Opinion ID: 2234512
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: motion to suppress statements made while in police custody

Text: Jon's second argument on appeal is that the appellate court erred in affirming the trial court's denial of his motion to suppress the statements that Jon made while in police custody. At the hearing on Jon's motion to suppress, Sergeant Darrell Sisk testified that he is the juvenile officer for the Lincoln city police department. Sisk said that, on the evening of April 27, 1995, he received a telephone call from another officer asking if he knew the minor, Jon, that they had as a suspect. Sisk responded that he did not know the minor. Sisk said that he was not told the nature of the juvenile's crime and was not asked to come down to the station. Detective Harberts testified at the hearing on Jon's motion to suppress. To the extent that Harberts' testimony is duplicative of his testimony at the transfer hearing, it will not be repeated here. Harberts said that when Spickard and Jon approached him at the crime scene, Jon was not handcuffed or restrained in any way. When Harberts instructed Officer Kerns to handcuff Jon and place him in a police car, Harberts believed Jon to be 18 or 19 years old. After Jon had been transported to the Logan County jail, Harberts went to Jon's holding cell and asked Jon's name, age, and relationship to the victims. Harberts then asked Jon if he would be willing to come to Harberts' office for an interview, and, when Jon agreed, Harberts took Jon, unrestrained, to his office. Jon sat at Harberts' desk, across from Harberts. Harberts asked Jon if he needed something to drink or eat, or needed to use the restroom. Jon responded no, and then agreed to speak with Harberts. Harberts read Jon his Miranda rights and asked Jon if he understood each right. Jon responded affirmatively. Harberts said Jon was very cooperative throughout the interview. Jon never asked Harberts to stop questioning him, did not ask for any adult presence, and did not request a lawyer. Harberts did not threaten or coerce Jon, nor did he promise Jon anything. This interview began at 9:05 p.m. and ended at 9:27 p.m. At the end of the interview, Jon told Harberts his mother's name and gave Harberts her telephone number. Harberts testified that, at 10:45 p.m., he attempted to call Glenda Ashworth. He reached Glenda's answering machine and left a message. After leaving a message for Glenda, Harberts discovered that his interview with Jon did not record on the tape. Harberts asked Jon if he would allow Harberts to tape a second interview, and Jon agreed. During this second interview, Harberts again read Jon his Miranda rights. Jon did not ask for any adult or for a lawyer. This interview took place between 11:07 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Later, around 12:40 a.m., Jon agreed to accompany the officers back to his grandparents' residence and led the officers through a video reenactment of what had occurred earlier that day. Jon was not shackled during the reenactment. On cross-examination, Harberts agreed that, after Spickard and Jon walked up to him at the Cearlocks' home, he would not have let Jon walk away. Harberts also testified that he did not give Jon any Miranda warnings before he asked Jon why he had shot the people. Harberts also said that, when Jon was in the holding cell at the station, he did not tell Jon that Jon could be detained for a maximum of six hours. Harberts testified that Jon told him that the Cearlocks were Jon's legal guardians. When Harberts began interviewing Jon, he did not tell Jon that Jon could be charged or tried as an adult. Glenda Ashworth testified that, on April 27, 1995, she was working a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift. Glenda said that she ran home around 4 a.m. on April 28, 1995, because her daughter was afraid someone was trying to break into the house. After she calmed her children, Glenda noticed the light on her answering machine flashing. Glenda played the message, then called Harberts, who told Glenda what had happened and asked her who had custody of Jon. Glenda told Harberts that she had custody, and also told Harberts about Jon's medical history and his ADD. Glenda asked Harberts if Jon had a lawyer. Harberts told Glenda that she would have to talk to the State's Attorney. On cross-examination, Glenda acknowledged that she had signed a document giving her parents custody and guardianship of Jon, but said that the document was used only to get Jon into school. Jon testified at the hearing on his motion to suppress that he was 15 years old. Jon said that when his grandparents punished him, he would be grounded, or he would be yelled at, or he would be spanked. Jon explained that his grandfather would have Jon bend over and grab his ankles, and then would whip Jon with a razor strap. Jon testified that, when he left Steve Powell's house on April 27, 1995, he decided to walk back to the Cearlock's house because he needed to get some help and thought the police would be there. Jon thought the police could help him. At the time, Jon said