State v. Saddler

2003 UT App 82, 67 P.3d 1025, 469 Utah Adv. Rep. 35, 2003 Utah App. LEXIS 23, 2003 WL 1343244

• Court: Court of Appeals of Utah
• Decided: March 20, 2003
• Docket: 20020119-CA
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

DAVIS, Judge:

{1 Anthony A. Saddler (Saddler) appeals his conviction for unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, a third degree felony in violation of Utah Code Ann. $ 58-87-8 (Supp.2000). Saddler challenges the trial court's order denying his motion to suppress evidence and upholding the constitutionality of the search warrant. We reverse and remand.

BACKGROUND

12 On June 15, 2000, Detective Bill McCarthy (McCarthy) obtained a warrant to search Saddler's residence for marijuana, cocaine, and related items. In issuing the search warrant, the magistrate relied on an affidavit provided by McCarthy, who prepared the affidavit using information from a confidential informant (CT). The affidavit established McCarthy's nineteen years of general police experience and his specific experience and training in narcotics investigation. It also stated "CI has not been promised nor paid for any of the information provided," and claimed "CI ... provided the information out of a sense of guilt and desire to stop the sales and usage of controlled substances into the community." Further, it requested "the courts not ... require [MeCarthy] to publish the CI's name," for McCarthy "believe[d] ... the CI [could] be harmed if CT's name were published."

13 According to the affidavit, CI told McCarthy the following:

CI has known the suspect, Saddler for over one year;

CI has observed the suspect use cocaine and marijuana on numerous occasions during the last year;

CI has used marijuana with the suspect on several occasions;

CI has been to the premises numerous times, the most recent being within the last week to ten days, and observed approximately three to four pounds of mariJuana;

CI has observed three scales inside the home, that the suspect uses to weigh out repackaged marijuana for resale;

CI has observed cocaine inside the premises, along with packaging material;

CI has observed the suspect carry mariJuana and cocaine on his person;

The suspect has told CI that the suspect sells marijuana and cocaine;

CI has observed the suspect sell and use controlled substances, inside the named premises;

CI has been told by the suspect that the suspect recently purchased the listed premises;

CI states that the suspect's only legitimate source of income is from a part-time waiter's job at a Salt Lake City restaurant, BACT's;

CI states that the suspect sells controlled substances to be able to afford his own usage and as a separate source of income;

CI provided a description of the home, a vehicle frequently used by the suspect (female companion of suspect), and hours of operation for the suspect;

CI states that the suspect is home infrequently and usually during the late evening hours.

[ 4 The affidavit also describes McCarthy's corroboration efforts. On June 14 and 15, 2000, McCarthy conducted surveillance of Saddler's home between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 am. and did not observe anyone. At an unspecified time on June 15, McCarthy observed some "short term traffic," which he believed was "drug related." West Valley Police stopped one of the vehicles leaving the premises and found the driver in possession of one-half ounce of marijuana. Police found no drug paraphernalia in the vehicle or on the driver's person, which indicated to McCarthy "the marijuana was purchased from [Saddler's] premises."

T5 McCarthy also "observed vehicles de-seribed by CI at [Saddler's] premises and the registered owner was a[sic] described by CI." Finally, MeCarthy checked BACI's restaurant on June 15, and Saddler "was not at work and it was unknown when he was scheduled to return."

T6 After obtaining and executing the search warrant, on June 15, police seized approximately ten ounces of marijuana and one gram of cocaine, along with drug packaging material, triple beam scales, and $478.00 in cash. Saddler subsequently filed a motion to suppress the evidence. After the trial court denied the motion, Saddler pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, conditional upon his right to appeal the suppression issue. See State v. Sery, 758 P.2d 935, 938-39 (Utah Ct.App.1988).

