Opinion ID: 768498
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Storage Unit Evidence

Text: 11 Thompson also contends that the district court erroneously failed to suppress evidence that was seized from storage unit J11 pursuant to a warrant authorizing a search of the storage unit and the seizure of a white 1992 Dodge minivan, a vehicle that authorities had linked to the conspiracy. He argues that the warrant was invalid because the affidavits submitted to secure the warrant specifically stated that the 1992 Dodge minivan was located in J11, while the evidence upon which this statement was based, the testimony of Rick Jones, provided only that Jones saw Thompson drive a white minivan into J11. Thompson contends that the affiants were not entitled to infer that the vehicle referred to by Jones was the 1992 Dodge minivan and that absent this inference there was no probable cause to search storage unit J11, i.e., there was no reason to believe that J11 contained the 1992 Dodge minivan or any other contraband or evidence. 12 A warrant is supported by probable cause if 'there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found' in the place to be searched. United States v. Mahler, 141 F.3d 811, 813 (8th Cir. 1998) (quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238 (1983)). Although it is well established that a judge may draw reasonable inferences from the totality of the circumstances in determining whether probable cause exists to issue a warrant, see United States v. Sundby, 186 F.3d 873, 875-76 (8th Cir. 1999); Mahler, 141 F.3d at 814, we have also recognized that law enforcement officers may make reasonable inferences in preparing affidavits in support of a warrant, see United States v. Callison, 577 F.2d 53, 54-55 (8th Cir. 1978) (upholding search warrant based on affidavit of officer who reasonably inferred that defendant whose car was searched was a robbery suspect); cf. United States v. Fahsi, 102 F.3d 363, 365 (8th Cir. 1996) (officers' determination of probable cause to make warrantless arrest requires officers to make reasonable inferences from facts known to them); United States v. Sherrill, 27 F.3d 344, 347 (8th Cir. 1994). 13 After reviewing the information that was available to the affiants at the time they prepared their supporting affidavits, we are satisfied that it was reasonable for the affiants to infer that the 1992 Dodge minivan was located in storage unit J11.According to the affidavits, authorities obtained a seizure warrant on December 12, 1997, for a white 1992 Dodge minivan they had substantial reason to believe was involved in the conspiracy. Three days later, authorities interviewed Jones, a known associate of Thompson, who stated that Thompson often used J11 to store vehicles and that he had seen Thompson park a white minivan in that facility two weeks earlier. That same day, the manager of the storage facility stated that J11 was leased to Darrell Bostic, which authorities knew to be an alias used by Thompson, and that J11 contained a vehicle at that time. Thus, because a white 1992 Dodge minivan was linked to the conspiracy and because Thompson, an integral member of that conspiracy, was seen parking a white minivan in storage space J11, it was reasonable for the affiants to infer that these two vehicles were one and the same. 14 We therefore conclude that Thompson's motions to suppress evidence were properly denied and that his conviction on the challenged counts must thus stand.