{ "id": 11914262, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JOHN P. LEDBETTER", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Ledbetter", "decision_date": "1995-09-05", "docket_number": "No. 9421SC380", "first_page": "117", "last_page": "126", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "120 N.C. App. 117" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "100 ALR2d 525", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "241 S.E.2d 83", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "85", "parenthetical": "typographical error in affidavit as to year informant purchased marijuana not \"fatal to the sufficiency of the affidavit\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "35 N.C. App. 212", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8548181 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "214-15", "parenthetical": "typographical error in affidavit as to year informant purchased marijuana not \"fatal to the sufficiency of the affidavit\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/35/0212-01" ] }, { "cite": "400 S.E.2d 429", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "434-35", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "328 N.C. 213", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2537437 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "222", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/328/0213-01" ] }, { "cite": "380 U.S. 102", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1524630 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1965, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "109" }, { "page": "689" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/380/0102-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 90-94", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 90-90", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(a)(4)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "194 L. Ed. 2d 154", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "where property stolen six days prior to execution of affidavit, observation of property by informant recited therein was adequately timely because it \"had to have been made within that six day period\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "282 U.S. 674", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "where property stolen six days prior to execution of affidavit, observation of property by informant recited therein was adequately timely because it \"had to have been made within that six day period\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "193 S.E.2d 341", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "345" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "16 N.C. App. 712", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8554462 ], "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "716-17" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/16/0712-01" ] }, { "cite": "458 A.2d 875", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "879" }, { "page": "880", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "54 Md. App. 323", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md. App.", "case_ids": [ 2284044 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "330" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/md-app/54/0323-01" ] }, { "cite": "427 U.S. 463", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6179008 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/427/0463-01" ] }, { "cite": "274 Md. 725", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "331 A.2d 78", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "106" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "24 Md. App. 128", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md. App.", "case_ids": [ 2308410 ], "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "172" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/md-app/24/0128-01" ] }, { "cite": "62 L. Ed. 2d 47", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1979, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "444 U.S. 836", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11325847, 11325442, 11326116, 11325924, 11325702, 11325483, 11325774, 11325647, 11325585, 11325527, 11326008 ], "year": 1979, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/444/0836-08", "/us/444/0836-01", "/us/444/0836-11", "/us/444/0836-09", "/us/444/0836-06", "/us/444/0836-02", "/us/444/0836-07", "/us/444/0836-05", "/us/444/0836-04", "/us/444/0836-03", "/us/444/0836-10" ] }, { "cite": "250 S.E.2d 630", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "636" }, { "page": "636", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "296 N.C. 314", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8565892 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "323" }, { "page": "323" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/296/0314-01" ] }, { "cite": "397 S.E.2d 355", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "358" }, { "page": "358", "parenthetical": "two controlled buys occurring within ten days of the application, albeit at different locations rented by defendant, sufficient to withstand objection to timeliness" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "100 N.C. App. 574", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527228 