Court Opinion

ID: 9471917
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:44:08.54057+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:42:38.594456
License: Public Domain

*872BREYER, Circuit Judge,
with whom Chief Judge CAMPBELL joins (dissenting).
The questions the court here decides arise out of a magistrate’s order, which the court, for reasons peculiar to this case, must treat like a warrant. The order concededly authorized the FBI to do the following: (a) stop a truck in the Combat Zone; (b) bring the truck to the nearby FBI garage; (c) look through boxes of material the truck carried, segregating material they considered unlawfully obscene; and (d) hold the segregated material until the magistrate could view it and determine which items could be seized more permanently. The order was issued at 11:05 a.m.; the magistrate’s “viewing” took place the same afternoon; the materials segregated by the FBI agents turned out to be hardcore pornography.
The court reverses defendants’ convictions for two reasons related to the order. First, it believes that the language of the order violates the fourth amendment’s command that warrants “particularly decrib[e] ... the ... things to be seized.” Second, it believes that the issuance of the order violated the fourth amendment’s command that warrants issue only upon “probable cause.” I believe the majority is mistaken on both counts.
I.
A common-sense reading of the order’s language indicates that it authorizes the stop, and search, of the truck to look for
obscene materials ... of the same tenor and description as Turkish Delight, Sex Photo Fiction No. 1, and Sex Photo Fiction No. 2,
which magazines
taken as a whole, appeal to the prurient interest; ... and ... taken as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. In particular, ... those magazines depict patently offensive representations or descriptions of ultimate sexual acts, normal or pervert, actual or simulated, and ... further depict lewd exhibition of the genitals.
For several reasons, prior law requires us to find this language specific enough to allow the agents to stop the truck, look through the boxes, and segregate the described material for inspection by the magistrate.
First, it is difficult, if not impossible, given the nature of obscenity and the limitations of language, to write a more specific definition of yet unseen hardcore pornography. See Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184, 197, 84 S.Ct. 1676, 1683, 12 L.Ed.2d 793 (1964) (Stewart, J., concurring) (“I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within [the words ‘hard-core pornography’] ... and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it____”). Indeed, the descriptive language in the magistrate’s order is drawn directly from the Supreme Court’s illustration, in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15, 24-25, 93 S.Ct. 2607, 2614-15, 37 L.Ed.2d 419 (1973), of how a state might “specifically define” guidelines for a trier of fact to distinguish unlawfully obscene material from material that the first amendment protects. The majority and dissenters in Miller disagreed about whether it was possible to define unlawful obscenity with sufficient particularity to pass constitutional muster. And in context, the illustrative language borrowed by the magistrate represents the Supreme Court’s effort to be as specific as possible. Such language is inevitable if seizures of materials that the magistrate cannot designate by name are ever permissible.
Second, courts of appeals have approved the use of language no more specific than that at issue here, as authorizing searches and seizures considerably more extensive. Thus, in United, States v. Cangiano, 491 F.2d 906, 911-14 (2d Cir.) (Cangiano II), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 904, 95 S.Ct. 188, 42 L.Ed.2d 149 (1974), the Second Circuit upheld “massive” seizures pursuant to a warrant covering
a quantity of playing cards, films, and magazines and books, depicting obscene and lascivious pictures, constituting hard core pornographic material, which pic*873tures portray men and women in the natural and unnatural sexual acts.
In In re Property Belonging to Talk of the Town Bookstore, Inc., 644 F.2d 1317 (9th Cir.1981), the Ninth Circuit approved a warrant allowing long-term seizure of “books, magazines, and films which depict the specific sex acts described in the Affidavits” as, among others, “ultimate sexual acts, normal and perverted, masturbation, ____” And, in dicta, the Second Circuit has approved language that would authorize seizure of films “depicting natural or unnatural sexual acts.” United States v. Marti, 421 F.2d 1263, 1268 (2d Cir.1970), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 947, 92 S.Ct. 287, 30 L.Ed.2d 264 (1971). Furthermore, in Sovereign News Co. v. United States, 690 F.2d 569 (6th Cir.1982), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 104 S.Ct. 69, 78 L.Ed.2d 83 (1983), United States v. Gilman, 684 F.2d 616 (9th Cir.1982), and G.I. Distributors, Inc. v. Murphy, 490 F.2d 1167 (2d Cir.1973), cert. denied, 416 U.S. 939, 94 S.Ct. 1941, 40 L.Ed.2d 290 (1974), the Second and Ninth Circuits have allowed officers to seize apparently obscene materials without any governing standard, provided that the materials were “in plain view” and were held only briefly, pending issuance of a warrant — in one case overnight in the warehouse wh.ere they were found, and in another for the time necessary for the officers to bring them before the magistrate. Here the detention seems as brief, and any standard would cabin the officer’s discretion to a greater extent than “plain view.” Cf. United States v. Sherwin, 572 F.2d 196, 199-201 (9th Cir.1977) (plain view doctrine cannot authorize permanent warrant-less seizures of material arguably subject to first amendment protections), cert. denied, 437 U.S. 909, 98 S.Ct. 3101, 57 L.Ed.2d 1140 (1978).
