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Criminal Procedure Keyed to Ohlin
United States v. Watson
Citation:
423 U.S. 411 (1976)Facts
On August 17, 1972, when an informant, one Khoury, telephoned a postal inspector informing him that respondent Watson was in possession of a stolen credit card and had asked Khoury to cooperate in using the card to their mutual advantage. Khoury delivered the card to the inspector. On learning that Watson had agreed to furnish additional cards, the inspector asked Khoury to arrange to meet with Watson. Using keys furnished by Watson, the inspector entered the car and found an envelope containing two credit cards in the names of other persons. These cards were the basis for two counts of indictment charging Watson with possessing stolen mail. Watson moved to suppress the cards, claiming that his arrest was illegal for lack of probable cause and an arrest warrant and that his consent to search the car was involuntary and ineffective because he had not been told that he could withhold consent.
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