Court Opinion

ID: 4319107
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-09 14:08:36.044262+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:18:11.484882
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
STATE OF DELAWARE,
I.D. No 1801003781
v. : Kent County
MARVIN D. SPADY,
Defendant.
Submitted: August 27, 2018
Decided: October 8, 2018
ORDER
Upon Defendant’s Motion to Suppress.

Granted.

Gregory R. Babowal, Esquire, Department of Justice, Dover, Delaware; attorney for

the State of Delaware.

Stephanie H. Blaisdell, Esquire, Offlce of the Public Defender, Dover, Delaware;
attorney for the Defendant.

VVITHAM, R.J.

State v. Marvin D. Spady
I.D. No. 1801003781
October 8, 2018

INTRODUCTION

Before this Court is Defendant Spady’s (“Defendant”) motion to suppress
evidence pursuant to a search Warrant executed at his residence on January 10, 2018.
Defendant argues information contained Within the four corners of the affidavit
supporting the search Wai“rant did not establish probable cause.

Presently, this Court finds that the information set forth Within the Warrant’s
affidavit did not establish probable cause and thus Defendant’s motion to suppress
is granted

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Detective Timothy Webb (“Webb”) became interested in Defendant between
December 2017 and January 201 8, after he Was contacted by a confidential informant
(“CI”) Who advised him that Defendant and Jennifer Sparacio Were selling crack-
cocaine and heroin at their residence, 10-2B NW Front Street, Milford, DelaWare.
CI’ s information Was not corroborated by any surveillance at the address or additional
investigation

Webb and CI met a short time after and again, Cl passed information pertaining
to Defendant’ s drug activities, adding that he could purchase heroin from him.1 After
verifying CI Was free of contraband and money, Webb arranged a “controlled

purchase.” CI, while under Webb’s “constant surveillance,”2 entered 10 NW Front

 

lD. Ex.Aat 5.

2 Ia’. at 5. Webb’s surveillance Was not “constant.” Webb states in his affidavit, “[y]our
affiant then observed CI walk into thefi'ont door of 10 NW Front Street. Minutes later, CI exited the

2

State v. Mar'vin D. Spaa'y
I.D. No. 1801003781
October 8, 2018

Street and emerged a few minutes later with heroin.,3

In December 201 8, CI contacted Webb again, and disclosed that Defendant and
Sparacio were selling crack-cocaine.4 Once again, Webb did not conduct an
investigation to corroborate CI’s claim before setting up a “controlled purchase.”5
As before, Webb verified that Cl was free of contraband and money before CI made
the purchase.6 Under Webb’s “constant surveillance,” Cl entered 10 NW Front St.,
and emerged minutes later with heroin and crack-cocaine.7 The only investigation
Webb undertook was to verify Defendant’s identity with CI.8

After the second “controlled purchase,” Webb successfully obtained a search
warrant to search 10-2B NW Front Street, Milford, Delaware. Upon execution of the
search warrant, Webb discovered, amongst other items, 70.031 grams of heroin, two

glass crack pipes, a digital Scale, two spoons with drug residue, and Spady’s

 

building and returned to [me] at a predetermined location, all while under constant surveillance.”
(Emphasis added.)

3 The record is silent as to if Defendant was further investigated
4 D. Ex. A at 6. Note, the Affidavit should read 2017.

5 Ia'.

6 Id.

7 Ia'. Webb’s “constant surveillance” in December 2017 was identical to the previous
operation.

8 Ia'. Webb stated that CI confirmed Defendant’s identity after viewing a photograph The
facts are unclear as to when this occurred.

