State v. Flynn Covington

MR. JUSTICE SHEA delivered the opinion of the Court. The State of Montana brings this appeal from the order of the *442 District Court, Hill County, granting defendants’ motion to suppress evidence seized during a search of defendant Flynn’s apartment and automobile. This case arose under the exact circumstances as State v. Leistiko, 176 Mont. 434, 578 P.2d 1161, (Cause No. 13802, decided 1978). The informant, Paula Kirchgaslar, gave information concerning drug use and possession by defendants Flynn and Covington, and defendant Leistiko. From the informant’s information Officer Stremcha of the Havre police department made applications for search warrants in the Flynn and Covington case, warrant #2406, and in the Leistiko case, warrant #2405. The information contained in the two search warrant applications differs only as to the different individuals involved. The defects in the procedure used to obtain the warrants are the same. For this reason the cases were argued jointly before this Court. The issue raised and argument advanced on appeal by Flynn and Covington are identical to those considered in the companion case Leistiko. Reference is made thereto. We find no need to repeat our prior holdings and discussion of the relevant procedures and legal principles found in Leistiko. We note from the testimony of Justice of Peace Stallcop that whatever questioning he did, it was not for the purpose of determining the informant’s credibility. He was asked this question: “Q. Judge, was there any other question directed to Officer Stremcha or Paula Kirchgaslar specifically for the purpose of indicating her credibility or veracity or propensity for telling the truth? A. No, I didn’t inquire into that.” From a reading of the transcript it is obvious that there was no interrogation of the informant for the purpose of testing her credibility or the reliability of her information. From the application there is nothing to show the informant’s credibility had been tested by previous experience with her as an informer, or that the reliability of her information had been corroborated in some way, or that she had made admissions against her interest. The application does not contain facts or circumstances showing the informant to *443 be a disinterested eyewitness, motivated by good citizenship, aiding openly in the aid of law enforcement as a “citizen informant”. The judgment of the District Court is affirmed in this case for the same reasons it was affirmed in Leistiko. MR. CHIEF JUSTICE HASWELL, JUSTICES HARRISON and DALY, and ALFRED B. COATE, District Judge, sitting with the Court, concur.