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Understanding California Search Warrants

California Laws re "Search Warrants"

A search warrant allows the police to search you1, your home, your car, your place of business, or any other specified area suspected of containing
evidence of illegal activity. Once they find what they are looking for, the search warrant authorizes the officers to seize that evidence.2

Unless a search is (1) authorized by your consent, (2) incident to a lawful arrest, or (3) under some other recognized exception, it must be executed
pursuant to a valid search warrant.

That said, there are many restrictions on when and how cops may execute California search warrants...and violations of these rules may result in a
reduction (or even a dismissal) of your criminal charges.

In order to help you understand the rules that regulate search warrants...and the defenses that apply to them...our California warrants attorneys
(http://www.shouselaw.com/warrants.html) will provide a comprehensive guide to California search warrants by addressing the following topics:

Who Can Issue a Search Warrant?

What are the Criteria for Obtaining Search Warrants?

The Use of Informants

Challenging Probable Cause -- Motions to Quash and Traverse

How are Search Warrants Executed?

The Knock-Notice Rule

Motions to Suppress Evidence -- California Penal Code 1538.5 PC

If after reading this article, you have additional questions, we invite you to contact us (http://www.shouselaw.com/contact.html). Also visit our related
pages on California arrest warrants (http://www.shouselaw.com/arrest-warrants.html), California bench warrants (http://www.shouselaw.com/bench-
warrants.html), the use of police informants and motions to reveal the identity of confidential informants.

Who Can Issue a California Search Warrant?

Although a search warrant is issued on behalf of the state (that is, by the prosecuting agency), the judge actually issues and signs it.3 The purpose
of having a judge issue the warrant...instead of the police or a prosecutor...is to ensure that a neutral, detached individual evaluates the
circumstances.4

But before the judge can sign off, two requirements must be met: the judge must reasonably believe (1) that a crime has been committed, and (2)
that evidence of that crime is likely to be found in the place(s) described in the search warrant.5 If the facts presented in the warrant application are
convincing, the judge must sign and issue the search warrant.6

Also, we should clarify the distinction between search warrants and two other common types of warrants. A California arrest warrant is usually issued
when criminal charges have been filed, and it authorizes the police to arrest the person on the charges. A California bench warrant is issued by a
judge for violating some rule of court, such as failing to appear for one's court hearing or failing to pay a fine that was required as a condition of
probation.

What are the Criteria for Obtaining California Search Warrants?

A variety of criteria will justify the issuance of a search warrant. The following are examples of the types of grounds on which a California search
warrant may be issued:

if the sought property was allegedly stolen

if the sought property was allegedly used as a means to commit a felony

if the sought property is evidence of the fact that a felony has occurred or that a particular person has committed a felony

if the sought property is in possession of someone who intends to use it to commit a crime or in the possession of another to whom he/she may have
delivered it for the purpose of concealing it or keeping it from being discovered

if the sought property reveals child pornography

if an arrest warrant has already issued.7

It should be noted that if the sought property is held by an attorney, doctor, psychotherapist, or member of the clergy, a special procedure will be held
before that evidence may be seized...and even then, the attorney, doctor, therapist, or clergyman must be the individual suspected of engaging in
the alleged criminal activity.8

But before a judge issues a search warrant, he/she must have probable cause to do so.

Probable cause

"Probable cause" is a legal phrase. It refers to a "reasonable" belief that criminal activity is taking (or has taken) place. So before a judge issues a
search warrant, he/she must have a reasonable belief that the person /property specifically described in the warrant application (otherwise known as
an "affidavit") will be found in the searched location.9

Before finding that probable cause exists, the judge may question (under oath)

the officer,

prosecutor, or

state investigator10 who applied for the warrant, and

any witnesses that the requesting individual relied on to determine that a warrant was necessary.

These affidavits may be written or oral, and presented in person, via the telephone, by fax, or even e-mail.11 They also must contain the facts that
establish the grounds for the application or the probable cause for believing that they exist.12

The Use of Informants

Police routinely rely on information provided by informants (http://www.shouselaw.com/informants.html). Informants are individuals who provide
information about people, organizations, or activities to the police without the consent of those people or organizations.

That said, the judge must be informed of some of the facts that led the informant to his/her conclusion that there is alleged criminal activity.13 A mere
opinion that a person or property is involved in a crime is therefore insufficient without evidence to support it.

Since it is the judge who must determine if there is probable cause to issue the warrant, he/she must believe that the informant's information is
reliable. This may be established by:

the identity of the informer,

past experiences with the informant in which he/she has proven to be reliable, and/or

corroboration by the officer's personal observations or other evidence.14

The informant's identity

The judge may require disclosure of the informant's name or may require him/her to give a statement under oath as to the information he/she
provided to the police.15 However, just because the informant's identity is disclosed to the judge doesn't mean it will necessarily be disclosed to the
defense.

A judge is allowed to seal any or all of the affidavit to protect the identity of a confidential informant if that testimony helped establish the probable
cause that led the judge to issue the warrant.16
Although the judge will not reveal the informant's identity simply because you wish to use it to attack the judge's finding of probable cause...he/she
may ask the prosecutor to disclose it if your motion to traverse and quash the search warrant has merit.17

Challenging Probable Cause -- Motions to Quash and Traverse the Search Warrant

Although motions to quash and traverse would be more appropriately explained in the final section titled "Motion to Suppress Evidence", they merit
discussion here, as they directly relate to informants and the probable cause required to obtain California search warrants.

A motion to "quash and traverse" challenges the affidavit (and underlying probable cause) that the judge relied on in issuing the California search
warrant. A motion to traverse challenges the truth of the affidavit. A motion to quash challenges the sufficiency of the affidavit (that is, even
assuming the facts are true, whether they rise to the level of probable cause).

Although these motions may be filed separately or together, the terms are often used interchangeably. We will discuss them as one for the sake of
simplicity.

