United States v. Hernandez
United States v. Hernandez
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Dario Hernandez was convicted of being a felon in possession of two firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). He appeals the district court’s denial of a motion to suppress evidence seized from his residence pursuant to a search warrant. He contends that the detective who sought and obtained the warrant authorizing the search of his residence recklessly included false statements of material fact in and omitted material facts from the supporting affidavit in violation of Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978). We agree.
The record reflects that the detective (1) incorrectly reported the rental agent’s description of the renter of the Dodge Caravan; (2) equated the description of the renter with Hernandez’s description in a false and misleading manner; (3) overstated the strength of Officer Honomichl’s identification of Hernandez; and (4) gave the false impression that Officer Honomichl positively identified Hernandez within
The questions of intent and reckless disregard for the truth remain. There was no evidence presented at the suppression hearing that the detective intended to mislead the magistrate judge who issued the warrant, although the extent of the affidavit’s shortcomings and the manner in which some of the “facts” were depicted might well support such a finding. We need not decide that question, however, because the misstatements and omissions are such that we are compelled to conclude that the affidavit was prepared with a reckless disregard for the truth. See Franks, 438 U.S. at 155-56, 98 S.Ct. 2674; United States v. Senchenko, 133 F.3d 1153, 1158 (9th Cir. 1998).
We next decide “whether the affidavit, once corrected and supplemented, would provide a magistrate with a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed.” United States v. Stanert, 762 F.2d 775, 782 (9th Cir. 1985) (as amended) (citation omitted); see also Franks, 438 U.S. at 155-56, 98 S.Ct. 2674. In fight of the modifications to the affidavit necessitated by the misstatements and omissions identified above, a finding of probable cause is dependent entirely upon the reliability of Officer Honomichl’s identification and, in particular, upon whether that identification is sufficient to support such a finding.
The Supreme Court has held that identification procedures similar to those used in this case are violative of due process. See Foster v. California, 394 U.S. 440, 442-443, 89 S.Ct. 1127, 22 L.Ed.2d 402 (1969) (observing that the identification was “all but inevitable” under the circumstances). See also Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377, 383-84, 88 S.Ct. 967, 19 L.Ed.2d 1247 (1968); United States v. Bagley, 772 F.2d 482, 493 (9th Cir. 1985); United States v. Fowler, 439 F.2d 133, 134 (9th Cir. 1971). We likewise conclude that the totality of the circumstances surrounding Officer Honomichl’s identification render his identification inadequate to support a finding of probable cause. The motion to suppress should have been granted.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
Judge FERNANDEZ concurs in the result.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.