Opinion ID: 659744
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Molina's Motion to Suppress Statements

Text: 20 Defendant Molina contends that the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress statements he made describing the driver of the Ford LTD because his statement was an involuntary confession, and thus should have been excluded pursuant to Miranda. 384 U.S. 436 (1965). 21 Molina's statement was not a confession and was properly admitted. [T]he term 'confession' means any confession of guilt of any criminal offense or any self-incriminating statement made or given orally or in writing. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3501(e). Molina's statement was not an admission of guilt or a confession to the crime. Furthermore, he did not admit that he committed any act which would constitute an element of the crime. He merely gave a description of the driver which contradicted the description given by Customs Inspector Campos. Neither voluntariness nor Miranda analysis apply in this case. 22