Hampton v. United States (1970) is a lesser-known Supreme Court case that dealt with the admissibility of evidence obtained through a warrantless search. In this case, the defendant, Hampton, was arrested and charged with transporting stolen goods across state lines. The arrest was based on information obtained by an FBI agent during a warrantless search of a warehouse where the stolen goods were stored.
The main issue in Hampton v. United States was whether the officer had probable cause to conduct the warrantless search of the warehouse. The Court found that the officer did have probable cause, based on the information available to him at the time of the search. The officer knew that the warehouse contained items that were recently stolen, and he had reason to believe that the defendant was involved in the theft.
The Court held that the warrantless search of the warehouse was justified because the officer had probable cause to believe that the stolen goods were inside the warehouse and that they would be moved or destroyed if he waited to obtain a warrant. The Court also noted that the officer's actions were reasonable, given the circumstances.
In summary, Hampton v. United States dealt with the admissibility of evidence obtained through a warrantless search based on probable cause. The Court held that the officer had probable cause to conduct the search and that the evidence obtained was admissible in court.