confidential informant

Search Warrants Obtained with Confidential Informants

The Georgia Court of Appeals reversed a Cobb Superior Court ruling after finding that police failed to properly vet a confidential informant before obtaining a search warrant. The defendant, charged with trafficking methamphetamine, filed a motion to suppress evidence, arguing the warrant was based on unreliable information. The Court agreed, noting that the police did not corroborate the informant’s claims or establish credibility, making the search unconstitutional under Georgia law. This case highlights the importance of probable cause and informant verification in Georgia criminal cases.

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Supreme Court of Georgia Defines Sufficient Evidence for Child Pornography in Search Warrant

The Supreme Court of Georgia recently reversed a decision by the Court of Appeals regarding a child pornography investigation, finding that the search warrant affidavit used in the case lacked sufficient probable cause.

The case involved Michael S. Shirley, whose home was searched after an FBI Task Force received information from German authorities. While the Gwinnett Superior Court originally denied Mr. Shirley’s Motion to Suppress, believing the warrant to be valid, the Georgia Supreme Court found the affidavit supporting the warrant too vague to justify a lawful search.

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