Opinion ID: 1094779
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Oral Testimony Presented To Warrant-Issuing Magistrate

Text: Captain Parks testified during the suppression hearing that upon making application for the warrant authorizing a search of Lynn Lindsey's mobile home, he told Judge Phillips that his confidential informant had gone to Lindsey's trailer and had purchased drugs from a person the informant thought was from Mexico and that this person was still selling. This important information was not contained in the affidavits for the mobile home or motel room warrants. Parks also testified that, upon making application for a warrant authorizing a search of the motel room 108, he informed Judge Phillips that his confidential source had told him that they were going to get some more crack and would return later. This piece of information, likewise, was omitted from the motel room affidavit. Captain Parks further testified he informed Judge Phillips that Petti was present at Lindsey's mobile home the afternoon it was searched and that a search of Petti's person at that time produced a motel room key for room 108 and a large amount of money. The testimony of Judge Phillips, on the other hand, was not as specific. He freely acknowledged during the suppression hearing there was no allegation in either of the two affidavits or any sworn oral testimony that the confidential source had purchased drugs from Petti on November 2nd, only that the source had purchased drugs at Lindsey's mobile home. Judge Phillips testified he did not remember any underlying facts and circumstances conveyed to him beyond those contained in the affidavits. Judge Phillips testified he was told by Captain Parks, who was placed under oath, that a confidential source had purchased drugs at Lynn Lindsey's mobile home. When Parks, several hours later, applied for another warrant authorizing a search of room 108, Judge Phillips was informed by Parks, again under the trustworthiness of the official oath, that authorities had found drugs in the mobile home and that a large amount of money and a motel room key were found on the person of Petti. In the final analysis of both the written affidavit and oral testimony, the basis for issuance of a search warrant for room 108 was, at best, (1) Petti's presence, together with several others, at Lynn Lindsey's trailer when drugs were purchased at that location by a confidential source; (2) Petti's presence at Lindsey's mobile home when a search of the premises yielded four (4) grams of cocaine; and (3) the presence on Petti's person of a large amount of money and a motel room key. Although Parks testified he told Judge Phillips the confidential source had purchased drugs from a person from somewhere in Mexico and that this person, presumably Petti, was still selling dope, this important piece of information was not contained in the underlying facts and circumstances sheet nor did Judge Phillips remember any such testimony. A critical portion of the motel room affidavit consisted of false information that drugs were found on Petti's person during the search of Lindsey's mobile home when, in truth, they were not. No explanation was offered for this discrepancy by Captain Parks or by Agent Gardner, the other affiant, who did not testify during the suppression hearing. The only information that everyone agrees was conveyed to the warrant-issuing magistrate was that Petti was present at Lindsey's trailer when drugs were purchased and later found, and a search of his person revealed a large amount of money and a motel room key. There was a major discrepancy between the information in the affidavit and the testimony elicited during the suppression hearing. The affidavit stated that drugs were found on Petti's person at Lindsey's mobile home when they were not. The affidavit was demonstratively false and the officers admitted its falsity. This does not provide a substantial basis for the issuing magistrate's determination of probable cause. The first prong of the Franks test has been met. The next question of Franks is whether the remaining content is sufficient to establish probable cause. Some of the information supplied to Parks by his confidential source, and other information gleaned personally by Parks, was never conveyed to the issuing magistrate either by affidavit or oral testimony. For example, Captain Parks testified during the suppression hearing that the confidential source had purchased drugs from the defendant that afternoon while at Lindsey's mobile home and that the exact amount of money found on Petti's person was $2,647. Moreover, there were five (5) people present at Lindsey's mobile home, and the confidential source had never made a buy from the other four. Had the official record of trial reflected that all this information was supplied to Judge Phillips, the finding of probable cause may have been justified. However, the facts presented to the trial judge do not support the trial judge's finding of a substantial basis for the issuing magistrate's determination of probable cause. Therefore, the warrant must be voided, together with introduction of the fruits of the search authorized by the warrant. The cocaine should have been suppressed. Since it was not, the conviction and judgment of the circuit court is reversed and remanded. REVERSED AND REMANDED. HAWKINS, C.J., DAN M. LEE, P.J., BANKS and McRAE, JJ., concur. PITTMAN, J., dissents with separate written opinion joined by SULLIVAN, JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr. and SMITH, JJ.