Joe Irvin McKissick v. State

Opinion Issued October 5, 2006

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

NO. 01-05-00559-CR

JOE IRVIN MCKISSICK, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 240th District Court

Fort Bend County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 37350

O P I N I O N

Appellant, Joe Irvin McKissick, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of possession of

child pornography. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 43.26 (Vernon 2003) . The trial court

assessed punishment at eight years’ probation and a $300 fine. In his sole point of

error, appellant argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress

evidence collected from his personal computer pursuant to a search warrant.

We affirm. BACKGROUND

On March 29, 2002, Robert Kite, a lifeguard for the Galveston County Sheriff’s

Department, received a radio dispatch stating that a man appeared to be taking

pictures of young girls on Galveston Beach without their permission. Kite began to

search for the man and observed appellant photographing the mid-sections of two girls

who were walking along the beach. Kite stated that it did not appear that the girls had

given appellant permission to photograph them. He estimated the girls were between

the ages of 10 and 12. Kite approached appellant, identified himself, and asked

appellant to sit on a nearby bench while Kite contacted the police.

Galveston Police Officers B. Gately and R. Steadham responded to Kite’s call.

Officer Gately informed appellant that a recently enacted statute prohibited

photographing another person for the purposes of sexual gratification or arousal

without first obtaining that person’s consent. The statute cited by Gately, section

21.15 of the Texas Penal Code, provides that:

(a)A person commits an offense if the person photographs or by

videotape or other electronic means visually records another:

(1) without the other person’s consent; and

(2) with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any

person.

(b) An offense under this section is a state jail felony. Act of June 11, 2001, 77th Leg., R.S., ch. 458, sec. 1, 2001 Tex. Gen. Laws 893 , 893

(current version at Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 21.15 (Vernon Supp. 2005)). Appellant

stated that he had been taking scenic pictures of the beach and water, and he granted

the officers permission to view the photographs stored on his digital camera.

Kite turned appellant’s camera on, and, using its preview pane, he and Officer

Steadham examined the photographs stored on the camera. Kite described seeing

pictures which matched those he had earlier witnessed appellant taking of the two

young girls walking along the beach. Officer Steadham observed a picture of “the

rear-end of a young female” and another depicting the “crotch area of a young female”

who appeared to be exiting the Galveston ferry boat. Officer Gately then viewed the

photographs, observing “the back of a female” and “a waist shot.” Officer Gately

testified that the photographs were inconsistent with appellant’s statement that he had

been taking general scenic photographs of the beach and ocean. Appellant was taken

into custody and transported to a police station.

Detective R. Sunley, who is assigned to the Galveston Police Department’s

Crimes Against Children section, was called to question appellant. Appellant

admitted that he had been taking pictures of girls, but denied knowing that doing so

for the purposes of sexual gratification or arousal was against the law. See Tex. Pen.

Code Ann. § 21.15 . Appellant further stated that after taking pictures of girls, he

would transfer the photos from his digital camera to his personal computer. Detective

Sunley reviewed the pictures on appellant’s camera and observed images depicting

“the front area and back area” of young girls. When he asked if appellant traded

pictures over the internet, appellant became nervous and evaded the question.

Appellant was then charged with the offense of improper photography or visual

recording. See id .

Subsequently, Detective Sunley prepared an affidavit to present to a magistrate

to obtain a warrant to search appellant’s residence, located in Fort Bend County, for

evidence of improper photography or visual recording. See id . Detective Sunley’s

affidavit, subscribed and sworn to the magistrate on April 2, 2002, four days after

appellant’s arrest, read as follows:

The undersigned Affiant, being a Detective of the Galveston

Police Department, and being duly sworn, on oath makes the

following statements:

1. My name is Robert Sunley and I am a detective with the

Galveston Police Department, located in Galveston County,

Texas. I am assigned to the investigation relative to: Joe

McKissick, who is being charged with the offense of Improper

Visual Record to Arouse/Gratify;

2. Through my investigation, I have reason to believe that Joe

McKissick, on or about March 29, 2002, in Galveston, Texas, did

then and there photograph another without that person’s consent

with the intent to gratify his sexual desire, to wit, photographing

the buttocks of several female beach goers.

