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Howard v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 23, 1983
168 Ga. App. 143 (Ga. Ct. App. 1983)

Opinion

66826.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 23, 1983.

Probation revocation. Douglas Superior Court. Before Judge Noland.

Kenneth L. Gordon, for appellant.

Frank C. Winn, District Attorney, Jeffrey P. Richards, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.


The defendant appeals the revocation of his probated sentence. Held:

The defendant contends the evidence utilized to revoke his probation was the product of an unlawful search and seizure.

We recognize the general rule that "illegally seized evidence may not be used to revoke probation." Stanley v. State, 153 Ga. App. 42 ( 264 S.E.2d 533). Nevertheless, in the case sub judice the defendant, a probationer, was required to reside in the Cobb Diversion Center, a restitution shelter, and as a part of the program agreed to abide by the rules and regulations of the Center. He returned to the Center in an apparently intoxicated condition according to evidence produced by the State. He was taken to the hospital for a blood test and urine sample; meanwhile, his vehicle located on the property of the Center was searched and certain controlled substances were found therein.

The rules and regulations of the Center provided: "Any resident returning to the Center under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be disciplined appropriately. Breath tests for alcohol and chemical tests for drugs will be used regularly. . . . The staff has the right to inspect and search any resident, his property or his room. Periodic shakedowns may be expected. You are responsible for any contraband that may be found in any vehicle you own or bring on the Center property (including visitor's vehicles)."

1. We find that defendant's contentions regarding the inadmissibility of the results of the tests performed by extracting his bodily fluids is controlled adversely to such position by Smith v. State, 250 Ga. 438, 439 (3) ( 298 S.E.2d 482).

2. Likewise, there is no merit to the enumeration of error that the search of his vehicle was unlawful. "[A] probation revocation hearing is not a criminal trial, and the same rules of procedure do not apply." Austin v. State, 148 Ga. App. 784, 785 ( 252 S.E.2d 696). "A defendant's status as a probationer . . . is a factor to be considered in determining whether a search and seizure by a probation officer is unreasonable. . . . The search by a probation officer is reasonable if under all the circumstances, it is actuated by the legitimate operation of the probation supervision process and the probation officer acts reasonably in performing those duties." Hunter v. State, 139 Ga. App. 676, 678 ( 229 S.E.2d 505). Under the circumstances here, the search was not unreasonable. Hunter v. State, 139 Ga. App. 676, supra; Dean v. State, 151 Ga. App. 847, 849 ( 261 S.E.2d 759); Lillard v. State, 156 Ga. App. 54, 55 ( 274 S.E.2d 96). Judgment affirmed. Sognier and Pope, JJ., concur.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 23, 1983.


Summaries of

Howard v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 23, 1983
168 Ga. App. 143 (Ga. Ct. App. 1983)
Case details for

Howard v. State

Case Details

Full title:HOWARD v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Sep 23, 1983

Citations

168 Ga. App. 143 (Ga. Ct. App. 1983)
308 S.E.2d 424

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