State v. Texter

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed a Superior Court finding that Eugene C. Texter violated the conditions of his probation following an alleged sexual assault. The court held that Texter waived challenges to the lawfulness of his detention and the seizure of evidence, and that the hearing justice’s finding was supported by reasonably satisfactory evidence and was not arbitrary or capricious.

Holdings

1. The Court would not consider defendant's challenge to the lawfulness of his detention or the seizure of evidence because he did not raise the issue in the Superior Court and expressly agreed to admission of the evidence.
2. The exclusionary rule does not apply to probation-violation proceedings.
3. The hearing justice did not act arbitrarily or capriciously in finding that defendant violated the good-behavior conditions of his probation.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Supreme Court could consider defendant's claim that his continued detention and the resulting seizure of evidence were unlawful when the issue was not raised below and the evidence was admitted without objection.
2. Whether the exclusionary rule applies in a probation-violation proceeding.
3. Whether the hearing justice acted arbitrarily or capriciously in finding that defendant violated the conditions of his probation.

Disposition

affirmed