Opinion ID: 488806
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion to Supress.

Text: 9 Appellant argues that the district court erred in applying the totality-of-the-circumstances test established in Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 2230 (1983), because the affidavit supporting the search warrant did not provide the reviewing magistrate with a substantial basis for determining the existence of probable cause of criminal activities within either structure listed on the search warrant. Specifically, appellant disputes the reliability of the unnamed informant, and asserts that even if there was probable cause to support the search of the residence, the only statement by the informant regarding the carriagehouse was that appellant kept weapons there and used it to sell dope out of. Appellant contends that these statements were insufficient to support the search of the carriagehouse and that, at the least, the evidence seized from that search should not have been admitted. 10 Our duty, as defined in Gates, is to ensure that the magistrate had a 'substantial basis for ... conclud[ing]' that probable cause existed. Id. at 238-39, 103 S.Ct. at 2332 (quoting Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 271, 80 S.Ct. 725, 736, 4 L.Ed.2d 697 (1960)); accord United States v. Mims, 812 F.2d 1068, 1072 (8th Cir.1987). Under the totality-of-the-circumstances test, the issuing magistrate's function 11 is simply to make a practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before him, including the veracity and basis of knowledge of persons supplying hearsay information, there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. 12 Gates, 462 U.S. at 238, 103 S.Ct. at 2332; accord Mims at 1072. The magistrate's determination must be given great deference. Mims, at 1072 (citing United States v. Arenal, 768 F.2d 263, 266 (8th Cir.1985)). 13 We believe that the issuing magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed for the issuance of the search warrant as to both buildings. First, according to the affidavit, the confidential informant previously provided Agent Walton with information which led to the arrest of two individuals on charges of a drug conspiracy, and further advised Walton that appellant was to have purchased some of the drugs from those individuals. This information supported the informant's credibility and reliability. Second, the affidavit stated that the informant told Walton that he was inside appellant's residence four days before and the day of the search warrant's issuance; that he observed cocaine in the residence and a revolver in the carriagehouse; that he overheard appellant on the telephone having a conversation about snow; and that appellant used the carriagehouse to sell dope out of and to store weapons. Thus, the informant had personal knowledge of the appellant's activities as to both buildings. Finally, in the affidavit, Walton testified as to his prior experience with drug offenders and his knowledge of appellant's prior involvement with drug distribution. 14 Under a totality-of-the-circumstances analysis, we believe that the affidavit amply supported the magistrate's conclusion that there was a fair probability that cocaine and other evidence of criminal activity would be found in either or both of the buildings. Accordingly, we conclude that the magistrate had a substantial basis for determining that probable cause existed for issuance of the search warrant. 15