Third, the cases striking down search warrants as overly general all involve searches and seizures more extensive and burdensome and language more general than that at issue here. Thus, Marcus v. Search Warrant, 367 U.S. 717, 81 S.Ct. 1708, 6 L.Ed.2d 1127 (1961), involved a warrant authorizing seizure of a distributor’s entire stock of “obscene ... publications.” The warrant in United States v. Espinoza, 641 F.2d 153 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 841, 102 S.Ct. 153, 70 L.Ed.2d 125 (1981), referred to “obscene magazines.” United States v. Cangiano, 464 F.2d 320 (2d Cir.1972) (Cangiano I), vacated on other grounds, 413 U.S. 913, 93 S.Ct. 3047, 37 L.Ed.2d 1023, and reinstated per curiam, 491 F.2d 905 (2d Cir.1973), cert. denied, 418 U.S. 934, 94 S.Ct. 3223, 41 L.Ed.2d 1171 (1974), involved a warrant for material that was “obscene, lewd, lascivious and filthy.” The warrant in United States v. Torch, 609 F.2d 1088 (4th Cir.1979), cert. denied,. 446 U.S. 957, 100 S.Ct. 2928, 64 L.Ed.2d 815 (1980), authorized seizure of “copies of lewd, lascivious, and filthy films and magazines.” The warrant in Lo-Ji Sales, Inc. v. New York, 442 U.S. 319, 99 S.Ct. 2319, 60 L.Ed.2d 920 (1979) contained no standard at all. (See Appendix B.) And the majority cannot help it along by citing an affidavit to which neither the Supreme Court (in its discussion of the “particularity” question) nor the warrant referred, see, e.g., United States v. Roche, 614 F.2d 6, 8 (1st Cir.1980); In re Lafayette Academy, Inc., 610 F.2d 1, 4 (1st Cir.1979).
Fourth, the order here, in fact, offers a considerably narrower standard than its language suggests, for it states, in addition, that the material for which the agents are to look must be “of the same tenor” as three specific named magazines, Turkish Delight, Sex Foto Fiction No. 1, and Sex Foto Fiction No. 2. The policemen who stopped the truck included Officer McManus who had previously seen a copy of Turkish Delight in a Combat Zone store. The officers who searched through the boxes included FBI Agent Gilligan, who had examined all three magazines and presented them to the magistrate. Specific reference to these magazines would tend to narrow the officers’ discretion in this area of “hard-core pornography,” where a picture is worth a thousand words. See Jacobellis v. Ohio, supra.
*874Fifth, the detention that the order authorized was considerably more limited than the typical seizure. It allowed the officers only to stop the truck and to segregate material to present that same afternoon to the magistrate. The Supreme Court has recently emphasized that “[t]he intrusion on possessory interests occasioned by a seizure ... can vary both in its nature and extent,” and that, in determining what procedural protections are required for a particular seizure, the court “must balance the nature and quality of the intrusion on the individual’s fourth amendment interests against the importance of the governmental interests alleged to justify the intrusion.” United States v. Place, — U.S. -,-, 103 S.Ct. 2637, 2642, 77 L.Ed.2d 110 (1983). The magistrate’s prompt review of the materials seized by the agents provided an important limitation on the intrusion authorized by the initial order. See Heller v. New York, 413 U.S. 483, 492-93, 93 S.Ct. 2789, 2794-95, 37 L.Ed.2d 745 (1973) (both pre- and post-seizure safeguards are relevant in assessing propriety of seizure). And the fact that the magistrate viewed the preselected materials at the garage, not his chambers, neither impugns the magistrate’s impartiality nor transforms him into a member of the prosecution team. Compare Lo-Ji Sales, Inc. v. New York, 442 U.S. at 326-28, 99 S.Ct. at 2324-25 (disapproving judicial officer’s active participation in search) with Heller v. New York, supra (approving judge’s travel to theater to see film before issuing warrant for it).
