Opinion ID: 792174
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Probable cause through propinquity

Text: 62 Based on the corrected affidavit's allegations that some E-group subscribers engaged in illegal activity such as downloading illegal visual depictions, the majority infers that there is a fair probability that all subscribers, including Martin, were also engaging in illegal activity. I agree with the majority that there is no question that the affidavit establishes that some E-group subscribers used the E-group for illegal purposes. The illegal activity of some subscribers, standing alone, however, is not sufficient to establish probable cause with respect to Martin as an individual. As the Supreme Court has stated mere propinquity to others independently suspected of criminal activity does not, without more, give rise to probable cause to search that person. See Ybarra v. Illinois, 444 U.S. 85, 91, 100 S.Ct. 338, 62 L.Ed.2d 238 (1979). 14 63 The majority's focus on group probabilities runs counter to the well-settled notion that probable cause must be based on particularized facts. See Ybarra, 444 U.S. at 91, 100 S.Ct. 338 (Where the standard is probable cause, a search or seizure of a person must be supported by probable cause particularized with respect to that person.). The corrected affidavit's allegation that Martin was an E-group subscriber is simply not enough without something more that indicates that he actually participated in the illegal activities of the group. See, e.g., United States v. Brown, 951 F.2d 999, 1003 (9th Cir.1991) (ruling that individual officer's membership in corrupt police unit was not sufficient for probable cause without further proof that the officer actually participated in illegal activities); United States v. Rubio, 727 F.2d 786, 793-94 (9th Cir.1984) (declaring that membership in Hell's Angels, standing alone, is not sufficient for probable cause without particularized allegation that the individual participated in the organization's criminal activity).