Lead Opinion
OPINION
Riсhard Buccini petitioned for review, asserting that the court of appeals erred in reversing a superior court order suppressing evidence seized on a search warrant. State v. Buccini,
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Shortly after midnight on May 8, 1988, a pipe bomb exploded in the carport of Howard Moore’s Tucson home. Although Moore heard a loud explosion, he did not realize that his property had been damaged until the following morning. Moore then telephoned the police, and Officer Earn was dispatched to Moore’s home to secure the area and make a report.
Earn asked Moore who could have been responsible. Moore replied that he had been involved in a minor traffic accident six weeks earlier with a van owned by Canyon Ranch. The driver of the van, Richard Buccini, apologized and offered to pay for the damage himself. He asked Moore not to report the accident to the police, as he was afraid that a citation would jeopardize his job. However, a bystander had already called the police. When the police arrived, Buccini claimed that Moore was partially at fault. The officer wrote a report on the accident but did not cite Buccini or Moore. Moore told Earn thаt his own insurance company had paid him for the damage but planned to ask for reimbursement from Canyon Ranch. Moore did not say that Buccini knew this or that he had lost his job as a result of the incident, nor did he report any further contact with Buccini. Moore also told Earn that the threat might relate to his position as president of the Veterinarian Association because it was part of his job to investigate claims against veterinarians. Moore could not, however, identify any particular situations that could relate to this threat.
At about noon on May 12, 1988, Kadous went to Buccini’s apartment to interview him. Kadous was aware only that Buccini and Moore had been involved in an automobile accident in March and that Moore could not think of anyone but Buccini who could have had a reason to threaten him. At the time of the interview, Kadous was apparently still uncertain about the exact time of the bombing, although he had spoken with Karn and possibly read her report disclosing the existence of the 911 call at 11:56. (Transcript of Hearing on Motion to Suppress — Kadous’ statement (HT).)
Buccini was cooperative when Kadous approached him, and invited him in. Ka-dous conducted a “pretape interview,” the content of which is disputed, and a taped interview. It is undisputed that Buccini denied having any involvement in the bombing and stated that he was at the Harp and Shamrock Bar until between 12:00 and 12:30 that night, giving the names of at least two witnesses who could verify this. (HT at 26.) Buccini then stated that after he left the bar, he went to his parents’ house, where he had a sandwich and spoke with his sister and father. He left his parents’ house at approximately 1:00 a.m. and went home.
After telling Kadous about the events of May 8, Buccini signed a form giving Ka-dous consent to search his apartment. During the search, Kadous found gun powder and certain types of fuses. Buccini explained that he was formerly an employee of Jensen’s Custom Ammunition and that he had a hobby of reloading ammunition. Buccini also mentioned, apparently even before the search, that he had used cannon fuse obtained at Jensen’s to try to detonate bleach and mothballs, and that he and a friend, Carl Weisel, at one time used to go out to dirt caves and set off grenade simulators.
Buccini was still employed at Canyon Ranch and had to be at work at 2:00 p.m. that day, so the search terminated after Kadous took possession of the gun powder and fuses. Kadous admits that Buccini was completely cooperative and even assisted Kadous as he searched. (HT at 44.)
Following the consent search and Bucci-ni’s departure for work, Kadous made a telephonic request for a search warrant.
A superior court judge, sitting as a magistrate (see A.R.S. § 1-215(13)), issued the search warrant, and Kadous conducted a
Buccini filed a motion to suppress the evidence seized pursuant to the search warrant on the ground that Kadous omitted or misrepresented material facts in the affidavit. Specifically, Buccini claimed the affidavit omitted material facts as to Buccini’s alibi, falsely stated there were no alibi witnesses, and falsely implied that Buccini attempted to terminate the search before all the evidence was uncovered, thus giving Kadous reason to think that Buccini would later conceal or destroy evidence. Buccini claimed that if Kadous had not made these material omissions and misrepresentations, the magistrate would not have found probable cause to issue the search warrant.
