Case Title: State v. Wilson

Citation: 215 Kan. 28, 523 P.2d 337

Docket Number: 47,258

State: kansas

Court: Kansas Supreme Court

Date: 1974-06-15T00:00:00Z

Document:
215 Kan. 28 (1974)
523 P.2d 337
STATE OF KANSAS, Appellee,
v.
ALBERT WILSON, Appellant.
No. 47,258

Supreme Court of Kansas.
Opinion filed June 15, 1974.
Rodney H. Busey, of Arvin, Arvin and Busey, Chartered, of Wichita, argued the cause and was on the brief for the appellant.
Larry D. Kirby, Assistant District Attorney, argued the cause, and Vern Miller, Attorney General, Keith Sanborn, District Attorney, and Clifford L. Bertholf, Assistant District Attorney, were with him on the brief for the appellee.
The opinion of the court was delivered by
KAUL, J.:
The defendant, Albert L. Wilson, appeals from convictions of aggravated assault (K.S.A. 1973 Supp. 21-3410) and felony possession of a firearm (K.S.A. 1973 Supp. 21-4204).
The charges against defendant stemmed from an altercation and shooting incident which occurred in and nearby the Carriage Inn Tavern in Wichita during the evening of June 9, 1972.
*29 The evidence established that Joy Currie, employed as a barmaid at the tavern, was an acquaintance of officer Breedlove of the Wichita Police Department. During the evening in question defendant made an appearance at the tavern which caused Joy Currie to believe trouble would ensue. After defendant left the tavern Joy Currie telephoned officer Breedlove who was off-duty at the time. Breedlove, out of uniform, arrived at the tavern shortly after 11 p.m. Soon after Breedlove's arrival, defendant made a second appearance at the tavern and was pointed out to Breedlove by Joy. Breedlove proceeded to a telephone in the rear of the tavern to call the police department. As Breedlove was dialing defendant approached and pointed a gun at him. Ensuing events are described by Breedlove in his testimony which is narrated as follows:
Three days later, on June 12, 1972, defendant was arrested at his house by Sergeant Nelson and Captain Williamson of the police department. His rights, as delineated in Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694, 86 S. Ct. 1602, were immediately read to defendant from a typed card and when asked if he understood defendant replied in the affirmative. In a close sequence of events following his arrest defendant inquired whether the officers had a *30 search warrant and, further, whether there would be a "head knocking over this deal with the cop." After the officers and defendant were seated in the police car a conversation took place relating to defendant's gun. In this connection, Captain Williamson's testimony appears in the record as follows:
Defendant was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer under K.S.A. 1973 Supp. 21-3411. Apparently, because officer Breedlove was not in uniform at the time, defendant was convicted of aggravated assault under K.S.A. 1973 Supp. 21-3410. With one exception mentioned hereafter, the instructions submitted by the trial court are not included in the record on appeal.
Defendant briefs and argues three points on appeal. He first contends the trial court erred in admitting the statements made to the arresting officers concerning the whereabouts of his gun. The trial court first heard evidence relating to the matter outside the presence of the jury and determined defendant's statements were admissible. Thereafter, the officers were allowed to testify in the presence of the jury. Defendant admits the Miranda warning was given and acknowledged by him prior to his inculpatory statements. Defendant's argument seems to be that the arresting officers should have done more than merely give him the Miranda warning and should have asked him specifically if he wanted to exercise any of his rights after the warning had been given. This argument is untenable. Defendant gave an unequivocal "Yes" response when asked if he understood his rights. He makes no claim that he was coerced or that his statements that the gun was in the river were given otherwise than voluntarily.
Defendant further argues that his questions concerning a search warrant should be interpreted as an attempt to invoke his right to remain silent. We see no basis for arriving at defendant's suggested conclusion. The statements concerning the whereabouts of the *31 gun came about in the course of a conversation between defendant and the arresting officers and, as we read the record, were a part of a continuing chain of conversation freely and intelligently entered into by defendant. The statements in question are in context quite similar to defendant's statements found to be admissible in State v. Porter, 201 Kan. 778, 443 P.2d 360, cert. den. 393 U.S. 1108, 21 L. Ed. 2d 805, 89 S. Ct. 919. In Porter the arresting officers advised the defendant prior to the giving of any Miranda warning that they had come for his pistol, the defendant's response was "You can't have my pistol." Porter's exclamation was considered in the light of the Miranda decision and even though Porter had been given no warning at the time, we held:
