Court Opinion

ID: 9769598
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 14:55:20.632673+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:38:27.044263
License: Public Domain

John I. Purtle,. Justice, dissenting. I respectfully dissent because I think both the affidavit and search warrant are as phony as a $3 bill. I also feel the material presented to the jury was inflammatory and that its prejudicial effect drastically outweighed any relevant probative value that it may possibly have contained. The affidavit for the search warrant, made by a deputy prosecuting attorney, stated that he was contacted by officer Hanna of the Fayetteville Police Department who gave him information concerning an alleged rape and/or carnal knowledge incident. The affidavit further stated that the alleged victim’s mother stated certain things which her six year old son had told her. The six year old child, in my estimation from a review of the transcript, did not understand the meaning of an oath, and allegedly stated that appellant had taken “nude” pictures of him which he kept in various places around the premises. The child also stated that there were slides and magazines “depicting young boys in a nude state, some engaging in homosexual acts, including scenes with Hoggard.” This is rather mature language for a six year old who could not understand most of the questions and who stated he saw pink panthers running through his house. He allegedly said that the items, which were not described specifically, were in the appellant’s room nearly every time he had visited there. It had been from two to six weeks since the alleged incident occurred. The informants allegedly stated that appellant had mentioned he sometimes carried this material to Conway or Little Rock. Appellant had telephoned on the date of the affidavit to ask about seeing the boy. The alleged victim had told his mother, some ten days before, about the activities in which he allegedly engaged. The basis for issuing the nighttime search warrant, according to the affidavit, was that “it is feared” appellant “may leave” with some or all of the described evidence and “may be packing” it up tonight. There is not one factual statement in the affidavit to back up the nighttime search requirements as set out in our Rules of Criminal Procedure. The alleged findings were written out before any appearance was made before the issuing judge. The affiant was not sworn by the magistrate. In fact, all the magistrate did was sign a preprinted form on which the deputy prosecutor had written out in longhand certain unsupported allegations. Rule 13.6 provides for the issuance and execution of search warrants for illegally possessing pictures and literature. However, private possession of obscene material is not illegal. According to the United States Supreme Court, an individual may possess material as obscene as he desires, so long as he does not display it to others or attempt some illegal use. United States v. Thirty-seven Photographs, 402 U.S. 363 (1971). The affidavit did not state how long the young boy had known the appellant but it did state that on almost every visit the boy made to appellant’s room the material was present. There simply is nothing to support the allegation that the material was likely to be destroyed or moved before the next day. In fact, the indications on the face of this affidavit are that he would continue to hold this material in his possession. The rules state that only such materials as may be necessary “for evidentiary” use in a proceeding are to be sought. Ninety-nine percent of this material was not even introduced into evidence. The other material had been presented to the judge and had possibly been displayed before the jury even though it was not introduced. The one book which was introduced was used by the state in the closing arguments. It depicted young males in acts of masturbation and other deviate sexual activities with which appellant was not charged. The only allegation in the information in this case is that the appellant performed fellatio on this child. It is apparent to me that this material was introduced merely to inflame the passions of the j ury. The only proper material which should have been before the jury would have been materials depicting the activities with which appellant was charged. We are not here dealing with the guilt or innocence of the appellant. That is not the issue before this court. Although he might have been found guilty in a properly conducted trial, he should not be found guilty in a trial which violates his statutory and constitutional rights. I have no objection to the punishment and consider it appropriate upon one having been given a fair trial and properly convicted by a jury. My objections in this case primarily relate to the affidavit and search warrant, which I find woefully inadequate, and to the competency of the six year old boy to testify. The principles of the Constitution hold us to high standards in allowing a search of an individual’s residence. These standards simply were not met in this case. When the Constitution can be sidestepped in such a blatant manner as this, I think we must all fear for the sanctity of our homes. And as for the child’s testimony, I cannot in good conscience find that a youngster of such tender age who admitted numerous fantasies to the court and who could not appreciate the meaning of an oath should be the controlling factor in this case. It seems to me that the prosecution could have made a good case against the appellant without resorting to the tactics they used here. For these reasons, I must respectfully dissent.