Neugent v. State

• Decision Date: 26 October 1976
• Docket Number: 8 Div. 655
• Citation: 340 So.2d 55
• Parties: Louis E. NEUGENT, alias v. STATE.
• Court: Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Page 55

340 So.2d 55

Louis E. NEUGENT, alias v. STATE.

8 Div. 655.

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama.

Oct. 26, 1976.

William J. Baxley, Atty. Gen., and Carol Jean Smith, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State, petitioner.

Robert M. Hill, Jr., Florence, for respondent.

AFTER REMANDMENT

BOOKOUT, Judge.

This Court originally reversed the appellant's conviction, Ala.Cr.App., 340 So.2d 43. We were reversed by the Alabama Supreme Court, Ala., 340 So.2d 52. Following remandment by that Court, we summarily affirmed, on mandate of the Supreme Court, on August 24, 1976, 58 Ala.App., 340 So.2d 55. On rehearing the appellant raises certain points which were raised but not considered by this Court on the original appeal. Since we had concluded that the affidavit was insufficient to support the search warrant, we had pretermitted consideration of other alleged errors. We must now address ourselves to the following issues:

1. Was the misdescription of the premises to be searched of such a magnitude as to make the search warrant invalid?

2. Was it reversible error to allow the officer's affidavit to go to the jury where appellant is charged with Possession of amphetamines and the affidavit states that appellant was soon Selling amphetamines?

3. On cross-examination, may the prosecutor ask appellant's character witnesses if they Knew that appellant has committed specific offenses?

I

Although there appears to be some misdescription of the premises to be searched we do not find this to make the warrant fatal under the circumstances in the instant case.

We have held that the description in a search warrant is sufficient if officers can, with reasonable effort, ascertain and identify the place to be searched. If a prudent officer is able to locate the property definitely and with reasonable certainty from the face of the warrant, the description is sufficient. 'The description must be such that any person familiar with the locality can, by inquiring, identify the premises described.' Tyler v. State, 45 Ala.App. 155, 227 So.2d 442 (1969).

Here, the premises were described in the affidavit attached to the warrant as, 'Neugent Truck Stop and/or Lewis Neugent Residence.' The search warrant described the residence to be searched as being located, 'West of said Neugent Truck Stop on Highway 43, Tuscumbia, Alabama . . ..' The geographical location was set out in the affidavit with sufficient certainty to lead officers there:

'. . . The truck stop to be searched is reached by traveling South on U.S. Highway 43 from its intersection with U.S. Highway 72 for approximately one to one and one-half miles; the truck stop being located on the West side of U.S. Hwy. 43 . . ..'

Although the description was not fully accurate as to the type of construction of the buildings in question, the misdescription was not sufficient to mislead the law enforcement officers. The officers, by following the directions set out in the affidavit and warrant found the premises by proceeding on the highway set out therein the appropriate distance stated. There, they saw a large sign which read, 'Neugent's Truck Stop.' Therefore, pursuant to Tyler, supra, we believe the description was sufficient.

II

The trial judge did not conduct a pretrial hearing on the appellant's motion to suppress the fruits of the search. After the jury was impaneled and the trial commenced, the trial judge held a hearing on the motion to suppress, outside the presence of the jury. At that time, witnesses testified as to probable cause for issuance of the search warrant. The affidavit and search warrant were admitted into evidence in the probable cause hearing over appellant's objection that (1) the documents were not properly authenticated; (2) a photostatic copy was not the best evidence; (3) the official capacity of the magistrate was not shown; and (4) the return on the warrant was not dated.

The trial court overruled the appellant's motion to suppress, the jury was returned to the courtroom, and the trial resumed. During the course of the testimony of Officer Cooke, the State again offered the search warrant and supporting affidavit into evidence. Appellant renewed his previous objection thereto. The appellant did not object to the introduction of those documents on the ground of hearsay. However, during closing argument when the District Attorney apparently read from the affidavit, the appellant objected for the first time on the ground that such evidence was hearsay. The following transpired:

'MR. HUNT: We object to his reading that on the grounds that it is not evidence, it is hearsay.

'MR. PATTON: It is probable cause to secure a search warrant.

'BY THE COURT: Wasn't that introduced in evidence?

'MR. PATTON: Yes, sir.

'BY THE COURT: If it is evidence, it can be argued.

'MR. HUNT: We renew our objection on the grounds that the defendant has not had an opportunity to question this informant and to cross examine him on the statement he made.

'BY THE COURT: Overruled.'

A.

It would have been preferable to have had a pretrial hearing on all the appellant's motions so that hearsay evidence to support probable cause could not get intermingled with primary evidence in the trial. Hearsay evidence may be used in a probable cause hearing to support the issuance of a warrant. Jones v. United States, 362 u.S. 257, 80 S.Ct. 725, 4 L.Ed.2d 697 (1960). However, it may not be used as primary evidence to establish guilt during the trial. Tanner v. State, 259 Ala. 306, 66 So.2d 836 (1953); Pierce v. State (Okl.Cr.1955) 278 P.2d 852. In People v. Silverman, 26 A.D.2d 890, 274 N.Y.S.2d 190 (1966), the Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, stated the proper rule:

'The introduction into evidence of a search warrant is for the sole purpose of demonstrating that the search was lawful, as distinguished from unlawful. It has no probative value in establishing the guilt of the accused. . . .'

In Brinegar v. United States, 338, U.S. 160, 172, 69 S.Ct. 1302, 1309, 93 L.Ed. 1879, 1889 (1949), the United States Supreme Court found that there is a great difference between what is required to prove guilt in a criminal case and what is required to show probable cause for a search. In that case, Mr. Justice Jackson stated, in pertinent part:

'. . . 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.

'For a variety of reasons relating not only to probative value and trustworthiness, but also to possible prejudicial effect upon a trial jury and the absence of opportunity for cross-examination, the generally accepted rules of evidence throw many exclusionary protections about one who is charged with and standing trial for crime. Much evidence of real and substantial probative value goes out on considerations irrelevant to its probative weight but relevant to possible misunderstanding or misuse by the jury.

'The court's rulings, one admitting, the other excluding the identical testimony, were neither inconsistent nor improper. They illustrate the difference in standards and latitude allowed in passing upon the distinct issues or probable cause and guilt. Guilt in a criminal case must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt and by evidence confined to that which long experience in the common-law tradition, to some extent embodied in the Constitution, has crystallized into rules of evidence consistent with that standard.. . .

'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.'

While the better or more efficient procedure may be to hold a pretrial hearing on motions to suppress, we find no prejudicial effect upon the appellant so long as the matter is heard outside the presence of the jury. Childers v. State (1976) 58 Ala.App. ---, 339 So.2d 597. And, further providing that the appellant is not prejudiced by having evidence from the suppression hearing improperly introduced...