The trial court ordered an evidentiary hearing on the motion to suppress. Buccini and Kadous testified extensively at the hearing. At the conclusion of the testimony, the trial court granted the motion to suppress. The trial judge found that Ka-dous falsely stated in the affidavit that Buccini did not have anyone to confirm his alibi. The trial judge also found that the affidavit omitted the information about where Buccini claimed to have been on the night of the bombing and the names of his alibi witnesses. The judge believed that including this additional information would have prompted the magistrate issuing the warrant to inquire whether Kadous had attempted to verify the alibi. The trial judge also found that the affidavit falsely implied that Buccini was uncooperative. Instead, the affidavit should have included the truthful statement that Buccini was cooperative throughout the investigation. The judge concluded that oncе the false information was eliminated and the omitted material information added, the affidavit was insufficient to show probable cause.
Upon the state’s motion, the case was dismissed without prejudice. The state then appealed from the suppression order (see A.R.S. § 13-4032(7)), alleging that the trial court used an incorrect standard to judge the contents of the affidavit and therefore abused its discretion in suppressing the evidence.
The court of appeals correctly noted that a defendant may challenge the veracity of factual statements contained in an affidavit supporting the issuance of a warrant. Buccini,
Buccini then petitioned for review, asserting that the court of appeals erred in disregarding the findings of the trial court judge, which were based on her assessment of the “facts and witness credibility,” and improperly substituted its own judgment on the facts to find that the search warrant was supported by probable cause.
DISCUSSION
A. The Parties Assert that Abuse of Discretion Standard Applies
Buccini argues that a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress must be upheld absent an abuse of discretion, and that its findings of fact underlying the motion to supрress must be accepted unless clearly erroneous. Petition for Review (PR) at 14-15. According to Buccini, the trial court’s finding that the redrafted search warrant did not establish probable cause was essentially a factual determination.
Agreeing that the appropriate inquiry is whether the trial court abused its discretion, the state claims, first, that the trial court did not find that Kadous intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly lied to the magistrate. Opposition to PR at 5-6. Second, even if such falsehoods are assumed to exist and deleted from the affidavit, the redrafted affidavit contains facts that show probable cause.
B. Review of a Trial Court’s Findings at a Franks Hearing
1. Allegations Pertaining to Falsity of Averments
In Franks, the Supreme Court held that a defendant is entitled to a hearing to challenge a searсh warrant affidavit when he shows (1) that the affiant knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth included a false statement in the affidavit, and (2) the false statement was necessary to the finding of probable cause.
2. Nature of the Falsehood
This court has followed Franks when considering challenges as to the truthfulness of factual statements in a search warrant affidavit. State v. Carter,
On appeal, different standards are used to review the trial court’s findings as to whether the affiant included a knowing, intentional, or reckless misstatement of fact and whether the redrafted affidavit establishes probable cause. A trial court’s finding on whether the affiant deliberately included misstatements of law or excluded material facts is a factual determination, upheld unless “clearly erroneous.” United States v. Fawole,
In this case, as Buccini notes, the trial judge was in a unique position to judge Kadous’ credibility and determine that he was on notice of material facts that he either misstated or omitted entirely from the affidavit. The Court in Franks stressed that the showing for probable cause must be “truthful, in the sense that the information put forth is believed or appropriately accepted by the affiant as true.”
We conclude that the trial judge was correct in following the first prong of Franks and redrafting the search warrant affidavit to exclude the material misstatements and include the relevant omitted facts. We must now determine whether the redrafted search warrant was sufficient to establish probable cause.
3. The Probable Cause Issue
The court of appeals apparently reviewed the trial court’s probable cause determination under an abuse of discretion standard. Buccini,
Although in most instances a magistrate’s finding that sufficient probable cause exists to issue a search warrant will not be overturned unless it is clearly erroneous, this rule does not apply when a trial court reviews an affidavit that was submitted to the magistrate and later found to have been supported by false statements. Elliott,
Moreover, as the McConney court noted, de novo review is proper when a mixed question of law and fact implicates constitutional rights.
