Court Opinion

ID: 9513527
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:37:17.436711+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:05:53.865156
License: Public Domain

RONALD L. HILDEN, District Court Judge,
dissenting.
[¶ 20] The majority opinion concludes there was probable cause in this case— withstanding the omission of material information from an officer’s supporting affidavit — to support the issuance of a search warrant of the Appellant’s residence. However, I must respectfully dissent from the opinion of the court. The magistrate’s finding of probable cause was based solely upon an affidavit omitting the fact the affiant’s information originated from an anonymous informant, and coupled with an investigative search of the Appellant’s trash which produced tenuous evidence — a single marijuana seed, eight marijuana stems, two bags of potting soil, and a utility bill addressed to the Appellant — I believe the trial court’s decision to deny the Appellant’s motion to suppress evidence was erroneous as a matter of law.
[¶ 21] The Honorable Judge Gail Hag-erty issued a-search warrant on June 10th, 1998, for the Appellant’s residence after a finding of probable cause the residence may have contained evidence of the use or *674manufacture and possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and/or other controlled substances. Judge Hagerty determined probable cause existed after reviewing an affidavit executed by Deputy David Siurek of the South Sakakawea Narcotics Task Force. Judge Hagerty’s decision was based solely upon the affidavit and without taking any testimony or reviewing any other source of information.
[¶ 22] Deputy Siurek’s affidavit indicates he received information from Deputy Brian Lang of the McLean County Sheriffs Department the Appellant was growing marijuana at his residence and was known to be involved in the use of illegal substances. Deputy Lang received this information from Game Warden Timothy Larson. However, the affidavit does not indicate Game Warden Larson acquired his information from an anonymous informant over the telephone. Moreover, the affidavit does not indicate how Deputy Lang learned the Appellant was growing marijuana in his residence.
[¶ 23] Based upon information originating from the anonymous informant and the Appellant’s past history of drug-related offenses, Deputy Siurek conducted an investigative search of the Appellant’s trash located in the back alley behind the Appellant’s residence. Deputy Siurek’s affidavit indicates the search of the Appellant’s trash was conducted on June 9th, 1998, and resulted in the discovery of the following pieces of evidence: a single marijuana seed, eight (8) marijuana stems, two (2) bags of potting soil, and a utility bill addressed to the Appellant. After examining the affidavit Judge Hagerty issued a search warrant on the same day for the Appellant’s residence.
[¶ 24] Law enforcement searched the Appellant’s residence on June 11th, 1998, and seized five marijuana plants, various drug paraphernalia, numerous marijuana seeds, and marijuana. The Appellant was subsequently charged with “Possession of Drug Paraphernalia” and “Manufacture/Deliver/Possess With Intent To Manufacture or Deliver a Controlled Substance.” The Appellant moved the trial court to suppress the evidence seized from his residence upon the grounds law enforcement did not have probable cause to search his residence. -The Honorable Judge Bruce B. Haskell denied the Appellant’s motion to suppress the evidence seized from the search, holding the totality of the circumstances supported Judge Hagerty’s finding of probable cause and issuance of the search warrant.
[¶ 25] It is undisputed in this case Deputy Siurek’s affidavit omitted the fact the tip of the Appellant’s drug activity originated from an anonymous informant. A trial court may conduct an evidentiary hearing under Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978), to weigh the effect of a factual omission from an affidavit executed in support of a search warrant. See State v. Rangeloff, 1998 ND 135, ¶ 9, 580 N.W.2d 593. In the instant case the Appellant never requested a Franks hearing and, unfortunately, the trial court never had the opportunity to supplement the affidavit with the omitted information. See State v. Wamre, 1999 ND 164, ¶24, 599 N.W.2d 268 (stating trial court must consider whether a supplemented affidavit is sufficient to establish probable cause).
[¶ 26] The existence of probable cause is a question of law. Cf. State v. Damron, 1998 ND 71, ¶ 5, 575 N.W.2d 912. To determine probable cause, we use the totality of the circumstances test to review whether the information before a magistrate is sufficient to find probable cause, independent of the trial court’s findings. Id. at ¶ 7. However, it is essential for a court to have all of the material “circumstances” before it when determining if probable cause exists to issue a search warrant. Judge Hagerty was denied this opportunity since her finding was based solely upon an incomplete affidavit. Therefore, this Court must now scrutinize the affidavit for probable cause under the standard of Illinois v. Gates.
*675[¶ 27] “A party challenging the validity of a search warrant on the basis the information was intentionally or recklessly omitted from the affidavit in support of the warrant must demonstrate the information would have been material to the magistrate’s finding.” See Damron, 1998 ND 71, ¶ 13, 575 N.W.2d 912 (citation omitted). The manner in which an affiant acquires his or her information, such as by an anonymous informant, is clearly material to a judicial determination of probable cause.1 The circumstances of an informant’s knowledge of illegal activity allow a magistrate to measure the basis of knowledge and veracity of the information being offered by the affiant. Cf. State v. Thieling, 2000 ND 106, ¶ 11, 611 N.W.2d 861 (finding an affidavit did not explain how officer determined defendants were involved with drugs nor indicate corroboration of officer’s information). In the instant case the materiality of the informant’s anonymous nature to Judge Hagerty’s determination of probable cause is beyond doubt, especially in view of State v. Thompson, 369 N.W.2d 363 (N.D.1985) and the incorporation of Aguilar-Spinelli into the totality of the circumstances test.
