Lead Opinion
OPINION
In this intеrlocutory appeal, appellant-defendant Otis Lloyd contests the denial of his motion to suppress the marijuana discovered during a search of his apartment. In particular, Lloyd contends that the deputy sheriff conducted the search pursuant to an invalid search warrant. He further contends that the State cannot circumvent the invalid warrant through the good faith exception.
FACTS
On May 11, 1995, Morgan County Deputy Sheriff Larry D. Sanders appeared before a Morgan County magistrate to obtain a search warrant for Lloyd’s apartment in Bloomington, Indiana. In order to procure the warrant, Deputy Sanders testified to the facts which he believed established probable cause. In particular, Deputy Sanders stated that he had attempted an undercover marijuana purchase from Virginia Buckley. During the attempted purchase, Deputy Sanders followed Buckley to an apartment in Bloom-ington which she identified as belonging to her source and observed her enter. Shortly thereafter, Buckley exited the apartment and informed Sanders that “he’s not home right now, he dоesn’t have anything.” Record at 8.Thereafter, Deputy Sanders discovered that Lloyd lived in the apartment where Buckley attempted to purchase marijuana.
Approximately one and one-half weeks later, Deputy Sanders attempted another undercover buy from Buckley. This time Buckley handed Deputy Sanders some marijuana and informed him that she could get more
On June 28, 1995, Lloyd was charged with Possession of Marijuana,
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
Lloyd raises several challenges to the validity of the search of his apartment. First, Lloyd contends that Deputy Sanders faded to establish probable cause as required by the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and IND. CODE § 35-33-5-2(b) since the information supporting a finding of probable cause was based on Buckley’s unreliable hearsay statements. Second, Lloyd argues that the good faith exceptions set forth by the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Leon,
I. Probable Cause
Both the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
When reviewing a magistrate’s decision to issue a warrant, this court applies a deferential standard. Ornelas v. United States, — U.S. -, -,
In the instant case, the majority of the evidence presеnted by Deputy Sanders in support of the warrant consisted of the hearsay statements of Virginia Buckley. Hearsay statements, which are statements made by one other than the declarant while testifying at a trial or hearing and which are offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted, may be used to establish probable cause. However, both the Indiana legislature and the United States Supreme Court have set forth certain requirements to ensure that the hearsay used to support the probable cause finding is rehаble.
(1) contain[s] reliable information establishing the credibility of the source and of each of the declarants of the hearsay and establishing that there is a factual basis for the information furnished; or
(2) contain[s] information that establishes that the totality of the circumstances corroborates the hearsay.
Similar to section two of the statute, the fеderal test for ensuring the reliability of a hearsay statement in determining probable cause allows the use of hearsay if the totality of the circumstances corroborates the hearsay. Illinois v. Gates,
To determine whether the totality of the circumstances corroborates the hearsay, a magistrate considers whether there is a fair probability, given all the circumstances, including the veracity and basis of knowledge of the persons supplying the hearsay information, that evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. Bigler,
II. Good Faith
Generally a search conducted pursuant to an invalid warrant results in the suppression of any items seized. However, an exception has been carved out under both federal and Indiana law in which a search will be deemed valid if the State can show that the officer conducting the search relied in good faith upon a propеrly issued, but subsequently invalidated warrant. Leon,
To support his argument, Lloyd relies on our supreme court’s holdings in Everroad v. State,
In Bradley, the magistrate issued a search warrant which permitted the police to search for stolen property аt the defendant’s address. Bradley,
The facts in the present case are distinguishable from Everroad and Bradley. Unlike the officers in those cases, Deputy Sanders had firsthand knowledge that Buckley once attempted to obtain marijuana from Lloyd’s apartment in Bloomington for the purpose of selling it to Deputy Sanders. This firsthand knowledge, when viewed in conjunction with Buckley’s hearsay statement that she “could run back to Blooming-ton” where “her source still had some marijuana” caused Deputy Sanders to harbor an objective belief in the validity of the warrant.
The dissent contends that Officers Sanders’ belief in the warrant was not objectively reasonable since “Sanders had no firsthand knowledge of any other fact related to Lloyd,” other than the fact that Buckley previously attempted to obtain marijuana from Lloyd. The dissent further contends that Buckley’s hearsay statements about “her source” in Bloomington “do not provide any nexus with Lloyd unless one makes the improbable inference that Lloyd was the only source of marijuana in Bloomington.” (emphasis added). Thus, the dissent concludes this evidence could have left Deputy Sanders with only a “hunch” that Lloyd was Buckley’s source of marijuana and that therefore, the warrant was lacking in indicia of probable cause.
