FOURTH DIVISION

April 3, 2008

No. 1-07-0271

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the

) Circuit Court of

Plaintiff-Appellant, ) Cook County.

)

v. ) No. 05 CR 1664

)

RAUL CARO, ) Honorable

) Henry R. Simmons,

Defendant-Appellee. ) Judge Presiding.

JUSTICE O'BRIEN delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Raul Caro, was charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon. After a

hearing, the circuit court granted defendant's motion to quash the search warrant and suppress

evidence pursuant to Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 57 L. Ed. 2d 667, 98 S. Ct. 2674 (1978). 

The State appeals. We affirm.

On December 22, 2004, Officer Federico Andaverde submitted a complaint and affidavit

for a search warrant to the circuit court. In the complaint, Officer Andaverde stated that on

December 22, 2004, he had a conversation with a John Doe who related to him that defendant

sells cocaine to members of the Spanish Cobras street gang. John Doe also related that on

December 21, 2004, he went to the basement apartment at 1401 N. Hamlin Avenue, where he

was met at the door by defendant and allowed into the apartment. John Doe had a conversation

with defendant concerning the purchase of some cocaine. After the conversation, defendant

walked into a front bedroom and then returned shortly afterwards with a large clear plastic bag

that contained over 200 smaller plastic bags, each containing a white powder substance. 
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Defendant reached into the bag and randomly removed three of the smaller bags of white powder

substance and handed them to John Doe in exchange for $30. John Doe left the apartment, went

to a different location, and snorted the contents of one of those bags. John Doe reported that he

received "the same high" as he previously received from snorting cocaine.

The complaint further stated that Officer Andaverde ran defendant's name in the Secretary

of State's database, revealing that defendant had three vehicles registered in his name at 1401 N.

Hamlin Avenue. Officer Andaverde showed a photograph of defendant to John Doe, and Doe

identified defendant as the person who had sold him the cocaine on December 21, 2004, from the

basement apartment located at 1401 N. Hamlin Avenue. Officer Andaverde brought Doe to 1401

N. Hamlin Avenue and Doe stated, "that is where I bought my [c]ocaine from yesterday and have

been buying cocaine from for at least the past two months." Officer Andaverde walked up to the

building at 1401 N. Hamlin Avenue and observed defendant's name on the door. He also stated

that he observed one of defendant's registered vehicles parked just south of 1401 N. Hamlin

Avenue.

On December 22, 2004, Officers Andaverde and Angel Amador brought John Doe before

Judge Biebel. Judge Biebel interviewed John Doe for approximately 10 minutes regarding the

truthfulness of the facts contained within the search warrant and then swore John Doe to the facts

contained within the search warrant. Judge Biebel issued the search warrant at approximately

5:20 p.m. on December 22, 2004.

The search allegedly recovered a shotgun with a barrel measuring less than 18 inches, and 

defendant was charged with unlawful use of a weapon with regard thereto. Defendant was not
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indicted for any drug-related offenses.

On January 18, 2006, defendant filed a motion to suppress evidence pursuant to Franks. 

In support, defendant included his own affidavit and those of his two roommates. In defendant's

affidavit, he stated that he had lived at 1401 N. Hamlin Avenue for approximately 14 years. He

was employed by Curial Management as an apartment manager and had been so employed for

several years; he also renovated buildings. His roommates were his brother, David Caro, and a

friend, Pedro Santiago. Defendant stated that on December 20, 2004, he went to sleep at

approximately 10 p.m. His roommates also were present in the apartment that night and no one

else came into the apartment that evening. He woke up for work the next morning, December 21,

2004, at 6:30 a.m. and left the apartment at approximately 7 a.m. He went to a building at 3960

W. Grand Avenue, where he worked that day installing drywall. He went home at approximately

7:30 p.m. His roommates were home when he arrived, he ate dinner, watched television, and

went to bed. Defendant stated that no one came to his apartment on the night of December 21,

2004. Defendant denied that he sold cocaine or any narcotics to anyone in his apartment or at any

other location on December 21, 2004. He stated that he never sold or used narcotics.