Concerning the admissibility of spontaneous statements we would further direct attention to our decisions in State v. Miles, 213 Kan. 245, 515 P.2d 742; State v. Hill, 211 Kan. 239, 505 P.2d 704; and State v. Law, 203 Kan. 89, 452 P.2d 862.
The record discloses the trial court carefully considered the circumstances under which defendant uttered the statements in question. In this connection we said in State v. Melton, 207 Kan. 700, 486 P.2d 1361:
We held in Melton that if there is substantial competent evidence to support the trial court's finding in this regard such findings will not be disturbed on appellate review.
In the instant case we believe the statements in question must be considered as spontaneous and, furthermore, there is competent evidence to support a finding that defendant had voluntarily and intelligently waived his rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
Defendant claims error in the admission of evidence of a previous felony conviction of burglary and larceny. The trial court admitted the testimony on the basis that it went to prove the firearm possession count. Defendant, prior to trial, offered to stipulate that he had a previous felony conviction and presented a motion to the trial court that the prosecuting attorney be restrained from *32 submitting evidence pertaining thereto. The prosecuting attorney refused to so stipulate and insisted on presenting the evidence. Defendant claims reversible error in this regard. The state responds that there is no law that requires any party to stipulate to any fact in a lawsuit and, further, that even though the stipulation had been entered into, the fact of a prior conviction had to be presented to the jury since it was a necessary element of the firearm offense defined in K.S.A. 1973 Supp. 21-4204. This court has often held that evidence otherwise relevant in a criminal prosecution is not rendered inadmissible simply because it may show a crime other than that charged. (State v. Calvert, 211 Kan. 174, 505 P.2d 1110; State v. Pierce, et al., 208 Kan. 19, 490 P.2d 584; and State v. Crowe, 207 Kan. 473, 486 P.2d 503.) It is an established rule of law that an admission by a defendant does not prevent the state from presenting separate and independent proof of the fact admitted. (Bizup v. People, 150 Colo. 214, 371 P.2d 786, cert. den. 371 U.S. 873, 9 L. Ed. 2d 112, 83 S. Ct. 114; and Parr v. United States [5th Cir.1958], 255 F.2d 86, cert. den. 358 U.S. 824, 3 L. Ed. 2d 64, 79 S. Ct. 40.)
The prevailing rule in this regard is stated in Wharton's Criminal Evidence [12th Ed. 1972 Cumulative Supp.], Confessions and Admissions, § 399:
To the same effect the rule is stated in 31A C.J.S., Evidence, § 299:
In the recent criminal case of Arrington v. State, (Fla. 1970), 233 So. 2d 634, the Supreme Court of Florida pointed out that an offer to stipulate remains merely an offer unless accepted by the prosecution. The Florida court declared its position on the subject by adopting language quoted from The People v. Speck, 41 Ill. 2d 177, 242 N.E.2d 208, as follows:
*33 See, also, The People v. Scheck, 356 Ill. 56, 190 N.E. 108, 91 A.L.R. 1472, and 73 Am.Jur.2d, Stipulations, § 18, p. 557.
Finally, defendant makes a technical objection to the trial court's instruction pertaining to the scope of the jury's consideration of evidence of a previous conviction. In this connection the record reflects that the state, rather than the defendant, objected to the instruction as it was given at the trial. The state's objection was based on the ground that the instruction limited jury consideration of the previous conviction to the firearm possession count. The state contended the instruction should have been broadened to allow the jury to consider the evidence for purposes enumerated in K.S.A. 60-455. Defendant's counsel insisted the instruction be submitted as drafted by the trial court. Under such circumstances, defendant is foreclosed from changing his position and challenging the instruction for the first time on appeal. (State v. Little, 201 Kan. 94, 439 P.2d 387.)
The judgment is affirmed.