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "577" }, { "page": "577" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/100/0574-01" ] }, { "cite": "182 S.E.2d 364", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "367" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "279 N.C. 307", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8566862 ], "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "311" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/279/0307-01" ] }, { "cite": "244 S.E.2d 481", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "606" }, { "page": "481" }, { "page": "607" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "36 N.C. App. 605", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8554941 ], "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/36/0605-01" ] }, { "cite": "248 S.E.2d 733", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "295 N.C. 555", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8565920, 8565957, 8565862, 8565833, 8565880 ], "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/295/0555-04", "/nc/295/0555-05", "/nc/295/0555-02", "/nc/295/0555-01", "/nc/295/0555-03" ] }, { "cite": "244 S.E.2d 716", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "718" }, { "page": "718" }, { "page": "718-19", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "36 N.C. App. 469", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8554211 ], "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/36/0469-01" ] }, { "cite": "108 L. Ed. 2d 603", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "494 U.S. 1022", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 5540, 5547, 5516, 5166, 5366, 4823, 5560 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/494/1022-04", "/us/494/1022-06", "/us/494/1022-03", "/us/494/1022-05", "/us/494/1022-01", "/us/494/1022-02", "/us/494/1022-07" ] }, { "cite": "376 S.E.2d 430", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "436" }, { "page": "436", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "page": "436" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "324 N.C. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2485742 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "9" }, { "page": "9" }, { "page": "9" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/324/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "362 U.S. 257", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6163485 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1960, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "271" }, { "page": "708" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/362/0257-01" ] }, { "cite": "230 S.E.2d 506", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "291 N.C. 399", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8558351 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/291/0399-01" ] }, { "cite": "319 S.E.2d 254", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "256", "parenthetical": "citing State v. Riddick, 291 N.C. 399, 230 S.E.2d 506 (1976)" }, { "page": "258" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "311 N.C. 633", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4681578 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "636", "parenthetical": "citing State v. Riddick, 291 N.C. 399, 230 S.E.2d 506 (1976)" }, { "page": "638" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/311/0633-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 L. Ed. 2d 1453", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "463 U.S. 1237", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6264512, 6263312, 6263604, 6263838, 6263038 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/463/1237-05", "/us/463/1237-02", "/us/463/1237-03", "/us/463/1237-04", "/us/463/1237-01" ] }, { "cite": "462 U.S. 213", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6187462 ], "weight": 10, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "235-36" }, { "page": "546" }, { "page": "238-39" }, { "page": "548" }, { "page": "238-39" }, { "page": "548", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "page": "238" }, { "page": "548" }, { "page": "236" }, { "page": "547" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/462/0213-01" ] }, { "cite": "466 U.S. 727", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6205246 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "728" }, { "page": "724" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/466/0727-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 951, "char_count": 20612, "ocr_confidence": 0.745, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.2738915141776752e-07, "percentile": 0.6154233316305313 }, "sha256": "3f381588a57875d8c7bfa24a0b061e3117a287379a90f10c9de08d018a1bb1a6", "simhash": "1:834db02e576e6ed6", "word_count": 3301 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:17:04.771230+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges JOHNSON and MARTIN, Mark D. concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JOHN P. LEDBETTER" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JOHN, Judge.\nDefendant pled guilty to charges of trafficking in cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, maintaining a dwelling for the purposes of violating the Controlled Substances Act, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to a term of fourteen (14) years imprisonment in addition to a fine of $100,000.00.\nPursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-979(b) (1988), defendant appeals the trial court\u2019s denial of his motion to suppress certain evidence. He contends the trial court erred because there existed no probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant. For the reasons set forth herein, we find defendant\u2019s argument unpersuasive.\nThe State\u2019s evidence presented at the hearing on defendant\u2019s motion to suppress tended to show the following: On 9 July 1993, Detective H. C. Gray of the Forsyth County Sheriff\u2019s Department (Gray) received information from a confidential informant concerning illegal drug activity at 25 Monmouth Street in Winston-Salem. Gray had previously received a similar report of suspected narcotics activity at the same address through Crimestoppers. The report to Crimestoppers disclosed the possible sale of cocaine at that location, and further indicated the residence belonged to defendant.\nGray thereafter initiated a controlled purchase of narcotics through the informant at the suspected address. The confidential source was searched prior to entering the premises and given a sum of money which was marked and labelled. This individual had previously negotiated similar purchases under supervision of the Sheriffs Department, and such assistance had \u201cled to several search warrants and several felony arrests.\u201d\nOfficers observed the informant enter defendant\u2019s residence, remain inside momentarily, and then return to the officers\u2019 location. At that time, the informant handed Gray \u201cone baggie\u201d containing a substance which was field tested at the scene and determined to be cocaine. The informant told Gray the cocaine had been obtained from defendant.\nGray thereafter applied for a search warrant. In an affidavit submitted to the Deputy Clerk of Superior Court, Gray stated inter alia the following:\nWithin six days prior to the making of this application for this search warrant, the applicant received information from a person known to officers of the Forsyth County Sheriff\u2019s Department Vice and Narcotics, who fears for his/her safety should his/her name become known. . . .\nTo the applicant\u2019s knowledge, this confidential and reliable source has never given false information to any law enforcement officer. This confidential and reliable [source] has admitted to the use of and is familiar with, cocaine. The confidential and reliable source has, in the past, purchased marijuana from individuals who are currently under investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff\u2019s Department\u2019s Vice and Narcotics Division.\nIn the six days prior to the making of this application for this search warrant, the applicant met with the confidential and reliable source for the purpose of making a controlled purchase of cocaine in accordance with the procedures used by the Forsyth County Sheriff\u2019s Department Vice and Narcotics Division to assure that no controlled substances were on his person. . . .\nThe confidential and reliable source was clearly observed driving to 25 Monmouth Street and entering same. Visual surveillance was maintained on the confidential and reliable source by the applicant until he went to 25 Monmouth Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.\nDuring the time that the confidential and reliable source was in 25 Monmouth Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, no other persons entered or left 25 Monmouth, Winston-Salem, NC. Visual surveillance was maintained until the confidential and reliable source exited 25 Monmouth Street, Winston-Salem, NC and returned to a predetermined location where the applicant met him. At that time the confidential and reliable source turned over a quantity of cocaine. This substance was alter field tested by the applicant and the results indicated the presence of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance under the North Carolina Controlled Substance Act.\nFor [the] above stated reasons, the applicant believes that the Schedule II controlled substance marijuana, is being sold and stored from 25 Monmouth Street, Winston-Salem, NC. . . .\nA search warrant was subsequently issued for 25 Monmouth Street and executed 9 July 1993. At the residence, officers discovered scales, plastic baggies containing crack cocaine, plastic baggies containing heroin, cash money, pipes customarily used for smoking crack cocaine, hypodermic needles, and numerous weapons. Additionally, they recovered a box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda tainted with over 200 grams of cocaine. Defendant voluntarily stated to the officers that the controlled substances and contraband found belonged to him. Defendant was arrested and indicted on the charges to which he later pled guilty.\nOn 17 September 1993, defendant moved to suppress the items seized as a result of the search, alleging the warrant was invalid. See N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-974 (1988). The trial court denied defendant\u2019s motion in open court 1 February 1994, concluding \u201cthat under the totality of the circumstances there was probable cause set forth in the affidavit for the issuance of a search warrant\u201d and \u201cthat none of the defendant\u2019s constitutional rights under the North Carolina constitution or the United States constitution or any of his statutory rights were violated by the issuance of the search warrant or by the subsequent search and seizure.