3. Through my investigation, I have reason to believe that on march

[sic] 29, 2002, the Galveston Police Department received a report

of a man taking photographs of young females. Officer Bobby

Steadham and Officer B. Gately responded to the call at 53 rd

Seawall, Galveston County, Texas, and, after searching for a few

minutes, found a subject, later identified as Joe McKissick, who

matched the description of the man taking the pictures of the

young females.

4. Through my investigation, I have reason to believe that Robert

Kite of the Galveston County Sheriff’s Department Beach Patrol

received a dispatch that a man was taking photographs of young

females with a digital camera. Robert Kite observed a man

matching the description of the subject taking photographs of

young females. As Robert Kite observed the man, later identified

as Joe McKissick, take a picture of two 12 - 14 year old girls from

the waist down. He then detained the subject for Galveston Police

Officers.

5. Through my investigation I have reason to believe that on March

29, 2002, Officers Steadham and Gately approached the man

detained by Robert Kite and identified him as Joe Irvin

McKissick, who resides at 509 Brand Lane #90, Stafford, Fort

Bend County, Texas. They asked Joe McKissick if they could

view the photographs that he had taken, and Joe McKissick agreed

to allow Officers Steadham and Gately to view the photographs.

6. Through my investigations, I have reason to believe that the

photographs Officers Steadham and McKissick [sic] viewed on

Joe McKissick’s camera were mostly those of . . . young female

children showing them only from the waist down. There were

pictures taken of frontal and rear views. It was obvious the photos

were taken without the knowledge or consent of the people.

Officers Steadham and Gately informed Joe McKissick that this

was possibly a criminal offense and gave him a Miranda warning.

7. Through my investigation, I have reason to believe that when

questioned by Officers Steadham and Gately, Joe McKissick

denied knowing that taking these photgraphs was a crime. Joe

McKissick was transported to Galveston Police Station.

8. Through my investigation, I interviewed Joe McKissick at the

Galveston Police Department. I gave Joe McKissick his Miranda

warnings, and he agreed to waive his rights and speak with me

about the case. Joe McKissick stated that he was taking pictures

and that he did not know it was against the law. He further stated

that he had taken pictures of girls before and after he took the

photographs, he downloaded them onto his computer at his home

located at 509 Brand Lane #90, Stafford, Fort Bend County,

Texas. Joe McKissick was asked if he traded any of his pictures

on the Internet, he became very nervous and did not answer the

question, instead stating that he did not know his actions were

illegal. I advised him of the charges and his bond amount.

9. I contacted Deputy Sean Costello of the Fort Bend County

Sheriff’s Office and asked him to get a description of the property

located at 509 Brand Lane #90, Stafford, Fort Bend County,

Texas. Deputy Costello reported to me that the residence

belonged to Joe McKissick located at 509 Brand Lane #90,

Stafford, Fort Bend County, Texas, is in the Fountain Head

Mobile Home Villa. He reported that it is light brown with tan

trim and further advised me that the home has the number “90"

on it, and the property also contains a small shed on the east side

of the property.

10. I know through my investigation that Joe McKissick says he has

a personal computer on which he downloads pictures of young

females that he takes without their permission.

11. In my experience as a law enforcement officer, persons who

sexually exploit children keep copies of their correspondence,

contacts with and photographs of children. In my experience such

contacts, correspondence, and photographs are generally kept on

a home personal computer;

12. In my experience as a law enforcement officer, correspondence

and other contacts with children by sexual perpetrators are

generally located in books, magazines, videotapes, still

photographs, and reproductions of the above, computer disks, hard

ware [sic] and software of computers located at the residence and

on the property of the person exploiting children.

13. It is my belief, based on my investigation and my experience as a

law enforcement officer, that Joe McKissick possesses such

correspondence and contacts in his books, photographs, magazine,

videotapes, computer disks, computer drives, DVD ROMs, CD

ROMs, computer tapes and on the hardware and software of his

computer at his residence and property located at 509 Brand Lane

#90, Stafford, Fort Bend County, Texas.

The magistrate agreed to issue a search warrant, and Detective Sunley, assisted by

two other detectives, executed the search later that day.