he felt confused, scared, hopeless, upset, angry and sad. Jon said that he gave the gun to Spickard and told Spickard that he was the one that had shot the Cearlocks. Jon made that statement because that was what had happened, and because he had to get some help. Jon said that, after he gave the gun to Spickard, he did not feel like he could walk away because Spickard was holding Jon's elbow and told Jon to come with him. Jon said it did not cross his mind to run because he thought the officers could help him. Jon said that he answered Harberts' question about why Jon had done it because he did not feel like he had a choice. Jon testified that he did not understand the significance of answering the question. Jon said that he did not see a tape recorder during the first interview with Harberts. Jon denied that Harberts read Jon his Miranda rights before the first interview. Jon testified that when Harberts began asking him questions, Jon answered the questions because Harberts was the boss and Jon was supposed to tell Harberts what Harberts wanted to know. Harberts did not ask Jon where his mom or dad were and did not tell Jon that a juvenile police officer was supposed to be there. For the second interview, Harberts placed a tape recorder on the desk, turned the recorder on, and read Jon his Miranda warnings. Jon claimed that he did not understand his Miranda warnings and only indicated that he understood them because he was just going along with what [Harberts] was saying. Jon said that he did not feel that he had the right to tell Harberts he did not want to answer any questions. Jon also said that he participated in the video reenactment because the officers wanted him to, and Jon felt that he did not have a choice. On cross-examination, Jon agreed that he understood he had committed a crime and agreed that he wanted to confess to the crime. Jon also agreed that, during the second interview, when Harberts asked him a question that he did not want to answer, he felt free to say no to Harberts. Jon said that the officers did not threaten him or make any promises to him. Jon testified that he was doing well in school before he was expelled from Park Meadows. Dr. Robert Chapman testified that Jon found it difficult and confining to follow the rules of the church and the school. Jon said he was subjected to harsh criticism by his grandparents and frequently was subjected to physical discipline. Lila would impulsively slap Jon with her hand or with objects. Keith would make Jon bend over and grab his ankles, then would beat Jon on the buttocks with a board or strap. Dr. Chapman's opinion was that Jon suffered from ADD. Dr. Chapman said that taking into account Jon's age, his background, his ADD, and the circumstances, Jon was substantially impaired in his capacity to appreciate the gravity of the situation in waiving his Miranda rights. Dr. Chapman testified that, on the day of the shootings, Jon was not suffering from any psychosis or delusions. On cross-examination, Dr. Chapman said that Jon was able to understand the words used by the police officers in giving the Miranda warnings. Dr. Chapman explained that his opinion related to Jon's inability to appreciate the legal significance of talking to the police. Dr. Chapman agreed that Jon talked to the police because Jon wanted to talk to the police. Pastor Thomas Bryant testified that Jon's reading and writing skills were normal, as were Jon's verbal skills. Pastor Bryant said that Jon's demeanor in the video of the reenactment and in the audio tape of his second interview with Harberts was Jon's normal demeanor, which was very calm. Pastor Bryant said that Jon was very honest and truthful in admitting when he had done something wrong. Pastor Bryant denied that Jon had signs of ADD during his years at Park Meadows, and said that Jon was never referred to any special school or program for ADD. Following a hearing on Jon's motion to suppress, the trial court found that Jon was of average intelligence, appeared emotionally stable, and was articulate and familiar with the English language. The trial court concluded that Jon was aware of his Miranda rights, understood them, and knowingly waived them. The trial court noted that no threats or promises were made to Jon, nor was he abused or denied access to food, drink or the bathroom during his interrogation. Further, at one point, Jon indicated to the officer that he did not wish to answer a particular question. The trial court stated that, [w]ith regard to the violation of the Juvenile Court Act, the Courts certainly do not condone such violation but higher Courts, on review, have made it clear that such a violation does not cause a per se suppression   . The trial court concluded that Jon's statements were made voluntarily. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's denial of Jon's motion to suppress the statements made while in police custody. On appeal to this court, Jon argues first that his age, experience and emotional characteristics establish that his statements were involuntary, even though he had been given and had waived his Miranda rights. Second, Jon argues that the circumstances of his arrest, including the officers' failure to contact Jon's parents or a juvenile officer, also establish that Jon's statements were not voluntary and should have been suppressed. In reviewing a trial court's ruling concerning whether a confession is voluntary, the trial court's factual findings will be reversed only if those findings are against the manifest weight of the evidence. In re G.O., 191 Ill.2d 37, 50, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003 (2000). However, a trial court's ruling on the ultimate question of whether the confession was voluntary is reviewed de novo. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 50, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. In determining whether a confession is voluntary, courts look to the totality of the circumstances, including factors such as the party's age, intelligence, background, experience, education, mental capacity, and physical condition at the time of questioning. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 54, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. Other factors include the duration and the legality of the detention, the duration of the questioning, as well as any mental or physical abuse by the police, including the existence of threats or promises on the part of the police. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 54, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. No single factor is dispositive. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 54, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. The test of voluntariness is whether the individual made his confession freely and voluntarily, without compulsion or inducement of any kind, or whether the individual's will was overborne at the time of the confession. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 54, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. Upon review, we agree with the trial court that the totality of the circumstances indicate that Jon's confession was voluntary. We first consider Jon's age, experience, and emotional characteristics. On this point, the record indicates that Jon was an average student with normal reading, writing and verbal skills. Jon was not physically or mentally abused by the police during his interviews, nor did the police make any threats or promises. Although Dr. Chapman testified that Jon was unable to appreciate the gravity of the situation in waiving his Miranda rights and was so conditioned to pleasing authority figures that he automatically would answer the officers' questions, there was ample evidence in the record to the contrary. For example, as the trial court noted, Jon did not hesitate in refusing to answer one of Harberts' questions concerning Jon's thoughts of killing others. Similarly, there was evidence that Jon had defied authority figures in the past. Jon had refused to serve his suspension for kissing a girl, and had refused to go to the school in Oklahoma. Keith had told Pastor Davis that Lila was afraid of Jon, and Lila herself told Pastor Bryant that Jon had slammed her hand and had shoved her up against a wall. When Pastor Bryant told Jon not to turn his back on God, Jon told Pastor Bryant that he would commit every sin he wanted to commit. Similarly, when the other students at Park Meadows asked Jon to reconsider serving his suspension, Jon refused, saying he now would do the hurting. In addition, as the trial court noted, Jon indeed did seem to want to tell what had happened, both when he first walked up to Spickard at the crime scene and during his interviews with Harberts. We next consider Jon's claim that the coercive nature of his encounter with the police establishes that his statements were not voluntary. In support of his claim that Jon's encounter with the police was coercive, Jon notes that he was handcuffed when he was taken from the crime scene to the police station, in violation of the Lincoln police department's policy that a juvenile should be handcuffed only when necessary to prevent violence or escape. Likewise, Jon observes that both the Act and the policy of the Lincoln police department state that no minor under 16 years of age may be confined in a jail or a place ordinarily used for the confinement of prisoners in a police station, and that when a minor of appropriate age is detained in a jail cell, he should be told the purpose of his detention, the time it is expected to last, and that the detention cannot exceed six hours. See 705 ILCS 405/5-7(2)(c)(iii), (2)(c)(vi) (West 1994) (repealed by Pub. Act 90-590, art. 2001,  2001-15, eff. January 1, 1999, now 705 ILCS 405/5-410 (West 2000)). Jon argues that, in violation of the Act and the policy, he was detained in a prisoner holding cell and was not told that his detention could not exceed six hours. Finally, Jon notes that he was not advised he could consult with his parents before being questioned, he was not advised that he could be tried as an adult, and Harberts did not make a reasonable attempt to notify Jon's parents or other person legally responsible for Jon's care