Fo urt h Am en dm en t ri g h t s

, t h ey (a)

k n o ck ed o n t h e d o o r o f t h e cam p er, (b ) en t ered t h e cam

per b y t h e i n v it at i o n o f t h e

8wo m an wh o an s wered th e d o o r i n Ru ck er’ s ab s en ce, an d (c) s aw an d s ei zed t h e

h an dg u n at i s s u e fro m

t he b ed ro o m

.

(a) W ri tt en W a i ver

, An o n ymo u s Ti p, an d Ap

p r o a ch t o t h e C

a m p er

. It i s

u n d i s p u t ed t h at t h es e offi cers recei v ed an an o n y m o us t i p t h at Ru ck er was s el l i n g

n arco t i cs at h is res i d en ce an d es t ab l i s h ed t h a t R u c k e r h ad wai v ed hi s Fo u rt h

Am en d m en t ri g h t s as a co nd i t i o n o f h i s p ro b at i on fo r s el l i n g m et h am ph et am i n e. Th e

o ffi cers act ed o n t h i s in fo rm at i on b y g o i n g t o Ru ck er’ s res i den ce i n o rd er t o co n d u ct

wh at t h i s Co u rt h as cal l ed a “ p erm i s s i b l e k n o ck -an d -t al k p ro ced u re,” wh i ch d i d n ot

i n i t s el f am o u n t t o a s earch o r s ei zu re. Her r i ng v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. A p p

. 1 6 2, 1 6 4 (6 3 0

SE2 d 7 7 6 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (o ffi cers were au t ho ri zed t o k n o c k o n a d efen d an t ’ s h o u s e d o o r

aft e r r ecei v i ng an an o n y m ou s t i p o f d ru g act i v i t y at a h o u s e); s ee al s o Pi cken s v.

S t a t e

, 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 2

, 79 3 (4 8 4 SE2 d 7 3 1 ) (1 99 7 ) (p o l i ce o ffi cer w as au t h o ri zed

t o k n o ck o n d efen d an t ’ s d o or wi t h o u t an art i cu lab l e s u s pi ci on i n o rd er t o i n v es t i g at e

a rep o rt o f a cri m e). It i s al so u n d i s p u t ed t h at t h e cam p er was act u a l l y R u c k e r ’ s

res i den ce, an d t h ere i s n o ev i den c e i n t h e reco rd b efo re us t hat t h e o ffi cers u s ed

t ri ck ery t o g ai n en t ran ce t o t h e cam p er or t h at t h ei r pu rp o s e i n g o i n g th ere w a s to

h aras s Ru ck er. See Her ri n g

, 2 79 Ga. Ap p

. at 16 4 (n o t in g ab s en ce o f ev id en c e t h at

o ffi cers g ai n ed acces s v ia co ns en t b y ru s e o r t ri ck ery ).

9Th i s Co u rt h as rep eat ed l y h el d

, m o reo v er, t hat a defen d an t ’ s st at u s as a

p ro b at i o n er fo r d ru g o ffen ses an d t h at defen d an t ’ s ex ecu t i o n o f a Fo urt h Am en d m en t

wai v er as a s peci al co n di t i o n o f p ro b at i o n are rel ev an t t o a d et erm i n at io n wh et h er an

o ffi cer i s act i n g reas on ab l y or i n g oo d fai th i n i n i t i at i n g a s earch o f t h e p ro b at i o n er’ s

res i den ce. In Hes s v. S t a t e

, 2 96 Ga. Ap p

. 30 0 (6 7 4 SE2 d 36 2 ) (2 0 0 9 ), fo r ex am p l e,

we h el d t hat p o l ice were au t h o ri zed t o act o n an an on y m o u s ti p to s earch t h e ro o m in

h i s m o t h er’ s h o u s e wh ere a d efen d an t was li v i n g

. Id

. at 3 0 2 (2 ). Am o n g t h e t o t al i t y

o f ci rcu m s tan ces t h at we h el d as s u p p o rt i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s

m o ti o n t o su p p res s were hi s p r o b at i on ary s t at u s fo r dru g o ffen s es an d t h e m o t h er’ s