State v. Mar'vin D. Spaa'y
I.D. No. 1801003781
October 8, 2018

corrections identification9 Defendant was arrested and charged with: (l) drug
dealing; (2) tier 5 possession; and (3) possession of drug paraphernalia10
STANDARD OF REVIEW

In a motion to suppress that challenges a search warrant, the defendant bears
the burden of proving that the challenged search or seizure was unlawf`ul.ll Here,
Defendant contends that the search warrant was not supported by probable cause.
Thus, it is his burden to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that he is
entitled to relief under that standard.12

Under the Delaware Constitution, a search warrant may only be issued upon
demonstrating probable cause.13 The search warrant must be supported by a sworn
affidavit that establishes sufficient cause for the warrant's issuance.14

To determine whether a search warrant application establishes probable cause,

Delaware Courts employ the “four-corners” test.l5 Under this test, sufficient facts

 

9 D. EX. A at l,
10 Arraignment by Written Pleading.
ll State v. Sisson, 883 A.2d 868, 875 (Del. Super. 2005).

12 State v. Darling, 2007 WL 1784185, at *1 (Del. Super. June 8, 2007), as corrected (July
3, 2007).

13 Del. Const., art. l, § 6.
14 ll Del. C. §§ 2306 & 2307.

15 State v. Johns, 2014 WL 7740459, at *2 (Del. Super. NoV. 25, 2014).

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State v. Mar'vt`n D. Spaa'y
I.D. No. 1801003781
October 8, 2018

must appear on the face of an affidavit, such that a reviewing court can verify the
factual basis for a determination that probable cause exists.16 The magistrate issuing
a warrant “must make a practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the
circumstances set forth in the affidavit-including the veracity and the 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.17 However,
they may make reasonable inferences from those factual allegations.18 The Court
must “ensure that the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable
cause existed.”19 As such, a “magistrate's determination of probable cause ‘should
be paid great deference by [the] reviewing court’ and should not, therefore, ‘take
ssaZO

the form of a de novo review.

To that end, a confidential inforrnant’s tip can provide probable cause, if the

 

16 Sisson, 883 A.2d at 876 (citing Pierson v. State, 338 A.2d 571, 573 (Del.l975)).

17 State v. Hola'en, 60 A.3d 1110, 1114 (Del, 2013) (citing Illinoz's v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213,
237 (1984)).

18Rybicki v. State, 119 A.3d 663, 668-69 (Del. 2015) (citing Sisson v. State, 903 A.2d 288,
296 (Del. 2006).

19 Le Grana’e, 947 A.2d at 1108 (quoting Sisson, 903 A.2d at 296); accord Gates, 462 U.S.
at 23 8-29 (“[T]he duty of a reviewing court is simply to ensure that the magistrate had a ‘ substantial
basis for conclud[ing]’ that probable cause existed.”) (citation omitted)).

20 Hola’en, 60 A.3d at 1114 (quoting Gates, 462 U.S. at 23 8-239, (1984)).

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State v. Marvin D. Spaa'y
I.D. No. 1801()03781
October 8, 2018

totality of the circumstances establishes the tip's reliability.21 In making a
determination, this Court must consider the informant’s reliability, the tip’s details,
and the degree to which the tip is corroborated by independent police surveillance and
investigation22 If an informant’s tip is sufficiently corroborated by independent
police work, it may demonstrate probable cause, even if nothing is known about the
informant’s credibility.23
DISCUSSION

Defendant moves to suppress evidence found during the execution of the
search warrant obtained by Webb. He argues that the four corners of the affidavit in
support of the search warrant do not establish probable cause. Specifically,
Defendant contends that the lack of police corroboration of CI’s claims, coupled with
insufficient surveillance, failed to establish probable cause.24 State contends the
“controlled purchases” are enough to establish probable cause because CI was under

“constant surveillance” during the controlled purchases.25

 

21 State v. Crippen, 2016 WL 344458, at *3 (Del. Super. June 15, 2016) citing Hola'en, 60
A.3d at 1115.

22 Id.

23 Le Grande v. State, 947 A.2d 1103, 1108 (Del. 2008) (citing Hubbarcl v. State, 782 A.2d
264, (Del. Super. Sept. 5, 2001); see also McAllister v. State, 807 A.2d 1 119, 1124 (Del. 2002) (“An
informant’s tip that is corroborated by independent police Work can form the basis for probable
cause, regardless of what is known about the informant’s personal credibility or reliability.”)).

