Opinion ID: 853512
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Albrecht's statements to police

Text: Albrecht gave two statements to an officer of the Speedway Police Department. The first occurred at the Speedway Police Station on October 28, 1992. Albrecht claims this statement was inadmissible at trial because the examining officers failed to give him Miranda warnings. The State counters that no such warnings were necessary because Albrecht was not in custody at the time. We agree with the State. Rights under Miranda apply only to custodial interrogation. Cliver v. State, 666 N.E.2d 59, 66 (Ind.1996). To determine whether a defendant is in custody we apply an objective test asking whether a reasonable person under the same circumstances would believe themselves to be `under arrest or not free to resist the entreaties of the police.' Torres v. State, 673 N.E.2d 472, 474 (Ind.1996) (quoting Jones v. State, 655 N.E.2d 49, 55 (Ind.1995)). As we declared in Loving v. State, 647 N.E.2d 1123, 1125 (Ind.1995), [t]he test is how a reasonable person in the suspect's shoes would understand the situation. The record shows the first interview was held only two days after Cynthia was reported missing. In response to a request by investigating officer William Jones, Albrecht went to the Speedway police station to speak with the officer. At that point, police were investigating a report of a missing person and sought background information concerning Cynthia in the hope of determining her whereabouts. Officer Jones testified at a motion to suppress hearing that he specifically advised Albrecht that he was not under arrest and was free to leave at any time. Albrecht counters that Officer Jones believed that he was a suspect in Cynthia's disappearance but did not so advise him. This fact is not dispositive. The question is whether a reasonable person in Albrecht's situation would believe himself to be under arrest or not free to resist the entreaties of Officer Jones. Under the facts presented here we conclude no reasonable person could reach such a conclusion. The trial court properly admitted the statement into evidence. The second interview took place in November 1992 while Albrecht was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, visiting a relative. Officer Jones flew to Florida and accompanied Albrecht to a Fort Lauderdale police station. At the motion to suppress hearing, Officer Jones testified that although he again advised Albrecht that he was not under arrest and was free to leave, he nonetheless read Albrecht his Miranda rights before questioning began. The record does not reveal that Albrecht was presented with or signed a waiver of rights. However, Albrecht did give an audio-taped statement and according to officer Jones, Albrecht never indicated that he did not wish to speak with the officer. In this appeal, Albrecht acknowledges that he was advised of his Miranda rights. He complains however that Jones knew [Albrecht] had an attorney as early as the 27th or 28th of October. Jones at no point contacted [Albrecht's] attorney to tell him [Albrecht] would be interviewed. Brief of Appellant at 40. We first note that this assertion is not only misleading, but also misplaced. The record shows that at the time of the interview Albrecht was represented by counsel in a divorce proceeding and apparently Officer Jones was aware of that fact. Albrecht does not explain why the officer would contact Albrecht's divorce lawyer concerning a criminal matter. More importantly, as part of the Miranda warnings, Officer Jones advised Albrecht that he had a right to counsel and the right to remain silent. Albrecht stated that he understood his rights and proceeded to answer Officer Jones's questions. The record shows that Albrecht never asserted his right to counsel which requires, at a minimum, some statement that can reasonably be construed to be an expression of a desire for the assistance of an attorney. Goodner v. State, 714 N.E.2d 638, 641 (Ind.1999) (quoting Davis v. United States, 512 U.S. 452, 459, 114 S.Ct. 2350, 129 L.Ed.2d 362 (1994)). By speaking to the officer, Albrecht waived his rights. Carter v. State, 730 N.E.2d 155, 157 (Ind.2000) (An express written or oral waiver of rights is not necessary to establish a waiver of Miranda rights.). Other than now complaining that counsel was not present at the second interview, Albrecht makes no other assertion exploring why his waiver was involuntary. We find no error on this issue. The trial court properly allowed this statement into evidence as well.