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THE PEOPLE v. NICHOLLS

THE PEOPLE v. NICHOLLS
02:25:2008



THE PEOPLE v. NICHOLLS





Filed 1/30/08



CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION*



IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA



THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT



(Sacramento)



----



THE PEOPLE,



Plaintiff and Respondent,



v.



JOHN DALE NICHOLLS, II,



Defendant and Appellant.



C054252



(Super. Ct. No. 05F06228)



APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Sacramento County, Michael T. Garcia, J. Affirmed as modified.



Law Office of Gene Vorobyov and Gene D. Vorobyov, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.



Edmund G. Brown Jr., Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorneys General, Carlos A. Martinez, Kelly E. Lebel, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.



After being convicted, on a no contest plea, of three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct upon a child under the age of 14 (Pen. Code, 288, subd. (a)[1]), three misdemeanor counts of annoying/molesting a child ( 647.6, subd. (a)), and five misdemeanor counts of possession of child pornography ( 311.11, subd. (a)), defendant John Dale Nicholls, II, appeals from the trial courts denial of his motion to traverse and quash a search warrant and suppress child pornography evidence. ( 1538.5, subd. (m) [authorizing review of suppression issues despite guilty plea].) Defendant argues probable cause was lacking, and material information was omitted from the application for the warrant. We shall affirm the judgment but shall modify it to reflect an additional day of custody credit, a point conceded by the People.



FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND



Defendant was charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct upon a 10-year-old child ( 288, subd. (a)), three misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting the same child ( 647.6, subd. (a)), and five misdemeanor counts of possession of child pornography ( 311.11, subd. (a)).



The victim was defendants 10-year-old daughter, who lived with her mother. The facts, as reflected in the probation report, are that between October 14, 2004, and May 24, 2005, defendant, with lewd intent, touched the victims chest with his finger (Count One), had her place her hand on his penis (Count Two), and had her sit on his lap with his penis touching her buttocks (Count Three). The conduct underlying the misdemeanor annoying/molesting a child (Counts Four, Five, and Six) were that defendant had his daughter spread her legs and expose her vagina to him and, on two occasions, exposed his penis and asked her to touch it, which she refused. As to the five counts of possession of child pornography, police found 10,000 still images and 47 movie files of child pornography on the hard drives of defendants computer which they took from the garage attic of his parents home (where defendant was residing before his arrest) pursuant to a search warrant.



The police detectives affidavit, which was submitted with the application for the warrant to search defendants computer and laptop bag, described the detectives 17 years of law enforcement experience, which included formal training and extensive experience in various matters, including child abuse and sexual assaults. The affidavit did not specify the percentage of such cases but did identify specific training, such as a 40-hour P.O.S.T. Child Abuse and Sexual Assault certification at the Sacramento Public Safety Center, 56 hours of Computer Child Pornography Investigation and Internet Crimes through the California Department of Justice Training Center and Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, and advanced training in interviews and interrogation and computer forensics.



The affidavit set forth in detail the victims description of multiple incidents of molestation by defendant, which the victim described in a MDIC (Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center) interview witnessed by the affiant.



The affidavit described a portion of a tape-recorded telephone conversation from defendant in jail to his mother at her home in Pacific Grove, where defendant had been staying before turning himself in to the police. The affidavit stated:



A summarized portion of the recorded conversation on 10/18/05, 5 minutes 17 seconds from the beginning, was as follows:



[Defendant]: I PUT MY COMPUTER UP IN THE, UH, STORAGE, IN THE GARAGE, UH, MY LAPTOP BAG, SO IS IT GOOD - IS IT OK UP THERE?



[]Mom: IT[]S AWFUL HOT UP THERE.



[Defendant]: I DONT CARE, ITS NOT HOT AS--IVE HAD THAT THING [PAUSE] MOM.



[]Mom: ALL RIGHT.



[DEFENDANT]: I JUST DONT WANT ANYBODY MESSING WITH, UM, WITH THE PAPERWORK AND STUFF I HAVE IN THERE.



[]Mom: ALL RIGHT, NO PROBLEM.[[2]]



During this same jail telephone call on 10/18/05, the Suspect continued the conversation by telling his mother that he had some clothes that he left in her dryer at her home. The Suspects mother replied that she did not know where the clothes went. The Suspect requested that she look for his clothes because he has no other clothing for when he gets out of jail.



