Court Opinion

ID: 9580727
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:08:03.269147+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:36:28.637991
License: Public Domain

ANDERSON, J.
(dissenting):
I respectfully dissent. The majority concludes the trial court erred.in failing to suppress the evidence obtained as a result of the search of the motel room because the search warrant was based on an affidavit signed by a law enforcement officer who had no direct knowledge of the information contained in the affidavit. I disagree. I vote to affirm.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

In criminal cases, the appellate court sits to review errors of law only. State v. Wilson, 345 S.C. 1, 545 S.E.2d 827 (2001). We are bound by the trial court’s factual findings unless they are clearly erroneous. State v. Quattlebaum, 338 S.C. 441, 527 S.E.2d 105 (2000). This same standard of review applies to preliminary factual findings in determining the admissibility of certain evidence in criminal cases. Wilson, 345 S.C. at 6, 545 S.E.2d at 829. On review, we are limited to determining whether the trial judge abused his discretion. State v. Reed, 332 S.C. 35, 503 S.E.2d 747 (1998); State v. Rochester, 301 S.C. 196, 391 S.E.2d 244 (1990). This Court does not re*253evaluate the facts based on its own view of the preponderance of the evidence but simply determines whether the trial judge’s ruling is supported by any evidence. Wilson, 345 S.C. at 6, 545 S.E.2d at 829; see also State v. Corey D., 339 S.C. 107, 529 S.E.2d 20 (2000) (an abuse of discretion is a conclusion with no reasonable factual support).
An appellate court reviewing the decision to issue a search warrant should decide whether the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding probable cause existed. State v. King, 349 S.C. 142, 561 S.E.2d 640 (Ct.App.2002). This review, like the determination by the magistrate, is governed by the “totality of the circumstances” test. State v. Jones, 342 S.C. 121, 536 S.E.2d 675 (2000); King, 349 S.C. at 148, 561 S.E.2d at 643. 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 before him, including the “veracity” and “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. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983). The appellate court should give great deference to a magistrate’s determination of probable cause. State v. Weston, 329 S.C. 287, 494 S.E.2d 801 (1997); see also State v. Sullivan, 267 S.C. 610, 230 S.E.2d 621 (1976) (magistrate’s determination of probable cause should be paid great deference by reviewing court).