\u201d\nDefendant gave notice of appeal to this Court 1 February 1994.\nDefendant\u2019s sole contention on appeal is \u201cthat the evidence as a whole, in the present case, did not provide a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause exist[ed]\u201d for issuance of a search warrant. We disagree.\nThe standard for a court reviewing the issuance of a search warrant is \u201cwhether there is substantial evidence in the record supporting the magistrate\u2019s decision to issue the warrant.\u201d Massachusetts v. Upton, 466 U.S. 727, 728, 80 L. Ed. 2d 721, 724 (1984).\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-244 (1988) states an application for a search warrant must contain the following:\n(2) A statement that there is probable cause to believe that items subject to seizure under G.S. 15A-242 may be found in or upon a designated or described place, vehicle, or person; and\n(3) Allegations of fact supporting the statement. The statements must be supported by one or more affidavits particularly setting forth the facts and circumstances establishing probable cause to believe that the items are in the places or in the possession of the individuals to be searched; ....\nWhether an applicant has submitted sufficient evidence to establish probable cause to issue a search warrant is a \u201cnontechnical, commonsense judgment[] of laymen applying a standard less demanding than those used in more formal legal proceedings.\u201d Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 235-36, 76 L. Ed. 2d 527, 546, reh\u2019g denied, 463 U.S. 1237, 77 L. Ed. 2d 1453 (1983). \u201cThe affidavit [in support of an application for a search warrant] is sufficient if it supplies reasonable cause to believe that the proposed search for evidence probably will reveal the presence upon the described premises of the items sought and that those items will aid in the apprehension or conviction of the offender.\u201d State v. Arrington, 311 N.C. 633, 636, 319 S.E.2d 254, 256 (1984) (citing State v. Riddick, 291 N.C. 399, 230 S.E.2d 506 (1976)).\nIn Gates, the United States Supreme Court adopted a \u201ctotality of the circumstances\u201d test:\nThe task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before him,... there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. And the duty of a reviewing court is simply to ensure that the magistrate had a \u201csubstantial basis for . . . concluding]\u201d that probable cause existed.\nGates, 462 U.S. at 238-39, 76 L. Ed. 2d at 548 (quoting Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 271, 4 L. Ed. 2d 697, 708 (1960)). Moreover, great deference is to be paid the magistrate\u2019s determination of probable cause, and reviewing courts \u201cshould not conduct a de novo review of the evidence to determine whether probable cause existed at the time the warrant was issued.\u201d State v. Greene, 324 N.C. 1, 9, 376 S.E.2d 430, 436 (1989), vacated on other grounds, 494 U.S. 1022, 108 L. Ed. 2d 603 (1990) (citations omitted).\nDefendant argues at length in his appellate brief regarding the applicability of cases dealing with search warrants issued upon affidavits in which information was obtained from confidential informants. We conclude the search warrant herein was issued in reliance upon recitation in the affidavit of a controlled purchase of cocaine. Therefore, both defendant\u2019s argument and the cases he cites are inap-posite, and other decisions from this Court control.\nIn State v. McLeod, 36 N.C. App. 469, 244 S.E.2d 716, disc. review denied, 295 N.C. 555, 248 S.E.2d 733 (1978), for example, the State appealed the trial court\u2019s allowance of defendant\u2019s motion to suppress evidence seized during a search pursuant to a search warrant. Id. at 471, 244 S.E.2d at 718; see N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-979(c) (1988). The officer\u2019s affidavit attached to the search warrant application detailed a controlled purchase of narcotics at the premises in question. Id. at 471-72, 244 S.E.2d at 718. This Court reversed the trial court, stating:\nWe find the information in the affidavit . . . relative to the purchase ... of marijuana from the building to be searched, sufficient, standing alone, to show the probable cause necessary to support the search warrant issued . .. [The affiant officer] related that he and another officer . . . observed a person go into the building, for which the search warrant was issued, and come out with approximately one ounce of marijuana which the person then gave to [the affiant officer]. This person had been previously sent into the building by the officers for the purpose of buying marijuana. No more information was required in order to establish the probable cause necessary to support the search warrant issued by the magistrate.\nThe fact that the person sent into the building to buy marijuana was an informant does not, in itself, alter the nature of the officer\u2019s personal observations and render this a search warrant issued upon the hearsay statement of a confidential informant for purposes of determining probable cause.