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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
OF PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
RAYMOND RYAN
Appellant No. 1602 EDA 2019
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered May 16, 2019
In the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County
Criminal Division at No.: CP-23-CR-0003965-2017
BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., STABILE, J., and McLAUGHLIN, J.
MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED AUGUST 03, 2020
Appellant Raymond Ryan appeals from the May 16, 2019 judgment of
sentence entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County (“trial
court”), following his bench convictions for person not to possess a firearm,
possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of
drug paraphernalia.1 Upon review, we affirm.
The facts and procedural history of this case are undisputed. 2 Briefly,
on June 22, 2017, a warrant was issued for 122 Bartlett Avenue and its
occupant “Trey” for the purposes of searching for and seizing controlled
substances. Trey was not found at 122 Bartlett Avenue during the search.
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1 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105(a)(1) and 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30) and (32),
respectively.
2Unless otherwise specified, these facts come from the trial court’s November
7, 2019 opinion. See Trial Court Opinion, 11/7/19, at 1-7.
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However, Appellant [] who resides at the address was home during the search.
As a result of the search, Appellant was arrested and charged with the above-
mentioned crimes.
Appellant filed three pretrial motions: (1) a “Motion to Suppress Physical
Evidence”; (2) a “Motion to Produce Confidential Informant”; and (3) a “Motion
to Suppress Statement”. On August 17, 2018, the trial court conducted a
hearing on the pretrial motions, at which Appellant offered the testimony of
his wife, Vonetta Stokes, and his daughter, J.S. Following the hearing, the
trial court denied Appellant’s pretrial motion to suppress physical evidence
and motion to produce confidential informant.3
Appellant proceeded to a bench trial, following which the trial court
found him guilty of person not to possess a firearm, possession with intent to
distribute a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. On
May 16, 2019, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of 4
to 8 years’ imprisonment. Appellant did not file any post-sentence motions.
Rather, he filed a timely appeal. Both Appellant and the trial court complied
with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
On appeal, Appellant raises two issues for our review.
[I.] Whether the trial court erred by denying Appellant’s various
pretrial motions?
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3 Appellant withdrew his pretrial motion to suppress statement. See N.T.
Hearing, 8/17/18, at 67 (“[W]e withdraw the Motion to Suppress
Statement.”).
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[II.] Whether the trial court erred by precluding the testimony and
subsequent cross-examination of the affiant to search warrant
#2070619M0613?
Appellant’s Brief at 3 (unnecessary capitalization omitted).4
Appellant’s first argument implicates the denials of two distinct pretrial
motions: (1) motion to suppress physical evidence and (2) motion to produce
confidential informant. We first address Appellant’s argument that the
statements contained in the affidavit accompanying the search warrant were
overbroad and insufficient to support probable cause. Id. at 10. As a result,
Appellant argues that physical evidence should have been suppressed. We
disagree. As we have explained:
Our standard of review in addressing a challenge to the denial of
a suppression motion is limited to determining whether the
suppression court’s factual findings are supported by the record
and whether the legal conclusions drawn from those facts are
correct. Because the Commonwealth prevailed before the
suppression court, we may consider only the evidence of the
Commonwealth and so much of the evidence for the defense as
remains uncontradicted when read in the context of the record as
a whole. Where the suppression court’s factual findings are
supported by the record, we are bound by these findings and may
reverse only if the court’s legal conclusions are erroneous. Where,
as here, the appeal of the determination of the suppression court
turns on allegations of legal error, the suppression court’s legal
conclusions are not binding on an appellate court, whose duty it
is to determine if the suppression court properly applied the law
to the facts. Thus, the conclusions of law of the courts below are
subject to our plenary review.
Commonwealth v. Mbewe, 203 A.3d 983, 986 (Pa. Super. 2019)
(quotations and citations omitted). Our scope of review of suppression rulings
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4 To the extent Appellant seeks to assert any claims with respect to his motion
to suppress statement, such claims are not properly before us because, as
noted earlier, Appellant withdraw the motion on August 17, 2018.
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includes only the suppression hearing record and excludes evidence elicited at
trial. In the Interest of L.J., 79 A.3d 1079, 1085 (Pa. 2013).
With regard to search warrants, we have explained:
It is well-established that for a search warrant to be
constitutionally valid, the issuing authority must decide that
probable cause exists at the time of its issuance, and make this
determination on facts described within the four corners of the
supporting affidavit, and closely related in time to the date of
issuance of the warrant. It is equally well established that a
reviewing court must pay great deference to an issuing authority’s
determination of probable cause for the issuance of a search
warrant. Moreover, our Supreme Court has recognized that
affidavits supporting search warrants normally are prepared, by
nonlawyers in the midst and haste of a criminal investigation, and,
accordingly, said affidavits, should be interpreted in a common
sense and realistic fashion rather than in a hypertechnical manner.