4. Application of the Probable Cause Standard
In undertaking de novo review of the probable cause determination under the redrafted affidavit, we must apply the standard articulated by the United States Supreme Court in Illinois v. Gates,
An officer has probable cause to conduct a search if a reasonably prudent person, based upon the facts known by the officer, would be justified in concluding that the items sought are connected with the criminal activity and that they would be found at the place to be searched.
The redrafted affidavit indicates that Kadous knew the following facts at the time he applied for the search warrant: first, Moore, the victim of the bombing, had been involved in a minor traffic accident with Buccini several weeks before the bombing; second, a note reading “drop it” was found on the victim’s vehicle; third, Buccini could account for his whereabouts on the night in question and had named several witnesses who could verify his presence at the bar and at his parents’ residence before, during, and after the bombing, which occurred at 11:56 p.m.;
In this case, the prоperty to be seized constituted items that could be used to make an explosive device. Buccini never denied that he had worked in an ammunition supply store and that he kept such items in connection with his reloading hobby. We have no quarrel, then, with the court of appeals’ statement that there was probable cause to believe that such items would be found in the search. Buccini,
" The affidavit recounts the fact that Buc-cini and Moore were involved in a traffic accident. There was no evidence that the encounter was hostile or that Buccini later evinced any threatening behavior toward Moore. Further, there was no evidence that the note reading “drop it” was tied in any way to Buccini. It is not alleged in the affidavit or otherwise that Moore or his insurer had instituted any type of proceedings against Buccini or that Buccini was aware of any threat to do so. Thus, the phrase “drop it” seems to have little relevance when related to an incident that occurred weeks earlier. In short, the affidavit does not show that, so far as Buccini knew, Moore had anything to “drop.”
The facts relating tо Buccini’s alibi, then, were critical to the probable cause determination. If Buccini had a firm alibi for the time of the bombing, there would be no basis to believe that the items in his home were connected to the bombing, and therefore no probable cause. Absent facts indicating that the alibi was untrue, we cannot say that a reasonably prudent person would be justified in concluding that the items sought were connected with criminal activity. To the contrary, the officer’s deliberate or reckless omission and misstatement of material facts indicates that he was acting mainly upon a suspicion or hunch that Buccini was responsible for the bombing. An officer’s mere suspicion that a search will reveal items connected to criminal activity is not sufficient to establish probable cause. United States v. Kandlis,
The point of the Fourth Amendment, which is often not grasped by zealous officers, is not that it denies law enforcement the support of the usual inferences which reasonable men draw from evidence. Its protection consists in requiring that those inferences be drawn by a neutral and detached magistrate instead of being judged by the officer engaged in the often competitive enterprise of ferreting out crime.
We conclude, therefore, that the redrafted affidavit does not provide probable cause to support the issuance of the warrant. The redrafted affidavit fails to show probable cause connecting Buccini or Bucci-ni’s home with the crime. While it shows that he possessed property of the type that might be connected with the crime, it also shows that this possession is explained and is not refuted by any facts cited in the affidavit. Further, the redrafted affidavit shows an alibi for the crime, and, again, the affidavit provides no facts indicating the alibi to be untrue or possibly untrue.
Because the materiality of false statements or omissions is reviewed de novo, we need not accord any special deference to the trial judge’s findings in this regard. See Grandstaff,
We realize that probable cause is a somewhat “fluid concept” that turns on “the assessment of probabilities in particular factual contexts.” Gates,
The rule in non-Franks cases considers the general presumption of validity of a search warrant and the deference given to a magistrate’s determination of probable cause in concluding that in a “doubtful or marginal case a search under a warrant may be sustainable wherе without one it would fail.” See 2 W. LA FAVE, SEARCH & SEIZURE § 4.4 at 199 (2d ed. 1987) (quoting United States v. Ventresca,
[W]hen it has been established that the earlier finding of probable cause was based upon a broader set of “facts,” some of which are now shown to be false, there is no longer any reason to give deference to that earlier finding. Thus, when a court reassesses a search warrant affidavit with the false allegations excised, a “doubtful or marginal case” should be resolved in the defendant’s favor. That is, in such circumstances the probable cause determination should be made as it would upon a motion to suppress evidence obtained without a warrant.
