Opinion ID: 1740628
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Request for Death Penalty

Text: Chavez asserts that his confession must be suppressed as involuntary because he expressed his desire to remain silent if not promised the death penalty. However, the record reflects that when Chavez indicated that he would disclose the location of Jimmy's body only if he were assured a death sentence, he was told unequivocally that he could not be guaranteed that the death penalty would be imposed. Despite having been so advised, Chavez, after a period of silent reflection, elected to confess. As stated in Connecticut v. Barrett, 479 U.S. 523, 529, 107 S.Ct. 828, 93 L.Ed.2d 920 (1987),  Miranda gives the defendant a right to choose between speech and silence, and [the defendant] chose to speak. As in Keen v. State, 504 So.2d 396 (Fla.1987), the record here does not support a Fifth Amendment violation. Cf. Keen, 504 So.2d at 400 (refusing to suppress a statement where the defendant never expressed to the detectives a desire to speak with counsel on any of the four occasions when he was advised of his rights, he initiated conversations with the detectives throughout this entire time, and signed a waiver of rights form) (citing Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 101 S.Ct. 1880, 68 L.Ed.2d 378 (1981); Hoffman v. State, 474 So.2d 1178 (Fla.1985); and Cannady v. State, 427 So.2d 723 (Fla. 1983)).