Copeland v. State

435 So. 2d 842
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedMay 13, 1983
Docket82-1349
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 435 So. 2d 842 (Copeland v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Copeland v. State, 435 So. 2d 842 (Fla. Ct. App. 1983).

Opinion

435 So.2d 842 (1983)

Arthur E. COPELAND, III, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Florida, Appellee.

No. 82-1349.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.

May 13, 1983.
Rehearing Denied August 3, 1983.

*843 James H. Kynes and D. Frank Winkles of Winkles & Trombley, P.A., Tampa, for appellant.

Jim Smith, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Charles Corces, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., Tampa, for appellee.

HOBSON, Acting Chief Judge.

Arthur E. Copeland, III, appeals an order adjudicating him guilty of first degree murder and sentencing him to life imprisonment with a minimum mandatory term of 25 years. We reverse and remand because the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress a cassette tape recording containing self-incriminating statements made by him during a private conversation inside his apartment with one Reece Townsend. Unbeknownst to appellant, Townsend was wearing an electronic monitoring device which relayed the entire conversation to law enforcement officers outside the residence *844 who monitored and recorded it on the tape.

Scott Allen Collins was murdered with a knife and hammer in the early morning hours of January 25, 1981, at Collins' house trailer in Hillsborough County. There were no known witnesses and no immediate tangible leads. A breakthrough occurred in May 1981 when Reece Townsend of Lakeland, Florida, informed the Polk County Sheriff's Office that appellant, with whom he had been acquainted for several years, had told him on separate occasions that he and another individual had murdered Collins in Hillsborough County a few months before. After being advised of Townsend's allegations by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Detective Alfonso of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office met with Townsend. At the meeting, Townsend voluntarily consented to wear an electronic monitoring device while attempting to engage appellant in another incriminating conversation concerning Collins' murder.

Thereafter, Assistant State Attorney Anthony Guarisco, Jr., filed a motion in the Circuit Court of Hillsborough County requesting authorization for the placement of an electronic monitoring device on Townsend's person for the purpose of monitoring and recording any conversations between Townsend, appellant and other persons unknown which might occur in appellant's residence in Hillsborough County. The motion incorporated by reference an affidavit of Detective Alfonso.

Based upon the assistant state attorney's motion and the accompanying affidavit of the detective, the circuit court found that probable cause existed to believe that appellant had murdered Collins. The court further determined that the placement of an electronic monitoring device on Townsend's body for the purpose of monitoring conversations occurring in appellant's apartment in Hillsborough County would result in obtaining evidence relating to the murder and would afford adequate protection for Townsend. The court accordingly issued an order on June 10, 1981, to remain in effect for 30 days, authorizing the electronic monitoring of conversations between Townsend, appellant and other persons unknown at appellant's residence in Hillsborough County.

On June 12, 1981, Townsend, fitted with an electronic monitoring device, entered appellant's residence in Hillsborough County as appellant's guest. Several law enforcement officers stationed themselves in parked vans located in front of and in back of appellant's apartment for the purpose of monitoring and recording on a cassette tape any conversation between Townsend and appellant. During an ensuing one-half hour conversation with Townsend, appellant made self-incriminating statements concerning Collins' murder.

As a result of appellant's recorded self-incriminating statements, a grand jury filed a two-count indictment charging him with the first degree murder and the armed burglary of Collins. Appellant thereafter filed a motion to suppress and a supplemental motion to suppress. The trial court conducted a suppression hearing and later denied the motions.

After appellant waived his right to a jury trial, the court conducted a trial at which it received into evidence the cassette tape recording of the conversation despite appellant's objection. At the conclusion of the trial it adjudicated him guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum mandatory term of 25 years.

The threshold issue on appeal is whether the application for the use of the electronic monitoring device and the order authorizing the use of the device complied with relevant provisions of chapter 934, Florida Statutes (1981), otherwise known as the Security of Communications Act.[1] At the outset, we stress that portions of chapter 934 authorizing the interception of wire or oral communications are statutory exceptions *845 to the federal and state constitutional right of privacy. In re Grand Jury Investigation, 287 So.2d 43 (Fla. 1973). As such, they must be strictly construed. Id.

Appellant contends here that the application did not comport with the requirements of sections 934.07 and 934.09(1)(c) and that the order did not satisfy the requirements of sections 934.09(3)(c) and (4)(e). We agree that these four provisions were not complied with.

Section 934.07 provides:

934.07 Authorization for Interception of Wire or Oral Communications. — The Governor, the Attorney General, or any state attorney may authorize an application to a judge of competent jurisdiction for, and such judge may grant in conformity with this chapter, an order authorizing or approving the interception of wire or oral communications by the Department of Law Enforcement or any law enforcement agency of this state... .

(Emphasis added.)

The record before us does not reveal who authorized the application below. The state nevertheless concedes that the assistant state attorney authorized it. Appellee's brief, p. 2. It is settled, of course, that section 934.07 does not empower an assistant state attorney to authorize an application for the interception of wire or oral communications. State v. Daniels, 389 So.2d 631 (Fla. 1980).

Sections 934.09(1)(c) and (3)(c) read:

934.09 Procedure for Interception of Wire or Oral Communications. —
(1) Each application for an order authorizing or approving the interception of a wire or oral communication shall be made in writing upon oath or affirmation to a judge of competent jurisdiction and shall state the applicant's authority to make such application. Each application shall include the following information:
... .
(c) A full and complete statement as to whether or not other investigative procedures have been tried and failed or why they reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried or to be too dangerous;
... .
(3) Upon such application, the judge may enter an ex parte order, as requested or as modified, authorizing or approving interception of wire or oral communications within the territorial jurisdiction of the court in which the judge is sitting if the judge determines on the basis of the facts submitted by the applicant that:
... .
(c) Normal investigative procedures have been tried and have failed or reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried or to be too dangerous;... .

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Bluebook (online)
435 So. 2d 842, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/copeland-v-state-fladistctapp-1983.