State v. Irwin ( 2021 )

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
STATE OF DELAWARE, )
)
v. ) ID No. 2003010641
)
CHRISTOPHER IRWIN, )
)
Defendant. )
Submitted: January 20, 2021
Decided: April 30, 2021
OPINION
Upon Defendant’s Motion to Terminate Probation
GRANTED in part.
James K. McCloskey, Esquire, Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice,
Wilmington, Delaware. Attorney for the State.
Thomas A. Foley, Esquire, Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney for Defendant.
Adams, J.
Defendant Christopher Irwin (“Irwin”) filed this Motion to Terminate
Probation after officers with Operation Safe Streets (“Safe Streets Task Force” or
“Safe Streets”) detained Irwin at his first visit with Probation & Parole (“P&P”) and
conducted warrantless searches of his house and vehicle. In his Motion, Irwin
requests that the Court terminate the remainder of his probation, arguing that the
searches of his house and vehicle violated the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth
Amendments of the United States Constitution; Article I, §§ 6 and 7 of the Delaware
Constitution; and Delaware statutory law.
This opinion presents two issues: (1) whether P&P had reasonable suspicion
to conduct the searches, specifically whether P&P substantially complied with
Department of Correction, Bureau of Community Corrections, Probation and Parole
Procedure 7.19 (“Procedure 7.19”), which permits warrantless searches of a
probationer’s house; and (2) if P&P violated Irwin’s rights by the search, but seized
no evidence, what remedy is appropriate. The second issue presents a matter of first
impression in this Court. For the reasons set forth below, Irwin’s Motion to
Terminate Probation is GRANTED, in part.
2
I. Factual Background1
A. Operation Safe Streets
Safe Streets is a statewide crime reduction initiative that partners P&P officers
with police officers “to identify, monitor, and investigate high risk and/or repeat
offenders” who have demonstrated a history of criminal behavior. Safe Streets
officers do not supervise probationer caseloads and are not re-entry coordinators.
The New Castle County Police Department (“NCCPD”) is one of the police
departments that partners with Safe Streets. Safe Streets officers accompany
NCCPD officers on drug and gun investigations and vehicle stops. Safe Streets
officers also engage in proactive patrols, conduct home visits, administrative
searches, office visits, and investigate individuals who are not on probation.
B. Christopher Irwin’s Arrest
In March of 2020, NCCPD and Safe Streets conducted a non-probation
investigation into suspected drug dealing by a man named Joseph McDaniel
(“McDaniel”). During this investigation, NCCPD Detective Donald Witte observed
interactions indicative of drug dealing between McDaniel and Irwin on Laura Lee
1
The Court’s findings of fact are based on Irwin’s Motion and a separate
request for documents from the State, the State’s responses to the Motion and
document request, evidence presented at the hearing on January 14, 2021, and oral
argument on January 20, 2021.
3
Court in Bear, Delaware. As a result of this investigation, NCCPD took McDaniel
into custody.
Shortly after McDaniel’s arrest, NCCPD stopped Irwin’s vehicle. During this
stop, Irwin admitted he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his vehicle. He
further admitted that he went to McDaniel’s residence to sell the methamphetamine
and that he had additional drugs and firearms at his residence. Irwin then consented
to a search of his house. During the search of Irwin’s house, NCCPD seized 101.2
grams of marijuana, 6.3 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, firearms, firearm
rounds, and $1,450.00 cash. NCCPD subsequently arrested Irwin because of the
search.
On October 7, 2020, Irwin pleaded guilty to Drug Dealing – Tier 2
Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Conspiracy
Second Degree. The Court sentenced Irwin to a total of fifteen years at Level V,
suspended for eighteen months at Level III probation. Following Irwin’s initial
intake at the courthouse, P&P directed him to report to the Hares Corner Probation
and Parole Office (“Hares Corner”) by Tuesday, October 13, 2020, where he was
assigned to Probation Officer (“P.O.”) Joseph Manno.
4
C. NCCPD Receives a Tip About Defendant’s Purported Sales of
Methamphetamine
On October 11, 2020, Detective Witte provided information to P.O. William
Walker2 from a past proven reliable confidential informant (“CI”).3 P.O. Walker
testified that the CI told Detective Witte that Irwin was selling drugs out of his house
and that Irwin possessed a “large bag” of drugs.4 P.O. Walker also testified that the
CI told Detective Witte that Irwin was not concerned about his urinalysis at
2
P.O. Walker is not Irwin’s probation officer; rather, he is a probation officer
assigned to Safe Streets, where he has served for eleven years. Detective Witte
testified that P.O. Walker works with him “every day,” that P.O. Walker’s hours
overlap with his hours, and that he knows P.O. Walker does not have his own
caseload because “he definitely works with us.”