Pursuant to the search, appellant’s personal computer was seized

and

transported to the Special Crimes unit of the Texas Department of Public Safety for

analysis of the computer’s hard drive. The analysis resulted in the discovery of child

pornography, and appellant was charged in Fort Bend County with possession of child

pornography.

On August 27, 2002, a Galveston County grand jury no-billed appellant’s

charge for improper photography or visual recording. On December 9, 2002,

appellant was indicted in Fort Bend County on 19 counts of possession of child

pornography.

On July 7, 2003, appellant filed a motion to suppress the search of his

residence, arguing that the affidavit Detective Sunley used to obtain the warrant was

fatally flawed. After a hearing, the trial court denied appellant’s motion to suppress

on August 30, 2004. DISCUSSION

In his sole point of error, appellant contends that the trial court improperly

denied his motion to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to the search warrant

obtained by Detective Sunley. According to appellant, the affidavit Detective Sunley

used to procure the warrant was fatally flawed because it (1) omitted material facts,

(2) conveyed stale information, and (3) relied on conclusory statements, thereby

rendering the warrant insufficient to show probable cause.

Standard of Review

In reviewing the trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress, we apply a

bifurcated standard of review. Carmouche v. State , 10 S.W.3d 323, 327 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2000). We give almost total deference to the trial court’s determination of

historical facts that depend on credibility, while we conduct a de novo review of the

trial court’s application of the law to those facts. Id . We review de novo the trial

court’s application of the law of search and seizure and probable cause. State v. Ross ,

32 S.W.3d 853, 856 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Wilson v. State , 98 S.W.3d 265, 271

(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet. ref’d). Appellate review of an affidavit

in support of a search warrant, however, is not de novo; rather, great deference is

given to the magistrate’s determination of probable cause. Illinois v. Gates , 462 U.S.

213, 236 , 103 S. Ct. 2317, 2331 (1983); Uresti v. State , 98 S.W.3d 321, 334 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, no pet.). The test for determination of probable

cause is whether the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that a search

would uncover evidence of wrongdoing. Gates , 462 U.S. at 236 , 103 S. Ct. at 2331 .

Probable cause to support the issuance of a search warrant exists when the facts

submitted to the magistrate are sufficient to justify a conclusion that the object of the

search is probably on the premises to be searched at the time the warrant is issued.

Cassias v. State , 719 S.W.2d 585, 587 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986).

To justify the issuance of a search warrant, the affidavit submitted in support

must set forth facts sufficient to establish probable cause that (1) a specific offense has

been committed; (2) the specifically described property or items to be searched for or

seized constitute evidence of that offense; and (3) the property or items constituting

such evidence are located at the particular place to be searched. Tex. Code Crim.

Proc. Ann . art. 18.01(c) (Vernon Supp. 2005). Whether the facts mentioned in the

affidavit are adequate to establish probable cause depends on the totality of the

circumstances. Ramos v. State , 934 S.W.2d 358 , 362–63 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).

Statements made during a motion to suppress hearing do not factor into the probable

cause determination; rather, we examine only the four corners of the affidavit to

determine whether probable cause exists. Massey v. State , 933 S.W.2d 141, 148 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1996); Wilson , 98 S.W.3d at 270–71. Reasonable inferences may be

drawn from the affidavit, and the affidavit must be interpreted in a common sense and

realistic manner. Wilson , 98 S.W.3d at 271 .

The task of a magistrate in issuing a search warrant is to make a practical,

common sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the warrant’s

supporting affidavit, including the veracity and basis of knowledge of persons

supplying hearsay information, there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence

of a crime will be found in a particular place. Gates , 462 U.S. at 238 , 103 S. Ct. at

2332 . The duty of a reviewing court is simply to determine whether, considering the

totality of the circumstances, the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that

probable cause existed to support the issuance of the warrant when viewing the

affidavit. Id .

Did the Trial Court Err in Denying Appellant’s Motion to Suppress?

Appellant contends in a single point of error that the search warrant issued

improperly because the affidavit upon which it was based (1) omitted material facts;

(2) conveyed stale information; and (3) relied on conclusory statements.

