N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judge:
Under the totality of the circumstances, a search warrant issued to search a suspect's home computer and electronic equipment lacks probable cause when (1) no evidence of possession or attempt to possess child pornography was submitted to the issuing magistrate; (2) no evidence was submitted to the magistrate regarding computer or electronics use by the suspect; and (3) the only evidence linking the suspect's attempted child molestation to possession of child pornography is the experience of the requesting police officer, with no further explanation. Our circuit, however, has not previously addressed this question. Therefore, the officers involved in the search are entitled to qualified immunity.
On October 12, 2006, Officer Robert Bobkiewicz, of the City of Covina Police Department, and four other police officers (three from the City of Covina and one from the City of Glendora) searched Appellant Bruce Dougherty's
To obtain the search warrant, Officer Bobkiewicz submitted an affidavit reciting that he was involved in the investigation of Dougherty's inappropriate touching of one of his sixth grade students at Royal Oak Elementary School. The student reported that Dougherty had lifted her up in front of the class after she told him that she had won a cross-country meet. She reported that Dougherty's hands were touching her breasts when he lifted her up to a level where he could look at her buttocks. The student told Bobkiewicz that she had seen Dougherty look up the skirts and down the tops of other girls in the class. In interviews, other students confirmed the lifting incident to Bobkiewicz and also reported that Dougherty looked up the skirts and down the shirts of girls in the class. Officer Bobkiewicz also discussed the investigation with the Assistant Superintendent for the School District, Gloria Cortez. Cortez told Officer Bobkiewicz that she had conducted an investigation after the incident with the student described above. Her investigation turned up multiple reports of Dougherty touching girls' backs and appearing to search for bra straps with his hands (this information was corroborated by the former vice-principal at Royal Oak). Cortez's investigation also turned up a 2003 report of a student, who said that Dougherty pulled her shirt down to her waist while they were alone in the classroom. The investigation of that incident was not pursued, after it was determined the student made inconsistent statements. The mother of the student in that incident, however, later believed she made a mistake not believing her daughter. When police contacted that student (then in high school) to discuss the previous allegation, she recounted that Dougherty touched her bare breast and told her she was "a special girl."
In the affidavit, Officer Bobkiewicz also recounts that he had fourteen years of experience on the police force and had worked as a School Resource Officer. He had over 100 hours of training involving juvenile and sex crimes, had conducted hundreds of investigations related to sexual assaults and juveniles, and was the designated "Sex Crimes/Juvenile Detective" for the police department. The affidavit concludes with Officer Bobkiewicz stating that "based upon my training and experience... I know subjects involved in this type of criminal behavior have in their possession child pornography...." The affidavit then requests the ability to seize Dougherty's computer, cameras, and electronic media and have them searched for child pornography. A magistrate signed the warrant on October 11, 2006.
When officers arrived at Dougherty's house, he allowed the officers to enter and search. However, when Dougherty asked to see a warrant, Officer Bobkiewicz stated that he had forgotten it at the police station. During the search, the officers entered and moved about the house with their guns drawn. They awakened Dougherty's adult son, Jonathan, at gun point and gave him the option of leaving the house or sitting on the couch in the living room during the search. Jonathan chose to remain on the couch. The officers seized computers and "related items" from Dougherty's home. The computers and other items were not returned until December 27, 2007. No charges were filed against Dougherty.
After the search of Dougherty's house, Dougherty sued Officer Bobkiewicz, the City of Covina, and Kim Raney, the Chief of Police, for violating his constitutional rights.
The district court dismissed Dougherty's complaint with prejudice on August 4, 2009. The court reviewed the complaint, the search warrant, and the affidavit. The court found the warrant was supported by probable cause, and that the detention of Dougherty and his son was reasonable. The district court further held Bobkiewicz was entitled to qualified immunity. Finally, the court dismissed the Monell claim on the ground that Monell liability cannot be found if no constitutional violations occurred.
Dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) is reviewed de novo. Thompson v. Davis, 295 F.3d 890, 895 (9th Cir.2002). The facts alleged in a complaint are to be taken as true and must "plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1950, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). Mere legal conclusions "are not entitled to the assumption of truth." Id. The complaint must contain more than "a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). It must plead "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Id. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955.
