Young v. State

1952 OK CR 25, 241 P.2d 424, 95 Okla. Crim. 149, 1952 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 194
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Young v. State. Read the opinion of the Court — 275 P.2d 358
Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma·Decided February 20, 1952·No. No. A-11501·Published

Opinion

POWELL, J.

This is an appeal by Bill Young, hereinafter referred to as defendant, who was charged, tried and convicted of the crime of unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor in the county court of Okmulgee county. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and assessed defendant’s punishment at thirty days in the county jail, and a fine of $50.

Prior to trial defendant filed a motion to suppress the evidence “for the reason that the purported search warrant and affidavit were not issued, served and returned according to law.” After hearing, the trial court overruled this motion. Counsel argue that the search warrant was a “blanket warrant” in that it described the premises of two separate families. This is the vital issue raised.

[150]*150Mrs. R. D. Holleman testified in support of the motion. She stated that her husband, who was a nephew of defendant, lived with witness and their daughter in three rooms of the eleven rooms leased by the defendant at the address described in the search warrant. Witness stated that they were living in said three rooms on February 17, 1950, and paid $35.00 per month rent, and she produced some rent receipts which were purportedly signed “Bill Young” by defendant’s wife, and given to the husband of witness. Mrs. Young was not called as a witness. Mrs. Holleman stated that she guessed the writing was Mr. Young’s. The receipts covered a period from December 5, 1949, to March 20, 1950, and were admitted in evidence over the objection of the county attorney. The receipts were never properly identified.

The defendant, Bill Young, testified in support of his motion to suppress. He stated that he rented to the Hollemans, but that his wife prepared the receipts and signed his name to them. On cross-examination witness stated that there were eleven rooms in the building upstairs, and the lower floor was divided into a fish market and a radio shop, but that he leased only the eleven rooms upstairs; that he leased from a Mr. Thomas, and lived in five of the rooms, and rented the other rooms out as furnished apartments, and that these apartments were furnished with beds and other furniture.

Counsel next called as a witness Blane Hill, who stated that he vías chief of police of Okmulgee, and that he served the search warrant involved. Witness further stated that he was familiar with the premises described in the search warrant, and being a two-story brick building with a fish market and radio shop down stairs. On cross-examination by the state, witness stated that he had recently visited the eleven rooms in question and since November, 1949, until the time of trial, had visited the premises approximately seven or eight times, and that during such visits he had not observed any other family living upstairs, other than that of defendant, 'consisting of defendant, his wife and little girl. Witness stated that he had seen other people up there, but that they did not live there. He stated that he had been in all of the eleven rooms; that when he raided the place and obtained the liquor in question that the defendant told him that he had part of his rooms rented out to a glass worker, but that he had not yet moved in; that he was to have the northwest apartment and that the doors to that apartment were standing wide open. Witness further testified:

“Q. Over the period December 5, 1949 to March 20, 1950, a period of four months, how many times have you raided that property? A. Three or four times. Q. Did you observe anybody there besides the ones you have mentioned? A. No, sir, I have not.”

On re-cross-examination, witness testified:

“Q. Captain Hill, these other rooms, did you see any one room outside the two you mentioned, was any room completely furnished with beds, were they in a condition to be rented? A. I never seen a room completely furnished. I never have seen one completely furnished. Q. What were they being used for * * :r ? A. There were some papers and stuff scattered around on the floors. One room had a big Chester [sic] drawers and a big cabinet and some loose papers in them.”

Under the facts stated, did the court err in concluding that the warrant was not a “blanket warrant”, that is, did more than one family occupy the premises searched? All parties would concede, of course, that the burden of proving the invalidity of a search warrant is on the .defendant presenting the motion to suppress the evidence obtained under authority of such warrant. Clasby v. State, 78 Okla. Cr. 45, 143 P. 2d 430; Isbell v. State, 78 Okla. Cr. 78, 143 P. 2d 627; Jones v. State, 83 Okla. Cr. 358, 177 P. 2d 148.

[151]*151Here the defendant and one other witness testified that the Hollemau family occupied three rooms of defendant’s eleven rooms at the time of the search in question. A third witness offered by the defendant denied that any family other than that of defendant occupied .the room. He stated that there were no beds except in defendant’s apartment. Thus there was a conflict in the evidence. It was the duty of the court to decide this conflict. The court had opportunity to observe the witnesses, to note their demeanor, consider their interest in the ease and by such aids reach what he would determine to be a true conclusion based on such evidence. In Akers v. State, SO Okla. Cr. 160, 212 P. 2d 170, this court said:

“Trial court’s ruling on motion to suppress evidence will be upheld where' the evidence introduced at the hearing on said motion is conflicting and there is ample evidence to support the court’s finding.”

See, also, Pickens v. State, 71 Okla. Cr. 167, 110 P. 2d 319; Dawson v. State, 83 Okla. Cr. 263, 175 P. 2d 368; Wood v. State, 76 Okla. Cr. 89, 134 P. 2d 1021.

It is of no consequence that the evidence introduced was that offered by the defendant. Clark v. State, 65 Okla. Cr. 56, 82 P. 2d 844; Jackson v. State, 12 Okla. Cr. 446, 158 P. 292; Brady v. State, 91 Okla. Cr. 367, 219 P. 2d 267, 273.

It is further argued by counsel for defendant that the search warrant was not “returned” as provided by law, in that it was signed by Blane Hill, who did not place after his signature the words .“Chief of Police of Okmulgee.” It is argued that such failure made void the search. From the warrant and return offered in evidence by defendant, it appears that the return was signed by Blane Hill, and just under the signature appeared the word “Officers” and just under this word appears the names of Blane Hill, George Carter and R. D. Blaine. The return, therefore, indicates that Blane Hill and the other persons signing were officers, and the evidence offered by defendant on motion to suppress developed that Blane Hill was the chief of police of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and on trial the evidence of the State so showed.

No attempt is made by the defendant to show that the irregularity in question prejudiced him in any way. This court in the case of Byrd v. State, 91 Okla. Cr. 433, 219 P. 2d 1027, 1028, said:

“In this connection the evidence discloses that the warrant was served on the defendant in person. There is no showing that the search and seizure was not legally made, or that prejudice resulted to the defendant in the officer’s failure to comply with the statutory requirements in making his return. Under these conditions the same does not constitute reversible error.

It has even been held by this court in many cases that the failure of the officers to make any return at all does not necessarily constitute reversible error. In Crim v. State, 68 Okla. Cr.

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Young v. State, 1952 OK CR 25, 241 P.2d 424, 95 Okla. Crim. 149, 1952 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 194 (Okla. Ct. App. 1952).

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1950 OK CR 64 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1950)
Byrd v. State
1950 OK CR 82 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1950)
Brady v. State
1950 OK CR 71 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1950)
Jones v. State
1946 OK CR 13 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1946)
Witzel v. State
1949 OK CR 46 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1949)
Don Nowlin v. State
1938 OK CR 100 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1938)
Clark v. State
1938 OK CR 88 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1938)
Jackson v. State
1916 OK CR 64 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1916)
Crim v. State
1940 OK CR 12 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1940)
Wood v. State
1943 OK CR 22 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1943)
Clasby v. State
1943 OK CR 122 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1943)
Akers v. State
1949 OK CR 117 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1949)
Kennamer v. State
1936 OK CR 32 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1936)
Isbell v. State
1943 OK CR 125 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1943)
Dawson v. State
1946 OK CR 118 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1946)
Pickens v. State
1941 OK CR 18 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1941)