Sixth, to hold this language insufficiently particular, under these circumstances, seems to mean that one cannot ever constitutionally authorize- a search for and seizure of items of hardcore pornography that are, as yet, unseen, no matter how concrete or compelling the cause for the search. Suppose hardcore pornography manufacturers and dealers decide to make, and to ship, each hardcore item only once. Do they then operate with immunity from search? Would immunity from search not make prosecution of the wholesaler and manufacturer significantly more difficult? Can the same Constitution that allows a jury to rely on the standard set forth in the order’s language as specific enough to put a bookseller behind bars, see Miller v. California, supra, forbid the use of that same standard to impose the much less serious restraint at issue here — at least when more specific standards cannot readily be devised and the resulting impediment to law enforcement seems so serious? These questions make me think that the case law approving language of the sort here at issue is correct and governs.
The strongest precedent in the majority’s favor consists of the language that it quotes from Stanford v. Texas to the effect that, “As to what is to be taken, nothing is left to the discretion of the officer executing the warrant.” 379 U.S. 476, 485, 85 S.Ct. 506, 512, 13 L.Ed.2d 431 (1965) (quoting Marron v. United States, 275 U.S. 192, 196, 48 S.Ct. 74, 76, 72 L.Ed. 231 (1927)). But, until now, courts have not insisted upon literal compliance with these words. See, e.g., United States v. Marti, supra. They have asked for “reasonable particularity and certainty as to the identity of the property to be searched for and seized.” United States v. Drebin, 557 F.2d 1316, 1322 (9th Cir.1977) (emphasis added) (quoting United States v. Quantity of Extracts, Bottles, etc., 54 F.2d 643, 644 (S.D.Fla.1931)), cert. denied, 436 U.S. 904, 98 S.Ct. 2232, 56 L.Ed.2d 401 (1978). What is “reasonable,” of course, depends upon the type of material and the setting, see Roaden v. Kentucky, 413 U.S. 496, 501, 93 S.Ct. 2796, 2799, 37 L.Ed.2d 757 (1973); it also depends upon the ease with which one could formulate a more adequate description, see, e.g., United States v. Marti, 421 F.2d at 1268; cf. Roaden v. Kentucky, supra.
Were literal or technical specificity to be the order of the day, how could we allow officers to search for papers that might be the “instruments of a crime?” See, e.g., Grimaldi v. United States, 606 F.2d 332, 334 (1st Cir.) (book about currency as instrumentality of counterfeiting), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 971, 100 S.Ct. 465, 62 *875L.Ed.2d 386 (1979); United States v. Cortellesso, 601 F.2d 28, 33 (1st Cir.1979) (books and records as instrumentalities), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1072, 100 S.Ct. 1016, 62 L.Ed.2d 753 (1980); United States v. Fuller, 441 F.2d 755 (4th Cir.) (“sports information papers” as instrumentalities of gambling operation), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 830, 92 S.Ct. 74, 30 L.Ed.2d 59 (1971). How could they be allowed to seize, for example, maritime charts or navigational books that may be “instruments” of, say, unlawful drug smuggling? See United States v. Ayers, 725 F.2d 806 at 808 (1st Cir.1984). I see nothing in the Constitution that gives hardcore pornography more protection against governmental searches than, say, a book about currency, or that protects the “obscene but not quite hardcore” magazine from mistaken seizure to a greater extent than the maritime atlas that the smuggler did not actually use.
In sum, the test that the majority uses strikes me as contrary to reasoned precedent that we must follow.
II.
The question of “probable cause” is more difficult, but it is one that should be answered in terms of common sense, not technicalities. “The task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit ... there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place.” Illinois v. Gates, — U.S. -, -, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983). The very word “probable” itself is not meant to import technical concepts of statistical probability, but refers simply to “reasonable grounds for believing.” United States v. Melvin, 596 F.2d 492, 495 (1st Cir.) (citing Zurcher v. Stanford Daily, 436 U.S. 547, 556 & n. 6, 98 S.Ct. 1970, 1977 & n. 6, 56 L.Ed.2d 525 (1978)), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 837, 100 S.Ct. 73, 62 L.Ed.2d 48 (1979). In applying this concept magistrates “are not to be confined by ... restrictions on the use of their common sense.” Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410, 419, 89 S.Ct. 584, 591, 21 L.Ed.2d 637 (1969) (citing United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102, 108, 85 S.Ct. 741, 745, 13 L.Ed.2d 684 (1965)). They are to base their decision on- “the factual and practical considerations of everyday life on which reasonable and prudent men, not legal technicians, act.” Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160, 175, 69 S.Ct. 1302, 1310, 93 L.Ed.2d 1879 (1949). And, in reviewing the magistrate’s decision, courts are “simply to ensure that the magistrate had ‘a substantial basis for ... concluding]’ that probable cause existed.” Illinois v. Gates, — U.S. at-, 103 S.Ct. at 2332 (quoting Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 271, 80 S.Ct. 725, 736, 4 L.Ed.2d 697 (1960)). They are to respect— we have previously spoken of showing “great deference” to — magistrates’ probable cause determinations. See United States v. Melvin, supra (quoting Spinelli v. United States, supra).