California criminal defense lawyers (http://www.shouselaw.com) may assert motions to traverse and quash a search warrant in three types of
hearings:

1. in a Franks hearing (to assert that the author of the affidavit (otherwise known as the "affiant") provided false information,

2. in a Luttenberger hearing (to assert that the informant provided false information), or

3. in a Hobbs hearing (which is based on a sealed affidavit).

Franks hearings

If you request a hearing to quash and traverse a warrant because you believe the supporting affidavit contains false information, you must set forth
the reasons why you believe that it is inaccurate.18 California criminal defense lawyers may do this by demonstrating that:

1. the affidavit contained a false statement,

2. the statement was made knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth, and

3. that the statement was necessary (that is, "material") to establish probable cause.19

It should be noted that if the affiant intentionally leaves out material information, he/she will be deemed to have provided materially false information
"by omission".20

The court must hold an "in camera" hearing if the judge believes that you have effectively challenged the truth of the affidavit.21 An in camera
hearing is a private hearing held in the judge's chambers.

During this hearing, the judge may question the affiant or informant to determine whether the affidavit is accurate, false, or misleading.22

If the criminal defense attorney succeeds in proving that the affidavit contained false material information...and the remaining information is
insufficient to support a finding of probable cause...the judge must quash the California search warrant. Once the search warrant is quashed, any
evidence that was seized under the warrant will be suppressed.23

*Suppressed evidence is discussed in the section titled "Motion to Suppress Evidence".

Luttenberger hearings

When the affidavit supplying the probable cause contains information from an undisclosed informant, it is extremely difficult to establish that the
affidavit is false...which is the standard to get a Franks hearing.
But if the informant isn't a material witness with respect to your guilt or innocence (an eyewitness to the alleged crime, for example), the prosecution
is under no duty to disclose his/her identity.24

A Luttenberger hearing takes place when you want to attack the truth of the affidavit but don't know the identity of the informant. In this hearing, the
California criminal attorney may request information about:

1. the informant's reliability,

2. his/her motive for providing information (for example, was the informant paid or offered leniency in exchange for his/her testimony?), and

3. any statements that the informant made in connection with the case.

Although the burden of proof is less strict than a Franks hearing, the defense still must cast doubt as to the truthfulness of the informant's testimony.
If you accomplish this, the court will conduct an in camera hearing to determine if the statements are material.25

If the statements are material, the court will redact (or remove) any information that may disclose the informant's identity before it provides you with
the affidavit or supporting document(s).26

If, during this hearing, you discover that the informant is a material witness to your guilt or innocence, you would move to disclose his/her identity at
a Hobbs hearing.

Hobbs hearings

At a Hobbes hearing, the defense asks the judge to reveal the identity of the confidential informant
(http://www.shouselaw.com/informant_disclosure.html) upon whose information the California search warrant got issued.

When the entire affidavit has been sealed to protect the informant's identity, it may be too difficult even to qualify for a Luttenberger hearing. When
this is the case, the court must conduct an in camera hearing upon receipt of your motion to traverse or quash the California search warrant.27
Unless the prosecutor agrees, the hearing takes place without you or your criminal defense attorney.28

During this closed hearing, the judge must decide (1) whether to maintain the confidentiality of the informant, and (2) whether the affidavit has been
properly sealed.29

If the court believes that the affidavit was properly sealed but doesn't believe that the information contained in it was false or misleading, it will simply
deny your motion.30

If, however, it believes that you may succeed in your motion, it will first give the prosecution the opportunity to disclose their informant or have the
case dismissed if the judge rules in your favor.31 In our experience, the prosecution will generally dismiss the case before revealing or "burning" the
police informant.

How are California Search Warrants Executed?

The contents of a California search warrant must be described with reasonable particularity.32 Simply put, "reasonable particularity" means that the
warrant should be so clear that nothing is left to the officer's discretion when executing it.33 This applies to both (1) the place to be searched, and (2)
the person/property to be seized.34

This means that a search warrant must be executed according to the exact details contained in the warrant35 -- warrants that are clear in their
descriptions will be upheld and those that unduly vague will not. The following are some examples taken from actual California court cases36:

Descriptions that were found not to be sufficiently clear --

"all of the financial records"

"other evidence"

"stolen property"

"certain personal property used as a means of committing larceny (http://www.shouselaw.com/grand-theft.html)"

Items that were described with reasonable particularity --

"personal property tending to identify the person in control"

"bookmaking paraphernalia"

"illegal deer meat and/or elk meat, etc."

The more specific the language, the more likely the California search warrant will be upheld.

Time of execution

A California search warrant must be executed within ten (10) days of its issuance. If it hasn't been executed within that timeframe, it becomes
void.37

If the warrant expires, it may be reissued as long as the judge still believes there is probable cause to support it.38 It therefore follows that if the
probable cause that existed at the time of the original issuance is no longer relevant, the judge will not reissue the warrant.

There are also restrictions on what time of day a warrant may be executed. As a general rule, a search warrant may only be executed between 7
a.m. and 10 p.m. If, however, the judge finds good cause, he/she may authorize service at any time of the day or night.39

"Good cause" means that there is a factual basis for believing that a nighttime intrusion would be justified based on exigent circumstances.40 If, for
example, you have several outstanding warrants, service will be authorized whenever possible. When establishing good cause, the judge must
consider both public safety and the safety of the officers serving the warrant.42

With respect to seized property...

The officer must provide a detailed receipt for any property that he/she seized during the search. The officer must leave the receipt with (1) the
person from whom he/she took the property, (2) the person who possessed the property, or (3) where he/she found the property if it was taken
without anyone being present.42

Once taken, the officer must keep the property in police custody until he/she presents it to the court.43

All that said, the police are not permitted to search and seize anyone or anything until they've announced their presence.