Commonwealth v. Korn, 139 A.3d 249, 253 (Pa. Super. 2016) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Griffin, 24 A.3d 1037, 1043 (Pa. Super. 2011)) (brackets
and quotation marks omitted). “[P]robable cause exists when, based upon a
totality of the circumstances set forth in the affidavit of probable cause, there
is a fair probability that evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place.”
Korn, 139 A.3d at 254 (quoting Commonwealth v. Lyons, 79 A.3d 1053,
1064 (Pa. 2013)).
Here, based upon our review of the record, we agree with the trial
court’s denial of Appellant’s motion to suppress physical evidence. As the trial
court reasoned:
In this case, the affidavit of probable cause provided the following
information. The qualifications of both the affiant and the
confidential informant in the area of controlled substances were
recited. Additionally, the informant’s prior assistance to police
was recounted which resulted in the seizure of controlled
substances and arrests which led to convictions. The informant
advised affiant that a person known as “Trey” was selling drugs
from his residence at 122 Bartlett Avenue. Based on this
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information, on three occasions during the month of June 2017,
affiant provided currency to the informant to make heroin
purchases from “Trey” at 122 Bartlett Avenue. Affiant searched
the informant and provided a quantity of currency before each
buy. During the second buy affiant observed an unknown black
juvenile allow the informant into the residence at 122 Bartlett
Avenue. During the third buy affiant observed “Trey” allow the
informant into the residence at 122 Bartlett Avenue. For each
buy, the informant was under constant police surveillance from
the time he left the affiant to make the purchase and until he
returned to the affiant. At no time did the informant make any
other stops or meet with other individuals as he went to and from
122 Bartlett Avenue. After each buy, the informant returned to
the affiant without the currency and with clear bags containing
blue wax paper that housed a white powdery substance. Affiant
conducted a field test of the substance after each buy and received
a positive reaction for the presence of heroin. Within 48 hours of
the application of the search warrant, the informant, while in the
presence of the affiant, spoke with “Trey” who told the informant
that he (“Trey”) was in possession of additional heroin available
for sale at 122 Bartlett Avenue. Magisterial District Judge 32-2-
46 issued the warrant on June 20, 2017, the same day as filed by
the affiant. The magistrate, based on the totality of the
circumstances presented within the four corners of the affidavit,
found there was probable cause. The reliability of the informant
was established by affiant’s past dealings with the informant. The
information provided by the informant regarding 122 Bartlett
Avenue was corroborated on three occasions, within a twenty-day
period, by affiant’s first-hand observations. Within 48 hours of
application for the search warrant, the informant in the presence
of the affiant, spoke with “Trey” confirming the availability of
heroin for sale at 122 Bartlett Avenue. Under the circumstances
presented in this case, the magistrate rightly concluded that there
was a fair probability that drug selling was taking place at 122
Bartlett Avenue. Therefore, Appellant’s motion to suppress the
search warrant was denied.
Trial Court Opinion, 11/7/19, at 3-4 (record citations omitted). Given the
foregoing, we agree with the trial court’s analysis and conclude that Appellant
does not obtain relief.
We now turn to Appellant’s argument that the trial court abused its
discretion in denying his motion to produce confidential informant.
Specifically, Appellant argues that the informant “is the only available
eyewitness who could substantiate the criminal allegations against Appellant,”
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i.e., that Appellant possessed narcotics. Appellant’s Brief at 17. As the trial
court and the Commonwealth aptly note, Appellant’s request for disclosure of
the informant’s identity is premised only on his allegation, which we address
in more detail infra, that the affiant willfully included misstatements of fact in
the affidavit accompanying the search warrant. Commonwealth’s Brief at 16;
Trial Court Opinion, 11/7/19, at 7.
“Our standard of review of claims that a trial court erred in its disposition
of a request for disclosure of an informant’s identity is confined to abuse of
discretion.” Commonwealth v. Watson, 69 A.3d 605, 607 (Pa. Super.
2013) (citation omitted).
Rule of Criminal Procedure 573 provides that a trial court has the
discretion to require the Commonwealth to reveal the names and addresses
of all eyewitnesses, including confidential informants, where a defendant
makes a showing of material need and reasonableness:
(a) In all court cases, except as otherwise provided in Rule 230
(Disclosure of Testimony Before Investigating Grand Jury), if the
defendant files a motion for pretrial discovery, the court may order
the Commonwealth to allow the defendant’s attorney to inspect
and copy or photograph any of the following requested items,
upon a showing that they are material to the preparation of the
defense, and that the request is reasonable:
(i) the names and addresses of eyewitnesses.