Defendant's brother, David Caro, stated in his affidavit that he lived in the apartment at

1401 N. Hamlin Avenue for 12 years. He was a machine operator for Olympic Oil, and had been

employed there for 17 years. He stated that on December 20, 2004, he went to bed in the early

evening and that no one came into the apartment except for defendant and the other roommate. 

He woke up for work at 3:30 a.m. on December 21, 2004, and left the apartment at 4 a.m. He

worked until 1:30 p.m. and arrived back to an empty apartment at approximately 2 p.m. His
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roommate, Pedro Santiago, arrived home at approximately 4 p.m., and the two of them cooked

dinner and watched television until approximately 7 or 7:30 p.m., when David went to bed. At

approximately 8 p.m., he heard defendant enter the apartment, watch some television, and then go

to bed. David stated that while he was in the apartment on December 21, 2004, he did not see

defendant or anyone else sell cocaine to anyone. Other than defendant and Pedro, he did not see

anyone else in the apartment on December 21, 2004. He further stated that prior to December

21, 2004, he had never seen defendant use or sell cocaine or other drugs to anyone in their

apartment or at any other location.

Pedro Santiago stated in his affidavit that he had lived in the apartment at 1401 N. Hamlin

Avenue for 14 years. He was a laborer for Lakewood Company, a fan manufacturer, and had

been employed there for 17 years. Pedro stated that on the evening of December 20, 2004, he

and his roommates were alone in the apartment. He went to bed that evening and woke at 6:15

a.m. the following day for work. He left for work at 6:45 a.m. and returned home at 4 p.m. 

David Caro was present when he arrived home. Pedro and David made dinner and watched

television. Pedro stated that defendant came into the apartment as he was getting ready to go to

bed. Pedro stated that no one, other than his two roommates, was present with him in the

apartment on December 21, 2004. While he was in the apartment on December 21, 2004, Pedro

did not see defendant or anyone else sell cocaine to anyone. He also stated that prior to

December 21, 2004, he had never seen defendant use or sell cocaine or other drugs to anyone in

their apartment or at any other location.

On May 4, 2006, the circuit court granted defendant's request for a Franks hearing. At the
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hearing, the following evidence was adduced. On December 22, 2004, Officers Andaverde and

Amador had a conversation with a John Doe informant, who was referred to them by other police

officers. Neither Officer Andaverde nor Officer Amador had ever worked with the John Doe

informant before. John Doe informed the officers that on the previous day, December 21, 2004,

he purchased three bags of narcotics from defendant. John Doe told the officers that defendant

had a large knotted bag containing 200 smaller packets of cocaine. John Doe provided the

officers with defendant's name, address, and description.

To verify the information given by the John Doe, Officer Andaverde went to the address

provided and saw that the name on the doorbell matched defendant's name. The parties stipulated

that the officers did not conduct a controlled buy, surveillance or any further investigation as to

narcotics sales at 1401 N. Hamlin Avenue.

On December 22, 2004, Officer Andaverde took John Doe to the address at 1401 N.

Hamlin Avenue, where he identified it as the house where he had purchased narcotics. The officer

also obtained a photograph of defendant from the Secretary of State's database and showed it to

John Doe.

The complaint for search warrant included defendant's name, age, date of birth, height,

weight, eye color, hair color, complexion, social security number and driver's license number. The

officers stated that they learned the name, height, weight and physical description from John Doe,

and that they obtained the social security number, driver's license number and date of birth from

the Secretary of State's database.

Officer Andaverde stated that on December 22, 2004, he and Officer Amador brought
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John Doe before Judge Biebel. Judge Biebel interviewed John Doe for approximately 10 minutes

regarding the truthfulness of the facts contained within the search warrant, and swore him to the

facts contained within the search warrant. Judge Biebel thereafter granted the warrant. The

common law record reveals that on December 22, 2004, the officers executed the warrant at the

basement apartment at 1401 N. Hamlin Avenue.. From the apartment, the police recovered a

shotgun with a barrel measuring less than 18 inches.

