Russell A. Patterson v. A. L. Lockhart, Superintendent, Cummins Unit, Arkansas Department of Correction

This is an appeal from the denial of a writ of habeas corpus sought by an Arkansas state prisoner. The petitioner Russell A. Patterson was convicted in an Arkansas state court of possession of stolen property and his conviction was upheld by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Patterson v. State, 253 Ark. 393, 486 S.W.2d 19 (1972). He based his claim for habeas relief on alleged constitutional deficiencies in the proceedings against him: (1) that the search of his farm house which produced the stolen property entered in evidence against him was illegal since the affidavit upon which the search…