LAW/ANALYSIS

I. Requirement of Sworn Affidavit
“Both the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, § 10 of the South Carolina Constitution require an oath or affirmation before probable cause can be found by an officer of the court, and a search warrant issued.” State v. Jones, 342 S.C. 121, 128, 536 S.E.2d 675, 678 (2000). The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution elucidates:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or *254affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
U.S. Const. amend. IV (emphasis added). Article I, section 10 of the South Carolina Constitution edifies:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures and unreasonable invasions of privacy shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, the person or thing to be seized, and the information to be obtained.
S.C. Const. art. I, § 10 (emphasis added).
II. Sufficiency of Affidavit Supporting Search Warrant
An affidavit in support of a search warrant may be based on hearsay information and need not reflect the direct personal observations of the affiant. State v. Sullivan, 267 S.C. 610, 230 S.E.2d 621 (1976); see also Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 80 S.Ct. 725, 4 L.Ed.2d 697 (1960), overruled on other grounds by United States v. Salvucci, 448 U.S. 83, 100 S.Ct. 2547, 65 L.Ed.2d 619 (1980) (affidavit for search warrant which sets out personal observations relating to existence of cause to search is not to be deemed insufficient by virtue of fact that it sets out not the affiant’s observations but those of another, so long as a substantial basis for crediting the hearsay is presented). An affidavit can show probable cause even when based on hearsay statements. Sullivan, 267 S.C. at 614, 230 S.E.2d at 623; see also Morris v. State, 62 S.W.3d 817 (Tex.App.2001) (information with which magistrate is supplied, in affidavit for search warrant, may be hearsay).
Hearsay, even second hearsay, may provide a legal basis for a search warrant. United States v. Welebir, 498 F.2d 346 (4th Cir.1974); see also State v. York, 250 S.C. 30, 156 S.E.2d 326 (1967) (affidavit for search warrant may be based on hearsay information); State v. Elkhill, 715 So.2d 327 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1998) (finding affidavit established probable cause to search defendant’s residence for drugs, even though affiant did not continuously observe confidential informant during controlled buy; informant was under almost constant supervision of one of two officers during buy, and what affiant did not see, the *255other officer did; as long as specific facts are set forth to justify finding of probable cause to issue search warrant, those facts may be based on hearsay information).
The fact that the information provided is double hearsay is relevant to its value in determining probable cause, but hearsay testimony will not per se invalidate a judge’s determination of probable cause. State v. Taylor, 82 Ohio App.3d 434, 612 N.E.2d 728 (1992). The fact that the affiant’s knowledge may be the result of double or multiple levels of hearsay does not, per se, invalidate the resulting search warrant. United States v. Jenkins, 525 F.2d 819 (6th Cir.1975); see also United States v. One Hundred Forty-Nine Thousand Four Hundred Forty-Two and 43/100 Dollars ($149,442.43) in U.S. Currency, 965 F.2d 868 (10th Cir.1992) (hearsay, even multiple hearsay, may be used to establish probable cause for a search warrant); United States v. McCoy, 478 F.2d 176 (10th Cir.1973) (fact that affidavit in support of search warrant contains some double hearsay and perhaps even a bit of triple hearsay does not in and of itself render the affidavit insufficient).
The fact that there is hearsay upon hearsay involved in a case, as far as the information upon which the affidavit is based, does not preclude a finding of probable cause. Lewis v. State, 234 Ga.App. 873, 508 S.E.2d 218 (1998); see also Hennessy v. State, 660 S.W.2d 87 (Tex.Crim.App.1983) (when viewing the affidavit, hearsay upon hearsay will support issuance of warrant as long as underlying circumstances indicate there is a substantial basis for crediting hearsay at each level).
III. Direct Knowledge of Affiant Officer Not Required
The propriety of an affiant attesting to information supplied him by a fellow officer has been judicially endorsed. State v. Sullivan, 267 S.C. 610, 230 S.E.2d 621 (1976). It is well settled that an affiant seeking a search warrant can base his information on information in turn supplied him by fellow officers. United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102, 85 S.Ct. 741, 13 L.Ed.2d 684 (1965); United States v. Welebir, 498 F.2d 346 (4th Cir.1974). Observations by fellow law enforcement officers engaged in a common investigation with the search warrant affiant are a reliable basis for a warrant applied for by one of their number. Ventresca, 380 U.S. at 111, 85 S.Ct. at 747, 13 L.Ed.2d at 690; State v. Hage, 568 N.W.2d 741 *256(N.D.1997). See also United States v. Morales, 238 F.3d 952 (8th Cir.2001) (probable cause may be based on collective knowledge of all law enforcement officers involved in an investigation and need not be based solely on information within knowledge of officer on scene if there is some degree of communication).
Probable cause is to be evaluated by the collective information of the police as reflected in the affidavit and is not limited to the firsthand knowledge of the officer who executes the affidavit. State v. Stickelman, 207 Neb. 429, 299 N.W.2d 520 (1980); see also Iddings v. State, 772 N.E.2d 1006 (Ind.Ct.App.2002) (probable cause for a search warrant may be based upon information known to the law enforcement organization as a whole). A police officer making the affidavit for issuance of a warrant may do so in reliance upon information reported to him by other officers in the performance of their duties. State v. Pearson, 356 N.C. 22, 566 S.E.2d 50 (2002).
It is not unusual for an affidavit of a law enforcement officer to contain hearsay information from another, which, in-turn, is based on other information gathered by that person. Sullivan, 267 S.C. at 615, 230 S.E.2d at 623. Hence, when a magistrate receives an affidavit which contains hearsay upon hearsay, he need not categorically reject this double hearsay information. Sullivan, 267 S.C. at 615, 230 S.E.2d at 623. Rather, he is called upon to evaluate this information as well as all other information in the affidavit in order to determine whether it can be reasonably inferred that the information was gained in a reliable way. Sullivan, 267 S.C. at 615, 230 S.E.2d at 623-24.
IV. Efficacy of Affidavit in Present Case
The affidavit in the present case clearly justified the issuance of the warrant. Officer Keith O’Quinn was “part of the initial responding units for the take-down of the operation” and was at the scene of the arrest. O’Quinn testified that he had “personal knowledge ... that a narcotics deal had been performed at the Exxon station on Bush River Road” and that two subjects had been arrested. Officer O’Quinn had knowledge there was cocaine in the car. He declared that, “[biased on [his] conversation in dealing with Investigator Rainwater,” he obtained a search warrant. O’Quinn signed an affidavit *257based on information which was obtained through a joint investigation. When asked “[w]as there a reason for the belief contained in the affidavit that there was cocaine in Sheraton (sic) room 158,” Officer O’Quinn responded: “From the information that I gathered that was told to Investigator Rainwater by the C.I., yes, sir, there was.” Moreover, although Officer Rainwater actually communicated the information to the magistrate, Officer O’Quinn read over and reviewed the affidavit for accuracy before he signed it.
I find the affidavit was properly executed. The affidavit included information Officer O’Quinn learned through his participation in the investigation, as well as hearsay information. Thus, the affidavit justified the issuance of the search warrant. Under the totality of the circumstances, the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding probable cause existed. I would affirm the trial court’s decision to allow the evidence obtained as a result of the search of the motel room.

CONCLUSION

The opinion of the majority acknowledges the viability of the rule that hearsay is admissible to show probable cause. This declaration rings hollow because the majority opinion neglects to give any efficacy to the rule.
With etymological precision, the majority in cathartic verbiage concludes the rule should not be applied. The statement is made that the magistrate never heard the “hearsay.” The record belies this averment.
The judicial embargo countenanced by the majority flies in the face of the universal rule of evidence allowing “hearsay, even second hearsay” to determine probable cause in the magisterial warrant scenario.
Without question, the appellate entity will “rue the day” of the rule adopted in this case. This “court created albatross” in search warrant proceedings is anathema to the law extant in the field of criminal law.
I VOTE TO AFFIRM.