Defendant's brother, David Caro, testified that he lives at 1401 N. Hamlin Avenue. He

stated that on December 21, 2004, he woke up at 3:30 a.m. and left for work at 4 a.m. He

testified that between the time he woke up and left for work, nobody came to the apartment. 

When he left for work, defendant was still in the apartment. When David arrived home at

approximately 2 p.m., nobody else was there. Pedro arrived home at approximately 4 p.m. David

and Pedro ate dinner and watched television. David went to sleep at 7 p.m. He heard defendant

come home at approximately 7 or 7:30 p.m. and did not hear anyone else come into the apartment

that evening. He did not see defendant selling drugs to anyone in the apartment on December 21,

2004, and he has never known defendant to sell drugs.

Pedro Santiago testified that he had been living at 1401 N. Hamlin Avenue for 14 years. 

On December 21, 2004, he woke up at 6 a.m. and left for work at 6:30 a.m. He arrived home at

approximately 4:30 p.m. David Caro was in the apartment when he arrived home. He and David

made something to eat. David went to bed at approximately 7:15 p.m. and Pedro went to bed at

approximately 8 p.m. Pedro heard defendant arrive home at approximately 8 p.m. and did not

hear anyone else enter the apartment that evening. He did not see defendant selling drugs to
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anyone in the apartment on December 21, 2004, and he has never known defendant to sell drugs.

Defendant testified that he had been living in the basement apartment at 1401 N. Hamlin

Avenue for 14 years. He testified that when he woke up on December 21, 2004, at 6:30 a.m.,

both of his roommates were gone. He left the apartment at approximately 6:45 a.m. and went to

work at 3960 W. Grand Avenue, where he was doing remodeling work for an attorney named

Basil Anagnos. He finished working at 7:45 p.m. and returned home at 8 p.m. When defendant

arrived home, both his roommates already were in bed. Defendant stated that nobody else arrived

at the apartment that night and that he has never sold drugs to anyone.

The parties stipulated that Basil Anagnos is an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois,

and he also develops property. Mr. Anagnos owned the property at 3960 W. Grand Avenue. 

During the week of December 20, 2004, defendant was doing drywall work there. Mr. Anagnos

periodically stopped by the premises to check on the progress of the work. On December 21,

2004, he stopped at 3960 W. Grand Avenue in the morning hours and saw defendant and another

worker there putting up drywall. Mr. Anagnos stayed for approximately 15 minutes and then left. 

Mr. Anagnos had known defendant for 12 years, hired him on many occasions, and never knew

him to use, sell or possess any type of illegal drugs.

After the conclusion of all the evidence, the circuit court granted defendant's motion to

quash the search warrant and suppress evidence. The State filed a motion to reconsider, which

the circuit court denied. The State filed this timely appeal.

The State contends that the trial court erred in granting defendant a Franks hearing and

quashing the search warrant and suppressing evidence. The fourth amendment to the United
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States Constitution guarantees the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. The

amendment states that "no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or

affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be

seized." U.S. Const., amend IV. The Illinois Constitution similarly provides that "[n]o warrant

shall issue without probable cause, supported by affidavit particularly describing the place to be

searched and the persons or things to be seized." Ill. Const. 1970, art. 1, §6.

A "detached judicial officer" resolves the question of whether probable cause exists

justifying the issuance of a warrant. People v. Tisler, 103 Ill. 2d 226, 236 (1984). The decision is

based on the information contained in sworn statements or affidavits presented to the magistrate. 

Tisler, 103 Ill. 2d at 236. Whether probable cause exists depends on the totality of the

circumstances known to the officers and court at the time the warrant is sought. Tisler, 103 Ill.

2d at 236.

Prior to Franks, attacks on warrant affidavits were precluded. People v. Lucente, 116 Ill.

