When a search warrant is issued for a second time for a defendant's cell phone, what is the difference between the first and second searches?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. James, A152400 (Cal. App. 2019):

It makes no difference that the People eventually learned on April 20, 2017, that defendant had disclosed the phone's passcode to a third party. This fact was not known to the investigators when the first search warrant was sought, and it is not clear when defendant gave out the passcode. Because there was no evidence indicating that cell phone 2 was capable of being remotely wiped prior to the first search, it was not unreasonable for the officers to believe the contents of cell phone 2 remained in the same condition as they did when the phone was first seized. Moreover, although the investigators knew about the passcode disclosure prior to the second search, any purported error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt because no evidence from the second search was admitted at trial. (Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24.)

Page 8

Other Questions


Does the search warrant for "any vehicles" provision in the first warrant for a search warrant apply to a vehicle search? (California, United States of America)
Does the affidavit supporting a search warrant invalidate the search warrant for a home searched for a stolen gun after the original warrant was issued? (California, United States of America)
Does the exclusionary rule apply when an officer acting with objective good faith has obtained a search warrant for the search warrant under the Golden Gate Drive search warrant? (California, United States of America)
If a search warrant authorizes a search, can the warrant authorizations to search the bag be added to the warrant? (California, United States of America)
For the purposes of a search warrant, can the search warrant be used in the search of a defendant's automobile, at the police station and some time after his arrest? (California, United States of America)
Is there any case law that supports the argument that a search warrant obtained from a cell phone records and other data extracted from the phone records is sufficient to support the claim that the search warrant is invalid? (California, United States of America)
How have the courts dealt with the issue of a search warrant for a second search? (California, United States of America)
Can a search warrant be used to search for marijuana and heroin in the bedroom of a defendant who had not consented to a search after his arrest? (California, United States of America)
Can a search warrant be used to search defendant's home after he consented to the search? (California, United States of America)
Does a substantial delay in obtaining a search warrant for cell phone 2 render the search warrant stale? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.