State of Indiana v. Christopher J. Basinger (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: October 12, 2016
• Docket: 59A05-1601-CR-195
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED this Memorandum Decision shall not be Oct 12 2016, 8:58 am regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK Indiana Supreme Court the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals and Tax Court

estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE Gregory F. Zoeller Patrick J. Smith Attorney General of Indiana Bedford, Indiana

Larry D. Allen Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

State of Indiana, October 12, 2016 Appellant-Plaintiff, Court of Appeals Case No. 59A05-1601-CR-195 v. Appeal from the Orange Circuit Court Christopher J. Basinger, The Honorable Larry R. Blanton, Appellee-Defendant Judge Trial Court Cause No. 59C01-1503-F5-236

Crone, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 1 of 11 Case Summary [1] Pursuant to a warrant, police officers searched Christopher J. Basinger’s home

and seized several firearms and white powder that field-tested positive for

methamphetamine. The State charged him with level 5 felony possession of

methamphetamine. Basinger filed a motion to suppress the evidence seized

during the search, arguing that the warrant was invalid because the underlying

affidavit lacked sufficient indicia of probable cause. The trial court granted the

motion.

[2] The State dismissed the charge against Basinger and filed this appeal, arguing

that the affidavit contained sufficient indicia of probable cause or, in the

alternative, that the good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule applies. We

disagree on both counts and therefore affirm.

Facts and Procedural History [3] On March 25, 2015, Indiana State Police Detective Shane Staggs submitted an

affidavit for a warrant to search Basinger’s home for evidence of

methamphetamine possession. The judge who reviewed the affidavit found

probable cause to issue a search warrant, which Detective Staggs and the local

sheriff executed within the hour. Basinger was not at home when the officers

arrived. The officers searched his home and seized several firearms, “used foil

boats” with “burn residue,” a white powder that field-tested positive for

methamphetamine, and a digital scale with white residue that field-tested

positive for methamphetamine, among other things. Appellant’s App. at 66.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 2 of 11 The State charged Basinger with level 5 felony possession of

methamphetamine. 1

[4] Basinger filed a motion to suppress, arguing that the warrant was invalid

because the affidavit lacked sufficient indicia of probable cause. After a

hearing, the trial court granted the motion. The State dismissed the charge

against Basinger and filed this appeal. Additional facts will be provided below.

Discussion and Decision

Section 1 – The search warrant affidavit lacked sufficient indicia of probable cause, and therefore the warrant was invalid under the Fourth Amendment. [5] The State contends that the trial court erred in granting Basinger’s motion to

suppress. “We review a trial court’s decision to grant a motion to suppress as a

matter of sufficiency.” State v. McCaa, 963 N.E.2d 24, 29 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012),

trans. denied. We will neither reweigh evidence nor judge witness credibility.

Id. The State appeals from a negative judgment and must show that the trial

court’s ruling was contrary to law. Id. We “will reverse a negative judgment

only when the evidence is without conflict and all reasonable inferences lead to

a conclusion opposite that of the trial court.” Id.

1 See Ind. Code §§ 35-48-4-6.1(b)(2), 35-48-1-16.5(2) (possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine is level 5 felony if person commits offense while in possession of firearm).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 3 of 11 [6] To generally deter law enforcement officers from violating citizens’ Fourth

Amendment rights, the U.S. Supreme Court has created the exclusionary rule,

which prohibits the admission of evidence seized in violation of the Fourth

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Reinhart v. State, 930 N.E.2d 42, 48 (Ind.

Ct. App. 2010). The Fourth Amendment states,

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The warrant requirement is a principal protection against unnecessary

intrusions into private dwellings. State v. Straub, 749 N.E.2d 593, 597 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2001).

[7] The State challenges the trial court’s determination that the search warrant

affidavit here lacked sufficient indicia of probable cause. “Probable cause is a

fluid concept incapable of precise definition and must be decided based on the

facts of each case.” Bradley v. State, 4 N.E.3d 831, 840 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014),

trans. denied. “The level of proof necessary to establish probable cause is less

than that necessary to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jellison v.

State, 656 N.E.2d 532, 534 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995). In fact, probable cause

requires only a fair probability of criminal activity, not a prima facie showing.

Id.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 4 of 11 [8] Our supreme court has stated,

In deciding whether to issue a search warrant, “[t]he task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a practical, commonsense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit … there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place.”