2d 133, 146 (1987). In Franks, the United States Supreme Court recognized a limited right to

attack the veracity of a warrant affidavit. The Court held that to overcome the presumption of

validity that attaches to a warrant affidavit and obtain a Franks hearing, defendant must make "a

substantial preliminary showing that a false statement knowingly and intentionally, or with

reckless disregard for the truth, was included by the affiant in the warrant affidavit" and that "the

allegedly false statement is necessary to the finding of probable cause." Franks, 438 U.S. at 155-

56, 57 L. Ed. 2d at 672, 98 S. Ct. at 2676. Defendant makes a "substantial preliminary showing"

when he offers proof that is "somewhere between mere denials on the one hand and proof by a
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preponderance on the other." Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d at 152. The determination of whether a

defendant made the necessary showing to warrant a Franks hearing is within the discretion of the

circuit court and will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. People v. Gorosteata, 374

Ill. App. 3d 203, 212 (2007).

The instant case is similar to Lucente. In Lucente, a police officer executed a complaint

for a search warrant. In his supporting affidavit, he stated that an unnamed informant had told

him that at approximately 8:30 p.m. on the previous evening, the informant had gone to an

apartment and been admitted inside by Lucente. Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d at 139. In the apartment,

the informant purchased marijuana. Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d at 139. A search warrant was issued. 

No marijuana was found, but another controlled substance, valium, was found in a bedroom

dresser. Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d at 140.

Lucente filed a motion pursuant to Franks seeking to quash the warrant and the arrest. 

The motion alleged that the officer's warrant affidavit was false. Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d at 140. In

support, Lucente filed an affidavit alleging that he was not present at his apartment during the

hours (8:30 p.m.) the informant stated he made the purchase. Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d at 140. 

Lucente stated that on the evening in question, he and his wife were with his sister from 6:30 p.m.

to 10 p.m. Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d at 140. Lucente's wife and sister also submitted affidavits stating

that they were at the sister's house from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d at 140-41.

The trial court granted a Franks hearing and eventually quashed the warrant and

suppressed the evidence. Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d at 141-43. On appeal by the State, the supreme

court affirmed, holding:
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"Had [Lucente's] proffer consisted solely of his own affidavit asserting 'I didn't do it,' that

would amount to an unsubstantiated denial, and that would be plainly insufficient. 

[Lucente] has done more than that, however. His showing is essentially an alibi,

and he has corroborated that alibi with two affidavits besides his own. Furthermore, all

[Lucente's] affidavits are sufficiently detailed so as to subject the affiants to the penalties

of perjury if they are untrue. [Citations.] In our view, the presence of such sworn

corroboration elevates this showing above the level of 'mere denial.' " Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d

at 153-54.

The supreme court concluded that "[o]n balance, the showing made was such that the trial

judge could permissibly conclude that an evidentiary hearing was warranted." Lucente, 116 Ill. 2d

at 154.

Similarly, in the present case, defendant filed an affidavit stating that he was at work on

the day the informant stated he made the purchase and that when he came home he ate dinner and

watched television and went to bed. He denied selling or using any illegal drugs on the day in

question. Defendant's two roommates also filed affidavits in support, stating that when defendant

arrived home from work no one other than he and his roommates were present. Both roommates

denied seeing defendant selling illegal drugs at the apartment on the day in question.

As in Lucente, defendant's showing was essentially an alibi, and he corroborated that alibi

with two affidavits besides his own. All three affidavits are sufficiently detailed so as to subject

the affiants to the penalties of perjury if they are untrue. Taken together, the affidavits constitute

a substantial preliminary showing that a false statement implicating defendant in the drug
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transaction was knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly included by the officer in the warrant

affidavit, and that the allegedly false statement was necessary to the finding of probable cause. 

Based on these affidavits, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that a Franks

hearing was warranted.

