Opinion ID: 1331712
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: appeal of defendant barrios

Text: By his sole assignment of error, defendant Barrios contends the trial court erred in permitting S.B.I. Agent Frank Johnson to testify with respect to a pretrial statement made to him by defendant Lattimer. It appears that this evidence is challenged for the reasons that (1) the statement was not given freely and voluntarily, and (2) it implicated defendant Barrios and was prejudicial to him, in violation of the principles set forth in Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123, 88 S.Ct. 1620, 20 L.Ed.2d 476 (1968). Assuming, arguendo, that defendant Barrios has standing to challenge the voluntariness of the statement, we hold that the evidence presented at the voir dire hearing fully supports the court's findings and conclusion that the statement was given freely and voluntarily. The trial judge's finding that an accused freely and voluntarily made an inculpatory statement will not be disturbed on appeal when the finding is supported by competent evidence. State v. Harris, 290 N.C. 681, 228 S.E.2d 437 (1976). While we recognize the principles set forth in Bruton, we disagree with the contention that defendant Lattimer's pretrial statement implicated defendant Barrios and that it was prejudicial to him. The testimony of Agent Johnson relating to defendant Lattimer's statement and which defendant Barrios assigns as error is as follows: He stated that he was going to tell me the truth, that he hadn't pulled the trigger on no one. He stated that he didn't even want to go through with the job after he got to the towel place. Mr. Lattimer further stated that he came back to Cooper's trailer in Fayetteville and that he was supposed to go in the place, but stated he changed his mind when he got there and decided not to go through with it. He stated that the reason for changing his mind was that he had a felling that something was going to happen. He further stated that the .38 belonged to him. Mr. Lattimer stated that both the magnum gun and the .38 were under the seat and that hewhen they got to the towel place. Mr. Lattimer also told this agent that he drove part of the way back to Fayetteville. We are unable to perceive how defendant was prejudiced by the quoted statement, hence the assignment of error is overruled.