Opinion ID: 836626
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Further Background

Text: In this case, the prosecutor made repeated references to defendant's post-arrest, post- Miranda silence. In the prosecutor's opening statement, he said that the jury would hear that after defendant was arrested, he didn't say anything, not a word. [The officer] told him why he was being arrested, he was arrested and no statements were made. Next, in the presentation of the case-in-chief, the prosecutor deliberately elicited testimony from the arresting officer regarding defendant's post-arrest, post- Miranda silence. The following exchange occurred regarding the circumstances of the arrest: A. [ The Arresting Officer ] I asked [defendant] if he knew what we were here aboutwhat we were there about and he stated he did not. I then placed him under arrest and informed him he was under arrest for criminal sexual conduct, advised him of his Miranda rights which is the right to remain silent and I'm sure we've all seen that, and I placed him in the rear of my patrol vehicle. He did not make any statements to me prior to getting to jail. Q. [ The Prosecutor ] So he never made any statements to you. He was fully aware of what you were arresting him for? A. Not reference [sic] the criminal sexual conduct, correct. On cross-examination, the defense attorney asked the arresting officer questions that clarified that the officer did not ask defendant any questions after arresting him and giving him his Miranda warnings. On the prosecutor's redirect examination, the prosecutor followed up with additional questions regarding defendant's silence: Q. [ The Prosecutor ] [Defendant] didn't make any statements about the CSC charge, did he? A. [ The Arresting Officer ] No, he did not. Q. Never asked you about it? A. No, he did not. After the prosecutor concluded presentation of his case, defendant testified in his own defense. Defense counsel asked why defendant was silent after he was given his Miranda warnings, and defendant stated that it was because he watched a lot of TV and with something like that I didn't know what to say, I mean I was shocked... so I just kept my mouth shut and I was going to wait until I talked to somebody. [12] When the prosecutor cross-examined defendant, the following exchange occurred: Q. [ The Prosecutor ] [Y]ou didn't say a single word about being arrested for criminal sexual conduct. Is that right? A. [ Defendant ] When I got to the police station Q. Yes or no. Is that right? A. Yes. Finally, the prosecutor began his closing argument by highlighting the significance of defendant's silence. The prosecutor stated: What we heard is that the defendant made no statements. We heard that he didn't ask Officer LaBonte any questions. Why? You're being arrested for CSC. You're being taken out of your home on a Sunday night. Why? Why? Because between June of 2004 and January of 2005 the defendant had been making his daughter do things that no person speaks about. Adults don't even talk about it between themselves.