United States v. Lester Raymond Barnett

On his appeal from his two convictions for bank robbery, Lester R. Barnett contends that:

(1) The government failed to establish that his warrantless arrest was based upon probable cause.

(2) The warrantless seizure of marked money from a third person was beyond the scope of an incidental search.

(3) Identification testimony should have been stricken as the product of an illegal line-up.

Appellant’s first contention is belied by the arresting officer’s affidavit, the only evidence introduced on the motion to suppress. The officer had a physical description of the robber, and knew his name and address from the license plate on the getaway car. Probable cause to arrest existed when appellant, who matched the physical description, approached the known address and identified himself as Lester Barnett. Hollins v. United States, 338 F.2d 227, 229 (9th Cir. 1964); People v. Hillery, 65 Cal.2d 795, 803 , 56 Cal.Rptr. 280 , 423 P.2d 208, 213 (1967). Appellant declined the opportunity to cross-examine the arresting officer.

Appellant’s second contention, that evidence was illegally seized by an FBI agent in a furniture store where appellant had spent part of the bait money, is without…