California's "Knock -Notice" Rule

Before an officer may execute a California search warrant at a person's home (or possibly his/her business44), the officer must

knock on the door,

announce him/herself as a law enforcement officer,

inform the occupant that he/she has a search warrant, and

give the occupant enough time to open the door.45

It should be noted that the third requirement may technically be completed after the occupant opens the door but in either event must be before the
officer enters the home.46

There is no steadfast rule as to exactly how these knock-notice (also referred to as "knock and announce") requirements should be executed. So in
order to determine whether the executing officers have legally fulfilled their duties under California's knock-notice law, the court will look for
substantial compliance.

"Substantial compliance," in its simplest terms, means that the policies underlying the knock and announce requirements are achieved under the
circumstances.47 These policies include:

1. protecting a homeowner's privacy,

2. protecting innocent people on the premises,

3. preventing situations that may otherwise encourage a violent confrontation between a homeowner and those who enter his/her home without
notice, and

4. protecting the police from a startled or fearful homeowner/occupant.48

The knock-notice rules...and the policies behind them...are to ensure that if and when the police force entry into your home, it is only because you
knowingly refused their entry.

Forced entry

When is it okay for law enforcement officers to enter a home without permission? After their entry has been refused.

If you (as the owner or occupant) refuse to (1) open the door for the officers, or (2) permit them into your home, the police may break in through a
door, window, or any other part of the house to execute the California search warrant.49 The same holds true if no one is home.50

Assuming someone is home, there must be some evidence of a refusal before the police may legally force their way in. This is most typically
evidenced by either (1) an unreasonable delay in responding to the officers' request to enter51 (which must be determined based on the facts of the
specific case), or (2) an outright refusal where the homeowner or occupant tells the police that he will not open the door.52

Some examples of situations where California courts have held that unlawful forced entries took place include:

where knock-notice requirements weren't fulfilled (for example, although the officer announced his presence, he didn't state his purpose)53

where the officer simultaneously announced his presence and forced entry without giving homeowner opportunity to comply or refuse54

where the forceful entry was only 20 seconds after the officers otherwise complied with the knock-notice rules.55

where knock and announce rules weren't followed when the officer entered the home to secure it while the warrant was being obtained56

where the officer announced that he was a police officer (without stating his purpose) and only after he had already forced entry.57

There are, of course, certain times when officers are permitted to execute a California search warrant by forcing their entry even without complying
with the knock-notice requirements.
Exceptions to California's knock-notice rule

The following are some of the most common exceptions to the knock and announce requirement:

consent (if someone in the home consents to the officer's entry, the officer doesn't need to proceed with knock-notice requirements)58

public places (knock and announce rules are designed to respect a person's privacy in his/her home -- there is no similar privacy right in a public
place)59

exigent circumstances ("exigent circumstances" basically mean that "time is of the essence").

When exigent circumstances are present, the knock-notice requirements may be waived. This is most typically the case where police suspect that
those inside the home (1) may arm themselves, or (2) that drugs will be destroyed if they take must first knock and announce their presence.

It must be noted that there is no blanket exception for exigent circumstances, as each case must be independently evaluated.60 "[I]f the specific
facts known to the officer before his entry are sufficient to support his good faith belief that compliance will increase his peril, frustrate the arrest, or
permit the destruction of evidence," the judge will likely excuse a knock-notice violation.61

Absent one of these recognized exceptions, a knock-notice violation may render any subsequent search and seizure unreasonable, and therefore,
illegal.62 When a search and/or seizure is illegal, the prosecution will be prevented from using any of the seized evidence against you at trial.63

Motions to Suppress Evidence -- California Penal Code 1538.5 PC

The most common challenge to a search warrant lies in a California Penal Code 1538.5 PC motion to suppress evidence
(http://www.shouselaw.com/15385-motion-to-supress.html). This motion may be filed if you wish to (1) recover seized evidence, or (2) exclude
seized evidence from your trial. A California criminal defense attorney may file an "unreasonable search and seizure" Penal Code 1538.5
motion based on any of the following facts:

that the California search warrant was insufficient on its face (this issue could also be raised in a motion to quash the warrant)

that there was no probable cause to issue the search warrant (raised in either a motion to quash or traverse)

that the seized property or other evidence was not specifically described in the search warrant (for example, the officers found evidence in your
garage but the warrant limited the search to your home)

that the execution of the search warrant was illegal.64

If any part of the search was unlawful, any discovered evidence will typically be excluded under this section. As Darrell York, one of Ventura's top
criminal defense attorneys (http://www.shouselaw.com/office-ventura.html) and a former Glendale police officer puts, "This 'exclusionary rule' is one
of the most powerful defenses available."

If your motion is granted, the prosecution will be prohibited from "using" the seized evidence against you at trial. A victory on this motion will often
lead the prosecutor to dismiss (or at the very least significantly reduce) your charge(s).

Call us for help

If you or loved one has been issued a search warrant and you are looking to hire an attorney for representation, we invite you to contact us at
Shouse Law Group. We can provide a free consultation in office or by phone. We have local offices in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley,
Pasadena, Long Beach, Orange County, Ventura, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, San
Francisco, San Jose and throughout California.

For information on Nevada search warrants, go to our page on Nevada search warrants (http://www.shouselaw.com/nevada/search-warrant.html).

Legal References:

1Collins v. Lean, (1885) 68 Cal.284, 288 ("Under article 4 of the amendments to the constitution of the United States, it is provided that no search-

warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the person
or things to be seized. To the same effect is section 19 of article 1 of our state constitution. As we read those instruments we do not find existent
therein any prohibition against the issuance of a search-warrant of the person of an individual in a proper case. Therefore, subject to the limitations
of those constitutions, and subject also to the conditions that body may itself have prescribed, it is within the power of our state legislature to
authorize the issuance of such a warrant. And this power it has exercised by the enactment in the Penal Code of sections 1523 to 1542 inclusive.")

