Court Opinion

ID: 7126820
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 14:29:08.647138+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:14:18.430438
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM *
Roger Flake appeals his conviction and sentence after entering a conditional guilty plea to one count of possession of child pornography in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(5)(B). Flake asserts three grounds of relief. First, Flake argues that the district court erred in denying his request for a Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978), hearing because Santa Barbara Police Officer Daniel McGrew recklessly made false and material statements in support of the request for a search warrant for Flake’s residence. Second, with respect to his sentence, Flake contends that the district court erred in concluding that it did not have the authority to depart downward on the basis of the time that he had been held in state custody on related charges. Finally, Flake argues that he is entitled to resentencing because the district court improperly denied him the right of allocution. Because we agree that Flake was entitled to a Franks hearing and that the district court erred in denying him the right of allocution, we vacate the district court’s sentence and remand for a Franks hearing, and possibly for re-sentencing.
A. Franks Hearing
Under Franks, if a defendant makes a substantial preliminary showing that a false statement knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, was included by a police officer in his application for a search warrant, and also establishes that the allegedly false statement was necessary to the court’s finding of probable cause, the defendant is entitled to a hearing on the validity of the warrant. Franks, 438 U.S. at 155-56, 98 S.Ct. 2674; United States v. Fisher, 137 F.3d 1158, 1164 (9th Cir.1998). At the hearing, if the defendant proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the police officer did deliberately or recklessly make false statements that were material to the probable cause finding, the search warrant must be voided and the fruits of the search excluded. See Franks, 438 U.S. at 156, 98 S.Ct. 2674. Here, there was an ex parte prewarrant hearing during which Officer McGrew testified that Flake was convicted of child molestation in 1991. That was an untrue statement. McGrew misrepresented the age of the victim by stating that she was a minor when she was actually over the age of majority. McGrew misrepresented the circumstances of the offense by stating that Flake had forced the victim into his vehicle when, in reality, she had been hitchhiking and entered the vehicle voluntarily. McGrew ultimately misrepre*738sented the type of conviction by stating that it was child molestation when the offense did not involve a child at all. McGrew acknowledged that he had seen Flake’s criminal history, had reviewed the Santa Barbara Police report describing the 1991 conviction for oral copulation, and had spoken with Flake’s ex-parole officer. Because Officer McGrew should have been aware of the truth as a result of his review of these documents and his discussion with Flake’s ex-parole officer, we hold that Flake has made a substantial preliminary showing that McGrew was reckless in presenting this false evidence. See United States v. Senchenko, 133 F.3d 1153, 1158 (9th Cir.1998) (describing recklessness as requiring a showing that the false statements were made with a “high degree of awareness of probable falsity”); United States v. Stanert, 762 F.2d 775, 780-82 (9th Cir.1985) (holding an agent’s false statements reckless because she was aware of the true facts surrounding the suspect’s arrest), amended by, 769 F.2d 1410 (9th Cir.1985); United States v. Chesher, 678 F.2d 1353, 1360-62 (9th Cir.1982) (holding that an agent’s omission of evidence that was readily available to him constituted a substantial preliminary showing of recklessness).
We also hold that McGrew’s misrepresentations were material and necessary to the magistrate judge’s finding of probable cause. We review de novo the district court determination that there was probable cause for the warrant absent the false testimony. See United States v. Reeves, 210 F.3d 1041, 1044 (9th Cir.2000). In order to establish probable cause to search for child pornography, the government often relies on experts who testify that a suspect’s past actions demonstrate that he is a pedophile and that pedophiles are likely to possess child pornography. See, e.g., United States v. Weber, 923 F.2d 1338 (9th Cir.1991). In this case, the government relied upon the testimony of Detective Michael McGrew. Detective McGrew was informed, inaccurately it turned out, about Flake’s past actions and opined that Flake was a pedophile and that therefore he probably had child pornography in his home. Detective McGrew’s opinion that Flake was a pedophile, however, is not entitled to any weight because it was based in large part on erroneous testimony relating to Flake’s 1991 conviction.1 Without the expert opinion that Flake is a pedophile, Detective McGrew’s general assertion that pedophiles frequently possess *739child pornography was irrelevant and cannot affect the probable cause analysis. See id. at 1345 (“[I]f the government presents expert opinion about the behavior of a particular class of persons, for the opinion to have any relevance, the [expert] must lay a foundation which shows that the person subject to the search is a member of the class.”).
Moreover, if we discount not only Detective McGrew’s testimony but the underlying false evidence that Flake was convicted of child molestation in 1991, the remaining evidence, standing alone, is insufficient to establish probable cause to believe that child pornography would be found in Flake’s home. There is no testimony that Flake ever possessed or was seen looking at child pornography. The fact that Flake closed his lap top computer quickly when the police arrived does not mean that he was looking at something illegal, let alone child pornography. There are numerous innocent explanations for such an action. Nor does closing a lap top computer screen, when considered along with Flake’s past sexual conduct, provide probable cause for believing that Flake had child pornography. Flake’s past sexual conduct might conceivably support a reasonable suspicion that he was looking at some kind of pornography, but it certainly does not provide probable cause to believe that he was looking at child pornography.2 Because we conclude that Flake has made a substantial preliminary showing that Officer McGrew recklessly made false statements and has further shown that the false statements were necessary or material to the magistrate judge’s finding of probable cause, we remand the case for a Franks hearing on Flake’s allegations.
B. Downward Departure in Sentencing Flake contends that the federal district
court erroneously concluded during the sentencing proceedings that it did not have the legal authority to depart downward on the basis of the six months that Flake had already been held in custody on related state charges. We find no support for Flake’s contention in the record and hold that the district court was aware of and properly exercised its discretion. See United States v. Rivera-Sanchez, 222 F.3d 1057, 1064-65 (9th Cir.2000) (holding that a district court’s statement that there was “no basis” for a downward departure did not indicate that it believed it lacked authority).
C. Right of Allocution
Flake contends that he is entitled to re-sentencing because he was denied his right of allocution prior to the imposition of his sentence. See United States v. Medrano, 5 F.3d 1214, 1219 (9th Cir.1993). We agree. Therefore, we vacate Flake’s sentence and remand to the district court with instructions to re-sentence Flake should re-sentencing be called for after the Franks hearing.
SENTENCE VACATED AND CASE REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

