Opinion ID: 593968
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Admissibility of the Written Consent to an X-Ray Examination and Oral Statements

Text: 52 Oba also asserts that his written consent to an x-ray examination and his oral statement were inadmissible because he requested the opportunity to consult an attorney before waiving his constitutional rights. We review de novo the question whether the words used by a defendant constituted a request for counsel. Robinson v. Borg, 918 F.2d 1387, 1390 (9th Cir.1990), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 198, 116 L.Ed.2d 158 (1991). We review the district court's factual findings for clear error. United States v. Ramos, 923 F.2d 1346, 1356 (9th Cir.1991). Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, as prevailing party on the district court's credibility determination, Oba informed the customs officers that he would consent to an x-ray examination, but would not sign a consent form until he had consulted a lawyer. Oba stated that he wanted to take legal action against the United States Customs Service when the x-rays showed that he had not imported any narcotics. 53 Oba argues that pursuant to Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 101 S.Ct. 1880, 68 L.Ed.2d 378 (1981), the officers were required to cease their interrogation once he requested counsel. In Edwards v. Arizona, the Supreme Court instructed that when an accused has invoked his right to have counsel present during custodial interrogation, a valid waiver of that right cannot be established by showing only that he responded to further police-initiated custodial interrogation even if he has been advised of his rights. Id. at 484, 101 S.Ct. at 1884. The Court also held that an accused ... having expressed his desire to deal with the police only through counsel, is not subject to further interrogation by the authorities until counsel has been made available to him, unless the accused himself initiates further communication, exchanges, or conversations with the police. Id. at 484-85, 101 S.Ct. at 1884-85. 54 In Connecticut v. Barrett, 479 U.S. 523, 107 S.Ct. 828, 93 L.Ed.2d 920 (1987), the Supreme Court held that the Edwards rule requiring that all questioning cease when an accused requests counsel is not applicable where the police have respected a limited exercise of the right to counsel. Id. at 527-530, 107 S.Ct. at 831-32. The Court explained this distinction as follows: 55 But we know of no constitutional objective that would be served by suppression in this case. It is undisputed that [the defendant] desired the presence of counsel before making a written statement. Had the police obtained such a statement without meeting the waiver standards of Edwards, it would clearly be inadmissible. The defendant's limited requests for counsel, however, were accompanied by affirmative announcements of his willingness to speak with the authorities. The fact that officials took the opportunity provided by [the defendant] to obtain an oral confession is quite consistent with the Fifth Amendment. 56 Id. at 529, 107 S.Ct. at 832. 57 In the instant matter, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Oba was asked if he would consent to an x-ray examination. He was not asked to make a statement concerning any alleged criminal activity. Thus, the police were not required to advise him of his constitutional rights, or of his right to refuse to submit to an x-ray examination. See Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 231, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 2049, 36 L.Ed.2d 854 (1973) (it would be thoroughly impractical to impose on the normal consent search the detailed requirements of an effective warning). 58 Oba orally consented to an x-ray examination but informed the police he would not sign a written consent form without the advice of counsel concerning his right to bring a civil action. The customs officers respected Oba's request and told him that they would simply wait until he had a bowel movement. Oba's request for counsel was limited to advice concerning the effect of signing a consent form on a potential civil action against the United States Customs Service. He did not request the right to have the assistance of counsel during any further interrogation. 59 When Oba was told that he was going to be taken to a medical facility for observation until he had a bowel movement, Oba then requested that he be given an x-ray examination and told the customs officers he would sign a consent form. 60 The facts presented by the Government, and found credible by the district court, demonstrated that the customs officers did not violate the Edwards requirement that all questioning cease when a suspect invokes his right to counsel. After Oba made a request that he receive the advice of counsel prior to signing a consent form, the officers told him there would not be an x-ray examination. Thereafter, Oba initiated further discussion concerning the performance of an x-ray examination. Oba asserts that [t]o accept the agent's version, which appears to fit neatly into the facts of Barrett, would require acceptance of the idea that a person who had swallowed 70 foreign objects would believe that these would not show up on an x-ray. This argument is answered by the reasoning in Barrett: The fact that some might find [the defendant's] decision illogical is irrelevant, for we have never 'embraced the theory that a defendant's ignorance of the full consequences of his decisions vitiates their voluntariness.'  479 U.S. at 530, 107 S.Ct. at 832 (quoting Oregon v. Elstad, 470 U.S. 298, 316, 105 S.Ct. 1285, 1296, 84 L.Ed.2d 222 (1985)). 61 The district court also did not err in refusing to suppress Oba's oral confession. Following Oba's arrest after the x-ray revealed foreign objects in his alimentary canal, the officers advised him of his constitutional rights. Oba signed a waiver form and gave an oral statement. Thus, his confession was admissible. 62 At the suppression hearing, the prosecutor advised the district court that the day after Oba made his oral statement, Oba asked the officers when do I get to talk to a lawyer. Thereafter, Oba gave the police a written statement. The prosecutor informed the Court that it would not offer the written statement at trial because that's an unclear enough area. Although we do not believe that this is an unclear area of the law, we do not address whether the statement was obtained in violation of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), because Oba, not the prosecution, introduced the statement in support of his own defense. 63 Oba's oral statements were admissible because he was advised of his constitutional rights and expressly waived them in writing. Oba has failed to demonstrate a violation of the Edwards rule. The x-ray examination was performed at his request. The district court did not err in denying the motion to suppress. 64 AFFIRMED.