Opinion ID: 2042609
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Issuance of the Search Warrant.

Text: Todd challenges the issuance of the search warrant on the ground that it lacked probable cause. Because the challenge is on constitutional grounds, we review the case de novo. State v. Weir, 414 N.W.2d 327, 329 (Iowa 1987). The test for probable cause is whether a person of reasonable prudence would believe a crime was committed on the premises or that evidence of a crime could be located there. Id. at 330; State v. Sykes, 412 N.W.2d 578, 583 (Iowa 1987); State v. Woodcock, 407 N.W.2d 603, 604 (Iowa 1987). Doubtful or marginal questions are usually resolved by the preference to be accorded warrants. State v. Leto, 305 N.W.2d 482, 485 (Iowa 1981). The application for this warrant revealed that a confidential informant had told the officers the date, time, and place of the cockfight. To verify this information, the informant made two telephone calls to unidentified persons, and these calls were monitored by the officers. The calls confirmed the date, time, and place as disclosed by the informant. In addition, a supporting affidavit established that the officers' photographs of the location conformed to the description given by the informant. Todd complains that there was no determination made as to the credibility of the two unnamed individuals who had been called by the informant to confirm the informant's credibility. In other words, he claims that there were two layers of confidential informants, and only the credibility of the upper layer of informant was established by the officers. The telephone calls to the unidentified persons, however, were made only to allow the officers to test the credibility of the upper layer informant, and the substance of those calls was not relied on to obtain the warrant. Under these circumstances, it was not necessary for the magistrate to verify the credibility of the lower level informants. Todd also complains that the court erred in refusing to identify the confidential informant whose information was used in obtaining the search warrant. It is a general rule that the prosecution cannot ordinarily be required to divulge the identity of an informant as such, as distinguished from a witness to the event constituting the basis for the charge. State v. Luter, 346 N.W.2d 802, 810 (Iowa 1984). Todd bears the burden of showing the necessity for disclosure of the informant's identity, State v. Sheffey, 243 N.W.2d 555, 559 (Iowa 1976), and it is not sufficient to show that the identity of an informer might be helpful in preparation of the defense. Id. We believe that Todd's argument for identification of the informants is supported by nothing more than speculation that identification might somehow be helpful in his defense. We hold that this is insufficient.