Opinion ID: 2554473
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Remedial Conduct

Text: [¶ 17] The remaining question, then, is whether the detective effectively remedied any constitutional infirmity by promptly correcting himself. Dodge was made aware of the nonprivate nature of the conversation through the detective's immediate and complete explanation. Indeed, Dodge acknowledged that he understood their conversation would not be kept private. Although the trial court acknowledged the thoroughness of the detective's warning, it concluded nonetheless that any statements made after the initial misstatement were not free of the taint created by the initial inducement. Accordingly, we consider whether the detective's attempt to remedy any misimpression of confidentiality effectively cured the taint created by the detective's earlier misstatement. [¶ 18] A false police assurance of confidentiality in a noncustodial setting may result in suppression if not promptly remedied. See McConkie, 2000 ME 158, ¶ 11, 755 A.2d at 1078-79; see also United States v. Walton, 10 F.3d 1024, 1027, 1030 (3d Cir.1993) (holding that an individual's statements were involuntary in a noncustodial setting when a police officer familiar with the defendant told him that he could speak off the cuff and where the police misled the defendant concerning confidentiality). Neither we nor other jurisdictions have adopted a bright line rule of suppression when, after an indication of confidentiality, the police promptly and thoroughly remedy that false assurance of confidentiality, and we have not foreclosed the possibility that the police may remedy such an inaccurate assurance. See McConkie, 2000 ME 158, ¶ 11, 755 A.2d at 1078-79; cf. United States v. Conley, 859 F.Supp. 830, 837 (W.D.Pa.1994) (stating, in the context of a noncustodial interrogation, that [o]nce coercion infects the dynamic of the investigative process, the process is tainted until the circumstances have evolved in such a manner as to dissipate or attenuate the taint of the coercion). [8] [¶ 19] In the matter before us, there was no evidence of deliberate police conduct designed to mislead Dodge regarding his constitutionally protected right against self-incrimination. Rather, there was affirmative police conduct to quickly remedy any misimpression following the detective's one-word response to Dodge's question. At the point of the detective's clarification, Dodge had not admitted to criminal conduct, had made only a brief statement regarding his personal use of marijuana, and had not in any way signaled that he had supplied his underage sister-in-law with drugs. See 22 M.R.S. § 2383(1)(A) (2009) (establishing that possession of a useable amount of marijuana is a civil violation). [9] Moreover, the court confirmed that Dodge responded to the detective's clarification that there were no secrets between them by stating, I understand that. Dodge even told the detective, I don't care, when reminded again that his statements were not confidential. Thus, as would be true regarding Miranda warnings in a custodial setting, the detective's initial misstatement in this noncustodial setting did not render inadmissible Dodge's later statements. [¶ 20] Perhaps most importantly, the purposes of suppression would not be served by excluding Dodge's statements made after he was aware that his conversation would not be kept private. Suppression would not vindicate Dodge's mental freedom because Dodge explicitly stated that he knew and accepted that his statements to the detective were not confidential. See Mikulewicz, 462 A.2d at 500. Further, suppression would not discourage[] objectionable police practices, id., because the detective did a good job of rectifying the initial assurance of confidentiality. In these circumstances, we conclude that the admission of Dodge's statements made after the detective remedied his initial mistaken representation would not undermine a quality of fundamental fairness in the criminal justice system. Id. [¶ 21] Accordingly, we conclude, contrary to the trial court, that the initial police misstatement did not taint the remaining confession. The entry is: Order suppressing statements made before the detective's correction affirmed. Order suppressing statements made following the detective's clarification vacated. Remanded to the Superior Court for further proceedings.