Moore v. State

429 S.W.2d 122, 244 Ark. 1197, 1968 Ark. LEXIS 1481
Supreme Court of Arkansas·Decided June 3, 1968·No. 5321·Published·Cited by 41 cases

Opinion

John A. Fogleman, Justice.

Appellants bring this appeal from the judgment of the White Circuit Court convicting them of possession of burglary tools and possession of gambling equipment. Eight points are urged for reversal. The facts pertinent to a decision in this case will be . taken up as applicable to the points for reversal, which have been renumbered for purposes of this opinion.

(1) Appellants assert error in tlie trial court’s failure to suppress certain evidence. This contention is based upon the alleged invalidity of the search warrants due to the alleged absence of an oath or affirmation and the asserted lack of probable cause for their issuance.

The record reflects that there were three searches involved and that, with regard to the first, the Sheriff of White County obtained a search warrant to search appellants’ motel rooms, the car in which they were traveling and the trailer attached to the car. The sheriff’s testimony at the hearing on the motion to suppress and at the trial showed that he had information that appellants were at the motel and that they had burglary tools in their possession. He further stated that his decision to obtain. a search warrant was reached after a period of surveillance of appellants’ activities in and around the motel room and the car and trailer.

At the hearing on the motion to suppress, the State introduced the search warrants pursuant to which the searches were made. Although appellants subpoenaed the sheriff, several officers who had been involved in the search, and the justice of the peace who issued the warrants, only one person, appellant Glenn Davidson, was called in behalf of appellants. His testimony amounted to little more than a narration of the searches and arrests. No attempt was made to show facts indicative of the alleged lack of probable cause. While appellants contended that the warrants had been issued without oath or affirmation, the only evidence on this point was the testimony of the sheriff, who stated that an affidavit as to the facts and circumstances showing probable cause had been made.

In Albright v. Karston, 206 Ark. 307, 176 S. W. 2d 421, we held that where the search warrant is regular on its face and there is no proof that the ‘ ‘ oath or affirmation” was not made prior to its issuance, there is a presumption that all things essential to its validity have been done. It was therefore the duty of appellants to come forward with evidence sufficient to rebut the presumption of validity. Additionally, we note the prevailing view that the burden of proof on a motion to suppress is on the accused. Anderson v. United States, 344 F. 2d 792 (10th Cir. 1965); People v. Williams, 20 N. Y. 2d 388, 283 N. Y. S. 2d 169 (1967). In Wilson v. State, 268 P. 2d 585 (Okla. Crim. 1954), the Oklahoma court, in noting that the burden was on defendant on his motion to suppress, said:

“The burden of proving the invalidity of a search warrant rests on the defendant, and where he files a motion to suppress evidence or objects to the introduction of evidence on the ground the search warrant is not valid, he should produce the affidavit and warrant in evidence in support of such motion or objection, or account for the failure to produce and offer other competent evidence to show invalidity.”

See, also, 22A C. J. S. Criminal Law §§ 578 and 657(32) (a); Varón, Searches and Seizures, § 6(c). On the state of the facts in the case at bar, we feel that appellants have failed to meet the burden incumbent upon them to show that the first warrant was invalid. The evidence seized as a result of the first search was, therefore, admissible and the motion to suppress properly overruled.

With regard to the second search, appellants contended there was no probable cause therefor. After the first search, Sheriff Davis and his men withdrew from the premises but continued to keep appellants under surveillance, since the sheriff had information that another car was to make contact with appellants for the purpose of transferring burglar tools. During this period between the first and second searches, the wife of a companion of appellants came to the motel. Having been identified by the officers, she subsequently left. Thereafter, appellants got into the car and appeared to be leaving town when they were stopped. On this occasion the appellants were' arrested and taken into custody. The result of the search was that a Craftsman Drill, not discovered during the first search, was found.

On the record before us, we feel that the second search was lawful and that the trial court was correct in its ruling that the evidence seized pursuant thereto was admissible. While there are numerous cases which state that a "return” search, conducted on the basis of the warrant issued for the original search, is not permissible, these cases seem to involve situations where the officers have completely abandoned the premises for a substantial period of time. See, e. g., State v. Moran, 103 W. Va. 753, 138 S. E. 366 (1927); Coburn v. State, 78 Okla. Crim. 362, 148 P. 2d 483 (1944); McDonald v. State, 195 Tenn. 282, 259 S. W. 2d 524 (1953); State v. Pina, 94 Ariz. 243, 383 P. 2d 167 (1963). Such is not the case here. The sheriff and his men, after making the first search and on information that there was to be a subsequent contact with appellants, withdrew from the premises, but maintained constant vigil until such time as the arrests and second search were made. The second search was but a continuation and consummation of the first. There was reasonable cause to believe that other evidence, and possibly other persons, would be involved. The reasonableness of a search in any case must be decided "upon its own facts and circumstances.” Go-Bart Importing Co. v. United States, 282 U. S. 344, 51 S. Ct. 153, 75 L. Ed. 374 (1931). We cannot say that this record reflects an unconstitutional invasion at the time of the second search.

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Moore v. State, 429 S.W.2d 122, 244 Ark. 1197, 1968 Ark. LEXIS 1481 (Ark. 1968).

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