ISSUE AND STANDARD OF REVIEW

T7 The sole issue is whether the trial court erred by denying Saddler's motion to suppress evidence and concluding MeCar-thy's affidavit established probable cause to search Saddler's residence. "[TJhis court, like the reviewing court below, is bound by the contents of the affidavit, we therefore need not defer to the trial court's finding. ..." State v. Deluna, 2001 UT App 401, ¶9, 40 P.3d 1136 (quotations and citation omitted), cert. denied, 2002 Utah LEXIS 150. Instead, " 'we make an independent review of the trial court's determination of the sufficiency of the written evidence'" Id. (quoting State v. Weaver, 817 P.2d 830, 833 (Utah Ct.App.1991)). "However, 'the [Flourth [AJmendment does not require that the reviewing court conduct a de novo review of the magistrate's probable cause determination[.] [Instead, it requires only that the reviewing court conclude "that the magistrate had a substantial basis for ... [determining] that probable cause existed." *' " Id. (alterations in original) (quoting State v. Babbell, 770 P.2d 987, 991 (Utah 1989) (quoting v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983))). We therefore "pay great deference to the magistrate's determination." State v. Vigh, 871 P.2d 1030, 1033 (Utah Ct.App.1994).¹

ANALYSIS

18 Saddler argues McCarthy's affidavit supporting the search warrant did not establish probable cause for the search. We agree.

T9 The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees that "no [wJjarrants shall issue, but upon probable cause." U.S. Const. amend. IV. "[When a search warrant is issued on the basis of an affidavit, that affidavit must contain specific facts sufficient to support a determination by a neutral magistrate that probable cause exists." State v. Babbell, 770 P.2d 987, 990 (Utah 1989). "It is well settled that Utah courts employ the 'totality-of-the-cireum-stances test' articulated in Ilinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983) to determine the sufficiency of an affidavit supporting a search warrant." State v. Vigh, 871 P.2d 1030, 1033 (Utah Ct.App.1994). Thus, "[pirobable cause is determined by a magistrate who 'make[s] a practical common-sense decision whether, given all the cireumstances set forth in the affidavit,] ... there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place' " Id. (second alteration in original) (emphasis omitted) (quoting Gates, 462 U.S. at 238, 103 S.Ct. at 2332).

110 "Where, as here, information obtained from [an] informant[ ] is the primary support for the search warrant, an analysis of the totality of the cireumstances requires us to consider the three factors articulated by this court in Kaysville City v. Mulcahy, 943 P.2d 231, 235-36 (Utah Ct.App.1997)." State v. Deluna, 2001 UT App 401, ¶ 11, 40 P.3d 1136, cert. denied, 2002 Utah LEXIS 150; see State v. Valenzuela, 2001 UT App 332, ¶¶ 16-17, 37 P.3d 260 (extending application of Mulcahy factors to probable cause determinations). We now consider those three factors.

I. Type of Informant/Basis of Knowledge

111 The first factor is "the type of tip or informant involved." Kaysville City v. Mulcahy, 943 P.2d 231, 285 (Utah Ct.App.1997). "After all, [nlot all tips are of equal value in establishing [probable causel.'" Id. (alteration in original) (citation omitted). "Factors to consider in determining whether probable cause exists include an informant's veracity, reliability and basis of knowledge." State v. Purser, 828 P.2d 515, 517 (Utah Ct.App.1992) (citing Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 233, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2329, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983)) (other citations omitted); see also State v. Droneburg, 781 P.2d 1303, 1306 (Utah Ct.App.1989) ("Although the veracity, reliability, and basis of knowledge of confidential informants are no longer strict prerequisites for establishing probable cause, they are still relevant considerations, among others, in determining the existence of probable cause under a totality-of-the-cireum-stances." (quotations and citations omitted)).

112 In this case, the basis of knowledge portion is satisfied² Basis of knowledge is satisfied where the informant speaks from personal observation. See Purser, 828 P.2d at 517. Here, the affidavit sets forth information based on CT's personal observations. For instance, the affidavit notes that CI "observed [Saddler] use cocaine and marijuana," "observed approx. 3 to 4 pounds of marijuana," and "observed cocaine inside [Saddler's] premises."

113 However, the veracity and reliability portions are not satisfied. Generally, "an ordinary citizen-informant needs no independent proof of reliability or veracity." State v. Deluna, 2001 UT App 401,¶ 14, 40 P.3d 1136, cert. denied, 2002 Utah LEXIS 150 (quotations and citations omitted). A citizen-informant is "an average citizen who is in a position to supply information by virtue of having been a crime victim or witness." State v. White, 851 P.2d 1195, 1199 (Utah Ct.App.1993) (quotations and citations omitted). Such an informant "thereafter relates to the police what he knows as a matter of civic duty." State v. Evans, 692 So.2d 216, 219 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1997) (quotations and citations omitted) (cited for this proposition by Mulcahy, 943 P.2d at 235 n. 2). Alternatively, a police-informant (or criminal-informant) is "one who gains information through involvement in criminal activity or who is ' "motivated ... by pecuniary gain," '" and thus is "lower on the reliability scale." Mulcahy, 943 P.2d at 235 n. 2 (quoting Evans, 692 So.2d at 219).