The affiant said that, from his training, knowledge, and experience, as well as the experience of other skilled investigators and criminalists with whom I had spoken, he had learned that the following characteristics are generally found to exist in varying combinations and to be true in cases involving people who molest children: (1) they receive sexual gratification from fantasy involving pictures or writings about sexual activity with children; (2) they collect sexually explicit materials for sexual gratification and fantasy; (3) they use sexually explicit materials to lower childrens inhibitions;[3](4) they rarely dispose of their sexually explicit materials, especially when used in seduction of their victims; (5) they often correspond with other molesters to share information and support; (6) they rarely destroy the correspondence; (7) they use photographs to relive fantasies or actual encounters with the depicted children, etc.; (8) they go to great lengths to conceal and protect from discovery their collection of illicit materials; (9) they often correspond with others who share their interests through computerized bulletin boards; (10) they maintain diaries of their sexual encounters with children; (11) they collect books, magazines, computer files and other writings on the subject of sex with children; (12) they collect and maintain books, magazines, and other writings on the subject of sexual activity, which they use to seduce children; (13) they often keep mementos such as victims underwear; (14) they obtain, collect, and maintain digital images and photographs of their victims; if they take a picture of a child in the nude, there is a high probability the child was molested before, during, or after the photo-taking session because the act of the posing is a strong sexual stimulus for the individual.



The affidavit also related information that defendant drove a black Ford Bronco which was in his parents garage, and the request was for a warrant to search the premises, specifically in or around the computer and laptop bag [defendant] indicated was stored in the garage . . . .



The search warrant was issued, and the police found 10,000 still images and 47 movie files of child pornography on the hard drives of defendants computer.



Defendant filed a motion to traverse and quash the search warrant and suppress any evidence found on his computer hard drives, in his laptop bag, and in luggage found in his Ford Bronco.[4] He argued the police lacked probable cause to search his computer and his vehicle based on his statement to his mother in a telephone call from jail, in which he said he put the computer in the storage in her garage for safekeeping. Defendant argued the detective who prepared the affidavit for the search warrant, by presenting an isolated part of the telephone conversation, deprived the magistrate of a chance to review the statement in context, which would have shown that the topic of computers came up when defendants mother asked if he had access to computers in jail, and defendant also expressed a concern about his clothing in the same conversation, and therefore the common sense conclusion was that defendant was merely concerned about his belongings. Defendant argued there was nothing indicating a fair probability that child pornography would be found on the computer, because there was no indication that defendant ever showed the victim any pornography, and to the contrary the child said she was not shown any images. Defendant argued that, to say that there must be child pornography on a persons computer just because he is charged with lewd and lascivious conduct is a bare conclusion which does not constitute probable cause. The defense questioned the Peoples reliance on the affiants expertise.



The court denied the motion to traverse, concluding defendant failed to meet his burden to make a preliminary showing of an intentionally or recklessly false material statement or omission by the affiant, and the affidavit was sufficient on its face. It was immaterial that the issue of computers was raised by defendants mother, asking about computers in jail. [T]he reason I find it is not material is based upon whats in the facts of the affidavit. [] The officer made statements about his training and education and experience in dealing with child molest and that its his experience that if an individual will -- that based on that experience that an individual who participates in child molest will intend to record that in different ways, and this is based upon not only training but interviews of the victims, witnesses, and suspects, and that the information which is kept by the defendants, not unusual to be kept by defendants, can be anything from handwritten journals to photographs, traditional type, as well as those handed through electronic media. [] So what the Court finds in the material on the motion to traverse is the fact that the defendant owned a computer. In other words, he had possession of a computer. And in this case, that is, in fact, what the Court finds was material for the purpose of the magistrate, is to acknowledge that the defendant had a computer in his possession and where he had placed that computer. [] So I dont find that the lack of the other information goes to the materiality, and I think thats really what were talking about for the purpose of traverse.



As to the motion to quash and suppress, the court denied the motion, stating the affiant showed sufficient knowledge, experience, and training, and the affidavit was sufficiently factual and not conclusionary, and it showed sufficient probable cause to search defendants vehicle in the garage as well as the computer.



After denial of the motion, defendant changed his plea to no contest to all charges.



The trial court found defendant guilty on all charges and sentenced him to six years (midterm) on Count One (lewd and lascivious conduct), concurrent six-year terms on Counts Two and Three (lewd and lascivious conduct), and concurrent 10-day sentences for each of the eight misdemeanor counts (three counts of annoying/molesting a child and five counts of possession of child pornography).



