Case Name: Willie MANSFIELD and Tommie Louis Harris, Appellants, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee; Willie MANSFIELD, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1976-06-15
Citations: 338 So. 2d 857
Docket Number: Nos. 75-1330, 75-1485 and 75-1331
Parties: Willie MANSFIELD and Tommie Louis Harris, Appellants, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee. Willie MANSFIELD, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: Before PEARSON, HAVERFIELD and NATHAN, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 338
Pages: 857–859

Head Matter:
Willie MANSFIELD and Tommie Louis Harris, Appellants, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee. Willie MANSFIELD, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Nos. 75-1330, 75-1485 and 75-1331.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
June 15, 1976.
Rehearing Denied Nov. 2, 1976.
Phillip A. Hubbart, Public Defender, and Paul Morris, Asst. Public Defender, for appellants.
Robert L. Shevin, Atty. Gen., and Linda C. Hertz, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Ann Bradley, Legal Intern, for appellee.
Before PEARSON, HAVERFIELD and NATHAN, JJ.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Willie Mansfield and Tommie Harris seek reversal of their convictions for trespass and grand larceny. Mansfield also appeals his revocation of probation.
In response to a silent burglar alarm, the police surrounded Douglas Freight Salvage warehouse and began a search of the building. Harris was found hiding in a clothing drawer and Mansfield hiding in a refrigerator. The two were informed against for breaking and entering with intent to commit grand larceny, and grand larceny. They were tried together and the jury found them guilty of trespass (as a lesser included offense of breaking and entering), and grand larceny. A revocation hearing was then held on Mansfield's prior probation. Whereupon, the court found him to be in violation of his probation, entered an order of revocation and imposed a three-year sentence.
Defendants urge as reversible error the denial of their motion for mistrial where one of the police officers testified that Harris exercised his right to remain silent during a police interrogation thereby violating both defendants' privilege against self-incrimination based upon the following colloquy:
"Q Did you have occasion to speak with either one of these defendants after this?
"A Yes, sir.
"I began the interview with Tommie Harris first, and he said he knew his constitutional rights but that he didn't want to talk to me then and he was going to wait and talk to a lawyer first.
"So, at this point, I terminated the interview with him and those were the only questions that he answered.
"MR. FLYNN: I move to strike the answer. I move for a mistrial.
"THE COURT: The objection is sustained. The motion is denied."
Bennett v. State, Fla.1975, 316 So.2d 41 holds that any comment upon the defendant standing mute or refusing to testify in the face of an accusation is fundamental error requiring a new trial. This principle of law does not apply here as Harris' statement was not made in the face of accusation. Harris voluntarily made the statement, after he was given Miranda warnings, that he knew his constitutional rights but didn't want to talk. Thereupon the questioning terminated and no effort was made by the officer to confront him with any accusation of guilt or any incriminating evidence. Cf. State v. Flanagan, 443 S.W.2d 25 (1969).
If there was error, the error was harmless as the evidence of guilt was overwhelming and we are satisfied that the above testimony did not contribute to the conviction of the defendants. See Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967); Bennett v. State, supra, at 44.
Mansfield's contention that the order revoking his probation was erroneous lacks merit.
Affirmed.