T 14 In this case, we do not know whether CI was a citizen- or a police-informant. However, we do know that CI "used marijuana with [Saddler] on several occasions." Thus, we know CI was part of the criminal environment, lowering his veracity and reliability. We also know that CI "provided the information out of a ... desire to stop the sales and usage of controlled substances into the community," and that CI was "[neither] promised nor paid for any of the information provided." Although this information bolsters reliability and veracity in citizen-informants, see Purser, 828 P.2d at 517 (assuming reliability and veracity for citizen-informant who volunteered the information and "receive[d] nothing from police in exchange for the information"), we do not know whether CI qualified as a citizen-informant or volunteered the information to police. Further, we fail to see how the conclusory statement that CI is providing the information out of a sense of guilt and a desire to stop the sale of controlled substances significantly bolsters his veracity and reliability when he is a participant in the criminal environment and has not indicated a remorse for his past participation or a determination to avoid future involvement. See People v. Kershaw, 147 Cal.App.3d 750, 195 Cal.Rptr. 311, 314 (1988) (noting that informants who are "criminals, drug addicts or professional 'stool pigeons'" may be motivated to volunteer information not only for promises or payments, but also for "revenge or the hope of eliminating criminal competition"), superceded by statute on other grounds, People v. Burch, 188 Cal.App.3d 172, 232 Cal.Rptr. 502 (1986).

115 Also important to veracity and reliability is whether the informant is anonymous. " '[Blecause an anonymous caller's basis of knowledge and veracity are typically unknown, anonymous tips are toward 'the low-end of the reliability scale" " Mulcahy, 943 P.2d at 235 (citation omitted). Informants who "glilve their full names," thus "subject[ing] themselves to a penalty for providing false information," Deluna, 2001 UT App 401 at ¶ 15, 40 P.3d 1136, are more reliable than informants who "hid[e] behind the eloak of telephonic [or other] anonymity" so that their identities cannot be traced. State v. McCloskey, 453 N.W.2d 700, 703-04 (Minn.1990).

] 16 Here, we do not know whether CI and McCarthy met face-to-face or communicated by telephone or letter. Consequently, we do not know whether McCarthy ever, using his police training and experience, had the opportunity to evaluate CI's truthfulness. We also do not know whether CI told McCarthy his name.³ Consequently, we do not know whether CI subjected himself to the penalty of providing false information. Similarly, we do not know whether CI had ever provided McCarthy information before and whether this information proved reliable. See State v. Batley, 675 P.2d 1203, 1206 (Utah 1984) (noting that information in the affidavit showing "the informant had previously given truthful information to the police concerning the existence of contraband" is "an accepted method for establishing an informant's veracity").

117 Next, an informant's reliability and veracity are improved where he provides information against his penal interest. See United States v. Harris, 403 U.S. 573, 583, 91 S.Ct. 2075, 2082, 29 L.Ed.2d 723 (1971) (holding statements "against the informant's penal interest" "carr[ied] their own indicia of eredi-bility"); In re Shon Daniel K., 125 N.M. 219, 959 P.2d 553, 558 (Ct.App.1998) (noting statements against penal interest are one indication of informant reliability).

118 Here, CI made no statement against penal interest. Although he did admit to using marijuana with Saddler on several occasions, this admission means nothing if CI did not reveal his identity, thus subjecting himself to the danger of prosecution. Furthermore, even if we knew CI's identity, his statement would still not be an admission against penal interest because there is no other evidence against him. See State v. Archuleta, 850 P.2d 1232, 1241 n. 24 (Utah 1993) (noting the "corpus delicti rule states that a person may not be convicted of a crime if no independent evidence, outside of the defendant's own statement, exists").

