Possible IP Spoofing Did Not Destroy Probable Cause

Evidence obtained through a child pornography investigation related to the search of a computer associated with an offending internet protocol address was admissible at trial because the search was conducted pursuant to a valid warrant, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled May 14 in an opinion designated as unpublished (United States v. Latham).

The possibility of IP address “spoofing” did not undermine the affidavit supporting the warrant, the court held. “Spoofing” software allows internet users to make it appear as if they are using a different router than their own to access the internet, the court noted.

The ...