2California Penal Code 1523 -- Definition. ("A search warrant is an order in writing, in the name of the people, signed by a magistrate, directed to a

peace officer, commanding him or her to search for a person or persons, a thing or things, or personal property, and, in the case of a thing or things
or personal property, bring the same before the magistrate.")

3See same. ("A search warrant is an order in writing, in the name of the people, signed by a magistrate....")

4People v. Escamilla, (1976) 65 Cal.App.3d 558, 562 ("Adverting to the responsibility devolving upon a magistrate in the issuance of a search

warrant, it has been said that "... an issuing magistrate must meet two tests. He must be neutral and detached, and he must be capable of
determining whether probable cause exists for the requested arrest or search." ( Shadwick v. City of Tampa (1972) 407 U.S. 345, 350.) The goal is
to require an informed and deliberate review of the circumstances by one who is removed from "'... the often competitive enterprise of ferreting out
crime"'.")

5California Penal Code 1525 -- Issuance; probable cause; supporting affidavits; contents of application. ("A search warrant cannot be issued but

upon probable cause, supported by affidavit, naming or describing the person to be searched or searched for, and particularly describing the
property, thing, or things and the place to be searched.")

6California Penal Code 1528 -- Issuance; magistrate satisfied as to grounds; formalities; command; duplicate original warrant. ("(a) If the magistrate

is thereupon satisfied of the existence of the grounds of the application, or that there is probable cause to believe their existence, he or she must
issue a search warrant, signed by him or her with his or her name of office, to a peace officer in his or her county, commanding him or her forthwith
to search the person or place named for the property or things or person or persons specified, and to retain the property or things in his or her
custody subject to order of the court as provided by [California Penal Code] Section 1536.")

7 California Penal Code 1524 -- Issuance; grounds; special master.

8See same -- California Penal Code 1524(c). See also California Penal Code 1525 -- Issuance; probable cause; supporting affidavits; contents of

application. ("The application shall specify when applicable, that the place to be searched is in the possession or under the control of an attorney,
physician, psychotherapist or clergyman.")
9California Penal Code 1525 -- Issuance; probable cause; supporting affidavits; contents of application. ("A search warrant cannot be issued but

upon probable cause, supported by affidavit, naming or describing the person to be searched or searched for, and particularly describing the
property, thing, or things and the place to be searched.")

10People v. Bell, (1996) 45 Cal.App.4th 1030, 1054 ("Appellants readily agree Penal Code section 1526, subdivision (a), states: "The magistrate,

before issuing the warrant, may examine on oath the person seeking the warrant and any witnesses the person may produce," (italics added) and
that no section of the code requires the person seeking a search warrant be a peace officer. Appellants note, however, that Penal Code section 1523
defines a search warrant as "an order in writing, in the name of the people, signed by a magistrate, directed to a peace officer, commanding him to
search for personal property." Appellants further note other sections of the code dealing with the execution of the warrant all mention peace officers
or officers and make no reference to unsworn persons. (Pen.Code, 1528, subd. (a), 1530, 1535.) Appellants contend these references to peace
officers evidence an intent not only that officers must execute warrants, but that only they may seek them. We have found no case suggesting such
an intent. While the reasons for requiring a search warrant only be served by a peace officer are obvious, there seems no reason why seeking one
should be confined to peace officers instead of unsworn members of law enforcement. Seemingly the person who seeks the warrant or provides
their affidavit should be the person with most direct knowledge of the facts supporting probable cause. We see no reason why a deputy district
attorney or an unsworn investigator for a police department, for example, cannot seek a search warrant.")

11California Penal Code 1526 -- Issuance; examination of complainant and witnesses; taking and subscribing affidavits; transcribed statements or

oath made using telephone and facsimile transmission equipment in lieu of written affidavit.

12California Penal Code 1527 -- Affidavits; contents. ("The affidavit or affidavits must set forth the facts tending to establish the grounds of the

application, or probable cause for believing that they exist.")

13People v. Aguilar, (1966) 240 Cal.App.2d 502, 508 ("In Aguilar v. Texas, supra (1964) 378 U.S. 108, 114 [84 S.Ct. 1509, 1514, 12 L.Ed.2d 723,

729], the United States Supreme Court said: "Although an affidavit may be based on hearsay information and need not reflect the direct personal
observations of the affiant, the magistrate must be informed of some of the underlying circumstances from which the informant concluded that the
narcotics were where he claimed they were, ..." ... And in United States v. Ventresca, supra (1965) 380 U.S. 102, 108 [85 S.Ct. 741, 746, 13 L.Ed.2d
684, 689], the court repeated that same admonition, saying: "This is not to say that probable cause can be made out by affidavits which are purely
conclusory, stating only the affiant's or an informer's belief that probable cause exists without detailing any of the 'underlying circumstances' upon
which that belief is based. Recital of some of the underlying circumstances in the affidavit is essential if the magistrate is to perform his detached
function and not serve merely as a rubber stamp for the police."FN6")

14See same at 508. ("'Although information provided by an anonymous informer is relevant on the issue of reasonable cause, in the absence of

some pressing emergency, an arrest may not be based solely on such information, and evidence must be presented to the court that would justify
the conclusion that reliance on the information was reasonable. In some cases the identity of, or past experience with, the informer may provide
such evidence, and in others it may be supplied by similar information from other sources or by the personal observations of the police.'")

15See same at 507. ("Although in cases where a search is based on an arrest without a warrant, the officer, if he relies for probable cause on

information obtained from an informant, must, on request of defendant, disclose the name of the informant or the testimony will be stricken (Priestly
v. Superior Court, supra (1958) 50 Cal.2d 812), the rule is different in cases where the search is made under a warrant. In warrant cases, it is the
issuing magistrate who must be convinced of probable cause. If the magistrate thinks it necessary, he may require disclosure of the informant's
name, or may require that the informant be brought before him for the purpose of making a deposition under section 1526 of the [California] Penal
Code. But, since it is the magistrate who determines reliability of the informant, the option to require disclosure is with him and his implied finding of
reliability is conclusive on that point.")

