Opinion ID: 1679561
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Suppression of Evidence Seized Pursuant to the Search Warrant

Text: Defendants allege that the affidavit for the search warrant discussed above did not sufficiently establish probable cause to search. They argue that the affidavit stated that the information the affiants received shows that the photographs referred to above were taken at the residence sought to be searched some time just before Easter of 1979. The search warrant was issued on August 28, 1979. Defendants argue that a 4-month period had thus passed since marijuana was alleged at that residence and there was no probable cause to believe that any marijuana remained at the residence at the time the search warrant was issued. We recognize that included within the general concept of probable cause for issuance of a search warrant is the reasonable belief that contraband or evidence will not be disposed of, but will remain at the place to be searched at the time of the proposed search. State v. Boneventure, 374 So.2d 1238 (La.1979). As the trial judge noted, it may be that the fact that large amounts of marijuana had allegedly been at the residence sought to be searched would provide continued probable cause to believe some marijuana would remain on the premises after a 4-month period. In any event, the judge held that there was probable cause to believe that the other items named in the search warrant that were sought to be seized or photographed remained on the premises at the time the search warrant was issued. The warrant, for example, listed such items as cooking pans, a wall plaque, a guitar case and guitar, a camera and a coffee table. We agree that probable cause existed to search for such items at the time the search warrant was issued and the search conducted. Defendants also contend that the search warrant was invalid since the affidavit in support of this warrant does not allege that Kenneth Sanford or Gerald Donald (sources of the information in the affidavit) were reliable informants. The affidavit did, in fact, set forth sufficient underlying circumstances and details to provide a factual basis for determining the reliability of the informant and information. Both informants were named, and the reliability of their information was clearly established by the fact that they were participants in the alleged crime and spoke from first hand knowledge. State v. Paciera, 290 So.2d 681 (La.1974). Also, the fact that each defendant made statements against their own interests and which incriminated them, lends credibility to this source of information. State v. Welsh, 371 So.2d 1314 (La.1979). The affidavit is sufficient to establish the requisite probable cause to search. For the above reasons, the trial judge's rulings on these pre-trial motions of defendants are affirmed. AFFIRMED. LEMMON, J., concurs and assigns reasons. CALOGERO, J., concurs and joins in reasons assigned by LEMMON, J.