Court Opinion

ID: 9732055
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 16:06:21.664209+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:22.805962
License: Public Domain

BAILEY, J.,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The rationale of the majority has placed the proverbial cart before the horse. A properly transcribed audiotape is not a prerequisite for the issuance of a valid warrant. Rather, pursuant to Indiana Code section 35-33-5-8(d), “if a warrant is issued,” the judge shall order a transcription of that which has already taken place.
A search warrant is presumed to be valid, and the burden is upon the challenger to rebut the presumption. Rios v. State, 762 N.E.2d 153, 156-7 (Ind.Ct.App.2002). Here, it is uncontroverted that a mechanical failure took place. This does not equate to noncompliance with statutory requirements for the issuance of a telephonic warrant. Admittedly, the facts recorded and transcribed were insufficient to establish probable cause for the warrant. Nevertheless, an incomplete recording is not necessarily fatal. The essence of the statute providing for the issuance of a telephonic warrant is that there must be an independent evaluation of facts by a judicial officer. Here, the recorded facts comprised less than the entirety of the facts conveyed to Judge Morris and considered by him in making the determination of probable cause.
Judge Morris testified under oath at the document reconstruction hearing and verified that, although gaps occurred in the recording, other facts he deemed adequate to establish probable cause were in actuality presented by Officer Davies. Judge Morris testified that he asked Officer Davies to read the search warrant to be signed and Officer Davies conveyed the following facts: Officer Davies had initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by Mitchell and Turner. Drugs were found on Mitchell and Turner, and Turner indicated that they had snorted a line of cocaine at Mitchell’s residence.5 Absent an allegation and proof of judicial impropriety, Judge Morris’s substantive verification under oath of the telephonic conversation should not be discredited.
Mechanical failure is not beyond the realm of legislative or judicial contemplation. See e.g., Indiana Appellate Rule 31, providing for a verified statement of evidence based upon party recollection when no transcript is available. I cannot agree that the legislature intended to nullify, on the basis of technical failure, both the time-honored process of independent judicial fact-finding to support the issuance of a warrant and the reviewing court’s consideration of unchallenged sworn testimony by a judicial officer. Therefore, I would affirm the denial of the motion to suppress evidence.

. At the reconstruction hearing, Officer Davies offered corroborative testimony. Officer Davies initiated a traffic stop after the vehicle occupied by Turner and Mitchell crossed the centerline and failed to make a complete stop. Officer Davies saw marijuana cigarettes in the ashtray of the vehicle. The occupants advised Officer Davies that they had snorted cocaine at a residence. A consent search of the vehicle yielded remnants of marijuana cigarettes and a baggie with a torn corner and white powder residue.