co n sen t t o t h e s earc h

. Id .; s ee al so B r o oks

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 4 9-4 5 0 (2 ) (wh en

p ro b at i o n er h ad wai v ed hi s Fo u rt h Am en d m en t ri g h t s an d co m p l ai n ed t o p o l i ce t h at

h e w as b ei n g wat ch ed

, a w a r r a n t l es s s earch o f p ro b at i o n er p urs u an t t o t wo

a n o n y m ou s t ip s was n ot u n reas o n ab l e); Ro cco

, 2 67 G a. Ap p

. at 9 0 3 (2 ) (affi rm i n g

d en ial o f a m o t i on t o s up p res s i n t h e ab s en ce o f an y ev i d en ce th at o ffi cers “ act ed in

b ad fai t h o r i n an arb i t rary o r cap ri ci o u s m an n er o r s o lel y to h aras s ” a p ro b at i o n er

wh en t h e y wen t t o h i s h ou s e t o i n v es ti g at e a t i p th at h e w as “ s t i l l i n v o l v ed i n d ru g

act i vi t y ”); Pr i nce v. S t a t e

, 2 99 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 4, 17 0 (3 ) (b ) (6 8 2 SE2 d 18 0 ) ( 2 0 0 9 )

(o ffi cers pu rs u i ng an an o n y m o u s t i p were “ were au th o ri zed to i n ves t i g at e wh et h er [a

10p ro b at i o n er] p o s s es s ed d ru g s wh i le o n pro b at i o n p u rs u an t t o h i s v al i d [ F o u r th

Am en d m en t ] w ai v er” an d were t herefo re l awfu ll y pres en t at t h e s i d e d o o r o f h i s

res i den ce).

In t h i s cas e, ev id en ce su p p o rt in g t h e offi cers ’ deci s io n t o i n ves t i g at e t h e

an o ny m o u s t i p i n cl ud ed Ru ck er’ s s t at us as a p ro b at i on er o n d ru g ch arg es an d h i s

ex ecu t i o n o f a v al i d wai v er o f hi s Fo u rt h Am en d m en t ri g h t s ; t h e o ffi cers u n d ert o o k

an au t h ori zed k n o ck -an d -t al k p ro ced u re t h at d i d no t am o un t t o a s earch ; an d t h ere i s

n o ev i den ce i n t h e reco rd t o ju s t i fy a co n cl u s io n t h at t h ey

act ed i n b ad fai t h o r wi th

t h e i n ten t t o h aras s Ru ck er wh en t h ey d i d s o. Th e t ri al co u rt t h erefo re erred wh en i t

co n cl u d ed t h at t he o ffi cers h ad n o reas o n ab l e g o od fai t h su s p i ci o n

. O n t h e co n t rary

,

t h e offi cers act ed pro p erl y wh e n t h e y e n g ag ed i n a k n o ck -an d-t al k at t h e d o o r o f

Ru ck er’ s cam

p er.

(b ) Co n s en t

. It i s wel l -es t ab l i s h e d t h a t wh en t h e St at e “ ‘ s eek s t o ju s t i fy a

warran t l es s s earch b y p ro o f of v o l u n t ary co n s en t

, i t i s no t l i m i t ed t o p r o o f t h at

co n sen t was g i v en b y t h e d efen d an t

, b u t m ay s h o w t h at p erm is s i o n t o s e a r c h was

o b t ai n ed fro m a t h i rd p art y w h o p o s s es s ed co mmo n a u th o ri t y o ver o r o th er s u

f f i ci en t

r el a t io n s hi

p t o t h e p rem is es o r effect s s o u g h t t o b e i n s p ect ed .’ ” Ha l l v. S t at e

, 2 3 9 Ga.

8 3 2

, 83 2 -8 3 3 (1 ) (2 38 SE2 d 9 1 2 ) (1 9 7 7 ) (em p h as i s s u pp l i ed ), q u o t i n g Un it ed S t a t es

11v. Ma t l ock

, 4 1 5 U. S. 1 64

, 1 7 1 (9 4 SCt 9 8 8

, 3 9 LE2 d 2 4 2 ) (1 9 7 4). “ Th e St at e h as t h e

b u rd en t o es t ab l is h t h at t h e co n s en ti n g t h ird p art y h as s uch co m m o n au t h o ri t y .” Ni l es

v. S t a t e

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 21

, 6 2 3 (7 5 4 SE2 d 4 0 6 ) (2 0 1 4), ci ti n g Il l i n oi s v. Ro d r i g u ez

,

4 9 7 U. S. 1 8 1 , 1 82 (1 1 0 SCt 2 79 3 , 1 1 1 LE2 d 1 4 8 ) (1 9 9 0 ).