3
Detective Witte testified that in August or September of 2020—after Irwin’s
arrest, but prior to his guilty plea—he received information from a confidential
informant that an individual named John Lewis (“Lewis”) was supplying Irwin with
methamphetamine. Safe Streets officers conducted surveillance on Irwin’s house,
but the tip did not lead to the recovery of contraband from Irwin. This information
is not corroborated by the written record (i.e., the October 14 Arrest-Incident Report
filled out by P.O. Walker) and the Court does not find this testimony to be credible
or supported by the evidence presented. Therefore, such information could not have
formed the basis of the administrative search and the Court will not consider it in its
analysis.
4
Detective Witte testified that the CI told him that Irwin possessed a “large
bag” of marijuana. P.O. Walker testified more generally that the CI told him that
Irwin also possessed a “large bag” of drugs. None of this testimony is corroborated
by the written record (i.e., the October 14 Arrest-Incident Report filled out by P.O.
Walker) and the Court does not find this testimony to be credible or supported by
the evidence presented. Therefore, such information could not have formed the basis
of the administrative search.
5
probation, even though he was actively smoking marijuana, because Irwin knew “the
first urine screens were free.”5
During this conversation about the CI, Detective Witte and P.O. Walker
learned that Irwin would be reporting to P&P on October 13. At this point, Detective
Witte and P.O. Walker came up with a plan: if Irwin tested positive for marijuana at
his initial visit to P&P, they would perform an administrative search of his house.
Therefore, Detective Witte requested that P.O. Walker ask a supervisor for approval
to obtain a urine screen as soon as Irwin reported to probation to “corroborate the
information that there was marijuana usage” to form the basis for an administrative
search.
On October 13, 2020, Irwin reported to probation at the Hares Corner office.
Immediately after reporting, P.O. Jacob Selba, the officer on duty,6 instructed Irwin
5
This testimony, however, is inconsistent with Detective Witte’s testimony
about Irwin’s use of marijuana. Detective Witte never testified that the CI told Witte
that Irwin was not concerned about using marijuana; rather, Detective Witte testified
that the CI told Witte that Irwin “expected that probation would go out to his
residence and search” because of the marijuana use. Therefore, the Court finds that
Detective Witte only told P.O. Walker that the CI told Detective Witte that Irwin
was actively smoking marijuana, and nothing more. The Court also does not find it
credible that Irwin, who had one misdemeanor on his record prior to this felony
conviction, would know that he would be tested at his first visit to P&P. The fact
that P.O. Walker had to specifically ask for the urine screen is evidence that Irwin
may not have automatically been tested at his first visit to P&P.
6
P.O. Selba is not Irwin’s probation officer. P.O. Selba covered for P.O.
Manno, Irwin’s assigned probation officer, who was out of the office on the day in
question.
6
to provide a urine sample. The urine sample tested positive for marijuana, and P.O.
Selba told Irwin to flush the sample down the toilet rather than submitting it to a
lab.7 Another probation officer immediately handcuffed Irwin, placed him in a
holding cell, and took his keys, cell phone, and wallet.8
Within minutes of Irwin’s positive urine screen for marijuana,9 P.O. Selba
informed P.O. Walker, who then called Detective Witte to inform Witte of the
positive urine screen. Detective Witte, who was not on duty that day, arrived at
Hares Corner within twenty-five minutes where he met with P.O. Michael McHugh,
another probation officer assigned to Safe Streets. Detective Witte went to Irwin’s
holding cell where he confronted Irwin about using drugs on probation and asked if
there were any weapons at Irwin’s house. Irwin disputed any drug use while on
probation and denied having weapons in his house. Detective Witte then retrieved
Irwin’s keys and left, leaving Irwin handcuffed inside the holding cell.
7
P.O. Selba testified that discarding the urine sample is a new procedure for
P&P as of June 2020, but the State provided no evidence suggesting that it is in fact
a new procedure.
8
P.O. Selba immediately entered the information about Irwin’s positive urine
screen into the Delaware Automated Correctional System (“DACS”). DACS is a
real-time system used by P&P to input information about a specific probationer.
9
The urine screen was negative for all other drugs tested, including for
methamphetamine.
