S.CT. Crim. No.: 2008-091

The appellee, Tydel John ("John"), was a sixth grade teacher at a Virgin Islands elementary school. After several of John's female students alerted school officials that John had inappropriately touched them, the officials notified police about the reports. Virgin Islands Police Officer Naomi Joseph ("Officer Joseph") investigated the allegations. As a result of the investigation, the People of the Virgin Islands charged John with eight counts of first degree unlawful sexual contact,1 three counts of first degree aggravated rape,2 seven counts of child abuse,3 and two counts of child neglect.4 In addition, Officer Joseph applied for a warrant to search John's home for evidence purportedly related to the alleged offenses. The search yielded, among other items, ten notebooks in which John allegedly chronicled his exploitation of young girls. John moved to suppress evidence of the ten notebooks seized during the search, arguing that the warrant was not supported by probable cause. The trial court granted John's motion, and the People filed this appeal. For the reasons which follow, we will affirm the trial court's order suppressing the notebooks seized under the warrant.