Opinion ID: 3063469
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Post-Arrest Statements

Text: The Fifth Amendment provides that “[n]o person . . . shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” U.S. Const. amend. V. In Miranda v. Arizona, the Supreme Court held that the government “may not use statements, whether exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming from custodial interrogation of the defendant unless it demonstrates the use of procedural safeguards effective to secure the privilege against self-incrimination.” 7 384 U.S. 436, 444 86 S.Ct. 1602, 1612, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). In order for a defendant’s incriminatory statements to be admissible, the government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant made a knowing, voluntary and intelligent waiver of his Miranda rights. United States v. Farris, 77 F.3d 391, 396 (11th Cir. 1996). We determine voluntariness based upon the totality of the circumstances, construing the facts in the light most favorable to the prevailing party. United States v. Barbour, 70 F.3d 580, 584 (11th Cir. 1995). We have recognized that a statement is not given voluntarily if it is “extracted by any sort of threats or violence, or obtained by any direct or implied promises, or by the exertion of any improper influence.” United States v. Veal, 153 F.3d 1233, 1244 n.14 (11th Cir. 1998) (internal quotations omitted). Having reviewed the record and the briefs of the parties, we conclude that the district court properly denied Walton’s motion to suppress his post-arrest inculpatory statements. The magistrate judge made several findings: an officer read Walton his Miranda rights before he was questioned, Walton appeared to understand those rights, Walton signed a form waiving his Miranda rights before he was questioned, Walton was not under the influence of narcotics, and Walton was not coerced or threatened into giving any statement. Therefore, the district court did not err in concluding that a preponderance of the evidence established 8 that Walton made a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver his Miranda rights and that Walton’s statements were voluntary.