Denial of leave to amend is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Bowles v. Reade, 198 F.3d 752, 757 (9th Cir.1999).
"Sufficient information must be presented to the magistrate to allow that official to determine probable cause; his action cannot be a mere ratification of the bare conclusions of others." Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 239, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983). When an affidavit moves "beyond the `bare bones,'" however, a "totality of the circumstances test" is employed. Id. at 238-39, 103 S.Ct. 2317. Under the totality of the circumstances test, a neutral magistrate must "make a practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before him, 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." Id. at 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317. The magistrate is free to draw "reasonable inferences... from the material supplied to him by applicants for a warrant." Id. at 240, 103 S.Ct. 2317.
The "standards for determining probable cause for a search warrant" apply to a search for child pornography on a computer. United States v. Kelley, 482 F.3d 1047, 1050 (9th Cir.2007). Neither "certainty nor a preponderance of the evidence is required," but rather a "fair probability" that the evidence will be found. Id. The magistrate's determination of probable cause "should be paid great
Although there does not need to be direct evidence of solicitation of child pornography to create probable cause, Kelley, 482 F.3d at 1051-52, the reviewing court must make certain there was a "substantial basis" for the finding, United States v. Weber, 923 F.2d 1338, 1343 (9th Cir.1990) (citing Gates, 462 U.S. at 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317). In Weber, we held that probable cause did not exist to search a house for child pornography when an affidavit recited only that a suspect had two years previously received a catalog of child pornography and had ordered four images of possible child pornography.
If probable cause did not exist in Weber, it cannot exist here. In Weber, the affidavit included at least some direct evidence of the defendant's possible possession of child pornography, including a two-year-old delivery of a catalog containing child pornography, an order from a fake catalog with image names suggesting child pornography, and general information regarding collectors, pedophiles, and molesters. Weber, 923 F.2d at 1345. Here, by contrast, the affidavit includes only a three-year-old allegation of attempted molestation by one student and current allegations of inappropriate touching of and looking at students.
The affidavit contains no facts tying the acts of Dougherty as a possible child molester to his possession of child pornography. The affidavit provides no evidence of receipt of child pornography. No expert "specifically concludes" Dougherty is a pedophile. In the affidavit, Officer Bobkiewicz states only that "[b]ased upon [his] training and experience ... subjects in this type of criminal behavior have in their possession child pornography...." The affidavit provides no indication that Dougherty was interested in viewing images of naked children or of children performing
Other circuits have split on the question of whether evidence of child molestation, alone, creates probable cause for a search warrant for child pornography. The Second Circuit has stated that a "crime allegedly involv[ing] the sexual abuse of a minor, [does] not relate to child pornography.... That the law criminalizes both child pornography and the sexual abuse (or endangerment) of children cannot be enough."
The Eighth Circuit, however, has rejected the reasoning of Falso and Hodson, stating "[t]here is an intuitive relationship between acts such as child molestation or enticement and possession of child pornography." United States v. Colbert, 605 F.3d 573, 578 (8th Cir.2010). The affidavit in Colbert, however, did include evidence that the accused had enticed a child to come to his apartment. Id. at 577.
Ultimately, the question of probable cause is "not readily, or even usefully, reduced to a neat set of legal rules." Gates, 462 U.S. at 232, 103 S.Ct. 2317. Thus, while the "totality of circumstances" could, in some instances, allow us to find probable cause to search for child pornography, Officer Bobkiewicz's conclusory statement tying this "subject," alleged to have molested two children and looked inappropriately at others, to "having in [his] possession child pornography" is insufficient to create probable cause here.
"A police officer is not entitled to qualified immunity if: (1) the facts show that the officers conduct violated a plaintiff's constitutional rights; and (2) those rights were clearly established at the time
Qualified immunity does not shield municipalities from liability. Owen v. City of Independence, 445 U.S. 622, 657, 100 S.Ct. 1398, 63 L.Ed.2d 673 (1980). However, we "may affirm the district court's dismissal on any ground supported by the record." Wolfe v. Strankman, 392 F.3d 358, 362 (9th Cir.2004). Under Twombly, the Complaint does not state a plausible cause of action for either municipal or supervisory liability.
