Opinion ID: 1375322
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Intentional Use of False Information

Text: First, the appellants argue the magistrate was misled by information that the affiant officer knew was false or would have known was false if not for a reckless disregard of the truth. Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978); State v. Walls, 170 W.Va. 419, 294 S.E.2d 272 (1982). [6] To successfully challenge the validity of a search warrant on the basis of false information in the warrant affidavit, the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the affiant, either knowingly and intentionally or with reckless disregard for the truth, included a false statement therein. Franks, 438 U.S. at 155-56, 98 S.Ct. at 2676-77, 57 L.Ed.2d at 672; State v. Wood, 177 W.Va. 352, 354, 352 S.E.2d 103, 105 (1986). The same analysis applies to omissions of fact. The defendant must show that the facts were intentionally omitted or were omitted in reckless disregard of whether their omission made the affidavit misleading. [7] Recklessness may be inferred from an omission in an affidavit only when the material omitted would have been clearly critical to the finding of probable cause. United States v. Ozar, 50 F.3d 1440, 1445 (8th Cir.1995). The reviewing court then must determine whether, either absent the false material or supplemented with the omitted material, the remaining content of the affidavit is sufficient to establish probable cause. See Franks, 438 U.S. at 156, 98 S.Ct. at 2676-77, 57 L.Ed.2d at 672; State v. George, 185 W.Va. 539, 547, 408 S.E.2d 291, 299 (1991). If the remaining content is insufficient to establish probable cause, the warrant must be voided and the evidence or statements gathered pursuant to it excluded. State v. Thompson, 178 W.Va. 254, 256, 358 S.E.2d 815, 817 (1987). Mere negligence or innocent mistake is insufficient to void a warrant. Franks, 438 U.S. at 171, 98 S.Ct. at 2684, 57 L.Ed.2d at 682. Under Franks/Walls, a statement in a warrant is not false, however, merely because it summarizes facts in a particular way; if a statement can be read as true, it is not a misrepresentation. In Wood, this Court emphasized the degree of deference to be given to the findings of a circuit court where there is conflict. Such deference also is appropriate where two interpretations reasonably may be drawn from the facts and one of the interpretations supports the circuit court's determination. Clearly, Wood establishes the proposition that findings of a circuit court concerning whether an affidavit contains deliberately falsified information are not subject to reversal unless they are clearly wrong. 177 W.Va. at 354-55, 352 S.E.2d at 105-06 (1986); see also United States v. Fawole, 785 F.2d 1141 (4th Cir.1986). Again, a search warrant affidavit is not invalid even if it contains a misrepresentation, if, after striking the misrepresentation, there remains sufficient content to support a finding of probable cause. Probable cause is evaluated in the totality of the circumstances. Specifically, the appellants argue the affiant officer, Corporal Livingston, permitted the inclusion of inconsistent statements and false impressions in the affidavit and concealed or overstated other information with regard to the informant's reliability and veracity; however, this statement was based on Corporal Whisman's comment that he previously used the informant. As we have previously reasoned, in considering the findings of a circuit court under the Franks/Walls standard of review, we only look to determine whether the record as a whole supports the findings. In this case, we only need to determine whether there is evidence that supports the statement that the informant was credible and reliable and whether the affiant discussed the informant with Corporal Whisman. Upon review of the facts, we hold there was sufficient evidence to support the circuit court's determinations. [8] Despite the nature of the informant's knowledge, there is no evidence that the affiant officer doubted the informant's credibility, and Franks/Walls requires only that an officer reasonably believe the allegations to be true. See United States v. Chavez, 902 F.2d 259, 265 (4th Cir.1990), citing Franks, 438 U.S. at 165, 98 S.Ct. at 2681, 57 L.Ed.2d at 678. Therefore, after a thorough review of the evidence presented at the suppression hearing, we conclude the circuit court was not clearly erroneous in crediting the testimony of the affiant officer and in rejecting the appellants' argument. [9]