7
P.O. Walker testified that sometime after Irwin’s positive urine screen, he
called his supervisor, Carlo Pini (“Officer Pini”), to obtain approval for the search
of Irwin’s house. According to P.O. Walker, during the one-to-three-minute phone
call, he discussed the Arrest-Search Checklist as required by Procedure Number 7.19
with Officer Pini. After this brief conversation, Officer Pini purportedly gave verbal
consent for the search of Irwin’s house. There is no real-time evidence of this phone
call occurring, such as a text message, phone record, or DACS entry.10
D. The Searches of Irwin’s House and Vehicle
After leaving Irwin’s cell, P.O. McHugh used Irwin’s keys to open his vehicle
and search it. Officer Pini testified that he could not remember if he approved the
search of Irwin’s vehicle, but did not believe he did. There is no evidence that P.O.
Walker or any other member of Safe Streets sought approval to search Irwin’s
vehicle or that Officer Pini approved the search. P.O. McHugh did not find evidence
of any crime in Irwin’s vehicle.
10
Prior to the hearing, Irwin requested that the State produce cell phone records
for P.O. Walker, Officer Pini, and Detective Witte for October 13 and Irwin’s DACS
records. The State refused, and Irwin filed a motion with the Court requesting the
records. (D.I. 12). During a pre-hearing teleconference, the Court held that the
DACS information was relevant to the hearing and ordered it to be produced. The
Court denied the request with respect to the cell phone records because the relevant
officers were all scheduled to testify at the hearing. Despite this ruling, nothing
prevented the State from providing the phone records, even on a more limited basis,
to Irwin for the purposes of the hearing.
8
P.O. Walker and P.O. McHugh and NCCPD Detectives Witte and Kenneth
Guarino then went to Irwin’s house. After arriving, the officers used Irwin’s house
key to open his back door. The State produced a three-minute-long video of the
beginning of the search from Detective Witte’s body camera, where it shows the four
officers “clearing”11 Irwin’s house and commenting on items therein, such as BB
guns and bullets in Irwin’s basement. After three minutes, Detective Witte turned
his body camera off.12 Detective Witte testified that he did this because NCCPD is
only there to assist with clearing the house, but not the search of the house.
P.O. Walker testified that only Safe Streets probation officers conducted the
search of the house without the assistance of NCCPD, but there is no body camera
footage from either NCCPD detective or the Safe Streets probation officers to
corroborate this testimony. Detective Witte did testify, however, that he stayed
inside while the Safe Streets probation officers performed their search. The Safe
11
To clear the house, the body camera shows NCCPD and Safe Streets officers
investigating Irwin’s house for any person or potential threat.
12
Detective Witte testified that when he assists P&P with a search, he routinely
shuts his camera off after the location is cleared. This is in contrast with a search
performed solely by NCCPD, where the officer’s body camera would stay on the
entire search.
9
Streets officers did not seize any evidence from the search of Irwin’s house, but
Irwin testified that $1,200 was missing from his house.13
After the search took place—approximately three hours after Irwin was placed
in the holding cell—P.O. Walker met with Irwin in his holding cell. Irwin and the
State dispute what subsequently transpired. Irwin claims that P.O. Walker told him
that Safe Streets found ammunition inside his house and that P.O. Walker asked
Irwin if he still wanted a lawyer, and told Irwin, “[H]e should be locking [him] up
for it[,] but if [he] didn’t say anything to anybody and kept my mouth shut, that he
would let me walk out of there tonight.” The State claims that P.O. Walker told
Irwin that while they found ammunition at his house, which would constitute
violation of his probation, he “would not be violated for the ammunition and was
given an opportunity to dispose of it himself because he just started probation.” Both
parties agree that P&P did not file a violation of probation report for Irwin’s positive
urine screen or for the ammunition found at his house.
13
According to the State, one to two days after the search, “Detective Witte
obtained information from the CI that [Irwin] intended to fabricate a story that Safe
Street officers stole $1,200 from his residence” and that Irwin “hid money behind a
picture frame so that officers would not find it and that [Irwin] removed the
marijuana and BB gun from the residence prior to the search.” (D.I. 7). Detective
Witte testified in similar fashion about this tip during the evidentiary hearing and
added that the CI told him that “there would be a motion filed against Safe Streets
for the search.” This tip is not listed in the DACS system (or in any written evidence
presented to the Court).
10
II. Parties’ Contentions
Irwin argues that P&P violated his constitutional and statutory rights by the
search of his house and vehicle. Because Safe Streets officers did not seize any
evidence from Irwin’s house nor charge him with a crime, however, there is no
evidence to suppress. Nonetheless, Irwin argues that he is entitled to some remedy
because of these alleged violations. Here, Irwin argues that as a remedy, the
Court should terminate the remainder of his eighteen-month probation. The State
argues that the October 13 administrative search of Irwin’s house and vehicle was
lawful and reasonable per Procedure 7.19 and that P&P acted appropriately. The
State opposes any request for relief by Irwin.
