Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Christopher J. REBSTOCK
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1982-06-21
Citations: 418 So. 2d 1306
Docket Number: No. 82-K-0910
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Christopher J. REBSTOCK.
Judges: MARCUS, J., dissents in part and concurs in part and assigns reasons.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 418
Pages: 1306–1311

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Christopher J. REBSTOCK.
No. 82-K-0910.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
June 21, 1982.
Rehearing Denied Sept. 17, 1982.
Jacob J. Amato, Jr., Gretna, for defendant-relator.
William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., John M. Mam-oulides, Dist. Atty., for plaintiff-respondent.

Opinion:
WATSON, Justice.
Defendant, Christopher J. Rebstock, a sixteen year old juvenile, is charged with the second degree murder of twelve year old Lara Deutsch. LSA-R.S. 14:30.1. The trial court denied a motion to suppress his confessions, and a writ was granted to review the ruling. 413 So.2d 510 (La., 1982).
FACTS
On January 10, 1982, Detectives Buras and Hiddings of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's office were investigating the murder of Lara Deutsch. She had not returned home after visiting the Rebstocks' residence. An obscene phone call about a dead girl had also been traced to that residence. The victim's family gave information which focused the investigation on Christopher Rebstock. He was the prime suspect. About 4:00 o'clock on January 11, the two detectives went to the Rebstock residence. Earl Rebstock answered the door. He and his wife had been up all night because of Lara, a close friend of their daughter. Both were described as being in a state of shock. The detectives said they had evidence leading toward Christopher and wanted to question him.
Earl Rebstock said he mentioned calling attorney Bob Evans, a neighbor, but was told legal help would entail search warrants, subpoenas and an "ugly scene". (Tr. 99) Also, according to Rebstock, one detective said: "Mr. Evans does not do that kind of work. He works for the Parish at this time." (Tr. 99) Although Rebstock said the detectives discouraged him from calling a lawyer, he admitted that he could have called one anyway. Detectives Buras and Hiddings said neither the idea of an attorney nor the name of Bob Evans was mentioned.
Mr. and Mrs. Rebstock and their son rode to the detective bureau in Hiddings' police car. Earl Rebstock testified that they had no choice in the matter and had to go with the officers. He "... did not think that there was any option. . " (Tr. 116) Neither officer advised the Rebstocks of their constitutional rights or informed them that they could refuse to go to the detective bureau.
When they arrived, Christopher was placed alone in Biddings' office, and the officers informed Mr. and Mrs. Rebstock of the information incriminating Christopher. Mr. Rebstock started crying and Mrs. Ann Rebstock became too hysterical to stay in the building. She went outside with Lieutenant Claverie. Ann Rebstock had not realized until then that her son was a suspect. She said her son seemed almost "in a transe (sic)" that day. (Tr. 147) Detectives Buras and Hiddings ¡testified that Mr. Reb-stock requested a private conversation with Christopher, while Mr. Rebstock testified that the officers suggested he talk to his son.
After a short time alone with his son, Mr. Rebstock emerged from the office and stated: "He just told me he killed Laura [Lara]." (Tr. 77) Christopher was formally placed under arrest for murder.
Mr. Rebstock and Christopher agreed that Christopher would give a statement. Detective Buras started reading a rights form to Christopher and his father at 5:30 P.M. Although Christopher signed an ac-knowledgement that he had read his rights, he refused to sign a waiver of those rights. His father would not let him sign that part of the form, because "... his son did not know what he was doing." (Tr. 73)
Christopher went to a psychologist at one time because of school trouble. At the police station, he told his father:
"... 'You know, dad, I can't go back to De LaSalle. You know, I am going to have to go to school somewhere else.' ." (Tr. 125)
Earl Rebstock did not think his son understood the enormity of the situation. Despite Christopher's failure to waive his rights, a recorded confession was taken on the advice of Lieutenant Claverie. The statement began at 5:46 P.M.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE
Defendant contends that he was arrested when the officers brought him to the detective bureau; that the illegal arrest was made without probable cause or a warrant; and that all evidence obtained as a result is tainted.
A confession or inculpatory statement, which is the direct result of an illegal arrest, should be suppressed. Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 83 S.Ct. 407, 9 L.Ed. 441 (1963); State v. Edwards, 375 So.2d 1365 (La., 1979); and State v. Giovanni, 375 So.2d 1360 (La., 1979).
At the latest, Christopher Reb-stock was under arrest when he was placed in Hiddings' office. He remained there alone for approximately forty-five minutes. Christopher could not reasonably have believed himself free to leave the police station. State v. Menne, 380 So.2d 14 (La., 1980). He was effectively deprived of his freedom of action. State v. Giovanni, supra. Compare Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 97 S.Ct. 711, 50 L.Ed.2d 714 (1977). The investigation had focused on Christopher and he was in custody. However, there was probable cause for the arrest. It was not illegal. LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 213(3).