{19 Finally, an informant's veracity and reliability may be " 'boosted by the detail with which the informant described his personal observation' of the [crime]." Batley, 675 P.2d at 1206. Here, the affidavit provides little more than an outline of what CI told McCarthy. We do not know the type of relationship CI had with Saddler or how often and for what purpose CI visited Saddler. Also, although CI says he saw marijuana, cocaine, packaging materials, and scales in the home, we do not know how much marijuana and cocaine he saw, when he saw it, or where it was located.⁴ Finally, aside from the conclusory statement that CI provided a description of the home, a vehicle frequently used by Saddler, and Saddler's 'hours of operation, we do not know anything about CI's actual description of these facts.

II. Information Detail

120 "The second Mulcahy factor we must consider is whether 'the informant gave enough detail about the observed erimi-nal activity to support a [warrant]! " State v. Deluna, 2001 UT App 401, 519, 40 P.3d 1136 (alteration in original) (citation omitted), cert. denied, 2002 Utah LEXIS 150. "It is well established that a warrant cannot issue solely on the strength of 'a mere conclusory statement that gives the magistrate virtually no basis at all for making a judgment regarding probable cause' " State v. Babbell, 770 P.2d 987, 992 (Utah 1989) (citation omitted). Moreover, judges should be reluctant to base a probable cause determination on poorly drafted affidavits. See id. at 992 n. 3 (noting the finding of probable cause was "a very close question" where the affidavit included the witnesses' description of a truck but not the officer's description of the truck he said matched the witnesses' description). "The better approach would be to require that an affiant take the simple but critical additional step of clearly and unambiguously stating" the detail provided by the informant. Id. "A few short minutes spent in more carefully preparing [an] affidavit would have ensured the protection of the accused's constitutional rights while saving a substantial amount of time for the courts and parties." Id.

T21 Here, we do not know how much detail CI gave. Rather than provide a detailed description of CI's statement in the affidavit, McCarthy provided a conclusory outline of CT's statement. We do not know how CI knew Saddler or when and how often CI visited Saddler's residence. Nor do we know how often or how recently CI observed controlled substances in.Saddler's residence.⁵ We also do not know what detail CI gave about Saddler's residence, routine, hours of operation, vehicles, clients, or clients' vehicles.⁶

TII. Confirmation by Police Officer

122 "The final Mulcahy factor is whether the police officer independently confirms the informants' information." State v. Deluna, 2001 UT App 401,¶ 20, 40 P.3d 1136, cert. denied, 2002 Utah LEXIS 150. Corroboration "means, in light of the cireumstances, [the officer] confirms enough facts so that he may reasonably conclude that the information provided is reliable." Kaysville City v. Mulcahy, 943 P.2d 231, 236 (Utah Ct.App. & 1997). A police officer 'may corroborate the tip either by observing the illegal activity or by finding [the material facts] substantially as described by the informant. " Id. (citations omitted).

{23 Here, McCarthy's corroboration was not helpful. First, McCarthy conducted surveillance of Saddler's premises during the hours CI said Saddler was home. Between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., McCarthy saw nothing to corroborate CT's information.

124 Second, at some point the next day, McCarthy says he saw short-term traffic that he believed to be drug related.⁷ One car was stopped and one-half ounce of marijuana was found on the driver, which McCarthy believed was purchased at Saddler's home because no drug paraphernalia was found. However, McCarthy provides only conclusory information about this corroborative effort. See State v. Babbell, 770 P.2d 987, 992 (Utah 1989) ("It is well established that a warrant cannot issue solely on the strength of 'a mere conclusory statement that gives the magistrate virtually no basis at all for making a judgment regarding probable cause.' " (citation omitted)). He does not state how many vehicles he saw visit Saddler's home, whether any of these vehicles arrived during Saddler's alleged hours of operation, whether any of these vehicles or their drivers were described by CI, whether the stopped person was a person described by CI or was driving a vehicle described by CI, or how long the stopped person was at Saddler's home.

{25 Third, McCarthy observed vehicles described by CI at Saddler's premises whose registered owner was described by CI. Again, McCarthy provides no detail as to what type of vehicles were present, how many vehicles he observed, whether they were part of the short-term traffic, or whether they were present during Saddler's alleged hours of operation. See id.