By employing this analysis, the dissent has essentially eradicated the good faith excep
In the instant case, a neutral and detached magistrate made a practical, common-sense decision based on all the circumstances that there was a fair probability that marijuana would be found in Lloyd’s apartment. Although, in retrospect, this court has determined that the magistrate erred, we cannot say that Deputy Sanders could not have held an objective good faith belief in the validity of the warrant. Deputy Sanders attempted two undercover marijuana purchases from Buckley within one and one-half weeks of each other. During the first attempted buy, Deputy Sanders observed Buckley enter Lloyd’s apartment for the purpose of obtaining marijuana. Although the first attempt was unsuccessful, one and one-half weeks later Deputy Sanders successfully purchased marijuana from Buckley who then explained that she could obtain more from “her source” in Bloomington. Based upon Deputy Sanders’ prior observation, a reasonable person could conclude that Buckley’s source was Lloyd, especially in light of the fact that Buckley gave no indication to the contrary. Thus, Deputy Sanders’ belief was more than a hunch and was objectively reasonable. Deputy Sanders conducted the search in good faith reliance upon the warrant pursuant to I.C. § 36-37-4-5 and Leon.
III. Article I, Section 11
Finally, Lloyd contends that the search of his apartment violated Article I, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution
Here, Deputy Sanders appeared before the magistrate to obtain a warrant. Upon hearing all of the evidence presented by Deputy Sanders, the magistrate issued the warrant. Relying on this properly issued
In sum, we conclude that the magistrate erred in issuing the warrant since Deputy Sanders did not establish probable cause to search Lloyd’s apartment. However, because Deputy Sanders acted in good faith reliance upon the warrant, the search was valid. Furthermore, the search was reasonable under Article I, Section 11. Thus, we affirm the trial court’s denial of the motion to suppress and remand for proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
Judgment affirmed.
Notes
. IND. CODE § 35-48-4-11.
. IND. CODE § 35-48-4-8.5.
. "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” U.S. Const, amend. IV.
. "A court may issue warrants only upon probable cause ...” I.C. § 35-33-5-1.
. This court defers to the magistrate’s decision in order to encourage law enforcement officers to obtain a warrant prior to conducting a search. Ornelas, — U.S. at -,
. The record also reveals that Buckley may have known Lloyd’s telephone number. R. at 8-9. However, even if this fact were true it does not corroborate Buckley’s hearsay statement, that Lloyd possessed marijuana in his apartment.
. I.C. § 35-37^1 — 5 provides in relevant part: (b) For purposes of this section, evidence is obtained by a law enforcement officer in good faith if:
(1) it is obtained pursuant to:
(A) a search warrant that was properly issued upon a determination of probable cause by a neutral and detached magistrate, that is free from obvious defects other than nondeli-berate errors made in its preparation, and that was reasonably believed by the law enforcement officer to be valid; ... and
(2) the law enforcement officer, at the time he obtains the evidence, has satisfied applicable minimum basic training requirements established by rules adopted by the law enforcement training board under IC 5-2-1-9.