III. Analysis
The State has the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the
search or seizure conducted without a warrant was justified.14 To justify an
administrative search of a probationer’s house and vehicle,15 the State must
demonstrate: (1) that it had reasonable articulable suspicion of criminal activity prior
to the search of a house or vehicle; and (2) that P&P substantially complied with the
14
State v. Kolaco, 2020 WL 7334176, at *13 (“Kolaco I”) (citing Hunter v.
State, 783 A.2d 558, 560–61 (Del. 2001)).
15
Procedure 7.19 applies to searches “of a person’s house or other buildings or
premises, or of his person, or of his vehicle, etc.” Procedure 7.19 at § V.
11
requirements of Procedure 7.19.16 Reasonable suspicion for a warrantless
administrative search exists where the totality of the circumstances indicates that the
officer had a particularized and objective basis for suspecting legal wrongdoing.17
The Court will first address Delaware law about warrantless searches of
probationers, specifically whether P&P substantially complied with Procedure
7.19.18 The Court will then turn to what remedy, if any, is appropriate.
A. Search of a Probationer’s House
Irwin, as a probationer, enjoys fewer protections under the Fourth
Amendment than other citizens.19 For example, P&P may arrest and search a
probationer and his or her effects pursuant to an administrative warrant.20 There is,
however, no actual warrant involved and no review by a neutral magistrate prior to
the search. Instead, “in the probation context, an administrative procedure,
16
Kolaco I at *13; Pendleton, 990 A.2d at 419.
17
Sierra v. State, 958 A.2d 825, 828 (Del. 2008).
18
Because the Court resolves Irwin’s motion on statutory grounds, it will not
address any issues under the United States or Delaware Constitutions as raised by
Irwin. Culver v. State, 956 A.2d 5, 7 n.1 (Del. 2008).
19
Walker v. State, 205 A.3d 823, 826 (Del. 2019) (citing Donald v. State, 903
A.2d 315, 318-19 (Del. 2006)).
20
Kolaco I, at *13.
12
authorized in a highly regulated environment, permits a search based upon the
relaxed standards in light of a probationer’s decreased expectation of privacy.”21
A person’s probationary status, however, does not mean that person is without
protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.22 P&P, pursuant to enabling
legislation enacted by the Delaware General Assembly, adopted regulations
governing the warrantless search of probationers. One such regulation is Procedure
7.19,23 which addresses arrests and searches of probationers.
Procedure 7.19 requires that the probation officer who seeks to justify a search
must use Form #506, an Arrest-Search Checklist.24 Procedure 7.19 also specifies
that the searching officer hold a conference with his or her supervisor before the
search.25 Specifically, pursuant to Procedure 7.19, the officer applying for the search
21
Id.22
Sierra v. State, 958 A.2d at 832; Pendleton v. State, 990 A.2d 417, 419 (Del.
2010).
23
Procedure 7.19 is a written policy from the State of Delaware Department of
Correction, Bureau of Community Corrections Probation and Parole. Procedure
7.19’s stated purpose is “[t]o provide guidelines and procedures for using the Arrest-
Search Checklist [in connection with arresting and searching a probationer] and in
making arrests and searches.” State of Delaware Department of Correction, Bureau
of Community Corrections Probation and Parole Regulations, Section 7, Procedure
7.19 at § II.
24
Procedure 7.19 at § VII(A).
25
Procedure 7.19 at § VII(E).
13
should consider the following factors and discuss them with a supervisor
beforehand:
1. The officer has knowledge or sufficient reason to believe the offender
possesses contraband;
2. The officer has knowledge or sufficient reason to believe the offender
is in violation of probation and parole;
3. There is information from a reliable informant indicating the offender
possesses contraband or is violating the law;
4. The information from the informant is corroborated; and
5. Approval for the search has been obtained from a Supervisor, a
Manager, or the Director. If the approval is not obtained prior to the
search, list the exigent circumstances on the Search Checklist requiring
you to proceed with the search.26
Procedure 7.19 provides only one exception to its requirements: exigent
circumstances.27 The State does not argue exigent circumstances are present here.
B. P&P Did Not Have Reasonable Suspicion to Conduct the Searches and
P&P Did Not Substantially Comply with Procedure 7.19
Irwin challenges the searches of his house and vehicle on the following
grounds: (1) the CI’s tip was not sufficient to give P&P reasonable suspicion to
26
Id. The Supreme Court has held that “substantial compliance” with Procedure
7.19 does not require the State to provide a completed and signed paper copy of a
document if the officer and supervisor fully discussed these factors. Pendleton, 990
A.2d at 420.