[¶ 28] The majority opinion sets aside the “misleading statement from the affidavit” and concludes it would not affect the magistrate’s evaluation of whether probable cause existed in this case. See infra majority opinion at ¶ 16. However, setting aside the misleading statement from the affidavit is impossible, since Deputy Siur-ek’s affidavit does not contain any misleading statements to set aside. Instead, the affidavit must be supplemented by the information omitted regarding the anonymous informant. Then, this Court must determine if whether under the totality of the circumstances test probable cause existed for Judge Hagerty to issue the search warrant for the Appellant’s residence based upon the supplemented affidavit.
[¶ 29] After supplementing Deputy Si-urek’s affidavit with the omitted fact the information originated from an anonymous informant, I believe the affidavit is factually deficient to support probable cause. A magistrate should view any information obtained from an “untested” anonymous informant with inherent skepticism.
Information supplied by an anonymous informant cannot alone establish probable cause for a warrant if the tip provides virtually nothing from which one might conclude that the informant is honest or that his information is reliable, or if the information ‘gives absolutely no indication of the basis for the [informant’s] predictions’ regarding a defendant’s criminal activities.
Thompson, 369 N.W.2d at 367 (citing Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213,103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983)). In the instant case, supplementing Deputy Siurek’s affidavit with the fact his information originated from an anonymous informant leaves a factual vacuum regarding the veracity and basis of knowledge of the informant. Cf. State v. Lewis, 527 N.W.2d 658, 662 (N.D.1995) (noting information of drug activity derived from an untested informant was insufficient to support probable cause). Unfortunately, this court cannot fill the factual vacuum based upon the record before it.
[¶ 30] Judge Haskell in his memorandum opinion denying the Appellant’s motion to suppress evidence concludes: “Here, there is no argument that the police provided the magistrate with information from which she could determine the informant’s reliability.” Deputy Siurek’s affidavit, however, is completely void of *676any such information. Instead, the affidavit states “[t]hat I received information from Deputy Brian Lang of the McLean County Sheriffs Department the [sic] DANIEL DUCHENE is growing marijuana at his residence, and that he has been known to be involved in the use of illegal controlled substances.” This is a concluso-ry allegation, or “bare bone” conclusion, the Appellant was growing marijuana at his residence. The affidavit simply does not describe any of the circumstances or facts relating to the basis of knowledge or the veracity of the anonymous informant. Cf. Thompson, 369 N.W.2d at 368 (finding an allegation of drug sale lacking in evi-dentiary detail and whether an anonymous informant was privy to personal information).
[¶ 31] This court has held affidavits omitting background facts on how and where law enforcement acquires information of illegal activity sufficient to support probable cause when other evidence, such as testimony, is offered to prove the reliability of the informant. Cf. State v. Dymowski, 458 N.W.2d 490, 498 (N.D.1990); cf. also State v. Dahl, 440 N.W.2d 716, 719-20 (N.D.1989). However, probable cause cannot rest solely upon a conclusory allegation from an untested, anonymous informant. Cf. Thompson, 369 N.W.2d at 369 (noting magistrate not provided enough meaningful information to make informed judgment on anonymous informant’s past performance as informant).
[¶ 32] Under the totality of the circumstances test from Illinois v. Gates, Deputy Siurek’s incomplete affidavit may still support probable cause if the anonymous informant’s tip was corroborated by further investigation. Cf. Woehlhoff v. State, 487 N.W.2d 16, 18 (N.D.1992) (citation omitted) (noting if an informant does not supply information necessary to evaluate tip, police must corroborate through independent investigation). Deputy Siurek corroborated the information he received from Deputy Lang by conducting an investigative search of the Appellant’s trash located behind his residence. This search resulted in the discovery of the following pieces of evidence: a single marijuana seed, eight marijuana stems, two bags of potting soil, and a utility bill addressed to the Appellant. Deputy’s Siurek’s executed affidavit described the investigative search and listed the items discovered from the Appellant’s trash.
[¶ 33] It is undeniable the discovery of marijuana seeds in a person’s garbage taken from an alley behind the person’s residence may support a person of reasonable caution to believe marijuana may be present in the residence. Cf. State v. Johnson, 531 N.W.2d 275, 279 (N.D.1995) (holding marijuana seeds in defendant’s garbage bag supported probable cause); cf also State v. Erickson, 496 N.W.2d 555, 559 (N.D.1993). It is also undeniable that a magistrate must make a practical, common sense decision when evaluating the information submitted in the form of an affidavit or testimony together with all other evidence. Cf. State v. Ringquist, 433 N.W.2d 207, 212 (N.D.1988) (noting Illinois v. Gates encourages courts to recognize two prongs of Aguilar Spinelli as intertwining with other issues).