A government entity may not be held liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, unless a policy, practice, or custom of the entity can be shown to be a moving force behind a violation of constitutional rights. Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs. of the City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978). In order to establish liability for governmental entities under Monell, a plaintiff must prove "(1) that [the plaintiff] possessed a constitutional right of which [s]he was deprived; (2) that the municipality had a policy; (3) that this policy amounts to deliberate indifference to the plaintiff's constitutional right; and, (4) that the policy is the moving force behind the constitutional violation." Plumeau v. Sch. Dist. No. 40 Cnty. of Yamhill, 130 F.3d 432, 438 (9th Cir. 1997) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted; alterations in original).
Failure to train may amount to a policy of "deliberate indifference," if the need to train was obvious and the failure to do so made a violation of constitutional rights likely. City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 390, 109 S.Ct. 1197, 103 L.Ed.2d 412 (1989). Similarly, a failure to supervise that is "sufficiently inadequate" may amount to "deliberate indifference." Davis v. City of Ellensburg, 869 F.2d 1230, 1235 (9th Cir.1989). Mere negligence in training or supervision, however, does not give rise to a Monell claim. Id.
Here, Dougherty's Monell and supervisory liability claims lack any factual allegations that would separate them from the "formulaic recitation of a cause of action's elements" deemed insufficient by Twombly. See 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. Regarding the Monell claim, Dougherty alleged only that (1) "Defendant CITY's policies and/or customs caused the specific violations of Plaintiff's constitutional rights at issue in this case[ ]" and (2) "Defendant CITY's polices and/or customs were the moving force and/or affirmative link behind the violation of the Plaintiff's constitutional rights and injury, damage and/or harm caused thereby." The Complaint lacked any factual allegations regarding key elements of the Monell claims, or, more specifically, any facts demonstrating that his constitutional deprivation
Dougherty briefly argues that he should have been allowed leave to amend. As we stated in Albrecht v. Lund:
845 F.2d 193, 195 (9th Cir.), modified, 856 F.2d 111 (9th Cir.1988) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). In Albrecht we determined that amendment would be futile, because "Albrecht's claim of undue influence as an alternative basis for these counts is groundless. For example, Albrecht does not allege that Lund exercised excessive strength or that he was a dominant subject and Albrecht was a servient subject." Id. at 196 n. 1. Just as in Albrecht, Dougherty failed to allege any facts demonstrating that his constitutional deprivation was the result of a custom or practice of the City of Covina or that the custom or practice was the "moving force" behind his constitutional deprivation. Dougherty could have identified any such fact in his briefing or argument before us, but he did not. Thus, because we must conclude that amendment would be futile, we affirm the district court's dismissal with prejudice of the Monell and supervisory liability claims, because amendment would be futile. Id. at 195.
Dougherty apparently does not appeal the district court's ruling on whether the search was executed lawfully. He does not include this issue in his statement of issues and makes no argument as to this issue in his Opening Brief. Accordingly, it is not before us.
AFFIRMED.
BREWSTER, Judge, concurring in the judgment:
I conclude the search warrant was supported by probable cause. United States v. Gourde, 440 F.3d 1065 (9th Cir.2006) (en banc). I accord more deference to the independent judgment of the magistrate judge and to the experience and training of the investigating officer. Based upon Officer Bobkiewicz's specific training and experience in the field of sex crimes against children, the facts presented led him to conclude that an individual who molests children probably possesses child pornography. I agree with the Eighth Circuit's analysis in United States v. Colbert, 605 F.3d 573, 578 (8th Cir.2010), that it is a common sense leap that an adult male, who teaches sixth graders, engaged in this type of inappropriate conduct would likely possess child pornography. Accord United States v. Byrd, 31 F.3d 1329, 1340 (5th Cir.1994); United States v. Houston, 754 F.Supp.2d 1059, 1062-64 & n. 1 (D.S.D. 2010); see also Osborne v. Ohio, 495 U.S. 103, 111 n. 7, 110 S.Ct. 1691, 109 L.Ed.2d 98 (1990). Dougherty's pattern of affirmative misconduct with several sixth grade students is closely related to an interest in looking at sexual images of minors. The facts suggested to Officer Bobkiewicz, a highly trained and experienced "Sex
Although I disagree with the probable cause analysis, I concur that the police officers are entitled to qualified immunity. Accordingly, my position would not alter the outcome of this case.