Case Name: PEOPLE v. HOOPER
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1975-06-23
Citations: 62 Mich. App. 181
Docket Number: Docket No. 18524
Parties: PEOPLE v HOOPER
Judges: Before: V. J. Brennan, P. J., and J. H. Gillis and D. E. Holbrook, Jr., JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 62
Pages: 181–187

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v HOOPER
Opinion of the Court
1. Criminal Law — Trial—Motions—Prior Criminal Record — Evidence — Discretion—Record.
There is no merit to a claim that a trial judge committed reversible error by failing to exercise his discretion in denying a defendant’s pretrial motion to exclude reference to defendant’s prior criminal record where the record indicates that the trial judge did exercise his discretion in denying the motion.
2. Criminal Law — Walker Hearing — Request for Attorney- — Confession — Waiver.
A trial courts’ determination at a Walker hearing that a confession was voluntary and admissible, where the defendant had claimed to have requested an attorney at his initial incarceration but later signed a written confession and waiver of his rights, was not reversibly erroneous.
Dissent by D. E. Holbrook, Jr., J.
3. Criminal Law — Policemen—Jailers—Duty to Communicate— Request for Counsel — Agents—Notice.
A jailer who is a duly assigned member of the police department has the duty to communicate and document any pertinent information, requests, or actions of those in his custody to the department and other authorized agents who are involved with the cases of those incarcerated; notice to one policeman that a defendant wishes to obtain counsel is sufficient to bind the entire police department and its agents, and the defendant is not required to reassert his rights.
References for Points in Headnotes
75 Am Jur 2d, Trial §§ 863, 869.
29 Am Jur 2d, Evidence §§ 189, 638, 640.
21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law § 312 et seq.
29 Am Jur 2d, Evidence §§ 523-596.
4. Criminal Law — Questioning—Police—Custody—Request for Counsel.
Questioning initiated by law enforcement officers must cease until an attorney is present where the person questioned has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way and he has indicated in any manner and at any stage of the process that he wishes to consult with an attorney before speaking.
5. Criminal Law — Rights of Counsel — Statements of Defendant —Waiver—Burden of Proof.
A heavy burden rests on the government to demonstrate that a person knowingly and intelligently waived his privilege against self-incrimination and his right to retained or appointed counsel where, after the person states that he wants an attorney, questioning continues without the presence of an attorney and a statement is taken.
6. Criminal Law — Appeal and Error — Confession—Voluntariness.
It is the function of the appellate court to make an independent determination of the voluntariness of a confession admitted at trial.
Appeal from Kalamazoo, Donald T. Anderson, J. Submitted Division 3 January 6, 1975, at Grand Rapids.
(Docket No. 18524.)
Decided June 23, 1975.
Leave to appeal applied for and, by order of the Supreme Court, defendant’s conviction reversed and remanded for a new trial, 395 Mich —.
Leon Hooper was convicted of armed robbery. Defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, Donald A. Burge, Prosecuting Attorney, and Stephen M. Wheeler, Chief of Appellate Division, for the people.
Dennis H Benson, Assistant State Appellate Defender, for defendant.
Before: V. J. Brennan, P. J., and J. H. Gillis and D. E. Holbrook, Jr., JJ.

Opinion:
J. H. Gillis, J.
Defendant was found guilty by a jury of armed robbery. MCLA 750.529; MSA 28.797. He was sentenced on July 9, 1973, to a term of 8 to 20 years and appeals as a matter of right.
On appeal defendant asserts six assignments of error. We find that only two of these merit consideration. The other issues are controlled by the following cases: People v Henderson, 47 Mich App 53; 209 NW2d 326 (1973), People v Roberson, 55 Mich App 413; 222 NW2d 761 (1974), People v McShan, 53 Mich App 407; 219 NW2d 792 (1974), and People v Erb, 48 Mich App 622; 211 NW2d 51 (1973).
Defendant contends that the trial judge committed reversible error by failing to exercise his discretion in denying defendant's pretrial motion to exclude reference to defendant's prior criminal record. We have examined the record and determined that the trial judge did exercise his discretion in denying the motion. People v Jackson, 391 Mich 323; 217 NW2d 22 (1974).
Defendant also contends that the trial court erred in determining that defendant's confession was voluntary and admissible. The trial court conducted a Walker hearing on October 26, 1972, and ruled that the signed statement was voluntary and admissible. In addition, the court ruled admissible several other statements which defendant made to police officers subsequent to his arrest, and ruled inadmissible two other statements. We find no reversible error in the court's determination on this issue.
In a supplemental brief, defendant raised a seventh issue. This assignment of error is without merit in the light of People v Milton, 393 Mich 234; 224 NW2d 266 (1974).
Affirmed.