Category Archives: Inevitable discovery

CA9: Inevitable discovery doesn’t apply when it’s speculative

The good faith exception doesn’t apply where binding appellate precedence doesn’t specifically authorize the officer’s actions. And, as to inevitable discovery of defendant’s cell phone seizure, it was found speculative because he happened to be at the scene and they … Continue reading

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D.Neb.: SW for property not overbroad and sought in GF; it objectively was a single-family home

The officers did their due diligence before the search warrant and saw only that defendant’s property was a single-family dwelling. That’s how it appeared, that’s what public records said. Therefore, they searched in good faith. United States v. Rice, 2024 … Continue reading

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KS: Ptf’s criminal case reversed and dismissed for a 4A violation was not factually innocent for wrongful conviction compensation

Plaintiff had his conviction reversed for an illegal search. On remand, the prosecutor dismissed. He sought compensation for his unlawful conviction. He gets no relief. State law only provides for compensation for the factually innocent, and that’s not this. In … Continue reading

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DE: Inevitable discovery can’t be based on speculation

The state’s argument on inevitable discovery is really based on speculation, and that’s not enough. State v. Franks, 2024 Del. Super. LEXIS 561 (Aug. 1, 2024). Plaintiff was arrested for drugs, held five months, then released. “We hold that the … Continue reading

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OR: First cell phone SW found unexpected SD card, second SW was tainted by overbreadth of first

Defendant’s cell phone was seized in 2011 and an SD card was unexpectedly found with sexual images of children. When defendant questioned that, a separate search warrant was sought for the SD card. The state does not show inevitable discovery … Continue reading

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Cal.4: Defense subpoena for social media records was not improperly issued and enforced; holders of records got to be heard under SCA

Denying the state’s motion to quash a criminal subpoena duces tecum issued to social media companies was not error. Under the Stored Communications Act, the trial court allowed the companies an opportunity to be heard, conducted a sufficient analysis of … Continue reading

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CA5: The fact the officer was in an interstate highway drug interdiction team was unavailing because there was a lawful basis for the stop

“Rocha Nevarez’s argument that the stop was unlawful from the start because the trooper was part of a roving drug interdiction team is unavailing. The state trooper witnessed Rocha Nevarez drift over the fog line on eastbound Interstate 20 on … Continue reading

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D.N.M.: Summary judgment for defs denied in Torres v. Madrid on remand

On remand in Torres v. Madrid, 141 S. Ct. 989, 209 L.Ed.2d 190 (Mar. 25, 2021), the defendant’s summary judgment motion is denied. Torres v. Madrid, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117079 (D.N.M. July 2, 2024).* An out-of-state temporary plate where … Continue reading

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D.N.M.: Conflict of laws: Does the law of the circuit of the search apply or where the court sits?

Conflict of laws: The search was in the Ninth Circuit but the court sits in the Tenth. Which version of the independent source doctrine applies? As interesting as that question is, despite differences, it doesn’t actually matter here, because it … Continue reading

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MO: Search incident can happen at mobile booking center without going to jail

A search incident can occur even where defendant is at a mobile booking place without being transported to jail. State v. Boehmer, 2024 Mo. App. LEXIS 314 (May 14, 2024). Defendant’s concession in the trial court that the stop and … Continue reading

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NM: New crime after alleged illegal seizure not suppressed

Defendant’s new crimes after his alleged illegal seizure are not suppressed. State v. Morgan, 2024 N.M. App. LEXIS 23 (May 13, 2024). Tossing a backpack in flight from the police is abandonment. United States v. Anderson, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS … Continue reading

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NC: Lack of findings for denial of motion to suppress precludes review; remanded

After a suppression hearing, the trial court orally denied the motion to suppress after hearing conflicting evidence. The state was to prepare findings and didn’t. After defendant was convicted on that evidence, there was nothing for the appeal. Remanded for … Continue reading

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CA10: AOL scanned emails for CP, found some, and forwarded to NCMEC; what NCMEC did did not matter and that’s inevitable discovery

“We conclude that the inevitable discovery exception to exclusion applies, and therefore we need not address whether NCMEC violated the Fourth Amendment by opening Tolbert’s emails and attachments or whether the good faith exception to exclusion would apply. The evidence … 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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D.Ariz.: Federal wildlife officer can make speeding stop in national wildlife refuge

A federal wildlife officer has the authority to make a stop for speeding in a national wildlife refuge under 50 C.F.R. § 27.31(a), (d). [Virginia v. Moore goes unmentioned: The stop would not violate the Fourth Amendment in any event.] … Continue reading

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E.D.Wis: Faced with motion to suppress DNA evidence, govt can seek it again

The government obtained DNA and defendant moved to suppress. Then the government sought DNA by warrant again with a new warrant. It is permitted to do so. United States v. Watson, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 185148 (E.D. Wis. Oct. 16, … Continue reading

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CA10: Inevitable discovery applies despite lack of PC in first SW

Even though the initial search warrant was issued without probable cause, inevitable discovery can still apply. United States v. Streett, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 26423 (10th Cir. Oct. 5, 2023):

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S.D.Ind. Warrant for video surveillance required under Title III

A warrant for CCTV surveillance of the defendant came under the wiretap statute, Title III, and necessity and probable cause was shown. United States v. Jones, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 178457 (S.D. Ind. Oct. 4, 2023). The totality of information … Continue reading

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CA2: CP download 8 mo. before SW at least saved by GFE if no PC

A single download of child pornography eight months before the warrant was sought was at least supported by the good faith exception even if there wasn’t probable cause. United States v. Pratt, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 25977 (2d Cir. Oct. … Continue reading

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W.D.N.C.: Alleged distinction between smell of MJ and hemp not material here

The distinction between the smell of legal hemp and illegal marijuana wasn’t material where the officer testified he smelled marijuana. United States v. Harris, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 164723 (W.D.N.C. Sep. 14, 2023).* Defendant was speeding. The stop produced a … Continue reading

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