Co m m on au t ho ri t y ju s ti fy i n g t hi rd -p art y co n s en t fo r po l i ce to en ter th e

p rem i s es res t s “ o n m

u t ual u s e o f t h e pro p ert y b y p ers on s g en eral l y

h av i ng jo i n t acces s o r co n t ro l fo r m o s t pu rp o s es

, s o t h at i t i s reas o n ab l e

t o reco g n i ze t h at an y o f t h e co -i nh ab i tan t s h as th e ri g ht t o p e r m i t t h e

i n s p ect i o n i n h i s o w n ri g h t an d t h at t h e o t h ers h av e as s u m ed th e ri s k t hat

o n e o f t hei r n u m

b er m ig h t p erm i t t h e co m m on area t o b e s earch ed .”

Ni l es

, 32 5 G a. Ap p

. at 6 2 2-6 23

, q u o t i ng Ma t l o ck

, 4 1 5 U.S. at 1 7 1 n

. 7

. Bu t “ ev en i f

t h e co n s en t i ng t h i rd p art y di d n o t i n fact h av e au t h o ri t y t o g i v e co n s en t t o e n t e r

,

wh ere p ol i ce reas o n ab l y b el i ev ed t h at th e t h i rd p art y h a d s u c h au t h o ri t y

, t h i s

co n st i t u t es ap p aren t au t h o ri t y wh i ch v al i d at es t h e en t ry

. ” Ni l es

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p. at 6 2 3,

ci t i n g R o d

r i g u ez , 4 9 7 U. S. at 1 8 2.

“ As wi t h o t her fact ual det erm i n at i o n s b eari n g u p o n search an d s ei zu re,

d et e r m i n a t i o n o f co n s en t t o en t er m u st b e ju d g ed ag ai ns t an o b ject iv e

s t an dard : wo u l d t he fact s av ai l ab le t o th e o ffi cer at t he m o m en t warran t

a m an o f reas o n ab l e cau t i o n i n t h e b el ief t h at t he co n s en t i n g p art y h ad

au t h ori t y o ver t h e p rem i s es ? If n o t

, t h e n warran t l es s en t ry wi t h o u t

12fu rt h er i n q u i ry i s u n l awfu l un l es s au t h o ri t y act ual l y ex i st s

. Bu t i f s o

, th e

s earch i s v al i d .”

Ni l es

, 32 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 2 3

, q u o t in g Ro d r i g u ez

, 4 9 7 U. S. at 1 8 8 -1 8 9 (ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

As we h av e al read y n o t ed

, t h i s t ri al co u rt m i s ch aract eri zed t h e reco rd wh en i t

fo u n d “ n o i n fo rm at i o n ” i n t h e reco rd co n cern i n g t he w o m an ’ s s t at u s as a res i d en t o f

t h e cam p er. As th e t ri al co u rt ack n owl ed g ed

, m o reo v er, t h e wo m an ’ s cl ai m t h at s h e

was l i v i ng t h ere wi t h Ru ck er, wh i ch was n ev er d i s p u t ed o r d i s p ro v ed

, d i s t i n g u i s h es

t h i s cas e fro m Hu n t

v. S ta t e, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 8, 5 8 1 (6 9 1 SE2 d 3 6 8 ) (2 0 1 0). Th ere,

we rev ers ed t h e d en i al of a h o m eo wn er’ s m o t i o n t o s u p p res s o n t h e g ro u n d t h at an

o ccu pan t o f t h e h o u s e to ld p o l i ce t h at h e d i d n o t l i v e i n t h e ho u se s u ch th at he h ad n o

ap p aren t au t ho ri t y

t o co ns en t t o a warran t l es s s earch

. Id . at 5 8 0 (1 ).

