Opinion ID: 1788190
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Hammons's statement at booking.

Text: ¶ 15. Prior to trial, Hammons moved to suppress his statement during the booking process at the Harrison County Detention Center. He argues that the statement was made without Miranda warnings and should have been inadmissible. The trial court held a hearing on this motion, wherein Officers Glenn Courier, Ken VanAlstyne, and Mike Neill testified to the incriminating statement made by Hammons. Officers Courier and VanAlstyne testified that they presented the appropriate paperwork to the booking officer, Neill. Hammons was with them at the time they presented the paperwork to the booking officer so that he could be booked into the jail facility. While Officer Neill was reviewing the documents, he noticed that there was a number 2 listed next to the homicide charge. Neill then asked Officer VanAlstyne if Hammons was being charged with two homicide counts. At this point, Hammons then said he had only shot one person. Hammons argues that the trial court erred in admitting this statement into evidence. ¶ 16. When the trial court resolves the issue of admissibility of a confession against a defendant, the scope of review of that decision is limited. Miller v. State, 740 So.2d 858, 866 (Miss.1999). So long as the court applies the correct legal standards, we will not overturn a finding of fact made by a trial judge unless it be clearly erroneous or contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Where, on conflicting evidence, the lower court admits a statement into evidence this Court generally must affirm. Id. at 867. ¶ 17. Whether Hammons's Miranda rights were violated depends on whether he was in custody and being interrogated. Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 300-01, 100 S.Ct. 1682, 64 L.Ed.2d 297 (1980); Greenlee v. State, 725 So.2d 816, 825 (Miss.1998). A person's Miranda rights are not triggered by general on-the-scene questioning and/or any voluntary statement. Greenlee, 725 So.2d at 825. This Court has stated the following with respects to the burden of proof the State has in proving that a confession was given voluntarily: The State has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that any confession given, was given voluntarily. Haymer v. State, 613 So.2d 837, 839 (Miss.1993). The State can make a prima facie case that it has met this burden through, testimony of an officer, or other persons having knowledge of the facts, that the confession was voluntarily made without any threats, coercion, or offer of reward. Cox v. State, 586 So.2d 761, 763 (Miss.1991). When the prima facie case is made, it is up to the defendant to present evidence to rebut the State's argument. Cox, 586 So.2d at 763. Miller, 740 So.2d at 867. ¶ 18. Here, the State presented ample evidence that the statement made by Hammons was voluntary and was not in response to express questioning or its functional equivalent. Hammons was not being asked any questions. He was simply present in the booking room when Neill and VanAlstyne were having a discussion about paperwork in order to book him. Hammons voluntarily responded to a question that was posed to VanAlstyne by Neill, of how many charges of homicide were being filed against Hammons. Hammons independently volunteered the information that he had only shot one person, without compulsion or coercion. Finding that the judge did not err in denying Hammons's motion to suppress this statement, this issue is without merit.