{26 Finally, McCarthy visited BACI's, Saddler's place of employment, where he learned Saddler was not at work and the person he spoke to did not know when Saddler was scheduled to work next. With more detail, this information may have provided important corroborative detail. However, as is, the information is practically useless. Although McCarthy established that Saddler worked at BACI's, we do not know who McCarthy spoke to or whether that person was in a position to know Saddler's schedule. We also do not know whether the person McCarthy spoke to thought it was unusual that Saddler was not currently at work or whether the person thought Saddler's work schedule in general was unusual.

CONCLUSION

127 Under the totality of the circumstances, we are convineed that the search warrant affidavit in this case failed to establish probable cause for the search of Saddler's home. Although the affidavit sufficiently established CI's basis of knowledge, it failed to establish CI's veracity and reliability. Moreover, the detail and corroboration included in the affidavit were not enough to establish probable cause in the absence of a showing of veracity and reliability. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court erred in denying defendant's motion to suppress the seized evidence. "Since an error amounting to a violation of the federal constitution requires reversal unless it is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, we reverse [Saddler's] conviction| ]." State v. Droneburg, 781 P.2d 1303, 1306 (Utah Ct.App.1989).

128 Saddler's conviction is reversed and the case is remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

T 29 I CONCUR: PAMELA T. GREENWOOD, Judge.

1 . The dissent is concerned that we do not give sufficient deference to the magistrate's determination. ''We pay great deference to the magistrate's determination," State v. Vigh, 871 P.2d 1030, 1033 (Utah Ct.App.1994), because " '[al grudging or negative attitude toward warrants is inconsistent with the Fourth Amendment's strong preference for searches conducted pursuant to a warrant. " State v. Deluna, 2001 UT App 401, 110, 40 P.3d 1136, cert. denied, 2002 Utah LEXIS 150 (citation omitted). However, our preference for warrants does not extend to warrants that are not based on probable cause. We will not give deference to the magistrate if there is no "substantial basis for ... [determining] that probable cause existed." Id. at 19.

2 . The dissent argues that we dismiss the basis of knowledge portion too quickly in our analysis of the totality of the circumstances. This is not true. We acknowledge that the basis of knowledge portion of the test is satisfied. However, the basis of knowledge portion alone does not establish probable cause in the absence of information concerning CI's veracity and reliability. While basis of knowledge tells us how CI acquired his information, it does not tell us whether he was qualified to assess the information, whether he relayed the information accurately, or whether he is trustworthy.

3 . The State argues that we should defer to the trial court's inference that CI was not anonymous. See State v. Babbell, 770 P.2d 987, 992 (Utah 1989) (acknowledging ambiguity of an affidavit, but deferring to magistrate's "reasonable construction" of that ambiguity). We disagree. It is not reasonable to infer, without more information, that CI, who was too afraid to allow his name to be published in the affidavit, was not also too afraid to give his name to the police officer drafting the affidavit.

4 . We know that at some point, CI observed what he described as three to four pounds of marijuana at Saddler's premises. However, we do not know when CI made this observation. Although the affidavit says CI had been to the house within the last seven to ten days, we cannot reasonably infer that it was during this visit that CI saw the marijuana.

5 . The State argues that probable cause exists even though the affidavit fails to provide specific dates and time periods because it establishes a course of conduct. We disagree. " '[WJhere the affidavit properly recites facts indicating activity of a protracted and continuous nature, a course of conduct, the passage of time becomes less significant.' " State v. Stromberg, 783 P.2d 54, 57 (Utah Ct.App.1989) (citation omitted). Although CI uses the present tense to say Saddler "sells controlled substances," see State v. Anderton, 668 P.2d 1258, 1261 (Utah 1983) (holding information in search warrant not stale because the language used was "couched ... in the present tense which describes ongoing criminal conduct"), CI only talks about Saddler using and selling controlled substances from his home in the past tense and does not provide sufficient detail for us to ascertain whether the activity was of a protracted and continuous nature.

6 . We do know CI said Saddler was home infrequently and usually during the late evening hours. Although seemingly helpful, this detail was discounted by McCarthy's own attempt at corroboration. When McCarthy conducted surveillance of Saddler's home during the late evening hours (8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.), he did not gather any corroborating information.

7 . Although the dissent concludes McCarthy saw the short-term traffic during the early morning hours, no actual time is provided by the affidavit.