16People v. Martinez, (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 233, 240 ("It is settled that "all or any part of a search warrant affidavit may be sealed if necessary to

implement the privilege [under [California] Evidence Code section 1041] and protect the identity of a confidential informant." ( Hobbs, supra, 7
Cal.4th at p. 971, 30 Cal.Rptr.2d 651, 873 P.2d 1246; Evid.Code, 1042, subd. (b).)")

17See same. ("Consequently, courts are not required to disclose "the identity of an informant who has supplied probable cause for the issuance of a

search warrant ... where such disclosure is sought merely to aid in attacking probable cause.")

18Franks v. Delaware, (1978) 438 U.S. 154, 155 ("In the present case the Supreme Court of Delaware held, as a matter of first impression for it, that

a defendant under no circumstances may so challenge the veracity of a sworn statement used by police to procure a search warrant. We reverse,
and we hold that, where the defendant makes a substantial preliminary showing that a false statement knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless
disregard for the truth, was included by the affiant in the warrant affidavit, and if the allegedly false statement is necessary to the finding of probable
cause, the Fourth Amendment requires that a hearing be held at the defendant's request.")

19People v. Lewis, (2006) 39 Cal.4th 970, 988 ("..."a defendant has a limited right to challenge the veracity of statements contained in an affidavit of

probable cause made in support of the issuance of a search warrant.... [T]he lower court must conduct an evidentiary hearing [only if] a defendant
makes a substantial showing that (1) the affidavit contains statements that are deliberately false or were made in reckless disregard of the truth; and
(2) the affidavit's remaining contents, after the false statements are excised, are insufficient to support a finding of probable cause.... Innocent or
negligent misrepresentations will not defeat a warrant.")

20People v. Luttenberger, (1990) 50 Cal.3d 1, 15 ("The Crabb court stated that for purposes of the issues presented, it would treat a claim of

material omissions similarly to the Franks-type problem of material misstatements...This treatment is acceptable.")

21Franks v. Delaware, (1978) 438 U.S. 154, 155 ("...where the defendant makes a substantial preliminary showing that a false statement knowingly

and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, was included by the affiant in the warrant affidavit, and if the allegedly false statement is
necessary to the finding of probable cause, the Fourth Amendment requires that a hearing be held at the defendant's request.")

22People v. Brown, (1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 1541, 1548 ("Here, because the court elected to conduct an in camera hearing to determine the truth or

falsity of the information given to Meyer, we assume the court believed Brown's affidavits raised sufficient questions to warrant further inquiry. The
court correctly questioned the informants in camera to determine what they had told Meyer. As a result of this inquiry the court was satisfied that the
preliminary showing was rebutted and the officer's affidavit was not materially false. It therefore concluded there was no need for an evidentiary
hearing. Through this procedure the court complied with [California] Evidence Code section 1042, subdivision (d), and Franks v. Delaware.")

23See Franks, endnote 17 above at 156. ("In the event that at that hearing the allegation of perjury or reckless disregard is established by the

defendant by a preponderance of the evidence, and, with the affidavit's false material set to one side, the affidavit's remaining content is insufficient
to establish probable cause, the search warrant must be voided and the fruits of the search excluded to the same extent as if probable cause was
lacking on the face of the affidavit.")

24People v. Hobbs, (1994) 7 Cal.4th 948, 959 ("In contrast to the situation where the defendant is seeking to discover whether a confidential

informant is a material witness on the issue of guilt or innocence, where the defendant merely seeks to discover the informant's identity in
connection with a challenge to the legality of a search based on information furnished by the informant, a critical distinction is drawn in the case law
between searches conducted pursuant to warrant and warrantless searches. It has long been the rule in California that the identity of an informant
who has supplied probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant need not be disclosed where such disclosure is sought merely to aid in
attacking probable cause.")

25People v. Luttenberger, (1990) 50 Cal.3d 1, 21 ("To justify in camera review and discovery, preliminary to a subfacial challenge to a search

warrant, a defendant must offer evidence casting some reasonable doubt on the veracity of material statements made by the affiant.")

26See same at 19. ("...to allow the court to determine materiality and delete information that might identify the informant, may impose a lesser

burden on trial courts than such an in camera evidentiary hearing.")

27See Hobbs, endnote 24 above at 972. ("In contrast to the situation in which the informant's privilege is asserted merely to avoid disclosure of the

confidential informant's name, where, as here, all or a major portion of the search warrant affidavit has been sealed in order to preserve the
confidentiality of the informant's identity, a defendant cannot reasonably be expected to make even the "preliminary showing" required for an in
camera hearing under Luttenberger. For this reason, where the defendant has made a motion to traverse the warrant under such circumstances, the
court should treat the matter as if the defendant has made the requisite preliminary showing required under this court's holding in Luttenberger. On
a properly noticed motion by the defense seeking to quash or traverse the search warrant, the lower court should conduct an in camera hearing
pursuant to the guidelines set forth in section 915, subdivision (b), and this court's opinion in Luttenberger, supra, 50 Cal.3d at pages 20-24, 265
Cal.Rptr. 690, 784 P.2d 633.")

28See same at 961. ("...where the defendant demands disclosure of the identity of a confidential informant "on the ground the informant is a

material witness on the issue of guilt" (italics added), a hearing must be held, and it must be conducted in camera and outside the presence of the
defendant and his counsel if the prosecution so requests.")
29See same. ("It must first be determined whether sufficient grounds exist for maintaining the confidentiality of the informant's identity. It should then

be determined whether the entirety of the affidavit or any major portion thereof is properly sealed, i.e., whether the extent of the sealing is necessary
to avoid revealing the informant's identity.")

