Walker v. State

829 N.E.2d 591, 2005 Ind. App. LEXIS 1107, 2005 WL 1432616
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 21, 2005
Docket49A02-0408-CR-682
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 829 N.E.2d 591 (Walker v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Walker v. State, 829 N.E.2d 591, 2005 Ind. App. LEXIS 1107, 2005 WL 1432616 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinions

OPINION

DARDEN, J.

STATEMENT OFP THE CASE

After being convicted in a bench trial of possession of marijuana 1 and dealing in marijuana 2, both as class D felonies, Michael Walker (Walker) brings this appeal challenging the trial court's denial of his motion to suppress evidence. ‘

We reverse.

ISSUE

Whether the trial court abused its discretion when it denied Walker's motion to suppress evidence.

FACTS

On June 25, 2008, Sergeant Michael Elder (Elder) of the Indianapolis Police Department drafted the following probable cause affidavit for a search warrant, which in pertinent part reads:

[Elder] believes and has good cause to believe that a controlled substance, to wit: Marijuana, Cannabis, the possession of which is unlawful, is being kept[,] used and sold from the business located at 4715 W. 34th St, Urban Styles, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
‘ This affiant bases their [sic] belief on the following information: that within the past seventy-two hours of June 25, 2003, a confidential informant stated that they [sic] had knowledge that Marijuana was being kept, used and sold from the business, Urban Styles, at 4715 W. 34th St. The informant was searched for contraband and money with negative results. The informant was provided with informant funds and then went directly to 4715 W. 34th St., and went inside. The informant was kept under constant visual surveillance from the time the informant left this affiant until they [sic] arrived and went inside the business. During the time the informant was inside no one else came or left. The informant left the business, came directly to this affiant and immediately surrendered a package of suspected Marijuana and was again searched with negative results. The informant stated that while inside the business, Urban Styles, they [sic] had seen a B/M, 20's, 6'1" to 6'4," medium complexion, medium build with short hair, in possession of a substance and that the black male suspect told the informant that the substance he had in his possession was in fact Marijuana, and was for sale. Said informant is known by this affiant to be a past user of Marijuana, and knows Marijuana by its appearance and the manner in which it is packaged for sale. Said informant is confidential in that revealing the identity of the informant could directly endanger the life of the informant and would destroy any future use of the [594]*594informant. The suspected cocaine [sic] was tested by the Marion County Crime Lab and the substance came back positive for Marijuana.
Based upon the above information, I am requesting a search warrant be issued for the business located at 4715 W. 34th St., Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Said residence [sic] is described as one story business located in a strip mall. The numbers "4715" and the business name "Urban Styles" are on the front of the business. I request this search to include all rooms, closets, drawers, shelves and personal effects contained therein and thereon where Marijuana, Cannabis, may be concealed. I request this search to include all moneys, papers, records, documents, computer information or any other documentation which indicates or tends to indicate a violation or a conspiracy to violate the Indiana Controlled Substance Act. I further request this search to include the person of a B/M, 20's, 61" to 6'4", medium complexion, and medium build with short hair.

(App.23).

A search warrant was issued. On June 26, 2003, the search warrant was executed at the barbershop. "There were approximately eight other subjects inside the store... [tThere was also an approximately eight to ten year old boy in the barber chair at the time this happened." (App.16). Two people in the barbershop were arrested for possession of marijuana that was found on their persons. A search of the barbershop revealed two trashcans, which contained marijuana, seeds of marijuana plants, and a box that contained two bags of marijuana. Two sets of scales were found in the bathroom's medicine cabinet. Walker, the owner, was also arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, as a class D felony, and dealing in marijuana, as a class D felony.

On September 8, 2008, Walker filed a motion to suppress evidence on the basis that the underlying affidavit for the warrant lacked probable cause. On November 7, 2008, evidence was presented to the trial court, and the motion was denied.

On January 27, 2004, this matter was tried to the bench. Walker renewed his objection to the items seized during the search being admitted into evidence. His objection was overruled, and the marijuana, seeds, stems and scales were entered into evidence. Walker was found guilty as charged.

DECISION

The review of a denial of a motion to suppress is similar to other sufficiency matters. Marlowe v. State, 786 N.E.2d 751, 758 (Ind.Ct.App.2003). We do not reweigh the evidence and we consider conflicting evidence most favorable to the trial court's ruling. Id. However, unlike the typical sufficiency of the evidence case where only the evidence favorable to the judgment is considered, we must also consider the uncontested evidence favorable to the defendant. Id.

The federal and state constitutions guarantee that a court will not issue a search warrant without probable cause. Overstreet v. State, 788 N.E.2d 1140, 1157 (Ind.2003) (citing U.S. CONST. Amend IV; Ind. Const. Art. I, § 11). In Indiana, this protection has been codified in Indiana Code $ 35-38-5-1. Probable cause is established when a sufficient basis of fact exists to permit a reasonably prudent person to believe that a search of those premises will uncover evidence of a crime. Leicht v. State, 798 N.E.2d 204, 207 (Ind. Ct.App.20083), trams. denied. The decision to issue the warrant should be based on the facts stated in the affidavit and the [595]*595rational and reasonable inferences drawn therefrom. Id.

With some exception, "no warrant for search or arrest shall be issued until there is filed with the judge an affidavit" containing specific information. Ind.Code. § 85-38-5-2. To address Walker's argument, we will focus on the affidavit's requirement that the affiant had good cause to believe that the items searched for will be in the location requested to be search. Id.

A reviewing court is to focus on whether a "substantial basis" existed for a warrant authorizing the search or seizure, and doubtful cases are to be resolved in favor of upholding the warrant. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 2183, 2836-39, 108 S.Ct. 2817, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983), reh'g. denied. In determining whether a substantial basis exists, the reviewing court, with significant deference to the magistrate's determination must "focus on whether reasonable inferences drawn from the totality of the evidence support the determination." Houser v. State, 678 N.E.2d 95, 99 (Ind.1997).

Walker argues that "[the affidavit in this case provided no basis to permit a reasonable person to believe that a search of Walker's business would uncover evidence of a crime because it utterly failed to link the unidentified person mentioned in the affidavit to the barbershop." Walker's Br. 5-6. We agree.

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Walker v. State
829 N.E.2d 591 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2005)

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Bluebook (online)
829 N.E.2d 591, 2005 Ind. App. LEXIS 1107, 2005 WL 1432616, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/walker-v-state-indctapp-2005.