Opinion ID: 2763468
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: A jury convicted Defendant Deanta Marquis Long of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, attempting to manufacture 28 grams or more of cocaine base, possessing cocaine with intent to manufacture cocaine base, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes. The primary focus of his appeal is the affidavit for a search warrant that led to discovery of the evidence against him. The affidavit recited that a confidential informant had recently observed cocaine in the apartment to be searched. Defendant contends (1) that the affidavit failed to provide probable cause because it did not identify or adequately describe him and the informant’s information was not corroborated by police investigation of the alleged criminal activity; (2) that he was entitled to a hearing under Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154 (1978), to challenge the veracity of the affiant officer; and (3) that the district court erred in denying his motion to compel discovery of information regarding the informant. Defendant also challenges the admission of a compact disc (CD) found in the apartment that was titled “Cokeland” and had his picture on the cover. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm the judgment of the district court. The affidavit provided probable cause because a reliable informant with knowledge of the cocaine trade said that he or she had recently observed cocaine packaged for distribution at the premises to be searched. There was no need to identify the person responsible for the cocaine’s presence or to conduct further investigation. A Franks hearing was unnecessary because Defendant offered no evidence, only 2 speculation, to suggest that the affiant officer had recklessly or intentionally asserted false information. And discovery regarding the informant was not required because Defendant failed to show that such discovery could help in his defense. In any event, when the district court interviewed the informant in camera under oath, the informant said nothing to support Defendant’s suspicions. Finally, the CD was sufficiently probative that the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting it into evidence despite a speculative possibility that it would create unfair prejudice.