30See same at 974. ("If the trial court determines that the materials and testimony before it do not support defendant's charges of material

misrepresentation, the court should simply report this conclusion to the defendant and enter an order denying the motion to traverse.")

31See same. ("If, on the other hand, the court determines there is a reasonable probability that defendant would prevail on the motion to traverse-

i.e., a reasonable probability, based on the court's in camera examination of all the relevant materials, that the affidavit includes a false statement or
statements made knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, which is material to the finding of probable cause ( Franks,
supra, 438 U.S. at pp. 155-156, 98 S.Ct. at pp. 2676-2677)-the district attorney must be afforded the option of consenting to disclosure of the sealed
materials, in which case the motion to traverse can then proceed to decision with the benefit of this additional evidence, and a further evidentiary
hearing if necessary ( Seibel, supra, 219 Cal.App.3d at p. 1300, 269 Cal.Rptr. 313; People v. Brown (1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 1541, 1548, 256
Cal.Rptr. 11), or, alternatively, suffer the entry of an adverse order on the motion to traverse.")

32Constitution of the United States Amendment IV -- Search and Seizure. ("The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,

and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by
Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.") Almost identical language is
duplicated in California Constitution Article I, section 13 and California Penal Code 1525 (endnote 7 above).

33Marron v. U.S., (1927) 275 U.S. 192, 196 ("The requirement that warrants shall particularly describe the things to be seized makes general

searches under them impossible and prevents the seizure of one thing under a warrant describing another. As to what is to be taken, nothing is left
to the discretion of the officer executing the warrant.")

34People v. Smith, (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 942, 948 (""The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against

unreasonable seizures and searches may not be violated; and a warrant may not issue except on probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation,
particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons and things to be seized." (Cal. Const., art. I, 13, italics added; see also Pen.
Code, 1525, 1529.) The italicized portions plainly indicate that the particularity clause is, in realty, two clauses. The first is directed to the place
or places to be searched. The second is directed to the persons and/or things to be seized.")

35Thompson v. Superior Court, (1977) 70 Cal.App.3d 101, 112 ("In summary, we hold that in determining the property to be seized pursuant to a

warrant, we are confined to the four corners of the warrant.")

36People v. Superior Court (Williams), (1978) 77 Cal.App.3d 69, 77 (Overruled on different grounds) ("We are required by the Constitution to

determine if the affidavit and the warrant describe the property with particularity, i.e., place a meaningful restriction on the objects to be seized.
Whether the description in the warrant is sufficiently definite is a question of law on which an appellate court makes an independent judgment. (
Thompson v. Superior Court, supra., 70 Cal.App.3d 101, 108.) In determining whether a meaningful restriction has been placed on the objects to be
seized, the courts have held as follows: "All of the financial records " is insufficient ( Burrows v. Superior Court (1974) 13 Cal.3d 238, 249; "any and
all other records and paraphernalia" connected with the business being searched is insufficient ( Aday v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 789, 795-
796; "certain personal property used as a means of committing ... larceny" is insufficient ( People v. Mayen (1922) 188 Cal. 237, 242 [205 P. 435, 24
A.L.R. 1383]), overruled on different grounds, People v. Cahan (1955) 44 Cal.2d 434, 445; personal property "tending to identify the person in
control" is sufficient ( People v. Howard (1976) 55 Cal.App.3d 373, 376; stolen merchandise is insufficient when an inventory could have been
provided ( Lockridge v. Superior Court (1969) 275 Cal.App.2d 612, 625; "bank statements, checkbooks and other evidences of indebtedness" too
broad ( Griffin v. Superior Court (1972) 26 Cal.App.3d 672, 695; "bookmaking paraphernalia" held sufficient ( People v. Barthel (1965) 231
Cal.App.2d 827, 832; "illegal deer meat and/or elk meat, etc." is sufficient ( Dunn v. Municipal Court (1963) 220 Cal.App.2d 858, 868; "other
evidence" is insufficient ( Stern v. Superior Court (1946) 76 Cal.App.2d 772, 784; "stolen property" insufficient ( Thompson v. Superior Court, supra.,
70 Cal.App.3d 101, 105); "... nothing is left to the discretion of the officer executing the warrant" ( Marron v. United States (1927) 275 U.S. 192, 196
[72 L.Ed. 231, 237, 48 S.Ct. 74]).")

37California Penal Code 1534 -- Time limit for execution and return. ("(a) A search warrant shall be executed and returned within 10 days after date

of issuance. A warrant executed within the 10-day period shall be deemed to have been timely executed and no further showing of timeliness need
be made. After the expiration of 10 days, the warrant, unless executed, is void. The documents and records of the court relating to the warrant need
not be open to the public until the execution and return of the warrant or the expiration of the 10-day period after issuance. Thereafter, if the warrant
has been executed, the documents and records shall be open to the public as a judicial record. (b) If a duplicate original search warrant has been
executed, the peace officer who executed the warrant shall enter the exact time of its execution on its face. (c) A search warrant may be made
returnable before the issuing magistrate or his court.")

38People v. Brocard, (1985) 170 Cal.App.3d 239, 243 ("The case of People v. Sanchez (1972) 24 Cal.App.3d 664 lends partial support to our

conclusion a search warrant may be reissued as long as there is no staleness problem. The Sanchez court held, "[a]lthough there is no statutory
authority for the revalidation and reissuance of a search warrant, we see no good reason why, within 10 days of the original issuance, an officer
should be precluded from presenting supplemental information to the issuing magistrate, nor why the magistrate, based thereon, should not by
appropriate endorsement revalidate and reissue the original warrant rather than issue an entirely new warrant. [Citation.]" (Italics added.) ( Id., at p.
682.) Admittedly Sanchez only upholds reissuance within 10 days of the original issuance. However, even the Sanchez rationale could potentially
result in execution of a reissued warrant more than 10 days after the original issuance.) Finally, we do not find it absolutely necessary there be new
information to support reissuance of a search warrant. In cases like this one, where the original affidavit contained recent information showing
ongoing criminal activity, that affidavit alone may be sufficient to support a probable cause finding at the time of reissuance.")

