United States v. Hooper

320 F. Supp. 507, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13893
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Tennessee
DecidedMay 12, 1969
DocketCrim. No. 7055
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 320 F. Supp. 507 (United States v. Hooper) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Hooper, 320 F. Supp. 507, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13893 (E.D. Tenn. 1969).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

NEESE, District Judge.

The defendant, aggrieved by an allegedly unlawful search for and seizure of contraband whiskey by federal authorities herein, has moved to quash the search warrant and suppress for use as evidence against him the contraband thus obtained. Rule 41(e), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. No less than 13 grounds are listed by the defendant in support of this motion. The Court received evidence necessary to a decision on the motion, idem., on April 21, 1969.

The Court finds and concludes that the warrant is sufficient on its face. It was not demonstrated by the defendant that anyone, who followed the directions set forth in the warrant, would not therefrom have arrived at the premises authorized to be searched. This warrant describes with particularity the place to be searched and the things to be seized. Berger v. New York (1967), 388 U.S. 41, 58, 87 S.Ct. 1873, 18 L.Ed.2d 1040, 1052 [14, 15], It commanded a search at these premises for tax-unpaid distilled spirits and property fit and intended to be used in violation of 26 U.S.C. §§ 5601(a) (12), 5604, 5686(a). Rule 41(b) (2), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Further, there was probable cause for the commissioner to believe the existence of the grounds on which the warrant issued. Rule 41(e) (4), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. There is a legal presumption, which the movant has not overcome here, that the commissioner performed properly his duty. United States v. Haskins, C.A.6th (1965), 345 F.2d 111, 112-113 [1, 2], affirming D.C.Tenn. (1962), 213 F.Supp. 551. The probability of criminal activity in progress on the defendant’s premises was shown the commissioner in the affidavit supporting his issuance of the warrant, and he was not confined in making his determination of probable cause by niggardly limitations or by restrictions on the use of his common sense. Spinelli v. United States (1969), 393 U.S. 410, 89 S.Ct. 584, 21 L.Ed.2d 637, 645[16].

The sole issue with the slightest vestige of merit raised by the multiplicity of protests by Mr. Hooper is that the warrant was executed illegally. Rule 41(e) (5), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Mr. G. E. Childers, a special investigator of the alcohol, tobacco and firearms division in the federal Treasury Department, executed the warrant, assisted by several other trained investigators.

He testified that Mr. Hooper arrived at his home in a motor vehicle about the time the search began; that, because of some information received theretofore by [509]*509the officers, the defendant was searched immediately he alighted from his automobile, at a time when he had committed no offense in the presence of the officers and before he was placed in arrest ; that he was advised that the search was being conducted by federal officers armed with a search warrant and was closely guarded during its progress; and that Mr. Hooper was given a copy of the search warrant but denied permission to leave the officers’ custody to retrieve his eye-glasses, although the investigators advised Mr. Hooper his wife would be permitted to obtain his glasses.

Mr. Childers testified further, that after the searching had been completed, his superior Mr. Steve B. Whitlow made an inventory on the scene of the property there seized in the presence of both Messrs. Childers and Hooper, and that the defendant was given a receipt for the property seized on the back of the copy of the warrant with which he had been provided “* * * as soon as the property was seized. * * * ” Although Mr. Childers denies having made a prior inconsistent statement in this connection, the Court finds that he had testified under oath before the hearing commissioner that Mr. Hooper was not given any receipt at the time of the search but was mailed a certified copy afterward.

The investigator testified that after the adjournment of the preliminary hearing herein, he and' Mr. Whitlow were checking the inventory of the articles seized from Mr. Hooper, when Mr. Whit-low was required to depart. Mr. Childers said that Mr. Whitlow had listed on Mr. Hooper’s copy of the search warrant a quantity of containers without specifying the respective numbers of jugs which were plastic and glass; and that he retrieved such copy from Mr. Hooper’s shirt-pocket and, in the presence of the commissioner, obtained Mr. Hooper’s permission to take the copy for the purpose of checking the accuracy of the articles listed thereon with Mr. Whitlow and to return it to Mr. Hooper by registered mail. Oddly, Mr. Childers undertook to explain the reason underlying his denial of his previous inconsistent statement by testifying Mr. Hooper was not given a receipt for the articles seized at the time of seizure, “ * * * because I had gotten it back from him. * * * ”

Mr. Whitlow testified that he prepared an inventory of the property seized from Mr. Hooper’s premises at the scene of the raid on a scratch pad in the presence of both Messrs. Hooper and Childers; that he made no entry whatever on the copy of the warrant to be left with Mr. Hooper and gave him no receipt for the property seized at the scene of the raid; that he and Mr. Childers had commenced listing from his (Mr. Whitlow’s) notes the items seized from Mr. Hoopers’ premises afterward at the commissioner’s office, and when he departed, he left Mr. Childers in charge of completing this function; that he gave Mr. Hooper no receipt at any time; that he was not present when any listing of the seized articles was presented to Mr. Hooper; and that he was not present when Mr. Childers retrieved the warrant from Mr. Hooper’s person.

The officers dispossessing Mr. Hooper of the property taken under this warrant were required to give Mr. Hooper á copy of the warrant and a receipt for the property taken at the scene of the raid. They were then required to make promptly a return of the warrant to the commissioner, accompanied by a written inventory of the property taken, made and verified in the presence of both Messrs. Hooper and Childers. Upon request of Mr. Hooper, the issuing commissioner was required to deliver a copy of the inventory to Mr. Hooper. Rule 41(d), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

The failure of the seizing officers to comply with these requirements did not invalidate the reasonable search of Mr. Hooper’s property, Evans v. United States, C.A.6th (1957), 242 F.2d 534, 536 [5], certiorari denied (1957), 353 U. S. 976, 77 S.Ct. 1059, 1 L.Ed.2d 1137. A reasonable search had already been conducted and concluded before the occasion [510]*510arose for the raiding officers to follow the foregoing procedures.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
320 F. Supp. 507, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13893, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-hooper-tned-1969.