These principles applied to the affidavit (reprinted here as Appendix A) require us to hold the magistrate’s decision lawful. A person of practical common sense could reasonably conclude on the basis of the affidavit that hardcore pornography would likely be found on the truck. The affidavit makes clear that the truck regularly supplied sexually explicit material to shops in the Combat Zone that regularly sold sexually explicit material. The applying officer supplied the magistrate with three “hardcore” examples from prior shipments. The affidavit says that the truck had left on another delivery that morning. Could anyone not immersed in legal technicalities read through the affidavit and then bet heavily against the truck containing (at least some) hardcore pornography?
Agent Gilligan’s affidavit did not state that Imperial trucks had been shown to carry films on previous trips. But, it did state that Boston police officers had observed Imperial cartons from prior deliveries that contained a variety of materials, including not only magazines but also newspapers and books. In addition, the driver of one of the trucks was observed *876servicing a “peep show” booth used for sexually explicit films, in the very place— 646 Washington Street — to which Imperial made its deliveries of the magazines shown the magistrate. The facts that Imperial (1) repeatedly made wholesale deliveries; (2) of materials some of which the magistrate saw and found obscene; (3) to a shop that sold sexually explicit “peep shows” as well as books; (4) through the use of film machines that Imperial drivers serviced, together gave rise to probable cause that the truck could contain obscene films among the materials it was carrying. At a minimum, once the agents found films on the truck together with the other materials, these facts provided cause to believe that some legally obscene films would likely be found among them. (If there were no films on the truck, the inclusion of films in the order would seem harmless.) See, e.g., United States v. Bush, 582 F.2d 1016, 1020 (5th Cir.1978) (presence of obscene materials in one of six cartons in shipment creates probable cause that other five cartons also contain obscene materials); Castle News Co. v. Cahill, 461 F.Supp. 174, 182 (E.D.Wis.1978) (probable cause exists to search all items in box when judgé examined “fair sample” of contents). Regardless, the basic issue is whether the magistrate could reasonably judge that the affidavit, read as a practical, common sense document, establishes a fair likelihood that agents would find hardcore pornography on the truck. The affidavit, attached here, best speaks for itself. My reading of it makes it impossible for me to say the magistrate was wrong.
The majority may reach a different result because it reads the affidavit without taking into account in any way whatsoever the officers’ statements that the shops regularly sold sexually explicit material and that the truck regularly supplied this material. The cases on which it relies, however, simply forbid the magistrate to rely on the officers’ legal judgments about whether particular sexually explicit material is, or is not, obscene. See Lo-Ji Sales, Inc. v. New York, supra; Roaden v. Kentucky, 413 U.S. at 502-03, 93 S.Ct. at 2800. If those legal judgments are necessary supports for the conclusion that obscene materials would likely be found (as in the short, opaque Lo-Ji affidavit, which we reprint below in Appendix C) then, of course, no warrant can issue. But Lo-Ji does not forbid the magistrate from reading the affidavit as showing that the shops specialize in, and regularly sell, sexually explicit material; nor, particularly when he is shown examples, does it forbid him to draw common sense, practical conclusions from that fact. He does not have to pretend that the three examples he was shown, Turkish Delight, Sex Foto Fiction No. 1, and Sex Foto Fiction No. 2, were discovered in a Sunday school library.
III.
These disagreements may reflect a deeper disagreement about the way in which the majority seeks to reconcile first, and fourth, amendment interests. The majority seems to believe that the fourth amendment takes first amendment interests into account by giving special meanings to such words as “probable cause” or “particularly describing.” They find special subrules within these legal categories that come into effect when a special subject matter, such as “obscenity,” is at issue. Yet there is no need to follow so mechanical an approach. The fourth amendment expressly forbids “unreasonable” searches and seizures. Any search or seizure that takes inadequate account of first amendment interests is automatically “unreasonable.” Given the presence of the word “unreasonable,” do we need to depart from a common sense interpretation of the concept of probable cause, in asking whether an affidavit justifies a search and seizure? Is it necessary to proliferate subrules, some of which may unnecessarily threaten law enforcement interests, others of which may pay too little heed to the first amendment, and all of which threaten unnecessary rigidity and complexity?
