Opinion ID: 2073303
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Probable CauseProcedural Law

Text: This Court in State v. McLain, Me., 367 A.2d 213 (1976) delineated the procedural aspects surrounding proof of a valid consent to search. We view the McLain guidelines as applicable, when the issue in the case is whether probable cause exists to justify the admission in evidence of the fruits of a warrantless arrest. Hence, we hold that, in the instant case where the defendant was not committing a criminal offense in the presence of the arresting officer, the State had the burden of proving by a fair preponderance of the evidence that probable cause justifying an arrest without a warrant existed. State v. Heald, Me., 314 A.2d 820, 829 (1973). See also People v. Williams, 53 Ill.App.3d 266, 11 Ill.Dec. 128, 368 N.E.2d 679 (1977); United States v. Easter, 552 F.2d 230 (8th Cir. 1977). Whether probable cause exists to support a warrantless arrest is a question of fact and presents an issue for the Court to decide and not for jury submission. State v. Curtis, 217 Kan. 717, 538 P.2d 1383 (1975); United States v. Mullen, 416 F.2d 456 (4th Cir. 1969); Anthony v. State, 220 So.2d 837 (Miss.1969); People v. Walters, 264 Cal.App.2d 834, 70 Cal.Rptr. 766 (1968); Commonwealth v. Femino, 352 Mass. 508, 226 N.E.2d 248 (1967); State v. Deltenre, 77 N.M. 497, 424 P.2d 782 (1967), cert. denied, 386 U.S. 976, 87 S.Ct. 1171, 18 L.Ed.2d 136. Furthermore, the findings of the single justice thereon will not be set aside unless clearly erroneous. State v. MacKenzie, 161 Me. 123, 210 A.2d 24 (1965); People v. Clay, 55 Ill.2d 501, 304 N.E.2d 280 (1973).