Opinion ID: 1309316
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Search Warrants

Text: On the afternoon of March 4, 1980, Sgt. R.J. Adams of the West Virginia State Police in Summersville, West Virginia, received information from a confidential informant that a large quantity of tools and various items of construction equipment were lying on and around a certain farm in Nicholas County. In addition to the tools and construction equipment, the informant also viewed one to two thousand writing pens with Gilmer Fuel Company printed on them in a motor vehicle parked at the farm. Upon further stating that he was returning to the farm on the following day, Sgt. Adams requested the informant to obtain as much information as he could regarding those items. On March 5, 1980, Sgt. Adams again spoke with the informant who repeated that he had seen the writing pens with Gilmer Fuel Company printed on them. The informant supplied new information concerning some clearance lights which were in a box with Alfab, Inc. of Smithsville, West Virginia, written on it. Upon receiving this information Sgt. Adams contacted the police in Gilmer County, concerning the pens, and Harrisville, West Virginia, concerning the lights. As a result of his contacts Sgt. Adams was informed that the described items were taken from Gilmer Fuel Company and Alfab, Inc. in recent thefts. Upon gaining this knowledge Sgt. Adams, on March 6, 1980, appeared before a magistrate to obtain a search warrant. Sgt. Adams completed the affidavit and complaint for the search warrant. He listed which items were to be seized, i.e., hand tools, power tools, the clearance lights and the pens. He further stated that the items had been recently stolen and that a reliable informant had personally viewed the described items. Upon being issued a search warrant by the magistrate, Sgt. Adams and other officers searched the farm on March 6, 1980. During this search a total of 138 items were seized, including the pens and clearance lights. During the March 6, 1980, search other items were viewed by Sgt. Adams which he suspected to be stolen as well. He noted these items and then contacted other police authorities throughout the State. Upon verifying his suspicions Sgt. Adams was issued a second search warrant for the farm. The second search took place on March 7, 1980, and approximately 36 additional items were seized.