1. Material Omissions

Appellant first argues that Detective Sunley’s affidavit was compromised by

material omissions whose inclusion would have rendered the affidavit insufficient to

support a finding of probable cause to support the issuance of the warrant. Appellant

specifically refers to two purported material omissions. First, he notes that Detective

Sunley’s affidavit does not indicate that the subjects of appellant’s photographs were

clothed. Instead, the affidavit simply states that the photographs depicted “the

buttocks of several female beach goers” and “two 12-14 year old girls from the waist

down.” According to appellant, the affidavit would have been insufficient to support

a finding of probable cause if it had directly stated that the girls portrayed in the

photographs were clothed. Second, appellant notes that Detective Sunley failed to

state that he had never before investigated a case pursuant to section 21.15 of the

Texas Penal Code. In the affidavit, Detective Sunley states that in his experience as

a law enforcement officer “persons who sexually exploit children keep copies of their

. . . photographs of children . . . generally . . . on a home personal computer.”

According to appellant, the magistrate would not have found probable cause to issue

the warrant had she known that the experiences to which Detective Sunley referred

did not involve investigations pursuant to section 21.15.

In Franks v. Delaware , the United States Supreme Court recognized that if an

affirmative misrepresentation is knowingly included in a probable cause affidavit in

support of a search warrant, and the misrepresentation is material and necessary to

establishing probable cause, the warrant is rendered invalid under the Fourth

Amendment. See 438 U.S. 154 , 164–65, 98 S. Ct. 2674 , 2680–81 (1978). This

exclusionary rule does not extend to instances in which the police are merely negligent

in collecting the facts alleged in the affidavit. Id . at 170, 98 S. Ct. at 2683 . The

affidavit must make a truthful showing of probable cause “in the sense that the

information put forth is believed or appropriately accepted by the affiant as true.” Id .

at 165, 98 S. Ct. at 2681 . A misstatement in an affidavit that is the result of simple

negligence or inadvertence, as opposed to reckless disregard for the truth, will not

make the warrant invalid. See Dancy v. State , 728 S.W.2d 772, 783 (Tex. Crim. App.

1987).

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has not yet recognized that a Franks

analysis pertains to omissions as well as false statements. See Brooks v. State , 642

S.W.2d 791 , 796–97 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1982). However, the Fifth Circuit,

along with other Texas Courts of Appeals, including our own, has concluded that

allegations of material omissions are to be treated essentially the same as claims of

material misstatements. See United States v. Martin , 615 F.2d 318, 328 (5th Cir.

1980); Blake v. State , 125 S.W.3d 717, 724 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, no

pet.); Heitman v. State , 789 S.W.2d 607 , 610–11 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990, pet. ref’d);

Melton v. State , 750 S.W.2d 281, 284 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, no

pet.).

Here, appellant’s contentions are without merit because the inclusion of the

omissions he cites would not render the affidavit, read as a whole, insufficient to show

probable cause. See Blake , 125 S.W.3d at 724 . Regarding the affidavit’s failure to

note that the subjects of appellant’s photographs were clothed, there is no condition

precedent in section 21.15 regarding nudity. See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 21.15 .

Section 21.15 simply states that an offense occurs if one person photographs another

without consent and for the purposes of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any

person. See id . Detective Sunley’s affidavit provides that (1) appellant was taking

photographs of girls walking along Galveston Beach without their consent; (2) the

photographs depicted the girls from their waist down, particularly their buttocks; and

(3) appellant had taken pictures of girls before and downloaded them onto his

computer. Based on these statements, we conclude that after drawing reasonable

inferences

and considering the totality of the circumstances,

a magistrate who knew

for certain that the girls were clothed, could nevertheless have reasonably found the

affidavit sufficient to show probable cause.

Appellant’s argument regarding Detective Sunley’s failure to disclose in the

affidavit that he had never before investigated a case pursuant to section 21.15 fails

for similar reasons. Paragraph 1 of the affidavit states that Sunley is a Detective with

the Galveston Police Department. Paragraphs 11 and 12, referring to Detective

Sunley’s experience, state:

11. In my experience as a law enforcement officer, persons who sexually

exploit children keep copies of their correspondence, contacts with and

photographs of children. In my experience such contacts,

correspondence, and photographs are generally kept on a home personal

computer;

12. In my experience as a law enforcement officer, correspondence and other

contacts with children by sexual perpetrators are generally located in

books, magazines, videotapes, still photographs, and reproductions of the

above, computer disks, hard ware [sic] and software of computers

located at the residence and on the property of the person exploiting

children.