Here, b y co n t ras t

, a n d e v e n as s u m i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i s co u n ted al l t h e

t es t i m o ny t en d i n g to es t ab l is h t h at t he wo m an h ad act ual co m m o n au th o ri t y t o g ran t

acces s t o th e l iv in g ro o m o f t h e c a m p e r, t h ere was n o ev id en ce to s u p p o rt a

co n cl u s i o n t hat t h es e o ffi cers act ed i n a n o b ject i v el y u n reas o n ab l e way wh en t h ey

co n cl u d ed t h at t h e wo m an wh o i n vi t ed t hem i n s i d e i t s c o m m o n area h ad “ co m m o n

au t h o ri t y o r o t h er s u ffi ci en t rel at i o n s h i p wi t h t h e p ro p ert y ” s u ch t h at t h ey co u l d en t er.

13Ha l l

, 2 3 8 Ga. at 8 3 3

. Th e t ri al co u rt t h erefo re erre d w h e n i t co n cl u d ed t h at t h es e

o ffi cers m ad e an i ll eg al en t ry i n t o t h e cam p er’ s fro n t ro o m

. See Fo r d v. St a t e

, 2 1 4 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 8 4

, 2 8 6 -2 8 7 (3 ) (4 4 7 SE2 d 3 34 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (d efen d a n t ’s s i s t er h ad su ffi ci en t

au t h o ri t y an d co n t ro l t o c o n s en t t o a s earch o f h er en t i re ap art m en t

, i n cl u d i n g t h e

b ed ro o m wh ere t h e d efen d an t was s t ay i n g ); Ni l es

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 2 2, 6 2 3 (ev i d en ce

t h at a d efen dan t ’s b r o t h e r h ad “ a k ey an d acces s t o t h e res i d en ce an d u s e o f a

b ed ro o m ” was s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h t hat t h e res i den t h ad “ co m m o n au t h o ri t y ” o v er

“ co m m on areas in t h e res i d en ce,” i n cl u d in g t h e h al l way fro m wh i ch p o l i ce s aw t h e

co n trab an d at i s su e); Lu ke v. S t a t e

, 1 7 8 Ga

. Ap p

. 6 14

, 6 18 (3 4 4 SE2 d 4 5 2) (1 9 8 6 )

(affi rm i ng d e nia l o f m o ti o n to s up p res s wh en d efen d an t ’ s w i fe “ o b v i o u sl y p os s es s ed ”

au t h o ri t y t o g i v e co n sen t t o s earch res i d en ce s h e s h ared wi t h h u s b an d ).

(c) Pl a i n Vi ew

. It is al s o u n d i s p u t ed th at t h e o ffi cers res p on d ed t o t h e wo m an ’ s

r e q u es t t o en t er t he cam

p er o n l y t o t h e ex t en t o f en t eri n g it s fro n t ro o m

, “ an area

wh ere a v i s i t o r wo u l d n o rm al l y b e recei v ed .” W ay ne R. LaFav e, S ea r ch a n d S

ei z u r e

(5 t h ed

. 2 0 12 ), § 8 .5 (e), v ol

. 4

, p

. 3 1 2

, ci t i n g Un it ed St a t es v. Tu r b yf i l l

, 52 5 F.2 d 5 7,

5 9 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 7 5 ) (n o erro r in t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at a h o u s e o ccu pan t ’ s act s o f

o p en in g a d o o r t o p o l i ce an d s t ep p i n g b ack fro m it “ co n s t i t ut ed an i m p l i ed i nv i t at i o n

t o en t er” t h e fro n t ro o m o f t h e h o u s e, fro m wh ich o ffi cers s aw t h e co n t rab an d at i s s u e

14i n p l ai n v i ew). Becau s e p ol i ce were l awfu l l y i n t h i s cam p er’ s en t ry area p u rs u an t to

t h e wo m an ’ s i n v it at i o n t o en ter t h at p art o f t h e cam p er, “ t h ey were l awfu l l y i n a

p o s i t i on to s ee t he co n t rab an d i n p l ai n v i ew” in t h e b ed ro o m

. Ni l es

, 3 2 5 G a. Ap p

. at

6 2 4 (ci t at i o n o m i t ted ); s ee al s o Pr i n ce

, 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 70 (3 ) (b ) (o ffi cers p u rs u i n g

an an o n y m o u s t i p w e r e l awfu l l y p res en t at t he si de do o r o f t h e res i d en ce o f a

p ro b at i o n er wh o h ad ex ecu t ed a v a l i d Fo u rt h Am en d m en t wai ver, fro m wh i ch

p o s i t i on o ffi cers s aw t h e co n t rab an d at i ss u e i n p lai n v i ew).

