United States v. Redmond

652 F. Supp. 747, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22161
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. California
DecidedFebruary 28, 1985
DocketNos. CR F 83-99-EDP, CR F 83-147-EDP
StatusPublished

This text of 652 F. Supp. 747 (United States v. Redmond) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Redmond, 652 F. Supp. 747, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22161 (E.D. Cal. 1985).

Opinion

ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS.

PRICE, District Judge.

Procedural History

On June 7, 1983, a search warrant was issued for the search of the “Darrell Redmond residence,” 1273 Washington Avenue, Oildale, California. On June 9, 1983, this warrant was executed at the above-described residence, and over 96 firearms were seized at that site by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Based on that search, the defendants Darrell and Monica Redmond were indicted for violations of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d), (Possession of an Unregistered Firearm); and 18 U.S.C.App. 1202(a)(1), (Felon in Possession of Firearms). This indictment is the subject of case No. CR F 83-99-EDP.

On August 9,1983, another affidavit was sworn before the Magistrate seeking a search warrant at the same residence. The second search resulted in the seizure of two guns, receipts and photographs. The search resulted in a second indictment against the defendant Darrell Redmond, charging him with two violations of 18 U.S. C.App. 1202(a)(1), (Felon in Possession of Firearms). This indictment forms the basis of Action No. CR F 83-147-EDP.

A third search warrant was issued on April 10, 1984, and was executed on April 12, 1984. The objects seized in this search formed the basis of a third indictment being returned against defendant Darrell Redmond, charging him again with a violation of 18 U.S.C.App. 1202(a)(1), (Felon in Possession of a Firearm). This indictment forms the basis of Action No. CR F-84-67EDP. This motion does not involve that action.

In Action Nos. CR F 83-99-EDP and CR F 83-147-EDP, the defendant Darrell Redmond was represented by attorney James Oliver. His wife, the defendant Monica Redmond, was represented by attorney Larry Lee. On March 12, 1984, then counsel for the defendant Darrell Redmond filed a motion to suppress the evidence [748]*748which was seized by virtue of the execution of the search warrants issued on June 7, 1983 and August 9, 1983. In his moving papers, Mr. Oliver indicated that the basis for the motion was as follows:

1. The affidavits in support of both warrants failed to state sufficient particularized nonconclusionary facts to constitute probable cause for the issuance of a warrant for the search of the residence at 1237 Washington Avenue, Oildale, California;1 and

2. The warrant executed on August 9, 1983, was the product or fruit of the illegal search and seizure of June 7, 1983.

After the hearing in the matter at which no evidence was introduced, the Court filed its written order on April 25, 1984, denying the motions to suppress. Reference is made to that order for further particulars.

As the trial date approached, the defendant Darrell Redmond discharged his then attorney, Oliver, and hired new counsel. The government dismissed all counts against his wife, the defendant Monica Redmond.2 In Action No. CR F 84-67-EDP, by agreement between the government and the appointed counsel for the defendant Darrell Redmond and the Court, all proceedings have been stayed pending the outcome of the new motions filed in Action Nos. CR F 83-99-EDP and CR F 83-147-EDP.

After retention of new counsel, a second motion to suppress the evidence was filed on October 10, 1984. Present counsel for the defendant describes the scope of motion as follows:

This renewed motion goes beyond that motion previously filed, for that motion improperly and deficiently failed to attack the veracity of the search warrant affidavit within the provisions of Franks v. Delaware, 48 [438] U.S. 154 [98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667].
The previous motion, together with authorities, is incorporated and renewed as far as it goes.
A full evidentiary hearing under the provisions of Franks v. Delaware, supra, is contemplated on November 13, 1984, as it is averred that defendant has met his burden for the hearing provided by Franks.

An evidentiary hearing was had in the matter on November 13, 1984.

ATF Special Agent Urrea (hereinafter “Urrea”) originally testified on direct examination that when he submitted the affidavit for the June 7, 1983, search warrant to Magistrate Christensen, he was relying on certain computer printouts which he received from the appropriate agency of the State of California. These computer printouts were obtained in June of 1983, shortly before the first search warrant was issued and executed. They listed firearms transactions engaged in by both Monica and Darrell Redmond. {See Reporter’s Transcript, pages 6 and 7.)

The most remarkable part of Urrea’s testimony is as follows:

On the computer printouts he noticed that there were several entries which were described by the word “Pawn.” Urrea believed that the word “pawn” meant that a person who had previously pledged an item was redeeming it, and hence he mistakenly believed that Redmond, on the operative date3 contained in the entry, was coming [749]*749into the possession of the described firearms.4 In fact, Redmond was surrendering possession of the firearms on these operative dates.

Indeed, the operative paragraph of the June 7th affidavit reads as follows:

7. On June 3, 1983, I contacted the State of California, Department of Justice, Automated Firearms System Section, Sacramento, California, and requested a records check of Darrell Ray REDMOND. Their records indicated that REDMOND owns the following firearms:
a. LC Smith double barrel shotgun, 12ga., serial number 166174.
b. Winchester shotgun, 12ga., serial number L11103439A.
c. Smith and Wesson revolver, .38 cal., serial number 8668.
d. Smith and Wesson revolver, .38 cal., serial number 58459.
e. Walther PPK pistol, 9mm., serial number 15255.
f. Browning High Power pistol, 9mm., serial number 245PM26787.
g. Colt revolver, .32 cal., serial number 271336.
h. H & R revolver, .22 cal., serial number 577512.
i. RIA Richards shotgun, 12ga., serial number 20738.
AFS records further indicated that REDMOND purchased items a. and i. on February 11, 1982, from Globe Jewelry and Loan, 1124 19th Street, Bakersfield, California, while under information for a felony in Kern County, Bakersfield, California, Superior Court No. 22802.

It should be noted that the affidavit affirmatively represents that the source of Urrea’s information on this point is the Automated Firearms System Section of the Department of Justice, State of California, who supposedly supplied Urrea with this information on June 3, 1983. Despite the affirmative statement contained above, there is no basis contained in the AFS printouts introduced into evidence from which it could be inferred that Darrell Redmond possessed any of the guns after his state conviction.

Government’s Exhibit 1, however, is a printout of that transmission, and identified as the document upon which Urrea relied.

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Bluebook (online)
652 F. Supp. 747, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22161, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-redmond-caed-1985.