Category Archives: Informant hearsay

D.Minn.: Regular CI had “extensive knowledge of street gangs, firearms, and narcotics distribution”; there was PC

The CI had “extensive knowledge of street gangs, firearms, and narcotics distribution,” and he’d been providing information for three months. The officers corroborated what they could. What little omissions there were in the affidavit weren’t material to the finding of … Continue reading

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MA: “Any persons present” clause in SW permitted search of one who left before search but hung around

“We conclude that a search warrant authorizing a search of ‘any person present’ allows a search of any person present in the property to be searched during the execution of the search warrant, including persons present during the execution but … Continue reading

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W.D.Pa.: Prisoners stated 4A claim for recording of attorney-client calls

Prison inmates stated a claim where their prison calls to their lawyers were recorded by the provider without their knowledge. “ICS’ contention that the recording here was proper because inmates have a lowered expectation of privacy is inapplicable. First, while … Continue reading

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CA7: CI identity irrelevant because of controlled buys

This case is about fentanyl on defendant’s person, so the identity of the CI that led police to him is irrelevant under Roviaro. Controlled buys justified his arrest. United States v. Johnson, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 4450 (7th Cir. Feb. … Continue reading

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DE: Def can’t show vindictive prosecution to get names of those who allegedly provided false information to police for SW of public records

In a case involving a public official accused of misappropriating funds, there was a search warrant for office records. She claimed she was entitled to the names of those who might have provided false information to investigators for the warrant … Continue reading

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E.D.Mich.: The SW failed particularity, but the govt proved inevitable discovery

“Defendant seeks to suppress all evidence seized from the subsequent 2018 search in this case because he argues the 2018 warrant was unconstitutionally overbroad. Although this Court concludes the 2018 search warrant violated the Fourth Amendment’s particularity requirement because it … Continue reading

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CA10: USMS Fugitive Task Force sufficiently different to not fall under Bivens

The USMS is sufficiently different from the defendants in Bivens to justify Bivens not applying where there was an alleged illegal entry of the Fugitive Task Force. Also, there are alternative administrative remedies. Logsdon v. United States Marshal Serv., 2024 … Continue reading

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WI: Drug dog “instinct exception” not applicable here, even if it is ever adopted

The court declines to adopt, at least for now, a drug dog’s “instinct exception” for the dog entering defendant’s car. Other courts have adopted that exception, but factually it doesn’t even apply here because the court finds the dog was … Continue reading

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Cal.5: Defective notice of Facebook warrant under CalECPA doesn’t require suppression

Defendant’s Facebook account was accessed by a search warrant issued under CalECPA. The notice provision was not complied with by the state, but the court declines to suppress here. The standard for suppression in CalECPA is the same as for … Continue reading

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MS: No REP against CI recording you in your own house during drug deal

911 was called about a man passed out in his pickup truck in his driveway at the street.There was no reasonable expectation of privacy against letting in a wired CI under Hoffa. Douglas v. State, 2024 Miss. LEXIS 24 (Jan. … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Good faith exception, Informant hearsay, Plain view, feel, smell, Probable cause, Reasonable expectation of privacy | Comments Off on MS: No REP against CI recording you in your own house during drug deal

OH11: Running passenger’s ID through database didn’t violate Rodriguez

With no Ohio cases on point, looking to federal cases, the court concludes that running the passenger’s ID too was incidental to the stop and didn’t unreasonably extend it. State v. Foti, 2024-Ohio-39, 2024 Ohio App. LEXIS 47 (11th Dist. … Continue reading

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WY: Def’s girlfriend showed apparent authority to enter their apartment after domestic dispute; Illinois v. Rodriguez redux

Officer’s reasonably relied on defendant’s girlfriend’s apparent authority to enter his apartment. She called 911 about what she described as a domestic assault where he struck her face. When police arrived, she was outside the apartment sitting on the stairs. … Continue reading

Posted in Apparent authority, Burden of proof, Informant hearsay, Inventory | Comments Off on WY: Def’s girlfriend showed apparent authority to enter their apartment after domestic dispute; Illinois v. Rodriguez redux

NY4: No standing in search of a common basement storage area “not associated with his apartment”

Defendant showed no standing to contest a search of a common basement storage area, “not associated with his apartment.” People v. Ocasio, 2023 NY Slip Op 06623, 2023 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 6727 (4th Dept. Dec. 22, 2023). Even if … Continue reading

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WA: Def’s first appearance where bail was set under Gerstein not critical stage requiring counsel because bail could be revisited

Defendant’s first appearance where bail was set under Gerstein was not a critical stage requiring counsel because bail could be revisited. State v. Heng, 2023 Wash. LEXIS 603 (Dec. 7, 2023). “The government contends that [the search] was justified both … Continue reading

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LA4: CI’s success rate not important when CI corroborated by controlled buy

The affidavit for the warrant here did, in fact, show probable cause and nexus from the informant’s reports corroborated by observations of the officers. The lack of a success rate by the CI wasn’t as important when he was corroborated … Continue reading

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S.D.N.Y.: If the SW lacks PC, the remedy is a motion to suppress, not a motion to rescind the SW via 41(g)

Defendant filed a motion for the court to rescind the search warrant for his cell phone under Rule 41(g) because it was allegedly defective. The remedy is a motion to suppress, not to rescind. United States v. Cardenas, 2023 U.S. … Continue reading

Posted in Cell phones, Good faith exception, Informant hearsay, Probable cause, Rule 41(g) / Return of property | Comments Off on S.D.N.Y.: If the SW lacks PC, the remedy is a motion to suppress, not a motion to rescind the SW via 41(g)

CA5: After a fire at def’s trailer, his false statements as to his whereabouts added to PC for SW for cell phone

Defendant lived at a trailer that burned, and a body was found inside. After it was determined that he gave false information about his whereabouts that day, state officers got a search warrant for his cell phone and location information. … Continue reading

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WV: State did not justify “officer safety” as reason for entry

The state failed to justify the entry here on officer safety grounds because their neighbor disturbance call included no reference to potential violence or threats and no good reason could be articulated other than “officer safety” which essentially is always … Continue reading

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S.D.Ohio: Evidence in plain view may be seized during protective sweep

It was permissible for officers to seize firearms seen in plain view during this protective sweep. United States v. Riley, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 198798 (S.D. Ohio Nov. 6, 2023). “Given the totality of the circumstances and the numerous distinctions … Continue reading

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CA8: Officer corroborated only CI’s objective information, not the crux, but that was enough for PC for automobile exception

There was no corroboration of the incriminating part of the CI’s tale that defendant, a convicted felon, kept a gun hidden under the hood of his car. “But Officer Princivalli had no reason to find Moore’s statements untrustworthy or unreliable. … Continue reading

Posted in Automobile exception, Excessive force, Informant hearsay, Seizure | Comments Off on CA8: Officer corroborated only CI’s objective information, not the crux, but that was enough for PC for automobile exception