DISCUSSION



I. Standard of Review



In reviewing denial of motions under section 1538.5, [w]e apply the Fourth Amendment standard in deciding what remedy may be available following a claim of unlawful search or seizure. [Citations.] [] An appellate courts review of a trial courts ruling on a motion to suppress is governed by well-settled principles. [Citations.] [] In ruling on such a motion, the trial court (1) finds the historical facts, (2) selects the applicable rule of law, and (3) applies the latter to the former to determine whether the rule of law as applied to the established facts is or is not violated. [Citations.] The [trial] courts resolution of each of these inquiries is, of course, subject to appellate review. [Citations.] [] The courts resolution of the first inquiry, which involves questions of fact, is reviewed under the deferential substantial-evidence standard. [Citations.] Its decision on the second, which is a pure question of law, is scrutinized under the standard of independent review. [Citations.] Finally, its ruling on the third, which is a mixed fact-law question that is however predominantly one of law, . . . is also subject to independent review. [Citation.] (People v. Ayala (2000) 24 Cal.4th 243, 279.)



The question facing a reviewing court asked to determine whether probable cause supported the issuance of the warrant is whether the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding a fair probability existed that a search would uncover wrongdoing. [Citations.] The task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a practical, commonsense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before him, including the veracity and basis of knowledge of persons supplying hearsay information, there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. [Citation.] . . . The magistrates determination of probable



cause is entitled to deferential review. [Citation.] (People v. Kraft (2000) 23 Cal.4th 978, 1040-1041.)



However, we independently determine whether, on the facts as found by the magistrate, the search was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. (People v. Hunter (2005) 133 Cal.App.4th 371, 377.)



II. Motion to Traverse



Defendant argues the trial court improperly denied his motion to traverse the detectives affidavit without conducting an evidentiary hearing under Franks v. Delaware (1978) 438 U.S. 154 [57 L.Ed.2d 667] (Franks), because the affidavit omitted key portions of defendants conversation with his mother, and a redacted affidavit would not establish probable cause for the search. We disagree.



Franks, supra, 438 U.S. 154 [57 L.Ed.2d 667], held that, where a defendant makes a substantial preliminary showing that a false statement knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, was included by an affiant in his affidavit for a search warrant, and if the allegedly false statement was necessary to the finding of probable cause, the Fourth Amendment requires that a hearing be held at the defendants request so that he might challenge the truthfulness of factual statements made in the affidavit. If at such a hearing the defendant establishes perjury or reckless disregard by a preponderance of the evidence, and if the affidavit (redacted to delete the false matter) is insufficient to



establish probable cause, the search warrant must be voided and the fruits of the search excluded. (Ibid.) Where the defendant claims matter was omitted from the affidavit, the defendant bears the burden of showing that the omissions were material to the determination of probable cause. (People v. Bradford (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1229, 1297.) We review de novo the trial courts denial of a Franks hearing. (People v. Benjamin (1999) 77 Cal.App.4th 264, 271.)



Here, defendant complains not of a false statement but of an omission, in that the affiant quoted only a portion of the tape-recorded telephone call. Defendant argues when the entire conversation is examined, it is clear that the portion quoted by the detective was taken out of context, and the conversation was actually a rather ordinary dialogue between a mother and son, in which the subject of the laptop came up once and only briefly, as part and parcel of defendants ongoing concern about what happened to his belongings. Defendant acknowledges the detective told the magistrate (in paraphrased form) the part of the conversation where defendant asked about his clothes, but defendant argues that reference hardly did justice to the entire conversation.



However, we have examined the entire transcript of the call and conclude no material matter was omitted. Thus, the transcript of the tape-recorded telephone call shows as follows:



Defendant called his mother collect. She asked him to hold because she was on the other line, but she could not click back



to her other call, which she thought might be because the call from jail was being recorded, as a recording reminded them. She asked if he got a card she sent, he said no but he would probably get it that night. He said he would meet with his lawyer Friday and go to court on Monday. He asked what kind of card she sent. She said a Halloween card. He said he might not get it because mail has to be in a letter envelope. She said she put a $20 money order in the card. Someone named Tammy gave her $10 but defendants mother had already bought the money order and so sent only the $20. Defendant thanked her for her help. He said it was getting depressing. He tried to exercise and eat right. It helped to get in a routine. He was reading a lot and had read 10 or 12 books. His mother asked, They have computers you can get on? He said, No way. He said there was a law library and books. It was rare to be able to go into the library, but there was a dayroom with television, and they were watching basketball. Defendant said he sent Tammy a letter with a Halloween picture he drew that he hoped she would keep and put on the refrigerator or something. His mother said she did not know and had not seen them for awhile, except just for a second that morning.