According to appellant, paragraphs 11 and 12 omit the material fact that Detective

Sunley’s experience as a law enforcement officer does not include any investigations

of offenses committed in violation of section 21.15. Thus, appellant, in effect,

contends that those paragraphs should have read, for example, “Although I have never

before investigated a crime pursuant to section 21.15, in my experience as a law

enforcement officer . . . .” However, even if such a caveat regarding Detective

Sunley’s experience was included in the affidavit, the affidavit, taken as a whole,

would nevertheless have indicated that (1) Detective Sunley had experience

investigating “persons who sexually exploit children,” although no specific experience

with section 21.15; (2) in his experience, Detective Sunley learned that “persons who

sexually exploit children” store photographs of such exploitation on their personal

computer; (3) appellant was taking photographs of young girls’ buttocks without their

consent; and (4) appellant admitted downloading photographs of girls onto his

computer. We conclude that these statements, even accounting for Detective Sunley’s

lack of experience with section 21.15, would be sufficient for a finding of probable

cause.

2. Staleness

Second, appellant argues that the facts set out in the affidavit had become stale

by the time the warrant was issued. Appellant specifically points to the affidavit’s

eighth paragraph, which states that “[appellant] had been taken [sic] pictures of girls

before and after he took the photographs, he downloaded them onto his computer at

home.” According to appellant, because this statement provides no date, or even a

timeline, indicating when the alleged illegal activity took place, the affidavit fails to

provide a basis for probable cause. See Schmidt v. State , 659 S.W.2d 420 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1983) (holding that an affidavit which fails to indicate when an unlawful act

occurred is insufficient to support issuance of search warrant). Appellant recognizes

that the affidavit does state that appellant was taking photographs of girls on March

29, 2002, but he avers that the photographs taken on that day could not yet have been

downloaded onto appellant’s computer because the camera used to take the

photographs had been seized that same day.

To justify a magistrate’s finding that an affidavit is sufficient to establish

probable cause to issue a search warrant, the facts set out in the affidavit must not

have become stale when the magistrate issues the search warrant. Guerra v. State , 860

S.W.2d 609, 611 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1993, pet. ref’d); see also State v. Stone ,

137 S.W.3d 167, 178 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, pet. ref’d); Rowell v.

State , 14 S.W.3d 806, 809 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2000), aff’d , 66 S.W.3d

279 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Hafford v. State , 989 S.W.2d 439, 440 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet. ref’d). Probable cause ceases to exist when, at

the time the search warrant is issued, it would be unreasonable to presume the items

remain at the suspected place. Guerra , 860 S.W.2d at 611 . The proper method to

determine whether the facts supporting a search warrant have become stale is to

examine, in light of the type of criminal activity involved, the time elapsing between

the occurrence of the events set out in the affidavit and the time the search warrant

was issued. Id . When the affidavit recites facts indicating activity of a protracted and

continuous nature— i.e. , a course of conduct—the passage of time becomes less

significant. Lockett v. State , 879 S.W.2d 184, 189 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

1994, pet. ref’d).

Here, Detective Sunley’s affidavit indicates that appellant stated that he

downloaded pictures of girls onto his personal computer and that in Detective

Sunley’s experience as an investigator, sexually inappropriate photographs of children

are typically stored on personal computers. Furthermore, the affidavit states that

appellant admitted taking pictures of girls on the beach on March 29, 2002, the day

of his arrest. The pictures appellant admitted to taking depicted, in part, the buttocks

of young girls.

Detective Sunley’s affidavit was subscribed and sworn to before the magistrate

on April 2, 2002, four days after appellant’s arrest. The affidavit recites primarily

facts that occurred on March 29 or between March 29 and April 2. Moreover, while

the affidavit does not provide a specific time frame for when appellant downloaded

photographs onto his computer, the magistrate could have reasonably inferred that the

illegal activity described in the affidavit was of a continuous and protracted nature,

making the passage of time between this activity and appellant’s arrest less relevant.