....
Pa.R.Crim.P. 573(B)(2)(a)(i).
The Commonwealth enjoys a qualified privilege to withhold the
identity of a confidential source. In order to overcome this
qualified privilege and obtain disclosure of a confidential
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informant’s identity, a defendant must first establish, pursuant to
Rule 573(B)(2)(a)(i), that the information sought is material to
the preparation of the defense and that the request is reasonable.
Only after the defendant shows that the identity of the confidential
informant is material to the defense is the trial court required to
exercise its discretion to determine whether the information
should be revealed by balancing relevant factors, which are
initially weighted toward the Commonwealth.
In striking the proper balance, the court must consider the
following principles:
A further limitation on the applicability of the privilege
arises from the fundamental requirements of fairness.
Where the disclosure of an informer’s identity, or of
the contents of his communication, is relevant and
helpful to the defense of an accused, or is essential to
a fair determination of a cause, the privilege must give
way. In these situations[,] the trial court may require
disclosure and, if the Government withholds the
information, dismiss the action.
[N]o fixed rule with respect to disclosure is justifiable.
The problem is one that calls for balancing the public
interest in protecting the flow of information against
the individual’s right to prepare his defense. Whether
a proper balance renders nondisclosure erroneous
must depend on the particular circumstances of each
case, taking into consideration the crime charged, the
possible defenses, the possible significance of the
informer’s testimony, and other relevant factors.
Commonwealth v. Marsh, 997 A.2d 318, 321-22 (Pa. 2010) (internal
citations omitted) (alteration in original).
In Commonwealth v. Baker, 946 A.2d 691 (Pa. Super. 2008), we
reviewed the following principles regarding disclosure of confidential
informants.
[A] defendant seeking production of a confidential informant at a
suppression hearing must show that production is material to his
defense, reasonable, and in the interest of justice. By this we
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mean that the defendant must demonstrate some good faith basis
in fact to believe that a police officer-affiant willfully has included
misstatements of facts in an affidavit of probable cause which
misrepresents either the existence of the informant or the
information conveyed by the informant; that without the
informant’s information there would not have been probable
cause; and that production of the informant is the only way in
which the defendant can substantiate this claim.
Baker, 946 at 693, quoting Commonwealth v. Bonasorte, 486 A.2d 1361,
1373–1374 (Pa. Super. 1984) (en banc). “The defendant need not predict
exactly what the informant will say, but he must demonstrate a reasonable
probability the informant could give evidence that would exonerate him.”
Commonwealth v. Belenky, 777 A.2d 483, 488 (Pa. Super. 2001). “[I]f the
only ‘evidence’ produced at the suppression hearing is a defendant’s bald
assertion (e.g., that the informant does not exist or that the affiant
misrepresented information conveyed by the informant), then the defendant
failed to meet his threshold burden.” Bonasorte, supra at 1374. “More is
necessary than a mere assertion by the defendant that such disclosure might
be helpful in establishing a particular defense.” Commonwealth v. Herron,
380 A.2d 1228, 1230 (Pa. 1977). Only after the defendant has met this
burden will the court weigh the defendant’s proof against the government’s
need to withhold the informant’s identity. See Bonasorte, 486 A.2d at 1274.
Here, the trial court found that Appellant failed to demonstrate that the
affiant willfully included misstatements of fact in the affidavit. The court
explained:
There was no testimony indicating that the affiant either
misrepresented the existence of the informant or misrepresented
the information conveyed by the informant. The affidavit did not
rely solely on information received from the informant. The affiant
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confirmed the informant’s information by first-hand observations
which established probable cause. Finally, the Appellant has failed
to demonstrate that the production of the informant is the only
way in which he can substantiate his claim.
Trial Court Opinion, 11/7/19, at 7. Thus, given Appellant’s bald assertions
and the affiant’s first-hand observations, we conclude that the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in denying Appellant’s motion to produce confidential
informant. Accordingly, Appellant is not entitled to relief.5
Lastly, and relatedly, we address Appellant’s claim that the affiant,
Detective Bannar, omitted certain facts from the affidavit accompanying the
search warrant, and thus that the trial court erred in denying his request for
a hearing to review his challenge to the validity of the search warrant.
Appellant’s Brief at 21.