If we face directly the question of whether the search is “unreasonable,” however, we must conclude that it was not. That is *877to say, the magistrate took appropriate account of the first amendment. The magistrate had before him an affidavit providing adequate basis to believe that searchers would find hardcore pornography, unprotected by the Constitution, in the truck. At the same time this hardcore pornography might be mixed with other, constitutionally protected, material; thus, the searchers might seize protected material through a mistake in judgment about which items were “hardcore.”
Faced with circumstances showing the likely existence of seizable material, a need for a warrant, and a risk of first amendment injury, the magistrate devised a two-step procedure. First, the truck would be briefly detained to allow segregation of likely hardcore items. Second, he would then view those items himself, authorizing seizure of those he found hardcore. The object was to serve the ends of law enforcement in a manner least likely to restrict legitimate first amendment activity. The restriction consisted of a few hours of detention. A several hour restriction on availability of, and access to, books, magazines, papers, or records is not uncommon when police with a warrant search, say, a house with a library, or a suitcase that may contain magazines as well as drugs. See, e.g., United States v. Gilman, supra; G.I. Distributors, Inc. v. Murphy, supra. But cf. United States v. Place, supra (ninety minute detention of suitcase unreasonably long, in absence of warrant or probable cause). The procedure ensured that the magistrate himself would “focus searchingly on the question of obscenity,” Marcus v. Search Warrant, 367 U.S. at 732, 81 S.Ct. at 1716, before authorizing any longer seizure. And, any less restrictive procedure that would allow the police to obtain the unlawful, unprotected material would seem difficult, if not impossible, to devise.
The alternatives to this approach — a flexible approach that seeks to minimize intrusion upon constitutionally protected interests — seem to consist either of rules that forbid searches for as yet unexamined material irrespective of cause (and, such is not the law) or a set of rules that ends up less protective of first amendment interests. Under these circumstances, the Constitution does not make unlawful the search considered here.

*878

Hurley and McManus have advised me that they are familiar with the various stores in Boston that regularly offer pornographic materials for sale to the public. Most of these stores are located along a stretch of Washington Street in Boston in a section commonly known as the Combat Zone. In the course of their duties, Hurley and McManus have entered these stores, both within and outside the so-called Combat Zone, and have observed what is available for sale to the public. In the opinions of Hurley and McManus, the chief business of these stores is to regularly offer for sale numerous items, including books, magazines, prints, and films, which are obscene as a matter of law.
During their police work, Hurley and McManus had made observations concerning how the aforementioned stores are supplied and stocked. Hurley has advised me that on Tuesday, April 29, 1975, during the afternoon, he observed a panel truck bearing Rhode Island commercial license plate number 18418 in the vicinity of the United Discount House Corp., located at 642-646 Washington Street in Boston. This store is known by Hurley to offer pornographic materials for sale to the public. Hurley observed a male individual take seven cartons out of the panel truck, and-bring them inside the store at 646 Washington St. The same male individual soon came out with three cartons — one carton bearing a marking "United" — and placed the three cartons in the panel truck. Hurley advised that shortly thereafter, he ran a registration listing on R.I. commercial license 18418, and it was listed to Kenneth F. Guarino, 40 Hopkins Ave., Johnston, R. I.
Hurley advised me that on Tuesday, May 20, 1975, he observed a panel truck bearing R.I. commercial license plate number 89491 park-in the vicinity of 646 Washington St., Boston, at about-2:05 P.M. *879He observed a male individual deliver some cartons'from the truck to the store at 646 Washington St. The panel truck then proceeded to The Boylston Book Store at 10 Boylston St., Boston. The same male individual was seen to deliver ten large cartons and one small carton to this establishment. Shortly thereafter, he exited the store with two large cartons and one small white carton which he placed in the truck. This individual then proceeded to The Book & Gift Shop located at 225 Tremon't St., Boston. He took eight cartons from the truck, and delivered them into the store. Shortly thereafter, he exited the store with four cartons which he placed in the truck. Both The Boylston Book Store and The Book a Gift Shop are known by Hurley to offer pornographic materials for sale to the public. However, the latter shop is no longer in business at this time. Hurley told me he ran a listing on R.I. commercial license 89491, and it was listed to Imperial Distributors, Inc., 208 Laurel Hill Ave., Providence, R. I.
Hurley advised me that on Tuesday, December 21, 1976, at about 1:10 P.M., he observed a blue van-type truck bearing R.I. commercial license plate 44457 in the Combat Zone area of Boston... A male individual was observed to deliver one carton to United Discount at 646 Washington St. and five cartons to Zone Book, Inc., at 10 Boylston St., a store known by Hurley to offer pornographic material for sale to the public.
Hurley advised me that on Tuesday, June 7, 1977, he observed a van bearing R.I. commercial plate 44457 in the Combat Zone. A male individual was observed to make a delivery to Zone Book, Inc., at 10 Boylston St.
