Opinion ID: 1937349
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Motion to Return

Text: M.R.Crim.P. 41(e) provides that if a motion to suppress is granted, the seized property must be returned to its owner unless it is otherwise subject to lawful detention. The presiding justice ruled that since the affidavit failed to create probable cause to believe that any of the tourmaline belonging to the Sweatts had been stolen, and the tourmaline was not declared contraband by force of law, the gems were not subject to lawful detention. Consequently, the justice ordered the property seized at every location except from the safe in the attorney's office returned to the Sweatts. The state contends that the decisions on a motion to suppress and on a motion to return involve separate inquiries. In the state's view, the fact that an affidavit supporting a search warrant fails to show probable cause to believe that the seized items were stolen does not negate every possibility that the goods actually are stolen. According to the state, to return the tourmaline in the circumstances of this case would protect the perpetrators of a crime. We agree that whether evidence should be suppressed and whether it should be returned to its owner are distinguishable questions. Where evidence is suppressed because of a violation of the Fourth Amendment but it otherwise appears that the seized goods are contraband, the judge may properly deny a motion to return the evidence. For example, in United States v. Scott, 149 F.Supp. 837 (D.D.C.1957), evidence was seized on probable cause but without a warrant in circumstances which did not raise any of the exceptions to the warrant requirement. Because it appeared that the seized items were stolen, the court suppressed the evidence but declined to order it returned to the movant. However, the burden is always on the government to show some nexus between the supposed evidence that has been suppressed and criminal activity before the supposed evidence may be detained. See, e. g., United States v. One Residence & Attached Garage, 603 F.2d 1231 (7th Cir. 1979). Such a nexus would be present where the suppressed evidence, though not contraband per se, is shown by the state to be the instrumentality or fruit of a crime. See, e. g., State v. Rose, 173 N.J.Super. 478, 414 A.2d 600 (1980). But where the suppressed evidence is neither contraband by force of law nor stolen property nor evidence of a crime, it must be returned to the movant absent an adverse claim of ownership. United States v. Wright, 610 F.2d 930 (D.C.Cir.1979); State v. Smith, Me., 381 A.2d 1117, 1123 (1978). Although the Superior Court noted several basic deficiencies in the warrants, the affidavit, and the searches themselves, the court's principal conclusion, which we affirm, is that there was no showing of probable cause to believe that any of the seized property had been illegally acquired. The state has never asserted that tourmaline legally possessed by the Sweatts constituted evidence of any crime. Tourmaline is not declared contraband by force of law. Accordingly, there was no basis on which the state could properly detain the seized property, and the presiding justice correctly ordered the return of property seized at the Sweatts' home, at Dale Sweatt's office and bank vault, and at the Lamp Post. Since the presiding justice was in error in concluding that the Sweatts had no standing to seek suppression and return of the items taken from their safe in their attorney's office, and since there has been no sufficient showing of probable cause to believe that the property in the safe was unlawfully in the Sweatts' possession, and since no third-party claim has been advanced, the Superior Court should have forthwith granted the motion for suppression and return of that property also. The entry is: Appeal by the state denied. Cross-appeal by the movants sustained. Judgment affirmed in part and reversed in part. Remanded for entry of an order suppressing all property seized and directing its prompt return to the movants. McKUSICK, C. J., and WERNICK, NICHOLS and ROBERTS, JJ., concurring. CARTER, J., with whom GLASSMAN, J., joins, concurring in a separate opinion.