This assignment lacks merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER TWO
As argued in this assignment, the trial court clearly erred, perhaps inadvertently, in finding that Miranda rights were given at the Rebstock home prior to the trip to the detective bureau. Defendant was not informed of his constitutional rights until after he had been formally placed under arrest.
This assignment has merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER THREE
It is contended that questioning of Christopher should have ceased when Mr. Rebstock spoke of calling a lawyer on behalf of his son. Interrogation must cease when an attorney is requested. State v. Rodrigue, 409 So.2d 556 (La., 1982); Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 101 S.Ct. 1880, 68 L.Ed.2d 378 (1981).
The trial court made a factual finding that there was no request for counsel. The evidence was conflicting and the trial court's factual finding has support. The trial court did not err in finding that counsel was not requested.
This assignment lacks merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER FOUR'
This assignment concerns the admissibility of the inculpatory statement made by Christopher to his father, before Christopher was advised of his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). Counsel for defendant argues that the questioning by the father as an agent of the police violated the son's constitutional rights.
Regardless of who suggested the encounter between Christopher and his father, Earl Rebstock voluntarily undertook to question his son. There is no question that Christopher was his primary concern. Although Christopher was in custody at the time of the conversation, the police had not yet talked to him. The brief conversation with his father was not an extension of police interrogation. "'Interrogation', as conceptualized in the Miranda opinion, must reflect a measure of compulsion about and beyond that inherent in custody itself". Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291 at 300, 100 S.Ct. 1682 at 1689, 64 L.Ed.2d 297 at 307. Since Christopher and his father had a short private conversation, free from the presence of the police, he was not subjected to interrogation as defined in Miranda, supra. State v. Rodgers, 251 La. 953, 207 So.2d 755 (1968). The statement is admissible.
This assignment lacks merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER FIVE
The question raised by this assignment is whether Christopher waived his constitutional rights before making his recorded confession.
The prosecution has the burden of proving that a defendant has waived his constitutional rights. Tague v. Louisiana, 444 U.S. 469, 100 S.Ct. 652, 62 L.Ed.2d 622 (1980). An implicit waiver can suffice. North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. 369, 99 S.Ct. 1755, 60 L.Ed.2d 286 (1979).
Christopher did not confer privately with his father after being advised of his rights. State in the Interest of Dino, 359 So.2d 586 (La., 1978) requires a "meaningful consultation", 359 So.2d 594, and it is doubtful that one took place here. Christopher confessed his commission of the crime, but, on the advice of his father, expressly refused to waive his constitutional rights. Compare State v. Hudson, 404 So.2d 460 (La., 1981) where the juvenile signed a waiver of his rights.
". . Miranda v. Arizona clearly stated the principles that govern once the required warnings have been given.
" 'If the interrogation continues without the presence of an attorney and a statement is taken, a heavy burden rests on the government to demonstrate that the defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his privilege against self-incrimination and his right to retained or appointed counsel. Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 490, n.14, 84 S.Ct. 1758, 1764, 12 L.Ed.2d 977. This Court has always set high standards of proof for the waiver of constitutional rights, Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938),...' 384 U.S. 436, 475, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 1628, 16 L.Ed.2d 694." Tague v. Louisiana, 444 U.S. at 470, 100 S.Ct. at 653, 62 L.Ed.2d at 625 (1980).
Despite the lack of a written waiver, proof of the waiver of constitutional rights can be established by other evidence. State v. Lewis, 315 So.2d 626 (La., 1975). However, "[T]he courts must presume that a defendant did not waive his rights; the prosecution's burden is great." North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. at 373, 99 S.Ct. at 1757, 60 L.Ed.2d at 292 (1979).
Christopher acknowledged in his confession that he had been advised of his rights but never stated that he waived those rights. A defendant must understand his rights before a waiver can be inferred. North Carolina v. Butler, supra. There is no evidence that Christopher had the requisite understanding and that there was an implied waiver. The state failed to carry its burden of proving that there was a knowing and intelligent waiver of Christopher's constitutional rights. State v. Brown, 384 So.2d 425 (La., 1980); Dino, supra. The recorded confession must be suppressed.
This assignment has merit.
For the foregoing reasons the ruling of the trial court is affirmed as to Christopher's inculpatory statement to his father. The trial court's ruling on the motion to suppress Christopher's recorded confession is reversed and the matter is remanded for further proceedings.
AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; AND REMANDED.
MARCUS, J., dissents in part and concurs in part and assigns reasons.
BLANCHE, J., dissents and assigns reasons.
LEMMON, J., dissents and will assigns reasons.
. The caller allegedly related that he was having sex with a dead girl, and that he had cut her up and put her in a plastic bag.
. The officers testified that Christopher could have remained at his home but did not say he would have been allowed to leave Hiddings' office.