Hurley advised me that on Monday, October 17, 1977, he observed a vehicle bearing R.I. commercial license plate 89491 park in the vicinity of United Discount at 64G Washington St. A male individual exited the vehicle, and entered United Discount. This male individual remained in the store for about twenty minutes, and was observed servicing the peep show film machines therein. Hurley advised me that the peep show film machines are operated by placing 25 cents in the machine, such that the film runs for a few minutes. If the customer desires to see the whole film, the customer must insert another 25 cents every few minutes. Hurley advised that he and McManus have periodically checked on the nature of the films in these peep show machines, and, in their opinion, the films have invariably displayed various types of hard-core pornography.
Hurley advised me that on Tuesday, November 1, 1977, he observed a vehicle bearing R.I. commercial plate 44457 in the Combat Zone. A male individual vías observed to deliver six cartons marked "J.P." to the establishment at 694 Washington St. Hurley advises that Joe P. Enterprises, Inc., Marble Distributors, Inc., Granite Mail Order House, Inc., and United Books, Inc., are all listed at this address. Hurley advised that these firms are known to distribute pornographic material to other'stores for sale to the public. For instance, Hurley advised me that Anthony Russo holds all the corporate offices in both Joe P. Enterprises,_Inc., and United Books, Inc.; that Russo also owns Liberty Book Store at 4 Boylston St., Boston, which store regularly offers pornographic material for sale to the public.
Hurley advised me that on Tuesday, January 10, 1978, he observed a vehicle bearing R.I. commercial plate 91826 in the Combat Zone. A male individual was observed to exit the vehicle, and make.a delivery to United Discount at 646 Washington St. Hurley advised that shortly thereafter, he and Detective McManus entered the store. On the counter in front of store employee Albert McCarthy, was an invoice dated January 9, 1978 from "Imperial" to "United Discount.” I ran a listing on plate 91826, and found that it was registered to Kenneth F. Guarino, 208 Laurel Hill Ave., Providence, R. I.
Hurley advised me that on Tuesday, January 17, 1978, at about 10:30 A.M., he observed a vehicle bearing R.I. commercial plate 91826 to park in the vicinity of.the Eros Theatre at 673 Washington St. A male individual was observed to exit the vehicle, and deliver one box to the 200 Book Club, Inc., at 696 Washington St. Hurley advised me that this establishment regularly offers pornographic material for sale to the public.
The male individual was then observed to deliver nine cartons to United Discount at 646 Washington St. The same individual was then seen to deliver twelve cartons to Boylston Book Store at 10 *880Boylston St. He exited this store with three cartons. He was next observed to Walk back to the Eros Theatre, and enter said theatre while holding a piece of paper in his hand. This male individual appeared to be about 5’9", white,- short beard, dark hair, 25 to 30 years old, balding on the back of his head, wearing a fur-lined brown j acket;.
At about 2:00 P.M., Detectives Hurley and McManus entered United Discount at 646 Washington St. Store employees Albert McCarthy and Robert Murray were observed to be putting magazines into transparent plastic covers, and sealing said covers. Cartons marked "United Discount" were open, and McCarthy and Murray were sealing magazines taken from these cartons. Hurley and McManus both observed .the open cartons, and could see that they contained various magazines, books and newspapers. Among the items that McCarthy was seen to seal was a magazine entitled "Turkish Delight." The front cover of the magazine depicted a male and female engaging in cunnilingus, while- the back cover showed a male and female engaging in intercourse. On the counter close to where McCarthy was sealing publications, an invoice marked "Imperial" was observed.
On Tuesday, January 24, 1978, at about 11:34 A.M., I observed a blue Ford van truck bearing R.I. commercial plate 91826 parked in front of the Eros Theatre at 673 Washington St., Boston. I entered an "adult book store" at 673B Washington St., and observed four cartons piled on the floor next to a store employee. Within a couple of minutes, a white male weighing about 250 pounds appeared and presented a check to another white male who was about 6'0", 26 to 28 years old, 165 pounds, black hair with a thin black beard. This latter white male left the premises after receiving the aforementioned check. I observed the blue Ford van driven diagonally across the street to 646 Washington St., and the white male who had received the aforementioned check was observed to deliver three cartons at 646 Washington St. Fellow F.B.I. Agent Daniel J. Quigley then observed the same white male deliver four cartons to 12-14 Boylston St., Boston.