Defendant then said, I put my computer up in the, uh, storage, in the garage. This is the portion quoted by the detective in his affidavit.



Defendant then said he left some clothes in the dryer. His mother said she did not know what happened to them. He asked if



she could find them. She said she would ask Tammy. He said he did not have any clothes for when he gets out of jail. She said okay. He asked her to write. She said all right. He said he loved her, she said she loved him and goodbye, and the call ended.



Clearly, the affiant did not mislead the magistrate. The omitted portions of the conversation were immaterial. We note the trial court indicated the only fact material to the motion to traverse was that defendant admitted owning a computer and revealed its location. We believe it was also material that defendant wanted to make sure no one mess[ed] with his computer. Nevertheless, the omitted portions of the conversation were immaterial.



We conclude defendant fails to show grounds for reversal regarding his motion to traverse.



III. Probable Cause



Defendant argues the probable cause affidavit failed to establish a fair probability that child pornography would be found in defendants laptop computer, laptop bag, or the Ford Bronco. We disagree.



Probable cause to justify a search warrant means a fair probability that . . . evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. (Illinois v. Gates (1983) 462 U.S. 213, 238 [76 L.Ed.2d 527].) As defendant acknowledges, we apply deferential review to determine whether the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding a fair probability existed that



the search would uncover wrongdoing. (Kraft, supra, 23 Cal.4th at pp. 1040-1041.)



Defendant argues the affidavit in this case was deficient because it (1) did not indicate defendant had used the laptop or any computer or computer-related media in the alleged molestation of his daughter, (2) did not indicate he used child pornography in the alleged molestation, and (3) did not indicate he expressed any general interest in receiving or transmitting child pornography, through the computer or otherwise.



However, it was not necessary for the affidavit to indicate any of those things. The affidavit sufficed by setting forth (1) the victims description of the molestations; (2) defendants storing away of his computer in the garage attic; (3) defendants phone call with his mother expressing his concern that no one mess with his computer; and (4) the affiants potent testimony, based on the officers training, knowledge, and experience, that people who molest children have generally been found to engage in activity such as (a) receiving and collecting sexually explicit materials for sexual gratification; (b) corresponding with other molesters to share information and support, including use of computerized bulletin boards; (c) preserving the correspondence; (d) using photographs to fantasize about encounters with children; (e) maintaining diaries of their sexual encounters with children; (f) collecting books, magazines and computer files on the subject of sex with



children; and (g) going to great lengths to conceal their collection of illicit materials.



Defendant argues we should disregard his phone call and the expert opinion about the habits of child molesters. We disagree.



Thus, law enforcement officers may draw upon their expertise to interpret the facts in a search warrant application, and such expertise may be considered by the magistrate as a factor supporting probable cause. (People v. Andrino (1989) 210 Cal.App.3d 1395, 1400-1402 [evidence of telephone traffic and its interpretation by experienced officer as consistent with bookmaking activity, coupled with the defendants criminal record, established probable cause for issuance of search warrant].) Here, the search warrant application did not depend solely on the experts opinion about activities of child molesters, but the expert opinion together with the victims statements, defendants storage of his computer in a garage attic, and his expressed concern that no one mess with the computer.



As to the telephone conversation in which defendant expressed concern that no one mess with the computer, we have explained defendants statement was properly considered. Defendant tries to minimize its impact, saying it showed only that his primary concern was to make sure that his property (laptop, clothing) was not harmed. However, together with the other information in the affidavit -- including the victims



description of multiple incidents of molestation by defendant, as well as the affiants experience and training -- defendants expressed concern that no one mess with his computer, which he stored out of the way in garage storage, adds to a reasonable persons conclusion that there was a fair probability the search would uncover wrongdoing. That defendant also asked his mother about his clothes is without consequence because, unlike the computer (which he stored in an out-of-the-way place), he left the clothes in a place -- the clothes dryer -- where they would be in other peoples way and would presumably be moved by people wanting to use the dryer, with a concomitant risk the clothes would get misplaced (as they apparently did). Defendant did not ask about any other belongings. Also without consequence is the lack of any indication that defendant used pornography in molesting his daughter. His concern about his computer, together with the described molestations, provided a sufficient link between defendant and the computer habits of child molesters described by the affiant. Contrary to defendants view, the record here shows more than a mere hunch.



