United States v. Michael Johnson

469 F. App'x 632
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedMarch 1, 2012
Docket10-30364
StatusUnpublished

This text of 469 F. App'x 632 (United States v. Michael Johnson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Michael Johnson, 469 F. App'x 632 (9th Cir. 2012).

Opinion

*635 MEMORANDUM *

Michael A. Johnson appeals from his conviction and sentence for (1) conspiracy to distribute fifty grams or more of actual methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846; (2) possession of five grams or more of actual methamphetamine with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), and 18 U.S.C. § 2; (3) felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2); and (4) felon in possession of explosives, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 842(i)(l) and 844(a). Johnson contends the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress, motion for a new trial or to arrest judgment, and motion to strike the 21 U.S.C. § 851 enhanced penalty information, as well as in limiting defense counsel’s cross-examination of Charles Beedle and Detective Nicole Richardson. We affirm because we conclude that the district court did not err.

I

Johnson challenges the district court’s denial of his motion to suppress on the ground that there was not probable cause to issue the search warrant. Johnson also contends that the warrant lacked sufficient particularity and the search of his residential unit exceeded the scope of the warrant. We review a district court’s denial of a motion to suppress de novo and its factual findings for clear error. United States v. Gorman, 314 F.3d 1105, 1110 (9th Cir.2002). We review a magistrate’s finding of probable cause to issue a search warrant for clear error “and give ‘great deference’ to such a finding.” United States v. Hill, 459 F.3d 966, 970 (9th Cir.2006) (quoting United States v. Hay, 231 F.3d 630, 634 n. 4 (9th Cir.2000)).

A

When reviewing a magistrate’s issuance of a search warrant, we have previously explained that magistrates are “entitled to draw reasonable inferences about where evidence is likely to be kept, based on the nature of the evidence and the type of offense. In the case of drug dealers, evidence is likely to be found where the dealers live.” United States v. Angulo-Lopez, 791 F.2d 1394, 1399 (9th Cir.1986) (citations omitted); United States v. Foster, 711 F.2d 871, 879 (9th Cir.1983) (rejecting probable cause challenge to search warrant for residence of lieutenant in drug organization). Indeed, we have upheld search warrants against probable cause challenges based, in part, on evidence showing that members of a drug trafficking organization frequented the defendant’s residence. United States v. Garcia-Villalba, 585 F.3d 1223, 1234 (9th Cir.2009).

Here, the application for the search warrant for 135 South Ann Street, Monroe, Washington was supported by probable cause. Detective Corey Williams’s affidavit described several incidents in which Christopher Jeter was seen with members of the Barajas Garcia organization in connection with drug trafficking. Detective Williams also identified Jeter as the primary resident of the house located at 135 South Ann. As the district court recognized, “[t]he fact that Mr. Jeter lived there ... is sufficient at that point in time, knowing he is involved in numerous instances of illegal drug dealing, for the magistrate judge to conclude that a fair probability existed that evidence ... could *636 be found in that particular area.” Transcript of Hearing at 124-25, United States v. Johnson, No. 2:10-CR00024-RSM-1 (W.D.Wash. May 4, 2010), ECF No. 97.

Detective Williams’s affidavit showed that members of the Barajas Garcia organization visited the property located at 135 South Ann on several occasions in connection with drug trafficking. Indeed, Detective Williams described intercepted telephone calls, in which it appeared that members of the organization conducted criminal activity on the premises. For example, during two separate intercepted telephone calls (1) Candido Hernandez told Barajas Garcia he had the “papers” (i.e., money), to call him, and that he was at the “recycling,” which officers believed referred to the house at 135 South Ann; and (2) Hernandez discussed drug proceeds with Barajas Garcia, told him that he was at the “recycler,” and that Barajas Garcia could come into the house when he arrived.

B

Johnson characterizes his challenge based on the division of the house into two separate living units as a particularity challenge. Relevant case law, however, distinguishes challenges to the validity of a search warrant based on a lack of particularity in the description of the premises to be searched from challenges to the reasonableness of law enforcement’s execution of a search warrant. Maryland v. Garrison, 480 U.S. 79, 84, 107 S.Ct. 1013, 94 L.Ed.2d 72 (1987). Indeed, in Garrison, the United States Supreme Court described these two challenges as presenting “two separate constitutional issues, one concerning the validity of the warrant and the other concerning the reasonableness of the manner in which it was executed.” Id.

Johnson argues that the search warrant lacked sufficient particularity because it described the house on 135 South Ann as a single-family residence.

The Fourth Amendment requires that “no Warrants shall issue” except, inter alia, those “particularly describing the place to be searched.” U.S. Const, amend. IV. We have set forth the following test for determining whether a warrant satisfies the particularity requirement:

[WJhether the warrant describes the place to be searched with “sufficient particularity to enable law enforcement officers to locate and identify the premises with reasonable effort,” and whether any reasonable probability exists that the officers may mistakenly search another premise.

United States v. Mann, 389 F.3d 869, 876 (9th Cir.2004) (quoting United States v. Turner,

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469 F. App'x 632, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-michael-johnson-ca9-2012.