Court Opinion

ID: 9682599
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 08:14:41.000379+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:40.308252
License: Public Domain

John I. Purtle, Justice, dissenting. I do not agree with the majority statement that the confidential informant was only a witness to the transaction which gave rise to the charges upon which appellant was convicted. He was the person who set up the deal and was an active participant in the transaction. Therefore, he was an indispensable witness to appellant’s defense on the delivery charge. Appellant timely requested the identity of the informant but the state steadfastly refused to reveal his identity in spite of the requirement that it do so. Bennett v. State, 252 Ark. 128, 477 S.W.2d 497 (1972); A.R.Cr.P., Rules 17 and 19. Such a practice of refusing to disclose information vital to an accused’s defense will eventually lead to trial by affidavit without allowing the accused the right to confront his accusers. It is not enough for me to rely upon unfounded statements that the appellant knew the identity of the informant. The most that may be said is that appellant thought he could recognize the face of the character. He did not know his name or address. Both defense attorneys stated in court that they did not know his identity. Only the state knew the identity of the confidential informant and how to contact him. Common sense tells me the appellant would have revealed the identity of his accuser to his attorneys. The trial court commented on the evidence when the court, sua sponte, stated: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I want to give you this admonition before we proceed on with the trial in this matter. The question of the identity of a confidential informant has been mentioned or brought up two or three times during the trial of this thing, and the court feels that the identity of the confidential informant has no probative value. I have admonished the attorneys not to go into that any more in the trial of this matter, to confine themselves to other pertinent, relevant matters, and I’m going to admonish you in reaching your verdict in this case not to take into consideration anything concerning that person that acted as a confidential informant and to not rely upon, use or allow to influence your decision in any manner the fact that a confidential informant was at one time a part of this particular process and procedure. How can it be said that an eye witness to a criminal act is of no probative value? From voir dire to closing arguments the jury was reminded there was a party to this transaction which they had not been able to hear. It is my opinion that the court in effect told the jury that they were not to consider the fact that the state did not produce a known witness to the transaction. It is proper for a j ury to consider the absence of a known witness while deliberating on the case. As to the search warrant, there were no exigent circumstances for allowing a nighttime search of appellant’s home, which was connected to the club building. The majority states the search actually commenced at 7:10 p.m. However, I read the record to reveal the officer with the warrant went to appellant’s club and residence but decided to go back and amend the affidavit and warrant in order to show a buy made earlier the same day. The decision not to use the first warrant was to lend credibility to the informant because the amended warrant would reveal the actual delivery of a controlled substance. Appellant was already under arrest and in custody before the 7:10 p.m. appearance. At that time the officers secured the premises. There was no danger of appellant removing or destroying evidence, unless he escaped from jail and I see no evidence this was probable. The warrant states that the evidence was secured at 10:40 p.m. Neither the affidavit nor the warrant contained even the allegation that exigent circumstances existed which might support a night search. The only reliability of the informant was that he produced two samples of marijuana which he claimed to have been obtained from the appellant. He had never before been proven to be reliable. He thus proved his reliability by his own unsworn testimony. Our rules relating to searches are not mere technicalities and hinderances for those enforcing the laws; they exist to assure people that when an officer appears with a search warrant they can reasonably expect that it is issued with probable cause and in accordance with our laws and the constitution. Harris v. State, 262 Ark. 506, 558 S.W.2d 143 (1977). Our criminal laws do not exist for the benefit of criminals. They exist for the benefit of the people. Our constitutions mandate certain rights, even to those accused of crimes, and our courts and law enforcement officials are bound to protect such rights. In my opinion the majority concludes from the results of the search that the informant was reliable and nighttime search was warranted. These criteria are to be decided prior to the issuance of a warrant. Unless they exist at that time the warrant should not issue. Here, there was ample evidence to convict appellant without the aid of this invalid search warrant. Even if one were needed it would have been just as successful the next day. In fact, another one was issued the next day. I would suppress the items received as a result of the nighttime search. The direction taken by the majority in this case chills me to the bone. It is beyond my comprehension how the law enforcement officers, the prosecutor and the trial court could all so clearly bulldoze through appellant’s constitutional rights and be upheld on appeal. The very sad part is that it was all so unnecessary. Appellant stood a very good chance of being convicted without any of the disputed evidence being admitted. I cannot in good conscience vote with the majority to deny fundamental constitutional rights to the appellant, the denial of which may one day return to haunt us all. I must, therefore, dissent.