27
Kolaco I at *13.
14
perform the searches, and therefore P&P did not comply with Procedure 7.19; and
(2) the State cannot show that Officer Pini and P.O. Walker held the required case
conference prior to the searches.
First, Procedure 7.19 requires that P&P consider certain information in its
decision-making process prior to a search of a probationer, some of which relate to
a tip from an informant.28 The Court will address two aspects of the CI’s tip at issue
here, both of which are required by Procedure 7.19 when assessing an informant’s
tip: (1) whether P&P assessed the credibility, reliability, and basis of knowledge of
the CI’s tip to support a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing;29 and (2) whether P&P
corroborated the CI’s tip.30 Second, Procedure 7.19 requires that the probation
officer contact his supervisor “prior to any actions being taken.”31 As discussed
below, the State has failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that P&P
satisfied these requirements and thus did not comply with Procedure 7.19 nor have
reasonable suspicion to conduct the searches of Irwin’s house and vehicle.
28
Procedure 7.19 at §§ VII(A)(6); see id. at VII(E).
29
Sierra, 958 A.2d at 830.
30
Kolaco I at *15; see also Procedure 7.19 at §§ VII(A)(6), VII(E).
31
Procedure 7.19 at § VII(A)(1); see id. at VII(E).
15
1. P.O. Walker Did Not Satisfy Procedure 7.19’s Requirement to
Assess the CI’s Tip
Pursuant to Procedure 7.19, a probation officer must “assess any ‘tip’ relayed
to them and determine independently if reasonable suspicion exists that would, in
the ordinary course of their duties, prompt a search of a probationer’s dwelling.”32
When assessing a tip, the officers must “consider the detail of the information
received from the informant, the consistency of the information, the reliability of the
informant in the past, and any reasons why the informant would supply the
information.”33
To determine if an informant’s tip is sufficient to create a reasonable suspicion
of wrongdoing, the Court will consider the totality of the circumstances. 34 If,
however, “probation officers do not engage in an independent analysis of the
reliability of facts supporting an ‘informants’ tip, they would contravene Procedure
7.19 Section VI(F)(3).”35 The probation officers “thereby essentially become
32
Culver, 956 A.2d at 7; Walker v. State, 205 A.3d 823, 825 (Del. 2019).
33
Walker v. State, 205 A.3d 823, 825 (Del. 2019) (citing Culver, 956 A.2d at 7).
34
Sierra, 958 A.2d at 829.
35
Culver, at 13.
16
surrogates for the police, conveniently used when the police had no lawful authority
to act on their own.”36
Based on the totality of the circumstances, the Court finds that the CI’s tip
does not create a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing or, by extension, comply with
Procedure 7.19. 37 Here, the only information from the CI that the Court finds
Detective Witte communicated to P.O. Walker is the information found in the
Arrest-Incident Report dated October 14, 2020: Irwin was selling “street level illicit
drugs (methamphetamine[])” out of his house in Middletown and that Irwin was
actively smoking marijuana. The CI’s tip here suffers from two main deficiencies:
the information from the CI was not sufficiently detailed and P&P did not consider
the CI’s basis of knowledge for the tip.
The tip lacks detail because there is no evidence that Detective Witte provided
Walker sufficient facts so that Walker could independently and objectively assess
36
Id.37
The Court is mindful that the Delaware Supreme Court has held that
“reasonable suspicion should be evaluated in the context of the totality of the
circumstances as viewed through the eyes of a reasonable officer with the same
knowledge and experience” as the officers involved. State v. Brady, 152 A.3d 140,
at *2 (Del. 2016) (TABLE). The Court, however, has already determined that the
testimony about any prior “tips” Detective Witte received were either not credible
or not communicated to P.O. Walker because they were not included in the Arrest-
Incident Report, and therefore could not have served as a basis for the searches.
17
the reasonableness of the tip.38 The portion of the tip about Irwin’s sale of
methamphetamine lacked key details such as the amount of methamphetamine
involved, where in the house Irwin stored the methamphetamine, to whom or where
Irwin planned to distribute the methamphetamine, or other details to establish that
the CI had personal knowledge of Irwin’s activity.39 The portion of the tip about
Irwin’s alleged use of marijuana lacked key details such as when and where Irwin
smoked marijuana, from whom, or if, he purchased it, or if Irwin still possessed it,
where it was being stored.40 The tip also lacked critical information pertaining to
38
See State v. Walker, Crim. ID. No. 1706003315, Suppression Decision Hrg.
