Opinion ID: 1717911
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Confession suppression

Text: The inculpatory statement alluded to above was allegedly made in the presence of Deputy Sheriff Harris as well as Ms. Weindorf. Harris testified that he had read to Leshe a standard rights form, and Leshe had placed his initials beside each rights statement on the form and signed his name at the bottom. Like the form we criticised in Fleming v. State, 284 Ark. 307, 681 S.W.2d 390 (1984), the one used here contained no express waiver provision. Leshe moved to suppress on the ground that he had not waived his rights. In North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. 369, 99 S.Ct. 1755, 60 L.Ed.2d 286 (1979), the Supreme Court stated that the mere fact that a confession is eventually obtained from an incarcerated person does not conclusively show that he waived his right not to make it. The test remains, however, whether the evidence showed waiver under the totality of the circumstances, and we do not reverse unless the trial court's conclusion is clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. Burin v. State, 298 Ark. 611, 770 S.W.2d 125 (1989). The circumstances here suggest that the statement was made very shortly after Leshe was informed of his rights. Ms. Weindorf testified that Leshe was sober. There was no evidence of any sort of duress. We cannot say the trial court was wrong to refuse to suppress the statement. Reversed and remanded. BROWN, J., concurs.