Opinion ID: 1956793
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether it was error to deny foley's motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to a search warrant.

Text: ¶ 12. Foley argues that the circuit court in both cases erred in not granting his pretrial motion to suppress evidence obtained by a search warrant. Specifically, Foley argues that the warrant was not supported by probable cause and that the supporting affidavit and facts relied on hearsay. When reviewing a finding of probable cause to issue a warrant this Court does not make a de novo determination of probable cause, but only determines if there was a substantial basis for the magistrate's determination of probable cause. Smith v. State, 504 So.2d 1194, 1196 (Miss.1987). Federal and state common law favor a totality of the circumstances test when deciding if probable cause is present: The United States Supreme Court has established a totality of the circumstances standard for determining the existence of probable cause: The task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a practical, common-sense decision based on all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before him, including the veracity and basis of knowledge of persons supplying hearsay information. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983). We adopted the Gates totality of the circumstances test in Lee v. State, 435 So.2d 674, 676 (Miss.1983). State v. Woods, 866 So.2d 422, 425-26 (Miss.2003). ¶ 13. Probable cause has also been defined as more than a bare suspicion but less than evidence that would justify condemnation. Id. (citing Wagner v. State, 624 So.2d 60, 66 (Miss.1993)). Looking at the totality of the circumstances, K.F. specifically stated that Foley showed her pictures of nude people on his computer screen doing things she described as gross. She used language to describe acts performed on her and by her in relation to Foley in such sexually explicit terms that veracity could easily be inferred. Additionally, police were alerted to the fact that K.F.'s body showed evidence of recent sexual assault, and that she had been in the presence of Foley within the last seventy-two hours. When considering all of the circumstances present at the time of the warrant's issue, the circuit court judge did not err in either trial in his finding that probable cause did exist in refusing to suppress evidence recovered as a result of the warrant at issue.