or take Jon to the juvenile officer for jurisdiction, as required under the Act. See 705 ILCS 405/5-6(1) (West 1994). The trial court found that the violations of the Act did not require suppression of Jon's statements, as Jon's waiver of Miranda was knowingly and intelligently made, and Jon had voluntarily confessed. We agree with the trial court. Although Jon was handcuffed when he first was taken to the police station from the crime scene, Harberts testified that at the time, he thought Jon was 18 or 19 years old. Likewise, although Jon was not told that his detention could not exceed six hours, there is no evidence or allegation that Jon was detained for more than six hours. We do not deem any of these purported violations significant enough to render Jon's statements coerced or involuntary. Possibly more significant in this case is the officers' failure to contact Jon's parents or a juvenile officer prior to questioning Jon. With regard to the confession of a juvenile, this court has recognized that the taking of such a confession is a `sensitive concern.' G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 54, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003, quoting People v. Prude, 66 Ill.2d 470, 476, 6 Ill.Dec. 689, 363 N.E.2d 371 (1977). Consequently, courts considering the voluntariness of juvenile confessions consider whether the juvenile had an opportunity to consult with an adult interested in his welfare, known as a concerned adult, either before or during the interrogation. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 55, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. In determining whether a juvenile had an opportunity to confer with a concerned adult, courts consider whether the police prevented the juvenile from conferring with a concerned adult and whether the police frustrated the attempts of a concerned adult to confer with the juvenile. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 55, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. The concerned adult factor is particularly relevant in situations where a juvenile has demonstrated trouble understanding the interrogation process, has asked to speak with either his parents or a concerned adult, or where the police have prevented the juvenile's parents from speaking with him. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 55, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. Nonetheless, a juvenile's confession should not be suppressed simply because he was denied the opportunity to confer with a concerned adult either before or during his interrogation. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 55, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. In G.O., we found that a juvenile's confession was voluntary even though he was not provided with an opportunity to confer with a concerned adult because: the juvenile never requested to speak with a concerned adult; the police never frustrated an attempt by a concerned adult to speak with the juvenile; the juvenile's detention was valid; the juvenile was informed of his Miranda rights and indicated that he understood those rights; the juvenile was intelligent and did well in school; the juvenile was questioned only for a short period of time on three or four occasions; and no coercion or physical threats occurred, nor were any promises made. G.O., 191 Ill.2d at 56, 245 Ill.Dec. 269, 727 N.E.2d 1003. Based upon the foregoing considerations, we find that any failure to contact Jon's parents or a juvenile officer prior to questioning Jon did not render his statements involuntary. With regard to Jon's parents, we note that Jon told Harberts that his grandparents were his legal guardians. As Harberts believed that those legally responsible for Jon's care were deceased, we do not attribute great weight to the fact that Harberts did not immediately attempt to contact Jon's parents. In fact, after Harberts had interviewed Jon the first time and obtained information concerning Jon's mother, Harberts telephoned Glenda. In addition, as in G.O., Jon never requested an opportunity to speak with a concerned adult and the officers did not prevent any concerned adult from speaking with Jon. Jon's detention was valid, and he was informed of his Miranda rights. Further, although Jon now claims that he did not understand those rights, the trial court found, and we agree, that Jon did understand his Miranda rights. Pastor Bryant testified that Jon was intelligent and did well in school. Jon was not handcuffed in the jail, and was questioned on only two occasions for approximately 30 minutes each time. No physical coercion or threats occurred, and no promises were made. Under the circumstances, we find that the totality of circumstances indicates that Jon's confession was the result of his own decision and was not the result of compulsion or inducement, nor was Jon's will being overborne at the time of his confession. For those reasons, we affirm the trial court's decision denying Jon's motion to suppress the statements he made while in custody. We now turn to the issues raised in the State's appeal.