Opinion ID: 2575291
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Seizure of personnel records

Text: On February 17, 1988, warrants were issued to search for documents and correspondence at ESL and Covalent relating to defendant, and to search his Covalent work area. The warrants were based upon the same affidavit that led to the issuance of warrants to search defendant's residence and vehicle. In addition to the information noted above, the affidavit stated that complaints regarding harassment are kept in personnel files, and based upon Detective Piatanesi's training and experience, individuals keep personal effects in their work areas. (See ante, at pp. 1098-1098.) Defendant contends the affidavit in support of the warrants did not set forth facts adequate to establish probable cause to believe relevant evidence might be found at ESL and Covalent. We disagree. As noted, the facts enumerated in the affidavit indicated that on February 16 defendant killed seven individuals and shot Black at ESL because he was a disgruntled former employee and a rejected suitor of Black, he was subject to a recent TRO to stay away from Black, and he had driven a motor home filled with gallons of inflammable liquid, ammunition, and a pistol to ESL on the day of the shooting. In view of the nature of the crimes and the items sought, a magistrate reasonably could conclude defendant's employment files and work area were logical places to search for incriminating items. ( Gonzalez, supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 1206.) (11) Defendant further contends the warrants lacked sufficient particularity, because they sought [a]ny and all documents and correspondence relating to [defendant]. Again, we disagree. [I]n a complex case resting upon the piecing together of `many bits of evidence,' the warrant properly may be more generalized than would be the case in a more simplified case resting upon more direct evidence. ( People v. Bradford (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1229, 1291 [65 Cal.Rptr.2d 145, 939 P.2d 259].) In any event, defendant has not identified any item seized pursuant to these warrants that was admitted at trial. Accordingly, even if we [were to] assume [these warrants were] overbroad, defendant has not shown that any evidence should have been suppressed. ( Carpenter, supra, 21 Cal.4th at pp. 1043-1044.) Defendant speculates that evidence found during the search, even if not admitted at trial, may have been used to obtain evidence to counter the defense case in mitigation, but he fails to demonstrate any factual basis for this claim.