Opinion ID: 2074934
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Suppression of Pinela's statements to law enforcement personnel.

Text: Pinela claims the trial court improperly denied his motion to suppress the statements he made to law enforcement personnel while he was at the hospital. Pinela argues the trial court was clearly erroneous in finding that he validly waived his Fifth Amendment rights. A defendant may waive his Miranda rights provided it is done voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. State v. West, 344 N.W.2d 502 (S.D.1984). Whether a waiver is effective is determined by examining the totality of the circumstances surrounding the waiver. State v. Bult, 351 N.W.2d 731 (S.D.1984). The State has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant waived his constitutional rights and freely and voluntarily made any statements. State v. Braddock, 452 N.W.2d 785, 788 (S.D.1990). The trial court did not err in concluding that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Pinela effectively waived his Miranda rights. Pinela claims his waiver cannot be deemed effective because he was being treated for shock in a hospital following a severe traffic accident. However, physical injuries and medical treatment alone do not render a waiver of Miranda rights ineffective. As the Michigan Supreme Court explained in People v. Cleveland, 251 Mich. 542, 547, 232 N.W. 384, 385 (1930): The mere fact that a defendant was suffering from severe physical injuries, and was under great excitement and strain, does not of itself render a confession inadmissible. The physical injuries or medical treatment must affect a defendant's ability to intelligently decide whether to waive his rights before such circumstances will require suppression of statements. In this case there is no evidence that Pinela was so affected. In short, he was informed of his Miranda rights, clearly indicated he understood those rights, and, in spite of his injuries, freely and coherently talked to the investigating officers.