In s u m , “ al th o u g h we o we s u b s t an t i al d eferen ce t o t h e way i n wh i ch t h e t ri al

co u rt res o l v ed d i s pu t ed q ues ti o n s o f m at eri al fact

, we o w e n o d eferen ce at al l t o t h e

t r i al co u rt wi th res p ect t o q u es t i o n s o f l aw, an d i n s t ead

, we m us t ap p ly t h e l a w

o u rs el v es t o t h e m at eri al fact s.” Hu g h es

, 2 96 Ga. at 7 5 0 (2 ) (ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ). As we

h av e n o t e d

, t h ere i s n o t h i n g in t h e reco rd b efo re us t o s u p p o rt a d et erm i n at i o n t h at

o ffi cers were act i n g u n reas o n ab l y o r i n an arb i t rary

, cap ri ci o u s

, o r h aras s i n g way

wh en t h ey fo l l owed u p o n an an o n y m o u s t i p co n cern i n g a k n o wn d ru g offen d er an d

fel o n wh o h ad ex ecu t ed a v al i d wai ver o f h i s Fo u rt h A m en d m en t ri g h t s b y g o i n g to

t h e res i d en ce n am ed i n t h e ti p an d accep t i n g an o ccu pan t ’ s i n v i t a t i o n t o en t er t h e

fro n t ro o m o f t h at res i d en ce, fro m wh i ch t h ey s aw a h an d gu n i n t h e b e d ro o m o n l y

s ev en o r ei g h t feet away

. Th u s t h e t ot al i ty o f t h e c i r c u m s tan ces h ere, i n cl ud i n g t h e

15ro u t i ne i n v es ti g at i o n o f a ti p co n cern i n g d ru g act i vi t y at a p ro b at i o n er’ s h o u s e, g av e

t h es e offi cers “ a s u ffi ci en t l y reas o n ab le o r g o o d -fai th s us p ici o n fo r t he s earch s o t h at

t h e o f fi cers were n o t act i n g i n an arb i t rary

, cap ri ci o u s

, o r haras si ng m an n er” as a

m at t er of l aw. H

es s

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 0 2 (2 ). Th e t ri al co u rt t h erefo re erred wh en i t

g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n t o s up p res s th e han d g u n at i s s ue h ere. See i d

. (affi rm i n g d en i al o f

m o ti o n t o s u p pre s s w h e n p ro b at i on er’ s m o t her gav e co n s en t t o s earch h i s ro o m );

Br o oks

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 5 0 (2 ) (n o t i n g ab s en ce o f ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt an y fi n d i n g

o f h aras sm en t b y offi cers co n du ct i n g a s ea r c h o f pro b at i o n er’ s res id en ce); S t a t e v.

W es t

, 2 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 8 5

, 1 8 6-1 8 7 (5 1 4 SE2 d 2 5 7) (1 9 9 9 ) (rev ers in g g ran t o f m o t i o n

t o su p p res s wh en d efen d an t ’ s m o t h er h ad t h e au t ho ri t y t o co n s en t t o a s earch o f h er

h o m e, i n cl ud i n g t h e bed ro o m s h e perm i t t ed h er s on t o u s e f o r f ree); Fo r d

, 2 1 4 Ga.

Ap p

. at 2 8 6 -2 8 7 (3 ) (affi rm i n g d en i al of m ot i on t o s u p p res s wh en p o l i ce reas o n ab l y

b el i ev ed t h at defen d an t ’ s s i s t er h ad au t ho ri t y t o g i v e co n s en t to s earch ap art m en t

b ed ro o m wh ere d ru g s were fo u n d ).

Ju d g men t r ever

sed

. El li n g t o n

, P. J., an d Mer ci er

, J., co n cu r i n j u d

g men t o n l y

.

16