Id.
The policy underlying Franks seeks to mitigate the dangers of the ex parte procedure used to obtain a search warrant, and to deter over-zealous officers from supplying false information in their efforts to obtain access to the constitutionally protected privаcy of one’s home or car. See Franks,
CONCLUSION
We hold that an appellate court must use a dual standard to review a search warrant redrafted after a Franks hearing. The factual determinations of the trial judge as to the officer’s knowing, intentional, or reckless misstatements or omissions must be reviewed under a “clearly erroneous” standard. Under that standard, the trial court did not err in its implicit finding that the affidavit was, at least, recklessly false.
The legal determination of probable cause, however, must be reviewed de novo. In this case, we do not find that the redrafted affidavit was sufficient to support probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant. Therefore, we vacate the court of appeals’ opinion and affirm the trial
. The following facts are taken from the State’s Opposition to Motion to Suppress, Exhibit C, Officer Karn’s Report.
. Under A.R.S. § 13-3914(C), a magistrate may take the affiant’s oral statement under oath by telephone. This statement is recorded and deemed to be an affidavit for purposes of issuance of a search warrant.
. The relevant text of the search warrant affidavit is set forth in Appendix A to this opinion.
. The trial court’s order is set forth in Appendix B to this opinion.
. It was not necessary for the trial court to determine which of the three mental states Ka-dous possessed. Under the case law that preceded Franks, a misstatement by a government officer in the affidavit made with intent to deceive the magistrate was held to void the warrant altogether. 2 W. LA FAVE, SEARCH & SEIZURE § 4.4, at 198 (2d ed. 1987). This is still the law in some jurisdictions. See, e.g., State v. Malkin,
. The search warrant affidavit, redrafted in strict accordance with the trial judge’s factual findings, is set forth in Appendix C to this opinion.
. The dissent speculates that the alibi was not airtight. Infra at 560,
. The dissent infers that there was reason to believe material would be found in Buccini’s home that might be used for illegal activities.
. Cf. People v. McDaniel,
Concurrence Opinion
specially concurring:
The term probable cause has been troublesome since the beginning of our republic. Chief Justice John Marshall in 1813 stated:
[T]he term “probable cause,” according to its usual acceptation, means less than evidence which would justify condemna-tion____ It imports a seizure made under circumstances which warrant suspicion.
Locke v. United States,
Others have tried to bring some harmony into the meaning stressing that:
[There is a] difference between what [evidence] is required to prove guilt in a criminal case and what [evidence] is required to show probable cause for arrest or search____ There is a large difference between the two things to be proved, as well as between the tribunals which determine them, and therefore a like difference in the quanta and modes of proof required to establish them.
In dealing with probable cause, however, as the very name implies, we deal with probabilities. These are not technical; they are the factual and practical considerations of everyday life on which reasonable and prudent men, not legal technicians, act. The standard of proof is accordingly correlative to what must be proved.
Brinegar v. United States,
To show probable cause it is not necessary that the arresting officer should have had before him legal evidence of the suspected illegal act. It is enough if the apparent facts which have come to his attention are sufficient in the circumstances, to lead a reasonably discreet and prudent man to believe that liquor is illegally possessed in the automobile to be searched.
Husty v. United States,
Evidence required to establish guilt is not nеcessary. On the other hand, good faith on the part of the arresting officers is not enough. Probable cause exists if the facts and circumstances known to the officer warrant a prudent man in believing the offense has been committed.
Henry v. United States,
[P]robable cause ... is [a] reasonable ground of probability supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves to warrant a cautious man in believing the accused guilty. “Probable cause” or “reason to believe”, therefore, is like a third-quarter percentile; it is more information than would justify the officer saying, “From all the circumstances I suspect this man”, but it need not be such information as would justify the officer in saying, “From all the circumstances I know this is the man”.
Monroe v. Pape,
Probable cause is more than mere suspicion. Facts that would cause the officer to investigate the matter further differ from facts that support a finding of probable cause. In this case, absent the false statements, the affidavit supported only a mere suspicion of defendant’s connection to the pipe bomb.
