Opinion ID: 901459
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the confession was shown to be voluntary

Text: [¶ 14.] The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the admission into evidence, over objection, of a confession obtained through coercion. Payne v. State of Arkansas, 356 U.S. 560, 568, 78 S.Ct. 844, 850, 2 L.Ed.2d 975 (1958). Over a century ago, the United States Supreme Court pronounced that a confession cannot be obtained by any direct or implied promises, however slight, nor by the exertion of any improper influence. Bram v. United States, 168 U.S. 532, 542-43, 18 S.Ct. 183, 187, 42 L.Ed. 568 (1897). However, the Court later rejected a bright line rule in favor of a totality of the circumstances test. See Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 167, 107 S.Ct. 515, 522, 93 L.Ed.2d 473, 484 (1986). [¶ 15.] We have adopted the United States Supreme Court's totality of the circumstances test in determining whether a confession was involuntary. Tuttle, 2002 SD 94, ¶ 22, 650 N.W.2d at 31. The factual inquiry centers on (1) the conduct of law enforcement officials in creating pressure and (2) the suspect's capacity to resist that pressure. Id. (citing Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 399-401, 98 S.Ct. 2408, 2417-18, 57 L.Ed.2d 290, 304-06 (1978)). As to the second factor: we examine such concerns as the defendant's age; level of education and intelligence; the presence or absence of any advice to the defendant on constitutional rights; the length of detention; the repeated and prolonged nature of the questioning; the use of psychological pressure or physical punishment, such as deprivation of food or sleep; and the defendant's prior experience with law enforcement officers and the courts. Finally, deception or misrepresentation by the officer receiving the statement may also be factors for the trial court to consider; however, the police may use some psychological tactics in interrogating a suspect. Id. (internal citations and quotations omitted). Additionally, the coercion or improper conduct of law enforcement must be a direct cause of the confession. Id. ¶ 23, 650 N.W.2d at 31. [¶ 16.] In Tuttle, we held that a confession was involuntary where a police officer told the suspect that his report could be written to make things look good or he could write it up that [the suspect was] not cooperating, and [was] being a real jerk about it. Id. ¶ 25, 650 N.W.2d at 32. We concluded the suspect's confession was not the product of a rational intellect and a free will. Id. (quoting Blackburn v. Alabama, 361 U.S. 199, 208, 80 S.Ct. 274, 280, 4 L.Ed.2d 242, 249 (1960)). Tuttle concerned threats of adverse consequences if the suspect was not willing to cooperate. We did not have occasion to examine whether implied or express promises of leniency could render a confession involuntary. However, we did cite case law suggesting that promises to tell a prosecutor of cooperation may be permissible. Id. ¶ 26 (citing State v. Tapia, 159 Ariz. 284, 767 P.2d 5, 11 (Ariz.1988)). [¶ 17.] Other courts have addressed the issue of whether promises of leniency can render a confession involuntary. In State v. Rezk, the New Hampshire Supreme Court held that there was little distinction between threats of harsher punishment and promises of leniency. 150 N.H. 483, 840 A.2d 758, 764 (N.H.2004). The court noted a specific promise of leniency should the defendant confess is akin to a threat of harsher punishment should the defendant remain silent. Id. (citing Leach v. State, 311 Ark. 485, 845 S.W.2d 11, 13 (1993)). However, the court did acknowledge that general encouragement to cooperate or specific promises to merely recommend leniency are permissible. Id. (citing United States v. Harrison, 34 F.3d 886, 891 (9th Cir.1994)). [¶ 18.] In Harrison, the Ninth Circuit indicated that there was no meaningful distinction between threats of harsher punishment and specific promises of leniency that would render the former constitutionally impermissible, and the latter constitutionally firm. 34 F.3d at 891. The court noted, both types of statements are simply different sides of the same coin: `waive your rights and receive more favorable treatment' versus `exercise your rights and receive less favorable treatment.' Id. Two of our neighboring state supreme courts have followed this rationale. See State v. Mullin, 249 Iowa 10, 85 N.W.2d 598, 603 (Iowa 1957) (confession involuntary where police officer stated that more mercy would be granted if the suspect told the truth); State v. Biron, 266 Minn. 272, 123 N.W.2d 392, 396 (1963) (confession involuntary where police told suspect that if he did not cooperate they could not go up there and get any break for [him]). [¶ 19.] In this case, the circuit court found that Harrison told Holman there would be no specific deal, but rather a recommendation of leniency. After reviewing the record, we conclude the circuit court's finding is not supported by the evidence. The transcript is devoid of any instance where Harrison informed Holman that he was merely going to make a recommendation of leniency. Instead, Harrison responded to Holman's request for an assurance by stating I told you hey, only one charge. Holman and Bauermeister both testified that the deal was supposed to be that Holman be charged with one felony. Holman, as a criminal defendant, may have had an incentive to lie. Bauermeister, a deputy sheriff, did not. [¶ 20.] Harrison's testimony was that he thought he had authority to enter into the agreement and that he did not believe there would be a problem. It was only after further inquiries from the state's attorney that Harrison began referring to the deal as merely a recommendation. There is also the matter of Harrison leaving the room to make a phone call, presumably to the state's attorney office. Harrison denies this allegation. However, Holman and Bauermeister both testified that they recalled the incident. The circuit court did not address this incident in its findings of fact. [¶ 21.] Normally, we give deference to the circuit court on factual issues. However, as mentioned, the United States Supreme Court has mandated that appellate courts make an independent determination of voluntariness. The record does not support the circuit court's finding that Harrison told Holman that he would merely make a recommendation. Instead, the record reflects that Harrison acted as though he could enter into a jailhouse plea bargain with Holman and confirmed the deal with the state's attorney. [¶ 22.] In terms of Holman's ability to resist Harrison's promise of leniency and confirmation, we note the following factors in favor of voluntariness: Holman was thirty years old at the time of the interrogation; he had experience in dealing with law enforcement; the interrogation only lasted forty-five minutes; he was not deprived of food or water and there was no physical abuse; and Holman brought up the subject of leniency in exchange for his cooperation. [¶ 23.] The facts that support the confession as involuntary include: the promise of leniency and phone call; Holman was incarcerated at the time of the interrogation; Holman did not have the assistance of counsel during the interrogation; and Holman did not give Harrison the time of day during a prior interview in which Holman was not promised leniency; and Detective Harrison's promise of leniency proved false. [¶ 24.] In State v. Stanga , this Court considered false police promises made to induce a Miranda waiver and subsequent statement. [2] 2000 SD 129, 617 N.W.2d 486. In concluding that such promises required suppression of the statement, this Court observed: [W]hen the police interview a suspect, they must skate a fine line. They are employed to protect the public, to solve crimes, to discover missing persons, and to determine whether missing persons have been the victims of foul play. They are authorized to interview suspects who have been advised of their rights, but they must conduct the interview without the undue pressure that amounts to coercion and without the dishonesty and trickery that amounts to false promise. Id. ¶ 16 (citation omitted). Under the totality of circumstances, we conclude the specific promise of leniency and deception that followed directly resulted in Holman's involuntary confession. It is undisputed that Holman had not cooperated with law enforcement in the past. Harrison did not expect to receive any information prior to promising leniency. Bauermeister testified that he did not believe Holman was going to speak to Harrison, but all of that changed when Harrison offered to charge Holman with only one felony. Under these circumstances, Holman's confession was not the product of rational intellect and free will. The State failed to meet its burden of proving Holman's confession was voluntary. Therefore, the circuit court erred in denying Holman's motion to suppress the confession.