JOHN WATERS, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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John Waters appeals his convictions for trafficking in marijuana and conspiracy to traffic in marijuana, challenging the admissibility of a recorded telephone conversation with an informant. The appellate court affirms the convictions, holding that the warrantless recording of a telephone call from an informant outside defendant's home to defendant inside his home does not violate the Florida Constitution.
The court affirmed the convictions, holding that State v. Sarmiento does not apply to telephone calls where one party is outside the defendant's home, even if the defendant is inside the home. The recording was lawful under Florida Statutes § 934.03(2)(c) and did not violate the Florida Constitution, as established in State v. Williams.
[1] A law enforcement officer or a person acting under their direction may lawfully intercept a wire or oral communication if the interceptor is a party to the communication…
[2] A warrantless interception of a private conversation conducted in a home is unconstitutional.
Previewing 2 of 5 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Section 934.03(2)(c), Florida Statutes (1981), allows a law enforcement officer or person working under the direction of a law enforcement officer to intercept a wire or oral communication when the person doing the intercepting is a party to the communication if the purpose of the interception is to obtain evidence of a criminal act.”
Establishes the statutory authority for one-party consent recording of communications for law enforcement purposes.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceGeorge Hogg, a participant in drug trafficking who agreed to assist law enforcement in exchange for charge reduction, telephoned defendant Waters at h…
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LEHAN, Judge.
The defendant appeals from his convictions and sentencing for trafficking in marijuana and conspiracy to traffic in marijuana. We affirm.
Defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress a recorded telephone conversation between defendant and George Hogg. Hogg, an alleged participant in the drug trafficking, had agreed to assist in the state’s investigation in return for a reduction of charges against him. Acting at the direction of a law enforcement officer, Hogg telephoned defendant and recorded the conversation. The defendant testified that he was asleep in his room at his cousin’s house when he was called to the telephone to answer the call from Hogg. Defendant testified that Hogg did not tell him that the call was being recorded or that Hogg was working for law enforcement authorities. Defendant made very incriminating statements during the telephone conversation. After defendant’s motion to suppress the taped conversation was denied, the tape was played twice for the jury (the second time being at the jury’s request during its deliberations).
Section 934.03(2)(c), Florida Statutes (1981), allows a law enforcement officer or person working under the direction of a law enforcement officer to intercept a wire or oral communication when the person doing the intercepting is a party to the communication if the purpose of the interception is to obtain evidence of a criminal act. In State v. Sarmiento, 397 So. 2d 643 (Fla.1981), this statute was held unconstitutional to the extent that it authorized the warrantless interception of a private conversation conducted in the home.
Defendant argues that Sarmiento applies in this case and renders the taped telephone conversation illegal. The state argues, inter alia, that Sarmiento is inapplicable because defendant was not in his home when he received the call. However, we need not address whether the room which defendant was occupying was his home. Even if the room was his home, Sarmiento is inapplicable. In Sarmiento the taped conversation was an inperson conversation in which both participants were located in the defendant’s home. In this case, while defendant was arguably in his home, the other party, who telephoned defendant, was outside the home.
The Florida Supreme Court has recently held that Sarmiento does not apply to a situation identical to this case. In State v. Williams, 443 So. 2d 952 (Fla.1983), the court held that a tape of a telephone call from an informant outside defendant’s home to defendant in her home did not contravene article I, section 12, Florida Constitution (1968), and was lawful under chapter 934, Florida Statutes (1979).
We find no merit in appellant’s remaining two contentions on appeal except that we strike that portion of defendant’s sentence which requires him to pay certain fines and costs as a condition of parole. See Alexander v. State, 425 So. 2d 1197 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983). In all other respects, the judgments and sentences are AFFIRMED.
GRIMES, A.C.J., and SCHEB, J., concur.
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Citator
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Commerford v. State, 728 So. 2d 796 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)…to the interception and the purpose of the interception is to obtain evidence of a criminal act. Tollett v. State, 272 So. 2d 490 (Fla.1973), receded from on other grounds sub. nom. State v. Welker, 536 So. 2d 1017, 1020 (Fla.1988); Waters v. State, 444 So. 2d 1135 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984); § 934.03, Fla. Stat. (1997). Here, the victim’s testimony that she agreed with police to record her conversation with Commerford for the purpose of obtaining evidence of his lewd assault upon her satisfied the requirements of sta…
Authorities Cited
- State v. Sarmiento, 397 So. 2d 643 (Fla. 1981)
- Samuel S.J. Alexander v. State, 425 So. 2d 1197 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983)
- State v. Williams, 443 So. 2d 952 (Fla. 1983)