Opinion ID: 2639065
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Items seized from his home

Text: Next, Yager claims that items seized from his home were seized without probable cause, that is, based on a warrant that was not supported by specific allegations and information that the items were relevant to the crime and would be found in the location to be searched. Yager argues that the district court should have granted his motion to suppress these items. [2] In this case three separate search warrants were issued by the magistrate based upon testimony of two law enforcement officers placed under oath pursuant to Idaho Criminal Rule 41(c). One of the warrants was for the defendant's parents' home where the defendant had been residing in a bedroom over which he had sole control. This testimony takes the place of the affidavit of probable cause. The testimony of the search warrant hearing is part of the appellate record. In reviewing a determination of probable cause, we look at the warrant affidavit (transcript) submitted to the magistrate to determine whether it provided the magistrate with a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 239, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527, 548 (1983); State v. Lang, 105 Idaho 683, 684, 672 P.2d 561, 562 (1983). Probable cause is determined by the magistrate from the facts set forth in the affidavits and from recorded testimony in support of the application for the warrant. State v. Hagedorn, 129 Idaho 155, 922 P.2d 1081 (Ct.App.1996). The determination is based on a totality of the circumstances test. U.S. Const. amend. IV; State v. Lang, supra . We accord great deference to the probable cause determinations of magistrates, State v. Lang, supra , resolving doubts in favor of the warrant. See also Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410, 89 S.Ct. 584, 21 L.Ed.2d 637 (1969). Although probable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime does not necessarily give rise to probable cause to search that person's home, magistrates are entitled to draw reasonable inferences about where evidence is likely to be kept, based on the nature of the evidence and the type of offense. State v. Molina, 125 Idaho 637, 641, 873 P.2d 891, 895 (Ct.App.1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 992, 115 S.Ct. 493, 130 L.Ed.2d 403 (1994)(internal citations omitted). See also State v. Dalton, 73 Wash.App. 132, 868 P.2d 873 (1994), quoting Commonwealth v. Kline, 234 Pa.Super. 12, 335 A.2d 361 (1975)(Probable cause to believe that a man has committed a crime on the street does not necessarily give rise to probable cause to search his home.). Probable cause to search requires a nexus between criminal activity and the item to be seized, and a nexus between the item to be seized and the place to be searched. U.S. Const. amend. IV; State v. Hagedorn, supra . Most courts require that a nexus between the items to be seized and the place to be searched must be established by specific facts; an officer's general conclusions are not enough. See, e.g. United States v. Schultz, 14 F.3d 1093, 1097 (6th Cir.1994); United States v. Lalor, 996 F.2d 1578, 1582-83 (4th Cir.1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 983, 114 S.Ct. 485, 126 L.Ed.2d 436(1993). In its order denying the motion to suppress, the district court recited that the information presented to the magistrate was obtained by Officer Dixon, who had spoken with Yager's parents. The magistrate was informed of items found at the scene of the murder and that Yager had a bedroom to himself in his parents' home, that he had been extremely depressed and suicidal, and he had left home on Tuesday, June 16, 1998, at about 6:00 p.m.; the parents knew of no firearms owned by Yager; and on Tuesday, June 16, 1998, Yager had pawned his tools in Coeur d'Alene. The district court recited that based on this information, the magistrate had issued a search warrant to search Yager's residence and seize letters, notes, diary, guns, ammo, citations, motive evidence, drugs, paraphernalia, pawn slips and receipts. With the exception of motive evidence, which the district court found was overbroad in scope, the district court held that the magistrate had a reasonable basis for his finding of probable cause to search for the remaining items listed in the warrant. After a review of the transcript and warrant, we agree with the district court's decision. Additionally, the State urges the Court to apply the harmless error doctrine because no prejudice from the admission of the citations seized pursuant to the warrant (whether valid or unlawful) has been shown. See State v. Hagedorn, supra . The only items used at trial which were seized from the search of defendant's home were two uniform citations issued earlier by law enforcement officers other than the deceased. Because of the overwhelming evidence of Yager's guilt and the de minimus and cumulative nature of the evidence recovered in the search that was actually admitted at trial (the two citations), we conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the error in the admission of the citations did not contribute to the conviction, even if they should have been suppressed.