Opinion ID: 1214508
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Probable Cause To Support Search Warrant

Text: Stults next argues that the affidavit submitted by law enforcement in support of the application for a search warrant was lacking in probable cause and that the Leon good-faith exception does not apply. In response, the government contends that Stults's facial validity challenge to the warrant fails because law enforcement agents were able to download child pornography from Stults's computer and the affidavit recounted this information, thereby providing sufficient probable cause for the issuance of the warrant. To be valid under the Fourth Amendment, a search warrant must be supported by a showing of probable cause. United States v. Wallace, 550 F.3d 729, 732 (8th Cir.2008) (internal quotations and citation omitted). Probable cause exists when there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. United States v. Palega, 556 F.3d 709, 714 (8th Cir.2009) (internal quotations and citations omitted).Whether a search warrant is supported by probable cause is determined by the totality of the circumstances; resolution of the question by an issuing judge should be paid great deference by reviewing courts. United States v. Kattaria, 553 F.3d 1171, 1175 (8th Cir.2009) (internal quotations and citations omitted). Our duty is to ensure that the issuing judge had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed. Id. (internal quotations and citations omitted). Where there is no evidentiary hearing before the magistrate judge, the probable cause determination must be based upon only that information which is found within the four corners of the affidavit. United States v. Olvey, 437 F.3d 804, 807 (8th Cir.2006) (internal quotations and citation omitted). Here, the magistrate judge found that the application and affidavit: (1) described a method of communication known as peer-to-peer (P2P) computer file sharing using the worldwide Internet; (2) described how individuals wishing to share child pornography use the P2P method to share and trade digital files containing images of child pornography; (3) described Agent Morral's experience and training in computer usage and investigation of child pornography cases; (4) incorporated details of an investigation by [Agent Cecchini]... who accessed a P2P file designated Lime[W]ire and conducted a search looking for users accessing known child pornography sites; (5) stated that an IP address traced to Stults was identified as accessing child pornography sites; and (6) recounted that shared files from Stults's computer were downloaded and reviewed and were identified as containing numerous images of child pornography. United States v. Stults, No. 8:07-CR-199, 2007 WL 3275129, at  (D.Neb. Nov.2, 2007) (unpublished). Based on these facts, the district court adopted the magistrate judge's recommendation that the search warrant at issue ... contains probable cause to support the search. Stults, 2007 WL 4284721, at . We affirm the district court's conclusion that the affidavit in support of the search warrant was supported by probable clause. The information contained in the affidavit shows that, through the P2P file-sharing program, Agent Cecchini was able to access and download files directly from Stults's computer that contained child pornography images. As a result, a fair probability existed that contraband would be found at Stults's residence in his personal computer. See Palega, 556 F.3d at 714. [3]