Tr. at 5 (confidential informant’s tip did not include sufficient detail because
“[n]othing was indicated about the amount of heroin involved; where in the bedroom
it was allegedly being stored; to whom or where the defendant planned to distribute
it; or other details to establish, in the words of the Culver decision, that the informant
had ‘personal knowledge of the defendant’s activity.’”). See also LeGrande v. State,
947 A.2d 1103, 1111 (Del. 2008) (where the police only corroborated the accused’s
identity, the location of his locked apartment, his probationary status, and that his
neighbor was wanted did not show that the informant had knowledge of concealed
criminal activity). As discussed below, the tip is also not consistent with the
investigation that attempted to corroborate it – namely, the positive urine screen.
39
Compare Shepeard v. State, 133 A.3d 204, 2016 WL 690544, at *3 (Del. Feb.
18, 2016) (confidential informant’s tip was sufficiently detailed and consistent
because the informant knew where Shepeard lived, had been inside the house and
described its internal layout (including the location of Shepeard’s bedroom, where
he saw a rifle under the bed) that Shepeard was actively selling crack cocaine, and
positively identified Shepeard by his street name “Che Ball” and photograph).
40
See id.18
when Irwin was scheduled to report to P&P.41 Detective Witte testified that he was
unaware that Irwin was to report to P&P on October 13 until he spoke with P.O.
Walker, indicating that the CI did not provide or have knowledge of when Irwin was
to report to P&P.42
The record about the CI’s basis of knowledge—the CI’s credibility, reliability,
and reasons for providing the information—is limited and contradictory. During the
evidentiary hearing, P.O. Walker did not testify about whether he inquired into the
CI’s reliability, but instead focused on Detective Witte’s reliability. There is no
evidence in the record reflecting that either Detective Witte or P.O. Walker
considered the reason why the CI supplied the information. As such, the Court must
assume that the CI had something to gain by providing the tip.43 In light of the
41
In considering the reliability of an informant’s tip to determine the lawfulness
of the search, the Supreme Court has held that “the accurate prediction of future
movements adequately corroborates a tip even from an anonymous informant.”
State v. Holden, 60 A.3d 1110, 1116 (Del. 2013) (citation omitted).
42
As P.O. Walker testified, on October 11, the day that Detective Witte relayed
the CI’s tip regarding Irwin’s sales of methamphetamine and Irwin’s marijuana use,
P.O. Walker and Detective Witte came up with a “plan”: they were going to use the
predicted positive urine screen to serve as a basis for an administrative search. This
supports their belief that the tip alone would not be enough to comply with Procedure
7.19.
43
See Sierra, 958 A.2d at 832 (holding that because the officer at issue was
unaware of the informant’s motives, the informant had something to gain by
providing the tip).
19
totality of the circumstances, the Court finds that the CI’s tip did not create a
reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.
2. P.O. Walker Did Not Satisfy Procedure 7.19 Because He Did Not
Corroborate the CI’s Tip
Procedure 7.19 is clear in its requirement that P&P must corroborate a CI’s
tip prior to a search.44 The only “corroboration,” if any, for the CI’s tip is Irwin’s
positive marijuana screen on his first visit to probation. Detective Witte and P.O.
Walker admitted on cross examination that the positive urine screen served as the
corroboration for only the marijuana usage, not the methamphetamine sales.45 A
positive marijuana screen on the first day of probation can hardly serve as
corroboration that Irwin was selling methamphetamine out of his house.
The positive urine screen also does little to corroborate Irwin’s use of
marijuana at the time he reported to probation and certainly cannot establish
reasonable suspicion to search Irwin’s house or vehicle. 46 At most, the positive
44
Procedure 7.19 at § VII(E)(4).
45
P.O. Walker could have, but did not, conduct surveillance or perform a curfew
check to corroborate Irwin’s alleged sale of methamphetamine.
46
See, e.g., State v. Fax, 2017 WL 2418275, at *3 (Del. Super. June 2, 2017)
(holding that a fifteen-day-old failed drug screen was insufficient to
establish reasonable suspicion to search defendant’s house, especially because
defendant’s P.O. did not file a violation of probation report for the failed drug
tests). While the failed drug screen in Fax was fifteen days old, the reasoning in
Fax is instructive here because P&P decided not to violate Irwin’s probation for
the failed drug screen prior to the search.
20
urine screen indicates that Irwin smoked marijuana at some point in the past. As
P.O. Walker admitted, because no lab test was performed, it is possible Irwin could
have smoked marijuana before he even took his plea on October 7, 2020. P.O.
