Opinion ID: 2976427
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The December 2, 2002 Affidavit

Text: The district court did not consider West’s challenge to this affidavit because it had found that probable cause was established by the first affidavit, and the subsequent search of West’s van was authorized by that warrant. As we have invalidated the first warrant, we now turn to the second, and also find it constitutionally deficient. Not only is the December 2 affidavit “bare bones,” it also indicates a clear reckless disregard for the truth. No. 06-6109 United States v. West Page 6 The December 2 affidavit contained one paragraph describing Towery’s story that West had drunkenly confessed to murdering Bradley and disposing of the body in a well near Fredonia, Kentucky. This drunken conversation allegedly occurred in Mary Moody’s driveway. This information is obviously weak and sparse, but we have held that such information may be enough to establish probable cause if the “authorities undertook probative efforts to corroborate an informant’s claims through independent investigations.” Weaver, 99 F.3d at 1379. Detective Steger, prior to seeking a search warrant, attempted to do just that. Unfortunately his independent investigation did not corroborate Towery’s story, but rather undermined it. Officer Steger did not relay to the issuing magistrate that Towery was in federal custody awaiting sentencing when he told his story to investigators. Steger also failed to inform the magistrate that Mary Moody was unable to corroborate Towery’s claim that the conversation took place in her driveway. Steger left out of his affidavit the fact that he was unable to locate Bradley’s body, the well, or any other evidence related to her disappearance despite the fact that Towery’s description of the area was so detailed that Officer Bryan testified that he instantly knew the exact location of which Towery spoke. The fact that the affidavit prepared by Steger did not accurately reflect the facts known to him at the time the affidavit was sworn evinces a reckless disregard for the truth. In such circumstances we are required to analyze the affidavit “including the omitted portions and determine whether probable cause still exists.” United States v. Atkin, 107 F.3d 1213, 1217 (6th Cir. 1997). When the affidavit is viewed as a whole, taking in the totality of the circumstances and the omitted information, it is not probable cause that is depicted, but rather it is a picture of unreliable and uncorroborated hearsay statements of a federal prisoner hoping to garner favor with the government before being sentenced. Accordingly, we find that the affidavit is insufficient to support a finding of probable cause. Just as the Leon good faith exception does not apply to save a “bare bones” affidavit, it also cannot save an affidavit that contains knowing or reckless falsities. McPhearson, 469 F.3d at 525. Detective Steger purposely withheld information when he prepared his affidavit. Steger knew that his affidavit was incomplete and misleading to the issuing magistrate, and as such, he cannot be held to have reasonably relied on the search warrant. Accordingly, the Leon good faith exception does not apply to save the December 2 affidavit. Id.