Defendant’s actions when questioned became important. His cooperation with the authorities is a point in his favor, though not conclusive. The inference in the affidavit, that the defendant did not cooperate and wanted to avoid the police, might, if true, provide the magistrate with the missing link to warrant a prudent man to rationally believe that there was probable cause to issue the warrant.
Because the defendant had the capacity to make a pipe bomb, a capacity he no
I would affirm the decision of the trial court.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent because, even when the affidavit is redrafted to exclude the false information and take into account the omitted “alibi,” sufficient evidence exists to support a reasonable finding of probable cause.
Under the Gates test, probable cause exists if a reasonable person would conclude “that the items sought are connected with criminal activity and that they would be found at the place to be searched.” State v. Carter,
Buccini’s explanation of his whereabouts, however, is not an alibi. “Alibi” is a Latin term meaning “elsewhere” or “in another place.” State v. Hubbard,
At the time the investigating officer submitted the oral, telephonic affidavit requesting a search warrant, the police believed that the bomb exploded on May 8 around 12:30 a.m., about the same time that Buccini, according to the redrafted affidavit, arrived at his parents’ house after leaving the Harp and Shamrock Bar. This information does not foreclose all probability of guilt, but instead suggests that Buccini had the opportunity to plant the bomb on his way to see his father and sister. The redrafted affidavit simply confirms the investigating officer’s beliefs expressed in the original affidavit; Buccini was in fact “out around at night at the time of the bombing” and “did not have any other” witnesses who could account for his actions from the time he left the bar, which is located near the victim’s residence, until he reached his parents’ house. The majority cannot assume, therefore, that the magistrate would have altered his ruling had the police recounted Buccini’s story in more detail.
A reasonable person could have also concluded at the time the search warrant was issued that at least some of the items seized in the consent search were illegally possessed, and therefore connected with illegal activities. The process of reloading ammunition does not require cannon or safety fuse. Such fuse is purchased and used with one purpose in mind — triggering explosive devices. The manufacturing and possession of small fireworks, not to mention the more powerful bleach/mothball charges and grenade simulators described in the redrafted affidavit, are strictly regulated under Arizona statutes. See A.R.S. §§ 36-1601 to -1608 (prohibiting the sale, use, or possession of any fireworks); §§ 13-3101 to -3104 (prohibiting the making and possession of “prohibited weapon[s],” including explosives, bombs, grenаdes, or a combination of materials designed or intended for use in making or converting a device into a prohibited weapon). Buccini does not claim an authorized
By dissenting, I do not condone any police officer’s attempt to sway a magistrate’s probable cause determination with false statements or material omissions. At this juncture, however, the propriety of the officer’s conduct is immaterial. When the court finds, as in this case, that an affiant knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly included a false statement or omitted relevant facts, the issue becomes whether the false or omitted information was necessary to the finding of probable cause. Franks v. Delaware,
Here, the omitted “alibi” information and the statement that Buccini appeared “in a hurry” during the consent search were not necessary to the magistrate’s ruling. As the court of appeals correctly reasoned, “[t]he bombing, the note left on the victim’s vehicle, and the victim’s prior encounter with Buccini, together with the powder and fuses found during the consent search, were alone sufficient to support the issuance of the warrant.” State v. Buccini,
APPENDIX A
SEARCH WARRANT AFFIDAVIT
On May 8th at 0030 hours a pipe bomb was placed in the garage of a Howard Moore on 9086 E. Holmes. The device was detonated causing damage to the garage and the victims’ vehicle. Also attached to the cаr window was a note which stated to “drop it.” An interview with Mr. Moore revealed that on March 31, 1988 he was involved in an accident with a Richard Buc-cini. Buccini insisted on paying for the damage so that he would not lose his job as a chauffeur-driver for Canyon Ranch Resort. Police were called anyway and a report was made. On May 12, this day, at 1130 hours I made contact with Richard Buccini at his residence. He invited me in and I interviewed him regarding this incident. He stated that he was on probation at Canyon Ranch Resort where he works because of the accident he was involved in as well as another vehicle accident that occurred a week after the March 31 accident. He also stated that he was out around at night at the time of the bombing and did not do it but did not have any other people to provide an alibi where he was at. I asked him if he would sign a consent to search form which he did at 1230 hours.