I.C. § 35-37-4-5 requires an officer to have met the basic training requirements of I.C. § 5-2-1-9 in order for the good faith exception to apply. These requirements provide a basis for courts to determine whether an officer, in light of his or her training, conducted a search pursuant to an invalid warrant in objective good faith. Thus, where a well-trained officer would know that a search is illegal despite the magistrate’s authorization, the gоod faith exception will not apply. Doss,
. Lloyd also argues that the good faith exception does not apply because the warrant was based upon false information knowingly or recklessly supplied by the affiant, the warrant was facially deficient and the magistrate was not detached and neutral. However, Lloyd has faded to present a cogent argument in support of his assertions as required by Ind.Appellate Rule 8.3(A)(7). Thus, he has waived these arguments. Bieghler v. State,
.Specifically, the United States Supreme Court in Leon stated that the “suppression of evidence obtained pursuant to a warrant should be ordered only ... in those unusual cases in which exclusion will further the purpose of the exclusionary rule.” Id. at 918,
. The court in Leon noted that “[o]nce a warrant issues, there is literally nothing more the policeman can do in seeking to comply with the law.” Leon, 468 U.S. at 921,
. "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable search, or seizure, shall not be violated.” Ind. Const, art. I, § 11.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. I agree with thе majority that probable cause did not exist to support the warrant to search Lloyd’s apartment. However, I cannot agree that the good faith exception applies here because the testimony is so lacking in indicia of probable cause as to render an official belief in the validity of the warrant unreasonable. See Leon,
The majority acknowledges that Deputy Sanders did not establish Buckley’s credibility, the reliability of her information, or that she had firsthand knowledge that Lloyd possessed marijuana in his apartment. Op. at 73-74. The mаjority also concedes that Buckley never identified Lloyd as her source. Op. at 74. Nevertheless, the majority holds that the evidence seized under the authority of the warrant is admissible because “Deputy Sanders had firsthand knowledge that Buckley once attempted to obtain marijuana from Lloyd’s apartment for the purpose of selling it to Deputy Sanders.” Op. at 75. I disagree. Buckley’s representation that she attempted to obtain marijuana from Lloyd cannot be attributed to him. On one occasion Sanders observed Buckley go to Lloyd’s apartment, but Sanders had no firsthand knowledge of any other fact related to Lloyd. The majority miseharacterizes as a “fact” that “Buckley previously attempted to obtain marijuana from Lloyd.” Op. at 75. No reliable evidence supports that characterization.
The “firsthand knowledge” perceived by the majority is based upon the following: Deputy Sanders gave Buckley money and observed her go to an apartment that Sanders later learned belonged to Lloyd. After visiting the apartment, Buckley told Sanders that “he’s not homе right now, he doesn’t have anything.” Record at 8. There was nothing that Deputy Sanders personally observed which provided him with firsthand knowledge of a connection between Lloyd’s apartment and the sale of marijuana. These facts show only that Buckley took Sanders to Lloyd’s apartment stating that she would obtain marijuana and then reported that she could not. Sanders’ presence outside the apartment did not convert Buckley’s hearsay statements into Sanders’ knowledge. The testimony demonstrates that Sanders proceeded entirеly on a hunch that Lloyd was the source rather than from any reliable hearsay or firsthand knowledge of probable criminal activity attributable to Lloyd.
Deputy Sanders testified that he believed Buckley had obtained the marijuana which she sold to him from Lloyd. According to Sanders, Buckley told him that if he wanted more of the drug she “could run back to Bloomington” where “her source still had some marijuana.” Record at 7, 8. These
For the same reason, the evidence from Lloyd’s apartment could not have been obtained in good faith by a law enforcemеnt officer as required by Indiana Code § 35-37-4-5. Under the relevant statutory provision, evidence obtained by an unlawful search or seizure may not be excluded where the search warrant was properly issued upon a determination of probable cause by a neutral and detached magistrate and was reasonably believed by the law enforcement officer to be valid. I.C. § 35-37-4-5(b)(l)(A). As previously discussed, no probable cause supported the warrant, and Sanders could not have had a reasonable belief in its validity.
Further, Article I, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution provides an adequate and independent ground for excluding the evidence. See Michigan v. Long,
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable search, or seizure, shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person or thing to be seized.
The Indiana Supreme Court has stated that the purpose of Article I, § 11 is to protect those areas of life that Hoosiers regard as private from unreasonable police activity. Moran v. State,
Lloyd’s Indiana constitutional rights were violated when the search warrant was issued on a hunch. The groundless warrant used as authority for an unreasonable search was precisely the type of abuse which the framers intended to prevent. See id. at 539. The majority contends that this conclusion would eradicate the good faith exception. On the contrary, previous decisions of the United States Supreme Court and the Indiana Supreme Court have held that the exception is unavailable when the evidence is so lacking in indicia of probable cause as to render an official belief in the validity of the warrant unreasonable. Leon,
Our supreme court recognized the Leon good faith exception in Blalock v. State,
. Lloyd did not preserve or raise the issue of Sanders' qualification to testify under Indiana Code § 35-37-4-5, which requires that, in addition to good faith, the law enforcement officer must have satisfied applicable minimum basic training requirements adopted by the law enforcement training board. I.C. § 35-37-4-5(b)(2). Thus, we must assume on this record that Sanders was qualified to testify. Having met the training requirements, Sanders could not have had a reasonable belief that a hunch was sufficient to support the issuance of the warrant.
