Opinion ID: 380205
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure to Suppress Radio Transmitter Evidence.

Text: 27 The defense moved to suppress any and all evidence obtained from the DEA's installation of the beeper and surveillance aided by the beeper. The motion was denied. Defendants claim that the installation of the beeper and the subsequent surveillance violated their Fourth Amendment rights to privacy. They claim that it was therefore error for the district judge to refuse to suppress the testimony of Agent Fredericks regarding the location of the can and the testimony of Wakefield to whom the DEA was led by the beeper. 28 The beeper was attached to the can while the can was in the custody of the DEA. The can was then delivered to the Supply House. No Fourth Amendment right of Comstock was violated when the device was installed. See United States v. Pretzinger, 9 Cir., 1976, 542 F.2d 517, 520. Nor did the continued surveillance by the device violate Comstock's reasonable expectation of privacy. In United States v. Dubrofsky, 9 Cir., 1978, 581 F.2d 208, 211, we said: 29 The issue before us is whether the mere presence of the beeper, it having been attached without violating the Fourth Amendment, sufficiently resembles a wiretap to require the antecedent justification that a warrant would provide. We hold that it does not. 30 Dubrofsky is controlling here, and thus we need not decide whether the testimony of Wakefield would have been admissible under United States v. Ceccolini, 1978, 435 U.S. 268, 98 S.Ct. 1054, 55 L.Ed.2d 268, even if the beeper installation constituted an illegal search. 31