Opinion ID: 71441
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Search of Appellant's Residence

Text: 29 Campbell challenges the adequacy of the affidavit used to establish probable cause for the search warrant that was used in connection with the search of his residence. Specifically, Campbell argues that the affidavits was based upon stale information, failed to establish probable cause, and failed to establish the affiant's basis of knowledge. 30 Information must be timely for probable cause to exist, for probable cause must exist at the time the magistrate judge issues the search warrant. Stale information is not fatal where the government's affidavit 'updates, substantiates, or corroborates the stale material.'  United States v. Green, 40 F.3d 1167, 1172 (11th Cir.1994) (quoting United States v. Harris, 20 F.3d 445, 450 (11th Cir.1994)), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 1809, 131 L.Ed.2d 733 (1995). In the instant case, while some of the information may have been two years old, additional information updated and substantiated the stale material. Accordingly, the primary issue is whether the affidavit established probable cause. 31 The task of the issuing magistrate [in determining whether to issue a warrant] is simply to make a practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before him, including the veracity and basis of knowledge of persons supplying hearsay information, there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. 32 Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983). This question is reviewed de novo by an appellate court, tak[ing] care to review findings of historical fact only for clear error and to give due weight to inferences drawn from those facts by resident judges and local law enforcement officers. Ornelas v. United States, --- U.S. ----, ----, 116 S.Ct. 1657, 1662, 134 L.Ed.2d 911 (1996). 33 The warrant to search appellant's residence was based on the affidavit of James Tuten, a Task Force Officer for the Drug Enforcement Agency. In his affidavit, Tuten stated that Campbell had been named by a federal grand jury in an indictment arising out Campbell's cocaine distribution activities. The affidavit explained that Noble, an unindicted co-conspirator, had stated that Campbell had kept cocaine in a garage at his residence two years previously. The affidavit, however, did not state the basis for Noble's information; i.e., whether Noble had ever been to appellant's house. Nevertheless, the affiant further explained that Samantha Williams had stated that Campbell conducted his drug trafficking business from her home. This information was supported by the fruits of the search of Williams's home--pots and a scale, all of which contained cocaine base residue. Howell, another person who had dealings with Campbell, told the affiant that he had been introduced to Campbell at Campbell's residence, and had repeatedly purchased quarter and half kilos of cocaine from Campbell. Finally, the affiant explored Campbell's finances to conclude that appellant had a large amount of unexplained wealth. 34 Based on these facts, the issuance of a warrant was appropriate. The facts asserted in the affidavit supported allegations that appellant was involved in the drug trade and created a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime [would] be found at appellant's residence. Campbell's conviction therefore will not be reversed on the basis of this search.