Opinion ID: 416957
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Indicia as the Valid Subject of a Search: The Nexus Requirement.

Text: 20 Appellants' first Fourth Amendment issue is whether there is a sufficient nexus between membership in a legal organization (the Hells Angels) and criminal activity so as to justify a search for indicia of membership. Appellants argue there was no nexus between membership and illegal activity. The government argues that the indictment's allegation that one of the purposes of the Hells Angels was a criminal conspiracy establishes a nexus between membership and criminal activity. 21 The rule is well settled that police searches are not limited to instrumentalities or fruits of crime or contraband. Police can search for mere evidence of crime if there is a nexus between the item to be seized and criminal behavior. Warden v. Hayden, 387 U.S. 294, 307, 87 S.Ct. 1642, 1650, 18 L.Ed.2d 782 (1967). A magistrate must determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the evidence sought will aid in a particular apprehension or conviction. Id. When dealing with fruits, instrumentalities, or contraband, the nexus between the item to be seized and criminal behavior is automatically provided. But in the case of mere evidence, such as the indicia of membership in the Hells Angels, finding the nexus can be more difficult. 22 The government puts forth two justifications for a search for indicia of membership in the Hells Angels. The first is that appellants' membership in the Hells Angels would tend to show their association with each other in support of the conspiracy charge. The second is that proof of membership would help establish the charge in the indictment that appellants and others used the Hells Angels organization for criminal activity, i.e., controlling the methamphetamine traffic in Omaha. There can be no doubt that establishing appellants' membership in the Hells Angels would not establish that they were engaged in an illegal conspiracy; however, we believe that proof of membership in the Hells Angels would aid in a particular ... conviction because such proof would be probative on the issue. Proof of membership would help show appellants' associations with each other and their opportunity to use the Hells Angels organization for illegal activities. 23 A wide variety of items might be admitted into evidence in a conspiracy trial; the district court has particularly broad discretion in a conspiracy trial in determining which items will be admitted into evidence. United States v. Skillman, 442 F.2d 542, 551-52 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 833, 92 S.Ct. 82, 30 L.Ed.2d 63 (1971). We have held that proof of association with a political organization is admissible in a conspiracy trial to show the association of defendants with each other. United States v. Baumgarten, 517 F.2d 1020, 1029 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 878, 96 S.Ct. 152, 46 L.Ed.2d 111 (1975) (evidence concerning the history of Students for a Democratic Society relevant and admissible to show the association of defendants with one another). While proof of association or acquaintance alone is not enough to establish the conspiracy, it has sufficient bearing on the issue to make it admissible. United States v. Giese, 597 F.2d 1170, 1187 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 979, 100 S.Ct. 480, 62 L.Ed.2d 405 (1979). Furthermore, evidence of appellants' association with the Hells Angels would help to prove their opportunity to use the Hells Angels organization for criminal activities. 24 Appellants suggest that their First Amendment right of association is involved in this case and we should examine the nexus requirement with more scrutiny when the First Amendment is involved. While the Supreme Court has indicated that a higher standard of scrutiny is necessary in Fourth Amendment cases with First Amendment implications, it has done so in the context of applying the Fourth Amendment particularity requirement. Stanford v. Texas, 379 U.S. 476, 485, 85 S.Ct. 506, 511, 13 L.Ed.2d 431 (1965); Zurcher v. Stanford Daily, 436 U.S. 547, 564, 98 S.Ct. 1970, 1980, 56 L.Ed.2d 525 (1978). We discuss this heightened scrutiny as it relates to the particularity requirement at pages 300-301, infra. 25 Appellants also argue the indicia had no relevance because they had freely proclaimed their association with the Hells Angels. However, the police cannot be expected to know what elements of proof suspects will concede. Indeed, perhaps it is only because of the evidence seized that appellants have been willing to concede membership in the Hells Angels. It is entirely possible that in some cases the indicia of membership would provide crucial evidence in a case, either to show the association of the alleged co-conspirators with each other or to show that the mode of operation of the conspirators was to use the Hells Angels organization. Therefore, we find that there is a sufficiently close nexus between the items seized and alleged criminal behavior. 26