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People Tell Court Probable Cause and Overwhelming Evidence Support Convictions
Summary
The People argued before the Guam Supreme Court that hearsay may be considered for probable-cause determinations and that the cumulative evidence (large quantity of methamphetamine, digital scales, baggies) supported the search and subsequent convictions. The prosecutor said prior judicial findings and the totality-of-the-circumstances test counsel against reversal.
People's counsel, Attorney Lyle Stamps, told the court the magistrate had before him "fairly strong evidence" and that hearsay—properly considered under the totality of the circumstances—supported issuance of the warrant. Stamps emphasized that two judges had already found probable cause and that defense was essentially asking the court to adopt a new, de novo standard for warrant review on appeal.
Mr. Stamps also highlighted the physical evidence recovered in the search, describing "a 100 and over a 100 gross grams" of methamphetamine and distribution paraphernalia including digital scales and plastic baggies. He argued three isolated references at trial were handled properly by objections, strikes, and jury instructions and did not undermine an otherwise overwhelming record.
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