It is settled that a warrant based on a deliberate or knowing
misstatement of fact would be invalid. Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154
(1978). In Franks, the United States Supreme Court held that “where a
defendant demonstrates that an affiant in a warrant affidavit made a false
statement knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth,
the search warrant must be voided, unless the affidavit’s remaining content is
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5 Insofar as Appellant relies on Commonwealth v. Payne, 656 A.2d 77 (Pa.
1994) to compel a different outcome, such reliance is misplaced and Payne
is distinguishable. There, the appellant asserted a claim for misidentification.
As the Commonwealth points out, here “on one is suggesting that [Appellant]
is the person from whom the informant made his three controlled purchases.”
Commonwealth Brief at 17.
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sufficient to establish probable cause.” Commonwealth v. Rega, 70 A.3d
777, 783 (Pa. 2013). With regard to truthful statements in an affidavit:
[t]his does not mean “truthful” in the sense that every fact recited
in the warrant affidavit is necessarily correct, for probable cause
may be founded upon hearsay and upon information received from
informants, as well as upon information within the affiant’s own
knowledge that sometimes must be garnered hastily. But surely
it is to be “truthful” in the sense that the information put forth is
believed or appropriately accepted by the affiant as true.
Franks, 438 U.S. at 165.
Instantly, the trial court reasoned:
In this case, Appellant presented two witnesses at the suppression
hearing: [his] wife, Ms. Stokes, and their thirteen-year -old
daughter, Ms. J.S. These witnesses testified that on two separate
occasions an individual who came to the house asking for “Trey”
was turned away. Appellant argued that the omission of the
family turning away an individual who came to 122 Bartlett
Avenue asking for “Trey” was highly relevant and that if the
affidavit had included this information probable cause would have
been vitiated. Ms. Stokes testified that she, [Appellant], and their
seven children lived at 122 Bartlett Avenue during the time in
question. . . . During direct examination, Ms. Stokes testified
that she did not know “Trey.” She went on to testify that on June
19th while she and [Appellant] were in their upstairs bedroom,
their daughter [J.S.] told them there was someone at the door
asking for “Trey.” Ms. Stokes and [Appellant] did not go
downstairs or see who the individual was at the door. Their
daughter went back downstairs, and Ms. Stokes “heard nothing
else of it.” Ms. Stokes then testified that on June 20th while she
and [Appellant] were in their upstairs bedroom, their daughter
[J.S.] told them that the man was at the door asking for “Trey”
again. [Appellant] went downstairs to tell the man that no “Trey”
lived there. On cross-examination, Ms. Stokes testified that
during the time in question, her eighteen-year-old son [] was
living at home, did not work, sometimes had friends over, and was
not present when the search warrant was executed.
Assuming Ms. Stokes’ testimony to be true, it in no way
established that the affiant knowingly and intentionally, or with
reckless disregard for the truth, included a false statement in the
warrant affidavit. Ms. Stokes’ testimony only established that an
individual, who may or may not have been the confidential
informant, looking for “Trey,” was turned away from 122 Bartlett
Avenue on June 19th and 20th. Even if it is assumed that (1) the
individual who was turned away was the confidential informant
and (2) that the affiant knew of his being turned away, this would
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be an omission of information from the affidavit, not the
inclusion of a false statement. However, even if the affidavit
included the allegedly omitted information, there still would have
been sufficient probable cause based on: the reliability of the
informant, the information provided by the informant regarding
122 Bartlett Avenue, corroboration of the information by affiant’s
first-hand observations of 122 Bartlett Avenue, and the affiant’s
presence during a conversation between the informant and “Trey”
within 48 hours of application for the search warrant. Appellant
failed to establish that the affiant knowingly and intentionally, or
with reckless disregard for the truth, included a false statement in
the warrant affidavit. Accordingly, the trial court properly denied
Appellant’s request to examine the affiant in order to obtain
details surrounding the confidential informant.
Trial Court Opinion, 11/7/19, at 5-6 (record citations omitted) (emphasis
added). Based on the trial court’s cogent explanation, which we adopt as our
own, we conclude that the court did not err in denying Appellant relief under
Franks. Critically, Appellant’s argument, while couched as the inclusion of a
misstatement of fact, merely implicated the omission from the affidavit of facts
Appellant deemed material. See Commonwealth v. Randolph, 151 A.3d
170, 184 (Pa. Super. 2016) (noting that an affidavit must be judged “by what
it includes, not by what potentially helpful information it omits”), appeal
denied, 168 A.3d 1284 (Pa. 2017).
In sum, we conclude that the trial court did not: (1) err in denying
Appellant’s motion to suppress physical evidence, (2) abuse its discretion in
denying his motion to produce confidential informant, and (3) err in denying
him relief under Franks.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 8/3/20
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