Opinion ID: 1928519
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: determination of probable cause for the entry.

Text: It is well-settled that a finding of probable cause may be based upon the hearsay allegations of a confidential informer. State v. Paciera, 290 So.2d 681 (La.1974); State v. Wilkens, 364 So.2d 934 (La.1978); State v. Wilson, 366 So.2d 1328 (La.1978). In Paciera, this Court held: If we can deduce a rule from these cases, it is this: The affidavit submitted to the magistrate may be based entirely upon hearsay, but, if so, it must set forth underlying circumstances and details sufficient to provide a substantial factual basis by which the magistrate might find reliable both the informant and the information given by him. Factors which support the credibility of an un identified informant include prior accurate reports or any specific independent corroboration of the accuracy of the instant report. Factors which support the credibility of the information reported include (a) direct personal observation by the informant, or (b), if the informantion came indirectly to the informant, the reasons in sufficient factual detail for the magistrate to evaluate and credit the reliability both of the indirect source and of the indirectly-obtained information. ( State v. Paciera, 290 So.2d at 685-686). See also State v. Smith, 350 So.2d 1178 (La.1977); State v. Linkletter, 286 So.2d 321 (La.1973). These same principles should apply in cases where hearsay statements of a confidential informer form the basis of a warrantless search of a third party's residence for a suspect for which policemen have an arrest warrant. In the instant case, Probation Officer Wyche and Detective Wyche testified that they did not know how the informer obtained his information. They did not know if the information was based upon the informer's direct personal observations or upon what someone had told him. The naked assertion of the informer was the only basis for the officer's belief that the defendant was in Scott Geist's apartment. Although the officer's independent investigation corroborated some of the facts in the informer's story (e. g. that Ms. Light had associated with the defendant and that a person named Scott lived in Southside Villa Apartments and owned a red Volkswagen), it is important to note that none of the information about the defendant's relationship with Scott Geist was corroborated by police investigation. We believe that the informer's unsupported statements concerning defendant's location could not support a reasonable belief that defendant could be found in Scott Geist's apartment because the officers had no way of evaluating the reliability of the informer's information. State v. Paciera, supra. The state argues that Officer McGaha's observation from inside the patio of the defendant sitting in Geist's apartment gave the officers reasonable grounds for entry into the apartment to arrest the defendant. Resolution of this question turns on whether McGaha's entry into the patio violated any reasonable expectation of privacy of the defendant which is constitutionally protected. If defendant had a reasonable expectation of privacy, the constitutional provisions against unreasonable searches, La.Const. art. 1, § 5 (1974), U.S.Const. amend. 4, protect against this intrusion because it would be a search conducted without a warrant and without probable cause. Katz v. U.S., 389 U.S. 347, 88 S.Ct. 507, 19 L.Ed.2d 576 (1967); State v. Lamartiniere, 362 So.2d 526 (La.1978). The test for determining whether one has a reasonable expectation of privacy is not only whether the person had an actual or subjective expectation of privacy, but also whether that expectation is of a type which society at large is prepared to recognize as being reasonable. State v. Wilbourn, 364 So.2d 995 (La.1978); State v. Dupuis, 378 So.2d 934 (La.1979). The patio which Officer McGaha entered was completely enclosed by a wooden fence. The slats which made up the fence were close enough to each other and tall enough so that the fence completely blocked any view into the apartment itself. In addition, closed curtains covered the window facing into the patio except for a narrow gap, the width of which is in dispute, through which the officer observed the defendant. We conclude the defendant could reasonably have expected the enclosed patio to assure his privacy from public view. The officer's entry into that patio without a warrant and without probable cause violated defendant's constitutional right to privacy. La.Const. art. 1, § 5 (1974); U.S.Const. amend. 4; State v. Lamartiniere, supra; State v. Wilbourn, supra. Consequently, his observations from inside the patio cannot be the basis for probable cause to enter the apartment to arrest the defendant. State v. Lamartiniere, supra.