Parker v. United States

Decision Date10 February 1969
Docket NumberNo. 22743.,22743.
Citation407 F.2d 540
PartiesLee Edwin Allen PARKER, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

Charles E. Springer (argued), Reno, Nev., for appellant.

Sidney I. Lezak (argued), U. S. Atty., Portland, Or., for appellee.

Before CHAMBERS, Circuit Judge, MADDEN,* Judge of the United States Court of Claims; and CARTER, Circuit Judge.

CHAMBERS, Circuit Judge:

This is an appeal in a paper money counterfeiting case.

The defendant has fourteen points (many have subdivisions) on appeal. The district court meticulously let the defendant drag out the case for twice the length of time that should have been used, all out of consideration for the defendant. We have gone through the record and briefs and despite the earnestness of his present counsel, we find the appeal legally frivolous.

In his fourteenth point, it is asserted that it was error to refuse him the name of one confidential informant.1 On this point, the defendant can only guess because the information as to his name and knowledge was only given to the trial judge. We have the envelope concerning the information including the name. After examining the contents of the envelope, we do not have the least trouble in concluding that Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, 77 S.Ct. 623, 1 L.Ed.2d 639, did not require here the release of the name of the informant or the information furnished by the informer.

Parker made prolonged attacks before and during trial on two search warrants. Of course, the district court did not have the advantage of Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410, 89 S.Ct. 584, 21 L.Ed.2d 637, decided January 27, 1969. In view of this decision, which makes the requirements for issuance of a search warrant stringent, we have checked the record closely.

Warrant No. 1 issued on August 19, 1966, was directed at Parker's home he occupied with his present wife. There about eighteen thousand dollars of counterfeit money was found. The thing that enabled the Secret Service to present a good affidavit to get the warrant was that Parker had an ex-wife who had the custody of their little daughter. The little girl, obviously under her mother's influence, was "talking" and quite reliably. Under Spinelli, we find search warrant No. 1 good.

Search warrant No. 2 dated August 20, 1966, was directed at the home of one Slaney. Slaney was a government witness (apparently his willingness to testify matured at the last moment). Slaney had a small printing press. Parker borrowed the press from Slaney and took it away in a truck. Later Parker returned the press to Slaney. At the trial, Slaney testified he was paid $250.00 for the use of the press. There is no basis for a suggestion that Parker, after the return of the press, had any right to come to Slaney's house further to use the press or that Parker had any right to come and go from Slaney's house.

We think the affidavit supporting the issuance of warrant No. 2 is adequate under Spinelli, but in this case we conclude the government is right that this is one of the cases (albeit in a narrowing field) where the defendant had no right to object. (There was nothing aggravated about the search.) There is no suggestion that any item seized belonged to Parker. The items belonged to Slaney and it was Slaney's home that was searched. Although Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 80 S.Ct. 725, 4 L.Ed.2d 697, enlarged standing to object, as did United States v. Jeffers, 342 U.S. 48, 72 S.Ct. 93, 96 L.Ed. 59, we regard both cases as authority for denying Parker standing to object to the search of Slaney's private house. Appellant, realizing the seriousness of the point of "standing," suggests that Parker had a possessory right in the press because he paid $250.00 to use it. We shall not presume that any such continuing right existed after the press was returned. The job was done.

After the record of the case arrived in this court, appellant sent the clerk a...

To continue reading

Request your trial
10 cases
  • United States v. King
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of California
    • November 23, 1971
    ...the presence of a court reporter, as has been approved in Durham v. United States, 403 F.2d 190 (9th Cir. 1968), and Parker v. United States, 407 F.2d 540 (9th Cir. 1969). Questions were solicited from defense counsel. The interrogation was conducted under oath. From the information gathere......
  • Bush v. State, 3 Div. 46
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • January 26, 1988
    ...informant's statement strongly supports a finding of credibility. United States v. Dien, 609 F.2d 1038 (2d Cir.1979); Parker v. United States, 407 F.2d 540 (9th Cir.1969); Waldrop v. State. It is possible that she may have been upset because appellant and her husband used her employer's aut......
  • State v. Mabra
    • United States
    • Wisconsin Supreme Court
    • January 4, 1974
    ...United States v. Carrion (9th Cir., 1972), 463 F.2d 704; Gollaher v. United States (9th Cir., 1969), 419 F.2d 520; Parker v. United States (9th Cir., 1969), 407 F.2d 540; United States v. Deegan (2d Cir., 1969), 410 F.2d 13; United States v. Cowan (2d Cir., 1968), 396 F.2d 83; United States......
  • United States v. Edwards
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • April 6, 1971
    ...for treating a person who abandons property before the search any differently from a third party." (p. 565). See Parker v. United States, 407 F.2d 540 (9th Cir. 1969). It is interesting to compare the cases where an owner may give another such complete and unrestricted freedom over his prop......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT