Court Opinion

ID: 3205321
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-20 12:03:11.548042+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:03:09.436260
License: Public Domain

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
                               FIFTH DISTRICT

                                                 NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO
                                                 FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
                                                 DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED

STATE OF FLORIDA,

              Appellant,

 v.                                                        Case No. 5D15-2384
                                                                    5D15-2385
MARLENY FERNANDEZ-ARIAS AND
ENEDIO ALEJO-ESPINOSA,

              Appellees.

________________________________/

Opinion filed May 13, 2016

Appeal from the Circuit Court
for Hernando County,
Stephen E. Toner, Jr., Judge.

Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General,
Tallahassee, and Andrea K. Totten,
Assistant Attorney General, Daytona
Beach, for Appellant.

Frank De La Grana, of Frank De La Grana,
P.A., Tampa, for Appellees.

PER CURIAM.

       The State appeals the trial court’s order granting a motion to suppress filed by

 codefendants    Marleny     Fernandez-Arias   (“Arias”)    and   Enedio   Alejo-Espinosa

 (“Espinosa”). In its order, the trial court found that probable cause did not exist to

 support the issuance of a search warrant.
       While investigating a suspected marijuana grow operation, police compiled an

affidavit outlining the grounds for probable cause to issue a search warrant. The circuit

court magistrate found that the affidavit established probable cause and issued a search

warrant.   The resulting search of the property revealed thirty-two marijuana plants,

along with grow lights, ballasts, pots, fans, and air conditioning units. As a result, Arias

was charged with trafficking in cannabis; possession of a place for trafficking, sale, or

manufacture of a controlled substance; cultivating cannabis; and possession of

paraphernalia.   Espinosa was charged with trafficking in cannabis; possession of a

place for trafficking, sale, or manufacture of a controlled substance; cultivating

cannabis; grand theft; tampering with utility fixtures; and possession of paraphernalia.

       The State argues that the trial court failed to give proper deference to the findings

of the magistrate who issued the search warrant.            In State v. Price, this court

determined that the warrant under review in that case was supported by sufficient

probable cause and explained:

              A magistrate’s determination should be accorded a
              presumption of correctness and not disturbed absent a clear
              demonstration that the issuing magistrate abused his
              discretion. State v. Jacobs, 437 So. 2d 166 (Fla. 5th DCA
              1983). The task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make
              a practical, common sense decision whether, given all the
              circumstances before him, 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); Jacobs.

564 So. 2d 1239, 1241 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990). Based on the record before us and our

review of the warrant and supporting affidavit in the instant case, we agree with the

State. We note, parenthetically, that Florida appellate courts have previously found

probable cause existed on facts similar to those in the instant case. See, e.g., State v.

                                             2
Delrio, 56 So. 3d 848, 850-51 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011). The magistrate properly issued the

search warrant; thus, we reverse the trial court’s order granting the motion to suppress

and remand the case for further proceedings.

      REVERSED and REMANDED.

LAWSON, C.J., SAWAYA and BERGER, JJ., concur.

                                           3