\nId. at 472-73, 244 S.E.2d at 718-19 (emphasis added) (citation omitted).\nIn State v. Hamlin, 36 N.C. App. 605, 244 S.E.2d 481 (1978), the search warrant applicant\u2019s affidavit stated:\nThe Special Operations Division has received information that Phencyclidine (PCP) is being sold at said place. On September 9, 1977 an operative working under supervision of Special Operations Agents [affiant] and Toth, made a controlled purchase of PCP from [defendant] at said place. Said purchase was controlled by [affiant] and Toth by watching said operative go in and come out of said place. [Affiant] took custody of the purchased evidence.\nId. at 606, 244 S.E.2d at 482.\nDefendant\u2019s motion to suppress had been allowed by the trial court on grounds the affidavit was insufficient to establish probable cause. Id. at 605, 244 S.E.2d at 481. This Court disagreed, pointing out that\n[i]n the present case, . . . the initial hearsay statement in the affidavit, that the Special Operations Division (SOD) had received information of the sale of PCP, is not the focal point of the sworn statement. Information contained in the officer\u2019s affidavit describes a controlled purchase at the premises to be searched. Two SOD officers observed the operative go into the place and come out with PCP of which one of the officers took custody.\nId. at 607, 244 S.E.2d at 482 (emphasis added). We held the affidavit \u201csupplied a \u2018reasonable ground of suspicion, supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves to warrant a cautious man in believing the accused to be guilty ....\u2019\u201d Id. at 607, 244 S.E.2d at 482 (quoting State v. Harris, 279 N.C. 307, 311, 182 S.E.2d 364, 367 (1971)).\nIn the case sub judice, Gray\u2019s affidavit similarly contained the statement he had received information from a confidential informant and thereafter described the controlled purchase of narcotics at the premises to be searched. As in Hamlin, Gray\u2019s statement he had \u201creceived information\u201d was not the \u201cfocal point\u201d of his affidavit, but rather his precise and detailed recitation of his observations regarding the controlled purchase. This latter component of Gray\u2019s affidavit is sufficient, under both Hamlin and McLeod, to establish that the warrant was issued upon probable cause. The trial court therefore did not err in denying defendant\u2019s motion to suppress as the Deputy Clerk of Court possessed a \u201c \u2018substantial basis for . . . concluding]\u2019 that probable cause existed.\u201d Gates, 462 U.S. at 238-39, 76 L. Ed. 2d at 548 (citation omitted).\nNotwithstanding, defendant argues the evidence of the controlled purchase was stale from the passage of time. This contention fails.\n\u201cWhen evidence of previous criminal activity is advanced to support a finding of probable cause, a further examination must be made to determine if the evidence of the prior activity is stale.\u201d State v. McCoy, 100 N.C. App. 574, 577, 397 S.E.2d 355, 358 (1990). \u201c \u2018[A] one-shot type of crime, such as a single instance of possession or sale of some contraband, will support a finding of probable cause only for a few days at best.\u2019 \u201d Id. (quoting LaFave, Search and Seizure, \u00a7 3.7(a) at 78).\nGray\u2019s affidavit stated the one-time controlled purchase of cocaine from defendant\u2019s residence occurred within the six days prior to the date of application for the search warrant. While Gray explained at the suppression hearing that the time period of six days was placed in his affidavit in an effort to conceal the identity of the informant, the date asserted in the affidavit controls our review on the issue of timeliness. See Greene, 324 N.C. at 9, 376 S.E.2d at 436 (citation omitted) (magistrate must consider evidence presented at time of application).\nIn State v. Louchheim, 296 N.C. 314, 323, 250 S.E.2d 630, 636, cert. denied, 444 U.S. 836, 62 L. Ed. 2d 47 (1979), our Supreme Court discussed the timeliness of information issue by quoting a Maryland appellate decision as follows:\n\u201cThe ultimate criterion in determining the degree of evaporation of probable cause, however, is . .. reason. The likelihood that the evidence sought is still in place is a function not simply of watch and calendar but of variables that do not punch a clock: the character of the crime (chance encounter in the night or regenerating conspiracy?), of the criminal (nomadic or entrenched?), of the thing to be seized (perishable and easily transferable or of enduring utility to its holder?), of the place to be searched (mere criminal forum of convenience or secure operational base?), etc.\u201d Andresen v. Maryland, 24 Md. App. 128, 172, 331 A.2d 78, 106 (1975), cert. denied, 274 Md. 725 (1975), aff\u2019d, 427 U.S. 463, 49 L. Ed. 2d 627 (1976).\nIn a more recent Maryland case, Davidson v. State, 54 Md. App. 323, 330, 458 A.2d 875, 879 (1983), the court considered the timeliness of information in an affidavit dated 1 May 1981. The affiant indicated an informant had purchased a controlled substance with funds furnished by officers \u201con an unspecified occasion between April 12-30, 1981 . . . .\u201d Id. The Maryland court held that the test\nis whether the information constituting the probable cause in the search warrant is so remote from the date of the affidavit \u201cas to render it improbable that the alleged violation of law authorizing the search was extant at the time the application for the search warrant was made.