39California Penal Code 1533 -- Direction as to time for search; grounds for search at night; good cause. ("Upon a showing of good cause, the

magistrate may, in his or her discretion, insert a direction in a search warrant that it may be served at any time of the day or night. In the absence of
such a direction, the warrant shall be served only between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.")

40People v. Ramirez, (1988) 202 Cal.App.3d 425, 427 ("In the related context of nighttime search warrants, our Supreme Court recently defined the

good cause rule as requiring "'only some factual basis for a prudent conclusion that the greater intrusiveness of a nighttime search is justified by the
exigencies of the situation. ...")

41See California Penal Code 1533 above. ("When establishing "good cause" under this section, the magistrate shall consider the safety of the

peace officers serving the warrant and the safety of the public as a valid basis for nighttime endorsements.")

42California Penal Code 1535 -- Receipt for property taken. ("When the officer takes property under the warrant, he must give a receipt for the

property taken (specifying it in detail) to the person from whom it was taken by him, or in whose possession it was found; or, in the absence of any
person, he must leave it in the place where he found the property.")

43California Penal Code 1536 -- Disposition of property taken; retention subject to order of court in which offense triable. ("All property or things

taken on a warrant must be retained by the officer in his custody, subject to the order of the court to which he is required to return the proceedings
before him, or of any other court in which the offense in respect to which the property or things taken is triable.")

44People v. Pompa, (1989) 212 Cal.App.3d 1308, 1312 ("Livermore [(1973) 30 Cal.App.3d 1073] involved the search of a residence. Here, the entry

was to an office which was part of a business establishment, premises entitled to a lesser expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment than
that protection afforded a home. ( People v. Lee (1986) 186 Cal.App.3d 743, 750, 231 Cal.Rptr. 45; United States v. Agrusa (8th Cir.1976) 541 F.2d
690, 700; United States v. Clayborne (10th Cir.1978) 584 F.2d 346.) Thus to the extent the knock-notice rule applies to business premises, it has
less force than when applied to dwellings.")

45People v. Ramsey, (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 671, 679 ("[California Penal Code] Section 1531 provides: "The officer may break open any outer or

inner door or window of a house, or any part of a house, or anything therein, to execute the warrant, if, after notice of his authority and purpose, he is
refused admittance." Under this section, police officers are required: "(1) to knock or utilize other means reasonably calculated to give adequate
notice of their presence to the occupants, (2) to identify themselves as police officers, and (3) to explain the purpose of their demand for
admittance."")

46People v. Mays, (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 969, 972 ("In support of his suppression motion, Mays argued, and the court agreed, the officers had not

announced their purpose until after Riley opened the front door in response to their knocks. The People contend the court erred in finding the
officers' announcement of purpose must precede the opening of the door in order to satisfy constitutional and statutory knock-notice requirements.
We agree.")

47See same. ("The essential inquiry is whether under the circumstances the policies underlying the knock-notice requirements were served.")

48People v. Macioce, (1987) 197 Cal.App.3d 262, 271 ("The purposes and policies supporting the 'knock-notice' rules are fourfold: (1) the protection

of the privacy of the individual in his home; (2) the protection of innocent persons present on the premises; (3) the prevention of situations which are
conducive to violent confrontations between the occupant and individuals who enter his home without proper notice; and (4) the protection of police
who might be injured by a startled and fearful householder.")

49California Penal Code 1531 -- Execution; authority to break in after admittance refused. ("The officer may break open any outer or inner door or

window of a house, or any part of a house, or anything therein, to execute the warrant, if, after notice of his authority and purpose, he is refused
admittance.")

50Hart v. Superior Court, (1971) 21 Cal.App.3d 496, 504 ("Prima facie, the statute [California Penal Code 1531] mandates that in executing a search

warrant an officer must first determine whether anyone is present within the premises to be searched. If an affirmative determination is made, the
officer must request admittance by giving notice of his authority and purpose. If, however, it is determined that no one is present and if that
determination is supported by the evidence, the notice of authority and purpose requirement is not essential to the validity of the entry and
subsequent search.")

51People v. Peterson, (1973) 9 Cal.3d 717, 723 ("Officer Kalm testified that he knocked several times, waited approximately one minute during

which interval he observed two persons seated only a short distance inside the screen door. They gave no indication that they intended to respond.
Such a delay with notice of the officer's presence, would reasonably constitute a rejection of the officer's demands.") See also Jeter, endnote 38
above at 937. ("Thus, in both Elder and Gallo the police had first-hand concrete knowledge that someone was in the residence and was awake: in
Elder the police had the residents on the phone, and in Gallo they had them in view. With such information it was not unreasonable for the officers in
the Elder and Gallo situations to conclude that a failure to respond to their knocking and announcing of purpose was a refusal of permission to
enter.")

52People v. Cressey, (1970) 2 Cal.3d 836, 840 ("The officer inquired, "Jesse Cressey?" and defendant responded, "Yes." Properly explaining his

purpose, the officer said, "I have two warrants for your arrest charging you with failure to provide, and a traffic warrant. Open the door. You're under
arrest." The defendant answered, "I'm not going to open the door. You don't have any failure to provide warrant for me. I sent my ex-wife one
hundred dollars last week." Although the officer did not at that time possess the warrant, he informed the defendant again that the police had such a
warrant and ordered defendant to submit to arrest and open the door or he would force entry.FN4 Defendant declared: "Go ahead because I'm not
going to open the door. If you break it down, I'll sue the City."")