 This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

. The importance of the erroneous facts regarding Flake’s 1991 conviction to McGrew's conclusion was evident in his exchange with the prosecutor during the ex parte pre-warrant hearing:
[Attorney]: Based on your review of this case, particularly taking into consideration the defendant’s 1991 conviction and the facts and circumstances surrounding that conviction, I have two areas of questions that I would like to ask you about. Do you have an opinion as to whether or not the defendant at the time of his what appears to be solicitation of young Erendia Perez, that his intention was at that time for purposes of facilitating a contact for purposes of molestation?
[Expert]: Yes, I do.
[Attorney]: Tell us what that opinion is. [Expert]: The opinion would be that he was trying to lure the child into a position where he could molest the child, based on his past background, the fact that he forcibly took another child into a car and forced oral copulation with that child, the fact that he exposed himself to the children in National City. After he exposed himself he didn’t stop there, he offered them money, which I believe is consistent with a child molester trying to get the child into his car.
In this case, he contacts the victim twice and tries a third time, it appears, and offers money. So based on that information I believe that he was trying to get this child in a position where he could molest her.
(emphasis added). The prosecutor then asked whether the expert believed that child por*739nography would be found at Flake's home and, on the same basis as McGrew offered his first opinion, he offered his second: “I believe that Flake is a pedophile and that pedophiles frequently keep in their possession or in their houses child pornography which would include photographs, videos.”
Without the 1991 conviction, the fact that Flake had twice driven up to a teenage girl and had asked her for directions and offered her money is insufficient to demonstrate that he is a pedophile. So too is the fact that he called two young children over to his vehicle while he was masturbating and offered them money. If anything, the latter incident may suggest that Flake is an exhibitionist.

. Although Flake was involved in two incidents that suggest that he may have had some sort of sexual interest with respect to minors, the only offense of which he was convicted involved a female who was over the age of majority. See supra note 1.