Court Opinion

ID: 64094
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 05:08:27+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:26.562148
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                   FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
                                                  Fifth Circuit

                                                                  FILED
                                                               November 17, 2008
                                No. 07-50499
                              Summary Calendar               Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                     Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                           Plaintiff–Appellee,

v.

KIRSTON BROWN,

                                           Defendant–Appellant.

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Western District of Texas
                         USDC No. 1:06-CR-254-ALL

Before KING, DENNIS, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
      Kirston Brown pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base and one count of
possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base. On
appeal, he argues that the district court erred by denying his motion to suppress
evidence seized during a search of his person and residence.

      *
      Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion
should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited
circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
                                   No. 07-50499

      In reviewing the denial of a motion to suppress, this court reviews factual
findings for clear error and legal conclusions de novo. United States v. Phillips,
382 F.3d 489, 494 (5th Cir. 2004). The district court found that the “good faith”
exception applied and denied Brown’s motion to suppress. The good-faith
exception provides that “evidence obtained by officers in objectively reasonable
good-faith reliance upon a search warrant is admissible, even though the
affidavit on which the warrant was based was insufficient to establish probable
cause.” United States v. Satterwhite, 980 F.2d 317, 320 (5th Cir. 1992).
      Brown argues that the good-faith exception does not apply because the
state magistrate who granted the search warrant was misled by “reckless,
material omissions” in the supporting affidavit. However, there is no indication
in the record below that Brown argued that the affidavit was false or misleading.
Because Brown failed to raise this issue below, he has waived it on appeal. See
United States v. Pope, 467 F.3d 912, 918-20 (5th Cir. 2006).
      Brown also argues that the affidavit was “so lacking in indicia of probable
cause that . . . reliance upon it was objectively unreasonable.” In general, “[a]n
officer may rely in good faith on the validity of a warrant so long as the warrant
is supported by more than a ‘bare bones affidavit.’” United States v. Cisneros,
112 F.3d 1272, 1278 (5th Cir. 1997) (quoting United States v. Alix, 86 F.3d 429,
435 (5th Cir. 1996)). In the instant case, the warrant was not based on a “bare
bones” affidavit. Even if we were to find that the affidavit was insufficient to
establish probable cause, it still is sufficient to establish the “facial validity” of
the warrant. See United States v. McKnight, 953 F.2d 898, 905 (5th Cir. 1992).
Accordingly, Brown has not shown that the district court erred in applying the
good-faith exception and denying his motion to suppress.
      We previously ordered supplemental briefing on several sentencing issues.
However, the district court recently granted the Government’s 18 U.S.C. § 3582
motion and reduced Brown’s sentence, which effectively granted Brown the relief

                                          2
                              No. 07-50499

he sought in his supplemental briefs. Therefore, we do not address Brown’s
sentence.
     AFFIRMED.

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