53People v. Cain, (1968) 261 Cal.App.2d 383, 391 ("The court held that the failure of the officers to explain their purpose and demand admittance,

as required by [California] Penal Code section 844, was fatal to the legality of the arrest. (Id. at 310, 66 Cal.Rptr. 1, 437 P.2d 489.) The mere
announcement to the girl that they were police officers was not sufficient compliance with the statute. 'That section requires that an officer explain his
purpose before demanding admittance, not merely that he identify himself as an officer.' (Id. at 310, 66 Cal.Rptr. 1, 3, 437 P.2d 489, 491.) It is
unchallenged in the case before us that Cozzalio did not fully comply with [California] Penal Code section 1531. He did not announce his purpose,
nor was he refused admittance. (This refusal is required by Penal Code section 1531, but not by Penal Code section 844.) The Supreme Court has
clearly established that variance from Penal Code section 844 and 1531 will be tolerated only in the exceptional situation. As shown above, this case
is not the exceptional situation.")

54People v. Benjamin, (1969) 71 Cal.2d 296, 297 ("...for even if we assume that the officer's 'yell' was an effort on his part to give 'notice of his

authority and purpose,' it appears that that 'yell' was simultaneous with and a part of the entry and that the occupant of the apartment was given no
opportunity to grant or refuse admittance. Finally, the record herein provides no basis for concluding that the officer was excused from compliance
with the section under the common law exceptions to the rule of announcement. 'Our decision in People v. Gastelo, Supra, 67 Cal.2d 586, 63
Cal.Rptr. 10, 432 P.2d 706, clearly forecloses the propriety of noncompliance with section 844 or its counterpart section 1531 when such
noncompliance is based solely upon an officer's general experience relative to the disposability of the king of evidence sought and the propensity of
offenders to effect disposal.'")

55Jeter v. Superior Court, (1983) 138 Cal.App.3d 934, 936 ("Testimony at the preliminary hearing revealed that Officer Munoz, accompanied by four

other police officers, arrived at 1224 Fruitvale Avenue about 11 a.m. on July 30, 1981, to serve a search warrant. No surveillance of the premises
was undertaken. The officers drove up and parked. Then Officer Munoz knocked on the front door and yelled, "police officers, we have a search
warrant." He waited a "few seconds" and knocked and yelled again. After waiting "five or ten seconds", he turned the handle and pushed open the
door. Upon entering the residence he saw petitioner and Mr. Brown in a sleeping loft: petitioner was sitting on the bed unclad and Brown was
asleep.") The court pointed out that 20 seconds isn't a steadfast rule but specifically applied to this case. In cases where the police knew that
people were in the house and that criminal activity was taking place, a 20-second delay was permissible.

56Machado v. Superior Court, (1975) 45 Cal.App.3d 316, 320 ("Two recent cases have considered the applicability of [California Penal Code]

sections 844 and 1531 to situations where a house was secured pending receipt of a search warrant. (People v. Freeny, 37 Cal.App.3d 20, 112
Cal.Rptr. 33; Ferdin v. Superior Court, 36 Cal.App.3d 774, 112 Cal.Rptr. 66.) The clear implication in both cases is that the courts felt that the knock-
and-notice requirements had to be complied with when officers were entering to secure a house pending the arrival of a search warrant. Ferdin
specifically recognized that the time the danger of violent confrontation exists is when the entry is made to secure the house and not when the
warrant later arrives.")

57Parsley v. Superior Court, (1973) 9 Cal.3d 934, 938 ("FN3 Once inside the dwelling, the officer informed defendant Parsley, "We're police

officers." This statement does not satisfy [California Penal Code] section 1531 because (1) it was made inside the house, and (2) it did not include a
statement of purpose.")

58People v. Byrd, (1974) 38 Cal.App.3d 941, 9 ("The trial court found that the evidence showed that Ms. Moser asked Mr. Benner to come in.

[California Penal Code] Sections 844 and 1531 are inapplicable under such circumstances. "Since the officers' entry here was consented to by
persons present inside the house, the section does not apply."")

59People v. Lovett, (1978) 82 Cal.App.3d 527, 531 ("Although the People cite no case to the effect that section 1531 of the [California]Penal Code

does not apply where the premises to be searched are a store open to the public, a contrary rule would make little sense. None of the purposes of
the statute would be advanced by requiring police officers to state their "authority and purpose" before crossing the threshold of a store into which
the general public has been invited to enter.")

60People v. Scott, (1968) 259 Cal.App.2d 268, 279 ("Strict compliance with the requirements of [California Penal Code] section 1531 is excused

when the circumstances reasonably require it. ( People v. Barthel (1965) 231 Cal.App.2d 827, 832; People v. Villanueva (1963) 220 Cal.App.2d 443,
447. An officer executing a warrant authorizing a search for narcotics does not, because the contraband is easily disposed of, enjoy a blanket
authorization to make an unannounced forcible entry. ( People v. Gastelo (1967) 67 Cal.2d 586.) But here the officer had reason to believe that
although appellant was outside in the car other parties were within the house. It was not unreasonable for him to believe that appellant sounded the
car horn for the purpose of signaling someone inside the house to destroy the contraband and thus frustrate the search which had been authorized
by the warrant. Under these circumstances it was proper for the officer to make immediate entry.")

61People v. Murphy, (2005) 37 Cal.4th 490, 497 ("...strict compliance with the knock-notice rule is excused "if the specific facts known to the officer

before his entry are sufficient to support his good faith belief that compliance will increase his peril, frustrate the arrest, or permit the destruction of
evidence.")

62People v. Pacheco, (1972) 27 Cal.App.3d 70, 77 ("An entry of a house, in violation of the aforementioned section, renders any following search

and seizure unreasonable within the purview of the Fourth Amendment.")

63People v. Rodriquez, (1969) 274 Cal.App.2d 770, 773 ("...an unannounced entry by the police into a house, contrary to [California] Penal Code

section 1531, is illegal and that evidence adduced therefrom is inadmissible as the product of an unreasonable search.")

64California Penal Code section 1538.5 -- Motion to return property or suppress evidence.

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