We also reject defendants assertion that, because the phone call occurred several months after he was arrested, no reasonable magistrate could find probable cause. Defendant cites no evidence supporting the timing. To the contrary, the affidavit and probation report reflect defendant was taken into custody and transported from the Pacific Grove Police Department



to Sacramento County on September 2, 2005 -- about a month and a half before the October 18, 2005, telephone call.



We conclude the record supports the magistrates finding of sufficient probable cause for issuance of the search warrant, and we independently conclude the search was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.



Defendant relies on three cases from other jurisdictions. He acknowledges they are not binding on us (Walker v. Kiousis (2001) 93 Cal.App.4th 1432, 1441), but he argues they are persuasive. We shall conclude they do not help him.



Thus, defendant cites United States v. Weber (9th Cir. 1990) 923 F.2d 1338, which held there was no probable cause to search the defendants home for child pornography based on information that the defendant (1) received advertising material described by a customs agent as apparent child pornography in 1985 and (2) placed an order for child pornography (in response to an advertisement sent by the government) in 1987. The police officers affidavit gave a general description of the proclivities of pedophiles but did not say that the defendants demonstrated interest in child pornography placed him in the category of those pedophiles about whom a fellow officer (whose generalizations about pedophiles appeared in the affidavit) had expertise. (Id. at p. 1341.) Weber said: It is well established that expert opinion may be presented in a search warrant affidavit. [Citation.] But if the government presents expert opinion about the behavior of a particular class of



persons, for the opinion to have any relevance, the affidavit must lay a foundation which shows that the person subject to the search is a member of the class. (Id. at p. 1345.) Weber concluded the expert testimony lacked foundation and consisted only of rambling boilerplate recitations designed to meet all law enforcement needs. (Ibid.) It was clear the expert portion of the affidavit was not drafted with the facts of the case in mind. (Ibid.)



However, Weber is distinguishable from this case because in Weber there was no evidence of any specific act of child molestation. (Id. at p. 1345 [there was not a whit of evidence in the affidavit indicating that Weber was a child molester].) Here, there was abundant evidence of child molestation, and the affidavit recited not only generalities about child molesters but also the statements of the child-victim describing incidents of molestation and defendants expressed concern that no one mess with his computer. Together with defendants expressed concern about his computer, there was sufficient foundation that defendant was a member of the class of persons who tended to keep child pornography on a computer.



Defendant cites dictum from United States v. Zimmerman (3d Cir. 2002) 277 F.3d 426 (Zimmerman), where the government conceded there was no probable cause to search for child pornography. (Id. at p. 432.) The warrant to search the defendants home and computer for adult and child pornography



was based on an affidavit which (1) recounted various incidents in which the defendant, a high school teacher and basketball coach, allegedly sexually accosted students, (2) said the defendant showed some of the alleged victims a video clip depicting a woman performing oral sex on a horse, and (3) gave a postal inspectors opinion that persons with a sexual interest in children may possess child pornography and keep it in their homes for extended periods of time. The inspector did not refer to the defendant or the facts of the case. (Id. at p. 430.) The government conceded lack of probable cause for child pornography, and the issues in Zimmerman were whether probable cause to search for adult pornography was lacking because the information was stale (Zimmerman said yes), and whether the child pornography evidence should come in under the good faith exception (Zimmerman said no). (Id. at pp. 433-438.)



The Zimmerman dictum cited by defendant said that, because it was undisputed that there was no probable cause to search for child pornography, the court did not need to determine what weight, if any, to give to the postal inspectors opinion, but the court noted there was nothing in his statement indicating he knew anything about the defendant, and if the court had to decide the matter it would probably decide the inspectors statement was insufficient. (Zimmerman, supra, 277 F.3d 426, 433, fn. 4.)



Since the government conceded lack of probable cause in Zimmerman, that case is not even arguably supportive of



defendants appeal. Defendant quotes Zimmermans reference to a prior case in which the same court held a similar statement by the same postal inspector was conclusory and insufficient to establish a sufficient nexus between the contraband and the defendants residence. (Zimmerman, supra, 277 F.3d 426, 433, fn. 4.) However, defendant does not discuss or rely on that earlier case, and we therefore need not discuss it.



