Court Opinion

ID: 9618695
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:15:51.546828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:04:31.396313
License: Public Domain

*228Beasley, Chief Judge,
concurring specially.
I agree that the affidavit contains sufficient indicia to categorize the informant as a concerned citizen. As I read in context the description of the informant who “contacted” affiant, a GBI agent, within 24 hours before preparation of the affidavit, it appears to be based on the affiant’s personal knowledge of the informant. In contrast, except where it was obvious that the information was related by the informant (such as that the informant was in the residence within the past week), the affiant stated that the informant “advised” him of specified information. Thereafter the affiant described what he knew or did, being careful to say what the sheriff “advised.”
The indicia of reliability of the informant are set forth directly, not as having been advised by anyone, and the affiant swore or affirmed that “all of the information contained in [the] Affidavit . . . [was] true to the best of [his] knowledge and belief.” It appears from the handwriting that before the oath was administered, the magistrate added other facts related to her by affiant, including that in the affiant’s opinion, what the informant described to him fit the description of growing marijuana.
Thus, based on the record before us, the magistrate had before her an officer who vouched for the informant as a person of good standing in the community, a business owner, a local property owner, a person who the affiant verified was familiar with the property to be searched, the suspect, and what growing marijuana looks like. There is no countervailing evidence, as there was in Eaton v. State, 210 Ga. App. 273, 275 (435 SE2d 756) (1993), with respect to the affiant’s knowledge of the informant. As stated by the majority, the challenger of a search warrant must prove its invalidity, OCGA § 17-5-30 (a) (2); State v. Slaughter, 252 Ga. 435, 437 (315 SE2d 865) (1984), and “there exists a presumption of validity regarding an affidavit supporting a search warrant. [Cit.]” Williams v. State, 193 Ga. App. 677, 678 (388 SE2d 893) (1989).
The defendants in this case did not meet their burden, as I cannot conclude as a matter of law that the magistrate erred in finding probable cause to believe that marijuana was growing or at least was present on the premises sought to be searched. In the totality of the circumstances here, the warrant is entitled to the preference accorded by law, and its issuance did not contravene federal constitutional law. Munson v. State, 211 Ga. App. 80, 83 (438 SE2d 123) (1993), and cases cited therein; Futch v. State, 178 Ga. App. 115 (342 SE2d 493) (1986), and cases cited therein.
The Supreme Court of Georgia has cautioned attesting officers and magistrates to spell out in the affidavits the maximum indications of reliability of the informant and of the information. State v. Stephens, 252 Ga. 181, 184 (311 SE2d 823) (1984); Gary v. State, 262 Ga. *229573, 577 (422 SE2d 426) (1992). We have reiterated it. See, e.g., Eaton v. State, 210 Ga. App. 273, supra.
Affidavits should be clear and complete, reflecting all of the articulable facts upon which the affidavit relies for probable cause (except identity of informant if need be). The affidavit must communicate, to those who are not present when the affidavit is presented but must judge its validity ultimately, not only the facts but the source thereof and the basis for accepting those facts as true from the source. If that were done, there would be fewer problems of facial validity which jeopardize searches because of what is unknown or unclear to the reviewer but possibly known and clear to the affiant and magistrate.