Walker also testified that he decided that he was only going to give Irwin a verbal
warning—and not violate his probation—prior to when the Arrest-Search Checklist
was completed.47 Therefore, the Court finds that the tip about Irwin’s sale of
methamphetamine and Irwin smoking marijuana was not corroborated as required
by Procedure 7.19.
3. The State Has Not Shown by a Preponderance of the Evidence that
Officer Pini and P.O. Walker held a Case Conference Prior to the
Searches
The requirement for a probation officer to receive approval from his or her
supervisor prior to an administrative search is an indispensable requirement of
Procedure 7.19. When a procedure necessary to authorize an administrative search
specifically requires supervisor approval, and the State does not present evidence
47
The decision to not file a violation of probation report for Irwin testing
positive for marijuana on his first visit to P&P is consistent with typical P&P
procedure. According to testimony from Jeffrey Boykin, the head of Hares Corner
P&P, unless there is a “zero tolerance sentence,” officers have discretion as to
whether to file a violation of probation after a positive drug screen on their first visit,
and oftentimes rather than violating, an administrative sanction (or warning) is
given. Compare Pendleton v. State, 990 A.2d 417, 420 (Del. 2010) (holding that
four positive urine screens indicated that the defendant violated his probation on four
prior occasions).
21
that the probation officer has completed this requirement, the State has not
demonstrated substantial compliance with the procedure.48 As this Court has
recently held:
Because no neutral magistrate reviews P&P’s application for an
administrative search, a multi-layered approval of a planned search is
indispensable under Procedure 7.19. Absent credible evidence that a
director, manager, or supervisor approved the search, there cannot be
substantial compliance with Procedure 7.19 unless exigent
circumstances justified the search.49
The State bears the burden of showing compliance with their own procedure,
and “the Court is not free to find supervisor approval absent any evidence supporting
that fact.”50 The procedure for obtaining the approval to conduct an administrative
search is not difficult to follow and the documentation that must accompany it is not
difficult to prepare.51 Despite the minimal requirements of Procedure 7.19, the State
cannot show by a preponderance of the evidence that P&P obtained supervisor
approval prior to searching Irwin’s house or vehicle.
The written evidence submitted by the State does not support a finding that
P&P obtained supervisory approval prior to the searches. Irwin’s DACS records,
48
Kolaco 1, at *15.
49
Id. at *16.
50
Id.
51
Id.
22
which are created in real time, have no entry from October 13 other than Irwin’s
positive urine screen.52 According to Officer Pini, a DACS entry is created when
the checklist is completed, but no such entry exists here.53 While the Arrest-Search
Report indicates that Officer Pini granted permission to execute an administrative
search, the report is dated October 14, 2020 – the day after the search.
The testimonial evidence from Officer Pini and P.O. Walker about the alleged
conference on October 13 is contradictory and not credible. For example, Officer
Pini and P.O. Walker provided conflicting testimony about their purported
discussion of the CI’s tip. Officer Pini testified that P.O. Walker told Pini that
Walker had spoken with the informant to corroborate the tip. This is contradicted
by the testimony of P.O. Walker, who stated that the only corroboration of the CI’s
tip was Irwin’s positive urine screen and Irwin’s signed acknowledgement of a the
same. Given the deficiencies in the documentary evidence discussed herein and the
conflicting testimony, the Court is not satisfied that P.O. Walker received approval
from Officer Pini prior to conducting the search of Irwin’s house. Therefore, the
52
P.O. Selba entered this information immediately after the positive urine screen
at 1:30 p.m. on October 13.
53
The Court notes that the entry from October 14, 2020 at 13:29 indicates two
notifications: (1) that the pre-search report was created and (2) an update that Officer
Pini approved the report. Either way, there is no entry directly from P.O. Walker on
October 13. The State has admitted no exigent circumstances existed that would
prevent P.O. Walker from creating an entry on October 13 prior to the search.
23
State has not met its burden of proof of establishing substantial compliance with
Procedure 7.19 and performed an illegal search of Irwin’s house and vehicle.
C. The Appropriate Remedy for the State’s Illegal Search
During the illegal searches of Irwin’s house and vehicle, P&P did not seize
any evidence of a crime. As such, there is nothing for the Court to suppress. The
Court now turns to what remedy, if any, is afforded to a probationer when they are
the subject of an illegal search, but no evidence is seized. This is a matter of first
impression before this Court.
