United States v. Jessie Lee Turner
Opinion
Opinion
Wright, J.
Turner appeals the district court’s denial of his motions to suppress evidence, to dismiss a superseding indictment and for judgment of acquittal. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
Police suspected that drug traffickers were working out of a public housing complex. They asked a paid police informant, Sloggett, for information, and he told them that Turner was involved. They set up a series of controlled buys of cocaine base between Sloggett and Turner. Sloggett began to work in Turner’s operation. He informed police that Turner kept weapons in the apartment he used for his drug operation. In monitoring Turner’s conversations, police heard him say that he had firearms to protect his merchandise and to use against the police if they raided his apartment.
An officer applied by telephone for a warrant to search the apartment. The issuing state judge placed her under oath after she presented the supporting facts. The judge found probable cause and issued the warrant. In their subsequent search, police found ammunition, packaging for weapons, a scale, a police scanner, two-way radios, holsters and packaging typically used in the sale of cocaine base.