See Lockett , 879 S.W.2d at 189 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, pet. ref’d)

(recognizing that when an affidavit properly recites facts indicating activity of

protracted and continuous nature, passage of time becomes less significant). Such a

conclusion is reinforced by the type of evidence sought, namely, according to the

affidavit, photographic images that tend to be downloaded and stored on personal

computers. See id . The evidence, therefore, was not of a sort that is transient in

nature, such as drugs which are consumed, but rather was evidence that Detective

Sunley believed, based on his experience, to be preserved and referred to over a

protracted period of time. Consequently, we conclude that the affidavit was not

insufficient to support a finding of probable cause due to staleness.

3. Conclusory Statements

Third, appellant argues that Detective Sunley’s affidavit includes conclusory

statements that, taken as a whole, render the affidavit insufficient to show probable

cause. Specifically, appellant contends that the affidavit relies on conclusory

statements to account for two elements of a section 21.15 offense—lack of consent

and intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. See Tex. Pen. Code

Ann. § 21.15 . Appellant further notes that the affidavit, in paragraph eight, refers

only to appellant admitting to downloading photographs of girls onto his computer

while providing no description of what those downloaded photographs depicted, and

thus no information regarding whether or not the downloaded photographs were taken

without their subject’s consent or for the purposes of sexual gratification or arousal.

In addition, appellant asserts that Detective Sunley’s statements regarding his

experience investigating persons who sexually exploit children were conclusory

because the affidavit contains no information indicating that appellant had ever

perpetrated crimes of a sexual nature against children.

An affidavit for a search warrant is sufficient to establish probable cause if,

from the totality of the circumstances reflected in the affidavit, the magistrate was

provided with a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed. Gates ,

462 U.S. at 238–39, 103 S. Ct. at 2332 ; Stone , 137 S.W.3d at 175 . In determining the

validity of the trial court's ruling on a challenge to a search warrant affidavit, great

deference should be paid to the magistrate’s determination, and courts should interpret

affidavits in a common sense, rather than a hypertechnical, manner. Gates , 462 U.S.

at 236 , 103 S. Ct. at 2331 . It is the duty of the reviewing court, however, to ensure the

magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed. Id . at

238–39, 103 S. Ct. at 2332 . Referring to conclusory statements and “bare-bones”

affidavits, the United States Supreme Court noted in Gate s that, “In order to ensure

that . . . an abdication of the magistrate’s duty does not occur, courts must continue

to conscientiously review the sufficiency of affidavits on which warrants are issued.”

Id . at 239, 103 S. Ct. at 2332–33. Thus, a mere conclusory statement will not suffice

for a showing of probable cause. See id .

Here, interpreting the totality of the circumstances reflected in the affidavit in

a common sense manner, we conclude that the affidavit did not rely on conclusory

statements to such an extent that it was insufficient to show probable cause. As noted,

the affidavit, taken as a whole, demonstrates that Detective Sunley had reason to

believe that appellant was taking “photograph[s] [of] another without that person’s

consent with the intent to gratify his sexual desire.” Detective Sunley’s affidavit

explains the basis for his belief, namely, the fact that: (1) the pictures on appellant’s

camera “were mostly those of young female children showing them only from the

waist down”; (2) “it was obvious the photos were taken without the knowledge or

consent of the people”; (3) appellant admitted taking pictures of girls on previous

occasions; and (4) appellant stated that he downloaded pictures of girls onto his

computer. It is true, as appellant notes, that the affidavit does not describe the nature

of the pictures appellant admits to downloading, but based on the totality of the

circumstances, one could reasonably infer that the pictures were probably similar to

those described in the affidavit. Similarly, while the affidavit is somewhat threadbare

in terms of delineating how appellant’s photographs were intended to arouse or

sexually gratify the desire of another person, one could reasonably infer that pictures

depicting the “[clothed] buttocks of several female beach goers” are probably intended

to elicit some form of sexual arousal or gratification. We thus conclude that the

affidavit is not insufficient to show probable cause due to excessive reliance on

conclusory statements.

Having found, contrary to appellant’s claims, that Detective Sunley’s affidavit

was not fatally flawed due to (1) material omissions, (2) staleness, or (3) conclusory

statements, we overrule appellant’s sole point of error.

CONCLUSION

We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Evelyn V. Keyes

Justice

Panel consists of Justices Taft, Keyes, and Hanks.

Publish. Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).