Opinion ID: 1611671
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: did law enforcement officers of washington county, mississippi improperly question jones after he had requested an attorney?

Text: ¶ 27. In his second assignment of error, Jones alleges that he was questioned by Washington County deputies after he had invoked his constitutional right to counsel. Jones contends this questioning occurred in Memphis during the initial interview with Washington County officers and then again during the drive from Memphis to Washington County. Questioning of a person who is in custody of law enforcement must cease if he invokes his privilege against self-incrimination or his right to counsel. Riddle v. State, 580 So.2d 1195, 1199 (Miss.1991). ¶ 28. Jones invoked his right to counsel during the initial interview and questioning ceased. Although questions were asked regarding Jones's injured hand, these questions were necessary to determine whether medical treatment was needed, a duty being laid upon the prison's jailer to provide for such care. See, e.g., Leach v. Shelby County Sheriff, 891 F.2d 1241 (6th Cir.1989) (Tennessee authorities have affirmative duty to know of medical needs of inmates and act upon them). [4] The only questions asked of Jones were whether he had injured himself and, if so, how. These questions were necessary and proper to ask and they were not necessarily questions about Jones's involvement in Wilkerson's murder. Law enforcement officials do not run afoul of Miranda where they put questions to such a person in order to determine whether medical assistance is necessary. Moreover, the answer given by Jones (that he had injured his hand at work) was not an incriminating statement, nor was it a confession. Thus, any potential violation of Miranda would be harmless. Peterson v. State, 540 So.2d 1340 (Miss.1989). Jones's confession occurred several days later, after he initiated contact and stated that he wished to make a statement. It cannot be said that Jones's statement about his injury had any effect upon the verdict. Therefore, Jones's argument that his constitutional right to be free from questioning once he had requested an attorney was violated when officers inquired about the injury to his hand is without merit. ¶ 29. Jones further argues that his rights were violated by the officers photographing his hand. Miranda applies to custodial interrogation. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). It does not prohibit an officer from testifying as to his observations of the appearance or condition of a person in custody. Furthermore, photographing Jones's injury, a matter clearly within the plain view of the officers and incident to a lawful arrest would not be an improper search either. Jones had no more of a reasonable expectation of privacy with respect to his hand than he would have had with his handwriting. See Burns v. State, 729 So.2d 203 (Miss.1998). Moreover, since there was a duty on the part of the Memphis officials to know and act upon a medical need of a person in their custody, the nature of the injury to Jones's hand would have been inevitably discovered when they discharged that duty. Jones did in fact receive medical attention for the injury to his hand; therefore, the existence and degree of that injury would have become known to WCSO regardless of the questions asked of Jones by them after he requested an attorney. See Nix v. Williams, 467 U.S. 431, 444, 104 S.Ct. 2501, 81 L.Ed.2d 377 (1984) (holding that evidence seized in an unreasonable search may, nevertheless, be admitted if it can be demonstrated that the evidence would, in all likelihood, ultimately have been discovered by constitutionally means). ¶ 30. Jones also claims that the deputies questioned him about the murder and offered him assistance in return for his cooperation during the drive to Washington County. WCSO deputies testified they did not question Jones or make any promises to him. No confession or information was gathered during the trip from Memphis to Washington County. Therefore, keeping in mind that the trial court found Jones's accusations not to be credible, even if the officers had questioned Jones, this violation of his rights was harmless. ¶ 31. It is uncontested that Jones was given a Miranda warning during the drive and that he requested a conference with the District Attorney. This was arranged, and Jones subsequently confessed. While it is true that questioning of an accused who is in custody must cease at the point he invokes his privilege against self-incrimination or his right to counsel, it is equally true that any such invocation by him does not prohibit him from later initiating contact and discussing the crime of which he is accused. Hunter v. State, 684 So.2d 625 (Miss.1996). Jones requested the conference with the District Attorney. He also initiated the conversations with officers after that meeting during which time he confessed. ¶ 32. The officers testified that Jones initiated a conversation about the crime. Jones says the deputies did. The circuit court found the testimony in favor of admission of the confession the Jones ultimately gave, and it issued a detailed, written finding of fact and conclusion of law, applying the legal analyses applicable to the Jones's claim, and specifically stating why it did not find the Jones's testimony worthy of belief. Because the trial court's finding was based on substantial evidence and cannot be said to be clearly erroneous, it is affirmed here. Dancer v. State, 721 So.2d 583 (Miss.1998). ¶ 33. Jones's second assignment of error is without merit.