Johnson v. State

SEARS, Chief Justice.

We granted certiorari in this case to consider whether the Court of Appeals erred in holding that an officer’s entry into Johnson’s hotel room was lawful so that he could seize contraband found therein. For the reasons that follow, we affirm in part and reverse in part.

On March 30, 2005, Johnson was renting a room at a hotel in Lavonia, Georgia. Hotel guests complained to the manager that illegal activity was occurring in Johnson’s room and that a large number of people were coming and going from the room. The guests also expressed concern for their safety. The manager of…