Opinion ID: 1779012
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: fifth amendment rights

Text: Addison contends that his statements should have been suppressed on the grounds they were taken in violation of his fifth amendment rights under the United States Constitution as (1) the rights warning failed to inform him that he could have an attorney present even if he could not afford one and (2) under the totality of the circumstances, the statements were not freely and voluntarily given. We hold to the contrary. Addison signed the following rights waiver form before each of his confessions was taken: I, Tony Addison, date of birth 01/23/67, now live at 2910 Fulton. I have been advised that I am a suspect in a rape, that I have the right to use the telephone, that I have the right to remain silent, that I have the right to talk to an attorney, either retained by me or appointed by the Court, before giving a statement, and to have my attorney present when answering questions. I have also been advised if I waive these rights, I have the right to stop the interrogation at any time. Also, that any statement I give will be used in a Court of Law against me. I have read the above statement of my rights and I understand them. No promises or threats have been made to induce me into making a statement. In Mayfield v. State, 293 Ark. 216, 736 S.W.2d 12 (1987) (U.S. appeal pending), we held that an almost identical waiver form was deficient in that it did not advise the appellant that if he were indigent, he could have a lawyer free of charge. However, failure to give an appropriate warning does not automatically require reversal. In his motion to suppress, Addison did not question the sufficiency of the rights form. Rather, he asserted that his statements were not freely and voluntarily given after an intelligent waiver of his constitutional rights. Since this matter is being raised for the first time on appeal, we will not consider it. See Barnes v. State, 294 Ark. 369, 742 S.W.2d 925 (1988). In determining whether Addison's statements were voluntarily and freely given, we make an independent review of the totality of the circumstances and will reverse only if the trial court's findings are clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. Hurst v. State, 296 Ark. 448, 757 S.W.2d 558 (1988); McDougald v. State, 295 Ark. 276, 748 S.W.2d 340 (1988); Scherrer v. State, 294 Ark. 227, 742 S.W.2d 877 (1988). The burden is on the State to show that the confessions were made without hope of reward or fear of punishment. Duncan v. State, 291 Ark. 521, 726 S.W.2d 653 (1987). Conflicts in testimony are for the trial court to resolve as it is in a superior position to determine the credibility of witnesses. Id. Pursuant to the totality of the circumstances approach, we focus on two basic components: the conduct of the police and the vulnerability of the accused. Scherrer, supra . Some of the factors that we consider in making the determination of whether a confession was voluntary include the youth or age of the accused, lack of education, low intelligence, lack of advice as to constitutional rights, length of detention, repeated and prolonged questioning, and use of physical punishment. Id.; Jackson v. State, 284 Ark. 478, 683 S.W.2d 606 (1985). Addison was nineteen at the time that he gave the statements and was able to read and write. Although he testified that he signed the statements because he was forced to and did not know he had a choice, Detective Smith testified there was no force or coercion used in the questioning process. The record is devoid of any evidence that the police punished or threatened to punish Addison, promised him leniency if he cooperated, or deceived or tricked him in any way. Although the questioning process lasted approximately three hours, this was justified considering the number of offenses to which Addison confessed. We are troubled by the fact that law enforcement personnel continue to utilize standardized warning forms which fail to clearly advise a suspect that he has a constitutional right to have an attorney free of charge if he cannot afford one. Although lack of advice of constitutional rights is a significant factor in our determination of whether a confession was voluntary under the totality of the circumstances test, it is not determinative. A confession can be voluntary even if Miranda warnings were omitted. See Michigan v. Tucker, 417 U.S. 433, 94 S.Ct. 2357, 41 L.Ed.2d 182 (1971). See also Dillard v. State, 275 Ark. 320, 629 S.W.2d 291 (1982). As noted above, the officers did not use physical force, threats of physical force, or deceit to obtain the statements, nor did they promise Addison leniency if he cooperated. In addition, there is no indication from the record that Addison was inordinately vulnerable. On balance, we cannot say that the trial court's finding that the statements were freely and voluntarily given is clearly against the preponderance of the evidence.