Jaggers v. State, 687 N.E.2d 180, 181 (Ind. 1997) (quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462

U.S. 213, 238 (1983)). “The duty of the reviewing court is to determine

whether the magistrate had a ‘substantial basis’ for concluding that probable

cause existed.” Id. (citing Gates, 462 U.S. at 238-39). “‘[S]ubstantial basis

requires the reviewing court, with significant deference to the magistrate’s

determination, to focus on whether reasonable inferences drawn from the

totality of the evidence support the determination’ of probable cause.” Id. at

181-82 (quoting Houser v. State, 678 N.E.2d 95, 99 (Ind. 1997)). “‘Reviewing

court’ for these purposes includes both the trial court ruling on a motion to

suppress and an appellate court reviewing that decision.” Id. at 182. We

review the trial court’s substantial basis determination de novo. State v. Spillers,

847 N.E.2d 949, 953 (Ind. 2006). We consider only the evidence presented to

the issuing magistrate – here, Detective Staggs’s affidavit – and not additional

justifications or facts presented after the search. Cartwright v. State, 26 N.E.3d

663, 668 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015), trans. denied; see also Taylor v. State, 615 N.E.2d

907, 910 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993) (“[T]here must be sufficient factual information

on the face of the affidavit from which a neutral and detached magistrate or

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 5 of 11 judge could have reasonably concluded that probable cause existed for the

issuance of a search warrant.”).

[9] Probable cause “may be established by evidence that would not be admissible at

trial.” Lamagna v. State, 776 N.E.2d 955, 958 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). Such

evidence may include hearsay, which is an out-of-court statement offered to

prove the truth of the matter asserted. Ind. Evidence Rule 801(c). Hearsay is

inadmissible unless the Evidence Rules or other law provides otherwise. Ind.

Evidence Rule 802. Indiana Code Section 35-33-5-2(a) provides that a search

warrant affidavit must particularly describe “the house or place to be searched

and the things to be searched for,” allege “substantially the offense in relation

thereto and that the affiant believes and has good cause to believe that … the

things sought are concealed there[,]” and set “forth the facts known to the

affiant through personal knowledge or based on hearsay, constituting the

probable cause.” The statute further provides,

When based on hearsay, the affidavit must either:

(1) contain reliable information establishing the credibility of the source and of each of the declarants of the hearsay and establishing that there is a factual basis for the information furnished; or

(2) contain information that establishes that the totality of the circumstances corroborates the hearsay.

Ind. Code § 35-33-5-2(b).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 6 of 11 [10] In Spillers, the court explained that

[t]he trustworthiness of hearsay for the purpose of proving probable cause can be established in a number of ways, including where: (1) the informant has given correct information in the past, (2) independent police investigation corroborates the informant’s statements, (3) some basis for the informant’s knowledge is demonstrated, or (4) the informant predicts conduct or activity by the suspect that is not ordinarily easily predicted. These examples however are not exclusive. “Depending on the facts, other considerations may come into play in establishing the reliability of the informant or the hearsay.”

847 N.E.2d at 954 (citing and quoting Jaggers, 687 N.E.2d at 182).

[11] Detective Staggs’s affidavit reads in relevant part as follows:

Det. Shane Staggs, Indiana State Police, swears/affirms under the pains and penalties of perjury that he believes and has Probable Cause to believe that certain property and/or evidence of a crime hereinafter described is concealed upon the following described property, premises, vehicles, outbuilding(s) and residence, to-wit:

The address of the residence is … [in] Paoli, Orange County, Indiana. It is the residence of Chris Basinger.

That the affiant believes that there is Probable Cause to search the above described premises, for evidence of the commission of the crime of Possession of Methamphetamine, to-wit: Methamphetamine, materials and substances used to facilitate the use of methamphetamine[.]

In support of your affiant’s assertion of Probable Cause, the following facts are within your affiant’s personal knowledge, to- wit: Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 7 of 11 On March 25, 2015, this affiant was contacted by Heather Basinger, who is the ex-wife of Chris Basinger. Heather Basinger stated that on Monday, March 23, 2015 she had been to the … residence of Chris Basinger to pick up personal belongings. While Heather Basinger was inside the house she located a long piece of burnt aluminum foil. As she was looking for books that belong to her she opened up a drawer located in a coffee table in the living room area. When Heather opened the drawer she saw several pieces of aluminum foil and a clear glass-like substance.

Heather Basinger stated that while the coffee table drawer was open Chris Basinger entered the room and stated "what the f[**]k are you doing?" Heather stated she then shut the drawer and walked into the bedroom to look for more of her personal items. Chris Basinger followed Heather into the bedroom and while Heather was looking for items in the closet area, Chris Basinger told her to leave the house. Heather stated it was obvious that Chris Basinger did not want her looking in his closet.

While in the bedroom Chris Basinger also stated to Heather that what she had just seen in the coffee table drawer could send him to prison for thirteen years. Heather then took her children and left the residence.

