Opinion ID: 504895
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Four Factor Test

Text: 8 This circuit has considered four factors on a case-by-case basis to determine whether a person is in custody. These factors are (1) whether there was probable cause to arrest the defendant, (2) whether the investigation was focused on the defendant at the time of interrogation, (3) whether the law enforcement officer had a subjective intent to hold the defendant, and (4) whether the defendant subjectively believed that her freedom was significantly restricted. 4 Custody did not require the presence of all factors, 5 but more than one factor had to be present. 6 9 The district court held that Bengivenga was not in custody under this four factor test. First, the district court concluded that probable cause to arrest did not arise until after Bengivenga produced the baggage claim stubs and Agent Ramos matched them to the suitcases. Second, the district court found that the agents subjectively intended to restrict Bengivenga's freedom of movement for only a limited and brief investigation of suspicious circumstances. Third, Bengivenga did not testify at the suppression hearing. The district court also found that the objective facts did not support an inference that Bengivenga believed she was in custody. Finally, although the investigation had focused upon Bengivenga and her companion, the district court held that this factor alone was insufficient to render the interrogation custodial. 10 On appeal, the panel held that Bengivenga was in custody before being questioned in the trailer because the agents, in addition to having focused their investigation on the women, had probable cause to arrest. United States v. Bengivenga, 811 F.2d 853, 855 (5th Cir.1987). The panel, unlike this en banc court, was constrained by our past precedent. For the following reasons, we conclude that our four factor custody test is no longer compatible with Supreme Court precedent and must be abandoned in favor of the analysis we adopt today.