[¶ 34] This Court must always hesitate from second-guessing the lower courts’ evidentiary assessments when determining probable cause. However, reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and our own State constitution, should never be surrendered to the rather casual notion of “common sense.” This case ultimately depends upon the government finding a single marijuana seed and eight marijuana stems after conducting a single search of the Appellant’s garbage. The minute quality of a single marijuana seed and eight marijuana stems is not “substantial evidence” — together with the lack of background information concerning the informant — to conclude probable cause existed that the Appellant was growing marijuana in his residence. Moreover, the Appellee has not suggested any exi*677gent circumstances were present to prevent law enforcement from ■ conducting a further investigation of the Appellant’s suspected illegal activity.
[¶ 35] Even if a single marijuana seed and eight marijuana stems — along with the utility bill, the two potting soil bags, and the Appellant’s drug conviction — -supported the finding of probable cause under the totality of the circumstances in this case, the complete absence from Deputy Siurek’s affidavit of any fact regarding the anonymous informant is still troubling. Cf. Dymowski, 458 N.W.2d at 495 (citing Dahl, 440 N.W.2d at 718) (noting Aguilar and Spinelli relevant to judicial determination of probable cause).
[¶ 36] As a county court judge for Stark County in 1988, I issued the search warrant in the case the Supreme Court of North Dakota adopted the totality of the circumstances test from Illinois v. Gates as the standard for determining probable cause. See Ringquist, 433 N.W.2d 207. I initially declined to issue the search warrant in that case since law enforcement revealed its suspicion originated from an anonymous informant who declined to reveal his identity and who failed to report the alleged drug activity before. As a result, law enforcement continued their investigation of the defendant and discovered additional corroborating evidence. They interviewed two other confidential informants, who provided detailed information of the defendant’s alleged drug activity. See generally id. at 208-09. Based upon the addition of this detailed information, I issued the search warrant under the totality of the circumstances.
[¶ 37] The District Court disagreed with me and granted the defendant’s motion to suppress the evidence seized from the defendant’s residence on the basis the information furnished to the magistrate was lacking in veracity under the Aguilar two-pronged test. On appeal the Supreme Court of North Dakota reversed the District Court by adopting Illinois v. Gates as the standard for determining probable cause and incorporating Aguilar-Spinelli within the totality of the circumstances test. The Court concluded probable cause existed to support the issuance of the search warrant in Ringquist since the information supplied by the anonymous informant was “rife with detail” and the unknown informant provided “specific details” of alleged drug transactions at the defendant’s residence. See generally 433 N.W.2d at 214-15.
[¶ 38] The District Courts of North Dakota act as constitutional guardians when determining whether a search and seizure conducted by law enforcement was reasonable under the United States Constitution and the North Dakota Constitution. We use the totality of the circumstances test under Illinois v. Gates, including the Aguilar-Spinelli guidelines, to determine probable cause. This is our standard for protecting the right of all citizens to be free from “unreasonable searches and seizures.” In the instant case the magistrate and District Court deviated from this standard by resting their findings of probable cause exclusively upon an affidavit not “rife with detail” and that, when supplemented by the omitted information, clearly violates Aguilar-Spinelli.
[¶ 39] Our Court adopted Illinois v. Gates and the totality of the circumstances test to provide a flexible test for determining probable cause without the rigidity of Aguilar-Spinelli. In the present matter I believe the courts were too flexible when examining Deputy Siurek’s affidavit and failing to even consider Aguilar-Spinelli.2 *678Under the totality of the circumstances test the search warrant in this case was predicated upon an incomplete affidavit, a single marijuana seed, eight marijuana stems, two bags of potting soil, and the Appellant’s past drug conviction. After supplementing Deputy Siurek’s incomplete affidavit with the critical information regarding the anonymous informant, coupled with the tenuous evidence acquired by Deputy Siurek from the Appellant’s trash, I believe this search and seizure was unreasonable and the Appellant’s motion to suppress should have been granted by the trial court.
[¶ 40] Ronald L. Hilden, D.J.

. “It an informant’s tip is the source of information, the affidavit must recite 'some of the underlying circumstances from which the informant concluded' that relevant evidence might be discovered, and 'some of the underlying circumstances from which the officer concluded that the informant, whose identity need not be disclosed, ... was ‘credible’ or his information reliable.' " See Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 165, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978) (citation omitted).

. “The test in Aguilar has served many useful purposes aside from insuring that the constitutional rights of citizens be respected. It has given to law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys and the courts a straightforward test for resolving disputes over the issuance of a warrant. We do not view ■ Gates as an endorsement of slovenly or careless law enforcement work. Such work will continue to produce problems for the prosecution, the defense and the courts engaged in a case by case analysis rather than a repair to certain *678and definite rules. The Court in Gates stated that Aguilar has provided guidance in determining the existence of probable cause and it is not anticipated that departure from these guidelines will be looked upon with favor.” See Thompson, 369 N.W.2d at 370 (as cited in Ringquist, 433 N.W.2d at 213) (citation omitted).