During the search I found gun powder, safety fuse and green cannon fuse which was consistent with the fuse used on the explosive device found at the garage area. While searching he stated that he got the items such as the cannon fuse to make an improvised explosive device using bleach and mothballs which he had learned in a publication and with a friend of his at Canyon Ranch. He also stated that he received some military paraphernalias [sic] and explosives from a Carl Weisel who last year the Tucson Police Department in conjunction with the FBI conducted an investigation in which he was found in possession of military ordinance [sic] and explosives. Those were also confiscated. While searching the residence Mr. Buccini was definitely in a hurry and was inferring that I leave the residence so thаt he could go to work at 1400 hours. The search was concluded and the items aforementioned were seized. A complete search was not done of the residence or the vehicle. It is believed that the evidence may be concealed or destroyed if not searched immediately.
APPENDIX B
TRIAL COURT’S ORDER
THE COURT FINDS that the statement in the affidavit that the defendant “did not have any other people to provide an alibi
THE COURT FURTHER FINDS that with the deletion of the false statement and the inclusion of the alibi statements, that the Judge would have been prompted to inquire further of the police officer as to his investigative efforts with regard to verifying the presence of the defendant with the alibi witnesses.
THE COURT FURTHER FINDS that the inclusion of the implication that the defendant was rushing the police officer in his search was incorrect. Rather, the officer should have included a statement that the defendant was, in fact, cooperating with the officer throughout the voluntary search, and that it was the officer who concluded the search based on his own knowledge that the defendant had to go to work that day.
Accordingly, THE COURT FINDS the remaining affidavit is insufficient to show probable cause and
IT IS ORDERED suppressing all fruits of the illegal search.
Minute Entry, March 29, 1989.
APPENDIX C
REDRAFTED SEARCH WARRANT AFFIDAVIT
On May 8 at 0030 hours a pipe bomb was placed in the garage of a Howard Moore on 9086 E. Holmes. The device was detonated causing damage to the garage and the victim’s vehicle. Also attached to the car window was a note which stated to “drop it.” An interview with Mr. Moore revealed that on March 31, 1988 he was involved in an accident with a Richard Buccini. Bucci-ni insisted on paying for the damage so that he would not lose his job as a chauffeur-driver for Canyon Ranch Resort. Police were called anyway and a report was made. On May 12, this day, at 1130 hours I made contact with Richard Buccini at his residence. He invited me in and I interviewed him regarding this incident. He stated that he was on probation at Canyon Ranch Resort where he works because of the accident he was involved in as well as another vehicle accident that occurred a week after the March 31 accident. He also stated that he was out around-at-night at the time of the bombing and-did- not do it but did not have -any other people to provide- an- alibi where he was at. He stated that he was at the Harp and Shamrock Bar on the night of the bombing, and named witnesses who could verify this, including Dwayne Nanna, among others. He also stated that he went to his parents’ home at approximately 12:30 and that his father and sister had noted his presence in the residence at that time. I asked him if he would sign a consent to search form which he did at 1230 hours.
During the search I found gun powder, safety fuse and green cannon fuse which was consistent with the fuse used on the explosive device found at the garage area. While searching he stated that he got the items such as the cannon fuse to make an improvised explosive device using bleach and mothballs which he had learned in a publication and with a friend of his at Canyon Ranch. He also stаted that he received some military paraphernalia and explosives from a Carl Weisel who last year the Tucson Police Department in conjunction with the FBI conducted an investigation in which he was found in possession of military ordnance and explosives. Those were also confiscated. While searching the residence Mr. Buecini-was-definitely in a hurry-and was inferring that I leave the residence-so -that -he-could go to work at ■1400 hours. The search was concluded and the — items—aforementioned—were—seized, Buccini was cooperative throughout the search. I concluded the search because I