State v. Chambless

824 P.2d 1183, 111 Or. App. 76, 1992 Ore. App. LEXIS 224
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedJanuary 22, 1992
Docket10-90-04589; CA A67577
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 824 P.2d 1183 (State v. Chambless) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Chambless, 824 P.2d 1183, 111 Or. App. 76, 1992 Ore. App. LEXIS 224 (Or. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

*78 DE MUNIZ, J.

Defendant appeals from convictions for unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and criminal mischief in the second degree. ORS 475.992(1); ORS 475.992(4); ORS 164.354. He claims that the trial court erroneously admitted evidence of psilocybin mushrooms found in his home, because (1) it improperly denied his motion to controvert the affidavit supporting the search warrant, (2) the warrant was not supported by probable cause and (3) the search exceeded the scope of the warrant. We affirm.

The facts relating to defendant’s first two arguments are taken from the affidavit supporting the warrant and the police incident report, which was incorporated by reference into the affidavit. The facts relating to his third argument are taken from testimony at the hearing on his motion to suppress. Dugas parked his car at 10:45 p.m. When he returned at 7:45 the next morning, he discovered that his car had rolled back into another parked car and that someone had damaged his car by kicking it. He found that Rodgers had left a note on its windshield advising him that the other car was hers and requesting that he contact her.

Officer Rodenhuis investigated the incident. She examined the footprints on Dugas’ ear and concluded that they were from a “court type shoe.” She surmised that it “was probably a men’s [sic] shoe” because of its size. Rodenhuis called the number on the note and obtained Rodgers’ phone number from the person with whom she spoke. She called Rodgers, who told her that she and defendant, her boyfriend, had gone to a movie. When they returned to her car, they found Dugas’ car wedged against it. She said that she was mad, because she thought that the other driver had backed into her car and left on foot. Rodenhuis asked if defendant also got mad, and Rodgers said, “He doesn’t get mad.” Rodenhuis asked if defendant had kicked Dugas’ car. Rodgers said that she had not seen him kick the car and was not aware that he had damaged the car. Rodenhuis told Rodgers that she wanted to meet with her to discuss the incident.

*79 Rodenhuis then attempted to call defendant, but his line was busy. She attempted to call Rodgers again, but her line was also busy. Half an hour later, Rodenhuis went to Rodgers’ apartment. Rodgers acknowledged speaking to defendant about the investigation immediately after her conversation with Rodenhuis. She told the officer that she had called defendant, because she was scared and concerned that the officer might have tapped her telephone line. When Rodenhuis asked what defendant had said about the damage to Dugas’ car, Rodgers said, “I don’t recall. You could hypnotize me and I wouldn’t remember.” Rodenhuis again asked if defendant had damaged Dugas’ carandRodgers replied, “Not that I’m aware of. I have no proof he did it. I didn’t hear headlights or taillights breaking.” Rodgers also said that she would not lie for defendant and that, during their phone conversation, “He told me not to admit to anything.”

Rodenhuis visited defendant at his home. She asked if she could see his shoes to see if they matched the footprints on Dugas’ car. Defendant showed her several pairs, none of which matched the footprints on the car. He refused to permit her to look for additional shoes.

Rodenhuis applied for a search warrant. She attached her report to the affidavit supporting the search warrant. She incorporated the report by reference in the affidavit and obtained a warrant to search defendant’s home for a shoe matching the pattern of the footprints on Dugas’ car. Her search uncovered a “Converse” shoe. It also uncovered growing marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms.

In his motion to controvert the affidavit, defendant argued that the affidavit did not place him at the scene of the incident. Defendant is correct, insofar as the affidavit itself goes. However, the affidavit incorporated Rodenhuis’ report by reference, and the report placed him at the scene. By incorporating her report into the affidavit, Rodenhuis swore to its veracity when she swore to the veracity of her affidavit. The report became part of the affidavit, and the magistrate could reasonably rely on it to conclude that defendant was at the scene of the incident. The court properly denied defendant’s motion to controvert.

*80 Defendant next argues that the warrant was not supported by probable cause. In reviewing the sufficiency of an affidavit, the court examines the facts contained in the affidavit and considers the reasonable inferences that can be drawn from those facts. State v. Brust, 94 Or App 416, 419, 765 P2d 1246 (1988). Before issuing a warrant, a magistrate must find that “there is probable cause to believe that the search will discover things specified in the application.” ORS 133.555(2). The Supreme Court has said:

“The probable cause requirement means that the facts upon which the warrant is premised must lead a reasonable person to believe that seizable things will probably be found in the location to be searched.” State v. Anspach, 298 Or 375, 380, 692 P2d 602 (1984).

“Probably” means “more likely than not.” 1 The issue, then, is whether the facts contained in Rodenhuis’ affidavit and report would lead a reasonable person to believe that the shoe that damaged Dugas’ car would, more likely than not, be found in defendant’s home.

Rodgers repeatedly told officer Rodenhuis that she had no knowledge that defendant had damaged Dugas’ car. She spoke with defendant about the investigation. She told the officer that she would not he for defendant and said, “You could hypnotize me and I wouldn’t remember.” The magistrate could have concluded that this statement, made only half an hour after her conversation with defendant about the investigation, suggested that Rodgers was not being candid with the officer. The magistrate could have reasonably concluded that she was withholding information pertinent to the investigation — information linking defendant to the damage to Dugas’ car. The affidavit and report were sufficient to establish probable cause to believe that defendant had kicked Dugas’ car. ORS 131.005(11). A reasonable person would, therefore, believe that the shoe that matched his print on Dugas’ car would probably be found in defendant’s home. See, e.g., State v. Schroeder, 62 Or App 331, 336, 661 P2d 111, rev den 295 Or 161 (1983). The warrant was valid.

*81 Finally, we address defendant’s claim that the search exceeded the scope of the warrant. ORS 133.585 provides, in part:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
824 P.2d 1183, 111 Or. App. 76, 1992 Ore. App. LEXIS 224, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-chambless-orctapp-1992.