Defendants final out-of-state case is from a Florida District Court of Appeal, Burnett v. State (Fla. 2003) 848 So.2d 1170 (Burnett), which held a law enforcement officers affidavit was insufficient to support a conclusion that child pornography would be found in the computer in the defendants bedroom. (Id. at pp. 1173-1174.) There, the police in a consensual search of the defendants bedroom found a lewd videotape made by the defendant of two naked young boys. (Id. at pp. 1171, 1174.) The affidavit described the videotape, set forth specifics about the officers expertise and training in child sex abuse cases, and gave her opinion that people involved in child pornography, including people such as the defendant, who videotaped a childs genitals and buttocks, commonly had child pornography on their computer. (Id. at p. 1172.) The officer also stated her belief, due to the defendants lying about the videotape, that other child pornography may be stored on the stacks of videotapes in the defendants room. (Ibid.)



In holding the affidavit failed to establish probable cause, the Burnett court said the affidavit did not state that



the titles of any of the stacked videotapes suggested child pornography. (Burnett, supra, 848 So.2d 1170, 1174.) The appellate court said the initial complaint was about a lewd videotape of young boys, and nothing suggested the defendant used his computer to transmit or store child pornography. (Ibid.) The affidavit failed to describe a factual link between the video camera and the functioning capability of the home computer so that images could be transferred. The affidavit also omitted any factual averment that the computer was linked to the internet or that the video camera was compatible with the computer so that images could be downloaded, transferred, or transmitted. (Ibid.) Additionally, said the Florida court, the affidavit set out only the officers expertise in child sex abuse cases, it did not set out any expertise in matters of child pornography. (Id. at pp. 1172, 1174.)



Burnett is arguably distinguishable because in that case there was a lack of foundational expertise. No such problem appears in this case. To the extent that the Florida court declined to give weight to the affidavit for reasons other than the lack of qualifications of the expert, we respectfully disagree with Burnett.



In sum, none of defendants cited cases helps him.



Here, we do not have to decide whether the detectives expert opinion, standing alone, was sufficient to show probable cause. The search warrant application was supported by more than the detectives opinion that child molesters collect and store child pornography. It was supported by statements of the child that defendant molested her as recently as two weeks earlier, and by his storing his computer in a hot garage and asking his mother not to let anyone mess with it.



We conclude issuance of the search warrant was proper, and the trial courts denial of the motion to traverse, quash, and suppress evidence was proper. We need not comment on the Peoples citation of research studies about child molesters, which are not part of the record. We need not address the parties arguments as to whether the good faith exception to invalid warrants should apply.



IV. Pretrial Custody Credits



Defendant argues his pretrial custody credits ( 4019) were miscalculated, and he is entitled to one additional day of credit. The People say the point is debatable, but they agree defendant should be awarded the additional day of credit. We accept the Peoples concession.



DISPOSITION



The abstract of judgment is modified to show actual credits of 443 days, and total credits of 509 days. The trial court is directed to prepare an amended abstract of judgment and forward a certified copy of it to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The judgment is otherwise affirmed.



SIMS , Acting P.J.



We concur:



DAVIS , J.



MORRISON , J.



Publication Courtesy of San Diego County Legal Resource Directory.



Analysis and review provided by El Cajon Property line Lawyers.







* Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 8.1110, this opinion is certified for publication with the exception of parts II and IV of the DISCUSSION.



[1]Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.



[2]This quote differs slightly from the transcript, which shows (1) defendants mother interjected, Yeah or Uh-huh between the phrases of defendants first statement, and (2) in the last sentence she said, No one will touch it, not No problem. Defendant does not claim these minor, immaterial differences are a basis for his appeal.



[3]It is undisputed there is no evidence that defendant showed any sexually explicit images to his victim.



[4]It is not clear what evidence, if any, was found in defendants vehicle. Defendants motion said the laptop and a laptop bag were seized from the garage attic, and a suitcase was seized from his Ford Bronco (which was in the garage). Defendants motion said the computer hard drives had been removed from the computer and were found in a small box, but defendant did not say where the box was found. On appeal, defendant lumps everything together and provides no separate argument regarding the vehicle. Since defendants vehicle and computer were both in the garage of his parents home, and defendants telephone conversation was not entirely clear as to exactly where in the garage he placed the computer, the application for and issuance of a warrant to search the vehicle in the garage was reasonable, and defendant fails to show otherwise.





Description Magistrate's finding of sufficient probable cause for issuance of search warrant and subsequent search of defendant's mother's garage that uncovered computer upon which child pornography was found were reasonable under Fourth Amendment where warrant application was supported by detective's opinion that child molesters collect and store child pornography, by statements of child that defendant molested her as recently as two weeks earlier, and by recorded telephone conversation between defendant and his mother wherein defendant stated that he was storing his computer in hot garage and asking his mother not to let anyone "mess" with it.
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