On March 25, 2015, this affiant interviewed Heather Basinger regarding the above information. During that interview Heather showed me a text message that was sent from Chris Basinger on March 17, 2015 that stated “that’s the Chris and [H]eather I want us to be minus the drugs and alcohol.” During the interview this affiant informed Heather that her name would be used as a witness in the investigation and she stated that was okay, she was just concerned about her children. This affiant has also received other information from officers reporting that Chris Basinger’s name has come up in other investigations concerning methamphetamine.

This affiant has been a police officer for 8 years and has had

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 8 of 11 specific training in the detection of methamphetamine. In this affiant’s training and experience aluminum foil is consistent with the use of methamphetamine.

Therefore, your affiant respectfully requests the Court to issue a SEARCH WARRANT directing the search of the property, premises, vehicles, outbuilding(s) and residence and the seizure of the above-described items if they are found.

I hereby swear or affirm under the pains and penalties of perjury that the foregoing is true.

Appellant’s App. at 62-63.

[12] The primary basis for the affidavit is Heather’s statements, which are hearsay

(or, as to Basinger’s statements, hearsay within hearsay). The affidavit does not

contain reliable information that establishes Heather’s credibility, nor does it

contain information that establishes that the totality of the circumstances

corroborates the hearsay. The State asserts that Heather’s firsthand account

“entitles the tip to ‘greater weight than might otherwise be the case.’”

Appellant’s Br. at 12 (quoting Jaggers, 687 N.E.2d at 183 (quoting Gates, 462

U.S. at 234)). But Basinger correctly observes that “such alleged first-hand

statements are ‘easily’ fabricated by informants to bolster their own credibility.”

Appellee’s Br. at 20 (quoting Newby v. State, 701 N.E.2d 593, 601 (Ind. Ct. App.

1998) (citing Jaggers, 687 N.E.2d at 184)). The State also asserts that “Heather’s

account of what she had seen was corroborated by a text message she showed

to Detective Staggs, which referenced Basinger’s drug use.” Appellant’s Br. at

12. The message does not specify who used the drugs, let alone where or when

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 9 of 11 they were used. Finally, the State contends that Heather’s statements were

“corroborated by Staggs’ knowledge that Basinger had been named in other

methamphetamine investigations.” Id. at 12. Detective Staggs’s secondhand

information regarding other investigations is itself uncorroborated and

hopelessly vague. “Uncorroborated hearsay from a source whose credibility is

itself unknown, standing alone, cannot support a finding of probable cause to

issue a search warrant.” Buford v. State, 40 N.E.3d 911, 913 (Ind. Ct. App.

2015). Accordingly, we conclude that the affidavit lacked sufficient indicia of

probable cause and therefore the warrant was invalid under the Fourth

Amendment. 2

Section 2 – The good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule is inapplicable. [13] This determination is not dispositive, however, because exclusion of evidence

seized pursuant to a search warrant is not required when the officer obtaining

the warrant has acted in objective good faith and within the scope of the

warrant. Gerth v. State, 51 N.E.3d 368, 375 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016) (citing United

States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 920 (1984)). In Leon, the court “cautioned that

2 Given our resolution of this issue, we need not squarely address the fact that, contrary to the affidavit, Heather was married to Basinger when she contacted Detective Staggs on March 25. At the suppression hearing, Basinger presented evidence that Heather had filed a petition for dissolution on March 11 and requested custody of their two minor children. Defendant’s Ex. D (petition). Basinger also presented evidence that, contrary to the affidavit, Heather did not see a long piece of burnt aluminum foil in his home. Defendant’s Ex. C at 10-11 (deposition). Assuming for argument’s sake that Heather was the bad actor in this scenario, her deceptions underscore the necessity of establishing a source’s credibility and corroborating hearsay statements in search warrant affidavits.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 10 of 11 certain police conduct would not qualify for this” good-faith exception,

including where the warrant was based on an affidavit so lacking in indicia of

probable cause as to render official belief in the validity of the warrant entirely

unreasonable. Jaggers, 687 N.E.2d at 184. Officers are reasonably charged with

knowing the basic requirements of Indiana Code Section 35-33-5-2. Id. at 186.

Thus, Detective Staggs should have known that establishing Heather’s

credibility or corroborating her hearsay statements was necessary. Brown v.

State, 905 N.E.2d 439, 447 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). The detective also should

have known that the other statements in the affidavit did not provide probable

cause to search Basinger’s residence. Therefore, we conclude that the

detective’s reliance on the validity of the warrant was not objectively reasonable

and thus the good-faith exception is inapplicable. The trial court’s ruling is

affirmed.

[14] Affirmed.

May, J., concurs.

Kirsch, J., dissents without opinion.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 59A05-1601-CR-195 | October 12, 2016 Page 11 of 11