On Thursday, January 26, 1978, I went to the United Discount store at 646 Washington St., Boston. Offered for sale at this time were numerous magazines in sealed transparent plastic envelopes, including a magazine entitled "Turkish Delight." I purchased one copy of "Turkish Delight" for $6.00. I have reviewed the contents of this magazine. On the front cover a male and female are shown engaging in cunnilingus: on the back, a male and female are engaging in intercourse. The remainder of the magazine displays numerous acts of fellatio, cunnilingus and intercourse with the camera angle emphasizing the genitalia as much as possible.
Fellow F.B.I. Agents Philip Reilly and Edward Kavanagh advised me that on Tuesday, January 31, 1978, they were on surveillance in the-vicinity of Imperial Distributors, Inc., at 208 Laurel Hill Ave., Providence, R. I. At about 9:20 A.M., they observed a van-type truck bearing commercial R.I. plate 44457 being loaded with cartons from the loading dock area of Imperial Distributors, Inc. This truck was observed leaving 208 Laurel-Hill Ave. at about 9:38 A.M. Reilly and Kavanaugh followed the truck across the- state line into . Massachusetts, and up into Boston. At about 10:56 A.M., I observed a blue van bearing R.I. commercial license 44457 turn into Washington St., Boston, from Kneeland St. It parked in front of 694 Washington St. The driver was observed to bring three or four cartons into 694 Washington St. The van then was driven to 673 Washington ^t. Three cartons were delivered to 673B Washington St. I then entered 673B Washington St., and observed a male clerk behind the counter conversing on the telephone. I heard the clerk say, "I have a C.O.D. from Imperial Distributors."
The driver of the R.I. van was next observed to deliver one carton to a book store on LaGrange Street. He then drove to 646 Washington St., where he delivered four cartons. I then entered United Discount at 646 Washington St. I observed that Boston Police Detectives Hurley and McManus were already within the store. McManus showed me the cartons which the R.I. driver just delivered. The Cartons were piled up-on the floor near the attendant's counter in the rear of the store. A store clerk was observed removing magazines from -one of the cartons, and he was seen counting the magazines. I observed the titles.on two of the magazine that the clerk was counting. The titles were "Sex Foto Fiction No. 1" and "Sex Foto Fiction No. 2."
*881Fellow F.B.I. Agent James A. Yacobucci advised me that on February 2, 1978, at about 10:30 A.M., he went to United Discount at 646 Washington St., Boston, and at the rear of the store on a magazine rack he saw displayed magazines entitled "Sex Foto Fiction No. 1" and "Sex Foto Fiction No. 2." He purchased the two magazines for $6.00 each. Yacobucci turned the magazines over to me. I have reviewed both magazines. They.both display numerous acts of fellatio, cur.nilingus and Intercourse with the camera emphasizing the genitalia as much as possible.
Detective Hurley advised me that on Tuesday, February 14, 1978, he observed a truck bearing R.I. commercial plate 91826 parked at 681 Washington St., Boston, about 1:00 P.M. Thereafter, Hurley observed a white male take seven cartons from the truck, and deliver them to 646 Washington St. The white male then made three delivery trips to 10 Boylston St., delivering some eighteen cartons. He exited 10 Boylston St. with five cartons.
Fellow Agent Philip Reilly advised me that on Tuesday, February 21, 1978, he was on surveillance duty at 208 Laurel Hill Ave., Providence, R. I. He stated that he observed a truck bearing R.I. commercial plate 91826 loaded with about 35 or 40 cartons from the loading dock area of Imperial Distributors, Inc. The truck departed at about 9:35 A.M. Reilly followed the truck over the state line into Massachusetts. At about 11:00 A.M., I observed a truck bearing R.I. commercial plate 91826 turn into Washington St., Boston. A white male driver' was observed to deliver nine cartons at 673B Washington St., ten cartons at 646 Washington St., thirteen cartons at 10 Boylston St., and two cartons at 18 LaGrange St., all of Boston.
Fellow F.B.I. Agent Edward Kavanagh advised me that today at 8:13 a.m., he was on surveillance at Imperial Distributors, Inc., 203 Laurel Hill Ave., Providence, R.r-. He observed a truck bearing R.I. commercial plate 91826 be'ing loaded with cartons at the Imperial Distributors loading dock. The truck left Imperial Distributors at about 9:32 a.m. The truck was' observed to cross the state line into Massachusetts. For the foregoing.reasons, I believe that a truck bearing R.I. commercial plate 91826 contains obscene, lewd, lascivious, and filthy books, magazines, newspapers, prints, and other matter of an indecent and immoral character, and that said truck has transported said materials in interstate commerce for the purpose of sale and distribution;.all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1465.
APPENDIX B
Lo-Ji Sales Search Warrant
(reproduced from Supreme Court Record App. at 8a - 26a)
LOCAL CRIMINAL COURT
Town of Waway anda, County of Orange, State of New York
Honorable John O'Connor,

Issuing Judge.