The State contends that defendant's alibi is unavailing and did not warrant a Franks

hearing, because his roommates could not account for defendant's whereabouts from 6:45 a.m.

until 2 p.m., or from 8 p.m. onward. The State's argument would have merit if the informant had

stated that the drug transaction had occurred during those time periods. However, the informant

here merely stated that he had purchased drugs from defendant on December 21, 2004, but he

never provided a time of day when the transaction occurred. In response, defendant filed an

affidavit stating that he was at work all day on December 21, then went home, ate, and went to

bed; his roommates provided affidavits confirming that when they returned home from work in

the afternoon, defendant was not there, and that defendant came home near bed time and that they

saw no drug transactions. The trial court could conclude from all these affidavits that an

evidentiary Franks hearing was warranted. We find no abuse of discretion in the granting of the

hearing.

The State argues, though, that People v. Gorosteata, 374 Ill. App. 3d 203 (2007), compels

a different result. In Gorosteata, a police officer filed a complaint for the issuance of a search

warrant. In his complaint, the officer averred that an informant had told him about a narcotic

transaction he engaged in with a man named Gordo on the evening of June 24, 2003, at 4849 S.

Honore Street. Gorosteata, 374 Ill. App. 3d at 205-06. The trial court approved the search
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warrant, and a team of police executed the warrant. The officers recovered marijuana, cocaine,

and bottles of Inositol, an agent used to dilute cocaine. Gorosteata, 374 Ill. App. 3d at 206.

Gorosteata was charged with possession of cannabis with intent to deliver and possession of a

controlled substance with intent to deliver. Gorosteata, 374 Ill. App. 3d at 206. Gorosteata filed

a motion for a Franks hearing to quash the search warrant and suppress evidence. Gorosteata

attached a number of affidavits stating that he had not engaged in any drug transactions on the

date in question. Gorosteata, 374 Ill. App. 3d at 206-07.

The trial court denied the motion for a Franks hearing. Gorosteata, 374 Ill. App. 3d at

208. On appeal, the appellate court held in pertinent part:

"[T]here appears to be no dispute that [the informant] personally testified before

the magistrate at the time Officer Sanchez applied for the search warrant. We agree with

the circuit court that the police's employment of this procedure, rather than the officer

merely presenting and vouching for his informant's claims in the officer's complaint,

without presenting the informant to the court for interrogation, removed this case from the

ambit of Franks.

A number of courts have recognized, as did the circuit court, that, when a

nongovernmental informant is personally brought before the magistrate to testify to the

facts that will establish probable cause in a warrant, the burden of determining the

reliability of the informant then shifts to the court and away from law enforcement

personnel. ***

* * * 
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*** [W]hen the informant appears before the magistrate, it is not even necessary

for the police to corroborate the informant's account since 'the judge issuing the search

warrant ha[s] an opportunity to *** determine the basis of [the informant's] knowledge.'

[Citation.]

Thus, since [the informant] appeared before the magistrate to testify surrounding

the allegations contained in the complaint for the search warrant of the second-floor

apartment at 4849 S. Honore, this case falls outside the scope of Franks. Therefore, there

was no error on the part of the circuit court in denying [Gorosteata] a Franks evidentiary

hearing." Gorosteata, 374 Ill. App. 3d at 213-15.

In the present case, the State argues that John Doe was a nongovernmental informant who

testified before the magistrate during the hearing on the State's complaint for a search warrant. 

Therefore, the State contends that, as in Gorosteata, this case falls outside the scope of Franks.

We disagree. Gorosteata is factually inapposite, as the appeal there was taken by

defendant following the denial of a Franks hearing, whereas the appeal here is taken by the State

from the granting of a Franks hearing. Unlike in Gorosteata, then, the issue in the present case is

whether the trial court abused its discretion in granting the Franks hearing where the informant

had earlier testified before the judge issuing the search warrant. We decline to hold that the

informant's testimony categorically precluded a Franks hearing, especially where, as here,

defendant's motion for a Franks hearing was supported with multiple affidavits indicating that

defendant did not engage in any narcotics transactions on the date in question. The informant's

testimony was but one factor to consider in determining whether to grant a Franks hearing; the
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other factors to consider, as discussed above, were the affidavits filed by defendant and his

roommates. We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's decision to grant a Franks hearing.

