Opinion ID: 2623122
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: In the alternative, Holmes' statements to the police were involuntary.

Text: Holmes contends that his confession must be suppressed as involuntary for the following reasons: (1) He was still under the influence of the drugs; (2) he was suffering from sleep deprivation at the time he was read his Miranda rights; (3) officers failed to honor his Miranda rights after he expressed a desire to stop talking; (4) he was held in the interrogation room alone; and (5) he was emotionally grieving over the death of the victim. In regard to our scope of review as to whether Holmes' confession was voluntary, the determination that a statement was freely, voluntarily, and intelligently given will be upheld if there is substantial competent evidence to support such a conclusion. In making the factual review, the appellate courts will not reweigh the evidence and will give deference to the factual findings of the trial court. The legal conclusion drawn from those facts is subject to de novo review. State v. White, 275 Kan. 580, 596-97, 67 P.3d 138 (2003). To determine whether a defendant's confession is voluntary, a court looks at the totality of the circumstances. The prosecution bears the burden of proving that a confession is admissible by a preponderance of the evidence. Factors include the duration and the manner of the interrogation; the ability of the accused on request to communicate with the outside world; the accused's age, intellect, and background; and the fairness of the officers in conducting the interrogation. The essential inquiry is whether the statement was the product of the free and independent will of the accused. White, 275 Kan. 580, Syl. ¶ 8. The question of whether Holmes' confession was the product of his free and independent will is primarily dependent upon the facts surrounding the statements given. The statements given by Holmes were videotaped. A redacted version of the videotape was played to the jury, and the jury was given a transcript. However, Holmes failed to include these exhibits in the record on appeal. The burden is on Holmes to furnish a record which affirmatively shows that prejudicial error occurred in the trial court. Without such a record, an appellate court presumes the action of the trial court was proper. State v. Decker, 275 Kan. 502, 507, 66 P.3d 915 (2003). The available evidence regarding Holmes' confession supports the conclusion that his confession was voluntary. Officers Schroeder and Mumma entered the interrogation room 1 hour after Holmes was placed there by Officer Easter and over 2 hours after Holmes' last possible drug use based upon Holmes' call to 911. Schroeder testified that Holmes did not display any signs that he was incapacitated. Holmes was coherent, able to answer questions and speak with the detectives logically, and demonstrated the ability to recall past events. However, Holmes did appear tired and answered slowly during the personal history interview, and Schroeder did not explain to Holmes the consequences of waiving his Miranda rights. In addition, Mumma testified that Holmes did not indicate that he was sick but did inform the detectives that he had used a large amount of drugs within the last 24 hours. Mumma did not explain to Holmes the importance of the rights he was giving up  believing that they were self-explanatory. However, Mumma noted that Holmes stated that he had previously been Mirandized during other investigations. Holmes argues that his mental condition rendered his confession involuntary. See State v. McCorkendale, 267 Kan. 263, Syl. ¶ 3, 979 P.2d 1239 (1999) (Mental condition is a factor to be considered in determining the voluntariness of a confession.). Holmes points to evidence of substantial drug use over the prior 24-hour period, sleep deprivation, emotional grief over his girlfriend's death, and her blood being on him, which added to the circumstances showing that he lacked the mental capacity to waive his rights. He contends that these circumstances produced an environment where a free, voluntary, and intelligently considered waiver was impossible.