24 D. Mot. at 1111 8 -10.

25 St. Reply at 11 9.

State v. Marvin D. Spaa'y
I.D. No. 1801003781
October 8, 2018

lt appears at first glance that Cl’s information was corroborated by the
“controlled purchases.” Cl was independently surveilled by Webb on two separate
occasions.26 These “controlled purchases” constituted some investigation by Webb,
which corroborated Cl’s claims that Defendant was selling heroin and crack-cocaine
out of the residence Cl’s information might have also been somewhat corroborated
by his positive identification of Defendant.27 Finally, CI was successful in both
“controlled purchases,” by obtaining heroin and crack-cocaine.

However, looks can be deceiving. And here, a deeper dive into the record
shows Webb’s affidavit may have been inadequate to establish probable cause.

First, the State argues that CI was under “constant surveillance” during the

”28 However, this is not accurate. In fact, the State’s

“controlled purchases
contention directly contradicts Webb’s affidavit where he stated that he was not
physically present with Cl during the “controlled purchases,” but that he “watched”
CI enter and leave 10 NW Front Street.29

Second, Defendant’s claim regarding the layout of 10 NW Front Street is
insightful and supports his argument Webb’s affidavit states that he sought to search

10 2-B NW Front Street based on information provided to him by Cl and further used

 

26 Affidavit Justification to Justice of the Peace #6 1111 3-4.

27 Ia’. at 11 5. As stated above, the facts are not completely clear as to this point.
211 St. Reply at 11 9.

29 Affidavit Justification to Justice of the Peace #6 1111 3-4.

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State v. Marvin D. Spaa'y
I.D. No. 1801003781
October 8, 2018

as the basis of the “controlled purchases.” However, as the Defendant points out in
his motion,30 two businesses occupy the first level."’l Both of these businesses are
accessible through the front entrance. Additionally, the building’s three apartments,
including Defendant's, are on the upper levels.32 The apartments, like the businesses,
are accessible through the front entrance of the building. As such, it is conceivable
that CI could have entered through the front entrance as Webb stated, but yet entered
one of the businesses undetected.

Defendant further contends that even if Webb had been standing on the bottom
level by a stair case’s base, while CI went up for the “controlled purchase,” it would
have been impossible to see who CI interacted with or what apartment he may have
entered.33 In refuting Defendant’s claim, the State provides no clarifying information
on the type of surveillance that actually was conducted on Cl during the sale other
than regurgitating Webb’s affidavit, As discussed, the affidavit itself is silent to any
additional facts regarding any surveillance that it conducted regarding Cl when he
entered into the building other than it was “constant.”

In order for Cl to have been constantly surveilled, Webb would have to have

been physically present with Cl, within 10 NW Front Street, at the time of both

 

30 D. Mot. at 11 9.

31 Google Earth lrnage 10 NW Front St. Milton, DE. The businesses appear to be a barber
shop and some sort of wellness clinic.

32 D. Mot. at 11 9. The layout of the apartments could not be verified by Google Earth.

33 D. Mot. at 11 9.

State v. Marvin D. Spady
I.D. NO. 1801003781
October 8, 2018

“controlled purchases” to definitively verify that Cl purchased the heroin and crack-
cocaine from Defendant. The fact that Cl identified Defendant from a photograph
still does not get around the fact that once in the building, Cl could have gone to any
one of five places. However, Webb was not physically present with Cl, and thus can
not definitively say that Cl was under “constant surveillance” or, more importantly,
that he purchased drugs from Defendant.

Under the circumstances, these facts dispute the facts stated by Webb and used
by the magistrate in his analysis in granting the search warrant to Webb. lt appears
that Cl is not mentioned as a “past, proven, and reliable” informant by Webb or any
other law enforcement officer. lt also does not appear that any further investigation
was conducted before enlisting Cl.

CONCLUSION
For the above stated reasons, based solely on the record and the motion and

response filed, Defendant’s motion to suppress is GRANTED.

lT lS SO ORDERED.

Hon. William L. Witham, Jr.
Resident Judge

WLW/dmh

oc: Prothonotary
Gregory R. Babowal, Esquire
Stephanie H. Blaisdell, Esquire