Irwin requests that the Court terminate the remainder of his probation because
of the illegal search. The State opposes any request for relief. During the post-
hearing argument, however, it provided the alternative remedies of a lower level of
probation or shortening the probationary period. The Court finds although Irwin has
styled his request for relief as a “Motion to Terminate Probation,” this motion is
more appropriately considered under Superior Court Criminal Rule 35(b).
Pursuant to Criminal Rule 35(b), “[t]he court may suspend the costs or fine,
or reduce the fine or term or conditions of partial confinement or probation, at any
time.” 54 A trial court is given great deference when reviewing a modification of a
54
Del. Super. Ct. Crim. R. 35(b).
24
sentence, and “the test is whether ‘the trial court acted within a zone of
reasonableness or stayed within a ‘range of choice.’”55
Irwin is currently serving a probation-only sentence. Therefore, although the
Court sentenced Irwin to Level V time, his sentence was suspended so that he only
would serve eighteen months at Level III probation, so long as he complied with the
terms of his probation. On November 25, 2020, after P.O. Manno completed his
LSI-R56 assessment of Irwin, P&P lowered Irwin’s probation level from Level III to
Level II. On December 1, 2020, Irwin completed all financial obligations imposed
as part of his sentence. As of the date of this Opinion, Irwin will have served
approximately one-third of his probationary sentence. To the Court’s knowledge,
Irwin has complied with the requirements of probation during this time.
The Court finds that the appropriate remedy for P&P’s violation of Procedure
7.19 is to reduce Irwin’s sentence of probation to seven months. In other words,
once Irwin completes seven months of probation, assuming he receives no new
charges and does not violate his probation, he will complete his probation. The
55
State v. Fink, 2020 WL 42046, at *4 (Del. Super. Jan. 3, 2020) (quoting
Wilkerson v. State, 173 A.3d 1061, 2017 WL 5450747, at *1 (Del. Nov. 13, 2017)
(TABLE)).
56
LSI-R, or Level of Service Inventory-Revised, is a risk-needs assessment tool
utilized by P&P. The assessment determines the defendant’s risk of recidivism and
the level of need the defendant requires to become rehabilitated.
25
Court finds that such a reduction appropriately balances a remedy for the illegal
searches of Irwin’s house.57 The State has tacitly recognized that Irwin’s risk to the
community is low after his LSI-R assessment and lowered his probation to Level II.
Therefore, a reduction of the term of Irwin’s probation will both provide Irwin an
incentive to continue his probation without issue and a remedy for P&P’s violation
of Procedure 7.19.
CONCLUSION
“Delaware law places the responsibility upon probation officers of
reintegrating probationers into society by creating treatment plans to alleviate the
conditions which brought about the criminal behavior, securing employment, and
using all suitable methods to aid and encourage them to bring about improvement in
their conduct and conditions and to meet their probation or parole obligations.”58
P&P, instead of attempting to meet this charge, devised a plan to use Irwin’s failed
57
See State v. Robinson, 209 A.3d 25, 55-58 (Del. 2019) (holding that the
remedy must be tailored to the injury suffered). Although Robinson discussed the
Sixth Amendment, its reasoning is instructive. As noted, the State provided no
alternative remedy to Irwin’s request to terminate his probation. When asked about
this and the implications of Robinson, the State still provided no response, insisting
instead that Irwin was not entitled to a remedy because P&P did not violate his rights.
The Court is mindful of the Supreme Court’s directive in Robinson to consider
alternative remedies when given an “all or nothing” approach and finds that the
remedy of reducing Irwin’s probation is appropriate under the facts here.
58
Pendleton, 990 A.2d at 421 (internal quotations and citations omitted).
26
urine screen as a basis for an intrusive and illegal search of Irwin’s house and
vehicle. The “neglect of [P&P’s] important responsibilities only denigrates society’s
trust and confidence in the corrections system.”59
While the Court does not challenge the practices of Safe Streets, a “probation
officer’s role is not identical to the role of law enforcement.”60 This is why the two
levels of approval for the administrative warrant—one by the probation officer and
one by his or her supervisor—are “an indispensable requirement that is necessary to
insure that warrantless administrative P&P searches do not proceed based upon a
single officer’s unfettered discretion.”61
The State did not meet its burden in this case. It failed to demonstrate that
P&P substantially complied with Procedure 7.19 before the search of Irwin’s house
and vehicle. As a result, the Court grants Irwin’s Motion to Terminate Probation in
part and will reduce the term of his probation to seven months.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
59
Id.60
State v. Fax, 2017 WL 2418275, at *5 (Del. Super. June 2, 2017).
61
State v. Kolaco (“Kolaco II”), 2021 WL 53260, at *3 (Del. Super. Jan. 6,
2021).
27