We respectfully disagree with Gorosteata to the extent that its holding conflicts with our

own. Gorosteata held that when a nongovernmental informant testifies before the judge issuing

the warrant, the case falls outside the scope of Franks. Our review of Franks indicates otherwise. 

As discussed, Franks held that a defendant may attack the veracity of a warrant affidavit and

obtain a hearing when he makes a "substantial preliminary showing that a false statement

knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, was included by the affiant in

the warrant affidavit" and that the alleged false statement was necessary to the finding of probable

cause. Franks, 438 U.S. at 155-56, 57 L. Ed. 2d at 672, 98 S. Ct. at 2676. In providing for the

Franks hearing, the Supreme Court noted that the fourth amendment requires a truthful showing

of probable cause "in the sense that the information put forth is believed or appropriately accepted

by the affiant as true." Franks, 438 U.S. at 165, 57 L. Ed. 2d at 678, 98 S. Ct. at 2681. The

Supreme Court further noted:

"Because it is the magistrate who must determine independently whether there is probable

cause [citations], it would be an unthinkable imposition upon his authority if a warrant

affidavit, revealed after the fact to contain a deliberately or recklessly false statement, were

to stand beyond impeachment.

 * * * 

[A] flat ban on impeachment of veracity could denude the probable-cause

requirement of all real meaning. The requirement that a warrant not issue 'but upon
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probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation,' would be reduced to a nullity if a police

officer was able to use deliberately falsified allegations to demonstrate probable cause,

and, having misled the magistrate, then was able to remain confident that the ploy was

worthwhile." Franks, 438 U.S. at 165-68, 57 L. Ed. 2d at 678-80, 98 S. Ct. at 2681-82,

quoting U.S. Const., amend IV.

Gorosteata defeats the purpose of Franks by allowing a warrant affidavit, revealed after

the fact to contain a deliberately or recklessly false statement, to stand beyond impeachment as

long as the nongovernmental informant testified before the judge issuing the search warrant. 

Contrary to Gorosteata's holding, Franks simply contains no language precluding an attack on the

warrant affidavit when a nongovernmental informant testifies before the issuing judge. 

Accordingly, we decline to follow Gorosteata here.

Next, the State argues that the trial court erred in quashing the search warrant and

suppressing the evidence. The relevant inquiry is whether defendant proved, by a preponderance

of the evidence, that the affiant included false statements in the warrant affidavit with reckless

disregard of the truth and that the statements were necessary to the finding of probable cause. 

Franks, 438 U.S. at 155-56, 57 L. Ed. 2d at 672, 98 S. Ct. at 2676. When reviewing a motion to

suppress, the trial court's factual findings will be reversed only if they are against the manifest

weight of the evidence; the trial court's ruling on the motion is a question of law that we review

de novo. People v. McCarty, 223 Ill. 2d 109, 148 (2006).

The evidence at the hearing supports a finding that the warrant affidavit contained false

statements that the affiant included with reckless disregard for the truth. Specifically, the officer's
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affidavit contained the informant's statements to the officers that he had purchased drugs from

defendant on December 21, 2004. The trial court found that the informant's statement regarding

"[t]he entire content of what drugs were in the home" was false. The trial court's factual finding

was supported by the affidavits of defendant and his roommates (denying any drug transactions)

and was not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Further, the testimony at the hearing

supported the trial court's finding that the officers did not properly investigate the truthfulness of

the informant's allegations. They did not check the informant's background or check his name

with any other police unit or conduct any surveillance of defendant's building or conduct a

controlled buy. The officers' conduct demonstrated that they acted with reckless disregard for the

truth or falsity of the statements provided by the informant; and the statements were necessary to

the finding of probable cause. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's order quashing the search

warrant and suppressing the evidence.

Affirmed.

NEVILLE, P.J., and CAMPBELL, J., concur.