Court Opinion

ID: 9538335
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:35:12.395966+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:46.274380
License: Public Domain

CONNOR, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent on the issue of whether the positivity requirement for obtaining a nighttime search warrant was satisfied. Alaska R.Crim.P. 37(a)(3)(iv) restricts the execution of search warrants to daytime hours, absent special circumstances, in recognition of the far greater intrusion upon privacy engendered by nighttime searches. Where the warrant is to be served at night, Criminal Rule 37 specifically requires that the affiant, at the time of the making of the affidavit, be “positive that the property [to be searched for] is on the person or in the place to be searched.” Compliance with this requirement is particularly necessary where the warrant is issued for the search of a residence, since “it is difficult to imagine a more severe invasion of privacy than the nighttime intrusion into a private home.” Jones v. United States, 357 U.S. 493, 498, 78 S.Ct. 1253, 2 L.Ed.2d 1514, 1519 (1958).
I am unable to find any statement in the affidavit of Sgt. Windred which would support a factual showing of positivity. The affiant states specific facts upon which he based his belief that a shipment of drugs was to arrive at the Juneau airport, but gives no indication as to how it was known that the items to be seized would be found in Raymond Johnson’s house. There is no reason to assume with any degree of positivity, on the basis of the information contained in the affidavit, that the shipment of drugs would be taken from the airport to Raymond Johnson’s house.
Nor can I agree with the majority that any deficiency in the affidavit was cured by Sgt. Windred’s sworn statement that he was positive that the materials would be there or by Sgt. Windred’s scribbling in the margin of the affidavit the word “definite.” For good reason, sworn testimony presented to support a defective affidavit must be placed “on the record in court” at the time it is given. Alaska R.Crim.P. 37(a)(l)(i)(bb). Since there is no record of Sgt. Windred’s testimony before the issuing magistrate, it should not be used to uphold the warrant. And even if oral testimony of this nature could properly be considered by the issuing magistrate, neither Sgt. Windred’s conclu-sory statements to the magistrate, nor the appendage of the word “definite” to the affidavit satisfies the “imperative that a magistrate be presented with adequate supporting facts, rather than mere affirmations of suspicion or belief.” Keller v. State, 543 P.2d 1211, 1215 (Alaska 1975).
I would hold that there was an insufficient showing that the items to be seized would be found at Raymond Johnson’s house to support the issuance of a warrant for a nighttime search. In my opinion, the majority’s holding to the contrary obliterates the explicit positivity requirement of Rule 37.