To Any Police Officer of the New York State Police
You are hereby authorized and directed to search the following premises: a single story brown wood frame build*882ing named “Adult Store”, located on Route 17M directly across from the Chadwick Motel in the Town of Wawayanda, Orange County, New York.
You are hereby authorized and directed to search for and seize the following property, to wit:
1. ) 200 foot reels of 8mm motion picture film entitled Linda and Duke.
2. ) 200 foot reels of super 8mm motion picture film entitled Four rob Dinner.
3. ) The following items that the Court independently has determined to be possessed in violation of Article 235 of the Penal Law:
[In thfe warrant as originally issued, this space was left blank. After the search, it was filled in with a multi-page list of the items found by the search party.]
This warrant must be executed not more than 10 days after the issuance and any property seized pursuant hereto shall be returned and delivered to the Court without unnecessary delay.
The Court hereby specially determines that this Warrant shall constitute notice to any persons arrested or charged pursnant to its execution, that they are entitled to immediate adversary hearing, as soon as practicable, so that a determination can be made as to whether or not the material seized was possessed in violation of Article 235 of the Penal Law.
Dated: Goshen, New York
June 25,1976
/s/ John O’Connor

Local Justice

*883APPENDIX C
Lo-Ji Sales Affidavit
(reproduced from Supreme Court Record App. at 5a - 7a)
LOCAL CRIMINAL COURT
Town of Wawayanda
Affidavit
In the Matter —of— The Application of Inv. J. A. Hurbanek of the New York State Police, for a Search Warrant to Search the Following Premises: A single story brown wood frame building named “Adult Store”, located on Route 17M directly across from the Chadwick Motel in the Town of Wawayanda, Orange County, New York.
State of New York,
County of Orange, ss.i
I, Johannes A. Hurbanek, being duly sworn, deposes and says:
1. I am the applicant herein and am a public servant of the kind specified in Criminal Procedure Law, Section 690.05(1), my title being Investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation of the New York State Police.
2. There is reasonable cause to believe that certain property hereinafter described may be found in the following premises: a single story brown wood frame building named “Adult Store”, located on Route 17M directly across from the Chadwick Motel in the Town of Wawayanda, Orange County, New York.
*8843. .The property referred to sought to be seized is property that has been used and is possessed for the purpose of being used to commit an offense to wit: Obscenity in the Second Degree, in violation of Section 235.05(1) of the Penal Law, Promoting Obscene Material.
3. In support of your deponent’s assertion as to the existence of reasonable cause, the following facts are offered based upon personal knowledge as attested to by your deponent. On June 20, 1976, I personally was present in the aforedescrihed premises (Adult Store) and purchased from Alexander Mandakis one reel nf 8mm motion picture film approximately 200 feet in length called Linda and Duke. Upon viewing this reel of motion picture film, I observed it to contain acts of female masturbation and activities involving beastiality in that a female participant in the movie attempted to engage in acts of sexual intercourse with a German Shepard type dog. I also purchased a reel of super 8mm motion picture film approximately 200 feet in length entitled Four fob Dinner. Upon viewing this reel of film, I observed acts of sexual intercourse, sodomy, fellatio, cunnilingus, and masturbation. These reels of film are presently in my possession and are available for the viewing of the Court so that it may independently determine whether or not the acts portrayed come within the statutory prohibition under Article 235 of the Penal Law.
4. While in the premises, I observed what I have reasonable cause to believe are the same or similar films. I also observed in the premises other reels of film, magazines and other objects. Based upon my observations, and my conversations with Mr. Mandakis which indicated to me that *885the films and magazines portrayed similar activities as described above, I have reason to believe that this material is being possessed in violation of Article 235 of the Penal Law of the State of New York.
5. The foregoing represents the grounds for my belief.
6. It is further respectfully requested that the Court accompany deponent at the time of the exectuion of the warrant applied for so that it can independently determine under the applicable legal principles whether or not any of the additional material present in the aforedescribed premises is in fact possessed in violation of the law and therefore subject to seizure.
Wherefore, your deponent requests that the Court issue a search warrant directing a search for and seizure of the following property:
1. ) 200 foot reels of 8mm motion picutre film entitled Linda and Duke.
2. ) 200 foot reels of super 8mm motion picture film entitled Four for Dinner.
3. ) Any other material that the Court may independently determine upon viewing to be possessed in violation of Article 235 of the Penal Law.
/s/ J. A. Hubbanbk
Johannes A. Hurbanek
Sworn to before me this 25 day of June, 1976.
/s/ John O’Connor, TjJ.