\u201d The time element, while a factor to consider, is not the only factor. . . As colorfully stated by the Andresen court: \u201cThe hare and the tortoise do not disappear at the same rate of speed.\u201d\nId. at 331, 458 A.2d at 880 (citations omitted). The court noted that drug dealing \u201cis ordinarily a regenerating activity carried on over a period of time,\u201d and held the \u201cprobable case for the search and seizure continued to exist on the date of the execution of the warrant.\u201d Id.\nWe believe the Maryland test to be apt, and consider particularly that the \u201cregenerating activity\u201d of the sale of cocaine depicted in the affidavit herein was stated and observed to have been conducted at defendant\u2019s residence, indisputably a \u201csecure operational base.\u201d Louchheim, 296 N.C. at 323, 250 S.E.2d at 636 (citation omitted). Taken as a whole, therefore, and according due deference to the Clerk\u2019s determination, Greene, 324 N.C. at 9, 376 S.E.2d at 436, the affidavit contained sufficient timely information to support a finding there was \u201c \u2018a fair probability\u2019 \u201d that the controlled substance sought was to be found in the location to be searched. Arrington, 311 N.C. at 638, 319 S.E.2d at 258 (quoting Gates, 462 U.S. at 238, 76 L. Ed. 2d at 548); see also McCoy, 100 N.C. App. at 577, 397 S.E.2d at 358 (two controlled buys occurring within ten days of the application, albeit at different locations rented by defendant, sufficient to withstand objection to timeliness); State v. Shanklin, 16 N.C. App. 712, 716-17, 193 S.E.2d 341, 345 (1972), cert. denied, 282 U.S. 674, 194 L. Ed. 2d 154 (1973) (where property stolen six days prior to execution of affidavit, observation of property by informant recited therein was adequately timely because it \u201chad to have been made within that six day period\u201d).\nIn conclusion, we consider defendant\u2019s complaint that the application makes a single reference to \u201cthe Schedule II controlled substance marijuana\u201d (emphasis added) as being sold and stored at 25 Monmouth Street. The trial court determined this was a \u201ctypographical error.\u201d Given that the controlled purchase referred to in the affidavit was specified to be cocaine and that we may take note that cocaine is a Schedule II controlled substance under our Controlled Substances Act, N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 90-90(a)(4) (1993 & Cum. Supp. 1994), (and marijuana a Schedule VI substance, N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 90-94 (1993)), we agree.\nAs our Supreme Court has stated,\n\u201c[a] grudging or negative attitude by reviewing courts towards warrants,\u201d is inconsistent with the Fourth Amendment\u2019s strong preference for searches conducted pursuant to a warrant; \u201ccourts should not invalidate warrants] by interpreting affidavit[s] in a hypertechnical, rather than a commonsense, manner.\u201d Gates, 462 U.S. at 236, 76 L. Ed. 2d at 547 (quoting United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102, 109, 13 L. Ed. 2d 684, 689 (1965)). \u201c[T]he resolution of doubtful or marginal cases in this area should be largely determined by the preference to be accorded to warrants.\u201d\nState v. Riggs, 328 N.C. 213, 222, 400 S.E.2d 429, 434-35 (1991) (citations omitted); see State v. Beddard, 35 N.C. App. 212, 214-15, 241 S.E.2d 83, 85 (1978) (typographical error in affidavit as to year informant purchased marijuana not \u201cfatal to the sufficiency of the affidavit\u201d).\nAffirmed.\nJudges JOHNSON and MARTIN, Mark D. concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JOHN, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Michael F. Easley, by Associate Attorney General William B. Grumpier, for the State.", "Marilyn E. Massey for defendant-appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JOHN P. LEDBETTER\nNo. 9421SC380\n(Filed 5 September 1995)\nSearches and Seizures \u00a7 109 (NCI4th)\u2014 purchase of controlled substance from confidential informant within six days \u2014 sufficiency of affidavit to support issuance of search warrant\nProbable cause existed for issuance of a search warrant where a confidential informant made a purchase of cocaine from defendant at his residence; the officer\u2019s affidavit gave a precise and detailed recitation of his observations regarding the controlled purchase; and the statement that the one-time controlled purchase occurred within six days of the application for the search warrant was placed in the affidavit in an effort to conceal the identity of the informant and did not render the controlled purchase stale from the passage of time.\nAm Jur 2d, Searches and Seizures \u00a7 124.\nSearch warrant: sufficiency of showing as to time of occurrence of facts relied on. 100 ALR2d 525.\nAppeal by defendant from judgment entered 3 February 1994 by Judge William H. Freeman in Forsyth County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 31 January 1995.\nAttorney General Michael F. Easley, by Associate Attorney General William B. Grumpier, for the State.\nMarilyn E. Massey for defendant-appellant." }, "file_name": "0117-01", "first_page_order": 151, "last_page_order": 160 }