Opinion ID: 2055694
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The underlying circumstances showing.

Text: The defects urged under this prong of Aguilar are that the factual showing did not establish the informant knew in fact the materials to be seized were controlled substances, the location of the controlled substances within the apartment, how many times they had been seen, or when the informant allegedly saw them. We believe, however, that the facts presented to the magistrate satisfied this first prong. As to the identification of the substances observed, Officer Knott, who stated in his affidavit that he was assigned to a narcotics unit in Cedar Rapids and had had experience in the area of controlled substances, identified part of it as marijuana. The informant further had told him he had seen marijuana, speed, and LSD on the premises. This identification of the controlled substances to be seized was sufficient. See United States v. Shipstead, 433 F.2d 368, 372 (9th Cir. 1970) ([t]he suggestion that a search warrant affidavit must allege how the informant knew the drug was methamphetamine is hypercritical. . . .) To hold otherwise would ignore the recommendation of Ventresca, discussed in Division I, to test the sufficiency of affidavits in a common sense and realistic fashion. Id. Viewing Officer Knott's affidavit in that manner, we similarly conclude the description of the location was sufficient; it was not necessary to provide details as to locations within the apartment; reference to the apartment itself, was sufficient. The appellants also contend the affidavit did not give any detail as to when the observations were made by the informant; and, were it not for the resolution against them of the issue in Division I, they would carry the day on this ground. While frequency of observation would obviously affect the weight given to the information, a rule attempting to establish a specific minimum would be illogical and overly restrictive in light of Ventresca. Obviously, the possibility of staleness in the informant's observations would vitiate the showing of underlying facts and circumstances required by Aguilar; the tape-recorded testimony of Officer Knott, however, established that the informant had made his observations within the preceding forty-eight hours. Viewing the evidence presented to the magistrate in its totality, we conclude the showing of underlying circumstances satisfied the first prong of Aguilar.